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Issue One – Origins
Prologue
“Happy birthday baby!” Brad said, tugging her shirt off eagerly.
Starling Chase giggled, more than a little nervous. Instinct made her cross her arms over her chest, covering the lacy black bra she was wearing. Tossing her shirt on the floor, Brad leaned over and began kissing her. The girl returned the kisses, parting her soft lips to allow his thick, warm tongue into her mouth, meeting it with her own, just the way he had taught her. One big hand slid up her back, tangling fingers into her thick red hair and sending a shiver down her spine.
They were in the front seat of Brad’s hot rod, parked at the old rock quarry just outside of town. Starling had been dating Brad for about six months, looking forward to this night with nervous anticipation. He was quite a bit older than she was—not an old man or anything, but out of college, old enough that he had insisted they wait to have sex until she turned eighteen. Until this night.
Pushing her arms apart with his free hand, Brad began to grope at her plump round breasts, caressing them over the thin lacy bra. Starling felt a nervous titter dance down her chest and into her stomach. His grip tightened in her hair and he kissed her a little more deeply. His musky scent filled her nose and nearly set her head spinning. Her heart began to thump, feeling him sliding the straps of her bra off her shoulders, then slowly pulling down the cups to expose her boobs. Instinctively her hands moved to cover them, but this time Brad swatted them away immediately, grabbing a handful of her milky white bulbs.
Goosebumps rippled across her porcelain skin, feeling his rough palm cupping and squeezing her breasts. Icy tingles danced through her chest, and her sensitive pink nipples quickly stood up on end. Brad immediately began to toy with the hard little nubs. Starling couldn’t help but moan softly into his mouth as they kissed.
Hearing her, Brad broke away and grinned. “You like this? Excited already?”
Starling made no reply, pulling him back to her lips. “Like” and “excited” weren’t exactly the words she would use. She was suddenly realizing what a comfortable little bubble she had slipped into with Brad. Because he had been the one refraining from sex, she had been able to relax and not even think about it. Now it was as if all the pressure she’d avoided for six months was crashing over her all at once. In addition, she began to remember just how many of their conversations had revolved around this night, how much Brad had been looking forward to fucking her. Did she even have a choice at this point? Would he understand if she wanted to wait a little longer?
Of course not, the young girl thought, feeling him untangling from her hair so that he could fondle her boobs properly … with both hands!
Starling glanced out the window wistfully, as Brad laid her back in the seat. She reached up to touch his arms and shoulders, trying to relax but finding herself unable. Soon his hand found its way down to her leg, sliding up her smooth inner thigh. She had worn a tight miniskirt, just as he liked, and he wasted no time reaching under it to stroke the lace covered mound between her thighs.
The butterflies in her stomach were doing a frantic dance. Why was she so nervous? This wasn’t her first time, after all. Her first time with a real man maybe … maybe this time would be enjoyable … maybe if she actually wanted to … except that she didn’t, not really…
Starling gasped in surprise as Brad pushed aside her panties and ran his fingers along her prim, hairless slit sending a bolt of electricity racing through her brain, scrambling her thoughts.
“Mmmm, smooth and shaved,” he whispered in her ear. “Good girl!” He punctuated the throaty compliment by nipping at her earlobe.
Starling trembled, looking up at him with big doe eyes as his fingers wiggled into her soft pussy lips. She couldn’t tell him no; something deep inside her desperately sought his approval. That’s why she was here in the first place, wasn’t it? To earn the validation of an older man, a girl had to play like an older woman, right?
Feeling herself getting wet despite her trepidation, Starling spread her legs and moaned like a good little whore. She reached down and grabbed Brad’s crotch, feeling his manhood already swollen and rigid. She bit and sucked at his neck, trying to get the front of his pants open. He continued to finger her moist pussy lips, spreading them open to find her clit and beginning to toy with the hot little nub. The girl squirmed, gasping, and meanwhile finally liberated his cock from its denim prison!
It felt so big, thick and veiny in her dainty little fingers. Starling began to stroke it, then pushed him back in his seat and leaned forward. In the meager moonlight pouring through the windshield she caught a glimpse of his member, and her stomach did a back flip. He was so big, he would never fit inside her! Would he?
Still, she gripped him with both hands, stroking slowly. Brad groaned, leaning back with an approving grin on his face. Starling looked at him, licking her lips in her best attempt at playing the part of sultry temptress. Then she leaned down and kissed the tip of his dick. Instantly a pearly bead of precum appeared, and she licked it off.
“There’s my little slut!” Brad groaned. “Don’t tease, suck it!”
Starling didn’t particularly like being called that, but he never meant it meanly, just playfully. Besides, a blow job she could handle; she had done that plenty of times. Of course, this would only be a stalling tactic, and soon he would expect …
But the girl put that out of her mind once more and wrapped her lips around his engorged cock. She slid as far down his shaft as she could, only gagging a little bit. She began to bob and suck, running her tongue along his length as she did. Soon his cock was slick with her saliva and white hot, twitching in her hands and mouth. She grasped his balls gently with one hand, rolling them sensually between her fingers, savoring the tremble that rolled through Brad’s body as she did. Starling sucked eagerly, beginning to work his shaft more firmly.
Maybe if I make him cum like this, she thought, then he won’t have to fuck me after all!
His hand coiled into her thick red mane once more, while the other reached down to grab one of her dangling D-cups. Squeezing her plump round bulb, he began to guide her rhythm with a handful of hair. Starling followed his lead, hoping to keep his cock in her mouth as long as possible.
Feeling him trembling in her mouth, she could sense he was on the verge of cumming. Starling felt a little swell of power. She teased, licked and squeezed, savoring the control she had at that moment. She could make him cum at any time, or hold him on the verge. He was putty in her hands … er, mouth.
Maybe this wouldn’t be bad after all … maybe I can trust Brad.
Suddenly, light flooded through the back window, and the sound of tires on gravel made Starling jump back in panic. Brad looked over at her with unsatisfied expectation.
“Somebody’s here!” Starling gasped, tugging her bra back into place and fumbling about for her blouse.
Brad glanced out the window and grinned. “Looks like your surprise party is here.”
“What!?” the girl was completely befuddled.
Brad tucked himself back into his pants and got out of the car. Starling’s heart began to sink, and a cold feeling crept into her stomach. Outside she heard doors opening and closing and men’s voices. What was going on?
“Star, come on out here, it’s alright,” she heard Brad shouting.
Her knees were practically knocking together as she got out of the car, struggling back into her shirt and wiping her mouth. Brad was standing with a group of guys, three other men. A couple of them were familiar; she’d met them before, but their names completely escaped her at the moment.
“Don’t be shy,” Brad urged. “Come say ‘hi’!”
“Brad, what’s going on?” Starling asked, reluctant to get any closer.
“Aw, we just wanna wish you happy birthday, girly!” shouted one of them.
“Yeah,” slurred another. “We got presents …”
Starling took a few steps back. Even at that distance she could smell alcohol wafting off them. Brad walked over to her, his arm slithering around her waist as he pulled her towards the group.
“It’s okay, baby,” he said. “They just want to celebrate your birthday with you.”
“But- but I thought it was just going to be you and me,” she replied.
“I promised you a wild night, didn’t I?” he said. “It’s your first night as a woman, so I thought you might want to spend it with some real men.”
“Brad, what do you mean?!” She pulled away from him.
Suddenly one of the other men was there, putting his arm around her narrow shoulders. “He means,” the man began, “We’re going to break you in properly … together.”
“Not on your life!” Starling gasped, pushing away from the other man and inadvertently positioning herself to be surrounded.
“Come on, Star,” Brad said. “You’ve talked such a big game this whole time, don’t tell me you’re really just another high school tease?”
Starling could not swallow the sudden lump in her throat. She’d said and done a lot of things to impress Brad. She had so desperately wanted him to think she was cool and mature and daring. The truth was, she was just an inexperienced little girl seeking the attentions of a cool, older guy. Regardless, this wasn’t part of the deal!
“I- I don’t … and I didn’t …” she stammered, beginning to realize she was surrounded. “Whatever I said, I didn’t mean this, Brad!”
He grinned, but it wasn’t a warm expression, more taunting. “It’s okay to be nervous, but you’ll like it. You’re that kind of girl …”
Starling stepped back. “What does that mean?”
“You’re a slut, Star.”
“I am not!” she gasped. This time he’d meant it precisely.
“Sure what it sounded like to us!” one of the others laughed.
“Star,” Brad chuckled. “You snuck out on your birthday, in the middle of the night, to be with a man more than a decade older than you … you’re a slut.”
“I can’t believe you’d say that to me,” Starling snapped, feeling tears welling up. “You can take me home now!”
“I will … just as soon as your party’s over …”
“Not on your life!” she growled.
All four men came towards her suddenly, and Starling screamed in panic! The man beside Brad reached out, and instinctively the young girl lunged, swiping one hand like a claw! Her nails slashed at his face, doing little actual damage, but he swore and lurched back out of range. This opened a hole in the group, and Starling dashed through it!
“Shit! Get her!” Brad shouted.
She wasn’t really paying attention to where she ran, more focused on the rumble of the four men chasing her. She was in heels, scraping precariously through the gravel, and a cold tightness gripped her at the realization she’d never be able to reach any kind of speed. Behind her the men were all shouting, but through the tears and panic and noise of her flight, Starling could only manage to make out three words: “stop”, “wait” and “ledge.”
Then before she could even process those words, the ground was crumbling away beneath her feet. For a moment the young redhead felt weightless, floating, and then came the sudden sickening lurch as she began to fall. In her panic, she had run straight off the high outcropping and was now plummeting, presumably to her death, into the old rock quarry.
For some reason, in that moment she thought of the pretty, ivory dove statue her mother had given her when she was little. It had belonged to her father before he died, and that had made it extra special to the young girl. Even in that instant Starling could picture it perfectly, sitting on her dresser back in her room. Wouldn’t it be nice to be a dove, to spread her wings and fly away … fly away from the men on the cliff … fly away from all the bad decisions that had brought her to the old quarry with Brad … fly away from the painful landing rushing up to meet her … wouldn’t that be nice?
Suddenly she felt a surge of energy coursing through her entire body, like a burst of adrenaline. Everything seemed to slow down, and then … was she falling up … no, not falling … flying! Starling flew straight up into the night sky! She could hear the men below, and when she glanced back, they were all peering over the ledge in horror, no doubt looking for her broken, bloody body at the bottom of the cliff. Had they not seen her? Would they have believed their eyes if they had?
Could Starling believe it herself? Was she really flying? How was this possible? Yet, in the back of her mind, it seemed perfectly natural. It was the statue, of course, that pretty ivory dove. She had always known it was more than just simple decoration, although she had often discounted such thinking as childish imagination.
Controlling the flight came instantly and naturally to the young girl. In fact, she felt completely liberated for the first time in her life. She soared through the cool night, high above the small city where she lived with her mother. Everything looked so small from this high up, almost vulnerable. She couldn’t explain it exactly, but looking down on things from this perspective, she began to feel a sort of responsibility. It seemed as if for the first time, she could see the big picture instead of just her own sad little snapshot, that of a girl with no father, raised by her reclusive, paranoid mother.
Feeling a strange new sense of clarity, Starling turned towards home. Floating down into the backyard, not thinking what might happen if anyone saw her, she scrambled back in through her window.
There was the dove statue, on her dresser just as she’d pictured it, only the little emeralds it had for eyes were now glowing brightly. Starling didn’t know how any of this was possible. Could she even tell anyone, or would they just think she was crazy? The only thing she did know, was that her life would never be the same!
Chapter One
"Hurry up, Blockhead!"
"I almost got it."
"We 'almost' gon' get caught, hurry up!"
"Shut up, Rocky!"
"Both of you shut up and pop the damn lock already," Brick growled, his patience growing thinner by the moment.
There was a grunt of exertion, a metallic screech of steel on steel, and finally the deadbolt popping as it broke open. The three men glanced at each other excitedly as the rear door to the Warden City Blood Bank swung open.
"Alright, let's make this quick and clean!" Brick told the other two. "My guy will pay well for any lab equipment we can get him, but not if its busted, so be careful!"
"Always good advice!" shouted a woman's voice behind them. "But it may be too late for that!"
Brick whirled around to see a deliciously feminine figure standing on top of the trunk of their getaway car. Somehow she had snuck up on them without making a sound! As she stood before the three criminals, they drank in the sight before them, unable to keep their mouths from dropping open.
She was wearing a pair of golden high heeled boots, which came to about mid-calf, glittering even in the meager light of the alley. The rest of her long, shapely legs were bare, all the way up to where a pair of pure white bikini-style briefs clung to her curvaceous hips. Above them, a gold belt was wrapped around her trim little waist, and a white bustier fit skintight over the supple curves of a pair of perfect breasts. There was a golden bird design emblazoned over her right breast. Her soft, bare shoulders fed into firm, slender arms, with golden bracelets encircling each wrist. She had bright red hair, which fell past those rounded shoulders in thick wavy tresses, framing a face that was clearly beautiful, despite being partially obscured by a mask. The mask was also white, with feathers around the edges, and outlined two glittering green eyes.
"Where the hell did you come from?" Brick asked. “You better not be scratching my paint job, bitch! Just who the hell are you anyway?”
"Just a concerned citizen, but you can call me the Scarlet Dove!" she declared, planting her hands on her sexy hips and giving her red mane a pointed toss. "Now tell me, why would you idiots be breaking into the blood bank?"
“That’s our business, girly,” said Rocky. “Now get the hell outa here!”
"Or better yet, stay and make a donation!" threatened the one called Blockhead, brandishing a metal crowbar. "Gallons worth!"
“You guys sure are thick,” the Scarlet Dove shook her head. “I’m a superheroine, here to send you to jail!”
The men all laughed!
“Superheroine??” Brick guffawed. “Blockhead, teach this bitch a lesson!”
The thug lunged forward, swinging the long crowbar overhand at the spandex clad beauty.
"Wait! Not the paint job!" Brick gasped as the crowbar slammed down on the trunk of the car.
The Scarlet Dove had already leaped gracefully upward, and with incredible agility turned a perfect midair cartwheel above the weapon’s arc and over her attacker’s head. She landed nimbly behind him, and as Blockhead turned to face her, she whipped one of her gorgeous gams in a high kick, catching him square in the temple! He dropped the crowbar, clutching the side of his head, clearly dazed. Lightning quick, the heroine slugged him on the chin and he crumpled against the car, groaning.
“Now, are you two ready to surrender?” the crimson haired girl asked, turning back to face them with her deceptively dainty fists clenched. "Or do you all want to spend your jail time explaining how you were beaten up by a girl?"
Brick glanced at Rocky and shouted, "Don't just stand there; get her!"
Wide-eyed, the thug nodded and charged with a big looping right hook. The heroine ducked, doing perfect splits, letting the man stumble past her. She came up gracefully, spinning on him and bringing up her leg in a high side kick. Her golden boot nailed him right in the throat, causing him to pitch back against the car, coughing. The Scarlet Dove turned right into a wicked roundhouse kick, knocking the thug clean off his feet!
While her back was turned, Brick leapt towards the heroine. He grabbed her skinny wrist and twisted harshly before she could react. The woman squealed in pain and surprise, trying to turn towards him and pull her arm loose. Before she could, Brick's free hand slammed across her jaw, spinning her around and dropping her to the ground.
"Silly little bitch," the thug growled, looming over her. "Is that all you got?"
He kicked her in the ribs, hard enough to knock the breath out of her. Then he bent over, grabbing her arm and a fistful of that thick crimson mane. He hauled her back up and threw her curvy little body against the back of the getaway car. She hit with a groan, her long legs sagging weakly. Brick cracked his knuckles, and came forward to finish her off.
Then just as he got within arm’s reach, the heroine lunged forward and planted something on his chest. It was a small golden pin in the shape of a bird. He glanced back at her just as she touched a button on one of her bracelets. Instantly the pin lit up, blue sparks jumping all across its face! Brick arched painfully, screaming in surprise as the pin delivered a severe electric shock. He fell to the ground, tearing it from his shirt. He scrambled to his feet and began to run!
He barely noticed the shadow passing over him, but pulled up short when he noticed the Scarlet Dove soaring overhead. She banked hard, coming back at him with both fists extended in a sort of torpedo dive. Before he knew it the thug was eating pavement, gasping for breath and clutching at his battered chest. He rolled to his back, looking up through bleary eyes at the exquisite beauty standing over him.
"Don’t you know it’s rude to make a lady ask twice?" the heroine said, coming towards him.
Brick froze, lifting his hands in surrender. The scarlet haired beauty grinned, crossing her arms under her breasts.
"Now tell me why you're trying to rob the blood bank," she demanded. “Of all places …”
"Okay, okay!" Brick replied quickly. "Word on the street is, somebody's paying top dollar for lab equipment."
"Lab equipment," the heroine echoed thoughtfully. "What kind?"
"Any kind, all kinds!"
"And who's paying this top dollar?"
"I don't know."
The Dove pursed her ruby lips and pulled another of the bird emblem pins from a pocket in her belt.
"Serious!" Brick stammered as she leaned down and fixed the pin to his chest once again. "I'm a nobody, I know a guy who knows a guy who knows another guy, that's all I know! I just figured there wouldn't be much security at the blood bank, and we could make a little quick cash."
The superheroine considered this for a long moment, staring Brick down relentlessly, her finger inching closer and closer to the button that would activate the pin.
“Okay! Okay!” Brick stammered suddenly. “I heard the Scarpones are supposed to be making some big time score tomorrow night, now don’t shock me!”
“The Scarpones?” the heroine asked, shocked. “Are they the ones buying?”
“I d-don’t think so,” he replied quickly. “I think they’re looking to sell. You know the Scarpone family ain’t what it used to be since Don Gino passed.”
“And where is this big score?”
“I dunno, just heard about them putting a crew together, real secretive like,” Brick explained. “I tried to get on, but like I said, I’m a nobody! That’s all I know, swear!”
The Scarlet Dove glared at him a moment longer, then decided he was probably telling the truth. "Thank you for your cooperation."
“Hey, don’t mention it ...” Brick began, sounding relieved, but before he could finish, the Scarlet Dove touched the button on her armband, and this time the dove shaped taser pin zapped him into unconsciousness.
Pulling a plastic zip tie from another pocket on her belt, the Scarlet Dove bound the man’s wrists, and then pulled another for his ankles. The heroine’s specially designed utility belt contained about a dozen of the zip ties, which were made of an incredibly strong and lightweight composite polymer.
In the distance the heroine could already hear sirens headed their way. These idiots! They must have triggered the alarm system. Good, that meant Warden City PD wouldn’t have any trouble bringing charges against the three. Bending down she began to bind the other two as well, wanting to make sure none of them would be able to make a getaway when they came to.
The Scarpones had once been the most powerful organized crime family in Warden City. Stopping a robbery they were orchestrating would surely make news!
Not that it was all about the publicity, but she could already see the headlines: “Scarpone Syndicate Foiled by Superheroine!” or maybe something like “Warden City Thanks the Scarlet Dove!”
The bright headlights of two squad cars flashed across her white clad booty just as she was bent over ensuring the three thugs weren’t going anywhere. Beneath her mask the heroine blushed, imagining the view of her pert derriere greeting those arriving officers.
Dumbstruck, they jumped out of their cars, one shouting “Hey! Who are you? Stop!”
The Scarlet Dove straightened, flashing them a heart stopping smile, and then she leapt into the sky, soaring off into the night.
Chapter Two
Starling Chase had come a long way since that night at the rock quarry. In those days she had been a lost, aimless teenager, messing around with boys and even older men in order to give herself some feeling of self-worth. But once she had discovered she had the ability to fly, it was as if a whole new world had opened for her. Feeling a sense of responsibility to make the world a better place, she had applied herself to her studies and after graduation had gotten into the journalism school at Northsouthern.
And now that she was an adult and free to do as she pleased, she had returned to Warden City, to the very place from which she and her mother had fled when she was only five years old--the city she hadn't seen since she was a child, the city where her father had been murdered.
Soaring through the cool night air, the Scarlet Dove reached her rundown apartment building on the edge of downtown. Her apartment was in the back, adjacent to the empty lot next door. This, coupled with her neighbors' propensity for keeping their heads down and minding their own business, made it relatively easy for the lissome young woman to slip in and out through her window without being seen.
Safely inside, Starling removed her mask, fingers ruffling her scarlet tresses as she looked around at the colorful furnishings of her little room. Centered on her dresser was the ivory dove statuette, the only memento remaining to her of her father, Jack Kane. Its eyes were glowing with a soft green light, which only she seemed able to see. This glow seemed in some manner to be connected to her power of flight. At times it would be as bright as a laser, and Starling felt as if she could fly to the moon. But after a particularly long and strenuous night, when her body was feeling exhausted, she would return to find the statuette's eyes as dull as glass.
Once more the girl struggled to fathom the mystery of the statuette. She often wondered where her father had acquired it, and under what circumstances. Her mother Sara would never tell her, even supposing she knew, only that he had kept it with him constantly in his office at City Hall. In his office ... at City Hall ...
Suddenly Starling choked up, tears stinging her eyes. Touching the ivory dove on its head, she whispered, “oh Daddy ...”
Brushing away her tears, she undressed for the shower. In the process, Star couldn't resist the urge to examine her buxom shape in the full length mirror on the bathroom door. It was a vain habit, she knew, but somehow she could never pass a mirror without checking herself out. Her mother had always hoped Starling would be a model, and had actively encouraged her to pursue it. Sara Chase had done some modeling before the death of her husband, and as her daughter grew into her own beauty she’d seen the opportunity to reclaim that dream vicariously through her. Starling had played along, mostly to humor her mother but part of her had been drawn to the idea of being professionally pretty…what young woman wouldn’t be? Although now she had to admit that she had picked up some particular habits as a result.
She kept her alabaster body completely hairless from the neck down. She stood in front of the mirror now, checking her pale skin over for non-existent blemishes, admiring the delicious smoothness of her shaved cleft. Placing her long, graceful legs together, Starling gently arched her back, thrusting her boobs outward toward the mirror. Her supple globes were plump, firm, and at her age still untouched by gravity's pull. The girl couldn't repress a smile, knowing that her ample chest was a rare gift.
The next thing Starling knew, she found herself automatically striking a model pose, hips cocked to one side to accentuate the feminine curves of her silhouette. Shifting her hips the opposite way, she presented her rounded backside to the mirror. There was no doubt that she had a booty any girl would be proud of: full and tight, a perfect heart shape. She couldn’t deny a bit of satisfaction noticing the glances of men admiring the way her perky butt filled out her skirts and jeans.
Turning side-on to the mirror, Starling allowed her hands to slowly caress her stomach, hips, and thighs, watching with a critical eye for any sign of jiggle. There was none of course, yet the girl sensed a certain slackness. Up until recently she had always been salaciously taut. She sighed. Clearly she had been so busy settling into her new job, and her clandestine evening activities, that she had been neglecting the gym since arriving in Warden City. That would never do!
And speaking of her job, she'd better get some sleep if she had to be in at nine o'clock tomorrow! Quickly the girl packed her superheroine costume and gear into the hidden compartment in the back of her armoire and headed for the shower. She found a scalding hot shower had almost meditative properties for her, and she could hardly sleep without one! Afterwards she climbed under the sheets, still naked, and fell into a dreamless sleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Bright and early the next morning, Starling reported for work at the River Run, one of the city's oldest and most respected newspapers. She was wearing a leopard-print maxi-skirt topped by a turquoise camisole top, her scarlet tresses fixed into a braided ponytail. As she threaded her way along the busy bullpen area toward her desk, she ran into Charlie the mailroom guy with his pushcart, making his early morning rounds.
"Good morning, Ms. Chase," he gushed, handing her a stack of letters.
Starling took them with a sigh and a forced smile, knowing from experience that they would all be complaints about something she had written in one of her stories. "Thanks, Charlie."
"And Ed wants to see you as soon as you get in."
Starling sighed once again, detouring past her desk just long enough to drop off her clutch purse and her mail before veering to the right toward the editor's glass-walled office. "Ed MEANS Editor, and don't you ever forget it!" he had informed her on her first day. She could see that the stout, middle-aged man was already in conference with staff reporters Lacey Stewart and Alex Jeffers, so she waited outside the office until they were done.
As she waited, Starling’s green eyes were drawn to one of the framed front-page stories that were mounted along the nearby wall. She tried not to look, but it claimed her attention like an irresistible compulsion. Dated Seventeen years previous, the dramatic headline screamed, "MAYOR KANE SHOT!" And the photograph that accompanied the headline was of her dad!
The rest of the world sort of faded into the background as Starling felt her gut twisting in anguish, just as it did every time she saw this story. She knew it by heart. How could she not, having obsessively read and reread it ever since she was old enough to understand what had happened?
Her father, Jack Kane, who had dedicated himself to rooting out corruption in Warden City, had been found shot in his own office at city hall. He had lived for only a few hours. The article suggested that the assassination was in retaliation for a series of actions he had taken to curtail the excessive power of the local labor unions, thereby challenging the power and influence of the local mafia.
Sometimes, if she tried really hard, Starling could remember him in his hospital bed, with an IV in his arm and an oxygen tube in his nose. In her memories, he was smiling at her, reaching over to stroke her red hair. And he was whispering, "My dove ... my little scarlet dove ..."
"Somebody you know?" asked a voice immediately behind Starling, making her jump. It was Lacey Stewart, wearing jeans and a black racerback top with sequins on the shoulder straps like epaulettes. Sunglasses were perched in her dark brunette hair.
"What? Of course not!" the younger reporter blurted out. She didn't want anyone in town knowing that she was related to Jack Kane, not yet at any rate … if only by habit from being raised under her mother’s intense paranoia. Her mother had never remarried, far too paranoid to trust anyone that way, and had even changed their name to Chase immediately after leaving the city.
"I'm kidding," Lacey said. "That was WAY before your time. One of the great scandals of this town, actually. The murder was never solved."
"Hey, Chase," said Alex coming out of the office. "How are you getting settled? You've been here what, three weeks? How are you liking Warden City?"
"Oh, it's actually been about three months,” Starling stammered. Alex was definitely the office hunk, and she was embarrassed to admit having butterflies any time she spoke with him. “... but, uh ... it’s great," she added, putting on a big, enthusiastic smile. "Super even!"
"It's a sewage dump," the editor announced sourly, stepping out behind them. "A pest hole of crime and corruption,” he added, pausing to stick an unlit cigar in his mouth. “Take that for example! ‘Honest’ Jack Kane, a great man and a better mayor, gunned down by the Scarpones; everyone knows it now, everyone knew it then! But did we do anything?” He let the question hang for a long moment, chewing on his cigar. “Course, you haven't been here long enough, Chase. You’ll learn!”
“If you say so,” the redhead said. Actually I probably know better than any of you, she thought, repressing a smirk.
“Til then, I want you to get over to the firehouse, pronto!” Ed went on. “Engine Company 21 over on Emerald Street. Ask for Sergeant Wilson."
"What's it about?" Starling asked eagerly. Maybe it was a big story!
"You're the reporter, figure it out!" The editor stormed back into his office, screaming for someone else to yell at as he went.
The three reporters watching him go, Lacey shaking her head.
"Guess I'm on it," Starling said, with a shrug. She headed back to her desk to grab her purse, before hurrying down the stairs and hailing a cab.
Her "big story" turned out to be the announcement that this was "Fire Safety Month", which meant that homeowners were urged to check the batteries in their smoke alarms and make certain that oily rags were disposed of properly. As far as she was concerned, the more important story was Sergeant Wilson himself! He was incredibly handsome, with piercing blue eyes, chiseled features, and the kind of jawline you might see on your typical Greek god! Starling felt her heartbeat racing just being in the same room with him. She sat listening to him talk for a whole three minutes with her tablet on her knee before she thought to take down a word he was saying.
"Do you own your own home, Ms. Chase?" he asked.
"What? Oh yeah, I live at Two-" the girl pulled herself up before she blabbed out her address. "Er, no, actually, I rent." Idiot! she thought, mentally kicking herself.
"You should still do a spot inspection of the floor you live on," Wilson said. "Don't rely on the building superintendent to do it. Fire safety is everyone's responsibility, and regular testing saves lives."
"Yeah, don't be like those idiots over at WCD," put in an older firefighter who had been lounging in the background during the interview. "Place almost burned down just last week."
"Er ... what’s that?" Starling asked, hoping she hadn’t missed an important part of the conversation while she was fawning over Sergeant Wilson.
"Warden City Diagnostics? It's a biometrics lab," the sergeant explained. "They mostly do things like pre-hire drug screenings for corporations, DNA testing for paternity suits, that kind of thing.”
“Whole place is shut down right now cuz of one faulty alarm,” the other went on. “Some dipshit-"
"Language, Danno," interrupted Wilson. "There's a lady present."
Starling felt her cheeks flush.
Danno rolled his eyes. "I mean because some dip-sy-doodle had too many of those heavy-duty centrifuges plugged into the same line. Almost overloaded their mains."
"Uh ... really? Is that dangerous?" asked the redhead innocently, leaning toward Wilson.
"Sure! Let me show you ..." Danno proceeded to sketch out a plan of the whole WCD laboratory, showing where the major lab equipment was kept.
This is a huge laboratory, the young reporter realized. And it’s currently shut down due to fire damage? Sounds like an ideal place for that big score!
Chapter Three
Once the sun went down Starling was back in her white and gold uniform, flying over the city to stake out the WCD lab. However, as she got closer, she could see a large unmarked box truck already parked in the back alley, with the rear doors standing open. A little thrill of excitement rippled up her spine. That thug had been telling the truth!
The Scarlet Dove banked around, swooping down for a closer look. Sure enough, she could see the back of the box truck was opened, and already loaded with stolen equipment. With a slight grin on her beautiful face, the heroine turned towards the open door to the lab. As she further suspected, the door showed clear signs of having been forced open!
She headed inside, trying to move cautiously and quietly. The building of course was separated into several different divisions, each with its own lab area. Thanks to Sergeant Wilson and Danno, Starling knew exactly where to find the most valuable equipment so she wouldn’t have to spend time searching the whole facility. She crossed through one area which had clearly been ransacked already, but she could hear a group of voices in the next room over. As the heroine crept towards the door, she began to see flashlight beams swinging back and forth. Crossing the room quickly, golden heels making a bit more noise than intended, she crouched beside the door listening to the group.
“… Anything useful there?” one asked.
“Shit if I know,” replied another. “Some expensive looking crap, I’ll tell ya that!”
“Shut on up and jus’ grab it!” barked a third in a thick Cajun accent. “Da boss said they be paying for anyt’ing, so grab it all!”
Starling had to stifle a shocked gasp, as a nervous titter danced through her chest. In her short career as a crimefighter she’d heard many rumors and street legends. Supposedly, the Scarpones’ top hit man was a southerner called “Creole Creed,” who apparently spoke with an almost cartoonishly thick Cajun accent. Could this be him?
The heroine listened a moment longer, but there did not seem to be any other voices murmuring around the lab. That made three, hardly ideal odds for her in such close quarters. She preferred to use her flight and speed for hit and run tactics, especially with a foe so purportedly dangerous as Creole Creed in the mix. However, the young heroine had overcome three men just the night before, so she was confident she could take these as well!
The Scarlet Dove straightened and stepped through the doorway, flicking on the lights as she did.
“I don’t suppose you boys are the renovation crew,” she shouted brazenly. “Because it’s well past quitting time!”
The three men were scattered throughout the lab. Starling immediately took note of one man with a darker complexion and even darker hair. He had sharp features, outlined with thick bushy sideburns. He was wearing a grey suit. The others were dressed more casually, in varying shades of black and grey, with ski masks. She felt no doubt which one was the infamous hitman.
Instantly all three men froze and looked in her direction, eyes widening at the sight of the scantily clad heroine. She could almost feel the temperature in the room rise as they scanned over her white bustier and skin tight bottoms, devouring her delectable curves.
Which was all part of the plan. During her preparation for a career of crimefighting, she found that many men, even the disreputable sort she dealt with, did not fight as hard or as well the more evident she made her femininity. Whether they were reluctant to hit a woman, or distracted by less honorable thoughts, she didn’t care to guess at.
“You must be de supa-bitch, red bird?” Creole Creed grinned, and straightened his suit some.
“Actually it’s ‘the Scarlet Dove’,” Starling replied, a little surprised he had heard of her. “You should remember it; after all you’ll be telling everyone in prison who put you there!”
“Is dat so?” he chuckled. “Tougher men den you have tried and I put dem in de groun’!”
“Never send a man to do a woman’s job!” the heroine quipped. “Perhaps it’s time to try a lady’s touch.”
Creed’s grin widened. “Funny, I was t’inking somet’ing jus’ like dis!”
Suddenly a big hand reached around from behind and clamped over the Dove’s pretty mouth! Just as quick, a big arm snaked around her torso, pinning her arms to her side and lifting her off the ground. Starling kicked and flailed, but her attacker was too strong!
How could this be? She wondered. I was so careful to … Oh! Too late, it dawned on her: the cab of the truck. She hadn’t even considered that the getaway driver might have been waiting with the getaway vehicle!
“Silly little birdy,” Creed laughed. “Dis de night you find out what a woman’s job really is!”
The heroine squirmed in her attacker’s arms, squealing into his hand angrily. What did he mean by that? She knew she did not want to find out, but how would she escape?
Having taken her completely off guard, the brawny man was more than capable of holding her captive, even by himself. When the two other thugs joined him, the young heroine found herself easily overpowered and wrestled to the ground!
“Quick now!” ordered Creed. “Here’s some tape!”
The hitman had found a roll of duct-tape on one of the lab tables and tossed it to his men. Unable to offer more than minor resistance, Starling found herself held face down, as her arms were pulled behind her back and her wrists bound together.
“Mmmph … No! Stop! Get off me!” she screamed as the hand slipped momentarily off her face. “You cannngh! ... mmph!”
Her protests were cut short as a wide strip of tape was pressed over her soft lips, gagging the captured heroine! A cold pit dropped into Starling’s stomach as she was further subdued. Her ankles were crossed, and encircled with more tape, leaving her almost completely helpless. Then the men stepped back, surveying their work and drinking in the sight of their bound and gagged captive.
The Scarlet Dove squirmed desperately, testing her bindings for any weakness, or give, of but found none. She did manage to roll onto her back, looking up fearfully as her captors loomed over her. Two of them reached down and hauled her back to her feet. She teetered unsteadily, due to her ankle binding, so they held her up. Creole Creed approached slowly, grinning from sideburn to sideburn.
“I hear dees stories,” the hitman began. “Of a beautiful woman, takin’ down tough guys all ovah town, and you know what I’m t’inkin’ when I hear dis?”
The captive heroine groaned inquisitively through her gag.
“Dey mus’ notta been so tough!” he laughed.
The other’s laughed as well, while poor Starling could do nothing but grumble into her gag.
“Dis night, cher,” he went on. “You find out what ‘appen when you try’n take down a real tough guy!”
Now Creed reached out and yanked down the front of Starling’s bustier, suddenly exposing her perfect breasts! The heroine squealed in dismay, glancing down to see her petite rosy nipples on full display. A wave of humiliation rolled through her; could this really be happening? The lusty chuckles as the men ogled her perky D-cups, and the feel of Creed’s rough palms as he took them into his hands confirmed that it was.
The helpless heroine groaned miserably, squirming to try and pull away, but she could not. The hitman squeezed and fondled her defenseless breasts, sending unwanted tingles dancing through her chest. Beneath her feathered mask her cheeks flushed hotly, turning bright red.
Creed leaned close, his hot breath on her neck as he whispered directly into her ear. “Dees stories, dey did get one t’ing right. You is plenty beautiful!”
The captive heroine groaned, squirming helplessly as she was molested by the hitman.
“Dis a good t’ing, make it nice an’ easy for what gon’appen next,” he went on. “See, killin’ someone like you, an’ you jus’ become a martyr for de cause … but humiliation? Now dat’s more powerful den death!” Here he gave her tits a pointed jiggle. “I’m gon’ fuck you silly, cher, den leave you for de cops to find. After dat, you neva gon’ be able show dat pretty face in Warden City again!”
Starling shook her head in desperate but futile protest. Icy tendrils snaked up her spine as she realized she had no way to stop him from having his way with her. Before she could even begin to consider the full ramifications of his plan, Creed snagged a handful of her crimson hair and half dragged, half shoved her face down over a nearby table. The stainless steel surface felt like ice on her naked tits. She squirmed in her bonds, moaning pleadingly, wordlessly begging him not to do this!
Chapter Four
“You t’ree get on back to work,” the hitman ordered. “Dis ain’t no peep show, and we ain’t got all night!”
The other thugs obeyed quickly.
With the heroine taped securely, Creed could easily handle her by himself. Starling felt Creed caressing her pert round ass, tugging playfully at the edges of her spandex bottoms. The pit in her stomach grew heavier, feeling him pawing at her scantily clad backside, the white bikini only partially covering the peach like curves of her ass. The helpless heroine looked back with fear and loathing in her green eyes. Creed snapped the spandex a couple times, smiling right into her face, letting the girl know just how helpless she was.
Wasting no more time, the hitman curled his fingers into the waistband of her bottoms and pulled them down! Starling squirmed desperately, keenly aware of her sudden nakedness. Trying to turn away or pull free of his grip, but being unable only seemed to highlight the hopelessness of her position as the garment was pulled down her legs and left bunched around her knees. Her protests were completely ignored, and finally the defeated heroine slumped onto the cold metal table in utter despair.
Bent over that table with her backside completely exposed and vulnerable, the young woman’s stomach twisted into knots. Her shame only deepened as Creed’s fingers wormed between her thighs and began to stroke her smooth, hairless pussy. Starling began to tremble as unwelcome tingles danced across her hips.
“Dis one, she a slut, boys!” Creed shouted. “Her pussy shaved smooth as a apple!”
The helpless heroine whimpered in embarrassment, hearing the men groaning and elbowing each other. Then she was drawn back to her immediate plight as an insistent finger wiggled into the soft folds of her labia and found her clit! She held back a moan as the hitman began to toy with the sensitive little nub, but she could not stop herself from beginning to get wet. Starling tried to hide her face, feeling tears of shame beginning to well up.
“Dere you go, mon cheri,” Creed hummed as her juices began to flow. “You jus’ my whore now, might gon’ ahead an enjoy it!”
Starling could hear every sound with dreadful clarity as the hitman unbuckled, unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. She could not see his stiff cock but somehow sensed it poised at her soft spot. Whimpering in anguish, the young woman knew she was about to be taken and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Then without warning he pushed between her moist petals, forcing a miserable moan into her gag as he penetrated the helpless heroine.
Oh gawd, he’s inside me! She despaired, feeling his swollen manhood filling her up. This can’t be happening!
The Scarlet Dove mewled in pleading protest as the hitman’s cock began to slide back and forth in her tight little cunt. His strong hands grasped the soft curves of her hips, forcing her to match his rhythm. Creed’s hips rolled and thrust, forcing his rigid tool so deeply inside her that each thrust made her gasp. The violated heroine felt warm tingles beginning to dance up her abdomen, making it harder and harder to hold back her moans. The sensation of his cock sliding relentlessly in and out of her body sent a wave of unwanted arousal crashing over the poor girl. Her knees began to tremble, and she could feel her own hot juices dripping down the inside of her thighs.
This can’t be happening, she thought, her head starting to spin in time with his thrusts. I can’t be enjoying this, can I? I can’t let him make me cum!
Eventually, she could no longer resist a long, sensuous moan as that thick, hard member pistoned inside her sopping wet pussy. Reaching her lowest denigration, she began to whimper as the physical stimulation of being fucked by the hitman overwhelmed her. Starling knew she was about to cum, and there was nothing she could do to stop …
Just then Creole Creed groaned and pulled out. The aroused heroine gasped in surprise (and, to her secret shame, in disappointment) feeling his cock slide all the way out of her. Again she heard him groan, and then she felt the warm splatter as he began squirting hot sticky cum all over her back.
Starling dropped her head onto the table. At least that was over.
“Shit, girly,” Creed chuckled, catching his breath and giving her round booty a swat.
Before she could feel any real relief, the hitman pulled her off the table and let her topple onto the floor. Starling hit with a painful thump. Squirming in her bonds, she rolled onto her back as her rapist approached, stroking his dick to keep it hard.
Oh gawd, he isn’t finished with me? How can he still be hard after just cumming like that? What more can he do to me?
Straining uselessly against the duct-tape, Starling whimpered in protest. Creed knelt beside her, lifting her legs and folding them over her torso. A shudder of feminine vulnerability crawled down her spine as the young redhead felt her pussy exposed by that awkward position.
The degraded heroine could only groan uncomfortably as the man pushed his cock into her again. He began to thrust roughly, much more aggressively than before. There was no rhythm this time, no sensual sliding as Creed merely hammered away at her tight wet cunt. Starling gasped and groaned behind her gag, feeling his rigid cock plunging so powerfully inside of her. His hips slapped against her ass and thighs, rocking her curvy young body with every rugged thrust. Tremors of erotic energy raced up her spine, making her head lurch and spin.
He's so rough … I don’t want to be fucked like this, she thought, trembling with orgasmic energy. I can’t be enjoying this!
Trying to calm herself, to regain control, the violated heroine tried to remind herself that her body and her choice had been taken from her. However, this only brought a crushing wave of humiliation. She felt weak and pathetic. How could she let this happen to her? She was supposed to be a superheroine, not just some helpless fucktoy!
Hot tears began to roll down her cheeks, as that invading cock continued to pound her pussy. She trembled helplessly, no longer attempting to hold back her building orgasm. Finally, a bolt of electricity raced along her spine and her cunt gushed around the hitman’s violating cock. The once proud superheroine squealed into her tape gag, cumming at the end of this criminal’s dick.
Feeling her orgasm, Creed pulled out and let her shapely legs flop back to the floor. The shamed heroine gasped and mewled in post coital bliss, mingled with abject humiliation.
Giving her no time to rest or recover, Creole Creed grabbed her by the head and ripped off her gag!
Starling cried out in pain, then looked up at her assailant. “Please let me go!”
The hitman grinned, dashing what little hope she had of release, and grabbed a handful of her red hair, yanking her head down to eye level with his raging hard-on. She stared dreadfully at the cock before her face, whimpering “please no-OHM!” the moment her lips parted, that cock filled her mouth!
Starling whimpered helplessly, gagging as the cock in her mouth pressed clear to the back of her throat. Her lips and tongue seemed to feel every ridge and vein as the cock began to thrust back and forth in her mouth.
Meanwhile, his free hand reached down and began fingering her defenseless pussy again. Gagging and coughing, Starling pulled at the tape binding her wrists, still to no avail. Her hips bucked involuntarily as her pussy was beginning to ache. The musky taste of the man’s cock in her mouth was a fresh humiliation. Still the heroine had no way to escape, or even resist, and could do nothing but submit!
Soon the rhythms began to match, Creed’s finger and cock thrusting and withdrawing at the same time. Starling continued to whimper as the cock sliding over her tongue continued to gag her with every thrust. At the same time a second finger slid inside her, pumping her pussy forcefully enough to take her breath away with each thrust. She began to feel light headed, as if she might faint. Hanging there, on the edge of consciousness, her entire existence seemed reduced to the sensations assaulting her defenseless young body.
No longer feeling heroic in any sense at all, Starling merely felt small, violated at both ends. Everything else seemed to fall away as she felt used and dominated … and in her moment of abject surrender, a tidal wave of arousal crashed through her body. Every nerve ending seemed to come alive suddenly, and she became aware of every inch of her body. She lit up with erotic electricity and Starling came again, moaning around the cock in her mouth and arching her back like a cat in heat pressing against his hand needily. As if in response to her surge of orgasmic energy, Creed’s cock burst in her mouth! Her head spun as she felt the thick jet of sticky jizz spraying straight down her throat, filling her stomach and coating her mouth as she struggled not to choke.
Coughing, sputtering and mewling in utter shame, she could only slump back helplessly on the floor as the hitman pulled away. The violated heroine lay bound and trembling on the floor, feeling utterly drenched in cum.
“Now, cheri,” he said slowly. “You jus’ anutha whore. You cross the Scarpones again, you’ll get worse.”
The defeated heroine could not even manage a baleful glare as he tauntingly tousled her crimson hair. He quickly gagged her again, then left her bound on the floor. Starling squirmed a bit, feeling the slimy cum sloshing in her stomach, as well as the humiliating taste left in her mouth. Fresh tears began to roll down her cheeks.
So this is what defeat tastes like, she thought bitterly.
During her short stint as a crimefighter, the Scarlet Dove had been in some tight scrapes, taken some hard punches, but never anything like this. Degraded, violated, and why? Just to humiliate her so badly she would give up being a superheroine, give up her mission, give up on doing what was right? And maybe they’d succeeded. After all, this kind of thing would never happen to a male superhero. It seemed her very femininity turned out to be her greatest weakness, leaving her vulnerable to and perhaps even inciting this kind of treatment.
While Starling wrestled with her emotions, Creed and the thugs had all but cleaned out the laboratory. The hitman was talking to one of his men as they made for the door.
“This haul is even bigger than Don Tony promised!” the thug was saying excitedly. “Think we’ll get paid extra?”
“De Scarpones be takin’ care of you, don’ worry,” Creed replied.
“So you ain’t worried about Danvers shortin’ them on the truck?” the other asked. “You think we’ll get paid full price?”
“We betta,” Creed spat back. “I ain’t scared of his ghost story bullshit!”
“I don’t know man, Danvers is the real deal,” the thug shot back. “What do you think he wants with all this shit anyway?”
Starling couldn’t help but perk up on hearing the name “Danvers.” Once she had gotten to Warden City she couldn’t help but begin to look into her father’s death. There was very little information, mostly just hearsay and rumors. However, the one time in her life she had gotten her mother to talk about it, Sara Chase had mentioned a man named Tom Danvers. According to her mother, Jack Kane had been on his way to meet this man the night he was murdered.
Thinking about her father, who had fought for what he believed in until it killed him, how could she give up in the face of a little (or even huge) humiliation? She could not let this scum win!
“Well, little red bird,” Creed said turning back to the bound heroine. “It has been fun no?”
Starling glared up at him, gritting her teeth and wordlessly promising that this wasn’t over!
“Oh you is sexy wit’ dat mean look,” he chuckled, then tripped the fire alarm on the wall beside him. “De cops be here soon, how’s dis for a headline: ’supa-hero or supa-whore? Tonight a five’ … yeah, I like dat one …” The hitman continued to chuckle to himself as he left.
Despite the momentary return of determination, Starling was still hopelessly bound, half naked and covered in cum. As the alarm sounded through the building, promising the imminent arrival of Warden City PD, her heart sank once more. If she was discovered this way, she might not have a choice whether or not she could continue to be the Scarlet Dove.
Chapter Five
The bound heroine lay on the cool tile floor of the lab, growling under her gag and struggling desperately to get loose. Unfortunately, she realized that it was practically impossible, because weakened as she was both physically and mentally from her ordeal, the binding tape was much too strong. Her only hope was that she could loosen it somehow, and maybe slip her dainty hands or feet free. She squirmed and rolled back and forth on the floor, trying to wiggle her shoulders into a position that might allow her to slip her wrists out of the bonds.
Outside in the distance she began to hear sirens drawing closer.
Starling began to twist and struggle even more desperately. What would happen if WCPD happened to find and catch her? After all, she was technically acting as a vigilante, outside the law! They weren’t likely to look too kindly on that!
Her desperation increased still further as she felt her naked boobs bouncing and jiggling more and more the harder she struggled. Glancing down at her exposed body, tits out, bottoms scrunched around her knees, whatever happened legally, she felt she simply could not stand to be found here like this!
But it was no use, the bindings were too tight and too efficient. When she heard the sirens arriving outside the lab she realized it was too late. The heroine slumped on the floor, frustrated and helpless.
Soon she heard the front doors being forced open. She could hear the pounding of boots and shouts as they began clearing room to room. They were getting closer quickly, and then she heard them in the next lab over.
“Clear!” called out a raspy male voice. “Ah shit … will ya look at this, looks like a robbery.”
“Yeah, doubt there’s a fire here but I’ll check this one,” replied another.
Starling squirmed around so she could see the door. A fireman came through, glancing around. It hadn’t even occurred to her that the cops wouldn’t be the first responders to the fire alarm. A keen rush of embarrassment flashed through her still, but she had no other choice than to squeal for help through her gag.
“Clear-holy shi-uh … !” the fireman called out. “We got a … a live one?”
He pulled off his helmet, revealing the handsome, chiseled features and piercing blue eyes of none other than Sergeant Wilson! Starling was surprised and unspeakably embarrassed that her heart skipped a beat upon seeing him again, given the situation.
“What? Really?” questioned the other rushing in from the first lab. Of course, it was Danno.
The sergeant knelt beside her, eyes wide as he looked over her, seemingly at a loss. She mumbled into her gag and he got the hint, gently pulling the tape from her sore lips. The heroine gasped gratefully.
“My bottoms please,” Starling said breathlessly, hearing the footsteps of his partner drawing near.
The fireman blinked and shook his head. “O-of course!”
Blushing a bit himself, he quickly tugged her bottoms back into place.
“Thank you,” she said sheepishly.
“No problem,” Wilson replied quickly. “Hang on, I’ll get you loose!”
He produced a knife from his utilities and quickly began cutting at the tape binding her ankles. Watching him work, Starling fought down her intense attraction to the fireman. She was embarrassed to admit it, but there was just something incredibly romantic about a strong, handsome man rescuing a damsel in distress … even (especially?) when she was that damsel.
“Whatta ya got there, Wilson?” asked Danno as he came into the lab.
The heroine let out a little moan of relief as her legs were freed. Wilson grabbed her by the shoulders gently, lifting her effortlessly back to her feet.
“Holy shit!” exclaimed the older fireman, staring directly at her still-exposed breasts.
Starling’s cheeks immediately blushed as red as her hair. She was so relieved to have her bottoms pulled up, she had nearly forgotten her chest was still on full display!
“Language!” Wilson admonished the older fireman. The sergeant had already stepped behind her, but reached around and haphazardly tugged her bustier back into place, covering her breasts. “Have some class, Danno.”
Starling felt like she wanted to swoon. Wilson was so big, strong, handsome, yet gentle and chivalrous too … did they really make men like this?
“No!” Danno ignored him. “I mean … this girl, she’s that superheroine I was telling you about! Aren’t you?”
“You know me?” Starling asked, looking up at him.
“Right, the uh, Scarlet Pigeon! Er, that’s not it … sorry,” the older man went on, as Sergeant Wilson began to cut through the rest of the tape binding her wrists.
“The Scarlet Dove, actually,” she admitted sheepishly. “How do you know me?”
“So uh, yeah, a couple weeks back you saved a lady from getting mugged … out on the west end?”
“Yes, I believe so,” the heroine replied.
“That was my wife’s sister-in-law,” Danno explained.
“That was really you?” Wilson asked, sounding shocked. “I didn’t believe this guy when he told me about that!”
“I guess, yeah!” the heroine replied. “I mean, I’m just trying to do what’s right, like tonight … got a tip that a break in was happening here.” Her wrists came loose with a snap, and she could not suppress a relieved groan. “I flew over to investigate, but the crooks caught me off guard, and, uh, well, they … um …”
“Escaped?” Wilson suggested.
The shamed heroine nodded glumly.
“Caught off guard?” the older fireman echoed. “That kinda thing happens to you?”
“Apparently …” She admitted, hanging her head and rubbing her chafed wrists.
“I’m sure you did all you could, ma’am,” Wilson said, running his hand through his unkempt brown hair. “Should we get you a blanket or something …?”
“To hell with that,” Danno grumbled. “Look, uh, WCPD’ll be here any second, hadn’t you better get going!”
Starling looked up, a little surprised. “Huh?”
“Yeah, we always beat ‘em to a fire but they’ll be here quick enough,” the older fireman went on. “I imagine they’d just have a hayday finding you here!”
Wilson nodded. “You are technically a, um …”
“A vigilante,” the heroine confirmed for him. “It’s okay, I know.”
“Right, so you should hurry,” Danno emphasized.
“You guys would really cover for me like that?” the heroine asked sheepishly.
“Well, sure!” Danno replied. “Look, everyone in Warden City knows the cops’re crooked as a dog’s hind leg. We ain’t gonna let you get into trouble for trying to watch out for the little guy! Are we sarge?”
Wilson regarded her uncertainly for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.
“Gosh, fellas, I don’t know what to say,” the heroine blushed and hugged them both. Her stomach gave a delicate little flutter as she stretched her slender arms to hug Wilson and felt his tremendous build even through his heavy protective clothing.
“Just find the guys who did this and take ‘em down,” Danno said excitedly. “The cops’ll probably cover this up like the rest anyway!”
“Cover up?”
“There’s been a series of robberies lately,” Sergeant Wilson said with a sigh. “All labs like this, but …”
Outside more sirens were arriving, no doubt WCPD!
“Look, you can still get out the back without anyone seeing you I bet!” Wilson urged.
“… And hey, y’know if you want you could stop by O’Malley’s over on Fourth and Broad some Friday night,” Danno interjected. “Have a beer with the boys and make me and the kid here look like big shots.”
“You really don’t have to do that,” the sergeant sounded embarrassed.
Starling smiled broadly. “You got it, the very next time I’m free!”
With no time to waste, she headed back out that rear door. No sooner was she out of the building than did she take flight, soaring away into the night.
Once she was in the air, the relieved heroine began to feel silly. Had she really gone all school girl crush on Sergeant Wilson again? And as the Scarlet Dove, no less … It must just have been a reaction to the emotion of the moment … he certainly did come in like her knight in shining armor!
Get yourself together, girl! She admonished herself. Could Creole Creed really have meant Tom Danvers? And was he working with the Scarpones? And were the police keeping these laboratory robberies a secret? This thing is just getting started.
A little smile crept on to her face. Obviously her name was beginning to get around! Both Creed and Danno know about her, which meant she was beginning to make a difference in the streets! She was reminded that it wasn’t just for her father, or her pride, that she took these risks. It was for the good people of this city; it was to make their streets, their lives safer!
To do that, she would weather any storm, endure any humiliation, and face any and every peril the scum of this city could devise!
Feeling a fresh wave of determination, the Scarlet Dove soared towards home … and a nice hot shower!
To Be Continued…
(Author’s Note: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this story! I am very excited about this series…there is so much in store for our intrepid heroine! Starling has really become something of an avatar for me, it’s been so easy and so fun stepping into her golden heels for these perilous fantasies and adventures. I thought this was just a great introduction to the character and the series, what with the more classic damsel in distress themes; a hopeless situation, a vile villain having his way with said damsel, a last minute rescue, a dashing hero for our heroine to swoon over…but there’s so much more to come! Each issue really has its own kind of flavor, and lots of different adventures, perils, and kinky fantasies! So whether you enjoy stepping into our heroine’s predicament for a little thrill, or living vicariously through the villains menacing her, I hope you’ll join us for what is sure to be a fun and perilous ride! Thanks again for reading, Lady Jane~)
The Scarlet Dove Issue One
Very hot, good job! Could be the script for a full-length SHIP feature:)
Caught this on DangerBabeCentral. Only skimmed it somewhat, but it's got potential. It's not often you get a superheroine with a mix of powers and gadgets.