Chapter 14: Shadow Boxing
Shaggy woke up chained to a chair. Madelyn, Scooby, Velma, and Marcie were also chained up next to him. Across from him, to his great surprise, were Fred's lawyer Creeps, and a very pregnant Daphne. Most everyone was waking up just as groggily as he was. The only one in the room who seemed fully alert was also the only one not chained to a chair.
At first all Shaggy could see of him was a dark, three piece suit and a tall, skinny body. The rest was obscured by shadow. When he stepped into the light Shaggy was surprised that he recognized him. He had half expected a mask, not the pale face and swept back hair of Elias Jorgenson.
"You know me, yes?" He asked in a deep, Eastern European accent.
"You worked with my uncle on Project Achilles."
"I did. But now, unconstrained by the morals of my inferiors, I have perfected it."
The lights at the back of the room flicked on to reveal at least thirty people in combat gear, with Alice at the front. Each one had the same glowing blue eyes, the mark of an Achilles subject.
"But why?" Shaggy knew that guys like this loved to talk about their plans, and if he kept him talking long enough maybe Maggie and Beau could figure out where they were and come rescue them. Granted, it was not a perfect plan as not even Shaggy knew where they were, but it was hope.
Jorgenson shrugged. "Money, power, immortality."
"Like, you're starting to sound like Phibes."
For a moment Jorgenson looked confused. Then his face lit up and he chuckled. "My apologies Shaggy, sometimes I forget I'm wearing this silly face. No, Jorgenson was a fool who believed in using his genius to string along inferior people. I broke his neck with my own two hands and left him for dead."
"But, like, that was how Phibes died." Comprehension began to dawn.
"Go ahead Shaggy, say it. After all we quarreled I would like to know that I have made enough of an impression."
"You're Phibes."
He grinned and in that instant Shaggy knew he was the same man who had made his life a living hell for two years. Even with another man's face he smiled that same shark grin.
"Achilles is a wondrous thing. You can practically rewrite the entire body. I took Jorgenson's face and gave him my own, thereby throwing Collins and his dogs off my trail and giving them a nonexistent killer to track while I completed my work. Of course I was not alone. When I made my intentions clear to take out you and your friends there were many people eager to assist me. Now the time has come. My army is complete and…"
"You killed Fred" Daphne said severely.
Creeps looked at her shocked. "Good god you're talking."
Phibes strutted over to Daphne and bent down to look her in the eye. "It was Miss May's idea actually, a brilliant plan I must say. Either you look for his killer, and I, who have never met you, am not a suspect, or you are so broken that you stay out of my way until the time comes for me to finish you. Alas I must say that…"
"What must you say?" A voice rang out. All around the room rifles could be heard clicking. "Were you about to tell her what you did to me?" A man stepped through the shadows, adjusting an orange tie under a white sweater. "Or where you going to let her die thinking she had lost me?"
"Freddy?" Daphne whispered.
"Honey" Fred stepped into the light, a dozen armed FBI agents at his heels. "I'm home."
"You died in Monaco, when the mansion blew up."
"Someone let me out, friends of yours Jeremiah."
Creeps smirked. "I've no idea what you're talking about" he said knowingly.
"It's over Phibes. We've got your two technicians in custody and we've seized all of your holdings. You know Shaggy always said you were like a James Bond villain. I guess you got the plot mandated idiocy to go with it. First rule of being the bad guy, don't let your hostages escape. I'm sorry" Fred smirked. "Did I step on your moment?"