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Superia #5: Hope and Valor pt. 3

by Sigma

The Story So Far: After suffering setbacks while trying to break up the Star City kidnapping ring, the Delta City heroines and their allies in the Battalion try to figure out their next move. Superia, however, jumped the gun and ended up in the hands of a sadistic female crime boss who intends to auction her off.

X

Naomi jolted awake with the shock of ice cold water hitting her body. She tried to move, but her hands were restrained over her head by chains and her legs were held in place too. She felt the cold metal of a suppression collar around her neck.

She gasped for air as her vision cleared and water dripped from her naked curves and onto the stone floor underneath her. She felt a meaty hand grip her hair and when she was forced to look up, she saw Brute’s broad face smiling at her.

“Wakey, wakey…” the big woman said. A man in a leather apron stood behind her holding a dripping fire hose.

“What the fuck is this?” Naomi breathed, looking around he barren room. “This is looks like something out of one of those torture porns.”

“Heh...nothing that dark,” Brute told her, running her hand through Naomi’s soaked hair. “Though...it’s not that much better for you. You’re about to be auctioned off.”

Naomi thought back to how she got there and then pulled at the chains that held her. “Where the fuck is Elena, that bitch?!”

“Enjoying a glass of champagne right now, I imagine,” Brute laughed. She ran her hand down the side of Naomi’s face. “You know, it’s a shame you’re all tied up with the collar on. We never finished our fight. If I hit you right now, I’d probably kill your ass.”

“So take it off and let’s dance,” Naomi said to her. 

“As much as I’d love that, you have another appointment,” Brute pat her on the side of the face before stepping back and nodding to the man with the hose. He pulled back on the lever and Naomi got blasted with a powerful torrent of freezing cold water that caused her to clench her teeth before she cursed out loud. The blast lasted several seconds, but by the end of it, she was soaked from head to toe and Brute simply laughed at her.

More attendants then entered the room and surrounded Naomi. They began scrubbing her down with soap, making sure to get every curve and crevasse and Brute turned to her side when Mach 5 walked in carrying a tray of meat and cheeses.

“Man, these rich assholes sure have good taste,” Mach 5 said, eating from the plate. Brute took a small block of cheese and ate it.

“Huh...not bad.”

“So, babe, I’m thinking we hit the beach for a bit after this gig is done,” Mach 5 said. “I could use some sun.”

“You think we’ll still be able to get into Mexico?” Brute asked. “I liked that beach we went to a few years ago.”

“Hey,” Naomi called out and nodded to Mach 5. “Who the fuck is he and why is he wearing a giant condom?” she asked of his gray, skintight suit. “Oh...wait...I guess he has to if he’s diving into that gigantic snatch. It’s probably like being swallowed by a fucking whale.”

Brute growled at her and Mach 5 sped over to Naomi. Her head snapped back and Mach 5 was back standing next to Brute by the time the blood dripping from Naomi’s nose hit the ground.

“Fuck…” Naomi wheezed through her mouth.

“Collar, baby,” Brute pointed to the collar on Naomi’s neck.

“He hits like a little girl…” Naomi chuckled, licking up and spitting out her own blood. One of the attendants wordlessly wiped the blood from her nose as the others dried her off while one sprayed her with a pleasant smelling perfume. They then unshackled her and grabbed her arms to escort her out after tying her wrists together. Brute and Mach 5 followed behind them, moving through a holding area at the back of the warehouse. Naomi gasped in shock as she was marched past cages and holding cells with other women stripped, chained, and tied up. They all wore suppression collars, and many of them, the few who didn’t avoid looking at Naomi, had defeated looks on their faces.

“I’m gonna beat every one of your fucking asses when I get this collar off,” Naomi promised.

“Sure you will,” Brute said as they reached a pair of curtains at the end of their walk. She shoved Naomi through and onto a stage, where a crowd gathered crime lords, syndicate bosses, and kingpins stood around in their finest clothes, drinking champagne and chatting and laughing until Naomi appeared.

She looked around the crowd of around four dozen, not counting armed and suited guards, along with Metalhead, who stood in a far corner. Naomi’s face then twisted in a mask of rage when she saw Elena smirking at her from behind a raised glass. 

“All right ladies and gentleman!” Leech said, walking onto the stage with a microphone in hand. “Our next offering is brand new to Star City, just up from Delta City. This one’s an Aphrodite, with heightened strength, reflexes, stamina, and durability. So if you’ve got the right means to brainwash, she’s a capable soldier. If you just want to pass her around at parties, she’s good for that too. Hell, just drug her up and peddle her to anyone with ten bucks. It’s up to you,” he explained. “Let’s start the bidding at $50,000.”

“That’s it?!” Naomi yelled. “You prick!”

“Looks like you’ll have a fiery one who’ll be fun to break!” Leech said to the crowd.

“$60,000!” someone yelled.

“75!” Another voiced commanded.

“100,000.”

Naomi turned and saw Elena, who raised her glass to her.

“Well, it looks like we’ve got a bidding war!” Leech laughed and looked at Naomi. He grabbed her tits and squeezed them. “Come on, folks. Get those bids up. Look at these curves!”

The bidding went on, with Elena crossing swords with everyone else interested in Naomi until it was down to her and a middle aged bald man Naomi learned was a warlord from some obscure guerrilla group that terrorized central Africa.

“Heh...looks like it’s either Ukraine or the jungle for you, bitch,” Brute whispered.

“Sold for $500,000 to the beautiful Ms. Klokova! Better luck next time, Commander Chosani,” Leech said to the warlord, who shook his head in defeat. “All right, bring out the next one.”

Brute grabbed Naomi’s arm to drag her back behind the curtain when Elena climbed onto the stage with some of her security.

“I’ve got her,” Elena said.

Brute shrugged and let her take Naomi away. They moved through the curtains and into the backstage area.

“500K, eh?” Naomi said. “I didn’t know you cared.”

“I’ll make that back in a week,” Elena said as they walked among the caged women. She then slid her hand down Naomi’s back and shoved two fingers in her pussy, causing Naomi to gasp. Elena licked her lips and leaned in close. “I’ve got some very powerful friends in government who would love a healthy young American like you. How’s your Russian?”

Naomi looked at Elena’s guards. There were only two of them. “Non-existent, and I don’t like the cold.”

“It doesn’t matter. You won’t be doing much talking with all the cocks in your mouth,” Elena laughed.

“Neither will you with your jaw wired shut, cunt.”

“Wha-” Elena got cut off when Naomi drove her elbow into her jaw, knocking her on her ass. She lay sprawled out on the floor and her guards were caught by surprise when Naomi struck out at them.

One caught the back of her heel to the side of his head when she roundhouse kicked him. He spiraled to the ground, out cold. The second guard took a swing that Naomi easily weaved past. She then knocked his next punch aside and kneed him in the stomach. When he double over, she jumped on his back and began strangling him with the bond keeping her wrists together until he fell unconscious.

Many of the caged women cheered her on, hopeful that things were about to get better. Naomi stood up and looked at Elena and her men. Elena crawled back, her eyes wide with fear and blood running down her jaw as Naomi stood over her.

“I just took down two of your goons, naked, without my powers, and with my hands tied. What do you think I’m about to do to you, Laney?”

“H-hold on...let’s talk…” Elena pleaded, holding up her hand.

“Nah,” Naomi said. “I think I’ll knock all your teeth out instead. How are the dentists in Ukraine?”

Elena whimpered and crawled back as Naomi approached her. The caged women cheered. They wanted blood and Naomi was about to give it to them. She reached down and grabbed Elena by her narrow neck, lifted her, and began squeezing. Naomi’s lean muscles flexed and Elena struggled in her grip, knocking her fists against Naomi’s arms and kicking her long legs fruitlessly. One expensive heel come off as Elena gagged in Naomi’s grip.

“Now what was that you were saying about power earlier?” Naomi smirked.

Just then, a powerful hand gripped Naomi’s head and drove her into the floor face first. Mandrill had leapt down from the rafters and grabbed her, and now stood over her with his teeth bared and his cock stiff.

“I guess you’re ready for round two?” he cackled. Elena looked up at the monkey-man before getting up and running for her life. Mandrill threw Naomi back against one of the cages. Pain wracked her entire body and her head smacked against the bars, making her vision swim.

Mandrill licked his lips and eyed Naomi. He then grabbed her hair and dragged her away from the cage before shoving his stiffened cock in her mouth. It went to the back of Naomi’s throat, and she began gagging on it as Mandrill fucked her face and cackled while he did it. Over time, he picked up the speed and intensity of his trusting, and Naomi’s eyes rolled back in her head.

Mandrill’s body then shuddered and he let his load loose in her mouth, keeping his cock in, shoving her face against his pelvis and forcing her to swallow most of it before he pulled out. He finished himself off, jerking himself and letting what was left coat Naomi’s face, hair, and tits. He laughed and stepped back and Naomi, gasping for air, sat on her knees and looked at the floor before heaving, covering her mouth, and then throwing up what Mandrill put inside her.

Mandrill howled with twisted delight and then shoved Naomi’s face in it, pointing. “That’s all your good for. That’s all any of you are good for!” he teased while forcing her back up.

“You flea-ridden piece of shit…” Naomi breathed. “...Actually, I should thank you.”

“Why?”

“My best friend, Lex, her birthday’s soon and I didn’t know what to get her before now.”

Mandrill raised an eyebrow.

“What I’m saying is you’d make a damn fine fur coat, shithead.”

Mandrill ignored the threat and folded his arms. “I think I’ll take it slow this time. Without your powers...this is going to hurt...a lot.”

“Ugh...shit…” Naomi groaned, holding her aching head where it hit the cage. She knew that, with the collar still on, she was no match for Mandrill. She looked for an exit. The curtain to the main area was in one direction. She hoped there was another exit in the other direction.

Mandrill loomed over her, baring his teeth when there was a sudden rumble on the roof. He looked up and saw a blaze of light when it looked like something on the roof exploded. A second later, the skylight exploded in a shower of glass as someone came crashing through it.

Valor landed between Naomi and Mandrill in a crouch, her mace in her hand and steely look in her eyes as glass shards fell across her cape. She stood tall, and before Mandrill could act, he caught her mace to his jaw and flew back, going through the wall he hit.

Valor looked back at Naomi. “Are you okay?”

“Okay enough. The cavalry’s here?”

“Indeed,” Valor said before they turned to the sound of fighting erupting in the main area. Valor then grabbed the suppression collar on Naomi’s neck and broke it. “Get to work,” she said before walking off to join the fight.

“Wait,” Naomi stopped her.

Valor looked back.

“Are any of these women your people?” Naomi asked, pointing at the cages.

Valor looked around at the dozen or so caged women and shook her head. “No. We’ll come back for them after we find out where Leech is keeping any others he’s taken,” she said before turning away.

Naomi watched her walk away. Her powers were coming back as evidenced by the pain in her body starting to fade. She stood up and stretched her arms before looking at the caged women.

“Can any of you fight?”

They all had nervous, uneasy looks on their faces.

“Dammit. Okay, stay put. I’ll be right back,” she promised before running off to catch up with Valor.

The auction house was pure chaos with people fleeing, security men yelling, and the heroines all in the middle of it. In the distance, Mirage was trading blows with Metalhead, using her after images to throw him off, while Harmony was fighting security guards. Hope was using her solid light powers against more security guards and Naomi saw another girl in costume, the one who had been in a hospital bed at Battalion HQ, run at a security guard, phase through him, and then take him down from behind with a choke hold.

“How easily they crumble…” Valor said.

Naomi started to answer when she saw Leech fleeing through a side door. “There’s Leech!” she said before taking off with Valor right behind her. Leech saw them and told some of his men to stop them. They turned to meet the heroines and Valor darted ahead of Naomi, knocking the men aside with a sweep of her mace. Leech locked the door behind him, slowing the heroines down, but Naomi stepped back and charged, knocking the door aside with one powerful blow as she and Valor ran up the flight of stairs behind Leech.

Before long, they reached the roof and Leech was on his knees in disbelief in front of the burning wreck of the helicopter he had arrived in.

“I made sure I destroyed that first,” Valor said.

Leech turned to face her, only to get grabbed by his shirt and walked to the edge of the building. Valor narrowed her eyes and dangled him over the concrete, three stories up.

“Where are the other missing women? There are only a handful downstairs.”

“Another warehouse! Not far from here!” Leech confessed as he looked down at the unforgiving concrete. “It’s that one over there, with the red roof!” he pointed.

“Good.” Valor said before throwing him off the roof, screaming.

“WHAT THE FUCK!” Naomi screamed and ran to the edge of the room. She looked over the edge and saw Leech on the ground, a broken, unmoving mess in an expanding pool of blood.

“He’ll never victimize anyone again…” Valor said, casually turning and walking away.

“Wait!” Naomi shouted.

Valor turned and looked at her and Naomi stomped toward her until they were face to face.

“”What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why did you kill him?!”

 “I solved the problem,” Valor said to her. “All the pain that man has caused, never again.”

“We aren’t fucking executioners!”

“You won’t survive this life long unless you’re willing to make the hard decisions.”

“That’s bullshit…” Naomi said. “This isn’t why we do this…” She then looked up when Valor put her hand on her shoulder.

“You’ll think differently the day you lose someone to this life,” Valor told her before turning and walking back inside.

Naomi watched Valor leave and then walked back to the edge of the roof looked down at Leech, dead where he lay. “Jesus Christ…” she uttered before going back inside.

Back below, more security goons fell before Valor’s wrath and Naomi simply followed in her wake. She looked around, seeing Hope and the others had their hands full between Metalhead and all of the security men.

“Where the fuck are the big bitch and the condom?” Naomi asked herself, not seeing Brute and Mach 5 anywhere. Almost on cue, a wall exploded and Brute charged through, barreling over several security men in the process. Harmony was directly in her path, and she spun around and directed a scream at Brute that caused the big woman to pause and weather the sonic assault. Through sheer willpower and strength, Brute pushed through and silenced Harmony when she grabbed her by her head, covering her mouth with her hand and lifting her up.

“You the little bitch that hurt my baby?” Brute said. She grinned and began squeezing Harmony’s face. “Time to pop you like the annoying little pimple you are.”

Harmony panicked in her grip, throwing futile punches and kicks that did nothing to Brute’s solid muscle. Brute chuckled and applied more pressure, only to scream out when Phaze jumped on her massive back and put her hand through Brute’s shoulder, right against the muscle and bone underneath.  Brute dropped Harmony instantly and reached back, grabbing Phaze and slamming her down, right on top of Harmony. The two young heroines lay sprawled on the floor in a daze. Brute lifted her foot and prepared to stomp on them until a block of light stopped her. Hope then made the block expand and pushed her away.

When Brute charged at Hope, Naomi charged and tackled the big woman with her shoulder, hitting her with enough force to knock her aside. Naomi tumbled across the ground, having overestimated her momentum, and held her shoulder.

“God damn! It’s like running into a building!” she groaned. Brute got up and began running at Naomi, who only had time to brace herself. Brute ran head on into a wall Hope raised right in front of Naomi and, in the second she was stunned, Valor flew in from the side and hit Brute hard with her mace. The impact of the blow sent a shockwave that shattered glass and cracked nearby surfaces, and Brute went flying, through a wall and outside the room.

“Holy fuck…” Naomi said as she and Hope stared at each other in awe.

At the same time, Metalhead hit Mirage with a blast from his energy cannon that shredded her costume, leaving her naked body exposed, and knocked her to the ground. He turned and aimed at Valor, who ducked the next shot and charged at him.

“Naomi, look out!” Hope shouted, but far too late. Naomi turned around to see Mandrill charging at her. He tackled her to the ground and she threw her arm up to guard against his vicious bite. He locked his jaw around her forearm and she hit him repeatedly, but he wouldn’t let go. Hope hit Mandrill with a blast of light that seemed to only annoy him, so he got up and attacked her, leaping on her and trying to take bites out of her flesh as she screamed and tried fighting him off.

“Maddie!” Naomi yelled, nursing her bleeding arm. “Shit…”

Valor hit Metalhead hard enough to knock him down and then turned when she heard Naomi yell for Madeline. She watched Mandrill pin Hope to the ground and then looked around the room. Harmony and Phaze were still down, Mirage was barely able to get up after taking Metalhead’s blast. Valor breathed deep and gritted her teeth. She tightened the grip on her weapon.

“I have. Fucking. HAD IT!” She yelled before charging at Mandrill. Mandrill heard her scream and looked up. She brought her mace down on his head and there was a sickening crack that made Naomi and Hope wince. Mandrill then fell over, off of Hope, his skull partially caved in from the blow. His tongue hung from his mouth and his eyes were rolled back in his head.

Hope sat up and stared at the body and then turned to Valor, who spun and faced Metalhead as he was getting up.

“Well...that isn’t good…” the cyborg said, having just seen what happened.

Valor then charged at him. He lifted his arm cannon only for Valor to grab it with one hand and then separate it from the rest of him with a swing of her mace. She struck him with a backhand swing that put him down and then jumped and came down hard on his chest. There was a crunch of metal on metal as Valor brought her weapon down on the cyborg’s head and chest over and over. Metalhead thew a punch and Valor grabbed the cyborg’s fist, crunching it in her hand until it was twisted, useless wreck. She then threw his hand aside and continued pummeling him until he stopped moving.

Even then, she didn’t stop beating him and screaming in rage.

Naomi, Hope, Phaze, Harmony, and Mirage all stood around, horrified at the brutality they were witnessing. Harmony had to look away while Phaze stepped forward.

“Ma’am...I think…”

Valor ignored her and continued hitting Metalhead with her fists. Finally, Mirage stepped forward and grabbed Valor’s arm.

“Valor!” she yelled. “Shannon!”

Valor paused and turned to them all. Her shoulders seemed to drop when she saw the looks on their faces. She took a deep breath and pulled away, making Mirage step back. She then straightened her hair and picked up her mace.

“Go free the captives. I’m going to the other warehouse to find the rest. We’re finished here,” Valor said calmly before walking away. Metalhead lay on the floor, a twisted wreck leaking fluid everywhere.

Naomi blinked in shock at the carnage while Hope covered her mouth and shook her head before turning away.

XI

“You need me, little girl. You’d have died long ago if not for me.”

“I know and I understand that, so why are you being a stubborn bitch?”

“I will only manifest when the time is right.”

“I almost died in that fucking casino. Where were you then?!”

“Those women had it handled. I wasn’t needed.”

“You are impossible! I can’t believe we’re related!”

“And I can’t believe one of my own descendants is so soft and whiny. I’m done talking to you for now, child. It’s time for you to wake up.”

“Xanthe!”

Back at the infirmary in Battalion HQ, the comatose Korina lay in her bed, still unmoving, except for a subtle twitch of her left index finger and a flutter of her eyelids.

In the main area, Naomi, Madeline, and Jasra sat in silence, utterly exhausted.

Delphi stood in front of the television, fixated on the news report.

“Police are reporting that a kidnapping ring was broken up tonight in the warehouse district near the edge of the city. Several known and suspected international criminals, such as Elena Klokova from the Ukraine, and central African warlord Mose Chosani were apprehended. There were also at least three dead among the chaos, including local organized crime boss Simon Forrest, aka The Leech…” the report went on.

“What happened?” Delphi asked. Everyone looked up at her and then at each other.

“Valor threw Leech off the roof. I was right there when she did it,” Naomi said. “That shit ain’t right…” she said. “And what she did to those other two assholes…”

“Who?” Delphi asked.

“Mandrill and Metalhead. She beat them to death,” Madeline sighed. “I can’t unsee it.”

“She did go overboard,” Jasra said. “But...it’s over. Finally.”

“This can’t be how we do things!” Naomi said. “I mean...what the fuck? We’re not murderers!”

“Naomi…” Delphi said. “I agree with you, and it isn’t how we do things in Delta. But...not our town, not our rules.”

“Bullshit!” Naomi said. “Look...I get she lost her husband and her kid, and that’s a shame, it really is, but...fucking Christ...she didn’t think twice about what she did.”

“You’re right, Naomi…” Madeline said. “But it can’t be helped, sadly…”

Naomi sighed. “What about the big bitch and the speedster?”

“It looks like they got away,” Madeline said. “Are we staying to track them down?”

Delphi nodded. “They’re too dangerous to leave alone. We can’t guarantee they’ll stay now that their employer is dead, but we should be certain.”

“At least the women are safe. They found several missing Battalion members at the other warehouse. I talked to the head of Altered Physiology at Star City Memorial and he said they’re all in good health.” Madeline said. “Now...Anisa...tell Naomi what you did to her.”

“What?” Naomi sat up. “What’s she talking about, Del?”

Delphi straightened and pushed her glasses up. “I put a tracker in that orange juice you drank. It’s how we found the auction.”

Naomi looked at her. “You fucking microchipped me?!”

“Yes,” Delphi stood firm.

Naomi sat back and shrugged. “Honestly, whatever, I probably need it.”

Madeline threw her hands up in exasperation and Jasra quietly laughed.

“Am I stuck with it?” Naomi asked.

Delphi shook her head. “It’s an experimental biodegradable tech I’ve patented. Your stomach acid will dissolve it over the next 48 hours.”

They were disrupted by a beeping sound and Madeline went into the pocket of the hoodie she had changed into. She took out a small pager and then jumped up. “There’s been a change with Korina!” she announced before running off. Delphi and Naomi followed behind her.

As they rushed to the infirmary, Wendy and Alicia walked out, having changed their clothes, and Valor wasn’t far behind, still in her costume. Wendy immediately went to the refrigerator while Alicia plopped down on the couch and turned on cartoons. Valor took a seat at the table with Jasra and they sat for several minutes before Jasra finally spoke.

“What the hell happened back there, Shannon?”

Valor straightened and looked at her teammates. “I did what I had to.” She took her helmet off and shook out her dark hair. “I realize what I’ve done must have shocked all of you...but this menace isn’t something we can continue to tolerate.”

The other heroines all paused and looked at each other and then Jasra shook her head. “Things can’t be this way, Val. You’re walking along a dangerous abyss and one day it’s going to swallow you.”

“I am in control of my actions, Jasra…”

“Are you? It didn’t look that way a few hours ago.”

Valor looked at Wendy and Alicia, who avoided eye contact. “Do you two feel the same way?”

“...It was horrifying to see you that way, ma’am. That raw rage...I’m not sure I feel safe with a team leader prone to that kind of outburst,” Wendy said.

Alicia bit her lip when all eyes fell on her. “I understand why, boss...but I don’t like it, either.”

Valor sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Perhaps you’re right…” she admitted after several moments of silence. “Ever since the fight with Miss Mayhem...it’s like...I feel like I’ve been drowning in dark water. No matter what we do, things just seem to get worse. When I saw you all at the mercy of those two and thought about everyone we’ve lost, I just…” she shook her head. “I’m not losing anyone else…”

She stared at the table, but looked up when she felt Jasra’s hand on top of hers.

“This is a hard life, Shannon, but we’ve got each other. You aren’t alone, stop acting like you are. We’re always here to talk. You know that...”

Valor allowed a small smile and nodded. “I am truly proud of each and every one of you, and there is no one else I’d rather have helping protect our home.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Wendy smiled as she and Alicia approached the table. She put her hand on Valor’s shoulder.

“I admit, I need to show restraint,” Valor said. “Know that I don’t regret what I did, but I didn’t mean to scare you. I truly do think of you girls as family. I wish to continue as your leader...but I need to work to gain your trust…”

The others looked at her and then each other.

“I want Jasra to lead the team for the foreseeable future, until you all are comfortable with me being leader again.”  

The three of them gasped and stared at each other and then at Valor.

“Are you sure?” Jasra asked.

“I am. It’s the right choice. A leader needs a cool head at all times. You have that, I clearly don’t. I’m going to do better by all of you. I owe you that.”

The other three looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

“You’ve gotten us through hard times, Val. We’re still with you,” Jasra said. “I accept.”

“We’ll do whatever we can to help you,” Wendy said, “But...it’s just the four of us until the others are cleared by the doctors. What are we going to do about the others Leech managed to send away.”

Valor nodded. “Delphi put me in touch with an Agent Fox from Sentinel. She has access to resources that will help us find our friends Leech sent away. It will be hard, but we can rebuild.”  

“Does that mean you’ve accepted the Delta crew as allies?” Alicia asked.

“Yes,” Valor nodded. “I have to acknowledge that we need them. This is not something we can sustain alone.”

Jasra squeezed her friend’s hand and smiled.

Alicia and Wendy went back to what they were doing when the elevator into the room dinged and they perked up.

“Who the hell…?” Jasra asked.

The doors opened and a gray blur ran out and went around the room. It took a moment before Jasra, Wendy, Alicia, and Valor all realized they suddenly had suppression collars around their necks. Mach 5 then ran back and stood by the elevator as the doors opened and Brute stepped out, cracking her knuckles and grinning.

“You idiots had no idea my baby followed you here…” Brute taunted.

“Shit…” Jasra gasped and jumped out of her chair. Valor did the same, growling at the pair, and Alicia and Wendy got up and joined their team.

“We’re missing two…” Brute said. “Go find them, honey.”

Mach 5 nodded and sped off.

Brute looked around and chuckled. “All right...let’s see which one you cunts cracks first.”

***

“What’s changed?” Naomi asked.

Madeline had pulled Korina’s eyelids open as used a small flashlight to check. “She’s responding to stimuli and her brain activity is starting to return to normal,” Madeline smiled. 

“So what now?” Naomi asked.

“We wait,” Madeline said. “This is good. It means she’s mending.”

“Could it be her Aphrodite genetics?” Delphi asked. “Admittedly, I’ve never heard of an Aphrodite in a coma, so I don’t know how typical this is.”

Madeline shook her head. “I don’t know. Aphrodites typically being as hardy as they are, I’ve never seen anything like this before. Even when I was taking care of Wendy, she was awake and responsive the entire time, which is amazing considering how badly she was hurt.”

“Well, if we’re gonna hang here, I’m gonna go grab something from the kitchen. You guys want anything?” Naomi asked.

“I’ll have some coffee,” Madeline said.

“What? Maddie, it’s almost midnight!”

“Oh, I’m sorry Naomi, how long did you work as a surgeon?”

Delphi suppressed a laugh and shook her head.

“Fuck you, Maddie,” Naomi said, laughing. “Del?”

“There are still some muffins left. I’d like a blueberry, please.”

Naomi opened the door and paused when she found herself staring Mach 5 in the face.

“Boo,” Mach 5 grinned before locking a collar around her neck. Before she could say anything, he hit her with several punches that knocked her over. Mach 5 then stormed the room, running into Delphi and knocking her over and putting another collar around Madeline. He then stood over the three.

“Well, what’s all this?” Mach 5 looked around the infirmary. He ignored Delphi and kicked Madeline in the side. “Wassup blondie? We haven’t met.” He then looked at Korina. “And who’s this?” he then pushed the girl over onto the floor, unhooking her from the monitoring equipment.

“No!” Madeline screamed.

“Don’t worry about her. You’re all gonna die anyway,” he said. He then lifted two fingers to his mouth and whistled. A few moments later, Brute appeared in the doorway, dragging the other four heroines by their hair. Brute lifted them to display them.

“Who are we gonna kill first, baby?” she asked.

Mach 5 flicked Alicia on her forehead. “I say this one. My ears are still ringing.”

Naomi spat some of her own blood out. “You racist shits would kill the black girl first.”

“Hey, wait! That’s not what I meant!” Mach 5 backpeddled.

Brute dropped the heroines in two piles and grabbed Naomi. “I guess we’ll start with you then. You talk enough shit. Let’s see how much shit you talk when your bones are popping.”

Naomi growled, holding in a scream as Brute began squeezing her head. Madeline and Delphi watched horrified, unable to do anything.

Just behind them, Korina stirred where she lay on the floor and then groaned. She rolled over and then sat up rubbing her eyes. “Where am I…? Is this a hospital?”

Brute looked past Naomi. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Korina...I….oh, fuck it’s you!” she jumped up.

Brute narrowed her eyes and threw Naomi across the room. She then approached the girl. “Oh yeah...one of Leech’s little pets. Move,” she said, smacking Korina aside. She hit the wall and groaned and Brute spun around, just to jump when Valor leapt up and stabbed her with a scalpel she picked up. Brute growled, grabbed her, and slammed her hard into the floor. Madeline, Jasra, Wendy, and Alicia all jumped up and took turns and got swat aside with ease. Brute laughed and toyed with them, their futile blows bouncing off her solid muscles.

Korina watched in horror as the women got beaten. She looked at Naomi, who was pulling herself up only to get rushed by Mach 5 and pummeled with more punches and put her back down.

“We have to help them!” Korina said, standing up.

Delphi looked back at her.

“No! NO!” Korina screamed. “I’m tired of this! Do it! They’re going to die!” she pleaded.

Brute turned and looked at the girl. “Who the fuck are you yelling at?”

Korina shrank as Brute came at her.

“Maybe I oughta beat some sense into you,” Brute threatened. She then raised her fist and swung down to smash Korina under it.

Korina ducked and screamed. Just before Brute’s fist came down, Korina’s form shifted. She grew in height, her thin arms swelled to arms of lean muscle, and her dark hair grew to a length that went well down her back. With a single punch, she knocked Brute’s arm back and made her stumble, and the new woman Korina had transformed into stood tall. Her hospital gown stretched to the point of nearly bursting on her womanly shape; wide hips, thick thighs, narrow waist, healthy breasts, she was the very image of a goddess made flesh.

“Korina…?” Delphi asked.

“No. I’m Xanthe,” the woman said, stepping past her and walking toward Brute. Brute held her aching arm and threw another punch. Xanthe stepped to the side and grabbed Brute’s arm. She then lifted the big woman, spinning her around in a circle and throwing her clear across the room. Brute slumped against the far wall and Xanthe ran after her and followed up with several powerful, rapid punches to her face, stomach, and her chest, putting cracks in the wall as she pummeled Brute. Brute slumped over, but stayed upright, blood and teeth falling from her mouth, when Xanthe grabbed her mohawk and held her up.

She then reached out behind her with her other hand just as Mach 5 ran at her and stopped the speedster in his tracks without even looking by grabbing him by his face when he was at arm’s length. Xanthe narrowed her dark eyes at the two villains and sighed.

“Pathetic…” she said before slamming their heads together. They both groaned and went limp in the dark haired heroine’s grip. She then shook them and dropped them both on the ground at her bare feet before stepping over them and turning back into Korina, who fell to her knees, breathing heavily.

The other women all looked at each other, stunned and then looked at Korina, who looked up at them.

“Sorry that was so close, everyone…” Korina said. “Xanthe isn’t the most agreeable person…”

“What the fuck was that?” Naomi said, standing up and holding her ribs.

“I’ve heard of this…” Delphi said. “What we all just saw, that was an ancient Aphrodite, a legendary heroine who existed thousands of years ago. I had heard rumors of some of them still existing, but locked away in the DNA in their descendants. I honestly didn’t believe it...”

“Basically that…” Korina said with an exhausted smile. “I’m starving...is there any food here?”

XII

Two days later, all the heroines were gathered at the airport on the runway outside of Delphi’s plane. While Delphi spoke with the members of the Battalion, Korina sat on the trunk of the car, eating a double hamburger and Naomi stood next to her with a soda.

“I cannot wait to get out of here,” Korina said. “I’ve had it with this city. What’s Delta like?”

“Kind of similar, honestly,” Naomi said. “Except we have beaches.”

“I...can’t swim…” Korina admitted. “Shut up, Xanthe! It’s not pathetic!”

“No, it kinda is, kid,” Naomi said to her. “If you’re joining us, you’re gonna have to learn. I’m gonna have to whip you into shape, too.”

“What…?” Korina blinked.

Naomi grabbed her arm. “Look at these skinny little arms. Can you even run a mile without feeling like you’re about die?”

“I can!” Korina said. “I’ve been running from the cops my whole life. I can totally run.”

“Why would the police chase you?” Madeline asked.

“Spray painting things I’m not supposed to, skateboarding where I’m not supposed to, getting adults to buy me beer….that kinda stuff.”

“So you’re a delinquent?” Madeline frowned.

“Haha,” Naomi grinned and put Korina in a headlock. “You and me are gonna be friends, kid. I can tell.”

“I really hope having Xanthe is worth all of this…” Madeline said.

“I’m just happy I’ll be staying somewhere where I’ve got a bed,” Korina said, finishing her burger.

Naomi drank more of her soda. “Oh, hey, we need a team name. They have the Battalion, but we’re just a bunch of sexy-ass superheroes without a group name. Got any ideas?” she asked Korina.

“Why don’t you call yourselves the Delta City Amazons? That sounds superhero-y.”

“What are we, a soccer team?” Naomi chastised.

“Football,” Madeline said.

“What?”

“The sport is called Football,” Madeline said.

Naomi sighed and shook her head.

“No on the Amazons, then?” Korina asked. “I’ll keep at it.”

Delphi turned and signaled the three of them, and they grabbed their things and joined her.

“Thank you all immensely for all of your help,” Valor told the four of them. “I realize things were not ideal between us, but we could not have done this without you all.”

“Yeah, well, no offense, but hopefully we won’t have to come back any time soon,” Naomi said.

“Even so,” Mirage said. “If you ever need help in Delta, we’re here.”

The women all exchanged hugs, handshakes, and final words with each other before Delphi, Naomi, Madeline, and Korina boarded the plane.

“Hoooly shit…” Korina gasped, looking at the cabin. “Is this yours?” she asked Delphi.

“It is,” Delphi smiled and nodded. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“She’s our sugar momma,” Naomi told Korina as she plopped down in a chair. Naomi took a seat across from Korina and they continued talking while Delphi and Madeline took seats across from each other. Delphi glanced back at Korina and then turned to Madeline.

“I think she’ll be a good addition to the team.”

“Can we trust Xanthe?” Madeline asked.

“I certainly hope so. With Star Woman gone and Scarlet MIA, we need a heavy hitter. I just hope Korina can get her to cooperate.”

Madeline nodded and relaxed in her seat. “I can’t wait to get home. I miss the others,” she said. She then went into her bag and pulled out a book while Delphi grabbed her laptop. Naomi came up behind them and peered over Madeline’s shoulder.

“What are you reading now, English?”

“The Great Gatsby,” Madeline held up the book. “Another favorite.”

“Ugh. Whiny rich asshole who couldn’t get over a girl. Gag,” Naomi sighed. “I’m grabbing some drinks. You guys want anything?”

“I’m fine,” Delphi said.

“Some water, please,” Madeline said and Naomi walked off.

Delphi looked over at Madeline. “What’s wrong?”

“She disparaged Moby Dick earlier, too,” Madeline pouted.

“Was that before or after you two fooled around in your bed?”

Madeline looked up, turned bright red, and hid behind her book while Delphi laughed and went to work on her laptop as the plane began its takeoff procedures.

Naomi came back with two bottles of water and a soda and gave one of the waters to Madeline, who accepted it without looking at her. The two of them and Delphi then jumped when a scream came from the back of the plane.

Korina ran out of the back, her jeans and panties halfway down her skinny, pale legs. “Something’s wrong with the toilet! I pushed the button to flush and it shot water up my butt!”

Naomi facepalmed and sighed. “That’s the bidet, kid…”

Epilogue

Somewhere outside of Star City, an armored transport rolled along a lonely road, moving at a steady speed when a motorcycle began closing the distance. The rider, a busty woman in a white tank top and leather shorts, turned her helmeted head to the side and looked the vehicle over. She then moved close, plucked a small disk from between her thighs, and attached it to the side of the vehicle, just above one of the wheels. She dropped her speed and fell back, looking over her shoulder at an SUV that was following her.

Moments later, the disk exploded and the transport veered to the side of the road, grinding against the guard rail before coming to stop on its ruined tires. The biker stopped and climbed off her machine, retrieving a baseball bat attach to the side. Riot took her helmet off and tossed it aside, putting her weapon on her tattooed shoulder and waiting.

The door on the side opened and several armed and armored police officers stormed out, weapons pointed before Riot went into action. Guns went off but most of the men went down when Riot struck, swinging her bat and knocking the men out left and right.

Slate climbed out of the SUV and approached, turning his skin to stone when guards put their weapons on him. Bullets bounced off his rocky hide and he smacked guards away as he approached.

“This was too fuckin’ easy…” Riot said, looking at the downed men.

“Hmm,” Slate grunted in agreement. They then looked up as a heavy-caliber machine gun came from inside the transport and appeared on the roof and turned on them.

Slate grunted and pushed Riot behind him, shielding her as those big rounds fired and rained down on him. The force was keeping him from moving, and he knew they could hurt him if the fire was concentrated long enough. Riot ducked behind him and pressed the communication stud in her ear.

“The fuck are you waiting for? Get down here!” she yelled.

There was a boom in the air overhead, followed by a fast moving dark red streak that came down toward them. The impact against the armored transport sent out a shockwave moments before the heavy guns stopped firing. When the smoke cleared, Riot stood up and looked over the top of the transport to see a tall woman with dark red hair hovering in place holding the twisted remains of the heavy gun in one hand. She wore a low cut, one piece costume, dark red with black accents, that showed off her thighs and a matching cape blew in the breeze.

“Thank you, Meta Woman,” Slate said.

Meta Woman tossed the gun aside and floated to the ground and Riot looked at her.

“No need to cut it so damn close.”

Meta Woman turned to Riot and threw a fist.

“Fuck!” Riot hissed and stepped back as Meta Woman’s gloved hand stopped just short of her face.

“Never speak that way to your betters, trash,” Meta Woman told her.

Riot narrowed her eyes at her but went around her and followed Slate into the transport. The driver cowered behind his cage with his hands up and his head down, and when Riot and Slate looked in the back, they saw Brute and Mach 5 in separate cages, suppression collars around their necks and metal bonds locked around their wrists and ankles.

“Good thing we got to them before the cops handed them to Sentinel,” Riot said.

“Indeed,” Slate agreed. He ripped open Mach 5’s cage while Riot got Brute’s. Before long, the bonds were taken off the and two of them were free. They stepped out and eyed their liberators with confusion.

“Come with us,” Slate said. “Someone would like to speak with you both.”

They walked out, where Meta Woman stood eyeing them both with amusement. Riot went into the pocket of her shorts and took out a cell phone. She dialed a number and put on the speaker.

“Riot. Is it done?” a woman’s voice came over the speaker.

“Sure is. Me, Slate, and Queen Bitch got the package. They’re both standing right next to me,” she said, eyeing Meta Woman, who simply smirked at her.

“Brute, Mach 5, hello.”

Mach 5 took the phone from Riot. “Uh...hi there, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

“My name is Sloan Adams and I have a job offer for both of you,” Sloan said to them. “It’s a pity we weren’t able to get to you before Mandrill and Metalhead were killed, but how would you like to get revenge on the heroines of Delta City?”

“We’d like that very much, Ms. Adams,” Brute answered for both of them.

“Excellent. I’m happy to hear it. Simply follow my associates. We’re going to do big things together, my friends,” she said before the call ended and Riot put the phone away.

“All right, you two are riding with Slate,” Riot pointed to the SUV. “Go take a piss now if you have to. It’s a long haul back to Delta.”

Mach 5 looked at his three liberators. “I can tell you three are a tough bunch, especially you,” he said to Meta Woman. “What’s your beef with the Delta bitches?”

“That’s none of your business,” Meta Woman said. “I’m leaving. You all are boring me.” She then took off into the sky and flew away.

“She’s a charmer…” Brute said.

Riot scoffed and got on her motorcycle. “Don’t mind that witch. She hates all of us and none of us really like her,” she then started her bike. “All right, scumbags, let’s hit the road. We’ve got super-cunts to put in the ground.”

The End

Superia will return in early 2022