Untoten Kreuzung: Aftermath
Chapter 10
Ah Simons the instigator making a scene in an otherwise normal conversation.
After the others had got done eating their fill some interesting conversations popped up. Most had to do with gossip on newer scientist who'd transferred from other facilities. That was until Simons began to ask some background on Rune.
"So where exactly did you come from?" he started.
"I'm from America, the Midwest." She replied.
"Oh, so where at from the Midwest, Chicago, Kansas City?"
"Missouri, I was born in St. Louis, but I lived in a small town a good three hours drive away."
"Ah, that's cool, I'm from Pennsylvania, got into this whole place cause no other science group would take me." He chided.
Richtofen leaned over to Rune and chuckled a bit.
"You can see vhy no one else vould take him." He whispered.
"I heard that." Simons pointed out.
"Come on now, Simons we all know you're a screw up." The female scientist joined in. Everyone else laughed and Simons sort of joined in before it went quiet again.
Rune looked over at the woman who'd joined the table after she began her finishing courses.
"I've never met you here." She pointed out, causing the woman to return her gaze.
"I'm Natalie Hartlin, I'm an assistant to Doctor Groph." She introduced herself.
"An 'assistant' indeed." Richtofen chided humorously.
Natalie gave Richtofen a stink eye which he only returned with a childish gaze away from her.
"Anyway, you must Rune Albana." She concluded.
"I am, yes."
"I see, you know we're all curious as to how you got to us exactly. Doctor Richtofen's told us of how you two and those other three had traveled in a zombie infested world."
Rune went quiet thinking about all she'd left behind, and how she'd never see it again.
"Perhaps zhat is a question for another time, Natalie." Richtofen ushered.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad." She apologized.
"No that's all right, what Richtofen has told you is true, we both time traveled back here. At least now I'm safe from an everyday threat of getting my brains torn out or being mauled to death." Rune answered as gently as she could.
"Yes, he's told us that, but one thing he neglected to mention was how old you are." Groph joined. Rune paused unsure of how to answer; knowing that now that they were back in society eighteen was the legal age limit for the relationship Richtofen and her shared. She felt a nudge to her mind and received an urgent message from Richtofen.
"If anyone asks you're eighteen, got it." He relayed.
"I'm eighteen, my nineteenth birthday is coming up next month so I'm a bit excited." She lied.
"Oh well that's good, but I hope that Doctor Richtofen hasn't been too pushy. If you know what I mean." Simons chided.
"Simons would you stop it." Natalie demanded trying to keep a smirk off her face.
"Come on we're all guilty of being perverted in some way." He defended.
Richtofen smirked and shook his head looking back at Rune.
"Zhey're always like zhis, don't vorry." He explained.
"Oh you're probably all up in flames with it because Groph's right here." Simons instigated further.
"You little prick, if I had my way I'd smack you in the face right now." Natalie replied.
"If you had you're way you'd be married to Groph right now."
Doctor Groph hid his face in his hands, completely embarrassed by the verbal argument.
"All right you two zhat's enough. I'm sure Groph's had his fill of embarrassment today." Richtofen urged. Natalie and Simons ceased their word war and exchanged humorously, nasty glares at each other.
"Now if we're all done vith zhis, I believe it's time to be getting back to our stations, don't you think." Richtofen announced getting up from the table. Groph, Natalie and Simons took the hint and left the table.
"Come on Rune, let's get you back to your room." He ushered. She stood up and followed him back through the mass of tables with a few scattered scientists still eating and chatting.
"Are you sure that they'll actually think I'm eighteen?" Rune asked walking beside Richtofen back to her room.
"Hopefully, if not…..vell zhere are several vays to make zhem stay quiet, und several more vays ve can get you a fake birth certificate." He answered. She nodded and stayed quiet the rest of the way there.
"Remember if you need anything don't hesitate to get me or someone else." Richtofen reminded, opening the door for her.
She nodded and went into her room as he closed the door behind her. Rune sat on the bed, but she soon noticed that one of the desk cabinets was open slightly. She didn't remember messing with any of them and she took a look inside. She blushed and tried to frown, but instead couldn't help, but smirk.
She read the short letter that was inside and did a face palm.
'Make sure he uses this.' –Sincerely Dr. Simons
Rune fell into a fit of laughter at the contents in the cabinet and tried to catch her breath.
"Damn it Simons!" she laughed closing the cabinet along with the letter and condom inside. For a full two minutes she laid on the bed laughing, and after her fit was over she took a moment to collect her thoughts again.
"Freaking Simons got me off track." She iterated once more.
Thinking back to earlier today she managed to try out her powers again. This time going between the water that was still in the room and trying to conjure fire from her body heat. Although unable to truly make fire she was able to create visible heat waves which promised with more practice she could indeed make flames. Along with her progress with heat manipulation she gained a valuable lesson in water manipulation as well.
She learned she could focus her thoughts to make it take different forms and even change its temperature by adding or removing heat. Though not able to make true ice she was able to make it an icy slush. A knock on the door broke her focus once more and caused her to drop the icy mess on the floor, again. Instead of Richtofen this time it was Groph.
"Rune, if you wouldn't mind, I need you to come with me for a moment." He entered.
"All right then." She answered quickly coming to the door and following Groph. Going through the facility they finally reached their destination which was a medical room.
"We need to get accurate medical data on you so we know not to give you certain medications, or so we know what you're blood type is so we can find a donor in drastic cases." Groph explained.
Rune nodded and slowly walked into the medical room full of beds and equipment. Some of the beds were occupied by other Group 935 test subjects, many of which were very sickly looking and almost zombie-like. Another doctor met her as soon as she walked into the room.
"Miss Albana, if you would come with me." He ushered.
Rune followed him past the beds and several nurses tending to the surely terminal patients. Each one she passed she could hear their pained thoughts wax and wane with their consciousness'. For a moment she zoned out until the doctor she was following caught her attention and lead her into a solitary room. There she was given basic tests and medical questions along with having to let them take some of her blood.
After all the tests were done she was sent back to her room where she waited for diner to come around before leaving again to the cafeteria on her own.