[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Miss Rigger?"

[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Yeah Bowie?"

[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Do ya still have that research ya did on Arcanum?"

[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Not really research, but yes, I have it."

[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Could Ah have a look at it?"

[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Not a problem. Where do you want it?"

[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Whare do ya have it?"

[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Paper printouts in my room. Really need to get an office set up for myself around here."

Rigger's Place <RP>

This room isn't quite dirty, but it certainly has that 'lived-in' feel to it. The bed is actually made, but just barely so. A corner of the blanket and sheets remain turned down in a triangular shape that invites someone to just slide between them for a nice slumber. There's a desk with a lamp not too far away from the bed itself, complete with a squeaky comfortable wheeled chair. The desk is most often a mess, covered with blueprints and random notes jotted down in a seemingly random order. A hamper in the corner by the small doorway to an equally small bathroom has half of a t-shirt hanging out where it didn't quite go all the way in before the lid snapped shut.

Like the doorway to this room, the walls are decorated. No bumper stickers this time, instead pictures in frames are stuck almost everywhere. It starts at one wall with pictures of a baby, moving up through childhood, and then stops abruptly in the middle of one wall. The last picture is of a younger Rigger and a man, hugging one another while displaying a set of rings they're wearing. There are no other pictures after this.

Contents:

Rigger

Bog Pendant

*knock knock* Bowie raps on the door.

The door opens soon enough as Rigger hits the release panel in passing while searching through the slight clutter of her room for the papers. She steps over some of the items carefully lain out for work on the floor to head for the desk while offering a distracted mumble. "Mind your step. Just lemme find them here."

Bowie watches where he steps as he makes his way in, not wanting to disturb any of the piles. "All right." He isn't smiling, but that particular expression has been missing as of late anyway.

Rigger cants her head over her shoulder breifly to look at the other Hunter. Nothing is said though as she starts to shuffle through the piles of paperwork to pull out a breifcase of all things and the small stack of papers just beneath it. It's the papers she tugs free that she turns with once more. "Something you want to talk about?"

As usual, Bowie seems reluctant to say much, though he does offer at least a partial explanation. "Kinda got a vested intrest in whut thay were doin."

"Hum." A small nod is given as Rigger pauses just long enough to flip through the pages to ensure she has all the documentation there. The stack is then offered out to Bowie with a hesitant aire. "It's not much really. No hard data, no schematics or discussions on how the process was acheived. I only managed to grab someone's breifcase and run. Nothing but office memos."

Bowie nods at that. It's not like he'd be able to make much sense out of detailed technical explanations anyway. He takes the stack from her and absently flips through the first couple of pages. "Any idea how long thay might a been werkin on this process?"

Rigger crosses her arms over her chest as she opts to lean back against the desk she'd been shuffling through not very many moments before. "No, but I'd wager a couple of years. This wasn't exactly something that was easy to do, even if it wasn't what they were trying to make us believe it was."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "Ow....that didn't work...."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "I...tried those orders out."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Kalinka transmits, "And they did not work?"

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "I got cut up pretty good by Sword Man....he hit a Mech fluid line in my side...."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "I had to attack first..."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Kalinka transmits, "Oh, no! Get out of there and come home, and I will fix you."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "I am so already climbing into this repair chamber....but thanks Kalinka...hope you enjoyed that dress."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz giggles.

"Hm." Bowie's non-smile slips one notch into a near-frown, brow furrowing. "Ah'd imagine not." He flips through a few more papers, then sets them back down with the rest. "Thankee."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Kalinka transmits, "I love it! Now to have nice event so I can show it off."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Jazz transmits, "Well...see ya after this...."

Rigger dips her head in a slight nod. "Something personal?" If he wasn't going to outright tell her she could at least try to get some inkling of the situation behind it. There were limits to how much she'd pry though.

Bowie doesn't answer for a moment. He's never been one to talk much about himself, much less his problems. It's just how he is, even with the people he likes and trusts. Still, he reasons, his friend deserves an explanation. "Ya know Arcanum's a subsidiary a EIT, right?"

Rigger rolls her head from one side to the other in a slow stretch of her neck as she contemplates the question. "I think I remember hearing that somewhere, yeah. I don't know much about EIT to begin with, though. I lost touch with most of the corporations and associations after I joined the Hunters. No real need to pay attention, usually."

"Ah wus built by EIT," Bowie explains. "Not quite two years ago, Ah wus..." He pauses, the non-smile dropping another notch, and sighs "...let's jus say Ah shouldn't still be among the livin. Ah've been believin it wus nothang short a a miracle that Ah survived. Now? Ah'm not so sure."

Rigger sucks the corner of her lip into her mouth to chew on it rather than remarking immediately. "I see. Well. Seems like we've got alot of folks in the Hunters that shouldn't still be around." It's meant to be a slight joke which she emphasizes with a watery thin smile. "You want to look into it regardless though." It's not a question really. It was just a statement of fact as that seemed to be what he was intending already.

Bowie gives Rigger a small shrug. "Ah know, in the grand scheme a thangs an all, it doesn't really matter why Ah'm still here. This is more fer mah own peace a mind."

Rigger shakes her head slowly. A small nudge is given to the desk to push herself away from it and items rattle behind her from the gesture. "Do what you need to, Bowie. No one's going to question your motives. Sometimes people just have to know where they came from and why."

Bowie manages a lop-sided near-smile. "Ah know whare Ah came frum, Miss Rigger. It's whut's happened since then that Ah'm wunnerin about."

Rigger spreads her hands in a wide shrug. "Okay so I'm not going to win any awards for motivational speeches anytime soon," she remarks with a more sincere grin. "You know what I mean, though. If you need any help give me a holler."

Bowie nods. He can't quite manage a true smile, but the rest of his expression shows he's grateful. "Ah will. Thankee."

Hunter HQ - Barracks

This long, quiet hallway is kept bare of most furnishings, while a host of doorways lead to various sizes of crew quarters. While the former crew of the Fort Sam Houston were packed several to a room, there's space enough now for every Hunter to have their own individual quarters.

[To see Objects in here, type +objects.]

East <E> leads to Hunter HQ - Residential Level.

Rigger hands you a cookie for a job well done!

Kalinka arrives from the Hunter HQ - Residential Level.

Kalinka has arrived.

Bowie is on his way back to his room, carrying a stack of hard-copy papers.

Kalinka comes strolling down the hallway, sipping some sort of spicy-smelling tea. When she spots Bowie, she quickly steps over to help him should he need assistance. "Hey, handsome. What do you have there?"

It's not a large stack, so Bowie should be able to manage. He gives Kalinka a small, lopsided smile. "Howdy, sunshine. Rigger gave me whut she had on Arcanum."

Kalinka says, "Oh, good! You know, I think Alia did some checking into Arcanum, too. Can I help you with going through the information?"

As if he could tell her no. "If ya want," Bowie says. "She didn't find much technical info, jus memos an such."

Kalinka sips the spicy-smelling beverage from the mug, then says, "And we could hang out in your room." She winks.

Bowie gives a small shrug to that. "Didn't know mah room wus so interestin..." Glancing over at the mug, he asks, "Whutcha drinkin? Smells good."

Kalinka grins. "It is called chai tea...if you would like some, I can make you a mug of it, too."

Bowie nods. "If ya don't mind...don't thank Ah've ever tried it."

Kalinka says, "OK, then...right this way...I have some more in the Comissary."

You enter the Hunter HQ - Commissary.

Hunter HQ - Commissary

Once the most-used area on the Fort Sam Houston, this area sees a little less usage by the Maverick Hunters, but it is still an important part of the ship. The mundane tasks of the Maverick Hunter Base are carried out here, from clothes laundry and armor cleaning to basic repairs. Mail sent from Neo-Tokyo is sorted here and delivered, and there is a small commisary, primarily for the human residents of the base, though it gets more than its fair share of usage by the Reploids here, as well. The room is seldom busy, but without the functions performed here, life in the Hunter Base wouldn't be quite as easy.

Kalinka [Casual] [MH]

Down <D> leads to Hunter HQ - Science Area.

East <E> leads to Hunter HQ - Medical Area.

South <S> leads to Hunter HQ - Residential Level.

Kalinka wanders over to the teapot, and pours out a mugful of spicy-smelling tea. The brew must be made in the teapot itself. "Here you are..."

Bowie sets the papers down on the corner of the table, then takes the offered mug . Hmms...sips. "Not bad," he decides.

Kalinka grins. "It is so sweet and nice...it is like having happiness in a cup. That is some of my favorite kind of tea," she admits. "Want to hang out here, or go back to your room, or...?"

"Here's fine," Bowie says as he pulls out a chair. With his luck, Protoman would decide to show up for another 'friendly chat' the moment they walked back into his room. Nothing like having him as a self-appointed chaperone. "This doesn't taste much like tea," he notes after taking another sip.

"I know, you are right. Who knows what it is made from," Kalinka remarks with a shrug. "Say, I did mean to ask you...what do you think of this whole 'target Maverick of the week' thing?"

Another small shrug from Bowie. "Can't say Ah've been goin out a mah way to attack any marks. Ah'm treatin it more as a 'Mos Wanted' sort a thang."

Kalinka says, "You do not suppose Rock is expecting for us to go out of our way...?"

Bowie takes another sip, then sets the mug aside. "Ah dunno. He might be, jus so we keep the Mavs on thair toes. Thay've been far too quiet lately."

"They have too many problems right now to be trouble to anyone," speculates Kalinka. "They are not strong like they once were. Sigma is out to recruit, probably."

Bowie considers. "Meybe losin Doppler struck a bigger blow to 'em than we first thought."

Kalinka shrugs. "Maybe so," she says with a wry grin. "You know, as long as Protoman is on our side, I feel pretty safe. And you, of course. But I would never think in a million years you would be tempted to join them, anyhow."

"Two million," Bowie assures. "Ah much druther have harmony between reploids an humanity."

Kalinka giggles. "You are awesome," she remarks, eyes twinkling. "I do not tell you often enough. But you are awesome."

Bowie finally regains his smile. With her, how can he not? "An yer beautiful, sunshine. An Ah love ya."

Kalinka leans toward Bowie, giving him a gentle, sweet kiss. "Love you too," she says. "Even though I do not say it enough around here, because the walls have eyes and ears."

Bowie leans forward to receive the kiss, bestowing one in return. "Ah know." He's come to accept the terms that come with dating Kalinka. Yet, he must think they're worth it. "Ah still owe ya a dinner out, by the way," he remarks. "Fer yer birthday."

"I have an idea for that," Kalinka says mischievously.

"Oh?" Bowie asks, prompting her to continue.

Kalinka says, "How about we go on a camping trip?"

Kalinka says, "We could make a campfire out in the desert...pitch tent and make a bonfire under the stars..."

Bowie is in the process of lifting his mug to his lips again when she suggests this, and pauses halfway. The mug is set back down again. "Well..." he says, considering, "Ah dunno about campin, but Miss Rigger got me this weekend getaway package at a dude ranch fer Christmas."

Kalinka ooohs. "She -did-? What is this place like, have you seen it?"

Bowie says "It's a place in Colorado, neat the mountains. Haven't been thare mahself, but it has good reviews." He smiles. "An it's a weekend getaway fer two, so Ah can't jus go by mahself, now can Ah?"

Kalinka giggles. "Oh, it IS...she did that on purpose, she must have!"

Bowie nods, his earlier gloom disappearing entirely. "Accidently on purpose, at least. So, whucha thank? Ask fer a couple days off, an take Comanche an Missy with us?"

Kalinka says, "It sounds to me just like...a little slice of Heaven here on Earth. Especially if we can also have radios off while we are there!"

"Well," Bowie says, resting his elbows on the table, "we should at least leave the emergency channel on, jus in case."

Kalinka is almost grinning from ear to ear. "It is a deal," she finally concedes. "But they do not need to know where we are going."

"Won't yer dad wurry, if we don't tell him?" Bowie points out.

Kalinka sighs. "Well, he will have to know...but nobody else," she concedes reluctantly.

Bowie nods, seemly satisfied with that. "So we tell yer dad, an if thare is some earth-shatterin emergency, he can holler fer us."

Kalinka nods, falling silent in contemplation for a long moment as she collects the empty mugs and moves to put them in the sink.

Kalinka says, "Daddy is not going to like this."

Bowie turns to watch her, resting his chin on a balled fist. "Why's that?"

Kalinka shrugs. "I can just sense it, you know? He may say something about it, or...he may not. But...he will not like it. I will sense his unhappiness. It used to make me sad when he would be upset, but now...I just know it will happen, and do it anyway."

Bowie frowns slightly at her words. "It's not me, is it?" he asks.

Kalinka says, "No, not at all...I mean, when I make choices...it used to be that my choices were never good enough, and he would have to make choices for me. Now, he no longer does this. He lets me make my own choices, whether or not they are ones he agrees with."

Bowie nods slowly. Judging by his expression, he's mulling something over, but he's not ready to share it just yet. "So he lets ya decide thangs fer yerself? Even when ya decide on the wrong thang?"

"Lately, he has been like that," Kalinka admits. "Like...the party. I did plan that whole party myself. He had no part in it at all. And that was a big undertaking. Plus, it used to be that he HAD to know where I was at all times. Now, he is more...cool, I guess, about it."

Bowie nods slowly. "Yer growin up," he says. "Is that why?"

Kalinka says, "I think so. I think this is kind of his way of...slowly letting go, and letting me have my own life. He has been more and more millowing out. Or -mellowing-." She pronounces it more like 'mailowing'.

"Mellowin?" Bowie helpfully supplies his pronounciantion of the word. "Meybe. Ah noticed he doesn't yell quite so much...course, Ah never get t'see him these days." Like he's avoiding me, he can't help but think.

Kalinka hmms. "Maybe he does think I love him less now that I love you. Which is not true, of course!"

Bowie says "Ah know..." he gives a small sigh. "...Ah jus don't want t'come between ya two."

Kalinka smiles reassuringly. "I am sure he does not think bad of you, handsome. If he did, he would surely say something."

"Ah'd hope so, anyway." Bowie doesn't seem entirely convinced, but neither is he wanting to argue the point. "Ah do like him, even if we don't agree all the time."