The Global Protectors – Dawn of the Millennium
By Marcus_Lycus@hotmail.com
The Global Protectors, Ultra Woman and Doctor Droid were created by none other than Doctor Droid (www.superstories.net/droidzone) and as such are copyright Doctor Droid. Other characters and text are copyright Marcus Lycus.
This story is meant for people over the age of 18, please don’t read it if you are younger than that. Any resemblance between characters in this story and any actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental of course.
And finally, please e-mail me with any comments, complaints or suggestions. Remember feedback leads to more stories!
Marcus Lycus
Chapter 2 – False Start
Jillian awoke again with a start.
She found herself in a neat, though generic, hotel room dressed in sweat pants and a long tee shirt. She sat there for a few minutes holding up the sheets in front of her, trying to make sense of her scattered memories.
Had it just been a dream?
Had she really done that with a strange guy?
Was it actually the year 2000? Weren't all the computers supposed to crash or something?
The door opened, a blond woman entered carrying a breakfast tray.
It all came back to her.
Jillian screamed and bolted for the balcony, the blond dropped the tray and dashed after her, crossing the room and catching the Canadian before the coffee even hit the carpet.
Jillian struggled in her arms but the blond was just too strong.
"Sorry Jillian but there's no way I'm going through that again."
Once she had calmed Jillian down Vendla had allowed the Canadian to change into some proper clothes. She then brought her into the suite's living room promising some long overdue answers. Jillian took her place on the couch across from a quiet-looking man while the statuesque blonde and an irritable African woman hovered around.
"So, I hear you're the man with the answers."
"Hrm, yes, I suppose I am, my name is Doctor Boyd and you are my third successful subject…"
Doctor Boyd was pretty unimpressive to look at. Skinny, short, with thinning blond hair and a rumpled brown suit. He was one of those men who, no matter how smart he was supposed to be, had never learned to look in people's eyes or express himself without stuttering. Frankly, he was used to dealing with brain dead undergrads and overawed grant committees. As he started to explain his process and his goals it became clear he had no idea what to do when faced with someone who did not bow down before his superior intellect. Arguing with a trained lawyer, he had no chance.
***
"So let me get this straight… It's January 1st, the year 2000. I've been in a coma since someone shot me in September. You are Dr. Boyd from Megapolis University and you say you found a way to heal me, bring me out of the coma and give me superpowers."
The thin middle-aged man nodded slowly.
"And now you want me and these other two chicks I've never met before to become superheroines and fight evil. Is that about right?"
"I suppose that's an accurate summation-"
"And you say that now I'm what? Super strong, fast, bullet proof and can fly?"
"Well, erm, actually all those are side-effects caused by the enhancement of your body's natural psychokinetic field through the use of what I call the Boyd Process, though to tell the truth I did not expect your flight powers to manifest quite so soon after you-"
"Right. Whatever. So who are you two again?"
The blond Swede looked visibly nervous. Even after last night's chase she had never expected Jillian to be so hostile to Dr. Boyd's proposal. In fact, to hear Jillian describe it the whole idea sounded foolish.
"My name is Vendla Alborg Ph.D., like you I was the victim of a criminal attack and Dr. Boyd saved my life-"
"Got it. And you?"
Kanika snarled, she had better things to do than listen to this white woman's hostility. If she was not interested in changing the world then who needed her?
"Kanika Ngala. I've got the same story."
"Right. OK. So what exactly is this superheroine plan of yours anyway? We hang out in our high-tech Hall of Justice waiting for Trouble Alerts and then fly out to fight whichever member of the Legion of Doom is attacking that week?"
"I hadn't really thought…"
"Or maybe we can be one of those confusing mutant teams where we recite long strings of dialogue while fighting our future children from an alternate reality?"
"I don't really follow…"
"We could be one of those extreme groups like the Blood Corps, with guns and shoulder pads and kill people by the hundred, how's that sound?"
"Killing people? I didn't think superheroes did that…"
"Hey! How about we do one of those surreal British things where instead of fighting people we have adventures based on obscure 17th century poems and worship a skinny goth guy and his albino sister?"
"Skinny goth guy? I'm afraid you've lost me…"
"Let's not get sidetracked here doctor. Instead let's ask how you plan to pay for this team of yours."
"I have my research grants…"
"Which are there for science not for a base on the moon or superhero costumes or anything like that. Besides from what you told me the process is so expensive you pretty much exhausted your funds when you treated me."
"I rather hope that with these successes more funding will be…"
"Except 'I rather hope' is not a budget plan doctor. What about insurance for the property damage we might commit, or lawyers to defend us if we are sued, or medical insurance if one of us in injured? How about having the local authorities to deputize us so we can make arrests? Have you even thought about these things?"
"No, now as you mention it I suppose I should consider…"
"Well you can consider all you want Doctor Boyd But I think the only conclusion I can reach today is…
Count.
Me.
Out.
I have absolutely no interest in flying around in my underwear fighting people with stupid names and getting cats out of trees. I'm already a hero, I'm a district attorney and I don't see any reason I need to do more."
"But your powers…"
"Hey, thanks, they'll come in handy if someone tries to shoot me again. And I suppose I'll save a fortune in cab fare once I get the hang of flying. Send me the bill when you get a chance, because I am out of here."
***
Vendla and Kanika found her again in the hotel lobby trying to get a flight to Toronto.
"No, I told you, I lost my credit card but I would still like to make a reservation…"
"No, my bank won't give me a new card because I'm legally dead…"
"No I don't have a passport because as I told you…"
"Yes I'm alive, of course I'm alive, I'm talking to you now aren't I?"
"Don't you hang up on me, don't you dare hang up on… Asshole."
Slamming the phone into its cradle she turned and saw the other two women.
"So I guess the persuasion part didn't work so now you two are back to strong-arm me huh?"
"Listen, Jillian, we just want to talk for a bit OK? Woman to woman. If you don't like what we have to say, then heck, I'll make sure you get a ticket back home."
"Fine, looks like I'm not going anywhere anyway."
***
Sitting in the hotel's overpriced rooftop bar, the three talked about their near-death experiences and surprising reawakenings. After escaping from terrorists trying to steal her research Vendla had nearly frozen to death in the forests of Sweden. It was just by luck that Dr. Boyd had been consulting at the University of Stockholm and had been able to test his technique on her. Since she had been saved, Vendla had grown nearly six inches and found her body had filled out considerably.
That got the three of them talking about their breasts were so much fuller and firmer since their transformations. After a bottle or two of wine they all agreed that was pretty cool.
Then Kanika talked about her own experiences. Like Jillian she had been a leader. Back in her homeland of Kenya she was well known as a founding member of African Congress of Women and an environmentalist. But her political opinions had attracted powerful enemies and, ultimately, a bullet in the head. Fortunately Dr. Boyd had been in Nairobi at the time. Smiling she and Vendla talked about how when the Kenyan woman regained consciousness she destroyed half the lab before Vendla was able to subdue her.
That got them talking about just how strong they had become. Vendla guessed they could lift as much as half a ton of weight at this point. And if Dr. Boyd's models were correct they might grow even stronger over time. After another bottle of wine they all agreed that was damn cool.
So then Jillian talked about her last day as a prosecutor and her first day as a superhuman (but definitely NOT a superheroine). She and Vendla described the rooftop chase in gripping detail to an envious Kanika until the Kenyan asked what happened after Jillian's flight. Jillian stalled and evaded and tried to change the subject but…finally admitted what she had done before they found her.
That got them on the subject of sex. Kanika ruthlessly grilled Jillian for details, forcing the Canadian woman to admit that super sex was absolutely mind-blowing thanks to her new and improved metabolism. The Kenyan and Canadian toasted to that but the Swede argued unconvincingly she wasn't at all interested in the idea. But her two companions definitely decided that was the coolest thing of all.
Which brought up the issue of…
"When will you see your fiancée?"
"My what?"
"Kent? The guy who signed you up for the Boyd Treatment? Y'know, your fiancée."
"That's what he said? The goddamn fucking little weasel…"
Which brought up the issue of how all men are scum. Which took two hours and four more bottles to fully cover.
And somehow that moved over to the topic of flying…
"The doctor has been telling us it's possible but we haven't been able to do it. What was it like?"
"It was like, I don't know, like swimming ay? I was so free, I could go anywhere, anywhere…It was incredible. To tell the truth I can't wait to try it again."
"Do you think we could?"
"I don't see why not…"
And so after another bottle and paying several hundred dollars to the bartender the trio of superwomen strolled out onto the terrace.
"I don't know…"
"Come on it's easy ay. Did you guys ever read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? All you have to do is throw yourself at the ground, and miss!"
And with that, the brunette took her new friends' hands and jumped.
***
When it was built in the 1930s the Megapolis Palace was one of the tallest buildings in the world, its eighty-four stories offered a commanding view of the great metropolis and the countryside. On a clear day you could see for over fifty miles. Even in the year 2000 its rooftop bar was still a favorite destination for tourists from around the world. The luxury suites on the top floors rented for more than $2000 a night.
None of that meant anything to the three falling women.
Like driving, flying while intoxicated is just a bad idea. The reflexes are slowed, decisions are reckless and mistakes are all too common.
It's an especially bad idea when it's only your second time flying. And you're bringing along two friends who've never done it.
So, they fell.
Time expanded. Somehow ten seconds became an eternity to the three drunken women as the hard cement sidewalks of Megapolis rushed up to meet them.
Vendla's icy façade cracked first, she started screaming like a little girl. After another second Jillian started muttering curses and prayers as the floors whipped by. But Kanika just laughed insanely like she was at an amusement park.
On the sixtieth floor a grandmother from Toledo saw them go past her window and called the police.
On a balcony around the fiftieth floor a businessman from New York getting a blowjob from his escort almost had a heart attack as they whipped by.
A Japanese tourist on the fortieth snapped a picture.
Three kids on the thirtieth floor ignored them completely and continued to watch the Lion King on VHS.
By the twentieth floor…
Jesus fucking Christ fly damnit, fly! Please oh God let me fly!
Hey are we moving slower?
If I must die… the ride was worth it!
***
Freezing his butt off, Parker hovered outside the Megapolis Palace with his camera. After meeting that weird chick last night he was still on edge, but he really needed money so he was hoping to snap some shots of celebrities and sell them to the paper. Around him people started pointing up, he whipped out his Nikon and aimed for the sky wondering what he was looking for. Maybe the Prince of Pop was dangling another baby out the window.
So he was the only photographer to cover the moment three falling women slowed, stopped in midair and took off across the city.
The paper refused to print the pictures though, cause the black girl wasn't wearing any panties.
***
"WOO-HOO!" Jillian cried all restraint and fear lost in her moment of ecstasy. Kanika shot right past her spinning like a top as she ascended above the rooftops. Vendla flew slowly and hesitantly at first but gained speed and confidence with each minute.
This time Jillian paid a bit more attention to how her flying worked. She had to concentrate and think which direction she would go in but she could also feel her muscles working, she had to use her entire body to propel and steer. She wondered if flying was good exercise.
Kanika shivered and laughed in the cold air. She wore only a green camisole and black skirt, coming from Kenya she had no idea what an American winter was really like. Her powers protected her from the worst of the cold, preventing frostbite or hypothermia but she felt chilled to her bones. But she ignored the cold, how could she let something like that prevent her from enjoying this! Shooting up higher than the others she passed right through a cloud soaking her clothes until they clung to every curve and muscle but she didn't care. She called down to the blond Swede far below her.
Still unable to believe what she was doing, Vendla concentrated hard and felt herself rise faster and faster until finally her hesitation and fear melted away and she was moving just as quickly as the black woman she pursued.
Ignoring the cold, the three rose above the city swooping at each other in a game of aerial tag until they finally found themselves exhausted on a rooftop far across town.
"S-so" Jillian panted "any of you know how to get back?"
The three laughed.
***
Sitting in his hotel room Doctor Boyd tried to focus on the reports in front of him. A woman in Japan and another in Argentina both seemed to have the psychic potential his process required. More importantly their histories indicated they were type of women who could be entrusted with the awesome powers they would receive.
But that just reminded how wrong he had been so far. There had been more than a dozen failures before the process had worked on Vendla. And several more before it worked again with Kanika and Jillian.
But that was to be expected, meta-human biology was still a new field and his psychokinetic activation process was highly experimental. Even after all these years he still could not explain why it only worked on women and not on men or why a near-death experience was essential before the activation would work. So failures in the process were sad but not surprising.
What was truly disappointing was Jillian's reaction to his invitation. For as long as he could remember he had dreamed of doing something to better the world and as his research had progressed he had started to imagine all the good his creations could accomplish. He dreamed of an army of superpowered women protecting the globe, fighting poverty and working towards world peace.
As a district attorney with a strong sense of justice he had believed that Jillian would be a natural catalyst for the group. In fact he had expected her to lead it. But listening to her objections the whole idea sounded almost…
Silly.
Was it just a pipe dream? Vendla was much more interested in his research and in learning more about meta-human biology than becoming a heroine. She had not turned him down but he could tell her only interest was out of politeness.
Kanika was even more worrying. She had very strong radical ideas about what should be done in the world and would no doubt use his team to cause all sorts of upsetting changes in the world order. He felt she could be useful on the team but under no circumstances could she ever be allowed to lead it.
No, if his team, if his Global Protectors was going to work they needed Jillian. She understands the law and how the world works, she would fight for order and not some crazy radical agenda and could keep the other two motivated and focused. If anything her objections today showed how well suited she is to the role.
If only she had taken it.
He sighed and poured himself a mineral water.
Everything had seemed looked so perfect. Why can't people be like experiments, when the circumstances are right they react as expected. Predictable, reliable, repeatable. Why did people have to be so random?
His thoughts were disturbed by a knock on the balcony door.
Cold wet tipsy and happy the trio stumbled into Boyd's hotel room all three simultaneously trying to tell him about their first flight. As he listened Boyd's spirits rose. Was she in?
This time, filled with euphoria after her flight, Jillian hesitated a minute before answering. Vendla and Kanika were a lot of fun, and it did seem a shame to let her powers go to waste… but then she pictured herself in spandex and answered:
"No. Way."
***
Three days later, her legal difficulties finally sorted out, Jillian Havre stood at Megapolis International Airport waiting to check in.
"Hey guys, no hard feelings right? I mean I really like you two but that whole…"
"No don't worry abut Jillian, you've actually got some good points, perhaps I would do the world more good as a scientist than as some sort of super police officer."
"I too have doubts about Doctor Boyd's plan. Surely Kenya needs my leadership more than America needs another flying swimsuit model."
"Gee guys don't just quit because of me, I mean there's nothing wrong with super heroics it's just not my thing ay."
"Mega Air Flight C11 to Toronto is now boarding at gate 6."
"Sorry guys, that's me but I've got your e-mails and we'll definitely stay in touch ay. Maybe next time I can fly down without a jet!"
The two laughed as Jillian waved goodbye to her new friends and headed off through security.
***
At the gate there was a delay of course. Too many holiday travelers finally heading home and not enough seats. Jillian found herself bumped and headed to the bar to kill some time.
As she nursed her Molsen's Jillian thought about her next move. She definitely needed to have a reckoning with her 'fiancee' Kent. Sure he was the one who'd signed her up for the Boyd Treatment and gotten her these powers but he had no right to make those decisions for her. Then she'd have to try and get her job back. A new DA had been appointed of course but she was sure her friends and contacts would be able to find something for her. How many times did people come back from the dead anyway?
An overweight man with a nice suit and a thick beard took the stool next to her. He sighed loudly and turned to her.
"Can you believe they bumped me? Me?" The stress on the word 'me' indicated she was supposed to recognize him. Jillian was in a bad mood but had been a lawyer and politician long enough to knew when an ego needs stroking.
"Unbelievable." She agreed enthusiastically. "Where are you headed?" she added hoping to get some clue who this man is.
"Kosovo of course, you know, the peace talks."
Jillian remembered something from the news about peace talks, which would mean this guy must be…
"Don't they know I'm the Chairman of the World Peace Institute?!" he added loud enough for the whole bar to hear. " Chairman Beauregard J Loveless III! Chief negotiator on the arbitration team for economic issues and they bump me out of first class because U2 has to get to a concert in London tonight!"
Jillian finally remembered him. Loveless was a diplomat who had won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating an end to the Mongolia-Mole Men war back in '89. He'd started his own version of the United Nations a while back and traveled the world doing good. An admirable man, but that didn't mean he wasn't an asshole.
"I told them again and again how important this is but these clerks just would not listen. How can we ever achieve world peace when people will not put aside their petty concerns!"
Jillian actually felt a pang of guilt at that one. Even if it was coming from a fat man bitching about not getting first class.
Loveless settled down and ordered a Manhattan on the rocks and the two sat in silence for a few minutes.
In the bar mirror Jillian saw a tall broad shouldered man walk in and head directly for them. The man stopped a few steps away and asked:
"Chairman Loveless?" (Which sounded more like Luffleff thanks to the man's thick Austrian accent)
"Yes, are you with the airline, here to apologize?"
The big man pointed his right hand at the chairman. "Chairman Loveless, the Serbian Purity Army sends its regards."
A plasma blast shot out at the Nobel Peace Prize winner...
***
In the lobby Vendla and Kanika waited on a long line for a cab.
"Come Vendla, we should just fly home."
"If it was dark maybe, but right now the doctor doesn't want the world to know about us. Not until we launch the team…"
"If we launch the team."
"There is that. Whatever happens though we have to give some thought to the doctor's research. Now that we know he can create superhumans there are a lot of groups that would be interested. The Americans, the Russians, UNICORN, Villainy eXtreme, Hydra, Cobra, Microsoft you name it. Once it becomes public we will have to do something to safeguard it and him or who knows how it might be abused."
"I don't see how that is my problem. Jillian was correct. The doctor's juvenile fantasies of superheroes are no reason for me to forget my old life. I will return to Kenya as soon as I can."
"But… don't you owe him something at least? He did save your life."
The African woman had no response for that.
Then the alarms started. The two superwomen looked at each other and took off running towards the emergency.
***
Like with the chase or the fall, time seemed to expand, split seconds became eternities. Jillian shoved the fat man off his stool before the plasma blast crossed more than a foot of distance. He had just been pushed clear and Jillian had taken his place as the blast finished its journey and struck her in the chest.
She screamed.
***
Kanika and Vendla shoved through the fleeing crowds heading against the stream towards whatever was happening.
They had not needed to discuss it or debate. There was no question that they had to help. Who else could?
The metal detectors were deserted except for two broad shouldered men in leather jackets blocking the way.
"Go away girlies!" One commanded in a thick Austrian accent.
"You don't belong here!" The other added.
Vendla hesitated, she'd never been in a fight, other than the one that cost her her life that is, and these guys looked pretty big. She looked to her companion for advice.
Kanika was already charging them with a guttural roar.
***
It's one thing to be told by a middle-aged scientist you're invulnerable.
It's quite another thing to be shot in the chest and see it is true.
The energy bolt had been stopped a millimeter from her skin by something the doctor called a 'psychokinetic field' some sort of natural force field that protected her and any clothes close enough to her skin.
It didn't do any good for her shirt, that was burned to ash. But at least it left her Victoria Secret bra intact.
The attacker blurred and shifted, dropping his holographic disguise to reveal a blue skinned, gray armored human-looking robot. Jillian remembered the pictures from Interpol files, Doctor Droid!
Droid was a fairly prominent supervillain who provided combat robots to other organizations, a few had even turned up in Canada in the hands of different groups. No one had ever seen the Doctor's face and he didn't really seem to have an agenda of his own, just building and supplying the deadliest robots he could.
Working for the Serbs was just his style and if Jillian hadn't been there…
Scowling, she charged the robotic terminator.
***
Kanika hit the first Austrian like a freight train smashing it into the x-ray machine. Surprisingly the man just got up, dusted himself off and charged right back at her.
Vendla saw them drop their disguises and hesitated again. Were they robots? Aliens? Cyborgs? She wished she knew more about these crazy super people.
Her hesitation was punished by a plasma bolt that incinerated her Old Navy fleece and sent her flying into the pretzel stand.
Kanika and the droid exchanged punches, each of her sledgehammer blows was matched by an equal one from her attacker. She could feel each impact but nothing got through her field, there was a bit of pain but no injury. Time started to expand again, she knew now that her mind and body were speeding up but it looked as though the robot was slowing to a crawl. She landed six blows to its chest before the machine could even land one. The robot went flying into the magazine rack and was buried under hundreds of J-Lo and Julia Roberts covers. She turned towards the other droid but it was already waiting for her with a plasma bolt.
Crawling out of the ruined pretzel stand Vendla headed for her attacker. Her top and the waist of her jeans had been reduced to ash forcing the well-endowed blonde to fight in a sports bra and panties with her jeans around her ankles. Without thinking about it she took a step forward tearing the jeans in half so she could walk. She grabbed the hundred pound pretzel cooker and tossed it at the robot seeing a nice dent appear where it struck the machine's head.
Kanika had not worn a bra that day, she found them uncomfortable and unnecessary since her body was now much firmer and tighter than it had ever been. So after taking a plasma blast her breasts were completely exposed. But in the excitement of battle she could not be bothered to care. With a growl she pulled the robot out of the ruined newsstand and grabbed its head. Pushing with all her might on either side she felt it start to buckle and compress until the titanium skull collapsed like an egg.
The two heroines turned towards the last robot.
***
Jillian grabbed the robot's hands pushing them up where they could not get a bead on the fleeing chairman. The robot responded by kicking her several times. Jillian grunted from the impact but kept going pushing him back and back again towards the plate glass window looking over the runway. She started to trot and then to run and finally she jumped through the glass taking the robot outside with her.
Her third flight was shorter than the other two, lasting just long enough for her to get over a fuel truck and slam-dunk the robot into it.
The droid let out a human sounding shriek before it was consumed in the flames.
The fire quickly incarcerated her remaining clothes leaving her in a bra and panties.
Exhausted Jillian landed back at the gate and looked around.
***
The Kenyan and Swedish women heard the explosion outside and hesitated for a second worried about their friend.
The last robot looked up as though it had gotten a message from somewhere. Turning on its heel the droid started running through the terminal yelling "Ah'll be bock!"
Kanika turned to follow but Vendla stopped her. "Jillian might need us."
They ran into the terminal together.
There they found a soot-stained Jillian helping Chairman Loveless out from under a pile of rubble.
The aged diplomat looked at the three semi-dressed women in astonishment. "What was that? Who are you people? Are you some kind of superheroines?"
Kanika and Vendla looked at each other and then at Jillian. Jillian looked around the airport, thinking how bad the damage had been and how much worse it would have been if she had not been there, if she had been working in a law office in Toronto…
She took a deep breath and considered her answer.
There really wasn't anything else she could do.
"I guess we are Chairman Loveless, you can call us… The Global Protectors!"
***
The last droid activated its holographic camouflage as soon as it was out of sight. No one questioned the aged Italian priest as he walked out of the airport and got in a modest sedan. He slid his hand into the hidden computer port and started the download.
Loveless was irrelevant of course. But the would-be world leader had provided a useful diversion and distraction.
These Boyd Girls were going to be very interesting subjects and the dumb bimbos weren't even aware they had been tested.