The final short story that connects to the other short stories.
Part 1 – The Gunslinger
Part 2 – The Templar
Part 3 – Blockade
Part 4 – Dead Woman
Part 5 – The Professor
Part 6 – Concord
Part 7 – Ms. Tomorrow
Part 8 – "Undefined"
NOW
I
What laid on the hospital bed was in a word – victory.
Closing his eyes, the old villain savored the word. He had lost far too many battles and that took away the better tomorrow that he so desperately wanted bit by bit. He opened his eyes, his victory was still there in a deep sleep. She was intubated, there were needles in her arms, there were wires that connected to pads that covered certain parts of her body, and the machines she was hooked to said one thing – she was well. In fact, she was sleeping thanks to the medication that was given to her. The seven would come and they'll find her and ...
"M'Lord?"
The old villain turned his attention towards his aide – Marty. The young man was a jackal who took great delight in punishing others in order to prove a point, and that was how people were sheep and individuals like himself and his partner Daniel were not. Marty looked like your average eighteen-year-old that did daredevil moves at a skate park, but he wore black and only black without any speck of color. Marty waited until his master acknowledged him, "Everything is ready."
The old villain nodded satisfied, then said, "and how many are coming?"
"Daniel counts four: The Gunslinger, The Dead Woman, Ms. Tomorrow, and The Professor."
There was a pause as the old villain took this in. It was not what he was expecting but then again no one saw a very clear future. His silence lingered and for the moment the only sound heard was the respirator that helped his victory to breathe. Marty took the opportunity to ask, "M'Lord?"
He knew what Marty was going to ask and didn't mind it. The boy was simply trying to understand the mind of his master, but, it wouldn't hurt to remind him of their relationship. Without turning to face him, he asked, "You doubt my planning?"
The old villain could hear Marty swallow nervously and hear the fear in his voice as he said, "No! No, master! I ... I know that you are playing your game with the heroes and villains but it doesn't make sense to me. Why hide your victory here? Why give her over to the heroes?"
"Because," the old villain said casually, "the greatest place to hide something is right in front of you."
"I understand that M'Lord but don't you think they'll be weary of her? Not trust her?"
The old villain finally turned to look at Marty saying to him, "That depends. If you and Daniel have failed me." Marty swallowed hard, eyes wide open in quiet terror because he knew that if he and Daniel messed up the master's plans that they would be done.
II
The elder boy, Daniel, came into the room and spoke immediately, "My Lord, they're here." Like Marty, Daniel wore only black, but, he had the look of someone you would see from a college someone who was more focused on studying than playing around.
The old villain nodded as he reached for his bronze staff and held it. For as long as he remembered the staff struck fear into the hearts of millions. It had changed over time but it never lost its power. He held onto it and said, "Then we shall depart." The two men stood behind their master and in a flash they were gone.
And Nemesis' Victory continued to sleep.
To be continued