The Watchwomen

Chapter 7 (Act I): Visiting The Prison

We last read Chapter 6, in which all eight Paragons—Hailey a.k.a. The Viper, Dr. Duncan Drevis, The Crawler, Carla Rosenblood a.k.a. Nightclaw, James Markovsky a.k.a. Powerhouse, Cassie a.k.a. Coldsnap, Monica Drevis a.k.a. Voltara, and Herman—hold a Zoom call to discuss the Diamond Legion's most recent attack on Mercury Heights, which Monica successfully stopped.....to a degree. After an intense conversation, with a few tense moments here and there, the group ultimately comes to a decision: Hailey a.k.a. The Viper, Carla Rosenblood a.k.a. Nightclaw, Cassie a.k.a. Coldsnap, and Monica Drevis a.k.a. Voltara will begin conducting an investigation into the attack, while Dr. Duncan Drevis, The Crawler, James Markovsky a.k.a. Powerhouse, and Herman all go on a vacation to Honolulu for a few days while the girls take care of things.

However, the mood significantly changes after The Crawler reveals that his boss, Dr. Duncan Drevis, has had a sexual assault allegation filed against him, which immediately leads to heightened tensions within the meeting all over again. Duncan quickly takes action, resolving to put out a statement that denies the allegations and begin preparing for the possibility that the case goes to court. The Paragons aren't quick to turn on Duncan, though Hailey a.k.a. The Viper wonders aloud about who sent it in.

The sexual assault allegation, which is indeed false, was sent by none other than Allie Bannister, the leader of the Diamond Legion and the caretaker of her former master Bryan Birchwood, who is the identity of the gigantic flesh monster that Voltara fought outside the therapy center. While healing him, she promises him that she has thoroughly taken care of the Paragons, and that they will be the least of the Legion's concerns going forward.

This time, the girls' investigation into the Legion begins, as Hailey a.k.a. The Viper visits the Mercury Heights Correctional Facility to begin gathering information.....

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-Mercury Heights Correctional Facility, Mercury Heights, New York, United States-

In the front yard of the Mercury Heights Correctional Facility, two police officers, both wielding shovels, were standing a short distance outside the main gates and attempting to dig for something.

"Phew.....this is tiring," the first one complained. "Are you sure this thing is somewhere around here?"

The second one seemed sure of himself. "Of course it is. We've just got to keep digging."

The duo were conversing about a malfunctioning water pipe that was beneath the foundation of the correctional facility; it had become clogged, and as a result, no one inside the building—neither the staff members nor the inmates—were capable of receiving any water at the moment.

None of the faucets worked, and none of the toilets would flush. For the time being, all of the water which the correctional facility received came exclusively from various brands of bottled water that it had ordered the moment the malfunction was discovered.

Just then, the first officer hit something hard with his shovel, and his face lit up thusly.

"Hey! I think I found it!" he cheered as he reeled his arms back slightly and lurched forward with the shovel harder, intent on getting past it.

Unfortunately, he only succeeded in shattering the water main, causing a geyser of water to erupt that thoroughly doused the pair and kept spurting after the fact.

".....Well, that's a bummer," the soaked second officer muttered casually, as though nothing significant had happened. "Thank goodness I'm not wearing any of my own clothes today."