Author's Note: Important Content Warning
Dear readers,
The following chapter deals with extremely dark and mature subject matter,
including explicit and graphic depictions of [rape/sexual assault]. This content
is intended for adult audiences only and may be disturbing, triggering, or
offensive to some.
If you find such material harmful or distressing, I strongly encourage you to
skip this chapter entirely.
****
Gulag Camp — December 1986
Moonlight washed pale and cold over the compound.
High electric fences rose in sharp silhouettes against the sky. Searchlights swept the grounds in overlapping arcs, leaving almost no blind spots. Soviet soldiers patrolled the perimeter in shifts, rifles slung over their shoulders. The kind of security that made escape a fantasy.
Jack Kadere stood at the window of a top-floor room, watching the open yard below.
They'd moved here a month ago, the day after Element Woman left. The villa's wall still had a hole blasted through it, and the date the Legends would be captured was approaching anyway. Might as well relocate.
The Gulag had a reputation—check in, never check out. For Jack and the others, it was no different from the villa. Whatever they wanted to eat, whatever books they wanted to read, someone arranged it. The guards didn't ask questions.
Valentina's Firestorm laboratory occupied the lower floors. She spent nearly every waking hour down there, running experiments, refining formulas.
Lilah had thrown herself into learning interrogation techniques. With a steady supply of prisoners to practice on, her progress had been rapid. Jack had watched a few sessions out of boredom. Her cold, commanding presence grew sharper each time—something between a queen and a predator settling into her skin.
Everyone was busy. Everyone had something to work toward.
Jack was getting bored.
He'd burned through the fundamentals of physics and electronic engineering in the first few weeks. After that, the enthusiasm for study faded. There was only so much textbook knowledge could offer someone like him.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
Two soldiers escorted Laurie through the door.
"Leave us." Jack waved a hand without turning around. The soldiers withdrew, pulling the door shut behind them.
Laurie had come to the Gulag with them by default. She hadn't left with Emily Sung, and she had nowhere else to go. Jack had asked Valentina to arrange a private cell for her, then promptly stopped thinking about her. If Lilah hadn't been indisposed today and mentioned Laurie in passing, he would have forgotten she existed.
The woman standing before him wore a clean prison uniform. Her face was washed, her hair pulled back. But the confidence she'd carried when they first met—that sharp, heroic edge—was gone. She looked hollowed out. Numb.
A perfectly good superhero, worn down to nothing.
Jack smiled and walked toward her.
Laurie stepped back instinctively, fear and resistance plain on her face.
"Don't move."
She froze. "W-What are you going to do?"
"What do you think?"
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the bed. Screams followed—then pleading, then sobbing.
---
Click. Click. Click.
Heels echoed down the corridor. Valentina walked briskly toward Jack's room, her face flushed with excitement.
She heard the screaming before she reached the door and slowed her pace.
Lilah? No—wrong voice.
Another female prisoner? That didn't make sense either. He hadn't touched Valentina herself; why would he bother with the wrecks in the cells below?
Then she remembered.
The American.
Valentina hesitated at the door, then pushed it open. Some things couldn't wait.
"Something urgent?" Jack asked, frowning.
Valentina nodded. "The Legends arrived, just like you said. We've captured Martin Stein, Heat Wave, and the Atom."
"Finally." Jack's expression shifted to something warmer. "Keep them comfortable for now. I'll be there soon."
"Don't take too long."
Valentina glanced at Laurie—tear-streaked face, body curled on the sheets. The woman had known this would happen. She'd had every chance to leave with Emily Song. Why stay?
Americans. Something fundamentally wrong with them.
"Can't rush these things," Jack said.
"Vandal Savage is here as well." Valentina turned and walked out.
The screaming continued.
---
An hour passed.
Jack dressed at a leisurely pace, then looked back at Laurie. She lay motionless, hair tangled across the pillow, eyes fixed on nothing.
"I'm leaving soon," he said. "Think about whether you want to come with me."
She didn't answer. But her gaze flickered—just slightly.
The door closed behind him.
Jack flagged down a passing guard and had him lead the way to the interrogation wing.
---
Interrogation Room
Jack pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The Atom and Heat Wave hung from restraints, their bodies twitching from recent shocks. Vandal Savage and Valentina stood near Martin Stein, who sat rigid in a metal chair, refusing to speak.
"Lively in here." Jack smiled and waved. "Hope I'm not late."
"Jack Kadere?"
"Why are you here?"
"Are you here to rescue us?"
The three Legends stared at him with sudden, desperate hope. They'd had their differences, sure—but they knew each other. Sara had a history with him. She must have sent him. Someone that powerful could break them out without breaking a sweat.
Then they noticed that neither Vandal Savage nor Valentina looked surprised. No alarms sounded. No guards burst in.
"Perfect timing." Savage smiled at Jack. "I'll leave the stubborn professor to you."
"Sure."
The hope in the room died.
"Jack Kadere, you—" The Atom's voice rose in fury.
Jack pointed a finger.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK.
Electricity surged through the Atom's body—stronger than the previous jolts. He convulsed and went silent.
"Those two are useless," Jack said casually. "Let them go."
"Let them go?" Savage's brow furrowed. "Without leverage, the old man won't cooperate."
"He will." Jack turned to Martin Stein with a brilliant smile. "Won't you?"
Stein studied him, uncertain. Maybe this was a play—some hidden rescue attempt. Maybe not. Either way, if it got Ray and Mick out of here...
"Fine," Stein said. "Release them, and I'll cooperate."
"See?" Jack clapped his hands together. "Simple."
Savage looked to Valentina. She gave a small nod.
"Release them."
Soldiers unhooked the Atom and Heat Wave, dragged them upright, and marched them out of the compound. The gates of the Gulag closed behind them.