When Ranger had been read in to SUPER after his deaging, Sabine had asked him to keep his power under wraps. He could be an asset in the search for rooting out the bad actors still embedded in the organization. This meant that when SUPER had sieged the holdout of those responsible for the deaging, Ranger had to be careful to not appear to be using a power.

Even when he worked with a fellow agent, Hugh Manning .

In recent times, that directive had fallen by the wayside as Ranger’s reactive power eventually made itself known. The information was still able to be largely contained. When Ranger had fallen victim to a mystic with skill in altering the X-gene that went away completely.

It was still somewhat of a secret but agents who found themselves working with Ranger were briefed on the situation. So when Ranger and Hugh were tasked with infiltrating the headquarters of a European mutant supremacy organization attempting to open a chapter across the pond. Königliche Mutantennation, KMn. The Royal Mutant Nation.

Intel had them meeting at a big event in Gotham Hall. The front was a christmas party and fashion show. The “Naughty List”. The mission parameters had been sent down to Ranger and Manning giving them discretion on how to approach the mission.

Which is how Ranger found herself at SUPER HQ searching for Hugh’s desk. She still didn’t have a handle on what was going on with her power. It seemed to switch them from male to female and some abilities were accessible in one form and not the other. It complicated missions, which was likely the reason Ranger had been paired with Hugh instead of being simply tasked with the job themselves.

”Which desk is agent Manning’s?” Ranger asked a secretary when he got off the phone. He pointed down a hall and indicated to go left, ”Thanks.”

Ranger set off down the hall. When she finally found the indicated desk, she peaked her head around the wall and said, ”Howdy, Hugh. Looks like we’re mission bussies.”

Now this was awkward. Things with the mutants had been going pretty quietly these days. Yeah there were those criminal ones that tried to make an easier life for themselves by bending the rules, but thankfully that was why an organization like SUPER existed. Today, for example, there was some mutant "mastermind" who called himself "Acidrose". Some blob-like fellow who wanted to get back at the world by melting his way through a couple of local bank vaults. The guy was disgusting with rotund, semi-transparent body and only his bones floating around inside. The police and even the MRC were having a tough time so they had to call in the real heroes.

Of course that means the X-Men! But even they get caught in traffic, even in that stupid jet of theirs. So, in the mean time, SUPER, and one of their star agents had arrived on the scene.

Yes. Hugh Manning was there!

Hugh was often tasked with taking on the seemingly impossible for normal humans to handle but he always seemed to find a way through the impossible; after all, why do you think he was at the Mystic attack on the mansion? And this case seemed to be no different. Regular weaponry such as rifles, grenades, smoke bombs, none of it seemed to work! But thanks to persistence and trial and error, Hugh had the perfect answer: a base-infused quick foam! The concoction, which was good to slowing down crowds, would be perfect for stopping this blob-like mutant! The only thing was that it required a bit more closeness than any but Hugh were willing to partake in.

It was not a pretty sight. In the end Hugh's plan worked and they had managed to stop Acidrose, but at a great cost -- Hugh's clothing. It seems that Acidrose's blob-like substance was very acidic and quickly ate non-organic material. His clothing, being more manufactured fibers, quickly suffered. So of course than meant a walk of shame in nothing but a coat and hanging-by-a-string boxers back to headquarters.

That was where Hugh was now. In his office, dressed in fresh, heart-patterned boxers with pants pulled up past his hips but the zipper all the way down and open. He was just pulling a shirt off a nearby coatrack when he turned to see a rather charming beauty peering in through his doorway. Now, Hugh is known as a bit of a lothario, so the military man quickly grins, little caring for modesty, and nods his head.

"Ah, hello dere!" He grins. "Mission bussies? Are I not de lucky one." He still has not zipped up his pants. "You, mademoiselle, are?"

Hugh… Was half dressed with his fly down. There was a time when showing up somewhere and there being a half dressed man wouldn’t have been out of place. Ranger’s days in the army were distant now. So when she had peeked in and saw Hugh, Ranger had not been expecting it. The surprise shorted her speech and left her momentarily speaking like she had fat fingered on a keyboard.

Hugh questioned the odd fumbling of buddies and asked who Ranger was.

”Sorry, tongue got away from me f’r a second.” Ranger said, making an attempt to recover from the verbal slip. ”We’ve worked t’gether before, but… uh… A mystic worked his, uh, magic on me.” Ranger held out her hand, ”Michael Hunter… Ranger.”

While Ranger’s power had become more well known, the changes to her power, including her new gender swapping power, was still not so well known. Though it was noted in her employee file, along with another picture. Adding additional complication to the whole mess, Ranger looked almost identical to fellow agent, and their wife, Noel.

”Not sure if y’ seen yet, but we’ve been assigned t’ the ‘Naughty List’ KMn operation at Gotham Hall.” Ranger held up the file in her other hand. Only so much time in a day to review mission files and running around SUPER HQ without a shirt and your pants unzipped took a lot of time. Ranger normally found themselves with their pants off with the shirt still on, but to each their own.

So Hugh had a bit of a reputation. It was well known that the three-legged SUPER agent had the unfortunate reputation of A.) often being caught naked on camera, and B.) Absolutely flirting with anything and everything that moved. Often when new people were transferred into the department, they were warned ahead of time of this man's particular endeavor, but they were also told that he didn't cross any inappropriate lines. Hugh was more bark than bite but he was still a good agent and could be relied on in the field no matter how one felt about him. So it was of no surprise that he didn't outright recognize the now female-gendered Hunter, and definitely of no surprise that the flirtations would begin.

At least that is until Hunter revealed himself and Hugh looked at the unopened file on in his inbox. Oops.

"Ah...I was out on field all morning. Had not read the reports yet." Ziiiip! Pants once more are back up and closed. However he still seems to be taking his time getting a shirt on. "KMn, yes?" He asks walks over to take up the file that had been in his inbox. "Do they have preference on how they want us to go in?"

It seemed Hugh was going to continue taking his sweet time in getting dressed. That was fair enough, Ranger likely would have done something similar were she a few years younger, not married, and not presently a woman.

”That tracks. Yes, it’s KMn,” Ranger confirmed, casually looking away as Hugh zipped his pants and walked to over to get his copy of the file. ”Gettin’ int’ Gotham Hall as part of the party ‘r fashion show, that’s the easy part. Gettin’ int’ the meetin’ with KMn themselves, that’s the challenge.” Ranger dropped an invite to the event onto Hugh’s desk. ”SUPER got us in under aliases, y’rs is in the file. We’re working for Modnik, a Russian high fashion publication. I’m Marina Rostova, journalist. Y’r from the American sister magazine. If y’ have a better Idea we can change the plan. Given my… Issue, higher ups are ready t’ alter documentation.”

Ranger pointed to the invite which clearly read ‘Modnik’. It was a Russian word that meant ‘Fashionista.’ It was a real fake publication run by US intelligence. Most of the reporters didn’t even know it was a cover. ”Karl an’ his costumers ‘r supposed t’ be findin’ proper attire f’r the night. Black tie.” Ranger said aas she flipped through the file and turned to a blueprint of Gotham Hall. ”Once we’re in though, we have t’ work ‘r way here. Past a door with guards, down this hall, through another guarded door. From there it, an’ they couldn’ stress this enough, should… Be clear past this hall t’ the room they’re meetin’ in. That’s what we have t’ plan t’ get through.”

Hugh smirks a bit and then takes his file back from Ranger. Holding it up he flips it open and begins to go through the information as Ranger recites it. She was right. It seemed like a simple enough operation to get in but the rest of it was going to be a nightmare. How on earth were they supposed to just manage to get into the good graces, or even vicinity, of the KMn without drawing attention. The aliases look solid enough – or so he thought. He paused when he read his.

Eyes narrowed, he took out his produced ID and turned it around to show Ranger. It had Hugh’s face on it and all the information looked real enough. There was just one glaring thing that should have managed to get, well, anyone’s attention.

”Drew Peacock?” he says, repeating the name. ”Let me guess, Sabine had a hand in crafting this fun identity, right?” He shook his head. Touche, Sabine. Touche.

He returned to listening to the steps that would be involved to get deeper into the area. It was all fine and dandy that they had ways to get into the building but their covers were only going to go so far. They were going to need further help. So, Hugh took a deep breath and reached for his desk. There he pulled out a few, messy looking files and set them on the top.

”We have a way in, yeah? But we need to get around…” He mused as he looked through the files. ”I can make some calls. I know a few people who work these kinds of catering events. I’m sure they would love to pay me back the favor the owe me and get us deeper into the building.”

Ranger failed to suppress a laugh. Hugh’s ID did in fact say ‘Drew Peacock’. ”I can neither confirm nor deny the allegation.” The name was a little absurd, and almost on the nose for how Hugh had been when Ranger walked in. It wasn’t too absurd though, odd enough to be mentioned and be memorable, but not so much it made people question if it was real. Ranger had once met a Richard Handler. He went by Dick.

Hugh went over the files after listening to Ranger. It seemed he had an idea.He would need to call in some favors with caterers.

”Thinkin’ they could smuggle us deeper ‘r have us pose as caterers t’ get closer t’ KMn?” Ranger asked, it would make sense that there would be some way that drinks made their way into the KMn meeting. No way that many Germans would not have beer freely flowing in. ”In the meantime I can check on our costumes. We’re supposed t’ be dressed better than ‘government salary’... Karl about fainted when I joked about duck tape dress an’ tux. I don’t think he’s f’given me f’r givin’ him a a pair of camo ranger panties last year.” Ranger shook her head. It was a response to Karl speaking ill of the almighty ten-gallon. Some people just have no taste. ”Some men jus’ cain’ handle the ever-acceptable Daisy Dukes of Freedom.”

Hugh sighs discontentedly as he looks upon the fake ID again. Drew Peacock. It had to be Sabine’s work. Don’t get it wrong, it was a good pull. Honestly he was sad he didn’t think of it first to give to a subordinate himself. It was all in good fun, really, but he would have to make sure to think of a surefire way to get her back. Maybe something involving tiny confetti of drooping @$%# and filling every inch of her office with them?

Lovely idea, really. But back to the matter at hand. After finding his extra shirt in a cabinet drawer (finally), Hugh proceeded to slip it on over his lean, but muscular frame, covering himself up fully in front of Ranger. Shame. He hated getting dressed so quickly in front of a pretty face. But a happy married face he had to respect.

Hugh cackles a bit at the anecdote about the camo panties. That sounded like Karl alright. He could only shake his head afterwards. ”Agreed. Some people only have taste in their mouth,” he laments. ”He’s pretty cross with me since my government issued attire keeps getting blasted off my body,” he laughs. ”Not my fault they can’t stand the heat.”

With a sigh he finishes looking over the file before shrugging and grabbing his phone. He had a few numbers memorized. What was the name of that saucy redhead that worked in catering? Angie? Sheila? Oh wait! He remembered now. After taking a moment to dial the phone, he holds his finger up to Ranger to gesture for her to be quiet, and then speaks over the phone once it is picked up.

”Ah yes…is mademoiselle Paprika there?” he asks over the line. His expression then turns into a wide, almost feral grin. ”Ahhhhh there you are my little spice blend…” He exudes charm over the phone. After some playful back and forth that makes it sound like he is trying to get on her good side after not contact her for awhile, Hugh continues. ”Yes…next weekend. Of course, chere! But listen, I may need your help with something now…”

It was impressive, really, how long it took Hugh to find a shirt after FemRanger came knocking at hiss office. Give the man a medal, longest eye-candy in the SUPER. Straight from HR. Sadly for Hugh, Ranger wasn’t super into Hugh’s particular form of eye-candy, so no medals.

”Oh, good t’ know I’m not the only one who keeps the man in business replacin’ suits. I tend t’ outgrow mine by about a hundred pounds of muscle, get bullet holes, an’ burned off once.” Ranger’s power led to her being hell on clothes. Gender swapping didn’t help the issue.

Hugh picked up his phone and made a call. Ranger nodded, respecting the way Hugh was about to charm his way into something. Ranger caught Hugh’s eye and mouthed ,’I’ll bother Karl. Have fun.’ before turning and making her way to the undercover wardrobe department.

”Howdy, Karl. How’re the costumes—Yeah, costumes. One monkey suit an’ one dress.” Ranger asked Karl whorolled his eyes at the mention of costumes and huffed at the calling the tux a ‘monkey suit’.

“Yes, yes. Come with me. I have the outfits for the pair of you this way. And please, don’t blow this dress up. It is one of the nicer ones here—And no, there is nowhere to hide your… How do you put it—oh yes! Boom-boom.”

Karl led Ranger to where the outfits had been set aside then informed Ranger that he needed to make alterations to the dress to make it fit. The event was too high class for him to not. Ranger sent a text to Hugh that his money suit was ready but might need alterations. Karl was being fussy.

Fully clothed once again, the ego-maniac that was Hugh Manning continued to pace his office while speaking in soothed and cooled whispers into his phone. Paprika had been a favorite memory of his. Last summer Hugh had been on assignment where he had rescued the fiery redhead from a rampaging mutant. She had been catering an event at the local science center when Hugh and his team stepped in to calm a dangerous situation with a criminal mutant. They had some nefarious plan to bring to life the dinosaur skeletons within, not realizing that they weren’t real fossils, just plastic replicas. It was a quick battle but one that Ms. Paprika had been SO very grateful for.

It was a good weekend. One that Hugh still cherished. But alas, as how it always happens, duty calls and Hugh had to put such a lovely lady on the backburner. At least that is, until he found a way she could be useful towards the job. Plus, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to run into her again.

On the phone Hugh continued to pour it on with his sweet and savory voice. Though initially resistant to his call, Hugh could hear her melting by the second. Soon enough she was beginning to ask what his plans were for that weekend. While they were wide open, he quickly deferred her with a request of his own.

At first she seemed confused by it and soon enough, and with enough compliments, Hugh promised that her reputation as a catering service wouldn’t be ruined and any damages would be paid for by his agency. He wasn’t fully sure he could promise that but it seemed enough to quell Paprika’s fears.

Just as he had her agreeing, he got the ping on his phone that his monkey suit was ready. He snorted. He was sure that Karl loved that. Quickly speaking over Paprika and mentally noting the place and contact where he and Ranger could get suited up and slipped in as part of the catering team, Hugh asked if Paprika had that too short black dress and was free on Saturday night. The stammer, the intake of breath, even the skin blushing on her cheeks, Hugh could hear it all. Good, Paprika was locked and loaded. With a whispered thanks, Hugh ended the call and started back into the hall, down to wardrobe.

Opening the door with as much flair as he could muster, he stepped instead and spotted Karl and Ranger. ”Karl! Got that kevlar weave dinner jacket I’ve been asking for ready? I want to be like Don Mick!” Hugh pulls an imaginary jacket coat and pretends to hide behind it as if he were blocking bullets.

Following a quick costume change, Ranger was up on a raised floor surrounded by mirrors with Karl working his wizardry on the black dress. Karl had not been lying, there was no room under the dress to hide any form of weapon aside from maybe a small pistol strapped to one thigh. One, very small pistol.

“Stand still… Stop… No, don’t… Stand like this. No, like this. Like… Were you raised in a barn—no. Don’t answer that. Okay, good.” Karl fussed over how Ranger was standing to make sure the material was just so. That was when Hugh made his appearance and only added to Karl’s exasperation. “Hugh. I have told you before. It is IIIa and you will get a broken rib if shot.” Karl said before turning to look at Hugh. He then sighed and said, “Yes. I made it. Yes it looks… sufficient for your role. No, it is not tested. It is on the table with the rest of the outfit.” Karl waved a hand toward one of his work tables. “Now get changed so I can quickly finish tailoring. Ranger, you’re ready.”

”Thanks, Karl. Dress not bulletproof? If Hugh gets fun toys I want some too.” Ranger asked as she gave herself an appraising look in her extremely deep cut dress with a wildly high slip before she stepped down onto the floor.

“Honey. That dress leaves you so exposed the bullet is likely larger than wherever it hits if it manages to hit the dress at all.” Karl said placing his sewing kit on table

”Fair point. I’ll stand behind Agent Manning.”

Honestly, the Don Mick series was seriously Hugh's favorite. Not only was it an action packed bullet storm of a movie, but it was almost like they had taken the storyline straight out of his own life! Well, except for the dog, the retired assassin bit, and dead wife. But other than those minor things it was like looking into a mirror on screen! Hugh often wondered if maybe the film studio would eventually just walk up to his office and demand that he star in the rest of the movies. After all, Mr. Reaves was good and all…but Hugh? He was the guy.

However, all joking aside, he cackled at Karl's comment. Such a Karl thing to say. What was important, and what he heard first, was that the dinner jacket was done! Hugh snapped his fingers with excitement and made his way over to the table, whistling at Ranger as he passed.Sna Snatching up the jacket and the rest of the outfit, Hugh slipped behind a changing curtain and started to undress.

Another bark of a laugh escaped his throat as he changed. Ranger unfortunately being left out of the cool tool club, and their response, made the soldier chuckle. ”Don't worry your pretty lily head, Ranger! Big strong Hughie will keep you safe.”

That was B.S. of course. Everyone in SUPER knew that if there was one person who didn't need protecting, it was Ranger, a point proven in their last arm wrestling match (his arm was still sore). But Hugh liked to think of himself as a funny guy. And a funny guy cracks jokes to help lighten everyone's mood. Even someone like Karl.

A few moments later Hugh would come out of the dressing area, the monkey suit quite to perfect. Black slacks, a white collar dress shirt, shiny black shoes and a dangerous protective dinner jacket to match. Fixing his bowtie, Hugh posed and turned before facing the mirror to preen. In the reflection he looked at the others.

”Please, everyone…” he winked and adjusted the coat. ”...don't forget to breathe.”

”My hero.” Ranger said with a mock swoon before laughing and picking up some jewelry Karl had set out. Normally she was the tank SUPER could unleash. Sometimes though, now she was more like a missile.

Hugh went to get changed and Ranger clasped a necklace on and a bracelet before picking up a pair of earrings. ”Karl, my ears ain’t pierced.”

“Oh. We’ll have to fix that.” Karl said before turning to a cabinet and fishing around, “Not today. Can’t send you in with fresh holes. I’ll make a note, ensure it is taken care of. In the meantime… here. These clip-ons will work.” Karl produced a nearly identical pair that Ranger could clip on and handed them over.

”That’s alright, Karl. I’m fine without pierced ears.”

“Oh it is no trouble. All the better for a costume.” Karl stressed the last word. He would hear no arguments. To him, Ranger would be getting her ears pierced if for no other reason than as retribution for calling his work costuming.

Ranger just sighed and took the earrings before being directed over to a chair for hair and makeup.

When Hugh stepped out in his monkeysuit, Karl turned to give it an appraising eye. “See, Ranger. This is what this should look like. No cowboy boots or one of those large hats. Classy. Now if Hugh would stop pretending he was a peacock and tell me how it fits.” Karl walked over to Hugh, inspecting the clothes, poking and pulling here and there. Ignoring the fact that Hugh was a living person wearing them.

”Call t’ a caterer work out?” Ranger asked, looking at Hugh’s reflection in the mirror at the counter where she was finishing up her makeup.

Pffft. came the sound of Hugh raspberriying Karl's comment. ”I'd be an amazing peacock…” he muttered under his breath. He certainly preened and fawned like one.

Hugh returned to silence and looking upon his reflection in the mirror. Admittedly, he looked pretty damn good. Everything was clean cut and classic, exactly as Karl described it to Ranger. But there were a few loose bits. Nothing that Karl couldn't fix.

”Inseam needs to be let in a little and the jacket, but other than that, pretty sharp.” Hugh then lifted his chin, eyeing where he needed to shave before heading out with Ranger.

As Hugh turned and readied for Karl to call him over and make the necessary adjustments, he turned to Ranger and their question. He smirked knowingly before he nodded his head.

”All good to go…” he confirmed. ”Already reached out to top brass to get her catering company included as a replacement for whatever they ordered. We'll be in place with no issue.” Hugh then chuckled. ”And all it cost me was a hot and heavy date this Saturday. Win-win. You should bring your girl. Make a fourso- double date of it.”

“You would be in a zoo and I would look at you from afar instead of up close with a needle and thread.” Karl said as he made a few notes on some papers before grabbing his tools to finish up Hugh’s attire.“Now be still. I know how much you agents like to bleed on everything but I will not have you bleeding on this before you even leave the office.” Karl set to work on cutting a few loose threads and perfecting the fit.

Ranger spun around to look at Hugh with a raised eyebrow to his almost calling a double date a foursome. A double date could be fun. A foursome with Hugh and his caterer of the day, not so much. ”I’ll have t’ see about gettin’ a sitter. Karl, y’ wouldn’t mind watchin’ a threenager while her moms are on a hot an’ heavy fourso- double date?” Ranger mimicked delivery Hugh had of the line.

Karl gave Ranger a glare and went back to work.

”Fine, I’ll find a teenager like everyone else. Y’r loss. She comes with a pair of dogs, they’re only about one-eighty t’ two hundred pounds each. Really, it’s an experience. No? Alright.” Ranger spun around and set to applying setting powder. ”I’m in if Noel is.”

After a few minutes of lightning fast tailoring, Karl stepped back and admired his work. It was clear that Ranger and Hugh were proper motivation for his work to not only be quality but quick as well.

“There we are. Now. Please bring it back without any new holes… or bloodstains.”

”I promise you… no promises.” Ranger said as she made her way toward the door. Only stopping once to check herself out in the mirror. Then to Hugh, after checking her phone, she said, ”Our ride is ready. Hope you like black SUV.”