Bad News

The following takes place soon after: Time's Up For Travers

The high-profile arrest of Harris Travers on charges of Tax Evasion and Sexual Assault drew significant media attention, sparking angry protests outside the Waldoshire County Sheriff's Station in Waldobury. Led by militant feminists, the protests escalated into tragedy...

****

WBC NEWS: "Travers' Wife Attacked in Brutal Mob Assault"

Mayuri Travers Left in Critical Condition After Protest Turned Violent

****

Inside the jail cell, Harris Travers was met by Master Devlin, who entered with a solemn expression and hat in hand.

Travers: Master Devlin! What's the news? Did you get me a good lawyer?? What about the dirt on those meddlesome cops?

Master Devlin: I'm sorry, Harris, but I've got some bad news...

Travers: Oh no. It's not some other woman accusing me, is it??

Master Devlin: No. It's about Mayuri...

Travers: What? Is she okay??

Master Devlin: No. I'm afraid she's in hospital. Intensive care... Attacked by feminist protesters.

Travers: No... I... This isn't... How could this have happened? What's her condition??

Master Devlin: It sounds like she was attacked when she tried to enter the station. Apparently, she was defending her husband's honour...

Travers: ...So it's my fault.

Master Devlin: I'm sorry. I thought I should be the one to tell you. Also, I've arranged with Council and the Sheriff's station for extra security for you.

Travers: Forget about me! I need you to go check on her... Master Devlin... You must protect her for me! I-I... She's such a sweet and kind girl... This... Those...

Travers slumps, deflated, burying his head in his hands.

Travers: Just go to her. Please.

Master Devlin: Of course. You have my word...

The Master gives a solemn nod and leaves. Travers remains in his cell, lost in his thoughts.

****

At the J.S. Memorial Hospital in Widdicombe, Master Devlin enters the ICU. He stands for a moment, staring with sadness at Mayuri Travers, who lies unconscious in a coma.

Dr. Beverly Crusher approaches.

Dr. Crusher: Are you family?

Master Devlin: In a way... She considers me a father figure. How is she?

Dr. Crusher: We had to perform emergency surgery to relieve intracranial pressure. It was successful, but I’m afraid she’s still in a coma. She also has several broken ribs. All we can do now is monitor her and hope for the best...

Master Devlin: Is there nothing more you can do?

Dr. Crusher: I’m sorry, but with this 21st-century Waldoversian technology we have, we've done all we can.

Master Devlin: I see... Do you know anything about the attack?

Dr. Crusher: You’d need to speak with the police, but from what I understand, they plan to treat it as an attempted murder investigation.

Master Devlin: I see. Thank you, Doctor. Please, keep me informed about her condition.

The Master hands her his card, nods solemnly, and exits.

****

The Master learned that the Widdlington PD had taken over the case from the Waldoshire County Sheriff's Department. He headed to the WPD headquarters in Old Wallywood.

The desk sergeant directed him to take a seat. Soon after, Lt. Castillo appeared.

Castillo: Hello again, Master Devlin. I understand you’re here about the Travers case?

Master Devlin: Castillo? You son of a bitch… What are you doing here?

Castillo: I work here... What can I do for you?

Master Devlin: I’m here about Mayuri Travers and what’s happening with the case, but given that you’re involved, I reckon not much...

Castillo: Well, you're right, I'm afraid... Not much.

Master Devlin: Tell me what happened?

Castillo: A group of feminist campaigners had been gathered outside the station since yesterday, attempting to put public pressure on the Travers case. At around 16:00, Mrs. Travers approached the station, as I understand it, with the intention of seeing her husband. She was attacked by several of the protesters—apparently, they didn’t like that she was defending him. A skirmish broke out, and the sheriff’s department had to call in backup. But by the time they arrived, Mrs. Travers was seriously injured and had to be rushed to the hospital.

Master Devlin: And what’s been done about it?

Castillo: We arrested thirteen people. Others managed to escape. I was intending to pursue charges of second-degree murder, assault, and battery with intent to cause GBH. But the district attorney overruled me. She doesn’t want to be seen persecuting feminists, so the charges were dropped for most of them, and we had to cut them loose.

Master Devlin: You can't be serious??

Castillo: I’m afraid so. Only the two ringleaders who instigated the incident are facing reduced charges of disturbing the peace.

Master Devlin: Unacceptable! This is outrageous.

Castillo: I agree, but it’s out of my hands. I’m only telling you this as a courtesy since I know you were close to the victim. But there’s nothing more I can do. It’s all politics. That’s why I’m retiring—heading back to Florida.

Master Devlin: Who are these people? What can you tell me about them? Do you have their files?

Castillo: I’m not supposed to say anything... but I don’t care anymore. This isn’t justice.

He hands the Master a folder.

Moniqua Jay-Quellin Jones. Writer. Radical feminist with links to Antifa and BLM. She used to write for the Waldopolis Chronicle. Then there's Debby Rubin. Unemployed activist, but comes from a wealthy family. Ties to big media. They're going to walk, alright.

Master Devlin: I see. Does this file have anything on the other offenders?

Castillo: There’s a list of known associates. We believe most were present at the scene. Hopefully, you can get the family some justice... Good luck...

Master Devlin: Thank you, Detective...

Castillo nods and starts to walk away before turning back.

Castillo: Oh, by the way... The robot—Mr. Smith—I was ordered to take him in and leave him at that station. I didn’t like it, but orders came from up top. After I arrested him, they transferred me. It was out of my hands. But, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I don’t know where they sent him after.

Master Devlin: I found him not long ago. In Barcelona. Reg Van Der Beak was behind it—at least in part. You know, the former dictator of Birdonia during the troubled times... He was keeping him as a sex slave in a shack...

Castillo: Oh... Well, I’m sorry to hear that. Be careful. I expect Van Der Beak still has connections—even in this station. Anyway, I have to go... Goodbye, Master Devlin.

Master Devlin: Goodbye, Lieutenant.

****

The Master goes to the council grounds. He finds Widdle Frunkut in his dumpster, motorboating Ermintrude's gonzagas. The Master shakes his head.

Master Devlin: WIDDLE FRUNKUT!

wF: 🥴 Yes!?

Master Devlin: My office, right now!

wF: Hrmmph

Waldo follows the Master to his office. The Master sits down at his desk.

Master Devlin: Do you really have to conduct yourself like this on the council grounds?

wF: Yes! We were in our dumpster... Private property.

Master Devlin: On council grounds...

The master shakes his head and sighs.

Master Devlin: Anyway...Take a seat. I'm afraid I have some bad news.

Waldo climbs up on the chair.

Master Devlin

wF: 😦😔 Mayuri...We liked her...She was nice! Why was she made coma'd?

Master Devlin: She was attacked.

wF: It wasn't us!! We swears it.

Master Devlin: I know it wasn't you, Waldo. Mr Travers is in jail on sexual assault charges. Mayuri was going to visit him when she was attacked by a gang of radical feminists.

The Master pushes the file towards Waldo.

Master Devlin: These are the culprits.

wF: Where did you get these?

Master Devlin: Detective Castillo

wF: Oh...We thought you hate him?

Master Devlin: He's a scoundrel, but it sounds like this case got to him. The District Attorney threw out the case because of potential political backlash. So Castillo has retired and gave me this file... Anyway, I need your help.

wF: Ah. Sure! We sniffs out the baddies?

Master Devlin: Sort of.

wF: Wesa ready to do ourson part!

Waldo studies the files.

wF: Rubin and Jones? These names sounding familars.

Master Devlin: Yes that's the ringleaders. I want to get them all though.

wF: Ah...A good old inquistion! Torture them to rat out their accomplices? Impalement perhaps...Witch hunt! Then wesa gonna making them dead!

Master Devlin: Yes precisely... Though I feel death would be too easy. I feel like I want to render them completely useless. Blind, deaf, dumb, minus limbs. Just stumps...You can do the surgery.

wF: Excellent. We not made chicken nuggets in a while...Doctor Waldo is in the house! Let's go find them then!

Master Devlin: Actually I had an idea for a trap...

Waldo and the Master then embarked on an elaborate, convoluted, and logic-defying plan in which Waldo (while a replica Travers doll playing a tape recording of his voice was placed in his cell to cover for his absence) lured the violent radical feminists to a warehouse in West Widdlington. There, Waldo immobilized them using an aerosolized venom from one of his creations—a hybrid Latin American trans toad. With the Master's permission, Waldo got out his various torture instruments and went to work on them, turning them into miserable, limbless stumps of humans, and then proceeded to impale them and line them up outside the District Attorney's office for the town to see. News soon came out that the DA had been attempting to sweep the attack on Mayuri Travers under the rug and would resign in disgrace.

It was believed at the time that Moniqua Jay-Quellin Jones, one of the ringleaders, was one of the victims of this brutal retribution; however, as it turned out, she didn’t turn up to the warehouse that day and was mistaken for another overweight Black woman with an unfortunate haircut..

****

The Master goes to the hospital to check up on Mayuri.

Master Devlin: Doctor? I'm here to check up on Mayuri Travers.

Dr. Crusher: I'm afraid there's been no change. She's stable, but as for when she wakes up—it's anyone's guess. You can go and sit with her if you like. Talk to her. I can't say for sure if she can hear you... but it couldn't hurt. Just don't molest her. We’ll be keeping an eye out, just so you know. We've had far too much of that on this ward, unfortunately. In fact, I'm starting to think something is very wrong with this hospital... creeps everywhere. That’s why we have hidden cameras all over the place now. Would you like to go and see her?

Master Devlin: Uh... no, thank you, Doctor. I’ll leave her be. But yes, please continue to keep an eye on her.

The Master leaves and heads to the jailhouse to see Travers.

Travers: Hello... Master Devlin. It is I—Incarcerated Travers.

The Master switches off the camera in the room.

Master Devlin: Hello, Travers. I’ve been to see Mayuri. She’s stable, but still in a coma.

Travers: I see... She’ll pull through. I know it.

Master Devlin: Yes, I’m sure.

Travers: She’s small, but strong.

Master Devlin: Indeed.

Travers: I heard through the grapevine about a certain display. A rather nasty one outside the DA’s office.

Master Devlin: Yes, karma is an interesting business. Couldn’t have happened to some nicer people.

Travers: Indeed. If I were able to speak to karma, I’d say: thank you. I am in your debt.

Master Devlin: Hopefully, some comfort, given the circumstances.

Travers: Justice is done. It’s good to know there are still righteous forces for good in this realm.

The Master nods at Travers.

Master Devlin: Of course, I have no idea what you’re talking about...

Travers: Oh, don’t mind me. I’m a rambling fool, isolated from the world.

Master Devlin: Anyway, I hear the DA has resigned.

Travers: Ah, good, good.

Master Devlin: And your hearing is tomorrow.

Travers: It sure is...

Season 3 continues in The Pre-Trial