Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #29: Altered States (9/28/97)
Alea wanders down the hall to her office
Alea finds the door locked and goes over to dig through tagged keys
Tarsh comes into the lobby.
Tarsh: "Hi Alea. What are you looking for?"
Alea glances up at Tarsh
Alea: oh, my office is still locked
Alea: I was trying to find a key to unlock it
Tarsh: "I think I have yours sorted out."
Tarsh picks out a ring labeled "AF".
Alea wonders if Tarsh put the filing cabinet on it, but doubts it
Tarsh: There you go. Your office, your room, and the cabinets.
Alea: thanks
Alea goes to the door and pauses
Alea tries the keys, finds the right one and opens it
Alea: I was just about to make some tea...want some
Tarsh looks up. "Yes, please. It might settle my stomach."
Alea smiles and goes into office, gets out her morning reports and then comes back out to make tea
Alea makes up tea, pours two cups and comes over to the desk, seating herself beside it
groupie [loud crashes and bangings from the infirmary]
Tarsh looks up. "What is that?"
Mvran who reported last night for first day of work as a Second Order Channel...walking down the hall hears the noise
Alea looks around
Alea: someone in the infirmary
Tarsh: "Better check."
Tarsh gets up and goes over to the corridor.
Alea follows to see what is happening
groupie is standing in the middle of a pile of smashed equipment in the infirmary, gazing at it in a dazed fashion.
groupie: It's like, cosmic, man!
Tarsh: "It's like a lot of expensive Tecton Property. What happened?"
Alea begins picking up the mess
groupie looks around, finally noticing Tarsh and Alea.
Tarsh: "Did you do this?" ~~zlins for guilt~~
groupie: This is, like, a bad trip, y'know?
Alea looks at all the broken glass and sighs
Alea begins carefully picking it up
Tarsh: "What trip? You were here yesterday, you can't have travelled too far in that time."
groupie takes a second look, and this time recognizes that Tarsh is Sime.
groupie: A real bad trip.
Tarsh looks at Alea. "Leave that, Darling, Zethraim can clean it up."
groupie: It's, like, in Tentacle Terror.
Alea pauses, smiles at Tarsh and leaves the rest, carefully stepping around the rest
Tarsh: "What are you talking about?"
groupie starts to hum
groupie: You, know, man: the song! What are you, totally square?
Alea studies the person and remembers this is the person who tripped over them yesterday when she was helping Veraik with his entran
Tarsh: "Apparantly I am. Please indulge me by speaking in Genlan or Simelan."
groupie: What a cosmically bad trip!
Tarsh: "If it involves this much damage, I agree."
Alea remembers now...this is the person who wouldn't HELP when someone tripped over them...she silently groans
groupie: Surrounded by squares with tentacles.
JonDrake is sitting in his infirmary bed, wondering what is going on in the world...
Alea looks at Tarsh for interpretation
Tarsh shrugs back at Alea.
Alea: just why exactly did you come here yesterday?
Alea trying to remember
Tarsh: "I thought is was for a donation, but apparently not."
Alea wonders why the nuts are always in here on her shifts
groupie thinks it over.
Groupie: Oh, yeah, that donation thing. I was at this party, see, and we were playing the new Torn By Tentacles album.
groupie: We were passing some totally cosmic stuff around, and someone got an idea.
groupie seems to feel that this is a complete explanation.
Alea thinks torn by tentacles---yeah
Alea wonders if she could sneak out and leave Tarsh to handle this one
Tarsh: "What was this idea?"
groupie: The song, man! The most cosmic song ever!
Alea feels a headache coming on
Tarsh: "What does The Cosmic Song have to do with donations and smashed equipment?"
groupie: Why, everything, man!
Tarsh: [feels like he is trying to nail jello to a wall]
Tarsh: "So this song says you should go pretend you want to donate and then smash important medical equipment, young man?"
groupie: No, that would be square. I'm talking cosmic, here.
Alea thinks perhaps she should just go get a channel to sedate this groupie again
Tarsh: "Well you certainly aren't talking anything *I* can understand."
groupie looks around, rather vacantly, and finally notices his backpack in the chair next to the bed.
groupie wades out of the pile of broken equipment and opens it, digging around inside.
Alea curious moves closer
Tarsh sighs.
groupie mutters something about "squares", and finally pulls out the latest album by Torn By Tentacles.
groupie holds it out.
groupie: It's band three, the most cosmic song ever.
Alea looks at it with distaste
Tarsh takes the album, glances at the front, and flips it over to read the back.
groupie holds out a handful of lint-covered pills he retrieved from the bottom of the backpack.
groupie: [to Alea] Want to try some cosmic stuff?
Tarsh takes the pills in his other hand and peers at them.
Alea hurries forward
Alea: why don't I take those for you
Alea sighs that Tarsh got them away
Alea fears they might be like those things of Snake's she took
groupie: [the back of the album has the lyrics to the songs written on it, since the singing is so bad that they are unintelligible when the record is actually played.]
JonDrake makes his way down the stairs. He's possibly a little shakey, but not doing too bad, considering...
Alea: so the album is why you came to donate?
groupie: [The "Cosmic Song" on band three is about a Gen who get killed by a Sime pretending to be a channel, and how this death is a Meaningful Statement About the Futility of Life]
groupie: It's cosmic.
groupie begins to hum again.
Tarsh hands the pills to Alea, and reads band 3.
Alea takes the pill and crosses over to trash can and dumps them
groupie: Hey, if you're not interested, give them back!
Tarsh: "What does a tragic story about a criminal junct rensime have to do with what happened here?"
Alea: too late
Alea dusts her hands off
groupie is totally distracted from Tarsh's questioning by Alea's disposal of his drug stash.
JonDrake wanders around a bit, wondering where everyone is...
groupie: Bunch of squares. What a totally uncosmic trip.
Tarsh: "Or did those pills make you think that that is what would happen to you here?"
groupie ignores Tarsh and goes over to the trash can.
groupie: I gotta get a fix.
groupie prepares to tip over the trash can and recover his pills.
Alea starts back toward Tarsh and groupie
Alea: they're illegal...couldn't give them back if I wanted to. [smiles pleasantly]
Alea goes back over and guards the trash can, frowning
groupie reaches past Alea and dumps the trash can, spilling its contents all over the floor.
Alea looks at groupie in shock
Tarsh moves up behind groupie.
groupie squats down and begins to sort through the mess in search of the pills.
Alea: stop that...you are not taking those pills out of the...the trash to take them
Alea reaches down and gently grasps groupie by the arm and pulls on her to get her to stop
JonDrake looks in the lobby to see if anyone is waiting there -- also to see who is manning the desk.
groupie frees HIS arm with a jerk, muttering about squares, and continues to sort garbage.
Tarsh grabs groupie by the shoulders and pulls him to his feet.
Tarsh: "She told you to stop that."
Tarsh: [ Tarsh put the record down somewhere ]
groupie looks sideways, gets a very close view of Tarsh's tentacles, and panics.
Alea sees a renSime holding the outTerritory gen and moves carefully forward
Alea sees the panic and freezes...gaze on Tarsh
Tarsh jerks at the panicky nager, and tries to hold him steady.
groupie struggles in an uncoordinated fashion, arms flailing.
Alea moves at by groupie to pull him away
Tarsh shifts his grip to the upper arms, but lets Alea pull him away.
groupie sees the half-healed tentacle bruises on Alea's arms and shrieks.
Alea grabs at Groupie
Tarsh hisses at the shreik's nageric echo and grins.
Alea: just calm down
Alea grabbing at groupie's arms
Alea slides in between Tarsh and Groupie
groupie manages to escape Alea's grasp and starts running around the infirmary at random, apparently unable to find the door, still screaming hysterically.
JonDrake hears a sound down the hall.
Alea crosses the room and hits an alarm
Tarsh shifts his zlining to Alea, then starts watching groupie run around, grinning.
groupie bumps into more equipment, sending it flying.
Alea: groupie
Alea: calm down
JonDrake has been chatting with H'lo, who is at the desk.
He excuses himself, and then casually wanders down the hall...
Alea grabs groupie by an arm
Tarsh thinks No. Fear me. fear me more!
groupie sees the spilled trash, and remembers that there are pills in it. He pulls free of Alea and crouches down, pawing through the garbage, and completely ignoring Tarsh.
groupie: Cosmically bad trip, man.
Alea: Groupie...LISTEN to me!
Alea runs after Groupie...trying to keep herself between the Gen and Tarsh
Tarsh zlins groupie.
Alea grabs groupie around arm
Alea: groupie...we need to take you to another room...let someone look at you
groupie finally manages to find one of the pills, and waves it in triumph.
Alea: Tarsh...go
Tarsh: [When Alea breaks Tarsh's line of zlin, Tarsh shakes his head, and augments out of the room]
groupie: Cosmic, man!
JonDrake is concerned that something may be going wrong. He doesn't know if his help would be needed, but...
JonDrake backs away quickly--surprised by the exit of Tarsh.
Alea grabs the pill away and jerks Groupie up
Alea: you shendoni idiot!
JonDrake: Is everything ok?
groupie: Hey! What's with you, square?
Alea: you don't know what you almost caused just now, do you?
Tarsh charges through the lobby at full augmentation, and out into the street.
groupie: Give me that!
Alea slips it in her pocket
JonDrake hears Alea's outburst, and at first wonders if he's walked into a lovers' spat.
JonDrake goes upstairs again for a while.
groupie grabs at Alea's clothing, trying to reach the pocket.
Alea: come on...we're getting you out of here for awhile
Alea goes over and grabs back pack...comes back and takes Groupie's arm again
Alea: out the back door
Alea slaps at his hand
Alea: stop that
Alea: come on
Alea: you can get some more of that somewhere I'm sure
Alea starts dragging him toward the back door
Alea: but not here and not from us
groupie , who is much bigger than Alea, digs in his heels.
Tarsh stops in an alley an leans against a wall panting.
Alea grunts and jerks again
Alea: you're endangering the people here...I want you out now...before you pull another stunt like this on my....one of the employees here at the Center
groupie not only fails to budge, but he starts groping for the pocket with the pill again.
Alea kicks him in the shin, hard, hoping no Simes are around
Tarsh: "Do these Gens _*Want*_ to be killed?"
Alea: I said, I want you out of here...now
groupie: Hey!
groupie looks at Alea in incomprehension.
Alea angry, let's go of groupie and looks around for something that might prod him along a bit faster
groupie: Well, if you want it, I'll go get one of the others.
groupie heads back to the infirmary to hunt through the garbage for another pill.
Alea incredulous, goes over and scoops up the pills and trash..dumps them in groupie's hands
Alea: there...
Alea: now just go
groupie: Cosmic!
Alea shoves the backpack at him
Alea starts prodding him again toward the back door
groupie swallows one of the lint-covered, garbage-covered pills, without benefit of water, and smiles.
groupie: Really cosmic!
Tarsh slides down to sit against the wall. "I think I should move to some Sime-only enclave."
Alea groans hoping these are NOT like the pills Snake had
Alea watches groupie warily as she again motions toward the hall
groupie becomes more docile as the pill takes effect.
Alea: now come on...right this way, groupie
groupie follows Alea, smiling vacantly.
groupie: Cosmic!
Alea leads him out the back, through the garden to the back gate
groupie allows Alea to push him through the gate, then sits down in the alley, leaning back against the gate and humming.
Alea locks the gate and goes back into the center
Alea goes to the front desk to find Tarsh, worried
Alea wonders if she should send some renSimes out to zlin for him and check him....decides not to
Alea goes back to clean up room
Alea starts cleaning up room and finds the record
Tarsh realizes that he left Alea alone with that punk.
Alea shudders at the cover ... decides this is not something that should be in the Center and breaks it in half
Alea shoves it in the trash can
Tarsh comes cautiously into the lobby, zlinning carefully.
Alea starts cleaning up the trash
Tarsh picks up the phone and buzzes the treatment room.
Alea: yes
Tarsh: "Is he gone? Are you OK?"
Alea: yeah, he's gone
Alea: I was just cleaning up
Alea: I'll be right there
Tarsh: "Thanks for saving both of us. Not that he deserved it."
Linn walks into the lobby.
Alea: oh, and Tarsh, get someone to check and see why the alarm isn't working in this room
Alea washes hands then leaves room and goes to lobby
Alea stops by another treatment room to check on Parnul
Alea makes another check on Svan
Tarsh swivels to zlin the new Gen.
Linn sees Tarsh looking wild-eyed, tentacles waving restlessly, and gasps in alarm.
Alea then exits and continues on her trip to the lobby
Tarsh: ~~not the highest field, but not bad ~~
Tarsh smiles at the alarm. Just one more step to fear...
Linn sees the hungry, vacant look in Tarsh's eyes, and backs away, shaking her head in denial.
Tarsh smiles at Linn, but it doesn't look very friendly.
Alea: where the shenned are all the channels today
Tarsh walks forward, keeping the distance constant.
Alea looking in the rooms trying to locate one
Linn looks around wildly, hoping for a rescue.
Alea walks into the lobby muttering
Linn: Alea!
Tarsh: "What's the matter? Why are you frightened?"
Alea jerks, seeing Linn nearly panicked and Tarsh stalking her
Alea: come to me Linn
Alea coaxingly
Linn debates bolting out the door instead, but has seen enough augmenting Simes to know how much good that would do.
Alea: don't be alarmed...just come right to me
Alea keeps her eyes on Tarsh
Alea: Tarsh
Alea: you have a week to go
Alea: there's no reason to try to scare Linn like this
Linn shoots a frightened look at Tarsh, then starts sidling towards Alea.
Tarsh feels Alea's field, turns his head toward her.
Alea: you'll be fine
Tarsh: "She *chooses* to be afraid."
Alea edges toward Linn to put herself between them
Alea: just as you choose not to kill...right?
Alea nager soothing, reaching out to Tarsh in sympathy
Tarsh: "But some Gens _want_ it."
Alea: not that Gen, Tarsh
Tarsh: "What about that 'Cosmic' nager?"
Linn listens to the Simelan, hoping that Alea can convince
Tarsh not to have her for lunch.
Alea: why don't we go in my office and talk about that...how does that sound Tarsh?
Tarsh zlins Alea. "Yesss. 'talk'"
Linn backs slowly away from Tarsh, careful to keep Alea between them, until she hits the wall.
Tarsh glances up at the bump.
Alea moves forward toward Tarsh, reaching out to take his arm
Alea pauses
Linn plasters herself against the wall, biting her hand to keep from screaming.
Alea: it's okay.
Tarsh turns towards Alea, arms held out.
Alea projects calm soothing nager
Alea: you don't want that, Tarsh
Tarsh: "I don't?"
Alea: you know I can't let you
Alea eases forward
Alea: let's just go talk about it
Tarsh lowers his arms.
Linn 's attention is riveted on Tarsh, wondering if he's going to attack and kill Alea right before her eyes.
Alea: we'll get hajene Veraik or maybe Jirelle ... when they get back
Alea sighs and moves in front of tarsh, waiting to see if he's going to be okay...
Tarsh 's laterals start to retract.
Tarsh takes a deep breath.
Alea reaches up to take his arm
Alea: that's it Tarsh, just breathe
Linn shrieks as Tarsh's tentacles extend to grap Alea's arm.
Alea jumps
Tarsh 's arm twitches toward Alea.
Alea: Linn!
Tarsh keeps his grip on Alea, but turns his head toward Linn.
Tarsh: "pl ... please .... please ... stop that."
Linn stares at Tarsh's vacant expression, just like Tarra's when she attacked Alice, and freezes like the proverbial deer in the headlights.
Alea works to engage Tarsh's field
Tarsh turns back toward Alea. "Why does she ... keep ... *doing* that."
Alea: she doesn't understand, Tarsh
Tarsh: "She acts like she wants me to _show_ her."
Alea slides her arm up his arm using her field to block out Linn's field
Alea: no, Tarsh
Alea: she doesn't understand
Alea soothing
Alea: just come with me...come on, let's go to my office
Tarsh breaths deeply again. "OK."
Alea slips arm around him and encourages him toward her office
Alea: Linn...have a seat...we'll be back in a bit
Tarsh moves along at Alea's urging.
Alea pushes open her door and helps tarsh through
Linn stays frozen until Alea and Tarsh are gone, then collapses on the couch, sobbing hysterically.
Alea snaps the door firmly closed behind her
Alea locks it to be sure
Alea leads Tarsh over to the sofa and sits him down
Tarsh stands in the middle of the office, head and arms hanging down.
Alea: you okay?
Tarsh folds up limply into the couch.
Tarsh: "No."
Alea reaches out and rubs her hand up and down his back
Alea: I'm not surprised
Tarsh: "I'm pre-junct."
Alea: oh
Alea: just sit here and rest...I won't leave until I'm certain you're okay
Tarsh: "Sometime you won't be there. And then..."
Tarsh: "I'm never going to be OK."
Alea: and then you'll do just like you did earlier...you'll come to your senses and augment out of there
Alea: yes, Tarsh, you will be
Tarsh: "And run into some other simephobe."
Alea: look, you're still shaking from the affect of those two...of course you're going to feel this way...and you're only what five days from transfer....
Alea: just relax....
Tarsh leans to the side against Alea.
Alea slides her arm around him
Alea: we'll sit here all day if it takes it until you're ready to face the world again
Tarsh: "I wish I could cry."
Alea: oh, Tarsh....
Alea leans her head over against him
Tarsh: "I think I may be even more afraid they they are, but my fear sends me forward, not back."
Alea rubs her chin against the top of his head
Alea: just a few days...you'll be fine
Tarsh: "I don't think Snake will be able to do it this time."
Alea makes soothing sympathic noises
Alea: do what?
Tarsh: "Give me a good transfer. I'll be wanting ... something else."
Alea stiffens a bit
Alea: that's not true Tarsh
Alea absently runs her hand up and down tarsh's arm
Alea: you'll be just fine
JonDrake comes back downstairs to the lobby...
Tarsh: "I'll abort because I want y-* one of you Gens."
Alea frowns worried
<Alea> Tarsh, I think the only reason you feel that way is because of the two incidents we had this morning
<Alea> I really think you'll be okay. If Veraik or Snake didn't believe that, they wouldn't let you work around the Gens
<Tarsh> "But are you sure?"
* JonDrake sees Linn in the Lobby. She seems upset.
* JonDrake goes over to her.
<JonDrake> Is something wrong?
<Alea> are you asking if I can zlin you and see what's going on in you right now or what my heart is telling me?
* Alea grins softly
<Tarsh> "yes."
<Alea> yes, Tarsh. You're going to be fine. You're strong.
<Tarsh> "not like you."
* Linn looks up wildly, sees that the stranger is a Gen, and stops her abortive leap for the door.
<Alea> I...realize...I'm not that strong a person, Tarsh...but I'm working on it.
<Alea> Hajene Veraik is working with me
<Alea> and I want to apologize right now for those two incidents this morning
* JonDrake tries to calm Linn down. "I'm sure everything will be all right."
<Alea> If I had been thinking, they wouldn't have happened
<Alea> wouldn't
<Linn> All right?!! He nearly... [wild sobs] He nearly....just like Alice....
* Tarsh stiffens at Veriak's name.
* Alea sees Tarsh's reaction and isn't sure why so she reaches out, trying to soothe him again
* Linn starts to shake like a Chardonnay cluster on the sorting table.
* JonDrake reaches out to her shoulder, to offer a calming effect.
<JonDrake> Tell me what happened
<Tarsh> "I know."
<Alea> what's the matter?
* JonDrake offers to take her to another room without so much traffic.
<Linn> I just walked in the door, and...
* Linn waves towards the reception desk
<JonDrake> Yes?
<Tarsh> "Nothing."
<Linn> He looked so wild, and then he came at me...
* Linn starts shaking again.
* Alea runs her hand up and down his arm in concern, studying him
* Tarsh sits upright, closes his eyes, and starts deep breathing.
<Alea> would you like some tea?
<JonDrake> You mean Tarsh? I saw him leaving in a hurry, but he didn't answer then I spoke to him.
<Tarsh> [Fhooosh] "Yes, please." [Ffwwhaaaa]
* Alea stands and slips out the door for tea
<JonDrake> Just relax. Here, come with me. Let's go to one of the rooms--that way you don't have to worry about having anyone come by who might upset you further.
* Alea hurries over and gets two cups fills them and quickly returns
* Alea relocks the door behind her since Linn is still here
* Tarsh breathes several more times, then opens his eyes.
* Alea goes over and holds out a cup
* Tarsh pulls out the knife he uses for opening boxes.
* Linn follows Jon to Donation Room 2.
<Alea> if you want to wash your arms in some cool water at my sink....[eyes knife warily]
* Tarsh opens it and stares at the gleaming blade.
<JonDrake> Here, just relax in the couch for a bit. I'll make you some tea. Do you prefer Trin or some other variety?
<Alea> uh, Tarsh?
* Alea carefully sets the tea down
* Tarsh zlins Alea comming back and quickly hides the knife under the couch.
<Alea> here we are
* Linn looks around the room, spots the dreaded "tentacle chair", and bolts for the lobby.
<Alea> tea
* Alea holds out the cup
<Tarsh> "Thank you."
* JonDrake looks to the sky in exasperation!
* JonDrake hurries to follow her out.
* Tarsh takes the tea.
* Alea eases back down on the couch beside Tarsh
* Tarsh drinks the tea down in one gulp.
* Tarsh realizes that the tea was still very hot.
* Alea hurriedly sets her cup down
<Tarsh> "HUUUNNHHHHNAAAAA!"
* Linn pauses just long enough to determine that there are no Simes in the lobby, and runs out the door, still at top speed.
* Alea jumps up
<Alea> Tarsh!
<Alea> are you okay?
* Tarsh doubles over. sucking in air Khoosshhh!
* Alea jumps over his feet rushing to the sink
* JonDrake tries to follow. On his way out, he makes a gesture to the Gen currently manning the desk.
* JonDrake goes out the door and calls out.
* Alea grabs a glass and fills it with water
<JonDrake> Linn! Wait up!
* JonDrake is starting to tire.
* Linn keeps running, blindly turning corners at random.
* Tarsh grabs the glass and bolts it down.
* Alea drops down to her knees
<Alea> I just poured it. It was hot
* Linn hears Jon calling, and runs faster, fearing to be hauled back to the "tentacle chair".
* JonDrake is finding it a little harder to breath. This next time he calls out, he coughs in the middle of it.
<Tarsh> "My ... haahh ... fault gaah ... should ... have ... checked."
<Tarsh> "Ow."
* Alea can't help but chuckle
<Alea> well, yeah, you should have
<Alea> where are those famed Sime senses that get so much more sensitive the closer to transfer you get?
* Tarsh sits down on the floor next to Alea.
* JonDrake has to stop to catch his breath.
<JonDrake> "First day out of bed, and I try to make the marathon!" he thinks...
<Tarsh> [feebly joking] maybe I should worry about what I'll do to myself rather than to Gens."
* Alea laughs
<Alea> good idea
* JonDrake has lost sight of Linn...
* Alea 's smile fades
* JonDrake makes his way to the last seen corner, much more slowly by this time.
<Alea> do you feel up to another talk while we're here?
<Tarsh> "Ok. What?"
<Alea> well, Veraik and I were talking yesterday during our work
<Alea> and well, I'm just now really sure...and thought it might be something you should know
* Linn runs herself into exhaustion, then stops to lean against a building, gasping for breath.
* Alea refuses to meet Tarsh's eyes
<Alea> it looks like I'm pregnant
<Tarsh> "I know y-*"
* Tarsh pauses.
* Alea turns surprised
<Alea> you do?
<Tarsh> "PREGNANT?"
<Alea> uh, yeah
* Tarsh tries to untangle his burned tougue.
* JonDrake finally makes it to the corner, looks down the street, looks for any sign of Linn or her wake.
* Alea confused and a bit wary now
* Linn 's lungs have still not completely recovered from yesterday's pneumonia.
* Tarsh sweeps Alea into a crushing hug.
* Alea relieved
<Alea> I didn't think Simes were this emotional before their transfer
<Tarsh> "Darling! That is wonderful!"
* Alea thinking that's why she chose now to go ahead and tell him
<Alea> it is....
* Linn looks around, trying to figure out where she is.
* JonDrake continues to walk down the street, glancing into every alley way and side street.
* Tarsh kisses Alea.
* Alea is very surprised...but gladly accepts it since he is past turnover and things have been light lately
* Tarsh just holds Alea close.
* JonDrake feels a mild but growing pain in his side.
* Alea relaxes, glad things went so well
* Tarsh moves back and looks at her. "Then why haven't you been eating right?" [sternly]
* JonDrake keeps moving to keep the soreness in his legs from developing into a cramp.
* Alea smiles weakly thinking it rather odd that a Sime is getting onto her about eating
<Alea> I haven't been very hungry
* Linn sees flashing lights, crudely drawn (but anatomically correct) pictures in the windows, and lots of hard-eyed, prematurely aged, scantilly clad women standing in the doorways--and a scattering of men and boys with them.
* Linn thinks that her mother would definately NOT approve of her being here.
* Linn notices that some of the hookers--and their customers--are Sime.
<Tarsh> "OK. Why don't we ... why don't you go get us both lunch. I'll eat if you do."
* Alea nods
<Alea> great
* Linn backs into a doorway, chewing on a hand to keep from screaming.
* JonDrake manages to ask one of the passersby, "Excuse me, but have you seen a crazyass Gen run by here in the last couple of minutes?"
<Alea> Be right back [leans forward and kisses him before stands and goes to the door, hurrying down the hall to the kitchen]
* JonDrake finally manages to get an answer from someone, who points down a particular seedy sidestreet.
<JonDrake> Oh wonderful! Thanks.
<Garon> "Come on in and get it. Best babes in da Cove!"
* Linn has visions of all the Simes stalking her like Tarsh did.
<Garon> [to JonDrake] "You Tuib!"
<Garon> "You're a healthy young Gen."
* JonDrake looks curiously at Garon...
<JonDrake> Yes?
<Garon> "ever wonder what it is like with a Sime? Wanna Find out?"
* Linn flinches back from one particularly nasty looking customer, then spots a familiar face face behind him.
<Linn> Snake!
<wisesnake> "Look, venereal diseases can become life threatening if left untreated. Are you sure you don't want me to take a look at - ?"
* Garon is a large rensime in a garish suit.
* wisesnake puts up her hands, tentacles spread. "Okay, okay, only asking."
* JonDrake chuckles inwardly at that assessment, but doesn't say anything.
* wisesnake looks surprised
<Garon> "Our ladies *Like* Gens. 30% off!"
<wisesnake> "Linn?! What are you - "
* JonDrake holds out his arms to show the remants of transfer burn.
* wisesnake looks worried as she zlins Linn's condition. "What happened to you!"
* Linn starts shaking again.
* Garon zlins JonDrake's arms.
<JonDrake> Well, I've had a _few_ experiences with Simes...
<JonDrake> I'm actually looking for a Gen.
<Garon> "Oh. Want a little vicarious revenge. Want to _punish_ the one who did that?"
<Linn> He....he was going to attack me...
* wisesnake looks alarmed
<Garon> "Well of course! Totally understandable."
* JonDrake continues on walking at his impaired pace. "He's dead," he says blankly.
<Garon> "I can set you up with whatever you want. Wadda you like?"
* Linn 's teeth are chattering too badly for her to continue.
* Garon walks along besides JonDrake. "Blonds, Brunettes, Redheads?"
<JonDrake> I don't mean that. I was trying to catch up to a Gen who was running though here. Did you see her?
* wisesnake hesitates, then approaches Linn cautiously.
* Linn shrinks back into the doorway, but doesn't bolt again.
<Garon> "Wadda you want with a babe who runs away? My lady friends won't run from you, quite the contrary."
* JonDrake continues to scan the street. "zlinning would be very useful right about now.." he thinks.
<wisesnake> Do you want me to escort you somewhere? Eastcove? The police station? My house?
* JonDrake is beginning to tune this lorsh out. It's obvious he's not going to be any help....
* JonDrake has caught his breath enough by now....
* Garon leers. "Unless you like that sort of thing, which is fine, and then they'll run and be Reeaaall scared of a big man like you."
* Linn looks wild-eyed around at the crowd, and the high frequency of tentacles among it component individuals.
<Linn> Just get me away from here.
* wisesnake takes Linn's elbow very gently, and steers her out into the street, then down a narrow side alley.
<JonDrake> LI-INN!
* Linn stumbles blindly along beside Snake, flinching occasionally as they pass by Simes.
<JonDrake> [a few troublemakers mockingly repeat the call]
* wisesnake leads Linn about a half mile, then turns in at a small artsy looking cafe.
<wisesnake> [inside it is quiet and dark, with a couple of Gens sitting at some tables reading books and drinking tea.]
<Garon> "What's this Linn got? I guarantee I can get you a lady with more of it, cheap!"
* Alea fixes three meals...one for Linn thinking she will probably need it.
* wisesnake guides Linn to a secluded table in the corner, then goes to the counter and pays an exorbitant rate for two teas.
* JonDrake passes by the side alley unknowingly.
<JonDrake> "Are you still here?"
* Linn calms down just a little bit at the familiar ambience of hot drinks and books.
<JonDrake> "It's none of your concern."
* wisesnake brings back the tea, sets one on the table in front of Linn
<Garon> "just trying to help you, Tuib. I know how hard it is with babes sometime."
* wisesnake brings back some books from the newspaper rack and puts them in front of Linn too. "In case I start to bore you."
* JonDrake starts heading back to the Sime Center...
* Alea finishes up three plates and starts checking treatment rooms for Linn thinking someone must hae taken her to one to help her calm down
<Garon> "Well, Tuib You change your mind, just ask anyone for Garon. Everyone knows me!"
* Linn picks up her tea, realizes it's too hot to drink, and clutches it in both hands for comfort.
* Garon turns away looking for less repressed customers.
* JonDrake makes a "Yeah, yeah, sure," facial expression. He suddenly grimaces as a cramp hits.
* Alea checks the conference rooms, wondering if Linn is there
* JonDrake sees that a number of Simes in the area have noticed it and tries to relax it.
* wisesnake leans on the table, trying to provide a "companionable silence" while she is in reality zlinning the Gens across the way, wondering if the big one would like that bum knee looked at.
* JonDrake takes a couple of deep breaths and continues on his way. It seems to be getting a bit warmer around here, he thinks.
* JonDrake loosens his collar.
* Alea wanders back into the lobby, concerned, wondering just where Linn is
* wisesnake wonders what happened to Linn, but figures she'd better keep her mouth shut.
* Linn finally manages a sip of tea, the mug clacking against her chattering teeth.
* JonDrake finally sees the Sime Center up ahead.
* Alea realizes belatedly that Linn probably went back OT....decides she'll make a trip over there later to check on her
* JonDrake stumbles through the front door.
<Alea> Jon
* Alea sets the tray down and rushes forward
* JonDrake 's forehead is damp with perspiration.
* Linn takes a few more sips of tea, gradually calming to the point where she can communicate coherently.
<JonDrake> I.. lost her. I'm sorry, Alea.
* Alea slips an arm around him and helps him over to Tarsh's desk
<Linn> I went to the Sime Center today.
<Alea> Lost who?
* Alea thinks...
<Alea> Linn?
<JonDrake> Linn... Yes.
<Alea> what happened?
<JonDrake> She seemed really upset. Tarsh had scared her apparently.
* wisesnake watches Linn, pale eyes showing concern, caution and the warning signs of a ripening bumper crop of entran.
<Linn> I was barely through the door when the Sime behind the desk, he...
<JonDrake> I was trying to calm her down.
<Alea> oh...thank you.
* Linn starts to shake again as she remembers.
* wisesnake 's eyes widen.
<wisesnake> He what?
<JonDrake> She suddenly bolted out of the Center. I'm not sure why.
* Alea rubs at her eyes
<Alea> she'll be okay
<JonDrake> I tried to chase after her, but I was too weak. I lost her.
<Linn> He looked so hungry. He started coming after me, playing like a cat with a mouse.
<Alea> she probably just had to get away
<JonDrake> Last I tracked her, she was somewhere in the red light district.
<wisesnake> A Sime Center employee?
<Alea> I'll go over OT and check on her later
* Alea studies Jon
<Alea> I think you did too much on your first day
<Linn> Yes.
<Alea> are you hungry?
<Linn> His eyes were so vacant, as if he couldn't see me at all.
<JonDrake> I think you're right.
<Linn> Except as lunch, of course.
* JonDrake rubs his sore side. "Yes, I think I am."
* wisesnake looks appalled
<Alea> why don't you come and join Tarsh and myself...we were just getting ready to eat
<wisesnake> How did you say it happened?
* Alea motions to the three plates on his desk
<Alea> he's in my office
<JonDrake> Ok.
* JonDrake groans slightly getting back up.
* Tarsh recovers his knife from under the couch, looks at it and puts it away. He has responsibilities now.
<Linn> I just walked in the door!
* Alea goes over and picks up the tray and motions to her door
<Linn> And then he LOOKED at me, and then...
* wisesnake frowned.
<wisesnake> That behavior is completely unheard of in a Sime Center.
<wisesnake> The person will most certainly lose his job.
<wisesnake> A Gen should be able to walk into a Sime Center with absolute freedom.
* JonDrake follows behind Alea, even if a bit slowly...
<Alea> can you get the door please, Jon
* wisesnake finally notices her own tea and picks it up, takes a sip
* JonDrake helps her with the door.
<Linn> I don't think I'll ever be able to go back again.
<wisesnake> "I've said that more than once myself."
* Alea enters with the tray
* Linn is distracted.
<Linn> Oh?
* wisesnake looks into the tea leaves visible through the tan liquid, thinks about how things are never that simple.
<wisesnake> I don't really belong there. They know it, and I know it.
* Tarsh smiles at Alea, but is taken a bit aback by another gen. It isn't Linn or groupie is it?
<wisesnake> Shen, nobody belongs there. It's the Center of the Tecton's misfits.
<Alea> I asked Jon to join us, Tarsh...I hope you don't mind
* Alea sets the tray down on her desk
<Tarsh> "oh. Jon. Of course. Welcome, please."
* JonDrake nods to Tarsh. Hopes he's a bit better.
* Alea picks up a plate and takes it over to Tarsh
<Linn> Snake, the whole world is full of misfits. Some people are better at hiding it than others, that's all.
* Tarsh muses that Jon isn't a trained Donor, yet, but at least he isn't a simephobe.
* wisesnake considers
* Tarsh thanks Alea for the plate.
* JonDrake sits down and dabs his forehead with a napkin.
* Alea hands Jon a plate and then picks up her own plate
<wisesnake> Well then, let us say that this particular Sime Center is the repository for those who seem a bit more flamboyantly unable to hide it than most.
<Linn> What particular misfit has been making your life miserable, lately?
* Alea goes over and sinks down on the couch, looking at the food
* Tarsh zlins Jon. "Should you be exerting yourself like that so soon?"
* wisesnake grimaces
* Alea glances up at Jon and notices the perspiration on his forehead
<wisesnake> Which of them hasn't been? I suppose the Donors are the worst. The one assigned to me is a horror.
<JonDrake> I admit I ended up pushing myself a bit too far. Wasn't on purpose.
<Linn> Oh? What does she do?
* JonDrake hesitates to mention just what he was doing...
* Alea pokes at her food deciding if she really wants the green stuff
<Alea> actually, Jon
<Alea> hajene Veraik was going to pronounce you well today but put you on reduced activity
<wisesnake> It's difficult to describe... it all began when she threw away everything I owned, on her second day there.
<Linn> Everything?
<JonDrake> Reduced activity? Heh!
<Alea> I imagine he'll want you staying as much as possible around the Center until he can officially begin your training Wednesday
<wisesnake> No, I think Alea threw away some. And some of my clothes were burned.
<Alea> yeah, well...you can start that now
<Linn> I see. What else has this Donor done?
<JonDrake> No more jogs around town? You got it!
* Alea picks up the bean and pops it in her mouth
* Alea mouth waters hungrily at the taste
<Alea> you should try yours, Tarsh...very good
* JonDrake takes a big drink...then follows it up with a bite of food.
<Alea> Tarsh, can you tell me if today's activities have thrown off your transfer schedule?
* Tarsh suddenly wonders why he wasn't interested in this food a moment ago.
* Tarsh takes a bite.
* Alea pops another bean in her mouth and realizes this is the first meal she had today
<Tarsh> "hmmm?"
* Tarsh considers.
<wisesnake> Like I say, it's hard to describe...she has a schedule she wants me to live by, you know, sleep at a certain time, eat at a certain time... she insisted that I would no longer be able to work on any of my own projects, and took away my, ah, head ache medicine.
<wisesnake> It sounds tame the way I said it, but you should try to live it.
<Linn> I have.
* Alea picks up her fork and carefully begins to eat
<wisesnake> I guess the rules themselves wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the attitude that goes along with them... and her nager is like a steam roller, my brain just shuts off when she starts pushing me around.
* JonDrake finds he is responding to the food a bit more as he gets his strength back.
<Tarsh> "I think I may have used up the three days the Tecton tries to keep rensimes advanced. So I'll be in Real need, insteead of what rensimes usually call need."
* Alea frowns
* wisesnake zlins Linn serrupticiously; the teacher seems to be doing somewhat better since the subject changed.
<Alea> Veraik might want to move your transfer up a day...you should ask him
* Alea shrugs
* JonDrake listening to absorb some of the terms and feel of it all.
<Linn> Alice talked me into going to a retreat at her parent's church last summer. They had every moment of every day scheduled, and they didn't want to hear any questions.
* wisesnake listens, curiously
<Tarsh> "I don't think I deserve special consideration after what I've done."
* JonDrake finishes up his meal....
* JonDrake feels much better.
* Alea looks up surprised, and concerned
<Alea> Tarsh, decisions are made on an individual basis
<Alea> It's not...special consideration...at least not from Veraik
<Linn> Finally, on the third day, I simply told the minister that I intended to go relax under a tree with the book I'd brought along, instead of joining the rest in discussing some interminable point of their scriptures.
* Tarsh keeps eating.
<Alea> he will do what's best for you and the Center
* wisesnake smiles
<Alea> since Snake is missing, I think Veraik may be doing your transfer this month, by the way
<JonDrake> I hate to eat and run...er walk, but I think I'll head upstairs and rest a bit. It's been a draining day...
* Alea looks over at Jon
<Linn> He was angry at me, he raved and ranted, but I took my book and spent a very plesant hour or two. Then I went back and helped prepare dinner.
<JonDrake> Don't worry. I'm ok now.
<Alea> that might be a good idea. Rest up. We'll see you in the morning
<Tarsh> "Snake missing? Veriak? But he couldn't handle it."
<Linn> It took a few such encounters, but eventually he learned to accept my...eccentricities.
* Alea sets her plate aside
<Linn> By the end of the two weeks, we were actually on reasonably good terms.
<JonDrake> I still have a bit more studying I want to catch up on.
<Alea> I'm sure Snake will be back in time
* wisesnake laughs, a bit uneasily because lessons give her the creeps
* JonDrake gets up and begins to pick up his tray.
* Alea tries to ease the tension she accidently caused
<Alea> I just wanted to reassure you that there is someone here for you no matter what is decided
<Linn> Once a bully learns that you won't play victim, they'll usually go pick on someone else. I've seen it time and time again among my students.
* wisesnake grimaces
<Alea> leave that, Jon
<Alea> I'll get it
<wisesnake> Usually the bully wasn't assigned by the Tecton to pick on you for three months.
<wisesnake> Anyway, I think my chance with B'Cal was shot when she managed to get arrested while screaming at the chief of police... I still haven't figured out how that ended up being my fault.
* wisesnake shakes her head
<JonDrake> Ok, if you're sure. [To Tarsh] I'm sure everything will turn out alright.
* Alea smiles at Jon and nods
<Linn> Arrested by the police?
* JonDrake says good bye and heads upstairs.
* Tarsh mutters "wish I was."
* Linn blinks, having seldom encountered a person who could speak about being arrested so casually.
* Alea slides down a bit on the couch yawning
<Alea> you were right, I was hungry
<Alea> the cook makes pretty good food here
* JonDrake gets himself a big glass of water, sits down at his desk, and pulls out his Simelan instruction books.
<wisesnake> Yeah... wouldn't listen to a word of my advice... marched straight into the Chief's office and started screaming abuse... then when I tried to talk to her, she told me she never wanted to see me again.
<wisesnake> Sort of, you know, a non-people person. [shrugs]
<Linn> It certainly sounds like she wanted to believe that you were responsible for her own stupidity.
* JonDrake reaches into the bottom of a drawer, and pulls out some loose pages. He once again begins to study the carefully copied squiggles...
* wisesnake sighs
<wisesnake> Well, I hope they eventually got her out. I'd hate to think of her still there after two days.
<Linn> I'm sure they will.
* Linn stretches, aware of muscles she didn't know she had.
* wisesnake rubs her forearms as a chill grips her; forces her mind away from the idea of B'cal impossibly out of reach
* wisesnake glances at Linn
<wisesnake> You seem to be feeling better now.
<Linn> Yes, much.
* Alea 's eyes drift closed and she falls asleep sitting on her couch
* Tarsh notices and smiles.
* Tarsh leans to put his plate on the desk, and then cuddles up to Alea.
* Linn notices Snake rubbing her arms, and a chill runs down the back of her neck as she remembers that Snake will expect another information payment before too long.
* wisesnake notices Linn's reaction, then realizes what she is doing and separates her arms, self-consciously.
* Linn isn't sure that she can do it, and is equally sure that she must.
<wisesnake> Linn, you mustn't be wary of me. I am not a renSime, I won't attack you.
<Linn> Look, I know you're a channel--but you don't LOOK any different from any other Sime.
<wisesnake> Tell that to B'cal... [muttered under her breath]
<wisesnake> It isn't about looks... it's about what's inside.
* wisesnake shrugs, reluctantly
<wisesnake> Well, maybe it is about looks. I don't know anymore.
<Linn> Snake, after what happened this morning, it's going to be a while before I can ignore looks.
<wisesnake> You did a pretty good job of ignoring mine, until you started thinking about it.
* Linn looks at Snake, wondering how she can trigger Linn's hurt-puppy instincts while simultaneously scaring her into unintelligibility.
* wisesnake thinks about what a drag her life is... she can pick between repeatedly rescuing and healing the same uncaring, unpaying desperates day in and day out, trying to stave off entran, or she can go crawling back to the Center and B'Cal's tender mercies.
* wisesnake stares morosely into her tea leaves
<Linn> Snake, what do you want to do with your life?
* wisesnake looks at Linn incredulously
<wisesnake> What do I want to do with my life?
<Linn> Yes. If you were free to choose, what would you make out of yourself?
<wisesnake> There's... there really isn't any choice when you are a channel, Linn. A channel has to work as a channel and for the Tecton.
* wisesnake shrugs, scowls down into her cup. "Anyway, it's not as if I am going to have much of a life to do anything with, beyond this first year."
* Linn has rescued enough Torn By Tentacles fans to ignore the pessimism, not realizing that it's a symptom of approaching need.
<Linn> There are always choices.
* wisesnake forgets to school her expression and darts a narrow-eyed gaze at Linn. "Like what?"
<Linn> How would you choose to work as a Tecton channel?
<Linn> Where would you go, and what would you do?
* wisesnake shifts restlessly. "I wouldn't get to pick. They would assign me."
<Linn> It's always easier to assign somebody to a job they've already selected, than to take the time to find a different one.
<wisesnake> I guess I wish I could go somewhere where I could make more of a difference.
<wisesnake> Here, you know, it always seems like the same stuff is happening over and over again.
<Linn> More of a difference in what?
* wisesnake considers
<wisesnake> In everything... people's lives, society, the Center itself.
* Linn nods encouragement, recognizing the teen-aged demand to change the world when she hears it.
<Linn> Snake, you'll never right all the wrongs in the world in one grand gesture. Big changes happen in small steps, one person at a time.
<wisesnake> So do apathy and oppression, and I'm sick of them both.
<Linn> It can seem like you're making no progress at all, until you look back at where you were a month ago, and see how far you've come.
* wisesnake laughs incredulously, then cuts it off because she knows Linn has no idea how desperately bad her situation is.
<Linn> If you want to take a stand against apathy and oppression, why not start with yourself? Stop sitting here telling yourself you're helpless, and find a way to keep this B'cal person from bullying you.
* wisesnake realizes she should be agreeing with Linn, to help her recover from her scare.
* wisesnake shakes her head, thinking "how, when she turns off my brain and turns me into a passive baby around her?"
<wisesnake> Maybe you're right, Linn.
<wisesnake> "Certainly if B'Cal and I saw eye to eye, a lot of things would be different."
* Linn stands.
* wisesnake stands also
<Linn> So figure out a way to at least convince her that someone else is an easier target for her bullying.
<Linn> You're devious. I'm sure you'll think of something.
* wisesnake tries to laugh
<Linn> Let me know what you decide on.
* wisesnake realizes Linn is going to leave
<wisesnake> Do you want me to escort you back to the border?
* Linn considers.
<Linn> No, thank you. It isn't far.
<wisesnake> If you're sure....?
* Linn nods.
<Linn> I'm sure.
* wisesnake has visions of Linn spooking a renSime in need, with an untimely blast of fright.
<wisesnake> Well... be careful. If you're going by a Sime and you're afraid, try to think about something else instead so the Sime won't feel your attention on him while you are feeling fear.
* Linn finds this explanation confusing, but realizes that Snake means well.
<Linn> I'll try.
<wisesnake> Good bye, then.
<Linn> Good-bye.
* Linn squares her shoulders and walks out the door, pausing only briefly as a Sime walks by.
* wisesnake watches her leave, then approaches the Gen with the bum knee and startles him with a passionate speech about why he should get it examined by a channel.
see note 1
<Alea> so, what'd Jon have to say?
<Tarsh> "Nothing much. Is this the official Gen Gloom Day or something?"
Alea blinks
<Alea> of course not, why?
JonDrake falls into a deeper funk, wondering if he will be able to stay, and eventually falls aleep on his wet pillow...
<Tarsh> "He was down and distracted when he came in, just like you."
<Alea> oh
Alea tries to think of something to tell Tarsh...inspiration strikes
<Alea> we were in the back cleaning out the locker room since Zethraim is sick
Tarsh looks uneasy. "The locker room?"
<Alea> yeah
Alea remembers the box
Alea temporarily forgetting the letters
<Alea> yeah
Tarsh gropes for something to dissuade her. "You shouldn't do that."
<Tarsh> "Especially not now."
<Alea> what?
<Tarsh> "I can get a temp cleaning service in here to do it."
<Alea> really, it was no problem
<Tarsh> "Well next time let me help."
<Alea> if you say so
Alea wondering why he is so upset about her cleaning the locker room
Alea remembers the stamps
Tarsh wants to change the subject.
<Alea> you know Tarsh, I found something down there....
Tarsh tries not to look disturbed. "Really? what?"
Alea tries to look nonchalant as she walks over and starts thumbing through his files
<Alea> are you....missing anything up here perhaps
<Alea> uh, well...you know...papers, paperclips, files.. stamps, pens or pencils...you know, just anything at all?
Alea still not sure who the box belongs to and not wanting to be too specific until she finds out
<Tarsh> "gup! Err, No, everything is here, just like it says in the Tecton Manual."
Alea finishes with the files and turns to face Tarsh, leaning back against his desk
Alea suddenly remembers Veraik's complaint about his paperwork the other day and a sick feeling enters her stomach
<Tarsh> "Why, were you short of something?"
Alea remembers Tarsh's signature was on those papers
<Alea> well, yeah, my...pens keep disappearing
<Tarsh> "Oh. I'll get you some. Do you like regular pens or these new-fangled balltip things?
<Alea> either one
Alea continues to study Tarsh, wondering if it really is him and what she's going to do about it
<Tarsh> [false cheeriness] "Righto!"
Alea thinking this is just the type of stuff Zeor would love to find out....
Alea nods slowly at Tarsh
<Alea> thanks
Tarsh opens the drawer and gets out a key labeled "Storage cabinets".
Tarsh then walks down the corridor toward the locker room, which is not the way to the storage cabinets...
Alea watches him, confused
Alea decides to go after him...certain he is going to do something to the things she found
<Tarsh> [Once he is out of sight, Tarsh runs down to the locker rooms and looks behind the lockers]
Alea turns the corner and sees he is out of sight
Alea starts after him
Tarsh heaves a sigh of relief and grabs the box.
Alea slows down as she nears the area
Alea thinks does she really want to report what she's found?
Tarsh glances around wondering where to hide it now.
Alea stops in indecision
Alea makes her decision and then starts to the locker room agian
Tarsh stuffs the bag in the back of his pants, under his tunic.
Tarsh goes to the door.
Alea rounds the corner to the locker room
Alea reaches for the door
Tarsh pulls the door open and is surprised by Alea. "WHHAAA!"
Alea startled falls back
Alea regains her balance
<Tarsh> "Alea! You ... You could have waited in the lobby. I'd have brought them to you."
Alea studies him without saying a word
<Tarsh> [very contrived] "Of course the exercise is good for you. What was I thinking, this isn't where the supplies are. any more. In this new building."
Alea takes Tarsh's hands
<Alea> Tarsh....
Tarsh looks very nervous.
Alea studies him again....searchingly
<Alea> Tarsh
Alea struggles...then sighs
Tarsh licks his lips and swallows with difficulty.
Alea releases his hands.
<Alea> Please find a better hiding place ... where they can't be used against you
Alea turns and starts down the hall
Tarsh stands there working his mouth but not saying anything.
Tarsh watches Alea go incredulously.
Alea thinks this would have been perfect for Zeor...but finds that the Center and everyone here means too much to her now
Alea goes back to the lobby
Alea slips into her office and finds the other letters she's had hidden
Tarsh goes back to the door to the garden.
Alea dumps them, plus the ones in her blouse in the trash can and looks for a match
Tarsh goes out into the garden and walks around it in a excessively nonchalant manner, zlinning furiously.
Alea realizing she has no matches, picks up the trash can, goes to Veraik's office and let's herself in with the key she filched from Veraik]
<Tarsh> [zlinning no one, Tarsh goes over to the gnome and gently tips him over.]
Alea can't find a match so she turns on the burner in Veraik's office and grabs a piece of paper
Tarsh quickly digs a hole below the gnome.
Tarsh puts the box into the hole and scoops soil back over it.
Alea lights the piece of paper, watching it burn as she realizes she is burning the last bridges to go home
Tarsh puts the gnome back upright, but he cants to one side.
Alea drops the paper in the trash can
Alea watches as the others slowly catch fire the flames leaping up
Tarsh searchs around for some stones and finally swipes two of the decorative ones around the flagpole.
Alea waerily turns and goes over to Veraik's desk, planning to wait until the fire burns itself out before she leaves
Tarsh goes back to the gnome and uses the stones to make a more stable base for him.
Alea leans forward against the desk, wondering if she should grab the papers Veraik had been looking at and go file them before he thinks about it again
Alea wonders if Veraik would understand Tarsh's motivations...she was certain he was only helping the Center out
Tarsh packs soil around the stones and then scatters the rest in the flower beds.
Alea wrinkles her nose at the strong charcoal smell
Alea sniffs again and can't believe that much smoke would be caused by several small letters
Alea turns only to have her eyes widen in shock as she sees fire leaping up the wall of Veraik's office
<Alea> oh dear heavens
Tarsh looks down and sees that he has gotten the knees of his uniform filthy.
Alea runs over...grabbing at a towel and swinging at the fire...coughing fromt he smoke
<Alea> Fire! [cough cough...slap] Fi--re!
Alea looks in horror as the towel catches on fire
<Alea> shen!
Alea drops it when it burns her hand
Tarsh tries futilely tries to brush off the stains.
Alea grabbing at her mouth and nose, she turns to run out of the room when the sprinkler system suddenly starts pouring out water
<Alea> Eeeak!
Alea runs into the door in her shock
Alea grabs for the door and steadies herself, shaking her head, coughing again from the awaful smell
Alea jerks the door open and runs out...sliding across the linoleum floor, into the filing cabinets, tipping them over again and spilling the contents
<Alea> where the shenned is veryone
<Alea> how d'ya shut off the system!
Tarsh comes back into the building, heading for the locker room.
Tarsh jerks his head up at the crash.
Alea pushes her soggy hair out of her face and looks up at the pouring water
Alea staggers to her feet, but trips again, pulling the other filing cabinet down with her
Tarsh is deluged as the sprinkler starts deluging the hall.
<Alea> Ouch!
Alea crawls out from under the filing cabinet and toward the phone
Tarsh runs through the spray, zlinning furiously.
Alea grabs the phone and tries to remember the number for whoever put the system in...there has to be some way to turn it off...water is already pooling around her legs
<Alea> oh no!
Alea drops the phone
<Alea> MY ART!
Tarsh comes into the lobby, grabbing the door to keep from slipping.
Alea crawls her way over to her office
<Tarsh> "ALEA!"
Alea slips
Alea "Splat"
Alea carefully tries to get her knees and hands back under her without slipping again
Tarsh zlins Alea's fall and runs over to her.
<Alea> My art!
<Alea> My art is getting ruined
<Tarsh> "Forget your art. The Center is on fire!"
<Alea> no..no..only Veraik's office
Tarsh grabs up Alea and puts her over his shoulder.
Alea gasps
<Alea> no really..the fire isn't that bad...
<Tarsh> "WHERE?"
<Alea> Veraik's office...
<Alea> the south wall, the wall that connects our offices Tarsh stumbles through the lobby, slipping on the slick floor repeatedly.
<Alea> I don't think it's going to burn through...but if it does...
Alea wraps her arms around Tarsh
<Alea> you're going to get us both hurt..put me down
Alea notes from her upside down position that the water is now to Tarsh's ankles
Tarsh pauses by the door to yank the fire alarm. The glass snaps and the bell starts clanging.
<Alea> no...no...we need to stop the fire...how do you turn off the system?
<Alea> the water is going to ruin everything
Alea just KNOWS who is going to be blamed for this Tarsh goes out the door, banging himself and Alea against the frame.
Alea pain radiates thorugh her skull and she sees stars
Tarsh runs across the street and puts Alea down. "Stay Here!"
Alea tries to remember why she is hanging upside down
Alea blinks trying to figure out what's going on
<Alea> where you going?
Tarsh runs back into the Center.
Alea remembers all of the water
<Alea> Oh Shen!
Alea pushes herself up and starts back toward the Center
Alea shaking her head as she goes
Tarsh sloshes through the water towards the back.
<Alea> Veraik is gonna murder me
<Alea> thank goodness Snake isn't here....though she'll hear about this I'm sure
Alea staggers back up the steps
Tarsh gets to Veriak's office and peers through the spray looking for flame.
Alea goes into the treatment rooms to hurry everyone out--with only two more falls--but finds they're gone
Alea staggers back into the lobby ... going back outside so no one else will be upset at finding she disobeyed orders
Alea wipes at the water, which is still pouring and notes it's completely soaked everything
Tarsh checks through Veriak's office and finds no fire.
Alea gets outside..misses a step, and bounces down them
<Alea> Ouch
<Alea> Ouch!
<Alea> Ooooooowwwwww!
Tarsh stumbles out to check Alea's office on the other side.
Alea stays where she is, refusing to move now that she is black and blue again
Alea lowers her aching head into her hands and decides some days is just doesn't pay to get up
Tarsh finds Alea's office totally soaked and without evidence of Fire.
Alea puts her burned hand in the water running down the steps and lets the cold soothe it
Alea wonders how full the basement is going to get and Veraik's hidden files before the water finally shuts off
Tarsh goes out the back to the loading dock.
Alea guesses there is probably about three feet down there by now
Tarsh makes his way to the laarge valves behind a stack of cases.
Tarsh rips off the sealing tag and grabs the wheel.
Tarsh strains to turn the valve, augmenting.
<Alea> you know, Veraik...you were only going to check out another Center for a couple of days
<Alea> you didn't need me along
<Alea> you said you'd be fine but I should stay here
<Alea> you're really really going to regret that decision
Alea says this into the sky
<Tarsh> [The valve finally yields with a screech]
<Alea> you just had to go...had to do that personal stuff that controllers do...those shendoni classes...
<Alea> but me..you insist I need rest since I'd been staying up with you every night all night...well, most of the night...
Tarsh turns the valve until the sprinkler flow slackens to a dribble.
<Alea> this is all YOUR fault Veraik
<Alea> yeah, it's all your fualt
<Alea> if you didn't want the Center burned down, you shouldn't have left me behind
<Alea> it's not my fault
<Tarsh> [The alarm continues to ring]
<Alea> nope.
<Alea> no way
Tarsh goes in to check the offices again.
<Alea> and if you had given me a bigger office with my own way to make tea, I wouldn't have had to use your office...
<Alea> and since my office is so small...I wouldn't have walked away from the trash can
Alea doesn't realize she just contradicted herself
<Alea> and there would have been no fire
Alea drops her head back into her left hand...
Alea suddenly notices the water isn't draining quite as fast on her right hand anymore
Tarsh finds nothing and sloshes out to the front.
Alea bets there's at least four feet of water in the basement now
Tarsh comes out into the street and zlins around at the crowd that has gathered. He hears the sirens approaching.
Alea sees Tarsh go out to the street...but continues to sit at the bottom of the Center's steps
Alea figures if the fire had spread it would have reached here by now
Tarsh sees Alea and squelches down beside her.
<Tarsh> "Are you hurt?"
Alea shakes her head
<Alea> I'll live
<Alea> maybe
Alea thinking about what is going to happen when Veraik returns
<Alea> get the water turned off?
<Tarsh> "yes.
Alea nods...winces
<Alea> that's good
Alea decides she'd better speak instead of move
<Tarsh> [The Firetrucks screech to a stop] 2
<Alea> oh well...that's uninhabitable for a day or so
<Tarsh> "We have to get out of the way."
<Alea> you know, I don't think I've ever seen a Center quite so wet.....[looks over at Tarsh] Huh?
<Alea> oh!
Alea groans her way to a standing position
Tarsh helps Alea up and across the street as the fire men charge in.
Alea thinking they're going to leave the place in a worse mess than Tormer did
Alea sees the axes and water hose
<Alea> do they really think it needs more water?
<Tarsh> "They are just being systematic."
Alea nods
<Alea> I wonder if the church next door will let us house everyone until we can get everything dried out
<Alea> say for a day or two?
<Tarsh> "Maybe."
Alea asks them they agree and she helps move the people over there
Alea decides she can't wait until tomorrw to face Veraik...and with another groan, goes in to get everything settled before tomorrow starts
Notes:
1) Part of the log is missing here. Evidently some time has passed and Tarsh and Jon Drake had had a conversation. [return]
2) These "trucks" would be of the horse drawn variety... [return]