We were surrounded, cuffed, then escorted by TUHF’s armed forces to Stocklord’s villa. As we came out of the portal and walked across the patio, into the living room, I saw no trace of Sal or Vigil. I just hoped they weren’t dead, and instead in hiding.

Stocklord, however, was captured. Oh well, guess you can’t win ‘em all.

“I’d like to know what you want, breaking into Mount Avernus like this.” I asked the middle aged woman taking her seat at Stocklord’s throne. She wore a skin tight blue bodysuit with no sleeves, instead choosing to wear long gloves that went up to her elbows. She was winged with similar colored feathered wings and had a long bird-like tail. Her eyes were a dark shade of green, like emerald, they glinted and glistened, enchanting me, I felt a little uncomfortable in her presence.

This woman was a figurehead on most magazine covers, a model. The world knew her as Bluejay, and nobody knew her real name. It was suspected to be erased from history. She was an elite Ultrahuman Force hero, and she called a lot of shots within the organization, and led most major missions. I was hardly surprised to see her here, although we’d only exchanged glances once. I hoped never again.

“Oh, you bunch look… somewhat less competent than anticipated.” she taunted, using big words to make herself sound smart. Well, she was smart, deceptively so, but that’s beside my jest.

“Good to see you too, Bluejay.” I sighed, the bearded guard who’d captured me was breathing down my neck when he looked at the heroine. What a brickhead. Although, I’m sure to some, she could be pictured as attractive.

“You look paler than before, Marionette, you seem more youthful too. But still as weak as ever. One step forward, two steps back.” she grinned, obviously knowing me quite well somehow. “Tsk tsk tsk…”

“Let’s get on with it. What do you want?” Twee groaned. I’m sure she shared similar sentiments to me about the situation.

“Oh, we’re just here to sort some stuff out. I don’t think you need to know the details.” Bluejay said, looking over at her compatriot, Gammal, who went everywhere with her. He was around Sal’s age, a tall, spry man. Nearly seven feet tall even. He wore a dark red and green lovecraftian themed outfit, with tentacles and eye decorations adorning him, his hair wispy and somewhat off putting. His face was about as pale as mine, and I knew him quite well. And I knew he wasn’t as cruel as the winged angel he stood beside.

We used to be friends when I was still working at TUHF, he gave me a wink when I stared at him for a second. I’m pretty sure he was the one who noticed me over the intercom, and I’m pretty sure he still considered us distant friends… He was a bit clingy, in that regard, but he at least had culture and class.

“But those details could be bartered upon, perhaps we could come to some sort of arrangement?” I requested, I knew she’d decline, but it was worth a shot..

“But sweetie, we really don’t find that beneficial. This is a hostile takeover. We have no intention of letting you live, forget making a deal. We’ve already won regardless.” she smiled, speaking to me like one would talk to a child.

“If I could speak now, m’lady.” requested Gammal in a posh Swedish accent. Probably at one point I would have considered him kindly, but he was also very, very, very openly nerdy about the occult and also really simped for Bluejay way harder than needed. Although, I didn’t see him after he got lovestruck, I only heard about it. “I’d prefer if Quincy stayed alive. After all, we aren’t here for him, and the less blood, the better.”

Well, I suppose it’s nice of him to still consider me a friend. Still, we were pretty screwed.

“He has chosen his fate, leaving us for villains.” Bluejay replied, looking down at me like she owned the place.

“Actually, I was fired for no re-”

“Insubordination. I remember. And I replaced you. I hope you regret that now. You will not be spared.” she frowned, Gammal looking noticeably depressed.

Sal and Blackout stared Jeb down, the electricity on his cuffs had switched off when the power went out, and he could easily escape now. But he didn’t. While it may have been due to Sal and Blackout being still vigilantly staring at him, ready to kick his ass, he also seemed like he was waiting for his invading buddies.

“We can let you go, Jeb.” Sal said, softly, with tact.

“I know you’ll burn my fuckin’ arm again!” he said, taking a quick glance again at the wound on his upper arm. It hadn’t calmed down, but he sat there, grimacing the pain away.

Blackout sighed. “We’re stuck,” he observed. “This dude here, a bunch of dudes at the entrance. They’ll break in here any minute.”

“You’re my prisoners, now.” Jeb butted in.

“I bet you want your partner though.” Blackout suggested casually.

“Yeah, I happen to need him if I’m making it out of here.”

“What do you mean? You have an escort of like six hundred supers. Unless…” Sal rubbed his chin.

“Nevermind that. Where is he, wanker?” Jeb replied.

“If you want him, you need to make a call for us.” said Vigil.

“I could kill you right now and ‘ave my friends find him. You dunno what I can do to you’s, even with these on.” he shook the handcuffs in their faces overzealously.

“But then you wouldn’t be able to get away by yourselves. You could drop TUHF forever, and leave.” Blackout continued, seeing the truth here.

“Hmm… I suppose…” he pondered, he then loftily glared at us. “What do I have to do?”

“Just call your leader, tell them that they can bring those prisoners to the cells here, since you overheard someone talking about a counter-attack.” Blackout explained. “You know her number?” he asked, pulling out his phone from his dark green hoodie.

“No, of course I don’t. Bluejay doesn’t give us her number. You know how horny some people are, idiot?” he said with visceral rage.

“Well, it’s your lucky day.” Sal groaned. He took the phone from Blackout’s hands and frowned as he tapped in the numbers. Disbelief colored Vigil’s face as he slowly noticed the truth. “Don’t tell me you know it…”

“It was one night, but it wasn’t because I was horny. I kept the number in my memory.” Sal confessed, but truthfully he knew it had been more than a single night with Bluejay. But it definitely wasn’t sex. It was something much different.

“Do you buy that he kept a 12 digit phone number in memory for like two years?” Jeb asked

Blackout, who shrugged.

“I also remember what a damn asshole every single person who did me wrong was like. All their names. I just have a good memory.” Sal replied, typing the last number. He handed the phone over to Jeb. “Don’t fuck it up.”

“Hello, boss. Heard some people planning to counter attack and free the prisoners. There’s some cells here we can keep them in while we blow the place up…” Vigil and Sal both were shocked to hear this, but Vigil nearly blew his lid and leaped at Jeb. Sal had to hold him back as Jeb flipped the bird at them, mouthing them to shut up.

“Yeah, I got them to work. Alright, see you in a bit then. Oh, the call-” he paused, suspenseful. “They stole my walkie-talkie. I grabbed some random corpse’s phone. Yeah, alright. I’ll get ‘em ready.” he finished, hanging up.

“Glad she wasn’t suspicious about us randomly having the phone number.” Sal said in relief.

“Well, I’m done. Now, your end of the deal.”

“Oh, you gotta play your part if you wanna leave. They’ll catch you fast if you’re alone, but if you follow my plan, we’ll all escape alive. We can go our separate ways when we’re free.” Blackout said.

“And my friend?” Jeb added.

“He’s right in a cell down there, let’s hurry.” Blackout said.

They were about to find out the definition of that word very soon.