Carpathia IV: Episode 189 - Scythe Practice
Holosimulator, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
While Amenaru was in the middle of waking up, a different sort of activity was underway in the holosimulator. Not that Mikado and Teek needed the holosimulator for scythe battle practice—the dojo room would do fine for that—but it was much more fun when they could program any background scene they wanted. Today, they chose a desolate, open field, the sort of thing one might see in a samurai movie, for setting the mood, which complemented the aesthetic of Mikado's fundoshi rather nicely. The other benefit was their scythes could rapidly tear up the dojo if things got too heated. Not a concern in the holosimulator.
This match was a particularly lively one.
Already past the hour and a half mark for total practice time, Teek started to wobble, his moves far less deft, making their last bout the shortest of all, and it ended with Mikado swooshing his scythe through Teek's chest. No damage to Teek, as the scythes set to practice mode do not cut.
Sylvar: Point Mikado. That's six for Mikado and one for Teek.
Teek let his arm go limp and the head of his scythe flopped to the ground while he doubled over, panting heavily. Mikado, on the other hand, seemed ready to go again, doing little hops from one foot to the other.
Mikado: That was good! Let's go again!
Teek shook his head as he plopped his butt to the ground.
Teek: No more. I'm spent.
Mikado: How about you, Sylvar?
Sylvar didn't answer, except to raise an eyebrow in Mikado's direction. Mikado didn't seem to notice as he swung his scythe around, slicing nothing but air.
Mikado: Maybe Trex is off duty!
Teek: Mikado, you're pretty aggressive today.
Mikado: What? No! This is normal. I just wanna practice!
Yet he continued hopping from foot to foot, swinging his scythe around.
Mikado: Just... wanna...
Mikado's little dance slowed to a halt. With a jittery sigh, he killed the power to his scythe and collapsed it back into a rod, though he still had trouble keeping still.
Mikado: Okay, maybe I am a little wound up. I've been this way since we got Amenaru off the runabout yesterday.
Teek: That's understandable. Anyone would be.
Mikado shook his head, with a vigor that sent his ears flopping around on his head.
Mikado: No, no, what's weird is when I was on the shuttle helping Darius, I was completely fine. Ridiculously calm, frankly.
Sylvar stepped forward, nodding.
Sylvar: I get it. Some people struggle under pressure, like me, when I was Captain of the Neptunus and it started shooting at the Shadowdancer. I think you're the sort that's the opposite. You stay calm during a crisis and then go to pieces after.
Teek: Maybe talk to a counsellor?
Mikado cringed and scrunched up his body.
Mikado: Oo, what's that? Do they inject you with something?
Sylvar and Teek both looked at each other with furrowed brows.
Teek: Um, no, their job is to just talk and guide you through feelings. Also, they have strict confidentiality. They can't tell anyone else what you said.
Mikado: Oh, well, that doesn't sound so bad.
Sylvar: I once asked Dr. Teagan why she was out here, like the rest of you. I know why the Vashta go into space. They're out to pillage. She said that most Carpathians are out here to explore something within themselves. I'm here for the camaraderie that I never had before, except on Voxx's ship.
Teek: I'm here because I had to get as far away from my dad as possible to see what I'm capable of on my own. The thing is, I didn't even realize that until after I got on the Shadowdancer. I was just following my instincts.
Sylvar: Then you have good instincts, Teek. What about you, Mikado. Any idea, or are you just following your instincts?
Without even realizing it, Mikado calmed and breathed easier, no longer fidgeting or prancing around on his feet. Now, he pondered.
Mikado: I'm not sure. I've always been a bit of a black sheep, as the humans like to say, in my enclave. They're not extremists or anything. Really, they're almost so typically tokki that it's stifling. Keep to your own. Don't stand out. Don't make a fuss. If something strange is going on, pay it no mind unless it interferes with your clan. That sort of thing. I find unique and unusual things interesting and I like to meet people. Maybe I felt like I had to get as far away as possible to experience that.
Teek: A couple of similarities to me, particularly the getting far away part.
Sylvar nodded and clapped his hands together before helping Teek to his feet, a struggle at first, since he wasn't planning on standing up, but did not resist once Sylvar got his rear off the ground.
Sylvar: Well then, I'm going back on duty and I'll leave you both to it. If you're feeling up to it, you can keep practicing or... eh, do something else. I think you could both stand to do something enjoyable for a change, yes?
Teek blushed while Sylvar hurried out of the room, but not without a pat on Mikado's shoulder as he strode by.
Sylvar: If you haven't been with a komodo yet, Mikado, it's another unique and fun experience for you!
With that, Sylvar hurried away before anyone could say anything, leaving Mikado with a smile and Teek clutching his scythe close to a chest and a coquettish grin on his face.
Teek: I'm game if you are.
Sick Bay, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
The hours after Darius delivered Kit to sick bay were a blur. With Kit in safe hands, his next move was a shower, conveniently part of sick bay for just such a situation, as he was covered in blood. Disrobed, and with a towel at the ready, he stepped inside the stall and realized he didn't remember the walk from reception to the shower bay. After turning on the taps, he lost all track of time, alternating between letting the water run down his body and picking at the dried blood stuck into his fur.
After a towel off and blow dry, an involved process for both for a nekomi, he scurried out of sick bay and back to his quarters, avoiding the prying eyes of the rest of the staff. There, it was a simple matter of removing his shorts—his uniform remaining in sick bay for cleaning—before he flopped on his bed and quickly fell fast asleep.
As big as the Shadowdancer was, its crew added up only amounted to a large village or a small town. As such, word spread quickly of Amenaru's successful transplant, even reaching Darius in his quarters deep on the lower decks. Not much sound deadening down there, and he could hear crew members gossiping outside of his door. Hearing one of them say that Amenaru is awake, he popped out of his bed, tossed a fresh uniform onto his body, and rushed to sick bay.
Bursting through the doors at reception, he was fortunate to find Sorchae in reception with one of the nurses. As soon as he trotted in, Sorchae waved him over and handed him an injector.
Sorchae: Ah, Darius! I didn't expect to see you here. How are you doing?
Darius: Okay, I guess, but I heard that Amenaru is awake?
Sorchae: That he is. I was going to do this myself, but now that you're here, I want you to take that immunotherapy injection to Amenaru and get me some updated scans. After that, stick around. I'm going to visit the Captain after he's finished with his teleconference with Admiral Zhang and I want to take you with me.
Darius: Oh! I mean... yes, I'll stick around!
Sorchae: Then get going. He's in Recovery Room 5.
Darius: Yes, Doctor!
Injector in hand, Darius rushed to Amenaru's room, not far from reception, and sounded the door chime. Kit's voice beckoned him in.
Kit: Come in!
Darius entered, finding Amenaru in a wheelchair and Kit sitting on the bed next to him.
Darius: Oh, good. You're sitting up!
Amenaru: Darius!
Amenaru started pushing on the armrests of his wheelchair, but did not move more than an inch or two from the seat. Without any prodding, Kit helped him stand and Amenaru remained where he was, now on his feet, with his arms outstretched and a warm smile on his face.
Amenaru: C'mere, you.
Darius's ears popped and then flopped while he gave a sheepish grin. Amenaru insistently beckoned him forward until he complied. Not a tight hug. Amenaru's chest had a big gash in it after all, but warm nonetheless.
Amenaru: I'm glad you were on our team. I wouldn't be here if you weren't.
Darius squeezed himself tight and fiddled with his fingers.
Darius: Well, there would have been someone from medical on the runabout if it wasn't me.
Amenaru: But it was you, and I'm glad of it.
Amenaru started lowering himself back into his chair and Kit grabbed his waist before he was even a quarter of the way down, helping him control his landing in the wheelchair seat.
Amenaru: What brings you by?
Darius: Dr. Teagan asked me to give you an injection and do a few scans. You can stay in your chair while I do everything.
Amenaru: Scan away! I trust you with anything.
Darius nodded and took out the injector.
Darius: Alrighty! This first, then.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
