The Global Protectors versus The Wraith Lord

By Marcus_Lycus@hotmail.com

Lessee… The Global Protectors and the Wraith Lord are copyright Doctor Droid (www.superstories.net/droidzone), other characters and text are copyright Marcus Lycus. Most of the background is my own, if something does not fit the good doctor’s vision or the established world of Megapolis then just assume it happened on Earth 2 ½ J

Any resemblance between characters in this story and any actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Please e-mail me with any comments, complaints or suggestions.

Prologue 1: 1331 AD

"Forward men!" The white armored knight cried, leading the men-at-arms deeper into the dungeons below Castle Kafke. "The dark wizard is no match for our light!" To emphasize the point the Silver Templar waved a silver sword overhead catching the torchlight and reflecting the knight’s face-concealing helmet.

"For justice! For truth! For honor!" the knight began.

"Hail Sir Justin and the Silver Templar!" the warriors replied.

But marching down the dark stone corridor the men began to feel apprehensive. All of them had heard the legends of the sorcerer who inhabited this castle and they were enough to deter even the bravest crusaders. Only the fearless voice of their leader lent them the strength to go on. They had followed the Silver Templar from one end of Europe to the other battling the forces of darkness. In that time their champion had never faltered and never failed. Yet none of them had ever seen the Templar’s face, for the knight had sworn an oath not to remove the face-concealing helmet until the crusade was complete.

The corridor was surprisingly long, leading deep into the mountain. Over time a cold mist grew up wrapping itself around the warriors’ legs. The squad once again hesitated and refused to continue.

"What is this?" the knight demanded "Afraid of some fog and some conjurer’s tricks? Are we not men?"

"Funny you should ask Silver Templar…" whispered a voice from the mists. The unnerved warriors grew more concerned and started to back away.

"Show yourself fiend!"

But the mist just grew colder and thicker enveloping the white armored warrior. Leather straps began to freeze and snap loose allowing the iron-reinforced shield to fall to the ground. The Templar’s sword hand grew numb, dropping the shining sword to the ground. Chain mail grew wet, then rusty and finally dissolved. The lower half of the armor virtually disintegrated exposing the knight’s shapely legs. The Silver Templar was literally falling to pieces.

"S-stop! I command you!" the Templar stuttered as the armored chest plate fell to the ground showing a pair of beautiful round breasts concealed only by a bit of thin cotton. The concealing helmet split down the center exposing her pretty face and freeing her shinning platinum blond hair. In minutes the knight was stripped bare but for a wet cotton undergarment.

"It seems Sir Justin the Silver Templar, champion of truth, has a secret of her own. Or should I call you, Lady Justine?"

The men-at-arms stood astonished at the true face of their leader, all this time they had been lead by a woman? An attractive woman?

She turned towards her men looking for the words to explain, how her brother had taken ill before he was to leave for the crusades, how the Angel Gabriel had appeared to her in a dream telling her to take up his mantle and giving her the power she needed to banish darkness. How she had learned early on that no one would follow a woman warrior so she had created the Silver Templar as a disguise. She tried to say all of this before the angry warriors turned on her but all that could come out was a few muttered sounds.

"She’s a witch!" one spearman cried.

"Burn her!" the crossbowman added.

The men, her once loyal followers, fell upon her in seconds tearing off her remaining garment and binding her with coarse ropes. More than once adventurous hands groped her breasts and rear. The men had been away from home a long time.

"Bring her men, bring her to me…" the voice whispered seductively. The men hesitated.

"She lied to you didn’t she, deceived you…"

"Don’t listen! Release me! We can still-mmph!" Justine’s voice was silenced as a rag was jammed in her mouth.

"I will reward you, bring me the trollop…" the voice in the mist whispered again. This time the men’s reluctance ended. With a cheer they carried Justine, the former Silver Templar down the corridor into the waiting arms of the Wraith Lord.

***

She was the first great heroine to fall to him. She was not the last.

Prologue 2: 1867 AD

One warm summer morning Lady Lauren Crowe rode up the steep path to Castle Kafke her long braid waving behind her. Her two companions followed, eyeing the castle warily. For months now she had been on the trail of the lost sword of the Silver Templar, a legendary artifact from the Middle Ages. She had thought it lost forever until she had found a hidden cache of letters from the Silver Templar to Sir Justin, an obscure French Knight who had spent his last years dying of influenza. The letters revealed much about this mysterious 14^th century champion of justice, including hints the Silver Templar was in fact Sir Justin’s sister the Lady Justine. It had also given up the Silver Templar’s final destination, Castle Kafke, where he (or she) intended to confront the legendary Wraith Lord.

For Lady Crowe this was an irresistible opportunity to recover a priceless artifact and, perhaps, find the truth about a heroine who had been lost to history. Even in these enlightened times Lauren Crowe was an oddity, a woman who claimed equality with men and competed with them on an equal basis. She called herself a relic hunter though her rivals called her a mere tomb raider. With her companions Bridgett O’Malley (her mystic and scholarly advisor) and Running Deer (an American Indian whose life she had saved) she had explored the world from the pyramids of Egypt to the jungles of Brazil. Her reputation had inspired other women to leave the kitchen and take up a more active life, in the future her legend would be retold in pulp novels, comic books, a short-lived TV series starring Jaclyn Smith and even a line of best-selling video games. But she had no way of knowing that. For this was her last mission.

The three women rode through the open gates and into the abandoned courtyard.

"I don’t like this Brave Crow." Running Dear said sniffing the air as she dismounted and strung her bow. "I see no one, but I feel something watching us."

"Aye, I feel it too" Bridgett agreed, fishing out a book from her saddlebag. "The histories say this place had been abandoned for nigh-unto eight centuries but it seems too intact. M’lady we had best be wary."

"Bridgett, how many times must I tell you, call me Lauren, we have been friends far too long for you to call me ‘my lady’".

"Sorry m’lady." Bridgett said, completing the old joke. She had been raised as Lauren’s servant and old habits died hard. "But I feel the oppressive evil here, it is very strong."

"Don’t get spooked you two" Lauren said tying up her horse. "Remember that time in the Valley of the Dead, or those voodoo priests in Haiti? If there’s something here we’ll be ready for it."

The other two nodded and followed her into the keep. Lauren’s long dark brown hair was bound in a tight braid running down her back. She wore tight brown leather riding breeches, black knee-high boots and a loose cotton shirt, with just enough buttons undone to shock polite company or distract a foe. Her mighty breasts had saved her that way on more than one occasion. Two matching ivory handled revolvers hung at her hips and a throwing dagger was hidden in each boot. Bridgett followed closely behind. Her red cotton dress extended almost to her ankles and her hat shielded her green eyes from the sun. At her side was satchel containing her equipment and paraphernalia. In her hands she held a well-worn leather book. Running Deer trailed behind turning frequently to watch their backs, the fringe on her sleeves and two long braids whipping around. In her hands was her father’s bow, an arrow already notched. She wore a tan leather dress (cut short on her legs to give her mobility) that clung tightly to her proud breasts (there was no reason for this, it just was). The three of them had long explored the dark corners of the world and overcome all kinds of threats, natural, human, and supernatural.

A quick examination of the keep found nothing but dusty furniture (Bridgett wondered why it had never been looted) and bird droppings (Bridgett had nothing insightful to say about that). Finally Lauren ordered them to split up and search the rest of the grounds for an entrance to the tunnels under the castle, the legendary ‘dungeons of despair’.

***

On her own, Bridgett felt more apprehensive. She was no fighter and even with her own considerable mystic talents she felt vulnerable without her more aggressive companions. Walking on the ground between a guardhouse and outer wall a cold wind began to blow almost knocking her off her feet. She had felt something like it once in Ireland. It was soon after she discovered her Druidic heritage, when those mysterious guardians of the Celtic forests had trained her to fight the dark forces of the world. Realizing she might be under attack she opened her book and quickly recited a spell of protection against darkness.

The wind stopped.

Looking around she caught sight of Lady Crowe walking towards her. Bridgett immediately felt relived and called out to her. "M’lady! Did you feel that wind, strange things are afoot I fear!"

She noticed Lauren’s shirt was buttoned even lower now, showing off more of her proud breasts and even (she noticed) her erect nipples. Looking at her Bridgett shuddered for a second, remembering that night they had spend together in the cold deserts of Egypt, clinging to each other to stay warm... Such a night.

Lauren stopped and called out to her "Bridgett may I approach you?"

Instinctively, Bridgett replied "Of course m’lady but why do you even have to ask-" she realized a second too late, she had been tricked! But before she could even think of a spell Lauren’s hand was on her throat.

"Amateur" the Succubus said. "Protective spells do not work when you invite the demons in!"

***

Running Deer moved silently on her soft leather moccasins alert to every sound and every smell. Hearing Bridgett’s strangled cry she sprang into action, leaping on to the outer wall with the speed and grace of her namesake, a notched arrow ready to fly. She landed on her feet on the ground between the guardhouse and the wall but there was no sign of the Irish girl. A quick examination of the earth yielded what had happened. Bridgett had been walking when she was approached by… Brave Crow? No. The tracks were right but the pattern of walking was wrong, someone impersonating Brave Crow then. Bridgett was then dragged… this way.

The trail lead inside to a staircase leading down into the mountain.

"Brave Crow!" she called out to her leader. "Brave Crow! Come quickly!" But no answer came, she could not even hear Lady Crowe. Had she been taken as well?

Then she heard another cry from within. Waiting no longer, she charged into the darkness searching for her friend. Her keen senses turned night into day she could smell her friend ahead and smell the unnatural thing that had her captive. Focused on her quarry she ignored the mist around her feet, even as it raised goosebumps on her bare legs.

It was not until the mist grew claws and cut her strong legs that she realized the threat. Rolling on the floor Running Deer fired several arrows into the mist, each one carrying a talisman her shaman had taught her to make as a child. The arrows passed through easily but the magic within them hurt the creature. It howled. Running Deer dropped her bow and drew her talisman covered tomahawk.

Another cry rang through the tunnel and Running Deer turned to see Bridgett, held in the arms of some evil copy of her leader. "Foolish red savage, you should know better than to be distracted in a fight!" Before the Indian huntress could recover, a claw materialized, catching her hand, and another struck her again and again until she lost consciousness.

***

Lady Crowe walked carefree through the castle grounds. She was happiest at these times, starting an adventure absolutely pregnant with promise. She had a feeling that the Mystery of the Templar’s Sword would be a very memorable case indeed.

A cold wind kicked up making her shiver on this warm summer’s day. She was surprised by it, the temperature very rarely affected her, it was one of her gifts. Growing up she had always been stronger and faster than other girls, and even the boys. In time, her reflexes and skills approached superhuman levels, in all her travels only Running Deer was her equal. But this wind was not just cold it was unrelenting, cutting to the bone.

It reminded her of another time, long ago in the mountains of Botswana, on the road to the lost valley of Va’al. Where she had met… She put it out of her head, she did not need to be distracted now. Anyway it was over, he had remained behind to be king of his people and she had left to continue her adventures. Heart breaking, but such was life.

The wind ceased as quickly as it had started. No doubt it was some freak of the mountain weather. The others might attribute it to something supernatural but Lauren Crowe was a modern woman, she fully believed that, in time, the natural sciences would explain all sorts of phenomena thought to be magic. Even Bridgett’s gifts or bizarre foes like the Pharaoh Ah-Men Toth would someday be explained she was certain.

Then she felt it, someone was close by, following her. Her hands moved instinctively to her guns. Closer, closer, she rolled around the corner aiming her colt revolvers up at… Botota?

The tall black man stood there just as she remembered him when they said goodbye at the border of his hidden kingdom years ago. On his shaved head was the golden circlet of kingship, his shield hung on one arm, his spear was clutched in another, the scars from his battle with the black lion decorated his chest, a leopard skin hung on his back and a purple loincloth covered his vital parts. "So my white queen, I see you have me at your mercy."

"Botota? But how? Why?" She holstered her guns and scrambled to her feet trying to contain her surprise.

He dropped his spear and shield and took her in his strong arms. The bulge from his loincloth reminding her he was still armed with a spear of another sort. "It was the wise man, he said you would need my help and gave me leave to join you here."

Lauren tried to regain some composure, making a half-hearted attempt to free herself from the African king’s arms. "That, that is wonderful news King Botota, wonderful indeed. I know Bridgett and Running Deer will be quite happy to see you again."

He did not let go, Lauren did not try too hard to make him. "Just them my white queen?"

She blushed "Well, I suppose I am a little happy to have another chance to see you…"

"Just a little?" he asked, holding her closer, smelling her desire.

"maybe…" she never finished the thought as his lips came down to cover hers. All composure left her as he tore open her shirt unleashing her magnificent breasts. Her gunbelt hit the floor, lubricated by her sweat (and other fluids) the boots and leather pants slid off easily. Botota had an easier time; he just moved over his loincloth and entered her, pushing against the stone wall as Lauren cried out in uninhibited ecstasy. His spearmanship was excellent, forcing her to rise higher and higher but never allowing her that final climax until she finally begged for it, panting between breaths for release.

They then lay for some time under his leopard skin cloak holding each other.

It was past noon when they finally rose. "My king" she called him smiling, "I wonder why my companions have not joined us."

"Perhaps they sensed we wanted to be left alone."

She smiled again. "I only hope we haven’t scared them off." She reached for her discarded top and Botota reached behind her helping her tie the torn shirt under her breasts, his hands lightly touching her nipples. Then after stroking her flat stomach, he reached lower, helping her put on her breeches, his strong hands brushing the inside of her thighs. Lady Crowe shuddered and lost her breath. She turned her head to kiss her king. In less than a minute he had her bent over a stone wall crying out in rapture.

***

It was almost nightfall when Crowe and Botota of them finally dressed and began to search for Running Deer and Bridgett. In the failing light they could not find the two adventuresses but did find the staircase leading down. They walked carefully down and followed the passageway as it sloped lower.

"Remarkable" Crowe observed "this tunnel seems to be longer than I would have expected, it seems we must be deep beneath the castle." Then she heard it, moans and cries of pain but also of pleasure. Familiar sounds she recognized. "Let’s go!" she called to her companion breaking into a run. Her guns leapt into her hands as she arrived at the strong oak door at the end of the hallway. She kicked it down and rolled in with the same smooth motion only to be confronted with a scene from the pits of hell.

Her two friends had been stripped bare, their beautiful bodies criss-crossed with a web of cuts and welts. Their mouths were gagged, their necks and arms bound in wooden stocks and between their legs… between their legs, creatures that could only be considered demons were thrusting into them with enthusiasm. Between them stood some sort of gross impersonation of Crowe, cheering the demons on while heaping vile insults on her two dearest friends. Above them hovered the obvious master, a tall red-robed creature, his face a hollow skull, his bony fingers extending from the rich sleeves. And above him, amazingly, hung large golden tubes, each containing a beautiful woman. Lauren’s eyes locked on a silver-haired woman in a knight’s armor. Next to her Lauren could see a great silver sword hanging as well.

Even Lauren’s faith in natural science was tested in trying to explain this.

The master called out to her "Ah, the Lady Crowe I presume" he said affecting a mocking bow. "I am the Lord of this castle, the Wraith Lord, and I am so grateful to receive noble company. I tire of entertaining commoners such as these." His demons howled and thrust with more enthusiasm.

"Release them!" Crowe commanded firing her pistols into the demons (who looked back with mild irritation).

"Your weapons are useless, ignorant girl. If you would spare your friends further pain, then remove your garments and submit yourself to me."

Lauren considered for a second, looking at her friends’ violation. But she was a woman of action who surrendered to no man. Dripping the pistols her hands found the two throwing knives Bridgett had commissioned for her in Mexico, the silver knives blessed by a Catholic priest. Crowe had always considered their construction an example of superstition but was not disappointed when the daggers struck the two demons making them cry out in pain and drop her friends. She began to charge towards the Wraith Lord when two strong arms grabbed her, pinning her own arms helplessly. Botota!

"Surprise my white queen."

His dark arms began to swell growing larger and thicker. The dark skin turned a deep red, the man or creature holding her grew two feet and great bat wings extended from his back. The Incubus roared! The Succubus laughed! The demons twitched a few times and died (ah well). The Wraith Lord grinned (though having a skull for a head he didn’t have much choice).

And Lady Lauren Crowe, the fearless adventuress, finally screamed!

Prologue 3: 1942AD

"Tell me again Panzer Frau, about your ‘master race’" the Wraith Lord taunted the struggling villainess. "German, French, Russian, don’t you see they are all the same? All of them are, after all, mortals. Hardly a match for the hellspawn I have here."

"Schweinhund!" the superpowered Nazi replied writhing in the clutches of one of the Wraith Lord’s hulking demons.

The invasion of the small Balkan nation of Vlaxia had not gone well. A full division of SS troops supported by tanks and the superbeing known as Panzer Frau had moved into the seemingly defenseless mountainous state quickly securing the villages and moving into a fortified castle overlooking it. The villagers had told them about their superstitious legends but the Nazis had no regard for such primitive beliefs.

They should have. Their occupation had lasted just one night.

Now dozens of demons were walking around the castle courtyard chewing on the corpses of Nazi storm troopers or smashing their abandoned tanks. A handful of terrified women (secretaries and other support staff) were driven by their whips into the tunnels below. And their champion was in clutches of a monster, being scolded by a creature risen from a nightmare.

"Did you think that Vlaxia was unguarded? Did your Fuehrer not believe the legends? I assure you they are all true." With one icy claw he grabbed her leather corset and tore it loose showing off her ample breasts.

"The story of the 99 virgins? True." He tore off her black leather mask freeing her long blond hair.

"The banquet of blood? True." One talon neatly sliced open her leather pants from waist to knee.

"The legion of Demon Wraiths? Quite true as you have seen." The demon clutching the struggling girl licked her, his caustic spittle burning even her toughened skin. Exposed to the leering beasts she finally cringed, half-formed words coming out of her mouth as fear settled in.

"The Dungeons of Despair? Well, you’ll see soon enough won’t you?"

Prologue 4: 1950AD

"Tell me Red Star, are you the best that Comrade Stalin has to send?" the Wraith Lord asked the struggling Soviet heroine. "A gymnast, and a couple of Spetsnaz? Hardly a challenge for the mighty Wraith Lord. For one thousand years I have beaten the greatest champions the world could send against me, why did Stalin bother with such a meager force?"

Red Star, the Olympic champion gymnast bit her lip so that she would not speak or cry out. Desperately she tried to shut everything out; the sorcerer’s voice, the feeling of rotting hands on her nude body, the feeling of a cold rifle barrel in her pussy. The Wraith Lord had captured her with almost contemptuous ease, killing her squad of special forces troops then raising them as zombies to serve him. She had tried to fight them with her hammer and razor sharp sickle but it was to no avail, they’d overcome her in minutes, tearing off her costume and dragging her before the evil wizard. She’d wondered briefly why she had been spared but now as two of them held her down while a third violated her with his rifle barrel it was all too clear. She’d been kept alive to be tortured, as entertainment for the Wraith Lord’s sadistic tastes.

Good.

The Wraith Lord soon grew bored and threw the naked gymnast into a pit where her skills were tested to their limits as she dodged fire from her former comrades. He enjoyed watching her twist and contort to avoid harm. The snakes and scorpions added an extra threat to keep her moving and keep him entertained. He admired her muscular but lithe body but the severe crew cut would have to go. He would have to leave her alive a year or two so that her dark hair could reach a proper length.

Then the castle shook, even in the dungeons deep below stones fell and a deep rumble was felt. "What!?" the Wraith Lord cried out in surprise and outrage. The rumbling increased, falling stone flattening a zombie. In the pit below Red Star began to laugh. With a mystic gesture, the Wraith Lord levitated her out and demanded: "What is this? Speak to me while I can still restrain my anger!"

The young heroine was practically joyful as she looked at her captor. "That, mighty Wraith Lord was the sound of Soviet engineers dropping ten thousand tons of mountainside on your castle! Fool! We were just the distraction, the real threat was always Soviet planning and technology! As soon as the dust settles one hundred cement trucks will arrive to seal this mound of rock forever. I hope you enjoyed your show, it is the last one you will ever see!"

Shrieking the Wraith Lord dropped her back into the pit and turned to exit his dungeons but it was far too late. The stone had sealed him in and the cement was already covering any cracks. He was trapped, doomed to spend eternity in these tunnels with no escape. This castle was ruined and there would be no sacrifices to restore his powers. The immortal necromancer would wither and die alone in the darkness.

***

And so, for forty years each spring cement trucks arrived at that remote spot in the Balkans pouring more cement on the growing pile there. The construction workers did not know why they did this, the reasons were classified and, to tell the truth, long lost in some dusty Kremlin vault. But they had their orders from higher up and that was enough.

***

Things continued this way, until, in time, the communist government of Vlaxia fell and the orders stopped coming. And so the bizarre project was forgotten entirely for ten years…

Part 1: Nova Star

It was the summer of 2002 and the Global Protectors were assembling to meet their newest member, Star.

"Finally. What was the holdup again?"

"An American? That should be interesting."

"I hear there’s a lot of pressure to add a yank."

"Heard anything about her origin?"

"Guess you me and aren’t the rookies anymore huh Shamrock?"

"I hope she’s nice."

"Better not cut into my t-shirt sales."

They quieted down as their leader Maple Leaf entered with the new heroine. "Ladies" she said addressing Tigress, Valkyrie, La Sola, Rising Sun, Shamrock and Aussie Girl "I know it took a few weeks…" (because the damn girl could not decide on a costume and kept trying to re-negotiate salary) "…but we’re finally ready. I’d like to introduce you all to Jenni (with an i) Westin, codename Star!"

The Global Protectors applauded politely as the shapely blond entered the room in her new costume. Like all Global Protectors she wore a tight leotard in the colors of her nation’s flag, with matching elbow high gauntlets and knee-high stiletto-heeled boots that mirrored the flag’s colors. A blue mask concealed her face (the GP preferred to keep their real identities anonymous) but left her mane of blow-dried blond hair loose. The leotard was cut low in front and back showing off her large round breasts (they were almost totally natural) and her round ass. The sides were cut high showing off her long tan legs and the spandex tightly hugged her curves clearly showing she was not wearing anything under the suit.

She gave her new teammates a winning smile and started to take a seat at the head of the table. Maple Leaf smoothly intercepted her and showed her to her seat, at the end.

The Global Protector’s Canadian leader continued the introduction. "As you all know Star is our first member from the United States, she is 23 years old, from Georgia, she was, um, a teen beauty queen, and is now a cosmology student and part-time model. She’ll start her training today and then her official debut will be a press conference next Thursday. Are there any questions for her?"

There was an awkward silence and some of the heroines cleared their throats. Some of them had been political leaders or scientists before they got their powers. A part-time model just did not impress them. Finally Tigress spoke up.

"So, Miss Westin, please tell us how you gained your powers."

Star smiled at the grouchy African girl (what was her problem?) and explained: "Well you see me and my boyfriend Mike, he was a stock broker at Metro Bank, we were at this club y’see, the Shake’n’bake downtown and I guess he’d had too much to drink or something cause the next thing I know he was swerving all over the road and we hit this telephone pole. Then, the next thing I knew after that, he was dead and I was waking up and that doctor guy was there telling me about how I had superpowers and stuff now. It was pretty cool."

The room went completely silent for three long minutes.

"So, um" Aussie Girl finally asked "that’s it?"

When it worked, the process that gave the girls their powers had two unfortunate limitations. First, it only worked on women. Second, it could only be used on someone who was near death. So far each girl had been injured as a result of some heroic action. Dr. Boyd had been very careful only to select women of the highest and most noble character for his process. Only the best could be trusted with the awesome powers he could bestow.

Seeing the problem, Maple Leaf jumped in "Actually Star is being too modest, we’re pretty sure that she grabbed the wheel from her boyfriend’s hands to avoid hitting a small child."

"Oh right, I forgot that part."

"Please remember it next time."

Silently Maple Leaf willed the rest of the group not to ask anything else. They’d been under a lot of pressure to add an American member and this was the best they’d found.

Thankfully no one else asked anything and the meeting continued.

"We have a request from Interpol to investigate some strange goings on in Vlaxia, an former communist state in Eastern Europe. Apparently Villainy eXtreme is involved."

The team sat up for that, they were all eager to get back at VX for the humiliations they’d suffered last time.

"I’ll lead the team, Shamrock, Valkyrie and Rising Sun will come with me. We’ll leave tomorrow morning at 10. Aussie Girl and La Sola cover things back here. Tigress, you’ll be in charge of the base and take care of Star’s training regimen. That’s all, we’re dismissed."

***

Tigress grabbed the American before she could slip out the door. "Star, come with me, we will start you with some simple combat robots and then work up to more advanced opponents. Tomorrow we can start at 5 with your weight training and flight practice."

"Five? In the AM? I don’t know about…"

"Computer training will follow, then at noon we’ll go to police headquarters to start your forensics and police procedure lessons."

"Say, um, Maple Leaf, honey, I was wondering, can’t I join y’all on that mission to where ever that is in Europe, I’m like, really eager to y’know, get started and stuff so maybe I can go with you instead?"

"Absolutely out of the question-" Tigress began but Maple Leaf cut her off.

"Now wait. If our new member really wants a trial by fire I think we should accommodate her. There’s time for training later and the experience of a real mission with the four of us is even more valuable."

"Great! I’ll see you all tomorrow at noon!"

"Ten!"

"Right!" she cried running out the door and taking off as soon as she was outside. Flying was still new to her but she loved every second of it. Super powers were just too cool. Training? Getting up at 5? Fuck that. I’m a superhero now, I do what I want. And right now, I want to call up that guy from the TV station and get this my career going!

***

"She is a mistake." Tigress observed in Maple Leaf’s office.

"Tell me about it." Maple Leaf said holding her head. "But if we didn’t add an American member soon the city was going to pull our lease, and the White House was going to ‘re-examine’ our charter. Hopefully she’ll learn the ropes and get adjusted here. I mean she can’t be more of flake than La Sola or worse in a fight than Shamrock can she?"

"Then why bring her on a mission?"

"If she’s not going to work out we need to know now, we have her on a 2-year contract but we can break it on grounds of competence. I’ll take her to Vlaxia and if she screws up we can bounce her before she debuts and tell the Americans we tried."

"This is a risk."

"Well maybe but there’ll be four of us along and as far as I can tell this is just a couple of VX goons digging up a mountain in the Balkans. We’ll crack some heads and maybe get back in a day or two."

"I still disagree."

"Don’t worry, when we get back you can have her."

***

Ten-thirty the next morning found Maple Leaf, Shamrock, Valkyrie, Rising Sun and La Sola (on monitor duty) waiting around the Gaia building for their newest member. "Ten more minutes" ML fumed, "ten more minutes and we’re out of here. Valkyrie, any sign of her communicator?" The Swede shook her head and returned to her computer. "Fuck it then. Guys we’re getting in the plane and taking off. La Sola tell Tigress she’s missing, check out the apartment and-."

"You don’t think something happened to her?" Shamrock asked concerned. "Maybe we should all-"

"No, no I don’t think so Shamrock I’m sure she’s okay. Probably just overslept…"

That’s when the intruder alarm went off.

Powerful electro-cannons slid out of hidden silos covering the intruding vehicle as a recorded announcement ordered it stop. In seconds the five heroines were in the air heading for the truck. The Wolfe International News truck, Maple Leaf noted with dismay. Two reporters jumped out, one with a camera the other announcing "exclusive coverage as the Global Protectors attack the news media!" Maple Leaf felt a severe headache coming on.

That was about when Star finally arrived, flying down to join them.

"Oh I’m sorry, I just forgot to tell you guys, this is Buckley, I invited him over to cover my first day as a superhero and I figured you wouldn’t mind."

"Unless you have something to hide!" the reporter threw in.

"Mind?" Maple Leaf covered quickly "of course not Star, we’re always happy to welcome the media here, it’s just that he wasn’t on our guest list and accidentally triggered our alarms. But that’s over now, so how can I help you mister…?"

"Wolfe, J. Buckley Wolfe Junior."

"Your father-"

"Owns the network, that’s right lady, so you’d better be damn polite capish?"

"Why Mister Wolfe, what a thing to say to my leader, I’ll have you know Miss Maple Leaf is always a lady."

Matters were soon sorted out and Global Protectors (plus Mr. Wolfe and his cameraman Clyde) were on their way aboard the Globe Hopper, their custom VTOL jet.

***

"If you ever pull shit like this again…" Maple Leaf hissed at her newest member.

"I’m so sorry sugar, but I just figured that after those terrible pictures of y’all and VX, you remember the ones from the shopping mall-"

"The mind control helmet."

"Why yes, I do think that was the one, I remember all those terrible pictures in the tabloids, and that video they were selling on the internet, well I just thought that after that it might be good to have some friendly coverage of me kicking some VX ass, y’know something to kind of give the team a fresh start."

Maple Leaf grit her teeth. Apparently this blond bimbo was smarter than she seemed. Of course she would have to be wouldn’t she?

"Now if you don’t mind I do have an interview to start."

Star walked past her leader and took a seat in front of J. Buckley Wolfe Junior to begin her first interview as a superheroine. Grumbling, Maple Leaf took a seat next to her, to see what control she could still muster. "Hope you don’t mind if I sit in."

"OK toots, I guess, but I want you to know, I’m not pulling any punches, and we’re getting exclusive rights to this story, got it?"

"Of course Mr. Wolfe."

"Now then Star, you’re the only American on this team of foreigners, some of whom barely speak English, do you feel you’re being groomed for a leadership position?"

Maple Leaf groaned and tried to hold her tongue.

***

Across the plane Valkyrie was trying to focus on her language studies. She didn’t really have time to learn the entire Vlaxian language during the six-hour flight but she planned to learn the basic grammar and a few hundred words to get by. It was a typical Balkan language but with a strong Latin influence on the vocabulary. Funny, even after two thousand years the Roman Empire’s touch could still be felt linguistically. It was very interesting (to her).

Still she could not help but ease drop on the interview and enjoy some measure of satisfaction at her publicity-hungry leader’s predicament. But when she heard Wolfe asking if the Global Protectors were part of a plot to overthrow the US government and replace it with the New World Order, Valkyrie decided to act.

Her third Ph.D. was in psychology and she put the knowledge to good use from time to time.

She sent a quick text message to Rising Sun who was sitting across from her reading Telecommunication Miniaturization and Design Quarterly while sketching designs on her PDA screen.

Rising Sun read the message and quickly replied:

>>Val-chan are you serious?

>>Very serious. If someone doesn’t distract him soon he’s going to shred our whole group on TV.

>>But it’s so, yuk. Should I put on a pleated skirt and sailor suit too?

>>Only if you have time J Seriously, you don’t have to sleep with him (I think Star already took care of that) just keep him occupied. I’ve seen how he looks at you, give him a bit of attention and he’ll forget all about whatever paranoid fantasy he’s trying to pin on us.

>>And replace it with a sexual one. Yuk again. If I do this, I want you to promise you’ll work with me in the lab on that ‘panic button’ system I was telling you about as soon as we get back. No excuses.

>>Deal. Just remember what I said about your hips, and the accent.

With a heavy sigh Rising Sun closed her journal and got up to the cabin’s bar. Pouring a glass of whiskey and a club soda for herself she headed back towards the interview/inquisition.

One of her unofficial duties for the GP was entertaining their Asian donors. This usually involved wearing a short dress, speaking in a ridiculously high voice and flattering them shamelessly. She never had to do anything with them, other than pour a few drinks and laugh at a few jokes, but it had gotten the team millions in funds. Rising Sun hated it, she’d much rather read a technical journal or work on a project, but she had to admit she was good at it. She’d never done her act for an American, but for the good of the team…

"So Maple Leaf you deny your group had a hand in the death of Vince Foster, during the Clinton Admini…"

Swaying her hips a bit more than necessary, Rising Sun caught Wolfe’s attention right away. The slim Japanese girl gave him the glass of whiskey and sat down next to him.

She tried to remember what her English had been like when she was a schoolgirl.

"Mista Wurufu, I hear you are a beri big American TV star, what is it rike to be such a big, big star?" she licked her lips. Buckley Wolfe gulped, crossed his legs to hide the bulge in his pants and forgot all about the Global Protectors-Whitewater connection.

Across the room, Valkyrie winked at Maple Leaf and returned to her studies.

***

At that moment in a tunnel under Vlaxia…

"This is PS79 to base, looks like I’m finally through the rubble. Gotta hand it to the Soviets, when they build a wall they build it to last. Behind the wall I can see some kind of stone corridor, looks like it goes down quite a way. Nothing on IR or radar though. Quiet as a tomb."

"I hear you Power Suit 79, hold your position and we’ll get an investigation team down there in about twenty minutes."

"I’ll be waiting."

Roberta took off her helmet and whipped out her medium length brown hair. She wore a Villainy eXtreme power suit; a black skintight garment with red boots, gauntlets and a high tech helmet. The outfit increased her strength by a factor of ten and offered other advantages like a force field, sensors, anti-gravity flight and energy blasts. It was one of the most advanced weapon systems in the world but she’d spent the last few weeks using it as a glorified bulldozer clearing away tons of rubble to get at whatever the heck was supposed to be down there. There were a half dozen power suit troops here plus dozens of scientists, engineers and foot soldiers. Whatever VX central thought was there, it was a big deal.

She sat down on a convenient bit of rubble and looked again down the corridor. Rock, rock and more rock. Well rock and bit of mist rising from down there. Roberta picked up her helmet and muttered "too bad no one thought to put a TV in you, at least I’d have something to kill the time". So she waited with nothing to do but watch that mist rise up towards her. Something about it was almost hypnotic, she felt sleepy just looking at the white cloud. Very sleepy.

She was practically in a daze when she felt an icy hand close over her throat. A voice whispered in her ear "and what is this ‘tee vee’ I wonder? I suspect I have much to learn from you girl, and I will enjoy making you teach me."

Roberta struggled but there was nothing there to hit. Her energy blasts passed right through the mist scorching the wall. Then she felt the icy fingers reaching through her field and through her suit between her legs, inserting themselves in her. It was impossible! An RPG couldn’t penetrate the suit’s force field! What the fuck was she fighting?

She struggled for another minute to two before finally losing consciousness. The tendrils pulled her and her discarded helmet deeper into the castle, leaving no trace she had ever been there.