Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #22: Unclean (8/3/00)
Wise Snake slips into the room shared by Arat and Jeniard at night. It is empty now. In fact, the entire house is empty.
Wise Snake had to wait rather patiently to find a time when Arat's pesky security types were all otherwise occupied.
Wise Snake whistles innocently to herself (force of habit) as she investigates all the different bags, packages, boxes and paperwork stacked along the walls.
Wise Snake occasionally pockets something that catches her fancy.
Wise Snake keeps ears, eyes and zlinning open for anybody entering the house; she generally would rather not be interrupted in this sort of work.
Wise Snake eventually finishes her investigation and moves on to the tea area.
Wise Snake smiles, and withdraws a small packet of a dark powder from her pocket.
Wise Snake carefully opens the wax paper packet containing the Tecton #3 preferred by only one person in the house, and taps some of the powder into it.
Wise Snake shakes the tea to distribute the powder evenly upon the leaves, and then refolds the prissy little fold to close the bag.
Wise Snake replaces it beside the other teas, and puts the leftover... substance... away.
Wise Snake pauses to gaze out of the window - spectacular view, although impractical for one without wings - and then leaves the room.
McSeruf signals diffidently at the door of Arat's "office".
Arat: "Achoo!"
Arat blows his nose.
Arat blows his nose a second, and third time, then locates a 4th hanky and wipes his eyes.
Arat is developing a tolerance for his allergy medication, and it will be at least three weeks before a substitute can be procured.
Arat finally says, "Enter!" rather hoarsely.
Arat is in a cranky mood.
Nick places a new stack of freshly washed (although unpressed) handkerchiefs at Arat's elbow, and discreetly "disappears" the used ones.
McSeruf does so.
McSeruf: Thank you so much for seeing me, Controller Arat. I'm McSeruf, Second Order, assigned to Palisades.
Arat's cranky mood is at least partly due to feeling like hammered dog dung, but also because Jeniard spent nearly an hour that morning trying to force him to eat breakfast. Arat and camp food do not agree.
McSeruf is also a stocky, fair-skinned Gen, except for a red rash on his face that looks nasty.
Arat zlins McSeruf thoroughly, while reaching simultaneously for his file of information on the local but not assigned to him Tecton personnel, and another hanky.
McSeruf 's arms have also broken out, although he is making a concerted effort to control the ~itching~
Arat's eyes lock onto McSeruf's rash suspiciously. He really doesn't want anything else right at this moment.
McSeruf: I just started with Hajene Klyzer a week ago, but I'm very much afraid, well, I'm going to have to request an emergency change in assignment.
McSeruf: ~~ embarrassment ~~
Arat already has, in addition to the allergies and an upset stomach, a splitting head ache, dozens of mosquito bites, and a rash or two of his own.
Arat: On what grounds?
McSeruf: It's a matter of chemistry, I'm afraid.
McSeruf: Or perhaps habit.
McSeruf: Hajene Klyzer is rather adamant about cleanliness, you see.
Arat blinks; this is not usually considered an emergency, at least by the average Tecton employee.
McSeruf: He refuses to let me touch him unless he has swabbed me down with a particularly abrasive cleanser.
Arat: Where is he?
Arat hopes McSeruf didn't abandon his channel for this visit.
McSeruf: He never leaves the Palisades Sime Center. Especially on the day he sets aside to clean it top to bottom--he doesn't trust anyone else to do it properly, you see.
Arat: And you couldn't have sent word, rather than coming in person?
Arat rubs his reddened eyes with the ventrals of one hand, while he searches for a clean piece of paper to note the complaint upon.
McSeruf shuffles his feet, which could not be entirely cleaned of mud before he entered.
Arat inks out painfully precise curlicues and flourishes on the clean sheet.
McSeruf: The powder he uses on the carpets always sends me into sneezing fits.
Arat: Are you aware of what specific allergies you possess, or will an evaluation be required?
Arat of course does not intend to honor McSeruf's request for an "emergency transfer" on the basis of allergies to cleaning chemicals. The Tecton is familiar with many alternative products which could be used instead.
McSeruf: It's either the rubbing alcohol or the wormwood. Or the bleach and ammonia fumes. Or perhaps only having to swab myself with them six times a day.
McSeruf: I used to have calluses.
McSeruf takes off his gloves, revealing cracked, blistering, and reddened hands.
McSeruf: I've asked him a dozen times to let me use simple soap, but he won't allow that.
Arat frowns.
Arat: He is not adhering to standard procedure in the matter of sterilization?
McSeruf: He runs a complete decontamination, as if for a plague-infected ward, on the entire Sime Center, every week.
Arat: We are doing that here as well.
Arat may have a bit more to worry about here, than they do in Palisades, of course.
Arat: Each three days.
Arat has been less than pleased by the disinfect-ability of splintery wood, rough hewn planks, mud chinking, and straw-and-dead-leaf bedding, to say the least.
McSeruf: And he changes the slipcover on the transfer lounge in the collection room after every donation, and then boils them in bleach. For two hours.
McSeruf's throat is definitely irritated from the fumes.
Arat wishes there were enough supplies available to boil the sheets in bleach between each of the emergency building's patients.
Arat: The correct procedure in your case is to draw up an alternative schedule of decontamination that does not contain any substances you are allergic to.
Arat: Requisition what additional supplies you require, and adjust your budget accordingly.
Arat thinks that this should be obvious even to most 2nds. Then again, people aren't generally sent out here because they are strongly desired by other Districts.
McSeruf: I have.
McSeruf: ~ frustration, fueled by itching ~
McSeruf pulls a sheaf of papers out of his pocket and offers them for Arat's inspection.
McSeruf points to the top page, which reads "Alternative Sanitary Protocols", with "Don't bother me with this nonsense" written over the top with red ink, in an overly neat, fussy handwriting.
Arat reaches out a mosquito-bite riddled, reddened hand and takes the papers.
Arat reads them over briefly, then comes back to the red-ink note again.
Arat: This seems to be in order.
Arat: And what is his objection?
McSeruf sighs, struggling to set aside his frustration and deal with the problem constructively.
McSeruf: He claims that even the healthiest-zlinning people can carry infections--and I suspect that he is terrified of becoming ill.
McSeruf: His own hands are reddened and dried out from excessive washing with harsh cleansers.
McSeruf: Although at least he doesn't blister.
Arat: Well then. Please take this back to him and explain that it will be necessary for the two of you to come to some accommodation, or it will be necessary for me to step in.
Arat: He should be aware that I cannot take the time to visit Palisades personally, and should mediation be required, it will be necessary for the two of you to present yourselves together here.
McSeruf looks surprisingly relieved, for someone who has just heard that dread phrase.
Arat hopes that will squelch Klyzer's protests.
McSeruf: Thank you. He's not a bad person, you understand; just inflexible on this one issue.
Arat nods.
McSeruf: My thanks for your time, Controller.
McSeruf almost backs out, as if before royalty.
Arat, who is used to this sort of behavior, thinks nothing of it.
McSeruf's gratitude is about what one would expect, from a person who has been offered relief from major fumigation and itchy rashes.
Arat waits until McSeruf is gone, then blows his nose 4 more times.
Arat wipes his eyes with an additional handkerchief; he is thoroughly miserable.
Nick eyes the crate of clean handkerchiefs with some concern as to whether the supply will last.
Arat drinks some more tea, not because he wants any, but so that he won't get dehydrated what with all this nose- and eye-running.
Nick lays a hand on Arat's arm lightly, doing what he can to alleviate the misery, if not the allergies.
Lieutenant Lirt marches up to the door looking much like a military recruiting poster, or at least, a recruiting poster that has waded through six inches of mud on the way to the photographer.
Lieutenant Lirt: Lieutenant Lirt reporting, Sir.
Lieutenant Lirt does not, of course, salute Arat, as he is not in the chain of command.
Arat squints at Lirt, having not been told to expect him.
Lieutenant Lirt does, however, give the impression of just having saluted, an illusion that stands him in good stead when dealing with civilians.
Lieutenant Lirt: I have received orders to consult with you about the proper employment of my troops.
Arat: Very well.
Lieutenant Lirt: And to inform you of our current deployments.
Arat: Please, sit.
Arat indicates the crate that does for a chair in his "office".
Arat has finally stooped to putting a straw filled pillow on his own barrel/chair, as his ass is too bony to sit on something that uncomfortable for long without becoming incredibly sore.
Arat is, of course, allergic to the straw, but that is another issue.
Lieutenant Lirt enters with parade-ground precision, and notes the splintery, mud-smeared crate with some trepidation.
Lieutenant Lirt is, however, professionally obligated to risk life, limb, and dress uniform for the protection of the Territory.
Arat uses the available pause to wipe his running eyes again, quaff more tea, and get out a small bottle of Farris-safe anti-itch cream.
Lieutenant Lirt: Thank you, Sir.
Arat nods.
Lieutenant Lirt edges gingerly onto the crate, wincing as a splinter bites in an unfortunate area.
Arat rubs itch goop onto numerous abrasions that had started out as mosquito bites. He is currently in an anti-mosquito-repellent mood, having become positively sick from it the other night. Once the bites get bad enough again, he'll reverse his decision temporarily out of desperation.
Lieutenant Lirt: I have a full troop under me. Currently, we are deployed as escorts for the supply trains, with a reserve to keep order as necessary in the closest of the encampments.
Lieutenant Lirt: This is in accordance of our mission to facilitate the Dam project and preserve order.
Arat nods.
Lieutenant Lirt: I have also been ordered to place myself at your disposal upon your arrival, in accordance with General Order 253-855C, regarding liaison with civilian authorities under detached duty.
Lieutenant Lirt's orders had, of course, traveled by military courier, and so arrived a week after Arat.
Arat actually brightens.
Arat hadn't been told to expect this at all.
Arat is not precisely certain why he was chosen, but knows better than to look this particular gift horse in the mouth.
Nick notes Arat's improved humor with approval.
Arat: Excellent.
Arat rarely says "excellent" to anything.
Nick goes quietly over to the tea table and starts assembling fresh tea and a plate of nuts, carrots, and other Farris-safe "nibbles".
Nick's attention is on Arat, of course, and so he does not inspect the tea grounds as closely as he might.
Arat: I will require your assistance in the gradual removal of unauthorized personnel from the area, to commence immediately.
Arat thinks, and to wrap up months and months from now.
Lieutenant Lirt frowns thoughtfully.
Arat: We are in the process of initiating a reward-for-compliance campaign to generate a stream of volunteers.
Arat in fact had already initiated it, and is now in the process of experimenting with the "incentives" to find out what will actually induce people to make the right decision, with some lack of success.
Lieutenant Lirt: General Order 253-855C does not give me the authority to forcibly remove law-abiding civilians from anything but the dam construction site itself, and the official housing units, both of which can be considered restricted areas for the duration.
Arat: No force will be necessary.
Lieutenant Lirt looks a bit relieved at that.
Lieutenant Lirt: I can provide escorts for those who wish to leave, and of course, criminals can be deported in order to protect law-abiding citizens.
Arat: That will be all that is required.
Lieutenant Lirt is prepared to be somewhat flexible about the definition of a "criminal", but not to the point that he can't justify it to his superiors.
Lieutenant Lirt isn't any more pleased by the rumored selyn shortage than any other renSime in the area.
Arat: Those leaving will sign a contract stating their intention to leave in exchange for certain rewards and concessions. Your presence will be required mainly to ensure that they reach their destination safely and to confirm their departure.
Nick exchanges Arat's old teacup for the fresh one, and slips the plate of nibbles onto Arat's desk also, right next to the handkerchiefs.
Lieutenant Lirt: My men and I are at your service, Sir.
Arat: Very well.
Lieutenant Lirt thinks that this Controller Arat is quite reasonable, for a civilian.
Lieutenant Lirt is not bothered by Arat's stiffness, which is mild compared to the real hard-asses among his superiors.
Arat picks up the plate and offers it to the Lieutenant. He knows how rare fresh fruits and vegetables are here; he is paying through the nose for these and they are not of particularly good quality, either.
Arat: Would you care for one?
Lieutenant Lirt is past turnover, and therefore not particularly hungry, but he has not seen fresh food in some time.
Lieutenant Lirt: Thank you, Sir.
Lieutenant Lirt compromises between courtesy and greed, and confines himself to one carrot stick.
Lieutenant Lirt takes a small bite and chews it slowly, trying to make the treat last.
Arat has many battles to fight. One of them is to get proper provisions in place for the starving in the encampments. What his people have been able to arrange for so far has been considerably worse than this.
Arat replaces the plate where it was, having successfully avoided taking one himself.
Arat finds such things more tempting here than he had back in Capitol, but he still won't touch food around strangers.
Nick lets ~ mild disappointment ~ appear in a Farris-zlinnable degree, and a touch of ~ appetite ~
Nick is too aware of Arat's foibles to insist more that that in front of company, however.
Nick contents himself with sipping a cup of tea, wishing that he'd remembered to replenish his office stock of Narosian.
Nick has never been fond of #3.
Nick thinks that the #3 tastes even less like trin than he remembers, after so long drinking Narosian blends.
Arat, who has been drinking #3 for nearly 20 years in a typically Farris display of masochistic perfectionism in appearing Tecton-loyal, has also noticed the tea tastes different here. But he thinks it's because of the reservoir water.
Dramming presents himself not long after Lieutenant Lirt's departure.
Dramming is wearing once fine clothing, much mended and bedraggled, and has a somewhat furtive air about him.
Dramming: You are Arat Au...Farris, Hajene?
Arat eyes Dramming suspiciously.
Arat 's paranoia has not been helped by his new surroundings.
Dramming is meanwhile eyeing Nick suspiciously.
Arat: Yes.
Dramming: Might it be possible to speak, well, a bit more confidentially?
Dramming's gaze moves from Nick to the bodyguards, with even greater trepidation.
Arat's eyes narrow.
Dramming: What I have to say is not for the ears of outsiders.
Arat: This is Nick Reckage, my assigned Donor, and these are my personal bodyguard. What do you wish to discuss, that they should not be present?
Arat's tone makes it clear that there is very little that he will discuss at all, that he won't discuss in front of them.
Arat: [aside from the things he only discusses with Jeniard, but he won't discuss those with Dramming at all!]
Dramming hadn't anticipated such resistance, even after hearing the reports.
Dramming tries to find the least damning way to allude to the subject.
Dramming: I believe my cousin Lorza contacted you, during your journey here?
Dramming: Although he did say that you did not have time for a full briefing.
Dramming frowns, well aware of the deficiencies in Lorza's ability to communicate clearly when conspiring.
Arat, who had never learned Lorza's name, frowns also.
Arat visually inspects Dramming's wardrobe, and draws some unpleasant conclusions.
Dramming: I can understand your caution, and please believe me when I say that I fully approve of it.
Arat: If this is about what I think it is, I said no and I meant no.
Arat says at the same time as Dramming.
Dramming: Of course.
Dramming smiles, in what he thinks is perfect understanding.
Arat frowns more.
Dramming: However, do bear in mind that there are those here, scattered throughout the encampments, who wish to see our Territory restored to her former glory, that our families may prosper once more.
Dramming: We are fully prepared to support any actions you might take which would hasten that happy day.
Arat looks at Dramming, a bit upset at him for ignoring Arat's wishes in the matter -- and making it so baldly obvious to the onlookers what this is all about.
Arat: Under no circumstances should any action be taken along those lines.
Nick has, fortunately, spent enough time with a master plotter to recognize a harmless wannabe when he sees one.
Arat: Anyone attempting such a thing shall be tried and punished as a criminal.
Dramming: Of course, of course.
Dramming: The law must be followed, after all.
Dramming is well aware that Arat must confine himself to repeating the Tecton line, when witnesses are present, and it doesn't disturb him unduly.
Arat tries again.
Arat: I myself will treat any such behavior with the strictest of sanctions.
Dramming: Certainly. Every Au...er, "Farris" knows his duty to his public, and performs it.
Arat: And now, I have work to attend to.
Arat hopes Dramming will take the hint and leave. Preferably forever.
Arat has enough problems without having the Tecton come down on his head for Audnes-eering.
Dramming gets to his feet, and salutes with a particular flourish that hasn't been used in public in decades.
Arat waits until Dramming is gone, and then takes another drink of tea to wash out the bad taste he left.
Arat: Don't let that man near me again. [to his security people]
Nick: They never give up on you, do they?
Nick is all ~~ sympathy ~~
Arat: No.
Nick knows something about what it's like to be pursued by inconvenient family connections.
Arat actually, if the truth be known, will always carry within him a genuine desire to regain his parents' glory and their total rulership of New Othwol, and that is what makes being accosted by people like Lorza and Dramming so difficult.
Dramming manages to locate his second visitee slogging through the mud at a brisk pace, heading towards one of the outlying camps.
Beni is lagging behind, in his efforts to at least stay on his feet in the morass.
Dramming: Hajene Snake?
Dramming: Snake...Audnes?
Dramming has carefully pitched his voice so that Beni is unable to hear.
Wise Snake turns and looks at Dramming in disbelief.
Wise Snake: What did you call me?!
Dramming: You are the daughter of Arat Audnes, are you not?
Wise Snake: I'm the ill-begotten result of his drunken encounter with a train station prostitute, if that's what you're after.
Wise Snake: What's it to you?
Dramming waves aside the minor matter of Snake's maternal origins.
Dramming: You are still the heir to the Audnes destiny.
Wise Snake snorts.
Wise Snake: Don't give up on me yet.
Wise Snake: I'm not quite as much of a bureaucratic drone as my dear papa.
Dramming: Oh, we're not giving up on you at all.
Dramming: In fact, you may be a better hope than your esteemed father, if truth be known.
Wise Snake: Get this guy, [to Beni, jerking her thumb in Drammings' direction]
Wise Snake returns her attention to Dramming.
Dramming: He is under too close a scrutiny, to be able to act.
Wise Snake: You mean he's too scared to piss in the pot he's handed.
Beni is willing to get Dramming almost anything, if it means he can stand still for long enough to scrape the three inches of accumulated mud from his boots.
Wise Snake: Look, whatever you're after, take it from me. My dad is not likely to do anything for the likes of you.
Wise Snake is unaware of the double, or triple, meanings of her last statement.
Dramming is slightly ~ offended ~ at hearing an Audnes denigrated so, but on the other hand, he found his meeting with Arat disappointing.
Wise Snake looks wry at the offense.
Wise Snake: What, am I wrong?
Wise Snake: Try it, and see.
Dramming: There are many here who wish to recover our lost heritage--and the Audnes line is critical to our plans.
Wise Snake: Uhmm.
Wise Snake: Lost heritage, hey?
Dramming likes the way this statement makes his group of a dozen or more buddies from once-great families sound important, even if their main activity so far has been consuming large amounts of drink and exchanging gripes.
Wise Snake wonders whether "heritage" in this case means land, money, political power, or youth.
Dramming could use all four, particularly the latter, judging from the rapidity with which his hair has thinned during the past months.
Wise Snake: Oh, Beni, that reminds me.
Wise Snake: Stay away from the Tecton #3.
Wise Snake: I forbid you to drink it.
Beni perks up.
Beni: Does that mean I can raid Nick's private stash? He's got this year's Narosian releases, I've heard.
Wise Snake: Whatever. Just don't let me catch you drinking you-know-what.
Wise Snake overlooks the fact that Nick would certainly object strenuously to such raiding.
Wise Snake ordinarily wouldn't mind what Beni drank, except now she has spiked all of the #3 at the house and at Arat's office with a nasty drug, Xylexion, that is exceedingly addictive.
Wise Snake would not want to have to come up with enough dough to pay for enough to maintain any more than one person's addiction.
Dramming had somehow hoped for more than sarcastic remarks regarding Arat Audnes... a vow to devote herself to the Cause, perhaps. Or at the very least, a promise to contribute most of her channel's salary to it.
Wise Snake hasn't warned Nick because she can count on him to stay away from #3 on his own.
Beni looks at Dramming just enough to make sure he can recognize the man again.
Beni is much less worried about the Audnes aspect than he is about Snake's drug supply and the possibility that she will manage to play a doozy of a prank on Arat, and he will be blamed for not controlling her.
Beni doesn't know that drugs and pranks are currently combining in a particular nasty way, of course.
Dramming: My colleagues and I were hoping that you would join us one evening, to discuss our mutual interests.
Wise Snake: Uh-huh.
Dramming: I assure you that we are used to better than Tecton #3.
Wise Snake: Oh great. Another flower power bunch.
Dramming might better have said that he would like to be accustomed to better than Tecton #3; unfortunately, one can't always afford what one prefers.
Dramming considers that sobering fact a prime reason to foment rebellion.
Dramming: Our heritage is indeed a delicate blossom, which must be carefully tended if it is to yield fruit.
Wise Snake blinks at Dramming in disbelief.
Wise Snake: Whatever you say.
Wise Snake thinks the only fruit in this conversation is the stuff that's mixed with the nuts between Dramming's ears.
Wise Snake: Look, I'm a little busy now. I'll catch you later.
Wise Snake will require some time to decide if she wants to get entangled with these losers.
Wise Snake will only do so if it is in her best interests... as defined by the whim of whatever moment she decides to do it.
Dramming: Of course. We await your command, Hajene.
Wise Snake: Ummmmmmh... right.
Dramming bows elaborately, reaching for Snake's hand to kiss it.
Dramming blinks as the hand, and Snake, continue blithely down the path, without waiting for his salute.
Dramming frowns at Snake's rapidly receding back, trying to decide whether her treatment of him is lower-class rudeness from her unfortunate mother, or upper-crust arrogance from her patrician father.
Wise Snake: He may be a fool, but he has one thing right. [comments]
Wise Snake: It's me he should be approaching.
Beni looks at Snake, more ~ concerned ~ now than he was earlier.
Beni: Snake, you don't want to get involved with the remnants of the Audnes rebellion.
Wise Snake meets his eyes, her own wearing a peculiar glint.
Wise Snake: But that's not what I said, was it?
Beni notes the glint with ~~ apprehension ~~
Beni: Believe me, your father has been trying to shake the taint of the Audnes for his entire adult life.
Wise Snake: His time is past.
Wise Snake: I am the future.
Beni: Your father is a miracle of modernity, compared with those idle dreamers.
Wise Snake watches Beni, still with the gleam in her eye, gauging his reaction.
Wise Snake: He's finished. I hold all the cards now.
Beni stares at Snake, now thoroughly ~~ alarmed ~~
Wise Snake smiles.
Beni: Snake, what have you done?
Wise Snake enjoys his reaction.
Wise Snake: It wasn't right, for him to have such power over me. It was unbalanced.
Beni thinks Snake herself is the biggest example of imbalance in the vicinity, which is saying something, on a construction site.
Beni grabs Snake's shoulders and forces her look at him.
Beni: What have you done?
Wise Snake: Maybe it's egotistical of me to say it, but I prefer myself better when I am the strongest channel around.
Beni gives Snake a shake.
Wise Snake 's smile fades somewhat with the shake.
Beni: What have you done to your father?
Beni emphasizes each word with a shake.
Wise Snake grits her teeth as the repeated shaking becomes annoying.
Beni is not happy with Snake at the moment.
Wise Snake doesn't find Beni's angry projection very pleasant, either.
Wise Snake: I just evened the playing field a bit. [sullenly]
Wise Snake: I'm sick of him controlling me.
Beni: Evened it how?
Wise Snake: What does it matter? You couldn't undo it even if you knew.
Wise Snake: I've addicted him to Xylexion.
Beni: ~~ horror ~~
Beni: How could you do such a thing?
Wise Snake's sullen expression brightens with interest at his reaction.
Wise Snake: The difficulty was in obtaining it, of course.
Wise Snake: That will always be the difficulty.
Wise Snake: After that, it was simple.
Beni has gone past horror to ~~ really freaking ~~
Beni has known Snake long enough to believe her.
Wise Snake: My... source... got it to me before you and Arat arrived, and it was a matter of making sure he got it daily.
Wise Snake seems quite calm about it.
Wise Snake: I hadn't expected him to get the census underway so quickly, or to succeed in convincing Birch to hold off for two weeks.
Beni turns abruptly, dropping all pretense of handling the fields, and starts trotting back towards the main encampment.
Wise Snake looks after him, letting her sentence trail off.
Wise Snake then turns and continues the way they'd been going, humming to herself.
Beni's only thought is to tell Arat what he has learned, as quickly as possible.
Beni has not gone so far as to think past his initial reaction to the personal fallout that will come his way, as Snake's Donor.
Beni would, to give him full credit, probably have informed Arat anyway, although probably not with quite such enthusiasm.
Beni bursts into Arat's office, narrowly avoiding being apprehended as a potential assassin.
Beni's eyes widen in horror at the glass of tea Arat is raising to his lips.
Beni: Don't drink that!!!
Arat looks up, startled, nearly spilling the aforementioned "that" all over himself.
Beni pants for a moment; running through mud is hard work for a Gen.
Arat does spill it all over his papers, then sets it down firmly.
Arat: Beni, what is the meaning of this!
Beni: Don't drink that. It's drugged.
Arat: This?
Arat picks up the tea cup again. He can be forgiven for being concerned about Beni's state of mind, given how the Donor is zlinning.
Dramming: Snake... Snake put Xylexion in it. And in your supply back in your quarters.
Beni: She just told me--boasted how she had evened things between you.
Arat stares at Beni with a perfectly uncharacteristic look of at-a-loss astonishment.
Nick is staring at Beni in horror, although at least he controls it better than the other Donor.
Nick has seen Xylexion withdrawal before, and it was not a pretty sight.
Nick has also consumed several glasses of Arat's tea himself, that afternoon.
Nick goes over to the tea table and snatches up the canister of #3.
Nick tears off the lid, and carries it over to the window for a close inspection.
Nick sniffs, tastes, looks, and feels the canister's contents carefully.
Nick would probably have listened, too, but Xylexion is not known for having a distinctive sound.
Arat sets the teacup down slowly. He can zlin that both Beni and Nick are dead serious about this, although to him it seems very nearly impossible.
Nick turns a very white, shocked face to Arat.
Arat 's experience with the drug -- at least prior to this latest news -- had been limited to the reading of obscure medical papers on the subject.
Nick: He's right. This tea has been adulterated.
Nick: I can't say for sure with what, but at least the color is right for Xylexion.
Arat looks at Nick, speechless.
Nick's resemblance to Riyyh grows stronger as he appears to age 13 years in as many seconds.
Nick: How could she?
Arat flat out cannot believe that a daughter of his could do such a thing to him.
Arat's opinion of himself has always been rather higher than that of those around him.
Arat: There must be proof.
Arat: This... this speculation is intolerable.
Arat's mind starts racing as to how and where such proof could be obtained, in as short a time as possible, as another part of him tries to insist that they are panicking over nothing.
Nick looks at the spilled tea with loathing.
Arat: A sample, by courier, to the ControlSubs lab in Capitol....
Nick: It's easy enough to find out. Drink only my Narosian tea. If it was Xylexion, you'll know it in about 12 hours.
Nick would suggest only drinking Snake's tea, but he feels Arat is already likely to suffer more than enough.
Nick just hopes that Snake will refrain from adulterating his own tea.
Arat pales himself.
Arat: But it takes many days to....
Beni: She said... she said she'd obtained the drug before your arrival.
Beni: Everything depends on when she managed to get to your tea supply.
Arat's voice trails off as he thinks about how much access Snake has had to his personal belongings - and his person - in the meantime.
Arat: Could this be true? Are you certain?
Arat: Would she do such a thing, and brag of it?
Arat is asking Nick, who knows her best of all.
Nick: I don't want to think so, but....
Nick is well aware that the world doesn't arrange itself around his preferences.
Nick: It is possible that the adulterant in the tea is harmless, and she intends for you to simply suffer until you can confirm that you are not addicted to Xylexion.
Arat is relieved by Nick's suggestion.
Arat: Yes, that sounds the more likely.
Nick is, after all, a Gen, with a Gen's aptitude for optimism.
Arat: We will wait, then.
Nick: Yes. We will wait.
Go on to Episode #23: Tea with Snake II
Return to the Index of Episodes