A Noir Interpretation

This is not a story. As a friend recently made me aware, a snippet only becomes a story if it includes redemption. There is no redemption here. There is only darkness, moral ambiguity, and black and white photography (Which another friend informed me makes lighting effects much more pronounced. Who would've thought it!).

This is, however, something of a prequel to the BioGrecoGirl trilogy. Kinda like this is a prequel to the Star Wars Trilogy. As with that other prequel, most of you will, after having read this, prefer to pretend it doesn't exist. As a writer (but not a story writer), I guess that's the risk you take.


Part Zero: When the Narrator Wasn't Looking

TeaBrewster walked along the foggy path towards the glassy spires of Catlett Citadel. He knew the resident of the citadel would be able to tell him what he needed to know. Stepping forward resolutely (imagine the opposite of this), he heard the echos of haunting organ music as he stepped inside the massive structure. He stepped into the large, open foyer as fog billowed in behind him.

"Father Aldrich?" TB said, hoping to be heard over the organ music.
"Aldrich?" he repeated.
"Go. Away," a clear voice called through the music.
"I need your help," TB said.
"I have not offered my help," the voice replied. "I am... preoccupied."
"I need to talk to him," TB said. "I need to talk to the Instructor."

The music died away. TB heard footsteps from high above him, in the organ balcony. He looked up.

There stood Father Aldrich (picture the guy on the left), looking down at him in the dim light. "Do you really?" FA asked.

"Yes," TB said. "He sent for me. He wants me to come to the Hidden Hall, but..."
"But no one can find the Hall unless they've been brought there."
"Exactly."
Father Aldrich paused in a very noir manner. "I'll take you," he finally said. "We'll just say you owe me one."

They set off together, walking past the Physical Sciences Center and within sight of the library clock tower. After some time, they came upon a dull, unassuming building and entered. They walked up to the elevator, only to discover that they would have to climb the stairs instead. As they entered the hallway leading to the Instructor's office, the background music took a more modern turn. FA knocked on the office door.

"Enter."
FA opened the door and motioned for TB to precede him. As TB did, he saw a bearded man sitting at a desk, smoking a pipe. (It felt a bit like this, but hopefully nothing like this.)
"TB, I've been expecting you," the Instructor said. "You look drained, would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Is it decaf?"
The Instructor and FA glanced at each other briefly.
"Just have the one, it can't hurt that much," FA said.
"Alright, but I've got to watch my caffeine intake," TB said as he sat down. The Instructor rose from his desk and began pouring a cup of coffee.
"You're wondering why I've asked you here," the Instructor said as he handed TB the cup. "You see, I'm working on a project for a very important client, and I could use your help. My client is conducting vital research in the area of ultrasonics. However, to continue this research, I need to get a component for a new device they've developed."
"What sort of device?" asked TB, who was already more than half-way through his cup of coffee and feeling very energized.
"That's not really important right now. The important part is the component, a bathroom iPod stereo deck. Do you know where I can get such a component?" the Instructor asked.
"BGG has one," TB said. "She always keeps it in her lab coat pocket. Not that she'd part with it, I suspect." TB downed the last of his coffee. "This coffee is amazing."
"It's a special blend."
"Have another," FA said as he refilled TB's cup.
"What do you think it would take to convince her to give it up?" the Instructor asked.
"You'd probably have to take it from her," TB replied, "and she and her friends would stop you before you could do that, anyway."
"No one is suggesting taking it by force and violence," FA said.
"Her friends would stop us, wouldn't they," the Instructor said.
"Yeah. Between the Schupakinator and SeamsJess, you'd have your hands full," TB said. "I'd help them."
"As you should," the Instructor said. "Let me warm that up for you," he said, pouring more coffee into TB's cup.
"Thanks. This stuff is amazing. I mean amazing, I really like it it really provides just the right pick me up you know what I mean?" TB's words began to run together with frantic energy.
"We will certainly pass on the compliments," FA said.
"Now, I'm sure by now you're wondering who this client is," the Instructor began.
"Not really, do you have any more coffee?" TB asked. His cup was somehow empty again, clutched in his twitching hand.
"No," the Instructor said.
"What do you mean 'no'?" TB said angrily. "I need more *coffee*!"
"I'd love to accommodate you, but I'm afraid the Schupakinator took the last of it," the Instructor said.
"She did," TB said. "She did. Well, well. Took the last of my coffee. We'll just see about that!"

TB got up suddenly, throwing his chair against the wall, nearly hitting FA. Like a bolt of lightning, TB shot down the stairs in search of the one who had deprived him of more caffeine.
"That was quite a brew you gave him," FA said.
"I had some help with it. It's like trucker coffee, but with extra kick," the Instructor said. "He's had the caffeine equivalent of a dozen cups just now, which should take care of the Schupakinator. I trust you can get me the component now?"
"What about her other allies? "FA asked. "What about SeamsJess?"
The Instructor folded his hands as he sat behind his chair. "Leave her to me," the Instructor said knowingly. "Soon it won't matter if they all know that the Instructor is just one guise of mine."
"As is the Economist of Evil."
"Of course," the Economist of Evil said. "Remember, we need the component delivered to the movie theater."
"This had better work," FA said. "I have no problem getting the component for you, but I have no intention of actually killing anyone for this project. I'm not a villain, whatever BGG or anyone else may think."
"You will have to trust me," EE said.
"Assuming you are no villain, yourself. You still have not told me what the device being built is."
"All in due time, FA," EE said. "There are still too many variables to divulge that information."
"Very well. I will met you at the pond," FA said. "If you'll excuse me, I have two more movements to play."

As FA shut the door behind himself, EE muttered under his breath, "Be careful what you assume, Justin. I never said I wasn't a villain."