[Nexus] Remnant III

[happyturtle]

Infirmary - Vas

Jake runs his thumb over her hand. "It feels like there's someone in the world that matters more than anyone else, like gravity has shifted to make your soul orbit around theirs. You think about them every moment, and the only thing you want more than for your love to be returned, is for the object of your love to be happy and safe." He brings her hand to his lips and kisses her fingertips, holding her gaze. "It's the most wonderful feeling in the world."

[UncleWolf]

Infirmary - Vas

Vasquez listens to his description for a moment before searching within herself for that feeling. She's silent for several long moments before pulling her hand away and looking down at herself, sniffing. "I'm sorry. More than anything I wish I could say I did. But I don't. Not as how you described it."

[happyturtle]

Infirmary - Vas

Jake tries to hide his disappointment, and just pulls her close, aching inside. If he had to lose her... He couldn't see anything but emptiness down that line of thought.

If Gus had to lose her... there would be blood.

After a long pause, he asks, "What do you feel, Vas?"

[UncleWolf]

Infirmary - Vas

"...broken." She admits as she begins to let go, crying softly and feeling so horrible about not being able to feel what the two wanted her to.

[happyturtle]

Infirmary - Vas

Jake holds her as she cries, planting soft kisses on her head. "What do you want me to do?"

[UncleWolf]

Infirmary - Vas

"Just be here for me. Please. I...I need someone." She admits, grabbing his shirt to hold onto him as she rests her head on his chest. "I'm so sorry..."

[happyturtle]

Infirmary - Vas

"My beautiful Vasquez," Jake murmurs, and pulls her into a gentle kiss. "Don't you realize? We're yours. As long as you'll have us. Never apologize for asking that of us."

[Lost_Deep]

Clinic Room 12

"Just a small healing potion. Nothing particularly special." He tells Terral. "Quicker and easier than technological means, but many people have bad reactions and magic can't heal certain wounds."

"Magic?"

Huh.

"In any case, I would like to check on commander Goodfellow now. It's the polite thing to do."

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

"Not good enough. The murderer was a man, not a woman," So, either lying or doesn't have the full story...

Caet nods to the guards, confirming that they should detain him, but he doesn't help. He'll be no help to a creature like this that is mostly unaffected by magic.

[Front Gate]

He repeats in a tone filled with equal parts authority and annoyance, "Read the documents. Then we will talk. You will want my help. As for this..." The man's attention flits to the guards, giving them a view of his chillingly dark eyes. "...I will come...quietly... after I've spoken with someone in charge."

Perhaps more importantly, however, he makes no moves to flee or fight just yet.

You will be escorted to a cell, at which point the truthfulness of your claims and charges against you will be discussed, the guard states calmly, not intimidated in the least.

[LadyOfWar]

[Main Gate]

"As Caet? here said, 'Not good enough.'" It is always annoying when people quote your own words back at you.

"I am the Reclaimer of the Celestial Council, in your terms... a detective or government agent. It is my duty to find the traitor and bring her to justice, first here for her crimes against your people and then before the Council for her crimes against my species. I cannot do that from your cell. If the traitor has a male accomplice of our species, they are many times more dangerous together. I am unfamiliar with your legal processes and we, you and I both, cannot afford to spend days or weeks waiting for a decision. In that time the trail will run cold and the traitor will escape for another century, doing damage here and beyond."

"I have come here peacefully and complied with all of your demands. I ask only that you verify my identity and allow me to speak with someone in charge. That is a small request. After that, if you still believe me guilty, I will comply."

[Morty]

[Main Gate]

As a murder suspect, you're in no position to ask anything of us, the female guard says. But given the situation, we will see about letting you speak to someone in charge, provided you cooperate. The male guard steps forward with a pair of handcuffs.

[Halae]

[Main Gate]

Caet is glad that most of equipment here on base is technological rather than magical. This Vampire could prove a serious security risk, if it wasn't.

However, the fact that there's a creature that magic simply washes off of disturbs Caet. He knows there's nothing to be done about it, but he dislikes it nonetheless. If the Reclaimer is taken inside, caet will follow along, not sure how well he'd be able to help, but willing to try anywyas if a problem arises. the fact that he isn't sure irks him to no end, and the other soldiers will be able to see that.

[The Bushranger]

[Main Gate]

"Is there a problem here?"

This voice comes from a Nordic blonde who approaches, her bearing almost regal and her eyes a piercing, icy blue, wearing the standard Remnant outfit with a small silver cylinder clipped to one side of her belt, and an oversized pistol to the other.

A very close look might indicate that the woman is also suffering from a mild hangover...

[UncleWolf]

Infirmary - Vas

"My beautiful Vasquez," Jake murmurs, and pulls her into a gentle kiss. "Don't you realize? We're yours. As long as you'll have us. Never apologize for asking that of us."

"Magic?"

Huh.

"In any case, I would like to check on commander Goodfellow now. It's the polite thing to do."

Infirmary - Vas

What Jake says just makes her burst into tears even more, making her feel horribly guilty about everything. Between her sobs, she continues trying to apologize, but it's probably impossible to understand what she's trying to say.

Clinic Room 12

"Carl's fine." Bugs tells him. "We flushed the venom from his system with a quick filtration. Should be out and about by now. I knew about the sparring match in advance so set up everything I needed ahead of time."

[happyturtle]

Infirmary - Vas

Jake carries Vasquez back to bed and holds her close, murmuring inaudible words of comfort. She said she was broken. Now all he wants to do is repair her, protect her, love her.

He'll hold her all day, if that's what she needs.

[Lost_Deep]

Clinic Room 12

"Ah, he had that planned. Well, let me know when I can see him."

Truthfully, he's not too sure what he would say... it's just considered polite to do that in this kind of situation. Where he comes from, anyway. Well, no point stressing over it; he's here to say hi and he's not going to back down.

[happyturtle]

Clinic Room 12 >> Carl's Room

"I'll take you to him," Charity says. She gives Bugs a sad, affectionate smile, and leads Terral to Carl's room.

"Hey, Daddy, you awake?" Charity calls, when they get to Carl's room.

Later - Surgery Bay 3

There's a flash of light as Missy, Bugs, and wounded from the Tenement Fire in the Inside thread are ported in.

Missy sees her new surroundings, panics, and immediately sends an electronic message to Bugs's comm. "No, not yet! I'm not ready yet! Please, give me a few days!"

[UncleWolf]

Clinic Room 12

Carl is already awake and finishing pulling on his uniform. "Awake and unharmed." He tells Charity with just a hint of annoyance when he sees that Terral is there. He wasn't supposed to have found out about Carl succumbing to the toxin, let alone be lead here by his Sister-In-Law. It dismissed part of the illusion of power he was supposed to have over those within his Chain-of-Command.

Later - Surgery Bay 3

"Halifax, you have until these other patients are finished, or until your heart tears itself into several little pieces before I discuss this with you. So calm the **** down before you hemorrhage." Bugs warns her with a growl before going to work on his other patients.

[happyturtle]

Clinic Room 12

Too bad Charity knows bugger-all about the whole training process. She catches Carl's annoyance, and figures it was from her referring to his impending fatherhood in front of a stranger. "Good to see it, Commander," she says, hoping that corrects the problem. "I'd better get back to the desk." And she'll head out, unless stopped.

Later - Surgery Bay 3

"Sorry." Halifax responds, feeling guilty, and scared, and confused.

And most of all, alone.

[Lost_Deep]

Clinic Room 12

Welp, what can you do? Carl is just going to have to earn Terral's proper respect with time and experience.

"You, sir, are a man among manly men."

...uh...

"That didn't come out quite right. In any case, that is the first time, in my entire life, that some successfully walked away and... I presume you sat or laid down before you passed out? Usually Keroren venom leads to screaming, tears, and other unflattering displays. But you... sir, I am impressed."

[UncleWolf]

Clinic Room 12

Carl doesn't look too impressed by Terral's response, but pauses for a moment before finishing with his uniform by attaching the cape at the shoulders. "Try being burned with branding irons over 80% of your body, over the course of several hours after having your hands cut off. It puts pain in perspective." He tells the new Wraith. "That, or spend a year in Hel's forge." He mutters before an idea comes to him. Looking up, he looks Terral over once more. It doesn't look like what he has in mind is going to be good...

"We can train you to become resistant to all sorts of pain and interrogative techniques if you wish. Purely voluntary and you can back out at any time."

Surgery Bay 3

Bugs mutters to himself as he takes a moment to dose Missy with a sedative before going to work on the other patients as best as he can. Taul and Arla can be seen rushing into the room to cast their healing magicks, but it's likely they're still going to lose at least a few patients. Not everyone is receptive to magical healing after all.

[Lost_Deep]

Clinic Room 12

Wow...

"I have had a little bit of anti-torture training. It was a part of officer training. But I have heard several times that when the chips are down anti-torture training is only so effective."

He also spent some time in an infirmary that was almost as bad as a torture room, but that doesn't need to be said.

[LadyOfWar]

[Main Gate]

Summary:

Spoiler

Show

[Main Gate]

"Is there a problem here?"

This voice comes from a Nordic blonde who approaches, her bearing almost regal and her eyes a piercing, icy blue, wearing the standard Remnant outfit with a small silver cylinder clipped to one side of her belt, and an oversized pistol to the other.

A very close look might indicate that the woman is also suffering from a mild hangover...

[Main Gate]

Caet is glad that most of equipment here on base is technological rather than magical. This Vampire could prove a serious security risk, if it wasn't.

However, the fact that there's a creature that magic simply washes off of disturbs Caet. He knows there's nothing to be done about it, but he dislikes it nonetheless. If the Reclaimer is taken inside, caet will follow along, not sure how well he'd be able to help, but willing to try anywyas if a problem arises. the fact that he isn't sure irks him to no end, and the other soldiers will be able to see that.

[Main Gate]

As a murder suspect, you're in no position to ask anything of us, the female guard says. But given the situation, we will see about letting you speak to someone in charge, provided you cooperate. The male guard steps forward with a pair of handcuffs.

By her stance this woman has some degree of authority, that draws the man's attention. His oil-slick like eyes fix on her. Their slowly oozing semi-metalic shades of black are disturbing. "I must speak to someone in charge. There is a traitor and murderer loose in your city, it is my duty to bring her to justice first for her crimes here against your people, then for her crimes against her own species. If I am detained by this man's... confusion... I may not find her again." He flicks his gaze to Caet, and turns his head slightly to indicate that he is talking about the diviner since he cannot motion with his hands still on his head in surrender.

"Read the documents." now he looks toward the protective leather document fold lying at his feet near his vast assortment of weapons. "They will verify my identity."

Still he makes no openly hostile or resistant moves toward the male guard approaching with the handcuffs... but the guard has not actually tried to physically restrain him just yet, the guard has merely approached carrying the restraints.

[The Bushranger]

[Main Gate]

"Eileen Thorsson," the blonde woman introduces herself, her icy-blue eyes narrowing at the man. "I'm authority enough for now. Your name, please, sir...and you should know that, if this woman you speak of has committed crimes under Remnant law, in territories under Remnant jurisdiction, then Remnant jurisprudence will deal with her. We will bring her to justice if necessary - not you."

Eileen is rather emphatic on this point; also, if the man can sense divine and/or magic auras, he'll be able to tell she has a rather strong one.

[Morty]

[Main Gate]

The guards both salute Eileen. We've got a... situation here, ma'am, the female guard explains. Specialist Nor has identified him as a murder suspects, but he claims the crime was done by another of his species, a traitor. Now that two specialists are here, the guards don't really have to do any thinking.

[Halae]

[Main Gate]

"Some questions will be necessary, of course. Perhaps some truth testing." Caet says, "Conventional magic won't work on a creature such as this, so we will have to use technological and mundane means."

[LadyOfWar]

[Front Gate]

"I am called by my title: Reclaimer. Reclaimer of Wings for the Celestial Council." he replies to the request for his name.

Then, to the bit about Remnant handling the killer, "We handle our own. Mortals can hardly be expected to rein in the equivalent of a First Echelon Blademaster without casualties, so be grateful that our laws dictate that I aid you in restraining her so she may face justice in your courts. Now..."

His attention again returns to Caet, "I will be happy to answer any questions you have and provide you with any evidence you request. I only refuse to be locked in a cell indefinitely while the traitor escapes."

[The Bushranger]

[Front Gate]

"I don't believe there will be need to have you locked away," Eileen says as she steps closer, staring into Reclaimer's oily black eyes with the smallest of shudders, but not looking away - indeed, her own icy blue eyes narrowing. "But there is one thing I must make absolutely clear. If you are telling the truth, your assistiance and expertice in seeking this being is appreciated. However, she will be given a fair trial under Remnant laws and Remnant jurisprudence. There will not be any 'unfortunate accidents'. Am I clear?"

The blonde rests one hand on the silver cylinder clipped to her belt; one might almost get the impression it was some sort of personal weapon, were it not so small and unoffensive-looking.

((and 'I have a hundred dorfs trying to build a fortress in my skull and I'm not amused with you' Eileen is fun to play. ))

[happyturtle]

Surgery Bay 3

Missy gets the last message from Magtok just as the sedative kicks in. A safety switch recognizes the lapse of consciousness and shuts down most of the neural net's voluntary functions.

It doesn't stop the dreams.

Holding Cell

Billie watches television - cooking shows - while she waits for Gus to come and see her. She chats with the guards. She requests writing materials and is given a newsprint sketchpad and a charcoal pencil that is too soft to hurt anyone. She makes lots of notes with her cuffed hands. They're soon smudged, but she doesn't mind. Her handwriting is large with lots of loops and flourishes.

She asks questions about Gus, about Vasquez. Never about Jake. She tells the story about how she was walking through the mall and suddenly saw a photo of a naked man, and knew at once he was her son. Of course, she'd seen him naked before - she was his mother after all! - but she was still glad that the artfully arranged post that kept her from seeing everything.

There is a lot of laughter. Billie is a happy woman.

Burn unit

The goblin boy never regained consciousness, but he fought to the last. The burns were over 80% of his body. He shouldn't have survived an hour, let alone a day. But he fought for every breath, even as his lungs closed up. Even as magical healing failed him.

They didn't know his name.

This seemed the final indignity to Charity, that so many of the victims couldn't be identified. So many families had perished together. So many bodies burnt beyond recognition.

It wasn't right. She wanted to fix it. All she could do was move the boy to the morgue, and clean the bed for another patient.

His skin pulled off wherever she touched him. And she didn't know his name.

[UncleWolf]

Clinic Room 12

Wow...

"I have had a little bit of anti-torture training. It was a part of officer training. But I have heard several times that when the chips are down anti-torture training is only so effective."

He also spent some time in an infirmary that was almost as bad as a torture room, but that doesn't need to be said.

Clinic Room 12

"Most of it depends on your goal at the time. When under such duress, you need to weigh things very carefully. Whatever you decide though, we'll never hold against you. Even if it's to spill your guts. Sometimes that's the best thing to do even." Carl tells him with a shrug before taking a seat on the bed and gesturing Terral to do the same with a chair. "When under torture, you need to weigh the value of your information and the lives that such information might end, against the value of your own life and whatever new information you may have gained while being brought to that point. Even if the chances of you actually being let go are slim, you need to consider that. Sometimes, as loathe as I am to say it, it's better to be selfish and toss away the secrecy in order to report back to base. The ability to resist torture is there only to buy you time."

The halfling gives a shrug. "Sometimes, that's all you can do."

Infirmary - Missy

When Missy awakes, she'll find Bugs standing over her with her body strapped to several machines. He looks pale, drawn, and even more tired and in pain than usual. "We have much to talk about." He tells her tiredly. "And you need to be reasonable with it."