Phoenix: Chapter Nine
"One more picture please, Mr. President!"
Laguna Loire and Doctor Odine paused for photos in front of the ornate doors to the Presidential office. They shook hands for pictures as Laguna flashed his world-famous smile. Odine merely grimaced as the camera flashes blinded him.
When the flashbulbs stopped, reporters crowded in for a quick question and answer session. "Doctor Odine! What projects are you planning on briefing President Loire on? Will there be any updates on the power supply problem in the East District?"
Odine squirmed at the reporter's query. He hated being in the spotlight. "I am sure ze Prezident's office vill issue a press releaze after ze conferenze."
"Mr. President! Do you plan on asking Doctor Odine about the sealing system on Adel's tomb? As you are already aware, there are many people still worried that this containment vessel will actually hold."
Laguna smiled broadly. "Adel's tomb is safe as can be. There is no need to worry about any part of it failing."
A presidential aide stepped in front of the two men. "No more questions!" Two more aides opened the massive doors, and Laguna ushered Odine inside before turning and waving to the crowd of reporters, a huge smile gracing his face.
The doors closed behind him, leaving the two men alone in the office. Laguna motioned for Odine to take a seat in front of his desk, which was littered with papers, files and various bric-a-brac. Laguna shuffled some papers around sheepishly, attempting to quickly tidy up. "Uhhh, sorry about the mess, Doc." Odine noticed that he nervously scratched the back of his neck while speaking. "How's about some coffee?"
"No. Thank you, Mr. President."
"Please call me Laguna! 'Mr. President' makes me feel old."
Odine sat, stern faced. "I prefer formality, Mr. President."
"Uhh, okay." Laguna came around the front of the desk and sat on the corner. "So, what about that power problem? Those poor people are really suffering."
Odine opened a file binder he had prepared for the meeting. He flipped through the pages, many earmarked with labeled tabs. Finding the one he sought, he looked up meet the President's eyes. "Ze power grid ugradez are coming along az scheduled. Ve should be able to reztore full power vithin ze month."
"Good! I was starting to worry." Laguna scratched his neck again. "Adel really destroyed that district, and the residents are really in dire straits. I just want everyone to be happy…and you can't do that without enough power to run your washing machine and TV, am I right?"
Odine pursed his lips as he continued to go through his notes. "Ze tomb of Adel iz functioning at one-hundred perzent. Ze auxiliary power generatorz are on standby and vill activate ven and if zey are needed. Adel's brain activity remainz nil."
Laguna breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he had personally overseen every aspect of Adel's containment, he still worried every day that the mechanism would fail and she would bring her terror back to Esthar. "Good! That witch deserves to be frozen up there forever!" For emphasis, Laguna pumped his fist into the air.
The two men sat, Odine in his chair and Laguna teetering on his desk, for twenty minutes. Odine filled the President in on all of his scientific projects. All that is, except for the non-sanctioned ones. Most of Odine's experiments were in the public domain, but he did have his secrets. One of Odine's main reasons for having projects out of the public eye was that "regular people" usually didn't understand strange ideas, and they generally didn't like experiments having to do with the occult, death or, in the case of Perfect Phoenix: resurrection. Odine had always provided his own funding for such projects, and thus never felt the need to tell the Science Ministry about them. He didn't need them poking their noses in his business.
As Odine neared the end of his update, he noticed Laguna was beginning to fidget and lose interest. "How a man so young and inexperienced could become President is beyond me," he thought. Odine closed his folder and set it on his lap. "Do you have any more questionz for me, President Loire?"
Laguna, who was absent-mindedly spinning a pen next to himself on the desk, stood and cleared his throat. "Umm, no Doctor. You don't miss a beat, do you?" Odine merely stared at Laguna, not knowing exactly how to respond. Feeling a bit awkward at Odine's silence, Laguna put his hands on his hips and exclaimed, "We should get goin' to lunch! I hear they made Chimera steaks!" Laguna patted his stomach with delight.
Odine stood and straightened his robes. It was out of the corner of his eye, that a photo on the President's desk caught his attention. It was a young woman with brown hair and a joyous smile. Odine adjusted his glasses to bring it into clearer focus. It was then that, for the first time in his life, Odine felt completely panicked. The smiling face staring back at him was that of Raine Leonhart.
Odine felt his face flush and for a moment he felt as if he might faint. He immediately began to sweat underneath his heavy robes. He willed himself to calm down, for he didn't want the President to catch on to his mounting anxiety. "It haz to be a coincidence. There's no way it can be her," he inwardly mused.
With a slight shake in his voice, Odine questioned Laguna, "Mr. Prezident, if I may ask, who iz zat?" He pointed to the picture.
Laguna turned to look at what Odine was alluding to. A small smile graced his lips when he picked the silver frame up. Odine noted that his eyes betrayed his smile, as they hinted to some sadness in his life.
"That's my late wife, Raine Loire." Laguna traced his finger down the side of her face.
Odine fiddled with the folder in his hands. "I'm sorry, President Loire. I did not realize you had lozt your wife." He was trying his hardest to hide his terror within his condolences.
Laguna sighed and returned the frame to its spot on the desk. He turned to face the tiny doctor. "It's okay. It isn't exactly public information. I like to think that she's lookin' down on me from wherever she is…keepin' an eye on me…makin' sure I don't mess something up. " In an attempt to change the subject, Laguna threw his arms into the air and exclaimed, "Let's hit that luncheon! I don't know about you Doc, but I'm starvin'!" He slapped Odine on the back, causing the miniscule doctor to lurch forward.
The luncheon. In Odine's current state of panic, he had completely forgotten about the celebration. With this new information, he had to get back to the lab and figure out how such an egregious mistake had been made. If the President were to ever find out about Project Perfect Phoenix, Odine's career, not to mention his life, would certainly be over.
"Mr. Prezident, I am sorry but I must decline ze lunch invite. I juzt remembered zat I have an appointment zat I cannot miss. I hope you understand."
Odine bowed to Laguna and scurried towards the door, letting himself out and leaving the President standing alone in his office, very much confused. "But there's cake…" he called out as the door slammed shut.
XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX
Odine rushed to his waiting car where he immediately contacted the lab. The poor young man that answered never knew what hit him. Screaming almost unintelligibly, Odine raved, "Get me every file pertaining to Project Perfect Phoenix! I vant it all vaiting for me ven I arrive! Cancel all my appointmentz for ze rest of ze day." He held on to the door handle as his driver took his turn a little too fast. "And summon Doctor Ash!"