The engine roared, tires squealed and they were off.  The words 'drives like a madman' came to mind and in any other circumstances that would have been no small concern.  Fast was good but not if you got your head smashed through the windshield due to a head on collision.  This was an escape from a crime scene, however, and in this case fast and dangerous were among the more reasonable choices.  Next time she'd be alone and next time her options for escape would be better planned out and much less likely to cause her own inadvertent death.  Just in case, she kept her back and torso protected by thick, black scales.

Finally they got far enough from the scene that the death defying trip took on a more normal tone and a more normal pace.  Not only had they seen success this day, but they'd even live to tell the tale!  Plus, it seemed like the little stunt of leaving plunder for the people had paid off as there was no sign of any police.  Win win on all possible sides.

"Thanks," Jayden answered the dummy.  It felt weird to be talking to an animated doll.  In fact, the doll was actually kind of creepy.  Not in an 'I'm afraid for my life' kind of way, but more in a slightly unnerving kind of way.  She didn't let her slight feeling of unease play across her features.  It was all based on superstitious nonsense, anyway.

"I don't think I've really thought about dolls enough to really like or dislike them."  Although if they were as unnerving as the ones all ready there with her, she might not remain in his home for too long.  Of course, the creepy factor might just be intentional.  Intimidation came in many forms and she had some experience of her own in its uses.

The creepy dolls Rhett controlled were definitely because of the creep factor.  He enjoyed that aspect of his power quite a bit actually.  He loved being about to make fear by just animating a deranged looking doll to life.  He wasn't going to lie about that.  But it wasn't like he chose his power.  If he could control people instead that would have been far more effective.  Rhett lived in the mannequin factory, because it was like having endless supply of soliders sitting patently at your fingertips ready to be commanded.  Also it was quiet, out of the way and not a lot of people came in here because of the creep factor.  It was helpful in so many ways.

Rhett's boots echoed across the blacktop as he made his way to the door.  He left the mannequin sitting in the car out front as he made his way to the door. It was somewhat odd.  As if it didn't look like it belonged there, but Rhett didn't care.  The creepy little ventriloquist dummy followed Rhett's mental orders and climbed out the car's window and followed him inside.  Rhett stopped at the door and had the mannequin open the passenger side door and grab the rest of the bags of cash and bring it inside for him.  Rhett smiled and watched it pass him as he lit a cigarette up.  

There wasn't really anything on the agenda besides splitting up the cash.  Rhett supposed if she wanted Darkshift could stay here too.  It wasn't pretty or nice, but it was home.  It was a good place to lie low.  Who the hell would think to look for anyone here?  Rhett liked it for many reasons, but he also liked having a little companionship.  A little someone to talk to besides his dolls and dummies.  They talked back, or at least they did in Rhett's mind.  But he wanted the companionship of another human, another mutant.  Something with a living breathing beating heart.

Rhett waited for Darkshift to come inside before he flicked his cigarette away half smoked.  The mannequin walked over to a little table and set the bags of money down.  It set the bags down on a blue print of a bank a few blocks away.  That was a job for another day.  It was something that Rhett had sitting on the back burner.  He didn't have time to discuss that now.  Now, was about splitting up the loot.  "You're entitled to half of this....."  Rhett spoke from the back of the room.  The mannequin unzipped the bags to reveal all that lush green tempting cash to Darkshift.  "But.... You're welcome to all of it if you work for me. You did good out there kid.  I could use you for more things in the future.  Think of it as a down payment on our friendship."  Rhett said with a smug look on his face.  He crossed his legs and leaned against the wall as he watched over her careful changes in her expression.  He was trying to see if he could read what the young mutant was thinking.

Rhett continued as the ventriloquist dummy crawled up a chair and climbed up onto the table with the money.  It reached in and grabbed a fat bundle of bills and walked across the table with it.  The creepy dummy held it out to Darkshift as if to tempt her further.  "Look.  If you want you can even crash here from time to time.  Use this place to lay low from some unwanted heat, shit! I don't care. But if you take that money, just know that when I need you....I'm going to be calling."  Rhett said.  It was a simple offer.  Take half the money and end their partnership right there and go their separate ways.  Or she could take it all and Rhett would have her in his pocket for a job down the line.  It wasn't buying her completely.  He didn't own her in any way, it was more like buying her loyalty.  Rhett was a complicated guy.  And he loved theatrics.  He wondered what she would choose as the dummy continued to hold out the money to her.

Careful not to let any of her thoughts play across her face, she followed the man into this abode, taking careful look of everything around her.   The creep factor was definitely there, no doubt about it.  It was strangely perfect for Puppeteer, however, and as unnerving as the whole thing was, she had to have some respect for the setup.  She wasn't quite sure if the psychology of it all was intentional, but even if it wasn't she could see its uses.  Unsettle those around you, ally and enemy alike, and that was the first step to having power over those people.  Well, she might be a tad unsettled (not that she'd ever admit it out loud, of course), but she wasn't about to let anyone hold power over her.  No, she just wasn't that kind of woman.

Once inside, it was time to split the funds gained from their little illegal adventure.  As fun as the whole day was, this was where things truly paid off.  Literally.  She listened to the offer extended to her and gave it careful considering.  He didn't seem like the type to give praise lightly and as such it was all the more appreciated.  That said, such a one sided relationship wasn't exactly what she had in mind.  No doubt, it seemed like he possessed skills and knowledge that would be beneficial to her, but he as also clearly a little unstable and one could only get so closely tied up with that sort.

"I tell you what, Puppeteer, I enjoyed today and you clearly possess some skills and experiences I think would be useful to me.  I'm not the sort to work for anyone, you understand, nothing personal.  However, if you're willing to work with me lets say I take half now and give you my contact info and if you have some thoughts on future adventures, lets say we forge a working relationship, you and I."  She waited for his response, trying to read his expression.

"As far as staying here from time to time, the offer of safe house is always appreciated.  I've got a place of my own, but you never know when you need to run off somewhere a little less obvious."  She let out a half laugh, knowing that he, of all people, was likely to understand exactly where she was coming from.  "I hope that offer is still open, even if I'm not, strictly speaking, working for you."

Rhett stood there and said nothing. His curious brown eyes danced over her with great interest as he quietly mused what she said. There was a long silence between them. Rhett's face gave nothing away of what he was thinking as he stood there. She wanted to be her own person. That was commendable. He couldn't really blame her for that. He wasn't the 'working for others' type of guy himself. He didn't take orders well. Chain of command? What was that bullshit? Rhett only did what Rhett wanted and he couldn't rightly be mad at someone else for having the same stance on the matter. She said that she'd take half the money and that was it.

Rhett's eyes shifted slightly to a mannequin standing frozen behind her. It was a female mannequin. She had long flowing blonde hair and a cheery smile that seemed creepy in it's froze statuesque pose.  The mannequin wore a light summery dress with pink and purple flowers on it.  She had an elegant and expensive string of pearls around her neck and an equally expensive pearl bracelet around her wrist. Her name was Judy. Rhett had named her that.  Rhett watched Judy. His expression still deadpan. Suddenly Judy, who was standing directly beside Darkshift leaned over with surprising quickness and scooped up the rest of the money from the table. 

She was perfectly still one moment, just another dead mannequin amongst a sea of inanimate plastic; and the next moment she was alive and well! She wasn't really alive.  She was only moving because Rhett was controlling her with telepatchic commands, but in Rhett's mind she was magnificent. She was beautiful. Rhett was a few screws short of a picnic. He heard the voices of all of his toys in his head. His subconscious thoughts bouncing back both sides of the conversation when only one sentient being existed. Still, it beat lonely depression. Crazy was better than sad right?

Judy scooped up all the money and quickly shoved it into a duffle bag. Judy didn't pay any attention to Darkshift as she went about her task and a big grin slowly poured over Rhett's wrinkled face. He loved trying to fuck with people. And the fact that Darkshift wasn't spooked by his theatrics only made him more interested in her. Still, he gave it his best shot at trying to spook her whenever the chance arrived at his doorstep. Rhett watched as Judy finished collecting his half of the heist and began to walk it over to him. She walked in stiletto heels. There was the sound of her shoes click click clicking in the empty echoy factory.

When she reached Rhett she handed him the money and Rhett actually leaned in and kissed the mannequin on her lips.  All of her body parts were pliable.  They moved and reacted the way a real human's would.  Under Rhett's telepathic influence he could make a plastic mannequin's fingers bend unnaturally for plastic and act more human like.  The same goes for lips.  Judy's lips pursed and moved forward to greet his as she kissed him back.  The kiss was awkward and weird among the silent factory, but it didn't take the grin off his devilish face.  "Thanks doll."  Rhett said with a hearty laugh and slapped her on the ass as he made he walk away. 

Rhett was holding the money now.  The factory was still silent.  Rhett turned to watch Judy the mannequin walking up a set of metal stairs.  Her stilettos still punctuating the silence with unbelievable clarity.  Rhett was insane.  But he liked it that way.   When she disappeared upstairs and out of Rhett's sight she simply froze in the doorway of the next room.  Standing perfectly still and mannequin like as she had been before. To everyone's vantage point she would have appeared to simply leave.  Rhett turned his attention back to Darkshift.  The smile finally faded as Rhett took a glance down at the money.  That was a lot of cash.  Rhett usually spent his extra money on car parts for his charger or guns or explosives.  He loved his toys.  But right now he didn't have need for this much money.  He was hoping to buy allegiance, but that wasn't the case.

Still, she hadn't flat turned him down.  She was willing to work with him, but not for him.  There's a silver lining to every cloud.  Rhett tossed the money on the floor.  It hit the floor with a thud as Rhett leaned against a iron support beam and pulled out his smokes.  "You can crash here whenever.  You don't have to work for me.  Just don't work against me...."  The last part of what he said came out cold and almost threatening but the son of a bitch was smiling again as he said it.  It was almost as if he enjoyed trying to confuse you.  He didn't like to be predictable.  Predictable was boring.  "Take the cash kid.  I have a few jobs lined up in the future, if I think you're up for it.....I'll give you a call."  Rhett said lighting his cigarette.

He exhaled a cloud of smoke.  His intense eyes seemed to be angry and excited all at the same time with a hint of madness to them.  But something in those grissled eyes said that he was always thinking just a few steps ahead of you.  He was clearly crazy, but he wasn't stupid.  He was turning gears faster than you mind think in his tired ass head and he seemed to have life pretty much figured out.  He had developed a lifestyle that suited his particular tastes and he was extending that olive branch to Darkshift.  Rhett didn't have a great many friends that weren't plastic or silicone, but he had one thing made him a force to be reckoned with.  He had a devil may care attitude and a pension for danger.  He wouldn't be stopped.  He couldn't be stopped even if you tried.  Rhett was a monster all in his own right.  "Til we meet again kid."  Rhett said with a smirk pushing up one side of his face.  "Feel free to let yourself out." 

With that, Rhett pushed himself off his support pillar he was leaning on and followed Judy upstairs.  The soft click click clicking of his dusty old cowboy boots rang out in the silent factory.  He had plans alright.  Darkshift was just The first.  He wanted to pull a big job but he'd need a few more mutants to join in on the fun.  How fucking spectacular would that be?  An all mutant crime gang?  It wasn't the most noble of goals to have, but hell.... It sure would be fun.  Rhett finished climbing the stairs and disappeared into the room that Judy did and the door slammed shut behind him.  He left Darkshift downstairs holding her money with something to think about.  Only time would tell if she was what he was looking for, but he thought she might be just that.