Elena's demeanor changes when she enters the clinic. Her eyes widen and she takes a few steps back in initial shock. Miya steps ahead of her upon seeing the 'Doctor' and looks defensive, but stays silent for now.

The Blissian looks around Maya to Lucky and Walter, unsure of why they seem so aloof about this place. When Jason is set down on the table, she immediately runs out from behind Maya over to him, "NO! No, no, this is hardly sanitary!" She bows politely, though quickly, to Hacksaw, "I'm sorry, but we need a good clean place to operate. I am not sure what type of clinic this is... but all of the blood around here is a dangerous opportunity for an infection. As a doctor, I'd think you'd have some place very sterile to perform your work? Could you please let us use a safer table? Or perhaps if you have something to clean it with... Anything at all would be a great help."

She puts a comforting hand on Jason's leg, trying to keep him from moving it too much and also just trying to keep him calm in this obviously creepy clinic.

CHAD replies to Drizzel's request to guard the alley with a firm nod.  He stands there, eyes forward, occasionally inspecting the airspace around the dead-end alley, as well as the sewer cover.  He dosen't question why he has to guard this dead-end alley, and when the sanitation worker arrives to empty out the garbage cans behind CHAD, he stands his ground, much to the chagrin of the local sanitation department.

T'shock wonders what the chocobo means by "yum". There's no food immediately apparent. Besides maybe other people's hair.

"I'm curious about the fairy too, Joe." she comments, not sure how to take his commentary. "....which Ray is headed for...?" she chases after Ray. "Ray! Not so fast!"

Emerald raises her glass in return. "Hmm? The TCC? Heh... everyone has personal motives, but who in their right mind *wouldn't* want to meet someone as rich and famous as one of the Lockmans? Heck, an autograph from the son of a planet ruler would be worth the trip to this place. But as for personal motives? I have a dream of being a pop singer some day. But then... who doesn't? Entertainers are a dime a dozen. And Blissians, bless their hearts, make it even harder by sending skilled entertainers who usually don't even charge anything. How can anyone compete with that? Not saying I don't appreciate their reasons for it, just pointing out the reality of how tough a competition it is to achieve such a dream..."

She sips, glances at the wine and then looks at Jaq. "Nice stuff... is this Tavernian?"

Jason nods energetically to what Elena is saying. Hacksaw's eyes widen with glee. "Heeehehehe...." he giggles as Walter explains. "A BLISSIAN doctor? That's like... a Barakian warrior or something! Best of the best, they say! Heehehehe...."

He then turns his psychotic grin to Elena. "Ma'am, I'm a doctor with meager means... heeehehehehe.... but I'll be happy to help you any way possible! *snort* *snicker* Hee...heehehe..." he's trying not to go into a fit of cackling. He seems done with sharpening his cleaver as he rather suddenly slams it into a nearby wooden platform with a solid THUNK that can be felt.

"I have a special room I usually use only for myself..." he says presenting the way and then walking to a back door... that has those plastic flaps hanging from it as a door instead of a normal door.

Hacksaw watches them over his shoulder, his red beedy eye glowing some as he stares right at Lucky. "...hehehehehe... what a beautiful black coat you have... and near this astonishing white-coated Blissian. It's a real sight... hehehehehe..." a rasp in his voice can be heard on that last laugh. To a trained ear like Elena's (Blissians don't have big ears for show!), it would be obvious this man has some physical problems of his own... BESIDES his missing eye and leg.

(OOC: I literally didn't wanna stop typing. I am loving this character too much)

Billy examines the bat. Um? The bat is probably lying. Billy ponders what to do about the bat. He pulls up a chair and sits next to him. "You're welcome. Well, Nate... you seem very jumpy. Are you OK?" the man still has sunglasses on despite being indoors. His voice is as beautiful as ever, but now with tones of concern. "Is there something I can do to help?"

Billy thinks back to when he was a young man and nervous as can be to go to foreign planets. But he's almost positive this isn't visitor jitters since the guy is studying Lockman info specifically instead of stuff about the settlement.

Amy telepaths to Nash, "Nash... not to add any pressure, but this guy... see what you can do about un-masking him. He has that robe and sunglasses on for a reason, I'm sure. And now that he's following you, he's becoming a liability to your mission."

Nash's research is now just turning up branches that spread farther. Just like researching history brings up many many cultures and motives and just becomes a big, overwhelming entanglement of inter-connected or remotely related events, looking up things about the Lockman family is getting to be such also. Connections with the other empires, for instance. How Dominus brought all the empires of Tharian space together and eventually, under his control. The Lockman involvement in this being suspiciously small compared to, say, how involved Coal and it's current ruler Tharcon were...

(OOC: If what I wrote seems confusing, that's kind of on purpose to emulate how distracted poor Nash is by having two people talk to him while he's researching. But this stuff IS important and all part of the story as a whole, so feel free to make a mental note of it all.)

Drizzeleaf doesn't recognize the creature or why it's charging at her, but she knows to flee and with a jingling sound, hurries back into the shop. "HELP!" she yells, heading straight for the nearest person and not caring who or what they may be.

....oh what fun. A giant bird charging into a shop full of people. This could get wild. If it isn't already.

What's more, this will make the spotting job for the possums much easier. But grabbing CHAD back may prove difficult if this all gets blown out of proportion.

  Joe ran after T'Shock and the Chocobo saying "Ray, eating sentient beings is not the solution to our problems."

  Shooting them might be the solution, but there was that slight hope that Joe wouldn't need to find out how many times shooting Ray with their gun set to stun was too many.  They were also hopeful that any ensuing property damage caused directly or indirectly by Ray could get the bill sent to Nono instead of them.  But that was a bit less urgent than hoping people didn't get eaten.

As if CHAD's sanitation worker didn't have enough to be chagrined about, a big yellow bird nearly knocks him over in it's charge for the fairy.  Ray skids to a halt in front of the store, eyes fixed on Drizzeleaf, and considers for a moment if it's worth risking his master's ire to break the "no going into buildings without permission" rule.

"wark..." he thinks out loud.

"master's not watching..." the collar translates.

He crouches, wags his tail feathers and spreads his wings preparing to barrel inside the store when his master's voice booms from the collar.

"No no NO!" the Moogle chastises, as he brings T'Shock's ship to a hover just behind the cringing bird, "Ray!  Have you gone nuts?!  Do not bolt in there!  Whoever you're chasing is no longer a threat to our customer, kupo!"

"Kweh..." Ray mutters, backing away from the store's entrance making it all the more apparent that ship-scale Barakian weapons are inadvertently pointed at a store full of people.

"I love you..." the collar translates.

Nono blushes.  He realizes his friend Ray is trying to soften him up to cover for something naughty, but it's working anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:06, Thu 26 Nov 2009.

As Lucky begins to picture the horrifying things that must have happened in this place, the feeling like he should leave grows ever stronger.  But the chill down his spine isn't sending the flee message.  Instead his knees are knocking together.  When Dr. Hacksaw's cleaver hits the wood, Lucky gasps and nearly passes out.  He stops breathing when the "doctor" looks at him, and when the mention of fur coats comes up, he loses bladder control.  So much for sparing his expensive suit, but that's the last thing on his mind.

Walter rolls his eyes at the other's reactions to the doctor and snatches a wheelchair to help transport Jason to the back room.

"Calm down," he says to both Lucky and Elena in a 'give-me-a-break' kind of tone, "Jeez.  You act like you've never heard that people who are bleeding to death go to doctors.  What'd you expect to see, lollipops and cotton candy?  If he didn't know what he was doing he'd be out of business faster than you can say 'angry relative out for revenge.'"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:56, Thu 26 Nov 2009.

As the commotion builds in front of the alleyway C.H.A.D. steps out onto the corner of the sidewalk, looking up at the Barrakian vessel, and down at the bird.  Taking both into consideration he says to himself, "I am under-equipped to handle this situation..."  But then again who is, really.  Well, Maybe Nono steering that gunheavy vessel.

Jacqueline gives a small smile at Emerald's assessment of the wine, "It is. If you can tell that from taste alone, then I'm impressed. Of course, I suppose it's also a logical guess, considering. This was a very... professional wine back home, and for good reason." She swirls her glass again for a short while before sipping it once more.

"So, you want to be singer?" She smirks at that, "Interesting, though you're right that they're a dime a dozen. Good singers, however, are worth every penny. If you're willing to compete and take a chance, then you'll be that much closer to success." She shrugs, sipping her wine again, "So, from the sound of things, the TCC seems to be more something for you to use to get around while you work towards this goal that you really want?"

----

Meanwhile, Sabre is moving through the shopping district by now, moving much quicker than he expected due to all of the commotion.

True to his position, he doesn't let it show that all of this craziness is bothering him, and he even sees through all of the chaos to see CHAD in the midst of it. However, he's more than a little unprepared for the descending Barrakian ship. The very sight of that in the shopping district makes him nearly lose his sunglasses.

While CHAD is debating what to do, Sabre debates his own course of action. He's found CHAD, so he should return to the ship, but CHAD doesn't seem to be doing anything violent or rebellious... Could it really be that hard to just ask him to come back?

Straightening his coat and his shades, Sabre covertly makes his way around to the sidewalk corner that CHAD is standing at, strafing around the hovering ship and the crazy loose bird. Once he gets close, he assumes a nonchalant stance close to CHAD, looking like he's watching what's going on in front of them, but directing his voice to the side in a hushed tone.

"Hey... Hey! Chad? You're a bit far from home base, wouldn't you say?"

Nash is doing his best to keep track of what he's trying to research while also listening to what Billy is saying AND mentally receiving Amy's mental messages.

Nash nearly responds to Amy aloud, but he catches himself quickly, straightening his glasses to calm himself.

Find out more about him. Got it. I can do that. I can do this... What was his name again? Billy. Got it.

He takes a breath to slow his tongue and responds to Billy slowly, clearly trying to watch his stuttering, "I am fine, thank you... Just checking on a few things. I'm... not very familiar with all of this area. You seem to know it, though..." Nash turns a little and glances at Billy, "Do you live around here, maybe?"

He idly searches on one of the more random links he finds when looking for information on Lockman. He's mentally cataloged most of what he's found all ready, even if he hasn't gotten all of it perfectly, but he wants to keep searching to build up his base of knowledge and to hopefully make it look less suspicious.

Miya is the first between the two of them to take defensive action in response to Hacksaw's demeanor. Not hiding her movements, she places one hand on the holster of her gun and keeps her eyes on Hacksaw at all times. She is sure to place herself between the position of the doctor and Elena, even when they're moving.

Elena is unable to stop Walter from getting Jason onto the wheelchair, and she's personally torn about what to do. She can hear the rasp in Hacksaw's voice and it becomes a little more clear to her just what she's dealing with in this settlement. It is not going to be clean or sterile. If it were, then they would not need her like they do now. Even the doctors are ill here. It's terrifying, and her hands are gripping her staff with a white grip, but she moves her feet after Walter and Jason as they go into the room.

"Thank you, Doctor. As long as you can give us space to work with, I can help Mr. Jason, and I will do the best job that I can. Her voice is tremulous, but her face is serious as she focuses on what needs to be done. When they get into the room, she looks around to see what she has to work with.

As Elena goes into the room, Miya walks alongside her, keeping her hand on her pistol and watching Hacksaw. When the others go into the room, Miya stands at the door and gives Hacksaw a warning look. "They can handle it from here. If you don't mind... wait out here until she's done. This may be your clinic, but that Blissian is my employer and, frankly, I do not like the look you are giving her. Do we understand each other?"

T'shock had hurried towards Ray and slows down once near him. She recognized her ship and further recognizes the voice of it's repairman. She looks up at the ship. Heh... Nono having a Barakian look UP at him is probably a short thrill. "Nobody was a threat to me that I know of, Nono. Ray was just chasing a fairy for some reason. Are fairies mortal enemies of Ray's kind where he comes from?"

Though she's a Barakian, T'shock shows her naivety by not being able to wrap her mind around a sentient being desiring to kill another sentient being for no other purpose than to eat them. But Joe suggested it, so...

"....EATING? She's... she's a PERSON!" she near-freaks.

Emerald grins. "Right on the nose, Jaqueline. TCC is meant to be a temporary job for me." she ALMOST said "gig" which would have sounded too... well, what she really is. "And no, I couldn't tell from taste alone. Just educated guess work. We all need reminders of home, don't we? Tell me something... do you get involved in politics outside of business?"

Hacksaw raises an eyebrow at Miya and grins. "Oh so crystal clearly, ma'am... you understand this is my clinic and I understand your concern. The good doctor asked me to give her space. When a doctor asks that, people *must* respect that. Far be it from me to infringe on a fellow medical practitioner's personal preferences... however... just understand not to push your luck with me or I will have you all dismissed and your "employer's" patient will be out of luck. As long as you understand this, I believe we do, in fact, understand each other." the whole while, he kept his grin quite wide. He's enjoying this all too much.

Jason is able to lay on the relatively sterile table and winces. "Thanks for asking for space, Elena... I thought I was going to have to stare at that creepy grin throughout the whole process..." he says very quietly. "...you can see why I didn't come here to begin with."

Jason then speaks up in defense of Elena, "Cut her some slack... she's probably used to Blissian hospitals. Which probably DO have lollipops and cotton candy. And no blood."

After all... it's hard for most ANYONE to imagine any place on Planet Bliss having blood-stains anywhere.

Billy headshakes. "No, I don't live here." he answers. Billy then pulls up a chair with the backrest facing Nash as Billy sits on it backwards, crossing his arms on the top of the backrest and then leans his chin on his arms. "But I believe I can be a lot of help if you were looking for someone who might know a thing or two about the cultures collecting here. I'm more familiar with the Tharians personally than any of the others, but believe me, I know quite a bit about the others as well. Such as the Piressens... and their current Emperor, Nick Lockman."

Amy watches the conversation between Billy and Nash, wondering how Nash plans to get Billy to betray himself and show who he really is. Or if Billy wears sunglasses and a cloak for some other reason. She can't shake the feeling, however, that the man has nothing but good intentions and sees Nash as part experiment, part friend. Amy is confused. Something that she's had to get used to ever since the SA put that restriction on her to not read minds unless permitted to. Not that there's a way to police that, but Amy has learned reading minds is to her what the beer bottle is to obsessive drunks. Take one drink and the second one is twice as tempting.

Drizzeleaf sees what's going on outside and comes out of the store with the store manager. She rasberries at Ray. "Pthpthpth!" fists on her hips.

The store manager, a 4' tall weasel notices the Barakian standing there and a Barakian ship hovering up above. "...ma'am, is that your vehicle and is that your bird?" he asks of T'shock in a stern tone.

...look at T'shock's eyebrow twitch.

  Expert in tactful responses and comforting needed?  Too bad, you get Joe.  "Well, you know.  Excitedly exclaiming 'YUM' and charging open beaked at something bite sized does give the impression."   They eye the taking this rather well manager (he can't 'eyes' someone as well what with the replacement even more obvious than a certain Doctors).  "The bird isn't ours, and the ship isn't taking up parking space at the moment.  The ship can move easily enough if it's bothering you though."

Ray is marginally sentient when he's fully fed and not tempted by such a pretty morsel.  But now?

"Mine?" he says, staring at Drizzle like her raspberry was an enticing cherry on top of her already savory sparkles.

"Mine," the collar translator interprets, making it slightly more clear that it wasn't a question, but a declaration.

Nono gawks and blushes.

"No not mine," he says, leaving the ship right where it is and fluttering over to his preoccupied friend, "Not yours either.  What is your major malfunction?  I fed you plenty this morning, kupo!  Are your screws loose?  I'll tighten them up for you then!

He reaches into his satchel, pulls out a strap wrench, and uses it to muzzle the bird.  Ray instantly collapses, writhes around on the ground, moans and cries like he's in torture.

"I'm very very sad," the collar translates.

Nono has a sad sympathetic look on his face for his friend, but tries to remain stern.

"Don't be such a squeaky wheel, it's not that tight."

"Sorry about all this," he addresses the group with an apologetic bow, "I've never seen him bust a gasket like this.  He's usually so very noble and kind, kupo."

He gives a sheepish, but still proud smile to T'Shock.

"I came over to show off the progress!  She's flying like a champ!  You should give her a spin!  I'll bet she could break 100MPS²* easy!"

He looks over at Driz.  "Best way I can make it up to you is to fix anything of yours that needs fixin.'"

Do fairies even have spaceships?  Or tech?  If not, that needs to be rectified, kupo!

*(( That's metric jargon for "from zero to 60 in less than half a second!" ))
This message was last edited by the player at 15:51, Mon 18 Jan 2010.

"Walter," Lucky whispers through his teeth, still paralyzed.

Walter doesn't hear him.  He just laughs when Jason makes his point.

"You're probably right!" he says, laughing some more at the mental image, "And when they put another Blissian under the knife, fruit punch comes out instead of blood!"

"Walter," Lucky whispers again.

Walter again doesn't hear and looks over to Miya with a big smile.

"Relax, Miya.  I can understand defending your sweet cuppincake gumdrop, but he's a jackal.  They give that look to everyone all the the time.  No need to slap leather over his version of cotton candy.  I'd say he's been pretty generous.  Hasn't even asked for a fee for renting the table."

"Walter!"

Walter leans against the doorway near Miya and Hacksaw and folds his arms in a relaxed posture like no one had threatened anyone.

"Outworlders, heh," he says to Hacksaw, "Wait till you hear their plan for building a non-profit hospital."

"What's wrong with building a non-profit hospital?" Lucky asks defensively, forgetting for a moment that speaking up might draw attention to his wet pants.  Or worse yet, draw attention from Hacksaw.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Mon 18 Jan 2010.

As Sabre calls for C.H.A.D's attention he looks around the ruckus at the opossum, and shakes his head, "I estimate I am only four kilometers from the space station, and I am where I was ordered to be." he replies, then he looks around for Drizzle for confirmation of his orders.   Following the muzzling of Ray, the danger to Drizzle is over and with the Barrakian ship parked he feels free to go back to his alleyway to maintain his guard, as he heads back he looks over towards Sabre, "I may need assistance securing this alley, this area is more active than I anticipated.  I'm not equipped to handle all of this myself." he claims.  But then again, who is?