Lex Berrikk, white-haired Gardener of (Mal'endrra), walked into the lobby of the NRMH, into a discussion Bliss Lovejoy and the slight, dark man known as Shad are having about their burgeoning psi powers. As Shad sets Elliott to playing some (Syrynnikk)-inspired club music, Lex invites Shad out to the Gorge for the next 'Nykk Festival to hear the real thing.
As Dr. Terra Lowinn came out into the lobby from the cafeteria, a loud crashing can be heard from the kitchen behind her. Bliss tilted her head. "Sounds like you've got phlupps in the kitchen again!"
Lex shook his head. "More like a loose vorykk ..."
Terra sighed, "Well, let me go see what's amiss." She approached the kitchen cautiously, asking Elliott to send guards to meet her there. As she got closer, she could hear someone bumping into things, making their way to the back corner of the kitchen. Guards behind her, she stepped in to find Penny crouched in the corner, covered in various foods, a big bowl on her head, still dripping stew. The girl's glossy red eyes stared at Terra fearfully, awaiting her punishment.
Terra crouched down next to the little wild girl, trying to be reassuring, waving the guards back to try and calm Penny. The ever-optimistic doctor fetched some juice and another bowl of stew, intent on teaching the feral, radioactive, deaf-mute Church-lab-experiment Penny some table manners.
Penny, not understanding Terra's gestures, not knowing why utensils are being shoved at her, tries to back herself even farther into the corner. After watching Terra sip for a while, she finally realizes that no one is going to beat her for the mess she made. She takes the juice cup and empties it into her mouth; most of it running down the sides of her face, joining the mess on the leathers she wears. Terra shook her head, smiling softly, making a note with Elliott to set up a rehabilitation schedule for Penny.
Seeming to just notice the mess Penny was, Terra stood and opened the kitchen doors in an attempt to get Penny to the showers. Snippets of conversation drifted in, Shad reminiscing about his late father. "He helped with the Fellowship, along with other pursuits." He smiled." He really could tell some stories..."
Lex was sitting with him. "That surely did not make him any points with the Church."
"Yeah. He was a major pain in their collective butts."
At the sight of the open door, Penny darted through them and out into the hallway. Terra shrugged and sighed, and then followed. She stepped through the door just in time to see Penny's feet go out from under her, sending the slippery stew-covered girl sliding across the floor. After hitting one wall, Penny loped back into the lobby and slid again, a little smile on her face, right toward where Bliss, Shad and Lex were sitting.
"Incoming!" shouted Bliss, hauling her long legs up onto her chair with the rest of her.
Lex managed to hoist himself up onto the counter, but poor Shad was not so lucky. As Penny slammed hit like a hummunn bowling ball, Shad ended up flat on his back, food stains somehow not clinging to that jacket of his.
Terra ran over to see if Shad was ok, slipping on the food-trail and nearly ending up on top of him. Bliss and Lex cracked up at the sight, and even Penny smiled from underneath the chair where she had come to rest.
With one fluid movement, he leapt to feet - only to slip in some juice. A few flailing motions later; he steadied himself, to the sound of continuing laughter from Bliss and applause from Lex. He bowed graceful in acknowledgement as he made his way out.
Lex took his leave also as Bliss pulled an apple out of her pocket to entice Penny to her room to get her cleaned up. Following Terra, Bliss held the apple in Penny's sight but out of her reach, leading her like a piper.
Reaching the containment room, Terra quickly wiped down Penny and her leathers with a wet towel. As she finished, Bliss tossed her the apple. The little "demon girl" devoured the fruit whole, stem, seeds and all.
"Told you she was very fond of them," Bliss said to Terra.
Dryly the Union Doctor said, "I see that." It had been an amusing night. She smiled.
Bliss straightened up. "Kid's got expensive taste." Penny looked up hopefully for another. Bliss laughed and pointed casually, "See? She wants all my apples." The girl rose and peered behind Bliss and at her pokcets. Bliss rummaged around in the deep pockets of the duster she wore, murmuring, "Hmm, don't think she'd want a cigar."
"Hope not!" Terra quipped.
"Ah-ha..." Bliss said at last and produced another of the red delights. "Last one Pen." She darted forward, stopping at Bliss' feet, looking up hopefully, with her hands wringing together. Bliss gave it over with a smile. "All yours kiddo, you deserve something yummy." And before she devoured it as the sands did the streets in the height of 'spring,' she hugged the apple.
Bliss, watching, snorted softly in amazement. Such simple joy from something that was once so common on this half dead world. She took a breath. "We need to find her some clothes Terra. Clothes she can wear over those leather straps. Or figure out a way to make some clothes that will do what the straps do."
"Do you think she will keep them on ?" Clearly Terra had her doubts.
Bliss strolled for the door of the room. "She's going to have to eventually. The only way to keep her from falling back into the clutches of the church is to make her as normal seeming as possible." As Penance polished off the apple, she started after Bliss quickly. "She needs to learn to dress normally, walk upright, eat properly and most of all, communicate."
"Yes.. there are many things she is going to have to do. I believe.. she can learn to communicate.. if taught with patience."
Bliss realized Pen was following her and turned, holding up her hands. "Sorry love, no more apples." She shook her head. Penance didn't seem to believe, or didn't understand and continued to follow her like a lost puppy. To prove it, Bliss pulled the pockets of her duster inside out.
"I think she would follow someone anywhere for an apple."
"I think you're right." To Penance she said, "See lovey, no more apples."
The girl looked at the pockets and then back up to Bliss, crouched in place at her feet. Bliss reached out and lightly ruffled Pen's hair. "Sorry, but they are very hard to get." She smiled as Terra asked Elliot to open the door. Penance looked from Bliss to Terra in question, her eyes looked sad that no one was giving her any more apples.
"It's weird Terra, I came here all alone in the world. Now I've got two little boys who call me Momma, Mera refers to me as her big sister, Pen here is like one wild little sister. Garth teases me and calls me Aunty Bliss in regards to the twins." Bliss tapped her breast pocket then took out a small book. Penny darted to her makeshift bed and snatched up her Penny doll. Then she offered it up to Bliss as if asking for an apple for her dolly, for the tip of her clawed finger tapped the doll's cheek in the sign for apple. Then she puffed out her own cheeks for Bliss too.
Bliss crouched down and shook her head. "I'm real sorry love," she said, enunciating the syllables clearly for Penny to see, even if she couldn't hear. "I don't have any more apples." Bliss opened the book facing the red girl so she could see the pictures on the pages. "But you can look at this."
"See," Terra said, "she is trying to communicate."
"Yes, she puffs out her cheeks when she wants food. She's trying to tell me she wants more apples."
"I'll try to sneak one to her later, but it's nearly time for the twins feedings."
"I only brought two, for the boys, but they won't miss them." Penance shook the doll at Bliss, eagerly expecting an apple. Bliss set the book down on the floor open to a picture then rose to her feet. She shook her head and said again, "No Pen, no more apples." Penance looked at the book on the floor, apparently willing to be distracted by it.
Terra chuckled softly. "Now that I know she likes them. I will make sure she gets some tomorrow. I know where one or two might be."
"I'll see if I can get a few more too. Eventually the boys will get some." Bliss stepped back out of the room then, leaving Penance to ponder the picture book in her silent, appleless world.