Amaz0ns

As this is my first piece of fiction, really ever, please be kind. The characters involved are mostly my own, though some Marvel characters do appear.

Chapter 1

Memoirs of a Reluctant Superhero – Dr. Patricia Armstrong-Kennedy

   As I sit down and look out my back window, I see my husband playing with the kids from a rather…unique extended family. To introduce myself, my name is Dr. Patricia Armstrong-Kennedy. I was, am a genetics researcher. I did my research for Stark Labs, and later for myself. I am sure many of those reading this have seen me partnered with my husband Kenneth or even my brother in law Leon on the news battling some super powered crook. I was not always this way, in fact, many of those seeing pictures of myself when I was but 5’2” with no muscle at all can scarcely believe it. Many days, I can’t. I’ve decided to write this now so that some may understand the choices I’ve made in my research and even in my relationship choices.

   To begin, my genetic research at Stark labs originally started as cracking the genetics of how mutants get their powers. My own theory, though not popular, is that everyone is a mutant, just a catalyst, or as my husband would say, a swift kick in the ass is needed to bring those powers out. Many of my colleagues thought poorly of that theory though they rarely said anything directly to me. Anyway, to say that I was a workaholic is an understatement, I brought in a hideaway bed for my office simply because, well…I didn’t go home often. There was no reason for me to do so, I used the guard showers and ate a lot of take out at the office. My research and published theories did get me some unexpected visitors on occasion, specifically Dr. Henry McCoy. He was very interested in my theory, and not merely because he himself was a mutant, but because of the implications for the evolution of humanity. Since that first meeting we would correspond, he would even ask me opinions on his own research, which was an incredible honor.

   Well, enough about my research, that’s not what many of you want to read about, you, want to understand what happened to me. It’s taken myself and Leon YEARS to really understand that very thing. That night was quieter than usual. The other scientists in my section left early, all having a date or appointment of some variety, leaving me invariably there alone, now before some see conspiracy involved, this was a regular thing. While I was setting up some computer models for my ‘catalyst’ I heard a noise, looking up just in time to be grabbed by a rather large man from behind. I nearly panicked, I’ve been in this situation before, and struggling just caused more injury to me. The woman who was directing the three men just chilled me to the bone, especially since she was asking about performance enhancers and other chemicals. Mary Beth Hart, a name I would find out later, reminded me a lot of my old college room mate, she was tall, shapely, in good shape, and liked to manipulate others. During her interrogation, her cronies were grabbing chemicals and putting them in bags to take with, when I heard an angelic voice say just two words, “POLICE FREEZE.” Turning quickly all of us saw a uniformed officer, the crooks nearly burst out laughing when they saw him. They thought he couldn’t be more than 16, something that Leon has had to deal with much of his life. Regardless, what happened next was something out of a nightmare, even today I really don’t know just what happened, but three bottles of my catalyst exploded, one all over me, the second on Leon and the third on Ms. Hart.

   I’d like to say what happened after was that I suddenly threw people around and vanquished the crooks, but that didn’t happen. I grew rather quickly, and my captors were thrown off, but I was in immense pain all over my body, convulsing. The criminals soon ran, carrying their leader and most of their ill gotten gains, I crawled to the officer who was himself unconscious. Finally the alarms had brought security and other police. I was a mess, Leon was less so but still a mess. We were both carted off to a clinic to be checked out by medics. I was more than alright, I had grown in the span of 30 seconds to nearly 6’6” and my weight had nearly tripled. In fact, when trying to stand I had bent the metal railing beyond repair, to say I was suddenly very, very frightened was an understatement. No one would listen as I asked to look at my own blood sample, I was…frustrated. I was the living embodiment of my own theory, it had worked. One of my colleagues told me that I couldn’t yet…I couldn’t control my strength yet, I might break any equipment I touched. I broke down crying right there, I couldn’t help myself.

   The next couple of weeks were difficult, but I made progress, I learned just how strong I’d become, as well as working very hard on controlling it. Over those weeks I also met with several lawyers of Stark Labs. They wanted to know what the chemical was, and just what happened. Evidently the officer, Leon Kennedy was experiencing what can be called extremely bad headaches, but nothing beyond that from reports. I was…given the option and offer of a rather substantial amount of money to consult with Stark, no longer a full employee. He explained it might be better for all involved while I became used to my new body. It was one of the best and worst decisions I’d ever made when I accepted.