Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #14: Funny Business (7/3/00)
see note 1
Mayor Custor frowns. His head-ache is getting worse.
Kennis looks at the mayor for support.
Kennis: Look, it's not just the people of Salmonton who are at risk here.
Kennis: Folks here aren't exactly used to seeing tentacles walking down the street. Some of them may object to the sight--forcefully.
Mayor Custor: Right! We can't have Simes on the streets with their tentacles waving around. The people just won't stand for it.
Kennis: If there was trouble, we don't have the personnel to provide protection. We don't need that kind of trouble here.
Ms. Afred: They will be on the orphanage grounds, not wondering the streets.
Kennis: They've got to get to the orphanage, first!
Kennis: Or were you planning to have them just magically appear out of thin air?
Mayor Custor: It would be cheaper to just put the police to work fixing the orphanage than to provide the kind of security your proposal would require.
Kennis looks slightly alarmed at the proposal to turn his staff into a construction crew.
Ms. Afred: We can cart them up the old farm road.
Ms. Afred: It runs right to the back of the Billings farm property.
Mayor Custor wonders which would hurt his career worse, the kind of smear campaign Mr Birch can arrange if displeased, or the outrage of the townspeople if he goes along with Birch's requests.
Mr. Birch: Would there be the same risk if the Simes were in retainers?
Nick would love to take a few minutes to explain that retainers provide no protection to Gens whatsoever, since those who want to kill will find a way to do it, and those who don't, won't.
Nick is afraid that this information might hinder the negotiations, rather than help them, however.
Sayward: Believe me, they don't want to come in contact with the townspeople any more than you.
Kennis finds it hard to believe that the Simes are quite that concerned about contact with Gens.
Sayward remembers an innocent punch in the arm.
Mr. Birch sighs. The whole point of the exercise is public relations, which will be ineffective if the Gens in town don't even know the Simes are there.
Kennis: That's as may be. It's working out how to make sure that everyone's wishes are granted that concerns me.
Ms. Afred: Does that also include the wishes of the orphans who don't have a roof?
Kennis is unaware for the moment that he has made a major concession by admitting that there might be something to "work out".
Mr. Birch: Will our Sime workers risk being shot if they come in retainers, Chief Kennis?
Kennis is very ~~ reluctant ~~ to admit that his crew can't guarantee order in town.
Kennis: If they're in retainers, and if they go directly into a wagon which goes directly to the orphanage, we can probably keep the hotheads under control.
Kennis: It would help if there was as little publicity as possible, of course.
Mr. Birch finds himself really wanting his pipe, but unfortunately although these people are social inferiors he can't treat them like employees.
Kennis: On the other hand, once they start working, they'd be rather obvious, and word would get around.
Kennis frowns morosely.
Sayward: So they wear retainers too the orphanage and take them off to work.
Mr. Birch grins in a rather barracuda-like fashion.
Mr. Birch is sure word will get around.
Mayor Custor: That's not acceptable. The Unity Treaty says that Simes on this side of the border must be restrained.
Mayor Custor: There are times I've bent that rule--say, to let a channel remove a berserker.
Mayor Custor: Even then, there was hell to pay.
Mayor Custor: I won't do it for a construction project.
Kennis: These Simes you want to bring in aren't channels.
Kennis: Or are they?
Kennis can't tell by looking, a disturbing thought.
Ms. Afred would love to bypass all the political excrement and pay for a Gen crew herself. That would be much easier but she has spent her entire inheritance to keep the orphanage open and running over the years. The last of her money going for the materials to replace the roof.
Kennis remembers that song the kids play, about the renSime who convinced a Gen that he was a channel, and then burned him.
Mr. Birch: They're not channels. But they will be non-junct, reliable workers who are pre-turnover.
Mr. Birch: Now you understand that standard retainers would prevent a Sime from doing heavy work.
Mr. Birch: But I'm an engineer and my job is to find solutions.
Mr. Birch: I believe we could design a retainer that would prevent a Sime from taking a Kill but provide some more freedom of motion.
Mr. Birch: Could you protect Simes in "construction retainers" from being shot?
Kennis rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Kennis: Perhaps. Particularly if there's a fence to keep the crowd back, so they can't really see the difference.
Sayward: You have people who have gotten close enough to a Sime in retainers to be able to tell?
Kennis: Course not.
Kennis: We don't get many Simes coming over here.
Kennis is just as happy to keep it that way.
Kennis: What do these "construction retainers" look like, anyway? Do they cover the tentacles?
Mr. Birch: Yes, absolutely.
Mr. Birch thinks that as long as they look like retainers and cover the tentacles, he doesn't think Kennis is going to check the dorsal, ventral and lateral insertion.
Nick: Or, in the interest of getting a solid roof over the orphanage, perhaps we might consider something else?
Nick: For construction work, Simes usually wear protective gauntlets that allow freedom of movement while protecting the vulnerable laterals.
Nick: With the laterals covered, of course, no Sime could possibly kill.
Nick: I am sure there is a supply of gauntlets on hand, so if they are acceptable, work could begin immediately.
Nick: They have the advantage of being a bright orange, as well, making them easy to see at a distance.
Ms. Afred hopes that this will finally satisfy the Mayor and Kennis.
Mayor Custor: I don't know. The sight of any tentacles at all might be enough to disturb some of our more militant citizens.
Jeniard (kaas@Modem-Glencoe.lakes.com) joined #naros.
Mr. Birch perks up. He had no idea that Construction Retainers actually existed.
Mr. Birch had been planning to cobble something together out of metal foil.
Kennis looks at the Mayor, glad that he won't have to make the unpopular decision.
Mr. Birch: But they will be able to see that the bright orange retainers are restraining their laterals.
Mayor Custor hems and haws.
Mayor Custor looks at Kennis, but sees no help there; since he is the man in the Big Oak Chair he must make the Big Decisions.
Mayor Custor: Is there some way to keep all the tentacles covered while they are in transit?
Mayor Custor: Once they are at work on the roof, they'll be far enough away from people that the gauntlets might be enough.
Nick: Perhaps a closed wagon?
Nick knows that Mr. Birch wants the renSime crew to be seen, but things will be easier if the looking takes place at a reasonable distance.
Mayor Custor: That would help.
Sayward: Covered wagons we've got.
Ms. Afred: Please, Mayor. We have to get the roof on.
Mayor Custor: But what are these gauntlets made of? Metal?
Nick: Heavy rubber, with reinforcements.
Nick: They are not easy to tear, even for Simes.
Mayor Custor: Folks aren't going to believe that.
Nick: They also take as long to remove as regular retainers.
Mayor Custor: The old timers remember how the Raiders used to tear right through bearskin jackets when they were after a Gen.
Nick: Mayor, this is a construction crew we're talking about. Not a band of Raiders.
Nick: None of them want to attack Gens.
Sayward: I've seen a Sime taking off a pair. They can't do it fast.
Mayor Custor: We'll have to have guards, though, or people won't feel secure.
Mayor Custor: Think your men are up to that, Kennis?
Mayor Custor: With these gauntlets, they'll at least have time to aim and fire, if something goes wrong.
Kennis: We can manage. But I want a fence surrounding the place, to make sure there aren't any unauthorized exits--or entrances.
Mr. Birch: Very well. You'll get your fence.
Ms. Afred: Thank you Mr. Birch.
Mr. Birch thinks the Simes will be far more in need of protection than the Gens.
Mr. Birch agrees that maintaining a good distance to dissipate the influence of outraged Gen nagers is probably also a good idea.
Mayor Custor: Very well. I will approve the project, if the Simes all wear Construction Retainers and travel and work behind barriers and under armed guard.
Mayor Custor: Kennis, when can your men be ready?
Kennis: Well, we have three on vacation at the moment. However, in three days we will be a full strength.
Kennis: We could handle it then, I suppose.
Mayor Custor: Is that enough time to get your people ready, Mr. Birch?
Nick has never before been in a situation where nailing on a few shingles became a matter to schedule with the local police force.
Nick has a bit of trouble with the concept, actually.
Nick is 75% inclined to a much more relaxed way of doing business.
Mr. Birch: Not a problem.
Mr. Birch: We'll be ready when you are.
Ms. Afred: And thank you, Mayor, for making the right decision.
Nick just hopes that it is the right decision.
Mayor Custor nods graciously. He has stuck his neck out on this one; he deserves all the credit he can get from it.
Mr. Birch knew this selyn shortage thing was going to be bad news.
Mr. Birch hopes this overture will break down some of the barriers, not strengthen them.
Station Manager watches the latest train pull into the station.
Station Manager remembers with some fondness the days, not long ago, when this was a once-weekly event.
Station Manager adjusts his cap with two tentacles, and his uniform with two more, and steps out of his office onto the platform.
Station Manager bellows loudly, in the voice which gained him his position.
Station Manager: Kyrril Gulch! This is Kyrril Gulch! The train will depart again in one hour! Refreshments are available in town, but the train will leave promptly.
Station Manager notes with interest the red Tecton car at the very end of the train.
Station Manager can't help zlinning curiously in that direction, wondering if its occupant will be as... colorful... as the young but very powerful channel who went through a few months back.
Station Manager regrets that the big construction project is too far for his old bones to travel; he wouldn't mind transfer from a nager like that.
Jeniard can't see much but trees from where he is waiting to disembark. He would have thought the site would be bigger.
Jeniard doesn't realize just how far away from it he still is.
Jeniard is carrying a full secondary of selyn and a wicked case of entran, despite his escort's best efforts.
Jeniard hopes his Donor will have arrived before him, and not just because he's approaching hard need.
Edgar looks at the train pulling into the station.
Edgar holds a wrinkled and well-thumbed post card in his hands.
Station Manager inches down towards the red car, so he won't miss anything.
Edgar has read the card over repeatedly; it says that his son Emmet is going to stay in the area a while.
Jeniard waits until the car has come to a complete halt, and the conductor has opened the doors.
Jeniard picks up the single bag recommended for travelling Tecton personnel.
Jeniard bids his escort farewell and steps down onto the platform.
Station Manager likes the nager well enough, but is a bit disappointed by Jeniard's appearance.
Edgar looks hopefully at the red car, wondering if Emmet might be in it.
Jeniard looks around, and sees a place with no buildings, no people, no background, no construction site, and no scenery.
Edgar sees a channel with a very powerful nager disembark.
Station Manager can, of course, afford to be very particular about First Order nagers, since he'll never actually rate a transfer with one.
Jeniard does see Edgar, and the station manager.
Edgar is a leathery-skinned renSime with a huge pack on his back.
Station Manager tips his cap respectfully.
Station Manager: Good day, Hajene. Pleasant journey, I trust?
Jeniard: Hi, [to the Station Manager]
Jeniard: Pleasant enough, but too long for my tastes.
Jeniard smiles.
Edgar looks at the car in disappointment.
Edgar looks at the station manager.
Edgar: Anyone else getting off?
Station Manager: We are rather isolate here.
Jeniard: No one's in there but my escort. He's going on to Coover. [to Edgar]
Edgar's face falls.
Edgar: Hajene, isn't my boy Emmet with you?
Jeniard spreads his hands and tentacles. "Sorry, no, he isn't."
Edgar: He sent me this card; said he was due in soon.
Edgar waves the smudged postcard in the air.
Edgar: I been waiting all week.
Jeniard tries to look, and zlin, appropriately sympathetic.
Station Manager edges closer.
Jeniard tries not to look like he is desperate to get his laterals on somebody, preferably a Gen, with a well trained field.
Station Manager: Hajene, will you be staying here in Kyrril Gulch for a few days?
Edgar: My boy, he's a Donor.
Station Manager can't--quite--legally take a transfer yet, without penalty.
Station Manager: ~~ hopeful ~~
Jeniard blinks as they both start talking at once. Perhaps there isn't much to do for entertainment around here. The poor folks must be starved for attention.
Jeniard: No, I'm sorry, I'm expected at the construction site. [to the station manager]
Station Manager 's face falls.
Edgar: Tecton took him nine year ago.
Edgar: Ain't seen 'im since.
Jeniard: [to Edgar] Well, I don't know Emmet, but maybe I can find out more about his schedule when I get to work.
Jeniard means, assuming that anybody on site has that information.
Station Manager: Surely you'll want to rest a bit before you ride on up the mountain?
Jeniard would gather that nobody knew when he was coming, since nobody is here to receive him.
Jeniard hopes the lack of a reception means that the selyn shortage problem is well, if improbably, under control.
Jeniard looks around.
Jeniard: Maybe. Let me get my bearings a bit. There was supposed to be someone to meet me.
Coriel drives into the station with a horse and wagon.
Coriel waves to Jeniard.
Coriel: Hajene! Hajene Jeniard!
Jeniard turns in the direction of the shout.
Coriel: That is you, right?
Jeniard: Yes, it is.
Coriel is a sprightly renSime with curly golden hair and a perky nose.
Jeniard: Excuse me, please. [to the station manager and Edgar]
Jeniard walks over to Coriel.
Jeniard is a boring looking brown haired, brown eyed st order channel with glasses and wearing a road weary Tecton uniform.
Coriel: I've come to take you to the Big Pine Inn, where your accommodations are waiting.
Coriel: Just throw your stuff in the wagon, here.
Jeniard: Oh. ~surprised~
Jeniard hadn't expected there to be an inn.
Jeniard puts his bag in the wagon and swings aboard.
Jeniard: Thank you.
Coriel looks around.
Coriel: I thought you were coming with a Gen.
Coriel: Where is it?
Jeniard: I'm... [stutters a bit at the use of the word "it"] ...meeting my Donor on the construction site.
Coriel looks and zlins around the station.
Coriel: Well, no Gens around here.
Coriel: We were told to make two rooms ready.
Coriel: Hope it's not lost.
Coriel: They do get lost, you know.
Jeniard: I am sure he will be along within the week.
Jeniard says this with all the confidence of someone who very much wants that to be the case.
Jeniard is, after all, due for transfer in days.
Coriel: Whatever you say, Hajene!
Station Manager can't help having overheard some of this; it's an unfortunate thing that happens when you're shamelessly eavesdropping.
Coriel picks up the reins and urges the mare to get moving.
Edgar: Wait a minute!
Station Manager: Your Donor's missing, huh? Bet he doesn't care to go riding for days up the mountain.
Edgar: Who's this Gen you're talking about?
Mare turns her head with an incredulous, "surely you must be joking" expression.
Mare thinks Coriel has utterly unreasonable expectations.
Coriel is transporting a high-class customer and has no intention on waiting on this stringy old mountain Sime.
Edgar: Do you know his name?
Mare plods off as slowly as she dares.
Coriel signals to the mare to get moving.
Jeniard: I'm sorry, I don't know your son. [to Edgar] I promise I'll try to look him up when I get to the site.
Coriel: Mind your own business, old timer!
Scarabald intercepts the wagon as it leaves the station.
Edgar runs along behind the wagon.
Scarabald: Cor! I thought you said there were two of them?
Edgar is getting out of breath, but uses his remaining wind to shout.
Scarabald: Well, it doesn't matter. We've got to leave now!
Edgar: Do you know if Emmet's coming!
Edgar turns to look at Scarabald. The face looks familiar somehow.
Jeniard thinks this place is terribly disorganized, for how few people there are.
Edgar remembers having seen the fellow at Mardith's speak-easy.
Edgar: What are you doing here?
Jeniard plans to personally greet Arat's arrival, and make sure everything goes perfectly.
Scarabald glares at Edgar; witnesses are not part of his immediate plan.
Scarabald: Mindin' my own business, and I suggest you do the same.
Scarabald turns to Jeniard.
Scarabald: How good are you at riding mules?
Jeniard: Uh....
Jeniard's experience with riding consisted mainly of being thrown off of fat ponies as a little boy.
Scarabald frowns.
Jeniard: I don't have much experience with it.
Scarabald: I suppose that means we'll have to start out easy. Eight hours a day at first.
Jeniard notices he seems to spend a lot of his time apologizing in his new home.
Jeniard: What!
Scarabald: Do you want to get there, or don't you?
Jeniard had read reports stating that there was a "considerable ride" from the train station to the construction site. Snake had added her own scribble to the effect of, "and how!"
Jeniard had not been aware of just what kind of "considerable" they'd been talking about.
Jeniard: Well, yes, I do. How many days is it?
Jeniard: ~dismay~
Jeniard: Isn't there any way to get there besides on mules?
Scarabald: Well, we can't take a wagon. The path goes straight up, in spots.
Scarabald: And it'd take too long to walk it.
Edgar: Edgar watches the interchange with some interest.
Jeniard sighs.
Jeniard: OK... I'll just have to deal with it, then.
Edgar: Oh, it's an easy jaunt for a young'un like you.
Jeniard is willing to be tied like a sack of potatoes on a mule's back, but Arat is another story.
Jeniard: Arat's not going to like this. [predicts, aloud]
Edgar: You heading back to the Reservoir?
Scarabald: I'll give you Spot. She's got an easy gait, and a decent temper.
Scarabald: For a mule, that is.
Scarabald shrugs, as if to say that beggars can't be choosers.
Jeniard is philosophical; he supposes that no mule could be any worse tempered than small, fat ponies that don't like little boys.
Jeniard: Thanks.
Jeniard: I appreciate it.
Edgar: Look, young man, you can at least give a man the time of day.
Edgar: Don't know what's happened to the manners of this generation.
Jeniard will have to think about how to get Arat up the mountain without ruffling any feathers.
Jeniard looks at Edgar oddly.
Jeniard: Are you speaking to me?
Edgar: No I'm speaking to Tuib High-and-Mighty Mule Team boss.
Jeniard: Ah.
Jeniard is glad; he was running out of ways to say he didn't know Emmet from Adam.
Scarabald turns to Emmet.
Edgar: Now you tell Mardith I haven't forgotten her.
Scarabald: Hi-Very-pleased-to-see-you-Sorry-I-can't-talk-now.
Edgar: I got more of that pure copper metal, like she wanted.
Scarabald hops up into the back of the wagon.
Edgar: And I'll bring it along directly, soon as my boy gets into town.
Scarabald: Let's move out!
Edgar shakes his head.
Edgar deplores Scarabald's lack of neighborly feeling.
Scarabald looks anxiously around; he wouldn't have waited for the train at all, except that he'd have a hard time explaining just why he didn't care to hang around town to his nominal bosses, who are unaware of his extracurricular activities.
Scarabald nudges Coriel when the wagon fails to move fast enough.
Scarabald: We can get to that meadow six miles up the trail before it's too dark to go on.
Coriel pulls out her whip to give the mare a little more emphatic persuasion.
Coriel: Shame you can't stop at the Inn, Hajene.
Mare finds the persuasion eloquent enough to accelerate to a grudging trot.
Coriel: We made up such a nice room for you.
Jeniard: I can't?
Coriel's nice room is really a rustic pallet in a log cabin with a leaking roof, but it's not bad compared to how other people live.
Jeniard is puzzled, because he was under the impression from Coriel's initial statement that that was where she was taking him.
Coriel: Scarabald says you're leaving now.
Scarabald: There's been a change in plans.
Coriel: We're heading straight to the trail head.
Jeniard takes a closer look and zlin at Scarabald.
Scarabald is a scrawny renSime who looks a bit less than respectable, and who zlins more than a little nervous.
Jeniard: Wait a minute. Hold on, stop the cart.
Coriel looks bewildered between Jeniard and Scarabald.
Mare hears the word "stop" and obliges.
Jeniard is not as paranoid as Arat, but something is not quite right about this scene.
Coriel lets the cart come to a halt and sighs when she thinks what it will take to make the mare move again.
Jeniard: Let's start with some introductions. You obviously all know who I am. Might I ask your names?
Coriel: I wish you folks would make up your minds!
Coriel stares at him.
Scarabald: I'm Scarabald. I'm a supply clerk at the Dam project.
Coriel: I'm Coriel, of course.
Jeniard simply looks at Coriel; "Coriel of course" means nothing to him.
Scarabald doesn't elaborate on the other projects for which he arranges supply.
Coriel: My mother owns the Inn.
Jeniard: Ah. Thank you.
Jeniard turns to Scarabald.
Jeniard: Please tell me what is going on.
Scarabald: There's a special shipment that is urgently required at the Dam site. I had thought it wouldn't come in until tomorrow morning, but since it's here, there's no reason to delay.
Scarabald tries not to sweat at the thought of how unpleasant Snake will be if she found that he failed to provide the substances she demanded on schedule.
Scarabald is already sweating more than enough at the warning his contact provided along with the package.
Jeniard is quite sensitive, even for a First (something which endeared him to Arat early on) and Scarabald isn't exactly a difficult zlin.
Coriel doesn't understand why these city folk are always in such a rush about everything.
Jeniard: Look, you're making me really nervous here. Either you tell me what's going on, or I'm getting off this cart and going back to the train station.
Scarabald: I told you. There are supplies I've got to deliver to the Dam site in the shortest possible amount of time.
Jeniard is trying to figure out why he can't get the smell of a rat out of his nostrils.
Scarabald: I'm leaving within the hour. If you want to come along, fine. Otherwise, you can wait five days for the next train.
Coriel: Well, your room's made up and we'd be happy to accommodate you, Hajene.
Jeniard tries to decide what to do.
Scarabald is probably responsible for the excess of rodent effluvia; at least, there is a strong family resemblance.
Jeniard weighs the importance of his own delivery (a not-inconsiderable supply of selyn) and the fishiness of Scarabald.
Coriel thinks this Hajene Jeniard isn't bad-looking, at least compared to the local boys.
Jeniard finally decides that he'd rather play it safe.
Jeniard: I'll stay at the inn until this can be straightened out.
Coriel thinks it's a shame he's so close to Need, but maybe his Gen will be on the train tomorrow.
Scarabald shrugs.
Coriel wonders if channels have to wait on their transfers like regular people.
Jeniard means, until somebody legitimate can be sent for him.
Scarabald: Suit yourself. I'll tell 'em up at the Dam that you wouldn't come.
Coriel: You tell them that!
Scarabald jumps out of the wagon, and hurries off.
Jeniard looks after him, unable to shake a case of the ickies.
Coriel maneuvers the wagon around in a clearing off the narrow road.
Coriel: Now you'll like it at the Inn.
Coriel: Mother's expecting you.
Coriel signals to the mare to start moving again.
Mare gives a long-suffering sigh, and plods off.
Coriel is pleased that she will have the company of such an intriguing and distinguished guest.
Coriel thinks that life has certainly gotten more interesting since this Dam business got started.
Notes:
1) This scene is continues from the previous episode. [return]