Panther5 by Tom Adams
Panther is challenged by a female boxer who calls her "muscle bound."
Nancy Williams is a body builder. Very large muscles. But very sensual muscles. She doesn't try to hide them. Short skirts. Sleevless blouses. She's Afro-American. Dark brown skin. Perfect white teeth. Jet black hair. A very strong, sexy woman.
When she's not on Bureau assignments she works as a computer programmer. Lusted after by the men in the office. Admired by the women. Life is good. Until Jill arrives.
Jill is an amateur boxer. A very good amateur boxer. And she views body builders as "muscle bound" show boats. Has the opinion that none of them would last thirty seconds in the ring with a real "boxer".
What Jill doesn't know is that Nancy (Panther) is not just muscular. She's a trained killer. Third degree black belt. Expert boxer. Very deadly. But it's a strict Bureau rule. Panthers are never, repeat "never" to reveal the slightest hint of their strength to the people they work with while not on Bureau assignments.
Jill starts goading Panther. Calls her "muscles". Keeps inviting her down to the gym for a "round or two".
Finally Panther has had enough. She agrees to go a few rounds with Jill. She has no intention of hurting her. Just spar around. Take a few punches. Give a few punches. Wear her down. But make it look like she's lucky to have survived the match with Jill. Panther thinks with her skills, this will be easy.
Fight night. The whole office has turned out. Jill enters the locker room as Panther finishes getting into her boxing clothes. She's wearing a sports bra. But her shorts are not the traditional boxing shorts. Instead they're extremely short and cut low, just below her navel.
"Well, showboat to the end, Nancy. Go ahead. Show off your muscles. Prediction? No later than one minute into round two, you, your sexy outfit and your muscles will be down for the count."
Panther doesn't respond to Jill. Just gazes into her eyes. Lets a trainer put on her gloves and heads for the ring.
The gym is almost full now. A woman enters quickly. Takes a seat at the back. She is one of the Seven members of the Bureau. Code name, "Hawk".
Hawk takes a special interest in the Panthers' personal lives and problems. Personal problems can interfer with a Panther's performance with the Bureau. She realizes that all people are "human". They all have problems.
But Nancy seems a little more "human" than the others. She's very efficient in her assignments. But maybe not a team player. Seems to "march to the beat of her own drum."
Hawk watches closely.
The men were expecting to see a real "cat fight". They are very disappointed. The first two rounds are a display of expert boxing. Each woman lands a few jabs, ducks a few. This is real boxing, not a cat fight. The only thing that keeps them awake is Panther's outfit. She has beautiful, brown, muscular legs and a hard flat stomach and likes to show them.
Midway through the second round, Panther spots Hawk. She has met her twice before when Nancy's personal life seemed to be spinning out of control. Her presence sends a strong signal that the Bureau is concerned.
At the beginning of round three, Jill is beginning to realize she is up against a real pro. Panther is in complete control. This infuriates Jill. She feels her opponent is making a fool out of her.
Midway through round three, Jill snaps. As they come out of a clinch, Jill sends her right foot as hard as she can between Panther's legs.
Panther drops to her knees. The pain is blinding. But Panthers know how to live with pain. She is quickly on her feet. The referee steps in, disqualifies Jill and raises Panther's hand in victory.
Now Panther snaps.
"No disqualification." Her eyes gaze into Jill's. But it's a blank look. No emotion. Her face is a mask.
"What?" ask the referee.
"I said, no disqualification."
What happens next is so fast, only Panther, Jill, the referee and Hawk see it.
Jill lunges forward. Throws a vicious left hook. Panther easily ducks underneath. And almost simultaneosly sends a left into Jill's stomach. As Jill starts to buckle, Panther's left hand is traveling to her jaw with an uppercut. And a right hook is on the way to Jill's head.
Panther turns and leaves the ring. She knows Jill will be out not ten seconds, probably ten minutes. She uses her teeth to help untie the gloves. The crowd is slowly begining to realize she has won and starts to cheer. She smiles warmly at some friends she has made over the years. She knows she will never see them again.
Panther glances at Hawk as she passes. Hawk returns the glance and quickly looks away.
Panther spends a long time in the shower, letting the warm water run to the sore spot between her legs. She has put on her clothes as Jill staggers into the room.
"My God, you're so fast."
My God, you're so disgusting
Panther approaches her car. She notices the California license plates have been replaced with Florida license plates. She sees Hawk leaning against the car.
Hawk stares at Panther. Her eyes do not blink.
Panther stares back. She realizes she has broken the "rules". But her gaze is steady. No emotion. No apologies.
Hawk speaks first.
"You are no longer Nancy Williams. You are now Tonya Adams. You no longer live in San Francisco. You live in Orlando. You are not a computer programmer. You are an administrative assistant to a vice president at Disney World.
Hawks hands Panther a manilla envelope.
"Everthing is in here. New driver's license. New credit cards. The address and keys to your new apartment. Please spend a last night here and leave for Orlando tomorrow morning."
"And a final comment", says Hawk with a smile. The first time Panther has ever seen her smile. "Nice right hook to the head. Very nice."
The fog is begining to roll in off the bay. Hawk turns. Walks away. Fades into the fog. Becomes a part of it. And she is gone.
Panther is back at her apartment now for a last night. She takes another shower and just for the heck of it puts on her "fight" outfit. She looks in the mirror.
Know what, Panther, Tonya, Nancy, whomever. You're one tough gal. Maybe you should quit the Bureau and turn pro.