Bai Tza carefully pushed her way past the foliage as she made her way towards the prison. Valmont's plan had been exceptionally clever, especially since it involved absolutely no hint of Dark Hand involvement getting back to any authorities. The only drawback as far as Bai Tza was concerned was that it had her doing all the legwork, and most of it had to be done in her human form to minimize attention...which meant being on her legs a lot more than she liked. As much as she'd based her human form on how she'd looked as a Siren before her Demonic Ascension - save trading her fish tail for legs - it had still been eons since she'd been limited to this level of strength, and the first time in her life she'd spent an extended period of time on two feet. It wasn't entirely pleasant.
Given the environment and her intended roles, Valmont had selected an outfit for her that would be fitting and she'd used her magic to shape it over her body so it would change with her if she had to go liquid. She was wearing a two-color blue striped bikini top, a black vest, and tight fitting blue jeans with the cuffs rolled up, the combination looking somewhat dignified while still allowing her to show off and accentuate her figure. She didn't bother carrying anything with her this trip, since once she made it as far as the prison she'd be finding a different way in that didn't allow for belongings to be brought with.
Reaching the walls, she searched around and found the drain she'd been expecting. Smirking, she knelt down and slipped her hand into the drain, turning first her arm liquid before letting her entire body follow slowly and steadily. Her magic mapped the plumbing ahead of her, and led her to the prisoner Valmont had told her to look for...a silent bruiser by the name of Mongo. A giant of a man - easily eight feet tall and as broad at the shoulder - Mongo was the muscle of a gang that had been captured, and he'd been thrown in here as it was the only facility that could contain him. In his gang, he'd been the 'safe cracker', as he had frequently broken safes open by ripping them out of walls and digging his fingers into the hinges.
Three things made him ideal for Valmont's plan. First, despite being mute, he was surprisingly intelligent. Second, a long time on good behavior had given him free reign of the prisoner areas, including such areas as the unloading dock for supplies and the laundry room, granting him more than enough leeway to find the portal once he had the Pan'ku Box...which he could easily hide just by closing one hand around it. Third and most important, he had a son on the outside by the 'street name' of DJ Fist, a skilled mechanic and bruiser in his own right. A promise to reunite the man with his son once he was outside would get his cooperation...and the promise coming from Valmont would earn his loyalty.
Still, it was one thing to be told about such a man. Even for a Demoness like Bai Tza, being confronted by the reality of a man who needed to have his own bathroom in his cell because he'd walk through the bars if he needed to go in the middle of the night and had enough thick black hair to be mistaken for a black bear was quite another. "Well aren't you a morsel," she found herself purring. She couldn't help it. As a Siren, she'd seduced quite a number of sailors to a last dalliance before drowning them, and she'd been especially fond of the Vikings. Even underwater, they lasted much longer, making the experience far better for her.
Mongo turned towards the sink and stared into the water, a thick, bushy eyebrow raised inquiringly.
Bai Tza made sure it was her human face visible in the water, then spoke more carefully. "I bring a message from Valmont of the Dark Hand," she explained softly. Seeing this immediately got her the giant's full attention, she continued. "Valmont has business here in this facility. If you act as his agent, you will be freed from here, recruited into the Dark Hand, and reunited with 'DJ Fist'. Is this agreeable to you?"
Mongo stared down at her for a time, then cupped a hand to his ear, beckoning with the other.
"My brother is imprisoned here, though not physically," Bai Tza explained. "Valmont will arrange for the key to his cell to reach the loading dock. You will then carry the key around until it finds his cell, somewhere in this prison. Once my brother is released, he will give you further instructions to keep his escape hidden, and the pair of you will escape during the night."
Mongo stared at her for a time, then nodded.
Bai Tza grinned. "The warden's birthday is coming up. This includes a delivery of a cake and a huge carton of ice cream for the guards. Volunteer to carry the ice cream to the kitchen. The key will be a blue box hidden in the carton of ice cream. I will be waiting for you and my brother the night of the planned escape. With luck, no one will know of our involvement, and we'll all be home free."
Mongo nodded, then turned back to his own business as Bai Tza withdrew out the plumbing, making her way back to her pick up point to spend some time with Valmont. He'd promised a 'suitable reward' to appease her complaints about doing all the leg work...and there was a mountain resort not far away he owned a good number of shares in...
Mongo had 'volunteered' to carry the ice cream by the simple expedient of being there at the loading dock when the truck arrived. When one of the guards picked up the cake and called for a forklift for the ice cream, Mongo had stepped up, wrapped his arms around the tub, and hefted. The guards had been surprised at his eagerness to help, but had thanked him, glad they didn't need to bring any machinery around.
Mongo had then made his way down the hallways of the prison towards the kitchen. Stepping into the freezer, he set the tub down and lifted the lid. The box was right where he'd been told, and he enfolded it in his right hand as he turned and left. Given the layout of the prison hallways, the fact that the 'key' hadn't reacted at all eliminated most of the wing, leaving only the laundry as far as areas he had free access to check. It was either that or solitary, and those cells were too small for him.
Once in the laundry room, he felt the box in his hand vibrating, and he opened his hand. It floated into the air, embedded itself in the wall, and opened a glowing portal. From out of the portal, a figure that resembled a giant purple-grey and green poison dart frog leapt out...though giant was a relative term, since Mongo looked down on him.
The figure stared up at him in surprise as the portal closed, the box falling to the floor. "Well, aren't you a large figure," it declared in an echoing voice, its red eyes glowing. He looked Mongo over for a time. "...yes, this is a form I can take. Grab the box."
Mongo stepped over and picked up the box. When he turned for further instructions, he looked at...himself.
"Stay here," his copy said in the frog's voice. "Crouch behind the machines so no one will see you. Stay perfectly still until my sister comes for you."
Nodding, Mongo stepped behind the machines, crouched down, and waited. He heard his copy walking out of the room and back towards his cell.
Mongo waited.
Night fell, and Bai Tza slipped into the prison in liquid form. Leaving the pipes, she made her way to the electrical systems. She didn't like this part as dealing with electricity hurt, but Valmont's method gave her the least interaction with it. Reaching the power room, she found the cables connected to the security cameras and the spotlights, carefully cut the rubber casings open, and shed a few droplets. The current arched, and she flinched back as the system went down. A quick restoration spell on the rubber, and no one would be the wiser. It would seem like a perfectly ordinary short in the system.
Heading back for the laundry room, she revealed her human face to Mongo. "Follow me," she instructed firmly before zooming down the halls. Mongo was hot on her currently-nonexistent-heels. She quickly led him to the prison grounds, avoiding the guard patrols as they met up with Xiao Fung.
"Grab hold," Xiao instructed Mongo, who immediately grabbed hold of his copy. Bai Tza took human form and latched onto her brother, who promptly leapt over the walls with the three of them and into the woods beyond. "Now run!" Xiao Fung ordered, racing forward as fast as he could go, shifting his own body into a much smaller temporary human form.
Before long, the three of them reached a road where a bus was waiting for them. Valmont - dressed in exceptionally plain blue clothes and a cap - handed Mongo clothes in his size. "Get changed and get on," he ordered firmly. Mongo did as instructed as the group clambered onto the tour bus, which was filled with Dark Hand agents in 'tourist garb' that the Chans hadn't met.
Getting behind the wheel, Valmont turned the engine over and drove at a sedate pace down the road. Once they'd made it a few miles along, he relaxed completely. "We'll reach the coast by sunrise," he offered warmly. "Bai, can you handle the four of us underwater?"
"Easily," Bai Tza praised. "But tell me, what would you have done if I couldn't?"
"I would have called in a transport for Mongo and I," Valmont explained simply. "Then you and Xiao would have made your way back however you could manage. This way, no one will even know we were here."
Xiao Fung chuckled to himself. "Very clever, human," he offered warmly. "You picked a good one, sister."
"In more ways than just that," Bai Tza purred suggestively, shooting Valmont the naughtiest pair of bedroom eyes he'd ever seen outside porn.
Swallowing nervously, he continued driving, wondering - not for the first time - how he was ever going to keep up with this woman. It seemed that even if it was not water that killed him, he'd still eventually drown in her affections as all her previous human suitors had...though it certainly promised to be a pleasant final fate.
OH DAMN!!! Second Demon Successfully freed!! Yup, this is shaping up to be a damned fine set-up and is only getting better!! With the Chans not getting in the way, we see more of the evil side of things!! ...and can I just say I like it alot?
Wow, almost 2k words. Getting bigger chapters I see.
Again you are making this easy:
So what are you gonna do with Hsi Wu as he is a child in his human form
camo.derpicdn.net/39fdc63025fc8351a161c5b86f088222cceb11aa?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.fR4y3aQifatPjcjFVZ7JFQEsDh%26amp%3Bpid%3D15.1
And in the original jade had a crush on his human alter ego
Mongo had the key to the plan well in hand.
I'd say Mongo had his just deserts when Valmont came up with this plan.
Guess we know Valmont won't drown in af- *sees Tat already made that joke* Least we know Bai is gonna have a real deep relationship with Val when all is said and done.
# 7 on Top 10 Reasons to Use Viagra
This is the very first character I thought of... BRILLIANT!
Nitpick: Pretty much all prison cells have a stainless steel toilet and sink in them. ^^;; Guards don't take inmates on bathroom breaks.
I'm beginning to wonder what you have up your sleeve for the finale of this season. So far you... well, you've petty much all but punted canon out the window at this point. The only truly canon things left is history and the characters themselves.
I can't imagine Shendu will get out of this in any way that he'll be happy with, so he's likely to make a go at the Book at some point. I wonder if the book will hold a record of the Crusaders' lives. Considering they're not natives to this universe... it may be a similar situation as Pinkie and the Fates in You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter.
8053517 You know, I once bitched at him for his small chapters? He pretty much put paid to that with logic. Then I started writing again and... well, I'm not much better. I gotta say... crow pie does not get easier to swallow with repetition.
...
Wait, why are we cheering for them to win?
8053570 Counternitpick: She was surprised, so it's possible to assume things were different in the past and she hasn't cared enough to pay attention to see that prison cells have toilets now until she met him. Could go both ways plausibly.
I'm glad her family approves. I honestly want to see Valmont be on good terms with her family if they're reasonable and respect him.
I can see Uncle whipping up a stamina potion and giving Valmont the recipe so he can make it himself as part of a deal to let both sides part without fighting if needed in the future. I can just picture Valmont with a Magic Bullet (Maybe Literally) blender and making his daily smoothie after a night with his beloved.
Very nice chapter, good infiltration. I want to suggest that like Tohru, Mongo likes the Crusaders and if it doesn't conflict with his current orders tries to keep them safe from danger. Now I want to see Mongo, Tohru, and El Toro all face off in a three way arm wrestling contest to see who is the strongest.
8053537 yeah, me to.
8053583 Because it's fun to see a competent villain and the interactions between Valmont and the demons are very interesting.]
8053570 It might also be specially reinforced and secured to both hold his weight and ensure he can't just rip it free to use as a weapon.
8053570
In the actual episode, the cells didn't.
wat
I mean, granted, Tohru exists in this world, but still.
There are worse ways for a criminal mastermind to go out.
8053571
Plot Twist: The good guys get so desperate that they go for the Book.
Also I no longer really care about the CMC, can we just make this a story about Valmont and Bae and roll with that?
On a more serious note, I really need to see some demons being evil, cuz I am having seriously conflicted feelings about this, and I need to have my moral compass patched and reaffirmed.
8053537
<punches out a horse>
8053641
Eh, it was only Jet Set, he totally had it coming.
I really hope when we get to the part with the book that can rewrite history we get a reason why no one ever uses it. Also I bet when we reach that part Shendu or Wong does a double cross that causes a team up between both sides.
I don't recall a character named Mongo, if he's new I would suggest keeping OC characters to a minimum, this seasons cast is already gonna be full of characters we don't need more take more space. Since the fact that Bai Tza was in liquid mode the whole time she was in the prison I don't see the point of her dressing all sexy like when there's no one around to see it, she might as well be naked........I just a Ghost in the Shell vibe from that. Though I would wonder in a hypothetical scenario what would her reaction be if she was walking past a construction zone and was getting catcalls by the workers? Seriously how hard is it to get some art here, have you checked to to see if anyone has already made any humanized Bai Tza in the past?
8053668
If you check the latest blog tagging this story, you'll see the description of her outfit is based on art a friend made specifically for this story.
Edit: Also, the reason for being dressed even if she's going in liquid was in case she came across a guard before finding the drain. That look plus speaking a different language would distract the guard enough she could continue the mission.
8053583
Because any well-written villain, no matter how devious their intentions, will be interesting to watch if they are highly motivated. Think of characters like Tony Soprano or Jack Sparrow, people we can easily say are completely unlikable and morally bereft, but because they work hard for their goals and display interesting quirks in what they do, we root for them.
8053674
Huh, my notifications have been a bit buggy lately. But at least now I have an image in my head for future chapters.
8053522
I'm still hoping for that ship, by the way.
Aiyah! Valmont has freed a second Demon with no one being any the wiser! He is a Magnificent Bastard, and he hasn't even written a book!
One more thing! Mixing references to "Blazing Saddles" with foreshadowing of characters to come? Echo is pleased by this!
One more thing! Echo looks forward to next chapter!
8053537 Candygram.
The way Mongo is described (giant of a man with thick black hair, and comparable to a sailor), he sounds more like Bluto.
8053524 If it wasn't Tats that beat you to the punsh, I'd say your losing your joke.
8053635 I'd say that was more the animators failing to do research, but OK.
8053870
Awwww, everyone else made the Blazing Saddles references I wanted to do!!! Well good choices everyone! Glad we're all on the same Pinkie Page!
8053888
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/popeye/images/3/32/Bluto_Tattoo.gif/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20160912204357
8053537 Curses! Beaten to the punch!
Quick question, how did I just start loving this story more than I already had?
Ok, I'm loving the approach you're taking with the demons here. Jackie and company are going to have a Hell of a time resealing them this time around...
Now they have two and the Chans don't even know
8053657
Hey, valmont got his heavy slot filled again!! Time for things to take a turn for the absolutely batshit!
8054264
Well, they might notbhave seen Bai Tza be released, but they may well be operating under the assumption that he succeeded without their realizing it.
8054406 There is no connection to the Dark Hand, so they can't know another demon is out unless there is a dispositive that say "X Demon is out"
8054420what you said before seemed to suggest that the Chans didnt know Bai Tza was free, which, lookong back a couple chapters, is not the case.
It is true that they don't know about the demon freed in this chapter, but that isn't what I was talking about.
8053679 That makes sense.
8053662 Ahem: http://ferretcomic.com/188
SHOW ME! SHOW YOU!
Chapter One Hundred
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 45
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 80
( ahem ) here lies Valmont. he died a most plesent death that any man would be pleased to have.
Another demon free, this time with the Chan having no clue about it.
Valmont you lucky lucky bastard
Wow, 100 chapters! Keep up the good work!
Come on Chan clan, you guys are losing the game. Step it up.
I guess Hak Foo wasn't a big enough man?
.....damn it, valmont got my waifu..
8054760
But what about sonata's pony?
8053818
The one thing I can't get out of my mind is that the B.S. Mongo did a heel turn. I wonder how this Mongo will react to pretty ponies.