Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (Book 3)
Savage Dawn (Book 4)
Savage Vengeance (Book 5 - this story)
VIOLENCE WARNING: The two stories in the Savage Gang saga, and especially the second story, involve a gang practicing extreme violence toward everyone — women, the elderly, the protagonist, etc. The stories contain mature sexual content and violence as well. I am placing this warning on all chapters, including those without such violence, so you can choose whether to continue.
CHAPTER 5
Two men sat on padded metal chairs on an apartment balcony in the city of Khartoum, Sudan, and looked down the White Nile river, which flowed past the building. Farmland dominated the view across the river, but the bucolic view was deceptive, as a handful of skyscrapers and other tall structures rose behind the building.
The man on the left, Majid Azari, was in his thirties or early forties, with bronzed skin and a close-cropped afro, but he was otherwise nondescript. His only notable feature was the look of perpetual amusement on his face. That look faded slightly, merging with a scowl, as looked down at an iPad on his lap.
The other man was anything but nondescript. He wore a long, black robe, like a malevolent wizard in a fantasy novel. The hood of the robe cast dark shadows across his sharp features, but couldn’t hide his eyes. They were silver, and cast an ominous presence about the balcony, as if he could create evil with just a glance.
“So your formula — whatever the substance was — did not work,” Azari said in Arabic, turning the iPad screen toward the other man to show him a news story.
“Sapphire Angel defeated Maximus Savage,” the robed man replied, not turning his head to peer at the device.
The mysterious figure spoke in a haunting, melodious voice. It was gentle, but forceful and confident at the same time.
“Correct,” Azari replied. “At least Savage got away. But that’s not the point. The substance you gave to his doctor didn’t work. That's what matters. If it had worked, he would have crushed her.”
Azari thought he spotted a thin smile come to the man’s face, amid the shadows cast by his hood.
“It is early,” the silver-eyed man said. “It will take some time for Savage’s body to assimilate my formula. Several doses, spaced over time. You should not be so disappointed.”
As the man turned his gaze toward him, Azari looked away, not wanting to fall under the stare of the silver eyes. He still felt the gaze, as if the eyes were cutting through him.
“Sorry,” Azari muttered. “I was hoping Savage was your champion. The one you say will defeat Sapphire Angel. You are aware how important it is for us to get her in our clutches and make an example of her."
The robed man gave a slow nod.
“Savage still might be the one, but that is not what I sense,” he said, turning away from Azari. “And that is not why I gave the formula to his doctor. Savage is a test case for me, to make sure the formula is ready when I find my champion.”
Azari sighed again, but still didn’t face the other man.
“With all due respect, can’t we move this along faster?” he asked. “The American superheroine already has hampered my organization’s plans too much.”
Azari owned many business enterprises, all of which had made him a wealthy man. But he spoke of a different organization. Azari was the leader and financial benefactor of RIFT, a young terrorist network creating havoc around the globe. Western intelligence communities had different names for the organization, such as the ILA, or Islamic Liberation Army. But Azari preferred their latest acronynm, RIFT, which was short for “Righteous Islamic Fury.” The phrase was a very loose translation from what was roughly pronounced “Malgadab Alsahina al’Islam.”
Azari had lived a dual life, running his extensive business empire and living a life of luxury, while also funding and directing RIFT. Recently, though, U.S. Intelligence services had discovered his nefarious arrangement, forcing him to leave his opulent life behind. He had escaped from Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea into Sudan, and now hid in plain sight, in this comfortable five-bedroom apartment.
“Yes, the American heroine has continued on her trajectory, hasn’t she?” the man with silver eyes asked in his soft but commanding voice. “She is reaching unheard-of heights of stardom. The reverence from people everywhere is remarkable.”
“Stardom?” Azari asked with a frown and with an edge in his voice. “I do not care how famous she has become, or how much people adore her. I care what we are doing about it. You need to find out if Savage is the one. If he’s not, you need to move faster, and find your champion, so we can handle her ourselves. Once and for all.”
Azari immediately regretted his tone, but the robed man didn’t look toward him. Instead, the man spoke in his hypnotic voice.
“In due time. These things can’t be rushed. It is not just a matter of me selecting someone. I must find the person who is meant to be the champion. But worry not. I know we are close to finding him. Or her. Somehow, this Savage Gang business is the key.”
“The key? What does that mean? You just said that you sensed Savage was not the one?”
“I sense the gang will play a role. Somehow.”
“I’m not so sure I trust what you sense. Remember Mantis? And the woman you mentioned in the past — the one who hates America, and hates Sapphire Angel? Earlier, you thought one of those two might be your champion.”
“One of them could still be the one, although that is not my current belief,” the robed man said. “I understand your impatience. You must be wait a bit longer. We are close. Which is why I soon will leave for Pennsylvania.”
Azari perked up, but said nothing.
“If the Savage Gang is the key,” the robed man continued, “then the trail to our champion is there. And I need to assess the full effect of the substance I gave to Savage’s doctor. I will spend this evening in meditation, to be sure of my path. Then I will go. I will take up the trail of our champion, and I will see with my own eyes how our gift, which I gave to Maximus Savage’s doctor, is working out.”
“How do you expect to monitor Savage?" Azari asked. " You need to find him first.”
“Stealth is not a talent possessed by Mr. Savage’s doctor — Oberkfell. It was not difficult, after my last meeting with him, to learn where Maximus Savage has taken residence.”
Azari shook his head and snorted. The robed man might be intimidating, but he was one man. He would be a fool to get too close to the Savage Gang.
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” Azari said. “What if Savage is waiting? How can you be sure he doesn’t know about us? What if he’s learned you’re using him as a pawn, just to test out your formula?”
“He does not know. The doctor will not tell him. Fear is a powerful weapon.”
Azari frowned for a moment before nodding. He was not as confident about the doctor's discretion, but felt optimistic for the first time in weeks. Optimistic about dealing with Sapphire Angel. At least there was movement. Finally.
“I can have one of my jets take you,” he said. “Western spies haven’t tracked down all my assets yet.”
“I don’t need your airplane.”
Azari sighed. “Fine. But keep me informed. I want to see progress. I’ve been patient because I know we both want the same thing. To see Sapphire Angel, in chains. Destroyed and humiliated in front of the entire world. That will break the spirit of America, and keep the woman from interfering in my plans, ever again.”
Azari thought he noticed a nod, followed by a smile from under the hood.
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (Book 3)
Savage Dawn (Book 4)
Savage Vengeance (Book 5 - this story)
WOOOOOO! Majid Azari and the silver-eyed man back in the light once more. I still think the silver-eyed man is a super. Probably telekinesis or something; something that could thoroughly counter Sapphire's efficient hand-to-hand combat style.
Once again, I am loving the Middle Eastern rep for these antagonists (or at least Azari). The "ILA" was a great acronym for his forces, but "RIFT" is neat, too, if not for the "T" at the end (Righteous Islamic Fury......Tacos, perhaps? Sounds like something Taco Bell would sell. I'd bet they'd fly off the shelves like hot cakes).
And it turns out I was slightly mistaken about the silver-eyed man's methods. I thought he wanted Savage to be his champion, but he alluded to him being merely a test run instead, which is interesting. There's literally so many candidates over the course of this series that I can think of who would be excellent champions for the silver-eyed man to fight Sapphire with. Savage is obviously capable, but he's already been hopped up with other drugs and I'm not sure how capable he'll be. We could do Mantis, since he's also of relatively the same roots as Azari, has competent fighting skills, and was essentially the brawn to Roy Valik's brains. All he would need is the silver-eyed man's formula, and then it'd be quite the boost. Who was the woman who hated America and Sapphire Angel again? The one that was referred to by Azari mid-chapter? It can't be Lockheed, can it? She serves the FBI. (gasp) What about Raven Tristan? Or Megan Lawlor? Or even Betsy Devor? So many options!
If the silver-eyed man took on Sapphire alongside his champion (instead of sending the champion to do all the work), I'd say that'd be a setup with a higher chance of succeeding.....but we all know the bad guys lose in the end. Unless we're talking about Avengers: Infinity War. Dang movie left me scarred for weeks, and the follow-up wasn't until a year later.
The way the silver-eyed man talks reminds me of an evil Zenyatta from Overwatch and Overwatch 2, if you've ever heard of the character; the mention of "meditation" also furthered the analogy. I honestly don't know who's the bigger threat at the moment, and I actually kind of like that. Keeps me on the edge of my seat, I guess. If Savage and the silver-eyed man were to ever meet each other, I don't think it'd go over well, knowing what Savage is like. And the fact that he could potentially find out about the silver-eyed man tampering with him, as Azari alluded to. Maybe it could be a "strength vs. mind" duel or something to that effect. Or the silver-eyed man could just die and Azari could push forward with using the ILA/RIFT to swarm the globe.
Or Sapphire Angel could just defeat everyone. I'm banking on that one.
Great to see them again! Let's see where this goes.