Gemini

"Michael, *kiss*, wake up, *kiss*."

Rachel's soft lips on yours feel fantastic, but you can tell there's something wrong. You blink open your eyes, to find your girlfriend's bright blue irises watching you anxiously, framed by her straight black hair hanging around your face.

"What is it?" You roll out of the covers, naked. Mary moans unhappily as you leave her embrace, but stays asleep.

"It might be easier if I show you." Rachel grabs a remote and turns on your TV, quickly flicking to the news channel.

"...but the real question is, can we give them what they want?"

The picture cuts to the newsreader. "Thank you, Andrew. For those of you just joining us, eighty-five members of parliament have been taken hostage by a mutant woman calling herself Gemini, who experts say may be able to clone herself an indefinite number of times." Your screen shows footage of a pair of identical women patrolling behind an iron gate, each wielding a semi-automatic rifle. Their weapons are at odds with their outfits - both wearing only plain black underwear, and barefoot. This outfit choice reveals their identical bodies: attractive, but not extraordinary. They're somewhat fit, with modestly sized breasts, and a soft face. Waves of brown hair hang down to their shoulders. All in all: pretty, but not total bombshells.

"Sporadic gunfights were heard after 8.30am this morning, and security forces announced they had lost control of the Houses of Parliament at 9am. Exactly how the mutant achieved this is still unclear, but police estimate at least two hundred Gemini clones are now holding the MPs hostage; approximately a hundred staff members were allowed to evacuate the premises after control had been lost."

The video switched to showing two men wearing vests branded with 'NEGOTIATOR', exiting a car, to be escorted by a familiar gold-and-white figure: Ultragirl. "Fifteen minutes ago, Gemini issued their primary demand: that the government immediately repeal the Mutant Act passed this year, which made it illegal for any adult possessing potentially dangerous mutant abilities to be unregistered or uncompliant with safety measures requested by the Special Pantheon for Extraordinary and Rarefied Mutations. Whilst the Act faced controversy, polls have found most members of the public support..."

You flick off the TV, and turn to Rachel, who watches you expectantly. "I'm not sure we ought to do anything." As she opens her mouth, you continue, "If Gemini can convince them to repeal the Act, we won't be outlaws any longer."

"I know, but they said earlier that the hostages are in considerable danger," insists the black-haired girl. "Gemini seems to be unstable, and willing to deliver on her threats. At least a dozen people were shot during her takeover, and she's refused to let them be treated by paramedics, or even accept medical supplies. Even if they survive, Gemini have promised to kill one of the MPs every half hour starting from their deadline of ten o'clock. This morning"

You check the time. "That's... not long."

"But I think if Woodpecker and I can get you in, you can subdue Gemini without anyone getting hurt. So, Michael, what do you say?"

You nod, a smile tugging at your lips. "Let's suit up."