// THE LABORATORY //


This evening, the Doctor has graced me with his presence. We were falling into a pattern, even just twice-repeated, that we would dine over open books. The Doctor did not eat, but he sipped at a glass of brandy while I browsed the texts.

He was polite, if nothing else kind could be said.

TRELAINE

MY HOME WAS A PARADISE, YOU KNOW.

SO MUCH MORE FREE THAN THIS PLACE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN.

NONE HAD TO LIVE INSIDE A CAGE.

KEVIN

YOU CAME FROM YEUROP?


The Doctor had a strange quality to his manner of speech which I could not quite place.

TRELAINE

IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, I SUPPOSE.

I WAS EDUCATED THERE.

I DON’T SUPPOSE YOU’VE EVER BEEN.


I hold my tongue in affirmation.

TRELAINE

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

OR AT LEAST IT WAS, UNTIL THE MORTALS BEGAN TO REMAKE IT IN THE NEW STYLE.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING IRREPARABLE BUT IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME.

PERHAPS YOU TOO WILL SEE IT SOME DAY.

THE TELEVISION CAN’T DO IT JUSTICE.

KEVIN

I WILL SEE IT IN MY OWN TIME.

TRELAINE

OF COURSE, OF COURSE.


I flip through the textbook, the page flipping the only audible ambiance.

TRELAINE

WE’RE GOING TO REMAKE THE WORLD.

YOU DESERVE TO SEE IT FROM OUTSIDE YOUR BEDROOM WINDOW.

KEVIN

I’LL CHOOSE MY OWN VANTAGE POINT, THANK YOU.

TRELAINE

YOU’RE ANGRY NOW, BUT IT WILL LESSEN WITH TIME.


I did not like his overarching, commanding way of condescending to me.

I did not like being told what I would and wouldn’t feel.

KEVIN

I DOUBT MY ANGER WILL DISSIPATE UNTIL YOU ALLOW ME THE CHANCE TO RETURN HOME.


But the Doctor Trelaine refuses my defiance.

TRELAINE

GREAT CHANGE ACCOMPANIES GREAT CHANGE, KEVIN.

YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE TODAY BUT IT WILL GET BETTER.

THAT IS WHY WE LIBERATED YOU FROM YOUR PRISON.

SO THAT YOU COULD THINK CLEARLY.

KEVIN

I THINK PLENTY CLEARLY.

TRELAINE

YOU THINK THAT.

IT FEELS THAT WAY TO YOU BECAUSE YOU’VE BEEN INDOCTRINATED TO THEIR CORRUPTED WAY OF LIFE.

A WAY OF LIFE THAT SEES THEM LOCK THEIR ONLY SON IN A CAGE.

GROW UP WITHIN ITS WALLS AND LIMITATIONS.

YOU DESERVE BETTER.

KEVIN

THEN SET ME FREE.


I try to fully portray the depth of my contempt.

TRELAINE

I’M SORRY, I CAN’T DO THAT.

THE WORLD NEEDS YOU.

I NEED YOU.

KEVIN

I DON’T SERVE THE WORLD.

TRELAINE

AND INSTEAD YOU’D PREFER THE WORLD SERVE YOU?


He laughs, a cold, high, mirthless laugh.

TRELAINE

WE CAN DO THAT TOO, KEVIN.

YOU HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL WE NEED ONLY UNLOCK.

SURELY YOUR FATHER HAS RECOGNIZED IT.

KEVIN

AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF MY FATHER?

TRELAINE

SURELY I DON’T KNOW MUCH MORE THAN YOU’VE LEARNED YOURSELF.

THOUGH I DOUBT YOUR OLD MAN IS VERY TALKATIVE, HMM?


I did not say anything.

TRELAINE

YOUR FATHER IS FROM A VERY SPECIAL PLANE.

VERY SPECIAL INDEED.

IT EXISTS ORTHOGONAL TO OUR OWN.

MY PEOPLE CALL IT ELYSION.

WHAT DO YOUR PEOPLE CALL IT?


I found myself rather dumbstruck and unable to conjure a response.

TRELAINE

HAS HE NOT TOLD YOU HIMSELF?

WHAT A PITY.

HAS HE ALSO NOT TOLD YOU THAT THE ONLY REASON HE IS HERE IS TO SERVE PENANCE FOR PAST SINS?

DOESN’T YOUR FATHER EVER TALK TO YOU?


I felt the heat of embarrassment rise to my cheeks.

KEVIN

MY FATHER TALKS TO ME PLENTY.

TRELAINE

AND YET IT SEEMS HE’S TOLD YOU SO LITTLE OF HIS TRUE NATURE.

KEVIN

I AM SURE HE WAS TO TELL ME IN TIME.

TRELAINE

AND WHY NOT FROM DAY ONE?

WHY HAS HE HIDDEN HIMSELF FROM HIS ONLY SON?

KEVIN

MY FATHER IS SICKLY. HE DOES THINGS WHEN HE’S ABLE TO DO THEM.

TRELAINE

THE LORD OF HELL IS NEVER TRULY SICK.