Within the Brass Web.
Page 35
Chapter 25: Contingency Plans
Lukas swore when he heard the news of the tornado and knew that they had severely underestimated the powers of these… these super heroes. The red flair was reported and Lukas activated several levers along one wall, to disengage the failsafe. No one had to tell him of the jaeger’s self-destruction, the ground shook from the explosion. It would be felt all across the city and many people would mistake it for an earthquake. Lukas pulled another switch, if Lord Nemesis was in the tunnel heading back this way and the super heroes were in pursuit, then this building was no longer secure. He walked to another panel and pulled three more levers. Red lights started to flash and a claxon sounded indicating evacuation. His men turned to look at him to make sure it wasn’t mistake, but his expression told them the truth of it so they grabbed their gear and they ran for the escape tunnels. Lukas walked to Lord Nemesis’ private laboratory and found it unlocked. He opened the doorway to find his old friend’s body sitting peacefully in a chair. His head was covered with a metal helmet with hundreds of wires coming out of it attaching him to the machine behind him. He carefully removed the helmet and waited for the new Lord Nemesis to appear. It was only a few minutes when the echoing footsteps could be heard and then the tall doors swung open. Lord Nemesis stepped in scanned the room quickly and then looked down at General Eisenberg.
“General we have learned much today wouldn’t you say?”
“I wish we had learned it weeks ago, before we went into battle. How much time do we have?”
“I would give them five minutes at most to get into the tunnel. I gave you your instructions, you have served me well my friend, but I’m afraid it is time for one of your alias’ to die. I will contact you in Atlanta.” Lord Nemesis looked at his old body, “what are you going to do with that? I don’t care about it, why should you?”
“For Helena sir. I will leave it in your apartments above, when they find it they will say you died in the explosion. She will except that easier than all of this.” Lukas gestured with his hand to the surroundings.
“Indeed I suppose. I really need to study women more, I really don’t understand them. You will have to hurry though, you will only have two minutes to escape once the lever is pulled.”
“I know sir, you better get moving yourself, and close the doors behind you if you will. Maybe we’ll get lucky and catch them in here when it explodes.”
Nemesis chuckled, “That would be a nice ending to a horrific day. By the way, I guess I will have to owe you that cigar.”
“Yes… you will.” Lukas said as the metal man turned and left the room that it was created in, pulling the massive doors closed behind it. Lord Nemesis took a hidden side tunnel to another secret laboratory to hide until things calmed down, if that would ever be possible after today.