The lobby was quiet, very quiet. The nurse at the front desk actually caught a nap before the next bout of bloodshed seeped through the ER bay doors. That was one advantage of being an ER nurse: the ability to fall into a power nap almost anywhere.
She was sitting at one of the many round metal tables, wolfing down a bowl of something pastey and white. The room itself was empty now, and dim; but, there was still hot stuff on the serving line and something akin to coffee. It was hot and black, that was about all that could be said for it. With every swallow of the "stuff" she grimaced while Elliot 7, the hospital super computer played his version of syrup on the speakers. Outside, a break in the haze revealed a few meek stars. Their muted brilliance could be attributed to their proximity to isolated Sabatt and under different circumstances, older skies, they would have blazed.
Finally the food in her bowl was finished and the one who prefered to be called "Ash", not that anyone listened, pushed away from the table. She took her bowl to the kitchen and dropped it into one of the many stainless sinks and all the while sickly sweet music played - soothing, calm, mind-numbing. Ash started to walk away from the dirty bowl and spoon, but thought better of it. The kitchen was empty as the rest of the first floor and so she painstakingly scraped out the remnants of her meal into a recycling box. Then she sent the items through the dishwasher.
Stones of the rubble in the ruins without were crushed under the heavy footfalls of a tattered boot. A torn canvas coat whisked easily behind smoke which trailed in a thin follow the leader pattern. One eye roved about the near deserted streets. The cigarette tip glowed red. He took a sudden drag and then it was whisked away from his mouth by a leathery..hand. Zac flicked the terminal stub ahead into the gray dust, its embers died in an instant when that tattered..boot stamped out its remaining life. Another stream of smoke was blown out of the corner of his mouth as he stopped one glance to the stars overhead. A cough followed the exhale, like clockwork, then his hand went inside his coat and wrapped around his handgun before he slipped inbetween the lobby’s sliding doors. He arched a brow at the obviuous quiet, his indigo blue eye searching. The eye fell first on the sleeping nurse, then onto a brunette who was moving toward him.
A slight dread rose inside of a girl named Miccah as she moved to exit the lobby doors, she paused, contemplating her supposed next action as she let go of a surpressed sigh. As the one-eyed man came through, she turned from the doors and considered her opetions. Her eyes caught the words held on the signs along the walls even as the one-eyed man’s gaze fell upon her. He nodded to her and in return she offered a slight, exhausted smile. That indigo blue held the aqua green of her gaze a moment until the scrape of a chair was over heard from the cafeteria. His penetrating blue gaze looked that way.
While at first it seemed hopeless, the girl had now found her escape. She followed the signs to the cafeteria. Her hand went to her newly stitched wound in silent thought. She was glad to have found a way to avoid making the trip home just yet. She left the corridor via the double doors into the cafeteria, and there she thought perhaps she’d found a safe haven.
One-eye shifted slightly, cough again and then stepped forward. His boots continue the rolling gait of his saunter to his destination -- the terminal near the front desk. He looked over the sleeping nurse at the front desk and tapped at the terminal’s keyboard. The nurse, a younger woman rested her head in her arms but didn’t otherwise move.
Shad entered the lobby not far from where Zac had done so. That disconcerting one-eye flitted up once to the sliding doors to see the slender young man dressed in a dark jumpsuit then back to the terminal in an unconcerned dismissal. Zac’s fingers continued to dance across the keyboard, the screen races with information. a tongue peeks out, wetting dried lips as the blue eye watches the data scroll, then his brow arched at the name he had been searching for.
Josi Putter slinked in not far behind Shad. She slid along the wall her form little more than a filthy bunch of androgenous rags. Her crystalline eyes moved smoothly, quickly over those in the lobby. She moved carefully along the wall and had anyone noticed her gaze, her clear eyes obviously looked for something or someone she did not seem to be finding.
Shad’s grey eyes glanced quietly at Zac before looked about the room, then he moved on toward his own objective: the cafeteria. He measured the environment about him cautiously as he stepped through the threshold.
Zac tapped a finger upon his chin, then as if a decision was made, he tapped some more. Frustration soon set in, however, and he nudged the sleeping nurse. The nurse squeaked, jumped up out of her chair and looked as wide eyed as if she’d been struck by lightning. Zac’s voice was cold, low, rasped. "Hey...I need a print out of..." And he tapped the screen for emphasis.
"What? Where?"
Zac ran a hand through his hair. "Just hit the damn code to orint this...."
The Nurse smoothed out her uniform and took a look at Zac's screen. She still breathed heavily from her fright. His one eyed gaze said "now" to the nurse as his hand slipped inside his coat. A little ominous incentive never hurt. The Nurse frowned at him. "Oh sure. All you guys ever do is come in here and demand."
He raised a hand to cut her off. "Don;t want to hear it." She punched in the code for him and turned in a huff. He smirked as she stormed off...no thank you tossed in her direction. When the print out was done, he tore it from the printer and crumpled up the page. He stuffed it inelegantly into his coat pocket, looked around the room with a quick once over, then tapped another set of code.
====
In the cafeteria, Miccah made her way to the counter. She proceeded to pour herself some "coffee" then to settle into a nearby chair. She took a sip, instantly unsure of whether she was so grateful for the drink afterall. Dwelling on the previous conversation with the nurse who had "fixed her up," she became fixed in thought.
Ash left the clean dishes there and wanders back into the cafeteria. There was no real destination in her mind. She let out a long breath and continued on, scrubbing a hand through her bottle-brush hair. Outside the night was surprisingly clear even through the dim cafeteria window. Perhaps it was a lull in the fighting, or a strange wind that seemed to have blown the dust away. If Ash had been the thankful sort, she would have given one of Sabatt’s many gods praise. She wasn’t.
Shad glanced aimlessly about, taking a quiet moment to glance about for a window a slight grin at the surprisingly "clear" night, noting the many stars out in the sky. "Hmm.. odd.." He scratched his chin absently then scanned the room. He took a moment to look inside the kitchen to note if there was any 'meat' being cooked. He fiddled with a small crystal attached to a small chain around his neck then slid a small book from his jumpsuit's largest pocket and starts to read a few pages from it. Every now and then he would make a few hand gestures that were demonstrated in the book as he strolled aimlessly among the tables, seemingly unaware of the others in the room. When he smiled slightly it seemed as if he had figured out the solution to a puzzle. He slipped the book back into his pocket and walked silently to an empty corner where he muttered a few words under his breath while he gestured. A faint glow appeared from one of his fingers but quickly vanished. Shad fought back a wave of pain. He shook his head slowly, then walked back toward a table.
As Ash passed her, she gave Miccah an appraising stare. She had never seen the girl before. In fact there were a lot of people she hadn't seen before. Miccah frowned slightly at the lingering pain where her bruised and newly sewn wound on her head lay. She caught a glimpse of Ash in the cafeteria and looked up as she passed. "Excuse me."
The Medic moved a bit closer to Miccah. "Yeah?"
The girl didn’t want to bother her, but she was in desperate need. "Do you work here?"
Ash glanced down at her jumpsuit with the big UoM patches. "Uh...yeah," she said. "You sick, injured?" Ash fell into old patterns, her gaze turns scrutinizing once more. They began a conversation about Miccah’s health which lead Ash to insist, in her easy going way, that the girl have a head CT done and stay the night in the hospital. With reluctance, Miccah submitted– she seemed to worry a great deal about getting home that night as opposed to staying in the hospital. . They went up to the second floor leaving the diners in the cafeterian to their own devices.
====
Silently, the shadow moved through the streets, his mirrored sunglasses never moving from his destination, but his senses were ever alert to the always present danger. Josi peered out the window and her:pale eyes widened ever so slightly. It was the man with those damn sunglasses again. She inched her way along wall a bit faster and headed for the relative saftely....or at least inconspicuousness of the corner. As he approached the hospital doors a smirk crossed his face. Sensitive hearing picked up the movement near the corner where the girl concealed herself and Justice swiveled his head to stare at her with his mirrored gaze. She managed to let escape only a tiny little squeak before she scampered around the corner completely. She didn't care if he said he didn't hurt innocents. Innocence was a matter of perspective and information. She heard him walk toward the doors, heard the doors swoosh open and heard his pause as he looked around the lobby, assaying his situation.
Josi crept out from behind the corner she followed....none to close...but sorely lacking stealth. Oh, great. Over there was the one eye freak of nature here in the lobby too. Just what was he doing by the ‘puter terminal? Her filthy brow crinkled up all funny even as Justice moved into the lobby. She could tell from her vantage point that his senses were on full blast, and his muscles were obviously tense. Perhaps he expected something...or maybe he hoped for something. Josi spared a long glance for him. Man she would just like to mess with him... She felt as if she needed to play that night; but curiosity won this time and she scaddadled over towards One Eye. Justice’s hand moved up to feel the spot where one dagger used to be, then he smirked yet again and moved further into the hospital, his nose picking up the smell from the cafeteria.
With a few more tapped keys, the computer would now indicate to all inquiries that CoNM Tank commander Raylorr Sinclairr was never treated by any of the staff. He took another quick glance around the room then muttered to himself, "That'll slow 'im up next time..."
Josi just peeked over the counter top ... kinda slunk down behind it as she was. "You workin here now, One Eye?" Her tone was oh so innocent....but could there have been a trace of sarcasism in there? Nah....Putter was just to slow for that....wasn't she?
The look he gave her was almost too relaxed, but he had tensed for a second, damn her. "Shut up, mouth." His hand had fished indide the coat -- instant reaction to any surprise -- but they went instead for his pack of smokes instead.
Josi very nearly smiled ... but she opted a few little dull witted blinks instead. "Well, is ya?"
He popped an unlit cigarette in his mouth. It remained that way as he shook his head. "You ask too many questions, mouth. Its a wonder yer still alive."
She rose just a bit over the counter and leaned so she could peek now, not at One Eye but at the screen. "Yeah ... a wonder..." Unconcerned at where she looked, Zac had risen and brisked past her. He headed for the kitchen area. With a push of his shoulder set to the door, it swung open. He slipped inside. Her clear eyes moved from the screen to follow after him. Yep....time to play indeed, she thought. One had to find one's fun where one could in life, after all. Rising up just a tad she slunk her way down the hall, following after him, seeing as how her *partner* wasn't any where to be found as yet.
====
Dj Gideon walked into the cafeteria knowing his sister would be around soon. He looked over the popular, usually safe hospital gathering place and went back intot he kicthen for some grub. He took the bowl and sat at a seat where he could overlook the rest of the cafeteria, especially the door. He moved his spoon into the stew and turned it slightly at which point a large portion of what was on the spoon glopped back into the bowl. He half wondered if the stories he had heard and those he told his sister Rachael about the stew were true.
Justice too made his way to the cafeteria as everyone who wasn't injured was wont to do. He strode inside and murmured very quietly to himself. "Corpse stew... available in the finest red sauce..."
Shad who's hearing was exceptional, noted the entrance of the "Son of Derell" so named for the moniker by which he called himself: Justice. He smirked slightly as he picked up on the words the man with the sunglasses spoke. "No kidding.. how long did it tke you to figure that one out?" Ignored, Shad suddenly had a look on his face as though he'd remembered something. He left the cafeteria quietly.
Justice grabbed a bowl and filled it from the pot, then took it and sat at a table. He reached to his belt and pulled off the canteen to set it on the table along with a apple pulled from his trenchcoat. He bravely took up a spoonfull of the stew into his mouth, then immediatly took a sip of the canteen. "Damn crap still sucks..." They made it smell good with spices galore but the flavor -- once one knew of the content -- lacked. For those who were truely hungry, it was something they could stomach and to hell with what their minds told them. Those who had a choice, and far too few of those there were on Sabatt, could snub their noses at it.
Not that it was intentional, but Zac had stepped up behind Justice, and grabbed a bowl of the hospital fodder as well. With the same quiet solitude as the one before him, he too made his way to a table, yet his was further away, in the corner, under the flickering light. It was where he always sat. Taking a spoonful he seemed to chew at a slow pace as if he were relishing the meal. Truth be told ...he was forcing it down; but he didn't have the luxury to be as choosy as some.
Gid spotted Justice and looked him over. He recognised him but didn't saying anything to him, preferring to observe while he waited for his sister to arrive. His thoughts of her as she finally came through the cafeteria doorway weren't wholly wholesome. He saw her look for him, that sultry gaze of hers sweeping the room. He watched her eyes light on Justice and then on the One-Eyed fellow. When she finally spotted him and moved to his table to slip seductively into a chair near to him, he had already attempted a mouthful of the stew. Around the food he mumbled through a half grin, "Hello sexy."
Rachael watched him eat and quipped, "Whats doing?"
"Nothing, just scored some stew. Now trying to see if I still want to eat it. You want a bowl?"
The woman he called sister shook her head. "Not hungry.. you think it really is?"
"Not really. Well, I mean I guess it could be. But I don't think it is "
"I see."
"I hope not." He grimaced and pushed the bowl away. "On second thought..."
"... not hungry anyway," Rach finished for him.
"Maybe I'll score something later."
Her fingers stroked her hair back from her attractive but smudged face. "So any good news or anything interesting?"
"Nothing I've heard yet,..but the nights young maybe we'll hear something soon."
"This is true. You know, you could see the stars a bit tonight." It was dull conversation to talk about the stars, but sometimes she noticed things like that. She looked again at Justice and her brother whispered to her that he was the one who had stood up to the Messiah Guy. The rumor was that Justice had been a match for the Churchman with the funky teeth and Rach smirked, tilted her head and said, "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Now that would have been something to see," his sister muttered.
They both saw the cafeteria door crack open a teeny bit. On the other side, though she couldn't be seen, was Josi Putter. It had taken her a moment or two to decide whether or not to pursue her amusement of following One-Eye. She hunkered down by the door, peering through the crack to assess those in the eating spot. Perhaps she was simply choosing a victim ... perhaps she was just being cautious. She slid the door open just enough to slip her dirty self in. She was, at first, content to just peek at the eaters over the a tabletop very near the door. Zac leaned back, his booted feet moved up onto the table. With his bowl resting in his lap, the spoon clinking every now and then, he chewed. His indigo eye closed and he let himself grow lost in his thoughts. Josi rocked back and forth slowly, softly muttering to herself. The words were garbled and just soft enough to be further unintelligable. Josi moved like a curious but cautious cat, slinking from one table to the next. She played at stealth though she knew very well she had none. At least, none others knew she possessed. Feet up, she thought, precarious lean in his chair... a risky position for the freak of nature.
Justice, disgusted with his meal shoved the stew away. He grabbed the apple and chomped down on it, his shades hiding the way his eyes went about the room. Chomping away on the apple didn't stop his keen hearing from listening in on the talks of others, but he did so with an unemotionless expression that more than likely fooled those observing him. He would come to regret overhearing as it would wind up spoiling his night.
Gideon told his sister how apparently Justice clamed to be the protector of "that Doc" there at the hospital too, meaning Terra Lowinn. She assumed that the powers that be wanted the doctors safe. He explained to Rach that Terra used to have a boyfriend until she burned him up.
Rach stifled a laugh. "Burned him up?"
"Word is she burned him to death. If thats not an end of love I don't know what is," Gid chuckled. "Nothing says I love you like the flames of desire."
"Talk about hot and bothered," Rach breathed quietly.
"You know it."
Bliss Lovejoy strolled in the front doors and glanced around the lobby. She didn't see anyone, not even a sleeping Nurse. It seemed odd but she moved on to the Cafeteria where crowds who could stomach the bizarre hospital fare would congregate. With the brim of her hat pulled low, she moved along the corridor and through the open cafeteria doors to make her way where Justice was. It was as if she'd known he was there all the time rather than having spotted him as she entered, so smooth was her walk in his direction. When she got to his table, she slumped down in a chair and regarded him with a casual gaze.
Justice swallowed his mouthful of apple and nodded to Bliss. "Howdy, Tex."
It was the sort of greeting that brought a a small grin to her face and that grin lightened up her entire demeanor. "Hi ya Shades."
"How goes things?" The man across from her smirked. He took another bite of apple and chewed it slowly, savoring it.
She shrugged and pushed her had back. "They go."
"Thats something." Whether any of them knew it or not, his eyes were always on Dj Gideon. He saw Gid look at Bliss and just kept staring.
Rachael was telling her brother how terrible he was but that she had to love him anyway, despite that and she stretched out her arms languidly in front of her. Gid stood and took up the bowl of stew into his hands. "I'm not hungry I'm gonna dump this." He winked and carried the stew into the kitchen, where unseen by huumunn eyes he dumped his bowl back into the pot of stew. He smiled. At least he plopped his used bowl into the bin for the cleaning system before he walked back to his sister.
One of Zac's hands rested to hold his bowl of stew, while the other quietly slipped inside his coat. Josi paused a table away from One Eye. Clearly he knew she was coming but she let all her innocence seep into her voice as she spoke to him. She was smart to stop a table away, she knew that; and just how much she could push. "So...whatcha doin on that 'puter, One Eye?"
At her innocent little question, his answer was the pulled 9mm. The click was ominous in the quiet corner. He held the the gun out under the table toward her. "Shut up, mouth." She kept her place, which was what he wanted, but she rocked yet back and forth. She watched him with her clear eyes and her dirt smeared lips slowly twisted into a faint smile, though he didn't see it. With his eyes still closed, he uncocked the weapon in his hand and then slid it back into it's holster.
She waited till the gun was re-holstered, then asked in the same tone and with the same clear, innocent gaze, "But whatcha doin' on the 'puter?"
Finally the eye popped open, and he just shook his head as she continued to rock back and forth slowly. "I was scheduling you," the you was highly stressed, "for an operation." Zac shifted then, setting the feet of the chair to the ground.
Oh, but she was so curious that she was not easily dissuaded, despite the relative humor of his answer. "Really? what kind?"
"One that will shut you up." His next, somewhat unkind, words were drowned out by a bite of stew.
She was still rocking but it grew tense and she was ready to bolt should the need arise. "Huh?" she said, her greasy head cocked slightly to the side. "Shut me up? Why?"
When he'd chewed it gone he gave another shake of his head and most certainly tried to avoid her question. "Gods...you talk more than the Kid did."
"Nope," she yammered. "I just ask exact questions." She pointed this out as she would to small, rather stupid child.:: "So......Why?"
"Why what?" He asked it quietly in his always quiet raspy voice. His annoyance with the dirty faced girl was held back ... as it usually was with her. Whether this was a sign of affection was anyone's guess. Most of what went on in One-Eye's mind was anyone's guess. But he knew. He always knew.
"Why you want me to shut up?"
"So tell me," Zac said in an attempt to change the subject without answering her, "...what's this stuff you gotta move?"
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