Eddie in Captivity

Joe had just stepped out when he encountered Eddie, who felt sidelined in the recent pursuits of Mardon, as if Elon had taken his place as Joe's partner. This had left Eddie feeling disgruntled.

Without waiting for Eddie to voice his dissatisfaction, Joe quickly briefed him. "Eddie, let's go. We've got a lead on Mardon."

"Joe, isn't your Eastern kid coming along?" Eddie's tone was laced with jealousy.

Joe, sensing the jealousy, replied irritably, "Eddie, don't act like a child. Elon has his uses."

Given the unbelievable powers at play, Joe preferred to keep this knowledge restricted. The more people knew, the higher the risk of public panic, so unless absolutely necessary, Joe was loath to disclose the existence of superpowered individuals in Central City.

Embarrassed, Eddie followed Joe into the car.

...

They arrived at a wooded area south of the city, about ten miles from the nearest residential zone. There, a wooden cabin stood, once a hunter's rest stop. The surrounding woods had been overrun by wild boars until the government sanctioned a mass cull. However, the hunters had been a little too enthusiastic, nearly driving the boars to extinction, prompting a government ban on hunting two years prior.

Joe navigated the police cruiser through the forest, along a leaf-covered path that concealed the uneven terrain.

"Why here?" Eddie asked, gripping the handle above him as the car bounced along.

"Yes," Joe confirmed. "My informant said Mardon's hiding out here, in one of these hunter's cabins."

The two men stepped out of the car, pistols drawn and ready for action.

"Eddie, if you see Mardon, don't give him a chance. Shoot on sight."

"Why?" Eddie questioned, puzzled by the break in protocol.

Joe explained with grave seriousness, "Trust me, OK? Mardon's a dangerous criminal. My last partner died at his hands, and I don't want you to be the next. Don't give him any chance, OK?"

Eddie nodded, his grip on the gun tightening as he felt a bead of sweat form on his palm. He took a deep breath to steady his heartbeat, and together with Joe, they cautiously advanced, using the trees as cover.

Approaching the cabin, they spotted a figure in a black coat seated on a large wooden stump, surrounded by smaller stumps, littered with leaves, drink bottles, and fast-food containers. Freshly turned soil and metal rods protruded from the ground—lightning rods installed by Mardon as a countermeasure against Elon's tactics.

Joe and Eddie took aim at the figure.

"Mardon?" Joe called out, not wanting to shoot without confirmation.

The figure didn't respond, so Joe signaled Eddie to provide cover as he circled around, keeping his distance.

Just a few steps into his maneuver, a puff of white smoke erupted from the figure. Joe, recalling the day Mardon had used a dense fog to attack, didn't hesitate. He fired three shots at the figure and called out to Eddie, "Eddie, fall back and shoot!"

Only Joe's gun fired. The smoke dissipated almost immediately, and the figure slumped to the ground, revealing itself to be Jack, aged and pale.

"Congratulations, officer. You've killed a junkie," came Mardon's voice from behind.

Joe whirled around to see Mardon holding a gun to Eddie's temple, Eddie's face slick with sweat, hands raised in surrender.

Joe quickly aimed his gun at Mardon, "Mardon, what do you want? Drop the gun."

Mardon taunted, "Officer, shouldn't I be asking you that? Ready to lose another partner?"

"OK, OK, Mardon, don't shoot, please," Joe pleaded, memories of his former partner's death haunting him.

Eddie, heart racing, tried to gauge Mardon's position from the corner of his eye, the cold touch of the gun barrel against his scalp unnerving him.

"How did you get here?" Eddie asked, stiff with fear.

Joe and Eddie had been thorough in their approach, inspecting every possible hiding spot. It was inconceivable that they missed a living person, especially a criminal like Mardon.

Joe's submission pleased Mardon, who reveled in the power of making others kneel before him. "Want to witness the power of a god? Are you ready to submit and worship me?" Mardon gloated.

Eddie didn't understand Mardon's cryptic words, but Joe did. Afraid for Eddie's life, he cried out, "NO, Mardon, let him go, come at me, NO, don't do this!"

Mardon's sinister smile widened. "If you don't want him to die, officer, stay right where you are."

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