It took PoisonIvy007 time to find the store; she had only been on Rubi-Ka a week and still in training as an Agent for Omi-Tek general Department. She didn’t have much spending money but really needed some more garments, especially when she intended to go to the special ‘Welcome to Rubi-Ka’ Ball. She had felt quite lonely these days, and kept thinking of her beloved pet Poodle called ‘Pinky’, he had died just before she went off World. She missed the way he used to always come to her when she was upset, or fed up with things, he’d sit in front of her, and place a paw delicately on her lap, and would cry with her, whining. She opened her locket to see his cute little face looking up with an expression to suggest a ‘wink’ – as if to say ‘I’m watching over you Mum, I’ll protect you’. Ivy put away the locket that hung from her necklace, and entered the store in Omni-Ent.
She checked the clothing booth, there were clothes there, but all official uniforms of one sort or another, and she wondered where the Miir designer clothing store was? “Hmmm no good… tut… why do they never stock nice clothes?” She mumbled. She then moved to the maps booth, as she would be in the field in a month or so, would be could to know the area around her.
A large Atrox called Ghump was now looking at the clothing booth, he scratched his head, as he too didn’t see what he wanted. “No pants here today .” He sighed. The lady next to him (Kinkajou) also was perusing the wares of the machine. “Nope, no pants.” She said in confirmation. Just as Ivy had bought a map of 4 holes, the air crackled with static as several uniformed men warped in. Two immediately set lock tools onto the shop door. The leader (Leverivers) shouted to all in the shop, “Okay the Door has been bolted, Everyone is stuck in here and we are here for you money!!!”
“What?” Said Kinkajou.
“Ehmn?” Ghump said as he turned to face the robbers. Ivy couldn’t believe her eyes, these were clanners, and they were robbing in the heart of Omni Tek Territory! She wished she had carried her weapons with her, and thought that the other shoppers were thinking the same? One of the thieves (Shadyfixer) moved to Ghump and Kinkajou, whilst the other (Jandors) ran to where Zneyphinx and Meddoctor were.
They both demanded money, weapons cocked and ready.
“I’m warning you Zneyphinx!!!” Jandors shouted to which Zney ‘arrhhhhed’. Kinkajou hid behind the big Atrox.
“Don’t shoot!” Pleaded Zney. Although the Atrox was large, he also was unarmed and shouted for Help. “OK, OK don’t shoot” Ghump begged. Levrivers moved towards Ivy, her heart started to beat faster, suddenly he brought his gun up to her, “You’re gonna hand over your cash, NOW!” he demanded. She quickly handed all the creds she had.
“You’re gonna pay for this, you will sonny!” She said.
“Yeah yeah, we’ve heard that a million and one times already ‘Missy’!”
“Save us Ghump!” Shouted Medoctor.
“Hide me too Ghump!” Shouted Zney as he moved towards this Atrox stranger.
“Take Ghump, he’s… bigger boned!” said Zney to his oppressor Shadyfixer.
“You guys hide me!” The large Atrox tried to hide behind the others, to the amusement of the thieves.
A sparkle caught Lev’s eye from the platinum necklace that was around Ivy’s neck. “And that jewellery!” he shouted and motioned with his gun. No not my necklace, maybe he’ll let me take out my photo? This can’t be the Lev that I have heard about, if it is he will let me keep it? Ivy prayed as a tear welled up in her eye. She handed the necklace with the locket over to him reluctantly and slowly.
“OK here, but I want the photo back.” Ivy tried not to look vulnerable. Lev opened the locket and took the photo out, looked at it and smirked at the poodle looking at him in the picture. Jandors demanded Kinkajou’s dress, which she hated very much to give up, shocked she said to Ghump “He took my costume… I’ll be in trouble with Aktrez ”.
“Not anything special to you is it Ivy?” Lev said calmly.
“It’s a picture of my pet dog!” Anger was rising in her as he held it up in front of her.
“What THIS picture?” He suddenly ripped up the picture of Pinky before her eyes, helplessness and grief replaced the anger, and Ivy started to cry like a young girl. “Ha no more Mr. Doggy for you.” Laughed Lev.
“You Bast*rd!” She shouted though her tears, she fell to the floor sobbing, then she looked up to Lev and said through gritted teeth, “If he were still alive, he’d bite you’re dumb head off!” Kinkajou’s temper rose when she witnessed Levs cruelty. “Leave her alone… haven’t you done enough?” she moved over to where Ivy was, not caring if she would get shot, (which she didn’t).
“My Pinky!” cried Ivy. Kinkajou bent down and comforted her, wiping some of the tears from Ivy’s face.
“Let that Atrox go, he can run outside, shout in distress and we’ll have more people coming in here to rob.” Lev shouted, with which Jandors complied and undid the lock on the door. He looked to the two women before him, “You two in the trade room NOW!” he barked. Kinkajou didn’t look at the man but simply helped Ivy to her feet.
“Come on dear” she said softly, they both walked to the trade room, ivy was glad they hadn’t taken her clothes.
Ghump got up and ran to the door shouting “Heeeelllllpppp!!!!”, Lev quickly turned around and let off a shot at Ghump but missed do to the alarming speed at which the Atrox ran. When Ivy and Kinkajou got into the room the gang followed them, Lev shouted to the rest of his crew, “Remove em of all their clothes, lets humiliate this Omni scum!” Jandors moved towards Ivy who in turn moved behind the virtually naked Kinkajou.
“Now leave her be!” She demanded Jandors. Meanwhile Shadyfixer was having trouble getting money off the barkeep. The barkeeper had his weapon to hand and hidden under the bar, as Shady moved closer the barman pulled out the plasma rifle and started firing sporadically, Jandors and the rest all dived for cover to get a better attacking position. Ivy ran and dived behind the trade terminals, with Kinkajou following suit. Ivy hoped that the thieves would somehow not find them.
“This is Terrible!.. I’m not giving them my shoes” Kinkajou whispered.
“No, and I’m not giving them my clothes… But I don’t have anymore pictures of Pinky, sniff, sniff” Sobbed Ivy.
“He’s a terrible bast*rd for doing this to you. I hope he fries in Notum goo… He’s just terrible.” Kinkajou tried to keep her voice down. The firefight still continued, Lev motioned for a pincer movement on both flanks around the bar. His men started to move from position to position whilst one would give covering fire.
“What’s got into him? I heard that he was a joker, and a helper of people?” Ivy said through her uncontrollable sobs.
“Well you were either misinformed or he’s gone insane?” Kinkajou looked into the poor young girls’ eyes, as Ivy started to cry a bit more and leaned her head onto Kinkajou’s shoulder. When in position, the gang all popped up and completely peppered the bar, and the bartender. When the smoke had settled, Ivy peered from behind the trade terminal, she spotted Jandors coming their way.
“One of them’s coming our way.” Ivy looked terrified at this point, before Kinkajou could get them moving, Jandors was standing there, had caught them. Jandors pointed his weapon at Ivy who was so scared, she couldn’t move.
“Gimme your clothes!”
“Leave her alone you loser!” Kinkajou moved in between them.
“I’m warning you Ivy!!!” He meant business.
“Its OK Kink.” Ivy undressed down to her underwear, and was worried that he would want to take ‘more’.
“You’re such bast*rds” Kinkajou spat.
“It’s my job lady.”
“Some job.” Kinkajou stared at him, there was silence, and he was about to say something when Lev shouted for his gang to leave, which he did.
Thinking it wasn’t safe, the ladies stayed in the trade room. After some more moments of silence, Ivy spoke. “Why did they have to take our clothes?”
“I don’t know… It’s dumb. Or just plain mean.”
“Levrivers just wants to humiliate us as much as he possibly can the SOB!” Ivy said.
“You must be right.” Sighed Kinkajou.
“I’m only a recruit now… but I will arrest him one day… I SWEAR on it!”
“I know you will Ivy… it will take a little time, but for now I’m going straight to the Vixen security staff.”
“Good, I will inform my superiors too... They even murdered the barkeeper too!”
“I know… Why? For serving drinks? Senseless.” Kinkajou shook her head.
When they thought it safe the two walked cautiously into the shop floor, Kinkajou walked over to where the ripped up pieces of the photo lay and picked up the pieces.
“Maybe it can be restored if we get them all?” She said to Ivy, as Ivy dried out her tears and smiled.
“Yes, yes, best to look at the bright side ”
“I think it can be made to look alright, Ivy?”
“Thank you Kinkajou.” Ivy hugged her, Kinkajou tried not to start her own tears from falling as she handed them into Ivy’s shaking hand. They hugged once more.
“I’m gonna spread the word about that nasty man!” Said Ivy.
“Me too, be safe dear… If you ever need anything let me know.”
“You too Kink.” Said Ivy as Kink left the Shop.
When Ivy left the shop, her heart stopped! She saw the Levrivers gang who had just finished a fight with a couple of the Omni guards.
“You! PoisonIvy! Afraid that you are a witness to this!” Lev raised his gun, Ivy turned and started to run, the first blast hit a strut from a building, the second hit Ivy, her chest burst open and death was instant.