Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #28: Snot and Polish (8/14/00)
Mr. Birch pauses in the waiting area outside the hospital ward where the blast victims are being treated.
Sayward is more than a little concerned about the number of injuries that have occurred since the blasting started. Starlin was a bit more concerned himself than he was willing to let on. The way the numbers were climbing they couldn't ignore them.
Mr. Birch has just finished visiting with Mr. Bovko, a top Demolitions foreman who was knocked senseless by a piece of flying shale.
Mr. Birch was encouraged to find Mr. Bovko conscious and lucid.
Mr. Birch thought the Gen would be permanently incapacitated; channel's science does have something of value to offer after all.
Mr. Birch knows that the man will nevertheless be out of commission for weeks, and in the current crisis he needs every person with demolitions training he can lay his hands on.
Sayward has never had a project with so many disasters attendant upon it. Now, with Sime and Gen workers alike being hurt at nearly the same rate she knows she has to do something. But what?
Mr. Birch: Old Bovko was looking pretty good, huh?
Sayward: Yes he was, considering.
Mr. Birch pats Sayward's shoulder.
Mr. Birch knows that, for all her tough exterior, she is a softy at heart.
Sayward: I have to admit I was worried about him but the Simes seem to know things about healing we don't.
Mr. Birch: They do that. With that crack on the skull, I was afraid he wouldn't make it.
Sayward: He is a good man and one of our best instructors.
Mr. Birch: You're right.
Sayward is beginning to feel a bit hemmed in with all the injured people around her. She is too keenly aware of her failure to keep the job site safe.
Sayward: If there is no one else you want to visit, why don't we go out and get some fresh air?
Mr. Birch: Sure.
Sayward: Thanks!
Mr. Birch follows Sayward towards the hospital main doors.
Mr. Birch: Sayward, I know he's too sick to go climbing around in the canyon, but maybe he could still do some teaching.
Mr. Birch: Classroom stuff. That wouldn't be too taxing.
Sayward: That would at least give him something to do and help out a great deal!
Sayward: Even with all the miracles the channels can work there are still too many people getting injured.
Sayward: The problem is that the Simes get too distracted about the Gens hanging off the cliff and then do something dumb while they are not paying attention.
Sayward: Which usually leads to a cascade of disaster.
Mr. Birch: ~~irritated~~
Sayward: And every time a Gen falls you should see the scurrying around that causes.
Mr. Birch: I don't know why they keep expecting our people to hurt themselves.
Mr. Birch: They are trained professionals.
Sayward: Cris and I were talking about that.
Mr. Birch: Oh?
Mr. Birch's glances sweeps to include Cris, who has been quietly listening.
Sayward: Yes. Maybe you should ask her yourself. I don't get it all, maybe you will.
Mr. Birch: Well, Cris, our people have been climbing and descending tall buildings for years.
Sayward regrets putting Cris on the spot but she couldn't even begin to explain a tenth of the things Cris had told her.
Mr. Birch: They know what they're doing.
Mr. Birch: Why do Simes panic when a Gen climbs a rope?
Cris: Because we know that Gens are not as strong or agile as Simes, and the Simes here have never seen Gen experts before.
Mr. Birch: Not as strong?
Mr. Birch: I had always heard Sime strength bordered on the supernatural, but the closer I see your people, the less impressed I become.
Mr. Birch: Without the selyn to augment, these workers can't accomplish much more than a Gen, although they can work longer hours.
Mr. Birch: And they are so temperamental and unreliable, the extra work is hardly worth the trouble to accommodate them.
Cris: ~~insulted~~
Cris: Of course, they can't perform at their best in the middle of a selyn shortage.
Cris: And I don't know what you mean by temperamental and unreliable!
Mr. Birch: All this fuss and worry over our Gens who are just doing their job.
Mr. Birch: That's one example.
Sayward tries to calm Cris by thinking quiet and calm thoughts.
Mr. Birch: Even the boss of your outfit, this Controller Arat, is temperamental.
Mr. Birch: Why, at that last meeting, he hardly paid attention to the conversation.
Mr. Birch: His eyes were unfocused half the time.
Cris: ~~fuming~~
Cris: That's is how Simes look when they zlin, Mr. Birch.
Cris: I assure you, he was paying very close attention indeed.
Sayward moves a bit closer to Cris. She can see how upset she is getting. ~~calm quiet~~
Mr. Birch: And he kept sneezing! He went through at least a dozen handkerchiefs in that one meeting.
Mr. Birch: He was sneezing the first time I met him, at the train station.
Mr. Birch: Sayward, have you ever seen him when he wasn't choking into a handkerchief?
Sayward searches her memory.
Sayward: Can't say that I have.
Sayward is now beginning to wonder about that.
Mr. Birch rounds on Cris.
Mr. Birch: So what's that all about?
Mr. Birch: Have they sent us a channel with some kind of chronic illness?
Cris: Of course not!
Cris of course cannot be absolutely sure, as she has no access to Arat's file, but surely the Tecton wouldn't....
Cris: It's just that he's... a Farris.
Cris: They are wonderful channels, but they tend to be... delicate.
Mr. Birch: Delicate?
Mr. Birch thinks this is not an attribute sought after in construction workers.
Cris: Yes, they often have allergies.
Cris: They require a controlled environment.
Mr. Birch: Are they allergic to sunlight?
Cris: What?
Mr. Birch: Every time I see the Controller, he is wearing a veil, like some kind of old lady.
Mr. Birch: He actually wore it inside at the meeting.
Mr. Birch: I can assure you, Sgt. Edka noticed, and it didn't make a very good impression.
Cris searches her memory for information about Farris medicine.
Cris isn't sure if light-sensitivity is on the very long list of possible allergens and irritants.
Cris: I'm not certain, Tuib.
Cris: If you wish to know, you should inquire of someone on the Controller's staff. Certainly Sosu Nick could tell you.
Cris thinks, if the information is not considered confidential.
Mr. Birch: If the Controller has a medical condition that will impede his ability to manage this project, I have to know about that.
Mr. Birch has not found Nick particularly reliable as a source of information either.
Mr. Birch: I think it is time we got a few straight answers.
Cris: ~~dithering~~
Cris: Oh, Tuib Birch, do you think that's wise?
Cris: The Controller doesn't like to be interrupted without an appointment.
Sayward would like to know if there is something wrong with the Controller herself. She never feels comfortable around him. He always looks as if he might keel over any moment.
Mr. Birch: I'm tired of pussy-footing around.
Mr. Birch: You Simes are supposed to have a reputation for honesty.
Mr. Birch: Well, all I want is a few straight answers.
Mr. Birch: What do you say, Sayward?
Sayward: Maybe we should go straight to the horse's mouth, as it were.
Cris: I really think you should make an appointment.
Mr. Birch is already moving with determination in the direction of Arat's office.
Arat is alone in his shack... er... office, while Beni rustles up something to eat.
Sayward follows close on Birch's heels.
Cris trails after nervously, wondering if she will be in worse trouble if she helps her Gen charges in their insanity, or slips away and hides from the Controller's well-known wrath.
Arat is in hard need, and elbow deep in badly-handwritten paperwork.
Arat is attempting to compile the census data into a format that can be readily copied by some sort of clerks, to make reference books for the channels who have to serve the hordes of renSimes and locate the elusive but numerous illegal Gens.
Cris signals their approach desperately but silently with her nager.
Mr. Birch knocks on the door, rasping his knuckles on the splintery wood.
Arat pauses for a moment to rein in his temper. It is, after all, about as important a visitor as one could get, in this setting.
Arat: Enter!
Mr. Birch strides into the room, assessing the Controller's appearance with an intense stare.
Sayward is beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea. Cris looks about ready to fall apart.
Cris: ~~apology~~
Cris looks frantically around the room for Sosu Nick.
Arat is a gaunt, perpetually stressed out channel who is in hard need at the moment. He looks like he hasn't slept in a week or eaten in two, and has a sore ass besides.
Arat's chair and he have not gotten on better terms since they met, and the straw has hurt more than it has helped.
Arat's nose is, not surprisingly, running.
Arat: Mr. Birch. [sets his pen down]
Mr. Birch is relieved to see that Arat is not wearing the veil. While he didn't believe the childhood stories that Simes were really vampires, they left a certain impression he has worked hard to overcome.
Arat automatically zlins Birch, as well as Sayward and Cris.
Arat notices that Cris is freaking out.
Sayward can't get over the impression of a badly tended child when she looks at the Controller.
Arat's throat tickles as the dust the three of them brought in with them reaches him.
Arat breathes carefully to avoid complications.
Mr. Birch: Controller Arat.
Sayward puts her hand on Cris' shoulder to try and help her calm down.
Mr. Birch: Forgive me if I bring up a matter you may consider personal, but I understand you Simes value honesty.
Mr. Birch: You do not look well.
Sayward ~~calm peaceful~~
Mr. Birch: And we are concerned about your state of health.
Sayward is more concerned about Cris at the moment.
Arat's dark eyes flick between Cris, Sayward, and Mr. Birch.
Arat: I see. [finally]
Cris can zlin Arat's state of need and is ready to sink through the floor in embarrassment at this intrusion.
Arat gestures for them to sit if they want... a long bench has replaced the crate that used to seat visitors.
Cris: [whispering] Tuib Birch, perhaps we should discuss this another day. When Sosu Nick is here.
Sayward realizes that she really can't help Cris. She doesn't have what it takes, so to speak. Still she tries to reassure her friend.
Mr. Birch glances at Cris as if she were crazy.
Mr. Birch cannot understand why the selyn management boss should need his assistant around to answer a few simple questions.
Sayward: [whispers to Cris] It's too late to stop now.
Cris edges closer to Sayward to shield herself from the Controller's immense and glowering nager.
Mr. Birch sits on the bench indicated.
Mr. Birch never likes the feel of standing before the Sime's desk... it's an inferior stance.
Sayward is going into full fledged big sister mode. She is not sure what the Controller is doing to scare Cris so much but is determined to make him stop.
Arat waits until they are all seated, pondering how to respond.
Arat knows that it is more difficult to persuade Gens they are worried about nothing. With Simes, his perfect showfield is usually "proof" enough.
Arat: I realize that as head of this construction project, you would be concerned about such things.
Arat: And I appreciate your concern.
Arat doesn't, actually, but that isn't what Mr. Birch would want to hear.
Arat: It is true that being transferred here has been a difficult transition for me.
Arat knows there is no point in denying it; anybody who knows what a Farris is would realize that.
Arat: However, the situation is well in hand. If there is any danger that I will not be able to perform my duties, you will be told in advance.
Mr. Birch smiles like a shark.
Mr. Birch: Just as I was told in advance of the possibility of a selyn shortage, and that the Simes on my payroll might be forbidden to carry out their assigned duties?
Arat looks puzzled.
Arat is not sure why Mr. Birch would have expected advance warning about something like 12,000 extra renSimes taking it upon themselves to appear on his doorstep. That is rather like asking for advance warning about landslides and lightning strikes.
Arat thinks, in fact, that Mr. Birch would have known about that well in advance of anybody else.
Arat decides to take Mr. Birch literally.
Arat: Just so.
Arat had, after all, explained everything to Mr. Birch as soon as he had enough information to do so.
Mr. Birch thinks that this Sime is either unable to zlin, or ill-equipped to appreciate Gen sarcasm.
Sayward rolls her eyes ceilingward. If the Controller is trying to score points this is not the way to do it.
Mr. Birch: So, despite the fact you have been coughing and sneezing from the day you arrived here, you are well enough to work?
Arat: Yes.
Arat in fact has been doing more work since he arrived here than he had for years. Entran has not been a problem at all.
Arat does wish there was less coughing and sneezing involved, though. Not to mention rashes, dizziness, fevers and assorted chills, and Snake's diabolical stunt with the Xylexion.
Mr. Birch: There are rumors that you were so exhausted from the trip here that you took to your bed for several days, delaying the census....
Arat frowns.
Arat: There is some truth to the rumor.
Arat: However, it should not be of concern.
Mr. Birch: Controller, I'm not trying to denigrate your efforts, but I do have to know what I'm dealing with.
Mr. Birch: I know very little about Sime medical conditions.
Arat wishes Jeniard were here to field this. Jeniard has always been his buffer in matters like this.
Arat: Very well. What do you wish to know?
Arat is none too pleased with the situation, but acknowledges Mr. Birch's right to a certain amount of information.
Mr. Birch: When we attend meetings, you are constantly sneezing and coughing. You often seem distracted by this.
Sayward thinks that quite a few of the Controller's more obvious problems could be solved with a good diet and some old fashioned home remedies.
Mr. Birch: Even if you are able to function that way, it creates a poor impression.
Arat: It is regrettable.
Mr. Birch: Impression is very important to Gens, as I am sure you know.
Arat nods.
Sayward: Controller Arat, if you forgive my saying so, you look like a basket case.
Arat looks at Sayward, startled. This is the first time Sayward has acknowledged his presence in nearly a month on the construction site. He had become used to her saying nothing.
Mr. Birch: Is there anything you can do to look healthier when you're in public?
Arat transfers his amazed stare to Mr. Birch.
Arat is speechless for a moment. People don't usually talk to him this way.
Mr. Birch: Now that the Gen military has taken a larger role in the project, if you want to maintain control of your department you will have to win their respect.
Mr. Birch: They value strength and independence.
Mr. Birch: A man who hides under a layer of veils will not impress them.
Mr. Birch: Neither will a man who publically dotes on his personal assistant.
Arat now looks somewhat bewildered.
Sayward can feel Cris vibrating for some reason next to her. She isn't sure if it is laughter or fear and tries not to call the Controller's attention to her.
Arat has been accused of a lot of things when it comes to Donors, but doting on them is definitely not one of them.
Arat assumes, then, that Mr. Birch is referring to Jeniard.
Arat: That, [he says stiffly] is a private matter. And we have been quite discreet.
Mr. Birch: Discreet! At every public meeting, Sosu Nick is there fussing over you, pouring your tea, arranging your veils, wiping your nose, as if he were your nursemaid.
Mr. Birch: To Gen eyes, you appear like a child or an invalid.
Arat closes his eyes and presses his fingers to his forehead momentarily.
Mr. Birch: This will never do when dealing with the Army.
Arat counts to ten under his breath, slowly.
Arat: I can explain.
Arat: Sosu Nick is my Donor. He is responsible for my health and well-being, and in assisting me in my work.
Sayward wonders what else poor Nick has to wipe.
Arat: That is his occupation, his role in the Tecton. Each channel must work with a Donor, who then serves him or her in transfer at the end of the month.
Mr. Birch frowns.
Mr. Birch: Well, I knew about the transfer part.
Arat: When he moves around nearby me, he is managing the ambient to my advantage and benefit.
Arat: In a situation such as the meetings we attend, where no-one else present has any training in field management, it is a great help to me.
Mr. Birch puzzles through the explanation. He is not entirely ignorant.
Mr. Birch: So he is keeping our fields from driving you crazy?
Arat would not put it that undiplomatically, even to someone who barges in with questions as rude and uncomfortable as Mr. Birch's.
Arat: He is assisting me in focusing and shielding.
Arat rather wishes somebody were here doing that now.
Mr. Birch: He's not here now. Are we bothering you?
Arat had had to nearly drive Beni off with a stick to be rid of his starving stomach projection, and now wishes he had just let him sit there and starve at him.
Sayward is putting two and two together based on her experience with Cris. She knows they are bothering him.
Mr. Birch flays employees with his words and beats them with his fists when necessary, and he is usually quite aware when he bothers someone deliberately.
Arat chooses his words carefully. "I would welcome his presence, were he to return. However, I will be able to conduct our conversation without him, as required."
Mr. Birch: Well, I can see why you'd want him around at the meetings. But does he have to wipe your nose?
Arat: No. I am capable of wiping my own nose.
Arat says without a trace of humor.
Arat: Mr. Birch, if you find our presence a genuine disruption, I will do what I can to minimize that disruption.
Sayward wishes the Controller would wipe his nose right now.
Arat: However, you can do your part by educating Out-Territory Gens as to the nature of my position, and Nick's.
Arat: I can provide you with any information you require.
Mr. Birch: We will do what we can.
Arat doesn't suppose that his performance in the meetings will be too badly affected by being loaded to the gills with antihistamines and bronchial dialators. At least, as long as he isn't called upon to say anything coherent.
Mr. Birch: I knew Donors were a kind of channel's physician, but I never heard about this focusing and shielding stuff.
Mr. Birch: Perhaps Sosu Nick could learn to do his Donor job so as to look more like a doctor and less like a lady's maid.
Sayward hadn't really thought about it but she realizes she should have twigged to it. She had seen Cris orbit her often enough.
Arat shows the first signs of genuine and unhideable offense.
Mr. Birch: And then we could educate our people to better understand his role.
Arat of course has never had much practice at hiding offense, but he had been doing his best to handle this in a respectful fashion.
Mr. Birch picks up on Arat's irritation.
Arat: Perhaps it will be best if I attend fewer of the meetings.
Arat thinks, shen knows he would like to get out of most of them.
Arat has noticed that construction sites have many, many meetings, to which the majority of top staff are required to arrive, regardless of the topic or scope.
Mr. Birch: Not if you want to continue to run this operation with a free hand.
Mr. Birch: Damn and blast, I didn't want to bring in the army!
Mr. Birch: But the situation left me no alternative.
Sayward: Please take into account the differences in our cultures, Controller.
Arat had been confused by Mr. Birch's joining of the Gen Army and his own position as Controller before. Now he has done it again. What does it mean? Arat's position as Controller is handed down by the Tecton, and no Gen official of any type would know what to do with it, much less be capable of performing it.
Mr. Birch: I will have to fight to preserve the integrity of my own plans.
Arat blinks as Sayward and Mr. Birch start talking at once.
Mr. Birch: I know they aren't part of your chain of command, but don't underestimate their influence.
Arat chooses Mr. Birch's statement as the most alarming and responds to it first.
Arat: Surely you are not suggesting martial law? With military control of the selyn movements?
Arat: Such a move would be an act of war.
Sayward: No I don't believe that was what he meant. We, Gens, value a person's ability to stand on his own two feet. If it looks as if you are dependent on someone else for such small things you lose credibility.
Sayward: The military gets nervous about the ability of an officer who behaves as you do.
Sayward: I'm not saying that it is the same thing but they perceive it as a lack nonetheless.
Mr. Birch: I doubt it would come to that. But the involvement of military advisers gives them carte blanche to investigate this operation from top to bottom.
Mr. Birch: If they don't like what they see, they can request changes, and while they may not have the authority, their political lobby is not something I want to tangle with.
Mr. Birch: So I am concerned that we make the best impression possible, so that they will have no complaints.
Sayward hates politics with a passion and has no desire to deal with it anymore than is absolutely necessary.
Mr. Birch is well aware that 12,000 unemployed renSimes without a stable selyn supply will not make a good impression.
Arat starts to reach for a handkerchief to deal with his now-once-again-running eyes and perpetually running nose, but then stops. Mr. Birch would probably take offense. This conversation is ridiculous enough without that.
Sayward: The language is not the only difference between our two cultures. I am not sure how much you know of us, but Gens do things in a radically different manner. I have been finding this out the hard way.
Arat: Very well. Nick and I will explore alternative behaviors that will satisfy your requirements while still allowing me to attend the mandatory meetings.
Arat says this with typically Farris masochistic application to duty and denial of physical discomfort.
Sayward: If you require help I will be glad to do what I can.
Arat nods.
Arat will exhaust the resources of his own people first; there are several who were born in Gen Territory.
Cris: And the full services of the Diplomatic Corps are at your service, of course, Controller Arat.
Arat shoots Cris a hard look.
Arat is none too pleased with Cris' performance so far.
Cris: I am just a translator, but I would be happy to relay any requests you may have to the Central Office.
Arat translates that to mean she will report anything her bosses won't like with faithful clarity.
Arat's expression accordingly becomes more one of distaste.
Cris trembles a bit at her boldness and edges even closer to Sayward.
Sayward wonders if Cris might not require an O-T refresher herself. After all she was a child last time she was in Gen Territory.
Mr. Birch: If I may make a suggestion....
Jeniard walks into the hut/office without signalling. He never has to signal, of course.
Jeniard stops momentarily at the sight of the meeting in progress, then quickly assesses the situation.
Mr. Birch glances around to see the channel come in.
Mr. Birch: Ah, good day, Hajene Jeniard.
Jeniard due to years of practice has gained the ability to recognize a situation where Arat requires rescue with amazing accuracy.
Jeniard: Hello, Mr. Birch. Sayward. Cris. [smiles]
Sayward: Hajene.
Jeniard moves around them to the tea table, not incidentally near enough to Arat to offer his version of field support.
Cris: [whispers] Hello Hajene Jeniard.
Mr. Birch returns his attention to Arat.
Jeniard: Would anybody like any tea? [before Mr. Birch can speak again]
Jeniard: I brought some Bitter Bloom. [holds up the packet]
Sayward has the distinct feeling that Cris is trying to get inside her overalls with her. Why should she be so afraid of the people who are supposed to care for her?
Mr. Birch finds the in-Territory tea rituals an annoying waste of time.
Jeniard bustles back over to Arat's desk for his empty cup and the vigilantly guarded envelope of tainted #3.
Jeniard zlins Mr. Birch's annoyance, but of course Arat is his highest priority.
Mr. Birch is tempted to plow right ahead, but after giving Arat a lecture on complying with out-T etiquette, is not quite shameless enough to ignore what Cris has told him about in-T customs.
Mr. Birch: Oh, very well. Certainly. Thank you very much, Hajene.
Arat gratefully uses the support and the conversational reprieve to try to get his head together. He should not have allowed this conversation to happen at all. That he did shows how off-balance he still is so long after arriving here.
Cris: Yes, please. Tea would be lovely.
Sayward: No, but thank you just the same.
Sayward finds what passes for tea around here could gag a maggot.
Jeniard fiddles with the tiny gas burner that cost a fortune to bring here, and gets the water started.
Jeniard: So, what brings you all? [smiles]
Jeniard: I hope I'm not interrupting too badly.
Mr. Birch: Just inquiring after the Controller's health.
Mr. Birch shows his teeth in the shark smile again.
Jeniard casts a glance at Arat.
Arat avoids Jeniard's eyes, shuffling some papers instead.
Jeniard: Oh.
Jeniard is now convinced that he walked in just in the nick of time.
Mr. Birch watches the by-play between the two channels with interest.
Mr. Birch: As I was saying, I have recruited an expert on public relations to assist with the project.
Mr. Birch: He should arrive any day now.
Mr. Birch: I'd be happy to lend him to you for a consultation.
Jeniard measures his Narosian tea into two cups, and the special #3 into Arat's, all the while listening in.
Arat eyes Mr. Birch, somewhat more detachedly than before.
Sayward sniffs the air. This stuff doesn't smell anywhere near as bad as what Cris cooks up.
Mr. Birch: This fellow has quite a flair for getting people excited about new ideas.
Sayward can't place what it reminds her of. Then -- oh yes sassafras.
Arat's left eye overflows.
Arat wipes his cheekbone with a tentacle without looking away from Mr. Birch.
Arat will use a handkerchief before his nose overflows. There are some things he won't deny himself, even for the sake of duty.
Mr. Birch: His style plays well with the military types... and I think he can convey the technological marvels we're accomplishing here in terms they can understand.
Sayward thinks at last. She was wondering when he would wipe his nose. But now she knows why Nick does it for him. Probably makes him nuts watching it run.
Mr. Birch notices that Arat now appears to be weeping and begins to wonder if discouraging the veil was a good idea after all.
Jeniard turns away from the pot of not-boiling water and walks over to the Donor perch at Arat's side.
Jeniard sits, lending firmer support.
Jeniard may not be a Donor, but he has a lot of practice at this particular task and he pulls it off with a finesse that is uniquely his own.
Mr. Birch: Perhaps he could spend some time finding ways to explain your customs... like this Donor shielding business.
Arat nods.
Jeniard produces a handkerchief and hands it to Arat.
Jeniard can tell, after all, that one is required.
Mr. Birch raises his eyebrows to see Jeniard engage in the same sort of mother-henning as Sosu Nick; didn't Arat just tell him that was a Donor's special job?
Jeniard is glad that he was able to prevent whatever-it-was that Mr. Birch was doing to Arat from getting out of hand.
Go on to Episode #29: Mule Corps Blues
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