Global Protectors – All Fall Down
By Marcus Lycus
Welcome back to the final Global Protectors story. The end is here! Worlds will live and worlds will die and something, something…
Legal Horrors – The Global Protectors and Dynamo are copyright, trademark etc. of Doctor Droid (http://www.superstories.net/droidzone) and are used with his permission. 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
January 2006
Part 6 – Star Fall
Star lounged on the deck of her yacht listening to her own album on her ipod. She stretched and arched her back straining the limits of her red, white and blue string bikini. It was a new one with transparent straps so from the back she seemed to be wearing nothing at all. Today all she wanted was for the Caribbean sun to bake her brown. It was so nice to be away from the rest of the team, shooting a new swimsuit calendar. No more crazy villainesses, no more La Sola trying to hog the spotlight, no more Maple Leaf on her case. Just, fun, sun and adoring fans. She picked up a magazine and flipped to an article about her.
Her new album had debuted at #1 and the European Tour would start in a month. She’d had a rough year or two but it was clear she was back on top.
She saw her manager Greg walking up followed by two guys in cheap suits. “What dumbasses” she muttered, they were both sweating like pigs under this sun. They sat down by the ship’s bar and Greg called Star over. She reluctantly turned off her music and put down her magazine and joined them.
“Star, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Hamilton” the taller more distinguished looking man nodded “and Mr. Jefferson” the shorter, balder one nodded. His eyes never left her cleavage. “They um, they’re with the, uh, ‘the company’ if you know what I mean.”
“Huh? You mean Sony?”
“No, uh, they’re with what you might call, ‘Christians In Action’” Greg stressed every word and nodded and winked.
“Greg you know I don’t do that Christian rock shit. I mean it sounds like real songs but then you listen and it’s about Jesus and stuff. No offense guys.”
“None taken Ms. Star, but I think you’re missing the point, your manager is trying to explain that we work for a certain agency, central to the intelligence of your government.” He winked.
“OH! You mean…” her voice dropped to a whisper “…the Eff-Bee-Eye?”
The two agents just stared at her in disbelief. Finally Hamilton spoke.
“Uh, yeah. That. And Ms. Star your country needs you.”
“Well you know I’m always ready to serve my country! What is it, another USO tour? Army recruiting ad? Republican fundraiser? Whatever it is you can work it out with Greg and-“
“No Ms. Star, it’s a little different I’m afraid, we need you for a mission.”
“Uh-huh… Well you know mission stuff, that’s usually the team’s job, they assign stuff, and maybe I go or maybe someone else goes, usually someone else y’know. Cause I’m much too valuable to waste my time fighting all those villains and stuff, we usually leave that up to Tigress or whoever.”
“Well you see Ms. Star, this is a mission only an American can do for us. And I assure you it is completely safe. I doubt it will take more than hour or two.”
“Um…”
“The President himself asked for your help on this. He assured us we could count on you.”
“Well…”
“It’s really quite simple, just picking up a package and bringing it back here.”
“I guess…”
***
Later, near sunset, twelve miles off the coast of Cuba.
“Don’t you worry Star, it’ll be a piece of cake. Calvin Crowe is the head of the Cuba’s Rayguns of Mass Destruction Program and he always takes a swim off this beach at sunset. You just fly in, grab him, come back here and we take him off your hands. Then we toss him in a top-secret black prison for interrogation and no one hears from him again.”
“Yeah, but, like, what if I get lost, it’s gonna be dark, and it’ll be cold and he could be heavy and… and… maybe we’d better scrub the whole-“
“Freeze.”
Star froze in mid-whine, unable to move, her mind even blanker than usual.
Agent Jefferson leered at her. Star was now in her trademark costume, a strapless, backless high-cut, low-cut one piece bathing suit based on the American flag. They’d left off the communicators and GPS system of course. A field of blue with fifty white stars covered her left breast while red and white strips flowed down her body. The stripes highlighted her considerable curves. Her prominent breasts protruded from the top of her costume, they looked like they could pop out any second. Her pouty lips were pursed in a sulky frown and her forehead was creased with irritation like a kid about to throw a tantrum.
“Jesus Christ she sucks.” Hamilton yelled in exacerbation.
“Nice looking though.” Jefferson ran his fingers along the tops of her breasts and then over her pouty lips. “I bet she does suck, and swallows.”
“Very funny Jeff. Try and keep your mind on your work. Shit, I thought the files were exaggerating.” Hamilton tapped his knuckles on her skull. “I can’t believe she really is that dumb. You thought she’d figure you we’re not really CIA, this bitch can’t even figure you we’re pretending to be CIA! And read her mind, she’s totally planning to blow us off, just fly off, hang out for a bit and come back saying he wasn’t there.”
“Yeah, I see it too. You think we should just try it ourselves?”
“Uh-uh. There’s been too much chatter about the AGENTS lately, we have to keep out of the spotlight.”
“So you want to scrub the mission. Director Washington won’t like that.”
“Nah. I say we just mind control her to do the mission. If she gets nabbed who cares? Nothing major lost.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Hamilton put a hand on Star’s forehead and closed his eyes for a second.
“OK, action.”
“…and I’m really pumped up for this mission! Go America!” Star jumped into the air and took off towards the Cuba. Hamilton and Jefferson sat down and poured a few drinks.
***
Speeding across the waves Star headed for the idyllic beach in front of her. She just knew this was a super-important mission and a lot depended on her. And it was easy! And there was no risk! She was sure of that too.
She circled the rocky cliffs and headed for a bay, everything was right where it was supposed to be, it was like someone had just put the information in her head.
Sure enough there was a pale white guy with a big nose walking down to the beach and taking off his shirt. He waded into the water and swam out a bit. “What the fu-“ he yelled.
And then he was snatched away and disappeared.
***
Star watched the agents tie a hood over Crowe’s head and drag him off to their waiting boat. They thanked her.
“Hey, you know me, anything for my country! So, like will your people call the media or should mine? Maybe a joint press conference about how I like, saved the world or something?”
“Uh, no Star, actually this was a secret mission, I’m sorry I thought that was clear. You can’t tell anyone. Thank you again.”
Star scowled at them as they left. A whole evening’s work and nothing to show for it. Feh. Whatever. She’d bring this up with the President next time she saw him!
She called over one of the cabin boys and headed for her room. No need to waste the rest of the night.
***
Meanwhile on the Mediterranean island of Corsica the United Nations International Crime Organized Response Network got an email.
Subject: Illegal Kidnapping
Dear sirs, yesterday I was on a beach in Cuba when I saw one of those American superheroines just fly in and kidnap some poor man! I enclosed a video I took with my digital camera. I hope you will be able to stop her. I think it’s awful how those Americans just boss everyone around.
A concerned tourist
***
The next morning Star’s yacht pulled into the French island of Martinique where the photographers for her calendar were waiting. Star was happy to see a crowd waiting for her on the docks. She waved. They didn’t wave back. She squinted and looked at the crowd. They were scowling, they were waving signs, they were shaking fists, they were yelling.
“Hey uh, Greg, I don’t talk Frenchie or nothing but I think those guys are mad. Maybe we should go somewhere else.”
“Sorry Star baby, we’ve got a camera crew waiting for us.” He squinted through some binoculars. “Besides there’s cops there, so there won’t be any trouble. Oh, and media, so unless you want people to see you running from the French…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it. OK, take her in.”
Star waved to the crowd from the deck and then proudly walked down the gangplank. Greg was right, no way she was running from some Frenchies. She was wearing one of her red-white-and-blue bikinis and a pair of $500 flip-flops. As soon as both flip-flops touched the ground a man in a fancy uniform came up. There were these two chicks in blue bodysuits behind him. He nodded to her and said “Mademoiselle Star, I would like to welcome you to the French Island of Martinique. You are under arrest.”
“What the fuck?”
One of the girls stepped forward, Star took a look at her, blue bodysuit, white body armor, white beret, black hair, high cheekbones, a Frenchie flag on one arm and a UN flag on the other. “Hey, you’re what’s-her-name from PEGASUS.”
“I am Captain Mai-Lynn Castelain of the United Nations International Crime Organized Response Network-“
“U, N, I, N…” Star tried to spell it out.
“UNICORN.”
“Right! We totally saved your guys asses in Africa.”
The UNICORN agent suppressed a scowl and somehow kept her voice even. “You are under arrest for kidnapping and as an accessory to torture.”
“Yeah, whatever Frenchie. Like I care. I’m going home. Greg start up the boat!” She turned and saw Greg was already in handcuffs along with the crew. Castelain put a hand on Star’s shoulder. “There is an international warrant for your arrest, we will escort you back to UNICORN headquarters in Corsica. A transport is waiting.”
“Oh, well, then I guess I have to go along with you huh? NOT!”
Star swung around and landed a solid punch…
2” to the left of Castelain’s ear.
The cybernetically-enhanced UNICORN agent easily dodged the clumsy blow and responded with one of her own to Star’s gut. The American heroine staggered back a few steps.
Through the roaring in her ears she could hear the crowd screaming at her. She looked at Frenchie’s shit eating grin and scowled.
“I took down one of you cyber-bitches before!”
“Blackchrome? An inferior copy based on pirated technology. I’m the real thing.” Castelain punctuated this by punching Star in the face twice. Star tried to kick her but was blocked. “Ready to give up?”
Star staggered back again. “OK, so you’re fast, but can you fly?” Star took 3 running steps and rose into the air heading for sea.
“No, but we can shoot.”
Behind Castelain, her partner Lt. Gorki took out an oversized pistol and casually fired a shot at the fleeing heroine. Star screamed as the electrified net engulfed her. She fell into the sea. And sank.
Castelain looked at Gorki. Gorki looked at Castelain and shrugged. Castelain scowled, hit the quick release button for her body armor and web gear, and jumped into the water.
Her computer memory and GPS system pinpointed the drowning heroine, and Castelain quickly pulled her from the water. The net had shorted out when she landed but the shock and near-drowning seemed to take the fight out of the American heroine. Castelain laid her out on the beach and panted for breath.
“OK lieutenant, tell the transport we’re ready for pick-up and-“
WHAM!
Star’s sucker punch almost took Castelain’s head off. Her follow-up blow made the UNICORN agent double over and cough a bit of blood. Error messages and alerts blinked in her computer-enhanced brain. Star’s third punch put the French-Vietnamese woman down for the count.
Star spat out a bit of seawater and turned to face Lt. Gorki. The short-haired blonde cocked her head and grinned. Star cracked her knuckles. “You want some of this? Huh?”
Gorki drew and fired the net-gun again. Star crumpled to the sand twitching.
“Niet. But thank you for asking my American friend.”
***
Star woke up with a horrible headache and muscle pains. It was worse
that that time Dynamo made her pole dance. She raised her head and
looked around. She was in a high-tech UNICORN jet, sitting on a bench
cuffed to the wall. Castelain was across the aisle from her on some
kind of folding bed, she was hooked up some machines. Gorki noticed
she was up and walked over.
“You hurt my captain very badly. She risked her life to save you and you punched her from behind. Very naughty.” Gorki shook a finger at the American heroine.
“Sorry” Star hissed through clenched teeth “next time I’ll-“
SMACK!
Gorki’s slap twisted Star’s head around and left a livid red mark. “She’ll be unconscious for the whole ride and the camera in the cargo hold is strangely out of order.”
CRUNCH! Gorki’s high kick to Star’s breasts bruised a few ribs and made the American spit all over herself.
“We have a long flight back to Corsica. I asked the flight crew to take it nice and slow to save fuel. We must be environmental da? That is my joke.”
WHAM! Gorki’s punch bruised Star’s pouty lips.
“Is too bad you keep resisting arrest, you can be hurt badly…”
***
The UNICORN transport taxied into the underground hanger. A medical team picked up Captain Castelain. Gorki dragged Star off the plane, she was barely able to stand. Gorki hadn’t done any permanent damage but the blonde was in a lot of pain.
“What happened to her?” A guard asked.
“She fell down.” Gorki replied. Her flight crew chuckled.
“We’ll take her from here.”
“One minute gentlemen. She’s a prisoner right? Don’t all prisoners have to be strip-searched?”
The guards looked over Star’s bruised body. She was wearing nothing more than her string bikini. The troopers practically drooled on her but the sergeant looked repulsed. He turned to Gorki “I don’t really think we need to-“
Gorki waved a finger in front of his face. “Now, now, you don’t make the regulations trooper you just follow them! Now do your job or I’ll have you up on charges!”
“OK, OK, take her behind the screen, I’ll get a female guard up here and-“
“Oh don’t trouble yourself.” Gorki reached over and pulled off Star’s bikini top. The heroine squealed but fell silent when Gorki twisted her arm and whispered a threat in her ear. One of troopers inconspicuously took out his camera phone. Star began to tremble, which only made her breasts shake back and forth attractively. More ground crews and maintained staff gathered around. Even the handful of female staff came by to watch the proud heroine’s humiliation.
“Looks clean, but you’d better check carefully. I know you want to.” One guard looked uncomfortable, but the other got the message. He reached over and fondled Star’s 38D breasts. It took a while to search something that big. One of the pilots came over to help. Star squealed again but Gorki wrenched her arm as a reminder to keep quiet. “Looks clean” one of them finally said, tweaking Star’s nipples one last time.
“Good, but we’re not done yet.” She pulled off the bikini bottom. The guard grinned ear to ear.
“That’s what I love about you lieutenant, you make guard duty so much fun.”
***
A day or two passed. At least that’s what Star figured; no one bothered giving her a TV or a phone or even a clock. So she spent the in a windowless cell dressed in thin grey pants and a shirt with no idea what was going on in the rest of the world. The cell was freezing, she huddled in a fetal position to keep warm. She had to huddle in the middle of the cell by the squat toilet and the sleeping mat. If she took even one step towards the walls the ultrasonics activated and sent her into painful convulsions. She slept fitfully, every time she rolled too far it activated the ultrasonics. She couldn’t even think of getting out, there were always four cameras on her, one in each corner of the cell.
After a while Star realized this was for real, she wasn’t going anywhere soon.
Then the lights on the cameras blinked out one by one. The low buzz of the ultrasonics ceased. And the door opened. And Lieutenant Gorki entered.
“Hello darling American heroine Star, you rest good?”
Star got up to face her. They stared at each other for a few seconds then Star flinched. “Look, whatever you want to know-“
“Oh we will get to that. In time.” She kicked Star across the face and punched her in the gut. “And we will have plenty of time together.” She picked up Star by the hair, propped the blonde against the wall and hit her again.
“Please!”
Gorki hit her in the stomach. She started to hum one of Star’s pop songs.
It was a pleasant afternoon.
***
Gorki stepped out of the cell and reactivated the ultrasonics. Amazing. Star actually bought that cheesy James Bond movie accent she put on! ‘You rest good’ Gorki had to laugh. And that girl was such a coward; she’d sell out her mother if someone asked. Utterly spineless and totally without loyalty. Gorki decided halfway through that she’d wait a while before getting Star’s confession; it would be interesting to see how far she could go with her new American play thing. She turned a corner and a tall man with a steel arm and chrome faceplate blocked her way.
It was Gorki’s senior commander, Colonel Gu. The Chinese UNICORN officer towered over her, his crude Cold-War era cybernetics made half his face a metal mask. His mouth was frozen in a permanent sneer.
“Well?”
“No luck sir, she’s a tough one, didn’t say a word the whole time. But don’t worry; I’ll break her, even if I have to come back everyday.”
“Good. You didn’t leave a mark did you?”
“Nothing that won’t heal sir. These Global Girls heal quickly.”
“Good. We will break them with this. Smash their little club. There is room for only one international super-police and it is UNICORN.”
“Yes sir.” Gorki saluted and left.
***
(Sniff) “Oh Val, won’t you please let me out?” Aussie Girl said pitifully.
“No Robyn, not yet. Not until I’m sure.”
The athletic blonde was in one of the Global Protector’s holding cells in their sub-basement. She was dressed in a white straightjacket, with her arms tied securely in front of her, and a pair of white pajama pants. Her hair was askew and her eyes red and puffy from crying. A steel collar was locked around her neck and connected by a strong polymer cord to a hole in the wall. The walls of the cell were padded so she couldn’t hurt herself. Drugs from the collar kept her powers suppressed making her as weak as any other girl.
“I’m really sorry but I feel much better now.”
“You’ve said that before Robyn.”
“But this time it’s different! I really, really feel better! I don’t even remember being wasshername any more.”
“You mean Thunder Girl.”
“Yeah, Thunder Girl, I like totally am not Thunder Girl, I’m Aussie Girl.”
Valkyrie rolled her eyes and sighed. But she had to try it, just in case. “What’s your name?”
Aussie Girl’s features twisted into a sneer and she jumped to her feet snarling. “What the fuck?! I’m Thunder Girl you lesbo whore! Now you FUCKING LET ME GO or I’ll rip out your goddamn tits with my teeth!” The polymer cord stopped her short and the girl was left screaming and snarling a foot short of Valkyrie.
“Robyn, this isn’t you, you’re stronger than this.”
“Fuck you! You’re trying to trick me again! What did you do my hair you bitch! My hair is black damnit! Black! Cause I’m Thunder Girl! Where’s Dynamo you bitch! And my ipod! Give my ipod!” She started to weep uncontrollably.
Val shook her head and left, closing the soundproof door behind her.
Maple Leaf was waiting for her in the hallway.
“Well?”
“No luck. Dynamo’s brainwashing was very good. I wonder how he did it; he never showed skills like this before.”
“So when will she be back up? I need her to go out to California and promote the new action figures.”
Valkyrie put a hand on Maple Leaf’s bare shoulder and looked into her brown eyes. “Maple Leaf, I don’t know. But it won’t be soon. I’m sorry.”
Maple Leaf shrugged off her friend’s touch. “You’re sorry? You’re fucking sorry? This is my team I’m talking about! Fix her! You never had trouble before!”
“I… well… I was using certain methods that I really cannot-“
“Enough! Val we need her back and we need her back yesterday. Whatever you have to do, just do it. I have to go to fucking Corsica and deal with whatever mess Star got herself in. When I get back I want Robyn back in action!” Maple Leaf turned on her heel and left.
Val closed her eyes and slumped against the wall. Maple Leaf was right of course. If Val still had the Mind Control Helmet she could undo Dynamo’s damage in a few hours. Aussie Girl would wake up with a bit of headache and fuzzy memories and they’d all laugh about it over white wine.
But that was then.
Even thinking of using the Mind Control Helmet gave Val a splitting headache. She’d used it on herself and now couldn’t even consider using it again. She slumped down to her knees, squeezed her eyes shut and massaged her head waiting for the pain to pass.
“Hey Val, what’s up?”
She was startled by a warm hand on her bare shoulder, she looked up. “Rising Sun?”
“Yeah Val, I’m back. Good to see you again.”
Valkyrie rose to her feet and hugged her slim teammate. “Oh Kisume, it’s so good to see you again.”
“Good to be here Val, good to be here. I heard what happened with Shannon and with Robyn. And now Star too huh? Must have been rough.”
She put her arms around Val and buried her head between her breasts, Val shuddered at the sensation of Rising Sun’s silky black hair rubbing against the tops of her breasts. Her head started to hurt again and she pushed Rising Sun away.
“Y-yes, it has been… it has been very hard. I’m glad you returned.”
“Don’t worry Val, now that I’m here things will be different. Real different…”
***
Half a world away another cell door opened. Star covered her face with her arms and cringed.
“Oh please beautiful heroine Star, stand up. I am not going to hurt you.” Lieutenant Gorki said in a jovial tone.
Star cringed some more but peeked up at the Russian woman. “Come, come, we are friends now da?”
Star reluctantly rose to her feet, backing away from the Russian woman, flinching every time she saw Gorki move.
Gorki looked Star up and down. She licked her lips. “You are what Americans call hot pastrami niet?”
“Um, yeah?” Star flinched again, waiting for the kick or the slap. She lowered her head.
“Look at me my American friend, look at me. There is nothing to be afraid about.”
Hesitantly, Star looked up.
SLAP!
The impact knocked Star back a few steps and drew blood. Natasha shrugged and laughed. “Sorry darling, reflexes.” A few specks of blood fell on Star’s uniform.
“Oh that is very bad.” Said the Russian, holding the blood-specked collar in her fingers “now we will have to have it cleaned. Take it off.”
“Huh?”
Natasha raised her hand again to strike, Star flinched and pulled off the grey suit in a panic, now she was as naked as a jaybird in front of another woman. She covered her breasts with one arm and her nether regions with another. She looked down again. “Hey, sure thing, I’m cool, whatever you want lady”
“Lieutenant, you will address me as Lieutenant or as ma’am, do you understand?”
“Sure thing lady.”
SLAP!
“I mean, uh, ma’am?” Star covered her face waiting for the next slap, when it didn’t come Star peeked out and saw Natasha was smiling. The Russian woman walked around Star, inspecting her from every angle. She pinched Star’s butt, getting just over an inch of flesh, but her thighs and arms yielded little fat. She squeezed Star’s breasts and cupped them, comparing the weight and feel of them.
“Tell me Miss Star, do American men find you attractive?”
“Um, yeah?”
“Many of them?”
“Yeah.”
“How many?”
“I dunno, all of them?”
“And how many have you had?”
“Had?”
“You know.”
“Oh, um, I dunno, I don’t really keep-“
SLAP!
Star was knocked off her feet by that one. On her knees she covered her head and babbled “A lot okay! A lot! Four last week! Happy now?”
Something hit the floor in front of her. Star looked down at it, it was a legal pad and a pen.
“A list. Who, when, and how many times have you slept with since you got your powers.”
“Huh? That’s like, a lot, that’ll take all day.”
“I have nothing else to do, nor do you. Now start.”
Star picked up the pen and stared at the blank paper, she wasn’t serious was she?
Gorki raised her hand. Star flinched and started writing. There was no desk or anything so she put the pad on the floor and leaned over it, her bare breasts hanging down and her butt sticking in the air. She started to write the first name and hesitated. She looked up again.
“Hey, um… do blow jobs count?”
***
Hours later Gorki emerged with the list in hand. It was very long and she was sure it was no where near complete. But it was a start. There were American political leaders, superheroes, media figures and business men on it. Some wouldn’t care if news got out, hell some of them put their sex videos with Star on Youtube, but still there were a quite a few married men on the list…
Gorki smelled a promotion.
***
Two weeks after her arrest Star got her first visitor.
“Well you sure fucked up.”
“Maple Leaf! I knew you’d come boss! You’ve gotta get me out of here there’s this psycho Russian chick and-“
“First of all it’s Jillian Havre, not Maple Leaf. I’m here as your lawyer not your leader. It took me weeks to get certified with the UN Court for Superhuman Justice so I could get in to see you. Second of all, getting you out of here is not going to be that easy. They’ve got a pile of charges against you and I need to know the story. Did you really kidnap a guy from Cuba?”
“Huh? No, I mean I grabbed a guy but he was totally a terrorist. The FBI wanted him.”
Maple Leaf sighed and held her head, she knew it was true, she just knew it, she’d hoped and prayed but no, Star really did something that dumb. This wasn’t going to be easy. “And how did you know he was a terrorist?”
“These FBI guys said so.”
Maple Leaf was afraid to ask the next question but she had to. “And how did you know they were FBI?”
“Um, they said so. And they had blue suits on.”
“And there names were?”
“Um, I forgot. Agent something and agent something. I bet Greg remembers.”
Maple Leaf wished she had a drink. “I spoke to your manager and crew, they don’t remember anyone coming onboard, but they also say their whole memories of the trip are hazy. Sounds like someone interfered with their memory.”
“Huh? But they were right there! They said-“
“I know Star, I know, but one step at a time ay? So two ‘FBI guys’ came by and asked you to grab someone out of Cuba. So you did. No questions asked.”
“Um, they said the President needed it.”
“Star, I spoke to the President, he never even heard of Calvin Crowe until two weeks ago. But he’s certainly heard of him now. Crowe was a scientist involved in Cuban medical research-“
“That’s a lie! He was making like, death rays and stuff.”
“The ‘FBI guys’ told you that?”
“Um, yeah.”
“Well if he was, the Cubans sure haven’t mentioned it. But they do have a video of you, in your costume, snatching this guy off of their beach. Star, where is he now?”
“Um, I dunno. They said something about a black prison and never seeing him again. So like what’s the problem?”
“Christ… Star you do realize that kidnapping people and holding them without a trial is against the law.”
“But he’s a terrorist!”
“Not until he’s convicted he isn’t. Anyway that’s an argument for another time. The point is they’re charging you with kidnapping, and as an accessory to illegal imprisonment and torture. And since you have superpowers they added superhuman terrorism in too.”
“Huh? But I can’t be a terrorist, I’m an American.”
Jillian closed her eyes and counted to ten. Calm again she opened her eyes and continued. “Now I have some ideas for your defense. But first, have you told anyone this?”
“Huh? No, they like haven’t even asked me anything about this stuff, just sex and stuff, there’s like this psycho Russian chick and she-“
“OK good. Keep your mouth shut Star. You can do that right?”
“Yeah, oh Maple Leaf tell me you’re gonna get me out of here-“
“I’ll do my best Star, I’ll do my best.”
***
Jillian spent the next week on Corsica preparing Star’s defense. It was good to have an old-fashioned legal challenge in front of her. She hadn’t really practiced law since she became Maple Leaf but she quickly got back in the swing of things. Heck, compared to financial problems, crazy teammates and Wolfe’s sweaty hands this was a vacation. She stopped drinking, stopped smoking and spent her days and nights working with other lawyers on the team.
“At least they agreed to keep her secret identity under wraps” she muttered. It was standard practice in superhero trials. She knew that if Jenni’s name got out anyone with a computer and half a brain could follow the connections between Jenni Westin and the rest of the Global Protectors. Jillian liked having a secret identity to retreat to when super heroics got too stressful.
Some reporters were already calling this the trial of the century (making it the fourth ‘trial of the century’ since 2000). In the US media, Star was portrayed as a beloved heroine who tried to fight terrorism and was being persecuted by the ineffectual and biased UN. In Europe, Star was an arrogant, ignorant American kidnapper and probably a torturer too.
Jillian knew whatever happened in court, saving her team’s reputation would be just as important.
But first there was a court case…
***
Star stirred, she could feel the ultrasonics were off, but that even worse, because that meant…
“Good morning darling!”
Gorki.
“What? No good morning kiss? You are such a bad girl.” She kicked Star in the mouth, she drew a bit of blood. Star climbed to her feet trembling and flinching.
“And now your uniform is dirty again. I think you know what to do.”
Star almost tore her clothes off and threw them as far away as she could. She didn’t try to cover up this time, she’d learned it made Gorki mad, and she didn’t like Gorki when she was mad.
“Tell me miss Star, as an expert on pretty women, am I pretty?”
Star looked her captor up and down. The Russian woman was only wearing her blue skintight bodysuit today which hugged every curve and accentuated every muscle. She checked out Gorki’s short, curly strawberry blonde hair, her decent-sized tits, her hourglass waist and long legs. She wasn’t into chicks but had to admit Gorki was pretty hot.
“Um, yeah, sure.”
Gorki unzipped her body suit down below the naval. Strands of pubic hair peeked up. She wiggled her chest and her tits popped out.
Star looked away, she could see where this was going.
“And you great American heroine Star, do you like me?”
“Um…”
“I know you like woman.”
“That’s a damn lie! Lesbos are totally gross!”
“I have seen video of you and La Sola.”
“T-that doesn’t count, we were like mind-controlled and shit.”
“I have also picture of you and Aussie Girl.”
“That was… that was like, cause we were drunk, and these guys asked us to.”
“And video of you and your Hollywood friend?”
“Shit, she promised she wouldn’t put that one the web. Fuck. Well… okay, yeah, but we were just fooling around y’know. Seeing how it feels. It was OK I guess, I mean I was pretty drunk that time too. But I’m totally not a lesbo!”
“Show me.”
The Russian UNICORN agent took Star’s hand by the wrist and put it one her bare breast. She squeezed her hand until Star cried out. Star got the idea and rubbed Natasha’s breast and teased her nipples. Natasha watched her with a bored expression on her face and then wrenched Star by the hair and forced her pouty lips onto Natasha’s perky breasts. Star hesitantly licked them but showed more enthusiasm after her captor twisted her hair a few times. Star’s hands found Natasha’s ass and clenched it. Her leg slipped between the Russian’s thighs and pressed against her sex. For the first time Natasha sighed.
She gave Star’s hair another yank and now the American was face-to-face with her. Their bare breasts touched and their nipples rubbed together, their eyes locked. Star swallowed hard and gently kissed Natasha on the lips with her closed mouth. Natasha took Star’s head in her hands and pushed her back, her tongue invading Star’s unwilling mouth. She gave Star’s hair another yank and the reluctant American girl returned the kiss. Natasha broke the kiss and pushed Star’s head down again, to her knees. Star gulped and looked up with pleading eyes.
“Oh come on, come one, I’ve been good, you’re not gonna make me-“
Natasha stepped out of her body suit. Star’s head was level with the Russian’s naked vulva.
Star started to cry. Natasha laughed and jammed the blonde’s head between her legs pushing Star’s nose and mouth into Natasha’s pussy.
‘I can’t breathe!’ Star realized. She tried but she only got a nose full of skin and pubic hair. Seconds ticked by, Star’s lungs started to burn. She tried to pull free but her meager strength was nothing compared to Natasha’s cybernetic enhancements.
So she did the only thing she could.
She extended her tongue and give a small, experimental, lick. Natasha let up a bit of pressure. She licked again. Natasha gave her just enough room to breathe. Star licked again. Then again. A few yanks on her head convinced her to go faster. After a few shouted commands Star raised her hands and fondled her own breasts, then her own dry twat. She licked and licked, like it was a lollypop, like it was a popsicle, like it was a hot cock, like it was anything but another woman’s pussy. It got warm, it got moist, it got hot, it got wet, it got salty and Star drank it down like it was champaign. Above her she could hear Natasha gasping for air. Star drove her tongue in like a drill, she licked the lips of the labia, the tip of the clitoris, the insides and the edges, inner thighs, everything she could, just to make Natasha cum, just to end this.
But the smells and sounds had an effect on her too. She’d started rubbing her own breasts and pussy as ordered, just going through the motions but bit-by-bit she could feel herself responding. She was getting hot too. She redoubled her efforts.
Then Natasha cried out! Hot cum spilled down Star’s throat, Natasha’s arm flailed and jerked Star’s head a few times. The Russian woman gave a heart-felt sigh and slumped against the wall.
Then she kicked Star in the face. The American fell on her back, fingers still inside her own cunt.
Natasha dusted off her hands and put on her body glove. Star just lay there, humiliated, but afraid to move or even take out her fingers without permission.
“Mmm, you are very talented great American Star, maybe you stay here long time and keep me company da?”
“Huh? I mean, uh, yeah, great, sure, OK.”
Natasha zipped up and pulled out a paper and pen from somewhere, she tossed it to Star. “Sign this.”
Star finally took her fingers out of her twat, they were wet and sticky. She licked them a few times and picked up the paper. It was a confession.
It went on for pages and she just skimmed it. She was confessing that she had kidnapped Crowe for the American government. That she knew he would be illegally imprisoned and tortured. OK fine. But then it went on. There was stuff about her assassinating people, brainwashing people, even putting subliminal messages in her pop songs.
“I, uh, I can’t sign this, I mean the first page about that terrorist supervillain or whatever, yeah sure, but the rest of this is just BS.”
Gorki cracked her knuckles and smiled wide. “Oh great pussy-licker Star, I am very sad to hear this. Very, very sad.”
“Hey! OK I’ll sign! I’ll sign! AHH! AHH!”
Star’s screams and Gorki’s blows echoed through the cell.
***
Jillian was led to the windowless conference room deep inside UNICORN’s fortress. Star was waiting for her with her head on the table, half asleep. Jillian sneered, typical Star, the most important meeting of her life and she’s sleeping through it. She poked her with a pen.
“OK Star, let me go over your defense strategy for tomorrow. Star? You with me? Look at me Star.”
The cringing blonde looked up. Jillian gasped when she saw the bruises. “Yeah, whatever you want…” Star slurred without opening her eyes.
“Star? Jenni, what happened? Who did this to you?”
Star’s eyes jerked open and for the first time she seemed to realize where she was. “Oh boss it’s you! Thank God! I tried to tell you there’s this psycho Russian chick-“
“Is she a guard?”
“Yeah she’s with Pegasus, I tried to tell you she’s been beating on me every day, usually I’d heal but lately it’s been slower and slower and I can’t sleep and-“
“Yes, yes Star I’m sure it’s awful, now did she ask you any questions?”
“Yes, no, I mean like she never asked for anything till yesterday. She had me sign something.”
“Star!? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I tried boss but you-“
“Never mind your excuses. This is wonderful! Take off your shirt!”
“Huh?”
Jillian took out her camera phone. “Star I need to see the bruises before they heal. Try and keep up with me ay.”
***
“You’re not real!” Aussie Girl screamed in her padded cell.
“Yes we are!” The Global Protectors said in unison. They were all naked, all having sex with different supervillains, all cumming in unison.
“Join us! Join us!” They cried.
“No! No!” Aussie Girl replied squeezing her eyes shut. But the problem with hallucinations is closing your eyes doesn’t make a difference. She could still see in perfect detail Shamrock on her back being fucked by Dynamo and screaming as she came again and again. It made Aussie Girl wet just watching. She wanted Dynamo inside her, she wanted him so much. But trapped in this straightjacket she couldn’t even touch herself, she pulled her arms closer feeling them against her breasts, it was the only relief she had.
Cold sweat poured down her back and the girl shivered, Her teeth would not stop chattering. “I-I’m stronger than this, I’m Aussie girl damnit, I don’t need villain sex.” She repeated, but seeing La Sola double penetrated by Bruticus and the Dark Count looked so good!
“Oh you poor girl.”
That voice sounded different, it sounded real. Robyn opened her eyes. It was Rising Sun. But her hair was a bit longer and her voice sounded different somehow. “Kisume? Is that you, the real you?”
Rising Sun kneeled down next to her and out her arms on Robyn’s shoulders. “Yes, it’s me Thunder Girl.”
“Thunder Girl?”
“Yes, that’s who you are remember? Those Global Bitches are trying to brainwash you, turn you into one of them but you have to be strong Thunder Girl. You’re Thunder Girl, remember that. Remember…”
Strange colors danced in Rising Sun’s eyes and the blonde felt a minute of disorientation. But then…
“LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU DAMN GOOK! I’m Thunder Girl damnit! Thunder Girl!”
Rising Sun smiled, left the padded cell and lit up a cigar. “She’s a good kid, just needed a little reminder of who she is.”
***
“So Mr. Ambassador this is the video which you claim shows the defendant, the well-known Global Protector Star kidnapping Mr. Crowe.”
“Yes Ms. Havre, it was taken by some anonymous tourists. Without it we may never have known what happened to that noble scientist.”
“Let me play the video for the court.”
The short video showed a blond in a red-white-and-blue costume swooping down and snatching a man from the sea.
“Is that all you have?”
“What do you mean? It clearly shows Star abducting Dr. Crowe-“
“Mr. Ambassador, maybe you assume that’s what it shows, all I saw was a woman in a red-white-and-blue costume pull a man out of the water.”
“That’s what I said, she kidnapped Dr. Crowe-“
“How do you know that was Dr. Crowe? I can’t see his face in that video.”
“Well Dr. Crowe always swam at that beach at sunset and he has been missing since the video was taken.”
“Which is what we call circumstantial evidence Mr. Ambassador. I don’t know how you run things in Cuba but in the rest of the world we need more than that. Which reminds me…” Maple Leaf took out a computer print out and gave it to the Cuban Ambassador. “Dr. Crowe was a wanted international criminal accused of providing Death Rays to terrorist and supervillain organizations. What exactly was he doing in Cuba?”
“I… well… that is…”
“Was he working for the Cuban Government? I have your statement saying he was doing humanitarian medical research.”
“Well… that is…”
“Are you willing to provide proof here and now that this wanted criminal was in your country and working for your government?”
“I… no. I can’t.”
“Well, then, moving along, let’s just say that was Dr. Crowe, why do you say it was a kidnapping?”
“What? Look at it! She pulls him right out of the water!”
“Isn’t that what heroines do? Rescue people? Just last week Valkyrie and Tigress pulled 43 people off of a sinking ship. Was that a kidnapping?”
“No but you don’t see her put him down.”
“True, but the video only shows a small part of the beach doesn’t it? We see the woman and the man fly off camera but for all we know she landed just out of sight.”
“He um, he hasn’t been seen since! He hasn’t returned home or reported to work!”
“What work was that exactly?”
“Um…”
“Anyway, the woman in the picture, why do you say it was Star?”
“Well she’s wearing a red-white-and-blue costume…”
“Like these?” Jillian put down a pile of photos showing Ultra Woman, Princess Patriot, American Fox, Glory Girl, Freedom Girl, Liberty Lass and Ms. Americana. “Um… yes… But Star’s yacht was in the area-“
“Also circumstantial. The Global Protectors GPS system shows she never entered Cuban territory and spent the whole night on her yacht.”
“But the woman in the video can fly and has blond hair-“
THUD! THUD! THUD! Jillian turned to the tribunal “Your honors, I have here all 3 volumes of the 2006 edition of the Kirby Guide. The Kirby Guide is the world’s foremost guide to superheroes, heroines and villains. I also have a printout from thekirbyguideonline.com listing the number of blond, female superhumans who can fly. There are 2300 names on this list. Plus another 800 women with different hair colors who might have dyed their hair. Plus another 1700 shape shifters or illusionists who might have taken on Star’s appearance.”
“But, but she wore a red-white-and-blue costume just like Star!”
“And heroines can never wear a different costume?”
“Um… I guess they can. But, but her confession-”
“Was obtained under duress, that may fly in Cuba but it’s already been thrown out of this court. Thank you Mr. Ambassador. That will be all.”
***
“Well Lieutenant Gorki, explain yourself.”
The Russian woman stood ramrod straight as she faced her two commanding officers.
“I interrogated the prisoner Captain Castelain.”
“Since when is that your responsibility? We have expert interrogators who do not need to use these strong arm methods. Who ordered you to do this?”
“Yes Lieutenant, who told you to interrogate the prisoner like that?”
Gorki looked from Captain Castelain to Colonel Gu and back. She started to sweat. ‘Maybe I should have gotten that order in writing’ she chastised herself. “No one sir, I acted alone.”
“Lieutenant you have violated over a dozen regulations and I will see to it that you face a full court-“
“That will be all Captain.”
“Colonel?”
“I will deal with this Captain, you are dismissed.”
“Yes Colonel.” Captain Castelain saluted, turned and left. The Chinese colonel hit a button on his desk. Gorki saw the lights in the surveillance cameras wink out. He got up.
And hit her with his steel arm.
“You said there would be no bruises, no evidence!”
The Russian woman staggered and caught herself. “Sir, there were none until the last day sir. I suspect her healing abilities degraded due to stress and anxiety.”
“So now we have nothing and that American pig will walk away.”
“I’m sorry sir. I know there will be consequences.”
“Indeed.”
Gorki reached up and unzipped her skintight blue body-glove down below the navel. She wasn’t wearing anything under it. A few strands of pubic hair peeked up above the zipper. “I know I’ve been a bad, bad girl and I have to be punished. I ma completely at your mercy. I guess you can do anything you want with me.”
Gu smiled. And that’s exactly what he did.
***
The trial ended the next day with all charges dropped.
“And I want to give my thanks to everyone who supported me while those vile Frenchies were saying all sorts of things about me. And I especially want to thank one special person, without her I wouldn’t be here today…”
Jillian got ready to make her speech, she’d been up all night rehearsing it.
“My mom! Without her letters and calls I just would have lost hope! Thank you again!” The press conference broke up and Star headed for the Globe Hopper II. Jillian just sighed, the more things change…
***
The White House spokesman was calm and cool and as slick as a Nigerian used car salesman.
“As you know Flora, kidnapping, holding people without charges and torturing them is illegal and the United States would not do that. However if we did, it would be a vital top secret program to protect America and would be completely legal as part of the President’s powers as Commander in Chief during the Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism and Supervillainy. And if so, the Global Protectors would have just undermined a vital program, which does not exist. So we have to ask ourselves, who are they protecting? Us or the terrorists?”
La Sola, Valkyrie and Star watched the clip five times and tired to understand it. “So he’s saying they don’t torture and kidnap, but if they did then it was a secret and we just helped the terrorists?”
“Um, maybe?”
“Geeze. When’s Jillian coming back? I mean, like what the fuck am I supposed to say now?”
“Should be soon, Jenni. Want some more white wine?”
“Yeah. Thanks. And um, guys, I just want to know I really do appreciate everything you guys did for me. I mean, it really, really sucked in there.”
La Sola hugged her American teammate. “Don’t worry Jenni, we’re your friends, we’ll always stand by you.”
“Thanks guys.”
***
Jillian got off the flight from Paris and headed for immigration. She’d been out of touch for hours and had to know how the media was reacting. But when she got to the head of the line there were two guys in blue suits waiting for her. They looked familiar. Really familiar. She just couldn’t remember where she’d seen them. And when she tried to remember her head started to really hurt.
“Ms. Havre, we’d like to speak with you for a moment.”
“What’s the problem officer?”
The taller one leaned in and whispered. “Hey Maple Leaf, just wanted to thank you for getting our girl Star out of lock up and giving those UN assholes a black eye. And that Crowe guy, let me tell you he was about 3 weeks away from giving the Cubans an antimatter cannon. What do you think they were planning to do with that? But he’s safe now, he won’t be making things for anyone but Uncle Sammy from now on. Now I know you guys have some really rough times ahead but let me tell you, you Global Chicks are OK in our book.”
Jillian’s blood ran cold. “W-who are you?”
“Us? We’re just AGENTS protecting our country ma’am. Have a nice day.”
One of them slapped Jillian on the ass and they walked away. Jillian tried to chase them but they disappeared into the crowd.
***
The next day the media storm started.
“It is clear that Star and perhaps all of the Global Protectors are part of a CIA conspiracy to undermine due process and rob suspected supervillains of their civil rights”
“It is clear that Star and all of the Global Protectors are part of a terrorist conspiracy to undermine the war on terror by exposing vital classified programs.”
“Hey, how about that Star huh? Who thought it was a good idea to send a leggy blond with a jumbo rack on a covert mission?”
“Wow beaten by the French, that’s low. Is Star really an American? I mean who would get beaten by the French? Maybe we should revoke her passport.”
“I hear those terrorist-loving Global Protectors are putting out a new clothing line, burkas!”
Liberals blasted Star for aiding kidnapping and conservatives blasted her for exposing a classified program (which does not exist). Snarky late-night talk show hosts and internet humor sites just blasted her because she was a convenient target now the Britney Spears thing got old.
MTV pulled her video. Her albums and posters were burned both in Europe and the US.
Star’s next move didn’t help things at all.
***
“Look Star, honey, we’ll book you on a USO tour to Iraq-“
“Um, Iraq is kinda dangerous Greg, what about like, Hawaii or somewhere?”
“Well the thing is there are actually women there, but if we send you to Iraq or Afghanistan the GIs will worship you like a goddess.”
“Hmm.”
“Besides don’t you have like superpowers and stuff?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
So Star was on the next flight to Bagdad. But at the airport…
“So I just want to say I really respect like, all the stuff you guys are doing for my country. And you’re really doing a pretty good job considering. You know what they say, if you flunk out of high school you’ll have to join the army and go to Iraq.”
Needless to say her tour never even started.
Back in Megapolis Star actually went on patrol and caught some purse snatchers the next day. But the crowd boo’ed her and threw trash.
***
By the end of the week Maple Leaf had confined her to monitor duty. Star was locked down in the basement staring at monitors screen and going mad with boredom while Maple Leaf was upstairs in her newly-repaired office starting at spreadsheets and going mad with frustration.
Star put her hands behind her head and sighed again. She did another Google news search on herself and found a dozen more articles attacking her. Now Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell were getting in on it. Hell, even Paris called her a skank!
They were accusing her of everything from sleeping around to get a movie deal to taking credit for her teammate’s work. The accusations were mostly true (except for the story about her sleeping with Edgar at MGM, he was like ancient, and fat, she only gave him a blow job) but they made it sound so bad. They made her sound like some kind of cheap tramp or something. Which is total bullshit, she never slept with a guy unless she really liked him, or could get something from him. She had standards damnit.
She wrinkled her nose. Bastards. Goddamn bastards. The media whores were happy to lap up her every word a month ago but now they just wanted to tear her down. It was all the goddamn Frenchies’ fault. “Lousy no good cheese-eating surrender monkeys!” She yelled and punched the wall.
“You’ve got mail!” The computer cheerfully said. Star clicked on the new message before she remembered her computer doesn’t do that.
>Want to get back at the cheese-eating surrender monkeys? >Click here<
It was like they were reading her mind.
Star clicked on the link.
***
The package was waiting for Star when she got home. A black leather costume, a syringe and a folder full of information. It seems Captain Castelain and Lieutenant Gorki was coming to New York for a big UN meeting. And Star’s new benefactor promised her payback.
She clicked her communicator. “Hey boss-lady, I’ve got to go out of town for a few days, can’t do monitor duty.”
“Star…” Maple Leaf growled. “You’re not going anywhere. Not if you want a future on this team.”
Star hesitated. She’d wanted to go solo ever since she joined the Global Protectors and learned that being a Protector meant meetings, workouts and other boring stuff. But she’d never found the right chance to go solo, at least with the GP she had a whole team to take care of the fighting and stuff and let her focus on movies and merchandising. But things being the way they were she had no hope of a solo career. Would Maple Leaf really fire her? She’d fired the Irish chick.
But then again the Irish check was useless in a fight, always whining and going around taking credit for other people’s work. Probably a total slut too. She deserved to be fired. Star wasn’t like that all she reminded herself.
“Sorry boss-lady didn’t catch that last part, must be sunspots, see you next week!” She killed the call and turned off her communicator. She took off her communicator bracelets and chocker with its GPS device. She packed the leather costume and other stuff into a Star backpack and walked out to her balcony.
It wouldn’t take too long to fly to New York.
***
“Be on your guard Lieutenant Gorki. I don’t care what Giuliani says about cleaning this hellhole up, this is still New York. We have to assume there are mutants, hellspawns or thunder gods around every corner.”
“Captain, I think you read too many American comic books.”
“Perhaps, but you read too few briefing papers. The Kirby Guide estimates there are more than 1000 active superhumans in New York City, and their numbers are growing all the time. Be ready for anything.”
“Yes Captain…” The Russian sighed.
Mai-Lynn Castelain and Natasha Gorki were on top of the UN’s Secretariat Building (that’s the big square one – editor) watching over Eastern Manhattan alert for any sign of terrorists or supervillains. Teams of UNICORN foot troops were stationed down in the plaza and other rooftops while literally hundreds of NYPD officers and Secret Service agents covered the streets around the UN.
This was a high-level global conference on education and the environment and everyone was there. There were people from the World Health Organization, the Worldwide Humanitarian Assistance Team, the Western Hemisphere Environmental Reform Enterprise, the Women’s Health and Education Network, the Homeless Organization of the World and World Humanity for Youth. Everyone knows that when WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW and WHY assemble there’s going to be a lot of questions. So security was ultra-tight.
Both UNICORN agents wore their combat uniforms, dark blue skin-tight body suits with white body armor, web-gear and berets. As usual Lieutenant Gorki was armed with an oversized electromagnetic rail-rifle and matching pistols while her partner Captain Castelain had an arsenal of non-lethal weapons and her considerable skills. Together they had always proven an unbeatable team.
“Perhaps tonight we go shopping in Macy’s or maybe see Broadway show. I hear is great fun Captain.”
Castelain smiled. They both knew that under American law the two UNICORN agents could not set foot outside UN headquarters. That was another reason she hated this mission. One of the greatest cities in the world was in front of them and they could not enter it. “Perhaps UNICORN will send us back here on another covert mission, if you promise not to sleep with the subject!”
Gorki scowled at that reminder. Leave it to her hard-ass commander to keep bringing up that one, minor, indiscretion.
Castelain’s keen eyes swept the skies again. She knew that guard duty was important but it was also a punishment for her and her partner after Gorki’s lapses in the Star case. She wondered how her partner escaped a court marshal. Then she thought of Colonel Gu’s reputation. And Natasha’s. And sighed. She wanted to believe in the United Nations, she really did, but it got harder every year. Nonetheless Mai-Lynn was determined to do a perfect job. It was the only way she’d ever get a real mission again.
***
Across town Star was in an alleyway trying to squeeze into the costume Mr. Senior sent her. She should have checked it first, it was a copy of that damned Blackstar costume she wore the last time she was mind-controlled. It was a black leather five-pointed star that she had to wear like a bib. It fit her upside-down with two points of the star going over her shoulders, two around her hips and one between her legs and then all of it lacing in the back. The costume barely covered her boobs and the point that covered her butt left half of her ass crack exposed. Plus there was no way to get it on by herself. She tried to lace it herself for a half hour before finally finding a wino to help her. She paid him $50 to forget her ever saw her in that costume.
Then she pulled on the full face mask, thigh-high leather boots and elbow-length black leather gloves. No one would ever associate Blackstar with America’s number 1 heroine!
Then she took out the injector. It was a bright red fluid, like cherry kool-aid and was labeled the XLR8 Formula. According to Senior it was supposed to double or triple her powers for about fifteen minutes. Star wondered what happened after that but decided it wasn’t important. She slipped the needle into her arm.
***
>INTRUDER ALERT!
Castelian and Gorki jumped to their feet. Their internal radar detected something coming in fast, headed right for the UN building. But it was already too late, a black blur went by seizing the Russian from the rooftop. She shot across the Hudson and tossed Lt. Gorki into a huge Pepsi sign in Brooklyn. Her impact kicked up a huge cloud of dust and knocked down the P and the E. Castelian remotely checked her partner’s vital signs, Gorki was alive but barely. She requested medical support.
Meanwhile the black blur arced back towards the UN. Blackstar was glad she’d taken out the Ruskie first, she hated her but she feared her more. She was glad the blonde was dead.
Castelian saw her coming this time and ducked before Blackstar could make contact. She tossed a sonic disrupter into the air.
Blackstar shot past the UN agent and circled around the Chrysler Building for another pass at her. When she got close the sonic disrupter activated, its powerful signal hit her inner ear and destroyed her balance. Blackstar fell from sky and smashed into the Secretariat Building’s roof. She hit the edge of the roof and blasted through the railing, but her enhanced reflexes were sharp enough to grab the edge and spin herself around before she could fall. Her stiletto heels hit the ground and she smiled.
“OK Frenchie, just you and me. It’s on.”
Captain Castelian has no desire for a fair fight against such a fast and ruthless opponent. She lowered her hand and in a blur of motion drew and fired an electrified net from her pistol.
And Blackstar easily side-stepped it.
Before Castelian could reach for another weapon Blackstar was on her. Her first punch was aimed right at the fast-release button on Castelian’s body armor, just like Senior’s letter said she had to. The button was hard to find and required almost 100 pounds of force to trigger. It was designed so only a cyber-enhanced agent could use it. Blackstar’s blow shattered it and Castelian’s body armor and web-gear fell to the ground.
Blackstar grinned and took a step back. She assumed a martial arts pose (and she really was posing, she never learned a thing about martial arts) and did a ‘come here’ gesture.
Castelian checked her internal com-link, help was still a few minutes away. Blackstar’s impact knocked out the elevators and the UNICORN troops were running up the stairs. She assumed a martial arts pose. A real one.
“I don’t know who you are.” She said in a casual tone.
“The name’s Blackstar Frenchie, remember it cause, um, I’m gonna kick your ass!”
“Star? Is that you?”
“AHHH!” Blackstar yelled and charged.
Her speed was incredible. More than double her old speed. Castelian’s combat computer couldn’t keep up. But she always believed that training was more important than implants. Today her years of Aikido paid off.
She closed her eyes and dodged Star’s clumsy charge. She extended a leg and tripped the enraged blonde. Blackstar fell face-first and skidded a few feet. She climbed back up while Castelian waited patiently.
“Star, you’re not well. My sensors show-“
“KILL!”
This charge was slower, Castelian was able to grab her arm and flip the blond on her back. She delivered a stomp to Blackstar’s midsection and got a better look at her foe. Blackstar’s skimpy costume let her see how her veins were standing out, her muscles twitching, her eyes out of focus. Flecks of foam were falling from her lips.
“Star, I think you’re-“
Blackstar started to rise again, Castelain stomped again but this time Blackstar rolled out of the way in time. Castelain spun but Blackstar was already on her feet.
The punch almost took Mai-Lynn’s head off and send her body flying the length of the rooftop. Her white beret fell to the streets below. Error messages appeared in her onboard computer. Blackstar charged again, faster than before. Mai-Lynn tried to dodge but her damaged body wasn’t fast enough this time. Blackstar’s flying tackle carried both of them off the building, down, down to the FDR drive.
BOOM!
The falling women made a crater in the highway. NYPD officers, paramedics and UNICORN troops rushed towards them. Through the dust they could see two women staggering out; one holding the other. The standing one threw the other to the ground and reached down, she tore off her opponent’s top and got on top of her. She lowered her hands to the other woman’s breasts.
UNICORN troopers powered up their electromagnetic rifles and took aim.
“Help her… she’s having a heart attack!” Captain Castelian yelled, she managed to do a minute of CPR and then collapsed on top of Star’s bare breasts.
***
Two days later…
Briefcase in hand, Maple Leaf landed at the main gate of Riker’s Island Maximum Security Facility. She nodded to the media assembled outside but ignored their shouted questions. She entered the gate.
Her high heels clicked down the concrete corridors until she arrived in an underground visiting room. The room was narrow, only about 5’ wide and bisected by a metal table and a thick plane of bullet-proof glass. The only other features were two uncomfortable chairs bolted to the floor, one on each side of the glass. The steel door on the other side opened and Star was led in.
The blond was dressed in a shapeless orange jumpsuit. Her hands were cuffed behind her back. 1” thick steel cables joined the cuffs and ran down her legs to a pair of ankle restraints. A thick collar was locked around her neck and a metal gag filled her mouth. A huge guard, obviously chemically-enhanced, shoved her in.
“Ungag her. And she’ll need her hands free.” Maple Leaf said calmly.
The guard grunted something into his communicator. A minute later he got a reply, ungagged Star and freed her right hand. He kept one hand on the butt of his gun.
“BOSS LADY! I knew you’d come! You gotta get me outta here, there’s some real psychos in this place! They’ve got this guy with metal tentacles and he-“
Maple Leaf ignored her and looked at the guard. “Can you excuse us for a minute? Attorney-client privilege.”
The guard scowled but left the room.
Star opened her mouth to speak but Maple Leaf cut her off.
“Star. Star, before we do anything I need you to sign this.”
Maple Leaf slipped a piece of paper and a pen through the slot. She took a deep breath and mentally reviewed her arguments to get Star to sign. She would tell Star how it was for the good of the team after everything they had done for her, she would tell Star it was for her own good since she could prepare her own defense without worrying about the team’s image, she would tell Star to sign or the team would testify against her, she would tell Star anything, as long as the damn moron signed.
While she was doing that Star took the pen, signed the paper and slid it back. She hadn’t even looked at it. Maple Leaf looked at her in mute shock. Had it really been that easy?
“OK boss, now when are you getting me out of here? This is total bullshit, all we have to do is tell them I was mind-controlled into being Blackstar, just like last time!”
“Last time?” Maple Leaf muttered. “You mean this happened before?”
“Um…”
Maple Leaf sighed and got to her feet. It was officially not her problem anymore. She put the paper in her briefcase and turned to go.
“Boss? Boss where you going? Boss you’re getting out of here right? Boss? BOSS!”
The door closed.
***
Outside the reporters attacked like piranhas.
“Maple Leaf! Maple Leaf! Was Star mind-controlled?”
“Was there a CIA plot against the UN?”
“Is Blackstar linked to Thunder Girl?”
“How was Star defeated by the French?”
“Will Lindsey Lohan still play Shamrock in the next movie?”
“Will the Global Protectors disband?”
“Where is Aussie Girl?”
“Who will pay for the damage to the UN?”
“What about the rumors of bankruptcy?”
“Did Star use performance-enhancing drugs?”
“What about the rumors about Tigress?”
“Are you seeing Buck Wolfe?”
“Quiet down, quiet down, I would like to read a statement from Star.”
The media stopped shouting questions and paid attention to Maple Leaf.
Dear everyone,
I appreciate all that you have done for me since I started my career as Star. But lately my actions have caused the team a lot of trouble. Therefore I officially resign as a member of the Global Protectors. You are no longer responsible for my actions.
Be adequite
Signed
Jenni Westin
Aka ‘Star’
“This letter is dated three days ago, before her unfortunate rampage in New York. For this reason the Global Protectors will not be assisting in her defense or taking any responsibility for the unfortunate attack. We express our sympathies for the people injured in her attack and pray for the quick recoveries of Lt. Gorki and Captain Castelain. Thank you, that is all, I won’t be taking questions.”
The reporters shouted their questions anyway but Maple Leaf just ascended into the air and disappeared from sight. She’d wanted to get rid of Star for years and now she was gone. But Maple Leaf felt no relief. She knew Star’s ‘resignation’ would be challenged. She knew even with it the GP would still get some of the blame for her rampage. And carrying on with only six members and even less money than before would be hard.
But she would carry on. This was her team damnit. She built it up from nothing and there was no way she’d let it fall apart.
***
From the window in her cell Star heard Maple Leaf’s brief statement and watched the Canadian fly away. It took a minute for everything to sink in.
“Maple Leaf?” She said to the sky. “Guys?”
Then it hit her.
The team wasn’t going to help. After all this time, after wishing she could fly solo Star was finally on her own.
She heard the cell door behind her clank open, she turned and there was a guard, but also a short, fat prisoner with mechanical tentacles growing from his back. The prisoner nodded to the guard and he left the two of them alone.
“Hey bitch.” His tentacles crept closer, claws on the ends of them clamped open and shut, spinning metal rods extended and buzzed in front of Star. She backed up but could only retreat another foot or two before hitting the cold concrete wall. “Welcome to New York. I’m Dr. Squid and we’re gonna be real good friends. Real good.”
The sounds of buzzing metal, tearing cloth and a screaming girl echoed down the hallways of Riker’s Island.
Afterword
Since I started this series I’ve been getting emails asking when Star’s chapter would be out and what did I have planned for Star and how Star’s fate had better be pretty brutal. I hope this was satisfying.
Star’s the character everyone loves to hate. She was always a bit hard to write since I want her to be arrogant and stupid and ignorant but not quite Homer Simpson territory. She’s stupid the way Paris Hilton or Jessica Simpson are stupid. She may not be able to find Canada on the map but she knows the name, number and sexual fetishes of everyone in Hollywood who can green light her next movie.
I took some cheap political shots in this story but I tried to hit everyone. I’m really tired of comics where the US is always bad and the UN is always good. The UN has its share of bastards and morons too. None of the political ideas mentioned here represent my views.
As always, comments are eagerly awaited, I can’t stay motivated without feedback!
Marcus Lycus
January 2007