Prose Magica: The Exile of Doctor Strauss Part 2
A young girl sat alone in bustling cafe, idly sipping at her coffee as she stared out at the busy streets of Santa Destroy. Her hair was shaggy and unkempt, her glasses didn't quite fit properly over her tired, bagged eyes, and she wore a rather unstylish dull green track jacket, with frayed cuffs from years of anxious fidgeting. She looked like little more than a shut-in, finally emerging from her house for the first time in a week. Which, as it turned out, was entirely true.
The news droned on in the background, a young reporter going on about some crisis in a far off country. Not a word had been spoken about the massacre in Varrigan. Not a single word about an entire city being effectively erased from the map. There had been talk of Horzine Biotech declaring bankruptcy, but very little in the way of explanation. To the outside world, the event - quickly becoming known as the 'Varrigan City Massacre' in the magical girl world - had essentially never happened.
A few minutes past eleven in the morning, a woman walked in and took a seat across from the bespectacled girl. She was tall and buxom, with bright green hair cut short and piercing, narrow yellow eyes. She wore a black coat over a white blouse and tie, topped off with a black sun hat.
"Mornin', Em," she said, giving the girl a smug grin and a wink. Her voice was like silk, with just the slightest dash of Southern sunshine. "Lookin' good."
"Zis is ridiculous," the girl muttered, glowering. "I look ridiculous."
"Aw, that's nonsense, punkin! You're cute as a button!"
"I am not cute," she pouted with crossed arms. "I am Doctor Emma Strauss."
"Well, sure, I mean," the woman said, waving a hand, "you could use a bit of make up, a BRUSH, glasses that fit, some nicer clothes, but... Oh shoot, where was I going with that..."
"Can ve move onto business, please?" Strauss muttered. "Zis is embarassink enough as it is."
"Oh, come on, Em! How often do we get a chance to just sit and chat like this? How are things? Huh?"
"How are sinks? HOW ARE SINKS?! Vell, let's see," the girl began counting on her fingers as she spoke, "I lost my job, my home, my money, my experiments, not to mention all of my eqvipment und now I'm stuck in ze shittiest motel in Santa Destroy! Zat is how sinks are!"
"Come on now, it can't be that bad."
"It is EXACTLY zat bad!" The scraggly-haired girl took a sip of coffee, grumbling to herself. "No sanks to YOU. Please tell me exactly vhy I kept you around if you vere unable to varn me about a full-blown COUP IN MEIN OFFICIO?!”
“Because," the woman puckered her lips and batted her eyelashes, "deep down inside you're lonely and enjoy my company?”
“Your 'intelligence', or lack zereof, cost me EVERYSINK und you expect sit down und talk like nosink is wronk?! Or vas zis all a part of anozer vun of your little plans, hm?”
"Emma, baby, sweetie, honey," the green-haired woman said, in as condescending a tone as the doctor thought possible, "lemme learn you a thing about a thing, okay? You seem - or seemed, as the case may be - to have this little delusion up in that big old brain of yours that you're invincible. Untouchable. No one in their right mind would EVER want to come after the GREAT EMMA STRAUSS, no sir, am I right? Come on. Let's face facts, hon. Was it MY fault that you had jack all for security run by a bunch of Varrigan rent-a-cops and that mangy little pet experiment of yours? Hm? And was it my fault that you cloistered yourself away in your glorified basement and ignored the Officio that you were in charge of? Hm, hm?"
Strauss' lip twitched as she brought her cup up to her lips. She stayed silent, only giving her companion a piercing glare over the rims of her glasses, which was promptly ignored.
"For world-class genius, you can be pretty god damn stupid, Em."
The doctor coughed and hack as hot coffee shot up her nose. "EXCUSE ME?"
"You heard me," the woman said, her patronizing smile disappearing in an instant. "You want my advice, you just ask, but don't pin this whole fiasco on me, now. Alright, sweetie?"
Strauss scowled as hard as she could, but remained speechless. Everything the woman had said was true, and she was far too pragmatic to try and deny it. Even as a timid looking waitress approached the table, the doctor kept furrowing her brow and waved the girl off without sparing her so much as a glance.
"Venti caramel non-fat latte, please," the green-haired woman said with a wink and a smile. "Thanks, hon."
The girl jotted the order down, repeated it back, then scampered off, so as not to risk the ire of the gruchy-looking nerd.
"So," the woman said, leaning over the table, "I'm 'nna take a wild shot in the dark here and say you're in the market for a bit of good old-fashioned revenge, no?"
"Right now, I don't know vhat I vant," the doctor murmurred, her gaze still wandering out the window. "Payback, sure. Vhy not make myself a billion dollars und finish ze Maerorus project vhile I'm at it, hm? I have nosink left, Frau. How am I supposed to get my revenge vhen everysink I own fits in ze trunk of my car?"
"I," the green-haired woman's eyes wandered as she feigned an innocent expression, "might be able to lend a hand. Assuming you ask nicely, that is."
"You? Hah!" Strauss barked. "I already sold my soul vunce before, I do not intend on repeatink my mistakes."
"Listen, sweetie. I'm not gonna bullshit you, because you're smarter than that. This... This 'Malal' character has been a thorn in my side for a good while now. Long story short, I want her gone and I want to know if you're in a position to lend a hand with that. Y'understand?"
"You are tryink to tell me zere is no catch?"
"Mutual interests, honey. You want your revenge, and I want her dead for," the woman waved a hand, her expression less cheerful as she tried to find the right words, "let's say personal reasons. Do we have a deal or do we have a deal?"
Strauss drummed her fingers on the table as she thought over her options.
"Meet me in vun veek," she finally said. "Bring me everysink you know regardink ze relationship betveen Ekaterina und zis... Malal. Ve vill see vhat can be done."
"Sounds like a date. Mind letting your old girl in on the plan?"
"I vill explain vunce I am sure it can be done, and only zen," Strauss said, taking another sip of coffee. "Until zat time, I vill say nosink."
"Keeping the cards close to our chest, are we? Well shoot, hun! You really ARE learning!"
The doctor nodded. She slouched over the table, holding her chin in her hand as her golden eyes flicked up to the woman across from her. "Regardless, I doubt it vill be possible viss only two people."
"Honey, please," the snake-eyed woman gave a wink and a smile, sending a shiver down Strauss' spine. "Why don't you let me worry about the details?"
Strauss found herself in a dark room. Or at least, a dark space. She could recall the woman with the green hair handing her a package and leaving the cafe shortly after, then making her way back to the gaudy little turqouise and beige motel that was her current residence. Everything beyond that became something of a blur, which could only mean-
+Hello, Doctor.+
The voice rang out of the darkness, neither masculine nor feminine. In fact, it didn't seem to speak at all; the words simply appeared in Strauss' consciousness, as though she was present for a conversation that had never existed.
"Guten tag," the Doctor replied, bowing her head as a very slight, reserved smile decorated her face. "It has been some time, Herr Erste."
+Ten months and sixteen days by my count,+ the unvoice of the First replied, cool and emotionless. +I assume that have you received this meeting's agenda from Miss Prime?+
"Ve met zis mornink for coffee, ja."
The Doctor swore she heard a slight chuckle from the darkness. +It's funny, you know," the incubator mused. "Of all the awful human... concoctions, or what have you, each and every one tasted like filth. That is, with the exception of coffee."
Strauss nodded, but remained silent. Her expression of mild irritation said everything for her.
"You're a woman of science, Doctor. I expected you, of all people, to understand," the First said. "Regardless, please, have a seat. Do you have any questions or concerns before we begin our discussion?+
A leather sofa chair materialized beside the Doctor, and as she sat down she was delighted to find that it was just as comfortable as it looked. Her words came slowly as she thought out her question, almost hesitating to ask. "Zere is... vun sink. Tell me, Herr Erste, vhat has happened to my city?"
+Ah. Yes. Varrigan. Quite the commotion you have caused, Doctor,+ despite its unwavering tone, the voice sounded... faintly amused. +The Eighth and Thirteenth have spent quite the sum to hush the masses. Full media blackout, all Officios involved have scrubbed their records of the event. 'The works', as they say.+
"Und ze city itself?"
+The Eighth will be left to do with it as he wishes, however,+ the incubator paused for a moment, and the Doctor could almost hear the smirk in its voice, +in the best interests of our operation, I was obliged to fill my dear brother in on the nature of the city's, ah, newest inhabitants. What happens to it now is entirely in his hands. Though, he did express some interest in constructing a maximum-security penitentiary in the city's place.+
"He vants to," Strauss looked over her glasses at the non-entity, "turn it into a prison?"
+Something of the sort, yes,+ the First replied. +He has always been something of a wildcard, as you know. He always did have his eye on Varrigan after the Thirteenth took control.+
"Und it vould be a fool's errand to invade ze city..."
+Precisely. I could not have my dear brother meet such a dreadful fate,+ she was sure it was amused by now. +Could you imagine, Doctor?+
The Doctor readjusted herself, crossing her legs as she sat back in her chair. "Ja," she muttered, "vell zen. If zat is all, could ve move on to business?"
+Very well, very well. Moving onto the details of the Maerorus Project, there is, ah, good news and bad news," the First stated. +Which would you prefer to hear first, Doctor?+
Strauss hesitated. For the first time, she was staring down the consequences of her miscalculations. Part of her wanted to skip the discussion entirely and carry on living, the fate of her life's work in constant limbo. At least then she would be able to live with the hope of resuming it one day.
After a deep breath to steel herself, the Doctor spoke. "Give me ze bad news first, zen."
+Oh, excellent. For a moment I was worried I would have to find a way to tell you the good news first, and that would be dreadfully awkward,+ the incubator said. +The bad news, quite simply, is that the Maerorus Project will be suspended for the time being.+
"Vhat-"
+My associates and I have deemed it prudent to place the project on hold for a minimum five year waiting period,+ it continued, ignoring the shocked and wide-eyed Doctor. +At the conclusion of this waiting period, assuming you have not expired, we will review the continued necessity of the project.+
"But- My- My vork," Strauss stammered, "You can't-"
+As a matter of fact, I can. Please do not embarass us both with pleas for sympathy. Must I remind you that it was your own arrogance that wasted billions of dollars and a over a decade of work in a single, spectacular display of ineptitude? Do I make myself clear, Doctor?+
The Doctor let her head down and held her face in her hands, nodding silently. She could already feel a knot in her stomach and a pain in her throat.
+Good,+ the incubator said, not a hint of emotion in its voice. +As for the good news, we are prepared to issue you a regular pension as a sign of our gratitude for your past work. It should be sufficient to live off of, though, I doubt you will find yourself in the lap of luxury.+
"A- A pension?!" Strauss shouted. "I am not some obsolete object to be placed in storage!"
+For the next five years, Doctor, that is exactly what you are. Take solace in the fact that we did not choose to scrap the project all together.+
The Doctor's head dropped into her hands once more. All she could do was mutter a quiet, "Schiesse..."
+Miss Prime will deliver your new living arrangements within the week. Barring any emergencies, you are to remain indoors until that time," the First explained. "Assuming you have no further questions or concerns, I believe we have reached the end of our meeting, yes?"
Strauss nodded again, without a word.
+Excellent. Our meeting is adjourned then," the incubator said. With a moment's hesitation, it added, "If it is any consolation, I believe some of my brothers were eager for you to resume work on Project Valhalla. I will put you in contact with them as soon as possible. Good day, Doctor."
The voice faded into the back of her mind as the darkness closed in. It seemed only moments later that Strauss opened her sore and bleary eyes, finding herself tucked into bed, night having long fallen over the city. The Doctor pushed herself out of bed and reached for the bedside lamp, then reconsidering as her hand touched the switch. For now, she was more content to sit in the dark.
Strauss' eyes grew hot and throat sore. For the first time since she was a little girl, Doctor Emma Strauss cried. It was as if a dam had broken. She held nothing back; tears ran in twin streams down her flushed crimson face.
Somehow, she hadn't fully realized everything that had transpired until then. A small part of her had desperately clung to the hope that she would be able to resume her work after a brief hiatus. Now, she finally understood just how much she had lost, and how much she had truly treasured all that she had created.
Sweet, sad Typhus. Cute little Lil and her furry feet. Clair and the look on her face every time she got a new toy. Butterfingers, her favourite pet. The ever-loyal Thorne. Ekaterina, the one who had rose the highest above them all. Strauss had never loved them as a mother should have, but they were her family nonetheless. And it was likely that she would never see any of them every again, because of the one they called 'Malal'.
As she wept, Strauss could only muster one clear thought through the haze of loss and regret enveloping her mind.
Malal would pay. There would come a day when Malal would lie beaten and broken, begging forgiveness, with only regret and sorrow left in her heart. Only then, as she watched everything she had built crumble before her eyes, would Malal die.
Only then would Doctor Emma Strauss have her revenge.
