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Side Sim - Kane's Quarters - A Most Unwelcome Call

Posted June 19, 2019, 3:32 p.m. by Lieutenant T’Aria (CMO) (Trin S)

Posted by Lieutenant Solomon Kane (Tact / Med) in Side Sim - Kane’s Quarters - A Most Unwelcome Call

Posted by Lieutenant T’Aria (CMO) in Side Sim - Kane’s Quarters - A Most Unwelcome Call

Posted by Lieutenant Solomon Kane (Tact / Med) in Side Sim - Kane’s Quarters - A Most Unwelcome Call
His comm terminal alerting him to an incoming message pulled Kane out of a sound sleep. Swearing loudly, he rolled over and hit the accept button to establish the connection. “What?” he growled at whoever had the sheer audacity to wake him up.

“That any kind of greeting for an old friend, Duster?” came a feminine voice from a shadowed face on the other end. ‘Duster’. The name made Kane stop moving and stare at the screen, his eyes on fire. “Well well well… Harrow. And hear I thought you were dead. I guess the Syndicate isn’t as thorough as I wished, in your case.” Kane said through clenched teeth.

“No, I guess they weren’t. Although…” and the shadowed face shifted to come into the light. Now on the screen was a beautiful human woman, ebony hair cascading down across her shoulders and bright green eyes set against dark brown skin. The combination gave her an exotic and enthralling look; as did the full red lips that smiled and showed bright white teeth. As she smiled, she moved back a bit so she was visible from the head to waist to Kane. She gestured to the missing left arm with her right and said “… they did get a souvenir.” Kane simply glared at the woman for a few long moments, waiting for her to speak. Finally, he said “So you are back from the dead and no longer need to buy gloves in sets. Kudos. Now what the hell do you want, Harrow?” The woman laughed, the sound like a carefree vacationer on Risa, but the look in her eyes spoke of hate. “Oh, Duster. Never were one to play the little games that make things like this so much fun, were you? I’m glad to see that all your new-found glory and such hasn’t changed you… made you soft.”

Kane gritted his teeth and growled “Come on out. I’ll show you just how soft I’ve gotten in the nine years since you died. Too bad it didn’t take.” and the woman laughed again. “Oh, honey… I would love to. But unfortunately my new job has my schedule all full.” and with that the lights around her came on and showed that she sat in an opulent room filled with fine furniture, paintings, and by the door behind her… two massive Orion males dressed in black suits. Each suit had a small gold sun emblem on the left breast… The Syndicate. Harrow laughed as Kane took it in. “See, Duster? This is what happens when you do what you are supposed to do. You get paid. But you? You had to buck the system. Even when that meant throwing your oldest and dearest friend to the wolves!” and she screamed the last word and slammed her fist on the table in front of her. All pretense was gone, and the rage was now more than apparent.

“You left me to die. You left me to die alone and trapped in the hole. In the dark. For days.” Kane didn’t flinch at her words, but simply shrugged and said “least I could do, Harrow. You sold out everyone in that building for yourself.” and Harrow screamed back “FOR US!!! Not me, D… us. And you knew that!” Kane stood up and pointed a finger at the terminal and yelled back “You are so full of it, Harrow. You know damn well you only look after yourself. You always did. And don’t think for one second that I didn’t know where I stood with you from day one. You’d have sold me out as soon as the purse was big enough. And I told you… those people deserved better. And I was gonna make sure they got it.”

Harrow yelled at Kane “What?! Over my dead body you sanctimonious p&^%k?” to which Kane responded flatly “No. That was just a bonus.” and Kane sat down and glared at the screen. “Harrow, you are evil. You are selfish and you are greedy. I don’t know what the Syndicate has you doing, but I’m sure you fit right in with those jackals.” and then Harrow grinned. “Oh, I do. And you are right… I am selfish and greedy. Which brings me to the point of my little call here. I am giving one chance to make right by me. For… ‘damages’… shall we say. And to do that, you are gonna use that fancy new job of yours to do a job for me. Do it, we are square. Don’t, and…” Harrow laughed. “Don’t and I will send some of the meanest and nastiest associates I have to pull every last bit of ink out of that tattooed hide of yours and leave you to rot on some abandoned rock.” and she looked directly at Kane. “So? Deal?”

Kane glared at her for a long moment. He knew she meant every word. Harrow didn’t bluff in situations like this. If he didn’t do what she asked, he would be in very real and very grave danger.

“Go spit.” he said and cut the comms.

Kane, Tac / Med

Sickness never slept, and most nights neither did T’Aria. She’d grown accustomed–never partial–to the desolate evenings spent in the company of odd cases by sleep-deprived officers and her studies. It was quieter then. She wasn’t one for clamor.

The sickbay had been lifeles for hours, its pulse weaker than a Caitian in severe bradycardia. It was late. Struck by the opportunity, T’Aria had relieved her position to a junior doctor. If he’d any hope of becoming a senior physician, he would have to learn to command a medical wing; there was no better way to learn than by experience.

“It is quite simple, Doctor. Maintain the sickbay until alpha shift and ensure the staff continue to work efficiently.” She gestured to Daniels and Jackson, who’d been assigned to Gamma as part of the remedial training. “They are my foremost concern. Doctor D’Angelo and Nurse Pilar are astute officers, I doubt they will require much of your effort.”

“I don’t know about that, Doc. I hear things get wild when you’re not around,” the young doctor razzed in a futile attempt at a joke.

“Perhaps I should enforce greater discipline in my staff if they are so unruly in my absence, Doctor Keirnan.” T’Aria retorted, watching the man’s face fall.

“No, doc, I didn’t mean–.”

“Good evening, Doctor. Do comm me if you require assistancd.” A PaDD stuffed in the nook of her arm, T’Aria left sickbay for her the solitude of her bedroom. En route, she passed Kane’s quarters, briefly pausing in thought. The nagging idea to bother him crossed her mind, tempting her. She didn’t seek company often, but Kane was among the few she enjoyed (if that was even possible). He may be asleep. She told herself, but the thought didn’t linger. She wasn’t intimidated by Kane’s grouchiness as most seemed to, but then most were not in her position..whatever that may be. Deciding against her brief concern, and her reticent disposition, T’Aria pressed her hand to the chime.

There was a 50/50 chance Kane would answer, but T’Aria didn’t mind either way. If he was up, great. If he wasn’t, she was certain of tasks that required her attention.

Dr. T’Aria

“Coming.” came a single word but not as characteristically stern response from the other side of the door. A few moments later the door slid open to reveal Kane, shirtless but fortunately wearing sweat pants, standing in the doorway. His hair was all over, as if he had just been asleep, but his eyes were quite awake.

Not many had seen this much of Kane’s skin. While it was obvious even in uniform that he was heavily tattooed, this was… impressive? There was barely a square inch of flesh that didn’t have some kind of color or line etched into it. And the pictures were a cacophony of images: birds, knives, words, dragons, odd symbols covered the man from waist to collar bone and all down his arms to his fingers. Obvious now, too, were the scars. Lines, circles, and burn marks were prominent over numerous parts of his body. Some seemed to have been tattooed over… some appeared to have occurred after the tattoo had been done. Either way, it was obvious that the man’s body held numerous stories… and most were probably not happy ones.

Kane put both hands on either side of the doorway and held himself up a bit and then looked at T’Aria and said “Hey. What’s up? Everything ok?” There was something in his voice that was odd, almost… resigned, if that term could ever be applied to the loud and often-obnoxious PA.

Kane, Tac / Med

To say she was taken aback by the images etched into his body would have been an understatement. T’Aria knew the P.A. was clad in tattoos, but she had not imagined them on such a scale as she saw them now. It was somewhat admirable, the dedication he had to the melancholy tales that made up his skin.

“All is well,” T’Aria assured, “none to worry.” She brushed a blonde hair from her face as it fell from her struggling bun. Taking the second to contemplate Solomon, a furrow came to her brow. “Are you all right?” She asked, noticing the near resignation behind his voice. Kane was the last person she would have expected to hear such a tone. He was audacious, almost vociferous at times; this passivity didn’t fit him. It concerned her. Perhaps he was tired, the hour was late and the state of his wild hair looked as though he’d just come from bed. She’d never been aficionado when it came to emotions, but something seemed off. Something more than her disruption of his beauty sleep. “You seem.. ‘off’ and not in your usual manner.”

Dr. T’Aria


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