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 Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:06 pm
That was much better. Marlena's voice was low, calm, and cool as she addressed the subject. "Why do you think you might be here, Mr. Maurlias?" A simple question, leading him to supplying her with whether or not he realized what he'd done to earn Sabin's ire.
Marlena's posture relaxed ever so slightly, an invitation for him to speak.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:12 pm
Ambrose looked back up and sighed. She was asking him?. She should know, he was brought here, so what did she benefit from asking him such a rhetorical question other than to push in his face the fact that she was staff and he was at her mercy. He felt like a child being punished for a wrongdoing - the tone and the phrasing was hauntingly familiar.
He chose his words carefully, not wanting to backtalk any more, but he did not like the position that he was in. "While I am certain that you would be in a better situation to supply an accurate answer, I might presume that I did not extricate myself fast enough from Dr. Duvert's path." He muttered. "But as to why I am here precisely... I can only guess."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:18 pm
Marlena nodded slowly. "Yes, infact you are here because of your interference in Miss Vaughn's extraction from her room. You are aware of the medical nature of these facilities, are you not? With the senses your change has been granting you, did you not pick up on the mental distress Miss Vaughn had been experiencing? It was absolutely vital that Dr. Duvert bring her in for examination to ensure that nothing had gone horrible wrong during her last transformation."
She paused, letting Ambrose absorb her words before she proceded. "Anytime someone interferes with the extraction of a patient, it puts everyone at risk. I cannot even speak as to Miss Vaughn's status at this time, but she could very well be in more danger because she had to be put to sleep along with you due to said interference."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:23 pm
Ambrose's jaw opened and if possible his ears pressed further back. "what?! But I mean... I was just trying to help~! I wasn't in his way.... but I didn't want to leave her alone - she was terrified! I didn't know anything was wrong... I mean... I thought that he just... I didnt' know what to do." He spluttered, scared that he might have inadvertantly hurt Amaya.
"I was trying to tell her that it would be alright... but she was terrified that the staff were going to.... well... euthanize her since her changes had completed. I mean.... that's...a preposterous assumption.... right..?" He paused, searching her features before forcing himself to continue so as to not - horror of horrors - put an idea in their mind. "But there isn't much one can do to quell an irrational fear, especially when I don't know the staff's full intentions..."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:28 pm
"Mr. Maurlias, are you a doctor? A psychiatrist? A scientist? Someone who in any way, shape, or form is qualified to calm a hysterical medical patient, treat them for injuries, or are knowledgeable of the myriad diseases that iguana's are subject to contracting, or for that matter passing on to other animals or humans?" There was concern and a slight reprimand to Marlena's voice as she pushed off the desk and paced around the chair.
"I'm rather certain you are not. The best thing anyone can do for a patient on this Island is to, first and foremost, obey directives by staff when there is a situation occurring. As to the other allegation..." Marlena sighed.
"Do think it through. How many millions of dollars has feral labs invested into the transformation of Miss Vaughn? Why on earth would anyone think they would risk the slightest harm coming to her, let alone euthanizing her? Subjects on this island are Dr. Moreau's greatest pride and love. You are his children, one and all, and although at times it might seem to you harmful, he is actually trying to take the best possible care of each of you."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:34 pm
"No." He gritted his teeth as he answered. "I am none of those things. Hence my exasperation at not being able to assist in calming her during her panic... which I was attempting to do, not get in Dr. Duvert's way. I did not see my presence in the room and thus my support of Amaya's fears to be imposing."
He heaved a sigh. "But regardless... I believe Amaya's fears stemmed from the fact that ultimately this is a massive science project and that most laboratory animals are culled after their usefulness is over. The experiment was run to completion and the results garnished and so she was worried that if Dr. Moreau was able to dehumanize us physically then perhaps he might be able to do so morally as well... albeit perhaps not in quite as specific terms. That... or relenquish us to a more visceral study..." He winced at even the thought of being sent to a lab table after all of this was over.
"But.... thank you for your... reassurence?" He wasn't quite sure if her chilly tone quite constituted a reassuring sentiment, but if her words were genuine, then Ambrose didn't care what tone it was delivered in so long as it was the truth.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:42 pm
"I assure you, Feral Labs has no desire to cull any of you, or send you away for other testing. The physical transformations have been completed, yes, but the physical is only a fraction of the study. The human mind, and it's reactions to adversity, new experiences, change...and whether or not it can persevere when co-minlged with that of another species is also part of what the Doctor wishes to discover. There is no point in the experiment if all it does is make big stupid animals, is there? There is no shortage of those in the world."
She smiled almost warmly as she sat back down at her desk. "No, Dr. Moreau seeks to make something better, something incredible, a new step on the evolutionary ladder if you will. Look at you, Ambrose..." She gestured at him, now was the flattery and positive reinforcement part of the interview.
"You are magnificent. A powerful, agile being with senses so much more powerful than a human, and abilities also surpassing one. Yet you retain human intellect, rationality, emotion, the concern and care for your friends, that animals lack. You are super human, and super animal if you will. As a man, you could have lived well, yes, but think of how much good you can do with the power you have now? You could find people lost in the wood without needing a helicopter or search parties. You could navigate in near total darkness without fail, leading others out of danger. You could stop violent people with a greater degree of ease..." she trailed off, letting him think up his own hero complex.
"All because of what has happened here."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:53 pm
He nodded, scratching at his arm as he listened to the reassurence that their 'use' to the labs went beyond their physical bodies. "I am glad that there is more direction to this project than just the physical end results... and I will be certain to convey that to Amaya if she has not already been told when I see her again."
He looked up as she directed the topic of the conversation to him, selfconsciously resting his cheek on his hand, ears swiviling skeptically.
"The... sensations... are certainly unique..." He downplayed - there was no denying that he felt different - empowered. During the soccer match with his heart racing in his chest as he tore across the field faster and with more grace than even on his best day in a fencing match had not slipped under his notice, nor the fact that his (team) beat out the professional player escaped his ego. But her examples brough a pang of regret to his chest.
"Yes.... all of those things would be wonderful.... but will I ever get the opportunity? I am not complaining about the fact that the laboratories go above and beyond to see that we are comfortable here, but ultimately we are prisoners. I can never fence in the olympics... or be on a search and rescue team or whatever else. While the process has aided my physically... even if I COULD ever go home... would anyone see me as anything other than a freak... or a curiousity at best?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:58 pm
Marlena murmured quietly "That will take time of course. Dr. Moreau needs to prove to the world that first and foremost you are not a threat. Then he has to ensure the world that you are still human, only better. I am more than certain you will not find you are reviled by all. Some purists and puritanicals of course, but is there not an entire culture out there dressing in costumes wishing they were exactly what you are now? Furries, I think they call themselves?"
She smiled "Think of comic book heroes. Many were at first reviled or seen as terrifying...until they proved themselves. You will need to do so, here first, then in society, to be accepted. I do not believe the Doctor wishes you to remain here forever, for there is no reward in an experiment no one ever knows about, is there?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:07 pm
Ambrose mulled over her words, a flicker of hope daring to rear itself in his chest. Was it possible? He was scared to nurture the fragile feeling - his hopes had been quenched here time and again, leaving a bitter pit of despair that had taken the efforts of himself and those that had become his friends here to fill in.
"I... assumed that he was just going to take the learning he garnished here and use it through other channels. I... well... I hope that someday he does go public, though I do not know if it is possible for him to do so without being arrested." He commented tentatively. As much as he wanted to believe otherwise.... Or did she know better?
"Has... he spoken to you of his intentions?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:12 pm
"Of course, I wouldn't be here otherwise. I was appalled at this experiment until he spoke to me more thoroughly of his intentions. I have only the best interests of the islanders at heart. Despite what vitriol someone else has been spreading about me. It's odd isn't, that some humans have a greater need of love and approval than most animals? You've never heard of a cocker spaniel pissing in their master's shoes then blaming it on the cat, just to make their master love them more than the feline, have you?"
She smirked a bit then folded her hands on the desktop. "Can I count on you, Mr. Maurlias, to set an example for the rest? You are, in my opinion, Moreau's most promising success thus far, because your attitude has been exemplary and your gentlemanly qualities have translated into your new form."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:21 pm
So was Moreau lying to her as well...? Or... was there really that possibility of eventual freedom? Moreau owned platoons of lawyers to fanengle the laws of human decency. Perhaps he COULD convince the judicial system, somehow, to let him escape repercussion for these actions. Perhaps bribing the islanders themeselves with the freedom the thirsted for in exchange for not pressing charges...
Ambrose's eyes narrowed as the woman commented on the negative rumors... Aubrey had mentioned something to him about a new doctor, a woman doctor. He had yet to get this woman's name, but perhaps it was the same! That... made sense - Aubrey did not seem to have much evidence against her save for an ignorance to what she was administering and a caution. "Are you... Dr. Frost?" He queried. "I have heard... only a little." If anything, however, Ambrose knew how Aubrey felt about Moreua, and a new high ranked female in the staff might very well cause her alarm.
"And... I am not certain what you are asking in that I set an example... I certainly have no intentions of letting my dignity slip. I... admit I worry about the impending final change, however.... especially after seeing Pyroth... though I know as well as any here that what makes a man is more than his form."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:26 pm
Marlena nodded her head. "I am indeed Dr. Frost, or the Wicked Witch of the Island if you'd care to believe some of the rubbish being bantered about. Fortunately for you, I'm afraid I fail miserably to live up to such a title."
She stood again, closing her file folder and approaching the wolf man. "I'd like for you to try to instill some of that dignity, and cooperation, in your fellow islanders. Please reassure them that no harm will come to them after their transformations complete, and that their cooperation, and civilized behavior is what is needed if they wish to leave this island at some point, and return to society."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:34 pm
Ambrose swallowed anxiously as he thought back to the rabbit that met its end between his jaws. That was certainly no action befitting a civilized human... nor a practice that would be condoned by society at large. How fearful his parents would have looked upon them had they witnessed that... acting like more of an animal than a man. He fidgeted, picking at whatever miniscule grime might have collected under his claws, unconsciously trying to rid himself of the uncivilized or 'dirty' action.
And... the temptation that he had felt at Pyroth's invitation to hunt with him... Despte his polite declining, it had seated itself in the back of his mind - some part of him yearned for the cooperative hunting - to feel the ground under his paws, to smell the fear of their quarry and to outstrategize and maneuver it... with the final reward of a tasty mea - No! He shook his head, lamenting the tangent.
"Well... I am pleased for one that the rumors are unfounded. And... I will certainly pass the word about not needing to fear for our safety or security. I am certain that that will come as a comfort to many." He gave her an honest smile, though one that wavered at the nagging worry of just how civilized one must be to stand up to the labs' scrutiny.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:38 pm
"Thank you Ambrose. I appreciate that. You can go now, the guards will escort you out. I don't think any disciplinary action is required, since you were just worried about your friend. But please, in the future, if asked to depart a place by a staff member, do so for your safety, their safety, and that of the person being treated." She gestured to the door with a warm smile.
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