Confessions to a Sister of Battle

It was late at night back at the Baxter building, and everyone else was already asleep, save for a select few. Those who did not need sleep, and those who simply couldn’t. Case in point being the former model and sex **** in their shared quarters. They had changed into a spare set of night clothes provided by Susan Storm for them to wear, a third set was offered to their third bunkmate but… She declined.

Staring back at each other from across their beds, the model and former **** looked down at the Canoness who crouched to one knee between them. Her black armor removed and sitting at the far corner of the room while she folded her hands to her chest in the symbol of a two headed bird and prayed. The two women were greeted with the sight of what their third bedmate looked like without her armor, wearing a simple white linen like a toga. It was hard to determine what was more impressive; how physically fit the woman was, or how marred by tragedy she looked.

Susan considered herself having a healthy figure, but this woman took it to the next level. This version of the woman was built strong and muscular, like she had worked out and exercised her entire life. Granted she was nowhere near as big as the wendigo sleeping in the adjacent room but looking at her made the model feel petite. It filled her with awe, wondering if she had the strength to lift her with one hand, and filled her with intense pity. For every muscle the woman had, she had ten times that in scars that seared her flesh. Her back, shoulders and arms were a patchwork of crossing, intersecting grooves and puckered scars from what could have been whips, blades, and anything else that made the woman look like a Frankenstein patchwork. They also noticed what looked like metallic implants bolted to her shoulders, lower neck, and spine, and in some places, they were found on her thighs and ankles.

Looking back at the heavy looking black armor and the ‘plugs’ bored into the woman’s body, it appeared that was what linked her to its frame. Except for one portion of her body. One of her hands down to the elbow forming the bird across her chest was artificial; a mechanical lattice of steel tendons and micro servos made from a metal they didn’t recognize. Giving each other a tenuous look, neither woman knew how to approach the matter until they heard the Canoness finish her prayers and shifted her legs to sit on the floor.

“You two have questions?”

Sitting back and squirming in their seats, they were a little taken back on how to proceed, until the sex **** leaned forward and pointed towards the Canoness’s mechanical arm. Raising her arm and clenching her bionic hand with a near silent whirl of servos. The Canoness sat up and turned her attention back to the other woman, her face soft and calm.

“The Druhkari… They live to cause pain, in all its aspects. When they invaded our city, Reed and I tried to find refuge, but the pointy eared demons snatched him from my hand and took that too.” Turning her attention to the model, the sitting woman leaned back when their eyes met. “It’s such a contradiction, the blades they use are so sharp, they cut clean through the bone as if it were never there… But their blades are coated, etched with a poison that sets your nervous system afire. They lingered for minutes to hear my screams before stealing my Reed away, and the poison didn’t run its course until 3 days later…”

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Hugging herself tightly, the model looked away, trying desperately not to picture that horrific scene play out in her head of a woman being braced down on a bed driven mad with pain.

“What of YOUR Reed? From what whispers I’ve heard from the… Others, you all have him in your own way.”

Looking down and hiding a frown before pretending to smile, the model wiped her hands down her skirt and finally looked back at the Canoness’s face.

“I… I don’t have a Reed.” Breathing in sharply, the model folded her hands together in her lap. “Each universe is different, at least that’s what we were told… My universe is simply what if Reed and I never met. Well… This is the result.” Susan proclaimed, her arms out to show off her well manicured fingers, stylish dress, and make-up accentuated beauty. “Without Reed, I pursued a career as a super model, and my life’s been hollow ever since.”

“Super… Model?”

“I would pose for photographs, sales pitches, product placements, car sales. It was my life for over a decade.”

“It means she gets paid to look pretty.” Whispered the woman sitting up on the opposite bed. Turning her attention to the sex ****, the Canoness still looked confused at the concept, and decided to change the subject.

“What of you then child, what of your Reed?”

Unsure how to answer, Susan squirmed in her seat, wringing her hands together as she became a collage of facial expressions. Closing her eyes, she answered.

“My Reed… Was not a good man.” Breathing and exhaling slowly, the woman continued. “Unlike her, I met my Reed like the others did, but where their stories go their paths, mine asked what if my Reed was bad?”

“Your Reed… Was cruel?”

Not answering but slowly nodding, the former sex **** looked down at her own hands and closed them slowly. “He used me, abused my body and mind, broke me like a toy… Then I ended up here. The Reed of this world is everything MY Reed isn’t. Thanks to the one with the wings, she healed my mind and body, took away all of my… ACK!”

Faster than either woman could react, the Canoness gripped either side of the woman’s face and glared deep into her frightened eyes. Breathing hard and filled with rage, the Canoness looked the woman over, studying her eyes and facial movements as she turned her back and forth as if looking for something. After a few seconds, she let her go.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!”

“I HAD to know! Had to see for myself if you had been touched by the taint of Chaos.” Calming herself, the Canoness folded her hands together in her lap. “You have NO comprehension how dangerous that… THING is! A creature of vileness, and wanton carnality. She would poison your mind, your soul until all that was left would be madness and corruption.”

“She seemed alright to me… Except, you know…”

Snapping her attention back to the model, the Canoness glared back at her, making Susan look away and act apprehensively. “Just… Just saying.”

Exhaling out of her nose, Susanna Stormbringer turned and laid on her back on the carpeted floor, folding her arms over her stomach and remained silent. Trading looks, the two other Susans took the time to pull themselves under the sheets of their beds and turn off the lights. Still awake and looking down at the well-built warrior woman on the floor, the former sex **** plucked one of the pillows from her bed and offered it to the Canoness. Without saying a word, she reached out with her mechanical hand and plucked it from her fingers to deftly pull it under her head for support.

“Thank you…”

*

“I’m tired of waiting…” Hissed Malice, leaning against the wall of her shared quarters with her royal and vampiric counterparts. “Why did you insist on using HER to get what we need? WE could have torn the place apart to get what we needed!”

“Because this world’s authorities KNOW about us love, I’ve checked. So be patient, she may yet disappoint us.” Purred Susan Von Doom, sitting on the bed with her leg crossed over the other and checking a holographic read of the news and SHIELD from her gauntlet’s wrist. “Always send a pawn first if you want to start a game of chess my dear.”

“I do agree with you… But I am also with Malice, she is taking too long for my patience. The night is getting late, and I’m getting thirsty.”

Seeing their door open and quickly close, the three women smiled when the latex wearing cat burglar appeared before them with the device in hand, a smug grin gracing her purple lips as she let the energy absorber float above her outstretched fingers in a bubble of invisible light.

“Well ladies, you paid for the best and you GOT the best.”

Reaching out for the device, Malice sneered when the Cat-Burglar playfully pulled the device away and had it become invisible before wagging a latex covered finger back at the woman.

“Nuh, uh, uh. This kitty doesn’t fetch for free; you offered some sparklies as a down payment. Time to pay in full.”

Broiling over with rage, Malice was about to act when a metal clad gauntlet raised and cut her off from a potential mess.

“Yes, we DID agree on payment in full on the successful delivery of the device, and you shall have it… When I have access to my kingdom once more.”

Pouting, Susan the Cat Burglar posed with her hands at her waist and looked away in disgust. “That wasn’t part of the deal your ‘highness’, you promised me treasures from your own kingdom.”

Spreading her arms out wide and giving the latex wearing woman a smug look in return, the Queen retorted. “Do I look like I carry my kingdom with me when I am spirited away from my home reality? You will be paid in full when you CAN be paid in full, but do not worry, the device you claimed for us will facilitate that.”

Crossing her arms and tilting her hip, the Cat-Burglar’s eyes narrowed, making a gesture with her hand that made the device visible again and hover in front of the Latvarian Queen to grab hold of in the open air. “Just remember to pay ‘sister’, we cats are vindictive, and I’m a kitty cat you DON’T want to cross!”

Going invisible, the door opened briefly before slamming hard. Ignoring the woman’s tantrum, Susan Von Doom turned and faced her two compatriots who shared in her malicious smile as they admired the energy absorber’s craftsmanship.

“It’s all coming together…”