Diamond in the Rough by Lynceus Lee Crawley had given up on trying to be a hero a long time ago; the world owed him a living, and he intended on taking whatever he wanted. Then he made the mistake of thinking superpowers would make his life easier...

---

Authors Note: Lily is a character introduced previously in Big Trouble!, Chapters 4 and 5. I'm not sure what kind of solo adventures she'll have, but hopefully we'll see more of her in the future.

I felt like I'd just closed my eyes when my alarm clock went off. I used to be a quick riser, a habit I'd picked up during my stint in the Corps. Emphasis on 'used to be'.

I was groggy, and my body felt heavy. I intended to simply reach over and hit the snooze button, instead, I smashed the clock into little pieces. “Fuck.”

I sat up slowly and stretched. My bones make these strange popping noises; according to Jade and Doris, whatever the hell I'm made out of, it's something a lot tougher than human flesh and bone. A few days ago, a revelation like that would have scared the shit out of me, but at some point, you either got to start rolling with the punches or lay down in the corner and bleed.

And I'm not the kind of person to go out quietly. Trust me on that.

I stand up, my bed creaking ominously. I hadn't really noticed how heavy I'd gotten; I sure don't look like I weigh a lot, even as tall as I am. My physical strength kept increasing even as my body got tougher, denser. I scratch my side, stifling a yawn.

My sense of touch doesn't feel right anymore; I mean, I feel stuff, but there's a short little delay that always throws me off. Given the fact that my skin is tougher than the side of an M-1 Abrams, I'm lucky to feel anything at all.

Doris claims that my sense of touch is completely gone, and instead, it's been replaced by some kind of ESP. Something about my nerves no longer being able to transmit information to my brain. Which is fucking strange, and yet, it kind of makes sense. I'd always been able to ignore pain or physical discomfort for long periods of time; if my vision had been sharper, I could have gone for sniper training.

Something else that's changed; I now see several times better than a normal human. Not that I have much interest in being a sniper anymore. I turn to face the young woman in the mirror and sigh.

I don't know what the hell I want now.

-

Sense of touch or no, the shower feels good. The water should be hot enough to boil me, but it just feels pleasant. A little too pleasant, actually. My brain isn't really wired to handle the body of a 20 year-old girl. I don't want to think about what will happen if I keep getting younger.

Doris is convinced I won't get much younger than sixteen but...fuck. Sixteen? I'd be barely more than a kid! My old life was gone. I mean, I'd known that for awhile now, but I'd been trying to ignore it. Just offload the shit in the warehouse, and then maybe take a long vacation to get my head together.

Now the warehouse was gone, destroyed by an angry giantess, what remained had been confiscated by the cops and the feds. A lot of dangerous people were looking for Lee Crawley, and I knew eventually they'd start looking for his 'daughter', Lily.

I actually grinned thinking about it. I felt sorry for the jackass that tried to lean on Lil. She was a tough kid. Real tough.

-

One small favor I'm thankful for; my hair dries fast. It's almost like water particles just slide right off my hair...although that can't actually be the case, since we were able to dye it. I really like the color, a real dark red hue. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to get it out of my way.

I feel sorry for girls who try to have really long hair- it's a pain in the ass! About the best I can manage to do is drape it over one shoulder; we went through several scrunchies before Doris just gave up trying.

A strand of my hair isn't sharp enough to draw blood, but it will shred fabric and paper eventually. I bet I could use my hair to garotte somebody if I put my mind to it! Although, I probably should file that thought away for now.

I'd promised I'd try to be a good girl. Yeah, like that was going to happen.

Still, Doris was a good person, and I kind of liked having her as a friend. I don't have many friends, and technically, Lil doesn't have any. Jade cut me loose, but I could tell she'd have no qualms about locking me away somewhere and losing the key.

Which was fair enough, really. Just as long as she didn't try to get me to run around wearing spandex to earn my freedom. I have to draw the line somewhere!

Although, to be fair, the other girls did look fine in spandex. Criminal, really, considering most of them used to be guys! I still didn't know how I felt about that, but I don't have much room to talk, obviously.

-

They don't make a lot of clothes for girls my size; hell, at 6' 5”, none of the stuff I'd worn as a guy would fit anyways. Apparently, though, Jade's magic ring can create clothes, which explains where Doris got that minidress- it's almost indecent!

Of course, Jade wasn't going to give me one of those rings, and I really couldn't blame her. She was nice enough to supply me with some clothes anyways; just like on Star Trek, her spaceship can create just about anything.

That's enough to give me pause right there. All my life, I'd had to make do with less than I wanted. It made me angry, and every chance I had, I took whatever I wanted from others. But now, if I really wanted something, in theory, at least, Jade could just hand it to me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't know that it can make precious metals or money, but I currently have a new driver's license, state ID, birth certificate and SS card. A whole new identity. And a debit card attached to a fairly decent-sized account.

Apparently when Lena (Doris's gf) gets back into town, they'll be able to transfer pretty much all of my assets and property to my new identity as well.

There suddenly wasn't a lot of reason to go back to my life of crime. I'm not really sure what to think about that.

-

It's chilly this morning, but I really need to go for a jog. The sweatpants and hoodie fit perfectly, but I felt more than a little self-conscious wearing them; light pink isn't really my color. But being comfortable and warm beats out all other considerations, and I made my way towards Lake Shore Drive.

Jogging several city blocks doesn't even wind me; I can't believe how much stamina I have now. And it feels good too; I feel like I have way too much energy, and I need to burn it off. The miles just sort of blur, and I stop thinking, just existing in the moment.

A growl in the pit of my stomach snaps me back to reality. To my surprise, I'm already at Navy Pier! Which isn't a bad thing, really; nothing takes the edge off an empty stomach like a Chicago-style hot dog with the works!

It's going to be a gloomy day. The sky is grey, and it's probably going to rain. I like watching it rain by the lakefront, but it means I'm probably not going to be able to jog home. I lean back on the park bench, thinking about it, when I realize I'm being watched.

Aw hell. A couple of young guys are checking me out. I may be a girl now, but if you could rate my interest in guys on a scale, it'd be a negative number. A really low negative number. I try to give them my best surly glare.

All that manages to do is encourage one of them! What the fuck...!

He's a few inches shorter than me, although I'm willing to bet he hasn't realized that fact, as I'm still sitting down. Wavy blonde hair, blue eyes...I feel ill. This is the kind of too-handsome jackass I used to rough up for the fun of it.

He smiles. “Hi.”

I roll my eyes at him. “No.”

He blinks at me. “...no?”

“I don't want to meet you, I don't want to know you, and I'm sure as hell not interested.”

He stiffens. Ah, I've wounded his male pride. I should have more pity for him, but...I don't. “Hey, I was just trying to be nice, you don't have to be a bitch about it!”

“Whatever. You just wanted to see if you could get in my panties. Which isn't going to happen this, or any other century. So get lost.”

With his buddy looking on, he really didn't have much choice. “You can't talk about me like that, you fucking slut! You some kind of dyke?”

I stand up so fast he doesn't know what to do, so instead he stands there, his eyes wide, as he comes to the realization that I'm taller than he is. I punch him (lightly) in the unmentionables. It was a low blow, a good inch below the belt. He doubles over, gasping for breath, and I push him, causing him to fall on his ass.

I look over to his wingman. “You better come take care of this asshole, before I get really mad!”

And without another word, I walk away. Great, I've become every pretty girl I've ever met, a total bitch.

Well, that's not really fair. Doris and Flash seem ok. But then again, they probably don't count.

-

Later that afternoon, I step out onto my balcony to have a smoke. The rain has finally died down to a drizzle, but the sky is still dark, and I can see flashes of lightning off over the lake. It matches my mood perfectly. I take a drag, and about hack up a lung.

“What the fuck?!” I stab out the cigarette angrily. “Now I can't even have a god-damned smoke?!”

“You're better off not smoking anyways, it's a nasty habit.”

I whirl, only to find Jade standing behind me. Well, not exactly standing; she was hovering a few inches off the ground, putting her at eye level to me. A subtle, but effective tactic.

I growl. “Jeez, you're spying on me now?”

She crossed her arms. “What did you expect? Doris seems to think you're ok, but I'm not convinced. You're a criminal, you hurt people for a living. And now that you have superpowers, you're beating up guys for having the nerve to hit on you?”

Christ. She had been spying on me! I lean against the railing (carefully- last thing I want to do is break it and end up falling to street level. It might not hurt, but it wouldn't exactly be dignified!) and sigh. “Maybe you're right. I can't argue with you; I'm not a very nice person. And now I'm powerful enough to be dangerous. I mean, you can't even hurt me, can you?”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don't be so sure. I may not be able to hurt you directly, but I could trap you in a force field. Cut off your air. Maybe fly out into space and leave you there?”

Fuck, me and my stupid mouth. Did I really want to piss this girl off? I help up my hands. “Ok ok, I get the point. You can kick my ass.”

To my surprise, she actually smirked a little. “I didn't expect you to back down so fast. It doesn't match your psych profile.”

“Yeah...well...I don't exactly match my anything profile lately.”

She nods. “I know what you're going through. It hasn't been easy for the others either. But Lily...you really need to think about where you're going to go from here. Long and hard.”

“Yeah. I just don't know what to do. Put on some tights and pretend to be a superhero? I...don't think that's me. But what's the alternative?”

She smiled then, flashing perfect white teeth. “You know, I've heard this before.”

“Yeah, yeah. I bet you have. But there has to be a third option.”

“There is, Lily. You're young again. You could go back to school, and simply try to make a new life for yourself.”

I open my mouth, and then shut it. School? “I...I don't know if I could do that. Hell, and even then, what kind of school? College? For all I know, I'm going to end up looking like a damn High Schooler!”

Jade's features softened slightly. “That scares you, doesn't it?”

“Fuck yeah it does!”

“Why? I mean, it's not like a normal person could hurt you.”

I stop and think about that for a moment. “I...I guess I don't feel it. I know that a guy would break his hand trying to slap me around. I know that bullets can't hurt me. But...”

“You still feel vulnerable. You look vulnerable. Weak.”

I shiver a little, and not from the cold. “Yeah. All my life, there have been two kinds of people, you know? The strong and the weak. If you're strong, nobody can push you around. If you're not...everyone can.”

She shook her head. “You realize how stupid that is, right?”

“Oh sure, I can beat sense into people, like that punk earlier. But I don't want to have to do that every day for the rest of my life!”

“No that's not what I...look, Lily. You've lost your perspective. It's like you can't believe that there are decent people out there anymore.”

“And you can?”

She smiles again. “I know a few.”

Hmm. “Like Doris.”

“She's one, yes. I know you didn't meet her at her best, but...”

I wave her off. “I know. She was upset about her girl.”

“It's a bit more complicated than that. Her control over her powers is directly tied into her mental state. Yes, she was worried about Lena, but that was just the spark that lit the fuse. Doris is like a nuclear reactor. Kept under control, she can light a city. But if she goes critical...”

I shivered again. I didn't care for that analogy. Not one bit. “She could explode?”

“Don't you remember? She did explode. A small explosion, just enough to level your warehouse, but she could do a lot more than that.”

“Shit. Is that something I need to worry about?”

“Possibly. We don't fully understand how your powers work, Lily. Your bones are turning into some kind of metal, as far as my ring can tell. The rest of your body is much denser than human tissue. We don't know what the end result of that will be, what the side effects could be like. And despite all this, you weigh a lot less than you should, given your body's composition.”

“...sometimes, like when I first wake up, I feel really heavy...”

“You can unconsciously control your own density. Not as dramatically as Doris, but you're still violating the laws of physics just by standing there.”

I'm scared, but I try to push the fear away. “This from the girl standing on thin air.”

Again, she surprises me, by actually giggling. I can't help but crack a smile as well. She hovers to the ground, and I realize something has changed. She feels like she can cede me the height advantage. It's a small gesture, but one worth noting.

“You're at a crossroads, Lil. We've all been there, and we can help you. All you have to do is ask.”

“That's not easy for me, Jade. Asking for help. I'm not used to getting it.”

“I know. And even the woman you love betrayed you.”

I start to correct her. Loved. Except...I can't. I still love Maddie. And it hurts. You could shoot me with a shotgun, and it wouldn't even sting. But thinking about Maddie...and it's an almost physical pain.

Jade gently touches my arm. “I'm sorry.”

I sigh. “It's the past. Nothing that can be changed now. But I appreciate it. I don't know if I can make any promises. Can I change? Already, so much has changed that I don't even know who I am anymore...it's a mess. I'll try. That's all I can do.”

She nods. “It's a start, hon. And don't worry, if you screw up, I'll be there to put you in your place.”

“Gee, thanks. I don't know how to thank you.” I lay on the sarcasm thick, but she just grins at me.

“Don't mention it.”

“Don't worry...I won't!”

-

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I turned in early; I had a lot to think about. Too much to think about, really. I couldn't sleep. I was debating whether or not to say fuck it and get back up, when my cell phone rang.

I reached for it, and looked to see who it was.

Maddie.

Fuck my life.

Diamond in the Rough-2 by Lynceus When someone tries to kill you, let alone twice, it's probably a good idea to cut your losses. Especially when some quirk of genetics turns you into a pretty girl, let alone give you superpowers. Old habits are hard to break though, and when Maddie calls, claiming she's in trouble, Lily can't help herself, and goes cross-country to help. And quickly gets in way over her head!

---

I didn't pick up the phone. I mean, what would the point be? Lee Crawley was gone. Still, I listened to Maddie's message anyways. She was in trouble, she had no one else to turn to, and she was sorry.

Fuck.

The woman betrayed me and shot me (twice!). So why did I feel a twinge in my heart, why did I have this urge to drop everything and go to her? And even if I did, what could I do? She didn't know me, and wouldn't trust me either.

Then again, if she did get herself killed, I'd never forgive myself for ignoring her. It must be love.

I know I sound like a broken record, but fuck my life.

I packed the few possessions I felt like keeping, grabbed a stack of CD's to keep me company, and left town in my aging Chevy Silverado. I had no idea if I'd make it to Jersey in time, or what I was going to do when I got there. But I had to try.

I made as few stops as possible on my trip, mostly taking short naps in the truck. By the time I got to Atlantic City, though, it was a miracle I was still conscious. I pulled into a motel and got a room. The night clerk, some college-age girl gave my ID a second glance, but gave me my room.

I didn't even bother with a shower, I curled up on the bed and then I was out like a light.

I woke up, and for a few moments I had no idea where I was. It was dark outside, but a quick glance at the clock informed me that it was 5 A.M.. Fuck, I hadn't wanted to sleep this long, I probably missed my check-out time!

One advantage of being up so early though, was the fact that there wasn't much competition for hot water, which is good, because I like my showers hot as hell and long. From the steam rising in the tiny bathroom, I knew that a normal human would be badly burned by the heat, but to me, it felt just fine.

Stepping out of the shower, I shook my head, and drops of water slid right off my hair, leaving it only slightly damp. I have no idea what my hair is actually made out of these days. It looks normal, and feels right (at least, to me), but I'm pretty sure if someone who wasn't indestructible ran their fingers through it, they'd cut themselves.

I wipe away the condensation from the mirror, and realize why the clerk was acting oddly when I checked in. The girl in the mirror looks somewhere south of 18. It's only a few years off from my ID, so most people wouldn't be able to put their finger on what exactly is off about the photo- but I sure as hell notice!

So I was still getting younger. Just fucking great. My breasts feel a little smaller than before as well, but it could be a trick of my imagination. Well there was no point dwelling on it, although this made my job harder. The best way I had to find Maddie was to hit the casinos- most likely she'd be working at one of them.

I wouldn't blend very well wearing sweatpants and a hoodie though. I was going to have to buy something a bit more...flattering. Contrary to what you might think, I do know a thing or two about women's clothing. I've helped enough girls take off their clothes, at the very least, and I know what I like. And I've been drug into my fair share of clothing stores too.

It's just weird thinking about buying that kind of stuff for myself- the last thing I really want is guys drooling over me. The trick would be finding something in my size- most girls with my figure aren't nearly six and a half feet tall!

I'll gloss over the shopping, but in case you're curious, I found an olive green tall woven shift dress that fit me better than I could have expected, with a pair of low heels. I know, olive green, but really, if you're a redhead, some shade of green is probably your best color. Doris can pull off a pale shade of pink, but I wasn't sure I could.

If nothing else, the stares heading my way seemed appreciative enough. Or maybe a tall, leggy girl with bright red hair would look good in a burlap sack!

Wearing heels isn't as much of a pain as I'd thought it would be- the main reason I went with a pair of low heels is mostly because I'm already tall enough, thank you very much. I've heard some of my fellow men-turned-girls complain about wearing heels, so maybe I just got lucky in the natural balance department. If I got into a fight though, you better believe I'd be taking the bitches off fast!

One big difference with women's outfits is that concealing a weapon is a lot harder. I felt naked without a blade or a gun. I compromised with a roll of dimes stashed in the (ridiculously tiny) purse I'd bought. I know, super strong, it's not like I needed an edge. But old habits die hard, and I'd rather be accused of overkill than not being prepared.

I started at Caesar's Atlantic City, and I definitely was getting attention! Mostly the wrong kind, from anything remotely male. As for the ladies, I couldn't help but smirk seeing their jealous stares. If only they knew the truth about me!

I couldn't resist gambling a little, but I kept it low-key. I'd been tossed out of casinos before, thanks to some of my old bad habits. The kid at the poker table doesn't look much older than I do, and she's making some rookie mistakes that have me curious. Other than being cute, she doesn't seem experienced enough to be running a serious card game.

I should take it easy on her, but the other players sure aren't, and, well, it's hard to pass up a sure thing. I guess I got a little carried away, because as I rake in the pot off my last hand, I notice a pair of security goons behind me. I tip the girl with a high-value chip and stand up to face the music.

I don't think the boys realized how tall I was, sitting down, because their heads crane upwards slowly, a little bit of awe in their eyes. It's weird, but it feels good to elicit that kind of response in people. I feel like a goddess among mortals!

I better clamp down on that real quick, though, or I'll end up having another heart-to-heart with Jade, and not the good kind.

The guys ask me to come with them, and I play nice. I have to force myself not to smile when they bring me to the head of security- I know the guy! Charlie Victor was in the Corps the same time I was- we didn't serve together, but we'd met a few times. He was a short guy, about as wide as he is tall, with no neck and thick muscles. A little bit of a gut, but I knew he hadn't gone soft.

He still wore his dog tags around his neck. “Huh, you're a big bitch, ain't ya?”

I smirk at him. “Quality and quantity. So is this where you threaten me, rough me up, and kick me out the door?”

He frowned. “I don't like bullying girls. What's a kid like you doing hustling my tables anyways?” He turned to face his goon patrol. “Let me guess, Nikki's table?”

“Who else?” The taller of the two goons shrugged. “You know the grifters can't resist an easy mark.”

Damn, I fell for a trap! “I didn't do anything illegal, but if you want the money back...”

Charlie snorted. “Nothing illegal my ass. I'm going to let you off easy though- you probably need the dough, and I'd hate to see you hookin' for cash.”

I made a face. “Sell my body? Fuck that. Never happen.”

He looked me up and down. “You're too healthy to be a junkie, and I don't see no tracks. So what do you need the cash for? You a runaway?”

Jesus, how young did I look? “Not exactly. I'm in town looking for someone, that's all. Couldn't resist earning some extra green though.”

“Looking for somebody? In a casino? This I gotta hear. Who?”

“Girl by the name of Madison Jeffries.”

Charlie's eyes widened, and he looked to his subordinates. “Take a hike, boys, I need to talk to the little chica alone.”

They left, quick. Charlie gestured to a chair, and I sat down, mostly to cede him some height advantage. He got in real close, and I could smell brandy and cigar on his breath, as well as his aftershave. Thankfully, it wasn't an unpleasant combination.

“Who the hell are you, asking about Maddie?”

“Lily Crawley.”

He blinked. “Crawley? You know Lee Crawley?”

I nodded. “My uncle. He's dead, shot in a police raid. I was staying with him, because I had no place else to go. I was at his place, when she left a message on his machine. I know it sounds stupid, but he used to talk about her a lot, and, well, I figured she deserved to know. Plus, she sounded like she was in trouble.”

“Huh. Good story. You practice that one a lot? Like hell you're Lee's niece.”

I shrugged. “Ask me anything about him. Who else do you think taught me to play cards like that?”

He frowned. “Anything?”

I gave him a smile.

I won't go into what he asked me- it's not important, and nobody's reputations need to be ruined over that little incident in the desert. Suffice it to say, I passed Charlie's test, and he took me up to the bar. He had another brandy. I wanted one too, but instead I got a Coke.

Then he told me the story.

“Maddie came into town, and immediately got up to her old tricks. Not here, of course, she knew better than to try it. I offered her a job, but she said she was done with working for other people. How did she put it? Yeah...”

I'm through being a working stiff, Charlie. It's brought me nothing but pain.

“So anyways, she makes a lot of money fast, but what good will that do? Now everyone knows her, knows what to expect, not just us old-timers. And I guess that was the point, 'cuz next time I see her, she's on the arm of that Sharpe guy.”

“Who?”

“Steven Sharpe the Fifth, if you believe him. Real high-roller, but a lot of rumors, you know? I've seen him and his sister hanging with some major players.”

“So what was Maddie doing with this guy?”

Charlie sighed. “Who can say? Maybe running a con, maybe just trying to get some security. She's still a very pretty woman, but she ain't getting any younger.”

Damn her. Maddie was a smart girl, but that had always been her problem. She could never settle for what she had, she always wanted more. More than I could give her. I should let her burn, but I had to know.

“So what happened next?”

“She showed up here, looking all confused. I barely recognized her, I guess she must have had some work done or something. Took ten years off her, easy. Anyways, she starts playing craps, and she's on fire, I never seen anything like it. I was about to have my guys move in, because you know, she had to be cheating somehow, when Sharpe's sister, Rebecca, shows up and Maddie freezes. I don't know what Rebecca told her, but she led Maddie out of here like a little lost sheep. I asked her if she was ok, and all she said was...”

It doesn't matter anymore, Charlie.

“...and that was the last I saw of her.”

“So Sharpe comes here often?”

Charlie shook his head. “No way, missy. I'm putting you on a bus back home, wherever that is. Maddie's probably dead, and on the off chance you are Lee's family, I ain't letting you get killed.”

“I guess you're right, I should let it go.”

Charlie gave me a look. “Yeah, right. You sound just like Lee. Meanest son of a bitch I ever met, but he always picked the stupidest times to be the hero. Hell, there was this one time...” He trailed off and coughed. “Never mind, you're too young for that story.”

I had to hide a smirk. He had to be talking about that bar in Kuwait. We'd confiscated some contraband from the Iraqi's and we were trying to sell it back to them after we'd kicked Saddam in the balls. The black market guys were real cagey, and we'd been playing it cool. Then I saw one of them backhand his girlfriend. Charlie was one of the guys who'd had to pull me off the bastard.

Cost us a lot of money, but I know I'd do it again. I'm a sucker for a pretty girl. The irony is, now I am a pretty girl, and nothing's changed.

I managed to convince Charlie I was going to be a good little girl, but you and I know better. Rebecca Sharpe was a very pretty redhead, which, as I know from personal experience, means she stands out in a crowd. Of course, she doesn't have the curse of being quite as tall as yours truly, but the way she wears a dress is nothing short of criminal.

I'd traded in my own dress for a security guard uniform I'd 'borrowed' from the hotel. Charlie may run a tight ship, but I was MSPF*; I'd been trained to get in and out of much worse places than a luxury hotel.

*Maritime Special Purpose Force

Rebecca had a very sweet ride, a '56 Chevy Corvette, candy apple red, with the vanity plate HAZRD56. Hazard, huh? We'll see about that.

I waited in that damn garage for three hours, but I could be patient. Sure enough, she came out, not a care in the world. I came up behind her as she opened the door, and put my hand over my mouth. “Don't fight me. I can break your pretty little neck and you'll never even know why.”

She stiffened, but didn't struggle. “Good. I'm going to take my hand away from your mouth. You speak when you're spoken to, you try to scream, don't think you'll walk away from me alive.”

I removed my hand. “Now. I'm looking for Madison Jeffries. Where is she?”

In a level voice, Rebecca answered. “We have an office building in town. We're keeping th...her, there.”

“Them? As in more than one person? Fine. You're going to get me in there.”

“Hardly. I'm not in charge, the people who are won't just let us walk in there.”

“Now don't be like that, 'Becca. If you're useless to me, I have no reason to let you live.”

She laughed. “You're trying too hard to sound threatening. Let me guess, you're that girl who's claiming to be Lily Crawley?”

What the hell? Did Charlie sell me out? “So what if I am?”

“You're just a kid, you can't seriously think you can take these people on. What is she to you, anyways? She tried to kill your, ah, uncle. Oh she told me all about it. You owe this woman nothing.”

Her argument was logical, but annoying. “It doesn't concern you.”

“Oh I'm afraid it does, since the girl has some value to me.”

I'd lost control of this situation. Damn I'm getting soft! I grabbed her neck tightly. “Don't fuck with me. Give me the keys.”

She complied, but you would too- my hands look delicate, but I got a grip like a steel vice. “Good.” I let her go and opened the door. “Get in. Passenger side.”

She didn't even look at me as she got into the car, crawling into the other seat. I did get a good look at her rear end, and while I was never a butt man, it was very nice. Great. For weeks, my brain and my hormones have been at odds, and they pick now to come to an agreement.

Somehow, Rebecca Sharpe had done for me what Swedish lebsian porn couldn't do. I bit my tongue not to laugh. Somehow I doubt she'd appreciate the notion that she'd made a lesbian out of me!

I moved the seat back and got in. Real leather upholstery. I had to give her props. “Sweet ride.”

She buckled in, then rubbed her neck. I'd left her with a little bruise. I tried not to let that bother me. “It was my grandfather's.”

“Ok, you give me directions, and we'll drive to this office of yours.”

“And what then? You can't let me go, and if you try to take me with you, you're going to get shot. This plan is going to get you killed.”

“Won't that make you happy? Just tell me where I'm going.” I start the Corvette. God, the thing purrs like a kitten. I actually felt giddy. I still remember the first 'Vette I ever drove. Me and my friends stole it and took it for a joyride. I ended up spending a night in jail when all was said and done, but it was worth it.

The place was one of those little office buildings nobody looks twice at. A little upscale for me, I prefer warehouses, but I had to admit, it did the job, and was less likely to be flattened by a giantess!

I parked up the street. “Well I guess this is where...”

I never got to finish the sentence, because the bitch shot me! She couldn't have hidden the thing in her dress- I kid you not, she had a two-shot Derringer pistol! She must have had it stashed in the car somewhere. Being invulnerable makes a guy...girl, sloppy I guess.

The bullet doesn't quite ricochet off me, but it does bounce off and land on the floor, and it smolders on the floor. Rebecca's eyes get wide when she realizes all she's done is put a hole in the uniform coat- and piss me off.

I snatch the still-smoking gun and glare at her. “That was a stupid thing to do.”

“...oh my god. You're...you're one of them! Did you escape or something?”

I had no idea what she was talking about, but I figured I'd play along. “That's right.”

She shivers. “Why would you come back? Why? If I could get away...oh god. They're going to kill us. Or worse.”

“Worse?”

“Yes. They...they can do something to your mind. Make you a slave. You'll do anything for them. You're just...happy all the time. Oh god..”

“Calm down. How did you get involved? They didn't just snatch you off the street?”

“No. They look for women with useful skills. They...they make promises. You get to be young and pretty, and more.”

I raised an eyebrow. “How old are you, anyways?”

“34.”

Fuck. I'd card the bitch for a pack of smokes! “So that's how they got you. You had money, they made an offer you couldn't refuse.”

She nodded. “They needed some capital, me and my brother were able to get them the funds they needed.”

“And you couldn't resist trying the product. So you got powers?”

“Yes...I can...I'm lucky. Really lucky.”

Luck could be a superpower? Well I sure know it wasn't one I had! “And Maddie too?”

“No, she...her power is different. She was involved before we were. She can control plastic with her mind. Like changing casino dice so they're balanced wrong. Little stuff. They wanted to make her stronger, so they had Steven drug her and bring her back. She escaped somehow, before they were done. They sent me to get her. She was totally out of it. She told me they were going to steal her mind. Make her a little doll they could control. She told me to get out but...it's too late.”

I realized that I was officially in way over my head. I started the car again. “I guess I need a better plan if I'm going to get her out of there.”

Rebecca looked at me. “I don't understand. Why are you doing this for her?”

“It's not just her. Not anymore. I'm doing this for all of them. You, her, anyone else they've nabbed. But I'm going to need some backup.”

I drove back to my hotel. I don't know if I could trust Rebecca, but she still seemed to be in shock. She tried to kill me, and here I was wanting to help her. I'm such a sucker for a pretty face.

And then I made what was likely the most important phone call I've ever made. A female voice answered. “Hello, can I help you?”

It wasn't a voice I recognized. The girl on the other end sounded...I don't know, British maybe? “Uh, yeah, is Doris there?”

“Afraid not, her and Lena are out of town right now.”

“...fuck.”

“Hey, who is this anyways?”

“My name is Lily, I'm...”

“Oh yeah, I remember you. The invulnerable one, right? I'm Rena, by the way. Hey..are you in some kind of trouble?”

“I..yeah. A bit.” It's not like me to admit that, but, well, like I said. I knew I was in over my head. “Water's getting a bit deep, if you know what I mean.”

I could hear her grin over the phone, I swear. “Well you're in luck, Lily, I can handle some pretty deep water.”

“I sure hope so. So can you, uh, fly? I'm in Atlantic City.”

“Fly? I wish, but I swim real fast. Just tell me where you're at, and I'll get to you as soon as I can.”

Swim? Great. I call the cavalry, and I get the superhero who probably talks to fish.

Just my luck.