Author's note: Not a reboot. Just a flashback to the super heroine who started my stories.



Police Special Intelligence Unit (SIU) Supt Robert O'Brian shielded his eyes from the myriad of camera flashes that dazzled his eyes as he exited the Emergency and Casualty Department of the Mount Hope Medical Sciences Complex. " Supt O' Brian what can you tell us is the condition of the policeman injured in the attack on CID headquarters ?... We hear that the Black Ant was killed in that attack ?... Is she in custody?... Who are the suspects?" were part of the barrage of questions that bombarded him.


No comment ! No comment !" O'Brian stated gruffly as he waded through the crowd of journalists, climbed into his car and drove away. The events of the past few hours had taken their toll on the veteran police officer. Detective Sergeant Jake Stern's injuries were critical but somehow he was still clinging to life and the remnants of the Black Ant's car were being taken to the Forensic Sciences Centre for analysis. However the body of the Alluring Antwoman was not found anywhere on the scene.



The press was having a field day and if he did'nt come up with answers soon, the Commissioner would have his head. " Aye... I should have listened to me old mother.. and been a dairy farmer" O'Brian lamented as he headed for Police Commissioner Martin Week's home to give his preliminary report on the night's events.



The first sensation that Neela Singh felt as she stirred was lingering pain in every sinew of her sensuous body. " Uuhhhh... Jake... Jake..." Neela sighed as she opened her eyes. Seated at her bedside, Dr Han Lee dabbed a damp cloth over her forehead. As her vision became clearer, Neela discovered she was in the bedroom of her Maloney Gardens townhouse and she had been stripped of her Black Ant costume. She tried to get up but the Professor eased her back down on to the bed.



You must rest Neela... The poison in your system was very strong... Your body took a while to combat... You've been unconscious for five days..." Dr Lee said. " What ?!.... Jake is he... is he ?" Neela gasped, tears forming in her eyes as she tried desperately to shut out the one fear that was weighing heavily upon her mind. " He's alive... Now sleep... Sleep..." he replied and gently massaged both of her temples with his fingers. Neela's soon became drowsy and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.



The Professor turned to see Snake-Eyes standing in the doorway and walked over to him. " How is she ?" the universal soldier asked, concern visibly etched on his face. " She's still weak... but her strength should return within a day or so... Good thing you found her when you did old friend" Han Lee replied, placing a grateful hand on Snake's shoulder. " Yeah..." Snake-Eyes said as both men gazed upon the sleeping Neela Singh.



Moon's keeping watch over Jake... His condition's still critical but he's hanging on... and Hawk hijacked the truck with the remnants of the Antmobile... He's down in the Lair working on it now" Snake said as both men took their conversation into the hall. " We must find the people who did this... and they must be destroyed !" the Professor vowed, clenching his fists. " We will Han... but our first priority must be Neela and Jake... I swear to you the ones that did this will pay the price with their blood !" Snake-Eyes replied.



At a hidden location in the Chaguaramas peninsula two days later, the Tiger Woman had a reunion with her sole surviving son, Bhim Ramprakash. Bhim had been in hiding in Venezuela since the fall of his father's criminal empire. " Ma !... Is good to see you... I knew you said you'd send for me but..." he stated in awe as he gazed upon the form-fitting tigerprint tank top, skirt and sandals that she was wearing.



I killed the Black Ant son and with her dead... the path is clear for us to rebuild our family's dynasty... our attorney Prakash is setting up a meeting in a few days time with our old suppliers as we speak..!" Cintra Ramprakash disclosed and Quan Chan nodded approvingly. Rogue cop John Cunningham remained silent as he did not share his employer's confidence. However with the support of the elite Tigermen behind the Ramprakash's and the Parasitic Oligarchy still wanting him dead, he would not reveal that which he knew or at best suspected.



The trio of Snake-Eyes, Hank " Hawk" Lee and Dr Han Lee turned as they heard the sounds of footsteps coming down the staircase that led into the Ant Lair. Drawing their holstered sidearms, the three covert warriors trained their sights on the foot of the staircase. They all breathed a collective sigh of relief when they saw that it was Neela Singh, garbed in her alternate Black Ant costume.



Well this is certainly a welcome reception " she quipped with a smile. " Neela... You should'nt be out of bed yet..." Dr Lee began but the masked maiden held up her right hand to halt his lecture. " I can't stay on the sidelines anymore Doctor.... It's been two days and Tiger Woman is up to something... I can sense it... and I've got to see Jake..." Black Ant said. Realising that her mind was made up, the Professor nodded his approval.



The heroine then looked at her rebuilt Antmobile and passed her left hand across the smooth black armoured exterior. " She's as good as new but with a few alterations including additional firepower and countermeasures " Hawk explained. " Then there's no time like the present to give it a test drive" the Alluring Antwoman replied as she opened the door and tumbled the engine. The trio watched as the Antmobile roared down the tunnel and exited the Lair. " Gentlemen... Let's go to war !" Snake-Eyes declared.



The Black Ant felt tears well up in her brown eyes, concealed behind her mask's metallic-green slits as she gazed upon the comatose body of Detective Sergeant Jake Stern in the Mount Hope hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Ther black rubber encased fingers of her right hand laced those of her husband's own as she knelt beside him.



Jake... Honey it's me... Oh God, I am so sorry... I was'nt there for you... Please forgive me..." the heroine whispered as she felt the tears trickle down her cheeks. She felt her Ant Sense tingle and felt Jake's hand gently squeeze her own. " Jake..." Black Ant gasped as she saw his eyes flicker. " Nothing to forgive baby...." he replied in a hoarse voice. " I'm so frightened Jake... I don't want to lose you..." she sobbed.



Releasing her grip, Jake reached up with his right hand and brushed away your tears. " It's going to take more that some bullets and poison to take me away from my beautiful Black Ant..." he whispered as he gently traced the contours of his battling bride's nose and mouth. The Alluring Antwoman felt a surge of warmth within her heart as she melted under the gentle caress of the man she loved with all her soul.



You're always trying to protect me Stern.... Even now..." she grinned. " Go get those bastards baby.... and whatever happens... Remember that I love you..." he said. " And I love you too..." Black Ant replied as she kissed his hand. She stood at his beside until he drifted off to sleep. The masked maiden turned and nodded to Ray "Moon" Gao who had been standing guard in the shadows and then departed.



One hour later, Anand Prakash was closing up his office for the night and preparing to head for a very important meeting. As he sealed his briefcase and turned to go, his head was rocked backward by a hard blow to the jaw. Prakash fell to the floor but before he could get up, the Black Ant planted the sole of her right foot atop his chest. " You !?!.... It can't be !!... The Tiger Woman killed you !!" he babbled in a terrified voice.



Your employer is the one who's going to die tonight !" the Alluring Antwoman quipped as she grabbed Prakash by the scruff of the neck and flung him across the room and he slammed against a wall. The attorney tried to draw his licensed firearm from under his jacket but Black Ant closed the gap and rocked his head seven ways till Sunday with a flurry of punches.



Grabbing hold of his tie, she then flung him hard against another wall. The heroine then tossed the bruised and bloody lawyer across his desk. " Location and time.... or you get dessert !" Black Ant warned him and aimed her right Stinger at his face. " The Base nightclub.... Two hours from now..." Prakash gasped. " Thank you" the Alluring Antwoman replied and headed for the door. The crooked attorney pulled his gun but Black Ant whirled round and shot him in the face with an Ant Sting. " Case dismissed counselor !" she stated grimly and departed as Prakash slumped to the floor in a senseless heap.



Location is confirmed and we are en route !" Hawk Lee said into his headset as he steered the Nighthawk over the Gulf of Paria and skirted the Port-of-Spain waterfront. " Don't be late guys... I hear that the tiger meat on buffet is really good " Black Ant replied as she ended her transmission to the gunship. " Heaven help Tiger Woman and her associates " Dr Han Lee observed grimly as he double-checked his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). " I'm not sure Hell's going to have enough room for tonight's body count Han" Snake-Eyes replied as he loaded a clip into his M16A2 assault rifle.



I don't know whay we should follow you !... A woman ?!" the assembled marijuana planters who were loyal to Dan Ramprakash cried as they stood before his widow. " Because I have done what not even my husband could do... I killed the Black..." the Tiger Woman began, only to have her speech cruelly interrupted by gunfire from outside the nightclub.



The Tigermen sentries fired wildly at the Antmobile as it entered the compound at snail's pace. The bullets bouncing harmlessly off it's exterior. One shouldered and fired a rocket propelled grenade but that too failed to halt the Antmobile's advance. " Hope you boys like your barbecque well done " Black Ant mused as she flicked a switch on her weapons console. The cries of 12 Tigermen filled the air as they were burnt to a crisp by the Antmobile's flame thrower. The Nighthawk arrived on the scene at that very moment.



Fox Two ! Fox Two ! " Hawk declared as he fired four Maverick missiles at the nightclub. Violent explosions ripped through the old structure and killed several of the marijuana planters and the Tiger Woman's foot soldiers instantly. Snake-Eyes and the Professor used this confusion to alight from the gunship and into battle.



Black Ant charged into the ranks of her disorganised enemy and sent three Tigermen sprawling with a devastating right roundhouse kick. She dropped another with a vicious left chop to the throat. Turning around her Stingers vented their wrath and eight more were put out of action. As more of the criminal horde poured out of the burning nightclub, Snake-Eyes and Dr Lee joined her.



The universal soldier took out six Tigermen with the first volley from his M16A2 and then added a further five to the body count with a blast from his weapon's M-203 grenade launcher. The Professor unleashed the fury of the M249 and slew 11 Tigermen as they fired their guns in all directions. Thorugh the smoke and haze of the battleground, the Black Ant spied her prey and went after her.



Cintra Ramprakash gaped in awe as she watched the Alluring Antwoman leap towards her and then felt the crunching impact of the heroine's right foot in her face. " Ma !! " Bhim Ramprakash cried as he reached for his Uzi. " Keep out of this little boy !" Black Ant snarled as she shot him in the groin with a burst from her left Stinger and Bhim rolled down some nearby steps and kissed the concrete.



Snake-Eyes continued to wade through the jumbled mass of Tigermen his M16A2 blazing and a further ten fell dead to the ground. " I kill !! " Quan Chan snarled as he charged towards the universal soldier with a raised cutlass. In one swift motion, Snake dropped his rifle, pulled out his combat knife and drove it through his enemy's heart. " You die !" Snake-Eyes replied and as he tore his knife loose, Quan Chan fell dead before him.



Bleeding from her nose and mouth, the Tiger Woman slashed wildly at the Black Ant with her steel wrist claws. " I killed you before !!... You can't be real !!" Cintra screamed hysterically. " This real enough for you bitch !!" Black Ant snarled as she drove her left foot solidly into the Tiger Woman's gut, cracking three ribs in the process. While the villainess was still coming to grips with that pain, the masked maiden seized her left arm and twisted it sharply.



Aaieeeeee !!!!" Cintra screamed as her arm was broken in two places. " That's for blowing up my car !" the heroine stated and then rocked her head backwards with a right roundhouse kick. " And that's for trying to kill me..." Black Ant added as her adversary collapsed to the ground. With a snarl, the Tiger Woman sprang at the Allluring Antwoman but she moved out of the way.



She countered by delivering a crippling right chop under Cintra's right armpit which caused the villainess to cough blood. " You will not deny me what is mine !!" Tiger Woman screamed and charged with the steel claws on her good right hand raised. " And this is for trying to murder my husband !!" Black Ant declared and fired both of her Stingers at her mortal enemy.



Aaghhh !!!" the Tiger Woman cried as two Ant Stings exploded into her chest and sent her sprawling along the ground. Dazed and disoriented, Cintra Ramprakash rose groggily to her feet and she tried to stagger away. However the Alluring Antwoman was not going to allow her the luxury of living to fight another day. Locking the Tiger Woman's head within the steely-grip of her arms, Black Ant gave it a sharp turn and heard the distinctive sound of vertebrae snapping.



No !! No !!.... Ma !!!!!" Bhim Ramprakash cried as he watched her dead body slide out of the grasp of the masked maiden. With tears flowing freely down his cheeks, he pulled out his Glock semi-automatic as Black Ant advanced menacingly towards him. Against the backdrop of the smoke smoke, fire and haze, the heroine's black leather and rubber costume made her look like a creature of myth. Like a dark knight intent of having her vengeance and justice.



What are you going to do little boy ?!... Shoot me " Black Ant quipped as she placed her hands on her hips. With an anguished cry, Bhim Ramprakash put the gun to his right temple and pulled the trigger. " I did'nt think so..." the Alluring Antwoman added as the last of the Ramprakashes fell dead before her.



Flanked by Snake-Eyes and Dr Han Lee, the Black Ant walked back towards her Antmobile. The trio of warriors leaving in their wake the ruins of the criminal empire that would never rise again.



End.