Chapter One
"Breaking News: Star Raven is battling NanoMan in the downtown core! Reports indicate an epic battle is taking place between the two with NanoMan converting several buildings into his trademark battle bots. Star Raven is, of course, holding her own while trying to minimize damage and injuries. We'll update you as soon as we have more information."
via the Superhero News Network
"Give it up NanoMan, your nanobots can't affect me and I can keep demolishing your battle bots all day long..." I yelled over the sound of my fist going through yet another one of NanoMan's creations. They were strong but not very agile and their programming left them completely predictable.
As the last of the battle bots crumbled to the ground at my feet I turned to NanoMan with a menacing glare, "What? No more toys for me to break NanoMan?"
There was something off though, his posture didn't indicate he was worried and the smile across his face left me perplexed. Usually at this point he'd be running away, sending another wave of battle bots to slow me down so he could escape, but now he remained still.
"Oh no need for any more battle bots Star Raven, they've done their job and given my nanobots enough time to do their work." he replied confidently.
"All they've done is delay your capture a little!" I called backed and took a step forward but there was something wrong. My legs wobbled and my knees almost buckled as all of my strength suddenly left me.
"Something the matter Star Raven?" NanoMan called out and I tried to steady myself.
"No... nothing. Now give up and I won't have to hurt you." I shouted out as confidently as I could.
He let out a chuckle and took a step towards me, "I don't think so Star Raven, my nanobots have done their work and now your as weak as a normal human."
"Im... impossible!" I stuttered out, as my hand rose up to my forehead to touch my power band, the source of my power. The cool metal was still right where it should be, the magic that it contained gave me my strength, speed and flight. As well it protected me from NanoMan's nanobots, they couldn't do anything to me.
"You're delusional if think your nanobots can do anything to me NanoMan!" I said, taking a step back hoping to portray more strength than I felt.
"True Star Raven, true. But my nanobots haven't affected you at all." he replied as he stepped right up to me, his hand quickly reaching up and grabbing me by my neck.
I choked and flailed as his powerful grim lifted me from my feet, he wasn't nearly as strong as I was but his nanobot enhanced body was still far stronger than a normal human. Then, his free hand rose up and easily removed my power band from my forehead.
"You see, quite possible. You know I'm kind of embarrassed really, all these battles and I completely missed the obvious solution. I just kept beating my head against the same immovable object that was your immunity to my nanobots and missed the simple solution. Your power band gives you your power any time your wearing it, so all I had to do was command my nanobots to squeeze in between it and you. Then, even though it was still around your head, no part of you came in contact with it, leaving you nothing completely powerless."
I felt his grip tighten around my neck as the smile on his face slowly faded to black with the rest of the world.
Chapter Two
"Star Raven defeated! NanoMan takes the superheroine down and absconds with her to his secret lair! The League says it is scouring the city for her even as we speak."
via the Superhero News Network
I slowly opened my eyes and was surprised that my entire body didn't ache. Even my neck felt perfectly fine after being squeezed by NanoMan until I was unconscious.
What didn't surprise me was the bonds that were wrapped around my wrists, ankles, abdomen and neck. Or the fact that I was naked and on some kind of medical table in what seemed to be a pretty plain white room.
"I must apologize Star Raven, I might have gone a little overboard at the end there. But after all, we've had so many fights where I had to go all out just to land a blow, you can't blame me for not holding back quite enough."
I could hear the gloating in NanoMan's voice as I turned my head to the side to see him standing at a console and typing as he spoke.
"Let me go, you got what you wanted and you know the League is not going to rest until I'm freed." I said, calmly but without my normal confident tone.
"That is true, which is why you're here now." he said and made a flourish of hitting a key on the keyboard he was working on.
As soon as he did the table I was laying on came to life and tilted upward until I was almost standing upright. As it moved another table came it to view which was moving the same way until the two tables faced each other.
"I think you know my trusty assistant NanoGirl?" NanoMan said, waving at the naked woman on the opposite table.
I let out a huff, trusty assistant wasn't the right term for her. At one time she'd been his equal, the two of them working together in a lab on curing, well, everything with nanobots. She'd been the one to have the initial breakthrough, but he'd subverted their work and she'd become his first test subject.
I'd seen a picture of her before NanoMan's changes, a traditional lab geek with slightly greying brown hair and a few extra pounds, she now looked like a porn star. The large breasts, the tight waist, the long blonde hair, the puffy lips, there was nothing of the old scientist left.
"Now then, before we get started can I assume my nanobots have repaired any damage I may have caused you Star Raven?"
I blinked as the realization hit me, without my power band NanoMan's nanobots had free reign to invade my body. They were the reason I felt no ill effects from my battle with him.
"I'll take the surprised look on your face as a yes. Good." he continued, not waiting for my answer as he brought the tablet he was holding up from his side.
He tapped several times on it before setting it down on a table close to him.
"I thought you might want to watch this as it happens..." he said and waved over to NanoGirl.
"Watch what happen?" I asked but before I could finish the sentence I started to see NanoGirl change.
It was her hair that caught my eye first, the bright platinum blonde locks darkened as the last twelve inches or so suddenly dropped to the floor.
But taking a closer look there were other changes. The two large orbs on her chest started to shrink, her nose shifted along with her cheekbones and other features of her face. She seemed to be growing, becoming taller as well.
I watched in amazement as the changes took place, the woman was transforming right in front of my eyes. It was only when I realized what she was transforming into that the horror of it struck me.
Minutes later it was like I was staring into a mirror, my identical twin standing before me. But unlike me, my twin wasn't strapped in, the smile on her face the polar opposite of my own frown.