NationStates Jolt Archive

Neither Scott nor Kristy noticed anything strange about the nature of their flight, nor that of the place in which they landed; with one sedated and the other generally worn out from a fight he didn't realize would be so draining on him, both the Halliwell children were pretty much passed out by the time the strange plane they were on was making its landing in the crater, unaware of where they are now, or why they were there. Unheeded by those sitting in front of them, injured and exhausted as they all were, they slept unknowingly, Kristy's head dropped down to rest on her brother's chest while he cradled her unconsciously. Two children in a strange place, not knowing what life has in store for them anymore, not after all they had seen in the short span of two hours.

The elder brother was the first to wake once the plane had landed, groggily sitting up to see where he was.

Eh......?

For a moment, he quite forgot where he was, what he was doing there, and why he had ended up here in the first place. And because he forgot, for a moment there he freaked out once again at all the strange people, in the strange plane with him, landed in a strange place; he leapt up with a gasp, fists at the ready.

"What the......"

Of course, it only took him a moment to remember, and those fists were put down in short order, along with an embarassed scratching at the back of his head. "Sorry", Scott mumbled, still a little groggy from the far-from-adequate catnap he had fallen into rather than gave himself on the plane, as he grabbed hold of whatever was at hand to steady himself.

"Where the bloody hell.......?"

Shaking his head to clear the stars from his still-blurry vision, Scott bent down, and picked up his sister into his arms. The poor little girl pretty much went limp in her brother's arms; he grimaced as her forehead touched his exposed skin again, reminding him of the high fever that Kristy was suffering from, even now. A soft moan was all that escaped from her, as she unconsciously tried to adjust for the shifting of her position, snuggling against Scott's body as he stood up, and took stock of his bearings.

"We're here, They've been alerted that most of you need some medical treatment, and at the very least clean up and rest."

At that, Scott squinted at Kade, and shuffled out of his seat, Kristy still in his arms. Now that the worst of the violence was over, and his life as well as his sister's wasn't on the line any more, the boy was beginning to regain his suspicions about the group of freaks he had thrown in with, at what had been a necessary moment. And as far as he figured, being taken to an unfamiliar place after all that had happened didn't help one bit.

"Okay, Tin Man", he said again, voice reverting back to the serious, slightly paranoid tone he had when he first met them, in contrast to the snide attitude he had adopted not so long ago. He was starting to get, well if not afraid, then at least as wary as he had before. And with good reason. "Where is 'here', what are we doing 'here', and now what?"

As soon as the ramp was down, Casey grabbed his cue bag, slung the strap across his chest, and immediately sauntered out. Locating a decent sized tree, he moved behind it and proceeded to claim a piece of territory in the old fashioned way. That done, he zipped up his fly and got back to the plane. "So, what'll I carry?"

Where is 'here', what are we doing 'here', and now what?"

"Here is a safe place, what you are doing is going to get some medical treatment if needed, rest, food, clean clothes and information, presummably in that order" Kade replied to Scott. "I know your sister..She is your sister, yes? You two look enough alike to be relatives.. will be able to recieve help here."

"So, what'll I carry?"

"There's no need for you to carry anything" An elderly voice tinged with deep disapproval replied from behind him "And there was no need for you to mark territory like a canine either." A spare man, still tall despite being somewhat stooped with age was glareing at him in complete disapproval.

He raised his voice so that it carried through out the plane.

"Welcom to Robber's Roost. Not the most appropriate name but one it had long before we got here. I am sorry that the Iconoclasts took us by surprize but we did not know until they launched where they might be attacking."

Loki awoke to the sounds of nearby voices. Obviously they'd stopped moving and upon opening his eyes the young man found himself strapped into a reclined seat whilst people were conversing behind him.

Slowing undoing his seat strap, Loki sighed heavily as feeling began to return to his body. Whilst most of the pain had subsided he was still quite sore and could use a hot bath and a cold beer. Sitting up slowly, Loki navigated his way off the seat and onto somewhat unstable feet.

Using the nearby upright seats for support, Loki began moving towards the back of the aircraft and noted the presence of several people, some familiar and others complete strangers. Casca was up and running once again, although the significance of such didn't fully register within the Aussie's brain.

"Umm, so where are we now?"

Loki noted there was no longer any storm to worry about, which was certainly a good sign as he wasn't up to taking it on again. They were some place different, hopefully some place not full of those damned super soldiers.

Red looked out the window as Godolkin glanced back at her. Niether made a move for the door of the plane, both now thinking of the agent they had left on the rooftop. They knew they weren't done with her, not by a long shot. And here, they wondered what they would run into. Niether was in any condition should anyone choose to show them that they are unwelcome and niether was willing to find out too soon.

Jackie stood and helped Sian from her seat. Bracing herself Sian sent her gifts arrowing outward, scanning for threats or treachery. Primarily directed at the man who'd come aboard following Casca's return, she found no wall, no resistance. nd she delved deep. She had had her suspicions for some time, her own extrapolations - or she never would allowed any of those with her to have boarded the plane.

The exchange of information was intense but brief- it occured at the speed of thought - and Sian nodded.

"We're safe here and they mean us no harm." She said, her voice confident. She had her own reservations, but they were about other things than the small groups safety. She had concerns that would be address after they group had gotten treatment, sleep, food and cleaned up.

Tired as she wws she insisted overseeing Charli's, Pandora's and Kristy's removal from the plane by what were obviously well trained medical personell.

"Scott, don't fuss" She headed him off before he could "I promise you they are going to take care of her properly. And I think you need a check up as well, just to make sure that you didn't break any ribs."

She then turned to Red and Godolkin "Red, go see the Doctor who's less tired than I am! No putting it off! "

She sighed and greyed out for a moment and her tone became inflexible

"Every one follow the nice people to the medical section, we all need to be checked out"

"I should be fine soon", Godolkin offered, "I didn't really do much damage. It's already better." His point was proven when he moved back to the stowed equipement to gather his and Red's with barely a limp at all now.

"I need to ring Judas. Make sure he's alright", Red stated. She had no intention of letting a Doctor here touch her. Besides which, blood was what she needed. A fresh infusion would do far more for her than anything any Doctor could do for her, including Sian, which was the only Doctor she trusted at all at the moment. She would go hunting tonight, after everyone was asleep. And still she sat in her seat, waiting for everyone else to deass the plane.

And there was no need for you to mark territory like a canine either.

"I was unaware of that. However, my bladder was at the limit of its carrying capacity, and if you did have a latrine on the plane, nobody told me about one when I politely asked, nor any reference to the proximity of such facilities. Under the circumstances, I'm not apologizing. Robber's Roost? You mind giving me location in latitudes and longitudes? Let's me know where I am. Ask the doctor, she obviously knows who I am, and whether or not I can be trusted."

The merc grabbed his bag from where another person was bout to get it, leaving the rest. "Actually, mind telling me where I can get some food? About now, that's what is most important for me."

"Here is a safe place, what you are doing is going to get some medical treatment if needed, rest, food, clean clothes and information, presummably in that order. I know your sister..She is your sister, yes? You two look enough alike to be relatives.. will be able to recieve help here."

It wasn't exactly the kind of answer that Scott had been looking for, and true to his nature, the boy was just about ready to retort with a smart comment. However, it seemed like at least one person had become quite familiar with his brash attitude, for he was headed off just before he could speak.

"Scott, don't fuss. I promise you they are going to take care of her properly. And I think you need a check up as well, just to make sure that you didn't break any ribs."

Cut off before he could demand a better explanation, the boy shot a frown at Sian, but surprisingly left wordless for once. And perhaps, if it were any other time he would not have hesitated to protest, but this time, he was tired. So tired. He never thought that he could be this tired before, and whatever it looked like, Jean Grey did promise safety. Not sure how reliable they - or for the matter, she - is, but damned I'm tired. And hungry.

"Oooooo.......kay", he finally relented, turning his suspicious glare back at Tin Man, and the Old Codger who had come into the plane after him, announcing that they were at 'Robber's Roost'.......wherever that was.

"That wasn't much of an answer......but I guess food and rest is a good enough answer on its own", he admitted, feeling his stomach growl. In his arms, Kristy shifted uncomfortably again, moaning in her feverish state, and Scott hugged her tighter to himself, almost as if he was afraid to leave her into the arms of these men who he had never met.

"But no taking Kristy away from me. Where she goes, I go."

Ryan stood and shrugged as he followed Charli, even before Sian suggested they all go to the medical office, staying close enough to be near her while not near enough to jog thier elbows.

"But no taking Kristy away from me. Where she goes, I go."

Kade nodded, he understood Scotts serious intent to take care of his younger sister. Kade had had such a sister once, before the Iconoclasts had kidnapped her. "What do you want to eat. Our cooks are good, and I know they'll be happy to cook up what ever you are hungry for. I can let them know so it is waiting for you once they've checked you out. Why don't youlet them put her on a gurney, it would be safer for her, and less tiring for you" He suggested to Scott.

The medic's nodded and waited for Scoitts decission as others carefully transfered Charli to a rolling gurney and headed for the mdical section, folloed by Ryan.

Sian waited until Pandora had also been placed on a gurney and followed them out, Jackie accompanying her. Lights placed strategically about the large crater gave the appearance of near day light, but an announcement that dark out would recommence in fiften minutes could be reheard. On the far side of the landing pad another, smaller plane, a slender needle all wings and weapons was floating via telekensis towards a cave mouth.

"I need to ring Judas. Make sure he's alright",

"Certainly you can make any calls you need" the older gentleman smiled gently at Durham Red. "But you have to come inside to do so. And the plane needs to be sent to it's hanger, and Cantada can't do that untill we've all gotten off."

Sian's voice joined the older mans. "Red, I don't care how fucking suspicious you are, or how little you trust any one. Get off the damn plane, come with me, and I'll check you over. Yes all you may need is blood, but I want to be sure of that. You took a hell of a beating at the hands of what ever that...thing was and I want to be sure."

Sian's use of profanity, more than the tone of her voice shocked every one quiet for a moment.

"The Imitoran?" Casey asked Sian and the older man, "What will be done for his body? Are we sending it back to Imitora, and if so, when?" Casey stood just beyond the bottom of the stairs, and had to bend slightly right-wards to see the two he was addressing.

"Bloody agent, that's what she was", Red said standing up and following them out, "and I snecking well want a rematch. That bitch is staying down next time." She moved a bit slowly but refused to show how injured she was.

Godolkin grabbed thier things and moved down behind Red, eyeing anyone who got close to her that wasn't part of thier original group. At least the group that arrived on the plane.

Red stopped and turned toward the older man who had entered the plane, "Thanks", she said and then followed Sian again. It would help her to know that Harrow was okay, though she wasn't sure why, since he drove her nuts with that 'Holy One' crap all the time.

"Charli will want to escort his body back to Imitora I believe." Sian replied, and she looked at the eldery gentleman. "Can you please arrange for cold storage until I can do a full autopsy and issue a death certificate?"

She wsa too tired to do it now, and the dead would wait, they were patient that way. And she had lving patients to attend to.

With no further comments she and Jackie exited the plane following the medical personell.

"If you are that hungry I can show you directly to the dining hall, since I am going that way" Kade offered to Casey as he headed after the others and the ramp into the plane slid closed.

Silently the plane hovered a few feet off the ground and began to follow the other. A number of electric carts were waiting just off the landing pad and once every one was seated, they sped toward the rim of the crater, heading for another cave mouth than the ones the planes were disappearing into.

"We keep track of the eyes in the sky the older man spoke loudly , and though we could block them we found it was gbetter not to, just to let them see what they thought they woiuld see.."

The wide tunnel they entered - wide enought to drive three semis abreast had smoothed polished floors, and was also smoothed about half way up, the ceiling height was close to twenty feet in this main corridor.

After about three hundred feet smaller cross corridors appeared, all neatly labled. The lighting was diffuse from panels hung just below the ceiling, but comfortable to see by in the spectrum of natural light.

"Some of Robbers Roost is above ground and some below ground the crater is natrural, created by a meteorite impact." He continued, as the silent electric motors of the golf carts continued on. "It's not very fancy but we tend to spend what funds we have on other things.

Shortly they were turning off to a side corrider, now moving single file to leave room for the foot traffice which was becoming fairly steady, though those moving about here were not the first they had seen in the short journey.

Then they were pulling up outside a pair of double doors labeled 'Medical' and the medics were unlatching the gurneys and setting them up on their wheeled bases. But before they could open the door they swung open on their own as a middle aged man, slightly pot bellied and wearing thick hornrimmed glasses bounced out, his white physicians coat swirling about him.

?Sian! Long time no see!" He cried as he hopped over to give her a hug as she stood from her seat.

"David Mac! I'd always wondered about your supposed death. You stinker!" Sian regurned the hug then punched him in the upper arm. "People you can trust the Mac here. He and I shared a cadaver in school and did our internship at the same hospital. His death has obviously been exagerated!"

She introduced every one, listing their injuries as she knew them, as they were all escorted into the hospital.

"What do you want to eat. Our cooks are good, and I know they'll be happy to cook up what ever you are hungry for. I can let them know so it is waiting for you once they've checked you out. Why don't youlet them put her on a gurney, it would be safer for her, and less tiring for you"

"Eh......", Scott murmured, now a bit uncertain about his choices at the moment. It sounded good, that much was true, and yes, he was hungry as hell; but for some reason, his appetite wasn't anywhere near as great as he thought it would be. His stomach was hurting like hell by now, but then he looked down. At his sister, suffering in his arms.

"......"

He shook his head, frowning in worry. No matter what, Kristy still came first for him. Not that there was anything he could do for her at the moment; in fact, it was wiser to let them put her on a gurney like they said they would, but as long as she was this sick, Scott knew he could not stop worrying about her. And when he could not stop worrying, there was in all honesty few other things that could interest him.

He sighed, shaking his head. Then,

"Oh........whatever. Just come up with something, I don't care what it is."

The boy approached Kade, his sister still in his arms.

"So......who should I trust her with?"

"So......who should I trust her with?"

Kade motioned to the two tech nearest, who'd been patiently waiting " This is Dan and Ellen, they will help take care of Kristy back at Medical. They've helped fix me up a couple of times. You don't have to leave Kristy's side you know." He replied compassionately as he introduced them.

At the end of the ride, with Scott being welcomed into a bed next to his sisters Dan and Ellen reassured him firther.. "We'll just deraw the curtain when the doc need's to examine her, to give them privacy, and they we'll open it back up when thats done." Ellen said as she closed the drapes so she could dress Kristy in a modified hospital gown decorated with pastell hued kittens. Once that was done she took the young girls vitals and set up a saline drip IV. Once that was done she pulled back the curatin that seperated Kristy's and Scott's beds.

Dan in the mean time had found a light tee shirt and a pair of drawstring scrubs for Scott. "Here thses are better than hospital gowns. " and proceeded to take Scott's vitals also.

Ryan looked over at the psionic and commented, "I take it she's in good enough hands? If so, would someone let me know where the cafeteria or whatever set up this place has for dispensing food."

He'd been watching at the siblings and was finding it facinating, if slightly incomprehensible. Sibling loyalty just wasn't something he had, neither by nature nor nurture, and in fact he'd been responsible for the deaths of his 'brothers' and 'sisters' as well as the rest of those working at the facuilities that night.

I can show you directly to the dining hall

Once at the medical ward, and the injured began to to be wheeled in, Casey, still with his pack and cue-bag, turned to Kade and Ryan. "Kade, I'd be happy to take you up on your offer. Looks like the jolly three of us caan break bread and share some war stories. Lead the way."

Red stopped at the door to the medical room. She glanced around and then entered as Godolkin, still behind her, followed her in. She moved to one side, allowing Sian to be checked over first. The sterile smell kept her thirst in check at least and while she waited for Sian to be looked at she grabbed the arm of a nearby aide.

"I need to ring a friend. Could you tell me where I might do so?" she asked.

Godolkin, too, stood to one side, awaiting his turn since there were others more in need of care than he.

Moving slowly off the cart, Loki followed the others into the medical facilities, unable to levitate himself and therefore limping, trying to put the minimum amount of pressure upon his injured limb that he could.

Spotting an empty examination table, Loki lifed himself atop it and sighed as the weight was taken off his leg, allowing it to return to a dull numbness. The injury itself wasn't too bad but he figured it could end up getting infected and he couldn't exactly tell if there was anything else still inside the wound. No doubt it would have him on crutches for maybe a week or so, but he would survive.

Eventually one of the medical staff approached him, a young man with a friendly smile. Loki wasn't exactly a warm person yet he wasn't rude either, greeting the young man with a brief nod.

"I took some shrapnel to the leg... that's my only real injury."

The only thing that would cure Loki's exhaustion would be a good meal and a long period of rest, yet that was a secondary priority compared to his leg.

"It's itching like hell due to this gel stuff that Sian gave me, I dunno if that's a good sign or not."

So far he'd managed to escape scratching the wound thanks to the storm distracting him, then his sleep.

"This is Dan and Ellen, they will help take care of Kristy back at Medical. They've helped fix me up a couple of times. You don't have to leave Kristy's side you know."

"Okay......", Scott acknowledged, the fatigue beginning to show in his voice despite his unabated wariness of everything around him. Nevertheless, he let the two techs take the sleeping Kristy from his arms, though his gaze never once left his sister, not even as they closed the drapes in order to dress her. It was cause enough for the boy to grip the edge of the bed he was sitting on just a little tighter, but soon the curtain was pulled back again, revealing her dressed in a decorated hospital gown; quite probably the first set of clean clothing the poor girl had seen in a week or so.

Seeing her sleeping so peacefully, even with an IV drip connected to her arm, Scott could do nothing but put his head in his hands, and sigh.

Kristy, please be okay......

"Here these are better than hospital gowns."

"Hey, I'm not the one needs looking at, hey?", Scott protested as Dan began to take his vitals, but otherwise pretty much cooperated with the tech, being rather too exhausted to do much otherwise. With a sigh and another look at his ill little sister, the boy disappeared into the nearest changing room he could find, once Dan was done. In short order, he popped back out dressed in the Tee and the scrubs, headed right back to where Kristy was.

Without the energy nor the inclination to pay any attention to anything else happening around him, the young lad pulled up the nearest chair he could find, and sat besides Kristy's bed. His little sister still slept on, as oblivious to anything else as her brother was, and he touched her forehead; she was still burning up, and it didn't look like abating anytime soon. Feeling such, Scott sighed deeply again, closing his eyes. Losing himself in deep thought.

I hope I'm doing the right thing.

Am I?

I don't know these people.

Heck, I don't even know if they are human at all.

But then again, what am I, then? Me and Kristy, what are we, then?

In fact......these people may just be the closest things to kin me and Kristy'll ever have, the way we are now. Whatever we are.

Still......did I do the right thing?

To throw myself in whatever shit this was, and drag Kristy along with me?

Of course, Kristy was the one who said I should, but......

Maybe I should've known better? Maybe I should've just dragged Kristy away from the mess while I still had a chance?

Then she wouldn't be this sick now. She wouldn't be suffering now.

And we wouldn't have anything to do with these people either. We wouldn't need to have worried about those murderers who were shooting at us in the club......

But on the other hand, I could be wrong.

If those murderers were as Brutus said, we wouldn't have been safe anyway.

Me and Kristy, we would still have been hunted down and killed. Just like they wanted to do to us back then.

Except these guys would have had machine guns to do the job......

Argh, I can't think properly anymore. I only know Kristy's lying here right now, burning up and unconscious.

I don't even know what's wrong with her. Not even if she could die, to be honest.

I'm......I'm so scared. Kristy's the only family I have left. I don't want anything to happen to her.

Please, Sis. Tell me you'd be alright.

He opened his eyes, and felt a chill creep up his neck; a chill that told him someone was staring at him. Frowning, Scott turned to see that it was Psycho staring at them, like they were animals at a zoo or something from the way he was looking at them. Already weary and worried, this only served to irritate Scott, and the youth never was one to avoid a confrontation, even if it was one he couldn't win.

"What cha lookin' at, scrub?", he scolded Ryan, quite displeased as it was, and wishing the creepy guy would leave him and his sister alone.

"You and your sister." He replied simply, leaving it at that rather than going into more detail and explaination which would have been more trouble than it was worth.

Since it seemed to be bothering the teen, he shrugged and turned his helmeted head forward, while keeping a portion of the suit's 360 camera system trained on the boy and girl.

As Kade began to walk towards the dining hall, Casey called back for Ryan. "Ryan, you coming or not? Kade's taking us down to the dining hall. Catch up with us if you feel like dallying." The Eternal Merc turned and followed the hulking form of Kade. Hopefully they had good Italian. He never lost his taste for anything from the peninsula of his birth.

Ryan just nodded as he followed the arrogent, but highly regenerative man. As he left the siblings, he also disengaged the 360 camera as he wasn't that interested in watching the surroundings at the moment.

"Scott, just lie back down in the bed." Dan suggested. "You need to get some sleep and you temp is elevated as well. Doctor Rhys says you took some explosive rounds in your torso, and we'll be taking you in for scan's in a bit. Kristy will be there when you get back. The doc has authorized some meds to help bring her temperature down and let her sleep peacefully as possible." Dan let him know as he administered the drugs via the IV drip.

********************************
Pandora's foot was checked for any possibility of missed debris and then packed with the cellular regenerative ointment and bandaged. Placed in a quiet ICU room, she would be continuously monitored. Sian was concerned that the young woman hadn't come out from under the sedative, though there was always a variance due to indivual biology. If she did not show signs of recovery within the next twelve hours, she would be scheduled for an MRI.

************************************

Red was provided with a phone and several bags of freshly donated blood. "Make your call, drink your blood and get some sleep." Was Sian's perscription for her.

Godolkin checked out as sound, and Sian sent him to go get some food and sleep in which ever order he chose. "And Godolkin, you don't need that damaged armor any longer I think."

******************************

"It's itching like hell due to this gel stuff that Sian gave me, I dunno if that's a good sign or not."


"Oh thats that damn Icono suff, yeah they make it itch on purpose, but it'd be better not to disturb it. I can give you something for the itching though. I'm Reed, and I'm Doctor Mac' senior assisstant." The young man introduced himself as he handed Loki a pair of pills and a cup of water. 'It's still as good as our stuff. Don't worry about any debris that may have been in the wound, the gel is encapsulating it and will eject it from the puncture as it heals."

He checked Loki's other minor wounds, cleaning them and slatering them with a blue gel that felt cool and dried quickly "This is our stuff, no itching, just don't soak in the shower too long. And you shouldn't stress that leg out to much. Do you want a float chair or crutches?"

*******************************

The dining hall was currently set up buffet style, with a wide variety of dishes.

"Just fill up on what ever catches your eyes" Kade commented "If you have special needs, just wave down one of the staff. " He pointed to a couple of young girls who were tending the buffet.

Ryan began looking at the foods, looking for bean paste and burrito wraps. He also kept his eye out for radishes, pickles, raw onions and ground pork. For those foodstuffs he couldn't find he turned to one of the girls and asked, after removing his helmet, "Can you tell me where to find these?" These refering to the missing foods.

"Kade, will you not stay and break bread with us? We are guests in what is your home, and when I was growing up, it was considered impolite to merely take food from another's table without honoring his company." Casey looked at the large man out of the corner of his eye, busy loading loading a flat wheat wrap with salami, pepperoni, lettuce and tomatoes with some shredded cheese for good measure.

Godolkin nodded, "Thank you Doctor Rhys, I'll see you in the morning." He then headed out, looking around until someone guided him to his room. Once there he asked where Red would be put and then asked to be allowed to put her gear inside. Once in his own room he removed his armor, the rest of his clothes and took a shower. He then considered what to do next. Though able to go long periods without sleep it wasn't recommended and so he lay down. Besides, the older woman had gotten him addicted to cinnamon toast and hot chocolate and he figured that wouldn't particularly be available until breakfast.

Red got on the phone, calling the hospital to get a hold of Harrow. As she guessed, he was there.

"Hey, Jude."

"Fucked if I know, but listen, we ran into a plethora of Iconoclasts tonight. They're upgrading them faster than beans pass through Godolkin."

"Three. The shocktroopers. Some funky guys with acid for blood and an agent."

"Yeah, and the bitch hurt too. I want another round with her."

"I told you I don't know. But listen, I want you to stay there, keep your eyes and ears open, I'll check in with you as often as I can."

"Yeah, I might, but I still want you to stay there."

"Good, I'll call again when I can."

Red hung up the phone and sank her teeth into the blood bags one by one. She drained them all, her injuries beginning to heal quickly, even visibly healing to the naked eye. She tossed the bags in a medical wast disposal can and looked at Sian.

"That'll help loads, I'm feeling better already. Need anything before I go?"

It was some time before the entity that was Pandora’s consciousness showed any evidence of it’s continued existence, but when it did, it was fairly sudden. After it took control of her mind once more, it was less than a second before she woke, though her eyes remained closed. As was usual for her, she woke completely silently, a slight change in her breathing the only proof of the transition. Her eyes flicked open as soon as she realised she was awake, and began taking in her surroundings as she tried to make sense of recent events.

Where am I? Who were those people? What were those people? Those and many more questions were lurking in her thoughts, and her body was telling her two things, but she was ignoring those for the moment, until she had gotten a fix on things. She drew herself up into a sitting position and unconsciously checked that she had all her possessions as she looked around. Realising that she was wearing only a thin hospital gown, she looked more urgently for her things.

She spotted her rucksack sitting on a table by one wall, with her clothes folded neatly next to it. Eager to get out of there, she twisted and slid to the floor, then took one step before stopping dead. She frowned and looked down at her foot. She had just put most of her weight in it without realising, but had felt nothing. It had been freshly bandaged and there was a dull ache, but no pain. Accepting that it had been properly treated, she ripped off the hospital gown and violently threw it into a corner, glaring at it and finding that she had an urge to set the thing on fire.

She rummaged in the rucksack, found clean underwear and put it on, then picked up the t-shirt she had been wearing and sniffed at it. Wrinkling her nose, she cast it aside and found a clean one, pastel green with a wavy pattern on the front. As quickly as she could, she pulled on the t-shirt and her navy blue trousers, then donned the dark blue-grey jacket on over the top. After finding a pair of clean socks, she put the damaged trainers back on her feet, having nothing else to wear.

After stuffing the dirty clothes back into the rucksack, and checking that all her other possessions were still there, she looked at the room again, attempting to work out where she was. It was quite clearly part of a medical facility, a recovery room perhaps. Regardless, she didn’t want to be here. She didn’t like hospitals, their stark cleanliness was too similar. Silently, she shouldered the rucksack and padded over to the door, with the intent of trying to get out unnoticed.

"Can you tell me where to find these?"

"Oh I don't think we have any out at this time, but let me go get some from the kitchen." She replied to Ryanand asked if any one else had special orders. Kade placed one for a pair of every thing on it burgers to go. "For the kids donwn in Medical. Better make it four. I think they'll be hungry." She nodded and headed towards the kitchen.

"Kade, will you not stay and break bread with us? We are guests in what is your home, and when I was growing up, it was considered impolite to merely take food from another's table without honoring his company."

"Sure. I'm always hungry" He replied as the wait staffed laughed. He was apparently known for his appetite "Doc Mac say I have to have a mini black hole hidden somewhere inside." Kade joked as he took several thick slices of ham, a baked potato with all the trimmings and a large scoop of steamed spinnach.

Before Pandora could open the door, it was opened by one of the staff, coming to check on they young woman, as the assorted monitors in the ICU room has showed not only her awakening, but her leaving the bed- cameras, blood pressure/ pulse/ bio rythm/ resperation sensors all having shown her altered state.

"Oh it's good to see you up and about. Sorry that it took me so long to get here. " Beverly was an older woman with a motherly air that most responded to well.

"Scott, just lie back down in the bed. You need to get some sleep and you temp is elevated as well. Doctor Rhys says you took some explosive rounds in your torso, and we'll be taking you in for scan's in a bit. Kristy will be there when you get back. The doc has authorized some meds to help bring her temperature down and let her sleep peacefully as possible."

"Okay......", Scott muttered inaudibly, but he continued to caress Kristy's fevered brow, showing no signs of taking the tech's suggestion as yet. Watching Dan administer the drugs through the IV drip to his sister with a stern, alert eye despite his exhaustion, the boy finally closed his eyes and sighed, convinced that they were indeed tending to her like they said they would. With that, he leaned back in his chair, still not looking like he was about to lie down anytime soon.

"Nah, I can't sleep right now", the boy shook his head finally. "Not while Kristy's still like this. Just tell me when I'm up for those damned scans you told me about, and I'll lie down then. I just wanna be with my sis now."

"Thank you." He replied as he took the stuff he'd gotten already, as well as a pair of buns and butter and took a seat. He removed his helmet and awaited the girls return.

"So Ryan," Casey turned to the assassin, "How long have you been in the business?"

"What buisness?" He asked in a flat voice as he looked at the man.

Casey lowered his voice. "The same business that I'm in, and Red, and any other soldier, merc or assassin. The business of killing people. The particulars aren't what I'm concerned about. How you operate isn't what I want to know. But you and I are in the same line of work. I can tell from your gear. Nice stuff. I respect my colleagues, and I would like to know if you are one. If you're alive in this field, it's because you're good or you're new, and I don't think you're new. Which makes you my colleague, or as close to it as can be applied," Casey said, polite but flat. He took a bite of his Italian/Latin wrap. The food was good.

"If you know, why ask?" He replied in a tone that was not an agreement nor a disagreement with Casey's statements.

As they sat talking and devouring their various meals a young woman in tee and jeans cam in with a handfull of thin wide bands in an assortment of colors. (http://www.nec-design.co.jp/showcase/img/2004products/tag01.jpg)

"Here's a Tag for every one, and the bouncing betty is enabled, so you can find your way about untill you get familiar." She handed one to Ryam, and Casey. "I'll take the others down to medical. "

"I can do that for you Sherry." Kade offered, I'm taking some food down there any wasy, and I can explain them as well as you can. Ryan, Casey this is Sherry and she helds run communications." He made introductions.

"Okay, thanks Kade, you're a sweetie." She gave him a brief hung and set the communication deviced soen by where he sat, as she welcomed every one to the Roost.

"Oh and all of you hve computer access as well. just find a terminal, and there are one in every set of living quarters too." She added with a smile. "We aren't completely devoid of luxuries, despite the fact that Kade here compalines of having only swiming pool." She teased him with the gentleness of long familiarity.

"But I want a full size diving well." Kade replied with a mock sniff.

If you know, why ask?

"I don't know, but I suspect. I've been in your exact line of work, no matter what it is, at some point or another, albeit done according to the tools of the trade at that particualr time. Still, I would prefer to know. Or is it that you don't trust me?"

"Hello." Ryan said by way of introduction as he looked at the Tag. "If you don't mind me asking, what forms of communication security, as well as tamper secruity, do these have?"

Since it wouldn't be exactly useful, or comfortable for him to have it wrist mounted when wearing his suit, he was intending to either tinker with his suit's comm unit or if necessary slaving the Tag to it.

He then turned back to Casey. "It is not." He replied simply.

" "If you don't mind me asking, what forms of communication security, as well as tamper secruity, do these have?"

"They have excellent secureity and are fairly tamper proof. They are also water proof and heat proof to a high temperature." Sherry replied. "they are also very sturdy. I wear mine on my belt. They are very flexible." She showed how them how the Tag's could be rolled into a coil, of folded over a belt..

"Can I trust you?" Casey asked. He didn't say with what, but the answer would tell him what he needed to know.

"Then I may need to request your aid some time in the near future." He replied to the girl.

Then turning back to the man he replied, "Are you a fool?"

"No." It was the right answer. "You're an assassin, that much I now know. I was one once, the basics haven't changed much. Were I still in that job, I'd have given the same answer. You're cautious, direct yet evasive, and I applaud you. I can only imagine what your work must be like. Had I a hat on, I would tip it to you." Casey took another bite of his wrap.

"Favorite weapon? I always enjoy bickering about fire-arms."

Ryan simply shook his head at Casey's assumptions. "Then you may bicker with yourself as fire-arms are not my favoured weapon, nor does it matter what is."

Casey laughed. "So, the only thing you will ascertain to is being a Jackass? Fair enough, I've known a few. Take Nero, for instance. He was a Jackass."

Pandora froze as the door opened when she approached, and she stared neutrally at the woman beyond it, instantly on guard. There had been no monitoring equipment attached to her, and if there had been, she would have not only have removed it, but also switched off the equipment itself, probably permanently. That was another aspect of hospitals that was just too similar to bear.

But the question remained: How did this woman know I was awake if there was no monitoring equipment? Suddenly she caught herself, and mentally berated herself for not earlier checking for a camera, and disabling it if it was there. Her right hand was unconsciously creeping towards the pocket of the jacket, and the safety it could offer her, and throughout her body, muscles had tensed, ready to spring into action if necessary.

“Who are you?” she asked guardedly, staring at the woman with not a little hostility in her gaze. The reason for her unfriendliness was twofold; she liked medical personnel about as much as she liked hospitals themselves, and she could remember the kind of people she had been with before. From this, and other things that had occurred to her, she had put two and two together, not caring overly if she had come up with seven instead of four.

"I would thank you not to compare me with anyone, for that mistake may well be the last one you preform within this century." He replied with a cold tone.

"Suit yourself," Casey said. He fiished the last bites of his wrap, and got up to leave. Grabbing the attention of one of the staff, he asked where he could find the weapons maintenance.

Ryan simply returned to eating, thanking the lady when she brought the foods he requested. If Casey believed in his invulnerability then he was lacking as there were ways of eliminating even one such as himself.

“Who are you?”

I'm Beverly, and I am the ICU nurse assigned to monitor you. We were growing concerned about you and put you in with the greatest amount of monitoring. Let me go get Dr. Rhys, I believe she is still here."

Beverly lightly touched Pandora on the shoulder to turn her about and lead her back to the bed. "You just stay comfortable inthe bed and I'll be right back with the doctor. With you awake I'm sure she would need you to stay in ICU."

Kade listened to the two men interact, and said little. Once he'd finished his meal he stood up. "I need to go get those burgers back to scott and the others.'

He picked up a Tag and showed them a dedicated button. "Just press this button, it connects you to the bases master computer. Tell it where you want to go and it will project an image of a small glwoing ball before you. Follow it as it bounces along and it will lead you to the destination you gave it. Thats what we call the Bouncing Betty function. If you are just wandering about and get lost activate it - anddon't give it a destination and it takes you to medical if your bio parameters are registering as out of normal range, or back to your rooms if it senses you are not in danger."

He picked up him tray "I hope you all agree to work with us. We can use an action team."

"Oh thats that damn Icono suff, yeah they make it itch on purpose..."

Loki nodded in response, somewhat puzzled as to why they would make it itch on purpose if they could do otherwise. Nevertheless, the drugs Reed supplied him seemed to take a reasonably quick effect with the itching already starting to subside.

"Thanks for that. I'm Loki by the way..."

Allowing Reed to finish patching him up, Loki smiled in thanks as his the cool gel soothed his wounds.

"I'll take the crutches, thanks. So what is this place and who are you lot?"

Since he'd been unconscious since takeoff back in Housten, Loki had no idea where they were or who these people were, only that they seemed to be an alright bunch.

"I'll take the crutches, thanks. So what is this place and who are you lot?"

"Well, we've never really figured out a formal name, The basic group has been around a few centuries according to our historians and records. I think we didn't want to get too full of ourselves. Most of us just call ourselves "the Shadows" but that might be changing" Reed had a faint accent that Loki couldn't quite place.

"Here is Robber's Roost. We moved in, and made this our main western hemisphere base, about twenty five years ago." Reed added as he began adjusting a pair of crutches, that he'd brought from a supply closet.

Once that was done he handed them to Loki and made sure that the Aussie knew how to use them.

"They were supposed to be bringing down some Tag's for you all so you had communications and wouldn't get lost, but it looks like they got side tracked. Did you want a meal, or is sleep more what you need right now?"

Casey took the tag, entered "Armory," and set off. Within a few minutes, he was in a set of rooms dedicated to arming anybody with pretty much anything that they could carry. Going to the melee weapons room, he found the rack containing an assortment of pole-arm weapons, and on the one side, a servicing kit. Setting it on the table, he opened his cue bag and took out the long piece of wood, stained deeper than cherry from years of blood accumulation. The Brotherhood had practiced reenactments of the crucifixion with this, each year selecting a member to die as Jesus did, killed in the same manner as Casca had done so long ago. Taking out the Spearhead from his jacket pocket, he removed the dummy wood set into it. The Bortherhood had seperated the head from the haft just before Hitler commited suicide, the days when their tenure as being the high powers of the Third Reich was ending. When they had seperated the head, they pulled it off, and set the socket with ash. This kept the haft intact. Casca now reversed the process.

After a few minutes, a nail dug out from the ancient haft and reinserted, the Spear was once again restored. Had he the oppurtunity, Casca would have given the whole thing to Fortier. That could not be now. He wondered briefly about the Aussie, and about Godolkin. Ryan was definitely out. No, it would be either Loki or Godolkin. He had to determine which. For now, he took it, and locating the practice room, began going through the ancients forms of Kung Fu he had learned so long ago. The movements were as fresh in his mind as they had been then, and he was a true master of it. He tuned his mind to concentrate on himself, on his surroundings, feeling the flow of the chi as he went through the fast movements.

Ryan nodded, "That is interesting to know." He commented while wondering why they utilized betty as it's name as that was the same as the Schrapnellmine of german design. Taking a bite of one of the onions he returned to his food.

"Did you want a meal, or is sleep more what you need right now?"

The rumbling in Loki's gut seemed to answer Reed's question before his mouth even opened. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and was certainly feeling the effects of depleted fuel.

"I think a hot meal would do me some good... then I may slip into a mild coma for the next ten hours or so."

Despite his injuries it was obvious Loki's sense of humour wasn't damaged. With that said the Aussie jumped onto his crutches and looked around.

"So how would I find my way to the food from here?"

"That'll help loads, I'm feeling better already. Need anything before I go?"

"Not that I can think of right at the moment Red, but really I'm so tired I might be forgetting something." Sian replied tiredly. "You go get some sleep and food, or food and sleep and we'll talk later."

She watched as Red made her way out of the medical section and then turned to Jackie. "Now it's time to take care of your eyes." She said firmly.

As Red exited the medical section Kade approached carrying a heavily laden tray and the Tags. "Excuse me, but one of these is for you and one for your partner, Godolkin I believe his name is? It's for communications and location, it will guide you to your room, or whre ever you need to go" He explained to the leggy redhead.

"So how would I find my way to the food from here?"

Reed grinned. "I can show you as I'm heading that way myself. I eat at odd hours and the dining hall always has a good lare night buffet. Things go on round the clock here so they never close down the kitchens. Then I'm off for bed myself, my first classes are early rather than late."

He led Loki out of medical, stopping where Kade stood talking with Red. "Kade, Loki will need one too" He scooped one off the tray and after handing it to Loki, let Kade go on explaining to Loki and Red just how it worked.

Once the silver giant had Reed and Loki parted comapny with the others and finished the distance to the dining hall. As Reed had mentioned the buffet was well stocked and offerd a variety of hot and cold foods. Reed proceeded to serve himself up a solid meal of baked fish, pasta and spinnach salad.

Red looked at the bracelets suspiciously, not liking the idea of being tracked but took them both, figuring she wouldn't have much of a choice without a fight.

"Thanks S.S.", she said, referring to the old Silver Surfer and made her way to Godolkin's room. He had just begun to sleep when she knocked on the door. Instantly he was awake and opened the door a crack.

"Here", she said handing him one of the bracelets, "For tracking and getting around the place. Where's my room?"

He pointed at the door across the hall and then took it and she grinned mischouvisely as she said good night and dropped her own tracker in the narrowing door opening, making it appear that she was in his room as she moved over to enter her own. She locked the door and then moved a desk in front of it before falling into the bed, drawing a sharp gasp of pain.

'Idiot', she mumbled and then drifted off quickly into a restless sleep, filled the nightmares of her past.

Godolkin also slept fitfully, though his mind kept filling with lewd images of Red and he couldn't understand why suddenly his mind was filled with the odd imagery.

Kade took the tray into where Scott sat by his sisters bed.

"Hey Scott." He whispered so as to not wake Kristy. "I had them put the fixin's on the side since I didn't know how you liked your burgers."

He set the tray down on the table next to Scott and lifted the insulated lid to show the bun topped with a thick grilled beef patty smothered in cheese and bacon. On a side plate was leaf lettuce, red onion, tomatoe, and dill pickle slices. A pile of steaming french fries took up another plate and there were small cups of condiments - mustard, mayo and ketchup. "I didn't know wether you wanted milk or a soda." He pointed to a pint carton of milk and a 20 oz bottle of Coke.

Pandora continued to stare at the woman as she left, and remained by the door. She was tempted to just leave, not wait for a doctor to come and see her. She knew the medical staff would probably go crazy once they noticed she was missing, but that didn’t bother her. She was confident in her ability to escape without them finding her, and if not, then she was perfectly capable of defending herself.

But she supposed there was an advantage to staying, she might find out where she was more easily than having to work it out for herself. She certainly wasn’t going to take the advice of the nurse though, as she had no intention of remaining in any medical facility any longer than was absolutely necessary. If she was to rest, and she knew she should, it wouldn’t be there.

She opted to stay, for the moment, just to see what the doctor would say. It was vaguely possible that they had discovered something else wrong with her, though she was fairly capable of working out when something was wrong with her, even though she probably wouldn’t know what it was. Right now, she didn’t feel as though anything was wrong at all, apart from the ache in her left foot, fatigue and hunger, and she was currently ignoring both the latter two to allow her to operate more effectively. She stood by the wall, just inside the door and out of sight unless the person came all the way into the room, so that she could still get out quickly if she needed to.

"Hey Scott. I had them put the fixin's on the side since I didn't know how you liked your burgers."

Still watching over his comatose little sister, and almost dropping off to sleep from sheer exhaustion, the boy responded rather sluggishly when Silver Surfer came into the room. That is, until the smell of the food fully registered on his senses, at which point he became quite alert. Finally, the fact that he had gone the night without dinner was hitting home to him, and his gut flared up with the pain of extreme hunger anew.

"At this rate, I'm taking them all", Scott squeaked, and made short work of piling every single type of fixing on the side plate into the bun, and then starting voraciously on it. In a matter of seconds, the pint carton of mile was an empty carton; and then Scott proceeded with the bottle of Coke, all the while devouring the burger and the fries at such a speed, it must have amazed Kade to see that anyone could eat that fast without even so much as choking.

The burger was gone, but there was still some fries left over by the time the edge of Scott's hunger was removed. Only then did he look over at his sister, and promptly proceeded to stop eating. With a sigh, he put down whatever fries he had in his hand, even though he was still feeling hungry enough for another serving. It was worry that blunted his appetite, not a lack of hunger, and it showed clearly on his face.

"Kristy's not eaten since noon.....", Scott murmured, even though he knew that in her state, eating was not exactly a possibility.

Ryan finished his meal shortly after two others arrived in the dining hall, one being from the incident earlier, one native to the complex. Picking up his helmet, Tag and tray, he placed the one on his head, held the second and bussed the third before pressing the master control button and asked for the medical ward.

Finding it, he set off to find Charli.

As Casca continued to practice, his mind began processing his choices. Comparing Loki and Godolkin wasn't easy. He like them both. On one hand, here was an Aussie that was kind, curteous, and pretty much a straight arrow. He was good to have alongside in a fight, and the Eternal Merc trusted the man. On the other, there was Godolkin. Ex-Iconoclast. But honorable, forthcoming, and also good to have alongside in a fight. And then there was something about him being a divine warrior, of being Paladin. It was a difficult decision. He decided he would have to test both of them. It would come down to honesty. Godolkin's stance was easy, his dark past known. But Loki was hiding something. It was probably something best left covered, something that Loki had probably done unintentionally, the way he acted. The actions of a man who always meant well. Both did. But splitting the Spear in twain again would accomplish nothing. It had to be one, so his choice was limited. It would come down to the the most trusting, he decided, for that could tell a lot about their own trustworthiness.

The Tag guided Ryan back to the medical section and from there it was easy enought for him to find Charli just by asking the small staff.

"She's sleeping now, but one of the healers worked on her lungs, and it's headed. She'll need to rest for a day or two as she over used her gifts." He was told byt one of the nurses "You can look in on her if you'd like.

******************************************

"What is in the IV is feeding her Scott. I know enough to tell by the label on the bag. Thats what they call a dextros saline solution." Kade sought to reassure him. "And look here, the monitor shows her pulse, temperature and blood pressure. Her temperature has gone down alot."

Dan returned just then "Scott, since you're concerned about leaving your sister, I arranged to have the scans done here with you in the bed over there" He hooked a thum at the bed Scott had originally been put in.

*****************************

Sian stepped into the ICU room, closed the door, and turned to face Pandora - it was rather hard to hide form a psi who was looking for one. She had seen the empty bed as she opened the door and done a quick mental search of the area, seeking.

"I'm glad to see you are awake. I'm Sian and you are Pandora and we aren't in Houston any more. And we took your weapons when we put you in a hospital gown. But if it will reassure you I'll return them to you, as long as you promise to ask first and shoot later."

Pandora hadn’t noticed the missing weight from her jacket, though she knew she still had the box of ammunition. Her failure to notice the missing weapon, even after deliberately checking her possessions was highly unusual, particularly considering her training, but was probably attributable to not having slept in the last 36 hours, or eaten in the last twelve. She didn’t hear to words spoken to her either, but that was for a different reason.

As soon as the figure had walked through the door and Pandora had recognised her, something had gone missing. She launched herself at the woman, before she actually realised she intended to do so. Her slender arms reached for the woman’s neck, eager to exact revenge for her sedation. She was too tired to realise that the same thing could happen again, but then, since she hadn’t known that she was going to attack the woman before she did, the point was somewhat moot.

"Thank you." He replied as he entered the room that Charli was in and took a seat on a chair as he looked at the sleeping girl, before activating the motion sensor so he could rest while still being able to wake if anyone entered or if she woke up.

Sian was too tired to do anything else as Pandora sprang wordlessly at her - she simply grabbed the girl with her telekensis and slammed her hard against the door pinning her there just enought to keep Pandora from jumping at her again. "I am too damned tired to deal with whatever your phobia's are young lady. Now calm down!" She snapped exasperatedly.

"I can show you as I'm heading that way myself."

Loki nodded, getting onto his crutches as an indication he was good to go. There was nothing that could be done for him now in a medical rest besides plenty of rest.

The young Aussie waited patiently whilst the man named Kade explained everything about these wrist bands. It was a good idea and Loki was thankful to take it, from his initial survey of the complex it seemed rather large and easy for newcomers to become lost within.

Eventually Reed led Loki to the dining hall where they were confronted with a large amount of tables and a more than adequate buffet. Moving towards the food, Loki stacked up a large amount of beef and assorted vegetables before following Reed to a table.

"How did you end up in this place?"

Fortunately, Pandora’s reaction to being manipulated by the telekinesis was less extreme than before. She stubbornly ignored the pain from her impact with the door and fought as hard as she could against the restraint. No one restrains me and lives, she thought to herself. Never again will I allow others to dictate my actions. It wasn’t just bravado either; she had specifically sought out the technicians which had been responsible for her containment and very deliberately subjected them to extremely painful deaths.

“Fight fair!” she shouted at the woman, knowing full well that a fight between them would be anything but fair. She had known from the second she had first seen the woman that she was not a true fighter, and never would be. Even without a firearm, Pandora could easily kill the woman, and she could see at least half a dozen items in the room that would make reasonable makeshift weapons if she wanted.

Casca finished his practice. His Spear still held its power. A double edged weapon, figuratively and literally. He hoped that he would make the right choice. He decided to see if there was anybody at the dining hall, and upon getting back there, found Loki. Well, here goes for questioning #1.

"Loki, got a minute? I needed to ask you something," the Eternal Mercenary said as he sauntered up. He had placed the Spear back in the bag, with a cover on the head to prevent any awkward punctures.

“Fight fair!”

"I refuse to let you kill me just to satisfy your outrage at being sedated." Sian snarled back, her temper finally giving way. "I could care less what you think of me, but that's the problem right now, you aren't thinking, just reacting to some past problem I had nothing to do with." At that moment Sian didn't care if she had to wipe the girls memory and have her dumped some place, she wasn't the cause of Pandora's hang ups and she wasn't going to be the target of her rage. And she was too exhausted to be diplomatic about it.

Godolkin jerked awake and shoved the rather erotic images away. He sighed, and rubbed his face, it was covered with sweat. Something was wrong, his system wasn't working right and his thoughts were .... erratic. He stood up and activated the wrist com after pulling on a pair of pants. He didn't bother with anything else and steel cable muscles rippled beneath his tattooed skin.

"Location of Doctor Rhys."

The little ball began to show him the way and he sighed, picking up Red unit as he opened the door and noticed it. Then he made his way along the corridor, realizing he was heading back toward medical. He sighed again, thinking how she really should get some sleep and how he didn't want to bother her with his problems at the moment. Maybe she could just devise something to simulate REM sleep with the dreams.

Once he reached medical he followed the ball to a closed door. He knocked, "Doctor Rhys?"

Sian frowned and telekenitically moved Pandora aside, so that Godolkin could enter.

"Come in, and be careful she might try and kill you too." She didn't bother to hide the exhausted anger in her voice.

Godolkin opened the door, curious as to what was going on, and saw the woman held. His eyes were cold as he looked at her and without removing his gaze from Pandora asked, "Is there a problem Doctor Rhys?"

"What is in the IV is feeding her Scott. I know enough to tell by the label on the bag. Thats what they call a dextros saline solution."

Blankly, the boy merely looked at the silver-skinned giant, listening as intently as he could, but looking at Kade as if the latter was speaking Greek to him. It was obvious that Scott had no idea what a dextros saline solution was, and while it was good of the giant to try to put the boy's mind at ease, what he said had pretty much flew over the clueless young man's head.

"And look here, the monitor shows her pulse, temperature and blood pressure. Her temperature has gone down alot."

At least, that was something Scott could understand. With a stiff nod, the tension in his shoulders started to dissipate, and in a few seconds, the boy had gone from being overly worried, to just plain resigned. His body language was obvious enough to Kade, yet Scott as yet showed no signs of wanting to leave his sister.

"Yeah, but......", Scott said, still stroking Kristy's hair as she slept on, "I dunno. Guess I'm making myself look like a fool, no? But that's just me, I've been worryin' about her far back as I can remember. My sister's not exactly the toughest little cookie around, and she's always needed help. It's just my habit, y'know what I mean?"

"Scott, since you're concerned about leaving your sister, I arranged to have the scans done here with you in the bed over there"

With a last lingering touch, the boy nodded, before getting up from his chair. Still looking a tad reluctant, the nevertheless visibly relaxed, if tired Scott did as Dan suggested, laying down on the bed he had been on.

"I guess this is the time when I ask if I'm going to get an anal probe?", he managed to quip, smiling wanly at his little joke, lame as it was. At other times he might have done better, but as it was, sleep was starting to overcome him. For some reason though, he was still fighting the temptation.

"Loki, got a minute? I needed to ask you something."

Unsure of what the immortal would want to ask him, Loki nodded and got back onto his crutches, following Casca a small distance away from Reed and his meal.

"What's up?"

Loki didn't really know what to think of the man before him. He seemed a competent warrior and was certainly unique in his own right, considering only hours ago he'd had his head blown apart and yet here he was, standing before him as if he'd never been touched.

Despite his unique talents, Loki had barely spoken a few words to Casca, yet he'd barely said much to anyone so time would have to be the judge of what these people were like.

By now the words that the woman was speaking were beginning to get through to Pandora, though it didn’t make her any less angry. She had now realised that the woman had spoken her name, as well as hinted at things that she couldn’t possibly know. That meant only one thing, and it didn’t help the woman’s case for continued existence.

“I know exactly what I’m doing,” she spat, “What gives you the right to keep me captive here? What gives you the right to go looking into my head? What gives you the right to look into my life and my memories without permission? And since you have, you know exactly why your life is forfeit.” Her grey eyes blazed with fury and the tone in her voice showed that nothing had changed.

Her only reaction to being moved was to growl inarticulately, and her eyes flicked across to look at the new arrival. It was the big man, the one with similar origins to herself. Though her rage did not diminish, her agile mind had found a possible exit. “I’ll talk to you if she leaves,” she told him. “And then you either let me go or you die,” she declared, glaring at the woman again.

And since you have, you know exactly why your life is forfeit.”

Sian snorted at Pandora's statement. Holding up her hand she began ticking off various things.

"Number one - I looked only enought to know your name and that you were not sent to be a mole.
Number two - you, to put it bluntly, "freaked out" and rather than do something even more intrusive I simply held you still while I sedated you. - Sorry but having a hysterical teenager rampaging about was not high on my list of priorities, nor was walking you thought the strangeness of the Night Life while we were fighting for our lives. You can sue me later.

Number three your mind is screaming your hangup so loudly that it's hard, as exhausted as I am, to ignore them.

Number four you have no idea what you are doing. And we are not holding you prisoner, though we could have left you to quite possilby fall into the hands of those who would disect your still living body."

Sian took a deep breath and fought down her anger. "And don't threaten me ever, I'm harder to kill than you think. And let you go? I'll gladly do so, as soon as we can figure some place safe to let you go."

"Godolkin, you are very welcome to talk to her, also feel free to make sure she gets fed, and supplied. I don't have time to spend on hostilities. Once I figure out if we are going to be able to save Jackie's vision, I'm going to crash for a few hours. You eat too, your body is still coming down off the crap they loaded you up on all your years.

Godolkin didn't know what 'hang ups' Doctor Rhys was referring to, but she was absolutely correct about one thing. The 'Doctors' of the Iconoclast prefered to disect mutants while they were still alive, and made it a point to keep them alive as long as possible. He nodded to Sian.

"I'll see to it that she gets fed and equiped." He then looked at Pandora, "On your word of honor that you will speak with me and cause no harm I shall have Doctor Rhys release you. In return, I give you my word of honor that if you wish to go upon completion of our discussion that I shall lead you out myself. You have my word, do I have yours?"

"Question for you," asked Casey, once they were away from Reed, "Is what is the single thing that you most regret has happened to you? I'll answer to the same if you wnat, before or after, but if I do, is your word important enough to you to reply as well?" Casey waited for the man's reply, and the measure of his character to come through.

Pandora bit back a retort. Sure, you couldn’t help but read my mind. Yeah, right. How convenient for you. And it’s not my fault if you shouldn’t exist. She allowed her anger to cool down, and shunted it to one side. She recognised that it wasn’t going to do her any good so long as she was around this target. We’ll see exactly how hard you are to kill, some time soon, she promised herself.

“I’m a warrior, I have no honour,” she told the man bluntly, “And your word means nothing to me. But if it means I can get out of here, I swear by the most important thing to me.” Having said that, she relaxed her body and waited pointedly for the woman to leave. As soon as she was gone, she looked at the man. “I want my gun back,” she declared. She was willing to tear the place apart to get that gun back if it was denied her, and wouldn’t even be breaking her promise if she did. The gun wasn’t what she had sworn by, but it was probably second to it.

Godolkin opened the door, "Let me have her weapons and any other gear that was removed." Then he closed the door again and set down a bracelet on the bed near Pandora. He pressed a button on one that he was wearing, "Mess hall", and watched the small green ball appear and bounce it's way out the door. "Cancel".

He looked at Pandora, "The bracelet can guide you, so if you feel your being betrayed simply ask to be guided to the landing area, you'll be outside. And I know that you are a warrior, but if your word means nothing then you are not worth having around. I am a warrior, and I'll die to keep my word."

He leaned against the wall near the door, waiting for the requested equipement to arrive. "We'll begin our discussion once you have your weapons. The only question is do you wish to talk here or would you like to go to the mess hall? If your leaving it would be best to do so on a full stomach, and perhaps add some food to your pack for the journey."

OOC: Last post for me in the thread, been planning on doing it anyways, so bleh.

Back at Cains

The black Yamaha rolled to a slow stop, the full liter sport bike burbling through it's Devil exhaust system. It wasn't the best available, but Ryan had always found the name suiting. He dropped the kickstand, and walked towards the rear entrance. He had taken over Cain's not to long ago, after removing, forcefully, the previous owner. It had been interesting, but fun in it's own sort of way, and when all was said and done, Ryan had become arguably the most powerful vampire in Houston. Possibly in the whole Southern US.

He had taken to sport bikes a few short years back after an outsider had taken his Supra in a race for slips. It had been somewhat embarrasing to lose, but he knew the risks. So now, he just walked from the R1, and into the club.

The scene was disheartening at best. The club had been, well, for lack of a better term, destroyed. Tables overturned, a small fire raging, the scent of blood, death, and cordite hanging in the air. A few stragglers who hadn't fled were trying to clean up, restor the club to its previous glory. Ryan's face just fell, his eyes sad. This was the fourth time he would have to clean up the place after a fight. "Well fuck me," he swore low, and went to work to help clean up.

“I said I had no honour. I’m perfectly capable of keeping a promise if I want to,” Pandora corrected him, “And if I’m not worth having around, then that’s fine by me. Other people never did me any good.” She picked up the bracelet and inspected it dubiously, even going so far as to sniff at it. She looked up at the man, suddenly wary. “This is a communications device. Are you planning to track me when I leave?” she asked accusingly.

At the mention of food, her stomach growled sympathetically, effectively making her choice for her. Though she didn’t trust these people at all, she was starving. She was aware of the possibility that she might be given drugged food, but if she was careful then she should be fine. And she was glad of any excuse to get out of the hospital room. “I would like something to eat,” she admitted, doing her best to conceal exactly how hungry she was.

"Scott you and Kristy will always be welcome here, and while we will do our best to keep you both safe, we do have powerful enemies who will do anything and every thing to destroy all of us." Kade said seriously before stepping out of the room to allow a large machine on rolles to be brought in.


"I guess this is the time when I ask if I'm going to get an anal probe?"

Dan laughed and shook his head. "Nope just an advanced form of MRI. Nothing invasive, jsut have to ask you to lie still for short periods of time when I ask."

The side rails were lowered and the machine placed over the bed, and therefor Scott. It was a boring hour broken only with humming sounds and occassioal muffled clunk from inside the machine, or Dan asking him to hold his breath now and again.

Okay all this is the end of act one.

My next post will be a new thread, it will be roughly twenty four hours later and every one will be be in a meeting that explains were they find themselves now etc. It should be up later this after noon.

Please consider this thread closed.