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The Star Woman pt. 2 (Maidens of Might #4)

by Sigma

I – Delta City. Six Months Later.

It was a bright, sunny day in Delta City and V’lirra stretched out on the lounge chair on the rooftop deck. Her naked curves and lean, muscular body took in the early afternoon sun as she stared at the sky from behind her sunglasses and drank her fruit smoothie.

A ringing pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked at her phone, jumping up when she saw the name. On the screen. “Dad?!” she said.

“Hey, honey. How are things?”

“Boring,” she said. “Just like yesterday and the day before, and every day for the last six months.”

“V’lirra,” Varras Orr started. “I know you’re bored, but just bear with us, okay?”

“But you and mom are still out doing CRT work and I’m...here...in grandma’s old house.”

“I promise we’ll talk more about getting you back out there when we get back.”

“Yeah, sure...So how’s...where are you guys?”

“Somewhere in the South Pacific. There’s a tear in reality and these...things are coming through.”

V’lirra groaned. “Just...let me call Mr. Escher, I’m sure he has a ship I can…”

“We’re fine, dear. I was just calling to check in. Are you behaving?”

“Yeah dad. I haven’t interfered with the local heroes. I’ve just been exploring the city, going to the beach and stuff.”

“And you’re using the disguise kit we sent you?”

“Yesss…” The young heroine whined. “No one knows who I am.”

“Attagirl. Listen, we’ll probably be wrapping this up soon, so mom and I will be back before you know it.”

“Well...can I talk to her?”

“Sure,” Varras said. “Amelia, V’lirra wants to…” his voice was cut off by an explosion, the sound of energy crackling, and then a horrific shriek.

“...Dad?” V’lirra said.

“Sorry, honey! Gotta go! This big fucker with tentacles just came through and he’s got a hold of your mom! Love you! Bye!” Then the line went dead.

“...I want to fight a tentacle monster,” V’lirra groaned and plopped back down on the chair. She sighed and took her bag out from under her chair. She retrieved a small box and took out a compact mirror and a device that she put on her finger. She tapped the device against her head, and her white hair turned black. She then tapped it against each eye, and her dark red eyes turned brown. “Might as well go get a late breakfast,” she said before going inside to get dressed.

*

V’lirra walked into a nearby coffee shop, wearing a tight tank-top, leggings that showed off her toned legs and ass, and a pair of high-top tennis. She approached the counter and saw Hanna was working today.

“Hey there, Valerie,” the young woman said. “I was wondering if you’d be in today.”

V’lirra took off her sunglasses and smiled back. “You know I don’t like to disappoint.”

“Your usual?”

“Yup.”

Hanna turned to get her order, two donuts and a black coffee, and while she did, V’lirra turned and leaned against the counter, watching the people in the shop.

Two women in particular caught her eye. One was a white woman, tall with long, dark hair. She wore expensive looking clothing. The other woman was even taller, very muscular, with brown skin and black hair on top of her head and a shaved scalp on the sides. V’lirra guessed her ethnicity to be a pacific islander. Watching the two, she sensed something off about them.

The big woman leaned in toward her companion and whispered something, and the woman in expensive clothes glanced back over her shoulder. V’lirra quickly looked away, but she swore they were looking at her.

“Here you go, Val!” Anna said, returning with her order.

*

“You think she’s one of them?” Lea Timu asked.

“Maybe?” Veronica Chambers replied. “She’s been seen around here a lot, but she’s never attacked anyone. Still, we can’t be too careful.”

Lea nodded and drank her smoothie while Veronica sipped her coffee. Just then, Veronica put her cup down and eyed someone who walked in.

*

V’lirra thanked Hanna and went to leave. She gave the two strange women a wide berth, but watched them out the corner of her eye when she passed someone else. This woman was tall and bald, with gaunt features, and wore a long overcoat despite it being relatively warm outside. She had dark, almost menacing eyes that regarded V’lirra for a few moments when they passed each other, and V’lirra quickly moved to the side, finding an empty table and taking a seat when her instinct told her too.

*

“Ronnie…” Lea said, looking up at the bald woman that stood over their table.

“You can’t escape us,” the woman said. Her voice was cold, monotone, robotic.

Veronica quickly jumped up, throwing her coffee at the woman, who blocked it with her arm. She lashed out and grabbed Lea’s throat. With one hand, she launched the big woman across the coffee shop and through its front window. Patrons screamed and ran and the bald woman turned to see Veronica had vanished into the crowd, so she turned and ran out into the street.

“Shit!” V’lirra said, getting up and running after her.

“Dammit…” Lea groaned, getting up from where she landed in the street. The bald woman approached her calmly and then shed her coat. Her lean, naked body was on full display, her arms and legs were made of metal and two long metal tendrils rose from her back, moving as if they had a life of their own.

Lea rose to her full, impressive, 6-foot-4 height and cracked her knuckles. “About time you showed your face.” She unzipped her hoodie, revealing her skintight costume that showed off her sculpted muscles, and she took a fighting stance. “Come on.”

The bald woman smirked and ran at her. Lea charged her at the same time. The two met in the middle, with Lea landing a powerful punch that knocked the bald woman back, but she simply answered back, lashing at the heroine with her tendrils. One whipped Lea across the face hard enough to spin her around, and the other wrapped around her neck and lifted her into the air.

“Ugh! Get the fuck off of me!” Lea yelled, trying to free herself as the coil tightened. The pointed end of the other tendril sprouted open into a claw and pulled Lea’s top off, exposing chiseled abs and a pair of meaty, brown, double-Ds. She screamed at having been exposed and the bald woman simply smirked and slammed her into the ground. She lay there, groaning and dazed as she was stripped of the rest of her clothes. She rolled onto her back, only to be pinned down by the clawed ends of the metal tendrils and the bald woman hovered over her, with a grin on her face.

“I don’t know why master Scorpio would want a dumb brute like you, but I will obey and break you, Bombshell,” the woman said.

Lea growled and lashed up with her knee, hitting the woman in the stomach hard enough to stun her. After she did, she put both her feet up and kicked, pushing her back, but the woman braced herself and came down, strangling the Lea with powerful metal hands. Lea fought frantically in her iron grip, desperate to get free.

“I have to do something!” V’lirra said, watching from in front of the coffee shop across the street. She promised her parents she wouldn’t interfere with the local heroes, but was watching one of them fight for her life right in front her. She couldn’t just stand by.

She prepared to act when a fast-moving shadow flew over her head. A second woman, this one wearing  a skimpy green bikini that clung to her body, landed a few feet away from Lea. She wore a matching green mask and cape, and put her gloved hands on her shapely hips.

“That’s far enough!” Mantis said.

The bald woman turned and flashed as smile. “Ah, the bug. I was wondering when you would join us. Now I simply need the other two.”

“What the hell happened to you, Tarantula?” Mantis asked.

“That is no longer my name!” she said before lunging at Mantis, who quickly flipped out of the way. Before Mantis could even land, one of the woman’s metal tendrils grabbed her by the waist and administered a powerful shock. Mantis screamed and went limp in her grip. Lea leapt through the air to attack, only for Mantis to get thrown into her. Both heroines hit the side of a building and fell to the ground.

“Pathetic…” the bald woman uttered.

Just then, a fireball soared through the air and nearly scorched her, but she moved out of the way at the last moment. A third heroine, this one a redhead in a red bikini top and matching skirt and boots, used jets of flame to lower herself to the ground and stand in front of her teammates.

“Ah, that’s three,” The bald woman laughed. “The stupidly-named Spitfire.”

“Hey! It’s not a stupid name!” The redhead protested.

“You aren’t a fighter plane, idiot!”

“Yeah, well…” Spitfire started. “What kind of name is Tarantula? You only have six limbs!”

The bald woman growled and they attacked each other. Spitfire managed to hold her off with several blasts of fire, but the bald woman called Tarantula closed in fast, with predatory speed, and managed to coil an arm around the redhead’s leg. She pulled her to the ground and dragged her in.

“Crap!” Spitfire said as she reached down her skirt and put two fingers between her legs. Her wrists started going back and forth vigorously and, as she did that, the gem on the choker around her neck flared bright red.

“Is she…” V’lirra blinked. “...Is she masturbating?...During a fight…?”

Whatever Spitfire was trying to do, her attempt was cut short, because Tarantula pulled her fist back and punched her squared in the face, knocking her out cold. All three heroines lay sprawled out and unconscious in front of her, and she lowered herself onto her feet and folded her arms.

“Pathetic...to think you three are supposed to be Delta City’s defenders. Where is that whore Scarlet?” she asked, looking around.

“I have to help them!” V’lirra said. She walked toward the bald woman, and as she did, she deactivated her disguise, turning her hair white again and her eyes red. “Hey!”

The bald woman spun around and narrowed her eyes. “...And you are?”

V’lirra said nothing. She simply launched forward and punched Tarantula in the face, hard enough to slam her into a parked van and make it flip over. Tarantula got up and threw the van and V’lirra caught it and set it aside before flying at her again. She dodged the reaching tendrils and hit her with an energy blast that knocked her back, and then Tarantula retaliated, striking with both tendrils from two directions. One grabbed V’lirra’s arm and by the time she got free, the other grabbed her by the face and slammed her into the ground.

V’lirra tried to get up, but Tarantula pinned her down.

“I have no idea who you are, but master Scorpio will be pleased with you all the same.”

V’lirra’s eyes went wide. “Wh...what did you just say…?”

Tarantula smiled and leaned in so their faces were mere inches apart. “It is the only name you will know in time.” She then gasped and her body fell forward as Lea jumped through the air and wrapped her big arms around her neck.

Tarantula spun, trying to shake the big woman off, but she held on tight and V’lirra got back up. She hit Tarantula with another powerful punch and then Lea spun her around and threw her aside. She took a moment to catch her breath and V’lirra stood next to her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Lea said. “Thanks for the assist.” She then stuck out her hand. “Bombshell.”

“Uhh…” V’lirra took it. “V’lirra.”

“What kind of name is that?”

“It’s from Nilmir.”

Lea looked at her. “...Is that in Europe?”

“It’s a planet…” V’lirra sighed.

“An alien…” Lea said. “All right then.” She stood back up, stretching her limbs and V’lirra stepped back and took the big woman in, focusing on her taut muscles and healthy curves.

“Holy cow, you’re as big as my dad…” she gasped.

Lea stretched her arm across her chest and looked at Mantis and Spitfire. “And those two are sleeping on the job.” She looked at V’lirra. “Wanna help me out here?”

V’lirra looked as Tarantula stood up. “Yeah, I’ll follow your lead.”

Tarantula looked at them and charged, propelled by her tendrils. Just as she closed in, a car flew in out of nowhere and slammed into her. The heroines looked up and Lea rolled her eyes.

“You’re fucking late!”

The new arrival was a tall, curvy woman in a form-fitting dark red outfit with flowing cape. Her hair was dark red too, almost like the color of blood, and she hovered to the ground. She casually picked up another car and stacked it on the one that was pinning Tarantula to the ground.

“Just in time to save your ass,” Scarlet said. She looked V’lirra up and down and then turned to Mantis and Spitfire, who were just starting to recover. She scoffed and looked away. “Where have you been Tarantula? And what’s with the upgrades?”

“That is not my name!” the villainess insisted, trying to free herself from the weight on top of her.

“Uh huh…” Scarlet said, almost bored. “Well, you’ll come with me and we’ll have a chat.” She then turned back to Lea and looked at V’lirra. “What is that?”

Lea looked back at V’lirra and then at Scarlet. “She helped us. Her name’s V’lirra.”

“Oh. Varras Orr’s kid,” Scarlet said. “Right...I heard a rumor he was seen in Delta. Well, go home. We don’t need some alien mutt’s help.”

“I…” V’lirra said, stung by the comment.

“Hey!” Lea said. “What the fuck?!” She looked at V’lirra. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine…”

“No it isn’t.” Lea looked at Scarlet. “Apologize to her.”

Scarlet ignored her and went over to apprehend Tarantula.

“I swear I’m gonna cave that bitch’s head in one day…” Lea uttered. She looked at V’lirra. “Don’t listen to her. She’s a twat. You’ve been a big help. You gonna stick around for a while?”

“I…” V’lirra composed herself. “No, I think you have it handled. I’ll umm...see you around maybe?” She then flew away before getting an answer. Lea tried to stop her, but she was already gone. She shot a heated glare at Scarlet just as Mantis and Spitfire came back.

“Who was that?” Spitfire asked.

“Did I hear Scarlet say that was Varras Orr’s daughter?” Mantis asked.

“She said she was an alien,” Lea said.

“Hey guys,” Spitfire said. “Be honest, do you think my hero name is stupid?”

Lea and Mantis looked at each and walked in separate directions.

“Hey! Guys!” Spitfire said.

II

It was the next day, and the heroines were at their headquarters in the conference room. Lea glared at Scarlet, who sat at the table, looking at her with a smirk on her face.

Spitfire and Veronica were at the table too, with Spitfire writing something on a notepad.

Lea looked over at her. “Cindy, what the hell are you writing?” she finally asked.

Cindy Callum scratched through something with her pencil and wrote something else. “New hero names.”

“You’re really gonna let what Tarantula said get to you?”

“It is a stupid name,” Scarlet said.

Veronica looked at Scarlet and then at Lea and spoke up before Lea did. “What do you have, Cindy?”

“Uhh…” Cindy looked over her list. “Flame girl, Flare, Burnout, Heatwave, Wildfire, Ember, Scorch, Pyro, Torch…”

Veronica blinked. “Those are all much better…”

“I know, but…I don’t LOVE any of them, you know?”

“Well,” Lea said. “You’ve only been with us a few months, so no one really even knows who you are yet. Whatever you pick, I’m sure people will like it.”

“Or maybe she quits and goes back to making stupid-ass kids’ movies…” Scarlet said. “We don’t need some fucking actor who decided she wanted to be a superhero.”

Cindy looked at her. “Lea’s right, you’re a bitch,” she said before going back to writing. “At least I’m a real redhead, unlike you.”

Lea smirked and Scarlet scoffed.

Suddenly, the speaker phone in the center of the table rang and Veronica turned it on.

“Ladies, good morning,” a distorted voice came in.

“Hey, Delphi,” Lea said. “We’re all here.”

“Excellent. I read the action report. Is Tarantula secure?”

“She’s sedated in the holding room,” Veronica said. “She should be waking up soon, so we’ll need to get to the interrogation.”

“Very well. What about this help you had? That woman was really Varras Orr’s daughter?”

“She looked just like him,” Scarlet said.

“I wanted to talk to her, maybe bring her in, but fucking Erica called her an alien mutt and she left because of it,” Lea said, glaring at Scarlet.

“Was that really necessary, Erica?” Delphi asked.

“I’m not gonna get berated by a disembodied voice,” Scarlet. “Why don’t you finally show us who you are, Delphi?”

“Don’t change the subject, you dick…” Cindy said, still writing.

“Ladies, please. I can do some digging. If Varras Orr and his family are really in Delta City, they could be a massive help. I’ll see if I can find them, I have back doors into the CRT. In the meantime, you should interrogate Tarantula, find out what happened to her.”

Scarlet, Veronica, and Lea all got up and began heading to the door.

“Cin, let’s go,” Lea said.

“Hey, Delphi,” Cindy said.

“Yes?”

“Can I run some ideas for new names past you?”

“You don’t want to be Spitfire anymore?”

“Nah, I need something with a bit more...you know, pizzazz.”

“Okay.”

The others all left the room.

*

The containment room was a wide chamber with several cube-shaped cells with transparent walls. Tarantula sat in the middle of the floor in her cell, legs crossed, and eyed the three when they entered.

Veronica approached her and Lea stood nearby while Scarlet stayed behind.

“When did you wake up?” Veronica asked.

“A few minutes ago,” Tarantula answered plainly.

“What happened to you?” Lea asked. “A few months back, you were ripping off banks and hitting armored cars. Then you vanish and now you’re back, with all this fancy new tech. Who did this to you?”

Tarantula simply smiled. “I was a small thing. As you all are, until He opened my eyes.”

“Oh great,” Scarlet scoffed. “The bitch found Jesus…”

“You will all see soon enough,” Tarantula said. She then opened her mouth and reached inside, taking the heroines by surprise when she unhinged her jaw and gagged until vomiting something up. A small remote. All three heroines went on alert as she pressed the button on it.

Moments later, electricity crackled and a portal opened up in the room. The heroines turned to face it and Tarantula stood, smiling. As the heroines took fighting stances, figures began emerging from the portal.

*

“You’re overthinking it, Cindy,” Delphi told her. “I think your name is fine now as it is.”

“Nah, I really do want something different.”

“Okay, well, keep at it. You’ll figure it out.”

Cindy smiled. “Hey, while I have you…”

“What is it?”

“What’s Scarlet’s deal? When Ronnie approached me a few months back and I met Lea, everything seemed cool, but Lea warned me about Scarlet before I ever met her. Why’s she’s such a dick?”

“It’s not bragging if you can back it up,” Delphi said.

“Huh?”

“That’s something Muhammad Ali said, and it seems to be a mantra Scarlet lives by. She’s powerful and she knows it. She may be one of the most powerful superhumans in the country, she’s definitely top-tier in Delta City. I think she sees anyone not as strong as beneath her.”

“Adros could kick her ass…” Cindy said. “...If that’s her deal, why even bother joining a team?”

“Who knows? Maybe to lord it over everyone. There’s probably some childhood trauma there or something, but I’m no psychologist.”

“All that power and she uses it to be a dick,” Cindy huffed.

“Some people care more about glory than doing the right thing, sadly. It may leave a bad taste in your mouths, believe me, Lea has vented to me about her plenty of times, but we can’t exactly be picky considering what we have to deal with.”

“Yeah…” Cindy sighed. “Well...I’ll go meet the others and…” before she finished, the room shook with the sound of an explosion.

“What was that sound?” Delphi asked.

“I don’t know…” Cindy said, getting up and approaching the door.

“Let me check the cameras and….Cindy, get away from there!”

Before Cindy could say anything the door exploded and threw Cindy back. She rolled across the ground and groaned as she tried to get up.

She watched Tarantula walk in, leading a group of other woman. One was very tall and muscular, even bigger than Lea, and covered in tattoos. She carried Scarlet over her shoulder. One was a curvy woman with fangs and bat-like wings spreading behind her back. She dragged an unconscious Veronica by her hair. One was a slim woman with elongated features and black eyes. One was a human woman with short, sandy-blonde hair. She had an athletic build and rested a large hammer on her shoulder. The last one was a black woman with a shaved head and several glowing balls of energy hovering around her. She held up her hand, glowing with energy, and an unconscious Lea hovered in the air next to her before being dropped to the floor.

“Shit…” Cindy gasped.

“One vs. Six. Those are not good odds, Cindy,” Adros’ voice echoed in her head as the gem on her choker flared.

The women moved toward her and Cindy quickly generated a wall of fire to hold them back before she ran to the other side of the room.

“I’d have a much better chance if you helped me out!”

“You know my price.”

“Ugh! Adros! This is an emergency!”

He said nothing in reply.

Cindy groaned and shoved two fingers down her shorts. She inserted them in her pussy and began fingering herself while frantically looking over her shoulder. The wall of fire swelled with her mental command, but she could see the six on the other side, waiting patiently. Cindy gasped as her fingers moved around inside her. She used her thumb and toyed with her clit, and a spike in pleasure caused her to fall to one knee as she cried out. Her breathing was rapid, she was getting warm, but she continued fingering herself, bringing herself closer to orgasm. She looked back again and saw Tarantula vault over the flames.

“Shit!” Cindy said, getting closer. “Just another...AH!”

Tarantula began a slow walk toward her “Your god will not help you.”

Cindy glared at her. “Yeah, well, can you stupid jerks survive in a building when it’s ablaze?!” Her eyes then lit up. “That’s it!”

“What is?” Adros asked.

“Blaze! That’s my new name!”

“Huh...not bad.”

Cindy let out another cry as her leg twitched and her body quivered. A powerful orgasm wracked her body before it was engulfed in an explosion of flame. Adros hovered over her,  a towering being made of pure flame. He folded his arms across his chest and looked at the women.

Cindy emerged from the fire unharmed, with flames on her hands and cum running down her pale, right thigh. “Don’t kill any of them, Adros.”

“They aren’t worth my time,” he said arrogantly.

Tarantula simply smirked. “Attack!”

III

V’lirra stood in the living room of the family home, pacing back and forth. She stopped when she heard the doorknob. Varras and Amelia walked in and V’lirra ran and hugged her parents after they dropped their bags.

Over the next few minutes, she told them everything that happened in the past day.

“You guys aren’t pissed I helped the heroes are you?”

“No, honey, not at all,” Amelia said, hugging her daughter.

“You’re sure this woman said Scorpio?” Varras asked.

V’lirra nodded.

Amelia sighed. “Okay, we’ll reach out to these heroines. Looks like we’re done laying low. We won’t have CRT support since the US government doesn’t like them operating on American soil...but maybe we can contact Escher and whatever this new agency of his is.”

Varras nodded. “Go suit up, V’lirra.”

She smiled and started to leave when all three of them heard a knock at the door. Amelia immediately drew her gun while Varras got the door, ready for anything.

When the door opened, Cindy was on the other side, bruised, her clothes in tatters, and swaying on her feet. She gave them a weak smile. “Hi,” she said before collapsing. Varras quickly caught her before she hit the floor.

*

“Her vitals are fine,” Amelia said, holding a tablet that had a armband around Cindy’s arm plugged into it. The family stood over Cindy, who lay in a bed in their guest room. “But I have no way of knowing how long she’ll be out.”

“Well we have to find out what happened to her and the others,” Varras said.

While they talked, V’lirra looked at the small, handheld communicator they found on her. Just then, it ringed. Amelia turned and looked at her daughter. “Answer it.”

V’lirra pressed the button. “Uh...hello?”

“Who am I speaking with?” a distorted voice asked, somewhat panicked. “Is Varras Orr there?”

“I’m here,” Varras said. “As are my wife and daughter. Who is this?”

“Oh, thank god. Is Cindy okay?”

“She’s alive, but unconscious,” Amelia answered. “Who are you?”

“My name is Delphi. I coordinate the team. I need your help. They were attacked by six women. Cindy only barely managed to escape and she said the others were captured.”

“Who took them?” V’lirra asked.

“I don’t know. I’m still trying to find out. I have video footage I can send, maybe you can identify some of them.”

Varras took the communicator. “I’ll send you the address to a secure terminal,” he said before leaving the room.

V’lirra walked over to Cindy. She put her fingers on the heroine’s temples. “Maybe there’s something I can do.”

Amelia went over. “Lirra, don’t! You know the strain that puts on you.”

“I have to try it,” she said. “Anything we can do to help.”

Amelia sighed and nodded. “You’re right...okay, I’ll be right there.”

V’lirra nodded and closed her eyes, focusing on linking her mind of Cindy’s. When she opened them, she found herself in a dark room, before an eruption of flame lit it.

Adros sat in front of her, on a massive throne and looked down at her with glowing eyes. “What are you doing here?!” he demanded.

V’lirra looked up at him in awe. “I...who are you?”

The fire deity rose from his throne. “You are an intruder.”

“Oh shit…” She stepped back. “I just need to look at Cindy’s memories.”

“No. I will not allow it. In fact, I think I’ll just kill you.” Adros’ eyes flared and the flames around the room swelled.

V’lirra looked around in panic, realizing she had no choice but to fight.

“Adros, stop!” a voice suddenly echoed. Cindy appeared right next to V’lirra and got between them. “She’s a friend.”

Adros’ eyes narrowed and he sat back on his throne.

“I’m sorry about him. He’s a bit...protective,” Cindy said. She then smiled. “I’m Cindy.”

V’lirra looked at her. “Wait...have we met? Before today I mean.”

“No,” Cindy said. “I think I’d remember meeting someone like you,” she smiled.

“No, no, no…” V’lirra said. She searched Cindy’s face and then beamed. “Wait! You’re Cindy Callum! The actress! I used to watch The Family Bunch all the time when I was kid.”

Cindy laughed. “Oh, well that would be it!”

Adros groaned. “Such a stupid show…”

“And then when you were in Escape from Dino Island…” V’lirra started. “Oh my god, this is so embarrassing, but I was Katie for Halloween one year.”

Cindy smiled. “That was one of me favorite roles!”

“God, I must sound like such a hopeless fangirl right now.”

“No, no, I love meeting fans,” Cindy said.

V’lirra looked away, laughing to herself. “I uh...growing up, watching you, I had the biggest crush on you.”

Adros leaned forward, suddenly intrigued.

Cindy just laughed and put a hand on her shoulder. “Well, I’ll take it, because you aren’t some creepy weirdo.”

“I can’t believe I’m in Cindy Callum’s head! Okay, I have to stop fangirling...” V’lirra composed herself. “I need to know what happened with your team. That’s why I’m here.”

Cindy explained everything, up until she and Adros had their backs against the wall against the six warrior women. Even with Adros, they were in danger of being overrun. Adros had initiated an explosion that gave Cindy space to flee. She had taken hard hits from the fight and barely got away, and once she put some distance behind her, Adros returned to the gem on her choker. Delphi found out where V’lirra’s family lived and directed Cindy there.

“Wow…” V’lirra said. “...So, you want revenge?”

“Hell yes!” Cindy said. “Adros, are you in? They gave us a black eye. You wanna get them back, right buddy?”

Andros stroked his chin. “Perhaps. But before I agree to anything, you, alien girl, kiss Cindy.”

V’lirra blinked. “Uh...what?”

“You said you had a crush on her. Now you can live out your fantasy.”

“That’s…”

“Cindy finds you attractive,” Adros said.

“Adros!” Cindy said, her face bright red.

“She’s wondering what you look like naked, and she’s wondering what it’s like to fuck an alien.”

“Well…” V’lirra said, looking at Cindy. “I’m only half-alien, but…”

“Adros, why are you doing this??”

“If you want my help, you’ll do what I say.”

“Is he always like this?” V’lirra asked.

“Yes,” Cindy groaned. “I should find a new fire deity!” she said, sticking her tongue out at him. She then sighed and turned to V’lirra. “If you’re uncomfortable with this, I get it. I…” she then stopped when V’lirra leaned in and kissed her.

Cindy’s surprise quickly went away and she leaned into the kiss. V’lirra put her arms around her shoulders and so Cindy put her arms around V’lirra’s waist and the two pulled each other in as they continued kissing. Cindy’s left hand slid down the small of V’lirra’s back and she grabbed a handful of her ass. V’lirra moaned slightly, pulling away from Cindy, who looked her in the eye and smiled. She then began kissing Cindy on her freckled chest, slowly making her way down her torso until she got down on her knees, and was face to face with Cindy’s flat, tight stomach. V’lirra reached up and pulled off Cindy’s skirt, and then the panties she had on underneath, finding herself face to face with her shaved womanhood.

V’lirra bit her lip and then looked up and smiled before leaning in and sucking on her lower lips.

“Ah...fuck!” Cindy gasped in surprise, her body stiffening. She grabbed a fistful of V’lirra’s white hair and leaned her head back, spreading her bare legs slightly as V’lirra kissed, sucked and licked. V’lirra was weaving her tongue between the folds, taking her time with slow, measured movements and Cindy squealed in delight as she did. Her clit was erect and V’lirra took time to give some attention to that too, switching between lightly sucking on that and pushing her tongue inside Cindy.

Adros sat and watched silently, his elbows propped on his knees as she eyed the two approvingly.

V’lirra’s hands were on Cindy’s wide, shapely hips, but she slid one back and grabbed her ass, squeezing the ample meat while continuing to eat her childhood crush out. After a few minutes, she gave full attention to Cindy’s clit, giving it short, slow licks. She moved her other hand up, sliding two fingers inside. Cindy cried out, her toes curled, and out of reflex she pulled V’lirra’s hair at the sensation.

V’lirra continued licking and sucking the clit, and at the same time, moved her fingers around inside Cindy, only going a bit harder when she felt Cindy getting increasingly wet.

“Ah...AH, SHIT!” Cindy cried out. Her legs wavered and knees buckled. She staggered back and eventually got to her knees and lay on her back. Even as she did, V’lirra never let up, she simply lay down with her head between Cindy’s thighs and continued. Cindy’s tits rose and feel as she breathed heavily. She ran one hand through V’lirra’s hair and her other through her own. Her eyes rolled back, glancing at Adros, who watched with growing interest. Cindy wrapped her legs around V’lirra’s head, her breathing became more rapid, and she could feel herself getting closer to release. She saw the top of V’lirra’s head bobbing up and down, and the fingers inside of her seemed to stimulate every single nerve she had. There was nothing on Cindy’s mind but the pleasure.

Her cries filled the chamber, she arched her back while fondling her own tits, and her meaty thighs squeezed the sides of V’lirra’s head, but that couldn’t stop what was coming.

Moments later, Cindy’s thighs quivered. “Oh! OH!!” She screamed as she released.

Adros chuckled and leaned back on his throne.

V’lirra looked up, her jaw slick. She raised two glistening fingers and looked Cindy in the eye as she licked them clean.

Cindy smiled and lay back, taking a moment to collect herself. She looked up when she felt V’lirra crawl on top of her and pin her to the floor. Their tits touched and their faces were mere inches apart.

“I uh…” Cindy uttered, her face flush.

“This was better than any autograph,” V’lirra said with a grin.

Adros rose from his throne. “I have seen enough. I’ll allow you access Cindy’s memories so you can see what she saw.”

V’lirra looked up at him and then at Cindy. “Oh thank god...I thought for a minute I was going to have to suck a fiery cock…”

“Don’t give him any ideas,” Cindy whispered.

*

V’lirra opened her eyes and stumbled back, holding her head. Amelia caught her and gently sat her down on the bed next to Cindy.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” V’lirra said, nodding.

“Why are you smiling?” Amelia asked.

“It’s nothing…”

Varras walked in and paused. “What happened?” He looked at Cindy and then at his daughter, who seemed somewhat drained. “You went in her mind?”

“Yeah, but…”

“V’lirra, you know I don’t like you using the power.”

“I know dad, but, I wanted to help.”

Varras sighed. “Okay, sure...did you get anything?”

“Yeah, I saw the fight. Whoever attacked them, they’re serious.”

“Delphi’s footage showed me the same, but it cut out early when a camera got destroyed.” He took his daughter’s hand. “Show me what she showed you.”

“I…!” V’lirra froze.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Amelia asked.

“Nothing…” she said sheepishly. “Okay...I’ll show you but...just be cool, all right?”

Varras raised an eyebrow and then closed his eyes and V’lirra did the same. Father and daughter held hands, sitting in silence for a few minutes, and Varras’ face twisted. They both then opened their eyes and Varras stared at his daughter. He slowly got up and walked to the door.

“Honey, where are you going?” Amelia followed him.

“To bleach my eyes, dear,” he said before leaving the room.

Amelia watched him go and then turned to her daughter. “You know what? I don’t wanna know.” She then looked at Cindy, who was still out cold. “Poor thing. She’s gonna take a while to recover. We need to find these strange women in the mean time.”

“How?” V’lirra asked.

Amelia looked Cindy over and pondered. Something clicked and she took off Cindy’s choker and put it on herself. “I’m gonna need one of my wigs and my digi-mask,” she said before leaving.

V’lirra watched her mother leave and then looked at the unconscious heroine. She moved hair out of Cindy’s eyes and then sat with her, holding her hand.

IV

Lea, Scarlet, and Veronica were all stripped naked, the cold air biting at their skin. Heavy chains bound the heroines, sapping their power, and the six women who attacked them stood around in a semicircle, watching them. Tarantula in particular smirked, drawing a heated glare from Lea.

“Cut the shit, Tarantula. Let us go and fight us fair and square!” Lea demanded.

“The woman you know as Tarantula is no more,” a cold, robotic voice said. The heroines heard heavy footsteps and the six warrior women parted to allow the speaker through. He wore blood red, mechanical armor that covered his entire body except for his face, and his eyes were black with red irises. He stood before the six and eyed the captives.

“Who the hell are you?” Scarlet asked.

“I am called Scorpio by those who do not call me master,” he said.

“So...you’re him,” Veronica said. “I’d heard rumors...but here you actually are.”

“Indeed, Mantis. Indeed,” Scorpio said, walking around them and inspecting them. “I have traveled the galaxy for a great many centuries, visiting worlds, burning them, and flushing out a very specific threat.”

“What threat?” Veronica asked.

“It has many names, but you call them Aphrodites on this planet,” he said. He then motioned to his warriors. “All of these women, they are Aphrodites. The ones who survived my experiments.”

The heroines looked at each other and then at Tarantula and the others.

“They were weak, but I improved them. I broke their bodies then their minds, and reshaped them. They were all warriors of some renown on their worlds, but now they serve me. As will the three of you, in time. As will Ms. Callum, when I find her. I’ve been biding my time on this world for years, marshaling my resources, finding agents and offering them help as a Partner of sorts. And now, I strike.”

Lea pulled at her chains, but couldn’t move.

“I will break that fiery spirit, dear Lea. Do not worry. There is another I must have, as well. The daughter of a legendary hero from the planet Nilmir. She took one of my favorite puppets from me earlier this year, so I will add her to my collection.”

“That alien mutt?” Scarlet scoffed. “You want her?”

“Indeed I do, and you three will lay her body upon my table once I have broken you,” Scorpio promised.

“Is that what you did to Tarantula? Broke her?” Veronica asked.

“I told you, she is no longer Tarantula. She is simply Six. My six champions do not need names, for I have freed them of the burdens of their old lives. In time, you will come to know the same freedom.” He walked over to Lea and grabbed an exposed brown tit, squeezing it with his cold, metal hand. “So strong, so healthy. That there is such a...bounty...of you women on this world is nothing short of miraculous. I truly have my pick.”

Lea growled and tried to pull away, but Scorpio clamped a hand around her throat and squeezed.

“Dear Lea, do not fight me. I am your god now.”

She looked at him defiantly and he continued squeezing. It was a test of strength and wills, and as Scorpio continued strangling the big woman, she refused to show any pain or weakness, even as she struggled to breathe.

Veronica looked on with concern. After a few minutes, she saw Lea turning blue. “Let her go!” she demanded.

Scorpio smirked and released her, and Lea sucked in a huge amount of air before collapsing face first on the floor, quivering. “I’m going to fucking kill you…” she promised.

“Weak…” Scarlet uttered.

Scorpio heard her and smirked. Just then, a holographic screen popped up in this air, grabbing his attention. It showed a tall, red-haired woman standing on a rooftop in the city.

“My lord,” Six said. “The Callum girl, she’s back.”

“Indeed,” Scorpio said. “Two. Five. Go, bring her to me. You know how to handle her ‘friend’ now.”

Two, the slim woman with the elongated features, and Five, the tall woman covered in tattoos, nodded and left through a portal. Scorpio then looked at his captives. “Now...which one do I break first?”

***

Cindy stood on a rooftop in the middle of the city and looked back when a portal opened behind her. Two and Five and emerged and rounded on her as the portal closed.

“Come quietly, girl,” Five said. “Don’t make us hurt you.”

Two looked her over and paused. “Something isn’t right…”

Cindy eyed the two of them and smirked. She reached behind her, under the short jacket she wore and pulled out two handguns. Before the brainwashed Aphrodites could react, both guns fired and the women were hit with small stun rounds that took them down.

Cindy put the guns away and pressed against something hidden in her ear. The projection generated by the device disappeared, revealing Amelia’s face, and she took the red-haired wig off. She wore an outfit that matched Cindy’s costume exactly, red bikini top, tight red skirt that showed off her thighs, and red boots with thick heels. She approached Two, who looked up at her, unable to move, but was able to contort her face enough to show she was pissed.  Her eyes then peered over Amelia’s shoulder and Varras and V’lirra descended from the sky and V’lirra went over to check on Five.

“We want to ask you some questions,” Varras said, folding his arms. “We’ll start with Scorpio. Who is he?”

“I...will...not...betray...my...master…” Two struggled to say as a result of the stun round.

“I thought you might say that,” Varras said. He looked over at V’lirra and nodded.

V’lirra watched her father and nodded back before putting her fingers to Five’s temples. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She had only started when something sent a shock through her mind. “Ah!” she yelled and pulled back. She then looked down to see Five clenching her jaw. She heard a crunch, and moments later, Five began convulsing and foaming at the mouth. “Uh...Mom! Dad!” V’lirra yelled.

Amelia and Varras looked and then Amelia gasped. “Shit! Cyanide tablet!” She ran over to V’lirra and Varras quickly turned to Two. Who was trying to bite down.

“No you don’t!” Varras said, sticking two fingers in her mouth to stop her. After feeling around, Varras found the tooth, gave a slight pulled and took it from the alien woman’s mouth and held it up.

Two gave him a heated look as Amelia came back. She put a hand on her husband’s shoulder and shook her head. Varras sighed and crushed the tooth before going back to getting into her mind.

When he opened his eyes, Varras stood in the middle of a city with alien architecture. It was all tall, slim spires under a sky with three moons.

“What world is this?” He asked. He walked the streets, surrounded by aliens who looked just like Two. Men, women, and children going about their lives. Just then, a spire exploded and people went into a panic. Varras took to the sky and flew toward the disturbance.

He entered a hole in the side of the building and found Scorpio standing in the massive room, at his feet lay a woman in armor, using a spear-like weapon to stay upright. She was injured and exhausted, and Scorpio folded his arms.

“Guardian Kanu,” he said to the woman. “You’ve put up a valiant defense. Now it is time to lay down your weapon and join me.”

Varras looked at the woman and recognized her as the woman whose mind he was in. This was her memory.

“Never! Leave my planet!” Kanu said. She stood to her full, impressive height. She was all long limbs and delicate curves hugged by her form-fitting armor. Her armor was battered, exposing parts of her pale skin, but she took a stance and charged, jabbing her spear at Scorpio. He weaved and dodged, knocking blows aside. He then opened his palm, and a force of energy sent Kanu flying back, slamming her into the wall and knocking her weapon away. The same force held her in place, arms and legs spread, as more of her armor was torn away until she was practically naked.

Scorpio walked toward her, caressing her naked curves with his metal hand. “Your fight is over, Guardian,” he said, touching the side of her face. He then put a hand on her head and she let out a pained screamed.

Varras knew there was nothing he could do. He was simply an invisible witness. “Who the hell is this guy?” He then grunted when he felt a delicate touch embrace him from behind before a razor sharp blade tip found his throat.

“He is the end of all,” Two said, embracing him from behind.

“Your people have mental abilities too…”

“Yes,” Two said. “That you were able to enter my mind so easily is admirable. She slid a hand down his chest. “I’ll play with you for a bit before I kill you. Then, while this amazing body grows stiff and cold...I’ll have my fun with your wife and daughter. Lord Scorpio will want your daughter...but I imagine he’ll let me keep the wife for myself.”

Varras drove his elbow back, hitting her in the jaw. The blade nicked his neck as he pulled away and faced her. Two stepped back and eyed the knife while touching her jaw. She licked the trickle of blood from her knife and then looked at Varras. “It won’t be that easy.”

Varras blinked and suddenly found himself naked, on his knees, and bound in ropes he couldn’t break, and Two stood before him, stark naked with the knife in her hand. All around them, the city burned but Two approached him, unbothered, with a predatory smile on her face. He skin was flawless, her muscles lean, and her curves healthy.

Her womanly hips swayed as she walked with a serpent-like grace, and Varras found himself unable to look away from the perky curve of her breasts, the taut muscles of her abdomen and thighs. Even with the knife glinting in the firelight, Varras’ cock swelled between his legs as she approached.

She threw the knife and it impaled in the ground between he knees. Two knelt down and took his face in her hands. She looked at his neck and saw the wound she left was gone.

“Ah...your people regenerate quickly...that’s disappointing…”

“Why are you doing this? You see what’s happened to your world. Did Scorpio do this?”

“He did,” Two said with a demented smile. “He liberated them all, just as he will to this world once he has his chosen.”

Before Varras could say anything, Two pulled him in and kissed him. Her erect nipples pressed against his broad chest, and even as he tried to break free, he felt himself getting lost in the warm allure of her touch, her scent. She pushed him onto his back and mounted his waist, smiling down at her captive before leaning forward and forcing a tit into his mouth.

Varras had no choice but to suck on the warm, supple flesh. He was completely helpless, unable to fight back against her domination. He lapped up her taste, sucking on the nipple, biting at the sensitive skin as Two grabbed the sides of his head. She made him switch between tits, gasping in pleasure as his mouth worked her body. As he did that, she reached down and grabbed his erect shaft and began stroking it.

Varras moaned around her tit, wincing at being stroked by her delicate touch. Two laughed, the sensation of his warm mouth on her tit driving her to the heights of pleasure. She took slow, measured pulls of his cock, licking her lips at the thought of what she was going to do to him. He grunted, and she continued stroking and pulling, bringing her captive to the edge of orgasm before she spread her legs and guided Varras into her waiting pussy.

He groaned at her tightness as she eased herself down onto him, and then she began bouncing up and down, her toned ass slapping against his pelvis.

She grabbed his jaw and looked him in the eyes, seeing them glazed over in pleasure. She smiled and licked his chest before kissing him, all while still bouncing up and down on top of him. He was trying to resist, trying not to let her break him, but she was determined to do just that. Among explosions, screaming, and the the dying throes of her home world, Two was determined to conquer one of the strongest enemies she had ever encounter.

She could feel him holding back the impending orgasm, and she forced her tits back into his face, smothering him while continuing to fuck him. She wanted him to experience the very height of pleasure, one last explosion of ecstasy before she presented his head to her master.  She sat up, and Varras gasped for air after Two pulled her tits away. She put her hands on his shoulders, smiling as she felt he was getting closer. She too was beginning to feel the edges of a climax, and the sounds all around her died out. She only heard their combined heavy breathing and the rhythmic slap of flesh against flesh as they continued fucking.

She felt large, firm, but gentle hands creep up her body, cupping her tits and neck. She touched them with her own hands, so lost in pleasure that it took her a few moments before she realized something was off.

She opened her eyes and saw Varras’ hands were free of the ropes she bound him with.

“No!” she screamed before Varras got up and pinned her down. He lay on top of her, his hands keeping her shoulders down.

“It’s gonna take a little more than that,” Varras said, his breath ragged. “You almost had me, but then I saw my wife’s face and she’s the only woman I belong to!”

“Un…” Two gasped. “Unhand me!”

His cock was still buried deep inside her. One hand kept her shoulder pinned while the other touched her temple. She grabbed his wrists, trying to pry them off. When that didn’t work, she weakly pounded her fists against his broad chest. “No! Stop this! You can’t do this to me! I’m the master’s chosen!” she gasped as she felt her mind being penetrated just like her body. She only cried out at the intrusion, and out of instinct, wrapped her shapely legs around his waist. “Nooooo….” 

Back in Delta City, Varras opened his eyes and gasped, falling back until someone caught him.

“Dad?” V’lirra said. “Are you okay?”

Varras shook his head and collected himself. He looked at his daughter. “Yeah...yeah, I’m fine, honey…” he said. He stood on his own. “Scorpio’s lair is in the city. I know where.”

Two lay on the ground, out cold, a growing wet spot in the crotch of her outfit. Varras started to leave when Amelia grabbed his arm.

“Varras, dear husband, love of my life…” Amelia said.

“Yes, honey?”

“What is this?” Amelia asked, grabbing his stiff cock that was threatening to poke a hole in his costume.

“Ew!” V’lirra said, looking away.

“I…” Varras stammered.

“Uh huh…” Amelia said with a sly grin. “We’ll talk later.” She took a pair of cuffs out and put them on Two. “I’ll call in a favor and have CRT come quietly get these two out of here. We should…” before she could finish, the gem on Cindy’s choker flared and Adros appeared in a burst of flame. He hovered above the group and folded his arms.

“Are we finished here?”

“We are,” Amelia said. “Now we’re going to rescue the other heroines.”

“Hmph,” Adros said. “My obligation is to Cindy, not her friends. I will go back and watch over her while she recovers. Good luck.”

In another burst of flame, he and and the choker vanished.

“He’s kind of a jerk,” V’lirra said to her parents.

V

A woman’s screams filled the chamber and the four remaining corrupted Aphrodites stood aside, watching their master work.

“You can no longer resist me,” Scorpio said. “You think yourself strongest of all, now you have the chance to prove it. The same fate will befall your sisters.”

Scarlet, naked with her arms bound above her head, looked up at Scorpio. She had an empty gaze in her eyes and blood ran from her nose. She looked when Scorpio caressed the side of his face.

“How do you feel, child?” Scorpio asked.

Scarlet didn’t answer and Scorpio smiled.

“Will you kill for me?”

Scarlet looked at him and then they both looked at Lea and Veronica, also naked and in bonds.

“Oh shit…” Veronica said.

“You fucking bitch…” Lea said, glaring at Scarlet.

Scorpio stepped back and released his newly converted champion. Scarlet rose to her full height and Scorpio activated the remote that freed Lea and Bombshell too.

“Master…” Six said, sliding up next to Scorpio. “Five is dead. She activated her capsule. Two might be dead as well.”

“I see…” He then slid behind Scarlet, caressing her shoulder. “You will be my new Five. But you must anoint yourself in the blood of your sisters, to prove your loyalty to me.”

Lea and Veronica got up as Scarlet approached them.

Lea watched Scarlet approach. A trickle of sweat ran down her forehead as her sculpted muscles tensed up and she grabbed Veronica’s arm. “Ronnie, listen to me...I’m gonna fight her. I might have to fight Scorpio and these other cunts too. I want you to run, as fast as you can. Get out, find Cin, and Varras, and whoever the fuck else.”

“Lea, I’m not leaving you.”

“For fuck’s sake, Ronnie!” Lea yelled. “Get the fuck out and live!”

Before Veronica could say anything, Scarlet flew through the air and attacked. Lea yelled and pushed Veronica aside as she and Scarlet clashed.

*

Scorpio had watched the battle unfold over the last 20 minutes, surprised and impressed that Lea and Veronica lasted against Scarlet as long as they did. At times, they got the upper hand to the point where his champions would need to interfere, but Scarlet prevailed.

Now, Lea and Veronica were on the floor, at his feet, bruised, beaten, and exhausted. 

“A valiant effort,” Scorpio said. “I should break you both...but now, you must die. This planet is awash in your kind. I have agents seeking them out now, so you two will be made examples of.” He then spread his arms and looked at Scarlet. “Lambs for the slaughter, my champion.”

“Fuck…” Lea said. She and Veronica looked at each other and held hands. Just then, Scarlet stomped down on Lea’s head, smashing it into the ground. Lea groaned, trying to push up, but Scarlet kept her down.

“I never liked your fucking ass, cunt!” Lea spat. “Racist bitch.”

Veronica got up. “Erica, don’t do this.”

Scarlet hit her with a backhand for her troubles and looked down at Lea, smirking as she slowly crushed her. Lea bit back the pain, not wanting to give her the satisfaction.

Just then, there was a rumble and a hole exploded in the roof. Varras landed on the ground, leaving a crater and standing tall. V’lirra hovered in behind him and Amelia rappelled down with a cable, standing with her family and drawing her guns.

V’lirra looked around the room and then fixed her gaze on Scorpio. “It’s him…” she whispered.

“Fascinating…” Scorpio said. He looked at his five champions. “Bring me the girl. Kill the others.”

Varras eyed the five women. “V’lirra, I want you on Scarlet. Scorpio broke her, get in her head. Your mother and I will hold off the rest.”

“Got it,” V’lirra said.

Lea got up as the two sides charged. “We gotta help them, Ronnie.”

“Yeah…” Veronica said. They both looked at Scorpio, who seemed content to merely watch for now.

Battle erupted between the sides, with the heroes now evenly matched against Scorpio’s harem. As the sides clashed, V’lirra and Scarlet flew at each other and Scarlet ducked under V’lirra’s punch and tackled the young heroine into a wall, leaving a crater on impact.

V’lirra tried to get up, only for Scarlet to keep her in place with punches that pulverized her ribs. V’lirra grunted and fell to her hands and knees. Scarlet then grabbed her by her hair and flung her across the room. Scarlet flew and tried to come down on the girl, but V’lirra rolled out of the way and Scarlet hit the ground, cracking it. V’lirra got up, holding her midsection, and baited the brainwashed heroine in.

When Scarlet was close, V’lirra fired a blast of energy from her palm, a bright flash with no concussive force behind it. Scarlet held her eyes and cried out, and then gagged when V’lirra got behind her and hooked under her arms. She put her hands to the sides of Scarlet’s head and dove into her mind.

*

V’lirra found herself inside a massive, sterile complex that she quickly recognized as a laboratory. In the center, she saw a young woman, stripped naked and bound to a massive chair that enveloped her on all sides. A metal hood with wires running into the ceiling covered the woman’s face and head, so V’lirra couldn’t see who she was.

Just then, the door to the lab opened and two people, a middle-aged man and woman wearing lab coats,  walked in.

“We should run some more checks before today’s testing,” the man said. “The last round nearly broke her.”

“We need to be quick,” the woman said. “Our window for a viable subject today is closing.” She then went over to the girl in the chair and removed the hood. The girl’s head was shaved, but V’lirra instantly recognized Scarlet.

“...Mom?” the girl said, looking at the woman.

“How do you feel today, Erica?” her mom asked.

“...Why do I have to do this again?”

“We told you,” her father said. “With the power you’ve been given, you could be a great asset. You need to be at the top of your game. Today, you’ve got another combat scenario.”

“I don’t want to!” Erica pleaded. “It hurts!”

“You have to,” her father said. “Your power means you make sacrifices.”

“Your father is right,” her mom said. “A moment of weakness, and you die. If you’re weak, thousands could die.” She then turned to her husband. “Lower her into the test chamber.”

Her father nodded and went to a terminal, where he begin typing in a sequence of keystroke.

“No!” Erica screamed. “Mom! Dad! Please!”

“What the hell are they doing to her?” V’lirra asked herself in horror.

*

The lower chamber was a massive pit, with bloodstains on the ground. Erica stood naked, her body bearing scars, and she looked on nervously as a portal appeared. Her parents were in a viewing chamber above the pit.

From the portal emerged a creature, ten feet tall with a massive cavity in its abdomen. The cavity was lined with teeth and the creature had an insect-like appearance. Erica backed away from it in terror.

“Don’t run from it, Erica,” Her father said. “This monster terrorized other planets but you’re stronger than it is.”

“What do I do?!” the girl asked.

“Kill it, or it will have its way with you before it kills you,” her mother said. 

“...This is fucked!” V’lirra said, watching from the other side of the pit. She wanted desperately to help Erica, but there was nothing she could do.

Erica screamed as the monster screeched and attacked.

*

“Come on, Erica…” V’lirra said. It had been a long battle. The creature had pulled her into its chest cavity via tentacles that emerged from its body. It held her in there, her every hole being penetrated. Her pained cries were muted by her mouth being stuffed, but her nubile body rocked with its thrusting in and out of her.

Her parents watched, simply taking notes and talking among themselves. V’lirra wanted to yell at them both and free their daughter, but there was nothing she could do but watch. She saw Erica’s eyes roll back as the creature continued having its way with her. Its juices coated every naked curve of her body and her stomach bulged with the particularly thick tentacle that wormed its way up her pussy.

Her body then convulsed, rocked with a powerful orgasm that caused her juices to spill out. The monster let out something that sounded like a laugh and dropped her from its chest cavity. She lay there at its clawed feed, naked, twitching, and muttering to herself. V’lirra had to stop herself from running over.

Somehow, Erica willed herself onto her hands and knees, and the creature rounded on her and opened its pincers, behind which were two mouths with rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth. With a scream of fury and frustration, Erica thrust her fist into its mouth and her fist came out the back of the monster’s head. The creature spasmed and died, its big body hitting the floor.

“That’s it…” her father said with a smirk.

Moments later, her parents stood over her as she sat on the ground, staring at the dead monster.

“You see?” her father said. “You’re stronger.”

“Is it over?” Erica asked.

Her mother produced a syringe from her pocket. “For now.”

“No! Mom, please!” Erica said, backing away before she was injected in her neck and then fell unconscious.

“We’ll review the data and get her ready for the next test,” her mother said.

*

V’lirra wasn’t sure how much time passed when she saw the next memory. Erica’s parents subjected her to battle against another horrific monster. She was again beaten and raped by the hideous creature, another thing from somewhere in space brought in via portal, but she prevailed over that one too.

She stood naked, covered in its bright purple blood, with her foot on its head and a dead look in her eyes.

Her parents then entered the space with smiles on their faces.

“Well done, Erica,” her father said. “You’re improving. Think of all the people your powers will help.”

“This one was weak…” Erica said.

“You think so?” her mother asked. “Maybe we need to scout for stronger subjects.”

“No,” Erica said. “They’re all weak.” She then turned to them and something in her eyes changed. “You’re weak…”

V’lirra noticed Erica’s blood-soaked hand clench into a fist just as her parents backed away. Before V’lirra could register it and before her parents could react, Erica was on them. She had both of them by their throats. They struggled, gagged, and pleaded with their daughter.

“I won’t tolerate the weak anymore…” she said.

V’lirra gasped and winced when she heard two sickening cracks before Erica dropped their bodies to the ground and flew away.

*

V’lirra soon found herself in Delta City. Before her stood Scarlet, in her black an red, form-fitting costume, cape and dark red hair flowing in the breeze. She hovered over a pile of broken robots, machines that had been rampaging through the city until she put them down in brutal fashion.

“Pathetic…” Scarlet said. She then looked over her shoulder when Mantis and Bombshell landed from a nearby rooftop.

“Scarlet…” Mantis said. “We’ve never met before, but I think we should talk.”

Bombshell looked at the destruction around them and at the destroyed cars and sidewalks. “...This is a terrible fucking idea…” she uttered to herself.

*

And then V’lirra was back in the present. The shock and resulting headache made her stumble back and Scarlet stumbled forward, holding her head. Both women stopped to catch their breath among the battle happening around them and they looked at each other.

“Are you all right?” V’lirra asked.

“What the fuck just happened?!” Scarlet said, shaking her head.

Scorpio watched them and stepped forward. “How did you break my control?!”

V’lirra looked at him. “You...that’s right...you did the same thing to Hollow! And these other women!” She went to charge him, but Scarlet beat her to it, tackling Scorpio into a wall and pummeling him with powerful punches. Scorpio grabbed the heroine by her neck and threw her back. He then knocked V’lirra aside when she charged him. The two heroines went back on the attack against him.

As that happened, Varras, Amelia, Lea, and Veronica gained ground against the others. Varras managed to knock the strongest of Scorpio’s acolytes out and Amelia and Veronica detained all the others except the woman formerly known as Tarantula. She made a desperate attack against Lea, who dodged and grabbed one of her mechanical legs. She then swung her around into the wall, knocking her out cold. 

“Is everyone okay?” Amelia asked. Once she saw they were, she turned toward Scarlet and her daughter, drew her gun and ran in that direction. “I’m coming, Lirra!”

Scorpio managed to put some distance between himself and his attackers, and pushed them back with an energy barrier.

“We need to coordinate,” V’lirra said. “He can’t hold both of us off for long.”

“I don’t need your fucking help, alien!” Scarlet said before attacking again. Scorpio dodged out of her way and hit her with a punch that sent her flying. He then turned to V’lirra.

“You dare meddle with my creation, girl!” He seethed, preparing to attack. “You will pay!”

As he moved to attack her, he saw Amelia running up behind her and a smirk crossed his face. “You will pay by losing that which you hold dear.”

Scorpio then fired a pair of beams from his eyes. They headed straight for V’lirra, who braced for impact, having no time to dodge. Instead, the beam curved around her at the last minute and went right for Amelia.

They hit her square in the chest, and she cried out. V’lirra stopped and turned around when she heard, her heart jumping into her throat.

Varras watched as the beams went through Amelia. He didn’t hear his own scream as he moved across the room in a blur and caught her before she hit the ground with a smoking hole in her chest. V’lirra stood frozen in place, everything around her moving in slow motion before she fell to her knees.

“Amelia,” Varras said, holding her close. “Amelia!”

She didn’t respond. Blood trickled from her mouth and the life was gone from her eyes. Varras hugged his wife, his head against hers while V’lirra ran over and held them both. Varras then handed Amelia to his daughter and looked up, his face twisted in naked fury.

“SCORPIO!” He screamed and burst forward. Scorpio smirked and held up a hand, causing Varras to slam into a barrier he raised around him.

“Fool,” he taunted. “I will return,” he said. He then looked at his defeated harem. “More failures. A pity.” His own eyes flashed and suddenly, there were four screams. Tarantula and other brainwashed heroines cried out as small explosive devices, implanted inside their heads, all exploded, killing them instantly.

“Shit!” Lea said when she realized what happened.

Varras’ scream shook the room and he punched Scorpio’s barrier several times, but Scorpio simply waved and walked through a portal that appeared behind him. Varras’ yelling only got louder, as he screamed at Scorpio to come back and face him.

V’lirra sat on the ground, holding her mother close and Lea walked over, knelt down and put her arm around the girl. Veronica kept her distance, shaking her head at the tragedy of it all when Scarlet walked past her.

“Where are you going?” Veronica asked.

“We’re finished here,” Scarlet said. “We lost.”

VI

Roughly a week later, Varras knelt over Amelia’s grave, head down with one hand on the tombstone. V’lirra was next to him with a hand on his shoulder. He let out a deep breath and they both stood, looking down in silence.

V’lirra hugged her father and then turned to face him. “Do you really have to do this?”

Varras shook his head and looked away. “If I stay here, I’m going to tear this planet apart looking for Scorpio,” he told her. “If I have to fight the CRT, Escher, and whoever else…”

“Dad…” V’lirra said, taking his hand. “Don’t be like this...we can do this together.”

“Lirra, I can’t...I…” he choked up. “I want to see that bastard brought down but...the way I want to do it, people would just get hurt…”

V’lirra nodded.

“You can still come with me,” he said. “Back to Nilmir.”

“I’m staying…” she said. “This world is my home. I’m going to protect it.” 

Varras nodded. “Maybe I can use Peacekeeper resources, find out more about Scorpio. He’s been all over the galaxy...I need to find out where this bastard came from.”

V’lirra leaned in and hugged her father. When the hug broke, Varras went into his pocket and gave something to V’lirra. It was a pendant with a bright blue gem.

“What’s this?”

“It’s called a Star Gem. It’s made from a crystal found on Nilmir that only reacts to Nilmirian women. It will attune to your biosignature over time, grow your power. Not much is known about how it reacts to hybrids because you’re so rare, but it’s believed it will make it so you regenerate faster and your mental abilities will no longer hurt you once you’re fully attuned. It’s said that the V’lirra of legend had one.”

V’lirra looked at it and held it close.

“Your mother and I were going to wait until you turned 21 to give it to you, but…”

She hugged him again.

Varras held her close and then pulled back. “Take care. I will see you again.” He then stepped back. Overhead, his ship’s cloaking device deactivated and he hovered up to it. He then got inside, and V’lirra waved as the ship lifted off into the sky.

Sometime later, V’lirra walked along the road leaving the cemetery. She looked at the gem in her hand, already faintly feeling the energy it gave off. As she walked, a sleek, dark green sedan moved toward her. It slowed to a stop in front of her and the doors opened.

Veronica got out of the driver’s seat and Cindy got out of the passenger’s seat and gave her a wave.

“Hi, V’lirra,” Veronica said. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

VII

“You want me to join you?” V’lirra asked. She was at the team’s headquarters. Veronica, Cindy, and Lea were all with her at the conference table and Scarlet stood off to the side, looking annoyed.

“Yes,” Delphi’s voice came over the speaker phone. “We think you would be a great asset, plus you have some insight into this...Scorpio. He needs to be stopped.”

“I’ll do it,” V’lirra said without hesitation. Everyone except Scarlet smiled and V’lirra and Lea shook hands before the big woman pulled her in for a big hug.

“We’re gonna get him for your mom,” Lea said. “Promise.”

“Jeez you’re strong!” V’lirra gasped.

“Great...now we have a pet alien,” Scarlet scoffed before leaving. Everyone ignored her as she left.

“You need a hero name,” Cindy said. “Just so you know, Blaze is taken.”

V’lirra thought about it and then looked at the gem. “I’ve got it. Star Woman.”

“Love it!” Lea said, clapping her on the back.

“It works,” Veronica agreed.

“Then I officially welcome you to the team, Star Woman,” Delphi said.

Epilogue

It was some days later, and Veronica watched on a monitor a feed from the common area as V’lirra, Cindy, and Lea laughed and joked over a pizza.

“The fight with Scorpio was entirely too close,” Delphi said over the phone.

“Agreed. V’lirra will be a good addition,” Veronica said.

“What has Scarlet been doing?” Delphi asked.

“She’s been moodier than usual. If I’m being honest, I don’t know that we can fully trust her. She clearly doesn’t like V’lirra, and I think it has something to do with her being part alien,” Veronica explained.

“It can’t be helped for now,” Delphi said. “We need to focus on expanding. We’ll worry about Scarlet later.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“First and foremost, we need a team doctor. Cindy shouldn’t have been out of commission as long as she was. I have a prospect I want you to approach. She’s an Aphrodite who just moved here from the UK. She’s both a physician and a psychologist. We could use her.”

Veronica looked at the screen that popped up. “Madeline Smith...okay. I’m on it. I heard rumors of someone else, a woman dressed as a Devil fighting the gangs in the Saldana neighborhood. I’ll look into that after I talk to Dr. Smith. What about this vigilante terrorizing the Yakuza in Tokyotown? A few eyewitnesses say it’s a woman.”

“I’ve been looking into that. I’ll have Lea investigate. She can more than handle a few Yakuza if it goes sideways. If this woman, whoever she is, can fight well enough to take on either of the Yakuza groups, we could use her.”

“All right,” Veronica said. “That still isn’t enough.”

“I know,” Delphi said. “But it is a start. Assuming, between the Tokyotown vigilante and the Devil of Saldana we can get at least one of them, I’d like to have at least one more straight-up fighter.”

“Agreed,” Veronica said. “I’ll go join the girls and explain what’s happening. Oh...while I’m thinking about it…”

“What is it?”

“I ran the fact that we need to expand past the others and Lea said specifically that, because we already have Scarlet, whoever else we bring in, she doesn’t want another, and I quote, ‘Obnoxious Jackass’ on the team. So keep that in mind.”

“I’m sure whoever we get will be just fine.”

The End