The Anomaly

[Rodent]

Chapter 4- Retribution

Jacques Devereaux was relaxing, as his 'lady' moved through space. Everything was easy, power was in his hands, life was good. Soon he expected to retire, and live the rest of his life in peace, in a grand house somewhere on Marne, full of the comforts he needed......

"Sir, we have a Transmission request, identified as Ansel Xavier. Do I put him through?" Asked his communications officer.

Jacques was startled out of his reverie, but as he heard the name, a smile appeared on his large face. Ansel had not contacted him since he took the loan, and Jacques was getting rather anxious. "Put him through" He said.

The lean and handsome face of Ansel was soon visible on the screen, he wasted no time.

"I want to return the loan Jack." He said.

Jack was startled, how had he managed to make cash this fast!?

"Uh....uhm......Okay. Send the cash over to my neural net account."
"Actually, no. I wanted to meet you in person, have some....celebrations?"
"That would be great! Where do you want to meet?"
"Marne west-side, Houtel Reuvoir would be great, in two days. Good to see you again."

With that, the transmission was terminated. Jack smiled to himself, would be good to meet his friend after a long while, and the extra money never hurts. He relaxed in his chair, and fell back into wistful dreams of retirement......

Meanwhile, on the other end, Ansel sighed. That had been too easy .


***

Hotel Reuvoir was a posh establishment, one well frequented by people with money to burn. Jacques was seated at the table already booked for him, the formal get-up was annoying and uncomfortable. "But If I don't wear them, they would probably throw me out" He thought with a wry smile.

Presently, Ansel walked in, wearing formal attire. He waved to Jack, then walked over and sat down beside him.

"So, how have you been doin' friend?" Jack began.
"Very well, very well indeed, business is well and good." replied Ansel and smiled a little.
"Ah, so I saw. Was rather surprised when you called and said the money was ready."
"No big deal. Let's get down to dinner, it was expensive after all."

They ate dinner for the most part in silence, Jacque's questions being dealt with in a satisfactory manner. Ansel was getting really irritated at his 'friend's' stupidity, he longed for the moment. Finally, the dinner ended.

"Hm, that was good." Jacques said.
"Oui, pretty much. How about you visit my ship for a moment, You haven't seen it since I bought it", Ansel replied.
"Right, I just hope it's better than most of the floating pieces of **** I see around." Jacques said and clapped Ansel on the shoulder.

The Adrienne was positioned deliberately at a secluded position, away from the lights and glitter. Ansel got out of the hover-car and signalled to Jacques to wait while he opened up the ship.

Jacques stood there lethargically, his mind dulled and numbed by the heavy dinner, and the wine and drink. He never saw the shrouded figures moving behind him, nor see the heavy blow directed at his head. The lights went out immediately for Jacques Devereaux as the figures laboured to pick him up and carry him.

***

As the lights came back again for Jacques, he saw that he was in a dark room, and his head was throbbing with pain. Alarmed, he tried to move, but could not, his body was very securely tied up.

"Where am I!? What happened!?" He shouted.

"Your questions will be answered Jack" said a familiar voice. Presently, Ansel came into view, he looked exactly the same as before, complete in formal attire. What was different however, were the gun-toting henchmen with him.

"Ansel! What's the meaning of this!? Totally not a good joke!" Jack said in a lower tone.

"Do I look like joking Jack? What is true is that you have been kidnapped, and I want something from you." Ansel said cooly.

"Ansel you bastard!" Jacques said and spat. A goon immediately emerged from the shadows and hit him in the head, hard.

"You would do well to drop the insults Jacques, and listen to what I say."
"Like hell I will!" Jack tried again, and this time there were multiple punches directed at his face and body.

"You are just so stupid, aren't you."

Jack had subsided, and said nothing, he was bleeding from the nose where the goons had punched him.

Ansel continued. "Anyways, here is what I want from you, you will sign this document" He gave Jacques a pad. The big man took it, and it read as follows-

"I, Jacques Devereaux, do hereby put all my property under the direct control and ownership of Ansel Xavier, to be operated by him and him solely, and I will retire to the Sirius sector, opened up by the Council and spend the rest of my days there. No attempt shall be made to contact me or to find me, I wish to be free of Gallia. This document I sign in complete control of my senses, and without any manipulation whatsoever."

Jacques looked up in horror. "You...you son of a bitch! I will never sign this!" he screamed.

Ansel sighed and shook his head. "Wrong answer, try again."

"I-will-never!"

Ansel gave a signal to the goons, and they encircled the captive. One of them started with a sound hit at Jacque's elbow, snapping it in two. He screamed, but that was only the beginning. Several of them started punching him in the torso, he yelled and begged them to stop, but stop they did not. Only when the captive had coughed up blood did they stop.

"Reconsider your decision Jacques, I will let you live and give you enough cash to survive in Sirius, if you will just cooperate."

Jacques looked at him hopefully. "Re-re-Really?" He gasped out raggedly.

"In the name of old friendship, yes, just sign the documents Jack."

The captive hesitated for a moment, what he was doing was throwing all his years of hard work away. But in the end, he weakly took the DNA mapper and signed the documents. Ansel took the mapper from him and signed the documents as well.

"Well, that is settled. Thanks Jacques" Ansel said, smiling broadly now.

"Le-let me g-go no-now?" Jacques spluttered.

"You wish Jacques. You are so stupid really. You think I will let you live so you can blab out the secret to everyone you know? Of course not! Anatole, your call now."

The big mercernary-for-hire emerged out of the shadows where he had remained hidden from view, and wasted no time. Taking out the standard issue blaster from it's holster, he aimed at Jack's head, and fired. His head vanished, as the searing laser blast vaporized it. The rest of the military men now took out their weapons, and started taking shots at his body, till not a trace of what was once Jacques Devereaux was left.

"Good job Anatole, the money will be transferred" said Ansel in an emotionless voice, and left.