(Wizard's Notes - I tried and tried and tried...but just ended up fouling things up. Anyway, you will note that there are quite a few ? spread throughout this, most where they shouldn't be. However, if you save this as .rtf, or .doc the story will go back to it's original format...I hope!)

THE SUPERHEROINES OF SINNER CITY
BY
THE GOOD DOCTOR

CHAPTER 6:

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE CRAWL!

Rat Girl and her associates entered the darkened lawn of Sinner City?s Central Park from the north side shortly after midnight. They slowly made their way across the field, the arch-assassin known as the Pink Pantheress leading the way on the lookout for any sign of a double-cross. Behind the Pantheress, Rat Girl and four other muscular women followed along. Though they were cautious, the six women were not too concerned. After all, this was a simple drug purchase - albeit a high-priced one - and besides, no one would dare double-cross employees of the Queenpin. Not if they wanted to go on living.
On the opposite side of the field, six rough-looking women, clad in various forms of khaki fatigues and camouflage army jackets, awaited them along a tree-lined bike path. They were known as the Rambettes, a paramilitary group of women feared as one of Sinner City?s most dangerous gangs.
As the Queenpin?s crew approached, Rat Girl took the lead. She stopped ten feet away from the opposing gang and looked them over before speaking. ?How?s it going, Cora??
?That?s Commander Cora, to you,? said the tallest of the six Rambettes. She was a muscular, hard-looking woman with crewcut blonde hair, her face covered in green, tiger stripe face paint. For three years she had led the entire gang and her dominance was unquestioned within the Rambettes.
?Sure. Whatever,? replied Rat Girl, sounding rather bored. She was clad in her trademark grey body stocking, a barrette atop her head which resembled small, rodentish ears.
?You have the money?? asked Cora.
Casually, Rat Girl reached behind her. One of her muscular assistants handed her a large envelope. Rat Girl held it before her, her long, razor-sharp nails glinting in a stray bit of light from a nearby street lamp. ?You have the stuff?? she asked.
?Colonel Kelly?? said Commander Cora. Immediately, the woman behind Cora?s right shoulder passed forward a black suitcase. The Rambette leader held it before her and said, ?It?s all there.?
As the criminals were about to exchange their items, a voice called out of the dark, ?Hold it right there, ladies. And I use the term ?ladies? loosely.?
All twelve criminals looked around in shock. Then, at one end of the bike path, a small female figure dropped down from where she had been hiding high up in some tree branches. The figure dropped to the ground, her bare feet making no sound whatsoever. She stood facing the dozen criminals, legs spread, fists defiantly on her slim hips, clad only in black spandex short-shorts, a black spandex halter top, and a black mask.
?Ninja Girl?! Here?!? gasped Commander Cora.
?That?s right,? replied the confident heroine. ?I?m doing my part to keep the park free of trash.?
?You?re outnumbered twelve to one, Ninja Girl,? said Rat Girl. ?You?ve interfered in our business once too often and it?s time we taught your little ass a lesson.?
Suddenly, from the other end of the bike path, another voice called out of the darkness, ?If there are any lessons being given here, we?ll do the teaching.?
?Who?s that?? asked a confused Cora.
?Shit!? cursed Rat Girl. ?It?s the Red Avenger! Let?s get out of here!?
But before any of the women could react, a slim feminine form dove down from the tree branch where she had hidden. Her red bikini stretched taught over her firm young body as she soared through the air, grabbing hold of the nearby overhanging street lamp, spinning around it like a gymnast on the high bar, and letting go only to sail feet first into one of the Rambettes.
The young girl spun around, brushing a stray lock of her long red hair from her masked face and said, ?Give it up, girls. No one escapes the Red Avenger!?
?Or her partner, Ninja Girl!? called the other heroine, dashing up the bike path toward the stunned group of criminals. The female martial arts expert moved into a series of handsprings, tumbling up the lane until she crashed into one of the Queenpin?s goons, knocking the hoodlum unconscious.
From there, all chaos broke loose. The five remaining Rambettes dashed off in one direction, the Red Avenger in close pursuit, while Rat Girl and her four cohorts headed in the other direction, Ninja Girl pursuing them.
The Red Avenger was quicker than any of the Rambettes, sprinting forward and nailing the fleeing Commander Cora in the back with a flying sidekick.
?Aarrgghh!? screamed Cora as she was driven to the ground. ?Get this bitch!?
Immediately, as Colonel Kelly ran to help her downed boss, the other three women attacked the outnumbered superheroine. One woman snapped off a wicked kick to the chest. But the skilled Red Avenger easily sidestepped it, catching the woman?s combat booted foot and kicking out her supporting leg to dump the criminal to the ground. A second Rambette lunged forward, swinging wild punches. The redheaded crimefighter simply ducked low, coming out of her crouch and driving a devastating two-punch combination into the woman?s solar plexus which laid her low. The young heroine turned to face the third Rambette, who pulled out a huge Marine K-Bar knife.
The Rambette held the knife threateningly before her and said, ?I?m going to gut you, bitch!?
With a fierce battle cry, the criminal lunged forward, stabbing at the heroine. The Red Avenger calmly awaited her foe?s charge. She had faced knives before.
At the last possible instant, the heroine leapt high in the air, splitting her lithe legs and leapfrogging her hard charging foe. The female hoodlum, unable to stop her momentum, crashed face first into a tree and fell to the ground.
The Red Avenger looked around, ready for further combat. But Commander Cora and Colonel Kelly had fled into the night...
Meanwhile, Ninja Girl had chased down Rat Girl, the Pink Pantheress and their remaining three assistants.
?Why not make it easy on yourselves and just give it up,? said the youthful superheroine.
Pulling a stiletto from her boot, the Pink Pantheress said, ?The only thing I?ll make easy is your death, Ninja Bitch!? Rapidly, the expert assassin fired a series of strikes at Ninja Girl. But the nimble young heroine managed to deflect them all. She countered with a fast series of punches. To her credit, the Pink Pantheress avoided them all, save for the last one which caught her in the ribs and knocked her to the ground. But before Ninja Girl could follow up, the three large lady thugs attacked.
As Ninja Girl fended off their onslaught, Rat Girl helped up the Pink Pantheress. Placing a restraining hand on her associate who wanted to continue the fight, Rat Girl said, ?Now?s not the time to take her on. We?ve got to get out of here! Let?s go!?
Reluctantly, the Pink Pantheress followed Rat Girl from the park, yelling behind her, ?This isn?t over, Ninja Girl!?
But Ninja Girl was too busy to reply. She avoided the punch of one of the thugs, grabbing hold of the girl?s wrist and hurling her head-over-heels into a second attacker. The final female goon stepped forward, only to be smacked in the face by a spinning heel kick which toppled her to the ground. But she had served her purpose, allowing Rat Girl and the Pink Pantheress to escape.
* * *

The two superheroines waited for the law to arrive before leaving the park. Among the first of the police to show up was a tall, auburn-haired lady detective. She introduced herself as Valerie Christiansen and questioned the two crimefighters. Unlike many in the Sinner City Police Department, she appreciated the female vigilantes who risked their lives to protect the town. She was willing to freely exchange information with the heroines.
?You two did some good work, tonight,? said Christiansen. ?We found two kilos of this new drug, BTS, in the suitcase you recovered.?
?I?ve heard a little about it,? said the Red Avenger. ?Is there anything you can tell us??
?Only that it?s the most dangerous drug I?ve ever seen. People are dying left and right from it but the demand keeps growing. It?s being distributed by the Rambettes. But we don?t think they?re the actual source. No, this thing is much bigger than a street gang.?
?What?s the Queenpin?s connection?? asked Ninja Girl.
?I don?t know. But my guess is she wants to get in on the ground floor of this deal and buy as much as she can for distribution by her own network,? said the detective. ?Anyway, thanks for the help. We need to take this stuff off the street so let me know what you turn up and I?ll keep you informed.?
?Sure thing, Detective Christiansen,? answered the Red Avenger. ?Anything we can do to help you, we will.?
As the two masked crimefighters left the park, the tall, attractive female detective gave the other police officers some commands. They instantly hurried to obey. Though she kept her voice low, there was a force of personality and strength about Valerie Christiansen that made her a natural leader. Combined with her daring undercover work, it had allowed her to rise quickly through the department to the rank of detective by age 25.
But not everybody was thrilled with the gorgeous young detective.
?Christiansen! What the hell are you doing here!? called out a deep and foreboding female voice.
The detective turned to see her new boss, Captain Weatherby, approaching.
At 5'9" Valerie still had to look up slightly to meet Weatherby?s gaze. The older woman was close to six feet and wore spiked heels that made her seem even taller. Together with the leather trench coat and leather hat she usually sported, it gave the lady more the appearance of a dominatrix than a police captain. At least that was how Valerie viewed her.
?I happened to be passing by when the call of a drug bust in the park came in, Captain,? answered Detective Christiansen. ?I thought I?d lend a hand.?
?Well we don?t need it,? snapped Captain Weatherby. ?I?m tired of your being a maverick, Christiansen. So I suggest you stick to your own cases. Got that??
?Yes, Captain? replied the detective, biting her tongue. She wanted to slug the bitch but knew better. Valerie left the park, wondering how she could track down the source of the BTS drug network despite being ordered away from the case.
* * *

Commander Cora reported in to her supplier several hours after escaping from the park.
?It was those bitches, the Red Avenger and Ninja Girl!? shouted the irate gang leader. ?They blew the whole deal and seized all the BTS. I wouldn?t be surprised if that fat bitch the Queenpin was behind it all.?
?Calm yourself,? said the oddly metallic voice on the other end of the telephone. ?Tell me exactly what happened.?
When Cora had finished explaining, the voice of the supplier said, ?Then it was this so-called Red Avenger who captured your people and took the drug shipment away from you??
?Yes. I...?
?Do not concern yourself with this,? said the voice on the phone. ?My organization will handle the matter. As a sign of good faith, we will reissue you another shipment of BTS... for a small price. But remember, our group does not accept failure lightly. Do not disappoint us again.?
With that, the connection was broken.
Commander Cora hung up, only partially mollified and turned her concerns to other matters for the moment.
Meanwhile, across town in an expensive stone mansion surrounded by a foreboding iron gate, the mysterious drug supplier with the metallic voice hung up her phone and walked down a long, shadowy hallway, her dark robes trailing behind her, her features hidden by a hood. She punched a secret code into the keypad lock at the end of the hall and an elevator door opened. The woman entered and the elevator descended to the sub-sub-basement. From there, the figure walked down another hallway and entered a meeting room. Gathered there, around a conference table, were three other women, each dressed similarly in robes that hid their identities.
The figure at the head of the table said to the newcomer, ?What?s your report, Number 2??
The woman known as Number 2 explained the incident in the park. When she finished she said, ?I would like to deal with this matter personally, Number 1.?
The woman at the head of the table answered, ?That would seem prudent. Somebody should teach these interfering superheroines a lesson, particularly this Red Avenger. Do you have a plan??
?Of course,? said the woman known as Number 2. ?But it will also involve these women from the Queenpin organization.?
?Acceptable,? replied Number 1. ?Just make sure it is a most painful lesson for the Red Avenger and her friend.?
?Naturally,? said the woman with the metallic voice, slowly arising from her chair and allowing her robes to fall away. Beneath them, was a female form, clad in armor. Over her face, she wore a solid steel face mask with a metal grill over the mouth giving her a hideously leering aspect. She said, ?Teaching lessons in pain is what The Iron Maiden does best. Hahahaha!?
* * *

?I want to get my hands on that Ninja Bitch and make her suffer!? screamed Rat Girl.
Along with the Pink Pantheress, she was back in the office headquarters of the Queenpin. After their narrow escape from the park, the two criminals were fuming for revenge.
?Tell me everything that occurred,? ordered the Queenpin.
When Rat Girl finished she said, ?I?ve owed that teeny little cunt, Ninja Girl, for a while now, boss. It?s time you let me get even with her.?
?Me too, boss,? added the Pink Pantheress. ?I want to cut her up good.?
Before the Queenpin could answer, the phone atop her desk rang. She picked it up and listened for several moments. At one point she said, ?Who is this?? then listened for several more moments. Finally, she said, ?I don?t usually cooperate with people I do not know, but perhaps this one time I will make an exception.? With that, the crimeboss hung up the phone.
The Queenpin contemplated in silence for several moments, then looked up at Rat Girl and said, ?Very well, Rat Girl. We are going to make your dreams come true.?
* * *

Working their various sources of intelligence, the Red Avenger and Ninja Girl got conflicting reports of just where the next meeting between the Queenpin?s representatives and the Rambettes would take place.
?The only thing to do,? said the Red Avenger, ?is for me to follow one lead and you to handle the other.?
?You?re right. But be careful. They?ll be on the lookout for us after the other night,? answered Ninja Girl.
?Right. Good luck, partner,? said the redheaded crimefighter.
Which was how the 17-year-old girl known as the Red Avenger happened to be crouched in the shadows between some large warehouses at midnight. ?Good thing my mother?s still away in Paris on that modeling job,? thought the teenager to herself. ?She wouldn?t approve of the hours I keep on a school night.?
The young superheroine laughed silently, knowing her mother also might not approve of what she was doing in those late hours, either. But then again, mom had been an elite Delta Force commando, so she might just understand at that.
The girl?s attention was caught by a number of women clad in khaki clothing - obviously the Rambettes - moving some large barrels out of one warehouse a few hundred feet away.
?This must be their supply center for the BTS drug,? the Red Avenger thought. She silently detached herself from the shadows and made her way forward.
Nearby, Commander Cora was supervising four of her gang members in loading the barrels on to a truck.
Suddenly, a voice called to her from above, ?Funny, you girls don?t look like Teamsters.?
Looking up in surprise, Cora saw, standing atop the truck, legs spread wide, fists on hips, long red hair blowing freely in the wind, the 5'5" 112 lb. masked and bikini-clad figure of...
?The Red Avenger!? shouted Cora. ?Damn you! You?ve interfered in our plans for the last time!?
?Oh, I don?t know. Maybe I?ll interfere once more for old time?s sake,? said the beautiful female crimefighter, leaping off the top of the truck, executing a perfect somersault in mid-air, and landing feet first atop the chest of one gang member, downing the girl.
?Run!? shouted Commander Cora, sprinting for the warehouse she had just come from, followed closely by her three remaining associates.
The Red Avenger gave chase, catching up to the criminals inside the warehouse.
?Get her!? ordered Cora.
The two female thugs nearest the Red Avenger moved toward the smaller heroine. But with lightening speed, the graceful crimefighter leapt in the air, splitting her lithe legs wide, each foot, encased in her snug, form-fitting knee-high boots, crashing into the face?s of the two attackers. The two women went down and out, even as the third thug attacked.
The Red Avenger calmly awaited this assault, raising her slender but shapely left leg high in the air, directly before her, almost like a Rockette, then bringing the leg crashing straight down atop the attacker?s head, her heel thudding the goon on the crown of her skull in a devastating ax kick.
That left only the leader, Commander Cora, to deal with. The powerful female gang leader was six feet tall and weighed almost 200 lbs. But despite her size, she was quicker than she looked. She charged into the Red Avenger, catching the crimefighter off guard, grabbing the much smaller girl in a crushing bearhug. The heroine was lifted off the ground and forced back against a wall.
?Ungh!? groaned the stunned Red Avenger, all the air forced from her lungs. She had rarely faced a foe of such strength or ferocity. The young crimefighter knew she had to do something immediately.
Forcing herself to act, the redheaded teenager lifted her arms on each side of Cora?s head and slapped her hands into the gang leader?s ears. The sudden change in pressure caused the criminal?s inner ears to pop, momentarily disorienting her, forcing her to drop the Red Avenger, who quickly spun away.
The two women squared off in the center of the room, Cora shaking her head and saying, ?I?ll get you for that, bitch! You?re right where we want you now!?
?Talk is cheap, GI Jane,? replied the confident young heroine, leaping forward and driving a sidekick into Cora?s gut. The villain doubled over and the Red Avenger drove an uppercut into her face, sending Cora reeling backwards, crashing into one of the many barrels that were stored inside the warehouse. Cora fell over the barrel, which toppled to the floor. As it crashed open, a yellowish fluid poured from inside the container..
The gang leader shook her head again to clear the cobwebs, but refused to stay down. She did not become the head of one of the toughest street gangs in Sinner City by her charming personality. Cora was as tough as they came. But she was no match for the overwhelming skills of the Red Avenger.
The heroine smashed a roundhouse kick into the hoodlum?s head, followed by a left hook, a right cross, and a jumping knee strike. The criminal staggered around drunkenly, toppling over another barrel full of liquid in the process, but still did not give up.
?I?ve got to admit, Cora, you?re one of the strongest women I?ve ever faced. But you?re finished. Spare yourself the pain and surrender,? said the merciful Red Avenger.
Suddenly, a metallic-sounding female voice called out from behind the superheroine, ?She?s right, Cora. You?re finished. But fortunately, you?ve served you?re purpose. Take your people and get out of here. The Red Avenger and I have business to take care of.?
The surprised crimefighter spun around to see the source of this odd voice. In shock, she stared at a vision out of some nightmarish movie. Before her was a tall female figure clad in metal armor, an ominous metal mask obscuring her face. The heroine was so engrossed in sizing up this new threat, she didn?t even bother to try and stop Cora from gathering up her minions and fleeing the warehouse.
Momentarily, the Red Avenger found herself alone inside the deserted building with the mysterious, metal-clad figure.
?Let me guess,? said the heroine, finally, ?your playing the tin man in the remake of the Wizard of Oz..?
?I am called the Iron Maiden, you insolent young slut,? answered the armored woman, ?But you can call me your doom. Hahahaha!?
* * *

There was one woman standing guard outside the darkened tenement building. But that was no problem for the 18-year-old known to the world as Ninja Girl. The young heroine used the shadows as her ally, just as she?d been trained to do by her instructor, the legendary martial arts master, Yama. She moved silently, her bare feet sliding across the ground before her.
The guard was not terribly astute, hardly bothering to check her rear. Ninja Girl came right up to her back. The woman never knew what hit her as the superheroine lashed out with a vicious karate chop, striking at the base of the lookout?s neck. Ninja Girl reacted swiftly, catching the woman before she hit the ground, lowering her quietly to the pavement.
That done, the heroine silently made her way inside the building. Searching the ground level, Ninja Girl heard someone coming down the flight of stairs that led from the second floor. The female crimefighter again hid herself in shadows as a figure clad in a grey body stocking came into view.
Stepping from the shadows, Ninja Girl suddenly emerged in front of the grey-clad figure, startling her. Standing there poised, her arms folded across her chest, Ninja Girl said, ?So, Rat Girl, we meet again.?
The rodent-like criminal stared at the superheroine with feral intensity. ?You little bitch,? she snarled. ?Now you?ll get yours!?
Rat Girl had been carrying an attache case with her. Carefully, the villainess placed the case on the floor and then charged forward. Though she was only of average-build, she still had a small size advantage over the 5'2" 102 lb. Ninja Girl. But the heroine was unconcerned by this, easily managing to sidestep the other woman?s charge, tripping Rat Girl who tumbled to the ground.
The villainess rolled to her feet and again attacked, swiping at Ninja Girl?s face with her claw-like, razor sharp nails. But Ninja Girl blocked the strike with no effort, catching Rat Girl?s arm, pivoting, and tossing the other woman over her shoulder. Rat Girl landed on her back with a THUD! all the air knocked from her body. She looked up at Ninja Girl who casually dusted her hands together in disdain.
As the teenage crimefighter prepared to finish off her foe, she suddenly sensed a threat from behind. With uncanny reflexes, she ducked down, just as a thrown knife passed through where her head had been a moment before. The heroine turned to see the pink spandexed, pink masked, pink haired figure of...
?Pink Pantheress!? shouted Rat Girl, still laying on the ground gasping for air, ?It?s about time you showed up! Get this bitch!?
Holding a knife in each hand, the deadly assassin slowly closed in on the young superheroine. Ninja Girl awaited her, arms extended before her in a defensive posture. The two combatants circled each other cautiously, the Pink Pantheress making occasional feints with her knives to test Ninja Girl?s defenses.
?This is where I cut you up, bitch!? snarled the assassin, thrusting forward with the knife in her left hand.
Ninja Girl gracefully hopped back, just out of reach of the sharpened 9-inch blade. Before the Pantheress could retract her arm, the heroine let loose with a quick kick, catching her foe?s left wrist, sending the knife flying.
?Arghh!? yelled the Pink Pantheress, shaking her injured left hand. ?You?ll pay for that, cunt!?
Angered, the assassin hastily charged forward, stabbing at Ninja Girl?s throat with her remaining knife. But the skillful young crimefighter again managed to avoid the thrust, grasping the Pantheress? hand and twisting it sharply.
Forced to either relinquish the grip on her knife or have her wrist snapped, the criminal let go of her weapon and stepped back. Ninja Girl attempted to follow up, firing off a barrage of punches at the villainess. But the Pink Pantheress possessed skills of her own, deflecting each blow with deftness.
Ninja Girl attempted a powerful front kick at the assassin?s midsection but again, the Pantheress? skills manifested themselves. The pink-clad villainess stepped back, out of range of the kick, then stepped into her foe, catching Ninja Girl?s extended leg.
Momentarily surprised, Ninja Girl hopped around on her right leg as the gloating criminal held her extended left leg before her.
?Now, Ninja Bitch,? said the Pantheress, ?I?ll...?
But before the arrogant assassin could complete her thought, Ninja Girl once more displayed her incredible abilities, jumping upward and executing a backflip, her right leg extended in the air, even as the Pink Pantheress held on to her left leg. Ninja Girl?s right foot rose up, catching the stunned villainess under the chin. The heroine continued her back flipping motion, landing lightly on her feet, even as the Pink Pantheress fell to the floor.
?Oh shit!? cursed Rat Girl. Quickly, she scooped up the attache case that still sat on the ground next to her, then dashed up the staircase.
As the Pink Pantheress began to rise, Ninja Girl pounced on her, sinking the fingertips of both hands into the villainess? neck, directly below the ears. With practiced ease, she struck the vital nerve junctions in the Pink Pantheress? neck, dropping the woman to the ground, unconscious. Knowing the effects of the nerve strike would last for hours, Ninja Girl left her to pursue Rat Girl up to the second floor of the abandoned building.
* * *

Valerie Christiansen pulled herself up on the chin up bar for the fortieth time. The sweat poured down her athletic 134 lb. body making the bare, exposed flesh of her washboard abdomen and toned arms glisten.
The young detective dropped from the bar and strode over to the heavy bag that hung in the corner of the room. Dressed as she was in her clinging, navy blue spandex pants and matching spandex athletic bra, the auburn-haired beauty turned more than a few heads in the precinct gymnasium. About a dozen other police officers, mostly women but some men, were there working out. Almost all would occasionally pause in their routines to surreptitiously glance over at Christiansen as she trained at a pace which would have floored anyone else in the gym. They were all familiar with the female officer?s background. She had been an All-American in track and field, a national champion in the women?s pentathlon where she had outrun, outjumped, and out thrown many of the best female athletes in the country. As a police officer her skills in undercover work, marksmanship and particularly hand-to-hand combat were already legendary. Valerie knew some even compared her with Summer Smith, the former Sinner City policewoman who was probably the best cop the department had ever seen. Valerie had met Summer only once, just before the latter woman left the police force more than two years ago, right around the time the mysterious crimefighter Intrepid Lady appeared. Valerie often wondered if there was any connection between the two.
Probably not. But it was a moot point. No one had heard from Summer Smith in a while and now even Intrepid Lady had disappeared from the crimefighting scene. Too bad, thought Valerie, Sinner City needs all the help it can get.
Christiansen adjusted her spandex pants and pulled her top into place before donning some boxing gloves. Several of the women in the room were dressed identically. The outfit had been standard issue for female cadets training at the Sinner City Police Academy. But few women looked as good in it as Valerie.
The detective began lashing into the heavy bag with a series of rapid punches, occasionally stepping back to deliver a thudding kick from one of her long, powerful legs. The sound of her blows striking the bag ricocheted through the gym like small explosions.
In the center of the room, a boxing ring was set up. Two male officers were in it sparring. The bigger one, a 6' 5" 250 lb. sergeant nicknamed Bull, was pounding the smaller officer, a detective named Thompson. Thompson finally gave in and called it quits. He stepped from the ring and called over to Valerie, ?Hey Christiansen, how?s it going? Heard you had a run in with Captain Weatherby.?
?You mean Captain Bligh?? replied Valerie, still pounding the heavy bag. ?Yeah. That bitch really gets on my nerves. She doesn?t want me anywhere near this BTS case. Meanwhile, people are dying and there?s nothing I can do about it.?
?Departmental politics,? said Thompson, sympathetically.
?Hey Christiansen,? yelled Bull, still inside the boxing ring. ?Want to do a few rounds of kickboxing. I promise not to smear your makeup, honey!?
The large police sergeant laughed at his own joke. Christiansen was less amused. She turned toward the ring and said, ?Sure, Bull. I?m in the mood to whip somebody?s ass today. It might as well be yours.?
Still wearing her boxing gloves, the female detective kicked off her white sneakers, grabbed the top rope and sprung over it, into the boxing ring. She touched gloves with the much larger cop and then circled him.
Bull swung a right hand at the detective?s head, but Valerie easily ducked under it and drove two punches to his midsection, winding the huge policeman. He threw a low kick, but Valerie checked it with her own knee and countered by firing off a kick to Bull?s chest which drove the big man back into the ropes.
As the two police officers sparred, Detective Thompson stood outside the ring, continuing to speak with Christiansen. ?Yeah, I know what you mean about this BTS thing. I was working it but Weatherby didn?t like the way I was handling things so she yanked me off it.?
Inside the ring, Valerie hit her opponent with a double jab and a left hook which snapped his head back.
?They don?t seem to be making any progress, though,? Thompson went on.
?How?s that?? yelled Valerie, blocking a right hand and countering with one of her own.
?I heard they found another O.D. victim just this morning,? Thompson answered.
?What?!? shouted a suddenly angry Detective Christiansen.
Trying to take advantage of her distraction, Bull attempted to sweep Valerie?s legs out from under her, again kicking low. But Christiansen easily jumped over his extended leg and, while in mid-air, lashed out with her own leg, smashing a jumping roundhouse kick into the police sergeant?s face. The kick caught him flush, dropping Bull to the mat. When he came back to consciousness he stared up at his leggy conqueror and said, ?Geez, Valerie, did you have to hit me so damn hard??
?Sorry, Bull,? she answered. ?I?m having a bad day.?
The female detective left the gym, showered and changed in the locker room. She was still disturbed by news of the latest death from the BTS drug.
?But there?s nothing I can do,? reflected Valerie. ?Officially, I?ve been ordered off the case.?
As she left the locker room, the policewoman happened to glimpse a recent issue of Time magazine that had been left laying around. She paused to stare at it for a second. On the cover of the magazine was a picture of the famed and mysterious west coast crimefighter known only as Twilight Woman. The cover story dealt with the recent phenomenon of crimefighting superheroines. It asked the question, ?Why Do Women Become Superheroes??
* * *

The Red Avenger warily circled her metal-clad foe inside the warehouse. The young heroine was careful of her footing, as parts of the floor were now slick with the yellowish fluid that seeped from two of the damaged barrels which filled the large storage room. The teenager noticed several other items in the room, only some of which she could clearly identify. There was a pulley hanging from the roof and directly below it some sort of cone-like structure that resembled a large stalagmite - thick on bottom but sharp and pointy-looking on top. There was also a table set up in one darkened corner of the room that held what appeared to be chains, whips and various other mechanical devices. The heroine didn?t like the look of that.
Nor did the Red Avenger care for the look of her opponent. The Iron Maiden towered over the young crimefighter, appearing to be at least 6'2" with the addition of the armor. Including all the metal, she must have weighed over 100 lbs. more than the 112 lb. teen, as well. Still, the 17-year-old superheroine was not too concerned. She knew size alone did not decide a fight. Also, all the armor would likely slow the Iron Maiden down, making her movements ponderous.
?And now, Red Avenger,? said the metallic monster, ?it is time you learned never to interfere in the operations of... the Savage Sisterhood!?
The armored villainess lunged forward throwing a punch with shocking speed for one dressed in such bulky attire. Surprised at the quickness of her foe, the redheaded heroine was barely able to duck out of the way. But she wasn?t quite quick enough to completely avoid her enemy?s blow. As her punch passed harmlessly by the sidestepping Red Avenger, the villainess managed to graze the young girl?s arm with the sharp point of her armored elbow.
The Red Avenger came away from the initial confrontation with a shallow red slash along the outside of her upper right arm, a few drops of blood dripping from her milky skin. ?Got to be more careful,? she thought to herself. ?She?s quicker than she looks.?
As if reading her opponent?s mind, the Iron Maiden said, ?Surprised at my speed, Red Avenger? My specialized lightweight armor allows the protection of heavy iron plating while still letting me move quite freely, as you shall soon find out to your regret.?
?Talk is cheap, Robby the Robot,? replied the poised heroine, leaping in with a powerful sidekick to her foes plated midsection.
CLANG!
The kick connected, managing to send the villainess staggering backward. But the Red Avenger also fell back from her foe, a painful sting shooting up her bare leg as if she had just jammed her foot into a steel girder.
Shaking her toned but slender leg to get the numbness out, the teenage superheroine thought to herself, ?Can?t make that mistake again. It?s like kicking a Buick.?
Meanwhile, the Iron Maiden had gathered herself, shaking off the effects of the heroine?s blow. She started forward saying, ?Very good, Red Avenger. I almost felt that kick through my armor. Now, you feel this!?
The vicious villainess smashed her metal fist down toward the young girl?s head. But the superheroine was prepared this time, ducking out of the way and shoving an off-balance Iron Maiden into a wall. The armored antagonist crashed into the wall, momentarily staggered. The Red Avenger took this chance to attack, throwing a booming right hand at her foe?s head. But the punch harmlessly clanged off her assailant?s metal face mask.
?Ow!? cried the heroine, shaking her right hand which stung as if she had just banged an aluminum baseball bat into a street post on a cold day.
Lashing out, the Iron Maiden backhanded the heroine across her lovely face, the back of her metal gauntlet slapping the young girl aside. The Red Avenger hit the floor but quickly rolled to her feet, her forearm wiping away a trickle of blood from her lush red lips.
Even more carefully now, she circled her foe. ?Alright,? she decided, ?If I can?t hurt her with my punches and kicks, I?ll just wear her down.?
The teen crimefighter knew that no matter how lightweight her enemy?s armor was, carrying it?s bulk would have to eventually wear her opponent out. She also knew that her own physical conditioning was second to none and that the Iron Maiden would certainly tire before she did. Thus, the redheaded heroine resolved to merely avoid her foe and make this a long battle of attrition.
Again, the Iron Maiden charged forward. But the crafty crimefighteress avoided the charge, managing to trip her attacker, sending the villainess to the ground in a heap. The Iron Maiden quickly hauled herself to her feet and once more came at the Red Avenger. But the superheroine held her ground, ducking low at the last moment, allowing the Iron Maiden to sail over her and again crash to the floor.
As the criminal picked herself up off the ground, the Red Avenger said, ?Must be hard work, lifting that armored body off the floor again and again. You?re probably getting a little tired about now.?
?You?ll pay for mocking me, bitch!? shouted the villainess, again charging forward. But once more, the nimble young heroine stepped to the side, shoving the villainess into yet another barrel. The Iron Maiden and the barrel went over with a tremendous crash, more of the omni-present yellow liquid splattering across the room.
As the armored criminal stood up and prepared to charge one more time, the Red Avenger?s confidence soared. She knew it would only be a matter of time before her opponent collapsed in exhaustion. The Iron Maiden took another unsuccessful pass at the heroine. And then another.
But soon, the masked crimefighter noticed something strange happening. Contrary to her expectations, it was she who was beginning to slow down. As the villainess once more attacked with her metal-clad fists, the heroine, now feeling sluggish, was slow in evading the blow. The Iron Maiden?s huge gauntleted right fist crashed into the heroine?s chest, smashing her backwards and knocking the wind from her.
Instinctively, the Red Avenger rolled away from her foe and managed to regain her feet, though she was still stunned from punch. Her chest felt as if it had been hammered by a mace.
?Unhh... Can?t take another one of those,? she moaned.
?What?s the matter, little slut? Feeling a bit tired out?? said the Iron Maiden, as she stalked the wounded superheroine. ?One thing I should mention to you: All this liquid spilling from the barrels is a raw, unrefined version of the BTS drug. The fumes from it have been known to have the effect of making people listless, tired or even unconscious. Of course, with the filter in my mask, this doesn?t bother me. You, on the other hand...?
It was true. The Red Avenger was feeling quite tired. Much more exhausted than she normally would at this point in a battle. But she had no choice, she had to continue the fight and hope fatigue got the Iron Maiden before it got her.
The Iron Maiden lunged forward. But this time, instead of throwing a punch as the Red Avenger expected, she surprised the heroine with a kick, her leg traveling much faster than one would expect of a person wearing steel. The criminal?s heavily armored right leg swung out in a low roundhouse kick aimed at the Red Avenger?s legs.
The young crimefighter tried to move her body out of range but still absorbed a heavy portion of the blow on the side of her left thigh.
?Ungh!? grunted the heroine in some pain, staggering away from her foe, trying to gain some time. But the Iron Maiden was relentless. She continued to stalk her prey, attempting to corner her.
The two women faced off in the center of the warehouse. The Iron Maiden?s armor glistened in the overhead lights, revealing nothing of what the woman beneath thought or felt. The Red Avenger, on the other hand, was a different story. Her slender, nubile 17-year-old body, highly visible in her skimpy bikini-costume, had been badly battered. Blood dripped from her split lip and the slash on her right arm. Ugly bruises mottled the fair skin of her exposed chest and bare left leg. Still, the brave young heroine refused to yield.
?Take this!? she screamed as she charged into the villainess, swinging a mighty left hand punch into Iron Maiden?s jaw. But again the blow clanged harmlessly off the metal protection.
?No good,? thought the Red Avenger. ?I can?t hurt her through that armor. Got to think of another way before it?s too late.?
But before she could think of that ?other way,? the Iron Maiden again lashed out. Too slow to avoid the punch aimed at her pretty head, the crimefighter was left with no recourse but to try and roll with the blow as best she could. The punch caught her in the side of the face, dazing the young girl and sending her reeling back into a corner.
With her assailant quickly moving in on her, the stunned superheroine needed to put some distance between them. Desperately, she tried to lunge past her foe and scoot out of the corner she was in. But she was again too slow as the Iron Maiden once more swatted her back into the edge of the room. Trapped, battered and exhausted, the weakened teenager could do nothing but await her fate in the corner like a doe, caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck.
Ruthlessly, the Iron Maiden lashed out, sending a clubbing blow at the heroine?s head. The Red Avenger tried to roll with the punch, but still absorbed most of the force on the top of her skull.
?Ohhh!? the heroine groaned, even as she managed to avoid another blow. But two more crushing punches crashed through, smashing the crimefighter nearly insensible. The Iron Maiden then drew back her metallic fist and crashed a punch into the nearly defenseless female crimefighter?s bare stomach.
?Ooooph!? gasped the pained superheroine as she doubled over, her hands reflexively grabbing at her heaving, agonized belly. Despite the firm, athletic tone of the muscles in her tummy, the young crimefighter still found it impossible to absorb such punishment. Partially doubled forward, her arms still cradling her sore midsection, the gasping heroine was unable to do anything but watch in horror as her metal-clad foe raised up the heavy gauntlet of her right fist and sent a tremendous blow crashing down on the helpless superheroine?s head.
The Red Avenger was smashed to the ground, her world spinning, her body a mass of pain. Still, she would not give in to her foe. On sheer instinct, the courageous crimefighter tried vainly to regain her feet.
Watching the pathetically beaten young girl, the evil Iron Maiden gave a harsh laugh and said, ?Still some spunk left in you, Red Avenger? Well let me help you up!? She reached down and grabbed a fistful of the teenager?s flowing red locks, painfully yanking the beaten superheroine to her feet by the hair. The heroine dangled weakly before her foe, trying to summon up the energy to resist.
?Do you surrender, superslut?? asked the villainess in a mocking tone.
?I?ll... never... surrender... to you...? croaked the battered heroine. With incredible courage, the teen crimefighter tried to resist her tormentor, grasping the Iron Maiden?s armored arm and trying to wrench loose of her grip. But it was useless, she was too weak and her foe too strong.
The effort only served to annoy the criminal, who again reared back with her metal-encased fist and sent another devastating blow smashing into the Red Avenger?s already weakened abdomen.
?Unngghh!? cried the agonized heroine in a strangled scream, all her remaining air knocked from her lungs.
The pathetically beaten girl hung limply in her attacker?s grasp, all strength gone from her once powerful body. Yet, amazingly, the courageous woman resisted her foe.
?Give up, bitch!? commanded the Iron Maiden.
?Never,? moaned the defiant Red Avenger.
In anger, the metallic monster grabbed hold of her foe, picking the helpless Red Avenger high up off the ground, lifting her overhead, then slamming the powerless superheroine onto a wooden table. The poor girl crashed through the table to the ground, her slender, attractive body a vessel of pain. Gallantly, the crimefighter once more tried to rise to her feet. But she could only make it as far as her knees.
Knowing she was done for, the defeated heroine could barely raise her face to fearfully see her enemy advancing on her. Desperately, the Red Avenger looked for some way out, some means to end this torture and escape her foe. She looked hopelessly toward the front door of the warehouse.
Noticing her beaten opponent?s glance, the Iron Maiden said, ?You want to flee, do you? Well go ahead and try! Try crawling over to that door, bitch! Do it! Crawl for me!? In a fury, the armored criminal grabbed a short leather flogger off the table at one end of the room and began to smack the defenseless heroine across the rear with it. ?Crawl for me, slut!?
Trying to bite back her cries of pain, the heroine desperately, pathetically, began a slow, humiliating crawl across the room. Pain lanced through her ass and the back of her bare, white thighs each time the leather strap cracked across her sensitive flesh.
Finally, when she was almost all the way across the room, the Iron Maiden strode in front of the Red Avenger?s path. She yanked the beaten crimefighter?s head up by the hair, to stare into her pain-filled face.
?So, do you finally admit defeat, little slut?? taunted the Iron Maiden.
?N...no...? whimpered the battered but still proud superheroine.
With a scream of anger, the Iron Maiden again dragged the Red Avenger to her feet by the hair, once more crashing a fearsome blow into the poor girl?s unprotected midsection. Again and again, the villainess fired punishing blows into the helpless superheroine?s battered belly.
Just when the moaning, groaning heroine thought her torture could get no worse, the Iron Maiden shifted her target, driving a shattering uppercut into the cringing, young crimefighter?s defenseless crotch. The pain shot through the horrified heroine?s groin unlike anything she had ever felt before. She gave a weak little cry as the villainess let go of her hair and allowed the shattered young girl to sink to the floor. She collapsed on her side, her hand?s clutching at her throbbing cunt as she lay in a helpless fetal position. Not yet through with her foe, the Iron Maiden kicked the vulnerable crimefighteress on to her back, where she lay helplessly, arms and legs spread akimbo, unable to do anything but make little whimpering sounds of defeat.
?Give up yet, bitch?? asked the Iron Maiden.
Battered beyond endurance, the once-mighty Red Avenger could only snivel a bit at the feet of her conqueror.
?I said, do you give up?!? shouted Iron Maiden, dropping her knee down on to the overcome heroine?s already savaged stomach.
?UUNNGGHH!? gurgled the devastated redhead. The Iron Maiden remained where she was, her armored knee digging into the poor teenager?s bare belly, her full weight upon the beaten girl until the Red Avenger managed to cry out, ?I... I surrender! Y...you?ve beaten... me... Ungh! No... no more... I give uppp...? And with that, the wretchedly demeaned superheroine passed out.
* * *

Ninja Girl chased Rat Girl across a large empty loft on the second floor of the deserted tenement building.
?You can run, but you can?t hide,? shouted the confident heroine, who pulled a thin chain from the small pouch she wore on her hip and hurled it at the fleeing villainess? ankles. The chain wrapped itself around the criminal?s lower legs, tripping her up.
Rat Girl came crashing down with a heavy thud, the briefcase she carried slamming to the ground at her side, a soft shattering noise like that made by broken glass coming from within it. Quickly, Rat Girl removed the chain from around her legs, grabbed her attache case, and stood up. But it was too late. Standing before her, barring her path, was the petite but dangerous form of... Ninja Girl!
?Surrender, Rat Girl,? said the poised young heroine, fists set proudly on her hips. ?It?s time you finally answered for your crimes.?
Backing away in obvious fear, Rat Girl said, ?Look, Ninja Girl, er... no hard feelings. I mean... I?m just a gal trying to get by. You know? Let?s not do anything rash...?
Striding toward her foe, the masked superheroine raised one eyebrow, looking archly at the cornered and scared criminal. ?Now what was that you said about wanting to teach my ass a lesson, Rat Girl??
Though she was a little larger than the heroine and a dangerous criminal, Rat Girl knew she was no match for Ninja Girl in a fair fight. Backing away even more fearfully, the villainess held out her hands, offering the crimefighter the attache case. ?I... I was just kidding about that Ninja Girl. I?m sorry... I...?
Suddenly, Rat Girl popped the clasp on the briefcase, opening it and hurled it at Ninja Girl. The heroine reacted instantly, catching the open briefcase directly in front of her face.
Like her namesake, Rat Girl scurried to a corner and watched her enemy nervously.
?What do we have here?? said Ninja Girl, peering into the briefcase. ?Vials of BTS, I?ll bet. One of them is broken.? The heroine placed the attache case on the ground and began to boldly stride toward the criminal. ?That?s seven years bad luck for you, Rat Girl. Or should I say seven years in j...jail... I... uhhh...?
As she approached the cornered Rat Girl, Ninja Girl momentarily began to swoon unsteadily.
?What?s the matter, Ninja Girl?? said the villainess. ?Having a little problem??
?I... unh... I?m... f...fine...? groaned the shaky superheroine. She suddenly felt very weak, as if all the strength had been sucked right out of her limbs. But forcing herself to remain calm, the proud young heroine stood erect and declared, ?I?m just fine, Rat Girl.?
?Oh, I doubt that, Ninja Girl,? announced the suddenly emboldened criminal. ?You see, that briefcase contained a special version of the BTS drug. One whiff at close range, like you got from the broken vial, is enough to drop a horse. I?m impressed you?re still standing, though I?d imagine your as weak as a kitten by now.?
?I?m still strong enough to take you to jail, Rat Girl,? said the brave teenager, despite her obvious weakness.
?Oh I doubt that, Ninja Bitch,? taunted Rat Girl. ?But I?ll give you the chance to prove it. Now is the time I finally teach your little ass that lesson!?
?Talk is cheap!? shouted the young female crimefighter, charging forward to throw a punch to the head.
But Ninja Girl?s blow lacked its typical power and Rat Girl easily swatted her arm aside, declaring, ?Is that all you?ve got, Ninja Twerp? And I thought you were so powerful. Let?s see if you can take it better than you can dish it out?
Rat Girl fired a hard kick at the younger girl?s head. Ninja Girl managed to get her slim arms up to deflect the blow, but without her usual strength and speed. Thus, the kick knocked the smallish heroine off balance. Rat Girl was quick to take advantage, driving a right hand into the vulnerable crimefighter?s ribs.
?Ungh!? cried Ninja Girl, grabbing her side in pain.
But the feisty crimefighter was not to be overcome so easily. Despite her weakened state, she summoned up the energy to throw a front kick that caught the overconfident Rat Girl in the pit of her stomach making the villainess gasp and take a step back.
?Bitch!? groaned Rat Girl, clutching her abdomen. ?You?ll pay for that!?
The two costumed women warily circled each other across the floor of the empty loft. The courageous Ninja Girl attempted to attack with a flurry of punches, sending a weak left/right combination toward Rat Girl?s head. But the villainess easily brushed the blows aside. She countered by slapping the teenage heroine across the face with her open palm. Stunned, the crimefighter was unable to block two more savage smacks across the cheek.
Ninja Girl reeled back from the blows, holding her arms up high to protect her pretty face from further punishment, only to feel Rat Girl?s fist sink deeply into her bare, unprotected tummy.
?Oooph!? gasped the heroine, doubling over slightly from the force of the blow. Rat Girl sought to finish her foe with a hard kick to the side of her head. But the brave young superheroine managed to raise her arms just in time, catching Rat Girl?s foot and shoving it to the side.
The verminous villainess, her balance broken, slammed hard to the floor, only to quickly regain her footing. She again charged at Ninja Girl, throwing haymaker punches at the smaller girl?s head. Calling up the last of her reserves, the female crimefighter managed to block the punches. But Rat Girl continued to attack, swiping at Ninja Girl with her long, razor-sharp nails. The criminal?s nails raked across the fair skin of the superheroine?s fresh, youthful face, leaving four small red scratches.
Ninja Girl screamed in surprise and pain, pulling back from her attacker, seeking some sort of respite. However, Rat Girl kept up the attack on the rapidly fading teenage avenger. Viciously, she punched and slapped the weakened young superheroine across the floor, making the poor girl gasp and groan in pain. But worse than the physical pain was the mental humiliation to the proud Ninja Girl who was being pummeled by an opponent she should have easily manhandled.
Crying in frustration, the battered heroine charged into her opponent. The two women crashed together and fell to the floor in a heap. Having neutralized her opponent?s strikes by turning the battle into a wrestling match, Ninja Girl now hoped, despite her weakened state, she could use her superior skills to prevail. But she hadn?t reckoned on the other woman?s viciousness.
As Ninja Girl rolled atop her foe, wrapping an arm around the criminal?s neck, Rat Girl again lived up to her vicious little namesake. She sank her sharp teeth into the soft, creamy flesh of Ninja Girl?s upper arm.
?Aaaiiieee!? shrieked the teenager in pain, even as Rat Girl released her bite and rolled atop the smaller heroine.
Ninja Girl attempted to squirm out from beneath her savage foe, but the older woman kept hold of her, reaching one hand down to give a sharp, choking grasp to Ninja Girl?s unprotected groin.
?Ahhhh!? screamed an agonized Ninja Girl, ?Stopppp!?
Rat Girl then sat astride her horribly battered opponent. Ninja Girl, all strength now completely gone from her slim little body, could merely writhe helplessly beneath her evil foe.
?Give up, Ninja Bitch?? taunted Rat Girl.
?Never,? replied the defiant heroine, through her tears of pain and frustration.
?We?ll see about that,? snarled the villainess, who proceeded to kneel with both her knees pinning Ninja Girl?s lithe arms helplessly to the floor as she sat astride the young girl?s face. Grabbing the heroine by her short mop of brown hair Rat Girl shook the teenager?s head violently, finally slamming Ninja Girl?s skull to the hard floor. Releasing her grip on the groaning crimefighter?s hair, Rat Girl then began to brutally slap her defenseless foe across the face.
Ninja Girl?s head rocked back and forth until her cheeks were crimson and tears were freely streaming from her large brown eyes, the moisture trickling from under the small black mask she wore. Still, the courageous superheroine refused to give in to her foe.
Angered, Rat Girl tugged down on the black spandex halter top the heroine wore, exposing the pale flesh of Ninja Girls pert breasts.
?See how you like this, slut!? said Rat Girl, raking her pointy nails across the tender skin of Ninja Girl?s delicate breasts.
?Aaaiiieee! Stoppp! Ahhhh! Noooo!? wailed the helpless superheroine who was by now reduced to nothing but a pitiful rag doll, completely at the mercy of her savage assailant.
?Say it, bitch!? snarled Rat Girl. ?Say you give up, that I?ve finally beat the great Ninja Girl?s ass! Say Rat Girl beat my ass!?
Sniveling back her tears of anguish, the heroic crimefighter nevertheless managed to defy her wicked enemy. ?N...no... Sniff! No... I... won?t... Sob! I... won?t g...give up...p... Sniff!?
Enraged, Rat Girl momentarily lifted her weight off the trapped heroine, only to suddenly drop down, stomping her heel directly into the defenseless teenage girl?s crotch.
?Unngghhhh! Noooo!? gasped the pitifully beaten female superhero in a strangled cry, even as Rat Girl continued to press all her weight down on her heel, driving it into Ninja Girl?s sensitive, vulnerable crotch. ?Stoppp... Pleasssse...? the crimefighter groaned pathetically as Rat Girl bent forward and began to again claw at her defenseless groin through the thin material of her spandex shorts.
Writhing helplessly, great sobs of agony and humiliation coming from her tormented form, The proud superheroine finally, demeaningly, sobbed out, ?S...stop... I.... I give... up... Sob! Oh please... stop!?
Easing the pressure on her captive slightly, Rat Girl sneered, ?Go ahead, say the rest of it!?
Gulping in shame, Ninja Girl cried, ?Sob! I give up! Please s... stop... I su...surrender... Sob! You... you beat me... Sniff! Rat Girl beat my little ass! You beat my ass and... and I give up... Sob! No more...?
Rat Girl eased the pressure a bit more on her pitifully mewling captive, smiling and saying, ?Good. Now that we?ve established that little fact, I can really teach you a lesson, Ninja Girl!?
* * *

It was a busy night for Colonel Kelly. With Commander Cora occupied helping to set up the Red Avenger on the other side of town, it fell to the Rambettes second-in-command to supervise the true drug shipment for this evening.
Alone in a darkened alley, Kelly and three other gang members, Private Pamela, Corporal Clara and Marsha the Marine, were finishing up the loading of several heavy barrels into the back of a small truck. But unnoticed by the four husky women, a fifth woman was present.
Perched thirty feet above them, a tall, shapely, female form crouched in the shadows of an overhead fire escape. As the four criminals finished their work, the mysterious voyeur rose up and grabbed the outside edge of the ladder that led down from the fire escape. The woman, who, if anyone had noticed, would have appeared to be dressed in some type of dark spandex clothing which still exposed the tanned flesh of her firm belly and well-toned arms, slid partway down the ladder. Ten feet above the ground, she let go of the ladder, executing a perfect somersault, landing gracefully amidst the four Rambettes.
?What the hell?? said a startled Colonel Kelly.
?The hell is this...? said the mysterious newcomer, ?play time is over for you girls.?
With that, the tall, spandex-clad woman who wore a small dark mask that concealed her identity, drove a sidekick into Kelly?s gut, sending the hoodlum sprawling.
?Gung-ho!? screamed Marsha the Marine, attacking from behind. But the masked woman easily ducked under the would-be Marine?s lunge, upending Marsha.
The final two Rambettes were a bit more cautious, so the female vigilante took the initiative. She ran at the criminals grabbing Private Pamela in a headlock while simultaneously kicking her legs up. She scissored her long, shapely, spandex-encased legs around Corporal Clara?s neck, then, holding the two Rambettes firmly in her grasp, rolled to the side, flipping both dumbstruck criminals to the hard cement.
The unknown woman stood up, dusting her hands, and approached the dazed Colonel Kelly. She grabbed the still-prone Kelly by the lapels of her combat fatigue jacket and said, ?Alright, Kelly, I want some answers.?
?I got nuthin? to say without my lawyers,? replied the hoodlum.
The masked woman raised Colonel Kelly up from the ground and slammed her against a brick wall. ?Do I look like a cop making an arrest, Kelly? Civil rights don?t wash here, babe. Now answer me! Where is this BTS drug coming from??
The woman tightened her grip on Kelly noticeably, making the female gang member wince. ?Alright! Okay! Look, I don?t know nuthin?,? said Kelly. ?All?s I know is we get our supply from some uptown group, call themselves the Savage Sisterhood of Sapho. We does all our business by phone. They?re very secretive like. You know??
The mysterious woman slammed Kelly to the ground and let her go. She looked down at the criminal and said, ?Tell this Savage Sisterhood I?m putting them on notice. Tell them their days are numbered in Sinner City.?
The woman turned and started to walk from the alleyway.
?Who... who the fuck are you?? croaked the badly shaken Colonel Kelly.
Just before she disappeared into the shadows at the end of the alley, the masked woman turned and called out, ?Tell them I?m... The Guardianess!?
* * *

WHO IS THE MYSTERIOUS GUARDIANESS?

WHAT ARE THE SAVAGE SISTERHOOD?S PLANS?

WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE RED AVENGER AND NINJA GIRL?

FIND OUT NEXT TIME IN...

CHAPTER 7: LAUGH AND THE WHOLE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU, CRAWL AND YOU CRAWL ALONE!

STORIES