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You head towards the Medical Bay.

Medical Bay

Even the circulation of air can't quite keep the antiseptic smell from this room. Immaculately clean, the tiles of the floor are the same pristine white as the walls. Gadgets and gizmos abound. The highest medical technology available for all the races that might conceivably come to the station are present. A pair of beds near the door provide places for emergent cases, their bioscan devices ready for monitoring. Door lead to rooms for surgery, short-term care, and long-term care. (OOC note: To set your room doing, try 'I'm <doing>'.)

Contents:

Niko, standing by the door.

Obvious Exits:

Chief's Office Elevator Lounge

You arrive from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

"Golly gee, -no-! We can't wait on that incubator. We gotta have it now!" Kramer's countertenor rings through Medbay into a communit. "Oh. Okay, Sparky. Well, get it to us when you can." He clicks off the comm unit and peers up through spectacles at Niko. "Mornin', officer. What's the problem?"

Niko pokes his head into medbay, followed eventually by the rest of him. Apparently not spotting whoever he's seeking, he offers Kramer a faint smile. "No problem. I'm just looking for Cl--Chief Aleron. Do you know if she's busy?'

Kramer jerks his hand over his shoulder at the hallway and nods. "She's in her office. Hold on." He rises and heads down the hall to tap on the door, then pokes his head in to murmur, answered by a vague soprano. Returning, he nods. "Go on in, sir," he offers, then lowers his voice conspiratorily. "But be careful...she's -grouchy- today."

Niko's smile turns dryly whimsical. "Well, the two of us can be grouchy at each other, then. Thanks... and -please-, you can drop the sir's. Thanks."

You walk towards the Chief Aleron's Office.

Chief Aleron's Office

Bright and airy, this fair sized office is far from pretentious, but instead useful. A large wooden desk faces the doorway, a pair of pointillism paintings in soft pastels flanking either side of the wall behind it. A second desk adjoins to the first, branching back from one side, upon which a terminal and keyboard rest. A pair of fairly comfortable chairs face the desk for visitors, wooden with soothing sand colored upholstery. On one side of the door is a simple brass coatrack, and on the other a bit farther down the wall is a full sized synthetic human skeleton. Along the right hand wall, a low couch covered in brown velour looks frighteningly comfortable, graphic print depictions of Stilvani and Edreeni internal anatomy framed neatly above it. Across the room is a single bioscan bed, much like the ones outside, just as the easily cleaned white tile flooring is unchanged.

Contents:

Clara

Obvious exits:

Medical Bay

You walk here from the Medical Bay.

You hear a soft purring noise from... somewhere. Maybe there's a Zaeltan stuck in a wall. But if there is, Riley didn't put it there.

The desk is empty, the chairs are empty. For that matter, the room's fairly quiet. Clara is, however, over on the couch and nursing a cup of coffee, at least in a fresh uniform, but certainly not all that awake. She manages a smile, though along with a faint wave of her mug. "Hey, there. Want some coffee?"

Niko, looking a little tired and grouchy and all, spits out something that's very likely some vile curse in his native language. "I swear, I'm going to take a sledgehammer to the walls," he adds. Then, looking a bit chagrined by your civility, he offers a smile. "Sorry. Coffee... yeah. That's likely a very good idea, thanks. I can get it."

Clara stops trying to get up and waves at the coffee pot and mugs on the shelves behind her desk. "Have at it," she offers, smothering a yawn. "I'm this close to conniving the Chief into letting me break out the tagging kit to start shooting the critters."

Niko pours himself a mug of coffee, rummaging to add a disturbing amount of sugar. "They're very lucky that I haven't used this on 'em," he says, gesturing towards his nerve tangler with a crooked little smile. "I came close to it last night, though." He ambles over to stand near the couch, adding, "You look like you didn't sleep enough last night. And before you say the same to me, yes, I'm a hypocrite."

Clara tilts her head back against the wall, chuckling. "You wouldn't be the first," she murmurs. "Have a seat? You're gonna make me nervous if you stand up the whole time." A long sip of the coffee precedes a slow nod. "I never do sleep much after surgery. Reflex after the 8023rd I guess. What's your excuse?"

Niko claims part of the couch, agreeably enough. "Denner-hunting," he says succinctly. "And general paranoia and irritation. They really were -evil- to the Chief, sticking him with that..." No, that's not Standard.

Clara shifts to lean sideways against the couch, balancing an elbow on the back and her head leaned in than hand. "I know. Some of those lacerations he had were just flat out nasty. Please tell me that wasn't Standard?"

Niko shakes his head. "Hellenic. It, uh, doesn't translate well." Really. "Lacerations? I thought she didn't bite him. Though hitting him is hardly much better."

Clara blinks in noncomprehension, then snorts as her face clears. "Brunhilde. Sorry, I thought you meant the Denners. Yeah, I hear she's got her garters in a twist. He'd probably bite back, though."

Niko passes a hand across his face. "She really is -obnoxious-. I miss Anya." A faint grin crosses his face. "But the Chief told me yesterday that I wasn't on duty again until he -told- me I was. He hasn't told me that. So I'm only going there--" He gestures towards Security, "--when I can stand her." He mutters something else that likely doesn't translate. No, he doesn't like Mina at all.

Clara shifts to settle back and wrap both hands about her mug, smirking across the room at the bioscan area. "Is she really that bad? Maybe I ought to venture into security later on today and see what havoc I can raise."

Niko tips his hand back and forth. "She's just smug, and she's very obviously enjoying the fact that she's making the Chief's life miserable, as well as making it that much more difficult for him to do his job. And she's a tease," he adds, gesturing with his coffee mug before downing a few gulps.

Clara groans slightly, pulling her legs up underneath her to nearly curl up in the corner, evidently still making that valiant struggle to alertness. "I was afraid of that. Riley seemed pretty put out about the prospect." She glances up with surprised amusement. "A tease? Why, Niko, I didn't know you liked the valkyrie type. Maybe Kyara -did- have the right idea..."

Niko blinks several times, clearly a little stunned. "-Her-?" He shakes his head, with a quiet snort. "Hardly. I don't even think so. No, see, she said that Anya left a message about me, but she wouldn't say what it was. Annoying. I'm almost tempted to call Anya and ask about it."

Clara chuckles at the reaction, managing another drink of coffee from her position. "Why don't you, then? Do you think she'd mind? Who'd Anya leave the message for?"

Niko's lips quirk. "Well, I'm not sure that I want to know what the message says. Though I guess it could be--hm." His expression goes a bit amused, and he shakes his head. "If that's it, I don't think I want to know."

Niko adds, "And it was for Commander Jett."

"Commander? I thought it was Lieutenant?" Now how would Clara know that? "Still, it couldn't -hurt- to call Anya and just ask her, unless you don't want to know, like you said. Any suspicions?"

Niko's brows lift. "I could be wrong about that. What, did you meet her?" He just nods at the question. "If it's what I think it is, it's an issue that I don't want to press with, uh, the valkyrie."

Clara wrinkles her nose at the question, shaking her head. "Haven't had the honor yet, no. Riley stopped by for a visit last night." She sighs and lifts a hand to push back her bangs before stretching an arm up and yawning. "Your choice," she agrees. "At least you get a mini-vacation out of the ordeal."

Niko blinks several times. "She let him out?" he inquires, surprised. "Or did he manage to sneak out? I got some chocolate to him--on the second try--but he's a lot harder to sneak past than a few candy bars."

"Naah, he made it through the tunnels," Clara clarifies. Oooh, alliteration. "He didn't stay long since I was in the middle of a counseling session, but it was a nice break for both the patient and me. Think I ought to break out a medkit and stuff it with chocolate? You could smuggle that in."

Niko considers that, brows lowered over his dark eyes. "There'd have to be a reason for bringing in the medkit. Jett's a suspicious woman. Though," he adds, with a sudden grin, "She's right to be suspicious of me. She just hasn't caught me at it. Much."

Clara watches the eyebrows for a moment, then shakes her head slightly and drains the last of her mug's contents. "I can see why they brought her in, then." She hesitates, then says slowly, "I suppose I could take the medkit in. It'd be less suspicious. Or I can distract her?"

Niko shakes his head at that. "No. I can handle something as simple as chocolate-smuggling. Don't want you to get in trouble, if she catches on to the scheme. There are ways." Gesturing towards the mug, he inquires, "Can I get you some more? Pardon my saying so, but you look like you're going to need it, unless you -do- go get some sleep."

Clara holds out the mug with a faint, and extremely grateful, smile. "Could you please? If you're getting some for yourself, that is. Otherwise, I can haul myself over there." She shakes her head, rolling her shoulders to stretch them. "Not a chance. One of the Edreeni delegates is due to give birth, and I'm laying odds it's today."

Niko's mug is half-full--or, likely, half-empty, today. He takes your mug anyway, lifting his own high enough that the level of coffee inside can't be easily seen. "More coffee, then," he says, with a quick grin and a half-bow. He moves to top off his own coffee, then pours into your mug. "Cream, sugar, anything like that?" He glances at your shoulders for a moment, and looks about to suggest something, then shakes his head.

"Black, please," Clara answers over, half smiling. "It takes less time. You, sir, are a gentlman. I appreciate it. I imagine it's going to be two-pot day, and this'll only be my second cup," she explains, rubbing absently at her neck. "I can say one thing for this couch...it's more comfortable than a cot, at least."

Out of the corner of your eye, you see something moving. You get the impression that it's very, very cute.

Niko very nearly spills the coffee as he instinctively makes a move for the Denner. Keeping his expression light with apparent effort, he offers your mug. "Glad to do it. And it's impossible to be a male in my family without being a gentleman. Too many women ready to inflict all kinds of evil to those who are not courteous." Taking his seat once more, he adds, "And that couch may be more comfortable than a cot, but it looks like you've still got a few knots here and there."

Clara takes the mug gratefully and instantly takes a long drink, heedless of the heat. "Mmm, thanks. Much better." She glances up with a chuckle, brows quirking. "I imagine if I'd had any brothers, they'd have had the same affliction." She shrugs vaguely, unconcerned. "That's more five hours repairing an overeager colon."

Niko's brows lift. "See, that's why it's a good thing I'm not a doctor," he says, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. "I'd lose patience. Colon, heal thyself, that sort of thing." He pauses a moment, then says, his manner more than a little tentative, "I've been told that I'm reasonably skilled at dealing with sore muscles." He wiggles a few fingers, as if as an example of his methods.

Clara laughs merrily before smothering another yawn, and shakes her head. "No, no. It's 'Colonel, heal thyself.' But the time goes fast, since we're concentrating like mad the whole time." At the offer, her eyes widen significantly in surprise. "Have you now? Are you offering?" she asks forthrightly.

Niko offers a quick smile, after a moment of hesitation. "I guess I am, yeah. For purely therapeutic reasons, of course," he adds quickly, though his grin, hastily stifled, gives him away.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Where's the clue brick when it's needed? Clara straightens and nods at the addendum. "Therapeutic, naturally," she agrees mildly, rising to unbutton and tug off her lab coat and drape it over the arm of the couch before sitting back down. "It wrinkles," she explains. "What do you want me to do?"

Niko takes a deep breath. She's undressing, and she asks -that-? "Clara," he says slowly, "Do the words 'loaded question' mean anything to you?" He gives himself a small shake, then, taking a final drink of coffee and then setting the mug aside. "Uh... find a seat somewhere that you're comfortable, preferably where I can get to your shoulders and such."

Clara stares for a long moment, fairly blankly. "Loaded question?" she repeats, obviously the import not hitting her. Yet. After a moment, she swallows and flushes a fair shade of dark red, dropping her eyes to one side. Three years on the front, and she's still embarrassed. "Oh, dear. Uh, sorry about that." She abruptly shifts on the couch to face away. "Does this work?"

Niko ducks his head as he gets to his feet. "No... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you." And now he sounds a bit abashed. "Uh, if you could do a one-eighty, that'd be better." He walks around the couch, apparently with the intent of sitting on that arm.

Clara shakes her head, a slightly nervous laugh sounding as she waves it off and obligingly turns. "Forget it. I was just startled, is all. The fellas at the 8023rd made lots worse cracks than that...really, I can take a joke," she natters on, then cuts off, realizing that she's doing so.

A small, adorably cute creature zips into your general vicinity. It makes a squealing noise, then continues on its way, quickly enough that one would have to have been looking right at it to see it.

Niko doesn't even see the Denner. He says, quietly enough that it could conceivably not be heard, "It wasn't a joke." He perches lightly on the arm of the couch, then, after a long moment, lightly rests his hands on your shoulders. "Uh. So, is there any place that's bothering you more than others?" He starts to massage gently while he waits for the answer, the deftness of his hands speaking of practice, and a strength that he's restraining.

Clara starts to answer, then catches her breath. "There?" she manages in a small voice, not giving any indication of whether she'd heard the initial comment or not. "Just inside the scapula and ranging up along the fourth and fifth vertabrae up to the skull," she explains before a soft sigh of relief.

Niko says lightly, "Standard would be good. Biology was the class I generally skipped. Vertabrae... yes, but scapula? And let me know if I'm doing too much. Pressure points can be kind of sensitive." He does, however, not stop, hands light on the spot that elicited the breath-catching.

Clara manages a soft laugh, dropping her head forward slightly and resting her hands on her knees. "Sorry. My shoulderblades. I forget that normal folk didn't read medical encyclopedias for fun in school. Actually, I can stand more pressure, maybe?"

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Niko calls, over his shoulder, "Go find security. Harass the dragon lady, I'm busy. Shoulderblades," he adds, increasing the pressure of his hands and working in his thumbs a la shiatsu. "Okay. That's much better, knowing what you mean. Seems like the muscles are pretty tense; I'm not surprised you're hurting."

Clara exhales a hiss of breath that softens into a relieved sigh. "Mmm. Fact of life," she murmurs somewhat distractedly. "You really are good at this. A course of study in school?"

Niko shakes his head. "Just lots of practice, and a bit of constructive research. A knack, I suppose. Might not be a bad thing to study, though. Security officer and masseur, sounds like a good combination." His voice holds a touch of humor.

Clara starts to lean back almost absently, then catches herself and maintains the appropriate posture, chuckling until another knot is lit upon. "Ooooh, lactic acid," she murmurs. "Yeah, you could arrest folks, then relieve their tension."

Niko murmurs softly, in an apparent automatic reaction, "C-3 H-6 O-3." He pauses, then chuckles quietly, shaking his head. "Sure, yeah. I'm sure the Chief'd approve of that. Did I get you, there? Sorry." He does not, however, stop, fingers intent on smoothing the knot in question.

"Someone evidently -did- show up for chemistry," Clara notes in an amused voice before making a quiet sound of enjoyment. "No, you're fine. Saints, no one's done this for me in six years. I'd forgotten how good it feels. Maybe you oughta go back to school? I could use a physical therapist on staff."

Niko shakes his head emphatically. "No more school. Sorry. Not for a few years, at least. And I had to go to chemistry," he adds, equally amused. "That's what I studied. I enjoyed it. Much better than biology." His tone is one who has had the biology versus chemistry discussion many times. "More intuitive, at least to me."

Clara smirks faintly, shifting momentarily to draw her legs up tailor fashion on the couch. "I won't argue with you," she offers with quiet amusement. "My undergrad was in xenobiology. I had all the chemistry, but it wasn't my favorite by a long shot...but the galaxy needs all types."

Niko nods his agreement, the gesture apparent in his voice. "Of course." His hands creep steadily along your spine, fingers teasing knots to smoothness. "Biology is important, or as much so as anything else is. I just didn't have all that much appreciation for it. And I -don't- understand how Linnaeus rated having the 'heart of the alliance' named after him."

Clara replies with another long sigh of relief before speaking, a smile evident in her voice. "Maybe it had something to do with him fairly well inventing classification? There is a -lot- of classification done here," she adds, amused even as she relaxes another measure.

Niko shakes his head. "But -Latin-? Nobody speaks Latin any more." His manner is good-humored; apparently, he's entertained by the debate, even as he concentrates on a particularly stubborn muscle. "The Linnaen system of classification was a good start, sure, but shouldn't it be updated to something more practical? And I'm not just saying this because the exam on nomenclature knocked me down a letter grade in biology."

Clara is quiet for a moment, simply reacting to long knotted muscled arguing with being worked into quiesence. "It helps if you can pronounce and remember them all," she agrees finally, thoroughly amused. "Perhaps that's why Latin is practical, though. It's a dead language, thus reserved for specific terms. It doesn't really belong to anyone."

Niko shakes his head, with a low chuckle. "Ah, see, that's not fair. You're not allowed to use -logic-. I can't counter logic." He sits upright, pausing to shake his hands from the wrists, fingers flexing fractionally. (Talk about alliteration.) Then, bending to take up the massage once more, he adds, "I'm never sure if I dislike the method because I'm not good at it, or if it's the other way around. Probably a little bit of both."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

"Probably," Clara agrees amiably, then pulls forward slightly and half turns to grin up. "Hey, you can stop, you know? I didn't mean to take you up on your offer until your hands fell off. "Besides, men aren't supposed to be logical. That'd just confuse women entirely," she teases.

Niko says wisely, pulling back his hands as you turn so that his arms are resting on his knees, "That's why we save it for very special occasions." He grins at that, then asks, "Did that help? If there are any spots that are being particularly obnoxious, I think I've still got a bit more in me."

Clara lifts a hand to squeeze one of yours affably, grin broadening. "You didn't have to do it in the first place," she replies as she unfolds her legs and rises to reach for her coat. "But I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, actually. Offers still open for you to come work for me as a therapist, you know. Riley'd only kill me a little for stealing you away."

Niko shakes his head fractionally, though with a bit of regret. "Things are a little chaotic for that, sorry. And I don't have the training. Though I'm always willing to lend you a hand." Somehow, his manner implies (though, of course, the clue brick could be required) that he's more interested in providing personal attention, specifically to you.

Clara pauses in pulling the coat back on, then smiles faintly. "I think that falls under the 'loaded question' category, even if it wasn't a question," she decides. The clue brick fairy must be on call today. She resumes buttoning and adds, "Thank you, though. Let me know if I can return the favor sometime."

Niko inclines his head. "My pleasure," he says, realizing the implication of his words a beat after he says them. He pauses a moment, then shrugs; it was, after all, his pleasure. "And I'll be sure to let you know." He pauses yet again, then says, "About that trip to the Fruvous. I still would like to do that, if you're still interested, very much. But I think that maybe it should wait until the situation with the Denners is under control and all the repercussions are known." He frowns just a bit, perhaps that none of the repercussions have come his way.

Clara reclaims her seat, but this time shifted to face you, peering up at you, then nodding thoughtfully. "It's a good idea," she agrees a bit wistfully, then clears throat slightly and climbs to her feet again, tugging her jacket straight, heading over to perch on the corner of her desk and fold her arms. "Do you think there will be repercussions?" she asks gently, her own lovely little gray envelope nicely hidden in the desk.

Niko gestures towards Security. "There already have been, with the Chief. Honestly, I'm surprised that it's taking so long for them to get to me. I've usually not had such a wait. Maybe it's part of the torture." His tone is light, but he's still clearly a little rattled by his own lack of little gray envelopes.

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

Clara's eyes slide off to one side as she gives a single nod. "I know it's hit Addison already," she agrees, a hint of dismay in her voice before her gaze snaps back in suprise. "Usually? Niko, you're the model soldier! Surely this can't be something you're used to."

Niko clambers to his feet, gaze sweeping the floor as he stalks the Denner. "I'm good at seeming to be the model soldier. And I have been, for a while... haven't always... aha!" He bends down to extract a Denner from beneath a chair, sighing as the critter makes cute, happy noises. "Yes, yes. You're cute."

Clara rises at the capture and crosses over to you, smiling ruefully and reaching up to scratch the thing behind the ears. "They are adorable, aren't they? It's a shame they've got such an annoying reproduction cycle." She glances up with a raised brow. "You do a very good job of seeming to be, then."

Niko nods his agreement, with a rather wry grimace. "Practice. I should probably get this little thing to the brig, before its cuteness starts to grow on me." With a chuckle, he adds, "Took a nap earlier, and woke up with three of them on the bed. It was decidedly odd."

Clara takes a few steps back at the reminder of duty, turning as she goes to circle around behind her desk. Is that penguin hiding behind the monitor? Surely not. It's being held hostage, not hiding. "I can imagine so," she agrees with a bright grin. "Naps are a wonderous thing, even if you did wake up with company. Give Brunhilde my best, eh?"

Niko says mildly, "Company's not so bad. It's just company with -fur-, that's bad." He grins, then, adding, "If I say anything to her, I'll surely give her your best. Better than giving her -my- best. I'm out of practice; it's a little obvious when I'm being insincere. Have a nice day, Clara. Don't work too hard."

You walk towards the Medical Bay.

Medical Bay

Even the circulation of air can't quite keep the antiseptic smell from this room. Immaculately clean, the tiles of the floor are the same pristine white as the walls. Gadgets and gizmos abound. The highest medical technology available for all the races that might conceivably come to the station are present. A pair of beds near the door provide places for emergent cases, their bioscan devices ready for monitoring. Door lead to rooms for surgery, short-term care, and long-term care. (OOC note: To set your room doing, try 'I'm <doing>'.)

Contents:

Niko, standing by the door.

Obvious Exits:

Chief's Office Elevator Lounge

You walk here from the Chief Aleron's Office.

Niko whistling cheerfully, lifts a hand in greeting to Kramer as he passes, a Denner tucked under one arm.

You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Second Floor Elevator Lounge

Despite being one of the major hubs of activity in the Complex, few people linger here. While there are usually people present, usually they are on their way to someplace else. The lobby is nice enough, with broad tapestries hung on richly paneled walls, and floors of veined black marble; but it is simply too busy for most people to stop and chat in. The occasional tasteful potted plant lurks in the corners, and large mirrors are hung near the elevators for passing lobbyists to check their appearances before descending to the main level. Corridors lead to the northeast and southwest.

Obvious exits:

Elevator General Housing Library Security Maintenance Medical

You arrive from the Medical Bay.

You head towards the Security Central.

Security Central

Unlike most of the rest of the complex, the security offices are designed for ease of use rather than aesthetics. Wood paneled walls and marble floors are not to be found here. Brushed steel and plate flooring take their place. The acoustics in this room are designed to muffle sound, so despite the metal flooring and the constant coming and going of security personnel, the area does not quite achieve a cacophonous state. A large bank of monitors takes up the bulk of the east wall. On each is displayed video from various security cameras as well as information garnered from customs and immigration. It is from here that security can keep an eye on most everything that happens in the Complex. There are always at least two uniformed guards on duty with nothing to do except watch the monitors. A broad desk is located near the entrance, with an officer present to handle queries.

Three arched doors lead from this area. One to the brig, one to private offices, and the third to the elevator lobby.

Contents:

Tally Board

Obvious exits:

Chief's Office Brig Elevator Lounge

You arrive from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Niko ducks into the brig to deal with the furry bundle of cuteness, not even glancing towards the desk, and so not noting the presence or absence of any particular people.

The desk is still empty. Nobody's there. But Riley's door has been taken off its hinges and the desk shoved aside.

Niko does a doubletake as he sees the absence of any valkyrie-esque chickies at the desk, and the absence of, well, a frameful door. "Hoboy," he murmurs. "Well, looks like whatsisname called back." He lifts a hand to the folks manning the monitors. "Back in a bit."

You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Second Floor Elevator Lounge

Despite being one of the major hubs of activity in the Complex, few people linger here. While there are usually people present, usually they are on their way to someplace else. The lobby is nice enough, with broad tapestries hung on richly paneled walls, and floors of veined black marble; but it is simply too busy for most people to stop and chat in. The occasional tasteful potted plant lurks in the corners, and large mirrors are hung near the elevators for passing lobbyists to check their appearances before descending to the main level. Corridors lead to the northeast and southwest.

Obvious exits:

Elevator General Housing Library Security Maintenance Medical

You arrive from the Security Central.

You use your security clearance to access a small hatch. Behind it is a stairtube to the ground floor that you descend.

Central Atrium

Filled with greenery and assorted plants from a hundred different Alliance worlds, this massive atrium is a chaotic and interesting place. The room itself is round, with evenly-spaced archways leading to the other areas. Each archway is color-coded, with a label telling where it leads in standard and the languages of each of the major races. For those who pause to look upwards, the escheresque upper levels of the complex may be seen, as the atrium reaches through the entire complex, with a plasglass skylight at the top through which Linnae's sunlight may filter. Paths wend their way through the carefully tended gardens, and small placards label the groups of vegetation and their homeworld. Some are labeled with the universal symbol for danger, be careful, they bite. Groups of benches are located here and there for the comfort of passing delegates and those attempting to lobby them.

The elevator is at floor number 1 (the doors are closed) and appears to contain no people.

Contents:

Kiwani

Kyara

Riley

Obvious exits:

Elevator Arch Out Rec Hall Dining Meeting Hall Spaceport

Kiwani's eyes widen in horror. Throwing Denners is amusing, taunting diplomats is comical, but destroying chocolate? That is a *crime*! Unspeakable! "How could they --" Pause. She hurls herself at a nearby shadow that *could* house a Denner, but comes up empty-handed. "How could anyone throw *chocolate* out?" She resumes as if nothing had happened.

Well that's a familiar sound. As Riley hears the hatch pushed aside he glances over Nikowards. "Heya Nick." He chuckles softly at Kiwani, "Only by being a truly evil person."

Niko pauses at Kiwani's self-hurling, perhaps a bit nonplussed, then, at Riley's greeting, casts a decidedly pleased grin at the older man. "Hey, Chief. You got rid of the dress togs, good."

"That's even more evil than I am!" Kiwani protests. "No fair!" A sulk is aimed toward Niko, "No, I don't normally throw myself around at random. I was trying to get that maddeningly cute little squealy-monster called a Denner."

Kyara gives Niko a nod and a smile, Riley gets a contemplative look, and Kiwani a surprised look that might be agreement.

Riley mmhmms amiably to Niko, retaining his decidedly relaxed claimage of the podium. "I got rid of the harpy too. Not a bad morning's work."

Niko looks even more pleased at this news, after another mildly disturbed glance Kiwani-wards. "Sounds excellent, Chief. Anya's coming back, then?" He heads over to the general area around the podium, remarkably chipper.

Kyara peers at Kiwani. "More evil than you?" She sounds doubtful as she gives Niko a nod. "Thankfully."

"Ayup," Riley sounds markedly pleased with himself, "She's taking the train back as we speak. Things'll be sane again."

Kiwani crosses her arms, irate at getting a Disturbed Look. But at least she has something to reply to as Kyara queries her. "Yes. I know that though I may torment people, I have a reason. Why? Because it's fun." But that's pretty evil too, isn't it? "But throwing out chocolate is senseless and vicious. Chocolate is precious." All hail the mighty Chocolate. "Sane?" Kiwi suddenly asks, picking up on that word with a frown.

Niko, rocking back on his heels, nods his agreement. "Sanity's good. Though your -door- looks like it could use a little help, in the sanity department. Should I ask, or is that something better not known?"

Kyara laughs softly. "Yes, sane. Well, until the next crisis, at least. Shouldn't take more than ten minutes or so."

Riley chuckles ruefully, his eyes lighting with mischief. "Mina got annoyed I'd barracaded myself in and broke it down. I think she was non-plussed to realize I was long gone at that point." He grins, "Well who'd want it to be sane long, sanity's overrated. And chocolate is precious, and far better than evil healthfood substances."

Wonder of wonders, Kiwani actually *agrees* with someone on this point, "Evil healthfood substances are actually creations of evil people. Despite that last statement, no, I make no evil healthfood substances. The people who make evil healthfood substances, you know, are the same sort of people who would throw chocolate away. And everybody knows I'd never do that!"

Niko shakes his head very slowly back and forth. "Poor Mina," he says, with vast insincerity. "She must've been crushed."

Kyara glances toward Niko, wryly muttering, "No such luck."

Niko snaps his fingers, with a grin towards Kyara. "Ah, well."

Riley chuckles quietly, pulling his eyes back to the conversation and away from passing diplomats. "She was a mite peeved, but when I showed back up with a Fleet Admiral, she was markedly polite."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko ahs quietly. "You were able to contact him, then? Good. Very good."

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

Riley mmhmms amiably, "Called him up, reconvened a new hearing, did a lot of wheeling, dealing, and groveling and here we are."

Kiwani waits impatiently for the elevator.

Kiwani pushes the button.

From the elevator, With a ping, the doors slide open, smoothly.

Kiwani walks into the elevator.

Kiwani has left.

From the elevator, Kiwani has arrived.

From the elevator, Kiwani pushes the button marked 4.

From the elevator, The elevator direction light changes to UP with a ping.

From the elevator, The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

Kyara snickers. "She must have been so disappointed when she was pulled off this assignment." She glances toward Riley apprehensively. "Did your Admiral assign a different punishment then?"

The elevator moves upward.

The elevator moves upward.

Niko's gaze slides away from his attempt to locate the source of the piercing voice, to Riley. Clearly, Kya asked what he didn't want to ask, but he still wants to know the answer.

The elevator moves upward.

Riley mmhmms pleasantly, "A number of them. My personal favorite is having been denied right of transfer for a year. Hello? I've been here -seven- years, if I haven't wanted to transfer -before-..."

Kyara's mouth quirks, but she hesitantly stammers, "He... they're not going to flog you, are they?"

Niko's brows lift. "That doesn't seem to make much sense," he agrees. At Kyara's question, he clams up once more, as she yet again ventures into areas he fears to tread.

Riley's eyes cut across to Kyara, regarding her rather decidedly askance. "No, they're not going to flog me."

Kyara sighs in relief. "Clara said they might." Clara. Not 'the Doctor'. The Stilvani looks away for a moment. "Have you spoken to her yet this morning, Riley?"

Niko says, with quiet fervor, "Good." He eyes Kyara with a hint of confusion, but doesn't ask. He's good at not asking.

Riley looks decidedly confused, but retains his painfully relaxed posture leaning on the podium. When in doubt, try and look professionaly shmoozy. "Uh, no. I haven't had time. I just a few minutes ago escaped my hearing."

Kyara nods, muttering something that might be the word 'Good'. Clearing her throat, she notes, "You're a fast dresser then."

Niko rubs lightly at one hand. "She's in her office," he offers. "Probably drinking far too much coffee, but what can you do?"

Riley mmhmms amiably with a bare hint of a chin gesture back towards a hall of meeting rooms and official offices. "I cleaned up before coming back out here. My dress uniform was unsalvagable."

Niko grins suddenly, with a murmur about bolts.

Kyara tilts her head, taking a step back to look up at Riley without straining her neck. "The one you wore last night? I couldn't tell if that was your dress uniform under all the slime." She grins over at Niko. "Coffee is essential."

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

"That'd be the one," He glances aside at the Denner call, sighing quietly. "We need anti-Dnner gas or something... Flood the building."

Niko grimaces at the Denner, and more so at Riley's words. He mutters to himself, "... -still- haven't heard..." With a shake of his head, he adds, "Maybe Denner can come up with something. He was talking about it."

Kyara /smiles/ at that thought. "Gas. What a lovely image. You could just let a few cats loose in here."

Riley hmphs softly. Slowly he shifts from one relaxed position to another, the very picture of calm, and not clam no matter how much I want to type that. "Cats'd have to go through quarantine." He chuckles, "Trying to explain to Ranshek why he couldn't take one home..."

Niko's amusement is decidedly touched with nervousness. He shifts closer to Riley, lowering his voice. He mutters to Riley, "... -he-... Denner fiasco?... yeah,... -all-... and... all the... you."

Riley senses "Niko's amusement is decidedly touched with nervousness. He shifts closer to Riley, lowering his voice. "Chief, does -he- know about my involvement in the Denner fiasco? Yeah, yeah, it's not -all- my fault, but I'm at least -partly- responsible, and it seems like all the blame's landing on you.""

Riley regards Niko, a brief flash of confusion in his eyes. He mutters to Niko, "... didn't... in... helped... every disaster... No,... of... of my... thing in, he suggested I... whoever it... suffer..." He hmms at Kyara, "Pardon?"

You sense Riley regards Niko, a brief flash of confusion in his eyes. "I didn't get in trouble because of the Denners, Nick. Peesh helped me if I got in trouble for every disaster here. No, I got in trouble because of how I handled things -after- it happened. Ranshek knows one of my people brought the thing in, he suggested I make whoever it was suffer terribly." He hmms at Kyara, "Pardon?"

Niko shakes his head, though he doesn't look all that reassured by Riley's response--matter of fact, a few words elicit a downright wince. "That wasn't your fault," he mutters.

Kyara gestures slightly. "You've moved once since I walked in, and that motion was not executed with your usual speed. Something wrong?" She sets the curiosity aside witha slight look of annoyance.

Riley hmphs quietly at Niko, "Well, -some- of it was. I didn't -have- to suggest to Lord Fullerton that he stuff a Denner in his mouth so I didn't have to listen to his whiny voice." To Kyara he answers, "Nope, not a thing. Just shmoozing about and watching delagates."

Niko stifles a laugh at that, relaxing fractionally while still managing to be a bit tense. "Well, no," he mutters. "Bet it felt good, though. Lord Fullerton can be... shrill."

Riley snickers ruefully, looking faintly abashed. "He called my -quarters-. I was mostly asleep, he got what he deserved. Anybody using my private number should not be allowed to complain about my reponse."

Kyara's eyes widen. "You told Lord Fullerton /what/? Oh my, Riley... now I begin to understand."

A small, adorably cute creature zips into your general vicinity. It makes a squealing noise, then continues on its way, quickly enough that one would have to have been looking right at it to see it.

Niko grimaces at the appearance of the adorably cute creature, even as he nods his agreement to Riley's words. "Doesn't seem necessary to call you there, since there's always someone in security, which is where he's -supposed- to call..."

Riley mmhmms pleasantly, casting his eyes aside briefly to observe another cluster of delegates leaving the grand hall. "Sometimes folks though rummage it up when they don't like the response from Central. Normally I manage to at least be moderately polite, but I didn't engage the tongue censor before answer the comm. Not one of my brighter moments."

Kyara hmmms. "That would be the night you, ah, went to sleep sort of against your will?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Riley mmhmms pleasantly, still as amiable and shmoozy as ever. "That'd've been the occasion. Clara's efforts are appreciated, but her timing stinks."

Niko, despite the situation, can't help but smile at the mention of Clara. He doesn't voice whatever he's thinking, though, instead murmuring somthing vague.

Riley's brows lift questioningly, "Hmm? Didn't catch that, Nick."

Niko shakes his head. "Nothing important, Chief. Just a comment on Clara's timing is all."

Riley ahhs quietly, all but smirking despite his relaxed position. "Ahh, okay. So, when're you two frisking off?"

Niko shakes his head, with a vague gesture. "We haven't decided yet. I wanted to wait til the situation with the Denners got cleared up and all."

Riley ahhs quietly, glancing aside again. "Well, at least we seem to have it in hand at least. I'd give it another couple days and we should be clear."

Niko inclines his head. "I think we can manage to wait that long," he murmurs, with a quick grin.

Riley's grin flashes again, dryly amused. "We can get things neatened up just in time for the election nonsense to hit full swing. If it's not one thing it's another."

Niko says candidly, "I'll just be glad for it not to be Denners."

Riley mmhmms pleasantly, "Same here, but then like as not we'll see them again in three or four years, put in your transfer requests now."

Niko's brows lift slightly, and then he shrugs. "As long as I'm not the one to bring them in, Chief, that'll be fine. They're cute and all... mostly harmless, except to you..."

Kyara comes out of her reverie. "Frisking off?" Her brain catches up slowly. "They could elect a Denner and get the same amount of work done, I swear."

Riley waggles the fingers of one hand slightly, regarding the patched spots. "Just -annoying- is all." He hmphs softly, "Some of the lot do get things done, honest."

Niko just grins at Kyara, somehow managing to look smug and innocent at the same time. It's a gift. Echoing Riley's words, he says, "-Some- of them."

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Kyara smiles slightly. "I'll believe it when I see it."

"Just because they're nightmares, doesn't mean they don't do good work." Riley explains affably, still as relaxed as ever. "Lexington has done more to fund educational programs throughout the Alliance than anyone in history."

Kyara's expression goes quiet neutral. "He is excellent in what he does," she allows.

Rhys arrives from the Spaceport.

Rhys has arrived.

Rhys walks in from the spaceport, whistling, a flight suit replacing the fatigues under his omnipresent jacket (honest!)

Riley retains his exceedingly relaxed position, leaning on the security podium. "Hello Lieutenant, how goes it?" He grins at Kyara, "Snakes catch rats after all."

Kyara lets slip, "Perhaps it's the diplomats who should be tracking down the Denners then." Her expression brightens somewhat at spotting Rhys. "Good afternoon, Lieutenant."

Rhys smiles. "Afternoon, all. Denners? I think you need the saints, for those creatures"

Niko murmurs a greeting to Rhys, flashing a sudden grin to Kyara. "Oh, there's a beautiful thought. Unlikely, though. Besides, hunting them is interesting."

Shifting slowly, Riley straightens up. With a professionally polite nod he says, "A lovely idea. I better go upstairs and check on Anya, see if she's made it in yet and what revenge she'll want to inflict. If y'all will excuse me?"

Rhys nods to Riley. "Of course, Chief." He weaves through the greenery until reaching Niko and Kyara. "No more flying Denners, I hope?"

Kyara nods to Riley with a smile. "Take care, Riley." She blinks at Rhys. "/Flying/?!?"

Niko inquires, "Need me to do anything, Chief? For that matter, am I officially back on duty?"

Riley tucks his hands into his pockets with a slow deliberate gesture. "Actually, I could use a hand if you don't mind Nick. I'm going to need some messages sent out, the normal morning stuff. And that's a yes, you're back on duty."

Niko inclines his head in an affable nod. "Don't mind in the slightest, Chief," he says, moving to fall in step behind Riley. "It'll be good to see Anya, too." And then he'll get to see the infliction of the revenge, but that's a plus.

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