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A little warning here. Though not graphic there are some disturbing things that happen in this chapter. If you are sensitive just go halfway down to read.

Also, apologies for the wait on this one. I was fighting a bad cold and it's hard to see what you're doing with watery eyes, coughing and sneezing all the time. (grin) This chapter doesn't have a lot of action, it's more introspective, but it is setting up other things for later.

Samira looked at Mitsuko and felt a shame that was deeper than anything her tormentors had been able to force on her. She, in her other incarnation had helped form this lovely, obviously pregnant woman forced her into being what she was now. “Mitsuko.”

“You know me?” The Asian beauty questioned while searching for anything familiar in Samira.

“Not really. But I wasn't always as you see me now.” She answered slowly then realized just how stupid that sounded given their situation. “I'm Samira now. But I used to be one of the people who made you what you are now.”

Mitsuko gave her a careful looking over and nodded. “You did? Well now you know. Is that not right? You know what I, and others have been put through.”

“Yes.” Samira lowered her head, not wanting to look the other in the eye with that admission. “Yes, and I deserve what I'm getting now.”

“No one deserves this.” Miotsuko made a gesture that encompassed herself, Samira and thier surroundings. “I want to hate, I want to see the ones who did this to me suffer as I have. But I see you, and know that is wrong, too. Wrong as what was done to me.”

“So you hate me.” Samira nodded, still not looking directly at the other woman while letting out a shuddering sigh. You want me to suffer like — like you have.”

Mitsuko's pretty face twisted to show both grief and revulsion at what she had just heard. “I not wish that — this — on anyone, Samira. It is too terrible a thing.”

“I — I'm sorry.” Samira quietly answered while lowering her head.

“Sorry not work here.” Mitsuko said just as quietly as she moved up to lift Samira's chin so they could look each other in the eye. “Too late for that, maybe be sorry later if able. Now we do what we must. We work, we live and we wait.

“I am, you are, as we were made. No change for that. You suffer, I suffer. You know ghost girl, too, no?”

“Spectre.” Samira breathed so softly she didn't think anyone, especially the hidden watchers could hear.

“Yes.” Mitsuko nodded and raised her hand. Samira flinched, expecting a slap, but received a soft, caressing touch instead. “You were bad man, you do things that were not good. Now you are girl. Be good girl, bad girl? Be willing slave, or something else? Choice is yours.”

She moved to hug Samira and whispered. “Ghost girl has way to stop this. I help. You can help. What you do?”

“Only what I have been doing.” Samira answered slowly while returning the hug and whispering, too. “Let her watch things through me. And hope she can really stop this.”

Mitsuko nodded and Samira felt that against her still unfamiliar breasts. “Can. Ghost girl is strong. You be strong, too.”

It wasn't a demand so much as a question. Samira gave her companion a wondering look and asked, “How? How can you be so determined, so strong after all that was done to you?”

“This.” Mitsuko took Samira's hand and placed it on her swollen belly. “Wanted to just die at first, to just be the thing they want. But now have another life to care for, to fight for. Having baby was meant to break, it just make stronger. You be strong, too. Ghost girl will stop this. She use us to help do that. I help her, you can do, too. But you not alone. Remember that. Be strong.”

Since her change Samira had dealt with demands, orders that she didn't want to comply with, but that simple statement from one of her former victims gave her something she'd never really known before. A chance for a connection to someone who wasn't in her power or held power over her. A chance to possibly have a real friend or at least someone who wasn't simply an associate. “I don't know if I can be.” She whispered.

“You can.” Mitsuko said and pressed Samira's hand that was still on her belly. “Feel this. New life. New hope. One good thing to come from this. I defend my child here. Help me do that.”

Her hand still lightly touching Mitsuko's belly, Samira nodded while reaching a decision. “I will.”

Mitsuko smiled and that seemed to light up the room. “Being mother not bad thing, Samira. It give persepctive, and reason for life. I hope you find that for self. Is good thing even if the way we got there is bad.”

“I want to believe you.” Samira nodded.

“Is true.” Mitsuko answered simply while putting one of her hands over Samira's on her belly. “Feel. Learn. Know.”

Samira absorbed the feeling, the life under Mitsuko's skin, and had to nod. Words failed her, and tears were blurring her vision. When this was over, and she knew it would be in time, the man who really won Mitsuko's heart would have a treasure beyond the description mere words could depict. Resolute, determined, and caring. And strong, so strong.

“Be strong.” Mitsuko whispered again as if she had heard Samira's thoughts. “We get through this. We have to.”

“There is no going back.” Samira countered, trying to find something to dispute what she saw and felt in Mitsuko.

“Then we go forward, no?” The lovely little Asian mother to be questioned.

“It is all we have left, isn't it?”

“For now.” Mitsuko nodded.

“What can we do?” Samira asked.

“Wait, be patient. Obey for now.”

Samira lowered her eyes again, not able to endure the resolute determination in those almond, emerald eyes she had been looking into.

Finally, she agreed. “Yes, that's all we can do for now, isn't it?”

“We be free, Samira.” Mitsuko hugged her and fiercely repeated. “WE BE FREE!”

I was nearly in tears after I watched that. Okay, who am I kidding, I was in tears. Mitsuko had lost so much, been forced into a life that was so alien, but still managed to be strong enough, caring enough, to offer one who had tormented her earlier friendship and hope.

Heroes come from the oddest places don't they?

Again, I was humbled.

Though humanity can do terrible, awful things... It can still produce people that leave the gods in awe. I was learning that now and felt very small when I recalled some of the things I had done when I was still human.

I had what could be called super powers, and a lot of my newly acquired friends and allies did as well. But none of us were the kind of hero Mitsuko was proving to be.

Just a normal person, thrown into things he/she didn't understand and suffering for that, but never losing the humanity, the underlying strength of the species and working to transcend her imposed limitations.

Yes, I was feeling very insignifcant next to that even with all my powers and abilities.

“Gentlemen.” The director addressed the audience watching the two girls. “As you can see both are exquisite examples of feminine beauty and grace.

“In addition, they are fully capable of child bearing as our lovely Mitsuko shows so well here.”

“How can we be sure that this 'Mitsuko' isn't a plant, or made up to fake a pregnancy?” One of the gathered men questioned.

“You have the files on both girls.” The director shrugged. “Take your time to go through the pertinent sections, which will come up if you follow the prompts on your screens, then you will be able to meet the girls and put them through thier paces. They will answer your questions honestly when we do that, along with doing anything you demand of them.”

The gathering went back to the tablets they had been given and went through the files those contained. The room was filled with silence for awhile punctuated only with small gasps, and mutters of appreciation.

The director watched that with a thin smile and leaned forward to speak into a microphone he had just activated. “Mitsuko, remove your clothing.”

I was learning what the original Furies had felt just then. All I wanted to do was go in and kill.

But that wouldn't accomplish anything other than to soothe my own homicidal urges at the moment. If I did that, then the whole operation would just move somewhere else, but watching the self satisfied bastards who had done those things to create Mitsuko and Samira, along with potential customers for more girls like that, had me close to exploding with violence.

“Be Patient, child.” Tisiphone's voice penetrated the red haze I was watching things through. “You have a plan, see it through.”

“Those people deserve to die, or worse.” I shot back and my mental voice grated like stone against stone.

“Yes, love, they do.” The real Fury answered simply. “Yet if they do, if you kill them now, you will lose all you've worked to achieve in this so far. Take your own counsel here and be strong, dear one.”

I shook myself mentally and emotionally, then nodded because I was still not calm enough to voice my thoughts coherently without inciting myself to counter productive violence just then.

“Take what the girl, Mitsuko said to the other one and hold to it, little one.” Tisiphone advised. “Be strong, be patient, wait. Your time will come and so will the reckoning you wish for so badly.”

“You, urging me to show patience.” I had to chuckle mentally at that picture, of the last real Fury urging someone to hold back on delivering bloody justice, then let out a mental sigh. “You have been learning, haven't you?”

“Indeed, my child, indeed I have.” She answered a little sadly but with a hint of humor as well. “You will have your retribution, and your children will be free.”

“My children?”

“You have touched both Mitsuko and Samira, child.” She informed me. “They are now connected to you as a child is to it's mother, so yes. Such is the only way those like us can have that, as such they are your children.

“But sometimes, to defend a child, one must wait for the right time, and that time is not yet here. They will survive a bit longer, love. Both of them are very strong and know that you are watching.”

Damn. I hadn't thought of things in that light. But now that it had been pointed out I did understand just why a mother bear was so defensive of her cubs. I wanted to rip the guts out of anyone hurting those two, even if one of them had been part of the whole horrible thing once.

Mitsuko complied with the order, carefully folding her clothing and setting it aside, then looked at a shivering Samira. She moved forward and gently touched the other's cheek with one hand. “Is okay, Samira. We do as told, and Ghost Girl will see. She will make things better in time. Have patience, use strength, endure for now.”

“But they're going to expect me to do — things, that I still don't like.”

“Just do.” Mitsuko advised. “Less pain that way. Imagine biting it off, or kicking man in vulenreable place. Oh fight a little, not right if you don't, but just do as ordered. This will end. Ghost Girl has promised, and she keeps word, I think.”

“Yes, she does.” Samira nodded while suppressing a shudder at what The Spectre had told her would happen previously while remembering her first encounter with that being. “She does at that.”

Both waited, not without some trepidation, for what was to come next.

I couldn't watch any longer. Both Mitsuko and Samira had been superbly trained to be anything a man could want. I knew without thinking what some of the things they would be doing were going to show that.

But I'd marked each man there, and would be watching them in the future. To their detriment.

Oh yes, people were going to pay for all this. But not with what they'd done to others. That was too horrible to think about. If I inflicted that on them, as I had done with Samira before I knew all that I did now, I'd be no better than they were.

Even if the bastards deserved nothing less.

Damn. I was vengeance with a conscience.

Which kind of complicated things.

Kind of? Get real. It complicated things a lot.

But the bastards doing this were going down. Hard.

I'd see to that.

Samira was numb, at least mentally and emotionally once she was taken back to her cell-like room. She had been touched in places, caressed, pinched, slapped and squeezed on parts of her anatomy that she never thought she would possess in another, far gone, life during that session. She had even resisted a bit and paid for it in more pain before complying with her keepers' and their guests' wishes.

She carefully showered, cleaned herself thoroughly between her legs, brushed her teeth, and used the sweet tasting mouthwash while trying to forget the things she had done recently. More than one of the potential customers had taken her for a 'test drive' since Mitsuko was so obviously pregnant and awkward with something like that. The soreness between her legs reminded her of that.

But worse, to her still not completely acclimated mind, was the fact that all that had felt good. She had actually liked having a man inside her, welcomed the release of losing herself in the sensations for even a short time as they used her.

Once clean, Samira went to the narrow bed she was allowed, settled onto it, then curled into as small a ball as she could while quietly sobbing and shivering.

“You did very well today, Mitsuko.” Her husband approvingly touched her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. “The buyers were very impressed with you and with Samira today.”

“My duty is to please, husband.” She answered softly, fighting back the tears that came when she recalled what she, and Samira had been forced to do earlier. “Am glad you are happy with this insignificant woman.”

“Oh, you aren't insignificant.” He assured her with an expression that was close to gloating. “You're the first of our girls to become pregnant naturally, and that is a big thing, my dear. Now our potential buyers know we can provide submissive, fertile wives or mistresses whenever they want. Child bearing females who have no ego to get in the way of things for their husbands or masters.”

“I am pleased that you are pleased, husband.” She said quietly while gently setting a delicate hand on her belly to find the strength to go on with the travesty of a life she had been forced into. “Baby is good thing.”

“You don't mind being pregnant, then?” He questioned.

“Not mind at all.” Mitsuko actually gave him a genuine smile. “Growing new life is never bad thing.”

“Interesting.” Is all he said in response while obviously making a mental note for later.

“Samira.” I softly called to the lump under the thin blanket that covered the narrow bed. “I haven't forgotten you.”

“Why not?” She asked uncurling and looking nowhere in particular. “I deserve what I'm getting here, you said so yourself not too long ago.”

“That was before I actually knew what was going on in this hellish place.” I told her with a sigh. “Even with what you did, you don't deserve this.”

“I need to pay for what I did.” She shot back, miserably.

“And you haven't done that already?” I asked gently. “I put you through Hell, Samira, and unlike the others I've sent there, you're still alive. “I don't expect you to believe this right now, but I'll be a long time asking for you to forgive me for what I've done to you.”

“You asking me for forgiveness?” She snorted. “I have over thirty people to ask that of, and I don't think one of them will give it.”

“One has.” I pointed out.

“Mitsuko.” She nodded and there were tears in her eyes as she did. “I helped train her, hurt her, and she still doesn't hold that against me.”

“Mitsuko is a very special person, Samira.” I said while stroking her cheek. “You've learned your lesson now, she knows that and I will get both of you free of this, I swear it.”

“And what will I have if you do that?” Samira bitterly asked.

“A life.” I shrugged. “True, it won't be the life you expected, but you'll be young, healthy, attractive, and free.”

“And a woman, with submissive leanings ingrained.”

“Those you can fight, and overcome.” I answered. “If you're strong enough. And being a woman isn't such a bad thing. I have a view of both sides myself, and if you approach it right, it can be very good at times.”

“You were a man, male?” She gave me a disbelieving look and I returned that with a little grin and shrug. “I don't believe it.”

“I was.” I simply told her. “I wasn't happy at first, but now I have two men that I love very much, and they love me back. So you see, not all is lost. You can have a life, and love, if you can just be strong enough not to completely give in to what these people are doing to you. Keep your sense of self for awhile longer and I will get you out of this.”

“Why?” She looked at me in something like wonder. “I was one of the people doing this to others. Why would you take so much interest in getting me out of what you put me into?”

“Because you're a victim now, too.” I said. “I defend victims, and you're one because of me. I need to fix that, make it better for you and the others who have been victimized in this place. But you are here because of me, and I feel responsible. I don't make victims, Samira, I defend them. I'm sorry for what I've done to you because of that.”

“Sorry?” She almost exploded with the emotions pouring out of her. The rage, the hurt, the resentment. “Sorry won't change what you've done to me!”

“No.” I let out a sigh and nodded. “It won't. The best I can do now is to get you out of this and give you a chance at a real life again. Like I said, I'll be waiting a long time for your forgiveness.”

“Can you get me, and the others out of this?”

“Yes.” I answered and again touched her cheek, she flinched but didn't pull away. “Soon. You have my word on that, and you know I keep my word.”

“Yes, I know that all too well.” She tiredly answered.

“Then keep that inner strength you have.” I was cajoling, I knew it, but it was needed just then. “Hold on for just a bit longer. I swear again that you will be free of this soon.”

“I hope so.”

“It will be so.” I assured her then kissed her forehead. “It will be so.”

Damn. Tisiphone was right. Mitsuko and Samira were like my children. And I had the mother's imperative to protect her children.

Something I was going to do, no matter what it cost.

I went back to being Deena for awhile, I did have to make a living for my human life, but with every 'customer' I took care of, I remembered what Samira and Mitsuko had been put through. Oh, don't get me wrong, the simple act of having sex helped defuse a lot of my tension. That was part and parcel of my human self and personality. That was not something that would change any time soon and I accepted that.

But I still had the mental, the emotional anguish to deal with even if the urge to commit bloody violence had been at least temporarily quelled.

I'd sentenced a human being to the very thing I was working to end. And as I told Samira, I protected victims, I didn't make them. So yes, I was feeling a lot of guilt just then.

So I went to the one place, the one person, who I could actually just talk to.

He was working on another issue of his Spectre comic when I got there.

“I like how you're showing that she cares about people, Kyle.” I softly told him then stood back when he almost hit the ceiling from surprise.

“Couldn't you, you know, call before you just pop in?” He asked once he'd gotten his breathing under control and managed to turn to look at me.

“Sorry, forgot.” I went to my Deena form and hugged him. “It's been a really bad couple of days for me. I just needed to come and talk with you.”

He sighed while looking at the story board he'd been working on and shook his head with a small grin. “I should be used to it by now, and I'm going to have to redo that whole frame now.”

“Sor...”

“You already said that.” He gently put a finger to my mouth to stop me from saying it again. “So what's gone so bad that you look as if you've lost your last friend?”

“I created a victim.” I answered and not without my voice shaking. “To get vengeance and do something I'm working on right now.”

“You — kill people without a thought.” He slowly answered then looked me directly in the eyes. “So aren't you creating victims all the time?”

“Oh, it is never without thought.” I countered and let out a shuddering little sigh. “But this one is still alive, and I condemned them to Hell on Earth just to satisfy something in me that I don't like to think about too much just now.”

“So now you're trying to get this person out of it?” He asked.

“Yes.” I nodded and tears were running down my cheeks. “I defend victims, Kyle, I don't make them, except for this once, and it's tearing me apart right now.”

“If I have to kill a hundred, a thousand people to do it.” I said softly.

“I won't go there, but I will tell you this much.” He answered. “With what you do, sometimes you care too much for your own good. Let me ask you this, did this person deserve to be punished?”

“Yes, but not like she is being treated now.”

“So you feel she, this person, has paid for what she did before?”

“Yes, enough for ten lives.” I was sobbing by then with the shame and self hate I felt over what I'd done to Samira.

“And you're working to get her out of the situation?”

“Yes.”

“The what will you do when that happens?” He questioned.

“Work to make sure she has a decent life, watch over her, whatever I can that won't interfere too much with her life once she's free.”

“You aren't a bad person, Deena/Diana.” He assured me. “Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes those do impact on others. A lot of people don't even try to fix things like that. They just go on and try to forget it, or ignore the fact. You on the other hand, are working to make it right. True?”

“Yes.”

“Then just fix what you can, hope for the best with the rest of whatever crap this has caused, and know that you're doing the right thing, the good thing here. You once showed me that needless blame and guilt are useless things if you intend to get on with life. It's time right now for you to take that and apply it to yourself.

“Just do what you can to take care of the problem.” He simply told me and hugged me tight while kissing my forehead. “After all, that's about all anyone could do in that kind of situation isn't it?”

“But...”

“No buts.” He interrupted me with a kiss then pulled back to look at me again. “You made a mistake. It happens to everyone. Let that go and work to fix what you can. That's all I'm saying here. Guilt isn't going to help at all. I learned that from you, like I said earlier. Shit happens, love. We mortals, and you not so mortals just have to deal with it as best we can.”

You have a good one here, daughter. Tisiphone informed me at that point. Wiser than many a god ever thought of being. Listen to him.

Oh, yes. I know. I thought back to her without being offended at her eavesdropping in the least. My Kyle, this one is a very special person.

He proved that by gently leading me to his bed and just holding me once we got there.

And how I'd needed that. I hadn't even consciously realized it until then, but I had.