The Home Front

Taffer was walking back and forth along the corridor still unsure he was right agreeing on the order of the procedures Dr. Orion suggested. He did understand that Cael was more stable and that he needed more time to recover from his face surgery. But at the same time he saw Kara was definitely slipping away and this holo room idea could be the only means to keep her mind of breaking apart completely. It was risky of course, but he saw it risky as well if they didn't try it now and possibly lose their last chance to save her. Among long-term problems like Vo being captured, Belle being on a short leash of their enemy, the base being under-staffed he saw one problem he could at least try to solve right at the moment and make it one less problem hanging in uncertainty. He turned around to talk with Dr. Orion again and explain his concerns and suggestions. He still was unsure if he was right with it. Maybe he was underestimating the risk of exposing her fragile mind to the technology that was never designed for it. Maybe he was exaggerating the worsening of her condition.

He asked Dash to connect to the cameras in the lab thinking if he could see her in the rare moment of her smiling when she was sleeping and dreaming of something from her past life. But instead of that, he saw an empty cot with all restrains scattered around in disarray. He hurried his steps in concern and quickly glanced over other cameras. Finally, he saw Kara creeping up the Doctor and raising her hand to hit. He ran hard to the lab, hoping he wouldn't be too late and thinking that setting off the base's intrusion alert would only provoke her to strike faster. He saw her hesitate for a moment and an idea came to him.

"Dash, play the Frond's cry through the lab's speakers, now!"

The child's cry sounded around the lab, making Kara turn around just for a second before her insanity returned once more and she screamed in anger, seeing that that moment was enough for Orion to jump on his feet and hide behind the desk. She darted forward to catch her prey but at the same moment Taffer's hand emerged from Cloak, took her by the collar of her robe and pulled her backwards violently, making her fall on her back, while the other hand hit the scalpel far away from them. Taffer was about to pistol-whip her head as he usually did to incapacitate his enemies, but hesitated as he thought that hitting her head would bring even more damage to her brain. Kara used it to jump up again with a chilling scream and threw her hands forward, aiming her fingers at Taffer's eyes. He dodged and pushed her forward this time, using her momentum to make her fall face-down. He quickly pressed his knee on her back and crossed her arms behind her back, attempting keep her calm, while she still screamed and thrashed violently under his knee.

"Doc, give me some rope or something to restrain her!" Taffer shouted, "A tourniquet would be fine!"

"Bloody jek!" cursed Volodja, pulling his trousers on. "As soon I can get some quality time with mu true love, reality steps in and chases her away." He got his shirt buttoned, and after grabbing his side arm, Volodja rushed out from his cabin. Seeing that situation with escaped patients was taken under control, he went inside the infirmary and checked their beds carefully. Patients don't get loose that easily without anyone noticing that. Getting yourself lose takes time, unless...His assumption was confirmed when he saw that straps, which were meant to hold them in their beds, were cut.

"We have a saboteur here," he said. "Somebody cut them lose. And why the hell our infirmary was unsecured? We have some seriously unstable patients here without supervision, except our honourable Dr. Orion, who has lot of qualities, but being an expert in hand to hand combat is not one of them. Do we have security records about recent movement in Med Bay? If yes, then we should check them."

After hearing diagnosis, he looked thoughtfully at his student and said: "Congratulations, Lady! We should be happy for you and we really are....except that tiny detail that our possible new ruler is on his way to take over the world. And I suspect, that his grandmother will be rubbing her clutches together soon, after hearing news about pregnancy. You know - after Pale Wars and terraforming one might expect that Armageddon is over already," He chuckled. "But I foresee troubles coming from other side of the chess table. Stalemate seems to be over soon, because somebody adds new pieces to the game. Even if it's not an end of the world, it might become an end to our little oasis here. We must prepare for that."

"Giant," said Volodja when hearing Atticu's last remark dragged him out from his thoughts. "I would really appreciate that you avoid referring to my adorable Sandy as an EGO. Even our computer based EGO-s have developed personalities and preferences. And somehow I suspect that you see our virtual girls as our friends, family members and even love interests too. So can you call her just Sandy, please? But rest of epithets I accept, if she finds some time for me as well among her duties." He smiled to Atticus and winked his eye. The Giant was first to join him on their crusade after EGO emitters, after all. Volodja knew, how much Atticus cared about Dinara. And he wanted Sandy to be their child's Godmother. Who will be the Godfather though? Then he turned to Sandy:

Sandy, I am sorry that I spoke for you and you may correct me, but that's how I see you - a lovely girl, I want to be with, a girl to love and respect. You are my true love, I never expected to find in my life." After his little awkward chivalry act, which might be meaningless to others, but was very important to him, he went silent again, still thinking about security problems they had. If things go on like that, here will be paranoia and everyone will start to suspect others in conspiracy, if they won't discover real spies and saboteurs soon. Missing guard, released patients and no sign of security records yet...

I chuckle at Sandy's quick disappearance and can't help but remark, "Aw the emperor's new clothes, huh Sandy?" Then I respond to Orion. "Anyway Doctor. No tampering is definitely a no go. However examining them while they are active so we know if they really are only what we were told they were should be fine, however I suggest Taffer answer that. If he is done doing a rodeo hogtie on small women. However they did give us permission to have you remove the nanite that made poor Sandy act as their fertility specialist. I will remain here while all that is done. Besides it appears we need competent security in here. Instead of the private that was supposed to be in here. Don't worry Doctor., I know exactly who I had assigne to the Dayshift here in Medical. I will Have Lietenant Oenfer try to locate him."

I then call Kaj in. "Lietenant please get a competent officer in here to guard Medical and watch our distraught patients for their safety, as well as the Doctor's but I suggest a senior sec officer this time. As I recall, the Indogen, Private yolinsky was supposed to be stationed in here during day shift. So please have him located. Also get Volodja the security records he requests and get a copy on Erika Widowmakers, Taffer's and my desks, in the War Room right away."

Kaj responds with, "Yes sir. If you do not have an issue with it, I suggest Officer Marr. Commander Taffer re-enstated her this morning, and I feel it would be a good assignment to get her slowly reaquainted with the base staff. Since she has been resigned to quarters for quite awhile."

I respond with, "Lietenant Oenfer. If Taffer feels that she deserves to continue working as security, then I am fine with her being put on duty right away. So if Taffer and Orion are fine with her being the Senior Sec Officer assigned to Medical during the day shift, then I will officially make it her post and make her a senior officer."

Lietenant Oenfer stands at attention waiting for Orion and Taffer's approval. After he gets it, he leaves to tell Officer Lena Marr of her new assignment and promotion, then assembles a search party to look all over base for Private Yolinsky.

As Leiutenant Oenfer leaves Medical he answers Volodja. "Mr. Volodja. Sorry, Volo. I am afraid my training dictates that when on duty I be called by my position. So unless Captain Batman says other wise, I am to go by Leiutenant. How ever when I am off duty, you may call me Kaj."

I say, "Lieutenant, this isn't a militairy. Even though I do expect a tight shift. so If you are fine with him calling you Kaj while you are in uniform, then I will not object."

Kaj nods at me and says, "Thank you sir. Volo. You may call me Kaj."

Kaj then continues out the door, in a hurry to see to his duties.

While Haele examined Sandy, Volodja was busy listening Dr. Orion's stories about his life, finding his way to medicine and so on. Educated and humorous Liberata was somehow reluctant to talk about his research though, but Volodja understood that completely - scientists are bit secretive about their work until they publish results and gain acknowledgement and nice amount of scrip for their work, but there were signs that Dr. Orion will be warming up and let's him peek at his research, if they keep up on friendly basis. 

Haele reported that Sandy was in good physical and mental condition, except nanites on her and asked permission to remove the one which was allowed. Volodja hesitated long time, because he knew that if something happens, it will be his responsibility. But what must come, must come. Mistress was capable of doing anything, but maybe just once, she didn't lied and Sandy had a chance to get rid one of her chains which made her Mistresses subject.

He said calmingly to Sandy: "If I let Haele do that and anything happens to you, then it will be my fault. Keep that in mind. Not her's, not your, but mine. I love you so much and I don't want to see you ending up...in my mind, for example, or even worst places. You are perfect girl for me, Sandy. I feel happy and home with you. I am a shallow man, but I hope that everything ends up well for us, and your beautiful soul and mind will be in your young body again, as I see them at moment, but in flesh and blood, and I will be the father of your first born baby one sweet day. So you can continue your life, which was abruptly cut and I hope that you will continue your life with me as your man and we live long time together. I love you. But I must give my permission. God damn! How boring and repetitive I sound!" He did everything to calm Sandy, sharing his selfish dreams about them and their future, which he hoped to be come true, but he was not sure about calming down himself more than her, because he did not want to lose her again, after being completely sure that this sweet young girl was the one for him and he was so happy, when they got back together.

Then he just sat and watched Haele doing her work. He kept whispering his mantra: "Love you so much, Sandy. Don't want to use you. Don't want to lose you." He wished to be able to hold her hand at moment, but since laboratory didn't had any EGO emitters, he just had to watch and wait for results.