It was yet another bustling afternoon in the Free Clinic adjacent to the New Rydynn Memorial Hospital and Medic Mirandahh Acshe Drachenn, otherwise known as Ash, fielded a variety of injured, ill or otherwise incapacitated "customers." Her shift began with a pair of street rats, aged 12 and 16, struggling to assist a wounded man into the clinic. The young man, Shad Gray by name, saved the street rats from some Church Missionaries and garnered himself a beating for his efforts. As Ash began her assessment of the man's injuries, the usual assortment New Rydynnian oddities trickled into the clinic.
An old man, Albertuss Magnuss, with a long silvery beard and flowing black and purple robes shuffled in cursing under his breath as he watched and listened to the goings on before claiming a chair along the wall. Preceding him was a jittery young woman called Lise, whose thin frame was tense with obvious paranoia as she swatted at invisible insects buzzing about her head. Her hands were pale and bloodstained. Another fellow, dressed in red robes, came floating in, levitated himself to the ceiling before crashing to the floor.
As Ash performed a deft physical exam on Shad, using her cool demeanor to ascertain some history from him regarding his family and birth place, she expertly inserted an IV catheter into his arm and started an IV drip. Summoning a pair of orderlies she sent Shad off to x-ray and to have some blood work drawn. Ash's attention turned to Lise who had just vomited into her hands as the old man and the levitating one, Destrain, looked on.
After recruiting the help of the red robed Destrain to fetch a pan of water so she could clean up the ever more psychotic Lise, the din of the clinic was punctuated by the crash of the stainless steel basin as Destrain fell to the floor. Having faked a cough a few minutes before, he was suddenly not faking and appeared quite dead. Lise raved on and Albertuss continued to mutter his obtuse observations of the actions around him.
Never losing her cool, Ash shouted to Medic Greg Calsso for assistance, as he stepped from the elevator's open doors. Ash continued to attend Lise, unflinchingly cleaning the vomit from Lise's hands. Calsso confirmed the death of the man on the floor before heading down to x-ray to see to Shad as the young aide Mera Harperr, dressed in a UoM uniform, approached. Trelnikk, the little mutant with three rotted teeth, crept in offering a creepy smile to Mera. Mera cast a sidelong glance at the old man Magnuss who was now up and examining the labels of some bottles in a case near the counter before pocketing one.
Mera asked Ash what she could do to help out and Ash directed her to find some orderlies to remove the dead body to the morgue, check on the old man and on Trelnikk . Down in x-ray, Calsso began his exam of Shad Gray, making notes of the story Shad related about coming across a body in some ruins he has been exploring last week. Shad explained he had touched this body which oozed some dark liquid, and since that time he had been ill. Calsso listened while he obtained the chest, abdominal and cranial x-rays of Shad's bruised body. After the x-rays were done, Calsso escorted Shad to Exam Room 2 where he continued his physical, drew some blood samples and offered a preliminary diagnosis of Shad's affliction. Calsso encouraged Shad to see one of the nurses and to consider checking into the hospital for treatment.
Ash's calm exam of Lise proceeded smoothly until she placed a tongue depressor into the skittish young woman's mouth causing her to go into a fit of coughing and choking. Ash attempted to settle Lise, managing to medicate her with a couple of pills and not get bitten in the process. Mera attended to yet another confused and gaunt looking woman named Raze who emerged from the elevator. Raze looked like she hadn't eaten in days, so Mera got her some stew and a glass of water.
About that time, Bad Zac Dillenger, the one eyed huumunn mercenary, walked in and made his way to the cafeteria, helping himself to a bowl of stew, ever alert to his surroundings. Shortly the conglomeration of filth and rags called Josi Putter slinked in the doors, a pristine white bandage on her left hand. Josi presented herself for removal of the bandage hoping the wound on her hand was healed enough to allow her use of the hand again. Ash removed the dressing and quickly assessed the status of Josi's healing wound admonishing her to keep it clean. Happily, Josi celebrated having two hands again as Zac settled himself in a chair back in the lobby eyeing the collection of people present.
Soldier Garth Lowinn of the Legion of Freeman entered holstering a gun, glad to be out of the heat. Done with his tests, Shad Gray returned to the lobby taking in the presence of the freeman while Lowinn moved to one of the vacant chairs in the waiting room. Josi waved her hand in front of Zac's face and he made to grab it to examine it. Josi wailed, outraged and indignant though his hold on her hand did not hurt at all. Dismissing Josi with a suggestion of food, Zac produced a small box from his ruck and set it on Ash's desk, whistling to her waving his hand in the direction of the box. Ash, yet busy with Lise, nodded to Lowinn after she injected Lise with more medication to calm the woman's madness before she drew a blood sample.
Shad engaged Lowinn in conversation about the Special Forces expressing his admiration for any man who would seek to disrupt the Church's evil.
"You're one of the special forces right?"
Lowinn snorts, "Yeah, I'm one of them...and damn proud of it, too."
With a quiet smile Grey replied, "An honor to meet one. I admire any who seek to disrupt the Church's evil."
"You do, eh?"
"My name's Shad Grey... they killed my mother before my eyes because of her talents of the mind."
Lowinn stood up, nearly losing his balance but catching himself, held out a hand to Grey, "Garth Lowinn.... Church killed my wife, my best friend...My mother, my father..." Shad clasped the hand in a firm, polite greeting as Lowinn continued his list, "Men under my command... I've seen death galore, friend."
"I've had many friends killed by them myself." Grey paused with a quiet sigh, "more than I'd like to remember. Odd that I always survive."
"Isn't it? Like you're invincible or something..."
"Nah.. just lucky ... or cursed," a mildly ironic self-mocking grin spread over Grey's face, "on this world ye never can tell which."
Lowinn chuckled in agreement, "Yeah, but cursed is too light a word...more like damned."
Zac watched Shad and Lowinn with an arched brow unable to hear their conversation. Ash finally finished with the now more subdued Lise, made her way over to Zac and the box on her desk. Zac offered some surgical knives and scalpels for whatever Ash might have to trade but specifically interested in fuel. Ash could only give Zac the name of someone who dealt in fuel but for this information Zac rewarded her with one of the scalpels.
The clinic was about to close as the janitor, Chumba made his way in, pushing his cart before him and smiling at the familiar face of Sitharis. Having finished her transaction with Zac and her shift, Ash shuffled off to the showers. The reptilian Syrynykkian Sitharis lifted the end of his fetish tipped spear to rap on one of Elliot 7's ubiquitous speakers wondering why no sound came from it. When Elliot finally replied he discussed the Syrynykkian's question as to whether Elliot would die when the power went out.
Shad and Garth Lowinn bantered more congenial words until a nurse intervened informing Shad that the medics wished for him to be admitted for observation and treatment of his virus. Shad nodded politely to Garth before following the nurse away. Zac entered the conversation with Garth cryptically inquiring if Garth "got it." Garth demanded to know "who the hell" Zac was as Zac asserted his importance having provided Garth with needed and hard to come by information. Garth didn't wish to turn down help against the Violator but remained suspicious of Zac's motives. Dodging an answer to the question of motive, Zac simply pointed out their mutual need for firepower.
"Firepower? You talk like I have access to a ton of it..." Garth snorted.
Quietly Zac replied, " I trust you can get yer hands on some."
Zac drew Garth's attention back to the paper he had spread out before them, "And you'll see a pattern here."
As Garth moved over to study the paper he offered the thought, "You're putting a lot of trust in me"
Zac almost taunted him with a with a quiet yet pointed come back, "Aren't we supposed to have trust in the Legion?"
Garth looked up, red-faced. "Listen, pal, stress is the last thing I need right now. Hell, I'm on doctors orders to avoid it. And what is it, exactly, that we've lost?"
Confrontational, Zac got right in Garth's face with his answer. "Not what the Legion has lost. What ... you ... have."
"Back up," Garth snarled and demanded, "what have I lost?" Zac's hand suddenly flitted to inside his coat, wrapping his fingers around the butt of his 9 millimeter as almost simultaneously, Garth's hand moved down to the handle of his six-shooter. But thinking better of a confrontation with a man who would be an ally, Zac quietly added, " You don't want to lose that temper, pal. Remember what the doc said?" Visibly relaxing, Zac nodded indicating that they move to a quieter place to talk, encouraging, "Chew on some more of those pills, Sergeant."
"Yeah, I remember...no stress ... or else I'll have another flashback." Garth calmed himself and moved to the more isolated spot, muttering, "Damn pills...not time for one yet."
Toeing a chair, Zac sat as Garth did the same, still mumbling. In a hushed voice Zac explained his thoughts, " Look...I know a little of what happened. When you flashed the other night...well. It's not hard to put two and two together. I figured by now the Violator is on some kind of black list, am I right?"
Garth nodded, leaning forward so he could hear clearly, eyes narrowed but not speaking just listening as Zac continued. " So that got me to thinking. I came up with a plan. Needs five to pull this off and a few claymores ... And maybe one M660, " he added with a smirk.
"I can get those pretty easy... One of my vehicles has an M660 attached."
"Good," Zac nodded again quietly, "How 'bout a volunteer?"
Interested but wanting more information Garth responded, " Volunteer for what?" His chrono beeped and he reached into his pocket for his vial of pills.
"To help ... I have two ... need a few more."
Opening the vial, Garth swallowed a pill. "Damn pills ... You got me, and I know three boys who survived a run in with that machine and would like another one."
"Good to hear, Sarge," Satisfied with Garth's offer, he rose and tapped the paper. "I'll be in touch."
"I'm sure you will...." Garth nodded as Zac spun on his boot heel and moved away.
Her stomach gorged on the greasy stew in the cafeteria, Josi mulled over the situation with the collection of people in the lobby and feeling less intimidated she decided to return. She stopped at the doorway though, her pale eyes moving over the crowd. She remained apart from them, but listened to the conversation between Sitharis and Elliot 7, apprehensive about the Syrynykkian's presence and still unsure if she could remain among this strange lot.
Concluding his brief conversation with Elliot, Sitharis let his gaze swing back toward the room, stopping for a moment on Josi. Believing herself to be invisible, pressed against the wall, Josi froze as she felt eyes touch her...Sitharis' and Zac's. Before joining Garth in their secretive military discussion, Zac had reminded her she had a carb to fix but Josi's response was to mimic and stick her tongue out in defiance, not allowing him to order her around.
Sitharis' interest evident as he noted Josi's gesture, his own tongue slithered out for a moment, though for different reasons. He stepped toward her, the fetish spear tapping on the floor as he walked. Josi's crystalline eyes grew as big as saucers as the big Syrynykkian moved toward her. She would have moved back if she had not already been plastered against the wall. Sitharis looked down on her with his silted, unblinking, yellow eyes, curious as to if she could "taste the Breath of Life." Josi repeated the tongue thrusting gesture wondering what he meant. She wiggled her tongue but shook her head in disappointment admitting she could not do what he suggested.
Sitharis squatted to Josi's level as she asked how he tasted the air. He waved her to join him on the floor, sitting cross-legged before her, his spear laid across his legs now. He offered a minute portion of faint blue dust to her nostrils, she carefully inspected it and thinking, "why not?" she inhaled. He began to tell his story, watching Josi as the dust caused mild hallucinations for her, bringing the verbal images to life as he spoke.
"Long ago...five beasstsss, there were ... Argued about what wassss mossst important, they did...The eyessss, the earsss, the teeth, the mind ... the breath.... Tessst thesssse thingsss, we will...Cat ssssaid... Cat wasss ssstrongessst, he wassss, sssso agreed they did...." Josi softly chuckled but held her tongue, a rarity in and of itself. A soft hum was audible as Elliot 7 recorded this bit of Syrynykkian History/Fable. Zac listened to the story as well, but his one eye did not stray far from Josi.
"Removed hisss eyesss, Tortoisse did ... blinked, he became...The ssssun risssing, the ssssun falling, none he could ssseee ... Ssseven colorsss of hisss pond, he misssed ... but hear, he could ... eat, he could ... think, he could.... Beassstss decide...little importance were eyessss..." Josi glanced over at the one eyed man, nodding as if in agreement with Sitharis' words, but quickly turning her attention back to the story.
"Hare ssstepped up, he did...hisss earssss, he gave ... Breaking of twigs, he heard not ... wind through briarssss, he heard not...but sssee, he could ... think, he could ... eat, he could...Beassstss decide, little importance, earsss were.... Wolf ssstepped toward ... hisss teeth, he gave..... Difficult, eating wassss...but eat, he could ... thinner, he grew...but live he did...sssee, he did ... hear, he did... a sssharp mind, ssstill he had ... Beassstss decide...little importance, teeth were...." His tongue slithered out once again and Josi nodded thinking you can get along perfectly well without teeth.
"Sssspider ssstepped forward, he did... hisss mind, he gave...Little mind, ssspider had already, he did.... Cat thought...but the fliesss even more ssstupid, they were...to hisss web, they ssstill came...Eat, he did ... ssseee, he did ... hear, he did ... Beassstsss decided ... little importance mind wasss ... Cat laughed, he did ... proud, he wasss...Proved, have I ....eyesss, earsss, teeth, mind...little importance they have...alwaysss knew, I did....important, breath isss... Not proven yet, other Beasssts sssay..." Josi mulled the story over in her mind wondering how breath can be best if you can't prove it?
Sitharis continued, "Cat ssstepped forward, he did......hisss breath, he gave.....ssssoon died, he did...buried Cat, they did... Beassstsss prove breath mosst important...Life, breath givesss...mossst important, it issss....if little one learn more, ssshe musst...tasste life, ssshe mussst..."
By the time the story had concluded many of the gathered had drifted off. Garth discussed his condition with Terra Skye, another hospital medic who had arrived earlier. Terra remained somewhat vague about test results that she was obviously privy to. She suggested that Garth's medication might need adjustment and offered the fact that his blood work revealed some usual results. Frustrated at Terra's tightlipped answers, he accepted her explanation that more tests were needed and that he did need some downtime. He chuckled about no illness keeping him from the fight and agreed she would see him again so he could learn more about his strange blood. He then turned and walked out into the street again, stopping to take one more look at the waiting room.
The crippled janitor Chumba had been shuffling around the main room all evening, always ready to offer a warm greeting and smile or a bit of assistance if he could to those present. With Terra's attention now free she noticed Chumba seemed to be limping a bit more than usual. She encouraged him to get up to ortho to have his limb examined and to take something for the pain. Denying the need for medication Chumba bravely went on with his work, but agreed to make an appointment in the morning.
As the waiting room quieted down even more, the only ones remaining were Josi and Sitharis. Their discussion had formed a bond of sorts between them as Sitharis offered Josi acceptance into his tribe since she had no family. Unaccustomed to such care Josi hesitated, wanting to think about it first. To demonstrate the sincerity of his offer Sitharis removed one of his beaded/feathered necklaces and placed it around her slim neck. A bit incredulous over receiving something without having something taken from her in return Josi just blinked. Chumba smiled and pushed his cart down the hall to finish his rounds after bidding the two new friends good night.
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