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Post by togger on Jun 17, 2010 18:33:32 GMT -5
Will limped off of the small craft into the hangar, where two young men were waiting at the bottom of the ramp with a...thrust chair.
A thrust chair
What was he, an old man?!
"We have this for you sir." One of the young men motioned for Will to get on, Will snorting as he said:
"You don't think I can walk, do you?"
"No sir." The other one replied. Well, he was being a smart-aleck. The pain pills weren't doing what he thought they would be doing, so there was a bit of pain there...
He took the chair, instantly revolting the fact he did. Now he looked like he was 85 and had to depend on someone for anything he needed. Surgery couldn't come fast enough. Will looked back to the ramp, wondering why Anna was taking so long.
"It's not like we're waiting for you, dear."
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Post by ~ ADMIN on Jun 17, 2010 18:43:48 GMT -5
Anna had been listening to the conversation from inside the ship, making sure that their stuff was going to be delivered to their rooms. The young man's response made her quietly chuckle.
"Sorry, sweetie," she said, making her way down the ramp, shooing the young men away from the thrust chair. "Spare his already wounded pride," she told them, figuring if she pushed him to the appropriate room, it would be slightly better than if one of the young men did it.
"Comfortable?" she said, teasing him a little, before making her way to the medical bay. The first thing would be to get Will up and about again before they could do anything else. "I've never heard so many compliments dished out in one serving as the head office gave you to back there." Will had got his praises back on the ship on the journey to new Earth. "You'd think you'd stopped the whole universe from imploding."
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Post by togger on Jun 17, 2010 18:59:39 GMT -5
"They were thankful because they would have lost a lot of money if that ship had gone down. Plus, there were important people on that ship. Once you get the attention of those snot nose brats, the Alliance pays attention." He sat back in the chair, allowing the guidance systems to do the work. His fingers went down close to the bottom of the chair, feeling around for...
"Mmhmm...yes..." Moments later, the chair's navigation skills had improved.
"It was erring to the left too much. I like a straight line." He looked over at Annabelle, asking:
"While I'm in surgery, could you get things set up with a hotel room? A nice comfortable bed would do. Hopefully one that isn't too outdated and has a massage engine built in it. I've always wanted one of those." Something had been bothering Will...
"Did you notice how shaky the voices were of some of those dignitaries? And especially the one with the rat face...Hobberstein. He sounded awful."
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Post by ~ ADMIN on Jun 17, 2010 19:09:26 GMT -5
Anna supposed that was true. What wasn't motivated by money these days? It was worse now than it ever had been before. What did people do before they had money? Probably grunted at each other and poked out each other's eyes for food and land.
She shook her head slightly, "always working," she said, "if it were possible, I'd say that you mechanically erased the words, rest, holiday, and vacation from your brain so that they didn't exist to you any more."
"How about a fruit basket as well?" she said, rolling her eyes. "I take it you want your own separate room?" It was probably a given, but she figured she'd ask. She'd make sure to get rooms that adjoined or something, so she could bother him whenever she wanted to.
"Anything that threatens their livelihood of eating, drinking and being generally spoiled is enough to make any of them quiver." In truth though, this attack had come out of nowhere, and Anna was beginning to get suspicious over whether someone was artificially making these space anomalies. The thought frightened her a little.
They reached the medical bay. "Try not to take too long in there," she said, "I'll be bored without you." She hesitated for a moment, then leaned down to plant a kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you on the other side."
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Post by togger on Jun 17, 2010 19:19:54 GMT -5
Will listened to Anna talk for a moment before realizing that they had arrived at the medical bay entrance. He felt the kiss, which made him smirk a little. Who knew that a girl like her would take interest in him, although he was a pretty prime candidate for a woman. He had dated several girls in high school and college, but they were never like...
Like her, really. They weren't smart, they weren't witty, they didn't make him feel any better. This one did.
He looked up at her, giving her a mini salute as he said:
"Just remember: massage bed." He went through the medical bay doors to find the place bustling with activity. What in the world was going on? He had to weave through the nurses, robots, and other such medical staff before reaching an AI that served as the reception. The AI was the projection of a middle aged woman in nurse garb. Appropriate.
"State your name please."
"William Blake."
"Surgery ward. Go left, first door on your left."
"Thank you."
As he went down the hallway, a nurse DID bump into him, almost falling over. Will held onto her arm so as to try and break the fall. The nurse stood up, smiled slightly as a way of showing gratitude, then went her way. Something must have happened...
He arrived at the surgery ward, going through the doors to be greeted by...silence.
"Quite a contradiction to what's going on outside, isn't it?" A young man appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He was clean cut, blond hair, blue eyed. Girls would have called him one of the hottest things alive.
"Yes. What's going on in there anyway?"
"There was an attack on Galacta. Terrorist cell sprung up on an Alliance colony and almost wiped them out." Will was silent for a moment before the Doctor changed topics:
"Anyway, this shouldn't take long. Just go into that room and change."
"Alright then."
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Post by ~ ADMIN on Jun 18, 2010 11:37:24 GMT -5
Anna grinned as he disappeared through the doors, letting out a small laugh. By all rights, she probably should have vehemently hated the guy, some of his personality traits left something to be desired, but he could keep up with her and more, he was funny in his own way, he was good looking, and there was something about him... she couldn't pin it down.
She made her way to an information screen in the foyer of the building, typing into the screen that she needed a hotel. It gave her an electronic map of the complex, and she narrowed down the hotels based on the criteria that Will had given her. There were two with massage beds, one within walking distance of this place. That was probably a good idea, as that meant that after she'd checked them in, she could come back here and wait for Will's surgery to be over.
The place was a lot more lush then anywhere else she'd ever been before. It was an island situated in the center of a large lake surrounded by mountains. Some of the buildings were modern, others on the outskirts appeared more rustic, but still had modern technology inside.
The hotel she'd chosen was next to the water, so she managed to get two ajoining rooms with a view out on to the lake and over to the mountains. Now she had what she wanted too. Checking her watch, she figured she had enough time to shower (ouch, hot water and burns, not good), then she got changed into a skirt and a light top, had her hair dried wavy, then set off on a long route back to the government building and medical bay.
On the way, she picked up and electronic news bulletin on her communicator, listening to the reports about the attack on Galacta. She shook her head. It must have been a tactical attack with several groups involved. Maybe if they hadn't been on the Oceanic, they could have been helping those people. But then, the people on the Oceanic would have died. It was hard.
Taking a seat in the waiting room, she titled her head back and closed her eyes, finding herself drifting off.
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Post by togger on Jun 18, 2010 17:25:47 GMT -5
It isn't right.
It just isn't right.
Will couldn't remove the images that flashed through his mind: Alliance soldiers on the ground, blood pooling underneath their bodies as the survivors kicked their fallen comrades out of the way to get a better shooting position. It was a horrible image that had burned into his mind after a practice mission that had gotten interrupted by a wave of space pirates that tried to take the Alliance stronghold over on the edge of the Fringe. Was it the same scene at Galacta? He shook his head slightly, leaning back into the chair. The surgery was one that didn't require Will to go under complete anesthesia, so local was the preferred choice. Will had wanted to see the machines that were reconstructing the lower half of his leg. They were efficient, he gave them that. In fact, the surgeon was in the next room, watching the instrument panels in case anything went wrong. It was as if machines were taking over.
The surgery was, as the surgeon said, quick and painless.
"Well, how does it feel? I used some of the new ProTech on your soleus."
"At least I got the best." ProTech was an up and coming technological company that was making leaps and bounds in the medical field. It was rumored that they would be going into arms pretty soon.
How hypocritical.
Will put some stress on the leg, testing it...so far, so good. He stood up, putting full pressure on it.
"Working condition." The surgeon said with a smile, continuing:
"Don't put too much stress on it; it could give out."
"I figured." Will looked over at the doctor, nodding his thanks and saying:
"I'll be off then. Cheers."
"Be careful out there, Mr. Blake. It's a war-zone."
Will arrived in the waiting room, grateful that he could resume his normal duties. He was already thinking about the X relay system in the ship and how he could improve it. Will was about to leave when he noticed someone slouch...
"Anna?" He walked over to her, nudging her with his hand slightly as he said:
"Come on darlin, lets get moving."
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Post by ~ ADMIN on Jun 18, 2010 17:36:18 GMT -5
Anna had been fast asleep and dreaming when Will had come out into the waiting room. With what she'd been dreaming, she was surprised she hadn't been squirming or attracting attention to herself. It wasn't pleasant reliving the past through your dreams. But that was enough thought about that.
She looked up at Will, seeing that he was back on his feet and walking. "Ah, the miracle of modern science," she said, meaning that he was able to walk, not that he was a miracle of modern science. Climbing to her feet, she smiled, "I got a hotel not too far from here, with the massage bed, as ordered. The rooms have a great view," she told him as they began to head out.
Looking across at him, he looked more pensieve than usual, "you okay?" she asked, "you look more frowny than usual. If that's possible." They broke out into the open air, "did you hear about Galacta?" That could explain why he was frowning. He wasn't heartless, he had to feel something for those people. She knew she did.
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Post by togger on Jun 18, 2010 17:49:16 GMT -5
"So you can follow orders." He said, actually breaking into a small smile as he walked with her. New Earth was absolutely gorgeous! The Ziglar mountains could be seen from their path, untouched by man because of the Alliance's Preservation of Life act(once again, an oxymoron for the Alliance), which decreed that certain areas of each planet under UGAP's control was to remain as it was. The planet had a very laid back atmosphere, but there seemed to be a bit of an undercurrent of tension, as if a dark cloud had come over the planet. Shipping wounded soldiers to the local medical bay would do the trick.
Honestly, Will hadn't heard much of what Annabelle had said, just hearing the bit about Galacta. He nodded, saying:
"Yes, I did. Horrible thing that happened..." Will, for once, didn't want to talk, even if it meant boosting his own ego about he had known about it before she did.
"Lets just get to the hotel. I need a rest."
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Post by ~ ADMIN on Jun 18, 2010 17:55:59 GMT -5
"Surprising, I know," she said, returning his smile, before it dropped again. She nodded in response to what he'd said, sensing that it wasn't a topic he wanted to talk about. "Whatever you say," she said.
They crossed the foyer, Anna glancing at the piano they had there. She'd have to have a go at some point while she was here. She didn't know when she'd get to play one again. Maybe while Will was sleeping.
They went up to the room, and Anna opened the door to Will's room, gesturing for him to go in before following him in. "I'm just through there," she pointed at the door that linked the two rooms, "if you need me. Not that you would." Wandering over to the window, she stared out of it for a moment, trying to shake the bad feelings in the pit of her stomach, before looking back round at him, "want me to leave?"
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Post by togger on Jun 18, 2010 18:03:56 GMT -5
Will, through his sinking emotions, was at least able to admire the way the hotel was built. Sturdy metal columns blended with wood(or what appeared to be wood. Who used wood anyway except for the settlers out on the Fringe? And even they used metallic housing most of the time)and brick exterior that really gave the place a nice feel. He followed Anna up to his hotel room, sitting down on the edge of the bed as he laughed slightly at her comment about not needing her. True, he didn't need anybody...
No. No, that was wrong. Without Anne, he would have gone off the wrong path.
"Leave?" The word reverberated through the room like an echo. He looked over at Annabelle. What would be the right thing to do here? That's what Anne always told him to do...
"Yes. Leave." He laid on the bed, pausing a moment before adding:
"But come back. With scotch. I like communicating with people who aren't idiots."
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Post by ~ ADMIN on Jun 18, 2010 18:11:31 GMT -5
Anna hadn't expected him to actually tell her to leave, and when was about to retort when he finished his sentence. She let ou a soft chuckle. "Same here."
Shaking her head slightly, she walked through to her room, and over to the mini bar. They were a lot more sophisticated these days. She ordered a whole bottle of scotch, the good stuff, and two glasses with ice, before slipping her shoes off, returning to his room. She put the stuff down on the bed, climbing on herself, pulling her legs underneath her.
"I haven't had scotch since..." she paused, pouring them both a drink, "since I was back home in Scotland," she eventually said. Clinking her glass against his, "cheers," she began sipping the drink, then let the whole shot drain down her throat, the ice touching her top lip, making it feel numb. She had to lick her top lip to get rid of the water there.
"What was home like for you?" she asked, choosing a topic of conversation.
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Post by togger on Jun 18, 2010 18:19:41 GMT -5
Will took the whole shot down in one gulp, even getting an ice cube in the process. After letting the alcohol simmer in his body for a moment, he heard her question. The word home meant two things...
"Home? I wasn't raised in a stable home. My mother died in childbirth and my father was a two faced politician that did nothing more than swindle and bribe his way to his position. My sister turned out to be a drug addict. That was home for me till my father was murdered. That idiot deserved it." He sat up himself, taking the scotch bottle and pouring himself another drink, continuing:
"My sister deserted me. She was never a care-taker kind of a girl. Always wanted to party, always wanted to have relations with any man that looked appealing." Will took a sip of the drink, pausing momentarily before continuing:
"I got pushed into an orphanage. My caretaker...her name was Anne. She became my mother. Taught me how to process things, how to truly decide between right and wrong. I owe her everything...everything." He finished the rest of the drink, laying the glass down on the side of the bed as he himself lay down.
"It's odd, you know. I don't talk about this openly. Most people can't grasp struggle, can't grasp what it takes to have a true sense of right and wrong."
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Post by ~ ADMIN on Jun 18, 2010 18:31:12 GMT -5
Wow. Will had really just laid it all bare for her right there. "Wow," she actually said it out loud, "I had no idea." How could somebody have any idea that something like that could have happened to someone. She knew there must have been a reason Will was the way he was though. Hence the question.
"At least you had someone there for you," she said, "someone to teach you stuff and take care of you."
She stared down at her glass, swirling the ice around a bit. "I have two older brothers. Both my parents wanted boys right from the off. Then my Mum got pregnant with me. It was an accident, but they figured it would be another boy and that'd be great, but when I came out a girl..." she bit her lip a little, "they all made sure I knew early on that I'd been a mistake."
"My parents were always distant, preferring my brothers over me. My brothers found me fascinating for a while, getting me to play games with them, making me like them even though I clearly wasn't. And as we all got older, they got more curious. They were too stupid to just ask out other girls from school to find out what girls were like."
"Instead," she said, having to pour herself another drink, "they investigated me in any and all ways, and I never told anyone. My parents wouldn't believe me, and my friends would just think it was weird." She downed the drink, "then I tried to forget about it, bury it, take out frustrations through my work."
"Funny really, you're the first person I've told," she cleared her throat, her eyes stinging, she wasn't going to cry on him, she mustn't, "but at least you know you're not the only one with a sense of right and wrong."
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Post by togger on Jun 18, 2010 18:40:54 GMT -5
Will listened to her story with open ears, grimacing slightly as he heard the painful recount of what had happened to Anna as a teenager. How sickening, how absolutely horrifying, how...wrong it was to have an innocent girl in the prime of her youth being...violated like that. He felt a wave of gratitude for Anne when she did point out that at least he had some kind of guidance. And what was one of the things Anne always used to say?
"If you're not thankful, you're not righteous."
How true.
Will sat up, not saying anything for a moment before putting his right arm around her shoulders, squeezing very gently on the shoulder where his hand was.
And he was silent.
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