Avatar Adventures | Airship Rising Dawn | Surgical Ward Observation Room
Divination and Doom
Ruby Babbage Lovelace | Doom | Rhodes Selmy
[hr]Divination and Doom
Ruby Babbage Lovelace | Doom | Rhodes Selmy
Down the corridor to the end
Through the room where bodies are on the mend.
Be wary of the of the unwrapped sight
and head to the door on the furthest right.
Through the door marked "Observation Room"
There shall you find Dolores Selmy and doom.
Through the room where bodies are on the mend.
Be wary of the of the unwrapped sight
and head to the door on the furthest right.
Through the door marked "Observation Room"
There shall you find Dolores Selmy and doom.
For anyone who knew Ruby Babbage-Lovelace, they were more than likely familiar with her obsession regarding the color pink. The ribbons that tied up here hair were pink. The ribbon that she had wrapped around her arm was pink. The dress that she wore on a nearly daily basis was pink. So it might have been regarded as strange that the girl was clutching a small blue baby blanket that had seen better days. The pair of black flecked golden eyes stared intently at the fraying cotton as if the secrets of the universe were hidden in the object's stitching, which in a way they were.
Having already checked the main wing of the Medical Bay, Ruby had been perplexed to discover that neither Dolores/Lolita, Laeta or Saren were inside, leading the young girl in the pink dress to locate the trio of sisters using alternative measures. This had lead to her current location, standing in front of a door that read "Surgical Recovery Unit" and wondering if it had been a good idea to leave the Canteen in the first place. Having reread the augury produced by untangled skein, she was definitely sure that this was not a good idea but what other option did she have after having been chased out of the Rising Dawn's main facility for socialization.
Looking up from the tattered blue baby blanket, young Ruby Babbage-Lovelace looked at the open door that loomed before her, the familiar smells of antibacterial and antiseptic chemicals so characteristic of medical settings mingled through an unfamiliar scent of something metallic substance wafted through the open portal, pushing the girl back. To further add to the nine-year-old's dilemma, the unpleasant smells were accompanied by low, pain-filled moans. Despite the prediction's assurance that Ruby would make it through the Surgical Recovery Ward without issue, it did little to ease the fears that threatened to burst out of her chest. Taking a deep breath, the black and white haired girl stepped through the door and into the domain of Captain
Georgie Nayadokovov.
"(Blood blood everywhere and not a drop of blood to spare)" Ruby's mind chimed as her eyes scanned the darkened Surgical Recovery Ward. A constellation of dimly lit LEDs cut through the darkness of the room, each one a machine that was either monitoring a patient or pumping medication and blood into their veins. Even with the multitude of light sources, they were barely emitting enough light for the cautious young girl to see five feet in front of her, far enough away for her to realize that she wasn't the only one in the room. Out of the ten beds in the unit, nine had been filled with the patients of the Cold Handed Stitcher.
A soft and feminine moan caught Ruby's attention. Turning to her right, the child caught sight of a woman who head had been wrapped in a once ghostly white bandage which had become stained dark red. Looking at the patient in bed #1, the nine-year-old girl was selfishly relieved that it was not Dolly since even a girl with limited knowledge of human anatomy could tell that there was something wrong with the misshapen head hidden under mountains of gauze.
"[small]Corporal Lacy Ironage[/small]" The young black flecked, golden eyed girl read quietly before looking back up at the bed ridden corporal. Having sensed the wounded soldier's near return to consciousness, the machine next to the soldier beeped as it pumped a combination of painkillers and sedatives into Corporal Ironage's body and pumped something called Neuron Cream through a tube that was been snaked under the gauze. Despite her initial shock at the woman's state, there was an intense sense of curiosity that had overcome the pink dressed girl and forced her to creep forward towards the head of the wounded Corporal's bed. Closing in on her objective, the child wondered what the purpose of Neuron Cream was. Was it to enhance the flow of neuro-impulses in her brain? Was it to help heal some sort of traumatic head wound? Oh how she was going to wish that she'd just moved on to the observation room...
Ruby Babbage-Lovelace stretched out her right hand, infusing the ailing woman's bandages with a small amount of magical energies. Under the child magician's control, the bandage began to unravel and reveal what lay underneath. Biting her lips, the horrified little girl stifled a terror filled shriek that had been caused by an unfettered view of the interior of the corporal's skull. The left upper quarter of the Corporal's skull was ... missing... gone... and all that was left was an open window to her brain... which didn't look like it was doing so well. The clear tubes that had been snaked from the machine to the woman's head oozed a clear gelatinous substance. The Neuron Cream pooled into the large hole in the woman's grey matter, a hole that had the appearance of having been caused by a melon baller or a high speed fragment of shrapnel. This... this was the cost of war?
"(I'm not supposed to see that... I'm not supposed to see that... I'm not supposed to see that...)" Came the rapid fire thoughts as the emotionally scarred little child backed away from the woman's bed, tears thankfully obscuring the girl's vision. On the verge of fainting, Ruby never noticed the person that had crept up on her until they placed their icy cold hands on her shoulders and wheeled her around, obscuring her view of the Corporal.
"Easy there, kiddo. Just breathe." A calming voice said from ... not directly in front of her. Wiping the salty tears from her black flecked golden eyes, the traumatized nine year old looked up, expecting to see someone's face, anyone's face. What Ruby had not been expecting was to see a pair of mechanical arms floating in the air, devoid of anything between the shoulders. Unconsciously, the panicked little girl struggled against the phantasm's grip.
"I said easy there, kiddo. Just look past those tin can arms and you'll see me." A man's voice said in a slightly louder and firm voice, drawing the Ruby's eyes to its source, "And remember... breeeeeathe."
Reluctantly, Ruby followed the man's advice and took a deep and calming breath, pulling the chemically treated air in through her nose and holding it in her lungs for a moment before letting it out. Breathe in... breathe out... inhale... exhale. Feeling her body relax, the child magician looked past the arms as the voice had suggested and saw the man that had spoken to her, or rather what was left of him since he appeared to be missing his arms. Taking a closer look at the blonde soldier laying in the medical bed, she noted that where his arms had once been were instead thick bundles of cable that dropped down to the floor before snaking their to the arms that held the girl in place. For someone who'd been told that he'd had his arms amputated a couple hours ago, the easy smile that he wore on his face seemed out of place.
"There. See? That's better, isn't it?" Sargent William Sorenson asked, continuing to comfort the formerly panicked young girl who'd wandered into the Surgical Recovery Ward of all places. As the black and white haired girl continued to look at the wounded soldier, she noted that someone had scrawled a big black X in permanent marker on the man's forehead.
"Do I have something on my forehead?" Sargent Sorenson asked as he shifted his shoulders as if he was trying to move his hand up to his forehead to point out the little black mark. In front of him, the floating arms started to move and point to something roughly forehead level to where someone's head would have been.
"D'oh!" The grinning Sargent D'oh'd as he once again shift the muscles in his shoulder, causing the arm to face palm a face that was not there. Rolling his eyes, he noticed that he'd made her smile a bit, a vast improvement over the pee her pants expression that she'd been wearing after meeting Corporal Lacy Ironage, "I'm still getting used to this... situation. Can't say that I wouldn't be freaked out if I were you..."
"Wh... what happened?" Ruby asked, having found her voice once again, before flashing an embarrassed look of her own. The question was rather impolite and personal to be asking someone she'd just met.
"Oh the usual... the sky fell on me...," Pausing when he noticed the look of disbelief on his young visitor's vace, "No... seriously. The sky fell on me... At least, that's what it sounded like." The Sargent repeated his childproofed answer. Another to glance at his audience and notice that rather serious expression from Ruby, "Well fine. Since you're not going to buy that explanation, I was down in Denver helping those Big Wig Heroes of ours... when all of a sudden I find myself flying through the air with the greatest of ease. It literally felt like someone turned the world upside down and I'm falling... upwards towards the sky but it still feels like falling. I black out and the next thing I know... tada... I'm laying here in this bed. Thankfully, that Captain Georgie's a pretty good surgeon... I mean, he's no cleric... buuut I think he did just fine."
The pink dressed little nine-year-old glared at the Sargent in a manner that suggested that he'd just grown an extra arm out of his forehead. He'd lost both his arms and yet he seemed rather overjoyed for a man who would be using a pair of mechanical approximations of arms for the rest of his life. He'd be looked at as a freak... or worse someone to be pitied... like the way the nine-year-old girl was looking at him at that very moment.
"Oh no. Don't you give me that look, kiddo. I know that look and you can save it for someone else, like the Corporal over there... well... scratch that... I don't think she'd be the type of person that would enjoy that either. The way I see it, kiddo, I lost my arms doing something that I think is important. The way I think the Corporal sees it... she was doing something important too and if you wanna give me those puppy dog eyes that say 'my life sucks,' well... don't." The Sargent said amiably as he settled back into his bed, the cybernetic arms relaxing as he did.
The child named Ruby Babbage-Lovelace flinched at both the lecture she'd received and at the man's unwavering faith that everything would turn out okay. Wringing her hands, the tiny fortune teller felt the comforting sensation of cotton still in her hands. Glancing at the blue fabric, the girl pulled a single thread and concentrated.
Hear of the coming decades that are to come
For the smiling Sargent William Sorenson.
He'll never let his wounds slow him down
Nor allow that himself a slight frown
Having lived a life filled with such grace
He dies with only one regret that love did lace.
For the smiling Sargent William Sorenson.
He'll never let his wounds slow him down
Nor allow that himself a slight frown
Having lived a life filled with such grace
He dies with only one regret that love did lace.
"S...sorry." Ruby whispered as she looked back to the soldier that had fallen asleep. Pausing for the briefest of moments, the black and white haired girl glanced at the various doors, unsure of where to go next.
"The observation room," Sargent Wilson said, not opening his eyes, "If you're looking for the loot (Lieutenant), she's probably with the Captain now... and before you ask how I knew, there were a couple of girls that looked like the Lieutenant walking through here. I figured you were with them."
The girl giggled softly at the wounded Sargent who had lost his arms but not his smile. Ruby could see the reason why Sargent William Sorenson would be back on his feet in no time. Wordlessly, Ruby slipped out of the Surgical Recovery suite and entered the Observation room where she was promptly ambushed by a pair of arms she'd not felt in some time.
"My, my. If it isn't the little anisa[footnote]Little Lady[/footnote] herself," Miss Rhodes Selmy cooed. "Is this ship truly the place for a young girl to be?"
The ribbon wrapped girl in pink would have answered were it not for the noises that were being filtered in from the surgical suite on the other side of the viewing window.
"A little deeper, c'mon... a little more... AH! AHHH! AHH THAT'S IT!" Laeta's voice screamed in an enthusiastically disturbing manner before it was cut off by a noise cancellation device. The only comparison that the nine-year-old child had in comparison was the squeal of intense joy ... which did not match the bloody and gory scene on the other side of the window.
"Little Ruby," Miss Rhodes Selmy said, her eyes had taken a less severe tone and a smile graced her red lips. "Why are you here? Where is your mama and your papa?"
Again, Ruby was interrupted by the sounds of the surgical ward as the Doctor activated the intercom to inform them that the surgery would be over soon, Laeta's enthusiasm could be heard in the background.
"Gaze upon this tragedy anisa, this is what happens to those in war. Do not become used to this sight though you will see it many more times." Rhodes kissed Ruby on the forehead,
"One day, anisa, you will grow up to be a strong and beautiful lady like Lolita, so remember to spread compassion wherever you go. Remember that all people are the daughters of Allah, so even in death they must be treated with respect. War should be clean and decisive, as Allah has pre-ordained or else war should not be fought."
Wrapped up in Miss Selmy's arms, the child could only nod while her young mind attempted to decypher the meaning of the wisdom that the woman who held her had imparted upon her. The rapturous nature of the woman's words intermingled with those of Sargent Wilson.
"(Remember but don't pity those who suffer in war. Treat everyone with respect and compassion for all are equals in the eyes of the Gods.)" The thought came to Ruby Babbage-Lovelace as she gazed through the window, her eyes unwavering as they settled on the body of Dolly, "(Dolly was doing what she wanted though... wasn't she? Is it still a tragedy? Does that mean that if I'm going to be like Dolly, that I should try to keep everyone from getting hurt?"
The thought was... unsettling. Was Ruby going to turn out the same way as Dolores Selmy, spread out on a table with her insides exposed to the world? Was there going to be someone like Laeta there for Ruby? Did she even want that? As the cradled child opened her mouth to speak, she was once again interrupted, this time by the entrance of someone new.
"Does the Rising Dawn allow all of it's prisoners to wander so freely?" Miss Rhodes Selmy asked, a scowl clearly audible in her voice. Squirming in her "captor's" arms, the pink dressed girl caught a glimpse of the person who had invaded the obervation room.
[color=004d]"D-d-d-d-d-d-doom d-d-doesn't-...H-h-h-he was brought-...uhhhhhhhh!....[sub]ohsweetmercifulcurlymustashes[/sub]..."[/color] The masked man stammered... did he say that his name was doom? The girl laughed a laugh that was more than likely out of place given the situation but she had no other way of expressing her understanding of what the prediction meant when is said that Ruby would find Dolly and doom in the observation room. [color=004d]"...uhhh...Ma'am-...Boss-...Lady-...Guy? (Rhodes)....your fly is open...Uh, Doom meant down-...Ahhh, No, no...Open...Or-.....D'ooooh!" >.<;[/color]
There was a slight lull in the conversation that was more than filled by the sudden odor of ammonia.
*SLAP!*
[color=004d]"WAAAAAAAH!!?!"[/color] The simpleton cried in response to a someone beating on the man, an action that was clearly counter to what Miss Rhodes had said not 30 seconds earlier.
"Gah, filthy damn hobo! The hell is the matter with you? Relieving yourself in front of women like that?! Get your ass back to your bed before you have another reason to need patching up!" The guard stated as he roughly pulled Mister Doom off of the floor, "Sorry about that, git pretended to be sick to that healer chick. But if he's healthy enough to piss himself, I think he can go back to his cell. Carry on!"
"I want to speak to this prisoner," Miss Rhodes saidas one of her guards, her Angels, led the G-Corp soldier out of the observation room. "As simple as he may be, a prisoner must be treated with respect. They may have lost, but that does not make them less human."
"Is that what a man should say to a beautiful woman? If I'm comfortable flaunting what I have, try not to aggravate me, because I am more than comfortable humiliating you with or without my clothing." She scowled, "I am Major Rhodes Selmy, you may call me Mustafia if you feel brave. I have questions for you. If you know them, you will answer. You are of the same people that have hurt my daughter, yes? Then tell me who they are, what they are trying to do, and where they are."
As Mister Doom considered how best to answer the question, Ruby wondered if it was her turn to speak. As adults often do, it seemed that those in the observation room had forgotten the existence of Ruby Babbage-Lovelace. After waiting a few heartbeats, the girl with the blue blanket once again pulled a thread from the tattered fabric in her hands.
There once was a fool with a mask
Who was given an impossible task.
He moaned and he groaned
about the fact he'd been disowned
By the very people about whom he'd been asked.
Who was given an impossible task.
He moaned and he groaned
about the fact he'd been disowned
By the very people about whom he'd been asked.
Glaring at the prediction, the child being craddled by Rhodes Selmy could make no sense of what she'd read. Was he going to tell them the truth? Was he going to be make the impossible choice of whether or not to betray his friends? Was the question Miss Rhodes asked him impossible to answer because he'd been a captive aboard the Rising Dawn for too long? Did he...
For the fourth time since Miss Rhodes had entered the observation room to check on her daughter, the door slid open. Looking down past her dangling feet, the nine-year-old girl could only make out a black pair of boots with crimson laces past the hanging hem of her skit. Pushing the skirt up between her legs, Ruby waved at the newcomer.
"Hi Miss Rory!" Ruby cheerfully greeted Emloy's Apostle.
Avatar Adventures | Airship Rising Dawn | Medical Bay
Observation Room Rendezvous
Rory Mercury | Naamah
[hr]Observation Room Rendezvous
Rory Mercury | Naamah
Listening to Naamah's story, the Youthful Looking Demi-Goddess could not help but feel a tinge of envy. As she'd accepted a life in the service of Emloy at a young age, she'd never had the opportunity to have a child or a family. While she'd never regretted her decision, she could not help but connect the loss of her family when she was merely thirteen year old with her desire to become her world's Goddess of Love. Having been unable to truly connect with anyone for most of her long life, it was fitting that Rory Mercury wanted to connect with everyone after her ascension.
Naamah's small frame was breathing more steadily now after she'd fallen asleep. Yawning ever so slightly, the Raven Haired Oracle was content to settle down for a brief nap. Between a desire to keep an eye on her companion and a need for the Winter Wolf to finish his own rest, Rory was fine with waiting for taking a brief moment for herself while those aboard the Airship planned their rescue mission. As she closed her eyes, the scarlet lipped loli heard a peculiar set of foot steps echoing past the doorway to the Medical Bay, peculiar in that they suggested that either the person walking was extremely short or they were a child. Opening her crimson eyes, Emloy's Disciple caught a flash of pink fabric... which was also a peculiar sight considering it was absent one overly large and overly muscled Demi-God named Eddie.
"Why is she by herself?" Rory muttered quietly as she used the haft of her halberd to gently help ease herself off of the ground so as not to wake her slumbering passender. The last time she'd seen Ruby Babbage-Lovelace, the young girl had been placed under Eddie's supervision... which surprised Rory that she was surprised to see Ruby walking by herself. Walking slowly towards the corridor, so as not to wake the still sleeping Naamah, the Halberd wielding Berserker looked to her left and followed the sound of Ruby's footstep.
Unlike Ruby had, Rory made no effort to address the warriors slumbering in the Surgical Recovery Ward. She could tell that they were in state of recovery and that they would not need her services that day. Glancing about the dark room for signs of her quarry, the Demi-Goddess spotted a door sliding shut, revealing a sign that said Observation Room, the very room that Rory had just left.
"She certainly is the popular one aboard this ship," The Former Love Goddess quipped as she pushed on the keypad to open the door and stopped in surprise. There in the middle of the observation room was Ruby, being held by a woman that looked remarkably similar to Lieutenant Dolores Selmy and the Iron Masked prisoner that had been shot by the madman Kazuya. Two sentries stood to either side of the Priestess, who's grip tightened around her Halberd in preparation for a fight.
"Hi Miss Rory!" The Child that Rory Mercury had been tracking said rather loudly, her right hand waving back and forth with an enthusiasm that matched her smile.
"Ruby, why are you here and who are these people with you?" Rory asked as she leaned on her weapon, her body relaxing. Eying the two guards on either side of her, the black haired Priestess saw that they had not made a move to attack her or the her pale young companion.
"Well this is Miss Rhodes, Dolly's mom, and she's here to check on Dolly of course and she was in the middle of asking Mister Doom where the people that did this to Dolly were... hey who's that you're holding?" The nine-year-old child asked before adding, "She looks like she could be your daughter!"
"Unfortunately, she's not," The Dark Haired Demi-Goddess said in a tone that was just a hair shy of snapping, "She's actually much older than I am."
"REALLY?"
"Yes. Now... if you don't mind, I need to talk to Miss Rhodes if you don't mind." Rory Mercury said before turning her attention to the woman who was holding Ruby, "I assume that you are looking for the people who are responsible for the wounds your daughter has suffered, the very same people who have taken a number of this ship's crew members as prisoners? If your plans involve interrogating Doom, I should forewarn you that any information that he provides might be stale. He has been a prisoner aboard this ship for some time now and if our enemy is smart, they will have moved by now."
With that warning out in the open for all to hear, Rory glanced over at Doom, a smile on her face that challenged him to be useful.