The Gala
“So what exactly is the plan and how can we get it over with as fast as possible?” Natasha leaned over the metal table where Hunter and Bobbie had all of their plans sprawled out.
“Do you want the full overview or do you want the edited version?” The captain asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“Edited version, please.”
“Alright.” Bobbie pulled up a few holographic documents along with the photo of a man. He was humanoid but he didn’t look like he came from the milky way, it may have been the third eye and the greenish skin that resembled a Taonan. “This guy, is bad. He does bad things and we’re going to try to get some proof tonight.”
“Out of the kindness of your heart? Or is this another “Favor” for the rebels?”
“Both, someone very powerful has asked us to get some dirt on him. After we’re done with him we can kill him if he gets in our way. Our kind of mission.”
Natasha sighed and pushed herself up onto her elbows, “Right, and how exactly do you plan on doing this?”
“--With this.” Hunter strolled out of the next room with his hands out proudly, he was sporting a sharp suit and fake glasses. His hair was dyed a light shade of purple and he looked like he had just strolled out of some royal party.
He twirled and Darcy clapped and whistled, he soaked up the attention and Natasha gave the captain a questioning look. Bobbie pulled up a few more holographic documents, “Yeah.. Also, these, he’s having his annual “Charity” gala tonight. He invites some of the most powerful people and uses the time cozy up to them, he also invites a select few of “Regular” people just to show what a down to earth guy he is, I guess. We’ve got the invitations here, courtesy of our powerful friend, and you two are going to help us sell the look.”
“Then what’s this all about?” Natasha gestured to where Hunter was still standing in a dramatic pose.
“I’m glad you asked. Tonight’s the night I get to show off my con skills. I get to seduce the rich guy and get him alone so we can get what we need.” He grinned.
Natasha looked at Bobbie, she shrugged and went back to her documents, this time shifting through maps of the complex. “Yeah, I know--” She said in recognition of the redhead’s doubtful stare “But I’m not exactly his type and plus, I did the seducing last con and it’s his turn. Don’t worry the mark will be too drunk to notice anything.”
“Notice what?” Hunter interjected.
“Your horrible acting skills.”
“I beg your pardon, I happen to have amazing acting skills.”
Bobbie and Nat gave each other a mutual look of doubt and the captain said calmly, “Whatever you say, Lance.”
She continued before he had a chance to retaliate, “Anyway, here are your invitations.”
“Ooh cool!” Darcy snatched the tiny holographic invitation and turned it on, spinning the proof of invite around in little circles.
Natasha did the same but she looked at it more closely, “You’ve got to be kidding me, we’re your servants?” She asked with a hint of disdain.
“Yeah, we needed someone to help sell the look and we thought we would have to pay someone but then you two showed up right on time. He’s playing a prince and I’m his sister. Simple as that.”
Darcy’s eyes were wide, “This is exciting.” She said as if she were telling a secret.
Natasha sighed.
After that Bobbie went through the rest of the plan and the maps and blueprints of the facility. She went through an exit strategy and what they would be doing up until they got the mark alone. Natasha and Darcy really didn’t have much to do which the pirate was happy about despite the fact that they were still in danger.
Their job was simply to follow behind and look proper. At which Morse handed them each a small pile of folded clothes and told them to meet them back at the bridge in 20 minutes.
“Have you ever done anything like this?” Darcy asked as they walked down the hall towards their quarters.
Natasha shook her head, “No, I haven’t but don’t relax just yet, this could potentially be dangerous if something goes wrong. And I don’t know about you but I’m not getting thrown into the pits of Thyrsen just because Hunter couldn’t resist doing a cowboy accent.”
They made it to their room and Darcy immediately ran to the bathroom to change and get ready, Natasha plopped her clothes on the bed and sighed. She pulled up the main article which was a crimson red with the traditional long V dip that ran down the wearer’s chest and then side.
She began trying to get it on, with the leggings and the all too complex shoes she had to figure how to even get the clothes to work. The entire process gave her a head ache, she may have been a simple woman but she believed that clothes should be able to go on in one try.
She had the dress halfway on and her arm was currently stuck in an awkward diagonal position, trapped by one of the many clear straps holding the dress together, when Darcy stepped out of the next room. Natasha stopped and stared, her body still twisted uncomfortably in her attempts. But the princess was enough to make anyone stop what they were doing and reconsider their life choices.
Her dress was similar to the Natasha’s except it was a light pink color and the top V that slipped it’s way down her bosom connected to another V cut that ran up her thigh meeting at her hip. It was all to revealing and Natasha was caught off guard at how natural she looked with her hair falling in loose curls down her shoulders and back.
Her big brown eyes popped against her pale skin and the light pink of the dress. She broke out in a toothy smile as she considered the situation and for a moment Natasha had forgotten how ridiculous she looked. And the fact that she was pretty sure she was stuck.
“Here.” She said holding back a laugh as she approached the pirate and freed her wrist from one of the straps that had snagged her. “Let me help you.” She pulled Natasha’s arm through a hole and twisted the dress around her while the redhead let the princess handle her like a doll.
Darcy continued to move Natasha’s body around until she was properly in the dress and then she proceeded to mess with the pirate’s hair. After a few minutes Darcy stopped and looked at her strangely, perhaps because the redhead had not spoken the entire time.
“What?” The princess asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.
A moment later Natasha answered, “I—Nothing. I’m just looking forward to getting this over with.”
Darcy smirked at her, “And it has nothing to do with this—“ She trailed her fingers up the length of her skirt towards her hip, watching the pirate enticingly. She leaned forward as Natasha’s eyes widened slightly. “It’s okay to feel things, you know. It’s okay to want something.” She said, her voice low.
Natasha inhaled sharply as Darcy came ever so close to her jaw line and then turned away quickly and walking to the bed to pick up the shoes. Natasha looked around, snapped out of her daze and shook herself.
Darcy handed her the complicated looking shoes, “Can you get these one.” She said with a grin.
Natasha blushed and took the shoes.
When they made it back to the bridge Natasha was strained to say the least and she tried to cool her face off. In comparison, Darcy looked stunning as always, her face clear and her eyes bright and excited.
Bobbie looked up as they came through the door, she was wearing a more modest dress, however, it was twice as ostentatious with large, wide shoulder pads riddled with intricate jewels and beads. Bobbie’s face was painted as well to match the design on Hunter’s face.
To his sleek costume they had added the jewels and the beads, and yet it was still less shocking of a transformation. Hunter raised an eyebrow at their guest’s slimming and light outfits, “You guys wanna trade?” He asked shaking her shoulders and letting the stones and beads clack together uncomfortably.
“No thanks.” Darcy said with a chuckle.
“Alright.” The captain said messing with the controls at the front of the bridge, “Let’s go, we don’t want to be late. Remember; Manners and act as snooty and posh as possible.”
“That won’t be too hard for me.” Hunter said proudly, either getting into character or revealing a terrible lack of self knowledge.
“You once got stuck in a dumpster because you saw a donut.” Bobbie reminded him dryly and then before he had a chance to respond she flicked the switch and they were transported down to the planet.
Darcy gasped out loud when they arrived in front of the sprawling manner where the gala was being held. The small planet, called Thuna, was barely even a blip on maps and was owned exclusively by the mark’s family. The sky was a brilliant shade of purple and it held a stable climate.
The plant life on the planet was equally as vibrant with bursting trees of pink and purple and green. The building was next to a small ocean and the cool breeze moved through the environment, shuffling the grass and the trees. Darcy awed as a fluorescently blue bird moved past them, hovering a few feet from her face and then moving out towards the surrounding trees.
“Let’s go. You two stay behind us. You can do whatever you want when we get in but make sure to sell the part.” Bobbie said, ignoring the gorgeous surroundings.
Natasha and s Darcy stayed still while Morse and Hunter moved ahead, when the pair was five feet ahead they started walking. Darcy offered her arm and the pirate took it hesitantly.
They walked in behind a small line of equally as ostentatious guests in similar patterns and were the greeted at the door by a short woman with orange skin and a seriously impressive up do.
“Invitations, please.” She said in a bored but polite voice.
They revealed their invites and the small woman let them pass without another question.
If the outside environment was impressive in terms of how beautiful nature was then the inside of the house was a testament to the ongoing goal of living things to one up each other. They passed through a massive gold archway into a dance floor that was made for kings.
The music, the smell of expensive and rare food, and the blinding colors all added to the statement that this man was rich and he intended to prove it.
Morse and Hunter stopped just inside to survey the other guests and to find their mark.
“Shit.” Morse said in a low voice. They all had transmitters in their ears so they could all hear her perfectly.
“What is it?” Natasha asked immediately.
“The Howling Commandos. What the hell are they doing here?” Morse gestured discreetly to a few of the guests and particularly at a handsome brunette man who was already talking up their mark first.
Natasha’s eyes widened, they were, of course, a very well know group of pirates slash contacted criminals but she had never seen them much less be anywhere near them. She gestured to the brunette near the mark, he was wearing expensive clothing and his hair was pulled back perfectly, “Is that Steve Rogers?” She asked.
Captain Rogers was the notorious leader of the band of criminals, he was known for daring and ridiculous heists that were mostly politically driven. He was a modern day Robin Hood, so to speak. She had always wanted to see him in action.
However, Bobbie shook her head, “No. That’s Captain Rogers.” She pointed lightly to, not the incredibly attractive brunette in the expensive clothing, but to a small blond waiter. He seemed nervous and tense and he kept getting irritated looks from the guests.
He nearly tripped and spilled all of his drinks as he walked towards them. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Natasha said again.
Bobbie chuckled, “Never meet your heroes, kids.”
“That’s the guy Carter left in charge of her outfit?”
Bobbie nodded, “Apparently with good reason, too. Hunter, go and talk to the mark, I’m going to look around a bit and scope out the security. And you two—“She glanced behind her, “Just don’t do anything stupid, alright?”
The women nodded and a moment later they were left alone in the vast expanse of the gala. Darcy took her hand and Natasha glanced at her. “This is going to be fun.” She said with an excited shrug of her shoulders.
Natasha scanned the room around them, the notorious pirate leader had just spilled some kind of sauce on his shoes and had stumbled into the wall, completely off balance and the rest of the high end guests were chatting and dancing almost obnoxiously to the pirate.
She sighed, “Yeah, so much fun.”