Azreth watched Quent out of the corner of his eyes. The aroma of some fine smelling stew on the burner distracted him, and as he looked further he saw ... Could that be an apple tart next to biscuits? He glanced toward the apple tart and as if guided by some divine hand, he walked toward it. It was beautiful ... still warm and promised an explosion of sweet-tart flavor. Azreth's hand snaked out to grab the tart. His eyes scanned the room; no one had ever seen him eat before and he was determined that no one was about to now.But it was as if that tart was calling his name ... Golden brown with a dusting of ... Goodness, was that sugar? His eyes grew wide at the sight of the tart, and it slowly moved up to his mouth. A small bite appeared on it, a few chews, while his eyes still looked warily about the room. The tart was everything it promised it would be ... a respite from the bland mystery concoctions ... a whisper of better times. With a swallow and another bite, the tart rapidly disappeared. The food was so strange in his mouth, yet he managed to get it down, without much gagging at all. He waited a bit longer, but when Ash and the oddly familiar stranger gave no signs of finishing their conversation, Azreth departed. His boots tapped their staccato beat, as he slipped out of the cafeteria, and out of the hospital.
The conversation between Ed and Ash continued, little more than a low murmur. Ed noticed Terra and moved farther from the rest of the room in another attempt to conceal his voice. "Garth wants to be security. I heard them talking. How would you feel about putting your hospital in the care of a convicted murderer?"
Ash glanced to Terra then back to Ed. "You're acting as if there is law here."
Everyone has guidelines. Your goals are peaceful. He's not safe."
Ash snorted quietly and looked down at her toes. She shoved her hands deep into her pockets. "And who is, E--" She stopped herself before she spoke his name.
"You are ... This is your hospital, from what I can gather."
Ash gritted her teeth audibly. "It's not mine ... it's everybody’s. We can't even protect a freakin' b-ba-baby."
How would "everybody" feel if they were entrusted in the care of a monster?"
Unaware she'd just stuttered, Ash closed her eyes. "No one else is willing. I get a gun shoved in my face daily ... Sometimes."
"Would you do the same thing if Garth was a Churchmember?"
"I wouldn't do it if he was a Freemen."
"At least you know what a Freeman or Churchmember's goals are."
Ash shook her head. "He hasn't even asked me yet."
"You know what's right, Asche." Ed lowered his voice. "Even if no one else seems to. People here just want to forgive ... and forget."
Ash stayed in her lean against the wall. "I know ... I know. It's ... Why didn't you help that kid?"
"Want to know why I didn't help the kid? Because I was not there."
"You said you were."
"I watched the kid die. I wasn't there for him to be attacked."
"You like messing with me, don't you, Ed." Ash's anger accounted for her speaking Ed's name openly and showed in the twitch at her temple and the tightness around her eyes.
"Shhh..." Ed cautioned, "Actually, I just like the look on your face ... Any for that matter, actually. But you heard what I have to say."
It took many deep breaths before Ash resumed her quiet tone, a touch dry, "You gonna ask me to marry you next, eh?"
"No. I'm too young."
Ash looked him up and down. "You got that right." She chuckled half-heartedly as she looked up at the drop-ceiling.
"What does that mean?" It was hard to tell if Ed was smiling behind the scarf.
Ash shrugged. "Never eaten so good in my life."
"Forgive me if I sound stupid, but ... Why?"
"That's an odd question." Ash reflected with another shrug. "I mean. I don't get out to wine and dine."
"Is this how women ask people for ... um, dates?"
Her lip quirked. "If I wanted to ask you out on a date ... I'd ask you, Ed."
"I suppose I'll keep that in mind ... I suppose."
"Besides, I don't go out on dates."
"That's really too bad," Ed reflected. "If not for relationships, then how would huumunns stay sane?"
"Nobody thinks I'm sane."
"I do. Above anyone else, you have kept your saneness. That's why you have to trust me."
Ash shot a sidelong glance at him. "I told you I trusted you."
"Just making sure..."
A quiet sigh escaped Ash's lips. "So ... Are you sane?"
"Me? Of course, Asche." Ed's tone reflected surprise at her need to ask.
"What relationships are keeping you sane?"
"You. Whoever I happen across. Occasionally my family, but it is almost impossible to find them since they aren't on any map."
After a moment's fright, Ash tugged at her ear to cover her pounding heart. "You have family then. That's good."
"They are Syrynykks."
"Syrynykks..."
"Yes. Something wrong?"
Ash shook her head quickly. "So few come here..."
"That's good, from what I have seen. A Syrynykk youth is about. I hope she left."
"Yeah, I know." Ash sounded tired and a touch edgy. "We're just poison to them. Except you, of course."
"I'm sorry if I came across rude once."
Ash turned a half smile on Ed. "More than once."
"Sorry ... again."
Ash shrugged and pushed off the wall. "S'alright. I'm not the sweetest roll in the basket myself."
"I see. Well..."
"See ya, Ed. Keep safe."
"Sssh..." Ed reminded. "Bye, Ash ... Keep safe."
Ash winced, realizing she'd spoken aloud. Then, her hands in her pockets, Ash shuffled away.
==
Garth returned through the auto doors, purposefully, as though he had his next agenda ... target in mind. He grabbed the taser from his belt and without flipping it on, he twirled it idly in his hand. A smile adorned his face as he moved through the lobby.
Garth gave a mock salute with the taser to a security guard walking by as he entered the cafe. He immediately saw Terra as she wandered over to get a tea. Terra shook her head and all but fell into a chair, yet managed to avoid spilling her tea. She glanced to the door and met his eyes with a smile of greeting. Garth smiled in return and moved over to her. "Evening, Love." He grabbed a chair and sat down as close to her as he could get.
"What an evening ... already." Terra began without preamble.
"What happened?"
"A patient." She shook her head, "You met him last week."
"Like I'm supposed to remember everyone I meet." Garth chided. "What was the name?"
"Quentari..."
"Ah..." Garth nodded. "I remember him now."
"He ... well, he sort of lost it after you left."
"You told me about that.." Garth nodded again.
Terra shrugged, sipping her tea. "He keeps escaping somehow and doesn't take to being given medicine. Well, he was here a bit ago ... amazing really ... He never showed these signs before."
Garth snorted. "He keeps getting out?"
"Apparently so, yes."
Garth shook his head. "This is getting intolerable, Terra."
Terra nodded and sighed a bit. "Yes, I know."
"I saw Ash earlier," He changed the subject. "But I didn't want to interrupt her meal. She was sampling some of the food Bliss prepared."
"Oh? She cooks too?" Terra grinned.
"Yeah. I'm starting to think I should have married her." He winked, then set the taser down and took her hand. "How you feeling?"
Terra mustered a smile. "Big. Huge actually and .. I don't know ... no energy. How are you? What have you been up to today?" She sipped her tea.
He kissed her hand. "I'm fine ... making deals. I'm going to fix this place whether they want me to or not."
Terra looked at him with a hint of confident pride in her eyes. "I am sure you will."
Garth squeezed her hand. "They'll be safe. I promise."
"I hope so." Her voice took on the tiniest doubt. "Is anything really safe..."
Garth sighed. "After the kidnapping I wonder that, but I'll do my damnedest to try to prevent that from happening again."
Terra lowered her voice, "Ours won't go to the nursery ... that's a given."
Garth nodded. "Where are you going to put them?"
Terra blinked. "Good question. I am trying to get the room next to the lab."
"Hm, that would be nice..." He smirked. "Might never sleep again..."
==
On another floor, Quentari conversed with the orderlies. "What's your name? How are you? Have you ever killed?"
One of the orderlies tried to settle Quent down, "You will be fine buddy.."
Quent found himself in a smaller, darker room with no furniture. He began to giggle and ramble incoherently.
A nurse checked on Quent to make sure he was comfortable and gave him some water and meds.
"Pretty lady ... pretty lady ... happy day." Quent looked at the men. "I don't like killing, I don't want to kill, put the curtain away." He began to shake. "No, I like them, I don't like us. We hurt and hurt and hurt. I like them, I'll stop us!"
The nurse made some notes on his chart as she regarded Quent. "We will make them go away."
"No, no, no, I'll make us go away, I like your people." He began to sing lightly, "Hurt us, stop us remove us. Help them, heal them, keep them safe." Quent smiled and giggled to the nurse, "I like you people." Abruptly, his mood shifted and he began to shout, "Nurse! Doc! Nurse!"
The nurse looks at Quent calmly, "You will be okay. Don't fight the meds."
"I want the doc; Where is she? Where is she?!"
"Your doctor isn’t on duty."
"Arghh! Not that doctor, the nice lady doctor."
The nurse regarded him for a moment, thoughtful. "I will put a call in for her ... Okay?"
"Okay," Quent chuckled. "You're nice."
A male doctor walked over to Quent. "How are you this evening Quentari? They tell me you got out again?"
Quentari looked at the new doctor. "You're one of us," He giggled.
"I only want to talk to one of you too." The psychiatrist continued firmly, "Quentari, you must take your meds and we need to talk."
==
Lex Berikk wandered through dusty streets, finally reaching his destination. He paused a moment to rest at the steps and gazed up at the facade of the Hospital. The man pushed back the hood of his desert cloak and wiped at his brow as he surveyed his surroundings. He ran a hand through snow-white hair and finally plodded up the steps to the entrance. Lex stepped into the relative cool of the foyer, hob-nail boots rapping against the floor. He stopped and looked around for some source of guidance or information.
A nurse looked up from the information desk and regarded Lex. "Can I help you?"
A savory aroma wafted through the hospital, as if E-7 was deliberately pumping the stew's fine odor throughout the hospital's first level. Lex detected the enticing aroma of the stew. Ignoring the nurse, he followed his nose. He glanced into rooms as he made his way down the hall to a door where the aroma of food was the strongest. Gray double doors with glass windows criss-crossed with mesh marked the cafeteria entrance. Lex pushed through the double doors slowly. He peered cautiously inside. The cafeteria was a large, cavernous room with gleaming stainless steel serving lines. Plastic tables and chairs dotted the tile floor.
Lex scanned the room for some sign of serving personnel, but it seemed to be self-service. Bowls and utensils were stacked at the start of the line, along with scarred trays in a hideous red and green check. As he approached the serving line, his stomach growled in protest as if trying to race him to the food. The man pondered for a brief moment that food should be displayed unguarded. He scanned the trays, utensils, and bowls finding small comfort in such order. Lex snagged a bowl and served himself some stew. He found a board of dark bread and grabbed a slice, then made his way to a table in a corner. Lex dropped his pack and doffed his cloak. He sat facing the entrance and began to partake of his meal.