ULTRAFORCE

by Zarathi

Gatefold

HOME

ISSUE #2: Shattered Dreams, Shattered Lives, Part One: Siren

She is a Thief, She is a Liar,
and she is all alone in the Marvel Universe...

"Ahh my head is throbbing, where the hell am I? Ok Girl lets think this out. There was a fight, Hard Case completely flipped out. I hit the void, I was falling, everything was dark, Jimmy came after me, tried to help, he almost caught me. It was so dark, and..." As she tried to stand up, looking over the harbor staring back at her was none other then Lady Liberty. "I'm in New York?" Siren muttered in utter amazement. Now on her feet she staggered out of what appeared to be a dockside alley "But we were in Hicksville! How did I end up here?" she question as she ran her fingers through her dark red hair as she leaned against the brick wall she found a clot of blood "OWW! Well at least that explains my vision and memory problems," she chuckled, drawing in a deep breath as she steadied herself.

Siren moved along the wall slowly, her step wavered now and again "Hey Baby where you going?" a thug called to her.

Great just what I need, got to watch this guy though, I'm not really in the best condition to fight right now "To an area of higher intelligence." Siren sneered with false confidence  as she removed herself from the wall.

"Aw, that's awful mean lady." another shorter thug voiced "We was only concerned for your welfare, this being a bad neighborhood n' all" as he moved in on her left and the taller thug moved in on her right.  Unseen to the three a lone figure stood in the shadows, and wondered if she should intervene. It's not my place; it's not my fight. I need to get going, the Dictator is waiting for me, but I can't leave, something is drawing me to this struggle. Her decision made the figure slowly and silently stalked towards the men who were so intently focused on the woman they didn't see her, nor would they have.

This isn't going good Girl, you got to get out of here and fast "I'm fine." she replied with no hint of weakness as she walked pass the shorter thug, what ever you do Girl don't fall.

"Oh we couldn't let ya go in good conscience, these are dangerous streets for a young lady, like yourself." the short man snapped as he grabbed her by the jacket and slammed her into the wall. A wave of sickness struck Siren as the air was knocked out of her, for a little guy he packed some serious power.

"Who said she was alone?" a teen- age girl blurted as she slammed the tall man into the wall. Siren heard a sharp noise, most likely the man's nose breaking, maybe something more. With incredibly fast reflexes the girl reached over and grabbed the other man by the shirt and kicked him in the stomach. Letting go of him she finished the job with a swift kick in the family jewels "Garbage." then she turned to Siren and asked in the sweetest of tones "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just a little woozy." Siren answered as she stared up at the girl. She was a little taller than Siren, her hair was long and raven black, tied up in a loose ponytail, two pieces of purple streaked hair were loose on either side of her face. Her completion was deathly pale and her face was slightly hawkish with sharp aquamarine eyes. Around her neck was a spiked collar with a purple heart shaped tag that read 'Careful I Bite'

"You're bleeding." she stated, there is something about this lady, something very familiar, why did I stop, it's not my style.

"Its nothing..." Siren answered and took a step forward which nearly landed her flat on her face, luckily the girl had quick reflexes and caught her. Then it hit her "Ani," the girl stood immobile for a split second, Siren took this as a yes, pursuing the issue "Andrea."

"I'm sorry, you must be mistaken." the girl stuttered and stepped away unconsciously, she knows my nickname? Is this some kind of trap? "You must be hallucinating, I should get you to a hospital "

"Is your name not Andrea Pearson?" Siren questioned, is this some foul trick my mind is playing on me. But she looks so much like Ani , though Ani wasn't much for the gothic scene.

" No it is not," she replied, why do I feel so bad, its not like I lied she thought to herself. After all my name is not Andrea Pearson its Chandrea Spade. "My mistake, its just you look so much like my little sister," Siren murmured quietly, what did you expect girl, a second chance?

"Come on, my apartment is about a block away, think you can make it?" Chandrea asked, why do I trust her, I know I was adopted but couldn't be my sister, could she? She cleared the thoughts as she lifted Sirens weight a bit, making it easier for Siren to walk.

"Its ok, I will be fine..." Siren replied, as she disengaged herself from Chani.

"Are you sure?" Chani asked as she leaned in closer to the Siren. She does look a lot like me if I was like way older and not so Industrial perhaps, Chani thought

"Yeah I'll be fine," Siren replied, while she leaned against the wall "I just need to get my bearings."

"Well, If you say so" Chani said uncertainly, in disregard of her instincts she turned around and walked on her way, man what a weird night.

A young girl lies in the street; the ground is stained crimson with her blood. She shakes every now and then but for the most part she is calm, some would say because of shock, others because her strength. No tears fall from her eyes, she simply smiles upwards, trying to focus on a face,

"Hey, stay with me girl," A woman nearly yells, while she cradles the girl's head in her arms.

"Where would I be going sis?" the girl coughs, as she tries to sit up, but a shutter of pain stops her.

"Oww!" limp once more on the cold pavement.

"Stay down, just stay down, Jimmy went to call an ambulance they will be here soon," the woman states, trying to hold back her tears.

"Why would I need a ambulance Jen?" the girl replied in a soft joking whisper, this time she coughed up some blood with the words "I'm fine, I'm just a little tired"

"Always the stubborn little mule, eh Ani?" Jennifer laughed weakly, and hugged her sister tighter, trying to keep pressure on the injury

"Hey watch it, your going to squish me!" Ani replied,  as a new fit of coughs  made her convulse slightly

"Jen, I called, the ambulance its on its way." Jimmy stated as he ran towards the two "How is Andrea doing?"

Jennifer gave Jimmy a look that told him all he needed to know "She is doing great," she replied in a false but almost convincingly positive tone "...always the brave little trooper who doesn't know the meaning of the word quit."

"I wouldn't expect anything else." Jimmy said smiling at Andrea, "Here let me see," lifting up Ani a little. The bullet had entered chest very close to her heart and came out on her back. It must have pierced one of her lungs he though, as he looked at the blood around her mouth. She is dying, drowning on her own blood, where the hell is that ambulance?

Once more Ani was thrown into a fit of coughs, partially due to being moved. For a moment she can't breath, Jimmy turns her on her side, to help her get the blood out of her lungs.

She breaths shallower now, "eh, this is so gross!" she stammers in a slightly sarcastic voice that's barely above a whisper.

"I'm not to sure about that kid," Jimmy smirks faintly, holding pressure on her wound "I think your awful brave, most wouldn't have taken this in stride like you did."

Jennifer starts to cry and tears pour down on to Ani "Hey sis its ok, calm down," Andrea says weakly, reaching a hand up to her sisters face smacking her gently.

"I'm sorry Ani, its all my fault, you shouldn't have been here." Jennifer sobs, hugging even tighter on to Andrea

"Like dad always said 'cheer up, things could get worse'," Andrea stated as her coughs became even harder than before, she convulsed from the lack of air. Jimmy rolled her on her side once more, in a vain attempt to help her, but little blood drained out. Andrea's body was still; she didn't have the energy left to cough out enough blood to get air.

"And sure enough they do," Jennifer whispered, her face rested on Jimmy's chest as she clutched her sisters form, tears streaked down her face. Three minutes later the blaring sound of an ambulance was heard.

She woke up drenched in sweat, her body shook hard from the nightmare. For an instant she recalled another life, being someone else, then reality kicked in;  "What the hell is wrong with me?" Chani questioned herself, the past few days she had been running a 104 degree fever, along with it came some very vivid nightmares, nightmares that weren't hers "I hardly ever get sick, and usually not this bad," she stood up and walked to the bathroom, the dream lingered slightly. Looking into the mirror she saw a girl there who looked at her with dead eyes. She turned around, rapidly she prepared herself for an attack, but no one was there. "Your loosing it!" she stated as her gaze stayed with the mirror. She turned the cold water on and splashed her face to cool off a bit, then the phone rang. "Son of a Whore!" She murmured as she walked over to the phone "Hello?"

"Haze, the Dictator has need of you," an icy voice rasped over the connection

"And you are a poor liar, my tyrannical leader," she smugly replied in Cut Variance, a battle language only they shared knowledge of.

"Tis true, I was merely testing you, sharp as ever just as I suspected." The Dictator replied in satisfaction and following in suit reverted to the subtle Sluur tones of Variance.

"What if my phone had been wired, you would have given away your location, it wouldn't have done good for the Society."

"Ah, that's why I love you Dearie, always concerned for me," the Dictator chuckled maniacally

"I'm your second in command, and most of all your friend, of course I'm concerned." Chandrea answered proudly, then becoming more serious "What do you need?

"What a simple but interesting question, it calls for a even more interesting answer,"

Chani raced as she stepped out of the shower, grabbing her spiked collar from the sink, the Dictator had called but minutes ago. Of all the things to do, man, the plans that are blessed upon the Dictator she thought while she dressed.

Pulling her wet, purple streaked hair back, she braided it tightly for the coming action. When we were young blowing the propane tanks was fun but this, this is big league dangerous now, I have to keep my cool, not good to loose my edge now. On her way out the door she grabbed her contacts, now racing down the steps she was met by two other women dressed in black. "Is everything ready?" Chani asked the older of the two women as she put on her collar, centering it on her neck between the buckle and her tag.

"Mission is a go, Haze." the woman replied to her younger superior. What does the Dictator see in this one, she is so Erratic, I could do such a better job than this street trash, it would be so easy to snap her neck.

Chani smirked, this woman has loyalty issues, you don't even have to be an empath to see that, I will have to fix that. After all we can't have whimsical people serving this close to the dictator "Where am I meeting up with the Dictator?" she blinked a bit as she covered her currently gray eyes with her purple contacts.

"The Dictator cannot come on this excursion, she is sending Slivery Shadows instead." the woman replied, hah it is laughable the Dictator bothering to participate in such a juvenal activity, the Dictator is far smarter than to risk public exposure in such a silly game.

"Slivery Shadows," Chani replied with a sigh "I must say I'm disappointed, I had my heart set on completing this task with the Dictator."

"The Dictator has other pressing matter that need attending," the Woman smugly snapped. Such a child this one, must she always have the hand of the dictator as a child would wish a mothers, why does the Dictator permit such cowardice.

"I understand that, do you think me a fool?" Chani barked "Know your place, Vanessa, your name does not even carry a color. I am the Purple Carnivor, the Dictator's second in command, you are nothing, a mere foot soldier." this one has become dangerous to me, how did I miss this change? Perhaps I should eliminate her, no not yet, I must wait by the rules of succession, she must openly challenge me.

"Purple Haze, I meant no disrespect." the Vanessa shivered, I've over stepped my Society limits, I must watch my tongue or loose it "Forgive my flaws, the filth of humanity is hard for us all to wash ourselves of."

"True, some more than others, just keep in mind everyone has their place, even me." Purple Haze stated as she stepped out side

"Yes Haze," Vanessa replied as she guided Chani to a black, 1978 Lincoln continental. When the time comes I shall show you your place girl.

"Now take me to Silvery," Purple Haze ordered, arranging her head set for the mission, may your plan succeed Dictator, hopefully we will not falter.

"As you command." Vanessa responded in a chastened tone, I will even the score, I shall drink of your blood.