Tales of the Kudoverse #7

So we're in the middle of another three-part story. Like I said last time, there are a few other stories that fit between #6 and #7, which I haven't written yet, so if it seems as though things jump way ahead, well, they kinda do. I don't think, however, that they jump so far that it's hard to follow.

This one was tricky. In a departure from most, if not all, of the other tales, this one is pretty much all conversation with very little actual violence. I'm going to write a post soonish describing my takes on the principal characters and all of the disciplines I try to adhere to while building this universe, but some of them apply to this story here. On the one side we have Dynamite Kudo, who is an extremely persuasive and manipulative evil genius, and on the other side is Kitten Mundae, who is a hardnosed, no-nonsense killer for hire ... and a telepath. So the problem I was trying to work through was: how would Kudo go about winning over someone who she can't lie to, because that other person can read her mind? There are also a few Easter eggs hidden in the details of this one, just because I love to do that sort of thing.

*****

Amelie Anne Marie Auf Der Maur spent two years on the run. The skrulls were only ever two steps behind her, no matter where she ran. The more of them she killed, the more they sent the next time. They never stopped coming. And the more she had to fight, the more Amelie learned what the enhanced genetics in her body could do. By the time she landed in Spain, Amelie had killed almost 100 of the aliens. They would not stop, and the more they pursued her, the more she learned how to kill efficiently.

Not that her skills were displayed against the Skrulls exclusively. Her talents attracted the attention of numerous, and very powerful, contacts throughout Europe. Many of these contacts were willing to pay her exorbitant sums of money to eliminate their enemies for them. It wasn't long before her asking price skyrocketed.

By late 1995 her number of contract kills almost matched the number of Skrulls Amelie had exterminated. In the spring of 1996, Amelie Auf Der Maur was the 4th ranked assassin in the world, but she expected to move up that list. #'s 1 and 2 were busy trying to kill each other in New York City over some business with the Kingpin. The third name on the list was the blond psychopath Amelie encountered in Switzerland six months earlier, when both of them were looking to collect the same bounty on the same prey. The only thing that stopped them from killing each other was the Skrull war party that interrupted them. Amelie could never work for the same client for long, because of them. She had to stay on the move.

August. 1996. She was in Spain on a job for Ahmal Farouk. An easy kill. The target was a head of state, his family, and any witnesses. A child could pull this job off; it was almost beneath her talents. Or it was a trap. Amelie kept on her toes throughout the entire operation. Once on the grounds, she reached out with her telepathy and pinpointed the location of everyone on the premises. She counted eleven. The target, the wife, the three children, two servants, and four security guards. Piece of cake.

The security barely put up a fight and was disposed of in minutes. The servants were even easier. The wife was next, and then the children. The target was left for last, as Farouk had specified, so that he could suffer the losses of his loved ones. Amelie questioned the wisdom of leaving the target alive for even that long, but for the money Farouk was paying her she didn't really care. A single bullet through his head finished the job just the same.

On her way out of the mansion Amelie encountered a presence she hadn't been aware of. Another young woman stood in front of the door. A breeze from outside blew strands of black hair across her face. Startled, Amelie drew her rifle, aiming at the woman's forehead.

"Hold up, killer," the woman says. "Before you pull that trigger, let's you and I have a conversation. There might be something in it for you."

"Who are you?"

"Elspeth Von Zemo. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Amelie. I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time."

Elspeth moves forward a step and extends a hand in greeting. Amelie keeps the rifle aimed at her head.

"Don't get cute," Amelie says. "One twitch out of you and I'll put a bullet through you."

"Or I could just dodge the bullet."

"You can try."

Elspeth grins at her. "Maybe we won't have to find out. Let's talk."

"How do you know who I am?"

"I know lots of things about you, my dear. You might say you've become something of a hobby of mine."

"Zemo...Zemo....I know who you are. Elspeth Von Zemo. Elspeth the Bloody. Diablo speaks highly of you. The Mad Thinker, too."

"That's very flattering."

"And your sister. She's the maniac who tried to kill me in Switzerland."

"Yes, Jillyana mentioned you. I have to say that it's impressive to have survived an encounter with her. Not many do."

"She's the first person that's ever walked away from me, too."

"Oh, I know. You come very recommended, darling. You have quite the reputation already. A number of my contacts pointed me in your direction. I just regret it's taken this long for us to meet."

"Farouk. He set me up."

"Some money changed hands, yes. He owed me a favor over some mutant business, so he helped me out with meeting you."

"Why didn't I know you were here? Why can't I read your mind?"

"Because of this." Elspeth indicates a charm on the necklace she wears. "It's old AIM hardware, blocks telepathic intrusion. Very handy, given the sort of people I go up against. Not even Farouk, or Charles Xavier, could punch a hole through it."

"You knew I was a telepath."

"Yes. I did my homework."

"Nobody knows that. Not even Farouk could tell, and I felt him reaching around in my head. How do you know so much about me?"

"Like I said, you're something of a hobby of mine, Amelie."

Amelie tightens her finger on the trigger. "Why?"

"Because you're special...unique. And I could use you on my team."

"What do you know about me."

"Amelie Ann Marie Auf Der Maur. Age 15. Escaped from the Children of Azoth orphanage two years ago. High range telepathic abilities. Enhanced physical abilities due to genetic tampering, primarily due to feline DNA which was combined with your own. This was done by aliens known as the Chitauri, although they're primarily known as Skrulls on this world. They've been hunting you ever since."

A shiver travels up and down Amelie's spine.

"You know about them?"

"Of course. The Chitauri have been here for more than sixty years. The creatures set up shop during the confusion of the war, and on both sides. Even my grandfather had some dealings with them. They have outposts and facilities in a dozen locations all over the world. That orphanage was their only genetic research laboratory, though. They were building killers, like you. Your group was the big test run. Out of the fourteen girls they started with, six of them died during the operations, and you escaped. You were the only one that ever escaped. Very embarrassing for them. It's no wonder they're trying so hard to get you back."

"How do you know all this?"

"I have a girl working for me. She's good at hacking into anything, even when the technology is from another world. She can get me anything, more or less. I asked, she provided the info, then I studied up on you."

"Why are you so interested in me?"

"I'm assembling a team. I think you could be a vital part of that team. The world is changing. And I'm part of the reason why. Oh, I have some big plans for the world, darling. You could be part of those plans. We could change the world together."

"I have my own thing going. It suits me."

"Isn't it lonely out here on your own? Wouldn't you like to stop running?"

Amelie falters at the trigger, but only for a moment.

"I've been doing all right on my own."

"You have. There's no doubt about that. What I'm offering is a chance to come in out of the cold, a chance to join my little family, an opportunity to be part of something much bigger. With me, you'll never have to run ever again. And I could use someone as skilled as you are, too. From what my Intel says, you're the best shot in the world. If you enjoy the work as much as I suspect you do, I can guarantee you'll never be bored."

"What about the Skrull? They're still after me."

"The Chitauri are no friends of mine. Their presence here is very inconvenient for me, in fact. If you joined us, I could help you with that little problem. I think I'd quite enjoy it, in fact."

"These plans you mentioned. What are they?"

Elspeth removes the necklace and lets it drop to the ground.

"I'm thinking about them right....now."

Amelie reaches inside Elspeth's brain, and finds what she was looking for. Her eyes widen; she can't believe what she's reading.

"Joking, of course."

"Not at all. And while you're in there, you can verify everything else I've said as completely accurate."

Amelie thinks this over for several seconds. She lowers the gun.

"All right. I just have to see this for myself."

"That's the spirit, darling. Come along with me. I'll take you home."

"And the Skrulls?"

"Will be taken care of. You have my word."

"And your sister."

"Already knows I've come to find you. Don't worry your pretty little head about her."

Amelie looks off into the distance.

"I would like to stop running."

Elspeth puts her arm around Amelie as they both walk towards the black jet waiting to fly them back to Berlin.

"Amelie, my dear. You are about to have the most fun you've ever had in your life."