Oct 1942
I had hoped that my return to America would help to put the horror of the events that occurred in Germany behind me. I’d hoped my return home would free me from the memories, but I was wrong. The memories of my imprisonment and torture followed me, haunting my dreams and leaving me unsure of myself. I wanted to forget the pain and torment, to pick up the threads of my life, but each night the dreams came and I woke up screaming.
My debriefing was harrowing, as every detail of my captivity was etched in my mind. Going over it again actually made every experience come back to me in vivid detail, every sensation seemed real and I almost believed I was back in that terrible cell at times. Even though what I’d told Rhinehardt and Karl was of little importance, I still felt as if I’d betrayed my country and all I stood for. General Sanderson was very understanding, giving me extended leave to try to get things together, but inside I think he knew I’d never really be the same. They’d broken me, taken me to the edge of my mental resources and I’d never be as strong again. I think he knew my nerve was gone, I knew it and I wasn’t sure I could get it back!
My father was glad to have me home. He’d been frantic when I’d vanished and for once knew he couldn’t do anything about the situation. Now I was home, he intended to do whatever was necessary to get me well, except that he was as helpless as anyone else, for all his wealth, contacts and influence, the only person who could help me was myself. I knew I was still standing at the edge of the abyss that was insanity, I was holding on by my fingernails, the memories were chipping away at my fragile psyche and it was only a matter of time before I lost my grip on reality altogether. Even the apology I wrote to Jack Flash, sent through the British Embassy, wasn’t enough, to ease my conscience. I’d turned against all I believed in to save myself and I wasn’t sure I deserved to be alive.
I spent most of my time in my room, even eating my meals there. I wrestled with my demons, trying to come to terms with all that had happened, but I couldn’t get past the fact that for a time I’d been a Nazi. They’d taken my freedom, my dignity and finally my free will. They’d turned me into a weapon for their use and they’d used that weapon. I was their puppet, prepared to do anything to stay out of the clutches of Rhinehardt and his sadistic bullies. Rhinehardt still terrified me, even though he was dead, so deep was the fear he had instilled in me. Yet what Rhinehardt had done was as nothing next to Karl’s deception. Karl had used my fear to befriend me, gain my trust and twist my mind to his will. He’d made me love him!
Even my faith was not enough. My belief in God wasn’t strong enough to help me through the doubts. I questioned everything, including my freedom. I half expected to wake up in my cell, or worse in my room at the castle. I prayed for guidance, for forgiveness, but mostly for some sign to show me a way to get past the overwhelming guilt.
I was trapped in a cycle of terror and guilt. Terror at the thought that what I was seeing was some elaborate ploy of Karl’s to make me think I was free. Guilt because I had surrendered, I had done what they wanted and done so willingly, to save myself from more pain. I felt that I’d failed, that I’d set myself up as a symbol of Freedom, and failed everyone who believed in me.
The knock on the door caught me by surprise. I assumed it was either one of the servants or my father, trying to get me to come out of my room. I considered ignoring it, but that wouldn’t make whoever it was go away. So I got up and opened the door.
"Hello Laura," Nicola said and I just stared at her.
"N …Nikki?" I said, "I … is that truly you?" In my mind I thought it was another of the mind games being played on me by Karl or Rhinehardt. She was the last person I expected to see at my bedroom door.
"Your father called me," she said, stepping inside and closing the door. "He’s very worried about you, he thought I might be able to help."
I didn’t know what to say. This was totally unexpected and that my father would think to call Nicola! I stood there for several long moments, wanting to believe my eyes, yet part of me tried to warn me it was all a trick.
"Nikki, I … I don’t know what to say," I tried to think of some welcome, some sign of what I felt, but my mouth betrayed me. "Is it really you? You are here? This isn’t another of their tricks, please God, let it be real!"
"Laura!" she said, pulling me into her arms. "Oh my God, what did those bastards do to you?"
Her touch, the warmth of her skin on mine, the subtle scent she used, the way she felt pressed against me, reached past my paranoia. There were nuances to her touch, subtle things that no one else could know that tickled my memory. We didn’t kiss, it wasn’t the right time for that, something someone else might not have realised. She held me, her presence slowly easing my fears and convincing me of her reality. My arms went around her, touched her and I knew this was real.
For a long time I stood in her arms, crying out my relief, my fear and my shame. We sat on the bed as I told her all of the details of the last few months. I held nothing back, told her all I could remember and, despite myself, I found a way back from the precipice that beckoned me. Somewhere in my story I began to find a way to ease my guilt, but this was just the first step in a very long journey.
I sat for a long time, waiting for her to say something, condemn me as a traitor or tell me I was a slut, anything.
"I’m sorry, Laura," she said at last. "Sorry I left you like that, sorry that I wasn’t here when you got back."
I looked into her eyes. The tears in them showed me the truth of her words. "You don’t hate me?" I said. "I betrayed my country, did things that … that disgust me. Why don’t you hate me?"
"I can’t hate you, Laura," she said, "it wasn’t your fault. You were tortured, manipulated and driven to the limit of your resources. I’m not sure I’d be strong enough to fight my way free of that kind of conditioning. I’m damned proud of you!"
I couldn’t speak for a while, much as I wanted to believe her, there were still doubts. Her kiss drove most of them away, a gentle kiss that was more passionate because of its gentleness and lack of fire.
"I’m not saying that I’m any more comfortable with your risking your life as you do," Laura said, sliding her hand into mine, "but I do know the alternative is sheer hell. I’ve missed you, I almost wrote to you several times, but each time I saw those wounds and I stopped myself. I’m sorry, Laura, sorry I wasn’t strong enough to come back and talk this out, properly."
I squeezed her hand gently, the admission cost her and I knew she meant every word. Then I drew her into an embrace, my arms crushing her to me, my head on her shoulder and hers on mine.
"I’m sorry too, for not going after you, stopping you and making you see how much I love you." I smiled, wincing a little. "I’ve been miserable since you left, I think that’s why I walked into that trap so easily. I longed to go to you, but I knew, or rather thought I knew you’d be better off without me. Forgive me, love."
Her hug was all the forgiveness I needed and we sat there for a long time, in each other’s arms.
"Hungry?" she asked at last and I nodded. "I know your mother has had dinner made for all of us. She may not like me much for ‘corrupting’ her daughter, but she cares for you, so she tolerates me."
I smiled. It felt strange, after so long with nothing to smile about. "My mother is a little traditional in her thinking, but she knows when to surrender to fate. Though I doubt it’ll stop her trying to find me a husband. I think she still treasures the idea of having grandchildren."
"Does she know you can’t have them?"
I nod, remembering how devastated I was when that piece of the news was given me. "She doesn’t know why, she thinks it was my transformation. Daddy knows the truth, knows that the bastard that raped me damaged me inside and destroyed my chances of a family. If I’d known at the time, I’d have made sure he suffered a little more, but he’s dead and I have to live with his legacy."
"You’ve had a rough time this last year, Laura, give yourself a chance to recover." Nicola said. "I’ll be here, if you want me to be."
"More than anything, love," I said, holding her close.
Nicola’s return to my life was a turning point, as was moving out into my apartment. Father objected, mother said I should be with my family, but inside I knew I needed to have my own space. When I suggested the penthouse of the New York Regency, father agreed, reluctantly, it would mean I wasn’t cutting all of my ties with home. I even agreed to visit on Sundays, after Mass, as long as the invitation included Nicola.
Nicola actually refused to move in with me, when I suggested it.
"I have a life outside our relationship," she said, "a career that I love. That career means I often have to be away from New York for extended periods, as well as entertain customers. I couldn’t do that if I lived in your apartment."
It made sense, though that didn’t mean I liked it any better. That said, she spent most of her nights with me, so it was close enough as to make no difference. I got the apartment the way I wanted it, decorating it to suit my tastes, and adding little things as time went by. Yet, for all of my new happiness, I couldn’t put on my uniform, couldn’t take back that part of my life that might lead me into danger once again.
Nicola said nothing, though I could tell she was worried, Miss Victory was needed. She was a symbol of American pride and freedom, a role model to the young as to what an American woman could be, and should be, in these troubled times. She hated the idea of me going out, fighting, but she also knew that if I turned my back on it because of my fears, I’d never be myself, never be the woman she fell in love with.
Christmas came, Nicola and I spent it with my mother and father, her brother was at sea. She attended the Mass with me, despite the fact she didn’t truly believe. Christmas dinner was followed by the presents, most of which were things for the apartment. Nicola surprised me, by giving me a costume made of a new fabric, Spandex. I can’t remember what I said, I know that I was silent for a long time, as were my father and mother. Nicola sat waiting, watching, hoping.
I put it down, looked at her and stood up.
"I’m sorry," I said and left the room, I could feel the terror of those months rising inside me. In my room I lay on my bed, shivering as my mind replayed every moment of my captivity as if it were a movie. I was free, but I might as well still have been a prisoner. They’d done a perfect job of demolishing my psyche, I might not go mad, but they’d taken away my courage and my self-confidence. Without either of those I was useless, they had won.
January 1943 saw the completion of the Pentagon, the Military Headquarters we’d needed for so long. General Sanderson called me on the third, asking me to come into his offices in Washington. I think he was disappointed when Laura Wayne arrived, not Miss Victory.
I’d met with General Sanderson many times, but never had I seen him looking so worried. He asked me to sit, ordered coffee, then sat looking from me to some papers on his desk.
"Laura," he said at last, "I know I said I’d leave you to work your way through things at your own pace, but something’s happened that means I need you back." He looked down again, pulled out a sheaf of photos and handed them to me. The photos were extremely upsetting, showing scenes of destruction, mangled bodies and perhaps the worst was the last, the crucified body of one of America’s few Heroes!
His name had been Captain Liberty, he hadn’t had much in the way of power, being stronger, faster and a crack shot with his pistols. He never killed anyone, never broke the law and always put others above himself. I’d worked with him once. He’d treated me like an equal and, unlike a lot of the men I worked with, hadn’t been condescending. Looking at the photo, seeing him hanging their in a mockery of Christ, I knew I had to do something to stop the people who’d done that to him.
"I’m not sure I’m ready, General, but I’ll do my best." I heard my voice shake, heard the uncertainty in it and cursed myself for my weakness.
"Laura, if I could give you more time I would, but there’s another problem, one that I’m not sure any other paranormal I’ve got can handle."
He drew out a drawing. "This is the only image we have of an alleged Nazi paranormal that’s working in America."
I looked at it, shivering. The man looked powerful, but not because of his apparent strength. The image showed energy blasts shooting from two sticks held in his hands demolishing a building. The look on his face was triumphant and full of wild exultation, as if his powers and using them gave him a real high. The costume was the usual dark colours, though at least there were no SS pips.
"What about Thunderbird?" I said, "I’d have thought he would have been better suited for this kind of job?"
"So did we, so did he, but they medics say it’ll be weeks before he’s allowed out of hospital, assuming the breaks heal right."
"Shrike, she’s usually quite effective?" I suggested.
"She’s working deep undercover," the General said, "pulling her out would blow six months of surveillance and planning."
I knew there were other resources the General had at his call, but I could also see that he was truly worried.
"I’m not sure I can do it anymore," I said, voicing my real fear. "I’m terrified of wearing my costume, terrified I’ll lose and end up back where I was."
"I can understand your fears, I can’t even begin to know what being captured and tortured could do to someone like you, but I also know that I need Miss Victory. You’re the most powerful agent I have, I need that power, or more Americans are going to die."
Whatever I was going to say was lost in the roar of the explosion. One moment I was sitting in my chair, the next the entire building rocked, windows shattered and I saw the ceiling begin to fall. I acted without thinking, flying up to put my strength behind the supports, to give the General a chance to escape, except he was lying on the floor, his head bleeding and a shard of glass protruding from his shoulder.
"Medic!" I shouted, slowly lowering the ceiling. "Dammit, I need a medic in here, the General’s hurt!"
I looked out of the shattered window as another blast rocked the building, seeing a dark figure hovering over the Pentagon, a wildly joyful look on his face.
The door collapsed inward and two soldiers clambered over the wreckage of the furniture to look after the General. I looked back at the figure outside and felt a familiar rage inside me.
"Look after him," I said and flew up to stop this murderous attack.
My target was so lost in his destruction that he didn’t see me coming. I didn’t pull my punch, I didn’t even want to, but I hit a barrier of some kind, which blunted my blow. Despite the shield, he flew back two hundred feet and spun to face me.
"Well, well, well, what’s this?" he said, "a challenge at last."
"You’re American!" I said, disgust rising inside me.
"More American than you," he spat at me, "I’m fighting for the true Americans, those who see that Hitler is right, that only those who are strong deserve to rule!"
He looked decidedly odd, hovering there, thin, almost whimpish in build, his brown hair blowing in the wind as smoke curled around us. The costume was black, but there were no symbols on it, no telltale signs of where his allegiance lay. He help two sticks, one in each hand. They were about two feet long, each was topped with a letter from the Greek alphabet, one Alpha, the other Omega.
"You miserable, sick bastard," I screamed, "you gave those people no chance, you murdered them!"
"They supported a corrupt regime, just like that other idiot who thought he could take me. He kept going on about God’s Law, well, I treated him to a recreation of one of the best moments in history."
I saw the image of Captain Liberty in my mind’s eye and I lost it. I flew forward, screaming my hatred for this bastard, wanting to rip him limb from limb. His power-blast caught me unawares and the next thing I knew I was ploughing a new hole into the side of the Pentagon.
I recovered quickly, but by the time I got airborne again he was waiting for me. The blast hurt and I flinched from the pain, froze as the memory of pain left me helpless as he grabbed me. Power ran through me, I screamed as the agony filled me and I fell when he let go, plummeting into the ground. He laughed as he hovered over me.
"Your corrupt, power hungry government will fall, girl," he said, taunting me, "and on that day, we will rule supreme. You and your kind will be ground into the dust, along with your immoral, capitalistic values."
He took to the air, flying off and leaving me cowering on the ground.
I was unhurt, physically, but inside I knew that I’d failed, my fear of pain had left me helpless. General Sanderson was taken to Washington Memorial Hospital. I waited for hours before finding out how he was. His wife and daughter arrived a little after I did, they were very worried and I couldn’t blame them. I’d met them once before, though then I was in costume, so I couldn’t say anything, though they obviously looked at me, wondering who I was waiting for. The waiting was worse than anything else, not knowing, unable to do anything to help.
The doctors came out eventually, but the news wasn’t good. The General had lost his arm, the damage was too great to save it. I felt tears on my face and before I knew what I was doing, I was out of the hospital, in the air and heading for New York. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was aware of the sonic boom as I broke the sound barrier, but I needed to get to my apartment.
When I got there I went straight to the hidden wardrobe and dragged out the new spandex costume, pulling it on.
"Laura?" Nicola said, appearing at the bedroom door.
"I froze, Nikki," I said, my tone flat and full of anger. "I could have stopped that bastard and the pain left me helpless. Well, not again!"
"Laura, I heard what happened, I was worried." Nikki didn’t try to stop me, though I could hear the fear in her voice.
"I’m invulnerable, Nikki," I said, turning to face her as I shrugged the costume into shape. "I can be hurt, I know that, but if I can’t face this fear, then I’ll never be the woman you fell in love with again. This … this murderer has to be stopped and I may be the only one who can stop him, God help me."
"I know," Nicola said, taking my hands, "though never ask me not to worry about you, it won’t happen."
I kissed her, sensing her surrender to the inevitable and her acceptance of the truth.
"I love you," I said, "but I have to do this, or at least find out if I can, or we can never have the relationship we deserve."
She nodded, picking up the star-shaped earrings she’d given me so long ago and attaching them to my ears. "Just be careful, I look awful in black."
I smiled, a little ruefully, kissed her again and turned to the window.
"If you’re really going after him, I’d try the Capitol Building," Nicola said, "there was some kind of disturbance there not long ago."
"I’ll be back," I said, "then we’ll find out if the old fire is still there!"
I flew off, leaving her on the balcony, realising that, maybe, now we could have a future. We’d avoided sex since I go back, it wasn’t the right time, but now, perhaps we could think about it. But first I had to stop a madman!
An hour after hearing the news at the hospital, I’d flown from Washington to New York and back again. Now I was out for blood, my country was in danger and I had to protect it. Capitol Hill loomed ahead of me and the flashing lights told me something had gone on. I landed before the doors of the Seat of the Government, taking in the devastation and cursing my vanity, the need to go and get my costume.
"What’s happened?" I asked a policeman nearby.
"Some kind of madman with strange powers attacked the place, killed a few people, but the Senators got out okay. We lost a couple of men to this maniac, when he blasted his way out. He flew off a few minutes ago, heading towards the White House! We’ve got a few guys out there, but this powerhouse isn’t going to be stopped by guns."
"I’m on my way," I said, leaping into the air and turning towards the White House.
I poured on the speed, covering the distance in moments, but I nearly wasn’t fast enough.
The scene playing out on the lawn of the White House seemed surreal, yet also horrifyingly real. Secret Service men were firing at the glowing figure, only to see their bullets bounce as the madman laughed. I dove, pushing my speed to the limit, and beyond, watching in horror as the President’s wife threw herself in front of her husband, covering his wheelchair bound figure with her own. The madman just laughed, the power growing as he prepared to blast America’s leader into atoms.
I hit him as he fired, his blast went wide, the impact winded him and hurt me. It was like hitting a brick wall, but I also felt something give in his chest, possibly a rib. We hit a wall, piling through it, into someone’s home. I kept flying, with him trapped in my hug, turning upwards, piling through another wall and out over the ocean. I took us up and up, to the very verge of space, where breathing becomes a real chore and the world is like a ball below me. I hit him with all of my strength, watching him fall, then went after him, hitting hard and pushing him downwards.
We lit up the sky, friction creating a fiery trail across the sky as I drove him downward, towards the Earth. I’d never tried this manoeuvre before, too scared of what it would do to me, but at that moment I didn’t care. He was going down!
They say they felt the impact miles away, some people thought it was an earthquake, others thought it was a meteorite strike. Those that found me, told me they were surprised to find anything alive in the inferno of heat and fire of the landing site. They did say I was alone, I don’t remember, I was unconscious for over a day, but I had prevented him from him killing the President. I had done some good. I also thought was the only one who knew I was terrified the whole time, though Nicola told me later that she knew.
I was released the day after I was found, the doctors were satisfied I was okay, though how they didn’t know. I knew I was still healing, but it was stuff they couldn’t see, stuff that my body would take care of on it’s own.
Nicola met me at the hospital, her face white, but there was something in her eyes that told me she needed to get past this for our relationship to mean anything. I smiled, taking her hands and looked into her terrified eyes.
"How are you holding up?" I asked and she smiled, wanly.
"I don’t know," she said honestly. "When they bought you in I was sure I was going to lose you, now, seeing you like this. Laura, it terrifies me that one day you won’t walk away from the next fight, but I can’t help knowing that if I forced you to give it up, we’d both regret it."
"Would it help to know it scares me too," I said, "that every time I go into one of these fights I wonder if I’m going to survive it? I may be invulnerable, but I still hurt when I get hit and I still want to flinch away from the pain. More so since Germany."
Her smile was enough, both of us knew that things might not get any better, but we also know that together we could get past it.
"Did they find the bastard?" I asked.
"No," Nicola said, "they just found you and a large crater where you hit."
"So he probably got away," I said, knowing we’d meet again. "Any other news?"
"The President is safe," Nicola said, "thanks to you. They’ve started repairs on the Capitol Building and the Pentagon. General Sanderson is doing well, he’s not going to be leaving hospital anytime soon, but he’s out of danger. The FBI want to talk to you, about the attack on the White House, they want to know anything you can tell them about the attacker."
"He’s powerful, those blasts hurt and you can see the damage they do." I sighed and shook my head. "Come on, let’s get this over with, then I’ll take you home, we have some talking to do."
I woke in a cold sweat, my mind full of terror. I could feel the knife grating against my bones and I screamed.
"Laura, it’s just a dream!" Nicola held me, as I shook in her arms, the horror of the dream still fresh in my head.
"I was back in the castle," I said, my voice a whisper. "Rhinehardt was there, laughing as he…"
"Don’t think about it," Nicola said, "put it out of your mind and concentrate on something else."
I concentrated on her, her arms about me, the feel of her against me, the smell of her body and the sound of her voice. Her tone was low, soothing, her hand stroked my spine in soft sweeps and I could almost feel her willing me to forget.
"I can’t forget," I said, "that’s the problem. Everything they did is still with me in clear detail. I could replicate every action from memory, every torture, indignity and cruel taunt. I can’t forget anything, my mind won’t let me."
"Shhh," Nicola said, "don’t think about it, think about me."
Her kiss was slow, passionate and when she lowered me to the bed I didn’t have to guess where she was going. Her hands moved freely over my body, teasing my breasts, as her tongue chased mine. When her leg started rubbing against me I knew that it was time. I surrendered to the feelings rising in me, slid my hands over her body, cupping her small, sensitive breasts and received a pleasure filled gasp in return.
"Nikki?" I whispered in her ear.
"Shhh," she replied, moving her mouth downwards to my breasts.
Her touch was light, like a feather, as if she was afraid I might break. I could feel my body responding to her touch, rising to meet her caresses, arching as the fire inside me built. Just at the moment I couldn’t keep it in any longer, she stopped, letting the fire dim, only to start again, building me to higher peaks of pleasure. Time and again she took me almost to the peak, stopping just short, until even her lightest touch caused me to groan in pleasure. Then it was time and we were there! I screamed, not in fear this time, but in rapturous joy and release as an incredible wave of pleasure washed over me. For several long moments I couldn’t breath, my body ached with the power of my climax, yet I know we hadn’t finished.
I turned to her, pushing her down, not saying a word, just looking into her eyes, before doing to her what she just did to me. I was hesitant at first, scared that in my passion I might hurt her, but she urged me on, her body and hands guiding me, helping me find every part of her body that gave her pleasure. When she shuddered beneath me, calling my name I felt incredibly proud that I could do that, give her such pleasure.
Something intruded between my legs and I look down, to see Nicola pushing something inside me.
"You enjoyed making love to Karl, but he isn’t the only one who can do that for you," she said.
I stared at the artificial phallus as it entered me, then noticed that the other end was the same. When Nicola impaled herself on that end, I felt a shudder go through me. Her hips began to move and I found myself matching her movements.
"Oh god," I whispered, "this is incredible."
Nikki kissed me, her hands busy on my breasts again and I rolled over on top of her, feeling the need to make love to her. We were locked together and I kissed her, caressed her and, finally, felt her climax, at the same moment I did.
We made love all night, exploring options, positions as well as some of the other toys that she never mentioned having. We were exhausted by dawn, but we went out onto the balcony to watch the sun rise.
"Thank you," I said.
"What for?" she said, resting her head on my shoulder.
"For coming back," I said, "for facing your fears and … and giving us a second chance."
"Now all you have to do is face your own." She looked out towards the East River as the sun began to rise. "I can help you fight the nightmares, but the fear is still going to be there."
I nodded, watching the red sky lighten and turn blue. "As long as you’re with me, I know I can do it, one day."
Thunder rolled over the sky and we looked up, only there were no clouds, except for the one rising over the Battery. Nicole looked at me and I kissed her.
"Sorry, love, duty calls."
She smiled, nodded and watched as I pulled off my robe and ran into the apartment. I was dressed in my costume by the time she came into the bedroom. The sheets were a tangled mass of damp cotton and there was a musky smell to the air. I grinned at her and walked over to her.
"I guess we’ll have to re-make the bed."
She smiled, kissed me long and hard. "Just be careful, I want you back in one piece."
I nodded, flying out of the room, into the morning sky and headed for the cloud of debris, still rising in the air.
Fire erupted from the gutted building, people lay around, some dead, others injured. Men clawed at the rubble, trying to reach those who were trapped under the wreckage of an apartment building and I looked around for whoever had done this.
I spotted him on the rooftop, his black uniform stark against the early morning sky. I felt my rage rise and flew towards him.
"Ah, Miss Victory, I though that might get your attention." He fired at point blank range and I felt myself thrown backwards. "I wanted to meet you again, pay you back for what you did to me. If it weren’t for you, the military brains, the heart and the soul of this corrupt government would be gone. You stopped me freeing the people from oppression, so now I’ll have to make you pay for that."
"Is this how you free them, killing innocent people?" I yelled, hurling a large section of rubble at him.
Power lashed out, reducing the rubble to dust.
"You did this, forced me to strike at the people who put those political parasites into power. You are responsible for anything I do now." He fired at a nearby building, I flew forward, taking the blast on my chest, using all my power to keep from being knocked back. He piled on more power, I refused to be beaten and stayed in front of the power blast. He brought his second had round and a second blast joined the first. I noticed that one beam was white, whilst the other was black, just before there was a loud explosion and I was thrown backwards by an incredible force.
He landed beside me as I struggled to rise.
"I could kill you anytime I wanted," he said, "the power is mine. I am Prime One, the embodiment of light and dark, power and anti-power."
"And I’m the tooth-fairy," I said, flipping my legs upwards, kicking him from behind and flipping to my feet. "A tip, never get close to the enemy, if you can take them from range."
"Bitch," he cried, lashing out with a beam of white power.
I dodged, grabbing his hands and bringing up my knee. Not elegant, but as my Sensei always told me, ‘Never let your opponent dictate the fight, if you can take them down quickly, do it!" Not exactly oriental and honourable, but most combat has little to do with honour, and a lot to do sheer violence.
He fell over, retching and clutching his groin. I looked around for something to bind him with, then turned back. He was lying on the ground, his eyes blank, his breathing shallow. I knelt down, feeling for a pulse, as a power blast took me in the back.
I turned, looking into the eyes of another man, the uniform was the same, the fanatical gleam in the eyes was the same, but the man was different. He was built differently, his hair a different colour and somehow I knew this was not the same man, despite the facemask.
"Fool, I am not a mere mortal, I am power and power cannot be stopped."
He flew upwards and vanished, leaving me staring at empty air.
He said his name was Nathan Aldridge, he was an accountant and all he could remember was visiting a laboratory to go over its accounts. He recalled some kind of energy surge, intense pain and then nothing, until he woke up in hospital. He was thirty-two, asthmatic and not that fit. His clothes were normal, though there were traces of energy residue, some kind of energy that I couldn’t identify.
It made no sense, this man had attacked me, fought me to a stand still, only now he was someone totally different. I suspected brainwashing, but a call to Military Intelligence confirmed that this man had security clearance for low grade Research Areas. After a long chat I came to the conclusion that he didn’t even know how to fight, let alone how to fight someone like me. He was an ordinary man, which was brought home to me when his wife arrived.
She was quite pretty, obviously loved him and I think it was his reaction that convinced me he was innocent. He hugged her, whispered that things were all right and was more concerned over how she had coped whilst he was missing, than his own situation.
"So Nathan," I said, after they’d finished saying hello, "tell me about the lab you visited."
"I was supposed to do the monthly audit for Fortune Electronics," Nathan said, gripping his wife’s hands like a lifeline. "I arrived early, I wanted to get the audit done before the week end, it was our anniversary. I remember starting the audit, looking at the equipment budget and … and starting the count. There was a lab where they were doing some kind of energy experiments, something to do with creating a new kind of energy source I think. The scientist in charge, Dr Templeton I think, was explaining the need for certain equipment, when something happened. I remember intense pain, then … nothing!"
"Fortune Electronics," I mused, "I think I may have to pay them a visit. Is there anything else Nathan, anything you can remember that might be relevant?"
"No, after the flash, the next thing I remember is you standing over me and that man vanishing into thin air."
"What will happen to him now," Mrs Aldridge asked.
"That depends on what I find at Fortune Electronics and what the results of the Military Investigation," I said. "Your husband is involved in an attack on the Capitol, the President and several other sensitive sites. From the looks of it, he wasn’t acting under his own volition and I hope things turn out okay. I’ll do my best to help."
"Thank you, Miss Victory," she said, looking into her husband’s eyes. "When Nathan disappeared I was worried sick, I just want to go home and get back to normal."
‘Back to normal’, something I longed for, yet could only dream about. I hoped that they would get the chance, but deep inside I knew that this was only the beginning.
Fortune Electronics was a rising star amongst California’s new electronics industries. The complex wasn’t large, only three buildings, one of which was offices. There was no official government research going on there, though the complex was rated as a secure area, to keep out members of the public. Of course, I wasn’t a member of the public!
"Miss Victory, a pleasure to meet you." I took the hand Francis Fortune offered me, taking in the look of confident assurance and smoothness on his face. His eyes flicked over my body, a reaction I’d got used to, then met mine. "What can we do for you?"
"I’m looking into the accident that Nathan Aldridge suffered on this site," I said, watching Fortune’s reactions. "He told me he was here to conduct an audit a few weeks ago, but there are no records of the audit being completed."
"Ah," Fortune said, "there are one or two problems there. You see Dr Templeton’s work is highly classified."
"Not according to Military Intelligence or the FBI," I said calmly. "Besides, I think you will find my Omega-Red clearance is sufficient to get into any facility in America."
I almost laughed at the way his eyes bulged at the mention of my clearance level. It was very recent, one of the rewards for saving the life of the President and his wife. General Sanderson had pushed it through from his sick bed, insisting on being the one who told me about it, as well as giving me the job of sorting out the Prime One situation. I was a free agent, to a degree, answerable to only four men in America, The President, Vice-President, General Sanderson and the Head of the FBI. Part of me was terrified by the responsibility, another part of me was proud to know the trust my nation put in me.
Nicola had loved meeting the President, not to mention Mrs Roosevelt. Eleanor, as she insisted we call her, had already talked with Nicola about designing some dresses for her. I’d been rather over awed by the company, until they pointed out that, at present, I was one of the most well known women in America. My actions at Pearl Harbour had saved lives, my role within Military Intelligence had made American life safer during these hazardous times. Now I’d saved the life of the President and his wife from a deranged paranormal. The newsreels had captured some of the fight on film, even though I’d lost. It seemed Miss America was a heroine, even though all I wanted was to do my duty to my country.
I waited to see if Fortune would try to put any more barriers in my way, but he seemed to accept he couldn’t stop me inspecting his plant.
"Please follow me, I’ll take you to see Dr Templeton." He wasn’t happy about this, but he also realised I could just walk past any security he had.
I followed him to the newest of the buildings, into a corridor with seven armed guards, not army I noted. Their weapons were rifles, single action, but more than capable of stopping most intruders. There were three labs in this block, two of them working on non-military projects. The third was Dr Templeton’s lab.
The room was full of electronic equipment, some of which looked remarkably intricate. There was a smell of ozone and the hairs on my arm stood up from the static electricity in the air. Three workbenches lined the walls, the fourth wall being where the door was and kept clear. In the centre of the room was a large apparatus of vacuum tubes, wires and a flimsy looking framework. At its base was a man who looked exactly as a scientist should. Balding head, oldish, with a dirty lab coat.
"Dr, we have a visitor," Fortune said.
"I told you I wasn’t to be disturbed, Francis," the man snapped, "I am involved in delicate work and need to concentrate."
"Then I’m afraid you will have to change your mind," I said, "until I decide whether or not this work should continue." My tone was ice cold, my gaze was firmly on this man who obviously had little regard for the feelings of others. His expression confirmed my suspicion that his work was all he cared about, the look he gave me would have killed instantly, if looks could kill. "I’m here to investigate the accident suffered by Nathan Aldridge, and discover why no one bothered to report it."
"Raymond, please," Fortune said, "Miss Victory is here as a Government official. Please co-operate."
Raymond Templeton looked at me as if I was something he’d scrape off his shoe, not even worth his attention, except where I affected his work.
"Aldridge meddled where he shouldn’t have," Templeton said. "He should never have been allowed in here, telling me that I had to answer for the costs of my experiments!"
"Dr Templeton, it is possible your experiments are responsible for creating a menace that nearly destroyed the Government of this country, not to mention the attack on the President. If you don’t co-operate, I have the authority to have you arrested and this entire complex shutdown."
Dr Templeton glared at me, as if he were above the law. He glanced at Fortune and then walked to one of the benches.
"Ten minutes," he said, though I doubt you will discover anything of use. That damn fool accountant’s clumsiness is hardly my concern."
"Why don’t you tell me what happened," I said, trying to hide my dislike of this self-centred little man.
"I was working on the generator when Aldridge came in with his questions. He was asking about equipment, costs and what I needed it for, distracting me from my work. I looked away for a moment and he must have touched something he shouldn’t have. All I heard was a scream, when I turned around he was gone, just a pile of ash on the floor."
"He was killed?" I said, sounding as surprised as I felt.
"I assume so," Templeton said, "I work with very high power levels and people who don’t know better than to toy with things, should stay out!"
I got the impression that meant me, though I was more concerned by Templeton’s words, than his attitude.
"Would it surprise you to know that Aldridge is alive and well, in Washington Memorial Hospital." I watched the response of both men, they were surprised.
"That isn’t possible," Templeton said, "Aldridge could not survive being exposed to anti-power, it would have nullified him."
"Anti-power?" I said and saw panic in Templeton’s eyes. "Just what are you doing here, Dr?"
I stepped towards him, but he threw a switch and I felt my hair stand on end.
"An electronic barrier," Templeton said, "strong enough to stop even your formidable strength. Fortune, tell the guards we are not to be disturbed, no matter what they hear."
Fortune vanished through the door and Templeton returned his attention to me.
"So, Miss Victory, you know more than you admitted to," he said, his eyes cold and glittering with fanatical fire.
"I know that, obviously, there is something wrong here." I hit the barrier, my blow rippling the air, but failing to break through.
"I have discovered a way to tap into a dimension that is the exact opposite polarity of ours," Templeton said, checking a meter and throwing another switch. "I’m working on a focussing device, to give me more control. When I have perfected it, I will be able to direct beams of anti-power anywhere I wish, instantly nullifying anything it touches."
"A death ray," I said incredulously, remembering some of the serials they show at the cinemas for children. "You’re mad!"
"You are in no position to call me names," he pressed a switch and I flew backwards, hitting a metal table that held me fast, despite my strength. "The magnetic field will hold you immobile, it will counter your strength and ensure that you do not escape, until I have finished with you."
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
"My dear Miss Victory, I’m sure you can guess," he said, smiling maliciously. "First I intend to rape you, then I’m going to kill you!"
There are no words to describe the disgust I felt afterwards. Templeton took what he wanted and used my body for his pleasure, then left me lying there, my breasts exposed, to his gaze. It wasn’t what he did so much as the fact that he could do it without me being able to fight back, just like in Germany. My fear held me as much a prisoner as the magnetic forces pinning me to the table. Perhaps even worse than all of this was that the man didn’t even seem to see my beauty, just that I was a woman who was there to satisfy his needs.
I was crying, again not because he’d raped me, but because I begged him not to hurt me. It was as if I was back in Falkenhurst Castle, helpless and unable to stop anyone doing anything to me. Templeton obviously enjoyed dominating me, being in the position of strength. He looked down at me, stroked my sweat dampened hair, caressed my breasts and casually ignored my nakedness in any other way, just like I was a lab animal.
"I was going to kill you," he said, fastening his flies, "but after that, I think that you and I are going to do this again. Now, I want you to tell me about Aldridge, everything you can about your fights with whatever he’s become and the damage he caused."
"Drop dead, you bastard," I snarled, throttling back my dread.
"My dear girl, I could do incredibly painful things to you, use my magnetic ray to reach inside you and seriously mess with your internal anatomy, without killing you." He saw my reaction and smiled, his hand tracing it’s way up my leg and under my skirt. The ruins of my panties lay on the floor, I was helpless to stop him doing what he wanted. His touch made my skin crawl, but there was nothing I could do.
"It amazes me that your skin can be so resilient, yet so soft. Sensitive too," he smiled at my shudder, seeing the revulsion in my eyes. "Yes, I could do so many things to you, I could even use you to sire my successor. Imagine a child with my intelligence, your beauty and the power of both of us. She would have to have the right attitude of course, though I think that could be arranged."
Inwardly I smiled, that, at least, was one thing he couldn’t do to me.
"Still, all of this is for later," he said, turning away and going to a locker across the room. "No doubt you are expecting to be rescued by your superiors, which would seriously compromise my plans."
He turned back to me, a small box in his hands. "Time for us to disappear I think."
I tried to fight, but something inside my head forced me into darkness, somehow he was manipulating my brain and I fell into oblivion…
A radio blared in my ear, the reporter was talking about an explosion at an electronics plant in California. I tried to move, to reach out to Nicola, but my body refused to co-operate. It all came rushing back to me, the trip to California, Templeton, what he did to me.
I opened my eyes and found I was still held in place on that table, or one very like it, but the lab was different. The construction in the centre was still there, but more complete, the benches around the walls were different, as were the walls themselves. The room was bigger, painted in different colours and there was a definite chill to the air.
Someone had pulled my costume back over my breasts, though I still had nothing on under my skirt. I tried my magnetic bonds, there was no give in them. I pulled harder, hoping the table might give, but the force holding me down also reinforced the table. I sagged back in frustration.
"Ah, you’re awake at last!" Templeton said, stepping around his machine. "I was hoping you’d be awake for the trial run. You’re going to be the first consort of the Emperor of America, it’s only right that you should see the first trial of the invention that will take me to power."
"You’re mad," I said, "they’ll find you and shoot you down like the lunatic you are."
"Really," he said, "I’ve already bested their champion, the woman the nation puts their faith into. Do they know that your psyche is so fragile?"
I stared at him, trying not to show weakness.
"It’s obvious that someone did something to you, leaving you mentally weakened," he smiled, stroking my cheek. "You talk in your sleep, my dear, I believe his name was Karl and he inflicted great pain on you. Well I can do that, but I won’t let you break free of my control. Though we will have to cure you of those annoying screaming fits, I prefer my sleep to be uninterrupted, except by sex."
He must have seen the fear in my eyes, because he smiled triumphantly. "You will swear your undying love and obedience to me, you will be my lover, my slave and the mother to my heir."
"I’ll die first," I said, part of me knowing it was false bravado.
"I think not," he said. "You see, there are a thousand ways to hurt someone, but if you show them that pleasure follows obedience and pain defiance…"
Pain shot through me, wave after wave of indescribable pain and I screamed, begging him to stop. The pain stopped and pleasure replaced it, pleasure like a thousand orgasms, only more intense, more incredible.
"Pleasure and pain, the ultimate teachers," Templeton said. "You will come to love me, because not doing so will be too terrifying to contemplate."
"Why me? I asked, trying not to show just how much what he planned scared me.
"You are the most perfectly beautiful woman I have ever met," he said, "originally I was going to use you and discard you, but I cannot. You are too lovely, I have to have you. It’ll show those other bitches that they should have been more grateful. Our child will be even more perfect, especially once I give her the correct attitude to rule over my empire."
His lips crushed mine and I gagged as he tried to force his tongue down my throat. His hands slipped inside my costume and I felt him climb on top of me.
"You are truly lovely," he said, his eyes looking at my breasts, he undid his trousers. "Time to try again, my love."
Pleasure and pain became all I knew. He would use his devices to stimulate areas of my brain, causing incredible pain or equally incredible pleasure. The pleasure always accompanied another attempt at siring his heir, but I knew he couldn’t and that was my sole consolation. Of course it meant he would keep trying, he was totally besotted with my beauty and, for the first time, I found myself wishing I wasn’t so perfect.
To add to my despair, my body was beginning to recognise his touches as bringing pleasure and responding to him. I’d been his prisoner for less than twenty-four hours and I was weakening.
I still refused to tell him anything, though I was beginning to get the impression that the information was secondary to breaking me in as his brood mare. He wasn’t attractive, he had very little personality, but he was obviously a genius. He actually took the time to explain how he was doing what he was doing to me, though I had already worked it out.
"The brain sends transmissions to the body through the neurones," he said, as he lay with his head on my chest, "all I do is stimulated those centres. The transmissions are micro-electric in nature, I simply add a slight charge that the pleasure and pain centres send to the body."
The problem was that even knowing how he was doing it, didn’t stop it being effective. He was conditioning me to him, making me his slave and I was losing my resistance. Each time he took me, I came closer to wanting him to do it again. All that stood between me and total surrender was Nicola, my love for her.
"Magnetism is the real key," he said, standing up. "The force that holds you is the same that allows matter to exist. It is the most powerful force in the universe and I command it."
"What about the anti-power?" I asked.
"That is what powers my laboratory, a controlled stream of power and anti-power, each annihilating the other and releasing energy on a scale never even conceived of before. But it is the magnetic power surrounding it that keeps the reaction stable, which proves that magnetism is the more powerful force."
"What would happen if you lost control?" I asked, getting a sinking in my stomach.
"I won’t, I have complete control of the equipment in this lab," he said indignantly.
"But if you did," I insisted.
"If the anti-power got loose it could, in theory, destroy the world, the universe, everything. It is the exact opposite polarity to normal power, they would go on destroying each other until there was nothing left of either."
I could see the idea scared him, but his lust for power was stronger. He wanted power over me and over America. By making me his willing slave he would take away the symbol the people had adopted to stand for freedom. With his weapon and mastery of magnetics, he had the power to force the government to bow down before him.
"Was Prime One your idea?"
"That idiot Aldridge came in, demanding me to justify the costs of my work, so I introduced him to the anti-power flow, bodily." Templeton smiled at the memory. "He vanished, releasing more power than I’ve ever seen before, which gave me the idea for my generator. I knew nothing of Aldridge or Prime One until you mentioned them."
This was bad, it was obvious Prime One and the anti-power were linked and it was beginning to look like Aldridge had played me for a fool. Unless he knew about Templeton’s megalomania and wanted to draw me away from him, to give him time to escape. In any event there were two madmen on the loose, and both were in a position to hurt my country.
"I think it is time to show the American Government what I can do." Templeton went over to his machine and began throwing switches. "You will see, my love, that power can be a powerful stimulant."
A television screen came to life and showed a picture of a building in Washington. It was a small residential house near to the White House and, as Templeton threw another switch, it vanished in a flare of black energy, leaving only a crater to show where it had stood.
The horror of such wanton destruction made me ill. I’d assumed that Templeton was twisted, but for the first time I realised he was truly Evil. He’d just killed American people, without warning, without any kind of remorse and all for his own gratification.
Rhinehardt floated into my mind, the look on his face as he inflicted his tortures on me. Templeton was far worse. Rhinehardt might enjoy what he did, but he did it partly out of loyalty to his country. Templeton just enjoyed showing his power.
The lights dimmed slightly and I felt my arm twitch! The ‘anti-power cannon’ obviously took a lot of power from the system, enough to weaken my bonds slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was a beginning.
"Tell me, doesn’t the idea of wielding absolute power thrill you?" he turned to me, his eyes full of pleasure at his success. "I could wipe out a building, a town, even an entire city and nothing can stop me."
He turned back to his control panel, picking a fresh target, a small town somewhere on the plains. The black power lashed out again and the town vanished, making me feel ill. How many people had he just killed, how many had I failed to save. The energy drain was larger this time and I felt my bonds weaken further. Hope surged through me as the bonds weakened a little more, possibly enough to tear free, in time.
Templeton went over to a phone, dialled a number and spoke softly and slowly when it was answered.
"That was a minor demonstration of my power, as was the annihilation of the town of Harper, in Oklahoma. The government will announce their hand over of power to Emperor Raymond Templeton within twenty-four hours, or the next target will be far more devastating. There will be no negotiation. By the way, I have your champion, so don’t expect Miss Victory to save you."
He put the phone down, turning to me with gleaming eyes. "I think I’m ready for you again, my love."
Pleasure ran through me, real pleasure, not the false kind his device gave me and I realised with horror I wanted him to take me…
Later I lay there, gasping from my body’s betrayal and reaction to this evil man. I hated myself for what we’d just done, the betrayal of my love for Nicola and my duty to my country.
"Raymond, can’t you let me go now, please." I hardly recognised my voice.
"Are you mine, body and soul?" he said, stroking my face. "Do you wish to be mine, forever? Will you do whatever I ask?"
"Yes," I said.
I felt the bonds drop from me and he stood, holding out his hand to me. "You know, I have no idea of what you look like without your mask, take it off."
I removed my mask, smiling at him as I shook my hair free. He devoured my face and I smiled wider as he stepped closer. When he kissed me I couldn’t stop myself gasping in pleasure. I took me hard, my body shaking as I clung to him. I screamed as I came, wantonly arching into him and lay gasping on the table that had been my prison for so long.
"So, my sweet Victory, what else shall we do?"
I smiled, a part of me screaming at me to stop this man, but my body wanted more, craved more and I slowly kissed him, deeply, passionately.
"Take me to bed, love me, show me true power."
He laughed, picking me up and sweeping me out of the lab, my mask left on the floor, forgotten.
Hours passed, I was lost in an erotic nightmare where my body was used over and over by Raymond Templeton and I loved it. He talked endlessly about what the world would be like when he ruled America, how he would shower me with jewels, how I would rule at his side, his equal and anyone who displeased me would die, with a thought.
We slept, made love, slept again, only to wake up and do it yet again. Sex became my world, Raymond my perfect lover, he was obsessed with my body and me. I knew that as long as he loved me, I would know only pleasure, the pain would stay away.
I violent explosion rocked the building and both of us leapt out of bed. Raymond pulled on his pants whilst I grabbed my costume and headed for the lab. I burst into the lab, pulling the last bit on, to see a hole in the roof, a tang of energy in the air and snow piling on the ground. I grabbed my mask and pulled it on, looking around for the intruder.
Power leapt from the shadows, striking me and knocking me over. I spun to confront my attacker as he stepped into the light.
"Prime One," I said, "or rather Nathan Aldridge."
"Miss Victory, we have unfinished business." Prime One’s eyes swept the lab. "Where is Templeton, I need Templeton?"
"Why, is he stepping on your toes?" I asked, watching the door as I heard Raymond get closer.
"No, I need more power, need to feel it in me again." His eyes were unfocussed, not really seeing me and I realised that I had a chance to finish this before Raymond got here.
I flew forward, hitting Prime One with all my strength and grinned as he hit the wall with a solid thud.
"Raymond won’t help you, you’re pathetic, not even worth our notice. We’re going to rule the world, you’re not even fit to clean the floors." I could hear myself, hear what I was saying and I knew it was wrong, knew I’d lost my way, somehow.
"Victory, what is it?" Raymond came into the lab, looking around and when he saw Prime One came to stand at my side. "Well, if it isn’t my first experiment, you look slightly ill. Could it be the power I gave is fading?"
"I need more," Prime One said, "need to regain my strength and teach the capitalist dogs a lesson. The illusion I cast to put them off my scent drained me too much."
"I think not," Raymond said, "I have another Champion, one far more powerful and useful than you are." His arm slid around me and I felt proud to be there, proud to be the one he chose. "Kill him my dear," he said and turned away.
I stepped forward, raising my fist, but something inside me stopped me, something I’d forgotten. Nicola’s face hovered before me, smiling, yet there was sadness in her eyes and I dropped my fist.
The blast caught me in the stomach and I flew backwards, hitting the wall. Prime One stood up, unsteadily, and moved towards Raymond. I flew forward to stop him, but a flash of power knocked me down.
"Stay down, bitch, or I will kill you."
"Not even on your best day," I said, standing up and diving forwards. I knocked him down grappling with him a moment, then rolled away from him as I wondered why I was having so much trouble with this scum. I had power, strength and I knew Karate, I should be creaming him!
He stood, watching me, I stepped back, then leapt forwards, landing on one foot and treating him to a sidekick. I watched as he flew backwards, straight into the anti-power cannon!
Raymond’s shriek made me turn and in that moment my mind was back in Falkenhurst Castle, with Karl and Rhinehardt grinning at me.
"Well, you’re really making all our efforts worthwhile, aren’t you?" Rhinehardt said.
"We trained her well, my friend," Karl added, "she has no true loyalties now, no true beliefs and no honour."
"Leave me alone, you bastards!" I screamed, lashing out at them, only to have my fist pass through them.
"Our legacy," Karl said, with a smile, "you cannot resist anything, you are broken and will stay broken!"
"Do you really believe that?" Nicola said from behind me, stepping to my side. "Do you really believe they are your true masters. Are you going to let them win?"
I looked at the ghosts of my past, grinning at me. I reached inside myself, for something I didn’t know if I could find, because I didn’t remember when I lost it. Yet again Nicola was there, helping me, guiding me and there it was, the tiny, glowing cocoon that I’d wrapped around my true self, to protect it.
"I’m not sure I can do this," I said.
"If you stay in there, you’ll never be what you should be, anyone who can work out your weakness will do what he pleases with you. Is that what you want to be, a puppet and a tool of others?" Nicola looked at me and I turned back to the cocoon.
"It’s so fragile, so easily broken, I could lose it forever if I let it out?"
"Risk is part of the game, if you want to wear that costume," Nicola said, "it took me a while to figure that out, now it’s your turn. Only you can do this!"
I stared at the cocoon, m mind in turmoil as I tried to find the courage to do what I had to. I reached out for it a couple of times, but each time the fear of what the world could do to such a fragile thing made me draw back. Nicola said nothing, there was nothing more to say. I would either free myself from the pain of the past, or stay trapped inside the prison I’d built, my spirit weakened and open for anyone who could exploit that weakness.
My mind felt the touch of Raymond’s hands on my body, caressing me and making me into his whore. Disgust filled me as I realised that his conditioning and the lure of his power over me had clouded my mind. I tore at the cocoon, blinking at the bright light that erupted from it and I felt something stir inside me, something that had been absent for a long time. Pride, pride in my beliefs and my worth. My soul was free, my own and the shades of Rhinehardt and Karl faded. I knew I’d never really lose them, but they no longer controlled me.
I blinked as a loud whine filled the lab. I turned as the shape of Prime one glowed in the heart of the cannon. There was a flare of power as the cannon and Prime One vanished. Raymond screamed in frustration.
"Twenty years it took for me to build that you stupid bitch!"
"I’m sure that the next few months will give you a perspective on what you’ve done," I said. "You’re under arrest, for extortion, mass murder and treason!"
He stared at me, disbelief in his eyes. "You can’t do that, you love me."
"You manipulated me, used your devices to condition me, but, unfortunately for you, I got better."
I grabbed his hand as it went for the control box on the bench. My other fist came down on the box with a loud crash. The bench cracked and split in half.
"You’re an animal and I’m going to be on the front row for your execution." I looked into his eyes, no pity or remorse in my soul for what he had done.
He whimpered, shrinking away from me. I tied him up and looked at the controls for his radio. It took four hours for the Marines to arrive, during which time I’d managed to shut down the power core, find the plans for the cannon and collect all of the data together. I handed the whole lot over to the colonel who was in charge and, after giving my clearance code and authority, took my leave of the facility.
It’s a long flight from Northern Alaska to New York, but I just piled it on, needing to get home. Three hours later I dropped onto the patio, tired, but oddly happy.
"Laura?" Nikki appeared at the door and I grinned.
I flew at her, gathered her in my arms and flew straight into the bedroom, shedding my costume and her clothes in the process. I made love to her in a fever of lust, desire and desperation. Afterwards I lay with her in my arms, soaking up her happiness and adding it to my own.
"Well, you’re in a good mood," Nicola said, tightening her grip on me.
"It’s been a rough couple of days, but I think it was worth it. I found something I thought I’d never find again, thanks to you."
"To me?" she said, leaning up so that she could see my face.
I told her all of it, since I left for California, and she listened, silently. When I finished she hugged me and lay her head on my shoulder.
"Well, I can think of easier ways to find yourself, but I’m not complaining. You won, not just against Templeton and Prime One, but against Rhinehardt and Falkenhurst too. You’re you again, and I’m not complaining.
I kissed her, suddenly realising I was ready for more than just a kiss. Nicola didn’t object.
"I do not believe it!" I said, storming out of the Pentagon. Nikki was waiting for me.
"I guess that didn’t go too well," she said.
"Those idiots not only aren’t going to put Templeton on trial, they’ve shipped the power-mad bastard off to a research centre to rebuild his goddamn cannon!" I looked back at the Pentagon, taking in the damage and repair crews. "I swear, I think we might as well just invite Hitler over for tea at the damned White House. Templeton came so bloody close to winning, and they give him a damned grant!"
"No one ever said Government Agencies were logical." Nicola smiled at me. "You did what you were supposed to do, you’ve had your debriefing, how about lunch and a shopping trip?"
"Is that your answer to everything," I said with a grin, "go shopping."
"Whilst there is stuff available," she said, "I’ve got a charity event to go to tonight, and I want my partner to look the part. There are rumours of rationing, especially silk and other fabrics."
I looked back once more at the Pentagon, shook my head and smiled at Nicola.
"I think I’d like something in Gold and Silver, like my costume, but dressier, especially as I’m supposed to be going as Miss Victory."
"I know exactly what you have in mind, I’ve had my people working on the design for weeks." Nicola took my hand and I sighed.
I still had a ways to go, but the ghosts had less power and I knew I was going to make it…
To be continued in ‘PR Exercise’…