Back to the drawing board…
Cure attempts 2 and 3…
Quincy: I’m close to curing this thing! I can feel it.
Cured Man: The voices! They’re gone. I can think clearly now.
Quincy: Can you tell me who you are?
Cured Man: I’m Ted…Ted Roswell – the honorary mayor.
Quincy: Are you aware of what’s been going on around here? There’s a secret lab in the crater…and the scientists there have been experimenting on this monstrous mother plant. Somehow things got outta hand and people have been getting possessed.
Mayor Roswell: *offended* Are you trying to tell me that some of the most influential people in town have been possessing people…right under my nose?
Quincy: I don’t think they did it on purpose…but it happened – and I need your help to solve it. I need you to join me in the lab. I think we can destroy the plant if we work together.
Mayor Roswell: I can’t be involved in this.
Quincy: You already are! You realize I just cured you from stumbling around mumbling to yourself, right?
Mayor Roswell: Sorry…can’t help you son.
Quincy: *after curing Jess* I can’t fix this by myself! I need your help.
Jess: I don’t even know you and you expect me to risk my life.
Quincy: I risked mine to cure you.
Jess: Well…I didn’t ask you to. I’m sorry…I have a daughter. I can’t put my family at risk for a stranger.
Quincy: Please help me end this thing! You used to work there…you of all people should know what we’re up against.
Desirae: Sorry…no can do!
Quincy: This thing is spreading. I have to convince Mayor Roswell, Jess, and Desirae to help.
Later at 8 Bells…
Mayor Roswell: I already told you…I’m not getting involved in this thing.
Quincy: Then you have no right to call yourself Mayor.
Mayor Roswell: Excuse me! I’ll have you know – my grandfather founded this town. The Roswells have been living here for three generations.
Quincy: You’ll be letting your grandfather down by letting this place go to hell. Help me out with this and I guarantee you’ll go from being just honorary mayor to the real thing. Help me convince Jess and Desirae. Do the right thing for your town!
Mayor Roswell: Jess…you’re one of this town’s most prized citizens. Mr. Wade has me convinced that if we care about this town…we need to help save it. Can I count on you?
Jess: Yes Mayor Roswell! I’ll do what I can.
Mayor Roswell: Thanks, Jess! Together we can beat this thing.
Jess: I sure hope so.
Quincy: *shows pictures to Desirae* You see this thing? If we don’t get control of this…we’re all in trouble. We need you because you were there from the start. Please tell me you’re willing to help.
Desirae: Okay…okay. I do feel some level of responsibility for this whole mess. I’ll help you defeat it.
Quincy: *relieved* Great… meet me at the lab at noon tomorrow.
Quincy: *outside the bar* Whew! Convincing them took all night! Time to get some sleep.
At noon the next day…
Quincy: Ready team?
Jess, Mayor Roswell, Desirae: No!
Quincy: Good! That’ll keep you on your toes. Let’s go!
The battle of Strangerville…
The mother plant collapses…
Quincy: We did it! We f-ing did it!
Things begin to return to normal. The bizarre plants subside and the infected begin to wake up. Quincy is promoted to Private 4th class and hailed a local hero.
At 8 Bells…
Quincy: A round for everyone. *to Jess, Mayor Roswell, and Desirae* I couldn’t have done this without you. *gets up with mug*
Jess: Where’re you going? Aren’t you going to stay and celebrate?
Quincy: I would…but I have a date to plan.
In Oasis Springs, the next day…
Alice: So…when are you going back to Twinbrook?
Quincy: I don’t know…I think I might stay in Strangerville for a while.
Alice: Really? In my hot shitty little town?
Quincy: *chuckles* Well…it’ll always be hot, but being around you makes it a whole lot less shitty.
Quincy: Alice…I really enjoyed hanging out with you, but it feels like there’s one thing missing…
Alice: Yeah? What’s that?
Quincy: This… *leans in and kisses Alice on the lips*
Alice: *eagerly kisses him back*
And that ends my short side adventure in Strangerville! Thanks for reading.
Strangerville Short Story – Part Summaries
