Space Novel: The Volta

He looked like some who would sleep at a public library. It wasn't just that he'd gotten older, but he'd really let himself go, hygiene-wise. His nails were like two inches long and dirty. Stringy, oily white hair hung limply, in places it stuck by some unknown force to his haggard, sleep-deprived face.

"Voltron, you look like wino." Honestly, it kind of made me sad. He was just a crazy old man in a dingy rundown evil lair. "Have you ever seen Grey Gardens?" I asked, watching a badger root around inside a DOOMBOMB launcher.

"Spare me your pithy blustering, hero. After all these years, I'm going to finish the job I started, all those years ago! I'm going to kill you!" He tried to laugh but I ended up having to support his weight while he coughed up a black tarry substance. I led him over to stool in the corner by some death ray or something. It would take a half-minute for him to regain his composure.

While he was hacking away on top of the stool, I walked over to the spot on the middle of the floor where Shannara was vaporized. I don't know what I expected, but there was nothing really remarkable about it. Just ugly tiled covered in crusty food stains and cat hair.

"Reliving your past failures, son? Do you remember her screams? Do you remember your own inability to save her? Do you remember your own impotence in the face of my power?" He stifled a laugh, so he didn't break down again.

"Yeah, I remember."

"And it is painful, no?"

"Yes. But you know what they say, you can't have the good things in life without a little pain."

The Doctor scoffed, "That's what poor people say."

He had a point. "You have a point."

"Maybe I won't kill you after all. Maybe this is worse for you. Maybe my ultimate victory will be letting you live after I have ruined your life!"

At this moment, I had a moment. I'm not really sure what the feeling I had was, but it was something different. Self-awareness maybe. "You know Doc, I think maybe I ruined my own life. I'm pretty sure I could've stopped you without endangering her life. I'm pretty sure Shannara and I could've been married today. I'm pretty sure I could've been happy."

I looked up at him. He looked confused and very sad.

"But, no I am the shadow that has stalked you! I am the monster in your-"

"Hey, look, I'm gonna get going. Do you need anything before I do?"

Bewilderment gave way to a certain tenderness. "Well, I can't reach the top cabinets in the kitchen anymore. Could you pull down a can of soup?"

//END OF PART