It’s been longer than I thought since I posted up an episode, even though it’s been written for a while. Been feeling off for the past week, but am on the mend now, I think.
Content Warning: Strong Language
Thursday, October 17th, 1996. 3:02am
Scene Chaos Factor: 5
Expected Scene: Getting the Shanis back to the pickup
Testing the Expected Scene: 2 - Interrupt Scene
Random Event Focus: 29 - NPC Action
NPC Choice: d6/d10 - 4/9 - Nym Shani
Meaning Tables Actions: 88/01 - Support Advantage
After I felt comfortable that the Shanis weren't going to hurt me, I got my knife out and cut their zip ties so they had full use of their hands. Vinit thanked me with a look, and then went straight back to caring for his son.
Nym Shani was still not coping with being being forcibly ejected from the neuroscape. He was in shock, and kept muttering that he had to get back, as they were almost ready. I had no idea who they were.
I didn't want Nym somehow getting his neurocaster back on - even though he was too weak and confused to do it himself, and I didn't think that Vinit would have wanted to let him go back in there anyway. So I popped the vanadium battery out of the thing, and slipped it into my backpack.
It's funny, yesterday afternoon, I was ready to kill Nym, I was that angry. Now I just looked at him with pity. He was in a pretty pathetic state, and putting a bullet in his head would serve no useful purpose. And, to be honest, I'm not a killer. I've shot at someone in the past while I was on a case, but that was self defence. And I missed anyway.
Vinit was the one who surprised me. Here was a man who cared deeply for his son, and was trying to save his life, even at a cost to his own health. He wasn't tempted by the false paradise of the neuroscape, and bore his burdens without complaint. Maybe there was some good people left in the world after all.
Somehow, strangely, it all made me feel a little better.
Eamon uses his Lone Wolf talent and reduces the tension in himself a bit, regaining one point of Hope.
"Sir," Vinit said, quietly. "My son is very ill and I fear that without some sort of medical assistance, he may pass. But I worry that there is no medical assistance left in this town."
I shook my head. "No, you're right, there. From what I've seen since I arrived, there are only a handful of people still in town, and most of those are just barely surviving themselves."
I looked across at Vinit, who was using a damp cloth to wipe Nym's forehead, while his son just stared off into space and mutter something unintelligible under his breath. The old man had pain and despair in his eyes, and I felt like shit for what I was about to say.
"I did meet some people about twenty or thirty miles up the road that I think have some medical staff. I was going towards the coast, but given he's in such a bad state, perhaps I can drive you both up there first, and then go on my way."
Does Vinit remember that Eamon had said that he'd been asked to look for Nym? 50/50 - 54 - No.
A look of hope flashed across Vinit's face. "Do you think that they would help him?"
"I don't know," I said. "But it might be worth the ride up there to find out. If not, you can always come with me to the coast if they can't help him. How long do you need to get ready?"
Vinit looked around. "I can be ready in twenty minutes. There is very little that I wish to take with me from here. Just my son."
Does Nym want to leave? Unlikely - 19 - Yes
There was a cough, and a faint whisper came from the couch. "There is something I need to collect before we leave."
Nym had pushed himself up onto one elbow and his eyes were trying hard to focus. "We can't leave until we get it. It wasn't safe to have in the house." He collapsed back down again.
I went over and squatted down beside him. "What is you need to collect? Where is it? Is it very big?"
Nym shook his head weakly. "No, it's not big. It's part of my research. I hid it in a house not far from here. I needed it somewhere safe in case something happened to me."
"Are you going to be able to travel?" I asked.
Nym just coughed again, and Vinit held a wet rag up to Nym's mouth for him to suck on. "He will be ready, sir. I want to be rid of this accursed place."
"OK," I said, standing up again. "Get your stuff ready to go quickly. I want to pick up whatever it is he wants so badly, then get to my truck as soon as we can. Pack only what you can carry, I guess."
I looked down at Nym, who still looked pitifully weak. Moving him was going to be damned difficult in his current state, and now he wants this detour to pick up some mystery object that he can't live without. Part of me wanted to tell him to just forget about it, but I figure d that it might be some of that intellectual property that Ms Bellon had told me about. Bringing that back with him might get me some extra gas or something.
I was just about to turn away, when I felt a clammy hand touch my arm. "Thank you," Nym said. "I don't know who you are, but I'm out thanks to you. I don't think I would have made it out of there on my own."
I shook my head. "No, I don't think you would have. I'm sorry for ejecting you, but it was the only way. And you can thank me by getting ready to go. I'd like to get moving as soon as we can, especially if we need to make a detour first. Dawn's only a few hours from now, and I'd like to be on the road before then."
Vinit helped Nym sit up. He was still looking somewhat dazed after his 'scape ejection, so I hoped he was going to be able to handle the ride. Hell, I hope I don't need to rustle up a wheelchair to move him around, because I have no fucking idea where I could find one of those around here.
I went to pull the bourbon out of my backpack, only to discover that I'd left it in the pickup back at the other house. Dammit. I could really use a hit of that for courage right about now. The old guy really does seem like a decent human being, so it's going to suck handing his son over to Sentre. But then again, it's probably better than dying from wasting away after getting trapped in a neuroscape. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
End of Scene Bookkeeping
The scene was calm, so the Chaos Factor decreases to four.
Added Vinit Shani to the Character List.
End of Scene Notes
This ended up as a mostly colour scene, in the end. I’d originally planned for it to be heading back to the truck, but the interrupt scene kiboshed that, so there’s a diversion before we get back there. It sets up something we’ll discover in the next scene, and which I still haven’t yet explored the ramifications of in subsequent scenes. Hopefully soon though.
I’m hoping to get back into writing more new scenes of The Handbasket Ride over this coming weekend. I’m at the threshold of the second Stop now, and I’ve been doing some prep work with The Location Crafter before I head into that Stop. I hadn’t originally planned on using it, but the inspiration hit me a couple of weeks back, so I dug it out, reread it a couple of times and have prepared the lists prior to using it. It’s going to be interesting to see how it shapes the upcoming scenes.