Times of Tribulation
Kept in Stitches: Part Three

Asher had been staring at Ed from across the lobby. Ed returned the stare and Arium stood, nervous.

"I've come here often, and it seems like a crisis occurs every night. Should I expect it?" Asher asked aloud.

"Are you talking to me?" Ed queried, curious.

"Yes. I'd call you by name, but I don't know it."

"Well, you are in a war zone but you probably will not learn my name."

"I wasn't aware that one learned names. Merely remembered them."

"Depends on the name."

"I guess all things depend on variables like that."

"I'm Asher." He extended a hand, as if to shake.

Ed took the hand and shook it stiffly. "Hi." Then the hand disappeared into his cloak once again and the hood was pulled more tightly over his head.

Arium began to wander aimlessly through the room, listening. Arium heard a joyous yell from Quent somewhere down the hallway and she smiled.

Asher withdrew the gloved hand. "What is your name?"

"I told you, you are not going to learn it."

"And I told you that I wouldn't. But if you told me it, I would remember it."

Arium unzipped her thick black leather jacket and laid it at the table where she once sat. She cast a glance at the two men.

Asher cocked a dark brow. "Any reason why, or are you simply rude?"

"Nothing rude about keeping one's business to himself."

"Oh, of course not. What's rude is the manner in which you do it. You could say politely, 'I'd rather not say', and then I would not and say that I understood."

"Whatever. I'm not telling you my name."

"But instead, you stare back at me like some dying dugg and grumble that you won't tell me your name. Why, I couldn't guess."

"I'm not staring at you." The hood was effectively concealing Ed's face. "And there was no rude manner to which I said anything."

"Not now. Maybe not then. I can't tell with that hood. Why argue the details? The fact of the matter is that you're not very well versed in etiquette, which is one of the
things that keeps huumunns alive."

Arium then looked again at Asher and Ed.

Quent had sashayed in and stood staring at Asher and Ed as well, a silly smile on his face. Arium looked up at him and then back to the two men.

"You just automatically assume I should be friendly and that if I'm not, I'm rude or something. Etiquette keeps huumunns alive?"

"No. I simply said you were rude."

Quent pointed at Asher and laughed out loud. "He's funny!"

Ed simply had to break out laughing, and for a finale, hacked violently.

"You can be cautious and polite. You can be polite and not friendly."

"Mmmph ... I could . . . "

Arium laughed quietly along with Quent.

"You're silly." Quent shook his head and walked away again into the cafe, looking around for something to do.

"I don't expect you to give me a warm hug, friend, but I do expect that in a world where one can be shot for the moisture that clings to their shoulders, one would learn to be as nonabrasive as possible."

"I could be something that's not polite and not rude. How about indifferent?"

"You should worry about better things than how to lick a vorr'ykk's tell and say it tastes sweet."

"Those are different things, you ignorant mekkherd."

Arium glanced nervously at Ed and awaited his reply.

"One can be cultured and well-spoken and not demean themselves."

"Now who's being rude?"

"I am."

Ed stood, and Arium stood as well. He stalked past Asher, not even offering a second glance. Arium followed and looked back at Asher over her shoulder. Asher spit on the floor.

"What a rude two you are!" Arium scolded. "All that over a name! Ha!"

Ed hadn't noticed Asher's symbolic dismissal, nor did he hear Arium, his attentions were already elsewhere.

"Well?" Arium looked pointedly at Asher.

"What? Was I supposed to reply to an outsider's commentary?"

"Aren't you going after him?"

"After the Mekkherd over there?"

"Yeah, the conversation was getting interesting. You might have gotten somewhere."

Asher just stared at her in astonishment and Arium smiled sweetly at him.

"Are you deficient? You think it's a good idea to pursue a strange man that I just insulted?"

Arium sat up a little straighter. "Why did you insult him if you weren't tying to get a point out of him?"

"You're mad."

Arium stood and cracked her knuckles. "This place is a madhouse." She sighed and walked towards the exit, sliding on her jacket and helmet.

"Then you belong." Asher said to her retreating back.



Synn was marching down the hallway towards the Psych ward with Quent in tow, skipping and playing with his bouncy ball. She headed directly up to the same guard that had been there earlier and she was wearing a satisfied smirk on her face.

The guard held up clipboard and frowned at her, muttering. "Guess it's all who you know, eh?"

"Something like that." Synn grinned.

Quent waved cheerily to the guard. "Hey Chukk."

The guard smiled at Quent. "Hey pal."

The guard lifted a finger to point down the hall. "All the way down. If you have any problems, call me."

Synn nodded, "Thanks, Chukk."

"This is my new friend 'I don't know her name'." Quent followed Synn down the hall again, waving bye to Chukk.

Chukk merely nodded, wondering what sort of desperate business a good looking doll had with a loony.

Synn arrived at the proper door and eased it open slowly. She stopped once it was halfway ajar and turned to Quent. "Now Quent, you stay out here for a bit while I talk to Seth alone, then you can come in, okay?"

"Okay, I'll play with Mr. Ball." Quent smiled. Synn smiled back and tossed a wink at him. She headed through the door, keeping a small crack open. She found Seth restrained into a bunk along one wall. His eyes were closed and it appeared he was asleep.

Out in the hall, Quent made himself busy bouncing his ball off the wall and catching it. A toss and it careened down the hall, and he was quick to chase after it yelling happily. "WHEE!" The ball ricocheted off a wall and Quent followed it around the corner. He finally caught up with the toy, then made his way back towards the lower levels of the hospital. A wave to Chukk and he exited the wing. "I'll be back later tonight."

The guard nodded, "I sure hope so."

At the first sight of Seth, Synn groaned, she would never wish this upon anyone.
Slowly and quietly she moved towards the bed until finally she arrived at it's edge.

Seth stirred slightly as he felt someone close by, his head turned.

Synn lowered herself down on the edge of the bed, she gently reached out and touched the exposed flesh of Seth's arm. "Seth? It's me, Synn." She whispered.

With dry lips Seth muttered something unintelligible then his eyes opened halfway. They seemed to have a faraway and unfocused gaze as he stared at her. The corners of his lips curled up just a bit in an attempt at a smile and he whispered her name, "Synn . . . "

Synn's smile was sad, her own eyes pooled with tears to see him like this. "Yes, it's me Seth." She nodded with a caress to his brow.

"Synn . . . " Seth whispered, his throat dry as well, he struggled to get out the sound through parched lips. "When can I leave from here?"

Synn closed her eyes to the pain she knew he was in, only to open them a second later. "I don't know Seth. That woman. She has you here. I don't know what to do."

"The legion. I was supposed to be back" Seth closed his eyes as the meds pushed him into darkness for a moment. A blink brought his eyes open again and he drew a heavy breath as if to orient himself. His eyes turned to Synn, then he lifted his head and stared towards the open door.

Synn sighed heavily. "I will get you out of here, I promise."

Seth pulled at the restraints on his limbs, then nodded weakly to her promise. "Can you open these? They hurt."

"I know that ... I know!" She cried out helplessly then reached to examine the chart near the bottom of the bunk. "Elliot." She called out, "Do you have a release date logged for patient Seth Rahved?" Synn looked back to Seth and placed her hands on his wrists with a shake of her head.

"No release date available for patient Seth Rahved." Elliot's cheery voice wafted from the speakers above.

"Who is the attending physician, Elliot?"

Seth looked at Synn, his eyes pleading. "Please? Take them off."

"The patient's attending physician is the Hospital Psychologist."

"I find that to be a conflict of interest, Elliot, and completely unacceptable. If the Church hears about this, it won't be good for the hospital."

Seth was trying to move within his restraints, pulling at them as forcefully as his condition permitted.

"This is a neutral zone and the patient required treatment." Elliot continued in answer to Synn, who merely grunted.

"Elliot, can the restraints be removed?"

"Restraints have been ordered for the protection of the patient and others."

Seth had begun to pant at the exertion and stress of trying to release himself. He continued to pull on the restraints without success. "Synn, please!"

"Seth, I can't." Synn was pleading with him, helpless.

I am not crazy. I should not be here. You know that." He leaned back, exhausted, his face turned towards the wall.

Synn hung her head low and mumbled. "I don't know what to do Seth."

"Why am I here?" It was a whisper toward the wall.

"Because some personal vendetta of a crazy half brained doctor."

Seth slowly turned his head back to look at Synn. He was fighting to stay awake now. "What does she want."

Synn touched Seth's shoulder and whispered "I don't know, but whatever it is, I promise ... I vow that I will get you out of here."

"What?" He blinked drowsily.

With the back of one hand, Synn brushed away a tear that was moving down her cheek. Seth's eyes closed. He was unable to ward away falling back to sleep from the massive doses of sedatives.

"Sleep Seth. I'll be back." Synn rose from his bedside and leaned down to press a kiss to his lips before turning and exiting the room.




Quent had made his jovial way into the Cafeteria. Zac was moving about the food line with a quiet calm, looking to scrounge up a bowl. He ladled some of the gruel of the evening into it and made his way to a table in the corner beneath a flickering light.

The Cafe was quiet and the only sound breaking the silence, was the tick of the spoon to bowl. Quick work was made of the gruel and the empty bowl was set to the table. A lean back in his chair allowed him to rifle within his coat. Pulling on a pack of dried jerky, he teared at it and chewed on a bite. Setting all four legs of the chair to the floor once more, he reached into his coat pulling out the cold steel, letting the jerky hang from between teeth. With a quiet manner, one of intent, he set the gun to the table and pulled out a small rag.

Quent had been watching Zac and flitted over to him.

A brow arched and Zac looked up to the approaching Quent.

Quent noticed the gun. "Hi."

Zac nodded once. "Hey, kid." His eye went back to the gun, but not his hands, they were busy rifling again.

Quent perched on a chair across from Zac. "Why was that girl hurt?"

Zac eyed the crazy and smiled a genuine smile at his concern. "Stickies got her."

"Who are the Stickies?"

Zac picked up the gun just then and began to polish it. "Never heard of Pods, eh?" He shifted and worked while he spoke.

"Pods?"

"Rad blasted creatures, kid. Minor birth defects caused by all that crap in the air near the 'zone'."

"Did that girl die?" He had forgotten his earlier question.

He shook his head "Nah, she'll be okay. Doc took good care of her." Zac grinned to himself but kept working on his polishing.



In the radiation containment room, that had apparently become her temporary home, Penny crouched by the sealed door, scratching at it with her claws. A nervous back and forth shuffle began in her crouch and she scratched harder at the sealed door.
Asche managed to hear Penny's scratching and hit a button, allowing the doors to open with a hiss. Penny jumped back at the sudden opening, and then bolted through, tearing down the hallway at an unholy pace until she skidded into the lobby. An out of control careening had her crashing into the desk and she scrambled furiously to gain purchase and regain her familiar crouch.

Quent saw the scurrying of the red skinned girl and took after her, yelling, "WHERE'S BITINN?"

Penny was breathing heavily in fear, claws scratching out at anything that came near to her. She was still frazzled from the wild ride down the hall and her crouch lowered further as Quent came too close. A claw was raised in warning, still caked in blood and stew from days past.

Quent slid to a stop in front of Penny. He smiled and waved politely. "Hi."

Asche made a mental note to introduce Penny to the showers.

Quent smiled down at Penny, hoping she remembered him from the other night when he was nice to her. "Now, you be a nice Devil-girl and don't kill me, okay?" He flashed another charming grin.

Asche reached out and touched Penny's shoulder and turned a look to Quent.

Penny flinched at the touch and then realized it was Asche. She darted around to the other side of her and peeked out from behind.

"Quent, what do you need?"

"She has Bitinn! I was nice and shared with her an' everything, but she didn't give it back, and I miss him cuz the dead girl gave him to me, and he was a really good friend, so I let her play with him and she took him away and he's probably afraid, and I wet myself last night and I MISS BITINN!" Quent was close to tears.

Penny reached for Asche's legs. She wanted to hide. Terror was in her eyes as she watched Quent's actions.

"Easy, Quent. I'm sure Bitinn is fine." Asche reassured him.

"Really?" Quent smiled, all fear gone.

Asche nodded with a smile. "Of course. In fact, I know she has been taking quite good care of him."

"But, can I have him back?"

Asche reached back toward Penny, holding out her hand. Penny jumped and loped back several steps.

"Can I have Bitinn back?" Quent asked again with a smile to Asche.

The medic took a deep breath. "Sure, Quent. He's in her room. Do you know where that is?"

"Nope, I know all about the hospital." He turned and ran to the containment room. "I'M COMING BITINN!"

Penny edged forward again, hiding fearfully behind Asche's legs and Asche again held out her hand to Penny. The red skinned girl gingerly extended a clawed hand and took the one offered, blue eyes gazing up at the other woman.

Quent slid to a stop in front of the closed containment room door. "Camera Man?"

"Yes, Quentari?" Elliot answered, efficiently.

"Can you open the door? My friend's in there!" Quent pointed to the closed door and waited as it whisked open.

"Thanks Camera Man." He hurried through and looked around the room. The stuffed toy was spotted lying in the middle of the floor. "BITINN!" Quent grabbed him and hurried out of the room and back down the hall towards Penny and Asche. "Thank you, lady. Thank you Devil girl." Not waiting for a response he skipped back to the cafeteria.

Asher had been sitting quietly ever since his conversation with Arium. He bent to scavenge around in a pack for some calinn flesh and then approached Asche and Penny carefully. "Do you think I could give her something?"

"What is it?" Asche asked.

Asher lifted up a well-sized piece of calinn flesh, cured for preservation. Penny's eyes scanned over the man fearfully.

"It's calinn. I wanted to give it to her, because I think we got off on the wrong foot when I first met her."

"She's very skittish. Is that stuff clean?"

"Clean of what?"

"Rad free?"

"Oh, absolutely. I checked it this morning."

A savage swipe of claws was whisked at Asher from behind Asche's legs in warning.
Asche blew a breath, puffing out her cheeks. "All right, but if she . . . " Then stopped, feeling the air from that swipe blow by her.

Asher jumped back, his eyes showing genuine fear from remembrance.

"Maybe you should give it to me." Asche said with a small frown.

"All right. I'd just like to help relations between us." Cautious, he reached out, offering the calinn meat to Asche.

Asche took the dried meat with a smile. "Like I said, she is very skittish and cannot hear."

"It looks like she's been through a lot."

Penny's gaze followed the exchange between the two. Her cheeks puffed out as she spied the meat.

Asche took a small sniff of the stuff, then took an experimental bite, mostly to show Penny that it was food. She squatted down beside the girl and offered it to her. "Not bad stuff."

Penny's small, pert nose gave the food a sniffle before tentatively taking it from
Asche, darting her gaze to her as if to make sure she wasn't doing something
wrong.

Asche gave another smile accompanied by a nod. She pointed to Asher and nodded again.

Penny stopped cold, looking to Asher at Asche's indication, rearing back her arm
to throw it at him, which is what she believed Asche was telling her to do.

"Yep. I learned that if you cut an animal with the same cuts one uses in surgery, following natural lines, you get all the parts that you want. Your fats, muscle, bones, and other innards, all split up to be treated differently." Asher was prattling, then froze as he saw Penny wind up to throw the calinn at him. Asche shook her head firmly to which the girl dropped the meat and darted under the desk to safety. She hid in her corner, fearful and now thoroughly confused.

"This is so frustrating. I don't know how to communicate with her." Asche said with a quiet sigh, gazing at the meat on the floor. "I'm afraid I botched your gift up."

"Oh, it's fine. She's scared, and it's difficult. I understand."

Asche bent down to scoop the meat from the floor. "I will give it to her again."

Penny's blue eyes watched Asche from the darkness beneath the desk.
Asche approached the hiding place and knelt there.

"Am I troubling her? Well, that's a stupid question. Of course I am, but what I meant was ... should I leave? There. That's what I was trying to say."

"You don't need to leave. She needs to get used to other people. Know that she need not fear everyone."

Penny followed Asche's movements carefully.

"As you wish. I guess you're right."

"I'm not very good at this, but she seems attached to me and I feel responsible for her." Asche just knelt there for a few moments, making no sudden moves.

One inch at a time, Penny edged toward Asche, watching her eyes.

"Well, I suppose someone needs to be. It's honorable of you."

"I dunno about that." Asche watched as Penny emerged bit by bit.

"Oh, I think so. Few people I've seen here would do it, in my opinion. Most lack even common courtesy."

Penny scooted further outward until her face hit the light from above. Asche offered her the meat again. "Courtesy? Most people are worried about where their next meal is coming from or whether their skin's gonna fall off tomorrow."

Penny haltingly reached for the meat again, not knowing why Asche was giving it back to her if she didn't want her to throw it at Asher.

"Well, one of the easiest ways to stave off death is to be polite. I'm sure that in the annals of history, discourtesy is among the top reasons for murder. Simple insults
and the like. And so many people don't even do that. The easiest thing to help themselves."

"One of the easiest ways to avoid death is to stay out of it's way."

"What exactly does that mean?"

Asche smiled at Penny then turned to look at Asher. "It means keep your head down, kid. Take care of yourself."

Penny finally took the meat and just held it, staring at Asche, frozen in confusion.

"Oh, I'll do that. And what about huumunn relations? Most everyone comes into contact with other huumunns."

"What about it?" Asche watched Penny, not feeling smart enough to figure out a way to get her to understand.

"And when they do, you'd think they could simply try not to insult one another."

Penny took another sniff at the meat, then offered it up to Asche.

"But they don't. The easiest way to avoid death when around other huumunns, and they ignore it. Just seems odd to me."

Asche shook her head and pointed to Penny.

"But despite so many that lack honor and pity, you have shown compassion to this girl. That's what I saw as honorable."

Penny held her hand with the meat out to Asche, her cheeks all of a sudden puffing out like a blowfish. She blinked, pulled her hand back and puffed out her cheeks again.

Asche nodded in the affirmative to Penny and smiled.

Penny's blue eyed gaze never wavered from the medic as she took a small nibble of the meat before offering it back to Asche.

"I do what I hafta do." Asche said quietly and took the meat, tearing off a small bite. She smiled again at Penny as she watched the girl scoot out a bit more from under the desk. She took another small bite and offered it back to the girl.

Penny took back the meat with a little hop and moved out some more. She took an actual bite this time and chewed hungrily.

The two shared the meat in this way for a few minutes, Asche realizing it was her first meal of the day. Asher watched and nodded at Asche's simplistic view of her job, accepting it.

Penny moved to climb up into Asche's lap and the medic allowed her, holding her arms open. The red skinned girl curled into a small ball, blue eyes staring out at all the others, unblinking.