Nemesis

[Frankychan]

This is a short story that I wrote in a day. I hope you all find it alright.

If any reader takes offense at actions or events that take place in this story, please post them in the response page. If any reader thinks that this story is too offensive to post, please report this post to a moderator with your complaint.

I urge any reader that does file a report to consider that this a fictional story and is not meant to offend anyone. My intention as an author is to try and create a "believable" story line with characters that you all can believe. If I have insensitively offended anyone with this story, I apologize.

Once again, this is a fictional story and is not to reflect anything that has happened as of late.

But once again, if I do offend anyone, I am very sorry.

[Frankychan]

Morgan Mines

The rain at Morgan Mines sheeted down in a massive downpour. Rainwater ran down the roads in rivers while the occasional Morgan citizen ran for cover. One Morganite, however, endured the deluge and ran toward a small diner located nearby.

After running for a while, Walter McGray opened the door to Morgan Cafe, a small, dimly-lit diner, soaking wet and shaking with nervousness. Ever since he first heard of the man he was about to meet, Walter felt as if he was about to sell his soul to the devil himself.

As the cafe door closed behind him, his senses were assailed by all the different odors within. Sweat from workers grabbing a meal, meat being cooked in the kitchen, garbage in a bin next to the counter. All these various smells wafted into Walter's nose. Walter looked around for the man.

The cafe was small, three booths with tables lined against the wall, another two at the back, and a long bar with stools lined next to it. Here and there, there were people. About seven total, eating their food. In the furthest booth, all the way in the back, sat a man wearing a black trenchcoat. The man had a glass of water next to him. This was the man he had to meet.

Walter slowly walked in the man's direction, his shoes squeaking noisily on the checkered floor. As he walked, raindrops that clung to him fell to the tiles. he felt that as he passed by each patron, they would follow his movements. When he finally reached the man in the back booth, he stood above him, thinking of what to say.

"Mister Walter McGray," the man said, not looking at him, "President of Morgan PolySoft Enterprises. Salary: 125,000 credits per year. Marital status: divorced. Children: one daughter, one son. Living quarters: Nwabudike Towers, 50th floor...Not bad Mister McGray. Sit down and lets talk."

Walter, stunned that the man knew him so well, took off his rainjacket and sat down across from the man. Walter, intimidated by the other man's presence, kept his head down.

Walter spoke quietly with his head still down, "I've heard that you do certain 'jobs' for money. Its taken me a long time to find out how to contact you. I've heard that they call you Nemesis."

The man, Nemesis, quickly leaned over to look face-to-face with Walter.

"Don't you ever say that name in here," He said, sternly. "Mister McGray, do you have a job that needs to be done or not?"

Walter McGray examined the features of the man called Nemesis. His hair, jet-black, was cut short. His skin was fair, but his face had stubble on it. He looked fit and possessed a medium-sized frame. His trenchcoat, black, complimented his feared reputation as a mercenary.

McGray spoke up. "Morganite probe teams have recently reported that the Believer governor of Terrible Swift Sword is raising anti-Morgan sentiments. He is going to meet with Sister Miriam in one month's time to petition a Believer invasion of Morganite territory."

Nemesis reached for the glass of water, feeling the cold suface biting at his hand.

"So you want me to take care of the governor. Question is, why doesn't Nwabudike contact me himself?" he asked, taking a sip of water.

"The CEO considers your reputation, uh, rather extreme. He doesn't want to have anything to do with you. Also, he isn't the one that wants to hire you, I do."

Walter looked back down at his hands and sighed. The truth comes out now.

"The truth is," Walter began slowly, "my wife left me for that governor. We attended a Morgan/Believer conference on a possible trade treaty. The governor, Jacob Kell, was rather nice. My wife, on the other hand, was deeply infatuated with him. Well, the treaty never went through. Our marriage started to chill after that, and then, one night I came home and she was gone. She left a note saying she was tired of us and decided to become a Believer. A month passed when one day news came back that she was seen around with him. Apparently they got married...no matter. I want you to get rid of them, both. Jacob and my wife. I want him to suffer before he dies."

The man Nemesis smiled, "Contract hit on a Believer governor and your former wife, huh? Believer territory, not that hard to infiltrate. My fee for an assignment like this is 75,000 credits. All in advance."

Walter looked up to face Nemesis. "Easily done."

"Good, I will send you pictures when I'm done." Nemesis reached into one of his trenchcoat pockets and pulled out a credit transfer device. "Transfer the credits now." He placed the device in the table and slid it toward Walter, who grabbed the device.

As Walter McGray prepared the credit transfer, he decided to engage in small talk.

"I've heard that you were a Data Angel before they ostracized you." he began slowly. "They say you were one of their best. Legend say you went berserk and that's why they let you go."

The device beeped, letting them know the credit transfer was complete.

The man called Nemesis grabbed the device and placed it back in his trenchcoat without saying a word. He stood up and turned toward the door.

"Rumors, Mister McGray, only rumors," Nemesis said, not looking at Walter. "You'll have your pictures sent to you, it might even be on the news...Good day, Mister McGray.

Nemesis headed out toward the door, flipping the diner-cook a credit chit as he passed.

* * *

Terrible Swift Sword

The marketplace was bustling with activity, Believers moving from shop to shop inspectingh each one's wares.

"Brother Cain! There you are!" A lanky man shouted, running toward the man he was yelling at.

Brother Cain, dressed in the robes of a Believer Inquisitor, was examining an apple he intended on purchasing. Hearing the commotion caused by the lanky man, Brother Cain turned to face the approaching man.

"Inquisitor Cain, your needed at Governor Kell's living quarters. There's been another break-in. They want you over there to try and find clues as to who did it."

Brother Cain sighed, putting the apple back. "Alright, lead me there."

-----------

After a half-hour of walking, they reached the Governor's mansion. A large, gated house witha grand yard greeted Brother-Inquisitor Cain. The front gate was opened and numerous Believer police vehicles were parked up the driveway to the house.

The Believer police chief, Brother Harold, folded his arms in front of his chest.

"Well, look who it is everyone, the newbie transfer from New Jerusalem. Nice of you to join us Brother Cain."

Brother Cain looked around at the scene. Past the main group of Believer police, there were scattered pairs of men and women picking up glass on the porch. One house window was shattered and the steel front door was missing, scorch marks marked where the door used to be.

"Same break-in as before, windows broken. The door missing is new. What happened to the additional security?" Brother Cain asked.

"There," Brother Harold thumbed toward the corner rover. "All twenty of 'em killed. Some were shot with shredder bolts, two were knifed in the back, and the rest were blown to pieces after the perpetrator rigged the front door to explode."

Cain looked at the front door, or lack thereof, again. "So he wanted to kill the governor by a bomb?"

Brother Harold shook his head. "No, when we found the guards bodies, they were all clustered together. As far as we can tell, he broke into the house, rigged the door to explode, and waited for the security guards to cluster around the front door. When one of them opened the door to chase after the intruder, the front door blew open, killing the rest of the guards."

Cain looked down at the ground, shaking his head. "Then where was the governor at the time?"

"Hold on for a minute," Brother Harold said. He turned to some Believer inspectors carting another body away. "Hey you, guys! I want you to take those bodies and inspect 'em carefully...no slackin' off this time." Turning back to Brother Cain, Harold lowered his voice, "Governor Kell and his new wife were at an official dinner, discussing plans for establishing a new base."

"So the intruder decided to booby-trap his home and wait till he came back." Cain responded.

"That's what we thought at first, but then we went inside the house. Come." Brother Harold started walking toward the inside of the house with Brother Cain beside him.

When they reached the house, Brother Harold motioned Cain inside. Inside, the house was in shambles. The large greeting room had debris strewn everywhere. Papers, data-pads, glass were thrown all over the place.

Brother Harold suddenly stepped in front of Cain from behind.

"This is all from the blast, you gotta see the living room."

When they reached the living room, Brother Cain whistled.

"Something else, aint it?" Harold leaned over, not looking at him. "This guy graffittied all this after he killed the guards. See there? It says 'Jacob Kell is a blaspheming pig'. Here it says 'Kell deserve to burn in damnation.' Similar messages are graffitied throughout the house."

The living room, rather large, had messages spraypainted all over the place. On the walls, the floor, on the furniture and vid-screen, even the ceiling.

Facing Brother Harold, Cain spoke up. "This guy wanted the governor to see all this, not blow him up."

"Yup. Well, since this is the third break-in, Governor kell is scared out of his mind. He wants us to find out whose doing this and he means now." Harold said.

"Yessir."

"Okay. In two days time, Governor Kell is gonna address the people of this city in a public speech. We gotta make sure he's fully protected by then."

"Why is he making a public speech when all this is going on?"

"He doesn't want everyone to know he's actually scared...good for public opinion and all."

Cain shook his head, "Stupid mistake."

"Maybe, but we gotta prepare the public square for his speech. You gotta find out whose responsible for this."

"You got it, sir." Brother Cain looked around one last time.

* * *

Walter McGrays Private Residence
Day of Governor Jacob Kell's Speech

Walter McGray opened the door to his residence after a hard days work. He set his work datapad on the counter and took off his overcoat. Completely drained, he flopped himself on his couch in the living room.

After resting for a minute or two, Walter reached over for the remote. When he brought it back, a note was attached to the back:

Mister McGray,

Turn your vidscreen to Channel Six. You'll find it rather interesting.

Curious, Walter turned on the screen and changed it to channel six, the Believer News Network. Oh great, some bible-spewing mumbo-jumbo.

On the vidscreen was Governor Jacob Kell...

------------------

Brother-Police Chief Harold stood behind Governor Kell next to his wife. Overlooking the crowd of Believers present, Harold couldn't help but feel worried. Even though they had sharpshooters hidden all throughout the adjacent buildings, he still felt unnerved. Brother-Inquisitor Cain's latest report stated that he still didn't have any clues to the identity of the intruder at the governor's house.

Brother Harold sighed. He hated being in the spotlight.Only a few more minutes. Harold turned his attention toward listening to Governor Kell's speech which was almost finished.

"...and it is these acts of personal terrorism that should only reinforce our belief in the Lord. Our faith must not be shaken because He is watching us. We...must...not...be...intimidated!"

With this last punctuation, the assembled crowd roared its approval. Hundreds of assembled Believer citizens chanted the governors name.

Brother Harold shifted his stance. Where was Brother Cain, anyway?

--------

Brother-Inquisitor Cain applauded the governor's speech while the crowd chanted his name. Sitting at a cafe near the public square, Cain could see the governor speak to the masses and watched them go wild in approval. Brother Cain watched as Governor Kell motioned for his new wife to come to him, drinking from a glass of water on the table next to him.

He watched as the woman embraced Jacob Kell and gave him a kiss.

Brother Cain stood up and slowly walked away. Before he rounded a corner, he looked back at the Governor and the woman, still embraced, waving at the crowd. As he turned the corner, Brother Cain reached into one of his pockets...

--------

Walter McGray watched his wife and Jacob Kell wave at the crowd and watched as they kissed one another. He felt the acidic warmth boil within him. He felt the heat turn from a warm sensation to a conflagaration threatening to consume him. As he watched them embrace in a passionate kiss, the whole building exploded in a shower of brick, glass, and flame. The heat inside him suddenly fled from him, his shock dumbfounded and froze his movements.

The screen showed debris flying into the crowd, raining on fleeing Believers. Some yelled, others ran in silence.

Walter McGray's jaw dropped at what he was observing at Terrible Swift Sword. Now standing, his limbs dangled at his sides.

Suddenly the phone rang.

"Hello?" Walter said, picking up the receiver.

"Mister McGray, I take it you are watching the news?" the voice said.

"Yes. Who is this?"

The voice on the other line chuckled for a few seconds.

"Your contract is fulfilled. I'll send you your pictures discreetly, later."

"Wait, who is this?"

The line disconnected.

* * *

Two days later.....

Walter McGray received a package in the mail. When he opened it, there were a handfull of photographs taken. They showed graphic pictures of Jacob Kell, his former wife, and others. Along with the pictures was a video card.

Walter picked up the video card and put it in the playing device next to the vidscreen. The image shown was a recording of the BNN channel dated this morning, a program he did not watch.

"Today's headlining story:

Bodies are still being recovered from the explosion at Terrible Swift Sword. Sister Miriam is holding a mass funeral for all Believers. Amongst those lost are Governor Jacob Kell, his new wife, Gail McGray..."

Walter listened as the reporter talked some more then turned his attention in when she said something interesting:

"Reports indicate from Terrible Swift Sword that say before his death, Governor Kell's residence was burglarized and vandalized. The person in charge of that investigation, Brother-Inquisitor Cain, is nowhere to be found. When further investigation into Brother Cain was done, it was found that there is no record of a Brother-Inquisitor Cain anywhere. Conspiracy experts are saying that this Brother Cain was the cause of the explosion.

"They also say that this Cain is in fact the work of the one-time Data Angel Nemesis. No one we have talked to confirms or even acknowledges that this 'Nemesis' exists."

As the recording continued to play, Walter reached into the package and pulled out an object. When he looked at it, he smiled faintly.

It was a Believer cross-necklace with the name Brother-Inquisitor Cain engraved on the back.