Quaren the Eunuch looked up from his newspaper and smiled at the two women entering his shop. “Ah, Elle! It is good to see you, again. But back so soon?”
The beautiful brunette returned his smile. “Afraid so, Quaren. As durable as the costumes you make for me are, I seem to go through them rather quickly.”
“That’s odd,” the tailor replied. “The Tekskin material I use to construct them is of the highest quality-- not only resistant to extremes of hot and cold, but also quite resilient to tearing. What in the world keeps happening to them?”
Elle blushed at the memory of her sleek costume being nearly torn from her body by the gang of thugs she had battled the night before. She had taken them down in the end, but the conflict had taken its toll on her clothing. “Let us just say that I put myself in dangerous situations. Still, at the prices you charge, I would think that you would not be complaining.”
“Oh, I’m not complaining! To the contrary, my dear Elle, you are my best customer. I always keep an extra supply of Tekskin on hand in the hope that you will be paying me a visit. So what will it be, this time? The usual?”
“Yes, that is right. The violet bodysuit.”
“The boots half way up on the thighs?”
“Yes, and gloves to match. I have decided to take your advice and leave my upper arms and shoulders bare.”
“A wise decision. A beautiful girl such as yourself can only benefit by showing a little skin.” Elle smirked. “Save the fashion advice for the uptown princesses, Quaren. I am less concerned about the current style than I am about having an unrestricted range of motion.” “Never the less,” the tailor responded with a shrug, “I will make you look tremendous.” “That is why I come to you, old friend. You are the best.”
The willowy thin man smiled as broadly as his taught face would allow. “Yes, yes! Thank you for saying so! And what of your lovely friend? Will she be taking advantage of my services, as well? I am sure that I can find enough Tekskin for two costumes!”
Elle looked at her fair-haired companion inquisitively. “What do you say, Jody? Are you up for a new look?”
The young woman smiled but shook her head. “My current look is just fine, thanks. I’m just tagging along for the ride, remember? Some time to kill, and all that?”
Quaren stared at the gorgeous blonde and frowned. “Ah, what a shame. Can I not convince you to reconsider? You would look simply fantastic in one of my creations. I could do so much with someone of your beauty. Yes, you really are something! Tell me you are not a fashion model. Tell me you are available to work for me!”
“Work?” the twenty-two year old asked in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Didn’t Elle tell you? I frequently produce magnificent runway shows to introduce my fabulous creations to the world. I am always on the look out for beautiful young women to employ as models. You would be a tremendous addition to my normal assortment of girls.”
“Me?” Jody asked modestly. “A model? I don’t think so.”
Quaren was insistent. “But why? You are simply gorgeous! And so athletic! Yes, you would be perfect. And after all, it is so difficult to find the right type of girl—the type of girl that can truly do my fashions justice. I tell you, with the exception of Elle, I think the majority of my girls are completely unacceptable.”
The young blonde’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “Elle? You’ve been modeling?” The slender brunette blushed again. “How do you think I pay for these costumes?” “But I thought—I mean… I didn’t know--”
“I know,” Elle replied with a laugh. “You thought I was stealing. Do not worry-- I do not blame you for thinking so. I was a pretty good thief in my time, after all.”
It was Jody’s turn to blush. She had, indeed, misjudged her friend. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I didn’t know where the money was coming from. But modeling?”
“It is not so bad. I dress up in Quaren’s wild clothes and walk up and down the runway a few times. The men look at me like I am a piece of ground chuck, but the pay is good.” “A piece of ground chuck?” Quaren nearly shouted. “A piece of prime tenderloin, more like! I tell you, Jody, your friend is beloved by all! Since making her debut, attendance at the shows is up thirty percent. The men absolutely love her and the women are absolutely envious!”
Quaren smiled warmly at his dark haired star. “Our future is bright, yes Elle? With my clothes and your legs, we will go far! If only we had another—a golden haired angel to compliment your own sultry beauty. Yes, we need one such as your friend. You simply must convince her to say yes!”
Jody reacted shyly to the inquisitive gaze of her friend. “I don’t know—I never really thought of myself as a model. I was always more into sports and--”
“Preposterous!” Quaren shouted in glee. “All young women fantasize of being runway models! The glamour, the fame, the money! And most importantly, the men! Imagine, dozens of wealthy and handsome men, all sitting attentively around the walkway, all with their eyes and hearts focused entirely on you.”
Jody thought back to the speaking engagement she had done at City Park in the guise of Ms. Marvelous some months before. She remembered the feeling of having hundreds of eyes scanning her body as she stood atop the stage in her revealing costume.
“I’m uncomfortable with that kind of attention. I guess you could say that I am kind of shy.” “But I simply will not accept no as an answer. I can be very persistent.” Quaren reached into his pocket and removed three one hundred dollar bills. He waved them in air as motivation for his hesitant quarry.
“Well,” the young blonde replied, “I could use the money--”
“Wonderful! It’s all settled, then. Our next show is very soon, this coming Saturday, in fact. Elle can fill you in on the details. This is tremendous! I am all a jitter!”
“Hey,” Elle protested. “You only promised me two-fifty!”
The tailor shrugged innocently. “What can I say, dear? Blondes rule the world. And in any case, business has not been so good, lately. I have been forced to cut back on my expenses.” “Not so good, huh? I thought attendance at the shows was up—Surely that must equate to more sales?”
Quaren nodded. “Yes, indeed. But it’s those damnable Gangrel. The price of their ‘protection’ rises almost week to week.”
“The Gangrel?” Jody asked with interest. “Aren’t they the street gang that moved into the River District to fill the vacuum left after the Reavors crumbled?”
“Yes, that’s them. They have their fingers in everything, now. The Dark Water has never been so dark, I’m afraid.”
“And you say that they are running a protection racket?”
“It’s extortion, plain and simple,” the tailor confirmed with a sigh. “As long as I pay, they leave me alone. They are protecting me against themselves, I suppose you could say.” Jody’s fingers clenched into a pair of tight fists. “Will there never be an end to it, I wonder? Is there no end to the evil in this city? Will one gang’s defeat simply be another gang’s opportunity?” Quaren was surprised by the intensity of the young beauty’s outburst. “You seem to know these people. Have you had dealings with the Gangrel in the past? Or the Reavors, perhaps?” Jody turned away, hiding the torment that was written across her face. “The Gangrel? No, not yet. But the Reavors—Let’s just say that our paths crossed a few times. I thought that their demise would improve things. I never guessed that a new gang would take their place.”
“Yes, we were all pleased when the Reavors were defeated by Ms. Marvelous. The merchants in this community had been hard pressed under the Reavor’s yoke for many years. But our joy was short lived. This new gang, the Gangrel, is in many ways worse. They count among their number many who have special abilities. Mutants—many of them vastly powerful—strengthen their ranks. Even the police do not dare to stand up to them.”
“Maybe we can help?” Elle suggested with a mischievous grin.
“What?” Quaren responded doubtfully. “Are you some kind of cops or something?” “Or something.”
The tailor’s eyes narrowed as he appraised the athletic looking girl as if for the first time. Could it be that Elle was more than she seemed, he wondered? It was not outside the realm of possibility, he decided. The rate at which she went through costumes tended to indicate that she did something dangerous. It was also true that his Tekskin creations were sometimes favored by the small population of super-powered beings that inhabited Megapolis. Could she be one of them?
“Well, I doubt that there is anything that can be done, but it is a free country, after all. You may do anything you wish. I suppose that if you really want to help, I should tell you that the Gangrel are due to come by this very evening to make their usual collection. Damn them! I wish they would get their comeuppance!”
Jody spun back to face the thin tailor. “Tonight, you say? Then perhaps your wish will come true. It’s time someone taught the Gangrel a lesson!”
“All I ask is that you keep my name out of it,” Quaren replied. “I wouldn’t want it to get back to them that I was involved.”
“No, of course not,” Elle agreed. “But you should not worry. After tonight, the Gangrel will have much more to worry about than the extortion of some honest merchants.”
“If even one of them were to be bested, it might weaken the grip of fear that they hold on the Dark Water. But enough of that—If there is to be a fight, then we must prepare your fabulous costume! Though I still doubt there is anything that you can do, we can at least insure that you look marvelous!”
“I will settle for fabulous,” Elle replied with a wry smile. “Jody is the marvelous one.” Quaren shrugged, not understanding the joke. “Yes, then let us begin. Come around into the back, please.”
The two women followed the tailor through a curtain and into a large, yet cluttered, room. Racks of brightly colored clothes stood atop a smooth, tiled floor. Shelves loaded heavily with cloth and fabrics lined the walls. A large desk stood to one side, its top cluttered with sketches and drawings of various fantastic garments. Numerous sewing machines sat atop smaller desks nearby.
Near the back of the room stood a large glass chamber. Jody’s eyes widened as she saw the cylindrical compartment. She had once seen a similar device back at the Agent-X Program. “You have a molecular molder!” she exclaimed.
Quaren approached the shelves and removed a bottle of premixed chemicals. He studied it for a moment to insure that he had fetched the right one and then turned back toward the glass cylinder. “Ah, you are familiar with this device, then? Well, I suppose the technology is not as unusual now as it once was. Still, it is a wonderful device, though useless in the hands of anyone less skilled than a master tailor. Come now, Elle—you know the routine. Off with your clothes.”
The young brunette did not hesitate. She had grown comfortable with Quaren’s sexless nature and was not shy around him. She removed her shoes first, then her skirt. Her blouse came off last. In seconds, the leggy beauty was stripped down to her bra and panties. She stood proudly in the center of the room, confident and unconcerned.
“Be careful with the mix, Quaren. The color was not quite right last time.”
“Yes, yes—The solution is already prepared and I assure you that it is perfect. Now step into the chamber.”
Elle’s lithe figure moved with catlike grace as she strode barefoot to the entrance of the glass cylinder. Her long, nubile fingers grasped the handle to the chamber’s door and unlatched it. She stepped inside and allowed the door to swing shut behind her. She turned and looked through the clear glass. She winked at her blonde friend while Quaren took his position near the molder’s controls.
“Do not screw it up, Quaren. I have been dieting for a week in preparation for this.” “Yes, certainly, and you look fabulous, my dear. I will do a wonderful job! It will be a tremendous costume!”
The tailor opened the chemical bottle and poured the powdery contents into an intake valve at the top of the control panel. He flipped a number of switches and monitored the gauges. A humming sound filled the room as the machine came to life.
“Now remain perfectly still, will you? If you move in the slightest, the fit will be off.”
Jody watched with interest as her friend’s lithe body was scanned by a series of low-power lasers. It reminded her of a cat scan as the lasers crisscrossed Elle’s figure and measured every curve and angle of her magnificent form. The process continued for several minutes as the figures were checked and rechecked. Finally, stage two of the process began. Jody continued to watch in fascination as a cloudy green mist began to drift down from a showerhead-like valve in the top of the chamber. “Quaren? I believe that Elle said she wanted a violet costume…”
“Yes, yes! And so she shall have. Please be patient and do not disturb me. We have reached the most delicate moment in the process. I must give my full attention to the controls.” Jody turned back toward the chamber and continued to watch. The green mist now completely filled the glass cylinder and nearly hid her friend from view. Inside, Elle remained perfectly still, as if a statue, while the lasers began to scan across her body with more intensity and speed. The twenty-one year old brunette closed her eyes and waited calmly, knowing from experience that it would all be over very soon.
The process entered its final stage. The lasers were literally strobing now, flashing so brightly across her friend’s body that Jody had to cover her eyes. The humming grew louder as the molecular molder ramped up to full power.
“Almost there!” Quaren shouted to be heard over the humming of the machine. “Just a few seconds more!”
The chamber was glowing brilliantly. The room was alive with light and sound. And then, as quickly as it had started, it was over. Quaren killed the power and the electrical system wound down. The lasers disappeared. Jody lowered her hands and peered toward the mist filled chamber. The door swung open. Her friend stepped out and struck a pose.
“Well?” the beautiful brunette asked impatiently. “Do not just stand there gawking. How do I look? Did it turn out ok?”
Jody gazed at her friend in stunned admiration. Elle’s athletic figure seemed to glow. The new costume, custom made and molded directly onto her lithe body, was as striking in appearance as it was tight fitting. The sheer fabric was smooth and glossy. Light reflected off of its clean surface brilliantly. And indeed, as the tailor had guaranteed, the costume was a pure shade of beautiful violet.
“You see?” Quaren exclaimed with a satisfied laugh. “The heat of the lasers turned the green mist violet. It is perfect! Yes, just fabulous!”
Elle did not seem so sure. “Of course you would say so, Quaren. But I want to know what Jody thinks. Is it as I described?”
Jody hesitated before answering. She had seen her friend in costume before, of course, but she always marveled at what a striking figure she made. The new costume hugged every curve and angle of the slender brunette’s five foot six inch form. It revealed in stunning detail the line of her strong shoulders and arms, the shape of her breasts, and the ridges of her flattened abdominal muscles. The cut of the costume rose nearly to her slender waist, revealing the smooth, bronze tanned skin of her athletic hips. As she had requested, the boots of the costume, as tight fitting as the rest of it, rose upward over her knees to the middle of her strong thighs, accentuating impossibly long legs that seemed to go on forever. The boots came to tapered points over her toes. Four-inch stiletto heels gave her calves and thighs a taught, extended appearance.
“You look awesome,” Jody said with sincerity. “If I was a man, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of you.”
Elle’s eyes flared. “Oh, you are so wicked! But I told you before, I don’t care how I look as long as I can fight in it.”
Jody rolled her eyes. “Liar! You know that you want to look good!”
“And do I?” the brunette asked with a modest shrug.
“Like I said, you look awesome. Really great, in fact. Maybe too great—I’m not sure I want to be seen with you.”
Now it was Elle rolling her eyes. “Yeah, right! Like anyone even notices me when you are around.”
Jody chose to ignore the comment, thinking that her friend was teasing her. Though the young blonde realized she was attractive, she had no idea just how stunning she really was. Elle spoke the truth,
but Jody did not understand. When she looked at her friend, she saw a gorgeous, dark, angel. She could not imagine that she was as beautiful, much less more. But Elle knew. Elle had seen first hand the effect that her naïve friend had on men.
“What I don’t understand,” Jody said in an attempt to change the focus of the conversation, “is how you can fight in the those heels. Isn’t it just impossible?”
Elle shook her head and smiled. “Not once you get the hang of it. And have you ever seen what the back of a stiletto heel can do to a criminal’s face? These babies are lethal.”
“Appropriate, I guess. You are certainly dressed to kill.”
Quaren was openly pleased. He circled Elle like a predator, eyeing every portion of her supple form several times over. He occasionally reached out and poked her with a finger, testing the pliability of the Tekskin fabric. Finally, Elle could take no more. Moving with the quickness and power of a mountain lion, she suddenly leapt up and over his spindly form before back flipping in the air and landing lightly on his opposite side.
“Feels good!” she exclaimed while firing off a series of practice kicks and punches. “Hardly feels like I am wearing anything at all!”
Quaren stepped away from his shadow boxing young model, but continued to examine the costume for imperfections. “It will feel even better once you lose the bra and panties. You really should be completely nude underneath. I guarantee that it will not chaff your wonderful skin in the slightest!” “Good. I’ll take it.”
“Yes, wonderful! And I trust that you will honor our agreement? I will see you at the fashion show on Saturday?”
“I will not forget.”
“And Jody? You will come as well, yes?”
The blonde shrugged. “Perhaps. But for the moment, I think that Elle and I would be better served if we planned for tonight’s encounter with the Gangrel. What time do you expect them to show?” Quaren’s smile disappeared and he looked at the young woman intently. “So, you are really serious about trying to help? I warn you, these gang bangers are tough. It will take more than some fancy gymnastics to beat them.”
Jody’s gaze met that of Elle and they nodded in silent agreement. “Yes, we’re serious. We will be here at the appropriate time and teach the Gangrel a lesson. Until then, farewell!”
The two women, now both adorned in their super-heroine garb, waited atop the three-story building and peered down at the market below. Jody, a.k.a. Ms. Marvelous, Walker watched closely as merchants and customers of the River District went about their late day business. She sighed with impatience. Shadows were growing long. The sun was ducking below the western horizon. “They are late,” the golden-haired heroine hissed.
“Be calm. They are bound to show up sooner or later.”
“But the shops will be closed soon.”
“The merchants know that this is the night the Gangrel make their collections. They will remain open.”
Jody shot her friend a quick glance and sighed a second time. Elle was right—The shop owners would not dare to close their doors before making the payments. Like everyone in the Dark Water, they feared the Gangrel and would not think of crossing them.
The young heroine’s body tingled with excitement. She and Elle would teach the street gang a lesson. When the Gangrel showed up to extort protection money from the merchants, they would get a taste of justice, instead.
“I hope they show up soon. I’m getting tired of waiting.”
“I wonder how many we can expect?”
“The more the better, I think. Unlike you, I have not seen any action in a couple of weeks, and I’m just itching to get into a fight.”
Elle Mental took her eyes off of the street long enough to cast her friend a glance. Indeed, Ms. Marvelous seemed ready to go. The blonde champion leaned over the edge of the building. The muscles of her slender legs and arms seemed taught and ready to spring into action. Her face was a mask of concentration and focus. Jody was a warrior, Elle knew, and despite her usual caring and loving nature, a lust for combat flowed through her veins.
“Just remember that the Gangrel have some mutants in their ranks. We cannot be sure of what we will encounter. Be cautious.”
“I’ll remember,” Jody replied. “But all criminals are the same. Mutant or not, they must be brought to justice for what they have done to the innocent people of Megapolis.” Elle sighed, knowing that once the costume was on it became nearly impossible to reason with her golden-haired friend. Jody saw the world in black and white. To her, everything was a battle between good and evil. There was no in-between. And she never hesitated—Jody would throw herself into a fight regardless of the odds. She would never back down from evil.
Elle, on the other hand, cared less for justice. Her world was made up of many shades of gray. She had learned through experience that the strong would always rule over the weak. It was the nature of things, she supposed. And it was the nature of her own self, she mused, that she always came to the aid of the underdog. Perhaps she fought for the sheer excitement of the battle, but her selection of sides was all too predictable.
It did not matter who the opponent was—a mutant street gang, Don Refrain’s crime family, Prince Lomac, the MCT, or even the police—Elle would always fight on the side of the weak. And, in turn, that meant that she would always fight for herself. For though she herself was a mutant and possessed amazing abilities, what were her powers when compared to those of these others? And this was why she fought, she knew. She fought to prove that she could make a difference. She fought to prove that she was somebody.
The MCT had tried to teach her otherwise. The Institute for Genetic Studies had tried to teach her that because she was a mutant, she was somehow insignificant. She was nothing. She was sub human.
But she had never bowed to their will. She had escaped the Institute and started her own life. She would show them. She would show them all. She was somebody. She was a force to be reckoned with. She was Elle Mental.
A surge of telekinetic power leapt forth from her mind. It danced in the air, a glowing violet hue, crackling silently around her like an arc of electricity. Her rope, drawn to the power, jumped from her right hip and uncoiled. As if with a mind of its own, the rope darted this way and that, moving from side to side in front of her, forming random shapes and patterns. It was proof of her power, she knew. The ability to form circles and triangles and cubes and--
“Will you stop that,” Jody snapped. “It is very distracting.”
Elle’s rope snapped like a bullwhip before coiling quickly and returning to her hand. “Sorry. I am just a little nervous.”
“Well get over it. Here comes a motley crew of young toughs, and from the way they are acting I think it is safe to assume that they are the ones we’re waiting for.”
Elle followed her friend’s line of site toward a group of seven rough looking individuals approaching from the far end of the market. The group of newcomers acted as if they owned the street, pushing people out of their path and intentionally knocking them to the ground. They helped themselves to the merchants’ wares without asking or paying. They laughed and joked with one another. It was all just a game to them.
The two super-heroines watched in silence as the gang made its way from shop to shop. The group paused in front of each while one of their crew went inside and made the collection. In every case, the chosen gang member returned to the street waving a large wad of cash in his hand.
“I guess we’ve seen enough,” Ms. Marvelous said to her friend. “Let’s go and introduce ourselves to these low-life cretins.”
The blonde heroine stepped off the edge of the building and used her flying power to drop down to the street. Elle gripped her rope tightly and followed suit. The power of her mind, channeled through
the rope, lowered her softly to the sidewalk. It was her method of flying, and though not as efficient as that of her friend, it got the job done.
The two heroines took up position in front of Quaren’s tailor shop, standing boldly with their hands on their hips. They could see the gang of toughs more clearly, now. Like most gangs, the members of the group mimicked each other’s dress closely. All wore black leather pants and jackets with the exception of the one female in the group, who wore a hooded black robe instead. Various patches and gang insignia were sewn into the gang’s clothes. In particular, on the front of each member’s jacket was attached an especially large patch, a blood red circle bearing a large ‘G’ in the center.
“You must be the Gangrel,” Ms. Marvelous said with disgust. “Well, your crime spree ends here. You will return the money you have stolen and give yourselves up to the local authorities.” The gang stopped in their tracks as they noticed the two super-heroines for the first time. The four in front were large, brutish looking men. Muscles bulged from beneath their leather jackets. Scowls appeared on their faces.
“What the fuck? It’s Ms. Marvelous!”
“And she has a friend. Don’t know her though--”
“I know her,” a voice from behind said calmly. “It’s been a long time, Elle.”
The large gang bangers in front parted to allow a much smaller man to come forward. He was pencil thin. Long, placid fingers extended from beneath the sleeves of his leather jacket. His sickly appearance was further accentuated by a pale, light blue complexion.
“Yes, my, my! Elle Mental. It has, indeed, been a very long time. How have you been, my dear?” “Well, this is a surprise,” Elle hissed. “Stretch Ply. You are right-- It has been a long time. But not long enough, if you ask me.”
The thin man was unconcerned by the insult. He smiled as broadly as his thin face would allow. “Is that any way to speak to your old friend? After all we have been through together?” “I would rather forget those times, Stretch. Still, I am surprised to see you. I did not know that you were on the outside.”
“Yes, well, you were not the only one to escape the Institute, Elle. But since we are both out, perhaps you would care to join us? Come, be a member of the Gangrel and help us make society pay for what they have done to us.”
Elle smirked. “Not likely. Any club that would accept a slime ball like you as a member is not one that I would want to join.”
Stretch shrugged but continued smiling. “Ah, well, at least I offered. But I am sure that you will come to regret your decision. Boys, take her and this other wench down.”
The four big men stepped forward. The largest of the group, a monster of a man with a jagged scar under his right eye, slammed his fist into an open palm. “I have always wanted a shot at you super heroine bitches. I guess now I get my wish. Boxer, you and Hank take the Elle chick while Clubber and me wipe the street with Ms. Marvelous.”
The two lady warriors glanced quickly at one another and took fighting stances. Ms. Marvelous moved to her left and into an open area of the street. Elle moved to the right, finding her own battleground. Around them, shopkeepers and customers alike ran for cover.
“You are making a mistake,” the blonde champion warned Scarface. “Give up now and you will not be hurt.”
“Bah! The only one that is going to be hurt is you, super-skank!”
The big man moved forward with surprising speed. He swung a clubbing overhand right at his shorter opponent, intending to drive her into the street like a spike with his sledgehammer fist. But the heroine was much stronger than the brute. Catching his wrist in her hands, she pivoted and carried his large bulk over with a judo throw. Scarface landed on the pavement with a thud.
Clubber rushed to his comrade’s assistance but met with a similar fate. The heroine, expecting his assault, raised her right foot and smashed her dimwitted opponent in the kisser. He went down hard and flopped like a grounded fish into the gutter.
Scarface shouted in rage as he pulled himself back onto his feet. He charged the heroine, intending to tackle and fling her to the street. She met his assault head on, not only stopping his forward momentum but driving the big man backward.
Scarface looked at the slender woman in astonishment. How could she be so strong? He outweighed her by at least two hundred pounds. He was built of solid muscle. Few men could stand against him. And yet this little girl, this one little girl—
The fair-haired heroine seized on her adversary’s hesitation and rocketed toward his exposed chest. Her right fist extended like a lightning bolt as she hammered him in the sternum. The man’s face went pale and he groaned sickly. His heart skipped a beat. He crumpled to the sidewalk. He rolled on his side in a fetal position and gasped for air.
“It gives me no pleasure to injure you,” the heroine stated sincerely while standing over her opponent’s fallen body. “Once I have dealt with the others, I will make sure that you get the medical attention you require. I understand that the city jail has excellent emergency facilities.”
“You’ll pay for that, bitch!” a voice from behind her shouted. It was Clubber. He was on his feet and wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.
“You again?” Ms. Marvelous asked with surprise. “Are you completely stupid, stubborn, or both?”
“Why you! I’ll beat that pretty face of yours black and blue!”
The man rushed forward and flailed wildly. His punches were fast and furious, though not a one managed to land. The heroine avoided him easily, ducking and dodging, allowing the brute to wear himself out. Finally, Clubber could club no more. He was exhausted. His breath came in pants. He leaned over, his hands on his knees, gasping for air.
“Yes,” the beautiful blonde said with a laugh, “stupid and stubborn. Perhaps they will have a bed for you at the emergency room, as well!”
Ms. Marvelous stepped into her exhausted foe and drove a knee into his gut. She watched in satisfaction as he keeled over. She had held back, not wanting to seriously injure the helpless man. Though he fell unconscious to the ground, she was sure that he was not badly hurt.
The female warrior turned to see how her brunette counterpart was doing. She almost laughed as she witnessed Elle, one foe already fallen at her feet, using her rope to repeatedly lift the remaining banger into the air before dropping him onto the asphalt.
“Elle!” Ms. Marvelous shouted out. “Stop pummeling that man! You’re going to hurt the street!”
The violet clad heroine shot her friend a quick glance and frowned. “Oh, ok. If you say so.” The mutant raised her foe into the air one last time before mentally commanding her rope to return to her hand. The badly beaten thug dropped like a rock, bouncing off the hard asphalt surface and coming to a rest near the rear tire of a delivery truck. He groaned loudly and passed out. The two super-heroines smiled at one another as they again took up position in front of Quaren’s shop. Perhaps the Gangrel were not so tough after all, they decided.
But Stretch met their smiles with one of his own, a wry, evil grin that sent a shiver up their spines. “Well done! I would have been disappointed had our men given you any real trouble, but it was still a fine display of fighting skill.”
Ms. Marvelous looked the cocky gang leader up and down. He was terrifically thin. His leather clothes seemed to dangle from his body. If he had any muscle tone at all, she could not see it. No, in every way he was completely unimpressive.
His two remaining associates stood silently on either side of him. The one on the left wore the black robe and was obviously female, though it was impossible to see her face due to the hood that covered her head. The one on the right stood less than six feet tall and had silvery hair. Like Stretch, his complexion was light blue, a sure indication that he was a mutant. His eyes possessed an icy, menacing gaze that seemed to be daring the blonde champion to make a move.
“You made a big mistake taking us on, super-bitches!” the man snarled. “You may have beaten our lackeys, but you will find that we are more than a match for you!”
She looked at the man more closely. Though his hair was silver, he appeared to be quite young, probably not more than eighteen. Jody was not surprised to see a healthy bulge growing in the crotch of the boy’s leather pants. Like most boys his age, he found the idea of wrestling with a pair of scantily clad heroines to be an irresistible turn-on. It almost frightened her to imagine the amount of hormones
rushing uncontrollably through his veins. Given the chance, he would undoubtedly rape both her and Elle.
But the blonde champion had learned to control her womanly fears—Regardless of the type of mutant powers that this boy and his friends possessed, she was confident that her own super-strength and fighting ability would carry the day.
“There is little purpose in continuing the violence,” Jody said arrogantly. “You cannot possibly win against both Elle and I. Either one of us, alone, could easily defeat you three. So give up now and we will make sure that you get the rehabilitation that you require.”
“Or do not--” Elle suggested with a stern glare, “—I am just getting warmed up and would prefer a fight!”
The boy with the silver hair snarled in defiance at the slender brunette. “If it is a fight you want then it is a fight you shall have! I’m going to make you my bitch and sell you off the corner on Saturday nights! After today, you will never mock Glacier again!”
“I will not be your whore, little boy,” Elle replied in disgust. “But let’s stop talking and start fighting!”
Stretch continued to smile evilly. “Be cautious, Elle—Though Glacier is inexperienced and rash, he may be a match for you. But we must still find a dancing partner for your beautiful friend.” “I’m ready when you are,” Ms. Marvelous stated confidently.
The thin man looked the gorgeous heroine’s body up and down, licking his lips as he did. “Yes, I’m sure that you are. But I believe that my remaining associate does not want to be left out of the fun. What do you say, Tigora? Do you care to show Ms. Marvelous how we dance in the Dark Water?”
The robed figure lifted her head. Two yellow eyes peered out from under the dark hood. A voice, as savage as it was seductive, came forth from an unseen mouth. “I thought that you would never ask, Stretch. But yes, I will dance with her. I have long sought to test my abilities against someone as skilled and powerful as she.”
“Oh, stop--” the blonde heroine replied with feigned modesty. “Your compliments will make me blush.”
The yellow eyes flared. An evil hiss came forth from beneath the dark hood. “I’ll do more than make you blush! I’ll make you bleed!”
Ms. Marvelous took a step back and gasped in surprise as the hooded villain ripped the black robe away. Revealed beneath was a shocking sight—Indeed, it was a woman, but a woman like no other. A coat of orange fur completely covered her body. Black stripes made her naked form appear yet more fearsome. Her arms and legs were long and athletic. Well-defined muscles rippled beneath the fur. Her fingers and toes tapered into sharp, clawed points.
Most remarkable, perhaps, was Tigora’s face. Covered by the same fur as the rest of her body, her features seemed an equal mix of human and cat-- Beneath the terrifying yellow eyes were slender cheeks and a ruler straight nose. Long whiskers extended from her jowls. A strong jaw was set in determination.
Tigora’s thin lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing the razor sharp teeth beneath. She clicked her talons together menacingly. “I will flail the flesh from your bones, wretched girl. I will taste your blood and feast on your heart!”
Ms. Marvelous dodged to the side as her cat-like opponent leapt for her throat. A quick chop to the back of the oversized feline’s head sent her sprawling.
“I doubt seriously that your claws will be of any use against me. I am nigh-on invulnerable, after all.”
Tigora snarled and quickly rolled into a crouch. “Remain still for a moment and we shall find out!”
Again, the tiger-woman jumped toward the beautiful super-heroine. Her movements were graceful, athletic, and unbelievably fast. Before the blonde champion could react, a set of razor sharp talons ripped across her bare abdomen.
Ms. Marvelous flinched in pain and looked down at her stomach. She was relieved to see that her intestines were not hanging out. Still, five long welts now marred her otherwise pure skin. “Ow! That hurt!”
“The pain has only just begun, my tasty treat! Though my attack was meant to kill, I am pleased that you are still standing. I have long sought to face a worthy opponent!”
The heroine’s fists clenched. “I think that you will find me more than worthy. And this pain thing is a two way street—I can dish it out as well as I take it!”
Ms. Marvelous attacked, using her flying power to launch herself at the cat woman. Tigora moved with incredible speed, however, and not only avoided the surprised heroine’s attack, but countered with one of her own. The slender blonde champion grimaced as the talons again struck and tore across her lower back.
Angered, the heroine turned and let go with a spinning back fist. The blow missed wildly, leaving her vulnerable. Tigora struck quickly, raking both sets of talons downward across Ms. Marvelous’s chest and stomach. The heroine grimaced in pain. A mighty kick to the svelte blonde’s midsection sent her flying backward through the air and into the side of a parked delivery van. She fell limply to the pavement and lay still for several seconds.
“Finished already?” the super-villain mocked her. “I expected more from the great Ms. Marvelous.”
The beautiful heroine groaned and lifted her aching body onto her knees. Her left hand rested against the side of the truck, supporting her. Her right hand clutched at her welt-covered abdomen. She was thankful for her natural invulnerability. Had she been a normal woman, she would have already been ripped to shreds by Tigora’s brutal attacks.
“Maybe…this is not going to be… so easy after all,” she thought gloomily. “Tigora is faster than me, and darn near as strong. Those claws can dish out a world of hurt. But I can’t give up. She must have a weakness—I just have to find it.”
“So,” the cat woman said with sinister pleasure, “the great heroine rises. This is good! I am going to enjoy ripping you to shreds, Ms. Marvelous!”
Jody forced herself to stand. “Bring it on, Kitty. I’m far from finished.”
An insane grin washed across Glacier’s face as he watched his feline counterpart getting the better of the blonde super-heroine. He turned back to Elle and eyed her long body up and down lustfully. “Yes! Now it’s just you and me, bitch. But if I’m going to make you my whore and sell you off the corner, I had better test your goods personally so that I know how much to charge. So come over here and let me have a feel.”
The dark angel stared at the youngster coldly. The large bulge in his pants declared his intentions clearly. “I will be damned if I will let myself be your first, little man.”
The expression of lust on Glacier’s face turned to rage. “What? Are you suggesting that I have never been with a woman before? You skank! I’m going to pop your cherry but good!” “I promise that you will never lay a hand on me, little man.”
“Stop calling me that! I may be short, but I guarantee you that I am not little.” The silver haired mutant blew the slender brunette a kiss as he grabbed his crotch. “I guess you could say that I am big in the places that really count.”
“You are completely disgusting!”
“Bad to the bone, baby. Now come over here so I can feel you up!”
Elle removed the rope from her hip and held it at chest level. “I have a better idea. Instead of feeling my flesh, I’ll allow you to feel my power. Prepare to be defeated, little man!” Mutant energy crackled in the air around the lithe heroine. Streaks of fiery color were clearly visible in the enveloping darkness of the early evening. The rope came to life, jumping forth from her hand and flying into the air. It uncoiled in an instant before sweeping across the short expanse that separated the two adversaries.
The rope cracked like a bullwhip above Glacier’s head. The silver haired mutant ducked and tried to dodge to the side but the rope was unbelievably quick. In the flash of an eye, he found himself surrounded by twirling coils. His eyes opened wide in shocked surprise as the spirals tightened around his body. He gurgled in protest as his hands were pinned to his sides. His ankles were pressed together and swept out from under him.
The mutant found himself suspended in the air, held aloft by the power of the rope. His arms and legs were tightly bound. The infernal cord seemed to have a life of its own. It’s length wrapped around him in ever tightening coils. He struggled against it as best he could, resisting the inevitable, but his strength, only slightly greater than that of a normal man, was no match for the blasted thing. “Damn you, witch! You do not fight fair!”
The reply was stern and unsympathetic. “Who ever said anything about fighting fair? Live and learn, little man. The power of Elle Mental is not something to be trifled with.”
“Let me down!”
The dazzling beauty complied, mentally commanding her rope to drop its tightly packaged bundle to the street. Glacier landed with a thud and shot her a vicious glare.
“Just doing as you asked,” she said with a laugh while using the rope to lift him back into the air. “I’ll make you pay for this, you skank!”
“Doubtful!” Elle dropped her befuddled opponent a second time, taking satisfaction from the way his body smacked against the pavement. She would dispose of him in the same way she had the last Gangrel, she decided—by beating him into submission against the hard asphalt. But then, to her surprise, an eerie silver aura took shape around the boy. From the expression of concentration written on Glacier’s face, it was apparent that he was now using his own mutant power. The super-heroine braced herself as the silver aura glowed more brightly. She was not sure what to expect, but she knew from experience that she should never underestimate the power of another mutant.
Elle commanded the rope to tighten further around the boy’s body. She could feel the air around her growing cold. It seemed that, at the least, Glacier could control the temperature in the immediate vicinity. Whether he had other, more powerful, abilities, was as of yet unclear.
“I do not know what you hope to accomplish, but I will not release you from my rope. You had better give up.”
The boy did not reply. His forehead furrowed as he gained control of his inner power. The temperature around the two combatants continued to dip. Elle shivered. Goosebumps appeared on the exposed areas of her skin. The silver aura around her foe grew brighter.
Finally, Glacier looked up at the slender heroine and smiled. “Your rope will not hold me,” he stated matter of factly. He flexed his arms. To Elle’s amazement, the rope shattered. Icy shards fell from Glacier’s body and settled on the pavement. He fell lightly to the ground, landing on his feet. He brushed the few remaining fragments of frozen rope away from his leather jacket and pants.
“Your parlor tricks are nothing compared to my power,” he snarled victoriously. “If anyone is going to give up, it should be you. Save yourself the pain of being turned into an ice cube.” Elle took a fighting stance. “Very impressive, little man. But you will soon find that I have abilities other than my telekinesis. This, for instance!”
The athletic heroine leapt into the air and easily covered the ten-foot distance between she and her foe. Her right leg extended in front of her as she drove the toe of her boot into Glacier’s chest. The force of the blow was staggering. The young man was driven backward. He howled in pain as his body crashed into a newspaper vending machine at the side of the street.
Elle was on him quickly, driving a straight left into his exposed face. An open palm strike to his forehead drove him up and over the vending machine. He toppled awkwardly to the ground on the other side. Placing both her hands on top of the machine, Elle vaulted into the air and drilled a double kick to the chest of her shaken adversary as he attempted to rise.
Glacier somersaulted backward before coming to a rest on his knees. He groaned loudly and clutched at his chest. He wobbled, barely able to remain upright. His head leaned forward. His chin rested against his sternum. For the first time, he truly understood the amazing power of his beautiful foe. Not only did she possess the incredible telekinetic powers of her mind, she was also super-strong. Her fighting skill was far beyond his own. In a slug out, she would easily best him.
The lithe beauty stood over him, her hands on her hips, her feet spread apart. Glacier continued to look down at the street but he was sure that she was gloating. He could imagine the cocky expression on her face as she looked down on his helpless, kneeling form. It was infuriating that she should so easily defeat him! What was she waiting for? Why did she not finish him off?
The fact that the leggy heroine was showing him mercy only angered the boy further. Rage grew within Glacier’s dark heart, refueling his strength. The silver aura that surrounded his body grew in intensity. His hands began to glow. He lifted his head and looked upward into the heroine’s face. His gaze met hers. He peered intensely into her deep, brown eyes. To his surprise, her expression was not one of cockiness, but rather simple confidence, perhaps mixed with a small amount of pity. The intensity of his eyes seemed to shake her. For a brief moment, he could see her confidence slipping. He could see a hint of fear. It was well founded—He would yet defeat her. He would yet make her his whore.
‘You should surrender, now,” she suggested with a compassionate voice. “It is all over. You are defeated--”
Glacier raised his hands. Before the beautiful brunette could react, he placed his palms on her bare hips. His mutant power poured outward through his hands, covering her skin with a thin layer of ice. He concentrated, focusing all of his energy into one brilliant, freezing, blast. A look of surprise came over the girl’s face. She gasped in shock as her body began to go numb. She tried to pull away, but already her reactions were deadened. Glacier held firmly to her hips, preventing her from escaping, and continued to blast her with his awesome power.
Elle shivered violently as the most intense wave of cold she had ever endured rushed across her body. She tried again to pull away, but her legs refused to move. Her arms hung stiffly at her sides and likewise refused to obey her commands. A thin layer of ice crept across her body, expanding steadily from her hips downward over her thighs and upward across her abdomen. Her head tilted back and she looked up at the sky frantically, desperately trying to think of a way to escape her impending, icy entombment. But even her mind seemed to be dulled—The burning pain of her freezing skin faded. In moments, she could feel nothing at all. As the ice crept further across her body, sweeping downward over her legs and upward over her chest, the defeated heroine could not move, she could not think, she could barely breath.
Glacier ceased his attack. A vein above his right temple quivered beneath the skin. The effort had been draining but necessary. His mutant ability had turned defeat into victory. Now, he would enjoy the fruits of his victory. He would fulfill his promise. He would make Elle Mental his whore.
With effort, the eighteen-year old mutant pulled his hands away from his adversary’s frozen hips. Bits of ice, frozen moisture extracted from the surrounding air, cracked and fell to the ground. He stood and looked once again into his opponent’s beautiful face. Standing on four-inch stiletto heels, she was slightly taller than he. Her head was tilted back as if she were looking to the sky for assistance. Glacier placed a hand on either side of the gorgeous heroine’s face and gently tilted her head forward. Wide, panic-stricken eyes met his curious gaze.
“Ah, good!” he exclaimed in pleasure. “Your are conscious! I hoped that I did not over do it.” The helpless girl tried to speak but found that she could not. Her mouth remained open, her full, red lips slightly parted and her straight, white teeth barely visible.
Glacier removed his hands from her face but stepped closer. He continued to peer into her eyes from mere inches away. “You should relax—There is nothing that you can do. You belong to me, now.” He could almost feel the girl’s astonishment. To be conscious but unable to control one’s own body—It must be a terrifying experience. Paralyzed, a sentient statue, completely aware of what is happening around one’s self, but unable to respond in any way. Helpless.
“Now, do you see why I knew that I could defeat you? Do you now understand the true nature of my power?”
Glacier shifted his gaze away from the young beauty’s eyes but remained standing close to her. He looked down across her slender neck and over her well formed shoulders. His eyes took in the sight of her large breasts hungrily.
“It is a remarkable thing, really, the way my power works. I can lower the temperature of inanimate objects to the point that they become brittle. There is no limit to my power—Even steel will freeze and crumble under my touch.”
The silver-haired mutant lifted his left hand and meticulously flicked away the thin layer of ice that covered his foe’s right breast. His forefinger and thumb gently tested the firmness of her nipple through the sheer fabric of her costume. The heroine trembled slightly but did not move.
“When used against living organisms, however, my power is more sophisticated. I have not frozen you to the point of breaking, my sweet Elle—Rather, I have done something altogether different.” Glacier raised his right hand and removed the layer of ice from the immobile brunette’s left breast. As he had done before, he probed her soft mound with his fingers as if inspecting her wares. “That you are unable to move is due to the fact that I have frozen your primary nerve bundles. The electrical synapses that are used by your brain to control your muscles have been blocked. But otherwise, your body remains quite functional. You can breathe. Blood flows through your arteries and veins, warming your skin. And though the signals transmitted from your higher brain functions may not be working, those that it receives are getting through just fine. Your senses are working. You can see, you can hear, you can feel. You just can’t move. This is why you can feel me pinching your splendid nipples. But unfortunately for you, there is nothing that you can do about it. You are my prisoner—My wonderful, beautiful, statuesque, prisoner.”
A muffled whimper came from the immobile beauty’s mouth. Her victorious foe continued to knead her breasts, drawing his fingers slowly over her hardening nipples. A silent scream filled her mind as she came to grips with the reality of her situation. She was in great peril, she knew. She was unable to defend herself. She was at the mercy of this young stud. He would do with her as he would and there was nothing she could do to prevent it.