| abstract
| - Senator Gumble has been beamed back aboard Sanctuary by the Thuls and lies in Medbay unconscious and in critical condition from head injury, shock, and loss of blood. Doctor Freyssinet and President/Librarian Dahan try to revive him in both body and spirit. Medical Bay The medical bay would rival a fully equipped planetside hospital. It has been divided into operating theaters, isolation wards, intensive care wards, recovery rooms, and examination rooms. Doctors offices have doctors from every race know to allow those coming here comfort in relating to someone of their own kind. A pharmecutical dispensing facility has been set up with around the clock staffing to allow those with minor aches and pains access to medications. This area is kept super sterile and clean as a pin. Freyssinet arrives from Medical Quarter . Freyssinet has arrived. Freyssinet hobbles through medbay to ICU. "Are you feeling a bit better, senator ?" A nurse sees Freyssinet and approaches, "Doctor, I'm glad you're here. Senator Gumble hasn't recovered consciousness yet and it seems he has lost quite a bit of blood. " Freyssinet frowns, and takes a labcoat. She begins bu checking the vitals. "Do we have his blood typing in the folders ?" The nurse turns back to the charts, "Do we have any Castori blood?" Freyssinet nods. "We do, luckily. Do we have his type in bank ?" The nurse looks back in at the chart, "Hmmmmmm. I think so. If not we'll have to find another Castori with the same type." Freyssinet nods. "And the hormones ? Did the pharmacy make the dosages ?" The nurse nods, "Yes, doctor. They did." Freyssinet asks. "Results ?" The nurse looks back, "There has been no change in his condition. We should pump some blood into him and he should stablize." Freyssinet growls softly. "Go and take me a pocket of correct blook type. And on your way, bring me the results of the dosages." The nurse nods and hurries toward the blood bank, "Yes, Doctor." Freyssinet sits tiredly down on the bed, and takes the senator's hand. "Come on, Gumble, come on. You can't let the Thulls win." she whispers. The nurse returns with a bottle of brown liquid, "We're in luck, Doctor.", she says as she jams a needle into one end of the bottle and flips it upside down and hangs it on a rack beside the bed, "I found 7 bottles. How's he doing?" The nurse prepares a syringe and attempts to find the vein in Gumble's arm, "So hard to tell on these furrier types. Oh, the results from the hormones, I've put them at the foot of the bed." Freyssinet nods to the nurse. "Thank you". She takes a very small sample of blook from Gumble, and mixes it with a sample of the first bootle. As the result seems correct, she nods. "The blood typing is correct, go on. I'll check the hormones". The nurse nods and finds the vein, inserting the needle and then wrapping it with medical tape. She then strings the tube along safely out of reach up to the bottle. Freyssinet keeps an eye on the vitals while blood begins to flow in Gumble's body, and checks the lab results. "Mmm, seems normal." The nurse leans over and sponges off Gumble's forehead, then sees the hole rings. "What happened to him?, she asks timidly. Freyssinet says to the nurse. "He was abducted by the Thulls." That seems, for the doc, to be enough of an answer. The nurse pauses and looks sadly at the Castori, then shudders and cleans up the station, putting things away and returning to her post. Freyssinet sits near Gumble, watching at the senator, feeling so useless. She pats his paw every now and then. Time ticks away. Hours go by… Dahan arrives from Medical Quarter . Dahan has arrived. Dahan drifts into the lobby, and approaches the receptionist's desk. Freyssinet is sitting in ICU near Gumble, watching over him. The receptionist smiles at Dahan. "What can I do for you ?" 'I heard a rumour that Senator Gumble was here.', replies the Centauran. 'If he is, I'd like to visit.' It lifts a leather bound volume so that the receptionist may view it. 'I brought him something to read.' Gumble very slowly lifts an eyelid. The receptionist pauses a bit. "He is in the ICU, this way", she waves to Dahan. Dahan lowers the book and cradles it in its many tentacles once more, as it floats in the indicated direction. Freyssinet , seeing that Gumble wakes up, smiles. "Hello, senator" she whispers. Gumble closes him eyes again and breathes heavily. Freyssinet checks the vitals, frowning. "Senator, don't fall asleep ! Stay with us !" Dahan opens the door and floats into the intensive care unit. It's body seems slightly tense, from either concern or nerviousness. Perhaps both. Gumble's vitals seem to be stablizing. Freyssinet turns and recognizing Dahan, nods. "He's better, but not really conscious" she states. Gumble has an obvious ring of burnt out fur which goes around the top of his head. It seems to have been fused back in place. Dahan moves over towards Gumble, after looking at a few of the other beds before being called. It drops the heavy book on a bedside table near Gumble. 'I'm sorry to hear that, Doctor. He looks like he's suffered a considerable ordeal.' The heartrate monitor blips to life a tad quicker than it was. Freyssinet nods. "And he's still in danger. Please, unless you have a way to wake him up, it's not safe to stay here." Her voice is a bit tense. She continues looking at the vitals. Gumble breathes heavily again as his eyelids lift a crack. Freyssinet looks at Gumble, not daring to talk to him this time. Dahan moves over to the opposite side of the bed in reguard to the doctor. It extends a tentacle to lay across its forehead, using its psionic abilities to try to assess how Gumble is feeling in both mind and body. It sends nothing to the doctor, its attention focused only on the big teddy bear. Gumble is exhausted, tired, hungry, scared, and just coming out of a sort of hibernation state. Freyssinet 's eyes go between Gumble and Dahan. A moment later, it tells the lady, 'I may have a way to gently awaken him, if you need.' Freyssinet 's eyes shrink a bit. "We need to know how the bomb inside his head could be removed without triggering it. If you could ask him, any way you know ..." Her tone is hopeful Dahan nods slightly, only a little shock and suprise showing from the Centauran as it works itself up to be as warm, safe, and protective mood. 'I'll try.', it tells the doctor. Turning its head downward to the Castori, it tell him, 'Your name is Gumble. Your safe abourd the Sanctuary. Do you understand? Your name is Gumble.' Gumble lifts his eyelids slowly and sees Dahan's tentacle. His eyes shoot open as he mouths, "MMMmmmmm I am not afraid of you..." Gumble eyes the Centauran with fear, "MMmmm....do not harm them...I will stay here...let them...go...mmmmmm" Freyssinet 's eyes open widely as Gumble's agitation. She nods at Dahan and holds Gumble's paw close and tight, trying her best to help the centaurean by keeping this protective mood. Dahan uses its empathic abilities to try to give Gumble a feeling its in a warm, safe place. 'Your name is Gumble. You are safe aboard the Sanctuary. I am Dahan. You are Gumble. Do you understand?' Gumble pants and looks around, especially looking up at the claw on the ceiling, which is now just a light fixture. Gumble breathes more normally and glances over, "mMMMmmmmm Dahan?" Dahan strokes the fur gently on Gumble's arm. 'Yes, Dahan. And you are Gumble. You're safe aboard the Sanctuary.' Gumble looks back at Freyssinet, breathing heavily still, "What? Who?" Dahan repeats again in a clear telepathic voice, 'I am Dahan, and this is a doctor. We're here to help you, Gumble.' Freyssinet smiles warmly at Gumble, but doesn't speak. Gumble sighs, and smiles, leaning back on his soft pillow. "MMMmmmm tell me I'm not dreaming again." Dahan sqeezes Gumble's upper arm weakly, 'You're not dreaming. It's good to see you again.' Gumble smiles back at Dahan, "MMmmmm forgive me for ...my reaction..I thought you were the Thul coming with their drill again...mmmmm" Dahan shakes its head in a negative geasture, 'No, we're not them. We're going to do everything we can to help you now, but we're...what is the phrase? Not out of the woods yet.' Gumble's smile fades as he looks back to Dahan, "MMMmmmm no we are not. Dahan...youve got to help me..." Freyssinet simply sits there, holding Gumble's paw, eyes going between the castori and the centauri. Gumble continues, "MMMMMmmm...I must get off this....ship...." Dahan pats Gumble on the arm again, and tells him, 'Gumble, you're safe on the Sanctuary now.' Gumble shakes his head, "MMMm no...none of us are safe...mmm" Dahan inquires, 'Why are we not safe aboard the Sanctuary?' Gumble slowly lifts his head forward tilting it toward Dahan, "Dahan....mmmmm...the Thul....put a device in my head...mmmmm...it will explode...killing everyone..." Dahan lets its head move like a pan of water after a droplet hits its center. 'You know that much then. We have to find out a way to disarm it. If I could share your memories of when it was implanted...It's hard I know, but I can share with you some comfort and detachment from them.' Gumble sighs, "No...it can't be disarmed...mmmmm...it will be set off...can't be touched...it will go off...only giving them their money will work..." Dahan lifts its gaze up towards the doctor, expectant. Its tentacle holds onto the Castori's arm firmly yet comfortingly. Freyssinet frowns. "Please, senator Gumble, let Dahan help you" She asks, softly. Gumble pants and closes his eyes. He shakes his head. "If we do not give them 500000 credits, he will detonate it...Thul...come back in two days. If money not here, the device explodes. If the money is here, they will send....*pant* sanctuary home." Dahan tells Gumble, 'Relax, old friend. Before coming here I overheard several of our forces negotiating for the credits... But if you will let me share what you remember...It's possible some detail you overlooked at the time may be invaluable.' Gumble nods slowly as he stares back at Dahan. He squeezes his paw around Freyssinet with his other hand. "I am ....ready..mmmmmm...but I'm afraid...mind too weak to assist." Dahan tells Gumble, 'Then mine will have to be strong enough for us both.' Dahan starts the process. Gumble and Dahan begin to touch minds, and awareness grows of each others thoughts and feelings, both physical and emotional. Gumble may notice how it feels like to have eight tentacles, some phantom feelings from its abbreviated tentacle, while Dahan starts to feel Gumble's hunger, fears, and pains. Freyssinet glances quickly at Dahan, then Gumble, ready to help if they need her. She seems a bit afraid by this processus. Dahan sees two sloth-like beings with tentacles emerging from his mouth. holding drills and other instruments. He feels himself in a somewhat hibernative pattern and sees a drill go into his head twice and his skull open up. He also sees the repulsion of slime and bugs oozing all over him. In addition, Dahan learns that the bomb will only kill Gumble, not the entire ship. Dahan works carefully to both observe the memories and remember them clearly, while trying to accept gumble's fears and replace them with a sense of being a detached observer. Dahan rubs Gumble's arm, and carefully tells him, 'I understand. Put those memories behind you now, for you are amoung friends.' It slowly starts to reduce the intensity of the link, but still takes some of the pain away from Gumble by accepting it itself. Gumble opens his eyes slowly, "MMMmm but....it isn't over Dahan. They can do this again...mmm" Dahan lifts its head, and telepathically sends, 'We have two days before the bomb is due to explode.' It then turns its head back down towards the Castori, 'So it appears. Unless we can find a method to prevent Thul teleportation they will pose a threat to us.' [Loudspeaker]: Attention, all hands. We have received word that Duke Buchanan died aboard Comorro Station due, and we quote from a Hekayti press release, "the rigors of examination." That is all. Sanctuary Control out. Gumble looks back to Dahan, "MMmmmm what did you see? mmmmmmmm" Freyssinet looks at Dahan and nods. To Gumble, she says firmly "Let's take care of the actual, present problems, then we'll see. Try to rest." Dahan's collar hisses as a jet of white vapor is expelled. 'What I needed to, Gumble. Rest now...I brought you a volume of Castori poetry while you recuperate. I assure you all of us are working to aleve your current situtation. Freyssinet turns to Dahan. "Are you feeling OK ?" Gumble rests back, "Thank you, my friend....mmmmmm....." He turns his head towards Dahan, "MMmmmm Just promise me this...if they find a way to get out of this without...the help of the Thul...you make sure they take it....mmmmmmmm do not worry about me....mmmmmmmm" Dahan lifts its head up slightly, its telepathic emissions only holding a hint of the pain it's holding back from Gumble, 'I can make no such promise...I'm not the one with that power anymore. But I will make your wishes clear. Now rest, we're going to try to save your life if we can.' Gumble nods and looks up, "MMmmmm you would do no different...mmmmm" Dahan cagily tells the Doctor, 'My tentacle is growing back as expected Doctor, and is not causing me undo irritation. Take care of Gumble now. He is most in need of help today.' Freyssinet smiles shily to Dahan. "You can be sure of that. I'll take the watch, tonight." Dahan dips its head towards the doctor, 'As you wish. Be sure he gets something to eat soon.' Gumble sighs as he turns back to Dahan, "I will...mmmmm...take your advice and rest...mmm....and the poetry is appreciated...I haven't heard any since Senate began." Freyssinet nods, pages a nurse to prepare a Castori meal, and prepares for her watch. Dahan extends its tentacles over to the hardcover book, and opens it. It's telepathic voice begins to read one of the more hopeful passages. Gumble lies back and sleepily drops his eyelids to half-mast and watches Dahan read, drifting more and more into a solemn calmness. Gumble soon closes his eyes. Dahan sees Gumble fall asleep again. He slowly closes the book, cuts the telepathic link and makes his way out of the hospital. Gumble’s lawyer appears at his bedside per his request and who else would it be, but Sanctuary’s most infamous lawyer, Jacob Gettleman. Medical Bay The medical bay would rival a fully equipped planetside hospital. It has been divided into operating theaters, isolation wards, intensive care wards, recovery rooms, and examination rooms. Doctors offices have doctors from every race know to allow those coming here comfort in relating to someone of their own kind. A pharmecutical dispensing facility has been set up with around the clock staffing to allow those with minor aches and pains access to medications. This area is kept super sterile and clean as a pin. Rainhawk's surprise penetrates his weariness. "He is back?" Gumble snorts and breathes easily. His head still shows trauma and burnmarks and is a little disfigured around the top. His eyes flutter open a crack. Freyssinet writes down a few things on the bloos sample. "Yes, yesterday" She says matter-of factedly. Then she takes out aspirin from the shelf. "Here is for your temperature ; We should have the results of the anylisis late tonight or tommorow. Can you come back ?" Gumble begins to mumble, then lifts his eyelids a bit more. Jacob arrives from Medical Quarter . Jacob has arrived. Jacob steps into the medical bay and approaches the receptionist's desk. Freyssinet is inspecting Rainhawk in a cubicle. Gumble is in the ICU. Gumble looks over at the two buttons beside him. He reaches out and touches one. As he does a light goes on at the nurse's station. Jacob reaches over to the edge of the desk with a well-manicured hand and taps the silver bell. PING! Rainhawk nods. "I will return." Freyssinet nods back. "Thanks. Hope the aspirin will help." The she takes her crutch, and hobbles back to the reception. She ignores Jacob, and walks straight into ICU. Rainhawk takes the aspirin. "Thank you, Doctor," he says. The receptionist look at Well-manicured-Jacob. "Yes, sir ?" She asks Rainhawk makes hsi way toward the reception area. Jacob clears his throat, lifts his chin and says, "One of your patients requested an attorney. Senator Gumble." Freyssinet enters Gumble's room. "How are yo now, senator ?" Gumble clears his throat and makes a thyup-thyup noise. Gumble lifts his nose a bit, "MMMmmmmm I wonder if the lawyer I requested will arrive soon?" Rainhawk exits. Rainhawk heads into Medical Quarter . Rainhawk has left. The receptionist frowns. "Really ? He's in ICu, awake. This way" She motions to the attorney. Jacob nods, then moves to follow the receptionist into the corridor, approaching ICU. Freyssinet examines Gumble's vitals and monitors. "An attorney ? What for ?" Jacob clears his throat as he enters the room. "That's between him and his attorney." Gumble turns to the voice and sees who it is. "MMMMmmm Jacob....Gettleman." Freyssinet turns to Jacob. Recognizing him, she freezes and towers him as much as her 5 feet stature allows. "As long as it doesn't interfere with my patient's treatment, Mr Gettleman. My name is Dr Freyssinet." Jacob nods, approaching the senator's bed. "That's right." He flashes a very expensive smile and extends a hand. "How you feeling, sir?" Gumble lifts a paw to Jacob and smiles gently, he merely looks up and says, "MMMMMmmmm I wish to make out my will......" Jacob taps his chin, then looks toward Freyssinet. "Nurse, could I have a cup of juice? Apple juice, if you have it." Freyssinet frowns as Gumble speaks of a wish. To Jacob, she takes one of the glasses of water in the room, fills it, and puts it near him. "That's all we have." Her voice is much more stern and tense than usual. Jacob glances down and notices the doctor's missing leg. He whistles softly. "That a recent injury? If so, how did it happen, and would you like compensation for it?" Gumble clears his throat again. Jacob blinks, smiles and turns his attention back to Gumble. "Yes, Senator. You wanted to, what, file suit against Sanctuary for failure to adequately protect against further invasions by the Thul?" Freyssinet glances coldly at Jacob but deliberatly ignores his "offer." Gumble frowns and shakes his head, "MMMmmmmm I.....want....to make...my will..." Jacob nods, taking out a small audio recorder and tapping it into active mode. "Ok, so, how large an estate are we talking, Senator?" Freyssinet shakes her head as Jacob tapes the conversation. She takes a seat. Gumble blinks a couple of times, then turns to the doctor. "MMMmmmmmm Will you please excuse us for a moment?" Jacob nods to Freyssinet. "Bring him a bedpan or something." Freyssinet frowns. "If you wish, senator. But I'll be right at the door, call me if you need me.' She steps outside, clearly not happy to let Gumble with Jacob, and looks through the windows." Gumble turns to Jacob, "mmmmmm are you ready?" Jacob nods earnestly at the Castori. "Sure. So. How big an estate? Millions?" Gumble shakes his head, "mmmmmm no..." Jacob knits his brow. "Hundreds of thousands...?" Gumble his head toward Gettleman and pulls out a parchment. "MMMMmmmmm I have everything listed here....mmmm" Gumble says, "....and it is worth far more than money...mmmmm" Jacob grimaces ever so slightly as he sees it written on parchment. "I have no doubt it has great value to you..." He reaches out for the parchment. Gumble smacks his lips, "mmmMMMMmmm or would you prefer I record it....." Freyssinet stands at the ICU's door, looking inside through the windows every now and then. Jacob shrugs. "Up to you, Senator." Gumble nods, "Perhaps it's best if we do both...that way there will be no confusion...mmmm" Jacob nods. "Sure." Jacob reads the parchment I, Gumble of Castor and New Castor, Vice Chair of the Sanctuary Senate, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath the following items upon my death. To the members of the Village of New Castor, I bequeth all my worldly possessions, my cottage and all its content, with the exception of the following items. To Dahanovoheanipeymek of Centauri, I leave my most treasured possession, the redwood staff I carry, given to me by my mentor and his before him. And for Dahan's library I leave my collection of Castori literature, given to me my mater when I was young. Included is a small volume of Castori poetry which I hope others will be able to hear read by Dahan's soothing melodious voice. To Senator Rainhawk I leave my datapad, both it and the staff were both recently recovered, and hopefully the pad will be put to good use during Senate proceedings. I also give Rainhawk the Castorian Threstleplant from my garden, a favorite bloomer of mine and I'm sure he will appreciate its lovely colors and its usefulness as as a medicinal agent. To Senator Teel and the rest of the senate I leave my book on parliamentary procedures as I will not be present to interrupt them anymore with my strict rules. To my nephew, Furrinum, I leave my herb garden and all tools and equipment needed to tend it. Take care of the Brethren. To Doctor Melissa Fernandez I leave my book on Castori Healing methods. It contains all the necessities of natural healing which have been passed down through generations of Castori. May its knowledge be put to good use. To Doctor Freyssinet, my most comfortable fur pillow inexchange for all the comfort which she has shown me and my brethren here on Sanctuary. To Abrix, I leave a feritooth necklace I kept as a keepsake of my friend Shurikin Findin, who has recently lost his life. As one who knows the honor of remembering those of your race who pass on, I hope that it will remind you that your Queen is still within the honored memories of many. To Marimuril Findin, who has just lost Shurikin, her own, I leave a portrait of he and myself given to me as a gift. Now it is my wish that you should have it and think of us both when you look at it. This concludes my last will and testament. Signed. Castori Sage and Servant, Gumble Jacob settles down into a chair and knits his brow tighter and tighter as he reads. Jacob twists his mouth about, and seems to be pondering the best follow-up approach. "This is it?" he finally asks, a hint of disbelief in his voice. Gumble turns and nods smiling peacefully, "Yes...mmmmm...shall we begin the recording?" Jacob furrows his brow. "I don't think that'll be necessary." He glances over to the door. "Nurse!" he shouts. Gumble looks over at Jacob, "MMMmmmm is something wrong?" Freyssinet enters, and asks Gumble, -not- Jacob. "You need anything, senator ?" Jacob manages a winning smile at Gumble. "Not a thing, Senator. Be done with this in a jiff." Jacob glances toward Freyssinet. "Nurse, sweetie, got a pen?" Freyssinet looks icily over Jacob. "Yes I do have a pen, sir. And I am Doctor." Jacob ahs. "Yes. Well, good for you. Let's have the pen." Freyssinet takes her pen, and gives it to Jacob, shrugging. Gumble sighs deeply and looks toward Jacob, "Are you....mmmmm...quite...alright, sir? Something...wrong...with the document?....mmMMMM?" Jacob accepts the pen, looks at it, frowns, then shrugs and places the parchment on the bedside table and begins to scribble on it. He finishes, nods, then says, "Senator, it is now an official document. Be sure to tell the beneficiaries not to spend it all in one place." He hands the parchment back to Gumble and tucks the pen into his inside jacket pocket. Gumble looks confused and looks up at Gettleman...then inquisitively to Freyssinet. Freyssinet shakes her head. "Could I have the pen back ?" She sights. Jacob raises his eyebrows. "Pen?" He thinks for a moment. "Ah, yes." He reaches back into the pocket, removes the pen and offers it to Freyssinet. "Preserving supplies. Good practice." He smiles and winks. "Now, about that leg...?" Freyssinet towers Jacob with her gaze. "If ever one could have compensation from dead people, I'd surely not put /you/ in charge of that. Now, can you leave my pateint to rest ?" She opens the ICU doors. Jacob shrugs, letting her take the pen. "Hey, you want to be a gimp the rest of your life, I suppose it's your call. But I can help you get enough money to replace the leg. Not from dead people, but from the individuals who made it possible for this to happen to you." Gumble looks up at Freyssinet, "MMmmmmm I'm getting a bit...hungry...doctor....mmmmmmm...would you mind...asking the nurse to bring me in...some food? mmmmMMM?" Freyssinet turns red of anger. "First, Mr Gettleman, I am NOT a gimp. Second, we don't share the same view of responsabilities, clearly. Third", she growls, "Get out." Gumble looks up trying to ease the tension, "MMMMmmmm unless you'd like some dinner...Jacob? mmmmMMM?" Freyssinet turns to Gumble "Yes senator, any special wishes for your meal ?" She asks him in a much nicer tone. Jacob winks at her, then looks at Gumble. "Splendid bedside manner. No, thanks so much, but the nurse here is about to suffer apoplexy. Good help is hard to find, and if you breach your bowels and she's out cold, what's a senator to do?" He gives a thumbs-up to Gumble and turns to leave. Gumble looks back up, "Nothing too....spicy....mmmm" Gumble's smile turns into a frown. "mmmmMMMmmm thank you, sir...that will be all....mmmmm" He picks the parchment up and peruses it to make sure it's correct. Freyssinet stands near the door, and follows Jacob from the gaze to be sure he gets right out. "Bedside manner ? I'll give you true bedside manners" She mutters Jacob nods to Freyssinet. "Catch me if you can." With that, he begins skipping. That's right. Skipping. Down the hall. Freyssinet 's faces turns even redder but don't even answer Jacob. She calls a nurse for the meal, and waits in the corridor to be sure Gettleman leaves Medbay. Gumble furrows his brow, "MMmmmmm what a strange fellow....mmmm...." Jacob resumes a normal walking gait as he reaches the lobby and heads for the door. Jacob heads into Medical Quarter . Jacob has left. Freyssinet walks back into Gumble's room. "Not strange, but greedy and amoral" She states. "You meal should come soon, Senator". Gumble nods happily, "MMMmmmm thank you, doc-tor......" Freyssinet laughs. "You're welcome, senator. You too noticed his stupid prank ?" Gumble sighs, "mmmmmm ah well....lawyers will be lawyers....mmm" The day after Senator Gumble returns from the Thul. Dahan watches over Gumble as he sleeps. He tells Dahan of an important memory from the Thul abduction. He later makes a grave decision. Medical Bay The medical bay would rival a fully equipped planetside hospital. It has been divided into operating theaters, isolation wards, intensive care wards, recovery rooms, and examination rooms. Doctors offices have doctors from every race know to allow those coming here comfort in relating to someone of their own kind. A pharmecutical dispensing facility has been set up with around the clock staffing to allow those with minor aches and pains access to medications. This area is kept super sterile and clean as a pin. Gumble continues sleeping, his form shuddering every few minutes. Dahan remains by Gumble's side, hovering a foot lower than it would need to in order to clear the floor. It appears a little white and opaque from exhaustion, but it maintains its vigil. Gumble stirs slightly turning over, and then over again. Gumble mumbles something incoherent and stirs some more, a disturbed look on his sleeping face. Gumble breathes heavily, then sits up quite suddenly, opening his eyes. He does not, however make it too far. His throbbing head brings him back to his senses and he lowers it a tad, "MMMMMmmmmm Ri'kammi!" Dahan extends a tentacle to brush Gumble's arm. 'It's okay, Gumble. You're just had a bad dream.' Gumble looks at Dahan and lowers his head further back down, "MMMmmmm Dahan....I remember the Thul..." Gumble snorts and wipes his nose. "MMMMmmm The Thul...speaking to ...to..voice...called it the Great Mind..." Dahan dips its head slightly, 'Yes, we should have expected that with the teleportation. I suspected after seeing the blue light in your memories... At least we have that hiver whistle field now.' Gumble shakes his head from side to side, then looks to regret having done so by the evident wince of pain which sweeps across his face. He whispers, "MMMMMmmmm said....said...Mind askes how plans proceeded....Thul answered...They proceeded ...as...planned. and that 'These creatures will be back in your sway soon enough....mmmmmMMmmmmMMMmmmMMMmmMMmmmmmm'" The edges of Dahan's head and its tentacles droop, as it absorbs these words. 'Perhaps we should not try to return to our birth-universe.' Gumble nods weakly and answers, "and...mmmm...and...multi-echoing voice...reply...mmmmmm.....we have our own plans for them...." Gumble says, "must....you must alert the senate..." Gumble says, "and...mmmm...the vanguard...." Dahan pats Gumble's arm, 'I'll do what I can.' Gumble looks back at Dahan, "Thul address ri'kammi....several times....as masster...that worries me." 'They were thier former masters. It appears the Hivers grow stronger every day. And every day is a year...I must go.', telepaths Dahan. It rises off the floor in preparation to leave. Gumble utters, "Dahan..." Dahan pauses, and tips its body towards the injured Castori, 'Yes, my friend?' Gumble utters, "Can you fetch the nurse please?..." Dahan tells the Castori, 'Of course.' It starts to move away now, towards the exit. Gumble nods and closes his eyes. Dahan emerges from the ICU, and approaches the nurses stand. Quietly, it converses with the duty nurse about getting Gumble some attention. The nurse nods and sees Dahan to the door, then walks over to Gumble, "Do you need anything Senator?" Gumble looks up at the nurse, "Mmmmmmmm yes....pain...need something for it....mmmmm" The nurse nods "Yes of course. We can do that for you." Dahan heads into Medical Quarter . Dahan has left. Gumble continues, "...and...send me a lawyer..." The nurse looks surprised, "Yes...I'll see what I can do. You rest easy now." Gumble closes his eyes again and breathes easy. The nurse goes back to her station. Several minutes later she returns to give Gumble a shot. He drifts away. Gumble ponders his fate as the loudspeaker announces the Thul ship Probos is in the vicinity of the battle between the Hekyahti factions. Gumble decides to go mobile to spend what are potentially his last days at home. Medical Bay The medical bay would rival a fully equipped planetside hospital. It has been divided into operating theaters, isolation wards, intensive care wards, recovery rooms, and examination rooms. Doctors offices have doctors from every race know to allow those coming here comfort in relating to someone of their own kind. A pharmecutical dispensing facility has been set up with around the clock staffing to allow those with minor aches and pains access to medications. This area is kept super sterile and clean as a pin. Freyssinet walks back to Gumble's room. Gumble finishes scarfing down his food. Freyssinet smiles at the castori senator. "Was it good ?", she asks him. [Loudspeaker]: Reports indicate the Demarian carrier vessel Paw's End is now in Hekayti Triumverate space, engaged in battle. Gumble nods sighing, "MMMmmmm 'Tis like asking a someone who's just dangled from....a rooftop if being safe on the ground is good..." He smiles at his own joke. "Thoroughly...mmmmm" [Loudspeaker]: Reports indicate Paw's End has, so far, engaged and destroyed one rebel fighter. Freyssinet frowns at the loudpeaker ; then turns back her attention to Gumble her smiles. "Glad you liked it ; what else could I do for you ?" Gumble smiles, "If I may....mmmmmm...I would like to go ambulatory...mmmmm" [Loudspeaker]: Further reports indicate the Thul vessel Probos is in the vicinity of the battle, observing. Freyssinet frowns seriously as the loudspeaker mentions the Thulls. "Not now, senator, surely not now !" She says firmly. Gumble glances up at the loudspeaker, his smile fading..."Please doctor...I must...it may be my last chance to see my home... [Loudspeaker]: Sanctuary external communications are temporarily offline. Relays, receivers and transmitters have suffered a computer malfunction. Reset is expected to take 20 minutes. Freyssinet shakes her head. "Not, senator ; I can't run after you and for sure you must'nt leave Sanctuary". Then her voice softens. "Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine." Gumble shakes his head..."No...not want to leave...want to go to New Castor...you may come to if you wish...need you...mmmmmmmmmmmm....to take me..." Gumble sits up, his head swaying a bit he turns his body and tries to swing his legs around the side of the bed. Freyssinet nods. "OK for new Castor." She helps Gumble to get out of the bed, and takes her crutch. Gumble looks around for a wheelchair, but sees none, "MMmmmm I don't think I can walk..." Freyssinet calls for a nurse. "Takes a a wheelchair for the senator !" A large nurse enters ICU with a wheelchair. She delicaly puts Gumble in. Freyssinet says to the Nurse. "Now, help me take the senator to New Castori. She proceeds to take a med-kit, a scanner, and her weapon. Gumble tries to help himself into the chair but his head spins the opposite direction. With the nurse's help he lays himself in the chair, then he bends himself slightly, takes a blanket from the bed with one hand and the parchment from the table in the other. Freyssinet heads out with Gumble. Gumble stops the wheelchair. "Doctor...mmm...wait..." Freyssinet motions the nurse to wait. "Yes, senator ?" She asks Gumble holds out the parchment to Freyssinet. It is rolled up and tied with a small piece of string. "MMMmmmmmm I want you to take this and keep it in a safe......place.....mmmmmm....if anything should happen to me tonight...or in the coming....morrows....you know what to do....mmmm" Freyssinet frowns and nodsgravely to Gumble. "Yes, senator. I'll take care of it." To the nurse : "Take the senator to the lifts, I come back." She heads into her own office. The clock ticks away on the bomb inside Gumble’s head. Doctor Melissa has resolved to operate on Gumble’s head. Gumble prepares himself in his chambers fully accepting the explosive fate which awaits him. [Loudspeaker]: All personnel, avoid the flight deck. Reports of heavy weapons fire! Banyan Vine Place The catwalk winds its way through the branches and bends intself around the enormous trunk of a banyan tree. An opening in one side of it is cut hollow and within can be seen many Castori shops selling clay pots, little gadgets, and homebaked Castori delicacies. The scents seem quite inviting here and the large drooping banyan leaves provide a calm, soothing shade. Freyssinet has arrived. Gumble looks out across the pseudoforest and smiles at what he sees, "MMMmmmmmmmm you know doctor, ....mmmmm...there is no place else I would rather be then here....mmmm....." Freyssinet smiles weakly. "Yes, I understand a bit. It is ... so peaceful, so natural. A little haven. I'm glad you can be here, tonight." Gumble smiles and nods and looks out. A group of Castori stand around looking fondly at him. He addresses them, "My friends, ..mmmmmmmmm....I thank you all...for the warm....and long....life you've given me...mmmm.....Tonight I depart...and I thank you all...and hope we might someday meet...within the Great Dream....mmmmmmmmm" Freyssinet looks at all the castori around her, and regains a bit composure. Gumble nods and smiles as he sits closer to the front, "mmmmmmmm.....Castor will always be within me...mmmmmmm.....and I within Castor.....I must bid you a fond farewell. mmmmmm" Freyssinet shakes her head so slighly ; She'd like to joke or encourage Gumble, but has not the heart to. The Castori hoot and nod in response to Gumble. They then bow their heads momentarily. Gumble looks up and smiles, "Goodbye, my friends....mmmmmmmmmm" He pauses then hoots at the air with the rest. Freyssinet swallows hard., watching over Gumble protectivly. Gumble lowers his snout from its vertical position, then looks back at Freyssinet, "MMMmmmmmm and now to Medbay, Doctor...mmmmmmm...I am prepared....let us go...." The Castori hoot and yoller. The sound floats up into the leaves of the trees and floats below onto the forest floor. Many beat their chest as they pass, nodding respectfully. Freyssinet nods and says in a blank voice. "Yes, senator. Just ... Don't give up, please." She wheels him out. You head into Central Cottage . Central Cottage This is the entrance chamber of the areas beyond which lead into new Castori. It is a replica of a Castori meeting hall. Simple benches rest line after after line and a podium in the front towers over them. Many wooden shelves line the walls and contain many ceramic pots and ink drawings of various machinery. Some look quite old. Two exits lead out on either side of the room. Freyssinet arrives from Banyan Vine Place . Freyssinet pats Gumble's shoulder gently as they walk through. Gumble looks up into the trees and sighs. You head into New Castor Monorail Station . New Castor Monorail Station A transplanted banyan tree, dripping branches like wax from a burning candle, stands about 75 feet high and spreads broad waxy blue leaves beneath the simulated sun of the Summer Dome. Rings of suspended wooden walkways wind their way up the trunk of the tree, and veer off toward the dwellings inhabited by the ursinoid denizens of New Castor. Freyssinet arrives from Central Cottage . Freyssinet has arrived. Freyssinet presses the signal button for the monorail. Monorail Car C glides into the station and comes to a stop. Gumble looks back at the beautiful trees of Castori, the hoots and hollers fading away. Gumble smiles as he gazes at the sight, then looks back at Freyssinet, "MMMMmmm Thank you." Freyssinet nods, takes a good look at the trees, and helps Gumble go into the monorail. Freyssinet slowly wheels Gumble to the Medbay. Meanwhile, en route to Nemonus, to rescue the Thul, Ancient Shog… Cockpit - LoneWolf - A long narrow room with doors coming in from the left, right, and rear of the ship. There are some consoles near the front of the ship and some status panels near the rear of the room. There is a large window looking out towards the front of the ship. Melissa steps in, medkit strapped across her chest. "Thanks for the ride, Cajun." Firemane ducks in through the airlock, a datacard held in one and as she moves towards the front of the ship. Falkenberg steps in and peeks around. "Hey LeBeau. Mind if I tag along?" LeBeau turns looking to the airlock "So id seems we've god quide da pardy. We ready to go?" Pendalis spots the three enter, "Hey Hey," He looks to Melissa, "Don't believe I've met you." - LoneWolf - A long narrow room with doors coming in from the left, right, and rear of the ship. There are some consoles near the front of the ship and some status panels near the rear of the room. There is a large window looking out towards the front of the ship. Pendalis takes the hand, unsure of what to do. He shakes and grins sheepishly, "Metasa Pendalis." Firemane glances behind her, spotting Fulton entering. "And that's it I believe.. I couldn't find Jest.." Fulton walks in, settling to the side of the door. "Hey," he replies, glancing grimly at Pendalis. Pendalis nods at Fire, "Well, I guess that makes you the acting Cap'n, ay Fire?" Falkenberg glances at Firemane, then at LeBeau. "If I may make a suggestion based on our past experience at Nemonus...be VERY careful where you land." LeBeau nods "Dats alrigh, she was preddy bead up las nigh when we spoke. We'll led her res." He turns back to the nav console "Alrigh e'ery strap en fo da ride. The bay doors begin to slide open as the Lone Wolf prepares for departure ... You feel a sudden lift as the Lone Wolf glides forth from the docking bay. Melissa looks aroudn the ship, eyes on the window. Pendalis grins sinisterly at Fulton. "So, how long ya think'll be?" LeBeau undocks the ship and immedialy set course and fires the thrusters to full, sending a slight jolt into the ship as it jumps forward. Fulton raises an eyebrow. "How long what will be?" He asks. Falkenberg slips through the crowded cockpit to stand near Melissa. "Heya doc...fight any hotheaded Demarian recruits lately?" Firemane catches Falkenbergs glance and winces. "Yeah, scan the landing zone before setting down.. We don't want to do any *more* damage to the.." She takes a smooth step forward as the ship undocks. "..Nemoni.." You feel the ship begin to slow. Melissa's eyes slip towards Falkenberg and she smirks a tiny bit, "No..but i been practicing to make sure next time i'll win." LeBeau glances over his shoulder "Alrigh, making da jump now. E'eryone hold on. Falkenberg chuckles. "Just as long as you stay clear of the colony cops." You feel a sudden jerk as the ship speeds up. The ship roars and lurches as it enters OtherSpace. You feel the hum of the ship around you as it travels through Otherspace. Pendalis shakes his head at Fulton, "Not you," He nods at LeBeau, "The pilot." Melissa bends her knees slightly, redistributing her weight as the ship takes off. Fulton slides down against the wall, sitting on the floor just in time to avoid the vessel's speed change. Firemane grabs hold of a support seconds before the ship makes the jump, and so remains gracefully upright. Falkenberg's weight shifts under the acceleration, but he maintains his balance. LeBeau looks to Pendalis "Well da depens on how far da system es an just how fas I sed da jump drive to go The ship reverberates slightly as it speeds through Otherspace. Pendalis just leans back in his chair, "Sure thing." "It's not that far," Falkenberg says. "Not much farther than Yptarn, if memory serves." Firemane stiffles a mrrr of laughter. "Nemonus isn't far.. Do you know if the Vannies are coming? The Getty isn't in good shape." [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - The ship shudders as it drops out of OtherSpace. The viewscreen zooms up on an object. Falkenberg holds up his comm. "Sanctuary is reporting a docking quarantine...something about a bomb threat. So I think we may be alone." Pendalis smacks his hand on his forehead, "Oh wonderful." He sighs and reclines, "Well, long as we got ourselves." [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - Firemane's gaze tracks up and onto the viewscreen. "Thats it.. Don't worry about the gravity.. All readings are terr...Wha?" She looks behind her at Falkenberg. "Great.. Well, I hope your up on Slug physoloigy Mel.." [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - Melissa raises an eyebrow, "A bomb threat..." Falkenberg hmms, listening to his comm for a moment. "Sanc control is reporting the Hekayti have set a cloaked ship to explode in three hours on the flight deck. But Getts acknowledged, so they may have launched." [Ch: 102.50] - Sanctuary, Send in team to capture ... ... and fly it ... - EOT - Melissa frowns slighlty and her eyes travel to Fire, "Not exactly sure if i *want* to treat those slugs...course..guess we dont' ahve much of a choice." [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - LeBeau is busy navigating but is also in contact with Sanctuary "Seen da Hekayti ar threadneing to blow up dare ship. Seems we god 3 hours [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - [Ch: 102.50] - ... ... frequency secure? - EOT - You feel the ship begin to slow. The ship roars and lurches as it enters OtherSpace. The ship shudders as it drops out of OtherSpace. This is a large viewscreen that takes up almost the entire forward end of the room. It currently shows: This planet is huge, nearly the size of Jupiter. It is a planet with little water resources, and huge land masses. The oceans only appear to cover about a 1/3 of the planet. Pendalis wonders, "What can we do about it, anyway?" Falkenberg he looks at Firemane, then back to the viewscreen. "I swear that planet must be hollow." LeBeau says, "Nodding, we leave id to does still on board." You feel the ship begin to slow. Firemane groans faintly. "I knew crossing em would be bad.." She shrugs, and turns to look at Melissa, eyes cold and hard, her soft. "No, we don't. Staying here is going to be fatal with the Hekayti around.." Her mood switches again, and she nods to Falkenberg. "Either that or made from polystyrene." The ship roars and lurches as it enters OtherSpace. The ship shudders as it drops out of OtherSpace. Pendalis snickers, "Yeah." He nods at Firemane, "I just wanna get back. I'm tired of this universe with it's stupid leprechauns, demons, and slugs. I just want the normal aliens." He shrugs a shoulder at Fire. Melissa shrugs slightly not commenting as she studies the viewscreen once more. LeBeau motions to the orb on the viewscreen. "We ar now jus under 2000 hms from da planed. We should touch down en a few minudes Pendalis nods at Lebeau, "Everyone ready for some un-fun?" Firemane nods to LeBeau. "Might want to try requesting landing clearance first.. It's only polite.." Her voice lowers to a half-mutter. "Unlike last time.." Melissa smirsk a bit to lebeau. Falkenberg turns and looks at Pendalis. He pulls out his pistol, checks its charge, and replaces it in the holster inside his jacket. "I think this could be EXTREMELY fun, myself." [Ch: 102.50] - <> - EOT - Melissa glances towards Falkenberg, "Lets not kill our ticket home huh..and for the record, i don't carry one. So no one expect me to come out shooting." Pendalis chuckles and remembers to replace the new power cartridge he purchased. He flicks the safety switch to off and pushes it back into it's holster, "It does have some potential." LeBeau looks back to the assembled group " 've asked fo landing clearence bu nodding yed. 'm also reading to possible landing sides, a large meadow an a fores clearing. Pendalis says, ""I'd select the clearing, anything can pop out of the trees, but it's likely we'll see something in the field." The comm crackles back, "Lone Wolf, this is Nemonus Space Command. Permission to land granted. You are cleared to land in Tocor Meadow, over." Pendalis grins, "See, they feel the same way." Falkenberg purses his lips and looks at Firemane. "Didn't we land in the forest, and destroy the highway there..." he pauses as he hears the response. Firemane eyes up Pendalis's motions, looking just a touch worried at the flick of that safety catch. "We're not going to need to shoot anyone. I hope." That last seems tacked on almost as an afterthought, and she seems to be getting more uncomfortable as the planet gets closer. "The clearing has a road running through it so..." She trails off. "Ah well, problem solved." [Ch: 102.50] - <> Roger space comman, ... understoo - EOT - Pendalis wonders, "Never hurts to be safe." Firemane coughs. "Oh yeah people, watch out for their aircraft.. And their villages.." She speaks from experence. "Getting planes out of your fur is hard.." Falkenberg chuckles. [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - Pendalis grins, "Yeah. Don't sneeze, either. Gales are not treated nicely, there." [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - Firemane glances up at the viewscreen. "What ship is that?" She asks, peering at the contact. LeBeau looks back "Ids da Gettysberg Pendalis eyes the viewscreen, "Whatsup with that ship?" The view on the viewscreen settles out to panoramic. The viewscreen zooms up on an object. The view on the viewscreen settles out to panoramic. You feel the ship begin to slow. Firemane nods. "Thanks." She replies. taking a screenshot of the desktop, in school, and then setting it as the background, and then deleting all the icons. You feel a slight force as the ship glides to a halt ... LeBeau says, "Landing now" The ship shudders as the drop rockets engage and the ship begins its descent. Pendalis nods and tightens up in his seat. Firemane grabs hold of that same support, steadying herself as the ship lands. Her tail shows a very pronounced nervous twitch to it now. The landing struts thump against the surface. Pendalis is shaken in his seat as they impact. "Time to boogie." He unstraps from the seat and stands, stretching. "Ready when you guys are." LeBeau set a few controls as the ship lands before he stand and looks to the others "Leds go, day migh need some help back on Sanctuary." Firemane looks out the window. "Yeah, but we can't land.. So lets do this right and not rush it.." She moves towards the airlock, tail reveling her mass of nerves as it twitches. Fulton stands up quietly, watching the movement and following close behind. Some rather ungentlemanly language comes out of the comm, the source being Nemonus Space Command. Pendalis chuckles, following after everyone. Falkenberg nods and heads for the exit. Melissa nods and turns towards the airlock. Left hand on the top of her medkit. You disembark to the surface. Meadow This wide open meadow covers several football fields. The highway goes straight through it to the center, where a tiny bustling metropolis is situated. The city is almost covered by the tall meadow grass, but some of the skyscrapers poke above it showing where the city resides. Off in the distance, rolling hills continue on for miles. Pendalis exits from the Lone Wolf. Pendalis has arrived. Melissa exits from the Lone Wolf. Melissa has arrived. Falkenberg frowns as he looks around. Firemane exits from the Lone Wolf. Firemane has arrived. This city covers an area about the size of a typical room. The buildings don't reach too high, maybe 3 feet for the tallest. The highway runs right through the city, and then through it to continue on down the horizon. Pendalis jumps down from the starship, carefully avoiding any natives. He nervous glances around, attempting to avoid any strange menaces. LeBeau exits from the Lone Wolf. LeBeau has arrived. Fulton exits from the Lone Wolf. Fulton has arrived. Melissa scans the ground, "Hmm...better watch out for those cities.." LeBeau looks around and reaches into his coat and checks the weapon on his thigh before looking to the group "Well we should stard looking aroun an try to fin dis Thul. An try ot no cause to much damage while we ar ad id. Falkenberg nods. "Keep one eye on the ground at all times." Firemane looks over at the city, and then absently nods, catching her tail in one hand. Partly to stop it hitting flying objects, and partly to hide her nerves. "Yep.. Someone want to ask the Nemoni if they know where the Thul are?" Fulton exits the ship, moving down the ramp carefully. As he reaches the ground, he holds still, reaching into his coat and bringing out his rifle. He speaks not. Pendalis chuckles at the working model city, "Funny little things. I feel like Guliver." He watches his feet. "Yeah, we're those damn ugly slugs?" LeBeau scans the horizon "Well if one o dem was able to escape ids ship I don see id aroun here, unless ids hiding behin da Nemoni cidy which I doubt." He motions to the tree line "I guess we should stard dare" Falkenberg nods to Lebeau. "Let's go, then." Many many emergency vehicles are zinging along the highway into the forest beyond.. Melissa nods and prepares to follow lebeau. Firemane nods, peering at the emergency vehicles. "Wow.. Who get em riled up?" She comments as she moves towards the treeline, out of the way of the people. In the distance, emergency sirens being wailing. Smoke rises from over the forest.. LeBeau again checks his weapon and draws it, letting it hang in his hand at his side as he starts off towards the forest. LeBeau has left. Falkenberg draws his weapon as well, moving up behind and to the right of LeBeau. Forest Pond The forest clears here, except most of the clearing is covered with a clear pond, which is fed by a waterfall tricking down the mountain to the east. The mountain is split by a narrow mountain pass, some 10 feet wide. To the west is a wide open meadow. The highway splits off here, with tiny green signs indicating which direction leads where. One part leads off towards the meadow, while the other part heads through the mountain pass. An exit/on ramp collection leads off onto a side road which melds into a tiny village perched on the shore of the pond. Melissa has arrived. Fulton has arrived. Shog wallows in the midst of the pond, with tiny watercraft listing all about, miniature helicopters zooming around its head. Surrounded by water filmed with greasy green slime, the Thul appears to have suffered an injury to its spindly right arm. Its mouth tentacles writhe just above the surface of the water, frothing it into waves that keep curious Nemoni on water scooters at bay. The Emergency vehicles seem to split off here. Some go for the pond, others head on towards the path. Firemane stops and boggles. Yep, boggles. After all thats not a sight you see every day. Then her (ir)rational reactions take over and she draws back, one hand dropping to her pistol, ears flat and fur fluffed up. Unhappy Demarian. She hisses faintly. Falkenberg holds his gun ready, and looks out at the pond. "Well, there's our Thul." LeBeau walks into the clearing, following the lead of the emergancy vechiles until he catches sight of the slimy worm like creature in the pond. Shog moans shlorgily, tentacles flapping as his one good eye fixes on the new arrivals. "You have come...thissssh isssh good." Melissa glances back as Firemane hisses and follows suit, ignoring the thul for a moment, "Fire..standby." What appear to be thousands of fire vehicles head down the path, from which smoke is now beginning to waft from. Fulton catches sight of the slug as he follows in after the group, his rifle resting on his shoulder. Thul, or not, he keeps silent. LeBeau rasies his weapon aiming at the Thul's head "Dat depens on yer willingness to help. Yu ged dat bomb oud o da senador's head an help us ged home an yu can leave dis rock. If no we can pud yu oud o yer misery righ here. "Altheor's Teeth.." Firemane growls, closing her eyes tightly, so as to avoid looking at the Thul. Falkenberg grins, "Remy old boy, you took the words out of my mouth. Garbled them along the way, but still." Shog waves its good arm impotently. "You have no choisssshe. You mussssht trussssht me. Without me, your sssshenator diessssh - and ssshoon. Without me, you do not get home. I am lasssht of Thul. Othersssh...dead." Pendalis has arrived. Pendalis jogs in, watching his feet closely. A small Nemoni cargo ship disappears beneath the slime covered water... Shog wallows in the midst of the pond, with tiny watercraft listing all about, miniature helicopters zooming around its head. Surrounded by water filmed with greasy green slime, the Thul appears to have suffered an injury to its spindly right arm. Its mouth tentacles writhe just above the surface of the water, frothing it into waves that keep curious Nemoni on water scooters at bay. Falkenberg smiles. "Without us, you stay in that pond." Firemane's eyes are still shut, and she growls softly. "And I'd love to kill you, too. But.. He's.. Right.. He has less to loose than us.." Pendalis moves over the Firemane, "What's up?" Melissa seems to be shifting her attention between Firemane and Shog, at the moment the majority of it is concentated on Shog, with only the sidelong glances occasionaly at Firemane. Firemane is standing stiffly, eyes shut and tail held tightly in one hand. Despirately trying to control her fight or flight reaction. LeBeau looks to the others "Wha if nodding happens back on da ship we ar stuck here en less den tree hours anyway. Falkenberg looks at Firemane. "I dunno about that. I mean, I'd hate to be Gumble, but then, I'm not. He's the last of his kind, and he's stuck in a slimy bog." Rolling that one good baleful reddish yellow eye, the Thul grungles blurbily and replies to Falkenberg: "I called you out of good faith, ssshoft creature. Thissssh indicatesssh willingnesssh to cooperate. Now, time issssh wasssheting. Do you want to take me to Ssssshanctuary, or posssture?" Pendalis cringes and asks someone else, "Who's he?" Melissa nods towards the slug, "One of the Thul, the last of the Thul it seems." Pendalis spots Shog, "So, a real Thul in person." He says to himself, maybe to someone near him. Pendalis nods at Melissa, "What's his bargain?" Melissa shrugs,"he gets out, we get what we want." Shog checks an electronic device in its good hand. "We have lessssh than a glornsssh." Falkenberg chuckles at Shog. "Well, it's LeBeau's ship...but if it were all the same to me, I'd posture a while more." Pendalis cocks an eyebrow, "That's all?" He glances at the pond, "Sounds a bit "fishy" to me." He sighs and looks the Thul over. LeBeau motions with his pistol from the pond towards them "I don car if we god less den a glornsh o twendy o dem. Ged yer slimy ass o'er here now." Pendalis shrugs, "Hey, he messes us, and we're stuck here. We don't do something, we're stuck here. No much in the way of options." The comm crackles with transmissions overlapping transmissions. 'Fire' and '1000 dead' can be made out however. Shog waves that wounded arm slightly. "But I am injured, ssshoft creature. Sssshomeone musssht carry me." Melissa glances towards Pendalis giving him a harsh look, something akin to, "Shut the hell up." Pendalis eyes Melissa, "Sure." He sighs and crosses his arms. "I ain't carryin' him." Melissa looks back towards Lebeau and then steps towards the creature, scanning with her medical scanner in hopes of picking something up. THe comm crackles, the voice coming from it one of despair..."1000 dead....hundreds of thousands injured.....nearly 200,000 homeless....." "...Or slide, whatever," Fulton corrects. Pendalis cringes at the comm, "Sounds very, very bad." LeBeau charges his weapon up wit ha soft humming "Hey slime ball I don really care wha yu wan yu've enconvineced us enough already so yu eider leave dat pon by yerself o we'll carry yer limp dead body oud o dare. Falkenberg holds up his comm and winces. "Guess the Vannies have some explaining to do. The Nemoni must be praying for us to leave this universe fast." Pendalis glances sharpley at Lebeau, saying something in a low voice. Firemane nods softly, and then opens her eyes, the real thing being less horrible than her vision. "We don't have a choice.." She visibly winces at Shogs words. "Someone help him.." Her ears are drooping at the sound of the comm. "I've had enough death for today.." Her body now seems lifeless. Pendalis whispers to LeBeau. Melissa nods a tiny bit, "Hate to say it...but i think the slime balls right." The comm crackles, "Leave.....take your ship....and leave....let...no further words be said. Your ship, the Gettysburg, can never return...." Pendalis sighs at Firemane, "I'll agree with you on that. But I'm still not carrying him." Melissa adds, "He can't get out of there himself.." Falkenberg frowns and holsters his gun. Melissa glances at Falk and takes her medkit off, handing it backwards towards Firemane for her to hold, "You can't carry him by yourself Mr. Falkenberg." Pendalis throws his hands up, "Fine. I'll carry him." He grumbles and looks the Thul over disgustedly. LeBeau growls faintly "Fine. Help id oud o dare, bu id had bedder no ooze all o'er my ship o 'll break ids oder arm." Shog looks to weigh a good 500 pounds. "Yeah, doc, thanks. Let's see what we can do." He steps toward the pond. "But LeBeau, if he does anything, shoot him. I'll move." Wet. And slimy. Melissa looks at the big, 500 lb slug and sighs slightly, "Good chance of that Remy." she says, stepping towards the pond with Falkenebrg and Pendalis. Pendalis pulls his pants up over his knees and wades into the pond, "I'll need some help." He adds after some eyeing. Pendalis spots the three, "I'll grab his body, one of you get his arm and his forebody." Firemane looks over Shog, her breath now hardly coming at all. "Watch out for the Nemoni.." She says softly, her voice emotionless. Pendalis adds, "Don't forget his, ahh," he ponders, "Tail." Melissa doesn't bother to attempt and raise her pant legs as she wades in. "You want tail or body, Mr. falkenberg?' Shog rolls back and forth, preparing to be lifted. Fulton watches, the scene eliciting a mixture of disgust and amusement on his face. Waves form and dash against the shoreside village. Whole houses are swept of their foundations... Pendalis glares at the Thul, "don't try anything, funny, buddy." He straps the straps down tight over his pistol, moving the belt so the holster faces back. He slides his arms around the Thul, careful not to hurt their only hope. "Why me?" "What issssh 'funny?' the worm inquires. Falkenberg wades into the pond carefully, trying to avoid Nemoni ships. "I'll take the midsection, doc. You grab the head, Pendalis can get the tail." He looks at Shog. "And you behave yourself, or I bring out some salt." Pendalis shakes his head, "Don't worry about it. I'll shoot you if you violate my idea of funny." Firemane turns away from the scene, looking a little ill. "I'm.. Going back to the ship.." She growls softly, before fleeing the area. LeBeau holsters his weapon "Alrigh bu I don wan id roaming aboud. We can store id en da carbo hold an one o two o yu can watch o'er id. Doc I guess yu volunteer encase id wans medical attention. Firemane has left. Melissa nods a bit to Falkenberg, "Got it.." she says moving to secure its head, "Yea i'll volunteer.." she mentions as she works on securing its head, a mild look of disgust on her features. Pendalis grunts and lifts once everyone is in position. Shog stares unblinkingly up at Melissa with that baleful reddish yellow eye. "Sssshoft creaturessssh are sssho hideousssh." Melissa says, "on the count of three.." obviousely having had practice lifting patients. As Pendalis begins lifting she is not prepared to lift. Pendalis sighs and continues to wait for the others. "Whenever." Melissa nods, "On the count of three.." she ignores the slimy slugs comments for now, "1.." LeBeau says, "'ll go lower da ramp to da cargo hold."" Pendalis nods and begins to flex. LeBeau has left. Falkenberg wraps his arms around the slimy creature's midsection. "Look who's talking, slimeball." He nods to Melissa. "Ready when you are." Melissa says, "2..." Melissa then calls "3." simultaneously attempting to lift its bulbous head. Pendalis grunts and turns red in the face a bit, hauling the slimey, wet carcass of a being. Falkenberg hoists the creature's midsection. Shog sighs in slorgish ecstacy. "It issssh like the old timessssh in the Thul Dominion..." Fulton, too, turns and leaves. Pendalis grumbles in a small fit of breathing, "Hurry up, let's get moving." He pants heavily. Hearing the comment, he "accidentally" jostles the Thul, "Whoops. Sorry." He grins evilly. Fulton has left. Melissa grunts as she helps carry the large creatures, pant legs now went from the pond, "God how i'd love to drop 'em!" Falkenberg grunts as he lifts the weight. "Obviously....the thul...never discovered....deodorant.." Shog has left. Meadow This wide open meadow covers several football fields. The highway goes straight through it to the center, where a tiny bustling metropolis is situated. The city is almost covered by the tall meadow grass, but some of the skyscrapers poke above it showing where the city resides. Off in the distance, rolling hills continue on for miles. Falkenberg has a look of extreme distaste on his face as he helps haul the slimy creature. Pendalis trudges in, panting and carrying the incredibly heavy slug. "Stupid little slime-roach." He grumbles abnd heads towards the ship. Shog glorbles merrily, its tentacles writhing. LeBeau pulls a small remote from his belt and a small hatch on the side of the ship opens and a ramp lowers leading into the cargo hold. He looks back to the others "Once yer abord da cargo hold es connected to da cock pid so jus close da ramp an we can ged oud o here Melissa grunts, "Mist just..undo my oathe to...not do harm...for this thing." Pendalis nods and tries to haul the carcass into the ship along with the others. He continues grumbling, his face holding the red hue. Shog boards the Lone Wolf. Shog has left. LeBeau boards the Lone Wolf. LeBeau has left. You board the Lone Wolf. Cockpit - LoneWolf - A long narrow room with doors coming in from the left, right, and rear of the ship. There are some consoles near the front of the ship and some status panels near the rear of the room. There is a large window looking out towards the front of the ship. Pendalis arrives from Air Lock. Pendalis has arrived. LeBeau mans the Navigation Console. Melissa arrives from Air Lock. Melissa has arrived. Pendalis heads into Cargo Hold. Pendalis has left. Firemane is hunched up in the fore corner of the ship, hands and trenchcoat wrapped around her knees, resting her forehead on her arms. A close inspection might reveal that she is shivering over the entire length of her body. She looks up as LeBeau and the others enter, rising unsteadly to her feet and moving out of the way. Fulton arrives from Air Lock. Fulton has arrived. Falkenberg frowns. "I'll go keep an eye on our...passenger." He draws his pistol and heads for the cargo bay. You head into Cargo Hold. Cargo Hold - LoneWolf - A small plain room with a hard floor and bare walls. This room looks almost like a small cargo hold except for a food processor and bathroom facilities in the corner. Pendalis trudges down into the Cargo hold, holster straightened and pistol in hand, "Behave." Falkenberg wipes some of the slime from his hands, and hops up onto a nearby crate. "So...sluggy boy. Let's chat." Shog blorgles, tentacles writhing as it surveys the room with a baleful eye. "Thissssh plasssshe lackssssh...character. It issssh so...generic." Pendalis sighs, peering down at his filth-soaked clothes, "Yeah, Lord Slimeslug. Don't die on us. I want the pleasure of that." He settles back onto a crate, trying to wipe some horribly stinking filth from himself. Falkenberg chuckles. "Complain to the owner. I'm sure he'd love some decorating tips from someone who drips a slimy ooze. [Ch: 102.50] - <> Nemoni Space ... dis es ... Lone ... ... hav retireved wha we came fo an tank yu fo yer ... us. We ... be ... now. - EOT - Melissa arrives from Cockpit. Melissa has arrived. Melissa steps in, medkit in her hand. Pendalis snorts, "So, your filthship, How'er yer fellow Thul doing?" he pauses, listening to some inaudible voice, "Oh, they're all dead? Too bad." Falkenberg and Pendalis are sitting on crates looking at Shog. Pendalis whistles innocently as Melissa enters. He jerks a thumb at the slug, "He doesn't like the decor, be careful." Shog glances slimily toward Pendalis. "Yesssh, but with your help, we will live again." "So...as I was saying, slimy boy, let's chat," Falkenberg says, waving his gun in the air casually as he talks, in Shog's general direction. "What do you mean by that? How will you live again?" Melissa now freely gives Shog a glaring look, "How? By torturing little kids again?" Pendalis chuckles and shakes his head, "Sure." He spots a long tube and some packing tabe. He holds up the tube to Shogs arm from some distance away, one eye shut, comparing the fit. "Hey, we could repair that with this pipe and some tape!" he jokes. He chuckles cruelly. Shog wriggles its mouth tentacles. "You will provide me with the genetic material required for Thul replikasssshun. In ekssschange, I will sssshend you home." Melissa glances towards Falkenberg as he readies to start a conversation and shakes her head slightly, opening the medkit on the deck. Pendalis shrugs, "Long as you don't get to follow." Falkenberg frowns. "How, exactly, will we provide you with that genetic material?" Pendalis looks over to Falk, "Rudimentary. He wants to use his genetic material." Melissa doesn't seem ver interested in conversing with this creature as she busies herself organizing the contents of the kit. Shog turns his attention to the medical member of the team. "Your corpssshhhessssh, ressshently frosssshen." Pendalis stops, "Our genetic material?" He ponders, "We wouldn't be compatable, would we?" Melissa shakes her head, "They get a decent burial, not a chance to be your guinea pigs." Shog wriggles its tentacles. "You have been in the passsht." Melissa looks up from where she works, eyes on Shog. A slow smile crosses his face. "Hmm. Recently frozen, eh?" He glances at Melissa. "I can think of a few people who were recently frozen..." Pendalis nudges Falk and whispers to him. Pendalis whispers, "Heh, let's give him some synthetic genetic material based off fruit flys or something. Heh." Melissa shifts her eyes towards Falkenberg, a look of disbelief in her eyes before what he says dawns on her and she shakes her head slighlty, "Don't think so." Shog swings his loathsome head toward Falkenberg. "You will help ussssh then?" Pendalis coughs something unintelligible. You swear you make out the words, "No," something about slime, and then a "filth-ridden maggot" phrase. Not too sure, though. Melissa then smirks lgihtly, "Course..would be a fitting end." Pendalis whispers to Melissa. Falkenberg smiles, and waves his gun in the direction of the slug, casually. "If the people I'm thinking of are available, I'd be all for it. But I'm not generally consulted on decisions like that. Still..." he looks at Shog. "How do we know you'd help us?" Pendalis shrugs, "He doesn't help us, we kill him and toss him out the airlock. He helps us, maybe we'll cooperate. Pendalis just looked at you. Shog sways its head back and forth, flipping slime about and dribbling excess water from the earflaps. "I could leave at any time. My pressshenssssh alone sssshould be promisssshe enough." Melissa leans back on her heel, "If I remember correctly, they are available." Falkenberg chuckles. "You couldn't leave that pond anytime you wanted." Pendalis slaps his knee, "Leave?" Shog waves that little electronic device in his hand, squeezes it, and vanishes in a flash of blue light. Shog has left. Pendalis smacks his head, "Ohno." Falkenberg frowns. Falkenberg speaks out loud. "Ok, ok, point taken." Melissa frowns, "Dammit." Pendalis nods, "You conniving little slug, you made us carry you for nothing!" [Ch: 102.50] - <> Sanctuary Comman ... es da ... ... hav ... da ... Thul an ... ... to dock now. ... ... ... allowed ... ... ... - EOT - Falkenberg says into his commlink, "Um, LeBeau, this is Falkenberg. We have a little problem." [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - Pendalis cocks his head, "A little?" [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - Melissa shakes her head, "I'd say we have one HELL of a problem. Falkenberg says into his commlink, "Uh, yeah, our Thul just...stepped out for a few minutes." Falkenberg listens to his comm. "Apparently he appeared on Sanc." Melissa shakes her head and closes the kit quickly, "How the hell are we supposed to trust an animal like that?" Pendalis listens, "Sanc? That conniving little bastard of a slug made us carrying him for nothing?" [Ch: 102.50] - <> Yeah, you guys such a great job...I am sure we'll be able to hold it. - EOT - Pendalis sighs, "Dernit. Hope we get back soon." Falkenberg sighs and heads toward the cockpit. "No point in sitting here." He holsters his gun. Cockpit - LoneWolf - A long narrow room with doors coming in from the left, right, and rear of the ship. There are some consoles near the front of the ship and some status panels near the rear of the room. There is a large window looking out towards the front of the ship. Pendalis steps up from the bay, "Stupid conniving slug made us carrying him for nothing." Melissa has arrived. Fulton frowns as he hears Falk's voice through the commlink, and bits from Command that managed to get through. "Delightful." Melissa steps in, medkit in hand once again, head changing. Falkenberg steps in from the cargo bay, and sighs. "Well, ok, so I suppose we should have searched those folds of slime for a matter transporter. But this was my first giant slug." LeBeau pulls the earpiece from his head and turns to thsoe comming in from the cargo hold "Wha da hell happen? [Ch: 102.50] - - EOT - Firemane glances behind her. "What?" Falkenberg listens to the comm. "Inform Sanc control Lebeau...the Thul is after genetic material. Corpses." LeBeau groans "Yu should o led me shood hem" Firemane growls softly. "I'll give him a damn corpse.. Where did he go?" Pendalis shakes his head, "What would that solve? We need to get back to Sanc now, and con them into letting us aboard." [Ch: 102.50] - <> ... Wolf> Comman ... ... ... Wolf. ... Thul es ... genetic material, ... probaly ... Sn a securidy team to da morge an yu ... fin id - EOT - Firemane turns on her commlink. Melissa looks over twoards Fire and shakes her head, "Fire, calm down..no use." The ship roars and lurches as it enters OtherSpace. The ship reverberates slightly as it speeds through Otherspace. The ship shudders as it drops out of OtherSpace. Falkenberg listens to the comm. "Sanc reports he's in medbay. And they got rid of that ship, the quarantine is over," he says to Pendalis. You feel a sudden jerk as the ship speeds up. Pendalis sighs, "That's good." Firemane rolls her eyes. "Oh great. A bug hunt. Why'd he bother with us at all then?" LeBeau mubbles as he pulls the ship into a docking lane "Still should o led me shood ids slimy ass." Melissa shrugs "To make us come out here?" she pulls the wet pantlegs away from her legs, "To get us soaked and dirty?" Pendalis plops down in a chair, filth-stained clothes and all, "I had to carry a little maggot for no reason, ruined my new threads, probably melted my boots." Melissa glances up at Lebeau, "OH i don't know...seems like a lot of other people on this ship got first priority." Pendalis chuckles, "Shea." Falkenberg sighs and shakes his head at LeBeau. "If we were going to shoot him, we should have left him in that pond, or not gone after him at all. But obviously he could have gotten out of there anytime he wanted to." Firemane growls very softly. "He's mine to shoot. Besides, we still need his slimy ass.. Alive, and willing.." Pendalis waves a hand, "No way, I get to shoot him if it comes to that," He sighs and settles back, waiting for arrival. Pendalis eyes Firemane, "You didn't have to carry the little slug while he writhed in ecstacy." Falkenberg rubs his chin. "He said he wants recently frozen corpses for material to reproduce. I was thinking maybe we could give him the not-quite-corpses of Fagin and Volstov if he helps us." Pendalis shrugs, "That'd work. I dunnah care much for them. Long as none of those slimy maggots come back to our universe." Falkenberg looks at Pendalis. "Firemane has better reasons to want to kill the Thul than you, Pendalis." Pendalis eyes Falk, "So?" Firemane growls at Pendalis. "You didn't have him drill a hole in your brain.. And yeah.. Feeding Fagin to him.. Well, could we record the screams?" Melissa nods in agreement with falk, she tosses a look towards Firemane then looks back, "So, lets just drop it alright." Melissa tenses a bit at Firemane's discourse, "Fire. drop it, lets forget about the slug 'till we *have* to deal with him again." Falkenberg leans toward Firemane to whisper something. Pendalis grumbles, "Ah who cares, prolly won't get to shoot him anyway." Firemane looks up at Falkenberg and whispers something back. Melissa nods towards the cargo bay, "Wanna go help me with some stuff in there, Fire?" Firemane pauses, and then with a deep breath rises to her feet. "Sure.." Melissa nods and steps towards the cargo bay door, but waits for firemane to enter before following. Firemane walks into the cargobay, tail no longer nervously twitching, but neither is it relaxed. Falkenberg sighs and yawns. "How far out are we, LeBeau?" Firemane heads into Cargo Hold. Firemane has left. Melissa heads into Cargo Hold. Melissa has left. Pendalis settles into the chair, watching the two leave. "Yeah, how long, oh capitan." LeBeau says, "Jus o'er 1100 hms" Pendalis drums his fingers on the armrest impatiently. "I need ta get me one of those teleporters." Falkenberg yawns. "Lebeau, you DO have engines on this thing, yes?" Pendalis nearly falls asleep, but Falk's voice jerks him awake, "Ayiee! Yeah.." You feel the ship begin to slow. You feel a slight force as the ship glides to a halt ... LeBeau slows the ship to a stop as he bring it in to dock The enormous bay doors slowly begin to slide open in front of the ship. The Lone Wolf pushes forward as it glides in and docks. LeBeau unmans the Navigation Console. Pendalis shakes softly in his seat as they dock. "Let's go!" Pendalis stands. Falkenberg nods. LeBeau stands and jump from his seat "AL righ ged down to Medical, 'll ged da ladies." Meanwhile, back in medical... Medical Bay The medical bay would rival a fully equipped planetside hospital. It has been divided into operating theaters, isolation wards, intensive care wards, recovery rooms, and examination rooms. Doctors offices have doctors from every race know to allow those coming here comfort in relating to someone of their own kind. A pharmecutical dispensing facility has been set up with around the clock staffing to allow those with minor aches and pains access to medications. This area is kept super sterile and clean as a pin. Gumble looks up, "MmmmmMM?" Freyssinet smiles. "That was too funny, to see this hughe demarian not understand what happened to him ! You helped me, this evening." Freyssinet motions a nurse to evacuate medbay, and wheels Gumble to the nicest hospital room. Gumble nods and smiles, "MMMmmmm well the bigger they are....and all that...mmmmmmm....most Demarians are too loud for their own good...mmm....." He peers around, "and where is Doctor Fernandez?" Freyssinet chuckles. "Dr Fernandez is surely on the Gettysbug or with the Demarian Militia ship." Freyssinet adds pensivly. "Kirk's on the Getty too. I wish we would have news." Gumble finds this news interesting, "MMMmmmmm on the Gettysbugr? I don't understand....mmmmmmm.....I thought that she was wanting to operate on my head....mmmmmmm...." Freyssinet shrugs. "When they called for leaving, she didn't told me where she was heading. I hope I'll go a job as good as hers." Gumble ponders this momentarily, "MMMMmmmmmmm It must be something urgent or she wouldn't have left...m.mmmmm.....but...are you sure you're up to it? mmMMMMMMM?" Gumble glances down at the doctor's missing leg. Freyssinet catches Gumble's glance. "Don't worry. I still can do surgery, and Melissa will come back in time." Gumble nods, ".....ah.....well then...mmmmm.. let us prepare...mmmmm...." Freyssinet answers "As soon as we have knews, I can prepare you. It's too early." Gumble nods his head and smiles, "MMMMMMMmmmmm I see.....mmmmmmmmm" Freyssinet takes a seat. "May I ask you a question, senator ?" She smiles softly. Gumble smiles as he looks back up at Freyssinet, "mmmmmmmmmm why, of course, Doctor. Anything you wish...mmmmmMMMMMM" Freyssinet asks. "What's you're age ?" She blushes. Gumble is jiggled in his seat. The wheelchair rolls slightly as Gumble tries to regain his composure. Gumble looks up at Freyssinet, "MMmmmmm What was that?" An explosion rattles the ship. Anyone happening to look outside will see a rapidly dispersing cloud of sparkling gas. Freyssinet startles at the explosion. "What ? Shht!" She frowns. "The disguised bomb ship, I guess." Seeing outside : "Apparently, it blown away outside. I hope there's no casualty ..." Gumble ponders, "Bomb.....Ship?" [Loudspeaker]: Attention, all personnel. The crisis in the flight deck has been resolved. Freyssinet answers "The heykatiri ship. Someone wanted to avenge the fact that Sanctuary had to take part in their conflict." She sights. "Violence, only violence ... " Shanara arrives from Medical Quarter . Shanara has arrived. Gumble nods sadly, "MMMmmmmmmm yes... it has been a never-ending problem here....mmmmm......" Gumble tugs at Freyssinet's sleeve and smiles. Shanara is brought in on a stretcher. She seems very pale for a Hekayti, and is unconscious. Freyssinet is in a room with Gumble. Hearing someone enters, she motions the Senator. "Sorry, I'll be right back" And comes to the main desk. Gumble says, "Wait! Take me with you....mmmmm....I am just as concerned....mmmmMM" One of the paramedics says, "She escaped from that cloaked ship that just exploded outside. THAT was a close call. She seems to be suffering from shock and dehydration." Gumble leans back quickly as he is briskly wheeled out into the hall. "MMMMMmmmmm my goodness." Freyssinet nods, and motions the medics towards ICU. She pushes Gumble with them as good as she can. Shog arrives from Medical Quarter . Shog has arrived. Freyssinet scanns the Heikati, and quickly installs a IV with serum phy. One of the medics install a monitor to check the vitals. Gumble steadies himself as his wheelchair is parked, then wheeled further away, "MMMMmmmm whoa.....a little fast there....mmmmmmmmm...." Shog shlorgles oozily into the medical reception area. The paramedic team quickly moves the patient to the ICU as ordered. They chat a little, "I can't believe that rebel tried to kill us!" "I don't know a lot about polydenum, but I most certainly wouldn't want to fly aboard a ship with any on board." Gumble is being wheeled by Freyssinet toward the back of the room. Gumble looks down at Shanara, "MMMMMmm poor thing....I hope she makes it...mmmmmmm" Freyssinet frowns at the Rope's marks on the wrists of Shanara. Shog grungles as it reaches the reception desk, mouth tentacles writhing as the massive worm-like creature drips slime all over the carpet. It reaches over with its good hand and taps the silver bell. PING! Muffled slightly by ooze. [Loudspeaker]: All personnel, be on the lookout for a Thul! Her vitals are subnormal, but not critical. She is exhibiting signs of malnutrion, dehydration, and muscle atrophy, consistant with being restrained and confined for a long period without proper attention. The receptionist shrieks as Shogs wakes her up. "Whaaaat ? " Regaining compusure "What .. could I do for you ?" The receptionist faints. Shog sighs, oozing some more. "Sssshoft creaturesssh. I have no time for thisssh." It checks the display on the electronic device it carries. "Ten blarnsh! Where isssssh Sssshenator Gumble?" Freyssinet frowns. "She has been a prisonner or equivalent " Gumble sits outside the ICU door looking at Freyssinet work on Shanara. His attention is briefly distracted by the high-pitched monotone of the bell. He turns his head pleasantly. His smile melts away as he stares at the form before him. He stares blankly. Shog spots the Castori and slithers glorpily along, wiggling its mouth tentacles as it approaches. "Cassshtori, it isssh almosssht time..." Gumble sniffs at the air as he watches the Thul, "MMMmmmmmm here.......mmmmm..." he nods his head, "...and I am ready..." Shog presses a small button on the electronic device it is a carrying. BEEP. A small, simple sound. Then, Shog says, "It issssh done." Freyssinet , hearing the annoucment, gets livid. She turns and sees the Thull. "Don't you dare touch him !" She startles at the button. "What the heck is that ?" Gumble's blood pressure rises about 10 points as he closes his eyes, awaiting the fate which lies before him. No explosion comes. Shog says: "I have disssharmed the eksssshplossshive." Freyssinet looks more than surprised. "And we can take the bomb out, now ?" Shog turns that single baleful reddish yellow eye toward Freyssinet. "It issssh out. Gone. Teleported into sssshpassshe." The sound of Gumble's heavy breathing is all that is heard from him. His eyes remain shut. Slowly his eyelids open, as if for the first time. He stares in awe at the Thul. Freyssinet is so happy she hugs the senator very unceremoniously. "You made it, Senator ! I knew it !" She laughs and cries together. Shog waves a wounded-looking right arm. "Thisssh limb requiressssh treatment." Freyssinet nods to the Thull. "If you can wait one minute, I finidh with a patient, and I'll be .. very happy ! to help you." Gumble ooooofs in amazement at he stares at the Thul. He then breaks into a once-again familiar smile, "Doctor...mmmmmmm.....I believe you have a patient here in need of assistance.....mmmmmmm" Freyssinet turns back to Shanara. "Give her penty of hydrataion, and clean her wounds. She should do fine." "Yes Doctor." The assistants snap to their work on Shanara. Gumble smiles at Shog, "And give my regards....mmmmmm.....to your assistant...." Freyssinet motions Gumble and the Thull to get out of ICU and follows them, hobbling. She enters a private booth. "What are those wounds", she asks the Thull. Shog waves the arm weakly. "I believe it issssh broken." Freyssinet scanns the arm. "How long ago ?" Gumble triumphantly stands from his wheelchair and steps steadily towards the Thul. He smiles as he looks at it and shakes his head. Shog hrms slorgishly. "Approkssshimately eighteen glornssssh ago, when I teleported to Nemoni and missshcalculated, materialisssshing sssshome ssshikssshteeen blurthlessssh above the sssshurfasssshe of a lake." Freyssinet chuckles, and rings a nurse. "Bring me what's necessary for a splint, please." To Shog 'Does it hurt much ?" She takes a labcoat and gloves. Gumble begins to chuckle and puts an arm on the Thul's good arm. "MMMmmmm you have come to the right place.....mmmmm....The Doctor here is one of the best....mmmmm" Shog regards the doctor with that single eye of his and grumbles. "Ssssshe isssh hideousssh, but perhapssssh sssshe issssh competent." The nurse comes back. "Here it is, doctor." Gumble scratches his nose, "Now, now.....mmmmmm....you are in OUR operating room....now....mmmmm....you must behave...mmmm....yourself....mmmmm....." Freyssinet laughs frankly. "Thanks for the compliment, mister ?" to the Thull. To Gumble, "So you don't think my bedside manners are too bad ?" Freyssinet tells the Thull. "I'm going to put you a splint. it may hurt when I install it, so please lie on this bed." She puts paper on the bed. Gumble glances at Shog, then at the bed, "mmmmmmmmmMMMmm you're going to need a LOT more .....paper......doctor.....mmmmmm" Shog turns its massive head, attached to its easily 500 pound bulk, toward the bed. "Are you sssheriousssh?" the nurse seems fascinated by the Thull and stands here, looking. Falkenberg arrives from Medical Quarter . Falkenberg has arrived. Falkenberg walks in to medbay, his pistol in hand. "Where are you, you blasted slug?" Shog swivels his head toward the voice. "Ah, the boassshtful sssshoft creature." Freyssinet is in her private booth, with Gumble and the Thull. The receptionist is laying on the floor, apparently fainted. Gumble turns his head at the sound of Falkenberg, "MMMMMmmmmMM Hallo?" Pendalis arrives from Medical Quarter . Pendalis has arrived. Pendalis steps into the mainlobby, "Shog here? He asks outload Freyssinet frowns. "No, stand here. ' She puts the splint. Freyssinet is in her private booth, with Gumble and the Thull. The receptionist is laying on the floor, apparently fainted. Falkenberg follows the sound of the Thul's voice, barging into the examination room. "There you are. Made us carry you out of that bog when you could have left it any time....you miserable, disgusting..." Gumble frowns, "Put that away...mmmmmmm.....don't bring that in....here" Remus arrives from Medical Quarter . Remus has arrived. Shog rolls its baleful eye. "If I waited for you idiotsssh to finissssh patting yourssshelvesssh on the posssshterior for capturing me, the sssshenator would have died. Asssh it issssh, I jussssht made it." Remus steps into the medical bay, bandaged hands tucked into his sleeves as he heads straight for the receptionist's desk. Gumble to your surprise is now standing and he looks quite normal. Freyssinet hobbles quickly between Falk and the Thull. "Senator Gumble is safe, Mr Falkenberg. Be quiet" LeBeau arrives from Medical Quarter . LeBeau has arrived. Pendalis sighs and talks quietly to Falkenberg, "He actually made me carry him." He seems to be dwelling on that fact. Falkenberg glances at Gumble, then holsters his weapon. "If that's the case, why didn't you just beam youself here from the planet?" Shog wriggles its mouth tentacles. "A tessssht of trussssht." Remus dings the 'ring bell for service' before his dark eyes are drawn away to the slug-induced dishturbansh.. Gumble sighs, a large smile on his face, as he looks back at the Thul. The receptionist is out cold behind the counter. Shanara is just visible lying in an ICU, being treated by paramedics. Gumble looks to Pendalis, "And..mmmmmmm.....you never quite get....used...to the slime....mmmmmm" Pendalis eyes Gumble, "You carry him next time." He sighs and settles back, keeping a cautious eye on the slug. LeBeau walks in and noticing the recptionist out at the desk he begins to head to the morgue, but stops by Gumble's on his way there Remus hrms, not taking the time to notice the ko'd desk clerk. Taking several steps before hesitating, he furrows his brow and eyes the gargantuan slug thing. Falkenberg continues to frown. "I see. So, now you trust us, eh? And I suppose deactivating the bomb you put in the senator's head is supposed to make us trust you now?" Gumble is standing next to Shog and Freyssinet is attending to its injured limb. Shog bobs the slimy mound of head. "I came here and sssshaved him from further harm. Thissssh ssshould be yet another indikassshun of my desssshire to help." Pendalis sighs and waves a hand at the Slug, "Yeah, Yeah, next time tell us." Freyssinet stands between Shog and Falkenberg, looking very tired. "No weapons here, Me Falkenberg." Gumble turns back to Shog, "Now then....mmmmmmm.....by the .....fact that my head is...still attached to the rest of my body...MMMMmmmmmMMMMM I can assume that your NEXt-T...m.mmmmmmm....coarse of action will be to ...mmmm..send us all home...." Remus dodges any obsticles or people to make his way to the area of action, absently reaching up to rub a spot just behind his ear with a bandaged hand. Shog turns its attention back to Gumble. "No. Firssssht, I will ssshecure the genetic material I require for replikasssshun. Then I will begin to prepare thisssh vessshel for transsshfer back to the home universssshe." Remus suddenly growls, pushing his way between a large pair of legs blocking his way.. "You... YOU!!!" Falkenberg sighs. "Fine. Well, now the powerful people get to decide whether to give you what you want. Although if they listen to me, they'll give you the genetic material of a certain Pirate King and his erstwhile majordomo." He glances at Freyssinet. "I put the gun away, doc, but I'm never without it." Freyssinet turns to Shog. "Genetic material ?" She spots the mystic kid. Pendalis holds Remus back, "Whoa buddy." Shog swivels toward the sound of the shouting child. "Yessssh?" Freyssinet nods to Falk. To Remus : "Calm, down, child. You're safe." Remus digs his fingers into Pendalis, attempting to claw himself free. "You.. you don't WANT Fagin.. you want US." Remus is struggling against Pendalis' grip as everyone seems to be gathered around Shog and Gumble. Freyssinet frowns, puts an arm around Remus, and asks Shog. "Which material genetic do you ask for" Shog huffs oozily, flinging slime about. "The sssshoft creature issssh mad. I require only enough material to effect replikassshun. Two recently ekssshpired and presssherved bodiesssh should be adequate." Volestad strides into the Medical Bay, surrounded by a shimmering glow of red. Gumble glances back at Shog quizically, "mmmmMMMMmmmm...Fagin? That was not part of the....mmmmmm...original deal, mmmmmmmmmm Why would you know....about....Fagin......you've been talking with the ....mmmmm Great Mind....again haven't you...." Pendalis says, "Hey, Hey, kid. Calm down." Remus growls, "You IDIOTS, he needs PITUATARY FLUID!!!" Falkenberg shakes his head. "*I* suggested we give him Fagin. He just wants genetic material." Melissa arrives from Medical Quarter . Melissa has arrived. Firemane arrives from Medical Quarter . Firemane has arrived. Pendalis grimaces but holds him back, "Someone do something with him?" Volestad tilts his head, looking toward Remus as he shouts. "Who does?" He flares with yellow light. Melissa steps in followed by firemane, the bottom of her pants obviouselly wet. Her medkit is strapped across her chest. She enters to find a full house, just as expected. Gumble is standing, (Yes! Standing!) next to Shog and Freysinnet. The others are gathered round. Pendalis eyes Remus, "Pituitary fluid? So, he can get that from Fagin and Vol(OOC can't remember the rest), they're still alive. I think." Freyssinet is between Shog and Falkenberg, facing Shog. Melissa spots the crowd and heads in that direction. Falkenberg shrugs. "Technically, he said recent corpses would do. I think those two could be put to good use, though..." Falkenberg smiles broadly. "....But perhaps I am biased in that regard." Freyssinet frowns. "replication of those 2 ? Maybe not an excellent idea. But ..." Remus clenches his fists. "Then why did he need *US* the first time? The others, the grownups wouldn't do." Gumble turns to the others, "MMMmmmmMMMMM now ask him what happens next....mmmmmmMMMmmmmm....he has contacted the Ri'Kammi...mmmmmmmmm...they are...mmmmmmmm..."waiting" for us.....mmmmmmm" Firemane follows Melissa, running one hand over her face as she does so. "Fun." She states dryly, assessing the situation. Shog tests the splint the doctor has applied to his arm, then glances toward Falkenberg. "Take my demandsssh to your leaderssssh. I will return in 24 glornssssh for a desssshissshion. Chooosssshe to assshissssht me, and I will assshissshte you." Volestad looks toward Falkenberg, then toward Shog. A small grin appears on his face. "We do need to lighten our load for any interspatial trips back to our universe..." Melissa spots Remus as she enters the crowd, and then the various othrs standing around. "mmm...yeah." is all she says. Shog presses a button on that little device of his, and vanishes in a flash of blue light. Shog has left. Remus pulls out of Freyssinet's hold, then stands stolidly, teeth clenched. Melissa puts a hand softly on Remus' shoulder as she passes, stopping a step in front of him to his left. Gumble smiles at the empty air in front of him, bobbing his head in delight, "MMMmmmmm have a nice trip...." Pendalis blinks and Shog is gone, "Again. Slimey little slug." He sighs and lets the kid go, allowing his motion to be released at once. "I've got to get changed." Volestad flares bright red, than bright blue, reciporicating the flash of Shog's teleportation. Remus balls his bandaged fists, "Nothing good will come of this." Pendalis nods at everyone, "Good luck, I need new clothes. I'll be sure to return for his... return." He jogs back out the door. [OOC] Pendalis says, "Later, gotta go." Pendalis has disconnected. Not used to seeing this boy as upset as he is now, Melissa steps in front of him, glancing towards Frey as if asking for permission to intercede. Falkenberg shrugs at Remus. "Nothing good has come of anything else we've encountered here. Par for the course." Freyssinet startles as Shog disappears, and looks at Remus, smiling reassuringly. "Time will tell, little boy. " Turning to Mel "Glad to see you. Remus says flatly, "Tell that to Newt and Mern as well." Then he simply looks up at Melissa, and holds up his bandaged hands. "I need these seen to, please." Freyssinet asks Melissa. "Any news of The Gettysburg ?" Firemane growls softly. "I swear I'm going to kill him if I get the chance." Melissa nods absently to frey, "Remus." she seems to remember the young boy's name, as he asks for his hands to be taken care of, she sees her opportunity and nods, putting an arm around the boys shoulder, "Come on..we'll take care of that." she glances back and then to falk, "let them tell you." Falkenberg coughs at the mention of the Vanguard ship. Gumble smiles as he sees Melissa and approaches her, "MMMMMMmmmmm Doctor...I am so glad to see you....mmmmmm" "Erm...the Gettysburg apparently ignored Nemoni landing instructions and..." Falkenberg fidgets, "killed a rather large number of Nemoni while landing." Remus follows, apparently once again in full control of all his faculties. "On the order of 1000, with 200,000 more made homeless." Firemane adds darkly. Bitter Demarian, oh yes. Freyssinet turns pale. "Oh, no .. poor Nemonis. That's not fair. How did they react ?" Melissa nods absently to Gumble, othe htings on her mind at the time as she walks Remus to a private room. As she steps inside she nods to the medical bed, "Hop up." Falkenberg nods. "And thousands of casualties. They were still on the planet...dealing with it..when we left." He looks at Frey, "Not too well, I'd say." Volestad hums. "I, for one, will be glad to return to our universe. Our capacity to make allies here seems to be... stunted." Falkenberg nods to Volestad. "I think the Nemoni will be glad to see us go, too. I don't know why the Gettysburg landed where it did..the landing instructions were clear." Freyssinet shakes her head. "I guess we can't help them much." To Volestad "Nemonis haven't had much good from us, I fear." Firemane looks at Volestad. "Stunted? Thats an interesting way of putting it. We've killed and injured thousands of Nemoni, double crossed the Hekayti, and are making a deal with the slugs.." Falkenberg grins at Firemane. "And don't forget, we were betrayed by a bartender." Firemane nods. "Oh yes, and that.. I forgot about that. Y'know, with all the crap going down it's really hard to remember it all." Shes babbling faintly, so it seems. Freyssinet sights. "Does any one of you need medical assistance now ?" Gumble looks down sadly and shakes his head, "Those poor Nemoni...mmmmmmm....always at the wrong end of things....mmmmmmmm" Volestad tilts his head. "The deal seems to be the only thing we have going for us right now." He looks toward Firemane and Remus. "I sympathize with your feelings toward the Thul, but they are the only ones who can help us." Falkenberg nods. "Well, I think the Gettysburg may have some explaining to do...if they ever get off Nemonus." Remus clambers up onto the bed, then holds his hands out calmly. Melissa steps towards him, looking down at his hands, "What happened?" she asks. Gumble turns to Freyssinet, "MMMmmmmmm Doctor?" Remus says, "Voltrix." His dark eyes remain focused on what the doctor is doing while he adds, "They're wrong, you know." Melissa nods slighlty and continues examingn his hands, though she seems to be taking more time then it neccesary, "I know..but its the only way us adults can think of.." Freyssinet nods in assentment at Gumble. "Now, Senator, Let us tear in scrambles your will !" Falkenberg sighs and turns to leave. "Glad you're gonna be ok, Gumble old boy." Firemane sighs and shakes her head. "I am going to sit down, and maybe hit something.. Excuse me.." She turns and walks towards the exit, pulling out her mirrorshades and putting them on, giving her face that souless look. Volestad looks toward Firemane. "What news has there been about the Hekayti?" Gumble looks up and motions her head closer to his to tell her something. Remus shakes his head. "The Thul aren't the only ones. Someone else has sent people home from Hiverspace." Melissa raises an eyebrow, "OH?" Firemane turns as she walks off, shades giving twin reflections of the small group. "News? Aside from the bombing, and the little party the milita and the Vanguard got into you mean?" Freyssinet leans toward Gumble tolisten to him. Remus shakes his head again, looking up at the doctor with dark eyes that almost seem to brim with disappointment. "The B'hiri." Gumble utters, "MMMmmmm I am 53..." and nuzzles against her cheek with a big wet bear nose. Volestad frowns, flickering red. "This is what I get for missing so many senate meetings. There was some sort of bomb threat?" Melissa frowns slighlty, she reaches into her pocket for something, a somewhat prized poession now in med bay, a vial of pain killers. "But how do we reach them? We're running out of time, Remus." Firemane stops, turning fully to face Volestad. "Been sleeping? Yeah, that ship in the landing bay tried to blow itself up.. Apparently they were stopped somehow.." Freyssinet laughs. "You were too young to join the Dream, Senator !" She hugs him. To Firemane "Any news about Getty's crew ?" Melissa puts the vial down next to her and begins unwrapping his hands. Remus says simply, "The Thul, if they really do help, will demand a price I doubt you will savor fulfilling." Falkenberg slips out the door. Falkenberg heads into Medical Quarter . Falkenberg has left. Volestad hmms. "Perhaps I should rotate my meditation schedule." Gumble smiles, "Now...mmmmmmm....fetch me my will, please....I wish...mmMMMMmmmmm to keep it...." Melissa nods slightly, eyes moving slowly up to meet the young boys, after a moment a slight smile crosses her lips and she compliments, "Your a smart kid, remus." before turning her attention back to her work, "But fortuntelly or unfortunatelly..it won't be i who make the decision..very possibly for that same reason>" Gumble chuckles and turns towards Volestad, "Why perhaps yes....mmmmmm.....Senator you should perhaps.......and you COULD say there was a bomb....threat....mmmmm....yes...." Gumble steps over toward Volestad a step. The close proximity reveals a charred scar around the top of his head in a large circle. Firemane glances at Freyssinet. "The crew? No idea, I imagine the Nemoni will be screaming for blood. But other than that, we never met them." She turns her gaze back to Volestad. "That might be an idea.." Freyssinet nods to Gumble. "I'll fetch it" She hobbles in her office and comes back with a parchiment. "No need to see this crazy attorney twice !" Remus hmmmms in response to the compliment, and as he speaks, it's almost as if he was holding back a great torrent of disappointment. "The legacy of the spider people remains, though you adults allowed it to fall to the shadows." Freyssinet tilts her head to Fire. "I hope ... They'll do fine." LeBeau heads into Medical Quarter . LeBeau has left. Melissa finishes unwrapping his hands, "Because most of us have been too busy worrying about now to think ahead..or back. It doesn't excuse us, butits the explanation. And now they have a way of getting home..and weather you or i like it...its whatsgoing to be done." Remus inspects her handiwork for a moment, before nodding slightly in approval. "I hope you are prepared to pay the pianist, as your kind are fond of saying." Absently rubbing a spot just behind his ear, the underage mystic scoots off the examination table. "The Thul have already agreed to sell us to the Hivers." Melissa frowns a bit, eyes shifting to remus, "how do you know that?" Firemane's gaze is expressionless, for it can be no other way given her shades. "I'll be seeing you." She says, and makes her exit. Properly this time. Gumble turns as he hears something down the hall, he mindlessly walks back towards the voices of Remus and Melissa. Firemane heads into Medical Quarter . Firemane has left. Remus takes the several steps his short legs need to reach the door, and pausing for a moment to say, "Because I was there." steps out. Melissa frowns and steps out after him, "remus." she calls for him, "Your not leaving me with that...what do you mean?" "MMMMMMmmmmmm the boy speaks the truth....mmmmmmmmm", says Gumble from the doorway of Remus and Melissa. Melissa shifts her eyes to Remus and frowns deeply, "Give an old doctor a break.." she looks from one to the other, "Both of you..and explain what your talking about." Freyssinet follows Gumble and the voices ; She sees Remus step out. "What did he say ?" She asks Gumble and Mel. She looks at Remus and smiles at the boy. "You kno, you look like my youger brother" She tells Remus. Gumble turns to Melissa and takes her hand, "Doctor....mmmmm.m......I was there tooo...." Remus shakes his head as he steps around the little bear, regarding the ursinoid briefly with his unusually dark eyes. "I forget your language does not carry the same intuitive logic I am used to.. The Thul... SHOG... agreed to sell this ship to the hivers while he believed us under the affect of his medications." Volestad hums slightly. "Perhaps I should see if this bomb threat lead to any damage." He begins to wander out of the bay. Volestad heads into Medical Quarter . Volestad has left. Melissa frowns slightly, "That thul did many things...and there's nothing i'd prefer then to not have any dealings with them...but with recent actions we can't remain here any longer." Freyssinet shrugs. "Sold by this bartender to the Thulls, by the Thulls to the Hive ... I hope we're worth a lot, at least." Melissa says, "We've managed to make enemies of every group we've encountered." Gumble looks up with his big brown eyes at Melissa, "MMMmmmmm the Thul....work for the Ri'Kammi...mmmm...whilst it had me on its ...table ,,," he shudders and tries to recompose himself, "...it contacted what it called...the Great Mind....the response led to a response that their...plans...mmmmmmmmmm....were in order....the Thul would lead us all...into the Great Mind's "SSSSSssssshhhway"" he imitates. Melissa's frown seems to be etched in her face now, "have either of you told this to others?" Gumble nods humbly, "I have told Dahan...mmmmmm....." Remus hmms back to Melissa, nodding in response to Gumble. "Do not think we can withstand an entire hive collective." Then, shaking his head, he replies, "Yes, but as usual, few of you adults would listen. Even Avocet.." Gumble frowns as he glances back toward teh reception area, "And....I mentioned it back up there too I believe...mmmmm" Freyssinet shudders, and keeps an eye on the kid. "Dahan shared memory with Gumble." She states to Melissa. Melissa looks back towards Remus and frowns slighlty, "Forgive us...us adults aren't known for our understanding..from each other and especially from children." Remus says, "So I've come to understand." Melissa shakes her head slighlty, "I'm not surei have the power to do anythign with this information." she looks towards Remus specifically, "I believe you and it..but i'm not quite sure what i can do with the information." Melissa adds, "Especialyl not if the senator could do nothin. Freyssinet smiles at Remus. "Some adults hide kid's heart in them, you know. I believe you too." Gumble sighs, "mmmmmmmm considering the state I was in....mmmmmmmm" Remus says, "It's not the first time. Had we taken B'hiri when we had the chance, we wouldn't be in this situation now." Glancing towards the other woman only briefly, he looks back and shrugs. "But I'm used to being ignored." Freyssinet pats Gumble. "You've done and made more than your share, senator." Melissa pats his shoudler softly, "Don't fall into the trap of not sharing your thoughts, because of expectations that they will be ignored." Gumble smiles and looks back at Freyssinet, smiling at the pat, "OOooooh I almost...forgot....mmmmm....Have you...mmmmmmmy will? Remus hmmphs. "I never have." Freyssinet smiles at Gumble and hands him the will. "By pity, senator, never again call this Gettleman in my presence !" She chuckles. Melissa nods a bit, "Good." she glances towards the door, "I have some patients to go check on. I'm not sure what i'll be abel to do, but i will do what i can. And now you.." she reaches out, to somewhat tickle his stomach, she doesn't seem to expect a reaction from him but tries to illicit one none the less, "hold up your part of the bargain and come in in a few das to get your hands checked." Gumble smiles, "Not..mmmmMMMMmmmm...not a totally bad fellow, Jacob...mmmmm a bit too clean, however...and a bit loud....mmmmmm reminds me of a Demarian...." Remus nods, not disappointing her more realistic expectations. "I shall." Freyssinet tilts her head to Remus. "Ignore ? What a shame. Ignoring a child is like ignoring future." Melissa nods a bit, "Good." she smiles and ruffles his hair, she has made i her mission to make ths young boy grin before too muchmore time passes. Remus hrms as his bluish head is assaulted, but otherwise maintains his Mystic demeanor. "Mr. Avocet tends to be more reasonable than the others." Freyssinet frowns to Gumble , and smiles again. "You're probably right, I have too much a-prioris against him." Melissa leans over and whispers somethgn to remus before stepping out. Freyssinet continues, patting her missing leg. "His offer to fill a complaint for my leg came surely only out of the good of his heart !" She laughs quietly. Melissa whispers to Remus. Freyssinet winks to Mel before she steps out. "Try to sleep, doc !" Gumble calls to Melissa before she departs, "MMMMmmmmm oh doctor..." Remus nods slightly. "But there are times when one must make noise in order to be noticed." Remus waves rigidly in farewell, as if attempting to imitate a foreign custom. Melissa glaces over at Frey as she walks out and smirks a tiny bit but nods. She stops and turs towards Gumble, she grins a bit as Remus speaks and looks towards him, "true...but most of us are too old to learn how to make sure that noise only comes when you want it to and not only as a reaction." with that she shifts her attention to gumble. But not before grinning a bit and returnign the wave. Gumble steps slowly over to her and takes her hands in his paws. He looks up into her eyes. Freyssinet puts her right hand on remus's shoulder, so thin. "Would you like a good dinner ?" She asks him, smiling warmly. "Thank you....mmmmmmmmmm", he utters softly. Remus says without looking up, "I do not consume animal." Melissa slowly smiles, albeit a bit tiredly, "No need to thank me, Senator. I told you..it was completely selfish..i don't like failure. But i appreciate it none the less." Yama arrives from Medical Quarter . Yama has arrived. Freyssinet chuckles. "I thought so, I'm vegetarian too. What about a vegetable carry ?" Gumble bends forward and wraps his arms around Melissa. Remus nods, looking up finally. "As you wish." Yama is carted into the medbay, two burly Vanguard soldiers hoisting Yama by the arms. Yama hangs, limp, face sprayed with blood and his human wrist trails it. Melissa returns the hug, "Thankyou." she responds honestly. Gumble pulls back and nods his head smiling. She pulls away from Gumble after the hug, only to catch sight of medics leading in a stretcher, "Jesus.." she says. Remus says absently, "Invoking a messiah you profess not to believe in will help little, I think." Freyssinet is in a corridor with Remus and Gumble ; the receptionist wakes up from her fright. Melissa glance back at remus but only for a moment before hading towards the stretcher. Gumble turns alarmed suddenly by the flood of people entering. He takes his will in hand and looks over it again, pondering at it a bit more thoughtgfully. He looks back over at Melissa and Freyssinet. One of the Vanguard men holds the strecher with disdain. "'parently the little civvie greased the guy who SNAFU'd the landing on Nemonus, then was a stab away from th' big sleep 'imself." Freyssinet notices the Stretcher too and hobbles to it. The soldier spits. "Murderous bastard should've finished the job. Coward." Melissa frowns, as she looks down, "Dammit, its the Senator..." she looks up at frey, "Take him to a private room and see ot him." she looks towards the left and calls out the names of three nurses, motioning for them to join frey." Melissa then looks back towards the soldier and frowns,"Who did he kill?" Freyssinet asks the soldiers. "What are you talking about ?" Remus glances up at Freyssinet in silent farewell before leaving this new excitement to those better suited for it. "Again, violence begets violence..." he says softly as he makes his way towards the door. The soldiers follow Frey sullenly, depositing Yama on the bed as quickly as possible before he was leaving. He turns to Melissa, shrugging. "Some green Recruit, landed on the wrong place on Nemonus. Killed thousands, wasted a whole town. Still, he didn't deserve to die..." Melissa frowns and shakes her head sighing, "Is he gonna be brought in here? And what family do we have to contaft, any idea?" Freyssinet escorts the sick on a stretcher to a room, hobbling. She shouts Remus. "Come whenever you want, I'll always listen to you !" Freyssinet enters a room, and, once the medics have put Yama on the bed, scans him. Freyssinet examines the stab on Yama's arm. Gumble frowns and follows the doctors into the other room. One medic puts the monitors on Yama, The other installs a perf. Tears continue to pour down Yama's face-some of the blood on his face was from his teeth puncturing his lower lip. Gumble shakes his head as he sees the sight. Falkenberg arrives from Medical Quarter . Falkenberg has arrived. Melissa waves Falkenberg heads into Medical Quarter . Falkenberg has left. Medical Bay The medical bay would rival a fully equipped planetside hospital. It has been divided into operating theaters, isolation wards, intensive care wards, recovery rooms, and examination rooms. Doctors offices have doctors from every race know to allow those coming here comfort in relating to someone of their own kind. A pharmecutical dispensing facility has been set up with around the clock staffing to allow those with minor aches and pains access to medications. This area is kept super sterile and clean as a pin. Freyssinet takes cotton to clean Yama's face, and seeing there's nothing more to be done right now, head out of the room. Gumble looks to Freyssinet, "MMmmmmmmm Well Doctor, I do believe there...is one more thing I need to attend to....would you care to help,....mmmmm?" Freyssinet waves at Remus and Gumble. "If you can spare 5 minutes, we can share a vegetarian curry in honor of Gumble !" Remus hmms. "I have no objection." Freyssinet smiles at Gumble. "I guess you want to tell your people you're fine ? I'll send you some curry." Gumble turns to Freyssinet and nods...."MMMmmmmmm We shall share one.....mmmmmm in my Cottage....mmmmm my treat...." Freyssinet nods at Remus and smiles. "What's your name ? I am Elianor Freyssinet ; you can call me Frey" Freyssinet asks Gumble "You mean ... tonight ?" Remus says simply. "I'm Remus." Gumble moves back towards the front of the hospital slowly, then sits in his wheelchair pulling the blanket around him. He smiles back at Freyssinet, "MMMMmmmmmm I am ready. " Freyssinet laughs. "Great ! That's the way to finish a day !" To Remus "Could you push the wheelchair, please ?" Remus nods. "I would be honored." He bows shallowly to the little chair-bear before placing his hands upon the push bars. Freyssinet smirks at Remus. "With only one leg, it's difficult for me." Freyssinet hobbles out joyfully with Gumble and Remus. You head into Medical Quarter . Freyssinet arrives from Medical Bay . Freyssinet has arrived. Remus arrives from Medical Bay . Remus has arrived. You enter Lift 1. Lift 1 A cylindrical chamber, large enough to hold perhaps a dozen humanoids. Soft lighting from the ceiling shines off the curved steel walls. The only item of interest is a small panel listing possible destinations and controls. Remus pushes Gumble out of the lift. Freyssinet steps out of the lift Freyssinet has arrived. Gumble and Remus come back out of the lift. Gumble says, "Are you ready, doctor? mmmmMMMM?" Freyssinet laughs. "Yes, Gumble !" And hobbles into the lift. They make their way to... You head into Central Cottage . Central Cottage This is the entrance chamber of the areas beyond which lead into new Castori. It is a replica of a Castori meeting hall. Simple benches rest line after after line and a podium in the front towers over them. Many wooden shelves line the walls and contain many ceramic pots and ink drawings of various machinery. Some look quite old. Two exits lead out on either side of the room. Freyssinet arrives from New Castor Monorail Station . Freyssinet has arrived. Freyssinet smiles widely too. "I'll finish by truly feeling home, here !" As the threesome enter the village there is a sad silence in the air. Many Castori pass with their heads bowed in ensuing chant. Gumble urges Remus to push him eastward. Remus lifts Gumble off the special handicapped chair and sets him back in his wheeled one before pushing him about as he wishes. You head into Banyan Vine Place . Banyan Vine Place The catwalk winds its way through the branches and bends intself around the enormous trunk of a banyan tree. An opening in one side of it is cut hollow and within can be seen many Castori shops selling clay pots, little gadgets, and homebaked Castori delicacies. The scents seem quite inviting here and the large drooping banyan leaves provide a calm, soothing shade. Freyssinet arrives from Central Cottage . Freyssinet has arrived. A slow somber drumbeat echoes through the trees. The Castori continue their hum. Gumble puts his hand on Freyssinet's arm to stop the wheelchair. Freyssinet stops as Gumble tells her to. Gumble smiles to her and then steps, slowly out of his wheelchair, removing the heavy blanket from around him. He walks forward on his own two feet towards the center of the tree holding up his hands to the Castori that go by. Remus arrives from Central Cottage . Remus has arrived. A hushed silence greets Gumble and Freyssinet as they look up as the small grey figure of the Castori stands from his seat. Their look of disbelief changes to joy and adulation as a number of them rush toward him. Gumble smiles happily and bellows long and loud, "MMMMmmmmmmMMmmm yes my friends....I LIVE! mmMMMMMmmmmmmmmm" Remus simply stands behind the chair, his mystic venure not cracking at all while surrounded by furry adulation. The furry swarm increases as horns begin to blow. Snouts across the forest raise at the exhultation and at once converge on the the place. They hoot and hollar excitedly, keeping a silght distance as to not harm or push Gumble or his friends. Freyssinet is so happy she can't keep serious, and Hoots Loud and long with the castori. Freyssinet whispers to Remus. Gumble clears his throat and scratches the underside of his chin with his paw, "My friends....mmmmMMMmmmm...this is the happiest day ....mmmmof my long...life.....mmmMMMMmmmmm...and I hope to never leave you again.....mmmmmmmmm" Remus simply nods in response to Freyssinet, his reply hardly being heard above the uproar, "Yes, they do seem quite joyous." Freyssinet shuffles Remus's hairs. "So rejoice, too ! Who knows what tommorow will bring ?" Remus hmms, and nods. "I am most glad to see them all happy." Gumble smiles and begins to pat and hug some of the Castori that come by. He waves his hands around at the throng. Cheers and hoots emerge once again. He steps back towards Freyssinet and gives her small hug of affection, then turns to Remus and does likewise. Freyssinet looks at all the excitment around her. "I'll have to learn Castori !" She says to Gumble as he hugs her. Remus does his best to give Gumble an affectionate pat. It's not very convincing. Gumble walks his two friends east towards his cottage, the other Castori follow. Gumble's Cottage This is the quaint little cottage of Senator Gumble. Its rustic interior makes you feel at ease as pleasant pine scents fill the modestly furnished room. Several furs line the walls, floor, and bed, with the latter of them holding a comfortable looking fur pillow which is against the wall. There is a doorway which leads out the back into a garden of scented herbs and flowers. The birds outside chirp happily. Freyssinet has arrived. Gumble plods into the room erect, with a gentle smile upon his face and a nice gleam in his eye. Around his filter in many Castori of various colors. They begin setting up a wooden table with piles of various delicacies on it. Freyssinet looks at the cottage, which feels by now a bit familiar to her. "How can I help with the table?" She asks the castori around her. Remus simply allows the Castori to do the work they do so well. A red Castori in a blue robe comes up to Freyssinet and hugs her, "Thank you", she says, "You have already helped a lot." The Castori looks somewhat familiar to Freyssinet. Another Castori ushers Remus to a small, but comfortable chair at the table. Many different foods are put before him. Freyssinet hugs back the Castori, remembring when she say her. "you're more than welcome, you know." Remus sits in the small chair, which considering his own youthful size, fortuitiously seems to be about the right size. "Thankyou," he says, regarding the food before him with his usual mystic manner. The Castori was, in fact, the same one from the funeral of Shurikin Findin. Remus sits patiently throughout all the reunions, though only another Mystic might be able to tell he's rather intrigued by all the going ons. Freyssinet takes a seat near Remus, and looks curiously at all the food in front of her, trying to identify them. Flute and drum music are heard outside. The music is played happy and free with a bouncy beat. Gumble looks to his companions, smiling, then down at the food. He realizes he hasn't eaten a thing all day and grabs a roasted twineberry shrub and crams it in his mouth. There are many vegetarian dishes present. Mordecai has arrived. Freyssinet is sitting at the Table with Gumble, Remus, and many castori. Mordecai steps into the cottage, fingers steepled before himself, the vaguest of smiles on his face. His eyes drift first to the boy, then to Gumble. "Senator, I hear you have been cured. Congratulations." The room is filled with Castori of various colors and sizes. In the middle is a table filled with food. Around it sit Freyssinet and Remus with Gumble in the center. Cheerful music is heard in the distance. Freyssinet glances towards Mordecai, wondering who he is. Remus stands suddenly, knocking the chair over behind him, then suddenly blinks, as if remembering himself. "My eye," he says before bowing rigidly. Freyssinet smiles again, and grabs some good dish, maybe roots marinated in honey. Gumble smiles up at Mordecai, "My thanks to you Mordecai..mmmmmmmmmmMMMmm....thank you for coming....mmmmmm please sit down.....and help yourself." Mordecai smiles faintly as he reaches the table, standing near the boy. "I actually have other more urgent matters to attend to, besides a celebration of mirthful countenance. Truly, it is a fine thing that you will live. It may be well and good that we are 'going home.' But at what price?" Freyssinet frowns, and listens to Mordecai, stopping to eat. Gumble nods thoughtfully to Mordecai, "MMMMMMmmmmmm indeed." Remus remains silent and still standing for the moment. Mordecai draws a breath, then glances toward the boy. "What price? And, indeed, what choice? If we remain, surely, our newfound enemies will find the means to eradicate us. Go home, as it were, and a totally new journey begins, with dangers unknown. And all-too-well known." Remus says, almost hesitantly, "The path we follow now will not take us home, Eye." Mordecai shakes his head. "Not the home we knew, to be sure." Gumble nods and speaks softly, "MMMmmmmm yes the future is unknown to us all.....mmmmmmm....but it remains important that we indeed...mmmmmm....have one....." Gumble raises a small clay cup into the air, "MMMmmmm To....the future....." "...and the unknown blessings and challenges it holds....mmmmmmmm" Freyssinet nods to Gumble, and takes her clay up. "To the future, senator, and all of you !" Remus shakes his head again. "The boneless ones will never take us home." Then, he adds quickly in the nearly indecipherable Mystic tongue, Gumble drinks from his cup as many Castori either hoot or drink from their own sources, have they any. They also begin handing cups of some sweet-smelling substance to Freyssinet, Remus, and Mordecai. Remus takes the cup, but does not drink any, rather simply raising it slightly to show appreciation. Mordecai nods to Remus, speaking in the home tongue as well. Mordecai accepts the cup. He considers the fluid within. "I cannot drink to these choices. I can but mourn them." He hands the cup back to the Castori. "I am sorry." Remus says simply, Freyssinet drinks, but has lost her good spirits. She asks shily Mordecai. "Why shouldn't it be the home we knew ?" Remus regards the drink for another moment, before finally setting it untouched onto the table before him. Gumble smiles to Mordecai and nods his head, he then turns his attention back to the Castori who sit about him. Before addressing Freyssinet, Mordecai responds to Remus: Then, he looks toward Freyssinet. "After centuries under Kretonian dominion, or worse...how could it be the same?" Remus remains silent, with only a single shake of his head. Mordecai stands near Remus. A soft tapping sound may be heard from the front door. Freyssinet shakes her head. "Then we must come back to rebuid it. it's our duty, Mister ... Mordecai ? Long ago, a philosopher said "Everything flows ; you never bath twice in the same river." Freyssinet is sitting near Remus, in front of Gumble. A Castori opens the front door enthusiastically and hoots at whoever is beyond it. Mordecai nods. "An ancestor of my own once said that a reed in the wind bends, but in a storm is surely broken." Shifting nerviously, Dahan waits outside the door. Cautiously, it asks, 'Is Senator Gumble capable of recieving guests?' From it's mental tone, there is the clear implication he is not due to death. Remus is standing near Mordecai by the table, a chair overturned behind him. "A soul is worth only as much as one would sell it for." Remus glances down at the table. "4th line of Gen." Falkenberg has arrived. Two Castori surprise Dahan from behind and gently usher him through the door. The Castori at the door smiles and opens up the door wide...and as he does so, Gumble is revealed sitting cheerfully in the middle of a table, Freyssinet next to him eating a plateful of food. Mordecai smiles faintly upon seeing Dahan, and then his eyes settle on Falkenberg. "Ah, our deliverer." Freyssinet winks to Mordecai. "That'll teach me to quote philosophy with mystics !" She waves merrily at Dahan, and nods smiling at Falkenberg. Falkenberg stands in the doorway and knocks, but steps hesitatingly in. "Deliverer?" Falkenberg looks over his shoulder to see if anyone else is there. "I heard there was a party. I don't generally miss parties." Dahan drifts in quickly, to avoid damage to its delicate structure. It moves over towards Gumble when it sees him, hesitant in its movements at first. There are many Castori sitting about the room, some drinking, some eating, some asking questions of Gumble, others hotting with joy. Mordecai nods to Falkenberg. "A celebration of one person's survival. A wake for our souls." Dahan inquires, 'Gumble...you have...overcome the dilemma implanted by the Thul?' There is a sence of hope to its words, but of caution also. Falkenberg frowns at Mordecai. "You know it gives me headaches when you talk like that, Eye." Gumble stands from the table of food as he sees Dahan moving towards him. He smiles brightly and moves towards him. Nodding his head, he places his paws on two of Dahan's tentacles, "MMMmmmmm yes my friend,.....you shall not lose me." A Castori thrusts a small clay cup in Falkenberg's hands and hoots with glee. Mordecai smiles enigmatically. "It seems that when we intersect, pain and your cranium are often accessories before and after the fact." Mordecai motions to the punch. "Be mindful of the liquor, or you will know the true meaning of a headache come daybreak." Falkenberg chuckles. "Yes, I suppose that is true. Actually, Mordecai, I've been hoping to have the chance to ask you about something. I thought if anyone had any information on this, you would." Dahan decends quickly, letting the lower foot of its tentacles curl on the floor. It's tentacles relax and it's surface slackens. Gladly, it tells him quickly without correcting its syntax from Centauran linguistic standards, 'Most happy I am are to hear heard new this.' Mordecai raises his eyebrows. "I will endeavor to serve." Falkenberg nods. "Well, I came across a most unusual man recently. I'm pretty sure he is quite mad...but he mentioned something that made me curious. Tell me...do you know anything about something called the Lutherian Movement?" Mordecai twitches his mouth in an almost-wry smile. "A cry on the wind in a monsoon." Falkenberg blinks and looks at Mordecai. "I'm sorry?" Gumble smiles back at Dahan, "MMMmmmmm and to think I would never again hear your melodious voice read ....Castori poetry again..." Mordecai lifts his chins and steeples his fingers. "It is an organization of no universal consequence." Freyssinet takes some food, some drink and raises her brows comically as Mordecai begins again speaking riddles. Remus says, "A post-medieval religious movement protesting the corruptness of the Roman Papal system of religious governance, named for it's originator, Martin Luther, an outspoken monastic. See also Protestant Reformation." Falkenberg chuckles and shakes his head at Remus. "No, I think this is somewhat different." Dahan dips its head towards the Castori senator, 'I look forward to doing so again. And of your future visits to the library to prepare yourself for your position.' Remus hmms and falls silent again. Mordecai moves away from the table, approaching Falkenberg. "This group troubles you. Put it out of your mind. We have greater issues to explore. Greater problems to solve. The darkness waits." Falkenberg looks at Mordecai. "So...they are harmless? The man I met...one who called himself Lex Luthor...seemed rather...unbalanced. But he spoke of finding one's "inner truth." Made me think of mystics. So I thought I'd ask you." Mordecai smiles faintly. "John...many so-called "religions" speak to the concept of inner truth." Falkenberg nods. "Yes, but not all of them are led by men with red eyes who wear skull pendants. I wouldn't say he troubled me...but I tend to like puzzles, and he puzzled me." Gumble turns back to Freyssinet, suddenly feeling she is a bit left out of things, "MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm Doctor Freyssinet, I would like you to meet...one of my dearest friends....mmmmm Dahanovoheanipeymek. Dahan, this is...Doctor Freyssinet....mmmmm" Remus says softly, almost inaudibly, "He feels of shadow.." Another Castori shoves a cup of green sweet smelling liquid into Falkenberg's hands, "Drink Up!", he says happily. Mordecai tilts his head slightly. "It is not the religion itself that should concern you, but the man. It is a cult of personality, John. Those with weak minds are twisted to his will. It is this way through the ages. People swear allegiance to a man - and that allegiance takes them to their graves, in some instances." Mordecai tilts his head slightly. "It is not the religion itself that should concern you, but the man. It is a cult of personality, John. Those with weak minds are twisted to his will. It is this way through the ages. People swear allegiance to a man - and that allegiance takes them to their graves, in some instances." Another Castori shoves a cup of green sweet smelling liquid into Falkenberg's hands, "Drink Up!", he says happily. Remus says softly, almost inaudibly, "He feels of shadow.." Freyssinet smiles to Dahan and Gumble. "We already met, I think ! Those poetries where awsome, like this place ... I could nearly see the trees with them. And you said them very talentedly !" Dahan tilts its head towards the one legged doctor, 'Thank you, but the author of those works deserve the credit. My role was little more than that of a voice box. I'm glad to see you again, Doctor. I presume you had some role in Gumble's continued lifespan?' Falkenberg takes the cup from the Castori, and sips it. He regards it for a moment, before turning his attention back to Mordecai. "Well, as I said, I considered it curious. He offered to teach me to find my "inner truth", and something about it just didn't sit right with me." He glances at Remus, but if he heard what he said he gives no other sign. Dahan tilts its head to the side a little, 'Though I may admit that some of my own impressions may have been passed on to some degree. My apologies.' Mordecai nods. "You are a shrewd man. Generally. Retain your guard around this man. He seeks to fill an emptiness. He will ply you until he finds that hole." Freyssinet chuckles. "Except by wheeling him in and out, my role was very unimportant !" Dahan asks with much curiousity, 'Then what did happen to save our friends life? Perhaps the bomb was a dud?' Falkenberg chuckles. "He underestimates me, then. Although I think I will speak with him again. Like I said, I like puzzles. I also like challenges. If he thinks he can manipulate me, he's welcome to try." Gumble smiles and returns to his chair, ushering Dahan to one beside him. "MMMMmmmm The Thul came back...." Remus's attention wanders briefly over to the crystalline entity. Mordecai knits his brow ever so slightly. "You've worn another's strings before, John. Have a care." The edges of Dahan's head tenses up slightly. 'I'm sorry to hear that they inflicted thier presence on you again, sir.' Freyssinet , looking at Dahan' nods. "Yes, they undid their work." Freyssinet pats Remus. "Come on, eat something !" Merram has arrived. Gumble smiles, "No, Dahan, mmmmMMMMmmmmmmm....it is alright.....mmmmmthey turned it off....mmmmmmm...and beamed the foul thing away...mmmmmmm It is gone......" Falkenberg grins. "Yes, but that was voluntary. And stupid. Don't worry, Mordecai, I've learned my lessons. But I'm a risk-taker, a man who likes to play with fire. It's not an easy habit to break." Several Castori are now monitoring the door. One sees Merram and rushes over to him patting him on the back, "Come right in." Remus blinks at the sudden interruption into his thoughts. "I am not hungry, thankyou." Mordecai doesn't return Falkenberg's smile. "It began as a voluntary effort. It ended up as something far more beyond your control. Or have you forgotten?" Freyssinet is sitting at the table, speaking joyously with Dahan and Gumble. Dahan shakes its massive head to the side, 'An act that hardly reciprocates for placing it there in the first place. But I am truely glad to see you again, friend. Tell me, have they started work on returning us to our home universe?' Remus falls silent again, dark eyes still focused on the crystalline being, his brow furrowing as if in concentration. Gumble sighs, "Alas, no...... they are asking for some genetic........mmmmm....specimens first." Merram walks in, a morbid expesstion flashs across his face, but quickly hides it and smiles down at the Castroi, "Thanks." He mutters as he lets his gaze drift around. Falkenberg smiles tightly. "I've forgotten many things, but not that. Working for Fagin was making a deal with the devil, and I paid the price. This strikes me as different. Ideologies must be embraced." There is a large table in the Center with Gumble at the center. Around him sit Dahan, Freyssinet and Remus. Falkenberg and Mordecai stand off to the side talking. Many Castori fill the room. Music drifts in merrily from outside. Mordecai nods, his face set and grim. "Ideologies take many forms - some more seductive yet unseemingly so than others." Immediately a blackish Castori runs up to Merram and places a clay cup of a sweet smelling liquid in his hands. Dahan extends a tentacle to rub the fur on Gumble's upper arm, 'I see. Pardon, I should not be discussing shop at an occasion such as this. It's offer a toast in your honor, but my biology would make downing the liquid after difficult.' Falkenberg chuckles. "Yes, well, I don't plan on being seduced by this one. He asked me what my "center" was. What motivates me most. I don't think he'd find much of value in the answer, if I gave it to him." Merram smiles again and takes the cup. He slowly sips at it and looks around again, this time looking for someone. Mordecai smiles slightly. "Well, as I said, this group itself seems a cry on the wind in a monsoon. It is nothing of universal consequence. Still, it may be the cry of something predatory. You know the way of your path." Freyssinet grins to Dahan. "Then chin-chin without the drink !" She raises her own cup. Falkenberg nods. "Speaking of paths...any insight into this "darkness" you keep talking about?" Mordecai knits his brow tightly. "Yes, with much gratitude, as it is, to the Thul." Falkenberg raises an eyebrow. "Gratitude to the Thul? How's that?" Dahan turns about searching, then finds what it's looking for. A tentacle reaches out to collect an unclaimed cup. Mordecai says, "The Il'Ri'Kamm Hive Mind. Once more, it seems, they hold sway over the homeworlds." Gumble grins and pats Dahan's tentacle, "Thank you.....my friend...mmmmmmmMMMmmmm...it is good to be back....although to tell you the truth...MMMmmmmm...I thought the Thul had come to ......take his fee with my head....mmmmmmmm" Falkenberg hmms. "Think they did away with the Kretonians?" Mordecai grimaces slightly. "If they served no useful purpose to them? Perhaps." Remus suddenly breaks his silence as the cup in front of him is snatched away by a sparkly tentacle. "The Thul will not take us home, they will feed the hivers." Gumble shudders suddenly at the words uttered by Mordecai. He gives a glance at him, then drinks from his own cup. Falkenberg looks at Remus. "I don't think much could stop the Ri'kammi if they wanted us. We are in Hiverspace now, after all." Merram slowly and tentivly moves closer to the table, he sips at his drink, spots who his looking for, but doesn't say anything... yet. Instead he watchs and waits. Freyssinet touches Dahan's cup with hers, and drinks. Dahan lifts the tentacle high into the air with the cup, and announces, 'To Senator Gumble, may he have longevity and a rapid recovery!' Mordecai turns toward Remus, and reverts to the Mystic tongue. The room is full of merriment, food and drink, except for Mordecai and Remus, who act morose...which is sort of like cheerfulness for Mystics. Remus shakes his head again, Freyssinet feels Merram's gaze, and turns to face his. She glances inquisitivly at him. Many Castori raise their glasses in acknowledgement, hooting and shouting, "To Gumble!" Falkenberg looks between Mordecai and Remus curiously. "Well...so the Hivers are back in power. What do we do? We couldn't stop them last time without the help of the B'hiri." Merram smiles faintly at Frey, but motions for her to come over. His gaze is full of sorrow though. He sips at his drink. Dahan lifts the glass higher for a moment, then lowers it. It touches the brim to its collar as if to take a sip, then returns the vessel from where it took with with all its contents still inside. Freyssinet reaches her glass. "To Gumble !" She hoots too, the stands up, frowns and comes over Merram. She whispers to him. Gumble closes his eyes and slowly squints. A small message forms in the minds of Falkenberg, Mordecai, and Remus from Gumble, ~I have heard the Thul's plans. They are sending us straight to the Ri'kammi. The Thul which captured me spoke to what he called the Great Mind about sending us to them.~ Merram tips his glass to Gumble, "To Gumbl'." He says softly. Freyssinet whispers to Merram. Furrowing his brow even more deeply, the olive skinned youth replies in rapid staccato, Mordecai glances toward Gumble. He says simply: "You misunderstood." Merram shakes his head and leans over to whisper back. Falkenberg waves a hand around his ears as though chasing away a buzzing insect. After a moment he realizes what is happening and turns to Gumble. "Senator, please don't do that. I'm kind of sensitive about people being in my head these days." He glances at Mordecai. Merram whispers to Freyssinet. Mordecai glances first to Remus, and raises a calming hand, then strides away from Falkenberg, approaching Senator Gumble. "The Ri'Kammi are creatures of dark subtlety. They are the asp under the sheet rather than the bludgeon to the skull. They will give us precisely what we want, and make it appear as though it is ours. And then they will begin their dark work anew." Gumble obviously sighs and glances toward Mordecai and sending to the same three, ~Thank goodness....~ Falkenberg frowns at Mordecai. "What DO the Ri'kammi want?" Freyssinet suddently stands up, livid. Her cup falls, smashing on the floor. "No ... you must be ... mistaken" she nearly shouts Mordecai turns toward Falkenberg. "Solitude." Dahan turns its body quickly, its tentacles rises when the point towards the doctor. 'Is something wrong, ma'am?' Falkenberg blinks. "You mean...they want to exterminate everyone else, so they'll be alone?" Gumble opens his eyes and looks back at Falkenberg smiling, "Don't worry....mm.mmmmmmm...I haven't the strength. He sits a little deeper in his chair and touches his head lightly." Remus looks curiously at Falkenberg, before turning again to Mordecai, replying in Standard this time, though it's obviously far more clumsy for him. "But without the Core we stand no better chance there then we do here, worse even, because there we will face the... the OTHERS as well!" Mordecai nods. "Yes. But they are unerringly patient in their pursuit. A century or an eon, it makes no difference." Falkenberg sighs. "Well, we'll just have to stop them. And this time make sure we stop ALL of them." Merram shakes his head and slowly backs off, his dark message deilvered, "No." He states and fully backs off now, mingling with the crowd, but staying near the table. Mordecai smiles faintly, turning toward Remus. "Oh, the Core lives. It thrives in the dark heart of Sagittarius. They will expect us this time. It will not be as easy." Falkenberg sips his drink again. "I must say, Gumble, this is good stuff. What is it?" Remus's fists practically shake(although they don't really, because Mystics just don't DO that sort of thing), "The B'hiri datacore... it's infested, we can't leave them with it, we need to take it with us, or destroy it.." Freyssinet 's eyes go between Merram, and Dahan, not knowing where she is, what she should do. She hobbles out running, tears beginnig to flow. Gumble smiles back at Falkenberg, "MMMMMmmmmmm It's Banyonberry Bark...a Castori favorite...although there is a bottle of Odari Red floating about if you'd....mmmmm...like to try some....mmmmmMMMmmm" Falkenberg looks at Remus. "I've been to B'hiri recently, son. No trace of Hivers there." Mordecai lets his gaze drift to Gumble. "Senator...continued health." He looks toward Remus: "That world belongs to the Hive." To Falkenberg: "You knew not where to look." To the others: "Enjoy this jubilation while it lasts. But steel your hearts. Home is not what once it was. It is touched with darkness - a stain that may be everlasting." Merram swollows as his gaze follows Frey, he moves to interecpt her. Gumble turns casually back to the table, and suddenly sees Freyssinet. He stands and steps toward her, extremely concerned. "Doctor?" Dahan follows with concern after the doctor, a tentacle raised towards her. Falkenberg looks back to Gumble. "No, I think I'll stick with this." Falkenberg looks grimly at Mordecai. "I'm no stranger to Darkness, Eye." Freyssinet stumbles nearly. "Why, why ?" She whispers to herself. Remus says, "*I* know where to look, if we don't at least destroy the datacore, we might as well beat at a stone with our fists. No matter how many we destroy in homespace they will always multiply here." Dahan replies to the Eye quickly, before returning its attention to the doctor, 'Perhaps, but I have faith in my people's believe in total pacifism to carry us through.' Merram steps forward and places a hand on Frey's shoulder. He looks down with a pained look, "I'm sorry..." Gumble reaches Freyssinet and puts an arm around her, "MMMmmm What is it?" Mordecai narrows his eyes, then glances toward Remus. "I shall speak of this to the Senate when we discuss this...other...matter. Perhaps something can be done." Falkenberg glances at Dahan. "No offense, but I'm glad not everyone shares your people's view." Freyssinet looks at Merram. "What ... ? What happened ?" She grabs Gumble's arm. Dahan floats over to the doctor, and reaches out with a tentacle to touch her shoulder. 'What's wrong, doctor?' Falkenberg turns his attention to the doctor for the first time. Merram sighs and bows his head, "He... He land'd in tha wrong plac' an'..." He chokes on his words and glances at the other members. Debating on weither he should finish. Mordecai also spares a brief, indifferent glance for the doctor. He shakes his head, then makes his way toward the door. Remus sighs. "Besides, the Senate and their Vanguard's violence will be little use against the hive. Even your mindbenders will have little effect. We will all have to learn new things, things that are still left to be found here." He glances up at Falkenberg, furrowing his brow again. "Huh? Whose view?" Freyssinet is shivering of all her body. " And ?" Falkenberg opens his mouth, but says nothing, having a vague idea what this is about at Merram's words. Mordecai heads into Banyan Vine Place . Mordecai has left. Merram swollows and hrms softly, "I... I don't think this is a good plac' for me to talk." He mutters as he draws back and heads for the exit, muttering about saying the wrong things at the wrong time. Remus glances towards Merram and the doctor, then takes a deliberate step backwards, bowing his head. Dahan moves towards Merram a little, it's curiousity overflowing now. Freyssinet turns quickly a deseperate look to Dahan. "My ... friend .. dead" Falkenberg looks at Merram. "You're talking about the Gettysburg on Nemonus, right?" Merram stops dead in his tracks and turns around and nods to Falk, "Y's." Dahan tilts its head downwards in the doctor's direction. 'My condolences.', it extends gravely. Remus leaves silently. Falkenberg nods slowly. "We saw the rescue vehicles and the fires from our landing zone. And heard the calls over the Nemoni comm channels." Remus heads into Banyan Vine Place . Remus has left. Gumble looks back at a Castori on the bed and nods toward it. The Castori bring a fur blanket from Gumble's bed and wrap it over Freyssinet's shoulders. Merram nods and closes his eyes, "Tha fir's... tha sound of a singl' bull't fir'd..." He mutters as he replays the events over and over again in his mind. Freyssinet nods to Dahan, grabs the blanket. "Th...thank you." Her hand reaches Merram. "I'm .. so sorry for you .." Falkenberg frowns. "Bullet? ...We were too far away to hear gunfire. What happened? You started to speak, boy, you may as well finish." Gumble places a soft pawed hand on Freyssinet's cheek, "There there...mmmmmm....my heart is with you...." Freyssinet looks at Merram with wide eyes, unable to cry anymore. She's still shuddering. Merram chuckles darkly, "Yama's had seen to much... Said it was Kirk's fault... So he kill'd him." He shakes his head, "Jus' on' bull't, a singl' bull't an' it hit him in tha ch'st." He looks over to Frey and bows slighty, "I'm sorry." Dahan asks hestitantly, 'Mr. Yama Nels is dead?' Freyssinet freezes. "Who shot ? Who is this Yama ?" Falkenberg sighs. "A day of death on Nemonus. How did Gettysburg end up at the wrong landing site? Lone Wolf landed just before you did...we saw you entering orbit. The Nemoni landing instructions were clear...of course, I had been there before. I knew what could happen if you landed a ship in the wrong spot..." Gumble looks alarmed at that notion and looks back at Merram, "MMMmmmmm this is not possible...." Merram shakes his head, "No... Yama N'ls isn't d'ad..." He glances over to Falk, "Ask Kirk, he was flyin'." He sighs, is dark and unpleasnt deed done. He feels now unwelcome as he has believes he ruined the party. He walks backwards towards the door. The Castori continue their celebration unaware of what has just transpried. Freyssinet grasps Merram. "Sorry, he was your friend too" Falkenberg frowns. Dahan asks the strange man in a soft telepathic voice, 'I think you'd better tell us who met thier unfortunate fate before you go.' Freyssinet sights. "As Fraley. Why always death arround us ?" Falkenberg nods to Merram. "Perhaps I will ask him then. Although I'm afraid I won't be the only one who does." Freyssinet turns to Falk, nearly shouting. "Kirk is dead" Dahan thinks for a moment, then recalls the rash soldier from the Mekke bombing. It's body droops noticably, and starts to make its way out. Falkenberg raises an eyebrow. He is silent for a moment. "I am sorry. If the corporal had said that clearly..." He sighs. "But so are many hundreds of Nemoni. With many, many more injured." Merram shakes his head, "I did... Didn't I... Kirk... R'cruit Kirk was shot by Yama N'ls..." He suddenly chokes as he hears Fraleys name metion. He looks between Frey, Falk, Dahan, and Gumble, "I'm sorry." He mutters and backs into the wall. Missing his intended target, the door. Gumble turns to Dahan, "MMMmmm Wait....please....don't go, Dahan." Dahan moves slowly towards the door, it's body almost lifeless with the news. It doesn't seem to react to Gumble's plea, or to anything else now. Falkenberg opens his mouth to say something again, then closes it. He pauses, and turns to Freyssinet. "Again, I am sorry about your friend." He looks at Merram. "Was Nels arrested?" Freyssinet puts away Gumble's arm, like a noctambule, and steps."He .. He surely regretted his error. I knew him enough to be sure of that. And now ? now ? What's left for me ?" She turns to Dahan and Gumble. Gumble nods, understanding, "MMMmmmmm Goodbye, my friend.....mmmmmmmmm my gratitude of your good wishes means more than to me.....than you could imagine....mmmm" Merram sighs and looks up at Falk, "I... I don't know... I got off tha G'tts an'... an' I couldn't fin' him..." He shakes his head and slips out of the room. "I'm sorry..." He mutters as he disappears out the door. Dahan's progress through the crowd is very slow, it's attention filled by heartbreak now from the terrible news. Merram heads into Banyan Vine Place . Merram has left. Gumble places a comforting paw on Freyssinet. "MMMmmmmmm I am sorry....mmmmm you are welcome to stay here...mmmmmmmm if you do not wish to be alone....." Falkenberg frowns. "Well, I'm afraid I've only helped bring the party down. Thank you for the drinks, Senator. Congratulations on your head not exploding." He grins. "I know what it's like to have something unwanted in there." He turns and walks for the door. Freyssinet looks at the beautiful place around her, and shudders. "Just ... a few minutes." She hobbles through the door. Dahan finally makes it towards the door, and drifts through it soundlessly. Gumble turns to Falkenberg and waves ,"MMMmmmm thank you sir....your good wishes are...mmmmm most appreciated." Falkenberg heads into Banyan Vine Place . Falkenberg has left. Dahan heads into Banyan Vine Place . Dahan has left. Gumble touches Dahan's mind, ~Take care, Dahan~ Gumble notices Freyssinet reaching for a pistol. Gumble looks up, "Freyssinet, No!" Dahan faintly returns the message, 'I will try. It breaks my heart two hear two friends in such a situation./ Several Castori reach out to Freyssinet's mind and mildly freeze her in place. They say, ~We are sorry. Weapons are not allowed here. Please put it down.~ Freyssinet turns to Gumble as he calls her. In her hand is her pistol, "Sorry, senator .." She struggles to take the weapon in her own direction. Freyssinet whispers. "Sleep, Kirk darling, your night is near, mine is drawing very near" The Castori increase the hold on Freyssinet. One comes up to her and removes the gun from her stilled hand. Freyssinet's gaze is fixed on the weapon as it is removed. "It's getting cold " She mutters, and swoons. The Castori's minds drop their hold and try instead to ease the pain, giving her comfort instead and removing some of her pain. Two other Castori lead her back inside. Gumble prepares his bed and they lays her down on it, her head deep in a comfortable fur pillow, "Rest easy dear....mmmmmm We will talk tomorrow." Freyssinet just mutters in her sleep. "Only the very best ... Reasonable request ... Down, down to hell." Gumble turns to the others, "Watch her....mmmmm"
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