Day 59: Meeting Room 1

[damned_soldiers]

Major Cartwright had spent the latter half of the day speaking with patients, but as dinner time came she had someplace else to be. As did three specially chosen patients. Everyone seemed convinced that this would go smoothly, but as the female soldier stood there with some sort of electronic bracelet in hand, she couldn't help fiddling

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[damned_soldiers]

This was a little on the depressing side. Major Travis had taken a seat at the table along with Blithe as they waited on their assigned patient. He hadn't expected this to be a party, but the silence was tense, as if they were all awaiting sentencing. Hell, maybe we are, he thought flippantly, catching Blithe's brief glance. He smiled at her, big and humorless, until her eyes continued on and so did his attention

[madeinthehrl]

Soma had spent her afternoon taking a nap in the Sun Room. It was highly unusual for her, but after the last two nights spent exploring the medical wing, a few extra hours of sleep seemed like paradise

[damned_soldiers]

Travis righted his posture now that one of the patients had finally breached their silent bubble. Not long after another appeared. It was a woman, but judging from the file he had read previously and the fact that the patient and Cartwright seemed to gravitate toward each other rather quickly

[madeinthehrl]

One of the soldiers gestured to her, and Soma approached obediently. Despite the guns in the room, the officers didn't look openly hostile. That was a start. Besides, she had to admit she was too curious to put up a fight.

She supposed she was one of the few people in the institute who honestly didn't care about the pink gruel--the rations they got in space were only slightly more flavorful--but she couldn't deny that the food in front of her looked delicious. It was an unusual way to start a briefing, but she wasn't about to complain. She seated herself and picked up the knife and fork, still watching the soldier expectantly.

"I was told I'd been chosen for a mission," she said, cutting into the teriyaki in a show of compliance. Her mind was still racing with questions; hopefully this man could answer them before she had to ask.

[damned_soldiers]

Once Maria had taken her seat, Travis took his own. He noticed she was waiting for his lead and so he quickly corrected that.

"Please. Don't wait to eat on my account." He sure as hell wouldn't. And for a moment, the man watched her silently as he folded his hands together on the lacquered table top before he began to speak once more.

"Yes, you are correct. My name is Major Travis--" There seemed no reason to give his full name to a patient. This, he hoped very fervently, wouldn't be a repeat occurrence and so a last name would suffice unless he was told otherwise. "--and you and I will be a team together this night." He let that sink in before continuing. "As far as I know, we will be on the look out for Martin Landel and the man who calls himself Marc. Our orders are to apprehend them on sight." Which was such a shame, really. He enjoyed those mysterious little radio calls of his. Always made him laugh, they did!

"The General himself can give you more details when he arrives..."

[madeinthehrl]

Soma listened attentively as she ate. The food was good, and it disappeared quickly from her plate, but she found what the major had to say far more interesting.

So they were out to hunt down Landel and the man from the radio? It was an important mission, and she had to wonder why she'd been chosen for it out of all of the other patients in the Institute. No wonder the General himself was coming--though to be honest, she hadn't expected that. Once again her thoughts went to the conversation with the soldier this morning. Had they interpreted her words as a willingness to volunteer?

It didn't really matter. This wasn't a mission she was about to refuse. There were patients here who wanted to see Landel back in power, but Soma wasn't one of them. Not when the military was so much more straightforward--but they had to allow her to perform. She swallowed a bite of tempura.

"Will I have my abilities back?"

Kratos had mentioned knowledge of a device that suppressed powers, but it would be unwise to mention that now. What would be the

[damned_soldiers]

Major Travis was about to answer her question when suddenly from on high, Blithe added in her two cents that, yes, they assumed the patients would receive their abilities back and that, yes, there would probably be restrictions. Great.

"Yes, thank you," he felt compelled to say politely for their audience. Blithe was the only one that needed to know he hadn't meant it in the way of courtesy. But when the topic of the bracelet came up, the man took her lead and brought out the one for Maria as well, unfastening it.

"If you would stick out your arm..." He waited for her compliance before Travis held it out to adjust it for Maria. "I would like to assume I don't have to tell you not to take it off or try modifying it, but... Don't take it off or try modifying it." He made sure to catch her strange golden gaze with his hard brown just to drive home the point.

[madeinthehrl]

"There isn't much to restrict," said Soma, glancing across the room at the other soldier. But that was reassuring--apparently they trusted her enough to slacken their hold on the reins a little. On second thought, wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing.

She hesitated as the major brought out a bracelet, but the other soldier was telling the man next to her that it was a tracking device. Nothing unusual, then, if a little primitive. She held out her wrist.

"I assume this means you aren't giving me a mobile suit tonight."

[damned_soldiers]

As he was fastening the strap loosely to her proffered arm, the sudden and sarcastic comment ripped a short "Ha!" from the seemingly stoic man. The sound, genuine and loud, came out of Travis before he could put a lid on it. He hadn't expected to encounter a woman with a sense of humor and, while he didn't appreciate being proven wrong, it spelled good things for the night ahead of them.

Taking a moment to compose himself, he looked at Maria when he said,"No, that seems... highly unlikely...."

The man was glad when the door opened and changed any curiosity from him to the Gen--

Nope, Harrington. Travis sat back in his chair with a soft sigh that concealed the screams of "Goddamnit" that invaded his mind. He wanted this night to start now. This waiting was making him antsy. Travis didn't do well under antsy situations.

"Alright," he said once he was done with the patient's electronic band. "That's all I need from you right now. The General will be here momentarily to tell you more."

[madeinthehrl]

Soma blinked for a moment, trying to identify what had been so amusing to the major. Had he thought she was joking when she mentioned the mobile suit? But she hadn't been; it only made sense to give her a weapon she knew how to use.

That was probably why it was amusing. As if they'd trust her with something that could take out the Institute in seconds.

Even so, the comment seemed to endear her to him somewhat, for what it was worth, so she offered a faint smile in return. Withdrawing her hand, she glanced at the door as it opened. The new arrival's voice was familiar, though it took her a moment to place it as the one over the intercom. Still, he wasn't the general, and it didn't seem any more details were forthcoming for the time being.

"Permission to ask a question in the meantime, sir," she said, withdrawing her arm. "What do you specialize in? I suppose I should have a general idea of your abilities before we begin the mission."

[damned_soldiers]

Again, he remained silent for a beat before relenting. Technically, she had a point and it would likely come up later; it might as well be now when they had the time to casually chat. Ha, shooting the shit with a patient! He never thought he would see this day

[madeinthehrl]

Soma nodded, offering a faint smile at the major's timely save. He didn't have to try to be so restrained; she'd spent the last year of her life living in various barracks, and there was probably very little she hadn't heard by now. Still, the attempt made her relax a little, for what it was worth.

"...I think it's better this way, actually," she offered after a moment, sensing she could probably afford to be a little more casual now. "I probably do work with more interesting fare at night, but 'interesting' isn't necessarily what I want in a straightforward mission. I've spent much longer fighting with soldiers who don't have unusual talents. I'd much rather work with abilities I can understand and rely on."