Maphira began to walk in a circle around Dr Con Dew Ratroti, keeping her eyes locked on him. She made it look casual, as if she were just pacing about.
“So, let me get this straight. You wanted us to come here to the Bender bot because… why exactly?”
Con’s eyes darted toward Vai, who was still standing in the same place.
“Hey! I’m talking to you! Eyes on me, please!” Maphira put on her best commanding police officer voice, shouting at the man, causing him to flinch. “Gosh, so rude. So, as I was saying, if you knew where he was, why send us at all?”
With Con’s attention firmly on Maphira now, Vai began to move in the opposite direction, readying her taser.
“Oh, I could give all sorts of excuses,” Con said. “Something about how I wasn’t sure if commercial solar panels would interfere with Bender, perhaps. But the simple truth is that I enjoyed messing with you. And I thought this would be the most exciting place to reveal how brilliant my plan is.”
“Again, it’s a really stupid plan. You literally could have captured us all while we were in the Resistance base a few hours ago.”
“Perhaps,” he said, still watching Maphira closely. “But what would the fun in that be, for an evil mastermind like myself?”
“Interesting.” Maphira cracked her knuckles. “Well, Con, I just have one final question for you. What are the benefits of solar power for business?”
He looked perplexed at the question, which was exactly what Maphira had hoped for. Vai charged forward, now behind the villain, and fired her taser at his back.
But Con simply dodged out the way, without even looking. He spun around and shoved his elbow into Vai’s head, sending her staggering back.
“A nice try,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s going to take more than that to defeat me. Although, I think it’d be a fairer fight if it was two on two.” Con snapped his fingers. “Bender, are you ready to join me?”