Wonder Woman Beyond #3

Just two blocks away still in the west end part of Gateway City more trouble ensued. It’s especially late tonight and the full moon must have brought out all the craziness. A holographic neon sign sizzled as it flickered in and out overhead, while a homeless man rummaged through an overflowed dumpster for something to eat and another urinated further down a darkened alleyway.

This part of the neighborhood isn’t safe to roam around regardless whether it’s day or night. A prostitute stood in front of an abandoned building and hiked up her already short, red skirt as a dark car slowly drove by to look at her. And in the middle of another nearby alley two men argued, rather one yelled and the other listened.

“Where’s the rest of it?” a burly man angrily asked as he held wadded money in his hands.

“I...I..I’ll have it n-next week,” a much smaller man nervously said, his eyes glazed over as if in a trance.

“That’s what you told me last time,” the burly man said more aggressively as he leaned into the other man’s face. “You know better ‘n to blow your money on getting high, ‘specially when you owe the boss so much.”

“I... I... didn’t spend it... swear... I... I’m gonna get more money n-next week,” the smaller man muttered as his body twitched under his raggedy clothes.

“Don’t lie to me, you can barely stand up straight,” the burly man replied. “We go through this every damn month--”

“--N-next week... I’ll have it n-next week,” the smaller man interrupted not even aware now the other man was talking.

“Look, you stupid dreg, the big shipment goes out tomorrow and you know how Mr. Asad gets around that time,” the burly man stated quite seriously having grabbed the smaller man by his dingy jacket. “I’m tired of foolin’ around with you all the--”

Their conversation is cut short by the clang of two metal garbage pails that had fallen to the pavement on the far end of the alley. The burly man still held onto the smaller man and squinted through the darkness, past the garbage cans as they rolled slightly from side to side. No one’s there. Then there was a sharp crash on the other end of the alley as wooden food crates toppled over spilling rotted produce.

“Cops?” the burly man whispered letting go of the much smaller man. “If they ask what we’re doing tell ‘em nothin'.”

And then both of the men heard it. Growling, like an animal, somewhere overhead. Low and rumbling and angry. Their minds played tricks on them. They thought they saw shadows move about. The smaller man assumed it’s another drug-induced hallucination, another bad trip. While the burly man reached into the back of his coat for his gun, the much smaller man dropped down to the cold ground as blood squirted from his neck.

“Jesus!” the burly man quietly screamed to himself having no idea what just happened. “Who’s there? Who’s there God dammit?!”

The burly man felt sharp pains run across his arms like he’d just been sliced with a knife several times at once as he saw a blur rush past him. It happened again and then again. The burly man grabbed his arms, now bloodied, and fell to the ground next to the smaller man who was already dead.

Writhing around on the alleyway’s pavement, the burly man stopped, all his attention focused on her as she stood in the shadows. It was definitely a woman judging by her silhouette, but he wasn’t sure it was entirely human. As she came into the glow of the nearby streetlight, he gasped, his eyes wide opened.

She was completely covered in short, flaxen-haired fur all over her toned body except for the white tuft of fur on her throat and abdomen. She wasn’t wearing any clothes, so he could make out the black spots that ran across her entire form. He watched her rib cage expand and contract over and over in a quick fashion, as he heard her heavily breathe. His eyes instantly moved to her feline face as she growled louder and froth ran down her angry mouth.

“Where is Asad?” she barked, her yellow catlike eyes focused on its prey.

But the burly man was in shock and couldn’t find the strength or courage to answer. She easily picked him up by the collar of his black jacket, her teeth snarled like an animal and shouted, “Where is Baqir Al-Asad?! Where is the pig who murdered my husband!?!”

Down the street the prostitute with the short, red skirt looked startled as she heard a burly man in a nearby alleyway hysterically scream for his life.

Moonlight reflected off the choppy waters at the wharf. Here in the Gateway City Docks all longshoremen and fishermen have long gone home from their hard days work. All is quiet except on pier 19. A pair of forklifts buzzed and softly whirred as they hovered several inches above the ground, cargo being moved and loaded onto a large, sleek black ship.

About a hundred big and heavy wooden crates are sporadically lined up together further down along the loading platforms in stacks of seven and eight. Several large men meandered through this makeshift maze with their eyes peeled for trouble.

“There’s nothin' out there boss. We checked,” a large man said to the fat dark-haired man that stood by the beginning of the pier, as the bay’s waters violently crashed into the steel pilings underneath.

“Good,” the fat dark-haired man replied. “Tell the others to keep watching, just in case we get company.”

“What about the security guards, Mr. Asad?” the large man asked. “What if they see us over--”

“--I’ve already paid them off, idiot,” the fat dark-haired man angrily answered back, his Arabic accent getting slightly pronounced. “And as long as we don’t make a commotion the cops won’t know we’re here either. The rest of you just worry about our recent attacker who’s killed Marco and the others. Whoever they are they picked the wrong person to mess with.”

Nearly twenty crates had been carefully loaded onto the large, sleek black ship. The fat dark-haired man pulled a cigar from his expensive suit jacket and lit it up.

“We don’t have all night,” he barked at the two men on the hover forklifts. The man named Mr. Asad was growing increasingly impatient as time went on, perhaps even a bit paranoid.

Two gunshots rang out in the distance behind the mountain of crates on the loading platforms followed by a shrill, quick scream. Mr. Asad’s cigar dropped from his mouth as the two hover forklift operators ran down from the creaking, wooden pier towards him.

“That sounded like Johnny,” one of the men said as he looked at Mr. Asad.

“Go... go see... go!” Mr. Asad yelled back now having pulled out his gun from inside his dark suit jacket.

The two men followed their boss’s orders, armed themselves with their own guns, and headed for the loading platforms as the fat dark-haired man called Mr. Asad followed.

The three men stopped in their tracks as a body smashed through the stacks of wooden crates towards them. The body smacked on the hard ground and rolled for several feet as a dozen big and heavy wooden crates toppled onto themselves and crashed on the cement. Uzis, machine guns, and rifles strewn everywhere.

When Mr. Asad and the other two men went to see which one of their crew it was they saw the body limp, twisted, and disheveled like a rag doll thrown away.

One of the men turned the body over and winced, “Johnny?!”

But Johnny didn’t answer. He was dead. His throat slashed so many times part of his neck started to fall off.

“Go... go!” Mr. Asad quietly shouted as he shoved the other two men to keep moving.

They kicked brand new assault weapons away with their feet, off to the side to maneuver easier. Another gunshot, this time closer now. Then two more from the opposite direction. It sounded like a struggle for a matter of seconds and then just silence.

Mr. Asad and the other two large men were more than alert, their weapons poised and ready for anything. The three of them finally moved past all of the remaining stacks of wooden crates.

“What the hell?!” one of the large men said in disbelief.

The other six men that worked for Mr. Asad were all sprawled about the loading platforms, now literally stained dark red from all the blood. All of them had claw marks to the face and massive wounds near their necks.

Then Mr. Asad and the remaining two men heard it. Growling, like an animal, somewhere close by. Low and rumbling and angry. Each of them aimed their guns nervously at any noise they heard. A quick blur raced by and one of the large men in front of Mr. Asad collapsed to the ground and grabbed his throat as blood gushed out. Then the other man fell, his neck also cut. Both men died instantly. It was just Mr. Asad now.

“Hmmm... .he... he... I’ve waited for this,” a female voice could be heard nearby.

“I’m gonna kill you, you hear me!” the fat dark-haired man yelled as he pointed his gun in several directions.

A quick burst of air went by him. He felt his hands burn white hot and sting as he dropped his gun. “Ummph,” he whimpered. He lifted his bloodied hands, several fingers lopped off each one.

“No... I’m going to kill you,” a woman said coming into view.

The fat dark-haired man named Baqir Al-Asad stood there wide-eyed as he stared at the creature before him. She looked like a cheetah but with a woman’s features and body. Long and lean, she was covered in pale-yellow, black-spotted fur from head to toe and her sharp claws were soaked in blood. Clearly she was more animal than human.

“Who the hell are you?!” Mr. Asad shouted, his Arabic accent even more pronounced now as he backed away slowly and held his damaged hands.

“You know who I am,” the cheetah-like woman quietly growled. “You killed my husband.”

“I... I’ve killed a lot of people,” the fat dark-haired man stammered having almost tripped on one of the dead bodies as he further backed away. “Y-you could be anyone.”

“Christian Colletti,” the cheetah-like woman snarled, her sharp, bloodstained teeth exposed.

“Christian C-Colletti?” the fat dark-haired man whispered. “You’re......Angela?!”

“Yes!!” she screamed. “Your men were of no concern to me so I gave them quick deaths! You won’t be as fortunate... believe me. When I’m done with you the police won’t even be able to identify the body!”

And in a quick blur she was gone from his sight. He nervously looked and listened about to no avail and when Baqir Al-Asad thought he was finally safe, he wasn’t.

Sharp claws could be felt as they ran across his face from the left, then from the right, then from the left again. The fat dark-haired man moaned, fell to his knees, and grabbed his lacerated face. He could feel chunks of skin gone.

“I’m going to separate you body part by body part,” the cheetah-like woman hissed as she stood directly in front of Mr. Asad again. “I got spliced with cheetah DNA just for this occasion.”

In the near distance, high overhead, another woman spoke, “Stand away from Baqir Al-Asad. You’ve done enough killing for one night.”

Both Mr. Asad and the cheetah-like woman looked towards the all-brick storage garages. High on one of the rooftops, bathed in nearby security lights an incredibly beautiful woman stood. She was wearing a somewhat familiar red, white, blue, and gold patriotic costume with a glowing, golden lariat that rested on her side.

“Who are you supposed to be?” growled the cheetah-like woman as her sharp yellow eyes refocused.

“I’m Wonder Woman.... the new Wonder Woman,” the incredibly beautiful woman said, hands on hips as silver bracelets on her wrists shimmered. “It’s over Angela. It’s over.”

“How did you know my name?” the cheetah-like woman angrily asked now having turned to face this newly arrived, brightly costumed woman.

“I heard you two from a mile away, quite literally,” the new Wonder Woman smiled. “I was looking for all of you tonight and the gunshots led the way.”

“I didn’t go through all of this just to be left empty-handed!” the cheetah-like woman yelled as she gestured towards the spot-laden fur all over her body. “Baqir Al-Asad is mine!!”

The new Wonder Woman deftly leaped from the garage’s rooftop and landed onto the ground twenty-five feet below as if it were nothing at all and cautiously walked towards Baqir Al-Asad and the cheetah-like woman.

“Now just calm down, Angela, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m not Angela Colletti anymore!” she screamed as foam spurted from her mouth. “I’m the Cheetah now!!”

Sharp claws fully extended, while large, black nasal passages flared as heavy breathes mixed with sharp barks, and a long, black-ringed tail twitched from behind like a possessed whip.

“If you want Asad...” the woman known as the Cheetah growled, “....you’ll have to go through me.”

The new Wonder Woman braced herself, clenched her fists, and brought them up in front of her chest, “I’m not without my own abilities.”

But as soon as Natalie finished her sentence, the Cheetah was gone from sight.

“She’s fast, quite fast--ughh!” Natalie stammered as sharp pains raced across her exposed back. The new Wonder Woman turned around only to find no one there. “You may have caught me off guard the first time,” Natalie thought as she winced from the pain, “but I’m fast too.”

Another burst of air, however, this time the new Wonder Woman blocks the strike on her bracelets, the source of her newly acquired powers. She sees the Cheetah return instantly. From the left, then the right, then the left again, but the new Wonder Woman caught the Cheetah’s sharp claws on her bracelets every time.

The new Wonder Woman accelerated and matched the Cheetah’s speed. The two women blocked and parried each other’s attacks as they moved from one spot to another and then another all within seconds apart.

Baqir Al-Asad couldn’t even see what’s happened. The two women shifted so fast it’s all a confused blur to him. He heard growls mixed with grunts. The fat dark-haired man still held onto his bloodied face with his damaged hands and quietly, slowly backed away from the fray.

“Grrrr--ummph!” the Cheetah yelped as the new Wonder Woman landed a well-placed punch to her abdomen.

The Cheetah quickly rebounded and slashed the new Wonder Woman’s left arm twice with one swoop. And as Natalie fought through the searing pain she knew she’s at a disadvantage. She may be just as fast as the Cheetah if not faster, but Natalie still wasn’t used to moving at these kind of speeds. The Cheetah however was. It’s in her blood quite literally.

“Give up this madness, Angela,” the new Wonder Woman urged as she blocked a strike near her chest and in return punched near the Cheetah’s face, but missed.

“Stop... calling... me that!” the Cheetah loudly growled in a high pitch as she tackled the new Wonder Woman to the ground, hard. “I want justice and won’t stop until I get it!”

“That’s for the police to handle not you,” the new Wonder Woman replied as she unsuccessfully tried to shake off the Cheetah. Natalie was on her back as the Cheetah kneeled on top of her and pinned the new Wonder Woman against the pavement.

“You shouldn’t have interfered,” the Cheetah said as her long, black-ringed tail quickly and tightly wrapped around Natalie’s neck and mouth.

And as the Cheetah’s tail constricted more and more, the new Wonder Woman tried once again to shake her off but couldn’t. The Cheetah used her own legs to hold down Natalie’s and grabbed onto the new Wonder Woman’s arms with her clawed hands.

Natalie’s throat felt so tight, she already started to black out. Her strength faded under the lack of oxygen, not even able to struggle her hands free from the Cheetah’s.

She knew if she lost consciousness it would be over. For the first time in her life the young woman named Natalie Nemos-Nikolaos thought she could die and feared for her life. She thought of her dead brother and husband. How she would let them down.

And Nathan, she thought. My God how is Nathan going to be able to handle it?

Her dark blue eyes drifted in and out, welled up, and through the sparkled light and stars that danced about her, Natalie could see the Cheetah as she looked down over her with rage and contempt.

N-not tonight.... n-not tonight, Natalie thought, especially not by you.

With all the strength she could muster, the new Wonder Woman floated up into the air, the Cheetah still attached. At about twenty feet high the new Wonder Woman swiftly flew into the wall of the nearest storage garage with the Cheetah leading the way back first. So hard was the collision that Natalie thought she heard one of the Cheetah’s ribs break upon impact with the now cracked brick wall.

That must’ve hurt her, the new Wonder Woman thought as she gasped for much-needed air. She’s released her tail.

Finally getting a second wind the new Wonder Woman grabbed the Cheetah by the fur, arched her back, and threw her down to the ground. The Cheetah landed with a thud and laid there in a motionless heap.

Having seen this, Baqir Al-Asad decided it’s no longer wise to retreat quietly or slowly. Knowing he’d be caught the fat dark-haired man noisily ran as fast as his heavy body allowed. At about a quarter block away he felt his right kneecap shatter, instantly fell to the ground, and screamed in pain.

Trying to see what hit him, Baqir Al-Asad saw the new Wonder Woman floating in the air off in the distance. He watched as she reached out with her right hand and a two-pointed, golden tiara arced back into her palm.

“You’re not going anywhere, Mr. Asad,” the new Wonder Woman said as she readjusted her tiara back onto her forehead. “I’m tired of playing around with you. The both of you.”

Police car sirens could be heard wailing from several miles away. The new Wonder Woman slowly descended to the ground and turned her attention back to the Cheetah who still lain unmoving.

“Angela?” Natalie asked having cautiously moved closer. But there was no answer.

The new Wonder Woman reached for her magic lasso when the Cheetah without warning sprang up and lunged at Natalie. The new Wonder Woman was ready and rolled with the tackle this time and tossed the Cheetah behind her into the air. The Cheetah skillfully landed on her hind legs about 15 feet away.

Six police cars finally pulled up to the loading platforms where all the commotion was. The Cheetah watched nearly a dozen Gateway City police officers as they exited their vehicles and drew out their guns.

“It’s time to surrender,” the new Wonder Woman calmly said.

But the Cheetah raced with great speed towards Baqir Al-Asad who had been lying on the ground as he held his right knee. Her growls were high-pitched and broken as she approached her prey. Before she was even close, the new Wonder Woman already stood in front of Baqir Al-Asad with her hand held out having gestured for the Cheetah to stop.

“It’s over Angela... it’s over,” the new Wonder Woman said to the Cheetah who stopped several feet away.

The Cheetah heard the nearly dozen cops as they slowly closed in and surrounded her.

“You are going to pay for this,” the Cheetah angrily said in a tone so low only the new Wonder Woman could hear it. “You’ve prevented me from getting my revenge... you’ll be sorry you did.”

In a quick burst of air the Cheetah pushed through a couple of the police officers at top speed, having sliced their necks as she passed. In seconds she was already a mile away. The new Wonder Woman rushed and helped the wounded officers as best she could.

In the far distance a mad cheetah-like woman screamed, “It’s not over Asad!! One day I’ll kill you.... both of you!”

“Who was that?” one of the police officers questioned slightly shaken.

“A very disturbed woman,” the new Wonder Woman answered as she applied pressure to one of the wounded officer’s necks. “A very, very disturbed woman.”

“And who exactly are you?” the same police officer asked.

Natalie handed the care of the wounded officers to the others. “I’m Wonder Woman... the new Wonder Woman.”

“Well... thanks for your help Wonder Woman,” the police officer smiled. “We’ve been looking for this guy for a while now.”

“My pleasure,” Natalie smiled back.

The remaining officers handcuffed Baqir Al-Asad, hoisted him up, and helped carry him towards the closest squad car.

“Wait,” the new Wonder Woman said. “Hold on a minute, there’s something else.”

The new Wonder Woman walked up to Baqir Al-Asad, removed her magic lasso from the golden belt on her thin waist and wrapped it around the fat dark-haired man. Natalie held the glowing, golden lariat tightly and asked, “Tell me Mr. Asad, who are your most important associates and what are there most current locations?”

The Gateway City police officers listened in amazement and the new Wonder Woman smiled. The magic lasso glowed a little brighter as Baqir Al-Asad mindlessly spoke seven specific names and seven different locations.