The heroine is standing in the doorway to the bridge of my ship, sword drawn. It’s made of metal, the likes of which I haven’t seen in…who even cares? When there’s so much history to remember, getting everything straight is impossible. Fact is, at some point, those physical swords were slowly replaced by guns, followed by guns shooting lasers, just like the smartphone overtook the flip phone in…some year.
Not that any of this matters. Not the fuming heroine. Not the planet I had wanted to watch burn as my afternoon entertainment. Not the endless cycle of good and bad. Crime and justice.
They call me a villain because I don’t play by the rules. They call me a supervillain because I cannot die.
Except–
“It ends here, villain!”
Oh, the beauty of a romantic. A new hero, unmarred by failure. Maybe she fancies me her nemesis to be? Little does she know of the tragedy that has befallen me.
“Don’t bother.” I shoo at her dismissively. “There’s no glory to be found here. I’m as good as dead.”
She’s stumped. Of course she is. Her expression must mirror my own when I first found out. Back then, I was too focused on the catastrophe clenched between my thumb and index finger, to register much else.
“What do you mean? Aren’t you that immortal one? My mother fought you and her mother before her. It’s this whole legacy thing, and if I got the wrong guy…”
She stops and her face falls. I give her a closer look.
Yes, now that she says it, I can see the resemblance.
“No, no. That would be me.”
Well, since she’s come this far, and considering her family’s history with me, I may as well grant her the victory of knowing what has happened. I beckon her over with one hand, but all she does is clutch her sword with renewed vigor. That sword…I remember, now. It must be a family heirloom. This ancient piece of metal has been following me through generations.
But it won’t for much longer. That stupid old thing may just outlive me.
“Don’t be silly, dear. Your stance is much too inflexible, anyway. And how old are you? Twelve?” I try to convince her that she doesn’t stand a chance against me. She may as well come over here and accept my invitation to look at it.
“I’m sixteen. How else would I have a small spacecraft license to catch you out here?”
They all look the same, but I guess that makes sense.
“Alright, sixteen, then. That’s far too young to throw your life away. Even if I were senile, which I’m not, I could topple you easily with that bad posture of yours. Now don’t be difficult and come. You’ll like what you’ll see.”
Still, she’s reluctant. I’m not even wielding any weapons! Sure, there’s a laser gun beneath the control panel, but what use is it, really, if I am to die soon, no matter what?
The heroine inches forward. Maybe she thinks she can land a surprise blow by playing along. Whatever the case, I don’t care much. Let the little girl take the fame, what does it matter?
When she’s just out of striking distance, I grab the disgrace that’s been lying in front of me all this time – my final humiliation – and hold it up to her. She squints her eyes at it.
“See? It’s over.” I wave it around, but she still doesn’t see.
“Are you delusional, Sir?”
Does she need glasses?
“Just look!” I get up and shove the single gray hair in her face. She flinches, anticipating an attack, and almost slices straight through me.
Then, her face scrunches up in confusion.
“Is that a hair?” Finally, she sees.
“Yes! Look at it!” Doesn’t she understand? Doesn’t she get the implications?
No. Judging by her puzzled look, she doesn’t.
“It’s a gray hair, girl. It means I’m aging. My life may as well be over now.”
She lowers her sword, eyes wide, mouth twitching. Then, she has the audacity to laugh, shaking her head. Her voice is hysterical and bounces off the walls of the bridge uncomfortably. Of course, she’d be happy that her nemesis won’t be of this world much longer.
“Yeah. I thought you’d like that. Now leave me alone. Let a man die in peace.”
NotHack Europa 