The soft shuffle of feet announced to any who might have been listening the approach of Mera the UoM Aide, the fabric of her uniform rustled with her movement. As she arrived, she heard the clatter of someone's personal equipment and lifted her chestnut eyes upward in a glance.
"Hey, Mera. Hail!" Ed greeted her as she entered, giving a good kick to the wall with his rather dusty boot to maintain her attention. He'd tromped into the pristine waiting area of the New Rydynn Hospital so loudly he had not heard her softly sibilant uniform's sounds.
"Hello Ed!" A warm smile slipped across her lips as she greeted him in return.
"How you doing?" He scratched idly at the extended bit of growth on his face, his eyes glittering a bit as they watched her.
"I am doing well ... the ER has been quiet, which is a good sign."
Outside the main doors, dust trickled down in forms of little clouds as Zac Dillenger conscientiously brushed off his coat. Boots, complete with a hole in the toe brought the man with them as they clumped through the sliding main doors. His nimble fingers grasped the brim of his bowie and he removed it to pat it on his thigh.
Ed glanced over his shoulder at Zac but continued talking to Mera. "Yeah. You think the bad boys have moved out of town?"
Noting the sound of approaching feet, Mera also turned her gaze towards the one entering. She nodded in answer to Ed, turning her eyes back to him for a moment. "I hope so. That's all we can do: hope." Mera made her way towards the receptionist's desk, where she picked up a pen, and signed in. Her writing was nearly illegible as she scribbled on the sign-in pad. "Maybe they will play nice for a change. We have seen too much action lately."
Zac's one eyed gaze flitted up, overhearing Ed's words about the "bad boys." Nonchalantly he told him in a quiet, gravely voice, "Far from it, kid."
"Hope..." Ed shrugged. "I guess it's worthwhile." He turned to face Bad Zac. "You know better, don't 'cha?" Ed nodded. "So do I ... bad news is always bad news ... even if no one says it. The only reason those Nuclear Messiah guys are here is because of those Freemen lodging up in city limits." Ed muttered something to himself and scratched at his head.
With another glance out the door, having just evaded an CotNM tank, Zac nodded agreeably, his hand reaching for his patch to adjust it. His pack, once thrown over his shoulder was now removed as he made his way to the desk. He glanced back at Ed with a small smirk. "Thing is, pal. They ain't got much of a choice."
"Obviously the Nuclear Messiahs do." Ed persisted.
"Been out there lately?" Zac nodded, indicating beyond city limits.
Ed shrugged. "All the time. A lot of places to hide. I just don't like these two sides having a war with us in the middle." It was unclear whether "us" necessarily included anyone more than Ed himself.
In a half lean Zac turned to Ed, his elbow on the desk, then back to Mera. He nodded again, this time to greet the UoM Aide as his pack slumped to the desk. "Hey."
She looked up and offered a smile to the stranger. "You need help?"
"Where's the other lady Doc. Got somethin' for her." Zac’s fingers wrapped around the cord that bound his pack, undoing it.
"Ash?"
Zac shrugged. "Guess that's her name. Never offered it to me." He smirked. "Then again, never offered mine."
"She is out doing the missions. She likes being out in the field." Mera explained.
Still listening from nearby, Ed reminded her as he smiled to himself. "The field will get you killed."
Mera nodded. "I know ... it killed my father..." Her voice was soft and quite serious in tone, almost said matter-of-factly.
Zac nodded. "Well, when ya see her, give her this." He tossed her a box of gauze rolls.
Ed blinked at the box, murmuring. "Wow ... how 'bout that." He jutted his thumb at the box and tilts his head at Zac. "Where'd you get that from?"
Zac flashed a sideways glance to Ed. "Trust me, pal. Ya ain't findin' out. Yet."
Mera caught the box in her hands, a smile growing on her face. "Great! We were nearly out of these!"
Zac nodded to her, his warm smile on her. "Yep. I was told. Made a deal for em. Get me a shower card?"
Mera chuckled softly, knowing of Ash's strange deals. She reached into the drawer to get a card, and handed it over.
Zac beamed a smile, as best he could get at least, and tucked the card in his pocket. "Thanks." He muttered. "By the way ... Tell her I got her burn plate." He shifted, closing up the pack. "But I ain't partin' with it til I see her."
Mera nodded. "I will tell her."
"Good." One-eyed nod prominent, Zac turned and headed for one of the old lounge chairs. Slumping down into it, he set his feet up on one of Chumba's buckets.
Ed turned back to Mera. "Gotta pay for showers around here, huh?"
"Well, water doesn't come free ... anymore." Mera was almost surprised at the question.
Ed nodded. "Gotcha. And here I thought this place had some kind of endless supply."
She chuckled at Ed's comment. "We wish."
Ed sighed. "Damn...there go my high hopes." He kicked at the floor with his toe.
"I have learned not to let my hopes get that high."
"Well ... at least you got 'em."
Indeed, hardened by the struggle to merely survive in the half dead world that was Sabatt, most of the people had become far too cynical to entertain such lofty notions as hope. Survival was the key. For that, you had to work with what you had or found and be thankful for that much.
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