Gala Surprise
What a lovely evening for an elegant and may I say, extravagant ball! It's a very rare occasion that anyone outside of Mechanica Majestik gets to view their main engineering chambers, but this very evening they are opening their doors to the cities elite for a formal dance, followed by a dinner presentation of their latest breakthrough, what a treat for a ravishingly handsome lion like myself! My mane was just sculpted this afternoon by my stylist and I feel like I'm radiating joy like the sun! Oh, but it is such a pity that it must be ruined by...business matters.
Of course it's not my highly successful catering business that is the issue here, quite the opposite. It's my personal commitment to assisting a certain character by the name of Colorado. My investors (and I'm assuming his as well) asked me in no uncertain terms to help him in any way that he required this evening, though I couldn't possibly imagine what use I could do for a, and how do I put this delicately, an eccentric tinkerer. I believe those were the terms used when describing him by the few that have talked about him in whispers. And in this business it always pays to listen to the whispers.
Like just this evening I overheard a pair of high ranking officials of the Salamander Society near the washroom complaining of how little fresh live food is usually served at social events, to which I then contacted the kitchen staff and promptly put out a delicious bowl of fresh live worms wrapped in lettuce casings and served with a mild mango sauce. And as always, as soon as the ladies from the washroom returned, they were astounded with the marvelous confections and couldn't stop raving about how they would love to have my staff cater their next event. And not just 5 minutes ago I found a charming young lad who...
"Excuse me, are you Theadore, the head of Anything Goes catering?" a lovely voice said from underneath a white lace veil.
If the voice had been anything but musical and pleasant, I would be somewhat irked by them breaking my train of thought, but not only was the tonal quality pleasant, she was also accompanied by a ravishingly handsome young red fox as well. He was dressed in the same type of fine tuxedo and short dress coat that was all the rage in the city now at days while his companion was equally regaled in an elegant, yet, subtle full evening gown. It was amazing the cinching that her corset was doing to her body which was only accentuated by the extremely large hoop skirt extending about her feet and completely covering the floor. She wore the Veil of Contemplation which was popular among the ladies of Mechanica Majestik and obscured the face from view while the wearer could barely see out. This allowed them to think on the teaching and mysteries of the Universal Machine or so they said. I personally thought it was a bit overdramatic. Most often was the case, they were escorted by their family members, but this one had a fine young specimen of what the natural world could offer, and I wondered what kind of wildlife he might be willing to ...
"Excuse me, you seemed to be drifting off in thought. I'm terribly sorry if I disturbed you, but I am looking for the owner of the catering company. I'm here for the Final Course Of The Evening."
She just used the code word that I was told would used by... "Colorado?" I asked quizzically looking at what would obviously pass for a beautiful feminine feline bobcat. "Er, yes, I'm sorry, yes. I am Theadore, but I was told to expect a..."
"Quiet! We need to go somewhere private. This corset is absolutely killing me right now and we need to talk." he said while trying to maintain his composure in that beautiful gown.
I ushered him and his companion back to the kitchen area where the staff was preparing another round of hors d'ourves and led them into a tiny broom closet where we had been storing our cleaning supplies for the evening. It was quite a nice kitchen that Mechanica Majestic had setup, with the newest and finest cooking and cleaning machines as well as...
"Ok, help me unload these supplies" Colorado said as he began hiking up his skirt to reveal a set of cases that he had been carrying around underneath the skirt. They on castors that made it easy to move around, but still remained well hidden under the dress. The fox and I began unloading the cases which were filled with weird little bronze medallions attached to long straps. They almost looked like belts, but their straps were far too long and there were two of them at perpendicular angles. I started to playfully put one around my waist when the fox grabbed it away before I could place on myself.
Colorado whispered menacingly "You really don't want to do that. These are trans-dimensional shifters. They will flip anything that they are attached too into the 4th spatial dimension. When attached to storage containers like what we are going to do here in a bit, the containers will be ...lost.. as they fall through the world and empty their contents into the cosmos. When attached to living beings...well, the results are similar, but a bit more wet and messy. So I would recommend that you not wear the shifter as a belt at this time. Thank you."
The fox gave me a comforting look and then let go while continuing to unload the boxes. The little closet we were in had been small to start with but felt unusually tight as we had unloaded the boxes and were now trying to get Colorado out of the dress. We unzipped the back and let him out and then unlaced his corset, to which he inhaled and then let out a huge sigh of relief.
As he then proceeded to open up the skirt and take out the hoop, placing a little cylinder into a slot on it he said, "And now we're ready to begin. I need you to start serving dinner soon while we take care of some dangerous cargo that Mechanica Majestik is keeping right below the kitchen here. We know that you more than capable of being discreet or else our mutual benefactors would not have tasked you to helping me. So please do what you can to keep any MechMaj staff out of the kitchen and away from this room. We'll handle the rest."
At that he set the hoop on the floor and pressed a switch on it's side, which opened up a hole into what looked like a room beneath. It was silent though, no explosion, no humming, just a hole in the floor.
"This is really freaking me out here." I said, taking a deep breath and then trying to calm myself. I could get through this night. It's not what I expected, but I've seen some strange activities at the parties I've hosted, so I'm no stranger to keeping my mouth shut and getting the job done.
Though this may be one of the weirder scenarios I...
"Go!" He said, as he dropped through the floor and the fox started throwing down the belts into the hoop.
I quietly opened the door to the closet and peaked out. None of the kitchen staff or anyone else had been around to notice our activity as they were too busy trying to keep the buffet line replenished with fresh fruits and candied meats for the guests. I hurried to the front of the kitchen and looked out while the last dance of the evening came to an end. The guests moved to the front of the hall where tables had been setup in front of a grand stage, which was my queue to get the staff prepared to serve dinner after the presentation.
I contacted my head chef as well as my front of house manager to begin preparations and they began coordinating the dinner marvelously as always. They were such a great pair that I barely had to do anything for most of these parties other than socialize and sometimes direct a wayward waiter, so I waited by the kitchen door where I could hear the presentation and still keep an eye on the closet where Colorado and his friend were falling through the floor on some mysterious little mischief.
The announcer standing at the side of the stage was a tall and handsome wolf who, unfortunately, spoke with the grating voice of a salesman trying to make a pitch.
"Great leaders of the city of Treston, we are privileged that you could attend our formal announcement and presentation gala. We will not keep you waiting much longer, but are ready to unveil our newest accomplishment that will change the world and revolutionize the way that we all live! Meet our friend Rogan, he was a quadriplegic who had been crippled in a mining accident that left two of his closest friends buried in rubble. But now, as you can see, he is doing much better." I stepped outside of the service doors to see a tan bear, about a meter tall and wearing overalls with gold gears embroidered throughout, walking in from the side of the stage, accompanied by gasps from the audience. Everyone had heard about the mining accident outside of town and Rogan's struggles with recovery, it was big news and made all the papers. But, to see him walking and looking perfectly normal instead of scarred and bed ridden was nothing short of miraculous. This was something that completely blocked out how annoying the announcer sounded!
"Rogan has been implanted by our newest invention, the Harmony Oscillator. After years of testing, we are finally ready to release it to the public, free of charge."
Another gasp by the audience members. Something like this would definitely change the world. This was amazing, something that could make the crippled walk again? Incredible!
"But not only has our friends health been restored, it is now amplified. He will no longer get sick, and any future injuries will heal within hours if not minutes depending on the severity. He'll be able to regenerate lost limbs like some of our reptilian comrades. He'll be able to see further like our avian friends. In all ways, he will be a more durable, useful and healthier individual cog in the universal machinery, helping to build a better society and giving back more than he will ever take as an individual! As an added bonus, his strength is enhanced by the Oscillator, so that in case he were ever to find himself in a life or death situation, he will be prepared." At this last sentence a curtain went up behind where Rogan had been standing and revealed a massive boulder that had been placed on the stage. Rogan turned to it and with a little bit of straining, was able to crush his claws into the rock and lift it over his head. He turned to the audience as they gasped as this incredible feat. Rogan then turned his back to the audience and set the large mass back down again before turning again to the audience with a big smile on his snout.
It was then that the applause started. First a few claps and then a loud and riotous uproar that sent reverberations throughout the hall. Canines were howling, pheasants were squawking with delight. Most of the felines who had looked somewhat bored through the ball were now clapping and watching Rogan with renewed interest.
This was truly a revolutionary event! It's a shame Colorado wasn't here, he seems like the type that would have been quite interested in such a gadget.
Oh! That's right, Colorado was in the closet! I looked back to see that there weren't any bystanders nearby when I heard a crash come behind me. One of the servers had dropped a dish they were carrying while they cleared the small plates table. As they came back to the doors I told them I would get the cleaning supplies to help them clean up. I made my way back to the closet where, as I got closer I could hear what sounded like little vacuum pops in the air. I didn't realize they would be causing any noise down their little hole, so I quickly grabbed the supplies and headed back out the door. After handing the mop I brought out to one of the other staff, I quickly setup a little sign on the door that read "light sensitive champagne in room, DO NOT ENTER - Theo". Mmmm, that should keep out wayward staff. They know how much trouble they get in when they disregard my little signs.
The kitchen staff were almost ready to serve their first course, as the presentation wrapped up and Rogan exited off stage. The announcer piped up on last time though, like claws on a chalkboard, his voice shrilled "And additionally, we will be allowing wireless integration with a new suite of manufacturing tools to our local industries. Rogan will be able to remotely control mining equipment and carts in dangerous locations that until now, required manual intervention. This feature is still in development, but we will be sending out the specifications to your respective agencies in the next few weeks. That is all for now, so please, enjoy you dinners and if you have any questions, we will have our engineering evangelists to answer any questions you may have!"
The dinner execution was progressing flawlessly, as always, as I looked around the hall and back through the kitchen. I heard a bit of a scuffle near the door that was loud enough to catch the attention of some of the dish washers near the closet. I walked up to them and whispered in their ears, "You don't hear anything going on in there, eh? Most of the attendees are high ranking officials and need a certain amount of 'privacy', if you know what I mean? Plus, you both know how I reward silence." Both the dishwashers nodded in agreement as I placed a few coins in their apron pockets. They each pulled out the coins that were worth their entire weeks salary and nodded even more appreciatively this time. My staff was always loyal, and I always, felt it was my place to reward that loyalty as best I could. There weren't many in my line of work that would go to such expenses, but that's probably why I was still in business and attracted my competitors most talented employees!
As I approached the closet door, I heard a moaning and heavy breathing. It sounded like there was a heavy amount of activity going on in, so I quietly opened the door, stepped in and looked down to give them privacy. After they didn't say anything for a moment, I glanced to see the fox standing behind Colorado with one knee against his back....pulling tight his corset strings. "Franclin, be sure to cinch me up all the way this time." He said breathlessly. "And for goodness sake make sure you don't catch my fur in it again, please." His little nub of a tail waiving underneath corset as he looked my way and flashed me a fang in his sly cat grin. "If anyone asks about what was going on back here, you can tell them that there was a wardrobe malfunction that needed to be addressed. I hope we didn't make too much noise while we attended our business."
"You were fine, but did you take care of what you needed to already?" I asked, trying not to smile too much at the situation I was watching and being just slightly envious of him being cinched up in that corset.
"Yes. And with plenty of time to spare too. Did they get to the part in the presentation about the oscillators wireless abilities?" he grunted while the laces were pulled taught.
"Indeed, they finished up a few moments ago and explained how this will lead to a new era of global communication and worker productivity. The possibilities are endless for what can be achieved with a workforce who is in constant communication with each other, their machines, is always healthy and never tires!"
"Ah, I see. Did they mention the part where there's a 15% survival rate after the first 9 months of implantation?"
I started to laugh a little bit. "You've got to be joking, right?"
At that he smiled even broader and said cheerfully "But don't worry about it! I just took out their entire stock of oscillators."
I could feel my stomach turning and doing flip flops as he chattered on, almost without a care.
"It will take years to build up the supply again and have them delivered since they don't have production facilities here on this world that can make them!"
I didn't know if he was being serious or joking around me with now, but I started to feel a little feint. The fox rushed over quickly to steady me and pulled me in for a warm gentle hug. I felt myself coming back to my senses as I smelled his heady cologne masking a sweet underlying musk. On a different night I might be inclined to invite him back to my place, but...this evening just seemed to be getting progressively more odd and I felt like I really shouldn't press my luck.
"I'm ok now, but... I....if what you said was true, then you are saying that Mechanica Majestic is some sinister alien death club planning an apocalypse? To what end? And what about all these guests out here, won't they ask questions? How can they release this stuff without scrutiny from the health authorities? And why the heck are you telling me all of this!" I said raising my voice just a bit. I was starting to feel hysterical from this madness tonight.
"Shhhh, calm down. Firstly, I told you everything in case someone tried to coerce you into giving up more information about me and what we did tonight, I'm a believer in full disclosure when it comes to matters of great importance. Secondly, you need to know this so that you and your loved ones can prepare to avoid getting involved with MechMaj and ...well...dying. It will also make you more attuned to knowing what to listen to when you host more events here, as I'll most likely be needing reports from you on what you hear at future town social events. See, most of the guests are already bought and paid for by MechMaj. The ones that aren't, will be, or will be replaced by sympathizers. And any information you can gather while at their parties would be most useful."
"And I wouldn't exactly call MechMaj alien. They don't fly through out space, and they are just creatures like you and I. Though their technology is a bit more advanced. Oh, and they slip through tiered spatial dimensions. Kind of like the floor thing I did earlier. Holes through space. But they aren't looking to invade with a direct force. They are subtle when they think they have an easy picking, like this world. Their influence has been developing for years, but we have our benefactors who, noticeably absent from tonight's event, are aware of what is happening and are trying to prevent it with my assistance and yours as well. As for why they are doing this, well, that's a matter of ideology. If you really think about the utopia they are offering, no more disease, an end to resource scarcity and an increase in labor productivity as well as the strength to defend themselves, it's a fairly compelling case. Another byproduct of the oscillator is an increase in longevity, which I don't think they mentioned yet, at least, they won't try to mention it till they get close to the mass death. Most of us animals, even being in a healthy environment, can only expect a good 30 years of youth and vigor before succumbing to the effects of our genetic heritage. But with the oscillators that lifespan can extend youth into centuries. But only for the 15% that remain to carry on and rebuild the world in the image that Mechanica Majestic has planned for it. For some, there is no limit to the number of creatures that have to die to achieve virtual immortality in a Utopia. But not for us! We'll do it our own way, build it ourselves if we want, just like you've done your whole life. I did my research on you when our benefactors suggested you would be of assistance, and everything I learned about you said that you were one of the most trustworthy, diligent and hardworking individuals in this town. I believe that your excellent business is a reflection of your virtues and that, is another reason why I am sharing so much. You are quite trusted and worthy of this information."
I didn't know what to say. This all sounded so crazy.
"I'm just a simple caterer. Yes, I built this business up from nothing. Growing up poor and with nothing but knowledge from cooking books I read at the library. But I think you put too much credit in me. I just .."
"Again, from what I've learned about you in my research, you are quite trustworthy."
"Thank you, but, how do you know all this, about them, about me? What proof do you have?" was all that I could squeak out.
He gave a comforting chuckle and said "That's a story for a different night. How about you bring some of that delicious food you have out there and a bottle of wine over to my shop after you get out of here and I can fill you in a little more. You could keep Franclin warm tonight too. I see the way you've been looking at each other all night and think he would be delighted to spend some quality time with you as well." To which the fox gave me a little smile and sniff at the air playfully.
"I will take you up on that offer then, around midnight? Maybe you can explain a little more about how I can keep my staff safe since I don't have much family to speak of...and on that topic, aren't you two an item? When I found you in here earlier you both seemed quite a bit intimate and I would hate to be a third wheel if we were.."
Colorado looked over at Franclin and interrupted me, "Our relationship is complex. But, we could all have a lovely social engagement if the offer still fancies you."
While pulling up the dress and putting the hoop skit back into place he continued "Franclin doesn't speak unless he has something quite important to say, he prefers to take action. It's one of his charms, I would say."
As he put the veil back on, he began moving towards the door to exit the closet and slid past me where his scent became much stronger. I didn't notice it earlier while we were in the ball room, but he smelled like a rainstorm, fresh and somehow foreboding. In fact, I don't recall him having a scent at all till just now, how odd.
"I hope you have a lovely evening and that dinner proceeds immaculately as you planned. And again, I do hope that you will come by. I have many a good story to tell tonight, but do be careful till then."
He lifted the veil slightly, winked at me and grinned slyly with a little fang sticking out. I stood and watched as they shuffled out through the big doors of the kitchen while he handled that huge hoop skirt. The rest of meeting hall was a loud riot of laughter and waiters moving about delivering food to hungry guests, which provided an excellent escape for them to leave quietly out a side entrance.
I shivered with the knowledge that he gave me, but looked forward to seeing them later. I stopped a waiter on the way out of the kitchen and grabbed a drink from their serving platter.
"Sorry about this, but I need it more than whoever you are delivering it too right now. This is going to be a long night."