The Mafia

“Is that...?”

“Of course it is. What else would it be?”

“You’re sure it’s genuine?”

“I quadruple checked myself.”

Deep within the most secure chambers of Nebula Labs, two grey ringox women hovered over a fist sized chunk of shimmering black rock. The first voice belonged to Christine, the cold boss of the Stellar mob. 

“I still can’t believe you found a chunk this big!” Christine said, her eyes wide and gleaming greedily over her prize. “So many tests to run, so much money we could make…”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” said the other woman, Raquel, as she fiddled with a device hooked up to the rock. “God cores are more powerful than regular ringox cores, and I can’t promise anything useful for a good while.”

Christine scoffed, her long black nails tapping against the sterile counter. “Please. You’ve done so many experiments with cores, I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

The screens that replaced half Raquel’s face flickered with irritation. “It’ll take longer because I could only get the one piece off of Keane, Christine. It’s not like I can just summon more with a snap of my fingers!”

“I suppose,” Christine said disinterestedly. “I’m sure I can have people find more.”

Of course, neither woman realized that they were being eavesdropped on. There was an almost zero chance of that, considering how secret this secret lab was, but outside the door were two invisible ringox, clad in the typical lab coat uniform of the labs, who barely dared to breathe.

“I can’t believe you dragged me into this, Eloise,” hissed the taller ringox. 

Eloise rolled her eyes, though of course no one could see. “It’s not like any of our other siblings would be willing to go against Grey Mom!” she hissed. “You’re the only one who left, Medusa.”

“Sure, sure.” 

However, Medusa wouldn’t have the chance to retort as just at that moment, Christine and Raquel breezed past them, too deep in conversation to even consider the thought that there might be invisible ringox right next to them. Both Medusa and Eloise froze, hardly daring to breathe until Christine and Raquel were far, far, away.

With a soft pop, both ringox became visible again. Medusa slumped to the floor with a loud exhale. 

“Seriously?” Eloise said, lifting her older sister off the ground and hauling her over to the complex security system by the door. “We still have a job to do.”

Medusa shot her a look and sighed again, but set her fingers against the keypad and typed in the override code she’d lifted off of Raquel a couple nights ago. Immediately, the dim light of the corridor was replaced with vibrant LEDS and the doors slid open.

“You have two minutes. Go.”

And with that, Eloise was off. Everything had to be perfectly timed. Five seconds to get through the door. Fifteen seconds to look around and realize the lab was bigger than she thought. Another ten to spot the core shard and the machine it was hooked up to.

Eloise’s heart sped up. The shard was connected to a tangle of wires that were constantly producing some sort of reading. She’d have to be swift to be able to get out in time.

Seventeen seconds to run across the lab. Two to unplug the reader machine. Forty five to frantically remove all the wires, getting a nasty cut in the process. Six seconds to pocket the shard in a way that wouldn’t look suspicious as she left the lab. The last nineteen seconds to run as fast as ringoxly possible to get out just before the door slammed shut with a thud.

Breaths came fast and hard as Eloise panted, her hands on her knees as the adrenaline caught up to her. Meanwhile, Medusa gave her a very unimpressed look.

“Did you get it?” Medusa asked, her voice flat.

With one last breath, Eloise stood up and patted the pocket she’d put the shard in. “Y-yeah. C’mon, let's get out of here so we can get this to the Shrine.”

“Great. Then I can fuck off back to where I wanted to be.”

Eloise did not dignify her older sister with a response, merely adjusting Medusa’s lab coat so it looked somewhat professional. “Are you gonna do your color thing?”

“Yeah, gimme a sec.” From somewhere in her pockets, Medusa produced a pill, something small, violently pink, and certainly not something Eloise had ever seen before. Without a second thought, Medusa popped it into her mouth. Instantly, her normally drab coloration was replaced with a vibrant green and purple. People who knew Medusa would know instantly who she was, but that number was far lower than it had been decades ago so it should be enough of a disguise.

Quietly, the two stepped through the corridors, on high alert. A couple times, Eloise attempted to start a conversation just so everything looked natural, but it was difficult to cut through the tension.

A few tired scientists waved at Eloise and gave Medusa no second looks. Probably too tired to care, thankfully enough. It was smooth sailing - almost too smooth. Eloise expected more people to be around, more things to be on high alert. Perhaps Medusa had done her job too well?

“Oh, hey Eloise!”

Eloise squeaked as Xavier, her oldest sibling pulled her into a bear hug. Thankfully, xe completely missed Medusa, giving her ample time to pop into invisibility. 

“Uh, hey Xavi!” Eloise said, her face buried into xer chest. “What’re you doing here?”

“Raquel found one of Deidre’s shards!” Xavier said, letting her go. “Yellow Mom, Chip, and I were going to go see what that was all about.”

Oh dear. Quick, Eloise had to think of something! “Oh, uh, that’s… interesting?” 

“Indeed it is!” a very chirpy voice said. Chip, Eloise’s only younger sister, was standing right behind Xavier… right next to Gidget. A huge grin split Chip’s face. “There’s so much information in a core, and a god’s core is going to be so full of secrets!”

“Quite,” Gidget said, a wry smile on her face. “Speaking of which, is that why you were here? I never see you around the labs.”

Eloise shrugged in what she hoped was a natural way. “I just had never been here before and wanted to see what was up. There was so much science stuff, I couldn’t begin to understand it!”

This was an act she played for her family a lot. They all thought she was sweet, if a bit simple-minded, and couldn’t begin to understand all the science and money and things like that. Eloise did, of course. She just didn’t want them to see that - she could get away with so much more if they thought she was an idiot.

“I could teach you!” Chip said enthusiastically, pleased at the idea that she knew something her older siblings didn’t. “There’s so much to go into, like biothaumatic science, computer modules…”

She would’ve gone on like that for ages if Eloise didn’t interrupt her right then. “No, it’s okay. My roses need pruning after all, and I’ve put it off too long!”

“That’s too bad,” Xavier said. “We’re meeting Grey Mom and Raquel for coffee, and I’m sure you’d have a great time!”

Gidget placed a hand on Xavier’s shoulder. “Eloise doesn’t have to come if she doesn’t want to.” 

Xavier looked crestfallen, but nodded. “Fine, fine. See you around, Ellie?”

“Y-yeah!”

And with that, Chip, Xavier, and Gidget were off, discussing amongst themselves about the technical applications of a ringox core powered whatever. 

“That was close,” hissed Medusa into Eloise’s ear. “Too close.”

Eloise just nodded, knowing that she’d look stupid if she started talking to herself. Truth be told, she was a little shaken from the encounter. She hadn’t expected her family to show up so early! Was her mother so sure of the core that she’d invited them over before any real scientific discovery would be made?

She and Medusa had to get out of there as quick as they could. Luckily, the back entrance wasn’t too far off. Just a couple minutes of walking fast and trying to disguise the second pair of footsteps with some very loud humming.

And then they were out, both visible again as they leaned against the door.

“Roses?” Medusa asked. “That’s seriously the best thing you could come up with?”

Eloise rolled her eyes. “They do actually need to be pruned, Medusa!”

“Right, and I’m still a part of this fucking family.” Medusa looked extremely unimpressed, a solid imitation of her bio mom Gidget. “I have no idea how you managed to pull that off.”

“They think I’m an idiot,” Eloise said with a sigh, leaning against her sister. “There’s no way in hell I’m smart enough to pull anything off, right?”

“Oh.” Awkwardly, Medusa pat Eloise on the shoulder. “Yeah, I get it. This family is - oh shit.”

Right in front of them, with crossed arms and a faded blue pixie, was Kathryn and her loyal seeing eye dog Scout. 

“I know what you did,” Kathryn said flatly. 

Medusa scowled at her, standing upright. “How the hell did you know that? We covered our tracks!”

With an exaggerated sigh, Kathryn tapped next to her left eye. “I got the ‘gift’ of prophecy, dipshit.” 

“Oh, yeah,” Medusa said, standing protectively in front of Eloise. “That shit. What’re you gonna do, turn us in to Grey Mom?”

“Hardly,” Kathryn snorted. “I’m gonna let you go.”

“Wh-what?” Eloise’s jaw dropped to the ground. “You’re kidding.”

One of Kathryn’s eyebrows raised. “Ellie, when have I ever kidded about anything?”

“True.”

“Why are you doing this?” Medusa asked, still ready for a fight. “I thought you were loyal to the family?”

There was a pause. Kathryn frowned, fidgeting with Scout’s leash. “Mostly,” she said finally. “These experiments with cores and things… I don’t know. Something isn’t right about them. I can’t let them go on.”

Quietly, Medusa relaxed. Immediately, Eloise barrelled into a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around Kathryn’s chest. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” Kathryn held the hug for a moment longer before releasing Eloise. She turned towards Medusa, arms outstretched. “Don’t think you’ll get away without a hug!”

Medusa gave Kathryn a look, raising an eyebrow before shaking her head and holding Kathryn close. The two held each other close, a reunion of sisters who cared so deeply about each other that neither were willing to rat the other out.

“I missed you,” murmured Kathryn, her smile genuine.

“I missed you too, Katy Kat.” Medusa’s voice was soft, her hug tighter than any she’d had in a very long time.

And then the moment was over, both sisters giving each other the most awkward of grins. This was… nice. Eloise liked it when her family got along.

“Hey, Medusa?” she said, reaching into her pocket for the large black shard. “You should take this back.”

Medusa blinked. “Wait, you’re trusting me with this?”

“Mhmm.” Eloise held out the shard for Medusa to take. “I should go prune my roses so no one suspects me. ‘Sides, you’re really cool and you helped me with this. You deserve a chance.”

“Oh! Uh, thanks.” Medusa took the shard tenderly, her eyes wide. “I’ll keep it safe.”

“I know you will.” Eloise’s smile was genuine. She just couldn’t help herself and threw herself into one last hug, holding Medusa tight. “I’ll see you soon?"

“Yeah. Yeah you will.”

“Great,” Kathryn said, her typical gruff demeanor returning.  “You should go now, before I change my mind about ratting you out because of your sappiness.”

Medusa laughed. “Sure, sure. Maybe I’ll see you too, Katy Kat.”  And with that, she was gone. Not a pop or a sparkle or anything of that sort to show her leaving this realm for the Shrines.

“Well, then,” Kathryn said, a hint of sadness in her voice. “I guess I’ll take you to your garden?”

“Yeah, that’d be nice.”

Funny, Eloise missed Medusa already. Not even a minute gone, and Eloise’s heart already panged for the loss of her sister again. Perhaps… perhaps she’d have to find more ridiculous things to get Medusa to come around again.