Behind Closed Doors

“Some of the SALC guys have been caught,” said Sunset, sitting on the roof of the Pavilion Theatre. “Not the Director, though.”

“Do we know what it stands for?” asked Lunar Mtist.

“’Smokers Against Legal Cancer’,” replied Sunset. “Their point being that ‘smoking don’t kill people, lawyers do’. Sort-of thing.”

“I hate people like that,” said Lunar Mist. “As soon as a new law comes in, they whine about it being unjust. Do they realise how much effort it takes to pass a new law in the first place?”

“I wonder if it happens with all laws,” said Sunset. “Like, if taxi drivers moaned about having to carry hay everywhere. Or if people in that US state cried bloody murder about their pickle having to bounce to be legally considered a pickle.”

Lunar Mist stared out over the city.

“Think it ever ends?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“The quest,” he replied. “The journey. We’re trying to prevent crime in this city, but it seems that the more we prevent, the more new crimes get invented.”

“We’re not really expected to police the smoking ban, are we?”

“No, but you know what I mean. Does anyone ever complete their life’s work? Or do they just die from exhaustion?”

-10001-

Mr Spencer arrived at her front door. And he stopped running. He opened his briefcase, and checked the device. He laughed. He roared with laughter. He practically punched the air. He wiped a tear from his eye.

He could have savoured it. The last moment. But he didn’t care. He just wanted to finish.

He closed the briefcase, and ran around in a wide circle.

The last seventeen steps.

-10001-

“Sometimes, I feel we’re just a drop in the ocean,” said Lunar Mist. “Two of us, trying to make a difference.”

“There used to be just one,” Sunset reminded him. “You inspired me to do this. Without you, I wouldn’t be fighting crime either. You’re responsible for both our achievements.”

“Thanks,” said Lunar Mist gratefully. “But your achievements are your own. Inspired by me or not, you’re better than I am. You put away more criminals, you prevent more crime.”

“And you’ve been doing it longer.”

“And it won’t be long until you’ve caught up.”

“Oh, shush.”

“But, you know,” Lunar Mist continued. “We do what we can, but we only manage to prevent high-profile crime. Super-villains, kidnappings, terrorism.”

“Isn’t that the most important thing?”

“Maybe. But you never know what we’re missing. What happens behind closed doors.”

-10001-

It was 2001. Mr Spencer had a visitor.

“Hello, there, Mr Spencer,” said the visitor. “I’m Doctor Walker. I have it on good authority that you’ve created a serum with some rather interesting effects.”

“It’s not ready to be shown yet,” said Mr Spencer. “I’m going to use it for my doctorate.”

“I’m afraid you’ll sell it to me,” said Doctor Walker.

“It’s not for sale,” said Mr Spencer.

“Then you’ll exchange it for this,” said Doctor Walker, presenting a small vial.

“What is it?”

“The only known cure to the Broken Mirror Virus,” said Doctor Walker. “A new virus of my own creation, which kills the victim in exactly seven years.”

“I don’t understand,” said Mr Spencer. “Why would I need a cure for such a virus?”

“Because soon, you’ll need the cure yourself.”

Mr Spencer snorted with derision.

“I can’t be blackmailed,” said Mr Spencer. “My serum would be very dangerous in the wrong hands. I imagine you threaten to poison me? Even if you do so, I would die with the secret rather than hand it over to a terrorist.”

Mr Spencer tried to close the door, but Doctor Walker blocked it with his foot.

“I wouldn’t be poisoning YOU,” he said. “I would be poisoning HER.”

Mr Spencer’s eyes opened wide.

“Yes, you may value the serum over your own life, but I knew you’d do anything for hers.” Doctor Walker checked his watch. “By now, my assistant will have administered the poison. Would you care to make a deal?”

-10001-

“It’s all about finding another way in,” said Sunset. “I’ve felt helpless before, and I’ve always managed to remain upbeat. You just focus the energy onto something else.”

“Like what?” asked Lunar Mist.

“If you’re feeling down, find a supervillain,” Sunset explained. “The adrenalin of a good fight will soon have you back to your old self. Or, if you’re lacking job satisfaction, find some people you’ve saved in the past. It’s a bit self-indulgent, but I personally like to call to see parents of young children I’ve saved.”

“Really?”

“Always with an excuse, of course,” said Sunset. “Plenty of people think that my mild-mannered alter-ego is a Jehova’s Witness.”

Lunar Mist considered this.

“That might help, actually,” he said. “Remind myself of the good I can do.”

“See?” said Sunset. “Cheered up already. As I say, there’s always another way.”

-10001-

She was crying. Trying to control herself for Mr Spencer’s sake.

“I won’t be the one to ruin your life,” he said.

“I won’t be the one to ruin your life’s work,” she said. “You know what that man could do with this serum thing. He could – and probably would – kill hundreds if not thousands of innocent people. I’ll gladly sacrifice myself for those.”

“I’m not sacrificing anyone,” said Mr Spencer. “He’s given me another way.”

“What?”

“He sent me this device,” he said, indicating the heavy box on his lap. “It can generate a current that neutralises the virus instantly.”

“Why on Earth did he do that?”

“To give me a sense of perspective,” said Mr Spencer. “To prove just how powerful this dormant virus is.” He sighed. “It needs so much power. And he’s designed it in such a way that there’s only one way to charge it.”

“How?” she asked.

“You wire it into your body,” said Mr Spencer. “Through the wrist, I imagine. And then …”

“Yes?”

“You have to run.”

-10001-

“You have to keep going,” said Sunset. “Keep working, keep doing ANYTHING to keep yourself fulfilled.” She looked over at Lunar Mist. “We’re in a high-risk job, and that means we end up doing all sorts of crazy things. Like in Torchwood.”

“You watch Torchwood?!”

“I love it!”

“You’re mental,” said Lunar Mist. “So you’re suggesting we drown out the noise with copious amounts of adultery?”

“Course not,” said Sunset. “Because that goes against the grain. It’s human nature to want to protect the world, and make it a better place. That ranges from wanting to bring about world peace, all the way down to wanting to make a loved one smile. They’re equally important.”

“This from a Torchwood fan …”

“Oh, shush.” Sunset walked over, and placed a hand on Lunar Mist’s arm. “You make the world better, a little bit at a time. It’s why people raise children to the best of their abilities – increase the amount of people like themselves in the world. Even murderers mostly believe that their victims genuinely deserve to die.”

“And us?”

“We maintain the balance. We cancel out the amateurish efforts of the ignorant and the immoral to lead us into a world run by terror.”

“Did you get that from a book?”

“Of course.”

“And how long do we need to do this?” asked Lunar Mist. “How long until we’ve done enough?”

“On a long enough timescale? Forever,” said Sunset. “Tonight? As much as we can.”

-10001-

“Six years.”

“No!”

“I can do it in six years.”

“You’re not serious.”

“Twelve hours a day. Six years.”

“Don’t go.”

“I have to. It’s the only option.”

“You can’t RUN for TWELVE HOURS A DAY for SIX YEARS.”

“Yes I can. I start tomorrow.”

“Please, don’t.”

“I’m going, and that’s final.”

“I have seven years left. Only seven years. I have to spend them with you.”

“We’ll have decades when I return.”

“No …”

“I was going to sell my house anyway. Mind if I leave all my things here?”

“Stay.”

-10001-

“Feeling better?” asked Sunset.

“Yes,” said Lunar Mist.

“Not going to go all ‘Lunar Mist No More’ on me?”

“No,” he laughed.

“Good. You’re my muse. Need you around, or I can’t work.”

Lunar Mist wasn’t sure if she was serious or not.

“Do you fancy teaming up?” he asked. “Fighting side by side?”

“Best not,” said Sunset. “We get more work done seperately. Tell you what, though – I’ll give you my mobile number. We can help each other out in emergencies.”

“Good thinking,” said Lunar Mist. He surveyed the city again. “What shall we do now?”

Sunset approached the edge of the roof.

“Go grab a fat slice of satisfaction!”

-10001-

She hadn’t seen him in nearly five years. It had been even longer since she’d since him out of that suit.

It had been five years since she’d asked him not to tell anyone why he was running. She couldn’t bear the thought of him sacrificing his entire life for her sake, and didn’t want to be seen as the selfish girl who sat at home all day while he ran.

She’d hated that device. What kind of scum would create something like that? The answer to all the problems, keyed in to Mr Spencer’s own DNA, so that it wouldn’t work if anyone else used it. And why running? Why not cycling?

A knock on the door.

She stood up, slowly. She hadn’t cried in five years – she felt as though she’d run out of tears – but she could feel the emotion behind her eyes.

She walked towards the door. She opened it.

“Hello,” said Mr Spencer. “Might need a show-“

She launched herself at him, hugging him tightly, pulling him indoors. He pushed the door shut as she kissed him passionately.

“A year in hand,” he said. “And I got the last three months off by running extra.”

She held him tightly, crying now.

“I love you,” she wailed. “You’re back.”

“I did it,” said Mr Spencer, as calm as ever.

He opened the briefcase, and took the attachment out of his wrist. He disinfected the needle – the last of the disinfectant he’d brought with him – took her wrist, rubbing the last of his anasthetic onto it, and placed the needle inside. She felt a current passing through her body. After several minutes, the device was out of energy.

She smiled broadly.

“It’s gone,” she said. “I can feel it.”

And finally, Mr Spencer gave in to his own emotions. He lifted her from her feet, hugging her as tightly as she’d held him, kissing her deeply.

For the first time since the wedding, Mrs Spencer had her husband back.