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Description
Kim felt naked. No armor, no assault rifle, no power mace, and even her ever present cybernetic crab spider legs had been taken off in exchange for a business suit. The comforting feel of several pistols and combat knives hidden on her helped maintain some feeling of normalcy. Not to mention the dozen robot spiders hidden around the factory area just in case. Hair pinned up, glasses and clipboard completed the outfit of a manager overseeing a delivery.

Five trucks unloaded a number of crates containing specialized manufacturing equipment. Their placement was being overseen by Dale Rendick. Dale was quite a find. Former researcher for the DoD in exotic weapons, let go because of his suspected ties to international weapons trade. The ties were real, Dale is an expert in a variety of advanced weapons manufacturing, and had a hand in the technology behind a number of villain's arsenals.

When all the machinery was unloaded and in place, loading bay doors locked, Kim went up to Dale.

"Are we all set to begin the first production run?"

"Just as soon as your payment to my account is confirmed."

Dale took out his cell phone and accesses his secure banking application. A moment later he put the phone away "Transaction confirmed, we can finish set up today and start production in the morning."

"You sound surprised. Did you think I would try to scam you?"

"No, nothing like that. Last year you had a few big fights, but since then there was not much word out on what you have been up to. No big heists, no connections to smuggling or black market trade. It didn't seem likely you would be able to pay the full amount up front with no income that I could see.

Kim chuckled a little. "I wouldn't think you were usually concerned how your customers made their money." Taking off her coat, Kim turned and headed for the office area without checking if Dale was following.

"I've had many profitable operations before I came to this city. Enough starting capital to establish financial organizations to fund my plans."

Dale asked "Drugs?"

"Not at all. It is funny, rob a bank for a few measly thousands and every hero in the city will gladly jump on you. Rip off millions, destroy people's lives, businesses, and the environment, and it is perfectly legal if you are a corporate executive. One can even receive millions in payment for running a company into the ground." Kim opened the office door, tossing the clipboard and her coat on a desk. She pulled off the glasses and let down her hair, shaking it out.

"True, so you got hired as one of those execs? Wouldn't mind seeing the interview, especially how you answered the previous experience question"

Kim started unbuttoning her blouse. "That would be the easiest method to get a large amount of money, but it is also too visible. Too easy to follow the money. It is better to be an anonymous investor who knows where the real money is being made. If you can find a corporation that is run by or uses super villains then you can tap into their profit streams without drawing much attention."

"That could be tricky. They would hide their true money makers, and more than once I worked on a project that was 'stolen' and then sold on the black market."

Kim threw her top over the back of the office chair. Dale enjoyed the show as she opened up a closet and took out her armor, slipping on the first layer of upper body defense. "Yes, you need a sense of what their plans are. Some are easier to see than others. Buying up all the waterfront property after a tidal wave is not quite as clear as buying the city power plant. You did remember to get generators installed for when the rolling blackouts come right?"

"Of course. Also made sure the emergency lighting is working, and water storage. We should be pretty self sufficient here."

"Excellent" Kim turned to face Dale. A panel in the wall behind her opened up revealing large metallic spider like device. The four legs reached out, crawling like the arachnid it resembled, out of the hidden closet. It climbed up her back and balanced on her shoulders. Cybernetic plugs inserted themselves into ports on her back, locking into place. "Aahhh.. much better. Felt almost crippled without my legs."

"What about defenses for the factory? I haven't seen much beyond standard security systems"

Kim's kicked off her shoes and her skirt hit the floor. Dale much preferred watching these legs to the mechanical ones, though those were rather impressive in their own way. "Advanced security would call a little too much attention to us here. I'm relying more on camouflage. That and altering address information in public records and posting on the walls outside so any investigation would lead people to the building next door. The Nazi base underneath there will likely take the blame for any investigation leading to us."

"Nazis?!? They have a base next door?"

Putting on the rest of her armor. "Yes. They already do a good job of keeping away anyone too curious from the neighborhood. As long as we keep out of their business they won't care too much about ours. There, now I feel normal again."

Dale nodded in agreement. "That does make for an interesting security perimeter."

The now fully armored and armed Kim Paler sat down behind the desk and turned on the computer, calling up several local news websites and blogs. "hmm..Looks like good news today. Mindy Marvel is rising in the polls. It is starting to look like she could win the mayoral race."

"Good news? I would think you'd see her fail after having fought her before."

Kim scowled a little at the memory of that fight. "Yes, I do owe her some payback for the damage she did. It was not easy getting replacement parts at the time. But I want her to be mayor. I've contributed to her campaign, as well as to the town council members who oppose her. Steel chains can't hold Mindy, but red tape, bureaucracy, and political infighting will hold her helpless behind a desk. When disasters come she will not be able to go flying into the fight, not without looking like she is abandoning her duties, just as she accuses the current mayor of doing. Politics is a dirty, dirty fight and I can't wait to see her dragged down into the mud." Kim smiled again "it will be interesting to see how she, as mayor, will handle my next venture. It should be in full operation by the time she is elected."

-------------------------------------------------

Another story of

Just a little catching up on what Kim has been up to.

Mindy Marvel Mentioned Menacingly belongs to

and aluded to a few other people's stories/characters.

Description
Kim felt naked. No armor, no assault rifle, no power mace, and even her ever present cybernetic crab spider legs had been taken off in exchange for a business suit. The comforting feel of several pistols and combat knives hidden on her helped maintain some feeling of normalcy. Not to mention the dozen robot spiders hidden around the factory area just in case. Hair pinned up, glasses and clipboard completed the outfit of a manager overseeing a delivery.

Five trucks unloaded a number of crates containing specialized manufacturing equipment. Their placement was being overseen by Dale Rendick. Dale was quite a find. Former researcher for the DoD in exotic weapons, let go because of his suspected ties to international weapons trade. The ties were real, Dale is an expert in a variety of advanced weapons manufacturing, and had a hand in the technology behind a number of villain's arsenals.

When all the machinery was unloaded and in place, loading bay doors locked, Kim went up to Dale.

"Are we all set to begin the first production run?"

"Just as soon as your payment to my account is confirmed."

Dale took out his cell phone and accesses his secure banking application. A moment later he put the phone away "Transaction confirmed, we can finish set up today and start production in the morning."

"You sound surprised. Did you think I would try to scam you?"

"No, nothing like that. Last year you had a few big fights, but since then there was not much word out on what you have been up to. No big heists, no connections to smuggling or black market trade. It didn't seem likely you would be able to pay the full amount up front with no income that I could see.

Kim chuckled a little. "I wouldn't think you were usually concerned how your customers made their money." Taking off her coat, Kim turned and headed for the office area without checking if Dale was following.

"I've had many profitable operations before I came to this city. Enough starting capital to establish financial organizations to fund my plans."

Dale asked "Drugs?"

"Not at all. It is funny, rob a bank for a few measly thousands and every hero in the city will gladly jump on you. Rip off millions, destroy people's lives, businesses, and the environment, and it is perfectly legal if you are a corporate executive. One can even receive millions in payment for running a company into the ground." Kim opened the office door, tossing the clipboard and her coat on a desk. She pulled off the glasses and let down her hair, shaking it out.

"True, so you got hired as one of those execs? Wouldn't mind seeing the interview, especially how you answered the previous experience question"

Kim started unbuttoning her blouse. "That would be the easiest method to get a large amount of money, but it is also too visible. Too easy to follow the money. It is better to be an anonymous investor who knows where the real money is being made. If you can find a corporation that is run by or uses super villains then you can tap into their profit streams without drawing much attention."

"That could be tricky. They would hide their true money makers, and more than once I worked on a project that was 'stolen' and then sold on the black market."

Kim threw her top over the back of the office chair. Dale enjoyed the show as she opened up a closet and took out her armor, slipping on the first layer of upper body defense. "Yes, you need a sense of what their plans are. Some are easier to see than others. Buying up all the waterfront property after a tidal wave is not quite as clear as buying the city power plant. You did remember to get generators installed for when the rolling blackouts come right?"

"Of course. Also made sure the emergency lighting is working, and water storage. We should be pretty self sufficient here."

"Excellent" Kim turned to face Dale. A panel in the wall behind her opened up revealing large metallic spider like device. The four legs reached out, crawling like the arachnid it resembled, out of the hidden closet. It climbed up her back and balanced on her shoulders. Cybernetic plugs inserted themselves into ports on her back, locking into place. "Aahhh.. much better. Felt almost crippled without my legs."

"What about defenses for the factory? I haven't seen much beyond standard security systems"

Kim's kicked off her shoes and her skirt hit the floor. Dale much preferred watching these legs to the mechanical ones, though those were rather impressive in their own way. "Advanced security would call a little too much attention to us here. I'm relying more on camouflage. That and altering address information in public records and posting on the walls outside so any investigation would lead people to the building next door. The Nazi base underneath there will likely take the blame for any investigation leading to us."

"Nazis?!? They have a base next door?"

Putting on the rest of her armor. "Yes. They already do a good job of keeping away anyone too curious from the neighborhood. As long as we keep out of their business they won't care too much about ours. There, now I feel normal again."

Dale nodded in agreement. "That does make for an interesting security perimeter."

The now fully armored and armed Kim Paler sat down behind the desk and turned on the computer, calling up several local news websites and blogs. "hmm..Looks like good news today. Mindy Marvel is rising in the polls. It is starting to look like she could win the mayoral race."

"Good news? I would think you'd see her fail after having fought her before."

Kim scowled a little at the memory of that fight. "Yes, I do owe her some payback for the damage she did. It was not easy getting replacement parts at the time. But I want her to be mayor. I've contributed to her campaign, as well as to the town council members who oppose her. Steel chains can't hold Mindy, but red tape, bureaucracy, and political infighting will hold her helpless behind a desk. When disasters come she will not be able to go flying into the fight, not without looking like she is abandoning her duties, just as she accuses the current mayor of doing. Politics is a dirty, dirty fight and I can't wait to see her dragged down into the mud." Kim smiled again "it will be interesting to see how she, as mayor, will handle my next venture. It should be in full operation by the time she is elected."

-------------------------------------------------

Another story of

Just a little catching up on what Kim has been up to.

Mindy Marvel Mentioned Menacingly belongs to

and aluded to a few other people's stories/characters.