Disclaimer: I'm merely a fan. I own nothing.
Dedicated to Limerick. Thanks for reminding me to get back on track.
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--O--
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Released.
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--O--
------
The minutes so often vary. Maybe we will meet five minutes sooner. Maybe we'll meet twelve minutes later. But once I hear the sweep of your card, the perfect unbroken pattern will commence.
A supposed glance of concern is tossed flippantly towards the wounded corpse on the bed. Three foot steps to the shelf, you place the linens cleansed of my blood and sorrow. Six footsteps to the window, you rope back the curtains.
Sweet mindless nurse, will you ever see the pain you cause us? Cold metal railings block either side of uneven beds to mock our inability to surpass them. Hours go by stirring us to madness washed clean by the hums and whines of the machines you've melded us to. Do you know what you are, Nurse? You are our savior.
And you have tormented me for the last time.
Warmth strikes me, so day has come. Five steps to the cath-cycler. Will you take eight seconds checking gauges or the fourteen changing a tube.
Eleven seconds, you surprised me. Did it hurt you, Dear Nurse? The change in your perfect pattern, will you ever recover? I'd walk more quickly these next four steps to the cabinets, we must cling to our schedule!
Precious Nurse, you haven't realized my eyes are open beneath my lids. You don't know I've timed your every entrance and exit for days. You don't realize the warmth I felt on my skin woke me once, but very soon you might understand.
Kind Nurse, you are our savior. You are the singular proof that humanity still walks outside the doors of this impenetrable stasis. How many victims of the world bleed to see you every day, to hear your footsteps and see your face? We love you, Nurse. There is no one else to love. And yet, this is how you treat us.
Perfect machine-like precision, your goal, is it not? Do you think we lack enough machines infesting our bodies? Do you think we tired years ago of life or change? You mock us, Nurse. You mock me.
Three steps to the sink.
This, this is beautiful, Mrs. Nurse. This performance, it brings tears to my eyes. Or maybe they were brought from pain. Is that possible, Savior Nurse? That I feel something you hadn't given me permission to? That through all the drugs you poisen me with I still am conscious enough to perceive?
Four more steps, and you will be at my bedside.
Look at me carefully, Gentle Nurse. Watch me sleep. Watch me breathe. Watch me rot here in your timeless care.
Smile your chipper painted smile. Tilt your hideous bulk over the side of my bed. Push and pull me, you graceless cow.
So taken by your dexterous mastery of patient discomfort, you haven't seen my hand grip your neckchained passcard, have you?
See, you can be good, Nurse. It doesn't hurt.
If you had seen my hand, it would have.
Be glad you're a dull and stupid nurse.
The scalpal in my other hand would have made such a terrible stain on these clean, fresh linens.
------
--O--
------
That stain looks terrible. Damn it all, it's not like i have a million shirts to spare. Luc's going to kill me.
Hell, what mission left me posted here? This looks like a hospital room. Must be a field op again.
Heh, damn am I dizzy. Where the hell am I?
Oh, well. It never matters anyway. I'm sure the moment I walk out that door, it'll all come back. And there's always the little pricks with clipboards to rattle off the agenda anyhow.
Man, did I get drunk last night? How did I get so dizzy?
Ok, right here. Yeah, I'll just sit for a while.
There's something I'm forgetting, I'm sure of it.
Oh, well. How important can it be if they let me drink the night before?
Damn this shirt's ruined.
OW!
What the hell? What bit my neck? Man, that's sore.
Why's the room spinning again?
Ok, this is NOT a hangover.
Ah, good. Someone's coming.
"Hhhuuiaaa..."
Ok, tongue not functioning.
OW! OW! Shaking head, bad idea. Hair caught, ow.
Proceedural, Soldier. Stick to proceedure.
Free hair, secure upright stable position.
Check.
Stabilize perspective.
Check.
Stand.
....
Now Move.
So, I'm numb. Something's happened here.
Why am I in a hospital?
Gods, this is too much like that nightmare I had.
Someone's approaching.
They better have answers.
------
--O--
------
"What's This About?"
"Doctor, We can't find the detox patient, Ms. Catalonia."
"Mother of God. Activate secure lockdown, Combat level 3. Authorization code: 637C9. Get All security personal here now."
"Doctor, Sir. We're not under attack. She hasn't been kidnap-"
"Apparently, You Didn't Hear Me! AUTHORIZATION CODE: 6 3 7 C 9! ALL PERSONELL HERE NOW!"
The lobby dropped to silence as the stunned operator complied with the surreal commands. Doors were quickly cleared and checked as the first of three levels of blast doors silently sealed everyone in. The guards from every floor took up arms and rushed to the doctor's position. They scanned the lobby for threat, but found nothing but the Doctor himself coldly fuming by the stunned receptionists. The head of security stepped forward with obvious question in his eyes. Despite the frustration eminating from his very being, the Doctor seemed quite non-chalant in the way he took a printout from the receptionist and liesurely scanned it before speaking.
"Gentleman, we have an potentially lethal situation. I want three groups. One will remain here and guard these receptionists and make sure no one within these walls other than myself deactivates the lockdown. Second group, you will disarm your weapons and leave them here. Spread out to all floors and patrol the halls unarmed. It is your presence and not your skills that I require. You will not confront anyone, but simply report back patient numbers to the receptionists here to verify tally. Third group will go with me. leave all exteraneous or removable weaponry here, take only what you'll have both hands on at all times."
The leader stepped forward. "Sir, with all do respect. You can leave our job to us. The alarm was for a stray patient. This is a search'n'rescue at most. We can handle it."
The Doctor stared evenly into the eyes of the soldier for a long moment, then spoke in a calm icy tone. "It is clear to me that you have no grasp of the situation. This is not a simple search. This is the woman we are going to apprehend."
Folding the top down, he showed the soldier the bottom half of the printed dossier.
"This information is obviously top secret. These are most of her documented skills and resources."
The way the soldier's eyes widened and jaw slackened told the doctor that he was finally taking the situation seriously. He looked ashened as he closed his mouth and nodded and turned to his men.
"The Doc ain't playin'. Form up and MOVE!"
As his men discarded weaponry and took up positions, the security head confronted the doc once more.
"Two ex-White Fangs in one building. I know that Merquise's past. Why did you only call in five soldiers then, but all of us now?"
"He was distraught over his wife's condition, and was strictly localized. Even with the gun he posed only a suferficial threat due to this wife's presence. Ms. Catalonia is different. She could be anywhere. Her motives are not clear. The medications she's on could possibly impair her judgement. And she was suicidal before she even arrived. This is not someone easily handled, should she prove vindictive."
"Why are you ordering my men to disarm?"
"I don't wish to incur a body count."
The guards grimaced at the insultuous suggestion that they would be so flippant about shooting in a hospital. But when each looked to the head of security, they realized the man was nodding sympathetically. Confused, they looked between the Doctor and their leader. It dawned on them that the bodies the Doctor was worried about were their own."
------
--O--
------
Dedicated to Limerick. Thanks for reminding me to get back on track.
------
--O--
------
Released.
------
--O--
------
The minutes so often vary. Maybe we will meet five minutes sooner. Maybe we'll meet twelve minutes later. But once I hear the sweep of your card, the perfect unbroken pattern will commence.
A supposed glance of concern is tossed flippantly towards the wounded corpse on the bed. Three foot steps to the shelf, you place the linens cleansed of my blood and sorrow. Six footsteps to the window, you rope back the curtains.
Sweet mindless nurse, will you ever see the pain you cause us? Cold metal railings block either side of uneven beds to mock our inability to surpass them. Hours go by stirring us to madness washed clean by the hums and whines of the machines you've melded us to. Do you know what you are, Nurse? You are our savior.
And you have tormented me for the last time.
Warmth strikes me, so day has come. Five steps to the cath-cycler. Will you take eight seconds checking gauges or the fourteen changing a tube.
Eleven seconds, you surprised me. Did it hurt you, Dear Nurse? The change in your perfect pattern, will you ever recover? I'd walk more quickly these next four steps to the cabinets, we must cling to our schedule!
Precious Nurse, you haven't realized my eyes are open beneath my lids. You don't know I've timed your every entrance and exit for days. You don't realize the warmth I felt on my skin woke me once, but very soon you might understand.
Kind Nurse, you are our savior. You are the singular proof that humanity still walks outside the doors of this impenetrable stasis. How many victims of the world bleed to see you every day, to hear your footsteps and see your face? We love you, Nurse. There is no one else to love. And yet, this is how you treat us.
Perfect machine-like precision, your goal, is it not? Do you think we lack enough machines infesting our bodies? Do you think we tired years ago of life or change? You mock us, Nurse. You mock me.
Three steps to the sink.
This, this is beautiful, Mrs. Nurse. This performance, it brings tears to my eyes. Or maybe they were brought from pain. Is that possible, Savior Nurse? That I feel something you hadn't given me permission to? That through all the drugs you poisen me with I still am conscious enough to perceive?
Four more steps, and you will be at my bedside.
Look at me carefully, Gentle Nurse. Watch me sleep. Watch me breathe. Watch me rot here in your timeless care.
Smile your chipper painted smile. Tilt your hideous bulk over the side of my bed. Push and pull me, you graceless cow.
So taken by your dexterous mastery of patient discomfort, you haven't seen my hand grip your neckchained passcard, have you?
See, you can be good, Nurse. It doesn't hurt.
If you had seen my hand, it would have.
Be glad you're a dull and stupid nurse.
The scalpal in my other hand would have made such a terrible stain on these clean, fresh linens.
------
--O--
------
That stain looks terrible. Damn it all, it's not like i have a million shirts to spare. Luc's going to kill me.
Hell, what mission left me posted here? This looks like a hospital room. Must be a field op again.
Heh, damn am I dizzy. Where the hell am I?
Oh, well. It never matters anyway. I'm sure the moment I walk out that door, it'll all come back. And there's always the little pricks with clipboards to rattle off the agenda anyhow.
Man, did I get drunk last night? How did I get so dizzy?
Ok, right here. Yeah, I'll just sit for a while.
There's something I'm forgetting, I'm sure of it.
Oh, well. How important can it be if they let me drink the night before?
Damn this shirt's ruined.
OW!
What the hell? What bit my neck? Man, that's sore.
Why's the room spinning again?
Ok, this is NOT a hangover.
Ah, good. Someone's coming.
"Hhhuuiaaa..."
Ok, tongue not functioning.
OW! OW! Shaking head, bad idea. Hair caught, ow.
Proceedural, Soldier. Stick to proceedure.
Free hair, secure upright stable position.
Check.
Stabilize perspective.
Check.
Stand.
....
Now Move.
So, I'm numb. Something's happened here.
Why am I in a hospital?
Gods, this is too much like that nightmare I had.
Someone's approaching.
They better have answers.
------
--O--
------
"What's This About?"
"Doctor, We can't find the detox patient, Ms. Catalonia."
"Mother of God. Activate secure lockdown, Combat level 3. Authorization code: 637C9. Get All security personal here now."
"Doctor, Sir. We're not under attack. She hasn't been kidnap-"
"Apparently, You Didn't Hear Me! AUTHORIZATION CODE: 6 3 7 C 9! ALL PERSONELL HERE NOW!"
The lobby dropped to silence as the stunned operator complied with the surreal commands. Doors were quickly cleared and checked as the first of three levels of blast doors silently sealed everyone in. The guards from every floor took up arms and rushed to the doctor's position. They scanned the lobby for threat, but found nothing but the Doctor himself coldly fuming by the stunned receptionists. The head of security stepped forward with obvious question in his eyes. Despite the frustration eminating from his very being, the Doctor seemed quite non-chalant in the way he took a printout from the receptionist and liesurely scanned it before speaking.
"Gentleman, we have an potentially lethal situation. I want three groups. One will remain here and guard these receptionists and make sure no one within these walls other than myself deactivates the lockdown. Second group, you will disarm your weapons and leave them here. Spread out to all floors and patrol the halls unarmed. It is your presence and not your skills that I require. You will not confront anyone, but simply report back patient numbers to the receptionists here to verify tally. Third group will go with me. leave all exteraneous or removable weaponry here, take only what you'll have both hands on at all times."
The leader stepped forward. "Sir, with all do respect. You can leave our job to us. The alarm was for a stray patient. This is a search'n'rescue at most. We can handle it."
The Doctor stared evenly into the eyes of the soldier for a long moment, then spoke in a calm icy tone. "It is clear to me that you have no grasp of the situation. This is not a simple search. This is the woman we are going to apprehend."
Folding the top down, he showed the soldier the bottom half of the printed dossier.
"This information is obviously top secret. These are most of her documented skills and resources."
The way the soldier's eyes widened and jaw slackened told the doctor that he was finally taking the situation seriously. He looked ashened as he closed his mouth and nodded and turned to his men.
"The Doc ain't playin'. Form up and MOVE!"
As his men discarded weaponry and took up positions, the security head confronted the doc once more.
"Two ex-White Fangs in one building. I know that Merquise's past. Why did you only call in five soldiers then, but all of us now?"
"He was distraught over his wife's condition, and was strictly localized. Even with the gun he posed only a suferficial threat due to this wife's presence. Ms. Catalonia is different. She could be anywhere. Her motives are not clear. The medications she's on could possibly impair her judgement. And she was suicidal before she even arrived. This is not someone easily handled, should she prove vindictive."
"Why are you ordering my men to disarm?"
"I don't wish to incur a body count."
The guards grimaced at the insultuous suggestion that they would be so flippant about shooting in a hospital. But when each looked to the head of security, they realized the man was nodding sympathetically. Confused, they looked between the Doctor and their leader. It dawned on them that the bodies the Doctor was worried about were their own."
------
--O--
------