by K. T. Tomb
Chapter Eighteen
With 17 minutes to go, Kadan through his hands up in the air. “Yes! I did it!”
“You really did it?” Jonathan asked.
Kadan smiled with confidence. “Hell yeah! I successfully inserted an additional virus into the game. Anyone with any kind of virus detection system will see that it’s not good to open and shit can it! The game’s not going viral! That actually sucks to hear myself say that, but at least the world’s safe.”
Jonathan looked at the game monitor. “What about the game?”
Kadan showed some concern. “Dude, I told you. It has to play out.”
Jonathan smiled. “At least I’m able to help Phoe out.”
***
Symone Armette stopped in front of Phoe. She was dressed in black from the neck down and her hair moved as if a breeze was present.
“Hello, Thalia,” Symone said, with a hiss in her voice. “I’m so glad that it came down to us.”
“I know you’re glad,” Phoe responded. “You planned all of this around me.”
“Bravo,” Symone said, as she clapped her hands. “I had plans for Kadan Alexander’s game, but when I saw you all over the news concerning the Hammer of Thor, it got my attention.”
Phoe smiled through her physical pain. “You hooked up with Simon when you realized that he was a direct link to me.”
“Yes,” Symone replied. “I needed a real test for the game and you supplied the perfect subject.”
“Wow,” Phoe replied. “I had an arch-enemy and didn’t even know it.”
Symone tilted her head and smiled. “I would call it more of a fan of your work.”
Phoe glared at Symone. “You and your brother took the main frame pill. You disguised yourself as Simon and Jonathan at my award ceremony and you appeared as me to Simon.”
“And again I say, yes,” Symone said with a condescending tone. “Appearing as you was a test to see if the pill worked. When I appeared as Simon, it was to get you involved. Burning down your business and shooting your associate were definitive measures to make sure you decided to play. This was definitely worth the price of admission. Your abilities are formidable to say the least.”
Phoe coughed up a small amount of blood. “You bad guys always make the same mistakes. Blah, blah, blahing about how superior you are, while I bide time to gain my second wind.”
“I know,” Symone responded. “I want you at full strength when I kill you. Please, do gain your second wind. Do you need another couple of hours?”
“The dragon has been fired!” Peter’s voice echoed through the cavern as Phoe smiled.
“No,” Phoe returned. “I just needed to hear that. When I went to the bathroom at Alex’s house, Kadan gave me one of the main frame blue pills too.”
For the first time in the conversation, Symone looked concerned. “You’re lying! If you had taken one, you would have used it already!”
Phoe shook her head. “You praised me, now you underestimate me. I’m not stupid. I knew that if I used mine, I would have simply been overpowered by the three of you. Now that Alex and Hamilton are no longer factors, it’s just you and me, bitch.”
Phoe concentrated as her wounds began to heal. The burn marks on her legs slowly started to disappear as well. “That’s better.”
Symone decided not to give Phoe any more chances to heal. She began another barrage of punches at super speed. Phoe was knocked off balance. She tried to catch her breath, but Symone was just too fast.
Phoe fell to the ground, but Symone was relentless. The blows landed mostly on Phoe’s upper body and head, which kept her from fighting back. Her mind reeled as she tried to regain control over her own body. She had to be careful because of the pill within her. She didn’t want to think of something so bizarre that she couldn’t change back. She curled into a fetal position as she felt her right hand tingle. She looked up to see something materializing in her hand. A long sword appeared in her hand.
The sword had ancient Viking markings on the blade. The hilt was made from gold with silver trim. That was a royal sword. Phoe whispered, “The iron blade with its ill-boding patterns had been tempered in blood. It had never failed.”
Symone stopped her onslaught, as she stared at the sword in disbelief. “What? Is that Hrunting?”
“I believe it is,” Phoe said. She was as shocked as Symone was. “The sword that was given to Beowulf by the Danish Lord. This looks and feels real. That’s impossible!”
“Nothing’s impossible where we are,” Symone answered sharply. “It’s a shame though. Wasn’t that also the sword that was useless against Grendel’s mother? Ha! You might as well discard it as Beowulf did!”
“Maybe,” Phoe answered as a plan formed in her head. “I think it’s time we stopped playing on your playground.”
Phoe held onto the sword as she rushed toward Symone. As soon as she made contact with the transportation heiress, the scenery around them changed to a more familiar one. Phoe, Symone, Peter, Simon, and the body of Hamilton reappeared in Alex’s house. All four of the people who were alive stopped and looked around to see if they were really where they thought they were.
Phoe still had possession of Hrunting which was the only thing that caught her off guard. She pushed the sword under the sofa and expected it to disappear. It didn’t. “Simon! Find your son and Kadan. I have some garbage to take out.”
Simon took Peter into the hallway and away from the battle. Phoe interlocked her fingers and cracked her knuckles. She then delivered a roundhouse kick to the side of Symone’s head. Symone reeled back a few feet, immediately recovered, and started her speed barrage again. This time Phoe was ready. Phoe matched her punch for punch as each woman took as good as she gave.
Symone inhaled slowly then exhaled. “You’ll have to find my breath gate now, Phoe.”
“I don’t need instructions on how to kick your ass, Symone,” Phoe replied as she hit Symone with an upper cut. No effect. She repeated her upper cut, followed by a knee to the gut. Same result. Nothing.
Phoe thought about it for a second, then delivered a punch to Symone’s neck. Symone’s hand went to her throat as she fell to her knees. Phoe grabbed her by the hair and threw her through the first wall she could see that led outside. Symone busted through the wall and landed on the lawn. Phoe followed.
Once Phoe was outside, Symone was already transforming into someone else. Phoe looked around to make sure that none of the neighbors would get curious and move closer. She saw three children standing across the street with their mouths open. Phoe hoped someone would have the brains to call the police.
Symone was in the disguise of a male police officer in full uniform. “Nice,” Phoe said. Phoe thought long and hard for what she could do to beat the woman. Phoe also turned into a police officer and started to fight Symone again. The two police officers were identical in every aspect. They started punching each other and one tackled the other as they rolled around on the grass in the front yard.
Peter, Simon, Kadan, and Jonathan exited the house in time to see the two twin officers beating each other bloody. The real police pulled up with two cruisers. Both the pseudo-cops stopped to look at the officers getting out of their vehicles.
One of the fighting police officers closed his eyes and disappeared. The twin started to hold his gut as he doubled over. He convulsed as he started to groan. Within a matter of moments, he exploded from within leaving only a bloodied and confused Symone lying on the lawn.
“Phoe!” Peter yelled as his eyes filled with tears. Peter dropped to the ground and cried uncontrollably. He couldn’t believe that the woman whom he had known for such a big part of his life was gone. Phoe was the only one who had ever challenged him. He considered himself a stronger person for having known her. His heart was crushed. There was nothing that could be done or said to console him at that moment.
Simon went over to talk to the police officers. He pointed at Kadan. One officer went over to Kadan. “Sir, you’r
e under arrest for cyber-terrorism.” Kadan lowered his head as he was cuffed and led to the back of one of the cruisers.
Symone was trembling, but she managed to stand up. She felt her hands shake as she started to wipe the blood off of her with a disgusted look on her face.
The police continued to talk with Simon as Jonathan walked up to Symone. “What?” she barked, nervously. “Do I get an antidote for this pill, before you arrest me? Listen to me, Jonathan. Let me at least do some good before you have the police lock me away.”
He didn’t know what to think. Jonathan knew that whoever that was, they needed to have the pill removed from their system. Jonathan pulled out a hypodermic needle from behind his back. The needle still had a protective cover on it. Symone grabbed it as soon as she saw it. She then proceeded to walk casually into the house. Jonathan followed her.
“I need transportation to Armette Industries,” Symone said as she continued to tremble. Jonathan had never seen her so vulnerable. He’d just started feeling the anger over Phoe’s death. He wanted nothing to do with Symone. She seemed almost sincere. He turned around to go back and get his father, when suddenly he felt a blow to the back of his head and then succumbed to the darkness.
When he came to, both Symone and the sword of Beowulf were gone.
Epilogue
Weeks passed and still no sign of Symone. Phoe’s private jet disappeared along with Sanchez, the pilot. It was assumed that Symone hijacked it for her escape. There was a worldwide manhunt for her. She was also being accused of murdering her brother, Hamilton and wanted in the questioning of the disappearance of Alex Griswold.
Jonathan Kessler was given several commendations for his part in stopping the virus. Simon even gave him his own research wing at Kessler Industries.
Kadan Alexander told authorities everything he knew concerning the Armette’s plan. The fact that he had saved the world was taken into consideration when the time came for his sentencing. Simon, Jonathan, and Peter all agreed to testify in his defense. Getting the court to actually believe their testimony was another story. It would have been easier if Hrunting was still around. Simon assumed that it probably had some sort of expiration date and vanished into thin air.
Simon went to Taos and spared no expense for Phoe’s funeral. It was held in the same room that Phoe had received her awards in. The entire town was there, along with her mother and brother.
Simon gave the eulogy.
“To say that Thalia Phoenix was one of a kind, is moot. She epitomized the spirit of adventure. Her ability to analyze any situation and make the right call was unequaled. Her perseverance and desire to do the right thing, always put her in a position to make the appropriate sacrifices. She never compromised her values or ethics to get a job done. In the time that I came to know her, she gained my full respect with everything she did. She agreed to jobs that most people would have laughed away as ludicrous. She never stopped believing in what she did and the people that assisted her. Phoe was a great supporter of the museums in Taos and had an amazing following. She has left her mark on us all. We will never forget her.”
There was silence as Anjelica and Eric approached Simon. “I must say that was almost heartfelt,” Anjelica huffed.
Simon looked surprised. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Eric grabbed his Smart Phone and searched the internet until he found what he wanted. He then showed it to Simon. It was a news report on Symone Armette. Eric turned the volume up so Simon could hear it. “…Symone Armette is wanted by the F.B.I., but somehow managed to get past everyone to get into her office and sell all of her shares in Armette Transportation. The funds are then said to have been transferred to make several anonymous donations to various museums in Taos, New Mexico. Since all money that funded her illegal activities came from outside sources, law enforcement officials allowed the donation to take place. Ms. Armette disappeared again after video of her office appearance surfaced.”
“Interesting story,” Simon said, while he showed no emotion. “Maybe some people can change.”
Eric grinned. “Yeah, right. Tell us the story again about what that main frame pill did.”
Simon started to laugh as Anjelica and Eric smiled.
***
Peter went back to his house for the first time since he left Phoe there to go find the Lair of Beowulf. As soon as he opened the door, a wall of emotions hit him. He couldn’t bear to go to her funeral. Even if there was no body to bury.
He took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway. He looked around as if he expected Phoe to walk out from one of the rooms and say something sarcastic. It felt like years since he had last seen her.
He grabbed one of the chocolate milks from the fridge that he bought for Phoe and smiled as he let a tear roll down his cheek. After kicking off his shoes, he sat on the sofa and turned on the television. While channel surfing, he saw Symone Armette’s image appear on CNN. He turned up the volume. It was the same story that Eric had shown Simon. Peter’s eyes widened as he saw the charitable contribution Symone had made even at the risk of getting caught. “That’s…really strange.” His mind raced with the implications of what he had seen.
He knew what he had to do. He would sell the solid gold statue of Thor and search the world for Symone Armette. He jumped up with renewed vigor as he made his way to the room with the statue in it. The look of surprise returned as he noticed that the statue was gone. Gone?
There was a note on the floor where the priceless artifact once stood.
“Peter. I can only imagine what you’re thinking about now. I know you’re pissed, but just remember the Head of Olmec. I gave Olmec to Eloise Rojas and the Museum Association of Taos. I also paid for the extra security for it. I told them that the donation was from both of us, in case you have plans for taking it back. You would just look like a bigger ass than you usually do. Anyway, you would be surprised how much some things are worth. I need to spread my wings, Peter. In spite of all of the crap between us, I love you. Not the way that you would like, but it’s love, nonetheless. I hope the fact that you have kick-started my new life will be some consolation for losing…again. I’m sorry. I’m really having too much fun. You always will have a special place in my heart. Thanks. Wish me luck. Thalia.”
Peter could do nothing but smile. “God speed, Thalia.”
***
A modified lightweight private jet received clearance to enter Turkish airspace. The pilot looked relaxed in spite of who his passenger was. The cockpit door opened and Symone Armette stepped inside. “I think that’s it, Sanchez.”
Sanchez smiled. “If you don’t mind me saying, that’s a whole hell of a lot of shit you just went through.”
“I don’t mind you saying that at all,” she responded while fighting off laughter. She sat down in the seat next to Sanchez. “It was worth it. I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to see where we’re going.”
“I don’t mind at all,” he responded. “Will we be staying in Istanbul long?”
She glared out the window. “I don’t think so. Looking for a new base of operations.” She got up and walked back to the passenger area. When she arrived at her seat, she picked up a fanny pack and opened it. A familiar hypodermic needle was pulled from the pack. Thalia took the cover off and stabbed the needle into her leg. She then injected part of the liquid into her body.
It only took a few moments before the transformation started to happen. She trembled as the image of Symone Armette morphed into the true owner of that body. The true owner of the body was Jeremy Riddick.
His left eye twitched underneath the scar.
The bathroom door opened and Thalia walked out. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me, that you helped out like this.” She had on khaki shorts, a black tank top, and a fanny pack that could be Jeremy’s equal.
He laughed. “I can say that I don’t believe it, even though I experienced it. Hell, the money was good and you’ll have me back at Kessler Industries before
my vacation runs out. I’ve got to say though, I was a little fidgety about posing as that bitch after you left Cali.”
“I needed someone I could trust, that wasn’t already involved,” she responded. “and thought that I could bribe you to help out. I had to keep an eye on you in case you got caught though, plus I still had a few other things to take care of.”
“Anytime you need me, babe,” he replied.
She smiled. “It’s Thalia. Not babe. Thalia.”
Jeremy got up and headed to the bathroom. “You didn’t leave any surprises for me in there. Did you?”
Thalia grimaced.
“Hey,” he continued. “If you ever need my services after my obligation to Kessler is up…”
“I’ll keep it in mind…if I need a minion,” she replied, while laughing.
He laughed as he entered the bathroom.
She pulled out something long and covered in cloth from under her seat. She unwrapped part of it to reveal the sword of Beowulf. Hrunting hadn’t disappeared, nor did it seem that it ever would. “You are an enigma, my friend,” she said, directing her words to the sword. “I can’t explain why you’re still here, but it looks like I have an artifact that goes beyond priceless. You simply shouldn’t exist. I hope that just by you existing, it doesn’t cause some weird shift in time or whatever.”
With that said she replaced the sword under her seat and took out a large bottle of aspirin from her fanny pack. She opened it up to reveal a large number of familiar looking blue pills. “Whatever life has in store for me now, I have a feeling it’s just starting to get interesting.”