Brus was peering through the window of the guardian's palace at Nimbus, with Serus waiting at his throne, when Sardus walked in;
"Commander Brus, greetings!" Sardus said with a bow.
"Go – on Sardus!" Serus responded.
"News from the Elite is that Lucius signal has been received!"
"When did this happen?" Serus inquired.
"Before the eighteenth meteor float!" Sardus replied.
"Tell the Elites that Lord Brus seeks a meeting!" Serus said.
"Ok; it would be done!"
"Let them know that Lord Brus would be travelling to Earth with the Curest!"
"But you know that would be difficult to accept as without the Curest in Nimbus, there would be famine in the land and hence extinction of the colony!" Sardus admonished.
"That is if my Lord fails to return with it. Better still tell the Elite that my Lord seeks to payback the earth dwellers for their attack at Nimbus – death of Thoromus and Banimus and restore the missing Curest back to Nimbus!" Serus orated.
"Ok; It would be done." Sardus replied before leaving.
After some minutes;
"Lord Brus, without the Curest in Nimbus for years the colony would go into extinction!"
"Yes! But that wouldn't be as the end of Earth dwellers would be quick and our conquest throughout time and space easier; when we have the complete piece. We would build a new order for the world; built from blood and Sulphur!" Brus said reeling with laughter and was joined by Serus.
****
Early the next day, Dave was sitting at the centre of the cage dejected, and then he groaned and dashed towards the bars of the cage with all his might. After a torrid fizzling sound and deep cry of pain, the cage exploded with a severe vibration that shock the foundation of the building – penthouse.
After some minutes with the buildings source of power out and crumbled column dust settling down, then Dr. Robert's men came searching for him;
"Who's there!" the leading gang member shouted, Dave heard and lifted himself up at the sound of his groan, bullet rained towards his direction and immediately, he charged towards the closest window and shattered it; escaping from the building.
When the gang member surveyed the building for a while, they returned and saw traces of Dave's blood on the floor.
"Bullet wounds! Our dear Replicator has lost his superhero qualities!" Anthony Mane said licking the blood as he roared with laughter.
****
The grand palace was filled to the brim, with every tribe in Nimbus represented and seated in the midst of the Elites was Brus and Serus.
The clerk read;
"Today, we are here to deliberate on the removal of the Curest from our midst for the annihilation of the Earth's dwellers. Retaliation for the fatal price of invading Nimbus and killing our own soldiers, most especially – Banimus and Thoromus!" the clerk stopped.
As silence was observed for the dead, after some minutes, Sardus asked;
"Anyone has something to say?"
"You know retaliation is a pedestal word? The main word is conquest! Yes – conquest! This has been the plan of Lord Brus and Serus before their exile and years after – they return – they still want to do their own will; mask it as retaliation.
My question to our Lord is – conquering the universe at what cost?" a grey haired Elite spoke.
"Hey! It's hard already that we are replenishing but if the Curest leaves Nimbus for more than a year, life will be lost in our planet – extinction of Nimbusian colony. Can we trust our future in the hands of a power drunk soldier?" another Elite chipped in.
"The Curest should stay in Nimbus, where it belongs …" another Elite continued.
Sardus scanned the atmosphere and shouted,
"Clerk, start the polls!"
After some minutes;
The clerk whispered into the ears of the Elite head and his eyes shone in disbelief.
"It is decided; the Curest will leave! Prepare for war against the Earth dwellers!" Sardus announced and struck the gavel.
Noise erupted from all areas of the palace hall as Elites was arguing bitterly in protest.
Then Brus stood up and said,
"If you think otherwise; step forward!"
After some time with no one stepping forward,
"I thought otherwise!" Brus said as he roared with a sickening laughter.
****
Dave woke up and tried to move but was full of pain and his head ached; as he turned towards his left, he saw Dr. Aberdeen looking intensely at a test tube half-filled.
"Good morning Doc.!" Dave said.
"Oh, you are awaked? You almost lost your life Dave!" Dr. Aberdeen said placing the tube on its holder and walking towards Dave.
Dave narrated his encounter and paused,
"I know Dr. Robert would do anything just to be relevant!" Dr. Aberdeen fumed in disgust.
"He has the Curest and he uses it at will, what do we do Doc.?" Dave asked.
"Just get well first and then I would let you know what we would do!" Dr. Aberdeen said.
After a while;
"You know Sarah has been asking about you frequently!" Dr. Aberdeen said winking as Dave burst out laughing.
****
Dr. Robert was sitting in his office with Anthony Mane and four other guards.
"Doctor! What do we do now that the Replicator has escaped?" Anthony inquired.
"Nothing!" Dr. Robert jeered.
"Nothing?" Anthony pondered.
"Yes! Two weeks after the incident, crime skyrockets, no sight of American superhero – the Replicator!
Don't you think the bullet wounds has killed him or maimed him?" Dr. Robert shouted as he burst out laughing.
"Ok boss!" Anthony replied.
Then Anthony got a call and he said,
"Doctor! The investors are here!"
"Oh! Let them in!" Dr. Robert said rubbing his palms together expectantly.
After some minutes, two men walked in;
"Mr. Dimitri Savin and Mr. Sven Zichenko! Nice to meet you!" Dr. Robert said exchanging pleasantries.
"Where is the Curest?" Mr. Dimitri asked astutely.
"Where is what? Oh you mean the money?" Dr. Robert asked.
"The Curest!" this time both men – Dimitri and Zichenko – asked in unison.
"I thought you were bringing the money!" Dr. Robert asked slamming his hands on the desk with rage.
Then Dimitri and Zichenko transformed, then Dimitri placed his hands on Dr. Robert's head and Dr. Robert fell into a deep trance. His men stood rooted to the spot.
"Serve me my children! Join my army!" with this Dimitri cackled with flashes of transformation – Brus and Dimitri.