| Logs |
2006 June 14
| Hunter |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Hunter Logs |
Part Twelve: Pinned
Scarlet Chimera, Astarte City Docks
Ashtoreth, moon of Adarra, Mishka Quadrant
Over the course of several days, the ship is outfitted with the new defensive and security gear. The crew works themselves tired, but the work is done and the ship is more secure, and the ship's coffers more empty. On the morning of the fifth day, Molly had the evening watch and is sleeping it off, and the crew is in the Commons ready to face another day. Solbiort sighs, stretching her arms and legs slowly, then rolling her neck to work out the kinks. "Freya, vhat a veek! So, who cooks this morning?"
Raj grunts, "I can make oat glop. We got anything to put in it?"
Elgyn smiles. "I suppose I could give it a try. I've been watching Molly enough to get a good idea what not to do," he drawls, meant to be more a teasing jab at Solbiort than anything.
Solbiort rolls her eyes amusedly at Elgyn. "How you eat vhat she creates I do not know, di-di Elgyn!"
Elgyn grins wider at Solbiort. "We had a lot worse during the war."
Solbiort mutters, "Did not."
Nigel smirks, already poking at one of his new puzzles and wandering around the room in a not-quite-pacing way, "I'm not a chemist. Don't expect me to use heat to make things better."
Solbiort says, "Eh, enough!" She waves a hand, "Raj, can you and Elgyn come up vith somezing edible?"
Raj coughs out, "Maybe. Working."
Elgyn barks a laugh. "I'd point out that you were on the side with all the technology and endless resources... often, the Browncoats had to make do with very little. There were days when the men tried eating their boots."
From one of the corridors to the crew berths a young man enters, stretching his arms over his head and stifling a small yawn. A few inches short of six feet, his hair is a straight mane of brushed auburn that reaches about to his waist, and a light slender frame. "Breakfast?" he asks a little tiredly. "I think I can put something edible together if you li-" He blinks, coming more awake as he notices the number of people present. "Oh... uhm... good morning?"
Elgyn stares at the man, then at everyone else, and then at the man. "Er... hello?"
Solbiort looks up, then grins, "Ah! Professor, vant you to meet some folks." She waves around the room, "Cargomaster Raj vith no family name, doctor und mechanic Nigel who doesn't vant his family name used, first mate Elgyn Musere. Everyvon, this is Professor Alexander Kali of von of the Boros Universities. Vants to talk to Elgyn -- is anthropologist." Nigel's head comes up at the new voice and he blinks. It's not like the ship hasn't had unexpected people on-board, but they didn't just saunter in like they'd just rolled out of bed. Solbiort says, "Oh, and Corporal Molly Cooper who is not here." She adds a bit greedily, "Can you really cook, Professor?" Elgyn blinks, and then nods a little, remembering this professor that Solbiort spoke of before....
The man bows politely in Central fashion. When he speaks he has a somewhat distinctive Osiris accent. "I apologize for... er, the sudden appearance." He glances at his clothing -- a light muslin shirt and breeches, "I only arrived from Boros late last night and my transport was damaged upon landing. I was fortunate to run into Captain Solbiort -- doubly so since it was to meet with her and Mr. Musere while you were here." he looks to Solbiort. "Ah. Yes, I can cook, certainly."
Solbiort snorts amusedly at Elgyn, "Ya, ya, und the Indeps fought uphill, in the snow, both vays!" She grins, "Have heard before!" Then she grins brightly at Kali, rising, "Excellent! Come, ve show you galley, you can cook vhatever you vish, ya?" She murmurs in an aside to the professor, "You do not do explosives, ya?"
Nigel looks the man up and down, not returning the bow, "You look like you didn't get the best night's sleep."
Elgyn studies the professor. "Er... where exactly did you come from?" he queries, suddenly wondering if after all the new security was installed, they did something stupid like leave a door unlocked...
Kali nods, still looking very sheepish. "Again, I apologize," he says to the others. "I had not expected... well, much of what I ran into here." He shakes his head to Nigel. "There was... an altercation- oh, hells." He sighs. "I managed to get myself into a fight, and the captain was good enough to get me out of it." He nods to Elgyn. "I arrived yesterday eve from Boros."
Solbiort points out the cooking area of commons, then wisely gets out of the way, letting the professor do whatever he wants there. She settles back into her chair, comfortably sprawled out, and watches the others. She smiles, "Vasn't fight, professor... just local thug vanna-be." She glances at Elgyn, adding, "If you go out vhile talking, keep professor close, please? Think maybe local toughs have him marked as tourist."
Elgyn nods briefly in response to Solbiort. "No, I meant... where did you just come from now? Did..." he looks at Solbiort again. "Was he sleeping on board?"
Kali takes to the galley, starting breakfast without fuss or any untoward use of high explosives. He politely does not ask about the carbon scoring on the cookers. He is also out of earshot of the rest of the crew for the moment. Solbiort nods to Elgyn, "Brought him in last night, di-di. He said he had no place to sleep so gave him cabin 16. Told him could have free run of upper level except for engineering and bridge." She adds, "Molly logged properly, di-di -- no vorries there."
Nigel mms and clears his throat, "Didn't think to warn any of us before giving him free run?"
Solbiort grins at Nigel, "Next time vill vake you to let you know -- promise, di-di Nigel." Nigel nods in acknowledgement to Solbiort's comment about next time.
Elgyn seems to be running parallel to Nigel's thought. "Captain... how well do you know this person? How do you know he's not a spy?" he says in a hushed tone.
Solbiort smiles, "If he is a spy, he knew I vould contact him at the university, about Ulundi. I called him vith qvestions, und vhen he vas polite, invited him here to visit und talk to di-di Elgyn."
Elgyn blinks. "You contacted him? Forgive me, I thought it was the other way around..." He looks thoughtfully at Kali's back. "Still, wasn't bringing him onto the ship rather... risky?"
Solbiort barks a laugh! "Di-di Elgyn, letting pretty like him run around city unaccompanied vas riskier. He managed to get propositioned in bar und vas absolutely helpless as to vhat to do -- he got almost run over, und almost sqvished by local thugs! Nice boy, but utterly not streetvise." She cheerfully adds, "Und vasn't me doing propositioning in bar!" then adds again, "Oh, und he knows a bit about Midgaard. He may vant to talk to me some after you, di-di Elgyn." She sighs happily, "Und maybe... chust maybe he actually know how to cook. Vould be lovely to not have to eat out all the time vhen docked."
Elgyn hunhs, looking back at the working Kali. "We might want to keep Sickbay locked while he's around, then. While I appreciate that you wanted to look out for him, we don't want him running into our special 'cargo.'" he grunts.
Raj clears his throat and raps a knuckle on the terminal he's been fiddling with, "Well, this guy looks enough like his picture from the University, and the story matches mostly. I'll leave this open, in case anybody else cares to look..." Elgyn perks up and goes over to look at Raj's terminal.
Solbiort says, "Infirmary is lower level, di-di Elgyn. Already told him stay clear." She nods to Raj, "Ya, seemed legit to me."
Elgyn reads silently what is displayed: Alexander Kali is a noted professor of anthropology at Boros University, and has several papers published in the Logisium's journals. He is also one of the 'authorities' -- such as they are -- on Ulundi culture (outside of Ulundi, that is) and is also known for his work on Midgaardian and other Fringe cultures, post-War. He looks up from the terminal. "An expert on Ulundi culture? What in the world does he need me for, then?" he queries.
Solbiort smiles at Elgyn, "Ask him, di-di."
Elgyn looks apprehensively at Kali. "I don't know... interrupting Molly tends to lead to... unexpected results while she's cooking. Maybe I'd better wait till he's done."
Solbiort calls out cheerfully, "Hey, Professor Kali! Elgyn vant to know vhat you need him for if you already expert on Ulundi culture, please?" She grins just as cheerfully at Elgyn, "Rather find out now, di-di Elgyn, vhen ve can alvays go for food in city!"
There's a pause in the kitchen-cooking sounds, and Kali pokes his head into the commons. "Mm?" he asks, brushing a wisp of hair out of his face. "Why wouldn't I want to speak with a brave from Ulundi? I may have spent some time there, but if I spent a decade there I would have only scratched the surface of what it means to be of Ulundi."
Solbiort waves a hand towards Kali, "There you go, di-di."
After a few more minutes, Kali emerges from the kitchen with several platters of food. Spaceship food being what it is, there's not much you can actually do to it to make it more edible, but he has tried, and what he comes up with is reasonably edible and tasty. And not incendiary. Solbiort is delighted, and thanks Kali for his efforts. She wolfs down her food as if she expects it to blow up or something. Elgyn seems slightly flustered. "Have you been lauding me to him, Captain? Now I'm worried about disappointing him by not knowing what he wants to know..." he queries quietly as Kali comes over. Nigel sits down and digs into the food with the same gusto he used to eat Molly's food. Either he just doesn't notice much difference in food, or he refuses to show it.
Solbiort smiles reassuringly at Elgyn, "Di-di, bao be, stop vorrying. He chust vants to talk to you, ya? He vants to learn vhat your life vas like. Is anthropologist, you know? Friendly people, even if they are nosy." Elgyn nods slowly, and picks at his food... making an approving noise at what Kali has come up with. Breakfast goes without incident or explosion, or someone finding ballbearings in a frag-grenade-IED/breakfast-burrito. Afterwards, the crew begins to make their final preparations and errands for departure. Kali remains politely out of the way.
Once she's done, Solbiort makes sure Kali knows to stick close to Elgyn and do what he says, if they leave the ship. She has a few errands yet to run, but will be back in a few hours, tops. Solbiort quietly makes sure some breakfast is left for Molly as well, before she leaves.
Elgyn goes through the labyrinthine streets of Asherah City with Alexander Kali close behind. The professor seems somewhat wary of the rather rough part of town they're passing through. Elgyn chuckles, noting Kali's apprehension. "You are no less safe at my side than at the Captain's side, Professor," he assures the other man, alert for any danger even as he gives Kali the bulk of his attention. "So... she sought you out, is that so?" he queries a little too offhandedly.
Kali smiles a little. "Thank you, Elgyn. I appreciate it. Mm? Yes, she said she was looking for an anthropologist in this quadrant who knew of the people of Ulundi."
Elgyn nods, looking around and trying to make sure he's got his bearings... he was in a hurry the last time he came this way. "Did she say why?"
Kali thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. "No, but she asked if I would be in this part of the quadrant anytime soon. I came here as quick as I could. The chance to talk to both an Ulundi brave and a Midgaardian valkyrie was too good to pass up."
Elgyn is suddenly a little self-conscious. "I am not... well... that is, I am perhaps not the best choice to speak with on the matter. I was only fifteen when I left home. Besides that... the Captain said you had gone to Ulundi. What more could you learn from me?" he queries with some interest.
Kali looks genuinely surprised. "As I have said, I could spend a decade on Ulundi and barely scratch the surface. I'm an anthropologist, and beyond that I have a keen interest in all the cultures of the 'Verse, especially those in the Fringe. It's not enough to just visit a place, or to talk to a handful of people in a small geographic region. I'll always be studying and asking questions and talking to people from Ulundi. I'll always be trying to learn more."
Elgyn turns that over in his mind and can find no flaw in Kali's logic. "I'll be happy to answer any questions you want, Professor," he says honestly, smiling at the other man's exuberance. "But I must ask your indulgence on one more issue... what was the state of affairs when you visited my home? I have not returned since I left to go to war."
Kali's smile fades a little. "It was almost eight years ago, I'm afraid. I do not know what state it is in now. As for then... it was... dealing... with the Alliance occupation. Things were relatively peaceful, mostly because most of the braves had gone to fight in the war and the clans were exhausted. The Alliance was just starting to try and figure the best way to administrate the world. I have heard it said, though, that... there were plans put into place to centralize the peoples. To urbanize certain areas." His tone says exactly how little he thinks of that. "I'm sorry I don't have more information."
Elgyn's face falls... he has been worried about the state of affairs back home since he first met with Amanzi. He had hoped that Kali could shed some light on the matter, but to find out he knows little more than Elgyn is perhaps less heartening than knowing nothing. "No, it is... it is well. With luck we shall return there soon, and I shall find out for myself," he murmurs.
Kali places a hand gently on Elgyn's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Elgyn," he says. "I've only heard the vaguest of contradicting stories, and I'm reluctant to believe any of them. The Alliance has been very impermissive in allowing people to travel on Ulundi."
Elgyn looks utterly perplexed. "Why would that be? Do they consider it a dangerous place?"
"I don't know, Elgyn, and it's bothered me. I make repeated requests every month to go to Ulundi and they're all turned down. I get the impression that the Alliance is being careful about protecting the Ulundi from carpetbaggers and the like."
Elgyn's brow knits. "I am sorry, I do not... 'carpetbaggers'?"
"Oh! Sorry. A very old term from Earth-That-Was -- it means someone who comes into an area that is recovering from war, with the intent of profiting from the inhabitants' state."
Elgyn blinks. "Oh well... that... actually makes a certain amount of sense..." His face darkens then. "But still, eight years after the fact? Either things were very bad, or there's something else... could it be the lack of technology on my world?" He shakes his head. "No, that makes little sense... many of the Fringe worlds are similarly bereft of the wonders of the Central planets..."
"That was mostly it, along with the clan system. I read some speculation in a journal that the clan system of Ulundi could make it too easy for carpetbaggers and adventurers to trigger internecine wars for their benefit."
Elgyn's expression turns to one of disgust. "Our people might have gone back to fighting amongst each other?" he sighs. "Well... that is perhaps not as impossible an idea as it seems."
"Not that they might have, but that they might be induced to do so, which is why the Alliance is restricting travel to Ulundi." Kali pauses. "I admit, that it sounds specious to me."
Elgyn cracks his knuckles. "Sometime soon, perhaps I will learn the truth," he growls promisingly. He realizes then Amanzi's shop is ahead. "Ah, here we are... you see, here is a man I wanted you to meet. He might be able to fill in blanks I cannot."
Kali brightens. "Oh, thank you! I still would like to talk with you, Elgyn. Mostly about your personal experiences on Ulundi, if you do not mind."
Elgyn smiles... he finds himself doing that a lot around this fellow. Though they're about the same age, Kali seems much younger at heart. Though Elgyn can also see why that makes Kali more 'innocent,' like Solbiort said. Rapping on the side of the kiosk, he introduces Kali to Amanzi when the jeweler pokes his head out, and the three start talking in earnest.
Much of the following conversation seems to focus on the nuances of growing up on Ulundi. It is revealed that even for the braves, the warriors of a tribe, it is often not enough to be only a warrior. While the importance of defending the clan is paramount, it is just as important that even warriors must have a trade besides the arts of combat. For Amanzi, clearly, his talents were focused on the making of fine wares. Elgyn's path of learning was a little more muddled... he learned a little of many things, uncertain what to choose as a trade. While often such a decision is influenced by the parents, in this gaze (with both mother and father being warriors of note) it was a drive for becoming deadly in battle at an early age that Elgyn took from the influence of his parents. So he went from teacher to teacher, all in a given tribe often more than happy to teach any willing pupil. It was not till Nuala's death that Elgyn finally sought out the Musere clan elder dedicated to the healing arts, and asked to learn from her.
Ulundi children, Elgyn reveals, are quite hardy. They are encouraged from an early age to help the adults in any way they can, whether it is tending the fire, helping to carry in the crops or plow the fields, learning to cook, assisting with gathering, or mending, or building... there is no "man's work" or "women's work," and all are expected to do what they can -- no more and no less. It is not to do with keeping them from under foot, though, or a shortage of labor... rather it is a point of pride to be useful, to be a worthy member of the tribe through contribution. And in the process this daily labor helps to shape the young, so they might figure out where their strengths lie by what tasks they acclimate best to, or gravitate towards.
Amanzi and Elgyn assure Kali this does not mean children do not play as children do... but just as there is a time for work and a time for relaxation for adults, there is the same for children. Play often consists of games of skill... hide and seek takes on a whole new meaning when some of those children learn from trackers and scouts. Some games are more like physically oriented sports, and there are even games of chance -- one which involves guessing the number of specifically colored sticks in a bundle, a game called Warrior's Bones. As children get older, there is some degree of what has been referred to as 'finding out the differences between boys and girls,' but it doesn't usually lead anywhere all that serious, as by the time the interest really flowers the children have already passed Ascension, are therefore no longer complete innocents in that regard, and have the right to court others as they see fit.
Kali takes copious notes, letting both Ulundians speak without interrupting much. As it happens he also speaks some Ulundi, so there is little problem with translations. He does ask questions when the talk begins to wind down, asking after both Amanzi's and Elgyn's childhoods, and their own experiences in growing up on Ulundi.
Elgyn is a little self-conscious at first... he did not reveal the why of how his sister died, so there is reluctance on his part to delve too deeply into certain stuff in his past. He invites Amanzi to speak first then, as he ponders what he might say. When it is his turn he chooses first to speak of his relationship with Ahnlee, the Musere healer that he learned from. He speaks also of some of his other teachers in the arts of smithing, of tracking and forestry, and even Nuala herself, who taught him herbalism and survival lore. It reminds him there are people back home that he cared about, and there is some guilt then about abandoning them after the war... his people. His extended family.
Perhaps it is this darkening of his mood that prompts him to speak of less laudable aspects of his people. He reveals that although the Ulundi clans share certain values and laws and codes in respect, even his world's noble people do not always follow them to the letter or to the spirit. The Warrior's Code did not even exist until a generation of clans had been warring against each other for years and years. Perhaps that is not such a surprise though: less than laudable people exist all over the Verse -- not just his corner of it. On his planet there are those who use the codes of honor as a tool to gain power or wealth or dominion, and do not themselves practice those codes as they were meant.
Some manipulate the laws to their own ends -- and conflicts that could have been avoided, even might never had sprung into being at all, raged far longer and cost lives needlessly. This was so even during Elgyn's formative years... while there was no protracted warring, there was more than one occasion when Musere's soldiers were called into action against a rival -- whether it be a single man and his followers, or an entire clan. And while his mother and father never questioned their duty, they did question the rightness of the events leading up to it. They did make a point, however, of teaching Elgyn some of the truth behind those events, and others in their history.
Kali gently questions Elgyn about what clan life was like in those times, not so much the political way of things but the personal, the ritual, and how the culture endured. Elgyn sighs and realizes he's gotten off track... musing over Kali's question, he explains that ritual and strict methodology of teaching was the glue of the clan, though he doesn't use such big words to say this. There was more than just the Ceremony for Ascent: there were also the seasonal celebrations, equivalent to the Solstice on Earth-That-Was. There was the Ritual of Naming, which occurred in the days after the birth of a new child. There were rituals on how to declare war, and how to make peace. There was the Skull Dance, which honored those fallen in battle, and the Sun Dance, which symbolized the circle of life. And beyond all of that there were rules on things that must be taught to every child -- and in some cases, no deviation was tolerated from how it was passed on from generation to generation.
Kali takes in all the information, taking copious notes as they speak. "What happened if there was deviation?" he asks.
Elgyn looks blank, and glances at Amanzi. "I... don't know. I never heard any occasion on which it happened."
Amanzi shakes his head, frowning, "I've not heard of that, either. What penalties did the Musere have for that?"
Elgyn racks his brains. "Something about being brought before the Elders for judgment. It depended on what deviation was made. I mean, I assume it's more significant than getting a single word wrong... I think it was mostly a guard against partiality."
Kali nods a little. "That sort of matches with what other clans have said, as well. I think... I'd like some time to go over these notes. If I have other questions, may I come to you and ask them?"
Elgyn grins ruefully. "My brain is yours to pick... such as it is. It is a good thing Amanzi was here, to help me stir up old memories." He snaps his fingers. "That reminds me... have you finished the job I asked of you, Amanzi?"
Amanzi's smile broadens and he nods, "I have, shieldbrother, yes." He pulls forth a small, cloth-wrapped package, the linen carefully folded around something small and slender. "I hope they meet with your approval."
At that moment, the midday air is shattered by the crash of a rifle shot....
Solbiort comes back about an hour later and looks up Raj, "Hey, Raj. Got a moment?"
Raj looks up from his work and says to Solbiort, "Certainly. What can I do for you?"
Solbiort considers for a moment, then says slowly, "Raj... am vondering. Do you think ve could fit livestock und cryoboxes into cargo, as vell as textiles, if ve crowd things up und use empty cabins? And also empty areas of Stores?"
Raj pauses, then says, "Well... I really don't know. We would probably have to clear the entire flat part of the cargo area for livestock. We'd need to find someplace to put the textiles. I'm not sure yet exactly what the form-factor on the containers are. We'll have to check to see if cryoboxes would fit in the staterooms. Normally they're stacked on racks for bulk transport. Also, the cryoboxes are more than a little illicit. I thought the consensus was that we'd pass on those. Has this changed?"
Solbiort grins at Raj, although there's no humor in it, "Cryo is illicit, ya, but am vondering... vould like to see those folks have chance at new life. Also am thinking if they have skill listings on them, ve could vake up two or three vith experience vith livestock handling... und there have excuse both for taking them, and livestock also. Plus, happen to know Ares has lot of resources, but could really use more folks."
Raj says, "Are you planning on buying this cargo, then?"
Solbiort says, "Am not yet sure, Raj. Vould like to talk to slavemaster, if you can introduce us?"
Raj leans back in his chair and says, "Let me make sure I understand this. You're planning to buy a cargo of indentured folks currently in cryo that you yourself have been calling slaves, crack open a couple of likely candidates for your use, and sell the rest on Ares. That right?" He grimaces and continues, "Pardon the hell out of me if that doesn't stink like a corpse on ice. You mind telling me what the hell is going on?"
Solbiort looks horrified, "No! Lady Bless, Raj. Vant to free them on Ares, vith patrons!"
Raj says, "How do you plan to recover the cost of the cargo, then? They're not going to simply give these folks to us. They're going to want money on the barrel head."
Solbiort says, "If I can figure out vay to do it, vill not pay either. Am not made of money. Using some for livestock handling is chust excuse for loading them up."
Raj says, "When you say 'not pay' you mean 'to steal,' or maybe you're using some other meaning of 'not pay' that I'm not familiar with."
Solbiort says, "Ya. But they are already stolen. Am not broken hearted about stealing them avay from those who stole. That is vhat you say happened to them, ya?"
Raj says, "I'm not sure what you mean by 'already stolen.' You think these folks are actually slaves, not stupidly indentured? Not simply signed something they shouldn't have? What makes these folks different from all the rest that make stupid mistakes? ...and no, I did not say they were slaves or stolen." He ponders, "Morons, maybe..."
Solbiort sighs gustily, then sits down and explains slowly, "From vhat I understand, these cryoboxes are full of people who are indentured servants. That is all fine. But they have been... don't know vhat vord to use -- have been sidelined, derailed, no longer going to vhatever vas original place for indenturedom to be vorked out. Somevon has stolen them as a shipment. Is this correct, or am I misunderstanding you?"
Raj says, "I don't have any information to that effect. I would expect if they were going where they were told they were going when they went in the boxes, the shipper wouldn't need black-market transport. So no, this is not a legitimate shipment. If the Alliance catches somebody with these folks, there'll be hell to pay. Who these folks are, how they got indentured, where they were going, how they got in the boxes, how they got 'sidetracked,' who holds the paper on them, how they got here, where they're going, or who will end up holding their paper -- I have no idea. If it was legitimate, we could ask... but it's not, which is the whole point of the black market, right?"
Solbiort nods, "Good, you understand. Now... am interested in picking them up as a cargo. Am happy to tell your contact vill transport them, am happy to have him hold monies until delivery made. Vill vant him or her to agree to me cracking out two or three to help vith livestock -- that vill be excuse for vhy ve take such cargo." She holds up a hand, "Am not interested in making profit off them, though. Am interested in letting them have fresh chance at life. Vould like to let them try again on Ares, as I have said. But cannot try to do this vithout your help in making connection. So, is up to you -- am happy to take all blame or vhatever accrues on this, but need introduction to do so. Vill you give me introduction?"
Raj says, "Do you feel it is important that I understand the details of your plan, and how you intend to pull this off? I must say, I'm quite confused about how the hell this is supposed to work."
Solbiort says, "Do you vant to know? Am happy to tell you if so, but I understand somevon as close-to-the-chest as you might vant deniability."
Raj snorts, "Deniability? Please... how do you intend to get the cargo? I see only three ways to do so: one, buy it outright; two, simply steal it; and three, take the deal and simply not deliver. Which did you have in mind?"
Solbiort's smile is more amused than sardonic. "Vhat? This from man vith no family name? The latter. Vill try to arrange contract myself vith contact."
Raj says, "You mean, take the contract to deliver the slaves and simply keep them."
Solbiort sighs, then counts on her fingers, "Von, they are not slaves -- term is 'indentured servitude.' Two, have said already vould vant to make agreement myself vith contact. Three, if you think this is such a bad idea, vould appreciate courtesy of you just saying so instead of constant nay-saying."
Raj shrugs, "Slaves was your term and hell yes I think this is a bad idea! If you want, I'm sure we can find all sorts of down-on-their-luck folks with a sob story, that we can go haring off to save! What makes these folks special? Why don't we just outfit the whole cargo bay with racks for cryoboxes and go looking for this kind of trouble?"
Solbiort nods and shrugs, "Vould have thought you of all people vould give a damn about possible undeserved bad luck, and been villing to allow for a bit of good luck to happen to those folks. Not sure who or vhat you care about, Raj... pity." She rises, "Vill not disturb you again."
As Solbiort tracks down Raj at the ship, Nigel is just reaching the hospital, where Natasha is waving to him from the front entrance. "Nigelchka! Privyet! I didn't expect to see you again so soon!"
Nigel smiles and raises his hand in greeting to Natasha. He's once again changed into clean street clothes, "Things got stable more quickly than I expected." When he says stable, his brows draw very slightly together before he smoothes his expression.
Natasha arches her own brow at that. "That is sounding like a not-very-good flavor of stable."
Nigel snorts quietly, "That's like saying the Black is a not-very-small place, but it's not something I can do much about right now. So why fret?"
Natasha smiles easily and takes Nigel's arm. "Well, not to fret for the time being then, da? What brings you back to hospital?"
Nigel shifts his arm so that Natasha can have her hand on his arm without having to actually drag him, "All that about Twitches... it got in my head. You know how this stuff sometimes does."
Natasha nods... "Da, yes. You've had thoughts?"
Nigel chuckles a little, smirking somewhat, though it seems turned inward, "Maybe. Probably nothing you can't figure out for yourself. But I'd like to see exactly what sorts of implants are being considered."
Natasha brightens and nods. "Surely! Come, we can discuss over tea. I have nice large terminal to show you things."
Nigel seems to brighten himself, "Fantastic. But you have to let me buy the tea."
Natasha laughs and agrees as she leads Nigel over to the small café. There are a few clouds in the sky but it is otherwise a nice and lovely day. She sets the terminal on the table between them, firing it up. "So!" she says, after the two place their orders. "Here is what we've been looking at. The implants are fairly invasive, but they do work to bypass the degenerated tissue..."
Nigel chews on his lip as he leans in to look at the terminal, "So there's not a way to use an implant on the tissue to make it act as if it's receiving the correct signals?"
Natasha considers for a moment, then shakes her head. "Nyet, the nervous tissue is degenerate and not useful for much more than random signals. In early stages though, might be possible. But sometimes has been hard for doctors not familiar with condition to properly diagnose."
Nigel rubs his chin, which (despite his care about changing) he forgot to shave. "And there's no way to detect it early... it might just show as simple epilepsy..."
Natasha nods. "Da. In some early cases in Astarte City, was mild paranoia and schizophrenia. If not for epileptic cases, doctors would not have discovered parasite."
Nigel hmms, fingers tapping on the table as he thinks, "And they haven't figured out how to test for the parasite? It doesn't fluoresce under imaging? Doesn't leave traces?"
"Oh, nyet. It does leave traces." She grins wryly. "Takes in nutrients, gets rid of them. That is what causes nerve degeneration. Now, can detect parasite as well as toxins it leaves behind. But could not detect such early on. Only now are finding it."
Nigel says, "So there is a test... but it would mostly only work for people who aren't into the advanced stages, right? Why not test the entire populace? They used to do things like that on Earth-That-Was... it's how they got rid of some nasty bugs like smallpox and Ebola."
Natasha makes a quiet sound. "Test can detect toxins left over, and also if parasite was present. But not possible to do for everyone all the time, because takes time. Takes time and resources to test everyone, so early symptoms are treated as if infection, then MRI scan is done to determine presence of parasite. At least, if MRI machine is working. Is cheaper and easier to treat symptoms as possible presence of parasite, easier to kill off parasite early. If no parasite, patient is sick for few days. Better than weeks or months of Twitches, da?"
"Still, will find the technique on Cortex -- is well-known here on Astarte for finding both parasite and toxins." She pauses a moment, then yelps startledly, "Bozhe'moi, who-?" just as a shadow is cast over the table by someone apparently looming over them both. Nigel was starting to enter that sort of super-concentration space he sometimes goes into when working on something that's taking up large parts of his brain, and the shadow suddenly cast over both of them, and the person that's casting it... well, they cause him to blink like an owl in daylight.
The young man standing above them is wearing what looks like middle-manager clothes typical of a Border Moon. His hair is somewhat unkempt, and he looks like he's standing off-kilter. As his eyes adjust, Nigel sees that the man's clothing is rumpled, and he looks about ready to topple. He's staring a bit dazedly at Nigel. When he speaks his voice is a raspy whisper. "Tell... tell her...." He's holding a book out to Nigel, an actual slim hardcopy tome with a cream linen cover and red binding.
Nigel reaches for the book by instinct, still caught off-guard by the sudden and rumpled appearance of the man holding it. It takes him a moment to even start reacting as if mister middle management might need help. The man does not resist as Nigel takes the book, wobbling a little. It takes Natasha breathing, "Der'mo... Nigelchka, he's been shot!" for Nigel to notice the almost invisible red stain on the man's left breast beneath the long coat.
Nigel drops the book onto the table as he pushes upward, knocking his chair aside as he tries to get around the table to the injured man, "Oh, ruttin' hell..."
The man topples into Nigel's arms, grasping at the smaller man's arms as the pain he's been repressing with adrenaline starts to take hold. "Tell... herrr...!" he grates out. The wet sound from the man's shirt says 'sucking chest wound.' At this time some of the other patrons of the café are pausing and noticing the incident, and the talking starts to buzz a bit. Some people are standing and starting to move to Nigel.
Nigel starts trying to get the man's shirt off, "Gorrammit, tell who what?" It's perhaps not the question he would have been expected to ask in quite this situation. He looks around in quick glances to find something water- and air-tight to cover the wound.
The man grips Nigel's lapels, trying to get Nigel to look at him. With a face scrunched up in frightening focus, the man says in a harsh whisper, "It's fa-a-ake!" A moment later the man's eyes roll upward, and he collapses into (at the very least) unconsciousness.
Nigel looks at the man and swears virulently. Natasha has heard him swear before, as has anyone that's known him, but he's at least kept it to the occasional "gorram" or "ruttin'." This is a whole new level. Nigel checks for a pulse as the man goes out like a light. Natasha moves beside Nigel and the man, helping to get him to lie down and apply the airtight compress. "Ai yah, he's not in good shape," she says sharply. The man's pulse is staggeringly weak, his skin cold and clammy. Natasha tells the other patrons and anyone within earshot of a mile to get blankets, bandages, and the gorram ambulance.
Nigel growls under his breath, "Gorram shite-sucking son of a one-legged whore... this rutter dies on me before I find out what the gorram hell he was talking about and I'm going to haunt his gorram ghost."
Despite the seriousness, Natasha smiles at Nigel's attitude. "Always thought bedside manner was so patients would dread being under your knife, Nigelchka," she comments.
For the next five minutes, Nigel gets a compress over the wound with a corner free so the man can exhale. It still bleeds, so that, at least, is a good sign; the man's pulse is weak but steady, and he is still cold and clammy to the touch. Blankets are piled on him by Natasha, and thanks to Nigel's basic medical expertise the man is in critical but stable condition as the ambulance -- basically a converted hover-mule -- pulls up with sirens blaring and engine roaring. >The medics get the mysterious man onto a stretcher and onto the bed of the hover-mule. They strap him down as they run a Ringer's drip and apply their medications and the driver starts to fire up the engine.
It seems as if everyone can hear it. In the City, at the jeweler's small nook where Elgyn is talking with Professor Kali. In the Docks, where Solbiort and Raj are ignoring each other as they work on various repairs on the ship's exterior. The single harsh crack of a sniper's anti-material rifle has not been heard on Ashtoreth since the war, but it shatters the relative routine of midmorning.
All Nigel can see of the bed of the hover-mule is a red mess, before Natasha shoves him with great force onto the ground, the book pressing uncomfortably against Nigel's chest. "Blyadskii der'mo! What the hell is going on?!" The entire café square is in madness now, with people screaming and running around, the wail of police sirens still far too distant, the trample of feet, and a forest of legs that blocks Nigel's view of anything.
Next to the Chimera, Solbiort looks up sharply -- she knows that noise. A quick glance around as she unsnaps her holster, and she taps her comm, "Crew, report please?"
Raj says, "Raj here," as he moves smartly into the ship. Momentarily, he returns with a rifle, taking up defensive position near the hatch.
In the café square, Nigel hits the ground with a grunt as his breath is knocked out of him. "Ow... that frellin' hurt!" He squirms under Natasha's weight, jaw set as he remembers that glimpse of the bed of the mule. In the clamor, he doesn't respond to the comm-call. Possibly he didn't hear it.
At the jeweler's nook, Elgyn snaps to attention at the sound of the rifle. He brings his wrist come to his mouth, pushing Kali out of harm's way. "Elgyn here, captain. Do you know what that was?" he queries sharply.
Solbiort says slowly, "Sniper's rifle vhat it sound like, di-di." She's silent a moment, then says uneasily, "Crew, come back to Chimera, please."
Molly's voice comes over the comm, groggy at first but with increasing wakefulness. "Molly here, captain. What- Roger, waking up!"
Solbiort nods to Raj, murmuring, "Sheh-sheh, Raj." She adds on the comm, "Molly, to bridge. Somezing is very vrong in city. Raj is covering hatch vith me. Nigel, report please?"
In the café square, Natasha lets Nigel up just a little bit. "Sweet Buddha... am sorry, Nigel, just... reacted when heard gunshot. Oh, bozhe'moi..."
At the jeweler's nook, Elgyn starts to ask if he should bring Kali... and he knows the answer to that question before he asks it. "Professor, we're heading back to relative safety," he says grimly as he looks at Amanzi. "Watch your back, shieldbrother."
Amanzi looks a little haunted. "Been not long enough since I heard that sound. Go, shieldbrother, and be safe." Kali for his part does not argue one bit.
In the café square Nigel finally answers the comm-call, sounding even more agitated than normal, "Gorramit. I'm here. Keep your ruttin' panties on, captain." He's actually getting awfully red in the face, but what mix of emotions is causing it is hard to read.
Solbiort sighs in quiet relief at hearing Nigel's voice, then simply says, "Come back to ship, please, Nigel."
Elgyn looks at Kali. "If I were alone..." he murmurs to himself, and then shakes it off. "Once you're safe, maybe I'll get to the bottom of this." he growls, ushering the professor along. Among other things in the war, he was sent on occasion to take out snipers. But for now he hurries back to the ship with the young professor. "On our way, Captain." Elgyn reports, so she won't worry.
Solbiort says, "Sheh-sheh, Elgyn."
Kali nods soberly and apologetically to Elgyn. "I understand. I'm sorry I'm holding you back."
Elgyn shakes his head. "I'd likely get in trouble if I did it anyway... Captain wouldn't want me going off alone," he comments ruefully. "Besides... it's not the war anymore... got responsibilities besides me and my squad."
Kali says softly, "I won't pretend to understand, Elgyn; that would be insulting to you and your comrades-in-arms. It's enough for me that it is what you believe in. Lead on."
Elgyn chuckles. "It's not hard to understand, Professor... if you know anything about my people, you know that we have strong codes about what is right and wrong... and though we had nothing like sniper rifles back home, the idea of such a thing would be reprehensible, especially during a time of peace." He shakes his head. "No more talk. It distracts from the enemy. Once we're under cover, I'll discuss it with you all you like." Kali nods, and follows after Elgyn silently.
By the ship, Raj says, "Is it just me, or has every explosion or bit of gunfire been headed our way of late..."
Solbiort stands silently around the corner so Raj has a clear line of sight, and waits, worrying. She glances to Raj at his comment, and nods. "Starting to make me feel downright paranoid." Her accent, again, is perfect.
In the café square, Nigel snorts, answering the captain, "Can't, captain. He's my gorram patient. I need to find out what the ruttin' hell just happened."
Solbiort murmurs on the comm, "Nigel, sniper rifle means dead. You have no patient. Come back, please." Her voice is very calm and quiet.
Around Nigel, the panic has hardly subsided as people continue to try to get out of the area. The ambulance crew is taking cover behind or under the ambulance, but without knowing where the sniper shot from they're more like a litter of crazed puppies scampering around beneath an umbrella. Nigel cranes his neck, glowering at Natasha, since he's still partially under her, "Oh, hell, might as well. You're coming with, though. I don't want you out here with ruttin' guns going off all over."
Natasha snorts a little. "No complaints from me, Nigelchka! If know what are doing, lead on." She glances at the ambulance, wincing.
By the Chimera, Solbiort glances thoughtfully at Raj, "So, Raj, vhat you do during the var? Got any in-city experience?"
Raj chuckles, "Yeah, I've got a bit of in-city experience. You want me to scout around for lurkers, or do you have something else in mind?
Solbiort looks relieved, "Vant you to go fetch Nigel, please. Help him get back safe. If necessary knock him out; he can scream at me later." She pulls her pistol so she can slide into the spot Raj vacates. She comms, "Nigel, location, please?"
At the café, Nigel tries to push his way out from beneath Natasha and up to his feet, hitting the com again, "Little café that's become a little firing gallery." His grip on the book is so tight that his knuckles are white.
Solbiort says, "Good. Stay under cover, Nigel. Help coming." She glances at Raj, "That enough? Café near hospital. Look for dead guy -- was Nigel's patient."
Raj mumbles, "Lovely," then says a bit louder, "I'll see if I can get to you, Nigel; you can give me better directions as I get closer." He turns to Solbiort and says, "I'll leave the rifle here." He glances around, then sets off at a sprint. Solbiort nods, holstering her pistol and scooping up the rifle. She settles, covering the hatch, and waits patiently, setting and bracing.
Raj quickly works his way around the obstacles near the ship. Almost out of sight, his sprint picks up speed and he leaps the twelve-foot fence between the loading zones and the main street. He lands sure-footed, and sprints down the side street, continuing to pick up speed. Solbiort raises a mental eyebrow, seeing that... then grins quietly to herself, thinking, Guess sometimes the right woman for the job -- is actually the right boy! Interesting stuff, that silver wire...
Raj, as he nears the area surrounding the hospital, can get a sense of how close he is to Nigel -- the panic seems to be radiating outwards like a ripple in a pond. The center of the café is clearing out, and Nigel is starting to feel uncomfortably exposed even with hordes of people around. Nigel tugs Natasha toward a wall, wanting to get into the lee of the building -- even meager cover is better than none. He shouts into his comm, "We're the center of the reverse tidal wave of humanity... people are scattering like ruttin' chaff!"
By the time Raj reaches the city square (bordered with the hospital on one side, the town hall on the other, and far too many steeples and towers), most of the waves of humanity have faded. The square is deathly quiet, broken only by the distant sounds of city traffic, the spaceport arrivals and departures, and the inbound wail of police aircraft. Raj sees what would normally be a calm city scene... except for the hover-mule near a café, which has a grisly sight atop it.
From here (unless the sniper decides to make a few more shots) Raj can't tell where the sniper is shooting from, or if the sniper is even still there. Leaning heavily against a wall and panting like mad, Raj stops to scan the fleeing people in the street, trying to find the source of the sniper fire. If I could just get up on one of these roofs, I might be able to see them. He speaks quietly in the comm, "Nigel, I'm at the square, and all I see are fleeing people. Where are you? Can you tell me where the shots were coming from?"
Nigel rolls his eyes as Raj asks his question, saying back, "The shot came from up. Way up. As for direction, I was thinking more about fixing the poor rutter than about another shot. I didn't notice its frellin' trajectory."
Raj says, "Well, up is helpful. They're not in a vehicle or in a low building, but I still don't see you. Which café are you in?" As the last of the people flee from the square, there is another crack from the rifle, and it does something unprintable to one of the fleeing people -- who looks disturbingly similar to Natasha. Unfortunately, though he can hear approximately where it came from, Raj does not see the sniper's nest; it could be in one of three or four elevated positions.
Nigel snarls the name of the café into the comm and presses Natasha back against the wall, "Oh, this is not happening now..." The little man is almost vibrating with tension and growing anger.
Raj says, "Damnation! Nigel, was that shot anywhere near you? They may be trying to flush you out, and I've still don't see them."
Nigel growls, "Not only was it near me, it took out my... oh, hell, the woman I was having tea with, the person they just shot could be her gorram sister." He looks around for a doorway to get himself and Natasha through -- inside a building is a lot less open to being splattered all over the street. He spots a doorway into the café itself about five meters over. He grabs Natasha by the elbow and does his best to drag her bodily into the doorway, "We're getting under cover and we're doing it right gorram now."
Raj scans the surrounding buildings, trying to identify the best place to strafe the crowd, the place he might put a sniper... or two. Assuming there's only one, he thinks, which is not a safe assumption, that radio tower doesn't really leave them a good way out. The church steeple? Maybe, it's traditional, but still not enough cover for a good exit strategy. His features twist into a grimace, Ugh. That leaves the unobtrusive office building. Plenty of places for an ambush, too many exits, too easy to hide in, and if they're smart, already mined... unless they're more of those no-see-um camo-boys like the jerk that tried to knife me, that's the place.
As the second rifle shot sounds, Elgyn and Kali arrive at the Chimera. Solbiort is very still, listening silently to the comm traffic. Elgyn freezes a moment when he sees the rifle aimed towards the hatchway. He whistles a lark's call, checking to see if it's the captain... Solbiort swears softly, "Ta ma duh! Forgot civvie." Without shifting from her spot, she calls, "Kali, get into ship and into cabin -- immediate! No exit until hearing all clear. Elgyn, vell done -- vant you here for cover for Raj and Nigel." She rises, holding the heavy rifle.
Elgyn looks grimly at Kali. "You heard her. Go to the captain's room... my hogleg is inside if you need it." He unholsters his pistol and moves towards the captain. "What's the word?" he asks curtly. Looking a little pale, Kali nods and scrambles to obey, dashing up the ladder well to the crew deck.
Solbiort tosses the rifle to Elgyn, turning and following Kali into the ship, heading for the bridge. She calls over her shoulder, "Sniper, sounds like aiming for Nigel and companion!" She catches Kali as he's about to go into the wrong cabin, "Neh! Stay in your cabin, boy, und be ready for ship to move sudden!"
Elgyn looks startled. "And we're still here?" he calls after her, suddenly very angry. He growls and checks the action on the rifle... it's been a while since he used one of these. He crouches and hides then, though inside he wants to have Soli take the Chimera airborne, and see how this sniper would like railgun fire...
On the Bridge, Solbiort slides into the pilot's seat, nodding once to Molly, "Any news on 'vave?" She starts firing up the ship's engines.
Molly has been warming up the ship in anticipation of any action. "Lots of police-band stuff," she says. "They're calling in local law-compliance gunships from low orbit; they'll be in atmo in ten minutes, city airspace in thirty. Everything else is total chaos -- nobody knows what's going on."
Solbiort considers as the Chimera shivers to life. Judging by the fact that the entire city heard the shot, this must be an anti-material rifle. It could, given enough time and bullets, hurt the Chimera -- if the sniper is a master, and knows where to shoot to hurt the ship, she could potentially cause problems, but it'd have to be the luckiest shot in the world -- and the most armor-piercing rounds in the 'Verse.
Solbiort nods once to herself, muttering under her breath, "Not my crew you don't, you hwoon dahn -- here comes the cavalry!" She comms, "Elgyn, board ship now, man the hatch for pickup if necessary!" Elgyn checks his flank, then dashes for the cover of the ship, aiming through the hatch as he checks for followers... Solbiort nods to Molly, "If any news on vhat gunships should be aiming for, report to me." She adds blandly, "Molly, Chimera vill be having sysop problems and vill not be able to respond to dock tower."
Elgyn barks into his comm. "I'm aboard, Captain! We going duck hunting?" He slams shut the hatch.
At Elgyn's comment, the Chimera lurches instantly upwards, and Soli comms, "Nigel, coming in for pickup. Raj, vhat should be vatching for?" Elgyn grabs something to keep him steady as the Chimera leaps to the sky. Solbiort adds quietly, "Molly, keep eye out for sniper."
As Raj makes his way up between the building and toward the fire escapes, he snaps into the comm, "As soon as I know, I let you know, or scream in searing agony. Nigel! You still good down there?" On the Chimera's Bridge, Solbiort grins. Sarcastic news is good news.
Nigel is slightly breathless as he answers, "Trying to get us behind a good solid wall..."
Raj says, "Screw the walls, they'll shoot right through those... get behind an engine block or some restaurant equipment... solid metal."
There is another crack as Nigel pulls Natasha towards the door, and the pavement about a meter behind her explodes into a crater of a size that no weapon a human being can carry has any right to make. This time, as Raj starts climbing up the office building fire escape, he can clearly hear where the shot came from: the top of the radio tower. He pauses in his climb to scan the surrounding roofs, then continues. As he reaches the top of the building, he curses, "Gorram wrong building! Shooter on the radio tower!" and falls flat on the roof.
Solbiort cheerfully replies over the comm, "Von radio tower, about to be emptied!" She studies the layout of the square below her. She'd like to whack the sniper out of the radio tower if possible, but also not harm anyone else should the top of the tower fall down. She gracefully swoops the Chimera into the correct angle for the tower to fall where she'd like -- comms to the ship, "Everyvon hold on!" -- and then, delicately, taps the engine, blasting the radio tower with the Chimera's engine wash. Then she watches avidly for a falling figure. In Cargo, Elgyn is very glad he was already hanging on as he lurches, but keeps his feet.
As he lands, Raj catches sight of a camouflaged figure, also prone and facing the square. The figure seems to hear Raj, and rolls around quickly, looking at Raj with a pair of image-intensifier goggles. Then he slaps something on the forearm of his suit... ripples, and is gone. Raj hears scuttling and boot-scuffing upon the gravel on the roof. As the camouflaged form begins to ripple, and Raj is falling prone, his gun flashes forward and there's the roar of gunfire.
In the square, Nigel curses a blue streak as he yanks harder on Natasha's arm, "Get your gorram ass moving! We need to get inside..." He seems almost more pissed off than frightened. A moment later he's shoving in the door and scrambling for something to take shelter behind.
The Chimera's drive wash immolates the radio tower, scorching it and all but melting the thinner parts. A vague body-shape falls through the searing underwash to the ground before flaring into white actinic fire; by the time it hits the pavement it is a charred, unrecognizable mess... at least right before the tower falls upon it. Solbiort murmurs over the comm, "Von down. Raj, Nigel, still vith us?"
Nigel's voice is strained, tension making it almost squeaky, "I'm here..."
Solbiort murmurs calmly, "Excellent, Nigel. Tell please vhich café you are in? Vill lower ship to you if I know vhere to land."
As Chimera flashes the tower, Raj's shot at the spotter strikes something -- and a body-shape ripples into view, limply thrown backward over the edge of the building. The spotter's body crashes to the ground three stories below. Raj says grimly, "Take that, you invisible bastard."
Solbiort murmurs, pleased, "Two down. Good shooting, Raj."
A few moments later, the body of the spotter bursts into white-phosphorus flame, immolating itself in a handful of seconds. And for the moment... other than police sirens... the city is quiet. Raj says, "OK, make that invisible flaming bastard."
Solbiort mutters, "Ta ma duh! Vanted that body, gorramit." She scowls as the Chimera gracefully lowers towards Raj. "Elgyn, open hatch und offer cover for Raj to board, please."
Molly says, "Gunships are breaking atmo now -- they'll be here in twenty-five minutes. We're getting seven thousand types of hells from both Tower and law compliance."
Solbiort nods to Molly, "Keep 'em disconnected, girl. Almost done here." She comms, "Nigel, report! Need to pick you up." Nigel gives the best description he can of the building he and Natasha are secreted in.
Elgyn tugs open the hatch once he feels the ship slow, and kicks down the ladder, motioning Raj inside and checking the roof for more bogeys as he waits... as the ship briefly touches the roof Raj leaps in the hatch, shouting, "I'm in! Go!"
Elgyn slams it shut and grimly ponders Raj, before smiling. "How come you get all the fun, hmm?"
Panting, Raj rolls over to his back and says, "Because you got the good looks?"
The Chimera bounces up instantly at Raj's call, then down again into the square, in front of the building Nigel's described. "Elgyn, Raj, cover Nigel as he comes aboard, please?"
Nigel reminds people over the comm that he's got a hanger-on before he first creeps toward the door and then shoves out it, trying to bring Natasha along with him. He's praying she'll co-operate because he's probably not up to manhandling her, even though he's less than happy with having Natasha thrown in with the crew. He'd have preferred it could he keep the two of them separate, since Natasha knew him before the full crabbiness had developed. However, while Natasha is a civilian, she's also a hardened doctor who eats a sandwich with one hand while doing an autopsy with the other. She's no shrinking violet, but she is a bit shaken -- that last shot came a bit too close, and the shot before had been uncomfortably like looking in a mirror. She does not resist Nigel suggesting she board the ship.
Elgyn waves them both on, not seeming to mind the added presence of another 'passenger' at this point... "Locked and loaded, Captain!" he barks as he slams the hatch for the last time.
Solbiort immediately lifts the Chimera again, with a roar of engines. The ship darts over towards the docks while, over the ship's comm, Solbiort calls out, "Hokay, crew -- got civvies aboard, und at least von vas endangered by association vith us. Must decide now, please: land und argue vith authorities und maybe get shot at again, or take off for the Black?" She adds, "My vote is for Black."
Raj says, "We had personnel under fire. What are they going to do, fine us? Up to you. You're the one with the stick..."
Nigel slams his hand against the comm, a very slight edge of panic in his voice, "You stay down here, captain, and I will personally make sure none of you ever sleep sound again. You'd be amazed how noisy a ventilation system can be..." Solbiort laughs!
Molly was about to say something when Nigel made his answer. In a bit of a meek voice, she says, "I vote for the black, Captain. I was going to vote that anyway, but... I'd rather the ventilation system not become the doctor's instrument of vengeance."
Elgyn shakes his head. "Much as I'd like to fight them, I'm not keen on arguing with bureaucrats while doing it, Captain. Let's regroup in the Black."
Raj pick himself, up dusts himself off, and says, "...we could start a band..."
Solbiort cheerfully comms, "You got it, crew! On our vay... should be all clear very soon." The Chimera soars upwards for the sky, and Solbiort finally clicks on the ship's ground communications, politely reporting that the Chimera, having had crew under fire, has chosen to abandon port.
Nigel turns to his old professor with a rather sickly, crooked smile, "I don't blame you if you want to slap me, but I promise you. Cross my heart. We'll get you back where you need to be safe... I just can't..." He shakes his head, "The whole authorities thing could be messy just now."
Natasha smiles wearily to Nigel. "Discretion is better part of valor, Nigelchka."
Nigel snorts, taking a deep breath, "Valor can kiss my shiny pink arse. Discretion is the better part of not makin' a gorram fool of yourself."
The Chimera leaps away from the world and breaks atmo, running for the black. The gunships which answered the call from the city police split up, one attempting to catch up with Chimera and the other taking up a position over the city. Police are looping increasingly stronger 'requests' that Chimera heave-to or be bound by law.
In Cargo, Elgyn blinks and gives Nigel this look. "Nigel-chikka?" he queries, sounding amused.
Nigel looks back at Elgyn, expression flat, "Yes, di-di?" he asks pointedly.
Elgyn just chuckles. "She calls you that too," he reminds the doctor. "Care to introduce your friend?"
Nigel brushes off the front his pants and shirt, "This is Dr. Natasha Rivenova. She was my bionics professor in MedAcad. And I consider her a personal... friend." The little doctor says that last word somewhat grudgingly.
On the Bridge, Solbiort considers the legal ramifications if they continue to flee: Ashtoreth local law compliance forces will want to very politely question them as to what the frag happened, though they'll figure out the Chimera mooned the snipers and thus stopped their rampage. Adarra's law compliance forces will be mostly uninterested since there were so few people killed. They'll label it merely a 'local incident.' Beyond that... Ashtoreth is a border moon, and the Alliance has bigger fish to fry. Solbiort's happy to give their version of what happened once they're all safe... so she leaves a polite final message stating the Chimera feels it must head for a safer port, but will be happy to answer questions there.
Solbiort continues out until she can safely call over the comm (mostly for Kali's benefit), "Hokay, in the Black, folks -- all clear!" She turns to Molly, "Excellent vork, mei-mei. You have the bridge; call if need me. Going to go see to passengers."
Molly nods, slipping into the pilot's chair. "Aye, Captain."
Solbiort strides swiftly to the catwalk over cargo and looks down, fists on hips. "Hokay, anyvon vounded? Nigel, who is new friend?"
Nigel rolls his eyes, replying to Solbiort's question, "Why don't we just get everyone in the commons with a nice cuppa and then I'll do introductions." His accent has slipped a little. He almost sounds... civilized.
Elgyn grins. "You have personal friends, Doc? Will wonders never cease," he says mildly, offering a hand to Natasha. "Sorry for the trouble, Doctor. Usually the only violence comes from Nigel getting mad at his patients."
Solbiort says, "If you vish." She nods to the older woman, "Pleasure to meet you. Captain Solbiort Skialdmeyjar. Velcome aboard." She turns and heads for Commons, adding over her shoulder, "Elgyn, behave."
Natasha smiles to Elgyn. "I've little doubt." To Solbiort she says, "I'm grateful to you and your crew, captain."
Elgyn coughs... he hadn't intended Solbiort to see that. "Yes, Captain."
Nigel barely suppresses a grin at Elgyn being discomfited -- and he's especially proud of himself for not sticking out his tongue at the First Mate. Offering his elbow to Natasha again, he says, "Commons it is. We've got something resembling tea, and if we can't make it resemble it too closely, I've got a bottle of whisky that will make you forget you were disappointed." Natasha accepts the arm readily, though she does look like she's coming down on the end of an adrenaline rush.
Solbiort starts water boiling in Commons, then starts setting out tea cups. She sighs softly, and hopes Kali and Rivenova aren't too furious... she really doesn't want to deal with ranting passengers just now. Kali steps cautiously into the Commons shortly after Solbiort enters. He looks around worriedly, then murmurs to her, "Are you... all right, Captain? Is everyone all right?"
Solbiort nods quietly to Kali, "Ya, everyvon is safe, Lexi. Come, have tea vith us. Think ve have lot of talking to do." She smiles a bit ruefully, "Shuh-muh about this, pretty... didn't expect qvite so much excitement."
Kali smiles a little. "It's fine, Captain. So long as you and yours came through unscathed."
Solbiort settles down a bit heavily into her chair, sighing gustily, "Ya, think ve did. Am vorried now for di-di Nigel's little friend... and for you."
Nigel is positively chivalrous with Natasha, or at least as close as anyone on the ship has ever seen him be, "Sit down before you fall down. Tea will come to you." Solbiort nods politely to the woman as she enters with Nigel. Natasha nods to Solbiort pleasantly, though she looks a bit rough around the edges for the past hour's travails. Elgyn is more reserved now, his face placid as he leans against a counter, looking at Kali and Natasha and shaking his head.
Kali smiles to Solbiort and nods. "No need to worry, Captain." Instead of sitting right away, he sees to serving the tea. Solbiort waits until everyone but Molly is gathered, and smiles in appreciation to Kali when he serves tea. While he's doing that, she says politely to the woman, "So, you are friend of di-di Nigel's?"
Natasha nods after taking a sip of tea. "Da, Captain. Am one of his professors from medical school."
Solbiort nods, then says politely, "And your name is...?"
Nigel hovers near the back of the other doctor's chair, "Natasha Rivenova. She was my bionics guru." He brushes his hands together in a businesslike manner, "Anybody got any holes need to be patched?"
Raj says, "Other than a massive thirst and other post-stress crash, all I need is a handful of jerky and a nap..."
Solbiort grins at Raj, "Nice vork, Raj. Sheh-sheh." Then she nods to Nigel, "Very good; sheh-sheh. Nigel, vant to tell us vhat happened, so your professor can have some tea und recover?" She also repeats politely to the bionics professor, "Velcome aboard the Scarlet Chimera. Hopefully from now on vill be uneventful ride."
Elgyn looks at Nigel, and then Raj. "Any idea who wanted you dead?"
Nigel smirks slightly, "And probably the only teacher I ever had that wanted to kill me less than three times a day." He pushes himself up to sit on a counter, feet dangling. "Sure. We were having tea and oohing and ahhing over obscure medical details when this idiot stumbles up and tells me to tell her it's fake. Who 'she' is or what 'it' is, I got no clue..."
Solbiort looks puzzled, "Vhat he look like? Vhat is the fake?"
Nigel remembers as he says that, that he's still got the book. He pulls it out of the waistband of his pants where it had been riding at the small of his back like a clamshell holster, "And he gave me this..." He looks at the book briefly, riffling pages as he continues to talk, "He'd been shot once, we got the bleeding stopped and got an ambulance to come after him, and then he got shot again."
Solbiort raises an eyebrow, "An actual printed book?!"
Nigel scowls at the book, "Which is apparently a ruttin' journal he never used..." He shakes his head at the idiocy of people for going and dying before he can help them, "Then there were a couple more shots...." He's slowing down in his speech a little as he tips his head to look at the spine, "I'm pretty sure they were gunning for us... aaaand... this says it's 'The Third Way'...." as he trails off, light dawns.
Solbiort is a pale-skinned woman ordinarily, but she goes noticeably white at Nigel's words. She stands bolt upright, crossing the room in a flash as she reaches for the book, "Give. Me. That." She handles the book with care, gently smoothing one hand across its front and murmuring softly, "Please don't be dead..." The book is simple, a slender tome with cream linen bindings. The title of the book is in small gold sans serif type, in a red block along the spine: The Third Way. Opening the book reveals crisp white sheets, cut in that unmistakable way that suggests hand-made workmanship. And every page is blank.
Raj says, "Wow. A Zen book..."
Elgyn's expression is as blank as the book. "What... what kind of joke is this?"
Solbiort draws a slow breath, then without looking away from the book says softy, "Nigel... please tell me the 'idiot' was not a young man in middle management clothing..."
Nigel blinks at that, "Yeah. That about describes him. Just like half of everyone else at the café and around the hospital."
Solbiort's shoulders sag slightly -- then she hastily tucks the book under one arm and whips out her terminal. "Maybe... maybe vas not him..." She quickly checks her drop, hoping against hope.
Elgyn looks completely lost. "Captain, what are you talking about? Who?" Natasha and Kali look suitably confused but remain quiet, watching the proceedings.
Empty. Solbiort sighs, hope fading, then tucks away the terminal and goes to sit a bit heavily in her chair. Her accent is perfect again, "Professor Rivenova, Nigel, please tell me very carefully everything you can remember about the young man?" She gently turns the book over and over in her hands, trying to decipher the posthumous message she's received.
Between the two of them, Nigel and Natasha describe the haggard, doomed man. Unfortunately the description fairly well matches whom Solbiort is thinking of. She is very still, listening. When they're done she murmurs a quiet Midgaardian prayer for the dead... then sighs. "Sheh-sheh. The 'she' is me, di-di Nigel."
Nigel nods to that pronouncement, seeming strangely relieved. The captain, after all, can obviously take care of herself. Elgyn folds his arms. "You knew this man, Captain?"
Solbiort nods quietly, still studying the book, "He vas very nice young man who vas not suspicious enough, I fear."
Elgyn nods, although he clearly does not understand. He goes over to Raj. "You didn't happen to get a good look at whoever was taking pot shots, did you?" he queries quietly.
Raj shakes his head, "Sorry, the only one I was close to was in full gear and had just turned on his active camo. I'm lucky to have got the shot I did, and they wound up falling four stories and bursting into flame. Not much to look at, I think."
Elgyn blinks. "Camo. Like the man you shot at Fleur?"
Nigel shakes his head to Elgyn's question as well. "I was mostly busy trying to figure out how to keep from getting myself perforated."
Raj says, "Hey, you did good, Nigel. Just staying out of the line of fire is a trick sometimes." He turns to Elgyn, "Oh yeah, just like that. The burst-into-flames thing may be new, though."
Natasha frowns. "Active camouflage? I thought that was... rumor? Myth?"
Nigel says, "Apparently not. Raj has seen it twice."
Elgyn says, "We're flying in the Chimera, Doctor. Myth would seem to be our back yard."
Raj blinks, "Oh, yeah, I guess I'm the only one that's seen it so far. Myth -- oh, hell no."
Elgyn shakes his head. "That can't be coincidence. Therefore, we have to assume these are the same people... and if that's the case, then why the hell did they go after this..." he looks at the quiet Solbiort, "mystery man? Why not come right after us?"
Solbiort frowns at the blank book she's holding. This is not making sense. She leans over and hits the ship's comm, "Molly, any news on the 'wave about any bombings in Astarte City, or how many dead?"
Over the intercom Molly replies, "Yes, Captain. They're saying that they found the bodies of two victims and two snipers at the scene. Both snipers burned beyond recognition. One was found with spotter's gear, the other with what looks like a heavy anti-material rifle -- or what's left of it. The, uh, radio tower fell on that one. They're saying we really helped out when we mooned the sniper. It sounds like they think we mooned both the sniper and the spotter. The police are toning down their 'requests' for answering their questions. What should I tell them?"
Raj says, "Well, that's good news. I was worried we were rapidly running out of places to put down."
Solbiort studies the empty book silently for several minutes, thinking furiously... then, slowly, her eyes widen. She looks up slowly at the others gathered there, and says quietly, "I understand." She draws a slow breath, then says steadily over the comm, "Tell them ve are headed for Ares, Molly, und vill be happy to answer qvestions there." She turns to the others, "Nigel, please see your professor bedded down in cabin 20." She rises, still holding the book, and adds, "Gentlefolk, I am very sorry, but it appears our next stop is either Persephone... or Sihnon." She turns and heads quietly out of Commons, still studying the slim volume in her hands. She needs a moment to clear her head.
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