B37
Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
By James
Chapter 37: Part of the Solution
Earth B
The clock alarm rang. 6:50 am. Rick silenced it and moved the covers aside.
Amy stretched an arm as she got to her feet. She even looked cute at this time of the day, but Rick told himself to ignore that now.
He pulled his shirt off and yanked his shorts down too, tossing both of them into a hamper nearby.
Amy tugged the straps of her silk nightgown, stepping from the garment as it pooled on the floor.
He left the little room and sauntered straight to the tub. The shower started running just before he could reach it, Amy's 'kinesis moving both of the knobs.
Once they were in, Amy ran the soap all along his back.
Rick turned around and started washing her thighs. He knelt at her feet and caressed her calves.
She scrubbed shampoo down the sides of his head.
After they had both finished toweling themselves, they each donned a robe and headed into the kitchen.
Rick began mixing the egg whites up.
Amy pulled the cheese and started sprinkling it in. She used a bit of power on the pancake stack, floating a plate into the microwave.
Once breakfast was eaten, and dishes were washed, they each brushed their teeth, side by side, then spit the paste out and got dressed for the day.
A warm breeze awaited as they stepped outside, both of them heading for their vehicles. Amy would depart for the kindergarten, aiding a teacher as she cared for kids. Rick would be driving to the motor shop, helping to patch vans up all shift.
They had a certain ritual before they left. They shared a quick kiss, and then held hands, palms bound together as they walked to their cars, neighbors looking on while they clung to each other.
9:30 pm
He held her by the back as they left a loud club, a smooth tune blaring on the crowded street. He'd had a lot of fun. Amy had too. They rarely spent nights on the town like this.
Just as they were heading to his vehicle, Amy paused a moment, frozen in place.
"Jane?" she said, calling someone. The girl looked to be about Amy's age. She stood across the street, donned in a skirt, red hair resting on her leather coat. She was leaning toward an older man in a car, looking seductive as she smiled at him.
Then she noticed Amy, and jerked backward. "Ames?" she said, appearing ashamed.
The man looked too.
Amy started glaring. "What's going on?"
Rick was pretty certain that she already knew. He had an idea, but hoped he was wrong. It looked like Amy's friend was prostituting herself.
The man turned to Jane. "You getting in, babe?"
Jane held still, looking quite tense.
The man drove away. "You just blew it, hun."
Then another man rushed up behind Jane, a guy in a jacket with a black leather cap. "You cost us that money! What's wrong with you?" He grabbed her by the arm and threw her into a car. He got behind the wheel and started driving away.
Amy shook a little, and then leaned forth. It looked like she was planning to halt the car.
"Wait," Rick uttered. "Let's see where it leads."
The car was moving off.
She eyed it with a glare.
"Maybe we can help somebody else as well." Rick motioned her toward his vehicle.
Amy got in. They followed the car. He pressed a hidden button and a little square launched. The target now sported a tracking device.
"So how do you know her?" Rick asked Amy.
She seemed to be stewing as she studied the road. "I met her at my old foster agency. You have to sleep there when you're in-between homes."
Rick recalled Amy telling him about that. He'd had such a nicer upbringing than her. He wished ardently that hers could have been different.
"My foster mother May was about to choose Jane...but then a social worker asked May to take me. She made this big speech about my difficult past." Amy shook her head. "I could have convinced May to just take Jane. But I held quiet, so she'd pick me."
"Because you were hoping for a nicer life. No one can fault you for wanting that."
"But look at how Jane's ended up since then. This wouldn't be the case if I'd been generous."
"You don't know that."
Half an hour later, the pimp's car pulled into a parking lot. He took Jane into what looked like a clinic.
Rick parked too, then followed with Amy.
A square room awaited, with stark white tiles. The woman at the desk wore a nurse's suit. She asked quietly if she could offer them help.
Amy made a squint. "I'm looking for a friend who was brought in here. She's got red hair. Around my age."
The woman twitched a tad. "Sorry, miss...you're in the wrong place. We don't have any patients who look like that."
Rick glanced about. Where was Jane hidden? He wished they had a telepath like Duffy here.
"This is a small psychiatric home," the woman continued. "We rarely get any teen patients in."
Amy glanced over toward a closed white door. It looked to have a pretty heavy lock attached. "Where does that lead?" she asked the woman.
"Listen..." The nurse rose up from her chair. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to go."
Amy seemed to focus. The lock flew off.
"Hey!" The woman looked perplexed as she shook.
Rick followed Amy as she rushed through the door. It led downstairs into a wide dark room.
He flinched as the sights of the place sank in. It looked like a chamber of prison cells. Teen girls sat behind chain-link doors. Every young woman had a face full of gloom. All of them were stripped to their panties and bras, and most appeared frail as they leaned on their cots.
"Amy!" Jane called out from a corner. It seemed she was living here along with the rest. She hadn't been placed into her cell just yet.
The pimp in the leather looked confused and tense. Then he started rushing toward Amy and Rick.
Rick threw a fast high kick at his head, knocking the thug right onto his back.
Amy studied him, then looked around the room. She was clearly smitten by everything too.
Rick pulled his phone. "I'm calling Aunt Abby."
Forty Minutes Later
"A clever operation," Abigail said, standing by one of several vans in the lot, each of which had carried her troops to the scene. Local police had arrived as well. "They used the basement as their 'business' hut. The patients above never posed much threat. Who would believe them if they ever talked?"
Rick was absolutely appalled by this. He saw the pimp in leather being thrown in a car. "So he paid the staffers to look the other way..." The cuffed nurse was sitting in a back seat too.
"It sure seems so," Abby replied. "Because of you two, we've shut this down. We'll get them to talk, and follow our leads."
Amy took a breath, eyeing the scene.
All of the captives had been set free.
"Jane!" Amy called out to her friend. She ran over to her, and gave her a hug.
Jane hugged back. "Thank you, Ames."
Rick held Amy as they cuddled in bed. "You going to be okay?" he whispered to her.
"Mm hmm," she uttered, facing the wall.
He reached toward the light, turning it off. "Goodnight, Amy."
She turned to him. "Goodnight, Rick." She made a warm smile.
They shared a long kiss, and she closed her eyes. Rick snuggled up, then slept as well.
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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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