She blinked, slowly and groggily. Or tried to, at any rate, as her eyes refused to focus onto anything but an indistinct pattern of metal grey and white light and a sharp fit of pain assaulted her head as she did.
She hissed, muttered a curse, and recoiled back. The abrupt gesture elicited further condemnation from the rest of her body, relayed in the form of even more and sharper pangs of pain.
She grit her teeth, despite her instinctual reaction to cry out and slam her fist against something, and hissed out another elaborate curse - apparently unable to do much else.
Her head throbbed, her body felt at once unresponsive and highly sensitive, she couldn't see clearly and even speaking was a difficulty proposition.
In short, she felt like scheisse.
So the day was off to a poor start. Ausgezeichnet. It must want to join the night, she idly considered. Such poor sleep... it coincides with a likewise riotous evening, usually. Riotous indeed.
But what is it that she did?
« Rrgh... schreckliche kopfschmerzen... »
Drinking? Sure. Maybe. There had been drinking recently, of that much she was certain. Reasonably certain. Liberty Ale, that swill, whiskey and gin... the distant taste of Rheinbier, all too brief...
Where was it? It wasn't in Rheinland, she hasn't been home in years. Kusari? Same, though with even less visits. Bretonia? Maybe... bier far fron the old house and squalid clouds, that does tell her something. But the weak spirits they serve in Liberty, and the accompanying legal falsehoods magnifying of its supposed kick, ah, those do stick to mind more readily.
Was it Liberty, then?
« Haah... »
So, so unfocused. What of the night?
A terribly uncomfortable one, though she couldn't say why. Feverishly hot, and numbingly cold; all enveloped with the sort of coiling smoke one expects from busy kaffeehäuser on the eve of a deal. Thick and dense enough to only make out the rough outlines of people at a distance, and a handful of shifting features from up close. As much a matter of personal enjoyment as a clever, if antiquated, way to conceal faces met and words spoken.
A pang of nostalgia. Perhaps... perhaps a sip of true Rheinbier would help. Maybe feel the frosty bite of Neu Berlin's winds on the skin. Yes.
A deep breath. Musty air, a faint smell of chemicals. A sickbay, maybe? Ach, no matter. Eins... zwei... drei!
Hands resting on the the softness she finds herself lying on, she pushes herself up and opens her eyes again - with great fatigue, slowly, and quickly exhausting her breath as she does.
The start is always the hardest part, Heike. Grit and vigour. Grit and vi-
« Whoa there! Where do you think you're going, missy? » « Ach, scheisse. »
A sharp call-out, coming from a yellowish blotch or colour in a vague humanoid shape. « You're in no position to go anywhere right about now, so just- » « Unsinn. This is... rrrgh.... just a headache. I'm fine, see? »
She smiled in its gener direction, unsteadily.
The blotch moved closer, close enough for her to focus onto some facial features; a bald head, stern green eyes, a well-trimmed moustache, and an odd mixture of doctoral disapproval and surprise. And, of course, the Zoner overalls.
« For someone who got shot apart by lunatics, maybe! People, those who make it at least, tend to stay out cold for a lot longer - but you're anything but fine right now. » « Unsinn! Why, I... », her voice trailed off, as she actually processed the man's chiding. « Wait, shot? Lunatics? »
He nodded.
She looked down, as figments of last night's dream resurfaced. The shades, the heatwaves and the cold of the void... not just a nightmare, perhaps.
A chill ran down her spine.
« Happens a lot, these days. Can't tell you what's got them riled up, maybe it's the damn storm, but there's always plenty of 'em out causing trouble... and worse. You and the others got the worst, and when they left, we picked you up. Now you're in our medbay, at Ames. »
she blinked, and winced painfully. « You're all in one piece, before you start worrying. Feeling like you got run over by a Barge, maybe, but your bits are still in all the right places. They make 'em tough back in Rheinland, eh? »
She scoffed, proudly.
« Have to be! Ahaha- ack- », the fit of laughter turned to coughing. « Easy there! What did I say about not being fine? » « I will be... soon enough, surely. No reason to- » « Keep it up and it won't be soon at all, miss », he shook his head.
She tried to lift herself off the bed, again; and again, the man moved forward, gently but firmly pushing her back. « Good heavens, lady, what's the hurry? Is it really worth risking serious injuries just to get back to the docks? And nevermind flying! » « Adventure », she said, staring him down. « I- » « Oh yeah, adventure. The comms picked up some chatter like that. Didn't work out that well for you, I think. »
She glared at him.
He leant closer. An older man, a few shades paler than the usual - a common feature, among outworlders - and bearing a pair of heavy-rimmed spectacles with an array of lenses and other techy bits to the side. Some sort of medical apparatus.
Well-crafted, she could tell, if a few decades out of date.
« Look. I don't really know you or who you are or where you're from exactly, but I know what's that spark in your eyes. See lots of them. All burning with that drive to go out and do something, you know? Strike rich, make a name for themselves, plant flags... whatever. Got no time to lose standing around. »
She furrowed her brow, and gave a small nod. She didn't particularly like that sort of examination, perhaps even less than being bed-bound - it struck too close to home for comfort, and she'd probably heard the rest of it already. Didn't like it then, won't now.
« I get it, I do. Thing is, most of 'em just rush to an early grave. Chances too good to pass up, biting off more than they can chew, plain and simple impatience... you name it. Ends up the same way. Would prefer it didn't this time too. »
She opened her mouth to dismiss his concerns, to repeat she will be fine - she's a Rheinstadt-Gerat after all is said and done, damn it - and that it would be most appreciated if he just didn't opine on her choices, vielen danke.
A stab of pain right between the ribs shut her up, as she tried to speak.
« Headstrong as a bull, are you? No wonder they couldn't keep you down. Heh. » « Haah... » « Settle down, miss. Listen to someone who's been there and has learnt a few things the hard way, alright? Here », she nodded to her side, to a thick green glass lying on a drawer. « have some mint tea. Kusari stuff, very relaxing. Do you a world of good. »
She glanced between him and the glass, then turned away from it in spite.
The man sighed.
« Well, suit yourself. It's there if you change your mind, or just want some proper shut-eye. Probably need it, too - don't look like you slept well to me, these last few days. »
She blinked.
« Few... days? » she murmured. « Yup. Knocked out cold for a while. Less than most who end up here, mind, but still been a few days. Now, miss, if you'll excuse me, I got some other patients... get some sleep, alright? Try not to run off when I'm not looking. »
The man smirked at her and nodded, as a farewell, and walked out of the room.
She gestured rudely at the closed door, siiighed, and sank in the bed.
« With today? It'll be four days, I reckon. How was the tea? Got the escapism out of you? » « Passable », she lied, pointedly ignoring the prodding at her earlier escape attempts; not only was it good, it even managed to her the sound sleep she was promised... but she would be damned before she admitted to it. « Rheinbier would have been been- » « -better, yes, and if only I gave you some you'd be on your feet already. »
She nodded vigorously.
« Aha! You learnt! »
He shook his head calmly.
« Do this job for long enough and you hear all sorts of excuses from bedridden folk. If you're good at it, you just smile, nod and carry on with your work - speaking of, how are the burns? » « It does not feel as if holding sizzling coals anymore. Only warm ones, and warm I can deal with- »
She planted her hands on the bed, flicked the sheets away with a grandiose gesture - the exaggerated kind one sees nobles in holovids doing with cloaks - winced at the pain of the unduly stretched limbs, turned about and sat on the edge of the bed.
« -ach, see? Rheinlander constitution, unmatched across Sirius! », she proudly remarked, and beat her chest as to prove it.
A salvo of coughs punctuated the remark, somewhat blunting its impact.
The man smiled thinly, beneath the moustache.
« Well, that's good. Posturing aside you've really made some recovery, and not a moment to soon. » « How do you mean? Is there tro- ach- », she asked as she hopped down on the floor, missed her footing and swayed unsteadily. « Easy now, easy... »
He stepped forward and let her hold onto him, albeit with some difficulty; the woman was considerably taller and sturdier built than the 60-something.
Still, neither crumpled to the floor, and both could feel thankful for that.
« No trouble, missy. Friends. » « Friends? », she asked, a vaguely confused look on her face as she let go. « Well, colleagues maybe. Control got a call from these two twins the other day, called themselves Errai. Said they were thankful for all the aid given to you and that they'll be sending over one of theirs to pick you up. » « Ach, ja. Die hauptlinge. » « Wanted to know who is it that took care of you, too. Insisted, even. Now I... »
The elderly doctor kept talking, but she wasn't listening; all she could think of was her appalling lack of manners, only now realising she'd never asked who he was despite his care and attention. What is it that they call people like this? Oh, the boy has a name for them... good Istaamarans? I should've paid more attention to his stories, damn it! Ah well, let us-
« -alright, missy? I say, are you... » « Yes, yes, I was just- », she looked away for a moment, running a finger through her hair. « I realised I don't know who I should be thanking either, and I do apologise most profusely for the dreadful discourtesy. »
The man looked at her like he'd seen a complete stranger, and chuckled.
« Well now! Had my doubts for a moment there, but now I'm sure you need some more rest. Come on, let's- » « Mein herr, please, I am serious. I am in your debt! To whom do I owe my thanks? » « Don't know about debt, really. Your bosses went and made a real generous donation to the station, there's no need to- » « But there is, herr doktor », she insisted, drawing herself up to her full height and then leaning closer, imposingly. « A Rheinstadt-Gerat honours their debts, and has its way in the end. So who is it? »
He scratched his head.
« Well, if you insist... name's Mitchell. Danny Mitchell, but people just call me Doc Mitchell. Reckon you can tell why. And you are Loken, right? » « Indeed. Well then, herr Mitchell! You have have my utmost gratitude, and though the honour of aiding a Rheinstadt-Gerat would ordinarily suffice as recompense for the efforts made, I too will forward a small token of said gratitude », she proclaimed, imperceptibly bowing her head for a moment and then shooting a look at the door; there was a faint rapping noise. « As soon as I can get to my Magpie, at least. » « Ah, well, your ship... that'll be rather difficult, miss Loken », he said, gesturing vaguely at something behind her, a picture of Kepler before the storm. « It's totaled, sorry to say. Not all dust and debris, mind you, but it'll take some real effort if it wants to fly again. I'm told we got a freighter coming on to pick up the bits. » « Erm, hello? May I come in? », interjected a muffled voice from behind the door. « I, um, I'm that freighter - I mean its pilot! Was here yesterday, brought medicines... is Lady Loken ready? »
They both smiled, for different reasons.
« That'll be your friend, I think. Shy one, is she? » « And nervous as a white hare at Baden-Baden. », she nodded, smirking. « Ja, I'm here! Come in, Douglas! »
The door opened, revealing a young girl in a dark blue flight suit with black and white details, and a sparkling star insignia on her breastplate.
She was beaming, a relieved expression on her face.
« Heike! », she said, running up and hugging her, with the mildly comedic result of highlighting their solid 20-25cm of difference in height as her arms wrapped her waist. « You're alright! » « Aha! Silly girl, it takes more than a few burns and some bruises to keep me down! Ach- », she replied, with a wince. « S-Sorry! Shouldn't have- » « It is... quite alright. Now, if you please... »
The doctor chuckled, as he looked on.
« Well then, I best leave you ladies alone. Miss Loken, your stuff is over there. Here, just let me unlock the drawer... it ain't much, that fancy suit you came in is going to need some medical attention itself, but here you go », he said, stepping aside and to the door. « Now usually I say "see you soon" when it's time for goodbyes, but given my work, maybe it's best we don't, eh? »
He smiled, and looked straight at the tall Rheinlander.
« Something tells me we will, though. Always like that, with the adventurous sort - making poor docs worry and keeping them busy. » « Oh, you know how it is, herr doktor... », she grinned, a touch apologetically. « Do I ever. Just, try coming in on your feet next time, alright? », he nodded. « Be seeing you, kids. »
And with that, the doctor left the room.
Iris let her colleague go, and watched him walk down the corridor to some other patient's room.
« Funny bloke, is he? Looks like a good person to me. » « Mm. And a most competent physician as well. » « Stars above, thank for that. I'm so glad you're alright... now come, let's get you back to the flagship, okay? », she said, pattering her forearm as to invite her to hold onto it; she politely declined, and slowly began walking out herself. « I brought one of Hasaan's Dromedaries, so don't worry, it'll be a comfy trip even with all the scrap in the hold. » « Who? » « Ah yes, it happened while you were away! Well I say happened, but it's more complicated than that. You see... »
It would prove very complicated, in fact - a long and tortuous tale of errant salesmen, suspiciously well-maintained Dromedaries, and a great green shipyard in a distant Borderworld no warp drive can reach.
It didn't make a lot of sense to her, but the girl seemed really excited about it - and it did pique her own interest, in that 'daydreaming of future discoveries' fashion.
She smiled at those thoughts, as she settled in the cockpit of the freighter with Iris' help.
Adventure beckoned. It would not do to ignore her. Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt.
