HF: Lionel Only - only HFers allowed

[Laraqua]

"Then co-operate, if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear," says Anna. She nods at Daniel who comes forward. "Now stand quite still, doctor."

[Mr. Handy]

"We are wasting time we may not have," says Lionel, "but I can see there is no convincing you. Very well, if it will make you happy, go right ahead and search."

[Laraqua]

Daniel removes Lionel's mobile phone, vodka bottle and wallet. He sets the vodka bottle down, brandishes the mobile phone as though it explained everything, and then set about examining the wallet. "Dates mention 2005... Odd..." He removes a credit card and waves it in the air. "Odd type of card, this." He removes some of the dollar notes and coins. "Twenty pounds?! Is this a real twenty pound note or is it counterfeit? I can't tell. It's more money than I've ever gotten my fingers on before." He turns to one of the telephonists. "Tell the police that we've got some sort of emergency situation here. A right German conspiracy! Tell them we're taking down one man and a veritable armoury to the Mercy Cross Hospital. Tell them to send us some soldiers or something at once!"

Daniel then turns, chest puffed out, the very pinnacle of an Air Raid Warden's self-righteous self-importance, and he motions with the rifle for Lionel to move outside the Warden's Post, just as the air raid sirens let loose one long, unwavering note (History roll).

[Mr. Handy]

Lionel complies with Daniel, raising his arms and walking where he's told. Was that siren sound the all clear? he thinks. I ought to know, but I can't be sure. Hope so, anyway.

"I don't believe this is a German conspiracy," says Lionel as he walks. "I truly believe Jennifer came from out of time. Haven't you wondered how I came up with my 'theory' or why I was so quick to believe it? Didn't it strike you as odd that I could figure out so quickly how to use that strange device? The simple fact is, she told me. I didn't believe her at first either, but she gave me those items as proof and demonstrated how that thing works. I was going to show them to you, but I had been afraid you would think they were mine. And once the young lady here held me at gunpoint, I knew you would react in a precipitous manner. Jennifer told me a number of incredible things before the air raid began."

[Laraqua]

There seems to be no further bombs falling from the sky though the firemen are still busy sucking water out of craters to put out the flames.



"Yeah, of course, of course," says Daniel. "Ain't my job to figure you our, doctor. We'll leave that up to the government. They'll believe you, for sure."

[Mr. Handy]

"I look forward to talking to them," says Lionel. "And I'm quite content to go to Mercy Cross. I had wanted to go there anyhow. If I might make a suggestion, I think we should turn that device off. It must run on a battery, albeit an astoundingly tiny one. If we leave it on, the battery will eventually run down and nobody will be able to use it. The button labeled 'PWR' is what turns it on and off; it's obviously short for 'power.' It acts as a toggle."

[Laraqua]

"Well, maybe later but I'm just not going to point this rifle down enough to do that, I mean... Yeah. Just keep walking!"

[Mr. Handy]

Lionel does as he's told. "I could turn it off for you," he suggests.

[Laraqua]

"Give us some peace, will ya?" Daniel asks with a sigh.

Several people who were coming out into the night from the hospital, pause to stare at the unlikely trio.

[Mr. Handy]

"I apologize," says Lionel. "Honestly, I don't know why you're so afraid of me. I'm an unarmed old man, and you've got guns. If that's what you want, I'll just very well shut up, then." He walks where he's told in silence.

[Laraqua]

A terrible scream can be heard from somewhere inside of the hospital, followed by yet another. Daniel looks stricken for a moment, swaying from side to side and nearly dropping the gun. He takes one look at Anna and bolts toward the hospital.

[Mr. Handy]

"Great Scott!" cries Lionel. He looks at Anna. "I think we ought to follow him."

[Laraqua]

Anna nods and breaks into a run, the handgun held pointed to the ground.

[Mr. Handy]

Lionel follows Anna as fast as he can, which at his age isn't very fast at all. He keeps his hand near the tazer hanging from Jennifer's belt, just in case.

[Laraqua]

Anna yanks open Mercy Cross' double doors and pulls out her flashlight. The lights had obviously been knocked out during the bombing. A large number of injured patients lie about on stretchers and benches ... wherever they might be placed. They look mostly confused.

Daniel stands in an almost predatory stance, turning his head this way and that, almost seeming to scent the breeze, listening, the rifle gripped tightly in both hands, more as though it were a club than a firearm.

[Mr. Handy]

Lionel remains silent and listens too, but he can't quite make out any sounds. If only I were a younger man, he thinks. His hunter's instincts kick in, and he looks around for the trace of anyone's - or anything's - passage. Unfortunately, he can detect nothing aside from the usual hospital traffic.

[Laraqua]

"Something ... is no longer here," he murmured, swaying a little. "They are no longer here." He looks about apologetically, then his grip tensed on the rifle and he whirled on Lionel, raising the rifle high.

[Mr. Handy]

[OOC: Ack! Why do I keep rolling 83s? Considering the relevance of Connie Willis, you'd think I'd at least be getting 58s instead!]



Lionel puts his hands up again, but he's ready to dive aside if it looks like Daniel is going to pull the trigger. "Daniel, please get a hold of yourself, man! I have no idea what happened here, but you must realize that I am not responsible for it. I've been with the two of you all this time. I'm not the enemy. Besides, I have important information for the Government, and I can't bloody well tell them if you murder me, now can I?" He didn't seem to be getting through to the fellow, but he hoped that at least Anna would listen to reason.

[Laraqua]

Daniel shudders, confused, then turns and bolts toward the stairs that lead down to the Ground Floor.

[Mr. Handy]

"Poor fellow seems rather shellshocked," says Lionel to Anna. "We'd best follow him."