B30
Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
By James
Chapter 30: Teammates
Earth B
Mandrake's House
April put the weight back onto the floor, having lifted it at least twenty-one times.
Sitting beside her on the old gray bench, Duffy sat her weight back down as well. She had lifted it twenty-one times too.
April kept waiting for the girl to break. Duffy continued surprising her. "You pump pretty well," she managed to say.
"Thanks." Duffy flashed a sparkling grin. "I think I'll take a job as a fitness trainer. Seems for the best to do that right now. I can always go into mechanics later."
April squirmed. "You're thinking ahead."
She turned away. "My power doesn't function the way Rick thought. That isn't the case just yet, it seems. I can't open portals whenever I want." She studied a window, staring outside. "I'm going to be around for at least twenty years. This isn't a visit. This is my home." Her stare drifted down to the wooden floor. "A whole lot could happen while I'm stranded here. I could get married. I could have kids." She shuddered a little, clearly unhinged.
April sensed that Duffy wanted deep discussion, but April wasn't certain that they could connect. Perhaps it was best to just exercise. Before she could reach for a weight again, her cell phone rang. She answered it.
"April Gordon?" a woman said.
"Yeah," she answered, cautiously.
"We need to meet. Immediately. I'm waiting for you at the Franklin park."
"Who is this?" she asked with a scowl.
"My name's Clare Madden. You've heard of my dad. And if you haven't, the Walkers have."
Clare looked to be a little older than her. Clearly in her twenties, April could tell. She had brown hair reaching down her back. Her little pale hands were interlocked on the bench.
"Thank you for coming," the woman said, a short breeze playing with her long black coat. "I heard about your shot in the Bandar village. I know that you just saved Jedda too."
April frowned, tensing a bit. Her work was supposed to be confidential. How did Clare know who the sniper was? She glanced at Duffy, who seemed confused. Even though she hadn't been a member long, Duffy knew that missions were secret affairs.
"Little in your field stays classified," Clare revealed. "With a bit of money and a few contacts, people can learn what they need to know — like who the top sniper in the whole town is." She nodded at April. "Dark-web users seem to think it's you."
April glared, angry now. "What do you want?"
Clare slid a folder right across the bench.
April eyed a photo of a hospital. "Emerald Grace," she muttered slowly. One of the top five in all the world.
Clare heaved a sigh. "My father plans to launch an attack on it."
"What?" April locked her gaze on the woman.
"EG is working on a brand new drug, one that they're refusing to release to Dad. He thinks that he's sick, when he's actually not."
April had heard of his mental state. It made Kent Madden quite dangerous. First he'd invaded a hidden land, seeking an elixir he didn't need. Now he was after a hospital. He'd surely have a squad with machines again.
"I've told the police. They won't respond, not in a meaningful way at least," Clare relayed. "If he strikes the building..."
April turned aside. "Patients would suffer...or even worse."
Duffy was listening carefully.
Clare glanced down, shaking her head. "I've dealt with this madness for too many years. I can't allow my father to succeed in this plan — or the next one that will surely come." She looked up again, twitching a bit. "It's simple, Miss Gordon." She took a deep breath. "I want you to eliminate my father today."
April eased into a crouch on the roof. She opened her case, and assembled her weapon.
Sprawling on her stomach, and calming herself, she looked at a building right across from her.
The target was seated in an office chair, eyes turned away from the long glass pane — facing away from April's spot.
The office door opened. Clare walked in. The two were completely alone in there.
April hadn't spoken to Clare for hours. Both of them were sticking to the plan, however: Clare would arrive to produce a distraction. Then she'd take cover, and April would fire.
Clare eyed the glass, glancing at April, blinking three times, the way they'd discussed. She would hit the deck mere seconds from now.
April breathed, taking aim.
Clare leapt down.
April squeezed. She watched as her target fell forward and shook, grasping at their chest before hitting the floor.
Clare began rising. She seemed quite pleased.
Half a minute later, April pulled her phone and gave the woman a call.
Clare answered her with a hand on her hip.
"We did it, Clare," April remarked. "We stopped his plan."
Clare shook her head. "There was no plan."
April fell quiet.
Clare left the room. "He was never plotting to attack that place. I needed him dead so I'd inherit his wealth." She chuckled a bit. "Daddy was stupid, but he knew this: there's a big market for those weapons he bought — the illegal weapons that he purchased from Ming. I'm going to buy a bunch that I can sell at a profit. I'll triple my worth in about one year."
"But Ming is out of business."
"You think that matters? There are other dealers across Mongo, people Queen Jedda can't manage to find."
April paused. "She'll find them now."
Clare scoffed a little. "What does that mean?"
April put the phone down and concentrated. Duffy, she said, within her mind. We've heard enough. She picked the phone up, hearing Clare wail.
"What in the world?" the stunned woman said. April couldn't see what was happening.
I've taken her down, Duffy replied, using telepathy to reach April. As April surmised, she had also used it to create an illusion, making Clare believe that Duffy was her dad, and that he was shot by the empty gun. After they had spoken with Clare in the park — where Duffy had sensed that she was setting them up — April found Madden and gave him a nap.
Now we know what she was planning to do, April declared. We need to take her in and interrogate her. She knows where those dealers are hiding in space.
"My thanks to you both," Queen Jedda said, speaking to them via video.
Krotan nodded. "Our teams scored some very important busts."
April turned to Duffy. "She made this happen."
Duffy shook her head. "You did too."
Jedda watched them both with a curious face. "So what have you done to Clare Madden now?"
"We managed to get her confession recorded. I hope she'll go away for attempted murder."
Jedda made a nod. "Call if we can help. We'll talk to you soon."
The screen went black.
April felt a new admiration for Duffy. "You really did do a nice job out there."
"Why are you giving me all of the credit?"
"It was your power."
"It was your plan." She flashed a little grin. "We do some good things when we work together." Duffy looked away. "Not to go getting all sister on you," she said jokingly.
April was curious about all that. If someone did a medical test on them, would they be linked biologically? Different dimensions. Same DNA?
She shrugged her shoulders. It didn't matter. Family wasn't always determined by blood. They didn't have a sisterly bond just yet, but she was kind of pleased to have Duffy around. "I'm going to hit the sack." She rose from the couch. "See you in the morning."
"See you," she said.
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Chapters
Volume I
As the New Rebellion rages across Mongo and Earth, Jedda and Krotan unite against Ming — and find themselves pursued by one of his ships.
2: Mongo Is Burning — Part 1
Desperate to end the battles, Krotan and Jedda, who have fallen in love, agree to a politically driven wedding — which Rick opposes.
3: Mongo Is Burning — Part 2
Despite growing opposition to the wedding, Jedda and Krotan remain firm in their decision.
Rick observes Amy venting, then ends up on a wild ride.
Amy visits her ailing foster mother, only to realize that she's fallen into a trap.
Rick and Amy take May to the Netherworld, where an invasion has begun.
Against the wishes of Rick and others, Amy makes a bargain with Damian Dark.
While the Defenders scramble to catch up with Amy, another battle occurs in the Netherworld.
Volume II
Flash sets out to free Ming, who has vital information regarding an impending attack.
Lothar and April move to counter an assassination attempt.
The team hurries to prevent LJ and Rick from carrying out an assault on another planet.
The Royal Five converge to counter a group of outlaws who've abducted Castra's husband.
Despite Castra's objections, Hadea grows tempted to remain on Mongo and take over as queen.
Kshin and LJ suspect that Veena is planning to bring her father back.
The Gordons arrive at Dale's grave.
Castra and her relatives vie for the position of queen on Mongo.
Volume III
Dale reveals the identity of her first child.
Veena uses her powers to help others.
Flash gets a startling surprise while chasing Ming.
20: The Princess Makes Her Move
In Dimension K, Ming weds his ambitious stepdaughter Hadea.
A visitor arrives from Dimension Y, intent on taking Dale back with her.
Duffy attempts to bond with Dale, who learns of a portal to another dimension.
After arriving on Earth K, the duo find themselves captured by Queen Hadea, who tasks Dale with a mission.
Now a mother of four, Dale attempts to help ease tensions between April and Duffy.
Rick learns that Duffy might have another special ability.
Volume IV
After using her seer to avert a grim future, the Hadea of Earth K believes herself unbeatable.
April receives a visit from her aunt, Commander Abigail Gordon, who seeks her help on a mission.
Amy confronts her mother Cathleen, who is attempting to conquer Earth P.
On Earth C, Agent Kristina Graf seeks members for a new defense team.
April and Duffy are approached by Kent Madden's daughter Clare, who claims to need their help.
Sheila reflects on her choices.
32: Parental Guidance Required
Duffy develops an unexpected bond.
The Defenders are challenged inside Monitor.
In response to the recent assault, Abby and Dale take action against Madden.
Duffy begins acclimating to life on Earth B.
Krotan receives comfort from Jedda in the midst of a new matter.
Amy seeks to help an old friend.
Hadea and Jedda bond on Earth H in the series finale.
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