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:
Roland
Aliana
Niko
Tally Board
Obvious exits:
Chief's Office Brig Elevator Lounge
Clara arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Clara has arrived.
Aliana blinks as she sees Clara, her grin threatening to split her face, 'Hello!'
Clara makes her way in and around the various desks towards Kyara's, returning
Ali's grin with one of her own along with one for the others as well. "Don't mind me," she murmurs, sliding into a seat.
Niko waves his pencil in greeting to Clara, a puzzled smile crossing his face. "Kay," he says agreeably. "Ali, was there anything else you needed? Anything at all?" See, if she says no, he has to go back to the paperwork.
Aliana thinks for a moment, her smile turning mischievous for a brief moment, 'Too bad you didn't ask if there was anything else I wanted...but I don't need anything else.'
Kyara glances up from her work and her snickering to give Clara a smile. "All ready?"
Niko blinks once at that smile, then grins faintly, with a small shake of his head. "Sorry. Next time I'll know the proper question."
Aliana offers a slight bow to Niko, 'Thank you for your help.'
Aliana heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Aliana has left.
"As I'll ever be," Clara replies to Kya with a wry grin. "Any ideas on where you'd like to go? I'm afraid I'm short an office for a while."
Roland blinks and stops staring at a couple models outside the door as he sees Ali pass by him. "Huh? Oh, oops."
Kyara glances toward Niko. "Nick? I've got an appointment with Clara... shouldn't take too long..." She chews thoughtfully on her bottom lip. "My quarters? A little tight, but it's private."
Anya gestures towards Addison's office. "Need an office?"
Niko takes a moment to peer past Roland. You know. Just to see what he's looking at. Niko can't help it that the looking-at things are models, can he? And he sure doesn't -enjoy- looking at them, no way. He nods amiably to Kyara. "Sure. I'll save any hunting stuff that might present itself."
Clara pushes to her feet again, grinning at Anya with a faint headshake. "Thanks, but that's okay. I'd rather not invade his space without him about." She tilts her head at Kya. "Quarters sounds good, though. They're a sight bigger than what they assigned at the Outpost. Lead on," she suggests, giving the others an affable wave.
Roland scratches his head and shrugs, then looks over his shoulder at Kyara. He offers her another grin and waits for the ladies to head out first.
Kyara nods her fervent agreement with Clara, rising to her feet. "No invading the Admiral's space. That would be a Bad Thing (tm)." She nods to Clara, striding toward the door. "That sounds scary..." She trails off to give Roland a soft smile as she passes.
You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
***** Travel-spam deleted *****
You unlock the door and go into room N10.
Room N10(#1501R)
A small, simple and efficient room. Sunlight is piped in, down a reflective tube, from the upper levels. A sleeping unit pulls down from one wall. The desk does double duty as a dining area with two chairs and a cooking unit. Cupboards provide storage above and at the end of the desk. A small closet is tucked in next to the door, and a bathing unit is squeezed into the corner opposite.
The room has been brightened with a cheery pink coat of paint. The quilt and blankets on the neatly made bed vary in shade from lilac to lavender. Off to one side on the desk, out of the way of anybody eating there, is a single picturecube. It bears a photo on each side- a Stilvani couple; Clara; two of Riley- one showing him green (that one's face down on the desk), the other working at his desk; Niko; and Kya's military photo.
Obvious exits:
Out
Clara enters from the Elevator Lounge.
Clara has arrived.
Clara follows after somewhat distractedly, then sets aside whateever she'd been thinking and laugh easily as she follows in. "Or the floor. It'll be better than floating against the ceiling." She pauses at the wealth of pink, then ooohs at the bed. "Lavender...this is gorgeous!"
Kyara's mouth quirks as she blushes. "Thank you. It's... soothing."
Clara plops down on the foot of the bunk, grinning affably. "I can imagine. I haven't a lick of decorating sense, but I always know when I like something."
Kyara chuckles, dropping into the undersized chair at the desk. "Do you always know the right thing to say too?"
Clara's brows scoot up in amused denial. "Me? Gracious no. I wish to all that's holy that I did. It'd provide a lot of answers. Why?"
Kyara's mouth quirks wryly. "Cause if you did, I'd beg for lessons in the art."
Clara tilts her head with a kindly smile, somewhat sympathetic. "I'd teach it, if I could. About the only thing I've learned is to try to keep my mouth shut if I'm not certain what's best."
Kyara smiles slightly. "That's a good lesson in and of itself. That's what I should've done."
"Want to tell me what happened?" Clara prompts gently. "Sometimes just talking about it helps."
Kyara's gaze drops to her nervously twining fingers in her lap. "Did Riley tell you I turned down a promotion last night?"
Clara leans down to rest her elbows on her knees, nodding slowly. "He did, yes. I don't think I'm betraying any confidences by saying he was a little baffled, either."
Kyara nods, sighing slightly. "He didn't seem too baffled to me. I expected him to be surprised. I /didn't/ expect him to look so disappointed."
"Were you trying to surprise him? What were your goals and motivations in turning down the chevron?" Clara asks carefully, tone gentle and exceedingly patient.
Kyara shakes her head quickly. "Oh, hell no! What I did was the right thing to do, no matter what his reaction."
If anything else, this does take Clara aback for a moment. "The right thing? Kya, whatever makes you think that?"
Kyara takes a deep breath. "I didn't deserve that promotion. I've been... I told Roland I'd see him again. I don't know if /that's/ correct or not, but not knowing makes me uneasy enough to suspect it's dishonorable."
Clara shakes her head slowly, half smiling down at her knees. "Kya, Kya, Kya. Hon, Roland isn't that bad of a guy, if that's what you're worried about. He could be a lot worse. Besides..." She peers up with one raised brow in utter seriousness. "When it comes to promotions, it's never up to the servicemember to decide if they deserve it or not. If you hadn't, HQ would never have approved it."
Kyara glances up, looking mildly exasperated. "I asked you and Riley both a month ago if Roland was 'inappropriate' company, and both of you said I had to make that decision. Erring on the side of caution, I shoved him away, but I've missed him so much... I... I spend 14 hours a day down in Security, working myself to exhaustion." At that last she shakes her head. "That's suspicious too. A month ago I'm such a disgrace they flog Riley for it, and now they approve a promotion?"
Clara tilts her head thoughtfully. "Kya, you only asked me about Valentine, not Roland. I was merely surprised at your interest in him." She sighs and rubs at her forehead. "And yes, that's entirely reasonable. If you were moving from Major to Lt. Colonel, then there'd be a massive problem. From buck private to Private, though? A month of sterling performance is adequate."
Kyara sighs softly. "I was unclear then. I do beg your pardon. Well, that's one problem solved..." She glances off to the side.
Clara regards you for a quiet moment with a wistful expression. "Do you begin to understand why Riley was disappointed? Just as your discrepencies reflect on him...so do your achievements."
Kyara nods slightly. "That's a reasonable theory. I came up with several last night."
Clara's brows waggle slightly under dulled curls in interest. "Such as?"
Kyara ticks theories off on her fingers. "One, if Riley requested that promotion- and he wouldn't say if he did or not- my turning it down reflects a lack of faith in his judgement." Her mouth quirks wryly. "Something I've avoided since the Fourth Fleet incident. Two, he could have been disappointed in me having a lack of faith in /myself/. And three, since I said I didn't deserve it, he could have concluded that that was the truth, and that'd I'd been doing something he didn't know about that prevented me from deserving it."
Clara laces her fingers together and lifts her hands to rest her chin on them thoughtfully. "I'd say either scenario one or two would be accurate, since I've no clue if he requested it or not either. Trust me, Kya, if you were doing something that would prevent you from deserving it, Riley would know -and- his superiors would know."
Kyara's mouth quirks wryly. "Y'know, Ali offered to provide a 'cover' for me so I could see Roland without anybody knowing. I turned her down. Discretion is one thing. Lying's quite another."
Clara shakes her head slightly, looking actually vastly amused by that. "You see? You were more willing to turn down a promotion than promote your own interests. --That's- what being a good soldier is about, Kya. Let me ask you this...how does Roland feel about you being AF?"
Kyara preens slightly. Praise is good. "Oh.. I dunno. We never discussed it. If he has a problem with it, he's never given any indication."
Clara's lips quirk faintly in approval at the answer. "Okay, and what's his agenda towards Riley?"
Kyara blinks. "Far as I know, he doesn't have... Oh. As compared to Tara?" She shakes her head. "Much as they're both rough and tough, they're still kinda opposites. Roland's honorable, he really is. Tara's... well, she's shady."
Clara's brows quirk significantly. "Now think that over, hon. Do you really think it was the lack of refinement that the higher-ups objected to? I'll be as evil as Riley and say that it's up to you, but I'm not going to hesitate to say that while DeMario isn't my favorite person, that's only because I don't know him well. I honestly believe he's a decent person, though."
Kyara shifts nervously. "Well... he does buy items from the fences occasionally. But other than that, he's completely above-board. It's the whole /image/ thing, see. What do the words 'bounty hunter' conjure up? Not a favorable image."
"Or the words 'spoiled rich girl', or 'failed civil war veteran', or 'maverick'. We all have monikers that conjure up bad images. Our superiors really are smart enough to look past a title and see who it is bearing it," Clara explains softly.
Kyara ohs softly. "See, when Riley laid it all out for me, he said I was hanging out with undesirable people, plural. And there was only Roland and Tara- the others in the Underground were just /there/, it's not as if I went out of my way to be around them like I did with those two." She glances toward her bed. "I do miss Tara, but I miss Roland so much more. It's been... very lonely."
Clara chuckles softly, peering at the floor with a faint amount of sad fondness. "Hon, this is Riley we're talking about. I wouldn't be surprised if he was using the plural to avoid pinpointing any one person. Have you thought about making sure you just stay out of the Underground? If you see him, do it in suitable locations. You never know...it might just spiff up his image a little."
Kyara chuckles wryly. "I haven't even set foot outside the Complex in weeks, just to be sure. It's always in the back of my mind- 'if I do /this/, what'll happen to Riley?'. I was ready to slap Ali when she implied my desires were more important than that." She blushes slightly, looking down. "I /had/ been planning on seeing Roland only inside the Complex."
"That might not be a bad idea...at least for a while. And I'd avoid the Underground like the plague. Even I don't go down there anymore unless I'm doing my rounds of the clinics," Clara explains with a quiet smile. "Now that you're getting the hang of what's appropriate, you might start thinking in terms of 'how will this reflect on the honor of the Fleet' rather than on 'will this get Riley in trouble'."
Kyara cocks her head, nodding. "Oh, I do that too. That's the excuse I had to explain to Ali, see, though I believe wholeheartedly in it."
Clara leans back slightly, giving you a rather approving, if nonplussed grin. "Kyara, I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that. I swear, you've grown in leaps and bounds over the last month. This is wonderful."
Kyara blushes wildly. "I'm glad I'm doing the right thing. Just had to go back to being me, I guess." She rises to cross the few steps to the fridge, bringing out two orange cans and lifting one in inquiry. "Which leaves me just ooooone problem."
Clara shakes her head, but offers murmured thanks as she leans back on her knees again. "And what's that?"
Kyara replaces one of the cans and pops the other, returning to her seat. "Riley. I /hate/ having him disappointed in me. With the information I had last night, I did do the right thing. But I can't imagine explaining it to him."
Clara thinks this over for a moment, then shakes her head apologetically. "I can't tell you what to do there, Kya. I understand his disappointment, and I hope you learned a lesson from this. And I -really- hope that a promotion gets approved for you again someday. Riley's an adult, though, hon. He's got a culture I'm only barely beginning to understand. I make mistakes with him all the time. You just have to trust that he can take care of himself."
Kyara almost chokes on her soda, and stares at you. "Of course he can. It just hurts when he goes all formal like he did last night."
Clara's gaze goes distant for a moment before she faintly shakes herself and nods with a small grin. "I can imagine. That's just his way of reacting when he doesn't know how else to react. I think. But he won't be disappointed forever."
Kyara ohs quietly. "I hope you're right, I really do..." She trails off to give you a hopeful look. "/You/ could tell him."
Clara opens her mouth to reply, then blinks in surprise. "I could...tell him what?" she asks, obviously confused. "What would you want me to say?"
Kyara gestures with her can. "You could tell him why I turned down the promotion. Maybe, with a little luck, he'd understand my reasoning."
Clara drops her head for several moments, regarding the floor in thought. "I can try?" she finally offers. "I can do my best, at least. I think we have a few communication cynliders misfiring lately, but I'll try."
Kyara nods fervently. "Please? I'd appreciate it so much." A slight frown of concern appears. "Communication problems?"
Clara flaps a hand dismissively, banishing a momentarily weary expression with a grin. "It's nothing. Not to worry. Just the after effects of freefall on the old noggin."
That flippant reassurance doesn't seem to ease Kya's concern much. "Are you sure?" She cocks her head, asking softly, "And who does the doctor see when /she/ needs somebody to talk to?"
Clara quirks a half grin, shrugging. "My mother, usually. Except that really everything is fine. It's not anyone's fault but my own that I get tripped up by cultural differences now and again."
Kyara nods, looking slightly relieved though she blushes a bit. "I've had a few of those misunderstandings myself."
Clara sighs faintly and gives the ceiling a wistful half-smile. "I'm trying to learn his culture...really I am. I'm even studying some books that Corian gave me so I can learn Kashidian. Between that and how busy he's been lately, the fact that he remembered to call Maintenance was a miracle, let alone remember anything else."
Kyara cocks her head curiously. "Maintenance? What for? Oh, that's not surprising, considering how shnozzed he looked tonight, as Nick put it."
Clara glances towards the door, managing to hide most of the dismay as she nods. "Tell me about it. As soon as he got home and done oohing and ahing, I made him take a nap." She glances back with a slightly widened smile. "We...um...we've moved into new quarters. Maintenance had to arrange it."
Kyara blinks. "We?" She breaks into a grin. "It's about time."
Clara, not surprisingly, goes bright red. "Er, ah...yes. I...well, he asked months ago, and I said no. And then when I had to leave, I couldn't remember why I'd said no to begin with."
Kyara smiles. "We missed you a lot, Clara. All of us. Especially Riley, of course, but all of us did."
"I missed you all too," Clara replies quietly, rubbing at her eyes with her hand, then running it back up through her hair. "The Outpost...it didn't want me, and I didn't want to be there. I was -not- what Captain Conrad was expecting."
Kyara's eyes fill with curiosity. "What /did/ he expect?"
Clara steeples her fingers, humor reasserting itself in a wry grin. "A Naval researching physician with a Level 6 or above telepathy rating. Instead, he got me, who doesn't fit -any- of the above requirements."
Kyara rolls her eyes. "Well, you /are/ a physician... and from what I hear you did pretty well researching what turned Riley green..."
"Physician, yes," Clara agrees, by now thoroughly amused. "But one, I'm Infantry, and I don't have the training for long term null-gee. Two, I'm great at fly-by-night research in solving a known problem under pressure, but this was methodical research. Nope, not what he needed at all."
Kyara shakes her head. "Lexington may have been a fine diplomat, but I'd hate to have had him for an enemy."
Clara sighs softly, humor fading quickly. "Tell me about it. And when he was out to prove a point, the effects could be so far-reaching. The only way I could come home was due to a rule saying Infantry can only spend so long in a freefall environment."
Kyara's eyes widen. "Oh my... I thought somebody had finally seen reason and that's how you got to come back."
Clara shakes her head sadly, lips quirking. "I wish that had been true. Riley was still fighting sub-committee when General Jensen found the loophole. Good thing, too, since another few months would have meant me staying in freefall permanently."
Kyara yikes softly. "Permanently? Oh man, Riley never mentioned that, only that you'd be gone for three years. No wonder you're still... a little loopy?"
Clara chuckles softly, slowly climbing to her feet. "I don't think he realized, hon. See, as Navy, he's got the know-how to deal with it. I don't, since I do all my work on the ground. Heck, I'm geared for the opposite for high-gee combat drops. And yeah, that's what's wrong with me, mostly. Massive calcium depletion and some muscle atrophy."
Kyara acks, looking rather concerned. "You're going to be alright though, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Clara assures with a small smile. "Yeah, I will be. That's why I had physical therapy today. Jones'll get me back into shape. I'm not all that old, that I can't regain the better part."
You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.
Kyara smiles in relief. "That's good to hear." She pauses consideringly for a moment. "Everything's back on track then."
Clara considers this a moment, stretching her arms up before stuffing her hands in her pockets. "I think so, yes. New quarters, goodies from home, back on Linnae...life's pretty good," she agrees somewhat absently.
Kyara smiles. "And Nick's back, and I'll be forgiven eventually." She glances toward her chrono. "Oh hell... Riley's probably wondering where you are, and I've still all that paperwork to get done."
Clara chuckles vaguely, shaking her head. "If anything, Riley's still asleep. Still, I should probably go home and get out of this ridiculous Navy uniform. I've got some things Mother sent to get put away anyway. Why don't you take the night off, Kya?"
Kyara blinks at the notion. "Switching shifts is one thing. I didn't realize taking a night off is an option."
"If you've put in as many hours as I'm betting you have today," Clara notes, heading for the door, "I'll lay odds whoever is dispatcher on duty will give you the evening off. Why don't you call, then get some rest, hmm? Give me a holler if you need anything else?"
Kyara blushes. "Maybe you're right. Now that I know I can see Roland without fear of dire consequences, I don't have to work myself into sleep."
Clara pauses at the door and waggles a finger while smiling wearily. "You don't indeed. Just be careful, and remember the Fleet's honor, and you'll be fine. Now relax and have a pleasant evening. Goodnight."
Kyara nods, allowing herself a smile. "Nite, Clara. Thanks for everything."
Clara taps at her eyebrow in a casual salute along with a sleepy grin, then ducks out the door, rubbing at her eyes.
Clara leave the room.
Clara has left.
You say "Roland?" into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "Road Kill Cafe, you kill it, we grill it. Roland speaking. How may I help you?" in Roland's voice.
You say "*giggle* Roland, it's Kya. Busy?" into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and blares "*mildly dissapointed* A giggle is all I get? *pause* Nope, not busy." in Roland's voice.
You say "*chuckle* Sorry. Can I see you? We don't even have to hide out." into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "Sounds like fun. How was your appointment?" in Roland's voice.
You say "A lot of things got cleared up. I got the rest of the night off. Where should I meet you?" into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and announces "Depends. You want to be alone?" in Roland's voice.
You say "Honestly? I want to get something to eat. Can't remember the last time I ate something." into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and announces "How about the Fruvous, table for three or four?" in Roland's voice.
You say "Sounds good to me. I'll meet ya there." into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "How about we meet you at the elevator." in Roland's voice.
You say "That works too." into the communit.
You leave the room, pulling the door shut behind you.
Q-HTML V2.1 (evaluation copy) by Craig Cockburn created this page on 23-Mar-1999 at 13:15:04
Your evaluation period expired on 28-Feb-1999
This expired version will only process 1000 lines
Please visit the Q-HTML homepage at http://www.scot.demon.co.uk/q-html.html for a more up to date copy.
