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The door to The Hideout (16th and Oak) banged open, and a flash of lightning briefly illuminated the hooded silhouette of the fearsome Doctor Midnight. Villains and minions around the dimly-lit bar turned towards her and waited with baited breath to hear the outcome of the doctor's latest nefarious scheme. The skunk in the doorway knew how to milk the moment and casually plucked at the fingers of her right-hand glove until she could pull it off completely, and then she gave a dramatic sigh and said, "Foiled again," to a chorus of sympathetic groans.

Doctor Midnight swept off the doorstep, with far more swagger in her step than her recent defeat seemed to warrant. No matter what had happened, her head was held high, and her tail swept majestically behind her. When a drunken patron tried unwisely to flirt with her, the power of her glare alone sent him slinking into the corner. Who did he think he was, a voice whispered in her thoughts. She was Doctor Midnight herself.

It was as though an unseen power was propping her ego up and not allowing the night's events to wear it down.

Which was, in fact, exactly what was happening.

The black-caped skunk slid into a stool at the end of the bar, where Rochelle was already waiting with her favorite drink. "Thank you," Doctor Midnight said. "You always know just what I need."

"Psychic," Rochelle gently reminded her. The petite mouse drank in the last few luscious dribbles of confidence from the skunk and slowly closed off her mind to such voyeuristic pleasures. "Who was it this time?" she asked, after she was certain she wouldn't learn the answer before it had been spoken aloud.

The skunk, now free of both her long gloves, drummed her claws on the bar top. She had doffed her hood as well, revealing a mohawk of bright white fur. "Stardust," she said. "That skank."

Rochelle winced. "Really, now. Don't use that kind of language in my bar." She put her hands on her hips, trying to be as stern as she could in a loose tee with nerdy print and a pair of loose shorts to go with. She could, if she wanted, make everyone immediately terrified of her, but, really, where was the fun in that?

Midnight gave a quick roll of her eyes and tapped a tongue impatiently on her sharp teeth. "Have you seen her costume?"

The mouse shook her head.

"Boob window."

"What?"

The skunk gave an even longer roll of her eyes, as if accusing the mouse of not paying attention. "She dresses in skintight silver spandex from the neck down, covering every inch of her fur, except, of course, for a big patch right over her oh-so-fucking-perfect cleavage."

Although Rochelle had mental barriers up, the image in Doctor Midnight's mind was sharp enough to cut right through. "Really?" Rochelle said.

The skunk took a drink and hmmmed non-commitally in her throat. "We were finally making progress. No more stupid mini-skirts and close-cut suits. We could finally wear more practical clothing." She gave a tug on her own cloak, which rattled with numerous pockets filled with everything an evil genius might need, far more useful than any utility belt. "Then along she comes in that tight little number, as if the 90s never happened, flaunting herself all over the place like a centerfold starlet."

Rochelle now thought that Midnight was being far too unfair. "It's her choice what her costume is, Doc."

Doctor Midnight arched a single eyebrow and gave Rochelle a withering stare over the black bridge of her muzzle. She really had the imperious villain act down, even without Rochelle mentally boosting her ego. "Be that as it may be, she also gave an interview recently. And in that interview she talks about how her uniform is the one that is truly empowering women and that we should all be wearing one. She said that you or I only wear what we do because we are ashamed of how we look."

"That skank!" The words were out of her muzzle before Rochelle stopped to think about them. The mouse clapped a hand over her face, ashamed.

The skunk's face twisted in a sardonic smile. "You see what I mean?"

"Ugh, yes."

Midnight took another drink and steeled herself for a dramatic pause. "It is of no concern. I will get her... next time."

To be continued in CLAW volume 1...