"No missions...let's just upgrade the base."
Chemista nods. "Do you have any suggestions, your evilness? We can repurpose the cruiser ship as a secondary base -in case this one ends up compromised- or we can attach the floating barge to one of the zeppelin. If anything else catches your fancy that you'd like to try and build with what we have, you can just say it."
Upgrade base with what?You then calmly walk towards Cerulean's room, only to find the door open and her not inside -of course, it's not like she's spending the entire day in there, right?
You track her down after a few moments, following the sound of her laughing and playing Dance-Dance with Gamington and Coghuahua. You stop for a moment at the entrance of the room, watching her play and move her jelly-like form on the flashing symbols.
Unfortunately the game is rigged for those with more surface that humans or that don't actually have feet -but she's enjoying herself all the same, and you actually realize Coghuahua is there to 'change' the score halfway through, rather than make the girl lose and all.
The moment the gaming moment ends, you call to her. "Cerulean!"
"Yes dad?" she smiles as she surfs closer to you, "We're going on a mission?" she asks, gazing at you.
"No," you reply calmly, "Today is upgrade day. We can spend some time together."
"Really?" she looks at you with her eyes shining. Yes, you're weak to the sparkling eyes of your daughter. That's official. "Are we going out on a picnic?"
"How about you tell me something about your day?" you start, hoping to get the conversation going. You begin walking across the lair, with Cerulean happily nodding at your words and excitedly speaking -while making grandiose exaggerations and moving her arms wide.
"I made sure the eggs were warm enough by using wuffle cogs and heaters to keep them at a constant temperature, and then I ensured Lilly was fed. German taught me how to cook, did you know he's got a knack for cooking? He went into biology because they didn't accept him at a cooking school...and then I helped mom move some crates around," she flexes her goo-like muscles. "I'm super strong!"
You nod.
"Then I talked a bit with Coghuahua -now she's all over Uncle Gamington for some reason," Cerulean roles her eyes. "Oh right, he forgave me about that thing of the past you know? We're again in good terms!" she happily announces that, clapping her hands as she holds her smile on her face.
She's still smiling by the time you reach the beach and its sandy shore.
"You know," she whispers. "I was really scared a few days ago." she looks up at you, "When mom brought me away...up on the zeppelin, I was really scared," she grips on your arm, sniffling. "But I'm glad you're safe, dad," she adds then looking at you. "You promised after all, right? Nothing's going to take you down."
"Course not," you remark puffing your chest out. "I'm Overlord Incognito. Nothing can put me down."
Cerulean giggles.
"You know," you begin then, "You don't have to smile always..."
"Uh?" she looks at you.
"I mean, you can st-"
"DON'T SAY THAT!" she screams, shrieking and putting her hands over her ears. "DON'T SAY THAT! DON'T SAY THAT! DON'T SAY THAT!"
"Cerulean? Cerulean!" you snap at her, but she retreats shaking her head.
You flick your cog-staff into existence, before giving chase.
She's clearly crying and wailing by the time you reach her in her room. She's actually hiding under a blanket.
"Cerulean, what's the matter?" you say, warily eying her.
"You were about to say that," Cerulean sniffles. "I don't want you to say that."
"Say what?"
"That. That sentence. I don't want to hear it. I...I can change dad. If you want you can mutate me further. I mean, maybe with bunny dna or something else...I'll be good! I can start cleaning around the lair like, immediately! But please don't say it...please!"
"What? What is it?"
"You can stop smiling now," Cerulean whispers, "Candidate one, you're eliminated. You can stop smiling now, candidate five, you're eliminated. YOU CAN STOP SMILING NOW! and every time I dreaded it would be my number! MY NUMBER! I was number twenty! I wasn't pretty like some of the others and I wasn't charming! I smiled and that was it! You can't tell me not to smile dad, please, please, please..."
"Calm down," you whisper, grabbing a hold of her form -which the blanket actually helps you hold. "It's all right...you don't need to stop smiling."
Cerulean crumbles in wracks of sobbing as you hush her gently. "Now, now," you murmur rocking her back and forth. "It's all right..."
DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MINE!You shudder as you watch Cerulean fall to sleep in your arms, before carefully dropping her gelatinous mass -which is far more difficult than it sounds- on her bed and then closing the door behind her.
You swallow the pits of nervousness in your stomach, before marching calmly towards the Evil Overlord System.
Quietly, you begin to override a few protocols.
One of the Following missions will appear tomorrow:
1) Destruction. Rampage through the HEROES Magical girl recruitment center.
2) Control. Attack the Brave-City orphanage. Free the children.
3) Mixed. Find Cerulean's remaining family.Your choice.