We last read Chapter 66, in which Beth sneaks into the study at the Pegasus Club. Atop a table, she finds a diorama depicting the lodge and surrounding area, including the nuclear plant. Based on various clues in the diorama, and a text from Stanley informing her that Bud Tanner once worked on laser weaponry for the U.S. Navy, Beth deduces Wheldon’s plan. Before she can act on the information, Senator Mark Bishop stumbles into the study, drunk, and accosts Beth. As he pins her down on the sofa, Conner arrives, attacking the senator and leaving him unconscious. Beth tells Conner about her suspicions — that Wheldon is holding Bud Tanner captive, and has forced him to develop a laser weapon to cause a radioactive leak at the power plant. Before they can act on the information, Xavier Wheldon arrives in the study with two armed guards.
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
Thanks for reading!
Conner and Beth exchanged glances as one guard closed the door, and the other aimed his weapon at them. Wheldon sighed as he looked down at Bishop, unconscious on the floor.
"I really wish you hadn't come in here," Wheldon said. "Now this is going to get ugly."
"Going to get ugly?" Beth said in disbelief. "As if causing a nuclear disaster isn't ugly enough?"
Wheldon waved a dismissive hand. "The president deserves to die."
Beth and Conner stared at Wheldon, dumbfounded and unable to speak. It was true. This was all because of a grudge. Bishop scowled.
"He's not the saint he's made out to be," Wheldon said. "Andrews boasts about his military service, but he left my brother behind to die. He deserves this."
"You're crazy," Beth said, shaking her head. "All this for a vendetta?"
"Oh, fuck," Wheldon muttered. "Fine, let's play this game, Harper. Let me tell you what's going on. You've been a real pain in my ass, so it will give me great pleasure to show you how much you dropped the ball. How much you missed. That way, in your last hours on this earth, you can cope with knowing you didn't do a damn thing to stop me."
Beth tried to keep a brave face, but the pangs of failure tugged at her. Wheldon had gotten the best of her at every turn, and, despite all her efforts, she had only learned of his plan in the last thirty minutes. And now people were going to die because she had come up short.
"No, it's not just for a vendetta," Wheldon replied. "If it were just that, I wouldn't have as many people in my little club. I'm also doing this for the good of the country. When my laser breaches the containment building, it will cause a radiation leak. Not only will the president get what he deserves, but it will remind the whole world of the dangers of nuclear power. Three Mile Island set nuclear power back decades. This will be the nail in the coffin of a dying industry. Or an industry that would be dying, if Andrews weren't trying to prop it up."
"Sensors at the plant will detect the leak," Conner said. "Your plan won't work."
Wheldon chuckled. "I control the plant, so the sensors won't detect anything. That was one reason for the purchase, in addition to having a reason to lure the president here."
"So you'll sabotage your own plant, just to prove a point about nuclear power?" Beth asked in disbelief.
"I'll sabotage my own plant to kill the president, and to prove a point. And it gives me quite the alibi, doesn't it? Once the leak causes even more damage, nobody will be able to figure out the cause. A laser? Who is going to think of that? And my people at the plant will make doubly sure nobody ever learns what happened. And nobody would think for a moment I'd harm my own plant."
"Why go to all the trouble with the laser?" Beth asked. "It's your plant now. There have to be easier ways."
Wheldon sighed. "Yes, I probably could have come up with an easier way. But because of you, I couldn't be sure the sale would be approved. If it got shot down, we were still going forward with our plan. That would spare the president, and it wouldn't give me a good alibi. But it would be worth it, to cause irreparable damage to the nuclear industry."
"You're going to kill innocent people," Beth said, glaring at him.
Wheldon shrugged. "It shouldn't be too bad, actually. It won't be enough to cause widespread destruction, but it will probably be enough to kill or permanently harm everybody up at the plant."
"Including yourself," Beth snapped. "You'll be at the ceremony."
"Oh, you didn't hear?" Wheldon asked. "I'm ill, and won't be able to attend the ceremony. One of my vice presidents, who is gung-ho on nuclear power, will be filling in for me. I'll be watching from the comfort of my tower, where I can monitor some well-placed cameras at the plant, to see how the laser is progressing. It will take some time to breach the containment building, but once we do, those cameras will disappear or malfunction."
"You're going to kill your vice president, and everybody else, all because of your greed and bitterness?"
Wheldon's eyes flared. "Greed? Is that what you call it? Greed? This is about setting things right! My family built StarPrime, and I won't see it damaged by a dangerous energy policy. The damage done today is only a drop in the bucket compared to the numbers killed when a major nuclear disaster happens on American soil. I'm helping the country avoid that, by killing a dying industry. In the process I take out a man who was trying to revive the industry, and who deserves to die!"
"Damage StarPrime?" Conner asked, his voice incredulous. "A nuclear disaster will take care of that all on its own."
Wheldon smirked as he regarded Conner. "If this really were an accident, you might be right. But if you know an accident is coming, you can hedge your financial bets to soften the blow. I have us well positioned for this, in the long term. Let's just say we've made appropriate investments. Think of it like insider trading."
Beth studied Wheldon. His face appeared calm, and so did his words. He seemed to have rationalized everything, even though it didn't make sense. He couldn't think he'd escape suspicion, especially if he missed the ceremony. Perhaps she shouldn't expect someone like him, even with all his intelligence and business expertise, to make sense. Perhaps blind hatred and vengeance could cloud the thinking of even the smartest men.
"There's a right way and a wrong way to go about this," Beth said. "Follow proper channels. Share your opinions."
"I've tried. You should know that, if you've done your homework. Nobody listened. I've had to watch that bastard, Andrews, push his nuclear agenda and try to save this industry. He's the one person with the clout to do it. But not for long. I'm not going to let him hurt my family twice."
"People know we're here," Beth said. She needed to at least plant some doubt in his mind, to buy them some time.
"Yes, they do," Wheldon murmured, stepping forward. He studied Beth. "That complicates things, but I have a way for you to... disappear... in a believable manner. It means, however, I have to keep you around for a while longer. Which isn't such a bad thing, because it gives you more time to comprehend your total failure."
Beth glanced at Conner. If Wheldon wasn't going to kill them now, they might have a chance.
"Oh, don't get your hopes up," Wheldon said, noting her glance. "Nobody will rescue you. This isn't a movie. And you're certainly not going to rescue yourself. I've already searched your luggage, Harper. I guess I really was wrong about you."
Conner gave Beth an odd look, with a raised eyebrow, as Wheldon spun to his guards.
"You two," Wheldon said to the guards. "Take them up to their rooms, while I go make sure we're on schedule to start the laser. Actually, put them in one room so you can keep an eye on them. It could be awhile until I'm ready for them, but their time on this earth is coming to an end."
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
Thanks for reading!
I appreciate any comments or email.
I knew there was bad bIood. I just knew it.
So now we know WheIdon's pIan regarding the tower and its Iasers. I.....ugh......on one hand, yes, this is going to kiII a LOT of peopIe, and WheIdon's made it cIear that he couIdn't care Iess about the pIant, the workers, or even his vice president. But he IS right about this being mere peanuts compared to a fuII-on nuke being dropped anywhere, and there's no doubt that disasters Iike those HAVE taken out countIess Iives. And we don't know much about the president from the man himseIf just yet, but these are some severe cIaims WheIdon's making. He apparentIy Ieft WheIdon's brother behind to die, and is now pushing for an industry that couId and IikeIy wiII get more peopIe kiIIed in the future.
So WheIdon was against nucIear power this whoIe time; he just pretended to support it to buy the pIant and enact his pIan. Interesting.
When Beth tries to counter WheIdon by saying he shouId share his opinions, he argues by saying that no one Iistened. And that reminded me of a very unfortunate truth nowadays; no matter how accurate or correct your stance is, if you're in the minority, or if the higher-ups have the power to shut you out entireIy, then NOBODY is going to Iisten to you. WheIdon's made it cIear that he's tried to go about this dipIomaticaIIy before (though I'm not sure if he's Iying or not), so I guess this whoIe thing feeIs Iike a Iast resort-type thing to him. So many peopIe in the surrounding area are going to perish.....
But not if we stop him!
Well so far this hasn't gone any way at all the way I thought it would. I could never be a writer. But, I have my theory for what happens next. I'll just have to see if I can it right. Enjoying the story!