Inside Memorial, Terra Lowinn was checking on her patients and what tests needed to yet be done. Asher made his way inside, wearing the same clothes he'd worn the month before when last he'd been at Memorial. He sat down at a table near to the doors and he and Terra exchanged nodded greetings. He asked her if there'd been any Churchers about and she hadn't seen any, or so she said. The conversation fell flat.Caine's business had recently acquired some Church hardware. The rumble of one bit of it -- a tank -- stopped just outside the hospital. The top hatch opened and he climbed out, dropping to the sidewalk below before the tank sealed up again and rumbled off down the street. The doors of the lobby slid open as he stepped into the lobby where a quick appraisal of the room showed him precisely who he was searching for.
He made his way toward Terra. "Doctor... I hope we have more information on the girl tonight."
Terra, still deep in her files, shook her head. "No, Mr. Caine not really."
"Just Caine, Doctor… if you please. And why is that? I don't believe Elliot can be that..." He sent a glance up at one of the cameras. "...sloppy."
"No, probably not... " Terra and he had already discussed the possibility that someone was deleting records on the strange feline/huumunn Church experiment known as Penny. Caine had his reasons for wanting to know about her and most of them were couched behind philanthropic rhetoric that he was the girl's best hope for a "normal" life.
His eyes found Asher and always looking for business he asked him if he needed anything. The younger man said didn't they all need something? Caine disagreed, but said he was resourceful. Perhaps he could help but Asher said he was trying to avoid the church. Caine told him that asking about the Church was a way of drawing attention to one's self rather than maintaining a low profile, then he returned his attention to Doctor Lowinn, the reason he'd come to the hospital that night in the first place.
"Doctor.. I'll need you to finish up our agreement with the signing of a non disclosure agreement." He set an electronic notepad on the desk in front of Terra. She looked up inquisitively to Caine as if she hadn't heard a word he said. Then she looked to the pad. It displayed an NDA about any information she obtains from his resources were restricted to her knowledge only, not to be shared with anyone or anything else outside his knowledge. "Simply protecting my research, Doctor."
"Ahhhh.. I see..but..what of the research on the acid rain?"
"Your research is classified, Doctor. Joint ownership, as we agreed.If you could please just press your thumbprint into the square, we'll be done with this nasty part of the deal."
"My research under your employ..." She said softly, clarifying.
"You did agree to joint credit, Doctor." His eyes gathered some of their flinty hardness as his voice took on a serious tone.
Terra chose not to notice. "Yes... Caine we did." She studied the NDA with a raised brow and a smirk. "Why does this feel like I am signing my life away?"
"For the good of the people, I believe you said."
Terra put her thumb on the square. A small beep as the thumbprint was scanned and stored could be heard. "Thank you, Doctor. Sensitive material like ours needs to be protected. You understand, I am sure." He took the pad and reviewed the agreement once more before placing it in his inside jacket pocket.
A hint of mischief rose in her smoky eyes. "Ah Caine, I'm sorry. The sex part 5 times a week is off Garth said no."
Caine let go a genuine chuckle at Terra's comment as he looked back to her and leaned his face toward hers. "You don't know what you're missing, Doctor." She covered her mouth with her hand to hold back a giggle and blushed glaringly. He winked, then straightened up.
Terra bit back a laugh. "Silkar`" she said, an obscure dialectic equivalent of "touché."
====
Through the rubble-strewn streets of New Rhydynn, a motorized dirt bike raced. The driver dodged both people and husks of old cars. He instinctually ducked as shots flew overhead. There was fighting in the streets… always there was fighting in the streets. He revved the engine as he exited the hot zone and zoomed around a corner toward his destination.
As he rounded a corner, he turned so hard his knee scraped the street as he leaned to maintain his balance. Only a few moments later he braked, sliding the bike precisely to a stop at the building's steps. He didn't quite fall off at the hospital statue ruins, but very nearly. He secured his bike, tossed the helmet onto it, and walked inside. He was in a mischievous mood.
Immediately, scavenging eyes took note of the vehicle abandoned outside.
Stepping from the cafeteria, Mera Harperr lifted her newly acquired water cup to her lips, savoring its coolness. It was flatly flavored as all the recycled water in the hospital seemed to be, but it was potable and soothed her thirts. The fabric of her UoM uniform rustled with her movement, and she offered a smile to Terra as she reached the lobby. She noted that Caine was there, but addressed Terra. "Another fine evening, eh?"
"I suppose it is OK," Terra smiled.
"Evening Caine," she said, then Mera's chestnut eyes lit up as she glanced towards the opening door, where Shad, the cycle riderentered. A warm smile touched her lips, and she attempted to hide a blush by lifting her cup once more. Oh yes, she liked this man. She took note of his own smile as he saw her and the tendrils of "smoke" that rose from his duster. Curse the acid rain! He gave a nod of greeting to Caine, the "Man."
For his part, Caine noticed Mera with a smile and a nod. "Good evening, Meralynn. If I may call you Meralynn?" He raised his brows in question.
Mera chuckled softly. "Of course..." She shuffled over toward Shad then, pointing to his duster. "Interesting ... clothing you got there. I have this water… need to be put out?"
"Oh this?" He looked down. "This was my fathers… I found it along with his gear..."
"It suits you," she said, "Despite the smoke." She smiled fondly.
"Thanks." He grinned.
"So what brings you out in this weather, Shad?"
"I was riding around when I got caught outside..." He shrugged. And the duster which was black, moved with the gesture. It seemed made of a strange dark, almost slick material... like solidified oil.
Caine focused on Terra and got to business. "Now... about the girl?"
"I will find out when I see Ash... haven't seen her -- we keep missing each other."
"Why do you need Asche to run your tests?"
"She ought to know what has happened to the info, the test results and such things."
"Obviously, since you seem to have no records... you'll need to run all the tests again anyway."
Shad was intrigued and tried to keep a discreet 'ear' on Caine and Terra's conversation. Mera chewed her lower lip thoughtfully for a moment, but kept quiet, choosing to sip her water instead. Then turning, she made her way down the corridor towards the hospital garden. Shad's face suddenly grew animated, uncertain as he watched Mera leave the area. He looked between the conversation and the corridor that led to the garden. His expression said "decisions, decisions!"
Lex Berikk strolled down the hallway, pack slung from one shoulder, his cloak draped over the other arm... his plans to return to Malenn'drraa tonight postponed by the rain. He greeted Mera as he passed her in the hall. "Good evning,Meralynn."
She offered a friendly smile to Lex. "Good evening Mr. Berikk."
"Lex, if you will." He smiled. Shad could see them down the hall from his vantage point, but really couldn't stand to leave Mera down there talking to Shad and so, very casually, strolled toward them.
Mera nodded to something Lex had said, that Shad couldn't hear and her smile was warm. "Lex," she said, confirming.
"Nice evening to stay inside, I think..." Lex said as Shad strolled up.
"Ah Greetings," Shad said.
Mera chuckled as she leaned against the atrium door. "Yes...its a bit nasty out tonight. Were you heading home?"
"Hello, Shad..." Lex said, then: "That was my plan... if the rain subsides, I may venture forth. Alas... the plans of phlupps and men oft go astray."
"All too often it seems," Mera agreed.
"The garden seems to be coming along... are you involved with it…?"
"Yes..." Mera smiled proudly. "It is very soothing after a hard day, just feeling the dirt running through your fingers."
"Ahh.. a green thumb, I see... We shall have to make you an honorary member of the Gardeners." Lex grinned.
"Maybe..." she started to blush then heard what he said. "Really?" Her eyes widened.
"Why not? The task is the same... never mind the difference in the scale of the job."
"That would be wonderful!"
"We can get you a patch for your uniform." He thumbed the finely sewn GoM emblem on the breast of his own tunic.
Mera's blush deepened and she turned to Shad, excited. "You hear that?" Whereupon it became obvious that Shad was not quite with them. He was blinking frantically, his eyes moving around as if he's trapped in a dream. "Shad? You alright?"
"I think perhaps he needs your attention, Mera..." Lex said, winking mischievously before he really took a look at Shad's face. Mera's blush grew to phlupp berry red.
Shad looked like a frightened boy for a moment before his facade came back and he shook all over as he seemed to come back to himself.
Mer's brown eyes flickered worriedly. Her hand rested on his arm. "Shad?"
The man tried his best to look like nothing happened. "Sorry…" But there was fear in his voice. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
"Well... excuse me..." Lex told them. "I think I shall have a bit of supper." He watched Shad and exchanged a look with Mera to see if she'd be all right with him alone. She nodded and told him there was Phlupp casserole tonight. Cook's special.
"Excellent..." Lex said and made his way to the café' and supper.
"Why don't you come into the garden... maybe it will help?"
"It might." Slowly, she led him into the atrium, unsettled by his change in demeanor. He had been so cheerful, almost playful before.
"What happened?"
"A vision..." he said softly, almost offhandedly, as if he didn't want to discuss it.
"Another?" She said before she saw the look, heard the tone. Then she hesitated to ask more.
"It was … unlike most I've ever seen." His eyes took in the life that was around him. "It was too vivid... more like a living nightmare. I'm sorry if I scared you." He shrugged slightly.
"What was it?" Curiosity getting the better of discretion, she sat upon one of the stone benches and watched him.
He tried to focus again, retrieving the memory. "I saw War... Not sure if it's past or what's to come... I just don't know..." He searched her face. "It's hard to describe.. I relived something... but I can only recall only flashes and images of it."
Mera had learned to trust his visions. "I hope it is far in the future."
Elliott's singsong voice interrupted them. "Meralynn, your presence is needed in Ward B."
"You can go," he told her quickly. "I think I'll be alright."
She sighed and leaned close to hug him. "Just … take care of you."
"Think I'll go see the others..." He didn't want to be alone among the green.
"Alright." She tried to smile reassuringly, but she had to leave him so it was a hollow smile. Then she rose to make her way out the door and down the hall.
For a moment, he just stared at the garden seeing none of the life and all of the death of war.
====
Adeline Frostt groaned as she moved her stiff back out of the Psych ward and headed for the lobby. She shuffled slowly to the first available seat where she slumped into it. Icy blue gaze crossing over the lobby. She nodded in Terra's direction when the woman smiled and she could hear the conversation between Caine and Lowinn.
Caine slid to sit on the edge of her desk, looking at his manicured nails. "You know, Doctor.. if I didn't know better.. I might think you were stalling on those tests..."
"No, I'm not stalling. I am trying to get info in order to not replicate tests when they've been taken and the results must be somewhere. As well, I want to know what happened."
"In the meantime, Doctor.. you could be rerunning those missing tests.. since they will have to be replaced anyway."
She offered him a shrug. "I do have the blood work. Why duplicate? It isn't that easy dealing with Penny you know."
"I understand that, Doctor.. but that really isn't my concern. And why duplicate? You need those test results anyway, since they seem to be lost. It would save time to do it now. If you find the other results, wonderful, but why wait?"
"Caine it has to be my decision. I work here."
"Then I suggest you run the tests and exams, Doctor. Is the girl gets hurt, you won't have a clue how to treat her without something to refer to."
Asher interrupted, having been sitting there listening all this time. "Penny... You're running tests on the girl??"
Caine's grey eyed gaze moved back to Asher. Terra looked around Caine to spy him as well while Adeline said coldly, "Terra, I didn't know we had another docter.. Who is this fellow that he knows better then you now to run you hospital?"
"Excue me?" Terra said.
"He must be a good docter he can tell you what to do." Adeline told her, her eyes never leaving the door. It was as if she were expecting someone. When no one appeared immediately, Adeline sighed, hand reaching into her pocket, pulling out her compad.
Asher's eyes were still concealed by goggles, though the rest of his face was visible with the headgear unwrapped. He laughed uneasily at their scrutiny. "Well, every time people have approached her, she's gotten terribly panicked."
Terra sighed. "Perhaps. But there are ways to deal with that."
"All the more reason to run the exams and tests.. to learn why." Caine said to Asher. Then looked to Terra seriously. "Right, Doctor?"
"She only seems to trust Asche, that other medic or doctor."
"I agree," Terra said, but whether or not she was agreeing with Asher or Caine wasn't clear.
"Well, it seems obvious that she's been treated badly. Abused and whatnot." Asher said.
"Excellent," Caine said, presuming that Terra had just agreed. He smiled pleasantly now. "I hope we will have some results in the next couple of days?"
Asher looked a little regretful that he even spoke up when Caine looked at him, as if just remembering that he said something it would be politically wise to respond to with sympathy. "Yes.. horrible, just horrible.. the poor girl." He was silent for a moment. "Anyway, it needs to be done."
"Why do you say that, sir?" Asher asked. Just didn't know when to keep quiet.
"My reasons are my own, my good man."
"I don't think you care for her at all. How can you know what's best?"
Adeline rested the pad on her knee, the slender fingers of her right hand danced over the keys.
Terra looked again at Asher and said, "And who are you?" Clearly she didn't object to being told what to do by a man who had just bought both her silence and her cooperation with incentives to research, but from off the street no-bodies, she did object.
"My name is Asher. Why do you ask?"
"I just wondered who you were and what you base opinions regarding patients on." Terra told him stiffly.
Caine slid off the desk and moved to right in front of Asher. "Luckily, your opinion isn't important to me, as for her well being.. I am the best shot the girl has at *any* normal kind of life. No one else has the resources. Now, do you have something else to say?"
Asher stood, unwilling to be intimidated. He'd listened to the whole conversation. He knew what he'd seen here. "You're a harsh man. Harsh and crule. And I don't trust you. I don't think I should." Or anyone else should, he thought to himself.
Adeline let out a long, low whistle.
Terra meanwhile was changing the screen, ordering a battery of tests for Penny. "Sorry Caine," she said. "Some of the people…" She rolled her shoulders in a shrug.
"And you sir, are a practice in ignorance. Ignorance gets people hurt or worse, in a city like this."
"Is that a threat?" Asher was amazed.
"It is a fact." His tone was even.
"I think I will talk to the only one who seems occupied with that girl's welfare."
"I hope your judgement improves soon, you would do well to pick your battles very carefully."
"I'm sure I would." Asher stood near to the desk. "In any case, I don't think your help is appreciated. At least not by the girl, or those who care about her."
Caine smiled his "deal" smile. "Luckily, again, your opinion doesn't amount to jack."
"Oh, my opinions. Maybe my actions, then."
Adeline's eyes drifted closed. Her hand tapped over the compad in a slow rhythmic pattern. Like the rain outside.
"I would be very interested to see your actions, sir... I truly would," Caine told him all too quietly.
"Don't judge me just yet." Asher didn't have a clue who he was dealing with, but even so, he knew something wasn't right and he was a man of honor.
"Snap judgements aren't my style. You'll learn that eventually. Hopefully for you, it won't be a bitter lesson."
"Eventually... Trust me, I'll try not to see much more of you." Asher's hands started to shake just a little bit as they rested on the desk in front of him.
Caine then looked to the terminal screen and saw that Terra had authorized the repeat of all the tests. He turned back to Asher with a smile still. "Excellent… you're learning already then."
Terra, who had pushed back her chair, gave a curious look to Caine, and then blushed like she'd been compromised. Maybe she had.
"Doctor... I do believe your guest here is having some sort of...episode. perhaps he needs medical attention?"
"I am having no episode. I just think that you need to leave and stop your display."
"Display? I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean."
"You've proven whatever you set out to prove," Asher told him. He stared at Caine from behind his goggles. "Now you're just showing off like some damn dominant male." He looked right at Terra. It was clear to him if no one else what was happening here. This woman … was under Caine's control.
"Don't insult this fine gentleman!" Terra snapped firmly. Caine straightened the lapels of his jacket casually.
Adeline rose abruptly from her quiet near-sleep perusal of her pad. "Sir," Addy said to Asher. "If I might speak to you."
Asher looked at Adeline, and then Lowinn. "He's just a little too set on proving himself to really be worth more than me." Then he looked at Adeline again.
"Let me speak with you in private please." A frown was drawn on her lips.
"Of course," Asher told her.
"You see, young sir," Caine said then. "Your words here are only going to put you into a very undesriable view on the part of others here. You, a complete stranger.. opposing tests that will help the girl." He Tsk'd. "Open hositlity toward the man who has furnished this hospital with equipment, medicine, food, many things." He gave a light laugh. "Sir, in all modesty.. I am much better than you." Arrogant? Oh yes.
He looked at Caine again, his hands moved slightly still, almost as if they moved to reach for something. "You're still only a bad man."
"Please sir," Addy said.
"A very bad man." Asher added for emphasis. Still trembling, he turned sharply and walked over to join Adeline for a private conversation.
"How dare you insult him?" Terra demanded of his retreating back.
And Caine had to get in his own last words. "I have taken in and provided for the children that have come here without a home or family, food or water and gave them all of those things once more!" He called to Asher's back. "What have you done except complain and insult people you know nothing of?"
But Asher wasn't listening he was following Adeline into the cafeteria.
Shad came wandering slowly into the lobby from where he'd been in the garden and looked from Terra to Caine. Caine was holding Terra's hand, apologizing for the display between himself and Asher. "Clearly," he was saying, "he is carrying a great amount of hostility and stress. I will bear him no ill will." His free hand came up to sit a-top of her's. He patted her hand softly. "I suppose the stress with all the gunfire and street gangs has gotten to the street folk."
"Some don't know Caine, we must forgive them." She listened and nodded as he spoke, completely taken in.
"Anyway... how has the girl been doing?" Caine moved his hand away to slip it into his jacket. He pulled out a small square of chocolate to place it in Terra's hand with a grin. "Just like I promised." He said softly.
"Would you like a ... coffee or tea?" The 'or me' was left off, but she grinned when she saw the chocolate.
"So what was that about?" Shad asked abruptly.
"Just a disgruntled citizen..." Caine told him with barely a glance.
"In answer to your question about the girl," Terra said. "I found she adores apples." No word that it was Bliss who always brought apples for Penny. "So if I can manage to give them to her, it seems she will cooperate with me."
"Apples? She has very expensive tastes."
Terra looked down to the chocolate in her own hand and smiled. "Many do."
Shad agreed. "A lot of that around..."
"Yes.. so I have found." Caine looked to the chocolate before chuckling. He gave a glance now to the direction Asher had gone, a sly, inward grin. He was buttering up the people that mattered, hell, it was a way of life for him. Terra was already in the palm of his hand swimming in his chocolate gifts. The others would topple readily.
"How are the twins Terra?"
"Oh," like any mother, she gushed. "They are wonderful." But then the slip up. "I am preparing to run some tests on them. The most remarkable growing and cognitive abilities I have seen in children. They are actually sitting and attempting to walk."
Caine had almost forgotten he was holding Terra's hand. Then he released it. Shad just nodded to them both.
====
Adeline and Asher were getting to know one another in the cafeteria after she'd given him her best advice: "Don't get involved in hospital politics. It's better to steer clear and keep your ass out of trouble." He told her he didn't like Caine and didn't like what he saw between Caine and Lowinn, the manipulation, the capitulation. But ultimately, he agreed that to protect himself, he ought to just keep his mouth shut. This out of the way, they discussed where he'd come from -- a family unit that was an entirely post war community. Adeline asked him if he would be willing to write out his history there, all he could remember, because she wanted to study the 'family on the outside.'
====
Lex, together in the cafeteria with Adeline and Asher, though at his own table, was meeting Olivia Glenn for the first time. She had seen him defend a Church man and, with her forward ways, asked him why he had done it. Lex explained that the same Church officer, Shad Grey, had helped him out of a spot with gangers before that and it was only right that he return the favor. Shad came in then, followed shortly by Terra --who made a cup of tea while the others talked, sat down, unwrapped her chocolate from Caine and ate it.
Shad, Lex and Olivia discussed how she worked with children, how they were Sabatt's future and that Shad's sister worked in an orphanage. That was about the time Caine came in, after dwelling a silent moment in the lobby and casting his eyes toward the ER. Lex introduced him to Olivia. With the rain drumming outside, warm coffee and tea inside, the conversation waxed and waned with the drifting rain. Lex commented how the acidity levels seemed to be dropping in recent years according to the tests done in the Gorge and in the City. The good news gave everyone a lighter heart.
As he conversation went on, the rains tapered off and Shad decided it was as good a time as any to go on home. Cained offered the services of his sources, anything for a price, should Olivia Glenn find herself in need. He was pleased to find she was to be working in pediatrics and teased her about not having seen Penny as yet. No scars on Olivia. He accused Terra of hiding the new talent and she took the teasing good-naturedly. They explained to Olivia, who was completely non-plussed about Penny, who the girl was, and that she was a mute creation of the church. Huumunn with feline characteristics. Quite dangerous.
Olivia mulled this over while Terra excused herself to go and feed her own 'super soldier' babies that she had with Garth Lowinn. Caine listened in quietly as Olivia and Lex then discussed the Gardners of Malenn'drraa, far into the evening.