With Palm City a smouldering ruin and a death toll far in excess of any disaster in recent memory, the Amazons had delivered a message of uncompromising hate with ruthless efficiency. Even while the fires still burned, news resonated back and forth across the entire region striking terror deep into the heart of a populace desperate for peace. The Scorpion Assault Squad arrived back at their Island base having achieved every projected aim adding a rich bounty of prisoners to their wholly unjust rewards.

However in the face of such triumphs one point of contention remained; prior to the attack on the harbour the Amazons diverted to recover the lifeless body of one of their own, Shari. The ebony skinned soldier had been a prisoner of the humans for several months prior to meeting her grisly end and that posed some serious questions; what had she revealed to the enemy, what had she learned of them and most importantly how had these inferior beings manage to kill an Amazon. While the phrase informs us clearly that dead men can tell no tales, Amazons are an entirely different matter...

Chapter 1

The lower level of the Amazons base houses the Mortuary, a cold clinical room, walls lined with banks of technology, probes and monitors, an incineration chamber leads to a disposal chute and that in turn to the sea beyond. Completely functional and efficient in form, this is certainly not a place for sombre reflection nor one that would dignify any exit from this mortal coil, however the Amazons are a race neither born of humanity or bound its emotional trappings.

Shari�s corpse lies on an elevated slab at the heart of the mortuary, its skin deathly grey, bruised, battered; its eyes open and staring blankly ahead with the face aged and contorted in a manner that speaks of a long lingering death. The Amazon technician, Vixen, busies herself around the body, jabbing probes into the partially decomposed flesh while referring to the equipment on the wall for feedback, as she proceeds the brunette comments on her findings noting damage sustained and suggesting the inferred cause. Much like the clinical nature of the surroundings, the analysis is delivered in a cold, dispassionate monotone, full of minutia much of which is vaguely incomprehensible to the officer standing alongside.

Having picked up on the salient points the blonde commander decides to cut to the chase. �Ok, ok her regenerative system failed as the brain died blah, blah, blah... just tell me if the implant is still functional?� Vixen pauses as if awoken from a trance, recovering quickly she moves back to examine the body�s cranial region in greater detail. Bringing a probe within range of the metal interface contact embedded beneath Shari�s Medulla oblongata, she adjusts a few dials and refers to the screen behind for a response; the seemingly random static sparks gradually assemble into a symmetric and recognisable pattern. Satisfied with her findings the technician looks to her commander and reports. �The interface itself is damaged... but the storage area is intact. I can bypass that and force the command broadcast circuit to stream her thoughts to a receiver....� The blonde commander is aghast at the suggestion �You want to open a command broadcast on that? It�ll stream all her thoughts directly to every one of us, without any way to filter them.... No thanks?� Vixen is quick to reassure her superior however �I should be able to remove the implant and disconnect the antenna, the broadcast range will then be no more than a few feet...� Sarah fires a less than sincere smile �Hmm alright, if you are so sure you�d better get on with it, give me a call when its done and then destroy the shell before the fucking thing stinks the place out!�

Eager to put a bit of space between herself and the mortuary, Sarah makes for the upper level and the well shielded Operations room. The squad�s lieutenant, blonde powerhouse Tonya, is there busily looking over a map of the region; the coastline around Florida and Gulf of Mexico is peppered with black markers that indicate potential attack sites, although her own gaze is clearly concentrated in the region of their previous assault at Palm City. Hearing her commander enter the room Tonya snaps to attention. Sarah looks over to the map with a knowing shrug and then stares deep into Tonya�s cold black eyes �The body won�t revive, so Vixen is getting a download of what it experienced these last months, the local knowledge will be useful at the very least!� Moving to the console Sarah takes a seat and picks up the map �Is this from �Zero�?� Tonya moves to her leader�s side �Yes monitoring the human�s communications has shown the area to be in total disarray after the Palm City incident, to the gulf area in particular... they don�t know whether to fight back or issue an immediate surrender... a few more nudges is all I think we need to convince these weaklings to roll over and play dead...�

While the officers engross themselves in their plans for future conquest, Vixen is busy in the mortuary below. Shari�s mental implant has been removed and is now steadily streaming its contents to the mainframe; the dead woman�s ideas, experiences, images and more are all broadcast seamlessly through the command link. Watching the scope for signal purity Vixen, dynamically tunes the frequency to minimise any interference or corruption, it is a process that requires some concentration and one that masks the encroaching sense of nausea that those experiences induce, a sudden and severe jolt of pain in her knee, then to her back make her realise her estimate of the signals range was somewhat short and she urgently moves to increase the distance. As the implant plays its final moments she staggers from her seat and literally has to hurl herself from the room, slamming the metal door closed behind her the brunette collapses to the ground and momentarily loses consciousness.

Snarling at her own carelessness, Vixen slowly drags herself back to her feet and cautiously checks the room she has just exited, the scope indicates the broadcast has ended and that emboldens the muscular brunette to stride back in, with sudden ferocity she tears the discharged implant from its cocoon and crushes it in her powerful hands. Dropping back to the console she flips a few switches and issues the appropriate commands to split the emotional elements from the core data, effectively creating two files. One is a relatively harmless factual record of Shari�s experiences and the other a file of potentially lethal emotional content. Dutifully Vixen transmits both files to HQ musing on their requirement of the latter document while she waits on the reply, her curiosity ultimately sees her take a copy for later study.

Sarah and Tonya are pouring over maps as the intercom sparks into life, its Vixen�s voice on the other end. �Commander, Zero has transmitted your command download. Shall I transfer it to your current location?� The muscular blonde responds with a terse �Hold!� as her lieutenant grabs the interface cable from the console and connects it to the metal plug at the base of Sarah�s hairline. Settling back in her chair and more than a little nervous at what she is about to receive, the commander closes her eyes and responds to Vixen �Go ahead!� Commands and data stream to the implant, the blonde�s muscles tense and harden, a tremor works its way through her body slowly escalating in amplitude for upwards of 6 minutes, at last she collapses forward gasping as if able to breath for the very first time. Tonya pulls the interface cord free of her superior and guides the woman back into the seat watching her expression and colour steadily return.

Licking her lips like she has a bad taste in her mouth Sarah turns to the console stabbing the controls aggressively to call two images to the screen. One is all too familiar to Tonya, a beautiful brunette with an exotic complexion, elegant poise and voluptuous form, it was the Samoan born human known as Carla. The other image is a decidedly muscular female with jet black hair and deep brown eyes, she is comparable in size to an Amazon yet retains a degree more body-fat permitting her a more generous bosom and softer all around appearance. Tonya clears her throat to attract her Commander�s attention, the blonde leader turns back her face filled with cold malevolence as she contemptuously spits her reply �The bitch you know as Carla is also responsible for Shari�s death, Zero have classified her as Threat 452, she is to be captured and samples taken for hybrid cloning, HQ want to know what makes her tick. The other is a renegade from Hive 6, from a decommissioned gene strain!� Tonya furrows her brow �She�s one of us?� Sarah narrows her eyes �Not any more, it was she who instructed Carla in how to �finish� Shari, for some reason she�s in league with these humans... She goes by the name Plague. Seems the hybrids of Hive 6 were defective in some way they should all be dead but now Zero has tagged any survivors for decommissioning to prevent further contamination!� Tonya studies the two pictures turning her nose up in disgust �Contaminated or not I cannot see how even a Hybrid would ally with such a weak inferior species, the traitor will have to pay for her crimes...� Sarah�s voice is a threatening growl �Oh she will, that I promise... make sure the whole squad is updated on this pair, Carla will need to be flushed into the open but this renegade is out there alone right now, we should capitalise on that before she gets smart and goes to ground... check any Dru�s radio traffic to see if she�s been sighted anywhere, her implant must be giving off some kind of signal if we can just get close enough; I�ll see if Vixen can rig up a tracer!�

Chapter 2

Having located herself within easy striking distance of several small villages to the west of the capital, the Amazon renegade known as Plague quickly established a base of operation and a routine that saw her comfortably able to �obtain� food, clothing and other supplies more or less as required, although she had been spotted a few times by locals she had managed to conceal her trail sufficiently well to avoid threat and now felt relatively safe in her newly adopted �home�. Freedom was proving something sweeter than she could ever imagine, even before her incarceration in the Druantian prison Arena, Plague felt a captive of her Amazon born philosophy, that persistent and all consuming lust for conquest. The last few years had afforded her time to contemplate her actions and observe her former enemies up close, she found Humans lacking in any form of overt aggression, even when provoked they would seemingly make little effort to defend themselves, yet conversely they would invariably leap to the defence of a fellow when similarly threatened. Ultimately Plague struggled to 'connect' with either group, indeed looking back there was only one person with whom she ever felt any true empathy and that was the very person that begrudgingly facilitated her current situation, the Huntress known as Carla. The memory of their previous meeting had left a lingering impression on Plague, one simultaneously provocative and yet enticing and with each passing day the desire to pit her body against the voluptuous brunette beauty again consumed her thoughts; to that end she now carried a note which she believed would be enough to tempt the Huntress into the open.

With a carefully worded invite tucked safely into her tight leather top Plague steals across a patch of open ground and descends into the tree strewn valley. Running between the heavily wooded glade is the well worn route that links the western settlements to the capital. It was likely her best hope of getting a message to Carla, but it was obviously not a path she could travel herself, she was here to locate and �conscript� a suitable messenger.

A spot of judicious eavesdropping the previous day revealed something of a great tragedy to the South-East, it had increased security in the region and the first travellers Plague spies are, unsurprisingly, a quintet of Rangers on horseback. Ducking into the undergrowth the raven haired warrior considers a challenge to the five warriors, however she quickly concludes their nature might see them unwilling to convey any message, no matter what form of 'convincing' she might apply. Keeping to the darkest shadows the fugitive cautiously watches the group amble by and then begins carefully tracing the edge of the road in a direction away from the capital, hoping to spy a more suitable messenger headed in.

Although a primary route in the region, the overall lack of population and the prevailing state of terror find it all but deserted, it is several miles before Plague is able to consider a second candidate for her mission.

Tethered by the roadside a horse lazily munches on the unkempt grass, the renegade muscle woman carefully surveys the area for signs of life. A serene aspect reveals itself, the balmy Autumn air cascades gently from the south, mid-afternoon sun drives shafts of light through the overhanging foliage to a moss covered floor below while from somewhere nearby the sound of a mountain stream burbles by. Amid the natural peace and occasional birdsong hushed voices drift on the wind. Steadily prowling in the direction of the sound Plague locates the subjects - a pair of women lounge on the grass alongside an inviting pool of clear water. Naked and still moist from a recent dip in the stream the pair coil gently in one another�s arms, this is certainly not combat but a vague analogous activity that exudes only warmth and love. For a moment Plague is transfixed by the scene, the women are beautiful in every way; voluptuous, youthful and fit brunettes with eyes only for one another. Exchanging a long languishing kiss, their hands slowly and sensuously glide over one another�s warm toned physiques, full firm bosoms and excitedly erect nipples press together while their hot abdomens slither and slide toward a single glorious goal. Even to a jaded and battle weary soldier, this was something to preserve and savour, Plague's loins tingle in unashamed response... until a sudden stabbing pain fires through her skull and sees her cry out in agony...

The pain in her head retreats almost as quickly as it arrived, Plague shakes the cobwebs and finds the two naked women cautiously moving to investigate. Conveying both fear and compassion the young lovers venture a tentative �are you alright?� However they freeze in their tracks, paralysed with terror as Plague shakily stands tall; the size and build of the black haired figure is all too much the stuff of recent horror stories, in a shaky voice the shorter of the two women hoarsely whispers �Oh no...� Despite being some 6inches and 50lbs short of the intruder the taller of the lovers quickly places herself between Plague and her friend �Whatever you want with us... please let Marie go!� Plague rubs the back of her skull as the mysterious pain recedes in full then holds up her own hands doing her best to reassure the pair �No harm is intended... I come seeking your help!� Marie nervously calls over the shoulder of her would-be protector �You need our help??� The renegade Amazon slowly reaches inside the skins she uses as a tunic and pulls out a sealed note �I have a message that needs to be delivered into the hands of one of your Huntresses, one called Carla... can you do that?� Marie looks for some confirmation �and if we do that... you�ll let Nadia and I go free?� The Amazon notices a container on the floor and her eyes widen �Well that and I'll take your basket of food, or at least its contents!� The lovers are too fearful to fully enjoy any inferred humour and remain firmly locked in place which finally prompts the Amazon to move ahead and offer the note to Nadia. Plague notes the way that, despite her clear apprehension the woman makes no attempt to withdraw and indeed stands tall attempting to block any path to her partner. The smaller girl meanwhile actually moves forward to stand beside her lover clutching her reassuringly around the waist. Cautiously the taller brunette takes the note and looks to the Amazon for final confirmation �Huntress Carla you say? We wi...�

Nadia�s words trail off mid-sentence, Plague realises both women have become transfixed, raw terror is etched on their faces, their eyes focussed over her shoulder to someone or something behind. An inner instinct grabs Plague in that very instant, she yells at the lovers with enough urgency to spark them into action �Get down!� The renegade Amazon dives to the right lunging for some cover as a raucous explosion of sound is unleashed. The reaction proves not a moment too soon, a stunning bolt of energy grazes Plague�s body as she falls converting her dive into an uncontrolled spiral that deposits her into the cold waters of the forest pool. Surfacing the renegade spies the ominous form of an Amazon Scorpion as it lunges toward the young lovers effortlessly snatching them from the ground to hoist them into the air, each secured by a choking claw to the throat. Plague hears a heavy splash to the left, indicating a second Scorpion is in the water and headed her way!

Powering back to the edge of the pool Plague launches herself out of the water and bulldozes headlong into the Scorpion slowly strangling Nadia and Marie, all four women crash to the ground. The armoured Amazon looses a solid punch to Plague�s jaw knocking her body upright whereupon a savage kick ejects her back to the water�s edge. The Renegade rises but is snared from behind by the other Scorpion, even as she struggles the Amazon before her sweeps her tail around and drives it like a jack hammer to her stomach. Amid a hoarse gasp Plague�s lungs forcibly relinquish every last molecule of air leaving her heaving uselessly for breath. The Scorpion before her is covered head to toe in the trademark black bodysuit, her head partially masked with a slit to her eyes and mouth, a knot of blonde hair protrudes from atop her head. A sadistic laugh accompanies a viscous knee delivered sharply to Plague�s crotch and as the hurt captive tries to gag she finds her windpipe trapped within a vice-like claw.

The blonde monster stares deep into her victim�s eyes, Plague had forgotten how black and dead the eyes of a pure Amazon were and the voice is equally as cold and threatening, �Pathetic, I expected something more but it seems you have spent so much time with these weaklings you have become one of them!�. Plague tries to formulate a reply but the hold on her throat steals any coherence, she tries to move but the one behind her has a firm hold on her arms and her captors are too near for her legs to be effectively brought into play.

For the renegade things look bleak indeed, a situation seemingly confirmed as the blonde Scorpion before her touches her left ear to report �Lash here, Vex and I have the Hybrid and are bringing it to the extraction point now!� As the blonde receives her reply Plague notices the device on her wrist, a tracer rattling away like crazy... somehow she is giving off a signal, perhaps her implant not as dead as she believed. Lash looks deep into the eyes of the captive increasing the compression on the woman�s throat as she offers a final taunt �We�ll play later bitch, but for now its time to go bye-bye�s!�

To Plague's surprise the next sound isn't her drawing a last breath but rather a rock crashing hard into bone, Lash�s skull in fact, the woman isn�t overly affected but her face reveals real anger as she sees that rather than run, the two �weakling humans� have actually remained, seemingly to assist Plague! Lash turns abruptly in their direction as they back-pedal her tail rises tracking their movement with ominous intent. Realising she now has space to move her legs Plague braces herself against her captor and sweeps them up scissoring both the tail and the head of the blonde ahead jerking her off balance just as she fires her weapon. Lash�s sonic energy hurtles directly upward blistering the branches above and bringing them down in a shower all around as Plague twists her own body sharply toppling the two Scorpions and bringing them roughly to earth. Vex is thankfully too dumb to release her hold until she strikes the ground and that in turn allows Plague to twist violently at the last moment jerking Lash over onto her face. The renegade Amazon sits on Lash pinning her to the floor along with her tail and as Vex begins to rise Plague snatches up the largest of the fallen branches and swings it around with everything she has to batter the blonde Amazon from her feet.

With barely a moment to catch her breath Plague is suddenly made aware of the power of the woman she has pinned beneath her, Lash drops her hands to the ground and with a surge pushes herself back to her feet taking the black haired muscle woman into the air with her, at least till the unseated woman loses her balance and topples to the floor. The blonde Amazon�s tail hover vertically above the fallen renegade and is abruptly sent hurtling her way, Plague rolls in the nick of time avoiding the ground shaking impact. Scrambling to her feet the fugitive is tackled by Vex and the pair pitch and roll along the uneven ground and further into the water. The Blonde Scorpion uses her tail to arrest the tumble with herself safely on top and further uses the superior position to hold Plague�s head beneath the surface strangling her even as she drowns. Desperately the renegade's hands reach out clawing in the muddy silt, they find something solid and calling on all her power she wrenches a chunk of rock from the bed of the pool sweeping it in a wide arc that bludgeons into Vex knocking her from her seat and into the water.

Gasping and spluttering Plague drags herself from the stream but she gains not a moments respite as she is hoist into the air, looking at the sky and held high above Lash�s head. The young girl, Marie, swings a branch and cracks it into the blonde�s stomach as she holds her victim aloft. Lash turns angrily and Nadia slams a branch of her own, lower and to the back of the knee. With the blonde struggling to remain balanced Plague thrashes violently tearing herself from her captor�s grip, she drops to the floor and unleashes a wicked uppercut between the legs that drops Lash to her knees, Marie and her lover swing their improvised weapons capturing the blonde's head in perfect synchronism, the wooden clubs impact, wrap and splinter around the skull leaving the blonde to pitch forward in a daze. Vex tears herself from the water and launches a sonic strike; Plague knocks the two humans from the path of the invisible projectile as she drops below the discharge. The Scorpion looks to be readying a second shot and the raven haired warrior quickly intervenes grabbing the stunned Lash by her blonde hair knot with one hand and while the other lifts her at the base of her tail, the dazed Amazon is whirled around a full 360 degrees before being launched at her partner, the Scorpions slam together awkwardly before plunging back into the deeper waters of the icy pool.

Finding Marie assisting her partner back to her feet, Plague scoops up the note and shoves it into their joint hands �It�s me they want, I'll lead em away... now RUN!!!� She half lifts and half throws the pair forward as a sonic blast slams into her broadside, it sweeps her up and hurls her deep into the woods, thankfully the area comprises smaller trees that shatter and flex as she hurtles through them eventually bringing her progress to a halt a mite less painfully than could have been the case but nevertheless leaving her in a daze and hurting badly.

Stomping toward their prey one of the Amazon�s reaches down to lift Plague to her feet, the black haired renegade limply complies but once upright she bursts into life, a savage kick is sent between the legs of one blonde, while her right hand wields a heavy branch that sweeps in a wide arc to strike square into the skull of the other. With her assailants either staggering away cradling her stinging womanhood or else on the floor clutching her ringing skull, Plague has an opening and bolts deeper into the wood. Deftly dodging between the trees, as the sonic canons target and fire, she narrowly avoids a strike that instead impacts a tree square in the trunk, enough to buckle it and causing it to tip amid a spray of razor like splinters. However for plague the denser the forest is exactly what she needs to buy herself time, as it all but renders the Amazons ranged canons ineffective. The Scorpions eventually realise that same fact and angrily charge after their prey their tails roughly sweeping the foliage from their path as they bulldoze ahead.

Hearing her pursuers forge a path adds haste to Plague's travel, trees and branches prove increasingly hazardous and awkward as her mind races to form some kind of strategy; putting her pursuers down may well be possible but their ability to recover, as she found with Shari, is clearly far in excess of her own. Such considerations are soon mute as Plague bursts through a thicket and finds herself in the open, a dazzling blast of sunlight leaves her momentarily disoriented, although she realises she has hit the road again and must be dangerously exposed, there is immediate confirmation of that fact as she is struck by a heavy blast that picks her up and sends her skidding and tumbling along the road, the uncontrolled flight ends unceremoniously as her body slams into a rock strewn clearing that sees her spine twist painfully over one of the larger boulders.

Stunned and with her body searing in pain Plague is helpless as she is hoist upright and restrained by two brawny arms, a shoulder wrenchingly tight full nelson, in addition her captor�s �tail� coils around her legs denying them any freedom. Despite the futility of her situation Plague pours her power into her thickly muscled limbs hoping to tear free of Vex, but before she can forge any progress, Lash moves before her and stifles the attempt with a rough knee to the crotch, then another and as she sags one more for good measure. The vicious blonde grabs the raven haired woman by her tangled locks jerking the head back at a nauseating angle to snarl into her face �Your Dru friends have run off and left you... Don�t worry we�ll catch em later, I promise you will yet see them die...� Plague croaks defiantly �Are you sure you can handle them all alone...� The bravado incites a vicious head butt from the blonde and leaves the captive seeing stars. Lash�s hands become more intrusive as they paw all over Plague�s body, she gropes the renegades unusually, for an Amazon, heavy bosom with some relish betraying her own lust or envy even, though her subsequent words try to deny it �Yeah you are even starting to look like them!� With real venom Lash tears the leathers from the dark haired woman leaving her nude and the invasive hands drop lower digging between the legs, gently finding their way to the sensitive womanhood and then abruptly forming a vile claw that sends an excruciating jolt of pure agony throughout the captive woman's body. The hold shocks the renegade back from the very edge of consciousness eliciting a tormented and deafening scream. Plagues face is gaunt and drawn, the woman before her clearly loves to play and is well versed in this kind of torture. Lash smiles sadistically as she tightens the claw still further and draws an even wilder scream from her subject �It could have been so easy but your �friends� had to play 'hero', this time you will have to beg me to put you out!�

�Release your captive and stand away from her!� The words take all of the Amazons by surprise, Lash�s eyes glow with malice as she slowly looks around to locate the source of this unwelcome interruption. Using a mixture of forms of cover four Rangers straddle the area around the road, their hunting rifles point with clear intent at the trio. Looking back to Plague, the sadistic blonde growls �Aww looks like they want to rescue you... how cute!� Abruptly Lash whirls around her tail sweeps up and unleashes a violent surge of energy at the rangers ejecting them violently into the trees behind, Vex�s tail moves to do the same to the ones on the right hand side but the moment Plague can move her legs she digs into the ground and sends herself and her captor reeling backwards, the blonde trips and topples to the ground with the captive brunette coming crashing down atop.

Shots are fired from the rifles, they ricochet uselessly from Lash�s armour but several graze Plague on the arm and the leg. Driving her head back with venom Plague leaves Vex seeing stars and rolls on the floor screaming to the Rangers �guns are useless, get in close!� Showing the way Plague grabs a branch and swings it at Lash even as the woman unleashes another sonic bolt snapping two of the rangers savagely against the trees. The one remaining Druantian Ranger draws a sword and following Plague�s advice rushes in close, joining the renegade�s attack on the blonde. Lash kicks Plague out of range and her tail whips around, the human Ranger is square in its path but Plague snatches her away in the nick of time leaving the air to snap ominously as the weapon passes her face. Plague screams again �grab a club, the metal won�t penetrate.� In turn the Renegade bulls ahead leaping over the swinging tail and spearing the Amazon to the floor. The young ranger pauses for a moment and spies a suitable club dropping to grab for it, however Vex�s foot stomps down on the object and her tail targets for a close range burst, moments before discharge the Scorpion is struck form the side by a mounted ranger.

Riding in is another detachment of ranger�s, with them are Marie and Nadia, Plague has the club pressed tightly across Lash�s throat pinning her to the floor, she looks up and spies the pair, nodding in acknowledgement at their evident assist. Lash�s claw swipes out and gouges at Plagues eye, she jerks herself free of the renegades grasp and turns to find a Ranger slamming a club full to the face sending her staggering away a few paces; another mounted rangers races in using her mount to strike the Scorpion broadside and knock her back to the floor. Plague lunges to pin her there but Lash leaps to her feet launching herself into the horse to take it and rider to the ground. Before she can intervene the Renegade Amazon is struck from behind, a ranger slams into her brutally and uncontrollably hurled her way by Vex�s sonic canon.

Of the 8 Rangers, only four are still standing but once again Nadia and Marie prove more than willing to pitch in, snatching up the best clubs they can find they charge in and begin frantically wailing on Vex�s body, another ranger follows suit the Amazon is progressively backed against a large Fiscus tree. Once she hits the trunk she projects herself forward spearing the ranger and Nadia to the ground. Plague grabs the blonde�s flailing tail dragging her from the courageous ranger and before the Scorpion can gather her wits she tangles the tail into the reigns of a horse nearby and slaps its behind to send it off down the road dragging the thrashing blonde Amazon behind her.

A vicious crack from behind Plague is all too familiar, sound of a neck being snapped, the fugitive turns to see Lash hurl one dead ranger onto another pinned in place by her foot. As their eyes meet the Amazon and the Renegade charge together, slamming hard with their arms outstretched moving in to pour on the power, Lash stomps forward her superior strength forcing Plague to give ground, the blonde sneers �spend time among weaklings and that's...� The words are lost as Plague places her foot into Lash�s abdomen and falls back, the Amazon is flipped over her and sent hurtling into the rocky area behind she lands awkwardly in a flailing sprawl of arms, legs and tail! Marie, Nadia and one of the Rangers pounce on the fallen blonde frantically hitting her over and over again with their clubs, Plague moves to assist but all four are struck by a sonic bolt, albeit a weak one as Vex unleashes her weapon from some way distant.

Plague recovers to see the Lash struggling back to her feet and Vex pounding the ground to join them. However the charging scorpion is not alone or free as she discover to her dismay as yet more Rangers are racing up behind her and tackle her to the ground. Lash aims her tail weapon to assist her partner but Plague lunges and spears the woman to the floor before she can unleash the attack. Twisting and rolling on the floor the renegade is unable to hold onto her prey, the blonde Amazon rakes her eyes and kicks her away then sweeps the tail out wildly knocking all her attackers flying. Nadia rises only to be struck again, a stinging impact sends her flying through the air to ricochet and bounce off from the rocky surface like a rag doll, Marie screams in horror and urgently races to her friend�s side. With a surge of adrenalin Plague snarls and lunges to spears the Scorpion back to the ground, this time she stays close and tight capturing the monster in a bearhug and pinning her securely.

As the blonde struggles the Renegade manages to grapevine the woman�s legs out wide to prevent her from rolling an act that elicits a scream from the captive as the enforced split exceeds her inflexible tolerance, worse for the Scorpion however, via a series of short jerks Plague moves herself higher on her body drawing the straps that retain the tail to form a vicious wedgie ripping into her womanhood and further jamming the stinger pack�s retaining breast plate sharply into the bosom. Lash moans and screams but her cries are soon stifled by a final humiliation as Plague�s ample, naked, bosom drops around her face to smother her. The blonde tries to bite her way out of trouble but Plague simply grits her teeth and rides the pain informing her coldly, �not going to work... so how do you like my �weapons� bitch!� The Amazon Scorpion squirms beneath the Renegade, although the tail is sweeping up and blindly looking to knock her away, seeing the danger two rangers dive on the weapon pinning it in place.

Lash desperately struggles for breath, her captor gently rocks back and forth as she pours on the pressure, an action that also begins to do a number on the blonde�s crotch, to her horror she is rapidly becoming breathless and even aroused. Shaking and straining Lash pours all her power into one last escape, Plague�s grasp on the bear-hug is very high and that enables the Scorpion to rip her arms free, amid a combined flurry the blonde twists and thrashes, arms, leg and tail, everything shifts and it literally tosses her captors in every direction. Scrambling to her feet the blonde staggers away trying to clear the cobwebs and quell other �effects� but stumbling into the road she finds more mounted rangers racing into the fray. Driving their steeds the Druantian defenders bludgeon into the blonde Amazon�s body catapulting her across the road, there are dogs with this group and a wolfhound leaps at her determinedly trying to tear into her arm. Frustrated and angry Lash batters the animal to the floor and as it attacks again she grabs it and spins around to hurls it into the wood.

Further along the route Vex is flailing and thrashing violently, the rangers just refuse to give her any space, and several dogs have locked onto her like limpets. Breathing deeply Lash takes in the situation, looking back to Plague she finds the Renegade charging her way with yet more rangers alongside.

With a scream of primal fury Lash leaps into the air, bounding clear over the heads of her attackers to the road the other side. With a thump she lands in an open area just short of the trees and the tail rears around, a rapid succession of dull thuds emanate from the weapon, Plague recognise the sound and dives to the floor dragging the rangers down with her as best she can. Small missiles sail over their heads peppering the perimeter, whereupon they ignite and with devastating intensity engulfing the surrounding undergrowth in flame, the roadside becomes an instant inferno, spreading apace. The black haired renegade looks up to see Lash disappear into the wood with the route behind her erupting with more napalm like explosions to deny any chance of pursuit.

Hearing her partner�s explosive exit Vex frantically tears loose of her captors attempting to follow suit, she bounds from the road area into the wood with several rangers and hunting dogs following close behind, the wooded area they run into is immediately engulfed in flame, their cries and screams lost as the inferno takes a secure hold of the desperately dry tinder.

Fire becomes a new and urgent threat that grabs the attention of the surviving Rangers they quickly organise themselves to pull the wounded and dead bodies of their fellows clear of the flames as they move to tackle the blaze. The nearby stream is quickly resources and lines form to convey the water as urgently as possible.

Confident her would-be captors have now fled, Plague realises she has the perfect opportunity for escape, she slips into the wood and identifies a path between the flames, speed is of the essence with more rangers racing into the area, yet despite the urgency the renegade feels the need to linger she crouches in the undergrowth. Looking toward the rock strewn area where she last saw Nadia and Marie, the woman watches intently for signs of their fate. More rangers thunder by and begin challenging the fires, risk of discovery rises but the fugitive keeps her vigil, at last she spies Marie helping Nadia back toward the road, the taller brunette is badly bloodied about the head and by the looks nursing a broken leg, Rangers rush forward to assist the pair. Through the shimmering smoky heat haze, bodies can be seen strewn across on the roadway, some moving, some deathly still, the Scorpion�s attack cost these people dear. The renegade looks to her hand, clicking away madly is the tracking device she managed to �liberate� from Lash�s arm, an innocuous piece of technology that led the Amazons to her and in turn brought terror to this region. With a grunt of disdain she moves off, heading deeper into the wood and picking up her pace as she ploughs through the smoke filled forest driven on by the desire to put the scene behind her and again breathe of some cool fresh air.

Chapter 3

Storming through the tightly knitted trees Vex fumes; her partner�s desertion in the heat of battle fuels some malicious thoughts of just retribution spurring her onward toward the designated extraction point. As forest steadily deteriorates into swampland so tangled vines and boggy ground object to the intrusion of one so brutishly bulky and unnaturally heavy, yet seething anger drives the Amazon to bulldoze and bludgeon ahead. At last the water deepens enough to swim and a final mile brings Vex to the waiting hydrofoil. Amazon Lieutenant Tonya is on deck with Vex�s erstwhile �partner�, Lash, on her knees before her; two further blonde Amazons stand alongside.

Wearily clambering aboard the floating platform Vex is immediately struck in the stomach by her superior officer; another blonde Amazon grabs Vex even as she doubles forward, forcing her onto her knees beside Lash. With a sarcastic snarl Tonya chides �So the other great �warrior� returns, but she too is empty handed!� Vex is about to remonstrate however the blonde officer cuts her short �Before you start to whine you should know I don�t give a shit how many Dru�s you killed, I don�t give a shit who ran first, the only objective I care about is the one you clearly failed to achieve, if you were a hybrid I'd send you for decommissioning right now.� The very idea sends a chill shudder through the bowed Amazons. As the concept settles in Tonya turns in a nonchalant fashion, a deceptive feint as the tail from her Scorpion pack sweeps around in a vicious arc striking both soldiers in the face, knocking one into the other and in turn onto the deck.

Grabbing a map the officer saunters back to her subordinates. �Surrender your armour and your stinger packs... NOW!� With a sullen shrug the pair comply, peeling from their tight black bodysuits and stripping till naked, the setting sun offers a golden hue to their awesomely chiselled physiques. Amazons associate nakedness with defeat, a point Tonya is more than happy to play on and the two muscle women shift uncomfortably while their commanding officer prowls around them. Adding insult to injury Tonya�s tails lasciviously slithers and slides over their naked forms as she casually consults the chart in her hand. �If you ever want to wear a uniform again you will need to earn it� Tonya drops a map in front of the kneeling women �The Dru�s have an observation �fort� located at the mouth of the marked river, it�s a route we want free use of... you go to this station and make sure the humans are made to feel... �unwelcome� and then we�ll discuss this matter further.� Roughly the pair are grabbed and hurled bodily from the hydrofoil, the map is tossed after them, they surface to see the vessel powering away. Vex glares at Lash as the latter swims after the chart, without exchanging a word the pair head for the bank.

Six uncomfortable hours, dodging patrols, negotiating swampland and forest finally bring the naked Amazon duo within sight of the fort at Peace River. A tall wooden tower, some 50 feet in height resides within a larger enclosed compound. From their secluded vantage point its easy to discern a quartet of humans to the central tower overlooking the estuary, while ten or more sentry�s patrol atop the perimeter wall. Given the inevitably of more enemies housed within, and that the visible ones are well armed with swords, crossbows and even some rifles this was to be no walk in the park.

With a shrug of resignation, Vex breaks the silence of their long journey �We need to keep this quiet till we know how many we are dealing with, you take...� Lash offers a contemptuous glare interrupting her partner with an impudent �Who placed you in command?� Vex sneers at the retort. �Ok, skip it - I know how you like to run... if you still haven't got your nerve back perhaps you should just watch the tower and I'll show you what a real soldier can do!� With her words hanging in the air Vex slides off into the undergrowth with Lash�s eyes burning maliciously watching her go.

Carefully watching the lookouts to the tower, Vex picks her moment and races to the wall of the fort. Furnished of sturdy logs, the structure extends vertically upwards some 25 feet in total, the wood is roughly hewn and testing the surface Vex�s incredibly powerful fingers are able to secure enough of a hold to support her own weight, cautiously she begins to shimmy higher, to keep the noise to a minimum she moves slowly, periodically pausing to hug the structure as a sentry patrols the area above. Within inches of the top the blonde muscle woman waits for the sentry to pass one last time then chances a peek inside. The location is exposed to the observation tower but the rangers appear to have their attention focussed on the estuary rather than to the landward side. Vaulting over the wall Vex fluidly lunges ahead silently tackling the surprised sentry to the floor. Like a serpent, the Amazon�s muscular body coils around its prey, scissoring the body, tying the arms to prevent flailing, while her own brawny arm locks tightly around the woman's neck denying her voice or breath. The sentry cannot move a muscle let alone fight back and slowly but surely succumbs to the choking grasp falling limp under her foe. All the while Vex watches for any sign of discovery.

Cautiously Vex releases her victim for a moment she considers stealing her outfit to facilitate easier movement around the fort... sadly the garment seems far too small. Time is now, very much of the essence; the sentry's absence will not go unnoticed indefinitely. With the platform recessed just about enough to deny the tower any view the blonde remains tight to the floor, part crawling and part slithering along its surface until the next sentry comes within range.

Two guards in green leather armour mark the entrance to the fort, crossbows and swords are stowed purposefully to their waists. Hidden within the dark canopy formed by the nearby trees Lash crouches contemplating the pair. In order to prevent any alarm being raised she has to take them both almost simultaneously, a task complicated by their physical separation either side of the bolted gateway. A smile teeters at the edge of her thin blood red lips as the Amazon spies the correct tool for the job and readies herself for action. An impossible leap and a terrific bound sees her bulldoze into the first guard, the startled ranger is barely able to fumble for her crossbow before she finds herself to pinned to the wall by choking hold on her throat. Lash�s free hand grabs a bolt from her captive�s quiver and hurls it at the other guard even as she raises her own crossbow, the shaft buries itself into the neck of the guard stifling any sound and she crashes back to the floor with blood pumping copiously from her jugular. Looking into her captive�s deliciously deep brown eyes Lash slowly withdraws a second bolt and then drives the shaft through her torso puncturing her heart as she pins her to the wall.

To the opposite side of the entrance the other wounded guard, despite the geyser of blood spewing from her neck, tries to aim her bow. Lash contemptuously prowls toward the woman smiling sadistically at the rangers ineffective toil. With tremendous determination the guard somehow raises her bow and takes aim, however before her finger can pull the trigger the Amazon is upon her, knocking the weapon aside she grabs the shaft of the bolt buried in the woman�s neck to lift her to her feet and slowly walks her back to the wall to pin her in place. The guard writhes weakly attempting to free herself while Lash pulls out another bolt, looking her victim square in the eyes as she hovers the pointed end ominously over the trapped woman's left eyeball. With a smile of absolute evil the blonde suddenly jabs the shaft forward, the eyeball explodes as the bolt buries itself deep into the woman's brain. Savouring the moment Lash licks some of the blood dribbling down the dead woman's face, dropping lower she relieves the woman of her leather panties and her blood soaked top. Squeezing into the acquired garments with some difficulty Lash finally ties the quiver around her waist and, as Vex did before her, makes use of the irregular nature of the fort structure to scale the wall.

Vex has taken out her second sentry without attracting any attention, however the next one she comes across is patrolling directly in view of the tower, using the best cover she can get she chances a glance to the inner courtyard of the fort to spy more problems. The station is a flurry of activity, a couple of individual buildings, that may be barracks, and a further fifteen or so rangers engage in various duties, shoeing horses, sparring or else casually chatting. She notes with interest the Oil lamps used to illuminate the area, and more importantly the flammable materials dotted about the floor. The objective would have been easy pickings with the Scorpion assault armour but without was problematical, in some ways it was now a waiting game, if she was discovered the distraction would be all Lash needed to finish the task... likewise she could wait and hope that Lash is discovered offering her that vital distraction to capitalise upon. As the observers in the tower turn her way Vex dodges back and listens for any response, she breathes a sigh of relief as all remains calm and settles into the dark corner puzzling as to her next move.

Even as Vex scopes the courtyard Lash climbs over the wall and without a guard in sight drops the 20 or so feet to the courtyard below, rolling she finds some cover behind the stacked barrels nearby. Sounds from nearby are discernibly neither combat nor work, two Rangers roll in the hay, partially naked intimately lavishing attention upon one another their bodies entwine and writhe as one, moaning softly and with steadily increasing frequency. Wearing a salacious smile Lash draws a bolt from the acquired quiver and slowly prowls ahead, with a pounce she pins the pair beneath her driving the shaft of the arrow through the back of one lover and deeper still to puncture the chest of the other, a breathless scream results but is lost amid the general background noise within the fort. For a moment Lash languishes in her position astride the two dead women, grinding her abdomen into the pert behind of the uppermost woman as her hands feel the warmth slowly retreat from the lifeless pair. A cry from outside, however, ruins the moment for the sadistic brute, and suddenly makes matters far more urgent.

The dead guards have been discovered at the entrance and a bloody trail slithering up the side of the fort brings the station to full alert!

Vex hears the cry and whirls into action, she charges down the sentry ahead spearing her to the floor with a twist and a roll that instantly snaps the ranger's neck and brings her down a dead weight. Grabbing the woman's crossbow Vex targets the burning torches scoped earlier and looses a bolt dropping the lamps to crash to the floor and igniting the flammable material below. Rangers in the courtyard immediately respond to the flames rushing for the water barrels nearby, however the first ones there, pay the price as a quick succession of arrows skewer their spines. Vex rolls as she finds her position has been revealed, a staccato rattle sees the platform she is on peppered with returned fire. Waiting for the pause as they reload she bounds to her feet; charging ahead she ducks the wild sweep of the approaching sentry�s sword dodging around the ranger the Amazon catches the woman's sword arm and snaps it as she rips the weapon from her grasp. With more arrows headed her way the muscular brute drags the poor ranger into their path and uses the body as a shield as she races ahead bludgeoning the next sentry aside with a lethal strike as she goes.

The trail of blood from the entrance to the inner yard leads three Rangers to advance on Lash�s suspected location, their swords are unleashed ready for action. The cornered Amazon snarls angrily seeing the group approach and bursts from cover to tackle them head on. One of the rangers lunges ahead, effortlessly Lash evades the woman's blade grabbing her by the arm she whirls around, dragging her from her feet and turning her into a projectile that is sent hurtling into her two associates. Snatching up a sword Lash sweeps it into the group even as they rise the blade slices the throat of one human and continues on to bury itself into the skull of another, the third girl staggers to her feet only to find the sword swiping back with tremendous power cutting her in two at the chest. As two more guards appear Lash launches the sword toward them, the heavy blade strikes deep into the chest of one ranger and conveys enough momentum to knock her heavily into the next. A brutal kick to the face drops another ranger back and Lash scoops her up to power-slam her into her associates, as the group scramble to rise the Amazon retrieves a sword and in short swift strikes fells one after another in rapid succession.

More rangers round the corner and Lash grabs one of the heavy barrels nearby, hurling it into the group to send them sprawling in all directions. Moving deeper into the yard to allow herself more freedom, the blonde Amazon clears the cover provided by the upper platform which brings her in sight of a line of archers above. A volley of arrows heads her way abruptly forcing her to retrace her steps and dive back into cover, a bolt embeds itself into her shoulder and another slices into her thigh as she hits the floor. Growling angrily she tears the shafts from her body and tosses them to deter the approach of the nearby rangers. Spying a support for the upper platform she suddenly charges ahead barging into the wooden pillar to buckle it on the first attempt, whereupon she recoils and finishes the job snapping it in two, the weight of the platform tips the archers from above to fall 20 feet to the floor below landing in a disorganized tangle of arms and legs. Before they can recover Lash grabs an oil lamp and hurls it down setting the area and most of them ablaze.

At the opposite end of the Fort Vex is on the run ducking and dodging flurries of arrows and rifle shots she spies a path and dives into the courtyard, a shot grazes her arm and an arrow embeds itself into her back as she travels but she shrugs them off and ploughs onward. With her pursuers close behind she targets one of the inner buildings and bulldozes through the door, shots and bolts slam into the structure keeping her low. The room is a nought but a food store and sadly devoid of offensive weapons, but with a sword still in her grasp she is able to skewer the first ranger foolish enough to follow her in, the woman falls awkwardly on the blade, however, snatching it from the Amazon�s grasp. As two more pursuers burst in, Vex is forced to recoil, one scores a deep cut to her left arm, nevertheless she continues to weave until she is able to kick out, sending one to the floor and dodging the other whose sword buries itself in the wall. Vex charges forward scooping the woman up to barge her back towards the room�s only widow, the glass shatters and sprays in all directions as she bludgeons her foe from the building, rolling on the floor she scoops up a jagged shard of broken pane plunging it deep into the back of the ranger. As more guards appear at the window, intent to follow, the Amazon hurriedly hurls a succession of smaller glass shards their way, the lethal projectiles score one fatal strike and several more disabling ones that force the rangers to full retreat, Vex snatches some of the burning debris nearby and uses it to set the building alight. She races to the door way as the Rangers try to exit the store and bulldozes them back secure inside as she brings down the roof about their heads leaving the inferno to consume them. Retaining one of the burning beams she uses it to block another slash of a sword shoving the flames in the face of the attacker before scooping her up and tossing her into the midst of the flames to die with her friends.

A shot rings out and hits Vex in the stomach, another snags her in the legs and she crumples to the floor, her position is masked by the building flames and the riflemen skirt the area looking to put an end to this threat, they trace a route around the fire keeping their weapons poised and ready but as they approach the location the Amazon fell she is nowhere to be seen! Exchanging a nervous glance the rangers suddenly feel the blonde's presence, from behind she grabs one of the gun barrels jerking the butt of the rifle into the face of its owner and then sweeping the weapon around she knocks the other�s gun from her hand, even as it fires she topples to the floor on her back. Deftly manipulating the rifle she fires a shot square to the forehead of the first guard and then flips the barrel to hang vertically above the other, the stunned ranger screams as the butt slams into her skull, crushing it against the floor.

Vex looks about, the area has been decimated some of the fallen flop limply on the ground while a few others beat a hasty retreat from the rapidly escalating inferno. The last remaining objective is the main tower and Vex spies Lash climbing one of the main supports, above the four frightened rangers barricaded on the platform are doing their best to shoot her down, crossbows unleash a barrage of bolts but the blonde deftly dodges and weaves slowly gaining height. Bounding ahead Vex leaps over the flames and soars into the air to catch onto another support and begins her own journey upward. Her initial progress is rapid until those on the platform spy her approach and send some of their arrows her way. Like Lash she dodges the early flurry albeit slowing her progress considerably, indeed a bolt catchers her in the shoulder and she grunts angrily stopping to tear it out and hurl it at one of her attackers.

The final lunge to the tower leaves both Amazons exposed and they take hits as they rush the platform more or less simultaneously. Lash kicks out at one of the archers dropping her low, a knee to the chest snaps the girl upright sending her reeling back into a compatriot, both slam into the opposite wall and their Amazon tormentor effortlessly scoops one into the air hurling her head first from the 40 foot tower into the blaze below, the other rises into the blonde�s grasp, a double claw capturing her skull, the Amazon�s thumbs pressing heavily into the eyeballs trying to drive them back into the brain, a course that leads to one very bloody end!

Vex lunges ahead grasping one ranger by the head and whirling her around into the other sending both to the floor, dragging the woman back up into a secure headlock she pins the other to the floor with her foot across the throat, a sudden sharp jerk snaps the neck of the one in her arms and she pushes down hard on the one on the floor, casually the Amazon tosses the dead body over the side and drops to ensure the other victim wither and dies in turn. Below the flames begin to lick ever higher the supports of the tall structure become lost amid the raging inferno.

Lash watches her 'partner' finish the final guard, the blonde is now effectively the last remaining reminder of her earlier humiliating retreat, a witness that would delight in passing her story to the Hybrids back at the base, and that was something Lash would not tolerate.

From the corner of her eye Vex spies Lash�s foot headed her way, she twists violently narrowly managing to evade the blow and responds by lunging ahead to spear into her backstabbing partner. Bulldozing her foe back into the wall of the tower Vex presses the woman tight to the perimeter and manages to ensnare her with a bear-hug. Her awesome muscles ripple with raw power as she attempts to crush the breath from the devious blonde brute. Lash however bares her claws and rakes at her foes face forcing her to release and recoil, she grasps the towers upper support and lifts her feet to fire both to the face sending Vex careering backwards. Bulldozing into her blinded foe Lash slams her back to the perimeter and tips her over the side. Vex flails desperately as she falls catching the guard rail she sweeps her legs back up high and captures her nemesis� head in a scissor, tugging the overbalanced Amazon from the tower.

Although Vex releases her foe she finds the woman fails to fall, having found a foothold on one of the platform supports, indeed the brute reaches up and exploits the hanging blonde's exposed body by shoving a claw deep into her womanhood. The intrusion is a shock to Vex and almost sees her lose her own grip but her dangling legs strike out snapping into Lash and cause her to drop down a few more feet. The blonde looks down startled suddenly noting the increased temperature as the flames lick higher, the whole tower creaks and groans ominously as the supports are steadily consumed. A rope dangling from the upper platform offer a chance to swing to safety and Vex is quick to grab for it however she has barely got her hands to it as Lash is there as well using her, instead of the rope for support. Lash�s strong hands are steel claws digging into Vex's muscles as the she tries to climb over her, but Vex fires an elbow back sharply as her face comes in ranger and the blonde slips. Sadly for Vex a crossbow bolt still protrudes from her back and Lash gladly gropes it as she slides causing a sudden and excruciating increase in pain. Lash grabs the rope over Vex as the other woman slips below her amid the shock of agony, Vex is wily enough to retain the rope and ends up just below her foes feet, the flames however are now licking up her legs searing the flesh as they pass.

The tower suddenly buckles, pitching onto one support it lurches sideways and drops the pair lower in the bringing those flames even closer and both are suddenly inspired to work together , swinging their bodyweight to draw out an arc that puts them in range of a relatively safe area of fort wall. Lash and Vex leap from the rope striking the area intended, but there is no chance for respite as the tower itself lurches again and begins crashing directly toward them, running at breakneck speed they launch themselves from the wall of the burning fort slamming hard into the ground as the tower fragments and covers them in a shower of sparks and molten debris. Both Amazons take damage from the fall, Lash�s shoulder dislocates Vex is left winded and seeing stars but the searing flames around them drive them back to their feet and send them charging at breakneck speed for the river. Flesh and hair burning literally the pair plunge into the icy waters of the estuary submerging to finally sate the searing sick pain their bodies have become.

The fort behind is totally consumed by flame, the lashing tongues of the inferno spreading into the forest a signal fire visible far and wide.

Epilogue