Chapter 8: She's a Little Runaway (and Epilogue)

A/N: I just finished reading Susan Kay's Phantom, and I'm completely amazed at what she's accomplished: a story that fits seamlessly on top of the original Leroux novel, yet is most definitely E/C! If you can't find this incredible read at the library, contact me – I might be able to help you get it.

-February 1986-

In the weeks leading up to the planned police raid, the "ghost" showed no sign of leaving the premises or changing his habits. His little computer mishaps increased to a greater frequency than ever before. Every time someone complained about the forced project, he found his computer unusable for a few hours, the hard drive filled with junk, or some important file deleted. Carlotta was hit the hardest, even on the days when she didn't say a word. Power outages also occurred at highly inconvenient times. To all but two of the Opera Computing employees, the fugitive was clearly oblivious to what was about to befall him.

The day of the meeting, and of the capture, arrived. The "ghost" continued to make his presence known with bits of chaos even while the police were there, seemingly sealing his fate. As Christine and the other programmers prattled on about the halfhearted efforts they'd made, the men took their positions. Twenty elite officers, trained for years in the science of catching fugitives, descended downstairs. They lit every corner of the underground tunnels with industrial-strength lighting. They brought twenty dogs trained to track the scent of a human. They brought electronic aid, too—cameras placed in every hallway they had uncovered. In two hours of this brute-force search, they accomplished what had taken the obsessive Joe twenty years. They found Erik's hideout, his computers, his books, and his electrical equipment.

Yet they did not find Erik! He had, in fact, left the building days ago.

Frustrated at this failure, the FBI detained every employee of Opera Computing for three days of questioning. No one could offer more than confused speculation. Christine and Mrs. Grant had known they'd be questioned, and had practiced their responses carefully. They said nothing to reveal that, in the final days while Erik was gone, it was Christine who had carried out the "ghostly" mischief. With all the time Christine had put into designing the new Phantom Project, it took little effort for Erik to show her how to use his prototype version. He had taught her during the happy reunion that took place when she told him about the proposed escape plan.

Although Christine had enabled Erik to leave the building unnoticed, there was still the question of where he could go without being apprehended. She had taken care of that as well, after Mrs. Grant had told her more about Erik's history. After Christine was released from questioning, she took the next flight to Washington DC, where Erik was safely waiting for her at the Soviet embassy. From there, they had the choice of living anywhere in the Communist world. Any country under the control of the Soviet Union would accept the son of such brave martyrs to the Communist cause, someone who had himself destroyed a military asset of their capitalist enemy.

-Epilogue: 1986-2006-

In 1992, the expatriates Ilya "Erik" Z—ev and Christine Z—eva were allowed to return to the United States along with their two children. Erik's cousin Anya, who had been very close with them, also came with her husband. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War were one small part of this decision. More important was the revelation that the accused traitor and his accomplice were the principal designers of the Phantom system, one of the American government's most valuable means of electronic surveillance.

Indeed, Erik's great project had become a reality after all. When Arnav and Frank examined the contents of Erik's computers after the raid, they saw the prototype Phantom Project software and realized that he had been using it for most of his electronic sabotage. Finally realizing the project's true potential, they and the Opera Computing programmers worked feverishly to implement it. They received a lucrative contract from the NSA for its completion and maintenance.

In this way Erik's promise came true: once Opera Computing took on his project, they never again had to worry about revenues. The government was satisfied with the Phantom Project work, and began to award Opera Computing more contracts; and as a rule, a government contractor is never lacking in money. Carlotta was not allowed to take part in those projects which were classified because she was not a citizen. She soon left the company in indignation, and has since returned to her native China.

Opera Computing moved to a newer and more desirable building immediately after receiving their first compensation from the government. The old Dulce Hogar Federal Research Facility was finally demolished, and several factories were built in its place.

Meg Grant, now Meg Grant-Johnson, published her first book six months after Erik and Christine left the country. This novel, dealing with the events at Opera Computing, and her four later ones earned her large sums of money. More important to her, though, her success has earned her lavish praise from everyone in her family. Meg's mother Adele Grant has continued as the office manager of Opera Computing, though with a much larger staff working under her. They are close friends of Christine and Erik and visit them several times a year.

Raul Chavez assumed the presidency of the Chavez Conglomerate following his brother Esteban's early retirement. He and his wife Elena live in New York City with their four children. After Erik and Christine returned to the US, Raul helped them obtain jobs in Chavez Conglomerate's massive research and development center. Many of the eccentric geniuses working there have far more unusual quirks than Erik's insistence on covering his face, so very few people have questioned him about it. Yet although Erik has by and large adapted to living in the world and being with people, he still possesses a penchant for solitude leftover from the years alone in his underground home. He and his family live in an unfriendly-looking, castle-like mansion with few neighbors. It is said that he still spends most of his free time in the cellar underneath his house, working and experimenting just as he did for years before.

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A/N: Thanks for reading this story! My next fic will be Les Miserables - I'd like to do a Valjean/Fantine romance. If you have any elements that you think readers would like to see in a story like that, please message me!