A Shiny New Vic - The Conversation
"So let me get this straight. You want me to pretend to be some dead guy named Victor Mansfield?"
"He isn't dead, Mr. Bezich. He just isn't available to me. For now."
"So why have me pretend to be him?"
"The council wants Vic Mansfield. It makes them nervous to think that one of our operatives is running amok in the world, with the amount of information that Vic would have."
"So why not kill him? Isn't that what organizations like this do?"
"Because I don't want that. I want him here, with Mac, Li Ann and Jackie, where they belong, working for me. But since Vic is having a fit of stubborn independence, I'll have to settle for you."
"What if I don't want to be the guy you settle for? What if I don't want to be your stand in for this Vic guy? He looks pretty boring, from what I can tell."
"Of course, I can't force you to assume the identity and job duties of Victor Mansfield. You could return to your cell and stand trial for murder, conspiracy, smuggling and possession of heroin with an intent to distribute. You will be convicted and waste your life behind bars. I'm sure there are some good books you wanted to have time to read, now you do. Goodbye, Mr. Bezich."
"Wait...Okay...wait. So you're saying that if I do this...I get off...for everything? I didn't kill anyone. Larson killed that guy, not me..."
"You know that doesn't matter. You were in on the deal, you were there, therefore you go down right beside him. And yes, Chris, I promise you...if you do what I say, you will get off. Completely. I'll even call you 'Chris' when you do."
"All right. You have a deal. I'll do it. So...what do I call you? The Director? Can I call you Di?"
"Not if you want me to answer you. Now run along with Brandon. He'll help you get ready."
"Ready for what?"
"For your new life, Vic."
"Chris."
"Vic."
"Oh...yeah."
*********************************************
Chris Bezich left the room, and Jackie walked out from the doorway on the other side of the room.
"I told you. I so totally told you he was perfect."
"Yes, Jackie. You did quite well, considering you were vacationing in Las Vegas when you were supposed to be looking for Li Ann in Los Angeles. I'm pleased with my new toy. Thank you, dear."
"Your new toy? I so totally found him. I should get to play with him."
"Jackie, you are going to help him assume Victor's persona, mannerisms and identity. You may not play with him. By the time Mac and Li Ann get back from Hong Kong, I want Chris Bezich to be a perfect imitation of our Victor."
"You are going to tell Mac and Li Ann that he's not the real Vic, right? I mean, this is all just to make the council happy, make them think you got Vic back, save your ass and all that?"
"What I tell the others is my business, Jackie."
"What about the real Vic? Are you gonna just let him run around loose? And you don't have other Victor Mansfields anywhere, do you? Do you have other Jackies or Macs? How many people do you do this with?"
"Dear, you're going to overload your brain and give yourself a headache. Now run along and have Mr. Bezich stripped, washed, pierced, cut and whatever else it takes to make him perfectly Vic. Then have him brought to the discipline room. Training starts now. "
"He isn't dead, Mr. Bezich. He just isn't available to me. For now."
"So why have me pretend to be him?"
"The council wants Vic Mansfield. It makes them nervous to think that one of our operatives is running amok in the world, with the amount of information that Vic would have."
"So why not kill him? Isn't that what organizations like this do?"
"Because I don't want that. I want him here, with Mac, Li Ann and Jackie, where they belong, working for me. But since Vic is having a fit of stubborn independence, I'll have to settle for you."
"What if I don't want to be the guy you settle for? What if I don't want to be your stand in for this Vic guy? He looks pretty boring, from what I can tell."
"Of course, I can't force you to assume the identity and job duties of Victor Mansfield. You could return to your cell and stand trial for murder, conspiracy, smuggling and possession of heroin with an intent to distribute. You will be convicted and waste your life behind bars. I'm sure there are some good books you wanted to have time to read, now you do. Goodbye, Mr. Bezich."
"Wait...Okay...wait. So you're saying that if I do this...I get off...for everything? I didn't kill anyone. Larson killed that guy, not me..."
"You know that doesn't matter. You were in on the deal, you were there, therefore you go down right beside him. And yes, Chris, I promise you...if you do what I say, you will get off. Completely. I'll even call you 'Chris' when you do."
"All right. You have a deal. I'll do it. So...what do I call you? The Director? Can I call you Di?"
"Not if you want me to answer you. Now run along with Brandon. He'll help you get ready."
"Ready for what?"
"For your new life, Vic."
"Chris."
"Vic."
"Oh...yeah."
*********************************************
Chris Bezich left the room, and Jackie walked out from the doorway on the other side of the room.
"I told you. I so totally told you he was perfect."
"Yes, Jackie. You did quite well, considering you were vacationing in Las Vegas when you were supposed to be looking for Li Ann in Los Angeles. I'm pleased with my new toy. Thank you, dear."
"Your new toy? I so totally found him. I should get to play with him."
"Jackie, you are going to help him assume Victor's persona, mannerisms and identity. You may not play with him. By the time Mac and Li Ann get back from Hong Kong, I want Chris Bezich to be a perfect imitation of our Victor."
"You are going to tell Mac and Li Ann that he's not the real Vic, right? I mean, this is all just to make the council happy, make them think you got Vic back, save your ass and all that?"
"What I tell the others is my business, Jackie."
"What about the real Vic? Are you gonna just let him run around loose? And you don't have other Victor Mansfields anywhere, do you? Do you have other Jackies or Macs? How many people do you do this with?"
"Dear, you're going to overload your brain and give yourself a headache. Now run along and have Mr. Bezich stripped, washed, pierced, cut and whatever else it takes to make him perfectly Vic. Then have him brought to the discipline room. Training starts now. "