The Emerald Chronicles
Prologue Chapter Two

Early Perils and Triumphs

Part One
by Alexandra and Jen

Authors note: The chapters in the prologue come before the numbered Emerald chapters. They are intended to show how Melissa adapated to becoming Emerald, some of the early activivites of her life as a heroine, and how she changed and became a better heroine. They occur from 1 to 4 years before the numbered Emerald chapters.

****

The Mexico trip had other elements of course. I stayed for a couple weeks in the home of a Mexican familiy of Aztec ancestry, and they taught me more about the old ways. After that, there was the matter of the massacre. After all, the demon had killed everyone else. But, that was easy enough. The farmer took me to the authorites in Mexico City, where I told a sobbing tale of bandits and gunshots. I said I'd fled, and that this good farmer had hidden me, and helped me, and I was so grateful. A few tests, a psych eval, and an official apology later I was home.

Of course, now I had to evaluate what to do. My powers I quickly figured out, and, after a few weeks of thought, I decided I'd have to become a super heroine. The thought didn't upset me, I thought it would be cool. And, for the most part it has been. There have been trials, of course, but they have made me stronger, and that's good.

But, back to then! I had to be able to fight to be a super heroine, and that's where the first problem cropped up. For you see Tonatiuh granted me fighting capabilites - with a sword. I'm probably one of the top 20 swordspeople in the world. My body - and Bloodclaw, my sword, act as one, and every move I make with it is like a work of art.

However, that's not helpful day to day, as I can't chop up every mugger I meet. Well, I could, but that would be bad. So, I had to learn to fight with my hands and feet. The single self defense course I'd had wasn't enough. So, I started in a martial arts class on campus with some trepidation.

It was unfounded, I'm happy to say! I picked up the basics quick enough. I'm fast, and agile, and my body knew how to move in a combat sense. In fact, I quickly found I wasn't being challenged enough. So, when I was asked to come to a private, night time, more intense, practice session, I agreed.

I arrived out back of the gym, and was let in. We weren't supposed to be here, after all, and so this was done all sneaky. I went into the girls locker room, changed, and came out to the gym to stretch.

I stepped out onto the mats after I finished stretching. I was wearing a loose white t-shirt over a black sportsbra, as well as a pair of loose, gray runnning shirts, and bikini panties. Oh , and a headband, to keep any loose hair strands out of my eyes. My feet were
bare, of course, as is typical when sparring. My hair was tied back in a braid.

There were six others here, all guys, which is a normal ratio even with the full class.

First was Stan. He wasn't that good, he wouldn't even be here if he didn't have a key to get in. The others - who I had all beaten in practice before, were Yang who was good. Much quicker than me and not too weak. He was a very good match for me, but I'd beaten him three times in a row. Ahmed and Dan were both decent. I beat them consistently, but not trivially. Gary was competent but not at my level. The last one is Colin, known to his pals as "Bubba". He's not too quick, but he's a tank. I'd only lost to him once, before I figured out how to just stay away. He's as strong as I am at my full Melissa strength.

We had stepped onto the central mat. The entire floor in this gym is padded with mats, and up the walls too to about five feet height. I was feeling relaxed and looking forward to the workout. I'd come to enjoy the exercise that the lessons in close combat provided.

Ahmed had organized this, and he stepped forward. "Ok, then..." We all gave him our attention. "Ok, then there are seven of us. We can have a couple of matches at a time, with the others watching, and resting. Let's see. First up, why not Mel, and Stan. Yang, and myself." Stan groaned loudly, and Yang smiled.

I smiled Stan's way, and decided not to be too rough on him - to encourage him, let him get a couple touches maybe. The rules were simple - you fought until one person had three touches. The loser left the mat, the winner got a new opponent.

"OK, then you two are right there." Ahmed pointed to one of the sets of mats. "We'll start over here." He walked to the far side of the room, followed by Yang. The others stayed in the middle, looking both ways, to watch both matches.

I walked to the mats and tossed my head sideways, my braid flopping back and forth, as I slid into a relaxed ready postion. Stan approached, looking rueful. "Hey, Mel. I hope you had a tiring day." He crouched. I smiled at him, but couldn't think of a reply that wouldn't sound arrogant or demeaning, so I didn't say anything.

He didn't have patience, or skill. He hurried in, and darted a fist at my chin. I slapped his hand away, not countering. I stepped back a couple steps, then he feinted a punch high and launched a kick at my hip.

I wanted him to do well enough so the others wouldn't laugh at him, so I pretended to be fooled by the feint, and let his kick score. He grinned, and didn't follow up at first. Instead he stepped back, gathered himself, and came in with a one-two punch combo.

On the other mat, Yang and Ahmed were having a more cautious, somewhat more even battle.

I stayed defensive. I easily blocked both, but still did not counter. I smiled. "You're getting better." I hoped I sounded sincere.

He wasn't smiling. He was sweating and concentrating. He backed up, then moved forward and tried a straight kick to my belly.

I pivoted, letting it hit my hip, to give him another hit. I then spun, and took his plant foot out with a sweep, dropping him gently to the mat. He landed with a thud. Then he spoke.

"You're not even trying - you beat me faster in class." He scrabbled up, frowning. I saw the others had finished. Yang was helping Ahmed up. I tried to help Stan up, but he brushed the hand aside, saying "Thanks, but no thanks." and walked off the mat, conceding.

I frowned. I'd hoped to make him feel better, and I just made him mad, and I'm not sure why, so I'm a little bummed, as I stood on the mat. I then had a series of fights. First with Dan, who got one hit, but who stormed off, as if thinking I'd let him score.

Next was Gary. This was a better match. He seemed determined, maybe angry, and was striking with more force than was normal for a class. I stepped my own pace up a little. I won, though he did toss me once. By the end of that match, though, I was sweating a bit, and took a moment to catch my breath before Ahmed came onto my mat. I considered, for a moment, throwing the match - so I could rest - but tossed the idea out, as that would make someone else mad at me.

He gave me no time. He came in with a beautiful combination, two feints and a strike low to my abdomen, which connected - and he was not holding back. He followed up quickly, catching my leg and dropping me onto my butt. He grinned as I scrambled up, and as we kept sparring, I got two minor hits in on him. Then he tried to fake me out, messed up, and I beat him.

I was really feeling the effort now. I'd never been in a series of fights like this before. I was finding that my endurance needed work. Naturally, that's the point of this style of tournament. I stepped back, waiting, resting, breathing hard on the mat.

The guys had all noticed my sweatiness, and my obvious tiredness, as I now faced Bubba. Yang apparently lost - I'd missed it, and on the other mat Dan was facing Gary.

I was covered in a light sheen of sweat, and wasn't pleased to be facing Bubba next. He was grinning as he advanced. He's slow - but I wasn't as fast now as I had been at the start of the evening either. He's also fresh, and pretty strong, and really big. I realized for the first time just how big, cause I've always been fresh myself when I've sparred with him before.

Ahmed, in the middle watching, called out. "You seem...hot, Mel. Maybe you're overdressed!" Bubba paused in his advance.

I chuckled "Nah, just winded." I replied.

"Well, maybe. We'd hate to see you konked out by the heat." I was warm, but this was my fifth fight in a row, so that didn't suprise me.

When he came back in I tried a half spin to try and drop his leg. He spotted my foot coming, and avoided it. He followed up with a simple charge, trying to get me in a bearhug. I avoided that, but one of his paws caught my top as he got behind me and he didn't let go.

He had it between my shoulderblades. I spun, but he moved with the spin, keeping himself behind me, and holding the advantage, as I didn't want to be in close with him.

"Haha. What should Bubba do now?" It was strange to hear him talk. He had just a tiny trace of an accent - Irish, not Alabaman. His appearance fit his name, but nothing else.

Stan piped up: "just knock her into Sunday!"

I mentally noted Stan was still upset.

I crouched, and lurched into a spin. With anyone else it might have worked, but not Bubba. He reacted quickly, using his other arm to hold me out at arms length, with a little push. I'd planned to spin, grab his holding wrist, and toss him, but he had countered me.

Dan said. "Well, do something! You can't hold her top all night."

I grinned at Dan's words. "That's true, he can't." As I was still crouched, I raised my arms slightly, and then dropped my body weight, so I slipped out of the shirt. I caught myself on the mat, and kicked his leg out.

He fell toward me. I rolled out of the way, and came back to my feet, smiling at his look of suprise. He slowly rose, still holding my t-shirt. "Well, thank you very much!" he said.

I smiled. "You can hold that for now - I'll need it back later though." I felt a little cooler now, and the sports bra is less revealing by far than a bikini top, so I wasn't self conscious at all. I was quite pleased by my move's success.

"I'd love to, but I see something I'd rather hold, darling." He stepped back, and tossed my shirt away, conveniently, to Stan. I wasnn't given the opportunity to reflect on the justice, or injustice, of all this. Bubba came lumbering my way, and it looked like he'd been learning, too, or maybe he just seemed faster because I was slower. He seemed to be coming in for another bearhug try.

I decided to move in, and do a quick one - two to his belly and end it. It would have worked, too, except he wasn't trying for a hug. The hug was a fake, and even as my first blow landed, so did his real attack - a haymaker!

I saw stars, for a moment, as his blow hit. It knocked me back pretty good, as I was moving, and I fell back, and stumbled to my bottom, sitting up. I shook my head, the stars fading, and put a hand on the mat to push myself up. "Nice fake." I say, as well, because I hadn't expected that at all.

"Well, a hit, and a fall." That was Ahmed. Bubba waited for me to stand as he was being gentlemanly. Well, no, he was openly ogling my form.

I heard Stan object. "Shouldn't that be three, on her? Getting her top off oughta count!"

"Yep, he got me good" I said, letting him ogle, while I slowly stood. "Sounds fair to me" I said a moment later, liking Stan's idea, even though I gave Bubba the shirt. It was also clear he wasn't holding back, nor would any of the others. They knew I could take it.

Ahmed decided to be the voice of reason: "Now, that wouldn't be fair. We can't change rules in the middle of a match. From now on, sure, each piece of clothing is a hit, since Melissa agreed. But for now it's two hits, each."

"No, no,.no." I said. "We're not losing more clothing." Then I turned back to face Bubba. I didn't hear any further comments. Well, at least I couldn't make out exactly what they were saying, although there was some low discussion. There was also no confirmation that my last statement had been received or accepted.

Bubba was looking at me. "Ready? Come on then." He just stood ready this time changing his constantly charge me tactic.

I smiled, and waited for him, not minding the rest time at all. "The man's supposed to lead." I quipped.

"Go on, take her!"

"Yeah!" Apparently I wasn't the favorite. He moved in warily, and made a grab for my arm. I dodged it, then he grabbed again, and I stepped back away from that grab, and, then he decided to charge. I sidestepped, spun slightly, and tapped a small hit onto his back. That won me this fight, and Bubba seemed to take it well. I felt a little more rested, but decided I'd had enough for now, and headed for the group, saying "I need a breather."

"Sure, right after Stan beats you. He's up next." Ahmed replied. Stan hopped up eagerly, and headed rapidly in my direction. He'd handed my shirt off to someone else, in anticipation of our rematch.

"Ok." I said, hesitantly, adding "But this is my last either way - then I need a break." I'd decided not to play with Stan this time - he was mad I gave him the hits before, so I was not gonna do that again.

"Mm-hmm" Ahmed was rather non-commital, but maybe that was agreement. I hoped so as I really did need a break. Stan was completely hopped up, by contrast. He was jumpy and full of energy, so I waited, once more, letting myself rest.

He attacked prettty quickly, but not quite as hopelessly as before. It was more likely that I was just tired. He darted in, guarding himself, and dashed a quick punch at my abdomen. I blocked the blow, and launched a double counter, of which he only blocked one, the other hitting his belly. One to Zero, me.

I started to back off, to again go defensive. "You..." he said. I'd just started moving when he pulled out a maneuver I'd never expect from him. He sprang downward, and his legs came forward in a remarkable leg sweep! Both my legs get carried to one side, and I hit the mat.

He was already bouncing up even as I hit, landing on my side. I rolled onto my belly, so I could push to my feet, and said "Nice move."

"Yeah...." he said. As I began to, Stan plowed into me from behind. His chest knocked my butt forward, but that was only incidental. His real attack was gripping the waistband of my shorts with both hands, and pulling down like a man possessed. They were at my ankles in a flash. I could tell the others were on their feet, shocked no doubt.

"Hey!" I shouted, as I reached back, to grab them before he could pull them all the way off. He was positively cackling. "Hey what? Hit for me..." Then he actually tugged me back a little, pulling me by the ankles. This prevented me from grabbing my shorts and it also prevented me from standing!

"Ok - point for you, now let go, please." I decided to twist my ankles to break his grip, so I could get my shorts, and get them up again.

From the left, I heard the others hooting. "Way to go, Stan!" I twisted my ankles, but he managed to slip my shorts past them. I broke free, so did he, and we went our separate ways.

I got up again - now clad in the black sports bra, and matching bikini panties. "Ok, Stan, cute. Now give 'em back, please." I turned to face him as I spoke.

"Hehehehe....two points, two points for me! a fall, and her shorts!" He heard my words and said "Ooooooh....gonna make me, Melissa?" He danced a little jig just out of reach.

"I'd prefer not to. Now, c'mon, please." I held my hand out.

"Maybe he wants to try for another point." said Dan.

"And I want my shorts - once they're back on, he can try for that last point."

"Yeah...what'll it be, top or bottom?" that was Gary, as he walked behind me and past me.

"Oooh, I don't know, possession, you know, nine-tenths of the law and all that. I've got them. Maybe they're my shorts!" Stan cackled. That brought a slew of comments.

"He's got a point, and she did agree, right?"

"Yes, now who's trying to change the rules?"

"What rules? I thought this was anything-goes..."

"Everything goes, more like."

I tossed my head "I'm not playing your silly game,Stan" I spun, turned my back to him, and walked away - listening for a rush.

"Oh? Oh?" The others spread a bit to make room. I could now see they've basically surrounded me to watch. And, as I expected, I heard Stan's rush.

I kept walking, calmly and slowly, with his footsteps rapidly approaching. My plan was to wait until I felt his hand graze either my top or bottom. Then I'd slam an elbow back, followed by a spin kick, followed by picking up my shorts from his fallen form.

He had a different plan. He grabbed me by my braid, pulling back, and stopping me cold. Then he kicked into the back of my right knee. I yelped as my hair got tugged, and then I was falling backwards. Stan, you see, had kicked too soon, lost his balace and fell. He "ommphed" as he hit the ground, and then I landed on him, elbow already coming back - and it nailed him hard. That knocked the wind out of him, and took him out of the fight.

I stood, and grabbed my shorts as again there were comments.

"Man...that was mean!"

"Yeah, but what a way to go! She can fall on me anytime."

"I agree." I said "It's not nice to pull hair."

I was turning my shorts, so I could put them on when I heard Gary, on my right, say "Oops, I tripped!" Then he 'fell' into me, snickering, and knocked me down. I heard some laughter. I was on my left side, with my legs bent up, sort of a fetal position, but not so tight. I lost my grip on my shorts with my left hand but still held them with my right. I planned on sitting up and fully grabbing them to get them on.

Gary, on hands and knees near me, seemed to be thinking something else, as he observed me from this close perspective. He snatched at my shorts, pulling them with his left hand and it was a bit of a tug of war. He got his other hand into it. "Aren't these...Stan's?"

"No, they're mine." I said, and laid a left cross into his jaw - hard. He held on a moment, then his eyes rolled back, and he let go as he fell, knocked out cold, to the mat.

I sat up, as I heard a "Hey!" and then, from behind me Yang snatched a handful of hair, pulling me back.

"Shit! Did you see that! Oh, that's it!" cried Dan, and from my right he stepped in, kicking, his foot aimed just below my ribs. It scored, I grunted at the kick, then grabbed at Dan's ankle. Then Ahmed lept in, trying to pin me, missed, but landed on my legs, keeping me partly pinned.

I was really peeved now. I dropped the shorts, and used both arms on Ahmed - I used my left hand to grab his hair and lift his head, and then right across his jaw. The move was perfectly timed, and while I didn't KO him, I put him well out of action. He went limp, and I pushed him off me.

As Ahmed's body just cleared my feet, two things happened. Dan landed another kick. With Yang holding my head up, I'd become a football, and the ball of his foot took me on the right temple - very hard. From the other side Bubba did something unexpected. My sportsbra undid in the front - with a zipper - I've always preferred front opening bra's of all sorts. He reached in and unzipped it!

I had me head knocked back by the kick, and saw stars. "Uhh, that hur..Hey!" I shrieked, as the zipper came down, and my breasts came out, and reflexively reached forward with both hands, to knock his hands away and cover up. I covered up, but not before he'd gotten it more off me - so that it was dangling over one shoulder, not being a bra at all.

Dan said "At least she felt THAT!" and kicked me again, in the same place. Not as hard this time, but it didn't feel good. I "uhhed". I was feeling a bit woozy, and I slapped at Bubba's hands, so to move them out of the way, so I could get my bra back on.

Yang suddenly dropped my head and sprang past Bubba. I fell back a little as Yang moved, though, having been used to him supporting my upper body.

Dan moved to where Yang was. I saw him, strangely, suddenly kneel down right above my head. At least he didn't immediately strike again. In the meantime Bubba manged to get my bra fully off, as Yang dropped down, sitting on my legs to pin them.

My decision was to deal with Dan first. I looked up at him remembering the kicks, and snapped an arm up, to grab his genitals, and twist hard. Those kicks hurt. I was in a little shock, though, as they stripped me piece by piece, unsure how this all started.

He managed to stop my hand before it reached him, and he even got in a counterattack, he slapped my face, barely stinging, and said "Don't do that, girl." Bubba had tossed my bra to the side, and one of his huge hands settled on my right breast, beginning a deep massage.

I grabbed one of Dan's knees - Bubba added a second hand, on my other breast - I squeezed to cause pain! Dan went a little white - slapped both sides of my head. And then I realized Yang was pulling my panties down!

"Hey!!" I yelled again, and lunged forward, ignoring the punches from Dan. I extended my arms, partly knocking one of Bubba's off a breast, as I grabbed at my panties. I grabbed them - Yang grinned, and we both started to tug, when I felt pain, and my vision blurred. Dan had stood, and launched a powerful kick to the back of my neck. It send pain thorugh me, and I heard him say 'Stupid..little..cunt!"

I grunted loudly at the kick, my fingers coming out of my panties. I was dimly aware of Yang pulling them down, rising, tugging them off, and sitting again on my legs. I was dazed, and Dan slammed a kick to the left side of my head, and then the right, adding to my stunned state.

"She just won't stay down!" he screamed.

The continued kicks staggered me, my vision blurred, and I blacked out. I dunno how long I was out, and I woke up slow, tried to sit up, and couldn't!. I gasped, and looked around. I was in a locker room, laying on a bench between two rows of lockers. My arms were over my head, tied to the bench, wrists together, my legs were spread, and bent at the ankles, with my lower legs off the bench, and also bound to the metal legs of the bench. My head still hurt a little, and I took a few breaths of air - this had not been the night I expected. That was when I realized I was gagged! A brief panic hit me - and then I calmed down, and began trying to squirm, to get free of the ropes.

I began to wriggle, which given my limited ability to move wasn't much help, but I did what I could. I also looked around and what I saw was good. I was pretty sure that this was the women's locker room. I hoped it was, cause my gym bag - with the clothes I was gonna put on after the workout - is in my locker in there.

I struggled - feeling quite weak at first. I was sure that my strength was returning - but still, the ropes gave at least the illusion that I was weak. They hardly moved - Bubba must have tightened them. I growled a little into the gag - they could have tied me more politely. It didn't strike me I wasn't mad at them for the ropes - only for making them so tight.

I continued to work at the ropes for a long time. I was starting to sweat from the effort - but I thought the ropes had a little more play, at least. I didn't really mind the sweat, as it might make things easier, and I could shower once free.

Just then, I heard the door to the room open! I hear one set of footsteps, but couldn't see anyone, although I listened for a voice. However, there was none, just a slow step. Whoever it is wasn't in a rush, they were just sort of wandering around a little.

I kept working on the ropes as I wasn't sure if I wanted to be found like this, or not, even by another woman. I tugged, and strained. These ropes were well tied, and the bench itself was absolutely rock-solid. It got a little hard on my wrists, but I could take it easily. There was no real pattern to the steps - wandering here, there, pausing, walking, then pausing. Still pausing. Still pausing. I couldn't dwell on the footsteps, and I kept working on the ropes, after a small rest pause.

There was only my own muffled breathing and the footsteps - although they seemed to have stopped. I strained on. I figured I could probably work these loose, but it'd be an hour or two - it's hard to judge time. And I was right. It took about two hours to get free. At some point the steps left the room, and a while after that I got a hand free. After that, I freed the other hand, and sat up to remove the gag, free my ankles, and then to stretch.

The gag was a rather soggy mess. At one point it was my shorts, a sick joke, since I was so insistent on getting them back. They'd been strategically cut, however, so they were entirely unusuable as anything but a gag - or a belt. As I noticed this I heard the door open and close once more, but nothing else. Then, I quickly freed my ankles, and blissfully worked my knees back into mobility.

I did determine, as I angrily stretched, that this was the girls locker room. I stayed wary, as I made my way through the room - naked - to my locker. I found no lock on it - which was strange, but I opened it anyway. Inside, my bag was gone! There was a note, though. It said:

"No locks may remain on lockers overnight! We salute your prowess, much as your clothes will be saluted in the morning. P.S. thanks for the mammaries..."

I shook my head. "Assholes." I said, and then shivered a little as my voice creepily echoed back to me. I then searched for clothing. All I found were two different socks - I left them, and a crumpled white t-shirt. I pulled it on - it was tight - highlighting my breasts, and just barely reached my crotch, not covering it at all. I worked the shorts into a kinda grass skirt - my butt would be bare from time to time, and it wasn't much of a skirt, but it would have to do. A peek into the pool room showed me it was just after 4 am. I decided to head for my dorm, not even wanting to think about what I looked like in a too small shirt, a rigged skirt, and bare feet.

The first step though was to get out of here, which meant getting past the front security desk. I decided to sneak past him, quietly, in my bare feet. I worked my way to the front, until I could see the door and the security desk. A small TV was playing, some terrible late-night programming and the guard had his back to me. He wasn't moving, and odds were high that he was asleep.

I decided to tiptoe past him as I got the thrill I always get when I am trying to be sneaky. I picked my way carefully across the floor, my thrill being supplemented with a blast of cool air from an air vent that scattered the strips of my skirt. He was half-facing the TV, tilted somewhat toward the door but his eyes were closed. I stepped, there was a tiny creak, but his eyelids didn't move. Then I was at the doors, certain I could feel his eyes boring into my back...or lower, really. He could look all he wanted, though, as long as I could get out.

Fortunately, the doors were unlocked, and swung open without making too much noise. I felt awfully vulnerable as I passed through, though, with the light streaming at me from behind, and the darkness ahead. Now, outside, the wind came in gentle gusts that were still enough to flap the skirt.

I moved through the darkness as quickly as I could. I felt more surges of the thrill as I snuck, knowing how I looked and how that made me feel. My clothing didn't help against the wind, either, and even enhanced the vulnerable feeling.

I snuck around behind the fine arts building, my shirt seeming to glow in the light, a combination of moonlight and very scattered lampposts. As I was passing the far side of the building, to make the dash to the library, I heard two voices, a man and a woman, from the right, which was towards the F.A. building.

I angled to the left, to try and avoid them, as I didn't have the time to wait for them to move on. I was all too aware of how I looked, as the feeling that the look aroused in me. But soon I had to cross a walkway, and there was no cover. So I dashed as fast as I could. I heard a shriek, and then a woman's "Oh, my god!" It was followed by a man saying "Ohh yes! Hold that pose baby!"

I ignored them, and kept moving. Like the gaurd, they can look all they want, and besides, I am gorgeous.

After that, I hurried on. The library, a dark cube, loomed ahead. It proved excellent for concealment, or would have, except for the white t-shirt. Still, I took the less-traveled side, reasoning that I was less likely to bump into someone. That, too, is what the two guys I bumped into reasoned. One of them very guiltily tosses a lit somethingorother away from him - the other stared open-mouthed, as I almost did physically bump him rounding a thick bush.

"O! Get a load'a that!" he said.

I stopped for a moment, stunned to run into someone, nearly literally. Then, with a 'Pardon me.' I started to walk past them. The other, recovering from his initial shock, took me in during the stunned pause, and whistled rather loudly, and I was all too aware of how the skimpy t-shirt called attention to my breasts, and of the lack of cover the 'skirt' provided.

It was somewhat of a narrow path between bushes here. I didn't dare to brush the bushes, as if I did, my skirt was likely to disappear. Regrettably, the two of them pretty much blocked the path, and they didn't move when I asked. Well, their eyes moved, and I felt them devouring me. I licked my lips, slightly nervously, then walked on, planning to press between them and keep going. I felt the eyes contuning to devour me as I got closer.

They also moved. I bumped into both of them, and failed to squeeze through. Their bodies pressed against my shirt from both sides and in front. "Watch it!" said one.

"Please move." I said, again, planning to push each of them backwards, so I could keep going.

They didn't immediately respond, so I pushed, and they both staggered back. That shifted their eyes a little, and left me an opening to squeeze into. Before I was safely past, though, a hand grabbed my collar heavily, stopping me with a bit of a choke. "Hey! Whatsa big idea?"

"Yeah, what a rude bitch!" The one who wasn't holding me stepped to my side.

"I asked you to move, nicely, twice, and you wouldn't" I knocked his hand off my collar.

"Jeez!" he said. The other one looked ready to try something, but Collar says "Forget it man, don't."

I kept moving, hoping that I intimidated them. I must have, as they made no move to stop me. I was more nervous now, though. The end of the library building was soon ahead. From there it was a bit of a lit walk, then, to the first dorm. That was a boys' dorm, not mine. Mine was just beyond, though I suspected the school would have fewer problems if they kept the dorms just a bit more apart.

I took a deep breath, and kept moving, though I was much more nervous, as I got closer to the guys dorm. Luck was with me as I crossed the gap without incident, and paused in the shadow of the boys' dorm. I headed around it to the right as that was the fastest way for me to get back to my dorm. I tried to fight down the thought that it's also the way I'm most likely to run into guys, but I couldn't fully ignore that thought, so I was quite jumpy and nervous as I walked along my chosen route.

I skirted around the building, took another breath before rounding the corner, and pushed on. Light streamed from a few of the first-floor windows, and of course from the entrance itself. I swung as far away from the light as I could to avoid being too slowed down. My steps already felt too slow to me, yet I dared not move faster, and my heart was racing as I stepped into the light.

I hadn't quite reached the entrance when it banged open. "Get the hell out!" I heard. Then two guys came staggering out, apparently pushed roughly. Skittish as I was, I froze like a deer caught in headlights does, as the two stumble away from the entrance. I didn't realize that I was standing with my lower half fully illuminated.

They turned to curse at their unknown oppressor, but they didn't complete the turn, stopping to gape at me. They didn't gape for long, the two of them broke into hideous grins and walked your way. "Pretty lady! Lady of the night!" said one. They advanced quickly, eyes scanning up and down.

I started to move again, but too slowly, for now they've noticed me. I gulped, as they appraised, and started to walk on again, heart racing faster now. But I was walking basically toward them, so they blocked my path, they were both very wide, I noted, as they continued walking my way.

"Oowweee! Lookin' for some action, hon?"

"N..no" I said. Why did they have to be so big? I thought. I didn't really wanna fight them, I just wanted to get home. I could see, and feel, the eyes creeping over me, as I got closer, just wanting to get by them.

"Yeah, right. Look at her, Tim, would you say that's a woman lookin' for action?"

"Damn straight Hank, 'cept I'd say that's a woman's found some action!"

I was close enough, now, that a collision was inevitable. They had slowed right down, but moved to intercept me. My own pace slowed a step, my clothes may as well not be there for all the cover they provided, and I said to Tim and Hank "L..look guys, I'm just heading home. I'm not looking for action."

They gradually came to a stop, side by side, blocking even my view of safety. "Well heck, you could come home with us...we ain't welcome here anyhow."

"T..thanks, but I'd prefer to go to my own place - alone" I said, and tried to step around them.

They moved ahead of me again, as I couldn't side-step as quickly as I'd like without being very obvious. "Look, it ain't safe for someone like you to be walkin' alone. We'll walk you back, what say you?"

"I said I'm fine, thanks - now please, can you move out of my way?" I'd like to put some steel in my voice, but it's just not there. In fact, my words sounded like a plaintive whimper.

"No, I don't think I ken stand by while a hot little body like yours walks home in the dark, all alone. Hell...it's nearly mornin' anyways. What you doin' still out?"

Tim added "Take a look, Hank, what you think she's been doin'?" They both took a step forward, looking like a wall collapsing on me as they filled my view.

"L..look, I don't need an escort" I said. But for some reason I just can't move, as they step closer, eyes all over my just about naked body. Then, I found my legs, and stepped forward, as they did, trying to slip between them.

I aimed to slip between them and two hands came up, easily. Tim caught my right breast and Hank's hand closed over my face. They were not just grabbing, they were running forward! I found myself flipped off my feet, half-carried and half-dragged by my face and breast, back several yards before the shock even lifted.

I slowly began to react. My feet were trailing behind me but I managed to start to get them under me, though that was not as yet doing me any good, as they were moving me quite quickly. Hank used his other hand to grab my hair, even as I realized both my arms were free. They had dragged me back now to about the corner of the dorm, and soon we'd be behind it.

I decided to punch at Hank's belly even as I wondered why they'd be taking me behind the dorm. My punch connected and Hank "oof"ed, and his grip slipped, but he took the hits well. He almost let go but not quite. A few more yards, we were fully around the corner, then the two of them swung my back towards the wall of the dorm. My feet were still trailing behind, so they were aiming low - and if they then let go, I'd wind up sitting with my back to the wall.

I kept hitting at Hank, figuring I should work on them one at a time. This time he tried to block, and had a little bit of success, I still connected, although the punch was diminished. "Damn, she's a wildcat! Watch it Tim."

Tim had his own ideas. He managed to catch my right elbow with his left hand, and he pressed it against the wall. With his right hand he slapped me three times back and forth across the face. "Stop it, girl!" I was now back to the wall, with my legs out at a 45 degree angle.

I felt my back, then my arm hit the wall. The slaps didn't hurt much. I lashed out with my left arm as I said "Let me go!" However, he was very lucky, and deflected the punch almost harmlessly. He was very aware, however, of the strength behind the punch. "Shit!"

I moved to strike again, but then my collar was pulled hard, and Hank managed to tear the old shirt down the front, leaving less than an inch holding together. With that distraction, Tim beat me to the punch, driving a hammy fist just below your ribs. Without the ability to back up with the impact I felt that.

I yelped, as my breasts were exposed. But then, part of my brain kicked in 'Stop panicking, girl, you've taken better guys than these yahoos.' That gave me more confidence, and instead of covering my breasts, I took a breath, ignored the pain from the fist, and feinted a punch at Tim, planning a kick to his shin as my real attack. Tim was dismayed that I was able to take that breath. My feint almost struck, and the kick did. He yelped, and almost lost his grip on my arm. Hank still held me to the wall, and one of his hands now grasped my exposed breast roughly. "Oooeee!" he said, like a moron.

I'd been felt up before tonight, and his grab was rather rough, so I mentally shoved it aside, and launched another punch/kick combo at Tim. He was a little jumpy, and managed to back away. In the process, he released my arm completely as he backed out of reach. Hank still held my breast with one hand, and pushed me against the wall. But, his other snaked up from nowhere, caught my crown of hair, and pulled my head forward and then hard back against the wall before I could brace myself.

"Ow!" I hissed. Were I normal that blow would have at least stunned me - but I'm not. It hurt, but he'd need more than one to put me down, and now both his hands were busy, and both mine were free. I struck out with a both fists. One hand coming high, at his cheek/jaw area, the other low, into his stomach.

He's managed to move his head aside, and my hand only hit air. My other blow had more success, and he "oofed". His gut was hard, but not quite enough. He bent and backed away, somehow staying on his feet. Tim was putting weight on both legs again, though, and hovered to one side, close to the wall. He even tried a kick which missed me.

Now I felt the need to focus on Hank. Again, I drove my fist at his belly, using my other hand, my right, to grab at his hair. I hoped to grab the hair, and use it pull his head, and hopefully his body, to the side, so I could get more movement room. This would cause me to also turn myself away from Tim, but that was a risk I thought I had to take.

The plan worked perfectly. My fist pushed further into his belly and as he gagged, I grabbed and heaved him to the right, where he lurched some distance away. Tim landed two punches to my head as I finished the move, but now I could move away from the wall.

I shook my head, from side to side, to try and fight off the effects of the blows. After all, I had taken quite a bit of punishment tonight. I also moved away from the wall, trying to move to where I could fight Tim, yet still see Hank. "Why don't you just leave me alone?" I hissed at him.

By more or less facing the wall, as I backed away from it, I managed to keep them both in view. Tim was on my right, and I'd turned a little more to face him. Hank is to the left, doubled over. Tim paused, watching me rather than attacking. "Well now, a pretty thing like you shouldn't be alone on a night like this!"

I moved futher back, to give myself room. "If you don't leave me alone, you're gonna get hurt."

He followed, but stayed out of range. This made it easier to keep tabs on Hank too, so I could conentrate on Tim. "Awww. You've already hurt my feelings, girl. But, I'm so attached to those there tits of yours, I think it would just kill me to let them go. You've gotta understand what you do, baby, with those hooters, that pussy showing through that so-called skirt..."

I kept backing away. "Yeah, sure. You gotta understand that when a girl says 'No' it means 'No.'" I replied.

"Well, sometimes, sure, but sometimes her lips and her body are sayin' different things. And your body's talkin' louder than your lips, darlin'!"

"Not sometimes, all the time. Now, I really suggest you leave." I stopped moving, waiting for him to either withdraw or re-attack. I was starting to get mad now.

He might have been waiting, too. He was definitely on guard, in case I charged him. Hank was still out of it. "Well, I suggest you remove those sorry excuses for clothing. I mean a ripped shirt, a ripped skirt, what're you thinking? If you take 'em off, I'll take off, myself."

"Fine." I spat at him. After all, he could see all of me anyway. I kept an eye on him, snapped the last inch of shirt, then dropped it, followed by the 'skirt'. I only used one hand, and kept my eyes on him at all times. Then I stood naked, legs slighty apart, left hand on my hip. "Happy?" I asked.

He looked very surprised and suspicious. His eyes followed my clothing as it dropped, then returned hungrily to what is only slightly more revealed. "Uhhh...wow. Wow." He admired what he saw, then his hands went to his shirt, fumblingly unbuttoning it from the top.

"No..no..no!" I said "Now, you leave. That was the deal." Watching him, I crouched, and grabbed my rags.

I had crouched, and was reaching for the rags, with my eyes on Tim. He kept his eyes very steadily on me, extremely steadily, locking them straight ahead, and tracking my movement with his head. I didn't quite contact my rags, though. I only heard one footstep, then a body tossed itself onto me from behind! I was driven forward by the impact, onto hands and knees. Somebody was right on top of me, and their left hand had my left breast, initially squeezing, but quickly switching to a gentle gliding pull. Then another body landed on my legs, pushing both 'body 1' and myself a litte more forward. Abruptly, a hand slid along the backs of my thighs and buttocks, passing once gently over my lips, too.

I was initially suprised by two more bodies hitting me. However, I recovered quickly, as I was ready for action, and yelled "Hey!" as I tried to kneel, and also tried to shake them off.

The first body was muttering and trying to catch my right arm with his right hand, although he kept the left on my breast. Body two stopped fondling me, though. Ahead of us, Tim approached. "Good job, whoever you are!" From the muttering, and what little I saw of one arm, it was the two stoners from behind the library! And, so far, I was still on hands and kness. So, I had to keep trying to at least kneel up.

I lurched, hands leaving the ground, and I started to fall forward. I caught myself, took a moment, and lurched again. This time he rose higher as I tried to toss him off. I grabbed his wrist, but at the same time his right arm clutched me around the ribs. My attempt to throw him was thereby foiled. Behind you, Two had his weight firmly on my calves. He had also grabbed my 'skirt', and was using it as a makeshift rope, tying it behind my knees. Tim, not to be outdone, reached my front, and placed the tip of his foot right underneath One's arms, into my solar plexus as I was now kinda kneeling up.

I gasped as the kick hit, but I weathered it ok. I had to ignore the skirt for now to deal with Tim, and One. My left hand kept trying to pry his left off my breast. My right found his right wrist, grabbed it, and I tried to dig my fingers into the inside of it to loosen his grip, painfully. Then I was going to try and flip him forward into Tim.

I was aware of the skirt being tied more tightly, snug around my knees, as I pried One's left hand up. His right let go, but it wasn't so much the hand, as the arm wrapped around my ribs, which was holding him in place. Strangely, he didn't particularly howl at the pain, although he did curse, low and angrily, in my ear. With his arm still around me, I wasn't able to throw One, and Tim had switched from using his foot to his hands. Both of them now cupped my breasts, lifting gently, and his thumbs trapped the nipples, rolling them in and out.

"H..hey! S..stop that!" I yelled. I let go of One, and grabbed at both of Tim's wrists, so I could pull his hands off my breasts.

Just then there was another voice. "Yeah, stop that you guys." It was followed a moment later by "Campus Security - stay where you are!"

Well, my playmates all took off and ran. The Campus Security guys - my co workers by the way, Glen and David, were more concerned with me than with chasing them. They called in the attack, and then covered me up, and helped me over to my dorm. When they recognized me, they were quite livid with what had happened. I thanked them profusely, and the next day made a statement about the attack by Hank and Tim. I didn't mention the gym at all in it.

I talked to some of the guys about the gym over the next few days, and we worked everything out to my satisfaction. They apologized to me, and we all made amends. Now we could be friends again and I knew they wouldn't be ready to mess with me anymore. I'd also gotten in some pretty realistic superheroine training. Overall, I was happy with the way events turned out.