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Niko

Standing at around 6'4", Niko is muscular without being overly so, and
rather rangy. His black hair is fairly short, and looks to be at the long end of a military haircut; just long enough to curl, it hints at the riotous tangle that it will be if allowed to grow a bit longer. Olive skin is unmarred by freckles or blemishes. His eyes are large and dark, and would be bovine-esque if they held less intelligence, beneath brows that bear a disturbing resemblance to a pair of caterpillars. Besides the brows, his oval face is dominated by a nose that would be aristocratically aquiline if it hadn't been broken at some point in the past. His voice, a pleasant baritone, frequently holds odd inflections, remnants of an accent that he can't quite shake. He looks to be somewhere in his early twenties.

Clearly, Niko has been living the life of the rugged outdoorsman. He
sports a short, rather scraggly-looking beard, and a certain eau de wilderness cologne composed of pine, soil, and that which naturally is present when one has only had cold water for bathing. He's wearing what may have been, in another, long-distant life, fatigues. Their color is utterly indistinguishable, however, as the clothing is literally covered in paint. So, for that matter, is the rest of him, with the exception of a streak of clean across his face; apparently the protective eyewear did its work. He's going to have lots of fun getting the paint out of his eyebrows, which, unfortunately, escaped the eyewear.

You say "Chief, Guido here. We're just about back. You might want to come down to the Atrium to see this. Might want to bring Chief Aleron as well. I'm sure Junior'll be glad to see her. (No, obviously, this isn't actually Niko. Gotta love -evil- NPCs, and Guido definitely counts.)" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "*snicker* Why am I suddenly afraid. Gimme a sec, eh?" in Riley's voice.

You say "No problem. If you're not here when we get in, I'll distract him. This is -really- worth seeing, though, trust me. *evil laugh*" into the communit.

You head towards the Central Atrium.

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:

Riley

Clara

Obvious exits:

Elevator Arch Out Rec Hall Dining Meeting Hall Spaceport

You arrive from the Spaceport.

Riley ambles out after Clara, eyes tracking to the various exits and entrances, scanning for Guido and company. Spotting them entering he has to all but -choke- on a laugh. Nodding to Clara he wends his way through the crowd, heading towards the arrivals.

Niko, looking tired underneath all that paint, enters the atrium with a cluster of other folk who have obviously (but not quite so obviously as he) been on the dreaded paint trip of doom. Guido is as far away from him as can be in the group, and Kaycen is next to him, speaking quietly. Catching sight of Riley, he pauses a beat, then shoots a hard look at the back of Guido's head. "Uh, hiya, Chief," he ventures. "We're back." That's Niko, master of the obvious. Then he spots Clara, and, after another startled pause, offers her a rather weak smile.

Riley is having a great deal of difficulty trying not to completely lose it laughing. He manages to make it through the throngs to address Niko at last, however. His eyes sparkle with amusement, "Niiiick, you were supposed to -avoid- getting hit with the paint, eh?"

Clara doesn't quite see the humor yet as she doesn't have the height advantage, flashing up a confused look but falling in behind to keep pace. "What's so fun-..." She stops short of the group of men, eyes widening significantly, "-ny. Oh. Oh, dear." She takes a slow deep breath and moves forward, holding out a hand. "Welcome back?"

While Guido prudently takes his leave, dragging along most of the rest of the crowd with him, Niko says lightly, "I don't suppose I could get you to believe that all this happened today? They -ambushed- me, the traitors." That last is said a bit more loudly, clearly with the intent that his departing fellows hear. The chorus of 'Sure, Junior,' suggests that this is an oft-repeated exchange. He shakes his head at Clara, lifting both hands to show that even they haven't escaped the evil paint. "Uh, maybe later?"

Riley is now having even less luck with stifling snickers. He's obviously highly entertained by the highly besmeared Niko. "Uh-huh, I'm buying it, see? Where's my receipt?" Flashing an amiable grin he adds, "I'll get you prove it to me in the firing range sims after you get cleaned up and get some sleep."

Eyes dancing with amusement, Clara nods and folds her arms, taking a step back to survey the damage from boots to hair. "Oh, Niko...you are -colorful-," she decides observantly. "Please tell me you put this much paint on a few other people at least?"

Niko grimaces fractionally at the mention of the firing range sims--or, at least, it could be guessed that that's what he's doing. With the paint, it's hard to tell. "Hot water," he intones, with the reverance usually reserved for soda in blue cans. "What a marvelous idea. And real food. Sleep can wait til that's taken care of." Clara gets an engaging grin. "Uh, sure I did. Collectively. Not on any one person, though. They're better at ducking, see."

Riley catches the grimace and adds innocently, "I'll even let you give me a handicap. Age and decrepitude being on my side and all, eh?" He chuckles quietly again, "Ducking's an important skill."

Clara returns the grin, brightening significantly and shaking her head with a merry laugh as she takes that step in again to reach up and rub a bit of orange splattered hair between her fingers, pulling them away to survey the tint that's now on her hand. "You're not old," she notes distractedly to Riley, then does another brief survey of the paint-besmattered one. "Everything all in once piece? Or do I need to haul you up to Medbay for an overhaul?"

Niko groans very quietly at Riley's offer. "Gee, thanks," he mumbles, though not without a quirked grin. "And ducking is -very- important. Trust me. I know." He pauses a beat at Clara's question, lifting one shoulder in a half-shrug. "Bruises and such. No big deal. No surgery--see? All in once piece, just like I promised."

Riley flashes a grin at Clara at the returned sally. "What, I don't even get spotted a couple points for him being all young and exuberant and other words that just don't seem to fit a guy who's spent near a month in the woods with paint and no hot water?" He offers Niko a sympathetic look, "Hot water. Lots of it."

Niko echoes soulfully, "Hot water." It's like a mantra. He repeats it, softly, "Hot. Water."

Clara glances over her shoulder with a quelling smirk. "Not a single one. If you're really itching to compete, you can try your hand against a mild-mannered doctor who's even a woman," she counters, then snaps her head back to Niko with a look of pure sympathy. "Oh, saints...you poor man. Come on, let's get you up where you can pull off a shower and clean clothes at least."

Niko agrees, waving Riley's attention to Clara, "Yeah. Try your hand against -her-, at least until I get a chance to get used to civilization." He pauses a beat at Clara's last statement, some sort of chord apparently being struck. "Uh, why don't I just go up on my own, eh? Neither of y'all have probably eaten. I'll come back down and let you harass me some more once I'm clean, huh?"

Riley hmphs softly in amusement, "I don't take suckers bets." He starts to nod, but brings himself up short. "Uh, actually why don't you two catch some food. I have...paperwork. Anya'll shoot me. And I have sandwiches in the fridge."

Clara pulls back slightly, nonplussed at the injunction, although she nods gamely. "Perhaps that's best," she agrees after a moment's hesitation, then grins. "You live on the third floor, by the way. Just in case the facial fluff's made you forget," she teases, then ventures an uncertain look back at Riley. "You don't have to go...Chief."

Ow. Ow a few more times. Riley manages to actually not look too ow-inflicted at the C-word however but just shakes his head. "Actually I do. Lotsa' work to catch up on." He pauses a beat and snags a camera from one pocket. *snick* "Got what I came for."

Niko attempts to ruffle his beard, instead flicking a few specks of paint to the floor. Black marble looks so much more -cheerful- with red speckles. "What, you don't like it?" he asks Clara, with a quick grin. Riley's picture-taking, however, elicits a strangled noise. "Chief!" he protests. "Bad enough you two and all these innocent bystanders saw me like this..."

Riley just offers an innocent look, trying to trim back the snicker. "Awww, Nick. You'd take away all the fun in this job. It's no worse than half the rest. Have fun, y'all."

Clara tears her glance away from Riley to snicker up at Niko, backing rapidly out of the way of the picture. "Hey, this'll go -great- on that bulletin board you fellas have. Actually, I do like it, Niko. Or rather, I think I will? After you're not the walking paint monster?"

Niko passes a hand across his face. Fortunately, the paint's dry, or it would streak. "Walking paint monster," he murmurs. "Sounds like an excellent bedtime story for Addie, or some other corruptible small child." He starts for the elevator. "Getting rid of some of this paint, however, sounds good. -Then- food." He tabs the button, adding, "Y'ought to take a break, Chief. Hot food is much to be preferred over sandwiches."

You push the button.

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

You walk into the elevator.

Elevator

The elevator rides up and down in a glass shaft, overlooking the foliage of the atrium below. The motion is smooth, and each floor is marked with a delicate "ping" as the elevator arrives there.

A bank of round blue buttons on either side of the door has the numbers 1-4, and a button labeled "Below".

The doors are currently open, the direction arrow is pointing down and the dial above the doors points to 1.

Obvious exits:

Doors

From outside the elevator, Riley walks into the elevator.

From outside the elevator, Riley has left.

Riley has arrived.

From outside the elevator, Clara walks into the elevator.

From outside the elevator, Clara has left.

Clara has arrived.

The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

Niko blinks. "Or not. Hey, it's a party."

Riley pushes the button marked 2.

The elevator direction light changes to UP with a ping.

The elevator glides almost imperceptibly upward and goes "ping" as it reaches floor #2.

With a ping, the doors slide smoothly open.

Riley has left.

From outside the elevator, Riley has arrived.

From outside the elevator, Riley waves quickly, "Later."

Clara rolls her head, pushing back her own hair with the unpaint smeared hand. "I'm going back to my office," she offers with a grin. "And if you tell that poor child such a story, she'll be traumatized for life. Come find me when you're ready."

[Travelspam deleted. Time passes.]

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.

Kramer glances up from his desk, then grins affably. "Lieutenant! Hey, good to have you back. Here to get patched up or steal the doc?"

Niko returns the grin, looking decidedly cheerful now that he's resumed his acquaintence with hot water. "Well, I'm not bleeding, so I guess I must be here to steal Clara. She in her office? And it's great to be back, trust me."

Kramer waves a hand at the hallway dismissively. "She's in there, all right. Been in there most of the day, for that matter. Go on in and scare the daylights out of her, okay? She got me a good one this morning and I owe her."

Niko's brows lift, rejoicing in their freedom from clump-inspiring paint. Can't you hear the itty bitty angel chorus? "Well, then, -you- should have the satisfaction of getting her back, eh? Revenge is a dish best served in bulk, all that." Chuckling quietly, he heads for the office, knocking gently on the door before he enters.

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.

Clara is seated behind her desk, back to the door, leaning back in her chair to stare at one of the prints on the wall, hands folded in front of her. She's deep enough in thought that she doesn't hear the door open or close, nor even the knock.

Niko, loping into the office, says brightly, "Nothing like a month away from civilization to make appreciating it that much easier. You ready to get some food?" Then, perhaps catching a bit of your mood, he pauses, coming to a halt just in front of the desk. "What's up?"

Clara all but flounders at the unexpected sound, spinning her chair around with a gasp that dissolves into a relieve chuckle. "Oh, Niko...don't -do- that," she splutters, venturing a smile. "I take it you found your room, again? And subsequently a little hot water?"

Niko nods slowly, brows creeping steadily upwards. "Sorry about that," he says, tone holding both contrition and concern. "And I did find hot water, yes. Obviously. Thank goodness. My -towels- will never be the same, but, hey. Laundry already hates me." He pauses a beat, then ventures, "You okay?"

Clara flicks the fingers of one hand, another lazy laugh emerging as she pushes to her feet, at odds with faint circles under her eyes. "I'm fine, I'm fine. And you're home. What about you? Any of those bruises inhibiting motion or hurting too much?"

Niko neatly avoids the question, instead saying lightly, "You don't -look- fine, if I can say so. You look like Kramer's not been harassing you enough."

Clara tosses her head at the suggestion. "Kramer? -Kramer-? Hah! That man's next to -useless-," she emphasizes, dropping her eyes and laughing fondly. "Lobotomy," she mutters. "Indeed." She comes around the desk, peering over for any sign of discomfort. "Come on...fess up. Not even a single broken bone? How'm I supposed to keep in practice on you guys?"

Niko's brows lift a bit at the L-word. His expression suggests that he's only tabling this subject for later, but he does go with the segue. After hesitating a moment, he asks, "Will you not tell the Chief? It's nothing serious--nothing that'll keep me off-duty or anything--but it's annoying."

Clara's grin fades into serious concern as she nods, tilting her head. "I will if I can let you back on duty and not have my conscience nag at me," she agrees. "But I can't make you feel better if you don't tell me what's wrong. What is it?"

Niko looks more annoyed with himself than anything else. "It's my shoulder. I guess I'm more used to tanglers and other pulse weapons."

No, Clara doesn't look smug. Or even give a hint that she expected this. Instead, she nods back at the bioscan bed against the wall and heads for her medkit behind her desk. "Have a seat, we'll take a look at it. Your right shoulder?"

Niko nods slowly. He stays where he is for a moment or two, then moves over to the bioscan bed and has a seat, as directed. "It really isn't that bad, Clara," he murmurs.

Clara clicks open her kit and sets it on the side table by the bed, grinning up vaguely. "Right. And my name is Marie Curie." She hesitates, then lifts her hands to the afflicted shoulder and starts to probe gently. "Does this hurt?"

Niko nods once. After a moment longer of silence, he says lightly, "Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Curie. How's Pierre?"

Clara makes a rude sound and reminds you succinctly, "I'm not married, and I'm no chemist, silly. Pull your shirt up? I want to check for bruising and see how deep the damage goes. You've definitely got some muscle spasms there, but I'm thinking just a lot of water to drink and some anti-inflammatories might do the trick."

Niko, pulling up his shirt to reveal the ugly bruise on his shoulder--as well as a few less-nasty looking ones scattered in random places--says affably, "We can't -all- be chemists, I guess."

"Hmm, no. Some of us just aren't that talented," Clara agrees absently, examining first the bruise on the shoulder, then letting her fingers drift over a few of the others. "Most of these will heal on their own, but this one," she points out, settling a hand on the worst, "needs a shot of cortisone. And water. You need to drink a -lot- of water tonight, or lactic acid is going to pool in that like there's no tomorrow."

Niko, staying very still during the examination, finally nods. "Water, okay. That I can handle. Anything to avoid the dreaded lactic acid." And he even manages not to spout the formula for said acid.

Clara turns away to ready the appropriate hypo, glancing back once with a wry grin. "What, not going to spout the formula at me?" she teases, then returns to her work. "Did you have a good time?" she asks quietly, hands still busy and eyes focused on them.

Niko makes a movement that is the beginning of a shrug, then pauses, apparently reconsidering that movement. "I did, yes, when Guido wasn't being obnoxious. Pegged him right between the eyes, though, and -that- felt good." After a moment, he asks, "How about you? I miss anything too chaotic?"

Turning back first to set the hypo to the shoulder bruise with a slight hiss, Clara administers the medicine without speaking, then pats at the shoulder lightly. "Okay, go ahead and pull your shirt down," she suggests, then heads over to dispose of the hypo. "Nothing too chaotic," she says lightly, tone slightly off. "Just same old stuff."

Niko straightens his shirt with a muffled sigh of relief, sliding down from the bioscan bed. "Hah," he murmurs. "Sounds like I did miss something chaotic. Should I ask the Chief, then? You don't seem to want to tell me, after all." His tone is one of light banter, despite the concerned lowering of his brows.

"No!" Clara slips out, then clears her throat and tosses back an answering grin as she moves to put her medkit away. "I mean, what would he know? He's been eyedeep in paperwork, what with Kyara trying to enlist and all."

Niko's brows slowly lift, now. "Kyara's enlisting?" This is mostly to himself, though he sounds surprised. "I swear, I can't go away for a month without handbaskets popping up all over the place." He shakes his head, then, moving to stand behind you. "Look, if you'd rather I didn't, I won't go to the Chief. If there's something wrong with him, though--no, wait, cancel that. Confidentiality and all." He looks decidedly concerned, though.

Clara stops in the process of rummaging through a desk drawer and straightens slowly, perhaps staring at nothing, but doesn't turn back at the voice directly behind her. "He's fine," she says quietly. "He's just...busy. It's been an eventful month," she explains somewhat vaguely.

Niko doesn't sound very convinced, but does, at least, move over to the couch. "When isn't it busy?" He rubs at his eyes with the heels of his hands, then asks, "Is it anything I can help him with, d'you know?" Oh, the irony of -this- question. I love knowing things that my character doesn't know.

Clara resumes rummaging, finally extracting a few small white packets and sliding the drawer shut before circling around to hold them out to you, tone light around a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Naah, I doubt it. Beat him silly at the shooting range? I meant to drag him down there last ni-..." She cuts off and sniffs, smirking. "Anyway, yeah, Kyara's enlisting, and Addison's sponsoring her."

Niko takes the packets with a murmur of thanks, then regards you silently for a long moment. "If you don't want to tell me what's wrong," he says quietly, all hints of banter gone from his voice, "That's your prerogative. But please don't pretend that everything's fine, okay? I've got eyes. I know how you usually are and this... isn't it." Despite the fact that his words could be construed as harsh, his tone is quite gentle, and a bit concerned as well.

"Those are the anti-inflammatories," Clara says after a long moment of abashed silence. "Take two every six hours as needed." She inhales a long sigh, eyes drifting off for a moment, then crouches down in front of you and holds out a hand. "I missed you, you know? It's been a long, long month. Way too much time to think."

Niko tucks the anti-inflammatories in a pocket, enfolding your hand in both of his. "There's room here," he suggests, nodding towards the couch. He adds, with a tired smile, "I missed you, too, very much. This has been, I think, the longest month I've experienced in a very long time." He adds, deadpan, "And that's not just because Guido was there, and armed."

Clara laughs easily at that, transferring up to the couch without pulling away. "And he was probably trying to teach you a lesson, too, I know. But you survived, and I'll bet you learned a few tricks, huh?"

Niko nods agreeably enough, though he's still looking rather thoughtful. "Oh, quite." He mumbles something that could conceivably be a statement about land wars in Asia, then adds, "And, of course, never go in against a Sicilian when -paint- is on the line."

Clara drops her head, snickering thoroughly and shaking her head. "Inconceivable," she murmurs, then grins back up, almost sadly. "He's still alive, so I suppose I don't have to whip an antidote together for him."

Niko shakes his head slowly. "Nah. No iocaine up in the Monoliths, and I didn't have the facilities to make it. Besides, Inigo was my nickname, not Vizzini." He shakes his head, then. "I'll have to go try that again, but not for quite a long time." He shifts his gaze to you, a fleeting smile crossing his face. "It -was- fun," he admits. "But there was still always part of me that wanted to be back here, too. And not just for the hot water.

"Well, thank goodness for small favors. No antidote to that anyway," Clara teases before catching her breath lightly. She returns the smile slowly, then ducks her head. "There were times I really wished you were here," she admits, almost ruefully.

Niko gently squeezes your hand. "Well," he says slowly, "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you wanted me to be, but I'm here now. Not going anywhere in the foreseeable future. So next time you wish that, you can just give me a yell, and I -will- be. Easy."

Clara lets out a low laugh, a fairly wistful tone to it. "Yeah. Easy," she repeats quietly, gaze drifting to the door for a moment inexplicably. "I may be a little...quiet for a while, Niko," she finally offers, looking back down at her hand in yours. "I've gotten a lot to think about lately, and it's going to take awhile to process." She looks back up almost imploringly. "Am I making any sense?"

Niko nods, though he looks decidedly concerned. "Of course, Clara--perfect sense. If there's anything I can do to help, you'll tell me, right? Sometimes thinking something through can be easier when there's someone to bounce ideas off and all. Or... heck." He smiles faintly. "Sometimes y'just need -not- to think about something for a while."

Clara shakes her head with a low, soft laugh that fades into a sigh as she leans sideways against the back of the couch. "I've already talked it out with Honalee, and Riley..." She stops there and glances back up with a small smile. "Maybe I do need to not think about anything for a while. I'd challenge you to the shooting range, but I'd rather not see you use your arm like that unless necessary for a day or two."

Niko suggests, perhaps a bit drolly, "Give me a day or two, then, and we can see just how much you can embarrass me." The gears turning in his head, however, are almost audible. "We can come up with something else to do to distract you, though, I'm sure." And yes, he means that innocently, not even thinking of innuendo for a change.

Clara glances back up thoughtfully, completely missing the innuendo herself, which altogether isn't all that surprising. "What'd you have in mind? I'm open to suggestions, I think."

Niko pauses a moment. "Aw, Clara, you're not asking me to -think-, are you? The paint is still clouding my brain." His tone is vaguely amused. "Give me til tomorrow, maybe?"

Clara rolls her eyes, a hint of humor restoring as she pokes your good shoulder with her free hand. "Twenty-four hours, then." She snickers then, wrinkling her nose. "This is evil, you know? I should be the one spoiling you rotten since you're hurt. What'd you want to do tonight?"

Niko waves a hand, dismissing his injury with that gesture. "It's a bruise. It's nothing. Got worse than that countless times. And, honestly, just being here talking with you is grand. It's not raining, and there's no mud, hot water occurred in the recent past." He grins crookedly. "Amazing how priorities can be tweaked."

Clara returns the grin slowly, it spreading over her features thoughtfully. "Isn't it? All comes down to what's really important." She settles back against the couch again and lets out a long breath. "Actually, it was raining last night. Kya got to go flying with one of the Bonded and mentioned that she saw the mountains when she went past. Was it raining there too?"

Niko nods dolefully. "Pouring," he intones. "Buckets. Small farm animals. Heck, -large- farm animals. I'm very glad to be home."

Clara tries hard not to grin. No, really, she is. "Aaawww, poor baby. I suppose there are worse things that could happen? Still, it is good to have you home." A touch of distraction colors her gaze for a moment before she snaps it back with a grin. "Besides, that much rain is more than enough to cow you."

Niko silently takes a scrap of paper from your desk, and snitches on your desk to score another mark. Only then does he groan. "Awful. Horrible." He does notice that distraction, as is evidenced by that flicker of uncertainty in his own gaze, but he doesn't comment on it, saying only, "That's ten. You'll be caught up to the Chief's halfblacks before too much longer."

Clara holds up a hand, managing a broad grin. "Hey, so long as I only catch up with my puns. I've got a long way to go before I'm as immune as he is," she notes, then makes a quick face at her own words. "I mean, from his halfblacks. Whatever. Besides, I haven't had anyone to inflict puns on lately. Riley's too much fun to torture with his middle name," she notes with a hint of smug amusement.

Niko would comment on the other statements, but the last one stuns him for a moment. "You can get away with that?" he asks, a delighted grin crossing his face. "What, is that a medic thing? I'd almost turn medic, for that. Greggykins. It'd be -worth- guarding grass."

Clara snickers impishly, trying in vain to look innocent although her ears redden a hint. "Okay, I -didn't- get away with it, but it was worth it," she decides, smirking. "Besides, I do have direct orders from Honalee to use it to peg him down a notch."

Niko's brows lift. "What'd he do?" he inquires. "I mean... I've not really heard of the Chief punning and all? Did he make you watch roller derby or something? Talk about fates worse than death..."

Clara laughs all the more, shaking her head as she climbs to her feet. "No...nothing like that. Say, did you want some coffee? If I remember right, the stuff they have up there at camp is like day old mud strained through someone's gym socks."

Niko looks decidedly pleased. "Ooh, coffee, I think that makes you some sort of deity or something. That stuff was just foul. I think Guido -did- involve his socks, in some strange, arcane ways that it's better not to question too closely."

Clara laughs easily and makes the preparations, then leans back against the edge of the desk to watch it percolate. "Now why doesn't that surprise me? You men are evil. Entirely, utterly evil to each other. Why can't you be nice like all women are?" she suggests innocently.

Niko guffaws at that, shaking his head. "Clara, Clara, Clara. I would -almost- believe you, except for one small problem--actually, four problems, and none of them are very -small- any more: my sisters."

Clara glances over one shoulder with a wry grin. "I wish I could fall under that category too, but nice is something I'm decidedly not sometimes," she quips, then turns back to pour two mugs and bring one around the desk to hold out. "Real coffee, sir. You've earned it."

Niko asks, with a laugh, "You'd like to be one of my sisters? Forgive me if I don't immediately adopt you." Curling his hands around the mug, he sips, then says devoutly, "Ah, thank you. This is -coffee-."

Clara makes a face before bursting into laughter, shaking her head. "That's -not- what I meant," she retorts, nudging you in the knee with one boot before leaning back against the edge of her desk and grinning. "You're welcome."

Niko, after a longer drink of coffee and a blissful sigh, admits, "I know what you meant, of course. And niceness can be overrated. It can kind of.... grate a bit sometimes, depending on the person."

Clara takes a long sip from her coffee, eyes dancing. "You? Niko Casymed? We are talking about the same man, right? I'd go for your full name, but it still just isn't clicking. Niko, you are the perfect gentleman."

Niko's lips quirk. "Yeah, but there's a difference between that and being -nice-. Besides, I can be pushy and obnoxious as much as the next guy. Guido and Kaycen can tell you stories. And as for my full name, I'm just as happy it's such a tonguetwister. The fewer people who can say it, the better off I am." He winks.

Clara sets her mug on the desk behind her and folds her arms, looking back with a grin of mock disbelief. "Riiight. And Guido and Kaycen would likely elaborate more than a little just to give the stories more machismo on their side." She chuckles, shaking her head until her desk comm blats out a sound, followed by Kramer's voice snapping out an emergency medical condition. "Oh, no...not tonight," she murmurs, then looks back apologetically. "Oh, Niko...I'm so sorry."

Niko shakes his head, getting smoothly to his feet. "Don't worry about it. It's not like you planned this, after all. Just try not to stay up insanely late, okay? If you can help it. I'll try to harass you later. Good to see you again." With that, he flashes you a quick smile, and disappears, stealing your coffee mug in the process.

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 ducks out of the way of whatever the emergency is, beating a hasty retreat.

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.

Niko, after a moment's thought, strolls towards security, coffee mug still idly in hand.

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.

Anya looks up from her desk. "Heya' Niko. Good to see you back/

Niko makes his way to the photo-board, apparently searching for one in particular, the better to swipe it. Hearing the voice, he pauses. Caught. "Oh... Anya, hi, how's things? And it's very good to be back."

Anya's brows just lift, "You touch the photoboard, I get to inflict the standing punishment." Her tone lightens a bit, "Things are, things are. Chaotic as usual. How was your trip?"

Niko considers asking just what the 'standard punishment' is, then visibly decides against it, moving away from the photoboard with a sigh. "The trip was an adventure," he says mildly. "I'm sure the Chief showed you the picture. That sums it up pretty well."

Anya nods with a wry grin. "The picture's in the left corner by the one of Denner after the last fishing trip."

Niko turns back to peer at said picture, then sighs very quietly, muttering something relatively good-natured about exacting revenge from Guido. "Anyway," he adds, "I figured I'd come see what my schedule was like, see if anything especially bizarre happened while I was gone, that sort of thing."

Anya rummages through piles of paper to find her keyboard and pokes at it to print up a sheet that she then proffers you. "It's been insane. A right mess left, right, and center. But then hey..."

Niko takes the sheet with a murmur of thanks, idly scanning it before lifting his gaze and saying, dead serious, "I was thinking something more out-of-the-ordinary."

Anya shook her head slightly, "Beyond having to chivvy the Chief into behaving, but he passed out before you left as I recall, it's been fairly standard."

Niko seems, oddly enough, disappointed by that. "Okay, thanks." He folds up his schedule, tucking it in the pocket with the little white pills, then peers speculatively at the door to Riley's office for a moment or two. Then, looking just a bit baffled, he shakes his head.

Anya looks more than a bit confused. "What's up, Niko?"

Niko shakes his head, snagging a chair and sitting bass-ackwards on it. "Something's bothering Clara," he says, finally remembering the purloined coffee mug and sipping from it. "She didn't want to say what it was, so I didn't pry--much--but she didn't want me to ask the Chief about it." He deposits the mug on a nearby desk, adding, "I won't, since I said I wouldn't, but I'm still concerned, y'know?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Anya shuffles through her papers, stacking them off to one side. She looks very thoughtful. "I honestly don't know what's up Niko. But then I don't know what's up with a fair amount lately. This whole thing with the Chief effectively adopting the Stilvani lady..."

[Nicole has disconnected]

Niko's brows very slowly lift. "Kya? Wow. That's... odd." He looks a bit thoughtful, then. "Maybe she'd know what's up. Clara didn't say not to ask -her-, after all."

Anya just shakes her head, "If she doesn't want you knowing, why are you so bound and determined to find out, Niko?"

Niko looks a bit sheepish at that. "Good point," he murmurs. "I'm concerned for her, but it's not totally altruistic. I'm curious, too. Keeping my nose out of it would likely be the better way to go." Even though he really wants to know what's the matter--or, at least, he thinks he does.

Anya chews idly on the end of the pencil. "I know the Chief was harassing her to tell somebody about whatever was bugging her. I think he wanted her to comm up Honalee. I don't know if that helps, but I'm afraid it's all I know."

Kyara comes in from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko lifts one shoulder in half a shrug. "She said she spoke with Honalee about it," he says, brows lowering thoughtfully. "The Chief's okay, though, right? I mean, aside from having to harass him into behaving and all." Kyara's entrance gets a mildly startled look, then a pleasant smile. "Hi, Kya."

Anya glances up as Kyara enters and offers her a familiar wave. She nods, "Far as I know. He's switched off his radio and his comm."

Kyara pauses for a split second, then smiles faintly. "Hello, Niko. It's good to see you back safe and in one piece." Anya gets a blink. "Who... Riley? Voluntarily?"

Niko blinks as well at Anya's news, adding, "That, uh, doesn't seem like the sort of thing he usually does." He flickers a brief glance to Kyara, then shakes his head, murmuring something in Hellenic.

Anya just shrugs, "He's entitled to if he wants." That pencil taps a couple of times, but she remains close mouthed.

Kyara absorbs that for a moment. "Indeed. But it's not like him." She nods toward the office. "Is he in there?"

Niko, looking a bit troubled, glances in the direction of Kyara's nod. Rubbing lightly at his eyes, he rescues his coffee mug once more, then tosses back the remainder of the lukewarm material.

Anya nods to Kyara, "Yeah, he is."

Kyara nods once, moving around the desk. "I'm sure he's fine..." But no harm in checking in on him, right?"

Niko's gaze follows Kyara, then back to Anya, clearly wavering between following Kyara and asking her not to go. He's wavering, that is, not his gaze. Well, maybe that, too.

Anya glances from Niko to Kyara, her expression a bit questioning. "I'm sure you can, Kyara. He's used to you coming in to raid the fridge after all."

Kyara flashes a grin at Anya. "And bugging him in general, yes."

Kyara walks towards the Chief Addison's Office.

Kyara has left.

Niko looks after Kyara for a long moment, then gets to his feet. "It's not prying if I don't ask," he mutters, sounding like he's trying to convince himself.

You walk towards the Chief Addison's Office.

Chief Addison's Office

This office is something of a haven from the chaos in security central. It only has one viewscreen, although there are controls to direct it to any of the observation lines. A large desk takes up the bulk of the room. It's a battered affair, and shows the signs of great age. It doesn't really fit in with the polished atmosphere of the Complex, but neither does the man it belongs to. Piles of paperwork, scattered datapads, and a lurking terminal take up the majority of the space on the desk, but somehow room has been found for several photocubes and a small plastic penguin. The floor is carpeted in institutional gray carpeting, and the walls are a slightly darker shade. It would be a dank hole of a room if it weren't for several large electronic maps on the wall, each aglow with various telltales and marker lights. In front of the desk are two uncomfortable chairs and one battered and exceedingly comfortable looking couch. A handful of bad noveldisks are piled at one end of the couch.

Contents:

Kyara

Riley

Obvious exits:

Central

You walk here from the Security Central.

Riley is seated at his desk, the better part of a pile of paperwork spread out in front of him. He looks not unlike a man who's had a two by four applied to the back of his head repeatedly. As the door opens he glances up with smudged eyes, "Kya, Nick, hey can I help you?"

Niko pauses just inside the entrance. He doesn't ask if he's intruding, not specifically, but the question is written in his rather uncertain posture. "Seems like the reverse question might apply more, yeesh."

Kyara meanders casually toward the fridge. "I didn't feel like arguing with the vendotron." Head inside the cooler as she rummages in it, she asks bluntly if curiously, "How come you turned your radio off?"

Riley glances Kyara-ward a moment before turning back to the piled paperwork. "It started to grate a bit. So I turned it off a while."

Niko's brows lift very slowly. He peers at the paperwork, then at the back of Kyara's head, assuming she's still in the cooler (my, that sounds odd), then finally to Riley. He ventures, "Are you okay? You don't especially look it." He mumbles something about two by fours.

Kyara's mouth quirks as she turns around, popping the can. "You barely lived without it on for, what, seven years? And it's just now starting to grate a bit?"

Riley nods amiably to Niko, "Fine thanks, or I will be." He calls to Kyara, "Toss me a bottle of water, eh?" He hmphs softly, "I just wanted it off a bit."

Kyara nods, turning back to the fridge. "Don't tell me you finally given in after all those years of medical advice to relax." She tosses the bottle in Riley's direction, shutting the fridge with her hip.

Riley reaches out, barely looking up from a form, to snag the bottle from the air. "It just needed to be off."

Niko finally comes fully into the room, perching on one arm of the couch. "Will be okay, huh?" He doesn't ask any further, lest he be smacked around by a piano player for doing so.

Kyara gives Riley a faintly puzzled look as she passes the desk to perch in a chair. "I repeat," she notes, nodding toward the paperwork, "You need a secretary."

"Sometimes," Riley offers quietly, "The paperwork is nice. It functions in lieu of engines to tinker with, since they won't let me have the latter." He doesn't reply to Niko's echo.

Kyara appears faintly surprised over the can as she takes a drink. "You enjoy working on engines? Who's to stop you?"

Niko peers at Riley for a moment, then shakes his head, expression briefly frustrated. He mutters to himself, "... Chief... Clara... neither... -not- going... ask... not going... talk... anyway." He falls silent, then, to hear the answer to Kya's question.

Riley offers a vague grin, "Most folks in maintenance. Arthur's -dangerous- if you touch one of his toys."

Kyara's eyes flick quickly to Niko before she advises, "Get your own ship then. There would not be a bloody thing anyone could say. You know, just a little skiff or something."

Niko's brows lift slowly. "If you're just going to tinker," he murmurs, "Why not just get the engine? Seems a little less... well, expensive."

Riley looks up again from the paper, this time his expression is a rueful chuckle. "I don't make a lot as it is. Why spend the money on something I could almost never use, eh?" He nods to Niko, "Cheaper, b'still a waste, eh? No time."

Kyara's fingers flutter slightly as she wraps them around her soda can. "Because it would make you feel better," she answers.

Niko nods a slow agreement to Kya's words. "You could make time for it," he says, adding rather ruefully, "I should be doing more, anyway, being your assistant and all. If you don't have time, and I can hie off for a month, something's skewed."

Riley gestures with a ream of forms, "Paperwork works. It's something I'm good at. All that matters." He lifts his shoulders, "You needed to go, Nick. Can't stop learning. Gotta learn everything you get the chance for, eh?"

Kyara settles back on the couch, feet dangling. Nodding her agreement with Niko, she notes, "But paperwork is not all you're good at."

Niko can't really counter that statement, so ignores it. "Well, I'm back, now. So now I can do more. And Kya's right." He shifts from the couch's arm to a cushion, to avoid towering more than necessary over the Stilvani.

"No, it's not all I'm good at. But it's convinient, and it needs doing, eh?" Riley's words are relatively toneless, but then he's still filling in numbers. "And as for doing more Nick, you're welcome to more and more as time goes. Anya's got plans for ya'n'all."

Kyara gestures toward the paperwork. "Why don't you give him a hand with that stuff, Niko? You may as well learn that stuff too."

Niko's brows lift slowly at Riley's last statement, but he shakes his head, then gets to his feet, moving to peer at the paperwork in question. "Y'know," he tells Riley conversationally. "We're not blind. I don't know if Kya feels the same way, but it looks to me like something's wrong. You don't want to talk about it, that's fine. Your prerogative. But I, at least, would appreciate it if you'd acknowledge that something's bugging you, even if it's not something you want to share." What the heck. It worked once today.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

That garners a brief upwards glance from Riley before he turns back to the paper. His reply is even and amiable. "Yes, Nick, something is bothering me. And yes, I've no intention of explaining it. Better, eh?"

Kyara sighs softly, taking a sip of soda. "You're going to hold it all inside then? Or are you going to take your own advice and talk to somebody?"

Niko inclines his head, with a murmured affirmative, then nods at Kyara's words. "If you don't want to tell me--and goodness knows I'd understand that--I can leave so you can talk to Kya, or get Anya, or see if Clara's done with whatever disaster descended upon medbay. Holding stuff in isn't good, though. Really." No, he didn't say Riley, but the word was close, huh?

"I'll give Honalee a call tonight if she's home. Or somebody." Riley is still managing toneless affability, "I'm not fool enough not to tell anybody."

Niko nods slowly, snagging a bit of the paperwork that's farthest from Riley and beating a retreat to the couch--and retreat it is. He mutters to himself, "... least... know... not just... woman thing..."

Kyara nods, relief in her expression. "Well, that is better than nothing." One index finger idly traces around the top of her can. Niko gets a minor amused blink.

Riley glances briefly towards Kyara, his expression half unreadable, half apologetic. He blinks at Niko's paperwork thievery, "Um, Nick?"

Niko lifts his gaze from the paperwork. "Yes?" He's affable and pleasant, and the paperwork is -his-, dangitt.

Kyara looks over at Niko, gesturing toward Riley. "If it helps, he makes like a clam a /lot/."

Riley pauses a moment, coming to some decision. Eventually he offers instead, "Like a pen maybe?"

Niko flickers a smile towards Kyara. "Used to catch clams when I was a kid. Splitting 'em open was awful. Got better with practice, though." Glancing back to Riley, he nods. "I'd appreciate that, yeah."

Riley snags a pen from the cup of them, tossing it to Niko. "Careful though, some of them snap back onto your fingers."

Kyara chuckles quietly, giving the pile of papers still on the desk a wistful glance. "I don't suppose you'd let me give you a hand as well?"

Riley is obviously in something of a fatalistic mood, "Why the hell not." He ends up deciding, shoving a pile and a pen Kyaraward.

Niko catches the pen a bit awkwardly, then nods to Riley. "I noticed that. The worst was when I tried to use a chisel to pry one open, ended up splitting my hand." He pauses a moment, then snorts softly. "Okay, that's taking the metaphor a little too far. If there's something -other- than paperwork that I can do--well, we can do--you'll let us know, right?" He casts a look of appeal to Riley, looking briefly like the Lt. Commander when a ball is nearby.

Kyara blinks, looking decidedly delighted. Setting the soda aside, she gets up to grab pen and papers before Riley can change his mind, and settles back on the couch. "He speechifies well," she notes dryly, if absently.

Niko's offer is almost more than Riley can handle, but if nothing else it firms his resolve. The pen in his hand may never quite recover, as it gets all but snapped before the security chief can recover enough composure to return to his paperwork. "Everything will be fine."

Niko murmurs to Kyara, in a droll aside, "Speechification was one of my best subjects in school." Riley's treatment of his poor pen gets a startled look, and, naturally, he takes it the wrong way, though, just as naturally, he doesn't verbalize that. Instead he just nods, head ducking over his paperwork. Riley's paperwork. Somebody's paperwork.

Kyara glances up at Riley, though she doesn't lift her head, watching him for a moment. Finally she looks over at Niko. She mutters to Niko, "... bet... in... six months.... leave me high... but... to that."

You sense Kyara glances up at Riley, though she doesn't lift her head, watching him for a moment. Finally she looks over at Niko. "I'll bet you ten giros he snaps in less than six months. Which'll leave me high and dry, but at least I'm used to that."

Niko lifts his head very slowly, and casts a rather hard look at Kyara. His voice is very quiet, and rather cold, "That's an inappropriate subject for betting. But even if it -were- appropriate, it's not a bet I'd take, Kyara."

Kyara inclines her head slightly. "I'm merely expressing my concern, Lieutenant." (Or whatever Niko's rank is at the moment- I can't bloody remember. :P

Riley slowly snaps the seal on the bottle of water, draining it of a measure of water before returning to his paperwork. Carefully he manages to ignore the conversation ensuing around him.

Niko is a Lieutenant, yeah. He shakes his head, lowering his voice, though its fierceness likely carries, even if his words don't. He mutters to Kyara, "... doubt. -How-... Riley... I... -is- a... I'd... speak... and don't bandy about... as... Not in my..." Hoo. No, he's not loyal at all. Turning back to his paperwork, he shakes his head, adding a few choice phrases in Hellenic. Good thing his mom can't hear. She'd wash his mouth out with soap.

Kyara senses "Niko is a Lieutenant, yeah. He shakes his head, lowering his voice, though its fierceness likely carries, even if his words don't. "Hardly. You were expressing doubt. -How- long has Riley managed to stick it out here? Longer than I could. Longer than you could, too, and that -is- a bet I'd take. So speak of him with respect, and don't bandy about such statements as you said. Not in my presence." Hoo. No, he's not loyal at all. Turning back to his paperwork, he shakes his head, adding a few choice phrases in Hellenic. Good thing his mom can't hear. She'd wash his mouth out with soap."

Kyara's expression, probably for the first time since she's arrived at the Complex, turns angry. Add that to various frustrations, and, well,... "Do not mistake my words for disrespect, Niko. At least /he/ has a sense of humor. You have no idea what it's been like around here while you were gone, and now you walk back in and..." Her mouth clamps shut suddenly. "I humbly beg your pardon, Lieutenant. I shan't repeat my mistake."

Riley isn't hearing anything, although he doesn't manage to restrain a wince. Folding one arm and resting it on the desk, he allows it to take his weight while he continues filling out forms.

Niko manages to keep his voice low, but the occasional phrase would likely make it to Riley's ears, especially these first few. "You're right, I -don't- know what it was like while I was gone, mainly because people won't -tell- me." He puts a lid on his own temper, and it really -is- like a lid going over a pot. (The better to let it boil all the hotter?) "Don't worry about it," he says, voice even. "I just don't think that's a joking matter, that's all." And, of course, there's also a surprised look at Kyara's about-face, but he doesn't comment on it. He's got too much else to say, and this pose is getting too dang spammy as it is.

Kyara's eyes narrow, but surprise flickers in her expression. "Clara didn't tell you?"

Okay, hi, it's time to crawl under the table. "Kya..." Riley calls softly.

Niko shakes his head, then ducks it over his paperwork, but not before the mingled curiosity and frustration present there can be seen. "She didn't. And whatever it is, don't tell me. If she wants me to know, she should tell me. Anya said so, Anya's always right." Riley's word gets a quick, curious glance.

Kyara glances quickly toward Riley, looking both calm and slightly offended. "I would not tell him without your permission, Riley. Or Clara's, for that matter. I do know something of discretion." She can't help but nod at Niko's last statement with a wry faint smile. "So I've heard."

There's that quietly soft tone again, "Nick, can you do me a huge favor? I need to speak to Kya a moment." That's Riley, in case you're curious.

Kyara gives Riley a wary look. Perhaps, perhaps her soft "Uh oh" can be heard.

Niko looks briefly between Kyara and Riley at her statement about needing his permission. He nods slowly, getting to his feet. "Sure. 'bout time I snagged something to eat, anyway. Either of you want anything, while I'm down there?" His voice is casual, but there's a certain undercurrent to it: something is up, and he knows it, but he'll shoot himself in the food before he'll ask.

Riley shakes his head simply, his quiet and unsassuming expression still locked on Kyara. "No thank you Nick, I appreciate the offer though."

Kyara slips off the couch. "Perhaps I should leave you two to the paperwork..." She's usually better at this fleeing stuff.

Niko is already on his feet, and, as his legs are longer, beats Kyara to the door, paperwork still in hand.

You walk 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 walk here from the Chief Addison's Office.

Niko shakes his head, closing the door behind him. "I'm going to go get something to eat. Want anything while I'm out, Anya?" Yeah, he's still got the paperwork, and he looks, despite efforts to the contrary, rather troubled.

Anya takes in the troubled appearance, looking more than a hair worried herself now. "No, but thanks Niko."

Niko's head bobs in a brief nod. "Give me a yell if he wants me." He doesn't look towards Riley's office, but his meaning should be clear. With that, he lopes from the room, still clutching that paperwork like a papercut-inducing security blanket.

You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

[Lots of time passes. Scene resumes in the rec facility, just as Clara enters.]

Niko is, as may be garnered by his room doing, up in the jogging track, folded into one of the window bays. He is writing in a small book, but a bit sporadically. Another book, possibly recognizeable as the one from his room the other night, is tucked against the window.

Clara heads along the perimeter, rather staring at the ground just before each step so as not to falter, her hands shoved in her pocket. Her cap is tugged low over her eyes, and for the most part, she's fairly oblivious. Not seeing Niko, she slips into the open range and produces her ident for a blaster and moves towards one of the lines, checking the weapon thoroughly.

Niko is intent enough on his writing that he, too, is oblivious, pen scratching almost inaudibly in his book.

Clara pulls on a set of firing range sound mufflers, then gives a sharp nod for the target to be slung back before she takes aim and fires a short round of blasts, keeping a fairly tight aim at the target's shoulder.

To say that Niko is startled by the sudden noise is an understatement. He literally leaps out of the window seat type thing, the words escaping his lips still more that would cause Mom to run for the soap, were she into that. Fortunately, they're words in Hellenic, so nobody -else- knows the evil that he's saying. Well, except the vendomat. He leans against the outside wall of the track, attempting to remember how to breathe.

Clara snaps her arms in and tilts her head to survey the targat, still unaware of the excessively colorful language she's caused in anyone. She taps in a command at the counter to magnify the damage to the target, then turns to lean back against the counter and recheck the weapon.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Yeah, Niko's got it, finally. Seeing the inspiration for his colorful metaphors, he blinks a few times, watching her silently. (Like talking would make a difference.) Then, with a shake of his head, he gathers up his books and moves down from the jogging track, perhaps in an attempt to leave the rec facility without being seen.

Clara glances up from inspecting a part of the barrel in time to see Niko head towards the door, watching him expressionlessly for a moment. Still, he seems to be leaving. She doesn't give chase, but she does move to turn in both blaster and ear protection before resettling her cap and moving calmly towards the door as well. Maybe she catches up with him...maybe not.

Niko isn't moving all that quickly, as he doesn't really -want- to leave. "Oh. Hi. I thought you were..." He gestures towards the firing lane. "Busy. Something like that, at least."

Clara pulls up along side, hands still in her pockets as she peers up sidelong. "Busy? Not really...just doing vital harm to things I don't have to operate on. I didn't realize you were in here. I...am I intruding?"

Niko shakes his head. "It's a public facility, and I wasn't really putting it to its intended use." He gestures vaguely with his left hand, which is busy holding the two books, then smiles rather wryly (eek, smiling Riley!) and shakes his head.

Riley? Naah, the man has no sense of humor. Clara leans forward slightly to peer down at the books, then chuckles, shaking her head. "You spend a month out in the boondocks getting shot at, then come home and study? You're an amazing man, Niko."

Niko hesitates a moment, then shakes his head. "Well, no. I don't. It's a journal, see. Kept it while I was getting shot at in the boondocks, too, for that matter." He pauses a beat. "Well, not at those exact moments, but you get the point."

Clara can't help a small laugh that escapes as she resettles her cap again, brim lifted a touch higher than regulation for once. "Well, no, I can imagine not right then. I tried to do that in college, but I never remembered to write. My medical log is as close as it comes. Do you enjoy it?"

Niko nods, idly fanning the pages of the small book. Of course, it's in Hellenic, so even if you look, you're not going to see anything. "I do. It's a good way to keep track of the high and low points of a day. That way, it's less work figuring out what to put in the letters home." How practical.

Clara doesn't attempt to look, though, peering up towards the ceiling of the facility absently. "Practical," she agrees. "Especially if you have to write a lot of letters. I suggest it to a lot of patients, but never got the hang of it. Were you able to write home while you were in the Monoliths?"

Niko shakes his head, then pauses. "Well, I could have, I guess, but it'd be out of date by the time I was able to send it, so I decided against it." Now that he's out of his writing trance-type-thing, brought on by intense concentration, he's started to think again, and this is a bad thing, as is evidenced by the lowering of his brows.

Clara glances back down at pauses, taken aback at the expression. "Niko, what is it?" she asks gently. It's those brows...they have a sign language all their own, they do. "Is something the matter?"

Niko's brows speak ASL, yup. Alliance Sign Language. After a moment, he nods, leaning lightly against a convenient piece of exercise equipment. Fortunately, it does not growl at him, as it's designed for humans. "Yes. I don't know what it is, and I likely shouldn't mention it at all, but maybe you should have a word or seven with the Chief. Something's wrong. He admitted it, at least. But he didn't want to talk about it while I was there, and..." Looking decidedly unsurprised that Riley didn't share the problem with him, he hesitates, then adds, a bit more slowly, "Well, I kind of got the idea that you were involved."

Clara is completely unresponsive for a moment before her eyes unfocus and she leans against a wall, lifting her hands to rub at her face. "Dear lord," she mutters quietly, then inhales a deep breath. "I've...already said a lot to him," she admits wearily. "Tell me what happened?"

Niko takes a deep breath, looking rather like he's weighing the ethics of telling more. Then, finally, he nods. "Kya and Anya and I were chatting in Security Central, and Anya mentioned that the Chief had turned off his radio and his comm-unit. We were, uh, concerned, and went in to chat with him." He pauses a moment, then asks, looking anywhere but at you, "Ever talked with someone, and known that they were pretending that everything was fine, when it really wasn't?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

A ghost of sadness flashes across Clara's face to be replaced by a somber nod. "I should, yes. I've seen it often enough. I've been informed in no uncertain terms that I -do- that." She hesitates, then says in a low, hesitant voice, "What are you thinking, Niko?"

Niko shakes his head, looking back to you once more. "Something happened when I was gone," he says quietly. "Kya as much as said that. I don't know what it was. If you're not ready to tell me, I don't -want- to know what it was." Ooh, man, he's a bad liar, but the thought is good. "But I'm guessing it's what's bothering you, and I guess it's bothering the Chief, and I care about both of you. So try to work it out, whatever it is. Please?"

Clara drops her eyes, the bill of her hat nearly covering her face, and almost slumps against the wall. "I don't -know- what happened," she explains quietly. "Nothing really. Oh, Niko..." She breaks off for a moment, ducking her head even farther and lifting one hand up under the hat to rub her forehead. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

Niko hunkers down, trying briefly to get a look at your face before giving up and shaking his head. "Well, of course not," he says, tone reasonable. "Nobody wants that, except maybe Guido. But, if you don't mind my saying so, I think it's a little too late for that."

Clara still doesn't look up, and in fact is quiet for a long moment. "You're right," she finally says quietly. "This is what was bothering me, and I honestly don't know what to do. Honalee gave me so much to think about...and I'm still thinking." She wraps her arms about herself, almost as if cold. "Being on the lines was so much easier..." she adds, almost inaudibly.

Niko bends down to put his books on the floor, then straightens once more, hands resting tentatively on your shoulders, as if in precursor to a hug--though he doesn't try that just yet. "Look," he says softly, "Whatever happened, it'll be okay. Some things take longer to be okay than others, but it all works out in the end. You're the one who told -me- that, right? Take your own advice."

Clara reaches a hand up to rest on your forearm, finally lifting her head back to lean against the wall and stare ahead blankly. "I know it will," she replies quietly. "See...it's not exactly that anything happened. It was more of a realization." She finally peers up, not quite at the stage of tears, but perhaps close. "Are you angry?"

Niko blinks several times, expression wavering between startled concern and utter confusion. "Of course not. I'm not angry, Clara, I promise." Of course, he also doesn't have a clue what happened. "Look... let's get out of here, go back to your office or something. Okay?"

Clara exhales a long sigh and nods, squeezing at the arm under her hand. "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot. I had to get out of there after the operation, but I think hiding again might be nice."

Niko nods, releasing your shoulders so that he may claim a hand. "I think that sounds like an excellent idea." He still looks decidedly concerned, even as he randomly snags a bit of fluff.

[Travelspam snip.]

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

From the elevator, Clara follows along, almost leaning in for support but not quite. As the elevator moves, she tugs her cap down again.

From the elevator, Clara has left.

Clara has arrived.

Clara heads towards the Medical Bay.

Clara has left.

MEDIC> Clara arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

MEDIC> Clara has arrived.

From the elevator, The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

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.

Clara, standing by the door.

Obvious Exits:

Chief's Office Elevator Lounge

You arrive from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Clara walks towards the Chief Aleron's Office.

Clara has left.

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.

Clara lets the door close behind her, tugging off the cap to send it spinning onto the desk before she fluffs out the hair that was trapped with her free hand. "Um..." she starts, then rubs at her head again. "Saints I hate post-op...do you want some coffee?"

Niko says softly, "I can get it. Why don't you relax, hm?" He goes to the inevitable coffee pot, getting out two mugs. The glance over his shoulder is decidedly concerned.

Clara nods vaguely and heads for the couch, curling up nearly in one corner and snagging up a cushion to hold in her lap before peering down at it, almost in surprised dismay. She tilts her head back against the wall to watch you absently. "I wish I could tell you what a wonderful person you are..."

Niko, mug in each hand, comes over to the couch. "You just did," he says gently, offering a mug. "Thank you."

Clara takes the mug with both hands, wrapping her fingers about it and balancing it on the cushion in her lap. "You're welcome," she replies quietly, staring at the mug. "I don't think I know where to start," she says after a time in a small voice, still not taking a sip just yet.

Niko shakes his head slowly, settling into the other corner of the couch. "You don't have to say anything you don't want to, Clara." He's dying to know, by now, but valiantly fighting that urge.

Clara glances up at the motions on the couch that indicate the distance, then leans her head against the wall again. "Niko, what are you looking for in life? Do you know yet? Do you have plans for your future?"

Niko blinks a few times, then shakes his head slowly. "I'm not sure if you noticed," he says delicately, "But it was pointed out to me fairly frequently over the past month that I'm relatively young. I know that it'll involve AF. Eventually, some sort of family, I'd hope. Beyond that?" He gestures with his mug, shaking his head. "I think I've got a bit of time to figure that out." He looks for a moment as if he's going to add something, then sips at his coffee, instead.

Clara purses her lips and nods slowly at that, lifting the mug finally for a long pull. "Family's important to you," she observes, then looks up with a somewhat tired smile, almost as if it's been a while since she's slept. "You are, without a doubt, one of the kindest, gentlest, and most wildly attractive men I've ever met. That's why, when I realized I was attracted to two men at the same time, I nearly fell apart. I was almost ordered to find someone to talk to," she says in a slightly shaking voice.

Niko nods his agreement to your first statement, and smiles at your second. Then the third one hits him, a one-two punch: there's a moment of concern, as the second half of the statement hits first, then a sudden, painful comprehension that is shown only by a sudden intake of breath. Almost instinctively, he reaches for your hand. "Suddenly," he says, his voice quiet but perfectly steady, "A few things make a little more sense. Are you..." He pauses. "'All right' is inadequate, but it's about all I can come up with: are you all right?"

Clara lets her hand be taken gratefully, although her eyes close at the intake of breathe. "Me?" she splutters out, reaching back to set her mug on the endtable without looking. "Oh, saints, Niko...you're asking about the wrong person. I bounce back...I always have, I always will. I'm so much more worried about you and...everyone involved." She drops her eyes to the floor, taking in a deep breath. "I'm so, so sorry."

Niko is still reeling just a little, and that's painfully clear in his eyes, but there's no hint of it in his voice. Setting aside his coffee as well, he reaches to cup your chin with that hand. "Unless you did it intentionally, you have nothing to be sorry for. I'm not angry with you. I--" Now it does creep into his voice for a moment, and he clears his throat. "You don't need to apologize."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara tilts her head into your hand lightly, closing her eyes for an instant before forcing herself to look up into yours. "Never intentional," she offers softly. "I care about you, and...I almost wish Riley'd given me my transfer," she adds in a low, sad voice as she lifts her free hand to smooth back a lock of your hair. "It just...happened. For me, at least."

Niko's brows lift at the mention of transfer, but he doesn't ask. Time enough for that later. "Then there's no need to apologize," he repeats softly. He closes his eyes for a moment, lips moving in barely audible Hellenic. When his eyes open, he inquires, voice still very quiet, "This is what the Chief didn't want to talk about, isn't it? He... does he...?" He can't seem to ask the question.

Clara searches your eyes for a long moment, then shakes her head. "I don't know," she offers simply. "I know there's -something- wrong, but what? We...didn't discuss it. A mutual decision," she adds, looking down again.

"Does he what?" she prompts gently.

Niko shakes his head. "If you didn't discuss it, you don't know." He moves his hand from your face, finally, though he doesn't release your hand. "You should talk to him about it." And the words darn near don't make it out. Niko coughs again, then reaches for his coffee mug, draining about a third of its contents. "See what he has to say. He's... upset. If this is why..."

"Not...just yet," Clara replies hesitantly, shaking her head as she resumes peering at you. "I don't know if I can," she adds. "It's, there's..." Her words break off as she tosses a look of frustration at the ceiling. "I'm more worried about you right now. Talk to me? Tell me what you're thinking?"

Niko shakes his head. "I don't want to do that," he says, with an expression that would be a smile, if it held cheer. "I'm sorry. I don't. What I'm thinking is not very..." He shakes his head. "It does not bear repeating."

Clara very nearly loses the last bit of control she's managed to hold on to at this, but does by a few fast emotional basting stitches. Instead, she pulls her legs in a bit tighter, almost as if trying to sink into the couch. "I didn't want to say anything," she finally admits. "Seeing you like this...I never wanted you to hurt."

Niko shakes his head firmly. "It's better that you told me," he says, hand tightening briefly on yours. "I... I'm not -glad- to know, I can't honestly say that, but this is better than not knowing and thinking there was something I could do to help, if only I -did- know." He finally slides closer to you on the couch, setting aside his NYSINYD coffee mug yet again so that he may rest his hands on your shoulders once more. "Come here." His words are half a plea, despite being barely audible.

Clara's eyes snap up at the offer, widening in surprise that finally does loosen a touch of the control, and she drops the cushion to the ground to push closer and lean in. "But I don't even know if this is the right thing to do," she manages in a fairly broken murmur.

Niko carefully encircles you with his arms, movements as careful as though he's dealing with spun glass. "I wish I knew what to tell you," he says, mostly to the top of your head. "I really do. For that matter, I wish I knew what to tell me... the Chief..." He shakes his head very slowly. "This would be much easier if I liked him less. I wouldn't feel nearly so..." Then he cuts off his words, shaking his head once more.

Clara lets out a soft, mirthless laugh at this, the fingers of one hand clutching in the fabric of the t-shirt at your shoulder. "Oh, lord...Niko, he likes you too. Which is what makes this so awful. I can't put this kind of wedge between your friendship," she says, the finally few words almost suprised, as if it were a new thought.

Niko says softly, "Clara, if it's any consolation to you, I don't think he and I are friends. I mean... he's the -Chief-, and I'm just a 'good kid'. I guess he likes me, but friends? Come on." He shakes his head, seeming glad to be on this even slightly different topic.

Clara doesn't pull away, but does tilt her head up to give you a long and dubious look. "You're not a kid," she notes quietly. "I know that, he knows that. And he does, I can see that as easily as I can repair a perforated colon." Lovely metaphor. "Don't be upset with him, Niko. None of this is his fault."

Niko doesn't point out the sheer number of times that Riley's called him a good kid, even as recently as tonight. He also doesn't debate your statements, though his eyebrows speak his disagreement for him. "I don't blame him," he says quietly. "And I'm not upset with him--much." He folds his lips together tightly for a long moment, then says quietly, "None of this is anybody's fault."

Clara tucks her head back in at your shoulder, sighing. "Niko, it really isn't his fault. He's done nothing, I swear," she assures, almost fervently, then falls silent for a long time, only the faint sounds from Medbay outside filtering through the room. Finally, she asks, "Are you going to be all right?"

Niko nods slowly at the question. "In time. Yes." He is silent for a moment, then adds, "I don't blame him for what happened. I don't blame anybody." There's another pause, this one long enough for several heartbeats, and then he asks, "Where... where does this put -us-, though. Do you... I mean, until you figure out what you want... I could..." He takes a deep breath, in an attempt to rein in his tongue. "I could give you some room."

Clara glances up to regard you seriously, then ventures a sad smile. "The truth? Niko, I'm not the marrying type," she explains quietly, dropping her eyes again to simply lean against you and stare blankly at the far wall. "I've had my baby, and I don't want to do that again either. If I didn't think it would cause more problems that it would solve, I'd want to see both of you. As it is? I just don't know."

Niko shakes his head slowly, silent for a long moment. "I do not think," he says, clearly choosing his words with care, "That that would be a very good idea, trying to do that." With a quiet sigh, he adds, "As wonderful as it was--" Ooh, past tense, is that conscious? "--one date does not a wedding proposal make." Despite certain floofy-haired Crystal Singers. "I..." He shakes his head. "I don't know, Clara. If you don't mind, I think I'm going to go do some hiding of my own, now, maybe."

Clara lets out a soft, sad laugh at the first part. "I'm sorry," she apologizes. "I didn't mean to imply that it was...at all. Nor did I mean to pass judgment on your intentions. I was only clarifying my own situation." She pulls away quietly and nods, not quite able to look back. "I understand," she finally says.

Niko gets carefully to his feet, hand resting lightly on your shoulder, long enough to squeeze gently. "Don't stay up too late, okay? You've had a long day." And with that, he heads from the room, shoulders straight, head high. Isn't pretending wonderful?

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.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko pauses only long enough to tell Kramer, "Be nice to her tonight, okay?"

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:

Kyara

Tally Board

Obvious exits:

Chief's Office Brig Elevator Lounge

You arrive from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Kyara glances up from a half-finished pile of paperwork to give Niko a subdued nod. "I, uh, don't suppose you brought any soda with you?"

Niko comes in rather hurriedly, skidding to a halt when he spots Kyara. Then he goes to--oh, look, find a reason to be here--his mailbox! Yes! He's justified in checking out his mailbox. He shakes his head silently. "Sorry," he says quietly.

Kyara nods slightly, offering a tiny smile. "That is okay. It's not important."

Niko peers into his empty mailbox for a moment, then peers towards Riley's door. "Is he..." He seems to take a long moment searching for the right word. "Okay?" Master wordsmith tonight, that's our Niko.

Kyara pauses, apparently perusing the page before her. After a moment, she nods. "Indeed." She glances mildly toward Niko. "You needn't worry."

Niko shakes his head. "No," he corrects, "I think it's a good idea, just now, worrying." He pauses by Anya's desk, saying something quietly to her if she's actually there, then moves to lean against the wall by the exit. "She, uh, told me, Kya." There's a subtle tension about him, as if he's ready to flee the room at a moment's notice.

Kyara studies Niko for a moment, her tone a bit dubious. "Did she now?"

Niko's brows lift slightly. "Maybe we're talking about different things. Never mind." And with that, he beats a hasty retreat.

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.

SECURITY> Kyara blinks slightly. Hastily slipping down from her chair, she heads out after Niko, paperwork forgotten for the moment.

Kyara arrives from the Security Central.

Kyara has arrived.

You push the button.

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

Kyara waves, "Hey, wait up!"

From the elevator, The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

Niko mutters something about slow elevators and Zaeltans' tails. He turns just as the elevator doors open. "Yes?"

Niko maybe turns just as they close. Who knows, with these elevators?

Kyara slows to a halt, looking up at the officer. "What did she tell you, exactly?"

Niko shakes his head. "If you don't know already, it's not my place to share the information. But don't ask Clara, okay? She's having enough of a time as it is." And Niko looks really chipper, too. Really. Oh, hey, and there's some sand dunes in Appalachia...

Kyara looks more than a little frustrated. "I /hate/ impasses. I can't tell you, and you can't tell me... If we /are/ talking about the same thing, things would ease quite a lot around here, perhaps."

Niko mumbles something about iocaine powder, with a slight shake of his head. "Look... just do me a favor and give me a straight answer, please? I realize that's a really hypocritical request, but it's important. Is the Chief okay, really? I... think I know what the problem is, see, and while I'm definitely the last person who should discuss it with him, I still..." He does that odd, one-shouldered shrug. "I would have a better chance at sleeping tonight if I knew he was okay, if I could go tell Clara that. Or if somebody could. Like you."

Kyara hesitates, glancing toward Security, and takes a deep breath. "He /will/ be okay. Right now he's a little upset." She cocks her head, looking up at Niko. "I can do that," she says quietly.

Niko shakes his head. "If he's upset now, then he's not okay now, so don't tell her that." He takes a deep breath. "Sure, he'll be okay. Everybody'll be okay. Time heals all wounds, that sort of thing." He casts a long look towards security, then shakes his head. "Bad idea. But, man, is it going to be odd." he's speaking mostly to himself, seems like, for those last two sentences.

Kyara does just the slightest double take, hearing that phrase for the second time tonight. "No, I will convince her he is fine." Her eyes widen slightly, and fervently she shakes her head. "Do not go into his office. It's locked, and he wants to be alone."

Niko says very quietly, "Don't lie to her. She deserves better than that." And with that, he turns back to the elevator, seeming not even to react to the last statements.

Kyara sighs quietly. "I suppose you're right. Is she upset? I will talk to her if she is. Otherwise I will not. This rides the line between loyalty and betrayal on my part, Niko."

Niko turns back, hand poised over the button. "I think it could be said that she's upset, yes. If you can... help her, anything, I would be most grateful. Now... please excuse me." He finally does push the button.

You push the button.

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

You walk into the elevator.

Elevator

The elevator rides up and down in a glass shaft, overlooking the foliage of the atrium below. The motion is smooth, and each floor is marked with a delicate "ping" as the elevator arrives there.

A bank of round blue buttons on either side of the door has the numbers 1-4, and a button labeled "Below".

The doors are currently open, the direction arrow is pointing up and the dial above the doors points to 2.

Obvious exits:

Doors

2FLOOR> Niko has left.

2FLOOR> From the elevator, Niko has arrived.

The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

2FLOOR> From the elevator, The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

You push the button marked 3.

2FLOOR> Kyara bows slightly, glancing toward Medical. Taking a deep breath, she heads in to beard the lion in her den. Or something like that.

2FLOOR> Kyara heads towards the Medical Bay.

2FLOOR> Kyara has left.

MEDIC> Kyara arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

MEDIC> Kyara has arrived.

The elevator glides almost imperceptibly upward and goes "ping" as it reaches floor #3.

With a ping, the doors slide smoothly open.

3FLOOR> From the elevator, With a ping, the doors slide smoothly open.

You leave the elevator.

Third Floor Elevator Lounge

While it is as tastefully decorated as the other levels, this elevator lounge seems a bit more homey and less 'designed'. Perhaps it is because the occupants of this level, the Complex personnel, are less transient than the populations of the other two housing floors. Large area rugs are spread over the black marble floors to muffle the sound of footsteps. For some reason this level also lacks the occasional tasteful potted plants lurking in corners. A comfortable bench is set up along one wall, and over it is a corkboard of notices.

<< To see a directory of tenants, type +view corkboard >>

Obvious exits:

Elevator

You unlock the door and go into room N13.

Room N13

In this small, simple and efficient room, sunlight is piped in, down a reflective tube, from the upper levels. A sleeping unit pulls down from one wall. The desk does double duty as a dining area with two chairs and a cooking unit. Cupboards provide storage above and at the end of the desk, all closed to conceal their contents, near which is a cluster of opaque plasglass vials and a coffeemug. A small closet is tucked in next to the door, and a bathing unit is squeezed into the corner opposite. Everything is very neat, but, well, it'd have to be, with so little space, else there'd be chaos.

A few belongings make don't do much to make the room homey, but they do add some personality. A tidy stack of bibliodisks rest at the back corner of the desk, about evenly divided between fiction and nonfiction. One actual book is next to the bibliodisks: a narrow, battered leatherbound tome with no title along the spine and no markings on the cover. A trio of photocubes occupy the other back corner of the desk, their neat labels written in what looks to be some form of Greek script. There's also a much-faded (and +viewable) flat photo. Throw in a datapad, and you'll have the sum of Niko's posessions--at least, those that are visible.

The scent of spices can be discerned, albeit faintly, most notably cardamom and cinnamon.

Obvious exits:

Out

You come in from the Elevator Lounge.

You communicated "*odd sound like a clearing throat* Chief?" Wow, tentative isn't even the word. "Are you there?" to Riley.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "*startled tone. He'd thought this was switched off* Uh, yeah, Nick. What's up?"

You say "You don't have to comment on it or anything, but, uh, I thought you might want to know that... well, that Clara told me. Not knowing being evil and all, I thought I'd share the information." into the communit.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "*long pause. Big surprise huh?* Nick, I'm not about to get in the way, eh? Y'all are young, perfect for each other. I'm sorry things got a little confused, but I'm doing my damndest to stay out of y'all's way from now on."

You communicated "*equally long pause* Uh, Chief? I hate to be the one to break it to you--" And he doesn't mean that as a figure of speech, "--but she hasn't actually figured out what she wants. Besides... as wonderful as she is, I don't know that 'perfect' is really the word." to Riley.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "*This is making pausing into a cottage industry. See, now that was evil. Nick's gone and ruined Riley's neatly resolved world view* I've sat in these shoes before. She'll figure it out, Nick. Give her a chance and she'll be on your doorstep in no time."

[Travelspam deleted.]

Niko raps lightly on Riley's door, though he doesn't announce himself.

There's a pause. Cottage industry, I told you, before eventually the locked light goes off.

You walk towards the Chief Addison's Office.

Chief Addison's Office

This office is something of a haven from the chaos in security central. It only has one viewscreen, although there are controls to direct it to any of the observation lines. A large desk takes up the bulk of the room. It's a battered affair, and shows the signs of great age. It doesn't really fit in with the polished atmosphere of the Complex, but neither does the man it belongs to. Piles of paperwork, scattered datapads, and a lurking terminal take up the majority of the space on the desk, but somehow room has been found for several photocubes and a small plastic penguin. The floor is carpeted in institutional gray carpeting, and the walls are a slightly darker shade. It would be a dank hole of a room if it weren't for several large electronic maps on the wall, each aglow with various telltales and marker lights. In front of the desk are two uncomfortable chairs and one battered and exceedingly comfortable looking couch. A handful of bad noveldisks are piled at one end of the couch.

Contents:

Innocuous penguin

Riley

Obvious exits:

Central

You walk here from the Security Central.

Niko stops just inside the door. For once, he doesn't look tentative. He just looks tired, and there's a certain something about his eyes that... well, it's not very kidlike. "I'll leave if you like," he says quietly, "But I figured this way might be... well, not easier, but better."

Riley is slumped onto one end of the couch, a lapful of paperwork pretty much being ignored. His uniform jacket's unbuttoned and hangs loose. "Simpler at least. Nothing's ever easy." He gestures to the bottle of mostly untouched scotch on the table. "Have a drink."

Niko looks for a moment like he's going to refuse, then, with a shrug, locates a glass or a mug or something and pours a shot. "Nothing's ever easy," he echoes, lifting the mug in a toast, though he doesn't drink. He shakes his head, perching lightly on the edge of the desk. For a miracle, he does this without sending paperwork flying. The laws of physics shatter. "So," he says quietly, "What's your take on all this?"

"That I should bloody well learn to keep my nose out of things." Riley slumps further back against the sofa's corner. "Once, once I should have learned. But no, I went and did it -again-. I swear, look up 'Stupid Git' and they'll cross reference me. Nick, you're one of the best people I've ever had a chance to meet. You deserve your shot at living happily ever after."

Niko blinks for a few moments, stunned by any of a number of stunnable statements. Dang, Riley's better than a tangler, only Niko doesn't get that cute little horrified expression that the Denners got. After a moment, he does really the only thing he -can- do, which is toss back that drink. "Riley," he says, perhaps emboldened by this, the first drink he's had in quite some time, "Why does this have to be your fault? Why does this have to be -anybody's- fault?" He pauses a beat, then asks, sounding honestly puzzled on top of the shock, "Wait, this sounds wrong. Shouldn't you be saying this to -me-?"

"Fault?" Riley all but chokes on a humorless snicker. "Not my fault, no. I don't think anybody could peg this one on themselves. It's too blinking complicated. I just shoulda' known better than to go fallin' over folks I work with. You'd'a thought I'd learned with Anya, but I didn't. I'm not taking blame, I'm trying to point out I intend to do what I can to correct the situation insamuch that I can, seeing as it's Clara's feelings, not mine, eh? Anya and Tony got married and lived happily ever after. It worked before. It can work now."

If it isn't one thing, it's another. "Anya?" Niko eyes that bottle, then shakes his head, setting aside the glass. Passing a hand across his face, he says, "See, there's where you're wrong. She's not the marrying type. She told me as much, this evening." He casts another, slightly longer glance at the bottle. "So if you're thinking that she and I will get married and live happily ever after, you can just stop thinking it." And isn't it eating him alive to say these things?

"You don't have to be married to live happily ever after." And no, that bottle's barely touched. If Riley's drunk, it's not on that scotch.

Niko was thinking more about sampling more of the bottle's contents, actually. "Actually," he says quietly, "It's entirely possible that I do. I'm not sure. I... hadn't actually considered any other alternative."

Riley suggests quietly, "Feel free to hit that bottle again. S'long as I don't have to carry you upstairs you're welcome to as much as you like. It's about all that's left of the Aslan. And this and a starship's destruction have a lot of similarities. When the Aslan went... Some people were literally crushed to the point of no return. Suits were useless. But about half a crate of scotch that'd been sitting in Honalee's place? Not a scratch."

Niko shakes his head, eyeing the bottle with new respect. (Gee, that sounds a little odd, referring to alcohol.) "S'okay, thanks. I'm not as used to it as I was. Probably not a good idea."

Riley lifts his shoulders in something of a shrug. "Probably best. I've had... um.. two and a half shots? Most I've had to drink at one time since I was your age. There was the temptation to get really drunk. But that'd be running. And this is still my office, running in here... S'wrong somehow."

Niko's lips twist just a bit at 'since I was your age'. "Wrong," he agrees quietly. "Yes. You're right." Of course, he doesn't say how big a fan he is from running away from this situation. Taking a deep breath, he adds, "I think we both want pretty much the same thing here, right? We want her to be happy."

For once there's no pause, Riley nods emphaticly, hands on the paperwork in his hands. "More than anything in the world, yeah."

Niko nods as well, gaze thoughtful. "Well, then," he says quietly. "There we go. So once she figures out what--who--she wants..."

Riley nods, carefully unscrewing the parts of a pen. "Yeah, but if we make the decision a little easier on her, eh? Y'all should be together. Like in all the stories, eh?"

Niko casts a vaguely irritated look at you. "Quit that. Your nobility is getting in the way of my nobility. We're going to get ermine all over the floor." Shaking his head, he adds, sounding more tired than anything else, "Why don't you just admit that you've got a fighting chance--why else would she even mention it to me--and let -her- decide. You make the decision for her, and none of us would ever know if she was with me because that's what she wanted or because you weren't available."

Riley actually -glances at the floor-. As if, by some excessively random chance, he's going to see ermine. "I do hope not." And for once his tone is nearly normal, "They'd argue so with the minks under the couch." He bites back on a choked noise of some variety. "Because Nick, I bloody respect you too much to be in this situation. This is not the Peesh be-damned Dating Game and if -anybody- asks me about popsicles I will do something rash."

Niko slides his feet a little farther from the couch, just in case, then pauses at the r-word, looking entirely stunned for a moment. "Really?" he stammers. No, that isn't in relation to whether this is the Dating Game, no matter how many times Peesh has be-damned it. And, of course, now Niko's scarred. He'll never be able to eat popsicles, never ever again.

Riley is thrown out of his contemplation of rash behavior at that. "Really what?"

Niko shakes his head. He's not going to -say- it. What if he's wrong, and misheard it. "Never mind," he says, though he's still got that whole poleaxed look about him. He adds, mostly to himself, "Whaddya know? Maybe she was right, after all."

Riley looks excessively confused. "What am I never minding? And who's right about what?" He reconsiders his last statement, "Popsicles? Me respecting you too much?"

Ooh, you said it again. "Too much," Niko says slowly. "Huh. Here I thought... well, no, I didn't think. Didn't even -consider-." Maybe the alcohol's hit him, or maybe the fact that he's spent the last month in the wilderness with Guido, but it takes him a moment to come up with a coherent sentence. When he finally manages one, it should hopefully be enlightening. "'Good kid'. That's what I thought you thought, see. Not -respect-."

Riley blinks a few times, "'Good kid' is something of an easy handle on it, but yes Nick, I respect you very much. You've caught everything the Complex has thrown and handled it a lot better than a lot of folks twice your age. You have a head on your shoulders, and an ability to keep cool that I envy you something awful."

Niko just stares at you for a moment or two, then, oddly, dissolves into quiet laughter. "Thank you," he manages after a moment. "I'm sorry. That's really not the reaction I would've planned, if I'd planned anything. It's just... hoo. What a day for bombshells. This just takes the cake. And to think," he adds, the quiet chuckling beginning once more, "I was -bored- up there in the Monoliths. Well, when the paint wasn't hitting. That was singularly unboring. The next time I complain of boredom, though, please make sure somebody smacks me." He pauses a beat. "Except Guido."

Riley's reply is a little lost in confusion. "I think that can be arranged. I'll tell Anya. She'll remember to do it. She doesn't forget things."

Niko nods very slowly. "Anya's always right." It's kind of a knee-jerk reaction, by now. "She'll remember. As long as it's not Guido." He blinks a few times, then inquires, "What -does- happen to a person who takes a photo off the board?"

Riley's eyes widen in mild horror, "You didn't, did you?"

Niko blinks, and shakes his head slowly back and forth. "She caught me right before I did. Threatened... something, only she didn't say what." He looks a bit wary. "Do I not want to know?"

Riley looks decidedly relieved, "It involves cleaning the whole tunnel system with a bottle brush. And that's just for starters. I might could've gotten you off on being innocent of the penalty, but it'd've been a near thing."

Niko makes a strangled noise that somehow, somewhere, could -maybe- be reproduced as 'ack', but that lone syllable doesn't have quite enough emphasis. "That," he says slowly, "Is evil. As long as I can brick up Guido's mouth, I think it'll be okay."

"Just mention crickets." Riley offers with the ghost of a devious grin. "It'll shut him up right quick."

Niko's brows lift very slowly. "Crickets, eh? I'll have to remember that." An equally slow smile crosses his face, yes, folks, Niko's in slow-motion. "Thanks, Riley." Ooh, it slipped out again.

"Thank you Nick." Riley replies tiredly. "For being you, and for using my actual name -twice- tonight."

SECURITY> Kyara walks slowly into Security, paling with every step. Steeling herself, she knocks on the door to the Chief's office just loudly enough to be heard inside, but not loud enough to disturb anyone sleeping in there.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

SECURITY> The green light's on, indicating it's fine to come in.

SECURITY> Kyara doesn't take chances in times like these. :)

Kyara walks here from the Security Central.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko blinks a few times. You can almost -see- him counting. One... two... "Oh." His brows lower just a bit. "But I thought... I mean, I -think- you said not to call you that." Okay, he's got things just a little jumbled, but that's excusable, considering the hour and the day it's been. He peers over at the sound of the knock, then back to you. "Magazine salesman? At this time of night?" No, he doesn't see Kya.

Riley shakes his head, "I never said not to call me Riley. I suggested calling me Chief, cause most folks who work for me do. Doesn't mean I have to like it any. It's nice to have a name." He offers Kyara something of a wave, "Hey Kya."

Kyara smiles weakly as she makes her way in. "Um, hi." She nods to Niko. "I talked to her."

Niko blinks at Riley for a moment. If this were a cartoon, a lightbulb would appear over his head. "Oh. All right. I'll try to remember that, assuming I remember any of this conversation tomorrow." He blinks at Kya, as well. "Is she... how is she?"

Riley's brows lift a bit, "Talked... to her? Is she o..." He trails off glancing guiltily at Niko.

Kyara clears her throat. "She's, um, stunned. Yes, stunned would describe our good doctor very well right now. She said she has a lot to think about." /P>

Niko nods very slowly, something very like a sigh escaping his lips. "Poor lady," he murmurs, rubbing at his eyes with the thumb and first finger of his left hand.

Riley continues taking that pen apart, it's long past component parts and is worked down to bent metal by now. "Is she gonna be okay though?"

Kyara rubs at the back of her neck. "I think so. At least, I think I've got her convinced not to leave for now, at any rate."

And the bottom drops out of Niko's apple cart. "Leave?" It's very quiet, but with shock that would be at home in a much higher decibel level. "For now?' Niko should be renamed 'Echo Valley', or something like that.

The pieces of pen scatter out of Riley's hands. Sliding off the paperwork they clink quietly on the floor. "But, but, no..."

Kyara blinks, first at Niko, then at Riley, and seems to regain her confidence a bit. "Whoa. Down, boys. I yelled at her, let her know that'd be a bad idea."

Niko takes a moment or two to practice breathing. "Good," he says quietly. "Very very good. Thank you, Kya. You should get... something good. I can't think of something just now, though. Maybe a grovel, I dunno."

The sheer idea of it's horrifying enough however, and despite reassurance Riley looks like he's taken another board to the back of the head. "Twice," he murmurs, "That's twice she's wanted to. But, I didn't mean... She..."

Kyara winces slightly. "Well, hopefully this makes up for the mistakes I made."

"Mistakes?" Riley sounds all the more confused. "Which mistakes?"

Niko peers between Riley and Kyara. "Good question," he murmurs to the former. "Or maybe that was two questions." Yes, folks, Niko has turned into the Count from Sesame Street. One, two, -two- questions. Ahahahahaha!

Kyara stammers, the look she gives Riley frankly scared. "I didn't know, I swear... I thought she knew."

Riley looks very confused, rubbing at his eyes with the palms of his hands, "Kya, I've had just enough alcohol to be able to feel it, and I haven't slept decently in an age. Out of kindness, could you explain using small and basic concepts that even very confused security goons can understand?"

Niko can do 'security goon'. For just a moment, he almost looks pleased, but then he slides down from his perch on Riley's desk, stands up to his full height, does his best to tower, folds his arms over his chest, and says, "Yeah."

Kyara almost giggles at that. Almost. "I told her you love her, Riley. I, I thought she already knew- everybody else does! But she didn't." She finishes very quietly, "She says that gives her a lot more to think about."

"She didn't know?" Riley's words are very quiet. "Oh."

Niko blinks quite a few times at that, something about his expression suggesting that 'everybody else does' was not quite an accurate statement. He doesn't say anything, though, instead leaning against Riley's desk. It's there. It's convenient.

Kyara nods slowly, looking relieved though the glance she gives Niko is more than a little puzzled. "Isn't that what all this is about? That you both love her and she loves both of you and you know what? Y'all are a very confusing people."

"I don't know that I'd say she's in love with either of us," Riley ventures.

Niko nods a slow agreement to Riley's words. "And please remember when I found out about this situation, Kyara, and from whom. As you said, she didn't know. How was she supposed to tell me?"

Kyara looks rather bewildered. "Yes," she mutters, "Very confusing."

"Not to mention, she never said -anything- to me." Riley notes, abashed. "There was a whole lot left as an excercise for the reader. It was kind of an assumption that it wasn't all right to talk about."

Niko nods his agreement to Riley. "I think she wouldn't have even said anything to me, except--" There's a sound that isn't quite a laugh, "I suggested that she come talk with you about whatever was bothering you both. I guess that struck some sort of nerve, imagine that."

Kyara turns slowly to face Niko. "What'd you mean, exactly, preferrably word for word, when you said she told you?"

Riley snags a couch pillow, tugging at the trim on it. Nervous energy's what's keeping him upright.

Oh, see, this means Niko has to -remember-, and that's a difficult thing. "She said," he says, drawing out the words as he attempts to speed up his thought processes, "That she was attracted to two men at the same time. Something along those lines."

Kyara asks slowly, "But she didn't say which two men?" She turns to stare at Riley. "So I've been pushing you at her, and her at you, for nothing?"

This poor pillow is looking a lot harassed, "Pardon?" <- Riley

Niko shakes his head, lifting a hand to rub at his eyes. "I clarified it, Kya," he says dully. "I asked. She said." He gestures towards Riley. "I'd say something about bachelor number two, but that'd likely get something evil done to me." He mumbles about popsicles.

Kyara is pretty sure she doesn't want to know about the popsicles. "I've been plotting for days for you to end up mates, and I've become quite frustrated in the process too." She nods wearily to Niko. "Then we /were/ talking about the same thing."

"Plotting?" If Riley were any less exhausted, that would probably be an angry question. As it is it merely comes out rather lost sounding.

Niko just stares at Kyara. "Plotting?" It's said a beat behind Riley. In another minute, he -is- going to get angry.

Kyara nods, not realizing that only exhaustion is momentarily saving her. "Well, perhaps 'plotting' isn't the correct word. Matchmaking, perhaps."

"Kya," Riley sounds hurt now, uh-oh... "Did it ever occur to you that might be cruel?"

Niko does not look any closer to pleased. His fisted hands find their way to his pockets, and his jaw sets. It looks, matter of fact, like he's trying to see just how much force is required to shatter teeth.

Kyara shrinks back, eyes widening. "Cruel? I only wanted you to be happy, and Clara too!" Her sudden look of horror as she glances toward Niko might reveal that she'd completely forgotten about that particular officer's feelings in all this.

Niko says, very quietly, "I think I should leave." He murmurs some vague politeness to Riley, and heads for the exit, not meeting Kyara's gaze.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Riley does not attempt to stop Niko. On one hand, he understands the other man's situation. And because it's six am and Jess probably wants to sleep. "Kya, didn't you -think-? How could you forget Nick?"

Kyara winces hard, much paler than usual. "I don't know... he was gone and..." No, no, this is the time for her to shut up before compounding the problem furthur. Which she does. Shut up, that is. On that line of thought, at any rate. "Niko, no! Please..."

Niko's shoulders hunch, but he doesn't stop walking. Seeing as how his legs are longer than Kyara's, he likely beats her to the door. Assuming that, he exits, and.... well, he probably doesn't -mean- to close the door with such force. It just sort of happens.

You walk 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 walk here from the Chief Addison's Office.

Niko tries to look collected in the face of the looks of surprise from the on-duty guards. "Uh. Stress-testing."

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.

SECURITY> Niko heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

SECURITY> Niko has left.

You communicated "Sorry about the door, Chief. It slipped. Or something." to Riley.

You use your security clearance to access a small hatch. Behind it is a stairtube to the third level that you ascend.

Third Floor Elevator Lounge

While it is as tastefully decorated as the other levels, this elevator lounge seems a bit more homey and less 'designed'. Perhaps it is because the occupants of this level, the Complex personnel, are less transient than the populations of the other two housing floors. Large area rugs are spread over the black marble floors to muffle the sound of footsteps. For some reason this level also lacks the occasional tasteful potted plants lurking in corners. A comfortable bench is set up along one wall, and over it is a corkboard of notices.

<< To see a directory of tenants, type +view corkboard >>

Obvious exits:

Elevator

You unlock the door and go into room N13.

Room N13

In this small, simple and efficient room, sunlight is piped in, down a reflective tube, from the upper levels. A sleeping unit pulls down from one wall. The desk does double duty as a dining area with two chairs and a cooking unit. Cupboards provide storage above and at the end of the desk, all closed to conceal their contents, near which is a cluster of opaque plasglass vials and a coffeemug. A small closet is tucked in next to the door, and a bathing unit is squeezed into the corner opposite. Everything is very neat, but, well, it'd have to be, with so little space, else there'd be chaos.

A few belongings make don't do much to make the room homey, but they do add some personality. A tidy stack of bibliodisks rest at the back corner of the desk, about evenly divided between fiction and nonfiction. One actual book is next to the bibliodisks: a narrow, battered leatherbound tome with no title along the spine and no markings on the cover. A trio of photocubes occupy the other back corner of the desk, their neat labels written in what looks to be some form of Greek script. There's also a much-faded (and +viewable) flat photo. Throw in a datapad, and you'll have the sum of Niko's posessions--at least, those that are visible.

The scent of spices can be discerned, albeit faintly, most notably cardamom and cinnamon.

Obvious exits:

Out

You come in from the Elevator Lounge.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "No harm no foul. I appreciate that you had enough restraint to leave it on its hinges."

You communicated "*some sort of mumble about what Anya would do to him if she came back and the door was gone.* Uh, hinges are good. Yeah." to Riley.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "And I appreciate the lack of bloodstains left in my office."

You communicated "*long pause* That, Riley, is why I left when I did. Do me a favor, please? Tell her to stay the hell away from me. I can't really promise a lack of bloodstains in the future." to Riley.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "I'm warning her off."

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