Play@YSDC

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:34 am**

He gives Nurse Sarah an odd look as the trio enter the corridor and he shuts the heavy door behind him. "You got a thing for the serge?" he asks curiously.

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:43 am**

Sarah blushes yet again. "Wh-what?" she stammers. "No. I mean, he's good looking and all, but, well, I don't really know him that well...I thought he had a thing for me, actually." She looks at Morrison. "Does he?"

She turns back to Dahlia, embarrassed. "No, I didn't see what happened to the kids in the hospital. They seemed okay when I ran up to the roof, but when I came back down everyone was gone. I'm so glad you were all right. There was also a little boy in the parking lot just before all this started. He lost his whole family. I tried to save his father, but...it was too late. I did save him, though, and he was in the ambulance with me. But then he and everyone else just kind of...vanished. I hope he didn't end up like those other children."

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:50 am**

"I don't know who's got a thing for who," says the sergeant, then lowered his gaze as he led the others off down the corridor. "To tell you the truth, he's a bit old-fashioned, so if he calls you a 'girl', a 'dame' or a 'bird', he means no disrespect and is probably not flirting with you. He knows just what a woman can do in a war. He just mocks everyone. Not everyone's a sensitive, bright chap like I am." He brushes his nails against his shirt. "I'm the better catch, I think."

A man scoots out into the hall on a wheeled chair and arches an eyebrow. "Y'reckon?" he jeers, rolling his eyes, then scooting back to his position at the desk. The man seems to be going over dozens of schematics with a pencil while a woman in a suit watches.

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:08 am**

Sarah nods. "I was afraid of him at first," she admits, "but I've come to realize that he's on our side, and it's good to have him there. I...I don't think I'm ready for another boyfriend yet, anyway. I got badly burned by my last one."

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:10 am**

"Afraid of him?" Sergeant Morrison snorts. "Him?" He pauses thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose we soldiers would be nerve-wracking to you civvie sorts, us all up in our uniforms and all." He pats his rifle lovingly. "You were, uh, frightened of me, too, of course?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:22 am**

"Oh. yes, of course," says Sarah, with a lighthearted tone and a smile on her lips. "Absolutely terrified."

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:26 am**

"Heeeey, what's so bleeding scary about Blackworth? He didn't even have his cane so it's not like it was references to House that intimidated you. Oh, bleedin' hell, House'll be on again soon only it won't coz there's nothing to air it. That really pisses me off, pardon the language. I been watching it all year."

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:01 am**

Dahlia chortles a bit, and puts her hand in front of her mouth to muffle it.

Sarah's so pretty....it's no wonder all the boys want her to be their girlfriend....hee hee hee

Dahlia skips down the corridor with the other two, glad to be going somewhere, and discovering something. Sitting and talking was fun and all, but for Dahlia, it lacked a certain amount of adventure. She wanted to go places....see new things....see more scary things....or well. Maybe not the last one....

She giggles at the conversation. "You watch House?" she asks Morrison incredulously. "I didn't think anyone with medical background liked that show." She looks up at him and grins. " 'Cause it's so hokey is what I mean." she quickly adds.

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:04 am**

"If it's on the telly, I'll watch it," he says. "I prefer medical dramas anyhow. And I don't really have much of a medical background. It's just that my mum was a nurse and I picked up a few things in the..." He paused. "...in the place I grew up in."

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:27 am**

Dahlia notices his pause, and feels compelled to press. Why did he pause? What secret is he keeping?

"Where'd you grow up?" she asks with sudden interest.

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:47 am**

"As a kid? Northfolk. Ended up in Stoke Newington during my, uh, teenage years. You?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:05 am**

"Liverpool" Dahlia says proudly. "Same as John Lennon."

She shrugs at Morrison. "What can I say, I'm a Beatles fan. You have to admit they're pretty cool for an oldies band."

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:11 am**

Morrison looks confused when Dahlia pronounces herself a Beatles fan but his expression clears at the words 'oldies band'. "Sergeant Blackworth is certainly a fan of old bands which is why tonight is so important to him. We found a CD of precisely his sort of music." He pauses, a quizzical look on his face. "Though I'm sure neither of you are all that interested. Particularly the dear nurse who's got a lot of things on her mind rather than dancing with ruffians."

They find themselves a floor down and in the middle somewhere. A wide window looks in on a series of medical bays. The group can observe exercises machines in one room, beds in several others and various complex medical machines in some of the others. If anything, this military outpost is surprisingly well-equipped.

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:18 am**

There's a dance going on tonight? Like, what kind of music did he find? Dahlia grins. That would be kinda fun. I haven't had lots of fun in a long time...

Dahlia walks through the medical facility, amazed. She spies the treadmills and such in the exercise room, and for a moment remembers Rebecca's sleep over, where they all went into her parent's exercise room and started horsing around. Rebecca had gotten on the treadmill and started it, but she pushed the wrong button and flew off the back of it. That was SO funny...she bumped her butt big time! hee hee hee

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:25 am**

Morrison rubbed the back of his neck. "I dunno. Maybe it's not on tonight. I mean, you two have got a lot of work on your hands. Better get an early night. Come to think of it, you two are probably tired now. Want me to show you to your rooms so you can nap?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:21 pm**

"I watched the first episode of House to see what it was like," says Sarah, "but I never really got into it. I do like Hugh Laurie, but he's best as a comic actor, like in Blackadder. I'm fond of the Beatles' music too, but it's my dad who's the real Beatles fan. I think I would like attending that dance when you do have it. It has been a long day, though I did manage to catch some winks on the flight over." And I'm sure I'd have a rather full dance card, she thinks, since all the guys will surely want to dance with me, "I can stay up a bit longer if that's okay with you, Dahlia. I could at least meet the patients, and if there's anything they need me for it probably shouldn't wait until morning." She looks around the medical lab with fascination. "You've certainly got the latest equipment here. Puts the hospital to shame. Amazing stroke of luck having all this stuff here, not to mention those cages down in the basement. What did this place used to be before tonight, anyway?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:58 pm**

Dahlia can't help but feel suspicious of Morrison. It seemed strange to her that he'd rub the back of his neck nervously. I don't think they want us around tonight.....what are they gonna be doing?

She looks at Morrison strangely for a moment, studying his face.

[O.C. Psychometry roll 12/16]

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:53 am**

"Maybe the dance wasn't tonight," he says, then turns to open up a medical bay door. Inside are several men and three women, each badly cut and injured. Their wounds have been sutured and bandaged but by the looks of things, quite poorly.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:07 am**

"Oh, dear," says Sarah when she sees the injured people. "These wounds are going to need to be resewn and redressed." Then she walks into the medical bay, smiling at her patients. "Evening, all. I'm Sarah Carpenter, a nurse from Mercy Cross hospital. This young lady is Dahlia, and she's going to be my helper. Dahlia, I'll walk you through what I'm doing so you can learn, and you can hand me things when I ask for them. Sergeant, I've got some medical supplies I've salvaged from the hospital, but I could use a proper medical kit if you've got one." She looks over the patients and goes over to the one who appears to be in the worst shape. "Hi, what's your name?" She gets to work, showing Dahlia what she's doing at every step, and expertly cleans, rebinds, and rebandages the wounds.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:26 am**

"You do a better job than me, that's for sure," says Sergeant Morrison.

Most of the patients have been given rather large doses of morphine. Their wounds - large gashes, gun shot wounds, shredded limbs - will require hours of patching up. It was going to be a long day. Perhaps Sarah wouldn't have the energy to dance at the end of it.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:56 am**

"Thank you," says Sarah beaming. "You know, it's rather a good thing that the dance isn't tonight after all. Once I'm done here I'm going to be too exhausted to do anything but collapse into bed. When the dance is on, let me know. I'd simply love to go." She smiles at the patients. "I'll have you lot up and dancing before you know it too." She continues about her rounds, making small talk with the patients and instructing Dahlia as she works.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:23 am**

Dahlia beams. The blood and guts is entirely up her alley. In fact, it was fascinating to watch Sarah's steady hand work.

She does as she's instructed, handing things to her when necessary, and watching intently.

"I still wanna know what band it was he found....you know what cd Blackworth liked." she says distractedly to Morrison.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:25 am**

Morrison just shrugs at Dahlia.

Posted: **Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:30 pm**

"You did the best you could under the circumstances, Sergeant Morrison," says Sarah. She moves onto the next patient, but she is too distracted by thoughts of her father to do a proper job. He should have called me back by now! she thinks. Something must have happened to him... She shakes her head when she sees what a lousy job she's doing. "I'm so sorry...I...got to pull myself together..." She blinks back tears and tries to do better.

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:38 am**

"Are you ok Sarah?" Dahlia asks, moving to her side now, and giving her a hug. "Are you worried about your Dad? Cause I'm a little worried too. The phone just rang and rang for me. It was weird. I think maybe my....mum.....maybe.....but let's not think about that right now. It'll only make us upset."

She looks at Morrison for a moment, and visions permeate her head as though she were living in another world momentarily. Flashes of images assault her from every angle, and she sways a bit backwards. In a moment, she looks back at Sarah with new eyes, dark eyes that speak of trouble and brewing discord.

She looks around the ward again, taking in the surroundings. "How did these people get their limbs shredded?" she asks simply, as though asking what brand of hot chocolate they just enjoyed.

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:48 am**

Morrison winces. "Don't really think that's appropriate talk while people are recovering."

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:53 am**

"Well....." Dahlia pauses, looking at Sarah with tears in her eyes. "Let's take a little break. Sarah can we finish patching them up in a minute? You look like you need a break anyways."

"Tell me out in the hall then." she says to Morrison.

Posted: **Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:36 pm**

"Thanks, sweetie," says Sarah, squeezing Dahlia back. "Yeah, I am worried about my dad. I think I could use a break too. Let's go out into the hall. That was a very good question you asked, Dahlia." She turns to Sergeant Morrison. "We will need to know what caused their wounds if we're to treat them most effectively. You can tell us there."

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:11 am**

Morrison sighs and leads them out into the hall. "Medics ... always demanding. Well, see, those twelve people were either involved in the shoot-out Blackworth mentioned earlier or they were attacked - either by the things outside or by the things inside. I can't catologue all of the injuries, really, as I didn't see half of them. We've got 'em under sedation so far as not all of them are on the side of the angels."

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:41 am**

Sarah shakes a little at this information. "You mean some of them are dangerous?" she asks. "You do know which ones, I hope? Shouldn't they be restrained, just in case?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:45 am**

"Yeah, they're restrained ... both chemically and with leather," Morrison quips with a smile. "Don't worry, though, I doubt they're after another round of action. Our boys sure did a number on them. Even if we let them wake up, which we'd probably need to do soon - probably some bad side effects from being on meds too long - they'll be too busy licking their wounds to do nothin'."

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:57 am**

Sarah relaxes. "Well, that's a relief," she says. "Are you holding up okay, Dahlia?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:02 am**

"Uh, ya I'm ok." she says to Sarah, giving her a brief smile.

"So the ones that were dangerous....did they cause injuries to the others then? Like they attacked the other people? And if so, were they human, or were they already injured by the time they attacked?"

Dahlia thinks back to the nurse that came running from downstairs. She didn't look quite.....alive. She was walking alright, but you could easily tell she should've been dead. I wonder if they know that possibility....

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:05 am**

"You mean the mutant things? Yeah, some of them caused the injuries but they're all sealed up now. The worst is over. There's no point dwelling on it. We just gotta keep these people alive and keep this little outpost operating. We're real lucky to be here. This place could keep us going indefinitely. An oasis of humanity surrounded by the darkness out there. Out there's this darkness that can invade your minds, bring your very thoughts to life, but here's safe. What you see in here is what you get. So let's stop dwelling on the bad stuff and let's just try to get this place cozy."

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:11 am**

Dahlia breathes a sigh of relief. Perhaps they have thought of all possibilities. Looks like they have it together, anyways.
"Ok. Do you wanna go back in yet Sarah? Are you ok too?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:23 am**

Sarah grins back at Dahlia. "Yeah, I'm okay now. I'll be ready to go back in in a minute or so, but first I'd like to try calling my dad again. I know a lot of people have been having trouble getting through using phones, but I was able to talk to him a couple of times before, and his phone was ringing even when I couldn't. I know this might sound funny, but I think love makes the signal stronger somehow. Joel's mum was able to text him using my phone back in the hospital." She turns to Morrison. "The darkness can bring your thoughts to life? What do you mean? And how is it that it doesn't do the same thing in here? Also, are you sure the mutants can't...infect people? Spread the mutation?" If the darkness brings thoughts to life, is that why I heard Lyle's voice, and found his note in my locker? she thinks. Gotta stop thinking about him. She dials her father's number yet again. Come on, Daddy. Please pick up, wherever you are...please...I love you...

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:27 am**

No signal.

"This is the catacombs, lady, no windows and a fair amount of concrete between you and the outside world," says Morrison. "There's been no sign of infection. Maybe if they believed enough in it and were outside, maybe, but not in here. Like I said, we're safe in here. Blackworth knows..." He hesitates then clears his throat. "We all know about the various safety devices installed in this facility that keeps it safe from untoward influence. I'll wait out here a bit while you two finish up with the rest and then I'll show you to your rooms. You'd want a shared room, right? We got a few master bedrooms but they've sort of been taken up by the three of us Sergeants. Blackworth's got the best, unfortunately, he's far too cheeky not to. No need to worry about your safety while you sleep. Everything will be mighty fine. I'll have someone else stand guard and all that. I'm a little busy tonight."

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:36 am**

"Thanks," says Sarah, putting her phone away. He's all right, he's got to be! she thinks. I just can't get through. I'll try again later. "I'll also have Stephen bring our weapons to the room, so we can protect ourselves just in case anything gets past the guard. How do you know all this, and what safety devices are here to prevent these influences?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:40 am**

"Top secret, lady," he says with a wry smile. "You don't got the clearance. Military's the military, sorry."

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:14 am**

"Did any of the patient's injuries cause them to lose their hair?" Dahlia asks, looking at Morrison with renewed interest in the casualties.

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:16 am**

"No, you can take a look, all hair is accounted for," he says, looking confused. "Someone at the hospital lose their hair?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:30 am**

Dahlia looks confused as well. "Then what was this place before you guys got here. Was it always a military base? Or was it a medical ward of some kind? Maybe a psych ward?" She knits her brows together, trying to read his expression.

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:32 am**

"It was a Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. You oughta have worked here! You're more questioning than the Arch-Duke himself!" He snickers. "By that, I mean Blackworth. He does look a whole lot like royalty, don't he?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:51 pm**

"We had a number of cancer patients at the hospital undergoing radiation therapy," says Sarah. "That would make their hair fall out. I think one of them was in the Children's Ward. Was that why you asked, Dahlia?" She looks back to Morrison. "Defense Science and Technology Laboratory? Sounds ace! I think I would have liked to work here too. What did they do here? Yeah, I noticed the resemblance between Blackworth and a certain Prince too. Is he related to the Royal Family? Say, that reminds me - Blackworth had some kind of seizure in the hallway earlier. It might be a sign of an impending stroke. I saw him take a pill after he recovered, but I'm not sure what kind it was. Do you know anything about his medical condition? He really ought to have a full examination, and perhaps an MRI."

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:42 am**

[O.C. Over 1,000 Mr. Handy! Join the crazy thousand club! congrats!]

"No, it's not why I asked." Dahlia answers Sarah simply, then looks at Morrison with a strange look in her eyes.

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:59 am**

[OOC: Thanks, Trixie! I knew I was in the upper 990's last night, but hadn't even noticed I'd passed the millennium mark. Yay! *dances*]

Sarah shrugs. I'll have to ask her in the medical lab, she thinks, when Morrison isn't around to overhear. I wonder what's been going on here...

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:48 am**

"Hard to tell, the way those royalty behave," Morrison shrugs. "Quite possible that some royal member did something naughty with a commoner. Blackworth's about as common as they come... Well, not really, I mean, you're probably not used to commoners like that. But anyhow, about his sickness... He'll be fine, really, he's already an MRI and all the rest of them. If he were real ill he wouldn't be considered fit for duty. It's just the stress. Gives him migraines. That's all. So you wanna tidy up the rest of them in there or you wanna go to bed? Been a long day, right?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:54 am**

"It's just that..." starts Sarah. "my mum died of a stroke. She thought it was migraines too. I just want to make sure he's okay. It has been a long day, but the patients shouldn't have to wait until morning. I'll help the rest of the patients first, and then go to bed. You ready to help, Dahlia?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:01 am**

"Yup!" Dahlia replies brightly.

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:12 am**

"Great!" says Sarah, already feeling a little better. Doing what I do best will help me keep my mind off of things, she thinks. She goes back into the medical lab with Dahlia and resumes treating her second patient, but she's still finding it hard to focus. She lowers her voice so that Morrison, who is waiting out in the hall, won't hear. "Why did you ask about people's hair falling out? Did you...see something?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:04 am**

"Well, ya, kinda. I can see something's past. I saw this place, only with bald people on the exercise machines, and doctors timing them. But there's more, I just don't think now's the time." Dahlia's eyes flicker apologetically to the patient, who is looking at her with sudden interest.

"We get to share a room, so I'll tell you then...when we're in private ok?" She continues along, handing Sarah things when she asks for them, and watching in fascination.

Posted: **Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:36 am**

Sarah nods. "The only problem with that is that they may put listening devices or spy cameras in our room to keep an eye on us," she says. "We can check when we get there, but if we find any then we won't be able to talk there either. I never used to believe in psychic powers, but after everything that's happened today I know they're real."

She tries to busy herself in her work, but she's still having no luck. "I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just so tired, and worried, and with everything that's happened to me...maybe we should just call it a night..."

Posted: **Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:56 am**

Morrison sits at a table at the other end of the medical bay, playing solitaire.

Posted: **Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:04 am**

Sarah pulls herself together. "I'll give it another try," she says, getting back to work and finally finding her rhythm. She does a passable job with Dahlia's help. Taking care of the patients helps her keep her mind off of her painful past and her uncertain future.

Posted: **Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:26 am**

Dahlia nods in quiet reflection of Sarah's words. Big brother is watching you....She'd read the book, not that anyone in her class had, but she always did have a mind for a good heavy read, and a reading ability far above her classmates.

"We can check when we get in the room. It doesn't take more than a thrown rock to knock out a surveillance camera, really. But the sound, I'm not sure. Maybe snipping a wire? Take your scissors with you, just in case. We'll try to keep our room off limits of their recording stuff."

Dahlia watches Sarah fumble. "Are you sure you're ok? I don't think we really need to do all this tonight. After all, we haven't slept...or at least I haven't...in a long time. And we've been running from everything." Dahlia shakes her head, and smiles apologetically at the 50 year old patient in front of her. "I'm sure they can wait til morning for us to be well rested."

Posted: **Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:41 pm**

"I'm sorry, you must be exhausted too," says Sarah. "I think we've done enough for tonight. We helped out the two patients who were in the worst shape, and I think the others can wait until we're both fresh and rested. I wouldn't need to bring scissors, as Stephen will drop off our knives in the room, but I don't think it's such a good idea to destroy any surveillance equipment if we find it. They'll get quite cross and just replace it, and they'll justify its presence by saying it's for our protection and that they don't trust us yet. The best we can do is not let on that we know it's there if we find it, and not say anything in our room that we don't want others to overhear. If you want to talk somewhere in private, how about the medical supply storage room? We need to take an inventory of what's in there anyway."

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:38 am**

"Oh for fuck's sake," says Morrison, surveying the cards. "Looks like I've backed myself up into a corner." He shuffles the deck again and lays them out. Looks like he's doing the three-card draw variant.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:17 am**

Dahlia shrugs, "Well I guess so. I don't really like being watched though. I'm anxious to see the room. What if the lights were off? Do you think they'd still see us?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:18 am**

Morrison looks up at them, somewhat dejected. "Ready for bed yet?" He seems a little over-eager at the idea.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:27 am**

"It's quite possible," says Sarah to Dahlia. "We'll have to see when we get there." She nods to Morrison. "Yeah, I think we're both bushed. I guess you have to be tired as well. Ready to turn in, Dahlia?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:28 am**

Morrison waits for no response. He hops to his feet with a cheery salute. "C'mon, let's go find you a room."

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:32 am**

"Let's go," says Sarah, taking Dahlia's hand. He certainly seems eager to put us to bed, she thinks. I wonder what's up with that? She watches him closely as she follows him.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:37 am**

There is cleary something Morrison is looking forward to as he hustles the two out of the medical bay and starts heading towards one of the rooms. The bedroom has two bunk beds, two foot lockers and four ordinary lockers. There is a writing desk with a computer, an overhead lamp at the desk, and an ordinary light overhead. Each bunk has a curtain and its own bulb for night-time reading.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:42 am**

"Come get us when my father arrives," says Sarah, "or if there's a medical emergency. If Stephen hasn't already dropped off our weapons here, can you please send him over with them. Also, what's the water situation here? The tap water was contaminated back at the hospital. What are we supposed to do if we want a drink?" They're planning something, she thinks, and they want us out of the way for whatever it is. I just know there's something they're not telling us.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:44 am**

"The water's fine, there's a drinking fountain out in the hall. I'll have someone posted down here to keep an eye on you two... I'd prefer to not waste personnel and just lock you in here and have you call out when you need a drink or a toilet break. Trust cuts both ways, of course. I can send down some rations if you're hungry?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:58 am**

Are they going to drug us? wonders Sarah. Not that they'd need to, exhausted as we are. I'd probably fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I don't want to go to sleep just yet, though. I am a bit peckish. Never did get to eat supper, and I yacked up what I had for tea back in the ambulance, but I can wait until morning if I have to. "Are you hungry, Dahlia?" she asks.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:01 am**

"Well, you can call for tea through this," says Morrison, tapping an intercom. "Just dial 1446 this time. The number will change depending on where the duty-food person is. Just a warning, though, he can't cook too good and the women have threatened to go on strike if we ask them. Sergeant Blaize would do it ... she's a good sort but, uh, her cooking's worse than mine."

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:06 am**

"Okay, thanks," says Sarah. "I've only got one more question for the moment: do you have any idea how soon they're going to bring my father here? Dahlia, do you have any other questions before he goes?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:07 am**

"I don't know," says Morrison. "Look, I'd better go. If you two decide on food, make that call. There'll be someone out in the hall but, uh, I'd suggest not taking any weapons you have out into the hall. You don't have security clearance to walk about armed so you really don't want to do that. Not until we know you both a bit better."

Morrison goes to leave.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:24 am**

Dahlia shrugs again. There wasn't much she wanted to ask him. She'd already asked him what she needed to.

He obviously had something he needed to go do. I betcha something strange is going on. I'm sure of it.

Dahlia smiles cheerily, and waves at Morrison as he walks away. She looks back at Sarah then, "Ya, I'm hungry. I wonder if the food is as bad as he says!" She giggles, "but either way, I could definately eat."

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:31 am**

"Me too," says Sarah. She calls after Morrison. "We would both like some food sent down!" Then she closes the door and begins to look around the room, subtly searching for any hidden listening devices or cameras as she does. If there are any, I'm sure I'll find them, she thinks.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:36 am**

It seems that were there any devices, she would find them and yet there is nothing in sight. Even the small mirror hanging on the wall does not appear to be 2-way.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:40 am**

Dahlia jumps up to the top bunk and bounces up and down happily.

Oooh.....I sure hope she wants the bottom bunk.

She feels the blankets, tries out the pillow, and then comes down the ladder to inspect the rest of the furnishings. If there are drawers, she opens every one.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:43 am**

I can hardly believe it, thinks Sarah. Not a single monitoring device in here. Perhaps since their leader can read minds they don't feel it's necessary. "Well, Dahlia," she says, "this room looks pretty clean to me. I'm going to try calling my dad again while we wait for the food." She smiles at the girl."You can have the top bunk if you like. Why don't you have a look around yourself?" She takes out her mobile phone and dials her father's number again. Please pick up...please...

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:43 am**

The lockers contain lab technician uniforms hanging up on their hangers. The two lockers each have two lids and separately contain a number of personal effects.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:47 am**

Dahlia slips on one of the lab coats, just to try it out. "Hey Sarah, look at me!" she grins. She continues to rummage through them, looking in the pockets of each one.

Dahlia looks for any changes of clothes that might fit her then, and looks through the personal effects. If she finds toothbrushes and toothpaste, she grabs them. I wonder if there are any books....

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:50 am**

There is a bible and two romance novels in one and several paperback detective mysteries in another. There is make-up, a small jewellery box, several hair clips. There are several Gameboy games and a gameboy. There are a number of civilian clothes though none for children.

The telephone rings.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:53 am**

[OOC: Sarah has been searching the room thoroughly, including inside closed objects like lockers and drawers. Her Spot Hidden success from earlier should count for this too, I think. I'm going to go ahead under the presumption that she still doesn't find anything, but if that's not the case let me know.]

"Those are nice," says Sarah, "but I'll stick with my nurse's uniform when I'm working. It's much prettier." She answers the phone. "Hello?"

Her eyes widen with alarm. "Oh, God," she says. "We'll get right down to the medical lab! I can talk to Cael, too. Thank you for letting me keep the knife, Sergeant." She straps the sheathed blade to her thigh while leaving the other knives and her pistol in the room. "Come on, Dahlia, one of the soldiers got poisoned and needs our help! Cael went a little funny in the head too and killed another soldier, thought it was a mercy killing. Looks like we won't be getting any rest yet..." She opens the door to the hall and rushes for the medical lab.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:08 am**

"What??" Dahlia half shouts, following after her.

An accident? My foot! What was really going on here? Why would Cael shoot somebody? Unless of course they weren't entirely ok.....

Cael had been entirely normal and quite protective of Dahlia while he was around, and the news was a shock to her. She runs after Sarah, mind awhirl of possibilities.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:37 am**

The soldier stationed outside has a hand cupped over the wire in his ear. "What? What was that? How do you even use these things?" He raises up his collar, then turns to the other two. "Er, no, not the kid. Poisons in this sorta thing can do all sorts... How about you go back inside that room, uh? That's the room with the gameboy, I think. Go play." He attempts to hustle her into the room. "You know anything about poisonings? We can get the doc to do it if we have to... He's more experienced but he's a bit cuckoo now."

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:53 am**

Dahlia looks for all the world like a hurt puppy. She stares up at him blankly, then looks at Sarah's back, running down the hallway.

She turns slowly on her heel, looking at the officer with a dark glare. This is so unfair! Besides, I don't wanna be all by myself!!!

She sullenly returns to her room.

Posted: **Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:46 pm**

"I do know some," Sarah calls back, "but I could always use help from the doc! Tell them to check the medical stores for antivenom!" She doesn't want to leave Dahlia by herself, but she has no time to argue with the soldier. "And send for Aidan or Stephen to keep Dahlia company!" Sarah continues darting down the hall, retracing her steps back to the medical bay, a fast-moving streak of green.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:25 am**

Dahlia cringes when Sarah asks the soldier to send for someone to keep her company. Like I need a babysitter....how will I ever sneak out now??

"Oh no, that's ok." She tells the soldier with a weak smile. "I can keep myself company for a bit."

"Good luck Sarah!" she yells after her, and returns to the room.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:49 am**

There is a click in the closed door behind her.

OOC: Mr. Handy post in Andrew - Cael's thread now. He's just entered the medical bay corridor or soon will anyhow.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:52 am**

Dahlia turns to try the knob to the door, wondering if she'd been locked in. If it is unlocked she'll poke her head out into the hallway before closing it again.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:58 am**

Dahlia has been locked in.

The only other way out would be through the ventilation duct overhead.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:01 am**

Dahlia sits down and begins to read. Perhaps Morrison had ordered that food for them, but perhaps not.

She decides she'll call down for food, and dials the appropriate number.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:02 am**

It rings several times. "Uh, hello?" comes a drunken male voice, slurred as anything. "Uh, yeah? Who's it?"

Female laughter can be heard in the background as well as the dim strains of music.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:04 am**

"Blackworth, is that you?" she asks in an annoyed tone, trying hard to disguise her voice as an adult woman. She holds her nose and deepens the tone, so that it comes out rather naselly and low.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:06 am**

"What? What was that? Some chick wants Blackworth!" the voice says, calling to another.

"Some chick always wants Blackworth," comes a woman's response, somewhere in the background.

"Think he's busy," says the man.

"He's always busy," says the woman.

More snickers.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:10 am**

"Who is this?" Dahlia demands in the same naselly voice, "We have a high importance emergency up here, and it seems your drinking, private!" Dahlia thinks back to the sleepovers she's been to that involved prank phone calls, and this by far beat them all.

She covers her mouth to keep from laughing while she waits for him to respond. I hope they can't trace this phone call.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:16 am**

The door clicks behind her.

"What is this, some kinda joke?" comes the response. "Emergency, emergency! All we get is damn emergencies. Gotta learn to shake it up. Wait a minute, is this Bree? It's Bree, innit?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:24 am**

Dahlia dissolves into laughter and hangs up the phone.

She tries the door again.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:25 am**

The door is now unlocked.

The corridor is empty.

Thin strains of a lullaby can be heard coming from the right but whoever is humming is out of view. It sounds female, though.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:27 am**

Dahlia closes the door behind her quietly, and begins to sneak along the wall, headed to the left, trying to stay as quiet as possible.

[O.C. Is there a map?]

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:28 am**

Nope. Dahlia's bound to get lost anyway.

The corridor leads out into another corridor. There are rows and rows of identical doors, labelled with a letter and a number.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:38 am**

Dahlia continues along, swinging her arms as long as she can, and stepping wide gigantic steps. She smirks at herself. I must look hilarious.

She follows the corridors, looking at each door quizzically. If she hears something coming, she jumps into the nearest door to hide.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:40 am**

The corridors branch to the left, to the right, and straight ahead. The left one curves somewhat.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:00 am**

If I keep going left....I'll just go in a circle......

Dahlia turns right and keeps walking. If there are voices, she ducks behind the doorways to peek in.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:03 am**

The humming rises and falls and she can hear the clip-clop of low heels moving through the corridors.

The doors are now unnumbered and nameless. For a moment, music can be heard upstairs.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:28 am**

Dahlia keeps walking, searching for double doors that would indicate stairs.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:34 am**

Dahlia finds herself in another corridor of numbered and lettered doors. She can hear uneven steps behind her, as though someone were spinning and moving. The humming strains become ever louder. "Ba-ba-ba ... ba-ba-ba baaaa-baa-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-baa-ba-ba baaaaa-ba-ba..."

Know roll to recognise it as from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:35 am**

+1 to listen, psychology and psychometry.

Posted: **Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:37 am**

Dahlia looks behind her over her shoulder, suddenly acutely aware of the sounds and likeness to a movie she saw.

She begins to run.

Posted: **Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:00 am**

"Why are you running from me?" asks a female voice. It sounds young, not adult but not childish either. "Why won't you dance with me?"

Dahlia finds herself around a corner and facing an elevator.

Posted: **Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:20 am**

Dahlia begins to back up, wondering who said it, and pushes the button to the elevator.

"Uh.....because you didn't ask..." she answers whomever is there, and pushes the button repeatedly, hoping it will get there quicker that way.

Posted: **Sat Oct 20, 2007 5:00 pm**

The footsteps approach but the doors open before she sees whom it is.

Posted: **Sat Oct 20, 2007 6:02 pm**

Dahlia looks in the elevator for a minute to make sure it's empty, then walks in and pushes the close door button.

She punches the button indicating the next floor up.

[O.C. What floor am I on?]

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:38 am**

The first floor. She reaches the 2nd floor and sees a stark corridor - three branches, a sign hung above with arrows - Medical Bay, Laboratory, Hydroponics. Dahlia could go toward the Medical Bay where the others are working, but then they'd know she got out and she'd likely be sent straight back to her room, not to mention it'd bother the good nurse and distract her.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:17 am**

Dahlia stays close to the elevator, and listens carefully.

She tries to sense where the music was coming from.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:21 am**

The humming downstairs has stopped now that she is away from whoever was following her. The only music she hears currently is the soft tingle of elevator music. Looking around, everything seems so deserted and creepy. It's almost worse than the hospital because it straddles the line between ordinary and wrong.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:36 pm**

Dahlia follows the signs to the Hydroponics ward, trying hard to stay out of sight.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:39 pm**

She passes down a few identical corridor with various obscure and arcane titles on the doors - some names, some STOR, SDK or other bizarre initials. Finally she reaches a series of widely spaced doors with exciting titles like Hydroponics 1, Hydroponics 2 and Hydroponics 3.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:48 pm**

Dahlia listens, but can't hear anything unusual.

She uncertainly walks up to the doors to Hydroponic 1, and peeks in the windows first. If there is movement within the room, she looks to the next doors before pushing open the doors.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:53 pm**

The window in the door is higher up than she is tall.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:12 pm**

She opens the door a hair of a crack and puts her eye to it, to see if anyone is in there.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:14 pm**

The room is very dark. She can see rectangular blocks and leafy foliage. Still, if the lights are off, nobody could possibly be in there, right?

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:29 pm**

She creeps in quietly, and hides behind the foliage for a moment, listening again.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:39 pm**

There's a slight gurgling and a vague humming coming from various places in the room but nothing else of interest. The foliage smells herbal. Lavender, maybe? Or thyme?

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:04 pm**

Dahlia begins to walk the perimeter of the room, pausing to finger the plants thoughtfully.

She sniffs her fingers after, inhaling the sweet scent. She searches at the back of the room for any connecting doors to hidden rooms in the back.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:14 pm**

There are two doors. One leads into a very dark room filled with things that hum. The other room is equally dark but nowhere near as loud. Dahlia could grope around for lightswitches, should she choose.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:28 pm**

Dahlia walks into the quieter of the two, and makes a slight pop sound, to hear the reverberations of the sound.

Hopefully she will get an idea of the size of the room, before flicking on the lightswitch.

She listens carefully.

[O.C. Is this towards the back of the hydroponics room, away from the door out and the hallway?]

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:37 pm**

This room is towards the back of it. The room has no real echo to speak of. In the dim light, she can see it the size of a small bedroom and is cluttered with many odd shapes.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:41 pm**

Dahlia flicks on the light, to get a better look.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:44 pm**

The room is lined with cupboards and bizarre scientific equipment.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:48 pm**

Dahlia begins to open cupboards to see what is inside, picking up various items and inspecting them closely.

She keeps her eyes peeled for a spare flashlight while she looks.

[O.C. If I succeed at a chemistry or biology roll, will it give me an idea what they'd be used for? Or would it be an idea roll?]

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:54 pm**

[OOC: Sure, you can try either or both. Not an Idea roll, though.]

The cupboard contained the usual diagnostic equipment - pippettes, sponges, rubber stoppers, empty vials, etc.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 8:37 pm**

Dahlia tries to remember back to her science class, but can't quite rememberthe uses of these items in particular.

She looks to see if there are any papers on a desk in this room, indicating what type of science they'd been doing.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 8:38 pm**

There are no loose papers. There is a computer - but its password-locked.

Posted: **Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:37 pm**

Dahlia begins to attempt the password to the computer.

She starts by entering Blackworth.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:06 am**

Password denied.

OOC: Idea roll.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:55 am**

Dahlia tries again, rolling her eyes to the ceiling for a moment to think. She can't come up with anything good, however, so she begins to giggle.

Now let's try 'foot'. She snickers and hits submit.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:58 am**

A hand clamps down on her shoulder. "Try 'Guest'," comes a dry, male voice.

...Blackworth...

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:05 am**

Dahlia jumps, startled from the voice, and slowly turns around.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:07 am**

"Here's looking at you kid," says Blackworth, a hand on each of her shoulders now. "What are you feeling right now? Be honest. It's important."

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:11 am**

Dahlia narrows her eyes at him.

"I tried calling for food, you know, and your chef is DRUNK."

She tries to brush his hands away.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:20 am**

"Good kid," he says approvingly. "Don't let anyone boss you around. I've read your mind ... the surface thoughts, anyhow ... but you already know that. You're the most mentally stable and determined person out of all the new recruits. You're also, obviously, quite psychic, though that's a lesser trait at the moment. Sorry, how good at you at English? Just because you're officer material doesn't mean you understand me when I go for the real long words."

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:27 am**

Dahlia crosses her arms, and relaxes one knee into a precocious stance. She sticks her chin out bravely. "I haven't needed any help so far, have I?" She grins eagerly. "So does that mean you're not gonna lock me in my room to play video games all night?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:32 am**

"Would it work if I tried?" he asks drily. "Look, we never every man, woman and child in this war effort. Everyone together in this. Unfortunately, some of us need to be more together than the others... I have a secret to tell you. Most children tattle straight away but this is a very important secret. If you tattle, it will drive someone inside themselves and we will never get them out. We have to protect the fragile minds, right?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:35 am**

Dahlia pretends her mouth is an imaginary zipper, and mockingly zips her lips shut, throwing the key over her shoulder.

Inside, she wonders what he meant by 'driving someone inside themselves'....

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:39 am**

"Your friend, Sarah Carpenter, her father is here in person but his mind is caught between two times. He can't comprehend himself back here. He can hardly comprehend himself back there. He screeches and hides when anyone approaches. He'd been through a lot. Seeing his daughter will kill his soul. You're little. You're innocent. You're also tough. You could probably talk to him without making him defensive. If you could give him some sort of vague comfort, perhaps he'd get strong enough to see his own daughter? I can come with you - or Sergeant Blaise if you prefer. Trust me, Dahlia, things are more complicated than you yet know. I won't tell you the rest just yet. It's important, for his sake, that you don't now know. But afterwards? If you do this for me, Dahlia, and keep all the right secrets, I will see you holding an actual position of authority here 'cause right now out of all the newcomers, I trust you the most. You are who you are. You're a kid and you've no fuckin' clue what's going on but neither does anybody else. I met a child your age once before and she blew everyone's minds with what she was capable of. Can I assume that you are just as strong as she?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:46 am**

Dahlia's eyes flicker momentarily. This guy's crazy....ghost stories??? C'mon...I know I'm a kid, but jeez...at least get out the flashlight and shine it under your chin first.... Dahlia thought back to the first summer they built the tree fort. She'd been the first to take her little brother up there after dark to give him his first taste of a ghostly evening....blankets over the head and a good flashlight. Plus she'd convinced mum into making hot chocolate with the yummy little baby marshmallows...it was so fun to watch Linus jump after she screamed....

"Yup. I can do it. But...." Dahlia's unsure of how to ask him this....especially after he'd just told her so much and obviously trusted her as well. "First I need to know something before I can trust you. Have there.....been any child kidnappings?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:49 am**

His eyes flicker, anxious now. "Have you seen the Grey Lady?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:50 am**

Dahlia sighs, "Does she want to dance all the time?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:52 am**

"Oh, you've met Bree have you? No, the ... the Grey Lady... Let's not talk about that. Been a long time since I've heard anything about. Look, just, if strange kids come wanting to play, just don't, k, kid? Anyway, you on board?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:55 am**

"Yes," Dahlia replies, looking him up and down for a moment.

Strange kids? Does he mean...like the ones from the olden times??? The wet ones in the hospital that she'd very narrowly escaped from?

She thought back to Jason, and his determination to not follow her in her quest to rescue Charlie, and shook her head. I hope he's ok...

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:03 am**

"And to think you didn't like me... One final secret from me but only if I can hear a secret from you. Gotta be a real big, important secret, though? Willing to swap?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:19 am**

Dahlia racks her brain for a moment. Then she smiles cheekily.

"You've no need to hear me tell you a secret, have you? You can read my mind. So why bother?" she grins at him.

"But if you insist, ok."

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:29 am**

"Reading minds gives me a headache," he says. "I don't control it so well, anyhow. All right, my secret is that I actually like steak and kidney pie." He nods seriously, then brightens. "Disappointed, right? I couldn't stand to be serious too long." He turns for the door. "And your secret?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:07 pm**

Dahlia wrinkles her nose and sticks her tongue out a little. "Yech..." She walks a few steps behind him. "Really? Like you really like it? Eww.....do you like beets too? And brussel sprouts?"

She hurries to walk right beside him now. "Ready for my secret? My secret is...this isn't the first time I've talked to a ghost." She grins as though he might think that's really weird of her, and begins to skip.

Posted: **Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:34 pm**

"Wait," he grabs her shoulder and forces her to stop. "Ghost?" he asks, his face flickering through several expressions before he manages to choke it out. "How did you...? I mean, I never said. How can you tell?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:34 am**

Dahlia just shrugs. She looks at him silently for a moment, then scratches her forehead, puzzled.

"I dunno. Is it one? It was just a guess, really. How else would somebody get stuck between two places unless they're floating around outside their body? Did he die?" She looks at him quizzically for a moment. What a strange reaction...

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:29 am**

He rubs his temples. "Look just... Just bear with me for a moment. We gotta go to one of the basement levels. Drop in on Lionel. You can talk with him for a bit, but only pleasant things, see if he responds to you properly. The others should be real busy with poor Doskins..." His face twitches into a snarl, then it softens and he slumps dejectedly. "And Jones... Fuck! He was such a... Fuck. Look, I can't..." He tenses his fingers, relaxes them, takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I think I'm going around the twist myself. Too much to deal with. So let's just deal with this for now. We get this done, maybe I'll teach you how to shoot straight. I'm not a great shot but I ... well, I know what it's like to NOT be a good shot."

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:58 am**

Dahlia grins, "Know what my mum always says when she gets upset at all us kids runnin around and the floor getttin all dirty again for the umpteen billionth time that week? She says, all in due time." Dahlia chuckles at the thought of her home.

"Have you ever.....ever felt like this? When strange things happen...when you're goin' round the twist..." Dahlia sings it and skips to the door. "Well, you comin or what?" she turns to look at Blackwell and grins again.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:48 am**

"And you're my one chance at keeping someone sane," says Blackworth, though he does sound impressed. The two head for the elevator and Blackworth peers around the corners and the like, motioning for her to be quiet. "Can't let the others know what's up, yet." Its hard to be sure if secrecy is required or if he's just looking for a chance to post. Once inside the elevator, Blackworth thumbs the button for B3.

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:05 am**

Dahlia follows, feeling quite like the pink panther himself as she skulks around the walls and doorways, following his lead.

duh duh....duh duh....duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duuuuuuuuh....doobeedoobeedooooooo.....

One time Dahlia had even dressed up like the Pink Panther for halloween. She looked down at her clothes wistfully once in the elevator, and wished that she could've dressed up today, just for this moment. She'd love a pink tail to wag!

"Hey, guess what? I think you spilled something on your shirt. You've got red on you right there." She reaches up on her tippy toes to point to a spot on his shirt on his buttoned lapel.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:17 am**

"Aren't you a little young to have watched Shaun of the Dead?" asks Blackworth with a gentle smile. The elevator doors opened to reveal a brick corridor. Blackworth gestures for Dahlia to go first. "Oh yeah, I've got something for you. Well, two somethings." He pulls out of his pocket a weird metal and rubber contraption that he then strapped to her hand. There was a button on the palm of it. "Hit something with this and the button will depress, releasing a real zap of electricity! Use it wisely. I've only got one and recharging it ain't easy. The other thing is just a whizz-popper." He passes a grenade to her. "Lights, camera, sound! Boom! Just don't look at it when it goes off and cover your ears. You're little, you can hide, it may help."

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:00 am**

"Shaun of the dead?" Dahlia grins. "Don't tell my mum. She'd be so mad if she knew."

Dahlua sticks out her hand in anticipation of thee little button, and her mouth is in a surprised 'O' as he straps it on. "Cool..." She appears thoughtful for a moment, then looks at it puzzled. "Like a hand zapper kinda?" She tries to figure out how it would work for a moment.

She grabs onto the grenade, and her eyes bulge. "Wow...I've seen these on tv...but....wow..." A devillish grin crosses her face all of a sudden.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:44 am**

OOC: The grenade does not look like the usual pineapple device but if she's seen SWAT movies and the like she'd recognise the flashbang.

"Listen to me, you're important," Blackworth says. "More than us... Few match you... Just... Try and keep safe, okay? Bad things are going to happen here. Cael will probably kill the lot of us and if he doesn't, someone else will. I need you to talk to Lionel, to learn what you can from what he found out. Can you do that for me?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:21 am**

"Yes," Dahlia replies quietly, "I think so." She bats her eyelashes a few times in self doubt, however.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:24 am**

He leads her down an aging corridor and knocks softly on a door. "Doctor? It's me... Blackworth. We got a little girl here to see you."

When there is no answer, he gives a little helpless grin and opens the door. The two enter a filthy little store room. Dusty chairs are stacked on top of tables that are squeezed between old office furniture. A dead cockroach crunches underfoot. A spider hangs lazily from a web by the naked light bulb.

"Doctor?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:19 am**

Dahlia puts her index finger to her pursed lips to show him to be quiet.

She walks in further, slowly, and the shuffling of her feet is the only thing that can be heard for a moment.

Then she begins to hum very softly, appearing to only want to fill the dreary air with happiness, and yet when she starts to hum louder, you can tell she has a tune in mind.

She walks still, pausing to look under desks and chairs. Oh! I would fancy a game of hide and seek...if only Linus were here to hide in the broom closet again....

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:24 am**

Dahlia sees a tired old man sitting on a chair in the corner. He doesn't look up.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:47 am**

Dahlia uses her quiet, sweetly innocent voice to speak.

"Oh there you are." She taps the bottom of her shoes on the floor for a minute as though tap dancing. "Do you really fancy sitting in a room all by yourself? Mum makes me do it when I've been bad, but...." Her eyes flicker to Lionel cautiously. "I don't like being all by myself."

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:56 am**

"What? Who are you? Get away!"

The man seems senile.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:07 am**

"Oh...." Dahlia looks back at him, amused. "Tsk tsk tsk....there there. You don't have to be afraid of little me....I'm not going to hurt you after all."

She sits down on a nearby chair and swings her feet under the legs, staring at them go back and forth.

"I used to have to sit in a room by myself and clean out the toy box when Mum was mad with me. I hated to be left alone with my own thoughts." She looks up at him cautiously again. "Sometimes....it can feel like your thoughts become alive if you let them...."

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:13 am**

"Indeed! They can! They can. They come from your thoughts, they do, erupting from them, because your thoughts exist somewhere, don't they? They must do, they must, all our fears are out there, in between things, and we glimpse them and think we fear imaginings when we fear what is really there. A precognitive fearing, oh yes, yes. Yog-Sothoth is good at that. Yes."

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:03 pm**

Dahlia rumples her forehead in a confused manner and looks back at the doorway to see if Blackworth is still standing there.

"Uh.....you should...be careful not to allow your thoughts to control you...." Her voice falters and she looks at the man quizzically. Yog-Sothoth?

After a moment she gains her composure, "Nightmares are like that. Sometimes I have nightmares that I'm on a windy road by a seaside. The waves are crashing up the rocks, and the narrow road is getting sprayed by the sea. Just as I round the bend the waves crash over and I can't stay on the road. And then I'm falling into the sea and the spray and surf is envelopping me..."

Dahlia looks fixated on a spot on the wall for a moment, then shakes her head. "I always wake up when I start to fall. But sometimes I wonder what would happen if I didn't. Do you ever feel that way? Like you're out of control and maybe can't wake up from a nightmare?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:39 pm**

"This is the nightmare," says the man dully. "Everything... Daoloth wills it but his isn't the will behind it."

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:10 am**

Dahlia looks confused, but ignores her confusion for the time being.

"Yes? Who's is then?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:21 am**

"Who knows?" asks the fellow. "I read and read but I couldn't figure it out. Something is hunting. They want us at the watchers. The whole piece fell apart. We're all gone and yet we're not. Different places. They think they're alive but they're remembering the dead. Several realities in co-existence. But is that even possible? Perhaps I'm senile. Yes, that's it? Have you seen my daughter? She's in another time. I miss her. But I know she's a hero. She does good. Everything will be all right."

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:30 am**

"Maybe it's her....but maybe it's you in a different time. Who knows?"

Dahlia feels terribly sorry for the man, and her heart goes out to him in his distress. If only he could see Sarah to know....

"I think I maybe know your daughter. She's a nurse isn't she?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:33 am**

"Yes, yes, a nurse," the old man starts to cry. "All over. Didn't it just begin? And yet ... so many years ago. What happened? Where did it all go?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:45 am**

"There, there" Dahlia furrows her brow, wanting to help but unsure if she could. The man wasn't making much sense.

She gets up off the chair and starts slowly walking towards him. "Sarah's fine. It'll be alright. So everything's different. You know..... we all change."

If he lets her get closer without panicking, she gets as close as she can, and sinks down to the floor in front of him.

"Even me.....even you."

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:47 am**

"But everything's wrong," he says. "Everything was always wrong. Deep in sunken R'lyeh, Cthulhu lies dreaming. There is so many wrongness in this world. They turned so many to ash to watch, to find, because ash gets everything, but for ash to watch, it must be alive. They're still out there, watching us. They are the dreams that get from our head."

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:54 am**

Dahlia looks at him silently for a moment. Her mind whirls and she feels a little dizzy and sick all of a sudden.

"The ash.....have you seen it? It watches us?"

She shakes her head slightly. I must be mad....mum would have me peeling potatoes for sure by now if I'd ever told a fib this big....

"Your dreams came alive? They came true?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:56 am**

"All of our dreams, they hold them, can form them. They are the stuff of dreams and nightmares. They search but have yet to find... Could we find it for them? If we could, maybe the dreams would stop."

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:10 am**

"Find what?" Dahlia replies, taken aback.

How could anything reconstruct someone's nightmares?

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 3:17 am**

"I don't know," he says quietly.

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:54 am**

Dahlia sits quietly, thinking about all he's said. She fiddles with her shoelace, tying it, then retying it. She mulls over the information, feeling quite alarmed and unsure of everything she held as reality. He was challenging reality itself at this point, and she felt entirely confused.

Finally, she speaks quietly, and off topic, "D'you wanna see Sarah? Cuz she's closeby, you know."

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 6:30 am**

Blackworth clamps a hand over her mouth. "She's kidding, of course."

But it was too late. The old man was trembling and rocking back and forth, humming to himself at a frightening rate.

Posted: **Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:12 am**

Dahlia stares, wide eyed.

"Oh dear..." She looks back at Blackwell and mouths 'sorry' to him.

"Please...it'll be alright. Don't be afraid. Are you afraid of this Cthulhu....dreaming?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:40 am**

"The Great Old Ones are nothing before the levelling gaze of the Ancients," he murmurs. "There are greater beings at work here. Uttaus ... is it Uttaus? I see him screaming ... all here ... the gaze ... ash ... but we live ... it is safe here, Daniel sees it so."

Blackworth gives a solemn nod.

"Please, remain here, in hiding. There is nothing we can do but watch and wait."

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:16 am**

Dahlia furrows her brow in confusion and turns around to look at Blackworth.

"Are you Daniel?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:18 am**

"Daniel Scott Blackworth, at your service," he says with a bow. "You?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:22 am**

"Dahlia Brown" she replies, and scratches her head, her confused forehead wrinkled hopelessly.

"He wants me to stay here? And hide?" Dahlia looks at Blackworth nervously. "But I thought...."

She doesn't complete her sentence, she just looks at Lionel with distaste and fear, and fiddles with her shoelace again.

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:34 am**

"There is nowhere left to go," says Lionel sadly. "Nowhere isn't good."

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:15 am**

"I don't like hiding," she says to Lionel with a nervous laugh. "Takes all the fun out of it for me."

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:18 am**

Blackworth frowns and sways for a moment before collapsing in a heap on the floor. Lionel cowers, hiding his face. The lightbulbs flicker for a moment.

"The seals are within him, they struggle to break out," Lionel says. "Within those seals are our freedom, our sanctuary. If he dies, I must operate. Take them free! But where would I place them? What would happen? Oh dear, do not die, Daniel!"

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:34 am**

Dahlia yelps in surprise, and scrambles to Blackworth's side.

"Wake up!" Oh no! She slaps his cheeks gently to see if he responds.

"What seals? What do you mean? What do they do?"

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:35 am**

Blackworth mutters incoherently to himself.

Lionel sighs. "They keep the threats of our madness at bay. They keep the nightmares away. They are within him. Their ... side effects are impossible to judge. He has survived admirably. He has kept this place safe. Upon his death, who can tell? Though the tablets said much of an immortality of horror for those upon whom the seals are bestowed."

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:12 am**

Dahlia begins to panic. Lionel's babbling on about madness and nightmares was taxing to say the least....oh! please let him be ok!

She looks around the room for some kind of cupboard, or desk of some sort. Would there be any chance of finding smelling salts around here...or maybe just something stinky? Dahlia's unsure if that would even work, but it works in the movies.....why not now?

"Are you telling me he's stuck inside his brain or something?" Dahlia says as she hurries to look in drawers cupboards, or anywhere else that might be hiding something. "This horror that the person goes through, is it inside themselves? Only he can see it? And if so, how can we help him? I don't know what to do!"

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:05 am**

"Oh, I don't think its in his head, I just think the pressure of his own telepathy is killing him when coupled with the seals," says Lionel. "See, the world manifests your issues. Not the other way round."

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:10 pm**

Well so, um...the seals have to be taken outta him, right? But do they have to go in a person? And can you just take them out of him now so that he doesn't die? Why do you have to wait til he's dead?"

Dahlia's head spins with visions of horror films she watched at sleepovers recently. Does he see stuff like that all the time? Like they make him live it?

[O.C. Did she find anything in the room? desks, drawers or cupboards?]

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:54 am**

There is nothing that resembles smelling salts within the room.

Blackworth mutters incoherently and starts to sit up, clutching his head. "No more whiskey, please..."

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:18 am**

"Phew! You're alright! I was......" Dahlia pauses and looks Blackworth up and down, ".....worried."

"Does this happen lots? Cause you just....like....hit the floor!" She looks back to Lionel with a confused, muddled expression.

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:37 am**

"It's greeeeeat fun," says Blackworth, rubbing his head and wincing. "Normally I pass out ... which means I can kinda lower-flop myself to the floor rather than hitting like a sack, uh..." He arches his eyebrows at her as though suddenly realising what he was about to say, how old she was, and his brain was still too moving to slow to do more than freeze. "Hey, sweetheart, I got to..." He glanced at his watch, struggling to stand but unable to do more than flop a bit. "Well, I guess we should see about our friend, Doskins. They shoulda fixed her up by now, am I right?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:43 am**

Dahlia scans the room for a wheelchair or any sort of chair on wheels.

"Are you sure? You don't look so good. Maybe you should rest a bit longer."

She looks at Lionel carefully, wanting to say something......but not sure if she should.

Finally she settles on something relatively safe, "Uh.....are you gonna.....stay here?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:46 am**

"Oh, I always stay here," says Lionel.

"Yeah, he does," says Blackworth, pulling himself into a seated position and leaning against a cupboard. "It's just great."

Posted: **Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:25 am**

"How come? How come you don't wanna see anyone....or walk around and stuff?"

Dahlia settles to a cross legged position and rocks back and forth a little, twirling her hair and sticking it in her mouth every so often.

This guy's pretty crazy.....why does he hide?

Play@YSDC

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