The last rays of daylight had begun to slide as Mera, stretching and yawning, shuffled into the cafeteria to begin her shift in the emergency room. Moving to the food counter, she glanced in the food pot, her brow crinkling as she tried to identify the contents. "The usual meat stew," she said, sighing. She decided to leave the stew for others and instead, poured herself a cup of coffee. She watched the door curiously as a young man came in dressed in a long dark coat. As Mera had done, he glanced at the pot and then at the other cafeteria patients eating bowls full of the steaming soup. "If the fools only knew…," the young man said sarcastically, more to himself then anyone else. Mera smiled at him, causing his face to break into a grin of its own. "Evening."
"Oh, is that what time it is?" Mera's voice was softly edged. She had had a long night in the ER and the coffee was only slightly helping. She gestured to the pot, but the young man shook his head.
"Its early evening, actually." The young man seemed at a loss to say much more.
Mera shrugged. "Don't mind me. I tend to lose track sometimes." The young man smiled at this. Behind him, the door slide open again as a quiet man wearing combat boots slipped in.
"Gray Phoenix." His voice was solid, almost like a rapping sound on firm wood.
Mera bent her head. She knew the patient. He was often in the ER, a problematic left over of the war who often heard voices. She smiled at him, as was her habit. "I hear their going to release you soon."
Gray's smile was rakish. "Yep. The research techies are running out of excuses to hold me."
"Well, just remember you promised to come and visit," Mera said, her eyes still locked on Gray's. He nodded, vowing to keep his promise.
The man in the combat boots considered his options. He glanced around the cafeteria, then noticed Mera and Gray. Straightening his coat a bit, he approached them. "Certainly quiet," he said, his voice reflecting a bit of boredom. Mera looked over at the bearer of the voice and smiled. Azreth was another regular in the emergency room and always filled with interesting stories. The man grinned back at Mera and took a seat at one of the many scuffed tables. "So. Whatcha' cats up to tonight?"
Mera laughed a bit at his rakishness and raised her coffee mug. "Breakfast. Want some coffee?"
The man wagged his head no, similar to what Gray had done earlier. "Lady, I have lived through sandstorms, gun fights, tanks chasing people down. But none of it is a risk like that coffee is," he said. Gray glanced over at Azreth at his words and nodded. Mera, somewhat distracted, poured a cup anyway and set it before him.
Gray went to reach for it as Azreth grinned. "I suppose I can try it," he said.
Mera shook her head at her mistake and tried to cover it with conversation. "So, you've been busy, then?"
Azreth shook his head. "Nah, not really. I made most of it up." At Mera's blank look, Gray laughed. He leaned a hand on his hip and watched Azreth.
"Well, there are plenty of those bastard nuke tanks to say the latter," Gray said with a grin. Mera chuckled softly as Azreth took a hesitant sip of the coffee.
"Well, tanks tend to leave people alone. Instead, they tend to bother groups of people."
Gray nodded. "Bit tough for the scouts in them to see lone people. I've seen one person take out one of them. Almost funny now, that I think about it."
Azreth looked at him. "I can imagine."
It didn't appear Gray heard him as he went on, his mind lost in his own memories. "Just ran up on one and when someone opened the hatch, he shot the soldier and threw a grenade inside. Then, he just ran off and watched the pyrotechnic show begin," he said, his voice slowing as his eyes clouded in the memory.
Azreth didn't seem to notice the nostalgic tone in Gray's voice. "Those Freeman sure have guts," he said, sipping the coffee again. Mera noticed the change and looked at Gray.
"Yeah. I sometimes wonder if it's guts or just plain insanity. A little of both, maybe?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe something deeper," Azreth suggested as Mera took a seat near him.
"They scare me, those tanks. It seems more and more are coming a bit too close to the hospital. Its like they are taunting us, showing off their power," Mera said. Gray joined the two at the table and nodded.
The night swirled around the room as another patron made his way into the cafeteria. He was wearing black armor normally seen on combat soldiers. He moved to a seat, not ready to join the group as Azreth commented on Mera's tank observation. "Well, they will make a play for the hospital itself, eventually. It's the nature of things."
Gray sipped his coffee, then looked up. "Didn't Terra anger a reverend? Yeah! Elliott 7 is here. Wouldn't be surprised," he said, his voice trailing off into his own thoughts.
Mera glanced at him. "Do you think this has something to do with it?" she asked, him, then nodding to the man in the dark uniform watching them silently. Her eyes lighted to the cafeteria door as the group was joined by another patron, Ash. The woman strode in, scrubbing droplets of water from her crew cut.
"I've seen the freak she angered. I felt bad things about him," Gray said, shaking his head. He fiddled with a small crystal around his neck, then looked up at Ash. Azreth said hello at the same time he did.
Ash nodded to them both as she passed them. "Need coffee."
The man in the armor, still sitting quietly, seemed lost to the others in the eatery. His voice was pleading, speaking to himself and no one could quite pick up his pleas. As the group continued to grow in numbers, the sadness and misery that often gripped Sabatt also seemed to grow.
Gray smiled at Ash and offered to pour her a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?"
"Black. I'm a brave woman," she said, then smiled at Mera. "Feel good tonight, Mera. First time in weeks." Gray walked over to the table and handed the mug to Ash.
"I hope you made your peace, dear Mira," Gray said.
Ash shrugged, then looked at the man in black. "Do I know you? Patch you up or something?"
"I don't believe so." He finally spoke, his voice quiet and calm. She appraised him with her icy blue eyes, still searching for recognition.
"Huh. You injured? Need some food?" Ash was not used to having people in the hospital who did not have a specific need. Food was always a good motivator, she reasoned.
The man simply nodded his head. "Actually, I have been wandering for a bit. Food would be nice." Gray snorted at the man's comment, then sipped his coffee.
"Enjoy the stew," Ash told the man in black. The irony was not lost on the others.
Sensing the impending sarcastic battles, Mera pasted on one of her smiles and turned to Ash. "So. What have you been up to?" She didn't really expect an answer. This other fellow seemed to occupy all their attention.
The man in black rose at her comment and inclined his head. "The name is Blackshade. And it is nice to meet you all." He strode to the stew pot and dished himself out some.
Ash murmured the name as Azreth looked up at the man over the stew pot. "That is not a very cheery name," he said, sipping his coffee again.
Blackshade shrugged. "No, but you learn to live with what your given."
"Pick a new one! Like Tom!" Azreth's voice was tinged with mirth, warming to the idea of choosing a new name for Blackshade.
Blackshade turned around, shaking his head. "I don't think Tom would fit my demeanor."
"Sven?" Azreth laughed as Gray suggested Fred. "That's a bit darker. But not as dark as, say, Toby!"
Gray nodded a bit. "Tim?" he asked, trying to look serious.
Ash looked at the two picking on Blackshade and smirked. "Hmm. You guys should talk with names like Shad and Azreth."
Blackshade shook his head and began to eat his stew. "I like my name just fine."
Gray stood at the comment and walked over to Ash. He looked down at her. "For your information, I forgot what my real name was. So I use Shad."
"Better then my name. Hey, is that my coffee?" She looked up at him, her eyes hopeful. Gray looked at the cup in his hands, then nodded. He handed it to her after his attempts to warm it. Azreth grunted, commenting that he though Mirandahh was a beautiful name. Gray nodded his agreement. 'Just call me Ash, OK?" Ash shook her head and began to sip the coffee.
Azreth rolled his eyes at her insistence. "Why don't you like your name, anyhow?"
Ash scowled at him, then moved closer to sit near him. "You really wanna know why?"
Azreth leaned forward. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't," he said.
Blackshade didn't want to interrupt Ash's revelation, but he was dying for a beer. He looked up from his stew and waved to get the groups attention. "Is it OK if I take an adult beverage from my pack?" The attention in the room turned, focusing on him. Ash frowned.
"What the heck is an adult beverage?" she asked, clearly pleased at being distracted from her story.
Azreth poked her. "You know, like vodka."
Gray chuckled, then shrugged at Blackshade. Blackshade nodded and pulled the beer out. "Would anyone like some?"
"Who has vodka?" Ash demanded.
Azreth grinned. "I have a bit." Azreth said, then leaned back.
Ash swore at the sight of the beer bottle. "Boy, where did you get that stuff?" Ash's eyes watched him warily. Near her, Gray wondered aloud if Elliott, the supercomputer, would be able to make vodka.
Blackshade shrugged at Ash's glare. "I found it while wandering." His voice was flat.
"Yeah? Anymore where that came from?" Ash looked almost hopeful.
"I have plenty in my pack, if you want some" Blackshade looked at Ash as he patted the pack next to him, then himself. "I even found this armor while wandering the city."
Mera turned her head at the conversation. She was especially caught by Gray's voice, her attention having been momentarily fixated elsewhere. "Could Elliot make up some of what?" she asked, her eyebrows pinching.
"Alcohol. Something strong, like whiskey. I hear people mix it in with coffee." He smiled, then glanced at Blackshade and his armor. They all knew it wasn’t very likely that Elliott would become a still anytime soon. His services were needed for far more important things (even if some folks managed to secure a few long desired personal items of an occasion) and the power used to generate certain things was not to be used for frivolous activities. Anyway, any good mechanic, or doctor for that matter, could build his or her own still. Az mulled that over silently.
'If you ever want to trade, let me know." Ash's voice carried over to Gray and Mera. "There's lots of stuff in the city. It is just a matter of surviving whatever is out there. Or avoiding it"
Mera watched Gray, then looked down into her mug at the flat coffee. She glanced up at Blackshade. "Is it good?" Her voice was quiet.
Blackshade grinned. "Very." He put the bottle of vodka on the table. "I share freely with those who share with me. You all have shared, so anyone who wants any, help yourself."
Azreth shrugged at Ash's incredulous face. It wasn't often someone offered anything free in Sabatt, so he planned to take advantage of it. He picked up the bottle and placed it to his lips, a slow swallow of the liquid flowing down his throat. He then wiped his mouth and handed it to Ash, watching her drink. "I remember when that stuff flowed like water."
Gray looked at Azreth and nodded mournfully. "There are still underground bars in Sabatt," he said thoughtfully, watching the bottle pass between the two.
"Yeah, but that stuff will kill you. Literally," Azreth pointed out. Gray stroked his face, nodding. Sabatt's underground was inhabited by cult members and outlaws. A very dangerous place to be.
Ash tipped the bottle back, then handed it to Mera. "Try it Mera."
Mera took the bottle, then sniffed it slightly. As she tipped the bottle and let a small stream burn its way down her throat, the lobby doors opened to allow another long time patron, Ed Archer, to enter. Mera began to cough, her eyes widening. Ash leapt to her feet and ran to her friend, pounding her on the back. "Ooh, sorry girl. Forgot!"
Gray moved to Ash's side, concern in his eyes. He looked at Mera and grinned crookedly. "Ever drink before?"
Mera waved them all away. "I'm all right. That stuff is just a bit strong."
Behind her, Ed grunted his disapproval. "Don't start drinking, Mera. It brings out the worst in huumunns."
Blackshade stood, looking over the group hovering over Mera. He smiled to himself, pleased that he could help out his new friends. "Does anyone know where I can crash? I have been wandering a long time now."
"I'd offer you my pile of rocks, but it's nothing special," Azreth said, his shoulders sagging. Each confirmed what Blackshade had feared. Housing, like everything else, was sparse and limited. He took up another bottle from his pack and began drinking and thinking.
Assured Mera was all right, Ash moved back to Azreth. He was involved in a friendly spat about drinking with Ed and that it helped ease pain. Ash nodded as she sat down by Azreth.
Ed looked at Azreth. "What pain could she possibly be experiencing?" Ed's eyes lingered on Mera, her beauty catching his gaze.
Azreth pretended not to hear him as he picked up his conversation with Ash from before. "So, anyway. Why don't you like your name?" No reply came quickly, so he turned to Ed. "You know. Maybe her arm got chopped off when we weren't looking."
Ed sneered at the comment, then let his voice slide into a purposely mocking tone. "Every little piece is perfectly in place," Ed continued his visual appraisal of Mera.
"There are drugs for that." Gray's clipped voice chimed in. "Wonderful, wonderful drugs." It wasn’t quite clear if Gray meant for Mera’s pain or for Ed’s preoccupation.
Azreth cocked his head to one side, looking at Ed. "Been out in the sun too long, son? I mean, you probably can't see from the glare or something. But our cute little Mera has merely one arm," Azreth said
"What?" Ed's e yes dropped from Mera's face to her limbs. Ash poured another cup of coffee and glared at Azreth.
"Stop it, Az. I'm going to bust a gut here." Gray laughed as Mera blinked her e yes, confused.
Blackshade smiled, interrupting the conversation. "Well, I do thank you all for welcoming me in. If you ever need anything, let me know. I'm quite a proficient solider."
"Good luck out there." Azreth's voice was quiet. Mera nodded her head, noting that luck was one thing Blackshade would need.
Ash raised her eyes at the mention of Blackshade's soldiering abilities. She moved away from the conversation about Ed being a young cynic to look at Blackshade. "Think you can get me some motor oil?"
"I thought all soldiers did was fight, not be helpful. Maybe I have misjudged?" Ed's voice was purposefully mocking.
"They have to dig latrines" Azreth added as if this were sage advice.
Blackshade lowered his head. He never answered Ash's question and began to suspect saying he was a soldier was a bad idea. "Sorry. Soldier is the best word I can come up with that is not plain fighter." The two men just regarded him skeptically.
Behind them, Gray revealed to Mera that Garrett was actually his real name. Mera's face flushed at the confidence. "Garrett? That’s your real name?" Mera's voice lit with mischief. Gray nodded. His eyes betrayed his thought that, perhaps, he had shown too much of himself. He looked at Mera, then glanced at the two giving Blackshade a hard time.
"What is a latrine?" Ed was saying, laying his cheek on one palm.
"Where you do your thing, Ed." Gray was relieved for the opportunity to divert his attention.
Ed looked flatly at Gray. "My thing?"
Azreth leaned forward, glad to be able to expand on the definition. "When you're traveling in large groups of people, you can't just piss on the ground. Spoils the ground, causes sickness." Azreth's tone was instructive, edged with the all too rare hint of alcohol.
Gray looked at Azreth. "Not to mention relieving oneself in such a way is disgusting."
"Bad news," he bobbed his head in a nod. "So, they dig holes, to piss in them."
"Like a urinal?" Ed began to understand
"Yeah."
"Hole for urine," Ed mulled this over as if the entire idea was a foreign concept – as if he’d not been going wherever he could when the need arose out in the waste lands. He chuckled slightly to himself. "Wastelands" took on a whole new meaning in light of that conversation.
Ash turned, a bit perturbed at the constant harrassement of the man who had so nicely brought them a bottle of alcohol. "You a Freemen?"
"No, I'm a freelance." Which, when he thought about it, was a bit of an amusing joke, and so he smiled.
"Then you have to be doubly careful, right? Hook up with a Merc company. Safety in numbers." Ash's voice was precise, accurate.
"Perhaps, sometime. For now, I work alone."
Ed glanced over at Ash and her knowledge intrigued him. Ash, it seemed, knew way too much about freelance soldiers.
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