We last read Chapter 71, in which Beth awakes on the floor of the ravine, with the guard still unconscious next to her. She transforms, becoming Sapphire Angel. After dispatching the guard, she races off for the tower as dawn approaches. She speeds past Conner, yelling for him to go for help. She dispatches additional teams of guards and reaches the tower. Knowing that time is running out, she leaps with superhuman strength, aiming for a spot high up on the stairs winding around the tower. Wheldon is ready for her, and blasts her with a rocket launcher while she is in midair, sending her careening from the sky and into darkness.
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!
Wheldon and Rockford watched as the explosion blew Sapphire Angel from the sky. Her body cartwheeled through the air like a lifeless rag doll, hitting the surface of the pond with a splash and disappearing from view.
"Direct hit!" Wheldon yelled as he thumped Rockford on the back. The two men lay at the edge of the platform, peering out toward the pond. "She's done!"
Rockford nodded as waves rippled out from where Sapphire Angel's body had disappeared. He said nothing, and they watched for several moments as the surface of the water settled.
"You got your revenge, Rockford, by being the first to take down Sapphire Angel!"
Both men jumped to their feet, shook hands, and moved to the opening in the platform. Rockford helped Wheldon onto the ladder before following his boss down.
Once in the room below, Wheldon saw Mark Bishop pacing near the door. The senator looked up as Wheldon reached the bottom of the ladder.
"I just got here. What the hell was that sound?" Bishop asked.
"That sound was me taking care of Sapphire Angel, just like I said I would. I plucked her right from the sky. She's dead at the bottom of the pond."
Bishop cocked his head, surprise written across his face.
"You're sure?" he asked.
Wheldon frowned. Was he being blinded by wishful thinking? She had gone down in one piece, from a blast that should have shredded her. He turned to the guard at the door.
"Get down there and check on her. We can't leave her body behind, anyway. Drag her body out of the pond, and her corpse can join Harper and Bennett."
The guard nodded and darted out the door.
"How are we coming along?" Wheldon asked, looking across the room. He moved around the perimeter of the room, passing the door, and crossing to the other side.
Bud Tanner sat at a computer terminal against the wall. Another man sat next to him, watching everything Tanner did on the computer.
"It should be breached soon," the man next to Tanner said.
Wheldon's eyes twinkled with glee.
"Our time has finally come."
As the roar of the grenade launcher filled the air, Conner Bennett turned his gaze skyward. He had finally reached the tower, ignoring Sapphire Angel's command to turn back, and looked up in time to see her in mid-air, on a collision course with the missile. It exploded against her, sending her careening head over heels backward, like a bird shot from the sky. Her limp body hit the surface of the pond, cascading water into the air. And then she disappeared below the surface.
Conner stood frozen, trying to comprehend what he had seen. Like everyone else, he viewed Sapphire Angel as invincible, but he had just observed a missile blow her out of sky. He glanced up at the tower again. From his angle, he couldn't see the entire platform on top, but could make out the head and shoulders of two men. They seemed to be congratulating one another before they disappeared from view.
Gritting his teeth, Conner jerked his head back to look at the lake. The water was already settling, and the superheroine was nowhere to be seen.
Instinct took over, and he sprinted from the woods and across the open ground toward the pond. On the way, he leaped over four unconscious guards, and came to a stop at the water's edge. He hopped on one leg and then the other, ripping off his shoes, before diving in.
The cold mountain water jolted his system, and he gasped as he went under. He refocused, forcing himself to stay under the surface and scan his surroundings. The water was clear and shallow, and it didn't take him long to spot her. Her body floated about 10 feet away, bobbing a few feet under the surface as if suspended by strings. She hung facedown, with her arms to her side and her legs dangling toward the bottom. The skirt of her costume billowed up around her as if blown by a fan.
He kicked his legs furiously and stroked with his arms until he came up alongside her. Conner pivoted so he floated behind her, and wrapped one arm under her shoulders and around her chest. He kicked with his legs as his lungs screamed at him.
Conner broke through the surface moments later, gasping for air. He stole a quick glance at Sapphire Angel, whose body leaned up against his. Her head drooped down with her chin resting against his arm. He couldn't ascertain if she was breathing.
He kicked his legs furiously again and paddled with his free arm, moving toward the shore. The pond was small, so it didn't take him long. He hoisted the petite woman onto dry ground, pushing until she was laying with her torso on the ground and her legs dangling in the water. He pulled himself up next to her and heaved her completely out of the water.
As he fought to regain his breath, he stole a glance back at the tower to see if anyone had detected him. He noticed no movement. Conner clambered to his feet, feeling the weight of his drenched clothes. He ignored them, scooping the costumed heroine up in his arms and hurrying to the nearby forest. He found cover behind some vegetation and lowered her to the ground.
Conner looked down at her, surveying the situation. The most obvious condition was how wet she was. Her blonde hair was plastered to the side of her face, and eyeliner ran around her eyes. Her entire costume was drenched and clinging to her body. But there wasn't a mark on her. She had just been blasted by an explosion, yet exhibited no outward signs of harm. But he still couldn't determine if she was breathing.
He lowered himself to his knees, tilted her neck back, and moved his mouth to hers, ready to try to resuscitate her. As their lips met, however, she emitted a soft groan. He pulled back in wonderment as she coughed up water. A moment later her eyes flickered and opened.
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.
Power Play — Chapter 72
Wait, so Conner didn't retreat.....it's a dang good thing he didn't, then. Otherwise he probabIy wouIdn't have been abIe to resuscitate her. Can't beIieve WheIdon and Rockford even managed that hit; then again, she was going upwards in a reIativeIy predictabIe Iinear pattern, and since the grenade can onIy move in one direction after it's been fired (it can't swerve/dash around), it was bound to be on a coIIision course with her.
But no matter. He seems to have revived her, thankfuIIy. Raven, where the heck are you? Can't you just shut the Iaser down yourseIf with your god-Iike hacking skiIIs?
Imagine if she hacked the grenade and made it fIy back at WheIdon and Rockford. Case CLOSED. xD