LbN: Violence in this chapter! You've been warned.
All our lives we've been waiting
For someone to call our leader.
All your lies I'm not believing.
Heaven shine a light down on me.
Early the next morning, The Emerald Fury and Rainbow mist were sitting in a large waiting room. There were few people in the world Quinn trusted—and the number was growing smaller now that she knew there was betrayal in the League. However, there was one person she'd always trust.
"She'll see you now," the receptionist called.
They walked into the spacious office and saluted their president.
"Fury, Mist," the woman said. "Have a seat. I received your message last night. I can't say I'm surprised."
"Ma'am?" Quinn asked.
The President stood and walked over to the long window. "No offense to your lady friends, but mortals are incredibly stupid. They think we're inferior beings—meant to do their bidding and save their asses every now and again. Imagine what they'd do if they knew the CEO of the company that makes their lives so easy had magical blood. Or what they'd do if they knew their President—the woman they named this fair island after—was of alien descent. They'd panic. Because in their hearts, they know that they're no match for us. Not all heroes are in the League…not all are as rich, or powerful as the two of you. Imagine what we could do if we decided to…exploit our talents," she said, turning back to them. "And that, I imagine, is partially what's in The Fist's head." She picked up the picture and examined it with a scowl. "If ever a hero was to go wrong, I'd pick him for it. He's self-obsessed, carries a grudge, and can't handle not having what he wants," she said, with a pointed look at Quinn.
"Rachel."
The President nodded. "Now I don't know who's working with them, but I will tell you who will work with you."
A pop sounded to their right, and they saw The Imitator and Purple Redemption standing there.
"God, I wish I could do that," Quinn muttered.
"Girl, you can fly!" Mercedes said, flipping her purple-streaked hair out of her face.
"Doesn't have the same pizzaz as teleportation," Sam said.
"Anyway," The President said. "If you'd like to save your wives sometime this millennium…."
"Right," Brittany said. "We need to get moving. We only have until 5 o'clock."
"I've been up all night," The Imitator said. "Doing recon at some of the smaller criminal bars. Finn's not working alone."
"Morning."
"Finn…"
"You're still a vegan, right? I brought breakfast." He placed a carton of food in front of her, and one in front of Santana.
"Finn, please. We just want to go home."
"Eat," he said, pulling a lever near the wall. Chains came out of it, giving their restraints some slack.
"Thank you," Santana said.
"Basic mortal needs, if I remember correctly."
"Still…"
"You needn't worry," Finn told her. "So long as you cooperate, and Brittany does what I say, then you'll be returned safely to her."
"What about me?" Rachel said softly.
"Remember what I said? About us being bigger than this place? Rachel, you have a destiny. And it doesn't involve Fury. You belong with me. I will take away what the heroes love most until, one by one, they are forced to reveal themselves. When we have the power we should, you'll be by my side."
"WHAT?" came a screech from the doorway. Jacob ran inside. "That's not what you said, Finn. You said I could have her if I helped you with this."
"I lied." Finn turned to walk away.
Jacob grabbed a large knife from the table, and plunged it into the larger man's back.
Finn howled and swung around. Purple blood dripped everywhere as he swung at Jacob.
The smaller man knew what he was doing, though. He ran to his table of weapons and threw two throwing stars.
Finn batted one away, but the other struck his eye. As he doubled over in pain, Jacob rushed over and stabbed him repeatedly in the spine. He went limp on the floor a few moments later.
"Now we'll see who's calling the shots." He picked up the shock wand again and walked toward Rachel, an evil grin on his face.
"NO!" Santana barked. "Me."
He peered over at her. "Oh…chivalry isn't dead after all. I'll get back to you," he told Rachel.
"Jacob Ben Israel," Mercedes said, handing the tablet back to Brittany and Quinn. "Smaller scale criminals who are trying to make it to the big stuff use him for their tech needs."
"This guy's a technological genius," Brittany said, scrolling through the information too fast for Quinn to pick up on it. "Seriously, I think he could almost give me a run for my money." She stared down at the information they'd picked up.
"Yeah, and he's got another three hideouts," Sam said sourly.
"What are they?" Brittany asked, air going pink. "I'll try to figure it out."
"We have to hurry," Quinn said. "It's already 12 o'clock."
"Sea," Sam said, projecting the image into the air. "Our lovely mountain range."
"How cliché," Mercedes muttered.
"And lastly, the forest."
"Finn's not going somewhere he won't like," Quinn said. "He'd pick a place he could hide out in for a while. That rules out the ocean fortress."
"It can't be the mountains," Brittany said. "If they're using even half of this equipment, it won't work up at that altitude."
"Forest it is."
Santana allowed herself the luxury of a whimper as Jacob put bandages on her cuts.
"See?" he said. "I'm not all bad. I could've let you bleed." He walked over to Rachel and sneered down at her stomach. "Pregnant."
Rachel didn't trust herself to say anything.
"Santana?" Jacob called. "Oh, Santana?"
"Yes?" she croaked.
"Water for you," he said, fairly skipping around the room. He poured it into her mouth and then said, "You're a surgeon, yes?"
"A neurosurgeon," she said, not liking where this was going.
"Take it out of her."
"What?"
"No!" Rachel yelled.
"You will have my children, and my children only!" Jacob screeched. He held a knife to Santana's throat as he unlocked her restraints. He led her over to Rachel and placed a scalpel in her hands. "Do ! Or both of you die."
"Okay, Jacob," Santana said softly, trying to think of a way to stall. "But she needs morphine. Or something…. I'm not cutting her open like—"
"YOU DO WHAT I'VE SAID!"
There was a loud banging noise, followed by a few crashes.
Santana took the moment Jacob was distracted to headbutt the shit out of him. She managed to make him drop the knife, and kicked him in the groin.
A second later, the entire room went red-tinted. That could only mean one thing….
"Brittany!"
The blonde hero came through the door while Quinn, who had completely lost control by this point, just knocked down a wall to get through. The room changed colors a few times as Brittany took in the sight of her wife. Everything went back to normal when she picked Santana up and carried her out without a word.
Quinn grabbed the keys and unlocked Rachel. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Fine…fine." Rachel watched Sam and Mercedes cuff Jacob.
"We're going."