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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 28, 2008 19:30:39 GMT -5
"I'm not used to being watched," said Raven, "Of course, that might come from being in stasis for about 60 years under the sea until Delfina and Marty woke me up."
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"Yes, this is she," answered Ebony, "May I ask the reason for your call?"
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"Well, that's great," said Shale, "She deserves it."
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Freda blinked and her eyes widened, "Really? You would?"
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 28, 2008 20:13:23 GMT -5
"That I can understand." Manuel nodded as he grabbed a water bottle for himself. "Speaking of Delfina, she's gotta have her hands full with what's been going on." He went over to where Marty was waiting, just off the beach. "Marty, you haven't heard back from anyone yet?"
"Not yet." the minisub answered. "And no news yet is good news as far as I'm concerned."
"The Coroner's office is ready to have you come over and identify the body that was brought in this morning." the voice said, conveying an awkward and ugly subject in the most tactful way possible.
"I just don't quite know what SHE's gonna think." Greg sighed. "A long time back, there was this Prussian officer who classified personnel into four categories - active, lazy, smart and stupid. You get various combinations from that - lazy and stupid, active and smart, etc.. The best combination for a general officer was thought to be "lazy and smart". Bree is far from "lazy" in the sense that everyone thinks. But she would not waste energy and resources on finding the fourth side of any three-sided problem when there was an easier, less complicated and effective solution available. And she can delegate when she needs to. That's the other mark of someone destined for the flag ranks."
Lt. Stokes swallowed hard, as if he was about to say something he didn't want to mess up. "Freda... I find you... well, really interesting." He blushed beneath his hull paint. "As a person, I mean. You're intelligent and kind and always ready to lend help when needed. And you're a good friend to most everyone you meet. When I met you and saw all these things, I couldn't help taking a second look... and a third."
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 28, 2008 20:27:42 GMT -5
"Where did they go?" asked Raven.
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"Oh, okay, thanks. I'll be over in a bit," said Ebony.
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"She shouldn't worry about that," said Shale, "Though I know that getting a promotion such as that is a big deal for someone in her position, I think she should just be herself, but also be professional when she accepts it."
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Freda blinked and glanced quickly at Nerisa, a TOLD-YOU-SO expression on the destroyer's bow, and looked back at Stokes. "Y-you do...? I... To tell the truth, I like you alot too..." she said, blushing a little.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 28, 2008 20:58:53 GMT -5
"To Villa Hermosa, about fifteen miles downshore." Dawn answered. "Delfina first went down there to help wipe some mental controls from this powerboat girl who a certain someone was keeping as a slave, but then we heard of Bree falling sick. It's been... eventful."
"I have no doubt she will be." Greg turned to check out the sleeping helo woman. "But let her come to that realization herself."
The police department caller gave Ebony street directions before ending the call. "Just go to the front and right into the lobby. Someone will be there to meet you. Goodbye now."
Stokes' silvery-grey eyes looked out from the front of his "superstructure" at Freda. "I just couldn't... work up the nerve to really say it until now."
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 28, 2008 21:25:26 GMT -5
Raven was quiet for a moment. "That's... a little bit too much for me to take in... It was enough of a shock to wake up in a different year than from what I remember before I crashed into the sea..."
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"That's what I intend to do," nodded Shale, "I don't want to push her or anything."
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Ebony hung up the phone and shifted into gear. "I have to go to the police department now. I'll see you guys later," she said and headed off.
"Good luck," Delfina waved to the departing Viper.
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"Same here..." smiled Freda, "I was wondering what I should do... I was so confused..."
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It didn't take long for Ebony to arrive at the police department and go inside to the lobby.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 28, 2008 21:59:33 GMT -5
"Ebony Massey?" a trim Toyota sedan woman in conservative midnight green greeted the Viper. "I'm Susanna Rodriguez, the assistant coroner."
"I just hope her family comes to realize that." Greg looked up towards the ceiling, instinctively, as the sound of other rotor blades dopplered in. "Her siblings, I'm assuming. Good thing." He sighed. "I'm not quite ready to deal with her father yet. A wee bit distant, he is, and the last time I met him, he seemed a little...resentful of me."
<<< Jealous of the substitute father figure? XD >>>
Randy watched as the Viper disappeared into traffic, then went back over to the clinic doc to call up to the nurse again. "Is it OK for us to leave now?"
"Is she feeling up to going?" the Smartcar asked.
"I'm a lot better now." Erika assured her.
Dr. Harriman appeared beside the nurse. "I'll sign you out now, but just take it easy, OK?" The release procedure took a few minutes, but Erika was already getting a little antsy.
Randy turned back to Delfina. "So, what now?"
"Guess that makes both of us." Stokes smiled, still a little shyly. "Just... call me Ben, OK?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 28, 2008 22:14:42 GMT -5
"Oh, hello, Ms. Rodriguez," said Ebony, "I'm here because I was told that I could come identify a body."
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Shale raised an eyeshade, "He doesn't sound too trusting, does he?"
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"Well, we can either go back to the cove," said Delfina, "or we can go over and find out why Freda and Nerisa are here."
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"Sure thing, Ben," said Freda with a bob of her bow.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 28, 2008 22:28:04 GMT -5
"Yes." the Toyota nodded. "Just follow me this way." She pointed to the entrance of what looked like a nicely appointed sitting room with a TV screen. "You won't have to go right into the autopsy room for this. It'll be done by video."
"Maybe we should stop over with them for a bit." Erika suggested.
"Yeah." Jastrow nodded.
The cutter felt as if the sun had come out inside him, and raised his bow with a combination of joy and pride. This was working out better than he had hoped for!
"I guess it would be." Manuel said to Raven. "We'll just let you settle in easy, OK?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 28, 2008 22:38:19 GMT -5
"Okay," nodded Ebony as she drove over to the room, "Seems like the procedure has changed alot from what I remember it last."
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"That sounds like a good idea to me," agreed Delfina.
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Freda was having the same uplifting feeling as she had thought she wouldn't have enough courage to really like a guy like Stokes, if it wasn't for the encouragement from Nerisa.
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"Thank you," said Raven, "Is there a place where I can rest?"
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 28, 2008 22:47:10 GMT -5
"It's easier on the people who have to come in, especially if they're next of kin." Rodriguez replied. "A couple of others have already been in here before you, same case." She shut the door behind them. "The monitor is connected directly to the camera in the autopsy room." She turned on the TV and punched a number combination in. "This will not be a pleasant sight, I'm afraid."
The view that came on to the screen was that of the autopsy cart and its occupant. The Toyota then arranged a split-screen between the overall body and face. "Take your time, ma'am."
"So... sorry that the circumstances aren't so great, but I'm glad you're here anyway." Stokes looked back towards the station. "It means a lot to me."
"You can chill out in the men's tent there." Manuel pointed it out. "There's pillows and blankets there." Manuel was also wondering how they would breach the awkward topic of the bathroom.
"We might as well head over, then." The ensign started up his engine and motored out slowly into the channel.
"Typical frenchie- I mean, continental sort of fellow." Greg rolled his eyes. "His wife must be a patient woman."
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 28, 2008 23:11:56 GMT -5
Ebony looked closely at the image for a long time, thinking deeply of the features she hoped she could remember of the forklift when he was alive.
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Delfina quickly hopped onto Randy's deck as they made their way over to where Freda and Nerisa were.
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"Thank you," said Raven as he slowly stood up, testing his balance before he walked over to the said men's tent to rest.
(((((OOC: breach the awkward topic of the bathroom. LOL! That... should probably be passed over... Let's just say Raven's a quick learner...)))))
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"If I would have to guess, she probably is," said Shale.
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"Really?" asked Freda, "That means a lot to me, too."
Just then, Nerisa piped up, involuntarily interrupting the moment between Freda and Stokes, "Company's coming."
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 28, 2008 23:28:43 GMT -5
Ensign Jastrow dipped his bow respectfully to Lt. Stokes. "Afternoon, Lieutenant."
"Ensign." Stokes returned the abbreviated salute. "How did it go with Erika?"
"They found the circuitry, and managed to neutralize it, sir." the young powerboat replied, though not saying exactly how. "She was sedated for a bit, but she's good to go now."
"Good." Stokes whuffed. "And the commander is resting right now, her fever hasn't risen since this morning, so for now, she's stable. Hopefully it'll break eventually."
"I hope so too, sir." the ensign glanced back towards the hangar as two other helos came in. "Her family?"
"Brother and sister, I assume." Stokes quickly assessed their apparent ages. He'd never met them. He paused as Randy and Erika came up with Delfina, and told them what he had told the ensign, with a sideward glance to Freda and Nerisa.
"Just as well he won't be in 'till tomorrow morning." Greg sighed. "Her folks live further east."
Dawn watched Raven head off, hoping he wouldn't stumble on the way.
Rodriguez stayed silent during this time, allowing Ebony to look and think things over.
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 28, 2008 23:43:55 GMT -5
Freda and Nerisa nodded in agreement, "We hope so too."
"She was feeling okay this morning, wasn't she?" asked Delfina.
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"I really wasn't looking forward to meeting him so soon anyway," said Shale as he picked up the sound of two other helos approaching.
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Raven was walking like he was drunk as he approached the tent, but didn't fall over. He knelt down and crawled inside to arrange his sleeping area to what felt more comfortable to him.
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"Did he have any weapons on him?" Ebony asked, and indicated her patched up wounds, "Like the same ones that gave me these injuries?"
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 29, 2008 0:00:29 GMT -5
"He was armed with two long, curved blades." Rodriguez called up a picture of the weapons in question, on a table with other personal effects.
Robin and Jordan set down one by one at the heliport, as directed by one of the technicians. With Brett on duty overseas, Robin had left Melissa and her little brother in the care of Shayla and Seth and went off with Jordan to be with their sister at this time. After their blades stilled, they came forward, as far as the hangar doors.
"Shale?" Robin asked. "We're glad that you're here."
"Yeah, she was when we were on exercises this morning." Stokes began, "Then about three-quarters through her flight, she started to feel faint, which was really unsettling. I brought her back to port, and by that time she was already running a temperature. They had to lift her off my aft deck with a crane."
"That's bad." Erika grimaced.
"I think I saw one other helo guy come in before these two." Randy pointed out. "Who was that?"
Manuel watched Raven go off, but refrained from hovering. He seemed like a quick study.
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Post by ebonyviper on Oct 29, 2008 0:27:05 GMT -5
"How about doing a quick check to see if they match the damage of my wounds?" suggested Ebony.
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Shale looked up and smiled when he saw Robin, "Good to see you, Robin. Jordan."
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"That's Shale Huntington, her fiance," said Delfina, "Met both of them awhile back. He works as a PI farther inland in Cortez, Colorado."
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Raven then lay down and soon fell asleep in the tent.
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