Therese seriously doubted the wisdom of driving in her agitated state, but public transport was way too dangerous right now. Garbage Steve was out there, and probably after her. The car was far and away the safest place. At least for her, she reflected as she braked hard to avoid rear-ending the car in front. She was badly distracted. Her breasts felt... warm. And they tingled. It was awful - but it felt so good. She wanted to play with herself, so badly.
She managed to get to squad HQ without incident, and parked the car in the thoroughly protected car park. It was even more protected than usual she felt, and she detected Sharon's hand in the intensified spells. Nobody wove complex spells like her, twirling and circling and snaking around themselves to surprise unwary magicians.
The others were already in the office when she entered. Kat was sitting behind her desk, looking tired and worried, but brightened when she saw Therese. Mona was in one of the high-backed chairs, while Lucy and Sharon sat on their desks, legs swinging casually.
"There you are," Sharon said. "We were beginning to worry."
Therese fell into another high-backed chair, and closed her eyes for an instant. She wanted to relax. To sleep... Not yet.
"I know," she said, "and I'm sorry. There's... too much going on. First things first, though. I've been compromised."
Kat cried out and Lucy swore, but Sharon just nodded. "Figured as much, when you handed command to Mona. You don't do that lightly." She smiled at Therese, warmly, but with an edge. Therese let it go - she knew Sharon had been itching for command for over a year now, but Therese hadn't let her.
"No," Therese said. "We can discuss that later. Right now, I have no choice. This is what's happened." She took a deep breath, and launched into a description of everything that had happened since yesterday, when they'd first encountered - Steve. She omitted a few of the more embarrassing details, but they needed to know most of it. Unfortunately.
"So," she finished, "to sum it up: I have a deep urge in my mind to be a, a bimbo, and I have two... things on my nipples that Steve claims will make my breasts grow." And, she thought but didn't say, I have a terrible fire between my legs right now, after telling you all this. She had to get herself fixed and get rid of that awful desire he'd given her.
The others were silent after she'd finished. Then Sharon spoke.
"That's bad," she said. "Really bad. He seems very dangerous, this Steve guy."
"Oh yes," Therese said. "I'd rate him the most dangerous foe we've faced so far. He's very competent, and extremely strong. And... insidious."
Sharon pursed her lips. "That's pretty weird, isn't it? Where did he come from? We've never heard of him before. Isn't that strange?"
Therese shrugged. "There are boatloads of wannabe criminals out there. Now and then one of them takes a serious stab at it and discovers he has some real talent."
"Mm," Sharon said, looking unconvinced.
"We can figure that out later, right?" Lucy looked impatient, as she usually did. Therese thought of herself as impulsive, but Lucy was even more so. That's why Therese kept her paired with Sharon: the average became pretty normal.
"Right," Therese said, and then bit her tongue. "I mean, that's up to the commander." She looked at Mona, who was fiddling nervously with a pencil and started when Therese turned towards her.
"Uh, yeah," Mona said. "Actually, I was thinking... perhaps it would be better if Sharon took command. She's much more experienced."
Therese groaned inwardly, although she'd expected it. Mona was quietly competent, but had a bad case of self-doubt. The woman really should take charge sometime, she'd be surprised by how well she'd do it. But... not now, perhaps. Therese smiled reassuringly and shrugged.
It's up to you
, she tried to send.
Mona nodded. "Right," she said. "So... first, I'm handing over command to Sharon. Okay?" She looked towards Therese, but then caught herself and looked at Sharon instead. Therese felt her lips compress, but kept silent.
"It's okay," Sharon said, and almost managed to suppress the glee in her eyes. Sharon did not have very much self-doubt, as far as Therese could tell. And would probably do a good job in this situation, she had to admit. She wasn't at all sure she herself could.
"Right," Sharon said. "You heard Mona. I am now in command. Here's what we'll do. First, we will go home, and get some rest. We're going after this Steve guy tomorrow, and we need to be on our toes."
She frowned at Therese. "I am very concerned about him, and about you. I think your judgment is impaired."
It sure is, Therese thought, but didn't say it aloud. She just shrugged.
"I want you to stay here tonight. In the sleepover rooms. It's safer. Do you have your emergency kit in your locker?"