Part 39

Whirlwind and Yellow Jacket captured by the Scarlet Witch

By Skytower

The wonderful thing about New York, Wanda thought, is that if you wait long enough you can find a superhero fighting a super villain. She had been hunting the city for the past few nights and had finally been rewarded. Near dawn in Central Park she had stumbled across Whirlwind fighting against her teammate Yellowjacket. There had been no doubt really who would win. Wanda had waited in the shadows until Yellowjacket knocked out Whirlwind and then she had pounced. The chloroform pad had caught Hank completely by surprise and he had gone down quickly. He stayed out while Wanda dragged him to the van that she had purchased. Then she had gone back and dragged Whirlwind back to the van. More chloroform had assured that they would be asleep the entire ride and Wanda had laughed all the way back to the place she now considered her ‘lair’. It thrilled Wanda that she had a lair. Her own little sanctuary where she could be the tormentor and not the tormented.

Wanda carried first Whirlwind into the lair, applied more chloroform to his face to make sure he would stay out and then went back and got Yellowjacket. Once they were both in and secure Wanda sat down and considered her next move. At first she’d only thought of taking one of them. But looking at them both Wanda remembered all the times she’d been ganged up on by super villains and their henchmen. Times when the superhero turned up too late to rescue her. There had been a lot of times in Wendy’s life when she had desperately needed a hero and none had shown up. Now it was time for the hero and the villain to pay. And the fact that she was working with a big brass bed helped a lot.

She smiled and got to work. First she pulled off their boots and pants and underwear. Then their masks and shirts. There was no need to keep their masks on because Wanda knew what they looked like. Hank was handsome in a plane sort of way with a strong jaw while Whirlwind had a square out thrust jaw and a barrel chest. Once they were fully nude Wanda got her camera and took a few pictures. Then she blindfolded them both and tied their arms above their heads securing them side-by-side to the bed. She tied their legs together at the knees and ankles. Then she tied their ankles to the bottom of the bed. Hank started to moan through the middle of it and once again she used the chloroform. She giggled as he struggled and then his struggles faded into sleep. There was just such a feeling of power when that happened, it was indescribable.

Wanda started to take her own clothing off and then paused. She looked at Hank. This was Jan’s husband. Jan was her friend. A flicker of conscience made her tremble. Was this really what she wanted to do? But that part of Wanda that was Wendy wanted nothing more. In the dim fragments of her memory Wendy remembered dreaming about this sort of thing. Two powerful men were completely at her mercy. She looked at their bodies and felt her lust grow. Wanda went over to them and climbed onto the bed. She ran her hands over their helpless naked bodies and her entire being shuddered with pleasure. Wanda looked at them and wondered which one to work on first. Then her mind started to consider the logistics of it all. There were two of them and one of her and she had laid them side-by-side. Their arms were bound and as they were side-by-side…

Wanda looked at them and frustration began to grow within her. She finally had two men at her mercy. Two men that she wanted but if she dared let them go she wouldn’t be able to have either of them. But bound as they were both men only had one working part available to her. They couldn’t fondle, they couldn’t caress or pinch or grab. She might just as well have been using a vibrator.

She growled and thumped the bed with her fists. Then another idea came to her. Getting off the bed she walked across the hallway into the next room. This room was furnished like the one she had chosen minus a bit of the bondage equipment. But it had a perfectly serviceable brass bed. Wanda grabbed the mattress and pulled it off the bed, then wrestled it across the hallway and into the next room. Then she went and got the box mattress. Then she went back and disassembled the bed, carrying it piece by piece into the room she had chosen. When she had all the pieces Wanda pushed her bed over and started to assemble the other bed at its foot. It took her a while and when she was done the two beds were lined up foot to foot.

Wanda untied Hank and half carried half dragged him over to the other bed. Then she tied his arms above his head and his legs to the bottom of the bed. Then she went and repositioned Whirlwind so that he and Hank formed a straight line. Wanda walked over to her work table and started to modify the love potion. It was a tricky job as what she wanted was a time delay. But by this time the Wendy part of the mind had successfully connected to the Wanda part and it had no trouble forcing Wanda to search through her memories and discern the exact way the potion needed to be changed. In her deepest, darkest fantasies Wanda had done this to the potion before.

Once the potions were done Wanda walked over to the wall where all the S&M equipment was stored. From a hanger she took a curious device. The device had a thick ring with an elastic tension bar that held it closed and a slim piece of flat metal that was curved at one end. A 3 foot long chain was connected to the ring. Taking device over to Hank Wanda attached it to his penis, just under the rim and positioned it so that the flat piece of metal kept the penis pointed straight toward Hank’s chest. She laid the chain across his body up to his head and laid it on the pillow beside him.

Wanda got the potions and poured them into Whirlwinds and Hank mouths. Then she blindfolded both of them, added nipple clamps and selected a long handled feather and a small whip from the S&M wall. Walking back over to the bed she put the whip and the feather beside Whirlwind and then started to play with him. She ran her fingernails over his skin, digging in occasionally when she reached a sensitive spot. He started to respond and she kissed him, forcing her tongue into his mouth. At the same time she played with his manhood, scratching squeezing and pulling at it. Whirlwind responded slowly. His mind was hazy Wanda knew, and the knowledge that he was fully helpless yet responding to her aroused her in ways that she had never dreamed possible. Wendy however had dreamed of this before. And she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She stopped kissing Whirlwind and slapped him hard across the face.

“Come on honey,” she said, “I’m not paying for nothing here.”

It was what had been said to her many times in her youth and in the small part of Wanda that still remained there was sympathy for the underage prostitute that Wendy had been. But if Wendy felt that sympathy she didn’t show it. Instead she resumed kissing Whirlwind and then she climbed on top of him as he became more and more erect. Laying on him she ran her tongue over his penis, teasing it, kissing it until it was solid and heavy. Wanda sat up and looked at Hank who was moaning and twitching in his bonds. Wanda smiled and picked up the whip. With one hand she continued to tease Whirlwind’s erection and with the other she took the whip and struck out, hitting Hank’s groin. She didn’t hit it hard, but she hit it hard enough. Wanda didn’t have that sort of skill, but Wendy did. Hank’s manhood responded to the snap of the whip and it twitched and came alive. Wanda put down the whip and then picked up the feather and started to tease it. At the same time her other hand was still playing with Whirlwinds penis and it was solid firm and starting to drip. Wanda climbed on top of him easing him into her and then started to move up and down. The reverse cowgirl position was one she had never…

There was a hiccup in Wanda’s mind as Wendy found no matching experience to her own memory. It only lasted a moment for Wendy’s desire overwhelmed Wanda’s hesitation. But it was there and it was disturbing. For one instant of time there was no mind controlling the body. But the instant passed and Wendy once more took charge.

Beneath her Whirlwind was matching her rhythm. She road him and at the same time kept using the feather and the whip on Hank’s body. As Hank became more and more aroused Wanda reached over and took the chain. Then she tugged. Softly at first, and then she pulled harder, teasing it.

While she was doing this Wanda was still bouncing up and down, controlling the rhythm of Whirlwinds thrust. Sensing that he was ready to climax Wanda let go of the chain and spun around. She kept him inside of her and clenched as she twirled. Whirlwind moaned and stiffened and then started to bounce up and down with the energy of a maniac. Wanda matched him and the bed shook as they both came at the same moment.

Whirlwind collapsed under her but Wanda wasn’t done yet. She flung her arms above her head and arched her back, taking hold of the bottom of the brass bed and hauling herself up in a backward flip. For a moment she stood on her hands straight up in the air and then she let herself fall onto Hank, her legs already wide she slid down his body and took him inside of her in one smooth motion. Hank grunted in shock but started to pump and Wanda controlled his rhythm with the same ease that she had controlled Whirlwind’s rhythm.

Hank lasted longer and Wanda enjoyed every moment of it. When he was done she screamed out her pleasure and passion in the room shook with her power.

Part 40

White Owl’s desperation

Athena woke up cold and miserable. Her wounds were healed but the blood that stained her costume was still there. Tiffany’s blood. Athena curled herself into a tighter ball as thoughts of her lover flowed over her. They’d only had one night and Athena cursed herself for all the years that she’d ignored Tiffany’s flirting. They could have had so much more.

Even through her grief Athena realized that she had to move. Her stomach was empty and somehow she had to get help. People had to know. If she could just get to Abby...

The sun was shining as Athena crawled out from under the highway. It was late morning and there wasn’t much traffic. No one looked her way. Athena scurried away from the highway and back into the city. She could’ve flown but Athena had no way of knowing if the X-Men were still looking for her. The thought of them filled her with rage and fear as well. Athena was good but there was no way she could fight them all. Worse, she had no idea how far the conspiracy went. Who could she trust?

This part of the city was full of clubs, warehouses and businesses that only opened at night. Athena hugged the buildings and hurried through the alleys. Her costume was a liability and she stopped behind the alley of a Salvation Army store and pulled a ratty trenchcoat out of a dumpster. To that she added an old Fedora after first shaking all the fleas and other insects out of the clothes. At least Athena hoped that she had gotten all of them. Then she started to walk toward the courthouse. The DA was her only hope right now. Athena knew that she didn't dare use the phone, any phone. She could only hope that the X-men would stay away from her brother and his family. She had only gotten halfway when her eyes spotted a pile of newspapers outside of a convenience store. The headline was in bold print and impossible to miss.

'Charges dropped against Avenger!’ The headline screamed. Athena pulled a paper out of the pile. There was a picture of Ms. Marvel and the Avengers. Bellow the fold of the newspaper was a picture of Abby. The headline bellow the picture froze Athena’s blood in her viens. ‘ADA Missing’. Athena opened the paper and the picture on page 3 made her heart stop for a moment. It showed Ms. Marvel and Tania asleep on a bed. They were naked and entwined. Lovers. It was obviously taken through a window by a telephoto lens and the paper had blurred their breasts and pubic areas but the headline above the picture said it all. 'Heroines in secret lesbian love affair'.

Athena nearly dropped the paper in shock. If Tania was having an affair with Ms. Marvel then she must know everything. She might have even been the one who had directed Professor Xavier toward them. Tania was respected, she had connections everywhere that Ms. Marvel did not. Athena swallowed hard as in her mind she saw doors closing. There was no one she could turn to for help.

Athena looked around and saw a telephone booth across the street. For a few minutes fear competed with common sense but fear took over. Going to the phone Athena dropped in a quarter and dialed the number that she and her brother had agreed on when this had all started. Once per day they were to call the number and leave a voice mail message. The message was one word; “Ok”.

The number went through and Athena heard the ring. They had agreed on a 2 ring pickup. But the phone was picked up at the first ring.

“Hello White…”

Athena hung up and flew half a mile at top speed before landing and ducking down an alley. Once she reached the other side of the alley Athena started to walk normally, keeping to the shadows of the buildings. A cold dread filled her. SHIELD had her brother and his family. SHIELD was worldwide with an army of soldiers and superhumans. If they had Abby too then they could make anyone they wished vanish.

A police car started to go by and Athena ducked into the first open door she saw. She walked into a dimly lit club. A Goth club. The walls were black and the place was lit by red and black lights. There was a small stage and a woman with pale skin, black hair and a gray dress was playing the guitar. Athena somehow found a table far away from the doorway and sat down. It was lit only by a single candle and she welcomed the darkness. This at least was the last place at anyone would look for White Owl. An emaciated waitress in mummy wrappings appeared from somewhere and stood by Athena waiting.

“Coffee,” Athena said, “black coffee.”

The waitress vanished into the darkness and Athena sat looking at nothing and looking at everything. Her mind was still replaying the events of the battle and her guilt was still telling her that there had been many, many ways to save Crimson’s life. Ways a true lover would have known.

The waitress reappeared and sat her coffee down. The black liquid steamed in the red mug and even though it was hot to the touch Athena still felt cold. On the stage the singer had launched into a new song.

“First I find you lying whitened

bleached by sun

or buried by the snow of winter

like a child I had lost you

I had felt my flesh was frozen

had felt my mind was hollow

Alone

singing to the bones

how the darkness soothes my sorrow

takes me through the line of reason

takes me to the place of shadow

Alone

Singing to the bones

oh, this night is holier than I can fathom

and I see you, turning back to face you

Alone

Singing to the bones.”

(@Wendy Rule

http://www.wendyrule.com/cd_wbw.html )

“Better drink up before it gets cold,” a woman said sitting down next to her.

Athena looked up to face the blonde, blue-eyed pale skinned woman who was wearing a meter maid uniform. For a moment she was only angry that someone was interrupting her grief. But then the blue eyes changed to gold for a brief moment and Athena drank the coffee.

“You made it out,” she said.

“Barely,” Mystique said. “And I’m not really free yet, not until I get out of the country.”

“What about your friends?”

“Occupational hazard,” Mystique said. “They know the risks.”

“Did Destiny know the risks?”

“Did Crimson?” Mystique asked and Athena saw a flash of anger in her eyes. For a moment they stared at each other. Then Athena looked down at her coffee.

“Sorry,” Athena said taking a sip. The stuff was thick and hot and didn’t taste like coffee. But it was thick and hot. “Where will you go?”

“Latveria,” Mystique said, “hopefully. Dr. Doom once hinted that I would be welcome there if I accepted his leadership.”

“You’d do that?” Athena took another sip of her coffee. “You were the leader of the Brotherhood of Evil mutants. Bit of a step down just to be a Doom Lackey.”

“Says the great heroine hiding in a bar wearing flea infested clothing.”

For a moment they both glared at each other. But after that moment Athena found herself looking back at her coffee again.

“I’m sorry,” she said again after taking a sip.

“Don’t be,” Mystique said. “I know how you feel. I had great dreams once. I was going to take the mantle that Magneto had laid down. I was going to lead my people to power and safety. I had no idea,” she paused and took the coffee mug out of Athena’s hand and took a sip, “what I was facing. What had destroyed him.”

“Last I heard he was running a school,” Athena said.

“The X-Men defeated him and Professor X changed his mind,” Mystique said handing the coffee back to her. “He’s done that quite a few over the years. That’s how mutants suddenly reform and become heroes.” Her voice dropped to a whisper filled with anger. “That’s what happened to my daughter.”

“That’s what’s going to happen to you,” Mystique said looking straight at her. Looking through her. Seeing Athena’s greatest fear. “They’ll catch you, you’ll change your mind and some poor supervillain will take the blame. The X-Men don’t have to move openly, they operate under the radar a lot of the time. The Avengers will break into some super villain’s lair and a there you’ll be.”

“How deep does it go?” Athena asked. “I can’t believe that every superhero has been co-opted.”

“Some of the smaller ones haven’t,” Mystique said, “like you and Crimson. I’m pretty sure some of the smaller super teams don’t know what’s going on. The Champions, Defenders, maybe the Fantastic Four. But they all follow the lead of the Avengers.

“I’ll go to the press.”

“Even if you make it you don’t have any evidence.”

“I…”

“You don’t have a chance,” Mystique said. She stood up and her form shifted into that of a little girl with dirty clothes. A runaway from the looks of her.

“I have to try,” Athena said.

“The only chance you have is to find someone they haven’t gotten to,” Mystique said, “or that they can’t get to. Who would that be?” Athena didn’t reply and after a minute Mystique put her hand on Athena shoulder.

“Good luck.”

Athena drank her coffee and watched Mystique go. On the stage the guitar singer launched into another song.

Entropy, I see

is that your sword in front of me?

Before my eyes you rise, seduce me with a thin disguise

entropy, is he all that he is made out to be

has passions flame burnt me again, I smolder willingly

Athena stood up and headed for the door. She didn’t want to hear the rest of the song. She blinked as she stepped out into the bright sunshine of the morning and looked around. The little girl vanished into an alley two blocks away from her. As Athena watched two men followed her. For a moment Athena hesitated. She didn’t really owe anything to Mystique. On the other hand…

Taking a chance Athena flew up and over the building and looked down into the alley from above. Mystique had shifted back to her normal form and was locked into a fierce fight with the two men. Athena heard wheels screeching and looked up to see that a large SUV had stopped in front of the alley. Shield troops flowed out of the SUV. Mystique saw them to and shifted into a bird. She started to fly away but a beam from one of their guns hit her and slammed her into the alley wall. She shifted back into her human form and Athena saw that she was bleeding from her wound in her arm. The sight of the blood made the decision for her and Athena flew into the alley and crashed into the men, sending them flying.

The battle passed quickly in a blur of blow, counter blow and dodge. Athena felt almost as if she wasn’t really fighting. She almost didn’t feel the fatigue and sometimes her sight blurred with details fading in and out. She was doing well until someone opened up from the SUV and a beam of energy clipped her head and sent her spinning into the wall. Another shot caught her in the leg and still another got her in the chest. Athena went down and was too dazed to rise again. The agent who shot her came toward her with his gun drawn and talking on a radio.

“Two targets down,” he said. “Request cleanup crew.”

The agent was suddenly hit by a beam of energy and he fell to the ground. Athena looked up and saw that Mystique was stumbling toward her with a captured gun. An agent rose from the ground behind her and Mistique must’ve seen the warning on Athena’s face. She turned and fired just as agent fired. He went down but a shot caught her in the leg and she went down as well. For a few minutes everyone was still. Then Mystique got to her knees and then to her feet. Blood was soaking her leg and her arm but she was still mobile. Mystique looked down at her and then at the SUV. Athena could see the indecision in the mutant’s face but she blacked out before she could say anything.

Tina watched as the program ended. It had not been perfect. The details should have been better, she told herself. But it had worked. She watched as Athena was put into a deep sleep. Mystique pulled off her helmet and joined Tina at the control console.

“She did come after me,” Mystique said.

“I knew that she would,” Tina said. “And when she wakes up she’ll believe that you and her share a common enemy. She’ll trust you. She might even think that your motives for helping her were pure.”

“Some of my motives are pure,” Mystique said a little defensively.

“You’ll get her back,” Tina said. “And I promise you that the shadow tech will work on Rogue or I’ll find another way.”

“That’s why I’m really doing this,” Mystique said. “The rest of it is all gravy, but I want my daughter back. I want her back thinking the way I want her to think.”

“She’s lucky to have you,” Tina said standing up. “Now we had better get White Owl ready for transport to the Keep.”

“What do you think her plan will be?”

“I have no idea,” Tina said. “But I have faith in heroes. They always find a way.”

Part 42

The End of White Owl

Tiffany sailed through the air and landed hard on the cold stone floor. Though she could barely stand she managed to pull one of her guns from its holster.

"I think I've had enough of your new powers," U1trawoman said grabbing Tiffany's wrist. The gun dropped from Tiffany's hand as the wrist was broken in U1trawoman's grip. It vanished before it hit the floor.

Tiffany screamed and screamed again as U1trawoman's foot came down on her other wrist breaking that one as well. She rolled over onto her back and tried to focus through the pain. U1trawoman planted her foot on Tiffany stomach and then reached down and grabbed her right leg. She pulled it up and then pulled off Tiffany's boot. She let the leg fall to the floor and repeated the procedure with the other leg. Tiffany screamed again as U1trawoman grabbed her right arm and lifted her up by it. She pulled off Tiffany’s glove off and then took her left hand and pulled that glove off. Then U1trawWoman bent down and pulled off her belt. Tiffany started to rise even though she knew it was foolish. Something in her would just not allow her to take this without even a token show of resistance. U1trawoman seemed to smile. She climbed on top of Tiffany, straddling the heroine and pinning Tiffany’s arms under her legs. Then U1trawoman started slapping her back and forth across the face. Tiffany was helpless to stop it. Her head rocked back and forth and she tasted blood as her lips split.

U1trawoman got off of her and then took hold of Tiffany’s one-piece costume and tore it off of her. Tiffany was left with a pair of panties, bra and her arm bands. Almost as an afterthought U1trawoman tore them off of her as well. Then she grabbed the naked and helpless heroine by her hair and dragged her to the center of the room. A collar on a chain hung from the ceiling. Picking her up U1trawoman put the collar around Tiffany's neck. It started humming and Tiffany knew that all of her powers were now inaccessible. U1trawoman didn't even bother to bind her arms or legs.

"Welcome to the Keep," U1trawoman said stepping away from her. Tiffany found that the chain was long enough so that she could go down on her knees, but not long enough so that she could lie down. She couldn't even lean against the wall for support. "Here you shall learn. You shall learn the lie of your former life. You will in time come to serve me willingly, cheerfully. I know that may seem hard for you to believe now. But very shortly a hologram will appear around you. To you it will appear that you are kneeling in my throne room. But you won't be there, and you may say or scream anything you like and no one will hear you or will see you. I can see by your eyes that you want to ask me a question. In the future of course I only rarely tolerate such curiosity. But for now I will allow you this luxury."

"Why am I still wearing my mask?" Tiffany asked.

"That mask is the last bit of identity that you have," U1trawoman said. She walked over to Tiffany and took hold of it. "I could tear this off as easily as I've torn off your costume." She let go of the mask and took a few steps back. "But I don't need to do that. By the time I am done Crimson Valkyrie you will beg me to take that mask. You will crawl across the floor on your hands and knees, kiss my foot and beg me to take the mask and accept you into my service."

"Lady I've been worked over by gods," Tiffany declared angrily. "To become a Valkyrie I had to fight a Valkyrie, they’re goddesses and they put me through the worst fight I ever had in my life! I don't give up!"

U1trawoman laughed. And she kept on laughing for a few minutes as Tiffany's anger grew. When she stopped laughing U1trawoman walked over to Tiffany, bent down so that they were eye to eye and smiled.

"Foolish girl," U1trawoman said with a smirk on her face "I am no goddess."

Her words were like a spear made of solid ice cutting into Tiffany's soul. In spite of herself she swallowed in fear. The anger that had armored her only a few moments before shattered like glass. Without another word U1trawoman got up and walked out of the room. The echo of her footsteps on the stone floor seemed to haunt Tiffany. After that the only sound Tiffany could hear was her own breathing and her own beating heart.

Tina felt a bit of a chill run down her spine as Dark Star joined U1trawoman by the side of the SUV. They were in a parking garage near an abandoned industrial park on the outskirts of the city. Aim techs had already dummied up the car so it looked like it’d been in a fight. Mystique stood beside an unconscious White Owl.

“This isn’t where the Keep is located,” Mystique said.

“Of course not,” Dark Star said. “We’ve moved some essential hardware here and it’s an approximation, but the Keep’s location is not something we give out lightly.”

Tina nodded in understanding and her cell phone rang.

“I must speak to Mystique,” Destiny said.

“It’s Destiny,” Tina said handing the phone to Mystique.

“I am very curious to see how this will work out,” U1trawoman said. “I must admit your idea sounded foolish first, but the more I thought about it the more I concluded that it made a bit of sense.” She glanced at Dark Star and smirked. “After all what better friend is there than a converted enemy.”

“Especially if that enemy doesn’t know she’s been converted,” Dark Star said bending over to examine the unconscious White Owl. “I wonder how far she’ll go?”

“That’s why I have to be here,” Tina said. “And why this can’t be VR from now on. Right now the shadow tech is almost 95% in control of her brain. But it’s still White Owl’s personality template that’s in charge. We can push her just so far consciously before what’s left of her personality will revolt and either drive her insane or into a catatonic state. We need that last 4 to 5% before she becomes completely ours. Once that’s done there is no turning back. But getting her there is going to be tricky.”

“Destiny says that I should mention Tarantula,” Mystique said.

“Tarantula was captured two months ago by the Fantastic four,” U1trawoman said. “She is in the Raft prison.”

“Well Destiny says that Tarantula or something to do with her gives us the best time line outcome.”

“Then by all means mention her,” U1trawoman said. She turned to Tina. “Are we ready then?”

“We are,” Tina said taking her gun out of her holster.

“Make it look good,” Mystique said.

Tina nodded but marveled at the courage of the other woman. Tina wasn’t sure she could do this if their positions had been reversed. Still this sort of realism was vital to the plan. She raised her gun and fired, first at White Owl and then at Mystique. Mystique fell to the ground in pain and Tina holstered her gun.

“Let’s get them into the car,” Dark Star said.

Athena woke up in serious pain. Her arm and leg was numb where they had shot her and she was having trouble breathing. She looked around and realized that she was in the front seat of the SUV. In the driver’s seat was Mystique and she did look that much better than Athena felt. Athena looked around and realized that they were in a parking garage.

“She wasn’t part of the deal,” a cold voice said. Athena looked up and saw a tall well-built blonde wearing a cape and strategically placed black and red straps. Even in her pain and shock Athena had room for more fear. This was Dark Star, one of the evil U1trawoman’s henchwomen. Was Mystique going to sell her?

“I owe her,” Mystique said. “Come on look at her.” She added when Dark Star didn’t say anything.

Athena was too weak to move or speak as the woman leaned into the SUV and looked at her. There didn’t seem to be much compassion in those blue eyes.

“Look if you don’t let us both in we’re both going to die.”

“So?”

“So I did a favor for your boss last night,” Mystique said. “I’d like one in return.”

“I didn’t need your favors,” U1trawoman said suddenly standing behind Dark Star. She looked at Mystique and then turned a colder gaze toward Athena. “This little irritant doesn’t have much to offer me.”

“Crimson Valkerie was killed by Shadow Cat,” Mystique said.

“That means nothing to me,” U1trawoman said, “perhaps she would prefer death to her current misery.”

“No,” Athena said in a weak gravelly voice. “I want… I…”

Athena struggled with her thoughts and with her body trying to will both of them to work. If she died now Crimson would never know justice. No one would ever know how she died.

“Help me please,” Athena said with barely any air behind the words. “I… will… pay you.”

“What could you offer me?”

“I don’t know.”

The words seemed to drain the last of Athena strength and she lay limply in the car seat. It seemed absurd. She was counting on mercy from the one person in the world who didn’t seem to have any. Athena was astonished when a small smile floated across U1trawoman’s face.

“Take them both to Dr. Petunia,” U1trawoman said. “When she is done bring them to the throne room.”

The door to the SUV was opened and Athena fell out only to be caught by someone and put on a stretcher. She was too far gone to keep track of any single detail. She only had impressions of corridors and doors and the sounds of people talking. Later she would remember a few elevators. Finally she was wheeled into a room that was filled with multicolored flowers. It was a beautiful, peaceful room and the flowers was so exotic and strange looking that Athena wondered if she was still on the same planet. Beside her someone wheeled Mystique.

“You owe me one,” Mystique said.

Athena was too weak and in too much pain to reply.

“Dr. Petunia,” Dark Star said to the room, “we have two patients for you.”

Even as bad off as she was Athena couldn’t stop herself feeling amazement as a group of flowers partied and a tall slim woman with arched eyes, pointed ears and green skin stepped through them. She seemed to grow from the plants and though she started out nude by the time she reached the medical tables she was clothed in a brightly colored flower print dress. Her skin and hair was still green.

“Patients?” She asked and Athena was sure that there was a hint of rebellion in her voice. “Not food?”

“Patients,” Dark Star said firmly. “The Mistress commands.”

Dr. Petunia crossed her hands and then kneeled holding her arms outward in a gesture of submission.

“Apologies, sincere apologies.”

She rose and placed her hands on Athena’s wounds. After a moment she turned and did the same to Mystique.

“Much pain in this one,” she said gesturing toward Athena. “In body and mind. Which to heal?”

“The body,” Dark Star said. “The body on both of them and quickly. The Mistress waits.”

“I serve the Mistress,” Dr. Petunia said formally.

She raised her hands and a few of the flowers grew. Athena watched helplessly but not scared as the strange multicolored blossoms flowed over to her and pressed themselves against her wounds. One of them covered her mouth and nose and a pleasant feeling of detachment filled her. A dreamy intoxication brought to mind warm spring days in sunny meadows. Time seemed to stop even though she could feel her body healing. She was aware that Mystique was going through the same treatment.

All too soon it ended. The flowers withdrew and though her body felt whole it still ached. Worse as the intoxicating effects of the plant started to fade her despair and anger returned. She was by no means safe.

“You are healed,” Dr. Petunia said and Athena craned her head to watch as the woman merged back with the plants.

“I wonder what a citizen of Plantasia is doing here?” Mystique asked.

“Where? Athena asked sitting up.

“Do not delve too deeply into our secrets,” Dark Star said from the doorway. “Neither of you are in very good positions right now.”

“I haven’t been in a good position in life for nearly four years,” Mystique said.

“Well if your life is to continue,” Dark Star said, “then follow me quickly.”

The room around Tiffany shimmered and reformed. A hologram as U1trawoman had promised. It was her throne room. The place wasn't as big as Tiffany had expected it to be. A room 50 x 50' with a vaulted roof that was about 40 feet high. The floor was blue marble inlaid with a silver crisscross pattern. Tapestries hung from the walls showcasing U1trawoman and her victories and even -- and this shocked Tiffany -- a few of her defeats. Light came from beautiful crystal chandeliers. U1trawoman sat on a mahogany throne and Crimson sat on the floor right next to her.

"I know you can see this Crimson Valkyrie," U1trawoman said looking at her. "But you can't be seen or heard. After I have done with this I will visit you and I will explain everything you are about to see."

Huge gray doors on the far end of the room opened.

Athena’s body still ached as the huge doors opened and she was pushed into the throne room. In a way it was all very surreal: Tiffany’s death, her battle with the X-Men and her flight from the law. It all seemed like a very bad dream. But it wasn’t. And now she was faced with a very harsh reality. The only way that Tiffany would ever get any justice was if Athena could convince this woman – and Athena wasn’t even sure that this woman believed in justice – to help her.

“Well you are alive,” U1trawoman said, “and that you both owe to me. So what am I to expect in payment?”

Mystique stayed silent and Athena wondered which of them should speak first. U1trawoman let the silence hang for nearly a minute before her eyes flashed and smoke erupted from the floor in front of Athena’s feet.

“I…” Athena started and then stopped. She looked at U1trawoman, then at Dark Star and then at Warcat.

“I don’t have much to offer,” Athena said finally. “I didn’t expect to be here, I didn’t expect to be anywhere. The last bit of sanity I remember…” Athena trailed off and realized that she really couldn’t remember the sane time before all of this. That life seemed very much a dream now.

“I brought her here,” Mystique said, “and I came here because this was the only place I could think of to come. SHIELD is after us, so are the X-Men. White Owl knows too much now, she can’t go back. Shadow Cat killed Crimson Valkerie.”

“Sad to be sure,” U1trawoman said, though there was no sympathy in her voice.

“I know I owe you,” Mystique said, “you know what I can do, so tell me what you want me to do. You’re short a person without Tarantula.”

“I know you can fail,” U1trawoman said. “The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants is scattered, your lover is dead and your daughter works for the other side. Even if I were to give you a mission I don’t think you could succeed at it.”

“You don’t know what it’s like to try and fight the X-Men,” Mystique said angrily. “When I started my brother hood I never expected…”

“Never expected to face SHIELD?” U1trawoman asked.

“I never expected how insidious Professor Xavier’s powers were,” Mystique said. Her voice turned numb. “You felt it. When you battle the X-Men he’s in the back of your mind. Pushing, prodding, playing with it. The more you fight the X-Men more he convinces you that you can’t win. In the end I couldn’t hold my group together. I was going to lead my people into a better life. I was going to make sure that no one could push us around anymore.” Mystique clenched her hands into fists. “I didn’t know how far into the power structure that the X-Men were. I didn’t know…”

“You knew how to fail,” Dark Star said.

“You were on the other side,” Mystique said turning to her. “You know the kind of games they play. How can anybody be ready for that?”

Athena stood and stared into space her mind only half listening to the argument. Tiffany was dead. That thought kept running into her mind, knocking aside all other thoughts. Why was Tiffany dead? What had they done?

Then Athena realized what they had done. Both she and Tiffany had crossed the line that they hadn’t even known existed. A line that separated the world she knew -the world she thought that she had known- from the world that she now found herself in. The same sort of line that Mystique had crossed and she hadn’t really known was there either.

But her old life hadn’t all been a lie. Athena told herself that. She had helped a lot of people. But that was over. That was all over.

If I can’t live in that world anymore, Athena thought to herself as she tuned into the conversation between Mystique and Dark Star that had become an argument, then I have to live in this one. Tiffany could never get justice in my old world, but I can buy her justice in this one. And no price is too high. But what sort of price can I pay that U1trawoman will accept? What can I really offer these people? Her mind replayed the conversation and Athena began to think. To think clearly for the first time since she and Tiffany had been taken from the cabin.

“It wasn’t my fault that Ms. Marvel is a drunken murderer!” Mystique shouted.

“You have yet to avenge her,” Dark Star said.

“She put a spear into me! I haven’t had a chance…”

“Mystique didn’t have a chance,” Athena interrupted her. “None of us really have a chance.” Athena looked directly at U1trawoman. “No one in this room anyway.”

“Care to explain what you mean?” U1trawoman said.

“Do any of you know where Tarantula is right now?” Athena asked.

“In Prison One,” Dark Star said. “The Raft.”

“No,” Athena shook her head. “She’s not even on Earth.”

“We keep an eye on the prison,” U1trawoman said, “and they haven’t moved her.”

“No one’s ever been inside that prison. Not really anyway. I think the longest anyone has spent inside that prison is 15 minutes.”

“Explain.” U1trawoman commanded.

“I wasn’t sure what I could pay you, but now I know. I know things that you don’t. I know about 84 and I know about operation Daisy.”

“You intrigue me,” U1trawoman said. “So say on and stop playing games.”

“84 is the top-secret prison that the US government operates in the negative zone.” Athena said. “Prison One is an empty shell of the building with just one room in it that means anything. The portal room. The transport trucks that you see drive into the prison go right through that portal and into the negative zone. That’s why no one’s ever escaped. They can escape the prison but there’s nowhere else to go after that.”

“That is…” Dark Star started to speak but U1trawoman stopped her with a gesture. She nodded at Athena who went on.

“Operation Daisy is the US governments answer to you. To all of you.

The Invisible Woman chose the project name. A while back Dr. Doom and Loki formed an alliance. It didn’t last but it lasted long enough for them to start work on a prototype suit of armor designed to defeat Thor. After their falling out the suit was found and claimed by Iron Man. He took it to Reed Richards and they came up with a plan to defeat you. They’ve been working on the armor for two years now. It’s made of Asguardian metal just like Thor’s armor but it’s been strengthened with adamantium. It’s got claws that can penetrate your skin.”

“This is been tried before,” Dark Star said.

“Not like this,” Athena said. “Before all the people who went against U1trawoman in battle suits were normal humans. This suit was designed to handle a meta-human pilot. Put someone like Captain America in the suit and their strength would be increased to that of Thor. Put someone like Thor in the suit and no one really knows how powerful he’d become. The suits movements are fusion powered gravitational pulleys and levers and gears. It generates a field of null energy specifically designed to disrupt U1trawoman’s and your powers Dark Star.”

“Go on,” U1trawoman said and she was now completely serious and interested.

“The suit has an energy draining weapon,” Athena said “it could suck the energy right out of you. Once you’ve been defeated it can also shrink you. Then you’ll be put into a special box. A box no bigger than a hamster cage but completely impervious to all of your powers and at half size your strength wouldn’t be enough to break free. I’ve seen Thor hit the armor with the full force of his hammer and only dent it. Same with the box. Put someone with the fighting skills of Captain America in that suit and you wouldn’t have a chance.”

“She always has a chance,” Warcat said slapping the back of Athena’s head.

“Whoever was in the suit wouldn’t be tackling her alone,” Athena said taking the blow without flinching “they’d be part of a team.” She looked at U1trawoman. “Could you take Captain America in that suit if Thor, She-Hulk and the Thing were hitting you at the same time? It’s going to be a concentrated assault like the one they used against Galactus. While you’re battling the person in the suit the rest of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four would be dealing with your minions.”

“They are not minions,” U1trawoman corrected her “they are my friends and lovers and property.”

“Just like you are now,” Warcat said.

Am I, Athena wondered? I suppose so. But it doesn’t really matter.

“She’s right you know,” U1trawoman said. “Do you realize that? Do you realize what it means to be here, now telling us all of this?”

“I don’t care,” Athena said. “Crimson is dead. If I have to sell myself to you to get her justice, then I will.”

“If I accept you,” U1trawoman said. “I’m not sure if I will not. The information you offer, or rather the information you have just given is enough to buy your life and your exit out of this place. But I’m not sure it is enough to buy my services. If I were to accept you as one of mine then of course I would aid you. But if you are to enter my service you enter it for life. Are you ready for that?”

Athena hesitated for a moment. Then she reached into her utility belt and took out a small spray bottle. She sprayed her face and then waited a moment. Then she took off her mask.

U1trawoman looked on impassively as Athena threw the mask at her feet.

“My name is Athena Nichols,” Athena said. “If the only way to get justice in this world is to work with you, to work for you,” Athena corrected herself quickly seeing the look on U1ltrawoman’s face, “then I’m yours body and soul.”

“A good start,” U1trawoman said. “What do you actually plan to do for me?”

“If Mystique is willing to help me,” Athena said glancing at Mystique who nodded, “then we are going to break into the Baxter building, knockout its defenses so that you can go into the negative zone and free the prisoners and while you’re doing that I’ll steal the suit. Then I’ll give you the suit.”

Athena had finally impressed them. She knew from the looks on their faces that she had impressed them all. But maybe not enough. Not in U1trawoman’s case. She remained silent and impassive.

“If that isn’t enough,” Athena said walking over to the throne, “then I’m asking you, I’m begging you to tell me what else I have to do.”

Athena got down on her knees and spread her arms.

“Just tell me and I’ll do it.”

“Service to me means unflinching, unquestioning obedience.”

Athena nodded.

“Dark Star,” U1trawoman called and Dark Star came to attention. “Athena,” Athena started as the villain used her real name for the first time, “is yours for tonight. Use her, test her and then report back to me in the morning. If Athena truly means to become one of mine and she must earn it.”

“What about me?” Mystique asked.

“You are mine for tonight,” U1trawoman said.

“Athena,” U1trawoman said turning to her again, “from this moment on you will do anything,” she stressed the word, “that Dark Star tells you to do. Do you understand?”

“I do,” Athena said. She should’ve been scared but she wasn’t. She should’ve been scared, happy that she was getting somewhere, frightened of what she had revealed, terrified of what might happen now. But she wasn’t. Athena couldn’t seem to feel anything. As the powerful woman approached her with a smile on her face and malice in her eyes, Athena realized that as far as feeling anything was concerned she was already dead.

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