Katie, who after a sleepless night was left feeling whimsical in the worst meaning of the term, was escorted to the showers and taken care of as usual. The nurse was shocked at the way Katie showed cooperation, she even agreed to swallow her cup of medication without the slightest tinge of annoyance or anger in her expression. The two stood in the nurse's lobby in the midst of the rooms, waiting for the others. Katie was usually dismissed from things involving the other patients, even for something like what happened with Entaru, she was assured a separate schedule and separate nurse, and this nurse never paid any attention to what was going on elsewhere, only Katie. The longer she could be separated from the others, the less chance for danger...the less chance for harm to befall another patient, as Katie showed no trigger signs for when and where she would decide to spring on an innocent. She quite honestly wished them all dead, but brief spasms of gratification were all she could accomplish here in this place.
"Katie, dear, how did you sleep last night?" the plump nurse asked. Being well in age, the nurse still thought it proper to call younger girls dears.
"Better than usual," Katie lied.
The nurse faltered. Under her fur, her cheeks flushed pale white...normally all she expected was a shrug from the young girl. "Why, you've said something to me...I've never heard you speak a word since you've got here."
"Hmmm." Katie smiled dreamily. "I don't speak that much when I'm unhappy. But I am happy. Now. You would be happy. Too. If you knew who I was. Nero doesn't. He thinks he knows. Who. Said he was going to take me off. Eventually. I'd like to see that one. He wants control in an uncontrollable environment. What rubbish. You'd think they would have got it by now. Those drug companies in the government. That you can't keep a good dog down. Just can't. Soon we'll be immune. What we have. Is nothing that drugs. To help." As she spoke, the girl tilted back her head and examined the ceiling lights as though she expected the roof to vanish.
Meanwhile, the nurse grew increasingly pale as though her skin color would soon match that of her fur. Katie, of all people, speaking so much, a theorist. Either the girl was having a breakthrough moment in her treatment or something was very wrong....She began to consider cutting Nero off at the path and warning him. "Well, I'm sure everything will work out...the way you think it will," the nurse said nervously.
Katie began to sway as though the lights danced above her, every so often she would chuckle. "I'm positive it will too...Yet I would sure like to speak with Nero sooner than later. I've got to ask him. Who he thinks he was. He must think he's very. Late. Too. But can he can never be late. Not here. Not. In control. Not in control of the most dreadful tea party. He ruins his guests' appetites!" Now she laughed wholly, her hands flying to her mouth to try and contain the overflow of laughter.
"Who he thinks he...oh goodness." The nurse ran to cut Nero off. She asked a free doctor on the corner to run to Katie's side, yet another emergency, this one discreet...he rushed to his duty...She came across Nero, who was rushing to make up time on yet another corner. "Doctor, goodness I'm frightened," the woman put a hand to her heart as she slowed down to step alongside him. "That Katie girl, she's talking, talking in...in...just crazy talk. I've never heard her talk at all since she's been here and let me tell you to hear these kinds of words is scary for me, very scary to think what they might mean. I'm not implying anything, but she's even said she wanted to talk with you and I know well she hates doctor visits. Please, try and put my poor old heart at rest when you meet with her."
****
Macid could hear it long before it happened, the footsteps, the keys jangling, as the door to his room was unlocked and pushed open, casting a new shade of bright, artificial light against the linoleum floor. A doctor walked in...Scott anew. He noticed the way Macid had the ring so tightly in his fingers, how close he was to the door. "You really shouldn't worry so much, Macid, Dicam. It hasn't been that long since wake up call. Everything will happen in due time, and worrying is what triggers negativity. Confidence. That's what you need." Scott smiled. "I at least hope the ring relieved you somewhat..."
****
Rigor was in store for a trainer, not a doctor. They called them personal trainers, like ones celebrities receive for fitness counseling, only this was for real counseling and guidance. It was a woman, who had learned the skills necessary to graduate from the position of nurse...Her name was Nadia, she was a golden retriever, with her equally golden hair tied in a ponytail that fell down her back, a contrast to the practically ridiculous blue sports suit she wore.
"Yo, Rigor," she called as she stepped into the room, a wide smile on her face. She give Rigor 'the nod,' which she hoped would calm the dragon chameleon. "What's been up with you lately? Haven't seen you in a week or so, sister."
Sometimes this woman's efforts to appeal to the modern generation failed in a terribly embarrassing way.
****
Max was the last to get relief, as Ricca had had to be replaced, by a nontalkative neko with tan ears and tail and caramel skin, who went by the name Vida. She didn't want to say much, to avoid getting attached to a patient she wouldn't spend a lot of time with.
Quietly, she pulled up a chair from his desk and opened his file, pulling out a pencil from her pocket. Being inexperienced, she wasn't like the others, able to remember. She had to write down what was exchanged. "Morning, Max" she finally said, tail twitching awkwardly. "Ricca is fine. She is being taken care of in the medical wing as we speak."
****
Sasha's male nurse had left to take care of the problem...and had not come back. So with her door wide open, the little lemur was left little choice but to walk right out into the hall and start looking for food, her tail twisting into any number off odd shapes. She passed by a few nurses who looked at her funny. She was sweet however, asking them when her nurse would be back, and seemed to pose no threat to anyone.
Soon she came to Katie at the lobby, and her tail went limp. She hated how creeped out Katie always made her, and now was no exception. The young chinchilla, eyeing the young lemur with a devilish grin, arms folded as she rested against the counter, as though Katie was considering her for breakfast.
"You don't get to talk to Nero. What a shame. You don't get far." Katie's head turned as she spoke: "You know. Why are you here? Pathetic, writhing little thing you are. Have no guts. No fear for the unmerciful. No drive. Order hates you. Hates you. Loves me. Nero hates me. Thinks he likes me. But. Order loves me---"
"Nero? Well, I've never..." Sasha fidgeted shyly, embarrassed that she was being picked on. Indeed, she lacked guts.
"Don't listen to Katie." The doctor behind the counter said. "She's only trying to make you feel bad so that she can feel in control."