Post by johnreiter902 on Jun 15, 2024 1:17:42 GMT
VALKYRA
By aarnathx
Standing before the massive wooden doors, the nervous young woman fought desperately to calm herself. As she paced back and forth, her boots softly clicking on the stone floor, the sentries standing guard on either side of the doors watched her with expressions of mixed sympathy and respect.
Gnawing on her lower lip, the anxious woman briefly toyed with the idea of making a run for it, but swiftly rejected the notion.
>When one is summoned to the royal palace, one does NOT ignore it, < she thought to herself with a smile.
A loud knock from the other side of the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Milady,” one of the sentries announced, snapping to attention. “You will now be admitted into the royal presence.”
Acknowledging the sentry with a nod, the woman took several deep breaths as the massive doors opened with a groan. Striding into the room, she fought down the urge to gawk like a child.
>Get a grip, girl! < Mentally shaking herself, she forced herself to remain on-task. >It’s not like you haven’t been here before! <
The throne room was huge.
Dominating the wall to her right, a roaring fireplace lit the scene. Vast enough to hold a dozen men standing shoulder to shoulder, its light cast dancing shadows everywhere. Around the perimeter of the chamber, wall-mounted iron torches added even more light. A waist-high dais occupied the far end of the room, and atop the dais was the throne. Carved from solid marble, it sat like a hulking monolith, drawing every eye with its commanding presence. But, as impressive as the throne was, the figure occupying the throne and the figure standing next to it made it pale in comparison.
Seated in the throne, the fire’s light glinting off his snow-white beard and hair, the thick-framed man’s expression was unreadable. His ancient armor bore scars and gouges of past battles and his right eye was covered by an eyepatch, yet his left eye was alert and glittered with intelligence. Clutched in his left hand, a massive trident fairly thrummed with power.
Part 2
Beside the throne, the fire’s light reflecting off his equally fiery-red hair, another massively muscled bear of a man glowered at the far wall from behind his bushy beard. His own armor, while not as battered as the king’s, still bore mute testament to the nature of his life. Hanging from his belt, a very large hammer dangled at his side.
Striding across the floor, the woman felt her pulse quicken as she neared the seated figure at the room’s far end.
Dropping to one knee, the woman bowed deeply, her copper-colored hair falling around her face.
“My Liege.”
“Rise, Thurdi,” the King intoned, his deep voice vibrating through her very bones.
Climbing to her feet, Thurdi’s eyes flickered over the brooding figure beside the throne before returning to the king.
“How may I be of service to you, Lord Odin?” Bowing once more, Thurdi’s voice grew strong. “Command me, Sire, and your word shall be done.”
A smile flickered across Odin’s lips. “The loyalty of the House of Thor Odinson has ne’er been in question. Indeed, it is that very loyalty which bade me summon you.” Running a hand over his beard, Odin sipped from a nearby goblet before continuing.
“The ancient edict has been violated, Thurdi,” Odin stated. “A member of the Olympian pantheon has dispatched one of his progeny to the mortal plane in DIRECT violation of the pact.”
“The Olympians DARE violate the sacred pact?” Thurdi’s voice bristled with anger. “The law forbidding ANY deity from the mortal plane has remained inviolate for over a millennia!”
Odin nodded. “Yet it has been broken nonetheless.”
“Who has broken it?”
“Ares,” the red-bearded giant growled.
Thurdi glanced to him, her eyes puzzled.
Odin chuckled softly. “My son, Thor, is angry that HE has not been tasked with retrieving Ares’ spawn.”
Thurdi’s brow knit. “My Liege, wouldn’t the Olympian pantheon be tasked with that?”
“No,” Odin stated. “The All-Fathers of the myriad pantheons convened to discuss what would be done, and it was decided that we of the Norse pantheon would handle this matter.”
Thor snorted, scuffing his boot across the tiled floor.
Odin raised an eyebrow. “You disagree, my son?”
Thor nodded. “Aye, Father. It is NOT Ares’ offspring that needs attending to. It is Ares HIMSELF that needs to be dealt with!”
Part 3
“And he shall be,” Odin agreed. “But, since Ares has not left Olympus, he shall be dealt with by Zeus.”
Thor patted his hammer affectionately. “My way would be swifter, Father.”
“YOUR way would lead us to war,” Odin countered.
“Your pardon, Sire,” Thurdi interjected. As Odin turned back to her, she held up her hands imploringly. “Why have I been summoned?”
Odin smiled. “I have decided that it shall be YOU who travels to the mortal plane to deal with Ares’ offspring.”
Thurdi’s eyes widened. “Me?” At Odin’s nod, Thurdi felt the blood drain from her face. “B-But wouldn’t one of my brothers be a more-”
“The giants have renewed their aggressions,” Odin explained. “Your brothers, as well as Thor himself, are sorely needed here in Asgard. Besides,” he added, his voice softening. “It is NOT the death of Ares’ spawn we seek- merely her containment.”
“’Her?’ It’s a woman?”
“Her name is Medea,” Odin said. “She is the product of the union of Ares and the Amazon leader, Antiope.”
“So, she is a demi-god?”
Odin nodded. “And that is where Ares believed he could circumvent the pact.” Lifting his great frame from the throne, Odin made a small motion to the sentries by the door before looking back to Thurdi. “Your task in the mortal plane will be to counter Medea’s machinations to foment war among the mortals. To aid you in this endeavor, I commissioned the dwarven blacksmiths, Brok and Etri, to create a gift for you.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Thurdi saw her father’s face break into a wide grin beneath his beard.
Turning at the sound of footsteps behind her, Thurdi’s eyes widened in awe at the sight of four burly guards bearing a litter between them. Atop the litter sat an oak chest banded in iron. Setting their burden down in front of her, the guards bowed to Odin and withdrew.
Part 4
Descending the dais stairs, Thor stood beside his daughter, Odin taking a stand on the opposite side. As the Asgardian monarch placed his hand on the chest, a brilliant corona of energy engulfed it before fading. Grunting in satisfaction, Odin smiled at her.
“Open it,” he urged.
With a shaking hand, Thurdi lifted the lid of the chest. Inside, nestled in velvet, sat a massive warhammer identical to her father’s. Beside it, twin steel-shod gauntlets as well as a belt of beaten steel overlaid with silver glimmered in the soft light.
Thurdi met Odin’s gaze, a wide smile across the King’s face.
“M-My Lord?”
“Think of it as… an early birthday present, Granddaughter,” the Asgardian Lord chuckled. “While these gifts might not be quite as powerful as your father’s, still they do not fall very short of them.”
Turning to her father, Thurdi’s eyebrows rose at Thor’s beaming expression.
“It was MY idea, daughter,” he explained. “After all, it would be the height of foolishness to send you after Medea empty handed. Your mother would have my head if I did.”
Reaching into the chest, Thurdi gently caressed the warhammer with trembling fingers.
“Well? Go on,” Odin insisted. “They’re yours now. Put them on.”
Donning the belt and gauntlets, Thurdi lifted the hammer, feeling the power flood through her.
Part 5
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Odin’s expression turned serious. “You have been tasked with a most important mission, Granddaughter. I must depart to oversee other matters, so your father shall complete your briefing.” Smiling at her, Odin nodded. “Good hunting, Thurdi.”
Placing his own hand on her shoulder, Thor’s own expression turned grim as he led his daughter out of the hall. “Medea has allied herself with several mortals of great power,” he said. “Beware of them, daughter.”
“I will, father.”
“The hammer’s powers are similar to my own hammer’s,” he continued, motioning to Thurdi’s weapon. “To properly wield it, you MUST also wear the gauntlets and belt. Be wary of attempting to wield the hammer without them.”
“I understand, father,” Thurdi replied absently, her eyes remaining fixed on the hammer in her hand.
“So long as you wear the gauntlets, the hammer shall return to your hand whenever it is thrown at an enemy,” Thor continued, his eyes narrowing slightly at his daughter’s inattention. “The belt, like my own, doubles your strength and allows you to more effectively use the hammer.”
Thurdi, absorbed in her examination of the hammer, merely nodded.
As the pair continued walking, Thor stopped in his tracks. Thurdi, wrapped up in her own little world, continued on for several steps before her father’s absence registered on her. Turning to face him, Thurdi’s heart skipped a beat when she realized how angry he was.
“Thurdi, I love you like no other of my children,” Thor rumbled. “You are my only daughter, and the youngest of my progeny. And as such, I allow you latitude I grant no other. But your inattentive attitude tries even MY patience, child!”
Hooking the hammer onto her belt, Thurdi nodded solemnly. “Forgive me, father. I meant no disrespect.”
Glaring at her a few moments longer, Thor finally allowed a smile to break through his angry demeanor. “’Tis all right, daughter. I well understand your draw to the weapon. I felt it myself when I first received MINE.” Patting the hammer at his side affectionately, the red-bearded giant of a man chuckled. “But do NOT let it distract you, Thurdi, from your mission.”
“I won’t, father.”
Laughing boisterously, Thor clapped her on the shoulder, leading her off.
“Let me tell you some of the OTHER abilities your marvelous hammer has, my dear.”
Part 6
CENTROPOLIS, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER
Striding across the rubble, sweat streaming down her brow, Thurdi tightened her grip on the hammer’s handle as Superwoman advanced towards her once more.
>So much for keeping a low profile, < the Asgardian goddess thought to herself. >Or for not directly confronting Medea! <
Breathing heavily herself, the Amazon warrior’s eyes narrowed in concentration as a beam of heat-vision lashed out at her adversary.
Swiftly raising the hammer, Thurdi deflected the lethal beams, causing them to rip into a building to her right. As soon as Superwoman’s assault tapered off, Thurdi leapt towards her, swinging her hammer with a grunt of effort.
Barely ducking the attack, Superwoman drove her fists upwards into Thurdi’s midsection, knocking the breath from her.
Despite the frantic need for air, Thurdi’s anger thundered in her ears as she continued the arc of the hammer around, bringing it up and around her head, delivering a tremendous blow to Superwoman’s shoulder.
>This is insane, < Superwoman thought to herself, cradling her wounded arm. Mentally snarling at fate for forcing her to do this, she slapped her Syndicate signal device as she launched herself into the air, trying to gain a moment’s respite.
Grabbing Superwoman by the cape, the enraged Asgardian goddess threw her foe to the ground and stood over her, hammer raised.
“I am Thurdi, daughter of Thor,” she screamed, delivering a tremendous blow to Medea’s abdomen.
>WHAM<
“…Heir to the throne of Asgard…”
>WHAM<
“…Granddaughter of Lord Odin…”
>WHAM<
“…I ride alongside the Valkyrie…”
>WHAM<
“…And I shall brook NO insolence from the likes of YOU!”
>WHAM<
Gazing down at the unconscious Amazon, Thurdi’s eyes blazed with near berserker rage. Slowly, savoring the moment, the Asgardian goddess lifted her hammer high, preparing to deliver the final blow.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.”
Part 7
Spinning to face the voice, her hammer held at the ready, Thurdi’s expression turned suspicious. “Who are YOU to tell me what I may or may not do?”
“Alexander Luthor,” the bald man in green and purple armor stated, holding out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
When Thurdi ignored the proffered hand, Alex cleared his throat self-consciously. “Right, well what she did was to call the remainder of the Crime Syndicate,” Luthor explained. “As powerful as you obviously are, I doubt you’ll stand much of a chance against ALL of them.”
“You might be surprised, mortal,” Thurdi stated defiantly.
“I agree, I might at that,” Alex conceded. “But, you have to ask yourself a question: are you willing to take that chance?”
A soft pinging sounded from Alex’s gauntlet, drawing a curse from him. Meeting the warrior woman’s eyes, Alex shrugged. “That, my dear, was a proximity sensor. It means that the remaining Crime Syndicate is no more than three minutes away from us. You now have TWO choices. One is to stay here, fight them, and probably die. The second is to come with me in my ship, leave here NOW, and live.” Holding out a hand imploringly, the scientist’s eyes became hopeful. “I can take you to meet others like yourself; others who feel the same way as you do.”
Hesitating a moment, Thurdi finally nodded reluctantly. “Very well, mortal. I shall accompany you.”
***************
Hours later, as the construction crews began removing the debris, one man nudged his partner in the arm.
“That redhead babe- y’know, the one that was fighting Superwoman? What’d she call herself? Did you hear?”
“Something like ‘Valkyra,’ I think,” the second man said.
“Who cares WHAT she called herself- you see the rack on her?” Smiling lewdly, the first man rolled his eyes. “I tell ya, if I had ten minutes alone with her-”
“…It’d be nine minutes longer than you’d NEED,” the second man finished, laughing boisterously.
Gesturing rudely to his partner, the first man turned back to clearing out the remaining debris, wondering how much trouble he’d get in if an ‘accident’ befell his partner.
-To be continued in THE GATHERING STORM-
By aarnathx
Standing before the massive wooden doors, the nervous young woman fought desperately to calm herself. As she paced back and forth, her boots softly clicking on the stone floor, the sentries standing guard on either side of the doors watched her with expressions of mixed sympathy and respect.
Gnawing on her lower lip, the anxious woman briefly toyed with the idea of making a run for it, but swiftly rejected the notion.
>When one is summoned to the royal palace, one does NOT ignore it, < she thought to herself with a smile.
A loud knock from the other side of the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Milady,” one of the sentries announced, snapping to attention. “You will now be admitted into the royal presence.”
Acknowledging the sentry with a nod, the woman took several deep breaths as the massive doors opened with a groan. Striding into the room, she fought down the urge to gawk like a child.
>Get a grip, girl! < Mentally shaking herself, she forced herself to remain on-task. >It’s not like you haven’t been here before! <
The throne room was huge.
Dominating the wall to her right, a roaring fireplace lit the scene. Vast enough to hold a dozen men standing shoulder to shoulder, its light cast dancing shadows everywhere. Around the perimeter of the chamber, wall-mounted iron torches added even more light. A waist-high dais occupied the far end of the room, and atop the dais was the throne. Carved from solid marble, it sat like a hulking monolith, drawing every eye with its commanding presence. But, as impressive as the throne was, the figure occupying the throne and the figure standing next to it made it pale in comparison.
Seated in the throne, the fire’s light glinting off his snow-white beard and hair, the thick-framed man’s expression was unreadable. His ancient armor bore scars and gouges of past battles and his right eye was covered by an eyepatch, yet his left eye was alert and glittered with intelligence. Clutched in his left hand, a massive trident fairly thrummed with power.
Part 2
Beside the throne, the fire’s light reflecting off his equally fiery-red hair, another massively muscled bear of a man glowered at the far wall from behind his bushy beard. His own armor, while not as battered as the king’s, still bore mute testament to the nature of his life. Hanging from his belt, a very large hammer dangled at his side.
Striding across the floor, the woman felt her pulse quicken as she neared the seated figure at the room’s far end.
Dropping to one knee, the woman bowed deeply, her copper-colored hair falling around her face.
“My Liege.”
“Rise, Thurdi,” the King intoned, his deep voice vibrating through her very bones.
Climbing to her feet, Thurdi’s eyes flickered over the brooding figure beside the throne before returning to the king.
“How may I be of service to you, Lord Odin?” Bowing once more, Thurdi’s voice grew strong. “Command me, Sire, and your word shall be done.”
A smile flickered across Odin’s lips. “The loyalty of the House of Thor Odinson has ne’er been in question. Indeed, it is that very loyalty which bade me summon you.” Running a hand over his beard, Odin sipped from a nearby goblet before continuing.
“The ancient edict has been violated, Thurdi,” Odin stated. “A member of the Olympian pantheon has dispatched one of his progeny to the mortal plane in DIRECT violation of the pact.”
“The Olympians DARE violate the sacred pact?” Thurdi’s voice bristled with anger. “The law forbidding ANY deity from the mortal plane has remained inviolate for over a millennia!”
Odin nodded. “Yet it has been broken nonetheless.”
“Who has broken it?”
“Ares,” the red-bearded giant growled.
Thurdi glanced to him, her eyes puzzled.
Odin chuckled softly. “My son, Thor, is angry that HE has not been tasked with retrieving Ares’ spawn.”
Thurdi’s brow knit. “My Liege, wouldn’t the Olympian pantheon be tasked with that?”
“No,” Odin stated. “The All-Fathers of the myriad pantheons convened to discuss what would be done, and it was decided that we of the Norse pantheon would handle this matter.”
Thor snorted, scuffing his boot across the tiled floor.
Odin raised an eyebrow. “You disagree, my son?”
Thor nodded. “Aye, Father. It is NOT Ares’ offspring that needs attending to. It is Ares HIMSELF that needs to be dealt with!”
Part 3
“And he shall be,” Odin agreed. “But, since Ares has not left Olympus, he shall be dealt with by Zeus.”
Thor patted his hammer affectionately. “My way would be swifter, Father.”
“YOUR way would lead us to war,” Odin countered.
“Your pardon, Sire,” Thurdi interjected. As Odin turned back to her, she held up her hands imploringly. “Why have I been summoned?”
Odin smiled. “I have decided that it shall be YOU who travels to the mortal plane to deal with Ares’ offspring.”
Thurdi’s eyes widened. “Me?” At Odin’s nod, Thurdi felt the blood drain from her face. “B-But wouldn’t one of my brothers be a more-”
“The giants have renewed their aggressions,” Odin explained. “Your brothers, as well as Thor himself, are sorely needed here in Asgard. Besides,” he added, his voice softening. “It is NOT the death of Ares’ spawn we seek- merely her containment.”
“’Her?’ It’s a woman?”
“Her name is Medea,” Odin said. “She is the product of the union of Ares and the Amazon leader, Antiope.”
“So, she is a demi-god?”
Odin nodded. “And that is where Ares believed he could circumvent the pact.” Lifting his great frame from the throne, Odin made a small motion to the sentries by the door before looking back to Thurdi. “Your task in the mortal plane will be to counter Medea’s machinations to foment war among the mortals. To aid you in this endeavor, I commissioned the dwarven blacksmiths, Brok and Etri, to create a gift for you.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Thurdi saw her father’s face break into a wide grin beneath his beard.
Turning at the sound of footsteps behind her, Thurdi’s eyes widened in awe at the sight of four burly guards bearing a litter between them. Atop the litter sat an oak chest banded in iron. Setting their burden down in front of her, the guards bowed to Odin and withdrew.
Part 4
Descending the dais stairs, Thor stood beside his daughter, Odin taking a stand on the opposite side. As the Asgardian monarch placed his hand on the chest, a brilliant corona of energy engulfed it before fading. Grunting in satisfaction, Odin smiled at her.
“Open it,” he urged.
With a shaking hand, Thurdi lifted the lid of the chest. Inside, nestled in velvet, sat a massive warhammer identical to her father’s. Beside it, twin steel-shod gauntlets as well as a belt of beaten steel overlaid with silver glimmered in the soft light.
Thurdi met Odin’s gaze, a wide smile across the King’s face.
“M-My Lord?”
“Think of it as… an early birthday present, Granddaughter,” the Asgardian Lord chuckled. “While these gifts might not be quite as powerful as your father’s, still they do not fall very short of them.”
Turning to her father, Thurdi’s eyebrows rose at Thor’s beaming expression.
“It was MY idea, daughter,” he explained. “After all, it would be the height of foolishness to send you after Medea empty handed. Your mother would have my head if I did.”
Reaching into the chest, Thurdi gently caressed the warhammer with trembling fingers.
“Well? Go on,” Odin insisted. “They’re yours now. Put them on.”
Donning the belt and gauntlets, Thurdi lifted the hammer, feeling the power flood through her.
Part 5
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Odin’s expression turned serious. “You have been tasked with a most important mission, Granddaughter. I must depart to oversee other matters, so your father shall complete your briefing.” Smiling at her, Odin nodded. “Good hunting, Thurdi.”
Placing his own hand on her shoulder, Thor’s own expression turned grim as he led his daughter out of the hall. “Medea has allied herself with several mortals of great power,” he said. “Beware of them, daughter.”
“I will, father.”
“The hammer’s powers are similar to my own hammer’s,” he continued, motioning to Thurdi’s weapon. “To properly wield it, you MUST also wear the gauntlets and belt. Be wary of attempting to wield the hammer without them.”
“I understand, father,” Thurdi replied absently, her eyes remaining fixed on the hammer in her hand.
“So long as you wear the gauntlets, the hammer shall return to your hand whenever it is thrown at an enemy,” Thor continued, his eyes narrowing slightly at his daughter’s inattention. “The belt, like my own, doubles your strength and allows you to more effectively use the hammer.”
Thurdi, absorbed in her examination of the hammer, merely nodded.
As the pair continued walking, Thor stopped in his tracks. Thurdi, wrapped up in her own little world, continued on for several steps before her father’s absence registered on her. Turning to face him, Thurdi’s heart skipped a beat when she realized how angry he was.
“Thurdi, I love you like no other of my children,” Thor rumbled. “You are my only daughter, and the youngest of my progeny. And as such, I allow you latitude I grant no other. But your inattentive attitude tries even MY patience, child!”
Hooking the hammer onto her belt, Thurdi nodded solemnly. “Forgive me, father. I meant no disrespect.”
Glaring at her a few moments longer, Thor finally allowed a smile to break through his angry demeanor. “’Tis all right, daughter. I well understand your draw to the weapon. I felt it myself when I first received MINE.” Patting the hammer at his side affectionately, the red-bearded giant of a man chuckled. “But do NOT let it distract you, Thurdi, from your mission.”
“I won’t, father.”
Laughing boisterously, Thor clapped her on the shoulder, leading her off.
“Let me tell you some of the OTHER abilities your marvelous hammer has, my dear.”
Part 6
CENTROPOLIS, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER
Striding across the rubble, sweat streaming down her brow, Thurdi tightened her grip on the hammer’s handle as Superwoman advanced towards her once more.
>So much for keeping a low profile, < the Asgardian goddess thought to herself. >Or for not directly confronting Medea! <
Breathing heavily herself, the Amazon warrior’s eyes narrowed in concentration as a beam of heat-vision lashed out at her adversary.
Swiftly raising the hammer, Thurdi deflected the lethal beams, causing them to rip into a building to her right. As soon as Superwoman’s assault tapered off, Thurdi leapt towards her, swinging her hammer with a grunt of effort.
Barely ducking the attack, Superwoman drove her fists upwards into Thurdi’s midsection, knocking the breath from her.
Despite the frantic need for air, Thurdi’s anger thundered in her ears as she continued the arc of the hammer around, bringing it up and around her head, delivering a tremendous blow to Superwoman’s shoulder.
>This is insane, < Superwoman thought to herself, cradling her wounded arm. Mentally snarling at fate for forcing her to do this, she slapped her Syndicate signal device as she launched herself into the air, trying to gain a moment’s respite.
Grabbing Superwoman by the cape, the enraged Asgardian goddess threw her foe to the ground and stood over her, hammer raised.
“I am Thurdi, daughter of Thor,” she screamed, delivering a tremendous blow to Medea’s abdomen.
>WHAM<
“…Heir to the throne of Asgard…”
>WHAM<
“…Granddaughter of Lord Odin…”
>WHAM<
“…I ride alongside the Valkyrie…”
>WHAM<
“…And I shall brook NO insolence from the likes of YOU!”
>WHAM<
Gazing down at the unconscious Amazon, Thurdi’s eyes blazed with near berserker rage. Slowly, savoring the moment, the Asgardian goddess lifted her hammer high, preparing to deliver the final blow.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.”
Part 7
Spinning to face the voice, her hammer held at the ready, Thurdi’s expression turned suspicious. “Who are YOU to tell me what I may or may not do?”
“Alexander Luthor,” the bald man in green and purple armor stated, holding out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
When Thurdi ignored the proffered hand, Alex cleared his throat self-consciously. “Right, well what she did was to call the remainder of the Crime Syndicate,” Luthor explained. “As powerful as you obviously are, I doubt you’ll stand much of a chance against ALL of them.”
“You might be surprised, mortal,” Thurdi stated defiantly.
“I agree, I might at that,” Alex conceded. “But, you have to ask yourself a question: are you willing to take that chance?”
A soft pinging sounded from Alex’s gauntlet, drawing a curse from him. Meeting the warrior woman’s eyes, Alex shrugged. “That, my dear, was a proximity sensor. It means that the remaining Crime Syndicate is no more than three minutes away from us. You now have TWO choices. One is to stay here, fight them, and probably die. The second is to come with me in my ship, leave here NOW, and live.” Holding out a hand imploringly, the scientist’s eyes became hopeful. “I can take you to meet others like yourself; others who feel the same way as you do.”
Hesitating a moment, Thurdi finally nodded reluctantly. “Very well, mortal. I shall accompany you.”
***************
Hours later, as the construction crews began removing the debris, one man nudged his partner in the arm.
“That redhead babe- y’know, the one that was fighting Superwoman? What’d she call herself? Did you hear?”
“Something like ‘Valkyra,’ I think,” the second man said.
“Who cares WHAT she called herself- you see the rack on her?” Smiling lewdly, the first man rolled his eyes. “I tell ya, if I had ten minutes alone with her-”
“…It’d be nine minutes longer than you’d NEED,” the second man finished, laughing boisterously.
Gesturing rudely to his partner, the first man turned back to clearing out the remaining debris, wondering how much trouble he’d get in if an ‘accident’ befell his partner.
-To be continued in THE GATHERING STORM-