Giani looks up from tapping at her terminal and flashes up a grin. "Kyara! Welcome back. You here to find the Doc?"
Kyara nods, flashing a faint smile. "Is she in her office?"
Giani waves a hand at the hallway before flipping back her hair. "Oh, sure. Go on in. Last I checked she was nose deep in some large and dull medical text. If she doesn't appreciate the distraction, the rest of us sure will."
Kyara giggles, giving a nod as she heads toward the CMO's office.
You walk towards the Chief Aleron's Office.
Chief Aleron's Office
Bright and airy, this fair sized office is far from pretentious, but instead useful. A large wooden desk faces the doorway, a pair of pointillism paintings in soft pastels flanking either side of the wall behind it. A second desk adjoins to the first, branching back from one side, upon which a terminal and keyboard rest. A pair of fairly comfortable chairs face the desk for visitors, wooden with soothing sand colored upholstery. On one side of the door is a simple brass coatrack, and on the other a bit farther down the wall is a full sized synthetic human skeleton. Along the right hand wall, a low couch covered in brown velour looks frighteningly comfortable, graphic print depictions of Stilvani and Edreeni internal anatomy framed neatly above it. Across the room is a single bioscan bed, much like the ones outside, just as the easily cleaned white tile flooring is unchanged.
Contents:
Clara
Obvious exits:
Medical Bay
You walk here from the Medical Bay.
Clara is indeed, as predicted, bent over a rather ominous looking text, one arm stretched out to hold a mug of coffee on the desk, the other with the elbow propped to one side of the book and her forehead in that hand. She glances up at the sound of the door and offers a somewhat absent smile. "Heya, Kya. What can I do for you?"
Kyara sidles up to the desk, looking a bit sheepish. "I, uh, came to apologize."
Clara blinks in surprise, then takes a quick sip of coffee as she waves at a seat. "Apologize? Uh, grab a chair. Want some coffee?"
Kyara winces slightly, hopping up into a chair. "Yes, please. Make it black. Though, I don't think I'll ever be able to look at coffee the same way again."
Clara can't help but smile slightly as she turns her chair around to pour a mug straight and scoot it across the desk. "One mug, black. And I can't say as I blame you."
Kyara blushes slightly, rubbing the top of one boot against a chair leg. "Yeah, well... I'm sorry for making you so worried when he turned green."
Clara leans back in her seat, steepling her fingers and tilting her head, nodding slightly at the apology. "I assume you didn't intend any malice, is this correct?"
Kyara blinks, gaze flying up to settle on the doctor. "Malice? Of course not! I mean, yes. That is, you're correct."
Clara doesn't quite smile, although the expression does touch her eyes. "Kya, it was in extremely poor taste, I'll grant you that. If it had been the only thing that happened all week, I likely would have laughed myself silly and prayed he forgave me eventually. As it was...bad, bad timing."
Kyara winces, blurting, "How was I supposed to know there'd be an explosion and everything at the same time?" She reaches for the coffee, taking comfort in its warmth.
Clara lets her fingers lace, brows quirking. "You weren't. But if you'd thought a little more about what Riley's life is like, you might have realized what a danger that sort of inconvenience is. Still...I'm sure you know all this. Yes, I was terrified, but Niko and I worked into the night to find the fix. And yes, I forgive you for that. Have you spoken to Riley?"
Kyara nods slowly, staring into her cup. "Oh Clara, I've never felt so lousy in all my life."
Clara purses her lips slightly, then reaches for her mug. "I wish I could say you shouldn't, but I can't. What I can say, though, is that I think you learned from this?"
Kyara gives you a startled look. "Huh? Oh... yeah. No more practical jokes."
Clara finally does grin slightly, eyes dancing. "Oh, hey now. That's going a little far, don't you think? Just -think- about the consequences before you pull them off. And I'd say no more jokes on Addison, no."
Kyara shakes her head. "That's what everybody keeps saying- tis not the jokes that're bad, just the consequences. But I never thought any harm would come from /this/ one." She looks a little disappointed at that. "Oh, but he's /such/ the perfect target!"
Clara lifts a hand in expression. "But, see, that's just it. You didn't think. Still, time and experience will cure that," she adds. "Like I have much room to talk, but that's beside the point." She shakes her head, laughing quietly. "No, he's a really bad target, trust me. Not because of his reactions, but because of how it can affect those around him."
Kyara tilts her head, puzzled. "How can it affect those around him? Oh, I know you and Niko were worried and all, but if Niko hadn't tangled him, I'm guessing your reactions wouldn't've been near as bad."
Clara snickers. "Thanks for the confidence. I'll have you know I didn't fall to pieces until I actually went to bed that night. No, I meant -everyone- around him. He's our commander, and has to garner respect. How much respect can a man have when he's green?"
Kyara goes very still, comprehension dawning. "Oh," comes out very quietly. "I, um, see what you mean."
Clara quirks her brows, nodding slightly. "Good. I'm glad you do. It's not because I'll panic, which I won't, or because Niko or Kaycen or Anya will get angry, which they will. It's because he has to maintain an image of complete control and respect to do his job."
Kyara thinks this through to its logical (perhaps?) end. "So... no practical jokes that affect his image then."
Clara drops her head slightly, brows lowering. "No practical jokes on your Commanding Officer, Kya."
Kyara sighs, gaze dropping to her untouched coffee. "Alright."
Clara exhales a sigh and takes a long sip from her own mug, then grin. "Okay, now that that's done and said. I am glad to see you back. The uniform suits you."
Kyara glances up, smiling a little. "That's what he said, too. I'm starting to believe it."
Clara chuckles quietly, reaching forward to slip a small piece of paper into her book and heft it closed. "No, no one here that's career military. But it's the truth. Boot camp finished up okay?"
Kyara smiles grimly, sipping from her mug. "I survived. That would be a 'yes'. Clara, I wanna go career." All said in one smooth, calm statement.
Clara's hand slips in closing the book, the rest of the pages falling down with a thud. "Huh? Oh, goodness. Kya, I meant Riley and me. But still...if you do, it's a good life," she agrees.
Kyara nods firmly. "Remember when I told you I enjoyed military life with the Loyals? Well, I found that again while I was gone. Besides, I make a lousy diplomat."
Clara traces a finger over the book's cover, half smiling. "Well, then. Our gain is the Stilvani delegation's loss. I can't say that I'm dismayed in the slightest."
Her grin quirks. "Dunno if I can gossip with you anymore though, private," she teases, grinning.
Kyara rolls her eyes, smirking. "Well, see you have to, or else you'll burst, and they'll make /me/ clean the mess. 'Sides, I will not remain enlisted forever."
Clara tilts her head back, dissolving into true laughter. "God forbid you have to clean up such a mess, too!" she agrees, snickering. "Forever? Plan on OCS, then?"
Kyara grins, then nods. "That was my first choice, actually, but the notion of getting assigned anywhere but here forced me to search for a different option."
Clara waves her hand lightly, nodding. "Hey, whatever works. It's not as if you don't have a good role model, either. It's going to work out, I imagine, just fine."
Kyara nods, mouth quirking in amusement. "Which role model are you referring to?"
Clara's brows creep up, nonplussed. "Why, Addison of course. Who else? He's your mentor, anyhow. Have you written home that you joined the Fleet, then?"
Kyara smiles slightly. "Well, you and Niko could both be considered role models as well." She shrugs. "I told them I enlisted. Didn't give 'em the details."
Clara regards her mug for a long moment, then shakes her head, half smiling. "Not me, Kya. I'm not a role model," she explains, then grins. "I'll bet they're likely as proud as can be?"
Kyara shrugs. "I suppose. They were more surprised than anything else. They seemed relieved, at any rate."
Clara sighs and nods slightly. "Knowing of your background, I think I can see why. This would be your...sha-vendi? Is that the word? Or were you raised by your biological parents?"
Kyara blinks, then shakes her head. "Oh my, no, I could never be sha-vendi." She thinks for a moment on how to explain this. "We... everybody, sha-vendi and all... we're raised in a creche. But yes, my biological parents were the ones involved in my upbringing."
"Sort of like extended day-care," Clara muses thoughtfully, then gives an approving shrug. "Not a bad idea, certainly. Why couldn't you be sha-vendi, though?"
Kyara's expression is rather amused. "Because sha-vendi are the best. Why would anybody adopt a child who wasn't?"
Clara stares for a long moment, completely taken aback. "Seriously? Why, compassion, of course. The desire to love a child and give it a better life than it otherwise would have."
Kyara chuckles. "I was being sardonic. That is how the tradition goes, though."
Clara relaxes slightly and offers a sheepish smile. "Sorry...different cultures, different ways of-...oh, bother," she mutters as her comm blinks in silent reminder. "Could you excuse me, Kya? I've got to make rounds."
Kyara eeps, hastily getting to her feet. "I'm doing it again. Sorry about that." She heads for the door, taking her coffee with her. "I've stuff to clean anyhow. See you later, Clara."
Clara waves her hand, climbing to her feet as well. "Take care. And bring my mug back when you're done with it. Catch you later."
Kyara grins over her shoulder, nodding.
You walk towards the Medical Bay.
You head towards the Security Central.
Security Central
Unlike most of the rest of the complex, the security offices are designed for ease of use rather than aesthetics. Wood paneled walls and marble floors are not to be found here. Brushed steel and plate flooring take their place. The acoustics in this room are designed to muffle sound, so despite the metal flooring and the constant coming and going of security personnel, the area does not quite achieve a cacophonous state. A large bank of monitors takes up the bulk of the east wall. On each is displayed video from various security cameras as well as information garnered from customs and immigration. It is from here that security can keep an eye on most everything that happens in the Complex. There are always at least two uniformed guards on duty with nothing to do except watch the monitors. A broad desk is located near the entrance, with an officer present to handle queries.
Three arched doors lead from this area. One to the brig, one to private offices, and the third to the elevator lobby.
Contents:
Tally Board
Obvious exits:
Chief's Office Brig Elevator Lounge
Riley arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Riley has arrived.
Kyara is at one of the computer terminals, reading Sherlock Holmes. 'The Speckled Band'. All of the coffee mugs are spotless.
Riley comes all but pelting in, trying to button up his uniform jacket and with a pile of paperwork under one arm. He waves and ducks into his office.
Riley walks towards the Chief Addison's Office.
Riley has left.
Niko arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Niko has arrived.
Kyara looks over to blink at the retreating Chief. "What the...?"
Niko is, like Riley, attempting to get his uniform into order as he hurries into security. He slides into his seat, really trying to look like he's been there forever, then starts apologizing to Anya. "It's been a day," he concludes, looking ridiculously cheerful despite being late. "He's got a meeting," he adds, to Kyara.
Anya just lifts a brow, shaking her head. "Useless, the pair of you." Her tone is not entirely displeased though, "Dare I ask?" She nods to Kyara as well, "Fleet Admiral on the comm."
Kathlyn, somewhere between Niko and Kaycen in the seniority gradient, just stares. She mutters to herself, "... didn't know... swung that way... wonders never cease... least he's... getting some..."
Anya overhears the latter part of that mutter and manages to get coffee -right- into her sinuses.
Kyara blinks. "Oh!" She casts a thoughtful frown toward Anya. "Fleet Admiral Ransh-what's-his-name? That's usually bad news, isn't it?" She just /blinks/ at Kathlyn.
Niko shakes his head to Anya. "It's all really confusing, but I'll let you know when we know--what?" He blinks mildly, obviously not having heard the aforementioned mutter. "Are you okay? I'm not -that- late, am I? The Chief and I were just..." He trails off, as Kathlyn's stunned snickering has caught even his attention.
Still trying to breathe through coffee, Anya manages to nod to Kyara. "Fleet Admiral Ranshek. And it's not always bad news. He's the Chief's immediate superior, so he has to report to him." Niko's words just make Anya's mental picture -worse- and -she's- trying not to snicker which is bad because she -knows- better.
Kyara peers at Niko. "Not that late for what?" She loftily refuses to allow certain mental images into her mind, and ignores Kathlyn.
Anya and lofty are concepts far removed from each other, and she's still snickering almost incessantly into her coffee mug, "All that ... fluffy hair ... confused."
Niko gestures around the room. "I was on shift..." He peers at his chrono, and winces. "Well, a while ago. Just got a little involved in what we were doing is all. I mean, this is all a really bizarre experience..." That sends Kathlyn into peals of hysterical laughter, and poor Niko just looks really confused, peering between her and Anya. "-What?-"
Kyara can't help it- she starts to snicker. "Five stars for the evening's entertainment," she mutters. "Niko, what /were/ you doing?"
Anya would really -love- to explain it to Niko, but just now she has her head on her deask and os laughing so hard that she's shaking. Nothing in the helpfulness department is she going to be coming up with for a minute or two.
Niko goes all kinds of red as Kathlyn whispers in his ear. "That's -illegal- on Hellas," he sputters. "We were -talking-. Honestly, y'all have your minds so far past the gutter..."
Anya manages to wipe at her eyes, still snickering. "Sorry Niko, it's just when y'all came running in and putting on clothes... Well, that's normal enough, -I- didn't blink, but Kathlyn's comments, and then you just made it -worse-..."
Kyara giggles, nodding at Anya's words. "Oh calm down, Niko. You and the Chief make a /lovely/ couple."
Okay, that does it. Kyara's comment sends Anya in to a new fit of laughter, "No, too much fluffy hair..."
Niko is trying desperately not to join the others in dying laughing. "No, guys, you don't -understand-. That would be seriously, seriously -wrong-. And I'm not just talking about job weirdness, here."
Kathlyn dissolves into snickers again. "Come on, Niko, you can keep it upstairs, right? Or at least have the courtesy to go into his office..."
Kyara doubles over in laughter. "So /that's/ what the sound screen is for!"
It is good Anya is not drinking anything. She probably would have ended up choking to death. "Wrong Niko?" She can't finish her snide comment, as she is laughing again.
Niko literally chokes at Kyara's statement. Oo. Bad air. By now, he's just a really -disturbing- shade of red, though that's conceivably because he's still trying desperately not to laugh. "Wrong," he confirms, to Anya. "Very, horribly wrong."
Kyara shakes her head, eyes merry, though she glances toward the entrance occasionally. This would be a /really/ bad time for, say, Lexington to walk in. "Oh, c'mon Niko," she purrs. "So are you two planning on adopting then?"
Anya -can't- help it, she -has- to ask. "Why Niko?" Splutter, snicker, splutter, "Intimidated by tall men?" Considering Niko is only a hair shorter than Riley, this is a patently ridiculous comment. But then presumably, that was the intention.
Niko just chuckles at Kyara, wiping briefly at one eye. He's slowly but surely returning to his usual color. Leaning back in his chair, he says, quite casually, "Oh, it's nothing too surreal, Anya. It's just that, well, he's my brother. That's just kind of wrong."
Anya pauses a moment and then goes in search of her jaw. She's dropped it somewhere, see. Eventually she manages, "And you call that, 'nothing too surreal'?"
Kyara blinks, choking mid-laugh, to stare at Niko. "Say what?"
Niko stifles a laugh. "I was trying to be blase," he informs Anya. "It's actually just about the -weirdest- thing I've ever heard. But then today--" His comm-unit, with the worst possible timing, chimes at him. "Ack, Saaranus." He holds up one finger, then answers the call, starting his litany of yessirs.
Kyara throws up her hands in frustration, mumbling a curse under her breath.
Anya just sighs quietly, realizing Niko will be on the comm a while and she will be denied answers. Cruel. This is cruel. But then, considering two minutes before the whole room was implying the fluffy haired wonder duo was engaging in lewd but amusing acts, it's probably only fair.
Niko scrabbles for a piece of paper, scratching a barely-legible notation of Saaranus's complaint. He's still keeping up a steady stream of murmured acknowledgements. That way, he can pretend that everybody else in the room doesn't exist. For once, miraculously, he's -grateful- to the Sectassian.
Kyara returns to reading Doyle, occasionally glancing over to see if Niko's off the comm /yet/.
And it does take quite a while for Niko to get off the comm. Saaranus is on a role today. He finally does turn off the comm, a small smile playing across his lips as he waits for the questions to begin.
Anya is tapping a pencil, quietly. "Okay, so do you cough it up Casymed or do I have to sic Addie on you?"
Kyara leans back in her seat, folding her arms. "What she said."
Niko makes a sound somewhere between a snicker and an ack. "No, please, anything but -that-. But we're still not really sure about all the details, except that, well... we've got the same father. Clara found that we had really similar genetic makeups during my physical today. Pretty bizarre, huh?"
Kyara blinks. "Understatement... Uncle Niko."
Anya blinks a lot. She pauses. "Well that would explain why you're both so infuriating..."
Niko just chokes at Kyara's words. "No, see you're not allowed to call me -that-. My niece is -two-." He flashes a quick grin to Anya. "Yeah, among other things."
Anya adds, "Although the fact that you're both -male- explains that honestly..."
Kyara giggles, then, sobering slightly, wags a finger at Niko. "I'd make that a closely-guarded secret if I were you." Anya's comment earns a snicker.
Aliana arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Niko snickers softly at Anya's words, then peeres at Kyara. "That my niece is two? I don't think she'd mind if I told..." He doesn't see Aliana just yet. He's peering at Kya, see.
Clara has arrived.
Aliana pokes her head in slightly...almost as if she wanted to run....but then she mutters again, 'Allright'
Clara walks in reading from a folder in her arm, brow furrowed as she frowns down at the information there as if she were -not- pleased about what she's seeing there. She glances up to start weaving her way through, then pauses at all the flabbergasted expressions.
Kyara rolls her eyes. "Not that. The fact that y'all are bro..." She cuts herself off at the entrances. "Evening, Clara," she smiles.
Aliana pauses by the doorway..looking like she would much rather be anywhere else but there.
Niko ahhs quietly at Kyara's words. As she greets Clara, he turns to grin at the doctor as well, that expression fading at both Clara's frown and Aliana's... well, presence.
It's that cocktail party thing. Clara doesn't hear the first part of the comment, but does hear the greeting. She edges towards Kyara, puzzled, but with a faint grin. "What's got all the rummies flummoxed?"
Anya looks a bit nonplussed too. She's not exactly sure -why-, but she does.
Kyara's eyes shift to Aliana, then flick to Clara as she shrugs. "I'll tell ya later."
Aliana catches sight of Niko's expression and she bites down on her lower lip uncertainly. Then her shoulders square and chin rises as she asks, 'Is Riley in?'
Niko says smoothly to Clara, "What you told the Chief and me earlier, see, it turns out we've, uh, figured out that you were right after all. Sorry I was so difficult." His gaze slides back to Aliana. "Chief Addison is in a meeting."
Clara nods vaguely at Kya in agreement, then flashes Niko a purely apologetic smile before opening her mouth...and shutting it again as Aliana beats her to the punch. She blinks at Niko before she immediately sinks into a nearby chair. "I was? You mean...really?"
Aliana nods once,'Then I will wait. I need to speak with him'
Anya nudges Niko lightly, murmuring to him, "Not...he just ... to say it was..."
Kyara gives Aliana a brief, cold look before deliberately turning back to her terminal.
Niko's brows lift at Aliana's words, but he nods nonetheless. Clara's inquiry gets a broad grin. "Yeah. Isn't it bizarre?" Anya's nudge and murmuring catch his attention, though, and he responds in kind. "Oh. Did... tell... people waiting... see... that one... one... supplied Kyara... green... not sure..."
It seems to take all of Ali's will power to keep her expression smooth and chin up as she watches Kyara's action. Her arms cross before her and she looks straight ahead.
Clara joins the fair amount of security looking flummoxed, then nods and climbs to her feet. "Okay, that solves my problem," she says simply, glances around at the various cold looks, and shakes her head briefly, murmuring about dictating charts.
Riley walks here from the Chief Addison's Office.
Clara heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Riley arrives with a thick pile of papers in one hand, "I'm supposed to he..." He pauses as Clara leaves, looking a bit dissapointed. "Sorry, I was in a commed meeting. What's up?"
Aliana turns at the sound of a door opening and steps forward, "Admiral Addison...May I have a few moments?'
Niko starts to transcribe his haphazard notes from Saaranus's call, looking up to say something to--hey, she's gone. He blinks, though flashes a quick grin to Riley. "Somebody to see you, Chief." He gestures towards Aliana.
Kyara glances up briefly toward Riley, pausing as Ali speaks.
Riley winces at the 'Admiral'. Painful evil word. Ouch. Ow. Ick. "Sure, what can I do for you?"
Aliana glances towards his office, then up at Riley..for a brief moment her confidences about to flee along with her ability to speak...bu ahh, there they both are. "I am the one responsible for your skin turning green.' There...said.
Kyara frowns, eyes flicking toward Riley, and she shakes her head, ever so slightly.
"Yes, I know. And?" Riley's expression is simply questioning. "Anything else?"
Niko just transcribes. Scribble, scribble. Erk, no, scribbling isn't going to do it. He actually takes care, writing neatly and legibly, though with those odd quirks to his script that are inherent in the fact that this is his second written language. He's not listening at all. No way.
Aliana seems a bit taken aback by this, then nods. "I have sent a message back to Sirgar...and I will be out of your complex as soon as I recieve my punishment."
There's a pause, Riley looks a little confused. It's been a confusing day. "Why?"
Kyara /blinks/.
Niko, despite the fact that he's busily working and not, in fact, listening at all, arches a brow.
Aliana reaches up to play with her necklace then lets out a deep breath,'I knew when I was assigned to the complex, that I was on my final warning...and the next mistake I made, next prank I pulled would be my last. But I did it anyway.'
Riley explains with detailed care, "Aliana, I cannot officially take notice of the ridiculousness with the green dye. If I do, Kyara will be thrown out of the AF faster than I can blink. I really would rather not have to do that. I must say I find it more than a bit distasteful that you witnessed how worried folks were and didn't say anything, but you have taken no AF oaths concerning honor or standards of behavior, so I have nothing to say. I won't be saying anything to anybody."
Kyara lets out a strangled sound, half-rising from her seat. Jaw dropping, she just /stares/ at Riley.
Clara arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Aliana glances around the room, gaze resting on each person for a moment before she looks back at Riley...For a brief moment, her eyes glisten, then her control has returned and her voice while soft is steady, 'And that above all is why I must go.'
Clara slips back in again, this time with a clipboard in her hands, then stops and peers at the tension going on. Yes, she's walked in at another bad time. Rather than interrupt, she simply edges her way towards Niko, holding out the clipboard and a pen and pointing at a line saying 'signature'.
Niko glances over his shoulder at Kyara at that strangled sound, finishing his transcribing and adding a few notes of his own. Clara distracts him, then, as he takes the clipboard and reads it. Looking a bit abashed, he signs his entire unpronounceable name, with a murmured apology for not doing so earlier.
"I'm not going to make you stay," Riley notes quietly. "I have no authority over you one way or another. As far as my authority's concerned you're a free citizen with rights to make your own decisions. But I will not, and can not, press any kind of citation or charge."
Kyara stumbles back into her seat, looking more than a little bewildered.
Clara grins vaguely down at Niko and squeezes his shoulder before taking the clipboard back, then jerks her head at the discussion questioningly at him, eyes questioning what she doesn't ask aloud.
Niko's gaze follows Clara's movement, and he murmurs something to her, voice not moving past her ears.
Aliana nods once...and as she feels her control slip, she offers Riley a bow.....serious for once. Her gaze moves to take in the rest of the room and she says quietly, 'Goodbye'
Aliana turns as slips out, head held high.
Riley could sell her into prostitution maybe, but not cite her.
Aliana heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Why is it every time Riley finally has everything in hand, people have to come be confusing at him. He pauses and adresses the room, "Does anyone have a clue I can borrow?"
Clara is busy staring after where Aliana ran to, casting puzzled looks at Niko. "-Her-?" she whispers, astonished, not even registering Riley's question.
Kyara shakes her head. "I was gonna get one from /you/."
Niko nods seriously to Clara. "Yeah. Surprised the heck out of me, too." He pauses a beat at Riley's question. "Uh, try chocolate? I don't know."
Riley snags a half a chocolate bar from one pocket at Niko's suggestion, it sounds like a plan. "What did she expect out of me?
"Probably to be like that Guildmaster of hers," Clara notes absently, nearly grating out the man's title. "Do you think she'll be all right?"
Riley sinks down into the empty chair half opposite Anya's desk, his usual position. "I have no idea. What else could I do other than not take offical notice of the event?"
Kyara waves a hand. "Um, hello, clueless person here. How could I get in trouble with AF for something I did before taking the oath?"
Niko shakes his head slowly at Riley's question, taking up his paper and dropping it into Anya's in-box. Lucky Anya. At Kyara's question, he glances back at Riley as he returns to his seat.
Niko says, "Nothing, Chief," too. He forgot that part.
"It counts as offering your word under false pretence, Kya." Riley's reply is almost weary. "To swear to serve and protect when you knew you'd left a time bomb..."
Kyara ohs, very very quietly.
Clara leans against the side of Niko's desk, folding her arms and still staring at the door. "Without mentioning it to anyone at all," she agrees, still watching the door thoughtfully. She does a quick look from one man to the other and murmurs, "Sorry for the can of worms today."
Niko flickers a faint grin at Clara. "No, I'd rather know. I think there are still some things I need to find out, and some things I need to tell folks, but I'd still rather know."
"You've got a lot to learn about the AF still, Kya." Riley offers in what's an attempt at consolation. Catching Clara's mutter he offers her a grin, "That was probably the hilight of the day."
Kyara sighs, nodding. "I can hardly disagree," she notes mournfully.
Clara's brows quirk at the reaction from both, obviously surprised. Okay, this isn't what she was expecting, but she's pleased, nonetheless. She reaches over to ruffle Niko's hair, simply because he's closest and offers a wistful smile at Kyara. "We all get to learn. Some of us the hard way. You're not alone."
Niko looks a bit puzzled by Clara's surprise. "What, did you think we'd be upset?" He pauses a beat. "I mean, it's unsettling and all, and I still want to know -how- the heck it happened, but..." He just grins, then, though the expression is sobered a bit by the doctor's last words. Then, of course, he straightens his hair. Can't have it all ruffled.
Riley drops one ankle over the other, stretching his legs out a bit. "It was a surprise, but a pleasant one, eh?" He doesn't touch the rest, still too unsettled after Aliana's visit.
Kyara nods to Clara, rather annoyed at herself. "I'm generally not this stupid." She glances toward Niko with a slight smile. "Shouldn't be too difficult to find out."
Clara grins back at Niko, waving a hand at his head. "You've got a cowlick," she notes affably, then shrugs. "Consider the way it looked from my end, Niko. The -last- thing I wanted to do was come up with the final possibility." She peers at the door again. "I should go after her."
Niko peers at Kyara for a long moment, some of his good humor dropping, then shakes his head. He mutters to himself, "... needs... learn more... more... AF." He nods at Clara's words, with a faint smile. "Yeah. I understand that, trust me. I'm still having an, uh, interesting time with the final possibility." He flickers a glance at the door as well, but doesn't say anything about going after Aliana.
Riley glances towards the door as well. "It's your call Clara, you've the background and all." He pauses a beat, "What was it you came in here for the first time? Something I can help with?"
Kathlyn feels the need to conform, and so looks at the door as well.
Kyara glances toward Niko at the mutter, fidgets, and finally gets to her feet, /not/ looking at the door. "Can I get back to cleaning your office now, Riley?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, it was nothing Riley," Clara manages, frowning at the door vaguely. "Except if she's gone back to the Guild, I can't follow her," she murmurs, then sighs heavily. "Can you fellas at least tell if she's left the Complex?"
Riley nods to Kyara. He starts to say something, but brings it up short. "Yeah, feel free." He nods to Clara, climbing to his feet to go poke at a terminal. "She's not in the building." There's another pause, "Last shot we got of her was in the Pavilion, headed for the Bonded yard."
Kyara blinks, pausing, then shakes her head and continues on her way.
You walk towards the Chief Addison's Office.
Chief Addison's Office
This office is something of a haven from the chaos in security central. It only has one viewscreen, although there are controls to direct it to any of the observation lines. A large desk takes up the bulk of the room. It's a battered affair, and shows the signs of great age. It doesn't really fit in with the polished atmosphere of the Complex, but neither does the man it belongs to. Piles of paperwork, scattered datapads, and a lurking terminal take up the majority of the space on the desk, but somehow room has been found for several photocubes and a small plastic penguin. The floor is carpeted in institutional gray carpeting, and the walls are a slightly darker shade. It would be a dank hole of a room if it weren't for several large electronic maps on the wall, each aglow with various telltales and marker lights. In front of the desk are two uncomfortable chairs and one battered and exceedingly comfortable looking couch. A handful of bad noveldisks are piled at one end of the couch.
Obvious exits:
Central
Riley walks here from the Security Central.
Riley has arrived.
Kyara is scrubbing at that bloody, er, blood stain on the couch. Though she glances up to nod, she doesn't pause, but neither does she seem to be concentrating.
Riley is looking excessively nonplussed with life, the universe, and everything. He returns the nod, heading to his desk to start rifling through a pile of things that need doing.
*SCRAPE* *SCRAPE* Repetiveness, stubborn, same thing in this case. At any rate, the blood surrenders and is eventually wiped away. "Oh," Kya notes, "Just let me know if I bother you at all. Not supposed to do that."
Riley is evenly calm in his reply, unsurprising as he's up to his eyeballs in paperwork. "You're fine."
Kyara nods, gathering up the noveldisks. Starting to rearrange them in alphabetical order, she asks, "Where do you want these?"
Long pause, longer pause, even longer pause. Riley continues to wade through his paperwork. "I have no idea. I keep them there for lack of a better location."
Kyara nods, turning slowly to look around the room. "Closet," she murmurs, heading over there. The 'disks are neatly and carefully set in a row on a shelf, though it takes standing on tiptoe to reach it.
Niko walks here from the Security Central.
Kyara glances over her shoulder, giving a nod to Niko before she continues on.
Glancing toward Riley briefly, she begins sorting through scattered datapads.
Riley is up to his eyeballs in paperwork, not looking altogether thrilled. He's trying to ignore the re-arrangement of his office to boot. The terribly good mood of the morning is being eaten away at. He looks up as Niko enters, "Heya, can I help?"
Niko, tray still in hand, manages a straight face as he comes into the office, returning Kyara's nod. The contents of the tray--a bowl of butterscotch pudding, complete with whipped cream and a cherry--is deposited on a rare blank spot of Riley's desk. "Happy eating," Niko says solemnly, though the twitching of his lips gives him away, "And the Chef's compliments." And with that, he turns to leave, though he's clearly just -dying- to see Riley's reaction.
Kyara catches sight of the pudding, and chokes back a laugh.
There's another pause, a long, evil, stretching pause. Riley's expression is deadly calm, some vast turmoil seething just beneath the surface. Calmly and smoothly he scoops up the spoon, fills it with pudding, and in the age old manner of food fights everywhere launches the blob of yellowy-brown slime Niko-wards. Then and only then does he give up on holding in the laughter.
It's not altogether apparent what Niko was expecting, but, from his startled yelp, a spoonful of cold butterscotch pudding hitting the back of his neck and sliding past his collar was most definitely -not- it. Dissolving into chortles of his own, he turns, with a grin, though he's attempting to extract the pudding as he does this. It's a losing battle. "This," he sputters, "Was -not- my idea."
Riley is having to lean against the desk he's laughing so hard. It was an irresistable impulse. "Whose idea was it then?" He continues to snicker, "I can throw pudding at them too."
Kyara's jaw drops, then she's lost in quiet giggles.
Niko is still trying to get that pudding out from under his collar, his laughter suddenly stilling as it hits his back. "Yack--cold! Uh, one of the caterers. The pretty one, with the red hair. She asked me to give it to you."
Riley snags a pad from his desk and makes a great show of taking notes. "See, when the revolution comes, these'll be the first to be pickled in pudding." He's still snickering at Niko's attempts to depudding himself.
Kyara rolls her eyes with a chuckle and gets back to work.
Niko finally just gives up and unbuttons his uniform jacket, returning to snickering as well. "I don't suppose you've got any napkins in here? Least you could do, after pelting me with pudding." And his awful lime-green shirt is not helped by the slimy yellowy-brown blob gradually working its way down his back. And we're not even going to get into folks' reactions if Niko doesn't put the jacket back on before going back out to security central. (Incest is best?)
Riley clambers to his feet, still snickering helplessly. He goes to rummage in the closet, making more of a mess in it, and fishes out several paper napkins. Crossing the room he offers them to Niko. "Sorry Nick, it simply had to be done or I'd never have been able to live with myself."
Kyara turns to glance into the closet, then shakes her head. "Nope, not part of the office," she mutters to herself, firmly turning away from it to eye the pudding. "You planning on eating the rest of that?"
Niko murmurs his thanks as he takes the napkins and attempts to get at the blob that he can't see, and can barely reach. It's amusing, to say the least. Niko is definitely comic relief tonight. "T'salright," he replies, with a grin. "Ela'll give you a medal or something," he adds cryptically. "She'll likely ask you to do this again."
Riley is still snickering as he drops into his seat. He shakes his head at Kyara, "Nah, I think I'd probably choke if I tried to eat it. My chest hurts looking at it too long." He blinks a few times at Niko, "Ask me to throw pudding at you?"
Kyara blinks at Niko too, puzzled.
Niko pauses a beat at that, and makes a mental note for his mouth to consult his brain before doing something like that again. "Yeah," he says, with a decidedly embarrassed grin. He looks for a moment like he's going to explain further, then shakes his head. "Bad, idea," he murmurs. "Too. Much. Information."
This of course just sets Riley off still further, and he starts snickering again. "Yeah, belay that, I probably do not want to know." He manages to stop laughing at last, gathering up his paperwork. "Lunatic people."
Kyara perks up a bit. "/I/ wanna know."
Niko casts a grateful grin at Riley. "Lunatics? Ela and I? Well... yes, thanks."
Kya's comment gets a soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. "Sorry. It's really not my place to tell."
Kyara groans softly, shaking her head. "/Paki/." She skirts behind Riley to get at the datapads on the other end of the desk.
Riley nods to Niko with a wry grin, "Well, I know -you're- a lunatic, I'm having to guess about Ela. I'd have to actually meet her to determine that. Other than very brief halway passbys." He shakes his head, "Kya, please, if it's on the desk don't mess with it. Unless it's the pudding, which you can have if you want."
Niko's brows lift at the unfamiliar word that Kyara uses, but he doesn't push the issue. At Riley's mention of Kyara armed with pudding, however, he gives up on his crusade to free himself of the pudding and tugs on his jacket, tossing the paper napkins into the trash bin. Yes, Kya with pudding is a thought that disturbs him. "I should likely get back to work. Was there anything you needed, Chief?"
Kyara pauses, glancing between Niko and Riley, but she doesn't look all that disappointed as she nods. "No prob." Replacing the datapads, she does indeed reach for the pudding.
Riley shakes his head after a decided pause, "No, but thanks Nick. I appreciated the chance to toss food at you though."
Niko's lips quirk as he heads for the exit. "Glad I could help, Chief. Next time, though, I'll bring something less... slimy." He chuckles once more, buttoning up his jacket as he leaves. He really doesn't think, does he?
Niko walks towards the Security Central.
Kyara blinks after Niko as she makes herself comfortable on the couch. After a moment's thought, a soft "Eeewww" can be heard.
Riley glances up from the paperwork at the 'Ewww', "Pardon?"
Kyara shakes her head, gesturing with the spoon toward the door. "Niko. Him and Ela..."
Riley turns back to his paperwork, "What about them?"
Kyara makes a face, trying to figure out how to voice her thoughts. "What he said implied they're..." She gives up, unable to finish that sentence.
Riley lifts a brow at that, "Kya, it's -Nick- for goodness sake, I'm sure he's still being the perfect gentleman." He pauses, "And even if they were..." He shrugs, chuckling, "They're both adults."
Kyara nods. "Yeah, I know. It's just... well, the mental image is difficult to banish."
Riley is still looking confused, "What mental image? I think I'm behind a bit, Kya. I take it you've met Ela then?"
Kyara shakes her head. "No, but," a light blush here, "I don't think a positive ID would be necessary. Ain't the face I'm picturing," she ends in a mutter.
Riley is now starting to look positively disturbed, "Kya, what in Peesh's name are you -thinking- over there? What gutter did you leave your brain in, kiddo?"
Kyara looks away, her face scarlet. The darn training's still too fresh for her to answer anything but honestly. "I'm thinking that they're lovers." Fingernails rattle against the pudding bowl. "Kiddo, huh?"
Riley shrugs lightly, "And if they are?" He sighs quietly, "Sorry Kyara, I apologize for calling you kiddo."
Kyara shakes her head, surprise in her expression. "Don't apologize, please." She smiles slightly. "If they are... well, then Niko's made an awfully fast recovery."
"If you object to it," Riley explains, "I needs must apologize." He shakes his head, "My guess would be that they aren't. This is Nick, Galahad himself. And even if they were, they've known each other for many years. And on top of that, it's none of our business. If he's happy, that's all that matters."
Kyara shakes her head quickly. "I don't object. I was surprised," she explains, then nods. "I know all that. I just don't want him getting hurt. That rebound stuff, y'know?"
Riley ahhs quietly, assimilating this a moment before nodding. "That I understand, it's..." Something catches his eye on his monitor and he cracks up laughing softly, leaning over to type.
Kyara gives you a curious look, getting up to creep over to the desk. "What's so funny?"
Riley shakes his head slightly, "An amusing message." He regards you a moment, "Kya, why don't you head out, get some food, find something to do with yourself."
Kyara's expression is one of amused exasperation. "Alright. I'll do that if you go hunt down Clara and spend some time with her."
Riley looks rather stricken. See, he wants to do exactly that. He most assuredly does not wish to be cooped up in his office with paperwork. He's had a wild couple of days, and his mandatory leave was spent dealing with Guido-foo. But, there's work piled up, and he skipped enough work today as it is talking to Niko. "Wish I could," he murmurs, "Gotta work though."
Kyara taps her foot thoughtfully. "Would it be too distracting for you if she came here?"
"Kya," Riley says at last, "I'm sure she has better things to do with her time than sit in my office and watch me do paperwork."
Kyara snorts softly. "If you say so," she murmurs demurely, and points to the paperwork. "We'll prevent this kind of buildup in the future. You teach me how to do it, at least the parts that don't need the Security info in the computers, lighten your load- Emperor knows it's heavy enough- so you're not stuck in here all night again."
"We'll see, Kya." Riley's tone is patient, "I was figuring you might want to spend a bit of time researching the AF, and what it really means now that you're in it. I don't know if you really understand."
Kyara blinks.
Riley is still quite patient, "The fact that you did not understand the reason your joke was a violation of AF rules, the fact you seem to have a pretty severe disregard for authority which is not a problem -here-, but if something were to happen to me... You're just lucky Anya got distracted or you'd be cleaning tunnels right now."
Kyara gestures helplessly. "But Anya's /Anya/. This..." she gestures indicating Central, then pauses, shaking her head. "My own fault. I do /not/ have a disregard of authority. I'm just used to being... casual?... around here." She's not even going to touch the part about the joke.
"Anya is also Lieutenant Pendleton, and is due respect." Riley's reply is quiet. "Kya, I rank Anya out six ways to Sunday, and -I- wouldn't have antagonized her in that fashion."
Kyara frowns, drawing herself up straight. "I'm sorry. I do respect her, and I'll apologize to her too, but I wasn't trying to antagonize. As it is, I had to bite my tongue pretty hard."
Riley considers this a while, trying to maintain his store of patience. "Kya, see, I understand sometimes it's hard not to react to things. But I only have this problem with people I do not respect. I'm considered a maverick of sorts, insufferably rude and unbearable, and yet, if I -deserve- a chewing out, I don't say anything, and I don't have the -urge- to say anything. I think you need to take a long look at your motivations, and your beliefs, and a really long look at accepting responsibility for your own actions. Not just being willing to accept punishment for them, or praise, but to really understand what you do, why you do it, and what might happen."
Kyara is /shocked/, and looks it. "Whoa. I think we're in the middle of a /huge/ misunderstanding here."
"Are we now?" Riley's reply is still exceedingly patient, "Please elucidate."
Kyara is obviously choosing her words very carefully. "Granted, I didn't understand the ramifications of the joke. But even then, that certainly wasn't disregard of authority. As far as Anya goes, I'm sure she didn't mean to insult me. She doesn't seem the type to do that even considering how pissed off she was at me. But by the Crown, if she'd said that to Lexington," She actually looks shaken at the notion," Or any other Stilvani for that matter, she'd be called out. I suspect she just got it backwards. But considering the... tension out there at the time... I was rather limited in my methods of communicating that."
"The appropriate manner would have been to -wait-." Riley explains, "You don't press a superior officer when the superior officer is justifiably angry with your performance. And it's not just that, your attitude with Nick was flippant at times. Here, here you can get away with it. Other commands you'd already be out on it. There's a host of things you have to learn to live the way we do. Most of them are easy enough once you get used to them, but your upbringing is a serious non help in this situation. Being a Private is lower on the totem pole...-far- lower on the totem pole, than a 'domestic position' that you so eschewed."
Kyara notes quietly, "If I were anywhere else, I'd /never/ let down my guard as I have here. Again, it's my own fault, I know that. It's easy to slack a bit in friendly territory. I'll guard against it in the future." Something sparks in her eyes at the upbringing comment, but her expression remains calm, and she doesn't mention it.
Riley shakes his head, "I don't mind you enjoying the same freedom everybody else does, I just think you need to recognize when it's appropriate and when it's not. When you've gotten back after pulling of a gag that could have had me de-commissioned is the time to be polite, and as inoffensive as possible, eh?"
Kyara nods, allowing herself to look a bit abashed. "I... see your point."
Riley nods amiably, "Now skeedle, Kya, go relax some. Figure out what it is you intend to do with yourself from now on." He offers a grin, "And take that pudding with you, please? As a personal favor?"
Riley's communit crackles to life and blares "Hey, knight... shining..." in Clara's voice.
Kyara's mouth quirks, wryly amused. "I will. It smells good." Grabbing the bowl from the couch, she notes, "I've long-term plans. Short-term is another matter entirely." Pausing at the door, she looks back, saying simply, "Thanks."
Riley grins at his comm unit a moment before nodding to you, "Hey, for what it was worth, you're welcome."
Kyara murmurs, mostly to herself, "Tis worth more than you can know," as she slips out, gently shutting the door behind her.
You walk towards the Security Central.
You say "Clara? It's Kya..." into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "Hey there, chiquita. What's up?" in Clara's voice.
You say "Can I speak to you for just a few minutes? In private, I mean." into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "Right now? *long pause with a hint of static* Yeah, sure. Sounds like Riley's too busy to talk anyway. Where do you want to meet?" in Clara's voice.
You say "*even longer pause* That's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. Your office?" into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "Yeah, sure. Go on in and I'll meet you there. I'm not in the Complex right now." in Clara's voice.
You say "Roger." into the communit.
You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
You head towards the Medical Bay.
Kyara gives a nod to whoever's on duty at the desk, blushes slightly as she realizes she must look a bit odd carrying around pudding, and heads for the CMO's office.
You walk towards the Chief Aleron's Office.
Clara walks here from the Medical Bay.
Kyara is standing by the coffee maker, pouring two mugs. The bowl of pudding is on the desk. She looks over with a smile, offering one of the cups.
Clara's communit crackles to life and blares "... you... I..." in Riley's voice.
Clara comes in with a foam cup with a lid, dressed in casual fatigues and her usual cap over a serious expression. Swinging into her desk chair, she tilts her head, casting a quick smile at her comm before asking, "Okay, what's up?"
Kyara snickers. "That's what I get for making a fresh pot." She regards you for a moment, and finally shakes her head, lip making its way between her teeth. "Clara, if you were busy with something..."
Clara lifts her brows, slightly amused. "I appreciate it, though. I was down in the Java Quarter." She glances at her comm again fondly and shakes her head. "Nothing I can't catch up with after a bit. What'd you want to talk about?"
Kyara looks more than a little embarrassed. "Oh, I just didn't want you thinking... I mean, it's that bloody paperwork, not you..." Can she stick her foot into her mouth a little further? She finally decides to go with, "He misses you."
Clara sets her cup down and folds her hands in her lap, smile softening. "I miss him, too," she responds quietly. "But that's beside the point. Now are you going to tell me what's wrong, or do I have to order you a couple dozen pushups to get it out of you?" she teases.
Kyara blinks, and quickly shakes her head. "I know I've caused my share of trouble lately, and he had the explosion to deal with, and days off... he's in there faced with that mound of paperwork, and I think he thought he was doing me a favor by telling me to go spend some free time, but I think he could use a friendly face in there right now..."
Clara steeples her fingers, eyes dancing. "So you stopped me in the middle of trying to drag him away from it to call me to my office to tell me to try to drag him away from it?" she asks, by now completely amused.
Silence. Then Kya's voice is very small. "Oh crud."
Clara snickers thoroughly, reaching for her foam cup for a long drink. "Hey, you didn't know. What else was there?" she prompts.
Kyara shakes her head, red-faced. "That's all."
Clara leans forward to rest folded arms on her desk, offering a kind smile. "Kya, don't worry about it. I appreciate the gesture. But if there's one thing Riley and I understand, it's that we both have jobs to do that are extremely important to us. But I do thank you for the concern."
Kyara nods, letting out a sigh of relief. "Okay. In that case," she smiles weakly, "I'll let you get back to trying to drag him away from that mou..." She blinks suddenly. "Clara, could /you/ convince him he could use some help with that stuff? It's one thing when he didn't have somebody to better spend his time with than paperwork, but now that he's got you, he shouldn't have to spend half the night in there all the time."
Clara hesitates for a moment, then chooses her wording thoughtfully. "I think that isn't a bad idea...in a couple months. Why don't you spend some time getting used to the way AF service works? Outside boot, I mean. But I'll suggest it when I feel it's appropriate. Okay?"
Kyara promptly nods, though a slight frown flits over her expression. "Fair enough. Does he tell you /everything/?"
Clara blinks for a moment, taken aback. "Me? I sincerely doubt it. I certainly don't ask. Why?"
Kyara's tone is wry. "Because he just got done lecturing me on the same thing. I deserved it, but that's a hell of a coincidence."
Clara can't help but snicker at that, shaking her head as she tosses back the last of her coffee. "Oh, Kya. He didn't tell me a thing other than that he spoke with you. It's just sound advice from two different officers. It's also common advice. Now...anything else?"
Kyara frowns thoughtfully, distractedly shaking her head. "Not unless you want some pudding." She points to the bowl.
Clara climbs to her feet with a grin and adjusts the blousing on her t-shirt. "Butterscotch? Not exactly. Makes me want to drag out my skeletal regenerator."
Zzzzap.
Dangling from the coatrack, Purloined Penguin edges around to the other side of the coutrack, out of sight.
>>OOC: Kyara snickers.
>>OOC: Clara smirks. ;)
Dangling from the coatrack, Small Bit Of Fluff hides too. Hiding is good. Even though as a bit of fluff, it has no skeleton.
Kyara nods, taking the bowl as she stands. "More for me then," she grins."
Clara waves a hand dismissively, nodding. "All yours, my dear. And now...if you'll excuse me? I have a soldier to order away from his desk."
Kyara beams her approval, stepping toward the door. "You two kids have fun, y'hear?" With a wink, she's gone.
