Act Fourteen - Scene 10: Failed Mission

‘It is never easy to report to Alex Rosewater and tell him that you have failed to do something properly. It is even harder for me, because though he has yet to get angry with me, we are both well aware what will happen when he does.’

    “So what you’re saying is that you missed?”

    “Unfortunately, Mr.- ” he throws a glance at me that makes me correct myself, “Alex, unfortunately, that is correct.”

    “Then why didn’t you take a second shot?”

    “The android you believe was R*D’s prototype was there, and she protected him.”

    “One pathetic machine stopped you from achieving the goal of your mission?” Alex raises his voice a little, but not to shouting level. Oddly, he isn’t angry. “Well that’s of little consequence.”

    “Sir?”

    “I’ve arranged for the Negotiator to be invited to the Saint’s Day Ball.”

    “I don’t follow.”

    “Of course you don’t.”

    I narrow my eyes at him, and it’s safe to do that, because his back is turned.

    “I wouldn’t expect you to understand because I haven’t told you anything about what I’m planning.” He turns to look at me and I’m sure he notices that my eyes were slightly narrowed at first when he turned to look at me. “Angel, be patient. You’ll hear it all soon enough.”

    “The Saint’s Day Ball…”

    “Be sure to have something appropriate to wear, Angel.”

    “Surely you don’t mean-”

    “Who else would be a suitable escort for me?”

    I frown slightly and he smiles tolerantly at me, “If you want to know the plan you’ll have to be a part in it, dear child.”

    “It’s next week.”

    “That shouldn’t be a problem, given the resources you have at your disposal.”

    “It won’t be.”

    Alex nods and steps back over to the window, turning to face it properly. I sense a dismissal in his actions, and so I turn towards the door, only to be stopped by his voice. “A few memorable people will be there, of course.”

    I pause and glance back at him.

    “A pity Beck couldn’t join us. But he’ll fulfill his role in the masquerade a little later. Time to begin the next stage of the plan, please tell me you’ll join me, Angel?”

    “Big Duo is almost complete,” I respond, narrowing my eyes slightly at his biblical gesture of spread arms over the window.

    “No, dear woman, Big Duo is complete. It is almost time for it’s unveiling.”

    “Who to pilot it though…” I start, voice skeptical and low.

    “She’s already been selected.”

    “You don’t seriously intend to…” he throws a glance over his shoulder at me. “You do.”

    “Her field testing went rather well, you must admit.”

    “That was you who sent her to kill Roger?” I have broken pace in the conversation, and Alex leaps on my words.

    “Who else would be able to create such a creature, if not Paradigm? Who could decide on programming for such a single-minded objective, as me? My father may have written the book, but I will,” I cannot tell who he is trying to convince as he says these words, himself or me, “be the one to finish it, and not some wretched Negotiator.”

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