Getting ready was not quite so immediate as Candi had promised to Tom. After he had gone to lay low, Candi took quite some time adjusting to her new suit, and to her new role.

She was amazed at the abilities Imaki's inventions gave her, but she knew that getting herself back to her former physical condition was critical to success.

Two weeks had passed, and Candi was preparing for an upcoming summer class at Viron. But to her distress, things were not improving in the city fast enough. The murder rate, for one, was getting out of hand.



Worse, the city's immigration issues were colliding. The Kerpher Gang, being hunted to near-extinction by the Meethlites and the police, was about to make its last stand.

They had done the unthinkable! Their leader, Victor Nanale, had abducted Maria Sanmarcos, the daughter of illegal Mexicans living on the poor side of town.

Poor Maria was only six, and spoke no English. As Candi's centuition began to sink in, she began to think less and less over the deterioration of her former physical condition due to pregnancy, and more on her anger. Something had to be done!



Maria: (begging) "¡Vaya quiero! ¡No duelame, se mendigo!"

Victor: "I'll Mendigo your sorry tush if you don't comply! Do as you're told, you little BRAT!"



Maria: (crying) "Dondesta mi mama? iNo quiero ser su amigo! No malo! Malo!"

Victor: "Oh don't worry! You're far too young to be a mom! Now hold still! If you won't comply, this bullet will ease your suffering!"



Victor: "3!!!...2!!!..."

A sudden noise! Where could that noise come from?



Immediately, Victor and Maria both turned around! Had they been spotted? Victor had sent the rest of the Kerphers out to patrol for anything suspicious, lest the police discover him having his wicked way with a child!

But there was something not right in the alleyway. A zooming sound - and then nothing!



Another noise! Victor nervously aimed his gun up at the sky; desperate for any indication that something could have been up there - still nothing!



Victor: "Hold still, brat, while I look around! Move ONE INCH...and you're brain soup!!!"



Just Victor? Candi knew this wouldn't be too hard for her to handle! She'd dealt with far more dangerous foes than Victor!

This was a high-profile little girl! Candi knew she couldn't afford to botch anything up! Victor hadn't figured out her location yet...but she had to time her next move very well.

This is what Candi had trained for all these years!



Victor: "Whoever you are! Whatever, wherever you are! I've won! This girl is MINE!!! Whatta you gonna do about it??? Huh? WHAT!!!!"



Out came Candi's centilegs, stinging full force as she made her descent on the unwitting crook!

Victor: “Owwwwww! What the hell???”



Victor: "Holy...."

What was this terrifying thing that had just jumped him!?

Candi: "What am I gonna do about it???"



Victor: "Put me down, freak! Now!!!"

Candi: "...THIS!!!"



SMASH!!!

Victor was instantly knocked unconscious as he flew backwards into the alley wall!



Kicked in the face, punched multiple times, and stung a few times, the clueless Victor was finally beaten. Being hurled into a dumpster after being slammed into the wall further ensured that he wouldn't follow anyone.

His life would be spared by Candi; though not by the justice system afterward. All he needed to be for the moment was to be out of the way.



Maria could only watch in horror as her captor was quickly and soundly disposed of by the giant, bug-like stranger!

Maria: "¡Eh…eh…no duelame! ¿¿¿Por favor???"

Candi: "Dear...where is your home?"



Maria: "¡Mal gigantesca de bicha!"

Candi: "¡No corra! Uh...¡Espera! "

Candi did her best to speak to the terrified child, in what little Spanish she knew.



Quickly, in spite the risks, she took off her mask. The child had to know that there was a good face underneath!

Candi: "See? I'm here to help! Do you speak any English?"



The look on Maria's face went from terror and dread to a look of renewed confidence - she was being rescued!

Maria: "¡Mia ciempiés!"



Candi: "¿Se…llama…?"

Maria: "¡Maria! ¡Te llamas mia ciempiés!"

Candi liked the new title...Ciempiés. She wondered if it might be easier to shorten the title somehow, but figured she'd wait.

She wasn't impressed with others giving her names at the moment. This child needed to be brought home - and fast! Evil was everywhere in the city!

Candi: "¡Maria! ¿Donde está su casa?"