Chapter 11
Night's Blue Veil
Eric Finch poured himself a glass of Irish whiskey and sat down. He took a long drink, staring at the black telly screen. The new death totals had been released-----101,204 so far and growing. Finch finished off the last glass, then poured himself another.
" Bad day, Inspector?" The voice came from the shadows.
Finch looked up. " You could say that, V." He found the mask emerging from the darkness.
" Over 100,000 already dead, and god knows how many more will follow."
V came to stand by the chair, the Fawkesian mask reflecting the light from the lone lamp in the living room. " I know, and I will do all I can to end this."
" Logan gave me the lab's location, but he wants to meet with you and go over the final plans."
V remained silent, moving quietly around the room.
" Something wrong?" Finch sat the empty glass on the end table.
" I work alone, Inspector----you, of all people, know that." V said, his hands clasped at his waist.
Finch chuckled, " Believe me, I do V----but this is his request, not mine."
" I would assume so." He answered, " Which brings me to question his motives."
" Think it's a set up?" Finch asked, as V paced the floor.
" I don't know, Inspector. There are many true rebel cells out there that are willing to bring Norsefire completely down no matter the cost, " He paused, his head tilting toward where Finch sat. " But there are also those that would just as soon see me dead by any means possible."
Finch nodded his head in agreement rising from the chair, glass in hand. " Drink?"
" Yes, please." V reached up and unbuckled the mask, laying on the table. " Eric, how well do you know Logan?"
" Not much, I'm afraid. " Finch replied pouring the glasses halfway full, handing one to V. " He
contacted me over the interlink, several months ago-----said he wanted to help bring the remaining Norsefire party members to justice. " Finch took a drink. " We met a few days later in the underground."
V raised the glass to his lips and took a drink of the warm liquid.
" Are Evey and Victoria with you?" Finch asked pulling out his pipe.
" No, they are at Ravensclaw." V sat his glass down and re buckled the mask in place. " I will be out most of the night."
Finch watched the vigilante head toward the open window. " I will contact you tomorrow, Inspector." Then he was gone into the night. Sighing, he closed the window, pulling the drapes close behind him.
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Evey Hammond was furious! How dare he!? How dare that bloody wanker leave her behind! She threw the satchel on the bed and began stuffing clothing into it.
" Evey?" Gordon's voice called after a soft rap on the door. " Are you up?"
" Yes, Gordon, I'm up." She called back.
" Evey, would you like......" he stopped mid-sentence as he watched clothing disappearing into a small bag on the bed. " May I ask what you are doing?"
" What does it look like?" she answered, going through dresser drawers, clothes landing across the bed. " I'm packing. I'm going to London to find V."
Gordon sighed, crossing his arms. " I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Evey." Pausing, Gordon sat on the bed. " You wouldn't be safe there."
Evey spun around. " V is there. I belong with him, Gordon."
" Evey, please listen....I know you want to be with V, but with the new virus rampaging through the city, and in your present condition, you're safer here."
Evey cocked her head, hands on hips. " I don't care what you say Gordon. My place is with V. I left him once, and lost him, I thought." Evey held Gordon's eyes with her own, then moved away from the bed and continued to pull clothes from the dresser. She turned back to Gordon, and continued, " That night, my whole world collapsed when he died in my arms." She stopped, taking a deep breath, seeing the look on his face. " He died in my arms Gordon----I know he did-----how or why he is here now, ten years later, I'll never question------all I know is that I will never leave him alone again. Now, if you will excuse me, I have packing to do."
Gordon chuckled.
" What's the matter?" She asked zipping the bag shut.
" You." He answered, a solemn look on his face.
"Why?" Evey asked.
" You are definitely the little girl I knew at BNN. You've grown....there is a strength about you that I have never seen before.....a strong woman that is no longer afraid of what the world may throw her way." He smiled at the woman standing before him and rose from the bed.
" Thank you, Gordon." Evey smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. " Thank you."
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The security system of the Shadow Gallery flashed to life as V enter4ed the access code into the keyboard. Plans flashed through his mind-----the first thing he would do was tap into Finch's station computer for any new information he may have received on the virus. After that, he would deal with Joshua Logan in his own way, on his own terms.
V stepped inside , the suitcase he had retrieved from the second labyrinth, he sat on the floor as he brought the gallery's lighting system on line. " Ah......" He looked around. The Shadow Gallery cast a calmness over V as he moved from statue to painting, to various other objects, touching them lovingly. Twenty years of his life had been spent here, planning, designing and carrying out his vendetta-----until Evey had come into his life, and everything had changed. He was grateful she had not removed the main pieces from the gallery, but had focused on emptying out the various other rooms he had used as storage spots. His eyes caught sight of the sofa in the media room where he had laid her after coming back from Jordan Tower. After checking the head abrasion Stone's gun had given her, he had taken her limp form into the the spare bedroom he used on occasion. A lot of memories lingered here, in his home. Some good, some bad-------some, better forgotten. Picking the valise up, V placed it on the piano top and headed for the gallery's communication room.
Tapping into Finch's private e-mail account, V searched for any communication containing the word 'virus'------within seconds, several messages appeared on the screen. V read through them quickly. Over 100,000 had died, and the toll was still climbing. Shaking his head, in disbelief, V finished scanning the screens, and hacked his way into the Nose's criminal database. No investigation had been started near or around the area Finch had told him about, so Logan's cell could be legitimate. Turning to a different monitoring system located in the Binghamton area----London's answer to the upper middle class. It took a few minutes to locate the neighborhood, but the address he had been given came on the screen almost immediately. V entered the code that connected him with a direct link into the Eye's database. It took only moments to pull the building up, and scan the rooms he could capture on camera. A smile appeared on his lips as one of the cameras zoomed in. He observed the building for several minutes until he had formed a plan in his mind.
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Evey hurried down the dark alleyway toward the Shadow Gallery entrance and home. Ravensclaw was a wonderful house, but it wasn't The Gallery would always be 'their' home----. She entered the security code and stepped away as the door swung slowly open. V had been here, the mode the light system was in confirmed that immediately.
" V?" She called out, his name echoing across the gallery, but there was no answer.
Evey swore looking around the room. She had missed him! Sighing heavily, she walked into the kitchen and sat at the table, waiting for him to return.
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V moved silently through the alleyway concealing himself among the shadows. The warehouse was only blocks from where he stood in the moonlight, atop a deserted building. So far, the night had been uneventful, but V still kept a sharp eye on his surroundings, for everything could turn disastrous in a matter of seconds. This warehouse was where Logan's forces meet intermittently to discuss business when the need arose. Well, tonight, there would be a special guest----one unannounced. Jumping to the adjacent roof, he made his way closer to the warehouse, searching for a way in, unnoticed.
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Crates and boxes lined the walls and filled the warehouse almost to capacity. Moving around the obstacles was not only tedious, but time consuming to V-----he was use to open spaces
Several voices came from the front of the warehouse and V crept slowly to where he could best observe the meeting. Seven to ten men sat around a large wooden table. The closeness of the crates and boxes made it almost hard to breath under the mask as V moved into position behind a large crate. A young dark-haired man sat at the head of the table---V recognized Logan from the description that Finch had given him.
" Inspector Finch has spoken with V----he is interested in our plans for the lab." Logan said to the others.
" How does Finch know it's the real V and not some plant of Norsefire's? Ten years ago, it was all over the city that he died when Parliament went up."
" You got a point, Robinson-----but what about the attack at the museum on Evey Hammond? "
The man paused, " That was the real V-----only he could have taken out those guards as quickly and efficiently." The other men spoke in agreement.
" Gentlemen, there is no further need for speculation on my demise. I assure you, I am quite well." The voice rang through the the warehouse as the men sprang to their feet, watching as a shadow separated from the darkness, the Guy Fawkes mask floating toward them like an avenging spirit.
" Put your guns down." Logan ordered, laying his pistol on the table, then watched as the other men followed suit.
V walked toward the table, his cloak thrown over his shoulders, his hands at his sides, the black
and silver knife pommels glistening in the light. " I have heard, Mr. Logan, that you wish to speak with me."
" Yes, V. Please, join us." Logan pointed to a nearby chair, " We have a lot to go over."
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Evey stirred at the sound of the gallery door opening, and sat up." V?"
" Evey?" The lights came on in a soft, warming glow. " Eve, what are you doing here?" V threw the hat and gloves on the table and walked to her.
" My place is with you, not stuck in a house in the middle of nowhere." I couldn't stay there-----not after what Gordon told me."
" Gordon?" V tilted the mask toward her.
Evey rose, " Don't be mad at Gordon, I tricked him into telling me."
V chuckled under the mask. " Yes, you can be most persuasive at times." He paused as she reached up and removed the wig and the mask.
" I was worried about you, V."
He humphed, and looked at her. " Evey, do you realize how much danger you have put yourself and our child in?" He asked softly, yet a stern tone to his voice as he reached up and slowly touched her face with a gloved hand.
" I'll be fine. " She answered. " There are ways I can help you from the gallery." She smiled up at him. " I can monitor your every move from here, and have constant communication via those small headsets of yours. I want to help, V."
A sudden recollection popped into his mind-----about another time she had offered to help with his vendetta. " If you wish."
Evey giggled softly, " Besides, I can control everything in the communications room."
" What areas are still active other than the Eye and Nose?" V asked walking down the hallway toward the communications room, Evey at his side.
" Most everything." Evey began, " I also re-established links with the Ear and Mouth."
V pushed the door open. Once inside, he brought the last newly connected monitors on line----each answering in turn as the screens lit up. " Wonderful...." His fingers moved quickly over the keyboard as he typed in specific codes to access various databases. The Ear was silent, listening to every word that was spoken. There were a few references to the virus, but the reaction was
substantial----the public seemed to be holding strong as the virus progressed, and there were no current target words in the system. The Mouth, on the other hand, was in overdrive. Reports from various other agencies that had been covering the outbreak were now beginning to bring their own theories on board. Several were in agreement that the virus was airborne, such as the common cold, but all agreed that this virus had not developed naturally------it had been man made, with most of the same properties as the St. Mary's outbreak, years ago----the major difference---this virus was more stronger and aggressive.
" I have to get into that lab---I have to know." V said, remorse in his voice. " I have to know if I am the cause."
" V...." Evey keeled beside the chair taking his hands in hers. " If anyone is to blame, it is Norsefire......they created the virus, just as they did with St. Mary's thirty years ago."
V looked at her, his rock of sanity, and rose from the chair, his hand extended toward her, and she slipped into his waiting embrace. " My love, my heart....." He whispered softly into her neck as his lips caressed the softness of her flesh. " Ah, Evey, what would become of me if I lost you for a second time."
" I'm not going anywhere, V." She answered, kissing him reassuringly. " If you are going to the lab, take Eric with you.....please."
" Mr. Finch will know when it's time. " V answered, " as well as we all. It will not be long."
" V, " Evey looked at him, " what are you about to do?"
" Something that will shock London back to life Evey, something they will remember....." He answered, the maniacal look back in his blue eyes once again.
Evey felt a slow chill flow down her spine. " What can be more memorable than the night Parliament was destroyed, V?"
" Nothing, " V answered, " except the night Norsefire is completely destroyed."
Evey moved closer, so she could see his face. " V, what have you done?"
He turned to her, his hands clinched at his sides. " I have planted gelignite bombs in every location where a Norsefire cell has been discovered."
" How many bombs, V?"
" Fifteen."
" Fifteen?" Evey questioned.
" Yes."
" The truth?"
" I promised you, no more lies." V spoke softly to her.
" Oh my god....." Evey whispered
" Eve, don't worry....the bombs are wired to go off at 2 am, there should be no other causalities other than the cells. In the meantime, I shall meet with Inspector Finch and Stone, along with their task force some distance from the lab. The lab shall be taken with quickness and minimum causalities."
" Be careful, please." Her arms snaked around V's neck as he lowered his face to hers.
" Only for you, sweet Eve----only for you." He answered, kissing her deeply, then slowly pulled away, his eyes never leaving hers. " I must go now if I am to keep my appointment with the good inspector." V grabbed the gloves, sliding them over re-constructed flesh in silence. Buckling the mask back in place, he adjusted the wig, the the cloak over his shoulders and headed for the gallery door, stopping mid-stride to look back at Evey. " I almost forgot, I have a gift for you, Evey." Reaching into one of the cloak's pockets, he produced a small square, mechanical box, and handed it to her. " When it is time, pull the antenna out and push the green button."
" Why?"
" It will set off the explosives ."
" You want me to set fire to London?" Evey looked at the box, then at V.
" You did blow up Parliament, did you not?" He said matter-of-factly.
A shy smile broke across Evey's lips. " Touche......where will you be?"
" With our friends." V answered, the mask tilting toward her, then he was gone into the tunnel.
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The self appointed leader of the new Norsefire political party stood by the fireplace. The heat from the flames felt good as he looked over the report from the lab. His plan, so far, had worked like a charm. V-19, the scientific name given to the new virus by his scientists had worked better than he could ever imagine. A quarter of the number he had set as the virus' goal had already been reached. Now, all he had to do was get rid of V, and if his plans continued as they were, he would have him very, very soon. The informant had been keeping him abreast of all of V's movements-----hell, he even had the location of V's underground hideaway where Evey Hammond now resided. Although he had a good man working for him, Jeffrey Creedy couldn't understand why a man of his standing would ever jeopardize a nice, comfy position with the Nose. Creedy chuckled, he guessed the man hated V as much as he did!
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Chief Inspector Eric Finch waited patiently a few miles south of the suspected lab. He chewed on his pipe as he watched Dominic approach.
" No sign of him yet, Inspector." Stone said joining Finch by a large stand of trees.
" He'll be here." Finch puffed on his pipe.
" I am a man of my word, gentlemen." V appeared out of nowhere, tilting the mask toward Finch in greeting.
" Logan is doing a last go over of the lab. He'll be joining us shortly."
" The explosives are in place. " V spoke, " Evey is awaiting my signal."
" Evey's here?" Finch asked, his eyes widened in surprise.
" Yes, Inspector. She is at the Shadow Gallery." V replied.
Finch grinned. " She always did have a mind of her own."
" Indeed." V agreed as Logan and his rebel forces arrived.
" V." Logan acknowledged.
V nodded his head.
" The charges have been set around the perimeter of the buildings. " Logan looked over at V. " It's up to you, now."
V looked at his pocket watch. " We have five minutes gentlemen, before London will see the last of Norsefire forever." His watch read 1:55 am.