A Wasp Takes Flight - Marvel: Earth-USB Saga (Part 11.5)

[tirepanted3]

Hi, everyone. Here's another Marvel-USB story from the perspective of the Black Cat. It should hopefully be easy to follow for newcomers, although you may want to have read Rufus' most recent story first: viewtopic.php?t=10233





Janet Van Dyne lives in a gorgeous mansion in suburban Cresskill, New Jersey, about a forty-minute drive from Manhattan. A three-story brownstone surrounded by lush greenery and no immediate neighbors, it’s a perfect place for a superheroine to unwind after a long day of saving the world.

Janet – better known around the country as the superheroine the Wasp – used to live here with her husband Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, but the two split up a while ago. Janet kept the mansion, naturally – it’s in her family name. She’s got a pretty good life, all told – single gal, fabulously rich, and a superhero. Proof that a woman can have it all.

Of course, the downside to a woman having it all is that… another woman may want to take it.

That other woman, of course, is me. Felicia Hardy, your friendly neighborhood Black Cat. I’m currently hiding in the bushes surrounding the Van Dyne mansion, peering as best I can through the windows with my cat-eye binoculars.

I catch glimpses of some of the gorgeous antiques inside… paintings and statues that could make me a very rich woman indeed. Any other day, I would be tempted to steal some of Ms. Van Dyne’s lovely collection.

But today, I’m after only one thing that Janet owns – her superhero costume.

If my intel is right, the villains I’m after – Taylor, Charlotte, and their thieving friends – will be infiltrating Oscorp today. More than anything else, I want the satisfaction of stopping them, defeating them and seeing them carted off to jail. And to do that, I need a way to infiltrate Oscorp myself – and the Wasp’s costume, with its inherent shrinking ability, provides one.

Twenty minutes of observing Janet’s house through my binoculars convinces me that she isn’t home at the moment. Hopefully she hasn’t been called away on any major Avengers mission… Otherwise all my careful planning over the last few days will be for nothing.

I sense movement at one of the windows, and my attention perks up. But it’s not Janet – it looks like a maid, cleaning around the house while her boss is off fighting crime (or attending gala parties – I don’t really know Janet’s social schedule).

That’ll do for now. Time to put my plan into action.

I exit the bushes and circle around to the sidewalk. I’ve chosen my dress carefully today – baggy woolen sweater, faded denim jeans, oversized glasses. I’ve tied my white-blonde hair back into a thick ponytail. I want to look the part of a shy, nerdy girl, the type who sits in the back of a library and doesn’t say a word. Basically, the type of girl people would be inclined to have sympathy for.

(Frankly, I’m glad Mary Jane can’t see me… She’d never stop laughing.)

I stroll up the front walk of Van Dyne mansion and press the doorbell.

A minute later, the door opens.

Standing there is a young woman, with tan skin, brown eyes, and dark brown hair tied back in a chignon. Judging by her dress, she is indeed a maid – white button-down shirt, black skirt with white apron, sheer black tights and white shoes.

“Can I help you?” she asks.

I nod, pushing my glasses up my face with a finger. “Y-yes, hi…” I stammer. “Does the Wasp live here?”

The maid looks at me oddly. She’s probably been instructed to shoo strangers away from the mansion. But another glance at my misty green eyes, and she takes pity on me.

“What’s wrong, dear?” she asks.

“It’s… my cat,” I say. “He ran away. I… I’ve been looking all over for him, put up flyers and everything, but… I don’t know where he is. I was wondering… I know the Wasp is a major superhero and all, but… maybe she could help?”

I wipe a tear away from my eye. I wonder if the Academy gives out Oscars to anti-heroes…

A look of sympathy crosses the maid’s face. “What’s your name?”

“Felicity,” I say, using my favorite alias. “Felicity Harmon.”

“My name is Isabel.” The maid opens the door wider and gestures for me to enter. “Please, come inside, Felicity… I’ll give you a glass of water.”

I sniffle. “Oh, that’s too kind… Really…”

“Please, dear, come on in.” She treats me to a sweet smile. “You can have a seat while you wait for Ms. Van Dyne to return.”

I nod. “Okay… thank you.”

I step into the mansion. It looks even better on the inside. A painting on the foyer wall probably costs more than my apartment.

“So… she’s not here now?” I ask.

Isabel closes the door. “Ms. Van Dyne should be back in about thirty minutes. She’s attending a meet, but plans to return for lunch. In the meantime, I’m sure she won’t mind you stopping in.”

I glance at Isabel. “So… does anyone else work here?”

Isabel shakes her head as she steps past me, towards the kitchen. “Not today… I’m minding the mansion by myself.”

I grin at this. “Perfect.”

I move quickly, striking with a judo chop at the side of Isabel’s long neck.

“Ohh!” The maid freezes for a moment, startled and confused. A brief, interminable moment as I wonder whether I aimed my neck chop just right.

“Ohh…” Her eyes roll backwards, and she falls back toward the floor. I catch her with an outstretched arm.

Yep… Just right.

There’s a coat closet in the foyer… exactly what I’m looking for. I hook my hands under Isabel’s armpits and drag her inside.

Minutes later, I exit the closet – not as an undercover “library girl,” but as an undercover maid.

Isabel’s uniform fits me reasonably well, and I ignore the slight pinch of her shoes on my feet and the crackling static of her tights on my legs. I tie the apron around my waist and smooth my hair back into an elegant ponytail.

Isabel herself is seated on the floor of the coat closet, stripped to a frilly white demicup bra and pink Brazilian panties. I’ve torn up one of the coats into strips and used them to tie her up, with a cloth belt used as a gag. She looks quaint and peaceful in her current position; I cover her sleeping figure with another coat to keep her warm.

“Sorry about this, Isabel,” I say, shutting the closet door. “But I need to meet with the Wasp alone.”

*********************

Isabel’s timetable turns out to be quite accurate. Just under a half-hour later, I hear the faint buzzing of wings outside the mansion.

I glance out the window in time to see the Wasp, grown to her full height, alighting on the back lawn.

I’ve seen her superhero costume in photos, but this is the first time I’ve gotten a look at it up close. It’s a black skintight outfit with yellow decals across the torso, hips, and shoulders, plus yellow gauntlets on her forearms and black knee-high boots over her legs. She wears a black helmet with tinted yellow visor that obscures most of her face, apart from her nose and mouth. She has a pair of silver-yellow wings on her back, which now retract into her costume. And she’s got a pair of short antennae on top of the helmet – curious if those are just a design detail, or if they serve a practical purpose.

The Wasp removes her helmet and shakes her hair free. Janet Van Dyne looks about how I saw her at the auction two weeks ago. She’s a tall, light-skinned woman in her mid-thirties, with blue eyes and chin-length reddish-brown hair. And right now, she looks like she could use a rest.

I’m happy to oblige her.

Janet enters the mansion through the back door. I’m at the sink, with my back to her, pretending to wash some dishes.

“What a morning,” Janet says with a sigh. “I could use a walk.”

“Of course, Ms. Van Dyne,” I call, in a perfect impression of Isabel’s voice.

Janet is too tired to give more than a glance in my direction. “Hi, Isabel.”

She approaches the table and glances at the morning paper.

“Sounds like Oscorp is unveiling its latest scientific ‘project’ sometime in the next few days… I swear, considering the stuff Norman Osborn has his team working on, it’s a miracle he’s managed to stay out of jail.”

She unstraps her gauntlets and lays them on the table. “I need a morning stroll before I can deal with any of that, though.”

As she exits the kitchen, I allow myself to turn and glance at the gauntlets.

I’ve heard of her weapons – they launch her famous “Wasp's Sting.” Capable of knocking a regular human unconscious.

Just what I need at the moment.

Janet walks into the foyer. “I wish Tony would stop scheduling Avengers meetings so early in the morning.”

She opens the closet to fetch her coat, then freezes. She stares down at the bound-and-gagged woman lying on the closet floor.

“…Isabel?”

She stands there, frozen for a moment, not believing what she’s seeing.

Z-KOW!

A quick blast from the Wasp’s gauntlet sends a jolt of electricity right at her. She reels for a moment, then with a groan, falls backwards.

I catch her before she hits the floor.

Wow, I actually did it! I knocked out an Avenger.

A brief worry crosses my mind – that I’ve just crossed a forbidden threshold, and that heavy hitters like Thor and Hulk will soon be chasing after me.

But I quickly push these thoughts from my head. There’s no turning back now.

The Wasp’s uniform turns out to be more complicated at removing than I had anticipated. There are no buttons or zippers to be seen. I also notice the costume is a combination of specially treated fabrics and armor that seems specially tailored and geared for her body measurements. Even if I manage to get it off her, there’s no guarantee it will fit me.

Still, I press on, pulling off her boots. Then I unstrap the detachable power pack which contains her wings. Gotta make sure not to damage any of this material – if there’s any suit malfunction while I’m flying through the air, I’m cooked.

I work her black skintight suit down her body, at last peeling it free. That leaves Janet in a white cotton T-shirt bra and matching briefs. Despite her extravagant costume, her underwear is surprisingly plain. Still, I never expect superheroines to have the best fashion sense.

I slip out of the maid uniform and start getting dressed as the Wasp. This is so exciting – my first time changing into a superhero uniform! I feel like this would be more appropriate in a phone booth, but I’ll manage.

I’m pleasantly surprised to see that the fabric of her outfit adjusts itself to fit my body perfectly. Come to think of it, that makes sense – the Wasp needs her uniform to be chemically treated in a way that lets it adjust to the size of its wearer, especially since that wearer has the power to shrink down to the size of a bug. I suppose she didn’t anticipate the side effects of that treatment – namely, that it would make her uniform easier for another woman to steal. Well, I’m not complaining!

I strap on the power pack and gauntlets, enjoying the little “snap” sounds they make as they lock into place. Then I pull on the boots, which fit just as well as the outfit.

Finally, I retrieve the helmet and place it over my head, tucking in a few errant strands of hair beneath it. I blink a couple of times, getting used to the view of the world through the yellow-tinted visor. There are some computer readouts on the display in the corner of my eyesight. Bunch of numbers, not sure what they mean. Well, I’ll figure that out later.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the floor-length hallway mirror, and – almost automatically – strike a superhero pose.

I know I make fun of the Avengers and their goody-goody friends a lot, but this is pretty exciting. With the costume on and helmet covering my hair, I look exactly like the Wasp! A national superheroine and celebrity. I bet even Janet’s ex-husband would be fooled.

Oops, I almost forgot! Still need to tie her up.

I don’t want to tear up anymore of Janet’s nice coats, but I find a coil of black cables on the top shelf of the closet that will do just as nicely. I tie her up hand and foot, then gag her with a clean dishtowel.

I seat her in the closet, shoulder-to-shoulder with the equally unconscious Isabel. Isabel’s head promptly slumps onto her employer’s shoulder. Aww, they look adorable.

“Thanks for everything, ladies,” I whisper. “I promise this is for a good cause. And look on the bright side – when I catch the bad guys today, the Wasp is the one who will get the credit.”

Obviously they can’t hear me. Maybe I’m just saying it for my the sake of own conscience. I shut the closet door.

*********************

Once outside the mansion, I glance up at the sky. And I realize my next mistake.

How does Janet activate this suit?

I’ve seen her fly on TV, but never figured out exactly how she gets the wings to sprout and lift her in the air. And obviously, she’s too unconscious and gagged to explain it to me now.

There are no buttons or switches anywhere on the suit, except the firing blasters on the gauntlets. So how does this work?

I stare at the sky and furrow my brow in concentration. “Up, up, and away!”

Nothing happens. If MJ could see me now, she’d probably die of laughter.

Just when I’m about to give up, I hear a buzzing noise. I sense the antenna locking into place above my head, and a string of numbers flash across the visor.

The next moment, a pair of silver-yellow wings sprout from my back.

Despite being metallic, they’re surprisingly light and durable. At my next mental thought, the wings begin flapping – slowly at first, then faster and faster.

Wow! So that’s what the antennae are for – they attune the suit to my mental commands. Just needed a few moments to recalibrate from Janet’s brain to mine.

The next thing I know, I feel my feet being lifted off the ground.

I’m flying!

The wings are moving incredibly fast, yet they’re also incredibly silent. Barely any buzz in my ears. Janet, you’re a genius!

I start climbing, and soon I’m taking to the sky. I’ve always been a bit resentful of flying heroes, but I have to admit – this is pretty fantastic. There’s something undeniably thrilling about soaring through the air, the wind in my face and a pair of wings on my back.

I spend a few minutes flying through the clouds, testing the suit and generally having a blast. Pretty soon, the suit feels like a second skin.

“Okay, then. Next stop: Oscorp.”

Flying through the air is a much faster commute than taking the highway, which is clogged with traffic at this time of day anyways. It only takes about twenty minutes before I see the familiar skyscrapers of Manhattan once again.

I soar past a tall apartment building. A young girl on the terrace spots me flying past. She looks at me in surprise, then calls inside the apartment. “Mommy, look! It’s the Wasp!”

The girl waves at me. “You’re my favorite Avenger, Wasp!”

I smile at her and wave back. She gasps in shock, then runs back towards the apartment. “Mommy, she waved at me! The Wasp waved at me!”

I fly onward, grinning. That girl now has an unforgettable story to tell all her friends. That feels… nice.

Oh, don’t give me that look. I’m not suddenly planning to turn into a superhero. But it’s a cool change of pace to play one.

I’m getting close to Oscorp now. Can see the tower in the distance. Gotta hope the suit’s shrinking power works as well as its flying abilities.

And no, shrinking down to below an inch in height is not my idea of a thrill. What if someone steps on me, or tries to hit me with a rolled-up newspaper? But the shrinking abilities are why I stole this suit in the first place.

I land on a quiet roof a few blocks from Oscorp, and concentrate hard, trying to get my brain waves to signal the antennae. I close my eyes, focused on trying to get smaller. How does this work?

After several seconds, I open my eyes again. Didn’t seem like that did anyth-

I’m nearly knocked off my feet when I see an ant nearby, about the size of a bear. What the…??

I glance around. I’m still on the roof, but everything is suddenly huge. The pebbles are now giant boulders, the door to the building maintenance room towers above for what seems like miles.

Impulsively, I mentally urge the suit to grow larger. It complies.

I feel a little jolt in my stomach this time, as the suit returns me to normal size. Wow, that was wild…

I spend a few minutes practicing, making sure I know how to control the size-changing abilities. Much like the flying, it doesn’t take long for me to figure out the tech. Complicated in theory, simple in practice. Janet, I could kiss you.

I’m about to start flying off again, when suddenly, the yellow visor in front of my eyes briefly flashes orange. I see words appear on the visor: “LOW POWER. 20% REMAINING.”

Crap! How was I to know that the Wasp’s outfit needed a power charge?

Then again, it makes sense. It’s a mechanical suit, after all. She was out flying for who knows how long before coming home to the mansion. Was probably planning to recharge it before I ambushed her.

I don’t know how much longer the charge on the Wasp suit will last… so I’d better dial back my use of it until I really need it. The suit will be essential for slipping through the deepest, most secure areas of Oscorp.

But until then, I suppose I’ll need to infiltrate the building the old-fashioned way.

********************

I maintain my small size for just a few more minutes, as I fly around the district where Oscorp’s building is located.

There has to be some other way to get in… even at full size. I just need to find it.

A few blocks from Oscorp, I find what I’m looking for.

The white van is parked in an alley behind a service building. The logo is that of a familiar delivery company. And two deliverywomen are standing nearby, catching a smoking break.

Still tiny, I alight on a nearby windowsill and size the two women up. They’re both dressed in red short-sleeve polo shirts, black trousers, black laced work boots, and red baseball caps emblazoned with the company logo. The one on the left is a short dark-skinned brown-eyed woman with auburn hair tied in a low chignon. Her partner is tall and light-skinned, with green eyes and brown hair tied in a long ponytail.

One of their uniforms would be perfect. Being dressed as a deliverywoman is the perfect disguise for sneaking into any corporate office with tight security.

The brunette is closer to my size. I just need to use a Wasp’s Sting to knock them both out…

Before I can move, however, something catches my eye. A blur of movement in the corner of the alley.

I see it’s a woman, charging at the delivery van. She’s moving fast, but I catch enough of a glimpse to recognize her from the stadium. It’s Taylor!

The deliverywomen don’t see Taylor – they’re busy relaxing. So naturally, they’re caught totally off-guard when she hits the brunette with a neck chop. The deliverywoman groans and slides to the ground, instantly unconscious.

The redheaded deliverywoman sees her partner fall, and her eyes widen in shock. She opens her mouth to scream, but Taylor instantly silences her with a left hook to the temple.

Damn, this girl doesn’t mess around…

With both deliverywomen now slumped unconscious to the floor, Taylor waves to a pair of women now standing at the entrance to the alley. They hurry over.

I recognize one of the women – it’s Charlotte, the shapeshifter who awkwardly calls herself “Blender.” But the other woman is unfamiliar. She’s got pale skin and light blonde hair tied in a low bun, mostly covered beneath a beanie. Her clothes are casual and a bit wrinkled, and her face has the look of someone who hasn’t slept in a while.

Not sure why, but something about her gives me the creeps.

“These uniforms should do well enough,” Taylor states, picking up the brunette deliverywoman by her underarms. “Help me drag them into the back of the van and strip them.”

Charlotte picks up the redheaded deliverywoman and drags her over to the back of the van. She glances inside and grins. “Wow! They’ve got rolls of packing tape and packing string inside the van! Perfect binding material. It’s almost like they were expecting us.”

Taylor rolls her eyes. “Come on, we can’t fall behind schedule.”

Charlotte glances over at the blonde. “You good, Nudge? Anything wrong?”

The woman called “Nudge” is frowning slightly. “I sense… something. Or someone. I’m not sure where it’s coming from, but there’s a disturbing aura around here.”

For a moment, she glances in my direction – and I freeze. She can’t see me… can she?

Taylor interrupts her thoughts. “There’s no one else here, Sarah,” she says. “Not at the moment, anyway. Let’s hurry up and get these women squirreled away.”

She drags the first unconscious deliverywoman into the back of the van. Charlotte follows with the other one. After a moment’s hesitation, Sarah follows them, closing the door behind her.

I don’t know what that was about… and I don’t like it.

I consider making my move now – attacking the girls while they’re in the van – but I need to conserve my suit’s power.

Besides, my revenge will be sweeter if I hold off on attacking them till they’re in the heart of the Oscorp building. If they’re caught while robbing the building itself, they’ll be locked up for decades.

In any case, my plan to sneak into Oscorp in the guise of a deliverywoman probably won’t work out now… especially if Taylor and her team are planning it as well. I need a new plan, and fast…

*******************

I scout the perimeter of the Oscorp building for another few minutes, staying in microscopic size. I can’t risk being seen… but I also can’t risk draining the suit much longer. Gotta find a girl my size, quick.

As I swing past the building’s entrance for the fifth time, I see the glass entrance doors slide open. A young woman steps out, cell phone in hand. She’s tall and trim, with light skin and chocolate-brown hair tied back in a mid-back ponytail. “Be back soon with the coffee,” she says before hanging up the phone.

She’s wearing a conservative dark blue blouse and knee-length black skirt, plus tan tights and brown penny loafers. Looped around her neck is a lanyard, and dangling at the end of it is an access card.

A secretary, out on a coffee run. Ding-ding, we have a winner.

She walks down the block, then decides to take a shortcut through a side alley. Thanks, hon, that makes things easier.

I fly silently after her. My first impulse is to use the Wasp’s Sting to neutralize her, but I remind myself that need to conserve the suit’s power.

Guess I gotta do this the old-fashioned way.

I land right behind the secretary, then immediately grow to my full size.

She stops suddenly, sensing someone is behind her.

I hit her with a neck chop before she has a chance to turn around.

“Ohhh…” The girl falls backwards, right into my waiting arms. She’s out like a candle. I drag her behind some trash cans.

Now comes the annoying part – stripping out of the Wasp suit. It was a pain to put on, and now I have to take it off again? If only I could just make this thing invisible…

The next moment, I feel the suit shimmering. Glancing down in surprise, I watch as it disappears.

What? How did that happen? Did it disintegrate, or…

No, I can sense the suit is still on my body. But it’s become invisible and nearly intangible. More grade-A Avengers technology, it seems. That saves me the trouble of having to strip off the costume.

That said, now I look like I’m just wearing my underwear. Better fix that.

I quickly strip the secretary down to her white full-cup bra and matching hiphuggers.

Just then, I hear voices.

Peeking out from my hiding spot, I see two women standing farther up the alley, inspecting an air vent. They’re dressed in bright yellow reflective vests, grey pants, and black shoes, and their clothes are covered in reflective bands.

It’s not hard to figure out who these two women are – health inspectors. Probably the ones that Taylor mentioned when I bugged her conversation with her team last week.

They’re not far from my hiding place… and they’re getting closer. If they spot me and my unconscious friend here, they’ll raise the alarm before I can move.

Plus, I’m technically in my underwear right now. If they arrest me and someone snaps a photo, Mary Jane will never let me live it down.

I need to do something, pronto. But what?

As my mind races, I hear another woman’s voice. “Hello! Ex… excuse me! Could I ask you a favor?”

I peek out again, and am surprised to see Charlotte and Taylor entering the alley. Both of them are now dressed in the uniforms of the deliverywomen they previously mugged.

At the end of the alley, I glimpse their creepy friend, leaning against a wall and scrolling through her phone. I try not to look at her…

Charlotte and Taylor engage the two health inspectors in conversation. The health inspectors first look trepidatious, but after a few moments, they suddenly appear at ease.

Kind of an abrupt change of mood…

Charlotte flashes a cute smile at them, and she and Taylor turn and walk back down the alley. The health inspectors follow them.

It’s a safe guess that those health inspectors are being lured into a trap, and are about to spend the next few hours tied up and missing their uniforms. Well, that’s their problem.

In any event, I’m grateful for Charlotte’s timely intervention. Now I can finish my own disguise acquirement in peace.

The real secretary is still fast asleep, looking nice and peaceful. I use some black tape from my bag to bind and gag her.

I’m not typically a fan of these demure “girl Friday” ensembles, but I like her color choice, and the clothes fit pretty well. I slip the penny loafers onto my feet and loop the access card around my neck, then tie my hair back into as professional a bun I can manage.

After checking to confirm the real secretary is nicely secured, I hide her behind the garbage cans, covering her with a tarp. She’ll sleep quietly for an hour or two. Hopefully that’s enough time for me.

Heading back down the alley, I return to the Oscorp entrance. Here goes nothing…

The doors slide open to welcome me. There’s a guard at the front desk, but he doesn’t pay me much attention. I tap my stolen pass on the inner entrance pad and enter the main hall.

And I’m in! Wow, this place is big. And very postmodern, with lots of gleaming metal walls and doors. Norman Osborn sure knows how to spend money.

I consult a directory in the main hall. The science labs are on the upper floors. The 30th floor in particular looks promising – that’s where the archive room is, and probably where the high-tech prototypes are kept. That’s my destination.

I tap my pass against the elevator pad and am relieved as the doors slide open. So far, all’s going well…

As I enter the elevator, my mind is already racing – I’m a secretary, to all outward appearances. Probably not the sort of woman they’d let wander around in the labs. Being a five-foot-ten blonde woman has its advantages, but I can only strut around Oscorp in these clothes for so long before someone starts asking questions.

I still want to hold off on the Wasp costume until I’m sure I need it – which means a new disguise is in order.

I get off the elevator a few floors before the archive room, at the 25th floor. According to the map, this is where the lowest levels of the laboratory are situated.

That means I’m just low enough in the building to walk around as a secretary… but just high enough to walk around as a scientist.

Right on cue, I hear footsteps. They sound just light enough to be a woman’s.

A moment later, I confirm it is a woman – a young lady about my height, with light skin and chin-length reddish-brown hair. She’s dressed rather casually by Oscorp standards – a lavender sweatshirt and dull grey jeans – though she does have white lab coat on over her ensemble, as well as a pair of horn-rimmed glasses on her face.

That’s the beauty of being a scientist – as long as you’ve got the white lab coat and glasses, people don’t care what else you’re wearing.

The science lady spots me and raises an inquiring eyebrow. “Can I help you?”

Women my size need to stop asking me that question. It never ends well for them.

I give her a sheepish grin, one befitting that of a demure secretary. “Hi… I think I’m a little lost. Is this the bookkeeping floor?”

She shakes her head. “That’s level 18,” she explains. “These upper floors are off-limits to secretarial workers.”

“Sorry about that,” I reply. “I’m not trying to get in trouble… I just started working here. Is that a directory on the wall?”

The scientist turns around. “No, that’s just a billboard. We don’t… Oouugghh!”

I have her in a sleeper hold before she utters another word.

The scientist is too surprised to put up much of a struggle as I drag her back towards a nearby closet. By the time I shut the door behind us, she’s too unconscious to struggle.

One quick change later, and voila – I’m an Oscorp scientist. The white lab coat, the sweatshirt and faded jeans, and (of course) the smarty glasses all combine for a tidy new ensemble. I muss up my hair to give myself the look of a woman who’s working long hours at the lab to pay off some college loans.

The real nerd-girl’s hair is also mussed up, after the little dance I just put her through. But she’s fast asleep now, looking super-peaceful in her cyan T-shirt bra and white boyshorts. She’s also bound with the secretary’s tights – I appreciate the stretchable fabric – and gagged with a spare kerchief.

I pop my head out of the closet and ensure the coast is clear, then head back towards the elevator. Thirtieth floor, here I come.

******************

I hold my breath as the elevator doors slide open again. Then I stick my head out into the hallway. Coast looks clear… so far.

I nod my way past a couple of other lab-coated scientists who pass me in the hall. They give me nothing more than a polite glance. This is easy… too easy.

There must be something more going on here. If this really is the floor where Oscorp keeps all their top-secret materials, where’s the security? I don’t see a single guard in the hallway.

Norman Osborn isn’t stupid… which means he’s probably got some secret weapon on this floor to deal with intruders who’ve made it this far. So it’s time to take on some added precautions myself.

I’ve held off on the Wasp’s suit long enough. Stepping into a side room, I strip off the science outfit and then mentally command the Wasp’s outfit to become visible and tangible again.

I take a deep breath, then give the mental “shrink” command. It looks like the suit is getting more used to me – it only takes a moment before I feel the rush of the costume shrinking me down to the size of… well, a wasp.

The hum of my wings fills the air as I take flight. Before long, I’ve navigated my way to the door of the prototypes room.

The door is made of solid steel, and looks several inches thick. Opening it might trigger an alarm. Luckily, I find a crack at the bottom of the door and squeeze through. This suit is working wonders.

And just like that, I’m inside the room. A quick glance around confirms that Oscorp has been keeping busy. There are dozens of machines and devices littered around the room. I couldn’t begin to guess what most of them are for, but they sure look valuable.

This is perfect. I can catch Taylor and her team in the act of breaking into the prototypes room, make sure they get arrested, and also steal a few things myself! I bet SHIELD will pay an arm and a leg for some of Oscorp’s tech…

My musings are interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Could that be Taylor and her team? Could they have made it here before I did?

No… the woman who steps into view now isn’t part of Team Not-So-Awesome. She’s tall and athletic, with light skin, steely blue eyes, and long white-blonde hair with a silver-white headband tied beneath. She’s dressed in a grey armored metal bodysuit, and a silver weapons belt is strapped around her waist.

I recognize her from the papers – Silver Sable, part-time mercenary and bounty huntress.

I’ve never met Sable face-to-face, but I know the Spiders have fought her on occasion – and worked with her on other occasions. (Shifting loyalties – they’re not just reserved for yours truly.) By all accounts, she’s an incredibly tough physical combatant and proficient weapons expert – and by the looks of it, she’s now working as Oscorp security.

So she’s the “secret weapon” I was worried about.

I’ve always been somewhat intrigued by Silver Sable – not merely because of her skills, but because of her appearance. Based on the photos I’ve seen, she kind of… looks like me. Same skin and hair color, similar build… yes, I could probably pass myself off as her without much difficulty.

And her costume… it’s pretty kickass. I would look damn good in skintight silver armor. And besides, if the suit really is made of silver fabrics, I could probably earn some nice money from stealing it.

At once, the last piece of my plan snaps into place. I’ll ambush Silver Sable and steal her costume! Then I can pose as her in order to catch Taylor and her team when they break in. Taylor’s fighting skills will be no match for Sable’s weapons.

And no one will have reason to suspect I’m not really Sable, provided I don’t stick around too long. I’ll sound the alarm and have the security underlings cart them away.

Sable looks poised and alert… but she doesn’t anticipate an attack from a wasp-sized opponent she can’t even see. I raise my arm, pointing the gauntlet in her direction.

“Sorry, Silver… but you’re about to be de-Sabled.”

Yikes, that pun was horrible. Good thing she’s too small to hear me.

I press the gauntlet, and a Wasp’s Sting shoots out. It hits Silver Sable squarely in the neck, just above the collar of her costume.

“Uurghh!” Sable freezes for a moment. Then the electro-concussive blast sends her reeling.

After a few moments, she collapses to the floor.

I did it! I knocked out one of the world’s foremost mercenaries. And the same day I knocked out an Avenger, too. God, this suit is amazing.

I alight on the ground and grow to full size, letting my Wasp uniform turn invisible and intangible once again. Then I check on Silver Sable, confirming that she is indeed unconscious.

Her silver uniform gleams beneath the room’s lights. Gorgeous. I can’t wait to wear it myself.

I wonder if it’s threaded with real silver. Could be valuable…

I grasp Sable beneath her armpits and drag her to the rear of the room, into the shadows behind a stack of crates. Gotta work fast. There’s no telling when Taylor and her team will show up…

I unbuckle Sable’s weapons belt and lay it aside. Then I unlace her combat boots and peel her out of her bodysuit.

Beneath her uniform, Silver Sable wears a silver-grey sports bra, boyshorts, and socks. Even her underwear glimmers with the color of silver. They look as expensive as the suit. Dollar signs dance in my eyes.

I’ve never before stolen another woman’s underwear before – it’s not like I’ve ever needed that for a disguise. But after my last few heists went sour, I could use some extra cash… and if her bra and panties really are threaded with silver, they could pay my next month’s rent.

After a moment’s consideration, I strip Silver Sable of her socks, bra, and panties. “Sorry, babe. Your fault for wearing such valuable clothes.”

Silver Sable’s belt has multiple pairs of silver cuffs strapped to it. I take a couple of pairs and use them to restrain her wrists and ankles. Her belt also features some silver duct tape (my goodness, woman, you really love this color) which I use to gag her. Then I cover her with a sheet – hey, I gotta give some respect to her modesty.

Eyeing Sable’s underwear, I consider the plan. The fabric looks pretty sturdy. I don’t want to crumple it up and risk damaging it. If I want the underclothes kept in good condition, I guess I’ll have to wear them myself. Not my first choice, but I don’t have a ton of options.

I don the silver bra and panties, then pull up the socks. They fit pretty well, although my chest chafes slightly from the fabric. This better be worth it…

Just as I’m reaching for the rest of the uniform, I hear the door open.

“Start searching. It has to be around here somewhere.”

There’s no mistaking that voice. It’s Taylor!

I peek out from my hiding spot. Sure enough, Taylor and Charlotte are in the room now, searching through various boxes. Unsurprisingly, they’re dressed in the uniforms of those two health inspectors I saw outside the building.

My first impulse is to fight – and the Wasp suit, though invisible, senses it. Instinctively, I hear the wings start to buzz…

No! I quickly silence the wings with a mental command. Taylor glances around. Has she heard me?

“Something wrong?” Charlotte asks.

Taylor shakes her head. “I thought I heard something. Must be my imagination… or some fly.”

Whew. Close one.

I turn back to Silver Sable’s outfit. That’s the one I need now. The one that’ll help me fight.

I dress quickly and quietly, praying that Charlotte and Taylor don’t stumble on my hiding place. I lace up the boots and click the weapons belt around my waist.

Weapons belt… let’s see, what does Sable carry with her? She’s got a gun, some smoke pellets, and a pair of high-tech-looking contact lenses…

I pop the lenses into my eyes; they immediately give everything a blue tint. More importantly, they enhance my sight. Probably night-vision or heat-sensing lenses.

Damn. Why do Wasp and Sable get all the expensive gadgets? Maybe I should make friends with Tony Stark…

I also spot a small device with an alarm signal on it. That should bring security running. I smile and press the button.

Nothing happens. I frown. Is it a silent alarm? I press it again and wait.

Minutes pass. No other guards burst through the door. The alarm looks to be a bust.

Taylor’s team must be using a jammer to block any security signals. They’ve really planned ahead for this.

Okay, then… Looks like I’ve got to kick their asses myself. No problem.

As if on cue, I hear Charlotte’s triumphant cry. “Sparks! I’ve hit the jackpot!”

Sounds like they’ve found what they’re looking for. I’d better make my move now.

I stand up, smooth down my shimmering silver bodysuit, and confidently step out of the shadows.

“Congratulations,” I say. “You’ve won a lengthy stay in prison.”

Both Taylor and Charlotte look surprised. Good.

“I’ll give you one chance,” I tell them with menace in my voice. “Surrender, and nobody gets hurt.”

Lord, this is fun. And I think it’s working – they both seem convinced that I’m really Silver Sable.

Charlotte puts on a brave face and starts walking towards me, pointing her finger at my face. “Back off! I’ve trained my body into an unstoppable weapooooooo—“

I immediately grab her arm and hit her with a judo chop. Before she hits the ground, I’ve grabbed one of Sable’s spare handcuffs and cuffed Charlotte’s wrists behind her back.

Oh yeah, that felt good. And now for Taylor.

I stand up straight again, assuming a fighting stance and fixing Taylor with a steely glare. Come on, honey… Come at me again, I dare you.

Weirdly, Taylor doesn’t look scared… or defensive, for that matter. She looks… annoyed?

“Hey!” she calls to me. “You know how fast electricity travels?”

Now that’s a weird question. Why would she—

Taylor takes off, charging right at me. She’s running fast.

My eyes widen. She’s running really fast. Like, superhumanly fast.

Oh. Crap.

Before I can move, Taylor is behind me. She grabs my neck. The next moment, I feel a jolt – like the one I felt at the stadium. It’s more familiar this time – a powerful blast of electricity.

The next moment, the world goes black.

***************

My vision returns, and my head clears.

I slowly realize where I am. Stuck in a small closet, balled up in a cramped space. My chin pressed against my knees, my thighs against my breasts.

I’ve been stripped down to my underwear – well, Sable’s underwear, anyway. My wrists and ankles are cuffed, and my shoulders, thighs, and calves are bound with metal ropes. I can barely move a muscle.

My mouth is filled with cloths and covered with another cloth. I can’t make a sound, either.

In the dim lighting, I can see a discarded health inspector uniform on the floor. No real question of what happened – Charlotte and Taylor must have thought Silver Sable’s uniform would be a better disguise than the health inspector outfit, especially with Charlotte’s shapeshifting abilities. They stripped me of that uniform and weapons, and they’re probably long gone by now.

Dammit! How could I have been so stupid… I underestimated Taylor… had no idea she was a superhuman.

I try struggling, but it’s no use. The handcuffs are tight, and the ropes are incredibly strong – even if I had Gwen’s super-strength, I doubt I could break them. Besides, in these cramped quarters, I can’t get any leverage.

I’m trapped. It could be hours before anyone finds me… and when they do, I’m doomed. The cops will arrest me, Osborn will have me jailed for life.

God, if I could get my hands on Charlotte and Taylor… If only I had that supersuit…

Wait a minute – the suit!

The Wasp’s suit. I’m still technically wearing it. I can’t feel it, but it’s on my body… If only I can activate it…

I concentrate, hard – harder then I’ve ever done in my life. Come on, girl, shrink!

After what feels like an eternity, I feel the bonds begin to loosen. They’re growing… No, I’m shrinking!

I shrink down to Wasp size, instantly slipping free of the gag and bindings. Woohoo!

I’ve never felt so glad to be free. I quickly fly beneath the closet door and circle the room multiple times, enjoying the fresh air.

All at once, my visor flashes bright red. “LOW POWER. RECHARGE SUIT IMMEDIATELY.”

Crap! Crappity crap crap!

I was so busy focused on the rest of the heist, I forgot about the suit’s power levels! I’m still stuck at Oscorp. I need to get out of here… And if the costume runs dry while I’m still shrunken, I could be stuck at this size forever!

I wing my way to the door, which is thankfully ajar enough that I don’t need to find any cracks to slip through. My first impulse is to fly through a window, but that’s too risky… I’m thirty floors up! If the suit depowers at that height, I’m dead.

I put on another burst of speed as I head for the elevators. Can’t risk growing in size when there are security cameras around… Need to find a place where there are no eyes around before I turn back into my usual self.

I’m in luck – there’s an employee waiting for the freight elevator. A tall young woman with dark skin and pixie-cut black hair, pushing a large wooden crate along on a wheeled carrier. She’s wearing a light green reflector vest over a grey shirt, blue jeans, and brown work shoes. She must be a warehouse worker – transporting a prototype to the Oscorp warehouse.

The elevator doors slide open, and the woman pushes the crate inside. I put on a burst of speed and buzz my way through the doors right before they slide closed.

As soon as the elevator doors shut, the warehouse worker presses the button for the ground floor.

I choose that moment to unshrink myself.

The woman turns at the sound of my boots hitting the floor. Her eyes widen in shock.

I treat her to a polite smile. “Going down?”

It takes several minutes for the slow, lumbering freight elevator to make its way down the thirty floors of the Oscorp building. Just enough time for me to take the warehouse worker off-duty.

By the time the elevator doors slide open on the ground floor, I’m all dressed up in her uniform. I dust down the jacket and push the crate out of the elevator, in the direction of the warehouse.

Once I reach the warehouse, I find a quiet corner in which to deposit the crate. I glance quickly inside, smiling at the metal machinery within… and the unfortunate warehouse worker who’s sharing the space with them.

The young woman is blissfully unconscious, stripped to a red exercise bra and purple bikini panties. I didn’t have enough time to tie her up, but she’ll probably be asleep for a while. And I don’t plan to stay around here much longer…

I reach the exit pretty soon – thankfully, there’s not much security at the warehouse – and make my escape.

Stepping through the back alley, I spot a familiar vehicle – the delivery van that Taylor and her team hijacked to kick off their infiltration. I instinctively freeze – could they be planning to return to it?

But no, it looks abandoned, parked in a quiet spot, as though waiting for the cops to find it. I peek through the rear window, and am unsurprised to see four unconscious women, all bound and gagged and stripped to their underwear, lying on the floor inside.

Charlotte and Taylor are nowhere to be seen… and neither is their creepy friend. I had my chance to confront them… and I blew it.

****************

I return home, exhausted, dejected, and angry. My head and body still ache slightly from Taylor’s attack and being bound up in that closet. Everything in my apartment has a blue haze…

Oh wait, the contacts. I’m still wearing the special blue contact lenses I stole from Silver Sable. That and the underwear were her only things Taylor and Charlotte didn’t steal from me.

I pop the contacts out and set them on the table. Maybe I can find some use for them in a future heist… That is, whenever I get around to trying another heist…

As soon as I set the contacts down, though, they begin glowing and clicking. The next moment, they shine brightly, and project a screen image on the far wall.

The image is of Charlotte and Taylor. I hear my own voice. “Congratulations. You’ve won a lengthy stay in prison.”

So the contacts come equipped with cameras and recording devices? Interesting. They must have started recording when I popped them into my eyes.

I watch as the recording shows me take down Charlotte, then get taken down in turn by Taylor. Yes, there’s no doubt about it – she’s a speedster. Haven’t seen anyone move that fast since Quicklsilver.

The contacts go dark when I go unconscious, and I think the recording is over – but it continues to pick up the voices.

“That was so cool!” Charlotte squeals.

“You know I hate to use these powers needlessly,” Taylor replies sternly.

I listen attentively as the two women continue to converse, even as I hear the sounds of them deciding to strip “Silver Sable” of her uniform, followed by cheers from Charlotte.

“Ironically, I thought Black Cat would have been the first to mug her…” Taylor remarks. “Given their general resemblance, it’s a mystery this hadn’t happened already...”

I allow myself a wry grimace. Ironic, indeed…

I hear the triumph in Charlotte’s response. “HA! I land my first hit in our rivalry!”

Oh, I’ll land some “hits” on you, girls… You just made this personal.

I hear the sounds of myself being stripped, bound, and gagged, and dragged into the closet. Not super-pleasant sounds, of course, though I suppose it doesn’t sound that different when I’ve done it to dozens of other women.

Through the closed closet door, I continue to pick up strands of their conversation.

“It’s not my fault my powers are weak!” Charlotte whines.

“For now,” Taylor responds. “But if the old man is right… these things may be the solution to your problem... ”

Old man? What old man? Who is she talking about?

The recording stops picking up sounds. Guess that’s all it could hear before they left the prototypes room.

I sit for several minutes, pondering. I clearly underestimated these girls – more than once, in fact – and it nearly got me caught.

Most people would give up at this point. But I’m not most people. I’m the Black Cat, and I’m angry. I want to stop these girls, now more than ever.

But there’s a lot I still don’t know about them. What ar ethe extent of Taylor’s powers? What are they planning? And who is this “old man” they seem to be working for?

Time to do some investigating…

THE END

[meditions142]

Very fun alternate version of Rufus' story.

I really liked Felicia using the neck chop.

First, love how when she used it on Isabel how it didn't work as quickly as she had hoped and Felicia for a moment worries she didn't hit the right spot. But then Isabel passes out. Love imagining her falling into Felicia's waiting arms.

Then we get the great scene brunette secretary. First off I love the idea of Felicia thinking she wants to neutralize her using Wasp Sting on her but then deciding to go with a neck chop. I love scenes of the attacker deciding which method to use.

Then we get the wonderful image of the woman realizing someone is behind her and stopping. However, before she can turn around Felicia chops that very special spot on her neck. It was very considerate of the woman to have her hair in a ponytail thereby leaving her neck exposed for Felicia. And then the great scene of Felicia catching her as she falls.

Now that we see this story combined with the other we learn it was a tough day for Oscorp employees. A lot of them ended up getting knocked out.

[tirepanted3]

Thanks, Meditions. These "alternate perspective" Marvel stories are more complicated to write than my usual stories, so I'm happy you liked this one.

The neck chop appears to be Felicia's preferred knockout method, at least against civilians. (For superheroes and villains, she may need to expend a little more effort.) She's not the type of person to carry around knockout implements like chloroform, and prefers to rely on physical skill when it comes to clothes stealing. And while she's not above hurting innocent civilians, she always makes sure to catch them when they fall.

It was certainly a rough day for Oscorp employees. Though since they work for Norman Osborn, most days aren't usually a picnic anyway...

[rufusluciusivan]

I’m of course biased since I took part in this collaborative story, but it was fun to discover the parts I haven’t read in details during our discussions.

Of course, a big appeal of the story was the superheroines mugged for their outfits. Given how many supervillainesses became victims of USB-related shenanigans, it was only fair the other side of the law would get roped in as well at some point!

Felicia’s first person narration is as always a plus, and allows for amusing quips.

Her personality is also endearing – for instance I found very amusing the moment when she almost ‘fangirls’ over the Wasp Suit and goofs off and strikes a pose while wearing it. Looks like she’s not so above it all…^^

I like how these latest parts give different sides of Felicia: In the first two ‘arcs’ of the saga, she has always come out on top. She was the successful badass here to contrast with MJ’s inadequacies. In this arc, she’s knocked down a peg and is more often than not the butt of a joke – and it allows for funny scenes like the one in which she realizes, after stealing the Wasp Suit, she has no idea how it works. On the other hand, the scene with the little girl shows that, deep down inside, she has a good heart. (But don’t tell anyone that! )

I liked Isabel’s scene. The little delay between the neckchop and the maid fainting was a nice detail.

Of course Felicia would use the cover story of a cat lady...

The highlight of the story for me was the part with the Wasp herself. I appreciate the irony of Janet being knocked out by her own weapon – and right after discovering Isabel in her coat closet. And of course I love the trope of two women being left slumped onto each other inside a closet. All the details about the workings of the suit were nice too – and I suppose lore-accurate. Since it’s a unique outfit, never featured before on the Board, might as well spend some time on it!

The part in Oscorp wasn’t much of a surprise, since I already knew almost everything from our PMs, but it was fun to read it as part of the full story. It was also fun to see how Felicia’s story intersects with Taylor’s and Charlotte’s – ironically they end up both hindering and helping her at some point.

And it looks like Silver Sable was mugged a bit earlier than we thought… Not that it helped Felicia much in the long run, but it was bound to happen some day in the USB-Verse. All platinum blondes of Marvel should beware… Who knows who might be next?

I’m a big fan of the scenario of a uniform stealer who then gets mugged for the uniform she stole, so the description of the aftermath of Felicia’s defeat was an other highlight for me. Maybe we don’t get enough scenes from the POV of the bound-and-gagged woman…

The quick final uniform stealing with the warehouse worker was a nice final addition. Loved the “Going down?” quip, and the mental image of Felicia exiting the elevator fully disguised with the unconscious girl locked inside the crate.

The plot thickens. I can’t wait to reach the part in which more will be revealed about Taylor, Sarah, Charlotte, and the “old man” they work for...

[tirepanted3]

Yes, I tried to make this story enjoyable even for people who had read part of it beforehand.

I'm glad that the Marvel-USB world has expanded its pool of costumed muggings from supervillainesses to include superheroines as well. Certainly Marvel has some disguise-worthy costumes... and I suspect this won't be the last chapter to feature them.

I continue to enjoy writing Felicia's first-person narration, even as writing in first-person does limit the capacity for multiple subplots (which I have an enduring fondness for). In any event, it's fun to fit events into the saga against other chapters written from another perspective. And Felicia's personality is very fun to write.

I think these last couple of chapters have helped humanize and humble Felicia a bit. She's not playing off Mary Jane, and in fact faces a threat she wasn't ready for, and getting one-upped helps put her strengths and weaknesses in perspective. She worries that she's bitten off more than she can chew in stealing the Wasp suit, but that (hopefully) adds to the suspense.

The scene with the little girl was indeed meant to show Felicia's more tender side. Yes, she's a thief, and she enjoys breaking the law and getting away with it, but she's not a cruel or malicious woman. She has a heart, even if she doesn't like to show it. (And even if she sometimes has to disguise herself as someone else in order to display it.)

The Isabel scene was a standard "introductory" uniform steal - a minor-league mugging to set up the more important mugging of the Wasp that happens shortly after - but I do enjoy writing those, and I'm glad the little "pause" connects with people.

Of course Felicity's world is rather cat-themed. I also thought it would be a fun touch to include "Felicity Harmon" as her alias, since that's an alter ego she's used from her early days at Marvel.

I couldn't resist the idea of the Wasp being knocked out with her own weapon. An ironic defeat for a superhero. (At least she has Isabel to keep her company for the next few hours.) Most of the details about the Wasp's suit are taken from the comics, though I did alter it as necessary, giving it an extra "invisibility" power. I gave her the faithful yellow-and-black suit that she's known for, but the truth is Janet has worn so many different costumes over the years.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/10- ... 10820.html

I did love finding ways to intersect the Oscorp portion of the story with Taylor and Charlotte's escapades. Always great to "fill in the blanks" of another story.

Platinum blonde women have an unlucky streak when Black Cat is around - first Coachwhip, now Silver Sable. Although some of the most famous white-blonde haired women in the Marvel world, like Doctor Strange's girlfriend Clea, have superpowers and probably don't have much to worry about from Felicia. (For now...)

I’m a big fan of the scenario of a uniform stealer who then gets mugged for the uniform she stole, so the description of the aftermath of Felicia’s defeat was an other highlight for me. Maybe we don’t get enough scenes from the POV of the bound-and-gagged woman…

I love this type of scene as well, as many people probably know. Also love scenes from the perspective of the bound victim, though usually that's in a scenario where she escapes and becomes a uniform thief herself...

The "Going down?" scene in the elevator was my favorite part of the chapter. I love a quick bit of comedy to diffuse the tension after that confrontational climax.

I'm very excited to see where the series goes next... especially since I'm not the one writing the next few chapters, and thus aren't quite sure where things are headed.

[esercito sconfitto]

definitely a comic-book crossover that has an imposing pace, and an exciting finale

some scenes are of great impact, like the delivery van filled with stripped women tied up, from another story and chapter and author, or the girl in the elevator at Oscorp... but in general every part of the tale has been thought like a movie scene... the story deserves to be presented in a comic book

really interesting and awesome read, thanks for sharing

[tirepanted3]

Thanks, Esercito. I love comic book crossovers, and it was exciting to try and attempt a sort of crossover with Rufus' story.

This story took longer to write than other stories, as it required a lot of coordination to ensure the two chapters fit together well. I tried to give it a "comic book" feel - who knows, maybe Marvel will adapt it someday.

Appreciate your thoughts.