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Superia #5: Hope and Valor pt. 2

by Sigma

The Story So Far: Delphi and Superia have traveled to Star City to help Hope, one of their teammates, and the local heroines of Star City break up a kidnapping ring. After a fight with and victory over Mandrill and Metalhead, two of the henchman working for the crime boss behind the ring, the heroines regroup to figure out their next steps.

V

Some time later that morning, Superia, Hope, Delphi, Mirage, Valor, and Harmony all stood around a circular conference table in Battalion HQ. The room was lit by a giant computer monitor that showed a slim, dark haired man in a flashy suit.

“This is Simon Forrest, aka The Leech,” Harmony explained. “He’s the one behind the ring. He’s a petty crime boss with a long rap sheet, but he’s connected. He usually manages to avoid arrest and even when he gets arrested, it never sticks.”

“Name it and he’s into it,” Mirage continued. “Drugs, weapons, extortion, prostitution, illegal gambling, he’s got interests in all of it. “Human trafficking is new for him, but not out of character.”

“The man is scum,” Valor growled. “He should be dealt with properly.”

“But...if we can take him down properly, we can dismantle his whole operation, maybe find out who he works with,” Mirage continued. “Now...we have one advantage. Because Star City has no harbor, anyone he ships out has to go via plane or truck. There isn’t really anywhere near the airport to hide human cargo for long periods, so he has to be doing it by truck. Unfortunately, there are warehouses all over the city and we can’t search them all. That’s why we need to uncover where he’s keeping his victims.”

“How many disappearances is he suspected of being connected to?” Delphi asked.

“31,” Valor answered, changing the screen to show the faces of 31 missing women, all between the ages of 18 and 40 or so. “Including some of our teammates. About half of these women are either Altered (Author’s Note: ‘Altered’ people are people who have superpowers they weren’t born with) or have the Aphrodite gene. The rest are normal humans.

“I don’t want to ask, but where do you think he’s trying to send them?” Superia asked.

“We don’t need to think, unfortunately,” Harmony said. “This is only the latest of three waves. This has been going on for months, and women from the previous waves have ended up all over. Some in other parts of the US. Some in Mexico and throughout Central and South America, some in the Middle East, North Africa, the Eastern Bloc, and Southeast Asia. Almost always brothels and slave markets...and those are just the ones we’ve been able to find...”

“Fuck…” Superia said. “Where’s Leech holed up?”

“He has properties all over the city,” Mirage said. “But he spends a lot of his time at his illegal casino,” she said as she brought up the building on the map.

“So storm the place!” Superia said.

“It’s not that simple, love,” Hope told her. “We go in and start beating people up, Leech goes to ground and we may never be able to find out where he keeps his victims.”

“What about undercover?” Superia suggested. The three women from the Battalion all looked at each other and then at her.

“Well…” Mirage said. “We can’t because his men know our faces, but...you are new in town…” she said to Superia.

“I can go with her. Leech’s people don’t know me, either.” Hope said.

“Hmm. It may work,” Valor said. “In the meantime, we should go to the police station and get what we can out of Mandrill and Metalhead.” Harmony and Mirage nodded when she said that.

“About that,” Superia said. “Does he have any other super goons we need to worry about?”

“Probably,” Mirage said. “The problem is, he’s got more than enough to hire new people. We take down anyone he throws at us, he just brings more on. Mandrill and Metalhead are just the two latest, freshly escaped from a Supermax out west.”

“Del, you think Fox would want to get in on this?” Superia said.

“I called her this morning before we left. She and her people are still going over the evidence from Evers’ whole mutant episode last week. They’re stretched thin. She offered to move it up the chain with her boss, but...government bureaucracy and all...” (Author’s Note: See Superia #4: Fire and Earth).

“All right...guess we really are on our own out here.”

“Right, should we get to it, then?” Hope asked.

“Let’s,” Valor said before turning to leave.

“Come on, Del. I need you to take me and Maddie clothes shopping. We need to look like big-time gamblers.”

“There’s a shop right up the street,” Delphi said as everyone broke to go about their separate tasks.

VI

Hours later, Naomi and Madeline stood outside a nondescript building with all kinds of high-end sports cars, luxury sedans, and expensive SUVs parked outside. Naomi wore a black suit cut for a woman with white blouse with the top three buttons undone and an untied bowtie draped over her neck.

Madeline had on a baby blue dress, low cut to show off her cleavage, with a diamond necklace and matching clutch purse.

“Naomi, put the glasses on so I can see what you do,” Delphi said, her voice in Naomi’s head thanks to her powers. Naomi fished a pair of black rimmed eyeglasses out of her pocket and lifted them to look. There was a small camera between the lenses.

“You two look great,” Delphi said. “I never took you for the type to favor a suit, Naomi. But then, I can’t really picture you in a dress, either…”

Naomi put the glasses on and straightened her jacket collar. “I can’t fight in a fucking dress.” She then held out her arm for Madeline. “All right, let’s go do some spy shit.”

Madeline took Naomi’s arm and grinned as they walked toward the entrance. “You know how to play the games, right?”

“Hehe, ask Mantis and Bombshell if I know how to play poker,” Naomi said.

They walked to the door, where a goon in a suit stretched by his bulging muscles eyed the two.

“I can take this guy,” Naomi uttered.

“Don’t attack him,” Delphi said. “Madeline, you’re up.”

“Invitations, ladies?” the guard said.

“I’m afraid we haven’t got them,” Madeline flashed a pearly smile. “But could you just let us in anyway?” she batted her eyes at him and put a hand on his broad chest.

“I’m afraid it’s invitation only, ladies…”

“Aw,” Madeline pouted. “Are you sure?” she took his hand and put it on her chest. “Come on, just let us slide through and you can meet us in the back for some fun in a little bit,” she whispered to him.

Naomi picked up her cue and wrapped her arms around Madeline from behind, putting her chin on her bare shoulder. “Mm, he’s a big boy, isn’t he? Think he can handle us both?”

“I don’t know,” Madeline giggled. “Can you?”

The guard cleared his throat and looked at the two of them. Madeline leaned in close to his ear. “Meet us inside in a bit and I’ll suck your cock while she sucks your balls,” she promised.

Naomi kissed Madeline on her shoulder while staring at the guy. She noticed a rock hard erection and grabbed his cock. “Keep that weapon ready for us, big guy,” she said.

“Go, inside…” the guard grunted, waving them through.

“Thank you, love,” Madeline planted a kiss on his cheek before taking Naomi’s arm and going through.

“That was..interesting…” Delphi gasped.

“You need a moment, Del?” Naomi chuckled while Madeline giggled.

“I’m...I’m fine…” she gasped.

Inside, the casino was abuzz with activities as gamblers won and lost money at the tables. Servers moved between the tables with drink trays overhead and cigarette smoke filled the air. Mean-eyed security men hovered across the floor, watching everything closely.

“Right, we should keep an eye out for Le-ah!” Madeline jumped when someone squeezed her ass. She turned to see a grinning Naomi and suppressed a laugh.

“Couldn’t help myself,” Naomi shrugged. “You wouldn’t be able to either if you saw your ass in that dress.”

She got a knowing smirk from Madeline in response.

“Ladies, focus,” Delphi said.

“You try focusing with that ass in front of you!” Naomi answered.

“As I was saying,” Madeline continued. “We need to keep an eye out for Leech. He should be here somewhere. Let’s split and cover more ground. I’ll come find you if I see him or anything that might point at where the kidnapping victims could be,” she said before walking off.

Naomi watched her go and then scanned the casino, looking for a place to both blend in and keep her eyes on the entire room. She eventually found a roulette table with an open spot and walked up, flashing a smile at the dealer as she fished a wad of cash out of her pocket, money given to her by Delphi, and bought $3000 worth of chips.

“I’ll advise you on what to do, Naomi,” Delphi said. “I’ll work out the probabilities, but put your chips where I say. You’ll win some and lose some. I don’t want you drawing too much attention. Push the glasses up if you understand.”

Naomi pushed the glasses up as the dealer slid her stack of chips to her. Just as she took her chips, she turned when a tall woman in a black sequin dress took the seat next to her. She was striking, with a lean build, dark hair, and icy blue eyes. She nodded to Naomi, raising her drink and smiling.

“Place your bets,” The dealer said as he spun the wheel and put the ball into play.

“Okay, play Second 12 and odd,” Delphi said. “Then scan the room. I want to see if anything stands out.”

Naomi put chips on the right places and then looked around long enough to satisfy Delphi’s curiosity. She paused on the woman next to her.

“Good luck,” the woman said, flashing a seductive smile.

“No more bets,” the dealer announced. A few moments more passed before the ball stopped. “17. Black.”

“Congrats,” the woman said to her. It was then that Naomi picked up what sounded like an Eastern European accent and then accepted her winnings when they came to her.

“Ugh…” Delphi groaned. “That woman next to you...her name is Elena Klokova. She’s Ukrainian mafia and a suspected associate of Leech.”

“Place your bets.”

“Black, even, third column,” Delphi advised. “Stick with Klokova. She may meet Leech later.”

Naomi pushed her glasses up and then played what Delphi told her as the ball went into play.

“No drink for you?” Elena smiled.

“Nah, I’m off the stuff. Haven’t touched it in years,” Naomi said. “Too many other bad habits,” she grinned.

“Oh? I’d like to hear about those….”

Naomi looked her up and down. She had a body that Naomi could imagine herself tossing around a bedroom and playing with, long sinewy arms, small breasts, lean muscles. She licked her lips and smirked at Elena before leaning in close and slipping something out of her pocket, a small bag with a pair of pink tabs.

“Is that Bliss?! Where did you get those?!” Delphi groaned.

“You and me getting weird with these little tabs later. Sound good?” Naomi smirked, ignoring Delphi.

“Can’t promise I’ll be gentle, Kitten. I just want to warn you, because it’d be a shame to ruin that nice suit,” Elena said to her.

“No more bets.”

“If I clean this place out, I’ll just buy another suit.”

“12. Red.”

Naomi had won two bets but lost one. Her winnings came her way and Elena looked at her chips. “Looks like luck is on your side today.”

“In more ways than one, hopefully,” Naomi said to her.

The smile never left Elena’s face as she downed her drink. She then fished a card from her purse and gave it to Naomi. “Call me sometime, or come see me at my hotel. I’m in a suite at the Grand Royale,” she said before drifting away from the table.

Naomi watched her go, admiring her shape and the way her lean muscles rippled under her backless dress. A moment later, Madeline came up to her and leaned in.

“I think I found something,” she whispered to Naomi. “Come on.”

Naomi nodded and turned to the dealer. “Cash me out.”

The dealer nodded and converted Naomi’s chips into a more manageable quantity. “Thank you for playing, ma’am.”

Naomi slid the dealer $100 chip as a tip and then left with Madeline. “What’s up, Maddie?” Naomi asked as Madeline took her hand and led her through the crowd.

“There was a girl, and she looked like she was in trouble. Some of the security men were chasing her,” Madeline explained. She lead Naomi to a backdoor that took them into a narrow hallway behind the casino. It went in one direction and Madeline and Naomi followed it, not getting far when they heard a yell.

“Help!”

They both broke into a run, with Naomi taking the lead. They rounded a corner and reach a large storage area where things like spare gaming tables and slot machines were kept. When they arrived, they found three suited goons accosting a woman who had to be in her early 20s. She had short, curly dark hair and was of average height and build. She wore a hoodie and jeans, and didn’t at all look like any kind of fighter.

“Get off of me!” the girl protested, trying to pull away when one of the goons grabbed her arm. Madeline went to stop her but Naomi held up a hand.

“Wait,” Delphi said. “I want to see if the girl is among the missing.”

“Oh this won’t do,” a man’s voice suddenly said, moments before Simon Forrest, The Leech, walked in. He was in his trademark flashy suit and approached the girl with more goons at his back. “You break out of your cage and go on the run, making my boys chase you. What’s the matter with you?”

“Fuck you!” the girl spat. She got a backhand from Leech for her troubles and fell to the ground.

“I got her!” Delphi said. “Korina Mara. Jesus, she’s only 19. She’s a vagrant, not originally from Star City. She was last seen three days ago.”

“Forrest must be keeping them nearby!” Madeline said.

“Go!” Delphi said.

“Grab Leech. I’ve got his goons!” Naomi said to Madeline before charging.

Only a few more moments passed before the scene devolved into chaos when Naomi flew through the air and sent a man flying with a well place dropkick. He destroyed a poker table and Naomi was back on her feet before anyone could make sense of what happened.

“Shit!” Leech said before turning to run, only to run into a wall of solid light that Madeline raised. He turned around. “Stop these bitches! They gotta be Battalion!”

Another goon went after Naomi, throwing punches that she weaved past. She hit him with a combination and put him on his back. When the third came at her, Naomi picked up a roulette wheel and launched it, hitting the man in the jaw and putting him out cold.

“Shit…” Leech said, deflated as Madeline and Naomi stood before him.

“You okay, kid?” Naomi asked Korina.

“Yeah…” she breathed. “Thanks.”

“What’s up, Leech?” Naomi cracked her knuckles. “You wanna come with us?”

“Nah…” Leech relaxed, straightening his tie. “I’m gonna walk outta here, because I got another card to play, ladies.”

“What’s that?” Madeline asked.

“...You guys feel something rumbling?” Korina asked, and screamed a moment later when the nearest wall broke open and a sudden explosion sent Naomi and Madeline flying.

Both women tumbled across the ground, and when the smoke cleared, they were faced with a giant of a woman, nearly 8 feet tall and all solid muscle. She had a shaved head, except for a dark mohawk on top and wore a bathing suit-like costume that showed off her sculpted body.

“...What the fuck is that?” Naomi gasped. She had lost the glasses when the explosion knocked her down.

“What’s happening?” Delphi asked. 

“This is Brute,” Simon tapped the big woman’s arm. “She’s the one whose gonna kill you bitches. Ain’t that right, Brute?”

“Yes, it is, Simon,” Brute chuckled, cracking her knuckles as she approached them. 

“Fuuuck…” Naomi said. “All right, Maddie...you ready?” she asked, putting her fists up.

“No…” Madeline said.

“We have to do something!” Korina said.

Naomi and Madeline looked back at her when she said that, but Korina wasn’t looking at them. She looked down, like she was talking to herself.

“What the fuck’s wrong with her?” Naomi asked and Madeline shrugged.

“No! No!!” Korina shouted. “We are fucking helping them! Ugh! I hate you! I don’t care! You’re a selfish bitch!”

Naomi and Madeline looked at each other with confused looks.

“What do you mean you don’t care?! You can take her!”

“Fuck this,” Naomi said. “We’ll worry about that nutjob later.”

“That’s really offensive,” Madeline said.

“Shut up and help me!” Naomi growled before charging at Brute. She ducked under a big fist and punched Brute square in her abs, the big woman grunted and winced, but grabbed Naomi by her head, her entire hand covering it. She then picked Naomi up and slammed her into the ground hard enough to crack it. When Brute looked up, she saw two cylindrical columns of light flying at her, and each one hit her with the force of a battering ram before shattering. Madeleine summoned two more and threw them, but Brute knocked them both aside and charged at the busty blonde Brit.

“Oh, no! No, no, no!” Madeline panicked and created a barrier just as Brute ran at her. Brute dropped a shoulder and barreled through the barrier, throwing Madeline back with immense force, and sending her into a row of slot machines. Before she could get up, Brute grabbed her by her hair and held her up.

“Mmm, you might be a fun little toy…” the big woman grinned, using her thick finger to strip Madeline’s dress off of her. She exposed her pale, healthy body, leaving her only in the lace panties she wore. “Too bad my man’s not here. He’d like you.”

“Maybe we’ll take her for the ring, huh?” Leech smirked as he walked up next to Brute with his hands in his pockets.

Madeline grunted and looked Brute in the eye. She then clapped her hands together and raised them up. The moment she did, a pillar of solid light rose from the ground, right underneath Brute, and slammed her into the ceiling, making her drop Madeline. Madeline kept her pressed against the ceiling and turned to Leech, who backed up.

“Boys...boys!” he yelled, calling out to his men, who still lay unconscious. He turned to run, only to get a face full of tits when he ran into Naomi, who shoved him to the ground.

“Hey, wait a second…” Leech held out his hands to stop the women as they loomed over him. “We can work something out, right?!”

“Work this out, asshole!” Korina screamed, ran over, and kicked him in the ribs. Naomi grabbed her arm and yanked her away.

“Calm down, kid!

“This fucker’s been keeping me in a cage the past three days!”

“Where?” Madeline asked.

“I don’t know,” Korina said. “He only brought me here today, told me he was going to sell me to some high roller. I managed to escape, though, no thanks to my asshole friend.”

“What friend?” Naomi asked.

“Her name is Xa...no, shut up! You don’t get to say anything now!” Korina broke off into an argument with an invisible voice. “I don’t care. These two nice ladies helped me. You didn’t!”

“What in the world is going on?” Delphi’s voiced echoed in Naomi and Madeline’s heads. “Actually, no, let’s not worry about that right now. Bring her and Leech back to Battalion HQ.”

“Got it,” Naomi said before grabbing Leech by his arm and forcing him up. “Let’s go, kid. You’re with us.”

Korina nodded and they started to leave when they heard grunting and felt a rumbling. They looked up at see Brute, still pinned to the ceiling, but pushing Madeline’s column down. She managed to get her powerful legs under her and her hands against the ceiling, and pushed down, causing cracks in the column and the ceiling over her head. With a yell, Brute applied enough force and the column shattered under the exertion.

Brute fell, landed, and the entire room trembled.

“Gonna mash you whores into paste,” Brute threatened as she walked toward them. Before she got another step, there was a terrible sound of material crumbling. Overhead, chunks of the ceiling, weakened by Brute breaking free, began coming down. A large chunk landed on the ground near them.

“Run!” Naomi yelled, pushing Korina ahead. She grabbed Leech and pulled him after her, but Brute was on her and hit her with the back of her hand, sending her into a nearby wall.

“Naomi!” Madeline screamed and ran after her. While she did, Brute started to follow.

“No!” Leech said. “We’re leaving!” he ordered before running out of the room with Brute behind him.

The shaking grew worse and larger chunks of ceiling began coming down as more sections began falling away. Naomi got up just as Madeline reached her.

“I’m good, Maddie. Where’s the kid?”

They looked around frantically and saw Korina running for an exit, only to get cut off by more falling rubble. She turned to run back but several chunks of ceiling came down right on top of her.

“FUCK!” Naomi screamed and ran for her.

“Naomi, look out!” Madeline yelled as a large chunk of ceiling came down on them.

***

“Naomi! Madeline! Say something!” Delphi cried out.

Some time later, after the ceiling had partially collapsed, sections of rubble got shoved aside as a barrier of solid light expanded. Madeline held out her hands, sighing with relief at the fact that she managed to protect herself and Naomi. She then dropped the shield and Naomi ran out, leaping over rubble until she found Korina, half buried and unconscious.

“Kid, say something!” Naomi pleaded. “Kid! Come on!”

Madeline ran up next to her and then knelt down. She checked Korina’s pulse. “Oh, thank God...she’s alive.”

Naomi perked up when she heard sirens approaching. “We gotta go, Maddie. Mission’s fucked,” she said. She gave the mostly naked Madeline her suit jacket, picked up huge sections of ceiling to toss aside, and then slung Korina over her shoulder before she and Madeline fled the scene.

VII

Mirage leaned against a wall, her arms folded across her ample chest. Harmony was to her right, watching as Valor paced back and forth in front of Mandrill and Metalhead, both of whom were in elaborate restraints somewhere deep in a holding facility belonging to the Star City Police Department.

Mirage looked over her shoulder and saw several officers watching them through the observation window before she turned back to Valor.

“Where is Leech keeping the girls?” Valor asked calmly. Mandrill simply watched her with his beady eyes while Metalhead scanned the heroine before looking at her two teammates.

“Are you idiots really that eager to join them?” he finally asked. “I guess you want to see some of your friends again. Maybe we can send you over to Prague to be with your friend...uh...what’s her name?” Metalhead teased. “Right...Lady Swan. They’ve got her doing porn, I think?” he asked, looking at Mandrill before they both began laughing.

Valor growled and punched Metalhead, making his head snap back and he only laughed at her.

“That’s all you know how to do, Valor...hit people. I gave up the flesh years ago. You can’t hurt me.”

“No,” Valor admitted. “You’re brain is still organic, though. What if I destroy that?”

“You wouldn’t, because the girl scouts over there would never allow it,” Metalhead nodded. “Isn’t that right, Jasra and Alicia?” He said to Mirage and Harmony, respectively. Both heroines bristled at him using their real names.

“Tell me, Jasra,” Metalhead looked at Mirage. “Is Mr. al-Assaf still getting those weekly treatments for his diabetes? It’d be a shame if the machine malfunctioned and you lost dear old dad at such a young age…”

Mirage growled and started toward him until Harmony grabbed her arm.

“Or...I could visit your aunt and uncle and their children instead. I’ve always wanted to see Kuwait, personally.”

“You bastard!” Mirage screamed.

“Or...maybe when I’m free, I’ll hop over to Chicago, instead,” Metalhead looked at Harmony. “Visit grandma Vance while she’s at church. I hear she’s got the voice of an angel. I’m sure she’ll be eager to actually meet a few.” 

“Do you see the games he plays?” Valor pointed. “He threatens your families. We must get answers out of him before Leech can do anything.”

“Oh, Leech doesn’t know or care who any of you are beyond being a bunch of big-titted cows who mess with his money,” Metalhead said. “I learned these things about your families on my own. This information hasn’t left this room.”

“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Mirage asked.

“I am a lot of things, Jasra, but I am no liar,” Metalhead said. “Do you know why I agreed to work with Leech?”

“Why?” Valor asked.

“Not for money. I have plenty of that. Maintenance on a cybernetic body isn’t cheap. The combat data I get from fighting all of you is much more worth my time. Where’s the new girl? The brunette with the potty mouth? I’d like to have another go with her.”

“Too bad,” Valor cracked her knuckles. “You’ve got us. I may not be able to hurt you, but Mandrill isn’t a machine.”

Mandrill growled at the heroine, but his snout was muzzled. Valor reached over and grabbed him by his neck and began squeezing. Mandrill growled, and began thrashing in his bonds as the heroine applied pressure.

Metalhead simply looked at the other two. “He wouldn’t be the first partner I’ve lost. A shame, really...I actually kind of like the fleabag. He makes me laugh.”

“Be that as it may,” Valor said to him. “I don’t need you to talk if he will,” she said, squeezing Mandrill’s neck harder. Mandrill growled, gagged, and fought in his bonds.

“Valor…” Harmony said, stepping forward.

“If you two don’t want to see this, then wait outside…” Valor glared at her and Mirage.

“Valor, this isn’t right!” Mirage protested.

Valor growled and lifted Mandrill by his neck with one hand. She then threw him across the room and into the wall before turning to her teammates.

“What would you have me do, Mirage?! We’ve been dropping like flies to Leech and his goons! I’m tired of losing comrades to these...animals!”

“Maybe Hope and Superia…” Harmony started.

“We are not relying on outsiders! Star City is our home! Ours! If we can’t protect it, we don’t deserve to call ourselves its defenders.”

“We need their help whether you want to admit it or not,” Mirage said. “You can’t do this on your own. Stop being so damned bullheaded!”

Valor growled and raised her fist. Mirage took it as a threat and the two of them were suddenly staring each other down. Harmony got between them, trying to keep them apart as the cops outside watched in stunned silence and Metalhead simply laughed.

All three heroines then looked up as the lights in the interrogation room went out. They were out for only a few seconds and when the backup lights came on, the police officers outside were on the ground, unconscious. The door flew open and a gray streak blew into the room.

Valor jumped in surprise as something locked around her neck. She then grabbed at it and pulled. “What the…!”

“It’s a suppression collar!” Mirage said as Valor fell to her knees, trying to take the device that sapped her of her powers off. Before Mirage and Harmony could react, the blur passed them too, and suddenly, they too had collars around their necks, their powers rendered useless.

“Gotta keep your heads on a swivel ladies,” a voice said. They looked up as a thin man in a tight gray outfit stood over them. He wore goggles on his eyes and had a huge grin on his face.

“Who the hell are you?” Metalhead asked.

“Name’s Mach 5,” the man in gray said. “Leech sent me to spring you two. Ready to go?”

“Huh…”

Mach 5 moved in another burst of speed, and within seconds, Mandrill and Metalhead were free. The three villains stood over the captive heroines and Mandrill licked his lips as he approached Valor.

“You were really going to strangle me to death, you whore!”

Valor growled and spit in his face.

Mandrill swung his arm around and smacked her head, sending her to the floor. He then knelt over her, slipping his leathery hands into her costume and toying with her tits. “We’re taking these bitches with us, right?”

Mach 5 shrugged. “Leech said it was cool, so yeah.”

Mandrill cackled and began licking Valor’s flesh as she fought against him.

“Unhand me!” she demanded.

Mach 5 leaned against the wall and watched when Metalhead turned to him.

“You’re not partaking?”

“I have eyes for only one lady,” Mach 5 told him. “You?”

“I’ll have my taste of this one,” Metalhead told him. He looked up when Mirage tried to attack Mandrill, and he gripped her by her dark hair and flung her across the room. She hit the wall and slumped to the ground and Metalhead walked over and grabbed the busty brown skinned heroine. He ripped off the bottom portion of her costume, exposing her pussy, and then spread her legs while lifting her at the same time. A long, thick, metal appendage protruded from between the cyborg’s legs as he lowered Mirage onto it. He spread his legs and began fucking her, lifting and lowering her onto the metal cock. Mirage cried out and swung her fist back, hitting him in the face, but Metalhead only laughed and fucked her harder as she fought him.

Her massive tits jiggled with his thrusting and she clawed at his face, trying to get free, but her nails only scraped metal as the cock, easily 10 inches, went deep in her guts and her screams filled the room.

Mandrill’s own impressively sized member swelled between his hairy legs. He began tearing at Valor’s costume with one hand while pinning her down by her neck with the other.

Harmony watched and gripped at the collar on her neck. When she was sure no eyes were on her, she reached into her dark, braided hair, and removed one of the pins that was keeping the hairstyle up. She then found the lock on the collar and began working it. She quickly abandoned the effort when Metalhead glanced up at her for only a second, and looked away so as to not draw any suspicion, but she could only helplessly watch as her teammates got abused.

Valor lay on her back, helpless as Mandrill ripped her costume off, exposing her athletic body for all to see. He then grabbed the heroine’s legs, bending them back so that her feet were parallel to her head, and he drove his cock into her, stretching her pussy out and causing her to cry out as he pinned her ankles to the floor.

Mandrill thrust his hips, grunting and moaning as Valor tits rocked and she groaned with his motions. He gripped her thighs, squeezing the ample meat, and Valor clenched her teeth as Mandrill’s cock stretched her and pushed in and out in a steady motion. Mandrill put one hand over her mouth to stop her whining and grinned with his mouth full of razor sharp teeth while he continued fucking the depowered heroine.

Mach 5 leaned against the wall with his arms folded and watched. His own cocked stiffened, poking against the inside of his costume.

“Look at that,” the cyborg pointed and laughed as Valor continued getting fucked on the floor of the interrogation room. “That’s your fate. All three of you,” he laughed. “I guess Star City’s gonna need some new defenders, huh?”

Mirage couldn’t reply, only cry out while the cyborg continued having his way with her.

Harmony said nothing. She could only watch as Valor, her leader, strongest among them, lay defeated and suffered repeated humiliation at the end of Mandrill’s swollen cock. Her eyes rolled back in her head, her muffled cries filled the tiny space of the room, and she clenched her hands into fists. Her nipples were erect despite herself, and her grunts of protests turned to moans of pleasure as Mandrill went in deeper, made his strokes longer, and took his time savoring his conquest.

Her nubile body was his to do with as he pleased, and Star City’s premier heroine could only lay there and take a pounding that drove her closer to orgasm with every passing second. Just as she got closer, Mandrill pulled his stiff cock out and shoved it between the heroines tits. He moved his hand from her mouth, squeezed her massive mounds together, and began thrusting.

The tip was mere inches from Valor’s face, and the heroine found herself sticking out her tongue, trying to taste the mutant’s member despite herself. He laughed and teased her, pulling his cock back before Valor could taste it, and instead he squeezed her tits harder, rammed his cock faster and then threw his head back.

His lean, furry body shuddered as she shot his steaming load all over Valor’s face. She gasped, lapping up his juices while looking up with a glazed over look in her eyes, and Mandrill laughed and stepped back with his cock dangling and dripping between his legs. Valor then cried out as she erupted, spilling a torrent of her own cum on the floor before she groaned and began twitching from the intensity of her orgasm.

Metalhead brought Mirage to orgasm moments later. The nubile, young Arab heroine spilled herself all over the floor, her thighs, and Metalhead’s legs before her body went limp. Metalhead gripped her hair and let her legs fall uselessly as streams of cum continued spilling.

“Heh...at the end of the day, that’s all you’re good for,” Metalhead taunted. “You want to switch?” he asked Mandrill.

“One sec…” Mandrill said while stroking himself.

“You...you...sons of bitches…” Mirage managed to mutter

“Don’t take that tone, girl, or I’ll be on my way to visit dad,” Metalhead reminded her.

Mirage then gasped as Metalhead threw her on the ground next to Valor. Mandrill then knelt down, his cock erect again, and gripped the heroine by her hips, pulling her ass into the air to mount her.

Harmony’s stomach sank as she watched the whole sickening scene unfold, but she saw her chance. Metalhead, Mandrill, and Mach 5 were all focused on Valor and Mirage and none of them watched her. She gripped her hairpin and began working the collar, thinking back to the many times she practiced this very thing at HQ. A smirk crossed her full lips as she heard it click.

Mach 5 perked up, having heard the same. “Guys…”

Harmony looked at the three of them. “Let me sing you assholes a song…”

“GET HER!” Metalhead shouted just as Harmony opened her mouth. The room then filled with an ear piercing, wall shaking scream. She directed the waves at the three of them, so that the sound and pressure hit them and avoided her friends. All three villains where launched back, against the far wall, and Metalhead hit it hard enough to crack it. Harmony stood up, never breaking her attack. She adjusted the intensity and put more power behind it, and the force hit the three villains like a cannon, hard enough that it put them all through the wall. They all plunged into the dark of the alley behind the station, hitting the ground outside, two stories below.

Once they were out, Harmony fell over, put her hands on her knees and held her throat. “Threaten my grandma, you douche…” she wheezed. She went over to the hole in the wall and looked outside. Metalhead picked himself up while Mandrill and Mach 5 writhed on the ground, holding their ears.

Harmony looked back and saw Mirage tending to Valor, and she herself wasn’t in any shape to go after them. When she looked outside again, Metalhead picked the other two up and the three of them stumbled away from the station and vanished into the streets of Star City.

Valor stood up with Mirage’s help and once she was on her feet, Mirage collapsed onto the floor and took a deep breath.

“Thanks, Alicia. You saved our asses…” Mirage sighed, her quivering brown thighs covered in her own cum.

Harmony simply nodded and gave her a thumbs up. Valor screamed in anger at her humiliation and punched the wall behind her.

VIII

Back at Battalion HQ sometime later, Delphi stood over Korina as she lay in hospital bed in the infirmary. Madeline stood next to her, looking at the monitor of the computer Korina was hooked up to.

“Do you have any idea how long she’ll be in this coma?” Delphi asked.

“No,” Madeline shook her head. “All we can do is keep watch over her and hope she pulls out of it…”

Naomi sat in a chair nearby, looking at her hands still caked in the dust of the building collapse. “I let the kid get hurt…” she said. ‘I was trying to protect her and...she got hurt…” Delphi and Madeline both turned to her and Madeline walked over and knelt in front of her.

“Come on, Naomi...don’t blame yourself. We had no idea that...woman...was going to be there. It caught us by surprise.”

“I’m gonna beat that giant bitch’s ass…” Naomi said before nodding to Korina. “For her…”

“What can you tell me about this woman you fought?” Delphi asked.

“Leech called her Brute. She was bigger than any person has any business being,” Madeline said. “Strength like I’ve never seen, too.”

Delphi nodded. “I’ll do some digging. What about Korina. Why did Leech have her?”

“It’s strange…” Madeline said. “I did a blood test...she has the Aphrodite gene, but you’d never know it by looking at her. It has to be inactive...that’s the only thing that would explain her average build. And her behavior was...odd.”

“How?”

“She acted like she was talking to someone,” Naomi answered. “Said it was a friend of hers who didn’t want to help her when she was in danger.”

Delphi looked at the girl. “Could it be she has some kind of Guardian? Sort of like Cindy and Adros?”

“Perhaps…” Madeline said. “We won’t know for certain until she wakes up.”

“What a fucking shitshow…” Naomi sighed. “Doesn’t sound like the others fared any better.”

“Yeah,” Delphi said. “Valor’s pissed. I’m just glad none of the others ended up in here.” She nodded to the other end of the infirmary where a woman lay in a bed, recovering from injuries. They had learned that her name was Wendy McCormick, and she went by the name Phaze. She had been badly injured in a previous fight with Metalhead and Mandrill.

“I’m not gonna lie, girls. This is bad. We need to put this thing to bed fast…” Delphi sighed. “There are bedrooms here that Mirage said we could use. You girls go rest. We’ll stay here tonight and convene with the others in the morning. Work out our next move…”

“I’m going to stay with Korina a bit longer,” Madeline said.

Delphi nodded as she and Naomi left the infirmary. Once they were outside, Delphi grabbed Naomi by her arm.

“Listen...I don’t want you doing anything rash. Okay?”

“What are you talking about?” Naomi asked.

“I know how you can be when you’ve taken a loss. You’re going to be thinking about Brute all night. Relax, rest, recuperate. I’m on it, okay? You’ll get your shot at round 2 soon enough.”

Naomi said nothing. She just nodded.

Delphi rubbed Naomi’s shoulder. “Go get some sleep.”

Once Naomi was gone, Delphi walked down the hall to Battalion’s training room where she found Valor, out of costume and in a sports bra and skimpy athletic shorts, standing over several destroyed training dummies.

The dark haired, statuesque heroine turned and looked back when Delphi walked in. Sweat dripped from her curves and muscles and her eyes burned with fury. Valor then turned to another training dummy and destroyed it with a single powerful punch.

“Misplaced anger is not going to help us win this,” Delphi said, walking up next to her.

“My anger isn’t misplaced. That idiot monkey dominated me and he’s going to pay.”

Delphi looked around the room at all of the destroyed training dummies. “I’d ask pay how, but I think I already know what you have in mind. Valor, tell me I can trust you to show restraint.”

“Why should I? These animals have no decency, so they should be afforded no mercy.”

“That isn’t how we do things…”

“That isn’t how you do things,” Valor corrected her. “This is not your city. Mirage, Harmony, and I barely escaped tonight because Mirage was soft. I am done treating these villains kindly.”

“Mirage isn’t wrong to…”

“She’s a naive child. I think you all are,” Valor cut her off. “We are at war, and I am tired of starry-eyed idealists acting like we aren’t. If you don’t like my approach, you and the others are welcome to go back to Delta City.”

Delphi stared the imposing woman in her eye, not backing down despite the fact that Valor could easily kill her with her bare hands. “I’m staying, because I want to help and rescue these missing women and any of your comrades that we can find, but please don’t go down this path.”

“What path?”

“Where violence is the only answer. I’ve seen this movie before. It poisons the soul. One day you won’t recognize the woman looking back at you in the mirror, but you’ll be so deep down that hole that you won’t know anything else.”

Valor looked Delphi up and down and then turned away to the next training dummy. “If that’s all, I’d like to get back to my training.”

Delphi simply stepped back and walked out of the room. When she was outside, she paused at the sight of Jasra leaning against the wall and they locked eyes.

“I heard enough…” Jasra said before Delphi asked.

“I…” Delphi started.

Jasra held up her hand and shook her head. “She’s usually like this...we learn to live with it.” They began walking down the hall. “Valor’s completely committed. It’s both her greatest strength and her biggest weakness. Her real name is Shannon Preston, but she won’t let us call her anything other than Valor.”

As if on cue, Valor walked out of the training room behind them. She eyed them briefly and then walked in the opposite direction to the bedrooms.

“Why is she like this?”

“A few years ago, she got into a fight with a villain named Miss Mayhem, basically Star City’s biggest terror at the time. The fight tore up half of downtown Star City and Valor’s family...her husband and her boy...got caught in the crossfire.”

“Oh my god…”

“She flew into a rage...caved Miss Mayhem’s head in with her mace...and that was that. It’s something that happens in our life sometimes. A loved one gets hurt and you either lose your nerve for the life, or you become a fanatic. I honestly don’t know which of the two is worse,” Jasra said.

“All of this must really be weighing down on her,” Delphi said.

“More than any one us knows. I really miss the old Valor...” Jasra sighed. “I’m glad you’re here, though,” she smiled. “I think we can finally put an end to this.”

Delphi nodded and smiled back. “I’m going to dig up what I can on this Brute woman Naomi and Madeline told me about.”

“I’ll put on some coffee and tell you about the speedster we had to deal with. Maybe working together, we can see something we missed initially.”

***

Valor walked into her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She wiped the sweat from her brow and then tossed the towel in her laundry basket before wandering over to her bed, kicking her shoes off, and sitting down. She let out a deep sigh and looked at the nightstand, where a picture of her in civilian clothing, along with her husband and her son, 4 at the time, were the ideal happy family. It had been taken just days before the fight with Miss Mayhem.

She picked the photo up and looked it over, like she did every night, focusing on her son’s light blue blanket that he held.

That same blanket was on her bed, ragged and torn, and she held it tight and swallowed a lump in her throat before putting the photo back down. Valor then lay down on the bed, holding the blanket close and choking back a sob as she curled up and attempted to get some sleep.

***

“That little cunt hurt my baby…” Brute growled while patting a cotton swab against Mach 5’s forehead. “Gonna rip her head off when I find her,” she promised.

“Agh...I’m fine, babe,” Mach 5 told her. “Ears are still ringing like crazy, though.”

Brute pouted and kissed him on the forehead.

They were in a penthouse office somewhere in Star City. Simon Forrest, Leech, downed a glass of whiskey and wiped his mouth. “Looks like those Battalion bitches have backup. Who are they?”

“The blonde you saw at the casino has been here a while, but she never did much fighting,” Metalhead said. “No idea about the other one other than that she’s a ringer from Delta City.”

“Fuck,” Leech spat. “They got away with that teen I was keeping to sell off, too. I was gonna peddle her to one of the high rollers, get more interest in the auction.”

“You should cancel the auction,” Metalhead warned. “The Delta City girls are backed by someone named Delphi, according to net chatter. She’s supposed to be damn smart and damn good at figuring things out.”

“Can’t do it,” Leech said. “I have too much money tied up in it and I’ve got reps from some of the biggest syndicates and crime families in the world here to partake. I screw them on this and they’ll fucking crucify me.”

“We should go out and hunt,” Mandrill said. “We have them on the run, let’s go for the kill.”

“We don’t know where to find them,” Mach 5 said.

“So we flush them out,” Brute told them. “Start wrecking shit. They’ll come then.”

“Terrible idea,” Metalhead said. “We start causing wanton destruction, the cops will come...maybe even Sentinel, and that’s on top of the super bitches. The four of us are a good force, but not strong enough for that combined firepower.” 

“Metalhead’s right,” Leech said. “We’re gonna circle the wagons. The four of you get down to the warehouse, protect the auction in case those big titted cows show up.”

“I guess you want us to take it easy on them if they do,” Mach 5 said. “Add them to the catalog.”

Leech shook his head. “You catch them, you keep them. They’re yours to do with whatever you wish. I want Valor’s head for my wall, though.”

The four villains laughed and began to move out.

IX

Naomi yawned and climbed out of bed when morning light came in through the window. Having no clothes other than the suit she wore, she slept in only her panties. She stretched her long arms and legs, and frowned at fresh bruises on her tits and stomach.

“Christ…” she groaned before grabbing her bra, shirt, and pants, and putting them on. She walked out of the bedroom and into the hall toward the main area of Battalion HQ. She passed a bathroom with the door open where Alicia, Harmony, was brushing her teeth while wearing a white bathrobe, having just gotten out of the shower. She waved and Naomi waved back.

Naomi passed another room where Jasra, wearing simply sweat clothes, was just getting up from where she had been kneeling on a prayer rug. She turned when she noticed Naomi and nodded to her and Naomi nodded back.

When she reached the main area, Delphi sat at a table with her laptop open in front of her and a pitcher of orange juice. She looked freshly made up, with a different outfit than what she had on the night before.

“Where the hell’d you get clean clothes?”

Delphi leaned down and picked up Naomi’s bag and tossed it to her. “I went back to the hotel earlier.”

“Oh, cool. Thanks,” Naomi said. 

“Have some breakfast before you get cleaned up,” Delphi said, shoving a glass of orange juice at Naomi and motioning to a spread of bacon, muffins, sausage, and other breakfast foods.

Naomi downed the orange juice in one gulp and Delphi watched her carefully before going back to her laptop. Naomi sat across from her and grabbed some bacon. “You learn anything new?”

“Quite a bit,” Delphi told her before turning the laptop around. Naomi saw file photos of Brute and Mach 5 on the screen. “Meet Sidney Levy and Billy Morris, better known as Brute and Mach 5. Supercriminals and lovers all the same. They mostly do things like attack armored cars and provide protection for crime bosses, so it’s no wonder they’re here. They’ve never been caught before but they have had some close run-ins with heroes in other cities.”

“All right...Brute, we can handle as a team, but how the hell do we stop someone with super speed?” Naomi asked.

“Slow him down enough to get a collar on him,” Delphi said. “We’ll probably have to use Brute for that. Hurt her, distract him, and bag them both.”

“Works for me,” Naomi shrugged. “Still, we have to find the fuckers…”

“I know…”

“Morning all,” Madeline said, bright and cheery when she walked in wearing an oversized t-shirt. She sat next to Naomi and took a muffin.

“How’s the kid?” Naomi asked.

“Stable, but no change…” Madeline sighed.

“We are well and truly up shit creek, y’all…” Naomi said, patting her legs when she felt something in her pocket. “What the hell?” she pulled out a card and then her eyes went wide. “Oh shit...Del, I think I know how to find them.”

“What is that?” Delphi asked, looking at the card.

“It’s the card that sexy Russian lady gave me.”

“Ukrainian,” Madeline corrected.

“Whatever. Look, I can go to her hotel, maybe get Leech’s location out of her.”

“I don’t know...I don’t like the idea of you going in there alone…”

“Too bad. I’m going,” Naomi said before running off to shower and change.

Madeline and Delphi watched her go. “She’s more excited about possibly getting laid, isn’t she?” Madeline asked.

“Probably...we don’t need to worry. If something happens, we’ll be on it.”

“How’s that?” Madeline asked.

“I put a tracker in her orange juice,” Delphi said very casually. “I thought she might run off to try and find Brute...so this was kind of a happy accident.”

“Oh she’s not going to like that…”

“She’ll get over it,” Delphi said.

Madeline stared down at the half-eaten muffin in her hand and then looked at Delphi. Delphi glanced up at her from behind her computer.

“I didn’t do anything to the muffins, Madeline,” Delphi promised.

***

Some time later, the elevator to the penthouse suit at the Star City Grand Royale dinged and Naomi stepped off of it and into a hallway appointed with fine art. She wore a tight tanktop and yoga pants that showed off her curves. She walked to the only door in the hall and knocked. When it opened, Elena Klokova stood in the doorway, wearing a silk robe with a plunging neckline. She had a glass of wine in one hand and a large smile on her face.

“Well look who it is. Glad to see you made it out of the casino,” she said, welcoming Naomi in. Her suite was massive, with large windows that looked over the skyline and a second floor that overlooked the first.

“Yeah, that was crazy,” Naomi said. “Any idea what caused it?”

“Oh, who knows?” Elena said, running a slender hand across Naomi’s bare shoulders as she walked around her. “There’s always something going on here in Star City, it seems.” She set her wine glass down and put both hands on Naomi’s shoulders. “I don’t suppose you bought those party favors with you?” she asked while kissing her on the neck.

Naomi reached into her waistband and pulled out the small bag with the tabs of Bliss. Elena plucked it from her hand and then took Naomi’s other hand and guided her to the bedroom.

As Naomi followed, she watched the shape of Elena’s plump ass beneath her robe, and how it swayed when she walked. Elena looked back over her shoulder and flashed a smile as they walked into the bedroom, where a massive bed big enough for several people lay against the far wall. Elena opened the Bliss and took one tab, and then stuck the other on the end of her finger and put it in Naomi’s mouth.

Naomi took Elena’s wrist and sucked the bliss tablet, but continued sucking Elena’s finger even after she swallowed. Elena giggled and fell back onto the bed, pulling Naomi down on top of her. Naomi pinned her down, undoing her robe to unveil a lithe, athletically toned body. They kissed, and Naomi slid a hand down Elena’s side, resting it on her thigh. Elena slid her hand under Naomi’s shirt, gripping the tit playing with the flesh.

Naomi sat up, straddling Elena’s waist just long enough to to take her shirt off. Her tits spilled out and Elena grinned and grabbed two handfuls while Naomi leaned back in. Elena then put a finger to her lips.

“One second,” Elena grinned before sliding from underneath Naomi and getting on her knees on the side of the bed. She reached under it and pulled out a slim briefcase. Inside were a collection of sex toys and Elena stood up with a massive purple cock that she fixed to her slim waist. She took her robe off and dropped it to the floor before grabbing Naomi by her ankle and dragging her to the side of the bed. Naomi yelped and giggled as Elena grabbed her hips and flipped her over before climbing onto the bed behind her. She pulled down Naomi’s pants and took off her underwear.

Naomi gasped as Elena slid the cock into her ass, slowly stretching her asshole as she guided the toy in. She then began pumping, and Naomi gasped as Elena fucked her. The Bliss was beginning to take effect over both of them, and Elena leaned in, rocking her hips back and forth. Her pelvis slapped against the ample meat of Naomi’s ass, and Elena squeezed and slapped the cheeks before sliding one hand around and slipping two fingers into Naomi’s damp pussy.

The Bliss heightened every sensation, amplified the feel of every nerve being driven to ecstasy, and Naomi felt herself getting warm as her tits swung back and forth and her pussy got even wetter while Elena fucked her. She gasped when Elena gripped her hair and yanked her head back, and she moaned when the woman ran her hand across her naked back. The Bliss had pushed every thought that didn’t have to do with pleasure out of her mind and Naomi’s jaw went slack as Elena penetrated her pussy with her fingers. She grabbed Elena’s wrist, pushing her hand in even deeper and then bit her lower lip. She could feel herself beginning to soak Elena’s hand and then cried out when Elena pushed her fingers in deeper.

As that happened, the purple monster went in deeper, harder, faster. Elena took her time with her stroking, making sure Naomi felt every last bit of it, and she dug her nails into the flesh of Naomi’s tits while she did.

“Ah! Fuck!” Naomi cried out at the quickly mounting pleasure. She felt Elena’s tits against her back and Elena planted light kisses on Naomi’s shoulders while continuing to fuck her. Naomi felt her body heat, her sweat, the goosebumps on her skin as their bodies felt like they were becoming one. Her fingers went into her pussy up to the knuckles, and she toyed around with Naomi’s insides, rubbing the roof of her pussy while toying with the clit using her thumb.

If it hadn’t been for the Bliss, Naomi may have been able to hold out a little longer, but as it stood, she could feel herself fighting a losing battle. So she sucked in a deep breath, let out a shrill cry, and her cum burst all over Elena’s hand, soaking the sheets and slicking the thick meat of her thighs.

Elena laughed and took a few more slow, deliberate thrusts with both her hand and the fake cock before pulling both out.

Naomi turned and fell onto the sheets on her back. Her tits heaved with breath, her skin glowed, and she smiled even as Elena flicked her own cum back onto her. She noticed a devilish grin cross Elena’s face as she went back down to the case, and Naomi sighed and lay back, all but forgetting why she had come there in the first place. She then looked up when she felt Elena stand back up and the smile on her face melted away when she saw Elena holding a syringe.

Naomi tried to spring up, but a sucker punch from Elena caught her on the jaw. It didn’t hurt, but the surprise of it was enough to put Naomi back down and stun her long enough for Elena to jab her in the neck and inject her with its contents.

Naomi pushed Elena back and got up off the bed. “What the fuck?!” she exclaimed. The room spun and Naomi had to focus just to stay upright.

“Oh, you naive little fool,” Elena said, tossing the empty syringe aside. “I know it was you who busted up Leech’s casino. I know you’re one of those super cows. This…” she pointed to the syringe. “Is how we bring super cows to heel when we can’t get a suppression collar.”

“Fuck…” Naomi gasped, reaching for something to hold herself up as her legs threatened to give out under her.

“And now Leech will owe me a favor when I deliver you to him on a silver platter for his slave auction,” Elena taunted. She walked around Naomi and kissed her on the lips. “Maybe I’ll bid on you. You’ll love Ukraine.”

“Y...you bitch…!” Naomi found it harder to stay conscious. Her ears rang when Elena yelled a word out in Ukrainian. Moments later, the door to the bedroom swung open and several muscle-bound goons in black suits stormed in and surrounded Naomi.

Elena smirked and sauntered toward the door. “This is what power looks like, dear. Go easy on her, boys. We don’t want to damage the goods before the auction.” She then blew Naomi a kiss and left the room.

Naomi breathed deep and eyed Elena’s men. There were either six of them, or twelve, by her count. Still, she nodded and formed her hands into fists. “Come on, you cunts…” she challenged them as they all charged and swarmed her at once. Before long, Naomi was brought down by flurry of rock hard fists to her naked body.

***

The sun was beginning to set over Star City, and back at Battalion HQ, Madeline held the comatose Korina’s hand for several silent moments before turning and looking down at the other end of the infirmary.

Wendy McCormick, Phaze, stood to the side of her bed, still in a hospital gown, as she stretched her arms, wincing slightly.

“How do you feel?” Alicia asked her friend.

Wendy was a pale young woman with dark brown hair and she stood at slightly above average height. She smiled at Alicia. “Better. I’m ready to get back out there.”

“I’d like her to take it easy, honestly,” Madeline said. “Even with your accelerated healing, you shouldn’t push it.”

“I know, Dr. Smith, but from what I’ve been hearing, it’s all hands on deck. I want to help.”

Madeline sighed and nodded, not having a strong argument for that. Alicia smiled and put a hand on Wendy’s shoulder.

“Are the others from Delta City here? I haven’t had the chance to meet them yet,” Wendy said.

“Oh, Delphi’s here, but I haven’t seen Naomi since this morning…” Madeline said with sudden realization.

Just then, the door opened and Valor walked in, wearing her costume with her mace in hand and her helmet tucked under her arm. “Ah. Wendy. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes ma’am,” Wendy nodded.

“Are you ready to see action again?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Suit up. All of you. We may have found Leech,” Valor said before turning and walking out, her cape trailing behind her.

Moments later, everyone was gathered in the conference room, with Delphi standing in front of a monitor. Mirage sat next to Valor and Hope and Harmony sat with Phaze, whose costume was skintight black spandex with a yellow triangle down the chest.

“Naomi appears to have been captured…” Delphi said bluntly. The others looked around the room with concerned before she continued. “Earlier this afternoon, Naomi made contact with a woman named Elena Klokova, a boss with a powerful Ukrainian mafia syndicate. Elena is an associate of Leech’s and likely knows something about where he’s keeping his hostages. I managed to put a tracker on Naomi before she left, and it could lead us right to Leech.”

“Why was Naomi meeting this woman by herself?” Mirage asked.

“Delphi let her do it…” Hope said, her tone somewhat accusatory.

Delphi straightened her glasses. “It was a risk, yes, but one that paid off.”

“She still should have had backup…” Harmony said.

“Stop bickering,” Valor said. “The important thing is we may finally be able to end this. We need to go to this warehouse,” she pointed to the location on the map on the monitor. “We’re going to hit them hard and fast. Move.”

Harmony and Mirage looked at each other and then got up to leave the room, with Phaze close behind. Valor watched her team and went behind them, leaving Delphi and Hope alone. Hope sat at the table with her arms folded.

“You shouldn’t have let her go alone…”

“Naomi can take care of herself. Trust me,” Delphi said. “If I thought she couldn’t handle it…”

“Don’t, Anisa…” Madeline said with a sigh as she got up. “I know this is a dire situation but these girls have already lost plenty of their friends. We’re not losing one of ours. Are you staying here with Korina?”

Delphi nodded as Hope got up to go leave with the others.

Next: The Rescue, Valor’s Fury, The Legendary Aphrodite