Mission of Mercy (poetlore and dunruffle)

The two guards saluted then went outside to stand guard at the door. It was hard to tell the passage of time underground, but after a couple of hours Dante and Erik showed up again. "Hey doc you in here? Let's go grab some grub!" Dante's voice boomed through the clinic as Erik rolled his eyes.
 
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Cassandra poked her head out of her bay, where she had decided to spend the rest of the day. "Is it that time already?' she asked and looked at the others, "Anyone else coming?"

Point almost slid out of her bay in her hurry to make sure they didn't leave her, "I am!' she said brightly

Harrison was NEVER in a hurry, unless someone was bleeding to death. He swiped his badge and his bay closed with a thud. He was a little territorial with his inventions. He made his way to Dante, "How's the arm? Any more tingling?' he asked looking for signs of malfunction.

Graves waved them on, "Bring me back a burger and fries if they have it..if not..anything suitably horrible for you will do." And then he disappeared back into the supply area again. He'd be glad to have everyone out of the place when he did his sweep. No sense alarming everyone if it wasn't necessary. Could be Doc was just paranoid.

Cassandra smiled, "Suitably horrible for you," she replied, "Got it...Salad and grilled chicken." She smiled at Dante and Erik, "Hey thanks for stopping in," she said, "I lose track of time when I'm acclimating." She offered them a rather sheepish look as well, "That...and I have no idea where the food might be located."
 
Dante smiled at harrison. "Arms feelin good harry, thanks for the patch up." He spotted point and walked over, holding out his hand to shake. "Hello there. I didnt catch your name last time. I am Dante, heavy weapons expert of the saints SOG squad. A pleasure to meet you." Erik rolled his eyes and made a gagging motion behind dante. "I see you got issued your pet guard dogs. Always wondered how they got roped into this line of work. And also why they seem to revere the government."
 
Point almost fainted when he walked over to her but somehow she managed to smile, "Hello again Dante," she said, "I am Jennifer Point, but everyone calls me Jen."

Harrison lifted a brow, "Not me," he said. And then he slapped Dante's arm. "Dude...my LAST name is Harrison...first name's William...but if you call me Willie I will be forced to take you down. Will or Liam if you must."

Jen blinked, "What?' she asked looking at Cassandra, "Did you know that? I mean I knew Harrison was his last name yeah...."

Cassandra just smiled, "I have all of your files Point," she added logically.

Jen huffed, "Oh yeah." Then she looked at Harrison and was about to ask something.

"No..." he said, "Don't even ask. It's NO." He started for the bay doors, "Is the food any good here?' he asked. Nice digs doesn't always mean there's a decent cook in the group."

Cassandra grinned at Erik, "And that would be Harrison speak for change of topic...so you two...lead on. I'm starving." she started toward the doors and turned to Erik, "Our guards seemed very nice, and they were indeed very proud to be assigned to us." She didn't add that they seemed likely to not be capable of any other work.
 
Dante grinned "if you insist will, but you will always be harry to me." He laughed then gently shook Jen's hand. "A pleasure to meet you jen. I hope we get to know each other better." He gave her his best smile then turned around and walked out the door with Erik. The two guards stood at attention as the group passed and saluted until they had gotten on the monorail car. Erik pulled out another unlit cigarette and stuck it between his lips. "Remember that whole speech the director said about having the best group in the military? That applies to everything, cooks included. Apparently the cook was mixing local food with the standard issue rations to make the food better for the troops. His superiors got all bent out of shape, something about possible food contamination. Anyways he gets sent to be a dishwasher but the director picks him up and makes him the head chef. He can do amazing things with whatever you give him." Dante nodded and smacked his lips. "Mmm, his eggs florentine are to die for." Erik looked back at the rapidly disappearing guards. "They are pretty much like human attack dogs, dumb as rocks but loyal to the death."
 
Harrison almost growled but just moved with everyone else. Jen was smiling and almost glowing with happiness, "I would like that," she said. "Doc tells me you are a good guy, and I trust her judgment a lot more than my own." she said candidly as she shook his hand.

They all climbed into the tram and she waved at the guards. Cassandra wasn't much for saluting, so she waved. she sat next to Erik and lifted a brow, "What's with the cigarette?" she asked, "I can give you a shot that will take the urge away if you are trying to quit. I developed it for my dad, though a little too late. he'd already developed serious lung issues by the time he decided to actually quit." she sighed and then shrugged," Everyone has some vice that plagues them I suppose." He spoke about the best of everything and she nodded, "Oh that's great!" she said with relief, "I would ahve eaten the rations, but I'm glad to know it'll be good instead."

She turned to look behind than at the guards and noticed them only just then resuming their positions and she looked back at Erik, "yes..that would seem a very apt description. It's sad really, but given their level of intelligence it's good that they are able to provide a living for their families."
 
The tram trundled on as Erik took out the now soggy cigarette and rossed it out the window. It's more of a habit than anything else. I used to chew my nails before I smoked so I figure this is a little more sightly than me gnawing on my fingernails and spitting nails like sunflower seeds." They traveled for a few minutes then arrived at a bank of elevators. They all piled in and started to ascend to the ceiling level. "Hope none of you have a fear of heights. The cafeteria is built directly into the ceiling over the lake, so the dining area has a transparent floor. You can always eat in the regular floor section but where is the fun in that?" Erik grinned as they exited the elevator and followed the signs to the cafeteria. Outside the door, they all had to scan their ID cards to gain access. Inside, the cafeteria looked like something from the underworld. The floor was transparent to show the glowing lake of magma directly below. The air was a few degrees warmer due to the rising heat but nobody seemed to mind. If anything, the ones working in chilled environments seemed to enjoy discarding their heavy coats to relax as they ate. There were 4 large buffet tables on one side with almost every possible food imaginable, and on the other was a line for the menu ordered food. Dante picked up a tray and made a beeline for the buffet, Erik picked up a tray and pointed to a table with Kirst, Turk, and Xanders sitting at it. "We got here early to grab a big table. Anyways I am off to make myself a burger." He followed Dante to the buffet tables and began building a massive triple burger.
 
Cassandra looked shocked, "I think I agree," she said, "But....only as long as you don't actually smoke the cigarettes.." she grinned and exited the tram and entered the elevator. He asked if anyone was afraid of heights and she gave Harrison a glance but said nothing.

Once the doors slid open Harrison's eyes got wide and he stepped out of the elevator but stood close to the wall and hand a hand on it. Cassandra looked at him, "You going to be ok?' she whispered. He nodded and seeing Dante head to the buffet he looked around and swallowed hard. Cassandra leaned closer, "What do you want? I'll get it for you. You can just sit down and try not to look down." He shook his head, "I can get it."

She rolled her eyes and then followed to the buffet. Point hadn't even stopped to consider Harrison's issues. Where Dante went she went.

Cassandra grabbed a tray and saw a build your own salad section with fresh greens and her mouth watered. She piled on the lettuce, spinach, olives, beets and everything else she could. She hadn't had a fresh salad in she didn't know how long. she was about to sit down when some fried chicken stopped her in her tracks. OH it was horrible for you but it was one of her weaknesses. She grabbed a wing and a breast and THEN went to sit with the guys. She smiled as she put her tray down, "Hello everyone...how are you all doing getting settled back into home at base?"

She glanced over to see what Harrison was doing and he'd moved about two feet. She sighed, "Stubborn mule.."
 
Kirst looked up and smiled, "hey doc, hope you are fitting in." He looked over at dante and chuckled, "they actually thought about this before hand when building this place." He reached over and pressed a button in the middle of the table and a large square of glass beneath the surrounding area of the table became black opaque. "Hope that helps your man. If anything he will probably get over his fear after a few months from forced exposure." Turk simply gave Cassandra a little wave as Xanders handed her a strawberry pudding cup. "I got you a pudding cup doc. You would not believe how fast these suckers get taken." He then went back to eating his pasta as Kirst took a bite out of his quiche. "So what do you think of the place?" Erik and Dante returned with food piled high on both their plates. Erik looked back at harrison and smiled. "We can ask some people to make their table floors opaque to make a path for harrison if you want?"
 
Cassandra smiled at Kirst, "Thank you, I am. It's an impressive place, lots going on...I'm still deciding if I like some of it." she admitted. "But I think I have a potential to make a difference here, and especially help you guys. Keep you all safe. So I'm glad of that." She waved back at Turk and accepted the pudding cup, "Xanders..thank you! That was so thoughtful! I love pudding cups!" She was so touched by the gesture, and it showed. "I didn't think to grab a dessert. I guess I didn't realize they'd be gone so quickly."

She saw Kirst push a button and lifted a brow and was about to ask, but the floor suddenly became black. She smiled, "That will help, but he's determined to gut it out though I'm not sure he can." She looked over and saw that he was almost at the buffet, but was still close to the wall. He'd have to let go if he was going to make it to the food. She made a face, and Erik and Dante appeared with Point right behind them. Jen sat between her and Dante, strategic move there. "Maybe I should go check on him..." she said and then noticed that all of a sudden Harrison was moving around like he wasn't afraid at all. She lifted both brows in surprise and then saw a really cute lady at the buffet and grinned. Amazing what a pretty girl could do for a guy's willingness to be outside his comfort zone. "Looks like that won't be necessary." she said and started in on her salad.

"So I've been meaning to ask," she said between bites, "What do you guys do while you are back at base?"
 
Kirst finished his food and put his napkin on his tray. "Mostly training, we have special VR simulation rooms and the regular sparring areas and firing ranges. Sometimes we get briefings on new enemy tactics and such. The saints have been oit in the field for almost a year so this is sort of our break time. Sometimes we even help train the local guards. Man those guys can sure take a beating. One would even give Dante a run for his money. Well if he still had a normal arm." Dante looked up from his food and swallowed. "That was one time! And I wasnt feeling well."
 
Cassandra smiled when Harrison sat down. She could see he was actually sweating but otherwise he was putting on a good front. She wondered if he'd actually be able to eat, she did hope so though.

Jen looked up at Dante's distress at them saying the guards could take him and she shook her head, "Strong and smart always wins over strong and...um..less intelligent." She' changed the words when she saw Cassandra flash her a look.

Cassandra nodded, "Sparring and VR training doesn't sound like relaxation, but maybe it is." She said, "I would like to get in some time on a shooting range if I could," she admitted, "I am grateful I was able to fire when I had to but if he'd been further away, I'd like to know I would ahve been able to have someone's back again if I needed to." She shrugged, "Not sure it would be something they'd allow since I'm the 'highest ranking medical' on the site. But..maybe in my free time I could."
 
Xanders smiled and began digging into his own pudding cup. "Well whenever you are bored feel free to drop by the barracks. At least one of are always there. And I am sure one of the gunney seargents would be happy to teach you how to shoot. Hell I could even give you some basic self defence lessons if you want."
 
Cassandra nodded, "I will do that when I can," she said with a smile, "I know how to shoot...I just need to practice. It's been a long time since I held a gun." She tipped her head though, "I wouldn't mind a bit of self defense training to be honest. That is one thing I have not ever done."

Jen was pretending to eat, but she was really watching Dante eat and move. She caught herself though and began eating in earnest. "So how long have you been with SOG?" she asked him.

Harrison ate..grateful for the dark floor beneath the table, because he had a feeling he would ahve hurled all over the table had it been clear all the way down. He looked up and saw the pretty lady looking at him and gave her a smile and a nod in recognition. Maybe this place wouldn't be as bad as he thought it might be.

Cassandra finished her food and dove into the pudding. It was really creamy and wonderful and she was really glad Xanders had thought of her, "That was so good...thank you for getting me one Xanders." She went over to the area where you ordered food, and asked if they had a to go box for a colleague who wanted a burger and fries. They said yes an she smiled, "Thank you." She was given a container and they even put it in a bag with ketchup, mayo, and mustard packets. They also gave hr another small box and told her to go over to the salad area and get more fixings for the burger because it was plain. She did so and then returned to the table. "Graves hates crowds," she said by way of explanation. It was partly true, but they'd come to know Graves was seriously socially awkward...maybe.
 
Dante swallowed the piece of steak he was eating and cleared his throat. "Hrmm well lets see. I joined about...2 years ago I think? Before that I was in the marines, I got a few medals for blowing up a couple of tabks but thats about it." Erik almost choked on his burger trying not to laugh. "By a few tanks he means he took out 5 heavy tanks all by himself with a stolen bag of explosives. The other enemy tanks surrendered because they thought they were being ambushed by a heavy weapons squad. And all because he wanted to save a library." Dante almost blushed and shrugged. "It was a 200 year old library. They had books from when the first colonists came. Stupid commander wanted to level the place with artillery. So I might have stolen a few pounds of explosives but I put em to good use. After that my commander wanted me to be court martialed for disobeying orders but apparently the SOG heard about my actions and transferred me here. Went through the usual training and stuff, you know wilderness survival, code breaking, advanced mathematics and physics. Then after bouncing around a few squads I ended up in the saints, the rest is history." Kirst smiled and nodded, "yeah the director seems to really like the troublemakers. But as for our training. Every SOG soldier has the equivalent of a regular bachelors degree in science and math. Because the director wants soldiers who can outhink as well as outfight the enemy."
 
Jen was listened and just had the most amazed look on her face, "You like books?" she asked, "HISTORY books?" She could not possibly have met a man who liked history, it would be far and away too much to ask. She was so awestruck she forgot to speak, and just watched.

Cassandra saw Jen and knew that look. She wasn't sure if she should say something or warn Dante, or maybe just tell Dante and let him decide what to do about Jen's obvious hero worship. That is if he wasn't noticing.

She was listening and raised a brow at Dante, "Wow...go you!" she said, "I knew you were a brave, get it done kind of soldier, but wow....that's really impressive." She looked around the table and smiled at them all, "NO wonder we get along so well. Nothing more amazing than brains and brawn together, not that I have much brawn, but you know, I can appreciate it just fine from my place far below."

She nodded, "I can understand why the director believes brains are important. It's always been a rather chilling thought to me, to put heavy artillery into the hands of a kid just out of school with only a few weeks of training and a uniform." She was being very frank and possibly insulting, she wasn't sure but it was her opinion. She leaned into the table and bit and had a very odd expression on her face, "So, may I ask a question?" she began, "Feel free not to answer, but Apparently it has been something of an interest to the director and his people that I ahve befriended you guys, and that you ahve befriended me. Is there some reason you don't like doctors...as a rule?"
 
Kirst sat back in his chair and shrugged. "I guess it's just that SOG soldiers have had bad experiences with doctors in the past. Whether it be a vip escort mission and the doctor we are supposed to extract acts like he is the only one that matters and gets someone killed. Or if we prioritize someone else over them they get angry and indignant. Other times its the previous doctors that get sent here that treat us like pieces of meat and not real people. Stuff like that."
 
Cassandra nodded, "Hmm," she said, "That actually makes a lot of sense." She said with a nod, "If I ever make you feel like that...any of you....call me out on it, because I will have totally lost my mind." She frowned, "I can see how it would happen here. There are some odd...what I would consider experimental type things going on. But I'm determined to see that you guys get the best care, and that you are not compromised physically in any way." She leaned back and pressed her lips together, "I'm not sure how much clout I'll have but I intend to use however much I have to get my way."

They all knew her well enough to know that she wasn't easily ordered about, or weak willed. She felt like she had an uphill battle on some of these agenda items that the director had in mind, but she was going to make sure everything was done above board and that every risk and outcome was examined and explained to any patient. They could try and deny her that, but they'd be talking to a deaf ear there. She'd have Graves make her one of those slick no listening devices like Natalya had and tell them everything anyway if she had to.
 
Dante finished his meal and looked over at Jen. "Well its nice to know that someone else around here appreciates literature. Maybe sometime i can show you some of my books if you want?" Erik rolled his eyes, "slow down there romeo, remember that you are still a special forces soldier, not some book reviewer." Kirst simply chuckled when suddenly Turk spoke. "How is Captain Sokolov?" Xanders smirked and nudged Turk with his elbow. "It seems Turk here has a crush on the ice queen. I guess he is into the whole 'uncaring she devil' type." Turk had a faint hint of a flush to his cheeks and shook his head. "Professional courtesy is all."
 
Jen smiled a bright smile, "I love books," she said, "I don't have many with me unfortunately. We had a weight limit." She huffed as if that was so great crime against humanity. Jen frowned and looked over at Erik, "I would never take someone away from duties.." She said defensively but then turned back to Dante, "I'd love to have something new to read, if you wouldn't mind sharing. You can borrow any of mine if you don't ahve them."

Cassandra grinned at the two and flashed Erik a look as she raised her eyebrow. When Turk spoke she couldn't ahve been more surprised. That was indeed interesting....very interesting. "I found the Captain to be quite a surprise actually," she admitted, "She is obviously good at her job, and she had good advice concerning my role here and what I could accomplish for all of you. I actually liked her very much." she looked over at Turk, "She might even appreciate a kind word from a member of the teams. ...nothing ventured ...nothing gained."

She wasn't a matchmaker per se, but she didn't mind giving people a bit of encouragement. NOW, if someone were to try and do the same to her she'd likely revolt, but she didn't see anyone lining up at her doorstep, so that wasn't likely to happen anyway.
 
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