San Angeles - General Hospital

 

        Clean floors, broad hallways, and the familiar sterile smell of an antiseptic environment mark the San Angeles General Hospital, the most advanced building of its kind anywhere in the world. The facilities here are modern, utilizing the latest in medical technologies, limited tissue printing, and antigravity and forcefields in a medical setting. The doctors here can treat any kind of patient, from the most badly wounded human or reploid to the most bizarre androids and bioroids around. If there's anyone they can't treat, they're probably totally unique. Like most hospitals, this building is utterly quiet, sound dampening fields adding to the restful state of the facility.

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 Repair/Recovery Chamber

 

 Out <O>:                  San Angeles - Wharf District

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red *ring ring*

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: Chest lets the phone ring a while.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red begins humming while he waits. If there is waiting music, he sings along. Badly.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: Chest finally picks up on the seventh ring. He sounds sleepy. "What is it? This better be important..."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "Sorry to disturb you Chest. This is Red, of Red Alert, and Repliforce."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: You say, "Of... nnnngh... alright. What do you want... Commander? Major? Whatever?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "I try not to think about it myself. Commander usually works. I think it's Lieutenant Colonel now, but that title's kind of akward. Actually, I called to determine if you had a clean bill of health, see how you were doing, etc etc. But this is not entirely a social call. I am curious as to what really happened."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: You say, "My health is my business... but overall I'm doing ok. Negative on the virus scan, if you must know. What exactly are you looking to find out?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "I'm aware that your assailant was none other than Javelin Whitetail. I want to know exactly what happened. I'm aware that even before she joined the coalition, she has disliked you for quite some time. I'm wondering if this is a case of past anger boiling to the surface, a directed attack, or something else."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: Chest coughs. "One moment, Commander.. or whatever we decided on." Chest lowers the phone briefly and can be heard saying to someone else, "You call this /food/? LightCossackCain, I'm in the hospital to get BETTER, not to get poisoned!" There's a pause. "Don't you go giving me that kind of backtalk, buddy. Yeah yeah, 'May God be with you too', Father." Chest picks the phone back up again, "Well, I could write a book on that particular traitor."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red stifles laughter. Ah, good ol' Chest. "Well then, I always love a good story. Past history and dislike aside, what caused her to send you to the hospital?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: You say, "You want the whole story?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "I'm torn between saying yes, and possibly hearing a long and interesting tale, and no, and hearing the cut down version which gets to the point. Sure, yes, why not. The whole story."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: You say, "Well... it all started... lets see... September of 2217. Yeah... I remember it as if it was a flashback..." Indeed, we can suddenly see how it started 10 months ago in GNN Central. The day is like any other. The news floor is chalk full of reporters, cameraman, and investigators answering and making calls, looking over records, chatting to one another, typing furiously on the computer, etc. It's a chaotic mess of hard work. "Now I had never meet Ms. Whitetail before. I knew she was a composer and musician, but I had never been interested in all this noise that you young people liberally refer to as 'music'."

        Javelin marches through the wide expanse of the room, ignoring the chaos and even turning a few heads. Upon reaching Chest's office, she enters. "Ms. Whitetail had come to me with a proposal. She was quitting the music business, and in typically over-dramatic fashion she was planning to go out with a bang. Her 'plan' was using an experimental procedure to hook up her own neural net to various equipment, 'Music straight from the soul', she said." Chest snorts, "She wanted GNN to cover the event and provide a live radio station for her to use. Her plan was, of course, very dangerous to her, and so I was all against it. I'm not about to help someone potentially kill themselves, Commander. It's not in my nature. But after she assured me it would be safe, I relented. One of the biggest mistakes I've ever made."

        In our flashback we now inexplicably see Dr. Doppler. "After meeting with her various times, I began to realize her closeness with the Maverick Empire. With Sigma, and with Dr. Doppler. According to her... (if you believe this), she had been infected before, and Dr. Doppler had /cured/ her. No, don't ask me why. I don't know. Then I found out something terrifying. Her plan, to hook her brain up to the radio, had the potential (according to her) of infecting every single Reploid and Android listening with the Sigma virus, should she herself be infected at the time. Given how... /horrifying/ this would be, I begged her to cancel her plans. I'm not going to be a party to destroying this world, Commander. At any rate, the plan finally fell through, and would not occur. I thought this would be the end of it."

        "I was wrong." Chest pauses in case there are any questions so far."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red listens intently. "An auditory version of the Sigma virus? That's a new one. I take it there's much more to the story than that."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: Chest continues onward. In our flashback we can now see Sarah Fairchild, Director of the International Police. "You better believe it. Ms. Whitetail was somehow hired on as a Constable by Sarah 'bleeding heart' Fairchild. You can quote me on this by the way, Commander. Anyway, I was shocked. How could this Maverick /sympathizer/, this near /traitor/ to both humanity and to her own RACE be allowed into Interpol, the organization charged with keeping us all safe?!" Chest's voice begins to rise. Given the doctors told him to take it easy, this probably isn't good.

        "It was around this time that I was 'invited' by Sigma himself to visit the Imperial Spire. The most terrifying experience in my life, Commander, bar none. Being there in the dark Throne Room with Sigma himself glaring down... the crimson Maverick banners hanging from the walls... the holographic Javelin Whitetail dancing and singing in the lone spotlight... Well... I guess you've been there before. But for me it was frightening. At any rate, it became clear to me just how closely integrated Sigma, Doppler, and Javelin were entwined."

        "There were other none-too-subtle clues as well. Eisensturm, Doppler's mutt, was routinely spotted guarding Ms. Whitetail. She would often speak out about how the Coalition wasn't 'all that bad'. I even had evidence that she herself had nearly joined the Coalition willingly."

        Our flashback now shows Chest, L&L, Fairchild and Jav seated around an interview set . "At any rate, I took action. Lemon, Lime, and I interviewed Ms. Whitetail and Director Fairchild. I revealed what I knew about Javelin's , I accused Javelin of being a Maverick sympathizer. I charged Fairchild with being an idiot for accepting this dangerous jade into her ranks, and declared that Interpol was incompetent and blind. They accused me of being out on a witch hunt. It was... an explosive interview. You might remember it. Every station, GNN and otherwise, wouldn't shut up about it for weeks after." Chest pauses again for Red's benefit.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red listens intently. He reserves comment on most of it, but responds in a calm tone. "Well gee Chest, people react badly when you call them incompetent and blind. I can imagine they'd react negatively to being declared either dangerous or stupid on live news... it would certainly account for certain behaviors I noticed after the interview." Red himself pauses. "But that's neither here nor there. Before you give yourself the equivalent of a reploid ulcer, lets move on. What happened next?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: Chest's flashback shows Fairchild telling Chest to 'Burn in Hell, snake'. Both her and Javelin leave in a huff. Everyone involved looks pissed off, except Lemon and Lime, who appear mostly bewildered. "Thus began the huge rivalry between Interpol and GNN. Sarah and I haven't exactly been on the best of terms. And my very public (and very necessary) attack on Ms. Whitetail has been a sore point for both sides."

        At Red's reply, Chest snorts, and we are brought back to the present. "Don't /you/ get on my case again. It was needed. The world viewed Ms. Whitetail as a victim, and Fairchild as a wonderful person for letting them in. They needed the truth. I ask you, what kind of person threatens every single individual with infection with the SIGMA VIRUS just for their own selfish need to spread their music? Huh?! Answer me /that/ one, Commander!" What was that about a robotic ulcer? "Ms. Whitetail was a threat to this entire PLANET, and if I didn't do something to show the truth, What She Did could have been much, MUCH worse for all of us!"

        Chest pauses, calming down a notch or two. "We actually spoke once after that, but we didn't exactly reconcile anything. And then... well, you know what happened. The bitch turned traitor on Interpol. Shot 'em in the back. Destroyed Shambala. Took advantage of Fairchild's blindness (face facts, that's exactly what it was!), and nearly broke the back of Interpol. And for Light's sake... she did it all /willingly/. Let me make myself perfectly clear, Commander: Javelin Whitetail is a pure evil creature."

        Chest lets that sink in for a bit. "She isn't like Sigma and the other Mavericks, where we can claim 'well, the virus made 'em do it'. No, she took to his rhetoric of death to all humans and enslavement for all robots to heart all by her lonesome. She is -evil-."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "This thing still working?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest snaps, "What? Who is that? Is that you, Zero?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Well lookie who's awake. I hear you came out on the bad end of a Maverick. So much for media neutrality."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "I'm a bit busy trying to not die here and to explain the huge clusterf<bleep> that is Ms. Whitetail to Commander whatshisface." Chest pauses and sighs, "Ahhh, I'm sorry, Zero. I'm just under a lot of stress right now... didn't mean to snap at you. And yeah, I'm hospitalized due to a Maverick."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red listens to the angry rant impassively. "I'm not judging you, them, or anyone here Chest. You did what you had to do, and it's your news network." He pauses. "There's no changing the fact that the next time I run into her I'm going to have to annihilate her. I have to do a lot of annihilating in this field. She made her decision. So let's hear the last part of the story." Red listens. This should be good.

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Damn, I'm gonna guess that last little expletive was definetely 'off the record'. So was this revenge for you putting her on the spot back when she was pretending to be with Interpol, or do you chalk that one up to insanity."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "A little of both." Chest pauses, "A little more of the first one. Why?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Oh, just curious how petty it really was. Frankly I'm suprised people didn't see this coming a hundred miles away but, you know. Voice of reason. Ignored. All that."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "Seen which coming? Her betrayal? Or her attack on me?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "The going Maverick thing. I can't help but wonder, now that she -is- a Maverick, if Sigma's still fawning (pun!) over her like he used to. Or if she's just another recruit now. Kind of makes you wonder don't it?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "And for the record I never was a fan of her music anyway."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: Chest transmits, "I'm glad, Commander. She's the very worst kind of person, and she doesn't deserve all the chances she's been given. Quite frankly, Earth can't afford to keep giving them to her." Chest sighs, and we are once again in the flashback. This time, post Maverick Berlin. July 6th, 2218. A little over a day ago. "But for all of Javelin's idiocy, life went on. The Hunters, bless their hard work on this, kicked Sigma and his boys out of Berlin. Repliforce, thankfully, has since been trying to repair it. I went on assignment to interview those there, see how the progress was going... that sort of thing."

        "Well, I'm sure you've seen the news report on it. The Mavericks attacked and managed to sneak one of their members... (Overclock, was it?) past the Repliforcers. Nobody noticed except me. I sent Camera to spy on him, and managed to catch Overclock reclaiming what was apparently their objective: The cornerstone to the foundation of the Imperial Spire."

        The flashback now changes to Javelin in an alley. "Meanwhile back at the battle... Javelin spotted me... I, ah, I was attacked." Chest hesitates. We see Javelin lunging at him and smashing him to the ground repeatedly, crushing his chest in several areas. "Repliforce fought her and them off. And they left with the cornerstone. And now... now I'm here in the hospital."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "Not to say 'I told them so', but 'I told them so'. I also told them about Gate being no good way back when also. And now, recently, Interpol was betrayed by Ms. Whitetail and was forced to fire Gate. I can tell you I don't feel any better about being proven 'right'." Chest pauses. "About Sigma's thoughts on Ms. Whitetail, I wrote an editorial that touched on this subject after my visit to the Spire half a year ago.""

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "That reminds me of the stupidest thing I heard the other day."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero is unusually talkative. Is he inebriated?

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "I don't think I can listen to any more stupidity... the doctor's told me to take it easy, or else I'm going to bust a circuit... but alright.. what was it?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Gate. On the global channel, spouting off about this and that. Now don't get me wrong, I've been pretty neutral overall about the guy, though this stuff about what he did with Red Alert in relation to the Maverick Virus, two words. Pandora's Box. Now where was I? Oh yeah...he's talking about his armor he has. He said he made it...out of pieces of me...and Sigma. Our remains from Italy."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "If this guy created the atomic bomb way back in the day, he'd probably push the button 'just to see what happens'!"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest is as breathless as a robot can be. Finally, "...armour. Out of you and Sigma. What... like a Reploid? A new Reploid?" He sounds very tired.

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "No, I think just a literal armor form."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "Wonderful. I hope it's not too much to ask that he makes sure it isn't going to kill us all. Heh... right, /that'll/ be the day.."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "So far this guy seems to be an example of what -not- to research into. Even if he -did- find a cure for the original Mavericck Virus, look what happened anyway."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest sighs, "Well, some people just don't think before they act. Someone should look into this.."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Hah. Who. Interpol? She gonna check on her boooyfriend?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red hmms to himself. "Well, that just about answers my questions. It's clear that she absolutely hates you. The why isn't important." That last line /sounded/ sincere... but who can really tell. "I'm busy in Europe trying to piece the land back together and re-establish control. I would steer clear until we get more of a foothold here." He pauses.

            "If you should find any sort of hint, even the faintest of offhand remarks by the mavericks that might let us know where they are, let me know as soon as you can. Berlin was a great blow to the mavericks, and further assaults on their locations have continued. The real trick is keeping tabs on them and hitting them wherever they are. The Monument and Spire are toppled, but they're elusive."

            "Thank you for giving me the whole story. I'm going to continue to work to bring down the mavericks, and with any luck, we can all rest easy soon enough. If you have any questions or need a quick sound bite, feel free to call."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "This is your subtle way of asking me to, I assume?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Hey I'm not responsible for what the press does! Besides, this was on global frequency anyway. Public knowledge, you know. Just consider it catching up on what you've missed while you were taking a nap."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "I- I can't keep going at full throttle, Zero. I'm not one of you Reploids. I'm a very, very old Android." Pause. "I've never been attacked like I was two days ago. Oh sure the Yakuza tried to assassinate me two years ago, but they just bungled their way into accomplishing nothing. I wasn't even touched. "Did you know I'm hooked up to life support?" Chest coughs, "I don't know... maybe this is common for combat models, but for me, it's a very, very frightening thing to see a tube connected to your arm that's connected to some machine full of stuff that I can't even pronounce being pumped into my systems. To hear the doctor say 'just a few inches to the left and you wouldn't be here'. I'm not designed for this, Zero." Another long pause. "Sorry, I'm rambling. Thanks for the information, Zero."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "It's a global war Chest, even those who aren't supposed to be shot at sometimes do. There -is- a bright side in all of this though."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Ten to one says Doppler's shining image of the Mavericks he's been trying to push on you is gonna look reeeeal tarnished now."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: Chest mutters, "Well, I've always been outspoken against evil. I'm in the vigilance against injustice column. Bad people don't like that. They prefer people to look the other way and roll over for them." Chest pauses for a long time, "But saying that... I don't know how far I can get involved in this, Commander. I- I'm not a combat mech. Cossack, I'm not designed to be getting shot at..." Chest's voice cracks briefly. "Right now they've stuck a tube in my arm full of medicine that I can't even pronounce. You're a warrior, so maybe this doesn't apply to you." Chest's voice lowers to a whisper. "But for me, for a non combatant... for a civilian, hearing 'a few inches to the left and you wouldn't be here' is a terrifying, terrifying thing to hear." Another long pause. Then, at normal volume. "I can't promise anything, Commander, but I hope the story's helped you out a little bit. Good luck against the Coalition."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest snorts, "Heh..." He then quotes something that only he and Doppler's likely to remember. "'We were searching for weapons in the grain silos'. Heh... at any rate, Zero, GNN just reports the facts. It just so happens that the facts usually demonstrate that the Mavericks are out to hurt us all." Pause. "And, of course, editorials are something different altogether. I always stand against the Coalition when giving my opinion."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "I'd say your current condition probably presents plenty of facts unto itself."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest coughs, "I didn't need the extra proof."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Can't change the past, only make use of what's presented to you."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "Yep. I don't plan on softening my stance against the Coalition due to this, if that's what you're concerned about."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "Thanks Chest. Hang in there, I'm sure they'll patch you up just fine. Steer clear of maverick assassins and keep up the news. Don't put yourself in harms way, but if you hear anything, well, let us "Warriors" take care of it." A pause. "I get a little worried everytime I hear myself described as that. Ah well. Back to the warrioring. Good luck in the ratings."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "That's fine. Hah, I wonder if Doppler will 'punish' her, just like he was gonna 'punish' Vile."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest OOCly changes 'softening my personal stance'.

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "I don't expect it. I just hope this doesn't threaten the deal Sigma and I have. Sigma is quite taken with her."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Deal?"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "'Don't kill my reporters, you get one free hour of programming a week'."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Oh that."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "You're the man controlling the air waves. I'd say that little faux pas should cost them but I suppose I'm biased."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: You say, "Good luck with the fighting. I'd suggest reading my editorial from December 18th of 2217 if you want more on my theory about Javelin and Sigma. Specifically the part about Grace."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "Yeah. I dunno, we'll work something out. The deal's been far too beneficial for GNN - and the Hunters, Repliforce, and the rest of the world - to toss aside."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "I'll take a look. In the meantime, you rest up. Take care, Chest."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: You say, "You too. *click*"

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Chest transmits, "Yep. Look, the doctors are complaining at me again. I'd best be going."

 

[Radio: (B) GNN] Roving Reporter Zero transmits, "Allright then I'll not keep you."

 

================================== Civilian ==================================

Message: 10/2                      Posted        Author

Zero                               Fri Jul 08    Chest

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

        In what can only be considered breaking his own rule less than a day after giving it, Chest sends a memo to Pineapple and to the folks in the high places of GNN. Which, of course, happens to be every PC we have.

 

        Pineapple, I have a very important job for you. Far more important than the assignment on R's parrot (which you should still work on). Whenever you have some spare time, visit me at San Angeles General. I won't be going anywhere.

 

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