Deeper in the city…
"Look, Sandra, I'm not saying I won't get my homework done...I just don't feel like doing it until later." A young teen flippantly replied to her friend as they sat at an open air cafe. "I've got a week to work on it!"
A snort was the immediate rejoinder. "You have two days to work on it, and you've got three other classes on top of that." Her friend, a young teen named Sandra Frankford, corrected primly as she took a few chips to munch on.
"Whaaaat? No way, I just got that assignment!" The girl exclaimed, staring at her friend in shock. "The teacher said it wasn't due until Friday!"
"Yes, and today is Wednesday. Come on, April, that's how days work." Sandra taunted, pushing her large horn rimmed glasses up on her nose. "Honestly, how could you forget?"
April glowered, crossing her arms under her chest and looking away. "I've been busy, alright?"
Sandra gave a dubious glance to her friend. "Really? Doing what? Not homework, obviously. And there haven't been any attacks in weeks, so you haven't been doing your 'hero time' thing."
The brunette threw her hands up in defeat. "OK, fine! I haven't been doing anything, I'm just bored and didn't want to do it!" April yelled, taking a few chips and angrily munching on them. Her friend looked down to April's open bookbag, and then gave the brunette teen a sly glance. "Really? You sure it wasn't because you've been reading that manga series, 23 3/4 Shadows of Grey Skies: Love is Citrus?"
April's face flushed red. "N-no! Why would you say such a thing?!"
"Cause it's in your book bag." Sandra plucked the book out and held it up with an evil grin.
"H-hey! Give that here!" April snatched it back, her face beat red as she shoved it back into the bag and closed it up, Sandra laughing. "That's not funny! It's...its just research!"
"Oh please, you read it for the guys drawn in it, since you can't get any guy attention. If only you were just a little bigger…" Sandra teased, arching her back to emphasize her slightly larger bust through her uniform sweater. The brunette looked away, her face still flushed as she murmured under her breath. "You wouldn't say that about my 'awesome' form…"
"Your 'awesome' form is also six years older, so it doesn't count." Sandra pointed out, taking a sip of her drink, serious once more as her fun was done. "Seriously, like I could ever compete with that anytime soon."
"Well, I didn't lie. I am bored!" April sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Started reading that to pass the time. What's the point of being able to do awesome things if there isn't any evil to stop?"
Sandra shrugged, leaning her elbows on the table. "I rather enjoy it being quiet. Certainly has done wonders for our grades. Honestly, it's tough to stay on top of my own homework when I have to help you catch up with yours after all your escapades."
"Hey, I really appreciate you doing that for me though!" April grinned and winked. "Tell you what, I'll make it up to you. If I get full marks on my next test, I'll spring for sundaes!"
Sandra's eyes flashed as she smiled back. "Next test and three assignments, and you're on."
"Hee! Deal!" They clasped hands. "Though I haven't needed your help for a while now, so it might take some time before I have to pay up."
An explosion cracked the air, smoke rising into the sky from beyond a couple of buildings down the street. The two teens looked to each other and sighed.
"Me and my big mouth." April shook her head, before grinning and rising from her seat. "Well, let's go see what's going on! Maybe I can help!"
"Oh please, let's not do that! There are police and firefighters who can handle that-" Sandra started to plead when sharp, echoing barks filled the air in the distance, growing stronger, as if they were coming closer. Along with the screams of terror.
"Well, maybe we should make sure…" The black haired girl admitted, rising from the table while April grinned more widely. They took off down the street, managing to go more a block from the café when, as several people ran past them, a clanking sound presaged the appearance of several spindly looking robots, their clamshell shaped heads turning one way and the other before they took aim with blasters and fired at the fleeing populace.
"Now that's not something the police can handle!" April pointed out, throwing her bag back to her friend. "It's Hero Time!"
"Not out here, dumbass!" Sandra bellowed, grabbing April by the arm and pulling her towards a nearby alley when several of the robots caught sight of them. Time seemed to slow as they took aim and fired, the red-gold bolts rapidly approaching as both girls cried out in terror.
Their vision blurred, an enthusiastic asthmatic snap-hiss filled the air, and the bolts were suddenly directed elsewhere, rebounded off of a humming green-white blade of energy, seemingly all at once. A stocky, red headed man stood between them and the robots, dressed in a tan vest over a long sleeved green shirt, tan trousers, black strapped boots and a belt at his waist. Neither girl had seen him approach: it was as if he just appeared out of thin air.
Looking over his shoulder with sharp blue eyes, he barked, "Go! I'll keep them occupied."
"Uh, yea, sure Mister!" Sandra agreed, face slightly flushed in relief and surprise as she pulled on April's arm. They started moving, but not before they saw the man stepping forward and moving the energy blade in quick, efficient strokes, blocking and redirecting the blasts that came his way. His movements were graceful, so smooth as to appear almost effortless, constantly twisting and turning, all the while his weapon was spinning and moving about his form, causing shots to miss, or to be intercepted as he drew in close. In moments, the first group of robots had fallen, either from their own reflected fire, or from his attacks when he was in range. More robots were clanking into range, their weapons rapidly firing, while others were reaching for devices at their waists.
"That guy is so cool!" April cried happily, finally getting with the program and pushing Sandra into the alley, even as Sandra uncharacteristically hesitated, wanting to see more. "Come ON Sandra, move your ass! I've gotta get out there and help him!"
"Wha? Oh, yea...sure!" Sandra snapped out of her stupor, her braided hair flipping back over her shoulders as she turned to the alley and led the way. Just as they stepped inside the mouth of the ally, something tinked, bouncing on the concrete and rolling towards them, prompting them to both pause in confusion.
"Wait, what's tha-"
A giant swatted them both further into the alley. That was the only rational explanation that Sandra could determine when she came too. Her ears rang, but when she tried to pick herself up, she was unable to move. Her whole body refused to respond, numb to the signals from her brain to her limbs, and vice versa. As sensations started to return, she felt a growing sense of pain, and gasped as her lungs forced in a huge gulp of air. "Oh...oh god...what happened…." She grimaced, still unable to move.
April's face suddenly appeared, hair disheveled and covered in grime, eyes wide in panic. "Sandra, are you ok? Say something!"
"I...I can't move…" Sandra admitted, even as part of her mind realized that her glasses were still on. She thought this rather surprising; although, she was not sure why. "Am I ok?"
"Uh…" April looked down, and bit her lip. "Well, you've got some cuts, but I don't see anything else. Give me a moment." She reached down and started patting about. Sandra was happy that she could feel every touch, but she just felt very heavy. After she was turned to her side briefly, she heard April give a gasp, and a soft, 'oh no…'
"What? What is it?"
She was lowered onto her back and April's expression was close to tears. "You've got a big piece of metal in you. You're bleeding a lot."
Sandra's eyes widened. "Oh…is...is there anything you can do?"
"I...I don't know! I'm not a doctor! I...wait…" The brunette's eyes widened in realization. "I'm not hurt much at all...I think...I think I…." Without explaining further, she grabbed a piece of broken metal, and cut at her hand, wincing from the action.
"Wait, what are you doing? Don't do that." Sandra weakly pleaded. Her pleas were ignored as she was once again tilted on her side, and April slapped her own bleeding hand to the wound, prompting a cry of pain as the metal shrapnel was jostled.
"Sorry, but it's the only way!" April closed her eyes and focused. After a few moments, the girl felt the metal start to be pushed out of her friends back, and when enough of it had extracted, she grabbed and pulled it the rest of the way, prompting a scream of anguish from Sandra. Looking at the wound, April watched as it continued to grow smaller, the Nanos now in her blood repairing the damage quickly. In mere moments, it had completely closed up, leaving a red scar in place, one that was already beginning to fade. "Oh thank God! You're going to be ok!"
"That's...that's good. I think I'll just stay here for awhile." Sandra tiredly replied, exhausted.
"You do that. I'm going to pay those robots back for what they did!" April helped drag Sandra up to a seated position against a wall before rising and standing in the center of the alley. "It's Hero Time!"
Closing her eyes, her thin body began to shake, and then inexplicably began to grow. Her brown hair fluttered, creeping down her neck while her shoulders broadened, muscle building in her limbs, torso stretching. Her clothing stretched with her, at first, before beginning to creak and mold to her burgeoning form. Hands clenched as her modest bust pushed out against her shirt and uniform sweater while her hips and rear strained her uniform skirt. Moments later, the stitching and cloth began to rip, first in small bursts, and then in roiling tears as her arms and shoulders forced their way through the sleeves. With a grimace and then a loud shout, she threw her arms back, pushing her chest forward, causing her larger breasts to burst through shirt and sweater in one fell swoop, the waistband of her skirt, her shoes and socks exploding off her form in conjunction with the act. The sudden motion revealed not a nude teen, but a fit and attractive young woman dressed in a form fitting, sleeveless leotard and knee-high boots, a cape unfurling behind her and fluttering with her now long brown hair. Emblazoned across her bust were the letters 'AP'
Opening her eyes and grinning, she took a few steps forward, her booted feet clicking on the pavement. "Hang on, stranger! AP Girl is about to take the field!" Cracking her hands, she rolled her neck, and then leapt up into the air.