It was quiet tonight at the Backwater Club. Not many people ever come by anymore since they moved into the area. They were Big Sal and his goons. No one challenged them in years. Big Sal got his name by making the biggest sales of illegal goods in the star system. His men were hitting on the waitresses while Sal kept a few girls beside him at all times. Not much could surprise Big Sal anymore. He had been around the system a few times. But he was not ready to see an old face again.
The quiet was shattered a small warning of a rattle. The door exploded off the latches flying in pieces across the room. Sapphire took only a few steps into the night club. “Hi Sal. Did you miss me?” Sapphire said as the street lights highlighted her figure.
“Fire baby?” Big Sal’s mouth muttered as his shoulder tightened.
His goons though did not waste a moment. Immediately they began to fire at Sapphire. Big Sal did not even have enough time to shout. The first wave of fire burst across the room. Every bullet became encased in blue flame and hung still in the air. Sapphire’s eyes began to glow the same tone even though she did not move her body. The fire that was spreading across the club pushed the bullets to the floor and leaped back to the guns they came from. Explosions and screams resound as the guns blew up in the men’s hands. The waitresses began hiding behind the tables and bar. They looked up only to see the men struggling in the blue fire as it held them to the ceiling.
Sapphire casually walked to Big Sal. “I see you still can’t find a smart gun to replace your old one,” Sapphire commented. She glared at the women tucked under Sal’s arms. “And your taste hasn’t changed either,” Sapphire snarled causing the women to run off.
Big Sal tried to wiggle out when his girls ran for it but did not move when he looked back at Sapphire. A bead of sweat came down his forehead. “What can I say Fire Baby you’re a hard act to follow,” Big Sal began. He looked up and down Sapphire’s body. “Though you are hardly the Baby that I remember anymore,” Big Sal followed up.
Sapphire sat across from Big Sal making sure to show her breast as she bent over. His gaze followed her curves. ‘His still the same,’ Sapphire thought to herself as she picked up the glass on the table. She crossed her legs and leaned forward. “I’ve changed a lot since our time together Sal,” Sapphire opened.
“Rumors have it that you have gone legit. Even got yourself a new toy,” Big Sal said making sure not to connect with Sapphire’s eyes.
“Rumors can be nasty. We both know that when in this deep you never get out,” Sapphire countered. She motioned around the room. “And I’m sure you have seen for self that toys just aren’t what people make them out to be anymore,” Sapphire began to say as her tone became deeper. She moved the glass in front of her breast to keep Sal’s attention.
“That’s true. You can never trust anything till you take for a test drive,” Big Sal said as he watched Sapphire’s glass slide down to her waist.
Sal did not notice that Sapphire was walking closer to him. “I understand completely,” Sapphire said as she placed the glass on the table.
Sal made his mistake. As he watched Sapphire put her glass down on the table she locked eye contact with him. He hurried for the gun under his coat pocket but it was too late. The fire around Sapphire’s hand was only to show her control over his body now. Sapphire lifted Sal to his feet. “Now that wasn’t nice. I thought after all this time you would know better. But I guess men your age have a tendency to forget things,” Sapphire began. She put her fingers under his chin. “Now let’s see if you can remember who has been buying rumors and toys lately,” Sapphire questioned.
Big Sal groaned in Sapphire’s telekinetic grip. His head leaned backwards as he tried to open his eyes. “Like you said baby things are getting a little foggy,” Big Sal moaned as he dodged Sapphire’s question. Sapphire did not look annoyed at his response. Instead her eyes moved down his body. Her free hand came up to touch his shirt. Her head tilted as if she was looking for something. “What are you doing?” Big Sal questioned as he began remembering what Sapphire could do when she was younger.
“You got the surgery after all,” Sapphire said. She laid her hand flat on his chest. Sal’s eyes grew wide in panic. He began to understand the depth of his problems. “So tell me Sal, how does the mechanical heart feel?” Sapphire asked.
A few hours went by and the Legion cruiser was just finishing up its nightly patrol through the system.
“Hey Sapphire! Where have you been?” Chameleon Boy shouted spotting Sapphire walking down the hallway. “This place is so boring without you.”
“Sorry. I had to take care of some trash,” Sapphire chuckled as Chameleon Boy hurried up to met her.
“Dinner is almost done. Have you gotten to eat anything yet?” Chameleon Boy asked.
“Not yet. I just got back. Is the mess hall still open?” Sapphire asked as the pair now stood still in the hallway.
“It will be for a little while longer. But that wouldn’t stop you anyway, would it?” Chameleon Boy teased. Sapphire could not help but laugh at his comment. “Seriously though maybe you can get Kel to eat,” Chameleon Boy said changing moods.
“Huh?” Sapphire’s confusion only let that much out of her mouth.
“Several of us tried earlier in the day but he has been grumpier than normal. Even Superman couldn’t get him to talk about whatever is bothering him,” Chameleon Boy started. “Though I do like this version of his grumpy mood better,” Chameleon Boy finished.
“What are you talking about Cham?” Sapphire asked as her eyebrow went up.
“Well today he just ignores everyone, like he is thinking about something. Not that he seems to do that a lot. But it is a lot better than when he used to yell at everyone for talking,” Chameleon Boy explained as his hands kept waving in the air.
Sapphire grinned as she finally understood what Chameleon Boy was talking about so eagerly. He was one of the legion members that always came to her to help deal with Kel-El. “Ok. I’ll see if I can figure what is wrong with Mr. Grumpy in a little bit. I need to freshen up and eat a bit or I am going to be the grumpiest one of all,” Sapphire playfully answered.
Chameleon Boy raised his hands in front of him. “Ohhhh. Now that would be really scary,” Chameleon Boy teased as he started down the hallway.
Sapphire swatted at the air pretending to smack him as the two went their own ways.
Sapphire came to her bedroom door as she began rubbing her neck to relax from the day’s events. She walked into the darkened room thinking everything would be fine now that she was back with the Legion. Naturally she began undressing by removing the data cords around her chest and slowing moved onto the jacket top.
“Sapphire,” Kel-El said to declare his presence in the room.
“Ah!” Sapphire shouted as she turned around. Unfortunately her powers release naturally when she is surprised. Her telekinetic fire washed across the room knocking everything on its level away. Including pushing the chair Kel-El was sitting in onto the floor. Sapphire quickly waved her hand in the direction of the light switch causing it to turn the lights on. The red boots were still hanging over the chair’s edge. “Kel! What were you doing sitting in my bedroom in the dark?! That is just creepy! ” Sapphire shouted as she hurried to his side. She offered him her hand but he floated straight passed her to stand on his own. After she shook her hand confused by his refusal Sapphire stood up as well. The white fire appeared around her hand this time solely around her hand. The chair become wrapped in the same glow as it was lifted into the air and put back in place.
“You’re late,” Kel-El finally said.
“What do you mean? I still have twenty minutes before we were supposed to meet back up,” Sapphire said as walked around her bed.
“You don’t have a clock in here. How do you know that?” Kel-El questioned as he crossed his arms.
Sapphire continued removing her jacket. She put her hand on her belt data cord. “My data cords keep track of time. Now stop dodging my question. What were you doing sitting in my room like some weirdo waiting for me?” Sapphire repeated.
“We need to talk about what you did today,” Kel-El answered keeping his gaze on Sapphire’s movements.
Sapphire picked up the data cord from her vest. “I told you I was going to deal with some trash,” Sapphire repeated as they have had this conversation many times since they began working together.
“Did you kill any of them?” Kel-El asked to keep his questions going.
Sapphire locked gazes with him. “How often do you wonder that?” was the question bitter snarled out from Sapphire’s lips. Kel-El never blinked as she stared at him. Sapphire turned her eyes away first. Her lip corner was still raised in disgust. After she rubbed her head she turned back to Kel-El. “The reason you have to ask that question is the reason I go and deal with these things alone,” Sapphire answered.
Kel-El stepped closer to Sapphire. “You should not have to do that at all. And especially not alone,” Kel-El said as his arms unfolded.
“I’m the one with the reputation of a murder. We should use it while we can to help finish this war. And it is better that the Legion have as little connection with me and those activities as possible,” Sapphire said with a heavy sigh. She looked at the cord she was still holding in one hand.
“They could have killed you,” Kel-El protested.
Sapphire snickered. “They would need a lot of work before they could do that,” Sapphire said recalling the evening.
“Sapphire I still think you should not be alone when you do this,” Kel-El repeated as he came up right beside Sapphire.
Sapphire turned to meet Kel-El’s emerald eyes. They did not carry the confidence they usually bare. Sapphire sighed. “Kel this is the best arrangement; not only for the Legion but for our goals too. If Imperiex makes a move while I’m away you can handle it. And if I get into trouble I can go wild on them till you get there to back me up. This is the best arrangement for safely doing this type of work that I have ever had,” Sapphire explained. Kel-El’s eyes still wavered. Sapphire knew he was worried about a lot of things. He never had to deal with these aspects of war before. Not to mention this is the first time he is doing it all with a partner.
Sapphire turned her body to face Kel-El’s. She delicately placed her free on his cheek and moved her thumb. “We are fighting this war the best that we can. I’m gathering the intelligence on Imperiex’s movements and supply shipments. You and the Legion are handling the front lines. We are spread a little thin but it is working. We are going to get the future back,” Sapphire reassured Kel-El.
Kel-El’s glance moved from Sapphire’s eyes. But it was not to show his disapproval of her statement instead it was looking at the ring on her right hand. She never took that ring off that he saw. She even has it on during the battles they have fought together. It reminds them both of the promise they made to end this war. But even more than that it is the ring he gave Sapphire when he asked her to be his partner in getting back the future. “Yes. I want to save my future,” Kel-El agreed as his gaze returned to Sapphire.
Sapphire smiled appears with Kel-El’s confidence. “Good,” Sapphire cheerfully pronounced. She held up the data cord. With both hands she twisted the cord till it opened revealing several little cords and many chips. Sapphire took one chip out before she closed the cord and tossed it on the bed. “This chip holds a copy of the data I was able to collect while I was out this time. I thought I would make a copy for you to look over when you had a chance. This way I don’t have to bore you by rambling on about other things,” Sapphire explained as she waved her hand in the air. Kel-El began to reach for the chip. “But how about we put this away for now,” Sapphire giggled. She grabbed Kel-El’s belt and pulled herself closer.
“What are you doing?!” Kel-El almost shouted in shock as his hands came up and his face became a soft shade of pink.
Sapphire tucked the chip into one of the compartments on the inside of Kel-El’s belt. After she moved his belt back into its normal position she placed both her hands on his stomach. “I hear you haven’t eaten all day. Let’s go have dinner together right now!” Sapphire declared as she grabbed Kel-El’s arm in one hand and his hand with the other. She hurried out of the room before he could recover otherwise she knew she would never be able to move him.
Kel-El was surprised how fast his situation changed. He still felt uneasy about the way Sapphire did pretty much everything in her life but he was getting used to it. A few others that watched the pair might think he was comfortable with her. Kel-El finally began to relax half way down the hall. “How can you go from beating criminals for information to talking about war and now be so happy?” Kel-El asked
Sapphire froze in the hallway. It was a question no one asked her before. She shrugged her shoulders and turned to back to Kel-El. “I guess that is just the type of woman I am.”
