Hi again everyone, Randall here. I can't keep kicking myself for not updating in a while, that is if it has been for a while. I've been working on the other pieces of my past you all want to know about, so I finally decided now would be a good time to update. This chapter is mainly a starter for my check-up, which leaves open for a few of my own ponderings. Anyway, enjoy.

Chapter 15 Preparations

I had already drifted asleep again. Staying up less then I usually do was good this time around. Right now, I didn't feel tired, but.....heh.....I still didn't want to get out of be either. I yawned once to get my head start rolling to get up.

I was sleeping on my left side at the moment, which would make it a slight more challenge for my eyes to get open. I dug my hands deeper into my pillow, I guess I just felt like I wanted to sleep the day off. Then again, I knew I had to.....I'd have the rest of the day to sleep if I wanted to.

Taking that in, I opened my eyes. In that split second of a blink, I shut my eyes again, as they were hit with the stinging sensation of the sun. Guess its the quick switch from darkness of the inside of the eyelids to the normal lighting.

Knowing I know the room all too well, I got out, slowly, and received another yawn for the hard work. I got my eyes opened again, rubbing them with my top hands. Feeling finally awake, I started my stretching routine. Cracking my knuckles at first, I twisted my neck slightly from side to side, stretched my legs a bit, waved my tail in all possible directions, and then well......got everything else heh.

Finally feeling that my reflexes were up, I got to my feet and started to the door. That is....before Bellfree opened it. I just didn't want to look at her this morning, I had enough ugly hehehe.

She called something in the hall before looking back, giving me a stern look. "Alright.....once Jet's done...get in the wash room and get yourself spotless....I'm not letting the doc complain if you don't get that slime off ya!" she said.

I really didn't feel like arguing, as always I feel a bit.....I confess....grouchy in the morning. Not all the time.....but...if I argued I would go too far.

Sure, I hate and loath the word on my species....but still....she was kinda right. In MY case I mean, I still had some of that snail slime probably on me. Still....I hate that I am always referred like that. In any case, I haven't had a bath or shower for days. And I needed one.

I just gave a simple nod. Bellfree was pleased and started into the hall, me following.

It was always a busy day when we had the check-ups. Actually.....mostly when I go. You see....Bellfree and Dilfert don't want anybody to know of my mis-treatment. I squealed and its lights out. What's the point anyway? Just get moved to a new dump and start all over again.

Anyway, Bellfree split off to get breakfast started and I turned to the washroom door. I may have forgotten to mention. The washroom, or bathroom or whatever, was located between the living room and kitchen.

As said, Jet was in there. I could tell because I could see the light on underneath the door. I couldn't hear him, but I knew he was singing again, not that he really could.

"(Gonna be a while..." I thought. I sighed hard and went to the wall, plotting my back against it and sliding to the ground. I've gotten use to doing that, many corner punches if you know what I mean. "(I probably won't have enough time...)' I thought again. Actually, I didn't know when we were leaving.

After waiting patiently......heh.....yeah right.....for a few minutes, Jet finally came out, leaving the door open. He was still whistling as I headed in.

The room was a simple common one. Traditional really. Down my right side was another door that held shelves of soap, towels, cleaning utensils, and other things. Ahead of that was the tub/shower. On the opposite side was a sink and mirror, and a toilet for some monsters on its right.

I went over to the mirror, after flicking a gold painted lock on the door, and took a look in it. I had to wipe it clean first, as the mist from Jet's shower had fogged it. I haven't looked at my face in a while. I didn't look too ragged. My emerald eyes still had their green glow to them. My fronds were still pink tipped. My scales, although, were a little dusty and didn't have their usual....ehh....shine if you get what I mean. Guess a shower could shine them up a bit......maybe.

I turned back and started to the tub. Reaching over, I turned a knob fixed into the wall, right below the spewer. It was and old diamond knock-off knob value for water pipes. I usually took bathes, but a shower would be quicker. I pressed a switch and the water transferred from the slightly above the tub to the overhead. You know the drill.

I thought for a moment before stepping in. Having experience, I stuck my bottom left hand out, the top set folded as I knew what was coming. The water that ran through it was, sure enough, cold. I shook my head and crossed the second set.

"(Can you guys leave at least some!?)" I thought. Like the bus, this closely happens every time. I decided not to fight it, I guess a cold shower would cool me off. I had already knocked the door, so no unexpected visitors.

I stepped in, which was slightly hard for me, and grabbed the bar sitting on its stand to my left and started. Actually....its wasn't really soap it was actually a creature. It looks like your regular bar of soap at first, but when it gets wet, it turns into a sort of small blob-like creature that enjoys eating dirt. But to make it simple, I'll just call it soap as it is most like it anyway.

I was thankful that I could finally get that slime off. Although nothing would probably stick to me now, but thanks to it, I was an attractant to dust and other things.

I felt rather pleasant really. My scales aren't as rough as most, so it was easy to clean. I started my fronds, being careful. Getting them was a bit harder than human hair. Of course, I was only going to do a quick going over.

"(Guess its not that bad.....I do feel better.....I think)" I thought. That was true. I could hardly hear a think outside. The door was locked, and the shower was making it harder to hear faint sounds. "(Too bad your going to have to get out later Randall...)" I thought. I gave a slight sigh, rubbing my arms with the "soap".

"(But look at it this way.....at least you got only two more days till this week is over....). I gave a slight smirk at my own thinking. "(Still.....)" I started. "(There are a few things....)".

My arms done, I turned back to get my tail. Knowing I couldn't do it that way, I placed my back against the door of the tub, so the back of my head was near its edge. I lifted my tail up and grabbed it with my bottom hands and scrubbed it slowly. I looked at my tail for a moment, seeing it move inward slightly at its bend area. Thinking about that as I scrubbed it carefully.

I never really understood how I got this tail really. Sure I could probably guess. But I always wondered why it was bent. Well....cracked perhaps. I've had my tail like this for as long as I can remember. Perhaps it was cracked when I was young, when everything was really hazy. Or perhaps someone closed the door on my tail. Or....I was born with it. Sure, I can close doors and grip well with it, and later on use it as a lethal weapon. But how I got it? I don't know. That's one of the things I always question, and its always right behind me as a reminder.

Thinking of reminders, I recalled a few other things.

"(Like....what Bellfree was talking about.....Fargas too.....I think he didn't say Academy.....I think he said something else....)" I thought. I became oblivious to the world around me and was entangled in my mind for a few minutes.

"(Bellfree was hiding something from me.....what exactly it is swads me...)" I thought again. Of course, I knew what "it" was.....then again I didn't. "(A brother...)" I recalled from the night. "(No.....my parents haven't come to get me....and I'm sure that if they didn't send him with me....then I have no siblings....)" I ended with that.

I looked back at my soapy tail when I came back to reality. I sighed heavily, letting all my limbs drop and my fronds go low. I was instantly assaulted with negativity. Sadness and sorrow mostly.

It always made me depressed when I recalled the word "parents". I just.....didn't know what to think anymore. I concluded they must have died when I was 3, but did not know how or where. I'm not sure if I mentioned or not, but I was at a different orphanage when I was here. I don't know where it is though. But every night I waited next to the window in front of my bed, watching the cars pass by on the road outside. I always hoped to see my parents come up the road to take me away. But they never did....nobody ever did. When I was transferred, I lost hope and concluded they were dead.

I mean....what kind of mother and father who loved you would leave you at an orphanage?

Then again....I have a slight piece of hope that they are still alive. But it was so hard to figure things out. Are they dead or not. I mean....would I ever meet them again? And if I did....I probably wouldn't know what to say. Should I be happy to see them? Or angry that they put me in this accursed bastille?

I don't know what to think. But.....I guess with the luck I've been having.....I just don't know. I mean, with everything going on....I just don't know.

I looked around at the world around me. Sighing again I got up.......

"(I shouldn't worry......I mean....OW!)"

.......and slipped right back down onto my stomach. Knowing the risk of injury early, I caught the ground with my hands. After a moment, I shook my head with a stupid smile on my face. Heh....guess the soap's not the only slippery thing" I chuckled out loud. The "soap" in front of me seeming to smirk.

After a few minutes, I had finished. Finally, I felt refreshed and ready for another day. I took a towel from the door near the exit and dried myself off, you can image that it was a small challenge to, my mind empty at the time.

I nearly dried myself down to the bone. I had to, you see......we didn't walk to the hospital. We took Dilfert's car. I didn't want to get a speech from him.

You might be wondering why we don't have child-care vans that take us there or something like that. Well......the thing is......I don't know either. Some things are different in this world. Like how this orphanage is smaller than the one I had been to a long time ago. I just went with the flow in such situations as this.

Anyway, I finished drying off. I felt pretty good, except slightly cold, but I figured that the weather outside should be warm.....at least that's what I had thought. Not wanting to question "mother nature", I exited the room, leaving weather thoughts behind.

Dilfert was at the door with Bellfree, who was currently fixing.....well lets just say she calls it a dress. You see, explaining a little more here, Dilfert and Bellfree.......well....Bellfree anyway.....don't want any "higher-ups" to know about my mis-treatment. Such as doctors, cops, inspectors.....monsters like that. The two tried to look and act well. Hmph.....not that I would give them any credit.

Dilfert was wearing only his blue jeans that fit his attire. Sure to me that a pack and lighter were in the pockets. Bellfree on the other hand was wearing a gauze apron-like outfit with a huge hat that would make a subro jealous. You could mistaken her for going to a marriage ceremony.

Remember.....its around the late 80's, so live with it.

I was holding the childish laugh that I was thinking of making, and unsteadily walked over to them. Jet and Ben were coming down the stairs and heading out. I was thinking of heading to the door, but Bellfree stopped me.

"(Oh boy....the speech again....)" I thought. "Listen...." she began roughly, placing her left hand on my shoulder as her right one pointed at me.

"You better not yap to that quack or anyone else, 'cause if you do, I'll let the boys use you as a coil ball for a week!" she said. I quickly responded with a nod, a couple of times. I did NOT want to have that happen. They, the guys, would use my rather thin and bendable body for their own amusement. They would coil me into a ball, which hurt ALLOT, or a ring and use me for a sport. I HATED that, and I will not let that happen.

"Good...." she said firmly, turning to the guys at the table. "You hoodlums finish eat'n and get to school" she said.

I took this time to head out. Dilfert spreaded his warning to me as he followed. "Better not do anything stupid boy" he said.

I always hated it when he called me "boy". I honestly think he says it in a way that makes me the equivalent of a human dog. Hmph.....

I was wrong, surprise, about the weather. The ground was soggy and wet from the storm, and the cold wind only made it worse. Having a cold shower and bringing in cold weather was not a good combination......

It was already taking its toll on me. The wind, cold mind you, was already making a shivering influence on my scales, if you know what I mean.

I wrapped my hands around my body as we headed to the drive way. This orphanage did have a driveway that I forgot to mention. It was on the right side of the building, staring at it from the front, but it wasn't a garage.

Dilfert went pass me without a car and twirled his keys in his claws. Jet and Ben were already getting in, Bellfree holding the door open. I didn't want to spend the rest of the time out here, so I quickly scurried over. I was waiting to see if I was to be riding in the trunk.....umm...back, but the two didn't seem to mind me getting in. So I did, and then set off.

Forgot to mention. Dilfert's car is similar to a Catalac in your world. Except that it was old and some of the paint was starting to vanish and that one of the end lights was broken. I didn't relish the idea of riding in it. The thing smelled like Snare and an over-powering old-fashion smell over it. I think a year old-piece of furniture might describe the smell.....that or visiting your grandparents.

I was forced in between Jet and Ben, thanks to this thing having only two back seats. That was a reason why they took about three of us at a time. Another disturbing factor, and something that seemed pretty dumb even for Dilfert, is that these seats didn't have tail holes in them.

I felt Jet's elbow in my ribs and my tail brushing my back scales. This gave you a small view of how much room I had.

I didn't really care all that much, I was just worried about getting through the day. If I said anything remotely wrong, Bellfree would let the guys play boomerang with my ribcage. The doc, I'll tell about him later, of mine was a good one. I hoped to not let on anything, even thought I wanted to.

I didn't bother to look out the windows, not that I could anyway, since I knew where we were going. Phoenix Hospital was a world-wide ring kind hospital, set over the Monster World, or at least populated areas. Heh....I guess its the irony and trust of Phoenix's that gives it such a respectable name. I probably don't have to tell about Phoenix's. The place was located near the city to allow easy access from either the city or the countryside. The place, as I recall, had been around since....well...before I was born. So I guess I shouldn't judge it.

We pulled in thought the parking lot, stopping near the entrance. In the middle of the main road, there was a second road that pulled into the parking lot, which had the hospital set at the end of it. The building itself was the size of most hospitals. It was made white with the entrance to the left side. Three floors laying inside. Near its middle right side was a huge, half-cylinder wall that was made of glass, so you could see inside the building like a normal window. That seemed like the only distinguishing feature, at least I think, that set it apart from the other hospitals.

We piled out. I halted to look up at the building again. I never really liked doctors. Syringes and needles and unknown chemicals and machines, hey....I made the extractor but I don't have the full know how of medical machinery in my skull, gave me a great deal of discomfort. Still....they are important when it comes to saving your life.

"(Glad I got all my shots.....)" I thought. "Get over here!".

I jumped back by surprise and ran over to Bellfree who had let Dilfert, Jet, and Ben in already. I headed past her, avoiding a pull on my fronds.

The building interior was much like the outside. White walls covered the sides of the halls. Many plants in pots were placed around, probably calming plants. However, blue strips and red strips, well....different colors actually, led around other halls, bordered with gold paint. They usually lead to other parts of the hospital. Such as Surgery, Dormitory, Cafe, and things like that. Perhaps younger monsters are intrigued about the different colors that they forget why they come here.

Bellfree and Dilfert already knew where to go, so I followed. We went down the hall, coming to its center. We passed a few window walls and doors with occupants waiting inside. On the left side of the middle section were two elevators.

Bellfree pressed the call switch and we waited for it to come down to take us up. The bell sound of its arrival was followed by the door opening. We piled in as Bellfree hit the third floor switch. The elevator was covered in some kind of rug-like material, but had hand rails bolted in on each wall.

I went to one of the corners, grasping a rail as the elevator's door closed. A few seconds later, the transport jugged down, then started a smooth pace upward.

Once it reached its floor, we exited. We were now inside a similar hall. A window set a both ends of it, more plants too. We headed out to the left side of the hall, passing a few doors before coming to another door, glass. I already knew what was inside.

This room was familiar to me. There was a door near its ends. The room itself had two hallways beside the middle office, which led to the other rooms. When we stepped in, I looked to my right. There was a rectangular area with an activated television set in the corner. A square toddler object in the middle, surround by chairs and a couple small tables between with reading magazines. I remember this place was to occupy kids while they waited.

On my left was a row of chairs in front of the office in the middle I mentioned earlier. There were a few pictures about on the walls. A few monsters waiting in the chairs for somebody else or themselves to tend to whatever.

Bellfree and Dilfert went to the office as me, Jet, and Ben took a seat on the row of chairs. Thankfully, these had tail holes. Thinking of nothing, trying to relax, I looked at the stack of magazines to my left. Picking on in particular, I started reading. A "News Today" magazine similar to the paper, but it was smaller for travel purposes. I skimmed and found a few articles that aroused my interest.

"Future War with Neighbors?"

Military Officials claim that there is a possible up rise, in response to border laws, in hostility over seas by Troll and Orc colonies.......

Na....what else?

"Reptilian Run Slows to a Finish"

The amount of reptilian monster marches has declined to a near dead amount this morning in Northern Monstropolis. Officers at the scenes explain that "certain operations" are being held to stabilize such events as the marches.

I heard of that. For as long as I can remember, things like that have been happening. But I'm not always informed, so I truly didn't completely know what the rest of my kind was doing.

Wonder what "certain operations they were talking about......

One near the back got my attention. One the made me read the whole thing as fast as I could. Uh huh..........you guessed it.

"Low-Life Reptile killed by Victim"

Late last night at Keywrick, police answered a call from Jennie Patterson at 10:09 p.m. Law Enforcement scrambled to the scene on alert. Upon arrival, police discovered the body of Mortin Hersh stabbed to death in the living room. Ms. Patterson was discovered in her room having a cut tentacle and led, along with various bruises. Upon questioning, Jennie recalled the event:

"I was at home....alone....when I heard the doorbell ring....I....I came down and opened the door and that....scaly pounced on me!"

Jennie went on to say that Mortin tried to kill her, grabbing her at first. She managed to hit Mortin in the skill with a lamp before retreating to the kitchen. Jennie said that she saw Mortin with a pocket knife in his hand. After he had fallen from the wire of the lamp, Jennie had grabbed a knife and stabbed Mortin as a warning. Still resisting, she had stabbed him to death.

Mortin was inspected quickly and taken away. Jennie was not filed for murder, but was condemned to be doing the act out of self-defense.

I really hate things like this. They believe everything the victim says and don't look for any hard evidence at all. Sure....they don't care to explain how Mortin's parents think of this. I refuse to believe everything about such a thing. They could have made everything up and nobody would have cared about what their family would think.......

Strife was right.

I tossed, literally, the magazine back onto the pile, though it slipped off to the chair on the other side. I didn't want to think about that now. I crossed my arms and looked back on the scene. Bellfree was doing most of the work as Dilfert was making small contributions. Once they finished, they took a seat.

"(Great....sitting beside puffer)" I thought as Dilfert took the seat on the other side of the magazine table. I let my real thoughts in my head. Didn't want to cause any trouble.

It took nearly ten minutes before someone finally came out of the right door on the office side. She was nurse or something like that. Tentacle type, but she's not really important.

"Boggs, Randall?" she asked. I looked a little surprised, but I guess they wanted me to go first. I got out of my seat, thankful that I could finally get away for a few minutes.

It may seem that many of my kind are killed off, and basically, that's how it is. Of course, I was lucky that I was alive at 25. Anyway, next chapter seems a bit of a yawn to me, but I'll pick that up because I think the next important thing that happens may be a holiday......no....actually its the inspector and the aftermath of what happened to Strife. Anyway, reviews help.