Napoleon of Crime and his loyal Lieutenant

[alpha_of_mib]

Who: Sandoval and Alpha
What: Arming Sandoval's arm
Where: Alpha's laboratory, inside his lair
Warnings: Villains.



Alpha sat in his lab. On one end of the room was a series of huge vats in which 2-chloloethanol and aqueous potassium sulfide were being carefully mixed. As soon as he added the hydrochloric acid, he'd have a large quantity of mustard gas at his disposal. It would make a convenient distraction when the time was right. At the table where he worked now, he had a much finer set of tools. Not the blunt and artless killing of the gas, this was refined and elegant and personal. A weapon that required seeing the face of one's victims, and made for one very particular minion whom he trusted above the others.

Comments

[lost_humanity]

Sandoval had dutifully ran his errands when he returned to Alpha's laboratory. He was oddly proud of all the access he got; a man of Alpha's abilities and range giving him the leniency that he afforded so very few, and trusted him with such sensitive information.

He had little doubt that Alpha would kill him if he thought for a moment he'd share any of it.

"Mr. Braxiatel was interested in the information I gave him," he reported. "And it can come in handy. Hunt's recently freed up some business on the east side, and if reports are correct he's not in a prime position to defend himself right now. Especially if his second in command is revealed for what he is." And then he paused as he came closer, thought about it, and gave him a touch of a grin.

"I'm sorry. I forgot my manners. Hello."

[alpha_of_mib]

"Excellent. The situation is coming together quite nicely for us and we've barely even had to try." He kept his eyes on his project to make one final adjustment.

"All that's left is to keep Agent Brown off our trail, and this town will be effectively ours."

He sat up and beckoned Sandoval closer. "Come here. I have something for you. Consider it an employment bonus."

[lost_humanity]

"Oh?" He strode over to Alpha's side, to have a look over what he was making.

"What should we do if Hunt doesn't find out what Mr. Knight is? I'm sure if Mrs. Persson knows that her secret is out, she'll be more interested in protection. Did you talk to her to see he current position?"

He rarely questioned what Alpha did, but he did tilt his head at the contraption that he was working on.

[alpha_of_mib]

"If Hunt continues in his obliviousness, I'm sure we will find a way to nudge him along the proper path at the right time. As for Mrs. Persson, we had a chance encounter at the diner."

Chance. Alpha smiled to himself. Nothing was left to chance.

"Quite a charming young lady. A lovely and charming young lady is a most useful game piece to have on the board." All that needed doing was deciding exactly how to deploy her. As a distraction? Bait? Weapon? So many choices.

"Now, take off your coat and roll up the sleeve of your shirt." He raised the device from the table to show it to Sandoval. A gun that would attach to his arm, hidden under his clothing and wouldn't require him to waste time drawing it before firing. It would give him an edge in any firefight.

[lost_humanity]

"Of course she is. She's dangerous." Now that he had said it, he thought better of expanding on it. His own experience with women had left him more than jaded; his nights, when they weren't spent alone, were filled with girls from clubs thoroughly drunk that would never remember him in the morning.

He obeyed Alpha's command, shedding his jacket and tucking his watch into his waistcoat pocket, before rolling up his sleeve. His expression remained thoughtful, before he looked to Alpha questioningly. He had realized what it was, but not why he would receive such a gift.

And then with too much trust, offered him his arm.

[alpha_of_mib]

"Are you attracted to her, Mr. Sandoval?" he said, amusement light in his voice. Alpha had long since chosen to purge such desires from himself, however much he was able, and found it a distinct advantage of his old age to not be so driven by the distractions of the flesh.

He fit the device around Sandoval's arm and held a small set of tweezers around the loop that, when pulled, would make the springs snap and the metal spines clamp down on his arm. His motion would not be hindered once it healed up. Alpha made sure of that.

"This may hurt a little. Are you ready?" He raises his brows and waited, giving Sandoval the opportunity to back out if he wanted to. Alpha wouldn't punish him if he did, but he would take it as evidence that Sandoval cared more about his own skin than serving his master and being the perfect lieutenant.

[lost_humanity]

"Only in the way that I acknowledge that she is attractive. I'm not so easily swayed by looks or charm anymore." And his mind went to a different place, a different woman, a painful loss.

Those spikes looked terrible. But they were nothing compared to what he had already been through. "I trust you have something to staunch the bleeding?"

[alpha_of_mib]

"Naturally. Bandages, antiseptic, all your first aid needs, right here. I've no desire to fit this very impressive invention of mine on you only to have to crippled with blood loss or gangrene."

Sandoval passed his little test. He'd earned his reward. A weapon unlike anything ever designed. He pulled the loop and the springs snapped, the sharp spikes driving fast and smooth into his flesh and latching onto the bone. Once the bone and muscles healed around it, it would be fully part of him. Difficult to remove without surgery.

[lost_humanity]

Passed the test, but it was taking it's toll. He drew in a shaky breath, holding to the edge of the table with his still good arm and attempting not to pass out. He knew Alpha was a genius, an expert in human anatomy (he'd made many a man hurt in the most delicate ways possible), so he knew this wasn't meant to hurt or maim him.

But it was excruciating in that moment.

He gathered himself, remembered tales of misplaced harpoons that his father told him and reminded himself it wasn't as bad as that. And then he waited to have the wounds bandaged- he couldn't do it himself. Having one working hand was a limiter at the moment.

[alpha_of_mib]

Alpha was calm as ever in the face of Sandoval's pain. He didn't show either sympathy or sadistic pleasure, simply pure professionalism. He was proud of his lieutenant, though. Such loyalty and bravery in the face of pain deserved praise.

"Well done, Mr. Sandoval. Well done."

He pulled the medical kit closer and fished out the antiseptic and cotton pads.

"This will sting." His touch was gentle and deft, though. Never let it be said that Alpha was not skilled in his work.