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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 14:09:23 GMT -5
(((((OOC: I thought that maybe I would work with Freda's emotional side... and Raven still has the morphing abilities...)))))
While Delfina was out with Randy and Erika at the marina clinic, Freda was spending her time outside the cove at work at sounding the bottom, but remained nearby in case Carl came by. However, she really didn't have to worry about harassment because Nerisa was there, though she still wasn't brave enough to stand up to him yet.
She seemed to want to be by herself at the moment, keeping her thoughts private as well. But she had been on her own for a long time and wanted some companionship, especially the male companionship.
*****
In the meantime, Raven had been observing the human group on the beach and some very interesting ideas began to pop into his head. He wondered if he would be able to take on a similar form, though he hadn't tested his morphing abilities yet.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 27, 2008 14:15:51 GMT -5
Lt. Stokes was three-quarters of the way to Phantom Cove when he heard the news about Cmdr. LeVasseur's sudden illness. That she had had gulf fever at one point was known, but gossip about personal medical histories was not encouraged in this service. He decided that he would bring the news in person as the mouth of the cove came into view and he sounded off his horn.
Finally, the MCPO stood aside. "Just be careful, laddie, and not too loud."
"Shale?" Bree struggled to lift her head from her pallet one more time. "I hope you didn't drop a paying job just on account of me."
Randy shook himself a little, just enough to get Delfina back to full alertness. "Delfina? That Coastie helo friend of yours? She's sick this morning, and it's nasty."
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 14:29:09 GMT -5
Freda looked up as she heard the horn and saw who it was, "Lt. Stokes?"
*****
Shale moved inside carefully and kept his voice low, "No, Luke's on vacation with his wife and daughter in New York anyway and there aren't that many cases to be solved either at the moment. So, there's no harm in me leaving the place for a little while. I came to be with you so you won't be alone in this."
*****
Delfina woke up more fully as she heard this, "Bree's sick? Where is she?"
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 27, 2008 16:12:32 GMT -5
Lt. Stokes hailed the others by radio before he closed the distance. "I've got some bad news. Commander LeVasseur became very sick this morning. Gulf fever relapse." His voice was calm, but his choppy phrasing betrayed his anxiety.
"She'd be at the station hangar." Ensign Jastrow broke in. "Ebony called her fiancee a while ago, so he might already be there."
"I'm glad to see you, Shale." Bree smiled weakly. Her eyes lacked their usual autumnal glow, and her nose was hot and dry. "Just don't get TOO close. They say a relapse isn't contagious like the first time, but who knows?" She tipped a blade towards the MCPO. "Master Chief Petty Officer Gregory Drummond. He was a PO1* when he was looking after my cadet division at the Academy. Greg, this is Shale Huntington. We're engaged."
The formidable- looking forklift took an assessing look at the Bell mix, from U/C to rotor hub. "Not a bad type, as outcrosses go. The substance of the Bell is there, but you've definitely got Agusta in your face and tail. You look like you've had some years in service. Police, I'm assumin'?"
<<< PO1 - Petty Officer 1st class. In this case, think of Sean Connery as a forklift technician XD . Going out for a bit!>>>
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 16:27:24 GMT -5
"Oh, it's not bad, is it?" asked Freda, concern in her voice, "She's going to be alright, right?"
*****
"If Shale is there, that means that visitors are allowed, right?" asked Delfina.
*****
"Yes, sir," Shale nodded, "I was with the Nitropolis Police Department for several years before I became a PI along with my partner, Luke Garretts, at Cortez."
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 27, 2008 20:55:14 GMT -5
"Dunno for sure." Jastrow furrowed his brow. "His being her fiancee might give him equal standing with "family", but if you let them know that you're a longtime friend, I don't see why not."
Erika was getting her bearings back after sleeping off her sedation. "What's going on? Who's sick?"
"I don't know. All touch and go right now." Stokes shifted worried eyes between Freda, Nerisa and Marty. "But gulf fever is serious stuff for helicopters. It's been known to kill overnight if they can't treat it."
"I can usually tell; this fine woman wouldn't settle for any junk." the forklift nodded. "And just call me Greg."
Weak as she was, Bree couldn't help a bit of a smile.
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 21:10:05 GMT -5
Delfina turned as she heard Erika came about. "It's Bree, the Coast Guard helo that was at Phantom Cove last evening? She's sick with something called Gulf fever. I don't know what that is, though, but it sounds really bad."
*****
"But they're treating her right now, aren't they? She'll make it, won't she?" asked Freda. She could see the worry outlining Stokes' features.
*****
"Alright, Sir, uh, I mean Greg," Shale quickly corrected himself, though sometimes he would slip into formal-speak unexpectedly. He felt a little bit embarrassed by that and smiled nervously.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 27, 2008 21:28:34 GMT -5
"When you hold as many favors as Greg does, you can get away with a lot." Bree sniffled. This, she knew, was true. Even the flag officers would hesitate to tangle with him.
Greg moved immediately to attend to Bree as the gel blankets was finally brought to him. He threw one over each end and pinned them in the middle. Then, he started a drip line and set aside the packets he'd brought with him. They seemed to contain some dry herbs.
"They are." Stokes brought his bow up and down nervously. "And they're doing everything they can. It doesn't sound so good when you hear they called her family in, though."
"That IS scary." Marty concurred. "But what could we do?"
Erika looked down, then up again, eyes clouded as if about to burst into storms. "Is this the first time or did she have it before?"
"She had it years ago." Jastrow re-told what he knew. "This is a relapse."
Erika's eyes narrowed again. "Even if she had it before, she wouldn't relapse as long as her immune system stayed strong. Carl never told me any of his other plans, but it sounds like something he would pull if he found out about her medical history. He IS the vengeful type."
"Are you saying it was Carl who did it?" Randy's voice raised an octave in disbelief. "That would take some real medical knowledge, wouldn't it?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 21:49:19 GMT -5
"May I still stay with her?" asked Shale, wanting to be as close as possible to his fiance.
*****
"We can be there to let her know that she won't be alone in this," suggested Freda.
"Wait a minute," Nerisa piped up, "Lieutenant, is the first time she's gotten this sick?"
*****
Delfina blinked for a moment, "Carl knows medical knowledge?"
"Or maybe knows someone who has medical knowledge," put in Ebony.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 27, 2008 21:58:46 GMT -5
"You'd be right." Erika nodded to Ebony. He definitely has access to such people. Disbarred or corrupt doctors, chemists, maybe even microbiologists. Let's say I've seen far too much of it."
"Sure." Greg assented. "Just take care with how close you get. It doesn't usually spread on a relapse, but let's not take chances."
"I heard she almost died of the same thing when she was in the Academy, eighteen years back." Stokes replied. "Likely a relapse." He turned back to Freda. "Don't know how close they'll let you anchor in, but a show of support wouldn't hurt."
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 22:15:39 GMT -5
"Well, the point is he knew someone," said Ebony, "but I don't wanna jump to conclusions just yet. I'd like to investigate this first to see if I can find some facts to back up these claims."
*****
"Okay," Shale nodded slowly, hunkering down on his landing gear and crept a little closer to Bree.
*****
"I'd like to check this out for myself," said Nerisa.
"Alright then," said Freda, "We'll go pay her a visit."
*****
Meanwhile, on the beach, a slender, naked human figure stumbled up from the surf dazed and completely confused. Raven had managed to shift into human form, which had taken most of his energy and he was a little bit wobbly on two legs.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 27, 2008 22:48:59 GMT -5
"I would be lying if I said I knew everything about Carl and his associates, but I'll tell you everything I know." Erika said to Ebony.
"That f***er's gonna get a big bite in the rudder from me if I see him again." Randy growled.
Bree turned her head, as much as she could, towards Shale. "If you were the last thing I was to see, I'd die happy."
Greg looked up from his work and gave Shale a pointed I-HOPE-YOU-KNOW-HOW-LUCKY-YOU-ARE look.
"I think I can find you guys a couple of anchoring spots." Stokes went out to lead the way.
Dawn was hanging out laundry on the shore, not yet aware of what was going on with Bree, or anything in town for that matter. It was then that she paused to see the naked figure emerging from the surf, and he wasn't anyone she recognized as being one of the party. She and Manuel were the first to approach. "Hello?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 23:00:58 GMT -5
"Okay, then," said Ebony, "Tell me everything. Don't leave anything out."
Delfina glanced at Randy, "Settle down. Think rationally, okay? We'll get to the bottom of this."
*****
"You won't die," Shale replied softly, "You're gonna live. We're engaged and we're gonna be married soon, remember?"
*****
"Thank you," said Freda as she fell in behind Stokes.
Nerisa followed suit.
*****
Lying on his back, Raven looked up at Dawn and Manuel and smiled. "Hello. So this is what it feels like to be a human," his voice sounded familiar as it was the same voice that belonged to the alien.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 27, 2008 23:24:22 GMT -5
"Raven?!" Dawn crouched beside him along with her boyfriend. "You can change shapes, then?"
"We're gonna have to get you some clothes, man." Manuel pointed out, noting the others in the group who were coming up and staring. "Some space, please?" he shouted back at them, and they retreated a few feet.
Erika began with a rundown of everything she'd actually witnessed, and associates of Carl's that she knew of. "There's also a few cars that he deals with, some in this country." she pointed up. "One is a mid-60's Mercedes, often repaints himself, but goes by the name of Hans." she paused. "The other is a Ford van, late 70's. Also changes his appearance a lot, but he has a deep voice and an occasional tic. Every time Carl's seen him, he's addressed him as "Gonzo." He often poses as a delivery van. Since Carl can't come anywhere near shore without being recognized, he'll definitely send his flunkies from here on in."
"Sorry." Randy reined himself in, but was still seething. Ensign Jastrow was also looking quite sullen.
Bree smiled again. "We could get the chaplain to do it, and all my family would be here anyway."
Lt. Stokes assumed the lead as they headed the fifteen nautical miles back to Villa Hermosa. It would take perhaps forty minutes for them to get there.
Marty remained behind to let the humans know what was up, and he headed towards shore.
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 27, 2008 23:42:58 GMT -5
"Yes, I can," Raven said as he managed to sit up, "It's a natural-born ability of my species. I can take on many different forms, just like your Delfina can, though she is a bit limited with her choices."
*****
"Hm, they are gonna be tough to find, though I don't think their scent will escape me," said Ebony.
"It's okay," said Delfina, "What we need is information on his activities and his current whereabouts. We haven't seen him since you, Marty, and I pulled that prank on him."
*****
"You think they'll let us?" asked Shale, who always felt that he would need permission from Bree's family to be able to marry her, "Your sister seems okay with me, though..."
*****
Both Freda and Nerisa kept pace with Stokes, though Freda was feeling a little worried still.
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