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Post by ChibiJaime on Dec 24, 2008 18:07:06 GMT -5
Today had started out pretty much a lot like any other. Dharma had been visiting her father's clinic where Karma was volunteering part-time as a nurse, mostly to pick up some cookies to take back to base with her (and hopefully get to eat them, as more often than not, Karma's cookies got pilfered before she could have a single one). But it was upon seeing some of the patients her father was currently treating that she started getting a strange feeling of deja vu, though she really couldn't fathom even a little bit why.
The faint cough. Victims of the mood swings some of the construction workers were having. Well, it was nothing more than the result of fatigue and working around very old buildings, wasn't it? Right? Right. But that wasn't why Dharma was sitting watching the soldiers go by in the mess, their helmets off, chatting amiably with one another. For a change, she sat at a table by herself, box held between red-gloved hands, long ears twitching in time to a beat inside her head. She hadn't even gotten a cookie out yet.
Of course, it wasn't like she'd lost her appetite. These were cookies, after all, and she loved cookies. It was more that she just couldn't shake the feeling she'd seen a scene so much like the one in her father's clinic before. Anyone who knew the tiny medic, of course, would probably be surprised... one, she wasn't scarfing down the cookies she was holding, and two, she wasn't bustling around greeting everyone and offering.
And she didn't even notice any stares she may've gotten. Why was that so familiar...?
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Post by Ara on Dec 25, 2008 0:08:29 GMT -5
Unlike Dharma's normal day... Well, perhaps he should start considering them normal. Earlier that morning, all hell had broken loose. A city-wide call for the KG to close in on a single point had been made, and unfortunately, it was for good reason this time. There was a disturbance out on the docks, and collateral damage was the least of the problems.
Karn's unit had been on the other side of the city, and no matter how fast you move, it takes time to get from one end to the other. But, dutifully they'd gone, only to show up for the aftermath. A few houses had been burned to the ground, many civilians were injured, two dead. Some of the KG that had gone to help were in worse shape, and the acrid smell of dark eco wasn't hard to miss. The air seemed electrified with it.
He'd helped with cleanup, and after hours of moving rubble and helping to tend to the wounded, he'd found his way wearily to the barracks, where he'd intended to get some rest. Stepping into the common room, he removed his helmet and held it under the crook of his arm as he searched about for a quick bite to eat. The cafeteria was somewhat full, but not enough to really be a bother. He nodded to a few of the people he knew before getting a sandwich and questionable looking brownie. There was a momentary thought to just take it back to his room, but someone caught his eye. The good one, that is. His left eye had seen better days. While he could still see, it was just barely. The once-rich brown was clouded over with a milky sort of white - the same color that raced in jagged lines across his tattooed face; scars.
These were old injuries though, and for the most part, Karn ignored them. Sometimes what was remaining of his left ear would ache before a storm, but his ear still worked just fine. His armor clanked slightly as he stepped around a few other men, focusing in on Dharma. It was an odd sight to see, really. Usually the girl was bouncing off the walls (sometimes literally), so to see her in such a quiet mood was almost disturbing.
"Is it just me, or have you lost your spark there, Dharma?" Karn asked lightly, taking a seat next to her. He'd have offered his brownie... But it looked like she had all the treats she'd need. "Or did you have a bad day too? I didn't see you at the docks... I guess things were taken care of by the other medics." He leaned back in his chair, not quite wanting to admit his limbs ached from all that work. "Now, usually I wouldn't have to ask, but those aren't all for you, are they?" He let a bit of a smile cross his scruffy face - the smile a bit lopsided due to his scarred face, but genuine all the same.
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Post by ChibiJaime on Dec 25, 2008 0:26:50 GMT -5
Long tattooed ears lifted immediately as the fair-haired medic perked. The unnaturally thoughtful expression wiped off her face in an instant, and immediately she grinned, lifting the box with both hands. "Oh, help yourself, Karn!" she offered cheerily. It was as if whatever was bothering her completely left her mind the instant he'd started talking to her. "Karma usually makes too much, anyway. Just look at me... where would I put all these sweets?"
She popped open the lid of the box with practiced ease. "I didn't know there was anything going down at the docks. Had the morning off, so I was visiting Dad at the clinic and helping out a bit. It's been really busy there with the rebuild and all."
Something in the tone of his voice, though. Taking out a cookie to nibble on, she gave him a long look. "Do I want to know what happened in the docks? Sometimes I'm afraid to ask..."
It was obvious she was wary. She had a bad feeling she knew exactly what the answer was going to be and she just didn't really want to know if her suspicions were correct. If they were, she was certain Ashelin would be furious, and so would half the city. It was bad enough that boy had a bad rep around the city. Did he have to go blowing things up to make it worse? She sighed, though, and just put on her best smile. "And on a side note, I sort of wonder if I wouldn't have better luck with people if I could cook like Karma. Maybe then I wouldn't come off like a crazy daisy on happy pills."
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Post by Ara on Dec 25, 2008 0:36:13 GMT -5
Ah hah. There was that Dharma that everyone knew and only some really loved. It was as if she'd snapped out of some sort of mini-trance. It made Karn wonder if it was really that much of an effort for her to think. He was inclined momentarily to think that it was true. But, whatever it was she might have had on her mind gave way to her usual self, and it only made Karn's smile grow. "That's more like the Dharma I know. Thanks." A Karma cookie beat the cafeteria's brownies any day. He chose one and put it on his tray.
"Well, s'far as I'm aware, you usually end up giving all of them away before you can eat any yourself. It's not too big a mystery why you're so small." He gave a laugh - a rather gravely sound. One that not many people heard out of him.
His demeanor darkened though, when she furthered the conversation about the events of the morning. "You probably don't. It was pretty messy. Structural damage was bad enough, but there were quite a few people injured. One person they fished out of the water had been mauled and then drowned. We lost a KG too. Not to mention the injured." He shook his head. "I got on the scene too late to really be of much use stopping the attack, but everyone agreed it could have only been one thing." He made a bit of a face, "Even after he'd gone, the whole area smelled like dark eco."
It was pretty obvious that Karn didn't care for Jak. In fact, he was the bane of the KG's existence as of late. Whether or not they were on the same side now, Jak had caused far too many deaths for anyone to readily start liking him. And then stunts like what had happened earlier that morning? That boy wasn't exactly making it easy for people to trust him. "I'm surprised no one was taken to your father's clinic. Maybe they came after you left."
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Post by ChibiJaime on Dec 25, 2008 1:29:25 GMT -5
"Oi... Jak."
Dharma's ears lowered slightly as she said the name. She hadn't dealt much with him, but his name had come up insanely often when she'd been dealing with any injured Krimzon Guards that came through before the Baron's reign had ended. And she was fairly sure she'd met him at least once or twice... during those times she was hanging around in the Underground hideout and he showed up to either bitch at Torn or bitch at Torn while getting/reporting on a mission. She had a feeling he wasn't a bad kid, but Haven City could really change a person... and unfortunately, never for the better.
"If they headed to Dad's clinic, it probably was after I left. They'd have to go all the way through the slums, so I was probably on my way back to the Palace by then." Taking the walking path, of course. Dharma couldn't drive a Zoomer to save her own life and didn't much care for getting run down by those less cautious about the folks who preferred walking to driving. "I'm sure he's got his hands full now. I'll contact him later, see if I can't send any of my team over to help."
She was turning her cookie in her hand more than she was eating it now, ears still tipped back. "I'm sure Ashelin knows by now... ten creds says she's probably about ready to ream him. Not that I blame her, but..." She'd seen many of the experiments. She was a medic. She'd seen what they'd done to kids like him. "...I'll talk to her later, see if there's anything I can do to help out." The little medic paused briefly to offer a cookie to a couple of passing guards before turning her attention back to the company at her table. "Karn... can I ask you a really weird question?"
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Post by Ara on Dec 25, 2008 2:45:00 GMT -5
Karn nodded. Definitely Jak. Though, it wasn't really a topic he enjoyed talking about, after all the pain he'd caused to the Krimzon Guard. Good or bad - and Karn admitted that some of the men were to gung-ho to take Jak and the Underground out - most of them hadn't deserved what had happened. It was a wonder that everyone hadn't quit. Then again, Karn hadn't. Loyal to a fault, this certain Captain was.
And he'd had his share of encounters with the experiment. None of them had been fun. In fact, most had been chaotic, deeply frightening, and all around BAD. It really was no wonder that half the force either wanted to kill him or quit - even after the change in leadership. Once Ashelin had taken control of the city, the Underground had been integrated into the legal workings, with Jak right with them.
Karn was pretty sure nothing good would come of that. Nothing at all. The disaster that morning had proved it.
"Let me know if he needs anyone else sent over. I'm off for the rest of the day, and so is my unit, but a few of my men wouldn't mind helping out if it came to that. Not that they'd be of much use. I only have a couple medics." He shrugged, his armor moving stiffly with him. He finally bit into the cookie, quite pleased at just how good it was. That Karma... She was quite a cook.
"I don't think I can take that bet. She'll probably do more than ream him. Someone needs to straighten that kid out. He's hurt too many people." Karn frowned. The elf had half a mind to give Jak a stern talking to, but didn't think the risk would be worth it. The blond boy wasn't the problem. It was that monster lurking inside him.
Raising his eyebrows at the young woman, Karn nodded, "Sure thing, Dharma. What's on your mind?"
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Post by ChibiJaime on Dec 27, 2008 11:40:13 GMT -5
"While I was at my dad's clinic, something there just kept reminding me of something that happened before Praxis got offed. Do you remember the vaccinations the medics were required to give everyone? Caused a burning sensation in the arm for two days after the initial injection, and no one would say what it was about?"
Again Dharma's expression had turned strangely serious, wringing her small gloved hands together. "I don't even know why I thought about it. I remember seeing people with similar symptoms around the time of the vaccinations, but..." She shook her head. "It's probably just a coincidence. We're working on really old buildings and that's bound to kick up dust and mold and people are bound to start coughing and sneezing. And people get moody when they're tired, so that's easily explained..."
Sighing, she picked up another cookie. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but it really is in a medic's nature to be so. We like to protect people and if we don't have that ability..." Another shake of her head, sandy curls bouncing. "So I guess what I'm asking is if you remember that time? The people getting sick, the vaccinations...? It's not that I think it has any bearing on anything happening recently. It just reminded me of that and it won't get out of my head until I bug someone about it."
A wry smile crossed her lips and she wrinkled her nose playfully. "Though I don't know how anyone could forget those shots... ouch!"
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Post by Ara on Dec 27, 2008 14:02:21 GMT -5
Karn listened quietly to Dharma's explanation, a thoughtful look crossing his scarred face. They'd gone through so many medical tests and shots and checkups and updates that it was hard to hone in on the one she was talking about. Between normal duties, the metal head wars, and the havoc Jak had wreaked on the KG, there had been many, many hospital trips. But after a few moments contemplation, he was indeed able to recall that specific vaccine.
"That one was one of the stranger ones... It came in three shots, right? Made half the force sick. They should have done it in shifts..." He gave a little 'hmm.' "I haven't seen anyone too sick around here... Like you said, there's a lot of dust and dirt and all sorts of things being put into the air. But it can't hurt to think about that." He frowned, his hands holding the half-eaten cookie he had, but his mind wasn't on the little treat. "Protecting the people is what we DO. Each in our own way. If you think something's wrong... Then you should probably look into it."
Very rarely did Karn joke. He felt that words were important, and should be used with as much weight as they carried. And if people were getting sick... If there was a pattern she was seeing? "I do remember that time... It wasn't pleasant. Then again, a lot of what's done around here, especially then, wasn't pleasant. But hey, I'm feelin' pretty fit, if that makes you feel any better."
Karn offered her one of his rare, lopsided smiles. "Yeah, those ones hurt pretty bad." He rubbed at his arm. "Especially mine. The medic who gave me mine wasn't exactly kind with that big 'ol needle."
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Post by ChibiJaime on Dec 28, 2008 22:11:51 GMT -5
The small medic's ears tipped back. Well, at least one person agreed without thinking she was crazy. She leaned back a bit, gazing thoughtfully toward the ceiling. "Three shots in the weak arm... left for righties, right for lefties. They said there shouldn't be side-effects, but Mar knows there were. Dizzy spells, nausea... half the force was laid up. I do agree, it should've been done in shifts like it was with the medics but Erol came down and insisted we get it all done at the same time right away."
She frowned, shaking her head. She had no love whatsoever for the late commander. He'd been brutal with the medics... almost more than he had been with his own men. "They never said what the vaccinations were for, but I remember people getting sick then too. Coughing. Mood swings. Weakness and fatigue. Mild muscle spasms and discoloration of the skin. I haven't seen any of those late symptoms yet at all, so right now, I'm more inclined to think that it's just the construction and the dust..."
Her ears did lower, though, when another thought crossed her mind. "Though thinking on it now... we don't have any more of that vaccine. It could take months for one of the scientists or the medics to isolate whatever it was the team brought back from the forest to get it fixed up." After a moment or two, she thunked her head down on the table. "Augh! I'm getting too worked up over this. It's probably nothing."
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Post by Ara on Dec 29, 2008 12:16:10 GMT -5
"Well, that's Erol for you." Karn gave a one-shouldered shrug and finished off the cookie he'd been holding. It was amazing that it wasn't gone sooner. Anything made by Karma was usually out of sight and only lingering happily in mind moments after its appearance. "I heard he was quite a handful before he got the commander position. It was a wonder Torn put up with him at all. But still, he probably insisted we get them all at once just because he could."
The Captain nodded, ears lowering thoughtfully, "It wasn't exactly a picnic those few weeks. But everyone came 'round from it. And your right, it doesn't sound like there's anything to really worry about right now. Reconstructing's difficult at best, and after what most of Haven's been through, it's not surprising that a few people are taking ill. I'm sure it'll pass, if it's anything at all."
He raised his eyebrows at the mention that there wasn't any more of the vaccine. "Hah, good! I'd hate to have anyone else go through that. Why don't you just lay those fears of yours to rest? There's enough to worry about... And you're probably right. There very well might not be anything to it." He reached over and put a strong but kind hand on her petite shoulder. "I'll keep an eye out for anything suspicious, Dharma. You worry about the problems that you're sure exist."
He knew that Dharma didn't need anything else on her plate. As the KG's CMO, there was plenty to worry about on a good day. And while Karn was indeed a Captain, that's all he was - he would be able to keep an eye on things, and let Dharma take care of what needed to be done. "I'll have the medics in my unit keep their ears and eyes peeled for anything suspicious. We're stationed near the slums, and if anything comes up, you'll be the first to hear about it. Sound good?"
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Post by ChibiJaime on Jan 6, 2009 0:16:23 GMT -5
"Go through my dad if you find anything," Dharma finally pointed out, leaning forward a bit. "He'd be the first person to get ahold of me." A grin finally crossed her round, childish face. "But enough of the depressing stuff. Events of earlier today aside, how've you been? I haven't seen a whole lot of you since the change of power."
Which was something she, like many, had been quite happy for. And talking about it actually made her feel somewhat better sometime. If not for the advisor... very briefly, her ears lowered, but they flicked right back up after a moment. "When things calm down a little more, I'm thinking of getting a catat kit for my apartment. I've always wanted a pet, and a monkaw's too messy. Catats are very self-sufficient."
Of course, this coming out of the sandy-haired medic whose track record with animals included being bitten at by numerous supposedly docile yakkows, being scratched by several ottsels she hadn't even been bothering, and being chased by crocodogs on several occasions? It was a wonder she was considering getting a pet at all.
Picking up another cookie, she looked at it for a long minute. "What about you, Karn? You ever think about settling down?"
((Crap-post. D:))
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Post by Ara on Jan 7, 2009 0:19:27 GMT -5
((don't worry! I still love it! )) "Through your dad?" Karn asked, "Alright. Does that mean you're headed back out onto the field soon then?" Since the regime change, he'd seen less of the CMO, because so many cleanup endeavors, among other things. They just hadn't crossed paths all that often. He smiled when she asked how he'd been. That rarely happened with the men on the Guard. "I'm hoping for a promotion soon... My unit's been doing well... Though this whole Jak thing might be a setback. You'd think that after the Baron died, things would have calmed down." The man had to shake his head. No use thinking of that. Depressing stuff aside, right? "A Catat? Dharma, don't you remember what happened to you with that crocodog? You, of all people, should know what sort of crazy infection you can get from a catat bite." Karn couldn't help himself and snitched another cookie, lopsided ears tilting back happily as he ate it. That Karma and her cookies... They'd be the death of him one day. "Settling down?" He laughed and shook his head, giving Dharma a bit of a look. "Really, do I look like the sort to do that?" He solidly connected a proud fist to his armored chest. "I'm still in my prime. There's a lot to be done with the KG, and I'd like to be a part of it." His good eye sparkled slightly, "I still owe the metal heads some payback too. What better way to get my chance than to be in the KG?"
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Post by ChibiJaime on Jan 7, 2009 14:45:54 GMT -5
"You know me and the field don't mix," Dharma pointed out sheepishly, tugging a strand of sandy hair. "Just look at these skinny arms! I wouldn't even make a chew toy for half the Metalheads out there."
She wrinkled her nose, then grinned brightly at his comment of wanting a promotion, sitting up straight. "Really?! Oh, I hope you get it! You're one of the best guys in this place. And tough, too! Why, you've never once flinched when I'd stitched you up. Always takin' it like a real man." She did her best to sound tough herself when she said that. Which, as usual, came out... pretty strangely.
But in the end, it was the comment about the catat that made her pout. "But my apartment's so lonely. Pecker likes me. There's got to be another animal in this place that won't try to kill me when I go near it." She sighed and leaned back, offering a cookie to another passing guard. "Maybe I should just go with a monkaw. If one of them likes me, there's hope yet, right?"
She settled, then, to munching on a cookie as she listened to him talk, jumping a bit but smiling when he thunked a fist against his chest. "Well, I certainly can't argue with that logic. You're an awesome soldier and you're good at what you do. I believe in you!" If the X3 expression had never fit anyone before then, it did Dharma as she pumped her fist in the air to accentuate the last few words she spoke.
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Post by Ara on Jan 10, 2009 14:56:03 GMT -5
"I could see that working to your advantage," Karn pointed out. "If none of those nasty little buggers want you, you'd be able to walk right on through," He chuckled, knowing what she meant though.
"A promotion couldn't hurt..." He raised an eyebrow at her assessment. "I'm not tough, not really. There are other things that get to me, just not physical pain so much. But thanks for noticin'." He offered her his lopsided smile. That Dharma, always able to bring up his spirits. Perhaps it was because of how carefree she always seemed, even when she was worried - if that made any sense. It made sense in his head, at least.
"You COULD go with a monkaw, but I hear they're messy. And are tone-deaf. That might just be Pecker though." He shrugged. "It's worth a shot. Do you want me to find one for you?" The pet shops in Haven rarely carried monkaws, being that they were rather dangerous to get. In the forests, rogue metal heads were always roaming, making pet-capturing rather dangerous.
"Aww, thanks." Karn said when Dharma expressed her belief in him. He lightly cuffed her on the shoulder. "It's good ta know someone knows I'm trying."
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