Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
Confusion crossed Sapphire Angel's visage. How was the police woman here, and why was she in a WarTech uniform?
"Sorry I didn't jump in sooner," Jennings said. "I needed to wait until the guards were fully immersed in... what they were doing to you. I wanted to improve my chances."
Sapphire Angel gave a slow nod, still processing the situation. "Thank you," she said. "I really don't know what to say. You were amazing."
"Not as amazing as you," Jennings said. "You had the hard job, when Gregor didn’t go down after taking the bat to the face. I thought that would finish him, but not even close. You were the one who beat him."
Sapphire Angel looked down at Gregor on the ground. She had beaten him — without her powers. She gazed back at Jennings, questions flooding her mind. But they had work to do first.
"Let's get these guys secured," she said, "before they recover."
The superheroine and the police officer moved between the fallen opponents, using various handcuffs and zip ties carried by the guards to restrain them. They bound each man to the bars of the cell.
Once they had secured the men, Jennings approached Gregor. After binding him, she leaned near the black brick affixed above his chest. She studied it, before moving to the rack of torture implements and grabbing pliers. She returned to Gregor and used the pliers to snap off each of the three antennas sticking up from the case holding the black rock.
Almost immediately, Sapphire Angel's necklace flickered with a slight blue light, and the costumed woman felt a slight tickle of power creep through her body, like a soothing balm. She glanced at Jennings, a confused look on her face.
"I was privy to their talks, just before you arrived, and before they sent me and the other guards back here to check on things," Jennings explained. "They weren't expecting you so soon, but that scientist, Valik, was explaining his theory to Devlin and the senator. Well, not the whole thing. He said nobody would understand. But he explained how this would work. Something about this black rock being able to counterbalance your powers, or block them, or something. But he needed to amplify the rock, or something like that, for its full effect to work. That's what that generator-like thing was in the other room. These antennas get the boost from the generator and send it to the black rock."
Sapphire Angel furrowed her brow as she listened, and tried to comprehend. This was the first she had learned even a hint about the workings of her powers.
"What about the helmet he was wearing?” The heroine asked. “That had antennas, too."
"I'm not sure. Either it helped him monitor and control things, or maybe it was a conduit between the generator and Gregor. He was just starting to explain that part when Devlin sent me and the other guards back here."
Sapphire Angel bit her lip, nodding. Valik seemed to understand her powers even more than she did. Or he did, before he died. Perhaps the rock could provide some answers. As if sensing the heroine's interest in the rock, Jennings spoke.
"I've got a knife here," the police officer said. "I'll cut the straps so you can take this case with the rock, if you want it. But maybe I should carry it until we get out of here, in case it has a limited effect on you, even without that generator contraption."
"Yes, please," Sapphire Angel said. Her mind raced with questions, both about the rock, but also about Jennings. "How are you here? And why?"
"Ever since we met on Monday, I couldn't stop thinking about the things you said," Jennings said, as she cut the case free from the straps on Gregor. "Mostly about how you seemed to think something was up with Senator Chappelle. I did some digging and learned enough to get suspicious. And I learned they were targeting you. I called and left you an urgent message, but you didn't reply. I figured I was too late. The more I thought about it, the more I had to do something. Chappelle asked me to drive him here, and when he left me in a side room up here to wait for him, I slipped out, jumped a guard, and stole this uniform. I was able to blend right in after that."
"So you came here, risking everything, for me?" Sapphire Angel asked. She blinked back tears as emotion flooded over her. At first, she wasn't sure why Jennings' actions brought out such feelings, but then she understood. While she had received public support and accolades during her superheroine career, nobody except those close to her — Stanley, Ethan, and Conner —- had extended themselves for her. For her. This woman had risked it all. For her. For the first time, the heroine felt true appreciation, or validation for all she had sacrificed.
"Yes, for you," Jennings replied. "Well, also for that missing guy."
Sapphire Angel's head jerked up. Eric! He was the reason she was here, and she had almost forgotten about him after the battle with Gregor and the guards.
"Eric Stump," the heroine said. "He has to be close. Perhaps in these cells."
"Yes, I think that's why Devlin sent me and the guards back here, before Valik finished explaining how his contraptions worked. To check on prisoners."
Sapphire Angel hurried through the door of the cell and looked down the corridor. She rushed to the first door, seeing movement in a cell almost identical to the other cell, except instead of a table in the middle of the room, a cot sat in the corner. A man sat on it, wearing a blue hospital gown.
Eric! Even in the dim light cast by the overhead lights in the corridor, he was unmistakable. His face was gaunt and his eyes sunken with exhaustion, but it was him. He looked to have lost weight off his already wiry frame, and his sandy brown hair was greasy on his head, as if he hadn't showered in several days.
The costumed woman hoisted her leg in front of her, ready to attempt to kick in the metal cell door, but Jennings was already at her side, extending a keyring to the lock. A moment later, the door swung upon.
Sapphire Angel, buzzing with excitement and worry, had to remind herself that Eric only knew her as Beth. She hurried into the cell and approached him.
"We're here to get you out of here," she said. "How are you?"
Eric looked up at her, blinking slowly, his mouth halfway open.
"I... I... I'm okay," he said, before the words started spilling out of him. "I think. I can't believe you’re here. I feel like I've been here forever. I didn't think anybody would ever come. I thought I'd die here. They said they had you, then I heard what sounded like a woman being beaten, down the hall... I didn't know what to think."
Sapphire Angel grimaced, feeling a tinge embarrassed Eric had heard Gregor abusing her.
Before Sapphire Angel could speak, Jennings jumped in. "You were probably just imagining things. Your mind can play tricks on you when you've been locked up for a while."
"Everything is going to be okay," Sapphire Angel said, glancing at Jennings in appreciation. "This is Officer Jennings, of the Wynton Police Department. She's going to find a phone to call for help, while I tie up some loose ends here."
Eric stared ahead, his eyes vacant. He might be fine physically, but she could only imagine the mental torment he had endured, locked in this small cell for almost a week, not knowing his fate. But then his headed jerked up, and he looked at Sapphire Angel with intensity.
"They're traitors," he said, bitterness in his voice. "Have you stopped them? If you haven't, you've got to do it. They hired me to work on one of their projects, and I saw something I shouldn't have. That's why they took me. To see if I told anybody else."
Sapphire Angel nodded, having already learned of Devlin's plans. Eric continued.
"They're selling out our country, all for money," he said. "I went to tell someone who works for Senator Chappelle, and that's when they grabbed me. A man in black."
A cloud of darkness passed over Eric's face as he mentioned Mantis.
"I know," Sapphire Angel said. "That man is no longer a threat. I took care of him."
Eric looked up, and she saw something in his eyes. Hope. He even broke into a slight gap-toothed grin.
"You'll be able to tell your entire story later," she continued. "But I need to round up some more people before the authorities get here."
"Make sure it's federal authorities, since some of the local cops are crooked," he said, before glancing at Jennings. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Jennings said. "You're not wrong."
"Oh, shit," Eric said. "I almost forgot. There's one more prisoner in here, in the cell at the very end. I only saw her once. I think she's a sale rep for ArangoSoft. She dated a programmer here and found out what was going on. They grabbed her just like they grabbed me."
Jennings turned to Sapphire Angel and gave a nod.
"I've got her," the police officer said. "Go do your thing. I'll hang onto this rock for you. If I don't see you again, I still have the number you gave me, so I know how to reach you."
Sapphire Angel nodded back at her. “Thanks for everything."
She turned and sprinted from the cell.
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
.......I take it Gregor’s NOT dead, then---just incapacitated---based on the mention of Jennings “binding” him. That was absolutely insane how Jennings managed to get to Sapphire’s aid like that; Chappelle really should’ve probed her for dishonesty, haha! And at the very least, Sapphire has a small amount of her power back, though I’d imagine that could change later. She must’ve suffered so much at the hands of both Valik and Gregor.....thank goodness she got both of them out of the way. I’m seriously wondering how Calvin’s going to take the news, though. They had something roughly resembling a good relationship earlier, but I don’t know......maybe he’ll accept that Roy wasn’t exactly a good person and proceed to go on the run or something like that. I literally can’t get over that. Having the ability to put myself in other peoples’ shoes---even fictional people---can be a curse as much as a blessing. Her torture at the hands of both Valik and Gregor......the dynamic between Roy and Calvin......what Roy’s final thoughts would’ve likely been before he died.....absolutely NONE of this is real!!! Why am I so distressed anyway?! The writing, that’s why. When you can make people feel things without even having any pictures or video to enhance what’s going on (like TV shows, movies, and video games), you know you’re doing something right. It’s been quite a while since John’s death and I’m still not over that. Fizzure Industries, man......I mean, like, Connor’s around now, but.....no one will ever replace him in my eyes.
Guess we’ve finally found Eric Stump after so long.....and it looks like the ArangoSoft employee isn’t too far away from being liberated, either. But.....did both Sapphire Angel and Officer Jennings just bolt away from the cell and leave Eric exactly where he was at the start? Or did only Sapphire Angel “sprint away”? ‘Cause Jennings made it sound like she was going to go and grab the ArangoSoft employee while Sapphire went and took care of the rest of the bad guys. And Eric just.....sits on his cot? And blinks and breathes every now and then?
🎵The Stump on the cot goes sit, sit, sit.....sit, sit, sit.....sit, sit, sit! The Stump on the cot goes sit, sit, sit.....all through WarTech! 🎵
Mantis and Gregor = Restrained. Valik = Dead (WHYYYYYYYYY?! I mean, he deserved it, but still). Devlin, Hains, Turner, Chappelle, Nassar, and Azari = Alive. Let’s go show ‘em what for while Jennings does her thing! Maybe some of the other cops who worked with her can also have a piece of the fun......that is, if they aren’t crooked, too. Still two more chapters to go; there’s still time for Connor, Stanley, Jack, Ross, Clark, and Cooper to get in on the action!
......Maybe Lanigan’s behind the whole thing. Maybe his bar was secretly going under, so he allied himself with WarTech in a plot to rough up Sapphire Angel. And then they all failed and now he’s like, “You’re all dead.”