[DalekSec]

Thank you both!

This is part of an unfinished series so, perhaps this place will inspire me to continue them!

Oculus Inferus 2


“Is this really necessary?” Maxine whispered into her cell phone as the car navigated the city streets.

“In my professional opinion, yes it is. His show might not seem like a big deal to you but, considering the ratings his site gets, taking him on is essential to your reelection and future plans for higher office. Oculus Populi is now, not only the most widely read magazine but, their online network happens to be the most widely viewed. It’s not like I am advising you to sit down for one of those professional attack dogs on Cable, you know. Public Exposure is about as nonpartisan a program as one can find and Lou is, perhaps, the most equitable host the Media has to offer. Just be yourself, your better self, of course, and stick to your talking points. You want to make it to the Oval Office eventually, don’t you? Well, this is a major step on that road.” The calm voice of Mr. Carl Axel, perhaps the best political advisor in the business, helped sooth Maxine’s ruffled feathers.

“Alright Carl, you have never led me astray yet. I assume you sent him the guidelines for the interview? If I hear one more question about my resignation from the State Legislature, I swear I will walk right off the stage. It IS ancient history and I am tired of having to revisit it for every loudmouth with a microphone,” her voice trailing of into a soft sigh as Carl assured her that all of the preparations had been seen to.

“Maxine, He knows what is acceptable and what is off limits. He has already agreed to forgoing his usual studio audience. Lou even accepted our stipulation that the entire interview be taped for later broadcast so that any issues we don’t care for can be edited out before it airs. For all the blather, the man is a pussycat and seems to be eager to have the opportunity to be seen interviewing you. Face it, you are a rising star and he knows it. Hard to blame him for wanting to bolster his ratings by being seen with you. Who knows, maybe he is tired of being just another talking head. Maybe he wants a position in your cabinet when you are elected President. If he plays his cards right, he would make one Hell of a Press Secretary and you and I both know how, having the right person in that job can make or break an administration,” Carl chuckled as he reminded Maxine of what she had always known, was her destiny.

Nodding for no one’s benefit as she was not on a video call, Maxine offered a soft “Mhmm” in reply. Feeling the car come to a stop, followed by her driver opening her door, she closed her phone, after an informal farewell to her advisor.

“James is it? Please try to keep an eye on the front door. As soon as I am finished with this interview, I have to be at JFK in time for my flight to New Hampshire,” never once looking at the young man’s face as she stepped out of the car. Never seeing the nameplate on his lapel that read, “Charles”, as she strode to the glass door, held open by another young man in uniform.

The set for the show was a simple affair, two chairs, facing one another on a cheap Asian rug as an equally, inexpensive coffee table, bisected the scene. The pitcher of water and two glasses were already in place and, seeing that no one had left out a bottle of Evian, her personal choice for a brand, Maxine frowned.

“Seems that not every detail has been seen to after all,” she quipped under her breath.

Only three cameras stood to capture the interview, one for her, one for her host and the last for the occasional shot of them both. The rows of folding chairs stood empty, normally filled with Lou’s studio audience, confirming that that stipulation had, at least, been taken seriously.

Brushing a bit of lint from the sleeves of her jacket that, she pondered, probably cost more than the entire set of the show, Maxine put on her best smile as Lou entered. Extending her hand demurely, she found that his dark eyes did have a certain charm about them, as had been noted by the Media.

“Representative Maxine Plume, a pleasure to meet you at last,” his soft voice purred as a smile drew across his lips. His Vandyke beard and moustache curling as the crowfeet at his temples deepened.

“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Deofol,” she insisted as her fingers slowly slipped from his.

“Please, call me Lou. Everyone who is anyone, does. I would like to think that I will have the privilege of being able to say I can call you one of my best interviews.” Bowing his head as he spoke, Maxine felt some measure of assurance that Carl, the “Wizard of D.C.”, had pegged the man correctly.

“I can only imagine the many opportunities you could find popping up, Lou. Everyone seems to know you are the person to watch when the heart of the matter is their primary concern. Who knows what the future holds and who knows what we may be able to do for one another down the road,” Maxine trilled as she batted her eyes at the man.

“Who indeed. Who indeed. In any case, allow me to introduce my wonderful staff before we get some makeup on.” As he gestured towards each of the three camera operators, the sound person and the stagehand, Maxine hid her boredom. “And, last but not least, this is Miss Grace Meeks, she will see to your makeup and I can only tell you that she happens to be the best in the business. How she manages to make me look presentable is beyond me.” As he patted the young woman on the shoulder, Maxine contained the smirk that struggled with her lips. Miss Meeks was actually blushing and looking down at the floor as she was praised. Not that making Mr. Deofol look good appeared to be all that much of a chore. While older, in his 60’s perhaps, his classic features and stature made it plain to see that he was anything but unattractive.

Maxine found that looking at the man was an easy matter and considered, if only fleetingly, that she would be hard pressed to eject him from her bed. Were it not for the nature of her personal ambitions, a tryst, at the very least, would be a matter of serious consideration.

Brushing aside the momentary consideration of her more banal passions, Maxine took her seat in the leather, Queen Anne chair that sat, opposed to that which Lou would take. Slipping her jacket open as Miss Meeks placed the bib around her neck, Maxine was certain that she caught a glimpse of desire in the eyes of her host. Feeling the warmth of still being attractive to men, while in her middle years, Maxine smiled and even went to far as to offer a quick wink.


Looking into the monitor that offered a more accurate image of how she would look on camera, under the glare of the studio lights, Maxine paused as only a hint of makeup was applied to her face. “I look washed out. Grace was it? I think a little more color in my cheeks and some highlighting of my eyes is in order. Don’t you?” Disappointed in the skills of the young woman who had, won such high praise from Mr. Deofol, Maxine supposed that, perhaps he had a soft spot for the girl. Maybe, he was the sort to engage in covert, physical activities with his staff, in which case, Maxine might consider dropping a few hints with regards to her own feelings on the matter. Bob, her husband, was rarely to be found in their bedroom now, not that she spent all that much time at home these days in any case.


What Bob did on his own time, out of the public eye was of little, if any concern to her after 20 plus years of marriage and as long as he kept his own activities quiet, he could do as he pleased, in her personal opinion. He had served his purpose as the BBQ King of Upstate New York. Two children and a considerable fortune later, provided the springboard Maxine required to enter politics. On the rare occasions that their paths did cross, photo-ops and practiced smiles were the order of the day, not embraces of passion that, neither felt for one another any longer.

Once Miss Meeks had retouched the areas of her face that Maxine had pointed out, Maxine felt ready to enjoy the interview and, perhaps, subtle advances of her host. Hearing the theme music cue up, Maxine assumed her expression of pleasant confidence.

“Welcome to Public Exposure, the most watched program on the Internet, thanks to you, the viewers. Before we get to my special guest, I would like to thank all of you for your E-mails and I am so pleased to see how many of you have taken a moment to respond to our last poll. Illegal Immigration won out as your choice as the most pressing issue facing the nation today. Remember, only Premium Members get to take part in our polls and Premium Membership still makes a wonderful gift. Perhaps, some watching tonight, can make up for the tie they bought for dad last Father’s Day,” his warm smile growing all the more personable as his crew chuckled off camera.


“Here to address your concerns about immigration and other matters, I am so very pleased to introduce my guest, Representative Maxine Plume of New York’s Thirty-Second Congressional District,” turning to Maxine as she smiled and nodded to the camera, Lou continued. “Representative Plume, it is a pleasure to have you on tonight. I know the folks at home have made it very clear that you are a rising star on the political stage and, rumors of your plans to visit New Hampshire and Iowa are floating around. Some would say it is about time that a person with your grasp of the, meat and potato issues, sat in the big chair at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.” The fingers of his left hand, tapping one of his signature pens against his note pad, Lou leaned closer to offer an image of greater intimacy.

“Thank you so much for having me on, Lou and please, call me Maxine. I am so flattered by all the speculation about my recent travel plans but, I can only try to assure my constituents that I am hard at work, representing their best interests in Congress and feel privileged to hold such a position of trust for them.” Reaching for the glass of water as she felt a tightening in her chest and lungs, Maxine wondered at the sensation. After so many other interviews over the course of her political life, why would this one leave her short of breath? Shrugging it off to her hectic schedule, Maxine sipped her water and ignored the slight tingling sensation at the tips of her fingers and toes.

“Are you ruling out a run for the White House, Maxine?” Lou’s soft eyes locked on to hers as he posed the question.

“I am only saying that I take the office I currently hold very seriously and have not really considered other options at this time.” Offering the answer that Carl had polled as being the most acceptable, in view of the current mood of the country, Maxine found she was holding her breath. Fidgeting a little as the straps of her bra seemed to slide, uncharacteristically, beneath her blouse, she maintained her poise in the manner she had practiced.


Crossing her right leg over her left, demurely, Maxine discovered that the back of her shoe was now, slipping freely from the heel of her foot. Clenching her toes within her shoe, she did her best not to look like a bored schoolgirl, thoughtlessly flapping her shoes on and off, under her desk, as the teacher droned on.

“I hope that, if you do decide to run for the Presidency, you will consider announcing your plans on my humble show first,” Lou pressed gently as he then circled some item on the pad he held on his knee.

“Considering your place in the public arena, I think I can promise that any newsworthy decisions on my part, will be aired on your program first.” Smiling even as the sharp pains in her chest continued to nag at her, Maxine considered asking that they take a break so that she could grab a few breaths of air. While it was not a matter that she could put her finger on, it did seem as though the studio was getting stuffy. The soft hum of the air conditioning, along with the slight chill in the air, assured her that, all was, apparently, as it should be in the studio but, she was feeling a little lightheaded all the same.

“Are you alright, Maxine?” Mr. Deofol asked, his eyes the very picture of deepening concern. “We can always continue this another time, if you are not feeling up to it.”

Was that a hint of mockery that she heard in his voice? The very idea of showing even a hint of weakness now, as her ambitions were finally gaining real traction was abhorrent to Maxine. Images of Sen. Muskie crying during his fateful Presidential debate in 1972, President Bush 41 puking and then fainting in Japan and, of course, Hillary Clinton’s seeming to cry during her run for the Presidential nomination, all came flooding into Maxine’s mind. Sure, Mr. Deofol seemed nice enough and perhaps he was a fan of hers but, would such feelings on his part keep him from exposing her at a moment of weakness? Really? Politics had always been a cutthroat and ugly business of betrayals and backstabbing, as Carl reminded her almost daily. To forget that, even for an instant, was a guarantee of ruin.

Taking a deep breath as she felt the waistband of her skirt loosen, to slip just a little along the curve of her hips, Maxine smiled and waved her right hand dismissively. “Not at all, Lou. Just my allergies acting up. I love this city and all it represents but, it does remind me why I always keep a hanky handy. Please bear with me New York City, my nose is guilty of messing up more of my speeches than I care to count.” Laughing to emphasize her safe venture into self-deprecation, Maxine thought of how President Reagan won the hearts of America with his willingness to laugh at himself.

“The mark of a true champion,” Lou remarked with a wink before turning to the camera to announce a commercial break. While not live, as was his usual practice, the taped intro still afforded her a welcome break.

“You are a little pale. Is there anything my staff can get you perhaps? Antacid, antihistamine, some hot tea maybe?” Lou spoke softly as if to keep the nonexistent studio audience and his crew out of the private conversation.

“No, really, but, thank you, Lou,” Maxine replied, reaching out to place her left hand on his knee, even as her eyes went out of focus for a moment. Leaning a little too far forward in her chair, Maxine rocked back only to find that she had the odd impression that the wingback arms of the chair, seemed higher than they had when the interview had begun. Her shoes slipping from her feet as the Fogal pantyhose began to loosed on her feet and legs, Maxine tugged, instinctively at the sleeves of her jacket.

“And We’re back with Representative Maxine Plume in my one on one interview with an obvious rising star in the world of politics. As soon as my producer told me that you had agreed to be on the program, it seemed like we got flooded with E-mails from the viewers with questions they would ask you if they could. Will you indulge me in allowing me to read a few, Maxine?” The broad smile on his face left no doubt that he was enjoying the chance to play to his audience as much as to her sensibilities.

Still feeling dizzy, Maxine was determined to soldier on. Nodding as she ran her numb fingertips along the curve of her cheek which was beading with cold sweat, she took another deep breath. “By all means, Lou. I am always eager to hear the voice of the people.”


“Wonderful! Our first question comes from Alan Bell in Manhattan. Alan writes, ‘Is it really true that members of Congress rarely read the bills they vote on?’” Lou proceeded to check off the line on the pad that rested on his knee.

Maxine fought the urge to roll her eyes. Ever since the fiasco of Healthcare Reform and the angry Town Hall Meetings that followed, this had been one of the more effective talking points for those who had contempt for those in Congress.

“Alan, let me assure you that every member of Congress takes your trust very seriously. We carefully consider each and every piece of legislation that comes up and while we may not have the time or, quite frankly, the expertise to read, each and every word in a bill, we have staffers who do so. I know this is kind of hard to understand, but just as a doctor may not know every medical term in existence, I have faith that such a doctor has hired people who know the specifics and can fill in the blanks so that he can do his job to the best of his abilities.” Gasping for breath as her lungs seemed to fight her every effort with an increasing tenacity, Maxine hoped the analogy would suffice.

“They really can be dense, can’t they, Maxine?” Lou quipped as he snickered.

Not sure that she had actually heard him correctly, Maxine’s eyes continued to come into and out of focus. Feeling the shoulders of her jacket sag against her body as the straps of her bra slipped down along her arms, under her blouse, she allowed a smirk to express itself on her lips. “Oh you have no idea, Lou.” Hardly believing that she had said the words aloud, she felt confident that all was well as Lou nodded.

“After all, with your Ivy League education and background, how can you be expected to wade through all the legalese they stuff in those things? Right?” his eyes caressing her as he seemed to rise in stature before her. Shaking her head, Maxine temporarily escaped the foggy nature of the world around her.

“Let’s go on, shall we?” Lou spoke confidently as his pen tapped rhythmically against the pad on his lap. “Frank Pool of Latham, New York asks, ‘With all the unemployed, so deeply in need, why did you oppose extending benefits for them?’” his smile appeared to grow as she felt the urge to laugh out loud.

Another one of those bleeding hearts, calling for the government to wipe every nose and dry every tear and Maxine found that such people, when not of use during a campaign, made her skin crawl. Knowing that she could not dismiss the dismal little troll out of hand, as she wished she could, Maxine felt her lungs tighten further as her feet no longer seemed to touch the floor at the front of the chair.

“Frank, you have to understand, the fact of the matter is that I do feel for those poor souls who are trying to find work, however, right now, we have to consider just how deep we are in the hole, as a nation. All I wanted, before I could offer my support for the bill, was to make sure it was paid for. Once the Speaker of the House corrects the numbers and makes it deficit neutral, I will be proud to add my name to those in support of the legislation.” Almost panting as she got the last of the approved answer out of her mouth, she heard Lou snicker.

“Such dweebs. Always thinking that their woes are everyone else’s concern. People like Frank and those shiftless bums have no idea what hard work really is. Not like we do.” Was she really hearing Lou Deofol lambaste one of his own loyal viewers?

Feeling almost drunk, Maxine found herself cackling with laughter as the sleeves of both her jacket and her blouse now flapped wildly as they hung down, far past her hands. “Aint it the truth, Lou. If I had a nickel for every poor soul who was more clueless than helpless, I could take care of the deficit all by myself. How they lived long enough to learn to suck off the public teat is a mystery. Of course I will have to support the bill in the end so, suck it up kids, mommy and daddy will spend you broke before you even get out of the nursery. You betcha!” Laughing hysterically as she felt the back of her head slip slowly along the soft leather of the chair, very little seemed real or to matter to Maxine anymore.

Checking off the question from Frank, Lou smiled and nodded. “Juan Gonzalez of the Bronx asks, ‘Why is Immigration Reform taking so long to pass?’” Hearing the snide tone in Lou’s voice was too much for Maxine to bear. Rolling around in the grip of riotous laughter, she felt as though she were now laying on a wonderfully, comfortable couch.

“Well, Juan, if it weren’t for sneaky little border jumpers like you and your family, we could ignore the issue and get on with our fundraisers. I know the brown folks are too stupid to get this, but, come on. Most of the country can smell how unfair giving amnesty to a bunch of stinky losers is but, we have to keep the Third World happy AND Big Business supplied with stupid workers who can’t complain so, what are we to do? Easy, we sit on our hands, start fights about race and hope the American People find some shiny object to take their minds off of us, in D.C.” Giggling as her skirt drooped and then gave up its hold on her hips and legs, Maxine felt as though she might swim in her $100 pantyhose.

“They really are a trip, aren’t they? Not one clue as to how things really work and it’s not like we can even explain it to them.” Lou’s pen checking off Juan’s question as he smiled.

“And now a question from Tyrone in Harlem. Tyrone asks, ‘ What makes you think you are qualified to be a member of Congress, let alone President?’” Hardly able to stifle his own laughter, Maxine found his mirth infectious.

“Don’t you mean ‘Tyrone AXES’, Lou?” as another wave of laughter took hold of her entire being, Maxine gave up trying to keep her jacket, bra and blouse in place. The tittering laughter spreading to those behind the cameras as she found it easier to simply crawl out from beneath her custom tailored clothes.

“Oh Maxine!” Lou almost choked on his humor as he ran his pen across the entry of Tyrone’s question. “Think he will be upset by that observation about his command of the English language?” he continued.

“Only if he can steal a computer and watch your show, Lou. Chances are his lights are about to be turned off until his next Welfare check comes in the mail. Anyway, to answer your question, Tyrone, I am qualified because, unlike you people, I went to school and paid attention. While you were selling dope to the white kids and then robbing their lockers, I was getting grades that, I bet, you can’t even spell. Say it with me Tyrone, ‘I have honest money so, I make the rules.’” Wiping the tears from her foggy eyes, Maxine gave only a moment’s thought to why she was now perfectly nude and seemed to be no larger than a child’s doll as she sat on the enormous chair.

“If you found a computer to swipe and could snag yourself some WiFi, I hope that answers your question, Tyrone. Our next question comes from Moshe Rabinowitz in Brooklyn. ‘I have been paying for my own health insurance for years now, why should I have to pay for others now?’” sticking his tongue out as he rolled his eyes, Lou leered at Maxine as she came to sit in the pile of her discarded clothes on the chair.

“Moshe, seriously, did you by it wholesale?” giggling as she fell over within the folds of her clothes, Maxine howled with laughter. “Seriously, don’t you get it? The American People are too stupid to know what they need or even want when it comes to healthcare. You might as well ask your dog what treatment he thinks the vet should give him and how much such treatments should cost. If you were not all such huge retards out there, you would have shopped around, instead of simply bitching about prices all these years. You would have known that spending, hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep granny alive for one more month, made no sense at all. You would never have let doctors charge so much for every little treatment, drug companies gouge for ever little pill and Lord knows you would have lynched the first lawyer who thought your little pinky was worth millions in a lawsuit! The fact of the matter is, you people, all of you, are too stupid to know what is good for you so, folks like me have to watch over you as if you were special needs, balloon-headed kids on the Short Bus. Want to be happy America? Sit down, shut up and let us tell you what you need and want and when you should have it.” Curling into a ball as she lay on the pile of her clothes upon the chair, Maxine felt liberated. Finally able to give voice to all of the things she knew, in her heart to be true, she practically seethed with the sense of her own, self worth. History was replete with instances of the masses attempting to govern themselves. Each and every time, it ended in abject failure. In the end, the duty of herding the masses along always fell to the elite and Maxine knew, without a doubt in her mind, that she was of the elite class.

Leaning closer as his huge and, decidedly handsome face loomed over the, now tiny Maxine, Lou asked the question that she had been assured was out of bounds. “I have to know Maxine, why did you quit the New York State Legislature? What was it about the position that made you simply walk away from it?”

Scowling as she wanted to wave off the impertinent question posed by her host, she shrugged instead. Why hide the truth now, now that she felt so much at ease for the first time in ages. No longer having to swallow her pride and rub elbows with brainless hicks who clung to their guns and Bibles. No longer having to tolerate the smells of poverty as some Welfare Mom whined about not getting enough free money from Uncle Sugar, Maxine felt as though the chains that had held her back, were at last, broken and tossed aside.

“Fine. I’ll tell you, Lou. The stupid job was obviously going to hold me back. Being the local Representative for a bunch of worthless, backwards, losers would never give me the chance to shine. To show the country what I was capable of. I knew the job was beneath me. That I was better than that office and I think I have proved my point. From that to spokesperson for my church to Congress and on to the White House. I have what it takes and I will not be denied my due! I am proud, Lou! Do you hear me? Do you all hear me America? I am proud of who I am and what I am capable of achieving and nothing can hold me back!” Shouting the last, Maxine’s mind cleared enough to fully realize what had happened to her. As impossible as it was, she was now, no more than six inches tall, nude and at the complete mercy of a man she had only just met as the faceless crew of the studio snickered.

Pulling herself into a ball and then pushing out with her legs to maneuver herself to the back of the chair, Maxine grabbed the silk handkerchief from the breast pocket of her jacket and hastily wrapped it around herself. Covering her full breasts and soft curves within the confines of the brightly colored cloth, she screamed.

“What…what have you done to me? How did this happen? Why am I so small? Someone, help me! Please help me!” she shrieked as Lou grinned, exposing the many rows of sharp teeth that filled his huge mouth. Hearing the mocking laughter of the crew, mixed with a sad sigh of the woman who had done her makeup, Maxine tried to fasten the bit of cloth in place, around her body so that she could climb to the arm of the leather chair.

“Miss Meeks, Grace! Please, call the police. Call the EMT’s! I need your help. Please SAVE ME!” her pleas seeming to sadden the young woman all the more, Maxine watched as Miss Meeks turned and quietly walked out of the studio.

Checking the last line on his pad, Lou Deofol snickered. “Maxine, no one did this to you but yourself. Such a proud little thing you are and, while I can not see much that you have to be proud about, I admire your delusion of pride, worthy of such arrogance, such hubris. Representative Plume, I salute you.” Raising his left hand and extending his index finger, Lou grinned wider. “Of course, we all know, pride cometh before the fall.” And with that, he flicked her tiny body, unceremoniously, from the arm of the chair. Watching her tumble and finally come to rest on the cushion of the chair, Lou chuckled as spittle ran along the sides of his lips.

Blowing into his left hand, Lou’s breath solidified into a lattice work box. As Maxine watched in petrified terror, horns slowly poked through the dark hair and flesh at the top of his head. Seeing his long, bifurcated tongue, slip slowly along the edges of his lips and pointed fangs, Maxine felt her chest tighten once more, only to gradually relax as she accepted the inevitable outcome. As the cage of his breath was dropped over her, she felt it close at the bottom, to trap her completely within its confines. As he lifted her, within the cage, to his face, she felt the bars of the cage grow cold against her flesh.

Reaching out to grasp a pair of opposing bars of the cage, Maxine found her palms sticking to the cold surfaces, like the child foolish enough to fall for the old “tongue on the flagpole” trick at school. Her arms outstretched at her sides, she was displayed in all of her womanly glory for as long as she amused her keeper. Sobbing softly as she watched his right hand loosen his tie and open his button down shirt to reveal the chain around his neck, she saw the other cage that hung from that chain. The young woman within the cage glared at her with a hatred so primal that Maxine shivered before it.

Feeling each motion of his giant hand as her own cage was hung from a hook, similar to that of the other woman‘s cage, Maxine bowed her head. Hearing his deep, rumbling chuckle, his next words made clear his enjoyment of her as a trophy.

“I am so pleased with you, my proud little thing, I will be sure to show you off at every opportunity. Be proud of your new, high position in life as it will last you for all time.”


With that, Lou turned to the crew and drew his hand across his neck in a chopping motion and yelled, “That‘s a wrap.”