O is for Omnipotent

Russell led a slender, bespectacled woman equipped with medical bag and a friendly smile towards his office door. "Just right in there, Chloe, thanks so much."

He watched her enter the room...and a moment later storm straight back out, closing the door firmly behind her.

"You said you had a dog!" She spoke in hushed tone, but firm and reprimanding, forcing Russell to shrink back just a little. He'd seen this coming, but still was unprepared. He hadn't planned as efficiently as he normally would have, he'd rushed...he'd panicked. "Russell!"

He struggled in responding. "Wellll..."

"That is not a dog in there, that is a man, now I want answers, and I want them fast!"

"Aaand...answers are what I intent to give you. Just one second, I have the perfect answer. Buh-buh-buh..." What's that answer he'd come up with, what was...

"I don't put tracking chips in people, Russell. Dogs and cats. Did a bunny, once. Who's that guy in there, is he hiding a bunny?"

GOT IT. "Well, now, see...Chloe, my assistant wants the chip. When he found out I was dating a veterinary technician, pft! He wouldn't shut up about it. Can you believe he kept nagging me?"

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Timmy...well, he's a little different. He's quirky. I don't question his methods as an assistant, not anymore. He insists on calling me every hour on the hour, he insisted on the tracking software on his phone, but that just wasn't enough for him. The guy's obsessed with me, Chloe."

"Then maybe the guy needs a doctor, Russell. Somebody like that, maybe you need a restraining order."

"Well, now, I thought about that...but he's a good assistant, he does a good job. If I keep him here, he doesn't go anywhere else, I can keep the crazy...contained, so to speak. Who's he hurting...really? So, listen. You go in there, you put a liiittle chip in Timmy's liiitle arm...he feels a little safer, he feels like I'm with him all the time."

She hesitated; she was thinking. Ahh, it was working! "I dunno, this all sounds a little sick..."

"Sick, or...kind of endearing, huh?"

"What...?"

"Of course, there are liabilities, but we...we fixed that all up in legal, drew up a contract. We both signed it, this is strictly on the up and up, you...you wanna see it?" Russell began a quick stride towards his office door. "I can pull up the paperwork if you wanna see..." He smiled warmly. "Ah, Chloe, you have no idea what this means to Timmy...seriously, offering this sort of peace of mind to...to a troubled soul like his...come here..."

He brought her in for a hug. She looked over his shoulder, confused, at his closed office door...

Five minutes later she sat beside Timmy.

Timmy, who smiled warmly at a woman giving him a company-wide, mandatory flu-shot.

Thus would start the great downfall of Dunbar and Patel, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

"Pleasant weather," said Timmy, sleeve rolled up.

"Yes, it's a nice day," spoke the woman. He seemed normal enough, contrary to Russell's earlier insistance. She held a knot in her stomach.

But he had been so convincing. Like a salesman serving a fast pitch, too fast to give anyone time to think. And she had seen the paperwork...with two signatures...

"No matter how many I receive," said Timmy, "I still get a touch queasy over these thing." He motioned towards the needle making its way into his arm.

She sputtered slightly upon withdrawal. "You've...had one, before?"

"Well...yes, certainly." Timmy offered up a confused smile in retort.

"I haven't," she spoke flatly, releasing Timmy's arm.

"Oh. Tad unusual, given your line of work."

Yes, of course. Vet techs get tracking chips implanted in themselves all the time. What? Chloe watched as Timmy stood, then, thinking better than to let him leave so quickly...

"Uh, Timmy, was it?"

"Oh...yes."

"You're Russell Dunbar's assistant? That must be...interesting."

"Ehhh." Then came the words that broke the whole illusion: "You ought to make sure he gets his shot, as well."

"His...shot?"

"He always weasels his way out of these things, then I'm forced to take the reigns while he sits at home for weeks with the flu." He made his way to the door, and with a friendly wave he was gone.

And a woman sat stunned, silenced, wallowing in anger and a sudden sense of shame. So when at last the door opened again, and she saw his face...

"Thanks for doing that," said Russell. "I know he appreciates it."

She stood now, rushing him, sure of her position. "I don't think we should see each other anymore. In fact, I think I should call the cops."

Russell's face drew blank. He looked around, ensuring they were alone; he met the woman in a silent stare-down, nervous and cold. "You won't do it."

She could read him now, almost. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't."

He tried to pull the nerves from his face, to appear calculated and threatening. "You're the one who put it in him."

She bit a lip, considering her options. She'd been coerced, misled. She would simply tell the police exactly what had happened.

"You're going down with me," said Russell.

"Why?"

Russell tilted his head in confusion. "Uh...because...you put the chip in his..."

"Why the hell are you doing this? Do you stalk all of your employees, is this a hobby of yours?"

Russell chuckled a bit, appearing just a touch demented. "Chloe...you call it stalking, I call it responsible middle management."

"What...the hell are you talking about?! Have you done this to other people? I saw his signature, how did you get him to sign his privacy away like that?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets. Now, do you really want to try and explain all this to the cops? Do you know how insane you sound right now? Who's gonna believe you, really?"

She stood conflicted before a man full of pride and arrogance, and she knew she was running out of leverage; she had put the chip in his arm. She had fallen into his trap, and she felt like the biggest idiot in the world. How could she possibly...

"Sir...?"

The pair turned towards Timmy, who stood in the doorway with an ever-sweet smile. And Russell's demeanor turned all at once, soft and inviting, without a touch of the malice moments prior.

"Yeah, Tim...?" Everything's cool here, everything's fine.

She took note of the shift at once, thinking him a madman.

"The new exhibit we were discussing yesterday..."

"Nng, that stupid thing..."

"No objections this time. A bit of culture has yet to kill you and the tickets came from corporate, we backed renovations last month, we were invited. Bit of mingling, bit of who's who, so we're punctual, yes?"

"Whatever."

"I hear there's an open bar." Timmy smirked as Russell perked; ahh, something for them both? Art and alcohol? They knew how to even the playing field. "Just pace yourself."

"Uhm...yes on the bar, no on the pacing."

"We'll see, sir. And wear the shirt with the..."

"Oh, the one you always...?"

"Yes, but add a tie tonight."

"Nix the tie."

Timmy turned with a sigh to walk away. "Then button up at least, nobody wants to see all of that."

Russell watched Timmy walk away...for just a few seconds before closing the door behind him, settling in with an eye roll and a soft, "Nag, nag, nag..." He shook his head with a tinge of a smile and the smallest of sighs.

It was then that he recalled the other presence in the room. Chloe, the veterinary technician. The woman who stood solemnly, staring at him with wide, uncompromising eyes. As if something had just snapped inside her head; as if she suddenly understood everything.

"That's it..." she said.

Russell's gaze shifted, anxiety rising in his chest.

She nodded. "I came here today thinking I was doing a favor for a guy I'm seeing. Turns out he's already in a committed relationship."

Russell looked to her now, forcing shock; unwavering. "What...are you talking about?"

"You're into him."

No crazed denials, though his brain ordered his mouth to react...just blank staring and a racing heart. It was all falling apart. He was being forced to feel things.

"This is a whole new level, this whole thing is just plain sick. I'm getting some real psycho killer vibes here, you're a real piece of work, you know that? I don't know exactly what the deal is between you two, but there's something going on, and whatever it is, there is zero justification for...for stalking him, I mean...!"

He seemed shaken, unable to even speak, to defend himself. She was getting to him. He had appeared so cunning a minute ago, she had even been afraid, and now...?

She felt as though perhaps she should ease up. Just a little. Something was seriously wrong with him.

"Russell, that seemed like a genuine human interaction, what you just had with that guy. There has to be some part of you that understands what you're doing is wrong, don't you...don't you understand that?"

Weakly he spoke: "You put...the chip in his arm, I didn't do that."

She sighed out in disbelief; and she moved abruptly towards the door. "I'm telling him what you did." Russell rushed in front of her, blocking her only means of escape.

"You can't do that."

She studied his face now, his eyes diverted, unable to look at her directly. A face full of fear and trepidation for secrets unrevealed. "So, he really doesn't know." She wasn't talking about the tracking chip, and Russell knew it. They both knew it. "Well, I'm telling him."

"I'd rather you called the cops." There was a depth to the declaration. He'd rather face legal consequences than emotional ones. At last he dared to look the woman in the eyes, proving his humanity.

His eyes had done it. So, he wasn't a monster. She groaned, defeated. "Little relationship advice?" she offered. "I'd have suggested talking to the guy before chipping him."

Russell rose a brow, confused.

"Just my two cents." She backed away, putting up hands in resignation. And Russell grew just a touch too relaxed, easing down in a sigh. "Not so fast..."

His breath held steady.

"I can't let you off the hook that easy." She tapped a foot in thought, nerves afire, but she couldn't let it show. She was in this thing now, and she was in it deep, but she had the upper hand. What to do...?

Finally she looked to Russell, standing tall, arms folding across her chest in a decidedly authoritarian manner. "I'll make you a deal."

By the time Russell's door opened some time later, Timmy was secured back at his desk, toiling about with work. He smiled up at an unnamed nurse in greeting; and she paused, granting him a most curious expression. A small smirk, and a shake of her head. Almost as if she knew something; well, whatever it was, she wasn't telling. And as the woman vanished from sight Timmy pondered on this encounter, for just a moment and no longer, returning to his computer screen as if everything was normal.

Russell was at his side a moment later, speaking to him in very hushed tones. "Hey, uh, put this in the expense report."

"What's this?" Timmy took hold of a note. He recoiled slightly. "My word, sir, what on earth could ever run this much money?"

"Just, uh...put it...put it in." And he turned a quick heel, unable to bear his gaze a moment longer.

"Did you get your shot?" Timmy inquired.

"Sure, whatever," muttered Russell, disappearing behind an office door.

Timmy sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "Talked his way out of it, again."

And Russell, locked away, stared at a tiny dot upon a screen; the most expensive dot he'd ever purchased. The dot sitting just outside his office door. He ran his finger slow against the screen, knowing he was there, feeling a sudden warmth; security. Comfort.

He would always know exactly where he was.

He would never lose him.

He was his. Forever.