Location: Thundarr City – Rita’s Penthouse → Thundarr Coffee Shop.
After a hearty breakfast served by Albort, Rita leaned back in her chair, sipping the last of her black rumy tea. She eyed Faro with a playful smirk.
Rita: “Alright, sweety, how about taking me out for a spin?”
Faro raised an eyebrow. “You mean… driving you around?”
Rita (grinning): “Of course. Even heroes need a little break and time to unwind.”
She tossed him the car card, and soon, they were in the underground garage, standing before a sleek maroon sports car.
Faro: “Nice choice.”
Rita (teasingly): “Only the best, sweety.”
Cruising Through Thundarr City.
The cityscape blurred past them as Faro drove through the towering skyscrapers of Thundarr City, the sun casting golden reflections on the glass buildings.
Rita sat comfortably in the passenger seat, her hair flowing in the breeze, her sunglasses adding to her effortlessly elegant look.
She glanced at Faro. “You’re good at this. Maybe I should buy you one of these.”
Faro chuckled. “You already gave me access to yours.”
Rita: “True, but it’s more fun spoiling you.”
Faro grinned, shaking his head.
After a few more blocks, Rita pointed to a cozy, stylish café with a glass exterior.
Rita: “Let’s stop there. I could use another coffee.”
At Thundarr Coffee Shop.
They stepped inside the coffee shop, where the warm aroma of freshly brewed beans filled the air. The place had a refined yet relaxed vibe—plush seating, polished wooden tables, and soft instrumental music playing in the background.
A few people turned their heads—Rita Faros was a known figure in Thundarr City. Some whispered, others simply admired from afar.
They took a seat by the window, where they could watch the city life go by.
Faro: “Feels like a date.”
Rita smirked over her coffee cup. “Maybe it is.”
Faro swallowed his sip, heat rising to his face.
She leaned in slightly, resting her chin on her hand. “You’re cute when you’re flustered, sweety.”
Faro cleared his throat, changing the subject. “So, what’s next on this ‘break’ of ours?”
Rita: “That depends… How much fun are you willing to have?”
Faro met her gaze, feeling like this day was about to become even more… interesting.
An Unexpected Encounter
Location: Thundarr Coffee Shop
As Rita and Faro sat by the window, enjoying their coffee, the soft chime of the shop’s door rang. A tall, elegantly dressed woman entered, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
She was Madame Verda Lorran, a well-known figure in Thundarr City’s high society. A woman of class, power, and an unshakable presence—she had once been a close associate of Rita during her time as a businesswoman when she managed Falc’s empire alongside him.
She approached the counter to order a takeout, her eyes scanning the shop—and then they landed on Rita.
Recognition and Intrigue.
Madame Verda: “Well, well… if it isn’t Rita Faros.”
Her voice was smooth but carried the sharpness of someone who had navigated the high-stakes world of wealth and business. She turned fully toward Rita, her lips curving into a knowing smile.
Madame Verda: “I haven’t seen you in years. The last I heard, you had… retired from the luxurious life.”
Rita, calm and composed, placed her coffee cup down gracefully.
Rita (smirking): “Verda, darling. Some retirements are only temporary.”
Verda chuckled, her sharp eyes shifting from Rita to Faro.
Madame Verda: “And who’s this young man?”
Rita leaned back, crossing her legs with an amused glint in her eyes.
Rita: “Oh, just someone special.”
Faro, sensing Verda’s curiosity, remained quiet, observing.
Madame Verda (raising an eyebrow): “Hmm… You always did have a taste for charming company. Is this some kind of date?”
Rita laughed softly, tapping her manicured nails against her coffee cup.
Rita: “Oh, Verda, you know me… I never kiss and tell.”
Faro shifted slightly, feeling the intensity of Verda’s gaze.
Verda studied him for a moment before smirking. “Interesting. Well, I won’t keep you two from your little… outing. But, Rita, darling, you should visit one of my galas sometime. You do know how to make an entrance.”
Rita: “I’ll think about it.”
Verda gave a parting smile, picked up her takeout order, and left the shop, her presence lingering even after she was gone.
Faro exhaled, looking at Rita. “She was intense.”
Rita (smirking): “That’s just how high society works, sweety. Always watching, always calculating.”
Faro sipped his coffee. “So… was she right? Was this a date?”
Rita gave him a sideways glance, smirking.
Rita: “What do you think?”
Faro felt his heartbeat quicken. This day was definitely getting interesting.
The Kidnapping Attempt.
Location: Outside Thundarr Coffee Shop.
As Madame Verda gracefully stepped toward her waiting limousine, the doors of a nearby black van slammed open. Two masked clowns, each wielding a handgun, rushed toward her.
Clown #1: “Come with us, lady! No sudden moves!”
Clown #2: “Scream, and your driver gets it!”
Madame Verda, despite her high-society composure, gasped in horror, momentarily frozen. Her chauffeur, an older man in a sleek black suit, raised his hands in surrender.
Inside the Coffee Shop.
Faro’s power ring glowed faintly, sending a sharp warmth through his fingers. Danger.
His eyes darted to Rita, who had already spotted the scene through the coffee shop’s long window. Her expression turned cold and serious.
Rita (murmuring): “Clown Inc… they’re getting bolder.”
Faro stood up swiftly, his chair scraping against the floor.
Faro: “I’m going.”
Rita, leaning back slightly, smirked.
Rita: “Do try not to make a mess, sweety.”
Faro gritted his teeth, dashing out of the café while discreetly clenching his ringed fist.
The Fight Outside.
As Faro rushed toward the unfolding chaos, the clowns shoved Verda toward their van.
Madame Verda (struggling): “Unhand me, you vile pests!”
One clown cocked his gun.
Clown #1: “Shut up and get in the van!”
Suddenly—BAM!
A trash can lid whirled through the air, slamming into the clown’s wrist, sending his gun skidding across the pavement.
Clown #1: “What the—?!”
Faro landed in a swift roll, eyes fierce.
Faro: “That’s enough fun for today, clowns.”
The second clown aimed his gun at Faro, but before he could fire—
BANG!
A gunshot rang out, blowing the gun clean out of his hand.
The shooter? Rita. Still inside the coffee shop, sipping her coffee with one hand, a small silver pistol in the other.
Rita (casually): “Oops. My hand slipped.”
The second clown screamed in pain, clutching his stinging, gunless hand.
Clown #1 (panicking): “Screw this! We weren’t told about backup!”
The two clowns turned, attempting to flee.
Faro, not letting them escape, summoned the power of his ring.
With a flick of his hand, a burst of golden energy surged forth, knocking both clowns onto the pavement.
They groaned, writhing in pain.
Madame Verda, adjusting her expensive coat, exhaled deeply.
Madame Verda: “Well… that was dramatic.”
Aftermath.
A few moments later, Thundarr City authorities arrived, arresting the unconscious clowns.
Faro turned back to Rita, who was still seated inside the café, finishing the last of her coffee. She caught his gaze through the window and winked.
Faro sighed, shaking his head. “Figures she’d enjoy this.”
Madame Verda, still brushing herself off, glanced at Faro.
Madame Verda: “I must say… you’re quite the hero.”
Faro smirked.
Faro: “I try.”
But as he looked toward Rita, who remained calm and amused, something told him…
This wasn’t just a random attack.
Inside the Coffee Shop
Faro stepped back inside, shaking his head. Rita, now comfortably reclining in her chair, motioned to the seat across from her.
Rita (smirking): “Sit down, sweety. You look like you need another coffee.”
Faro didn’t sit. Instead, he folded his arms and stared at the small silver pistol now casually resting on the table beside her empty coffee cup.
Faro: “Alright, talk. Since when do you carry a gun?”
Rita sighed, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hand.
Rita: “Since I came back into the limelight. I may have spent years in Thundarr Forest as Shecon, but here? Here, I’m Rita Faros again. And in this city, powerful business owners don’t last long without protection.”
Faro’s brow furrowed.
Faro: “You’re back in business?”
Rita smirked.
Rita: “Part-time. I still have my Shecon duties, but I also now own half of Cal’s business empire. Remember? And being in the public eye again means being a target. Just look at what happened to Madame Verda.”
She gestured toward the window, where Verda was still speaking with the city authorities outside.
Rita (shrugging): “She’s a high-society woman, but even she’s not safe. Neither am I.”
Faro exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his head.
Faro: “I get it, but still… I don’t like you carrying that thing.”
Rita chuckled, picking up the pistol and twirling it between her fingers with practiced ease.
Rita: “Oh, please. I lived in a dangerous forest fighting real monsters, sweety. A little gun is nothing.”
Faro finally sat down, his expression serious.
Faro: “Still… you need to be careful.”
Rita reached across the table and gently patted his hand.
Rita (softly): “That’s sweet. But don’t worry about me. Worry about the city itself. Things are changing, and not for the better.”
Faro narrowed his eyes.
Faro: “What do you mean?”
Rita leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Rita: “I have a feeling Mr. Clown isn’t done yet. And if today was any proof… the war for Thundarr City’s power is just beginning.”
