Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #131: (1/15/98)
Tormer stops up the stairs to the Sime Center, followed by three sturdy henchmen.
Alea comes down the hall of the Center.
Tormer opens the door and strides into the lobby, ignoring the slush he and his followers deposit on the carpeting.
Henchman strides behind Tormer, looking stern and tough.
Alea stops short in the lobby, sees Tormer and decides to go eat breakfast instead.
Alea sets mode: +o Tarsh
Tormer looks around to see if there's someone in charge.
Alea sets mode: +o Nash
Tormer: Idiots! They ask us to come, and now they haven't got anyone to meet us.
Alea hears the word ask and turns back around.
Tarsh comes out with his clipboard.
Beldon: Yes, Boss. [automatically]
Tormer sees Tarsh.
Henchman snorts derisively.
Tormer: You, there! Are you in charge here?
Nash nods seriously.
Tarsh: Good Morning, Inspector.
Alea leans against the wall watching.
Beldon inspects Tarsh's tone for sarcasm.
Tarsh: I'm Chief Financial Officer.
Nash fingers his billy club.
Tormer: The Tecton Marshal asked us to come pick up some crazy woman you couldn't handle.
Alea thinks Avaleia.
Tarsh: Oh yes. The Gn from hell. She's in the secure room downstairs.
Tormer is openly scornful at a whole Sime Center being unable to handle one elderly Gen woman.
Alea fingers her throat remembering, thinking Tormer should be just a bit more leery.
Tormer nods briskly.
Tarsh: If you will come this way?
Tormer stays put.
Alea sighs.
Tarsh: Is there some problem?
Tormer: Before we can accept custody, your Controller must fill out the proper paperwork.
Alea knew it just wouldn't be that easy.
Tarsh: Ah. I'll get the controller, then.
Beldon is now known as Beldon`
Tormer waits with a ponderous _presence_ which is enough to run off anyone with sense.
Briel comes striding down the hall.
Tarsh goes over to check the schedule board for Briel and Veraik's locations.
Beldon shifts from foot to foot impatiently.
Briel comes into the lobby, seeing the crowd of people.
Briel: Good morning.
Tarsh: Controller Briel? Tormer is here to pick up the prisoner.
Avaleia sits demurely on the bed in her cell.
Briel nods to Tarsh.
Briel pulls out a set of keys and goes through them until she finds the right one and removes it from the set.
Briel: I thought you were suppose to be here yesterday?
Tormer jerks his thumb at Nash, to indicate that the paperwork should be presented.
Briel hands the key to Tarsh.
Nash pokes Beldon, who has the paperwork.
Tormer: The Tecton Marshal's office called this morning and asked us to handle the matter.
Briel: I see.
Tormer: If you wanted us here sooner, you should have called us directly.
Alea thinks that's the first smart thing the Tecton Marshal has done.
Tarsh: == scratch ==
Briel: No problem.
Briel: As long as she's gone.
Tormer turns and glares at his henchmen.
Tormer: Which one of you louts has the shenned paperwork?
Beldon checks.
Briel looks around, thinking she really doesn't have time for this.
Beldon finds he does have the paperwork afterall.
Beldon hands the paperwork to Tormer.
Beldon: Sorry boss.
Nash stands there frowning seriously.
Alea grins at the show.
Tormer passes the form to Briel.
Briel reads the form carefully.
Briel picks up a pen and fills out all appropriate parts, signs it, then returns it to Tormer.
Briel: Now, have Tarsh show you the way.
Briel: If you'll excuse me...?
Tormer checks the form carefully to make sure all the i's are dotted and t's crossed.
Tormer: Not so fast.
Briel ~~figures~~
Tormer: We still have to get the statements from the alleged victims.
Briel: For which time?
Tormer glares at Briel in an aggravated fashion.
Briel: This last time was Tamlen and Alea.
Briel: If you'd like to start with them.
Briel: Hajene Veraik, the other victim, isn't here right now.
Briel smiles.
Alea starts at the mention of her name.
Tormer jerks a thumb at henchman and Beldon.
Tormer: You two take the first one, and Nash and I'll talk to this Alea.
Alea groans silently.
Beldon nods.
Tormer turns back to Briel.
Tormer: You got some rooms we could use?
Briel: You can use the conference room to question Alea.
Briel: Tamlen is probably in his office. You might try there for him.
Tormer: Get the clerk there to show you the way, Beldon.
Tormer: You could wander for hours in this pile without finding the person you're looking for.
Alea is surprised they're not going to make mincemeat of the place again.
Tormer: Now, where's this conference room, and the witness?
Briel nods to Clerk for him to lead Beldon and henchman to Tamlen.
Briel flicks a tentacle at Alea.
Briel: Down the hall on the right.
Alea nods to Tormer.
Alea: I'll be ... I'll show you the way.
Henchman follows Beldon down to Tamlen's office.
Tormer tramps solidly after Alea.
Nash walks close behind Tormer... feet tramping in synchrony.
Alea turns and leads the way into the conference room.
Briel is now known as Bcal.
Avaleia is now known as wisesnake.
Alea: Now, how may I help you?
Alea goes over and seats herself.
Nash stands by the door, solidly planted, shoulders squared, frowning impressively.
Tormer looks at the mismatched furniture, the walls with purple and orange paint showing through the latest coat, and harumpfs.
Tormer then spots some artwork on the wall, and decides that at least someone must have decorative taste: Looks like the stuff could have been made by the Sectuib in Zeor's recommended artist.
Tormer recalls himself to business, and glares at Alea.
Alea leans back coolly surveying the man
Tormer pulls a dog-eared spiral notebook out of his coat pocket.
Nash has to go to the little boy's room.
Alea crosses her arms and waits.
Nash is glad neither Tormer or the witness are Simes, to be distracted by this.
Tormer: I want your statement. Start at the beginning, and tell me everything relevant.
Tormer holds a pencil poised over the page.
Alea: Well, the first time we ever met this woman she came to the Sime Center with this huge book in her hand.
Alea: I'd say that was...hmmm...three months ago.
Tormer: That was when you first met her?
Alea: You see, it was a nice day out....
Alea: Why yes.
Alea smiles.
Nash realizes he has to go to the little boy's room rather badly, actually.
Alea: She tried to murder Tarsh.
Alea: We tossed her out the door then Snake helped her.
Alea: Well, she ended up getting away.
Alea: But she came back a week ago, and tried to murder Jirelle and Lanyi...but escaped again.
Alea: ONLY to come back a couple of days ago and attack, Veraik, Tamlen and me.
Alea: Now she's being held downstairs.
Alea sits back, done.
Tormer writes down "Tarsh Jirelle Lanyi"
Alea: Veraik Tamlen, Alea.
Alea nods.
Tormer: Now, tell me about yesterday.
Alea: Well, I was in bed yesterday, after the fight. So was Tamlen for that matter.
Alea: Why do you want to know about that?
Tormer: Right.
Tormer writes "injuries"
Alea: We both were dismissed from the infirmary this morning.
Tormer: Tell me about the attack.
Nash starts squirming.
Beldon heads to Tamlen's office.
Alea: Well.
Tormer looks at Nash irritably.
Alea: I had just come out of my office when Avaleia walked in. Having a prior run-in with her, I knew who she was.
Alea: I thought to leave her with Tamlen until I could get some help.
Tormer: Oh, go to the toilet, if you can't be still. There's one in the lobby.
Alea: But Veraik walked right into the middle---
Alea blinks at Tormer.
Tormer holds up a hand to stop the flow of words.
Tormer: What time was this?
Alea gets up to go fix some tea.
Alea: Time?
Alea thinks.
Alea: Morning.
Tormer: Yes, time.
Alea puts on some water to boil and returns to her seat.
Beldon is having a difficult time identifying the appropriate office.
Beldon: Which office did he say it was?
Alea: As I was saying, Veraik walked in and she went crazy, starting yelling "Die, Die, DIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"
Alea: And she ran right toward Veraik.
Wise Snake walks up to the Sime Center, pleased with herself for having retained physical and mental cohesiveness all the way there to deliver B'cal in person.
Wise Snake opens the door for B'cal.
B'cal walks into the Center
Alea: Tamlen and I ran to help.
Alea: We didn't take into account that the woman had learned things from her previous attacks.
Alea: Tamlen ended up with a concussion and um ... other injuries.
Alea: I ended up with the bruises around my neck and a nearly broken knee.
Alea: Veraik ended up with other injuries as well as a sustained shock to his system from her wild Field, though he wasn't admitted to the infirmary for it.
Henchman: Here it is.
Alea: She doesn't seem as excitable around Gens as she is Simes.
Alea: She thinks its her mission in life to rid the world of the infection or some such.
Tormer frowns down at the page.
B'cal: At least it's warm in here.
B'cal mutters to Snake.
Tormer: An infection?
Alea: Simes.
Alea: Infecting humanity, I believe.
Alea: So, can I leave now?
Alea stands and crosses to turn off the boiling water.
Tormer gestures Alea firmly back to her seat.
Alea sighs, pours two cups of tea and carries hers back over to sit down.
Nash crosses his legs, ruining his firm stance.
Wise Snake: Yes, yes.
Alea chuckles at Nash.
Alea thinks the poor guy is pitiful standing there twisted up into knots like he is.
Nash leaves gratefully.
Alea: Wonderful help you have there.
Alea shakes her head.
Nash staggers down the hallway in search of el ban~o.
Tormer: Now, then, you mentioned a book that the woman was carrying.
Nash is having difficulty in locating the appropriate facilities.
Alea: Yes, yes I did.
B'cal sneers at the man who comes hobbling into the lobby.
Tormer: What sort of a book?
Alea: Big book with a hatchet inside it.
Tormer: A hatchet?
Tormer: You mean a picture of an ax?
Alea: Yes. You know, a hatchet. It's about this...No, an actual...well....it was a cleaver this last time.
Alea shrugs.
Alea: Hatchet, cleaver, they all do the same thing.
Tormer: So the woman was carrying a weapon?
Alea: You know I think it was a cleaver the last time, hatchet or some such the first time.
Nash staggers to a large potted plant sitting near the clerk's desk.
Nash undoes his pants and relieves himself in the bush's pot.
Tormer: What happened to this...cleaver...after the assault?
B'cal glares.
Wise Snake does a double take.
B'cal: Typical Sime Center trash.
Alea: I have no idea.
Alea: I imagine Cook is using it now.
Tormer glares at Alea.
Tormer: Tampering with evidence?
Alea lifts a haughty brow.
Nash feels great relief.
Nash: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Alea: If you ever came when we called, the evidence might still be here. And besides, I said I didn't KNOW...
Alea: I imagine the Controller will know that.
Nash does up his pants and saunters back out of the lobby.
B'cal looks to Snake.
Wise Snake: Did you recognize that guy? [Snake asks of B'cal]
B'cal: Looks like someone you would work with.
Tormer: She'd better. We can't keep criminals incarcerated without evidence, much as we'd like to.
B'cal: No..should I..I...
B'cal eyes widen.
Alea: Well how about the bruises around my neck. Is that not evidence enough?
Wise Snake watches with interest as comprehension dawns.
B'cal: That shendoni......That's one of the ones who ARRESTED me!
Tormer looks at the barely-perceptible marks.
Tormer: No.
Valrie, attracted by the noise, slips out of her room, tiptoes down the hall, and peeks into the lobby.
Wise Snake: Yes. That was Nash Mubrone, one of Tormer's stooges.
Alea sighs.
Wise Snake spots Valrie.
Alea: Well then, are we done yet?
Tormer: A tight case makes for a conviction.
Nash re-enters the conference room, his "case" no longer as "tight"
Alea thinks she knows what type of work he does and doubts Aveleia will ever make it to court.
Tormer glares at Nash, convicting him of being an imperfect stoogie nevertheless.
B'cal looks over at Tarsh and sneers then turns back to Valrie to see why she's in here.
Alea gets up, goes and dumps her tea and starts for the door.
Nash stands squared off near the door, hands clasped behind his back, wearing a completely bland expression.
Alea: If there is anything else I can do for you, let me know...
Nash is standing in the way of the door.
Alea waits for Nash to move.
Tormer: You can go, but don't leave town without leaving a message at police headquarters.
Alea: Huh.
Alea thinks that's the last place she'd call. Some people just don't get the hint.
Alea glares at Nash waiting for him to move.
Nash steps aside.
Alea goes out and saunters back toward the lobby.
Valrie watches the comings and goings with wide eyes.
Tormer gestures for Nash to follow him and tramps back to the lobby.
Nash follows, close enough behind that it's a good thing he's in step.
Alea walks in and sees the three new people and sighs.
Alea: Valrie, what are you doing out of bed.
Tormer looks around for Beldon and henchman.
Alea: Hello, Snake, Bcal.
Alea glares at Tormer behind his back.
Wise Snake glances at B'cal and Alea as Tormer enters.
Wise Snake wonders if this would be a good time to leave.
B'cal sneers at Tormer.
Tormer nods discreetly at Snake, then raises his eyebrows at the sight of B'cal.
Wise Snake realizes it would be a really bad idea to leave with B'cal face to face with this guy.
B'cal: What? You out causing more chaos in the world?
Wise Snake grips B'cal's arm hard.
Wise Snake: Uh, B'cal, let's go upstairs. [discreetly]
Wise Snake winces as B'cal blurts something too soon.
B'cal glares at Snake.
Tormer snorts contemptuous dismissal in B'cal's general direction.
Wise Snake: Come ON. [whispered]
B'cal: This is the shendoni idiot who can't figure out who to arre----
B'cal: What?
Wise Snake hopes to get B'cal out of the room before she succeeds in actually getting Tormer's undivided attention.
Wise Snake: Don't antagonize him!
B'cal: Someone should.
Tormer looks around for Beldon and henchman again.
B'cal: I should file charges against him.
B'cal: He's a menace to society.
B'cal: A total screw-up.
Tormer: Nash!
B'cal moves with Snake toward the stairs.
Wise Snake gratefully herds B'cal out of the danger zone.
B'cal: I reported him to the Tecton, by the way.
Wise Snake feels like she barely escaped something unspeakable.
Wise Snake: What!! When?
B'cal: When I got back.
Wise Snake: You're kidding me.
B'cal: The man is a menace. Should be arrested himself.
B'cal: Let HIM see how it feels to spend time in jail.
Wise Snake: Shen!
Wise Snake thinks this woman is as bad as Alea sometimes for getting into trouble.
Tormer snorts again at B'cal's back.
B'cal hears it and turns.
Nash: Yes, boss? [from 6 inches behind his boss]
Tormer: Go see what's keeping the others.
B'cal: Oh, don't worry, by the time it makes it down the channel, you'll regret your irrational little act.
Tormer: It shouldn't take that long to take a simple statement.
Wise Snake tightens her grip even further and uses a low level augmentation to urge B'cal rather firmly to keep walking.
Nash: Yes, Boss!
Nash starts to make a snappy salute, aborts the motion before he karate chops his boss in the forehead.
B'cal reluctantly turns.
Tormer: Oh, were you the one who filed that complaint?
Alea shakes her head in disbelief.
Wise Snake: Bloody shen.
Wise Snake starts hauling B'cal up steps.
Tormer is grinning broadly--and not nicely.
B'cal: Yes. Yes I was.
Wise Snake: Shut up, B'cal! Do you want to go to jail again?
Tormer guffaws.
B'cal: Bcal ambrov V'lar.
Wise Snake: Shhh!!!
B'cal: Think you can remember it dunder head?
Wise Snake: Don't listen to her! [over her shoulder] Just ignore her!
B'cal: Don't listen...
B'cal looks appalled.
B'cal: He SHOULD listen.
B'cal: He's a total screw up and deserves to lose his job.
Tormer: Well, B'cal ambrov V'lar, you provided my good friend the Tecton Marshal some much-wanted entertainment.
B'cal: Him and that thug of his!
B'cal sneers at Tormer.
Tormer: He called me up, and we laughed for a good ten minutes.
Nash marches off to locate Tamlen's office where Beldon and Henchman are supposed to be.
B'cal: I just bet you did.
Nash taps his billy club on every convenient surface, enjoying the different percussive effects produced.
B'cal: Someone with your warped mind couldn't help but laugh over a complaint filed against you.
Wise Snake throws up her hands and starts back down the stairs, walking around Tormer.
B'cal: You know, Snake, it's because of him I was falsely arrested and you were without a Donor...Hey...
Wise Snake: I'm not hearing this.. this isn't happening.... [stressed out]
B'cal goes down the stairs after Snake.
B'cal goes to Snake's side.
Tormer: Oh, he filed it, all right: in the circular file.
B'cal: I would think you would be glad this shendoni idiot had something filed against him.
B'cal turns and glares.
Nash finds an office with Tamlen's name on it, taps the door under the name with his billy club thoughtfully, then enters the room.
B'cal: We'll just make sure it goes to someone else then.
Wise Snake: WE will do no such thing.
Wise Snake: B'cal, you will stop this at once.
Tormer shrugs, unimpressed.
B'cal looks at Snake wisesnake upset.
B'cal: I'm suppose to let him get away with arresting me for no reason?
B'cal surprised at Snake's attitude.
Tamlen is just finishing his brief story.
Wise Snake: He did not arrest you for no reason! He arrested you because you were creating a disturbance in his office and you fit the description of Alea.
B'cal sees Snake is upset and forces her anger under control.
Wise Snake: If you had been able to calm down for one minute at the time, it could have been sorted out.
B'cal: He what?
B'cal: It could have been...
Wise Snake: This time, why don't you just cool it before he gets mad in the first place?
Wise Snake: Wouldn't that be so much simpler?
B'cal forces herself not to react to that.
B'cal smiles grimly.
Alea remembers that night and feels sick as she thinks of how Bcal was arrested.
B'cal: Of course, Snake.
Wise Snake: And what is this about a complaint to the Tecton? What in shen is that supposed to do? Fix everything?
B'cal: It would let them know how their Donors are being treated in Bender Cove. I imagine the Tecton wouldn't take a very nice view of that.
Wise Snake: Do you suppose that because he handled one screaming mad woman the wrong way he's mishandling the entirety of Bender Cove?
Wise Snake: Do you think he should be taking off duty because you were being a beast that day?
Wise Snake: Taking === taken.
B'cal snaps her mouth shut and doesn't reply.
Alea goggles, waiting for an explosion.
Wise Snake: Because that's what you're asking for, that's what you're doing when you complain to the Tecton about him.
Wise Snake: Did you even do any research to find out how well Tormer does his real job, before you filed that complaint?
Wise Snake: Or did you base it entirely upon his response to your behavior?
B'cal: I based it on more than that, or have you forgotten the mess he made of this Center?
B'cal: He's a brute who abuses his power.
Wise Snake: That. Was a perfectly ordinary shakeup. Something anybody born in this part of town would understand.
B'cal sneers.
B'cal: Well, I'm glad I'm not born in this part of town if it means destruction of property is legal.
Wise Snake thinks if B'cal had been born in this part of town, somebody would have strangled her as soon as she was old enough to learn how to talk.
Wise Snake: Look. Can we please go upstairs now?
B'cal: Of course.[tightly]
Wise Snake goes past Tormer again back up the stairs.
B'cal follows.
Alea thinks that went pretty good.
Wise Snake takes B'cal to her room.
Alea walks over to Tarsh and looks at the key he's holding.
Tormer returns to the lobby to wait for his three stoogies.
Alea: Briel pass the job off to you?
Tarsh is holding the key with white-knuckled hands.
Nash finds Tamlen, Beldon, and Henchman all asleep in Tamlen's office, on various chairs.
Tarsh: [ tightly ] "yes"
Alea ~~soothing~~
Nash smiles, sits down in a spare chair, and dozes off.
Alea: She just didn't realize you are due transfer in three days, I'm sure.
Tormer growls something under his breath, and stops off after his missing men.
Tormer reads the names on the offices as he passes them.
Tarsh: And that this Gn put me in killmode before...
Wise Snake waits until B'cal has entered the room.
Wise Snake: Are you going to stay up here now?
B'cal: Why should I?
Tormer: Alea...Controller...ah, here we are.
B'cal: I might want some breakfast.
Wise Snake: Until Tormer has left.
Tormer flings open the door to Tamlen's office.
Wise Snake: To avoid confrontation.
Nash: ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZzzz.
Tamlen jerks and his chair falls over backwards.
Tormer sees the errant nappers.
Alea: You wouldn't consider just giving him the key and letting him handle it?
Nash snorts and awakes with a start.
Tormer grabs Beldon's chair and tips it, dumping him on the ground.
Tamlen: Certainly. But are three Gen cops enough?
Tamlen: == make that Tarsh ==
Tamlen: OOfff!
Alea thinks of yesterday and has to wonder.
Nash quickly stands to attention.
Tormer: Wake up, you loafers!
Alea: Why don't you just give me the key...
Alea ~~queasy at the thought~~
Alea: I could go down there with them.
Tormer: Did you get the statement before you decided to take a nap?
Tarsh wrestles with his conflicting desire to stay away from Avaliea and his objection to Alea going near her.
Tormer glares at Beldon and henchman.
Wise Snake: Please. Can you just wait until he is gone?
Wise Snake: Do you want me to bring you breakfast?
B'cal sighs.
B'cal: Fine.
B'cal: I will try to.
B'cal: Yes, please.
Wise Snake: What do you want? I'll bring you something from the cafeteria.
Henchman: Yes we did sir.
B'cal: Food. Enough for you to share too.
Henchman tears off a page and holds it out.
Nash frowns approvingly.
B'cal: You should eat with me.
Tormer takes the page and inspects it.
Wise Snake hesitates, and then nods.
Wise Snake: Of course.
Wise Snake leaves the room and goes back to the stairs.
B'cal waits.
Wise Snake trudges down.
Tormer: Good. I didn't think this Sime Center could have two flakes of that magnitude.
Wise Snake doesn't feel at all hungry, but realizes she has to give something to B'cal in return for the promise to stay put.
Tormer: Let's collect the prisoner and get back to headquarters. This isn't our only case.
Alea: Perhaps I can find someone who might go instead?
Wise Snake is now known as Avaleia.
Tormer tramps back down to the lobby, the three henchmen trailing behind.
Avaleia sits demurely on the bed of her cell, her hands in her lap.
Nash rubs at his head.
Nash sets mode: +o Mostan
Alea looks at the people returning.
Alea: Tarsh, you don't want to go down there.
Tormer: Right, where's this holding cell of yours?
Alea turns to face the people, clasping her hands.
Mostan is now known as Tarsh.
Alea: We'll just give you the key and you can go down here and collect her, how's that?
Tarsh: No, I don't.
Nash snorts at the renSime who is scared.
Nash sets mode: +o `henchman
Nash elbows henchman and snickers.
Tormer turns to glare at Nash.
Nash looks at henchman.
Tormer: Nash, take the key.
Tormer turns back to Tarsh.
Tormer: Where's the cell?
`henchman looks irritated.
Nash reaches out for the key.
Nash glares at Tarsh waiting.
Tarsh: You go down the stairs and turn left. Room 007
Valrie is now known as Beldon.
Alea: /me sighs in relief
Nash jerks the key from Tarsh and heads off that way.
Tormer follows, Beldon close behind.
Nash finds the room and looks in through the window.
Nash: Will you look at that Boss. Scared of that little thing!
Avaleia is a small, innocent looking Gen woman sitting quietly on the bed.
Nash hands the key to Tormer.
Avaleia is looking rather beat up at the moment.... various bruises, cuts, etc.
Alea smiles.
Alea: You got out of that one.
Tormer peers in the window in turn, snorting at the injuries.
Tormer: Amateurs!
Alea: Someone should have a long talk with Briel about sending renSimes around someone like that.
Tormer unlocks the door and opens it.
Avaleia looks up.
Avaleia sees they are all Gens and smiles tentatively.
Nash moves in behind Tormer just in case she tries to run...then gapes when she smiles.
Avaleia: Are you here to rescue me?
Avaleia has a sweet, almost childlike voice.
Tormer: No, we're here to arrest you. Nash, read her her rights. Wouldn't want the judge to throw the case out on a technicality.
Nash thinks Tormer is being to hard, but turns and reads the woman her rights.
Nash moves over and takes one of her arms.
Nash: If you'll come this way Miz.
Beldon falls in on the other side, taking that arm.
`henchman stands behind her.
Alea: As a matter of fact, I think I'll have a talk with Briel.
Tormer leads the way back towards the stairs.
Alea: I just know how much she enjoys Farrsies.
Alea smiles at Tarsh with glee.
Avaleia goes with them docilely.
Tormer tramps up the steps to the lobby.
Avaleia is the picture of harmlessness... seems meek quiet still.
Nash thinks it's a shame such a tiny little thing is getting arrested like this. He wonders if the Center might be the one who picked the fight--then thinks of other cases where someone looked innocent.
Nash looks back at her and can't believe it...
Avaleia smiles tentatively at Nash.
Beldon doesn't have the imagination to wonder at Aveleia's appearance, but clomps along stolidly, gripping her arm firmly.
Tormer nods at Tarsh as they enter the lobby.
Tormer: Here's your key back.
Avaleia sees Tarsh.
`henchman carefully reaches for the key.
`henchman: == Tarsh ==
Tormer tosses the key contemptuously in Tarsh's direction.
Avaleia stamps solidly on Nash's insole.
Tarsh snaps it out of the air.
Nash: Aargh!
Nash jumps and grabs his foot.
Avaleia takes advantage of his loosened grip to yank hard on the arm Beldon is holding, using it to jerk her toward Beldon.
Avaleia uses that momentum to knee him solidly in the groin.
Alea: Oh shen!
Tarsh jerks, and turns to run out the back way.
Beldon yelps, his grip loosening.
Avaleia adds a jab to the eyes with her two hands, fingers made into gathered prongs.
Avaleia: <
`henchman throws his arms around Avaliea from behind.
Avaleia stamps on Henchman's right insole.
Tormer pulls out his nightstick.
Avaleia stamps on Henchman's left insole.
Nash hobbles over.
Avaleia elbows Henchman in the stomach.
`henchman: OWWW!
`henchman: OOFFFF!
Avaleia bends over and gives Henchman a chop to the groin behind her.
Beldon grabs Aveleia's foot and jerks, throwing her off balance.
Avaleia hits the deck and rolls.
`henchman twists and takes it on inner thigh.
Alea runs to the desk to alert Security.
Tarsh augments out the back way.
Avaleia crawls on her hands and knees then scrambles suddenly up to fling
herself wildly at Tarsh.
Avaleia: Aaarrghhh!!! [screams as Tarsh makes his escape]
Beldon staggers to his feet and tackles Aveleia from behind.
Avaleia spots a window.
Alea looks around from the phone and gasps.
Avaleia tries to leap out the glassed-in window.
Avaleia slams to the floor with Beldon wrapped around her.
Nash grabs at her other foot.
Avaleia slams Beldon in the face with her elbow.
Tormer comes up behind Aveleia and clomps her solidly over the head with
the club.
Avaleia takes a club to the head and sees stars.
Alea looks around to see if any Simes are near when he hits the Gen.
Avaleia: ~~~~rage~~~~~
Beldon: Ooof.
`henchman comes up, looking for an opening to grab Avaliea.
Tormer hits Aveleia again, this time on the ribs.
Alea: Will you be careful!
Alea wringing her hands.
Avaleia lets out a horrible shriek, like an elephant in heat trampling a
store full of car horns.
Nash ducks getting back from Avaleia and the blows from Tormer.
Beldon holds on.
Avaleia bites Beldon solidly in the forearm.
Tormer thwacks Alveleia on the head again.
Tormer: Get your cuffs ready, Nash!
Avaleia's sight explodes into white as she is bonked again....
Nash fumbles with the cuffs.
Avaleia: ~~~~~~~pure fury~~~~~
Avaleia claws, kicks and bites Beldon.
Alea can't stand to watch and decides to go for help.
`henchman grabs one arm to wrestle it out for Nash.
Nash snaps the cuff on.
Avaleia howls like a tornado on acid.
Avaleia whips her arm free and lashes Nash with the flailing cuff.
Beldon grabs the other arm, and pulls it back.
Tarsh sits panting in the gazebo, not noticing the cold.
Alea hears it and hurries back in.
Alea sighs as she sees it under control.
Nash snaps the other one on.
Alea ~~shaking~~
Tormer: Get her ankles, too, boys.
`henchman fumbles for the cuffed arm.
Avaleia kicks Nash firmly.
Alea turns and leaves to go check on Tarsh.
Nash: Eeeaaagggguuuu!
Nash hobbles again.
Tarsh looks at Gnome. "You're the only one safe from her."
Avaleia curls on her side, braced, ready to kick in any direction.
Avaleia breathing hard, snarling.
Nash falls across Avaleia's legs, groaning in pain.
Avaleia: Sime loving demons! [pant pant]
Beldon takes advantage of their temporary immobility to cuff her ankles firmly
together.
Nash thinks he was wrong about this one....to his everlasting regret.
Alea hurries outside and looks around for Tarsh.
Tormer: One more, I think.
Henchman pulls the cuffed arm towards the other.
Avaleia: You're all going to die!
Avaleia: The one-love is coming!
Avaleia: You will be wiped from the earth like scum!
Nash looks up at Avaleia in anger.
Avaleia's eyes are dilated, insane.
`henchman reflects that she may be right if they get more suspects like this.
Tormer: We'll all die someday, Ma'am. You can save the rest for the judge.
Tormer takes a third pair of cuffs, and links the wrist cuffs to the ankle
cuffs, effectively hog-tying Aveleia.
Alea sees Tarsh and goes over in the general direction.
Alea: You okay?
Tormer: We'll have to carry her, boys.
Nash gets off Avaleia.
Avaleia: You eat from the trough of the flesh-eaters, ugly man!
Nash doesn't want to be near the crazed Gen.
Avaleia: Your children will squirm with maggots!
Tarsh is trying to breathe deeply. "Yeah. As well as can be expected."
Tormer walks over to the reception desk and checks a few of the drawers.
Tormer: Ahh, this should do.
Tormer takes out a roll of packing tape and strolls back to Aveleia.
Tarsh: Killing her might almost be worth it...
Alea tentatively offers support reassurance.
Tarsh: Never zlinned a junct Gn before.
Alea: Yeah.
Avaleia sees what Tormer has in mind and lets out a screech of rage like
glass sliding across the world's longest blackboard.
Avaleia: ~~~~ nager shoots jets of fire in red, lavender, and green~~~~
Tormer winces at the noise, and hastily tapes her mouth shut.
Avaleia: ~~~hate~~~~
Nash glances around at the gathering crowd then back at the Gen and thinks
her field is what should be subdued.
Tormer: Right, boys, good work.
Avaleia: ~~~~nager blazes rabid rage~~~~
`henchman starts to put his hands to his ears, and remembers he's supposed
to be holding a suspect.
Avaleia is now known as wisesnake.
Nash reaches to lift Avaleia.
Wise Snake starts to walk through the lobby carrying B'cal's breakfast, zlins
the ambient therein, and beats a hasty retreat.
Wise Snake is now known as Avaleia.
Tarsh: They keep hold of her?
Tormer sees Snake's hasty retreat.
Alea: Yeah, she's cuffed.
Avaleia pants wildly through her nose and makes threatening growling noises.
Tormer: Take her to the jail and book her, boys. I'll be along shortly.
Alea: They beat her. I know it shouldn't bother me, but watching them as
they hit her with the stick... I'm glad you were gone by then.
Tarsh blows a long breath out. "Good."
Nash nods.
Nash: Right Boss.
Tarsh winces at the thought.
Avaleia's eyes are glazed and her limbs are shaking with tension.
`henchman wonders if they should take a detour to an alley where she could
fall down again.
Nash lifts and motions to Beldon and henchman to help.
`henchman pulls Avaliea to her feet, sorta.
Beldon helps lift the prisoner.
Nash starts out of the building with Avaleia in tow.
`henchman goes along.
Tormer heads the opposite direction after Snake.
Wise Snake lurks in the cafeteria, trying to get up the nerve to go out there
again.
Wise Snake is a nervous wreck.
Tormer pokes his nose in various doors, until he finds the cafeteria.
Wise Snake: This places is shenned dangerous!
Alea: Breathing a little easier?
Tormer: There you are.
Wise Snake: [mutters to self]
Wise Snake jumps.
Tarsh: Yeah. Calming down.
Wise Snake looks around nervously but Tormer's attention is obviously on
her.
Tarsh: Thanks.
Wise Snake: Ah... Tormer.
Wise Snake sets B'cal's tray down carefully.
Alea forces her field neutral, away from Tarsh and moves over by him.
Alea drops down next to him.
Alea: I heard Tramila is giving you transfer.
Tarsh: Tramila? Don't think I've had her before.
Tarsh: She's a first, right?
Alea: She's a Farris.
Alea: She was my transfer partner this last time.
Tormer: A nasty piece of business, that.
Wise Snake : What was that, exactly?
Tormer: Some crazy woman--looks harmless enough, but she goes ballistic when
she sees a Sime.
Tarsh grins. "So it's not that far from you, then."
Alea grins too.
Tormer: I was told you'd treated her once?
Alea: I guess you can think of it that way. I gave her my selyn and she gives
it to you.
Alea chuckles at the thought.
Wise Snake: Ah.... yes.
Wise Snake: She was unconscious at the time. She zlinned... a lot differently.
Tormer: How so?
Wise Snake: She just zlinned like a normal Gen.
Wise Snake: Actually when I found her she was lying out on the front steps
of the Center. I thought she was a mugging victim.
Tormer is paying strict attention, although his notebook is still in his
pocket in deference to Snake's desire for anonymity.
Tormer: Do you have any idea what might cause her...behavior? Any signs of
abnormalities?
Wise Snake hesitates.
Wise Snake: Well... at the time I examined her, I didn't know of her... record.
I wasn't really looking for anything like that. But I would say... not really.
Not physically, anyway.
Wise Snake is not about to suggest she zlin the woman while conscious.
Tarsh notices Alea shivering. "Com'on, let's go back in.
Alea glances up.
Tormer sighs.
Alea: Oh.
Alea: Yeah.
Wise Snake: She had obviously been beaten many times in her life, and known
a lot of hardship.. but many people are like that.
Alea stands.
Alea: I shouldn't be around you anyway.
Wise Snake spreads hands and tentacles at Tormer's sigh.
Alea: I just really wanted to check, make sure you were okay.
Tormer: One more nutcase.
Tormer: Why do they always happen on my watch?
Tarsh: Yeah. I lucked out again.
Wise Snake's eyebrows raise.
Alea: Must have been born under a lucky star.
Wise Snake nods sympathetically.
Tormer thinks of something.
Alea starts back toward the center's door, trudging through the snow.
Tarsh: Absolutely. I met you, didn't I?
Alea looks at Tarsh and smiles.
Tarsh walks along, brushing the snowcap off gnome.
Alea: You're so sweet.
Tormer: Do you remember that stolen art object I asked you about a few weeks
back?
Alea winks.
Tarsh grins goofily.
Alea shakes her head
Alea: Such a put on ... and only three days away.
Wise Snake looks surprised.
Wise Snake: I think so.. yes?
Alea trudges up to the door chuckling.
Tormer: Did you ever hear anything on the streets?
Tarsh: I have to prepare. Lay the groundwork, as it were.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Alea grins.
Wise Snake: No. Although I did hear from several different sources that an
investigation after something big was afoot.
Alea: You don't have to lay groundwork with me.
Alea reaches for the door, her fingers freezing.
Tormer: ~~disappointment, frustration~~
Wise Snake: And... [hesitates]
Tormer: Yes?
Wise Snake's loyalties battling briefly; then it's over.
Alea sighs as the warmth of the Center hits her face.
Wise Snake: Well... I caught one of my Donors, a Zeor Donor, participating
in some investigation he wouldn't tell me the details of.
Tormer nods cynically.
Tormer: It figures. They never leave the important stuff to the locals.
Wise Snake: He's long gone now. But this was right around the time you first
approached me about the matter.
Alea moves on into the building blowing Tarsh a kiss before she heads up
the hall.
Tormer: Well, the latest word is that the object--whatever it is--was traced
to Bender Cove.
Tormer: That was two months ago, and there hasn't been a glimpse of it since.
Not so much as a rumor.
Wise Snake frowns thoughtfully.
Tormer: No one knows what it is, or who has it. None of the usual parties
seem to be involved...
Wise Snake: Two months ago?
Tormer: Yes. Is there some new group moving in that I haven't heard of yet?
Wise Snake: Well, I can ask a couple of people again.
Wise Snake: Several you might not have encountered yet, but I don't think
any of them are major enough to pull off something like that.
Wise Snake: I assume the Tecton has been cooperating in providing information
on who was transferred to and from the Center during that time?
Tormer scowls.
Tormer: No.
Wise Snake: It hasn't? [confused]
Tormer: I only learned that the thing was traced to my precinct because I
went to school with the Tecton Marshall.
Tormer: This thing is so hush-hush that nobody knows to look for it!
Wise Snake laughs.
Tormer: ~~frustration of a competent officer being prevented from doing his
job~~
Wise Snake: Well... have you tried talking to the people here directly?
Wise Snake: Rather than going through Central or Regional?
Wise Snake: You know how the people Uptown feel about this Center.
Tormer: I'll do that. And, Snake, if you find any informants, both you and
they will receive the usual consideration. And maybe a little more, if the
tip's good.
Wise Snake looks curious.
Wise Snake: Well, I do have a number of more ideas while we've talked.
Wise Snake: I will speak to a couple of people and see what I can find out.
Nash is now known as Bcal.
Tormer: Good. It's got to be somewhere--whatever it is.
Wise Snake: Hey, uh, Tormer...
Tormer raises an interrogative eyebrow.
B'cal comes down the stairs.
Wise Snake: I assume you know I put in a proposal to buy that old Ferry building.
B'cal looks around, sees Alea going through files at the desk and no one
else around.
Wise Snake: What would I have to do to get you to write a letter of
recommendation for me?
Tormer: Yeah. What do you want to do with the old ruin, anyway?
Wise Snake: I want to run a sort of community meeting-place and clinic there.
Wise Snake: Essentially many of the same services I am providing now, but
from a centralized location.
Tormer: What do you require a letter for?
B'cal goes down the hall, snapping at everyone she sees, trying to locate
Snake.
Wise Snake: Nothing specifically, it just occurred to me that the better
I look, the more likely the City will be to sell.
Wise Snake: You know, the more legitimate...
Tormer snorts at the idea of Snake and legitimacy.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: Well... if you think of anything I could do in return for such
a thing, let me know.
B'cal gets angrier as she hears the story of what happened in the lobby and
starts checking infirmary room to see if snake is laid out in one--permanently
from the insane woman.
Tormer: Tell you what. You get me a lead on this missing art, and I'll phone
the Planning Commission members myself.
Wise Snake grins.
Wise Snake: All right, it's a deal.
Tormer: Right, then. I'd better get back before the boys mislay the keys
to that nutcase's cell.
Wise Snake nods and picks up B'cal's tray.
B'cal comes on down the hall and toward the kitchen.
Tormer clomps down the hall towards the lobby.
B'cal sees Tormer and sneers as she passes.
Wise Snake waits a suitable time and then exits the cafeteria also.
Tormer tips his hat mockingly at B'cal, then continues towards the lobby.
B'cal: There you are!
Wise Snake jumps.
B'cal rounds the corner to the cafeteria and sees Snake.
Wise Snake: B'cal! What are you.... uh, why don't you join me in the cafeteria.
B'cal: At least you're alive.
B'cal nods.
Wise Snake backpedals towards the cafeteria.
B'cal moves up to support her.
Wise Snake: Alive? Of course.
B'cal: That's the last time I leave you alone in this Center.
B'cal: Someone should have been with you. that crazy woman...
B'cal trails off and sneers.
Wise Snake: Ah... she did zlin rather....
B'cal: Crazy, insane, half-baked?
Wise Snake realizes she isn't sure exactly what she zlinned, especially since
the moment she zlinned it she fled.
B'cal: Or half, un-baked for that matter.
Wise Snake: She zlinned like more than one person.
Wise Snake: All of them crazy.
B'cal: I can see that.
Wise Snake: Sort of... I don't know. I didn't get a good reading before I
took off.
B'cal goes over to a table and seats herself.
Wise Snake hopes B'cal isn't going to chastise her for cowardice.
Alea finishes with the files and turns to leave.
Wise Snake sits down next to B'cal and puts the tray in front of B'cal.
Alea sees Tormer and goes the other way.
B'cal projects hunger.
B'cal: Well, let's eat.
B'cal [to snake]
B'cal picks up a spoon and begins to eat.
Tormer clomps through the lobby and heads for the jail.