Lighthouse
Taharial sighed when she watched the shuttle leave, she looked around at the emptiness around and started to walk to see if anyone was awake. They had moved all the injured down to the beds so they had somewhere to rest. She hoped to find that at least one other person was awake so she didn't have to wait out her time by her self, as she headed downstairs she realised that the stairwells would be perfect places to set up traps for anyone who came to attack the lighthouse while the injured were here.
Taharial smiled as she walked the halls checking each room for someone who was awake and sighing when each room turned up to be either empty or the occupants where asleep. She sighed again and looked around "Hello is anyone here and awake?" she tried to be as quiet as she could not to wake up anyone who needed rest "I could really use a friend right now, as the others left us to take back the ship."
Aikiko sat in the station communication Centre, finishing up transmitting a message on a very little known frequency. Just a few who knew of it, would surely come and investigate. Hearing someone moving about the station. Her ears swivelled towards the familiar sound of Taharial.
~~I am in the communication centre. ~~ Aikiko sent the telepathic message to Taharial as she leaned back her seat after setting the scanner to monitor frequencies and to lock into the more actives one.
After awhile a soft chime was heard throughout the station coming from the kitchen. Aikiko frowned as she got up and left the Communication Centre to move to the kitchen. "How is the patients doing?" She yelled out so her voice could carry through the quiet station.
Taharial felt a weird buzzing in her head and smiled, someone was awake and trying to telepathically communicate with her, she knew the feeling from Tsuguka and sighed, she hated not being able to hear the communications of the others in this way. She smiled slightly though "Sorry I can't hear that type of message but I am glad to know you are awake" she giggled to herself and went around the patients checking that all was okay.
She heard something come from the kitchen and heard the familiar voice of Aikiko "Oh it was you Aikiko, well is that you in the kitchen and the patients are doing fine" she got a chill run down her spine and walked to the kitchen, she realised that the voice of her friend didn't come from this way and she had to protect them all, she used her communicator to try and warm Aikiko "There is something in the kitchen, can you come down and provide some assistance?"
"Yeah me. I just arrived." She moved over to the automated dishwasher to unload it and put away the freshly cleaned pots and dishes everyone had used. She had used another route to get to the kitchen. "Its safe." talking via communicator so she wouldn't have to yell.
Taharial felt a little stupid as she walked into the kitchen, she laughed "I am sorry Aikiko, I didn't know you were in here, so um why are you in here?" she looked around the room and started to checking for any non spoiled food that she could feed the patients "Oh by the way they other will be back when they have the ship, so hopefully that will be sooner than later."
She smiled lightly "So um Aikiko, since it is just us not injured, wanna talk about our works, or something" she shrugged not really knowing that much about Aikiko excepted that her and Tsuguka were good friends from what she saw. "I am sorry if you find this weird, I am not really that good at the moment, I am a bit nervous and haven't been getting good sleep" she thought to herself a moment "And before you get any ideas, my lack of sleep isn't because of Tsuguka."
Aikiko looked at Taharial. "The way you was on the battle field with them roaches?" She gave Taharial a shrug. "Some people have a more of a conscious that any violence causes them sleepless night. I was glad that you had some sense to drag Blackberry to the ship. I would've never been able to make the second trip. I would became Roach food." Giving Taharial's shoulder a squeeze. "I wouldn't worry about it to much. You will get used to it."
Taharial smiled slightly at the girl next to her "Thank you, but it isn't that either, it all started when I went home, now I have nightmares about my old self and stuff I want to forget" she looked away "I wasn't always interested in helping people when I was younger, hehe if I could of seen what I would turn into I think I would of ran away and never looked back." She laughed sadly "But I am a better person now then I ever was and am more happy in healing bullet holes then making them" she hands Aikiko the gun she was carrying "I think this will be better with you then me.
Aikiko looked at Taharial for a few long moments. "Naw... You better keep it. As long as you know when to stop shooting. Things will be fine. Even a doctor need to be willing to kill in the patience defence." She stepped back from Taharial, refusing to take her weapon.
She pulled out a container that had some food in it. "Here eat this. It make you feel better. As for Tugs. It is a good thing you and her are good friends willing to share quarters. Maybe it will loosen her up a bit." Placing the container with food near Taharial. "Bring balance to the both of you."
Taharial smiled and split the food into two for them "Here have some as well, you look like you need some food as well" she giggled and fluttered her wings "Well I am glad you seem okay with me having a gun." She sighed and looked down then started to eat "Tsuguka means a lot to me, I believe she means a lot to you as well" she looked around he kitchen and then at Aikiko "I have been wondering, did I steal Tsuguka from you, I mean you knew her longer than me?" she looked down again "Sorry I get like this on no sleep."
She sighed and shuddered again "I think I can trust you with my secret, why I kept the name butcher, well it was a name that was accepted at the academy because of how bad my first practice surgery was, but I had the name before that as well" she fidgeted where she stood and sighed "I um I used to get money for working in bars and that, you know, as a lady who would get up and shake it..." She blushed crimson and giggled "Well I was doing that to pay for living by myself after some messy stuff at home" she looked away "somethings happened I was taken by a gang, you know what normally happens to people" she looked down and a tear fell to the floor "lets say that was the first time I used a blade to get out of a bad situation, the gang members that are still around call me the butcher."
Aikiko gave a soft laugh at hearing how Taharial defended herself against an unwanted advances. Whether the gang succeeded or not. At least they had to earn it. "Angel... Defending oneself against unwanted attention is nothing to be ashamed of. Be proud that you earned the respect of them. That don t make you a victim. It makes you a predator just like the Tsugs, me, and the others. Its knowing when to put down the weapons of violence that makes us different from the criminals, psycho and other undesirables. It happened. Learn from it. and move on. I bet you was the sexiest thing on stage." Aikiko gave Tarahial a rare smile. "We all learn the hard way sometimes. It makes us who we are. For better or for worse."
Aikiko reached out again and gave Taharial another shoulder squeeze. "Don t let it get to you. We all lose our maidenhood at one time or another. Some have a choice and others..."Shrugs, "You are here with people care about you. The help that you can provide."
Taharial sighed and rubbed her arm lightly "I know I can tell people, I just don't like that part of my life, when I was doing it, I loved it but know I realise what I was doing I hate it.." she sighs "but the nightmares are me on the Eucharis, blood everywhere.... me giggling.... m killing..." She looked away "I am sorry, it is just bad dreams but I wonder if that was what I was like then, taking enjoyment in it and all... it makes me sick thinking that I liked that."
She shook her head and giggled "Maybe if your lucky and I am drunk I could give you and Tsugs a show of my old self" she thought for a minute "um there may be a video or two of me on stage, don't ask, it was under the name fallen angel." She laughs "Well I had bright pink wings, bright pink lipstick and nothing else" she laughs harder "just remembering it is funny, how did I ever think that was better than my red look for a fallen angel I have no idea."
Aikiko laughed with Taharial, "You will be fine." Giving Taharial a hug. "I will definitely look them vids up. Or get someone else to do so for me. I think pink would be a more becoming colour for you." She settled in the seat across from Taharial. "With Tugs being red and all."
Taharial giggled "next shore leave then I will do that, and if you get me drunk enough I may show you some of my old moves" she smiles "are you going to eat your fill of the food Aikiko, plus can I be the one to tell Tsugs, I don't want her finding out from someone else the girl she cares for was a entertainer among other things." She giggled again and looked at the gun "I always preferred blades to guns, I am thinking of buying one for me, then coating it in that acid the Rixx have in their body, maybe be useful in a battle" she was trying to steer the conversation away from her younger exploits and to something new.
Aikiko pushed her bowl of the food to Taharial, "Maybe you can make some. They brought back two bodies of them." She looked at Taharial and snickered a bit in a pleasant way. "Our Ship Angel of Mercy is an Erotic Dancer!" then openly laughed, She shook her head as she pictured Taharial on stage wearing a little frilly apron at her waist being reviled upon the spreading of wings and pasties with sparkly tassels and the nurses cap at a jaunty angle. She absentmindedly licked her lips. "Yup definitely a sure fire way to give the incentive to heal quickly!"
Taharial saw the look on Aikiko's face and sighed "I am taken now doll face, I am all Tsugs" she pushed the food back to Aikiko and sighed "lets change the topic before you flood this place with drool shall we?" She smiled and looked at the girl "So tell me about yourself Aikiko?" she smiled more and moved closer "I hardly know you, or any of the crew, I am normally locked in the Med Lab doing my own thing, and yea, I dissected those two rixx and found a way to synthesise their acid, it is quite strong though so need a good blade to use it on, have any information to help me out."
"It should not effect metal. The Samuras swords were unaffected by their blood or any metals." Aikiko spoke, resuming her usual demeanour of stoicism. "My area of expertise is explosive. In making, placing and if needed, to disarm them." She paused a bit to think "I
have learned a lot in my travels."
Taharial smiled and listened "yea I remember hearing that, so you are a bomb girl, it sounds amazing to be, were as at the moment I am just a medic, I hope one day I can be a very good and save everyone who comes to me without fail" she looked at Aikiko "but that may just be some dream for me." She smiles "Now please eat, you were one of the injured, if Hanako and the others found out I wasn't taking care of you, I will be in trouble."
"I think she don't like me much. I don't fawn over her like the others." Aikiko spoke softly, "In my own weird way, I respect her. But not in the Yamataian way like most of the other Nekos do." She smiled at Taharial. "I will tell her that you had me hogtied and force fed me. I had my fill, so eat and keep up your strength. You are more of an asset than me."
"I am no asset just a medic and I don't eat that much anyway, unless I am starving, the things that have happened have just made it so I am definitely not hungry for anything" Taharial spoke calmly and giggled then sighed "I will remember to get you a vid of me dancing in the old days, that will definitely lift your spirits a lot." She laughs "Or should I give my copies to Tsuguka to see what her reactions to the old me were" she had fallen back into her memories but she shook her head "Sorry been a lot of thinking time while here, I am normally doing a lot while talking, my mind is going places, can you forgive me?"
"No worries, I like to listen," Aikiko gave another soft smile. "Save it for Tugs." Since she didn't like to see food go to waste. She ate it quickly.
Taharial smiled and giggled again "A ship full of cute and beautiful girls and I fall for the one with commitment issues" she sighs "Sounds like it is something bad, but I actually am super happy with Tsugs, she has her own way to deal with everything and I find her great to cuddle with." She shook her head "hey can you do rounds with me, it is really easy just check on the patients and tell me if anything is weird."
Aikiko shrugs, "sure." She stands up and disposes the dishes in their proper place to be washed. "Where do you want to start? Top and work our way down?"
Taharial smiled and patted the girls head "That is what I was thinking, too bad I don't have my nurses costume to hand, you could of worn it for this and maybe healed some people while they looked at you." She laughed and stood up "Lets go Nurse Aikiko" she smiled and started to walk out the kitchen "Blackberry is in a room by herself but everyone else is in a room with two of them, so best thing to do is go to them and each of us takes one person then go to the next room, we do blackberry last."
"Naw, I just sell myself and forget the chase. Its quicker and no regrets..." Aikiko spoke bluntly as she tagged along with Tarahial. "Only if you wear one also, Doc Angel. or is that just wings?" Giving Taharial a lewd lustful look, then giggled, making the After You, hand movements.
Taharial smirked "Darling if I wore my old Nurse outfit, I think I would kill more people from heart attacks or something" she laughed and giggled "Well I am sure if Tsugs were here, all three of us could play doctor" she winked as she walked past Aikiko to the first room and smiled "you take left I take right?"
Aikiko impulsively gave Taharial a quick hug and moved to take the right side of the corridor to look at the patients. She kept pace with Tarahial on her side of the corridor in case Taharial wanted to talk more.
Taharial didn't talk while they checked the patients and it was only after checking blackberry that she spoke again "Well everyone is healing normally, so no worries" she giggled. "Now we can do what we want until the gang come back" she looked around "hmm not that much to do around this place is there, I guess we could go around and gather things that may be useful for us, like medical stuff and maybe some other things, as this place seems really abandoned."
She smiled and hugged Aikiko "thank you for listening to me while I got my past off my chest" she smiled "it is good to have someone to talk to, there is one more thing, I was thinking of modding my body with some of that Nightmare type body "see if I could get some of the stuff that you Nekos and Minkans can do, like telepathic communication, or I may just get some done next stop to help out with all of that stuff."
"No problem," Aikiko nodded and looked thoughtful, "Ever try to get a back up like us Nekos can?" Looking curious at Taharial as she lead the way to where everything was stored. "From what I read and overhead. These stations were built for ship that broke down and to give them a place to stop while awaiting rescue or fix their ships."
Taharial sighed "I want to stay how I am though, if I get a back up and I die, I will only have a Neko or Minkan body that I can go in, I like my body and I don't want to change, but I do want to hear what people try to tell me in private." She shook her head and nodded "Well do you think there is anything that we could take on the Eucharis that can help us in any way?"
She sighed "I don't think we actually should take anything, this placed help us, I think it will actually be better to leave everything then take stuff, what if some else gets stranded here."
Aikiko nodded. "yeah. Just leave the place clean for the next people that have to use it." She moved through storage area and taking note that Mitsuka had everything very neatly arranged after she had gone through and trashed the place for ration for the Eucharis Crew to enjoy a hot meal.
Moving on and coming to the washing facilities that the Station had supplied and began to clean up the mess that others had left behind. The towels were placed in a cart to be washed; putting back the soaps and shampoos in their slots when they had arrived. It was scut work, but those that followed would be more appreciative to come to a clean place. Even if it was those that serviced these stations.
Taharial moved with the girl helping to tidy the lighthouse for the next group of stuck people as she smiled and cleaned up she looked at Aikiko and giggled "You are an interesting woman you seem to know a lot" she smiled "What do you think we should do after cleaning up, we could do some exercise or just chat more."
She smiled sweetly "would we could try and teach each other, you teach me a little about bombs and I teach you about mending wounds?" she giggled again back to her normal happy self.
"I have been around a bit. I was not always Star Army." Aikiko paused for a bit looking thoughtful. "See a recognizable bomb, Run and get everyone as far away from it as possible. Use a landline to call for help..." She stopped talking, looking a bit unfocused for a few seconds.
Taharial smiled at her friend "I will teach you how to sort out common wounds that can gotten, what to do with poison and acids as well" she smiled and waved her hand in front of Aikiko "Hey there sweetness, wake up we are on watch and can't be unfocused.
"Yeah." Aikiko focused again. Looking at Taharial. "I am fine. where was I?" She seamed impatient as if she wanted to be elsewhere at the moment. "You was saying something about poisons?"
Taharial smiled and went over what she said again and smiled as the two got to work on teaching each other a little of their trade so they can help out the other one if needed.
