The Mighty Aphrodite: Episode 2

Night had just set upon Sledge City when the reincarnation of The famed super heroine, The Mighty Aphrodite burst from the junkyard on her white motorcycle. She throttled the bike into the dark at top speed, easily taking the curves that led into the heart of the city. Though she had done this many times, tonight was different, tonight was new, and every criminal Sledge City had to offer would see why.

It had been six months to the day she first took the mantle when Aleshia Scott straddled the white motorcycle with the silver cursive APHRODITE scribbled across the left side. Her mother had presented it to her on the day she introduced her to her alter ego. Aleshia was beyond stunned that her dainty mother was once a nose busting, roof top jumping, crime fighter. She was more stunned that The Mighty Aphrodite's liar was secretly stashed below the condo she grew up in. Aleshias mother showed it all to her on her twentieth birthday. What a birthday!

Aleshia was easily the biggest fan of The Mighty Aphrodite, who retired before she was born. Her love for the heroine is what propelled her easy 'yes' when the ex-crime fighter, her mother, asked would she carry the mantle. From there she dove head first into intense training, learning the city, and being prepped on the mind of a criminal. Everything went beyond perfect, and in two months time she was ready and anxious to make her debut.

The media went wild. Every local blog, newspaper, magazine, and new channel ran the story of the return of The Mighty Aphrodite! Aleshia allowed herself to be photographed in the patent white leather catsuit and heart shaped mask. To show the public that The Mighty Aphrodite was timeless and back to shelter them. It played perfectly! Some media outlets even speculated that she was the same crime fighter from the 70's. All was well, the criminals faltered and Sledge city started to brighten...for a while.

It did not take Aleshia and her mother long to realize that the heroing game had changed. With moral and integrity severely lacking, anyone could be tempted into being a hired hand. Cleaning up the streets meant more than beating down a few goons if they would just keep returning or new ones kept popping up. She had to cut off the head to kill the body. So that's what she decided to do, she would gun for the mob bosses, kingpins, and drug lords. Leaving the street goons to her crime fighting comrades.

This is what fueled Aleshia as she rode out six months after her introduction to the world. She was well equipped with knowledge, spending week tracking the higher up criminals, and decked out in a new costume. If the game was different the The Mighty Aphrodite had to be also. She chopped the legs and sleeves off of the full bodied cat suit for added flexibility. It now hugged her around the hips and shoulders. She added thigh high boots for easy stashing of evidence on the run. The old suit had no pockets. The utility belt that slouched on her hips had been revamped. Instead of a grappling hook Aleshia used a rubber pellet gun, seeing how most criminals did not think twice about firing at her. Yes, The Mighty Aphrodite had been reworked and she was ready for anything. But anything wouldn't be ready for her.

---

Air sleekly flowed over the rough hide, cropped, white leather jacket she added to her uniform as she barreled into the city. She jerked her motorcycle in between the light traffic, making her way to her destination. Confused faces peeked out at her, recognizing the heroine but not the reworked, sexier costume. Aleshia ignored them, being sexy wasn't what The Mighty Aphrodite was about. It was about using woman hood as a strength and making a difference. So they all could stare, she knew why she did what she did.

She pulled the motorcycle into an alley on a rapidly decaying street. The whole district was going down hill but her work that night would set the cogs in motion to restore it. Hopping off the bike, she stuck a tiny heart shaped tracker to the side though she was confident no one was dumb enough to steal her bike. Her head craned to the top floor of the apartment building she parked next to, seeing the light was on in the last window. The target was home. With a running start and a push of her foot off the wall she grabbed the fire escape easily and galloped to the top. Once again kicking off the wall she planted her feet on the roof and walked to the end of the building. Touching the tiny silver earpiece in her ear that connected her to the lair, she said, "I'm in position, stand by."

"Roger that Aphrodite," her mother responded

Aleshia had something as The Mighty Aphrodite that her mother never did, someone on the other side to help. So when she rounded up the crooks her mother could anonymously alert the trusted police chief to the location of the bound, wanted individuals.

---

Police chief Anderson had never met either woman who took the title of The Mighty Aphrodite but trusted both completely. He stopped questioning the anonymous phone calls and personally went to the location the woman over the phone gave him to apprehend the criminal. Each time he hoped to catch a glimpse of the heroine but never managed to, she was too quick. So he returned to his office and waited for the next tip, leaving the city in the capable hands of beautiful crime fighter.

---

Aleshia was on the case of a big drug deal involving Angelica Ortiz, the biggest Queen Pin of cocaine in Sledge City. After a tip from a frightened goon-for-hire that the mobstress would be coming out personally, Aleshia made a point to appear also. So there could be one less dope slinging jerk in the free world.

Sticking a wireless bug to the window she crouched over, Aleshia listened for the right moment. People walked in and out of the apartment for five minutes before Angelica Ortiz entered. The room went quiet when she and her thugs came to collect money from a re-up. When Aleshia heard enough to put Ortiz down she replaced the bug with a heart shaped detonator from her utility belt. It blew after five seconds of sticking to the window and Aleshia flipped from the roof's ledge to inside the bare apartment.

"What the-"

Bags of white powder fell out of the stunned criminals hands and burst onto the floor. The room stood still as The Mighty Aphrodite made her entrance. They were unsure of what to make of the new look, all they could do was stare.

"Don't stare at the hoe, shoot her!" Ortiz commanded

Half of the room scrambled for the door as Aleshia sprung into action. She grabbed the wrist of the nearest gunman, who had his pistol focused on her, and breaks it. Moving like a striking cobra, she swung her boot into the gut of the man behind the howling gunman. They both dropped. Diving behind the ragged sofa for cover from the gunfire that lit up the room, Aleshia extracted two razor sharp throwing hearts from her belt. She poked her head around the edge of the sofa and flung the hearts. They sink into the arms of two more gunman, the rest of the room scatters at the sight of four men being taken down in under a minute.

"Not so fast," Aleshia said, bolting from behind the sofa and grabbing Ortiz by her long jet black hair. Touching her earpiece she said, "target apprehended."

"Affirmative. Anderson is on the way." Her mothers voice answered back.

Aleshia tossed Ortiz onto the ragged couch. "Anderson can finally mark you off his list," she told her.

Quick as lighting Angelica Ortiz whipped out her butterfly knife, unfolded the blade and sprung off the couch. "Not today bitch!"

Ducking right, Aleshia threw her knee into Ortiz's ribs. She gasped for air and stumbled. Aleshia followed with a jab and a cross, Ortiz crumpled to the ground, lying unconscious next to the destroyed bags of cocaine she loved to sell. Police sirens pierced the night and Aleshia darted to the window, she waited until she saw the flashing lights before propelling out of the window and bouncing down the two alley walls to reach her bike. She wasn't worried about Ortiz escaping before Anderson reached her, the cross and jab combo would put her out for a while.

"Anderson's here, I'm going on patrol," She said into her earpiece as she throttled the bike to life.

"Job well done Aphrodite,"

Aleshia revved the motorcycle and whirled it around, racing to the end of the alley. She blurred passed the whirling lights, passed the amazed police chief and into the city. The city she made just a bit brighter by take one of the many dark specs from its bulb.

Light From Beyond

She could see him. The man she loved stood alone in the distance, his stance wide on the rough, dusty road. His body half in shadow from the setting sun dipping below the mountains. She tore after him, the sight of him sending a wave of frenzy down her spine. Her throat was tight as she screamed his name, tight from the tears she choked back. Tears that threatened to spill because of the man she chased, and what he was about to do to her world.

Today was the first day in two years that she, Nicole Baxter, woke up without him by her side. She searched her apartment, the alley, the library, and everywhere else her mind could fathom, reasonable or not. Nicole looked so tirelessly because it was so unlike him to disappear. He usually stuck so close to her, engaging her in gripping conversation. That's the reason she loved him, two years down the road he still managed to fascinate her daily.

He did fascinate her, truly and deeply fascinated her. Nicole wasn't' sure if it was his strong confident walk or his deep rough voice that made her knees shake. His brilliant mind or his sharp reflexes that took her breath away. All she knew is that he was perfect, perfect enough to brighten her dusty life.

Living in Roswell, New Mexico had made Nicole a stone cold logical thinker. She simply refused to believe in the baseless rumors about U.F.O's and abductions. Nothing was supernatural, it was all science, and when science was seen by the ignorant it can be construed as supernatural. Her skeptical mind had brought her a small following of colleagues from the scientific community but left her bogged down. No imagination, now wonder or excitement existed in her world. Everything was a fact or it wasn't real. It made perfect sense, until one day.

It was late afternoon when Nicole drove out into the desert by herself for a bit of recreational research. She planned to disprove the claims of abduction by camping alone and away from civilization, a sitting target. Smugly setting up her tent she only minutely worried about dingos and coyotes. If she set up a big fire they would stay away, that was a fact and she was secure in it. But three hours into her expedition her security faded when a fire bright streak zoomed in the distance. It was too close to be a shooting star so she racked her brain and convinced herself a plane had crash landed. Ready to help she revved up her Jeep and sped off to find the burning mass of rubble she expected to see.

But she found no fire, in fact she found nothing where the plane she convinced herself she saw should have landed. Confounded she stepped out of her Jeep to examine. Twenty feet from her Jeep a warm pulsing stopped her in her tracks. Her logical mind couldn't readily identify what was happening, she was frozen not in fear but confusion. Defiantly she took a step forward, determined to break the foolish feeling. Suddenly, before her very eyes, a silver craft appeared out of nothing! Known logic and science were suddenly out of the door. Nicole stood before something no other scientist had ever seen, though she still had no idea what she was seeing. With a loud whish the craft split, Nicole stumbled backward so quickly she fell on her back. She alertly popped back up and locked her eyes on what was unfolding before her.

A figure stood in the doorway and so quick Nicole wasn't sure she saw it the figures color changed from a shade deeper than the surrounding night to match her own deep tan. Her mouth fell open as the being stepped out of the craft, walked toward her, and held out a hand to help her up off the ground. Instead of running like her logical mind told her to, she put her hand in the beings. At eye level, she saw it was a man and not just any man, a man she would call gorgeous. He was the very man she would fantasize about on lonely nights.

From there she barreled head first into learning everything she could about the mystery man. Though he would never tell his name, stating that she was free to call him whatever she liked. She chose Light because he lit her world and filled her with warmth in in ways she never imagined. Also she learned that the humanoid was able to become whatever she wanted, that's why he was so appealing to her.

Now her appealing man was leaving, why? None of it made sense! She reach her love on the dusty road, his head tilted to the sky as if looking for something. Her voice couldn't be found as she stared at him and she tried hard as possible not to double over from panting. "Why?" was all she managed to sputter.


"I told you once," he said in a calm voice, still star gazing. "this cannot be forever. I'll have to leave you one day."


Nicole remembered. A few weeks after she fell for him he explained that he was meant to explore and when the time was right he would leave.


"But that was two years ago, I thought..." her brain turned back on at that moment and she realized she was begging. A pathetic sound.

"That's my scientist," he complimented.

Gathering herself, she said, "so where will you go?"

"I never know."

"Will you come back?"

"Most likely, no."

Nicole could feel her heart breaking. "Then what am i supposed to do? What about me?"

"Your job."

"What?"

"Whens the last time you did your job? Researched something? With me gone you can get your career back on track. We both can."

"I don't care about- I love you!"

"That's illogical," he simply stated.

"How?"

"You're and attractive woman in her prime, you'll find another mate. You only have on career, don't throw it away for me."

She began to get angry. "So what are you waiting for? What's stopping you from jetting off and leaving me to my harem of men?

"The right moment."

She searched the sky for this right moment but quickly realized that she would not see a fraction of what he could. Without warning the ship she discovered uncloaked itself beside her and her love stepped inside, his color fading back to the dark color of night it once was. She retreated as the craft blasted off, streaking the sky once again. A tear caressed her cheek as she watched the man from beyond the stars who came to steal her heart flee with it into the cosmos.

The Mighty Aphrodite

Throughout the 1970's a wave of criminals hit the metropolis of Sledge City hard. The corrupt and paid off police force were ill equipped to protect the citizens. So a bold few stepped forward, operating above the standard of an average hero. Instead, through noble duty they claimed the rightful title of Superhero.
Being one of these heroes was and still remains a dangerous job. Many have tried and many failed to protect their beloved city. But among the throng of failed heroes that popped up three stole the heart and respect of the Sledge City citizens. Supreme: a hulk of a man with super strength. Blue Streak: the teen wonder with extra speed. And finally the most remembered of all, The Mighty Aphrodite!
She was skilled, dedicated, spring loaded with gadgets, and the only heroine to step up. Standing at an impressive 5'10 and donning a patent white leather cat suit with a heart shaped mask covering her eyes, nose, and mouth; she was hard to forget. The Mighty Aphrodite had something for every demographic. Her strong willed feminine ways inspired the women of Sledge City. That smooth ebony skin gave the African Americans pride. The cat suit...well that made men go speechless at the sight of how she filled it out.
Yes! The Mighty Aphrodite was a force to be reckoned with. By the late 70's a criminal would not think twice about stepping foot in Sledge City. The police force was once again pure and the city became so peaceful that the heroes could happily retire and live normal lives once again. They were free to marry, have children, and grow old. Which is what they did, gladly living with the secret that every citizen was now allowed to live that way because of them. It was a secret the would take to their graves. Or at least they would have if the world did not take a turn for the worse.
Now, in the new millennium, the country is at war and has plunged into a recession. Jobs have been lost and homes foreclosed. People are desperate, they don't know where to turn, so many turn to crime. The easiest way to make a dollar. With the heroes Sledge City once loved long retired and approaching old age, devious minds felt comfortable penetrating the city again. Organized mobs infiltrated the police precincts and Sledge City returned to being a hard place to live. The resident were afraid and even though aged and out of shape the heroes would not stand by and allow their city to fall in to dark hands. So they broke the rules they set for themselves and revealed their identities. But not to just anyone, a handpicked apprentice. One who could protect the city the way they once did. One who possessed the natural athletics the job demanded. And one who was smart enough not to get themselves killed by some random punk like so many others they witnessed. For the original crime fighting heroine only one person was suitable, and she knew the girl was willing.

-----

Aleshia Scott had just celebrated her twentieth birthday with a quiet dinner at home with her new boyfriend and her mother. She met Damien at Catawba Community College where she was taking a few classes to occupy her time. He was decent looking and didn't ask her why someone who receive a full scholarship to an Ivy league school chose to slum it in Sledge City. The truth was she stayed for her mother even though she was in perfect health. Aleshia was not scared for her just concerned, she was 55 and lived alone since her father died. Also she refused to move from the crime ridden area of the city though she could easily afford the biggest house northern Sledge City had to offer. So instead of leaving she stayed to keep an eye on her.
They gave Damien a tour of the converted warehouse they lived in. The old offices on the second level had been demolished to make room for their spacious condo and the wide expanse underneath was just a garage and home gym. But Damien wouldn't see that part, the tour was a sign Aleshia's mother did not like her new beau and it ended at the elevator doors. If she liked him her mother usually offered dessert and privacy. Aleshia hugged him and offered a dry promise to call later in the evening. She watched the doors close out of courtesy and followed her mother into the den.
Various trophies, plaques, and awards decorated the den walls. Aleshia was an only child so she sank all of her time into over achieving. She and her mother joke that she waited until the last possible moment before her eggs dried to have a baby. But it was worth it, her mother was established and stable enough to afford her over achieving. Basketball, Track, Volleyball, Gymnastics, and Cheer leading weren't cheap activities. Especially with the way Aleshia jam packed them all into one year. But she never complained, she loved all of it, except for the cheer leading; she was too tall for the uniform.
Besides that she never had a problem with her height, in fact she liked it. Her mother was tall also and she liked looking like her mother. She was beautiful and classy, her flawless brown skin still youthfully smooth across her face. She always joked while swirling her red wine in its glass, "a cup a day keeps the grave away". Aleshia would die happy if she turned out a fraction as well as her mother did, she was truly special. Only one other woman she could think of had as much grace and poise. A woman she only knew through video footage and photographs, her idol, The Mighty Aphrodite.
Though the heroine retired before she was born Aleshia still admired her. Who wouldn't? The Mighty Aphrodite was the perfect role model. She was smart, resourceful, morally fit, and gorgeous. Everything Aleshia wanted to be. Once, she was entering the condo through he garage and found a heart shaped throwing blade! the exact kind The Mighty Aphrodite used! She didn't know where it came form and she didn't care, she had a piece of the legend. But little did she know it wouldn't be her last piece, not by far.
"Have a seat dear," her mother offered as she entered the den.

"What's this?" Aleshia smiled, looking at the beautifully wrapped gift her mother pulled from under the armchair.

"Happy Birthday!"

"Momma you didn't have to. Dinner was enough."

"Nonsense! Plus this is special."

Aleshia saw the anticipation in her mothers face and eagerly ripped the shiny silver wrapping. She tore the top of the box off and stared disappointed in the box. "My throwing heart?"

Her mother nodded, "now look under it."

She picked up the silver throwing heart and peeled back the white tissue paper. "No way!" She looked at the white heart shaped mask that lay in the box. A perfect replica! Picking it up, she examined it closely even holding it to her face. The eye slits rounded her almond eyes, the nostril holes nestled in the right spot, and the bottom tip of the heart that ran over her lips fit in the right spot, unhinging to allow her jaw to move. "Where did you get it?" She excitedly asked, marveling at the mask.

"I have more," she responded, very much enjoying her daughters' delight. "Come."

Aleshia carried the mask with her as she followed her mother across the condo. She stopped at the elevator and turned to the security keypad on the wall. After punching in a code Aleshia did not recognize the elevator promptly opened.

"What was that?"

Her mother did not answer but stepped inside the elevator and signaled for Aleshia to do the same. Without question Aleshia did as she was told. The doors snapped shut and the elevator dropped much more smoothly than it usually did.

"Did you have the elevator serviced?" She lightly inquired.

"Nope."

The dropping ceased and the doors behind the two women whooshed open, an unusual action. "Momma what's going on?" She asked, realizing her mother was keeping more than a present from her.

Again she didn't answer, just swished from the elevator with easy grace. Her stilettos echoed down the long metal hallway until she stopped at the silver double doors. She place her hand in the bio sensor on the metallic wall and an automated voice boomed, "welcome back."

Aleshia stood in shock as the double doors zoomed open and a warehouse sized room spread before her. Her mother took her hand, leading her inside. A silver heart, the emblem of The Mighty Aphrodite was printed on the far wall above an expansive computer console. A number of weapons, all carrying the colors of the heroine, were fastened to the walls. But Aleshia couldn't take her eyes off of the object her mother guided her toward.

"Honey, do you remember our conversation about Sledge City needing a hero again? Well I agree." She dropped her daughters hand in from of the mannequin dressed in a patent white leather cat suit.

Aleshia shook her head, hoping to shake the facts in order. "Wait, just wait! Are you trying to tell me...NUH-UH!"

"Yes."

She looked down at the mask she held. "This-this is real then! Its the real thing!" Overloaded she stumbled backward. "Momma, you're The Mighty Aphrodite?...what the hell?!?"

"Not anymore dear," she told her daughter calmly. "That's why I brought you down here, gave you the mask. I want you to take the name, come here Aleshia," she gently took her by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "This city needs you to be The Mighty Aphrodite, will you be her?"

Aleshias' head was still spinning with the revelation that her idol and beloved mother were one in the same and the dynamo just asked her to reclaim the legacy. It was so much to take in but yet a wide smile spread across her face and she said in a firm, confident voice, "yes!"