The following is a work of fiction created and written by Jim Robert Bader, with ideas and suggestions provided by my good friends, Bill Guiroff and Kate Norcross (the REAL-life Katie). No other persons living or dead are intended to be reflected here (save for purposes of obvious parody and/or social commentary), and any resemblance to other creations of popular fiction are purely coincidental. This property is the work of Jim Robert Bader and is a rough draft copy, to be revised and altered should I one day find a friendly publisher willing to help me out. It is presented here for the express purpose of gaining friendly recognition and/or creative commentary and may not be duplicated or published elsewhere without express permission of the author. Mar-Sa The Ultra-Girl Book One/Part Two The Girl of Tungsten Steel by Jim Robert Bader September 4, 2001 (First Copyrights Only) 00000000 000 000 000 vvvvvvv 000 000VVVVVVVVVVVVVV000 000 VVVVVVVVVV 000 000 VVVVVV 000 000 VVVV 000 000 VV 000 00000000 Mar-Sa, The Ultra-Girl by Jim Robert Bader Book One/Part Two The Girl of Tungsten Steel Chapter Nineteen. Aftermath Kate Cross stood around five-foot-four and weighed less than a hundred and fifteen pounds. She had an excellent figure for a woman in her mid-thirties, and considering the sort of active life she had led it was rather surprising that all of her body parts were still in good working condition. She had cat- green eyes and an elf-like quality that contrasted noticeably with her strongly Brooklyn accent. She was spectacularly well endowed in her proportions, which she partially attributed to having given birth to two healthy daughters, and she even had the caesarian scar to prove that boast. Other than that there was nothing outwardly that would give any indication to there being anything the least way out of the ordinary about her. And yet, in spite of this observation, there was also something indefinably present within Katie that made the two people standing before her appear to be unusually nervous. "Well?" she asked of these two, "I'm still waiting for that explanation." Both the brown-haired Gabrielle and the swarthy Raphael exchanged troubled looks with one another, but neither one seemed all that willing to volunteer information. In fact, if anything, they appeared to be wondering just how they had gotten themselves into this situation in the first place. "Fine," Katie scowled, "Then you tell me, Ali, what a Counter-Terrorism expert and a Federal Agent are doing this far south of the border? I thought you were still stationed in the Middle East..." "Ah...Effendi," Raphael responded mildly, "That is my normal base of operations...but I am no longer linked with either MOSSAD or the Palestinian Authority..." "In other words you're a free agent?" Katie scowled. "Ah...not exactly in so many words..." Raphael sheepishly replied, "It is just that my current employer...well...I would rather not discuss that..." "Figures you'd go to work with Ari," Katie growled, "You two were closer than peas in a pod in the old days. But you...weren't you assigned to the Washington area the last I looked?" "Ah...I was," Gabrielle shrugged, "But...well...I tend to go where ever I'm needed..." "And you two just happened to be cruising on by when this business started up, huh?" Katie's tone was level but her expression as much as said that she was not buying what they were selling. "Ah...well, yeah, that's about it," Gabrielle nodded. "Most extraordinary of coincidences to run into you in a time of crisis," Raphael agreed. "Just a couple of good Samaritans, that's what we are, yesiree," Gabrielle assured them. "Allah works in mysterious ways." "And it's not like we were spying on you and all that." "Heaven forefend, that would be rudeness." "Just glad we were able to help out and all." "Much though our poor efforts served as little more than a convenient distraction." "Hey!" Gabrielle turned an annoyed look at Raphael, "I hit that thing dead on! No fair that it had some kinda fancy shielding...I mean who'd expect it to shrug off an RPG even at that range?" "Are you getting all of this, Boss?" Cathy murmured in a soft stage-whisper. "Partially," Heather replied, "But my attention is somewhat divided between the floor show and Mar-Sa." "Oh yeah," Cathy said as she turned to see the now-swimsuited golden woman tinkering around with the two damaged probes, "Weird seeing her do that. Weirder too thinking how close we came to being sunk by a Mylar-colored beach ball..." "It is considerably more sophisticated than that," Heather noted, "But seeing it lay like that with its insides exposed to full view...it does appear slightly less intimidating..." "How's it going?" Mark asked Mar-Sa for what had to be the fifteenth time in as many minutes. "It's going fine, Mark," Mar-Sa said patiently, "It's not as bad as you were fearing. Isaac took a major hit that overloaded some of his primaries and back- up systems, but the damage was minimal and easily fixed, and any parts that can't be rendered serviceable...well...it's a good think I kept the Rover unit on hand for spare parts. Just be calm and I'll have him back to normal in no time." "Calm?" Mark replied, "Who's not calm? I'm not worried about 'Zak, he can take care of himself, right?" Mar-Sa could only smile in amusement, realizing how Mark was treating the probe- droid almost like it was a person, which...oddly enough...she found herself comprehending. The way the AI unit was becoming increasingly more native in its vocal patterns, it was definitely as if the probe were growing a personality. Despite its artificial nature it was somewhat easier to think of it as though it were a person. "There," Mar-Sa said as she finished making a few final attachments, "Primaries are restored, now Isaac should reboot and..." She had no sooner sealed up the cylinder top when the lights flashed on again and the probe began to once more become active. A few moments later it lifted off of the deck on its own power and began hovering in mid-air by half a meter, seeming to go through a lengthy process before registering, "Unit 1138 online. All systems and backup systems operations...functioning within eighty-seven percent of optimal..." "Very good, Unit 1138," Mar-Sa said as she got back to her feet and stretched herself out, "Resume normal operations as per your last instructions." "Affirmative," the probe responded then added, "Alert, Rover unit non- functional, but detecting residual trace patterns in core functions and AI processor units..." "I left most of it intact for a reason, 1138," Mar-Sa replied, "I have separated the connections to motor and unit functions, so it should be safe for now, but if it does begin a self-repair routine I expect you to alert me and take appropriate actions." "Understood," the hovering probe all but shimmered before adding, "This Unit would, as humans might say, look forward to a little payback." "Damn," Mark murmured, "He sounds even more human than ever." "Not to alarm you, but I think he will become even moreso in the near future," Mar-Sa cautioned, "His AI functions are becoming increasingly complex now that he isn't having to compensate for damaged or defective systems, and who knows how...human he may become with further study?" "This unit confesses...it is a most alarming prospect," the probe duly noted. Satisfied that the technical problems requiring her skills as an Engineer were effective dealt with, Mar-Sa thus turned the full measure of her attention back to the matter that she had been half-listening to, namely Kate Cross and her unusual "associates," who seemed to be---if anything---digging themselves even deeper into a ditch the more they experimented with increasingly improbable explanations. "It's a like paid vacation, kinda," Gabrielle was saying, "Me and Raphe always tour the Gulf of California this time of year, right, Raphe?" "It is a kind of a pilgrimage, actually," Raphael nodded, "The warm surf is very spiritually uplifting..." "I see," Katie said, "So you two lovebirds are doing this like a honeymoon, right?" "What?" Gabrielle blinked then said, "Uh..." "Honeymoon?" Raphael nervously repeated. "Shame on you, Ali," Katie chided, "What would your father and mother think if they could see you now? Out here all alone with a beautiful unmarried woman, since I don't see either of you wearing wedding rings at the moment..." "Is there not a Fatwa or something along those lines about this sort of thing?" Heather wondered. "Yeah," Cathy grinned, "Ain't it against Islamic principles to be all alone with a woman, unless you want to try and tell us that she's your sister." "Ah...well," Raphael stammered. "Don't be lame," Gabrielle snapped, "Raphael's a perfect gentleman and he'd never think of trying to take advantage of me...even if I wanted him to." "Um," Raphael glanced at his comely companion as if to wonder which of them was in the greater danger of being "taken advantage." "A regular Arabian Knight, huh?" Cathy smiled, clearly enjoying the discomfiture of the handsome Palestinian. "Kind of late for you to worry about that sort of thing anyway, Ali," Katie smiled, "Since I distinctly remember that night in Lebanon when you and me..." "Ah...that is quite enough, Kate," Raphael's expression was openly pleading, "There are certain ears...well...that sort of thing just should not be repeated." "Oh, you mean he's listening in?" Katie said archly, then leaned forward and raised her voice, "You listening to me, you Limey bastard? Come out here and show yourself now! No more slinking around with these covert ops stunts, face me like a man you..." "Do I take it that you are addressing me, Kate?" Eyes swerved once again, this time to a rather tall and distinguished looking man wearing a tan trench coat over some stylish outfit that looked almost like a uniform. He was blonde and blue eyed and incredibly handsome with a self- possessed air of authority about him that was in no way diminished by the aloof expression that he wore as he regarded Katie. One of Heather's women gave a wolf-whistle, and the sentiments seemed to be shared by more than a few of the others. Even Heather found herself appraising the man with a cocked eyebrow, deciding that he definitely had a good sense of dramatic timing, which left her to wonder how he could have boarded their ship without being noticed. "Where did he come from?" Cathy gasped, voicing the thoughts of her employer. "Interesting," Heather remarked aloud, her expression showing a mixture of intrigue and amusement. "Gah!" Mar-Sa heard Mark gasp in obvious recognition, "You, guy? No way!" "At ease, Daniels," the man spoke without turning to glance at the garishly costumed Action, "I'm not here to renew our pursuit. I am strictly here as a courtesy on behalf of these two, my rather overly enthusiastic if misguided colleagues." "Effendi," Raphael replied, "About that..." "It wasn't like we knew she was on board, Boss-man, honest!" Gabrielle pleaded. The blonde haired man made a motion with his hand that immediately silenced these two, and then in a level voice he replied, "We will discuss it when we are alone. For now you two are to report at once to our employer. He would like the opportunity to explain a few things to you about covert operations." Both Raphael and Gabrielle looked dubious over that, and then exchanged mutually resigned looks of dread and resignation. "So," Katie glowered, "You assigned these two clowns to keep an eye on things here, huh?" "It was intended to be low-key and non-intrusive," Ariel explained, "There was no way to anticipate either your involvement, Kate, or the attack that has just been concluded. It was never my intention to see any of you placed in any kind of danger, it is simply that these matters are of such a grave importance that extraordinary measures were deemed necessary." "Such as spying on my vessel in the middle of international waters?" Heather asked. "Where it concerns the safety of the entire world, Ma'am, there is no such thing as territorial jurisdiction," Ariel replied, turning at last to regard the costumed Mar-Sa before saying, "Young lady, you have been the focus of much interest since your arrival. I hope that you now do see that this goes well beyond the issue of your own personal safety." "I understand," Mar-Sa nodded, "And I never intended for anyone to have this sort of..." "Not something that you can be blamed for, I strongly suspect," Ariel replied, "Although we do not as yet have a complete story regarding you, my superiors are very interested in learning all that they can about both you and the place where you came from...to say nothing of these...curious devices," he nodded towards both the hovering probe and the inactive Rover unit. "So what happens now?" Mark frowned, "You haul us all into custody in some government lab somewhere?" "That is not my decision to make, nor have I any instructions in that capacity," Ariel replied, "For the time being the decision has been rendered that you are to be granted a form of limited amnesty, contingent on your future actions and good behavior." "Huh?" Katie blinked, "You want what?" "We are, as they say in America, treating you both with kid gloves," Ariel explained, "Until such time as either one of you demonstrate by your actions that you are not to be trusted. Considering the fortitude that you each have displayed so far, it would be a costly, time-consuming and quite unprofitable affair to use, as you might say, strong-arm tactics to attempt to bring you in. You are free to roam about the country under the provision that you not be involved in the breaking of laws beyond that which is covered under the 'Good Samaritan' clause that you both have been displaying. Am I making myself clear to you in any way, my good lady?" "I...think so," Mar-Sa replied, "If I do prove myself to be a friend and not an enemy...?" "Then we will talk again," Ariel replied, "And I might even have a proposal for you that you should take under serious consideration. Be assured that this offer comes from the highest levels and would be to your advantage, just as it would be to the best interest of our planet." "You mean you're just letting us go like that?" Mark asked skeptically, "After you kidnapped me, locked me up and tried to have me dissected?" "For the last time, Daniels," Ariel's voice actually arched into tones of annoyance, "We did not, as you claim, seek to have you 'dissected.' When you first began your activities nearly a month ago there was considerable doubt and confusion regarding both you and your intentions. Can you blame us for wanting to know who you were and what your purpose was in playing at being a costumed mystery man? I am sorry if you were in any way inconvenienced by our actions, and I regret if we left a bad impression by acting through expediency without due consideration of your civil right. Of course if you had truly been an enemy you would not have made the shocking number of amateurish blunders that has made it so easy for us to keep track of your whereabouts, regardless of how much you leap-frog about the country." "And I'm supposed to take that as justification for you kidnapping and drugging me like you did?" Mark said in tones just slightly less hostile than before. "I seek no justification for doing my job," Ariel replied, "And by no means is this matter between us concluded. You can do as you like for now, but I will be watching you closely, and if you step out of line, then I will do all that is within my power to insure that you are contained." "Yeah?" Mark said, "You and what SWAT team?" "Be assured that we do have considerable resources at our disposal," Ariel replied, "This is not all about you and your quaint notions of heroism. You have no idea of the larger world that waits beyond your understanding, but I rather imagine that you will know one day that I am not your real enemy and might well prove to be your best ally." "That'll be the day," Mark scoffed, "Why don't you take your best shot now with those drugged playing cards of yours? Or do you wanna see what me and 'Zak can really do when we get pissed?" "I see that you need some convincing," Ariel remarked with hands folded behind his back, "Lion One to Nautilus. You may now surface." "Nautilus?" Cathy repeated with an arched expression, only to gasp as something drew her attention off past the side of the yacht, prompting her to point a finger and say, "H-H-Heather...?" "Alert," Isaac suddenly called out, "Detecting movement fifty-two Yurlacs from present location, location one-one-three of..." "We can see it already, 'Zak," Mark declared while his expression registered the astonishment that others around him were also experiencing at that moment. Mar-Sa had already detected the movement of something large moving close beside their vessel, but now she stared in open amazement as a conning tower broke through the surface of the ocean, rising up from the depths to reveal a fin-like plane of metal with serrated shark-like edges that sliced up into the air only fifty meters away from their position. A large black body rose up into the full light of day, and before their eyes the vessel that she half-consciously placed under the heading as a "submarine" appeared to full view, roughly a hundred and fifty meters from bow to stern and giving the ominous impression of a great leviathan whose home was the briny depths of the open waters. Katie was no less impressed as she said, "What...the hell is that? Is that American?" "Hardly," Ariel said, "It flies no flag and serves no nation, but its allegiance is to humanity itself. Its creator was the first and greatest of all great mariners to claim the sea as his home, and I trust now that you can appreciate what I mean when I say that we have resources that are not to be underestimated." Mark's mouth hung open until he finally managed to gasp, "'Zak...you reading this?" "Affirmative," the probe replied, "Advanced model terran craft, approximate displacement..." "I think we get the idea, 1138," Mar-Sa said faintly. "Then I will consider our business here is, for now, concluded," Ariel replied, "Good day to you all, and to you Kate. And as for you two..." "Right," Raphael agreed. "Coming right along, Boss," Gabrielle paused to say, "Ah...about the launch..." "Do not concern yourself over that," Ariel replied, "It is being retrieved even as we speak, but for now you do not want to keep our employer waiting." "Got it," Gabrielle waved a hand and said, "See y'all around, Pardners." "Allah be with you," Raphael nodded in respect, turning away to hold the relief he felt to be getting away from his comely interrogator. "And to you two," Ariel gave a respectful nod to Mar-Sa, then glanced at Mark before turning about and calmly walking over to the edge of the yacht, then vaulting the rail without the slightest hesitation. "Is he gonna swim back to that...sub?" Cathy asked, then blinked, "Ah...never mind..." To their surprise the man seemed to be swinging through the air, though it was obvious enough at a glance that he had attached himself to a line that stretched between the upper decks of the yacht and the conning tower of the ebony submarine. In moments he had crossed the distance and was scaling up along the side to the command tower itself, where a number of figures stood in waiting... "Well then," said the dark-eyed man as he greeted his subordinate, "I trust your business has been favorably concluded?" "As much as could be hoped for, Magnus," Ariel replied, "The rest will be up to Kate." "Sure about this?" Michael asked, eyeing the deck, "There's a priceless piece of technology there that I wouldn't mind having a look at." "Over your head, old Chap," Ariel assured his fellow Archangel, "I believe the technology is better off in the hands of our golden-hued friend over there. She seems to know what she's doing; for the most part, anyway." "Let us hope that this proves to be the case," their somber leader remarked, "I see great possibilities at play here, but only if this woman is capable of mastering her own potential." "You could always try taking her under your wing, Boss," Uriel replied, "Like you did with us." "Another time for that, I believe," the dark man replied, "For now her path is in the light while we remain in the shadows. Let this be another mystery to tantalize and intrigue her, it will make our eventual meeting all that much more interesting." "Better you than Silas," Michael said grimly, "Ever think about that?" "Frequently," the grim-faced Magnus replied, then he turned a more cordial look to the two Archangels being helped up on the landing, "Ah...Raphael and Gabrielle. I do trust that you were sufficiently vague about our purposes here. It would not do to allow Ms. Cross to know too much too soon about our organization." "Hey, we know our business, Chief," Gabrielle replied, "We've all been tortured by experts, but we know how to keep our mouths shut." "That ain't what it sounded like to me," Uriel grinned, "You choked." "Ah...well...we did manage to avoid revealing too much," Raphael replied, "And that must count for something, Effendi." "Yeah, and you try being all stoical and Macho-like looking into her eyes," Gabrielle sniffed, "I've met crazed terrorists who weren't that scary." "Maybe you just thought she was gonna put the moves on you," Uriel teased back, "Can't believe you went over there without your guns. For you that's practically naked..." There was a click of a trigger being cocked as Gabrielle moved her hand away from her hair and wound up holding a nine-millimeter, pointing said gun just under the nose of the burly Sicilian. "Who said I ain't armed, Hon?" Gabrielle smiled before uncocking the trigger and causing the gun to vanish. Uriel stood a moment blinking, then shivered, "I ain't even gonna ask where you hid the piece..." Gabrielle turned partially sideways and moved her long brown hair to the side, revealing a hidden holster clipped to her nape hairs. "Get your mind outta the gutter, Uri," Gabrielle sniffed, "Nobody ever thinks to look in some of the most obvious places where a girl can hide things." "Got you good that time, Bro," Michael softly razzed, only to earn a withering glare from his fellow Archangel. Magnus turned and said, "Tell Captain Land that she is to dive the moment we close the hatch. Let us take our leave of these waters...time enough later to analyze the data that we have so far gathered." "Right away, Admiral," the sub crewman saluted and before too long they were underway once again, the most powerful submarine in all the known world silently obeying the dictates of its ageless creator... "The man does know how to make a stylish exit," Heather observed softly, "You have to give him that..." "Hah," Katie said dismissively, "You wouldn't have said that if you'd heard us the last time we were together." "Ah...pardon me for asking," Cathy said, "But do you mind telling us how you two know each other? The way you talked just now...it's almost like you were mortal enemies..." "Actually, we were gonna get married," Katie replied, "But we broke it off years ago, before I met my first husband." "That would explain the hostility," Heather noted rather dryly, "Ah well...as my father was wont to say, conventional married life is not for everybody..." Mar-Sa just continued to stare at the submarine tower until it began to submerge. There was something about the people standing along the railing...and one of them who stood out from any of the others...not so much like a presence, but in the sense that she could not get a telepathic reading to confirm his actual presence. The others she could sense peripherally, perceiving good things rather than hostile "vibrations," but the one man dressed all in black and holding that curious wolfsheaded cane...he was somehow different from all of the others. And...was it her imagination but did she actually see him smile and nod to her, as though he, too, could sense something about her presence? "Good riddance to that lot," Mark sighed, "I don't know about you, Marsha, but that guy just gives me the woolies." "Oh?" Mar-Sa asked, "And why is that?" "It's just...these government types with their sneaky hidden agendas," Mark shrugged, "Who keeps a watch on guys like that to see they don't mess up other people's lives? And that guy acts like he thinks he's James Bond or something..." "Not really," Katie said as she came to join them, "Bond's a much smoother kisser, and I oughta know." "That's it," Cathy frowned, "It's official, we're living inside a comic book..." "And why does that upset you, darling?" Heather asked. "Because it means I only get a bit part here," Cathy replied, "And I wanna have some superpowers and fight the bad guys. But you, Heather, Boss-lady...you were great!" she grinned in that mercurial way that humans had of changing moods without warning, and she cuddled up beside the tall blonde with a sensuous leer and much pressing of their bodies, "You took charge of that crisis and everything, and the way you ordered people around..." "Really?" Heather smiled as she held the other woman with affection, "And what of the way you managed to keep a cool head during the worst of all that? I was very impressed at your presence of mind, and the way you copped a feel when you thought I wouldn't notice." "Aw, you say the sweetest things," Cathy cooed sweetly before the two of them shared a kiss of much understated passion. "Well, nice to know somebody's making out all right during all this," Katie noted, "If only had a camera...Phoebe would just love this." "Ah, that is right," Heather exclaimed as she looked up from her kiss and arched her voice to say, "Did anyone here remember to take any pictures?" There was a show of hands from various female crewpersons, then Fiona said, "Dixie, Yolanda and Nashalla had their cameras going, and I think I saw Rei and Aki working the monitors at the helm..." "Yeah," said an Asian girl who appeared from the command deck to report, "But something weird happened just before that sub-thing showed up...all our cameras just stopped working, both the digital kind and even the handheld portable sets. It's like somebody waved a magic wand and caused them all to just stop taking pictures...weird." "Sounds almost X-Filish," Heather remarked, "Well, everybody ready whatever they have and we'll go over it in the film room. Hopefully there will be enough to form some visual evidence for the article that I intend to write about this..." "Ah, I wouldn't recommend that," Katie warned, "Some things just ain't safe to print these days, and from what I know about Ari...he's one of those things, and the same goes for his buddies." "Hmmm...perhaps you are right," Heather remarked, "Ah well, he never told us not to print anything, so we'll just see what we have then...make a policy decision." "I'm sorry," Mar-Sa spoke somewhat reluctantly. "Huh?" Cathy asked, "What's eating you now, Marsha?" "It is just...all of your lives have been placed in danger on account of me," Mar-Sa explained, "That attack came from my people and they were clearly looking for me when the rest of you... got in the way...and if it wasn't for Phoebe..." "Luigi doesn't hold you to blame for that," Heather assured her, "In fact he sounded even more enthusiastic about resuming your photo-shoot once he gets back on his feet..." "I don't know that I can allow that," Mar-Sa said, "Perhaps this was all a great mistake, and if I have put you in trouble with the authorities of your world..." "Now if that isn't the most stuck-up, self-important line of crap that I've heard in the past fifteen seconds, I don't know what it is," Katie said as she glared up at the taller woman. "Huh?" Mar-Sa blinked, "But..." "You think this is all about you?" Katie asked, waving her hand, "You think all these people put all of their lives on the line just so they could indulge in the adolescent fantasies of a glandularly endowed teenager with a super-power fetish? No way!" "Uh...what's she talking about?" Cathy asked, but Heather quietly shushed her. "This isn't just about you, Marsha," Katie continued, "You're a refugee, a long way from your home, and you show up here and find out you've got powers and abilities far beyond that of the average Preppie, and so you show off your wares and your talents before a whole bunch of people...and suddenly the whole world revolves around nothing but you, huh? Well, I don't think so!" "But Marsha's..." Mark started to say. "And you---BUT OUT OF IT!" Katie snapped, "You've been a bad enough influence on her as it is, so keep your opinions to yourself until I beat them out of you, you got that?" "Ah...yessir---Ma'am---um, whatever..." Mark hastily backed away as though to make a warding gesture. "Marsha," Katie fixed her green-eyed stare upon the golden alien, "You came here to do something truly noble, which was to make a statement about freedom and independence, and you did it because the people on your world don't have any freedom, right?" "Um...yes," Mar-Sa admitted. "And you also wanted to earn some money in order to support yourself in style while you try and get settled, correct?" Katie persisted. "Ah...yes, that is correct," Mar-Sa agreed. "And those guys back home, what do they want with you anyhow?" Katie asked her. "Um...they wanted to retrieve me," Mar-Sa said, "To bring me home and try me as a criminal..." "Because you're a threat to them, right?" Katie said. "Yes," Mar-Sa said, "My being here by itself is a threat to the Council and what they believe..." "So they're trying to stop you means what?" Katie asked. "That...I am doing the right thing?" Mar-Sa blinked as if making a startling realization. "You got it!" Katie reached up and rapped her knuckles against the taller woman's forehead, then tapped the center between her brows, "And it's all because you've got something up here that makes you special, that gives you that something extra that's denied to us poor denizens of Earth. So...you are special, but not in the way that you were implying a minute ago. You're a symbol of hope and freedom for an entire civilization, so...where the hell do you get off blaming yourself about it? Is it your fault that it sucks back on your planet?" "I...never thought of it that way before," Mar-Sa said as she ran her fingers over her own forehead. "Yeah, well it sounds to me like you need to do a lot more thinking," Katie replied, "Because, like it or not, you're on our world now and you're a part of something greater than you know, so don't bitch and moan about it, be positive! Besides, it's not just you that's involved here, this also includes Phoebe." "Phoebe?" Mar-Sa repeated, thinking instantly to her still-sleeping companion whose every breath she could sense even down below decks. "You touched her life and she touched yours in a big way," Katie explained, "And now you both are a part of each other. I found that out just a short while ago when I saw her hands start to glow, and guess where she got the power to heal up Luigi Cozi?" "From...me?" Mar-Sa asked. "Bingo!" Katie smiled, "You've got a mental and spiritual link going down now, probably caused by all the time you've spent together, though bringing her back from the dead probably cemented it. That golden glow of yours must have done something to Phoebe that's increased her health and vitality, because I could tell she was glowing the whole day right after stepping out of bed with you, and I don't mean that metaphorically either." "I...know that Phoebe and I share a bond," Mar-Sa said, "But I didn't realize it went this far in both directions." "Well, now you know," Katie replied, "And I'd bet everything that my precocious Roomie is even more precocious now because she's got a part of your life energy coursing around inside her, making her robust and healthy, and maybe even increasing her brain activity above normal levels, and I, for one, am glad of that. But it also means that she can tap in on your wavelength and draw strength from you no matter what you are doing. Like it or not you're now a part of each other, married in spirit with your Ki flowing both ways, and what one of you feels no doubt has an effect on the other." "You are describing it exactly," Mar-Sa replied, "I...could feel it when Phoebe...died...and I knew afterward what she was doing at any time of the day, and Phoebe claims that she can see me when I'm out rescuing people..." "Which means that you now have a responsibility for her," Katie said, "And since Phoebe means a great deal to me, that makes you my responsibility, and from now on I'm going to taking charge here." "Um...excuse me?" Mar-Sa asked. "Starting right now I am officially your trainer," Katie replied, "You and Phoebe have been running around on dumb luck for too long, it's time you let an adult take charge and show you what you're missing. Ari's right about you both being amateurs, and it's a good thing he's basically a pretty decent guy or you can bet he'd have grabbed Phoebe by now and used her as leverage against you. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't do anything to hurt her or cause others to bring harm to her, so with her as their ticket you'd be their slave to do their bidding." "I...I never thought of that," Mar-Sa replied, appalled at the very prospect. "Ari means what he says, usually," Katie continued, "If he's going to back off and let you get your act together, then it means he probably expects me to take over. For once he's right, I just can't stand to see you stumble around and possibly drag Phoebe even deeper into a world that neither one of you is prepared to handle. That means I've got a duty to show you how to make the most of your potential, and to become an even better superhero." "A better superhero?" Mar-Sa asked, "Do you mean that?" "Hey, you think Phoebe's the only one who reads comics?" Katie grinned, "Besides, I think you stumbled onto a pretty good idea here. With name recognition and a public image that's basically favorable, you're more likely to get accepted on this world, and that's a good thing since we're gonna need you the next time your friends from back home decide to put in for a visit." "You mean...the Council?" Mar-Sa frowned slightly, "They are hardly my friends..." "No, but they sure as hell consider you their enemy now," Katie replied, "And if they know about Earth then you'll be the biggest obstacle in their way to taking over, and if everyone on your world has the same abilities that you do..." "I see what you mean," Mar-Sa was crestfallen, "The next most logical step for them to take would be to train a human agent to be sent to this world in order to defeat me. He would be the vanguard of the Council, most probably a trained security man, and that means he most definitely be a man, and far more powerful than me." "Because he'll be bigger and stronger than you?" Katie snorted, "Puh-lease! I can beat the snot out of you without half trying, and I'm not even an alien. Remember that lesson I gave back at the apartment?" "Um...yes," Mar-Sa said nervously, "But you surprised me, and if I were on my guard..." All at once Katie jabbed her fingers forward at Mar-Sa solar plexus, and like that the wind was sudden driven out of her lungs, causing her to double over in pain and astonishment, clutching at the space just below her own heart. "Marsha!" Action took a half-step forward, only to be halted in his tracks by a sharp glare from Katie. "You have vulnerabilities you don't even know about," Katie said, "I can sense that energy field you're projecting, it's stronger in some areas, weaker in others, and if I manifest my own Ki into a force and aim it at one of your pressure-points I can penetrate your defenses and overload your nervous system. Get the point?" "I...I think I got it," Mar-Sa gasped, unable to believe how had it was to get air back into her lungs. Katie casually reached out to her and touched Mar-Sa in a certain area, and all at once she could breathe normally again. "Consider that your second lesson," Katie noted, "And there's a lot more that I can teach you that will give you more than a fighting edge if some guy from your planet shows up thinking to throw his weight around. Are you interested?" "I am," Mar-Sa said as she straightened up, rubbing her chest to fully restore her circulation, "That was amazing...I never even sensed it was coming..." "That was the idea," Katie replied, "A fight ain't always Kosher, Marsha, and fighting can often be dirty and underhanded. It ain't all about striking a pose and throwing an attack at somebody, it involves controlling your own power and learning to channel your will so that your body and mind become focused into a single weapon." "Whoah," Cathy murmured from the sideline, "No wonder those other guys were so scared of this lady..." "Fascinating," Heather remarked, "I should every much like to know what style of martial arts you are using..." "It's a style that blends several other styles together," Katie replied, "All of them Japanese. You see, when I was growing up in New York there was this old guy I knew who took an interest in me and...well...it's kind of personal, but it's how I got my start as a fighter." "I would dearly love to hear the full details of your story," Heather remarked, "I dare say that your life would make for some...extremely interesting reading." "Maybe another time," Katie said, "But I know far too many guys who'd rather stay anonymous. Right now I'd prefer to focus on Marsha, and on Phoebe, when she recovers. Since this affects her too, it's long since time that I started giving my Roomie some lessons." "I'm surprised you haven't before," Cathy remarked, "From the sound of things she could have used some lessons." "I offered but she turned me down," Katie replied, "But now I'm gonna have to insist. Of course it's up to you, Marsha. Obviously I can't force you to go along with this, but..." "I would like to learn," Mar-Sa responded, "If learning to fight is what I must do to stay alive and free on this world, and to protect the people of Earth, then I will learn true fighting." "I was counting on you saying that," Katie smiled confidently, "I knew when I saw you attack that ball that you had the guts to be a fighter. Anybody else who got taken out with one shot would have turned tail and run for it instead of risking their ass through another attack. You never even thought about running away, did you?" "Um...no," Mar-Sa replied, "I...was more concerned about Phoebe and the others..." "And that's what defines a true hero," Katie declared, "Your heart was in the right place, now it's time to get your body and brain in gear. You trust too much on instinct, now you have to develop your intuition, and you happen to be talking to the one person on this planet who's got the knowledge and the guts to make you into the perfect fighter. Are you with me?" "Yes," Mar-Sa nodded, "Completely." "So," Katie turned back to regard Mark, "What about you, guy?" "Uh...me?" Mark blinked, "Er, um...that is...I think I hear my mother calling, 'Zak?" "Acknowledged," the probe said, becoming invisible once again. "Marsha," Mark said, "I'll be looking you up again...if you survive this." "Take care, Mark," Mar-Sa smiled, "And thank you for coming to our rescue." "Hey, anytime," Mark 's smile became more lopsided, "What are big brothers for if not looking out for their kid sisters." "Kid sister?" Mar-Sa asked, smiling for some strange reason as she thought that one over. "And where will you go next...Mister Daniels?" Heather smiled. "Call me Action," he urged with a slight wince, "Trust that Ariel guy to go and blow my cover. Well...South America sounds pretty good this time of year, just as long as there's no Feds after my tail. Until next time..." And with that he vanished into a blinding blur, the wind kicking up in his passage, and moments later they saw a streak breaking the surface of the water moving off at a rate that was difficult to imagine. "Lotta Meshugganah in that boy," Katie sniffed, "I wonder if he's Jewish?" "So what does that make you?" Cathy asked, "A Jewish Samurai?" "Something like that," Katie turned back to Heather Holberg, "Now, about what you were offering to pay for both Marsha and Phoebe...sad to say, I've gotta decline, even thought the idea of having my picture taken by Luigi Cozi would sure be a trip." "It would be our loss," Heather assured her, "I will gladly pay the full amount I promised to Ms. Winters. I owe her that much and more for saving the life of my best photographer, a true asset to Playmate Enterprises." "And who says she ain't gonna pose?" Katie countered, "I know Phoebe, she'll be up and raring to go before you know it, and if Luigi himself can manage to stand up long enough to point a camera..." "Are you kidding?" Cathy smiled, "We'd have to tie him down in bed and surgically remove the camera from his fingers." "Then we shall continue with this photo assignment," Heather decided as she turned to regard the expectant faces of her people, "Tell the captain to belay our departure. We will find another location that suits Luigi's tastes and resume filming in the morning." Mar-Sa was amazed as she sensed the wave of jubilation passing through the ranks of these women, and she felt a strange thrill to be a part of such a noble enterprise. Scanning the surface impressions of these people confirmed that none of them had any ill feelings or resentment directed towards her for possibly involving them in an operation that likely have proven fatal had matters turned out any different. She thought about the future that now faced her, of the prospect of having to go up directly against her own people, and the offer that Katie had made to make her stronger for the battle that was to come. She knew the type of resources the Council was likely to mount and knew that the odds were very much against her, but she still had no other choice about it but to become the type of heroine that the people of the planet Earth so desperately needed. She thought of the man named Ariel and the mysterious organization that he apparently worked for, then she thought of the dark man standing atop that strange submersible vessel and the curious feeling that she got whenever she remembered that all-too-brief exchange of glances. Was there indeed another side to this world that was hidden beneath the surface, just as her world was governed by a mysterious band of religious fanatics? It was a more than slightly disturbing concept and it indicated the depth of her innocence concerning the nature of this world that was now both her hope and refuge. And just how had she gotten herself into a situation this complex? She was nothing more than a Third Level Apprentice Technician, hardly more than a post- adolescent refugee cast down from the planet of her birth, somehow gifted with endowments that were beyond her imagination. Already she could sense that the trial was ahead of her would likely test her beyond even her now-expanded limits, but that the end result would be the fulfillment of Kar-Tor's legacy and the vindication of the beliefs had dear by her father and mother. If for nothing else then she had to go on for their sakes, but also because of the friends that she had made on this alien planet, people like Mark, Heather and Phoebe... Phoebe...she smiled as she could sense her beloved friend down below sleeping away with golden memories of saving a life with her own hands. She owed it to Phoebe to see things through to the end, and to insure that they both would have a chance for a life together. It might not entirely seem like it at the moment, but somehow Mar-Sa sensed that something new was opening up for the both of them, and that hope would not be dimmed by the ruthless ambitions of the Council, that there would be a tomorrow where the people of Wolframa, like the people of Earth, could live in the hope of a bright and better world to come. But first she had the rest of her photo-shoot to look forward to, and as she thought on that Mar-Sa found her enthusiasm growing. After all, posing might be hard work but it was also great fun, and with someone as inspirational as Luigi to pose for...well, she and Phoebe both could look forward to some interesting time celebrating their freedom together. And somehow she knew that, somewhere, Kar-Tor would be smiling, for this was surely the future that he had envisioned for their people, the celebration of being alive with all of life's potential, and that thought alone would help her to continue as she honored Kar-Tor's memory by fulfilling the dream that he perished to fulfill, a dream made sacred to her by the noble sacrifice of both of her parents. Mar-Sa would live on in their name and, hopefully one day, give hope to all the benighted people of Wolframa, which she reasoned was an ambition worthy of any super-hero... End Part Two/Book One. MAR-SA, THE ULTRA GIRL will continue in Part Three. Any comments or criticisms: shadowmane@ridgenet.net Jim Robert Bader September 16, 2001 (First Copyrights Only) X Page 190 of 190 Mar-Sa, The Ultra Girl Book One/Part Two by Jim Robert Bader (Chapters 12-19) (First Copyrights Only) Created and Written by Jim Robert Bader, all rights reserved, characters and situations are purely fictitious and are not based on persons living or dead (with the sole exception of Katie, whose voluntary contributions are deeply appreciated). Mar-Sa, the Ultra-Girl, is the creation of Jim Robert Bader with ideas and suggestions provided by his friends and collaborators, Katie Norcross (the REAL Kate Cross) and Bill Guiroff, with additional ideas and suggestions provided by Ed Dear III, who took a liking to Mark Daniels. All rights reserved; the characters and situations here are fictitious and are not intended to depict persons living and dead (other than Katie that is). This is a rough draft, subject to future alterations if I should find a publisher friendly enough to sponsor this series. Any resemblance to copyrighted or trademarked ideas belonging to other authors is purely coincidental. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- If you wish to check out my other works, Please check out my Fanfiction webpage at: http://s11.sexshare.com/~jbader/jimbader.html All related chapters of this series can be found there along with my other works.