1/10/99

Riley perches on the corner of Anya's desk, leafing through the pile of plasfilm messages and such she's handed him. Anya moves as if to make a complaint, although it's unclear whether about his unorthodox footgear or his choice of seating. Then she gives the pile a quick glance and holds her tongue. Still leafing through the mix of messages and interoffice mail Riley asks, "Anya, oh most wonderful and almighty, could I have my keys? I need to get Niko a security radio." Anya glances from the pile to Niko, looking uncertain.

Niko still looks mildly puzzled about the whole Kyara deal, so he's likely not the most confidence-inspiring sight. As he spots Anya's glance, however, he straightens, not quite at attention but pretty darn close. He doesn't say anything, though, except to flicker a look at Riley. He's the boss, after all.

Ahh, there would be the source of Anya's uncertainty. Buried in the pile is a thick official looking envelope. Riley pauses a moment, expressionless. After a beat he just sighs, "-Another- official censure, joy." Looking faintly nervous he sets the other stuff aside to pull it open. Scanning the enclosed document he looks relieved, "Another halfblack."

At that Anya looks relieved as well, and rummages in a pocket to hand Riley a ring of keys, "I want these back this time, Boss. They're not supposed to leave Security Central."

Niko's brows lift. He mutters to himself, "... get fifteen?" He doesn't comment other than that, though, gaze doing a lovely game of pingpong between Anya and Riley.

Riley offers Niko an abashed grin, "Sorry, one bout with administrative punishment's made me a little paranoid about gray envelopes." He stuffs said envelope into his pocket, "For the card in the elevator, Anya," he explains, taking the keys, "And of course I'll give them right back. Anya is God, I remember." He slides off the edge of the desk, heading to a vault door near the back of the room.

Niko nods quickly at that, an expression that is most definitely not a smile crossing his face. He remains where he is, though he does peer after Riley, towards the vault. "Of course, Chief. Perfectly understandable."

Riley runs therough the gambit to get into this vault. The key, palm print, retina scan, voice print, you name it. He rummages amongst various lucite boxes and comes out with a small one. Relocking the vault he returns, handing Anya the keyring. Leaning over and abducting Anya's terminal he types in the code off the box and then some other information. Funny, Anya doesn't look pleased. She pokes him in the ribs, "Git, Boss. You have one of your own, no need to steal everybody elses."

Riley offers Anya an apologetic look, offering Niko the box. "It's registered to you now. You're on channel 82B. It may take a bit of getting used to. Oh and, whatever you do," he grins, "Try to remember to take it out before you go to bed."

Niko really can't help but grin as he takes the box and opens it. "Thanks Chief. I'll try, but I get the idea that forgetting once will make it much easier to remember in the future."

Anya shakes her head and notes dryly, "Not necessarily. The Chief forgets fairly regularly."

Riley looks mildly embarrassed, "It's easy to forget! Although yes, you would think being woken out of a sound sleep by a security alert tone -right- in your ear would be instructional."

Niko manages not to look vastly amused by Anya's statement and Riley's response, but that's likely mostly because he's exploring the radio. After a few adjustments of the controls, he slips it into his ear. "I'm sure I'll do it, too," he says amiably.

"You probably will, yes." Anya doesn't have much faith, does she? Or perhaps she's just a realist.

Riley glances your way with mild amusement, "Anya's no fun, doesn't understand the joy of toys see." He ducks the pen hurled in his direction, "I just wish we had the budget for everybody to be issued one. They've saved hides often enough."

Niko flashes an amused grin towards Anya, though he makes no comments about her vote of confidence, instead scooping up the pen and offering it to her. "I can see how they'd be useful, of course, beyond the snide comment factor."

Anya flashes Niko a grin, retaking her pen. Oh she'll keep this one. He re-arms her. Riley on the other hand keeps a wary eye on the pen, well at least until he turns back to nod at Niko. "It's how we keep the whole place organized and on track. Makes us look smarter than we a-ack!" This is of course as Anya's pen smacks into the back of his head. "Makes us looks smarter than all of us are except Anya of course."

Niko, good flunky that he is, gets the pen once more. "Nice shot," he comments to Anya, as he offers it to her. He isn't laughing, but he's obviously amused, as the gleam of his eyes suggests. He does, however, agree, "Of course," to Riley. He adds the obligatory, "Anya is always right."

Riley rubs at the back of his head, giving Anya a mildly betrayed look. Anya knows better of course and just accepts her pen with a smug look. Riley shakes his head with a quick grin at that, "Always right and abusive. Vicious evil woman," his tone is find even if his words are not. "Speaking of the pathetic budget, I shall have to bribe Honalee into helping before she leaves. She's much better at begging letters than I am, and she'll have hit mandatory retirement age before Budget season hits again, and I don't know if her successor's likely to be bribeable into doing my paperwork for Marachan Gin."

Niko shakes his head fractionally. "You can try?" he suggests. "Does she have any idea who'll be taking over once she's moved on?"

Riley lifts both shoulders a measure, "If she has, she hasn't told me. But then both of us have been rather busy of late, and the last time I had anytime to yammer we spent it cheating at cards. I'll find out -eventually- I suppose." He snickers, "Considering theoretically I have to approve whoever it is. I guess I oughta' go venture into her lair sometime and ask."

Niko inclines his head at that, with a quick grin. "Mm. Probably, yes, Chief. Will she be stepping down soon?"

Riley looks less than pleased as he nods, "Probably before the Intergnuum's over at this rate. Peesh, I'll miss the wench. She's intending to go back home after they kick her out."

Niko nods thoughtfully, though not without a look of sympathy. This is, after all, a guy who recently left everybody he knows yet again. "Well you could always go..." He eyes the stack of messages. "Cancel that. Maybe -she'll- visit."

Riley rummages through the messages, snagging two out of the pile and pitching the rest into a garbage can. "Honalee doesn't come into security." At Anya's sidelong eyebrow raised glance he adds, "Often at least. There've been a couple odd occasions. We generally stay out of each others territory." He pauses, grinning, "We could go over there to ask though? I could hide behind you and you can have the new lady bat her eyelashes at you some more."

Niko starts to explain something, then shakes his head, saying simply, "It's tough to hide behind someone who is shorter than you are. Folks generally see you anyway." He doesn't comment on the rest, though he does grin, clearly at least a little pleased.

"It never stops him from trying to hide behind -me-." And Anya's no better than five foot four.

Riley just shrugs, making no comment on hiding behind Anya, "True enough, okay, you can hide behind me and bat your eyelashes at the lady instead?"

Niko grins brightly towards Anya, then shakes his head at Riley, still amused. "Chief, the whole eyelash-batting thing would be totally wasted if I were standing behind you. I'll go with you, if you like, but without hiding. Can't say as I'd mind chatting up Clara, after all."

Grinning, Riley pockets the kept messages, stuffing them in the same pocket as the gray envelope. "Let's go then, add a little havoc to everyone's day."

Niko nods affably. "Share the excitement, that sort of thing. Sounds like a plan. See you in a bit, Anya."

Anya hmphs quietly, turning to her terminal. "You boys have fun. Oh, and Chief? Lexington's attempting to get an appointment." At Riley's raised eyebrows she nods, "Yeah I know, an appointment instead of barging in. It's very surreal."

Riley just shakes his head, "I -don't- want to know. C'mon Niko, let's be daring and brave Medbay."

Riley heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Riley has left.

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.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Elevator General Housing Library Security Maintenance Medical

You arrive from the Security Central.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Riley heads towards the Medical Bay.

Riley has left.

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.

Riley, standing by the door.

Clara, harassing folks into getting better

Obvious Exits:

Elevator Lounge

You arrive from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Riley edges around the door, looking about nervously a moment. This is the land of evil after all. Proceed cautiously, and be prepared to flee at a moment's notice. Thankfully he's wearing running shoes, and hence could make good time if needed. Looking around for someone familiar who's not likely to tie him to something, he waves to Clara.

Clara is over at one of the bioscan areas, running a device over a little girl's arm, who in turn is giggling madly, her mother nearby as well. "Now you just keep watch out for any evil old trees who call out for you to climb them, eh?" She grins up at the mother and helps the girl down. "Bring her back in a week, will you? She should be fine, though." The mother offers her thanks and heads out, nodding at the men on the way out, and Clara turns, brow lifted. "Welll...gentlemen! What a pleasant surprise. Here for your yearly exams?"

Niko grins at the mother and daughter as they pass, then murmurs to Riley, "If you really do want to hide, Chief, it's okay." Lifting a hand towards Clara, he says pleasantly, "I've not been here even remotely that long, Clara."

Oh no, Riley's not -that- easily caught. He's managed to avoid regular physicals entirely since getting here, although his medical record isn't exactly empty... He offers Niko a sidelong look of amusement, "See me overflowing with thanks, Nick?" He shakes his head, "No, we came on an information gathering mission."

Clara restows the resonator on a tray of instruments and moves to lean against the front edge of her desk, arms folded as she purses her lips. "Someday, Chief...someday," she murmurs, then nods. "Gather away, then. How can I be of service?"

Niko grins innocently to Riley. "Just trying to be helpful, Chief," he murmurs. He moves away from the door, the better to avoid being a traffic hazard, but lets Riley pose the questions. He does not, it may be noted, do any eyelash-batting.

"Yeah, when you lot finally manage to import tranq guns maybe," Riley offers without ire, grinning cheerfully. "I figured I'd come bug Honalee about her successor and bribeabilty factors."

Glancing back towards the hallway of private offices, Clara assumes a congenial, completely innocent grin. "Aaah bribes. The barter of an advanced society." She pushes away from the desk. "I'll just check and see if she's still in her office, or slipped out the back way, then, and you can talk to her about it."

Riley erks softly, glancing around nervously again. He has to make sure of the exits after all. "Um, no, that's not entirely necessary. I uh, don't guess you could tell us if she's picked anybody, if you know?"

Clara pauses in her walk back to the hallway, then turns slowly, that sweet and innocent smile still in place, although she doesn't flutter her eyelashes either. "We've discussed it a bit," she admits vaguely. Heading back towards her desk, she asks, "Can I get either of you gentlemen something to drink? Soda? Java?"

Niko ambles to a waiting-area kind of seat, looking rather more at ease than Riley does. He smiles towards Clara, with a slight shake of his head. "No, thanks. I'm fine."

Riley has not gotten on at the Complex this long by trusting smiling medics. "Um, no thanks. The last time I accepted anything to drink in MedBay, it had something unrequested in it. Not that I distrust you Clara," Okay, he does, it's that innocent look he's fearing, "But it's better to be safe than sorry. You've discussed it?"

Clara snorts in amusement and obtains a mug of her usual sludge from the synthesizer before coming back around to half sit on the front corner of her desk. "Please, Chief, relax. Niko's got the right idea. Pull up a chair...I promise not to tranq you...tonight," she adds with a small smirk. "Yes, we discussed it. She's spent some time searching records and files for someone gullible enough for the position."

Niko has by now mastered the art of relaxing when he can, though he's still displaying annoyingly good posture. Clara's remarks elicit an amused grin, and a slight shake of his head. He mutters to himself, "Have... be... gullible... maybe nuts..."

Riley may be paranoid, but he also spends enough time on his feet suring the day to know better than to look a gift chair in the mouth. He slides into a chair as well, crossing one ankle over the other and relaxing into the bucket-esque seat. "Gullible enough? Gullible's good, more likely to be bribable into helping me write those horrendous budget requests."

"Nuts?" Clara repeats to Niko, lips quirking before she takes a long sip, considering this. "Nuts. Yeah, that's probably a good word. She did mention the rest of the staff would likely be tickled, since no one here wants the job. Just how bad are those budget reports?" she queries blandly.

Riley looks rather sheepish, shrugging. "It depends on your talents I guess. For me they're the bane of my existance. I can't seem to write letters with the appropriate mix of dignity and grovelling requesting money. Honalee's quite good at them. I've been bribing her for years into helping. That's uh, what started the speculation as to her replacement."

It takes a moment or two for comprehension to strike, but when it does, Niko looks rather chagrined. He murmurs an abashed, "Congratulations," though his tone is more one that combines sympathy and apology.

Clara winks at Niko briefly, murmuring, "Thanks," before nodding again. "It takes a good mix of flattery and a touch of humor. We used to have to petition for even half the supplies we needed at Cannerton, and the company clerk was lousy at it."

Obviously Riley didn't catch it. He blinks at Niko, and then back to Clara. He may be slow, but he's not stupid. He figures it out, "You're her replacement, Clara?" His tone is a mixture of pleasure and apprehension. On one hand, Clara seems nice enough, but on the other she's a sneaky evil wench.

Clara reaches back to set her mug on the desc, then refolds her arms and quirks her brows at both men above a benign smile. "Replacement part L=27907, that's me," she agrees affably. "Specializing in xenibiological surgery, counseling, bad puns, and pens that squirt water. And budget petitions, although I didn't know Colonel Jensen put -that- in my file, either. Sneaky old rat."

Hey, she may be sneaky and evil, but if she can write the evil budget petitions, Riley's all for this. "I'm not even going to bother with congratulations, I'll just offer my condolences. Although I'll have to give Honalee a cookie for finding somebody as well suited for the job then." I mean how much more neatly could Clara fit? She does budgets, surgery, and is available for Niko to flutter his eyelashes at! "There seem to be a lot of sneaky folks involved in this."

Niko has not yet fluttered his eyelashes, it may be noted. His eyebrows, however, twitch upwards. "That's not a bad thing, though," he murmurs, with the faintest of grins. He may not be sneaky--or maybe he is--but that doesn't mean he doesn't approve of sneakiness.

Clara is just multi-talented, what can she say? She hoists herself the rest of the way onto her desk, leaning forward on her hands and swinging her feet idly. "Mmm. I'm still deciding on well-suited, but I'm here on orders, gentlemen. When duty calls, and all that rot." She flashes a grin at Niko. "Sneakiness is an added benefit. Whoopee cushions and bad puns go right along with it."

Niko eyes the chairs, perhaps seeking whoopie cushions. "That must be why I'm not a fan of the puns," he murmurs. He nods about the orders-related comment, however, in apparent agreement.

Riley tucks his hands in his pockets, fumbling with the envelope stuffed in one of them. "Maybe I can solicit ideas. Whoopee cushion related ones, that is." No, he doesn't learn.

Clara lets out a low laugh, eyes dancing. "I promise not to punish you too terribly much then, Niko. And don't worry...Med Bay is safe." One brow quirks up at Riley as she cants her head to the left. "You want a whoopee cushion, Chief? I don't actually -have- any right now, but I can work something up..."

Niko says mildly, "Chief, at this rate you're going to get sixteen before the week is out."

Riley starts to reply to Clara, but then pulls himself up short at Niko's comment. "Ah, uh, yes. True enough." He looks slightly chagrined, "It's just far too easy to get on a roll. And it's not like I have any dignity left for him to have them strip me of. See, it's a bad thing to play one's last card, cause if your enemy has nothing to lose..." He grins rather deviously. "Ah well, I should lay off though a bit. If for no other reason than it'll make him paranoid."
Clara's gaze flickers from one tall security man to the other, the gears almost visibly turning behind them. After a moment, she queries simply, "Kensington?"

Riley nods simply, reaching up to rub idly at the back of his neck, pulling up the high collar of the unform jacket. "Lexington." He agrees. "I don't start fights. But I don't fail to finish them either. He'll apologize or continue to have to wrangle with me. The lines are neatly drawn."

Clara opens her mouth as if about to say something, then shuts it and glances at Niko almost in a query before pursing her lips. "I can see that," she agrees. "And you're right...laying off for a time will drive him nuts. 'Smile...it makes your enemies wonder what you're up to'."

Niko just nods at Riley's words. Clara's look elicits a query in response, brows lifting to give his eyes a chance to breath without all that hair looming quite so closely.

Interesting that those querying looks never go to the person who could actually explain. But that's the way of things. Riley nods amiably, "True enough. I'm just hoping he doesn't get elected Chairman. I don't think it's likely mind, but if he did I'd have to get sneaky real fast."

Clara gives Niko a small headshake of 'never mind', then chuckles. Non verbal communication never works the way it should anyway. "What about Emereen?" she asks, referring to one of the Edreeni councilors. "He's got the qualifications..." She grimaces sheepishly and leans over to pat her terminal. "Good databanks here."

Riley grins amiably, "I wouldn't mind that. The Edreeni have a sense of humor about these things as a whole." He lifts his shoulders, "But it's all politics, I have no idea who'll rally the support to get picked."

Niko brushes lightly at his pants, another of those invisible dust maneuvers. "We'll see," he says slowly. "It'll happen on its own, after all. It'll be..." Yes, here it comes. "Interesting."

"So long as Med Bay stays clear of the fuss," Clara replies with a grin, "we're all good. We'll just set up the assassination antidote shop until the whole ballyhoo is over. Which brings me to a point I've been meaning to ask. Do you fellas want a report if we get patients in here for that?"

Riley all but chokes on a snicker at Niko's choice of wordage. "We ought to keep a tallyboard, Nick. Of the sheer number of times you use -that- word." He pauses a beat and then nods to Clara, "Most folks report with us as well, but if you get any unreported calls, we'd very much appreciate a nod our way."

Niko's lips quirk fractionally. "It makes more sense in Hellenic, Chief," he murmurs, with a nod for Riley's answer to Clara.

"The whole place is gonna fill up with tallyboards eventually," Clara murmurs with a wink at Niko. "Don't let him get your goat, tiger. It -is- interesting. And it'll get a whole lot more interestng depending on how the situation develops. It'll all balance out in the end."

Riley can't help it, he turns to Niko and mouths, 'Tiger' questioningly. Now he's directing questions at the wrong people.

Niko blinks at Clara's form of address. "Tiger," he says slowly. "Huh. That's one I've not gotten before." Catching Riley's look after he speaks, he lifts his shoulders in an eloquent shrug, dark eyes both puzzled and amused.

Clara casually reaches back for her mug again, then makes a face at it. "Mmm. Cold," she announces, then lifts a purely innocent look to both men. "Can't imagine why not. Now, you mentioned something about a bribe, Chief?"

Riley pauses a moment, contemplating, "Can I trade Niko for absolution from exams?"

Niko protests, with a laugh, "Hey, now, Chief. If you do that, Anya'll have to find someone else for my job."

Clara laughs as well, shaking her head. "Unless he's a nurse, he's prolly better on your side. You're welcome to come visit whenever, though, Niko. Sorry, no deal." She hops off the desk, pretending to look around. "Now where -did- I put that tranq gun...?"

Riley erks quietly, all but scrambling up and out of the chair, "Uh, okay, maybe not. But can you blame me for trying?"

Niko is either trusting or stupid, or maybe both. He remains in his chair, watching Riley with veiled amusement. "I can," he murmurs.

"Ah hah!" Clara cries triumphantly, nudging back her lab coat and tugging something out of a holster on her belt rapidly...a scanner. She winks with a grin and shakes her head. "Me too, and be aware, Addison. I've seen your med records. And I'm really a very nice person when it comes to exams."

Riley drops back into the chair at the weilding of the scanner, looking relieved. "I've never managed to bribe Honalee into marking them as done, I should have known better. Still, are you bribable in regards to budget reports?"

Clara reholsters the scanner and half sits on the corner of her desk again, looking satisfied. "And you won't bribe me out of them, either. But I am most certainly bribable on the reports. What did you have in mind, and does it involve those lovely dress uniforms?" she asks casually, examining her fingernails.

Niko coughs once. Yes, he coughs. He does not under any circumstances laugh. Really. "I think you're in trouble, Chief."

Riley looks decidedly disturbed, glancing back towards the back. "Yeesh, Honalee at least only wanted Marachan Gin. Nick, I think you may be right. Uh, oh nice Clara person who is not at all evil, could we perhaps come up with an arrangement that doesn't involve humiliation?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara bursts into laughter, dropping her hand and rolling her eyes at both men. "I was -joking-, fellas. Lighten up. I'm about as much a fan of dress grays as you are, although I admit the men look better in them. I'll settle for both of you coming in for exams on time?" she offers to start the negotiations.

"That's not a bribe, that's general cruelty." Of course Riley objects to that particular suggestion, "Howabout -he- shows up for exams on time." This is said with a gesture towards Niko. Sacrificing pawns is a time honored tradition.

Clara makes a frustrated noise. "And naturally they took my blaster at customs," she half mutters at the ceiling in amusement. She drops her head to beam at Niko. "Why, thank you! And for that, I promise not to point any of them at you. But you, Chief...really. Just one? C'mon...it won't hurt," she wheedles.

Oh the evil of it all... Budgets, exams, budgets, exams... Talk about having to pick the lesser of two evils! Riley ponders, "You're evil, you realize that, right?"

Clara smiles pleasantly at Riley and inclines her head. "So I've been told," she agrees. And she has. Often and loudly, particularly in school.

Niko returns Clara's beam with a decidedly amused smile, then outright laughs at Riley. "Chief, it really isn't that bad."

Riley regards Niko with lifted brows, his tone dry, "Nick, you are a masochist. You must be, it explains everything." However, in the face of pending budget reports he concedes with a sigh. "One, okay. -Just- one. And no sharp objects."

"I'll even get a male intern to be there," she concedes, eyes glittering. "To protect your virtue, of course. Of course, this takes care of -this- year's reports," she adds, then smirks. "Pragmatic, aren't we?" she notes at Niko.

Riley mumbles something about finding someone else to write the stupid things by next year. There are -limits- after all to what he can be expected to endure. "It's not my virtue I'm worried about..." He mutters to himself.

Niko nods to Clara, after a moment's thought. "I suppose. It just seems to make sense. Bribery's easier than a tranq gun, after all."

Clara chuckles, rubbing at her forehead and nodding. "A lot easier, and a whole heck of a lot more enjoyable, for that matter. I swear it's not near as bad as it sounds, really. I don't even use my pateints as test subjects, even. Unless they volunteer."

Riley just shakes his head slightly, "I'll get Anya to give you a call and set out a time. She does all the scheduling and all. She lets me know when I have spare time."

Niko's brows arch quite quickly at Clara's words. He mutters to himself, "... test subjects?... thought... surgery.... How... test subject... -that-?"

"You have spare time?" Clara asks, genuinely surprised, then offers a genuine smile at both men. "I'll contact Anya. Niko, I studied human anatomy too, I promise," she reassures, amused. "And I'm also a counselor."

Riley's tone is dry as he responds, "Once in a while, amazingly, yes. I have even on one notable occasion gotten offplanet...For a whopping nine hours mind, but it happened."

Niko shakes his head. "'tsokay, Clara. No need to explain. There are some times when details are not to be preferred."

Clara mulls this over for a moment, the foot not planted on the floor swinging idly. "A real vacation. Imagine that." She shakes her head abruptly, reaching up to nudge a few wirespring curls back. "Not that nine hours is much of a vacation. Honalee did emphasize that time off was expected though..." she muses.

Riley sprawls back in the chair, somewhat relaxed now that exams aren't being mentioned. "Honalee has always gone home for a couple weeks each year, although some folks take their vacation time in bits and pieces instead of all at once."

Clara's lips quirk thoughtfully, eyes almost distant. "Earth's a bit of a ways to go just for a vacation," she notes, almost with humor. "I dunno. It's been a while. Maybe I'll buy Mom a ticket here." She grins up. "I learned a lot from her..."

Niko grins suddenly, with a faint shake of his head, though he doesn't verbalize whatever has tickled him, apparently content to let the others chat.

Riley nods amiably, crossing his arms lightly over his chest. "That sounds like a thought, indeed. They have a couple of neat places to stay here on world for vacationage. The gryphons run a hotel even, I'm told it's kind of neat."

"That old place?" Clara responds, eyes widening in delighted surprise. "It's still going strong? Fantastic! Ooh, I can't even count the breaks a slew of cadets would pile up there for a weekend. I'm sure the gryphons would kick me out on my tail if I showed up now."

Niko ventures an inquiry, amusement still very much present in his dark eyes. "Cause a bit of trouble, there? Bet they know some great stories about you."

Riley pauses a moment and then grins, "I'm sorry, I'd forgotten you were educated here. I guess you'd know as well as I do the opportunities on Linnae then. Better most like." He grins, "I rarely set foot out of Copper Hill proper." He grins at Niko, his eyes lighting. "Hey, there's a thought. When bribery fails, try blackmail?"

Briga arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Briga has arrived.

Briga pounces in...whiskers fairly bristling with outrage as she holds her tail gingerly..."I need to see a Medic...now'

Clara smirks widely, one brow quirking with unruffled interest. "My records are plenty dotted, I'll not try to deny it. Blackmailing your friendly neighborhood doc, though? I wonder just what I might find in -your- rec-..." She cuts off, face blanking as she rises and tugs at her labcoat. "What seems to be the problem, Delegate?"

Briga fairly sputters her outrage,'Those elevator doors...They closed on /my/ tail' Not just anyone's tail...but /Briga's/ tail...the horror.

Niko shifts a bit in his chair, so he'll be able to see all three of the others in the room without turning his head too much. Let's hear it for economy of movement. His expression is one of mild politeness.

Clara simply lifts her brows in professional interest, not even cracking a grin. "It did? The nerve," she says ruefully, extending her arm in a panorama at one of the bioscan areas. "Come now, let's have a look. Are you still able to move it about?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Briga seems somewhat mollified as she pads towards Clara...someone with give her injury serious attention. She carefully twists so the clara can see the spot. "See?" You may need a magnifying glass for this, folks. "I was just walking out...and they /slammed/ on my tail'

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "At least she's not calling to complain she's stuck up a tree."

Niko politely turns away as the pair moves away from the entrance, then dissolves into a short, intense fit of coughing. Riley gets a long look, and a shake of the head as Niko wipes at one eye.

You communicated "Okay, Chief, that was -not- fair. *muffled snicker*" to Riley.

Clara casts a quick glance over her shoulder at the two security men, holding up a finger and flashing a grin before she leads the Zaeltan to the proper area and tugs the curtain shut. "Now," her voice is heard, and she crouches down to examine the tail. "A darn good thing those lifts open right back up again when they sense anything in there. It's...not broken," she reassures.

Riley regards Niko with solicitous innocence, "You okay, Nick? Maybe you -should- sign up for an exam? That sounds nasty." Ahh, revenge is -so- sweet.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "Who ever said I played fair? *chuckle*"

Niko inclines his head, not really looking at all bothered by Riley's words. "Just fine, Chief," he says pleasantly. "Don't worry about me." His gaze flicks briefly to the curtain. "Not broken," he murmurs. "Imagine that."

Briga nods her head emphatically, tail twitching almost pulling it free from Clara's hand,'But /something/ must be done about those doors...They are a /danger/ to us all.' Her voice rises almost to yowls of indignation now...."What if I hadn't been so quick-witted to come here?'

You communicated "Well... nobody, but that was less fair that really seems... hm. I need another word. Kind? Something like that. *pause* Oh, listen to that. Interesting." to Riley.

Clara drops her own voice to a soothing contralto, almost the type comm operators use. "Come now, delegate. It's an easily fixed situation. Simply don't stand tailfirst to the doors," she counsels. "But of course it was wonderfully quick thinking on your part to come in here." She rises and reaches for a roll of gauze. "We'll just wrap this up, and you should be good as new by morning."

Riley decides to attempt to be helpful. Since -technically- he is supposed to be fielding these complaints, "Perhaps you could hold into your tail when you exit the elevator? Lady Insah does that with those long dresses of hers."

Briga holds her tail steady for Clara...until Riley's words...and once again the whiskers quiver with her outrage...she does manage to control her voice though, 'You, sir..obviously do /not/ have a tail.'

Niko lifts his hand to rub the end of his nose, and, incidentally, cover his mouth. His eyes give it away, though; he's grinning, obviously more than a little amused by Briga's rejoinder.

Riley turns slightly, looking behind himself as if making sure that Briga's right. "You know ma'am, you're exactly right." He starts to add something even more snide, but there's that paper stuffed in one pocket with an offical censure on it. More than one a day is even too nuch for Riley. "I'm afraid I don't inderstand the myriad difficulties you face, forgive me."

"He does. He keeps it with his horns that hold up his halo," Clara mutters calmly to the tail, tugging the roll of gauze away as she grins up at Briga and rises. "There now. Your tail is going to be just fine, and the gauze can come off tomorrow morning. It'll be as lovely as ever, honestly."

Briga almost purrs at the compliment, "You are as nice as they say." Tail flickers a bit as if testing the wrapping and while its almost touching the ground with the additional weight she seems satisfied. 'Thank you..Its nice to know the Station has a compenent Medical staff....could you tell me whom I need to speak to regarding that Elevator?'

Riley reaches up, carefully straightening said non-existant halo. He's being good, well, for -him- at least. He does not however leap up to answer Briga's question. He's being polite, not helpful. Besides, she asked Clara.

Clara tugs the curtain back and inclines her head. "We aim to please, Delegate. Please don't hesitate to come back if it gives you any problems." She starts to make a motion as if to wave at Niko and Riley, hesitating just a moment before offering, "Likely maintenance. They might be able to time the door's closing differently."

Riley mentally writes Clara up as a Saint and offers her a thankful look.

Niko eyes the halo-straightening with a faint grin, letting his hand return to his lap. As Clara speaks, he grins brightly in her direction.

Briga bows to Clara...then pads towards the door. Whiskers quiver inquisitively as she pauses by the two....Not know who made the comment, she addresses both Riley and Niko. Which great solemnity she says,'Our Tails are part of who we are' Then pads out.

Briga heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Briga has left.

Clara exhales a deep breath, lips making all sorts of quirky motions before she hurries over to flop into her chair, snickering lightly. "I do love diplomats," she decides. "Hope you fellas don't mind me pointing her elsewhere for the elevator fuss."

Riley all but chokes, trying to keep from laughing so hard that the departing Briga can hear. After a moment he manages to regain his composure, "I'm sorry, that was ... interesting." He glances Niko-wards briefly. "Clara, I could get down on my knees and kiss your feet for that. After this day I did not want to explain to -that- why I can't retime the elevators."

Niko peers after Briga for a moment. Shaking his head quite seriously as he turns back, he says, "Not at all." Shooting a sidelong look at Riley, he mutters to himself, "... never look... Zaeltans without thinking... trees,..."

Niko, at Riley's look, considers. "That was interesting," he agrees, though not without an amused grin.

Clara snickers helplessly, shaking her head. "Please don't. It'd dirty up your uniform, and if Honalee walked in just then..." At Niko's comment, her laughter redoubles. "Add another tally to the score!"

Riley offers Niko an apologetic grin, "Sorry about the tree comment, Nick. I should have warned you the radios have downsides too."

Niko shakes his head. "I highly doubt that you're sorry, Chief. I just wish you'd said it after she -left-. Caught me off-guard." He grins towards Clara, adding, "It's not the same thing as punning, though. Doesn't really merit a tally."

Clara's brows inch up towards copperish spirals of hair straggling down as bangs over dancing eyes. "Trees?"

Niko gestures towards Riley, clearly not going to be the one to explain the exchange.

Riley brushes the curls back from his right ear, tapping lightly on the small radio nestled into his ear canal. "Security radios. One of the things I want to beg for more of on the next budget. Very useful for a multitude of entirely appropriate purposes, I'd be lost without mine. Sadly they can also be abused by making snide comments about Zaletans calling about being stuck up trees as well."

Niko really can't help it, and dissolves into quiet laughter--no coughing, this time. "Cruel," he murmurs, around snickers. "Unusual. I should tell Anya."

Clara slumps in her seat, hands coming to her forehead as she laughs again. "Call out the fire brigade!" she agrees, then peeks out from under her hands. "I've seen those before on the kids that got brought in for patching. Some of them anyway. It's a good item to have on hand. Anyone here have the implanted type?"

Riley shakes his head lightly, curls shaking slightly. "Can't afford to implant the things when the average tour for a Secoff here's less than two years. Not to mention we can barely afford em for a third of the folks we have, and these are the less expensive kind. Implants cost more."

Niko's expression grows a bit thoughtful at Riley's words. Brows furrowed, he tugs lightly on the end of his own ear.

Clara steeples her finger thoughtfully, eyes narrowing only for a mere instant in thought. "Mmm. Not to mention the cost of the downtime for the recovery from the procedure to have it put in. Or the fact that getting most of you Sec types in here is worse that parting a Fellan from their snickerdoodles. Well, some of you," she adds with a smile at Niko.

Riley's shoulders lift slightly in a shrug. His tone is amiable as he points out, "Too many of us have to come in here under less than ideal circumstances. It colors the experience."

Niko returns Clara's smile, but points out, with a gesture towards Riley, "I've just not accumulated the negative experience." He pauses a moment, that 'yet' hovering unspoken just behind his lips, then shakes his head fractionally.

"And hopefully you won't," Clara agrees, for once serious. "Gentlemen, I don't know most of the other medics here yet, but I've worked on...shall we say...traumatic injuries before. I'll do my best to not make any experiences your department has in here more traumatic."

Riley smiles in wry amusment. Straightening up a bit, he offers. "You can use Honalee's line?" He echoes the Edreeni's quavery tones, "Oh give him a band-aid and send him on out." He grins, "Some of the -best- looks she gets..."

Niko inclines his head to Clara, that flicker of gratitude in his eyes quickly replaced by amusement at Riley's comment. "I can only imagine," he murmurs.

Clara chuckles at that, shaking her head wryly. "I knew there was a reason I liked that woman. Maybe I can be just like her when I grow up," she muses.

Niko's brows lift at that particular musing. His response is mostly lost, but the word "Greggykins" is definitely in there somewhere.

Riley grins, "Honalee's neat." Oh dear lord, it must be -really- late or something if he's admitting -that-. He does however catch Niko's mumbling, "Well, except for -that-. Peesh bedamn those who abuse middle names."

Niko just looks at Riley. "Chief, until you have a name like -mine-..."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara smothers a grin behind one hand. "I suppose I ought to admit I'm under orders to call you that, Chief. I'll admit I just can't bring myself to do it yet, aside from the fact that you're over a head taller than I am." She waves an obliging hand at Niko. "You, sir, have a fantastic name. I just don't think I could pronounce it for all the java in Sacola."

Niko shakes his head, clearly not finding 'Iolytus' to be anything even remotely close to fantastic. "Neither can the vast majority of people not on Hellas, Clara. I was voted most likely to go by a nickname."

Riley hmphs softly, "Just because 'Gregor' is pronouncable doesn't mean I have to -like- it any." He shakes his head at Clara, "You don't have to call me Chief though. Not that I object, so many folks do. Just please, -not- Greg."

Clara wrinkles her nose in a grin, freckles vanishing for a moment in the action. "I can just bet you were," she nods at Niko. "Points to your mother for creativity, though. She must be a special woman. And not any more than I'd be chipper about being called Elise, I guess. I can deal with Riley, though. It...fits," she decides, examining the senior officer.

Niko inclines his had to Clara, with a fond smile. "Special... yes. That she is." But not interesting. Niko gives Riley a considering look, as if debating the fit of the name.

Considering Riley means 'Warlike', yes, it does. But then for that matter Gregor means 'Watchful, vigilant', so technically it fits too. "I'm certainly not going to object to Riley."

Clara wouldn't have a clue what her name meant, but nods reasonably. "Very good. That at least keeps me in Honalee's good graces for that matter," she notes with a touch of amusement. "Really an amazing woman, definitely. You've known her a long time?"

Riley pauses to attempt to count, but gives it up as a cause he doesn't -really- want to pursue. Instead he nods simply, "Since my first posting with the Alliance. I'd be transferred in from the Kashidian Navy, which is a wholy different animal. She uh, took pity on me I guess you'd say."

Niko settles against the back of his chair, gaze flicking between the others as they speak, but apparently content to keep his own commentary silent. A ghost of a smile crosses his face.

Clara's eyes widen. Not quite since 'Greggy' was young enough to be turned over a knee, then. "A while, then," she agrees. "I hadn't realized you'd planetary military experience." She tilts her head at Niko and gives him a long look. "What about you? Just commissioned? And yes, gentlemen, I'm being nosy. Tell me to butt out if it gets too long, eh?"

Niko returns the long look with a pleasant smile. "Just out of school--local military paid my way, though I did a bit of hopping into the bargain. This seemed like the best of my options."

Riley tries to restrain a grin at the long look, he does however answer politely. "My mother's a retired Major in Kashid's Navy. Service was in the cards for the batch of us. And since Kashid wasn't actually an Alliance world until I was in my twenties..."

Clara manages to quirk back a grin. "Which got you both here to Linnae. Not a -bad- posting. Aaaah, bless the military, eh? My grandfather's retired military too," she offers. "I know the feeling."

Riley mmhmms amiably, "The Aslan, Terra, Linnae. And likely here I'll remain until I retire, they drum me out, or I finally succumb to death by bad vending machine food."

Niko shakes his head fractionally, though not without a grin for Riley's comment. "I'd think that some of the so-called real food would be more dangerous, Chief. I'm not quite sure -what- I ate this afternoon." He considers, then offers, "It was green."

Clara makes a face of agreement. "And those things that were flying about the room last night. I'm -sure- food isn't supposed to be pink. Might be safer to live out of the vending machines. Although I gotta admit, it's better than the cook on Cannerton."

Niko nods thoughtfully. "Or Evinast, for that matter. I may not know what the green stuff was, but it tasted all right. And they've got tziziki, even if it's used incorrectly."

Riley reclines as best he can in the bucketed seat, nodding amiably. "Ship food -has- to be terrible though, it's in the regs."

Clara mouths the word tziziki, thinking for a moment, then shaking her head and laughing. "The ship food was just about scary all by itself, but Cannerton was our base camp for when we weren't mobile. I swear they pick the dullest creature and hand 'em a book of recipes, and say, 'Here. Don't poison the surgeons. They can't fix themselves.'"

Riley adds with a grin, "Besides, you can't use tziziki incorrectly, just slather it on everything."

Niko's eyes glint with amusement as he shakes his head at Riley. "See, I'm okay with using it on fries, even though I'd never hear the end of that from gigia, but on -everything-? That's taking it a little too far."

Clara watches with considerable curiosity, then finally breaks down to ask, "What in the name of all the saints is this...this...tsisksiskiziki? That word you used."

Riley shifts his hands down to tuck them in his pockets, relaxing still further. "Cucumber sauce, with garlic and yoghurt. Sounds awful, tastes like heaven."

Niko nods his agreement to Riley's words. "It really is wonderful," he agrees. "Even here. Though you can't beat the tziziki at Cypri's."

Clara almost pulls back in her chair in alarm, then inhales a slow breath. "Aaah. Ah-hah. Cucumbers, huh? Fascinating. Yes, indeed. Cypri's? Is that a new place down in the Java Quarter?"

Niko peers curiously at Clara's reaction. "Are cucumbers somehow offensive? And it's a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant near where I went to secondary school." His grin is reflective. "Of course, it tastes better when one is skipping class to go there."

Clara's eyes flicker over the picture perfect uniform, brows raising. "You? Skipped class? I don't buy it," she protests with a grin. "And unfortunately, cucumbers are not a...delicacy...for me. Much to the dismay of my ever so proper great-grandmother's desires. Then again, I'll bet they're better with garlic than in tea sandwiches."

Riley snaps out of some vague reverie at the mention of cucumber sandwiches, "Awww, but cucumber sandwiches are -classic-. A very ... earnest ... food."

Niko's brows quirk, his expression suddenly a bit wicked. "Clara, I was a kid." This is said, of course, by the wise old sage of twenty-one. "I was stupid. I skipped class on a regular basis. I was, however, cured of that." He blinks several times at Riley, then inquires, "Earnest?"

Clara quirks a brow at Niko. "Hmm. Too bad." She then gives Riley a look as if he'd just grown another head. "Egads, not you too? If this place closes down at four o'clock for tea, I'm hightailing it underground and buying a still." Of course, she's probably joking.

Riley can't help but chuckle quietly, "Not into the classics, Nick? 'The Importance of Being Earnest', it's a very old Terran play. For two weeks I had to eat the silly things every night, they grow on you."

Does an expression of dismay cross Niko's face? If it does, it happens pretty quickly. He shakes his head to Riley, still a bit puzzled. "Uh, no, Chief. We didn't do a lot of ancient literature, and most of it..." He shakes his head, apparently not a fan.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara sags back into her seat, relief skittering over her features. "Thank goodness," she mutters. "Definitely thank goodness." Something clicks, then. "You, Riley? An actor?"

Riley spends a lot of time acting. Acting relaxed, civilized, polite... "Not a very good one, and not for many years. It was a school thing, for a class. Needless to say at the time I was impressed with said class as Niko appears to be with literature. I was an engineering major, lit was fluff. I learned better."

Niko says mildly, "I'm not unimpressed with all literature, Chief. Just most of the stuff I was forced to read."

"Oh, not all lit is fluff," Clara counters. "But yeah, a lot of the so-called classics that are part of the force-feed undergrad stuff really is unpalatable. And nowadays, if it's not a medical journal, I'd rather read something enjoyable than "classic"."

Niko murmurs something about brain candy, with a quick grin. At Clara's mention of journals, however, he snaps his fingers, and looks rather like he's making some sort of mental note. "Fun is better, yes," he agrees, if a bit belatedly. "And, to be honest, I would have liked some of what I had to read quite a lot more if it hadn't been required reading."

Riley spreads his hands in a shrug, adding a grin. "I have to admit, I grew more attached to the stuff in OCS, but I don't read much outside of potato-chip new fiction these days." And with all the noveltapes scattered around his office, he must read a -lot- of that.

Clara twirls one curl about a finger, more straightening it than anything else, and grins. Her's are all still packed in a trunk. "It's better when you don't have to write another book just analyzing what you read, either. Amazing how the reading level deteriorates when they hand you a sheepskin and toss you into the real world."

Niko nods his agreement to both, then says thoughtfully, "While I'm thinking on it, there was an article I wanted to try and find--one of my professors finally landed an article in JACS, and I want to see how it looks. I keep remembering that at the oddest times, and since you two, unlike the Wihvrian Master of Fire, are less than likely to be offended if I leave, I think I might check it out now."

Riley glances at his communit and winces, "By all that's holy it's late. And I still have half that paperwork from this morning on my desk. I'd better vacate as well."

Clara pushes to her feet slowly, a wry grin on her face. "My shift ended hours ago," she admits. "But you gentlemen are naturally welcome here any time. I even promise not to snag you for random experiments if one of you'll give me a tour of the Complex one of these days. G'night, fellas."

Riley climbs to his feet, joints creaking. "Tours we can do. We'll show you the grass." And with a bright grin he offers a vaguely saluted wave and heads for the door.

Niko grimaces, though whether at his own awareness of the hour or at the prospect of Riley's paperwork isn't clear. He does nod amiably to Clara, no gears whatsoever turning in his head. "I'm sure that can be arranged, though we may have to beat diplomats--and paperwork--off with a stick." He snorts softly at Riley, following.

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