(Sept. 19, 2003/2216)

Small Laboratory <SL>

The interior of this laboratory is somewhat claustrophobic, not only in square feet, but the windows are also shuttered much of the time. Whatever goes on in this place, the owner does not want it to be anyone's business. The front portion of the building is a small waiting room, complete with a receptionist's booth. Perhaps at one time, this place was a clinic of some sort. Threadbare but clean burnt-orange carpeting and beige walls flesh out the bland decor of this front room.

The back portion of the office, however, is entirely different. It is part laboratory, part classroom, and part dorm room. There's a computer station that's always on, an old-fashioned chalkboard on one wall (with equations written all over it), several lab tables with machines and various chemical experiments in progress, an old wooden study desk with what appears to be Russian textbooks spread across it, and a few bookshelves of scientific reference manuals in both Russian and English. In the corner of the room, a twin bed is set up and neatly made. There's a few posters on the walls, closet and bathroom doors...mostly of young Russian hockey and soccer stars, though there's a few beefcake pictures taped up of some egotistical-looking Mexican fellow as well.

Contents:

Kalinka

Kalinka is, at the moment, doing a set of sit-up repetitions with her feet braced beneath one of the lobby chairs. She's all sweaty, and has probably been at it for a while.

If the outside door is unlocked, then Bowie lets himself in. If it isn't, then no doubt Kalinka will hear his fiddling with his key and the lock before he actually gets it open.

Kalinka has had the foresight to leave the door unlocked, as she's very much anticipating her guest. As Bowie walks in, Kalinka finishes her reps, and sits there catching her breath, smiling. "Hi!" she says breathlessly, looking cheerful. She still has a weary look about her, though she must be thinking more positive these days about her predicament, as she's seeming much healthier.

Bowie has his hands tucked in the pockets of his duster as he walks in, and moves to lean against one of the tables. He's still pretty long in the face, smile noticably absent. "Hey."

Kalinka knows this whole relationship repair is going to take a lot of time and patience...she just knows that it CAN be fixed, that it's perhaps the ONLY thing that survived this fiasco, and that means a great deal to her. "Did you want some dinner?" she asks. "I do not have much here to offer, but I have some things."

Bowie wants to mend the rift between them as well, though he's still searching for ways to do that. The selection of relationship self-help books that cover the topic of one's love attacking major political figures is painfully thin. "Sure," he says.

Kalinka heads back into the mostly-barren lab area, motioning Bowie to follow. It's considerably colder in the back room...perhaps Kalinka likes to save money by leaving off the heater, or something. "I have some soup, it will just take a short time to heat it up," she promises, taking a pot out of the refrigerator and placing it on a small stove range off to one side of the lab tables.

Bowie follows her, not minding the slight chill. While she works on warming up the soup, he finds a couple of chairs and brings them over to the table closest to the stove.

After putting the pot on, Kalinka heads back over to the nearby table, having a seat next to Bowie. "I met today with the attorney," she says. "He is still working with the prosecutors. He says that it is 'looking good', though I have no idea what he means by that, really. Until then, I mostly stay here, or with my Aunt Katarina. I have been avoiding staying there too much, though, because I want her to stay safe."

Bowie nods as he listens. More laconic than usual, that he is. After a moment, he takes off his hat and sets it atop one of the nearby stacks of boxes. He really is trying not to look as dour as he did when he walked in, but it;s not working as well as hoped.

Kalinka gazes at the melancholy-looking Bowie ponderously. "You know, your support means everything to me," she says.

Bowie doesn't quite manage that smile, but he does at least temporarily banish some of the dark cloud. "Ah said Ah'd always be here fer ya."

Kalinka nods. "So talk to me," she urges. "I am sure you have things on your mind...things you want to ask me. I will answer you honestly. Time may heal wounds, but not as well as communicating."

Bowie has never been one to talk about what's on his mind, unless he really feels it needs to be said. Even then, it's in as few words as can be spared. Kalinka is one of the few who can draw him out of his silences. It seems she can still do what, in spite of everything that's happened these past few weeks. At last, he poses a question. "Why, Kali? Why didja do it?"

Kalinka answers honestly and candidly. "I did it out of anger, because I had some...thought in my mind at the time that what I was doing was justified because it was in the name of protecting Daddy. It did seem that Daddy's good name had been tarnished. And when I told Abernathy how I felt about it, I got sarcasm in response. That just...it sent me thinking down a wrong path," she admits.

Bowie nods slowly at her explanation. He'd already suspected it was out of anger - he's seen the Cossack family temper at work before - but hearing it directly from her makes a difference. "Ah thought we'd agreed t'jus ignore Abernathy?"

Kalinka nods, looking somewhat sheepish as she moves over to check the pot. "We did," she admits. "But the anger never went away, it continued to grow, more and more. I would hear his voice on the radio, and know that he did not give a damn about disgracing my father, and that he would do it again...and I tried to make the anger go away, but it would not. That is not a justification for what happened -- I take full credit for it -- but it is the explanation."

Bowie rests his hands on the table, lacing his fingers together. The smell of soup wafts through the room. He watches her for a long moment before speaking further. "An jus whut does yer dad thank a Abernathy's affections?"

Kalinka ladles out two bowls of what appears to be chicken and dumpling soup, and she carries them back over to the table, placing one in front of Bowie then taking one for herself. "That is the last thing we ever spoke about," she says sadly. "He told me that he tolerates it because Abernathy is a valuable ally, and he wanted for me to leave him alone. Which, for a while, I fully intended to do."

Bowie again nods. He doesn't dig in just yet, instead idly watching wisps of steam curl from the edges of the bowl. "Ya really shoulda left it between them," he opins quietly.

Kalinka nods, digging right into the hearty soup...she worked up quite an appetite earlier with her exercising. "And I totally agree with you," she admits. "I wish I could take it all back, but that is not the way the world works. One bad choice, and you lose it all."

Kalinka says, "Then you have to pick yourself up off the ground, and carry on."

Bowie understands this, perhaps better than anyone else in Kalinka's life right now. He picks up his spoon and eats a few mouthfuls. Unless she has something else to add, the few moments are filled with nothing but the sounds of the of the refridgerator's hum and of metal spoons scraping against ceramic bowls.

Kalinka shakes her head, grinning. "Well, new to me," she admits. "It is a Dmitriev family recipie. I am learning so much from them...we have been making up for lost time. I always assumed so much about them, but never -knew- them, until now." She eats another spoonful, then adds, "I have lost Daddy, but I have gained all of Mother's relatives."

Bowie nods once more, then continues to eat. Admittedly, his pace is slower than hers, but then he eats more for its social aspects than for need. He waits expectantly for her to continue.

"They have been explaining to me how he has unrealistic expectations for me, and they blame that for my current problems," Kalinka continues. "I do not much believe that -- I am the cause of my own problems. But I can see where they are coming from, now...all of the schooling, and the punishments for small things...they tell me I can do much better without relying on him."

Bowie continues to listen and to eat. His understanding of family is dim, as Kalinka well knows, and so there is little he can really say.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "Should I be terribly worried about a guy in a huge trenchcoat and fedora that smells like a trashheap and is dropping screws? He seems fairly docile."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "It sounds to me as though you might be more concerned about his power core rupturing."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "He seems fairly well put together, aside from the whole being made out of junk bit. Though it's fairly clear he's on someone else's side, considering his first words to me. I think I'll leave him be, though. He's not hurting anyone, and it's a free country, right?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "Someone else's side..."

"I love him a lot, Bowie, and I do not believe the bad things they say about him. In this case, though, I think they have valid point. He has issues, and...I make those issues worse. Someday I would like to talk to him again, but...maybe it should not be for a very long time." Kalinka muses over this last point silently, as she eats the last few spoonfuls from her bowl.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "Offhand guess is Maverick, unless Wily REALLY had a quality-control drop. The guy sounds like a trash compactor when he moves around."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "...that sounds like Junk Man, vaguely."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "... Junk... Man?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "Affirmative."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "... Damn. Now THAT'S scraping the bottom of the barrel."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor transmits, "Excuse me?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "Nevertheless. Is he causing any problems?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "Nope. Seems quite content to just sit and have a drink."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "What is your current location?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "Tetsuo's."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac sighs. "...well... keep an optic on him. It would likely do no good to start a battle there, but the fact that we are at war is inescapable."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "And if you need any assistance, hesitate not to contact me. I can be there quickly."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "He doesn't seem to want to fight. Even accepted an offer of a drink. I'll see if I can find out what he wants, and if it's just a drink like it seems to be, I'll leave him alone. War or no war, I'm not gonna start a fight in a civilian joint over a beer."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "Affirmative."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Mac transmits, "He seemed docile enough last time I had contact with him, though that was on Eurasia."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor transmits, "Oh, for goodness sakes. He -is- a docile individual, and actually quite friendly."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor transmits, "I happen to have conversations with him on a semi-regular basis. And -yes-, I have stopped him from committing a crime before."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "Good to hear. I'm off-duty, and I'd like to have a chance to enjoy dinner. Besides, anyone who smiles like that when he's offered a beer needs to unwind and get some rest."

"Ah have no idea whut it's like t'be a father or a son," Bowie ventures, "so Ah can only imagine whut it's like to be his or your place. But it sounds t'me like ya love each other so fiercely ya'd do anythang t'protect each other. Even if it's the wrong thang."

Kalinka nods. "To be honest, I would have done same thing for you," she admits. "It does not make it right, it is just the plain and simple fact, you know? When nothing else matters at the critical moment, that is love."

"Love sure is complicated," says Bowie.

Kalinka nods, smiling slightly. "There are no easy answers," she admits. "But there is always time to learn a new lesson, when we pay attention and seek it."

Bowie returns his attention to the dumpling soup, eating thoughtfully for another long moment. "We've learned a lot a lessons this past year, Ah hope..."

"Yeah, I think so," Kalinka replies, nodding in calm agreement. "Becoming mature is a really long road. But I do not want you to worry for me, dear. God is working in my life, and so is my family. If I must go to prison, I will. I am learning that no matter the outcome, it was meant to be, and I will make the very best of it."

"Ah don't thank Ah can jus stop wurryin about ya. Comes with mah lovin ya so much." Bowie tilts the bowl forward a bit to scrape out the last of the broth. "Ah'm sorry fer scarin ya when Ah shut mahself down...Ah didn't know whut else to do."

Kalinka nods, then says softly, "I never meant to hurt you so badly...I hope you can forgive me for that pain, someday."

"Ah'm tryin to," Bowie states quietly. "If Ah didn't thank Ah could, Ah wouldn't be here."

(A while later, Bowie goes to stargaze.)

Eurasia - Skydeck

A park resides at the top of this station, which is as open to space as any place can get. Massive transparisteel windows cover this area, and pleasant grass and trees are maintained by careful gardening staff. It's very pretty, and not as dark as one might expect for a place that's exposed to space.

Barrage Raptor [Unarmored] [RF] Spin Cougar [Casual] [RF]

Prismatic Spider [Labcoat] [RF] Castle In the Sky

Lift Down <LD> leads to Eurasia - Empire Central Square.

Bowie reclines on a clear spot of ground, arms tucked under his head, all the better to see the stars sparkling above him. Lying next to him is a halfway unfolded star chart, which he's probably all but forgotten about by now.

Muzak on the turbolift. How fitting, Spin smirks a bit, adjusting his coat and something hidden in one of the interior pockets - yes, even when he's in casual wear, Spin keeps his spinstaff at hand. Metal Shark taught him that much, albeit at the cost of his arms. Oh well, now's a time for relaxation. He ponders.. stargazing, or maybe some tinkering?

Prismatic Spider steps out of the turbolift with Spin. Unlike Spin, he carries no weapons. He has only the bare minimum of equipment, a dangerous liability in this mad world of war... But this is a place of peace. Stepping out onto the grass, Prismatic looks out over the park, smiling as his own glimmer of light joins the eternal dance above. "How pretty. Would you believe this is my first time here?"

Spin steps out, taking a deep breath. He stares at Prism's question, and replies, "No, I wouldn't. Not unless you said so." Well, at least he doesn't have to shield his deep yellow optics anymore from that refractor.

Bowie doesn't notice the Repliforce contingent at first, lost in either contemplation of the heavens or in self-examination. If anyone is paying attention to such things, his guns peek out from their holsters on his belt. Wouldn't be a proper gunslinger without them, would he? Try not to trip over him on your way past.

Prismatic Spider continues into the park, watching stars and ground as he continues forward... And notes the presence of another stargazer. Approaching Bowie, he sits on the ground nearby and comments, "The stars are nice tonight, aren't they?"

The Replikitty sits nearby and opens a sort of tablecloth, fanning out his weapon on it, flicking out claws (which have apparently been modified slightly, as the tips are glinting unevenly) and going about tinkering with one part of his Spinstaff. Strange thing to do to relax, but this is what he does.

Bowie hms? as he's snapped out of his thoughts, gaze quickly turning from the stars to the sudden arrivals. "Uh. Yeah." Articulate as ever.

Prismatic Spider chuckles. "How are things, Bowie? Well, I trust?" He glances over to Spin's activities, pondering what he's doing, but saying nothing.

Tweak, tweak, tweak...simple adjustments for a simple concept. Spin seems absorbed in it, but he recognizes the name, and looks up. "..Bowie? The name's vaguely familiar."

Bowie considers how to answer that question for a moment, and finally decides upon honesty. "No."

Prismatic Spider arches an opticridge, leaning back to lie on the ground perpendicular to the gunslinger. "Anything you want to talk about? Maybe I can help."

The cat blinks. "Doesn't sounds good.." He lets Prism front the conversation, though.

Part of the problem may already be guessed - one need to have only turned on the evening news in the past couple of weeks. Bowie's gaze turns back towards the stars above them, not answering right away. After a long moment of silence, he says "Ah dunno. Ah don't want to trouble ya."

Prismatic Spider smiles. "I know about her troubles... It will all work out, I'm sure. Abernathy won't let it go that far."

Nodding sadly, Spin doesn't say anything else, as Prism's beaten him there. He goes back to his work, but can't help but wonder about certain things.

Bowie doesn't smile. He doesn't seem to share Prismatic's confidence. "It's jus so hard t'watch, knowin ya can't really do anythang, an knowin thangs can't ever be the same."

Prismatic Spider nods, though Bowie can't likely see him at the angle he's at. "I know. We all care for her. I've helped her myself. Nothing ever stays the same as it is... Instead, learn from it and try to make something better."

"We all want to see her safe," encourages Spin from off to the side.

Bowie sighs, closing his eyes. There are times words fail him, and so he says nothing.

Spin is silent, too, for a while. "But if it doesn't end up going well... that's still no reason for you to stay behind."

Prismatic Spider says nothing for a while too, then asks, "Still looking to have that work done, Bowie?"

Bowie says quietly but resolutely, "Ah'm not jus goin t'leave her." He untucks a hand from behind his head to rub the bridge of his nose. "...Ah dunno, Prismatic. Ah'm havin second thoughts."

Spin's ears perk, and he looks over to Prism silently. Hmm... when he goes back to his work, he starts closing his weapon up. He can do that later, in his workshop, but for right now he might want to listen.

Prismatic Spider hums. "Really... Worried about what you might find out?"

That's enough of a cue for the replikitty, who winces. "Oh... ouch..."

Announcement: Data taps the mic, and says in a very monotone voice, "It's 03:00 AM and Duo still doesn't know what's going on. But you can, if you read your +org/orders and boards 2 and 3."

"A bit," Bowie admits. "Ah know about me frum mah journals, but that's not the same as rememberin...plus..." he hesitates for a moment. "...some other thangs that've come up."

Prismatic Spider nods, still staring up into the endless night above. "I see... Well, it's your choice. If you deicde to go through with it, I'll be more than happy to help in any way I can... And don't worry. Kalinka will be all right... Have you tried to talk to her?"

Journals... that reminds Spin. He hasn't written in his own for some time. He should get back into the habit. He lays down, unintentionally next to Prism, also looking up at the stars.

Bowie's eyes remain closed. "Yeah, we've talked. Still not sure whare we're goin though." He moves his freed hand back under his his head "....in spite a whut she did, Ah can't stop lovin her. Ah told her that."

And so the three of them lie there, stargazing as they talk. Prismatic continues. "Understandable. you two will find out a way, I'm sure of it... Have you tried talking with Abernathy?"

As time goes on, though, Spin grows less and less responsive.. until it seems he's actually fallen 'asleep'. One of these days, he thinks, he needs to go take up Fusion Phoenix on that admission of the atrium's beauty and try sleeping there once. for now, though, the skydeck is safe and comfortable enough.

Spin Cougar has disconnected.

"Nope," Bowie answers. "No reason. Ah'm jus some fool Hunter stupid enough t'be her boyfriend." There is a bitter undertone to those words.

Prismatic Spider hums. "It is a tough decision, I'm sure, considering the situation. I'm surprised everything had worked out so well between you two thus far. I'm sure Abernathy would see your point of view, or if nothing else, you both can come out of it with knowledge of the others' viewpoints and reasons for their actions."

Bowie says, a trifle more sharply than intended, "She broke the law. Ah unnerstand that."

"Yes." Prismatic continues gazing, wincing inwardly at the tone but not showing it outwardly. "But as he is the Director of Interpol, and the aggrieved party, he may be able to be convinced to drop the charges for the sake of all involved."

"Thank it's a bit late fer that," says Bowie. "Even if wanted to, the law might not let him. Or the media."

Prismatic Spider says, "It's worth a shot, isn't it?"

Bowie doesn't answer for a long moment, considering the question. Yes, Mr. Director, please don't press charges against Kalinka because she's my girlfriend and I love her very very much? She only did it because you repeatedly blew off her requests to stop hitting on her father? Somehow he doesn't think that argument is going to fly.

Prismatic Spider is a nut sometimes, what do you expect?

"Meybe," Bowie grudgingly concedes. "But Ah'm no orator."

Prismatic Spider says, "Neither is Abernathy. Really, it couldn't hurt to try."

"How well do ya know him?" Bowie asks.

Prismatic Spider says, "Reasonably well. He's a haunted, somewhat nihilistic and cynical one, but his daughter seems to be tempering that. He wants the world to be more just. but is also interested in what is right.""

Bowie nods a bit at that. At least they have a few things in common. "No harm in talkin, Ah guess."

Prismatic Spider finally sits up, looking over to Bowie. "Don't lose hope in things, Bowie. It's much of what keep us through these chaotic times... My time is up, sadly, so I must return to the Labs. Contact me if you need me, Bowie. I'll do what I can for you... And as I said, my offer of assistance is still open."

Hope is one of the things in very short supply these days. "Thankee, Prismatic," Bowie says quietly but no less sincerely.

"May you have a peaceful time." Prismatic then stands, and leaves Bowie to his ruminations.