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

Comments

[damned_soldiers]

Major Helen Blithe sat at the long table, her calloused fingers laced together as she waited beside the patient's covered dish. Although such food was typically reserved for higher-ranked individuals, it was only appropriate in light of what the chosen subjects -- no, what they all were going to do tonight. After all, it wasn't everyday that the general decided to pair "patients" with specific soldiers for a mission.

Maybe that was why she felt on edge.

Blithe wasn't naive. Some of the damn subjects had knowledge of that device. Last night's drug trial hadn't produced enough results to make it worth that kind of security breach. No doubt the general had narrowed down his list of suspects to people who actually knew about the thing. And now what? She'd been called to help assist in a project that, quite frankly, left a bad taste in her mouth. Not that she doubted General Aguilar's judgment, of course -- it's just she wanted to know whether he truly suspected her or not

[poorexample]

The final shift of the day had turned out to be a fascinating experience. Castiel hadn't expected to come across so many others who weren't human in one way or another, but after what he'd endured yesterday it was good to be reminded of it. There were others in his position, or at least in something like it. Thus far Gabriel was still the only other angel he'd come across, though he had to admit that was likely for the best

[damned_soldiers]

Having already read the reports for tonight, Blithe knew to expect two women and a man. Consequently, when the individual listed in their files as "Michael Collins" arrived, she immediately knew they were assigned together. It was a good thing, too, because she was getting tired of looking at Travis' poor attempts at smiling.

Turning to the subject, she gestured toward the seat in front of his plate. "Have a seat," Blithe instructed. "You're eating dinner in here this evening, so you may as well dig in before it gets cold."

Realizing that her words may not be enough, she added, "I'll explain a little more once you sit down." Hopefully he'd take her advice.

[poorexample]

Up until now, Castiel had hardly been acknowledged by the staff, nurse or soldier. Aguilar had spoken to him directly, but those had been special circumstances. The point was that he suddenly felt out of place, being treated almost like an equal. He was clearly still the one who would be taking orders, but that happened to be a position he was comfortable with

[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.

[selfnighted]

Well, this was a dilemma. Should she go ahead and stand by her fellow patient, or should she stand by the doorway and wait for instructions? There seemed no reason to bring her to this particular room, yet here she was.

Was this the forced drug trial she'd heard about from Tolten? Maya's escort hadn't explained much of importance at all. But judging from the nervousness she could see on the soldiers' faces.... Maya did not believe this was a drug trial. Major Cartwright had especially not been inclined to showing signs of her anxiety.

Since there was one familiar face among the people in the room, Maya turned to the Major almost without realizing she had done so, and tilted her head in puzzlement.

[damned_soldiers]

The first patient to arrive wasn't one that Cartwright recognized. It seemed that Blithe was assigned to him, and so she only watched as the other soldier coaxed the man into taking a seat and eating. Hopefully Maya would be just as willing...

Though she didn't have to wait much longer. The woman turned as she watched Maya walk in, and it was almost as if the two of them were drawn to each other by previous association. The soldier tightened her grip on the bracelet in her hand and then strode over to the female patient.

"I know you're probably confused, but just go ahead and take a seat. We've got some decent food for you here, and you're likely going to need the energy." Now that Maya had arrived, Cartwright's expression had become more controlled, her body language less anxious. She had a job to do, and she didn't want Harrington to be disappointed with her. Even though he was the one who had cursed over the intercom earlier

[selfnighted]

Maya was certainly in one of the areas marked 'Staff Only' on the map she'd been looking at earlier-not difficult when most of the map was marked as such. What seemed to be of importance was that Maya knew the way back to the patients' quarters, which was suspicious in itself-what would they do if she didn't do as ordered?-but not notable for any other reason. Certainly it could not be the reason the soldiers had initially seemed nervous. They had made Senna disappear easily enough.

It was the comment about needing energy that seemed most significant, Maya thought as she pulled out the indicated chair and took a seat. Indubitably, she would be asked to do something. Or withstand something. If nothing else, the newest patient seemed too young for it, but such a consideration had not prevented the asylum from bringing her into itself, did it not?

Three patients. Three guns. Three soldiers to use them.

My, but Maya was quite paranoid tonight, was she not? She could mention that human life energy was energy that best sustained her,

[damned_soldiers]

The last patient finally arrived, and it was yet another familiar face. Now that Cartwright thought of it, she'd never asked for the young woman's name. It hadn't been her decision to have her placed into this particular mission, but she had to admit the she would probably be a good pick for this job, seeing how she was apparently a supersoldier