Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #24: How would the Lone Ranger Handle this Situation? (6/19/98)
Nick scans the road, looking for the missing members of the party.
Wise Snake rides westward, convinced she will not find large numbers of juncts in the outlying communities.
Nick: Are you sure you didn't see them drop back?
Wise Snake reasons that if there really were large numbers of juncts, the logistics of trying to secretly supply them with kills would be so awful that Mr. B would have been elated to find a rogue channel, not threatened by one.
Linn: Of course I'm sure. I was riding next to you.
Griff points at the road.
Griff: Let's follow their tracks!
Wise Snake briefly entertains herself with attempting to figure out exactly what those logistics would be.
Nick looks at the morass of shapeless, overlapping holes in the dust.
Wise Snake: Let's see... twelve a year... he said "communities", so figuring at least 50 juncts....
Nick: I don't think that's too practical, Griff.
Wise Snake: That's 600 Gens per year....
Wise Snake: Er, 300.
Nick scans the side of the road again.
Wise Snake: Wait a minute, that doesn't make any sense. How in shen could he really be bringing in that many Gens?
Wise Snake: He'd have to have dozens of employees, where would the money come from to pay these people?
Wise Snake: It'd have to come from outside of the town.
Griff is sure that his brother Pleb could make sense of the tracks.
Griff thinks tracking is ooky.
Eliza keeps talking to Joad to allow Tanzarra to work on his injuries.
Wise Snake: No no no, it doesn't make any sense.
Eliza: Where do you live? In the town?
Wise Snake mutters to herself. [Freelance's ears prick up]
Wise Snake pats his neck.
Joad: Just outside of town. Or at least I did.
Wise Snake: If he had so many juncts, he'd have to have been getting Frooter to serve them at least part of the time.
Wise Snake: And with Frooter gone he would have been as happy to see me as the rest of the townspeople, not wanting to get rid of me.
Joad groans as Tanzarra probes at a particularly sore spot.
Wise Snake scratches her head, continuing to zlin about.
Eliza tries to keep the pain from Tanzarra.
Wise Snake: Well, it can't be too much farther.
Griff points to the side of the road in triumph..
Griff: See? Tracks leaving the road.
Nick looks at the tracks, which are clearly visible in the mud where they cross the ditch.
Nick: Well, those were horses, and not too long ago. That manure hasn't dried out.
Joad: Ahhh that hurts. ~ pain ~
Nick figures that he would have caught up with Eliza and Tanzarra by now, if they were just riding along the road like they should have been.
Nick makes an executive decision.
Nick: Let's follow them.
Wise Snake finally gives up.
Nick turns Pumpkin to follow the tracks; this involves a brief negotiation as to necessity of wading through the ditch, as Pumpkin dislikes getting his hooves wet.
Wise Snake: Shen, if there was a whole town of juncts out here I'd have zlinned them by now.
Wise Snake: I have to get back there and take care of old what's-his-name.
Eliza puts a hand on Tanzarra's shoulder to increase the effect of her support. She has no idea if that's right or not but that seems to be what they do.
Wise Snake turns Freelance and heads back toward town at a trot.
Wise Snake sees a poster on a post as she's entering town, and slows to read it.
Wise Snake: "Post No Bills..." huh.
Wise Snake doesn't realize this is a Post No Bills sign from another part of town, which accidentally ended up in Workman's pile after he took it down to hang one of Mr. B's posters.
Wise Snake continues blithely on.
Nick sees a large open field, very empty, with some rocks on the high ground.
Griff points at the rocks.
Eliza sees horses out of the corner of her eye and swings around, trying not to panic.
Eliza: Someone's coming. Zarra, can you zlin if they are...?
Griff: There's probably holed up there. It's a good place to hide from an enemy.
Tanzarra looks to see what has startled Eliza.
Nick hadn't realized that Eliza was that eager to avoid her next lesson on field control.
Nick: Well, we'll check it out, anyway.
Tanzarra: Yes it's Nick and the others.
Nick: ~~ high-field Farris-trained Donor ~~
Eliza sighs with relief.
Eliza: It's ok Joad, they are friends.
Nick nudges Pumpkin to a reluctant trot.
Joad relaxes a bit (just a little bit) as he hears that.
Tanzarra give attention back to the boy.
Eliza: All Gens too, nothing to be frightened of.
Nick sees a horse's rump poking around the rock.
Eliza thinks that Griff probably counts as Gen, if not as human.
Joad relaxes a lot at that last statement.
Nick round the rock, and recognizes the horses.
Tanzarra continues healing Joad's bruises.
Nick: Eliza, Tanzarra, is that you?
Tanzarra: This should feel a little better.
Griff sticks out his tongue at Eliza.
Eliza: Yes Nick! Up here!
Tanzarra appreciates Eliza's help.
Nick dismounts.
Wise Snake rides through town, keeping a wary eye out and zlinning carefully.
Mr. B paces uneasily, rubbing his hands together fitfully.
Nick climbs up to Eliza.
Nick: Shen!
Tanzarra concentrates on healing.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Mr. B: She is going to bring the Tecton down on our heads!
Wise Snake has her sights set on the highest house on the highest hill, Uptown.
Eliza: Nick, these kids say there is a band of juncts around. [quietly] They got his sister.
Tanzarra trying to keep calm with all these Gens around.
Nick: Don't say that around Linn, whatever you do.
Joad is a young Gen, covered in bruises. Though he looks better now, than what he did before Tanzarra started healing him.
Tanzarra: ~~ anxious ~~
Nick smiles at Joad.
Eliza backs off to let Nick support Tanzarra.
Nick: Eliza, keep support Tanzarra so she can work.
Eliza: Oh.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Wise Snake ties Freelance in front of a house about a block away, then walks the rest of the way on foot, zlinning the area carefully.
Joad tries to smile in return but his mouth is so sore that he can't manage more than being able to move his top lip.
Wise Snake studies the house with a cat-burglar's eye.
Eliza: How did you get away Joad?
Nick looks down at Linn and Griff.
Tanzarra refocuses and gently moves laterals over another nasty bruise.
Nick: Linn, could you bring up a canteen? We've got an injury here, and he looks thirsty.
Joad: I got away... well I'm not really sure, but I think I used my field to do it. I learned that by sheer necessity.
Linn nods and dismounts.
Tanzarra: ~~ Panic ~~
Eliza: ~ steady soothing support ~
Tanzarra thinks, 'oh great. I hope he's not going to demonstrate'.
Eliza: It's okay. You are safe now.
Joad goes back to distrustfully watching the channel as she works on him.
Wise Snake notes the construction designed to keep the average Sime out and nods approvingly.
Tanzarra thinks he might be, but what about me.
Linn hands Nick a canteen.
Wise Snake inspects the yard for dogs and sees two large ones.
Mr. B wonders if he has done enough to drive the danger out of his town or what other measures he should employ.
Nick: Thanks. Keep an eye on Griff and the horses, would you?
Mr. B calls for one of his servants.
Nick goes back to Tanzarra, Eliza, and Joad.
Mr. B: Frick, I want you to take a message to the Mayor for me. Tell him I want to see him at the earliest possible minute.
Nick: Here, Joad. Have a drink.
Nick offers the canteen.
Wise Snake doesn't, however, zlin any guards or anything.
Wise Snake: Huh.
Wise Snake: A private fellow.
Mr. B unlocks the door for Frick to leave.
Tanzarra: Well there isn't any internal damage, so you should be able to get up in a few minutes.
Eliza: Is he able to ride now Zarra?
Eliza wants to get out of the open.
Tanzarra: Just wait until I let you go.
Tanzarra: ~~ please wait ~~
Joad takes a swig and spits out a mouthful of bloody water, being careful to aim for the ground and not one of the people around him. He then takes a second mouthful and swallows it before handing the canteen back.
Nick takes back the canteen, then waits patiently for Tanzarra to finish.
Tanzarra: Yes, he'll feel a bit sore but other than that he's okay to ride.
Joad looks at Tanzarra. "Thanks for healing me. Now all I need is some food and rest and then I can start plotting my revenge."
Tanzarra retracts her laterals, then lets the boy go.
Eliza: Joad, You can ride in front of me.
Tanzarra: Ok, you can move now.
Eliza thinks he is going to need the saddle to stay on.
Eliza helps Joad to his feet.
Nick: Well, why don't you come with us for a while? There's someone you might want to meet.
Nick has no idea if Joad would like to meet Snake, but is sure that Snake would be happy to meet with a Gen who's still not completely recovered from injuries.
Tanzarra: Is there anything we can do about his sister?
Nick: What about his sister?
Tanzarra: [to Nick]
Tanzarra: He says that she was captured by juncts, do you think she still could be alive?
Tanzarra: ~~ wishful thinking ~~
Nick: I don't know. Perhaps we can find out.
Frick runs all the way to the Mayor's office under augmentation.
Wise Snake blinks as a renSime runs right past her, seemingly without noticing her.
Wise Snake: Huh.
Wise Snake blinks twice as the two large guard dogs run out the open gate and chase Frick down the hill, barking inanely.
Wise Snake: Huh!
Eliza: Do you think that is wise?
Nick personally thinks it more likely that Snake will decide it's time to leave town, but he's been wrong before.
Tanzarra: Well be better get going, we can't stay here.
Wise Snake sighs and goes up the front walk.
Tanzarra: Maybe Snake will know what to do.
Wise Snake tries the door handle just for the hell of it.
Frick delivers the message to the Mayor's secretary and heads off to the parlor for a cool drink before heading back.
Nick checks Joad for mobility.
Nick: Tanzarra, perhaps you'd better carry him.
Wise Snake finds it locked and attempts to zlin through the door to determine if somebody is immediately beyond.
Tanzarra: Okay.
Mr. B hears the rattle on the door handle and jumps a mile.
Mr. B: Who's there!
Wise Snake smiles to herself.
Tanzarra nervously approaches the boy to pick him up.
Wise Snake ducks out of sight of the peephole and waits.
Mr. B approaches the door cautiously.
Tanzarra: It's okay, I'm just going to carry you to a horse.
Joad: Okay. I'll keep myself under control.
Mr. B: Who is there?! I know you are out there! I warn you, I'm armed!
Wise Snake considers that, then prudently draws her knife.
Eliza walks close beside her.
Tanzarra picks Joad up and heads toward the horses.
Mr. B is also legged, but doesn't mention that.
Tanzarra: That's good.
Wise Snake really hopes it doesn't come to using it, however.
Wise Snake: [well, sort of hopes]
Wise Snake: [well, would like to think that she hopes]
Mr. B decides maybe he was hearing things and opens the door slowly and carefully.
Tanzarra: ~~ tight control on field, just in case. ~~
Nick follows Tanzarra.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake augments to dart in the open door, driving Mr. B back.
Eliza moves back so that Nick can support Tanzarra and holds the horse for her.
Mr. B: Argggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
Tanzarra: Eliza, which horse do you think is best for him?
Eliza: Can you ride and hold him at the same time?
Wise Snake grabs wildly for the weapon [if any] and tosses it away.
Tanzarra doesn't want him falling off and hurting himself again.
Tanzarra: Ummm. Okay.
Eliza: Then Flossie.
Tanzarra: Will you stay close though?
Eliza holds Flossie.
Eliza: If you would like me to.
Tanzarra: ~~ nervous ~~
Mr. B: What do you think you are doing!
Tanzarra: Yes please.
Wise Snake after groping Mr. B thoroughly and finding no [appreciable] weapon, shoves him up against the wall with the knife to his throat.
Mr. B: What do you want!
Mr. B: Are you going to kill me?
Nick: I'll stay on your other side, Tanzarra.
Mr. B: Arg.
Mr. B stops talking really quickly.
Tanzarra is worried about the boy getting scared again, and being so close if he does.
Wise Snake: Probably not. But you are going to answer my questions, and answer them truthfully.
Mr. B starts to nod, feels the knife and gaggles "yes" instead.
Wise Snake briefly listens and zlins for anybody else nearby, then smiles.
Wise Snake: Now then. Tell me why everybody in this town seems to think the town is filled with juncts?
Wise Snake moves the knife back about 1/8 inch to allow his Adam's Apple to vibrate.
Tanzarra: ~~ nerves feel like they are being grated ~~
Wise Snake: Oh, I know there are a few. But not so many as you'd have them believe.
Nick mounts Pumpkin and nudges him over by Flossie.
Tanzarra lifts Joad onto horse and leaps up behind him.
Mr. B: Errr, I don't know.
Mr. B: ~lying ~
Tanzarra leans around Joad to grab the reins.
Wise Snake: Mr. B. As you know, I am a Farris channel. I know when you are lying. Please don't cause me to fall into a senseless fit of rage and cut your throat for no good reason.
Wise Snake: [calm, reasonable voice]
Mr. B: AGH!
Wise Snake: [weird look in her eyes]
Mr. B: ~ fear and loathing ~
Wise Snake: That's better.
Wise Snake: Now, tell me the truth.
Mr. B: All right all right! I may, did! give that impression.
Nick waits for the rest of the party to mount, then nudges Pumpkin forward.
Wise Snake: How many are there really?
Mr. B: You channels, you think the Tecton just solves everyone's problems!
Mr. B: I don't know exactly.
Mr. B: ~truth ~
Wise Snake: How could you not know? Explain.
Tanzarra: Ok, let's go.
Eliza climbs up on Trigger and moves close to Flossie's other side.
Tanzarra is pleased that Joad is staying relaxed and calm.
Mr. B: New ones join all the time. There are still juncts you know!
Linn and Griff bring up the rear.
Mr. B: Channels can't solve every problem over night!
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Wise Snake: How many.
Mr. B: Maybe 20, 25.
Mr. B: If it were up to the Tecton they would all die in misery. I serve a valuable need.
Tanzarra: So Nick, where is Snake?
Tanzarra has no idea of where they are going.
Wise Snake: Mr. B, you are giving your own kind over into death. That is just as bad as renSimes dying.
Wise Snake: Tell me why those Gens deserve to die.
Nick: She had some things to take care of in town.
Mr. B thinks, well yeah, but it pays better.
Mr. B: They would have died anyway. I just make sure they don't die in vain!
Mr. B: [in other words, everyone dies, but not everyone pays him to do so]
Tanzarra: Well I guess we go back to town.
Nick: Yes.
Nick nudges Pumpkin forward, worried about what Snake might have gotten up to in his absence.
Wise Snake's face twists in disgust.
Tanzarra turns her horse towards town.
Fountaine hurries towards Mr. B's mansion, grumbling under his breath.
Wise Snake forces herself hypo and slits his throat.
Eliza lifts H'ron up behind her and follows.
Tanzarra: Does this kind of thing happen often?
Wise Snake jumps back as she releases him.
Mr. B: Agguuugggggggle.
Wise Snake: ~~revulsion/self loathing/loathing of him~~
Fountaine really wishes that he didn't owe so much to the boss.
Dead old B bleeds all over the afghan rug.
Fountaine hurries up the stairs to Mr. B's mansion.
Fountaine: Sir, I came as fast as I could...
Wise Snake backs away, shaking with reaction, and sits down on an entryway bench.
Fountaine steps into the hall.
Fountaine zlins Snake.
Tanzarra notices that Joad has drifted off to sleep.
Tanzarra: He really is exhausted.
Fountaine: My goodness, Hajene! Whatever is the matter?
Wise Snake looks up at him, the bloody knife cradled in her hands, blood spattered across her face.
Fountaine sees the blood.
Fountaine: What happened?
Fountaine: ~~ shock ~~
Wise Snake: I....
Fountaine: Did somebody get injured?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake realizes that this isn't a good situation but is having trouble thinking of the next step.
Wise Snake looks down at the knife and then looks around for something to wipe it with.
Fountaine: I hadn't realized.... Perhaps I should come back later?
Fountaine is ready to grasp at any straw to avoid an interview with Mr. B.
Wise Snake: No... no, that's quite all right. [on autopilot]
Wise Snake finally locates a corner of her own shirt, and wipes it on that.
Wise Snake stands.
Wise Snake: Ah... Mayor Fountaine.
Wise Snake: This may interest you.
Wise Snake pulls the note out of her pocket, that she had found in Umber's store.
Wise Snake: (the one that talks about being sure to get a new Mayor, a convincing one, before the new channel arrives in town)
Fountaine takes the note and looks at it.
Wise Snake looks around and spots a small washroom, goes to wash all the blood off.
Fountaine: ~~ Oooooooops ~~
Wise Snake sees her hands and tentacles are quivering.
Fountaine imagines a full Tecton investigation sweeping down on Vortez Lake.
Fountaine imagines what those juncts will tell the authorities, when they learn that they are doomed anyway.
Wise Snake washes her hands and face, then turns off the tap and leans against the wall, looking at her reflection (ouch!) in the mirror.
Fountaine decides that the pressures of his newly-assumed position are causing him much too much stress.
Fountaine has heard that stress is hazardous to one's health, particularly this kind.
Wise Snake finally gathers herself and leaves the washroom, looking pale but clean (for her)
Wise Snake carefully avoids looking at the body and huge dark stain lying behind Mayor Fountaine.
Fountaine decides that the only solution is to take an immediate, prolonged vacation, as far away from Vortez Lake as possible.
Wise Snake stops in front of Mayor(?) Fountaine and studies him.
Wise Snake: Well?
Fountaine, being a man of action, augments out of the mansion, intent on putting his plan into action as soon as humanly possible, if not sooner.
Wise Snake: Er....
Wise Snake watches him depart.
Wise Snake thinks 'tis a pity there are no more guard dogs left to assist in his flight.
Wise Snake takes several minutes to dig through Mr. B's desk drawers and so forth looking for any information that might prove useful to a Tecton investigation.
Eliza is relieved to see the town getting closer. For some reason the amount of nervousness she feels these days is in direct proportion to the distance she is away from Snake.
Wise Snake: [read: Information with which she can buy more time for herself from some impressionable Tecton bureaucrat]
Eliza: Where would we find Snake, Nick?
Wise Snake then leaves the house and goes back to Freelance, and heads toward City Hall.
Nick: We'll meet her at City Hall.
Tanzarra hopes these Gens know where they are going because she doesn't.
Wise Snake feels a curious combination of numb and sort of elated.
Tanzarra: Ok, then lead the way to City Hall.
Nick turns Pumpkin towards City Hall.
Tanzarra follows, with Joad still sleeping against her chest.
Linn is still wondering a bit just why Snake insisted that the rest of the party take this detour.
Tanzarra: ~~ projecting need to help with healing ~~
Tanzarra thinks it's safe to do while he's asleep.
Eliza is pleased to see Freelance, with Snake in one piece, heading towards them from the opposite direction.
Wise Snake rides down the hill and into downtown.
Wise Snake looks around at the people, wondering if they can sense the difference or if it will take them some time to realize.
Wise Snake zlins Nick's nager ahead, near City Hall, and spurs Freelance to a canter.
Nick pulls up in front of City Hall.
Nick looks around for Snake.
Tanzarra: Ahh, there's Snake.
Eliza feels like she is going to burst if she doesn't yell or something.
Tanzarra feels Eliza's excitement level rising.
Wise Snake rides into Nick's field with extreme relief.
Wise Snake: Ah... Nick. You have no idea how glad I am to see you.
Nick: ~~ greeting/support ~~
Tanzarra stops projecting for Joad.
Nick sees how agitated Snake is.
Nick: ~~ calm ~~
Wise Snake looks exhausted, damp, and has blood stains on her shirt.
Nick: What happened?
Tanzarra smiles nervously at Snake.
Tanzarra zlins distress in Snake.
Wise Snake glances at the others.
Tanzarra: Has there been trouble?
Wise Snake: We'll discuss it later [to Nick].
Wise Snake stares at Tanzarra.
Tanzarra states the obvious.
Wise Snake wonders if Tanzarra missed the events of the rest of the day.
Eliza has control like steel bands around herself and smiles brittly and somewhat glassy eyed.
Nick nods acceptance of the delay.
Wise Snake: Eliza? Do you need to spend some more time by yourself?
Wise Snake: [nervously]
Eliza nods.
Eliza: I think that might be a good idea.
Wise Snake: Go on, then. We'll be inside.
Eliza: [to Tanzarra] You be okay now?
Wise Snake has a feeling the Mayor's office will be available for a work space for at least a day or two.
Tanzarra: Yes, thank you for your help.
Nick dismounts and gives Griff Pumpkin's reins.
Wise Snake wonders what became of the real Mayor and hopes that he had left on his own, and wasn't killed by a junct.
Wise Snake does the same.
Tanzarra: Before you go though, could you help Joad down?
Eliza lets H'ron off, then helps Tanzarra get Joad off Flossie.
Wise Snake climbs the stairs into the Hall, ignores the reception area and barges into Mayor Fountaine's office.
Tanzarra slides the still sleeping boy down to Eliza, then dismounts.
Wise Snake sinks down into Mayor Fountain's chair and plants her elbows on the desk, massaging her eyes.
Tanzarra: Ok, I'll take him from here.
Eliza slowly collapses under his weight until she is sitting in the dust.
Tanzarra: You may want to go clean up.
Nick closes and locks the door, then goes over to wrap Snake in arms and nager.
Nick: ~~ calm support ~~
Eliza: Later...
Eliza gets up, brushes off quickly, jumps on Trigger and canters off before anyone can ask her to do anything else.
Tanzarra carries Joad into Mayor's office.
Wise Snake leans against Nick.
Nick: What happened?
Wise Snake hears them moving about in the outer office.
Wise Snake: Shen, I'll have to face them, won't I?
Nick figures it wasn't a simple messy accident; that would have had Snake looking cheerful.
Nick: Not until you're ready.
Duffus comes out of his office and looks over the top of his spectacles at the Mayor's closed door.
Duffus: Hmmm I didn't know the Mayor was back. I'll get those forms that need his signature.
Tanzarra tries to push door with foot, but it has been locked.
Tanzarra mumbles to herself,. Oh great, now what.
Wise Snake: I murdered him, Nick.
Nick: ~~ startled ~~
Tanzarra looks around for another way in.
Nick: Murdered who?
Wise Snake: Mr. B. The Genrunner.
Duffus disappears back into his own office.
Wise Snake: Cut his throat, in his own entryway.
Nick: ~~ shock ~~
Nick: Was he that much of a danger to us?
Tanzarra actually decides to find somewhere to put Joad first.
Nick: ~~ sympathy for Snake having to do such a thing ~~
Wise Snake: Shen Nick, he was supplying 25 juncts with 12 kills a year. He's been doing it his whole life... do you know how many Gens that is?
Wise Snake: Hundreds.
Tanzarra sees a fairly comfortable couch and puts Joad there to sleep more.
Wise Snake: He's murdered, killed, hundreds.
Wise Snake shudders.
Nick: ~~ soothing calm ~~
Nick: I'm surprised the Tecton didn't catch on long ago.
Tanzarra decides to rest herself and goes over to talk with Linn.
Tanzarra: May I join you?
Wise Snake: Well, they're going to catch on now.
Linn: Certainly.
Wise Snake: There are 25 or maybe more juncts living in the hills around this town and they are going to have to be reformed.
Linn gestures to the other half of the bench she occupies.
Nick: Sent to Last Year Camps, you mean.
Wise Snake: And I am not going to let this chance slip by... there has got to be someone in District willing to look the other way in exchange for information like this.
Nick: That could get ugly. They won't go willingly.
Wise Snake: We won't be here for that.
Tanzarra sits down,but not too close.
Wise Snake: The real Tecton has to handle it, not I.
Wise Snake: And whatever happens, it won't be as ugly as what this town has been living under since the war.
Nick: ~~ emphatic agreement ~~
Tanzarra: So Linn, how long have you known Snake and the others?
Nick: Where did they get the Gens? Not locally, at least for most of them, or there wouldn't be so many around town.
Linn thinks back.
Linn: Less than a year actually.
Linn: Although it seems a lot longer.
Wise Snake: Not all locally. Only enough locally to keep the population scared.
Tanzarra: So what made you decide to come with her.
Nick: Did you learn where the rest came from?
Nick tries to think of the logistics of kidnapping so many people.
Linn: Umm...
Wise Snake reaches into her (new) cloak and pulls out some of the stolen papers.
Wise Snake: I know some of it.
Linn decides that it's best not to go into kidnapping just now.
Wise Snake: This should be enough for them to go on. Somebody will probably be willing to trade for this.
Linn: It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, actually.
Tanzarra: Oh.
Nick glances through the papers and whistles.
Nick: I should say so.
Wise Snake tucks them away again.
Wise Snake: Now, we have a little bit of work do do, here.
Tanzarra thinks Linn is being a little vague in her answer.
Wise Snake: At this point, I would say we are morally obligated to stay until a Tecton channel shows up.
Wise Snake: And, I would say that none was going to show up before, and we'll have to set that into motion ourselves.
Wise Snake: Preferably keeping Suvis out of the loop.
Nick nods.
Nick pulls open a drawer.
Tanzarra: That's a pretty major decision to act on a spur of the moment whim.
Eliza rides a fair way out of town and collapses on Trigger's neck.
Nick: There's official city stationary here.
Eliza: I don't know if I can do this, Trigger. Being so careful all the time is exhausting!
Linn: I didn't feel like I had much choice, at the time.
Eliza: It's soooo much easier with Thirds!
Eliza misses Mostan so much.
Tanzarra: But if it was a whim, how could you have no choice?
Tanzarra: ~~ confused ~~
Nick: Do you know any Tecton officials who are honest, with high enough rank to cope with Suvis?
Tanzarra believes confused is her permanent state.
Linn looks at Tanzarra innocently.
Wise Snake looks worried, then shakes her head decisively.
Wise Snake: They don't have to be honest, just honest enough.
Wise Snake: It's not hard to find a Tecton official who hates Genrunners, especially those who pay their political rivals.
Tanzarra: So why didn't you have any choice?
Nick: I'll leave the choice of contact to you, then.
Nick: I admit I don't bother to follow Tecton politics.
Wise Snake: The letter mentioned Sosu Frant as being a political rival.
Linn: I felt... compelled... to come along.
Wise Snake starts opening drawers in search of the stationary and a suitably expensive pen.
Nick: Sosu Frant? Do you know anything else about him?
Wise Snake: Isn't he the guy who botched the 183rd district election counts last year?
Tanzarra doesn't quite believe that.
Eliza turns Trigger around and heads back.
Eliza remembers that there are supposed to be juncts around and heads back faster.
Wise Snake: Heck, he'll want something nice and black and white like this on his resume.
Wise Snake studies some examples of the Mayor's writing [from a couple of months before, for realism's sake] then starts writing.
Nick: Does he have to power to make the Tecton respond in force?
Nick: ~~ dubious ~~
Tanzarra: I hope you don't mind all these questions, it's just that everyone's acting so strange.
Tanzarra thinks, she should talk.
Linn nods.
Linn: We've all been under stress.
Wise Snake pauses.
Linn: ~~ understanding ~~
Wise Snake: Do you have a better suggestion?
Nick considers.
Tanzarra decides she's not going to get anything more from Linn.
Nick: Who's the highest ranking Tecton official who both knows you and might believe you?
Wise Snake: Er... well, there's Muryin.
Tanzarra: Well I'll leave you to rest while I work out what to do with the boy. [points to Joad]
Wise Snake: She's not technically a Tecton official, but....
Nick nods.
Nick: She has more ability to get the Tecton moving than most Controllers.
Tanzarra decides to go see Snake.
Wise Snake sighs and tears up the first letter.
Wise Snake: Toss this in the fire for me?
Nick does so.
Wise Snake pulls out another sheet of stationary and begins to write another letter, this time in her own handwriting [questionably termed]
Tanzarra goes to the Mayor's office and signals.
Wise Snake: Dear Muryin, bla de bla de bla.... bla de bla.... etc. etc. please see enclosed.
Wise Snake: I hope she doesn't resent the lack of detail about what's been going on in my life. [muses]
Wise Snake: Could you get that, Nick?
Wise Snake removes the evidence from her cloak pocket and stuffs it into a huge envelope along with the letter.
Nick: I'm sure she'll understand, under the circumstances.
Nick unlocks the door and opens it.
Nick: Ah, Tanzarra.
Nick steps back to allow her to enter.
Wise Snake seals the envelope using her Zeor ring and sighs.
Nick: Is your patient comfortable?
Nick returns to Snake's side.
Tanzarra: I hope I'm not interrupting?
Tanzarra knows she probably is.
Wise Snake looks up belatedly.
Wise Snake: Ah... Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: Yes, he is still asleep.
Wise Snake: I realize things have been a bit hectic.. I am sorry you were not able to receive any rest.
Tanzarra: I just come to ask Snake what we should do with him?
Tanzarra walks toward Snake.
Tanzarra stops and waits.
Nick puts a hand on Snake's shoulder.
Wise Snake looks at Tanzarra in some confusion wondering what she is waiting for.
Linn sees a very agitated renSime come augmenting down the street.
Tanzarra: ~~ barely controlled nervousness ~~
Wise Snake clears her throat.
Wise Snake: As I say, I am sorry you were not able to receive any rest, and I apologize for the hectic morning.
Linn sees the renSime stop to gasp something to some passersby, who seem agitated by the news.
Linn blinks as the group breaks up and hurries off in different directions.
Frick comes out of the parlor in time to snag a coworker as he runs past.
Frick blanches at the news.
Tanzarra: That's all right, Hajene Snake, I just wanted to report on the boy and his brother and sister.
Frick hurries off in different directions too, before pulling himself together.
Frick is beside himself with stress.
Wise Snake wonders who she's talking about.
Wise Snake: OK...?
Frick runs over to tell the Mayor not to bother going to see Mr B.
Linn hears a growing noise from the surrounding area: voices, doors slamming, and so on.
Tanzarra: They were running from juncts and their sister has been taken.
Tanzarra tries to relax.
Frick pounds up the steps and into the outer office of the Mayor's rooms.
Duffus comes out of his office to see what the commotion is.
Duffus: You there! Frick! What's going on?
Wise Snake starts zlinning about, her eyes darting nervously at all the commotion.
Frick: It's Mr.B! He is dead!
Wise Snake motions to Nick and Tanzarra to stand aside.
Frick: Murdered!
Duffus: Oh my! Oh my!
Tanzarra: Joad, the one that is asleep had some bruising and cuts, but he is almost healed now.
Wise Snake stands.
Duffus sits down suddenly which is unfortunate because there wasn't a chair behind him.
Duffus: ~ ouch ~
Frick: Oh my!
Duffus: Oh my!
Frick: What are we going to do?
Frick: ~ panic ~
Nick steps aside, adjusting his nager to allow Snake to zlin.
Duffus: Don't panic! Let me think...
Duffus: Get the Mayor, he is in his office.
Frick runs over to the Mayor's door and signals frantically.
Wise Snake sits again.
Duffus sits and thinks.
Wise Snake gestures to Tanzarra to get the door.
Wise Snake: May as well get this over with.
Nick assumes a professional-looking stance.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake leans back and tries to adapt a cool, of-course-I-belong-here demeanor which for a Farris comes quite naturally.
Nick hopes that whoever it is still thinks he and Snake work for the Tecton.
Frick rushes in as the door opens. "Mr B is dead what are you doing here?!"
Duffus hears the exclamation and fears that the Mayor has been caught with his pants down once again.
Wise Snake projects a calming nager.
Wise Snake: I can assure you, all is in order.
Wise Snake: Now, please, speak slowly. What are you saying?
Frick looks stunned.
Frick: Oh. Good.
Duffus follows Frick in.
Duffus is taken aback by the sight of Snake and Nick and no Mayor.
Duffus: Where is the Mayor?
Nick sort of wonders that himself.
Duffus: We have urgent news!
Wise Snake: Yes, yes, you've both said that, but what is the news?
Duffus: Mr B is dead!
Wise Snake: Oh.
Wise Snake tries to look sober.
Duffus: Oh? Is that all you can say?
Duffus: Ah but you are new here!
Wise Snake: Well, the Mayor was here about five minutes ago, he ran in for just a moment, then ran out again in a rush saying he had urgent personal business out of town.
Wise Snake: ~~truth~~
Duffus realises that Mr B probably didn't have anything over this channel yet. She is, after all, Tecton.
Duffus: ~ excited ~
Duffus thinks that makes sense.
Wise Snake is fairly confident that nobody could zlin through that, although she can't be sure she managed to keep the lie off those damned lips.
Duffus also thinks that he won't ever get the money he loaned that miserable excuse for a Mayor back.
Wise Snake can't believe she murdered somebody and told a blatant lie, both in the same day.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Frick stands slack jawed.
Nick puts a calming hand on the back of Snake's neck.
Nick: ~~ cool calm ~~
Wise Snake sighs in relief and removes her hand from her forehead.
Wise Snake: Now... as you know I am Hajene Farris, the Tecton's representative.
Duffus: Well Frick, you are excused. Go do... whatever it is that you do.
Wise Snake: [well, that's true enough, if a bit premature]
Wise Snake: I will be glad to handle any, er, coordination that must be done until the Tecton's other representatives arrive.
Wise Snake thinks if that wasn't enough advance warning to any bugs to crawl far away soon, then....
Frick bows to them both and leaves.
Duffus: That would be most excellent! Excellent!
Duffus: I am, was, is, am the Mayor's right hand. Anything you need to know, just ask me.
Wise Snake: Oh really.
Wise Snake: What can you tell me about the switch of Mayors which occurred recently?
Duffus sticks out his chest.
Tanzarra stands by the wall and watches in confusion.
Duffus: Errr what?
Duffus deflates.
Nick nods firmly.
Duffus: You know about that.
Nick: We do.
Nick: But we'd like to hear your side of it.
Duffus sits down heavily. Fortunately this time there was a chair behind him.
Duffus: ~ despair, the jig is up ~
Duffus: We were desperate.
Tanzarra: ~~ tries to keep from being effected by the ambient. ~~
Duffus: Mr. B had us under his thumb for so long, and the Mayor and that damn Frooter was in with him.
Duffus: Then, Frooter decided that it was all too much and he was going to come clean.
Duffus: Next thing we know, both the Mayor and the channel were missing.
Wise Snake winces.
Duffus sighs deeply and a touch dramatically.
Duffus: We needed a new channel. Mr. B of course had a different sort of channel in mind than we did.
Nick: So you found a replacement for him?
Duffus: We knew we needed to produce a mayor who was realistic and pliable enough.
Tanzarra thinks things are taking a turn for the worse.
Duffus: Yes, we found a replacement for him.
Wise Snake: Ah... just a moment, please.
Duffus: Mr. B thought that by not having a channel he would have an increase in customers.
Wise Snake: Linn? [calls into the other room]
Wise Snake: Linn, can I get you to do a small favor for me?
Wise Snake scribbles some notes on a piece of paper.
Linn comes in.
Linn: What is it, Snake?
Eliza returns to the City Hall wondering what all the noise is about and ties Trigger up outside.
Wise Snake hands Linn the piece of paper.
Wise Snake: Can you please run this down to the local newspaper? Basically it's some information for their evening edition. Channelling services now available at City Hall, Mr. B dead, mayor fled, that kind of thing.
Wise Snake: Oh, and, make sure to double-check the spelling on the typesetting, their Editor was offed by Mr. B from what I hear.
Linn: I will.
Linn leaves on her errand.
Wise Snake: Thanks a lot Linn, I appreciate it.
Wise Snake: Sorry. [to Duffus] Please, go on.
Eliza smiles at Linn as she passes her.
Duffus shrugs.
Duffus: There isn't much more than that, I guess. Mr. B was supplying Gens for juncts in the area. Frooter was in on it, as was Mayor Constintine.
Wise Snake lifts a tentacle to Tanzarra letting her know she hasn't been forgotten.
Tanzarra: ~~ shock ~~
Wise Snake: Well. Mr. B will not be supplying anybody anything now, except gossip.
Duffus: When you appeared I guess you were a threat to Mr. B.
Wise Snake thinks, and a free ticket out of the Tecton.
Tanzarra looks to Snake with shocked look on her face.
Wise Snake: He may have perceived me as such [allows].
Wise Snake thinks, especially towards the end there.
Duffus: What I don't understand is how he died. He was old enough I suppose.
Wise Snake flicks an "I'll explain" tentacle to Tanzarra.
Eliza hovers around the outer limits of the room.
Wise Snake sees Eliza and makes an urgent gesture for her to go over to Tanzarra.
Wise Snake: Ah... I believe he said murder, didn't he?
Wise Snake: Don't feel bad, I wasn't really paying attention either.
Eliza sidles over to Zarra's side and applies ~support ~
Duffus: I guess there will have to be an investigation.
Wise Snake: Yes. Now, it is going to take a few days for the Tecton to move in here.
Wise Snake: I will do what I can to make sure everything goes smoothly until then.
Tanzarra: ~~ relaxes slightly- nager still feels wrong ~~
Tanzarra will not tell Eliza that.
Duffus: ~ gratitude ~
Duffus: I appreciate any help the Tecton can give.
Tanzarra: Thanks. [whispers to Eliza]
Wise Snake nods.
Duffus hopes that if he is really cooperative, the fact that he is being cooperative a bit late will be overlooked.
Tanzarra rests on Eliza'a support and just watches on.
Nick: ~~ satisfaction ~~
Wise Snake: Great uh, well, if that's all, then...?
Duffus: I suppose I should organise an investigation and a funeral.
Duffus: So, if you will excuse me. If you need anything, anything at all...
Nick: We'll be sure to contact you.
Wise Snake: Thank you once again.
Wise Snake sighs as the man is finally gone.
Duffus nods and leaves to start balls rolling. [just hope he gets the right person's balls]
Nick: That went well.
Nick: ~~ relief ~~
Wise Snake thinks, easy to say when it wasn't your hand that did the dirty deed.
Tanzarra watches the man leave, then turns to Snake.
Wise Snake looks up at Tanzarra, caught in the middle of that guilty thought.
Tanzarra: So, what's going on here?
Wise Snake: Er...?
Wise Snake: Where would you like me to begin?
Eliza looks at Tanzarra, just starting to have guilty thoughts.
Tanzarra senses what she thinks is guilt in Snake, but not sure.
Tanzarra: Where ever you wish to start.
Tanzarra is exhibiting a little Tecton attitude.
Wise Snake's eyebrows twitch upward in confusion.
Wise Snake: Well, let's leave it at that, then.
Wise Snake picks up the package and rises.
Wise Snake is glad that was over with so nicely.
Tanzarra is stunned that Snake didn't answer at all.
Tanzarra: ~~ confusion ~~
Wise Snake looks at Tanzarra.
Wise Snake: Was there something else?
Tanzarra thinks she is going to have a hard time getting anyone to say anything.
Tanzarra: Oh. About the young boys and their sister.
Tanzarra: And I haven't finished my report. You know that.
Tanzarra: Well you would if you were Tecton.
Wise Snake snorts.
Wise Snake: I am the closest thing to Tecton within fifty miles of here.
Wise Snake sits down again, the package in her lap.
Wise Snake: Go on.
Tanzarra thinks, oh and me.
Wise Snake makes a mental note to speak to Eliza about information, its leakage, and what happens to people on the run who leak too much.
Tanzarra: I would like to know what your plans are?
Tanzarra forgets that, she is just as much apart from the Tecton now as Snake.
Wise Snake: Vis-a-vis what?
Wise Snake thinks this is actually a fairly common complaint from her people, especially Nick.
Wise Snake realizes Nick hasn't demanded much of her recently on that front, and makes a mental note to praise him for that.
Eliza: Are we going to be staying here longer then?
Wise Snake: Yes, we are.
Wise Snake had thought she'd made that clear.
Tanzarra looks at Eliza.
Tanzarra: Yes, that's one question I had.
Wise Snake: We'll be staying here until the official Tecton investigative team arrives.
Wise Snake: And the replacement channel.
Eliza brightens up, that means beds.
Wise Snake: It'll probably be at least a week and a half.
Nick decides to use the interim to lay in a supply of decent pants.
Tanzarra: Ummm.
Wise Snake mentally adds up the time for the package to reach Zeor, then the time to reach wherever Muryin is, then the time....
Wise Snake: Well, two weeks.
Tanzarra: ~~ nervous ~~
Eliza: But... [looks sideways at Tanzarra] do you want a Tecton investigative team here, Snake?
Wise Snake: Well of course. There are at least 25 juncts running around in the woods here, and I'm not talking about semi-juncts.
Eliza: Do you think they have a supply of Gens somewhere?
Eliza: ~ worries ~
Wise Snake: And these people are going to require a solid Tecton presence from now on to reassure them that no more tyrants like Mr. B will appear.
Tanzarra: ~~ verging on panic ~~
Wise Snake: It's quite possible they do.
Eliza squares her shoulders.
Wise Snake studies Tanzarra.
Eliza: Then we have to save them.
Tanzarra: Yes it is important that they do something about the situation here.
Eliza: ~ courage in the face of impossible odds, death and glory, that sort of stuff ~
Wise Snake nods at Tanzarra's words, wondering what she really means.
Wise Snake is amazed at Tanzarra's being able to maintain a panicked state while surrounded by Eliza's forceful nager of courage, death and glory and stuff.
Wise Snake: Eliza, could you... help her?
Wise Snake: Tanzarra is feeling a bit nervous right now.
Wise Snake: Very understandable, of course. Being on the run from the Tecton and all.
Eliza: So, we should start as soon as possible! Every minute could mean another life!
Eliza: Oh.
Wise Snake: Try not to be too... hard on her, all right...?
Eliza: ~ deflated balloon impersonation ~
Wise Snake tries to tell Eliza to tone it down without actually embarrassing her verbally in front of the other channel.
Nick: You can do it.
Nick smiles in encouragement.
Eliza: Sorry Zarra.
Wise Snake can't believe that Eliza would let the channel feel her disappointment.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: Yes, things are actually rather positive right now.
Wise Snake: Things are on the upswing.
Tanzarra: So how do we find these Gens?
Tanzarra tries not to think about the Tecton and relaxes under Eliza'a nager.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Wise Snake: As for danger of discovery, Tanzarra, ... er....
Wise Snake: First things first.
Tanzarra: ~~ shock ~~
Tanzarra: ~~ quickly controlled ~~
Wise Snake: We have an entire town of ordinary citizens here who have had their channelling services interrupted for the second time in as many weeks.
Tanzarra: Yes, you're right. I am sorry.
Wise Snake: It's very possible there were kids in changeover while we were off dealing with Mr B... uh, the problems he's caused.
Tanzarra regains control of herself.
Wise Snake: Frooter's house was blown up and so was Verli's sister's. [she noticed as she came back to the City Hall]
Eliza: Could we get the renSimes in town to help round up any Gens the juncts may be holding?
Wise Snake: So, we're going to have to make this building do as a Sime Center of sorts for now.
Eliza has a one tracked mind - but it's often a different track each time.
Wise Snake nearly pounds the desk in frustration, but forces her tentacles to unclench.
Nick looks around the office skeptically.
Nick: Hmm, we'd have to get some cots in here or something.
Nick: Although at least the building is big enough.
Nick: ~~ calm support ~~
Wise Snake: Eliza, be reasonable. If the juncts aren't willing to turn themselves in, they won't be willing to turn in the Gens either.
Wise Snake: When the newspaper comes out, we may get some coming in peacefully.
Wise Snake: We should be prepared for that.
Eliza: But we can't just leave them there to be killed!
Tanzarra flinches.
Wise Snake: Eliza, your channel. [sharply]
Eliza: If we get the Gens, they will have to come to town for channel transfer.
Wise Snake is showing signs of genuine irritation with Eliza.
Wise Snake: Eliza, how do you propose finding these Gens?
Wise Snake: No -- don't answer that.
Eliza: Well, Joad knows something maybe. Or, Oh! I could let myself be captured!
Eliza: ~ excited ~
Wise Snake: No... stop.
Tanzarra wonders what Eliza has in mind.
Wise Snake: Just stop.
Tanzarra: Nooo!
Wise Snake: Come up with a real plan. One that could actually work. Write it down carefully on paper, and tell me how many people will be required for the search.
Tanzarra: ~~ Panic for Eliza ~~
Wise Snake sighs and looks at Tanzarra.
Wise Snake: ~~frustration~~
Eliza: ~ support ~
Nick assesses the situation, and steps between the channels.
Nick: ~~ CALM ~~
Wise Snake stands up and walks out into the outer office.
Wise Snake pushes the sleeping kid over and lies down face down on the couch.
Eliza thinks it's probably lucky that Nick is so high field at the moment.
Tanzarra: We shouldn't just jump into this.
Nick looks at Eliza.
Eliza's eyes are unnaturally bright.
Nick: If you can come up with a plan, one which could really work, we'll be happy to discuss it.
Tanzarra: ~~ relaxes under Nick's influence ~~
Eliza: Sure Nick!
Nick: Don't act in haste. Those juncts aren't like your cousin.
Nick: They have chosen to kill, again and again.
Eliza: John wasn't junct!
Eliza: ~ horrified ~
Nick: Eliza, control yourself!
Tanzarra steps back a bit from Eliza.
Wise Snake gets up, walks back into the office, locates the medical satchel, and digs through it.
Eliza tries.
Nick: First, you take care of your channel.
Wise Snake, ignoring the others, administers a tranquilizer to herself.
Wise Snake walks back out of the office and falls face first onto the couch again.
Nick: Then, if you have any ideas, we can discuss them.
Eliza: Sorry Zarra!
Eliza: ~ soothing support ~
Tanzarra feels like she's on a rough road in a cart with a wheel missing.
Nick nods, and goes into the outer office to check on Snake.
Eliza: Zarra? You got any ideas on how to get those Gens loose?
Tanzarra slides down to the floor and curls up.
Eliza looks at the channel on the floor.
Eliza: Zarra???
Tanzarra is crying.
Eliza leans over and shakes Tanzarra's shoulder.
Eliza: What's wrong?
Eliza: ~ soothing ~
Eliza: It's okay, don't cry.
Tanzarra: Oh, everything.
Nick sits beside Snake.
Tanzarra: It's not you.
Nick: ~~ soothing calm ~~
Tanzarra doesn't want to give Eliza the wrong idea again.
Eliza rather fears it is.
Eliza curses herself.
Eliza: I'm sorry. I'm a rotten Companion I know.
Eliza: I just get excited and lose control totally!
Tanzarra: No! It's not that at all.
Eliza starts to cry too.
Eliza: [sniffs] I must feel terrible to you!!! [bawls]
Eliza: [sobs] And after all you have been through!
Eliza: You deserve better, and all you got is mmeeeeeeeeeee.
Tanzarra: You don't feel terrible at all. Just wro.... different.
Tanzarra: I have to get used to it, that's all.
Nick puts a hand on the back of Snake's neck.
Nick: Headache?
Wise Snake sighs at the touch.
Wise Snake: No... freaking out. [murmured into the couch cushion.]
Eliza: I'm too rough to work with a real channel! I should go back to Gen territory or or or something.
Tanzarra looks at Eliza.
Nick: Ah.
Tanzarra: You know, Soli used to call me Zarra too.
Nick: ~~ understanding ~~
Tanzarra: ~~ guilt ~~
Tanzarra: And my dad.
Nick: ~~ calm/centered ~~
Eliza: Oh, I'm sorry. Would you prefer it if I called you Tan?
Tanzarra: Oh no, you can't do that.
Tanzarra: You can't go back to Gen Territory, I mean.
Nick: With any luck, there will be work here, for a little longer.
Wise Snake: Mmm... that would be nice.
Tanzarra: No, it's okay. I quite like it and it's a reminder of Soli.
Tanzarra: ~~ sad ~~
Yanna comes into City Hall, still not quite believing what she's heard.
Wise Snake hasn't had any work since serving Tanzarra hours before.
Tanzarra: You'll just have to be patient with me.
Tanzarra Smile. Sort of.
Eliza: Ok, if you promise to be patient with me.
Yanna asks questions of the people she encounters, working her way towards the Mayor's office.
Yanna sees Nick.
Tanzarra: Well I'm from Gen Territory too, so I know how you feel.
Yanna: Excuse me. Could you tell me where I might find the channel?
Eliza: I guess you lost all your family too.
Wise Snake looks up muzzily.
Eliza: How did you make it here, In-Territory?
Yanna is a middle-aged Sime, dressed in a frumpy house dress.
Tanzarra: Yes. Mum and Kael, my brother, are still alive but I doubt that I'll see them again.
Wise Snake pushes herself up from the couch, appearing wrinkled, blood stained and half drugged.
Wise Snake: (IOW... the usual)
Wise Snake: I'm a channel, can I help you?
Wise Snake climbs off the couch.
Yanna blinks in surprise.
Wise Snake tries to brush herself off and push back her hair, but gives up after a brief attempt.
Yanna zlins, and decides that this really is a channel, appearances notwithstanding.
Yanna: Well, my Gen son was burned quite badly during the recent fuss....
Eliza: Yeah.
Eliza: Well, I had Dad and John, they are both dead.
Yanna: Do you think you could help him?
Tanzarra: Well, after i ...killed... My father i was chased by most of the townspeople but i managed to just get away.
Wise Snake: Certainly, of course. Where is he?
Wise Snake zlins about for the guy.
Eliza grimaces.
Eliza: I killed my father too ~confidential~
Yanna: He's downstairs.
Tanzarra: You "killed" him? How?
Tanzarra is sure she didn't mean kill the way Simes use the word.
Eliza: John attacked him and he attacked John, so I shot him.
Yanna: If you can see him, I'll send him right up.
Wise Snake: Yes, yes, of course.
Yanna hurries away.
Nick looks at Snake.
Nick: The word seems to have spread.
Wise Snake: Good.
Ballon comes up the stairs a few minutes later.
Wise Snake smoothes back her hair again, tugging self-consciously at the blood stained shirt.
Tanzarra: What made you choose to shoot your father instead of a new Sime?
Wise Snake: Shen, where did I put those new clothes?
Wise Snake: Ah, hello. [zlins Ballon]
Eliza shrugs. "I loved John, I didn't love my father."
Ballon is blonde, and his skin is lobster-red over his face, arms, and legs.
Ballon: Ma said you could heal me.
Tanzarra: And what happened to John?
Eliza: He was killed by a group of gens.
Wise Snake: Please, have a seat here.
Wise Snake looks around, and then pulls a couple of waiting room chairs closer together.
Wise Snake thinks as crummy as the furniture in Frooter's house was, at least it was the correct furniture.
Ballon plops down on the improvised examination table.
Wise Snake zlins Ballon's injuries.
Eliza: What happened to your Companion? Can you talk about it yet?
Ballon: Got burned hidin' from all the hungry Simes in town.
Ballon: ~~ major sunburn ~~
Wise Snake: What did you do, hit the countryside?
Wise Snake checks for any additional burn under the clothes.
Ballon: Yes.
Ballon: Didn't have time to get dressed when the neighbors came hunting.
Ballon: Barely got out the back door.
Tanzarra: Well... We stopped not far from here to help someone who was pruning a tree.
Tanzarra: ~~ controlled sadness ~~
Ballon's lobster coloring extends way up under the clothing.
Tanzarra: There was a loose branch and it snapped and fell on Soli.
Tanzarra: ~~ guilt ~~
Tanzarra: I couldn't get to her in time.
Tanzarra puts her head down again and weeps.
Wise Snake: Hmm... we're going to require some privacy for this.
Eliza puts her arms around the channel and hold her, physically and nagerically.
Tanzarra: ~~ feels comforted ~~
Tanzarra: Can we just rest here for a while do you think.
Wise Snake: Nick, can you...? [signals him to enclose her in a bubble of nageric privacy]
Eliza: Yes, of course.
Eliza: ~ soothing,, relaxing ~
Nick does so.
Wise Snake proceeds to remove the rest of Ballon's clothes.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Eliza: Just rest. There is no need to stay awake any longer.
Wise Snake works over the sunburn.
Tanzarra slowly drifts off to sleep, relaxed in Eliza's nager.
Ballon squawks at being undressed in an office without even a closed door between him and anyone who wants to see the Mayor.
Wise Snake leans on Nick's support and carefully works on each inch of the afflicted skin.
Ballon: That feels much better!
Wise Snake resurfaces with a sigh of relief, the creeping promise of entran once again staved off.
Ballon: Frooter never managed to do so much.
Wise Snake smiles at Ballon.
Ballon: ~~ admiration ~~
Wise Snake: It was my pleasure.
Wise Snake: Now, you'll want to make sure to drink plenty of liquids, such as water, while your body recovers.
Wise Snake: And be sure not to become overexposed [stumbles over the word] again before you are fully healed.
Ballon: I won't.
Ballon nods eagerly.
Wise Snake moves back to let Ballon up.
Wise Snake leans on Nick's support as she finishes recovering.
Ballon hastily pulls his clothing back on, then leaves.
Wise Snake: [it occurs to her only then to wonder how many times this has happened before, and why, since the boy's words suggested Frooter had attended similar injuries]
Wise Snake frowns.
Nick puts an arm around Snake.
Nick: What is it, Snake?
Wise Snake sighs, and lays her head on his shoulder.
Wise Snake: What isn't it? I feel like I've served transfer to a 2nd order channel whose lost her matchmate, barely escaped being blown up, murdered a guy, took over a town government, and sold myself out to Zeor all since breakfast.
Wise Snake: Hell, I have done all those things.
Nick nods sympathetically.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Wise Snake: I thought leaving BC would at least simplify things.
Nick knocks Snake's hand aside and replaces it with his own.
Nick: ~~ cool Gen hands ~~
Wise Snake: ~~surprise... then relief~~
Nick: Life is never simple when you have to carry a Farris workload.
Wise Snake: Ah....
Wise Snake: Nick, it wasn't meant to be this way.
Wise Snake: When I took you on....
Wise Snake: I thought I'd be in Bender Cove forever.
Wise Snake: I was going to found a Householding.
Wise Snake: Not this... this....
Nick: Improvisation?
Wise Snake pauses, unable to think of a word suitable to describe "this"
Wise Snake: Er...
Wise Snake: I guess that's what it is.
Wise Snake: I was going to say "instability".
Nick knew Snake was unstable all along.
Wise Snake: Or maybe "chaos".
Wise Snake is afraid to admit to Nick just how unsure of everything she's become since losing the Ferry Building and her city.
Nick shrugs helplessly.
Nick: ~~ loyalty ~~
Wise Snake: It's hard to know what to fight for when there isn't any "what" and there isn't any "for".
Wise Snake presses against him.
Wise Snake thinks of their transfer coming up.
Nick thinks that for him, at least, the "what" and "for" are both "Snake".
Nick: Snake, you've managed to upset a system that's kept this town imprisoned for thirty years.
Nick: And gotten a lot of them killed.
Nick: The situation's still very unstable, but now there's a decent chance that they'll get something better.
Nick slides his hands down to Snake's shoulders, massaging the tension away.
Wise Snake clings to Nick and his soothing field.
Wise Snake's eyes are closed.
Nick: That's a "what" worth fighting for.
Wise Snake: But what about the future, Nick?
Wise Snake: I had finally found something I could work for, that wasn't a place in Zeor, and now it's gone too.
Nick recognizes the heightened paranoia and pessimism of need.
Nick: Well, I can't speak for the large picture, but how's this for an immediate future?
Wise Snake: Now there's just... an empty, bottomless futureless blank, a void....
Nick lets his hands slide down Snake's arms, stroking the tentacle sheaths.
Wise Snake's voice cuts off abruptly with an intake of breath.
Nick: ~~ your Gen ~~
Wise Snake trembles, the tentacles squirming in their sheathes, then snaking out.
Nick lets his large Gen hands support Snake's arms.
Nick: ~~ your high-field Gen ~~
Wise Snake: ~~intil~~
Wise Snake groans.
Nick: ~~ your eager high-field Gen ~~
Wise Snake's tentacles stroke Nick's arms as her lips seek his.
Nick bends down to meet Snake halfway.
Wise Snake's handling tentacles tighten, seeking the security she longs for.
Wise Snake loosens her control, allowing herself to fully feel her ~~~need~~~
Wise Snake draws.
Nick: ~~~ eagerness ~~~
Nick: ~~~ pleasure ~~
Wise Snake loses herself in the knowledge that he is hers and he is the one constant thing in her life now.
Nick pours out selyn as fast as Snake can take it.
Wise Snake: ~~seeking/reflecting~~
Nick: ~~ giving/bliss ~~
Wise Snake ~~seeks~~ for a moment longer, and finally ~~accepts~~ his bliss.
Nick: ~~ soaring delight ~~
Wise Snake peaks, and her draw ebbs.
Nick: ~~ satiation ~~
Wise Snake is lost, having lived his rather than her own experience.
Wise Snake clings to Nick, not wanting to lose the sensation.
Wise Snake can't help but come down to the real world again, the office and the lights and the sounds.
Nick continues to support Snake's arms, reveling in his satisfaction.
Wise Snake: Oh shen, Nick, [roughly] be glad you are a Gen.
Wise Snake starts sobbing on Nick's shoulder.
Wise Snake distangles her arms from his and grips him in a powerful embrace.
Nick wraps his arms around Snake, holding her.
Nick: Snake, we'll survive.
Wise Snake lives out the last weeks of frustration and pain, crying and crying.
Nick: We survived your First Year and my Qualification; we can survive Vortez Lake as well.
Nick rocks Snake soothingly.
Nick wishes he had had time to lay in a supply of handkerchiefs.
Nick notices that Snake is slightly cleaner than usual, thanks to her post-murder ablutions.
Wise Snake finally quiets.
Wise Snake wipes her nose thoughtfully.
Wise Snake: [with a tentacle]
Nick: Better?
Nick smiles at Snake.
Wise Snake smiles tentatively at him.
Wise Snake is a mess.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry. I....
Wise Snake: I'm kind of post, actually.
Nick reaches out to push a particularly wild strand of mane out of Snake's face.
Nick: That's nothing to apologize for.
Nick is post, too.
Wise Snake feels the touch of his fingers on her face with a particular intensity.
Wise Snake peers at him closely, eyes-only.
Wise Snake: Do you think we should...?
Wise Snake looks around, to see if anybody else is in the outer office of Town Hall.
Nick looks around at the less-than-private surroundings.
Wise Snake sees the sleeping kid on the couch.
Wise Snake finds that, for some reason, this seems a fairly important subject to her.
Nick: Didn't Duffas say that he had an office just down the hall?
Wise Snake: Dufus, I think. Yes... yes, I believe you're right.
Nick: He did promise to assist us in any way possible.
Wise Snake grasps Nick's wrist and pulls him out the door and down the hall.