Out of the Frying Pan

[Jiang Winters]

Delun nearly did a double take as Christian popped out with an almost hazardous amount of soot slathered across his face. Del's tail curled at the tip and he cocked his head to one side, a puzzled 'mrrr' sound striking up in his throat as he tried to figure out just what in blazes had possessed Christian to crawl into a tiny hatch and bang on random bits and pieces until something exploded in his face.

At least, that's what Del pictured happening. He couldn't help but visualize the human slapping the wrong button or turning the wrong valve and then blam! A faceful of fire and smoke!

The feline shook his head and dispelled such thoughts after a moment, at about the same time as Christian talked about a plan of action and, more importantly, food!

"I dunno what a rancor is," Del admitted, "But I'd bet that I can out-eat it right now. I'm starved," he chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. To his dismay, his neck wasn't smooth and fuzzy as he'd expected; at the base of his neck, his fingers rain across a tiny octagon-shaped piece of metal, not much bigger than the tip of Christian's pinkie finger. He could feel a little rubber piece fitted into the center of the octagon; a plug or cover of some kind.

He didn't dare mention it. He had no idea what it was, after all! He let his paw-like hands fall back to his sides and gestured down the hallway. "Is the mess hall that way? I'm thinking food, followed by a quick search in the database to see if anyone's missing a giant talking tiger."

 

[Matt]

''Yes, Yes go dig into some of the food. There is some steak, and a few others bits and bobs that I'm sure will wet your appetite''

Christian pointed down a side avenue as he swung his legs round to delve back into his hole, the droid began barking at him about, beeping away about un-repairable damage and other such dramatic and negative points of view.

''Come my little metal friend, tell me where I was going wrong then!''

 

[Jiang Winters]

"Alright, thanks."

Delun didn't waste any time in scurrying off; the allure of food was simply irresistible for the poor tiger! He found the galley in fairly short order and took a quick inventory of what was available to him. Steak, some lunch meat and bread, vegetables, some fruit...

Whoa, fruit!

The feline paused in mid-thought and snatched up an apple. He took a bite out of it, purred blissfully, then resumed his search.

After the fruit there were drinks, condiments, and a bowl of some kind of noodles. The feline gathered the steak, some onion and other vegetables, and noodles, and set it all on the counter. After thinly slicing the steak and then chopping up the slices into the noodles and doing the same with the onion and vegetables, he stirred up the whole dish and slid it into the microwave for a few seconds. He took the time to find himself a can of soda. He'd just pried the lid open when the microwave chirped; he paused and extracted his bowl o'noodles. After cleaning everything up, he took his food and soda to a bench built up against the galley wall and sat down to enjoy his meal.

As he ate, he couldn't help but puzzle over what that thing at the base of his neck was. It was a port of some kind; it felt like a computer port, but he'd no idea. "Note to self: Ask Christian to take a look-see and try to figure out what that thing is," he mused aloud.

 

[Matt]

Christian came into the room coughing and spluttering holding a datapad which he placed on the table still coughing furiously though luckily he no longer had the delightful black glow on his face.

''Here we are, type in whatever you want and we can hook up to the holonet, though I implore you not to type in large big cat as you get something rather.....Worrying''

Christian went to his fridge to partake in some of the food but laughed when he opened it, he did say to help himself and Delun was about the same size as a wookiee so probably not all that surprising.

''Well I hope your hunger is gone now because my food supplies have taken a substantial dent ha!''

 

[Jiang Winters]

A sheepish smile materialized on Del's lips when Christian saw the state of his fridge. "I wasn't kiddin' when I said I was starved. Sorry about that," the feline replied with a quiet chuckle.

He pulled the datapad across the table to himself. It felt tiny in his hands... Then again, everything felt tiny in his hands. Even the fork he'd used to eat was too tiny; he'd resorted to using a pair of slightly oversized chopsticks as his utensils, as the fork just hadn't worked.

"So be careful with my search queries, huh? I'll remember that." Del tapped in a brief search string - a search for feline species. Once he'd figured out what he was, learning who he was would be much easier. It only took a minute to narrow it down to Kasa Horansi, though the match still didn't quite make sense. He was certainly tall enough to be one of the aliens, but weighed far more than was healthy for their kind - he'd stepped on the scale in the bathroom after his shower, and found that he weighed just over 340 kilograms! Kasa Horansi didn't even weigh a third of what he weighed in at!

"Huh. This is puzzling... I can't find any species that's a match for me. The Kasa Horansi are close, but they usually don't weigh more than a hundred kilos. I weigh better than three hundred forty kilos."

He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck - his fingers brushed that port again. His curiosity was starting to get the better of him; maybe that port had something on it that could tell him more about who he was. Del sighed and forced his hand away from it. He'd figure out what it was later.

Del searched his first name again, but came up dry. Millions upon millions of hits, and no way to filter through them. He set the pad down and gave up.

"It's hopeless. Unless I can figure out what I am, there's no way I'll ever be able to find any information on myself. Maybe that hospital has something, or..." His voice trailed off. He was tempted once more to reveal the port's existence, but at the same time he wanted a chance to try to figure it out for himself, on the off chance that it was something that Christian wouldn't take a liking to.

 

[Matt]

He listened to Delun with a slightly baffled look across his face. If he wasn't sure what race he was then what on earth were they to do? Christian was a bit lost as to how they were to continue but he kept his tone measured as he responded.

''I've never met a Kasa Horansi but you aren't very fat as you seem to be nothing but sheer muscle. Perhaps your Mother gave you some very strong milk.''

Christian listened intently to Delun's words and it didn't take a genius to work out he was with holding something. However, Christian didn't want to press the man to bring up any information that he didn't feel ready to share.

''Hmmmmm, you have mentioned this hospital a few times. Where is it and what kind of hospital is it? I've not seen many in the galaxy that are tailored to very big cat men!''

 

[Jiang Winters]

"All I know is that it's up. I'd know the rooftop if I saw it again, but when I left I didn't have time to get directions. I popped out, took a speeder, and the hospital's guards shot me down. It looked pretty sharp, though. A lot of money in that place. Definitely a high end institution. Holographic signs, transparent aluminum instead of glass; even had cryostasis systems in its research ward. Which is where I woke up, by the by. In a cryopod, freezing my tail off."

The feline frowned. "Dunno how to find it though. I shook the guards from the hospital, as well as the thugs they sent after me. It'd be easier if they'd sent someone more determined. A bounty hunter, maybe. We could've just beaned him upside the head and shaken a few answers out of him."

His face suddenly lit up. "Hey, that's it!" he exclaimed, "If I'm valuable enough for them to send hired goons after, they might've posted a bounty on me!"

Tiger boy picked the datapad back up and tapped in a new search query. After a bit of trial and error - mostly error - he stumbled across a bounty board posted up on the local net. There, at the tip-top of the list, was Del's face staring back at him.

"Here we go... Delun, wanted alive, twenty-five thousand credits... Known psy..."

He paused. "Known psychopath, approach with extreme caution? Uh-huh..."

Del shook his head and held the datapad up, offering it back to Christian. "Looks like they do want me back. Bounty sounds really sketchy. Almost no details on me. Just my name and a fat paycheck. It does say to return him to the Saint Demarko Medical Research Facility, though. That could be a lead."

 

[Matt]

Christian did a double take and couldn't help but smile when psychopath came out from Delun's lips but he had learnt a long time ago to judge a person on his experiences with the person rather then anything else.

''Well I haven't met many psychopaths but I should meet more of them as you don't seem to unstable but then I could hand you in and get a rather large payday eh!''

Christian laughed out loud at his own joke before he took the datapad to look over the entry for Saint Demarko Medical Research Facility.

''Yes, this looks very dodgy indeed but it doesn't actually say which planet the place is on.....I assume it is here so there is no reason why we can't go right there then!'

 

[Jiang Winters]

"Sounds like a plan then, Christian... Though I really, really hope you were joking about turning me in. That'd ruin my day right quick," Delun stated half-jokingly. "But first! I need to find some clothes, and a weapon. The guards at the hospital weren't shooting to wound when I escaped; I don't think strolling in unarmed and wrapped in a towel would prevent them from shooting me now."

Del rose to his feet, one hand pressed to the edge of the towel to keep it from trying to unwrap as he stood. "Anyways... That's where I need to go. If anyplace is going to have answers, it's that hospital. What do you say, Christian? Up to make a visit to the nice doctors in the research ward?"

 

[Matt]

''Well, I think the council would understand me helping you as you are a rather unique individual with an obvious affinity to the force, add that to your rather large stature and the fact that this hospital could of done something to you that is most unusual then I reckon I can come along. This is all complete waffle though as I'd come anyway, sounds like a jolly good time''

Christian smiled to himself thinking on the fun this would be, an adventure into a hospital to find out if an evil scientist was working on diabolical plans, oh the fun that could be but then Christian's face took on a rather worried look.

''Sorry but....Clothes? I fear we may be completely stumped there as your the size of a wookiee and they generally don't wear much''

 

[Jiang Winters]

Delun's ears drooped and he slumped back into his seat in defeat. "That... Could be a problem, then," he muttered. "My pelt's very, very short, but dense. Hugs tight to my frame. It's not like other felines' fur, where it's a little long and shaggy. My fur does zip for privacy."

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at himself for a moment. "Ah well. At least I can wear a towel. Maybe the hospital has something I can wear. They did have scrubs that fit me, after all. Anywho!"

He forced himself back to his feet and grinned, ebony lips pulling back to reveal the crests of razor-sharp teeth. "Let's go pay a visit to that hospital. There's questions that need answering, and adventure to be had!"

 

[Matt]

''Let's go then!''

Christian Walked back through the corridor and banged on the release bottom, the ramp lowered slowly and he strolled down back onto the landing ramp as he looked towards the nearby taxi rank, he couldn't think of a better way to get to there destination quickly or at least very close to there destination because Christian couldn't shake the feeling that this hospital had an insidious nature.

'Delun!'

He shouted back onto the ship rather unceremoniously as he realised he had left his new friend on the ship.

''I assume you are not adverse to taking a taxi to our destination my good man?''

 

[Jiang Winters]

"Where's that man going?" Del mused, ear flicking as he watched Christian trot off. He dashed after him when the human called his name, and caught up in short order.

He tilted his head as Christian asked if he was opposed to taking a taxi. He shook his head and shrugged. "If it gets us there, it makes no difference to me," he replied cheerily.

A Taxi would serve admirably to bring them to their destination without arousing undue suspicion. He only hoped that it wasn't an open-air taxi; he didn't take well to the idea that he'd have to shout to be heard over the rushing wind. That and he had a bad feeling that an open-air taxi would leave him looking like a puffball; short fur or not, wind tended to poof up his fur, leaving him looking utterly ridiculous.

 

[Matt]

''Wonderful, let us go''

Christian strolled up to the taxi driver who was a looking Rodian who didn't seem remotely interesting in Christian's musing about the weather or the price of starship fuel but merely on where he wanted to go.

''Would it possible for you to take us there my good man?''

The Rodian merely nodded towards the taxi which Christian dutifully climbed in waving Delun to follow, the Rodian gave Delun a double take when he looked him up and down, whether this was to do with the fact he had a towel on or the fact he was a behemoth of fellow. Luckily the taxi was open aired so they wouldn't have to make small talk with the Rodian, the taxi began to lift off the ground as Christian turned to Delun.

''Any ideas on how we will go about this? I'm assuming I will do the talking as you stand out slightly my good man which I put down to your good looks!''

 

[Jiang Winters]

"Greaaaat. An open-air taxi. This is going to end well."

Delun ignored the gawking Rodian and climbed in. The taxi bucked under his weight, but the repulsorlift system quickly compensated for the extra three or so hundred kilograms of weight. Del settled into the seat across from Christian and laid his tail across his lap to keep it out of the way.

He looked to Christian, one ear perked towards the man and the other ear - the one facing into the wind - laying flat against his skull. "I'm thinking we set down on the roof and head down using the stairwell. The lobby has armed guards, and from the looks of things it was locked up tight as a drum. If we want to avoid a scrap, the roof'll be our best bet. We can use a staircase from there to get to the research ward. After that, we'll just have to stick our nose into every place it ought not be. There's got to be something there," he replied.

The feline then chuckled and gestured towards Christian. "But like you said, I'll follow your lead. I think the folks at the hospital are likely to be a bit more talkative with you than they will me anyways."

 

[Matt]

''Well we could split up, I can make my way into the the front door with my irresistible charm and you can make your way down from the roof. We would be able to cover more ground that way. What do you think?''

Christian looked down at the skylanes below and marveled at the wonderful air going through his close cut hair, it felt good to feel nature on his skin again. The galaxy had a way of making one feel so very small and Christian liked the feeling of being under the radar and rather insignificant....He was an odd one which he promptly showed by bursting out laughing at the fuzz ball Delun was becoming thanks to the taxi ride.

 

[Jiang Winters]

"It's a solid plan, but I'd be more comfortable with it if I had a weapon. I'm not keen on running headlong into security without a more potent weapon than claws and fur!" he joked. "Still, security'll almost undoubtedly open up the moment they see me if we go through the front together, so let's do it. Have the driver drop me off on the roof; I'll work my way in from there."

It was at that moment that Delun finally noticed that his fur was fluffing up rather nicely. The wind was doing a wondrous job of making him look utterly ridiculous, and Christian was quick to notice - and laugh! Del scowled and shook his head. "I hate open-air taxis," the poofball muttered as he folded his arms across his chest.

 

[Matt]

''Sure thing my fuzzy friend! Avast dear Taxi for our destination is upon us!''

The taxi driver looked around with a baffled look across his face as the hospital came fully into view before them and Christian realised he was talking rubbish so reverted to a more easy to understand lingo.

''Park up on the roof dear fellow for my companion wishes to exit here, I shall make it worth your while for this irregularity''

The Taxi driver nodded his head as he shot up higher towards the rooftop, the taxi gently landed as the repulser lifts worked into over drive, Christian opened the door for Delun and gave him a small communicator.

''I have the other one my friend, just speak clearly into it and make sure you say over whenever you are done so I know you are free and clear to talk without any horrible rouges keeping you company.''

 

[Jiang Winters]

"Right, I think I can remember that!"

Del took the communicator and hopped out of the taxi. It lurched skyward as his weight left it - undoubtedly to the relief of the pilot! The feline made his way towards the door he had used to exit onto the roof during his initial escape from the hospital. He was not surprised to find that it had been replaced, and, of course, locked shut. He curled his hand into a fist and slugged the upper half of the door, far from the door's hinges; the plasteel groaned and buckled under the ferocious assault. He dug his hands into the resulting gap between door and frame, then none-too-gently tore the door open, literally shattering the lock in the process.

Quiet? Hardly! But then, Delun was far from a subtle man.

He headed down the stairs, making his way towards the research ward. "Christian, I'm in. Stairway is just as boring as it was when I first used it. I'll let you know when I've reached the research ward. Over."

 

[Matt]

''Wonderful news Delun over''

Christian had just landed at the bottom of the hospitals landing ramp and got out trying to look as nonchalant as possible. He gave the taxi driver a hefty tip and he waved Christian goodbye suddenly much more happy having earned so much from such a odd fare.

''Ok, act like you belong Christian, you are a doctor here and you belong here....''

Christian walked towards the door smiling at passers by as he looked into the reception area, the receptionist looked up and gave Christian a dazzlingly smile in no small part to the fact Christian was a very good looking chap, sadly he was complete oblivious to the other sex and put it down to the women being monumentally friendly.

''Hello, I am a...Doctor here of.... Neurology and I would like to go upstairs to my neurology...department please.''

''Well sir, you aren't a doctor are you? We do not have a Neurology department but I'm sure I can....Oh no sorry sir, we do have this department upstairs. Let me give you a pass''

''Why thank you madam''

Christian smiled to himself at the thought of anyone else hearing the conversation, thank god the receptionist had wood for brain...The wonders of the force. He moved past the reception desk and moved towards the lift swiping his card.

The hospital had about twenty floors with no names...Brilliant. He always liked the number 14 so why not try there.

''Delun, I have moved up to level 14 and am going to start looking there for overweight cat people over''