Night 48: Intercom, Midnight
The static on the intercom suddenly increased in volume, crackling menacingly throughout the halls. A high-pitched squeal emitted from the speakers, followed shortly by what seemed to be the sound of thunder in the distance. The Head Doctor, apparently temporarily cured of his illness, chuckled lowly into the microphone.
"Sounds like rain might be coming along. I do hope, Miss Jill, that your compatriot is doing as well as you seem to think. Otherwise, who knows? Flash floods do sometimes happen around here."
The Head Doctor paused, then seemed to let out a sigh that didn't fit his smug demeanor. The creak of his chair could be heard, along with the rap of his fingers on his desk.
"Truly, though, I'm feeling... a little tired of these games. Well, yes - certainly. this is all for the greater good and certainly the situation is completely within my control, but perhaps the question is why we needed this control in the first place."
The Head Doctor's voice seemed to become a little more ragged. He seemed to lean closer to the microphone.
"I'm sure you've all been wondering what the true purpose of this place is. Why you're all subjected to these tasks and trials, why I'm the leader of all of it, and moreover, how it is that you seem able to reappear and disappear at the snap of my fingers, with or without the powers that many of you desperately miss."
Another deep breath. There was a quality to the Head Doctor's tone that hadn't been audible in any of his broadcasts until now, one that seemed small and almost tragic. It seemed to be the voice of a man who had seen more than he had perhaps been prepared for, enough to warp it beyond reason or recognition. Although shaky, his voice continued.
"Well... I guess it was inevitable. One way or another, you were all going to learn about the Project... Next-Wave, or whatever the hell you want to call it. I.R.I.S.' little speech ruined some of our plans, but... I wanted you to hear it from me - why Landel's Institute was created in the first place, and what it's true purpose is. It all started when... when, during the war..."
He spoke the word heavily, as if it weighed physically on his shoulders. Then, after a few long seconds, the intercom's audio feed began slowly fading into silence...
Looked like the Head Doctor wasn't quite as ready to talk as he'd claimed.
"Sounds like rain might be coming along. I do hope, Miss Jill, that your compatriot is doing as well as you seem to think. Otherwise, who knows? Flash floods do sometimes happen around here."
The Head Doctor paused, then seemed to let out a sigh that didn't fit his smug demeanor. The creak of his chair could be heard, along with the rap of his fingers on his desk.
"Truly, though, I'm feeling... a little tired of these games. Well, yes - certainly. this is all for the greater good and certainly the situation is completely within my control, but perhaps the question is why we needed this control in the first place."
The Head Doctor's voice seemed to become a little more ragged. He seemed to lean closer to the microphone.
"I'm sure you've all been wondering what the true purpose of this place is. Why you're all subjected to these tasks and trials, why I'm the leader of all of it, and moreover, how it is that you seem able to reappear and disappear at the snap of my fingers, with or without the powers that many of you desperately miss."
Another deep breath. There was a quality to the Head Doctor's tone that hadn't been audible in any of his broadcasts until now, one that seemed small and almost tragic. It seemed to be the voice of a man who had seen more than he had perhaps been prepared for, enough to warp it beyond reason or recognition. Although shaky, his voice continued.
"Well... I guess it was inevitable. One way or another, you were all going to learn about the Project... Next-Wave, or whatever the hell you want to call it. I.R.I.S.' little speech ruined some of our plans, but... I wanted you to hear it from me - why Landel's Institute was created in the first place, and what it's true purpose is. It all started when... when, during the war..."
He spoke the word heavily, as if it weighed physically on his shoulders. Then, after a few long seconds, the intercom's audio feed began slowly fading into silence...
Looked like the Head Doctor wasn't quite as ready to talk as he'd claimed.