Guardian Down

It was a plan long in the works. Organized crime had been decimated by the efforts of the Guardian Program. The Guardians were enhanced law enforcement officers whose strength, speed and seemingly invulnerable bodies were devastating tools to shutting down gangs in the city.  Forced far underground over the past 20 years, the crime lords were forced to coordinate their efforts as the Collective, working together to maintain a semblance of their organizations while plotting their ascent. 

The primary effort was to somehow recreate the enhancements used so effectively in the Guardian program. Years passed and the Collective spent almost all their resources in this effort. They sought a warrior who could beat a Guardian in one on one battle. Finally, a combination of multiple enhancements, steroids, serums and even nano-technology lead to a breakthrough. The first Collective super soldier was female, as efforts on male subjects were unsuccessful, much like the Guardian project. While the current Guardian had been upgraded over the years, the decision was made to test Omega on the original Guardian, Monica Carter. Monica had passed the mantle to her successor over 10 years ago, but she was still active in the police department. Now in her late 40’s, Monica’s work was primarily ceremonial, generating PR for the Guardian program. Monica missed being in action. Still she thought she could be of service and hoped that her community service would perhaps lead to additional work assisting the current Guardian in combat, who was younger, stronger and more effective. 

The Collective chose to spring a trap on Monica, and test out Omega on a "lesser" version of the current Guardian first. They could then assess Omega’s strengths and any weaknesses, then work up to eliminating the current Guardian. 

Monica was invited to an "event" identified as honoring her past work, a private invitation only event with the crowd being handpicked to honor police generally with a special guest, the retired Guardian. The trap. This type of event was nothing out of the ordinary for Monica, who attended such alone. It was a small gathering, about 50 people, and Monica asked was to give a speech, not ironically, on her efforts to curtail organized crime. The event was elegant and posh, nothing seemed out of the ordinary to Monica. Still extremely attractive in her mid 40’s, she wore a conservative but form fitting navy blue dress which showed off her athletic frame, high necked and just above her knees in length, with white stockings and low black heels. 

Always classy and polished, she cut a beautiful figure as she entered the room. Her shoulder-length brunette hair swayed as she approached the podium and began speaking. Monica wore little makeup and was a natural beauty, a true girl next door. She exuded confidence and style. 

Within a few minutes of her prepared speech, the rear door to the room swung open and Omega entered. Dressed in tight, black military fatigues and with short blond hair, Omega’s muscular frame was evident as she strolled forward towards the stage and Monica. Monica finally noticed Omega and paused as the house lights came on, illuminating the room. Monica stopped mid-sentence and asked Omega to leave, which Omega had no intent to do. This test was going forward. Each person in the room had some involvement in the Collective, most of which were investors in the Omega Project. They were here for the show and each hoped for the right result.  

Monica looked dismissively at the intruder, and asked “Who are you?”  She had been challenged multiple times in the past, and no one had ever come close to truly posing a threat. Omega leapt up onto the stage and Monica was slightly taken aback by Omega’s agility and size.  Omega replied, “I am Omega, and I am here to destroy you.” As they stood across from each other, Omega was taller than Monica, and her musculature was more pronounced. Monica hadn’t seen action in years but confidently believed herself more than capable for any challenge, despite her inactivity as a Guardian. She had stayed in shape, training in the hope that she would be reactivated as a Guardian. As Monica confidently stepped forward to confront Omega, she threw a half-hearted punch at Omega, believing that her full strength strike would kill this woman. Omega caught the punch, grabbing Monica’s wrist. Surprised, Monica tried another punch with her free hand, this time slightly harder. Omega caught that as well. Monica was dumbfounded. Omega’s size advantage was even more apparent now, her defined muscles a contrast to Monica’s feminine body. Omega now held both of Monica’s wrists, stretched their arms wide, reared her head back, and head butted Monica directly above her nose. Monica’s head snapped back from the massive blow. Monica was unable to see momentarily and her head rang from the impact. Monica staggered and covered her head as Omega released her wrists, bowing forward slightly. Monica was confused and disoriented as intended. Omega took immediate advantage and jumped high in the air, clasping her hands above her head and coming down with a two handed fist strike to the back of Monica’s head. The move was vicious and calculated to take advantage of the disoriented Guardian. It worked spectacularly. The Guardian struggled to remain upright, the heavy blow further disorienting the heroine and weakening her. Monica’s legs finally gave out  from the combination and she dropped to her knees, groaning as the effects of the impact had dropped her to the floor. With two hits, Monica was already knocked to the floor.

Before Monica could realize what was happening and truly assess her situation, Omega lashed out with a spinning kick to Monica’s head with one of her metal-reinforced combat boots, causing her to be launched backwards in a heap. The Collective members looked on with curiosity and  malicious hope. Omega emotionlessly moved towards Monica as she struggled to get to her feet. In her years as a Guardian, she had never experienced such impacts. It took a few attempts to get her feet under her but the Guardian finally and unsteadily rose. Monica was dazed, but shook her head to clear the fog with every intent to fight back. 

“What’s wrong, Guardian?  A little out of practice? You are old and soft and weak. You are no match for me” Taunted Omega. 

The tall, athletic brunette wasn’t dressed properly for combat but moved towards Omega, and she reared back and threw a series of punches and kicks at Omega.  Omega deftly sidestepped and blocked the blows, waiting for the right opening. As a kick was launched at her midsection, Omega blocked the kick, pivoted, then countered the heroine’s effort with a devastating kick to the side of Monica’s planted leg.  The impact to her stockinged leg caused Monica to involuntarily scream in pain as her knee buckled inwards. As Monica clutched her now damaged leg, Omega threw a lightning fast punch to the side of her unprotected face, catching Monica completely off guard and further staggering her sideways. Since her enhancement, Monica had rarely felt significant pain and had barely been on the receiving end of an adversary’s attack.  That was not the case now as Monica was now hurt worse than she could remember. The room was stunned as the brunette groaned again on impact. Her reddened face was a mix of pain, frustration and confusion. Monica could not comprehend what was happening and haltingly moved towards Omega as a result of her injured leg. Monica clutched her injured knee, avoiding putting her weight on it, and failed to keep complete track of her opponent. Omega wasted no time to allow Monica to recover, as Monica was blasted with a punch to her ribs. Monica groaned in pain as the blow landed, rearing her head back as she did so. The room was deathly silent as the muscular Omega now hunted the staggering and vulnerable Guardian. Monica threw a weak punch at her attacker which was easily repelled. Another weak punch was blocked and a knee strike was sidestepped. Monica’s efforts to turn the tide were being expertly turned aside and she was tiring. 

Omega feigned a head strike and followed with a quick punch to Monica’s throat, causing her to gurgle and reach to protect her windpipe as her knees buckled. Monica wheezed and staggered from the onslaught and hoped to fight back through the haze of pain and confusion. She valiantly and futilely threw a combination of punches that Omega slipped or blocked. In blocking one of Monica’s punches, Omega grabbed Monica’s arm with one hand and violently chopped down with her other arm, causing Monica to again scream as it appeared her arm had been badly injured or even broken from the blow. Omega pressed her attack as Monica staggered backwards unsteadily in her dress and heels, her damaged right arm hanging at her side. Two more heavy punches to Monica’s  midsection bent the Guardian over, and an uppercut brought Monica up to her toes, then causing her to shuffle backwards unsteadily. Omega sprung high into the air and threw a Superman punch direct in the center of Monica’s ample chest, the impact driving her backwards into a wall and rebounding forward. Monica stumbled while favoring her injured knee, still wheezing as she labored to breathe. Monica half-heartedly raised her fists and she teetered unsteadily on her dress shoes. Each strike had served to methodically weaken Monica, and the effects were plainly visible. The Guardian widened her stance to lessen her unsteadiness, but her face displayed her frustration and newly forming doubt. Omega studied the Guardian for a few seconds, observing the weakened heroine struggling to fight back. She smelled fear.

Omega also knew to not underestimate her adversary nor to allow Monica to recover or regroup. Omega advanced and rocked Monica with a series of punches to Monica’s head, the heroine now clumsily attempting to defend herself. Monica’s arms finally dropped to her side after a combination of strikes to her ribs, Omega wearing down the Guardian’s body with punishing blows. To Monica it felt like she was being repeatedly hit with a sledgehammer. She struggled for breath, her vision began to blur and her reactions slowed. Sensing weakness, Omega grabbed Monica and lifted her above her head, then slamming her down on a table just below the stage. The table splintered under the brunette as she impacted the table face and chest first. The Guardian now had no idea what was happening as her body had by now absorbed massive damage since being confronted by Omega. Monica struggled to get to her hands and knees in the wreckage of the table as Omega approached. 

As Monica finally got to all fours, head bowed, Omega jumped down from the stage, landing with both feet in the center of the heroine’s back. Monica gasped at the impact as she was driven into the table wreckage. Without hesitation, Omega pinned Monica face down and roughly grabbed by her long brown hair with one hand, Omega began throwing punches to the back of Monica’s head with her other hand, each one further debilitating the former Guardian. “Fight back, Guardian, if you can,” Omega taunted. Monica was pinned chest down in the table’s wreckage, her head was ringing from each punch, and she had no response from her tenuous position as the punches thudded into her skull and echoed through the room.  Still holding Monica’s hair with one hand, Omega then began punching Monica’s kidneys, causing Monica to meekly whimper as each one landed. Monica’s stockinged legs fluttered and her arms lay limp at her side as each heavy punch found it’s target. Omega then switched her tactic, using her grip on Monica’s hair to repeatedly drive her face into the floor, each one lessening Monica’s ability to fight back. Finally, Omega got to her feet standing above the injured Guardian. Monica barely moved, now completely unable to fight back. She remained face down with her arms and legs splayed. The onlookers were amazed at the savagery and effectiveness of Omega. The one-time Guardian of the city was being systematically destroyed right before their eyes. 

“You are nothing. I will break you into pieces and you will pay for everything you have done,” threatened Omega. 

Monica haltingly got to her hands and stockinged knees again, and started to crawl.  Her head hung down as she labored to move. She was confused and dazed from the onslaught and she was badly injured. Omega let the Guardian crawl as the predator moved with her, then launched a kick into Monica’s midsection driving the air from Monica and flipping her over. Monica groaned as her ribs suffered another devastating blow.  “The once mighty Guardian doesn’t look so mighty now,” said Omega. “There is no escape for you. I have a special gift for you”

Omega grabbed Monica by her dress with two hands, lifting the weakened Guardian above her head. Monica hung lifelessly above the muscular blond, still unable to comprehend what was happening but aware she was truly in danger. Omega then plunged Monica’s spine down across her knee with a backbreaker, violently damaging her back across Omega’s outstretched knee. Monica screamed again as her back impacted Omega’s knee. That impact was the worst of her life and despite her dazed mental state Monica instantly knew she was badly hurt. The vicious move had severely injured Monica’s back, suffering an injury the likes of which no Guardian had ever suffered.  Despite her enhanced strength and abilities, her back had been broken by the devastating move.  Monica twitched, laying stretched across Omega’s knee following the massive impact, her body limply coming to rest bent backwards. Monica began muttering weakly and haltingly:

 “Oh, god, 

My back,

My back, 

What did you?

I can’t. 

My

No

My back 

Please, someone

Help me” 

Omega’s threat to break Monica in pieces had come true. Omega ruthlessly shoved Monica to the floor. As Monica mewled in pain and she tried to soothe her injured spine, Omega pointed at two of the onlookers who then came over at Omega’s request and pulled the now broken heroine to her feet. Monica was now unable to support her own weight, only remaining upright by the two Collective members. She gasped as being pulled up caused more pain to her back. Monica’s head drooped to her chest, her arms limp and her feet not supporting her weight. Omega then began using Monica as a punching bag, devastating Monica’s body and face with massive punches. Monica whimpered as her ribs, chest, belly and face were battered repeatedly by the now frenzied Omega. Monica offered no resistance as she was being beaten senseless. The blows echoed through the silent room, accentuated by Monica's groans and whimpers of pain. Monica’s enhanced healing power only served to prolong her suffering. Finally, after a series of thumping punches to Monica’s lower belly, Omega stopped and lifted Monica’s limp chin off of her chest. The visible effects were astounding. Monica’s face was badly bruised, blood trickled from her nose and mouth, and her eyes were unfocused and vacant. No one had ever seen a Guardian on the receiving end of much if any damage in a fight, and now were looking on at their city’s once so called heroine, completely defenseless and being beaten senseless. 

Monica had no idea what was happening, her head was ringing from the beating she was receiving. Her back was badly injured from the backbreaker across Omegas knee, and she felt as if her ribs had been broken. 

Omegas left hand grabbed Monica by the throat and lifted her aloft, the once stately Guardian limply dangling in her now tattered dress. The contrast was undeniable. The Guardian had been completely taken apart and everyone there, including Monica, knew it. Monica weakly gasped for air as her throat was being constricted in Omega’s grip. 

“Pathetic. You are old and weak,” said Omega. Omega then grabbed Monica between her legs with her right hand while maintaining her stranglehold with her left. In a flash, Omega drove Monica head first to the floor. Still maintaining her grip on the limp Guardian, Omega repeated the maneuver again, then again, then again. Monica’s head impacted the concrete floor and her neck bent awkwardly on each impact, her lifeless body being destroyed sadistically by Omega. The onlookers were silently ecstatic with their investment,  as the city's longtime heroine was emphatically being taken apart. Omega lifted Monica’s limp body one last time, then hurled the broken Guardian back onto the stage. Monica tumbled repeatedly, finally coming to a stop with her arms and legs akimbo. Her eyes were barely open, and blood trickling from her nose and mouth. Her chest rose and fell with each of her labored breaths. Omega walked up to the fallen heroine and pulled Monica to a seated position by her hair, both now facing the onlookers. Monica was completely out of it, her arms lifelessly dangling at her side, and Omega intended to finish Monica off. Omega paused as Monica whimpered in her grip. Monica’s vision was blurry and her body failed to respond to any instinct to fight back, or more likely flee. Any ability to fight back had been completely eliminated by the damage to both her body and spirit. 

“This is what happens now to Guardians, and you are simply the first to fall,” whispered Omega. Looking to remove all resistance from the Guardian, Omega began chopping at the neck and throat of Monica, who spasmed with each violent strike. Her arms shook with each impact and her stockinged legs convulsed with each strike as the superior Omega ridiculed her.

“You are weak.”

Chop

“You are nothing.”

Chop

“You are worthless.”

Chop

“You are the past.”

Chop

“I am Omega.”

Chop

“I am the future.”

Chop

“Your end is near.”

Chop

The contrast was definitive: Omega’s eyes were wide open and completely focused on her target as her muscular body repeatedly tensed with blow after blow, taunting the slack heroine. Monica sat slumped and was held upright by Omega’s grip on her hair, which was now matted to her bruised and vacant face. The Guardian’s arms offered no defense, and her classy and pristine appearance had been decimated by the bludgeoning she had been subjected to. Her high heeled feet and stockinged legs quivered as she was now completely beaten and defenseless.  

After multiple strikes to her battered victim’s neck, Omega paused, then delivered a final blow, savagely driving her fist directly down onto the top of Monica’s head, compressing her neck in the process. Monica emitted an low guttural moan and slumped to the ground as Omega released her grip on Monica’s hair, her eyes fluttering shut. Monica’s body continued to spasm on the floor, prone and face down, as Omega smiled cruelly. Her work was done for that day but the work was far from done. The Collective members left the room, knowing they were back in business.  “If you survive, and if you can even hear me, tell the real Guardian that Omega now comes for her,” said Omega. “Even if you can’t tell her, she now knows her end is near when she learns of your fate.”

Monica lay in a heap as they left, still face down and convulsing from the massive injuries she had sustained, having been violently and systematically taken apart by Omega. She was badly injured, suffering multiple severe internal injuries, the thought of which seemed beyond comprehension just before this premeditated attack. Monica had been the Guardian for years and had never been truly challenged in combat during her career protecting the city. As she lay semi-conscious with life-threatening injuries following the catastrophic pounding at the hands of Omega, it was unknown whether she would or could even mentally or physically recover from the shocking events of the day.  This wasn't a fight.  It was a slaughter. The Collective had recorded the incident as propaganda, releasing the footage of the sickening beating to strike fear in the city, and in the Guardian herself.

The Collective however, knew they were on the path to reclaiming what they believed was rightfully theirs. Next up for Omega: the destruction of the current Guardian. 

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