Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #30: Unnatural Habits (8/24/00)
Sgt. Edka walks up the steps of the SWAT hall, and looks for a door knocker.
Sgt. Edka's uniform is surprisingly crisp, considering the conditions, although his boots are covered with the ubiquitous mud.
Sgt. Edka does have a bit of ingrained rock dust on his face and hands as well, but who's looking, anyway?
Starlin sits at a huge trestle table in the union mess hall, which is spread from end to end with papers.
Sgt. Edka gives up on the knocker, and simply pounds on the door with his fist.
Sgt. Edka: Hey, there! Anyone in?
Starlin jumps as the nageric shock of the Gen's pounding fist penetrates the flimsy plank walls.
Starlin: Hey!! Stop that!!
Starlin zlins Edka at the door.
Starlin: Shen it, just come in!
Sgt. Edka shrugs, and does so.
Starlin is getting weary of these unpredictable out-T Gens and their erratic behavior and undisciplined nagers.
Starlin has not particularly appreciated the arrogance and distrust he has zlinned in this particular specimen, either.
Sgt. Edka: Mr. Starlin, I understand that you speak for the Sime workers on the site?
Starlin blinks at the peculiar title of Mister.
Starlin: This is the SWAT union hall, and I am the workers representative, yes.
Sgt. Edka's nager might be undisciplined by in-Territory standards, but his movements and demeanor display a discipline of a different kind.
Starlin: What can I do for you, Mister Edka?
Starlin has not gotten down all the niceties of Gen titles yet.
Sgt. Edka: It's "Sargeant" Edka, Mr. Starlin.
Sgt. Edka: And I'm hoping that you can assist me in lowering the casualty rates among your people.
Starlin is not particularly happy to see a member of the Gen military in this renSime refuge; memories are short and not long ago such Gens were torching worker's houses and shooting them.
Sgt. Edka has by now made it across to Starlin's desk, where he stands with military straightness.
Starlin looks up, surprised.
Sgt. Edka: There have been far too many unnecessary injuries.
Starlin: I agree.
Sgt. Edka is glad that they agree on this much.
Starlin: This reckless use of dynamite is insane.
Sgt. Edka shrugs philosophically as their area of agreement comes to an end: he is a firm advocate of explosives.
Starlin: And I am also concerned about injuries to Gens-- and the risk to nearby Simes when those Gens are frightened or injured.
Sgt. Edka raises an eyebrow.
Starlin zlins that Sargeant Edka would rather give orders than listen.
Starlin: Well, what is your proposal then?
Sgt. Edka: It's not my people who are collecting the damage--at least, not the serious injuries.
Sgt. Edka: It's your Simes, mostly, who won't stay clear while my people work.
Sgt. Edka: I'm told that it makes Simes nervous to watch us?
Sgt. Edka has trouble grasping the concept: he knows how good his people are--and how careful.
Sgt. Edka is trying hard to understand, however, as it seems to be important for his mission.
Starlin laughs.
Starlin: We are not nervous, we are simply concerned for you.
Starlin: Your people behave like maniacs, doing things Gens were never meant to do.
Starlin: We feel an obligation to protect you from yourselves.
Starlin: Keeping Gens safe-- that's a sacred trust, in this new age.
Sgt. Edka rubs his chin, trying to figure out how to respond to this.
Sgt. Edka hasn't been subjected to such overprotectiveness since he was a small child.
Starlin: We would gladly sacrifice a few lives to make sure your people are protected at all times.
Starlin: But we would be happier if you chose not to risk yourselves-- or us.
Sgt. Edka: Well, I'm sure there are some things my crew could use protecting from.
Sgt. Edka carefully does not look at Starlin's tentacles, to avoid insulting him.
Starlin doesn't miss the deliberate avoidance.
Sgt. Edka: However, we don't require protection from doing our jobs.
Sgt. Edka: And your folk's attempts to do so are getting them hurt.
Sgt. Edka: Furthermore, it's making my crew nervous, and that's going to cause just the sort of ugly accident you fear if it goes on much longer.
Starlin frowns.
Starlin: Well, we certainly don't want your people to be nervous.
Sgt. Edka: Just this morning, young Ensign Igrot was so busy yelling at a Sime to get out from under him that he almost mistimed his swing when rappelling.
Lemuse walks cheerfully into the SWAT mess hall.
Lemuse is a 25ish, perky Gen with a good solid 2nd Order Donor nager.
Lemuse is carrying a small poster.
Lemuse has been given a shitty and horrible task, but has taken it (typically enough) in stride.
Starlin looks up at the new Gen entering the room, the one with the perky nager.
Lemuse is supposed to hang this poster somewhere where a lot of SWAT members will see it.
Starlin finds Lemuse's nager a lot more pleasant than Sgt Edka's, and a lot bigger too.
Starlin has been trying to learn to keep his mind focused when Donors wander by, but he hasn't quite got the trick of it yet.
Lemuse's poster says, in rather nice but plain block printing: "KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S UNEMPLOYED?" and has an etching of a steaming train, a plate of food, and a money pouch.
Sgt. Edka turns to see what's distracted Starlin, and raises his hat politely to Lemuse.
Sgt. Edka: Ma'am.
Starlin: Sosu. Can I help you?
Lemuse's poster has, under that, the text: "Tell him or her to go straight to the Tecton Relocation Office to claim their meal vouchers, cash prize and free train ticket back home."
Lemuse smiles at them both, her face and nager friendly and harmless.
Lemuse: Hi!
Lemuse: You don't mind if I put this poster up, do you?
Lemuse indicates an area where a number of other, union-oriented, papers and pamphlets are already pinned up.
Starlin finds Lemuse charming.
Starlin barely glances at the poster.
Starlin: Of course not. Welcome to the SWAT union hall.
Lemuse grins, pleased by his cooperation. Her nager sparkles delightfully.
Lemuse: Sorry for interrupting.
Starlin is totally undone by the sparkles.
Starlin: Let me hang that for you.
Lemuse: Oh... thank you!
Starlin: I'll put it up high, where everyone will see it.
Lemuse smiles and offers it to him.
Starlin takes this opportunity to come within touching distance of this lovely Gen.
Sgt. Edka isn't immune to Lemuse's charm, himself.
Sgt. Edka is, however, unable to zlin, and so misses the best part of the view.
Starlin gently takes the poster from her hands.
Lemuse notices Starlin is a bit overwhelmed, and checks her nager to make sure she is not overpowering him. Nope; shouldn't be.
Lemuse is flattered that her own natural self could be that interesting to him. What a nice guy.
Starlin positions the poster on the board.
Starlin: How about here? Does this look about right?
Lemuse: Perfect. [assures him]
Starlin basks in Lemuse's approval. So much more pleasant than the other Gen's stiff and forbidding soldier's nager.
Starlin tacks the poster into place.
Lemuse: Thank you so much.
Starlin: A pleasure, Sosu.
Ferr wanders into the SWAT hall, having nothing better to do with his time.
Starlin stands, zlinning Lemuse and smiling dazedly.
Ferr is definitely ~~ disgruntled ~~ at being one of the SWAT members who has still not been hired on.
Lemuse smiles at Starlin one last time, and smiles at Edka and Ferr too, for good measure.
Lemuse then departs, her task complete.
Starlin watches her nager retreat with regret.
Starlin stares at the poster he has hung and reads it for the first time.
Starlin: Oh!
Ferr zlins that even this last bastion of renSime superiority has been invaded by Gens.
Ferr follows Starlin's gaze, and reads the poster with growing ~~ outrage ~~
Ferr: You traitor! Is this how you repay the membership's loyalty, and Fragga's trust???
Starlin: Wha-- ?
Ferr stalks Starlin, tentacles lashing in uncontained fury.
Starlin's daze is shattered by Ferr's intrusion.
Sgt. Edka 's hand gropes automatically for his rifle, then he remembers that he wasn't allowed to bring it along on this diplomatic mission.
Ferr: You've decided to run off honest SWAT members who don't have the jobs you promised us, just so you can improve your image?
Ferr: How much did they pay you to betray us, you lorsh??
Starlin: Oh, Ferr, you're delusional.
Starlin: Get yourself under control, man.
Starlin: This is all part of the grand plan.
Ferr: Delusional, am I? I'll show you delusional!
Starlin zlins that Ferr may even go so far as to attack him.
Ferr: What grand plan? The plan to run off "excess" SWAT members along with the riffraff, for your own advancement?
Starlin: [coldly] We're not alone.
Ferr zlins Edka, and then Starlin, insolently.
Ferr: So I noticed.
Ferr: What were you doing? Offering him more SWAT jobs?
Ferr: Or are you planning to offer the Gen a full SWAT membership, for him and his friends?
Starlin: We were discussing how to prevent injuries.
Starlin: Perhaps you might have a suggestion to contribute for the welfare of your fellow workers?
Ferr: Yeah. Send the Gens back where they belong and let us get the job done, like we were supposed to.
Starlin nods.
Starlin: An excellent plan, Ferr.
Sgt. Edka relaxes just a hair, as it appears that the new Sime isn't going to dismember Starlin after all.
Starlin: And we could do that if we sent the Simes back home... the Simes who are not members here, who are riffraff as you say, and are consuming all the selyn we need.
Starlin: And as you see, the Tecton is helping us accomplish that....
Ferr: Hunh.
Starlin: Offering money and transportation to get rid of the riffraff.
Starlin: Not SWAT members.
Ferr has a Sime's ingrained respect for his selyn source, but can't help thinking that most of the channels he's known are on the wimpy side.
Starlin: Read the sign.
Ferr does so.
Ferr: Ain't nothin' there about restricting the offer to non-SWAT members.
Starlin: We'll take care of our own. The unemployed won't be able to pay their taxes, but our members will.
Starlin: And they'll have to leave, but you won't.
Ferr: And come to think of it, the only unemployed people who are likely to see that poster are SWAT members.
Ferr: Nice try, Starlin.
Ferr resumes his glaring.
Starlin: We have people coming in here, wanting to join, who aren't suitable.
Starlin: You know that.
Starlin: Now we can give them some options.
Starlin is not going to admit it, but Ferr scored a few points with that last sally.
Starlin really should have read the poster before putting it up.
Sgt. Edka thinks that a few months of military discipline would do this Ferr a world of good.
Sgt. Edka is firm believer in military discipline.
Ferr: Options! When am I going to have the option to get a paycheck?
Starlin: As soon as this project gets back on schedule... which will happen as soon as the selyn shortage is over.
Starlin: ~~honesty~~
Ferr zlins Sergeant Edka in a speculative fashion.
Ferr: Well, I suppose your... guest... is good for that much, at least.
Starlin: I have nothing to gain by shorting you.
Starlin: Members with seniority will get first crack at the opportunities that arise.
Starlin: I'm doing everything I can to make that happen as soon as possible.
Sgt. Edka shifts from foot to foot, just a tad uneasy at being zlinned so openly by a Sime who is apparently subject to crazed outbursts.
Starlin zlins Sgt. Edka anxiously to see if he understood Ferr's gibe and if he took offense at it.
Ferr: And for those of us who aren't "senior" enough to make the cut, but still have to pay our taxes?
Ferr: What will we get for our dues, and our loyalty?
Starlin waves around at all the piles of papers.
Starlin: We're setting up the credit union.
Starlin: No one here is going to go without.
Ferr has his suspicions that those with jobs will be "not going without" a great deal more than those who are living completely on the union's subsidy.
Ferr: I never liked living on charity.
Starlin: Once the wannabes are gone, there will be work for the ones who remain.
Ferr: Well then, when do we run 'em out?
Ferr's nager lights up at the thought of action at last.
Starlin: As a matter of fact, there is some work in that line you could do for the organization.
Ferr gives a feral grin.
Starlin: Perhaps we could discuss the details when my guest has left.
Starlin turns to Sgt Edka.
Starlin: This incentive program will be a tremendous help to us.
Starlin: We want to cooperate in every way, and get the word out.
Sgt. Edka: I'm sure it will, but it doesn't solve the problem of unnecessary injuries.
Starlin: I am sorry for the interruptions; you were going to tell me your proposal.
Starlin gives Ferr a tentacle gesture signaling "later!"
Sgt. Edka: I've been watching closely this past week, and it appears that your crews are running into our clearly marked danger zones whenever my people are rappelling downwards, especially if it's done at speed.
Sgt. Edka enjoys the elevator feeling of fast drops himself, but finds that having a bunch of people running underneath to catch any falling rocks is a distraction.
Starlin: We cannot take the risk your people will fall. We are fast enough to catch them, if an accident should occur.
Sgt. Edka: Mr. Starlin, I appreciate your concern, but my people are skilled professionals. We wear up-to-date safety harnesses and check our equipment daily.
Sgt. Edka: Our risk is minimal.
Starlin: No Gen should be permitted to do such work under any circumstances. You are too valuable to risk.
Starlin: Simes are much better suited to such aerial maneuvers.
Sgt. Edka was warned about Sime attitudes before he came, although he'd had a great deal of trouble believing what the diplomatic types told him.
Sgt. Edka: That's as may be, but it's your people who are getting hurt, when they respond to every downwards maneuver as an emergency.
Starlin: The original proposal was to train our Simes to do the work nature clearly intended for our larity to handle. I don't understand why you're not doing that. Quite frankly, neither do my members.
Sgt. Edka: The job must be done now, not after your people have had six years of intensive training.
Starlin: I assure you, what might take six years for a Gen to learn could be mastered by a Sime in a fraction of the time.
Starlin: Consider how much time you waste simply eating and sleeping....
Sgt. Edka grits his teeth, heartily sick of Starlin's assumption of Sime superiority.
Starlin backs up a little from the ominous crackle in the Gen's nager.
Sgt. Edka: If any of your people think they can master my specialty quickly enough to do some good here, they are welcome to enlist in the New Washington Territory Army and try.
Starlin: [stiffly] I was not aware the New Washington Territory Army was taking Sime recruits.
Sgt. Edka: In the meantime, my people and I will carry out our orders to clear that canyon.
Sgt. Edka: And that requires that you and I find some way to keep your workers from getting underfoot in their efforts to "rescue" people who aren't in danger.
Starlin: By the same token, you cannot send an out-Territory military contingent in-Territory to take over in-Territory jobs. Gens who don't even have to support themselves are taking jobs from Simes who can't afford to pay their selyn taxes. That's not a situation our people will endure for very long.
Starlin: You are not in your own Territory, N'vet Edka.
Sgt. Edka's lips are thinning with frustration, and his nager is losing what politeness he can manage.
Sgt. Edka: Mr. Starlin, I have no interest in your labor dispute, or your personal ambitions. I am a soldier in the New Washington Army, and I go where I am ordered to do the tasks that my superiors deem appropriate.
Sgt. Edka: At the moment, my orders are to smooth out the walls of that canyon.
Starlin: Well, I will speak to my people about keeping back from the danger zones.
Starlin: I would suggest you get your people to move more slowly, and to clearly signal their intentions with their nagers before descents.
Starlin: That would keep the nearby Simes from being surprised.
Sgt. Edka: Slowing down can at times be more dangerous than moving quickly. I will not sacrifice the safety of my squad.
Sgt. Edka: However, this signaling business might work.
Sgt. Edka has, of course, no idea how one signals with one's nager.
Starlin: Perhaps you could get that translator, Cris, to teach your people.
Starlin: It would be a matter of pausing before each drop and clearly projecting both the intention to jump and the confidence that the situation was under control.
Sgt. Edka: That sounds rather complicated.
Sgt. Edka: Maybe it would be simpler to just have them yell "Drop!"?
Starlin: No, a lot of Simes don't pay much attention to sounds; nagers are so much more convincing.
Sgt. Edka rubs his chin again, a reflex from his early days in the Army when his greatest fear was that the drill sergeant would catch him with the dreaded five o'clock shadow.
Starlin: Or perhaps your Gens could work with Sime partners.
Sgt. Edka: Put amateurs up there on the cliff? When there's blasts being set?
Starlin: Even if the Simes didn't do much, the ones on the grounds would feel calmer if they knew another Sime was taking responsibility for that Gen's safety.
Jeriarty staggers into the room, covered with blood.
Jeriarty: It's a disaster! A calamity! [stops when he zlins Sgt. Edka]
Starlin leaps to his feet.
Starlin: What happened?
Jeriarty: They popped off like peas out of a pod!
Jeriarty: ~dismay and horror~
Starlin: What? Who?
Jeriarty: One, two three!
Jeriarty: Pop pop pop!
Jeriarty: Thud... thud... thud!
Jeriarty grimaces.
Jeriarty: Sorry. [to Sgt. Edka]
Sgt. Edka reaches out to shake some sense into Jeriarty.
Jeriarty: Hey! Hands off! [backs away]
Sgt. Edka: Calm down, man. You're making about as much sense as my captain.
Starlin dashes to grab the med kit out of a closet in the corner.
Jeriarty does calm down a bit though.
Jeriarty has a head wound that is a lot bloodier than it is dangerous.
Jeriarty: Three g... er.. guys, all on the same rope.
Starlin goes pale.
Jeriarty: I was taking some readings, for the survey, you know.
Jeriarty: I zlinned everything. It was terrible.
Sgt. Edka blanches.
Starlin: Are the Gens alive?
Jeriarty waves his hands and tentacles.
Jeriarty: I have no idea.
Jeriarty: Somebody told me to find you and I came running.
Jeriarty: They're looking for you too. [to Sgt. Edka] They didn't know you were here.
Starlin: Has someone called the channels?
Jeriarty: They must have.
Jeriarty: It's taken me ten fifteen minutes to get here.
Starlin: Did anyone... lose control?
Jeriarty: You mean, besides bladder control?
Jeriarty is gradually recovering from his scare.
Jeriarty: I don't know, I don't think so, but it doesn't have to happen right after.
Jeriarty says what all renSimes know.
Jeriarty: Sayward sent everybody home for the afternoon though.
Starlin has to know right away if this is just another terrible accident, or if one of his members has been juncted.
Jeriarty: Maybe there ought to be a meeting, to, you know, explain.
Jeriarty looks kind of sheepish at making such a suggestion to his Illustrious Leader.
Sgt. Edka is already heading for the door, only his years of military discipline preventing him from running.
Jeriarty: Anyway, they did say get you as fast as possible....
Starlin loudly signals the emergency to the whole building.
Jeriarty winces as he is standing right next to Starlin.
Starlin: Yes, we've got to get people down to the site right away.
Starlin: Find out what happened, clean up the mess.
Jeriarty nods anxiously.
Starlin: Jeriarty, I got to head down there right away.
Starlin: You stay here, get that head fixed up, and have someone call the meeting, okay?
Jeriarty: You bet.
Starlin gathers a crew of assistants from the renSimes who are now pouring into the room in response to the alarm.
Starlin heads for the blast site.
McSeruf guides a staggering Klyzer up to the door of what passes for an infirmary in the shanty-town "Sime Center" in the middle of the construction camp.
McSeruf 's hands are fully occupied with Klyzer, making door-opening difficult.
McSeruf: Please, open up!
McSeruf 's voice is hoarse, and his throat is raw.
Bleppo is a renSime just leaving the infirmary.
Bleppo happens to come out just then, so he holds the door open for McSeruf and Klyzer.
McSeruf looks at Bleppo with reddened, streaming eyes.
McSeruf: Thank you.
Bleppo: Uh... yeah.
Bleppo waits until they are through, then hurries away to wash up in case they gave him any germs.
Bleppo wouldn't want to catch whatever they have.
Bleppo thinks they looked pretty miserable.
Klyzer stumbles in a haze of pain and terror.
Klyzer's eyes are blinded by caustic fumes, and his face is peeling several epidermal layers.
McSeruf looks around for a channel.
McSeruf: Hallo, there! Is anyone on duty?
Klyzer's arms blaze with the chemicals he has doused on himself.
Klyzer's stomach churns and head aches with the distortions caused by the disinfectant that got up his lateral sheathes.
Wise Snake wonders why nobody seems to be able to follow the large sign reading "EMERGENCY ROOM THIS WAY" she has had posted over the appropriate door.
Wise Snake: I'm coming, I'm coming.
Wise Snake mutters
Klyzer clings with all his strength to consciousness and the steadying beacon of McSeruf's nager; he does not want to add psycho-spatial distortion to his catalog of miseries.
Wise Snake finishes washing her hands (something she hates doing, but hates even more being told to do it by numerous well-wishers) and comes out of the doorway herself.
McSeruf makes only a token effort to control his ~~ profound relief ~~
Wise Snake is a short, crazy-haired channel of 3 years (17 natal) and a pronounced Farris tendency.
Klyzer, unfortunately, has a difficult time fixing on his Donor's nager; at times there seem to be two or three of him.
Wise Snake is none too clean, except for her hands.
Wise Snake looks as if she went through a food fight--hosted by cannibals.
Wise Snake: All right, what in the world?
McSeruf: Hajene, thank goodness.
Klyzer moans in terror.
Wise Snake zlins them in disbelief.
Wise Snake has seen chemical factory disasters before, at Bender Cove, but didn't think such a place existed here.
Wise Snake: Don't tell me... the new latrine? Already???
McSeruf is in much better condition than Klyzer, but that's not saying all that much.
Wise Snake reaches out, grasps each one in a hand, and hustles them into the emergency room.
McSeruf: Shhh! Don't mention latrines or other dirty things around him!
Klyzer's agony is not wholly physical; this is the first time in almost a year that he has left the confines of his office in Palisades.
Wise Snake's emergency room is already stuffed with moaning, blood-spattered and/or bruised and broken renSimes of various types.
Wise Snake: Gotcha.
McSeruf: He thinks they attract bugs.
Wise Snake: Bugs hey?
McSeruf: And a bug was what started all of this.
Klyzer can't see and he can't zlin, which means he is helpless to control the asymmetrical and disorderly and unclean horrors that may surround him on every side.
Wise Snake: Why don't you sit down here, and you... [physically detaching McSeruf from Klyzer] here.
McSeruf sinks down on the indicated seat.
Wise Snake thinks Klyzer is much more interesting than McSeruf, although they both have their curious bits.
Wise Snake: Don't shift around too much, that's TNT.
McSeruf: What??
Wise Snake hopes somebody will show up to retrieve it soon; two men were carrying it when they were injured, and barely staggered here with the box before collapsing.
McSeruf stands quickly.
Wise Snake turns to Klyzer, zlinning him carefully.
Wise Snake probes him nagerically, trying to bring him around to something like paying attention.
McSeruf doesn't like explosives at the best of times, which this is not.
Wise Snake: So are you going to tell me what actually happened? [to McSeruf] Or is it another game of "what did they do to themselves now"?
Klyzer: ~~unspeakable horror~~
Wise Snake rummages in a nearby box of ointments and salves.
McSeruf: I'm sorry, Hajene. I'm Sosu McSeruf, and he's Hajene Klyzer. We're assigned to Palisades.
Klyzer: ~~disoriented and confused~~
Wise Snake grunts as she is not able to find what she is looking for.
McSeruf: Hajene Klyzer spotted a bug in the Dispensary bathroom last week, and he's been fumigating ever since.
Wise Snake: Must have been one heck of a bug.
Klyzer: ~~lost in nightmare visions of a maniacally mocking cockroach~~
McSeruf: It doesn't seem to have daunted the bug any--or it brought a lot of its cousins along.
McSeruf: However, we seem to be a bit less durable.
Klyzer: Ah, no!
Klyzer: Please, let me alone!
Wise Snake: Hey, I'm only trying to help, buddy.
Wise Snake: You did rinse yourselves off thoroughly with clean water before coming here?
Wise Snake zlins to ascertain whether the physical damage is still occurring, or has been arrested.
Wise Snake more to the point would like to know whether any of the stuff is going to get on her if she touches Klyzer.
McSeruf: I dragged him under the emergency shower.
Klyzer has indeed been doused by McSeruf, but all the chemicals are not gone by any means.
Klyzer could probably use another rinse cycle.
McSeruf got more than a little soaked himself, which makes him blend in nicely on the construction site.
Klyzer: I tried to keep it clean. I tried!
Klyzer: Until that... that thing came!
Wise Snake: Ummh... sure thing buddy.
McSeruf is heartily sick of Klyzer's obsession with cleanliness, and hopes for a new assignment very soon.
Wise Snake finishes her no-contact examination of Klyzer and gives McSeruf a brief zlin.
Klyzer: That polluted, evil, laughing, filthy insect!
Wise Snake nods to herself.
McSeruf notes Snake's attention on him and smiles weakly.
Wise Snake: O-Kay. Sounds like we've got a bit of work to do.
Wise Snake: Let's all go take a shower first.
McSeruf: I've got a sore throat and a rash from the fumes, but it's Klyzer who was wallowing in the disinfectants.
Wise Snake: Come over here and support him, that is if you're capable.
McSeruf: I'll manage.
McSeruf dragged Klyzer this far; he supposes he can go a bit further.
Wise Snake is itching to get her tentacles on Klyzer - but not so badly that she wants to have a violent allergic reaction herself!
McSeruf drapes one of Klyzer's arms over his shoulder.
Klyzer: He said he would defile my home.
Klyzer: Eat my food....
McSeruf has never known a Sime to take such keen interest in the condition of food.
Klyzer: Walk on my fine white towels....
Wise Snake tsks and walks around to Klyzer's other side, the better to get at him nagerically.
McSeruf: Come on, Hajene Klyzer, he can't get you here.
Klyzer: How do you know?
Klyzer: I can't see! I can't zlin!
McSeruf: He's there, not here.
Klyzer: He could be anywhere!
McSeruf: Trust me.
McSeruf: Now, we've got to get some of these disinfectants washed off before Hajene....
Klyzer doesn't trust anybody where neatness is concerned.
McSeruf: ...I didn't catch your name? [to Snake]
Klyzer: ~~frantic need for order and control~~
Wise Snake: Farris. Wise Snake Farris. [absently, as she considers Klyzer's condition and the best way to handle it]
Klyzer knows the disinfectants are hurting him, but he is reluctant to wash them off; they keep him safe and pain is endurable.
Klyzer knows that the sensation of a cockroach in his navel is not endurable; if that were to happen again, he doubts he would ever regain his sanity.
McSeruf is a Tecton Donor, and therefore has an ingrained ~~ awed respect ~~ for Farrises, even when they are only 3 years past changeover, badly groomed, and haven't bathed in far too long.
Wise Snake leads them to the "shower room". It is an elaborate affair involving a wood-fired water tank on the roof, and various jury rigged spigots from miscellaneous sources.
Klyzer dimly zlins the presence of other channels and the bustle of the infirmary through the haze of his abused laterals.
Wise Snake: OK, in you go.
Wise Snake: Just leave those clothes on the floor, I'll get you more.
McSeruf turns on the water and jumps under the stream, dragging Klyzer with him.
Wise Snake is impressed that McSeruf was able to figure out the system immediately.
Wise Snake closes the door and waits. There aren't actually any spare clothes, but if she said that they might not give theirs up.
Klyzer feels himself propelled forward and feels the comfort of water pelting around him.
Klyzer opens himself up to further cleansing with deep relief.
Wise Snake leans against the wall in the hallway, whistling as she looks forward to tinkering with Klyzer's body and psyche.
McSeruf efficiently removes his clothing, and then starts on Klyzer's.
Wise Snake hails a passing orderly [formerly unemployed renSime] and lets her know that a bed will be required.
Klyzer grits his teeth against a shriek as the cloth moves over his exfoliated skin.
McSeruf winces at the collection of rashes, boils, chemical burns, scalds, and other miscellaneous damage that covers Klyzer's bod.
McSeruf can't help feeling that a Donor ought to have been able to prevent his channel from getting into such a mess.
McSeruf has, however, spent the last month looking for a way to wean Klyzer from his obsessions, with no luck whatsoever.
Klyzer leans wearily into his Donor's nager to blunt the physical pain.
Klyzer must be ever vigilant, however; he pokes one tentacle into his navel, to block entry if the evil insect should happen to be stalking him even here.
McSeruf carefully rinses them both, then yells as the warm water gives out rather suddenly.
Klyzer turns his blind eyes up to the shower as ice-cold, bracing mountain water drenches him at full force.
McSeruf decides that they are rinsed enough, and retreats ignominiously.
Klyzer can feel the water flail the filth from his body, and begins to relax a bit; no bug could stand this!
McSeruf shivers, as he reaches through the stream to turn the water off.
McSeruf discovers that it is a bit more difficult to turn off than on, but manages after several false starts.
Klyzer, reassured that he must be clean again, feels the terror ebb away and begins to take stock of his surroundings.
Klyzer realizes that he is in terrible pain and distances himself from the sensation as best he can.
McSeruf guides Klyzer towards the door.
McSeruf: Come, Hajene Farris is waiting for us.
Klyzer, heart sinking, comprehends that once again he has done something that has brought the baleful gaze of Authority to rest on what he is up to. No one can possibly understand. He wonders what further punishment the Tecton can devise than exile at the back of beyond, in Palisades.
Wise Snake is waiting for them, holding two sheets brought to her by the orderly.
Wise Snake: OK, bundle up.
Wise Snake smiles a snakish smile, mostly to herself.
McSeruf reaches gratefully for the sheets, but dutifully wraps one around Klyzer before seeing to himself.
Klyzer allows himself to be wrapped. He is relieved that there are two sheets.
Wise Snake: There's a bed waiting in the "East Ward", and I'll do you there too. [meaning McSeruf].
Wise Snake: Come on.
Wise Snake leads them 20 feet to the "East Ward", which is basically a big, shack-roofed room tacked onto the side of the main building. It is filled with narrow little rough-made beds with reasonably clean sheets and patients wrapped up on them.
McSeruf guides his charge after Snake.
Klyzer follows along meekly.
Wise Snake picks her way through to an empty, freshly made-up bed in the middle of the herd of cots.
Wise Snake isn't sure if the Snake River Dam project reminds her more of the fish-gutting houses or more of the TBT concerts.
Wise Snake thinks it has elements of each.
McSeruf doesn't object to primitive quarters, as long as they don't stink of ammonia, bleach, and other cleansers.
Wise Snake helps McSeruf get Klyzer settled on the bed, since he's safe to touch now. Entran hasn't been as much of a problem, but she does love to work.
Wise Snake is eager to handle the patient.
Klyzer is troubled to zlin that there are a number of people here. He prefers privacy, and it's particularly disturbing that he can't make them out clearly.
Klyzer is aware of the presence of a dark and very dominant channel. This must be the Farris.
Klyzer: [mutters] I'm sorry.
Wise Snake sits down on the side of Klyzer's cot (what there is of one) and zlins him more thoroughly.
Klyzer: Don't mean to be any trouble.
Wise Snake: Hmmm... [reaching for Klyzer's hands]
Wise Snake's field neatly blocks out pretty much everything except for McSeruf.
Wise Snake would just as soon let him help, at least until he is too tired to control.
Klyzer's current injuries are stacked on layers of older ones. From the condition of his skin, he has been abrading himself for years.
McSeruf arranges his nager to support Snake's effort, or at least not to interfere with it too much.
Wise Snake: Are you back with us, Klyzer? [again, somewhat absently, as she is zlinning deeply]
Klyzer: I am at your service, Hajene.
Klyzer: I am sorry to be a bother.
Wise Snake: Oh, no bother.
Wise Snake thinks a bother would have been to go all the way to Palisades to fetch his corpse and fill out all the paperwork on it.
Klyzer is relieved that this channel therapist seems rather detached and isn't pleading with him or shouting at him or threatening him.
Wise Snake: I'm going to make a full lateral contact. It might be a little uncomfortable, but I'll stop if it's too bad.
Wise Snake of course reserves the right to define "too bad".
Klyzer tenses up at the prospect of this intrusion, but doesn't protest.
Wise Snake entwines tentacles with him and bends down to make a 5th contact.
Klyzer stays passive as she zlins him.
Wise Snake zlins him completely, losing herself temporarily in the many whirling and pulsing bits that make up a human being. Time stops for her, for a while.
Klyzer's tentacles flare with razor-like pain at the slightest touch.
Wise Snake really finds his mind more interesting than his body, though.
Klyzer knows a channel as worthless as he is has no rights whatsoever.
Wise Snake reluctantly lets him go, promising herself that she will order Arat to assign Klyzer to her for rehab.
Wise Snake: All right, I'm going to assign Umma and Latimer to work on you, they should have no trouble with you and they haven't worked today. You'll probably be in bed for a day or so until self-healing is properly established.
Klyzer: Yes, Hajene.
Wise Snake: I'll take you, [to McSeruf] over to the walk-in healing center.
Klyzer would really rather be back in his familiar little office in Palisades, where he could just hole up and heal quietly.
Klyzer remembers, however, that his sanctuary has been defiled by the monstrous Black Bug, and will never be safe again.
McSeruf nods shortly in agreement.
McSeruf is not terribly disappointed to be separated from Klyzer for a while.
Wise Snake decides that Klyzer shall return to his Center in Palisades, where Snake will be able to visit him discreetly for delightfully cutting-edge and experimental rehab sessions nobody else will ever find out about.
Wise Snake can't wait.
Go on to Episode #31: The Tecton will Provide
Return to the Index of Episodes