CHAPTER 055: The alley cat club....

Across town, 3 Teenagers and a monster roughly in the shape of a cat waited uncomfortably. They were backstage at the Alley Cat Club, a truly duplicitous place.

True to its name, the interior designer thought "dumpster" when decorating the place; The bar was framed with old pieces of sheet metal, the concrete walls were filled with graffiti, the high ceiling was lit with flickering fluorescent lamps, The furniture was all made from reclaimed material, and the floor had an old newspaper acting as impromptu tumbleweed.

But the well dressed men, scantily clad women in cat uniforms and, most importantly, the drink prices tell a different story. This dumpster is, in fact, a club whose waiting list is even coveted. Similarly, while the teenagers were all dressed like they just stepped out of the apocalypse, they were playing a jazz set tonight.

"Well, it's been five minutes. I say we cancel," Dusty said, clearly unhappy about the new material.

"I agree, you don't want to make a deal with that guy," Lead-foot said while floating next to Juniper.

"hey June, what do you think? Chinchilla hat, or should I do the whole show while riding an alpaca."

"hrmmm... Go with the alpaca; I don't think we'll be able to get them to set the thermostat low enough for the hat."

"June, why do you even want those modified guns? Aren't you busy enough, as it is?"

"Well, if the Drummer is as powerful as you say, then we are guaranteed haunted houses every time, right? So, I should be prepared."

"Okay, but what you're imagining isn't for fighting ghosts... At least, I think it isn't."

"Yeah, but we could swap out the rubber bullets for silver or garlic bullets or whatever special weakness of the day is needed. Plus, what if the next undercover hero isn't so nice?"

"Come to think of it, he wasn't so nice either..."

ONE FLASHBACK AGO...

In the secret bottom of the Ohio Asylum; a ghost, a hero, and a demon were just wrapping things up.

"I am going to wake the others up now."

SNAP!

"Huh? What happened?"

Dusty remained sleeping, while Juniper fell over.

"Are you okay," the Mystery Drummer asked.

"I'm just not used to waking up standing."

"Hey, what does this button do," the John suddenly asked.

"NO, DON'T PUSH IT!"

The speakers across the entire facility all blared the same message:

"Self destruct sequence, activated..."

…

"In his defense, that was one push-able button."

"Oh, I forgot. You are the one who usually does that."

A nearby broom closet opened, and out stepped the Mystery Drummer.

"So, no luck on the extra hands, I take it," Dusty asked, his hand already on the golden bus key.

"Nope, I found some."

Three very confused freshman heroes followed him out of the closet.

"Weren't we just in a hospital," Octo-vine asked.

"My burns! They're gone!?!"

"Who changed me out of my gown? Truckzilla won't tolerate strange hands on his junk!"

"These three have just formed a band. They'll follow us on tour as an opening act."

"We did need one of those," Juniper said.

"This also means we can do those duets you've been writing."

"Oh my god, you're right," Sandra exclaimed while brushing Jeff's green coat.

"And this fellow is part truck, so he should be a more capable assistant on mechanic work compared to mister Whiskers."

"I could tell the bus to add an extra room, or two. But we're not splitting the take for tonight!"

"Fine, I'm sure you three can accept that speedy medical service as payment for tonight only."

"We haven't even made any songs yet, how can we open for you?"

"Simple, my ten armed friend; you don't open. This is a special jazz set for my birthday, so you all just need to do accompaniment. You play the brass section, the fiery girl can dance and do pyrotechnics, and have Truckzilla do symbols or something."

"I can do the clangers real good."

"Is that an instrument?"

"No, I just clang bits of myself together."

"... Just don't step on my drum solo!"

Meanwhile, at the entrance, two familiar figures were skipping the line entirely.

"Thank you, Janet."

"You got it, Lynn!"

"Wow, I didn't know my idol was a regular at such a fancy club as this. Makes sense, though, given how amazing you are."

Mistress Stunlock stopped, having almost forgotten La Tejóna was with her. A sadistic thought popped into her head suddenly, and the young woman immediately acted on it.

"Janet, didn't Christiana call out sick?"

"She did. Oh, I couldn't ask the floor manager to work tables! Dmitri would kill me!"

"No, her."

"Me?"

La Tejóna wanted to complain, as this wasn't her idea of a date with her idol. but, seeing the evil smile on Mistress Stunlock's face, all resistance crumbled away.

Still, she insisted on keeping the mask; that was a red line. Amused, Stunlock permitted it, and La Tejóna found herself at a table 5 minutes later. What surprised her, and made her blush, was its occupant.

"Now the floor manager will conduct your orientation. Listen to everything she says!"

"Ah! Yes ma'am!"

"Relax, sit," Mistress Stunlock commanded, motioning her hand like a big spender.

"I have to say, I never expected you to have such... tastes in first dates."

"Date? Fu, fu, fu... This is punishment."

"Wha, what!?! What did I do?"

"You need to be told? That's extra punishment."

"Oh lord, I don't know if I'll make it through this date," La Tejóna thought while breathing heavily.

"Relax! Now, did you read the handbook?"

"Yes!"

"Good. What do you say when greeting a client?"

"Do I... Do I have to?"

SNAP!

"Nooo! Don't take my picture!"

"Are you embarrassed by the uniform? Maybe it should be your costume, tomorrow."

"Nooo! I'll do the greeting!"

Whether she shivered from shame, excitement, or both is unknown. Her curtsey, however, was perfect.

"This stray cat Lola greets you! Please buy me lots of milk, meow!"

"Excellent, good... Now practice what to do when the customer gets handsy."

"...I don't know. I think I could practice better if you played the customer."

In the darkness of the club, the two leaned closer towards one another. But, just as things were about to get real steamy, a surprised voice interrupted them.

"Lynn, what are you doing here? And who's your friend?"

Yes, it was the John! He carried a passed out Cosmo on his shoulder, and his gaze was filled with suspicion.

Mistress Stunlock, not even understanding her own feelings a moment ago, short circuited.

"Daddy!?!"

"Oh, she called me daddy!"

The John fainted from joy, collapsing with Cosmo to the floor. As if that wasn't bad enough, the band just stopped playing.

"Under cover hero! This is your club!?!"