Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #59: Phobic (10/27/97)
Alea rearranges the sparse furniture in the lobby.
Alea thinks maybe Veraik won't notice it like everyone else has if she moves it around.
Alea also moves the clerk's desk and filing cabinets so it looks like they're taking up more space.
Alea shoves at the desk but just can't get it moved.
Alea decides to get Tarsh to help.
Alea goes down the hall and signals at Tarsh's door.
Tarsh: Come!
Alea pushes open the door.
Alea: Good morning, Tarsh.
Tarsh: Alea! Hi!
Alea smiles.
Alea: I require some help moving the front desk... it just wouldn't budge for me.
Tarsh gets up and walks around his desk.
Alea goes over and gives Tarsh a quick hug.
Tarsh looks at Alea. "You shouldn't exert yourself. That's what you have me for."
Tarsh hugs back.
Alea: That's why I came to you for help.
Alea is glad he didn't ask why she wanted it moved.
Tarsh: OK. where is it going?
Alea: Oh... well... I just wanted to push it over against the far wall where the couch used to be.
Tarsh: OK.
Alea smiles, relieved.
Alea: Thank you.
Tarsh walks to the lobby with Alea.
Alea: You know... right over there.
Alea points.
Tarsh gets behind the desk and starts pushing it.
Groupie marches into the Sime Center, listing slightly but otherwise somewhat less stoned than usual.
Desk: SCREEEEEEE!
Alea shudders at the noise.
Groupie: Hey, man! Rearranging the furniture? That's cosmic!
Groupie sees Alea and glares at her.
Tarsh turns to zlin who it is.
Alea glares back
Tarsh: Eeep!
Groupie: You lied to me!
Alea looks wary.
Alea: What do you mean.
Groupie pulls out a tattered flyer.
Groupie: You can, too, get a donation when you are... happy.
Alea tries to see it without getting any closer.
Groupie waves the flyer under Alea's nose.
Alea looks at Tarsh and sighs.
Alea: Groupie... happy and uh... your state are not the same thing.
Groupie: It's right down there in purple and orange!
Tarsh yanks in his tentacles and tries to go hypo.
Tarsh thinks, the Deathwish Gen! At least I'm not in need.
Alea looks at the colors, fascinated, thinking the poster really does look nice.
Tarsh picks up the phone and dials.
Groupie: Yes, they are! See, it says right here: "Get happy on honeybee and get a Near-Death, Torn By Tentacles donation!"
Alea touches Tarsh's arm.
Alea: Have you seen these flyers around?
Alea reaches out and gingerly takes the flyer, trying not to touch Groupie.
Tarsh: What?
Alea holds the flyer out to Tarsh, concerned.
Alea: It's certainly not one of ours.
Groupie wonders why Tarsh is trying to dial the phone when it's unplugged from the jack, but his friends do lots stranger things on an hourly basis.
Alea looks down at the phone and smiles weakly.
Alea: Uh, I was moving it too, remember....
Tarsh: [to phone] Send an orderly up here.
Tarsh glances at the flyer. "Never seen it before."
Alea traces the phone cord and goes around the desk to plug in the phone.
Alea pulls on the phone, trying to get it closer so it'll reach the plug.
Tarsh stares at Groupie.
Groupie looks at Tarsh.
Alea looks up and sighs, goes over, picks up the phone and walks back across the room to plug in the phone.
Groupie: So give me my donation, already!
Alea glances back over her shoulder at Tarsh and Groupie.
Groupie stumbles towards Tarsh, arms extended.
Groupie: You gotta.
Alea: I've told you before....
Alea eyes widen
Alea: He's not a channel!
Tarsh backs away into the wall.
Alea drops the phone and starts across the room.
Groupie: He's got tentacles, doesn't he?
Tarsh nods his head then shakes it.
Tarsh puts his arms behind his back.
Alea: Well yes... but he can't give you a donation.
Groupie tries to corner Tarsh.
Alea: Oh dear.
Groupie: Besides, the channel in the song wasn't a channel, either.
Tarsh thinks, I go off Gens and now they're throwing themselves at me!
Alea groans.
Alea: It matters in real life, Groupie.
Tarsh scrambles away without really zlinning where he is going.
Alea hurries toward Groupie.
Groupie: Life is cosmic!
Tarsh winces. That word again.
Groupie chases after Tarsh even more enthusiastically.
Alea chases after Groupie.
Alea: Well you just stop and listen!
Tarsh leaps up on top of the filing cabinet.
Alea wonders where a channel is when you require their help.
Groupie smiles up at Tarsh.
Groupie: Cosmic!
Alea grabs at Groupie's arm.
Groupie grabs Tarsh around the knees.
Alea pulls at Groupie's arms.
Alea: I thought I explained to you yesterday that you can't have transfer....
Alea: Donation.
Tarsh grabs at Groupie's arms to tear them away, then yanks his hands off them.
Alea stumbles back at Tarsh's actions, but holds onto Groupie's arms.
Groupie shakes his head and grabs again.
Alea: Stop this right now!
Fise comes into the lobby looking haggard.
Alea jerks, hard.
Groupie looks at Alea.
Alea sighs in relief.
Alea: You can't have donation.
Tarsh anticipates pain and closes his eyes.
Groupie: You're lying!
Alea gets indignant.
Alea: I am not lying.
Fise looks at the crowd in the corner.
Alea: I told you as long as you were stoned, you couldn't have donation and I meant it.
Groupie turns back to the filing cabinet, ignoring Alea, and tries once more to get Tarsh off of it.
Alea decides to trip him and grabs his leg and jerks, pulling his foot out from under him.
Tarsh clutches onto the filing cabinet, which starts to tip over.
Alea: Oh shen....
Groupie falls down on top of Alea, flailing aimlessly.
Alea eyes widen in horror.
Alea grunts in pain.
Fise smiles in amusement.
Alea blinks, trying to focus through the stars on the oaf on top of her.
Tarsh realizes the cabinet is falling and tries to land and catch it.
Alea shoves at Groupie.
Tarsh catches the cabinet just 3 feet short of landing on Groupie and Alea, and squats holding it up over them.
Groupie watches Tarsh augmenting.
Groupie: Cosmic!
Fise buffs his fingernails and watches.
Alea groans.
Alea: Get off me you idiot.
Groupie scrambles out from under the filing cabinet and stands.
Alea sighs in relief.
Groupie: You gotta give me my Torn By Tentacles Near-Death Donation!
Alea scoots painfully out from under the filing cabinet.
Piotr stands in his small room, looking out through the grimy window.
Tarsh strains to right the cabinet against unfavorable leverage.
Groupie reaches for Tarsh's hands, which are still holding the filing cabinet.
Alea stands and reaches for the filing cabinet to help Tarsh.
Tarsh jerks at Groupie's touch, dropping the cabinet on his foot.
Alea jumps back out of the way.
Tarsh: Shuven!
Tarsh: ~~ pain ~~
Alea grabs at the filing cabinet and tries to jerk it off Tarsh's foot.
Alea lifts it a bit, then drops it back down.
Tarsh yanks his foot out.
Tarsh hops around on his other foot.
Groupie absentmindedly shoves the filing cabinet off of Tarsh's foot, while grabbing him with the other.
Alea grabs at Groupie's arm.
Alea: This is enough.
Piotr looks out upon the street, looking at the Simes and Gens moving down below.
Groupie drags Alea after him as he pursues the hopping Tarsh.
Alea stumbles against Groupie, knocking him into Tarsh.
Groupie grabs Tarsh as all three fall in a heap.
Groupie: You gotta!
Alea winces at the elbow in the eye.
Piotr wonders if this town will prove to be any different that the others. He doubts that Bender Cove will be any different.
Alea sees new stars while still trying to pull Groupie back... somewhere....
Tarsh: No!
Alea jumps at Tarsh's yell.
Tarsh falls, landing on his hurt foot.
Tarsh: ~~ Pain! ~~
Groupie looks at Tarsh.
Groupie: You mean you don't wanna take my donation?
Groupie is amazed.
Alea looks at Groupie in anger.
Alea: He's not a channel!
Tarsh: [gritted teeth] Get away from me!
Groupie shrugs.
Alea turns to Tarsh, trying to project a soothing ambient.
Groupie: OK.
Alea realizes she is probably hurting too much to help Tarsh and moves back.
Alea: Fise... get over here and help.
Groupie gets to his feet, and notices Fise for the first time.
Fise: Moi? The suspended channel who doesn't rough up Gens for you?
Alea turns in amazement.
Alea: You shendoni little worm....
Alea: I'll rough you up if you don't help.
Groupie: If you don't wanna, I'll get him to do it.
Groupie starts towards Fise, arms extended.
Fise looks at Groupie.
Alea looks at Groupie in stunned shock.
Alea: Oh, shen!
Fise: [Simelan] The famous Gen-burner?
Tarsh is grateful that Groupie has moved away.
Groupie: Gimme my donation!
Alea pushes up to her feet, looks to Tarsh then Groupie.
Alea thinks she owes nothing to Fise and turns back to Fise.
Alea smiles at him gleefully.
Alea thinks it'll be amusing to watch Fise handle this.
She moves away from Tarsh so as not to affect him with her pain, trying to keep her attention on him while watching Fise with gleeful anticipation.
Fise: [amused] I think you're a bit confused, young man.
Groupie: The flyer said you would. With honeybee. She lied to me.
Alea's smile leaves.
Fise: Poetry? Don't quit your day job.
Alea: I didn't lie to you.
Fise thinks, she didn't? Must just be to me then.
Groupie: No, "Don't Quit Your Day Job" is Twisted Connection, not Torn By Tentacles.
Groupie: Don't you know anything?
Fise: Apparently not.
Fise: But I know that Gens give donations. They don't get them.
Groupie is unable to master the distinction, and decides it's not important.
Alea leans against the other filing cabinet, breathing heavily from the struggle.
Tarsh sits cradling his foot but not daring to zlin it.
Alea: Groupie. I tried to explain to you we do not take donations when you are on drugs.
Alea back hurts so she leans more heavily against the filing cabinet.
Groupie grabs one of Fise's hands.
Groupie: You gotta do it, just like in the song.
Piotr decides to wait until the sun goes down.
Fise: Excuse me, we haven't been introduced.
Fise: Which song is that? Can you hum a few bars, so I can fake it?
Alea feels the filing cabinet suddenly give and jerks forward, hearing a loud crash as it goes tumbling over.
Groupie jumps at the noise, and turns to glare at Alea.
Alea: You're glaring at me?!
Alea stares in utter astonishment.
Fise considers making a comment about clumsy Gens, but decides it would be superfluous.
Groupie: Yeah. Don't throw the furniture around. Somebody might get hurt, you know, and that would be about as un-cosmic.
Alea suddenly remembers Tarsh and whirls.
Groupie loses interest in the middle of the sentence and turns back to Fise.
Tarsh is rocking slightly over his foot.
Groupie: It goes like this.
Alea: Oh, dear... are you okay?
Alea rushes over to Tarsh.
Groupie starts to hum in a disjointed fashion, but his musical abilities are nonexistent.
Alea winces at the sound.
Groupie starts to sing, with even more painful results.
Alea groans and turns to Fise.
Alea: Get him out of here!
Groupie is unable to remember the words in their proper order, so the results are less than comprehensible.
Fise: Oh all right, anything to stop you singing.
Fise holds out arms.
Alea eyes widen in alarm.
Alea: Not transfer!
Alea deserts Tarsh to rush over between Fise and Groupie.
Tarsh: No. My own pain is raising intil. I need to stay focused on me.
Groupie reaches out and grabs Fise's arms, halfway up the tentacle sheaths.
Jon Drake is upstairs doing exercises with Briel.
Jon Drake leans back and takes a deep breath.
Jon Drake: How was that?
Briel nods, wearily.
Groupie: Cosmic!
Briel: Fine. You did it exactly as you should have.
Groupie goes back to yodeling out his song.
Briel stands and crosses to the window.
Fise: I can't give you a donation if you're singing.
Alea: You are not going to give him a donation.
Alea tries to pry Groupie's hand off Fise's arms.
Groupie breaks off the racket.
Alea can see the headlines now... local channel kills stoned Groupie.
Groupie: Like the song, man!
Groupie goes back to torturing said musical endeavor.
Fise: Actually, no.
Alea pauses and turns, eyes wide... no?
Jon Drake stands up.
Jon Drake: Would you like some tea?
Briel shakes her head, then shrugs, finally nods.
Briel: That sounds fine.
Briel continues to stare out the window.
Briel: Would you mind getting it, Jon?
Jon Drake: Not at all.
Briel nods.
Jon Drake: I'll be right back.
Briel goes into her bathroom and shuts the door.
Jon Drake heads down the stairs toward the kitchen.
Groupie looks at Fise in astonishment.
Groupie: Whaddaya mean, "No"!
Alea turns back to Groupie, carefully prying at his fingers.
Jon Drake hears the strangest sounds..
Fise: No, I don't like the song.
Rache walks into the lobby, stretching.
Alea: Fise... just drag the shendoni idiot out the door!
Groupie stares at Fise, totally bewildered.
Fise sighs.
Alea grits her teeth.
Alea: Please.
Alea adds silently, you stupid overgrown barely third order channel.
Groupie: But, it's Torn by Tentacles, man! They're cosmic!
Jon Drake looks into the lobby.
Rache blinks in surprise and heads for the apparently injured Sime, leaving the others to deal with the strange Groupie.
Jon Drake: What's going on here?
Rache kneels beside Tarsh, frowning. "What's wrong with your foot?"
Jon Drake hurries in.
Fise grabs Groupie's left wrist with his left hand, pulling it off Fise's right arm, augmenting if necessary.
Alea lets go of Groupie, relieved.
Jon Drake tries to project calm, looks down to Tarsh and Rache.
Groupie's right hand tightens in response, squeezing Fise's arm painfully.
Tarsh: [gritted teeth] Filing cabinet fell on it. Raising intil. Have to stay away from deathwish Gen."
Jon Drake: Rache, what's going on? What happened to Tarsh?
Fise screams.
Jon Drake looks up to Fise.
Jon Drake: Hey!
Alea sucks in a sharp breath.
Jon Drake rushes to Fise.
Groupie's fingers are dangerously close to Fise's laterals.
Jon Drake grabs Groupie's arm, putting pressure on his wrist.
Jon Drake: Let go!
Alea: Okay, Groupie, you win.
Fise yanks harder.
Alea: Come on, come with me. I have the perfect person to take your donation.
Alea: Torn by Tentacles music and everything.
Alea grabs Groupie's arm.
Groupie lets go of Fise, smiling.
Groupie: Really?
Rache looks up at JD. "I only just got here myself." She projects calm to Tarsh, moves so that her nager blocks the deathwish from the renSime, provides a nager he can lean on.
Alea: Yeah, really.
Alea lies.
Fise stumbles away.
Alea: Jon, help Fise.
Jon Drake relaxes his hold on Groupie's wrist, but doesn't let go.
Tarsh relaxes a little under the calm nager.
Alea hooks her arm through Groupie's.
Alea: It's a really... cosmic... place. You'll love it.
Jon Drake leaves Groupie to Alea and moves to Fise.
Fise staggers to the door.
Tarsh: Thank you.
Jon Drake projects support to Fise.
Groupie perks up.
Rache calmly studies Tarsh's ankle, trying to determine how damaged it is. She focuses firmly on her concern for Tarsh, allows nothing of what is happening around her to affect her mind -- or, by extension, her nager.
Fise doesn't notice JD's nager as he stumbles into the door and clutches at the frame.
Alea walks Groupie to the door.
Alea: It's the hottest place in town. Just go down the main street here until you get to the wharf. Then go to one of the tea shops and tell them about the flyer you have. They'll direct you from there.
Tarsh's ankle looks OK. The toes of his shoes are crumpled and red-tinged.
Fise sees them coming and staggers out into the street.
Groupie is used to these kinds of directions, since they are essential for honeybee users.
Rache looks up. "We need a channel here."
Groupie: Cosmic!
Alea nods.
Alea: Right that way....
Rache starts trying to calmly work Tarsh's shoes off, stopping at the first signs of any pain.
Alea hurries out to Fise.
Alea: Wait... let me look at you.
Jon Drake turns and sprints up the stairs.
Alea: Your arm?
Groupie staggers down the street towards the docks.
Jon Drake takes a breath and carefully enters the bedroom.
Briel is just coming out of the bathroom.
Briel looks for the tea.
Jon Drake: Briel, we have an emergency.
Briel turns toward the door, already heading that way.
Briel: What is it?
Fise looks up at Alea with fire and pain filled eyes. "Haven't you done enough already?"
Alea projects soothing calm despite his words.
Fise shuffles away from Alea.
Alea: Let me see, Fise.
Jon Drake: We've had an incident.
Alea: You're too close to need for injuries... I want to check.
Jon Drake leads her down the stairs.
Jon Drake: Tarsh is injured.
Briel rushes down the stairs, zlinning.
Briel: Shen. What happened, Tarsh?
Fise turns to shield his arm.
Alea: Fise....
Alea reaches out to touch his arm, taking it gently in her hand.
Briel drops down zlinning Tarsh.
Rache stands and gets out of the way, letting Briel have access to Tarsh and giving her a chance to zlin clearly.
Tarsh: Dropped cabinet on my toes. Afraid to zlin with him here.
Jon Drake moves into position.
Fise jerks away.
Alea: Shen it, Fise... let me see.
Fise stumbles down the street away from Alea.
Alea hurries after Fise.
Briel: You zlin like you've been through a battle. And your foot....
Briel zlins it closer.
Tarsh: I swear that guy wants me to kill him!
Fise tries to run.
Alea easily catches him, which really concerns her.
Briel: Who wants you to kill him?
Rache speaks quietly "There was someone in here making a fuss. Alea and a channel were dealing with him, and Tarsh here was injured and alone."
Tarsh: Damn Torn by Tentacles guy.
Fise tries to run faster and plows right into a passerby, knocking them both to the ground.
Valrie sits up, disoriented.
Briel: Let's get him to the infirmary.
Valrie: You should look where you're going, Mister.
Fise lands in frozen mud rut.
Alea catches up with Fise, dropping down beside him.
Alea projects desire to help.
Valrie recognizes Alea.
Alea: Fise, I'm not letting you leave until you let me see that arm.
Valrie: Hello, Sosu Farris!
Briel nods to Jon.
Rache kneels to help support Tarsh, trusting JD to balance the fields.
Valrie: Isn't that the guy Hajene Veraik was helping yesterday?
Fise just curls up around his arm.
Briel slips her shoulder under Tarsh's arms and stands gently.
Jon Drake helps with Tarsh.
Rache gives a dryly factual report of what she did to help Tarsh, in a few brief sentences.
Alea: Valrie.
Tarsh limps along leaning on Rache and JD.
Valrie smiles at Alea.
Valrie is wearing a button with the Torn By Tentacles logo on her coat.
Alea almost groans at the button.
Alea: Stop acting childish, Fise and let me see that arm!
Briel gets Tarsh into the infirmary.
Briel: Up on the bed we go.
Jon Drake is now known as Piotr.
Rache stays outside the infirmary once Tarsh is settled there, speaks softly "Would I be a help or a nuisance, Hajene?"
Briel motions to Jon to help get him up on the bed.
Piotr looks out of the window and sees a Sime run a young Gen down in his uncaring rush.
Briel: You can come in... just don't upset the fields.
Piotr realizes he's going to have work to do here as well.
Rache nods and moves to where she 'feels' right, concentrates on field balance and 'thinking healing thoughts'.
Briel turns to Tarsh, taking control of the fields, effectively cutting out what might be any temptation.
Briel: We should get that shoe off, Tarsh.
Jon Drake helps move Tarsh onto the bed, careful not to upset the balance.
Fise flails blindly at Alea with his good arm.
Alea: That's enough, Fise.
Jon Drake reaches into the drawer and pulls out the shears, handing them to Briel.
Alea grabs his arms and takes control of the field.
Tarsh: OK. [grits teeth and closes eyes]
Alea: Rest on me.
Valrie sees Alea having trouble, and grabs the flailing hand to restrain it.
Briel cuts the shoe off with a pair of shears.
Briel quickly removes the sock.
Briel: Get him some fosebine, please.
Jon Drake quickly mixes up the fosebine and hands it to Tarsh.
Fise tries to jerk his hand free of Valrie.
Alea: Not his arm, Valrie.
Alea: Like this.
Tarsh gulps down the fosebine.
Briel projects Gen field, encouraging Tarsh's foot to heal.
Valrie watches Alea work.
Alea takes the arm from Valrie, being careful not to hurt Fise.
Alea projects her desire to help.
Alea: Fise, please... it's swollen. Let me help.
Fise jerks harder.
Fise is breathing in gasps.
Fise: [gasp] Lying [gasp] lorsh.
Briel zlins as Tarsh's injuries respond to the her field.
Fise: [gasp] Go [gasp] away!
Alea: I'm not a lorsh, Fise... and I'm not going away.
Alea allows her nager to project the full force of her need to help Fise.
Alea: I won't leave you here, injured. I won't leave you.
Rache watches silently.
Tarsh's toes are bleeding from contusions. Clotting starts under her Gen field.
Fise: [gasp] Go [gasp] awaaa....
Briel continues to zlin.
Briel concentrates, her laterals over the area, encouraging the bone to knit back together.
Tarsh: ~~ hairline fractures in first three toes ~~
Alea: Shen.
Fise: [raspy breathing]
Briel: You have three toes broken, Tarsh.
Tarsh: Great.
Briel: They're healing.
Tarsh zlins his foot.
Briel: You're going to be off your foot for a day or two though.
Alea: Valrie, please go to the center and get a channel.
Valrie's eyes widen as Fise faints.
Alea leans down and takes Fise's arms in hers and leans forward, encouraging Fise to respond to her field.
Tarsh: Alea will have to do her own furniture moving then.
Valrie: Uh... sure!
Valrie starts running for the Sime Center, slipping dangerously on the icy sidewalk.
Briel: Furniture moving... no, I don't even want to know what that ditz is up to now.
Briel sighs and retracts her laterals.
Briel: You can rest here, or in your room. Even your office. But keep that foot propped up and don't move around without some help.
Tarsh sighs. "All right."
Briel nods.
Briel goes to the cabinet and gets some bandages and comes back and carefully wraps it.
Valrie bursts into the lobby, looking for a channel, and is surprised to find it empty.
Fise's arms don't feel hot to Alea.
Valrie starts down the hall, systematically opening doors until she can find someone to whom to deliver Alea's message.
Rache slips out of the infirmary, slowly, to minimize field disturbance.
Valrie sees Rache in the hall.
Rache looks at Valrie. "Can I help you?"
Valrie: Please, Sosu Farris said to bring a channel quickly.
Rache frowns. "What's happened? Briefly?"
Valrie: Well, she was running after this man, and he ran into me and we fell, and then he curled up, and then he fainted and she said to get help quick.
Valrie: I ran all the way, and only fell three times.
Rache: All right. Please stay here.
Rache blinks and looks at Valrie more closely. "Definitely stay right there."
Rache calms herself, then opens the door to the infirmary and speaks softly "Hajene?"
Valrie nods.
Briel just finishing with Tarsh's foot, turns.
Briel: Yes?
Alea: Fise you idiot... respond to my field!
Alea backs up her words with a flare of her field
Alea: You're not going to lay here and die.
Rache: Apparently Sosu Farris needs a channel, Hajene. Outside.
Alea: I don't care how much I hate you. Will you just respond?
Fise's eyelids flicker.
Briel finishes Tarsh's foot.
Briel: You be careful now. I want Veraik to take a look at that tomorrow.
Tarsh: Thank you, Hajene.
Briel: If you have any problems between now and then, tell one of us.
Briel: And do not let Alea try to handle it. Understand?
Briel narrows her eyes.
Tarsh: Yes. Hajene.
Briel: Good.
Briel turns and goes into the hall.
Briel: Hello, Valrie, what can I do for you?
Rache follows Briel.
Valrie: Sosu Farris wants you to come quick and help her with the man.
Briel looks confused.
Valrie shifts impatiently from foot to foot.
Rache: Apparently there is a man collapsed outside, Hajene.
Briel zlins, then nods.
Briel: Okay... where are they?
Rache moves to the door, to open it for the channel.
Valrie: This way!
Alea again does her best to use her field to stimulate Fise's own selyn.
Briel follows Valrie.
Valrie starts back towards the lobby at a brisk pace.
Fise's need shifts towards Alea.
Rache opens the door and looks outside the building.
Briel snags her cloak and tosses it on.
Valrie slips past Rache and starts running down the street, slipping occasionally.
Briel easily catches up and snags Valrie's arm to keep her from falling.
Rache provides support for the channel from from Valrie's pain.
Alea: Come on, Fise.
Alea continues to encourage Fise.
Fise turns slightly towards her.
Valrie looks down at Briel's hand and tentacles gripping her arm, surprised, then returns her attention to the more important task of getting back to Alea as quickly as possible.
Alea continues to hold Fise's arms, talking soothingly, encouraging with her nager.
Rache: Your pain disturbs the channel. Better to move a little more slowly, and not trip.
Rache smiles encouragement to the strange Gen.
Valrie rounds a turn and spots Alea and Fise.
Valrie: There they are!
Briel zlins ahead and lets go of Valrie to hurry to the disturbance.
Rache lifts a hand as if to catch Valrie.
Valrie blinks as Briel augments away, and slows.
Briel: What is it..what happened....
Valrie: She's fast!
Briel zlins.
Briel: Well shen. How'd this happen?
Rache: Yes, she is.
Briel drops down next to Fise.
Briel nudges Alea out of the way, taking control of the fields.
Fise: ~~ selyn activity confined to the still well supplied storage and central portions of consumption area ~~
Fise: ~~ no activity in peripheral consumption areas ~~
Briel takes Fise's arms in her own and zlins closer.
Fise: ~~ same scarred junction has clamped down again ~~
Rache: We should stay back here and let Sosu Alea and Hajene Briel work.
Briel zlins the pathways that are blocked again.
Valrie watches, wide-eyed.
Alea supports Briel.
Rache: There's not a lot that we'll be able to see. I'm told it's amazing to zlin, though.
Briel zlins down to the actual junctions that are clamped down and encourages the areas to feel replete with selyn so they will relax the spasm.
Fise: ~~ cells start to relax ~~
Fise: ~~ selyn trickles out ~~
Briel encourages the selyn to flow.
Alea motions to Rache to support Briel.
Valrie watches the color slowly come back into Fise's face.
Briel continues to project repletion to the selyn junctures.
Valrie edges a little closer.
Fise: ~~ selyn flow increases ~~
Rache walks forward and provides a solid (if only a Second) Gen field for Briel to manipulate.
Rache signals for Valrie to stay back.
Alea moves back, allowing Rache to step into the gap, so to speak.
Rache moves to where Alea had been standing.
Briel holds tight control as she encourages selyn to move.
Alea stands and moves to Valrie, leaning wearily against her.
Fise: ~~ moderate flow starts to energize peripheral regions ~~
Briel zlins junctures and smiles as they allow selyn to flow again.
Fise's eyes open but don't track.
Valrie sees Fise's eyes open.
Valrie: That's cosmic! [very loudly]
Alea jumps at Valrie's words.
Briel: Fise?
Fise's lips move soundlessly.
Fise's eyes focus on Briel.
Fise: ~~ Fear ~~
Valrie: Really cosmic!
Fise twitches.
Briel projects encouragement.
Briel glances at Alea.
Briel: Get her out of here.
Alea takes Valrie's arms.
Alea: Why don't you help me back to the center. I don't feel very good and think I should lay down.
Rache remains steady, calm, stable.
Briel turns her gaze back to Fise.
Briel: You're going to be okay.
Valrie: Sure.
Briel continues to hold Fise's arms, encouraging him to heal.
Fise's legs scrape at the mud.
Valrie: I thought this was going to be a dull afternoon when Frieda couldn't go out, but it's turning out just cosmic!
Alea turns and starts for the Center.
Alea: Yes, I'm sure to you it is, dear.
Fise feebly pushes at Briel's arms.
Briel: No, Fise... you're fine. Don't fight me.
Valrie walks with Alea.
Fise: No....
Briel zlins his injured arm and projects healing.
Briel: Yes... you're fine.
Rache moves a couple of steps to the right, compensating for Fise's actions.
Fise: No....
Briel encourages the swelling to leave the injured arm.
Fise's feet get some purchase, twisting him around in the rut.
Valrie pauses as she and Alea reach the Sime Center's door.
Briel holds Fise firmly, turns to stare down at Fise and study him.
Briel: What is it?
Valrie: I gotta go. Are you gonna be all right?
Alea: Thank you, Valrie.
Alea: Yeah, I'm fine. Really.
Alea: I'm just gonna go up to my room.
Valrie: Good. You don't look real good.
Alea nods and starts toward the stairs, feeling very tired.
Briel: Let me help you, Fise.
Briel: You're going to be fine.
Fise: ~~ Fear flares ~~
Briel: We're going to fix you right up.
Valrie waits until Alea is inside, then skips off to check out the latest Torn By Tentacles T-shirts.
Fise's feet scrabble harder.
Briel fearing she missed something, takes Fise in full transfer position so she can zlin better.
Alea pulls herself up the stairs, leaden.
Rache steps closer, focusing on supporting the channel.
Fise: ~~ Terror ~~
Rache increases her support.
Briel shudders and pulls back at Fise's terror.
Briel: Shen.
Briel releases Fise.
Fise tries to retract his tentacles.
Briel: What the shenned is the matter with you, Fise?
Fise turns over and starts crawling away.
Briel rests against Rache.
Briel: No way, Fise.
Briel snags Fise's arm.
Rache provides unquestioning, reliable strength. Not what a First could manage, but hey.
Briel: You're a channel. Start acting like one and tell me what has you so scared.
Alea goes into her room and shuts the door.
Fise: Get away from them! Let me go!
Briel: What are you talking about?
Briel looks around.
Briel: Them?
Briel: No, I'm not letting you go.
Briel: You're too ill to be out here.
Briel: You should come back to the Center and let us help you.
Fise: Then stop playing and do it you lorsh!
Briel jerks at Fise's words.
Briel: Playing?
Briel: What do you think I'm playing at?
Fise: Kill me, you mean!
Briel: Kill you?
Fise jerks his arm.
Briel shrinks back in horror.
Briel: I'm not going to kill you.
Rache listens, but does not at all allow herself to react to the words.
Fise tries to get to his feet. "More lies."
Briel: More lies?
Briel: What do you mean? I'm disjunct. And you're a channel, Fise. You require my help.
Briel moves back forward and slips her arm around his shoulders to help him sit up.
Fise: You already told me you stupid Bander! Excise me!
Alea slips out of her muddied clothes and into a hot shower to warm herself.
Rache has to work hard to not-react to that.
Fise twists and feebly punches at Briel.
Briel gasps, her own tentacles retracting at his words.
Briel throws her arm up to block his punch.
Briel: Where in the world did you get the idea I....
Briel remembers and pales.
Briel: You stupid... how can you even think I....
Briel shudders, feeling her gorge rise at what Fise thought.
Fise tries to take advantage of her distraction to get to his feet.
Rache swears internally and wrenches field control herself, projects ~~calm~~ with all the force at her command. ~~Calm. Relax. Security. Safety.~~ 1
Briel jerks her head to the side.
Briel: That is enough.
Briel takes back control, her look promising retribution.
Rache projects calm/security/safety/assurance to both channels with evenhanded magnanimity. And arrogance.
Briel: Fise... you're coming back to the Center where we can talk about this.
Rache relaxes and allows Briel the control again.
Fise: The shen I am.
Briel forces herself to stay calm.
Briel: Yes, you are.
Briel: You are a member of the Tecton and assigned to Bender Cove. You will come back and discuss this.
Briel: If I thought it would do any good, I would apologize for my words.
Briel: I was furious with you the day you burned that donor for no good reason.
Fise starts staggering down (well, side to side) the street.
Briel: Except now, it looks like you might have just had a reason.
Briel grabs his arms and stops him.
Briel: Listen to me, Fise.
Fise swings his other arm at Briel.
Fise: No more lies!
Briel ducks.
Briel: Will you be reasonable?
Briel: Zlin me, you lorsh!
Briel: Am I lying?
Fise jerks his caught arm.
Briel allows her field to be completely open hiding nothing.
Briel: I am sorry for my words.
Fise swings again.
Briel catches his hand
Briel waits patiently.
Fise kicks.
Briel: Shen.
Briel jumps.
Briel looks at him and shrugs.
Briel: You don't want to know the truth.
Fise augments as high as he can (which isn't very) trying to jerk free.
Briel takes control of the fields and projects calm, peaceful....
Briel: Rest on me Fise.
Briel: Let me help you.
Briel: I would never hurt you. Word of a channel.
Rache folds her arms and watches, eyes narrowed. Field still under Briel's control.
Fise spits in her face at that. "Channels!"
Briel wipes grimly at her face.
Briel: What do you want me to swear on since I can't get you to zlin me? My House? Fine. The Center? Fine.
Briel: You tell me what you want...
Briel: Don't even ask for me to let you go out on the street where we'll probably find you dead in a day.
Briel: Anything but that.
Fise: I want you to let go of me.
Briel finally accepts defeat, allowing her determination to collapse.
Briel: Fise, is there anything I can do to make up for my rash words?
Briel says it with sadness, great regret in her nager.
Briel does.
Briel turns her back on Fise, weary.
Fise staggers off as best he can.
Briel refuses to watch Fise go.
Rache waits patiently.
Briel wonders what she is going to tell Veraik. How is she going to explain her failure with Fise, her own words driving him to this?
Fise grabs the corner of a building and pauses a moment before passing out of sight.
Rache watches Fise leave.
Briel leans back wearily against the building, staring up into the sky at nothing.
Briel: Shen.
Rache provides support, still. Waits.
Briel finally pushes away from the wall.
Briel: Come on. Let's go.
Rache nods, and follows.
Briel: I don't know what we're going to do about Fise.
Briel: He shouldn't be out on the street alone.
Rache: Who is he?
Briel: An arrogant third order channel who hasn't got the sense God gave him.
Briel: He's a royal pain in the butt, a total screw up who burned a donor when taking a donation.
Briel sighs and rubs wearily at her neck.
Briel: But he is one of ours.
Rache: Uh.. maybe we should have this conversation inside.
Briel goes up the steps and into the Center.
Rache follows, with an internal sigh of relief.
Briel: He is one of ours as of about six weeks ago, if I remember correctly.
Rache: Mmhmm?
Briel goes in and to the break room to grab a cup of tea.
Alea feels an odd twinge in her back and adjusts so the water hits there.
Briel hands Rache some tea and motions toward her office.
Briel: And I'm afraid, when he burned that donor, I went overboard with my threats.
Rache: And now he doesn't trust you.
Briel shakes her head, notes her hands are shaking and as soon as she gets in her office, she sets down her tea.
Rache takes and sips her tea, silent.
Briel: He's never trusted anyone. Shen, he doesn't even want to be a Sime.
Briel goes to the window, her tentacles moving restlessly.
Briel ~~anger, pain, guilt~~
Rache frowns. "Simephobe? Whoever heard of a tentacled Simephobe?"
Briel: No, he just hates being Sime. He's not scared of them.
Briel: He refuses to zlin, refuses to use his tentacles, refuses to augment.
Briel: It's the craziest thing you've ever seen.
Rache blinks. "I see."
Briel: Exactly.
Briel: He walks around with his tentacles retracted so you can't see them, using his hands [says that word like a curse] for everything.
Rache: And runs away from anyone who tries to treat him like a Sime.
Briel: I think the only reason he is in the Tecton is because as a channel it's the only place he could turn to for help.
Briel thinks: and now I've taken that away from him too.
Briel wonders where her Donor is, her tentacles moving restlessly as she begins to pace.
Alea winces as the pain in her back increases. She turns off the water, dries off and crawls into her bed, hoping the blankets will warm her up since the water didn't seem to.
Rache sighs and settles to work, supporting this channel whose Donor is inexplicably missing.
Briel zlins Rache and attempts a smile.
Jon Drake leaves Tarsh much stabler, and goes off in search of his Channel.
Briel: If he's not back in twenty-four hours, I'll just go look for him.
Rache studies this channel, focusing attention on the most minute details of her clothing, hair, appearance. Knowing that this attention will flow through into her nager as support, strength.
Rache: Who? Fise?
Briel: Yes, Fise.
Jon Drake heads off to Briel's office.
Briel appreciates the second order Donor's assistance but, three days from need, feels very vulnerable.
Rache nods.
Jon Drake signals at the door.
Briel suddenly zlins toward the door.
Briel hurries over and pulls it open.
Briel reaches out and grabs Jon and drags him inside.
Rache steps off to one side.
Briel: Jon.
Briel: I was just wondering where you were.
Briel tries not to let her nervousness show.
Rache smiles wryly and makes her way out the door, letting Jon take over.
Alea allows a small moan to escape as her back cramps up again.
Jon Drake sees her nervousness and works to relax.
Rache vanishes off to her own room, and collapses on the bed, shaking. Hard day's work, supporting Firsts.
Jon Drake: Tarsh is doing fine now.
Briel grabs his lapels, staring into his eyes.
Briel: I want to cry, Jon.
Briel: Do you know how frustrating it is not to be able to?
Briel slowly relaxes under Jon's nager.
Jon Drake takes Briel in his arms.
Briel shudders with emotions she is unable to vent.
Jon Drake holds Briel.
Jon Drake: Do you want to talk about it?
Briel: He's going to die because of something I said.
Briel: And I can't take the shendoni fleckin words back.
Jon Drake: Fise?
Briel shudders again.
Briel: Yes... Fise.
Briel: He lay there on the street and shouted his terror at me because of my stupid words.
Briel: And now, he is out there on the street, half healed, staggering to what is probably his certain death.
Jon Drake: You don't know that.
Jon Drake: Not for sure.
Briel twists her tentacles in Jon's shirt, not quite as bad now as Jon's field helps her to relax.
Briel: Shen!
Briel: I know it.
Briel: I zlinned it in his nager.
Briel: He is terrified... of.... [whispers] me.
Briel: I wouldn't kill him, Jon... I wouldn't.
Jon Drake: I know you wouldn't.
Jon Drake: Everything will be OK.
Briel nods, not believing it even as she agrees.
Jon Drake: Nothing's likely to happen soon.
Jon Drake: We can have people look for him soon.
Briel: He's gonna die before my own transfer if he doesn't get help.
Briel pushes back and looks up at Jon.
Jon Drake: Briel.
Briel: And all because I vented my temper on a 3rd order....
Briel pauses.
Jon Drake: I am sorry I wasn't here to help you.
Briel is unable to resists the care and concern in Jon's nager.
Jon Drake: Right now though, in this condition, you are in no shape to help him.
Briel goes over and sinks down onto a couch.
Jon Drake: We need to get some others to search for him.
Briel nods.
Briel: You're right, of course.
Briel: All I would do would be to stir up more dissension.
Jon Drake: All you would do is hurt yourself even more.
Briel feebly waves a tentacle.
Jon Drake: You are only days from our transfer....
Briel: I know, Jon.
Jon Drake: We must leave this to others right now.
Jon Drake: Maybe Jirelle or one of the others can take a look.
Jon Drake: I'm sure we can find someone to put the word out as well.
Briel: Yes, yes....
Briel: You're right.
Jon Drake: We have a whole Center here.
Jon Drake: You don't have to carry it all on your shoulders.
Jon Drake holds Briel in his arms comforting her.
Jon Drake strokes her hair, her neck, her back.
Jon Drake lets Briel sink into his strength.
Jon Drake helps Briel stabilize.
Briel groans.
Briel pushes back, breathing hard.
Jon Drake offers her Gen strength, a warm womb of comfort and safety.
Briel: Jon... I... I....
Briel gestures feebly trying to tell him he is tempting her.
Jon Drake: Yes?
Jon Drake: I'm sorry. You know that's not my intention.
Briel tries to nod.
Jon Drake: It's not yet time. My job is to help you though this, so that we can have our moment in a few days.
Jon Drake: No intil... just comfort.
Briel: Just... comfort, Jon.
Briel nods.
Jon Drake and Briel sit there for a while, just relaxing.
Jon Drake waits until Briel seems much more stable.
Briel touches Jon's leg gently.
Briel: Thank you, Jon.
Jon Drake: Briel? Feeling better?
Jon Drake smiles.
Briel: Only need.
Briel shudders.
Briel: Just after... I'll be fine.
Briel knows she is making no sense and only nods.
Jon Drake: Yes, you will.
Alea moans, pulling her knees up to her chest.
Jon Drake: OK. When this incident happened, was anyone else with you? Did anyone else see Fise leave?
Briel: Just Rache.
Briel shrugs.
Alea feels a cramp seize her and wrap slowly around her body.
Alea: Oh, god....
Jon Drake: Ok, we would probably be best sending someone else to search, a channel.
Alea pushes feebly, getting to the edge of the bed and grabs her gown.
Veraik decides to go to Alea in order to try and explain why he has been avoiding her.
Alea pulls at the chair by her bed, forcing herself to stand.
Alea another cramp seizes her and she sinks to the floor, doubling over.
Briel: Yes, that's a good idea.
Alea: Oh, God... Tarsh....
Alea pushes herself up from the floor, holding onto the chair for support on her knees.
Veraik signals and waits for Alea to answer her door.
Briel: Someone else is the perfect plan. I... I just I'm not thinking clearly.
Alea tries to pull herself up, crying.
Jon Drake: OK, let's head upstairs, get you some actual sleep.
Alea jerks at the chair and it topples over on her.
Briel nods and wearily pushes herself to her feet.
Alea cries out again.
Alea: Tarsh....
Veraik hears something crash on the other side of the door and throws open the door.
Briel pushes at the chair, trying to pull herself out from under it.
Veraik: Alea! [rushes to her]
Jon Drake helps Briel up.
Alea: Tarsh....
Alea sees Veraik.
Alea: Hajene....
Veraik zlins Alea and knows that she is miscarrying.
Alea: The....
Alea moans.
Briel pushes at her hair.
Briel: It's possible that only two hours of sleep last night have also added to the problem.
Jon Drake nods.
Veraik: Oh Alea. [holds her]
Alea is lost in a haze of pain as her stomach contracts again.
Alea begins to sob.
Jon Drake: This time, I'm going to be more aware of you. If you wake up, stay in bed.
Briel hesitates, then nods.
Jon Drake: If it seems hopeless, if you have any needmares, wake me up.
Alea: Oh, God, Veraik... I'm losing my baby.
Veraik zlins the pain centers and blocks them. [only some pain is left]
Alea grabs at his shoulders.
Veraik brushes her hair back from her eyes. "Yes, I know."
Alea buries her head against his chest, continuing to sob as another contraction grabs hold of her.
Alea pulls her knees up and groans, curling into Veraik.
Veraik picks her up gently.
Alea: I don't want to lose it. I had a dream about her....
Alea: Please please help me.
Alea: I'm sorry, Veraik... please... just don’t let me lose her.
Veraik: [whispers] You should go to a treatment room but I can attend you here if you would like. [stands and waits for her answer]
Briel goes wearily up the stairs to her room.
Alea curls up, crying.
Jon Drake follows her like a mother hen..
Alea: I want you to save it.
Briel pushes open her door and goes inside.
Veraik buries her head into his shoulder. "I know, Alea. I know."
Briel: You know, Jon, I appreciate your support. It's meant a lot this past month.
Jon Drake nods and smiles.
Alea feels a warm gush and looks down and sees blood.
Jon Drake: I'm glad to do it, Briel.
Veraik zlins that the baby is already dead.
Alea collapses against Veraik, crying out in pain.
Veraik augments with her to a treatment room. Blood running down his arm.
Jon Drake prepares the bed, pulls back the covers.
Alea feels another cramp seize her and realizes the baby has been lost.
Veraik: He gently lays her on the table.
Alea: Where is Tarsh? Don't tell him.
Alea is weeping.
Alea: He was so excited.
Jon Drake helps Briel with her clothes, sees her securely in bed.
Briel tries to smile at Jon.
Veraik places a pillow under her head then quickly washes hands and tentacles.
Jon Drake takes off his own clothes and crawls into bed with Briel.
Briel relaxes but doesn't sleep.
Jon Drake makes sure he's on the outside so it will be more difficult for her to crawl out of bed undetected.
Veraik: I know Tarsh was excited but he will have to know.
Veraik: He'll understand.
Alea shakes her head, beyond words, knowing it makes no sense.
Jon Drake holds Briel, letting healthy sleepiness fill his system.
Briel relaxes, drifting.
Alea continues to weep.
Veraik cuts off her dress and panties and tosses them into a receptacle.
Veraik: Shhhh... shhh.
Alea cries until she feels utterly empty inside.
Jon Drake lets Briel rest in the crook of his arm, secure in his embrace.
Veraik drapes a blanket over her lower half and cleans as best as he can.
Briel sleeps.
Veraik: Push, Alea.
Veraik: You must get the baby out.
Alea looks blankly at Veraik.
Alea A cramp grips her and she automatically obeys Veraik's strong, steady voice.
Veraik is unable to wipe his tears away since his hands and tentacles are bloody.
Veraik: Using a hand with tentacles, Veraik gently pushes on Alea's stomach to help her during the contraction.
Alea groans as the last of her pregnancy is expelled.
Alea falls back, silently, staring at nothing, utterly silent.
Veraik pushes the tiny baby and the afterbirth into a container and carries to the next room.
Alea: It was a girl, you know. A channel.
Alea: And she was going to live at Zeor and be the best channel they'd ever had.
Alea sighs and turns her head away.
Veraik stares at the tiny baby who was Alea's and who may have been Tarsh's or his own.
Veraik finally places it the container and closes the lid.
Veraik quickly washes off the blood and returns to clean her up.
Alea: I'm fine, really. [realizes what she had started to repeat to Veraik and breaks off, staring at him]
Veraik: A channel, Alea? A girl? [remembers baby] Yes. A Girl.
Alea closes her eyes, feeling utterly drained.
Veraik swipes and cleans.
Alea doesn't even notice.
Veraik finally has her ready and goes to her to hold and comfort her.
Alea whispers "Tarsh...."
Alea: I want Tarsh. [whispers so low, only she hears]
Alea: No.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: I... I can't tell him.
Alea closes her eyes.
Veraik zlins and uses his field to close the blood vessels and reduce the swelling.
Veraik does a selyn tourniquet as well.
Alea feels tears silently track down her face.
Veraik finishes then backs out of the room. "I'll get Tarsh."
Alea doesn't answer.
Briel sees Fise laying on the ground, writhing in pain.
Briel tries to run to him, reaching out, grabbing for his arms, seeing he's in need and there's no Donor around to help him.
Briel cries out, reaching for him, offering to serve.
Briel sees him jerk back, cowering from her, screaming in terror.
Briel cries out, "No! Let me help," but he continues to cower. She reaches for his arms and forces him to let her hold them.
Briel forces the laterals out, only to see there are none.
Briel: No!
Briel shifts, shuddering.
Jon Drake startles awake.
Briel tries to give transfer, but his words echo eerily in her head: you killed me.
Briel: No... no.....
Briel shakes her head, beginning to gasp for breath.
Briel zlins him dying of attrition. The scene switches and she is holding Jon Drake in her arms.
Jon Drake holds Briel, trying to have her feel his support through her needmare...
Briel begins to draw... harder and harder... kill. Kill! Kill!
Briel wants to kill him... needs to kill him... she's a killer. Fise is dead.
Jon Drake can feel her tense in her sleep.
Jon Drake maintains a clear field.
Briel sees Jon's field burst into her, soft, soothing, and the kill urge leaves her to be replaced by promise and joy.
Notes:
1) A Second probably could not have wrested control of the ambient from Briel through brute force as is suggested here. By doing her worst she could probably distract Briel enough to cause an accidental loss of control, but it is doubtful that Rache could actually do much with the ambient without Briel's cooperation. All in all this kind of behavior probably isn't a good idea. [return]
Go on to Episode #60: (under construction)