Summer Swarm [Action]

[duitagain]

As summer has long settled in, the warm temperatures have been friendly towards Venture City's insect population. Warm weathers like these make them bolder and more numerous and no doubt even the heroes have had to contend with a mosquito bite or two. What may seem like a seasonal nuisance has given one supervillainous mind an ingenious idea for his own big heist. 

Scattered across the city streets are robotic insects, small, yet strong enough to lift a wallet or valuable from anyone's pocket and fly off with it, programmed to gather at the rooftop of a random skyscraper. Dr. Nefarious, their robotic master, is lounging on top of a pool resting chair, sipping oil from a tall glass as the insects' loot piles behind him.

Lawrence, his long-suffering butler, stands by Nefarious.

"Ahh, Lawrence, for all the years I've lived, I'm telling you, the only way to beat the heat wave is with a crime wave!"

"Very good, sir. I can see you've spent all night coming up with that one."

"At least knowing that my Nefarious Swarm is pillaging the city under its very own nose is distracting me from remembering Devious being out there, stealing my thunder..." A pause. "... Great, it's all coming back to me!" he yells. Getting up from his seat, he stomps over to the edge of the skyscraper and throws his glass down at the streets. "Lawrence! Another glass! I'm going to make this vacation work even if it kills everyone else."

Comments

[duitagain]

[Ugh, it's fatso again. Nefarious folds his hands together and smiles, giving a small laugh.]

Why, Dr. Eggman... my esteemed employer. I see one of my robot insects for my personal Swarm project has reached you safe... well, reached you, anyway.

[ivegotthemasterplan]

Yes, about that...

[Eggman opened his palm, to show the machine to be quite crushed]

Your little Buzzbomber knockoff tried to steal my wallet!

[duitagain]

Did it? [It was minor carelessness, honestly, but the scenario was still hilarious to Nefarious.]

Well, clearly, that one was malfunctioning. I'm certain that I had Lawrence program them to avoid present company. Besides, had it reached me, I would have given it back to you tout suite.

[ivegotthemasterplan]

Uh huh.

[Eggman's hologram glares at him for several moments, before he tosses the trash into a convenient robotic trashcan badnik]

Another thing... how come I didn't have the plans for these submitted to me?

[duitagain]

I told you, they're a personal project.

[Even for employers or partners, Nefarious can only feign politeness to a certain extent. Even Eggman must have accepted that long ago.]

That uppity Dr. Devious is starting up trouble again. Trouble that I should be starting! Tonight is their test drive, and... I wanted to accompany a field report with those plans.

[ivegotthemasterplan]

I see. And going behind my back is just an added bonus.

[Eggman stares angrily for several moments longer... before laughing and slapping his knee]

You almost got me this time, Nefarious. That means drinks are on you the next time we go to my restaurant, hm?

[duitagain]

Should've known better than to get one past old Eggman.

[He joins in the laughing. Of course, most of what he said was a lie. The only truthful part is that bit about Dr. Devious.]

Fine. It looks like First National's going to have to foot the bill for me again.

[ivegotthemasterplan]

You know, if you'd just learn how to make a boiled egg, you wouldn't have to rob anything. But nooo...

[and now it's back to business]

Anyway, get back to me. I'm already considering possibilities for these. They have potential as surveillance devices...