Interlude III

Dr. Charleston's Office.

  "Are you sure you are okay to go in by yourself?" Mave asked, for the seventh time this morning. She was worried and rightfully so. As far as she was concerned a person who was the equivalent of her daughter was about to go talk about a particularly difficult topic with someone who was a complete stranger.

  Mel for her part looked sad but reserved. With a silent but proud nod she spoke to her resolve on this matter. Seeing the look caused a wave of pride and nervous tension to rise in Mave's chest.

  Click.

  The sound of a wooden door opening echoed nicely in the open corridors. With the sound a young man, with smooth rugged features that spoke of years of easy living strode out. With hungry lustful eyes he scanned the hallway then turned his predatory gaze upon Mel.

  Instantly protective instincts arose within Mave. She barely noticed the rise of electricity on the base of her neck to show that she had subconsciously gathered power at the sudden act.

  "Why hellooo." The man who was clearly Kyle's older brother cooed in a most annoying manner.

  "Um. Hi?" Mel said, her hand twitching to push a strand of hair behind her ear. It was a nervous tick and one that drove all the boys crazy. This lecher was apparently no different as his eyes ate in the gesture like it was an all you can eat buffet.

  "You must be Mel, my brother's girlfriend. He's told me so much about you." The lecherous brother lied convincingly.

  "Oh, he did? I thought you two weren't getting along?" Mel said, sounding flustered.

  "Oh, we are brothers. We are bound to have a minor spat from time to time." He spoke. The more he spoke, the more the hair on the nape of Mave's neck rose in alarm. This man was clearly lying to her. Worse he was using so many different mind reading powers on her it was almost an illegal intrusion into her mind. Mave was about to say something, when she was saved by the good doctor.

  "Next?" Dr. Charleston said.

  "Oh, that's me." Mel said, smiling in a nervous way before saying "it was nice meeting you?"

  "Chet." Chet said, holding out his hand. A hand that practically glowed with joyous powers and intent. Again, nothing wrong with spreading joy, though his general use of mind powers caused Mave to question some of his actions. Seeing this, Mave made a mental note to investigate his background a little more.

  Fortunately, Mave didn't need to step in, as Mel just smiled nervously and ducked into the room before she had to touch the offered glowing hand.

  "Oh hi, I didn't see you there." Chet said, holding up his still glowing hand as he turned his eyes on Mave.

  "No, you wouldn't." Mave said coldly as she just stared at the offered hand.

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  Chet continued to hold out his hand for a second or two more, before just lowering the hand and leaving Dr. Charleston's office quickly.

  ***

  Melissa entered the office of Doctor Thurston Charleston, immediately upon entering she made a line to the comfy chair where she reclined and relaxed. Once in the reclined position Dr. Charleston began his normal speech.

  “Thank you for coming here today. You have been asked to come in to speak about any lingering grief you might be suffering from the loss of Cadet Kyle Goldman. This is just a warning, but protective wards are being implemented now to protect the privacy and integrity of our conversation. Anything we say after these wards go up will be strictly protected by both doctor-client confidentiality, along with the strongest anti-scrying and detection wards available.”

  Whoom.

  A slight buzzing sound could be heard as the privacy wards came on and with one unifying tone, they began blocking out any interfering magical or electrical signals. Only once both were relatively certain that the wards were in place and that enough time had passed for any residual magical connections to be frayed apart did the two begin.

  “I didn’t realize they also authorized you to take part in this experiment. Though given the subjects recent attachment to you, I can understand. Any particular reason why you have taken on the lead romantic interest?” Dr. Charleston said, and instantly dropped his persona as a good psychiatrist and instantly delved into his role as project lead.

  “I was authorized to play a minor character. Initially I was established to keep eyes on Mave. But then my role got compromised on the first day.” Mel began giving her rundown of events.

  “Explain to me your current level of interest in the boy? He always seems conflicted with your level of involvement with him, constantly seeking guidance and advice. Now seeing that it is you, your actions do make more sense. Though you are playing a poor version of the role you have taken on, explain.”

  Hearing that Mel, or the being assigned to play the role of Mel nodded before answering. “I originally began as a confidence booster, or at least that was my intended role or purpose. I meant to increase confidence so the subject would be willing to try other relationships.”

  Hearing this Dr. Charleston nodded. “So what about the brother? I saw he made initial contact in the hallway. What are your intentions with him?”

  “I intend to take the fall. We know the brother only goes after the primary love interest. Given his current interest it is certain he will make a move. Oh and Mave already seems to have her doubts about him.”

  “So you are the bait?”

  Mel nodded. “I am the bait.”

  Dr. Charleston paused for a moment then looked at Mel. “What are your opinions of the subject? Have you fallen for him?”

  Mel paused. “I don’t believe so.”

  Dr. Charleston paused at that admission. “This is a dangerous game you are playing. If you are going to end things, then you need to end them crisply. The most obvious way is when the brother makes his move.” There is a slight pause. “Do you intend to force the move to happen while the subject is away? Or do you have an alternate goal in mind?”

  “I intend to let it happen naturally. I will use the previous scripts to let Chet make his moves. Then either Mave will notice and act on her own. Or the subject will come back to find the brother up to his old tricks. I am told he already found out about his brother from the other universe.”

  “Yes, that was a fortunate turn of events.” Dr. Charleston said with a hint of undertones to his words.

  “You don’t think it was all coincidental?” Mel asked.

  Shaking his head. “No, it felt too orchestrated. As if a divinely inspired coincidence were at play.”

  Mel nodded. “So you think there is another player?”

  Scoffing.

  “At least one, likely another team entirely.” Dr. Charleston states.

  “So what should we do?”

  “Continue to play our parts. Now that we have chosen to stay on as our current roles, our ability to influence events are limited.”

  “And what about the alternate universe?”

  “What about it? So long as the subject comes back alive and mostly intact, we are fine. With you taking the first attack from the brother, the relationship angle should be salvageable.”

  “You don’t think the subject has ruined the relationship with his true love?”

  “Oh it is damaged and strained, but nothing that can’t be handled. She has come into consult with me about the subject already.”

  Hearing that a strange confluence of emotions washed over Mel’s face, but then ended quickly.

  “I guess I have one last question.” Mel said.

  Dr. Charleston raised an inquisitive eyebrow, as if to say go on.

  “The Endarian liaison who is with the subject even now in the alternate universe. Is she an operative?”

  “Who can say for certain? But I doubt it.”

  “Doesn’t it feel a little too coincidental for her to be there?”

  Hearing this Dr. Charleston nodded. “We are in strange times.”

  “Are you certain there can’t be another regression loop memory?”

  Dr. Charleston shook his head. “No, each time we give more information, the Scourge are allowed to get that much more powerful. No if it happened again I might have to do more than just a few memory wipes to the subject…” He trailed off not wanting to finish that comment.

  Mel, or the being playing the role of Mel nodded in agreement. Finally, after a moment of silent contemplation.

  “So, we are in agreement then. I will lure out the brother, while you will prepare for the subject’s inevitable return?”

  “Yes.”

  That one word would begin a course of events whose conclusions would soon be unavoidable. Both hoped that it would be enough, while not tipping their hands too much about their true identities, nor their true intentions.