"You will be demoted to rank Private. Your charge is to tend to those awakened by your bombings. I will be keeping a close eye on you. I am ordering your transfer to the Titan effective immediately."
"And what of the Neptune?"
"Davis will assume the role of Acting Captain, and he'll take her back to New Zion."
"...Understood."

QuiDormit stared at the bulkhead of the Neptune's crew quarters unable to sleep. He kept replaying the scene above him over and over in his mind. He'd gotten off light, he knew that. He had so many unanswered questions: could they trust him again? would they always be watching him, questioning his judgment, questioning his motives..?

He rubbed his hand on the back of his head absentmindedly while his thoughts carried him away. The Titan would reach them soon, and the transfer would take place. His crew understood his need to be alone. He swung his legs over the side of the bunk into a sitting position. He turned his hands palm-up and stared at them for some time before looking around the quarters. The room looked completely foreign to him. What once held great comfort now seemed to be a place unknown to him. The walls were alien.

He felt a great remorse for the actions he had taken. Once in a while, a wave of uncertainty washed over him.

Was stopping the right thing to do?
Of course it was. Could you live with yourself if you kept going?
It was working. There were results.
But at what cost? A cost that you cannot pay.
You have promises to keep. You have duties to fulfill. You've made commitments, and you do not back out of commitments you've made. You're an honorable person.
How could I have let it get this far?
Why did I let it get this far?
Will they ever accept me again?
Am I ready for this?

He felt awful for the things he'd done, however, his will took no damage. He was still as committed as ever to ending the war... He kept reminding himself of that.

He now had to make himself accessible to those he forced awake. He also had to make himself available to The Trust; he needed to have their faith in him once more. He knew that he would pay a great price to regain their trust, and whatever the cost, he would regain their trust. He took a deep breath, exhaled very slowly and buried his head in his hands. He had a lot to atone for. What of the dead? How will I make it up to them- their families? That thought hadn't occurred to him until now. One thing at a time, he reminded himself. He sighed deeply as he stood up and began to gather his things. The Neptune had been his home for the last seven months. He chuckled grimly to himself and mused, At least I'm not going back to a hoverbarge...

Just then, the ship's intercom system crackled.
"Kiddo," Davis affectionately quipped, "it's time."
QuiDormit sighed again as he picked up his duffel from his bunk and slung it over his shoulder. He looked around the quarters one last time, stood very tall with his chest out and his head held high, and he slowly walked to the cargo bay ramp. He paused at the ramp and looked back at his crew, smiled, and said, "I'll see you guys in New Zion, mm?" He then turned and descended the ramp, headed for the behemoth shining star of Zion's fleet, the Hovercraft Titan.

-----===-----

A hollow metallic *clunk* rang out underneath QuiDormit's boots as he traversed over to the Titan in the dark maintenance shaft. The only light in the tunnels came from the electric blue glow of the hoverpads of the three nearby craft. QuiDormit saw that the Devildog was in the air nearby, ready to fend off any potential attackers. It was barely fifty yards to his new home, but it felt like miles. From the distance, he could see RedBindi standing at the ramp to the Titan, arms crossed and eyes focused on him. As he neared his Commander, he took a deep breath and shook his head to clear the cobwebs. In the pit of his stomach, a ball of anxiety formed and grew until it spread over him out to his fingertips.

"Hello, QuiDormit."
QuiDormit dropped his bag and snapped to salute RedBindi, and she responded in kind.
"Hello, RedBindi."
"Welcome your new home, the Titan." QuiDormit bent down to pick up his bag and smiled weakly at RedBindi.

RedBindi escorted QuiDormit through the ship, telling its tales as they slowly walked through. She showed him around to the different areas of the craft. She spoke with a deep affection. This wasn't just a ship, it was her home, her livelihood. He understood how she felt about the ship and his mind briefly drifted off to the Neptune. They came to the crew quarters, and RedBindi pointed out QuiDormit's bunk. He unceremoniously dumped his duffel onto the bunk, and turned to face her. His face showed a calm and accepting demeanor, but inside, he was extremely nervous. He knew what came next... He only hoped he was ready.

As they weaved through the ship, they came to a familiar room; a large circular room adorned with many ecto-chairs and the operator chair where Wheeler was seated, focusing intently on the screens before him. QuiDormit could swear that Wheeler was purposefully avoiding his gaze. He figured he'd be getting that treatment a lot. He exhaled sharply and walked over to Wheeler to formally introduce himself.

"Hey, it's good to meet you in person." QuiDormit reached out his hand toward Wheeler. Wheeler looked up, nodded in greeting, and said, "Kinda busy..." QuiDormit nodded, withdrew his hand, and produced two disks from his pocket. "Here... some things I wanted to keep with me." QuiDormit awkwardly handed Wheeler the disks. "Nothing major, just some code I've been playing around with... personal effects, you know. Do you mind loading these up for me?"
"Sure thing." Wheeler locked eyes with RedBindi, and they exchanged a glance that QuiDormit couldn't quite read, and then Wheeler turned back to his keyboard and began to type furiously.

QuiDormit turned to RedBindi who was watching the interaction intently, and she continued on the tour of the ship. Next, they came to the galley where most of the crew was gathered. QuiDormit looked into the room, and every eye was focused on him. He lowered his head slightly, reached back and rubbed his neck with his right hand awkwardly. The air in the room seemed so thick, he was sure that if he didn't suffocate, he would at least faint. He took a deep breath and took a step toward the crew. Every eye was looking at him, each pair loaded with questions, doubts, and scrutiny. He pushed past that and spoke softly.

"I... I don't really have much to say that hasn't already been said. There's nothing I can do to change my actions, but I am going to own up to them. Please... just give me time to prove..." He sighed deeply. "I'm just asking for another chance. If that's too much to ask, I understand." Some of the heads in the room nodded, and others remained motionless, focused on him. RedBindi spoke softly, and broke everyone from their silent thoughts. "Come on, there's one more thing you've got to see."

QuiDormit swallowed hard and followed her to the med bay. He was prepared for everything else, but he still had no idea how he would handle this.

A wave of nausea passed over QuiDormit. His stomach was tight, and he began to perspire. He wasn't ready to face the ramifications of his actions, but he didn't have a choice. He was surprised, because he's never felt this anxious about anything before. He never in a million years thought that facing the music would be this disconcerting. His mind was jumping from thought to thought as they walked down the corridor. He felt like they were moving very quickly. If RedBindi had turned to look at him at that moment, face pale, beads of sweat forming on his brow... she would have probably thought he was ill.

When they rounded the final bend to the med bay, QuiDormit could see the patients for the first time. A man of indeterminable age was sitting Indian style, hunched over the floor. He was wrapped in a heavy blanket, and was tracing his finger along the floor. There was no distinct pattern that QuiDormit could see, but the man stared intently at the invisible formations he was creating. Luminarium was also in the med bay, watching him closely and trying to see if she could glean anything out of the repetition. QuiDormit watched Luminarium bemusedly. He could tell that she was deep in thought, and was very focused on examining her patient. She suddenly realized others were in the room, and she looked up. She locked eyes with him for a moment then immediately turned away. "Er, hi," she squeaked out.
"Nice to meet you again." QuiDormit could see that his mere presence made her very uncomfortable.
"Yeah." Luminarium fidgeted uncomfortably.

Luminarium turned back to her clipboard and began to scribble away. QuiDormit looked around the room and noted that there were three others. Two appeared to be sleeping, though far from soundly, and the third was curled up in the fetal position on the makeshift bed. QuiDormit's heart sank into his stomach and his arms felt impossibly heavy. He swallowed forcefully and looked back to RedBindi.
"Who's your cheif medical officer, Red?"
"You're lookin' at her." She grinned slightly as she said it. QuiDormit was going to apologize for the burden he's obviously caused her, but he thought better of it. He turned his attention back to the man and watched for a moment longer.

RedBindi crossed her arms and stared at QuiDormit. He looked over his shoulder and caught her gaze. She looked at him with amusement, almost playfully. He expected her to be angry, but she seemed more like a lioness watching one of her cubs play with its food; she was fascinated. She cocked her head at him in a motion he took to mean, well, what the hell are you waiting for?

QuiDormit stepped into the room and crouched down in front of the man without the slightest clue how to proceed.

-----===-----

QuiDormit opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by the man.
"Who are you?"
"Um, I'm... QuiDormit. I am going to be helping you out." The man's hand ceased to move, but he did not look up to meet QuiDormit's gaze.
"You think you can help me?"
"I'd like to try..."
"It's not like it's your fault. What do you care?" The man raised his head and locked eyes with QuiDormit. They stared at eachother for a moment before QuiDormit spoke.
"What's your name?" The man looked down and resumed tracing the floor.
"John."
"Nice to meet you, John. I'll see you soon." John sat and continued his patterning on the floor without acknowledging QuiDormit.

QuiDormit stood and RedBindi started walking out of the med bay. QuiDormit followed. Once they got out of earshot, she stopped walking, turned toward QuiDormit and said, "You know... That's the most he's said since we told him the Truth. You may be able to get some results out of him. I'm interested to see where this is going to go." QuiDormit was puzzled and raised an eyebrow as they continued silently down the corridor.
"Bindi?"
"Yeah?"
"Mind if I try to get some sleep? I didn't sleep at all last night..."
"Sure, go ahead. You're dismissed."

QuiDormit headed for the crew quarters in an effort to get a bit of shut-eye. He laid down on his bunk, stretched out, and quickly fell asleep.

(( :: Applauds:: Very well-done! I like! ))

Wind rustled his hair and caused his trench coat to billow as he soared near-weightless from rooftop to rooftop. Each time he landed with a heavy *THUD* on one rooftop and immediately sprang off to the next letting his thoughts run around aimlessly in his head. Weeks had passed, and things seemed to be getting a little easier. The Titan's crew was generally more at ease around him, and things seemed to be going well with his patients. QuiDormit spent his days taking care of his charges, performing his general duties on the ship, exercising, studying the vast navigational charts the Titan has amassed over the years, and he spent his evenings continuing his training within the simulation.

Now, he was just taking some free time to blow off some steam downtown, admiring the beauty of the simulation as he bounded over the buildings. He reviled in the time he had alone. He knew that his operator Wheeler was watching him closely, but that came with the punishment for what he'd done. Wheeler avoided QuiDormit at all costs; it seemed like everyone avoided him for that matter.

Wheeler watched closely as QuiDormit made his aimless rounds. "Just what is he up to, anyway? Wheeler quietly asked himself. "He's trying to relieve his greif." Wheeler jumped at RedBindi's intrusion on his thoughts, and she smiled slightly as she continued. "The Titan is headed back to New Zion. We've got to recharge and restock, we need to drop off the newpills, and the Council has called to talk to Qui."
"Oh yeah?" Wheeler raised both of his eyebrows at this news.
"Yes."
"They going to give him the works?"
"Does he know yet?"
"No, I'm going to jack in now to let him know."
"Good luck with that."

RedBindi opened her eyes slowly after materializing out of the hardline. "I'm in," she said into the receiver, and then hung it up in its cradle. She pulled out her cell phone, punched in a few numbers, and put it to her ear. The phone rang several times before the line connected and she heard QuiDormit's voice.
"Hey, Bindi."
"Hello, Qui. Do you have a minute?"
"Yeah." QuiDormit paused for a moment. "Where to?"
"Meet me at Peg's."
"Alright, see you there." RedBindi hung up her phone and headed to the rendezvous point.

RedBindi arrived first and found a seat in the back of the dingy greasy-spoon diner. She looked up as QuiDormit slowly strode through the front door, his head down slightly so that the brim of his fedora covered most of his face. She'd seen him walk around like this a lot lately. She could tell that he carried a great burden. She wondered how his guilt would affect him as an operative. She watched him with great interest behind her glasses. He took off his coat and hat, but left his mirrored glasses on and he slid into the booth across from RedBindi. He sighed deeply and they looked at each other for a moment.

A waitress in her mid to late 50's came over to take their order. She smelled of stale cigarettes and hairspray. Her face was drawn, and RedBindi could swear she muttered "not these freaks again." She looked to the waitress and ordered a coffee and then looked at QuiDormit. Still looking at RedBindi, he said, "Yeah, the same." He crossed his arms and leaned on the table.
"So what's up, Commander?"
"The Titan will be returning to New Zion within the next two weeks." She paused when she noticed the look of shock and concern on QuiDormit's face, then continued. "It's for a refuel stop, and we're going to drop off some of the newpills." QuiDormit nodded slightly and RedBindi went on.
"You've done a great job with them, you know." QuiDormit nodded again, but said nothing.

QuiDormit noticed that RedBindi's attention moved from him to the door, and her face lightened up. He didn't even have to turn around to know what the sudden change was. "Hey you," Fenshire's voice rang out as he slid in the booth next to RedBindi. She smiled and replied, "Hey yourself." He put his hand on her cheek and leaned in and kissed her softly before turning his attention to QuiDormit. "Qui." QuiDormit nodded in greeting and said, "Hey, Fen."

Fenshire smiled and sat back in the booth and said, "So what are we talkin' about?"
"I was just telling QuiDormit that I thought he was doing a good job with the newpills."
"Oh yeah, Qui. Things seem to be going as well as can be."
QuiDormit bowed his head slightly. "I'm worried about John. He's getting worse every day."
"Qui," RedBindi said softly, "you can't expect them all to survive. What they've been through... Most people can't handle the Truth when given a choice, let alone when they're thrust into it." QuiDormit couldn't lift his head to face them, he still felt awful for the path he had taken. He was conflicted, though. He knew that on some level, it was the right thing to do. He did it to incite a riot within Zion. To make people move. To give them purpose. To end this war. In that regard, it worked well. The path he had chosen, however, bore down on him. He didn't realize how hard relentlessly taking lives would be.

"Qui?" Fenshire asked as he observed QuiDormit sitting slumped forward in the booth, his mind obviously racing. "You OK big guy?"
QuiDormit looked up at Fenshire, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm OK."
"Look, Qui, you're one of the best operatives I've seen in my time. You've got heart. You're committed, and you know how to get the job done. Just don't ever pull any **** like that again."
RedBindi nodded in agreement and QuiDormit squeaked out a quiet apology. RedBindi sighed and said, "We know, Qui. Now, back to the reason I called you here. When you get back to New Zion, the Council wants to speak to you."
QuiDormit leaned forward in astonishment. He knew that he'd have to face his actions, but he'd never even seen the council before, let alone have to stand before them. "The Council?"
Fenshire nodded and RedBindi continued.
"Yes. I can tell you that they are satisfied with letting me handle your punishment, however, they will want an account from you directly." QuiDormit sighed heavily and said, "Yeah."

Just then QuiDormit jumped in his seat as his phone vibrated in his pocket, yanking him from his internal revirie. He looked at the display and saw that it was Wheeler. He instantly knew something must be wrong for his operator to call him directly instead of the craft's captain.. "Wheeler? What's up?"
"Qui, you'd better get back here. Something's going on with John... He's freaking out."

QuiDormit quickly let his company know what Wheeler had said and he immediately bolted for the nearest hardline. He got there, and quickly called Wheeler and was pulled from the system. As he slowly opened his eyes in his chair, he heard moaning and screaming coming from somewhere aboard the ship. As Wheeler extracted the spike from the back of his head, he sat upright and quickly ran to the galley where the newpills were. When he got there, he saw John huddled in a corner moaning and holding his head. QuiDormit could see that John was obviously pushing his hands into his temples with an extreme amount of force. His face was blood red, and his eyes were wide with terror. John looked absolutely frantic.

"Put me back, you *******! Put me back! I want to go home! I want to see my wife!" He was screaming, his voice scratchy and shaking. John knew the Truth, and he also knew that his wife was killed by the same bomb that brought him to the Real. Still, he screamed to see her again. He pounded his fists against the ship's thick steel walls, bloodying his knuckles. Luminarium stood by the door, watching in horror at the scene before her.
"Lum, we've got to sedate him now!" She hesitated at the doorway and John fell to the floor and began to seizure. "Lum!" She snapped out of her daze, ran over to one of the cabinets and grabbed a syringe and a small vial of clear pinkish liquid. She turned the vial upside down, inserted the syringe and began to prep it when John began to foam at the mouth. RedBindi came into the room and calmly asked, "What's going on?"

QuiDormit spun around at the sound of RedBindi's voice, and a wave of relief washed over him. He ran to her and said, "Bindi, John's gone into a seizure..." He rubbed his hands together anxiously. "I don't know what to do!"

"Just make sure he doesn't hit anything, but don't restrain him too much. Lumi, I'll need my med kit." Calmly she moved over to the seizing man to wait for the seizure to end. "He'll need oxygen and I'll need to quickly get an IV established in one of his ports in case he seizes again. However, if this continues much longer... I'll have to try the IV access while he's seizing."

QuiDormit rushed back over to John, and attempted to clear the direct area as much as possible. He moved a gurney and a table with medical supplies out of immediate reach of the shaking man. He did his best to help and stay out of the way of RedBindi and Luminarium as they worked to help John.

As the seizure ends RedBindi quickly inserts an IV into his left forearm port and begins administering normal saline. As the NS is run in she draws up five milligrams of a substance similiar to Valium while Luminarium and QuiDormit quickly place the man on oxygen. Carefully pinching off the IV tubing to prevent any more NS going in she administers the Valium, then unpinches the line to allow the NS to flush it into his system. "Hopefully that works..."

Luminarium headed off to tend to the other newpills as per RedBindi's orders. QuiDormit sighed again, relieved that John's tremors had finally subsided. He looked to RedBindi who was calm and collected. He wondered how often she'd dealt with this situation. He couldn't help but feel guilty, and he bowed his head slightly as his anxiety began to build.

RedBindi nodded to QuiDormit. "It happens, lets get him to the medbay for some supportive care. For now I think I'll keep him sedated."

"Should I just... lift him?"

She points to the gurney. "Lift him onto that, we'll wheel him the rest of the way."

QuiDormit quickly lifted the limp man up and set him down on the gurney. He was surprised at how differently seeing this in the real affected him. Seeing things like this in the simulation were a cake walk in comparison. His thoughts continued, and suddenly RedBindi snapped him out of his trance.

RedBindi could see the shock of the experience in the young operatives eyes, he was beginning to realize just how different things were here. It was a thought she couldn't quite let him dwell on yet, though in a few hours after the crisis was over she hoped he'd follow the path that thought opened up to him. "Qui. Forward movement would be a plus right about now."

QuiDormit reached up behind his head and rubbed his neck quickly, then pushed the gurney gingerly following closely behind RedBindi.

Once they reach the medical bay she directs QuiDormit to move John over to the central bed. "Over there will do just fine, Qui."

He pushed the unconscious patient over to where RedBindi indicated. He looked down at John for a moment before turning to face his Commander. "What else can I do?"

"Do you know how to set up any of this equipment?" She nodded towards the variety of cables, cords, monitors, etc around the bed.

QuiDormit scrunched his face awkwardly. He had no idea what to do with any of it. "Uh, no, not really."

She nods. "Then you're about to learn." She walks over to a set of four differently colored cords hooked into a monitor and picked up four little round pads and attached them to the end of the cords. "This is what we call a four lead ECG, it will give me the rhythm of his heart. She hands the leads to QuiDormit. They go in a simple sequence I tend to remember as salt, pepper, ketchup, lettace. Starting from the right arm area place the white lead, salt."

"Then move to the left arm and place the black lead, pepper, then move straight down the left side and where the bottom of the ribs are place the red lead, ketchup, and finally move over to the bottom of the ribs on the right side and place the green lead, lettace.

QuiDormit slowly and gently attached the leads, following RedBindi's directions. Once he finished attaching the final lead, he looked at her questioningly for further orders. Just as RedBindi was about to speak, John once again began to shake violently.

"****..." She quickly moved over to her medicine cabinet, again drawing up the Valium like substance and moved to the IV port, quickly adminstering it."

"****, what the hell?"

"I don't know yet. That should take effect quickly, but we need to get the rest of this equipment set up. Moving with the speed of practice she quickly hooked John up to the rest of the equipment.

QuiDormit put both hands on his head and sighed exasperatedly. He'd never witnessed anyone seize before, and it was not an easy sight to behold. He watched RedBindi move with extreme precision. He began to wish that he was better able to assist Bindi without needing to ask what the next step was.

As his seizing stopped she quickly looked over the various monitors, quickly assessing what they told her and moved to hook John up to further medications to take care of his racing, arrhythmic heart beat.

"Whatever is causing these seizures is affecting his heartbeat. I've got to get that under control before I can do much of anything else. His breathing is good, so far... Qui, keep an eye on that number in this monitor." She points to a percentage number on the second monitor. "I need to know if that drops below 95%, also keep an eye on his breathing, depth, rate, anything that looks different then his breathing right now I need to know about it."

QuiDormit watched RedBindi for a moment as she raced around the room gathering more equipment. He turned back to John, and watched him closely. QuiDormit bowed his head as he watched the man. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but QuiDormit knew better. The man's body was fighting to survive, and QuiDormit wasn't sure if he'd succeed or not. What the hell have I done? he thought to himself. This is all my fault. He didn't have long to dwell on it, however, because RedBindi called to him once more.

"How's he looking, Qui?"

"Uhh, he's... Well, he's looking stable, I guess."

"Stable's good for now. Go ahead and throw that blanket over him so he doesn't get cold. I've set him up and given him everything I can for now. He's going to be heavily sedated until I can figure out what's causing the seizures."

"OK." QuiDormit turns around and grabs a blanket from a nearby table and lays it over John. He gently put his hand on the unconscious man's forehead and whispered, "Hang in there, John..."

"I'll need to run some scans on him, after that... we'll just have to see what happens and get him to Zion medical ASAP."

"So we just wait and see?" QuiDormit realized that his shaking voice sounded a little more accusatory than he intended.

"Until I get the results from the scans and blood work, all I can do is treat the symptoms he's currently having. That's all anyone can do."

He nodded at RedBindi unable to find any words to say.

Suddenly the pair's attention was pulled back toward John. His heartrate was falling hard and fast, and the machine began to beep loudly.

"Dammit..." RedBindi quickly moved to a cart beside the bed and pulled out two hand sized patches, placing one on his upper right torso and the other on his lower left side. Grabbing in the draw again she pulled out a prefilled syringe and injected its contents into the IV line. "Hopefully that will stop that... if not I'll have to pace him."

As RedBindi worked, more alarms began to sound. "His breathing is slowing!" QuiDormit shouted. He rang his hands, waiting for the next order from the skilled medic.

She reached into the drawer again, bringing out an odd looking bag with a face mask attached to one end. "Place that mask over his mouth, narrow side on the nose. Make sure you form a good seal and once every eight seconds I want you to squeeze that bag, do it rather gently over about a second."

QuiDormit scrambled and placed the mask over John's mouth. He gently squeezed the bag for a second and then counted off to the next round. He was coated in sweat, though it wasn't particularly warm in the medical bay. In between counts, he would wipe the sweat from his brow as John's vitals fell lower and lower.

RedBindi worked frantically trying to stop the dropping vitals, giving him a fluid bolus to stop the decreasing blood pressure, medications to help his flagging heart rate and finally using a small shock sent through the pads to stabilize his heart rate, the pacing she was talking about earlier.

"Bindi...?" QuiDormit asked, unable to finish the question as to whether or not the man would make it through this ordeal.

She looked up at him, seeing the question on his face and unable to answer it. "I don't know, Qui... we need to get him to Zion medical, they'll be able to do a lot more then I can here."

"But we're so far out..." He sighed defeatedly and looked to John once again as he squeezed the bag to control his breathing. He whispered fiercely, "Come on John!"

"I'm going to have to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. Just keep breathing for him while I set all that up." She moved about the medbay, bringing over yet another machine and quickly setting its controls before grabbing the tube, handle and blade. I need you to give him several quick breaths right now." She says as she moves to the head of the bed and positions his head the way she needs it.

QuiDormit squeezes the bag quickly and in rapid succession. He watches closely as RedBindi prepares to intubate John.

As QuiDormit lift the bag away she inserts the blade into his mouth, using it to lift the bottom jaw up enough to see his vocal cords. With those in view she quickly slips the tube down his throat, watching it slip through the cords. With the tube in place she removed the blade, while keeping a firm hold on the tube, a procedure that lasts only a few seconds. "Take the mask off that bag and place the bag on the tube. Then I want you to hold onto the tube tightly while giving him breaths, I need to check the positioning of the tube."

QuiDormit pulls the apparatus apart, and hesitates for a moment, looking at John. He then gently connects the bag to the tube and holds it steadily in place while RedBindi checks the positioning. He once again resumes squeezing and counting. He sighed loudly once again.

Taking a stethoscope she quickly verifies the breath sounds in John's lungs. "Alright, I have good placement, lets get a tube holder on that tube and move him over to the vent." Reaching down she grabs the tube holder already set out and places it around the tube, the strap going around John's head and secures it in place. With that done she places him on the vent and watches as the machine takes over breathing for him.

QuiDormit takes a half step away and looks down at the scene in front of him. He looks at RedBindi who is still calm and composed. He, on the other hand, feels like a mess of nerves.

"We've done all we can, Qui. I'll have Vapes set a course for New Zion. Meanwhile you need to get out of here and work off some of that anexity."

QuiDormit slowly ran a hand through his hair, and nodded at his Commander. "Alright. I guess I'll go... do something." He turned to leave the medical bay, but stopped at the door. He turned around once more and looked at John. "I'm sorry, John." He then headed to the galley to exercise away his tension.

Credit:  RedBindi & QuiDormit

QuiDormit did his standard exercise routine on the ship, but still felt no better. He headed over to the operator's station and nodded in greeting to Wheeler. "Hey, man. What's up?"
Wheeler glanced up from his station and said, "Hey." QuiDormit still felt tense around Wheeler, but he hoped time would ease some of the awkwardness. He moved over to his ecto-chair and prepped himself to jack in.
Wheeler looked over, "What's on schedule for tonight?"
"Eh, just blowing off some steam after what happened with John."
"Gotcha."

QuiDormit finished tweaking his controls on the screen, and he laid back in the chair. Wheeler came over and before he inserted the neural jack into QuiDormit's port, he stated, "Neoteny is jacked in right now." QuiDormit raised an eyebrow an lightly shrugged his shoulders. Wheeler gripped the spike, inserted it in the back of QuiDormit's head and quickly hit the "Load" button on the terminal. He then quickly headed over to his station, inserted a disk, and started recording QuiDormit's actions in the codestream.

A short time later, QuiDormit called wheeler and told him he was jacking out. When QuiDormit's mind was once again returned to his body, he slowly opened his eyes. He gave the operator a look that he couldn't quite read. QuiDormit headed off to his bunk, and Wheeler quickly ran back to the operator's station. He pulled the disk and rushed over to the medbay where he knew he'd find RedBindi.

"Bindi, you should see this... Qui met up with Neoteny just a bit ago."
"He met him in the open while he knew you were watching?"
"Yeah."
"Then he must have wanted us to see this..."

RedBindi headed to a terminal and loaded up the disk. She watched intently to see just what QuiDormit was up to.

The feed was fuzzy for a moment, then snapped into focus. Not even a moment after QuiDormit had materialized from the hardline in Kaede, his phone rang. "Qui, I've got some time if you'd like to have that chat."
"Ok. Meet me at the Wutai sculpture." QuiDormit hung up his phone and headed to the rendezvous point.

QuiDormit was leaning on the Wutai Sculpture when Neoteny arrived. They bowed formally to eachother.

"Hey, Neoteny... I figured I owed you at least an explanation."
"Fair enough."
QuiDormit hesitated uncomfortably for a moment, and then continued. "I couldn't keep it up... I met some of the bluepills. It brought back some things from the past... I just don't have it in me to go to that extreme."
"Then you never should have."
"Yeah, I shouldn't have... I found myself searching historical files to find targets that would affect enemies personally. I was losing myself... losing the cause."
"It's not personal to me, Qui. That's part of what makes it possible."
"I know, that's why I had to cut out."
"But if you've decided to back out... I don't believ you ever really had the conviction necessary."
"Maybe, maybe not."
"That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I would rather you not been involved if it went against your beliefs."
"I know."

QuiDormit shifts his stance uncomfortably.
"I thought that the cause was greater than my beliefs. I still do... but I also can't live with myself if I continue."
"No cause is greater than a belief."
"You're right."
Neoteny watched QuiDormit with great interest as QuiDormit continued on.
"I don't know what the others are planning to stop you. I'm staying out of it. I've got enough to deal with right now as it is."
"They probably wouldn't let you have any hand in it anyhow."
"No, I suppose not."
"No offense, and pardon the irony... But you're probably not within the circle of trust right now. In either case, I don't really care what they're planning. I won't let them stop me."
"I've been demoted, stripped of my ship, and now I'm charged with the rehabilitation of the four Bindi found. It's the path I've chosen, however."
"As long as you have chosen it, and it feels correct."
"I'm actually sleeping now... That's as good a sign as any."
Neoteny shrugs as he says, "Maybe I've just gotten too used to insomnia."

QuiDormit looks down for a moment and lifts his gaze up to meet Neoteny's once again.
"I've destroyed all copies of the bombs and all materials I had... Figured I'd keep that from getting into anyone else's hands."
"I don't think you'd be around anyone looking to get their hands on them, but I appreciate the measure all the same."
"Well, the Neptune has been returned to New Zion. Didn't want to take

that chance."
"Well, I suppose that's true."
"Anyway, that's all I really had to say. I truly respect your will to get this done. It's just not for me."
"I respect that as well."
"Hopefully Bindi's plans pan out... if not, then I don't know what's next for me. I'm not giving up the fight."
"I only hope that the experience helped temper your beliefs..."
QuiDormit solemnly nods at Neoteny.

"We can all pray the plans to assault installations will pan out, but short of attacking the Machine city directly, I doubt they'll do little more than hinder them temporarily... Especially with the relatively low number of ships we're using."
"Many say the same about the bombs... Though I was there when Southern Richland destabilized."
Neoteny nods.

"As for the number of ships... I was hoping to get more people in Zion ralleyed for attack runs, but even the top operatives seem to be fine with the status quo. It's... a difficult time."
"I fear I will be dead by the time it would take to down the entire Matrix... Which is why I hope the Machines manage to pull their mechanical heads out of the ground and give up the war."
"I can't believe that even to this day, the cake-eaters are the most out against the bombings. It's as if the Machines truly don't care."
"To an extent. It's part of what I'm trying to show to the

Machinists... Though I've come to realize that I've been all too correct in stating that they've become blind followers without wills and without beliefs."
"It's quite true. And they call us the blind ones... Funny how that works."
Neoteny nods.

"I suppose that's how that train runs...I can't say I'm all too surprised."
"Yeah, well... maybe we can derail it soon enough."

There's a slight disruption in the feed, some kind of interference caused the audio and video to glitch out.

QuiDormit rubs the back of his head. "Though I also can't picture a truce..."
"Oddly enough, I have a hard time remembering it myself. Though it's only been a year..." Neoteny sighed and continued. "I look over some transcripts of things I've said years ago. Even just months prior to the war. I don't know if I can identify with that person anymore."

QuiDormit nods knowingly. "I was freed shortly after the war started back up. I spent a lot of time in New Zion before I was assigned to a hoverbarge.."
"I'd say you drew the short straw, but really, you just got the truth without the sugar coating we got for two lousy years."
"Yeah. I got the truth and I got worked like a mule while New Zion was getting its finishing touches. However, I wouldn't have traded it for anything."
"I'm sure it was a valuable experience. Must've been strange so soon after pod life, though."
"I just went where they needed me..."
"Zion should be glad that they awakened you."
"Not right now they're not. But that will pass."
"Believe me, you're in far shallower water than I am. The problem with me lies in that I've manage to accrue a spotlight, to an extent. Zion has played me up at key points. And now they've got to play me down. I'm sure it's difficult."
"Yeah, but that's all they ever do. Talk things up and talk them down."
"Essentially. It's what they did to Morpheus, and I expected no less."
"They haven't even said a word to me. No communications, no orders, nothing. Though the Council wants to see me next time we make a trip back to New Zion."
"I'm sure Bindi's radioed to them that she has you now, though... And given her record, I'm willing to bet they'll let her handle disciplinary action."
"Yeah, I guess."
"If they get their hands on me... If I set foot in New Zion... I'm almost bound to be jailed for life or sentenced to death..."

QuiDormit rubs his chin, apparently thinking, and speaks again. "One thing I can't get past... Before anyone, and I mean anyone started to move, started to stand up and talk about ending this war... was that you and I had to go to the lengths we did."
"No one on the streets bothers to stop, analyze, and react to the situation unless there's an explosion to force them. A simple mugging won't do."
"Well in that case, then my part in the bombings was successful. If for no other reason than it got people to pay attention."
"...I have told one other person..."

The feed cuts out once more, but only for a moment this time.

QuiDormit cocks his head sideways and then nods slowly.
"It's working."
"I believe it will take more than just that, unfortunately."
"Well yeah, but you have to start somewhere."

Neoteny nods. "That is why I must continue."

"I can't take part in that any more, but I can work on them from the inside... I can keep stirring the pot, as it were. I can help to unite us to stand up against these god **** machines."
"I do not believe I will have achieved the goal until everyone realizes their true beliefs... After all, there are quite obviously a few Merovingian operatives who need to realize that they are Cypherites."

Neoteny bows his head slightly to QuiDormit. "Your assistance is appreciated, so long as it is offered freely and within your own beliefs and not for any cause which lies outside their bounds. I don't want to see regret in you again."
"I still want to end this war, and I will risk my life to do so... I just can't do it using others anymore."
"That's fair. Both views are fair."

QuiDormit extends his hand out, and Neoteny grasps the soldiers shake hands.
"I have to go, but, Neoteny... Take care of yourself out there, man."

The feed cuts out and abruptly ends. RedBindi leans back in her chair and puts both of her arms up behind her head.

Credit:  Neoteny & QuiDormit

QuiDormit stood over the gurney and looked at John. He couldn't believe that after all that they had done, he didn't make it. Apparently, it happened while he was jacked in. He and everyone else were jacked in at the Shadrack's offices in the Matrix when he got the call from Wheeler. John had succumbed to his ailments while they were meeting with Vaala when evidence had turned up that she was a Machinist spy. As if that wasn't enough, he found out that Maeby was being transfered to the Titan and they were on their way to get her now. He knows where Maeby stands on his bombings, and she is still furious at him. More furious than everyone else it would seem. He slowly headed to the galley where the other newpills were located.

QuiDormit did his best to settle the others after the death of John. He was worried that he was doing more harm than good. Shaye, a girl in her late teens, seemed to still be disconnected with reality. Another had the same disconnection... her name seemed to be Iota. She was about five or six years old. Then there was Patricia. Patricia preferred to go by the name Braie. There was something odd about her. She had an evenness that made QuiDormit very uncomfortable. She reminded him of someone who's constantly planning her next move. He didn't mention his discomfort with her to anyone else, but he kept a watchful eye on her. Otherwise, things were pretty much the same.

Currently, he was bandaging the left arm of Shaye. She had recently begun scratching herself in her sleep. QuiDormit was concerned, especially after the recent death of John. While he was working on Shaye and trying his best to comfort her, he often felt like he was talking to a statue.

Suddenly, QuiDormit felt a severe pain in his side. A bright white flash covered his eyes. He felt as if his insides were twisting. He dropped to one knee and looked up to see Braie leaning over him. He looked at her pleadingly; pain was written all over his face. Suddenly, it dawned on him what had happened as Braie began screaming.
"You ******* bastard!"

QuiDormit grabbed her hand that was still holding on to the intruding object embedded in his side. He stood up with all of the strength he could muster, and spun her around with the same hand behind her back. He moved quickly and with such force, that he felt her wrist snap in his hand. She began to scream even louder. Just then, the crewmen of the Titan flooded into the hallway outside of the medbay to see what the commotion was. QuiDormit once again fell to the floor on one knee holding his side in pain. RedBindi immediately tended to Braie while Wheeler did his best to help QuiDormit move in to the med bay. Wheeler helped the large man get seated on a gurney. QuiDormit's vision became fuzzy, and everything slowly faded out as his eyes closed despite his best effort to keep them open.

The young doctor's hands were quick and precise. She was nothing more than a silhouette with a mask on next to the bright light she had on her patient but her small frame was familiar enough to anyone who knew her. She wove the sterilized needle in through the skin and out again, keeping the would closed and in place with another cold metallic tool. She glanced over at him. "You shouldn't be awake yet…" Her tone was matter-a-fact as she continued with her work.

QuiDormit looked up squinting, though the lights directly above his face were not terribly intense. He felt like he'd been hit by a truck. He took a slow breath and winced in pain when his diaphragm pushed against the wound. He quietly wheezed, "I guess I have a habit of breaking the rules."

Even behind the mask, a frown could be seen on her face as she held a hand to his side. "The less you move, the less it'll hurt."

"Yeah yeah." QuiDormit rested his head back down on the gurney and closed his eyes. He remained quiet for a few moments as the skilled doctor continued to patch him up. He felt bad for Patricia. He felt responsible moreso and wondered if he could reach out to her before it's too late. He sighed softly as his mind raced. Could he keep her from becoming an enemy to everyone else around him? Was it already too late? He asked a question in the hopes that it would slow his thoughts and give him something specific to focus on. "How bad is it, anyway?"

Maeby gave a small shrug. A rather difficult thing to accomplish without letting it affect her hands, but she had learned the grace of it by now. "Damage was minimal." She finished the the last stitch and wove a knot to keep it in place. She continued as she reached behind her for scissors to cut away the remaining thread. "The knife nicked your rib and cut into your small intestine. You have ten internal stitches and six external. You'll need lots of rest. I'd advise you of a nearly all liquid diet but..."

QuiDormit lifted his head again slightly and raised an eyebrow questioningly at Maeby. "But what?"

Maeby looked over at him gesturing with her hand before dropping her tools in a tray at her side, "What else are you going to eat apart from goop?"

He laughed lightly and instantly grunted as the pain shot through his side. "Ungh... This is going to feel like forever. Thanks, Maeby. So how long am I supposed to be stuck in my bunk?"

"Forty-eight hours of bedrest. Two weeks of taking it easy." Maeby indicated for him to sit up but didn't offer him any help as she sat there with her gloved hands out awkwardly trying not to make contact with anything. "You might be able to jack in after the first week but we'll see about that when we get to it."

QuiDormit sighed heavily. He sat up, and though it hurt him a great deal, he did his best not to show it. Maeby wasn't fooled. He looked at her, unsure of what to say. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Guess you came at the right time. Where is everyone?"

She grabbed some gauze off of the tray next to her and leaned in a little bit to hold it in place over the wound. "Bindi's looking into that disc that Vaala handed over. The rest are either jacked in or keeping the coppertops busy in the dining commons." Maeby started taping the edges of the bandage in place before looking up at him curiously. "Who's the kid?" It struck her odd that someone that young survived such a rude awakening. She couldn't have weighed more than fifty pounds.

"Her name is Iota, I think... She's a timid one, scared of her own shadow." QuiDormit sat all the way up, testing his range of motion. "Maybe you'll have better luck than I have." He chuckled and continued, "She probably thinks I'm some kind of monster."

Maeby didn't say anything as she grabbed another roll of gauze and taped it to his side just over the other bandage. There was the sharp noise of medical tape being ripped as she secured it in place and wrapped it around Qui's torso once and then twice, just slightly tighter and harder than necessary.

QuiDormit realized his slip and gritted his teeth from the forcefulness of Maeby's work. The tension in the room weighed on his conscience, and his mind once again began to race at a breakneck pace. He took a slow deep breath and tried to break up the awkwardness once more. "She doesn't talk to anyone. She just keeps quiet and eats just enough to sustain herself." QuiDormit looked down at his bandages and twisted his torso slowly still working out how much movement he could get away with before the pain set in. He couldn't move much at all. He continued looking down, unsure of what to say.

Maeby brought the bandage around again, pulling it taut. There wasn't anything gentle about her small hands anymore. "You said there were four of 'em."

He winced as she dressed his wounds. Her actions spoke volumes about how she felt. "Yeah. John... John died not long ago. He went into a seizure..." QuiDormit's eyes became unfocused and he seemingly stared through the gurney. "Bindi did everything she could, but..." He trailed off and said nothing further.

"He seized." Maeby gave the gauze a small tear and taped it in place. "You don't go into a seizure. You seize." Maeby grabbed her tray of tools and turned to take it over to the counter. She snapped her gloves off and disposed of them before washing her hands, without a word.

"Uh, yeah. Right, I mean." QuiDormit wanted to crawl out of his skin. "As for the others, there's Shaye... She's recently begun scratching herself in her sleep... And, uh... Patricia. She likes to go by 'Braie,' though. She's why I'm here right now."

The doctor started cleaning things off and sterilizing them. "I'm aware. She's dead asleep in her room with a bandaged wrist." She gave a small smile that was difficult to read as she held a scalpel up and looked back over to him. "This is the culprit by the way. I think it might be smart to lock these up here on out."

"I thought they were locked up. There's something about her... She's... She's got something about her. Something sinister." QuiDormit hoped he didn't sound paranoid.

Maeby's shoulders dropped a little as took her mask off. She turned back to the tray in front of he, staring into the semi-reflective surface. She paused a while, preoccupied, before she gave a sigh and tapped the counter in front of her. "We'll see..." She walked back over to Qui and handed him a small dish with a few pills in them. "Get some rest Qui." She flipped off the light above him and made her way over to the door.

QuiDormit struggled to get down from the gurney. He was still in quite a lot of pain, but he managed to stand upright. "Maeby?" QuiDormit asked quietly as she reached the door.

She stopped in the door and glanced halfway over her shoulder without saying anything.

"I just, uh... I just wanted to say thanks."

The young girl's lips parted as if to respond. When words didn't form, she closed them again and rolled her eyes. Turning back away she stepped down out of the medbay and rounded the corner.

Credit:  Maeby & QuiDormit

The young girl let out a sigh and let a hand run through her hair, the second she was out of the medbay. She was already having second thoughts about being on the Titan. She’d asked for the transfer and she badly needed it. She didn’t want to patch things together nearly as much as she wanted to tear something apart with her bare hands. It wasn’t Qui’s fault. A lot of things were Qui’s fault but he wasn’t responsible for her predicament. He’d just been the first scapegoat she ran across.

Maeby lifted her head to find the girl standing in the doorway adjacent from her, peering around the corner. Christ… She couldn’t have been more than five years old. Maeby frowned as she looked into those brown eyes staring back up at her. Brown eyes with dark circles under them. Even with the oversized sweater she had on, her ribs stuck out as all the meat had been sucked out of her. Sh**. Kids weren’t supposed to look like that.

Maeby tried to conjure up a small smile, however false it might’ve been. “Iota, right?”

For all the young doctor knew, the child hadn’t even heard her. Maeby’s boot crunched underneath her as she stepped toward the girl only to have the thing scurry away like a panicked mouse. Maeby glanced over her shoulder toward the medbay where the man who had been responsible laid on a cot all bandaged up. He was probably out by now. Maeby shook her head. There was just no simple way to fix this.

QuiDormit slept for nearly twenty hours that day, and when he woke, he felt like a new man, save for his wound. He took the opportunity to lie in bed since he wouldn't be able to perform any of his daily duties. He felt refreshed. He had slept more soundly than he could ever remember, save for maybe his first day of training. His mind languidly wandered to his first day of training, which marked six full months since he was first awakened. He thought back to how excited he was at the prospect of finally getting his chance to jack in to the Matrix. His early months were spent helping to build New Zion earning his right to join the ranks of Zion's elite in the field.

He recalled the hoverbarge that he was assigned to, and his mind drifted further the beautiful young pilot. His thoughts began to pick up speed, and with the increase came a small wave of anxiety that washed over him from head to toe and seemed to stop as soon as it started. He wondered how it was worked out that the pilot on his first hoverbarge happened to be assigned to pilot the Neptune while it was under his command. His mind bounced around from thought to thought until the familiar pang of hunger struck him. He had no idea what time it was or how long he'd been out. He guessed that he hadn't eaten in nearly a day.

QuiDormit took a deep breath, winced, and with great effort he pulled himself up to a sitting position. He sat on the gurney for a moment listening to the sounds of the mammoth ship as it gracefully slid through the underground network of tunnels on its way to New Zion. Once again he sighed heavily and struggled to his feed, occasionally grunting and groaning in pain. His bandages had a few small circles of blood here and there, and he assumed that they would need to be changed soon. He'd have to seek out Bindi or Maeby to give him a hand. He slowly shuffled out of the med bay and headed off on his hunt for goop.

It seemed that everyone else was most likely asleep, so he sluggishly made his way over to the galley. He grabbed a small metal tin and a spoon and headed over to a large apparatus that looked like it belonged on a farm. He reached up and took hold of the lever and quickly pulled it to the side. Searing pain filled his side, and he instantly clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut as hard as he could. He felt a warm-ish substance on his hands which caused him to jump. He quickly realized that he was making an absolute mess and goop was pouring out of the dispenser. QuiDormit winced yet again as he clumsily managed to fill his tin this time and turn the apperatus off. I'll clean it later, he thought to himself.

As he was eating and enjoying is solitude, he heard the sound of someone clucking their tongue against their cheek. "Some mess you got there, Qui."
QuiDormit grunted but didn't look up from his food. "Yeah, I'm feeling a little clumsy after..." He trailed off and lifted the spoon to his mouth and quickly slurped down the thick substance and continued, "... well, you know. How is Braie anyway?"
Wheeler sighed, complacent about getting into a long discussion with the man before him. "She's alright."
QuiDormit was used to Wheeler's curtness by this point, and simply nodded in response. The operator went over to clean QuiDormit's mess, and he shook his head. He felt like the Trust was stuck cleaning up a lot of the guy's messes.
"You don't have to do that, Wheeler, I'll get it."
Wheeler chuckled and said, "You'll probably just make it worse."
QuiDormit wasn't sure if there was more behind what Wheeler had said, and replied, "Yeah." He paused for a moment. "Thanks."
Wheeler simply nodded and went about cleaning the goop from the floor.

Awkwardness filled the room. QuiDormit was so used to the tension at this point that he didn't even think twice about it. He finished his food and struggled to his feet as Wheeler finished with the mess. QuiDormit grabbed a towel and wiped out the inside of the tin and then the spoon, and he put them back on the counter where he'd originally got them from. "I'm heading back to bed." Wheeler nodded and said, "See ya."

QuiDormit slowly made his way to his bunk where he planned to hibernate for another day to sleep away his pain.

QuiDormit spent a lot of time during the next few days in his bunk, getting up only when absolutely necessary. He felt drained. While the pain wasn't so bad, he wasn't used to feeling so drained. He felt sluggish from not being able to keep up with his exercise routine, and he was still fairly sore when he did just about anything. Still, he was tired of spending his time in the confines of his room. That does it, he thought to himself. I'm going in to the simulation, to hell with the doctor's orders. QuiDormit made his way out of his bunk. It was late, but he knew that someone would be up monitoring Vaala. As he approaches the operator's station, he notices that Wheeler is hard at work, studying the code.

"You're up late." Wheeler didn't even turn around, but he could hear the large man slowly making his way over.
"Yeah, so are you." QuiDormit nods at the screens the operator is focused on, "Vaala up to no good?"
"She's keeping an eye on Bindi," Wheeler states, never looking over at QuiDormit.
QuiDormit furrows his brow and sighs. "I think I'm going to punch in and blow off some steam. Mind loading me up with my spy program?"
"There's no orders prventin' you from jackin' in. I'd advise against it though."
QuiDormit grins devilishly. "I know. But do you mind?"
"Of course I mind. Doya know the verbal flaying Red can dish out when one of heroperatives gets hurt?" He sighs and mutters, "then again, since when do y'all listen to me?"
QuiDormit lowers his head slightly. "I know, but... How long am I supposed to stare at that **** ceiling before I go nuts? Besides... I'll be careful. I promise."

"I know you'll be careful because the moment your vitals take a dive, I'm jackin' you out." Wheeler looks over at QuiDormit. "Clear?"
QuiDormit stared into the operator's eyes for a moment before he spoke. "Yeah, gotcha." He started toward his exto-chair, and he stopped before he reached it. "Hey... some time, I'd like to have a chat with you over a mug of degreaser."

Wheeler nods, once again making eye contact with QuiDormit. "Any time, pal." Walking over to the chair, he waits until QuiDormit is settled before inserting the cranial jack, sending his mind into the Matrix.

-----===-----

QuiDormit had only just hung up the receiver at the hardline in Tabor West when he heard Vaala's voice from behind him.

"Oh. Hello, Qui. Didn't expect to find you here"
"Yeah. Surprise."
Vaala walks toward the hardline looking to get out of this situation as fast as possible, but QuiDormit moved so that he stood between Vaala and her objective. She sighs and says, "Yeah, well, I need to go, so if you'll move out of the way..."
QuiDormit crossed his arms and widened his stance a bit to let Vaala know that he had no intention of moving. "I came here to have a chat with you."
"Qui, I have no desire to chat with you, so get the hell out of my way."

QuiDormit barreled through the conversation without missing a beat.
"What did Lamont have to say?"
"Lamont? You're here because of her?"
"No. I'm here because of you."
"Look, I saw Bindi and she was acting strange, so I tagged along to make sure she was all right. Check with Wheeler - or even Fen if you don't believe me."
"Oh I know, I was watching through the code stream."
"So why are you here? Make it quick, Fen'll be expecting me back any minute."

QuiDormit sighed heavily and furrowed his brow.
"Because, Vaala, I need to figure something out."
"And what is that?"
"You. I need to figure you out for myself."
"I've already told you and everyone else... and I know Deff showed you the records..."
"Yeah, but when you told me... things got a little out of hand."
"Why was that, Qui? Oh, I remember. You accused me of setting people up."
QuiDormit pulls his glasses forward a bit and studies Vaala over the top of them. "Can you honestly blame me?"

Vaala looked at QuiDormit with fire in her eyes. Furiously and yet evenly, she breathed, "Yes, I can. You didn't listen to Fen or Deff. Just shot your mouth off...kinda like your little code bomb stunt. How many people suffered because of that Qui?"
QuiDormit stood stone still, the only movement he made was his eyes as he studied the girl as she went on. "I may have made a mistake, but at least I'm not a murderer."

QuiDormit was visibly upset, but he spoke softly. "You want to accuse me of not understanding the whole story, and yet you won't pay attention to mine? Now do you see where I'm coming from?"
"Code bombs, Qui...what the hell were you thinking?"
QuiDormit, unable to contain his anger any longer, begins to shout, "I was thinking that I was sick and tired of the status quo. I was thinking that Zion needed to wake the hell up. I was thinking that only by going to extremes would people rise to the call of war! Everyone sat on their ******* ***** and did nothing! Look, I'm not proud of what I did, but..." QuiDormit trailed off a bit, and Vaala took the opportunity to interject.

"But what? Killing innocent people was your answer? What, your mistakes give you the right to judge me for mine?"
"Really? Then why did it take Neoteny and I to do what we did before anyone seriously started talking strategy. I gave full disclosure of my plans before I started."
"That's no excuse."
QuiDormit interrupted before Vaala could continue. "I wasn't hired by a god **** toaster to creep in the background and gather intel, poised to strike at a moment's notice!"
Vaala shook her head defiantly. "It wasn't like that at all."
"Well then how was it?"

"It was... Look, before I was awakened, I was a cop. A **** good one. But when my brother turned up dead, there were no leads... nothing to tell me who had done it. Cameryn - Agent Thorne, she came to my office one day with evidence. She offered me the chance to bring his murderer to justice. I just... I had no idea what the truth really was. Bindi admitted that she; that Lamont had killed him. By then, I already knew that Bindi wasn't Lamont. It's just all very confusing right now..." Vaala trailed off and lowered her head in order to gain control of her emotions. After a moment, she continued. "But if you're asking where my loyalties stand... They are not with Thorne or the Mechs."

QuiDormit takes a deep breath and looks solemnly at Vaala. "I'm sorry."
Vaala, head still down, replied, "Yeah, I bet."
"No one ever told me that you were lead into this, I thought it was a choice."
Vaala looks up and meets QuiDormit's eyes. "It was a choice. It was just a bad one."
Quidormit cocks his head to the side slightly and says, "Yeah... I know a little something about that."
Vaala drops her head again. "Look...I had a lot of questions about everything. Things just never felt... right if you know what I mean."
"All too well."
"I'd have probably ended up staring at the red and blue pills eventually anyway," Vaala says as she smiles slightly.
"Yeah, it's in your nature."
Vaala laughs to herself. "I never could follow rules very well."
QuiDormit grins mischievously in response and the two sit in awkward silence, both looking at their feet. Finally, QuiDormit breaks the silence though he doesn't lift his head to meet Vaala's gaze. "If I could, I would tear this ******* simulation down wire by wire, bit by bit, program by program. I did what I did for the freeborns. For the future. I wanted them to know a life without the simulation, without the choice... without the machines."
Vaala looks at QuiDormit pointedly. "Yeah, and how many people would die if you did? The people who aren't ready yet..." QuiDormit finally meets Vaala's gaze. "Jesus, Qui, you've seen them."
"Yeah, they're a mess... I'm caring for them," QuiDormit sighs heavily, "As best as I know how."
"Yeah, I heard about your little accident and frankly in her place, I might have done the same."
QuiDormit studies the former spy and shrugs lightly. "She deserves her vengence, though I won't give it to her outright..." More silence filled the area around the hardline.

"And you... you deserve your vengeance, too."
Vaala is taken aback by QuiDormit's remark. "Oh? Doesn't anyone keep their mouth shut around here?"
"Look, Val... We're not just a group of random mercenaries. We're a family."
Vaala sighs heavily and breathes out, "So I've been told."
"I'd die for anyone I consider family - anyone in the Trust."
Vaala looks up at QuiDormit, "Only family I've ever had was my brother, and he's gone, so pardon me if I have a hard time with the idea. Here I am with a bunch of people who don't believe or trust me."
"Val, you're one of us. You think we wouldn't have thrown you to the wolves if you thought you deserved it? We're not teddy bears. If you deserved it, you'd be dead. Besides, they took me back in," QuiDormit clears his throat, "and I'm a ******* murderer."
Vaala smiles ruefully, "Yeah... sorry about that, I guess. Doesn't change how I feel about what you did, but it was uncalled for."
QuiDormit puts his hand on Vaala's shoulder. "No... it wasn't. I've got a long load to redemption."
"Yeah, you and me both."
QuiDormit sighs heavily. "So... Why should we walk it alone?"
Vaala shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "I dunno. Maybe we shouldn't." Vaala grins widely, "At least not if we want to keep walking."

QuiDormit once again drops his head. "So, Val, I've got to ask..." Vaala titls her head a little. "You're thinking of taking her on alone, aren't you?"
"Bindi and Fen ordered me not to..."
"I didn't ask what they ordered. I know their line of thinking."
"Even with Wheeler watching me as he is, my thoughts are still my own, Qui. They've given their orders, I don't really have a whole lot of choice. Besides, I'm quite stuck on the Diluculo as it is." Vaala allows herself to laugh lightly.
QuiDormit studies the girl closely, trying to read through her words. "Fair enough, Val."

More silence hangs over the two. "I'm not going to be much use with that stab wound... ****, I'm not even supposed to be jacked in right now. Can you imagine Maeby's reaction when she finds out?" QuiDormit chuckles lightly. "Look, just play by their rules for right now. You're quick, you'll find an opportunity to get done what you need to get done."
Vaala laughs indignantly. "Not like I have a lot of choice in that, eh?"
"I admit, it's a mess-"
"No ****."
"But things have a way of working out if you're ready to face what needs to be faced."
Vaala smiles grimly, "Yeah, and no one has pulled my jack yet."
"Hey, at least it's something, eh?" QuiDormit smiles slightly at Vaala.

"How is it that doing what's right... or what we think is right... How is it that it always ends up being such a cluster-****?"
"Because we're human."
Vaala mutters just so QuiDormit cannot hear her, "Some more than others."
"Everyone has their ghosts that haunt them."
Vaala chuckles, "Reminds me of an old saying... 'The past is a ghost that haunts you from the moment it exists to the moment you don't.'"
"I like that."

QuiDormit smiles. "I should get going. Keep your head up, Val."
"You too, Qui."

QuiDormit took a step toward Vaala and reached out to hug her. As the two embrace, QuiDormit whispers in her ear, "I'll contact you... I might have an idea."
Vaala raised an eyebrow and whispered back, "I'll be waiting..."
As the two stepped away from each other, QuiDormit slipped a small folded piece of paper into Vaala's hand. He turned and stepped toward the hardline. Once he lifted the receiver and began to dematerialize, she unfolded the paper and stared down at the two simple words printed on it.

"Trust me."

Credit:  Vaala & QuiDormit

QuiDormit's eyes opened slowly as his consciousness was returned to his body and the cranial jack was removed from his head. He didn't have time to think about what had just transpired due to the presence of a slender figure at his side. Maeby looked down at QuiDormit with what can only be described as disdain.

"How do you feel?" There was no warmth or tender concern behind the question.
QuiDormit squinted and sort of winced at the question. "Not bad, actually."
Maeby shot a glance over at Wheeler who looked just about as guilty as Qui, here. She pursed her lips and turned her eyes back to Qui, "You shouldn't have jacked in."
"Yeah, I know... I had some things that I absolutely had to... What are you doing up at this hour anyway?"
She paused a moment, seeming to think about something else, before mumbling, "Having trouble sleeping." She brought the tin mug, held in both of her hands, to her lips and sipped at it. "You've gotten a lot of sleep, I trust."
"All I've been doing is sleep. I'm losing my **** mind." QuiDormit studies the young girl carefully, though there's nothing out of place about her.
Maeby gave a small scoff. Something near amusement entered her tone, "I doubt that. There's plenty going on around here to keep the cabin fever at bay."
QuiDormit raised an eyebrow quizitively. "Yean, there is, but I'm useless here right now. I'm gimping around as it is."
"You won't be for long, provided you give it a good rest."

She gave him a pointed look before changing the subject, "What'd Vaala have to say?"
QuiDormit sighed and rested his head back on the ecto-chair. "She's just trying to find her way. She's in a real mess, you know? She's a good girl. Got mixed up with the wrong people, but she's trying to fix that." QuiDormit lifted his head again and turned his attention to the doctor.
The woman seemed to consider his words a second and looked him head to toe for a second before returning her gaze down again and muttering a small sound of agreement. "Yeah..."

"What? You know somethin' I don't?"
"She'll do fine." Her words were a little more firm than necessary. She sighed a little and indicated one of the many monitors that filled the room. "Apart from some basic stress level fluctuations, you're vitals were pretty standard. I still want you to get a lot of rest, but after tomorrow I suspect you'll be able to jack in again."
"Yeah?" QuiDormit smiled. "Best news I've heard all day." The large man lowered his head and looked up slightly, awkwardly and asked, "How are you holding up, Maeby?"
The doctor picked a piece of lint off one of her sweaters and flicked it away, "As well as any of us... Iota ate today." The girl shrugged and explained, "While you were sleeping earlier."
"She's really taken to you, hasn't she? Between the three of them, I don't think I can do much more. They don't respond to me at all. It's for the best that we're taking them back to New Zion. I think."

"John responded to you." Maeby only realized her mistake after she'd made it. She shook her head apologetically, "I didn't mean..."
QuiDormit raised his hand to stop her. "No, it's OK. You're right. I had some luck with him. Maybe the others blame me for what happened to him." He once again looked down at the cloth wraps around his feet, wanting to say more, but unable to. A wave of guilt washed over him. He took a deep breath and finally spoke, barely above a whisper. "Not that they're wrong, of course."
Maeby didn't say anything. She wished she hadn't earlier. It was a while before she spoke again. "New Zion will do them good. Hell, it'll do most of you guys some good."

QuiDormit didn't say anything at first, but nodded in agreement. "I haven't been there since Ivy left the Neptune..."
Maeby raised an eyebrow. "You're a bit overdue then..."
He tilted his head back, and then rotated it around to stretch his neck. "You don't know the half of it. I'm going to face the Council while we're there. They are content to leave my punishment in RedBindi's hands, but they want to talk to me since I'm going home..." QuiDormit trailed off, tension obvious in his voice.
Maeby scoffed just a little, "Yeah. I'm not big on their talks either."
He studied Maeby again a moment before he responded. He was somewhat relieved that they had something in common. "This is actually my first time going before them. I always dealt directly with Roland the few times they or I needed something."

Maeby stopped for a second as if seeming to decide which way she wanted the conversation to go. After a moment's hesitation she sighed and looked back to Qui. "You should get some rest..."
QuiDormit chuckled quietly and shook his head in mock disbelief. "Yeah, guess I should." He noticed Wheeler glancing at them from over his array of monitors and caught his gaze for a moment before turning his attention back to Maeby. "You, too. You should get some rest, I mean. You look beat."
Maeby raised her mug in a sort of half-hearted mock scolding, "Well you all keep me so busy."
"Busted." QuiDormit allowed a gentle laugh to escape. Once again, he turned his attention to the operator furiously pecking away at the keyboard in front of him. "I promise, I'm off to bed soon, Maeby."

It was possible some of the good drink had crept its way into Maeby's senses because she simply nodded and shuffled out of the room, her demanor much more gentle than normal. "Sleep safe, Qui..."
He tilted his head while looking at her again, unsure how to take her somewhat sudden change. "G'night, Maebs."

QuiDormit raised both eyebrows and looked at Wheeler, who shrugged in turn. QuiDormit chuckled as he sat up. He forgot his ailment and sat up far too quickly. Pain instantly returned to his body. He did his best to hide it, but he was pretty sure Wheeler caught on.

Wheeler shook his head and chuckled a little to himself. "Ya know... having two doctors onboard may make things a little interesting around here." Standing he walked over to the ecto chair and put out his hand for QuiDormit to use should he need it. "You tear that open and you'll have both Maeby and Reddy looking over your shoulder."
QuiDormit grabbed Wheeler's hand and pulled himself up slowly, fully using the man as support. "Aren't they already?" He grunted as the two men get QuiDormit sitting upright. "I mean, Maeby is about ready to gouge out my eyes, and Bindi... Well she's got her own thing going on right now, I guess."
"Oh, trust me my boy.... you'll know when Reddy's got her full attention on ya. Right now she's givin' you some space so you can find yer place here." His eyes seem troubled for a moment or two. "As to whats going on with her... she'll take care of it. She's more concerned with you guys then herself most o' the time."
QuiDormit squinted as he studied Wheeler's face. "She's been pretty open about a lot of this stuff. Honestly, I'm a little surprised. I don't see it as her... I don't know, her thing, I guess? Still, I get the feeling that she mostly wants to handle this herself."
"It isn't her thing, it was something forced on 'er a long time ago. I guess she's just gotten used to having to explain herself, when Iniuria first showed up... Red had to explain to a lot of people what had happened." Wheeler shruged and sighed a little. "She'd handle everything herself if she could. She doesn't like to bother others, nor have others bothered with her problems. I don't think she can get outta this one by herself though... especially after last night..."

QuiDormit tilted his head questioningly at Wheeler and asked, "Last night? I've been all cooped up." QuiDormit tested his range of motion a little to see how far he can move before the pain set in again. "What happened last night?"
Wheeler looked directly at QuiDormit. "We'll just say that her nightmares are one of a kind." Sitting back down in his chair he switched several of the screens from the code of the matrix to various other search programs and logs. "She should be around soon anyway and you'll be able to see for yourself."
QuiDormit opened his mouth to speak, but decided not to press any harder. He sighed as the operator's fingers furiously flew over the keyboard in front of him. "She knows that I'd do anything to help her out, right? I don't want to be seen as the burden... as the bastard child that everyone has to watch over. I ****** up bad, I know, but..." He can see the hardened look on Wheeler's face and decides to change tracks. "What do you have goin' over there anyway?"
"You should know by now we're about second chances." He paused to look back at him. "And she won't ask for help, she never does, probably never will." Turning back to the monitors in front of him he resumed typing. "I'm going through her logs, trying to find out where the downloads took place, what was happening during the downloads and just prior to the downloads. I'm also trying to trace the signal to find out where they are coming from. Basically looking for anything out of the ordinary."

QuiDormit nodded as he stared off into the distance. "Even if she asked for help, I don't know what I could offer." He looked down at nothing in particular. "I sure as hell can't help with what you've got going there. I can crack some skulls, but this isn't really cut and dry enough to find the ones to go after." QuiDormit took a deep breath and looked around the room, still not quite ready to get out of the ecto-chair for fear of the sharp pain that will come. "Tell you what. You find me an opening... something I can do, you tell me. She's family. I'll do whatever I can."
"We're landing in New Zion in about a week and a half, Red's going to need someone to watch her back. Fen's going to be there, by her side, but she needs someone she can trust to watch over her ship. I'm sure she'd be relieved to have someone offer to take that duty so the rest of the crew could be released on leave." Wheeler glanced up at him and QuiDormit could almost swear he winked.
QuiDormit squinted at Wheeler to try and get a read on his face, but he'd already turned his attention back to the monitors. "Yeah. Yeah, thanks, man." He slowly pulled himself up to a standing position, grimacing throughout the entire process. "How about that drink?" QuiDormit chuckled.

Wheeler reached down and opened a drawer to his right. "The bottle and cups are in there." QuiDormit suddenly knew Wheeler was grinning without ever having to see his face.
"You gonna just stand there or pull up a chair and pour a man a drink?"
QuiDormit shook his head to clear the cobwebs and headed over to the drawer. "Yeah, sorry." QuiDormit went to work pouring each of them a generous helping of the dark liquid. He then handed a cup to Wheeler and raised the tin cup as if to toast.
Wheeler raised his tin as well and simply said. "To family."

QuiDormit put the cup to his lips and downed the whole thing in one gulp. "To family..." He then turned around and lumbered off to his bunk for more much-needed rest.
Smiling Wheeler downed his drink and turned back to the monitors.

Credit:  RedBindi, Maeby, & QuiDormit

The next few days were pretty routine. Within a week of New Zion, QuiDormit found himself tending to the newpills as best he could, working out as much as his recovering body would allow, studying navigational charts, working in the simulation, and avoiding Maeby when possible. He felt uncomfortable around her, she moreso than anyone else. He assumed that it was her seething anger toward him that drove the thick wedge of tension between them. Whatever it was, he preferred to ignore it.

He ran a hand through his hair and picked up a spoonful of goop as he studied the chart in front of him. He quickly swallowed the substance, chuckling as he remembered the first time he attempted to eat the thick stringy stuff. He almost immediately vomited. Never did like oatmeal, let alone cold oatmeal, he laughed to himself. Absentmindedly, he heard the rhythmic metallic clunk of boots as someone walked down the hall. As quickly as his bruised and bandaged body would allow, he sprung up from the seat and hobbled to the doorway of the galley. Seeing RedBindi quickly moving to the Diluculo's bay, he lumbered down the hall. Unable to close the distance between them, he shouted after her.

"Bindi! Hey, you got a sec?"
RedBindi turned at the sound of shouting behind her, seeing QuiDormit she began walking back towards him. "Hey, Qui."
QuiDormit took a deep breath, embarrassed that he was winded from such a short journey. "Hey, I just wanted to-" QuiDormit stopped dead in his tracks when he got a closer look at RedBindi. "Wheeler told me something happened to you, but... What the hell?"

RedBindi pulled her sleeves down in an attempt to cover the marks still visible on her arms. "Marks." Looking QuiDormit over with a practiced eye, she noticed the difficulty with which he still moved. "How's your wound healing?"
QuiDormit brushed the question off quickly, his worry apparent. "I'm fine. Are you OK? What can I do?"
"I'll be fine." Moving back down the passageway to him she continued speaking. "What did you wish to speak to me about?"
He resigned himself to the fact that he wouldn't be getting much more out of her at this point. "Uh, right. So when we get to New Zion, I wanted to watch the ship while you tended to business."
She nodded. "That would be a great help, but wouldn't you rather take leave with the others.

QuiDormit shook his head. "No. I'm going to meet with the council as soon as you get back... I want some time to myself beforehand."
"Alright. Thanks, that does help. I won't have to worry as much about her while I'm away now." She leaned against the bulkhead, crossing her arms over her chest. "I noticed you applied for the Navigator and Pilot position."
He nodded slowly. "I was Ivy's Navigator, and when she and Emned left, I didn't have much choice but to pick up Piloting as well... Though I'll admit I've never handled anything the size of the Titan before." QuiDormit shrugged lightly. "But as long as you're comfortable with me flying her, I'm your man."

RedBindi nodded again. "I don't foresee a problem with you filling that position. We'll do some training on the flight back to New Zion and I'll have you watch when I do the free fall into her." She looked up at him. "That work for you?"
"Yes ma'am." QuiDormit automatically stood straighter and taller as the words left his lips.
RedBindi clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do great as her pilot."

He couldn't help but smile. He felt relieved to have the Commander's trust. "So Iota has taken quite a liking to Maeby. I hope that she does OK when we drop her at New Zion. The others... I am sure they'll be fine. Ever since the incident with John..." QuiDormit trailed off and looked down at the floor.

"You can't save them all, Qui... no one can." Reaching out she lifted his chin, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "You did everything you could for that man, don't ever forget that. I doubt he would have lived as long as he had without you."

He swallowed hard, choking back the wave of emotion that washed over him. "Yeah... Yeah, you're right." He took a deep breath. "So what about you?"
Dropping her hand back at her side she continued to look at him. "What about me?"
"I'm worried about you. You don't always have to be the hero, you know. Just... Just don't forget that we're all here for you."
"I'm not trying to be a hero, Qui. I just don't want to get anyone else hurt because of me." She sighs.

QuiDormit frowns slightly. "No, I know that... I just mean that... Look, I'd lay my life down for you, Bindi. You're my superior, but more importantly, you're family." He scratches the back of his head. "Not just me... all of us."
"I know, that's what I'm afraid of."
"I'm just trying to say that you're not alone. We're on this ride with you."
She nods. "I know that, Qui. I also know..." She looks down at her arms. "some of what Marks is capable of. I'd rather not have anyone else be hurt because of me. I've caused enough harm to others in my life."

QuiDormit reaches up and puts his hand on RedBindi's shoulder. "Just remember, whatever you need..." He clears his throat. "So anyway, where are you off to now?"
"I was heading back to the Diluculo to check on Vaala and Fenshire... and to let Fenshire know we just received a transmission from Zion Command. There's a possible force of Mervs and Mechs coming down a tunnel not far from us, they would like us to ... deter them."
"Who better than us?" He chuckled and paused for a moment. "You know, I talked to Vaala yesterday."
RedBindi raised an eyebrow and looked over QuiDormit's face, trying to read him. "Oh? What about?"

"I, uh... jacked in and she was there." He hoped he didn't look terribly guilty. "She is trying... I hope that she figures it all out soon."
She nods. "I do as well. In fact, when we get to New Zion I'll be granting her leave from the Diluculo. Wheeler will be looking after her though, for her own protection."
"Yeah? Huh. I'd offer to help, but," He looks down at his side, "well, you know."

She looks at his side as well. "So really, how's that healing up?"
He shrugs lightly. "Seems to be OK. I think the muscle is what hurts the most."
She nods. "Not uncommon with an injury of that sort." She chuckles a little. "Then when the itching sets in you'll almost wish for the pain back."
"Great." QuiDormit shifts his positioning, obviously a little uncomfortable. "So what's the plan with the newpills when we get to New Zion?"

"Would you like to go to the mess hall and sit down?"
"It's ok, you're busy."
She smiled. "I'm not to busy to have a chat over a bowl of goop or a cup of.... 'coffee.'

QuiDormit laughed. "I could go for some... uh... coffee, I guess."
"Alright, coffee it is." Walking past him she headed down the corridor a little ways and turned right into the Titan's mess hall. Once there she grabbed two tins and filled them with a black substance Redpills tended to call coffee.

QuiDormit grabbed his tin and took a sip of the dark liquid. "Nothing reminds me of my bluepill days more than this." He wrinkles his nose slightly and laughed. "This stuff is as bad as the junk we had in my old office building."
RedBindi laughed. "Yeah, it does have a bit of a kick to it."
"So is this where you tell me to sit down and you give me bad news?"

"Of course not. This is where I ask your opinion." She takes a drink of the black liquid, wrinkling her nose slightly at the taste. "You're the one who's spent a lot of time with the newpills, I'd like your recommendation on what should be done with them when we reach New Zion."
QuiDormit squinted as he stared at a particularly dull spot on the metal floor and he spoke without raising his head. "Well... lately I haven't spent much with any of them. Maeby has been caring for them and me while I heal." He looked up to meet her gaze. "Shaye needs some serious psychological help. She's withdrawing more and more every day. Iota..." He sighed heavily. "I'd love to find a family for her. Do you think that would help? I dunno, I think the kid deserves at least that. And Braie..." He trailed off and shrugged at RedBindi.

She nodded. "I'll suggest that Braie and Shaye be put in the care of Zion Medical. Iota... perhaps Maeby can assist in finding a home for her. She seems to have bonded with the girl... if she'd like I wouldn't be adverse to her continue caring for the girl.

"It'll be weird without them here."
"I'm sure it will. But they need care on something other then a war ship. A calm environment should do them a world of good."

"You're right." He takes a rather large swig of the coffee and makes a face again. "I'm not even eager to go back. It's funny how much can change in such a short time."
She sighs. "Yeah... yeah it is... New Zion, it's just not home." She stands and stretches. "I should deliver that news to Fenshire. If you need anything else just find me here of comm the Diluculo. When we get closer to New Zion meet me on the bridge and we'll start that pilot training."
"Alright, Bindi. And likewise... call me if you need anything."
"Will do. I'll see you around."

QuiDormit watched as RedBindi left the mess hall and wondered how far this thing with Marks would go.