~Chapter 25 & Epilogue~

~Chapter 25~

Josh, Scarlet, and Sniper entered the room just as the Informer breathed his last.
Max ran forward to where Emma was still trying to shoot the bloodied and mangled corpse of James Hughes. He grabbed the gun with one hand and caught her as she slumped forwards with his other. He had to fight to hold her back as she lunged forward in an attempt to beat the dead body with her bare fists.
“Emma! Emma, calm down!”
“He shot him!!! The bastard shot him!!!”
Max pulled her back and they fell against the railing of the command platform. He kissed her head and whispered softly to her, trying to calm her down.
Scarlet looked over and noticed Nathan standing over the body of the Hacker.
Blood streamed down from a hole in the center of the man’s head.
Nathan looked up at her from his smoking gun.
“He reached for the pistol, it was reflex.”
She nodded at him, “I know… Nathan?”
The ragged Merc nodded, “I know.”
The two of them went over to stand a short distance from where Lexy sat, cradling Wraith’s head in her arms.
Josh knelt beside her, his arms around her.
Max managed to get Emma to her feet and lead her over to stand next to Scarlet. They stood there looking down at Wraith, and Emma burst into a fresh wave of tears.
Josh got up and looked around the group.
“Listen everyone, I know… I know this is going to be hard but… we have to go. We stick to the plan, set the charges and destroy this hell hole.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, but no one took their eyes from the body of their friend.


~Epilogue~

~The 4th of July, 2019- Regency Building, NY
Samuel Grayson looked over the long table, his cold gray eyes taking in the many businessmen, women and criminals seated around it.
He looked towards the door as Jay Marcos entered and nodded to him before taking his seat near De Carlos.
Samuel looked around at the men and women again.
“Today, is a turning point in the history of this organization. Today is the day we make what may be the most drastic change this Board has ever even considered.”
Uncertain glances were exchanged; a kind of restlessness filled the room.
Samuel continued, “As of the end of the day today, James Hughes will no longer be of any concern to this Board. For all we know, he may no longer be of any concern to anyone.”
The implication of his words caused even more consternation among the Board members.
“As of today, I am taking the lead and declaring myself the new Chairman of the Board and the new head of the Taske Empire.
And, from this day forward, I plan to legitimize any and all actions of this Board.”
Marcos raised his hand and posed a question.
“Excuse me, Sir, but how is this going to turn out to be profitable for this organization?”
Samuel had given Marcos and De Carlos a sort of script the day before.
“As we all know, criminal endeavors cost a lot more and have a higher risk-factor than usual ones. This way we will be able to gain more profit from not needing to pay for heightened security, and the risk of government intervention will be severely diminished. In fact, after some time we will be able to acquire some government contracts which will also increase profit and prestige.”
A bald man with a snake tattooed on his scalp raised a hand.
“Viper, isn’t it? You have a question?”
Viper shook his head, “No, no question, just wanted to tell you that you are full of crap.”
Samuel smiled slightly, and that cold smile sent shivers down the assassin’s spine.
“Thank you for that bit of brilliant inspiration. Now, if you all will look at the folders before you, I have given you a list of a few contracts I have already lined up and the estimated numbers that accompany them.”
The shuffling of papers filled the background as the Board members looked through the folders. Surprised murmurs soon followed as they read the estimates.
Samuel waited until they had all finished.
“Now you have seen my proposal and seen the benefits such a move will bring us, shall we vote on it?”
The vote was taken and the decision was almost unanimous.
Everyone looked up startled as Viper rose to his feet and slammed his chair into the table.
His growling voice echoed through the room, “I resign.”
Samuel watched him go, no emotion showing from his icy gray eyes.
“If there is no one else who feels they need to leave, then do so. If not, we can move on to our next point of business.”

~The 4th of July, 2019- James Hughes’ Villa, California
The charges had all been set, each one strategically placed in a manner that would have made Wraith proud. Josh and Scarlet had taken all their spare ammo and placed them in the kitchen’s ovens, then put the oven on a slow bake. Lexy, Emma and Sniper had gone around and opened all the natural gas valves and any other flammable substance they could find they dumped or released. It took them nearly four hours to complete their destructive preparations.
Finally, Nathan brought Wraith’s body out and laid him gently on one of the couches in the living room area. He knelt by the still form and folded the Informer’s arms across his chest.
He looked up at the others, who where all watching him quietly.
“He would have wanted it to end this way. He’s already had his funeral.”
Josh nodded and each went to stand next to the couch that was to be the master-planner’s final resting place. Josh and Nathan said nothing; there was nothing for them to say. Scarlet looked down at the body of her longtime friend, tears rolling down her face. Then she leaned forward and kissed the cold forehead.
Lexy was next, and she knelt by the body and wept bitterly.
“Why did you do it? That bullet was meant for me!”
Josh came forward and put his hands on her shoulders. She turned and buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Josh turned to the others, his eyes cold and somber.
Nathan nodded towards the door that lead outside.
“Take her outside and calm her down. We’ll finish up in here and be out shortly.”
Josh nodded and gently guided his grief-stricken wife out of the central complex and across the bridge.
Sniper came to stand beside the couch, his eyes dry but hollow.
“It was good working with you; it won’t be the same with you gone.”
Emma came to stand next to him, and the mercenary put an arm protectively around her shoulders.
“Wraith, I didn’t know you long, but I could tell you were a great man. You were loyal and trustworthy, and in this world that is a rare thing to find in a person. I just hope you know how much we all will miss you.”
With that the two of them turned and left the building.

The six of them met on the bluff looking out towards the domed structures that made up James’ Villa. The setting sun glinted on the stones and would have made a beautiful sight, had the circumstances been different.
Max walked to the edge of the cliff and, taking the rifle off his back, let it fall into the blackness below. Then he took out his Rugers and, ejecting the clips into the darkness, let the pistols follow the rifle and the clips.
He turned away from the edge of the cliff and went to stand next to Emma. He put his arm around her shoulder and looked over at Josh, who still held Lexy close. She had calmed down, but her eyes were red and swollen.
“I’m done.”
Josh nodded once, “You were a good soldier, and will always be a good friend.”
Nathan held the two detonators, one in each hand.
He looked over at Josh, “You want to say anything?”
Josh looked out at the large central dome, the sun reflecting in his sharp gray eyes.
“It’s ironic, that today is the Fourth of July. Wraith’s real name was James Regal; he was a patriot, a warrior, a friend and a brother. He fought for freedom all his life, starting with the Marines Corps, then the CIA, and then to working alongside with me to avenge the deaths of Mariah and Mara. He helped protect me, my family, and our country. And he did what any of us can only hope to do; he died in the line of duty.”
Josh nodded to Nathan, who raised his hands clutching the detonators.
“It aint no twenty-one gun salute, old buddy, but it’ll have to do.
The blast was spectacular. The whole area was awash in the brilliance of the explosion. So bright was it that the watchers had to avert their eyes. But, after the initial blast was over, they turned to watch the rest of the place burn.
Nathan stared at the flames licking the sky. Until then, he had not shed a tear. But, now, a tiny teardrop ran down his cheek.
As he watched the flames, a verse from a poem he had once heard came to mind, and he recited it aloud before, finally, turning away.
“Can this be death-
To be released from fear and sorrow,
From sickness, weariness and pain?
To be removed from sin’s enslavement,
From Satan’s influence and domain?”

-To Be Concluded in Taske Force 3: Checkmate-