Black Scorpion, version 2.0

Mark Rand · September 16, 2005

This is an homage, more or less, to Roger Corman's Black Scorpion. Please note, this post is a long one.

Twenty two-year old Keiko Nishigawa, the daughter of a wealthy Pittsburgh area man, a skilled gymnast and kunoichi and her mother, Fujiko, her teacher, sat in their Tokyo hotel room and waited for the phone call that would summon them to where their ninja clan would meet and await a decision from the kami as to who would be the new Black Scorpion. Whoever it was would become the latest in a line of female ninja that were given special powers to help them fight for justice.

Finally, the call came. They straightened their kimonos and left their room. Two hours later, they stood, in a shrine in a remote Japanese village to await the kami's decision.

Finally, it came. Keiko was the new Black Scorpion. The kami blessed her and gave her two mystical gifts. The blessing increased her lifespan, heightened her senses, increased her ability to recover from injuries and slowed the aging process for her. Tne mystical gift was an amulet that would let her change into her costume in an instant and the other was a bracelet that would let her create energy copies of whatever ninja weapon she needed. These, coupled with her knowledge of the Kuji-Kiri, or nine ways of cutting, would help her in her fight.

Back in the hotel, Keiko meditated on her costume. She decided on a skintight jumpsuit made of a material that looked like leather but would stiffen to absorb any blow that would injure her, tabi boots, skintight gloves, a ski mask, all in black, a ninja-to (or ninja sword), and an assortment of small weapons and devices. The bracelet would go on her left wrist. After her meditation and an evening meal, she went to bed.

The next morning, she awoke to find herself in the costume. She used the amulet to change back, woke her mother up, told her what happened, and showed her costume. Fujiko thought that it looked perfect.

Keiko spent the next four years obtaining her masters in electronics engineering, training her mind and body, and racing the candy-apple red Lamborghini Diablo, that was a gift from her father in SCCA-sanctioned events.

She then joined Stark Industries as an engineer in the R&D division of their Cranberry Township plant. One night, as she was leaving work, she was attacked by clan enemies. She used her abilities to defend herself, but was overwelmed. Iron man joined the fight and turned the tables. They talked and shared secret identities. He then invited her to join the Mid-Atlantic Avengers as their technical manager, and, as Black Scorpion, a reservist. He also promised her some additional gear. She accepted.

One week later, she got her new gear. A new pair of gloves would replace her old ones. Although they were skintight, like her old pair, they had a few surprises. Claws that wound extend and retract from her fingers as she needed them and pockets of lead shot would increase the strength of her punches. Next, he gave her a bracelet for her right arm. It had a climbing line and an electronic stinger capable of knocking people out. He then said, "There's your Scorpionbobile."

"It's a Lamborghini Murcielago!" she exclaimed.

"A modified one," he said. "It's armored. The license plate can change from a plate that I can register to Keiko's to one registered to Black Scorpion. There are flashing lights and a siren you can turn on, a two-way communications system, and weapons. The license plate light has a high-intensity strobe above it. It's perfect for blinding anyone you want to. There are also oil and smoke ejectors in the rear. In the front are three energy weapons, all with a range of 50-feet. One scrables electronic devices, the second is a high-energy stunner, the third is a pulse laser."

After Tony showed her how they work, she said, "Very cool."

Mark Rand · May 17, 2006