Nemesis: Loose Ends, Finale
Ten minutes later Luke slammed the brakes on his motorcycle and barely paused to drop the kickstand. He hurried inside, staff in hand, and ran up to Jen’s floor, eschewing the elevator. Her door was the third down and it was partly open when he arrived.
He stopped and took a deep breath, willing himself to calm down. He used the end of his staff to push open the door.
Qismat sat on the loveseat, legs crossed, reading a magazine. She looked up as he entered and smiled.
“Oh, good,” she said. “You got my text.”
Luke stepped into the apartment. Qismat didn’t move as he looked around. He returned his attention to the woman on the couch and stared at her until she sighed.
“Oh, very well.” She put down the magazine and stood up. Luke readied his staff. She held up her hands.
“Not yet,” she said. “Not yet.”
She stepped carefully to the side and toward the bedroom. Making sure she had his attention she opened the door and pushed it wide. Jen was on the bed, bound and gagged, looking helpless and frightened.
“Jen!” Luke moved toward the room.
“Wait!” He pulled up short. Qismat gestured to the bed. “She is poisoned. It is slower than the other, but no less deadly, and only my antidote will work.”
Luke growled low in his throat. His knuckles were white around the staff.
“What the fuck do you want.”
“You know what I want.” She walked around the end of the couch and leaned against a window sill, pausing to admire a small flowered plant. “Very nice,” she muttered. Then, louder, “I want Frankie Jacks.”
Luke clenched his jaw.
“Come, now. You knew something like this was coming, didn’t you?” She studied him, then laughed. “You didn’t! I gave you every clue! I know who you are! I came to you at your place of business, while you were on a date…”
She trailed off thoughtfully. She idly tapped one slender finger against her full lips she looked from Luke to Jen through the open door and back again.
“She doesn’t know.” She nodded. “Poor girl. All this time she has been dating one of the most popular and talked about heroes in Hudson City in a very long time and she doesn’t know.” She smiled. “Or didn’t, rather. I suspect she’s catching on now, though.”
Luke started helplessly at Jen through the door. Her eyes pleaded with him. He saw them dart away, then back, a question in them. The staff. He looked down at it, back at her, and nodded. She closed her eyes briefly.
“You can’t have him,” he said hoarsely.
“Then she will die.” Qismat’s statement was matter-of-fact.
“You can’t.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Can’t I?” Qismat shook her head. “I do not want to. Such a pretty girl. I think you two could do well together. Have beautiful children. But I must get what I want.”
“But---“ Luke swallowed. There was a knot in his stomach that wouldn’t go away. “You’ve never killed an innocent before.”
“She is not an innocent,” Qismat corrected. “She is guilty by association.” She paused, fixing him with those large brown eyes. “With you.”
“No.”
Qismat shook her head. “It is inevitable, Luke. Or Nemesis, if you prefer, though without your mask that name seems…serious.” She smiled, amused.
“No.”
She waved a hand. “What can you do? You have been a most excellent foe, and one which I have grown to respect and…” she trailed off with a shrug. “Well, let us leave at that.”
Luke felt like crying, like screaming. Instead he said simply, “Why?”
Qismat looked at him for a long time before she spoke. “Because one of the girls you rescued was my niece. Her mother, my sister, died some time back. Cancer. She was twenty-eight. I came here to help raise her.”
She fell silent again and Luke thought perhaps she had finished. “Sadira was in therapy for days before she could come home, and she was still in counseling when…”
Qismat let her head drop. Luke heard the sounds of deep breathing, but with a catch in it. She was crying, or trying very hard not to.
When she looked up again Qismat’s eyes were wet. “My little star decided the nightmares were too much, so she jumped from the roof. Now I have no family left.”
They stared at each other for a long time before Luke spoke.
“So you decided to punish them?”
“Yes!” It was the first true outburst of anger he’d seen from her. “Yes! I finished what you started and sent them all to hell! None who had a hand in my niece’s death will be suffered to walk the same earth as her!”
Luke shook his head. “I’m sorry, Qismat, but that’s not the way to do it. When you’re through, when you’ve finished killing, that hole will still be there. They’ll still be gone.”
“But so will the men who did this!”
“And so will Jen.”
There was silence in the room. Qismat sniffled, wiped a hand across her eyes and nose. She struggled to regain her composure.
“That is up to you,” she said, once again in control.
“No,” he said simply. “It’s up to you. I can’t just trade one life for another. I can’t live with that. This…” He gestured toward the bedroom, fighting back a sob of his own. “This is your choice, not mine. I can’t save them both, but you will not make me choose between them.”
Qismat started to turn away. “Then they will both—“
Luke attacked.
He leapt the couch and slammed his heel into her chest. Even caught by surprise she managed to deflect much of the blow, but Luke’s follow-up with the staff sent her flying through the window. There was a small shelf beyond and Qismat almost grabbed the edge, but she fell over the side. Luke used the staff to knock the broken glass away and poked his head out. Qismat was just standing up on the ground below.
Luke jumped. He landed squarely beside her and received a shot to the jaw for his trouble. He fell back a step and barely got his staff up in time to deflect her next punch. He stepped back again, using his shin to block a kick, his staff to block another, then turned away from an elbow smash. He used the moment to swing around and slam his fist into the side of her head. She was already ducking and was struck only a glancing blow.The two squared off, Luke with his staff, Qismat sans weapon. Their eyes locked for a moment and Luke felt…something. Guilt? Empathy? Something. Qismat smiled and jumped forward.
They parried a dozen blows in half as many seconds before Qismat finally got through with a stiff-fingered strike to Luke’s sternum. He oofed and stepped back, suddenly wishing he’d dressed in costume.
“You’re good.”
She smiled and inclined her head at the complement. Luke launched his own attack. Staff spinning and striking quickly. Qismat dodged left and ducked right, avoiding the blows, and when Luke leapt up to try an overhand strike she rolled under him.
Which was what he’d wanted. His foot lashed out, catching her in the back of the head. It wasn’t full strength but it was enough to send her into a somersault. She came up quickly, rubbing her head underneath her ponytail.
“You’re pretty good yourself,” she said. Luke nodded.
They rushed each other again, blows being struck and they fought up and down the small grassy area between apartment buildings. They were oblivious to the traffic on the street not thirty feet away, to the people stopping to watch, to the spectators on upper floors. They were focused solely on each other, neither showing mercy in their attacks. Neither expecting any.
Another furious exchange and the two stepped apart. Luke was sure he had a bruised, if not broken, rib, and Qismat had a nasty gash across her forehead. She wiped at the blood.
“You know I could kill you,” she said between labored breaths.
“Like you haven’t been trying,” Luke rejoined.
Qismat opened her jacket, revealing two large-caliber guns in shoulder holsters. They did little to detract from her other assets.
“I don’t have to spar with you. I have options.”
Luke shifted, ready for anything. “Then why don’t you use them.”
“Because if this is the only way I can get close to you, so be it.” She sprang to the attack again.
She came in fast, using short, hard jabs to keep him on the defensive. She stayed in close, preventing him from using the staff, and after a minute he let it fall. They struck and parried, blocked and kicked. Luke stepped forward to follow through with a strike and stepped on the staff. It rolled slightly under his foot. Qismat took advantage of his momentary imbalance and struck hard, following fist with elbow with knee with foot.
Luke found himself on his back gazing up at the sky. Qismat pounced, landing on his chest, knees over his biceps. She held both pistols under his chin.
Still stunned, Luke forced himself to stare into her eyes. He was not going easily. The two remained like that for an eternity, staring into each other’s eyes.
“You still will not give him up?” Qismat asked at last.
“No.”
“Even at the cost to your girlfriend’s life?”
Luke almost choked. “No.”
The two sat like that for a while longer, until Qismat slowly withdrew the pistols. Luke heard the click of the hammers being released and she leaned back, sitting on his stomach.
“You are an exceptional man, Luke Merriweather.” She spoke in soft tones. “I wish—“
She didn’t finish the thought. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. There was a brief, hesitant initial contact, but then she was kissing him fully.
And he was kissing her back.
The kiss lasted several seconds only—an eternity—and then she was standing up, holstering her pistols.
“Tell Frankie that he has an exceptional friend.” She smiled and offered her hand. After a moment Luke took it. With surprising strength—Or maybe not so surprising, he thought as the pain in his ribs took his breath away—she helped him to his feet. The stood close for a long while without speaking. In the distance sirens could be heard.
“I will leave you,” Qismat said simply. “And I will leave your city.”
Luke nodded. “And what of the antidote?”
Qismat laughed softly, wincing slightly. “She was never poisoned. She is safe.” She looked up. Luke followed her gaze. Jen was leaning out the window, looking…confused.
Luke, too, was puzzled. Qismat laughed again. “I made the knots loose enough that she could untie herself, just in case. Apparently she was suitably motivated to do so.”
Luke looked up again but Jen was gone from the window.
Qismat sighed. “Farewell, habibi.” She leaned in and kissed him again. “It would have been very nice to get to know you better.”
She turned and walked away. Luke watched her leave until she turned the corner.
* * * * *
Luke sat in the bar nursing a beer and staring out the window. His ribs were bruised and he had a hairline fracture along his sternum, but he’d heal. He always healed.
He fingered the paper in his hand and took another sip of his beer.
Jen was gone. In the past few days she’d ended all contact with him, leaving him the simple voicemail saying she needed time to think.
Apparently a few days was enough time.
He sighed and drank more beer, then opened up the letter.
Dear Luke,
You know that these past several weeks have been absolutely heaven for me. I didn’t think I’d ever meet someone like you, and I will always cherish what we had. But I can’t do this. I was with a policeman once before. Every time he went on patrol I worried about getting that phone call at two in the morning. I understand what you’re doing and, I think, why. But I can’t be a part of it. I know you think it’s because you didn’t tell me, and maybe that’s part of it. But a large part of it is what I saw.
You and that woman are part of a different world than I could ever live in. I see sickness and pain and death every day, and it’s all I can do to put it behind me when I walk out of the hospital. I can’t have that waiting for me day in and day out, as well. I’m not that strong. I wish I could be, but I’m not.
You’re you, and you will be who you have to be. I would never ask you to change that, or to give that up, so instead I’m making the decision for us both.
I love you. I know that now. I think a part of me always will. And I think you love me, too. But that’s not enough. I need safety, security. Maybe I’ll find it with you out there protecting all of us. Protecting me. But I won’t find it with you.
I’m so sorry that this is all in a letter. If I saw you again I don’t think I’d be strong enough to leave, and I know I wouldn’t be strong enough to say what needs to be said.
I love you, Luke Merriweather. Every part of you. And I wish you luck and love in everything you do.
Give Pops a hug for me and tell him…well, he knows.
Take care, Luke. Be safe. Be strong. For both of us.
Love always,
Jen
Luke folded up the letter and put it in his pocket. There were wet spots on the ink.
Pops set down a fresh beer and took Luke’s mostly-empty glass away. “You okay, kid?”
Luke wiped his eyes and managed a smile. “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Just a couple of bruised ribs.”
“Not what I meant,” Pops groused back. Luke smiled wanly.
“Yeah. I’ll be okay.”
Pops stared at him.
“Seriously, Pops. I’ll be okay.” He gave a wry grin. “I’ll heal.” Pops nodded, temporarily mollified, and walked away.
“I always heal,” Luke muttered, taking another sip of beer.
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Comments
Poor Luke. Very well done,
Poor Luke.
Very well done, on the series, Dave.
--
Imagination is the seed of intelligence. Nourish it and watch it grow.
Bravo. Bravo. A truly worthy
Bravo. Bravo.
A truly worthy tale.
I am humbled by your skill.
This really is a brilliant
This really is a brilliant set of stories. I really can imagine these 8 as comic series. The story is exciting with plenty of twists, and the action sequences in particular stand out as examples of how I wish I could write.
(But sort the tagging out before I mess around and get STOMPED at. You can't have Pops in some places and Pops McGinty in others. :>)
I am way to jealous to just post a congratulatory comment without letting a bit of bile out)
Great Series
Great series. I'm impressed with how you can take a story that spans over a few months, and weave it together, hitting on the appropriate parts. I'm really not sure that I could do that, might be a good challenge for me to try sometime.
As far as the last two pieces go...
I almost couldn't bring myself to read the finale after the cliff hanger of the last one. I was pretty sick feeling going into it. It shocked me a bit that I'd grown to like Jen. ...and the thought of you killing her off didn't sit well with me. Times like those that I remind myself that this is a Dark Champions game.
I was really upset with Nemesis as a reader when he made the decision he did. In the end it worked out...but I felt betrayed on some level. Don't get me wrong it was likely the most heroic thing to do... and you made his emotion on the matter clear and powerful, but ...I wanted to throw Frankie under the train for Jen.
On a character level, I feel really sorry for him. I mean he's going to work at the Cathedral every single day acting like nothing is wrong, as he deals with all of this on his own. Makes me wish that Phi wasn't such a stubborn sullen bit during that passing time, with her internal memememememe dialogue.
ha!
That was funny.
He has a good point though. Dave, tell me if you prefer Pops or Pops McGinty and I can retag them all on the back end so they don't get bumped, and delete the one that you don't want from the list.
Luke is a dick
I love the guy, don't get me wrong, but jesus. His girlfriend is up there (assumedly) dying of being poisoned, and he's in the ally locking lips with her 'killer'.
This boy has some SERIOUS issues.
(though it were a mighty fine read. mighty fine)
...still a dick though.
I agree. Gloriously
I agree. Gloriously heartless. What a great series.
PS - Hint for the future -
PS - Hint for the future - Frankie, Jen and Qismat are all still alive and well and available to return for future stories, what else could you want with such strong characters. (No need to go near the bones of reserection or retcon - great way to end a series.)
I don't know... by the time
I don't know... by the time we got to the lip locking part, I was already numb.
I could write an entire piece from Jen's perspective on how it might have felt to hear that Luke wouldn't exchange Frankie to save her. That had to hurt way more than the kissing. ...I kind of find the kissing forgivable.
Like Phi at New Year's...it's just reflex...and yummy... how is someone to resist! (If you're a character in fiction that is.)
Regardless... I love reading anything that gets a reaction out of me, and this piece did that in spades.
I'm willing to defend Luke
I'm willing to defend Luke on that one.
Let's face it, the guy is the ultimate Boy Scout. What's the phrase that comes to mind? Ah, yes. "Never compromise, even in the face of Armageddon."
It's easy to stick to your principles when there's no conflict. But it's times like those when one's mettle is truly tested.
As for the lip-lock, to be fair, Q started it. Considering the circumstances and the build-up, you can't blame the boy for falling for it.
Being heroic means sacrifice. Only when you are willing to give up something, up to and including your life, can you truly earn the mantle of a hero.
Edison understands that. Which is why he's never seen himself as a hero, for he knows too well his own flaws. And he secretly admires Nemesis because he sees in the man what he knows he can never be.
Or so he thinks...
*nod* ...but knowing he's
*nod*
...but knowing he's a boyscout and a hero...isn't gonna help that pain of betrayal if you're the one that's gonna die!
ahem... *grin* 'scuse me, I gots all worked up again.
Oh! ...and I have to say, I loved Qismat's voice through all of this. "So serious." I swear I can hear that in my head.
I call shenannigans. Boy
I call shenannigans.
Boy scout my ass - he moves from conquest to conquest with the ease and grace of an otter in the arctic seas. Now Phi did *totally* diss him at the party (yes she did, even though Chairman's going to *stomp* at me) but a boy scout would have sought explanation and understanding - instead there was cold shoulder and "Jen!"
(unless I'm missing some JP or bit that this got addressed?)
And now we have insane (and she's fucking nuts) Q on the scene. Gorgeous, ruthless, and as cold-blooded a manipulator as I've ever seen (yay Dave - great job there - you did an awesome job with her motivations and such - applause applause), following him to Pops joint, invading his life, threatening his woman. He should have been making her eat her own teeth, instead of tongue wrestling with her in the alley. I can and will blame the boy for falling for it. He's a pushover for wimmin folk. Especially strong ones. That's been consistent in all these threads.
Which is why I like Nem and how Dave writes him - he's got flaws you can drive a Mack truck through. A boy scout, he most assuredly is not. He hasn't sacrificed jack that I can see. There've been some really close calls, and the GLON (Gorgeous Ladies of Nem) are moving in and out of his life as though through a revolving glass door, but sacrifice? Nah.
I do applaud how he recognized that Frankie is a life just like any other though. That was awesome. Dave is a wonderfully gifted and talented writer, and I respect him muchly.
But that's my take on his character, wrong or right.
I smell jealousy. I keed! I
I smell jealousy.
I keed! I keed!
Totally freaking amazing
Totally freaking amazing read Dave. I sit amid the throng of humbled nextgenners in awe of your storytelling ability.
I'll end in one last wow.
That was awesome, man.
That was awesome, man. Absolutely amazing. An excellent story from start to finish, and every episode in between. I loved your characters, their interactions, and even the action which never seemed tedious or contrived. Great work, Dave. As always.
Excellent work. Engaging, and
Excellent work. Engaging, and believable in the genre.
Why isn't the word 'phonetic' spelled the way it sounds?