The Black Ant: Radeeka and the City of Gold

Hey Doc check this out !" research aide Jonah Johnson cried eagerly as he burst into the office of Foundation Director, Dr George Dunbar. Dunbar was at the time in conference with his leading archaeologist, Dr Grant Roberts. The two veteran archaeologists frowned as the hyperactive Johnson tossed a copy of an old newspaper on Dunbar's desk. " Really Jonah... We're very busy ... We don't have time for...." Dunbar began but halted in mid-sentence as something caught his eye.

Thank you Jonah... That will be all and close the door on your way out.." he corrected himself. When they were alone, Grant Roberts looked curiously at his older colleague. " What is it George ?" he inquired. " See for yourself Grant" Dunbar replied and showed him a recent newspaper article showing a picture of a curvaceous young woman with dark brown skin, flame-red hair and clad in an ocelot pelt bikini. She could not have been more than 18 years old.

It isn't possible ?... It could'nt be ?" Roberts stammered in disbelief. " We must assume that it is... After 18 long years... Our questions will soon be answered..." Dunbar exclaimed and started to dial a special number on his office phone. The call was routed over the Atlantic to a Lear jet that was headed for London. " Yes? " the silver-haired founder of Addington International stated as he answered his phone in the cabin of the plane.

As the conversation continued, Addington's facial expression changed from one of initial annoyance to intrigue. " And you're certain of this ?.... Then gather what you need... I shall make the necessary resources available to you..." the business tycoon declared and ended the call. Picking up the phone again, Addington got busy making contact with some of his key people. If the information he received was correct, then Addington International would be the beneficiary of untold wealth.

That evening Detective Neela Singh strolled out towards her Porsche in the parking lot of SIU headquarters. It had been a long day wrapping up the last reports on the deaths of Cintra Ramprakash and her cronies in the Chaguaramas peninsula, one week ago. As she rubbed the back of her neck, all Neela wanted to do was get home to her husband who had been released from the hospital two days earlier. " Damn it !" Neela fumed as her Ant Sense tingled.

Flipping the hidden switch under her car's ignition as she turned down a sidestreet converted it into the Antmobile. Neela slipped out of her brown jacket, white shirt and brown pumps and into the black leather and rubber uniform of the Black Ant by tapping her belt buckle. " This had better be good" the Alluring Antwoman remarked as she located the source of the problem on her vehicle's scanners. Minutes later, a band of seven thugs in a warehouse along the waterfront were startled as a sleek, black, armoured vehicle pulled up in front of the entrance, blocking the path of their loot-laden van.

Going somewhere boys ?" Black Ant inquired as she rested her hands on her shapely hips. " I taking you down bitch !!" one thug snarled as he charged towards the heroine with a raised crowbar. " I don't think so !" she quipped and swung her right foot hard into his flabby gut. " Ufff " the felon wheezed as he dropped to the ground. A second thug reached for the pistol in his waist but was sent crashing against a pile of wooden crates by a blast from the curvaceous crusader's left Stinger.

A high right foot to the jaw incapacitated a knife-wielding thug while a left chop to the neck put another one out of action. Black Ant seized the wrists of a thug who was lunging at her with a steel pipe and then flung him over her right shoulder into some other crates. One fell to the ground and broke open, spewing a series of wooden and stone figures. " This is what you creeps were stealing ?! " the masked maiden quipped as she flattened the last three with a right roundhouse kick.

The Alluring Antwoman knelt to examine the illicit cargo that the felons she dispatched were dealing in. " These seem very old... Could have some historical worth..." Black Ant pondered as she examined two statues in the palm of her right hand. Just then her Ant Sense tingled and she heard the sound of approaching police vehicles. Climbing into her Antmobile, the heroine made a swift departure from the crime scene.

Detective Sergeant Jake Stern looked from the bed as he heard movement within the nearby closet and then saw his superheroine spouse enter the room. " Hi honey.... Rough day ?" he asked. " Like you would'nt believe Jake..." Black Ant replied as she tapped the silver ant insignia between her perfectly-formed breasts. Jake watched as an aura surroundered the Alluring Antwoman and when it faded Neela Singh stood before him.

Stripping off her work clothes, she walked across to the bed dressed in only a black lace bra and matching underwear. " It just feels so good to get home..." Neela sighed as she lay down on the bed next to her husband. " I know exactly how you feel sweetheart..." Jake replied as he tenderly caressed the contours of Neela's face. His hand moving down the sides of her neck and then made circular strokes in the centre of her chest.

Neela sighed dreamily in response to Jake's strong but tender caresses. " All superheroines should be so lucky to come home to a man like you" she grinned and leaned forward to kiss Jake tenderly on his lips. She felt him wince slightly as her breasts pressed against his chest. " Oh ... Sorry... did that hurt ?" Neela asked apologetically and her right hand reached for the heavily bandaged portion of her husband's rib cage. " Not as much as not being here with you.." Jake whispered as he kissed his wife lovingly on her forehead. That was the end of all conversation for the night.

Dawn had not yet broken over the forests of Rio Claro but a group of men were trying to be out of there long before the first rays of sunlight shone over the dense jungle region. " Come on you morons... We gotta get out of here fast !!" Abdul Habib declared to his three cronies who were busy filling a some sacks with loot from an Amerindian burial ground. Just then, there was the distinctive sound of a shotgun behind them. " Put your hands in the air !... No sudden moves !!" Forest Ranger Mark Logan declared.

The 56-year-old, portly Habib turned round with his hands above his head and glared at the 21-year-old forest ranger, clad in his bush hat, khaki fatigues and boots. In addition to his shotgun, Logan was also armed with a pistol and a walkie-talkie. " Stealing items from a historical site is against the law Habib... You've been warned about this before !" Logan said. " And I warn you to stay out of my business boy !" the old hunter growled.

At that moment, Logan was struck hard from behind and before he could get to his feet, he saw Habib's lanky, stubble-faced son Fuaz standing over him with a rifle. " Now Ranger Logan... You will learn why nobody does mess with Abdul Habib !" the elder Habib smirked as he pulled out his pistol. " Aiyah- Aiyah-Yayyy !!!" Radeeka of Rio Claro cried as she descended from the trees and drove the balls of her bare feet into the face of Abdul Habib.

Taking advantage of the grave robbers' confusion, Logan reacted by knocking Fuaz Habib to the ground with a right fist to the gut. The ranger watched in awe as the beauteous bush woman dispatched one grave robber with a right foot in the gut and then another with a left uppercut to the jaw. The final one tried to run but with the speed of an ocelot, the flame-haired jungle heroine pounced on him and immobilised him with a right jab to the face.

Are you all right Mark Logan ?" Radeeka asked as she dragged the unconscious thug back towards the rest of his evil cohorts. Logan briefly eyed the jungle adventuress' shapely body that was barely concealed by her ocelot pelt bikni, espcially her incredible breasts before answering. " I am now... Thanks for your help Radeeka" he replied as he handcuffed the two Habibs.

A friendship had developed between the flame-haired Amazon and the forest ranger two months earlier after, Radeeka saved Logan from some hostile natives. Since then, Logan helped to teach the jungle heroine a bit about the world outside the forests of Rio Claro. " I picked up your trail... Thought you would need help..." Radeeka added as she bound Habib's three thugs with strong vines she had cut with her knife. " It's these guys who'll need help when they go before the judge " Logan replied as together with Radeeka, they escorted their prisoner's back to Logan's Ranger Station.

Two days later, a pair of Lear jets belonging to Addington International landed at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad. From the first jet, Drs George Dunbar and Grant Roberts alighted. They were followed by a Jonah Johnson who lumbered behind them with his luggage and theirs as well. From the second jet, a party of a different nature stepped on to the tarmac.

The first to alight was a white man with blonde hair wearing a business suit. His name was Peter Redmount, a former major in the British Special Armed Services (SAS). He was followed by an older man in a black leather jacket and pants with thining black and grey hair which was tied into a ponytail. This was Jose Sarone, a former Paraguayan soldier of fortune and reputed as one of the best trackers in South America.

This contingent walked towards a pair of stretch limos and a minivan that waited fot them on the other side of the fence. On the other side of the fence, Dr Tom Guptasingh watched the group approaching him. A historian and curator of an art gallery, Guptasingh was also the front man for the operations of the Addington International group, legal and illegal, in this part of the world. Observing the composition of the arriving contingent, Guptasingh knew that Alexander Addington had some major operation in the works. He would learn of the details in the days to come.

Meanwhile at their Maloney Gardens townhouse, Jake watched as his wife got dressed for work. " Come on baby call in sick today...." he teased as he lay back on the bed. " No you don't Jake Stern... One of us still has to make sure we can pay the bills round here..." Neela replied as she brushed her jet-black tresses and then tied them into a ponytail. Grabbing the walking cane by the bedside, Jake got up and limped over to the vanity as Neela finished buttoning her shirt and turned to face him.

And you sure there's nothing I can do to ..change your mind" he grinned and gently stroked the centre of his wife's abdomen with his right hand. " Mmmm... You make a very strong argument Mr Stern...." Neela sighed as Jake touched the soft spot in the way that always made her giddy and warm. " But not could enough.." she added and kissed him on the cheek. " Can't blame a guy for trying" Jake replied with a shrug of his shoulders. Neela simply smiled at her husband and grabbed her jacket before heading out the door.

The day at SIU headquarters was pretty routine for Neela and on a couple of occasions she felt a bit guilty leaving Jake home alone. Picking up their wedding photo, Neela reflected on their recent incident with the Tigermen who nearly took Jake away from her. His recovery had been slow since the residual effects of their poisoned claws were slowing down his body's ability to heal. Neela knew only too well just how much being a cop meant to Jake just as he understood the reason why she fought crime as the Black Ant.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the delivery of some reports to her desk by a police constable. Glancing them over, Neela saw they concerned the felons she busted on the waterfront. Her interest was piqued by the analysis of their contraband as rare Amerindian artifacts which could fetch a high price on the black market. Also of interest to the policewoman, was the arrest in Rio Claro of five men who were charged by a forest ranger for trafficking items similar to the ones from the waterfront. " This may not be so trivial as I might have thought..." she mused, leaning back in her chair.

At the Guptasingh Gallery in the suburb of Woodbrook, Dr Guptasingh met in conference with Drs Dunbar and Rhodes and Peter Redmount. " This is unbelievable... and you're certain that this is Rebecca Shah... daughter of Professor Donald Shah... who died in that plane crash in Rio Claro 18 years ago?" Guptasingh inquired as he examined the article handed to him by Roberts. " The evidence is conclusive... It can only be her... She must know the location of the lost city of El Colon !" Dr Dunbar stated.

Guptasingh had long heard of the fabled El Colon, a city founded in Trinidad by the Inca after their empire was conquered by the Spaniards. Legend stated that it was built to store the countless treasures of the Inca and safeguard them from the Spanish. Dr Shah's obsession was finding the city and he took that obssession to the grave. " Mr Sarone is preparing what we will need for the expedition... and we must embark immediately... but we shall have to find some means of capturing this Radeeka of Rio Claro and 'convince' her to lead us to the treasure" Redmount observed.

I predicted that you would require such help based on the preliminary data that Mr Addington faxed me prior to your arrival..." Dr Guptasingh stated as the door to his office opened and a Negro woman wearing thick-rimmed glasses, a long white doctor's coat and carrying a thick leather bag in her hand entered. " Gentlemen... I introduce Dr Jacqueline Jones... A veterinarian and someone who is more than knowledgeable about Radeeka of Rio Claro" he added as he introduced her.

That evening, Detective Neela Singh did some cross-checking on the reports she received earlier about the Amerindian artifacts. Her subsequent investigations revealed that Dr Tom Guptasingh was a major collector of such items and often displayed them at his art gallery. Further checks on the gallery itself, revealed that it had spent considerable sums of money on expansion and this aroused both Neela's suspicions and her Ant Sense. " I think Black Ant had better have a discussion with the good doctor" she thought and headed out of her office.

One hour later, the Antmobile pulled into a sidestreet behind the Guptasingh Gallery. Alighting from her vehicle, the Black Ant moved swiftly and stealthily through the shadows. She observed a plainclothes security guard standing in front of a doorway at the rear of the building. That would'nt have been suspicious except for the Galil assault rifle he was holding. Her right hand reached out the darkness and clamped a steel grip over the guard's mouth while a left chop to the base of the neck silenced him.

The Alluring Antwoman entered the building and made her way towards the main showroom. En route, she detected the sounds of voices from Dr Guptasingh's office. As she was about to move closer to investigate, she felt her Ant Sense tingle and then heard the cocking of a gun behind her. " Are you looking for something my dear ?" Peter Redmount asked as his took aim with his HK nine mm pistol.

Just a cheap painting! " the heroine replied as she whirled round and dealt the ex-SAS man a hard left hook to the jaw. As Redmount fell backwards into some nearby crates, the noise caught the attention of other guards. Sensing the approach of reinforcements, Black Ant made a tactical retreat to the main showroom where she could more easily engage her opponents. Lunging towards the Alluring Antwoman, one guard tried to strike her with a raised blackjack.

Grabbing hold of his wrists, the masked maiden flung him into a nearby bust which smashed against the tiled floor. " Oops... do I have to pay for that ?!" Black Ant quipped as she sent two more guards crashing into some other stone statues that were standing nearby. With a snarl another guard charged forward in a bid to subdue the curvaceous crusader. He was stopped short by a blast from her left Stinger.

Staring lustfully at her well-defined breasts and the silver ant insignia between them, another guard lunged at the heroine with his knife but she was far too swift and one swipe cut a deep gash into a Rembrandt that was hanging on the wall. " No !! No !! No !! " Dr Tom Guptasingh wailed as he watched several priceless pieces of art being destroyed by the ensuing battle. Peter Redmount returned to the fray and fired his pistol at the masked maiden.

Black Ant somersaulted to safety as Redmount's bullets only succeeded in blowing three sculptures to pieces. Landing on her balls of her feet, the Alluring Antwoman shot Redmount in the chest with a burst from her right Stinger and he slammed against a wall. Another guard tried to jump her from behind but she foiled his plans by tripping him with a left sweep kick. The guard came crashing down upon atop a table with some wooden and ceramic ornaments.

Dr Tom Guptasingh turned to run but a hand encased in black rubber seized hold of his right arm and then flung him hard to the floor. Before he could get up, the Black Ant was literally on him, the weight of her althletically-trim body being transmitted through her knees that were pressed against his portly gut. " Armed guards... a paid mercenary.... You are hardly an ordinary art curator Dr Guptasingh....Tell me what are you doing selling native articfacts on the black market ?!" she inquired. Suddenly, the masked maiden felt her Ant Sense tingle.

However a thick white cloth was clamped over her face before she could take any action. " Hnhhh !!!!... Hhnnnhhh !!!!" Black Ant protested into the rag as she felt herself being pulled off of Guptasingh and chloroform fumes invaded her lungs. " Struggle all you want Black Ant... There is enough chloroform on this cloth to stun a water buffalo !!" Dr Jacqueline Jones said as she held the chloroform-soaked rag over Black Ant's face with her right hand while firmly gripping the heroine's well-rounded right breast with her left hand.

Ohhhhh..... She's right.... Too much chloroform... Ant Sense can't take it.... Feel so sleepy.... Ant Strength abandoning me.... Everything.... going.... black...." the Alluring Antwoman's tired mind said as her sensuous body ceased to struggle and fell limp within Dr Jones' evil grasp. " Uuhhhhhhh" Black Ant sighed as Jones removed the cloth from her face. The villainous veterinarian released her hold and the Alluring Antwoman collapsed to the floor.

My God... What happened here?" Dr Dunbar gasped as he entered the showroom to see the guards getting groggily to their feet while the Black Ant lay unconscious in the middle of the devastated showroom. " There is no time for that... The chloroform will not keep her unconscious indefinitely..." Dr Jones warned. " I have something much more permanent in mind for our annoying insect..." Guptasingh sneered as he gazed upon the sensless superheroine.

Binding her body with chains from her curvaceous chest to her ankles, two guards carried Black Ant down to the gallery's basement. " Put her in there ! " Guptasingh ordered and his men placed the heroine's limp body into a large plaster cast mould. Moving over to the nearby plaster mixer, Guptasingh turned it on. Within the mixer, the plaster began to gel and the mixer gradually tilted towards the unconscious Black Ant.

Sleep well Black Ant... The wealth of El Colon... will soon be all mine..." he laughed as he went up the stairs and locked the door. " Nhhh... What ?..." Black Ant groaned as she regained consciousness three hours later. The heroine tried to move but found that she could'nt feel her arms and legs. Looking down, she horrified to see that she was entombed up to her neck in plaster that had already hardened up to her chest.

Must break free..." the Alluring Antwoman gasped as she flexed her muscles against the chains and the plaster that was solidifying around her. Black Ant grimaced in pain as her strength was still dampened somewhat by the chloroform. There was only one chance. Firing both of her Stingers, the masked maiden blew the mould she was lying in, the chains and her plaster body cast to pieces. " Ohhhh... My head still hurts from the chloroform... Got to get out of here" Black Ant groaned as she got to her feet and staggered up the staircase.

Back in her Ant Lair, Detective Sergeant Jake Stern had managed to hobble down the secret stairwell. Strapping on his shoulder holster, he armed himself with a pair of Berettas from the Lair's armoury. Though he could barely walk, Jake could feel that Neela was in trouble and he was determined to help her. Before he could limp back up the staircase, the Antmobile pulled into the Lair and Black Ant alighted.

Neela...." Jake gasped as he watched her staggering towards him and her body was covered in some kind of plaster mix. Struggling to stand himself, Jake placed a reassuring arm around his wife's waist and escorted her to a nearby bunk. " I... I thought I was supposed to be taking care of you..." Black Ant groaned as Jake eased her on to the bunk.

What happened baby ?.... You look terrible..." he asked, the concern evident in his voice. " Went after some smugglers.... Got jumped... Chloroformed.... My head... Oh...hurts..." the Alluring Antwoman groaned as her right hand massaged her aching right temple. " Shh... Just relax Neela... Just relax... You're okay now" Jake assured her and gently caressed the long plume of jet black hair which protruding from the black rubber mask that virtually encompassed her head.

That feels so good... Just want to sleep Jake... So tired Jake... Don't want to be alone..." Black Ant sighed as her heartbeat slowed and her breathing became deeper. Jake continued to stroke her hair and watched as she slipped into a peaceful slumber. " I'll be right here when you wake up baby " Jake replied and kissed his wife on the lips before rising off the floor and settling into the chair behind the Lair's control console.

Miles away at his station in the Rio Claro forests, Mark Logan fixed himself some dinner within his living quarters. He set the table for two as Radeeka often paid him late night visits since they had come to know each other. Logan could'nt describe it but it was as if there was a growing bond forming between himself and the 18-year-old jungle adventuress. He had just put the food to simmer when he was struck senseless to the floor by a hard blow to the head.

Jose Sarone stood silently over the fallen forest ranger and admired his handiwork. " Take him away !.... We shall be having company soon !" Dr Jacqueline Jones ordered the Paraguayan mercenary. " Aiyah-Aiyah-Yayy !!" Radeeka of Rio Claro cried as she swung through the trees of her forested domain. " I cannot wait to see Mark Logan..." the beauteous bush woman thought as the lights from his wooden station came into view.

Wow !" Jonah Johnson gasped as he watched the curvaceous, flame-haired jungle girl alight to the ground in front of Logan's wooden bungalow and slowly stroll up the wooden steps towards the doorway. " Be silent Jonah !... Let the adults handle this !" Dr Roberts whispered harshly. " Aiyah !... Mark Logan... I am here..." Radeeka called as she entered the bungalow. The Wild Woman was perplexed when she got no response from her friend.

Suddenly, her jungle instincts warning her of danger. She whirled round to see Abdul Habib, his son Fuaz and Jose Sarone surrounding her. " I have a score to settle with you jungle bitch !" Habib snarled and lunged at her with a cutlass in his right hand. Grabbing his right wrist, Radeeka flung the portly hunter hard to the floor knocking the wind out of him. Fuaz Habib attacked with a knife in hand but was sent crashing to the floor when he tasted the sole of the flame-haired jungle queen's right foot in his face.

I get you chica...!" Sarone snarled as he pulled out a black jack and charged. Radeeka came to grips with the larger Sarone and every muscle in her petite body flexed as she did so. With lightning speed, the Wild Woman stunned the Paraguayan with a right jab in the face. She followed through with a left foot to the gut which sent Sarone to the floor. " Where is Mark Logan ?!" Radeeka demanded. " Perhaps I can help you Tarzan Girl !" Dr Jacqueline Jones quipped as she moved towards the jungle heroine.

Taken by surprise, the flame-haired Amazon was instantly stunned as Dr Jones smothered her great breasts with a chloroform-soaked towel. " Aiyahh !!... The sleeping liquid...that makes Radeeka's breasts tired...." the jungle heroine gasped as she staggered backwards trying to break the veterinarian's grip. " You've learned some English since last time... but your big breasts and tits are still suckers for chloroform !" Dr Jones sneered as she pressed the beautiful bush woman against a wall.

Aiyahhh.... Evil woman right.... Radeeka's tits are getting... hard... Make her get tired... Must.. break free..." Radeeka groaned as she felt her eyes become heavy with sleep as the drug aroused her erogenous zones while sapping the strength from her muscles. " You won't do anything Tarzan Girl.... Cause we have your friend..." Jones sneered. " Mark Logan..." Radeeka gasped in response. " Yes and unless you let me chloroform your big breasts to sleep... He'll die !" the veterinarian responded as she pulled down the bush woman's bra to reveal her great dark brown breasts and their blackened summits.

Aiyahhh.... I must do as evil woman says... Must let you make Radeeka tits tired... Radeeka.. cannot let you harm Mark Logan... Radeeka... must sleep...." the flame-haired jungle heroine groaned as the chloroform took its toll on her large black nipples. " Aaahhhhh" she sighed and slumped to the floor unconscious.

Flanked by the armed mercenaries hired from amongst the local riff-raff, Dr Rhodes together with Redmount entered the bungalow. " Tie her up and get her out of here !" he admonished Sarone and the two Habibs. They hastened to bind the unconscious jungle girl's hands, feet and chest with ropes. " Stop your gawking Jonah ! We have a job to do !!" Roberts scolded the teenage research aide. " We'll use the original map used by Shah... The girl will guide us the rest of the way or we kill her boyfriend" Redmount said.

The following morning, Neela Singh towelled off after a long hot shower. Slipping on a bathrobe, she padded barefoot into the adjacent where Jake Stern lay asleep. Neela had been touched to see that he stood vigil over her after she lost round one of her fight with Guptasingh and his allies. " Sleep well my love... You deserve it" she whispered and kissed him on the forehead. Moving to the closet, Neela opened the secret stairwell and descended into her subterranean Ant Lair.

Activating her comlink, she initiated a three-way conference with Dr Han Lee and Snake-Eyes. The policewoman related the information she had obtained to her two closest allies. " Sounds like you encountered some black marketeers in rare artifacts Neela... Pretty bad but lucrative business... second only to drugs and white slavery..." Snake-Eyes observed. " Guptasingh is definitely a front man... We need to know who he's working for and what they're after here in Trinidad" Neela said.

I may have a clue about that... but I'll need some time to put everything together" Dr Lee stated. " Take as much time as you need Doctor... I can start gathering evidence on Guptasingh through the SIU" Neela replied. " I'll put Hawk and Moon on alert... We may need to move quickly..." Snake-Eyes added. " Uahhhh " Radeeka of Rio Claro sighed as she awoke from her drug-induced slumber. As her sleep-laden eyes opened she found herself tied to a wooden post under a tent. Standing close by were Drs Dunbar and Rhodes, the veterinarian Jones, Guptasingh and Redmount.

Where is Mark Logan ?" the jungle heroine asked her captors. " Quite safe Miss Shah... and he will stay that way unless you guide us to El Colon !" Dunbar declared. " I am Radeeka and I not take you... City is forbidden !" the flame-haired Amazon declared. " We'll see about that !" Redmount said as he walked to the entrance of the tent and made a signal with his hand. " Mark Logan " Radeeka gasped as she saw Sarone haul in the bound and bruised forest ranger. " Don't do what they say Radeeka !" Logan blurted and earned a punch in the gut from Redmount for that remark.

Radeeka flexed her muscles in an attempt to break her ropes and help her friend but Dr Jones reacted quickly. " Aiyahhh... The sleeping liquid... Makes Radeeka tired..." the beauteous bush woman groaned as the vile veterinarian waved an uncorked chloroform bottle in front of her great breasts and sent her nipples into erotic bliss. " There is no escape jungle girl... You must do whatever we tell you and lead us to the treasure !" Dr Rhodes declared

With the chloroform fumes arousing her nipples into hardness, Radeeka of Rio Claro's will was quickly sapped. " Yes....Radeeka will help you... Whoever holds sleeping liquid is Radeeka's master.... Will obey..." the jungle queen sighed as she fell into a semi-conscious state. " Stand her up and let's move out !" Redmount ordered. The camp was broken down within 30 minutes and the expedition pushed on into the Rio Claro forests.

The city of El Colon.... a fabled Inca city believed to have been built here... in the Rio Claro forests... It's said to be a treasure trove" Dr Han Lee said as he conferred with Neela Singh and Snake-Eyes later that night via comlink. " That's what Guptasingh is after... then he uses his gallery as a cover to ship out any loot that they get" Neela deduced. " Exactly... A Trinidadian born American professor... Dr Donald Shah had found a way to the city 18 years ago but was killed in a plane crash in Rio Claro that also killed him and his wife..." the Professor continued.

But not his daughter who may be our resident jungle queen... Radeeka" Neela pointed out. " Quite possibly" Dr Lee agreed. " The information you got checks out Neela... Guptasingh deals with a group called the Addington Foundation... Headed by one Dr George Dunbar... The Foundation is part of Addington International... Its founder Alexander Addington has long been rumoured to traffick stolen artifacts from Latin America" Snake-Eyes indicated.

Then how are we going to locate the city Dr Lee.... Guptasingh's group has already gotten at least a day's headstart on us and that foliage is pretty thick... even the Nighthawk's scanners may not detect it ?" Neela inquired. " She's right Han... We'll need to get underway immediately" Snake added. " Don't worry about that... There is one advantage that we still have over our treasure hunters... Pick me up along the way Neela and I shall explain everything" the Professor assured them.

One hour later, the Nighthawk was airborne and flying south towards Rio Claro. " I still can't believe this" Snake-Eyes remarked as he watched Black Ant slip into the co-pilot's seat next to Hank " Hawk" Lee. " Me neither but apparently the inhabitants of El Colon worshipped army ants and supposedly found a way to control them... If I can focus my Ant Sense.. I might just be able to guide us there by detecting any activity amongst the ants" the masked maiden replied as she put on her head set.

Elsewhere the treasure hunters' with the captive Radeeka at the head forged on without rest through the forest. " Oh man.. Oh man " Jonah Johnson whined as he lugged Drs Dunbar and Roberts' baggage through the winding forest trails and over several steep slopes. Every now and then the jungle heroine eyed her friend and fellow captive and Sarone who kept a watchful eye on him. Though her strength was returning, she dared not do anything to risk Logan's life.

After trekking for another two hours, Radeeka halted the expedition in a clearing and pointed to a broken down stone arch whose design was unmistakeably Inca. " There is what you seek !" Radeeka declared. " Unbelievable !! At last we have found it !!" Dr Dunbar declared triumphantly. " Jonah !! Come with us !!.. We have work to do !!" Dr Rhodes commanded the teenager and taking three mercenaries, they headed between the pillars and into the cavern behind it.

Well my dear Radeeka... This is the end of the line for both you and your friend !" Dr Guptasingh declared as he cocked a pistol at the beauteous bush woman and Sarone put a knife to Mark Logan's throat. " I don't think so Guptasingh ! " Black Ant quipped as she emerged from the undergrowth like a malevolent phantom. Her sudden appearance unnerved the local hired mercenaries and even battle-hardened specialists like Redmount and Sarone stood rooted to the spot, unable to draw their weapons.

But you can't be here ?!... You're dead !!... You could'nt have found us..." Guptasingh babbled. " Wrong on all counts... El Colon was also known for one other thing besides Inca gold... Ants !.... I sensed the disturbance among them and tracked your sorry ass down !" the heroine said as she advanced towards Guptasingh. With a cry of frustration, Guptasingh swung his pistol at the Black Ant but was swiftly immobilised by an Ant Sting in the face.

Kill them all !!!" Redmount snarled as he reached for his MP-5 assault rifle but got his head rocked backwards as Radeeka swung her right foot into his jaw. Shaken out of his stupor, Sarone moved to stab Logan but the forest ranger shook loose from his grasp and bolted. Before the Paraguayan could reach his AK-47 rifle, Snake-Eyes' M-16A2 assault rifle roared and Sarone's chest was ripped open by a stream of tracers.

No !! No !! No !!" Dr Jacqueline Jones screamed hysterically and ran through the archway into the cavern. " Kyah !! Kyah !! Kyah !!" Abdul Habib cried and charged towards the Black Ant with a raised machete. Dodging his wild swing, the Alluring Antwoman knocked his legs out from under him with a sweep kick. " Gahhhh !!!" Habib cried as he fell upon his own blade. Fuaz Habib reached for his pistol but was stopped short of using it when a right hook to the jaw from Radeeka knocked him senseless.

Black Ant sent two more mercenaries hurtling into the undergrowth with a left roundhouse kick to their heads. Landing on her the balls of her feet, the masked maiden fired her Stingers and stunned another four mercenaries. Redmount rose behind her with a pistol in hand but Black Ant whirled round and dealt him a right fatal chop to the base of his neck. The last three mercenaries turned tail and ran.

We must leave here... Much evil !" Radeeka told her new allies as she loosened Mark Logan's bonds. Before anyone could say anything blood-curdling screams were heard coming from the cavern. Inside, Dunbar, Rhodes, Johnson and Jones ran for their lives. The former three had managed to bag some Inca gold trinkets from some of the ruins of El Colon before a mass of army ants poured out of nowhere and devoured their mercenary companions to the bone.

The cave Snake !... We have to seal the cave !!" Black Ant cried as she aimed her Stingers at the opening. " I read you Black Ant !" the universal soldier replied as he took aim with the M203 grenade launcher that was attached to his rifle. Together they unleashed a unified salvo of Ant Stings and grenades which sent rocks tumbling down, sealing the cavern.

No !!!!!!" the four trapped treasure hunters cried as their sole escape route was sealed off forever. From outside the cavern, Black Ant, Snake-Eyes, Radeeka and Mark Logan heard their screams as a massive wave of army ants, the defenders of El Colon, literally consumed them. They would never enjoy their ill-gotten wealth and their grisly demise ensured that the secret of El Colon would forever remain a mystery for all time.

End