Evolve or die! 25

[Scruff here]
I tried to contact Sis, but her mobile was turned off. That meant she was in trouble, and it was up to us to stop Toxic.
I wanted to let Emily drive, but she told me first of all that she doesn't know how to and second that for a girl her age to do that is very illegal. So I had to drive, which is cool and everything, but it meant I couldn't use my computer at the same time, and Sis has git rather used to my computer skills getting her out of trouble. Sometimes you can just fight crime with a computer (it's fun diverting huge amounts of money out of crooks' bank accounts), but this time I was sure we'd have to be a bit more active.
The place was a dump. It was totally derelict and surrounded by a scrapyard full of dead cars. But this was where our stool pigeon had said the bad guys hung out, and I knew already that bad guys like to hang out in places like this.
Having parked the car, I got out my computer. Emily was slumped in her seat being quiet and trying not to be noticed. I had my mask and jacket off (being disguised as Robin might draw attention to me, while a girl wearing a green top wouldn't be so obvious), and I was doing my best not to look suspicious.
"Okay, Emily, we know Toxic wants to poison the water supply. So why's Toxic based here?"
"You're the girl with the laptop, not me," she replied. "I've just got a crossbow and some other nasty weapons."
Honestly, she can be so annoying sometimes. I guess it's 'cos she's thirteen and I'm sixteen. Or something like that.
"Okay, I'll have a look."
I started searching using the software package that the Sparrow had developed for Sis. I've got to hand it to her, Sis does have the coolest friends. And the coolest job. So I kind of enjoy working for her. Hey, it beats being back in school doing boring A-Levels and stuff. Boy, I'm glad I don't have to stay there til I'm eighteen!
Then I saw it. The Canning Town Water Treatment works, the latest, most high-tech water-treatment works in London, capable of treating half the city's water supply and just come on line. A perfect target - and why else would even a super-villain hang out in a dump like this? I mean, even super-baddies have some self-respect. Don't they? And they have to have REASONS for putting their bases where they do, right? I mean, like the guy who has a base in a volcano needs the volcano for something, doesn't he? So Toxic's base was in Canning Town because of the water-treatment works! See, I AM a detective. Sis is training me, so some day I'll drop this Robin outfit and have one of my own that's WAY cooler.
"Emily, I've got it! Canning Town Water Treatment works! It's just down the road and it does water treatment for half of London!"
"Okay. So we just turn up and tell them?"
"Don't be silly! We can't do that! The cops think Sis is bad - you know, like the Green Hornet?"
"Yes, I do. So what?"
"We have to stop the baddies ourselves."
"Scruff..."
"Yeah, I know. Hey! Your pal Laura Moriarty just finished her A-levels, right?"
"Right, but..."
"Let's call her up and see if she wants to help. She does Judo and stuff, doesn't she?"
"Right," Emily picked up my mobile.
We were going to kick those killers!

Evolve or die! 24

Take my advice, don't get knocked out by a nutcase with a dart-gun on her hand, it hurts. Then they rant at you. I've seen it all before, and I don't like it. Still, it's better than being whacked over the head and getting concussion. I really hate that.

I came around slowly in the derelict mansion to find that I'd been tied to a chair, and my belt, gloves and boots and been removed. Apparently Toxic knew where I kept my escape kit. Or at least suspected it.
"So, you're awake?"
Toxic was standing over me, gloating. I looked up. She smiled.
"Jane Hill. I should have suspected that you were that sanctimonious bigot. Your sort conspire to keep us from the truth."
Of course she'd unmasked me. She was a villain. It was the sensible thing to do.
"You're mad," I told her. No banter, just the facts.
"They said Einstein was mad, they said Columbus was mad, they said that Copernicus was mad..."
"They said King George III was mad too. And they said Louie was mad."
"Who's Louie?"
"My uncle. He was mad. Just because people say you're mad doesn't mean you're not."
Little-known fact, but one that has to be mentioned once in a while. These mad scientists expect that we'll all accept their crackpot theories. Doesn't work that way, I've seen too many.
"In centuries to come they'll see my true worth, they'll remember me..."
"As a murderous crackpot, Coral. So, Toxic's you, a mad plan to wipe out all the 'unfit'?"
"Before Columbus, everyone thought the world was flat..."
"That's not true, many ancient seafaring cultures worked out on their own that it's round. But you're not a Columbus, Toxic, you're a killer. Your only claim to fame is that you've found a particularly nasty application of Darwin's theory. Social Darwinism taken to the ultimate - kill those you deem to be unfit. Hitler did the same thing."
That was when she hit me in the mouth.
"You ignorant fundementalist bigot! How dare you speak to me like that! You're the past - I'm the future. And in two hours every drug user in London will be dead. You can't stop me!"
I hoped Scruff could.

Evolve or die! 23

There I was, in a derelict house, up against a woman who was definitely insane. I know some scientists have suggested that mankind's control over the environment has stopped human evolution, and I defend their right to say it, but Toxic's idea of how to overcome the problem was just insane! She'd elevated Darwin's theory from a scientific theory to a religious dogma, and her definition of good was whatever advanced evolution! What was worse, she had determined to do whatever it took - meaning murder and mayhem.

"...Human evolution is stuck, Diana. It needs to move on, but we;re stopping it. What I'm doing is helping nature..."
"And how does nature like it?"
"I am an agent of nature, Diana! Your compassion's misplaced, a weakness. I kill because I have to, because nature demands it! And tonight.. tonight I shall finally begin my great task! Thousands of the unfit shall perish at the hands of Toxic! Imagine it, Diana, the beautiful advance of evolution! Progress at last, after centuries of stagnation! What shall we be, Diana? What will our children be? A few must die so that the race can survive, can flourish, can advance!"
"Wh... what are you going to do?" Diana was clearly terrified, and I didn't blame her. I'd be terrified if I was tied to a chair listening to Toxic rant about her plans to kill thousands of people. They needed help, not to be murdered.
But then, I thought to myself, Toxic needed help too. Well, I could always start that.
"I've spent millions to make sure that every drug-user in London gets a dose of the first part of my special formula. On its own it's quite harmless, but it sits in the body for years, waiting for part two."
"But if users start dying after taking your drugs, they'll switch suppliers..."
"That's the beauty of my plan, Diana. I'm going to contaminate London's water supply. All of it. So that drug users will die the first time they drink tap water! No-one will know until it's too late!"

"No!"
I chose my moment to enter the room, drawing my whip from my belt as I did so. Toxic whirled to face me. Diana smiled as she saw a rescuer.
"The Girl in Grey!" Toxic laughed. She wore a form-fitting green costume with a skull-and-crossbones motif on it. A pair of silver-rimmed goggles hung around her neck, and there was some sort of green pistol stuck in the top of one of her high boots. "I was wondering when you'd try to interfere. You don't understand..."
"I do. You're insane..."
"No, the world's mad and I am sane!"
"I prefer to think it's the other way around," I said. "Raise your hands."
Toxic smiled and began to raise her hands. I should have realised she was up to something, but I only tumbled to it when something hit me in the neck. I pulled out the dart and sighed.
"I haven't taken drugs in my life."
"Fool, I don't want you dead!"
Then I felt the tranquilizer take effect. It was fast-acting, and I passed out in seconds.