Background: During the boring off duty hours aboard ship at sea, a group of friends and I would spend the time playing role playing games. Amongst them, was Marvel Superheroes. We all took turns being the game master, but one of my friends set the environment for which all the rest of our stories revolved around. It was an alternate Marvel Universe after almost all of Earth’s heroes had been killed in an ‘Independence Day’ kind of alien invasion. Shadowcat, an X-Man, had used a cross-dimensional/time entity to bring powerful mutants from both the past and the future to help defeat the aliens. After this, the world’s views on mutants changed radically. The people began to see just how important mutants were and welcomed them with opened arms. A new law, named after the late Charles Xavier for his fight for mutant rights, was passed, giving mutants equal opportunity and anti-discrimination rights.

The group that we created for ourselves was a government run anti-terrorist force (You’ll meet them in the story). We had several adventures, but the best by far was when my friend set up a scenario were our Role Playing characters met a version of our true selves in the form of a Special Forces team (You‘ll get to meet them too). It was fun because we got to play two characters at once. Some time afterward, I began expanding on that story in the form of a homemade comic which I never got close to finishing. Not long ago, I was going through some of my old artwork and came across the unfinished comic and I decided to finish it in this form. I took a few of the pictures and retouched them using Adobe PS 6.0 for use with the story so I hope you enjoy it.

 

The Birth of Cheetah

by Stephanie C.

 

Part: ONE

Chapter One: Uninvited Guests

 

Karen Stevens climbed out of the tub with a sigh of resignation. She would have loved to stay in longer, but she knew it would not do to start pruning. She toweled off then walked naked into the kitchen where she fixed herself a quick snack and grabbed a can of coke before returning to the bedroom she shared with her lover, Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel Conners.

Along the way, she passed through the hallway where numerous pictures and plaques hung on the walls. Sam called them ‘The I Love Me Walls’. Sam’s was filled with memorabilia from his naval career. There were pictures of the ships he had served on, plaques for his awards and medals, and numerous pictures of him and his friends at various port-of-calls. The most recent picture was prominently displayed in the center of the collection. It was a group photo of him and the other eleven members of the highly specialized covert operations team, the Sharks.

The Sharks were a close knit, highly classified team that were a step above the Navy S.E.A.L.S and operated beyond the parameters of the other special operations forces. The common in-house joke among the Sharks was, ‘If S.E.A.L.S fed on MARINE life forms, then guess what Sharks eat.’

Her wall, directly facing his, was not as filled up. She had her few diplomas from high school and from the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning along with a few pictures of her and colleagues. In the center was a picture of her own elite fighting team, The Mutant Anti-Terrorist Attack Squad, or M.An.T.A.S. for short. The United States government had formed the team to fight against mutant controlled criminal organizations and, of course, terrorists. In effect, it was fighting fire with fire.

The pictures, as always, brought on a flood of memories along with an assortment of emotions. The happiest, of course, was meeting Sam. It was three years ago, almost to the day, when both the Sharks and the M.An.T.A.S. were called to Jacksonville, Florida to regain control of the aircraft carrier Saratoga from an organized group of mutant terrorists. She and Sam literally ran into each other on one of the flight deck catwalks where he subsequently saved her life from an exploding drop tank on an F/A-18 Hornet and she saved his by killing the mutant that had a telepathic strangle hold on him. He surprised her by giving her a VERY passionate kiss that left her momentarily breathless. It surprised her, not the actual act, but the fact that he did it knowing what she was. At the time, The Xavier Act, the law forbidding discrimination against mutants and granting them full freedom, had only been two years old and there was still a great deal of prejudice around. Especially in America, the supposed ‘Land of the Free’.

As the mission had wound down, Karen had convinced herself that the kiss had been a fluke. A heat of the moment sort of thing, but yet again, Sam surprised her. He approached her and asked if he could see her again. Flustered, she had stammered a ‘yes’ and they exchanged numbers.

Both teams were based out of Washington D.C. so they began seeing each other quite often. It was not long before they were madly in love and hardly inseparable.

A year later, things made a turn for the worse. While on a mission in the Middle East, Sam had been shot. The bullet destroyed his ankle and ended his life with the Sharks. It would have ended his career as well if someone higher up had not found him a position at Naval Station Pensacola, Florida where he became a Search and Rescue Instructor.

At the same time, the government had assigned Karen to a solo mission where she was to provide security for an extremely wealthy businessman named Michael Ironheim. He was supposedly overseeing top secret research on human DNA. When Karen reported to him, however, she learned that SHE was to be his test subject.

She managed to escape before too much had been done, but when she explained all that had happened to her superiors, she was appalled when they refused to act against him and warned her not to press charges on her own. Disgusted, and in a fit of rage, Karen had quit the M.An.T.A.S. , packed everything she owned, and moved to Florida where she and Sam had been living ever since.

Karen shook her head to clear away the memories. All that was behind them now. All that was important now was that they were together, and they were blissfully happy.

She continued into the bedroom and set down her coke and sandwich so she could dress. Thoughts of Sam brought a crooked smile to her lips and filled her with a sudden, intimate need. He should be returning from work soon and she wanted to greet him appropriately. With that in mind, she slipped on the panties that she knew that he loved to see her in and a light, button-up cami that was practically see through. She brushed her long brunette hair with loving care, then, once satisfied with her appearance, she grabbed her snack and the book she was reading from the night stand and laid back on the bed to wait.

That was one thing the two of them shared in common. They were both avidly addicted to reading sci-fi and fantasy novels. He had an enormous collection and most of them were hardbacks. Karen was currently going through his series of Star Wars books and was deeply involved in the one she was now reading. It was called ‘The Courtship of Princess Leia’ and involved the events leading up to her marriage to Han Solo.

Karen popped the last bit of sandwich into her mouth then really got serious into the book. She read a couple of chapters and then came upon a folded piece of paper that had been placed between two pages. Her name was written on the front in Sam’s usual scrawl. What’s this? She asked herself as she unfolded the note and began to read.

 

Hey K.

I know that this is probably
goofy as hell, but I knew it
it would surprise you. Besides
I figured that this was probably
The most romantic book you would
be reading for a while so here goes.
You know what Han and Leia do in
this book sounds like a pretty good
idea to me. Don’t you think? What say
we give it a try?

Will you marry me?

 

Tears welled up in Karen’s eyes. Half from joy, but most from laughter at the purposefully inept method of his proposal. Sam was a natural romantic and knew her all too well. He knew that if he had attempted to propose any other way, the traditional way, she would have figured out what he was up to well ahead of time. This way, he had caught her completely off guard. It was totally out of character for him and that was what was so funny to her.

The sound of the doorbell broke through her euphoria and it took her a moment before she realized what it was. "Just a minute!"

She grabbed a robe from the foot of the bed and hurried just to put an end to the insisted ringing. When she reached the front door, she realized that the robe did not quite cover her lower extremities. Well, there’s nothing I can do about that now.

She opened the door as far as the security chain would allow, taking care to keep her body hidden. "Yes?" She asked the man wearing a delivery service uniform.

"I have a package for a Miss Stevens." He answered.

"Yes. That’s me. You can just set it here by the door. I’ll get it."

"Sorry..." The man said, "but I was told to give this to you personally."

All at once, the door exploded inward in a shower of splintered wood. The impact sent Karen flying back across the room and over the couch. Instincts, honed from years of training at the Xavier Institute and later, with the M.An.T.A.S., took over. She rolled to her feet with a kinetically charged ashtray in her hand. A look at the doorway showed the man walking confidently towards her, his arms and fists now incredibly enlarged. The smug look on his face vanished when the ashtray Karen had thrown exploded on his chest with the force of a stick of dynamite. The blast blew him through the large picture window and out onto the front lawn. The hole in his chest was enough to confirm that he would trouble no one ever again. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about the eight other figures that now poured from the back of the delivery van.

Karen swore to herself then ran for the nearest available ammunition she could find. A jar full of hard candy. She grabbed a handful, then, using her special gift, began drawing in the ambient energy about her and then directed it into the candy until their molecules became kinetically charged and began to glow with an eerie internal fire. She threw them in a well-aimed staggered horizontal arc towards her assailant. The effect was like a machine gun spray but with the power of TNT. Two of her missiles hit their targets, killing them instantly. The other assailants dove for cover as explosions erupted all about them.

Sam Conners thought that he might be having an anxiety attack. The closer he got to his home, the more nervous he became. He was practically in a cold sweat. He knew that Karen had to have read the note today, and if she had tried to call him at work, she would have found out that he had left hours ago.

He fingered the small black box in the breast pocket of his summer white uniform and prayed that she would accept what was inside. A refusal would kill him, he just knew it.

He turned onto the road leading up to the duplex that he and Karen shared just as an explosion erupted ahead of him. He immediately recognized the characteristic yellow-orange-black color signature of his lover’s mutant power mixed within the fireball and he knew that she was in trouble. The 5.6-liter engine in his highly modified ford ranger roared as he punched the gas to speed across the last quarter mile. He pulled out his .45 caliber pistol from a hidden compartment in the side of his seat as he slid to a stop in his front yard.

"Lover!" Karen called joyously from behind the couch as Sam rushed through the door and right into the midst of the intruders. He downed three immediately with quickly fired shots. Another went down gurgling from a kick to the throat.

Karen loved to watch Sam at work, but her momentary distraction nearly cost her her life. She managed to duck just in time as a man with so many cybernetic attachments that he no longer looked human, fired a beam weapon aimed at her head. The smell of burning hair drew her attention instantly. She put her hand to the long brunette waves only to have it fall out in large clumps.

The cyborg was the only enemy left standing and Sam was about to take him out when he saw Karen rise up from behind the couch. Her long, luxurious hair was a smoking ruin. He had seen her angry a few times but never like this. The energy was visible as it built up around her. Her eyes glowed a wicked yellow and crimson and her hands were encased in fiery globes.

"MY HAIR!" She growled. "It took me two years to grow it this long!"

"Uh oh. You’re in for it now." Sam said in an aside before he beat a hasty retreat from the object of his lover’s wrath.

The cyborg looked at him a moment then felt itself bowled over. The target had jumped on its back with her hands wrapped around its throat. Normally, it would have been a useless gesture since it could not be strangled. In fact, it did not even breath. But it soon realized the target’s intent and fought more desperately as it felt its internal components melt and overheat.

The fire drained from Karen’s eyes and she suddenly realized what she had done. She also knew that there was no way for it to be undone. The cyborg was glowing so brightly with the energy she had channeled into it that she knew that it was about to blow. Arms grabbed her from behind and pulled her to her feet. She turned defensively only to be swept over Sam’s shoulder. He ran outside with her and managed to get them behind his truck just as the cyborg exploded with enough force to blow out the rest of the front wall.

"Well, so much for the security deposit." Sam said smiling. He then looked down at Karen and saw the haunted look in her eyes. "You all right?" He asked worriedly. "You’re not hurt are you?"

"I... I killed him." She managed. "I mean..."

Sam gently held her head in his hands and looked into her eyes. "It was a machine, Karen. And it was trying to kill you. Besides, you have killed before."

"But not like THAT! Never like that!" She cried.

Sam wrapped her in his arms. "I know. I’m sorry, but to be honest, I’m glad you did. It had thick armor and probably could not have been taken out any other way."

Another sound drew their attention and they looked to the sky to see a jet descending vertically towards them.

"Friends of yours?" Sam asked. Karen shook her head. "Then they must be ‘Plan B’ for whoever it is that is after you. Come on."

He helped her into the passenger seat before running around and getting behind the wheel. By the time he got the truck started, the VTOL jet had landed and a dozen armored men and women were pouring out of the cargo hatch. A tall woman dressed in black leather walked out behind them and focused her attention on Sam. He felt an intense pressure behind his eyes. It felt as if his brain was being squeezed. He realized that the woman must be a psi and was trying to take control of him. He fought against her but knew that it would be only a matter of time before she had him. He only had one option. He threw the truck in gear and gunned the engine.

Armored soldiers dove in all directions as the modified sport truck plowed through them. The leather-clad woman was nearly not fast enough as the truck came within an inch of hitting her before it peeled off down the road and out of sight.

Domina picked herself up off the ground and brushed the grass and dirt off. Sirens could be heard in the distance drawing nearer. She looked about her at the carnage with a growing respect for the power that the target possessed. None of the primary strike team was alive. A lot of it looked like the work of the Navy man. She gave a snort of anguish at the thought of him. Her employer may want the weapon known as Wild Card, but she would take great pains to capture the man as well. Not only had he managed to resist her mental powers, but he had come very close to killing her as well. She intended to pay him back in kind.

"Major." She said calmly to the armored man at her side. "Clean the sight as quickly as possible and try to get me some information on the Weapon’s companion."

"Yes, M’ lady." He gave a quick bow and then turned to issue the orders.

Domina returned to her private suite aboard the jet. Two teenaged girls, naked except for a small scrap of cloth over their loins, approached and helped her undress. The thralls began pleasing her the moment she laid back in her recliner and activated her comm screen.

An image of a powerfully built, middle-aged man appeared on the screen. "What is your report, Domina? Is the Weapon secure?"

"I’m afraid not, Lord Ironheim. She had assistance from a military man with obvious Special Forces training. Basher and his team were eliminated."

"Incompetents!" Ironheim growled. "I want the weapon at all costs, Domina."

"We are running checks on the man now." Domina said calmly with a glance at the major who had just entered with a stack of papers. He should be easier to track than the Weapon. When we find him, we’ll find her."

Ironheim nodded. "I am putting you directly in charge of this, Domina. I trust that you will have better results than that fool Basher."

"Of coarse, My Lord." Domina managed before the screen went blank.

The blonde girl who suckled passionately on her breast gave her a look of adoration as Domina began stoking her hair as if she were a pet. "Is everyone aboard, Major?"

"Yes, M’ lady"

Domina glanced casually out the view port at the approaching police cars and fire trucks. "Then I believe that it is time that we departed."

She waited until he had issued the orders before speaking again. "I also think that it may be wise to call in a team of trackers."

"That may be best." He agreed.

"Good. Then see to it."

 

 

Chapter Two: Disguises, or The Other Miss Karen Stevens

 

"I was worried about you two." Carol Williams said, giving her younger brother and his girlfriend hugs. "As soon as I recognized your apartment on the news, I figured that you would try to come here so I had Calvin take the kids to a hotel."

"Thanks, Carol." Sam smiled. "We took a round about way here so we should not have been followed."

"Still, I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to stay long. At least not me anyways." Karen said, collapsing onto the couch. "Ironheim has plenty of resources and it will not take him long to get information on Sam. That information will lead him here."

"Are you sure that it was Ironheim’s people?" Sam asked.

Karen nodded. "Those soldiers were wearing armor that he designed, and that jet is one of his as well."

Carol handed them each a drink and sat across from them. " Mind if I ask what’s going on? Or is it something top secret involving one of your past organizations?"

Karen shook her head and then explained what Ironheim had tried to do to her before.

"That doesn’t make much sense." Carol said after a moment. "Granted you’re a class seven mutant, but surely there are others more powerful for him to try to turn into some kind of super soldier. Why the interest in you?"

Karen sighed and rested her head against Sam’s shoulder. "I wish I knew. I thought that all of this was behind me, but now..."

Carol stood and helped the younger woman to her feet. "Well, while we are figuring out what to do, let’s get you cleaned up and I’ll see what I can do with your hair."

While the women were in the bathroom, Sam returned to the garage where they had hidden his truck. He opened the rear suicide door then lifted the false floor panel to reveal a hidden compartment. Inside were various items he had used while with the Sharks, as well as a pack containing Karen’s old M.An.T.A.S, uniform and her gear. He decided that she might have a need for them so he brought them out along with his own gear.

Once inside, he opened one of his satchels and laid out an assortment of weapons, camouflage, and grenades. He selected items seemingly at random and put them in the smaller pack before putting the rest away.

"Looks like you’re planning on starting a war." Carol said from behind him.

"Just want to be prepared." He replied while sealing the last watertight fastener on his pack. He stood to find the two women eyeing him speculatively. An uneasy feeling came over him under their gaze. "What?"

"We’ve come up with a plan, but you may not like it." Karen told him.

"Karen needs to get out of town and to a safe place," Carol cut in, "but you will need to stay here to deal with the authorities. I can help you there since my department will have undoubtedly taken over the investigation."

Sam held up a hand to cut her off, "I’m not letting you take off by yourself." He told Karen. "I’m going with you."

Karen started to protest but Carol beat her to it. "You can’t, Sam. If my house is being watched, and it probably is by now, she’s going to need a diversion to help her escape.’

"And I’m to be that diversion?"

Both women nodded.

Karen could see the pain in his eyes and her heart ached for him, but she could think of nothing else to do. Carol had spent fifteen years with Naval Intelligence and was now with the FBI. She had come up with a good plan that just might work.

"Okay. What do I have to do?" Sam asked, giving in with a defeated stance to his shoulders.

"You brought my things in from the truck?" Karen asked.

"Good." Carol said when he gave a nod. "First, I need you to get into the shower and shave."

"Shave?" He asked uncertainly.

She nodded. "Everything."

"I’ll help." Karen offered.

Carol grabbed her arm, "Nope. I’m going to need you to make some casts."

"I think you were right," Sam said as they started off, "I’m not going to like this."

 

A short time later, Carol led her brother into her closet where a trap door led to a basement. The room they emerged into looked like a special effects laboratory. In fact, that is exactly what it was. Latex masks and body forms hung on various racks along with wigs and other paraphernalia used for disguise. She directed him to a body form that was still damp from the mold and his uneasiness increased. Karen stood beside it with her characteristic lopsided grin.

"You want me to wear THAT?" Sam asked incredulously, pointing at the skin form molded from his lover’s own body.

Despite the speed in which it had been made, Carol had done a good job on it. She had even gone out of her way to add die to color the areolas and to add a tuft of pubic hair over the lifelike vagina.

"Just think of it as another way of getting inside of me, Lover." Karen teased.

Carol laughed as she pulled out a privacy screen. "Yeah, and if you like it, I may just let you keep it. No telling what kind of fun you two would have then."

Karen pulled him and the rack behind the screen. "Carol showed me how to help you get into it so just relax."

Despite all of his special training and rigorous exercise, Sam was pretty slim. He stood only five foot seven, the same as Karen, and they weighed about the same, so sliding into the body suite was not difficult. The only uncomfortable part was putting in the built in catheter. The thighs and buttocks were well padded to match Karen’s natural form and the breasts were filled with a silicone-saline solution that made them feel real.

"You look great." Karen whispered and gave him a kiss. "You keep this on; I may have to become a lesbian."

"I think that you’re just in love with your own body." He teased.

"Hey! I’ll remember you said that the next time you want to play in bed."

Sam got a hurt look on his face. "No! Not playtime denied!"

"All right you two, enough of that." Carol called from the other side of the screen. "Come on out, Sam so I can check you out."

She was satisfied over all with the fit of the body suit, but she took a moment to apply a sealer under the seams at his neck, wrists, and ankles. She then stood back and ran a critical eye over him one last time before giving him a wicked smile. "Now that you’re one of the girls, we aught to let you put on a fashion show for us. What do you think, Karen?"

The younger woman’s eyes twinkled at her lover’s increasing discomfort. "Oh definitely. I’d love to see him in a skimpy little nightie, or maybe even a thong bikini."

"We don’t have time for this." Sam said, exasperated at their antics. "Besides, if I’m going to put on a show looking like this, it will be for Karen’s eyes only."

Carol stuck out her tongue at him. "Spoil sport. Fine, Get into Karen’s uniform and I’ll do your make-up. Then when we’re done with you, you can help me get Karen into her disguise."

"The first part of the uniform was basically like a leotard but was made of a more durable material of dark blue that molded to his body like a second, or in this case, a third skin. The support it gave to the weight of the size C breasts was a relief. Then came a vest type item with attached armored shoulder guards. It did not cover his breasts, but instead, the neck seam went down on either side of them and then tightly underneath. The garment lifted and squeezed his breasts together, giving him the deep cleavage that he loved so much to see on Karen. After the vest, came the matching chap-like leggings of red-violet that attached to the vest by straps not unlike those of a garter belt. Over this came black, knee high boots, a belt, fingerless gloves, and Karen’s broad leather belt with its assortment of pouches that held her ammunition. Carol then did his base make-up before Karen applied the purple mask paint around his eyes in the sharp winged pattern she had often used on herself.

By the time the first glow of morning lighted the dense ground fog outside, Carol had finished with Karen. She now appeared to be a slightly overweight and pregnant Hispanic woman in her early thirties instead of the slim and buxom brunette of twenty-four.

She still looks great. Sam thought as he eyed her.

She gave him a murderous look and hefted the false belly, "If you ever get me like this, I swear that I will kill you."

Sam looked disappointed. "Well, so much for that idea. I was hoping for at least six kids."

"Six?" Karen cried out.

"At least... maybe more."

Karen was speechless. He had said it so earnestly that she was not sure if he was joking or not. A quiver at the corners of his mouth gave him away however. Well, two can play at this game. She thought and then said. "Okay, we’ll have six children, under one condition. You have to wear this getup the entire time that I’m pregnant. Otherwise, you can just forget it, Buster."

"You can talk about the propagation of the species later." Carol said as she hurried down the stairs from the second floor. "She had Sam’s thermal imaging binoculars hanging from her neck. "It’s show time. There’s a van parked down the street. I could just barely make it out through the fog."

Sam nodded and hefted his pack. "Good. Then let’s be about it."

Karen quirked a smile as she recognized the phrase from one of Sam’s favorite series of books. She caught him at the back door. "Hold on a minute, ‘Admiral Herrington’." She grabbed several handfuls of the marbles she used as ammunition and charged them up before putting them in the largest pouch hanging off his hip. It had a built in containment field that would hold the kinetic charge of the marbles for several hours without letting them explode prematurely. "Use these. It will make you seem more genuine."

"Thank you." He said, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her. It was somewhat awkward, but at the same time erotic to feel their breasts and her distended belly between them.

She seemed to have felt the same since her face was a bright crimson when they parted. He gave her hands one final affectionate squeeze and started out the door only to have her hold him back once more.

"The answer to your question is ‘yes’." She said with a loving smile.

It took him a moment to realize which question she was referring to. With all of the excitement, he had forgotten all about it. "Yes?"

She smiled even broader and nodded.

He wrapped her in his arms once more. "Oh, I love you so much."

"I know." She laughed and pushed him away, " Now get going before I change my mind."

"Okay." He sobered. "But first, there’s something for you in the breast pocket of my uniform. Take it with you when you leave."

"I will." She promised and then watched as he disappeared into the fog.

Carol put a comforting arm around the younger woman. "He’ll be all right. He knows how to take care of himself."

"I know, but I still can’t help worrying about him."

 

 

Chapter Three: Into The Swamps

 

There were only a handful of houses on the road leading to Carol and Calvin’s house, and there was only one way in from the state road. It dead-ended at the river that ran behind the homes.

The plan was for Sam to distract Ironheim’s people long enough for Carol to sneak Karen downriver and into town in her boat. A simple enough plan and one that should be easy for Sam. The house that he grew up in was on this same road but further up towards the highway so he knew the surrounding land intimately.

A smaller river joined the main one not far away from Karen’s house. The land around that whole area was nothing but swampland, and a death trap for those who did not know the dangers. That was where he intended to lead his pursuers.

He crept up close to the van and threw a small handful of Karen’s kinetically charged marbles at the windshield. The front cab blew in a spectacular but short-lived fireball and armored men spilled out of the rear in a cloud of noxious smoke, coughing and sputtering.

Sam threw a couple of more marbles in their direction to draw their attention before taking off at a run into the fog filled pine forest. Beam weapons flashed past him striking trees and the ground nearby. Shouted commands let him know that the pursuit was on.

 

The screen beside Domina went blank and she called out to the Major. "Tracker Group Three has located the Weapon. They are in pursuit through the forest. Ready your troops."

"Yes, M’ Lady." He acknowledged before disappearing back through the hatch.

Domina eased the girl’s head out from between her legs. "Sorry, my darling, but I must see to business." She smiled at the girl’s disappointment and stroked her cheek. "Dress me and then you may go play with Mina."

The girl looked at the sleeping blonde on the bed and slowly nodded her head. Only pleasing her mistress gave her pure joy, but she would be content with the other thrall since her mistress permitted it.

 

Sam did his best to ignore his bouncing breasts. The unfamiliar weight and motion distracted him and twice now he nearly fell off the cypress roots he was jumping on to cross through the swamp. As far as he could tell, only five people had come after him. He hoped that they had been the only ones in the van. He had eliminated one not to long ago. The rattlesnake he had purposefully disturbed had bitten the man several times, if the screams were any indication. He was more than likely dead by now.

A boil in the water off to his right caught his attention. He approached cautiously and saw that he had guessed right. The water churned with hundreds of mating water moccasins. Their bodies could be seen writhing together in one massive ball.

Sam glanced around quickly. His pursuers were still some distance away, but he could hear them drawing nearer. He fumbled in his pack and pulled out a can of spray silicone, then sprayed it on the root he was standing on before jumping to the next root and doing the same. He made a circuit around the spawning snakes then moved several roots away until the first of the trackers came into view. He threw several of Karen’s missiles at her before taking off again. More shouts cried out and beam fire exploded against the trees about him, but within moments, he heard a splash quickly followed by the woman’s dieing screams.

Beam fire shot wildly through the mist filled swamp. His trackers had become angry. Good that will just make them more careless.

The next tracker stumbled upon an earthen mound that had recently been disturbed. Several chirping sounds came from the leather-like eggs that were now exposed. The man never saw the two thousand-pound alligator that surged out of the water behind him. He never even had a chance to scream.

Sam arrived at a place that he was more intimately familiar with. The stretch of ground that lay before him was deceiving. It looked solid enough, but he knew from first hand experience that it was not. Ten years ago he had lost his best friend here. Chuck Rivers had taken one step in that area and the ground swallowed him in the blink of an eye. There had been nothing Sam, nor their other two friends could have done.

He said a silent prayer and forced the memory from his mind before setting to his task. He pulled a straight rod from his pack commonly called a pull-slider. The Special Forces most often used it in mountainous terrain, but it would work just as well for Sam here. He pointed one end head level at the tree beside him and depressed a lever. A thumb-sized dart trailing a thick cord buried itself in the tree. He then pointed the other end of the rod at a tree on the other side of the quick sand and fired off another dart. Satisfied that both ends were secure, he pressed another trigger that took up the slack in the cord and then began pulling him across. He kept his weight on the rod but at the same time, he ensured that he left footprints on the ground.

Safely on the other side, Sam pressed yet another button and a small pop sounded from the distant tree. The cord fell free and Sam snatched it back so that it did not leave a trail in the quicksand before he wound it back into the rod.

Sam moved off a short distance and was surprised to see that the remnants his old lean-to was still standing. There was not much left of it, but it would suit his purposes. He made sure that it was free of snakes and killed the few pine scorpions before settling in to wait.

It did not take long. The last two trackers were together now and moving more cautiously. That did not save one of them. He quickly joined Chuck Rivers in the natural grave.

The second man swore and then set about finding a safe passage. Sam calmly raised his .45 Smith & Wesson and fired one shot. The back of the man’s head blew apart in a mass of blood and brain matter.

Sam took a moment to calm his nerves and to allow time for his adrenaline high to subside before starting off once more. He had barely gone twenty feet when the ground right behind him erupted. His back was blasted by burning dirt and debris as he was thrown through the air. His flight abruptly ended when he struck a tree and crumbled in to a heap at its roots. He just had time to see the leather clad woman and an armored man holding a smoking weapon descend from the air on some type of hovering platform before darkness consumed him.

"That’s one tough little bitch." The Major said as he approached the body.

"Yes, but according to her file, her powers should have allowed her to absorb that blast." Domina said suspiciously.

The Major chuckled. "Maybe so, but that tree sure stopped...." He fell silent as he bent over the fallen woman and rolled her onto her back. His face paled when the hair fell away to reveal a sweaty, close-cropped haircut. A Wig! A quick inspection revealed the frayed edges and bloody rips of a latex body suit. "Lord Ironheim is not going to like this."

Domina knelt beside him. She recognized the face of the person who lay before her and she smiled. Her smile became harsh laughter as she stood and walked back to the transport. "Bring our little girl along. The weapon may have beaten us twice now, but the tool of her victories has just become the bait for ours."

The Major detached two men to the task and then hurried to catch up with Domina. "Shall I send a squad to the house?"

Domina considered a moment before giving a shrug. "You may, but it would be a waste of time. If the weapon was there to begin with, I am sure that she is long gone by now."

 

Chapter Four: The Nasty

 

Carol Williams had returned to her home to find it ransacked. Broken furniture and other items littered the floor and several windows were shattered. A look in the garage showed that Sam’s truck was still there and after waiting for him the rest of the day and all of the next, She realized that Ironheim’s people must have captured him... or worse. She would not allow herself to dwell on that thought however. She was officially on vacation but she decided to go into work anyways. If she was going to help her brother and his new fiance, she was going to have to get whatever she could started with the FBI.

When she entered the regional headquarters in Pensacola, she was immediately informed to report to the director. That was fine with her. That was where she was heading anyways.

"Agent Williams." Director Alex Simonez acknowledged her entrance. "Have a seat."

"Thank you, Sir." Carol said, taking the chair he offered.

Alex sat and leaned over his desk with his fingers templed. "You being here tells me that you know something about the military style assault on your brother’s home. Care to fill me in?"

Carol told him everything that she knew, including her plan to help Karen escape and Sam’s subsequent disappearance.

"I’ll have Sullivan organize a search and rescue for the area that you said that your brother went into, and I’ll have Barrins and his forensic team go through your house."

Carol gave a short nod.

Alex stepped around his desk and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "If it helps, I’m inclined to believe that your brother is being held hostage. He would be worth more to them alive to draw out Miss Stevens."

"I hope you’re right, Sir."

"I know I am." He gave her a smile, "Have you eaten? Good. I’ll order a pizza and while we’re waiting, you can start filling out a statement about what all you told me."

"Yes, Sir." Carol said with a sigh of resignation. She was thankful that the director was taking a personal interest in the case, but she could already tell that SHE was going to be the one handling all of the paperwork.

Hours later, Alex woke her in the small room usually provided for protected witnesses. He handed her a cup of coffee and sat at the small table where she joined him. "I’ll take care of the good news first." He informed her. "We have your family tucked away in one of our safe houses and all of what remained of your brother’s and Miss Stevens’ possessions have been put in storage. The bad news is that Barrins was unable to find anything worthwhile at your place and Sullivan’s team did not find your brother." He held up a hand to forestall the question she was about to ask. "However, he did find four other bodies and further signs that show that I was right. Your brother was taken, but there was evidence found that he might have been wounded. The lab is running an analysis on the blood even as we speak.

Carol felt the wave of tension release. "I don’t know whether I should be relieved or not. They may need him alive for now, but what will happen to him if Ironheim manages to capture Karen?"

"I don’t think you need to worry about that. From what I saw at his apartment and from what Sullivan told me what he did to those others in the swamp, I believe that your brother is one very dangerous person. One that his captors had best not underestimate." Alex pointed out. Then after a moment, "I took the liberty of pulling his file. Aside from the first year or so of his naval career and these last couple of years, the rest of his record has a black level security on it. Not even the SEALS have that high of security. Do you know anything about it?"

Carol shook her head. "I always assumed that he was in the SEALS, but now that I think on it, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen him wear any of their insignia."

"Hmmm." Alex scratched his chin for a moment. "If he was involved in an even more covert organization than the SEALS, then I need to make some calls to D.C.. If someone with that kind of clearance is in the hands of a group of terrorist, someone higher up would be willing to go to great lengths to get him back, and have the resources to do it."

He let Carol absorb that for a bit before asking, "What about Karen Stevens?"

"She’s supposed to contact me once she’s safe. I gave her the number of one of our secure lines here in the event that she couldn’t reach Sam or me at our regular numbers."

Alex nodded. "Good thinking. Once she calls, set up a schedule for her to keep checking in with you. I’ll get things stared upstairs."

 

A short time later, Alex walked into his office and locked the door before sitting at his desk and picking up the phone with black and red stripes painted on the receiver. He punched in a three-digit number and waited for the person on the other end to pick up.

"Harold? This is Alex Simonez in Pensacola. We may have a possible NASTY situation on our hands here. Let me know when you’re ready and I will spurt you the information."

 

In the National FBI Headquarters, Harold Cambridge sat back in his chair after reading the information Alex Simonez had sent him. He quickly came to the same conclusion that the regional director had. In the wrong hands, Petty Officer First Class Samuel Conners was a National Security Threat, a NASTY.

He had been looking forward to going home, but now he knew that it was going to be a very long night.

 

Chapter 5: Friends

 

Karen put down the phone and repressed a sob of grief. She barely noticed the comforting arms of her two former colleagues as they held her close.

Jennifer Breeze, a tall goddess of a blonde, noticed the petite woman worrying the gold ring on her left hand. "How bad is it?" She asked.

Karen could not contain her grief any longer. She crumbled into the taller woman’s arms, crying hysterically until she fell asleep.

Sharon Wolfe, another M.An.T.A.S. member, helped Jennifer carry Karen to a bed before returning to the den. They found Jennifer’s husband, a mutant known only as Stalker, talking on the phone. His expression was grave when he hung up and faced them.

"I just finished talking with one of my contacts. It turns out that they’re treating Wild Card’s boyfriend as a Nasty."

"A nasty?" Sharron asked, confused.

"N-A-S-T..., A NAtional Security Threat." He explained.

"What does that mean?" Jennifer asked.

"It means that if he can not be rescued, then he is to be eliminated." He cut their protests short. "They’re calling in Conner’s old team, The Sharks. I’m sure that they will go out of their way to protect one of their own.

"Even so, I’ve asked for the M.An.T.A.S. to get involved. He said that he would see what he could do, but our primary responsibility is to protect Wild Card."

"Then it looks like that your going to get involved." Karen said from the doorway. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she looked haggard, but it was obvious that she had redirected her grief into anger. "Because I’ll be damned if I’m going to hide away in some hole while Sam is being held prisoner on my account. And I’ll be DAMNED if I’ll let him be ’eliminated’ by our own people!"

"The government is not going to let you get involved." Stalker said, trying to reason with her. "They want to keep you as far away from Ironheim as possible."

Karen’s eyes began to glow with an inner fire. "I would like to see them try to keep me away."

 

Chapter Six: In Enemy Hands

The whip cracked against his thighs where the latex body suit had already split open. Blood streamed from various other slashes down his legs, arms, and back. "The Rebel Base is on Dantooine....erk!" A backhanded fist drew more blood from his already busted and swollen lips.

"Enough, Domina!" A deep voice said from the shadows. "He is obviously not going to talk. And even if he does, it is doubtful that he knows where the weapon is."

"Give me more time, My Lord. I will break his mind." The leather clad woman said with conviction.

Sam felt the pressure once more building up behind his eyes and again fought the woman’s probe back.

"It’s just a matter of finding his weakness." Domina continued. "When I do, you will have the information you seek," She cupped Sam’s chin, "and our pretty little girl here will be completely under my control."

A slow, wicked smile crept across her lips at a sudden thought. Sam was naked accept for the remnants of the body suit. The breasts still hung proudly with the false erect nipples and the vagina still covered his manhood. Domina was careful not to damage those areas. She pressed in close to him and teased his breasts with her own. Her hand slid down his stomach and cupped the slitted mound between his legs. A finger slowly stroked in and out of it while her other hand slid behind and kneaded his padded rear. "Perhaps pain is not the method to break you." She whispered in his ear. Her hand slid along the crevice of his rear and then squeezed his anus. "You tell us what we want to know, or I’ll let the Major have some fun with you. I hear that he can be quite rough on the ladies."

For the first time, fear was evident on the young man’s face. One look at the brawny soldier convinced him that the man would do exactly what he was ordered, and probably enjoy doing it

"I...I don’t know where she went... I swear." Sam choked out. "She was to call me when she got to where she was going."

Domina slid her hand completely into the fake vagina and roughly squeezed his testicles. "You’re lying!"

"No!" He cried out.

The whole time, Domina had been trying to enter his mind, but he had still somehow managed to thwart her attempts. She pulled away from him disgustedly. "I guess that you were correct, My Lord. He does not know where she is."

"That no longer matters." Ironheim said, dismissing another soldier. "We have just received word from one of our operatives. The Weapon has fled to her former companions, the M.An.T.A.S."

"Do you wish for me to take a team to retrieve her?"

"No. I believe that your original plan will work best. We will use the Navy man as bait to draw her to us. The operative will allow himself to be seen and lead her to ‘evidence’ as to our location."

Domina bowed her head in agreement and followed him to the door. "And what shall we do with him in the meantime?" She asked, pointing to the semi conscious man hanging in the center of the room.

"Do with him as you please." Ironheim said dismissively. "He is no longer of use to us."

Domina considered that a moment and then said, "Perhaps there is one more use for him, My Lord."

Ironheim cocked his head in question.

"You will need a test subject for the apparatus you have set up for the weapon. It would be best to ensure that it works correctly before using it on her."

Ironheim gave her a knowing look and then smiled. "The machine works fine, but if you wish to play with it, be my guest. It has already been prepared for the Weapon. All the data on her is already stored and it has been calibrated for her genetic profile. Use that on your little pet."

"Thank you, My Lord." Domina bowed her head graciously for the treat as Ironheim strode away.

He stopped some distance away and called back. "Be sure that the operation is well documented. I will be interested in your results."

Domina smiled and returned the room. "Major, sedate our little darling here, then take her down to Lord Ironheim’s laboratory. I will join you there"

"At once, M’Lady." He acknowledged and then called for more of his men to assist him.

 

"This has been set up for a female subject, My Lady." The technician at a large bank of control panels advised. "There is no telling what the procedure will do to him."

"That is irrelevant." Domina said, watching the glass cylinder containing the now completely nude man fill with a pink, syrupy liquid. "Lord Ironheim is interested with what effects combining the Weapon's genome with another’s will have."

The technician looked uncertain, "The results could be very sporadic. We would need to take several tests with different subjects to have conclusive findings."

Domina nodded in understanding. "Very well. For the time being, consider this one as the only subject we can attempt this on. What would you do to ensure that we got the results that Lord Ironheim wishes to achieve with the Weapon?"

The technician turned to one of his screens and ran some quick calculations. After a moment, he gave a grunt in approval and turned back to Domina. "We would have to run the subject through a complete phase. Reduce it to an embryonic stage, and then insert a minimum of at least seventy-five percent of the weapon’s DNA before re-aging it."

"Good. Then begin." Domina instructed. "If this works out as planned, we may not have a need for the Weapon."

The technician was wise enough not to comment on that. He knew that Lord Ironheim’s fixation on the Weapon would not be appeased until he had transformed her into the ultimate fighting machine he desired. Instead, he asked; "Are there any special qualities you want added? Aside from the DNA exchange?"

Domina looked at the nude form that was barely visible through the pink fluid. What else could be done to the strong willed Navy man? She asked herself. Then she smiled wickedly. "Yes. Ensure that he retains his memory. I want him to know what has been done to him..., and give him a birthmark. A dagger from here, to here." She said, indicating a point from her hairline above her right eye and then to the hollow of her cheek. "Something to give him a visual reminder of his new station..., as nothing but a genetic construct, a clone."

The technician nodded and then programmed the requested change. "It will take approximately twenty-seven hours to rejuvenate the subject to an embryo. Would you like for me to contact you then so that you may oversee the DNA exchange?"

"Yes. I am very interested in seeing how it is performed." Domina said as she made her way from the lab. "I also want to be notified if anything else should come up during the procedure."

"Of coarse, My Lady." The technician bowed his head in assent before returning to his displays.

 

Chapter Seven: An Unexpected Development

 

Domina woke in her chambers with the usual tangle of arms and legs about her. The six thralls stirred restlessly as the comm beside the bed buzzed once more. She slapped the acceptance button, angry at whoever had dared to disturb her in the middle of the night. "What?"

The voice of the technician answered nervously. "Forgive me, My Lady, but you wished to be notified of any unexpected developments with the test subject."

Domina ignored the girls who reached lastingly for her breasts as she sat up and glanced at the clock. "We just completed the DNA exchange a couple of hours ago. What could have gone wrong since then?"

"I’m sorry, My Lady." The Technician apologized again. "Perhaps it would be best if you came and saw for yourself."

"I will be right there." She climbed out of bed to the chorus of whimpers from the thralls. "Help me get dressed." She told them. "Then you can play amongst yourselves until I return."

The thralls obeyed, but they were obviously unhappy with her orders. She should stay with them so that they could please her as it was meant for them to do.

It took twenty minutes for Domina to reach the laboratory from her suite of rooms. The technician rushed to her as soon as he saw her and quickly led her to the tank. "I had gone to the lounge to eat," he hastily explained, "and had just returned when I noticed it. By that time, it was too late to reverse the process."

Domina could barely understand his rambling and cut him off with a wave of irritation. "What exactly has happened?"

The technician meekly pointed into the tank.

Domina peered through the pink fluid for a long moment before a burst of laughter erupted from her lips. Before her floated a girl of about two years of age and growing older before her eyes. Her thick hair was already well past her buttocks and growing longer with two distinct white locks that started at her temples and flowed back before becoming lost in the mass curls. She could not tell what color the rest of her hair was. It seemed to be the same color as the fluid, but that could merely be an illusion. The dagger shaped mark down the right side of her face was no illusion however.

"You are not angry?" The Technician asked nervously.

"Of course not." Domina laughed. "In fact, this is even better." Her eyes gleamed at the subtle form of revenge she would have on ‘Petty Officer First Class Samuel Conners’ for defying her mental probes. He..., She, was in for quite a surprise when she woke up.

Then another wicked idea came to her. "What is the minimum age in which she will be able to retain all of her former memories?"

"Fourteen, maybe fifteen." The Technician answered.

Domina nodded. "Then stop the aging process at sixteen, just to be on the safe side."

The Technician gave her a bow and then began working some controls on the side of the cylinder. Robotic arms inserted waste tubes into the appropriate receptacles on the young girl and then placed an air mask over her mouth and nose. "I’ll clear her lungs and begin her on oxygen now then. I’ve also adjusted the nutrients in her IV since we will be removing her prematurely from the tank."

Domina nodded at the explanation of his activities. "It is a shame that we could not bring her out sooner. It would have been amusing to watch Mr. Conners experience a second puberty...as a girl."

 

Chapter Eight: Rebirth

 

Sam faded in and out of consciousness. His mind seemed muddled and his memory sluggish and confusing as if he were remembering the experiences of another person from their perspective. He could not tell his dreams from wakefulness. Both seemed filled with water and the sensation of floating weightlessly in a thick soup.

Occasionally, images came to him as if through a pink haze. Mostly, it was a solitary figure moving about around him, but often, there was another figure, surrounded by smaller forms that came into view. It took some time, but he finally recognized her and he became angry. His attempts to reach her caused a commotion in the blur of images beyond her and he quickly lost consciousness.

The next time he saw her, he remained calm. She had tried to say something to him, but her words were garbled and unintelligible.

Another figure came before him some time after that. The man was incredibly tall and thickly muscled. His face was unrecognizable through the haze but his eyes seemed to glow with a blood red fire. He stayed a moment, inspecting him as if he were an animal in a zoo, then, as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone. Shortly thereafter, Sam was once again consumed by darkness.

 

Domina strode into the room where Sam had been moved to. The Technician was busy checking his vitals but stood when she and her harem entered.

"Why is she pink?" Were the first words out of Domina’s lips.

The technician cleared his throat. "It is a temporary effect from being submerged in the nutrients for so long, My Lady. She should develop a natural skin tone in time... The hair, however, may retain the same color."

"She’s pretty." One of the thralls said, her voice no more than a whisper.

Domina stroked her cheek affectionately, then returned her attention to the technician. "Is she ready to be awakened?"

He nodded. "I was just waiting for your instructions, My Lady." He then double-checked the wrist and ankle restraints before he inserted a needle in the IV line and pressed the plunger.

The girl slowly opened her lids to reveal sparkling pale violet eyes that quickly grew wide in fright when she realized her predicament.

"Good morning, Samuel." Domina crooned as she sat on the plush mattress at his side. She then ran the back of her fingers over his pert breasts and across his nipples, "or should I say: ’Samantha’?"

"What...?" Sam’s voice caught at the rich soprano sound, then demanded, "What have you done to me?"

"Why, look down at yourself. It should be obvious." She answered teasingly.

Sam tried to lift his head, but he jerked back with a yelp of pain as his over long hair caught underneath him.

Domina laughed. "Don’t worry, you will have the rest of your life to admire your new body, but I’m sure that you have seen the original several times already.

"We ran you through the Weapon procedure that my colleague designed for your lover. It was necessary to exchange most of your DNA with hers in order for it to work correctly. In effect, you are now nothing more than a clone of her, albeit a much younger version."

Sam’s mind was racing. What she was talking about could not possibly be true, but something deep within him knew that it was. A pressure behind his eyes drew his attention and he recognized it for what it was. He was nearly not fast enough to block Domina’s controlling probe.

Domina grimaced. She had nearly had him that time, but what surprised her was that the mental shield he had thrown up seemed to be even more powerful that it had been before.

"You can not resist me forever." She spat; "You WILL be mine... eventually." She stood and walked to where her thralls knelt patiently. She chose the girl who had whispered and three others. "You will make me exceedingly happy if you were to stay here and please her. Do not stop. Take turns if any of you get tired. I will come back for you in the morning."

The girls set to the task eagerly. If pleasing the pretty pink girl would make their mistress happy, then it would bring joy to them as well. The pleasure of their mistress was the sole purpose of their existence.

Domina watched her thralls at play for a few minutes. It was not long before they had Sam writhing sand moaning in ecstasy. By the time she returned, he would be too emotionally and physically exhausted to resist her.

 

"Well?" Ironheim asked as she later entered his private study. The room was dark and his body was a silhouette against the large underwater observation port. The underside of the artificial floating island was visible beyond with a plethora of marine life swimming through the maze of coral formations.

"The subject is awake, but I was unable to gain control of her mind. I do not know if the procedure has strengthened the mental barriers she exhibited before, or if it is some element gained from the Weapon’s DNA."

She saw the trace of a smile on Ironheim’s face. "For months now you have admonished me for my apparent consummation with the Weapon. Now we see that the tables have turned. Perhaps your vindictiveness by allowing it to retain its former memories was a mistake. A mistake that I am glad that you made, for now I will know not to repeat it with the weapon."

"You may be right, My Lord, but I have taken measures to weaken her defenses. If they fail, then we could always repeat the process and correct my oversight." Domina suggested.

"Has it displayed any mutant abilities?"

"I used the set up you had programmed for the weapon. Her speed, stamina, dexterity, and strength should be increased, but aside from the mental aspect, no. I had hoped to be in control of her before testing her."

Ironheim waved a hand dismissively. "That should not be necessary. Despite your infatuation with it, the subject is disposable. I want you to begin testing it by this time tomorrow, whether you have control of it or not."

"Yes, My Lord. I understand."

 

Chapter Nine: The Test

Domina entered the room the next day to find her girls still at play. Sam had been reduced to a sweating, quivering mess by their constant attention. She sent a sharp probe towards his mind only to encounter an even stronger barrier than before. It had now developed on the subconscious level. Domina had no choice but to accept defeat... for now. It would take a telepath far stronger than her to penetrate so strong a shield.

"You have done well, girls." She said, drawing their attention. "I am very pleased with you. Now why don’t you run along and get something to eat, then you may rest."

They smiled happily at her praise and then rushed from the room.

Once they were out of sight, Domina approached Sam and once more sat at his side. She took note of his still erect nipples and the glistening moist mound between his legs. "Looks as if you enjoyed your first experience as a girl."

He flinched and gave a gasp when she touched the nipple closest to her. It was so stiff that it hurt.

Still smiling, Domina coated her fingers with the juices still seeping from between his legs and then smeared it across his lips. She gathered more, then twisted his already sore nipple to make him open his mouth in a scream. Domina forced her coated hand into his mouth, covering as much as she could before could react and bite her.

"Do you like the taste of that? That is YOU, little girl. Let the flavor remind you of what you are now!" With that, she gave his nipple one final painful thump before standing a striding from the room.

She found the Technician in an office further down the hall. "Is everything set up for the tests?"

"The facility is ready, but it will take some time to prepare the subject. "He cleared his throat. "I did not want to interrupt the... uhm, endeavors, of your companions."

Domina grimaced, "How long will it take to get her ready?"

He eyed the screen that displayed Sam’s current vitals. "I will have to replace a lot of her fluids and pump her full of stimulants. Two hours should do it.

 

The bowl of broth they had given him had not been sufficient to remove the taste of his womanhood from Sam’s mouth. It seemed to be embedded in every crevice between his teeth and under his tongue.

He forced himself to ignore it while he took in his new surroundings. They had drugged him again, probably with the drink he had had with his meal, for he had just awoken yet again. He was still naked, but at least they had cut off a good amount of his hair. Before, it had been so long that it was entangled about his ankles, now it only reached to just below his rear. The weight difference was incredible.

Now, for some reason, he was outside, but still surrounded by walls that were at least fifteen feet high. A deep blue sky was above him and the smells and sounds of an ocean permeated the air. He was in a narrow passage that dead ended about thirty feet behind him and ran for approximately another fifty yards ahead.

He realized that this must be another one of the crazy bitch’s games and decided that he was not going to play.

That option was quickly taken from him however. Just as he began to sit on the rough, rocky ground, a dozen androids wielding beam weapons appeared behind him and began to fire. He took of running towards the far end of the passage only to find himself already there. The impact with the wall nearly knocked the breath from him.

"Did you see that?" Domina asked excitedly from the observation balcony high above. "Did you clock her speed?"

The technician who was standing beside her nodded. "She reached seventy-eight miles per hour just before she impacted with the wall... There she goes again, My Lady."

Sam just managed to stop himself before he struck the next wall. He rebounded with a grunt and continued on down the new path only to have more androids appear in front of him. There was no way for him to stop in time so he did the only thing he could do: He jumped.

Domina’s jaw dropped at the sight. Sam had not only cleared the androids, but the wall behind them as well.

"That wall is fifteen feet high and she still cleared it with at least three feet to spare." The tech said in awe. "And she reached eighty-seven miles per hour on that run."

Sam picked himself up off the ground. His whole body was shaking with nervous tension. What he had just done had scared him witless, but it had been exhilarating at the same time. He was finally getting a grasp on what had been done to him and he decided that it was time for him to turn that to his advantage.

He took off running towards the next corner, but instead of turning, he gathered his legs under him and kicked off over that wall as well. He continued this until he found himself clear of the maze and in a more open courtyard. He was surprised to realize that he was not even breathing hard. He took a quick look around to gather his bearings. While he was in the air, he saw that he was on an island of some sort. The large central structure was behind him so that meant that the ocean would be beyond any of the three other walls he chose to jump over. He did not know what he would do then, but he was willing to risk his life out on the open ocean than to remain here a moment longer.

At random, he chose the wall far off to his left and took off at a run. Unexpectedly twenty androids appeared right in front of him. He had no choice but to plow through them. Unfortunately that slowed him just enough to where he would be unable to clear the wall. He had just enough momentum to bring his feet up, run about ten feet up the wall, then flip over backwards. He lashed out in reflex as he landed in the midst of the androids. He brought his martial arts training to bear and had all twenty of the machines in pieces within seconds.

More androids appeared about him. Dodging their beam weapons was child’s play. To Sam, it was if the whole world had slowed to a crawl as he fought his way from one end of the courtyard to the other.

 

Domina leaned forward in rapt attention. Sam was a pink blur across the ground, leaving a path of destruction in her wake. There had to be over a hundred androids littering the courtyard and she was still going.

Beside her, the Major watched with growing concern. Sam Conners had already been a deadly adversary, but now Lady Domina had made him, or rather her, even more lethal. With the devastation that he was now witnessing, he prayed that that power could be contained.

 

It took a full minute for Sam to realize that he was alone in the courtyard. He looked about him in disbelief. It was inconceivable that he could have defeated so many in the space of but a few minutes. His knees went weak and a wave of nausea consumed him as he realized the impact of what that meant. No one person should be able to have such power, but he did. He went to his knees retching. This is what they planned to do to Karen, turn her into an unstoppable human weapon. If they could get such results from him, a non-mutant, then Karen, a class seven mutant would be almost godlike in comparison.

 

"Lady Domina," Ironheim’s voice from behind startled the spectators, "I may have been mistaken by your test subject’s usefulness."

"M’Lord?"

"We will re-designate it as Weapon Beta. Do whatever it takes, I want it under our control."

Domina nodded uncertainly. "Her mental barriers have become even more powerful. We may have to run her through the process once again to remove them."

"Unacceptable." Ironheim told her angrily, "We could not be sure of the same results if we were to do that, and I am not willing to take that chance. I do not care what it takes, I want it to be mine."

"I will see to it immediately, My Lord."

Domina waited until he had left the balcony before returning her attention to the solitary figure below. She watched her climb shakily to her feet and stumble a few steps towards the far wall. "Major, let’s bring our little girl in. Recess is over."

She heard the whisper of the tranquilizer dart leave the Major’s rifle then watched as Weapon Beta collapsed. "Do not return her to her cell. Prepare a room for her on the ground level and fit her with an inhibitor collar." She instructed the two men before leaving the balcony herself.

What Ironheim was asking was practically impossible. Weapon Beta’s mental shields were too strong for here to penetrate, but it was now imperative that she tried. She was resistant to direct probes so Domina would have to find some indirect way to gain control of her. Something subtle. A smile came to her lips as a plan began to form.

 

Chapter Ten: Assault!

Sam was really getting tired of being drugged; he decided when he woke. He struggled to sit up and was surprised to find light hands assisting him.

"Don’t get up too quickly." The teenaged girl advised, her voice no more than a whisper. She piled several pillows behind his back. "Just sit here until you regain your strength. I will be back in a moment with some food."

He watched her half-naked body disappear into a doorway before he looked down at his own body. He was surprised to see that he had finally been clothed. If one could call it that. He was dressed in an incredibly light camisole and panty set. The gauzy material did nothing to hide his pert breasts, nor the mound between his legs, which was now cleanly shaved.

"Sorry about the clothes." The girl whispered when she returned. "Lady Domina does not allow us to wear anything that will hide our bodies."

Sam remained silent as she sat beside him and began spoon feeding him the rich broth.

"My name is Alli. At least it is now... I think it used to be something else before Lady Domina brought me here... I’m not really sure."

"Where is this place?" Sam asked between spoonfuls.

Alli shrugged. "Don’t know. I just know that it takes a long time to get here.

Sam asked her many other questions, nut it was obvious that she did not know anything.

"You are very beautiful."

The whispered statement caught him completely off guard. He was even more surprised when her hand reached down and began caressing his breast. "Stop that... Please." He added after seeing the hurt expression on here face.

She looked away, ashamed. "I’m sorry. Lady Domina... did something... in my head..., and the other girls too. I think that I am the only one who realizes it though. I have this desire, no, a need to... well you know. I can’t control it, and when I look at you now..."

Sam felt both helpless and angry as he watched tears well up in the girl’s eyes. He could not believe that someone could be so twisted as to warp an innocent’s mind in such a way. It gave him more insight into just what kind of person Lady Domina was. He had no doubt that she would do the same to him. He knew that it was only a matter of time before he was no longer able to resist her.

The girl’s emotions seemed to wash over him in a sudden flood. He soon found himself crying along with her. He embraced her in a hug, then felt her desire for him surge through his own being. He found himself accepting her kiss passionately. Their bodies were soon intertwined in intimate lovemaking.

 

In a room not far away, Domina watched the scene on the monitor before her in confusion. She had held her mental probe just on he edge of Sam’s defenses ever since he had awakened. She had felt it strengthen and then weaken to almost within her grasp when the thrall began crying. Then, inexplicitly, the barrier came back up, but with a noticeably different ‘feel’ to it. She looked to the monitor for an explanation, but found nothing, at first. Then she realized what was happening. Weapon Beta was mimicking the thrall’s emotions. She was an empath!

Domina sat back in here chair and began absently stroking the hair on the thrall that was suckling on here breast. She now knew how she would be able to gain control of Weapon Beta, but it will take time. She will give Alli a couple of more days with her before she made her first attempt.

"Come along, my pretties, it is time for bed." She said some time later. She gathered the thralls about here and started for the door when the comm sounded. "Yes?"

"M’Lady." The Major’s voice returned. "Lord Ironheim says that we shall be expecting ‘visitors’ shortly and requests that you join him in the control room."

"The Weapon?"

"He believes so, M’Lady."

"Tell Lord Ironheim that I am on my way."

 

"Looks like that information we retrieved from their agent was right on the money." Petty Officer Catherine James said from the bow of a modified fishing trawler. She was the sole female member of the Sharks and had volunteered to be disguised as Wild Card.

The petite woman at her side smiled, revealing feline fangs. "It’s about time too. I believe that if we had waited any longer, Karen would have spontaneously combusted with all of that built up energy she has."

"She must really love him to risk herself this way."

Sharron cocked her head at the taller woman. "Why C.J., If I didn’t know any better, I would think that you were jealous."

Catherine flashed her a whimsical smile that was barely visible in the darkness. "Perhaps at one time I would have been. I made no secret of my attraction for Sam when he was still with the Sharks, but I was wise enough to back off when he and Karen fell for each other."

Three quick flashes of light from the island caught their attention.

"That’s our signal." C.J. said. "Let’s go rescue the groom."

Jennifer and Stalker met them at the zodiac that was tied to the trawler’s side and within minutes, they were off across the waves.

 

Thirty feet behind and twenty feet below the trawler, Commander Carl Lingstrom, Captain of the Las Angeles class submarine New Jersey received the report from his sonar technician then when forward to where his passengers waited. "Bravo Team is away. You have five minutes."

Lieutenant William "Bull" Torrel, commander of the Sharks, acknowledged the information before turning to the men and women gathered before him. Both Sharks and M.An.T.A.S. looked anxious for their part of the mission to begin, but none more so than the young woman who stood alone at the far end of the compartment. She looked like a completely different person dressed in the black fatigues and flack jacket. Blonde bangs were visible under her helmet and her face and arms were smeared with black grease paint. An automatic pistol hung from a holster under her left arm and an M16A1 assault rifle hung casually from her right shoulder. She would be using those weapons in place of her mutant abilities so that she would not give away her true identity.

"All right, people," Bull bellowed, "you heard the man. Assemble into your assigned teams and get to your egress stations."

There were four teams all together. The four-person scout team that was already ashore would also act as the secondary diversion when the action started. The female M.An.T.A.S. member with them ways also disguised as Wild Card. Stalker and his team were to act as the ’visible’ aggressors while Bull and the two seven person teams would infiltrate the island more covertly.

 

Michael Ironheim sat casually in his chair. On the largest display screen in the command center, he watched as the four figures dropped from the wall into the courtyard. There were three women and one man, but his attention was focused solely on the slim brunette. The Weapon had finally arrived, and within a few minutes, she would be his once more.

He was just about ready to order the ambush when distant explosions rocked the island.

"My Lord," One of the techs called out, "The East Docks report that they are under attack."

"On screen!" Ironheim ordered. A new image appeared before him. Every boat that had been moored to the piers was now engulfed in flames. A solitary figure could be seen running from the flames. Red-yellow missiles flew from her hands, exploding against buildings, vehicles, and people.

At that time, more explosions and gunfire erupted from the courtyard. The first group had discovered the ambush and had turned the tables. Ironheim looked from one image to the other in confusion. Both showed the Weapon unleashing her unique signature power. This can not be! How can there be two? His mind screamed.

"M’Lord!" Another tech cried out in alarm. "Two more forces of unknown strength have entered the main complex!"

"What?" Ironheim roared. "How did they get inside?"

"Through the submarine bays, M’Lord."

"Who in the hell are they?" He asked, angrily pointing at the black clad figures storming through the passageways.

"It may be the Special Forces group that Weapon Beta belonged to." The Major suggested. "The Weapon may have asked for their assistance if she felt that she needed their support."

Ironheim nodded slowly in understanding. "Or as a diversion." He mused. Then: "Send your people to dispose of them."

"At once, My Lord." The Major gave a quick bow then set about relaying the orders.

"Now, Lady Domina, we must figure out which of these is the real Weapon."

"Neither of them are." She said, not looking away from the monitors before her.

"What do you mean?"

She pointed to the screens. "The first one is a blonde. She lost her wig during the fight with the androids. The second one is no longer using the kinetic missiles. She has reverted to using silent weapons and is fighting more in the style of the mutant known as Ghost, another M.An.T.A.S. member."

Ironheim slammed his fists into the arms of his chair, buckling the thick metal of their supports. "Then where the hell is the Weapon?"

 

Karen grabbed the collar of the young Petty Officer Jeffries and pulled him out of the doorway just as a steam of beam fire erupted from it. He had been Sam’s replacement in the Sharks and twice now, he had proven that he was no comparison to her fiance. He was young, brash, reckless, and lacking a great deal in the common sense department. Even worse, she suspected that he had developed a severe case of puppy love for her.

Bull tossed a handful of grenades through the doorway and within a couple of heartbeats, the energy fire died along with the shooters.

Karen turned on Jeffries, "If you pull a stunt like that, I swear that I’ll kill you myself! There’s too much at stake for you to be running around trying to play hero!"

"That’s enough, James." Bull told her after looking the kid over. His eyes were wide and his face pale as he realized just how close he had come to dying. "I believe he got the message."

One of the Sharks that had gone ahead returned at a trot. "Sir, we found a computer network hub just ahead. We should be able to access their system from there."

Bull turned to the young Petty Officer. "Looks like it’s time for you to earn your keep, Jeffries."

"Y...yes, Sir!" The young man stammered before rushing after the others.

 

"M’Lord, the intruders have gained full control of the facility from sub-level three to sub-level one, as well as most of level one and sub-level four." A tech reported when Ironheim demanded an update.

"Someone has gained access into our computer system." Another tech reported worriedly. "Whoever he is, he’s good. Nothing I’ve been able to..." He fell silent as all power went out in the control room.

A full minute later, the control room’s auxiliary generators came on line and power was restored to everything. Everything except for the video feeds.

Domina was half way to the armored hatch when Ironheim called out to her. "Where do you think you are going?"

"To retrieve weapon Beta." She answered. If we are forced to evacuate, I want to be sure we have her."

"My Lady, it is too dangerous." The Major protested.

"Regardless." Ironheim said. "She is right. We can not allow Weapon Beta to fall into their hands. Go with her Major. And be quick about it."

"Yes, My Lord." The Major bowed then gestured for a handful of his soldiers to follow.

 

C.J. watched the three M.An.T.A.S. members with growing respect. It was obvious that they had worked together for a long time and had developed effective fighting methods. Like now, for instance. Jennifer had erected a shield of compressed air before them while her husband, Stalker, fired a continuous stream of bullets through the small hole she had left for him. Catherine did her part by using Karen’s missiles from the side of the shield while Sharron, in her were-tiger form, covered them from the rear.

They broke through the final group of androids and made a run for the base of the complex only to encounter another group of defenders. These were not androids, however, they were heavily armed and armored soldiers.

"It’s that woman Karen told us about!" Sharron cried out and pointed to a tall, leather clad woman with long, red hair. "If we get here, she can lead us to Sam."

C.J. watched as the cat woman took off in a blur of orange and black, dodging the oncoming fire with apparent ease.

"Damn that woman! She’s going to get us all killed!" Stalker growled before rushing after her with guns blazing.

C.J. dared not to use the kinetic missiles as the two groups converged. The risk of hitting one of her own teammates was too great. Instead, she drew the two tantos strapped to her thighs and dove into the fray slashing. The soldiers never stood a chance. No amount of training could have prepared them from the onslaught of Sharron’s claws and fangs, Jennifer’s concussive blasts of compressed air, and Stalker’s cyberneticaly enhanced strength. C.J. was basically playing clean up in their wake.

The Major watched his entire squad being decimated before his eyes. He shook himself and grabbed Domina by the arm before taking off at a run back the way they had come. "We must get back to the command center, My Lady. There is no way for us to reach Weapon Beta now."

Domina did not argue. She knew that they had been beaten and that yet another weapon had been snatched from their grasps.

"She’s getting away!" Jennifer called out to her companions.

"Then we need to end this quickly." Stalker called over his shoulder.

"All right then, on three, hit the deck." She waited for them to acknowledge the instructions before beginning the count. On three, they dropped to the ground just as a powerful shockwave shot out from Jennifer over their heads, flattening the few soldiers who had remained standing.

C.J. stood and looked about her at the bodies lying at their feet. "Remind me never to piss you off."

 

They followed Domina through a series of winding corridors that led deeper into the heart of the island until they emerged into a large circular compartment. There were several other passageways leading from the room, but there was a large armored hatch open in the center. Domina and the remainder of her escort quickly vanished within.

Jennifer dove headfirst in after them, but before the others could follow, the hatch closed, sealing them outside.

"NO!" Stalker yelled, going after the controls inset on the floor beside the hatch. "The controls have been locked out! We’ll have to blow the hatch!"

C.J. looked at the area around the hatch and noticed a thick seam surrounding it about a foot away. It was broken at regular intervals by thick blocks. An uneasy feeling of dread suddenly came over her. "This is an airlock. See these? They’re shaped charges. The entire structure below here must be designed to break away from the rest of the complex. If they blow those seals without pressurizing this room, water will come rushing in here really quick. We’ll drown if the pressure doesn’t kill us first."

A look of helpless anger contorted Stalker’s face.

"We have to get out of here!...NOW!" C.J. urged.

"We can’t just leave her behind!"

"Sharron stepped up to his side. "The navy has a submarine here. It can track them wherever they take her."

Stalker nodded reluctantly, and none too soon. The armored hatches leading to the other passageways began slamming down one by one. They dove through the last one just before it slammed shut behind them. Then, all at once, the entire facility shook and thee three were thrown about as if they were in an earthquake.

Once she was able to get her feet back under her, C.J. pulled a com set over her ears and once again took off running after the others. "Bravo Team to Home Base. A large submersible has just launched from the underside of the island. They have one M.An.T.A.S. team member as hostage."

"Confirmed." Commander Lingstrom’s voice answered. "We will pursue."

 

Chapter Eleven: Rescue!

Bull and his team, along with Karen, had steadily been working their way from room to room. The resistance had virtually become non-existent after Jeffries had gained control of the facility’s computers and the controls for the androids.

Bull had seen the guilty fury on Karen’s face when they heard C.J.’s report. "Don’t worry," He assured her, "the New Jersey will keep an eye on them so we will get Breeze back, but first, we have to finish what we started here."

"But what if they have Sam as well?"

Bull nodded, understanding her concern. "That’s a possibility, but I’ve got a hunch that they don’t."

Karen wished that she could share in his confidence.

 

Sam was doing his best to comfort Alli, but her fear was fighting to take over his own emotions. He knew what all of the explosions and gunfire meant: He was about to be rescued, or so he hoped, and he would soon be reunited with his soul mate.

The thought brought about his own fears. He looked down at his body and the sudden realization it will have on his relationship with Karen struck him like a kick in the gut. How could she now love someone like him? They would never get married, nor would they be able to have the children they jokingly talked about. He would never again wake up with her in his arms. The pain this caused ate at his soul. He could not imagine a future without Karen at his side, nor did he believe that his naval career would exist once he returned.

He looked up sullenly as black clad figures broke down the door and barged in. He recognized them immediately as Sharks and M.An.T.A.S.

 

"What the...?" Bull was brought up short at the sight of the two teenaged girls huddled before him. "We’ve got prisoners in here." He called over his shoulder. "Elliot, bring in your kit and check them out."

The Navy medic entered the room and quickly unlimbered his pack.

"Sir," Jeffries voice came over his headset. "I just found a lot of information on Conners. You ain’t going to believe this, Sir."

"Just a minute." Bull told the non-com when he turned to find the pink haired girl standing before him at attention. She further surprised him by raising her hand to her brow in a crisp salute.

"Sir! Petty Officer First Class Samuel Conners reporting, Sir!" The soft soprano said.

She must have been brainwashed. Bull thought once he recovered. Well, he was not going to do anything that might further destroy the girl’s mind. "That’s nice." He said kindly as he took her by the arm and led her back to the bed. "You just sit here and let the medic have a look at you. You’re safe now and everything will be fine."

Sam’s eyes went wide as he realized that he was not being believed. He pulled his arm free and rounded on the officer. "Damn it, Bull! What do I have to do to prove to you who I am?" He started naming everyone on the room, Sharks and M.An.T.A.S. alike until two more figures entered the room from different directions. He did not recognize the young man, but he recognized the woman despite the fatigues and the blonde hair. "...Karen."

"That’s what I was trying to tell you, Sir." Jeffries said excitedly and holding up a computer disk. "I have everything right here that explains what they did to him. Including a detailed video record."

Bull looked back at the young girl, but Sam looked away in shame.

Karen stood in the doorway, speechless and unable to move until here legs gave out from under her.

Bull sighed and keyed his mic. "Short Stop, this is Bull Shark. We have the Nasty. Call in Force Zulu. Once they are in position, deploy to Point Baker and prepare for extraction."

"Roger that, Bull Shark. Force Zulu is fifteen minutes from your position. We will rendezvous at Point Baker on your signal."

"Acknowledged." Bull replied before turning back to Jeffries. "How long will it take for you to download the rest of the data from the mainframe?"

"Already done, Sir." Jeffries patted the bulky pack on his side. "That’s what I was doing when I came across the info on Conners."

"Good lad. There may be hope for you yet." Bull told him before keying his mic once more. "Bull Shark to Shark Pack. Secure your areas and fall back to Point Baker. All prisoners are to be turned over to Force Zulu upon their arrival." He waited for the string of acknowledgements before turning to the group around him. "Well, all things considered, I believe this mission was a success. Well done team."

 

 

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© 2002 by Stephanie C. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.