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The Queen's Gambit
A Gossamer Ghost Peril



The hunt had been a long one, as the Gossamer Ghost tracked down the new substance that was flooding the streets of her city. The new drug was showing up in the dorms first, which naturally made it the full focus of her job at CitiChannel News. Margo Fox, intrepid intern at the station, nearly had her head bitten off by her boss for not knowing everything there was to know about this new fad drug sweeping the streets before everyone else.

Of course, making Lange happy was the farthest thing from Margo’s mind as she tried to research the toxic new substance. The drug might have started on campuses, sorority kids passing it around like tiny liquor bottles, but it was spreading to the streets quickly. If Margo was going to stem that tide, she was going to need to learn more.

When the leads funneling into CitiChannel News didn’t bear fruit, Margo knew she would have to lean on her own sources. Specifically, the girls that she jokingly called the Justice Sorority: Margo’s “in the know” roommates, who eagerly turned their esoteric knowledge to helping her in her cases!

“I’ve got nothing,” Kimi Li said. Margo could see the frustration on Kimi’s brow. The young med student wasn’t used to being stumped, especially on a case. Li was something of a den mother to the Justice Sorority; Margo could only imagine her grief if this drug turned out to be more than the Gossamer Ghost could handle.

“It’s okay, Kimi,” Margo said, nodding.

“It’s really not,” Kimi said, “the blood samples you brought me, the toxicology reports of OD cases and current addicts, the rate of dependency is phenomenal. And the rate of decay in users’ brains is like nothing I’ve ever seen!” Margo nodded grimly.

“You know,” said a Scottish voice, from across the room, “it’s not totally unheard of.” The voice belonged to “Mad” Maggie Annis- eccentric young Scotswoman, candidate for multiple doctorates, and the admittedly addled brains of the Justice Sorority. “I mean, I didn’t wanna say anythin’ since we’re all still weirded out by it, n’all …”

“But …” Margo said, eyes narrowing.

“Buuuut … we have seen this before, haven’t we? Yer little adventure with the zombos, there …? ‘Member that, yeah?”

Margo winced. She remembered all too well- a madwoman calling herself Diva de los Muertos, using “zombies” empowered by some sort of uber-drug to bring about the apocalypse. A drug that Margo wound up dosed with, and forced to act against the very friends that fought hard every case to keep her alive! Every night since then, Margo had recoiled at the memory of the beating she’d been forced to give her friends, the shame fresh as the night it happened.

“It’s similar. En’t the same, but similar,” Maggie continued, “like, that stuff’s cousin that din’t do so well in school, tells everyone he’s makin’ a killin’ in landscapin’ but really he’s all methed out twenty-four-seven.” The other girls stared. “I had a very singular childhood experience, there,” Maggie offered.

“So,” Margo said, “what exactly did that mean?”

“S’all synthetic, like,” Maggie explained, “while everything in that other compound was all organic. Still cannae tell you what half that shit was, but it was organic. This shite, s’like it started out there, like tryin’ to replicate it, then went off the bleeding deep end. Like, it’s designed to rot ye out an’ do it quick. Only reason I can figure, for half the shite they put in it!”

Margo glanced over to the report that Maggie had printed out, the list of chemical compounds that she’d found when she broke the drug down. There were a good number of question marks on that sheet.

“Jesus,” Kimi said, “who the hell would even want to do something like that?”

“That’s the question, ennit?” Margo couldn’t help but pick up a little bit of Maggie’s accent, every time they hung out for prolonged periods. It was more than a little embarrassing. “Did you find any leads, Maggie? On these chemicals?” Margo asked, trying to change the subject quickly.

“Y’know, I kinda did!” Maggie exclaimed, spinning on her desk chair and grabbing a stack of papers from behind her. “Now, there’s this one, see? Tetracocamide! Started out with this firm, Healthcliffe. They were gonna put it out, call it ‘Domisile,’ was gonna be this big anti-depressant. Turns out, though, six times outta ten, kills you on the bleedin’ spot! Drug not approved, firm goes under …”

“Lot of debt to collect on,” Margo said, nodding, “and a lot of surplus just sitting there. A lot of surplus that just winds up in our new wonder drug, here …” Maggie tapped her nose, playfully, as Margo continued. “Okay, great! Maggie, I’m assuming you found a list of property holdings for this ‘Healthcliffe,’ or whatever they’re calling themselves!”

“Ah might’ve, if ah loved ya,” Maggie said, with a grin. Then, dramatically, she whipped a sheet from the inside pocket of her lab coat. “Aw, shite girl! Turns out ah do love ya!” Maggie flung the paper toward Margo, who snatched it out of the air. The back of Margo’s neck was tingling- the first lead she’d had on this case yet, right in her fingertips!

“Love you too, Mags!” Margo exclaimed, eyes scanning over the address. “Let’s just hope some of these scum-suckers are still at the facility when I get there!”

“Just be careful,” Kimi said, “this thing does horrible stuff to people! I can’t imagine how scummy the bastards that put this on the street could be …”

Margo grinned, which didn’t seem to do much to alleviate Kimi’s worry, “Hey, come on, now- how could it be worse than every other scumbag I’ve taken down, huh?” Margo was on her way before the sentence was even finished, rushing out of the living room so she could don her costume and get to chasing this lead!

“I suppose yer gonna yell at me, now?” Maggie said, with a smirk.

“No,” Kimi sighed, “I’m going to pour us some tea, maybe get some Bayley’s, and we’re gonna have a long talk about your home life …”

+++++

Margo was ready to hit the streets moments after she got the address from “Mad” Maggie. Running back to her room, the young vigilantd slipped out of her tee shirt, threw her yoga pants across the room, and pulled the costume of the Gossamer Ghost out of its hiding spot. Margo clasped the white silk teddy around her ample chest, the soft fabric fitting snug against her skin as she fastened it. She pulled on the silk shorts and stockings over her generous hips, and a pair of shimmering opera gloves. Margo affixed a white mask over her eyes, keeping her identity safe from the monsters she’d meet out on the streets. Finally, Margo wrapped her billowing cloak around herself. The thick grey garment that completed the look of the Gossamer Ghost: a striking, imposing woman, a far cry from the pretty yet mousy Margo Fox, who simultaneously enticed and terrified the criminal element!

In moments, she was out the door. Margo had placed a call just before throwing herself out of the skylight window, hailing a ride from one of the ancillary members of her Justice Sorority. In seconds, while Margo remained in the shadows, a bicycle came pulling up, hauling a large seat behind it, driven by a thick-hipped young woman.

“Sam White,” the Ghost said, stepping out of the shadows as the bike tires skid to a halt.

“Ghostie,” Sam said with a smirk, “y’know, I thought yer cool crime fighters could fly around, get souped-up fancy cars … Not use a hipster cab service usually reserved for pub crawlers!”

“You know I’m good for it, Sam,” the Ghost smirked beneath her hood, hopping the railing and planting her bum in the carriage seat. “I just happen to like supporting local business, is all!”

“Ha,” Sam said, her legs starting to pump the pedals and set them off down the road, “you just want some extra muscle, don’t you?”

In truth, the Ghost wasn’t above relying on someone like Sam for help: a bit of a brute, star of the local roller derby team, White could deal out a hell of a pounding if she chose. “Not tonight,” Ghost said, “hopefully, tonight is a quick bit of recon. Over and out, nice and easy …”

“Is it ever that easy?” Sam smirked. Margo said nothing, except to give the address she needed as they sped toward the industrial park.

“Last call,” Sam said, looking back over her shoulder. The Gossamer Ghost was already out of the carriage, sizing up the chain link fence between her and the building, “if you want a little muscle to come in there with you …”

Margo’s eyes narrowed beneath her mask, as she studied the building. “Not tonight, Sam. Not in this for a brawl, but your incredibly disturbing enthusiasm is noted and appreciated.”

“If you say so,” Sam said, shrugging, “might as well get out of here before things start getting weird. You need a driver, getaway or designated, you know who to call!”

“Thanks, Sam,” the Ghost said, “it’s appreciated!” Margo’s chest heaved a bit, as she let out a sigh of relief. Normally, Margo might have considered having the extra muscle on hand, but recent evens had taught her the value of keeping her Justice Sorority friends out of the line of fire. Still, she wondered, how long could the Ghost walk that fine line? It was one thing for her to put her own life on the line, night in and night out, but it seemed like simply associating with women like Sam, Kimi and Maggie only drew them closer and closer to her very dangerous world …

Margo shook her head, and put the thought out of her mind. There was a poison flooding the streets of her city, a poison that seemed to spread from this very place. One that, left unchecked, would no doubt seep its way into the lives of every single person in this city. Who could she keep safe, then? Without another thought, Margo reached into the folds of her cloak and produced a small, nearly weightless motorized saw. One of “Mad” Maggie’s better contributions to the Gossamer Ghost’s crime-fighting campaign, and set to work letting herself into the chain-link fence. There was a lot of work to do, tonight, and every moment Margo wasted was another moment that poison could filter through the city’s veins.

+++++

Margo’s first steps into the building were exactly what she expected. A still, eerily silent building, no signs of life but not directly clues of abandonment. Margo made her way through the building silently, like the Ghost of her namesake, trying to keep her breathing steady and her eyes open. The young vigilante knew that any mis-step, any lapse in attention, and whoever was operating out of this warehouse would get the drop on her. Just one moment was all it took, and the Gossamer Ghost’s career could be over in a snap!

Margo made her way carefully, the sparse lighting in the building just enough to guide her down the halls. There was no identifying marks along any of the sleek concrete walls. No postings, no signs. The building had been stripped since the drug company had officially moved out, and if not for the scant lights and her own knowledge, Margo might have thought the place completely abandoned. When she finally heard voices in the distance, Margo felt almost relieved to have her suspicions confirmed.

Biting her lip nervously, Margo inched closer to the end of a long hall. By her estimate, Margo had been making her way toward the center of the building. Having let herself in through a second-floor window after carefully scaling the fire escape, Margo had been mostly guessing her way through the factory. Hardly professional, but there wasn’t much of a handbook for skulking around in one’s underwear fighting crime. Luck had at least been on Margo’s side, thus far …

Margo’s first glimpse past the end of the corridor revealed a wide open space. High scaffolding, with a labyrinth of pipes and girders cluttering the space near the ceiling. Margo could only imagine the massive machinery on the production floor, ready and waiting to pump its filth all over her city. Margo straightened her back, standing flush against the wall. She hoped that her grey cloak would keep her out of sight in the shadows long enough to get the drop on whoever was waiting, around that corner …

“I can never remember, can we smoke in here?” a male voice said.

“Wh-yeah, we can smoke in here. What you think this is, a doctor’s office? Church? Yer mom’s house?”

“I dunno, we got all these friggin’ chemicals …”

“They let us have guns, Neil DeGayass Tyson, you think a cigarette’s gonna cause more of a reaction than firing this damn thing off?”

“Man, fuck me for asking a damn question …”

Margo’s breath caught in her chest. Two men, clearly armed. She paused another moment, waiting for any sound that wasn’t their incessant arguing. Other footfalls, other voices, anything that could throw the odds of the upcoming fight against her.

Nothing came, however, and Margo knew she didn’t have all night! With a wide step, the Gossamer Ghost burst out from around the corner, shapely leg kicked out high to catch one of the whining thugs around the back of his head! The man’s cigarette went tumbling out of his mouth as his face smacked against the wall. He stood there, dazed, stumbling around on spaghetti legs.

His cohort barely had time to react. Startled, acting on pure instinct, the panicked thug pulled the gun from his waist holster and drew on the Gossamer Ghost! The man, smaller than his cigarette-dependent companion, was bug-eyed. The Gossamer Ghost was used to widening men’s eyes, and clearly this particular underworld scumbag was having his first encounter with the svelte vigilante.

Just as quickly as the goon drew on her, Margo grabbed the stunned goon by the arm and spun him around. Locking his arm with a wrist lock behind his back, she held the goon as a human shield. This prevent the gunman from firing, long enough for Margo to plant her foot in the crook’s back and thrust hard!

Kicking out, Margo sent the dazed big man tumbling into his smaller friend. Knocking the wind out of the gunman, the crook was helpless as the two of them fell together to the floor. The Ghost lifted her foot high, before bringing it down with a sharp axe kick. The smaller man had taken a hard hit, but the downward axe kick was all Margo needed to finish the crook off!

Margo went low, and quickly scanned the building around her. Fortunately, anyone else keeping an eye on the building tonight wasn’t doing so near these two. Which gave her time to take in more of the building.

Below, Margo could see massive rows of machinery, chugging along. Margo could imagine the chemical sludge running through them, production of the new drug seeming to go along apace. She was disturbed by how quiet the thing was, but Margo couldn’t dwell on that, now. Any time now, the two goons would be found and the Gossamer Ghost’s presence would be revealed!

Margo’s gloved fingers gripped the railing, and the heroine took a look down at the floor below. Still seemingly empty, Margo swung hard and threw herself over the railing. With practiced grace, Margo landed on the floor below, and sprinted into the shadows of the remote corners.

The production room floor was just as barren as the rest of the factory, with few postings and fewer signs of life in the entire building. A skeleton crew, Margo told herself, but she had no way of knowing where said crew could be. Margo winced, now imagining how more research into the facility could have helped.

The sound of boots against the concrete floor snapped Margo out of kicking herself. With a lunge, the caped crimefighter leapt into the shadows. The Ghost hid herself among the machinery, hoping the low light would help her keep her advantage. Margo’s cape slid softly against the machinery, making little noise other than the barest swish against the cold steel. Margo felt small, tucked away among the cold steel of the chemical plant, but if that smallness allowed her safety long enough to get the drop on whoever was coming, then all the better.

Margo waited as the boots grew closer. From the pace of the footfalls, it was only one set of feet, trudging along the workroom floor. Still, Margo couldn’t comprehend how few people there must have been here, running this massive machine! Chewing her lip nervously, Margo reached slowly into her cloak. She produced one of the thin white discs she used, ready to fling it hard at whatever target presented itself, as soon as those footfalls were their closest …

Soon enough, he rounded the corner and Margo took her chance to strike! Swinging hard, Margo flung the discus square for the jaw of the man rounding the corner of her hiding-hole. The disc cracked off his jaw, causing his eyes to roll back. He barely caught a glimpse of Margo’s gray cloak in the shadows, as his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor. Lunging forward, Margo extended her arms, the Ghost catching her victim before he could fall, likely loudly, to the floor. Unfortunately, however, this didn’t do anything to stop the journey of her flying disc!

“Oh, no!” Margo said to herself, as she watched her disc ricochet, straight off of her victim’s jaw and to the concrete floor below! It collided with a loud crack, bouncing again to hit the steel machinery, producing another crack that echoed through the factory!

“No, no …” Margo winced, knowing that her carefully-guarded cover was in danger. Swiftly, she disposed of her victim by tossing him into her own hiding-hole. Already, the Ghost could hear voices testing the air, each asking what that noise could have been. Soon, they’d begin investigating. Soon, they’d find the missing men she’d taken out on her way here. From there, it was only a matter of time until they found the Gossamer Ghost!
Margo prepped herself, ready for the worst. Her heart pounded in her chest. Beneath her cowl, she began to feel light-headed. The voices and the foot-falls were growing louder, and any number of crooks, cookers and thugs could be dog-piling her any second!

Margo tried to shake it off. The Ghost couldn’t go down like this, not to such a stupid mistake! At least, that’s what Margo told herself. Drawing her cloak close around herself, Margo looked around for a hiding place, anywhere she could get some cover. In a flash, she saw another small alcove, leading down to another dark hallway- and she saw the three men that came rushing out through it!

“Who the hell is that?” One man asked.

“Izzat that Ghost bitch?”

“Who cares, fucking get her!”

The Gossamer Ghost swung into action without thinking. She took a step in, lunging forward with a kick of her powerful leg that winded the man in the center. Doubled over, he was pliable, easy for Margo to graby the by head. She stepped in, pressing her body hard against him. Margo could feel him grind against her lightly, even as he was sucking wind, but tried to ignore it as she flipped the creep over her hip and flung him hard into his unsuspecting friend! As skeeved out as she was by the perv, it made it worth it to knock him and his buddy out in one hard swing!

The third man was next, and he’d already managed to produce a pistol from a holster strapped to his chest! Beneath her mask, Margo’s eyes widened. She reacted on instinct, the Ghost moving with desperate speed as she fought for her life! In a practiced move, Margo threw her hand up, catching the gunman’s arm with her own and knocking his pistol skyward as he fired it! The bang echoed through the factory, ringing in her ears, but directing the bullet off into the darkness.

Quickly, the Ghost’s other hand shot out with a hard chop against the thug’s throat, stunning him and cutting off his air. He gasped and gagged, dropping his gun to the floor. The Ghost wrapped her hand around the man’s disarmed wrist, and yanked him downward. The Ghost’s knee shot up, striking him hard across the face. Blood sprayed from his nose as Margo’s knee cracked it, and he dropped lifelessly to the floor.

Despite her small victory, Margo knew the worst was yet to come. Knowing, however, wasn’t enough; she would have to do something about it, if this wasn’t going to lead to the untimely demise of the Gossamer Ghost. Pushing her cloak behind her, Margo’s mind raced to formulate a strategy. An escape route, guerrilla tactics, Margo’s eyes watered as she scrambled for a plan!

The echo of footsteps was filling the room. The Ghost had wondered how many people were operating this place, and now she was going to find out- whether Margo liked it or not. Reaching into her cloak, Margo took a low stance and looked around the production room.
Out of the darkness, another couple of men emerged. With a quick flick of her wrist, the Ghost produced a shot of pepper spray the sent the both of them screaming and scrambling to the floor. Margo emptied the canister into another pair, who thought they were going to be able to take the buxom young crime fighter down from behind!

Margo tried to pivot from one point to another, trying to see all of the angles from which her foes were coming after her. The sound of footfalls lessened as they approached. Some had guns drawn, others looked to be aching to take the Gossamer Ghost down with their bare hands. Margo flashed back to some of the “banter” she’d heard crooks in the city engaging in, ever since she’d made the scene. How emasculated so many of them felt, knowing that their criminal enterprises were being crimped and crippled by a vivacious young woman who could throw down with the best of them. How many of them had boasted about being the ones man enough to take her down? How many of them were looking to dominate her in front of their leering comrades in crime?

That unsettling thought was the last thing that went through Margo’s mind, before a sudden and sharp flash of pain erupted from the back of her head!

“Ooohhh~!” Margo moaned, as her body rocked forward. The Ghost had literally no idea of what hit her, but whatever it was did the job! Margo stumbled forward on spaghetti legs for a moment, arms reaching out to steady herself. Margo’s thoughts were scrambled, weak, and everything began to fade. Finally, after a couple of steps and one final, moaning “oooh” of pain, Margo’s wide eyes rolled back in her head, closed, and she crumpled to the floor!

The coalition of creeping criminals leered eagerly, as the Gossamer Ghost fell. Margo’s body crumpled limply to the ground, her soft skin and white silk costume falling into the dirty floor of the derelict warehouse, as the poor girl’s consciousness faded completely into the void.

Wide-eyed, the assembled criminals looked to see that it wasn’t one of their number who stood triumphantly over the body of the hated Gossamer Ghost. Instead, a young woman in her early twenties, blonde and tanned and dressed in a body-hugging pinstripe suit and miniskirt, loomed over the defeated body of the heroine. With a flick of her wrist, the young woman brought her sap, the rubber club she’d used to send the once-vivacious vigilante to sleep into her mouth, biting it teasingly. Stepping forward, the young woman planted a red-heeled foot on Margo’s motionless back, marking the beaten Ghost as her property, the spoils of war.

“Looks like we had an unexpected guest, boys,” the woman said, giving the crooks a wink as they gathered around. Leering, many of them were eager to see how this might play out. The young woman brought a finger down her neckline, sliding the tip down her neck, to the ample curve of tan cleavage peeking out from beneath her blouse. “We’ve been cookin’ up something special for this town, but it looks like our little enterprise is about to hit a real high. Tonight, you boys get to watch as this stupid bitch goes down … to the new Queen of Crime!” Cheers echoed through the factory, as the self-proclaimed Queen posed salaciously over Margo’s beaten body, the untimely demise of the Gossamer Ghost seemingly assured, by the end of the night!

+++++

Margo Fox awoke with a pounding headache, and no ability to put together any recollection of what had just happened to her. Bleary-eyed, the Gossamer Ghost looked around the room in hopes that the details would start coming together soon.

“Wh-what …? Huuh~?” Margo moaned, her red lips in a perfect “o” as her jaw hung slightly open. Beneath her mask, Margo blinked, trying to make her eyes focus. Her body seemed heavy, hanging. She could feel her arms strain, steel manacles around her wrists. They were bound over her head, her body dangling helplessly from the ceiling. Margo kicked her feet slightly, making her buxom figure dangle and swing slightly in the breeze.

“D-damn,” Margo whimpered, realizing that someone had gotten the drop on her!

The Gossamer Ghost’s body sank, as she realized she’d failed. Dangling pathetically from her chains, Margo’s chest deflated as she let out a long, deep sigh. She was like a piece of meat, nothing, just waiting for her captor to show up and gloat over her helpless body!

The Ghost’s captor didn’t leave her waiting long. As things came into focus, Margo could see a sultry young woman walking toward her. Margo couldn’t help but sneer at the woman: wearing a pinstripe blazer and miniskirt easily two sizes too small, tanned breasts threatening to pop out with every step, long bleach-blonde hair swaying … Everything about this woman screamed trash!

“Aww, looks like our little guest is wakin’ up, isn’t she?” the woman said, loudly enough that her voice echoed through the factory. Margo winced.

“And here I thought I hit you hard enough to make you a real ghost … But yer not, are ya?” The woman approached Margo, reaching out and brushing her fingers across Margo’s soft cheek.

“Naw, yer real, flesh and blood, ain’t ya?” The woman slid her hand down, brushing between the heroine’s ample breasts before giving one a tight, painful squeeze. Margo whimpered, loudly. “An’ that, I can do a lot with!” Margo squirmed as the strange young woman groped her, unable to break out of her grip as she dangled from the ceiling. Looking around herself in wide-eyed terror, Margo saw the assemblage of thugs and henchmen gathered around. Each of them watching, eager to see whatever horrible fate was awaiting the young masked heroine who’d given them so much trouble!

“I bet ya don’t even know who I am, do ya, ya masked little bimbo?”

“Should I?” Margo said, through gritted teeth.

“Hah!” In a fast swipe of her hand, the bottle-blonde slapped Margo across the face! Margo yelped in pain. “I didn’t think so. But ya knew my brothers real well, didn’t ya? Studied ‘em for weeks, before ya chased ‘em right to their deaths!”

“W-what?”

“Here, Doll,” the young woman said, backing off, “lemme introduce myself! I’m the new Queen of Crime ‘round here, and the bad bitch that’s gonna finally take you out of our cozy little scene! My name … is Kitty Castrovinci!”

“O-oh! Oh, God …” Margo gasped, eyes widening in terror as she recognized the name. And the incident. The Castrovince brothers were the two criminals she’d cornered, right before a rampaging psychopath had hung the both of them! “I didn’t kill your brothers, Kitty, I-”

“Was just hanging out, right?” Kitty snapped, slapping Margo hard across the face again! “Too soon, bitch, too soon!” Cheeks stinging, Margo blinked back hot tears. This woman was insane! It stung worse, however, knowing that she was dangling helplessly at this idiot’s mercy.

“Ngh, hnn,” Margo grunted and groaned, as she squirmed against the restraints. The cuffs were tight around her wrists, keeping her from getting any degree of freedom. The Gossamer Ghost frowned, fear settling in as she looked at the packed room of enemies. Of all the foes that could have been the one to finally take her down, was this really it? Was this peroxided bimbo really the one that would finally finish her off?

“You’re gonna pay for what you’ve done ta us,” Kitty said, with a sneer, “an’ I’m the one deliverin’ the bill!” Smiling grimly, the bottle-blonde bimbo pulled a pair of brass knuckles from between her ample breasts, tucked away in her bra, before she slipped them onto her fingers. On the left set was engraved the word “BOSS.” The right read “BITCH.”

“Hhhoooooff!” Margo groaned, as one of Kitty’s fists sank deep into her soft belly! Margo gasped for air, but had no time to recover as Kitty followed up with a punishing right! The smack of metal on flesh rung out through the factory, as Kitty worked over the heroine like she was nothing but a punching bag. Margo’s body soaked up blow after blow, each punch knocking more of the fight out of her while she could do nothing but take the abuse. Her body trembled and bounced with every blow, until Kitty was just pummeling a limp, defeated shell of a woman.

“No smart comments now, huh?” Kitty said, breathing hard. The self-styled Queen of Crime had a light glow about her, ample breasts shining as she gently wiped away the sweat. “That’s too bad. Y’aint even gonna tell me I won’t get away with it? Almost disappointin’ …

“Now, lookit this, all of ya!” Kitty stepped away, sweeping a hand across Margo’s limp body. “This is what I’m givin’ ya! The costumed bitch that made all you an’ yer buddied look like chumps, over an’ over again! Served up to ya on a silver platter! And now, with a cherry on top!” Margo forced her eyes open, seeing the sick sliver of a smile spread across Castrovinci’s lips.

“Wh-what … what are you …?” Margo moaned.

“You just hold reeeeeeaal still …” Kitty said, in a cloyingly sweet tone. From her inside breast pocket, Kitty pulled a thin silver phone, swiping across the screen.

“N-no … w-wait, no …” The Ghost’s pathetic protests meant nothing to the Queen of Crime, however, as Castrovinci reached out, and pinched her fingers around the edge of Margo’s thin mask- the tiny piece of fabric that kept Margo Fox and her loved ones safe from the dark and dangerous underworld of the Gossamer Ghost! The only protection her identity had from this den of criminals and monsters. That mask meant everything to Margo, up and and including her very life.

“Please,” Margo said, tears welling up in her eyes as she failed to summon the strength to stop this, “please don’t do this! I-I-”

“Aw, c’mon, Ghostie,” Kitty teased, “smile big fer yer fans!” With that, Castrovinci ripped away Margo’s mask, exposing her face to the entire room! The thugs and crooks whooped and hollered, shocked to actually see the trembling, pretty face of the woman who’d been the scourge of the underworld, finally exposed! Margo recoiled in horror, tears streaming freely down her face as she realized what had just happened.

“Nooo!” she cried out, wet bangs sinking over her eyes slightly, as Kitty Castrovinci exposed the Gossamer Ghost to her eager, leering minions. Margo watched in horror, her body wracked with sobs, as she watched her limp mask fall to the floor. Reaching out, Kitty wrapped her fingers roughly around Margo’s cheeks, giving her a squeeze.

“C’mon, pretty girl, smile fer th’camera!”

“Oh, God,” Margo gasped, her lips squished into a “duck face” by Kitty’s firm grip, “n-no! Nooo …” Her protests meant nothing, however. Grinning like a cheshire cat, Kitty lifted her phone and snapped a pic. The new Queen of Crime, with her trophy: the Gossamer Ghost, defeated, humiliated, unmasked and exposed before the whole world! Barely able to think through the tears, Margo’s heart sank as she fell into despair. This was it, she told herself, the end. The final, ultimate defeat of the Gossamer Ghost …


TO BE CONTINUED

Another cracking chapter. You have very authentic dialogue - probably the thing I struggle with the most in my own efforts.

I'm excited to see where we go from here. It doesn't look good for Margo!

QUEEN'S GAMBIT, part two: A Gossamer Ghost Peril
by Betty Dreadful

[[First of all, thank you so much Void for your recent comments. Really helps to have someone reading along, and I appreciate all of your input on my work thus far! Very cool of you! And a big thanks to everyone that's been reading along with Margo's misadventures, thus far!

Secondly, this is probably the installment of the Gossamer Ghost's adventures I'm least confident in. Hence why it took so long to write and post. I had some specific things in mind, with regards to series continuity and certain elements I really wanted to include (including the biggest/dumbest set piece fight I've ever written), so forgive me if not everything comes off well. For those that read through, thanks again so much! Hope you find something to enjoy!]]



Margo Fox had lost track of the time, in her cold, darkened tomb. As the vivacious crime fighter called the Gossamer Ghost, Margo had been the scourge of the criminal underworld. Now, however, she looked far less imposing. Her curvy body dangled limply from the ceiling, arms bound above her head in chains, her exhausted and battered figure limp and lifeless-looking. Dry tears had run down her bare face, as her identity-concealing mask was gone. Defeated and hopeless, Margo could only wait until her sadistic foe came back to finish her off.

Despite Margo’s current, pathetic state, this case had started like any other. A deadly drug had begun flooding the city, and the Gossamer Ghost attempted to track the thing down to its source. She’d even found the mastermind behind the epidemic: Kitty Castrovinci, self-proclaimed Queen of Crime and sister of two young crooks who had recently lost their lives in another of the Ghost’s cases. Seemingly shallow, ditzy and artificial, Kitty hadn’t been the kind of woman that Margo would have taken to be a threat. Nonetheless, she’d proven the better woman that night, leaving poor Margo beaten, bound and unmasked in front of a small gang of her leering goons!

Margo’s cheeks burned, as she remembered the sick selfie that Castrovinci had forced her to take. Unmasked, the Queen of Crime had a photo of the Gossamer Ghost’s real face, a fact that put Margo at risk even in her daily life! Not that it mattered, she supposed; Margo couldn’t imagine that after all of this, Castrovinci was going to let her live!

Margo had no idea how long it was before she heard the rusty creak of the door. She winced, knowing that it was Castrovinci coming to torture her more. Margo’s ribs, chest and backside were still aching with every blow Castrovinci had laid into her with, her “BOSS” and “BITCH” brass knuckles leaving lingering wounds on the Ghost’s body.

Kitty Castrovinci strode into the room with a sick grin going from ear to ear. She was still wearing her tight-fitting pin-striped jacket and mini skirt. Her tan skin and bleach-blonde hair still seemed to glow in the pale light of the room. The new Queen of Crime held her head high, clearly knowing that she held all the power, all the strength, and lording it over her defeated foe.

“Don’t get too cozy now, Ghostie,” Castrovinci said, with a sneer, “I been letting you hang out here awhile, but you’ve kinda worn out yer welcome! An’ I got a big finish planned, for you!”

“Wh-what,” Margo groaned, finding speaking difficult after all this time, “what are you talking about, you sick bitch?”

“Aw, don’t be like that, Ghostie! Yer gonna love this! See, I’ve been rackin’ my brains, tryin’ to figure out the best way to finally put an end ta the Gossamer Ghost, and make a statement to show everyone who the Queen of Crime really is!”

“Ugh,” Margo groaned, her line of sight giving her an eyeful of Castrovinci’s generous cleavage, “please don’t say ‘rack’ right now …”

“Shaddup! See, I got a great idea. Classic, but with a twist!”

“I bet you’re proud of yourself …” Margo said, eyes narrowing. The young crime fighter didn’t like where this was going, at all …

“You just relax, Ghostie,” Kitty said, reaching between her ample breasts. “See, by the end of the night, here … Oh, I love that I finally get ta say this!” Kitty fished one of the brass knuckles out from her straining bra, slipping it onto her fingers as she talked, “But by the end a’ the night, yer gonna be sleeping with tha fishes!”

“What!?” Margo gasped, eyes widening in confused horror. She didn’t get an answer, however. Kitty took a rough fistful of Margo’s black hair, pulling her face downward. As she did so, Kitty’s fist swung upward, speeding toward poor Margo’s helpless face! The two met in the middle, with Castrovinci’s brass-knuckled fist colliding with Margo’s face! Everything went black in a flash, Margo being put to sleep in one swift blow! Margo’s body dangled from her chains, Kitty’s knockout blow leaving a rough impression of the word ‘bitch’ emblazoned on Margo’s forehead.

Margo’s limp body was dragged out under cover of night. One of Kitty Castrovinci’s men had the poor crimefighter by the legs, while another carried her with his hands under her arms. Margo’s lifeless body was still bound, wrists tied together with rope while her arms were bound around her sides. Margo was still unmasked, and would have almost looked as if she were dozing peacefully if not for the bruise that Kitty had branded her with.

Following behind at a steady pace were a few eager thugs, ready and waiting to see the young vigilante get what they kept telling each other ‘was coming to her.’ Kitty Castrovinci lead the way with her head held high. The grim entourage made their way through cover of night to a large tank, where two men near the edge were pouring buckets of a wet crimson slop into the waters.

“Ughn!” Margo was roused as her body was dumped roughly onto the floor. Kitty made sure she was looming over the crimefighter, as Margo opened her bleary eyes.

“Wake up, Ghostie!” Kitty shouted, as she swung a stiletto heel right into Margo’s vulnerable belly, “Time for the big finale!”

“Hhhgnn!” Margo groaned, doubling over in agony on the ground. She gasped for air to refill her lungs, body trembling at Kitty’s feet.

“C’mon, boys, no dawdlin’!” Kitty snapped her fingers, beckoning two of her men to approach with chains and a heavy weight. “Like I promised, our little Ghostie is gonna be sleepin’ with the fishes, tonight! An’ when word gets out about this, there’s nobody gonna question my spot at the top of this city’s crime scene! The Castrovincis are gonna be big again, an’ I’m the one makin’ it happen!”

Margo panicked, seeing the water and weights. Stumbling for her bindings, Margo had difficulty rolling herself upright. Margo struggled hard to get upright, was was knocked hard to her knees by a shove to her back!

“Oh no ya don’t, Ghostie,” Kitty said, as her goons put their hands on Margo’s shoulders to keep her down, “this is too big to go skippin’ out on! See, ya might not like what we’ve been putting out on the streets, but ya can’t argue with results, can ya? An’ we’re gettin’ results! See, I got a product I’m proud of! An’ it’s got more uses than you think!”

“Wh-what are you talking about?” Margo said, through gritting teeth.

“Sure, we may be puttin’ out the new hotness on campus an’ in the streets, but we’re diversifyin’ our portfolio! See, we coulda taken you out to the docks, put two in yer pretty little head and dumped ya, but instead, we’re here at the Metro Sea Park! Y’ever see that movie ‘Blackfish?’”

“Oh, God,” Margo said, eyes widening.

“I didn’t, but I think we’re gettin’ the basic idea. See, we broke in here with ya, and wanted to see how our product might work as a dietary supplement! Little bit a’ chum, with our new little wonder drug thrown in for kicks!” Margo watched the waters churn, as a massive black and white body swam in and amongst the red cloud of fish guts.

“We got enough product in there to kill a city block, Ghostie, an’ we reckon it’s just gonna get that killer whale riled up enough to really have some fun with ya!” Behind Margo, a pair of thugs had approached her with the chains and weight, ready to clasp her ankles.

“N-no! No!” Margo protested, as she was shoved forward and her ankles were chained. Two of the other goons pulled her cloak off, leaving Margo bound and tied in nothing but her silk white lingerie costume. “This is insane, you can’t do this!”

“Really?” Kitty taunted, still looming over the Gossamer Ghost, “Cuz it looks like this is exactly what we’re doin!” Kitty grabbed Margo by the hair, forcing her to look up at the mob queen. “You ready for this? I know I said you’d be sleepin’ with tha fishes, but I don’t think yer gonna get much sleepin’ done!”

Margo continued to struggle and squirm in the grip of her captors, but to no avail. She was too tightly bound, too heavily weighted down, to resist them. A group of burly thugs dragged the Gossamer Ghost to the edge of the tank, and unceremoniously dumped her body into the water!
Everything came up on Margo in a rush. Water filled her ears, the cold chill rushing up her body as she was submerged. Only a single quick gasp before she hit the water, just as the cold splash hit her nearly bare cheeks with a cold rush, saved her from getting a lungful of water.
Margo could only hear the motion of the water, as it filled her ears. It muffled the sounds of Kitty’s cheering goons, as she sank into the tank. Margo continued to struggle and squirm, her curvy body straining against her costume and the ropes as she was thoroughly soaked in the water. Outside the tank, every goon in attendance let out a cheer at the spectacular spectacle, the melodramatic demise of the Gossamer Ghost!
Margo could feel the weights at her ankles pulling her down. Her raven hair floated above her head, as her body descended helplessly into the water. Slowly, she opened her eyes, wanting to see what was ahead of her. Instead, she could only see the nasty red chum that was before her.
Outside the tank, Kitty Castrovinci watched with morbid glee. The surface of the tank was splashing and roiling, as the massive body of her drugged whale began to move toward its intended prey. Kitty grinned from ear to ear, as if she herself were the one about to devour the Ghost’s helpless body.

A single black dorsal fin crested the water, and advanced on the Ghost’s position. It thrust forward, cutting the water like a knife. Kitty and her thugs leered over the platform, waiting for that final, decisive moment. Finally, with the group morbidly leering over the dark waters, there was an explosion of motion! The fin sank beneath the water, waves displacing as the beast lunged forward. There was an explosion of red in the water, the waves churning, and a billowing cloud of red erupted from the depths! There was a bit of thrashing, some final bubbles, and then nothing.

“Hah!” Kitty smirked, “An’ that’s the end a’ that! An’ that, boys, is how the Queen of Crime puts an end to things! Hope y’all enjoyed your ringside seats for the end a’ the Gossamer Ghost!”

There was a cheer that went up amongst most of the crew, though it seemed half-hearted. Each of them had fantasized about being the one to put an end to the buxom young crime fighter, but none of them had imagined her death would be quite so gruesome. They looked at Kitty Castrovinci with newfound respect, and the woman beamed for it. She had made it more than clear what would happen to those that crossed her, no matter who it was.

“C’mon now, y’mooks,” Kitty said, walking confidently away from the grim scene, “we got product to move, and business ta do. Business that’s gonna be a hell of a lot easier, without that meddlesome bitch gettin’ in our way!” Kitty took a slip of silk fabric, the Ghost’s mask, and tucked it into her bra. It was her trophy, the last earthly remains of the Gossamer Ghost, and she was more than eager to parade it around as a sure sign of the power that was held by the Queen of Crime.

The waters beneath the ledge were not still for long. Margo was in a frantic scramble, struggling for her life as she fought against her restraints. Opening her eyes in the dark water, she was just barely able to get her vision back in time to see the massive killer whale bearing down on her! Tucking her body in on itself, the vigilante dropped low, letting the animal dive through the cloud of chum as it barely missed her!

The displacement of the water alone was nearly enough to force her to gasp, but Margo kept her mouth shut. Her lungs felt like they might explode, as she struggled against the shifting water pressure. Her body was whipped around, bound arms still stuck at her side as her body twisted and writhed beneath the waves. Margo was chilled to the bone, knowing that her life was on the line, here. Her cloak, filled with the fantastic gadgets that she would usually rely on to save her life in dire situations, was likely still lying in a heap above the waves. Down here, it was only the Ghost and the beast, locked in mortal combat!

Margo wasn’t quite stupid enough to think she had a chance against the drugged monster. Still shaking and squirming in her bondage, Margo knew all she could hope to do was survive. The pressure of the water mounted with the pressure of knowing that a mad orca was out for blood, leaving her scrambling for an escape plan. And still, Margo’s lungs felt like they would explode at any minute, as she fought to retain air.

A loud, thunderous shudder rocked the water. Margo was struggling to keep her thoughts in order, but it seemed that the orca had pummeled the tank itself! If there was a chance it could break, she thought to herself …

Shaking her head, Margo’s eyes widened as she saw the drug-addled orca coming around clumsily for another pass at her. In its current state, Margo wasn’t sure if the beast even knew where she was, or what she was. Not that it mattered. She was alone, locked down in a watery grave with a monster that was overcome with maddened bloodlust!

She felt the water around her skin shift, as the beast came in for another pass. The displacement was massive, as the huge beast came around for her again. Massive enough that the weight that pulled her down shifted, giving Margo her one and only chance. She let her body drift backward, toward the edge of the tank. Margo had a plan, but she would only get one chance at making it work. If she could time this correctly, she could get herself free. If she made even the slightest error, however, she’d be nothing but pulp, ground between the beast’s jaws and reduced to a sticky mess in its massive maw!

Margo tightened her legs as she felt the beast rushing toward her. She braced herself, muscles tensing as the orca dove for her. Moaning with effort, Margo kicked her body to one side. The beast broadsided her, hitting Margo harder than she’d ever been hit in her life, rocking her to one side. The feeling was like a massive fist, moving along in slow motion with enough force to turn the world around her inside out. Everything twisted and bound around Margo, pulling her further underwater and twisting her inside out.

It was all the Gossamer Ghost could do, to resist crying out in agony as the powerful orca knocked hard against her. She felt ribs crack and flesh bruise beneath the monster’s massive body, as it sideswiped her. Margo’s eyes popped open wide, the pain being the most excrutiating she’d ever experienced in her young life. However, it was the best outcome the young woman could have hoped for!

Margo’s body twisted in the waves, bending and twisting at her hourglass middle. Margo’s legs kicked out helplessly, her ankles straining as the weight chained to her swung outward. out to hit the tank walls at the same time as the orca collided! There was another thunderous crack, this time with enough force that the tank shattered! There was a creak, the sound of breaking plastic straining through the water until the pressure was too much and the tank finally gave way!

The Gossamer Ghost was swept up in the rush of water, as it escaped the shattering tank! Margo’s body was ejected from the water, rushing out to the floor below.

“Gghhaaaahhhhhhhghh!” Margo half-screamed, half-gasped. She felt wet and cold, as her body sank limply into the cool concrete. Her chest heaved against the floor, as she gasped for air. Each breath caused blinding pain in her broken ribs, as she sputtered and sobbed for air. “B-bloody hell!” she sputtered, spitting water out onto the floor.

Margo lay there, trying to resist the urge to let herself fall into total unconsciousness. Loud, body-racking sobs escaped her body, as she tried to get herself back under control. When Margo was finally able to open her wide eyes again, she looked in bewilderment around the room. Her sheer costume clung to her chilled body on the floor, as she lay bound and tied on the floor. It was a pathetic sight, but Margo couldn’t lose sight of the fact that she was, against all odds, still alive!

Margo let her body sink into the cool concrete, the bracing sensation enough to keep her from passing out on the floor. Opening her eyes wide, Margo looked back at the massive tank that had nearly been the end of her. Only some water seemed to remain in the tank, sloshing slowly. Margo winced, as she saw the barest outline of the whale in the darkness. Alive, if hurting desperately, Margo could hardly wrap her mind around the fact that Kitty Castrovinci was absolutely insane enough that she would go to the lengths of unmasking her, beating her … then breaking into a water park, drugging a whale to the gills, and siccing it on Margo like a rabid animal! Did whales have gills? Margo was very tired.

“Ooooooooouuuughhhh,” the Gossamer Ghost groaned. Taking a deep breath, the heroine forced her trembling body into a seated position. She winced, as she felt something shift in her rib cage, almost doubling over in pain. Soaking wet head bowed, the Ghost thought about her next steps. She’d just survived a drugged-up whale, somehow. But Kitty Castrovinci was still out there. With the Gossamer Ghost’s mask, and a photograph of her face. And enough of said drug to flood the city, from the looks of it. Margo took a moment, and let out a loud sob. As tempting as it was to simply lie back on the floor and let the darkness take her, there was still far too much work to do. And, the aching Ghost realized, no chance she could do it alone …


+++++


When the Gossamer Ghost finally started to rouse herself, she was surrounded. Instead of the leering faces of Kitty Castrovinci and her horde, however, the Ghost found herself surrounded by the concerned looks of members of her Justice Sorority.

“Thank god, she’s alive,” Kimi said, the first one to break the silence.

“Dude,” Maggie Annis said, staring wide-eyed, “is that a whale over there? Did you fight a feckin’ whale?”

“Told you so,” Sam said, shaking her head. “Too dangerous to go alone, huh?”

It took Margo a few moments, but she was slowly able to put together the pieces. She remembered pushing past the pain of crawling across the wet, cold floor, dragging her limp body over to the first telephone she saw. Bereft of her own equipment, Margo had no other choice. She needed someone to come here, to pull her from the jaws of utter defeat, before she fell completely back into the darkness. Fortunately, her Sorority sisters answered.

“Ow!” Margo whimpered, struggling to sit upright. Wincing, she wrapped an arm around her aching ribs. She found them bound and bandaged, surely something Kimi had done while Margo was still under. “Th-thank you,” she said, between gasps.

“Jaysis, Margo,” Maggie said, “thanks fer pickin’ up a feckin’ phone, once in awhile!”

“We’re glad you called, Margo,” Kimi said, a bit more gently, “but what on earth happened here? How did you wind up … here, for God’s sake?”

“Ugh,” Margo grunted, taking a moment before she could force herself to speak properly again. “Th-the drugs … We were right. They were cooking it up in that old chemical plant. The whole production, right under everyone’s noses … they got the drop on me.

“Kimi, you remember those guys, the Castrovinci’s? They had a sister. And it turns out she blames me for what The Hangman did to them …”

“But why?” Kimi asked.

“D-dunno,” Margo shook her head, “but she made a hell of a show out of kicking my ass. Beat me up, took my cloak … took my mask … She took a selfie, guys! She’s got my face on camera!”

A pronounced silence fell on the girls. It was an unspoken thing, but they all understood just how important the Gossamer Ghost’s anonymity was to her nocturnal activities. That if any criminal made the connection between mousy Margo Fox and the vivacious Gossamer Ghost, there would never be a safe moment from them. It was Margo’s greatest fear, and not only had it come true, but the moment was immortalized in a picture!

“That bitch,” Sam said, shaking her head.

“To say the least. And she’s still out there, guys. I’ve still got to take her down!”

“Margo,” Kimi said, interrupting, “look, just wait a moment. Look at yourself, girl!”

“Y-yeah,” Margo said, wincing as her ribs kept her from pushing her body off the ground, “I’m pretty banged up. But you don’t understand. She’s seen my face, but Castrovinci knows I’ve seen her operation! She might think I’m dead, but I’ve got to figure she’ll still pull up stakes. If I found her base, someone else will, too! And if I let her disappear again, I might never find her!”

“Margo!” Kimi snapped, embracing her friend’s shoulders and pulling her face close, “Face facts: she beat you! She nearly killed you! The police can take care of her! She tried to feed you to a whale, dammit! You … you can’t do this one …!”

Margo winced at Kimi’s words. The half-costumed crime fighter shook her head, fighting back tears. Kimi’s words were pragmatic, a bit cold … and chillingly honest. Margo had been beaten, and it was only luck that meant she was alive now. But could she sit this one out?

Margo thought of every moment she’d had, leading up to becoming who she was today. She thought of herself now, soaking wet and wounded and in tears. The contrast of that woman, against the robust and buxom Gossamer Ghost, proud vigilante and scourge of the criminal underworld. The kind of woman that inspired the hatred in people like Kitty Castrovinci, that would lead them to drugging up a whale, just to kill her. She thought of which of those two figures was the closest to Margo Fox, mousy little woman bundled up beneath sweaters and scarves and glasses and arm loads of paperwork. The things that each woman would accomplish. The things that each woman would accept happening to her, before lying down.

“You know the answer to that, Kimi,” Margo said, her voice firm. There was another long silence over the group.

“Of course, Margo,” Kimi said. “We’re here now. Just tell us what to do.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” Margo said, “and it’s not going to be safe. More than anything, I’ve wanted to keep you guys safe. If any of you head back to the penthouse now, I’m not gonna judge.” There was a brief silence. No one went home.


+++++


Kitty Castrovinci walked through the plant with a firm confidence. The self-styled Queen of Crime had come into this operation making it clear that she had every intent of being the absolute top of the criminal underworld. Now, however, she was so much more than that: she was the woman who had dominated, then disposed of, the Gossamer Ghost herself! Kitty truly was the Queen of Crime, her empire built on the ruined body of her greatest possible foe!

As Kitty’s men dismantled the tools they were using to produce the drug she’d unleashed on the masses, Kitty would play with them. Winking, giggling, she had them in the palm of her hand. Occasionally, she’d even pull the thin white lace of the Gossamer Ghost’s mask from between her ample, tanned breasts, just to give her men a tantalizing peek …

The machined ground and hummed, trying to squeeze out the last of her product before they stripped the place and disappeared into the shadows. There was enough product, Kitty told herself, that they could easily tide themselves over until setting up operations elsewhere. Anywhere they wanted, really. Who was going to say no to the woman who had eliminated the Gossamer Ghost?

Kitty’s chest swelled with pride, as she grinned from ear to ear. At least, until the mechanical grind of the machines ground to a final, total halt … well ahead of schedule.

“What the hell, guys?” Kitty demanded, tucking the mask back between her breasts and shooting a deathly glare to the nearest henchman. She caught one that was absent-mindedly reaching for a cigarette..

“I-I dunno, Miss Castrovinci, I-”

“Well, buddy boy, ‘I dunno’ don’t do me much good now, does it? Right?”

“I-I guess not-”

“No. It does me no damn good. So how ‘bout you go find out what the hell is going on, before I decide you ain’t doin’ me any good?”
There was no argument as the henchman began rushing across the scaffolding in a mad effort to find a cause and appease his mistress. Cigarette tucked behind his ear, the goon ran through the scaffolding, looking for anywhere on the massive processing machine that might have been gumming up the works. Anything that might have been stalling out, jamming production, anything to explain why the massive industrial line found nothing. It wasn’t until he’d jogged several yards that he noticed the way the lights were flickering.

“Aw, heck,” he said, fumbling the cig into his mouth just as the lights went out. The sounds of confusion spread through the plant, as the men went into a panic with the sudden onset of darkness. None of them had any idea how the lights had gone out, just after the great machine had ground to a halt for lack of energy.

None of them had any idea how the Gossamer Ghost has managed to locate the transformer for the plant, or how her friend Sam had forced it open. How ‘Mad’ Maggie Annis had shut it down, letting the whole production grind to a halt. As she made her way through the dark, the Gossamer Ghost delivered one well-placed kick after another, dispatching thug after thug as she made her way to the heart of the manufacturing project!

This time, everything was playing into the Gossamer Ghost’s hands. With every foe she downed, Margo couldn’t help but think about how much easier things were with the support of her friends. Kitty Castrovinci had defeated and humiliated the Gossamer Ghost- but the Justice Sorority was poised to succeed where she had failed!

Of course, as she closed in on the center of the operation, the Gossamer Ghost couldn’t help but be driven by a desperate need. It pained her, but Margo remembered all too well how Kitty had tied her up, beaten her, unmasked her, and taken photographs of every humiliating moment! Every step that Margo took forward was driven by a desperate need to avenge that abuse, and hopefully save her identity.

Finally, tossing a suited thug over the guard rail, Margo came upon a familiar sight. The steel cage that Kitty Castrovinci had locked her in, where the Gossamer Ghost had been pummeled and abused for the amusement of her cackling goons. Margo winced at the memory.

Slowly, Margo made her way into the heart of Kitty Castrovinci’s operation. Every step was taken with care, Margo being afraid to make a squeak as she sought out the self-proclaimed “Queen-Pin of Crime.” Making it that much worse, as the lights flared to life!

“No!” Margo gasped, as the sudden flash of light blinded her! It must have been a backup generator, Margo told herself. The Ghost raised her hands to try and block the light, giving her just a moment before Kitty came into view.

“Oooff!” Margo groaned, as Kitty’s fist sank into her belly. She could feel the cold, hard metal of Kitty’s brass knuckles against her soft flesh, the imprint reading “bitch” leaving their mark. Margo wrapped her arms around her belly, staggering backward.

“Ya really are intent on bein’ a pain in my tight ass, aren’t ya?” Kitty said, through tightly grinding teeth. “I dunno how ya got away from a drugged up whale, but I’m gonna make ya regret doing all that work, just ta get killed right here an’ now!” With a swift backhand, Kitty swung her second set of brass knuckles across Margo’s unsuspecting cheek, slapping her back to the floor.

“D-damn …” Margo groaned, wiping the back of her hand against her aching face. The crime fighter started trying to push herself up. The help of her friends had been enough to get her this far, but now she was standing alone.

“Dunno why you put that mask back on, neither,” Kitty teased, “We already got some cute selfties together, tonight! I’m sellin’ those fer a pretty penny, by the way!” Kitty stepped over the recovering Margo, straddling the downed woman with her toned, tanned legs.

“Rrrgh, no!” Margo groaned in protest. She tried to squirm out of Kitty’s grip, her soft sides struggling against Kitty’s toned legs as she failed to pry herself free. Looking up, she saw a brass-knuckled fist coming down hard toward her face! “No!” Margo cried out, as the brass knuckles struck her right across the bridge of the nose, knocking her flat to the floor.

“How th’ hell did a soft little bitch like you manage to be a pain in everyone’s ass so long, huh? Any crook worth his salt shoulda taken you out long ago, ya little princess!”

“Wh-what,” Margo grunted, feeling hot blood start to pool beneath her nose, “like your brothers?”
Kitty’s rage flared, at the taunt. “What the hell you just say, bitch!? I’ll kill ya! Again!” Kitty Castrovinci pulled back hard, packing her fingers into a fist before thrusting down with all of her might toward Margo’s waiting face!

Making it all too easy for Margo to catch the swing! The Gossamer Ghost wrapped her fingers around Kitty’s wrist, pulling with her momentum to pull the “Queen-Pin of Crime” off balance. Margo planted a foot against Kitty’s toned belly, rolled with her arm, and threw her end over end!

“Hhhggnnn!” Kitty cried out as her back hit the floor. Castrovinci fell flat on the floor, legs spread wide and her skirt hiked up over her thighs as she stared up at the ceiling.

“Got you!” Margo shouted, rolling up to her feet. She waited for Kitty to scramble up to her feet, before tripping her right back down with a leg sweep. Kitty got up again, coming in swinging hard, only for Margo to sidestep her and land a hard knee to her implant-inflated chest! The Gossamer Ghost delivered a hard spinning back fist, a couple of hard chops to Kitty’s collar bone, and a spinning back kick to the abs that knocked the Queen-Pin against a wall, and sent her sliding pathetically to the floor.

“It’s over, Kitty,” Margo said, “you’re shut down. Give it up now, and I can take you in peacefully.”

“Ha! Heehee, haha …” Kitty giggled, frantically. Her bleached bangs hung over her face, as her shoulders bounced up and down from beneath her suit jacket.

“The hell …?” Margo said, stepping back and taking a defensive posture.

“Ya didn’t think I was gonna fight this one fair, did ya?” Kitty said, pulling a small pistol from beneath her jacket. “Maybe folks won’t recognize ya after all, since our photo didn’t have a bullet hole in th’ head!”

Gossamer Ghost barely had time to dive, as gun shots rang out through the empty factory. Margo could hear the ricochet bounce off the walls, as Kitty fired shot after shot into the darkness. Margo’s cloak helped to keep her alive, as Kitty sent bullets through that lingering figure and not her
own body.

Margo made a break back to the manufacturing floor, hot lead close behind her. Kitty stepped out onto the catwalk, overlooking her ruined production line.

“Dammit, bitch,” Kitty said, “I’m gonna love perferatin’ ya!” With a flick of her wrist, Kitty pulled out the chamber of the gun and began cramming more bullets into it. Which was exactly the opening that the Gossamer Ghost needed!

From the shadows, Margo dove at her opponent! Hitting Kitty in the back, she sent the mob moll tumbling over the railing. Kitty grabbed the railing, saving herself from a tumble to the concrete below. Margo managed to catch her wrist, taking just seconds to reach back into her cloak and produce a handcuff that she used to fasten Kitty to the rail.

“Sorry, you bleached mob bitch, end of the line!” As if on a cue, the sound of sirens began to fill the air. Margo smiled at how precisely her friends had timed their call to emergency services, with an “anonymous” tip that send the police to the scene. Kimi Li knew just what to say to convince dispatch that this was exactly where they could send units to catch the Gossamer Ghost!

“Yer fergettin’ one thing, y’masked bimbo!” Kitty said, “You ain’t gonna want evidence going through my phone now, are ya?”
Margo smirked. “What, this one?” Margo pulled a small, pink phone from the folds of her costume. “No, I think I’m gonna hang onto this one. I hate getting tagged in selfies I don’t like …” Red and blue lights spilled through the window. In a brief moment, between flashes of red and blue, the Gossamer Ghost disappeared into the night.


+++++


It was a quiet ride home for the women of the Justice Sorority. At least, until the Gossamer Ghost finally let out a loud sigh, sank her head into her friend Kimi Li’s shoulder, and spoke.

“Thank you,” she said, finally.

The young women laughed. The Ghost, Kimi Li and “Mad” Maggie Annis were crammed into the back of a bike cab, with Sam White peddling them madly home.

“So, y’don’t mind actually lettin us help ye then, huh?” Maggie said, poking a finger teasing into Margo’s ample chest.

“I don’t mind …” Margo said, with an exaggerated scowl. “Ever since … that whole business with Diva de Los Muertos, I’ve been scared. I tore into you guys, and it made me think how fragile you are. How easily that could have been so much worse …”

“It’s not that bad, Margo,” Kimi said, shaking her head. Kimi laid a hand over the back of Margo’s head, pulling her close for a hug.

“Well, I guess I realized something else, tonight,” Margo continued. “I’m fragile, too. You girls are adults. You make your own decisions. Together, though, we’re a lot stronger than I gave us credit for. Together, we’ve done some great things. And I think we could do a lot more.”

“Sappy twit, ain’t ya?” Maggi teased.

“Deal with it,” Margo snarked back, “I’m just enjoying not feeling vulnerable, for a few minutes!” A feeling the Justice Sorority all enjoyed, as they swiftly pedaled their way back home!



Back at the plant, Ktty Castrovinci greeted the humiliation of arrest with all the dignity and grace of a coked-up hornet. She writhed and struggled as officers cut the cuffs from the railing, and lowered her safely to the floor.

She responded to her Miranda rights with a chorus of yeahs and whatevers. Each question made Kitty’s eyes roll back so hard a medical examiner almost needed to be called. Cameras flashed away, however. Each click catching another glance at her perfectly made-up face, her tightly-manicured suit over her perfectly trained body … all while she was being forced into handcuffs, taken into custody and shoved into the back of a cramped squad car!

Kitty could feel tears welling up in her eyes, as the poised and dominant “Queen-Pin of Crime” was dethroned. She didn’t even had a chance to pull her skirt back into place, before her toned and tanned bottom was introduced to the cold leather of the squad car seat.

This, Kitty scowled, was going to be the end of a night that had started with the seeming demise of the Gossamer Ghost! Kitty’s face burned bright red, as her own men were led out of the building to see her in the back of a squad car, utterly humbled. Each one got a good look at Kitty’s face, stream of tears and all, before they were pulled off to their own paddy wagon.

One thought kept Kitty from completely losing heart, however. The Castrovinci’s could afford lawyers easily enough, of course. And daddy knew more than one guy who knew more than one guy in city hall. Tomorrow morning might be a pain, that much was certain. But that wasn’t what brought her comfort, in that moment.

“S’like the dumb bitch never heard a’ cloud storage,” she muttered, thinking of her stolen phone, her prized selfie with the humiliated and unmasked Gossamer Ghost, and the possibilities that tomorrow might bring to her …

A great story that has had me dreaming of the endless possibilities here...