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August 1944
Paris, Occupied France

The Soviet Superwoman ricocheted another volley of machine gun fire with her forearms. The streets here were filled with blood as the sounds of battle carried throughout Paris. The Western forces would be here soon, hoping to liberate the French capital after their coming ashore two months ago. They had been cutting a swath through the German forces and now, days away from here, the French Interior Forces had become openly attacking Nazi forces in an attempt to pave the way for them. Stalin had personally sent her here to make sure that the US and British did not reap all the benefits and rewards that came from liberating the Город Света. Actually that wasn't entirely true. She had volunteered for the assignment, both for very personal reasons. The first was the unconfirmed rumor that Hauptsturmfuhrer Dr. Ilsa Hauppman was here in France. She had no idea how, or even if, that evil, sadistic woman had survived what happened earlier in the year in Hungary. The second reason was fighting a few feet in front of her, taking out another Wehrmacht soldier with her rifle. A sharp metallic ping came from her weapon indicating it was empty.

Claire. It had been almost since the Americans landed that she had last seen her love. It was in a far different environment, much more pleasant that this. She took a deep breath. Even over the smoke and smells of war, her scent was intoxicating. Claire turned, flipping her chestnut hair to the side as she slammed another cartridge home.
"I told you next time you were here we would have a good time mon amant! I like to keep my promises!" She winked and turned, taking a bead on another advancing soldier. Olga grinned and cut several more down with her lasers. The FFI was defending the Hotel DeVille until the 9th company arrived in vanguard of the second DB, under command of Genral Leclerc. The streets were swarming with German soldiers and the fighting had been bitter and violent. Claire opened fire again as Olga defended her from several more incoming machine gun bursts.

"Have I ever told you how handy you are in a scrap?" Claire shouted as she continued to fire away until once again the M1 Garand was emptied. "When this is all over, I hope you are just as good at more domestic things!"

Up ahead, Soviet Superwoman watched as a German unit rolled a Flak 38 into the street, their aim to pour 20mm shells on the FFI position. She launched herself forward a super-speeds, grabbing hold of the barrel and tossing it and at least one of it's crew over the rooftops several hundred feet away. Mp40 fire bounced off her harmlessly as the remaining soldiers broke and ran for cover. She quickly made her way back over to the besieged force in fron of the hotel. Claire shook her head and smiled. "Now you are just showing off my love."

"Da, perhaps a bit." She returned the smile with one of her own.

"Well I hope those Americans get here soon. I just want to get you somewhere a little more quiet and perhaps a bit less violent. Certainly less crowded."

Olga blushed, narrowing her eye beams onto a half-track that had stopped to empty it's troop cargo a few yards away. The gas tank exploded, killing the soldiers that were still inside and the ones that had managed to unload from the back. Shrapnel and debris rained down that section of the street. Taking a moment to survey the battlefield, Olga knew that the French Resistance fighters's situation was dire. They were surrounded on three sides with their backs to the hotel and they were running low on ammunition and supplies from this hours long siege. The Germans were not just going to retreat peacefully out of Paris apparently. Both German army forces and SS units had them pinned down. She took comfort in the fact that with her presence here, the FFI and Claire more than anyone in the world, would not fall.

Another resistance fighter threw himself over next to Olga and Claire. He was young man, filthy with blood, sweat and grime. His face was pale and spoke staggeringly and loudly to them, his machine gun clenched tightly in his hands.
"Governor Von Scholtitz has been arrested, for failing to destroy Paris as per Hitler's instructions!"

Claire looked at him for a long moment, stunned, before he continued nodding his head quickly.
"A Major Ilsa Hauppman has been put in charge and plans to begin the detontations within the hour."

Olga snarled, her face contorting into a mask of hatred, and she balled her fists tightly. Damn her, she was still alive! Her rage was so evident that the French courier jumped and took a step back from her. Claire moved her gaze slowly from him back to Olga. Her eyes were different now, hollow and sad. She placed her small hand on Olga's broad shoulder and pulled herself close to her lover. Her body was the only warmth Olga felt as she softened, looking at Claire with her ice-blue eyes.

"Olga...please go and stop her. Don't let them destroy Paris. This is my home that I love. The city must be saved, it must thrive and endure this so that years from now..." Claire choked on her words, closing her eyes. Tears began to fill the corners and run softly down her cheeks.
"Paris means more to me than life itself. Olga, mon amant, please...don't let her burn it..."

Soviet Superwoman's ears were ringing and she felt nauseous. This was not happening, not now. All she could smell now was Claire's perfume, all she could hear was her voice and the soft music that used to swell up from downstairs in Claire's small apartment. She shook her head slowly.

"Nyet. I am not going to leave you here. I could take you with me...together we could..."

Claire shook her head, opening her eyes. "I can't leave my brothers and sisters here to die and I would only slow you down as you would worry more about me than you should. Go Olga. Your leader would not be happy if he was told you could have prevented the destruction of Paris over a woman."

Olga swallowed hard, an acrid taste filled her mouth. Her hands trembled as she broke her gaze with Claire and looked around. Everywhere there was death, everywhere there seemed more and more Wehrmacht or SS filling the streets. She shook her head again.
"Nyet Claire, I will not..." Claire looked down and away, sniffling and cutting off her second refusal. When she looked up her eyes were red and her voice was barely more than a whisper.

"Please Olga...I'm begging you...don't let the city die with me."

Claire leaned forward slowly and planted a soft, warm kiss on her lips, followed by a smaller second one. Olga looked deep into her eyes, taking her all in. She could do this. She could save them both if she was fast enough. She had to be fast enough. Claire turned and re-entered the fray with a savagery, taking out a hand grenade and lobbing it at the advancing Germans after pulling the pin with her teeth. She bit her lip hard and lingered for a few seconds longer before steeling her resolve and rocketing upwards into the smoke-filled skies.

To be continued...
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This image was a gift by my dear friend who is also Claire's creator.

Soviet Superwoman and the story were created by myself (with a great deal of input from Nate, thank you so very much).