A Sting in the Tale
(Events follow 'All Good things' by Wyldewood http://druantia.fortunecity.com/stories.htm)
Chapter 1
Using the last vestiges of a shimmering twilight Tonya scans the sea all the way to the horizon. High powered binoculars isolate, focus and zoom examining every nuance and aberration of the seething tidal waters. The daily vigil offers what assurance it can that the muscular blonde Amazon will remain undisturbed for yet another night on the Bahamian isle that has become her prison.
It was over a month ago that Tonya watched the Druantian humans depart; the concluding moment to a humiliating defeat as dealt to her by their voluptuous champion, Carla. Memories of the encounter continue to haunt the blonde muscle-woman; of the challenge in the wood, of her initial dominance and then her desperation as the brunette Huntress somehow assumed control, capturing her in a relentless cycle of pain and pleasure, a cycle unlike any Tonya had previously experienced and one that, ultimately, she was unable to endure. The lonely weeks since had seen her hatred for Carla and her ilk fester, emotions compounded by an utter lack of comprehension as to how a woman, so clearly her physical inferior, had scored so significant a victory. Unconsciously Tonya finds herself cupping her small domed bosom, accentuating her modest cleavage as best she can while the beautiful brunette’s claim of being the ‘better woman’ resonates in her mind. Finally snapping herself from her indulgent introspection the Amazon soldier whispers defiantly “I am so much more than she could ever be, and I’ll make her admit it before I end her life!”
With a final malevolent stare toward the horizon Tonya begins the journey toward her base and the prospect of spending another solitary night there, or perhaps not, while weeks of isolation and limited nutrition have taken their toll, her innate combat sense assured her she was being watched, the real question was by whom.
The Druantians departed taking the Amazon's food stock, severing the base's power and destroying the communication equipment. While Tonya was been able to restore the power, the damage to the RT was too severe and denied her any further contact with the command centre, how would that subsequent radio silence be interpreted? It could be regarded as a loss of all personnel making any prospect of rescue slim, alternatively HQ might assign a reconnaissance party to observe and ascertain any threat or trap, in that case they would only reveal themselves when they were sure it was safe to do so. Of course the other possibility was that the accursed humans were simply cowering impotently, avoiding any open offence and biding their time, waiting to pounce when she was seemingly too weak to fight back. Part of her hoped for the latter, the Humans were unaware of her genetic purity, her superiority by design, her kind were created to be the supreme warriors of the planet, she would relish the moment they realised that mistake, staring into their terrified eyes as she crushes their skulls with her bare hands and then feasts on their warm blood.
The desire to mutilate and humiliate her enemies ultimately proves an uncomfortable distraction for the muscular blonde, clambering over some moss covered rocks she slips, crashing to the ground on her firmly muscled ass. In a fit of frustration she snarls venomously, and almost instantly she realizes her error; quickly she ducks into the shadows surveying the perimeter, watching for any response. Angry at her carelessness Tonya glowers into the fathomless depths of the forest and then out across the waters brushing the shore, all seems calm. With slow deliberate motions the Amazon sullenly pulls herself back to her feet and cautiously continues along the path to the cave mouth, taking the last drop onto the sandy patch at its base.
Tonya’s feet barely settle onto the fine silica as a burst of energy bludgeons into her body broadside, the 198lbs hulk is catapulted against the rocks in a jarring impact. For a moment her world is a sick dizzying blur but her honed senses quickly snap into sharp focus tracing the source of the violent discharge.
Captured against the darkening, blood red, sky an ominous silhouette slowly emerges from the water, the body is large and muscular, overtly feminine in shape yet hunched low, coiling from the back of this figure is a long twisting tail, the compound form resembles some monstrous human scorpion. To either side of the figure, more such ‘creatures’ break the surface and describe a wider arc, their ‘weapons’ covering the perimeter with classic militaristic precision. Recognising this as the arrival of her Amazon comrades Tonya offers a hoarse “About time!” before surrendering to the persistent cloud’s dogging her consciousness, she falls back and lays still.
****
A cacophony of sounds and voices drag Tonya back to a cognisant state, she is now safely ensconced in the cave base, lying on a bed with a drip slowly infusing her body with the many nutrients the past few weeks have deprived her. An Amazon’s genetically engineered biology can survive without food or drink for extended periods but there are undoubted side effects, and in this case the improvement Tonya feels is marked. Rolling her head to one side she spies two Soldiers busily repairing the RT while a tall blonde powerhouse, whom she recognises to be Sarah, barks orders their way. The blonde’s impressively muscular form is bound in a skin-tight black micro-fibre bodysuit, superficially similar, as might be expected of engineered perfection, to Tonya’s own form. Sarah’s subordinates are equally imposing specimens, one is still wearing the ‘Scorpion Armour’ glimpsed on the beach, in the stark light of the base this reveals itself as a scallop texture like breastplate cum leotard worn over the micro fibre securing a slim-line backpack from which a telescopic, prehensile, ‘tail’ extends, the ‘stinger’ of which is a sonic pulse rifle. Its effectiveness as a ranged weapon can be attested by the steadily healing bruise at the base of Tonya’s skull but it also contributes a useful extra arm in close quarter combat or as in this instance, can prove an invaluable aid assisting the transfer of some bulky equipment from the newly arrived Submarine to the operations console.
Sarah continues barking her orders in staccato fashion until a voice breaks over the intercom with the announcement “Commander, an Uplink has been established - we have a 30 minute window!” Whirling around the chiselled and buff blonde sets her cold black eyes upon Tonya, a half smile plays on her blood red lips “Awake just in time I see, Zero wants your upload so you better get your shit in gear!” Striding over to a table Sarah snatches up a flask and shoves it into Tonya’s hands. “Here all the way from Africa, some of the good stuff!” The recuperating blonde frantically rips the top from the container, gulping down the warm crimson plasma ravenously, the response is marked an almost instant euphoria and sense of raw power envelopes her body, a delicious erotic jolt that leaves her surging with pure energy. Hungrily probing for last few drops of the plasma with her tongue, Tonya finally makes it to her feet and confidently announces “I am ready!”
The blonde duo make their way to the control centre, the operator there is a lean and brawny brunette identified by the moniker Vixen, the woman is all business as directs Tonya to a seat and readies the equipment. Sarah stands to one side, grabbing a microphone she enquires “Connection status?” The reply is immediate “85% integrity and fully scrambled Commander” the blonde officer cannot resist a smirk at the comment, she turns to Tonya and scoffs “These ‘Dru’ primitives can barely use a radio, let alone decipher a data stream!” Vixen wields a cable with a complicated jack connector in one hand while the other parts Tonya’s hair above the nape of the neck and probes for the small contact area, flipping a cover open the cable is snapped into place.
The interface establishes a connection to a cybernetic implant that supplements the memory of all Amazon Soldiers, it is used to share and update skills, information and/or memories. The blonde’s face steadily drains of all expression, her eyes roll into the back of her head and her body begins to tremble as the upload commences. A trance-like state persists for some ten minutes then the seated blonde drunkenly slumps forward, slowly she recovers and tries to shake the cobwebs. Vixen carefully detaches the interface cable and checks the control panel deciphering the nature of the return signal “Data has been filtered and sent....Command orders are coming in now for download.” Tonya remains seated and looks to the operator, but the brunette shakes her head impassively. Sarah smiles arrogantly as she confirms the situation “I command this operation!” There is a moment of tension as Tonya absorbs the unwelcome news but finally and with a snort of impudent resignation she stands and moves aside. The Commander watches the woman suspiciously for a moment then drops into the seat allowing the operator to establish the link.
The effect of a download is less traumatic and more routine than an upload but nevertheless this particular transmission takes its toll on Sarah, she moans breathlessly as the stream of compressed information and instructions stab into her mind. Tonya watches with some shame realising that the commander is getting a full briefing of her own failure and one that sees her recorded experiences hit Sarah’s mind as if they were her own. Indeed in that fleeting exchange Sarah sees the face of the statuesque brunette Carla, feels Tonya's hate and desperation driving her to beg for release and even shielded from the more extreme sensations of that encounter the blonde is left with the same utter incredulity as to how this could have occurred. Once separated from the link and with the experiences still settling into her memory Sarah feels the same need to cradle and bolster her bosom as Tonya had earlier.
Sarah stands and shoots a withering glance toward Tonya. “This bitch you met is obviously trouble, we need to ensure we don’t end up with the same scenario we have in Iberia; the Dru' are all inferior to us, they can’t be offered hope and they can’t be allowed any ‘hero’s - when we have annihilated both they will be forced to acknowledge us as their gods!” Sarah’s rant is entirely synchronous with Tonya’s own view, revenge is clearly in the offing, but the question of her role in that needs clarification. Clearing her throat Tonya takes the initiative “when the rest of my team arrives we can.....” However the comment cannot be concluded as the blonde commander interrupts “You will surrender command of your team to me!” The displaced officer starts forward menacingly “My team remains.....” but Sarah cuts her short once again “You wish to challenge me? You wish to challenge me now that I have your entire download? Ha-ha you would be welcome of course..... but we ‘know’ how that would end.” The words were literal and bitter truth, the mental transfer was obviously more than just the one experience, Tonya’s skills, her prejudices and her desires are all now carried by this woman. Any challenge would be futile Sarah knowing her every move in advance, and worse a failed challenge would permit Sarah the option to have her decommission her, a process that would see her mutate into one of the monstrous creatures that roam the lands around the home base, a fate worse than death if ever there was one.
Tonya snaps to attention quickly looking to limit the damage of this ‘demotion’ she makes her play “I challenge for the right to be your lieutenant in this campaign!” The outburst inspires a chuckle from Sarah “Very wise and I'm sure I would like that, but we already have a challenge outstanding from our Africana success...... Assuming the mainland doesn’t offer any trouble - I think we should resolve the matter tonight, the winner will have the honour of leading the first assault on the mainland - it is begging to feel some pain, don’t you agree!”
****
During the course of the day Sarah’s squad of six complete the overhaul of the base, bringing its defences on-line and installing additional security. Although the location was compromised the resources and infrastructure in place made this base too valuable to abandon, hence the aim was to make it impregnable. Tonya remaining mindful of her pending challenge uses her unique situation outside the active squad to put in some weight lifting, albeit till Sarah notes her absence and assigns her some duties. Sixteen hours after the initial landing the remaining 5 members of Tonya’s squad join the station and for a few more frantic hours there is a bustle of activity that could not be more stark a contrast to the island's isolation these weeks prior.
Technical know-how is the province of the operator known as Vixen she literally seems to be everywhere, clearly her skills have been upgraded in that area, a necessity given the proper running of the complex ‘Scorpion Assault’ armour that is the signature of Sarah’s team. The heavy assault force is often called in to the more difficult areas to decisive effect, and just prior to her arrival here it had been the key to the final submission of those remaining rebellious communities of Africana, an area now firmly under Amazon control.
After 24 straight hours the turmoil finally begins to settle into some kind of order, Sarah calls both squads together instructing them to take an hour’s rest and then prepare for some ‘entertainment’. There is a palpable flurry of excitement and some tension generated in the room by the latter statement. Inevitably when two team’s merge there is some jostling as a natural pecking order asserts itself. Sarah is always keen to ensure the strong have every means to dominate and control the weak and with her own position for the moment unassailable, determining her lieutenant is the real commencement of that process. Following this challenge there must be absolute obedience for Sarah and her lieutenant, whoever it ends up being.
Chapter 2
For the finely honed and programmed Amazon soldiers, life is highly scheduled; an hour’s rest is exactly that and in truth it is all their genetically perfected metabolisms require. Hence some 60 minutes later the squad, each one a rippling, chiselled specimen of raw muscle, identically clad in tight black shorts and sports bra, gather around the roped ring at the heart of the main concourse. The air fills with boisterous comments and bravado; the contest will determine a role that would solidify the nature of the group for the remainder of the campaign, and everyone has a vested interest in the outcome, along with a more than passing sadistic delighted at the brutal display in prospect.
Sarah takes a position at one end of the ring, looking over her ravenous flock she claps her hands together to gain their attention then announces “Time to get this matter settled, step up or stand aside!” An excited murmur and some histrionic jostling emanates from the group as the fighters make their way forward.
The first woman's to climb onto the apron is Lash, the current Lieutenant, an exquisitely buffed, lean and leggy blonde – 5’11” and 193lbs of anatomically chiselled perfection. Swaggering with an air of supreme confidence, she slides between the ropes and casually rocks back in one corner sniffing the air disdainfully. This was familiar territory for her she had won out over two previous challenges rewarding her with two successive tenures; her time in the post had however made her the least popular of all the prospective competitors and it was reflected in the murmur of discord that permeated the room. Lash relished the authority and revelled in devising the most extreme forms of pain and humiliation to instil discipline, Sarah’s squad even label her with the nickname ‘cunt buster’ for her favoured target of abuse!
Next to step forward is Tonya’s 5’10” and 198lbs muscular bulk, quickly sliding under the bottom rope she rolls to her feet, her thick muscular legs stomping the canvas heavily as she hovers at the opposite corner massaging one shoulder and creaking her neck to loosen herself up for the contest ahead. Being a former commander affords her the most experience, but her recent defeat and the unquantified effects of her isolation on the isle are reasons for doubt, her own squad is split in their support as she, like Lash, wasn’t one to make people like her, she was one to be feared.
The third competitor is the brutish ebony powerhouse Jet, unfathomably deep black eyes and Jet black hair somehow enhance the already bulky physique, she is the shortest but heaviest of the trio at 5’9” and 206lbs hence likely to be the most physically powerful but also least experienced. She climbs into the ring and gives an eager ‘come on’ to the other two competitors, bravado which draws almost unanimous acknowledgement and support from all around the ring.
The trio look one another over warily as Sarah clears her throat “Well seems Jet has the crowd’s vote, but who gives a fuck about them! I want you to prove your worth by annihilating the opposition, so show me what you got!”
Lash’s familiarity with her boss’ nature sees her immediately respond to the somewhat ambiguous commencement of hostilities, she storms across the ring bulldozing Jet to the ground and as Tonya swings forward, the current lieutenant unleashes a wicked roundhouse kick catching her under the chin and dropping her to the floor with the taste of blood in her mouth. Lash takes a moment to play the crowd; her arms are outstretched demanding applause but it is noticeable no one has any for her. Jet sees the display as opportunity however and launching from her haunches she drives the arrogant woman back into the ring corner to secure two vice-like claws to crush her windpipe. Gasping desperately Lash’s knee fires up in rapid succession striking hard to her tormentor’s crotch it loosens the choking effect of the claws and a rough eye rake sets the woman stumbling backward. Once the space is provided she launches’ forward looking to drop the ebony hulk with a clothesline. Tonya is not staying on the sidelines forever though and sweeps the blonde’s legs from under her mid-charge bringing the lieutenant to the mat on her face!
Jet gladly stomps her boot into the spine of the fallen blonde grinding her heel into the vertebrae even as Tonya grabs the ankles and splays them wide for a savage kick to the crotch. Exchanging knowing glance Tonya and Jet grab the hurt blonde by her limbs and toss her over the top rope. Lash hits the stone floor hard and worse is abruptly set upon by a rabid pack of dogs - the women outside begin kicking and stomping mercilessly on the woman as she desperately tries to return to the ring. The sight of her friends doing a number on their hated lieutenants brings a satisfied smile to Jet’s lips but the expression quickly evaporates as Tonya delivers an uppercut to the jaw sending her recoiling. The blonde rushes to spear the ebony woman to the floor but somehow she manages to retain her balance while hooking the blonde under the chest to haul her into the air and fluidly driving her back to earth amid a ground shaking power bomb.
Frantically Lash tears free of the pack and slips back into the ring; there she receives an unwelcome assist to her feet, via a handful of hair as her buff black nemesis launches her face first into the steel covering of the corner ropes. Grabbing the lieutenant’s head Jet attempts to slam it again into the metal clip but Lash jerks her head back full into her tormentors face and then hooks her hands over her skull to drop to her knees bringing Jet into a face first meeting with that same banded wire.
Seeing her foes jammed in the corner prompts Tonya to rush forward, she launches a flying knee to Jet’s spine causing the big gal to collapse onto the other blonde, pinning her in place. The former commander unleashes a savage succession of kicks to any vulnerable lump of flesh she can, hoping to put the hurt on two opponents for the price of one. Amid the onslaught Lash somehow manages to slither out from under the black Amazon, exiting the ring as the other girl takes the brunt of the barrage, it’s not all good news for her however as the pack outside immediately lay into her, literally permitting her no chance of respite. Clearly showing her frustration Lash is forced to scramble back to the ‘relative’ safety of the ring.
Tonya meanwhile has a firm grasp of black hair and drops a knee to the back of the neck crushing her captive's windpipe over the middle rope. Lash watches for a moment allowing the woman to weaken the ebony hulk and then moves behind Tonya, dropping to one knee she unleashes a wicked low blow on the blonde. Further using the using the crook of her arm she lifts the ex-commander tipping her up and over the top rope. Tonya crashes to the outside and finds the women there no more sympathetic to her as the other blonde; they pin her to the floor and work her over with a mad flurry of fists and feet.
Pulling Jet upright Lash looks the woman square in the eye and jerks her knee into her crotch, the dark eyes water and the black brute doubles forward, but the blonde retains control and as her opponent falls to the mat she encircles her chest with those lusciously long and awesomely powerful legs. The body-scissor closes down the lungs and stresses the ribcage, and even the captive woman's flailing arms are caught and secured in a tight cross over full-nelson hold. Jet’s face contorts with absolute agony as the incredible pressure of the blonde’s powerful legs causes her bones to creak, groan and pop. The brunette’s supporters hear those heartfelt moans wrenching through the gurgle of blood in her throat and at last Tonya is able to toss the two women pinning her down aside to stagger back into the ring.
Lash is completely absorbed in the torture of her trapped foe, taunting “See who’s superior bitch, I’m gonna make you beg and cry like a little baby!” The intensity of their power struggle is etched visibly upon their chiselled physiques, now rippling to the extreme with vascular strain. With several bones already fractured or broken Jet knows only too well her ribcage is on the verge of total collapse, however any temptation to submit was forfeit by the blondes arrogant words and amid a surge of raw primal power her brawny arms suddenly find the strength to tear free of the full nelson and she fluidly rolls to pin Lash’s arms to the floor beneath her. A savage succession of head butts stuns the lean bodied blonde, breaking her nose amid an explosion of blood and causing the woman’s scissor to fall away limply.
The brutal display gives the ringside rabble something to cheer and they enthusiastically encourage her further shouting “Make the bitch beg Jet!” However the celebration quickly becomes frustration as Tonya intercedes, striking the ebony powerhouse from her blind side. Jet is now running on pure adrenalin and amazingly shrugs off the attack with unexpected ease; suddenly standing she hoists the backstabbing blonde into the air and presses her skyward before hurling her down upon Lash’s prone form.
With a groan Tonya rolls from atop Lash and onto her back, Jet ominously looms over the fallen blondes but they react in perfect synchronism, each sending a stabbing heel to the ebony woman’s crotch and then another to her head as it bows within range. Tonya' rolls to her feet and scoops the staggered black muscle women into the air hoisting her over the top rope and onto the hard stone floor outside. Rather than attack however, the rowdy onlookers show partisan bias and actually assist her upright and immediately back into the ring. The two blondes exchange a frustrated glance as the ebony woman's momentum seems far from exhausted. Indeed while they stand incredulous, Jet charges forward with both arms outstretched, she takes the surprised blondes from their feet and sends them crashing to the mat.
Scooping Lash into the air the ebony hulk looks to use her to batter Tonya but the woman is up on her feet and unleashes a fist to the face that halts that idea in its tracks. Lash squirms out of her captor’s grasp sliding down behind her whereupon she coils the arms in a full nelson to restrain her. Tonya takes the invite, quickly delivering some piston like shots to the ebony woman's torso and chest, taking particular care to land the hardest blows on the fractured ribs with evident effect. The barrage eventually comes to a close with the blonde roughly ripping the Jet's Sports-bra, exposing the now bruised and swelling bosom beneath. With evident relish Tonya grabs the captive powerhouse by her nipples and, urged on by Lash squeezes and pulls them to elicit wild squeals of agony “that’s what these oversized tits are really good for!” Lash seems more than a little interested and coos eagerly “I want some of that...” She shoves the distraught ebony girl into Tonya’s arms and sets an evil claw to each breast enjoying the look of agony on the woman’s face as she digs the nails in raking bloody trails alighting to the areola, she suddenly dips her head forward and bites deep into her breast. The pain and humiliation stir the ebony woman into action, she lashes out with a kick that staggers Lash and then back-pedals ramming Tonya into the turn-buckle.
The impact with the corner drives the air from her body yet Tonya’s powerful legs instinctively snap up and capture the black hulk’s waist securing a tight scissor, Jet groans and attempts to scramble forward but the blonde snatches the ropes and reels her back in.
Charging at full pelt Lash bulldozes into the warring pair with enough transferred momentum to cause Tonya to lose her scissor. Entwining her long legs into the ring ropes Lash grabs for the corner post behind and pulls, channelling her considerable strength in order to crush both women into the corner simultaneously. Via a combination of ropes, arms and legs neither of the trapped women are able to get their limbs free and are forced to endure surge after surge, as Lash does her best to crush them. Successively the hold is drains the stamina of all concerned but with Jet’s busted ribs taking any breath at all is rapidly becoming impossible. Tonya conversely gathers what energy she can and waits measuring those moments between the surges of constriction, picking her moment well she suddenly bursts into life shoving with all her might she ejects the bodies of both women. Lash’s leg snags on one rope as she topples backward causing the left knee to take a savage and unnatural twist.
Jet collapses onto her face she is all but a dead weight which immediately focusses Tonya’s attention on her blonde rival and she grabs the woman’s already injured legs folding them figure four style and hauling her over to secure a crab like exertion to the spine. “Fuck fuck fuck....” is the increasingly alarmed response of the captive blonde as she attempts to drag herself to the rope and once there tries to climb and unbalance her captor, but in effect she just succeeds in increasing the contortion on her spine, Tonya is locked down and deep. Again Lash reaches for the rope, both hands snag hold and with a scream like a banshee, she flexes her body and twists, Tonya is forced to lose her grip allowing the legs to snap free of her grasp, she spins around looking to regain the hold but Lash's foot connects full with her face slamming her onto her back. Gingerly using the ropes for support Lash hobbles to her feet and Tonya rises just behind her. Jet is still on the floor, moving but for the moment a lesser threat.
Fighting another Amazon is a war of attrition, leave them too long and their innate regenerative powers will undo the injuries you have caused them and made Lash's injured limb a weakness that has to be exploited. Tonya elects to make a grab for the lieutenant’s lame leg, but the wily fighter anticipates the move and evades that first attempt, however Tonya persists and makes feign to the left then dodges forward squarely catching her intended target. The blonde brute ravenously ties the captive limbs into her own powerful legs with a figure four hold then drops back to the floor to torque the move still further.
The trapped blonde's injured joints sear agonizingly wrenching a primal scream from her lips, but she is savvy enough to retain a hold of one of the ring ropes, with her face a portrait of agony, she pulls herself over forcing her rival to roll with her, in one deft move she alleviates the pressure on her own limbs while abruptly ramping up the contortion on her foe’s. The cry, part pain, part frustration, that tears from Tonya’s lips seems to finally awaken Jet from her slumber and she drags herself to her feet focussing on her painfully entwined opponents. Throwing all of her 210lbs body down upon the pair's interlocked legs she delivers an intense and agonizing jolt of pain to both women. At the point of impact Tonya takes the worse of it and feels her knee dislocate, a sick wave washes over her, Lash isn’t much better off though and worse for her Jet takes her by the throat and hoists her clear of the floor.
Desperately fighting the pain Tonya thumps her distorted knee joint popping the bones back into place, she remains low holding the wounded joint and feeling the swelling subside as her regenerative powers kick in, all the while carefully watching her foes. Jet continues to strangle Lash slowly walking her back into the corner, the blonde lashes out with fist and feet relentlessly bludgeoning the ebony woman’s rock hard body, but the powerhouse appears able to absorb or dismiss pain at this stage. In fact Jet is close to her limit pain-wise but remains grimly determined to ride it out, Lash’s blows steadily diminish in frequency and power until she simply hangs limp in her foes grasp. Triumphantly the ebony hulk tosses her captive to the floor and turns toward Tonya. “Sucker” is the term on everyone’s mind except Jet’s as Lash, far from being finished fires up a fist between the woman's legs catching her mid breath and getting a strangulated gag as she drops to her knees holding her womanhood.
Lash shoots a quick glance toward Tonya, then grabs Jet and drags her back to the corner, scooping the woman up high into the air she presses her skyward and runs at Tonya looking to launch the muscular projectile at her. The floored blonde urgently scrambles to avoid 206lbs hulk hurtling her way, she manages to get her injured leg clear, albeit at the cost of her left arm and shoulder which become pinned beneath the heavy ebony brute. Eagerly Lash grabs the blonde’s injured leg and drops it across the bottom ring rope pressing her boot to the joint and doing her best to force the partially regenerated joint to separate again.
Frantically Tonya tears free of Jet’s restraining bulk and in a desperate bid to avoid further damage to the recuperating knee she hurls herself over the bottom rope to the outside. Landing on the stone floor unsteadily the blonde finds that, this is a case of out of the frying pan, the vicious voyeurs nearby swarm her, blocking any easy passage back into the ring. Grimly determined to face them all now she grabs one of the incoming blows and hauls the woman over her shoulder retaining the limb to swing the surprised soldier in a wide arc that concludes with her flying into several of the others.
As a battle rages outside the ring Lash scoops up her dazed ebony opponent and hooks her thickly muscled legs over the top rope wedging them in place using the corner ties. With the soldier trapped in this tree of woe, the blonde grabs the woman’s spandex shorts and rips them away in one easy motion allowing her free access to the bald ebony crotch. Jet's arms reach out and attempt to repel the blonde but a swift kick to the face knocks them aside and further Lash presses her boot to crush the woman's against the floor. Keeping her foe trapped the blonde tenderly strokes the exposed pussy licking her lips lasciviously until, with a evil glint in her eyes she viciously stabs a claw deep inside her captive. The vile attack is extremely effective Jet’s muscles spasm like crazy as she screams and shouts uncontrollably, the sadistic blonde savours both the anger inspired in the crowd and the humiliation of her captive with evident glee.
Across the ring Tonya finally makes it to the apron and sets her sights on her rivals, she cautiously prowls toward the other fighters but any hope of a sneak attack is thwarted as Lash abruptly spins around. The taller blonde's long leg sweeps high looking to kick the predator away but Tonya ducks beneath the lethal limb and immediately lunges ahead, coming up between the woman's legs she carries her back at breakneck speed to slam her hard into the prone form of the trapped ebony woman. Tonya's boot stomps down hard onto Jet’s face sending blood in every direction to keep her in check, Lash meanwhile replies with a vicious eye rake and as she is almost seated on the corner, she manages to deliver both feet to Tonya’s jaw to send her staggering away.
From her elevated position Lash leaps forward spearing Tonya to the floor, grabbing the fallen blonde’s legs the lieutenant heaves her captive around in a giant arc, swinging her around and around to gather momentum until she finally releases her to fly off at a tangent. The human missile careers toward the corner that retains Jet adding urgency to the ebony woman's struggle to free herself, indeed the black brute scrambles clear in the proverbial nick of time leaving Tonya to take a brutal impact with the reinforced ropes. The former commander crashes to the floor, with her legs folded over her head like she was a match book, she lays there in a dizzy daze unable to focus on one thing or another.
Jet recovers her feet and looks down at her aching, naked, body; her face fills with rage as she lunges at the culprit, Lash attempts to retreat but she is struck with a train wreck of a collision, both women crash to the floor hard and skid along the mat! Trapped beneath her foe, Lash's muscular legs snap up and around the ebony woman’s waist while Jet’s brawny arms coil around Lash in a bear hug. Screams and feral snarls emanate from both women as they each employ their awesome physiques to deliver incredible pressure to the other’s body.
Finally clearing her head Tonya rolls to all fours and gathers her bearings; noting her nemeses struggling and allows them to drain one another while her own body regenerates. Jet’s arms have inflated with awesome raw power as they mercilessly crush their victim but Lash’s legs are just as deadly and more her arms are still free, grasping the ebony woman’s skull to either side she attempts to crush it, her thumbs hover over the eye sockets, it was so tempting to kill this woman, so long her rival, but discipline was ingrained if unwelcome in these genetically enhanced warriors, instead she rolls to take her foe under her and begins repeatedly slamming the woman’s skull against the floor. Stunning impact after stunning impact finally sees Jet’s arms loosen and Lash manages to tear herself free of the hold.
With Jet severely weakened, Lash looks about for Tonya but to her dismay the blonde ex commander is way ahead of her, or rather behind as she scoops the lieutenant high into the air and slams her, face down, hard over the gasping brunette. Tonya leaps into the air and allows her full body to strike both women, the impact reverberates and resonates throughout every muscle and keeps them securely pinned beneath her.
Lash is sandwiched between her two foes and frantically tries to wriggle free, however she finds arms to either side barring any escape. Jet’s brawny limbs move up and attempt to bear-hug both blondes but she cannot lock her fingers at this extension and Tonya quickly pulls clear. Taking an enforced alternative the ebony woman settles for a lock around the taller blonde. With an evil grin Tonya grabs the back of the sports bra of the now captive blonde and rips it free of her body, folding the material into a cord and wrapping each end around her hands she has a means to extend her reach, she snakes the improvised cord over Jet’s head and jerks it down the body tightening the wrapping on each hand to constrict and effectively bear-hug the women beneath her simultaneously.
Three muscular women, their powerful bodies stacked one atop the other, shaking with the exertion of their rippling physiques makes quite a provocative, sensual image. For those nearby the icing on the cake is the hated lieutenant, caught wriggling and writhing helplessly in the middle, breathlessly screaming herself hoarse. However the crowd has forgotten that a rat is rarely as dangerous as when she is cornered and though her arms are pinned at her side she has enough movement to reach back and systematically gathers together the material of Tonya’s shorts drawing it progressively tighter into her ass to form a sharper and sharper wedgie. As her prominent shapely rear is increasingly exposed and her shorts begin to bunch and slice into her tender crotch the ex commander begins to hesitate in her own applied attack, Lash senses the change and ducks her own head forward biting savagely into the neck of the black powerhouse beneath her. A gushing geyser of blood forces Jet to relinquish her hold and then attempt to dislodge the blonde’s razor sharp teeth. The additional struggles below finally prove too much for the material extension employed by Tonya, with a sudden snap the remnants of the bra shred into pieces causing the uppermost blonde to topple from her dominant position.
Lash may have instigated an escape but her ribs continue to sear with the pain of the double bear-hug and an extended period without breath has also left her dangerously weak. Somehow the blonde manages to struggle free of Jet yet its only to drunkenly roll into a sharp kick from Tonya that flips her onto her back. The attack allows Jet to put some distance between herself and the big blonde and she evades a similar such kick lifting her foot in time to intercept the woman's follow up charge. Tonya crashes to the mat enabling the ebony hulk to grab her legs and haul her over attempting to secure a Boston crab, the blonde retaliates immediately however unleashing her coiled power to send the ebony woman flying. Catapulted out between middle ropes Jet drops heavily onto the stone floor outside.
Tonya rises to see the effects of her handiwork just as Lash clobbers her from behind, the clothesline takes the ex commander out of the ring and in turn to the unyielding floor! Jet’s friends are, at that moment, assisting her back into the ring permitting Tonya an unexpectedly easy return and she easily greets Lash's lazy charge with a boot to the solar plexus. The staggered blonde gags and doubles forward allowing the ex commander to capture her, holding her inverted and perpendicular to the floor whereupon she pile-drives Lash to the mat with venom. Collapsing onto her face, her limbs moving sporadically the former lieutenant struggles desperately to remain conscious.
Jet hits the ring charging for the upright blonde but Tonya is ready; fluidly scooping her foe up high she abruptly reverses the momentum to bring her back to earth with her spine slammed over an outstretched knee. The bloodied and battered body of the ebony brunette lays sprawled over the blonde’s leg, its naked form offering ample opportunity for abuse and a vile claw is driven deep penetrating the woman's bald crotch while the blonde’s other hand takes a firm grasp of the windpipe. In a demonstration of extreme power Tonya hoists her captive up by these twin holds and then snaps her body down over the knee once more generating a wild scream while simultaneously shoving her hand even deeper into the ebony soldiers hot black pussy.
The blonde oozes confidence now taunting her captive “Who is the superior woman here bitch? Gonna beg me in front of all your 'friends'!!” . Manipulating the evil crotch hold Tonya's steel-like grasp mercilessly rakes and claws deep within the tender region, while she continues to stress the twisted spine over her knee. Impatiently the blonde screams again “Beg...BEG...you hear!!!”. Her body wrecked and paralysed with pain the ebony woman’s lips purse as her eyes close tight and she weakly shakes her head. Tonya notes that her captive is starting to perspire, a sure sign her regenerative system is failing to keep pace with the cumulative damage she has taken, evidently the end is very near for her, yet still she stubbornly refuses to utter the words Tonya is after. Finally and with some frustration the blonde pronounces “Dumb bitch!” she lifts her captive one more time, pressing her skyward before hurling her down over the knee, a sickening crack leaves the outstretched body twitching like crazy for a few moments before lying deathly still.
With a contemptuous snarl Tonya shoves the unconscious and broken ebony hulk to the floor and looks around for Lash, however not only has the wily blonde recovered she has been watching and waiting for her moment and abruptly grabs Tonya from behind stepping over the head to ensnare it between her long powerful legs. Falling to the floor and pouring her power into the scissor Lash's croaky voice taunts “Thanks for taking out Jet, I like you much better......reward later, pain now!”
A sudden increase in pressure has Tonya flailing and thrashing, her skull literally feels as if it is about to implode, desperately she grabs at the thickly muscled thighs containing her and tries to part them, but there is simply no chance of that and for a while all she can do is paw and dig her nails in deep and rake whatever flesh she can. Despite the bloody trails liberally being formed Lash has no intention of relinquishing her captive till she's drained all the fight out of her, indeed Tonya feels the desired effects all too vividly, the ongoing lack of oxygen to her brain is making her increasingly light headed and weaker by the moment.
With a supreme effort Tonya rolls over onto her face forcing her captor to do likewise, now able to get her legs under herself she desperately fights the clouds of darkness engulfing her vision as she slowly but steadily drags herself to her feet. Lash's determination to retain her scissor sees her steadily drawn up to hang inverted on her nemesis, she surges power into the scissor hoping to bring her back down but although very shaky, Tonya is now fully upright and Lash's position has suddenly become quite precarious. Realising the danger the lieutenant releases the scissor but she does not slip to the floor under her own steam as hoped; Tonya has hold of her by the legs. Lash's hands strike out trying to hit her foe but she is unable to prevent herself being hoist up a few vital inches and then driven, head first to the floor, for the second time that night, her body stands perpendicular to the ground for a moment before toppling slowly to end up on her face eating the mat.
Tonya grabs the legs of her dazed foe and folds them up at the knee crossing one ankle over another, she braces her own leg into the V so formed to ensure they cannot separate then reaches forward and hooks the blonde under the chin dragging the head back at a steep angle and pulling it up and back so the spine is driven into a severe distortion. Lash's arms flail frantically as her body is force to form a truly unnatural simulation of a letter 'C'. The agonising contortion is compounded as Tonya secures her captive's head beneath her left arm. Though the thrashing arms continue to try and scratch and rip at her captors face Tonya is now in complete control of her foe, pressing down on the neck she compresses what might have been interpreted as a capital 'C' into even more excruciating lower case variant!
Lash's spine sears white hot with pain, her muscular abdomen and the flesh to her exposed, modest, bosom feel stretched to the point of tearing while she can sense her upper vertebrae stabbing into the back of her twisted windpipe denying her a single breath. Torment, panic and utter desperation are written on her features as she gags and gurgles. The body begins to shake violently when at last Tonya offers a solution “Are you ready to beg me girl, are you ready to acknowledge me your superior?” Her captor's words are punctuated in Lash's ears as she wavers in and out of consciousness, teetering on the very brink her courage and pride evaporate in the same instant. Somehow she manages to gag a response “You....are my ...supe..rior, I will serve you....well...pplease!” Tonya relishes the moment a little while longer and then abruptly releases her captive, the trapped blonde uncoils like a spring and slams onto her face choking and moaning weakly.”
The surviving competitor stands tall she looks over the unconscious form of Jet and then to the weakly moving blonde she has just conquered. Placing her hands on her hips Tonya looks toward Sarah and raises her eyebrow “Well?” The commander is wearing a coy smile “I don't think I heard Jet submit to you????” That comment garnered some support from the women at ringside, obviously still looking for some hope for their fallen friend, but Tonya's reply is icy and to the point “Some bitches are just too dumb to know when to quit.....shall we make it to the death?” The blonde stomps over to the ebony woman's body dragging her limp form up by a handful of hair but Sarah intervenes “A replacement would cost us at least three weeks delay...I think we can take her 'submission' as read!” With an impudent shrug Tonya lets the woman drop to the floor a dead weight and then looks to the squad at ringside “OK 'ladies' fun time is over your dumb 'champion' failed so that makes me the new bitch in town, get these two to the fast recovery chambers...... NOW!” The Amazons snap out of their sombre mood and hurriedly obey, Plan A had failed, plan B was every woman for herself as they attempt to curry favours of their new taskmaster! Tonya's eyes narrow as she looks to Sarah “Time for the humans to feel our power, you said.......”
Chapter 3
With so much of the land blighted by disease or else ravaged by an unsympathetic climate the peoples of Druantia have become heavily reliant upon the seas for their vital resources. Much of the relative prosperity enjoyed by the region is directly attributable to the bounty of the surrounding waters and its importance is ever more critical as the population finally appears to have begun a slow climb.
Principle among the many fishing communities of the South-east Territories is Palm City, a sheltered natural harbour on western edge of the Atlantic Ocean within easy reach of the warm Caribbean waters to the south. The settlement is the primary supplier for the region's capital its inhabitants having developed a total synergy with their marine surroundings, literally everyone in Palm city is involved in the process, young and old alike work side by side bringing the catch home, preparing the yield and storing it for the benefit of the entire region. Work, rest and play are all incorporated into this efficient model and this was never more apparent than right now, as the impressive fleet of wooden sailing craft glide toward land, the docks erupt in a frenzied bustle of activity, apparent chaos to the untrained eye but clearly effective in its results.
Well practised synchronism sees the heavy laden boats drift to their allotted moorings as the women on land pitch forward to assist crew with the unloading. Street entertainment brings a carnival air to this weekly event and even casual visitors are swept up in the mood, the air resonates with laughter and tingles with excitement.
Despite the recent reappearance of the warlike Amazons little has changed in the routines here, Palm City is neither strategically placed or significant aside from its provision of food, even the attacks of two years prior saw this settlement by-passed in favour the larger conurbations and hence the hastily assembled defence force comprises mostly volunteers; themselves local fisher folk who are more intent on the size of the week's catch than the skills required to defend the region.
As day turns into night an overt party mood escalates, oil lamps defeat the encroaching darkness and the balmy warmth of the southerly breeze presents an idyllic peace and joy to all who care to absorb it, music drifts through the alleyways, dancing is rife in the street and on the quayside children frolic with even the local dolphin population seemingly enthused to join in. However for an unfortunate few duty demands an absence and high up on the east watch tower, youthful volunteer Sophie turns to her supervisor, Nikki, with a mournful sigh remonstrating.”Why why why did we have to get this watch, I so wanna go down and party!” The pretty blonde is perhaps the youngest member of the local defence force, sheltered from some of the horrors of the earlier attacks she was in truth a bit too young for the seriousness of her role but in this case her sentiments are shared. Nikki also longed to be down with her friends dancing, singing, maybe even getting a little drunk, the night was worthy of celebration in its own right, nevertheless duty was duty and she shoots a knowing glance to her companion offering a little consolation “Someone has to do it, think of the gift you have given the others in allowing them to party...heh.... then look forward to next week when you’ll be down there and someone else will be up here..... C’mon get your glasses out and scan that west approach eh?” Sophie sighs mournfully once again before lifting the binoculars and tracking the route to the harbour wall then tracing the perimeter. At the mouth of the harbour a few women can be seen hauling up the shark nets, she lingers on their activity contemplating a long relaxing swim at the end of her shift. Moving out further the reflection of the crimson sky makes the calm sea much like a mirror, it is beautiful, unblemished and endless. Unfortunately, appearances can be deceptive.
Six dark figures glide through the water, hugging the bottom of the bay they reach the shark netting recently locked in place and slice a hole that enables them to pass. The Amazon Scorpions separate to assigned points equidistant along the harbour, using the heavy rocks to shield their forms as they surface and scope the area, Tonya’s voice cracks over the earpieces “The parties in full swing, and they didn’t invite us...shame on them....signal when you have your targets locked!”
Up in the east tower Sophie furrows her brow and tries to zoom into an oddly shaped shadow huddled among the rocks at the base of the promontory, a curious silhouette partially submerged challenges her vision, a form barely distinguishable, neither shark nor human the impression was increasingly reminiscent of a giant black scorpion, its tail slowly turns as if to face her while a curious glow or aura begins to outline the whole figure. There is a moment of dreadful realisation for Sophie and with her heart pounding she screams a warning to her companion as her hand shoots out and grasps the alarm signal.
The armoured Scorpion women break the surface, their stinging tails rising behind them like the head of a cobra ready to unleash its venom on the quayside. The alarm klaxon of the east tower issues a single note before it is lost behind a synchronous volley of sonic changes. Explosions strike across the bay splintering the wooden vessels into deadly daggers that spray randomly over the shocked gathering nearby. Screams and cries of distress see panic supplant joy and set the people scattering in all directions.
A second volley of sonic charges strikes the quay, oil lamps crash and spill onto the freshly formed splinters with inevitable flammable consequence. Fires flare and rage at a terrifying pace, the Druantian women do their best to flee dragging with them the bodies of the fallen, regardless of their condition or relationship; even amid such adversity there is marked solidarity in their courage and determination as more and intense explosions erupt all around.
Nikki and Sophie feel their tower shudder and shake as it is struck by a succession of sonic missiles, the whole structure begins to pitch, Nikki grabs the radio and issues an urgent distress signal but feeling the tower buckle she reaches out and grabs the terrified Sophie, hauling the both of them from the tower as it plunges toward the burning buildings nearby, the pair thump heavily into the bay surfacing to see their station engulfed in flame, exchanging a look of horror their gaze is dragged away by more desperate cries.
Even above the raging fires the screams become ever more intense, the intruders are sighted marching slowly toward land. With reckless abandon the monstrous Amazon scorpions unleash their weapons of hate, bodies are swept high and helplessly hurled into buildings now ablaze or else smashed like rag dolls onto rocks.
Running, walking, crawling, dragging friends or family there is a mass exodus from the dockside as the defence force hastily closes the tide barriers and rush to the top of the harbour wall to form an offensive line. The Scorpions continue a relentless march seemingly unaffected by the flames in their tight black armour all the while hurling sonic missiles in every direction, a trio of the monsters emerge and stand before the harbour wall delivering a combined assault on the tidal doors, the thick wood buckles but withstands the first volley. Above the defence force unleashes a barrage of rifle shells, crossbow bolts, arrows and spears; anything offensive they can lay their hands on and all of these appear to fly straight and true, the Scorpions are caught beautifully in the crossfire with no way to evade or shield themselves, yet impossibly at the instant before impact the projectiles fracture and fall to the ground uselessly.
Tonya turns to her left and barks “Lash, deal with those insects while we break this down”, she looks back to the barrier signalling to the Amazon on her right while the other Scorpion now identified as Lash, turns toward the attackers and unleashes a sonic fury snapping the supports of the upper wall and seeing several of Druantian defenders crash to the ground at her feet. Another sonic charge picks up those fallen catapulting them violently back into the wall, their bones audibly fragment on impact. The defenders still atop launch a second volley of bolts but again score nothing. Using her ‘tail’ to assist an impossible leap some 20feet in all Lash lands directly in the middle of the small group. Kristin the defence force leader charges ahead but before she gets anywhere near her foe the Amazon's tail sweeps around and batters her from the wall launching her over the burning quayside into the deep water of the harbour, she desperately looks around for a way to rejoin her team but the path is engulfed amid a howling inferno.
The defence team is serious trouble, three women rush Lash one is immediately battered by the bludgeoning tail and while the other two manage to strike the woman's body, the blows score only hard resilient muscle and Lash can be heard laughing as she grabs each of her attackers by the neck jamming their heads together roughly before casually tossing them to the ground. More defenders approach from behind but the Amazon's tail sweeps their legs from under them allowing her to leap high and stomp down hard on each, crushing their rib-cages to leave them coughing and spluttering blood.
A solid dull thump followed by another sees the other two Scorpions shatter the tide barrier and they join their comrade rapidly sending the rest of the defenders into retreat, sonic blasts begin laying into building after building systematically demolishing one after another, sending women and children screaming away, at least those that haven’t been pinned or crippled by the impacts.
Were it possible to view from the air the militaristic formation of the assault would be evident, while three Amazons trace the backbone of the settlement, to the North and South single units catch stragglers with all moving on a path intersecting at the town centre. The hurried exodus of villagers has no route of escape however as another force of Amazon Scorpions is mirroring the attack from the land side. The community is being systematically decimated from the outside in, and those few that manage to survive are gradually being herded toward the community parkland at the centre of the inferno.
With the quayside and fishing fleet steadily being consumed by flames Kristin can see no easy way back to the city and swims further into the bay. The defender spies Sophie and Nikki dragging themselves onto land near the harbour entrance, then to her horror she notices one of the Amazon’s on the wall directly above them clearly readying herself for an attack. Urgently she cries a warning, but it is too late, she watches the woman drop to the rocks nearby, the Amazon's tail whips around catching Sophie broadside slapping the youngster into the wall with devastating force, Nikki is struck by a savage kick and reels away out of control finally plunging back into the water. The Scorpion returns her attention to the younger girl grabbing her by the throat to hoist her high, Sophie desperately strikes out with her arms and legs hitting her captor over and over but to no avail the Amazon suddenly and violently jams her back into the wall with a sickening impact that buckles the structure itself and leaves the poor captive limp in her grasp. Nikki hauls herself out of the water and rushes to the rescue only to find the Scorpion's tail slam into her stomach doubling her over, the Amazon kicks her to the floor and then hurls the body of the unconscious youngster on top of her. Pinning both women with her boot, she touches the earpiece on her helmet and appears to be barking orders.
Moving swiftly but quietly Kristin traces a wide arc and scrambles from the water grabbing the largest rock she can comfortably wield, cautiously she keeps to the shadows and moves closer. She stumbles over two dead bodies, their bodies laying at sickeningly contorted angles, presumably the Amazon's earlier victims. Getting behind her target she sees Nikki weakly trying to squirm out from under her captor. The Scorpion's voice can now be heard “.... I’m on my way, remember we want some of the stronger specimens, twenty or so should be enough for now....”
Lunging ahead Kristin slams the rock down on the Amazon Scorpion's head and as she staggers she swings it again, knocking the woman's headgear to the floor, now with freer access she slams the rock down and the Amazon drops to one knee. However raising the rock for a hopeful final strike finds Kristin hit with a low blow to the crotch and then hoist into the air to be held aloft by the Amazon, for a moment, before she is hurled onto the uneven rocks, the impact is excruciating her spine twists awkwardly over the angled boulders. Nikki tries to assist, dodging the swipe of the tail she leaps onto the back of the blonde Amazon wrestling her around the neck, the muscular brute grunts angrily but reaches back and forcibly peels her foe away hurling her down into the water. Nikki surfaces to see the woman drop and straddle the helpless form of Kristin, taking her head between her hands she pours awesome power into the steel-like grasp.
Watching the grim tableau from the water Nikki feels helpless, Kristin is screaming as she is being crushed and Sophie lies broken behind the muscular Amazon somehow she has to draw the monster away, somehow she has to save her friends. Diving deep she scoops up some rocks and surfaces hurling the stones at the Scorpion and crying out while carefully swimming out deeper into the harbour, the Soldier's tail swings up for an attack and Nikki quickly ducks beneath the surface the Shockwave explodes over the water driving her even deeper than intended. She surfaces for gasping for breath but crying out again and sending more rocks at the hard-bodied brute, this time the beast stands dropping the limp form of Kristin to the floor she begins to wade into the water, shouting toward Nikki “You should have escaped when you could bitch, now I'm gonna break you in two.....”
Nikki swims away from her pursuer trying to keep her distance, but to her dismay she finds further retreat blocked by flaming debris from the steadily disintegrating quay, the Amazon is getting closer and closer and Nikki resigns herself to an inevitable end, she offers a quiet prayer that her sacrifice will be enough to save her friends lives..... yet bizarrely it is the approaching blonde that suddenly cries out in distress, the Amazon's body jerks sideways as if struck by something, Nikki sees her nemesis thrash about more than a little panicked and indeed she is struck again by something. Impossibly a flash of a fin above the surface can be glimpsed and then several more, dolphins are circling the Scorpion one occasionally breaking from the pod to race at full speed and butt into the Amazon's body driving her further away. Nikki had seen this behaviour a few times before, dolphins would sometimes act to protect their young when a Tiger Shark ventures too close, it appears they either regard her as worthy of defence or the Amazon as a dangerous threat, regardless the effect is the same and with some urgency the blonde muscle woman makes a hasty retreat for the shore scrambling out of the water and visible wincing as stumbles away toward the city.
As the Amazon disappears from view Nikki cautiously makes for the shore, Sophie is trying to move, she quickly arrives at her young friend's side, dragging her to a sheltered location but unwilling to go further as the girl's ribs and arm are clearly broken, internal injuries being more than likely. Cautiously she ventures toward the deathly still form of Kristin, she cannot raise her but a weak heartbeat is detected and with some difficulty she drags the body from its exposed location. Nikki peels both her friends from their wet clothes then removes her own and huddles down to use her own body to try and stop the shivering and generate warmth that will hopefully allow them to survive till help can arrive.....assuming this hell ever comes to an end...
****
Sarah stomps through the charred remains of the town finding her troops at the smouldering heart; they surround a group of perhaps 50 women and some children. Tonya moves ahead to give her report “Operation complete Commander with no casualties.....well except your headgear it seems!” Sarah snarls at the jibe, still feeling the bruising from those dammed aquatic mammals, “Save the humour, how many males did you find?” The lieutenant cannot resist a satisfied smile as she replies “37 - we made sure their bodies were burned to ensure they would be of no use in any way!” The news appears to brighten the Commander’s mood “very good - select 20 prisoners and get them to the barge, I have a task for the rest!”
Tonya raises a quizzical eyebrow but gets no reply, she turns and quickly segregates the captives taking five other Amazons to herd the prisoners toward the cove where the land team's barge is moored. Once they clear the village the Lieutenant pulls one of the prisoners to one side and shoves a note into her hand “This is for one of your ‘Huntresses’, Carla is the bitch's name, make sure she gets it!” Viciously she shoves the prisoner away from the main group and watches her run into the darkness before continuing the journey to the cove.
The prisoners still restrained at the town centre shift nervously staring at their inhuman captors, monsters bathed in the flickering red hue created by their burning homes. Sarah turns to address the terrified ensemble “You have an important duty to perform, you need to tell your people of what happened here today, you need to tell them how helpless you were, how many of your friend and family have died screaming here today, you need to make them understand it's just the beginning, tell them the more they try to deny us, the more pain you will feel. We are your superiors, your Gods, you will worship us and serve us with your life and if you do not we will make you extinct – now go!!”
Nervously the raggedy group begins to disperse, Sarah watches for a moment then turns to Siren, the blonde at her shoulder, asking almost nonchalantly“ how many are left here?” The soldier replies with a sly smile understanding the motivation behind this odd question “32 in all.” Eyes smouldering with sadistic glee the blonde Commander observes “....It only really takes one to deliver a message....” Suddenly leaping ahead she grabs two of the villagers and slams them together for a sickening impact, the action sees the other Amazons immediately follow suit, the crowd scream and begin to run as the monsters prey upon them like rabid dogs.
****
Keeping low and nestling deep in the Shadows Nikki hears the cries and screams of this final outrage then a short time later watches the Amazons dive into the water and swim out beyond the harbour mouth. With the fires on the harbour wall finally beginning to subside she feels the eerie quiet descend as they depart. She offers a few reassuring words to the partially delirious women in her charge, as much to comfort herself as her patients “Don't worry, help will soon be here!”
Epilogue
The death toll and devastation of the once vibrant fishing port of Palm City were on a scale not witnessed in recent memory. Even now long hours after her arrival Twen was scarcely able to comprehend the magnitude of loss and the devastation. Her rescue team had travelled non stop from the capital, pushing their mounts to the limit, yet even from half an hour distant the smoke and soot from the raging inferno had made it all too clear they were simply too late. On arrival they had quickly established that the Amazon intruders had departed, taking prisoners with them. Twen and her team of Rangers set up a medical unit and went out searching for survivors, there had been some horrific sights, long ago they stopped counting the dead, but the statuesque brunette huntress consoled herself with the living; some 170 survivors had been accounted for so far. Further recovery teams were now arriving and it offered Twen a moments contemplation.
One of the survivors had handed the Huntress a note purportedly from the Amazon's, it was addressed directly to Huntress Carla but the urgency of the situation demanded normal courtesy's null and void, she slipped the note from its casing and offered the page toward the flames to illuminate the words, as feared the parchment literally dripped with hate.
“Hope you got our message bitch, you might think you won some kind of victory on the island, but all you did was invite pain and humiliation for your friends, hows it feel? I know how much you like playing the 'hero' so I thought I'd give you another chance. I set aside some of the scum from this place specially for you. Next full Moon I'll bring them to the old sugar fields outside that bonfire we just had..... You had better be alone and you had better be ready, I'm going to show you just how superior I truly am. T”
Twen thumbs the edge of the page contemplating whether to send this with her report. Carla was a close friend, if anyone was capable of making this ‘T’ eat her arrogant words it was her and more there were lives that perhaps she and she alone could save. The council would never permit such a meeting however, the brunette Ranger knew that very well, which now put their lives in her hands. In the end Twen shoved the note into her tunic, she would pass it to Carla and let her decide its fate.
A shout from nearby sees members of Twen's team struggle to pull another body from the wreckage, the brunette commander rushes to assist as several more are pulled clear of the collapsed building however all are resolutely lifeless and a palpable air of despondency envelops the team. It had been some time since they had last located a survivor and each passing hour reduced the chances of finding more still further. With tears filling her luscious dark eyes Twen sombrely moves through the burned streets, passing the disintegrated remains of the tidal barrier and onto the edge of the land that once supported the quay. Reaching the crumbling dockside she looks to the horizon, angular shafts of light begin to slice through the smoke filled atmosphere as the sun begins to rise, this was not a dawn she ever wanted to remember.
The lead Ranger is about to turn back when a movement catches her eye. Across the bay someone emerges from the rocks and begins waving frantically. Twen dives into the water swimming beneath the smouldering debris to surface the other side then streaks a path toward the beckoning figure.
Nikki rushes ahead dragging the Ranger from the water even faster than the woman can scramble, the girl is clearly distraught yet filled with purpose “....please my friends need help” she begs. The bodies of Sophie and Kristin lie huddled together on the floor covered in Nikki’s dried clothing.
Noting the deathly pallor displayed by all three women Twen drops to the feel for a pulse on each of the fallen figures, breathing a deep sigh of relief she finds both alive albeit desperately weak. Immediately the brunette grabs her crossbow, igniting a couple of bolts and firing them into the air, getting no evident response to the first salvo she pauses a moment then repeats the signal this time she is rewarded with cries and shouts headed her way. Spying several of her team at the water’s edge Twen calls over “Three survivors here, two seriously hurt, make a path and be quick about it!”
Looking back to Nikki, the Ranger removes her own cloak and places it around the shivering girl then returns to the examination of Sophie and Kristin. As she proceeds to identify the broken limbs of the unconscious girls she questions Nikki in a calm compassionate tone. “How badly are you hurt?” A shaky voice stammers a reply “I think I may have a broken rib, hurts bad....but I can manage, please I just want my friends to get help!” The lead Ranger stands to take Nikki gently within her arms “Help is here now, you and your friends are going to be all right!” Dangerously weak and confused the girl nearly faints but then recovers to ask “How could this......Were they monsters or women?” Twen looks her in the eye rubbing her body to inspire warmth “Both and neither, an echo of our past - even as we create a new and better future they want to drag us back to their level.......they won’t succeed, of that you have my word!” Nikki looks over her saviour, despite the devastation all around somehow the certainty and honesty in the woman's words holds a power she cannot deny “I hope that is a future I can live to see.” Twen pulls back a little and looks the girl directly in the eyes comforting her further “You are a courageous and resourceful warrior, you saved your friends in spite of the Amazons and that marks you as someone who can and will make a difference, seek me out when you are recovered and we can help to bring that future closer.... go with your friends now, we shall meet again very soon!”
The Ranger watches the three new survivors carefully being loaded onto the improvised raft and carried to safety, she then looks back to the sea and the distant horizon, whispering to herself with renewed purpose “...173 and rising.... We got your message, but unlike you we won't run or hide, we have a future to fight for and you have no place there.” With a final lingering glance out to sea, Twen dives into the water and heads for the mainland.
The End...for now!