Project Hlin 4

By Lionbadger I have a dreary commute to work and while looking for something to read came across Frenemy54's Fox Hunt serial (Misc stories, Mr X site, if you haven't read it, you should and if the setting confuses you I sort of tacked on my own continuity through the stories Fox Hunt 6-10). I've always been a fan of the Butterscotch Fox universe and with Frenemy's continuity I figured I could create a little off shoot/parallel universe setting for some home brew heroines and hopefully help out any other fetish inclined commuters. I suspect I am not great at describing costumes so there is a deviant art pic of the girls of project Hlin here: http://fav.me/d8bou1g comments, suggestions, offers of cake etc; lionbadger@hotmail.com

Note: This is a bit of a filler episode, not masses of action, mostly setting up later story lines.

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""What is the fucking point of breaking up these organisations if the big fish always get away" snapped Night Strike

"I know it's frustrating but if we don't respect the judicial process then we're just costumed thugs handing out summary judgment on people" said Tethys flatly "How long would it be before we were crushing skulls for queue jumping and getting ready to mount a coup"

Night Strike stopped and sighed. She looked down at the white marble floor and placed her black gloved hands on her slender black and gold costumed waist. She shook her head gently then glanced back up, staring out from behind her black and gold mask at Tethys.

"It's more than frustrating Tess, it's like, everytime we come close to doing some serious good in Europe in waltzes a lawyer with a snappy line to get their scum bag client off" said Night Strike

"And it's usually a lawyer from Vogel Kaltenbrunner" said Tethys offhandedly

"Too right" said Night Strike "You think they are some sort of front?"

Tethys nibbled her lip in thought "More likely they have just gotten a metahuman law department up and running before their competitors. Give it a few months and we'll see a clutch of other firms with their snouts in the trough"

The pair of heroines stood in the court lobby for long silent minutes.

"Erm, so Soverign let slip that you've visited that mammoth thing, Ice Rage" said Tethys slowly "I mean she hinted you'd been visiting a lot?"

Night Strike gave her green and blue costumed compatriot a long look "He's almost as strong as I am and he dosen't hold back like the Jaegers do"

"I'm as strong as you are" said Tethys slyly

"Thanks, but I've got a major case of queenbeeitis, I don't like being dominated by girls and you know sometimes you just want some throw down" said Night Strike "But if you want to be slapped around and pounded with a strap on let me know"

The pair lapsed back into silence.

"He might not get off" said Tethys

"Tess, that lawyer had me second guessing myself" said Night Strike

The 2 heroines lapsed into silence once more. A few minutes later people began to exit the courtroom. The glum public prosecutor approached the two women.

"12 months" he said wearily

"The guy is on film grabbing college girls and auctioning them to african warlords!" Snapped Tethys

"Are you fucking kidding me" barked Night Strike

"The jury accepted the lesser charge of unlawful imprisonment and the judge accepted a psychological abnormality caused by childhood trauma" sighed the prosecutor

"What about the goons" said Valkyrie

"They pled guilty, 5 years a piece" replied the prosecutor

"So the little fish get fried and the shark swims free" growled Night Strike "again"

"The Kaltenbrunner lawyer really earned her pay, I'm just glad she was only on for the ringleader" said the prosecutor

"Well thanks anyway, at least some of these scum are off the streets" said Tethys

"Lesson learned" muttered Night Strike "Dead men don't get off"

***

"Valkyrie in positon" pinged Tethy's com followed a moment later by a similar confirmation from Athena.

Tethys glanced over the stack of crates she was sheltering behind to view the steel shuttered warehouse. The gentle slap of waves against the quay and the soft chug of distant boats gave the small docks a serene atmosphere. Perfect cover for importing Slaught. The new designer drug was already being blamed for a score of homicidal rages and numerous cases of total nervous system failure. Police casualties had been higher than anticipated on the handful of busts that had barely made a dent in the supply. Now, depressingly similar reports were creeping east across Europe citing the insane strength and an ability to temporarily shrug off mortal wounds by the users. Police intelligence had finally managed to indentify the major narcotics centre on the edge of Middelburg's docks but the tactical assessment suggested that half of the 50 officers needed for the raid would be seriously or mortally injured. The Dutch government, caught between the rock of a powerful narcotic and the hard place of unpopular police casulaties had hurriedly and insistently requested a deployment of Jagkommand's lauded heroines to spearhead the bust. Alpha team had been on standby rotation. 20 minutes after the request was green lit gunships carrying the 3 heroines and their jaeger support had roared off the tarmac at Salzburg.

"Captain Mylan" said Tethys into her com

"Yes commander" came the Jaeger captain's expressionless voice

"Are your men in position with law enforcement?" Asked Tethys

"Yes commander and an additional 3 squads under Captain Ritter have formed a fall back cordon" replied Mylan

"What's the mood?" Said Tethys

"Some anxiety commander, they are aware of the casualty rate from previous busts but mostly there is an air of determination" Mylan paused then added "They are very confident in the abilities of Alpha team"

"No preassure then" muttered Tethys to herself. She drew a long deep breath and glanded some stimulants. Almost immediately her vision sharpened and her ears picked out a gaggle of sounds that had been barely audible. Her arm seemed to move in slow motion as she reached to her com "all units execute breach"

Tethys sprung out from behind the crates and sprinted towards the steel shuttered loading door. Her long midnight black hair, barely held in place by her gold circlet, streamed behind her and her gold bracers became a blur as she pounded her arms. Her long shapley legs, encased in her blue and green boots likewise blurred into a single flickering block of colour as she crossed the 50 metres of dead ground in front of the warehouse.

As Tethys closed to 10 metres in front of the warehouse she heard almost simultaneous crashes from either side of the building. Confirmations that Valkyrie and Athena had each breached their sides of the warehouse rang in her com as she hit the steel shutter. Tethys barged through the shutter like it was a cobweb. Grabbing one side of the hole she had made she spun to her right and ripped a giant rent in the front door.

Sporadic gunfire began to spark against the ruined shutter. A small calibre bullet hit Tethys in the shoulder flattening almost to a disk against her enhanced skin before it bounced away. She glanced through the rent she had made to see the police teams pounding forward in her wake. She grinned at the sight of the hulking jaegers amongst the group. The massive augmented troopers in their heavy battle plate made the grizzled beat worn cops look like children.

She turned back to the warehouse interior and stalked forward. Shouts of anger and yells of pain floated across the cavernous interior. Rows of crates cut down on lines of sight and prevented Tethys from getting a clear view across the warehouse.

"They're not kidding about this drug girls" Athena's voice came from the com

"Are you ok? Do you need back up" said Tethys into her com

"I'm fine, we sparred a bit and he's not getting back up anytime soon" said Athena coldly

A cop appeared suddenly at Tethys' shoulder, hand gun drawn and scanning the passageway ahead. He flashed a wide grin at the stunning heroine, his gaze lingering just a little too long on her pert breasts barely concealed by the green and blue crop top.

"We might just get through this" said the cop nervously

Tethys returned the grin then grabbed and yanked him close to her. In a flash of blue and green she spun on the spot. A trio of bullets ricocheted off her firm back.

"Keep your head in the game and you might be right" she replied

The heavy snap of a coilgun sounded nearby as jaegers moved in to support the operation. A heavily armoured sergeant drew level with Tethys.

"Commander, the other teams are encountering increased resistance from Slaught dosed gangers" the jaeger said "I recommend we push forward rapidly"

"You're right sergeant" said Tethys "I'll punch a hole. You support the civies, we need to keep police casualties to a minimum"

"Aye commander" replied the jaeger

Tethys slipped forward into the narrow passage between the stacked crates. Dust and steam drifted in the passage obscuring the narrow line of sight further. Quickly but cautiously she stalked forward. As she reached the end of the crates a ganger leapt out in front of her. The man's eyes were blood shot and wide. Sweat poured from his head as if he was gripped by a fever and rabid foam frothed at the corners of his mouth. His fist snapped towards Tethys' face like a rocket. Even with the aid of the reaction enhancing stimulant she had glanded at the start of the operation Tethys barely managed to block the surprise attack. Her arm shook as it took the full impact of the drug fuelled blow. She whirled to her right away from the attacker giving herself some space.

"Assaulting a heroine is an automatic 5 years" she drawled sardonicly at her attacker

"I'll fucking kill you, you fat titted bitch! I'll rip you limb from limb!" screamed the maddened ganger advancing on Tethys.

Tethys raised her arms in a loose boxer's guard and rolled her shoulders "Hard way it is then" she muttered

The ganger came on like a freight train launching a barrage of impossibly strong blows on the raven haired beauty. Tethys methodically parried and blocked the blows. Her shoulders jarred at the repeated impacts and deflections. As the ganger drew back for a huge roundhouse strike she saw her opening. A slim fist stabbed out like a cobra and hit the ganger in the chest. A sickening crunch accompanied the impact and the man staggered backwards. Wheezing the ganger clutched at his shattered breast bone. He hawked a dirty globule of spit and blood out onto the warehouse floor. Still wheezing the man straightened up and fixed Tethys with his rabid eyes.

"Is that the best you've got dyke?" He screamed

Tethys stared at the ganger in horror as he took a shaky step forward. The blow she had delivered should have been fatal, the impact should have ruptured arteries and burst the ganger's lungs and heart. Clearly, from the rivulet of blood running down his mouth something had broken inside the man but not nearly as much as Tethys expected. Determinedly she stepped forward to meet her assailant. The ganger was swaying on his feet his arms drooping.

Well maybe they're not as tough as they think then thought Tethys

The ganger's hand flashed out to grab the heroine's crotch. Tethys gasped as the rough fingers dug into her womanhood. The ganger followed up delivering a vicious headbutt to the distracted girl's beautiful face. Tethys' vision blurred from the impact. The distraction was the hand on her crotch. The stimulant she had glanded was now working against her heightening her senses and pushing her arousal up fast. She felt the ganger's middle finger pressing against the centre of her thong pushing the taught material against her rapidly moustening lips. A punch slammed into her ribs.

"Not this time" she snarled

A long slim leg clad in a blue green thigh high boot snapped out to catch the ganger in the head. His hand released her as he stumbled backwards. A punch to the gut doubled him over and a vicious knee sent his head snapping backwards. Dazed the man slumped onto his knees. Blood ran from his nose to join the stream leaking from the corner of his mouth.

"You have... no idea, who you're fucking with... you dumb bitch" he wheezed

"Doesn't matter" replied Tethys driving a final jab into the man's forehead.

The front of his head deformed under the blow and his eyes finally rolled up. The corpse slid sideways onto the floor, it's foot twitching spasmodicly. Tethys turned back into the warehouse and continued to advance towards the centre. Yells of pain and the boom of gunfire reverberated around the space joined ocassionaly by the distinctive snap of a coilgun. Her fist shot out as a tall shape loomed out of the fug of gunsmoke and disturbed dust. She pulled the blow back at the last moment as the shape resolved into the purple and black clad form of Athena.

"Clear?" Asked Tethys

"Yeap, ran straight into some sort of dice game when we came through the wall" said Athena "knocked most of them out cold straight away but one dosed himself and went ape shit"

"Yeah, I just put one down he was almost as tough as a fox hound" replied Tethys "what the hell is this shit made of?"

"Don't know, but I wouldn't want to take on a group dosed up on it" said Athena drawing a black and purple gloved hand through her dark brown hair "Where's miss glory hog? I thought she'd be standing here on a pile of corpses?"

"Valk? Athena and me have joined up, we'll work east towards you" said Tethys into her com

The com returned only silence. Tethys eyes flicked up to meet Athena's.

"Valkyrie respond, are you in trouble?" said Tethys urgently into the com.

"Commander Tethys" came the harsh clipped tone a jaeger "Commander Valkyrie is engaged on the catwalk she is likely too busy to respond. East entry is secure, the police forces have effected multiple arrests. I have visual on you and commander Athena"

"Thanks sergeant" said Tethys into the com

"How did you know that was a sergeant, they all sound alike to me" said Athena

"It's always a sergeant" said Tethys offhandedly "come on we better go help her mop up"

The two heroines moved across the open interior of the warehouse. The gunfire had stopped and the huge airconditioners in the ceiling had begun to clear the air. Civilian security services moved past them to collect evidence and chemical samples. The two heroines heard the grunts and slaps of exchanged blows before the gantry loomed into view.

"Did you say glory hog?" Asked Tethys nonchalantly as they watched the dazzling blonde exchange blows with a grey suited man.

"Yeah, called it" said Athena "She's gone through 3 already that I can see on that cat walk"

"I count 3 too" said Tethys "oooh, right in the tit, bad move druggie, you just pissed her off"

The two brightly costumed Heroines watched as their colleague stumbled back along the gantry from her assailant her hand clutched to her left breast. The grey suited man screamed something unintelligible and stamped towards her. In a flash Valkyrie's long, slender leg, clad in a thigh high boot that started icy blue and faded to lightless black at the foot, snapped straight out in front of her. The tip of her booted foot caught the man under the chin lifting him into the air and throwing him back. He crashed against the small guard rail and tottered for a moment before tipping backwards over the rail. The man seemed to hang in the air for a moment before gravity caught him and he plunged down into a mess of pipes and chemical distillation equipment.

"Shit, that's got to hurt" said Athena walking quickly towards the shattered debris

"Good work Valk, an intel bonanza" said Tethys sarcastically into her com

"You violate the no touching rule, you take your chances" replied Valkyrie over the com "Check he's dead, this drug makes them pretty durable, I'm on my way down"

"Tess" shouted Athena

Tethys walked across to the crouched brunette. Athena was holding the man's hand as he twitched and choked. Broken bits of pipe stuck through his body and blood was running freely from a score of wounds. Slowly his convulsions ceased and with a final rasping cough he expired.

"Urgh, that looks worse than when I got mashed by those woe machines" said Tethys

"Shit, I didn't mean to impale the guy" said Valkyrie coming to stand by Tethys

"Our kingpin is Henri Dutroux" said Athena as she flicked through the dead man's wallet

"Doesn't ring a bell" said Valkyrie

"Pretty common surname round here. Even the defence minister has it" said Tethys

***

The 3 heroines of Alpha team lounged in the soft red leathers chairs of Colonel Horst's office.

"One minute" said Horst typing frantically at his laptop

The colonel paused for a moment and touched a finger to his lips in thought then resumed his hurried typing.

"Alright" he said pushing the laptop aside and frowning "This ringleader you killed, Henri Dutroux was the youngest son of András Dutroux"

"Then Mr Dutroux has a serious scandal on his hands" said Valkyrie "His son was importing Slaught"

"That's not what Dutroux says" replied Horst quietly "Dutroux is saying his son was a troubled drug user executed in cold blood by an out of control gang of ab humans"

"Henri was shouting orders and directing the show right up until he blasted himself with that stuff" shouted Valkyrie

"Colonel, those guys in the warehouse were not surrendering, we gave them their chance" said Tethys

"But the police took over twenty gang members into custody" said Horst "Dutroux is saying that it was only you three who put their opponents down hard"

"Cut to the crux Colonel, you know we did our job, what's the bottom line" said Athena

"Dutroux is demanding that Jagkommand be shut down and all of you, including Bravo team, Charlie team, the trainees are put into stasis in a secure location" said Horst

"He can't do that!" Barked Valkyrie

"You are technically correct" said Horst "As an EU agency he needs the agreement of the council of Presidents to shut the project and your home nations, being naturally proud of your accomplishments, are lobbying hard against him"

"Then this is all a friendly heads up, a watch your step type debrief" said Tethys

"No, because while Dutroux needs concensus to exercise executive power, he is fully entitled to bring a private prosecution against the program" said Horst

"Are you saying he is suing us?" Asked Valkyrie

"He is trying to jail you, all of you, which will gut the program and see it collapse" said Horst

"But we're going to fight him on this right?" Asked Athena

"He is attacking you 3 personally. As defence minister he has budget control over the program and he is blocking our hiring lawyers to fight for you" said Horst "effectively you are on your own"

***

Valkyrie, Tethys and Athena stood in a bright airy hall of the Grand Court of Justice. The newly commissioned building was a marvel of soaring steel and glass. The interior featured soft white walls with tasteful modern art prints and water features tinkling gently in the background.

The three brightly costumed women glanced nervously at the cadre of lawyers and advocates assembled by Dutroux. András Dutroux himself screamed average. Medium height and carrying the inevitable waist of a middle aged man wedded to a desk job. A plain dark suit let him fade into the background of lawyers. His simple dark eyes flicked occasionally across the trio but betrayed no hint of emotion. A single lawyer broke off from the group and sidled over to the waiting heroines.

"I trust you know how this is going to go" he sneered

"We will present our side to the court and trust that justice will be done" quipped Tethys

The lawyer barely stifled a laugh.

"No my dear, you have failed to file any evidence or affidavits. This is not a trial this is a preliminary hearing to suspend your activities pending a trial" the lawyer leaned forward "When he wins this the minister will have you three and your freak colleagues locked away in cryo tubes. The monsduggians can be quietly euthanized while you are in cold storage and in five or six years by the time a trial does roll round the minister will be the president and able to cull the budget of his military assets. If they ever thaw you out it will be because the minister needs durable fuck toys. You have already lost"

"A presidential campaign funded by Slaught sales" said Valkyrie coldly

"Presidential campaigns are seldom cheap" replied the sneering lawyer turning to return to his group

"He's just trying to throw us off" muttered Athena

"They never really trained us to fight things you couldn't punch" said Valkyrie "and right now I really want to punch something"

The doors to the court swung open to allow a procession of people from the previous hearing to exit. Various business men glared at their opposite numbers as their lawyers shooed circling reporters away.

"The judge will hear Dutroux v Various Heroines next but will take 30 minutes to refresh" bellowed a black clad usher

"I'm never sure whether to add a Miss before your code names" said Lothar Kaltenbrunner appearing in front of the heroines.

"Where did you come from Kaltenbrunner" hissed Valkyrie "come to gloat that your firm's clients won't be being harassed by us anymore"

"I am hear because I am senior advocate for the claimant in the previous hearing" said Lothar "But perhaps we could speak a little further in that briefing room"

"We don't have time for your bullshit Kaltenbrunner" said Athena

"Marie, would you do me a small favour, would you ask Judge Reed if he would take his time refreshing" said Lothar snagging an usher

"Of course Mr Kaltenbrunner" said the usher

"You have time now" said Lothar as he started to walk towards the briefing room

"I hate that guy" said Tethys

"We don't exactly have much to lose by hearing what he has to say" said Valkyrie moving towards to room

The three heroines walked slowly across the waiting area to follow Lothar into briefing room 3. The dull brown eyes of András Dutroux followed their movements. The 3 women entered the room and closed the door behind them. The small pastel grey room contained a table and six chairs. A large frosted glass window filled one end. The trio ignored the chairs and stood glaring at the seated Kaltenbrunner. Lother ignored the icy looks and lifted his glossy black briefcase onto the desk. He flicked the combination locks and popped the case open then removed a simple black tablet. He tapped briefly on the screen then spun the tablet around and pushed it across the table. The heroines glanced down at the blank screen.

"What is..." said Valkyrie trailing off as the film started and she recognised herself sprawled on a bed with two masked men molesting her "You son of a bitch, you're behind the Murder Rooms!"

Tethys and Athena each grabbed an arm as the blue clad blonde started to launch herself forward.

"No, I am not" said Lothar unfazed by the struggling, furious Valkyrie "But I do most of the legal work for its holding company and as you so astutely observed my firm makes a tidy profit representing those persons you persecute"

"You could have said that out in the corridor" hissed Tethys

"Do you understand, it would cost both me and a great many of my clients a lot of revenue if András Dutroux wins this case" said Lothar ignoring Tethys.

"Are you offering to help us?" Said Athena

"Actually I have been specifically asked to intervene. My corporate clients are worried about Dutroux's plans for the future. They do not want to be part of an Usonian command economy" said Lothar "And our criminal department has recieved demands which to paraphrase are to the tune that it is the destiny of one petty thug or another's to defeat you"

"What makes you think we need the likes of you" snorted Tethys

"The tremor in your voice" said Lothar "you are woefully under equipped to fight this hearing, and I think you know it. Without my help, and assuming you are not planning on going rogue, you'll be disbanded by 3pm this afternoon"

"But you can wave your magic wand and fix this" said Athena sardonicly

Lothar fixed the purple costumed brunette with a cool stare "It's not a magic wand, Dutroux's case has a number of logical flaws, it is probably why he has gone to such extreme lengths to stop you having proper advice. I suspect he is up to something and sees you as a threat to his plans. This is his chance to knock you all out of the game so to speak"

"We know he wants the presidency" said Tethys "And he's counting on Slaught sales to buy him it"

"My dear, he does not want the presidency. The president of the EU is a ceremonial position with no real power outside of some budget shuffling. Dutroux likely wants to be emperor. A new ceasar. He sees Russia, Usonia and the tinpot dictatorships littering the world and wants to make himself a king. Nevermind that each of those states are either 3rd world basket cases or well on their way to it" said Lothar

"No wonder he wants us out of the way" said Athena

"You have no idea" said Lothar drawing a usb drive from his case "This is a chemical analysis of raw Slaught, uncut with anything. It should be of interest to whoever is in charge of making you"

"Glass or plastic" growled Valkyrie

"I'm sorry" said Lothar

"One more jibe like that whoever made you, and you go home in a glass jar or a plastic bag" said the furious blonde

Lothar stared at the fuming Valkyrie and her scowling team mates. "You really are remarkable" he whispered admiringly

"How did you get that Slaught data" said Tethys quickly

"A shipping client obtained a container that had been used to transport the raw product out of Usonia. He found some dust in it and wanted to get it analysed. He was clearly planning to set up his own production. He came to us to find him a discreet lab. He changed his mind when the analysis came back" said Lothar

"It's coming from Usonia?" Said Tethys

"Undoubtedly" said Lothar

The three heroines glanced at each other.

"What was in the analysis to make your shipping magnate change his mind" asked Athena

"Monsduggian dna" said Lothar "Slaught is basically pulped and powdered heroine. Scarlet Fox must be making it and smuggling it over here. Anyone who snorts this stuff becomes 70% as strong and resilient as your Butterscotch Fox or Sovereign Girl"

"That's horrible" said Athena

"This will crush Butter and Sovereign" said Tethys

"Ladies we are up against the clock here" said Lothar "I need your agreement to act for you"

"I'm not convinced he's legit" murmered Tethys "If Dutroux is as serious about being rid of us as you say you could be a plant"

"Who's next on your grab list for the Murder Rooms" said Athena nonchalantly

Lothar raised an eyebrow "firstly it is not my grab list, if anything it is my client's grab list and secondly even if I did know it would be confidential client data"

"If we're as important to your precious client as you say they'd let you tell us" said Athena

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather have the surprise?" Said Lothar "She seemed to get quite a lot out of it"

Valkyrie returned a hard stare "She wants to know who's the heroine everyone wants to fuck"

"Well that is actually Butterscotch Fox, but Miss Athena here is a close second" said Lothar

"Then why did they grab Valkyrie first" said Tethys

"Because she's the one that everyone wants to see murdered, or at least as murdered as you can be. She seems to have a knack for making powerful enemies and leaving them feeling humiliated" said Lothar "But she swung the vote, much to the annoyance of a number of interested patrons. It was quite a performance"

"So if we're doing this where do I rank on these" said Tethys

"3rd, behind Athena and slightly ahead of Charlie team's Miss Liberté on the brothel list and again 3rd on the murder list behind Valkyrie and Morrigan but just ahead of Sovereign Girl" said Lothar nonchalantly

"Great so I'm the least appealing member of Alpha team" said Tethys

"You actually score consistently higher than the other two do with women" said Lothar

"I cannot believe we are seriously having this discussion" muttered Athena

"Time is ticking" said Lothar

"Do it Kaltenbrunner" said Valkyrie

Lothar pulled a phone from inside his jacket and briefly tapped it before lifting it to his ear.

"Micha, get the papers sealed and get down here with the copies" said Lothar into his phone

He clicked off and looked up at his new clients.

"We are going to take a beating in the court room for late filing but Dutroux's argument is flawed" said Lothar as he snapped his case shut and stood up.

The blue suited lawyer strode out of the room. The three heroines shared a wary look then followed him back into the corridor.

"Ah, opening skirmish" murmered Lothar

A dark suited lawyer from Dutroux's party detached from the group and walked across to the party.

"Lothar, I didn't know you were involved in this case" said the lawyer

"I've just been retained Jean, you know how I love a challenge" said Lothar brightly

"I'm afraid this might be more a whitewash than a challenge, your clients have failed to file" said Jean "And I don't know what they have told you but I doubt they have the funds to meet your retainer"

A guant paralegal appeared at Lothar's elbow.

"Oh I never act without funds on account" replied Lothar turning to take a sheaf of papers from the paralegal "and it appears that they have indeed filed"

Lothar passed the sheaf to his counter part. Jean glanced over the page.

"This is a mistake Lothar" he said quietly "Cut them loose, they're done. Dutroux has big plans and a long memory"

"Dutroux's time may come but it is not today. Do him a favour Jean and advise him to drop this. I'm sure we can arrange some way for him to vent his frustrations" said Lothar

"He's not going to change his mind, he wants the Jagkommand program cancelled" said Jean

"Do what you can" said Lothar offhandedly. He leaned forward and dropped his voice "If you ever threaten me again then I will have you or your pretty little teenage daughter for a special event at the Murder Rooms"

Colour drained from the lawyer's face "Lothar it was not a threat, it was merely friendly advice. The man is vindictive"

"Good talk Jean" said Lothar turning away

***

"Mr Kaltenbrunner it is extremely irregular to file such an application 10 minutes before a hearing. Neither I nor Mr Grisson have had the opportunity to read and digest these materials" said Judge Reed angrily

"We apologise profoundly your honour. As you may be aware my clients are called away on emergency duty at a moments notice and had not until today been able to obtain proper advice. We are willing to accept an adjournment and of course meet the wasted fees of the complainant" said Lothar smoothly

"That's as may be Mr Kaltenbrunner but we have procedural rules precisely to avoid this kind of abuse of process" said Judge Reed

"I have grave reservations that my clients' right to fair hearing would be compromised if neither this application nor an adjournment were granted" said Lothar

"What do you have to say Mr Grisson" said the Judge

"Your honour, I see no risk of a breach of the human rights treaty and its right to a fair hearing. The crux of our argument is that these heroines are not human. As such they are property, tools of the defence ministry and as such the defence ministry may be injuncted to mothball them pending inquiry and investigation into the death of my client's son" said Jean

"I have had the oppirtunity to review your papers at length Mr Grisson" said Judge Reed "What do you say to this Mr Kaltenbrunner"

"That Mr Dutroux has no cause of action in his wider case and that it should be dismissed" said Lothar

"Would you help me understand your reasoning Mr Kaltenbrunner" said the Judge

"We do not accept the complainant's assertion that my clients are not human, however as it is the only basis for his case we are forced to address it. The crux of our response is that as tools of the state, as weapons, my clients have no legal personality and cannot have legal proceedings brought against them. Further, they are not responsible for the complainant's loss if anyone is, it is the complainant in his capacity as head of the ministry of defence. In effect the complainant is asking that this court grant an order against the complainant himself. Why is he asking this? It can only be with the full and malevolent intent to circumvent the admittedly cumbersome european democratic process. As such your honour, not only is his entire case a sham and an abuse of process but it would bring this very court into disrepute to proceed with this matter" said Lothar forcefully

"One moment" said the Judge as he scratched furiously with a pen on his notepad "Mr Grisson, anything to respond"

"Your honour my client is a grieving father who merely seeks to prevent other parents suffering his loss. He does not seek to circumvent the diplomatic process, he merely wishes to obtain a moratorium pending an investigation" said Jean

Judge Reed frowned and turned to his left glaring out of the small high window. "You, Miss Tethys I believe, would you stand up"

Tethys climbed slowly to her feet.

"Please turn around for me, all the way round" said the Judge

Tethys felt colour rising in her cheeks as she turned on the spot.

"What did you have for breakfast?" Said the Judge

Tethys glanced at the blank faced Valkyrie and Athena "Erm, a sort of nutrient gruel, it's kind a high protein, high mineral porridge. Just once I'd like an omlette" she said hastily adding "your honour"

A grin flashed across the Judge's face "Mr Grisson, this woman seems pretty human to me. I cannot grant this application and so must dismiss it. I will not strike out your entire case but rather will give you leave to amend your papers or withdraw them without suffering penalty in costs if done within 21 days. Due to late filing of their own papers the defendants must pay your fees incurred in bringing this application, which I assess as 3 quarters of the amount claimed in your schedule of fees"

"All rise" barked an usher as the Judge stood up and walked out of the court.

"is that it?" said Athena

"That seemed to go better than you expected" said Tethys raising an eyebrow at Lothar

"Well, I did say you are quite popular with the Murder Rooms. I would guess Judge Reed has a membership and up voted Miss Valkyrie's performance" said Lothar with a sly smile.

"Oh great so justice does not prevail, rather the sleazy fetishes of some old man in a gown and wig?" said Valkyrie sarcastically

"I think justice was done, it's just the realpolitik of commerce gave it a little helping hand" said Lothar as he watched Jean Grisson approach.

"Commiserations Jean" said Lothar

"The minister is withdrawing the case" said Jean flatly before shaking Lothar's hand and walking back to his colleagues.

"Dutroux will not let this go. He will likely set a trap for one or all of you. He likes to send messages" muttered Lothar to the heroines.

"What about you, he won't like you helping us" said Valkyrie "not that I actually care what happens to you, you understand. Just curious"

"Mutually assured destruction" said Lothar "I have very expensive life insurance guaranteeing peace of mind for my loved ones and an extremely slow death for any assailants. A copy of which was included in the bundle of documents given to Dutroux"

"Thanks for this Lothar" said Athena sticking out a gloved hand for the blank faced lawyer to shake

"Thanks" murmered Tethys

"You better have a dissection table next time your goons, oh sorry, next time your client's goons snatch me" said Valkyrie quietly

"Oh I'm sure that can be arranged" whispered Lothar as he watched the 3 shapely herojnes walk away.