Captain Freedom versus The Spider Queen

superpics4les · 18 years ago

Hey gang!

Here's story I've been thinking about for some time. I was inspired by watching "Sherlock Holmes and The Spider Woman". The character of Adria Spedding (The Spider Woman) delighted me and I thought she should be used again.

The story is set in the 1940's, a little before and during WWII. I hope you enjoy it! 8) Oh, just so you know, there's no cat-women or vampires in this one! :-D Enjoy!

*****

Captain Freedom vs. The Spider Queen

Episode I – “Along came a Spider…”

September 9, 1940

Dartmoor Prison, England – Women’s Section

Adria Spedding, also known as the Spider Woman, sat in her cell deep in thought. Her mind was mostly centered on revenge against the man who had finally stopped her murderous scheme of extortion, Sherlock Holmes. She could have easily escaped Inspector Lestrade and those bumbling idiots at Scotland Yard days ago, but she hadn’t yet come up with a truly devious and diabolical scheme to destroy Mr. Holmes. Since she had been moved to the women’s section of Dartmoor, she was mostly kept away from the general population of the prison. She found this most relaxing and the solitude gave her the opportunity to truly focus her evil genius.

One evening after Adria had been asleep for awhile, she was suddenly awakened by a hand on her shoulder. She was startled and turned toward the shadowy figure that had touched her. As her eyes adjusted to the dim moonlit cell, she made out the features of an exotically beautiful Japanese woman, who appeared to be in her late twenties. The woman put her finger in front of her lips to signal Adria to speak softly, smiled, bowed courteously and said, “Komban-wa, Miss Spedding.”

Adria sat up and flashed her typical million dollar smile and said, “Well, I don’t get many visitors here. As a matter of fact you’re my first. May I ask 2 questions of you, my dear?” “Let me answer them for you.” said the lovely Asian, “First, my name is Tetsuko Sataki, but I am called Lotus and I mean you no harm. Second, I can readily come and go as I please for 2 reasons: One, I have control of most of the guards through hypnotic manipulation of their weak minds. Two, I am a mistress of the art of Ninjitsu, the Green Dragon sect.”

Adria raised an eyebrow and said, “An excellent anticipation of my questions, my dear. I’m impressed! Now that we know each other, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” “I would like us to work together, Miss Spedding.” said Lotus, “You see, I was once the assistant of Professor James Moriarty. After he was killed at Reichenbach Falls by Sherlock Holmes, I attempted to take over his organization, but the fools refused to follow a woman, thinking me inferior. I killed the lieutenants and took command of the foot-soldiers. After a while I realized that these moronic men were almost useless, so I eliminated them as well and set about recruiting an army of women, training them to be the deadliest group of assassins in the world.”

“Again, I am deeply impressed by you, Lotus, but why would you need me?” asked Adria. “For this reason: You are the only woman besides the singer Irene Adler that has ever been a mental match for Mr. Holmes.” answered Lotus, “While I am adept at assassination and many of the sciences, as Prof. Moriarty taught me, we need a truly brilliant mind like yours to formulate a plan that could gain us real and lasting power!” “You honor me, Lotus-san. I accept your kind offer.” said Adria, with a courteous bow toward Lotus. “Domo Arigato, Adria-san!” replied Lotus, “With The Spider Woman to lead us, we will be invincible! Will we seek our revenge against Mr. Holmes first?”

“No, not yet, my dear Lotus.” replied Adria, “Mr. Holmes is a worthy antagonist. We must make severe and final preparations for his demise and England would be too great a hot-bed to stay in once we leave Dartmoor. We must go somewhere else to build our strength before we combat the likes of Sherlock Holmes.” “Surely, you do not fear him, do you?” asked Lotus. “A healthy fear of dangerous creatures keeps one alive, dear Lotus.” said Adria with a smile, “As one must acquire knowledge and strength to handle deadly serpents or spiders, we must build our forces and defenses in a safe and secret place before striking at our deadliest enemy, wouldn’t you say?” “Of course, how foolish of me.” said Lotus, her head held down.

Adria lifted Lotus’ head with her finger and looked into her jade green eyes and said, “I admire your enthusiasm, my dear. Don’t feel embarrassed by it. It will fuel your resolve in the coming months.” Lotus smiled and bowed. “So where will we go, my lady?” she asked. “To the one place we can be totally lost in and find thousands of frustrated, underused, man-hating, strong, intelligent women: America!” said Adria, “I will form a spider cult of female followers with men as our mesmerized slaves. Your ninja will be called my Black Spiders and you will be known as The Black Lotus.” “I am honored.” said Lotus, “Since you have given me such a name, allow me to give you one as well. Because you will lead us in such a way, we will call you The Spider Queen!”

Adria smiled broadly and said, “I accept this honor, thank you, dear Lotus! So, when do we leave?” “As soon as you wish, your Highness” replied Lotus, with a smile, “But we will be bringing one other with us.” “Oh? Who is that?” asked Adria. “She’s in the mental ward, but she’s the best student I have ever trained.” said Lotus, “Her name is Sonja Tilson.” “Ah yes! The wrestler that killed her opponent and her own manager with her bare hands!” said Adria.

“Yes. She is the strongest female I have ever seen.” said Lotus, “She has become a deadly weapon and enjoys torture and killing more than anyone I have ever trained. I saw her kill a guard once using just her toes! The Ninjitsu I have taught her has made her incredibly agile and completely invisible when she chooses to be. The only undisciplined thing she does that I cannot get her to stop is the laughing she does before and during her kills! Although the disembodied laugh does put a fear into her intended prey that no amount of ninja trickery can match. Because she is so stealthy, I call her The Creeper.”

“Excellent!” said Adria, “We will have the most feared organization mankind has ever seen and when the Americans enter the war on the side of the European nations, no one will notice our web being woven throughout the world until it’s too late!” “How do you know the Americans will enter the war at all, Adria?” asked Lotus. “Because we will put a little bug in the ear of your Emperor, Hirohito, and his war council, that he should attack the United States before they attack him.” said Adria, with a smile, “Their ego will not allow a first strike by the Americans. He will launch a sneak attack on them that will surely make the American people scream for his blood!” “Yes! Brilliant!” said Lotus, “The fools will be so busy fighting the German-Japanese menace, they won’t even see us coming! But what are we going to do?” “That, my dear Lotus, is my surprise for you!” said Adria with a wink, “Come, let’s go and release your student. We have a lot of work to do!”

*****

February 14, 1942

A U.S. Army facility outside Washington, DC…

Captain Gladys Williams was running late this morning. Her boyfriend, Christian Thomas, a newspaper reporter for the Columbia Gazette, had decided that Valentine’s Day was the perfect time to break up with Gladys and leave her without a date for her CO’s big function that evening. The resulting blow-up lasted longer than she realized and she was actually going to be late for the first time in the ten years she had served as Administrative Aide to Colonel Helen Morgan, Director of WEAPON (War Experimental Advanced Projects and Operations Network).

Colonel Morgan was the first and only female CO for a secret government project since the war began for the U.S. Since the entry of the U.S. into the war on the Allied side, Colonel Morgan had been given charge of many secret projects that no one had been able to make good on.

In short, she was not expected to succeed. Unfortunately for the “boys”, Colonel Morgan didn’t accept failure very readily and there had been many successes held to her credit. Enough to not only allow her to continue as head of WEAPON, but to give her carte blanche to access any funding, material or personnel she needed to carry out her directives.

Captain Williams ran from her car and approached the security checkpoint at as high a rate of speed as possible in her 2 inch heeled black patent leather pumps. Gladys wore the standard uniform of a captain in the WAC, the light green shirt with captain’s bars, dark green tie, skirt, the green web belt with polished brass buckle and officer’s cap with gold braid.

Although she was a captain by rank, many of the NCOs and officers paid her very little attention, unless they happened to be men staring at her shapely body, sensuous legs, or silky coal black hair. Gladys was the only Black female in the facility. As such she was thought to be just a token and her opinions were ignored except when she invoked the Colonel’s name.

The Colonel herself brought Gladys with her when she was promoted to full bird Colonel and given command of WEAPON. She promptly promoted Gladys from 1st Lieutenant to Captain as her assistant. She respected Gladys and always listened to her advice on many different kinds of matters. Most of all, the two women had been great friends for a number of years.

Breathless, the beautiful 28 year old WAC hurriedly walked down the long hallway to Colonel Morgan’s office, after getting off the elevator. Gladys walked into the outer office, which was her own work area and found the Colonel sitting at her desk tapping her gold Cross pen on the desk. Gladys closed the frosted glass door, sat her black leather briefcase down immediately and stood at attention, waiting to be read the riot act for being tardy. The Colonel simply smiled and said,”Well, this is a first. Me, getting here before you!”

“Colonel, please let me explain…” started Gladys. “No need, Gladys.” said Colonel Morgan, holding up her right hand, “This is the first time it’s happened in ten years! It’s only a few minutes anyway, seven to be more precise! Don’t worry yourself about it, but, uh, let’s not make a habit of it, clear?” “As crystal, ma’am!” replied Gladys with a salute, “Thank you for your understanding, Colonel!”

“So, just between us girls, did it have anything to do with Chris?” asked Morgan. “You could say that.” replied Gladys, sitting down, taking off her left shoe and rubbing her sleek stockinged foot, “He dumped me, Hel.” “On Valentine’s Day??” she remarked. Gladys nodded. “That louse! I’m gonna call his editor and get him fired!” she thundered.

“Please don’t, Helen! He’s not worth it!” said Gladys sadly, “It’s been coming a long time, at least two months now. I’m just glad it’s over.” “Well, OK, if you don’t want it, I won’t push.” said Morgan, “But you gotta admit the schnook’s got great timing! I mean Valentine’s Day of all the days to dump somebody! Sheesh!” Morgan threw up her hands and walked into the inner office fuming at the situation her friend was forced into.

Moments later, the phone rang. “Good morning, Colonel Morgan’s office, Captain Williams speaking, may I help you?” answered Gladys. “Captain, this is General Beatty at War Depertment HQ, may I speak to the Colonel, please?” said the smooth deep voice. “Of course, sir, I’ll put you right through. Please, hold one moment.” said Gladys. Gladys pressed the intercom button. “Yes, Gladys?” asked Morgan. “Colonel, it’s General Beatty. Line one.” replied Gladys. “Thank you, Captain.” said Morgan.

Colonel Morgan pressed the flashing button and said, “Hello, Bill. What can I do for you?” “Hello, Helen. How’s everything over in “Top Secret” land?” joked the General. “You should know. You’re the king of “Top Secret” land.” she laughed, “What’s up?” “Well, I kinda wondered how Project: American Amazon was going.” said Beatty, “Any progress?”

“I haven’t gotten a progress report in a couple of days, Bill.” she explained, “Last I heard they had analyzed the blood sample you obtained from Wonder Woman and isolated something that might be the source of her abilities but they weren’t precisely sure. Bill, how did you get that sample anyway?” “Now Helen, you know that’s classified information, need to know.” said Beatty.

“Bill, you don’t want me to use the 'secret weapon', do you?” said Helen with a smile. “Helen, you wouldn’t! Not over the phone!” he gulped. “You betcha, General! So don’t tempt me, or I’ll tempt you!” Helen grinned. Colonel Helen Morgan was a statuesque, auburn haired beauty in her mid to late 30’s whose long shapely legs had won her Homecoming Queen honors at Vassar and whose determination and intelligence had impressed the President enough to name her to her present post. She and Bill Beatty had been seeing each other for a little over a year, but due to Army regulations, their relationship had been strictly on the QT. Helen used her sexuality when all else failed, to get information on the projects she supervised that the Pentagon withheld from her.

General William Beatty had a serious hose fetish and both Colonel Morgan and his secretary, Magda Malone knew it. He and Magda would sometimes sneak out to clubs and such and end up making out in the General’s staff car afterward, but that all stopped when he met Helen Morgan. Helen’s “secret weapon” was the distinct sound her silk stockings made when her legs rubbed together or when she slowly slid her hosed feet up and down the stockings. Even over the phone, Bill’s knees went weak. In her presence, she owned him body and soul.

“So General, what’s it gonna be?” said Helen in her sexiest voice. “OK, Colonel, OK! You win!” he conceded with a smile, “That’s not fair, you know!” “All’s fair in love and the War Department, Bill!” she said with a laugh, “So, spill it.” “OK, the Amazon was injured during one of her battles with The Cheetah. She clawed her up pretty bad that time.” Bill explained, “Anyway they got her to Walter Reed to rest up and we had plenty of opportunity to get as many samples as we wished. She’s very trusting and a little naïve about the real world.” “Trust me, she’ll figure it out soon enough!” said Helen, “I hear she’s sweet on that flyboy she rescued, that Steve Trevor guy. She’ll learn about men soon enough!”

“Really? And what will she learn about us men, Colonel?” asked Bill with a devious smile. “Oh, she’ll learn that while you men think you run the world, we women have an influence over you that gives us more power than you realize.” said Helen matter-of-factly, “She’ll realize that brute force doesn’t always work and that men don’t always use the head on their shoulders, but the head in their nether regions!”

“Helen Morgan! You bad girl! I should wash you mouth out with soap!” said Bill with shock in his voice, but a wicked grin on his face, “If you weren’t General Morgan’s daughter, I’d take you across my knee!” “You’re gonna let that stop you? A big strapping Brigadier General like yourself? I’m disappointed, Bill.” said Helen playfully. “Well, considering I’ve got only one star and he’s got four, yew betcha!” “Chicken.” she said giggling. “Cluck, cluck!” replied Bill.

“Seriously Helen, can you get me an update on the AA project? The President is wondering where we are with it.” said Bill. “I’ll send Gladys down to get the report. It’s due today anyway.” replied Helen, “Will I see you tonight at the Valentine’s Fling?” “Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” he answered, “Will I see you after?” “If Cupid plants his arrow in the right place, yes!” Colonel Morgan answered. “Helen, are you sure you can trust Gladys with something this…sensitive?” asked General Beatty. “I would trust Gladys with my life, Bill.” explained the Colonel, “She’s been with me ten years and I’ve never served with a finer or more fiercely loyal officer. Is this a racial issue here? ‘Cause if it is, maybe I don’t know you as well as I think I do!”

“Whoa! Cease fire there, Colonel! I was only asking if she’s as naïve as the Amazon!” said Beatty, “I wasn’t even thinking about her being Black!” “Sorry, Bill.” said Morgan apologetically, “You wouldn’t believe some of the arguments I get into about Gladys! Do you know that this woman graduated from Tuskegee Institute with a 4.0 GPA, completed flight training there and wanted to join the Army Air Corps but they refused to take her? That she washed dishes, bussed tables, served coffee and peeled spuds for the first 3 years of her commissioned service with one of the finest engineering minds I’ve ever seen? I’m proud to serve with this woman, Bill and by God I’m going to see to it that she gets everything she deserves!”

“I understand Helen.” said the General, “I’m sorry if I offended you.” “It’s OK, Bill.” she said, “I’m sorry I got on my hind legs like that, but she’s not just my assistant, she’s also my friend and I don’t like anyone casting disparagements on her.” “Well, with a friend like you, she’s a mighty lucky girl!” said Beatty. “Yeah, I keep telling her that!” said Morgan with a giggle, “I’ll get that report to you ASAP, General!” “Very well, Colonel. Carry on.” said Beatty. “That’ll have to wait ‘til after the party, General!” said Helen as she hung up.

Gladys knocked on the door of the inner office. “Come in, Gladys.” answered Morgan. Gladys walked in and sat down across the large mahogany desk from her friend. “Hel, you really have to stop jumping down people’s throats if they even consider discriminating against me.” said Gladys, “Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, but it could get you into trouble one day!” “You let me worry about that, Gladys!” she replied, “Besides, I’m a big girl! I can take care of myself!” “Oh, sure! Like the night we met?” Gladys laughed. “That was different! There were 4 of ‘em!” said Helen with a big grin.

Gladys and Helen met in an alley in back of the Officer’s Club on an Army base in Georgia. Despite the fact that Helen was a captain, she had decided to wear something particularly sexy that night, and caught the roving eye of 4 2nd Lieutenants, fresh out of West Point, out celebrating their graduation. Helen’s outgoing personality and gregarious nature was misunderstood by the 4 young men and due to their drunkenness, they clamped a hand over her mouth and hustled her out of the back door of the club to the alley. Helen was a bit tipsy herself and try as she could; her efforts to escape came to naught.

Just when things looked really dark for her, Gladys came out to empty the trash bin and saw what the young men were about to do. That day had been a really bad one for her having to serve these drunken bigoted fools and then being ordered to take out the trash after her shift was over, really burned her butt. Now this. Gladys shouted at the men and told them to stop what they were doing. They laughed at her and one of them said, “Y’all go on back in there and keep them glasses full ‘a beer, gal or you gonna be next!” Gladys lost it at that point. She rammed two of them with the trash bin and knocked them all over. Helen got loose from the two holding her down and whacked one with her purse, which was quite heavy, and kicked the other in the groin, finishing him off with an elbow to the jaw.

Gladys was only 5’6” tall, but being the only girl with 4 older brothers, knew how to kick butt with the best of them. Helen was no slouch either being 2nd on the women’s boxing team at Vassar. The girls whaled the tar out of all four of them. When the crude young officers were lying unconscious, the two bruised and exhausted women slid down the cold brick wall and sat on the ground next to each other. “Thanks.” said Helen, trying to catch her breath. “Not a problem. I enjoyed it! Those bums had it coming!” said Gladys, who was breathless also, “No offense, but I’ve never seen a White girl fight like that before! Well, maybe once but that was sometime ago.” “None taken, friend. I’m just not your average White girl.” said Helen with a smile, “I boxed for Vassar.”

“Really? My cousin Gracie boxed for Tuskegee when we were there.” said Gladys. “’Amazing’ Gracie Williams is your cousin?” said Helen in shock. “Sure is!” said Gladys proudly. “No wonder you whooped on these guys so well!” replied Helen, “It must be in the blood!” Gladys laughed and said, “Who do you think taught Gracie?” Helen looked surprised as Gladys pointed to herself with her thumb. “Who do you think that White girl was you saw fight Gracie so hard?” said Helen, pointing at herself with her own thumb. Both women burst out laughing. “Well honey, you made a friend for life tonight!” said Helen.

“Captain Helen Morgan, U.S. Army.” said Helen with a warm smile, extending her hand. Gladys smiled, stood up and took her hand, helped Helen to her feet and replied, “2nd Lt. Gladys Williams, U.S. Army, at your service, ma’am.” Gladys gave her a smart salute and instead of returning it, Helen hugged her. They were nearly inseparable ever since.

“Well Glad, I like having you around. You never know when you’re gonna run into more idiots like those!” said Helen. Gladys smiled and replied, “I’ll always be there for you, Hel. I think you know that. You’re my best friend.” “OK, let’s can the mushy stuff.” said Helen grinning, “Besides, you know as well as I do, I’m your only friend!” They both laughed. “Listen Gladys, I need you to go down to high security lab 17 and see what’s holding up Dr. Dinkleberry’s report.” said Helen. “You mean Dr. DeLaurentis, Colonel?” corrected Gladys. “Whatever.” said Morgan, “You know if its not American I can’t pronounce it anyway! Get going, wouldja?” “Yes, ma'am.” said Gladys giggling as she left the office.

*****

7 levels down, in High Security Lab 17…

Dr. Milos DeLaurentis, scientific head of Project: American Amazon, was just putting the finishing touches on his new discovery which he called Urbalinium 357. This radioactive isotope was a very stable source of incredible energy which seemed to be found in only trace amounts of the blood sample obtained from Wonder Woman. Dr. DeLaurentis surmised that there might be a purer source of the element on the home island of the Amazons, but he and his staff had managed to synthesize enough for experimentation purposes. Gladys got off the elevator and checked in with Sgt. Danny Granger, the usual man on day watch in the secured sector of sub-level 7.

Danny greeted her warmly, being one of a handful of Black Army personnel in WEAPON. He and Gladys chatted for a moment and then the customary repartee was cut short by a desperate scream. Danny and Gladys took off toward the lab and Danny entered it first, his sidearm drawn. He leveled the .45 automatic, holding it with a two handed grip, as he looked around searching for the source of the scream. There was no sign of anything amiss in the lab, until something dripped down on his neck from above. It was blood.

“Sergeant, is everything OK?” asked Gladys. Danny didn’t answer. Gladys could see he was looking up at something. She cautiously walked over to him and said, “Danny, what are you look…OH MY GOD!!” Dr. DeLaurentis and his staff were pinned to a section of the ceiling, each one by what looked like a sword! Suddenly, the sound of maniacal female laughter filled the room from end to end. The laughter chilled Gladys to her very soul. Danny frantically looked about for the source of the sound. He didn’t have to wait long, it found him.

A woman that stood about 6’4” dressed in a skin-tight green satin leotard, which also covered her hands as gloves and almost seemed to glow, appeared from nowhere. Her shapely, muscular legs were also covered in the same shade of green only in what appeared to be glistening semi-opaque silk with pronounced seams in the back. Around her waist was a green belt with many compartments for a variety of different things. Her face was covered by a dark green mask that concealed all but her large green eyes and grinning mouth, her full lips covered in a shiny green colored stick. A tight fitting helmet, in a similar green shade as the leotard, covered her head.

Danny trained his weapon on her and said, “OK, hold it right there! I don’t know who you are, but you’re under arrest! This is a restricted area and by God I want to know what happened here! Now, turn around and face that wall, NOW!” “All right, love, all right!” said the woman in an English cockney accent, raising her hands, “Don’t get your delicates in a twist!” She slinked over to the wall and placed her hands on it. Danny couldn’t help but admire her sleek body encased in green shimmering satin and silk. Danny approached her carefully, but didn’t quite know what to do with her.

“OK, first let’s lose the belt, sister.” said Danny. “All right, love, I’ll undo it now.” she said moving her hands from the wall. “HOLD IT!” Danny shouted, “One hand only! The left one. Unbuckle it and I’ll take it from there!” “Cor! Don’t get exci’ed love! We’ll do it your way!” she said with a wicked smile, “You’d better grab it so it won’t fall.” Danny was wary of the suggestion, but accepted it just in case there might be something explosive inside it waiting for the impact on the ground. He grabbed the belt from behind with his left hand, holding the gun on her in his right and said, “OK, undo the belt.” “As you say, gov!” she said grinning wickedly.

The mysterious woman touched a hidden switch on the buckle of her belt which sent a 10,000 volt charge through the whole belt, knocking Danny to the floor. The gun fell from his hand. The green clad she-devil leapt on him and seized his throat to strangle him, when she heard Gladys say, “Get off him or I swear I’ll blow a hole in you!” The woman in green smiled and stood up bringing Danny with her, her green satin gloved hand wrapped around his throat. “I said let him go!” shouted Gladys, the .45 in her hand trained on the green clad female. “No, you said get off him and I did!” the green suited woman laughed, “If you’re going to give commands, you really must be sure of what you want, my lovely Captain!”

“Who the heck are you, you crazy broad?” asked Gladys. “I’m not CRAZY!!” she shouted, “I’m insane. There’s a difference! But where are my manners! My dear Captain…Williams, you may call me The Creeper, for as long as you live, which probably won’t be too much longer!” “The Creeper, huh?” said Gladys, “Well Creeper, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m the one holding the gun, sweetheart!”

The Creeper grinned and held Sgt. Granger up close to her and said, “Oh no, me love. I ‘avent forgot your ‘olding that gun, but there’s two things that may have escaped your no’ice. One, I’ve got your little sergeant friend right ‘ere where I want him and I can snap his neck as easily you would a pencil! Two, as you see there are 8 people pinned to the ceiling, their blood oozing down 8 swords. Now, I’m big and quite strong, but I don’t think I can carry that many swords with me, nor would I want to! That means there are at least 7 more people in this room than you’ve seen up to now!”

Gladys felt a cold chill run down her spine. “Tell me where they are, Creeper, or I’ll…” Gladys cocked the hammer back on the .45, still pointing it at The Creeper’s head. “Now come on love.” said The Creeper, “Do you really think you can pull that trigger before my little friends can stop you?” “Believe it, sister!” said Gladys, “I won champion standing on the pistol range 2 years running. I can pip an ace at 25 yards! If I shoot, you die Creeper!” “Well then, we’ll just have to make sure you don’t shoot, now won’t we?” answered The Creeper giggling, “Ladies, take her!”

Suddenly, four hands, two on each arm, seized her in a grip of steel. The women were both clad in sleek, black, skin-tight satin from head to toe with every inch of them covered except their eyes, which shone through two holes in their full head black satin masks. They also wore belts similar to the one The Creeper wore except they were black with dark green buckles and closures on the pouches.

The one who had seized her gun hand, twisted Gladys’ wrist in such a way that she couldn’t help but drop the gun, which went off as it hit the floor. The bullet ricocheted and struck one of Gladys’ captors in the head. As the injured captor fell to the ground, Gladys swung a wild unexpected haymaker at the other, knocking her down and made a break for the door. The Creeper was amused as she was immediately re-subdued by the other 6 Black Spiders that had accompanied The Creeper on her mission.

Gladys fought like a wildcat, but her blows were deflected and her efforts came to naught. The Black Spiders brought her over to The Creeper who said, “My but you’re a tough one aren’t you? Now Captain, you do see the futility of your situation, don’t you? Don’t you see that you’re doomed?” Gladys spat in her eye. The Creeper, enraged, snapped Danny’s neck with a flick of her hand and tossed him aside. “DANNY, NOOOOO!” Gladys shrieked in sorrow and desperation. “That is the price of defiance, my dear Captain.” said The Creeper with a devilish smile on her face, “Now, what will I do with you? Oh, I know! Give her to me girls!” The obedient ninja released Gladys and The Creeper immediately seized her throat in a vice like grip and lifted her off the floor.

Captain Williams could barely breathe in the powerful grip of The Creeper. She struggled and clawed at her arm and skin–tight satin covered hand, to no avail. The Creeper carried her into the experiment storage section of the lab, laughing the whole time. She waved a powerful, muscular arm at the apparatus on the bench and cleared it with one blow. The Creeper slammed Gladys onto the lab bench, knocking the wind out of her.

“Bring me the glowing red fluid, over there, quickly!” she ordered one of the Black Spiders. When the ninja minion brought the flask to her The Creeper said, “This is what your scientists have been working on Captain. This is what I came to destroy! I don’t know what it does, nor do I care! I just know it’s radioactive and it will probably kill you! Even if it doesn’t, you’ll still die when we blow the lab! Bottoms up! HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

The Creeper grabbed a metal funnel and jammed it into the lovely captain’s mouth, all the way to her soft palate. There was a look of sheer horror on Gladys’ face as The Creeper gleefully poured the entire flask of Urbalinium 357 down her throat, giggling and laughing maniacally. Gladys struggled and fought but ended up swallowing it all, her arms firmly held by 2 of the Black Spiders. Gladys screamed in agony and convulsed violently several times. Then she lay very still.

The Creeper still giggling, folded Gladys’ arms over her chest, as if she were in a mortuary. The green suited murderess then kissed her lightly on the forehead. “Oh, she looks so lovely and peaceful lying there, doesn’t she my pets?” said The Creeper, “Come let’s away, my beauties and blow this place as our Queen has commanded us!”

The Black Spiders had already set the charges to destroy the lab before the arrival of Gladys and Danny. Their intervention was a small inconvenience. The Creeper and her minions were about ½ a mile away when the lab exploded. She threw her head back and laughed heartily knowing that Captain Williams was stone cold dead and her mission for The Spider Queen was complete.

TO BE CONTINUED…in Episode II: A Heroine Rises!

Doubleb66 · 18 years ago

Another excellent submission from my favorite author! Even though there are no cat-women or vampires, it's still a great plot with the usual thorough character development. I can't wait for the next installment of this one!

phoxy_brown · 18 years ago

Love the latest entry to your extensive library, Les!!! Nice job of setting up the plot and I love the retro feel. Can't wait for the next installment!!!

superpics4les · 18 years ago

Here's a couple more pics for ya! Thanks Doubleb and Phoxy for the kind words!

superpics4les · 18 years ago

Well, you said you couldn't wait 'til the next installment, you don't have to! 'Cause here it is! Enjoy! 8) :-D

*****

Episode II: A Heroine Rises

February 15, 1942

WEAPON HQ, Sub-Level 7, High Security Lab 17…

Colonel Helen Morgan, Commander of WEAPON, was nearly knocked off her feet when the lab where Project: American Amazon was being worked on exploded. The entire base was locked down with investigators and extra military police units crawling all over the wrecked laboratory. Morgan’s first thoughts were not of her command, however, they were of her friend, Captain Gladys Williams. While the blast had totally destroyed the lab itself and much of sub-level 7, the rest of the building had been relatively undamaged, due to the double reinforced concrete that the lower floors and walls of the facility had been constructed of.

Col. Morgan was now walking through the debris field of what used to be one of her top project labs. So far no one had found any trace of the whereabouts of Capt. Williams. They had found pieces of the bodies of the other lab personnel, some with what looked like sword blades passed through them. Helen had not allowed herself to weep as of yet. She knew that once she started, it would be a good while before she stopped.

A young MP was assigned to her to protect her in case there was another attempt to assault the base. She and the young man, Staff Sergeant Kevin Barker, walked together through a section of the lab wreckage searching for something, anything, which would let them know what had happened here and more importantly, what had become of Col. Morgan’s best friend.

As Helen neared the rear of the lab, she stopped and looked down at something. It was an object she recognized. She stooped down and picked it up. It was Gladys’ name tag from her uniform. Helen let two tears fall, but immediately stopped the rest of them. She couldn’t let it all out. Not here, not now. As Helen composed herself, SSgt. Barker said, “Begging your pardon, ma’am?” “Yes, sergeant, what is it?” said Morgan. “Ma’am, I’m seeing a…well, it’s a…glow!” he replied. Morgan turned and walked over to him saying, “Glow? What glow?”

From under a large section of reinforced concrete, that had a weigh a ton, there was a dim red glow that was growing brighter by the moment. Then they heard the hum. It coincided with the glow and also grew in intensity with it. Colonel Morgan shouted, “EVERYONE OUT OF HERE, NOW! THERE’S ANOTHER BOMB!” She didn’t have to give the order twice. All the personnel in the room ran for the nearest exit. Just as Helen reached the exit, her bodyguard shouted, “Oh my God! LOOK!”

The 1 ton section of solid steel reinforced concrete wall was moving. Just barely, at first, then it rose very slowly, as the glow and the hum grew more and more intense. A figure was lifting the section of wall off of itself. The figure was obviously female and human looking except for the blazing red aura that surrounded it. The shapely glowing red figure got up from its prone position and continued to lift the wall section over its head and when fully standing, tossed it aside like a wadded up piece of paper. The section landed about 20 feet away, with a resounding crash that surprised even the figure itself. SSgt. Barker said with a look of disbelief, “I know bombs, ma’am and that ain’t like no bomb I’ve ever seen!”

The glowing figure looked at Colonel Morgan and took a step toward her. SSgt. Barker swiftly drew his sidearm and before Colonel Morgan could stop him, fired at the advancing figure. The glowing girlish figure threw its hands and arms up to protect itself, but there was no need. The .45 caliber bullet merely bounced off and impacted what was left of the ceiling. “Sergeant, hold your fire!” ordered Morgan, waving off Barker. The figure looked at Morgan and gradually, as it approached her, the glow began to fade.

Suddenly, the face began to be recognizable. It was Gladys! When the glow faded, Helen ran toward her and shouted, “Gladys! Thank God, thank God!” Gladys smiled and then passed out in Helen’s arms. Morgan asked for a jacket from one of the nearby men, as Capt. Williams was somehow completely nude. After covering her friend and composing herself, Colonel Morgan stood up and commanded, “Now, hear this! This entire situation is now considered ‘Most Secret’ and classified. We are at war. That means to break the Official Secrets Act in any way has the severest penalties. Up to and including death by firing squad! That means that everything you have just seen in this room, does not leave this room! If I hear any part of this little scene repeated outside this room, especially the state of undress Captain Williams has been seen in; I will take the greatest pleasure in having the violator brought up on charges, tried, found guilty and SHOT!! DO YOU READ ME??”

“YES, MA’AM!!” said all the personnel in the room simultaneously. “Good.” said Morgan, “Now, somebody get some medical personnel down here, on the double!” ordered Morgan. One of the soldiers ran out of the room toward the security checkpoint whose phone survived the lab blast, to call for the emergency medical team.

Gladys partially regained consciousness for a few moments. She looked up at Colonel Morgan, smiled and said with a weak voice, “Hi.” “Hey, kiddo! We thought we’d lost you for a minute there!” said Helen. “I kinda thought…the same thing.” said Gladys weakly, “When that…that monster poured the…experimental solution…into me, I figured I was dead. Yet somehow…I knew you’d come…to my rescue. Thanks, Hel.”

“I had nothing to do with this one, honey!” said Helen smiling, “See that great big section of wall over there?” Gladys turned her head and looked saying, “Yeah, what about it?” “You picked that up off yourself, raised it over your head and threw it about 20 feet!” said Helen, who still couldn’t believe it, “What do you think of that?” Gladys looked at the wall section and then back at Helen. “I…I thought was…a dream!” she stammered, “I actually…did do that? And the MP, he did shoot at me?”

Helen nodded and said, “And the bullet bounced off harmlessly!” Gladys looked at Helen again, her mouth agape. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out again in her friend’s arms. “Get some rest, Captain.” said Helen, brushing Gladys’ coal black hair out of her face, “I think we’re gonna have a busy week ahead of us! A very busy week, indeed!”

*****

Hours later, in the lair of The Spider Queen…

A good distance from Petersburg, Virginia, near Lake Chesdin, stands an old abandoned plantation once called Shenandoah Fields. Local residents always thought the place was haunted since the end of the Civil War and recent mysterious lights and strange noises seemed to confirm the rumors. What the nearby landowners didn’t know was that the large plantation and the big main house were no longer abandoned. Something sinister had moved into the environment, something evil.

Adria Spedding had used Lotus’ contacts with the underworld to obtain a great deal of capital by removing a few “undesirable” elements that the powers behind much of the crime world could do without. With this large influx of cash, she and Lotus had spent the last two years building a criminal organization composed entirely of beautiful, misguided and mistreated women of America. They were trained in the deadliest arts that Lotus and The Creeper could devise. These lethal ladies formed an efficient and deadly army, completely under the mind control and sway of The Spider Queen.

Adria loved the power she now held as the ruler of the cult of murderous beauties. Her position with her cult made her almost a goddess. The Black Spiders worshiped her as their Queen. The Spider Queen held court in the bowels of the earth under the main house of the plantation. A system of tunnels had been built during the Civil War possibly to hide soldiers, weapons or valuables as the Union Army moved through the South confiscating or destroying much of what the Confederacy had, or possibly even to hide runaway slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. In either case, The Cult of The Black Spiders expanded this system and improved on it with technologies purchased by the systematic elimination of many lives.

The cult consisted of more than 3,000 members, all female, and all Ninjitsu practitioners, spread over the tri-state area of Virginia, Maryland and D.C. The only males allowed to remain alive in the presence of the cult, were the personal slaves of The Spider Queen and The Black Lotus. These large and powerful men were nearly mindless; obedient human robots who, after being hypnotized and inoculated with The Spider Queen’s special mind altering serum, distilled from the venom of the deadliest spiders and mixed with plant and root extracts too obscure to recall, would obey any command given to them without question.

The Creeper slinked into the large subterranean Chamber of Audience, the place where The Spider Queen held court with her subjects. The grinning green-clad gremlin knelt before the large gilded spider throne where the Queen sat, her satin and silk covered body glistening as the light from the many torches surrounding the room, reflected from her taut, shapely muscled body.

“Rise Creeper and report.” said the Spider Queen. “The American military lab is destroyed, my Queen, as you commanded.” said The Creeper, “All personnel were eliminated and all contents, notes and files were destroyed.” “Excellent, Creeper! I am most pleased!” said the Queen, “And the sample?” “Sample, Majesty?” asked The Creeper, “What sample?”

“Your sensei did not tell you that I wanted a sample of the red liquid brought back to be studied?” the Queen inquired. “No, my lady.” said The Creeper, “She did not. Forgive me, I have failed you!” The Creeper fell to one knee again, her head held down. “Nonsense, my dear girl!” said The Spider Queen, “Rise my faithful one! It doesn’t matter! You could not accomplish what you were not told! Let us speak no further of it. You may go.”

The Creeper stood to her feet and bowed. As she slinked toward the door, The Spider Queen said, “Oh, Creeper?” “Yes, your Majesty?” she answered. “You did destroy the red glowing liquid, did you not?” “Oh yes, my Queen!” said The Creeper with a grin, “In a most amusing manner!” “Really? What was that?” asked the Queen. “I jammed a funnel in the gullet of one of the female officers and I poured the whole flask right down her throat!” said The Creeper laughing, “She convulsed several times and then died! It was most amusing indeed!”

“Are you sure she was dead, my dear?” asked The Spider Queen, raising an eyebrow. “Well, I didn’t check her pulse, after the convulsions,” explained The Creeper, “But there’s no way she could have survived the blast the way we fixed it up, mum! She’s dead as dreams, your grace!” “Very well, then. Thank you, dear!” said the Queen smiling.

As The Creeper left the chamber, the smile left The Spider Queen’s face. Could the female officer have survived the blast? Did the Urbalinium 357 do what it was supposed to? What would the overdose have done, kill or cure? The Spider Queen would keep surveillance on the facility to make sure. If there was a survivor, perhaps she would be a willing recruit into the Cult of The Black Spiders. If not, she would be eliminated.

The Spider Queen stood up from her throne and walked into an anteroom off the main chamber. As she passed the full length mirror, she couldn’t help admiring how her ensemble fit her. Her silky raven black hair was pulled up through a hole in the tight fitting black helmet she wore on her head, forming a topknot, secured by a small red metal band. Her shapely, athletic body was dressed in a skin tight black satin catsuit, with built in gloves, like the Black Spiders. Hers was a bit different in that it had a red spider embroidered across the chest, trimmed in 24 karat gold thread. The costume also had a long black silk cloak with a high collar, with a red lined interior.

Adria also wore red colored wrist gauntlets that appeared to be made of wrought iron. These were for more than just decoration. They served a much more sinister purpose. The left gauntlet fired, using compressed air, tiny darts coated with the most potent formula of spider venom ever conceived. Upon reaching the bloodstream, this fiendish concoction would cause intense pain, convulsions and death, depending on the number of darts released. Three strikes would be a lethal dose, causing death in mere seconds. The right gauntlet contained darts of a different nature. These would administer a paralyzing venom mixture that would render any person helpless before The Spider Queen merciless machinations.

The black satin catsuit’s glove palms and soles were covered with very tiny sharp hooks that allowed the members of the cult to scale walls like the spiders they emulated. The hooks laid flat when not in use, but allowed the wearer to cling to almost any surface when grip pressure was applied. The Spider Queen also wore similarly made ornate red metal shin guards. The black metal circlet belt that adorned The Spider Queen’s trim waist contained similar items to the Black Spider ninjas, such as high tensile wire “web” lines attached to small powerful hook or suction grapples, shuriken, poisoned darts and foot spikes, blow guns, garrotes, exploding powders, etc.

The Spider Queen also carried a wooden staff with red velvet covered metal ends. The top was adorned with a red metal spider icon. The icon was as large as a man’s hand and the legs that extended outward were honed to a razor sharp edge. These were coated with the same venoms that were used on the darts, depending on the mood and whims of The Spider Queen.

As The Spider Queen was admiring her sleek, shapely form in the mirror, one of the Black Spiders came into the room, knelt and said, “Pardon, my Queen. Mistress Black Lotus wishes an audience with your grace.” “Good, I was just about to summon her. Have her enter.” replied the Queen. “Yes, your Majesty.” said the ninja minion. The Black Lotus entered the chamber wearing her Black Spider attire. Unlike the other Black Spiders, she wore an all black silken cloak and hood, in addition to a black satin cloth mask that concealed her identity by covering her nose and mouth.

From her utility belt there extended a holster of sorts for a single razor-sharp sai. Another difference in her garb was the plunging neckline of her skin-tight, black satin bodystocking that was covered with sheer black silk. This afforded a view of not only her attractive cleavage, but also the Green Dragon tattoo emblazoned on her chest. Lotus entered the anteroom and bowed reverently, to which The Spider Queen gave a polite nod.

“Lotus dear, I was just about to send for you.” the Queen began, “The Creeper reported that all has gone according to plan at the WEAPON headquarters and phase one is complete. One thing puzzles me though, why was the sample of the Urbalinium 357 not preserved? The Creeper tells me you did not inform her of this.”

Lotus removed her hood and mask and said, “My Queen, I did not give that task to The Creeper because she tends to become so involved in the killing aspect of the task given to her, she tends to forget small details. I did give the task to the leader of the Black Spider group I sent with her. Unfortunately, she was accidentally killed by the gun that was dropped and misfired during the operation. For reasons, of security, I told no one else of the need for the sample of the liquid. I beg forgiveness for my lack of planning.”

Lotus fell to one knee as The Creeper had earlier. The Spider Queen smiled and replied, “Ah, I see where things went awry. It is of no consequence. I was merely curious if the serum would really work. Please rise, Lotus-san. I am not angry or displeased with you or the Black Spiders. You planned well, sometimes these things simply do not work out. It is no fault of yours.” Lotus rose to her feet and bowed again saying, “You are wise and forgiving, my lady. The professor would have had me flogged for such a failure.” “Well. I am not him.” replied Adria, “But there is one matter of discipline we must address.”

“Ah yes. This is the reason I came to see you.” said Lotus, “The Black Spider that was so easily subdued by a mere Army officer, and a female at that! She is a weak one, this girl. Many times I have forgiven her failures, but this cannot be overlooked! Something must be done! Such a failure cannot continue to be tolerated!”

“I agree perfectly, Lotus!” said Adria, “We shall make an example of her to those who are not alert to what their prey may do to escape! Hmmm…My pretty pet has not been fed yet today. Lotus, call the Cult of The Black Spiders into assembly, quickly!” “Hai, at once, my Queen!” Lotus said with a bow. Lotus replaced her hood and mask and quickly strode out into the Chamber of Audience.

The Black Lotus clapped her hands twice rapidly and two Black Spiders seemed to appear from nowhere. “Yes, Sensei! How may we serve you?” they said in unison. “Sound the assembly at once! The Queen commands it!” said Lotus. “We obey, Mistress!” they answered bowing. The two sleek figures quickly climbed the high stone walls of the chamber to where two huge gongs had been placed.

The black clad women struck the massive gongs alternately until they had each been struck eight times. By the time the two gong ringers had descended from the walls, the cult had assembled. Lotus went into the anteroom and said, “The Black Spiders are assembled, my lady.” “Very well, announce me, my friend!” she replied, flashing her million dollar smile. “At once, my Queen!” Lotus replied, her smile evident even through her mask.

Lotus walked imperiously into the Chamber of Audience. The entire assembly bowed reverently. Lotus nodded and they stood upright again. “All hail our Queen!” said Lotus in a loud voice, “All hail The Spider Queen!” Lotus and the assembly knelt and cried out in unison, “HAIL TO THE QUEEN! HAIL TO THE SPIDER QUEEN!” Adria came out of the anteroom and walked to the throne. She sat down, extended her staff and said, “Rise.” The assembly of the Cult of The Black Spiders rose to their feet. The Spider Queen set her staff in the holder made for it next to the right side of the Spider Throne.

“Servants of The Great Spider, we have among us one who has failed to obey the will of your Queen, time and time again. This one has been given many chances to redeem herself, but has failed miserably.” said the Queen, “Let the assembly now judge. What shall be done with her?” Almost as one voice, the assembly shouted, “The spider! Feed her to the spider!” “Very well! The cult has spoken! The will of The Great Spider shall be done!” said The Spider Queen, “Let her be brought forth!” Two of the Black Spiders brought in another who screamed and struggled between them as she was dragged into the Chamber of Audience.

The Spider Queen rose from the golden Spider Throne and walked toward them as they approached. The struggling captive female was thrown to the ground at the feet of the Queen. “Please, my Queen, I beg you, forgive me!” she pleaded, “Please don’t feed me to the Great One!” Adria smiled and said, “Look at me, child. Don’t be afraid.” She looked up from the floor into the eyes of The Spider Queen. Adria stared deeply into the pretty brown eyes of the young girl, pointing her fingers at her face. The girl was instantly captivated by the Queen’s hypnotic gaze. Her young eyes glazed over and she was completely mesmerized. “Arise, child.” she said imperiously. The girl stood like a puppet being pulled up by its strings.

“Now, remove your mask!” ordered Adria. This was the ultimate act which severed the tie between the girl and the cult. She removed her mask and the Queen took it from her and cast it into one of the braziers which burned on both sides of the platform where the Spider Throne sat. “Take her to the pit!” commanded The Spider Queen. The two Black Spider guards seized her and took her to the right side of the platform and released her there. Adria looked at Lotus and nodded. Lotus flipped a switch on a small control panel next to the right side of the throne and a large trap door opened beneath the young Black Spider girl.

The girl fell onto a metal incline and slid down it into a huge darkened room. Once she was at the bottom, the trap door slammed shut. The light from the Audience chamber above barely provided enough light to see what was in the room. The hypnotic spell she was under was broken when she reached the bottom, but in the next few seconds, she wished that it would have lasted a while longer.

She screamed in horror at the thought of what was coming and tried to use the spider-like aspect of the bodystocking she wore to scale the steel incline, but it was specially treated so that the tiny hooks would not adhere to its surface, as were the stone surfaces on her side of the pit. She was trapped. She thought she heard something move, but could see nothing. Then, as the assembly gathered at the stone grating which formed the top of the pit to observe her plight, she saw it.

Spiders had never frightened this girl, until now. Approaching from the shadows was the biggest black spider she had ever seen. The body was the size of a school bus and twice as thick. The legs, if spread out completely, would have spanned the chamber where it resided. Its black shiny fangs were as large as railroad spikes, but twice as long and sharp as spears.

It moved forward with amazing speed for its size. The girl controlled her fear enough to run toward the massive arachnid and attempt to jump over and behind it, but obviously this tactic had been tried before and the eight-legged beast slapped her out of the air and down to the floor of the cavernous chamber.

Before the girl could recover, the spider was on her. She let out one blood-curdling shriek as the creature drove its large fangs into her chest. With the venom in its prey and thoroughly paralyzed, the huge spider proceeded to wrap the girl in silk, rolling her over and over with its front legs. It then picked its meal up, placed her on its back and took her away into the darkness to be eaten…alive.

The Queen summarily dismissed the assembly, the point having been made. Lotus followed her into the anteroom and they both sat down. After a moment of silence, Adria spoke. “Lotus, I am concerned about the way The Creeper disposed of the young female Army officer.” said Adria, “I wonder if this will come back to haunt us later. What if that formula did indeed work? Suppose it didn’t kill her, suppose it empowered her instead?”

“Adria, I made those charges powerful enough to tear even one such as Wonder Woman to shreds!” said Lotus, “If she did survive the forced overdose of Urbalinium, a blast of that magnitude would have certainly killed her!” Adria smiled and replied, “Yes, of course. You’re probably right, my dear. I’m just concerned over nothing, I suppose. Yet, for some strange reason, I just get a feeling we haven’t heard the last of this!” “Come, my Queen.” said Lotus, “It’s time we had our dinner as well.” “Of course, dear. Let’s go do just that.” replied The Spider Queen, rising to leave the room.

*****

February 17, 1942

WEAPON Headquarters – Sub-Level 3 – Medical Testing Area…

In the past two days WEAPON HQ had been a hot-bed of controversy and feverish activity. Using duplicate copies of Dr. DeLaurentis’ notes, one of the associate project directors, Dr. Marianne Howell, had taken over the testing and evaluation of Captain Williams. The entire supply of concentrated Urbalinium 357 had been taken to sub-level 7 for final evaluation by DeLaurentis and his staff. The liquid had been refined to its purest form. The doctor had been attempting to ascertain if it was safe for human testing, given the encouraging results with animal subjects. His main concern was the radiation levels, although interestingly enough, the radiation seemed to have no effect on females. Only males seemed to be affected negatively.

In his notes, Dr. DeLaurentis theorized that this newly discovered element allowed the Amazons to absorb greater amounts of energy from their environment and was the reason why they had such great strength, speed, agility and physical prowess. His notes also theorized that this was why no men who landed on Paradise Island ever left. The level of specific radioactivity was so high that prolonged exposure would eventually cause severe sickness and death to any human male who stayed on the island for more than 7-10 days. This was thought to be a protection from the world of men by Hera, Queen of the Gods and matron goddess of the Amazons.

Dr. Howell put Captain Williams through every conceivable test she could think of to find out what had happened to her and how she survived the blast that destroyed the lab. Dr. Howell reached the conclusion that the pure concentrated Urbalinium 357 had permeated every cell in Gladys’ body. This fact made her stronger, faster and more physically durable than even one born on Paradise Island. Physically, Gladys was fine. Actually as Dr. Howell put it she was “perfect”.

Her skeletal and muscular structure was denser than any other human being she had ever seen. Old wounds and scars had been healed without a trace and her antibodies seemed capable of eliminating any threat to the body system, including so-called incurable diseases. To get a sample of her blood, Gladys had to cut herself with her own fingernail, because no implement short of a bullet would even dent her skin. Dr. Howell theorized that her cell structure had changed at the molecular level and her atomic structure was more tightly packed together. The scale registered a significant increase in weight although Gladys hadn’t gained a single gram of mass.

Gladys could lift several tons without too much strain at all. She tested her capacity by lifting a tank that had been brought over from an Army base in Virginia. When the tank commander had finished watching her lift and carry the tank several yards and set it down, Colonel Morgan gave him the “Official Secrets Act” speech. He laughed and replied, “With all due respect, ma’am, who the Sam hill would believe me?” She, Captain Williams and Dr. Howell burst out laughing as well.

Captain Williams' speed could not be accurately measured, but it was estimated that she could reach speeds between 600 to 800 miles per hour and maintain these speeds for several hours. She could actually fly and move faster than any conventional aircraft of the time, even the new experimental jets!

The most amazing ability she had, however, was her control over the energy of her incredibly transformed body. Captain Williams could project a field of red transparent energy around herself or any other object near her or touching her that was completely impervious to any form of weapon, bomb or chemical. She could even make it air-tight and waterproof if she desired to.

She could project light rays as harmless as a flashlight beam and as destructive as the fevered dreams of a mad scientist. She could also bend light around herself or an object, rendering it invisible. Her body generated heat and she could project it as a release of energy from her hands, her eyes as a beam or radiate heat akin to the sun. She could also throw arcs of electricity or “lightning bolts” as she called them.

Gladys’ senses were also extremely energized. She could see and hear over vast distances and peer right through solid objects. She could smell, taste and touch better than any other human being was able to. The only drawback to being a heroine that she could see was the one she was born with. The color of her skin. There was simply no way that she would be accepted by most of America in the social climate in which she lived. She decided that her face and body would be completely covered until such time as she could uncover her beautiful brown skin and still be thought of as a heroine.

Gladys was an accomplished seamstress and within days, thanks to her super-speed, had made several copies of a costume that would be patriotic, functional and fashionable. Her mask was the dark blue of the American flag, with special lenses provided by the engineers at WEAPON. The mask covered her whole face and most of her head such that only her hair was seen. A pair of white eyebrows which would move with her own, were also sewn onto the face of the mask.

Her satin top was two patterns in one. The top, from the dark blue collar with gold embroidered trim, to just below the breast line was blue and spangled with white stars, except for over the center of the chest, where a red and blue five-pointed star was embroidered.

The bottom half of the top was composed of red and white stripes, alternating around the circumference of the satin garment. The sleeves were starred themselves and terminated in skin-tight blue gloves made as part of the garment. The wrists were adorned with gauntlets which were made of red Urbalinium metal with blue metal trim, which Dr. DeLaurentis had fabricated the day before he was murdered.

The golden belt about the waist was a veritable storehouse of technological marvels. Built into it was a 2-way radio with tremendous range, a variety of defensive tricks, and other articles that she would need in fighting the Axis powers and other forces of evil.

From the belt level, on down her shapely legs, were bright red satin tights that picked up and reflected light as she moved, shimmering and accenting her gorgeous figure. The special blue low heeled ankle boots, designed by WEAPON engineers as well, were made to withstand the tremendous pressure of impact when landing from flight and the terrific friction of high speed running. The toe of the boot was reinforced with a specially made Urbalinium and Titanium alloy, which would allow her to kick an automobile a half mile or more and not destroy the boot.

The satin fibers of the costume had been specially treated by the brilliant scientific minds at WEAPON to resist tremendous extremes of heat and cold, in addition to the friction of super-speed movement and high speed flight, without disintegrating. Because there was less chance of tearing and ripping of the cloth, the costume was skin-tight; a fact that all the male members of the creative team seemed to approve of.

Thus equipped, Gladys had only to choose a code name for her super-powered persona. Many suggestions popped up like Glory Girl, American Beauty, Flag Woman, etc. Finally, Gladys thought of a name that was what she and all Black Americans wanted more than anything else, something that they thought was theirs after the Civil War, something that to many all over the world was simply an illusion or a life long unfulfilled dream: Freedom. She would call herself Captain Freedom and embark on a crusade to end the influence of the Axis Powers, attempt to eliminate injustice and bring equality across the globe and in her own country, under the authority of WEAPON, of course. She and Colonel Morgan had no idea that a growing threat was at that moment less than 100 miles away and that it would test her newfound powers to their limits.

TO BE CONTINUED…In Episode III: “…And Sat Down Beside Her…”

SGWriter · 18 years ago

Great story Pics! Can't wait to see Captian Freedom up against the Spider Queen's minions. :twisted:

Doubleb66 · 18 years ago

Awesome update! I have to agree. The impending matchup with the Spider's minions looks like it's going to be a great one!

superpics4les · 18 years ago

Hey guys!

I goofed! :( I just found out that the Pentagon building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC was dedicated January 15, 1943. So I need to change a couple of things in the story. Sorry I missed that.

superpics4les · 18 years ago

Hey, faithful readers! Here's the latest! I think you'll like this one! 8)

*****

Episode III: “…And Sat Down Beside Her…”

February 28, 1942

Office of Colonel Helen Morgan, WEAPON HQ…

It was around 5:00 p.m. and Colonel Morgan and Captain Williams were closing up shop for the evening and heading home. Captain Williams was the last out of the outer office and Colonel Morgan was waiting for her in the hallway. Just then, the phone rang. Both of them started to ignore it until they saw which phone it was. It was the red one. They both bolted back into the office and Gladys answered it.

“WEAPON headquarters online, sir.” said Gladys. She listened to the response. “Yes, Mr. President. Please hold one moment.” she said handing the receiver to Helen. “Good evening, Mr. President. Colonel Morgan here.” she said, standing at attention unconsciously. The President explained that a highly classified operation was being launched in the Asian theater and he wanted Captain Freedom to be a part of it.

A mission briefing was to be held in the morning at 0900 at War Department HQ and he wanted to know that Captain Freedom would be there. “Yes, of course, Mr. President. I will relay your orders immediately. Thank you, sir! My best to the First Lady!” replied Colonel Morgan as she hung up, “Did you hear that?” “Are you kidding? Of course, I heard it! I’ve got super-hearing! I could hear an angel fart!” said Gladys laughing, “Wow! A real mission! I know I won’t be able to sleep tonight!” “Me neither, honey!” said Helen, “Let’s go get some dinner, my treat!” “Sounds good to me! Let’s go!” said Gladys.

Captain Freedom had been rather busy of late, but only on a local basis. The local underworld had taken serious damage from Captain Freedom in the past 7 to 10 days with the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the destruction of illegal gambling establishments, foiled robbery attempts, the capture and subsequent incarceration of many high level gangsters and wiseguys, and the breakup of at least 3 protection rackets. Not to mention numerous rescues and the apprehension of her first super-villain.

Just a couple of days prior, a low level baddie calling himself Lightning Lord had planned a heist from 3 local banks in one day knowing that Wonder Woman was in Europe on a tour of goodwill and most of the Justice Society was out of the Washington DC area. He apparently had the power to throw lightning bolts and travel at super-speeds.

When the local police surrounded the bank he was in, he and his hired thugs walked out of the bank and the officers ordered him to surrender. He set down his bag of loot and looked at his boys and smirked, who snickered in return. Lightning Lord took off at blinding speed and snatched all the officer’s weapons out of their hands. He piled them all together and melted them with an intense burst of electrical energy.

Out of sight and observing, Captain Freedom looked over her soon-to-be adversary, assessing if there was really a threat to her or the police personnel. Lightning Lord was a well built Caucasian man, who appeared to be in his early to mid thirties. His fairly well developed physique was encased in a form fitting two-tone silver costume which covered him from head to toe. His identity was hidden by a helmet and goggles that looked like something out a Flash Gordon serial. The chromed helmet was well fitted with a short dark blue metal fin on top. His goggles, Captain Freedom assumed, were to protect his eyes from particles in the air when moving at super-speeds and the brightness of the thunderbolts he threw.

The costume was unique for a super-villain, in her opinion. The colors were a mixture of silver-grey, silver-white and blue. The silver-blue was the most prevalent and extended from a diagonal line that went from just above his right collarbone to under his left arm pit, to his waist and down a panel that followed his inseam from the crotch to his boots. The other parts of the suit, his neck, down his left arm and the outside of his legs were all silver-grey. A curved grey lightning bolt insignia, trimmed in dark blue adorned his chest.

About the only truly impressive thing about him was his belt which glowed with an unearthly green aura, in sharp contrast to his silver, grey and blue costume. His boots were also unique and futuristic looking, with thick rubber soles for traction while running at super-speeds and insulation from the vast electrical energies he used. Having observed him enough to know that she could most likely take him down without too much problem, Captain Freedom descended from her place of observation to confront the villainous Lightning Lord.

Suddenly, from above his head he heard, “Now that wasn’t very nice, Sparky! Do you know how much the city’s gonna have to pay to replace those guns? Especially the Tommy guns!” Floating above Lightning Lord and his gang was Captain Freedom. Her arms were folded and she looked very displeased. “And you are?” asked Lightning Lord. “Captain Freedom, at your service!” she said landing gracefully, “Now, it’s really getting kinda late. Do we have to do the whole fighting-tearing-up-the-town thing or would you rather just surrender now?”

“Well girlie, since I’m gonna wipe the street with you in about a minute, I think we can wind this up quickly!” said Lightning Lord with a smirk. “Oh, I see. So you do want to fight?” asked Captain Freedom. “That was the general idea I was trying to convey, yes!” replied an irritated Lightning Lord. “OK, but I warn you, never underestimate the power of a woman.” she answered, her hands on her curvaceous hips, superheroine style.

“Oh, screw this!” yelled Lightning Lord unleashing a horrendous volley of electric bolts at Captain Freedom. She just stood there smiling and allowed the bolts to impact her red force shield as she absorbed the energy of his attack. When he finished, his mouth agape at the fact that she was totally unharmed, she simply yawned. Lightning Lord’s boys snickered again, but this time it was at him.

He turned to them and said, “You wanna get paid?” They all nodded. “Then shut the hell up and shoot her!” said Lightning Lord. The boys got the message and opened fire with their Thompson submachine guns. This time Captain Freedom used her incredible speed and caught every bullet, applied a little heat vision, squeezed them into a large lead ball and bowled down the boys like pins in an alley. The goons that were not immediately KO’d by the impact, dropped their guns and hot-footed it away from the scene. “Go get ‘em, boys!” said Captain Freedom to the police, “I’ll handle Lightning Bug here!” Several of the police officers gave chase.

“Why can’t I get good help?” muttered the bemused criminal. Captain Freedom looked at Lightning Lord, giggled and asked, “Ready to surrender yet?” “Not even close, you star-spangled strumpet!” said the enraged super-villain, “Try this on for size!” Lightning Lord used his knowledge of magnetic fields and levitated a police car which he then hurled at Captain Freedom…with the cops still in it!

Cap moved quickly to catch the car, not because it would have hurt her, but to avoid harming the officers. She flew swiftly ahead of it, caught the vehicle and set it down gently, making sure the officers were unharmed. “That was just plain heartless, you conceited ape! Now you’re beginning to make me angry!” said Cap, her eyes narrowing at Lightning Lord. “Really? Oooh, I am soooo scared!” he said mockingly, “OK, no more Mister Nice Guy! Here’s something I hope you’ll appreciate!” Lightning Lord super-speeded over to an empty car and shot a lightning bolt at it causing it to explode into flames.

The vindictive villain then rolled the flaming car down the street at high speed, right toward a gas station! Cap figured from her observations that the glowing belt was probably his energy source and had an idea. Cap moved at super-speed catching the car just in time. “Hey, Sparky! I think you lost this!” shouted Cap as she rolled the car right back at Lightning Lord with a tremendous increase in speed.

The ultra-fast moving vehicle didn’t even give him time to react. The car plowed into him, smashing his control belt, knocking him into the wall of the bank and unconscious. Captain Freedom streaked over to where Lightning Lord was embedded in the wall and looked him over with her penetra-vision. She was checking for injuries or broken bones, but didn’t expect what else she found.

When the villain woke up he was in his underwear with a lead bar bent around him, anchoring him to a lamp post across the street from the bank. “Hey! Where are my clothes! What the hell…?” he demanded. “Ah, finally awake I see! Good!” said Cap, “Now imagine my surprise when I was checking you for injuries when I knocked you into the wall with the car and I find that all your vaunted abilities are in your suit…Dougie!” “Don’t call me that! Only my mother calls me…OH NO!” said the undressed villain.

“Oh, yes!” said Cap with a noticeable grin, “A word of advice: If you’re going to have a secret life as a super-villain, don’t carry your wallet with you in your ‘super-villain’ suit! By the way, your mother says don’t come home, but I told her you probably won’t be home anyway, for at least another, oh, seven to ten years! I also told her she did a marvelous job on your suit!”

The villain known as Lightning Lord was beet red with embarrassment. Not only was his secret out, but his power suit had been confiscated and his mom had practically disowned him. Captain Freedom tousled his hair and said “Seeya ‘round, Dougie!” With that, she rose into the air, amid the laughter and applause of the police on the scene, headed for WEAPON HQ. Douglas Michaelson, Jr. aka Lightning Lord shouted after her with tears in his eyes, “I’ll get out one day and I’ll make you pay for this Captain Freedom! Do you hear me?? I’ll get you for this! I’LL GET YOOOOUUUU!”

The next morning Gladys was put on a “rest leave” by the base physician. She switched to her heroic costume and flew out of the facility via the secret launch tube which allowed Captain Freedom to reach full velocity before emerging into the environs of the nation’s capital city. Captain Freedom received cheers as she flew at high speed down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the headquarters of the War Department. She waved at those that recognized the characteristic red, white and blue streak zooming overhead.

She reached the War Department building in plenty of time for the briefing. As she landed, she spotted General Beatty, who was walking toward her. Captain Freedom came to attention and saluting the General said, “Captain Freedom, reporting as ordered, General.” “Good Morning, Captain.” he said returning the salute, “Good to see you again. Please come with me to the conference room on 6.” “Yes, sir.” said Cap, “By the way, when is the building next door supposed to be finished, sir?” “Building? Oh, yeah. Probably this time next year.” said General Beatty, “It supposed to have some fancy name…um, Pentagon, I think. I just hope I get a decent office this time! Come along, Captain. We don’t want to keep the Commanding General waiting!”

Captain Freedom walked into the marble entrance amid the stares and gasps of the personnel that saw her with General Beatty. She and General Beatty made their way to a private elevator. A particularly large and imposing Marine MP stepped forward and saluted them. Both of them returned the salute and he said, “IDs please.” The General produced his and said, “First Sergeant, this is Captain Freedom, I’ll vouch for her.” “I’m sorry General, but I need to see some proof that she is who she says she is, before I can let her pass, sir.” said the MP. “I admire your devotion to your duty, Sergeant.” said Cap, with a smile, “How’s this?”

Without further words, Captain Freedom rose into the air and faster than the eye could follow removed the gun from the MP’s holster and also disarmed the other three guards. Cap landed in front of the sergeant and gave him all four weapons, saying. “Proof enough, First Sergeant or is more necessary?” “No ma’am, that’s quite enough, thank you, ma’am!” said the sergeant. He turned to the General and asked “What is the codeword for today at this time, General?” General Beatty looked at his watch and said. “At 0850 hours, today the codeword is ‘trapezoid’.”

“Thank you both for your patience, you may pass.” said First Sgt. Tony Sherman. Before she entered the oak paneled elevator, Captain Freedom saluted the guards at the post and said, “You men are a credit to the uniform you wear! If you guys were on the front, the Fuhrer would have a lot more to worry about! Carry on, gentlemen!” The four Marines returned the salute and watched the elevator door slowly close.

“Holy Mackerel! Did you see that!” said Private First Class Jackie “Ace” Madden, “I’ve never seen anything or anyone move that fast!” “That’s nothin, kid! Didja check out the chassis on her?” said Corporal John Briggs, making an hourglass shape with his index fingers, “Those curves ought to have danger signs!” The other Marine Corporal was spellbound and speechless; he just whistled. The three MPs collected their M1911-A1 .45 automatics from the First Sergeant and went back to duty. 1st Sgt. Sherman stared at the elevator for a few moments after he returned his sidearm to its holster, until PFC Madden came over to him and said, “Whatta woman, huh Top?” Sherman smiled, shook his head and said, “You said it kid! You said a mouthful!”

Upon arriving at the 6th floor, accessible only by the elevator, General Beatty escorted Captain Freedom to a large oak paneled room with a long conference table in it. The room had no windows, as the entire floor was hidden from the outside world. Most people, even those that worked in the building on a daily basis, didn’t know it was there and those who did were sworn to absolute secrecy. General Beatty opened the door for her, but Cap insisted he go first because of rank. Upon entering the room, a grey haired gentleman stood up and spoke to her. “Captain Freedom, I presume?” he said. Cap stood at attention, saluted and said, “Yes, Sir!”

“I am tremendously pleased to meet you. I am Deputy Commander of Allied Forces, General Charles Morgan.” he said, returning her salute smartly, “Please stand at ease and have a seat. General Morgan introduced the rest of the officers seated at the table, but one seat, the one across from her, was empty. The General checked his watch and said, “Hmmm, I wonder what could be keeping her?” Cap looked at General Beatty, who shrugged his shoulders, not knowing anymore than she did.

Just then, the door opened and a statuesque vision of goddess-like loveliness entered the room. The dark haired beauty wore a golden tiara with a red star in the center, along with a patriotically colored suit consisting of a red bustier with a golden eagle atop the breasts, thick gold bracelets with red stars on her wrists, a golden belt with a length of gold cord attached to it, a blue panty spangled with stars, tan colored sheer silk or satin tights and red, calf height high heeled boots.

Wonder Woman nodded to General Morgan and said, “I apologize for being late, General. I attended to an emergency on the way here.” “We were just getting started, Princess. Please have a seat.” When Wonder Woman fully entered the room she saw Captain Freedom and smiled widely. “That’s right you ladies have never met.” said Morgan, “Captain Freedom, meet Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman, this is Captain Freedom.”

Captain Freedom, who was already standing, extended her hand and said, “It is truly an honor to finally meet you, Princess Diana!” “No, Captain, the honor is mine!” said Diana, “To meet a true heroine like yourself, defending your own country! I am proud to meet you and look forward to working with you!”

“Spoken like a princess!” said a handsome blonde man from the other end of the table. “Steve! I didn’t see you there!” said Wonder Woman, “How are you?” “Now that I’ve seen you, my Angel, I’m just fine!” said Major Steve Trevor. Trevor crossed the room to Wonder Woman and they stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity while shaking hands. General Morgan cleared his throat and snapped them out of it. “Gentlemen and ladies, if we may interrupt social hour, we do have a briefing to conduct?” said Morgan. “Sorry, sir.” said Steve returning to his seat.

“Princess, Captain Freedom, please take your seats also.” said General Morgan, “I remind everyone here that this information is classified and considered “Most Secret’. The mission designation is Operation: Cloaked Fist. In simple terms, it’s a bombing run deep into enemy territory. Target: Tokyo, Japan. We’ve never been able to get close enough to the capitol city without being detected. The Jap AA gunners are like magicians, they seem to know where our planes are and systematically destroy them before they reach their targets. No mission to Tokyo has ever returned completely in tact.”

“General, if I may ask, what’s changed in the last few months?” asked Major Trevor. “Two things, Major.” answered Morgan, “First, we now have a small fleet of fighters and bombers equipped with newly developed engines which are nearly silent from a range of 500 feet. With these new engines we’ll be in striking range before they know we’re there! By the time they sound their alarms, it’ll be too late!” “Very impressive, General!” said Colonel Casey, Army Air Corps, “That solves the hearing part, but how do we keep from being seen?” Under her mask Captain Freedom smiled and knew then why she had been called to the mission.

“Allow me to show the Colonel, General.” said Captain Freedom. “I had that in mind Captain, please proceed.” said the General with a smile. Captain Freedom stood up and concentrated on bending the light rays around her body, not allowing them to be reflected. As the senior officers watched in awe, Captain Freedom disappeared before their eyes. The other men at the table got up quickly to see if it was some kind of optical illusion, but it wasn’t! Cap had indeed made herself invisible!

“Extraordinary!” said an Army Major, “Captain, where are you?” “Up here, Major!” said Cap, reappearing and reclining on top of a tall bookcase that nearly reached the ceiling, “By the way, General, you should have someone dust the top of this sometime, it’s really a mess!” The General chuckled and the officers applauded as she flew down to the floor. “Captain, can you really make an entire fleet of planes invisible that long?” asked Major Trevor. “Yes, I believe I can.” said Cap confidently, “It’s just a matter of keeping the field constant and modulated correctly.”

“Amazing, Captain!” said Wonder Woman, “Tell me can you do it with other people as well?” “Of course!” replied Cap. Then she saw Princess Diana’s eyes dart to her right in Major Trevor’s direction as she winked slightly with big smile. Captain Freedom smiled and nodded.

Suddenly, Major Trevor disappeared! “Holy Mackerel! I can’t see myself anymore!” said Steve’s disembodied voice, “Angel, help me!” Captain Freedom and Wonder Woman both broke into laughter as did many of the officers. Steve sneaked over to Diana and pinched her firm, rounded derriere and said laughing, “That’ll teach you to have people turn me invisible, you mischievous minx!” Wonder Woman gasped and said, “And this will teach you, not to get so fresh!” When Steve spoke, Diana’s Amazon hearing pinpointed his exact position and she slapped him, not hard enough to really hurt him, but well enough to cut out the “slap & tickle” stuff.

“Alright Captain, I think that’s quite enough.” said General Morgan smiling. “Yes, sir.” said Captain Freedom giggling. She promptly dropped her field to reveal Major Trevor sitting in his chair rubbing a slightly reddened left cheek. “The good Captain has shown the second part of our plan.” said the General, “She will accompany the special fleet and render them invisible from the ground. Wonder Woman will accompany Colonel Casey, Major Trevor and the main attack group to provide a diversionary cover so that the enemy will be totally caught by surprise. Captain Freedom and the Cloaked Fist Squadron will proceed to eliminate specified targets within the city of Tokyo itself. Clear?”

Everyone nodded. “Captain Freedom, allow me to introduce Major Thomas Graham, commander of the Cloaked Fist Squadron.” said General Morgan. Cap turned toward the officer and was taken aback by the fact that he was Black! Then it hit her. This was the man that was below her in training scores at Tuskegee Flight School, but was accepted by the Army Air Corps while she had been rejected out of hand because of her gender, as well as her race.

“Major Graham.” said Captain Freedom extending her hand. “A pleasure, Captain.” said Major Graham, turning her tightly gloved hand over and kissing it. The other officers gave an almost unanimous “harrumph” to the gallant gesture, but Major Graham took it in stride. He smiled at Captain Freedom and took his seat.

“Well, since all parties have been introduced, I expect there won’t be a problem with discussing the logistics in private with your separate groups, correct?” asked General Morgan. “Correct, sir.” said both Colonel Casey and Major Graham. “Very well, then.” said the General, “Schedule your individual briefings and training sessions and coordinate them through your group commanders. The operation will take place in 5 days time unless otherwise advised. All minds clear?” “YES, SIR!” came the unanimous response. “Outstanding! The briefing stands adjourned.” ordered General Morgan, “Captain Freedom, may I see you for a moment in private?” “Of course, sir.” she replied.

As she prepared to follow the General and his adjutant into his office, Wonder Woman stopped her and asked, “Captain, I was wondering, what are you doing after this?” “Nothing special, why?” she asked. “I wanted to talk with you a little about this hero thing. “ Diana said, “I don’t often have the chance to speak with another strong female figure like yourself.” “I’d be glad to Princess.” said Cap, “Where would you like to meet?” “I’ll just wait for you out in the hall. I have the feeling Steve wants to apologize for his little…indiscretion earlier.” Captain Freedom smiled and replied, “I’ll bet he does!”

Wonder Woman leaned close and whispered, “Just between us girls, I kind of liked it, but I’m not telling him that!” Cap smiled and whispered back, “Yeah, make him beg like a dog, girl!” Diana laughed and said, “I think we’re going to be very good friends, Captain! See you in a few minutes!” “I look forward to it!” said Captain Freedom. Cap quickly walked to General Morgan’s office and knocked on the door. The General asked her to come in and shut the door.

“This room has been thoroughly checked and certified safe.” said Morgan, “We can speak freely…Gladys!” If the General could have seen Cap’s face behind her mask, it would have been one of complete shock. “Gladys, sir? Who’s that?” said Cap, trying to hide her surprise. “Oh, come on, girl!” said Morgan laughing, “You never could fool me in a disguise! You’re my daughter’s best friend, for Christ’s sake! Your secret is safer with me than with the Pope! You gotta hug for Uncle Charlie?” Gladys smiled and zipped over to the General and hugged him tightly. Then she said, “That Helen, she never could keep a secret!”

“No, it wasn’t Helen, dear.” replied Morgan, “Like I said, you never could fool me, mask or not. I know you almost as well as my own daughter, Gladys. I know your movements, nervous habits, the whole she-bang. Besides, I’d know that cute little rear end of yours in a crowd, honey!” “Uncle Charlie!” said Gladys with a giggle, “I’m gonna tell Helen on you!” “Shoot, child! She knows I’m butt man from way back!” said Morgan snickering, “Besides, what’s she gonna do, spank me? I’m the father here!” They both laughed.

“Seriously Gladys, I couldn’t be prouder of you if you were my own daughter!” said the General smiling, “I just wish you didn’t have to wear that full mask to hide your pretty face! When will we learn to just accept one another?” “I know, Uncle Charlie, I wish the same thing, but I really don’t think the American public is ready for a Black superheroine!” replied Captain Freedom, “I mean they’ve just gotten to the point where they let Black actors portray Black characters!”

“True child, all too true!” answered Morgan, “I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you and to ask you to please, please be careful. You know how I worry about you girls!” Cap smiled and said, “Uncle Charlie, I’m gonna be working with Wonder Woman! What could go wrong? Oh, I’ve got to go! Princess Diana’s waiting for me out in the hall right now!”

“Really? Why?” asked the General. “Superheroine stuff, you know how it is!” said Gladys with a wink. “Dismissed, Captain.” said Morgan returning her wink. She found Wonder Woman in the hall with Steve Trevor as he was begging her forgiveness for pinching her lovely rear. He was practically on his knees, but Princess Diana still had her back to him with her arms folded.

When Diana saw Captain Freedom come out of the General’s office, she winked and grinned at her. It was all Cap could do to keep from bursting into laughter as Wonder Woman made Trevor really squirm! Finally, she forgave him, kissed him on the cheek and sent him on his way, practically floating. Diana walked down the hall to where Captain Freedom was waiting.

“He’s really got it bad for you, doesn’t he?” asked Cap. “Yes, I must admit I have feelings for him as well, but I wonder where it will all lead?” replied Diana musing. “You mean Aphrodite, Athena and the rest of those goddesses you talk to never told you…anything about men?” asked Captain Freedom.

“Well, a little, but not much besides they’re deceitful, vain and very self-centered.” answered Wonder Woman. “Amen, my sister! Preach on!” said Cap laughing, “Listen, let’s go find a nice quiet place so we can talk and you can let ‘ol Cap here fill in the holes for ya!” Wonder Woman put her arm around Captain Freedom’s shoulder and said, “I was hoping you’d say that! The only other heroine I get to talk to much is Shining Star and that’s only when she gets into town from Capitol City every so often. It’ll be nice to have another super girlfriend!”

*****

The two heroines got into the elevator and pressed the button to go down to the lobby, oblivious to the pair of pretty blue eyes that watched them depart from the secret floor. Magda Malone, General Beatty’s confidential secretary, tiptoed from her vantage point, peeking out of a nearby file room, down the hall to General Beatty’s private office, her silk stockinged feet making no sound. She deftly crept into the outer office where a tape recording of her typing transcribed notes was playing to cover her absence.

Magda had been General Bill Beatty’s “girl Friday” for 3 years and their relationship had even gotten physical. Magda had stimulated just about everything about Bill Beatty except his mind. General Beatty was a military prodigy, having graduated with the 3rd highest average in West Point history. To say that he was a genius would have been an understatement. General Morgan recognized his amazing intellect from afar off and brought him to Washington to advise on battle campaign strategy almost as soon as the U.S. entered the war.

Magda was just a pretty face in the secretarial pool when Beatty arrived in Washington. She didn’t have a great deal on the ball when it came to deep thinking, but she did have enough mother wit to see when a man was being groomed for greatness. Magda did have fast hands for typing and dictation, a gorgeous face framed by waves of golden hair, full pouting lips that begged to be kissed and a curvaceous body that begged to be made love to. She set her sights on Beatty when he was a Colonel, freshly reassigned from a base in Virginia at General Morgan’s request.

It only took one meeting for Beatty to fall for Magda’s looks. One gaze at her magnificent gams, and he was hooked, and she knew it. She didn’t find out about the fetish until after they started dating on the QT. After Beatty made Brigadier General, it was known they were an item and Magda really set her claws deep.

She was steering him toward the altar, but one particular event stopped her campaign cold. Beatty met Helen Morgan at a staff party for her father, General Morgan. From the second they were introduced Magda knew her standing with Bill was in serious jeopardy. Helen not only stimulated his libido, she also challenged his much vaunted intellect, being the only woman he’d ever met who could keep up with him.

The more he saw Helen, the less he wanted Magda until one day she gave him an ultimatum. He needed to choose between her and Helen. Helen won. Since then, their relationship had been entirely professional, although Magda had tried to win him back with more provocative dresses and the best silk stockings her salary would afford her. It never worked.

Beatty and Helen were a secret couple and she dared not divulge the situation, otherwise she’d lose her job and, with General Morgan’s influence, probably her secretarial career. Besides, Bill was the Old Man’s “Golden Boy” and as such they were very close. Magda suspected that the General not only knew about it, he probably gave them his blessing, unofficially of course.

Since Bill dumped her, Magda had been trying to find a way to get even, without losing her job. Then one night, she had visitors. The person was waiting for her when she came home from a late night preparing documents for shipment to the President’s War Council. She walked in at about 10:00 p.m., thoroughly exhausted. She kicked off her shoes, sat on the couch and put her tired sleekly hosed feet up on the coffee table, rubbing them together, enjoying the sensuous feeling of silk on silk.

Then she heard the sound of maniacal female laughter echoing in her small apartment. She was frightened out of her mind and got up to run for the door. Suddenly, a shapely figure in a skin tight black satin bodystocking barred her way to the door. She gasped and turned around and there was another one before her.

She tried to scream, but the black suited Venuses restrained her; one by clapping her hand over her mouth and holding her arms, the other by grasping her stockinged ankles and lifting her off the floor. Magda struggled for her life, but it was hopeless. The dark clad beauties’ grip was like being held by a pneumatic vise. They had her cold. The sleek, silent vixens took her back to the couch and sat her down on it. Just then, the laughter started again and continued until a large shapely woman in a skin tight light green get-up seemed to appear out of nowhere.

“’Allo, love!” said the grinning masked woman in an English cockney accent, “And ’ow are you this fine evening? I trust the girls ‘ave made you…comfortable?” “Who are you?” Magda said with a tremble in her voice, “Why are you dressed like that, it’s not Halloween yet is it?” The woman laughed as she squatted down to Magda’s eye level and said, “That’s very funny, love, but no it’s not for dress-up that we wear these little outfits. Allow me to introduce myself, I am The Creeper and these are two of The Black Spiders. We’re here to make you a very ‘appy girl!” “H…how is that?’ stammered Magda. “We’re gonna ‘elp you get even with General Beatty for dumping you, that’s ‘ow, pretty!” Magda tried to play it off as if nothing had ever happened between them, but The Creeper seemed to know everything already.

Magda finally conceded and The Creeper offered to destroy General Beatty’s career, if she would feed them information from time to time. “You’re not going to hurt him are you?” asked Magda, “’Cause if you are, I won’t do it! I don’t want him hurt, just humiliated.” “And wha’ about Colonel Morgan?” asked The Creeper grinning, “Surely you want some ‘arm to come to ‘er don’t you, love?” “Well…maybe just a little, but don’t kill her!” said Magda with a smirk, “But I want something too!” “I was sure you would, darlin’.” said The Creeper, “What is it?” “Money, of course!” said Magda, “And your solemn promise that no matter how it turns out that neither you nor the Black Spiders will harm me, ever!”

“Hmmm, well darlin’, you drive a hard bargain!” said the green suited menace, “’Ow much money do you want, ducky?” “To betray my employer, not to mention my country, no less than $100,000!” said Magda. “Oh my, that’s quite a sum you’re asking for!” said The Creeper, “Will the information be worth that to us?” “I guarantee that virtually anything you need, I can get it!” said Magda. “Very well, then. It’s a deal!” said The Creeper extending her hand. Magda grabbed it and The Creeper began squeezing it…very hard! Magda fell to her knees and shouted, “AIEEEEE! Let go of my hand, PLEASE! YOU’RE HURTING ME!”

“Shhhh, lower your voice, love! You’ll wake the neighbors!” said The Creeper softly. She pulled Magda closer to her, still squeezing her hand tightly. “Now that I have your attention, listen to me very carefully, little one.” said The Creeper, “I want us to ‘ave a clear understanding. You will provide us with what we ask for, when we request it and we will honor our end of the bargain. You will never, ever dictate terms to us, nor will you ever be in charge. Is that understood?”

The Creeper increased her grip slightly. “Yes! Please, I beg you, stop the pain, and let me go!” Magda pleaded. “Not just yet, love.” said The Creeper bringing her green colored lips close to her ear, “This is the important part. Your hand hurts you now, very much, yes?” “Yes!” said Magda. “This is nothing compared to the exquisite pain of long bones being slowly snapped in your arms and legs, dear one.” The Creeper hissed through her teeth, “Do you believe I can do this, my lovely?” “Yes, yes! I do, I do!” she said trying not to scream it out. “That is exactly what I will do if I ‘ave the sligh’est suspicion of betrayal by you. Is that clear, my dear?” asked The Creeper, also beginning to twist Magda’s wrist in a way it shouldn’t go.

“Yes, perfectly clear! Anything, you say!” said Magda, “Please let me go now! The pain…!” The Creeper released her and she fell to the floor sobbing. “Remember the pain, my sweet!” The Creeper warned, “That memory may save your life!” The Creeper pointed to Magda and then the couch. The Black Spiders scooped up Magda and put her back on the couch, while The Creeper reached in her utility belt pulling out a green tinted light bulb. “When you ‘ave information we’ve requested ready to be delivered, put that small lamp in the window with this bulb in it and turn it on. Either I or one of the Black Spiders will come to retrieve the information.” instructed The Creeper.

She set the bulb down on the coffee table and turned to leave via the window, after the Black Spiders. “Oh, by the way, from this time forward, when you speak to me you will address me as ‘Mistress’.” said The Creeper. “As you wish…Mistress.” said Magda massaging her hand trying to force the blood back into it. The Creeper smiled and laughed loudly. Magda closed her eyes and opened them again. The Creeper and the Black Spiders were gone.

The first piece of information provided by Magda was the location and nature of Project: American Amazon, a project Hitler wanted destroyed at all costs. This was why he engaged the services of The Spider Queen and the Black Spider Cult to obtain the information and destroy the project, by any means necessary. When Magda saw the ‘Top Secret’ report of how the lab personnel had died, she couldn’t eat or sleep for days afterward. Later that week, a courier delivered a receipt in her name from a Swiss bank, which verified the deposit of gold bullion to her order in an amount equal or greater than 100,000 American dollars.

The thought of the gold and the lives it cost sickened her and she started to go to Bill and tell him what she had done. She would probably face prison time or a firing squad, but she didn’t care. It was too much for her conscience to bear. Before she could steel herself for the walk into the office to tell General Beatty everything, the phone rang on her desk. “’Allo, my lovely!” the voice said. A cold chill ran down Magda’s spine, her breathing became labored and her pulse turned low and quick with fright. The Creeper continued, “I just called to thank you for your marvelous assistance the other day and to remind you of our arrangement and the penalty for…failure to perform, as it were?”

Magda looked at her hand, remembering the excruciating pain The Creeper inflicted on her. “Of course, Mistress. I appreciate the reminder, thank you.” replied Magda, her voice trembling. “Good. I’ll be in touch soon.” said The Creeper, “We may have another request to make of you, my lovely. “As you wish, Mistress.” said Magda, as The Creeper laughed and hung up.

After Magda entered the office, she turned off the recording of the typing she had done earlier and placed the small tape recorder in the false bottom of the brown leather soft side briefcase she often carried. The Creeper gave this to her because she would normally carry classified materials to other War Department facilities and the case would not usually be searched. Magda would simply describe the contents as classified and the guard would let her pass.

Magda slipped her black patent leather slingback pumps on, slipping the straps up onto her heels, after she secured the cover over the hidden compartment in the briefcase. She went to the door of the inner office and knocked. “Come in, Mags!” said General Beatty. He still called her by the pet name he gave her when they were going out when no one was around and she still called him Bill.

“Bill, I’m going to lunch now, OK?” she said, “Do you want me to bring something back for you? I know you haven’t eaten yet.” “No Mags, thanks.” Bill replied, “I’m leaving a little early today for a meeting with Colonel and General Morgan.” “Oh, OK.” said Magda, trying to hide her jealousy, “You don’t mind if I’m a little late getting back from lunch do you? I have some errands to run.”

“No, not at all.” Beatty replied, “In fact, you can take the afternoon off if you like. I have meetings out of the building the rest of the day and I’ll be seeing most of the people who would be calling anyway.” “Really? Oh, Bill, you’re the best!” said Magda. She slinked over to him, held his wrist and kissed his cheek, leaving some serious lip prints. “See you tomorrow, then?” asked Magda. “Uh, yeah, sure, seeya Mags!” said Bill.

Magda turned off her desk lamp, grabbed her briefcase, closed the door to the outer office and locked it. As Magda started down the hall, she smiled and thought, “I’ve still got it!”, referring to the fact that she could still double the physically fit General’s resting pulse rate with a kiss, which was why she grabbed his wrist as she gently kissed his cheek, so she could feel it rise. As she continued down the hall, she listened to see if General Morgan and his aide, Major Kirsten Martin, were in their respective offices. The voices confirmed that they were.

Magda wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but she seemed to have a mind like a spy. Once The Creeper told her what to do, she had no trouble retaining it and carrying it out; especially considering the painful consequences of failure. Magda looked to see if the coast was clear and quickly darted into the conference room.

She secured the door from the inside and moved one of the small bookcases aside. Secured to the back of the bookcase was another small tape recorder. She turned it off and rewound the tape a bit to see what it had picked up. She turned the volume down low and listened. After hearing a portion of what was said, she was in awe. Magda quickly rewound the tape fully, removed the machine from the bookcase and placed it in the second recessed area in the false bottom of her briefcase. She then precisely placed the bookcase in its original position.

Magda peeked out into the hallway to see if anyone was about and saw no one. She came out of the conference room and headed for the elevator. When she reached the lobby, she spotted her favorite pigeon, PFC Madden on duty at the security checkpoint. He had a serious crush on Magda and most of the civilian and military personnel in the building knew it. Madden told just about everybody how he felt, except Magda. He just couldn’t get up the nerve to tell her he liked her and to ask her out.

Magda could charm just about every man in the building except one, 1st Sergeant Tony Sherman. He was extremely happy in his marriage to his wife of 13 years, Mitzi, and fiercely loyal to his duty. No amount of vamping could faze him. So Magda always slipped into PFC Madden’s line if he was on duty. Madden thought it was because she liked him, which was partially true, she did like him a little, but it was mainly because she could easily own him body and soul with just one make out session. This afternoon, Magda really turned it on Madden so he wouldn’t even think of checking the briefcase. He probably wouldn’t anyway, but she found it fun to tease him.

She walked over to him making every effort to let the light from the sconces and ceiling fixtures shimmer off her shapely silk covered legs. Her ample hips gently oscillated from side to side, nearly hypnotizing the young Marine, as she approached. By the time she reached him, he was nearly as speechless as when Wonder Woman and Captain Freedom got off the elevator together and Princess Diana simply said “Hello, Private.” The 1st Sergeant thought he was going to faint.

Magda spoke in her sexiest, most breathless voice and said, “Hiya Ace, how’s tricks?” “H…Hey, Magda!” stuttered Ace, “You sure look great today! Leavin’ for lunch?” “Thanks, Ace! No, not for lunch, for the day actually.” said Magda, with a smile, “General Beatty gave me the afternoon off. Why, handsome? Wanna come? I guarantee you’d have some…fun!” “Shucks, Magda!” said Ace bashfully, “I wish I could, but I’m on duty ‘til 6 tonight!” “Oh, too bad, sugar! You’ll never know what you missed!” vamped Magda, “Some other time then!” She picked up her briefcase and walked to the front entrance, turned and blew Ace a kiss which he playfully caught and left him completely enthralled.

“PRIVATE!” yelled 1st Sgt, Sherman. Ace snapped out of his dream girl’s spell and stood at attention and replied, “YES, SIR!” “Would you care to join us here on duty and keep this here War Department building safe from the Axis powers?” asked Sherman facetiously, “That is if you’re finished engaging in playful banter with the General’s secretary!” “Yes sir!” said Ace nearly trembling, “Right away, sir!”

“Oh goody! NOW MOVE YOUR CARCASS, PRIVATE!” Sherman shouted. Ace ran back to his post as the other two Corporals laughed. Sherman looked at the Corporals and said, “What are you two Leathernecked losers laughin’ at, HUH?? You think dereliction of duty is funny? Get your stupid jarheads back over to that checkpoint! MOVE IT YOU MAGGOTS!” The Corporals knew that the 1st Sergeant meant business and swiftly obeyed.

After all the enlisted men had gone back to their posts, Sherman had his back to them facing the front door. He smiled and thought, “That kid’s gonna get in trouble with that dame, I just know it! Well, I guess those are the joys of being young! Getting into deep trouble for a girl! But whatta girl!”

*****

Back at WEAPON HQ…

Around 5:15 p.m., Captain Freedom returned through the secret launch tube access, to the lab on the 3rd sub level of WEAPON’s facility. Her lunch with Wonder Woman had proved to be quite interesting and a lot of fun. The two went to one of Princess Diana’s favorite restaurants, The Washington Club, at which she was an honorary member.

Colonel Morgan had tried to take Gladys there one day, but when she and Helen walked in, the Maitre’D refused to seat them claiming a lack of space. Helen looked around and saw that Bill’s favorite table and a few others were open and demanded that he seat them immediately. He once again refused, stating that the rest of the tables were reserved for a large party that had not yet arrived.

Colonel Morgan was enraged, knowing full well what was going on. Helen hauled off and decked the Maitre’D and ended her membership in the club. From that day on Helen refused to darken the doorstep of the place, even when Bill asked her. She told General Beatty what had happened and he also cancelled his membership as well. Gladys felt a swell of pride in having a friend like Helen who would always stand by her no matter what.

Wonder Woman walked up to the Maitre’D and he greeted her with a big smile. Princess Diana looked behind her and Captain Freedom stopped at the door. Diana was puzzled and stepped outside and asked, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you hungry?” “Yes, I am.” replied Cap, “But I can’t eat here.” “Why not, Captain?” asked Diana. “Because they wouldn’t serve my kind here.” she replied. “What kind? Heroines?” laughed Diana, “Of course they do! We even eat free, provided we sit close to the window, so passers by can see us!”

“No, Diana.” said Cap whispering, “Not heroines. This mask I wear is not just to conceal my identity. I’m going to trust you with a secret.” Captain Freedom pulled Wonder Woman close to whisper in her ear. “I’m Black.” she said softly. “I don’t care about that, Captain.” said Diana smiling. “I know you don’t, Princess, but they do.” said Cap sadly. Cap told Diana about her experience with Colonel Morgan. Wonder Woman frowned and took a step through the door of the restaurant, spat on the floor. Wonder Woman said, “Consider that my notice of cancellation for my membership! May Hera have mercy on your souls!”

“I’ll tell you what, let’s go to my place.” said Diana, “There you can take off your mask and be comfortable, you can be yourself.” “Thank you…my friend.” said Cap, becoming misty eyed. “No problem at all…my sister!” said Diana giving her a hug. Captain Freedom picked Wonder Woman up in her arms and flew off as scores of onlookers watched in awe of the spectacle of unparalleled beauty and grace. They flew to within a couple of blocks of another Army base near Washington and landed in a section of a small park.

Once there Wonder Woman said, “You’ve told me your secret, now I’ll show you mine!” Wonder Woman did a spin to her left. Suddenly, there was a flash of light and a clap of thunder. Wonder Woman was gone and there stood a young, attractive, demure looking, dark haired woman with glasses, dressed in a WAC Lieutenant’s uniform with “PRINCE” on the name tag. Captain Freedom was in shock. “Diana? Is that really you?” asked Cap. Diana grinned, flashing her million dollar smile. “Oh, yeah! I’d know that smile anywhere!” Cap said with a chuckle, “Well, watch this!”

Captain Freedom closed her eyes and concentrated. Her red aura flashed brightly and standing in the place of Captain Freedom was Captain Gladys Williams. Diana stood at attention and saluted with a smile saying, “Lt. Diana Prince.” “Captain Gladys Williams.” she replied returning the salute. They hugged each other and walked the two blocks to Diana’s quarters on base. The two disguised heroines talked for hours about men, being a superheroine, the difficulty with dual identities, and so on.

Around 5:00 p.m., Gladys looked at her watch and exclaimed, “Oh my goodness! I’ve got to run! I’m supposed to meet Helen, I mean Colonel Morgan, for dinner! Hey, you wanna come? It’s not the Washington Club, it’s just Jumbo’s, but he doesn’t care what color your skin is as long as your money’s green!”

Diana laughed and replied, “Sounds like fun, but I’ve got to work the midnight shift at the base hospital tonight. Although I’m Steve’s secretary, I still have to work my nursing hours until he finally realizes he can’t do without me!” They both laughed and hugged each other. “Let’s do this again soon!” said Diana. “You bet, girl!” said Gladys, “Anytime! You’ve got my number!” Just then, Diana’s roommate and best friend, Etta Candy walked in. “Hiya, Dee! Whatta ya hear, whatta ya say?” greeted Etta. “Hey, Etta! This is my new friend, Gladys.” said Diana, “Gladys, this is Etta Candy.” “Nice to meet ya, Gladys!” said Etta extending her hand. “Likewise, Etta!” said Gladys shaking it.

“Listen Diana, I’ve got to run! We’ll see each other soon! See ya ‘round, Etta!” Gladys said. As she was leaving, Gladys put her uniform jacket on and Etta saw her Captain’s rank insignia. When she was gone, Etta asked Diana, “How’d you get to be friends with a Captain, Diana?” “Just lucky I guess, Etta, just lucky!” said Diana with a smile.

Once back in the WEAPON lab facility, Captain Freedom switched back to her military garb and ran up the 6 flights of stairs at super-speed to the floor where Col. Morgan’s office was located. Gladys told Helen what had happened, but left out Wonder Woman’s secret identity. Helen respected her privacy and said, “Well, I guess it’s good to have someone else to share this with that has the same kind of life. I couldn’t imagine it myself! Let’s go to Jumbo’s!”

“Great idea, Colonel! I’m starved! This superheroine thing sure makes you hungry!” said Gladys. Helen laughed and they both started for the door to her office. Just then, the phone rang. Helen looked at Gladys and she said with a grin, “I can’t answer it, doctor’s orders!” “Oooh, you rat! Just wait ‘til you come back on duty!” said Helen with a scowl, “I’ll get you for this, my little hero!” Colonel Morgan picked up the phone and said, “Morgan, here.”

Helen’s face changed from a smile, to one of pain and panic, as she said, “OK Dad, I’m coming, just hold on!” Morgan slammed the phone down. “What is it, Helen? What’s wrong?” asked Gladys. “My sister, her husband and their daughter were just in a car accident.” said Helen grabbing her cap, “The other driver is dead and all three of them are at Walter Reed in critical condition.” “Then what are we standing around here for? Let’s move!” said Gladys, leading the way out.

*****

Way across town, in Magda Malone’s apartment…

As soon as Magda got back home that afternoon, she put the lamp with the green bulb in the living room window. Just after 5:00 p.m., she heard The Creeper’s unmistakable laugh and looked for her, but saw nothing. Suddenly, The Creeper appeared behind her and said softly, “Boo.” Magda nearly jumped out of her skin! “Mistress, please don’t do that!” said Magda, “I’ve got a slight heart condition, but you’re enough to cause a major attack!”

“Sorry, my lovely, but it’s so much fun watching you jump like that!” laughed The Creeper, “So what ‘ave you got for me?” Magda related the information about the secret conference and played the tape for The Creeper. The green-clad killer smiled and said, “Very well done, Magda, my girl! I think it’s time you met our Queen! I believe you’ll prove to be an invaluable addition to our little group!”

“No, thank you, Mistress!” said Magda, “I’d prefer to remain outside the structure, in case they catch me. That way I won’t know enough to do you any damage.” The Creeper smiled and started slinking toward her, walking on her shiny green silk covered toes. “Oh, but my darling, you don’t understand, I insist!” said The Creeper. Magda tried to run for the door, but The Creeper was on her before she could reach it. The Creeper growled her displeasure at Magda’s escape attempt and put her satin gloved hand around her throat from behind. “NO! Please Mistress, don’t hurt me!” pleaded Magda, “I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t give me pain, I beg you!” “Very well, my dear.” said The Creeper, “Come.”

The Creeper got up from the body of her beautiful slave and pulled her to her feet. The Creeper put her sleek muscular arms around Magda’s body, pinning her arms to her side and squeezed firmly enough to hold her still and close. “You must never, ever try to escape me again, Magda.” whispered The Creeper into her ear, “To do so will make me very, very angry. I do ‘orrible things when I’m angry, love. ‘Orrible…things.” “I promise never again, Mistress.” said Magda.

The Creeper smiled and brought her hands up to Magda’s neck, pressing two places on her neck simultaneously. Magda fell into The Creeper’s arms unconscious. “There now, isn’t that better, my sweet?” said The Creeper, placing Magda over her shoulder, “When you awake, you will have the honor of addressing the Spider Queen, my dear slave, and a great honor it will be! HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

TO BE CONTINUED…in Episode IV: “A Secret Revealed, A Partnership Formed.”

Doubleb66 · 18 years ago

Awesome update! If you ever went into the comic book business, Stan Lee would really have a run for his money! REALLY looking forward to the next chapters!

SGWriter · 18 years ago

Excellent update Pics!

superpics4les · 18 years ago

Here's the next chapter, true believers! Enjoy! 8)

*****

Episode IV: “A Secret Revealed, A Partnership Formed.”

Walter Reed Hospital – Intensive Care Unit

March 1, 1942 – 1:00 a.m.

The past seven and a half hours had been a harrowing nightmare for both Colonel Helen Morgan and her father, General Charles Morgan. Belinda Castle, Helen’s sister, her husband, Rick and their teenaged daughter, Melanie Ann, were all in critical condition and, for the last four hours, were in emergency surgery to save their lives. General Morgan paced back and forth in the waiting room, wondering if he would ever see his youngest daughter and her family alive again. Just then, a man in a surgical uniform walked in the door. He removed his mask as the General, Colonel and Gladys stood to their feet.

“General Morgan, I’m Dr. Brennan, your daughter’s surgeon.” he said, “I have some good news and bad.” “Give me the bad news first, son.” said the General. “As you wish, sir.” said Dr. Brennan, “I regret to inform you that despite the best efforts of our finest triage specialists, your daughter and her husband…did not survive.” Helen burst into tears as Gladys consoled her. “What’s the good news, doctor?” asked the General, holding back his emotions. “Your granddaughter is alive, but won’t be for long unless we can get her a blood transfusion.” said Dr. Brennan, “There’s only one problem. She’s got a very rare blood type, AB negative, and the soonest we can have compatible blood here is two days from now. She needs this blood now or we could lose her as well.”

“Where is the blood coming from doctor?” asked Gladys. “From Mason General Hospital in Dallas, Captain.” said Brennan, “They have a small supply, but it should be enough to save the girl’s life. Why?” “I think the Colonel and I may know someone who can get it here faster, Dr. Brennan.” said Gladys. “Can you write a release for the supply of blood so that someone can pick it up?” “This is a serious matter, Captain!” he said angrily, “This is not the time for flights of fancy!” “Do as the Captain says Dr. Brennan!” ordered General Morgan, turning to look him in the eye, “NOW COLONEL! Or would you rather find yourself in front of a court-martial?”

The doctor went to prepare the papers and a map. Gladys waited until the coast was clear to speak. “OK, I don’t think anyone can hear us.” she said softly, “It’s quite a distance, but I think the round trip should take a little less than an hour, maybe 45 minutes. Will she hold out that long?” “Yes, Gladys. The doctors say she’s a tough girl!” said Helen, “What did you expect? She’s my niece! Fighting’s in her blood!” Gladys’ super hearing picked up distant footstep and she peered through the wall using her penetra-vision.

“Uh-oh! I’d better change!” said Gladys, “He’s on his way back with the paperwork!” Gladys concentrated and in a flash of light became Captain Freedom! Dr. Brennan walked in and nearly dropped his file folder. “Captain Freedom!” he exclaimed, “So this is what Captain Williams meant!” “Yes, the Captain and I are very close.” Cap explained, “She contacted me and explained the situation. How long does the girl have doctor?” “About 3 hours, at most, Captain.” the doctor said, “Can you do it?”

“Of course, doctor!” said Cap, with a sigh of relief, “I thought you were going to say something impossible like 15 minutes or something! I should be back in approximately 45 minutes to an hour.” “Wonderful, Captain!” remarked Dr. Brennan, “Here’s the necessary paperwork. I’ll call them and let them know you’re coming.” Captain Freedom nodded, took the folder from Dr. Brennan and asked for a plastic cover so the papers wouldn’t get wet or destroyed if she encountered a storm or anything unexpected while in transit. She saluted Colonel and General Morgan and took off through the window, becoming a streak of red, white and blue as she sped through the early morning sky.

In seventeen minutes, she arrived in Dallas and found Mason General. She landed and the Chief Surgeon met her as she landed. Dr. Paul Stone accompanied her to the blood bank in the lower level of the hospital. The supervisor met them with a long face. “Dr. Stone, I’m afraid there’s been a mix-up.” said the supervisor. “What kind, Marilyn?” asked Dr. Stone. “The bottles that we thought were AB negative were mismarked, sir.” Marilyn said sadly, “What we have is AB positive. Totally incompatible for the recipient in Washington. I’m sorry, sir.”

Captain Freedom hung her head down. She was totally disheartened. Mason General was the only hospital that had the supply of AB negative blood in the country. Now there appeared to be no hope. Then a thought occurred to her she hadn’t considered. Captain Freedom said her goodbyes and departed with all deliberate speed back to Walter Reed. She hoped her idea would work, to her mind there was no other option.

*****

Near Lake Chesdin, Virginia, Shenandoah Fields Plantation…

The Creeper had returned to the lair of The Spider Queen with Magda Malone. She descended the secret winding staircase hidden behind the old fireplace in the living room, moving noiselessly through the corridors to the Chamber of Audience. As The Creeper entered, The Spider Queen entered the great chamber and sat upon her gilded throne. The Creeper laid the lovely unconscious form of Magda Malone at the Queen’s satin covered feet.

“So Creeper, what have you brought me today?” said the Queen gazing at the beautiful blonde woman. “A…recruit, Majesty.” said The Creeper, with a characteristic grin, “This is the young lady who gave us the information we needed for the destruction of the government lab, your Highness. My observations of her, however, told me her resolve was weakening and she might betray us to her employers, so I brought her here to be…indoctrinated by you, your Grace.” “Hmmm, good thinking, Creeper!” replied The Spider Queen, “Normally I would have her killed, but we should not waste such a valuable source of information if it can be salvaged. Wake her.”

“Yes, Majesty!” said The Creeper. She knelt by Magda and depressed an area near her spine and Magda sat up with a start. Magda looked around nervously and said, “Where am I?” “You are among friends, my dear.” answered The Spider Queen, “Don’t be afraid. Come here, dear.” “No! You’re The Spider Queen she talked about! Please let me go! I promise I won’t tell anyone anything, you have my word!” “You swore an oath of secrecy to the U.S. Government also, my girl.” said the Queen rising from her throne, “You betrayed their trust to us. How can we trust the word of a traitor to her own country? No, my dear. We must have more…concrete assurance of your loyalty. Look at me, my darling.”

“NO! You’re trying to hypnotize me! I won’t look at you! I don’t care if you kill me! I refuse!” said Magda defiantly. “Such fire! Creeper, you chose well!” said the Queen smiling. The Spider Queen extended her hand toward Magda, pointing her fingers at her like Bela Lugosi in Dracula and said, “You must look at me, young woman. I command it! Open your eyes and look at me, NOW!” Magda shuddered and slowly opened her eyes. “Yes, my dear, gaze into my eyes, deeply into my eyes.” she commanded, “You can’t look away! Your soul, your body, your entire being is mine now, isn’t that true?” “Yes, my lady!” said a thoroughly entranced Magda.

“Good. Now, come to me, my sweet.” she said with her dazzling white smile, “Come and kneel before your Queen!” Magda walked over to The Spider Queen and knelt down in front of her, staring into the Queen’s dark hypnotic eyes. “What is your name, dear one?” she asked. “Magda, my lady.” the lovely blonde answered. “Magda, what would you do to serve your Queen?” asked the black satin clad villainess. “Anything, your Highness!” replied Magda. “Excellent!” exclaimed the Queen,”You will return to Washington and keep watch for secret meetings and report anything unusual to The Creeper, understood?” “Yes, my Queen!” said Magda.

“Now, you need rest for the other part of your indoctrination, my pet.” said the Queen, “Follow, my Black Spider to your room. You will go there and sleep. I will call for you soon.” “Yes, your Majesty.” replied Magda. A Black Spider appeared, took her hand and led Magda from the chamber. “An excellent choice of spies, my dear Creeper.” said The Spider Queen, “Again, my complements. Lotus and I will be finished with her conditioning within the next 12 hours. You will be free to return her home then. Keep in mind that when her programming is not active, she will not remember you, so you must speak the control word as soon as you enter the room with her.”

What is the control word, my Queen?” asked The Creeper, who had been watching the hypnosis of Magda with evil glee. The Spider Queen smiled and said, “Something simple to remember, ‘Creeper’” “Couldn’t someone else speak this word to ‘er and activate ‘er programming, my lady?” asked The Creeper. “No child.” said the Queen, “The code word must be spoken by me, The Black Lotus, or you to be effective. She will not be discovered that way! I will call you when she is ready to be programmed with your voice and returned home. You may go.” “Yes, my Queen.” replied The Creeper as she bowed and started out of the chamber.

“Oh, Majesty, I almost forgot. I ‘ave something for you.” said The Creeper, turning and heading back toward the throne, “I know you are fatigued, my lady, but listen to this when you ‘ave a chance. You will find it interesting, as well as profitable!” The Creeper handed her the small tape recording device, bowed once more and left The Spider Queen to rest and review the information. The Creeper knew the information would be invaluable to the Japanese High Command as well as the rest of the Axis powers and The Spider Queen would sell it to the highest bidder for a tidy sum. As she thought about all the money she would receive from Magda’s discovery, she laughed devilishly at the death and chaos that was to come in just 5 short days.

*****

Walter Reed Hospital, Intensive Care Ward…

When Captain Freedom returned to Walter Reed and told the Colonel and the General about the blood mix-up, they and Dr. Brennan were disheartened. “Without that transfusion Melanie has no possibility of surviving the night.” said Brennan sadly, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll leave you folks alone.” After the doctor left and Cap had made sure that there were no people within earshot, she said, “Helen, Uncle Charlie, think I may have a solution for Melanie, but we’d be risking her life!” “Anything is preferable to having my granddaughter die, Gladys!” said General Morgan, “What is it?”

“Sir, we can still give Melanie a transfusion of AB Negative blood…from me!” said Cap. “Gladys, your blood is AB Negative?” asked Helen. Captain Freedom nodded. “For God’s Sake, Gladys, why didn’t you say something earlier??” said Helen, “Every moment counts!!” “Because Hel, my blood is laced with Urbalinium 357!” exclaimed Cap, “To be perfectly honest, I really didn’t know what that would do her, so I went ahead to try to get blood that was clear of it! I would have offered it as a secondary source if there wouldn’t have been enough to finish the transfusion.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Gladys. I understand now.” said Helen. “No harm, no foul, Hel!” replied Gladys, “It’s up to you two. You’re all the family she’s got, now!” Helen and Charles Morgan took only seconds to confer with a look. General Morgan stood up and walked over to Captain Freedom. He took her hands and said, “We’re ready, if you’re willing, Captain!” “Then let’s get to it then! Time’s a’wastin!” replied the heroine, “Call Dr. Brennan back in here.”

Dr. Brennan was ecstatic when Captain Freedom told him the news. General and Colonel Morgan called in the entire surgical team and swore them to absolute secrecy, with the proviso that revelation to anyone of the information they were about to learn would certainly lead to a firing squad for treason. They got the point. As Melanie was being prepped for the transfusion, Dr. Brennan was setting up the apparatus and wondering how he was going to get the needle into Cap’s invulnerable skin. Behind a screen, Dr. Brennan found out Cap’s most carefully guarded secret, her race!

Cap rolled up her right sleeve, revealing the lovely brown skin of her arm. She removed her left glove and, using her thumbnail, cut her skin open. “Hurry, doctor!” said Cap forcefully, “Put the needle in that cut before it closes!” Dr. Brennan quickly got the needle in just before her super-flesh closed the wound off. Just then, they rolled Melanie’s gurney into the room and put her right beside Cap. Melanie Ann Castle was a lovely girl of 17, with long medium brown hair which she usually wore in a long braid that extended downward and usually fell right at her perky, teenaged breasts.

Cap looked at her and said softly, “I hope we get to really meet Melanie. Your aunt’s told me so much about you. Everything’s gonna be OK, kid!” The transfusion took about 54 minutes. Afterward Cap, General Morgan and Colonel Morgan, sat in Melanie’s room waiting for her to recover and regain consciousness. About 15 minutes after the procedure, Melanie woke up and smiled. “Auntie Hel? Grandpa? What happened?” she said, “Where’s Mom and Dad?” General Morgan cleared his throat and said, “Mel, you and your parents were hit by a drunk driver. He died on impact and…your Mom and Dad…didn’t make it, baby.”

Melanie shrieked, “NOOOOO!” Helen put her arms around her and she and Melanie wept for several minutes. Helen then explained that her life was saved by a transfusion of blood from a very special person. Captain Freedom moved the curtain aside and said “Hello, Melanie!” Melanie screamed and shouted, “I must be dreaming! WOW! Captain Freedom, here in my room!” “How are you, young lady?” asked Cap. “I’m fine, Captain!” said Melanie, “In fact I feel great! Like, I could run a marathon!” “Glad to hear it! “said Cap. “Maybe we can get together after you get released!” said Cap, “I think we’re going to have a lot to talk about!” “Sure, I’d love to!” replied Melanie, “You’re my favorite superheroine, Captain Freedom! I wanna be just like you when I grow up!” “I think you just might, but we’ll see!” she replied. Cap opened the window, waved at Melanie and flew off into the morning air.

Later that day, Melanie was resting in bed. All of a sudden, she felt her cheek thump softly into something hard and cold. She thought she had somehow fallen from the bed to the floor. She opened her eyes and could hardly believe what she was seeing! She wasn’t in the bed, that was true, but Melanie’s face wasn’t on the floor, it was on the ceiling! She rolled over and was staring straight down at her own bed! Because Melanie was a very intelligent and resourceful girl, she had an idea what had happened, so she didn’t panic. She noticed also that she had a funny red aura around her body that seemed to come from inside her.

Mel concentrated on going down to the bed again and almost immediately began a leisurely descent back down toward it. “This is probably because of the transfusion I got from Captain Freedom!” she thought, “I wonder if I’m as strong as she is too!” Mel put the thumb and index finger of her right hand on the railing attached to the side of her hospital bed and squeezed. The chromed metal railing crushed between her fingers like a toothpaste tube! Mel giggled and bent it back by squeezing it from the opposite side very carefully. When she finished, it wasn’t exactly the way it was, but it was close. Mel tested the powers she remembered hearing that Captain Freedom possessed, at least the ones she could do safely in the confines of her hospital room, and she seemed to have every one.

Colonel Morgan, General Morgan and Captain Williams came up to visit Melanie around 3:30 p.m. As they entered, Gladys could feel that something was different. There was a feeling of power in the room that wasn’t there before. She smiled because she knew that what she had theorized, had actually happened! Gladys kept it to herself, however. She didn’t want to spoil Mel’s fun. General Morgan walked over to the side of Mel’s bed and kissed her gently on the forehead. “How are you feeling, dear?” he asked. “I’m fine Grandpa, really!” said Mel, “Even better than that! Watch this!”

Melanie stretched out her arms and slowly floated upwards. General Morgan and Colonel Morgan both gasped. Gladys grinned as she turned a flip in midair and came down softly standing up straight. “Look at me Grandpa! I can stand and walk!” she exclaimed. Tears welled up in his eyes as he reached out for her and held her close. Melanie had been unable to walk or stand since she was 4 years old. She had contracted scarlet fever and the sickness, while it did not have the chance to kill her, had left her with a spinal degeneration which had slowly taken away the use of her legs. “Grandpa, I can run, too!” she said as she super speeded around the room. Mel moved so fast that her grandfather and aunt could scarcely keep up with her movements. Melanie finally ran back and jumped on her bed.

Gladys walked over to Melanie and said, “Wow! How’d you do that Melanie?” “I think it was the transfusion of Captain Freedom’s blood, Auntie Gladys!” she said excitedly, “It gave me her powers and not only that, it healed my spine and made me able to walk! And look, Auntie Hel, I’ve got gams like you and Mom now!” Melanie pulled up her gown and instead of her skinny atrophied legs, she now sported a pair of legs that would have made Marilyn Monroe jealous. “Holy cow!” exclaimed Helen, “That’s some set of stems you got there, kiddo! Congratulations!”

“I can’t wait to show Captain Freedom! This’ll really shock her socks off!” said Melanie. Gladys looked at Helen and she nodded back to her. “Mel, I need to ask you something.” said Gladys. “Sure, what is it?” asked Mel. “I know Captain Freedom is your favorite heroine, but suppose she was hiding a secret.” said Gladys, “A secret that if it got out, would probably make people turn away from her. What would you think of her then?” “What kind of secret, Auntie Gladys?” asked the young lady. “Well, suppose she was like me?” asked Gladys. “You mean a real Captain in the Army?” asked Mel. “No, I mean the same color I am, sweetheart.” said Captain Williams, “I mean Black.” “It wouldn’t bother me at all!” said Mel, “But I know most White people couldn’t handle it! If it’s true, that would explain the mask she wears!”

“What do you mean, honey?” asked Helen. Melanie replied, “What I mean is that Captain Freedom is so beautiful from what she shows: her hair, her body, her voice; I never saw why she always hid her face. If she’s got pretty skin like Auntie Gladys, I know she’s proud of it! She probably can’t show it because of people like these guys in the white bed sheets and hoods I read about in the paper! If what you say is true, I wouldn’t mind being her sidekick or partner or something like that!” “You’d really want to do something like that, Mel?” asked Gladys. “Are you kidding?” asked Mel, “It’s what I’ve always dreamed of doing! I just wish I could tell her!”

“You just did, sweetheart!” said Gladys. Captain Williams concentrated for a split second and there was a flash of red light. Afterward, Captain Gladys Williams was gone and in her place stood Captain Freedom! “Oh my God! It is true! It is true!” exclaimed Melanie holding Cap tightly. “Yes sweetie, it’s me!” said Cap, “I’m sorry I took you through that Mel, but I had to be sure!” “Hey, I understand, Cap!” said Mel, “So, you want a young partner like Captain America, The Star-Spangled Kid and Batman?” “Let’s give it whirl!” said Cap, “But you must promise to obey every command given to you, whether you understand it or not, clear?” “Yes. Ma’am!” said Mel with a smart salute.

Three days later…

Captain Freedom put Melanie through an intensive training program to teach her how to use and control her new abilities, develop integrated fighting strategy and show her the fighting moves she had been taught by the commandos that taught her. As Cap surmised, Mel’s powers weren’t quite as intense as hers, but they were most effective and at about 85 to 90% of Captain Freedom’s. Her speed was the only exception. Mel could move at speeds, on the ground or in flight, which made Cap look like she was standing still. There seemed to be no explanation for this phenomenon, she just wanted to do it and it happened. Although she didn’t think Mel was ready for full combat on the front lines, on the third day, Cap decided to surprise Mel with a costume made very much like her own, but with modifications indicated by Melanie herself.

Mel put her long brown hair into a pony tail on top of her head in sharp contrast to her usual style and put on the costume. It fit like a second skin and she wondered what her aunt and grandfather would say. Her mask was blue with openings for her cute button nose, sexy mouth and lovely brown eyes. The satin top was just like Cap’s with the exception of a gold star emblazoned on her chest instead of the red and blue one Cap had chosen.

Her gloves were also different as they were tight, opera like, shiny red satin, going from her hands to the middle of her bicep muscle. The other exception was the red satin panty and the sheer red silk tights with shiny red satin stars that covered her shapely legs from hip to toe. The outfit was completed by the same type of special boots that Cap wore, just in the color red.

They flew over to the War Department building to present her to General Morgan. As they walked in to the building, many of the male staff members had a great deal of trouble focusing on their duties because of the two gorgeous super-femmes. They went to the security checkpoint to access the elevator to the classified floor where General Morgan’s office was. 1st Sgt. Sherman called up to the General’s office and said that Captain Freedom and a guest wanted to see him. He gave permission for them to come up. During the call, Pvt. Ace Madden nearly made a fool of himself staring at Melanie’s body, especially her fabulously shimmering legs.

Mel looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. Ace started to sweat. Before she and Cap got on to the elevator, Mel winked at him. Ace fainted. Sherman and the rest of the Marines on duty burst out laughing. Mel blushed, as she had never had that effect on any man before. Cap and Melanie got on the elevator and the door closed. She and Cap laughed on the way to the 6th floor and Cap said, “Well, at least you won’t be starved for attention!” “No, I guess not!” replied Mel, “But I wonder if he’d have noticed me if was wearing something more demure!” “Time will tell, sweetie, it always does!” said Cap, as the bell rang, signaling their arrival at the secret level.

They got out, walked over to the General’s office and went in to the outer office, where they were greeted by the General’s Adjutant, Major Kirsten Martin. “Hello, Captain Freedom, and who is this pretty young lady?” asked Major Martin. “That’s what we’re here to discuss with the General.” replied Cap. “Oh, I see.” said Martin with a wink, “Well, I’ll let him know you’re here!” Major Martin buzzed the intercom and told General Morgan the two heroines were waiting to meet with him. He said to send them in.

When they got into the office and General Morgan got a load of Mel’s costume he said, “Melanie Ann Castle, where did you get that costume?” “You don’t like it, Grandpa?” Mel asked sheepishly. “Like it? No…I love it!” he exclaimed, “The enemy won’t know whether to kiss you or kill you! It’s the best distractive technique I’ve ever seen! Just do me one favor.” “What’s that, Grandpa?” “Promise me you won’t bring me any grandkids because of that outfit, OK?” said General Morgan with a smile, “At least not until you get married! Your Grandma, God rest her soul, would absolutely kill me for letting you wear that thing!” Mel smiled widely and gave her grandfather a smart salute and said, “Yes sir, General, sir!”

“Oh, come here you!” said the General smiling. Mel zipped over to him and embraced him. “Please be careful, baby!” said Morgan, “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you!” “I won’t let that happen General, you have my word on that!” said Captain Freedom, “So, Mel what are we going to call you and please, don’t say Super Mel or I’ll lose my lunch!” “Oh, Cap!” said Melanie, “It won’t be that bad! How about Liberty Girl?” “Yuck! Try again!” said Cap. “Ummm…OK, how’s Freedom Femme?” asked Mel. “Too French.” said the General. “Yeah, you’re right Grandpa.” said Mel, “My heart’s 100% American! If it came down to it, I’d die for my country!” General Morgan smiled and said, “Spoken like a true patriot! Wait a minute, that’s it!” “That’s what, sir?” asked Captain Freedom. “That’s what we’ll call her…Patriot Girl!”

“What do you think, Mel?” asked Cap knowing her response from the look in her eyes. “I love it!” she exclaimed, “Thanks, Grandpa!” Captain Freedom stood in front of Mel and looked her up and down and then held out her right hand and said, “Put ‘er there, Patriot Girl!” They shook hands and then embraced. Thus, one of the greatest symbols of justice, freedom and unity was born, but Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl were soon to face their first great challenge. A force that would test their superhuman abilities to their absolute limits and stretch the boundaries of their new partnership near to the breaking point!

TO BE CONTINUED…in Episode V: “…And Frightened the Captain to Death!”

Doubleb66 · 18 years ago

Once again, another AWESOME update! This is really turning out to be an excellent story. I can't WAIT for the next chapter. Keep up the great work!!!!!

superpics4les · 17 years ago

Sorry about the long wait in posting. Work waits for no man! Enjoy! 8)

*****

Episode V: “…And Frightened the Captain to Death!”

March 4, 1942 – the day before Operation: Cloaked Fist...

Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl were floating cloaked over a group of men. These men had infiltrated a Top Secret military base using futuristic weapons and gotten away clean…or so they thought. Cap and Patriot Girl got the alert and rocketed to the installation, arriving just in time to see the small group of men prepare to speed away. Patriot Girl wanted to capture them, but Cap whispered, “Let's follow them and find out who’s running the show, PG.” Patriot Girl nodded and they both went invisible. As the duo of daredolls followed the futuristic looking car, Patriot Girl asked, “Cap, I’m curious. Why didn’t we capture them at the scene? It would have been easy.” “True, PG, it would have.” said Cap, “But I recognized one of the men by looking through his mask. Dickie Monaghan can ramrod any group of thugs, but he wouldn’t have the smarts or the bucks to finance something this big with those kinds of weapons. He’s got someone behind him and I mean to find out who it is!”

The sleek black sedan the two heroines had been following pulled into an abandoned lumber mill, about 10 miles outside of Washington, DC. As the masked thugs parked the car inside the mill itself, Cap and Patriot Girl landed behind some large machinery and decloaked. As they watched, the other men took off their hoods and lit up cigarettes. Dickie took a small valise with the papers that had been taken from the military installation’s safe, up the stairs to the office overlooking the mill floor. Cap told Patriot Girl to stay down on the mill floor and watch the movements of the thugs, while she followed Dickie to see who he was reporting to. Patriot Girl gave her the OK sign and Cap cloaked again and flew up stairs just in time to enter the office before Dickie closed the door. The interior of the office was dark except for the dim light coming in the dirty windows from the mill and a small desk lamp on a large wooden table in the center of the room.

Dickie removed his hood and spoke to the darkness, “Boss lady, you here?” Suddenly, a chilling laugh that Cap was very familiar with echoed in the small office. A cockney English accent spoke and replied, “Of course, I’m here fool! Where else would I be? Show me the papers, NOW!” “Y…yes, ma’am!” Dickie answered removing the contents of the valise and setting them in the light from the lamp on the table. A hand, tightly covered in green satin, reached out and snatched the papers up. A large, shapely, female figure studied the contents of the papers intently. The figure said, “Yes, this will do nicely, Dickie! Well done!” “Can the complements, sweetie!” said Dickie, “Just come across wit’ da dough, lady!” “Why Dickie, you seem nervous!” said the woman, “You need to relax!”

“I’ll relax better when I get paid!” replied Dickie, “Get on with it!” “Very well then love, I’ll give you exactly what you’ve got coming to you!” she answered. Before Dickie could move, the green clad woman leapt across the table, tackling Dickie to the floor. The woman rose up with Dickie’s throat in her grasp. Cap could see who it was from the very beginning with her enhanced vision. It was The Creeper! The green clad menace laughed as she closed her vise-like hand slowly on Dickie’s trachea. Suddenly, an authoritative female voice said, “Creeper, release that man immediately!” The Creeper was startled and stopped her inexorable pressure. “Who are you?” asked The Creeper whirling around nervously, “Where are you hiding? Show yourself!” Cap giggled and said, “What’s the matter, Creeper? Don’t like it when the shoe’s on the other foot, hmm?”

The Creeper’s big green eyes narrowed and she hissed, “I’ll find you missy and when I do, I’ll break you into so many pieces, God might have trouble putting you back together!” “Come ahead and do it then, green meanie, I dare you!” said Cap as she decloaked. “Captain Freedom! At last we meet!” The Creeper taunted with a growl and dropped Dickie’s unconscious form, “This is going to be fun!” “I agree, but for whom?” Cap taunted in return. The Creeper laughed and moved swiftly to pounce on Captain Freedom. Cap stood her ground and waited. At the last split second, Cap side stepped The Creeper’s powerful arms and caught her with a super powered punch to the abdomen. The Creeper doubled over, the wind rushing out of her. “That was for Danny Gamble!” said Cap angrily. Cap stood her up as she gasped to get her breath back. Cap picked The Creeper up by the throat and jumping up slightly, slammed her down, right through the large wooden table. “That was for Dr. DeLaurentis and his staff!” said Cap, her eyes glowing. The Creeper moaned in shock and pain.

By this time the sound of the table breaking had roused the men downstairs in the mill. They decided to check out the situation, when suddenly a girl dressed in the sexiest red, white and blue costume they’d ever seen appeared in front of them. Patriot Girl had been watching her partner give The Creeper what for during the last few minutes with her penetra-vision and decided it was time to join in festivities when the thugs she was told to keep an eye on went toward the stairs. Patriot Girl stood between them and the stairs with her hands on her hips, smiling and said, “Going somewhere boys?” She got a bunch of wolf whistles and the lead thug Leon said, “Look, little girl we don’t want to hurt you, but we’re goin’ up them stairs and there ain’t nothin’ you can do to stop us!”

Patriot Girl smiled wider and said, “My partner’s having a little private talk with your boss and doesn’t want to be disturbed, so if you’re going up there, you’re gonna have to go through me!” “OK, you asked for it!” growled Leon, “Boys, give ‘er the works!” Leon and 2 of his strongest guys tried to bum rush her. Patriot Girl put one hand on each of the henchmen’s shoulders and flipped backward kicking Leon square under his big chin with both feet. Patriot Girl moved forward at incredible speed and double clotheslined the 2 henchmen, making them fly backward onto the ground and slide into Leon, who was already lying on the ground 12 feet away from the bottom of the stairs, unconscious.

One of the remaining men shouted, “SHOOT HER BOYS!” The other men drew their weapons and fired point blank at Patriot Girl. Even the advanced weaponry they carried was no match for the energy shield Patriot Girl projected in front of her. The laser beams and neural impact rays bounced harmlessly off the shield and some of them even hit the men firing them. Within moments, the entire crew was down. Patriot Girl dusted her hands off and looked through the wall to see how Cap was doing. She hadn’t long to wait.

Captain Freedom once again picked up the dazed and nearly unconscious Creeper by the throat and pulled her close. Cap looked into her half-lidded eyes and said, “This one is special, greenie! This last one is for Captain Gladys Williams!” Cap spun around three times at super-speed and then released The Creeper. With a scream, she smashed through the grimy office window and kept right on going until she reached the outer windows of the mill, shattering those windows into millions of tiny fragments as well. The Creeper landed outside the mill with a tremendous thud that almost shook the building. Cap picked up the phone to contact the authorities and WEAPON, which still worked to her amazement, although she suspected that The Creeper and her cronies probably had it turned on through a dummy corporation or false name.

Just as she dialed the secret number for the WEAPON switchboard, Patriot Girl came in. “The goons outside are all tied up for the cops, Cap!” she said proudly. “Nice going, PG!” said Cap with a smile, “That was pretty good work for your first assignment! You followed your orders until it was necessary not to. Well done!” “Shucks, ma’am! ‘Twarn’t nothin’!” said Patriot Girl in a cowboy accent. Cap laughed and said, “Shhhh! The Colonel’s coming on…Hello Colonel! Good news! PG and I captured some well equipped goons who were trying to steal information on tomorrow’s operation and we also got The Creeper...Thanks, Colonel…Yes, we’ll bring her to HQ for interrogation!...Will do, ma’am!

“Let’s go out and gather Miss Creepy up and get her back to HQ, pronto!” said Cap, “She’s anxious to find out who she’s working for!” Cap trained her penetra-vision on the outer wall and said, “I’ll just fly out and…WHAT THE…SHE’S GONE!” “That’s impossible!” said Patriot Girl, gazing through the solid wall as well, “She was cold as a mackerel when she hit the ground! The impact shook everything!” “I know, I know!” said Cap angrily, “Apparently she’s a lot more resilient that we gave her credit for! That’s not a mistake I’ll make again!” Patriot Girl held her head down and said, “Some sidekick I am! I should have gone out and tied her up too! I’m sorry, Cap!” Captain Freedom walked over to her, held up her head by the chin and replied, “PG, you did nothing that I didn’t do! I thought she was down for the count too! We both dropped the ball on this one, kid! Don’t sweat it! It won’t happen next time, right?” “You bet!” said Patriot Girl smiling.

Just then the stalwart heroines picked up the sound of approaching sirens. “Here come the cops and a couple of Military Intelligence agents are with them!” said Patriot Girl, peering through the wall. Cap smiled and asked, “How do you know the men with the police are MI agents?” Patriot Girl answered, “Simple, Aunt…er, I mean Colonel Morgan wouldn’t trust these documents to regular flatfoots, they’re wearing black suits, cops don’t normally wear those and I used my penetra-vision to check their ID’s in their breast jacket pockets.” “Smooth PG, very smooth!” said Cap with a smile, “I’m impressed! Do me a favor would you, and get the documents and valise they came from over near the table…or what’s left of it!” “Yes ma’am!” said Patriot Girl with a salute. The young superheroine went over to where the table lay in ruins, but there was no sign of the valise or the classified material.

Patriot Girl did, however, find a note addressed to Captain Freedom. “Cap, I think you’d better take a look at this!” said Patriot Girl. Cap frowned up and walked quickly over to where Patriot Girl was standing. Patriot Girl handed her the note and said, “You’re not gonna like this!” The note read:

My Dear Captain:
You are a much more formidable opponent than I thought you were! You caught me completely by surprise this time, but I promise you when next we meet, I’ll be ready for you! I look forward to snapping your little spine…slowly! See you soon, hero!

The Creeper

P.S. - Don’t Worry about the classified documents they’re in safe hands, MINE! C.

Cap screamed in frustration and amazement. Patriot Girl said, “How in the world did she get past us…TWICE? We were right here the whole time!” “I don’t know PG.” said Cap solemnly, “But mark my words, I gonna find out! She won’t get past Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl again! I promise you!”

*****

Later in Colonel Morgan’s Office at WEAPON HQ…

Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl debriefed the Colonel about the whole operation and The Creeper’s escape with the classified documents. “Well, the Japs will be sure to know we’re coming now!” said Colonel Morgan angrily, “How in the world did they get past our security forces so easily? That building is more secure than The White House!” Captain Freedom pulled off her mask and shook her head saying, “I don’t know Hel, but The Creeper got past us twice with out being seen and we both have super-hearing and sight powers!” “Then how could she just waltz in that office, grab the papers and the valise and not leave a trace?” asked Patriot Girl, also removing her mask, “Even the best spies in the world leave some trace, don’t they?” “Usually, yes Mel.” said Helen, “But this lady seems to be extremely well trained. She may be working for the Japs!”

“No, Hel. I don’t think so.” said Cap, “When she poured the Urbalinium 357 formula down my throat and left me for dead, she mention a ‘Queen’. I believe she works for this Queen and the Queen in turn sells the information to the Japanese government.” “So you suspect a freelance operation, a mercenary.” said Helen. “Yes. The Creeper is devilishly cunning, sadistic, terribly strong and probably the most lethal woman I’ve ever seen, but she’s no mastermind.” said Cap, “She takes orders from this ‘Queen’ person. We’ve got to discover who she is and where before too long, otherwise this female mastermind may end up costing us the war!” “There’s one thing more, Gladys.” said Colonel Morgan, “Something serious.” “Great! More good news!” said Melanie frowning.

“The papers they stole had exact timetables of the mission from the briefings that each group leader had with the members of his group.” said Helen, “These documents were not public knowledge, Gladys. Someone had to let these people know they existed at all.” “That means that either someone in one of the General’s offices or someone involved in the mission itself is a traitor!” exclaimed Melanie. “Precisely, Mel!” said Gladys, her eyes glowing, “And we’ve gotta find out who it is and mighty fast, but not before we use them to confuse the enemy and misinform them of our intentions on this mission!” Colonel Morgan put on a sly smile and replied, “My thoughts exactly, Captain! What do you suggest?” “I don't think we should scrub the mission!” said Captain Williams, her right eyebrow raised. Helen smiled and said, “She’s got a plan, kid! You can tell by the eyebrow!” Melanie grinned. Gladys giggled and said, “I’ve really got to watch that! If my enemies ever figure that out, I’ll be in bad shape!” Helen winked and said, “You’re secret is safe with me, Captain Freedom! So, what’s the plot?” Gladys said, “OK. Here’s what I suggest we do: First, I’ll contact Wonder Woman and then…”

*****

Meanwhile, in the Lair of the Spider Queen…

The Creeper returned to the subterranean lair of The Spider Queen to give her the information she had obtained and to tell her about the starred and striped super beauties, Captain Freedom and her new partner, Patriot Girl. “Hmmm, this lady could be a problem, my dear Creeper.” said The Queen solemnly, “I was prepared for Wonder Woman’s interference already, as well as for most of the Justice Society members. This Captain Freedom and her partner are relatively new variables in my little equation.” The Spider Queen stood and slinked thoughtfully down the few stairs leading from the gilded Spider Throne to the floor of the large assembly chamber.

“Creeper?” she said turning toward her. “Yes, Majesty?” replied The Creeper. “Perhaps our little spy could be useful in finding out more about our patriotic pair.” said The Queen flashing her million dollar smile. “I’m sure you’re right mum, but why do you think that, my Queen?” asked The Creeper. “Quite simple, my dear.” said The Spider Queen, “One, her emergence so soon after the destruction of the lab and the fact that no one has yet seen her in action outside the Washington, DC area leads me to deduce that the ‘American Amazon’ project was more viable than previously reported to us, especially since there are 2 of them. Two, since our able bodied and properly programmed little information source is very close to the command structure of the project, she should be able to tell us all we need to know about Captain Freedom and her young friend, particularly their weaknesses. Possibly even find a way to destroy them or at least put them under the spell of the Spider Queen!”

“Truly brilliant, Your Grace!” said The Creeper, “I will contact Magda at once, Majesty!” The Creeper left the Chamber of Audience, leaving The Spider Queen to her musings. A sleek shapely figure approached the Queen and bowed reverently, waiting to be acknowledged. “Yes?” said the Queen. “Pardon, My Lady, Mistress Lotus seeks an audience.” replied the Black Spider. “Have her enter at once.” said the Queen with a smile. “Yes, My Queen.” she replied, rising quickly and leaving the Chamber. The Queen ascended to her throne and sat down, waiting for her visitor. The Black Lotus approached the throne with her characteristic silent satin footsteps. Lotus knelt and said, “Adria, I bring grave news!” “Follow me into the anteroom, Lotus dear.” replied The Spider Queen.

The deadly duo quickly moved into the anteroom off the Spider Throne platform and closed the door. Lotus removed her hood and mask. Her face was sullen, her brow furrowed with concern. “Now Lotus, sit down and tell me what troubles you so.” said Adria. “Adria, I have learned that there was one survivor of the Japanese government’s attack on the Green Dragon Sect.” said Lotus. “Why should that concern you?” asked Adria, “Shouldn’t you be happy that you are not the last of your clan?” “My Queen, you don’t understand!” said Lotus nervously, “I and Professor Moriarty betrayed my clan to the military forces of my countrymen after implicating them in an assassination attempt on the Emperor! Any survivor would know of my treachery and surely come after me!”

“Lotus, I’ve never seen you so fearful before!” said Adria, “Never fear, my dear! They could not possibly know you are here in America and even if they did, this place is so well concealed, every intelligence force in the world is baffled! No one could trace you here!” “I suppose you’re right, Adria.” said Lotus. “Of course, I am!” said Adria with a grin, “Besides, you were their mistress weren’t you? Who among them could defeat you in combat?” “Only one, my Queen.” said Lotus, “The one who was my father’s favorite and was destined to rule the clan until she was killed by the Japanese. My sister, Mariko.”

“She could best you, my dear?” asked The Spider Queen incredulously. “Yes, Adria.’ said Lotus sadly, “For all my skills, Mariko was always better than I was. I was the eldest, but my father saw a purity of spirit in her that was not mine to command. This ability allowed her to touch the Heart of The Dragon and gain access to The Fifth Force, an empowerment that would make a warrior invincible! When my father announced that Mariko would receive the authority to rule the clan after his death, I became incensed and felt dishonored. I challenged my sister to mortal combat. After what seemed like days of fighting, she finally defeated me, but could not bring herself to kill me. She offered to share the rule of clan with me, but I refused and left our ancestral home, never to return.”

“After wandering the Orient aimlessly for months, I met Professor Moriarty. He saw how skilled I was in the deadly arts and decided to train me in the sciences, but made me his slave as well.” explained Lotus, “I would normally have killed such a one, but his presence commanded me so, that I couldn’t do it. He convinced me to arrange the destruction of the heads of my clan by the implication of complicity on their part in an Imperial assassination attempt. I thought that they would kill only my sister and her advisors, but they wiped out the entire clan, or so I thought! Now I have reason to believe one has survived!”

“Well, have no fear, Lotus!” said the Queen, putting a satin gloved hand on her shoulder from behind, “This may only be a rumor! Do you know it to be true?” “Yes, I am sure there is a survivor, but I do not know who it is.” replied Lotus. “There, you see?” said Adria, “There’s no reason to believe that it could even be your sister, my dear! In any case, she would have no idea where to begin looking for you!” “You’re right, Adria!” said Lotus with a slight smile, “I suppose I did over-react a bit! The survivor is probably a lot more worried about living than coming after me!” “Precisely, my dear!” said The Spider Queen, “I wouldn’t give it a second thought, if I were you!”

*****

The Sea of Japan, A merchant steamer headed West…

“Mrs. Van Buren, we normally don’t take on passengers, but in your case we’ll make an exception.” said Captain Sorenson, Master of the Jade Traveler, “Our cabins aren’t pretty but they’re better than the cargo hold.” “No apologies are necessary, Captain!” said Mrs. Van Buren, wealthy socialite who was traveling with her pastor on a missionary journey, “I’m just glad we got out of there alive! If not for Miko, the young lady with me, I and my pastor would be dead! How is the poor man?” “Resting comfortably, thank God.” said Sorenson, “How did the whole thing happen?”

“Well, Pastor Nivens and I were touring some of the villages in the Northern end of Japan, hoping to bring the Word of God to the people and to convince them that our two nations can live in peace.” explained Mrs. Van Buren, “Just as we left a small fishing community, a mob of men attacked our missionary group and began slaughtering us like cattle! I actually saw one of our deacons get his throat sliced from ear to ear! They spared me and Dr. Nivens for some reason. I think they intended to hold us for ransom. They took us to an encampment in the jungle and left us bound up in a hut. Miko dug a hole in the wall, cut us free and led us away to safety. We couldn’t leave her there to face those men, so we brought her with us. She seems very educated. I suspect she’s been going to an English-speaking school somewhere near where we were teaching the Bible to the villagers. I seem to remember someone mentioning it before we came over here.”

“Bless her little heart!” said Sorenson, “Will you adopt her, Mrs. Van Buren?” “Oh heavens, no!” she exclaimed, “I certain we can find some work for her to do once we get home. You know those people make excellent servants!” Captain Sorenson’s smile changed to a look of disdain. Mrs. Van Buren saw his face change and said, “Captain, is something wrong? You look a bit pale.” “Just a little sick in the stomach, Mrs. Van Buren, it’ll pass.” said Sorenson in disgust at her last statement, “Excuse me, won’t you? I have duties to perform.” “Oh yes, of course, Captain.” she replied. Sorenson tipped his hat and left the cabin closing the door behind him. As he walked down the narrow hallway, he saw Miko coming out if the bathroom. When he first saw her she was covered in dirt and mud, carrying Mrs. Van Buren’s bags and Pastor Nivens.

Now that she was cleaned up he saw that she was older than he first imagined and that she was exotically beautiful. All he could really see was her head and shoulders, but that was enough. Her hair was like strands of black silk and shimmered, even in the dim light of the hallway. Her skin seemed flawless and she reminded Sorenson of the geisha dolls he had seen in his travels, the ones made of the finest porcelain or even ivory. What really struck him were her eyes. They were almond shaped, like most of the Oriental women he had seen before, but hers were as green as fine, flawless jade.

The lovely young Japanese woman was now conscious of his stare. She smiled sweetly and bowed. Captain Sorenson returned the bow and spoke to her in her native tongue. “Konnichiwa, Miko-san. I am Captain Sorenson.” he spoke in perfect Japanese. “Greetings, Captain-san.” she replied, “I see you have been talking to Mrs. Van Buren.” “How can you tell that?” Sorenson asked. “Because you call me ‘Miko’.” she laughed, “I could not get her or the pastor to correctly pronounce my name!” “I apologize. I did not mean to offend.” said Sorenson, “What is your name, beautiful lotus blossom?” She smiled and blushed at his description of her and replied, “My name is Mariko, Captain-san. I thank you for giving me passage on your honorable ship.” “Mariko-san, the honor is mine for a lady of such striking beauty to grace my humble vessel with your presence!” replied the Captain, “And Mariko-san, please call me Daniel.”

“Very well, Daniel-san.” Mariko replied with a smile, “I must go and dress. Please excuse me.” “Only if you will let me see you again.” said Sorenson. “Of course, Daniel-san.” she replied, “It is a long voyage to America. I am sure that we will see plenty of each other. Sayonara, for now, Daniel-san!” “See you again soon, Mariko-san!” said Sorenson with a polite bow. Mariko returned his bow with a big smile. As she turned away from the Captain and walked down the hallway, her smile quickly faded. Mariko’s mind turned to the dread purpose which had brought her to this point.

She thought of the terrible night that the Japanese Army invaded her ancestral home and the lands around it. She thought of the screams and cries of terror in the night of the members of her clan as the government soldiers hammered the landscape with artillery shells until there was nothing left but rubble and dead bodies as far as the eye could see. The only reason she had survived is because loyal ninjas of the clan created a shield of their own bodies to protect her, including her own father. She dug herself out of the hill of corpses and escaped the mop-up squads that came in the aftermath. Mariko also thought of one other thing, finding her treacherous sister, Tetsuko, and making her pay for the lives of her family. To kill her own flesh and blood…slowly and painfully…making her suffer for what she had done, to her own family, her own clan.

Mariko had spared Tetsuko’s life after her defeat at her hands and had tried to salvage their relationship as sisters. She was repaid by deception, treachery and the mass murder of hundreds. Mariko would wreak a terrible vengeance on her sister and she would destroy anyone or anything that got in her way.

****

March 5, 1942 – 0330 hours – WEAPON H.Q., Colonel Morgan’s Office…

“I SAID NO AND THAT’S FINAL!!” shouted Captain Freedom. “But Cap, you know I can help!” pleaded Patriot Girl, “You need me on this and you know it!” “PG, when I took you on as a partner I made you promise me one thing. Do you remember what that was?” asked Cap. “To obey every order given to me, even if I don’t understand it, but…” said Patriot Girl. “No ‘buts”, PG!” said Cap, “I’m giving you a direct order! STAY PUT! UNDERSTOOD??” “Yes, Ma’am.” replied Patriot Girl dejectedly. Captain Freedom saw how much her young partner wanted to help, but she knew Patriot Girl wasn’t ready for front line action yet. Even though she’d be protected by her energy shield, Cap and Colonel Morgan agreed that this was just too dangerous a mission for her at this time.

Cap put her arm around Melanie’s star-spangled shoulder and said, “PG, your aunt and I think you’re making wonderful progress and you’re learning really fast! But this is combat at its worst here, and we just don’t believe you’re ready for this quite yet. You’ll have plenty of chances to prove your courage and bravery during this war, young lady! You’ll see!” “But what if you need help, Cap?” said Patriot Girl, “I’m your partner! Would Captain America leave Bucky behind on a mission? Would Batman leave Robin? It’s not fair!”

“That’s enough!” said Colonel Morgan, “The decision is made, Melanie, and the subject is closed! Now, you’re going to stay here and monitor activity in the DC area and watch for villains that may try to take advantage of Captain Freedom’s absence to do evil. Now go to your self-defense class, you’re already late! Move it, soldier!” “Yes, ma’am!” said Patriot Girl standing at attention. She turned on her heel and left the office angrily. After she left, Cap took off her mask and smiled at Colonel Helen Morgan. “You think she bought it?” asked Cap softly. “You betcha! Hook, line and sinker!” whispered Helen with a wink, “She’ll probably stow away on one of the aircraft and pop out when she feels you need her most!” “Good!” said Cap, “I hated to do that to her, but our spy needed to think that she’ll still be here, unable to help me and Princess Diana will be miles away!” “Are you sure this little scheme of yours will work, Gladys?” asked Helen.

“It can’t miss!” said Gladys, “Our little spy has probably reported in by now and the Japs’ll be on their guard. Call Uncle Charlie and tell him, ‘The game is afoot!’” “You got it Captain!” said Helen hugging her best friend, “Good luck!” “You too!” said Cap, replacing her mask. As Cap went down the hallway, she caught sight of Patriot Girl in her combat training class, whaling the tar out of 20 commandos, not only with her super-strength, but with her wits as well. “See you on the battle field, partner!” she thought as she passed the window.

Patriot Girl saw Captain Freedom look in the window as she passed and almost lost her concentration for a moment. She couldn’t believe she and her Aunt Helen were going to leave her out just when the stuff was about to hit the fan! “Well, I’ve got a big surprise for you two up this skin tight satin sleeve of mine!” she thought, “I’m gonna be there when you need me Cap, whether you like it or not!”

*****

0530 hours, Operation: Cloaked Fist begins…

Wonder Woman and Major Steve Trevor’s group had begun their “diversionary” assault on the Imperial Forces of Japan. At the same time, as planned, Captain Freedom and the Cloaked Fist Squadron, under the command of Major Thomas Graham, were stealthily making their way toward their target: The city of Tokyo. The Japanese anti-aircraft batteries were trained on the sky where the Spider Queen’s information had said the American forces were going to be coming from. Emperor Hirohito found it strange that the Americans went ahead with their plans for the attack even though Japan knew of their plot, but chocked it all up to their overdeveloped Western ego. However, he did tell his commanders to be ready for anything.

Captain Freedom kept the cloak active as the squadron made its way through the skies over Japan toward Tokyo. The squadron of top secret planes maintained radio silence from the moment they entered Japanese air space. The only radio communication was between Captain Freedom and Major Graham via WEAPON’s tiny high tech transmitters. After hours of flying, Captain Freedom’s telescopic vision could see the Japanese A-A gun batteries coming to bear in their direction as they approached. “Major, they’re putting out the welcome mat!” said Captain Freedom over her tiny belt radio. “Then let’s not keep our honorable hosts waiting, shall we?” replied Major Graham. Graham broke radio silence and gave the order, “Climb high, boys! We’re about to ring the doorbell!” As much as she hated to admit it, Cap was beginning to like the man who was accepted over her into the ranks of the Army Air Corps. She liked his style and he was a handsome man to boot! “Hmmm, maybe I ought to…snap out of it, girl!” thought Cap with a grin, “Time enough for that later!”

The order to climb high was a prelude to an attack dive and was the only break in the radio silence except the final order to fire which would come next. The squadron went up another 1000 feet and then went into a steep dive. As the planes drew nearer to the A-A gun emplacements, the Jap gunners finally began hearing the low droning of their ultra-quiet engines. Even though they had been tipped off that the attack was coming, they still couldn’t hear them too well and definitely couldn’t see them coming. However, the Japanese had also received some intelligence about the reason why they couldn’t see the squadron...about Captain Freedom!

Several of the A-A guns had been loaded with something especially made for Captain Freedom. As the planes neared attack altitude, Major Graham told Cap, “Stand by to drop the cloak, Captain!” “Roger, that!” she replied, “Awaiting your command!” “Wait for it…wait…wait…and….NOW!” shouted Graham. The instant that Captain Freedom dropped the cloak, Major Graham yelled, “OPEN FIRE!!” The first volley destroyed half of the A-A emplacements in the immediate vicinity. Cap decided to join the fight, unleashing numerous electrical discharge bolts, plasma energy beams, and super hot laser eye beams. Just then, one of the guns with the special ammo for Cap, let loose with a shell. The weapon exploded on impact with her energy shield and seemed rather harmless.

Captain Freedom felt strange. Her shield began to fail and she lost consciousness. Cap floated listlessly as another shell was launched at her. It hit her dead center in the middle of her chest. Cap began to plummet from the sky toward terra firma. All the members of the squadron could do was watch helplessly as Captain Freedom fell from the sky toward what looked like certain death. Suddenly, a streak of red and blue rocketed from nowhere toward Captain Freedom. It was Patriot Girl! She caught Captain Freedom in mid air and brought her safely to the ground amid the cheers of the pilots.

Patriot Girl looked at Cap with great concern and said, “Cap! Talk to me! Please don’t do this to me! Speak to me!” But Cap didn’t answer and to her horror, Patriot Girl didn’t hear a heartbeat! Patriot Girl struck her in the chest and tried every lifesaving technique she had been taught. It was no use. Captain Freedom’s heart would not restart. The star spangled heroine was dead. Patriot Girl held her in her arms closely, weeping and rocking back and forth in the midst of the battlefield. Her mentor and partner was gone. How would the operation be successful now? What would Patriot Girl do without her? Just then, a large group of Japanese soldiers emerged from nearby bunkers and began to surround her. All hope appeared to be lost.

TO BE CONTINUED…in Episode VI: The Trial of Patriot Girl!

Doubleb66 · 17 years ago

All I can say is.....WOW!!!!! Your story just keeps getting better and better every time you post! More, more, more, more, more please!

SGWriter · 17 years ago

Cliffhanger and more mystery! Great stroy Pics

superpics4les · 17 years ago

Sorry about the delay in updates, guys! Hope this will make up for it! :-D Enjoy! 8)

*****

Episode VI: The Trial of Patriot Girl!

March 5, 1942 – A battlefield 40 miles outside Tokyo…

The sudden loss of her partner and mentor, Captain Freedom, had caused Patriot Girl to drop her guard for a moment. As she grieved, a large contingent of Japanese soldiers began to converge on her position. Her super hearing picked up their approach and she stood up slowly. Patriot Girl looked up with tears in her eyes and said through her teeth, “You miserable Jap bastards! You’ll pay for this! I’ll kill you ALL!” She raised her hands above her head and bright red energy glowed from them. She screamed in unreasoning rage as she lowered her arms and multi-tendriled bolts of red lightning shot out from her gloved hands. More than half of the surrounding contingent just seemed to vaporize on the spot.

A few of the soldiers remained alive after her attack and opened fire with their semi-automatic weapons, but the bullets simply bounced off of Patriot Girl’s invulnerable body. She hadn’t bothered to put up her energy shield and ran at super-speed directly toward the AA gun emplacement where the shells that felled Captain Freedom had come from. A foolish Japanese officer stood in front of her and she stopped. He drew his katana sword and cut a line in the ground. Patriot Girl knew what he meant by it. She smiled and assumed a fighting stance, waiting for his attack. He uttered a Bushido cry and sliced at her violently. Although the sword would probably just break if it had impacted with her body, she moved to the side of every blow he struck, taunting him to continue.

Finally, he exhausted himself and Patriot Girl simply took the sword from his hand and decapitated him. As his head left his neck and shoulders, Patriot Girl froze and it seemed to her as if the whole thing was moving in slow motion. She saw the razor sharp edge of the sword go cleanly through the man’s neck leaving a small red line across his throat. His helmet came off first and she saw his face. It was a young man, not more than 2 years or so older than Melanie herself. His eyes were wide with shock and he fell to his knees. The impact of his knees with the earth, jarred his body and his severed head fell to the ground before his body. Patriot Girl couldn’t believe what she had done. She dropped the sword and knelt to pick up the head of the young Japanese soldier.

Melanie looked at the expression of shock and horror on the young man’s face. Her own expression changed from total rage to one of guilt and compassion. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked into his eyes and whispered, “God, forgive me.” She closed his eyes with the index and middle fingers of her right hand and gently set his head down next to his body. Patriot Girl rose to her feet. Her blind rage and need for vengeance were gone. It was replaced with righteous indignation and a need for justice. She continued her super-speed trek to the AA gun emplacement, but instead of an enraged attack, she ripped off the turret from its housing, allowed the crew manning it to escape and then demolished it totally, taking one of the shells with her.

Patriot Girl returned to where she had left Captain Freedom’s body, but it was gone! She looked around frantically until she heard a familiar voice from overhead say, “Lose something, PG?” She looked up and couldn’t believe her eyes! It was Cap! She was alive! Cap floated down to where Patriot Girl was standing in amazement. Patriot Girl grabbed her and hugged her so hard she almost couldn’t breathe. “CAP!! YOU’RE OK!! YOU’RE ALIVE!!” Melanie shouted. Cap pulled away from her and said, “Never better PG! How’s about you?” said Cap with a smile. “Wait a minute!” said Patriot Girl frowning, “You had no heartbeat! You were dead! I saw you, felt you! What the heck is going on here, Cap??”

“Calm down, PG and I’ll explain!” replied Cap. Captain Freedom told Patriot Girl that there were 2 good reasons why she faked her death. One, to misinform the enemy spy that was in their midst at HQ to make them think that they had found a means of harming or killing her and Patriot Girl and second, to test Patriot Girl; to see if all the training and mentoring she had done had been for naught. “A TEST???” shouted Patriot Girl, “THIS WAS ALL SOME KIND OF FINAL EXAM???” “Yes, PG! One you aced with flying colors!” said Cap proudly. Patriot Girl hauled off and slapped Cap’s face nearly knocking her backward. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY STRIKING ME, SOLDIER!!” shouted Cap, “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND??” “HAVE YOU???” asked Patriot Girl loudly, “Because of you, I took lives, HUMAN LIVES!!! I’ve never killed anything bigger than an insect before!! Now, a young man lies dead because I flew into a rage at your death and chopped his head off!!”

“Welcome to war, Patriot Girl!!” Cap shouted, “We don’t go around looking to kill, but God help us, it happens!! That’s the only aspect of our duty you hadn’t faced, the possibility of one of us dying or one of the ‘bad guys’! This isn’t a game or an adventure story on the radio, kiddo! We’re playing for keeps here, girl! You need to be prepared for that! Do you understand me???” Patriot Girl stood looking at Cap for a moment, her mouth agape, completely speechless. Then she held her head down, with tears coming out of her eyes and said, “Oh Cap! I’m so sorry! You’re right, I…I…” “It’s OK, PG.” said Cap with a smile, “All is forgiven!”

The two star-spangled heroines embraced for a long time. Then Cap released Patriot Girl and said, “I’m sorry I had to do that to you, PG, but you had to understand that although your enemies may not be able to hurt you, you can easily kill them if you’re not careful! You have to keep your emotions under control. Otherwise you become no better than the criminals and super-villains we fight against!” “I understand now, Cap!” said Melanie with a smile, “I’ll never forget how it felt when I killed the Japanese soldier, not as long as I live!” “Good! See that you don’t!” replied Captain Freedom, “I get the feeling the battles we’re gonna face will be much more intense than this and we’ll have to keep our heads at all times, clear?” “As crystal, ma’am!” said Patriot Girl with a smart salute. “Then let’s go partner!” said Cap, “We’ve got a mission to complete!” The patriotic pair took flight toward the city of Tokyo to join up with the Cloaked Fist squadron. The fight wasn’t over yet.

Meanwhile, in the lair of The Spider Queen…

The Creeper was unusually excited. She seldom ran except when gleefully chasing down some poor soul to end their life. This time she was running down the dank, barely lit corridors beneath the plantation that served to cover the true nature of the occupants who now resided there, The Spider Queen and her throng of deadly daredolls. The Creeper ran into the Chamber of Audience and knelt before The Spider Queen, panting. “A thousand pardons, Your Grace!” said The Creeper breathlessly, “I bring good news!” The Spider Queen smiled her dazzling smile and said, “It must be good indeed to make you run so hard! Quick, my dear Creeper, out with it!” “The shells worked, my Queen!” said The Creeper, “Captain Freedom is dead!” “Are you sure of this, my angel of darkness?” asked the Queen, “Is the data reliable?” “Magda was in the office of the Commanding General himself and heard it announced, my Lady!” replied The Creeper, “That is what has been reported to me.”

“Creeper, be a dear and go to Washington to make sure that the good Captain is truly deceased, would you?” asked the Queen, “We can ill afford this kind of mistake so close to the unfolding of our plans!” “Yes, my Queen!” the sleek, green clad murderess replied, “I and a group of my best Black Spiders will leave at once!” “Thank you, my dear! You may go now.” said The Spider Queen. The Creeper rose to her green silken feet and bowed reverently, backing out of the chamber. “If this is true, we will be able to move forward with our plans!” thought The Spider Queen, “The vulnerabilities of the rest of the Justice Society of America were known to me, including the mighty Wonder Woman! But this Captain Freedom was an unknown variable in the equation! Now that she has been dealt with, the strategy that I have been formulating since my defeat by Mr. Holmes can begin to take shape! Nothing and no one will stand in my way! America will soon be under the rule of The Spider Queen...forever!”

*****

In Japan, near Tokyo…

Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl streaked through the sky at speeds beyond imagining and quickly caught up with Major Graham and the remaining members of the Cloaked Fist Squadron. “Nice to see you up and about Captain!” Major Graham said over the radio. “Thanks, Major!” said Cap with an obvious smile in her voice, “Did you miss me?” “You know I did!” he replied smiling back, “Say, uh, Captain, you wouldn’t like to, um, get a cup of coffee with me some time, wouldja?” “Well, Major I would, but I don’t drink coffee.” Cap answered. “Oh, I see.” said Graham dejectedly. “But I am rather fond of hot chocolate!” Cap said with a grin. “Hmmm, I think I could splurge and arrange for some of that Captain!” said Graham, “You free after we mop the landscape with Hirohito’s face?” “You got it, Major!” said Cap with a laugh, “See you then!”

Patriot Girl giggled and said, “I thought you didn’t like him, Cap! Now all of a sudden you’re going out for coffee? What gives?” “I’m not going out for coffee, I’m getting hot chocolate, missy!” replied Cap, “Hey, Wonder Woman’s got somebody after her, why shouldn’t I have myself a flyboy as well? Do you know how long it’s been since I had a date, kid? Besides, he’s a lot cuter than my last boyfriend anyway!” Patriot Girl shot a quick glance over at Major Graham, who caught her looking and winked. Patriot Girl blushed and said, “Yeah, he is rather handsome at that! Who knows? Maybe I’ll start dating that Marine I made faint the other day!” The star-spangled heroines laughed out loud until they saw the lights of Tokyo.

The city was lit up like a Christmas tree with sirens and warning lights going off all over town. Anti-aircraft gun emplacements blazed to life as the squadron approached. Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl laid down covering fire with lightning bolts, plasma discharges and laser beams as the bombers from Major Trevor’s battle group arrived on the scene. Captain Freedom greeted Wonder Woman and Major Trevor as they flew into range. “What kept you?” she asked jokingly. “We ran into some friends of the Emperor’s who wanted us to join them for dinner, but we had to beg off!” said Wonder Woman with a smile, “They were most insistent and wouldn’t take ‘NO’ for an answer, but we made them see it our way eventually!” “It’s good to see you, Princess!” said Cap. “Likewise, Captain!” said Wonder Woman, “Shall we finish this?”

“Age before beauty!” said Cap with a giggle. “See! I knew I shouldn’t have told you my age!” Wonder Woman shouted in mock anger, “I’m gonna get you for that, my flag wearing friend!” “OK, girls! Let’s behave shall we??” said Major Trevor with a grin, “We’ve got a mission to complete here!” “Yes, sir!” said the beautiful heroines in unison. With that, Cap, Patriot Girl and Wonder Woman swooped down toward the city, with Cap and Patriot Girl following behind Wonder Woman. Suddenly a familiar voice cut through the sounds of battle. It was General Morgan. “Attention, Operation: Cloaked Fist battle group! This is a recall, repeat, a recall! All units return to base immediately, repeat immediately!”

“Ops HQ, this is Cloaked Fist Squadron leader!” said Major Graham, “Please confirm recall with code word, repeat, confirm with code word!” General Morgan spoke again. “Code word is ‘basilisk’, repeat, code word is ‘basilisk’! Do you read?” “Command confirmed, Ops HQ. Squadron returning.” said Major Graham, “All break off attack, repeat cease fire immediately and return to base!” “What’s going on, Major?” asked Cap, “We got ‘em where we want ‘em! Why are we being ordered back?” “Your guess is as good as mine Captain!” said Graham, “You heard the order! Let’s move people!” The entire battle group reversed their course and headed back to home base. Upon arrival, the General called for a secret meeting to debrief the participants.

“I know you’re all wondering why we turned tail and ran home on the eve of our greatest victory of the war!” said General Morgan, “I wish I could tell you, but I can’t! The order came from the President and the Commanding General of the Allied Forces himself, directly to me. I had no choice and no explanation! I’m as baffled as you are! I have been advised that this operation has been not only classified, it has been given Extreme Deniability! In other words, it never happened! Are we clear?” “As crystal, sir!” said General Beatty, “We’ll take care of it, General! Don’t worry!” “Very well, Bill.” said Morgan, “I leave it in your capable hands!” General Morgan rose from his chair and the entire assembly stood up. General Beatty saluted him. He returned it and turned on his heel, leaving the room.

“OK folks, listen up!” said General Beatty, “All written material of any kind concerning this mission must be turned over to me within the next 12 hours, that includes any personal notes, tape recordings, memos, everything. You are under the strictest order this department can give to never, and I mean never, discuss this operation with any person inside or outside this room. This operation never took place! Any questions?” Silence. “Very well.” said Beatty, “Get those materials to me by the deadline or you will be in material breach of the Official Secrets Act…and you know what that means!” Patriot Girl looked over at Captain Freedom with a quizzical look. Cap drew her finger across her throat from ear to ear. Patriot Girl put her hand on her neck and gulped. Cap nodded.

As Cap turned to leave the assembly area, Major Graham came running up to her. “Hey Captain!” he said interrupting the stalwart heroine’s train of thought, “You still up for that cup of hot chocolate?” Cap smiled and said, “Why not, since we haven’t been doing anything for the few weeks!” Graham chuckled and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about Captain!” “Right, neither do I!” said Cap laughing, “I’ll meet you at the Officer’s Club in, say, 15 minutes?” “I’ll be waiting Captain!” said Graham, who saluted and walked away.

Unbeknownst to them both, as Captain Freedom walked away to prepare for her date, she was being regarded by two large green eyes that gazed upon her with frustration. The eyes watched her walk away into another part of the War Department building. The Creeper thought, “The Queen will not be pleased to find out that Captain Freedom is still alive! It must have been some kind of ruse! But why? Unless our little spy had been found out! I will investigate this further. If Magda has been discovered, then she is of no further use to us, except maybe as food for the Great Spider! We will see, we shall indeed! HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Meanwhile, at the docks, near Washington, DC…

The Jade Traveler arrived at the South End Marine Port near Washington, DC around 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Van Buren, her pastor, Reverend Nivens and Mariko were disembarking the ship when Captain Sorenson called out to Mariko. Mariko stopped and turned toward him. The Captain had a sad look on his face and said, in Japanese, “Mariko, please! Don’t go with Mrs. Van Buren! She wants to turn you into a…a slave! Please, stay here with me, I…I love you! I know it seems too sudden, after only a few weeks, but I do! Don’t leave!” “I must Daniel-san.” she replied, “I have a mission to fulfill. Do not worry about me, Daniel-san. Mrs. Van Buren will not make a slave of me, I assure you of that! I use her to gain access to her society status and contacts. Once I no longer need her, I will leave her and finish what I have come to do. Perhaps, if I survive my mission, I will find you again and I will tell you all about me. Until then…” Mariko caressed his face, kissed his cheek and left carrying the luggage of Mrs. Van Buren and her pastor.

The dark purpose that drove her showed on her face. While Henrietta Van Buren flitted about acting every bit the social butterfly, Mariko gathered intelligence and found the first place that she would look for the information she sought, the War Department building. “I feel a strong presence in this place.” she thought to herself while passing it, “Perhaps there is one here who can lead me to my sister, Tetsuko, and my ultimate revenge!” Late that night, a sleek slender figure entered a window on the 12th floor of the War Department Building. Her satin covered feet made no sound as she silently slinked through the shadows toward her intended destination. She reached the elevator and opened the doors with relative ease. A smile trilled her moist, red lips as she leapt straight up catching hold of the cable and climbing skillfully, reached the Top Secret floor.

She stretched out her hand and her tightly gloved fingers glowed green. As if by magic, the elevator doors opened and the satin clad beauty spread the wings that were attached under her arms. She jumped from her perch on the elevator cable and glided onto the marble floor of the secret level. With a wave of her hand, the satin clothed vixen closed the elevator doors. She noticed a light on in one of the offices and decided to find out who was still working so late into the evening. The name on the door said, “Lieutenant General William Beatty, Deputy Commander of Special Services.” She once again spread her fingers and the green glow appeared. This time the office door opened without a sound. The sleek shapely figure entered the office and heard voices raised in anger.

“The Queen is most displeased that the Captain Freedom problem has not been resolved!!” shouted The Creeper. “Please Mistress, I didn’t know it was a trick!” begged Magda, “How could I?” “This proves one thing, my little spy!” said The Creeper advancing toward Magda on her shiny, silken green peds, “They know about you, my pet and before they find out about us, you will have to be…dealt with!” Magda went to her knees and begged, “NO MISTRESS! PLEASE, I BEG YOU! SPARE ME! DON’T KILL ME!” “Silence, little one!” said The Creeper seizing her by the throat, grinning her death’s head smile, “You know that despite how fond of you I am, I cannot let you live! Not with what you know! I’m sorry, love. Truly I am, but now you must die!” The Creeper began to laugh. Magda knew she was doomed. The Creeper swiftly enfolded Magda in her powerful arms and encircled her slim waist with her sleek, muscular, green silken thighs. The Creeper laughed diabolically as she tightened her shiny and powerful limbs around Magda’s curvaceous body. Magda could barely breathe and her gasps became shorter and shorter amid The Creeper’s maniacal laughter.

Suddenly, the Black Spiders that had accompanied The Creeper vanished. The Creeper paid it no mind because she was too busy having fun slowly killing Magda by suffocation. Then she heard a voice command, “Release her, demon! NOW!” The Creeper’s laughing stopped although she continued to smile. “’Allo now! Who dares to speak to me this way?” said The Creeper, “Show yourself!” A sleek, shapely figure stepped out of the shadows. She was clad in green skin tight satin from neck to toe. The area from her neck to just between her cleavage was covered in sheer green silk and showed a tattoo of a green dragon on her chest. The woman had silky black hair which when laid straight, would have reached her shoulder blades. She wore a green satin mask which covered her identity and left space open for her beautiful jade green eyes and sensuous red mouth. About her waist she wore a compartmented belt attached to a holster and a holder for her double ended/double edged sword. In the holster was a Kusari Gama. A variant on the Kama, this short baton was tipped with a sickle-like blade and ended with a long chain. The blade was folded down and the weapon tight against her shapely thigh.

There were no weapons in her satin gloved hands now, but they glowed with an unearthly power that The Creeper did not understand. The female repeated her command, “Release her!” “Oh course, dearie!” purred The Creeper, “Only so I can get my hands on YOU!” The Creeper leaped for her, but amazingly the lithe, slender woman easily evaded her grasp and landed a spinning heel kick to the small of her back, sending the green clad murderess sprawling. The Creeper kipped to her feet quickly and said, “My but you’re quick! This’ll be the first real challenge I’ve had since Captain Freedom!” “Come then, green demon!” said the woman beckoning her, “Feel the touch of The Green Dragon!”

The fight was legendary. The Creeper threw everything she had been taught at The Green Dragon, but could never land a foot or finger on her. The Green Dragon however, managed to injure The Creeper quite severely, bruising her up quite badly. The Creeper began to actually fear for her life. “Spiders, ATTACK!” The Creeper cried. The Green Dragon laughed and replied pointing to a corner of the room, “You mean...them?” The Creeper looked and gasped in fear. There were 7 of her best Black Spiders lying dead, piled up like cord wood! That was all she needed to see. The Creeper leaped through and shattered the frosted glass leading to the hallway and sprinted to the elevator. She quickly forced the doors and dove through to the shaft and made good her escape. The Green Dragon smiled and turned her attention to Magda.

Magda had just recovered from The Creeper’s bone-crushing embrace and regained consciousness. She saw The Dragon approaching and screamed. “I will do you no harm, miss.” assured The Dragon, “I only want to help you and myself.” The Green Dragon’s eyes glowed with an internal green fire. Magda’s did the same. “Ah, I see someone has been playing with your mind, my young lady.” said The Dragon, going to one knee, “Who has done this to you?” “The Spider Queen.” whispered Magda, “She and The Creeper controlled me.” “I see.” said The Dragon. “Tell me young miss; was there anyone else in this place who also gave you commands?” “Yes, a woman in black called…The Black Lotus.” Magda answered. “Hmm, The Black Lotus, eh?” said The Green Dragon, “Listen to me. You are now released from their power, but you must confess to your superior, your involvement with this Spider Queen and all you know of her plans, understood?” “Yes, I understand.” she replied. “Good. First, tell me where I can find this Black Lotus and then you will sleep.” The Dragon commanded, “When you awake you will remember all.”

Magda told her all she knew which really wasn’t much. The Spider Queen and The Creeper kept Magda away from most, if not all, sensitive conversation so that she couldn’t be forced to reveal their intricate plans. Magda slumped over into a deep sleep after speaking to The Green Dragon. The Dragon stood and walked to the elevator and opened the doors with a wave of her glowing hand. She then spread her wings and glided down to the basement floor and departed the building, unseen and unheard by the sentries. Mariko now knew that her sister was indeed still alive and soon Tetsuko would be aware of her presence as well. The large green suited woman and the women in black satin were undoubtedly trained by Tetsuko. Mariko would be patient. The opportunity would present itself for her revenge; she had only to wait for it to appear.

TO BE CONTINUED…in Episode VII! - The Game Is Afoot!

Doubleb66 · 17 years ago

Outstanding! Nothing makes my day like another great update from you! As much as I love your stories about vampires and catwomen, this is turning out to be my favorite of all! Great work as usual!

superpics4les · 17 years ago

Episode VII – The Game Is Afoot!

March 10, 1942 – WEAPON H.Q., Office of Colonel Helen Morgan…

Colonel Morgan was still in a bit of temper over the mysterious recall of the Cloaked Fist Squadron from Tokyo, Japan. She asked her father, General Charles Morgan, what could have happened, but he was just as clueless as the rest of them. All he knew was that the President got a call from someone in the Allied High Command and he immediately ceased the operation. Captain Gladys Williams sat with Melanie Castle by her side, trying to hide a smirk with her hand, as Helen ranted and raved over how unfair it was that a major operation, the first involving WEAPON secret personnel, was stopped at the point of victory. She even suggested that it might have been because Captain Freedom, Patriot Girl and Wonder Woman would have turned the tide and possibly ended the war!

“Oh, come on, Hel!” said Gladys finally, “You can’t really believe that, can you? The President asked for me personally! If he didn’t want women involved, he could have called in Captain America or Superman or any variety of super-males! I don’t think this is about sexism…this time!” Colonel Morgan stopped her tirade and sat down hard in her chair. “Yeah, I guess you're right, Gladys.” said Helen with a sigh, “But I wonder what it was really about!”

“Perhaps I can supply you with that information, Colonel Morgan.” All three women were startled, Gladys and Melanie being distracted by the conversation they were engrossed in. Captain Williams and Melanie both stood and turned toward the open door. The statement came from a distinguished looking, tall, dark haired man with a prominent hawk-like nose, wearing a tweed suit, carrying his light brown over coat over his left arm, his hat held in the same hand. Beside him was a heavy set man, equally as distinguished, with a dark grey mustache, still wearing his overcoat on top of his dark grey 3-piece suit and carrying a bowler in his left hand. “And you would be?” asked Helen, rising from her chair.

“Ah, forgive my manners, my dear Colonel.” said the man in an aristocratic English accent, “I am…” “Sherlock Holmes!” shouted Melanie. Holmes smiled and replied, “The very same, young lady and this is my good friend, Dr. John Watson. My reputation precedes me, I surmise.” “I’m sorry for my outburst, Mr. Holmes.” explained Melanie, “I’ve always wanted to meet you after reading about your exploits in Europe and the States!” By the time Mel had finished her explanation, Helen had crossed the room and extended her hand to Holmes. She thought he would simply shake it, but he took it gently and kissed it, which made Helen blush a bit.

“It is gratifying to see that the Armed Forces of the United States have recognized that females are as equally capable of command as the male members of the species while still maintaining their considerable charms!” said Holmes. “Well spoken, Holmes, my dear chap and quite true indeed, referring to our present company!” agreed Watson. “My thanks to you both!” replied Colonel Morgan, “Allow me to introduce my friend and assistant, Captain Gladys Williams and the astute young lady there is my niece, Melanie Castle.” Both Holmes and Watson bowed and nodded toward them.

“May I take your coats and hats, gentlemen?” asked Gladys. “If you would be so kind Captain, thank you!” said Holmes. “Let me help, Aunt Gladys.” said Mel. “Aunt?” remarked Watson with a smile, “Friends indeed, best friends I’d wager!” “Quite so!” said Holmes, “A most astute observation, my dear Watson! But of course, they would be close considering their working relationship!”

“Yes. Gladys and I have been friends for many years.” said Helen with a smile. “I’m certain of that Colonel, but I was referring to your niece and Captain Williams, Colonel Morgan.” explained Holmes, “Or should I refer to them by their nom de voyages, Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl.” Gladys and Mel’s mouths dropped open, as well as dropping both sets of coats and hats to the floor. “And why would you say that, Mr. Holmes?” asked Helen, trying not to show her surprise as well. As Gladys and Mel picked up Holmes’ and Watson’s articles of clothing from the floor and hung them in the closet, Holmes explained his reasoning.

“My dear Captain, please know that your secret is safe and not even the President will get this information from me.” Holmes began, “I have seen many pictures of you and Patriot Girl in the Times and studied them thoroughly. I arrived at this deduction by several means. One, the good Captain never covers her hair, despite covering her entire face and neck with her mask. This allows one as observant as myself to sometimes see the scalp and therefore surmise that she was not of Caucasian ancestry. Two, her height and build are exactly the same as Captain Freedom and Three, if you will forgive me, the curvature of your…*ahem*…backside is rather…*uh*…unmistakable, Captain!” Gladys grinned and blushed as Colonel Morgan giggled.

Holmes turned to Mel and said, “As for you, young lady, there is always something about the shape of the ear, nose and mouth that to the trained eye is as individual as a fingerprint, in addition of course to your height and build as well! As I said, your secret is quite safe with myself and Dr. Watson, I assure you.” “I never doubted that, Mr. Holmes.” said Gladys, “Your reputation for honor and gallantry is well known and I’m sure as a physician, Dr. Watson’s confidentiality can be relied upon as well.” “Of that you may be sure, madam!” said Watson confirmingly.

“Getting back to your statement as you came through the door Mr. Holmes.” said Colonel Morgan, “What was the reason that the operation was called off?” “Ah, yes. Of course!” said Holmes, sitting back in his chair, placing his fingertips together, “Tell me, my dear Colonel, has Miss Castle regaled you of my little adventure with The Spider Woman?” “No, I don’t believe so.” she answered. “Miss Castle, would you care to elaborate for your aunt?” Holmes asked with a smile. “I’d be honored to, Mr. Holmes!” replied Mel. Mel detailed the account of Holmes adventure with Adria Spedding that Dr. Watson had written in the Strand Magazine almost verbatim as he’d set it down. Watson congratulated her on her recall of the story.

“Well done indeed, Miss Castle!” said Holmes, “But what is not public knowledge is that Miss Spedding and 2 accomplices, Tetsuko Sataki and Sonja Tilson, promptly escaped from the women’s section of Dartmoor Prison and fled England to parts unknown…until now! I have reason to suspect that Adria Spedding is somewhere in the United States, specifically near Washington, DC and that she is…the one called The Spider Queen!” “The Spider Queen!” remarked Gladys, “That’s the Queen that The Creeper referred to the day she broke into the lab and planted the bomb, Hel…I mean, Colonel!” “And I’d bet the farm that Sonja Tilson is The Creeper!” said Mel. “Very good, Miss Castle!” said Holmes, “But how did you arrive at that deduction?”

“I remember reading about Sonja Tilson in my research, Mr. Holmes.” said Mel, “Crime was always one of my hobbies. She killed one of her opponents when she was a wrestler, which is what landed her in the Dartmoor Psychiatric ward in the first place. Judging by her size, strength and agility, in addition to the fact that she escaped with Adria Spedding, she must be The Creeper! Simple or dare I say…Elementary, my dear Mr. Holmes!” Holmes and Watson both erupted in laughter as Holmes took Mel hand and kissed it. “My dear, you have the makings of a superlative detective!” said Holmes with a smile. “Hear, Hear!” echoed Watson proudly, “I daresay she’d rival you in a few more years, old fellow!” Holmes smiled wryly and said, “She may indeed, my dear Watson, she just may indeed!”

“Praise from the master!” said Mel, a bit overwhelmed by the compliment. “As proud as I am of my niece, Mr. Holmes, could you explain what this Spider Queen has to do with the cessation of my operation?” asked Colonel Morgan. “Of course, Colonel.” said Holmes apologetically, “The phone call that the President received from the Allied High Command was initiated by Prime Minister Churchill himself! The Spider Queen had somehow gotten her hands on a member of the Royal Family and threatened to kill him and the Queen herself if the PM didn’t put pressure on the President to call off your mission to Tokyo! So as you see, he really had no choice in the matter.”

“Of course, now I understand.” replied the Colonel, “And I suppose Her Majesty sent you to find The Spider Queen and bring her to justice?” “Or at least make sure that she is no longer a threat to England and her Allies.” said Holmes solemnly. “And that means…?” asked Mel. Holmes looked her in the eyes and nodded. “Understood.” said Gladys. “Because we caused you to end an operation that could have ended the war, I thought I’d enlist the aid of your agency and the help of Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl in finding The Spider Queen!” said Holmes. “We would be honored to help the world’s greatest detective, Mr. Holmes!” said Gladys, “Where do we start?”

“There have been some strange goings on at a plantation in an area near Lake Chesdin, Virginia.” explained Holmes, “It was supposed to be haunted, but just recently a man was killed by what a witness called a ‘laughing green phantom’. The witness said it appeared from nowhere grabbed him by the throat and snapped his neck. The witness himself said it also attacked him, but it disappeared and did not kill him. He’s still in the hospital recovering from his injuries.” “That green phantom sounds suspiciously like The Creeper, wouldn’t you say Mel?” asked Captain Williams. “I was thinking the same thing, Aunt Gladys.” replied Mel, “I think we should check it out, but after we see the man in the hospital.” “Why is that, Mel?” asked Helen. Gladys looked at Mel, smiled and said, “Tell her, detective!”

Mel replied, “Well auntie, obviously these two men were really close to something important, possibly even the entrance to The Spider Queen’s lair. Otherwise, The Creeper wouldn’t have risked exposure to kill them. We need to talk to him first to find out exactly where he was when he was attacked.” Holmes clapped his hands and said, “Brilliant deduction, my dear! Top marks! Come along, ladies, Watson, we’ve got a spider web to locate!” Suddenly, Mel started to look very pale. Gladys noticed also that her heartbeat had changed slightly. “Mel, are you OK?” asked Gladys, putting her hand on Mel’s shoulder. “Sure, I just need to go to the ladies’ room. It’s nothing, probably something I ate. Excuse me for a moment, please.” she replied.

Holmes and Watson stood as the lovely young woman left the room headed down the hallway. “Curious, the malady seemed to come on her so suddenly, eh, Watson?” remarked Holmes. “Yes. Very curious indeed, given her super powers!” answered Watson. “She’s never mentioned any pain since she got her powers, Doctor.” said Colonel Morgan, “Maybe I’ll go and check on her. Just to make sure she’s OK.” “No Hel, let me go.” said Gladys rising from her seat, “If there’s an emergency of a…super nature, there’s not much you could do.” Helen nodded. Gladys walked out of the office a few feet and decided to peer through the wall and check on Mel, so as not to embarrass her if it was simply a case of indigestion.

Gladys saw through the door, then the wall behind it, and then the stall. That’s when she saw Mel collapsed on the bathroom floor! “Hel, call the special med section, NOW!” Gladys cried as she took off down the hallway at super-speed. As Helen called the medics and Holmes and Watson ran down the hall, Gladys reached the bathroom in a fraction of a second. She threw open the stall door and saw Mel lying on the floor unconscious, but that wasn’t as disturbing as what she saw in the toilet! The commode was lit up with a red glow. Gladys put her hand over her mouth and nearly wept. It was Urbalinium 357! Mel had vomited out some of the wondrous chemical that gave her the powers of her friend and mentor, Captain Freedom!

Helen, Holmes and Watson reached the bathroom, but only Helen and Dr. Watson went in. Helen saw the toilet and reacted nearly the same way as Gladys. Watson checked on Mel and when he saw that her vital signs were strong, he allowed Captain Williams to lift her out of the stall and onto the tile floor. The special med team arrived a few seconds later and took Mel to the lab where Dr. Howell, now the Chief Medical Officer of the base, was waiting. After a couple of hours, Dr. Howell came out to the foursome smiling and said, “You can see her now.” Colonel Morgan, Captain Williams, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson came in quickly to see the young heroine.

Helen grabbed her niece and hugged her tightly. “Oh honey, are you alright?” she asked Mel. “I’m fine, auntie, like I keep telling them!” said Mel, “I just blacked out after I threw up, but I’m OK, really!” “No, young lady, you are not OK!” said Dr. Howell. Gladys turned to her and asked, “What is it, Marianne? What caused this?” “If our findings are correct, Captain,” replied Howell, “It would seem as if Melanie’s body is rejecting the Urbalinium 357!” “But that’s impossible, isn’t it?” asked Helen, “Wouldn’t there be any symptoms before now if there was a rejection?” Dr. Howell looked sternly at Mel, who looked down at her blankets, fidgeting with them. Helen narrowed her eyes at her and said, “Melanie Ann Castle, what have you not told me?!?!” “Welll…maybe I did throw up a couple of times before now.” Mel replied sheepishly.

“And you didn’t tell me!!” shouted Morgan. “Because I knew you’d probably stop me from being Patriot Girl!” she said with tears in her eyes, “And I wanted to still be, you know, special!” Gladys sat down on the bed on the other side of Mel, held her hand and said, “Honey, you will always be special to me and your Aunt Helen, but we don’t want you to get hurt, sweetheart!” “But I haven’t lost all my power yet, right Doc?” said Mel. “No, actually she still retains 97% of her powers.” replied Dr. Howell, “But each time she eschews the chemical from her body she’ll lose approximately 1% of her potency.” “Doc, when would it be too dangerous fro me to serve as Patriot Girl?” asked Mel. “If you get under 65% function you’d be vulnerable to attack, as your energy shield requires quite a bit of energy.” answered Dr. Howell, “You’d still be very strong and your fitness level will always be good. Oddly enough, it seems that though your body is rejecting the Urbalinium, your brain seems to love it! Your mental capacity for reasoning, computation and recall will be staggering! The more you learn, the more you’ll retain with perfect clarity!”

Mel smiled at Holmes and said, “Well, I suppose that when I can’t be Patriot Girl anymore, I can at least be a good detective!” “I daresay you’ll be better than good, my dear girl!” replied Holmes. “Indeed!” said Watson, with a chuckle, “If I were Holmes, I’d be happy you were here in America instead of England, otherwise we might both need to retire from this pursuit!” Holmes raised an eyebrow at Watson, but then smiled and laughed. “You know Mel, Watson has a point!” said Holmes, “A good detective should always pass on his knowledge and as much as I hate to admit it, you are probably the only young person I’ve run across that might be able to handle the strain! What do say, my dear? If we all survive this madness, would you care to come to London and learn the art of detection from me? If it’s alright with your aunts, of course!” Mel looked intently at Colonel Morgan and Captain Williams.

“What do you think, Gladys?” asked Helen with a smile. “Hmmm, I don’t know, Hel.” said Gladys, with a wink, “She’s been misbehaving a bit lately! Not telling us about this Urbalinium thing and all! What about her studies as well? She hasn’t even graduated from high school yet!” “Believe me, Captain!” said Holmes, looking sternly at Mel, “Her education will not go lacking with me, not at all! You may be sure of that! I will offer her more challenge than 10 schoolmasters and I assure you that she will be taught elocution by some of the finest ladies in London society!” “It’s up to Mel then, I suppose!” said Helen, “Whaddya say, kiddo?” Mel looked at Holmes with misty eyes and said, “I would be honored, kind sir! Thank you, Mr. Holmes!” Mel flew out of the bed and hugged Holmes so tightly, that he had trouble breathing, until she let go.

“OK, let’s go find the Spider Queen!” said Mel. “Oh, no you don’t, young lady!” said Dr. Howell, “I’m keeping you here for at least 48 more hours to make sure this little regurgitation spell of yours has ended, for the time being! Back in bed!” “But, Doc…” started Mel. “Right this instant! That’s an order!” replied Dr. Howell looking over her glasses, her hands on her hips. “Yes, ma’am.” said Mel dejectedly, floating up and over onto the bed. Gladys smiled and said, “Don’t worry, kid! I promise that if you’re still powered up enough, Patriot Girl will be right there beside Captain Freedom when it counts! After all, I need you!” “Thanks, Cap!” said Mel, with a smile.

“Very well, then ladies!” said Holmes, “Let’s coordinate our information gathering efforts to locate this sinister woman and her accomplices before it’s too late!”

*****

Later that afternoon, in the subterranean lair of The Spider Queen…

The Spider Queen was most alarmed when The Creeper returned a few nights earlier beaten and bruised. It was the first time she had ever returned defeated by anyone but Captain Freedom, and even then she wasn’t this badly beaten up. The Creeper had recovered completely from her ordeal with The Green Dragon and was on her way to the Chamber of Audience to give the Queen some news that she wasn’t going to like.

“SHERLOCK HOLMES?? Here, in America?? Already??” shouted The Spider Queen, at an uncharacteristic volume. “You expected ‘im, your grace?” The Queen laughed and replied, “Of course I did, my dear Creeper! Just not quite so soon, but I suppose I should have expected him sooner once the young Duke of Shrewsbury had been taken hostage to stop the attack on Tokyo! It is of no consequence, Creeper. I am prepared for Holmes and Watson! They cannot stop our plans!” “As you say, your Majesty!” said The Creeper. “Creeper, bring the Duke to me.” said The Queen, smiling her dazzling white smile, “I wish an audience with him.” The Creeper grinned and replied, “At once, Majesty!”

As The Creeper slinked out of the Chamber, Lotus appeared from the Queen’s anteroom, looking most disturbed. Since The Creeper’s return from her encounter with The Green Dragon, The Black Lotus had been extremely agitated. When she heard the name “Green Dragon”, Lotus went as white as a sheet. Adria thought she would faint. As The Creeper related the account of how easily she and her Black Spiders were defeated, Lotus just barely, but visibly trembled. She knew that The Green Dragon could be no one but her sister, Mariko. No one else could be so skilled. Lotus still appeared to be preoccupied and distant, barely speaking unless necessary.

“Lotus dear, attend me.” said the Queen. “Yes, my Queen.” Lotus replied silently moving to her side and kneeling by the Spider Throne. “What is your wish, my Queen?” asked Lotus, her head bowed. “Look at me, Lotus.” said the Queen softly. Lotus raised her head at looked at her friend in the eyes. “I will not allow your sister to do you harm, Lotus.” said Adria, “You have my word! I would sacrifice every one of the Black Spiders for you, my dear! You must pull yourself out of this…depression, however! I don’t want the Black Spiders to see you like this. You cannot show weakness! You know the law! I would hate to…sacrifice you to the Great One! I would hate to lose you…my friend!” Lotus smiled and said, “The law will be obeyed, your Majesty! I will not show weakness or fear! Thank you for reminding me, my Queen…and my friend!”

*****

War Department Building, Washington, DC…

No one could have prepared General William Beatty for the confession of Magda Malone as a traitor to her country. After her confession of involvement in the break-in and destruction of the WEAPON lab and the giving of information on Operation: Cloaked Fist, General Beatty’s knees nearly gave out. He flopped down in his chair, with a look of complete shock on his face and could only say one word: “Why?” “Because you dumped me.” said Magda weeping, her face in her hands, “I wanted to hurt you and Helen. I never meant it to go as far as it did, Bill! You have to believe that!” “BELIEVE??” he shouted, “You betrayed your country, heck Mags, you betrayed ME!! And you dare to ask me to BELIEVE YOU??” “Please Bill, I know I’m going to be punished for this, but I couldn’t bear it if you couldn’t forgive me!” said Magda, going to her knees by the side of his chair.

“Punished??” said Bill angrily, but with a touch of sorrow, “Mags, they’re gonna shoot you! We’re at war, baby! You broke the official secrets act! They’re gonna execute you!” “I know, Bill.” said Magda, her head held down, “I just don’t want to go to my grave knowing that you hate me.” General Beatty lifted her head with his index finger, looked into her eyes and said, “Mags, I don’t hate you, I hate what you did. If I feel anything at all for you right now, it’s pity! Pity that you thought you had to hurt me after we ended what we had! It was great, but it wasn’t enough to build a life together on, sweetheart! Can you understand that?” “Yes Bill, I can.” she said sadly, rising from the floor, “I guess it probably wouldn’t have worked out anyway, considering.”

Just then there was a knock at the door. “Come.” said Bill. 1st Sgt. Tony Sherman poked his big head in and said, “It’s time, General.” “Thank you, Sergeant.” said Bill rising from his chair. Sgt. Sherman stepped in holding a pair of handcuffs. Magda looked at Sherman with tears in her eyes. Sherman half smiled and said, “Sorry Magda, procedure.” He cuffed her hands behind her and took her by the left elbow. “Goodbye, Magda.” said Bill, misty-eyed, “For what it’s worth…I’m sorry.” “So am I, Bill. Seeya.” she replied. Corporal Adams took her right elbow and they walked down the hall toward the elevator.

Colonel Morgan and Captain Williams stepped out of General Morgan’s office just as they reached it. The General didn’t speak, he couldn’t. He just turned sadly and walked back into his office. Magda asked if she could speak to Colonel Morgan for a moment. Sgt, Sherman nodded and he and Cpl. Adams released Magda’s arms and stepped back. “There are no words that I can say that would be sufficient excuse for what I’ve done and make up for the trouble I’ve caused.” said Magda, “And although I was under the Spider Queen’s control for a while, I made the choice to betray my country, just for revenge.” “Is that what you wanted to say to me?” asked Helen frowning.

“No Colonel, I wanted to tell you two things.” said Magda, “Seek out The Green Dragon. She helped me get free of the mind control of The Spider Queen. She will help you and Captain Freedom to destroy her and that Creeper creature, of that I’m sure.” “And two?” asked Helen. Magda smiled and said, “I’m glad the best woman won, Helen. Please take good care of Bill. He’s a real special guy!” Helen finally smiled and said, “I will, I promise. Goodbye, Magda. May God have mercy on you.” “Thank you, Colonel.” replied Magda, “I hope so.” Helen nodded toward the Marines and they moved forward to take Magda away. Just before they took the first step, Magda said, “Oh, Captain Williams!” Gladys turned toward her and answered. “Yes, Magda?”

“For what it’s worth, Gladys, I’m glad you survived the attack on the lab and I hope you can find it in your heart someday to forgive me.” said Magda. Gladys smiled, holding back tears and replied, “I already have, Magda. Go in peace.” Tears rolled down Magda’s face as she walked to the elevator and left the secret level for the last time. “That was good of you to say to her, Glad.” said Helen, “Right now, I don’t think I could.” “She’s going to her death, Hel!” said Gladys sharply, “Why should she go to her grave with that much pain? She’s carrying enough already. I just wanted to make her passing easier.” “I guess that why I keep you around, huh?” asked Helen, with a smile. “Yeah, I guess somebody’s gotta keep you straight!” said Gladys with a chuckle, “Come on Hel, the generals, Holmes and Watson are waiting for us in the conference room.”

When Magda reached the lobby, the most painful sight of the whole ordeal met her eyes. Private “Ace” Madden looked up from finishing the search of a lady’s purse. He didn’t have to speak, his face said it all. The same big saucer-like, puppy dog eyes that looked at her with such affection, longing and lust, now regarded her with pity, disappointment and anger. He only looked once and then never looked up again. Until then, Magda had never seen Ace frown, she didn’t think him capable of it. Her agony was more than she could bear. Magda broke down completely. She cried so hard that she couldn’t even walk. The Marine guards had to carry her under her arms to the car that waited to drive her to the military base where she was to be tried by courts martial and, because she had already confessed, executed.

*****

Later, that same evening…

Gladys Williams finally got home to her 12th floor apartment, around 9:30 p.m. She closed and locked her door, kicked off her low heeled, government issue, WAC shoes and sat on the couch massaging her tired nyloned feet. Although her feet, like her whole body, were invulnerable to just about everything, they still felt better after a long day when she massaged them; especially when she still had her stockings on. Her last boyfriend used to enjoy giving her the massages almost as much as she loved receiving them. As she continued rubbing her slender, shimmering peds, she suddenly felt like she wasn’t alone.

Gladys closed her eyes, half-pretending to be aroused by the stimulation of her feet, as she began to scan the area with her super-senses. She could detect nothing except a powerful presence that seemed to surround her. Gladys decided that this might be a situation best handled by Captain Freedom. She got up quickly and dashed into her bedroom, locking the door behind her. Inside, she changed into her Captain Freedom uniform faster than the eye could follow. She then cloaked herself and opened the door, walking unseen into the living room again.

Captain Freedom silently crept around the entire apartment, but found no trace of anyone, wondering if she had over-reacted to the presence she felt. Suddenly, an invisible arm seized her about the neck! Cap struggled valiantly and just barely managed to get loose. Even with her penetra-vision, Cap could still see no sign of her attacker. The mysterious, invisible force grabbed her again, but this time Cap felt satin covered hands probing her body, attempting to find a pressure point. Cap elbowed back and felt the impact of a rib cage. Cap repeated the blow and the unseen menace released her with a groan. It was a female!

“It must be The Creeper!” thought Captain Freedom, “Only she could be this powerful!” “Alright, you!” said Cap, “Come out and show yourself! I know who you are!” A female voice giggled and said, “Do you, Captain? I don’t think so!” Before Cap could move, the satin covered arm of her assailant grasped her about the throat once again. This time, she caught a glimpse of it as it snaked out from nowhere. She especially noticed the color. It was green! It had to be The Creeper! Her opponent had her in a wicked hold that put pressure on both the carotid artery and the jugular vein at the same time. The blood flow to her brain was being constricted. If she didn’t break free soon, she’d be helpless!

Cap tried to think, but it was becoming hard to focus. Then she had an idea. She grabbed the arm around her neck with both hands. It was a much more slender arm than she remembered The Creeper having, but whoever it was had to be stopped! Cap channeled a short burst of energy equivalent to about 250 volts of electricity through her hands. The arm held fast and a green glow formed where she tried to force the energy into it. Cap was amazed and started to feel a little more lightheaded. She wanted to find out who this was, but without frying them to a crisp! She tried a higher voltage of 500 and 750 volts. No effect.

Cap was getting really weak now and was amazed that such a slender arm could be so powerful! She had no choice. Captain Freedom upped the voltage to 1500. The voltage seemed to weaken the hold, but only slightly. The attacker’s iron grip was nigh unbreakable! Then she thought of something really devious. She wouldn’t up the voltage any further, but she would up the amps by one and a half. “This tactic coupled with finding a tender spot should get some results!” Cap thought with a smirk. Moving with the last ounce of super-speed she could muster, Cap softened her opponent up with 2 elbow strikes to the ribs and then placed her hand on the woman’s groin. The female gasped as she knew what Cap planned to do, but she was too late to stop it.

Cap let her have it. The woman screamed and released Captain Freedom, falling to the carpeted floor in agony. “I’m sorry I had to do that, but you left me no choice!” said Cap as she sympathized with the woman’s pain. Cap watched as a green glow flooded her body starting from her groin and moving across her body to her rib cage, where Cap had hit her. The young woman opened her eyes and sat up. Cap assumed a fighting stance ready to repel another attack.

“Do not fear, Captain.” she said, a beautiful smile trilling her luscious red lips, “I truly mean you no harm.” Captain Freedom relaxed her stance and put her hands on her shapely hips. “If you meant me no harm, then why did you attack me?” asked Cap. The woman in skin-tight, green satin giggled and replied, “Really Captain, do you truly think that I would be looking up at you from the floor if I had meant to hurt you? I was testing you, my lady!” “And did I pass your little test?” asked Cap, sounding rather annoyed. “Yes, Captain Freedom!” she answered with another wide smile, “You most certainly did! You showed compassion as you slowly increased your power to disable me, not to kill me. Then you demonstrated strength of will and determination, as you continued to try to free yourself despite your oxygen depletion. Finally, you showed wisdom, ingenuity, great strength and stamina, as you took me down and freed yourself from my hold, which no one else has been able to do…until tonight!”

“Well isn’t that just jim dandy!” said Cap sarcastically, “So what do I win for my performance, missy?” “I have annoyed you, Captain and that was not my purpose.” said the woman, “I have dishonored you, forgive me.” The young lady moved quickly from a seated position to a kneeling one, with her face to the floor. “What are you doing?” asked Cap. “I assume this position to show my sorrow at angering you, Captain Freedom.” she answered, “I shall stay this way until you accept my sincerest apologies.” “Please, get up from there, you look like a slave!” said Cap emphatically, “Alright! I accept your apology! Now please, get up!” She looked up and saw Captain Freedom extending her hand to her. She took it and stood to her shimmering green satin feet.

“Allow me to introduce myself.” said the mysterious beauty, “I am The Green Dragon. I offer you my assistance in your efforts to defeat The Spider Queen and The Black Lotus!” “The Black Lotus? Who is that?” asked Cap. “She is The Spider Queen’s lieutenant, the leader and Mistress of the Black Spiders.” said the Dragon, “You may know her as Tetsuko Sataki.” “Of course! She escaped Dartmoor with Adria Spedding!” said Cap, “Did she also train The Creeper?” “Yes, I’m very sure she did!” replied The Green Dragon, “She is very skilled, but she is just a big bully! She will flee when forcibly confronted with equal skill!” “You made her flee?” asked Cap, “My compliments to you! Most people she meets end up dead!”

“I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, but why do you want to help me?” inquired Captain Freedom, “What is your interest in all this?” The Dragon smiled and motioned for Cap to sit down on the living room floor. “Captain, I have 3 reasons for wanting to help you and your friends.” she began, “First, I hate the Japanese government. Second, I am the only person on Earth that The Black Lotus fears. Third and last, revenge. The Black Lotus arranged the death of my sensei, my teacher and father.” “I’m so sorry, Green Dragon.” said Cap sadly, “I’m sure that Colonel Morgan would be glad to have you join us!” “There are two more things that make this personal for me that you should know, Captain Freedom.” said The Green Dragon, “I do not simply wear this mask to hide my identity; I wear it to hide my race as well. I am Japanese.”

Saying thus, The Green Dragon removed her mask and revealed her lovely, exotically beautiful Asian features. “The second thing is that I once called Tetsuko Sataki…sister!” said the Dragon with tears welling up in her eyes, “My name is Mariko Sataki. My sister helped the Japanese Imperial Army hunt down and murder our father and our entire clan! Now she must pay!” “Since you have been so candid with me, I’ll be as much with you.” said Cap, “For I too wear this mask to hide my identity and my race as well!” Captain Freedom removed her mask. Mariko understood all too well. They held each other’s hands and smiled. “Truly we are more like sisters than Tetsuko and I ever were!” said Mariko, “Take me with you and I will not dishonor you.” “I would be honored to have you with us, Mariko…my sister!” said Gladys, with a grin, “Especially if you will teach me and Patriot Girl the way you fight!” “Of course, I will!” replied Mariko, “She is white, but I will not hold that against her!”

Gladys and Mariko laughed heartily as they embraced, both of them enjoying the feeling of having a new friend, fighting companion and sister.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Doubleb66 · 17 years ago

Outstanding update, Les! As you know, I've been greatly anticipating this update for quite a while and I'd like to say that it's totally worth the wait! Great work from the master as usual!

superpics4les · 17 years ago

Hey Captain Freedom fans! Here's the next episode! The next one will wrap it up!

Here goes... 8)

*****

Episode VIII – The Forces Assemble!

March 12, 1942 – War Department Bldg., Secret Level Conference Room…

General Morgan and General Beatty had been in conference almost constantly with Holmes, Watson and the most recent member of the alliance against the Spider Queen, The Green Dragon, for the last 48 hours. General Morgan finally called the entire team into the conference room for a briefing.

“Holy Smoke, Cap!” said Mel, putting on her mask, completing her transformation into Patriot Girl, “Grandpa’s been really focused for the past couple of days!” “Yes, PG.” answered Captain Freedom, as she fixed her hair, “He was really rattled by Magda’s confession. He wants to make sure that The Spider Queen really pays for her crimes against the Allies.” Cap turned from the mirror in the ladies’ room to look at Patriot Girl. “PG, how’s your power level these days?” she asked. “Doc Howell says I’m at 95% of my powers, Cap.” replied Patriot Girl, “Don’t worry, I can still trash these Nazi loving creeps right along side you! Just you wait and see!”

Cap smiled and said, “Alright, partner. Just checking on ya! Come on, let’s get to the meeting. You know how the General is about lateness!” “Do I ever!” said Patriot Girl, “Let’s move!” As Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl exited the ladies’ room headed down the hallway to the conference room, the elevator bell rang and the door opened. Cap’s face lit up as she saw Wonder Woman and Major Thomas Graham step out of the car. Cap couldn’t really tell which person she was happier to see, Princess Diana or Tom Graham!

“Hi, Diana! How are you?” asked Cap. “Just fine, Captain!” said Wonder Woman, “And yourself?” “As well as can be expected, I suppose!” Cap answered with a smile, “And how’s my favorite flyboy today, Major?” Tom smiled and replied, “I don’t know yet. I haven’t seen Steve Trevor today, but I’ll let him know you asked about him!” “You just do that, funny guy!” said Cap in a scolding manner. Tom grinned and opened the door to the meeting room for the trio of patriotic powerhouses. Inside, seated at the large oak conference table, were General Morgan, General Beatty, Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson, Colonel Helen Morgan and The Green Dragon.

“Ah, Princess! I’m so pleased you could join us and thank you for volunteering to give us a hand with this situation!” said General Morgan, rising from his seat at the head of the table. “No problem, General!’ said Wonder Woman, “I was honored to get your call! I think Captain Freedom, Patriot Girl and I make a great team! I wanted the chance to work with them again!” “Glad to hear it!” said General Morgan, “Princess, allow me to introduce the newest member of our little group of heroines, The Green Dragon!”

Wonder Woman turned to The Green Dragon and extended her hand. The Dragon stood, her hand grasped and shook it firmly with an accompanying bow. “It is an honor to meet you, Princess!” said the Dragon, “Captain Freedom has told me so much about you!” “She has told me much of you also, Green Dragon!” said Diana, returning the bow, “I look forward to working with you!” Just then, Holmes cleared his throat. “Oh, yes!” said General Morgan, “Forgive my bad manners! Princess Diana, this is…” “Sherlock Holmes, your Highness!” said Holmes, taking Diana’s hand and kissing it, “At your service, dear lady! And this is Dr. John Watson, friend and confidant of many years.”

Dr. Watson took Diana’s other hand and kissed it saying, “Enchanted, my dear, thoroughly enchanted!” Wonder Woman blushed from all the attention and said, “I think we should get started with the briefing, shouldn’t we, General?” “Yes, quite right, Princess!” said the General with a chuckle, “Please take your seats, everyone!” Major Graham quickly moved to pull out Captain Freedom’s chair and Sherlock Holmes did the same for Wonder Woman. “I wondered if you were going to do that!” Cap whispered to Tom. “Of course!” he whispered in reply, “How could you think otherwise? You may not wear a crown, but you’re still my princess!”

If Major Graham could have seen Cap’s face under her mask, he would have seen the biggest blush he’d ever seen on a woman. As it was, could see that she was grinning bigger than he had seen since he’d known her. “See me later, flyboy.” she said softly, “I’ve got something for you.” Graham went back to his seat with a big grin himself and the briefing began. Most of the briefing concerned the new information given to them by Sherlock Holmes and The Green Dragon. Combining the information from the British MI-5 department, brought by Holmes and Watson, The Green Dragon’s testimony and the results of Captain Freedom’s investigation of the attack near Lake Chesdin, Virginia, their efforts had turned up what they sought: a possible location of The Spider Queen’s lair!

“We’ve sent two of our best operatives to Lake Chesdin to investigate the plantation.” said Colonel Morgan, “They will report back to us within the next 3 hours. Our group will be on stand by alert until we hear from them, so we need all of you to stay here within the building.” General Beatty chimed in, “As soon as we hear back from the operatives as to if we’ve got a viable target, our lovely team of heroines will go in to rescue the Duke of Shrewsbury and get anyone else that might be held prisoner in there.” After that, Major Graham’s squadron will level the entire plantation, reducing it to smoldering ashes!” said General Morgan, “This Spider witch has caused the Allies enough problems! The War Council has issued a termination order for her life. The Spider Queen must die!”

Patriot Girl gulped when she heard her grandfather speak those words. She’d never seen him so focused and determined before. She knew this was going to be a tough mission. General Morgan dismissed the briefing and told the participants to stay close as they expected word from the Virginia operatives very soon. Captain Freedom and Major Graham walked away arm in arm to have a private meeting of their own. Wonder Woman and Patriot Girl watched as they went down the hall to an empty office and shut the door. Once inside, Captain Freedom sat down on the small couch and patted the cushion next to her, indicating that she wanted Major Graham to sit there. He sat with his body turned toward her, looking attentive.

“Tom, you already know part of my secret since I had to partially pull up my mask so we could share that hot chocolate the other day.” began Cap, “I want to trust you with the rest, but I really need to know how you feel about our relationship. Where do you see it going?” Graham looked at her and smiled saying, “Well Cap, I know I can’t say that I love you, because I don’t even really know who you are, but I can say that I’m strongly attracted to you and it’s not just because of your body either. I admire your strength of character and your poise in situations where I, frankly, would have lost my composure altogether! I will say this, you have my solemn word of honor that no matter what happens with us, I will never reveal who you are! They’d have to kill me first!”

Cap smiled and asked, “Why? Why would you make that kind of promise? Suppose we had a really bad break-up, what then?” Tom Graham gave Cap the most serious look he’d ever cast her way and said, “My father read me stories of the Knights of The Round Table, Ivanhoe and other stories of chivalry. He instilled in me that a man’s word is set in stone; a bond not easily broken or set aside. Once my word is out there, Cap, you can bank on it!” “I had that feeling about you, Tom.” said Cap caressing his face, “I just wanted to hear you say it.” Cap reached under her chin and grasped the bottom of her mask. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” asked Cap with a smile. “Oh, would you pull it already!” said Tom grinning, “I’m sitting on pins and needles here!” Cap continued pulling the mask until it was completely off.

Graham looked at her beautiful face and said, “Wait a minute! I know you don’t I?” “You ought to.” she said softly, “You took the place I earned in the squadron at Tuskegee!” “Oh my God! Gladys?” he said with a smile, “I told you that you were a class act! If someone that had been promoted over me were introduced to me I think I’d want to whack ‘em one!” Gladys giggled and replied, “I was angry at you and all of the men at Tuskegee for that one, Tom. After a while though, I had to realize that it wasn’t your fault entirely. They chose you mainly because you were a man. We were nearly equal in every way as far as training was concerned.”

“Not entirely, Gladys.” said Tom. She thought he was going to say something that would cast him in a better light than her, but he said, “You could fly circles around me and I knew it! I even tried to tell the commander and the general that, but they put me in your place anyway. I tried to find you afterward, but you’d been transferred.” “Why did you look for me?” she asked. “To tell you…to apologize to you for what they’d done, so you wouldn’t hate me.” he explained, “I kind of liked you, but we were such fierce competitors that I couldn’t approach you without looking weak to the other guys or you thinking that I was trying some underhanded trick to get you to quit because of our relationship.”

“You know something Major Graham?” asked Gladys. “What’s that?” he replied. “You talk too much!” she answered as she grabbed him and kissed him passionately. He returned the kiss, which led to a full blown make-out session that almost steamed up the office’s frosted windows. When they finally came up for air, Tom asked, “How long has it been since you’ve done this?” Gladys giggled and replied, “A very, very long time! Could you tell?” “Oh yeah!” he said laughing, “I’m just glad you know how to control your strength! Otherwise, this could prove to be a little dangerous for me!” They both laughed out loud, until a knock came at the door.

“Yes?” said Major Graham. “Pardon, Major.” said Major Kirsten Martin, General Morgan’s aide, “There’s been a development in the Virginia operation. The General wants to see all parties concerned right away.” “Thank you, Major. We’ll be right there.” replied Graham. “I guess playtime’s over, Princess!” said Tom with a smile. “Oh, poo!” said Gladys with a playful pout, putting on her mask, “I suppose Captain Williams and Major Graham will become…involved after this?” “You’re gonna have a difficult time getting rid of me, sweetheart!” said Tom. “God, I hope so!” said Cap, kissing Tom one last time through her mask. Major Graham opened the door for her and they went down the hall to the conference room. Captain Freedom was glowing, literally, when they walked in. As Cap sat down, Patriot Girl leaned over to her and whispered, “Uh Cap, ya might want to tone down the aura a little! Colonel and General Morgan are beginning to suspect what happened in that empty office over the last hour!”

“And how do you know what went on in there, young lady?” said Cap raising an eyebrow, “Did you peek through the wall?” “Why Cap, I would never do something like that!” she replied in mock shock, “I did listen a couple of times though.” “PG!” said Cap, “That was private stuff!” “I couldn’t help but overhear you guys!” said Patriot Girl, “Super hearing, you know!” “Yeah, right!” said Cap with a smirk, thumping Patriot Girl in the forehead.

General Morgan cleared his throat and said, “We received word from Virginia just a few moments ago. Of the 2 operatives we sent to the area in question, only one returned. She managed to get a statement dictated to a classified stenographer before she too passed away. We’re a go, people, for Operation: Arachnicide! Individual assignments are as follows: Captain Freedom and The Green Dragon will go after The Spider Queen and The Black Lotus. Wonder Woman and Patriot Girl will assist Holmes and Watson with the retrieval of the Duke of Shrewsbury. The agent also gave us a date and a time.”

“For what, General?” asked Patriot Girl. “We don’t know yet.” replied General Morgan, “That’s why you’re all moving out ASAP. The date is today and the time is 2100 hours. That means that Major Graham’s squadron will attack and obliterate the entire Shenandoah Fields plantation at 2030. Your ground assault/rescue group has precisely 7 hours to accomplish your mission. Exactly 7 hours from my mark, Major, you will begin the annihilation of the entire plantation! Do you read me, Major?” Graham stood up from his seat at attention and said, “Yes sir, General sir!” “Very well.” he replied, “ The sealed folders in front of you contain all the information we have on The Spider Queen, Shenandoah Fields, the Duke of Shrewsbury, everything. You now have 7 hours…mark! Good luck to you all! May God be with you!”

On the way out the door, The Green Dragon turned to Captain Freedom and said quietly, “There is something I must do urgently. I pray you excuse me for a few minutes.” “Oh, I don’t know Dragon!” Cap whispered, “How long will you be?” “Not more than 20 minutes, I give you my word.” she replied, “It really is most urgent! It is literally a matter of life and death!” “Alright, Mariko.” Cap answered, “But please hurry.” “Arigato, Captain-san!” said The Green Dragon with a smile, “I will return before you know I am gone!” The Dragon waved her hand and disappeared. “Where’s she off to?” asked Tom walking up to her, “You need every spare second you can get!” “Don’t worry, Tom. She’ll be back in 20 minutes tops.” said Cap confidently.

“Well Princess, I guess I’ll see ya when I see ya!” said Tom with a sad look. “Yes, you will, Major.” replied Cap. Tom put his hand on her cheek and she placed her hand on top of it. “You be careful, Major Thomas Graham!” said Cap softly, “I want you back in one piece!” “Hey, don’t sweat it, doll!” said Tom taking both her hands, “You’re the one going into the lion’s den, not me! I’ll be safe in my plane, remember? You just get your cute little rear end out of there before 2030 hours, Captain! That’s an order!” Cap smiled, came to attention, saluted and said, “Yes, sir!” “Oh, c’mere you!” he said with a chuckle, hugging Cap tightly. He let her go, stroked her silky ebon tresses and walked down the hall to the elevator.

Captain Freedom watched him as he boarded the car and the doors closed. Patriot Girl and Wonder Woman both giggled as they had been observing the entire exchange. “What are you two laughing at?” she asked. “You’re glowing again, Cap!” said Patriot Girl. “So what? I do that quite often!” said Cap matter-of-factly. “Yes, but not pink, my super-girlfriend!” said Princess Diana with a wide grin. Cap super-speeded to the ladies’ room mirror and saw what the two dynamic daredolls were referring to. Sure enough, Cap’s aura that was usually bright red was now a warm, creamy pink color! Wonder Woman and Patriot Girl walked into the restroom laughing and Cap joined the levity herself.

“So Cap, I guess this means you kinda like the big lug, huh?” said Patriot Girl with a wry grin. “Allow me to congratulate you on yet another brilliant deduction!” said Cap facetiously, “It’s just astounding how you do that, PG!” “Yeah, and with absolutely no clues whatsoever!” replied Patriot Girl laughing out loud, “So do you know where The Green Dragon went? We need to get airborne as soon as the Cloaked Fist Squadron is ready for takeoff!” “I don’t know where she went PG, but she said she’d be back within 20 minutes, that should be plenty of time.” Cap answered, her aura fading, “Come on ladies, let’s go visit Virginia and kick some spider butt!”

*****

A holding cell at an Army base near Washington, DC…

Magda Malone sat in her cell dressed in the grey uniform of a condemned prisoner. She was the only person being held in the brig and she had just been given her last meal. She had barely touched it at all, the vision of Ace Madden’s face still lingering in her mind. Her grief and sorrow were more than she could bear. She set the tray of food aside and fell to her knees weeping with heavy sobs. “God, I wish there were some way I could make this right!” Magda prayed, “I'd do anything to see Ace smile at me again! Just to know he doesn’t hate me forever! I guess I’ll never get that chance now!”

“A wise man once told me that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear!” said a mysterious female voice. Magda looked around, shocked, but saw no one. “Who is that??” she asked trembling, “Who’s there??” A green glow came from the corner of Magda’s cell and The Green Dragon stepped out from it. “The Green Dragon!” said Magda standing to her feet, “What are you doing here?” “Did you mean what you just said Magda?” asked the lovely Dragon, “Would you give anything to make amends for your treason against your country?” “Yes, anything!” said Magda with a serious look. “Would you dedicate your life to this, Magda?” inquired The Green Dragon, “Enduring pain, denial of self, facing danger and possible death constantly, while serving others for the rest of your natural life?”

“Yes, most certainly!” said Magda without hesitation. The Green Dragon’s eyes glowed as she peered into Magda’s soul and saw that she spoke the truth. “The hand of evil brought you great fear and turned your hurt into a weapon that almost destroyed you, Magda Malone.” said the Dragon, “But I see in you a repentant heart and a determined mind to right the wrongs you have done. Therefore, I will give you this chance. Will you swear before God and the universe He has created, that you will learn what I teach you, use the power and ability I shall give you to preserve life and fight for righteousness and justice in the Earth?”

Magda dropped to one knee, looked up into The Green Dragon’s beautiful, mysterious face and said solemnly, “Yes, I swear it!” “Then do not fear the dawn, Magda.” said the Dragon, with a smile, “A new life will await you beyond your greatest imaginations! I will see you soon!” The Green Dragon embraced her and then disappeared. Magda felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart. The sorrow and pain she felt so deeply was gone. She was ready to face the dawning of the new day and her execution.

*****

Minutes later, at a secret airfield near WEAPON HQ…

The Cloaked Fist Squadron was fueled and fully loaded for their mission. The pilots had been briefed and the top secret planes were on the tarmac in readiness for flight. Captain Freedom, Wonder Woman, Patriot Girl, Holmes and Watson, landed at the airfield in Princess Diana’s invisible plane. “A truly amazing contrivance, Your Highness!” remarked Holmes to Wonder Woman, “And you say it never needs fuel?” “Not in the conventional sense, Mr. Holmes.” answered Wonder Woman, “There is a power source from my home that only needs to be replenished every few years of operation.” “Amazing, Princess!” said Holmes, “Absolutely astounding! If we could harness this energy, it would mean an end to deaths by freezing, electric lights that burn for decades…”

“And used by those with minds like Hitler, Mussolini and their allies, it would be perverted into a dreadful, catastrophic weapon!” said Wonder Woman firmly, “No, Mr. Holmes! Man’s world is not ready for this kind of power! The entire world would be at risk! If this source of energy were to be made available to the world the way things are now, you would destroy yourselves and everyone else along with you! The gift of the gods must remain our secret for now, Mr. Holmes. Perhaps, one day when war is a long forgotten memory, we can share this with mankind, but not now. I hope you can understand.”

“I do, Princess.” said Holmes, “The reputation of the wisdom of the Amazons is extremely well deserved. So long as there is war, we are not ready, Princess. I just wish we could help the people of the world with this.” “As do I, Mr. Holmes.” replied Diana, “That’s why I’m here to help the world realize that war is an outdated, obsolete means of resolving a conflict. We must learn to use peace and love to do so. I’ll keep on fighting until the nations of this planet realize that! I’m just glad we Amazons have long life spans!” The whole group broke into laughter. “Did I miss much?” asked The Green Dragon, appearing from nowhere.

“Not much at all!” said Captain Freedom, with a smile, “We were just waiting for you to arrive! Are you prepared to go?” “Yes, Captain. Whenever you’re ready.” the Dragon replied. “Princess, let’s get airborne!” said Cap, “Dragon, are those wings for show or can you fly?” “Oh, I can keep up with you, Captain! Don’t worry!” said The Green Dragon with a grin. “Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let’s do this!” said Captain Freedom, leaping into the air. Patriot Girl and The Green Dragon followed with Wonder Woman’s invisible plane bringing up the rear.

*****

Shenandoah Fields, the lair of The Spider Queen…

The Spider Queen stared deeply into the woman’s eyes and commanded, “Tell me, my sweet. What will the forces of WEAPON do now?” “NO!...Won’t…tell you…anything!” said the attractive WEAPON operative, “Won’t…betray…my country! NEVER!” The athletically built woman flipped free of the two Black Spiders that held her and bolted for the door. The way was blocked by three more of the sleek, black-clad femme fatales. The WEAPON agent saw only one way out. She reached into a hidden pocket, pulled out a small capsule and shoved it in her mouth quickly.

“NO!! STOP HER, YOU FOOLS!!” shouted the Queen, but it was too late. The agent bit down on the capsule and the fast acting cyanide contained in it, did its deadly work. She was dead in the seconds it took the Black Spiders to reach her. The Spider Queen ran down to the agent’s corpse and checked her vitals. Enraged to find her deceased, the Queen whirled around and fired a poisoned dart into each of the two Black Spiders that allowed her to escape. The girls screamed from the intense pain and convulsions that resulted from the concentrated mixture of spider venom and exotic botanical poisons working through their systems. They were dead in less than a minute. “Dispose of these incompetent imbeciles!” commanded The Spider Queen, sitting down hard on the golden Spider Throne. The Black Spiders devotedly did her bidding.

“Well, dear Lotus, now we must prepare for guests without knowing how many places to set at dinner!” said the Queen facetiously, “It would be most rude if we were not prepared!” “The Black Spiders will be more than ready to greet our honored guests, Majesty!” said The Black Lotus. “What of you, my dear?” asked the Queen, “Will you be ready to embrace your sister if she should be with them?” “I will enfold her in my arms and never let her go…until she is dead or I cannot hold her any longer.” said Lotus with a furrowed brow, “Either way, we will meet our destinies this day!”

“Well spoken, my dear!” praised the Queen. “Shall we accelerate our plans, Majesty?” asked Lotus, “They may know our intentions!” “Even if by some miracle the other agent survived The Creeper’s embrace, the plan is too delicately balanced to stop or accelerate at this point! The signal will go out at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, as planned. By morning, all of the male leaders of the free world will be dead and the nations will be in an uproar! The Axis powers will sweep into every Allied nation and subdue the populations for us! After the smoke clears, we will enslave the minds of the power mad puppets running the Third Reich, execute them and then The Cult of The Black Spider shall rule the Earth! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

TO BE CONCLUDED…in Episode IX - The Spider’s Bite!

Doubleb66 · 17 years ago

This is an early Christmas present for me! Thanks for another outstanding update! You KNOW I'm a Captain Freedom addict and I was really jonesing for another "hit." :drinkers:
If I'm good, do you think "Santa" will put the conclustion to this story in my Christmas stocking?

superpics4les · 17 years ago

This was a long update to do! I'm sorry it took so long. Even with this there has to be an epilogue to wind up everything correctly!

That being said here is the conclusion to Captain Freedom versus The Spider Queen! Enjoy! 8)

*****

Episode IX - The Spider’s Bite!

March 12, 1942, 1530 hours, 5 hours until target annihilation…

The journey to Lake Chesdin, Virginia took about 1.5 hours. The group of heroines and Holmes & Watson landed some distance away from the Shenandoah Fields plantation to avoid detection by The Spider Queen’s minions. This was mainly the suggestion of Holmes and Patriot Girl. While Wonder Woman amazing invisible plane was undetectable by the human eye, the droning of its engine would possibly give warning of the group’s presence. Once Princess Diana landed safely, Captain Freedom and Patriot Girl cloaked the entire group and they flew the short distance to the main house of the plantation.

The group split into the two teams that the General ordered and entered the house from two different directions, one team in the back, the other the front, but both cloaked. Captain Freedom and The Green Dragon silently crept through the front entrance, Cap’s penetra-vision looking for any sign of secret passages or booby traps. She found a trap door that if she didn’t have the ability to fly would have dropped her onto a bed of long, razor-sharp spikes. Suddenly, The Green Dragon stiffened and grabbed Cap by the shoulder, stopping her forward movement. She sensed three of the Black Spiders just ahead, adhering to the ceiling. The Dragon moved with superhuman speed, rolled forward and hurled three shuriken into the darkness above her. Cap heard three gasps of pain and the Black Spiders fell to the floor.

“Are they…dead?” asked Cap. “No, Captain.” said The Dragon, “I will try not to kill as much as possible this day. These women are under the influence of The Spider Queen’s sinister hypnotic powers. Once she is gone, they will be free once again to choose between good and evil. However, some of them serve her of their own free will. Upon them I will have no mercy, unless they surrender. If not, they will perish along with The Black Lotus.” “I understand.” said Cap, “Come my sister, let’s get this mission done.” The Dragon nodded and the two heroines continued their cautious search of the interior.

Wonder Woman, Patriot Girl, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, entered through a secret door that Holmes had located in the rear of the structure. Patriot Girl stopped Holmes momentarily to disarm a signaling switch that would have set off an alarm if Holmes had continued to open it. “I wish I had that penetra-vision of yours, Patriot Girl.” said Holmes softly, “It would come in handy in many investigations.” “Indeed, it would, old chap!” whispered Watson. “Wonder Woman, why don’t you take the lead and I’ll protect our rear behind Holmes and Watson.” said Patriot Girl. “Good idea, PG.” said Wonder Woman, with a wink, using Cap’s nickname for Patriot Girl. Patriot Girl smiled and winked back as the quartet entered the domicile.

*****

Meanwhile, deep under the house, in The Spider Queen’s private chamber…

The Spider Queen was busily working on another diabolical means of delivering her deadliest venom. It was a mixture of Black Widow venom, curare, Brown Recluse venom and a few exotic botanical extracts. It would enslave the mind of the one unfortunate enough to be envenomed by making them extremely susceptible to suggestion or hypnotic influence. In addition, within 3 minutes of being injected with this fiendish concoction, the victim would perish, as all the body’s systems would become paralyzed and shut down. The Queen smiled and was eager to test the new delivery system. She summoned one of her male slaves, one that was showing signs of resistance to her hypnotic domination and mind-altering drug treatments.

“Yes, my Queen? You rang for me? What is your desire?” he asked. “Yes Dorian, come here. Attend me.” she purred. Dorian obeyed, moving swiftly to her side. “Come slave, embrace me.” said the Queen. Dorian smiled and put his massive arms around his mistress, not suspecting what she had in mind for him. While he held her close, she said, “You are no longer under my control, are you Dorian?” His eyes grew wide and he replied, “What ever do mean, Majesty? I live to serve you, my lady.” “I have noticed how your…servicing of my needs has changed, how you hold me, how you respond to my touch.” she said softly, “We need to insure your fidelity, so we not, my love?” “Mistress, I am yours forever!” said Dorian, caressing her black satin covered body, “I would give my life for you!”

“Very well.” replied the Queen, “Then kiss me.” Dorian looked into her eyes, smiled and kissed her passionately. He continued giving her tender kisses on her cheek and down to her neck. “Does that convince you of how much I love you, my Queen?” he asked still nuzzling her neck. “Mmmmm, that is nice, but I have another test in mind.” she said. Swift as a spider, The Spider Queen opened her mouth wide with a hiss. Twin fangs flipped into place and she sank them deep into Dorian’s neck at its base. Dorian gasped and almost immediately dropped to the floor. “Now Dorian, my lover, what were you planning?” interrogated the Queen, “Speak!” “I was…formulating a plan…to escape, Mistress.” he said with a vacant stare. “Was there anyone else in this plan with you?” she asked. “Y…yes…Mistress Felicia…was coming with me!” he responded, “We love…each other!”

“Oh, isn’t that sweet!” said the Queen sarcastically, wiping Dorian’s blood from her lips, “I must give her my good-bye kiss as well!” The Spider Queen looked at the small gilded clock on her dressing table. It had been approximately two and a half minutes. Dorian’s breathing became labored. His heartbeat began to slow. Within 15 more seconds, he was dead. She rang for another muscular male slave and told him to dispose of Dorian’s body, but to keep it quiet, especially from Mistress Felicia. After the slave was gone, The Spider Queen removed the now empty hollow fang apparatus from her mouth. She was pleased with its performance and refilled the reservoirs on ether side of each fang with the evil venom mixture. She then put it back in the compartment on her belt, along with the other two pair.

“Mistress Felicia will soon feel the bite of The Spider Queen as well!” she thought, “Once it is known about the fate of these two traitors to the cult, the other members of the cult will not dare to defy me! I will be a true goddess having the power of life and death over them! Soon the world will be at my feet, worshipping me, bringing me its wealth and riches! No one will be able stop me! NO ONE!!”

*****

Up in the manor house of Shenandoah Fields…

Wonder Woman, Holmes, Watson and Patriot Girl had progressed to the main ballroom of the mansion. One could tell that it had once been extremely opulent, but now was a place fit only for the ghosts of the past. Patriot Girl suddenly detected ten heartbeats in the grand ballroom coming from the shadows. “Wonder Woman, stand back to back with Holmes and Watson between us, quickly!” she shouted. Just as the heroines assumed the positions that Patriot Girl had suggested, a volley of shuriken and darts flew toward the group from the shadows at dazzling speed. Princess Diana assumed the “bullets and bracelets” pose, deflecting the deadly projectiles as fast as they approached. Patriot Girl put up an energy shield, but felt lightheaded while doing so.

“Oh Lord, not now! Please not now!” she thought wildly, “The Urbalinium! It’s starting to fail! I can feel it! But I haven’t thrown up in days! What’s happening to me?” “Princess, how ya doin’ over there?” asked Patriot Girl. “I’d be better if I could see where they were coming from!” Diana replied, “Can you see them?” “Yes, I can!” said Patriot Girl, “But my powers are beginning to fade, Diana! I’ve got an idea, but I have to drop my shield! Can you protect Holmes and Watson when I do?” “I think so PG! Just let me know!” replied the intrepid Amazon. Patriot Girl smiled and said, “OK, get ready, Diana…getting the range…tracing trajectories…NOW!” Patriot Girl’s energy bolts traced the trajectories of the darts and shuriken exactly. The Black Spiders fell to the ground like insects that had been sprayed with Raid and the attack ceased.

“Well done, my dear!” said Dr. Watson. “Extremely well done, indeed!” echoed Holmes. “Nice job, PG!” said Diana, almost out of breath, “How did you do that?” “Well, I could see the Spiders with my infra-vision but not very clearly. I think that part of their stealth is psychic.” she explained, “I figured It would be a simple process to trace the trajectory of each of projectiles and use it as an aiming point back to its source and VOILA, KO’d spiders!” “Amazing, my dear girl!” said Holmes, “Your computational and cognitive functions must be increasing geometrically! Absolutely astounding!” Just then, Diana grasped her head and her knees felt weak.

“Princess Diana, are you alright, my dear?” asked Dr. Watson. “I don’t know Doctor.” said Diana, “I suddenly feel so weak. I…Ohhhh…* Wonder Woman passed out. Watson caught her and set her down gently on the dusty floor of the ballroom. Watson looked her over and saw a red mark on her shoulder. “Oh my gracious, Holmes!” said Watson, “One of those star things must have reached her! I don’t have any anti-venom or instruments with me to help her! Holmes, Patriot Girl, what can we do?” “I honestly don’t know, old fellow!” said Holmes, “There must be something you can do!” “We need to get the poison out of her body, Holmes!” said Watson, “But if it’s already traveled to her brain enough to knock her out, there may not be much hope!”

Patriot Girl gazed intently at Diana’s wound using her micro-vision. She looked for the structure of the venom itself and found it. Then she smiled. “Patriot Girl, what is it?” said Holmes, looking at her, “Did you find something?” “Yes, Mr. Holmes!” she said excitedly, “My micro-vision tells me that the venom hasn’t reached her brain yet, Dr. Watson! It’s contained near her shoulder by her Amazonian antibodies! The fight is so intense that all the body’s strength is focused on pushing out the venom, that’s probably why she passed out!” “Of course!” replied Watson, “The body will sometimes shut itself down to allow the system to heal! This kind of battle must be extremely intense!”

“You got it, Doc!” said Patriot Girl, “Wow! I wish you could see this! The antibodies have contained the venom and begun forcing it back toward the wound, but they’re at a standstill! They aren’t allowing the poison to move forward, but they can’t push it out either! They need help!” Patriot Girl quickly went to her knees next to Diana’s left shoulder. She squeezed the wound hoping that the pressure would force the venom out, but it didn’t work. Finally, she had a thought from an old western she watched once. Patriot Girl focused her mind on controlling the laser-like beams that she could emit from her eyes. A single hair-thin beam from her right eye issued forth and made a 1/2 inch incision on Diana’s shoulder. She did this once more creating an “x” shaped cut. She then formed a tight seal over the wound with her lips.

Patriot Girl, using super-suction, drew hard on the wound. She could taste the evil bitterness of the venom filling her mouth, it was horrible. The super-teen kept on taking in the venom until she began to taste the sweet-saltiness of the Amazon Princess’ blood in her mouth. Then she spit it all out and re-examined the wound with her micro-vision. “Did you get it all out, Patriot Girl?” asked Dr. Watson. Patriot Girl smiled, breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Yes, thank God! I see no trace of it left in her!” Watson hugged her and said, “Young lady, if you ever decide that detective work is not for you, I would be honored to sponsor you at my alma mater to receive your medical degree!” Patriot Girl kissed him on the cheek and replied, “Thanks a lot Doc, but I think I’ll stick to busting bad guys! Now let’s see about that wound!”

Patriot Girl focused her awesome mind on projecting a field of pure Urbalinium over Diana’s wound, somehow knowing that it would heal her faster. The area glowed red and as they watched, the small wound sealed up quickly and healed without a scar. “Astonishing!” said Holmes, “Absolutely astonishing!” Diana’s beautiful blue eyes fluttered open and she looked up at the three faces that stared at her with such concern. “What are you all staring at?” she said puzzled, “I just passed out for a minute! You all look like I was on the verge of death or something!” They all laughed and Dr. Watson relayed the heroic actions of Patriot Girl which had saved her life.

Diana stood up and took both of Patriot Girl’s hands. The Amazon Princess placed the backs of her hands on her chest and said, “Patriot Girl, I will never be able to repay you for saving my life. You were not born an Amazon, but as the Princess of Thymiscera, I adopt you as my sister and into the sisterhood of the Amazon nation. If you ever need me or your sisters at anytime, call and we will answer! May Hera bless you always and thank you! I love you, PG!” The two heroines embraced each other. Holmes almost became misty and Watson dabbed a tear from his eye. “Now, let’s find this spider,” said Wonder Woman firmly, “and kill it!” Wonder Woman grabbed one of the stronger Black Spiders who was beginning to regain consciousness and wrapped her Magic Lasso around her. Diana interrogated her and found out where the entrance to the underground lair was located. She then took the lasso off the one Black Spider, lassoed the others with her in a group and put them all to sleep until she came back to release them.

Patriot Girl contacted Captain Freedom and told her to rendezvous with her group in the main drawing room near the front of the house. Cap acknowledged and the two groups met and swapped information. The Black Spider that Wonder Woman interrogated was the equivalent of a Colonel in the Black Spider army. She told Diana where the young Duke was being held and how many Black Spiders were guarding him at all times. She also gave detailed instructions on how to find The Spider Queen and The Black Lotus in the maze of tunnels and corridors beneath the house. “OK, people it’s 1745 .” said Captain Freedom, looking at her chronometer from her belt, “That’s means we have two hours and forty-five minutes before this place gets wiped off the map! We’ll meet back here at 2015. I take it none of you will be late?” “Not if we can help it, Cap!” said Patriot Girl with a smile. Cap held out her hand and each member of the team put their hand in. “Be safe, be careful and be quick!” said Cap, “Let’s move!”

*****

Meanwhile, in the Spider Queen’s Chamber of Audience…

The Black Lotus ran into the chamber and shouted, “My Queen! The Americans! They’re here!” “Have you seen them, Lotus dear?” asked The Spider Queen. “No, my lady, but I have sensed my sister’s power in the mansion!” replied Lotus, “The tremor is unmistakable! She is here and if she is here…” “Then so are the others!” said the Queen finishing Lotus’ statement, “Very well, alert all Spider units! Prepare for battle! Find them! Destroy them! NOW!” “Yes, Majesty, at once!” answered Lotus. Lotus ran to a console set in the wall near the Queen’s anteroom and punched a button. A loud klaxon began to sound rousing all of the Black Spiders to duty. At once, they slipped into the shadows, creeping through the darkness, seeking those who had dared to intrude upon the sanctity of their lair, to make them pay with their lives.

As they were ordered, Patriot Girl, Wonder Woman, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went in search of The Duke of Shrewsbury. The directions were impeccable and soon the intrepid troupe arrived near the cell where he was being held. Well out of sight, Patriot Girl probed the darkness and detected 20 different heartbeats. “Diana, I have to confess something to you.” said Patriot Girl sadly, “I still have my powers, but I can only use them one at a time it seems. I didn’t hide anything this time, I swear it! It just happened since we’ve been on mission!” Diana smiled and said, “Don’t worry little sister. We’ll make do with what we have.” “Ladies, I’ve studied the situation and I think I have a ruse that will cut down our chances of injury and detection.” said Holmes, “Here’s what we need to do…”

Near the Chamber of Audience, Captain Freedom and The Green Dragon, still cloaked, moved cautiously down the corridors ever mindful of traps and tricks set by The Spider Queen. The Green Dragon suddenly stopped and seized Cap by the arm. “What is it, my friend?” asked Cap, “What is it you feel?” “My sister, The Black Lotus, Captain.” she replied, “She is in the chamber just ahead.” “How do you know?” Cap inquired. “The Fifth Force, Captain.” replied the Dragon, “While she does not access it to the magnitude that I do, it is stronger within her than it was when we last faced each other many years ago. She has been practicing! This will be more of a challenge than I surmised!” Cap gazed at The Green Dragon with a concerned look, evident even through her mask.

“Do not fear for me, my friend.” said the Dragon with a smile, “She will pay for her iniquities this evening, with her life! She cannot hope to best me, I promise you!” Cap smiled back and recloaked the both of them. After a few more steps, Cap stopped, staring at the walls ahead. “A trap, my friend?” asked the Dragon. “I believe so.” said Cap, “It’s hard to tell my penetra-vision can’t seem to get through this substance in the walls! I’ve never encountered something I couldn’t see through before! It’s like Superman not being able to see through lead, except I can see through lead, but not this stuff!”

“Can you see the trip for the mechanism, Captain?” asked The Green Dragon. Cap nodded. “Where is it?” she asked. “Right there, on the ground directly in front of us about 6 feet away.” said Cap, pointing to the area. “Let’s move back.” said the Dragon. “What are you going to do?” asked Cap. “Why, set it off of course!” said the Dragon with a smile, “Our hostess went through so much trouble to make the invitation, it would be rude not to accept!” Cap smiled and nodded again. The Green Dragon threw a shuriken into the ground exactly where Captain Freedom had pointed. Suddenly, heavy iron doors slammed into place in front of them and behind them. A thick, white cloud began issuing from hidden vents in the ceiling and the along the walls, near the ground. The powerful duo tried to hold their breath, but it was futile. The toxin from the fumes absorbed through their skin and reached their bloodstreams anyway. They both finally succumbed to the gas and fell to the ground unconscious.

*****

In the Chamber of Audience, 1930 hours…

The Spider Queen had assembled the Cult of The Black Spider before her in the great chamber. The venom gas had worked perfectly and rendered Captain Freedom and The Green Dragon as helpless as newborn babes. It had also been reported that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson had been captured while attempting to free The Duke of Shrewsbury. Cap and the Dragon had been secured to posts of solid oak and their bodies bound tightly to them with chrome steel bands. The posts had been poised over the pit where The Great Spider waited to be fed. Just as The Spider Queen was finishing her opening remarks, The Creeper strode in proudly shoving Holmes and Watson in front of her. Behind her were 2 Black Spiders. One of them carried Patriot Girl over her right shoulder; the other carried Wonder Woman the same way.

The Duke of Shrewsbury walked up to the Queen and went to one knee bowing before her. “Well done, my boy, very well done!” laughed the Queen. “Thank you, my Queen!” said Charles Bryony, 19th Duke of Shrewsbury, “As you predicted, your Majesty, they were quite taken by surprise when I sprayed the venom gas in their faces! Oddly enough, they wouldn’t go down until The Creeper arrived and struck them both unconscious!” The Spider Queen then smiled widely revealing her million dollar smile and said, “Ah, my dear Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment!” “My dear, Miss Spedding, you have no idea how many times from how many villain’s mouths I’ve heard that same sentence!” replied Holmes defiantly.

Enraged, The Spider Queen stepped forward and backhanded Holmes across the face and shouted, “You will address me as ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Your Grace’, Sherlock! You stand before a Queen! Creeper, why are they still standing?? KNEEL THEM!!” The Creeper grinned and kicked both Holmes and Watson in the area behind their knees forcing them both to the ground in a kneeling position before The Spider Queen. “That’s better!” purred the Queen, sitting gracefully on the golden Spider Throne, “Now, perhaps if you beg me sufficiently I may grant you clemency and simply make you my personal slave, instead of feeding you to my little pet, Holmes! You may start, now!” Holmes leaned forward and spat on the ground near the Queen’s satin covered foot.

“How dare you!!” shouted The Creeper. The green she-devil seized Watson by the throat and closed her green satin covered hand around the doctor’s larynx. “You will clean up tha’ offense and quickly, Mr. ‘olmes!” said The Creeper with a giggle, “Or I’ll snap ‘is neck like a dry twig!” Holmes took out a handkerchief to wipe up the spittle, but The Creeper stopped him and said, “Ah-ah-ah, Mr. ‘olmes! You put it down with your mouth, clean it the same way!” Holmes looked at her in deep shock. “That’s right, Mr. ‘olmes, with your tongue!” said The Creeper tightening her death grip around Watson’s neck, “Lick it! NOW!!”

Watson’s eyes pleaded, but Holmes knew it wasn’t for him to do it; it was for him NOT to do it! Holmes knew that Watson would rather give his own life than for Holmes to degrade himself this way, but he also knew that Watson’s years of friendship meant more to him than a simple act of degradation. Holmes licked up the spittle and cast a look of intense hatred at The Creeper. “Swallow, ‘olmes! Do it!” the green beast commanded, tightening her grip again. Holmes closed his eyes and swallowed as Watson shed a tear. The Creeper laughed and released Watson who fell on his face trying to catch his breath.

The Spider Queen grinned with delight, showing her million dollar smile. “Now Holmes, before you and Dr. Watson perish, you will watch your four heroine friends die!” said the Queen. “These two will feed The Great Spider, “ she said as she motioned toward the tightly bound Captain Freedom and The Green Dragon, “And these two will be summarily executed right before your eyes!” “Have some mercy for the child, at least!” pleaded Watson. “She has chosen to defy the will of the Great One, Doctor!” said the Queen, with an evil smile, “Such a transgression must be punished!” “If you mush kill someone, then kill me!” said Watson, “She’s only a girl! Just barely begun to live!” “SILENCE!” shouted the Queen, “She and Wonder Woman will die! There will be no clemency, I promise you!”

“And I promise you, that if you harm that girl, I’ll see you dead before this day is done…Majesty!” said Holmes through his clenched teeth. The Spider Queen laughed and motioned toward The Black Lotus to carry out the execution. The ninja woman slinked over to the two heroines who lay face down on the stairs. Lotus moved their heads to the top step and waited for the Queen’s command. Just before the Queen could lower her hand, Patriot Girl awakened. When the young heroine saw what was about to happen, she screamed through her gag. The Black Spiders holding Holmes and Watson were having a tough time restraining them, each one trying to get loose to rescue the young girl.

The screams just made The Spider Queen’s ruthless smile wider. She dropped her black satin gloved hand with a quick motion and down came the razor-sharp edge of The Black Lotus’ sword, severing the girl’s head from her shoulders. Lotus raised the sword again to decapitate Wonder Woman who was still unconscious. Lotus looked at the Queen, the arm fell, the sword lopped off the Amazon Princess’ head as well. Holmes had closed his eyes after Patriot Girl’s death. He now opened them and said, “Spider Queen, you had better kill me now! Because as heaven is my witness, I will kill you with my own hands! Do you hear me, you satanic slut? MY OWN HANDS!!”

“My, what an ungentlemanly thing to say, Holmes!” said the Queen with an evil grin, “What was she to you, a daughter, a protégé?” “Possibly the greatest detective of her generation, Miss Spedding!” said Holmes. The Spider Queen stepped forward to strike Holmes again, but a black gloved hand grabbed her wrist stopping her movements. The Spider Queen looked at the Black Spider and shouted, “How dare you lay hands on your Queen in this manner! I will execute you for this treason!” “The only one that’s going to be executed for treason here is you!” replied the Black Spider. “Creeper, kill this little twit, at once!” commanded the Queen. “With extreme pleasure, Majesty!” said The Creeper.

The Black Spider released The Spider Queen’s arm and turned to face The Creeper. The two combatants circled each other as the Spiders backed off giving them room to battle. The Creeper hissed and leaped for the Spider. The black clad female stood her ground and swung her fist, connecting with The Creeper’s jaw, sending her sprawling. The Queen and Lotus both gasped. The Creeper had never been so easily knocked down before! The Creeper was aghast. She charged the diminutive figure, pounced on her back and caught her by the throat. The green she-devil began to laugh as her powerful grip tightened around the young woman’s neck. Strangely enough, the Spider made no sounds of choking! Her breathing was strong and steady.

“Impossible! No one can survive the death-grip of The Creeper!” she declared squeezing even harder. “There’s a first time for every thing Creepy!” said the Spider as she stood up with The Creeper on her back, broke the grip and spun in place so fast that The Creeper flew off, slamming into the wall behind the Spider Throne and slid down it unconscious. “Who are you??” demanded The Spider Queen, “What is the meaning of this?” “The meaning is simple, Queenie!” said the Spider defiantly, her hands on her hips, “Your little operation is through!” The Spider snatched off her mask and revealed her identity. The Queen screamed her name, “PATRIOT GIRL!!” Patriot Girl smiled and replied, “Give the lady a ceegar for guessing right!” “Attack her, my Spiders!” commanded the Queen, “Kill her! Destroy her!”

The Black Spiders obeyed preparing to swarm Patriot Girl. Suddenly, the Black Spider holding Holmes released him and leapt into the air, twisting and somersaulting in mid-air and landing next to Patriot Girl. The Spider ripped off her mask as well, revealing the beauteous face of Wonder Woman! “You didn’t think I was going to let you have all the fun, did you PG?” asked Diana with a smile, “Like Cap said, let’s kick some spider butt!” The two heroines stood back to back, wiping the floor with Black Spiders left and right. The Spider Queen ran to the control panel and pushed the button to release Captain Freedom and The Green Dragon into the Pit of The Great Spider. The posts dropped and slid down the metal ramp. The Queen and Lotus smiled until they saw that the poles were empty!

The Queen felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to face, Captain Freedom! “No, it’s not possible!” said the Queen, “The gas! I saw you breathe it! You were knocked out, paralyzed! It’s impossible!” Captain Freedom smiled and replied, “Honey, I do impossible everyday! You should get out more!” Cap backhanded The Spider Queen off the platform and onto the Chamber floor. Lotus saw what was happening to her Queen and decided to escape before it was too late. She ran into the anteroom and shut the door locking it. As Lotus turned from the door to head for the exit to the main corridor, a green glowing figure blocked her way. “Leaving so soon, Black Lotus?” said the figure, “Have you no greeting for your sister, Tetsuko?” “MARIKO!” gasped Lotus, “I should have known that even one such as she could not capture you so easily! So you and Captain Freedom were how the Americans put it, playing ‘possum?”

“Correct!” said The Green Dragon, “We were waiting for Patriot Girl and Wonder Woman to make their move so that we could make ours undetected. We didn’t want you or your Queen to have the opportunity to harm Holmes or Watson. Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson put on a convincing show did they not?” “So they knew that we were executing our own people?” asked Lotus. “Of course!” replied the Dragon, “It was Holmes’ idea!” “I suppose Patriot Girl must have communicated their intentions to you and the Captain before your capture.” said Lotus removing her hood, mask and cloak. “Correct again, sister dear!” said the Dragon, “Being with The Spider Queen certainly has improved your cognitive skills, I must say!” “Don’t patronize me, Mariko! It’s why I hated you so!” said Lotus angrily.

“What was your excuse for murdering our entire clan, Tetsuko?!?!” shouted the Dragon ripping off her mask, “Did you hate us all because of your inability to perceive the subtleties of the Fifth Force? WHY DID YOU KILL OUR FATHER???” “I didn’t mean for it to go that far, Mariko!” said Tetsuko, “I thought the government would arrest and execute just you and Father! I didn’t know they would wipe out the whole clan! I swear it!” “And I should believe the word of a traitor?” said Mariko, “The word of one who has taken every ideal we have ever been taught and despoiled it? The word of one who through jealousy has caused the death of our entire clan? No, Tetsuko! Your word means nothing anymore! For the lives you have taken and caused to be taken…for the life of our Father, you must die!”

“Mariko, please, don’t do this!” pleaded Tetsuko, “I surrender to you, don’t kill me!” “I must Tetsuko!” replied Mariko, “Your transgression was not only against me, but our entire clan, my sister! As much as I would like to accept your surrender and simply punish you, you have set me on a path that I must follow to its conclusion! As the only surviving member of our family, honor dictates that I must end your life!” Tetsuko glared at her sister with sinister eyes and said, “You realize that I am more powerful than when we last fought, Mariko! I will not be so easy to defeat this time!” “Yes, sister!” answered Mariko with a smile, “I have sensed your increased abilities, but I too have grown in power since last we met! Make no mistake, this day you will die!”

Tetsuko drew her double bladed sword, pressing a hidden release, extending a razor-sharp blade from both ends and bowed. Mariko smiled again and did the same. Lotus whirled the bladed weapon overhead and then around her curvaceous black satin clad body, stopping in an impressive pose, her satin gloved hand glowing slightly with an eerie purplish light. Mariko matched her move for move, ended in the same pose, her hand glowing bright green. Lotus screamed in anger and frustration and attacked with blinding speed. Mariko countered and the battle began in earnest. The two ninja babes held each other at bay, grinding their sword blades together, seeking to press an advantage over the other. Lotus flipped backwards and caught Mariko under her chin with both heels, knocking her backward slightly. She quickly followed this with an upward stroke of the blade, which was blocked by Mariko’s own.

“Very good, sister!” said Mariko sarcastically, “This battle may have a longer duration than our last one!” “I should have let you drown that day I saved you from that river, Mariko!” said Tetsuko, “I would have if I’d known what a sharp-tongued adder you’d turn out to be!” Mariko smiled and said, “Well, if you don’t like my sharp tongue, then sample my sharp teeth!” Mariko began a flurry of speedy blows with her double bladed weapon, almost too rapid to follow with the naked eye. If not for the Fifth Force present in her, Tetsuko would have been cut to pieces. Tetsuko calmed her fear and mentally slowed the strikes enough to block them all. “I am indeed impressed, Tetsuko!” said Mariko, “That was the technique that lost you the last battle! You have improved much since last we met! Shall we continue?” Tetsuko shouted, “Hai!” The desperate conflict continued.

*****

Meanwhile, out in the Chamber of Audience, Patriot Girl and Wonder Woman were having a marvelous time whaling the tar out of the Black Spiders, sending body after body flying across the subterranean hall, slamming into walls and other Spiders as well. “Having fun Diana?” asked Patriot Girl. “An absolute blast, little sister!” Diana replied with a grin, “How about you?” “Piece of cake, Princess!” answered Patriot Girl. Just then, The Creeper regained consciousness. As her vision cleared, she could see that Wonder Woman and Patriot Girl were defeating the Black Spiders most handily. She thought of escape, but saw The Spider Queen, who had recovered from Captain Freedom’s backhand and was attacking her with her sharp tipped Spider Scepter/Staff.

The Spider Queen’s attack was rather ineffectual, however, as the Captain’s energy shield prevented the sharp poisoned legs of the spider image at the staff’s end from reaching her intended target. “Coward!” shouted the Queen at Cap, “Lower that shield and face me on even terms! What kind of warrior are you, Captain??” “Very well, Queenie, if it’ll make you feel better!” said Cap. She lowered the shield, folded her arms and waited for The Spider Queen to attack again. The Spider Queen smiled and whirled her Spider Staff attempting to strike Captain Freedom. She finally came straight down on Cap’s head with the sharp implement of death thinking, “Fool! Now I’ve got you!” The Queen’s blow struck its mark and the Queen was shocked to see the red metal end of the polearm shatter into a thousand pieces!

The Queen was enraged and snapped the now empty pole over her knee. “Curse you, Captain! You knew that would happen, didn’t you?” “Of course, I did, Queenie!” replied Cap with a grin, “But I thought I’d let you keep the fight going for a while longer! I didn’t want you to die too terribly disappointed!” “DIE??” said the Queen, shocked by Cap’s comment, “You mean you intend to kill me?” “Yes, I’m afraid so!” said Captain Freedom, “The Allied Supreme Commander has issued a termination order for you, my dear Queen! This is your last hurrah!” Cap walked toward The Spider Queen, her eyes glowing eerily. “No Captain, wait!” pleaded the Queen, “I have information about the Axis Powers that could end this war quickly! I’ll tell you if you’ll let me live!”

Cap stopped her advance and asked, “Now what do you think you could possibly tell me that would persuade me to disobey a direct order for your death from the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, not to mention the President of the United States?” “You are a direct threat to the sovereignty of America, England and every European country of the Alliance!” Cap continued, “There is nothing you can say to me that will keep me from carrying out my sworn duty to erase you from the face of the Earth!” “Really, Captain?” purred the Queen, “Then how about this…every Admiral, General, Head of State and member of the Commanding War Council of the Allied Forces will die tonight unless you let me go free and unharmed!” Cap studied her face for a moment, then rushed forward, grasped The Spider Queen by the throat, held her in the air and said, “You’re lying! You’d say anything to save your skin! You pathetic witch!”

“Perhaps!” choked out the Queen, “But are you prepared to take that chance, Captain?” Cap dropped The Spider Queen on her shapely satin covered butt and said, “Tell me how you’re going to do it and if I believe you, I’ll let you go.” “I have your word that if you believe me you’ll let me go?” asked the Queen. “I swear that if I believe you, I’ll let you go.” “Very well.” said The Spider Queen. She explained that each of the Allied VIPs closest female aides had been secretly captured, tortured and programmed that after receiving a certain signal from a tiny transmitter secreted on their person that they always kept with them, at a certain hour, they would strike and kill the VIP and any witness or interfering person that was near them.

“And just where is the transmitter for these ‘angels of death’?” asked Cap. The Spider Queen laughed and said, “I’ll never tell! I will say that it’s somewhere near to my heart and quite inaccessible even to you, Captain!” Cap thought for a moment and then smiled. Cap moved with super-speed and grabbed the Queen by her throat again, lifted her up and carried her to an area over the Great Spider pit that was covered with a carved stone lattice. Cap stomped her foot with great force and a large section of the lattice crumbled at the edge of the pit. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING??” shouted the Queen in terror. “I’m going to give you over to the same fate you were going to treat me to, my dear Queen!” said Captain Freedom. Cap yanked off her belt of tricks and snatched off her cloak. The Queen kicked and screamed, “CREEPER, LOTUS! HELP ME, PLEASE!!”

The Creeper leaped forward to pounce upon Captain Freedom, but was stopped cold by a powerful outstretched Amazon arm. The Creeper fell at Wonder Woman’s feet. The Amazon Princess picked the fallen Creeper up by the throat and brought her to the edge of the pit as well. “Captain Freedom! You promised to let me go!” shrieked The Spider Queen, “You gave me your word!” “You know you’re right I did, didn’t I?” said Cap. “You really must keep your word, Captain!” said Wonder Woman, “It’s in the heroine code!” “Diana, do you really think I should let her go?” asked Cap. “If you gave your word, you really have no choice!” replied Diana with a smile. “Very well, if I must, I must!” said Captain Freedom. So, Captain Freedom released The Spider Queen unharmed…right over the pit of the Great Spider!

The Queen plummeted straight to the bottom of the pit. She screamed in abject horror as the giant black spider slowly approached her. “STOP!” she ordered, “GET BACK! I AM THE SPIDER QUEEN! I ORDER YOU TO STOP!” The huge arachnid stopped and studied her for a moment, then it lurched forward, sinking its large, shiny black fangs into The Spider Queen’s chest. She uttered a single blood-curdling scream as the creature drove its hard sharp appendages into her struggling body. The spider began hurriedly wrapping its paralyzed prey in its silk. Wonder Woman looked at Captain Freedom and said, “The poor thing! It looks like it hasn’t fed for ages! I think it should have dessert as well! Good news, Creeper! I’m going to let you go too!” “NO, PLEASE! NOT THAT!!” screamed The Creeper, “ANYTHING BUT THAT!! PLEASE HAVE MERCY! NOOOOOO!” Diana let her go and The Creeper disappeared into the darkness. She screamed the same as The Spider Queen and didn’t utter another sound.

As soon as The Spider Queen was taken by the Great Spider, most of the Black Spiders, who hadn’t been rendered unconscious by the fantastic fighting skills of Patriot Girl and Wonder Woman, stopped fighting. They slowly began to remove their masks and looked around, appearing very confused and disoriented. One of them approached Wonder Woman and Captain Freedom and said, “I know you. You’re Wonder Woman, aren’t you?” “Last time I looked!” said Diana with a smile, “Who are you?” “I’m 2nd Lieutenant Rhea Mason, U.S. Army.” she answered, “I seem to remember everything. I could see what I was doing, but I couldn’t stop myself from obeying The Spider Queen’s commands. It was like being a puppet, being totally controlled!”

Captain Freedom walked up to the pretty brunette, placed her hand on her shoulder and said, “Well Lieutenant, you’re free now. I suppose when the Queen died, her powerful mind control and influence ended as well.” “And I don’t think we’ll have to worry about our creeping green friend again either!” said Wonder Woman. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that Wonder Woman.” said Lt. Mason. “Why do you say that, Lieutenant?” asked Diana, “The spider wouldn’t turn down a 2 for 1 special would it?” “No, not normally.” replied Mason, “But I remember The Creeper feeding that thing and actually petting it! I don’t think it would ever hurt her! She may have escaped!”

“Oh no!” said Captain Freedom checking the pit with her penetra-vision. “You’re right, Lieutenant!” said Cap angrily, “The spider’s feeding alright, but there’s only one corpse down there! There’s a ventilation shaft that leads to the surface on the other side of the pit with the grating removed! The Creeper did get away!” “Oh, Cap! I feel like such a fool!” said Wonder Woman sadly, “I let that evil murderess trick me! It’s my fault she’s escaped!” “Relax, Diana!” said Cap raising her head, “You couldn’t have known about this! It’s not your fault! We’ll catch her soon enough! In that outfit, somebody’s bound to see her eventually! I mean, she’s not invisible you know!”

“Cap, aren’t you forgetting something?” asked the Amazon Princess, “The Black Lotus trained The Creeper to be a ninja! When she wants to be, she is virtually invisible to everyone! Except for someone like you, Patriot Girl or Superman, none of us could find her!” “I did forget about that!” said Cap sadly, “We may never find her now!” Cap looked up from shaking her head in frustration and said, “Say! Speaking of The Black Lotus, where did she and The Green Dragon get to?” Just then, the wall behind which the Queen anteroom was exploded with green fire! The Black Lotus flew out of the gaping hole, somersaulted in mid-air and landed gracefully on her satin covered feet. The Green Dragon flew out of the hole and landed directly in front of Lotus, assumed a defensive stance and raised her double bladed sword above her head, beckoning Lotus to attack with her left index finger.

Lotus obliged with an evil grin, twirling her own sword around her body and striking devastating blows toward the Dragon so quickly that only the eyes of Patriot Girl and Captain Freedom could follow them. After Mariko had deflected Tetsuko’s every blow with her deadly weapon, she jumped over Tetsuko’s last attempt to slice her through the midsection and landed a Flying Dragon kick to her forehead that sent Tetsuko to the ground dazed and nearly out. As Tetsuko tried to shake off the effects of the blow, Mariko asked, “Is that all you’ve got, sister? All these years of practice must have taught you more than this! Surely you can do better! One of your pathetic Black Spiders could do no worse!”

“ENOUGH, MARIKO!” shouted a now enraged Tetsuko, “You want better? It is better you shall have!” Tetsuko concentrated and held out her doubled edged sword in front of her, perpendicular to the floor. She began chanting something in Japanese that Captain Freedom didn’t understand, but she gasped when she saw the result of it. A dark purple aura, like a flame of fire, formed around Tetsuko. At the same time, the blades of her weapon glowed with an unearthly purple light. “Does this better suit your egotism sister?” asked Tetsuko, her eyes glowing with dark light.

“Yes, my sister!” said Mariko, her own aura blazing green, twirling her double sword with its glowing green blades, “Now we will battle for true!” The two sisters locked into furious battle. Each time the glowing blades of their swords contacted one another, there was a small explosion of light. The blows from both combatants were struck and deflected with such speed that Cap, Patriot Girl, Holmes, Watson and the recovered Black Spiders were nearly blinded by the continued flashes from the releases of energy. The battle continued for several moments until they both began to tire. Then, Tetsuko finally caught a slight hesitation in one of Mariko’s blows and exploited it. The deft stroke of the energized blade caught Mariko in the upper chest, near her left shoulder. Because of Mariko’s incredible agility, the wound was not deep, but noticeable.

Tetsuko smiled and said smugly, “How was that for you, dear sister? A pleasant sensation?” Mariko laughed and said, “Yes, thank you, Tetsuko! I needed that scratch to awaken me from the boredom of your attacks!” “Enough of your insults against my honor and skill!” shouted Tetsuko with tears in her eyes, “Now we will end this!” “Yes, let us put an end to this contest at last!” said Mariko. The sisters raised their weapons and ran toward each other each with a Bushido cry. They both struck each other’s blades simultaneously and the blades shattered into a thousand tiny, brightly shimmering pieces, like sparkling dust. The same thing occurred with the blades from the other end of their weapons as they ran at each other again, effectively destroying the weapons completely.

The Sataki sisters’ faces showed their deep shock and surprise at this strange turn of events. They stood there staring at each other, not knowing what else to do. Suddenly, Princess Diana spoke up. “Isn’t it time that both of you realized the truth?” she asked. “What truth?” said Tetsuko. “The truth that neither one of you wants to admit.” replied Diana softly, “The fact that you both still love each other.” “Nonsense! I do not love her!” shouted Tetsuko, “I hate her! I want her dead!” “With all respect, Princess Diana, her actions warrant her death!” said Mariko, “I admit I did love her once, but all that was erased when she killed our Father and the rest of our clan! Honor dictates that she must pay for that with her life!”

“Listen to yourselves!” said Wonder Woman, “Tetsuko, Mariko, I can feel the love in each of your hearts for your sister and I can prove it to you! You are two of the most skilled and powerful warriors I have ever seen. If you had wanted to kill each other, either one of you could have done so with relative ease at virtually anytime during this battle! Do not forget that we Amazons are warriors born. I have seen dozens, if not hundreds of unexploited opportunities that either one of you could have used to vanquish the other, but you didn’t! Why? The answer is simple. You didn’t want to! You don’t want to kill one another!”

“Preposterous! Utterly and completely preposterous!” exclaimed Tetsuko, “Besides, I know she couldn’t possibly love me after what happened to Father! The Japanese slaughtered our clan because of me! Honor must be satisfied and she has to kill me!” “I’m afraid she’s right Diana!” said Mariko, “By the law of the clan, her treachery has sealed her fate!” Diana smiled and replied, “I still hear nothing but posturing about honor and duty! I have heard no one’s heart in these words. Tell me Mariko, how long have you sought your sister’s life?” “Only since she and Professor Moriarty betrayed our clan to the Japanese government.” replied Mariko, “Until then, I wished her well despite how much she hurt us all.”

“HURT YOU!?!?” exclaimed Tetsuko, “What about the constant humiliation you and Father heaped upon me that made me leave in the first place and end up under the influence of a mad genius like Moriarty?? What about the dishonor of setting you in the place that was rightfully mine as the eldest?? You defeated me fairly, I admit, but I never would have challenged you had he not put this shame upon me!!” “Tetsuko, Father only did so to spur you on!” said Mariko, “He thought that you would become so angry that you would finally break through to the Heart of The Dragon as I did! He never intended me to keep the headship of our clan! When you left after our battle, he always felt that someday you would return and reclaim the place that was yours by virtue of birth!” “I…I did not know!” said Tetsuko in shock, “I did not…” “You did not ask!” interrupted Mariko “You never asked him why he did it! You simply did what you usually do! You flew into a rage, challenged me, lost and ran away!”

“It was not simply Father’s decision that made me hate so much!” said Tetsuko, “It was your constant teasing, tormenting and sarcasm that made me hate you, especially about the Fifth Force and my failings with it!” “Father urged me to taunt you and push you in that area!” said Mariko, “After a while it started to be fun, but I never thought it would make you hate us all so much, least of all me! I loved you! If I didn’t, do you think I would have offered to share the rule of the clan with you?” “I was too angry and hurt to even think of that, Mariko!” said Tetsuko sadly, “I was consumed with hatred, envy and pain! I couldn’t think at all! Maybe that’s how I could betray you and our clan!” Tetsuko fell to her knees before Mariko weeping.

“Sister, I know you could not possibly ever forgive me for the crime of which I am guilty.” said Tetsuko, “Take my life. I offer it freely to you, it is yours.” “Tetsuko, I sense that you have finally touched the Heart of The Dragon!” said Mariko, “You now see what you did not before, don’t you?” “Yes. The Heart cannot be touched by concerted effort, but only by a heart of love and the willingness to sacrifice one’s life; to be willing to die for someone else!” “Correct, sister!” said Mariko, “Father would be pleased that you finally found the Heart! But the law says that what you have done deserves death. What can I do? Princess Diana is right. I don’t want to kill you, especially now!” “You must obey the law of the clan, sister!” said Tetsuko, “Otherwise you too become guilty of my crime and subject to the same penalty!”

“Surely there must be something that can be done!’ said Holmes. “Is there no room for clemency in the clan’s laws?” asked Captain Freedom. “No, Captain.” said Mariko with a tear staining her cheek, “The law against treason and betrayal on this scale allows for no clemency!” Tetsuko stood up, faced her sister, drew her Tanto sword and gave it to Mariko. For the first time in years, Mariko put her arms around her sister and embraced her tightly, weeping on her shoulder. Tetsuko also wept and whispered, “Forgive me.” Tetsuko knelt again and bowed her head, moving aside her silky black locks, exposing her neck to the blade. With more tears streaming down her cheeks, Mariko raised the sword high, to use one powerful stroke to sever Tetsuko’s head cleanly from her shoulders.

“Black Lotus, you are permitted the right of a last statement.” said Mariko, “Do you have anything to say?” “Only four words, sister: I love you, Miko.” said Tetsuko. “I love you too, Tetsie.” said Mariko softly. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her and she smiled. She flipped the blade on its side and slapped Tetsuko square on the butt with it. “OWW!!” said Tetsuko, “I thought you were supposed to kill me!” “Why?” asked Mariko with a smile. Tetsuko looked very confused. “Tetsuko, you haven’t told me that you loved me or called me by my pet name, Miko, since I touched the Heart of The Dragon!” explained Mariko, “The one who betrayed our clan to the Emperor was the creature manifested by your hatred, confusion and hurt. My sister, Tetsuko Sataki, would have never done such a dastardly thing! In touching the Dragon’s Heart, you have killed the one called Lotus! Since she is dead, the honor of our clan is satisfied, wouldn’t you say?”

Tetsuko stood in front of Mariko and bowed deeply. Mariko returned the bow and smiled widely. Tetsuko placed her hands on Mariko’s shoulders and said, “Father chose well to have you lead the clan, Miko! You are far wiser than I am! I don’t think I would have ever have thought of things that way! You saved my life! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you!” “You pulled me from the river when we were children, Tetsie!” said Mariko, “I think we’re even!” “No, sister.” said Tetsuko, “I will spend the rest of my life repaying you and the people of the world for the terrible things The Black Lotus has done, this I swear!” “I think that would be a wonderful pursuit, sister!” said Mariko with a smile, “And I have the perfect person for you to train to help you with it! Welcome Home, Tetsie!”

The Sataki sisters embraced each other for the second time in years. Suddenly, the ground shook and most of the occupants of the room fell to the ground. Captain Freedom looked at her chronometer and exclaimed, “The squadron’s here! Let’s get outta here people! MOVE IT OUT!” Captain Freedom and her friends ran straight to the exit that led to the surface followed closely by the newly freed Black Spiders. Wonder Woman stopped to awaken the Black Spiders she had put to sleep using her lasso and rushed out of the old mansion with the others. Once clear of the plantation grounds, Cap and her group watched as the Cloaked Fist squadron completely demolished the mansion at Shenandoah Fields. Bombs pounded the site until there was nothing left but a smoldering hole in the ground where the handsome residence once stood.

Cap explained The Spider Queen’s plan that could have brought the world’s most powerful nations to their knees. Afterward, Patriot Girl asked, “So Cap, are you sure the transmitter is destroyed? She didn’t exactly tell you where it was you know!” Cap smiled and replied, “Of course she did! She said it was someplace close to her heart! I looked inside her body to see if it was there and it wasn’t, so that told me there was only one other place it could be!” Patriot Girl snapped her satin gloved fingers and said, “The most carefully guarded place in the whole lair, the Pit of The Great Spider!” “Exactly, PG!” answered Captain Freedom, “Actually, she had somehow goaded the creature into swallowing it so that the only way to stop the broadcast was to destroy it completely!”

“But is it destroyed indeed, Captain?” asked Holmes, “Can you see?” “Oh yes, Mr. Holmes, it’s quite crushed under all that rubble and smashed into oblivion!” replied Cap, “I watched it die, just to be sure!” “I bet that was yucky to watch!” said Patriot Girl with a grin. “It sure was! I hate spiders! YUCK!” said Cap, “Well, that’s a crisis neatly averted! Princess Diana, shall we get these people home?” “Absolutely, Captain!” replied Wonder Woman, “But what about the Black Spiders?” “Good question!” said Cap, “Lt. Mason, what do you and the others want to do?” “Well Captain, the Sataki’s have made an interesting proposal.” replied Mason, “You should hear it.” “Mariko, Tetsuko, what is it you’d like to do with these ladies?” asked Cap.

“Captain, all of these ladies are single American females.” said Tetsuko, “They were all underused and mistreated by men. That is why they were so easily recruited. They wanted to make a difference and under our leadership and training they will. We will train them further to be a secret force for peace and justice in the world. What we will call them, we don’t yet know, but we will be in touch soon!” “I wish you all the best ladies, but are you sure you don’t need a lift?” asked Cap. “No Captain, we have our own means of conveyance! Farewell!” said Mariko. The Sataki sisters joined hands, as did the former Black Spiders. A powerful aura surrounded the whole group and in a flash of brilliant light, they vanished!

“Whoa!” said Patriot Girl, “That was incredible!” “Astonishing!” remarked Holmes. “I say, what a story! I wish I could write it for the Strand, but of course I’d be shot, wouldn’t I?” said Dr. Watson, “A particularly unpleasant sensation, eh Holmes?” “I daresay, old fellow!” said Holmes with a chuckle, “Definitely not worth the risk! Not at all!” “May we talk about this on the way home?” asked the young Duke of Shrewsbury, “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I could do with a bath, a meal and a nice hot cup of tea!” The group of heroes broke into laughter as they walked toward the glade where Wonder Woman’s transparent plane was parked, to begin their journey home.

*****

March 13, 1942 – Dawn, an Army base outside Washington, DC…

Magda Malone was awakened early the next morning and gave her last confession to the priest that came to her cell before the guards arrived to take her to the courtyard of the prison. Magda was visibly shaking as the sergeant of the guard placed the handcuffs on her behind her back. Suddenly, she heard a voice in her head say, “Don’t be afraid, Magda! Trust me!” “Did you hear that?” she asked the guard. “Hear what?” he asked puzzled. “Nothing. I guess it was only the wind.” she said smiling. “Ya want the blindfold, Miss?” asked the sergeant. “No, I’ll just close my eyes.” said Magda. The sergeant scratched his head and shrugged his shoulders.

Sergeant Mike Phillips walked over to the first soldier in the firing line and began to inspect the seven soldier’s weapons to make sure of their function and loading. He then walked over to Magda and asked, “Do you have any last words, Miss?” “Yes, I do.” she said softly, “To my country, to my family and to my friends, I say forgive me for my weakness, my greed and my betrayal. If I had it to do again I would not make the same choices. To the handsome boys in front of me, I bear you no hard feelings. You are only doing your duty, something that if I had done, I wouldn’t be here this morning. Farewell.” Sgt. Phillips nodded and walked back to his place.

He drew his ceremonial sword and said, “Ready on the line!” “Sir, yes Sir!” came the reply. “Ready!” The men worked the actions on their M1 Carbines, chambering the rounds. “Aim!” The soldiers took aim at Magda’s voluptuous bust line. “Fire!” Magda heard the sound of the bullets firing and felt her body slump over, falling to the ground. Strangely enough, she felt no pain from the impact of the bullets. She could see the base physician coming toward her and heard him pronounce her dead. “NO! WAIT!” her mind screamed, “I’M ALIVE! CAN’T YOU HEAR ME??” A calming voice inside her head said, “Relax, Magda. You’ll be home soon.”

The execution detail took her body into the prison, set her on a bed in the hospital ward and locked her in. Sometime after she had been left there, a familiar green glow filled the room. The Green Dragon stepped from it and held out her hand. “Magda, come, my friend!” she said, “Get up and come with me, quickly!” To her surprise, she sat up! There was no pain and the bullet holes had left her body and clothing as if they had never been there at all! “What just happened?” asked Magda, “Did you just raise me from the dead?” The Dragon laughed and said, “No, my friend! Only the Creator can do that! I fooled the men who shot at you and all who observed, even you, into thinking their aim was true. They saw what I wanted them to see. I even fooled the doctor’s mind into thinking he didn’t feel your pulse when he touched you. Rise up from the bed.” Magda got up and saw the body of a woman encased in a green aura float toward the bed she had just vacated and set down upon it.

“Who is that?” asked Magda. “An enemy of your country who died in battle.” said the Dragon, “I will cloud the minds of those who arrive to bury you so that they see only your bullet riddled corpse. Magda Malone is now dead and will soon be buried, a traitor to her country. Now you may begin a new life as a defender of your country and the world from all the enemies of peace and freedom, as you swore to. Are you ready?” The woman who was once called Magda Malone smiled and said, “Yes, I am.” She walked over and took The Green Dragon’s hand and asked, “Where are we going?” “To meet your teacher and partner in this, your life’s work.” said the Dragon, “This is only the beginning.”

THE END

Wonder Woman, created by Charles Moulton, is the property of DC Comics.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The Spider Queen based on the character of The Spider Woman in the motion picture, "Sherlock Holmes and The Spider Woman".

Doubleb66 · 17 years ago

All I can say again is "WOW!" Les, you're writing just keeps getting better and better. I'm beginning to run out of words that describe just exactly how much I enjoy reading your stories. You have a true gift, my friend and I'm glad you've chosen to share it here. As always, I'll be eagerly awaiting more. =D> =D> =D>

SGWriter · 17 years ago

A massive and well excuted story Pics :-D Well done. Your tales keep getting more and more complex, they might not fit on the fourm anymore

superpics4les · 17 years ago

EPILOGUE:

Part I

A few months after the Spider Queen’s defeat and demise, Melanie Castle left for England to begin her training under the tutelage of Sherlock Holmes. Melanie’s powers as Patriot Girl were gone except for her amazing mind. She even demonstrated psychic abilities. They were small at first, but grew quickly to the point where she not only could read minds from great distances, but also possessed telekinetic abilities as well. Melanie learned quickly under Holmes’ watchful eye and became a great detective and criminologist, called upon by Scotland Yard and other police forces across Europe.

Melanie saw a lot more of the young Duke of Shrewsbury after she arrived in England. She and Duke Thomas grew rather fond of each other and eventually fell in love. They courted for about a year before Thomas finally popped the question. They married and had 3 extraordinarily gifted girls who eventually followed in their mother’s footsteps as superheroines…but that is another story.

Part II

Captain Freedom served her country for nearly 20 years after the end of WWII. She joined with the Justice Society, Wonder Woman, Shining Star and other heroes in keeping America and the world safe from the enemies of truth and justice. Gladys Williams was promoted to Major and then Lt. Colonel before she resigned from the U.S. Army. She saw many changes happen for the good in her country, but one still loomed like a shadow over everything: Racism. After an adventure in which she lost her best friend besides Colonel Helen Morgan, she hung up her costume for good, vowing that she would never don it again until she could wear it without hiding her lovely brown skin.

Gladys married then Colonel Thomas Graham and had 2 children of her own, both super-powered. Her son became Major Victory, a super-strong champion of freedom, along with his sister, Freedom Belle, who had incredible voice powers. Gladys became involved in politics and became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the State of California. Gladys Williams-Graham eventually did wear her costume once again and formed the super team called The Champions of Freedom…but that, again, is another story.

Part III

After the execution of Magda Malone, Private “Ace” Madden became clinically depressed. He truly loved Magda and felt as betrayed as the other people who knew her, but still carried a torch for her. He would spend nearly all of his free time at her grave site in mourning. One day, as he was carrying out his duty at the Federal Building, one of his fellow Marines started making jokes about Magda burning in hell. Ace grabbed him and beat him near to death. Only the timely intervention of 1st Sgt. Sherman stopped Ace from ending the Marine’s life.

Ace was locked in the stockade for about a month and then told that if he wanted to kill, he’d be given the opportunity. He was sent to the front lines in Europe and distinguished himself well, becoming a heavily decorated hero. Near the end of the war, he and his unit were under heavy fire and Ace had single-handedly rescued a group of soldiers by drawing the enemy’s fire on himself. The other servicemen thought it was outstanding bravery, but it was the pain of life that kept Gunnery Sgt. Madden in harm’s way so often. He felt as if he wanted to be with Magda so he volunteered for every dangerous mission he could get.

Unfortunately for him, his luck was like that of Indiana Jones and the enemy would constantly miss taking him out. This particular day, he was wounded badly and thought that this time was his last. The German soldiers came out of their foxholes, knowing that Ace’s weapons were out of ammo. An entire battalion initially attacked him, but Ace had taken out 2/3 of the enemy force before he depleted his supply of ammo and grenades. The Germans were severely pissed off and wanted his blood. Twenty of them converged on his position. Ace just waited for them. He welcomed death. “Perhaps now, my aching heart will know peace.” he thought.

Suddenly, a bright white light exploded over him and a beautiful female figure in glowing white landed near him. “Go back! This man is under my protection!” she commanded, “If you wish to do him harm, you will have to come through me!” “Than that is vat ve vill do, Fraulein!” replied the German commander, “SHOOT HER!!” The Nazis opened fire, but the bullets seemed to slow down and fall from the air as they reached her. The woman looked down at Ace and winked at him. Ace smiled. The mysterious woman in white raised her arms and Ace could see wings spread out beneath them. An aura of white fire surrounded her and her beautiful blue eyes glowed as bright as stars. She shouted, “Leave here now or suffer the consequences! This is your last warning!”

Some of the soldiers decided discretion was the better part of valor and high-tailed it out of area, but most of them stayed, still firing their automatic weapons. “So be it!” she shouted. She opened her mouth and a sound like a bird of prey issued from her, but unlike anything Ace had ever heard before. The white fire shot out from her hands and consumed the entire troop that had come against Ace and his unit. No one was left standing. After she finished, she slowly lowered her hands. Ace looked with amazement as he saw what she was doing. She was weeping! She was shedding tears for the Nazi soldiers she had just reduced to ashes! She turned to Ace and went to her knees near him.

“Are you OK, Ace?” she asked with a bright smile. “That depends.” said Ace returning her smile, “Are you an…angel?” She erupted with laughter and replied, “No, silly boy! I’m a real person just like you!” He looked at her beauty and style of dress and replied, “You sure look like one! Who…who are you?” “I am called The White Phoenix.” she replied, her eyes glowing, “I am a force for peace and justice in this world. I could not stand idly by and let them destroy one who would sacrifice his life for another. You are a very brave and selfless man.”

“No, lady.” said Ace weakly, “I’m a coward. I don’t want to face life anymore, not without love.” “What’s wrong?” she asked him, “Can’t a strapping Marine like you find a woman to love? I don’t understand.” “The woman I loved died sometime back.” he said sadly, “Since then, I haven’t had much to live for besides fighting.” The vision of loveliness touched him on the forehead and his body was bathed in light. She took her tightly gloved hand away from his head and the glow departed from him. Ace checked himself over and saw that his wounds were healed! “Wow! Thanks, lady!” said Ace, “How’d you do that?” She winked at him and replied, “It’s easy when you know how!”

Ace stood up and finally got a good look at her. She wore a silvery white mask that covered her face from her forehead to the end of her nose, just above her full, exquisite, light-blue sticked lips. Her gorgeous blue eyes sparkled like diamonds and seemed to draw him closer to her. Her golden tresses waved and cascaded to her shoulders, almost glowing as well. Her curvaceous body was covered in what looked like shimmering white satin from her shoulders, down to her hands which formed skin-tight gloves, to right at her waist and derriere forming a panty covering her ample charms. The area over her well endowed bust was covered with sheer silk revealing a light-blue tattoo of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Her hips sported a white colored belt with many pockets, closed by blue snaps. Her incredible legs were sheathed in sheer, shimmering, silvery white silk, all the way down to her sleek, model perfect toes. Her wrists, up to her elbows and her lower legs from the knee to the ankle were armored with shiny silver metal bracers, accented with light-blue bands on the top and bottom.

The White Phoenix stood in front of Ace Madden looking into his eyes, when suddenly Ace saw something familiar in the way she smiled. Even under her mask he could see her nose crinkle. He started to tear up and turned away from her. “What’s wrong, Ace?” she asked, knowing that he’d seen something that disturbed him. “You…The way you smiled at me just then…you reminded me of someone I used to know…someone I loved.” he replied. “Wait a minute!” said Ace turning toward her, “How do you know they call me Ace?” She smiled again and said, “I wondered when you’d catch that! You were always slow on the uptake, Ace honey!” A look of complete shock came over his face as he said, “M…M…Magda?”

The White Phoenix laughed and said, “All this time and you still can’t say my name without stuttering!” She pulled off her mask and said, “Hiya, Ace! How’s tricks?” “MAGDA!! YOU’RE ALIVE! YOU’RE ALIVE!!” he shouted, picking her up by her slim waist, and then holding her so tightly, she could barely breathe. Ace finally released her and asked, “What happened? They killed you…executed you for treason! I don’t understand!” The woman who was Magda Malone explained the transformation and training she had gone through and the duty she had to perform for the rest of her life to pay back the country she had betrayed.

Gunnery Sgt. Ace Madden nodded and said, “I understand, Mag…er...Phoenix. Will I ever see you again? Is there enough of Magda left in you to love me?” “Of course, there is Ace!” said the Phoenix, putting her mask back on, “Why do you think I revealed myself to you? I do love you, Ace, ya big palooka!” Ace’s head dropped and he shed two tears. She put her finger under his chin and raised his head so she could look in his eyes. “Ace, I think it’s time you finally said it.” she said. “Said what, sweetheart?” he replied misty-eyed. “That one thing you told everybody but Magda, when she was alive.” she said, her hands on her hips, “Just three little words that I know you’re dying to say!” Ace smiled and put his hands on either side on her face, cradling it.

“I love you.” he said softly, “And I always will.” “Me too.” said the Phoenix. She kissed him passionately and told him she’d see him again soon and not to get himself killed in the meantime. She spread her wings and shot into the air, looking like a V-2 rocket. Ace walked back to the foxhole where the men cheered him, wondering how he survived. "How'd you get all those Jerrys at once Gunny?" asked one young Private, "I thought you were dead!" Ace smiled and simply said, “Love never fails, boys, love never fails.” The squad scratched their heads, shrugged their shoulders and left him to his musings. Ace now felt he had something to live for, someone to love, at last.

THE END

SGWriter · 17 years ago

Great story Pics! Really indepth and deep with complex characters. I defiently couldn't pull this off. Bravo sir!

Anonymous · 17 years ago

You know, that's probably what I like best about Superpics' stories....the great characters he designs for each story. Very nice!

JPC