Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario

Episode #191: A Peaceful Place (3/22/98)

[view copyright information]

Alea pulls her cloak tighter about her wondering just where she is.

Alea has had plenty of time to wander and wonder, and is exhausted.

Mytag: There is no need to worry. I'll stay with you until you are settled.

Alea is very high field, very zlinnable as a Farris even though she is six months pregnant and her field is lower than normal.

Alea: What the shenned am I going to say to Tarsh?

Alea ~~ worry ~~

Alea: Of course I might not ever find my way back, so what do I have to worry about?

Alea: You are going to have to get yourself a compass, Alea.

Alea: And stop talking to yourself!

Alea pauses and rubs at her tummy.

Alea rubs her back.

Alea pushes a branch away, thinking she is finally finding the clearing.

Alea sees what looks to be a path.

Alea: Finally!

Ison zlins Alea and turns to Mytag.

Alea rubs at her numbed cheeks.

Alea: Shen, I should have stayed in that small house I found.

Mytag: There is no way I'm going to leave you until I'm sure that they have a suitable Donor for you.

Alea shivers.

Alea rubs her stomach again getting worried.

Ison zlins the very pregnant Alea ahead of him and wonders why she is out here.

Alea: I'm so sorry, sweetie.

Alea: I wasn't thinking when I went for a walk that I might get lost.

Alea: I'm not going to lose you too, though.

Alea: We'll make it.

Alea ~~ relief ~~

Alea hears a noise and turns, sees two horses.

Alea sees Householding capes.

Alea ~~ relief ~~

Alea stumbles out toward the horses.

Alea ~~ cold and numb but greatly relieved to see help ~~

Mytag turns his attention away from the channel to see what Ison is peering at.

Ison is shocked. "A pregnant girl out here all alone?"

Mytag sees the pregnant woman coming towards them and stops.

Ison: Mytag, offer her your coat.

Alea: Uh, hello! [calls out]

Mytag looks at Ison as if he were mad.

Ison notices her field and is a little taken aback at the quality considering she's with child.

Mytag dismounts and leads his horse over to the woman.

Alea nods to Mytag.

Alea: Zeor offers greetings to... I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with your House. [apologetically even though she's freezing her toes off]

Alea's cape is the Zeor blue and Farris black, noting just who and what she is.

Ison: Hello, I am Ison and this is Mytag. Why ever are you out here?

Alea: Ah, Naros. [suddenly recognizes the cloak]

Alea: I am, well,

Alea: I'm from the Bender Cove Sime Center.

Alea ~~ allows a bit of embarrassment to show ~~

Alea: I am Alea Farris ambrov Zeor, hajene. [to Ison]

Mytag wraps his cloak over hers.

Mytag: That's where we are headed.

Mytag: Mytag ambrov Naros at your service.

Alea: Oh no, please. I can't take your cloak.

Mytag: It's fine, I'll get another out of my bag in a tick.

Alea thinks gold and silver cover up her blue and black... but doesn't argue.

Alea: You're going there?

Alea looks at Ison.

Alea: You must be the new channel we are expecting.

Mytag: So we are close to Bender Cove? I thought we still had miles to go.

Alea moves over to Ison.

Alea: Uh....

Alea: Uh... well....

Alea's cheeks warm up again with embarrassment.

Alea: I'm not exactly sure just how much further we have to go.

Ison is delighted to find such a strong field and decides to show Alea special attention.

Mytag quickly imposes his field between them (unobtrusively and kindly).

Ison: What brings you out here in such cold conditions?

Alea looks at Mytag, surprised, then coolly her chin going up in typical Farris arrogance.

Alea smiles feebly.

Alea: I was going for a walk.

Alea: And, well....

Alea mutters really REALLY low....

Alea: I got lost.

Mytag: Alea was it? Here Alea, how about you hop up on my horse, I could do with walking anyway.

Alea looks at the horse, then looks at Mytag incredulously.

Alea looks down at her large stomach, then back at the horse.

Alea: Uh....

Alea: Just hop up on it....

Mytag sees Alea's problem "Here, let me help you." He picks her up and sits her, side saddle, on the horse.

Alea: Well....

Alea: Whoa!

Alea grabs onto the saddle for dear life.

Mytag: She is very quiet and gentle. You'll be fine.

Alea ~~ fear ~~

Alea realizes a channel is here and blunts her fear.

Alea: O-o-of course.

Alea: I'm a Farris.

Alea: I'll be fine.

Ison flinches.

Mytag: Ah, a Farris. Well I am pleased to meet you.

Mytag: ~~ calm and sure support ~~

Alea: And you, Mytag.

Alea notes how sensitive Ison is and adjusts her field.

Alea: I thank you for the ride, Hajene, Naztehr.

Mytag walks between the two horses and keeps his support in a relaxed, practised manner on Ison.

Mytag: No problem. [rubs butt] I needed a walk anyway!

Alea: Do you happen to uh, know how far we are from Bender Cove?

Florist signals at the door of the Ferry Building.

Florist thinks that if this keeps up he will be doing this in his sleep.

Mytag: Well, by Ison's calculations it's about 2 hours off still, I think. [looks at Ison for confirmation]

Ison: Yes, a little over 2 hours.

Alea smiles her thanks at Ison.

Alea glances at Mytag again.

Mytag is a male Donor of Asian descent.

Alea looks at the Donor's dark features and dark hair.

Alea: So, Mytag... have you been at this Household long?

Mytag: Grew up there. So did my shy friend there. [indicates Ison] Been friends and companions all our lives.

Alea: Oh my. How nice.

Alea: I grew up at Zeor.

Mytag realises that Ison is still tense about this change and increases his support. ~~ all's fine and safe ~~

Mytag wishes he could quiz Alea on the availability of Donors at the Center, but is stymied by the presence of Ison.

Mytag: A lovely area too, so I hear.

Mytag: So, what can you tell us about Bender Cove?

Alea: Well... It's a fair size town as they go.

Alea: It's mainly Gen population even though it is on the Sime Side of the border.

Alea shifts on the horse, loosening her grip just a little though she is still certain it's going to toss her off.

Alea: I'd say 80 or 90% Gens if I had to hazard a guess.

Alea: We actually have two Sime Centers.

Alea: The ritzy one we call Uptown Sime Center and then ours, the "Bender Cove Inner-City Sime Center".

Alea wonders why Ison gets to straddle the horse but she doesn't.

Alea thinks his way looks a lot safer.

Mytag: Really! Oh yes, that's the one we are going to.

Alea: That's the one I work at.

Alea: It's a very nice Center.

Alea: Ummm....

Mytag: For a moment I was worried that we might not be going to yours.

Mytag: Fairly new isn't it?

Alea glances at Ison and wonders if she should mention Avaleia.

Alea: Well yes, it is.

Alea: The other one burned down.

Alea: This is an old deserted school that we took over.

Alea shifts again.

Alea sees the horse look at her and looks back at it in warning.

Alea: Anyway....

Alea: If you know what parts of town not to go to, you'll be safe.

Mytag: I'll not be there permanently, just until Ison settles in. Then I'm back home.

Alea: Ah, I see.

Alea: Well, Bender Cove, and Zeor, of course, welcome you.

Mytag pulled a lot of strings to get this assignment. He hadn't felt comfortable at the thought of his friend in anyone else's hands during the change.

Alea: Briel ambrov R'lea is currently the co-Controller as well as Veraik ambrov Liorie.

Alea: We have, amazingly enough, several Firsts.

Alea: I think because we get all the uh... the extra people they gave us extra help.

Mytag: How are you off for Donors? I might be able to stay....

Alea: Actually we could use some more high Seconds right now.

Alea: We could use some Firsts too but you know how those are.

Alea: My field is only at a high Second right now... possibly a low First.

Alea: This will probably be my last month to transfer with a channel, unless I can get one more month out of them.

Alea smiles.

Mytag isn't pleased to hear that they are short on seconds but is relieved that Ison seems to be off with the birdies in his usual fashion.

Alea: Perhaps even I will be considered to transfer with Ison unless the Controller has his way and I'm taken off duty early.

Alea: Anyway....

Alea feels warmth oozing back into her from the extra cloak, but wonders if she is ever going to be warm.

Alea wishes she was on the horse behind the Sime... thinking how warm that would be.

Mytag: [the road they are travelling widens out]

Alea eyes Ison speculatively.

Florist signals at the door of the Ferry Building.

Florist thinks that if this keeps up he will be doing this in his sleep.

Alea sighs and decides she'd better not ask since Mytag seems so touchy.

Briel goes looking for Eliza.

Toi Toi answers the door.

Toi Toi stares at the flowers, then takes a deep breath.

Toi Toi: Hello. Delivery?

Toi Toi holds out her hands for the familiar forms to sign.

Florist thrusts a clip board out. "FlowersforMizWisnakesignhere."

Toi Toi signs and takes the flowers, nearly staggering under the size of the arrangement.

Toi Toi: Uh... thanks.

Florist hands Toi Toi 24 long stemmed Yellow Roses with Green Ferns.

Toi Toi: Thank you.

Toi Toi closes the door behind the florist (with an effort) then hauls the roses to the back room with all the other flowers.

Toi Toi brushes herself off making sure no pollen or anything remains, then closes the glass-paned door sealing the flower room off from the rest of the building.

Toi Toi hurries back to the front desk.

Alea realizes she is very exhausted when she realizes she is drooping in the saddle.

Mytag sees that the little lady is having problems.

Mytag: Actually, would you mind if I rode behind you for awhile? My feet are getting sore.

Briel zlins for Eliza.

Eliza is in her room, not asleep, but seeing no reason to get up.

Alea glances at Mytag.

Alea: Not at all.

Alea tries to decide how to move.

Mytag swings up behind Alea and gently puts his arms around her to take the reins, and, incidentally, support her at the same time.

Alea: Can I swing my leg over...?

Alea lifts her arms to make room for Mytag's hands.

Mytag: Sure, if you want to. [holds Alea so that she can]

Mytag: Just swing it forward.

Briel goes to Eliza's room to check for her.

Alea lifts her leg and awkwardly pulls it over.

Alea ~~ relief ~~

Alea: This feels much better.

Alea tries to hold herself up straight, but finds herself slowly relaxing back against Mytag.

Briel zlins Eliza and signals at her door.

Eliza sits up in bed wondering who that is.

Eliza: Oh! I'm here, I'll be right with you.

Eliza clambers out of bed and slips a gown over the top of her nightie.

Eliza runs over to the door and opens it.

Briel: That's fine. It's me, Briel.

Eliza: Briel! Was I suppose to meet you or something?

Eliza: Did I forget an appointment?

Eliza runs her hands through her sleep mussed hair.

Briel: Actually, yes.

Briel: We were supposed to be meeting to discuss what happened the other day with you.

Briel: Would you feel more comfortable doing that here?

Briel zlins her state and notes her state of undress.

Eliza: I'm sorry. I didn't realise that I had to meet with you this morning and I guess I slept in.

Eliza: ~~ tired and bleary ~~

Briel: That's fine.

Briel: We can talk here.

Briel: Mind if I come in?

Eliza: No, I mean, I don't mind.

Eliza moves back to let Briel in, glad that Mostan didn't stay the previous night.

Briel slips in and goes over to sprawl in a chair.

Briel: Please, sit down, relax, Eliza.

Eliza moves over the the bed and pulls the covers up then sits on it.

Briel: So, Eliza... how are you feeling today?

Eliza doesn't know, she hasn't been awake long enough to find out.

Eliza rubs her eyes.

Eliza: I'm fine, Briel.

Eliza remembers Shonie and the reason she is so tired, and hopes that Briel hasn't heard about it.

Briel: So... do you like being a Donor, Eliza?

Eliza: Yes, Briel, I do.

Briel zlins the truth of that.

Briel: Then we have to set about getting you back working as soon as possible. How does that sound?

Eliza: ~~relieved~~ That sounds good.

Briel: Great.

Briel: So, wanna tell me what happened the other day with the pickpocket?

Briel leans back and crosses an ankle over her leg very casually.

Eliza: I can't remember what happened with the pickpocket actually. Alea said that this kid grabbed my money and ran and that I took off after him. I don't remember it though.

Briel: What is the first thing you do remember?

Eliza: I remember waking up next to Mos, then I was in the warehouse and [shudders] and then Snake was holding me and I was at the Ferry Building.

Briel: No idea at all what set you off?

Briel: I'm assuming that this might have had something to do with the trauma you experienced when coming here with John?

Eliza frowns with concentration.

Briel: Why don't we talk about that for awhile?

Eliza: ~~ withdrawn ~~

Eliza takes a deep breath and lifts her head.

Eliza: All right, Briel.

Briel nods and waits.

Eliza: What do you want me to say?

Eliza: I wrote down what happened like you said.

Briel: Yes, but I'd rather hear it in your own words.

Briel: That should be easier now, since you've written it down and I've read it, right?

Eliza: All of it?

Briel: Well no, just what you consider important.

Briel: Whatever you feel like talking about.

Eliza: Well, we were sleeping in a warehouse and John went out to find me food. He wasn't eating much then. And then these men came in and John came back and they murdered him.

Eliza: And I ran and came here.

Briel: Warehouse?

Briel: Do you think the fact that you were in the warehouse district, Eliza, might have triggered your panic?

Eliza: I guess so.

Briel nods.

Briel: Well, why do you think about it some and we'll talk later.

Briel: How's that?

Eliza: Okay.

Eliza: ~~ relieved ~~

Briel stands and starts toward the door.

Briel: Oh, by the way, Eliza....

Eliza: Yes? ~~caution~~

Briel: This month you'll be sleeping in my room every evening. Donor training. [Briel leaves out because of the needmares she'll probably have]

Eliza looks surprised. "Oh! I see. Thank you Hajene."

Briel nods.

Briel: As soon as you're dressed, report downstairs to work.

Briel leaves.

Briel goes down the stairs and into the lobby to check the assignments for the day and make sure they are posted.

Eliza sighs and heads for the bathroom to get ready.

Briel has been checking up more since she found out someone was changing everything.

Briel stops at the desk and checks the boards and nods with satisfaction.

Briel turns and surveys the lobby.

Walter comes into the lobby with his bucket and mop.

Walter proceeds to mop the lobby, regardless of the fact there are people there.

Briel: Uh...Walter....

Walter stands up to what could possibly amount to attention if he were full of feathers. "Yes Hajene!"

Briel: You might want to mop away from the people.

Jon Drake is upstairs in his room, still groggy from the rigors of travel by train from the Nivet capital.

Briel: We don't want to get their feet all wet.

Briel smiles.

Walter looks confused for a moment. "Yes Hajene!"

Briel nods.

Walter turns his back on the lounge at one side and starts to mop towards the middle, then turns around and repeats the movement on the other side.

Briel watches what Walter does and shakes her head and then leaves the lobby.

Walter finishes his mopping and pulls out a cloth and begins dusting around people.

Walter wipes the glass in front of the schedule board.

Walter finds that it's not locked and opens the glass door.

Walter proceeds to wipe the blackboard clean.

Eliza slips on a slightly crumpled uniform and heads out to see what Briel wants her to do.

Jon Drake gets up and groggily makes his way to the bathroom.

Briel goes to Jirelle's office and signals.

Wise Snake sits down at her desk for another round of sorting out mail.

Jirelle jumps up and answers the door.

Jirelle: Oh! Briel.

Jirelle: [anxiously]

Jirelle waves her tentacles.

Jirelle: Oh, what can I do for you today, Briel?

Jirelle hopes she hasn't been doing anything wrong that would warrant the visit.

Briel: May I come in, Jirelle?

Jirelle: Yes! Yes, yes, of course.

Jirelle ushers Briel in, genuinely worried now.

Briel: Thank you.

Walter puts away the cloth, picks up the mop and bucket, and leaves.

Jirelle thinks maybe it was that bit in the lobby with Eliza yesterday.

Briel goes inside the tiny office and looks around.

Briel: Please, Jirelle... nothing is the matter.

Briel: Everything is fine.

Jirelle is dreadfully sorry about running out like that and wonders if Eliza has registered a complaint that Jirelle is difficult to work with.

Jirelle: Oh!

Jon Drake steps into the shower.

Briel goes over and seats herself, wondering why Jirelle gets so worried every time she is around.

Jirelle thinks Briel is being awfully nice about all this.

Jirelle sits down nervously, in awe of the Controller being IN her OFFICE.

Jirelle: (such as it is)

Eliza enters the lobby to have a habitual look at the board.

Jirelle realizes she is lucky to even have an office, and shouldn't complain about the size.

Jirelle feels guilty for the office thing.

Briel is thankful she has had transfer and is not quite so sensitive to mood swings at the moment.

Briel: I wanted to let you know the transfer schedule has been posted.

Eliza looks blankly at the blackboard. The blackboard looks blankly back at her.

Wise Snake looks at the wheelbarrow full of mail and sighs, then takes a handful and sorts through them.

Wise Snake: Bills... bills... bills... bills....

Jirelle: Oh! Great! That's wonderful.

Jirelle wonders if she is being given a hint that she should have been working with somebody already, and hasn't been checking the board often enough.

Jirelle: ~~worry~~

Jirelle: ~~weak grin~~

Briel: I came to tell you personally because....

Briel sighs, wondering how to be delicate about this.

Briel: Well....

Jirelle smiles hopefully, in fear that something horrible will be said next.

Briel: You'll be working with... Alea.

Jirelle: I will?!?!

Jirelle thinks she must have heard wrong.

Jirelle: Alea Farris?

Briel: And I wanted to let you know that you are the channel and if she gives you ANY problems, you are to come to me immediately.

Briel: Yes.

Briel: Alea Farris.

Jirelle: Wow!

Jirelle is at a loss for words.

Jirelle: That's... wow.

Jirelle: I'm.... wow.

Briel: Her pregnancy has lowered her field considerably and she is on level with you right now.

Jirelle: Gosh... I just... oh, wow.

Wise Snake peers at a letter's return address closely, then holds it up to the light, then tosses it in the same pile.

Eliza looks around to ask the Clerk what's happening and sees that there is no clerk there either.

Wise Snake: "Bill...."

Briel has second thoughts about the assignment seeing Jirelle as an easy target for Alea.

Jirelle feels tears coming to her eyes.

Briel: You do understand, Jirelle? Don't let Alea be bossy with you.

Eliza sighs and heads off to Briel's office.

Jirelle: I don't know what I've done to... but... oh, thank you.

Jirelle: Thank you, thank you, Briel.

Briel: What is it?

Briel: What's the matter?

Briel: What you've done?

Jirelle darts over to Briel and gets down on her knees, clutching Briel's hands.

Briel shakes her head.

Jirelle: Oh, thank you thank you!!!!

Jirelle: Oh, this is... wow.

Briel thinks great... Farris worship.

Jirelle can't believe it.

Briel ~~ ugh ~~~

Jirelle: ~~~great uprising of spirits and excited enthusiasm and optimism~~

Jirelle: Wow!

Eliza signals at Briel's door.

Briel: Well uh... that's great.

Briel: If you see Alea, you can make sure she knows.

Briel: Now, if you'll excuse me... I have work to do.

Briel: Remember, any problems, please feel free to come talk to me, okay?

Jirelle: Oh... of course! Of course. I will.

Jirelle beams tearfully.

Briel nods and goes to the door.

Jirelle: Thank you. I don't know what I did to deserve.. but... thank you.

Briel slips out the door.

Briel: Yes, yes.

Jirelle lets Briel's hands go and stands.

Briel pulls the door closed behind her.

Jirelle: Wow! [after Briel is gone]

Debbitte skips up to the Ferry building and pulls the cord.

Briel: Shen... that girl should be locked away for her own safety.

Wise Snake jumps.

Briel shakes her head and goes down toward her office.

Briel zlins Eliza.

Briel: Eliza?

Wise Snake: Sky!

Briel: Hello.

Wise Snake: Sky, would you... where in shen did he get off to?

Wise Snake grumbles and pushes herself up from the desk, trudges down the stairs.

Wise Snake looks around for the receptionist, realizes the woman is in the bathroom.

Wise Snake sighs and opens the door.

Wise Snake: Hello?

Wise Snake: Oh... hello.

Wise Snake lets Debbitte in.

Debbitte: I'm back! Ready to get to work. [indicates the buckets and rags she is carrying]

Wise Snake: Great. And we have ordered the Farris safe detergents you'll need.

Debbitte: Ah, great! What room do you want me to start in?

Eliza is surprised that Briel is behind her and turns around in shock. ~~ shock ~~

Wise Snake: Better start in Rapol's... Nick is asleep.

Debbitte heads for the indicated door and opens it. She is greeted with a scene not unlike Nick's room was the other day before she cleaned it.

Debbitte puts down the buckets and starts picking up dirty washing, dirty cups, dirty magazines....

Jirelle leaves her office and sets about to find Alea.

Jirelle heads to the lobby to study the schedule board.

Jirelle is taken aback when she finds it blank.

Mytag cradles the asleep Alea against him as they finally ride into town.

Jirelle scratches her head and worries that maybe she totally missed hearing about some new system they have implemented.

Mytag: Should I wake her, Ison? Do you know where the Center is?

Jirelle goes to Alea's office and uses the Gen signal.

Ison: I have no idea Mytag, better wake her up.

Jirelle, puzzled, tries Alea's room.

Mytag gives the little Donor a gentle shake.

Jirelle has no idea where Alea is, and continues to wander around the Center, lost.

Mytag: Alea, Alea wake up now.

Alea hears the voice and groggily opens her eyes.

Alea: Oh! Oh dear....

Alea ~~ embarrassed ~~

Alea: I fell asleep.

Alea looks around to see where they are.

Mytag: It's all right, you are safe.

Alea realizes she is leaning against Mytag and straightens up.

Alea slips Mytag's cloak off, returning it to him, and straightens her Zeor cloak.

Mytag still has one arm securely around her pregnant belly.

Alea: If you go up this street another two blocks, you'll see the Center.

Alea tries to straighten her hair and realizes she lost the clip somewhere along the way.

Mytag: Sorry to have to wake you, but we were wondering if you could direct us from here to the Center?

Alea pauses in pulling her hair forward to straighten it.

Alea glances at Ison wondering if he didn't hear her.

Alea: Hajene?

Alea: Go two blocks up... ah... well....

Alea points.

Alea: See that rather large building up ahead...?

Alea: That is the building you want.

Ison acknowledges Alea. "Thanks."

Ison heads off towards the Center. "C'mon, Mytag."

Briel: What's up, Eliza?

Mytag looks at the building. Rather large and ugly.

Mytag turns his horse carefully after Ison.

Eliza: You said to come down to work when I was dressed, and I was wondering what you wanted me to do.

Eliza: There is nothing on the board at all.

Briel: Oh.

Briel: Actually, if you'd like, I have to take donations. You can work with me.

Briel: Or, perhaps, you can hunt out Lanyi and work with her.

Briel: I'd like you working with a First.

Briel: You know....

Briel smiles.

Briel: You might want to work with Frutata.

Briel: He is a First Order Donor.

Briel: Watching him might help you.

Eliza: What ever you want, Briel.

Briel looks at Eliza oddly.

Briel: It's not what I want that matters, Eliza.

Briel: It's what is going to help you become the best Donor you can be.

Eliza: Well, whatever you suggest then, Briel. I'll do whatever you think best.

Briel: Great.

Briel: What I'd like you to do then is watch Frutata.

Eliza nods enthusiastically.

Briel: Emulate... uh... well... note his control as you work with him.

Briel: I think that will really help you out.

Briel: Why don't you go and find him then? Tell him I sent you.

Briel isn't sure that's going to help any but it's worth a try.

Briel isn't sure how Frutata is feeling after their disastrous transfer.

Eliza: Where would he be then? The schedule board is blank.

Briel: It's WHAT!

Briel gapes.

Briel: I just checked it not ten minutes ago.

Briel rubs at her head and mutters about wishing the new keys were here already.

Eliza: Well, it's blank now.

Briel: Okay... let's see....

Briel tries to remember.

Briel counts the days and then the time.

Briel: He should be in his room, probably.

Eliza: You want me to go to his room????

Briel: Well... yes.

Briel: Just tap on his door.

Briel: Tell him you've been assigned to work with him.

Briel: He can decide from there what to do.

Alea points to the front of the Sime Center.

Alea: This is it.

Alea: Right here.

Eliza remembers that Briel had transfer with Frutata and wonders if she has something more in mind when she suggested that Eliza could "learn from him".

Briel zlins Eliza and looks at her oddly.

Briel slowly nods.

Eliza: All right.... [slowly walks off]

Briel shakes her head and goes into her office.

Eliza goes up the stairs and starts looking at names on doors.

Mytag pulls up in front of the Center and swings down, careful not to knock Alea in any way.

Alea hangs onto the saddle tightly.

Mytag reaches up and takes her by the waist and lifts her down.

Ison thanks Alea again and enters the Center.

Alea: Thank you, Mytag.

Alea gapes at Ison wondering why he left his Donor and her standing outside.

Mytag: Well, Ison, we made it. ~~ calm confident support ~~

Alea moves along with Mytag.

Alea has never seen a channel THAT enthusiastic about getting to his job.

Mytag follows quickly.

Alea wonders how this bodes for the Center.

Mytag: Err, excuse him, he is a little anxious about being here.

Mytag hopes the horses will stay by the fence until someone takes care of them.

Ison looks around making sure Mytag is close.

Mytag puffs up behind him and holds the door open for Alea.

Alea goes inside.

Mytag grabs Ison's arm. "You okay?"

Ison steps back. "Hello, I am Ison ambrov Naros."

Eliza signals at what she hopes is the right door.

Wise Snake resumes looking through her bills.

Wise Snake: Well, Sky certainly has his work cut out for him.

Clerk: Yeah?

Clerk looks over Ison.

Clerk is a young Gen.

Clerk: I'm the clerk here.

Nude Donor answers the door in a panic.

Nude Donor: Hello? Is there an emergency????

Nude Donor looks at Eliza wildly, then belatedly clutches a blanket to her front.

Clerk: You must be new here. [to Ison]

Mytag walks up to the Clerk too. "And I'm Mytag ambrov Naros. You are expecting us, I hope."

Nick looks up from his book.

Nick: Oh?

Eliza blushes. "I'm so sorry!" [covers her eyes with her hand] "I'm looking for Frutata?"

Ison: Yes, it's our first time here.

Clerk starts shuffling through her paperwork.

Clerk: Er now... let's see....

Clerk: Fist timers.

Nude Donor: Aren't we all! [growls]

Clerk curls her lip.

Nude Donor: Two doors down.

Nude Donor slams her door.

Clerk: Here we go.

Eliza walks to the indicated door and signals, her face bright red.

Clerk pulls out two clipboards.

Wise Snake nearly jumps out of her skin.

Wise Snake: When did you come in here?

Clerk: Fill out the front and back of all the papers on these and then sign them.

Clerk: I'll also need your files from your last Center or your Household.

Mytag: No, I don't think you understand.

Wise Snake realizes she shouldn't have said that, because now Nick will think she had another timesense lapse.

Wise Snake: Er... I mean, hello Nick.

Clerk: Thank you. Have a seat over there.

Nick: ~~ soothing calm ~~

Clerk thrusts the clipboards at them.

Clerk: Huh?

Nick: You were so involved in your paperwork that you didn't zlin me come in?

Frutata answers.

Alea smiles at the Clerk.

Wise Snake gives Nick an extremely odd look.

Wise Snake: Yeah... that's what it is. Yeah.

Nick: ~~ concern ~~

Alea: This is a new Second Order Donor, Mytag, and his channel, Ison.

Mytag: This is Hajene Ison ambrov Naros.

Alea: They're here to work.

Mytag: We are here from Naros to work. Is your controller in?

Eliza looks at the {thankfully] decently clothed Gen.

Nick puts down his book and goes over to Snake.

Eliza: I'm sorry to disturb you. Controller Briel sent me.

Nick tries to determine whether Snake is just obsessing over the paperwork again, or whether her entran is acting up.

Clerk: Oh, yeah.

Frutata looks a bit green (well, under the brown) at the mention of Briel.

Frutata: ...Oh. I see. [carefully]

Clerk: You still gotta fill out all of this. But go on down that hall there.

Clerk motions.

Clerk: Her office is two thirds the way down on the left.

Alea: I'll show you where, if you'd like. [to Mytag and Ison]

Alea: It's the least I can do after you gave me a ride.

Eliza stands and awkwardly twists her hands together.

Eliza: Briel suggested that I could work [emphasises the word] with you.

Wise Snake is sitting slumped in front of a massive pile of bills, all unopened.

Alea slips off her cloak and gloves and folds the cloak over her arm.

Alea slips the gloves into her pocket.

Frutata looks very surprised.

Ison looks over the papers and sighs.

Frutata: She did?

Mytag smiles at Alea thankfully.

Alea: Right this way.

Eliza: Yes, she said that I could learn a lot from you.

Alea ignores the clerk and starts down the hall.

Nick sees the bills and sighs.

Ison follows Alea, grabbing Mytag's arm as he does so.

Mytag turns to the clerk before following. "Can you see that someone takes care of our horses, please? They are tied up outside. Thank you."

Nick rubs Snake's shoulders in a comforting fashion.

Frutata: I am not sure what type of work she meant. [confesses at last]

Clerk frowns, then nods, thinking she gets stuck with all the nasty duties.

Mytag: ~~ soothing ~~ It's going to be great working here, Ison.

Wise Snake: You should let the cleaning lady know you're awake so she can hit your room too.

Alea leads them to Briel's office door.

Alea: Right here.

Alea points.

Alea: Good luck.

Eliza isn't sure either, and is glad that Frutata isn't a channel and can't zlin her embarrassment.

Alea turns to go on toward the cafeteria.

Mytag signals at the door.

Alea ~~ famished ~~

Mytag: Thanks, Alea. I guess we will see you around then. [smiles]

Briel glances up from her paperwork.

Briel: Come.

Frutata sees that Eliza is standing there awkwardly twisting her hands together and gathers that she is embarrassed.

Alea waves.

Briel zlins curiously.

Nick: She knows; I saw her in the hall just now.

Mytag opens the door and enters.

Ison feels the need for food.

Alea goes on down the hall toward the cafeteria.

Alea ~~ starving ~~

Nick approves of the addition to the staff.

Eliza: Well, would you like me to come back later maybe?

Frutata: Did she happen to mention what I would be working at?

Eliza thinks.

Eliza: Not exactly. But I need to work on my control. Actually, I need to work on everything.

Briel: Hello, may I help you?

Briel sees the cloaks.

Briel: Ah.

Briel: R'lea offers greetings.

Briel: You must be the new Channel and his Donor?

Frutata: As far as I know, I have not been assigned to do any additional work for this Center.

Frutata: [admits]

Mytag: Naros thanks you.

Ison enters the office and zlins Briel, interested.

Briel: Please have a seat.

Briel ~~ truthful and friendly ~~

Ison sits down. "Thank you."

Briel: So, Ison. You came here from where?

Alea enters the cafeteria and inhales the aroma of food.

Alea's mouth instantly waters.

Eliza looks confused. "Briel was very sure that she wanted me to work with you. She especially said to tell you that she said so."

Frutata seems nonplussed.

Frutata: There was an incident... I am surprised Briel considers me a fit teacher.

Eliza is wishing the corridor would open up and swallow her.

Frutata thinks maybe Briel intended for him to learn something from this child.

Frutata: Come in.

Eliza: Shall I tell her you don't want me to work with you then?

Frutata seems surprised by her question.

Eliza is hesitant about entering a man's room but feels unable to refuse. 1

Ison: Mytag and I hail from Naros.

Frutata: No. That would not be true. I would be glad to teach you anything I can.

Briel: Ah, so this is your first Center assignment?

Pleb marches into the Sime Center, and marches up to the desk, standing at attention.

Pleb waits for the clerk to notice him.

Ison: Yes, we are both looking forward to working here.

Alea begins to tremble and realizes she is very very hungry.

Eliza rewards him with a beaming smile. "Thank you."

Alea goes into the line and gets a tray and some food.

Mytag sits next to Ison, remaining close.

Briel: Well, great.

Mytag looks at Briel, interested. He never realized the Controller would be so young.

Pleb reflects that he's spent an awful lot of time waiting for the Sime Center clerk to assist him.

Mytag: ~~ interest ~~

Bosis comes out of the back.

Bosis: May I help you?

Alea sets down with her tray and begins to eat her cereal.

Pleb: Yes, SIR!

Frutata realizes Eliza is not going to come in, so he steps out into the hallway instead.

Pleb pulls a neatly folded piece of paper from the breast pocket of his crisp uniform.

Briel: I'm sure you have your charts from your Household?

Briel: You'll each be assigned rooms, in the Sime and Gen quarters of course.

Mytag pulls them out of his bag and assigns them over.

Briel: After reviewing your file, I'll be glad to add you into the channel's rotation list.

Briel: We, of course, being Tecton, have forms for you to fill out.

Pleb: New regulations from Headquarters require that donations by officers and enlisted men be documented by this form, completed by the channel who takes the donation.

Briel takes the folders from Mytag and smiles.

Briel: What would the Tecton be without forms?

Alea groans with delight over her cereal.

Bosis takes the paper and opens it.

Bosis: Ah.

Pleb: [form is even more nightmarish than its Tecton equivalent]

Ison smiles and lets out a small laugh.

Bosis: And your name is?

Briel smiles at Ison.

Pleb: Private Pleb Gussleson.

Pleb adds a very long serial number.

Bosis copies it down on scratch paper and reads it back for confirmation.

Pleb: No, SIR, that's 748956, not 384928.

Briel goes through some files, finds what she's looking for, and hands them to Ison and Mytag.

Briel: These will be your rooms.

Bosis: Ah. Sorry. Thank you, Private Gussleson. If you'll excuse me a moment?

Briel: Please take time to familiarize yourself with all the information.

Pleb: Certainly, SIR!

Briel: If you'd like, you can tour the Center too, so you'll have an idea where everything is.

Briel pulls out some pamphlets and different material on the Center.

Tarsh comes into the cafeteria with a clipboard.

Briel: Here you go.

Ison takes the files and glances over them before passing them on to Mytag. "Go over these for me please, Mytag."

Bosis goes over to the file cabinet looking for his file.

Briel glances at Ison in surprise.

Briel: You can get your keys at the front desk.

Alea glances up and sees Tarsh.

Alea waves.

Alea: Good morning, Tarsh.

Tarsh: Alea!

Alea sees the clipboard in his hand and smiles.

Alea: Working?

Pleb remains standing at attention in front of the desk.

Tarsh comes over. "How are you doing?"

Alea: Better now that I have food.

Alea ~~ guilt ~~

Briel: Bosis will have them.

Briel: I believe he is the Clerk that is on right now.

Briel: But please, make yourself at home.

Bosis comes back with the file and sits down at the desk. He starts working on the form.

Briel: And if you are hungry, the cafeteria is on down the hall at the end and then take a left.

Tarsh: Yeah, Inventory time again.

Alea: Have a seat.

Alea motions to the chair at the table.

Pleb settles in for a long wait, being familiar with the form in question.

Ison thanks Briel, gets up and makes his way to the door pausing to give Mytag time to catch up

Briel: Good bye.

Briel: Don't hesitate to come ask if you need anything.

Ison: Thank you Briel, and is there someone that can show us around?

Briel: Yes. Ask the desk clerk.

Tarsh sits down.

Briel: I'm sure he'll have plenty of time to do that.

Tarsh: That smells good. They trying a new recipe?

Alea glances down.

Alea: You know, I have no idea.

Alea looks at Tarsh and sighs.

Bosis notices Pleb at attention. "You can sit down if you like."

Alea: I got lost again when I went out for a walk.

Alea: Luckily a new channel and Donor spotted me this morning and gave me a ride back.

Alea: Needless to say, I hadn't eaten since yesterday morning and was famished.

Pleb: Thank you, SIR!

Ison nods at Briel, turns away and heads out the door.

Tarsh: Really? Where?

Tarsh realizes that that's a stupid question.

Tarsh: You didn't?

Alea: I didn't what?

Pleb marches over to the couch and sits down, glad that he thought to duck into a cafe and use the men's room before coming in.

Alea: I don't know... I left Snake's and started walking... thinking... and then I saw this white stag.

Alea: It was beautiful.

Alea: I followed it....

Alea: I think I was six or seven miles Southwest... no... Northeast of here.

Bosis wonders what a "financial cohort modifier" is.

Tarsh: Out that way?

Tarsh: How is Snake doing?

Alea: I think she's doing good.

Tarsh: She's in need now, isn't she?

Alea's cheeks turn pink.

Alea: Actually, I think she's no longer in need.

Alea: She had transfer yesterday.

Alea: And I think it must have been a pretty good transfer.

Bosis goes to see what the exact location of the Center is.

Alea is very excited about the fact that Snake must have had a good transfer.

Mytag hopes the Clerk is more polite than she was before.

Tarsh: Glad to hear that.

Alea: Yeah, that was great.

Alea finishes off her cereal, pushing an extra bowl toward Tarsh.

Alea: Donor's training, always get enough for any Sime around.

Alea smiles at him.

Tarsh: Was it Nick or that new spook she has?

Alea: New spook?

Alea giggles.

Alea: You mean Rapol?

Alea: It was Rapol.

Alea: Quite a Donor evidently.

Frutata looks at Eliza.

Frutata: Perhaps we should ask Briel what she had in mind.

Tarsh: He doesn't exist according to Central Records. As best I can make out.

Pleb fervently hopes that it won't be another 12 hours before the clerk manages to complete the form.

Alea: Ah.

Alea nods.

Alea: He's not part of the Tecton, just like Nick.

Alea: Snake prefers her Donors be hers and hers alone.

Eliza: Maybe you would like to meet me downstairs and we could have some breakfast or something?

Alea: She has a fear of... losing them.

Bosis: Uh, Private?

Frutata: Certainly.

Mytag: What do you think of the Controller Ison?

Mytag: I think she is cute.

Mytag sees they are walking past the cafeteria.

Mytag: ~~ hungry ~~

Mytag: How about we grab a bite to eat?

Pleb jumps to his feet, quick marches over to the desk, and stands at attention.

Pleb: Yes, SIR?

Tarsh: Nick has records, they just don't show he's a Donor.

Tarsh: He flunked out.

Alea: Oh?

Alea ~~ surprise ~~

Ison jokes. "You find all the girls cute, Mytag."

Alea moves the bowl a bit closer to Tarsh.

Alea ~~ hunger ~~

Alea: I didn't know that.

Bosis: This is your unit, right? And your commander here?

Ison: Sure, we'll just pick up our keys from the clerk and have a look at the cafeteria.

Pleb: Yes, SIR!

Tarsh: Excuse me, I think I'll get something for myself.

Pleb: Wildman's Wildcats, the best Sime-hunting unit in the whole Army. Cleaned out two Ancient ruins last year, alone.

Alea looks at Tarsh in surprise.

Mytag: Sounds good to me.

Pleb has to struggle not to break his parade "attention" by grinning in pride.

Mytag enters the lobby with Ison and goes to the clerk's desk.

Frutata waits until Eliza has gone, then closes his door and walks down the stairs to Briel's office.

Frutata signals.

Bosis is taken aback. "Ah. Very good."

Briel: Come.

Frutata enters.

Alea wonders why Tarsh doesn't want the full bowl sitting there.

Frutata appears visibly ill-at-ease, though his nager is smooth.

Bosis looks over at Mytag and Ison. "Hello."

Tarsh pats Alea's hand. "be right back."

Briel: Frutata.

Frutata keeps his eyes politely on the floor.

Frutata: ~~carefully respectful nager~~

Alea: Okay.

Ison: Hello, Briel said you would have some keys for us?

Frutata: May I ask what you had in mind for the child's instruction?

Mytag: For our rooms. [Mytag clarifies]

Pleb can't resist a little more boasting.

Bosis: Just a moment.

Briel: Ah yes.

Bosis: Private, Do you mind if I help these two? Shouldn't take a minute.

Briel ~~ ill at ease ~~

Briel: Please, Frutata, sit down.

Pleb: Of course, SIR.

Alea slows down eating to make sure she has a good appetite for Tarsh.

Pleb takes a regulation step to the side, clearing the desk.

Briel gets up and comes around the desk so she can sit down by Frutata.

Mytag: Cause we are staying.

Tarsh comes back with a sandwich with leafy green stuff sticking out.

Alea ~~ hunger ~~

Alea picks up her tea to sip it.

Mytag looks curiously at the uniformed Gen at the desk.

Mytag turns and casually leans back on the desk surveying the peaceful lobby.

Bosis: Ah. Your names? Had specific rooms been assigned yet?

Mytag: You know Ison, this looks like a nice peaceful place to work.

Mytag lets Ison take care of the clerk while he looks over the people waiting.

Ison: Yes Mytag, I think we will like it here.

Tarsh chews vigorously.

Alea eyes Tarsh.

Groupie staggers into the Sime Center, stoned to the gills as usual.

Alea: So, Tarsh.... I was at the library yesterday.

Groupie is also stoned above the gills.

Mytag looks interested at the odd person who staggered in.

Tarsh: Really? Didn't want to borrow something from Arcadia? [grins]

Mytag: Colorful, too, Ison. Look at this.

Alea rolls her eyes.

Groupie peers around, and notices that some new people are in the lobby.

Alea: Why borrow something like that, when I have the real thing with you? [grins back]

Frutata sits.

Mytag hands the forms he filled out to the clerk and turns back to see what the youth is doing.

Briel reaches out and takes one of Frutata's hands in hers.

Frutata carefully avoids meeting Briel's eyes or being overly forward with his nager.

Tarsh blushes. "Thanks baby."

Groupie's two semi-functioning brain cells, perhaps under the influence of an hallucination, come to the conclusion that they might help him.

Frutata looks up at her when she takes his hand.

Bosis: Thank you.

Groupie staggers towards them.

Briel: Frutata, you are the best Donor... I mean....

Briel sighs.

Bosis reads through the forms.

Briel: People will fight to work with you.

Groupie: Ya gotta help me!

Briel: However... I am disjunct.

Briel: We have rules in the Tecton.

Ison looks to the clerk. "Yes, I believe have been assigned. I am Ison and this is Mytag.

Frutata: ~~lack of understanding~~

Briel: I killed once... well, twice actually, and that opened certain pathways in me.

Briel: I disjuncted - was separated from the kill.

Mytag inserts himself between Ison and the groupie.

Mytag: What's the problem? How can we help?

Groupie grabs one of Ison's forearms and tugs.

Mytag looks around for someone who looks responsible.

Briel: When we were having transfer, whatever you did... you touched those junct pathways.

Groupie: The book was useless. It wasn't the Good Book, after all.

Briel: To have finished that transfer would have had... well... I'm not sure what would have happened.

Briel: But it would have been bad for me.

Bosis: Well this seems to be in order.

Groupie: And now BugLumps is cutting me off, 'cause I couldn't pay him.

Briel: I realized too late your culture must be different in some things that we all know here.

Ison looks at the Groupie, somewhat puzzled.

Alea smiles and takes a tentacle in her hand, stroking it.

Groupie: Ya gotta help me, ya gotta!

Bosis: Just a moment.

Alea: What I was doing at the library was research, actually.

Bosis gets up and goes over to a cabinet.

Briel: I think you have probably just not worked with a channel like me. From now on, we'll simply make sure you work with nonjunct channels.

Tarsh: Ah. About what? ~~ mild curiosity ~~

Briel: I value you, Frutata.

Briel: You are important to this Center.

Mytag reacts strongly to the Groupie clutching his Channel's arms and carefully pries him away.

Briel: You have knowledge and maturity that even I don't have yet.

Briel: I respect your opinion.

Bosis goes opens the cabinet and roots around in a drawer.

Groupie shoves Mytag casually aside, and grabs Ison again.

Briel: Because I respect your opinion, I would ask that you take Eliza under your wing and talk with her, teach her control, possibly get her to open up to you.

Mytag: First, you have to show some respect. [pushes Groupie against the clerk's desk] Now what seems to be the problem?

Briel: She needs a friend, needs someone to emulate, and I can't think of a better person than you.

Groupie: The rogue channels, they don't buy selyn.

Eliza, having put on a less creased uniform, heads for the cafeteria to wait for Frutata.

Groupie heads back towards Ison, tripping Mytag on the way.

Alea: I know how proud you are of your father....

Groupie: But the Sime Center does, and I gotta get some honeybee.

Frutata nods.

Alea: Your father loved you very much and went through so much after unity....

Mytag: Ison! He is under some sort of chemical influence. Can you hold him?

Frutata: ~~controlled nager~~

Briel: Would you do that for me, Frutata?

Frutata: Yes.

Tarsh: Yes. He did.

Briel: Have her work with you?

Briel: Talk to her... let her see what a Donor does....

Tarsh wonders why she's changed the subject like this.

Groupie: ~~ desperation of a junkie about to crash from his last fix, with no other in sight ~~

Alea: I thought to research and find out just what is was he got the award for since i assumed you didn't know. I mean, it wasn't on his medal or anything.

Ison pushes the Groupie away with one arm, sending him reeling backwards, while helping Mytag to his feet.

Frutata: I do not believe I have yet been assigned to any work? [cautiously]

Bosis comes back with some keys and two forms.

Briel: Oh.

Briel flushes.

Briel: I'm sorry Frutata.

Groupie staggers, then returns with the mechanical obsession of his addiction.

Bosis see the developing scuffle.

Bosis: "Hey!"

Groupie ignores the distraction.

Mytag: Shen! [to the clerk] get some help will you?!

Tarsh: You didn't have to do that.

Groupie: Ya gotta buy my selyn, so I can buy my honeybee from BugLumps.

Alea looks away.

Mytag concentrates on ~~supporting~~ Ison.

Pleb: Can I be of assistance, SIR?

Bosis goes over and grabs the phone.

Alea: I um... said I would never hide anything from you, Tarsh, and I won't.

Ison moves over to the Groupie turns him around and grabs his arms to stop him from striking at anyone.

Eliza enters the lobby on her way to the cafeteria.

Alea: did you know your father got the award for attacking a householding?

Bosis looks over at Pleb. "Can you help them?"

Groupie: Yeah!

Groupie tries for a fifth contact.

Eliza sees what appears to be a rogue Sime manhandling one of the donors.

Tarsh looks guilty but not surprised. "Yes."

Tarsh: I'm sorry.

Alea: Sorry?

Alea looks surprised.

Eliza: Hey! Let him go! ~~outrage~~

Alea: For what?

Ison: Is there some place here that I can deposit him???

Pleb looks at Groupie and Ison, surprised.

Bosis: [to phone] "Send some Gen orderlies now!"

Eliza stops and realises it obviously isn't what she first thought.

Pleb: Isn't that what he's supposed to be doing with Gens who want to donate?

Ison glares at Eliza.

Mytag puts out a hand towards Eliza to stop her from also attacking his Channel.

Briel sighs.

Mytag: What the shen is it with this place? You just let people come in and attack your channels?

Groupie finally manages to make a fifth contact.

Bosis rolls his eyes and runs over to Ison and Groupie.

Groupie thinks about all the honeybee he'll be able to buy with the profits from this transaction.

Eliza blushes and takes a step back. "Sorry! I thought... it looked...."

Bosis grabs Groupie around the stomach and pulls.

Briel: I'll be assigning you to work with Lanyi this month.

Briel: I think you will enjoy working with her.

Groupie staggers, feeling suddenly nauseated.

Alea: I mean, Tarsh... things were different then.

Alea: I don't like the thought of your father hating Householders, but that was pre-Unity.

Alea: I just... I wasn't sure if you knew or not.

Alea: And how you would feel about it.

Tarsh is staring down at his food. "Father never changed his mind."

Alea: Ah... I see.

Groupie grabs Ison's arms harder to support himself.

Ison turns away from Eliza and looks to Bosis. "Where shall I put him?"

Alea slides her hand over and places it over Tarsh's hand.

Alea: I can still love him, Tarsh, simply because I love you.

Groupie considers the long walk back to BugLumps' office afterwards, to buy his honeybee, and then remembers that the Sime Center has drugs, too.

Bosis: Shen, I don't know!

Mytag sees the "donor" has a grip dangerously close to the channel's laterals.

Bosis decides to kick the question upstairs in fine bureaucratic style.

Bosis: I'll get the Controller.

Groupie lets go of Ison's arms and tries to head for the infirmary.

Bosis goes down the hall.

Tarsh curls tentacles around her hand.

Tarsh: Just love me. Never mind him, he's....

Frutata nods.

Frutata: Thank you.

Alea nods.

Tarsh: He's dead.

Alea: I know.

Ison picks the Groupie up and places him in the corner.

Tarsh: What is it that it says on your ring?

Alea ~~ empathy over the loss of a loved one ~~

Tarsh: "Out of Death...."

Frutata rises.

Alea: Out of Death Was I Born Unto Zeor Forever.

Frutata: I am to meet the girl for breakfast now.

Groupie: Hey, I want my honeybee!

Groupie: You owe me now.

Mytag follows.

Eliza approaches the group.

Briel nods.

Briel: Good.

Eliza: You want honeybee?

Briel: Then you had better go.

Groupie: You owe me now.

Eliza: I know where there is honeybee, come with me, we can go get it.

Tarsh: Yeah, well, the first part is true of everyone, isn't it?

Briel squeezes Frutata's hand and then goes to the door.

Groupie nods eagerly.

Alea: Not really, Tarsh.

Frutata nods and turns to leave.

Alea fingers her ring and then looks at Tarsh.

Eliza holds out her hand to the Groupie.

Frutata exits Briel's office and goes to the lobby, looks around for Eliza.

Bosis signals at Briel's door.

Groupie takes Eliza's hand.

Briel: Yes?

Alea: Each Sime might be... but the Donors are there for them.

Bosis jumps back as Frutata comes out.

Briel pulls the door open.

Eliza: [to the Groupie] What's your name? Do you like Torn by Tentacles?

Briel: Bosis?

Eliza recognises the symptoms.

Ison stands to the side and lets the groupie pass.

Groupie: They're cosmic!

Bosis: Some crazy donor making trouble in the lobby.

Eliza: Yeah, cosmic!

Groupie starts humming the latest hit.

Eliza: ~~ soothing / calm ~~

Briel: Shen!

Briel darts out of her office and toward the lobby, zlinning.

Frutata sees the trouble and stops, making sure he understands the situation before coming any nearer.

Eliza: That's cosmic, come and we'll get some honey bee.

Frutata: ~~caution~~

Alea: Zeor believes strongly these words.

Tarsh: Or channels.

Alea: Yes, channels.

Groupie's appetite has been whetted by the thought of Torn By Tentacles music, and he heads eagerly after Eliza.

Mytag takes Ison's hands in his and carefully examines his lateral sheaths.

Briel skids to a halt in the lobby.

Briel looks around assessing the situation.

Eliza walks backwards out of the lobby towards Frutata and Briel.

Bosis follows Briel.

Briel moves to Frutata for support. 3

Frutata is not sure what to do at this point since he has never worked with other Gens before, only Simes.

Groupie is now firmly fixated on the prospect of immediate honeybee.

Frutata decides he had been assigned to Eliza, so moves to follow Eliza.

Ison asks, "Is this a regular occurrence around here?" to no one in particular. 2

Groupie follows Eliza past Briel.

Eliza has no idea what to do with the Groupie.

Eliza: ~~ uncertainty ~~

Groupie: I want honeybee!

Briel zlins Eliza's confusion and nods to the conference room.

Eliza: Yeah, Torn by Tentacles are cosmic.

Eliza: Honeybee is cosmic.

Groupie: The best!

Alea: Anyway, just how much do you know about Zeor, Tarsh?

Bosis: Actually, it is, unfortunately.

Groupie: That Buggfa is just....well, cosmic!

Frutata is not sure what Eliza is trying and cannot support her with his nager, so remains near in case anything happens to endanger her.

Pleb: If I could have my form, SIR?

Mytag is relieved there is no damage.

Pleb: We're supposed to hunt Simes this afternoon, and I still have to clean my rifle.

Tarsh: I should have said something before, Alea, but....

Briel: Bosis, call the Tecton Marshall. Have them come here for Groupie.

Mytag looks unbelievingly at the soldier.

Mytag: You are WHAT? This afternoon?

Groupie follows Eliza down the hall.

Alea looks at Tarsh.

Mytag is now certain that they have entered a mad house.

Alea: You did what you thought was best.

Pleb: Cleaning some Simes out of a ruined farm. [cheerful]

Bosis: [to Pleb] "Yes, of course." [to Briel] Uh, Hajene Briel, if you could just sign this...? " [proffers clipboard]

Alea: Please don't worry about it.

Eliza keeps walking down the hall wondering what to do.

Groupie sees Eliza's uncertainty.

Groupie: This way.

Briel shoots Bosis a harassed look and signs the form, while trying to keep her attention on Eliza.

Eliza leads the Groupie into an office without noticing that it's Alea's.

Briel shoves the clipboard back at him.

Bosis absently hands the clipboard to Pleb.

Groupie stops in the door of the office.

Frutata follows.

Groupie: No, I said this way.

Briel zlins the change in Groupie and moves forward to get closer just in case....

Frutata realizes Groupie separates him from Eliza.

Eliza: The honey bee is in here though.

Eliza: See that cupboard? [points]

Eliza: It's in there.

Tarsh: Zeor? Just the usual school stuff. First Householding, Farrises, Klyd, 'excellence', etc.

Groupie sniffs in scorn at such obvious ignorance.

Frutata glances at Briel for instruction.

Groupie kicks over the trash can standing by the door, and inspects the scattered contents.

Groupie: No honeybee here.

Eliza: Don't believe me? I'll show you!

Alea: It looks like I'm going to have to teach you a bit about my house then.

Alea smiles softly and squeezes his hand.

Eliza: We have honeybee and we have other cosmic stuff too!

Briel: Let's just get Eliza out and lock him in. [whispers low to Frutata]

Briel: Let him do what he will until the Tecton Marshall gets here.

Alea looks to see that Tarsh has finished his sandwich.

Groupie turns in scorn and heads down the hall to the next office.

Alea takes a quick drink of her tea.

Pleb takes the form.

Pleb: Thank you, SIR.

Eliza follows. "There is honey bee in every office here. You must have heard about it!"

Pleb puts the form in the breast pocket of his uniform, then marches out of the Sime Center.

Briel rubs at her neck.

Eliza gets sick of it and shoves the Groupie through the next available open door and slams it behind them.

Eliza quickly locks it.

Briel looks Frutata.

Briel gapes at Eliza.

Briel gapes at the closed door.

Eliza realises that she is locked IN with the Groupie instead of outside as she intended.

Briel: What the SHENNED!

Mytag: Are you okay, Ison?

Briel goes over to the door, but it is locked with Eliza on the INSIDE.

Briel: Shen, Frutata!

Mytag: This is a mad house!

Mytag: And I said peaceful!

Briel: See what I mean about her needing a mentor?

Mytag groans.

Ison: Yes, I am fine, thanks.

Briel: Eliza?

Briel signals at the door.

Briel: Eliza!

Frutata: Shall I break the door down?

Frutata: [offers]

Groupie dumps the trash can, but finds no honeybee.

Frutata is feeling rather useless at the moment.

Eliza stands with her back to the door.

Eliza thinks hard.

Eliza: ~~ help? ~~

Groupie wonders if the "CONTROLLER" sign on the desk means that there will be honeybee in the desk.

Briel: Uh....

Briel: Actually, I think maybe we should just leave them in there.

Eliza: I'm okay, Briel. [yells through the door]

Briel: I mean, we do have Groupie cornered.

Briel: On the other hand, that IS Eliza in there, and I AM responsible for her.

Eliza watches the Groupie going through Briel's desk.

Eliza wonders if she can make a quick call to the police without the Groupie slipping past her.

Groupie next searches the stacked files on the desk, scattering their contents liberally over the floor.

Eliza decides that someone has probably already done that and all she has to do is keep him there.

Groupie tries the filing cabinet next.

Frutata waits for Controller Briel to make a decision.

Eliza is glad there are a lot of places to search.

Briel: Shen.

Eliza isn't looking forward to the Groupie realizing there isn't any honeybee there and wanting out.

Groupie: Where's the honeybee? I gotta have honeybee!

Briel looks at Frutata.

Briel: Break down the door.

Ison: "Mytag, don't we have some rope out with the horses?"

Frutata nods.

Briel: Wait!

Frutata starts to smash the door down, then aborts his charge at Briel's yell.

Briel sprints back to the lobby and sends a runner to go get Snake.

Groupie checks the roots of a potted palm, adding dirt to the mix.

Frutata stumbles into the wall in confusion, watching Briel run away.

Groupie: There's no honeybee here!

Frutata thinks Briel should assign herself a Donor, it would make her much less erratic.

Briel pauses to smile at Ison and Mytag.

Groupie heads back for the door.

Briel: Don't worry, this isn't quite the norm.

Mytag: You want ropes to tie that mad Gen up?

Mytag thinks that is a brilliant idea.

Eliza: I'm sure there is, somewhere!

Briel augments back down the hall.

Eliza: Keep looking!

Briel skitters to a halt.

Eliza: ~~ starting to panic ~~

Briel: Great!

Briel: Great!

Groupie: It's down the hall.

Briel hurries back down the hall to Frutata.

Briel grabs Frutata's wrist.

Briel: I sent for Snake.

Frutata flattens his back to the wall as Briel appears.

Frutata: You did what?

Frutata: [utterly confused]

Briel: You stay here with me... and help me keep Groupie here, no matter what.

Eliza: No no - it's here!

Groupie remembers the pills Alea threw away in the infirmary.

Eliza: Honest!

Briel: I sent for Snake.

Eliza: Would a Torn by Tentacles fan lie to you?

Frutata projects ~~calmness~~ when Briel grabs his wrist, figuring that counts as permission.

Briel: Snake will be able to talk to him.

Frutata: What does that mean?

Briel ~~ relief ~~

Briel relaxes into Frutata's field.

Briel: What does what mean?

Groupie wonders if Eliza is being selfish and hoarding the pills to herself.

Briel looks up at Frutata in confusion.

Frutata: How will snakes help?

Frutata wonders if their venom is an essential part of the drug in question.

Alea: Well, dear, I am sure you have things to do. [To Tarsh]

Groupie grabs Eliza and tries to search the pockets of her uniform.

Briel: Not snakes, Snake.

Eliza kicks him where it counts.

Briel: Snake is a local channel that deals with a lot of druggies.

Nick looks at the piled bills.

Briel: If....

Briel jerks at the pain.

Frutata: Ah. [comprehension]

Briel goes hypo.

Briel: Oooooh.

Nick: Too bad you can't charge the Tecton for dealing with the customers they'd rather not touch.

Briel closes her eyes.

Frutata sees Briel jerk and ~~supports and protects~~ her.

Frutata: What is wrong?

Tarsh: Yeah. Thank you Alea.

Tarsh gets up and goes around to hug her.

Wise Snake: What do you mean?

Eliza kicks him again to be sure.

Alea stands and hugs him, giving him a quick kiss.

Wise Snake jumps as the doorbell rings.

Wise Snake: Now what?

Briel: Eliza!

Briel winces and moves closer to Frutata.

Tarsh rubs Alea's belly. "I love you both."

Groupie staggers back, then returns to the fray, careful to shield his most prized possessions (now that he's out of honeybee).

Toi Toi answers the door and is nearly bowled over by a panicked renSime babbling something about the Sime Center and a national emergency.

Alea: And we love you darling.

Alea: I have to go visit Snake.

Alea: I'll be back later though.

Alea: See you then.

Toi Toi: Yes, yes, [snaps] Someone will be right there.

Tarsh: Okay. Be careful, Okay?

Toi Toi slams the door and mutters, stumping up the stairs.

Nick: Maybe something profitable. ~~ hope ~~

Briel: Eliza is....

Toi Toi signals at Snake's office door.

Alea: You know I will.

Alea ~~ truthfully ~~

Eliza puts up her fists. "Come on! I dare ya!" John taught her how to take care of bullies!

Frutata continues to support and ~~calm~~ Briel as sounds of a struggle issue from behind the door.

Briel: She fights dirty.

Tarsh: Later.

Tarsh kisses her again before heading towards the kitchen.

Groupie: Where's the honeybee?

Eliza wops Groupie one to the chin.

Eliza: Ouch! my hand!

Eliza: ~~pain~~

Alea rubs her lower back and then clears the table.

Groupie grabs Eliza and shakes her violently.

Groupie: Where are you keeping the honeybee?

Eliza kicks his shin.

Briel crawls around Frutata putting him between her and the door.

Briel buries her head in Frutata's back.

Briel: Shen she can fight.

Briel: Where is Snake?

Groupie kicks Eliza's feet out from under her, dropping her to the floor.

Eliza lets herself go to the floor, dragging Groupie with her.

Groupie lies down on top of her to keep her pinned.

Eliza thinks, "Now we are the same height."

Frutata: It's been about 2 minutes since you sent for Snake. How far away is this channel?

Alea stretches, realizes she is exhausted and debates going to Snake's.

Eliza doesn't think this is going right.

Toi Toi signals again, a bit miffed that this big emergency seems to have become her problem and her employers don't seem interested.

Briel: That's it. We'll break the door down.

Briel: I can't risk Eliza like this.

Frutata nods.

Briel: Where are Ison and Mytag and that rope, first?

Briel zlins down the hall to see where they are.

Groupie takes advantage of Eliza's temporary immobility to search her pockets for honeybee.

Eliza bites whatever is closest.

Ison returns with some rope.

Wise Snake finally gets up and goes around Nick to open the office door.

Wise Snake: Yes?

Wise Snake is surprised at Toi Toi's nager.

Wise Snake: What is it!

Briel: Great!

Nick follows Snake over to the door, hoping for something to distract Snake from financial worries.

Briel sees the rope and her eyes gleam.

Groupie shoves Eliza's face into the carpet and continues to search her pockets.

Toi Toi: There's a major disaster going on down at the Sime Center. Something about bees, and a deranged lunatic, and Eliza.

Briel: Ison, when we go in, I want you to grab his feet and immobilize him. I'll go for the arms. Okay?

Toi Toi: A renSime augmented all the way here in a perfect panic.

Wise Snake blinks.

Ison: "Okay, move away I'll break down the door, just don't let him slip past me when I do."

Wise Snake: That sounds pretty bad. Nick?

Wise Snake grabs her cloak and the medical kit.

Briel thinks good idea.

Nick: If the problem is bees, shouldn't they call the exterminator?

Wise Snake: People must have gotten stung.

Eliza pushes upwards trying to get him off her.

Briel grabs Frutata's arm and nods for Ison to kick it in.

Nick grabs his own cloak.

Nick: Ah.

Briel: Zlin carefully.

Wise Snake hopes they would not have called her if bees were still alive and angry.

Ison: Mytag hold the rope and get ready.

Wise Snake hurries down the stairs.

Alea slips on her cloak from the chair and starts wearily down the hall, yawning, full and satisfied.

Frutata supports Briel.

Nick cheers up at the thought of what a case of anaphylactic shock would do to improve Snake's temper.

Nick rushes after Snake.

Ison: "Are you all ready?"

Mytag crouches with the rope.

Briel: Yes.

Wise Snake flies out of the Ferry Building and sees three cabs.

Wise Snake: Not that one.. not that one... Ah!

Briel zlins.

Wise Snake flags down the Death Cab.

Groupie decides that Eliza isn't holding any honeybee, and pulls her to her feet.

Wise Snake: The lower town Sime Center... pronto!

Alea comes down the hall and sees everyone outside Briel's door.

Eliza takes advantage and kicks him again.

Ison launches himself at the door.

Alea: Hi.

Nick races up behind Snake.

Wise Snake throws money in the driver's lap and vaults in, yanking Nick after her.

Alea: What's going on?

Alea: Yikes!

Alea ~~ startled ~~

Alea jumps back.

Eliza sees the door heading towards them and pulls the Groupie off balance, back to the floor.

Death Cab's driver brings his horses to a skidding halt in front of the Sime Center some 13 seconds after they leave the front of the Ferry Building. 4

Groupie sees the door smash open, and reflexively throws the handiest thing--Eliza--in that general direction as he falls.

Alea wraps her arms around her stomach to protect it realizing she walked in on another one of the Sime Center's daily disasters.

Nick is certain that his stomach is still just outside the Ferry Building.

Eliza goes flying into Ison's arms.

Frutata keeps his nager around Briel.

Groupie staggers to his feet.

Briel leaps over the flying Eliza and makes a dive for Groupie.

Briel takes him out right in the gut.

Frutata lunges to keep within range of Briel.

Frutata: ~~support~~

Briel knocks him back to the ground.

Groupie rolls, throwing up on the carpet as he does so.

Eliza sure hopes everyone is hypo.

Frutata was trained for combat conditions, but his channel was a healer, not a fighter.

Briel slips her arms up and wraps her tentacles around Groupie's arms, holding him tightly.

Frutata: ~~confused support~~

Eliza rebounds off Ison.

Frutata comes up behind Briel.

Groupie thinks that Briel is taking a second donation, and tries to make a fifth contact with her.

Briel bares her teeth at Groupie.

Wise Snake dives out of the Death Cab and takes the Sime Center's front steps in a single bound, wondering why she sees no stung, swollen survivors littering the front grounds.

Briel: Don't do it....

Alea staggers over to the door and looks in.

Nick follows at a pace which is only slightly less than suicidal for a Gen.

Alea's eyes widen.

Alea: Oh... dear.

Alea looks around for help.

Eliza reaches for whatever she can [Groupie's leg] and sinks her teeth in.

Groupie: I've got to pay BugLumps.

Wise Snake plows into the Sime Center's lobby, looking around wildly.

Groupie lifts up the other leg and kicks Eliza in the head.

Alea hears the commotion.

Briel: Ison, the LEGS.

Eliza promptly passes out.

Alea sees her cousin.

Groupie: You lied to me about the honeybee!

Alea: Snake!

Groupie: You owe me.

Wise Snake hears and zlins a riot up one of the hallways and runs in that direction.

Groupie starts to kick out randomly in his frustration.

Alea: Snake!

Alea waddles down the hall.

Alea: Groupie!

Mytag makes a lunge for the legs.

Alea: In Briel's office.

Nick pursues Snake down the hall to Briel's office.

Groupie's flailing leg catches Mytag painfully.

Briel tries to wrap a leg around Groupie's to control them.

Ison grabs Groupie's legs.

Briel: Ah... good.

Wise Snake sees a smashed in door, etc.

Briel: Now TIE them.

Mytag quickly wraps the rope around the legs.

Briel: Where the shenned is the Tecton Marshall?

Groupie falls, and drags Briel down with him. Into the middle of his earlier mess.

Wise Snake grits her teeth, wishing people could report the symptoms of these disasters accurately, and steps through the remains of the door.

Alea waddles back down the hall after Snake.

Wise Snake: Nick... stay close.

Alea goes into the office, but nowhere near the fighting.

Nick sticks close.

Alea sees Eliza and stifles a gasp, moving over to her side.

Wise Snake grimaces at the sight of several people attempting to restrain a deranged lunatic while rolling around in a pile of vomit.

Briel: Snake... wanna try to talk some sense into this... drug addict?

Mytag ties the legs securely, and VERY tightly.

Wise Snake is glad for Nick's nageric protection.

Briel: Now... something for the arms.

Mytag restrains an impulse to tie the other end around his neck.

Wise Snake recognizes who the guy is and sighs.

Nick wishes his protection could extend to reducing the olfactory aspects of the conflict, as well as the nageric ones.

Briel slips off of Groupie and slams him over on his stomach, pinning his arms behind his back.

Wise Snake hands the medical kit to Nick.

Briel sits on top of his back, straddling him.

Nick takes the kit.

Wise Snake: Get some of the you-know-what. The small vial.

Briel swings her hair out of her face and looks up at Snake.

Wise Snake tries to get between them to zlin Groupie better.

Nick retrieves the illegal substance.

Alea kneels down by Eliza and starts examining her to see if she's okay.

Alea: Eliza... Eliza honey?

Frutata supports Briel, while watching Alea and Eliza.

Groupie has not yet realized that he has been tied up, and is therefore trying valiantly to get to his feet and resume his search for honeybee.

Alea finds a lump on the side of Eliza's head.

Frutata is still not sure if he understood what his responsibilities were in that situation... or what they are now.

Mytag sits on his legs to make sure.

Wise Snake takes the needle Nick hands her and injects Groupie with the drug.

Briel ~~ disgust ~~

Ison gets to his feet and looks at the chaos.

Alea: Hajene Ison, can you help me here?

Alea ~~ worry ~~

Ison goes over to Alea.

Groupie calms as the drug takes effect.

Alea: She has a head injury.

Alea: Can you carry her to the infirmary and treat her?

Alea wonders why in the world she is telling a channel what is the matter with the Gen and decides it's because she is so worried.

Wise Snake sighs and sets the needle aside, zlins Groupie as well as possible under the circumstances.

Mytag gets off the quieting Groupie's legs and moves over to support Ison.

Ison picks Eliza up in his arms.

Briel looks at Frutata.

Briel: Would you put him in our security room downstairs until the Tecton Marshall gets here?

Frutata nods.

Groupie is battered and bruised from the struggle, no longer suffering imminent honeybee withdrawal symptoms, high-field, etc.

Briel: Thank you.

Briel ~~ gratitude ~~

Frutata waits until everybody has climbed off the trussed-up Groupie then kneels and picks him up.

Alea pushes up and moves after Ison and Mytag.

Alea ~~ worry ~~

Ison: Come with me, Mytag, we need to have Eliza seen to.

Wise Snake: But....

Briel sighs.

Briel: Thank you, Snake.

Wise Snake hesitates, then nods.

Groupie is also extremely odorous, from lack of bathing and clean clothes as well as more recent mishaps.

Briel: I had hoped to wait until you were here... but that was before he attacked one of my Donors.

Wise Snake: You will attend to his injuries?

Ison feels Alea's worry. "Can you show us the way, please?"

Frutata carries the Groupie down to the basement and puts him on the bed in the lockup room.

Wise Snake glances at Eliza and realizes Briel decided to keep her working despite the... problem.

Wise Snake nods again.

Alea: Of course.

Frutata unties the Groupie, then locks him into the room.

Alea leads them down the hall to the infirmary and into a room.

Frutata returns to Briel's office.

Briel: Why does he insist we have the drugs he wants here?

Ison checks for Mytag and follows Alea.

Briel: Do you know how many times he has showed up now?

Wise Snake: He does?

Mytag: ~ support ~

Wise Snake: no?

Nick finds this rather curious.

Briel: I think this was number seven.

Alea folds back a sheet and motions Ison to lay her there.

Wise Snake wonders why anybody would think she would have the answer to that.

Ison gently lays Eliza down.

Briel: Yes, he does.

Wise Snake retrieves the needle and puts the medical kit back together.

Briel: We've called the marshalls this time.

Alea goes over and pulls out a gown, then returns to Eliza's side.

Briel: I don't know what else to do with him.

Alea works Eliza out of her clothes and slips the gown on her.

Briel: I thought you might know him. That's why I sent for you.

Wise Snake: He has been an occasional customer.

Wise Snake: Not recently.

Briel: Ah, I see.

Briel: Well, then. Thank you for your help.

Wise Snake nods.

Frutata realizes Briel and Eliza are in two different rooms and hesitates, before going to the room Eliza is in.

Ison brushes Eliza's hair from her face and projects ~~need~~.

Wise Snake: Give me the forms and I'll fill out a report.

Wise Snake: Do you have a file on him already, I imagine?

Briel goes over to her desk.

Briel: Well shen....

Briel: We'll have to get them at the front desk.

Briel: Yes.

Briel: A THICK file, as a matter of fact.

Nick is slightly indignant that he and Snake would be summoned across the city on an emergency basis, and then not be provided with work or other compensation.

Frutata signals at the door to the room Alea and Eliza are in.

Alea folds Eliza's clothes and takes her hand.

Alea hears the signal.

Alea: Come in.

Frutata enters, somewhat self-consciously.

Frutata: Is she all right? [quietly]

Alea moves so Frutata can stand by her.

Wise Snake follows Briel to the front desk.

Alea: She was kicked in the head.

Ison: Just a bump to her head she should be just fine.

Briel goes to the desk clerk and asks for the forms to fill out on Groupie.

Frutata: I see.

Alea ~~ relief ~~

Alea: I'll get out of the way then.

Alea: Please let me know if she comes around.

Nick sticks close to Snake, just in case another emergency comes through the door.

Alea: Er... when she comes around.

Briel hands the forms to Snake.

Wise Snake: [to Nick] It could have been worse. It could have really been bees.

Briel: Thank you, Snake, for coming so quickly.

Wise Snake takes the forms.

Briel: I'm sorry you were summoned all the way over here and there was nothing you could really do.

Wise Snake: Ah, yes. I understood it was a bit of an emergency.

Wise Snake: Well... it is somewhat inconvenient, but....

Mytag stays close to Ison in ~~support~~

Frutata realizes he is out of place there and leaves sadly.

Alea walks out the door.

Alea sees Frutata's sadness.

Alea: Frutata?

Frutata goes to the lobby to see where Lanyi is scheduled.

Frutata stops.

Alea walks along with him.

Eliza opens her eyes without any fuss and sees a bleary shape above her.

Frutata: Hello, Alea.

Alea: Are you okay?

Alea ~~ concern ~~

Ison smiles at Mytag. "Nice way to meet them all."

Frutata: Yes, I am fine. Thank you. [kindly]

Alea nods slowly.

Frutata: How are you?

Alea: You are doing a good job, I hear.

Alea smiles kindly.

Frutata hesitates.

Frutata: Thank you.

Alea wonders if Frutata is missing his homeland again.

Eliza sees a male shape above her, ~~panics~~ and struggles to sit up.

Alea nods and then starts walking again.

Eliza: ~~ fear! ~~

Nick thinks that "somewhat inconvenient" is an odd way to refer to the dangers of a trip in Death Cab.

Ison: Hey, easy does it. You are okay now. The danger has passed.

Alea: If you ever want to talk, Frutata....

Alea glances at him.

Ison jerks backwards.

Alea: I can listen.

Wise Snake sits on a lobby couch and begins to fill out the forms with the fussy precision and unbelievably thorough attention to detail only a Farris is really interested in.

Alea goes into the lobby.

Eliza struggles wildly.

Frutata looks after Alea.

Mytag moves over to help Ison hold her.

Nick sits beside Snake, patiently waiting for her to finish.

Eliza screams.

Alea sees Snake and smiles.

Ison: Calm down, I am here to help you.

Nick looks up at the noise of a scream.

Wise Snake notes down the numbers out to thirteen decimal places.

Alea jumps at the scream.

Alea whirls around staring in worry.

Wise Snake recognizes Eliza's scream.

Wise Snake sighs.

Nick manages to deflect Alea's start, on the nageric level, so that it doesn't bother Snake.

Ison: It's Ison, we met earlier, remember?

Eliza looks at him, her head clearing.

Frutata turns and goes back to the room where he'd seen Eliza.

Alea doesn't hear anything else and relaxes.

Alea thinks Eliza must now be awake.

Frutata stops outside the door, listening.

Ison: You had a struggle with the Groupie and you were knocked unconscious.

Alea turns and heads back over to Snake.

Eliza blinks at him.

Alea slows as she approaches.

Wise Snake looks back down and finishes the last of the forms.

Alea is still wearing her cloak that she put on in the cafeteria.

Nick inspects the floor for Alea-tripping obstacles.

Alea stops a bit away from Snake and waits for her to finish.

Eliza: ~~ pain ~~

Wise Snake puts down the pen and looks up at Alea.

Alea: Hello, Snake.

Eliza: Ouch, my head. [puts hand to her head]

Alea smiles carefully at her.

Ison flinches.

Wise Snake remembers the circumstances of their last meeting (in fact most of their past meetings have been awfully strange) and meets her eyes cautiously.

Wise Snake: Alea?

Frutata hears no more sounds of struggle and turns back away from the door.

Frutata walks into the lobby and studies the schedule board.

Alea: I was planning to come visit you after I ate.

Alea: But here you are, instead.

Alea: I would have stopped by on my way back... but I fell asleep on the horse.

Alea: I wanted to check and see how you were doing... after um... well... yesterday.

Wise Snake studies Alea carefully.

Wise Snake: I'm doing about as well as could be expected.

Wise Snake finally zlins Alea.

Wise Snake: And you?

Alea shrugs.

Alea: Besides a bit of exposure and exhaustion, I'm doing fine.

Nick watches closely, ready to block the ambient if some accident threatens. It IS the Sime Center lobby, after all.

Wise Snake: Exposure and exhaustion? From what?

Wise Snake hadn't zlinned that in Alea yesterday.

Frutata studies the schedule board, which is completely blank.

Alea flushes.

Ison looks at Eliza. "Is there someone I can get to comfort you? You will need some rest."

Frutata feels loss and longing.

Alea: Um well... I had some thinking to do after everything that happened yesterday, so I took a walk and got rather um... lost.

Frutata hides it in the core of his nager, presenting only ~~calmness~~ to the world.

Frutata turns and walks from the lobby.

Wise Snake finds it difficult to feel alarm, as she is becoming hardened to Alea constantly being lost, injured and everything.

Wise Snake: But you are all right now?

Wise Snake zlins Alea, then nods.

Alea: Yes.

Alea: I'm fine.

Wise Snake: Good.

Wise Snake wishes Alea would be more careful, but has given up on saying so.

Wise Snake: And Rapol is fine as well, at least physically.

Alea ~~ guilt ~~

Alea: I'm still not exactly sure what I did.

Frutata walks to Lanyi's office door and signals.

Wise Snake grimaces.

Wise Snake: It was a delicate moment. We'd had transfer only moments before.

Alea: I'm so sorry.

Wise Snake: And the... subject... you brought up... had only just then been discovered between us.

Alea: I think I must have misinterpreted what I heard... saw.

Alea: Oh... OH!

Lanyi gets up and goes to the door.

Alea's eyes widen and she swallows.

Lanyi opens it.

Ison realises Eliza has drifted off to sleep and leaves her in the room.

Frutata: ~~calm, soothing nager~~

Frutata: Hello, Hajene Lanyi.

Lanyi: Hello Frutata.

Frutata: Briel has informed me we are assigned to one another this month?

Lanyi: For transfer? I hadn't looked yet.

Frutata: The schedule appears to be blank, however she had told me verbally a little while ago.

Frutata smiles. ~~offer of support~~

Lanyi: Ah. Well, come in then.

Frutata: Thank you.

Frutata enters.

Lanyi shows Frutata to the chair by her desk.

Wise Snake: Well, I believe the worst of the... crisis... is over.

Alea: I apologize, Snake.

RapolDreaming is dreaming.

Walter heads for the Controllers office with the bucket and mop as he was instructed.

Wise Snake thinks it is Rapol that needs the apology, not her, but nods.

RapolDreaming: [Snake is cuddling up behind him in bed, tickling his nose with tentacles]

Alea: If you wouldn't mind, perhaps I could return with you and offer my apologizes to Rapol too.

Bucket sloshes on Walter's pants, not to mention the floor.

Wise Snake's eyebrows raise.

Alea: My mind was on other things, and, well, that just took me by surprise and I didn't think before I spoke.

RapolDreaming smiles in his sleep.

Alea shrugs.

Frutata sits.

Walter enters Veraik's office.

Walter looks for the mess that he was told to clean up.

Lanyi: So how did your transfer go with Briel?

Wise Snake frowns.

Lanyi zlins Frutata.

Wise Snake: Perhaps he would accept your apology, if I were to ask him first.

Walter proceeds to pile everything from the desk on to the floor.

Alea rubs at her back wearily and then nods.

Alea: Fine.

Alea: If that's how you think it would be best.

Bucket tips over, spilling all over the stacked documents.

Frutata: ~~very calm and professional nager, with a hidden core of fear and uncertainty~~

Frutata: I... learned that my people do not give transfer in the way Briel is accustomed to.

Walter sees the mess he was sent to clean up.

Frutata: However, the transfer basically went well.

Frutata hopes this is not a lie.

Walter proceeds to clean the mess, throwing the wet papers into his bin.

Nick has his own personal doubts as to whether Rapol would wish to see Alea again, but thinks that he might accept an apology as a favor to Snake.

Lanyi: Ah. I'm glad it went basically well. What was the problem?

Walter mops up the water.

Bin drips inky water over the carpet.

Frutata: I am uncertain as to that. [confesses]

Alea moves over and sits down feeling instant relief.

RapolDreaming: [Wall smashes down and Alea bursts in.]

Frutata: She said there were certain things not allowed, by the Tecton.

RapolDreaming [sits up and tries to hide Snake behind him.]

Wise Snake rises and goes to put the papers in the in basket on the front desk.

Nick sticks to Snake's side, not trusting her alone in the lobby.

Lanyi sighs. "Rather a lot of them, actually."

Lanyi: Would you like me to ask her about it instead?

Frutata's dark eyes study Lanyi for clues.

Walter mops in the right direction this time, towards the door.

Frutata: If it would not be too much trouble...?

RapolDreaming: [DreamAlea's eyes blaze and pierce Rapol]

Walter picks up the bucket and mop and walks off, leaving the bin in the middle of the room.

Lanyi: Sure. Not a problem.

Frutata nods.

Lanyi: Now. May I zlin you? To establish a baseline.

Frutata: Of course.

Frutata: ~~calmly~~

RapolDreaming: [the eyebeams make all the darkest things in Rapol boil out into a dark cloud]

Frutata is confident that Lanyi will discuss his problem with Briel and explain to him what to do differently next time.

Lanyi pushes her chair over and holds out her arms.

Wise Snake looks at Alea.

Wise Snake: Alea?

Wise Snake: Did you want to come now, or...?

Frutata holds out his arms.

Frutata: ~~steady~~

DarkRapol: [cloud forms into a image of Rapol with a face of twisted greed]

Alea: Oh.

Alea: Now would be fine.

Lanyi takes Frutata's arms and establishes a transfer grip.

Frutata waits calmly.

Lanyi makes fifth contact and zlins Frutata as deeply as she can.

Frutata: ~~open~~

Frutata: ~~steady~~

Wise Snake nods, then gestures to Nick.

Wise Snake: Nick?

DarkRapol: [laughs silently and knocks the empty husk of RapolDreaming off the bed]

Nick increases his support again, blocking any potential Alea-stumbles.

Lanyi zlins the effects of Frutata's ordeal, now healed.

Nick takes the medicine satchel, leaving Snake free to deal with emergencies, and nods his readiness to depart.

Alea pushes herself up and follows.

DarkRapol grabs at the cowering DreamSnake.

Wise Snake waits for Alea to fetch her cloak.

Wise Snake sees Alea is already wearing her cloak and is surprised.

Wise Snake shakes her head.

Alea smiles at Snake.

Wise Snake: Well, let's go.

Alea: I was on my way to visit you when well... Briel's office happened.

Wise Snake walks out of the Sime Center and hails another cab, this one more sedate.

DarkRapol: [holds DreamSnake by outstretched arms]

Nick sticks close to Snake as they climb in.

Alea moves over to the door and down the stairs.

Alea wonders when they started moving so fast or she slowed down.

Alea hurries after them.

Lanyi breaks the fifth contact with Frutata.

Alea climbs up into the cab with Snake and Nick.

Frutata meets Lanyi's eyes, his nager still perfectly even.

Wise Snake directs the cab to the Ferry Building.

Lanyi: You zlin well, Frutata.

Frutata: Thank you.

Frutata thinks he should start looking for passage home, someday soon.

Lanyi: Now I'll go through a few channels modes and I'd like to see the responses you'll give when we're working here. Okay?

Frutata: Of course.

Frutata readies himself to work.

Alea smiles at Snake.

Alea smiles at Nick.

Lanyi: ~~ healing mode ~~

Alea really smiles at Nick just to make him nervous.

Frutata: ~~support~~

Wise Snake looks over at Alea, wondering why she is so smiley, and starts to feel nervous.

Nick has found it most useful to view Alea like a Gen tornado: no malice aforethought, but leaves a disaster area in her wake.

Nick puts a hand on Snake's arm.

Nick: ~~ soothing calm ~~

Wise Snake smiles back at Alea.

Lanyi: ~~ need ~~

Frutata: ~~promise/support~~

Alea stands awkwardly and squeezes in next to Snake.

Wise Snake startled.

Alea: There we go.

Alea reaches out for Snake's hand.

Wise Snake: What the... Alea?? [as Alea maneuvers in the swaying cab]

Alea: I want you to feel something, Snake.

DarkRapol: [sprouts tentacles and lashes them around DreamSnakeGen]

Wise Snake's tentacles curl.

Wise Snake goes stiff suddenly.

Wise Snake's eyes go blank.

Nick increases his support.

Nick: Shen!

Nick: What did you do to her, Alea?

Alea lays Snake's hand softly on her stomach.

Alea: I....

Wise Snake starts breathing hard, staring at something invisible.

Alea: What?

Lanyi: ~~ Gen mode: need-to-give ~~

Alea senses something and her eyes shoot to Snake.

Nick tries to block Alea's nager.

Nick: Snake, what is it?

Frutata: ~~uncertain flutter~~

Alea uses her field to give a nageric nudge at Snake.

Alea: Snake!

Nick retrieves Snake's hand from Alea's clutches.

DarkRapol: [draws savagely, light creeping into the swirling Darkness]

Wise Snake cries out in what appears to be fear.

Wise Snake: Augghhh!!

Wise Snake frantically claws at the hands on her.

Alea leans back to avoid the hands.

Alea: Snake!

Nick lets go of Snake, trying to keep her nagerically supported.

Alea works with Nick to support Snake.

Alea ~~ calm reassurance ~~

Wise Snake keeps trying to claw something away even though nobody's hands are on her now.

Wise Snake: No! no!

Nick: What is it, Snake?

DarkRapol: [DreamSnakeGen laughs cruelly and shens DarkRapol with a flick of her nager]

Nick: What's wrong?

Lanyi: ~~ entran ~~

Wise Snake suddenly stops clawing, and just stares, panting.

Alea reaches out and lays her hand on Snake, projecting calm assurance.

Wise Snake's eyes clear somewhat.

Alea glances at Nick then back at Snake.

Nick drops an arm around Snake's shoulders, surrounding her in Genness.

Wise Snake: I... I... nothing. Nothing's wrong. [breathing hard]

Alea: Snake...

Wise Snake realizes they are both concerned and presses the heel of her hand to her forehead.

Alea studies her closely.

Nick deduces that it was either a drug-induced time lapse or a premonition, neither of which should be discussed in front of Alea.

Frutata's nager moves back to ~~support~~

Nick: Just sit quietly for a few minutes, and relax.

Eliza starts to wake up.

Nick: ~~ relaxation ~~

Alea: Was it another... um...?

Frutata's arm muscles twitch, suggesting a change of position without actually pulling away.

Alea looks at Nick, but doesn't know if he knows about her seeing abilities.

Alea: Yeah... just relax.

Wise Snake leans on Nick's support.

Alea eases off her support leaving her completely to Nick.

Nick: ~~ relaxation which would put a beachload of vacationers to shame ~~

Alea sits back and takes Snake's hand.

Wise Snake sags against Nick.

Alea leans her head against the back of the cab gently stroking Snake's hand.

Lanyi releases Frutata.

Lanyi: Thank you.

Frutata places his hands in his lap.

Frutata: ~~calm surface~~

Lanyi lets her showfield go back to default.

Mytag looks at the food on the tray. ~~ hungry ~~

Mytag looks at Ison's smaller tray and frowns.

Mytag: ~~HUNGRY!~~

Nick looks up as the cab halts.

Nick: Are we at the Ferry Building already?

Ison feels a bit hungrier and examines his tray.

Mytag: Hey, just cause you are past turnover and just had a horrendous experience is no need to stop eating!

Lanyi: All right. What hours have you been working lately?

Nick lightens his projection to allow Snake's head to clear enough to answer.

Mytag loads some dessert onto Ison's tray as well.

Ison: OK, OK, I'll eat.

Frutata: One hour on, twenty minutes off, from 7am to 4pm.

Alea pushes the door open.

Alea: Come on, Snake.

Mytag grabs a large glass of fruit juice as well.

Ison scoops up some ice cream.

Wise Snake climbs out of the cab.

Alea pulls some money out of her purse and pays the cabbie.

Nick follows closely on Snake's heels, ready to grab her if she looks unsteady.

Alea turns with Nick and Snake toward the building.

Alea moves to Snake's other side.

Ison: It's certainly been an eventful day, Mytag.

Alea doesn't try to engage Snake's field at all.

Wise Snake trudges to the building and unlocks the door, feeling a little bit unreal.

Mytag: Let's hope it isn't like this here all the time.

Mytag thinks, "Otherwise I'm packing you up and taking you home."

Wise Snake enters and waves away the receptionist who tries to assail her with a pile of notes.

Alea remembers why she is here and hesitates over leaving Snake alone.

Ison: Can't imagine why they let them run around like that.

Alea: I'll just be over on the uh... banana.

Wise Snake remembers why Alea is here.

Mytag: What? Wild Gens? [chuckle]

Wise Snake: Oh... sure... all right.

Nick mouths "later" at the receptionist and helps Snake up the stairs.

Wise Snake: [when Alea is out of earshot] Shen! Do you have any idea how embarrassing....

Wise Snake climbs up the stairs with Nick.

Nick: It's over now.

Ison has some juice. "How's your accommodation?"

Frutata doesn't say that he found the concept of supporting a channel only during certain hours a bit alien.

Frutata has become accustomed to the concept.

Mytag: Same as yours, probably. Of course, I'll sleep in your room for now.

Wise Snake enters her office and slides into the familiar chair at her desk.

Lanyi: Ah. That should fit with my schedule at present. Next week we'll transition to night shift.

Frutata nods.

Lanyi: Will that fit in with your personal life?

Frutata chuckles.

Frutata: I'm afraid I haven't much of one, at present.

Frutata was used to his personal life being his channel's.

Rapol slips back into deeper sleep.

Wise Snake: Nick... can you poke your head in the door and see if Rapol is awake?

Wise Snake has a feeling he isn't.

Nick looks Snake over, and decides that she will probably survive until he gets back.

Nick: Sure.

Nick steps out to check Rapol.

Alea goes over and sits down on the yellow couch.

Lanyi: Ah. Well, if you want time off let me know. I don't want to be a slave driver.

Alea finds it very comfortable and sinks down on it, relaxing

Frutata: Of course.

Frutata: There is the matter of... the child.

Eliza wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings and sits up quickly.

Frutata thinks perhaps Lanyi does not know of that arrangement yet, either.

Rapol is lying in a tangle of sheets, with one leg hanging over the edge, and the pillows out of sight behind the bed.

Eliza: ~~ woozzeeeyyy ~~ "Ooohhhh."

Wise Snake slumps against the desk and tries to remember where the shen she was in her paperwork just a short while ago.

Lanyi: Urm? What child did you mean?

Eliza clutches the side of the bed and waits for the room to stop spinning.

Frutata: Briel instructed me to see as to the education of a young Gen.

Frutata: I am to allow her to accompany and observe me in my work, and to instruct her during my off time.

Frutata sees that, indeed, Lanyi had not known of this.

Lanyi: Who was that? Valrie?

Eliza cautiously puts one foot down on the floor and hopes that it's not going to move any more

Frutata: Eliza.

Nick sees the tangled bedding and with brilliant medical skill diagnoses a nightmare as the cause.

Nick: Rapol? Are you all right?

Rapol shifts. "Brughhchuc."

Nick: Rapol, wake up!

Alea sinks down more on the sofa her eyes drifting closed.

Rapol opens his eyes. "Err?"

Nick: You were dreaming, I think.

Rapol shoves his other leg over the edge and struggles to a sitting position.

Lanyi: Ah. Eliza.

Nick: And Snake's had another blackout. Or premonition. She's still too shaken to talk about it.

Lanyi: Yes, Well please feel free to bring her along.

Lanyi: I'm sure Briel's judgment is sound.

Rapol: Yeah, I did.

Rapol stretches and rubs at his neck.

Rapol: She did? She is?

Rapol: Okay.

Nick: Hmm, maybe you could try to get her to talk about it?

Frutata nods.

Frutata: Of course.

Nick: Sharing your dream for hers?

Rapol: Certainly.

Rapol looks disturbed at the idea.

Nick: It might help both of you.

Lanyi: Now, have you ever worked with a Tigue before?

Alea yawns and shifts on the couch.

Frutata looks blank.

Frutata: ~~respectful blankness~~

Frutata: I am not familiar with Tigues.

Alea realize her feet are hurting and pulls off her boots.

Wise Snake picks up a piece of mail, tries to focus on it, then throws it away.

Rapol starts to get up, wrapping the sheet around him.

Nick: I'll leave you to it, then, and grab some sleep. Let me know how it goes?

Wise Snake sees it land near the fireplace and sits there, head leaning on her elbow, trying to gauge whether the envelope will catch fire where it is lying or not.

Lanyi: Ah. Well we are usually 1st order, but we are much more resilient than most channels.

Wise Snake: ~~apathy with a faint stirring of distant urgency~~

Rapol: Certainly.

Alea realizes her feet will get cold and awkwardly pulls her legs up on the couch and wraps the cloak around herself securely.

Nick nods and leaves.

Frutata: I see.

Alea slips an arm under her head and waits for Snake to talk to Rapol.

Frutata: How should this affect my behavior?

Nick returns to the office to check Snake one more time.

Nick sees Snake staring at the slightly singed mail, and rescues it.

Wise Snake: Thanks, Nick.

Wise Snake: [unmoving]

Nick stacks the mail neatly back on Snake's desk.

Wise Snake: Is Rapol awake?

Wise Snake pulls herself up into a reasonable sitting position.

Nick: Rapol is awake. He was having nightmares.

Lanyi: You don't have to protect me quite as heavily as most other 1sts.

Nick: He'll be her in a few minutes.

Frutata nods.

Lanyi: And I can work at a faster rate.

Frutata nods.

Wise Snake: Thank you.

Wise Snake: Do you think he will be able to talk to Alea?

Lanyi: So I take significantly shorter breaks between transfers or donations.

Frutata nods, committing these instructions to memory.

Nick: I don't know. Perhaps if you speak to him first?

Wise Snake: All right. Thank you, Nick.

Nick yawns.

Rapol comes out of his room in a brightly colored shirt and white pants.

Alea shifts on the couch getting cozily warm.

Nick looks up as Rapol comes in and signals the passing of Snake support.

Nick: I'll get to bed, then.

Nick: Good night, both of you.

Lanyi: And one thing. I can be a bit abrupt at times. Tell me if I'm being a bit too oblivious.

Rapol takes over Snake's field with less than his usual smoothness.

Rapol: Night.

Rapol goes over to look at Snake. "How feeling?"

Wise Snake: H---ello. [unsettled by the less-than-smooth transition]

Nick leaves for his night's sleep.

Frutata is not sure what Lanyi means.

Frutata: Oblivious, Hajene?

Frutata: [obliviously]

Lanyi: If I seem to be ignoring your feelings or distress. Or someone else's.

Frutata nods.

Lanyi: Householding Dar can make you a bit stoic at times, and I assume everyone is too.

Alea thinks despite how chilly it is down here, wrapped up in her cloak on the couch is certainly warmer than being outside.

Frutata: I will endeavour to keep you informed to the best of my ability. [promises]

Rapol: You had a problem?

Wise Snake massages her forehead.

Wise Snake: Yeah... another attack.

Rapol: ~~ support ~~

Alea thinks of how to form her apology to Rapol.

Wise Snake: Thought I was being selyn-raped by a black cloud with big buggy eyes.

Rapol moves behind Snake and rubs her neck.

Wise Snake tries to laugh because it sounds ridiculous, but she is still unnerved by the memory... not to mention the fact that it happened with two Donors right there.

Rapol: ~~ shock/surprise/field dropping away ~~ "Wha---"

Wise Snake cringes from his hands.

Wise Snake: Hey... Rapol?

Rapol reestablishes ~~ calm ~~

Rapol: Sorry.

Rapol: But I was....

Wise Snake looks at him wondering if she can trust him to keep control.

Rapol: That was *my* dream!

Wise Snake looks surprised.

Wise Snake: ...oh.

Wise Snake: I was horning on on your dream?

Lanyi: Thank you. That's all I ask.

Frutata nods.

Rapol: ~~ shame ~~

Alea's eyes finally drift closed.

Frutata: When shall I begin?

Wise Snake massages her forehead with increasing force.

Rapol: I was having terrible thoughts, and you received them somehow.

Wise Snake: A terrible thought, indeed.

Wise Snake: Oh!

Wise Snake suddenly remembers Alea downstairs.

Wise Snake: Shen.

Lanyi: I go on shift in the collectorium in an hour. You can meet me there, unless you want to go eat with me.

Frutata: I would be pleased to accompany you. ~~sincerity~~

Rapol: I was dreaming that we... Alea came smashing through the wall.

Lanyi: Ah. Excellent.

Lanyi gets up. "Shall we?"

Frutata stands also.

Rapol: Her eyes were like rays of fire.

Wise Snake looks up at Rapol, concerned.

Rapol: They cut me open and all my evil thoughts came out.

Frutata accompanies Lanyi to the cafeteria, relieved to be of service once again.

Toi Toi has been sitting and looking at Alea and the banana for what feels like hours now.

Toi Toi sees that Alea has slumped into a position which, given what she's lying on, looks quite bizarre.

Rapol: And I attacked you....

Toi Toi shakes her head.

Rapol: ~~ guilt ~~

Wise Snake continues to study Rapol.

Rapol sits down besides the desk.

Rapol: ~~ fearful tentative support ~~

Alea pulls her knees up closer to her, pulling the cloak tighter around her in her sleep.

Wise Snake: Do you have evil thoughts?

Rapol: Everyone has some.

Alea mutters in her sleep.

Wise Snake thinks about that, then nods.

Wise Snake: Well... for whatever it's worth, Alea's downstairs.

Wise Snake: She wants to apologize to you.

Wise Snake's gaze makes no judgment on whether he should accept or not, it's a simple statement of fact.

Rapol: ~~ worried under calm ~~

Rapol: Ah. Yes.

Rapol: You be Okay?

Alea mutters again, shifts, then sighs and snuggles under her cloak.

Wise Snake: Yes.

Wise Snake nods, fractionally too late.

Wise Snake: Yes, I will.

Rapol looks concerned and goes to the door.

Rapol: ~~ promise to return ~~

Rapol goes out.

Rapol worries as he goes downstairs.

Rapol thinks that if Alea was there, that explains. A seer could open a link between his dream and Snake... but why?

Rapol dreads the encounter, who knows what she will demand....

Rapol comes down and see Alea asleep on the couch.

Rapol thinks. "It would be rude to wake her, wouldn't it?"

Rapol takes this opportunity to turn cowardice in nobility and goes back up the stairs very quietly.

Notes:

1) This is the woman who entered the room of Mostan, who she barely knew at the time, and started cleaning up the place while he was in the shower! Then again, maybe that experience is what led to her current reluctance. [return]

2) What isn't? [return]

3) Evidently Frutata's player did not see this line. [return]

4) Let's see. 3 (uphill) miles in 13 seconds... that's 831 mph. [return]

Go on to Episode #192: The Invasion of the Tentacle Snatchers

Return to the Index of Episodes