Welcome to Gaia! ::

A short girl stared wide-eyed at the building before her. It was her new job, she had been hired to be a janitor at the mysterious laboratory and she was excited as she was nervous. She was in fact suprised that she had not yet wetted her pants. Brushing aside her night blue hair, she took a deep breath and made her way into the buidling.

The young college student hadn't realized that she had been holding breath until she had let it out. She had expected something more elaborate with all the quiet whispers she had heard about the facility when she had first taken an interest for applying as a janitor. She shook her head as she laughed at herself, what did she expect? It was a professional scientific laboratory. She must have been out of her mind to expect something like a talking tree to decorate the center of the lobby.

Quickly, she aksed the security guard in the lobby about where she was to go, introducting herself as a recently hired personel, he directed and she followed his directions until she came to a locker room where she found a locker with her name and directions. She changed into the ugly janitorial uniform and pushed her assigned cleaning cart of miscellanous cleansers out of the locker room. Standing outside the door, she stood up straight with her hands on her hips, her badge displaying her name, Petra Fiey, proudly as she looked around herself, it looked like any other building.

Liquid amber eyes stared at the hallway before her, pushing her cart to one side, Petra began to mop the floor. It would be a long day of work but she hoped to meet her co-workers and the scientists and maybe hear about what kind of research was going on in this large laboratory.

Petra painstakingly made her way up the hallway, making sure to push the cart ahead where she was mopping so that she would track through where she had cleaned recently. Ever once in awhile she would raise her head of blue hair and look around the silent hallway. The silence was so still that her breathing was like a bass as was her heart beat.

She returned to mopping the floor, quietly muttering to herself about how the scientists of the facility must be ghosts since she had yet to see a soul or hear anyone other than the steadfast security guard in the lobby. Petra noted that if it continued to be so quiet that she would have to bring her discman, the silence was unnerving.

Uenoh'ai walked slowly through the Laboratory, holding her ID Card beneath the several laser locks to open her desired doorways. She checked her watch and held her hands in front of herself. Her foot tapped methodically and she watched the tiles. Some had chipped slightly, and were becoming worn from the constant wear of people's strolls. As the approval ring sounded she reached forward and hit a glowing button. The whirring of working mechanics echoed in the lonely room and she waited for the elevator to veer into place. Far away in the back of her mind she heard a piano start to play. The cold steel doors opened and she stepped in. The temperature dropped immensely as they closed again, and she slid her sunglasses up on top of her head as the elevator shot down the shaft. She stood there in silence, watching her breath materialize in front of her before vanishing into the cold. A fluorescent light lit up above her head, and the doors opened. She took a step down and steadied herself on a nearby rail.

___She hated stairs, more than anything. She'd fallen down so many as a child that she had a slight phobia about them. The memory of her shins banged up and lacking a dermis made her shudder horribly. Out of all her body her legs and hands had suffered the most damage. She thanked her clumsiness and the constant issues of being thrown or scraped off of horses for the many scars. Her heels hit the metal stairs with a resounding clarity. As she slowly made her way down the single flight, she sighed with relief as she reached the ground. Her heart always slammed into her stomach when she was at the last step, as if something could go terribly wrong on that last reach down. It was silly, but something she had dealt with for a long time so it didn't exactly bother her, or not so much anymore. She made a face and steadied herself again, before walking swiftly to a control panel. The platform she was on shook, and she widened her arms to steady her body. She had forgotten that if she moved too fast the cables would break and send the entire area down into the second basement. She inched her way over to the panel and began to type, sending her fingers dancing over the keys.

___The plasma flickered and glowed a bright white before settling into the usual processing screen. She hit the enter key and a noise was heard down below, and the loud grinding of a capsule behing pushed up to the platform edge was heard. A countdown voice sounded in a monotonous baritone. The capsule door opened and two very confused Vale appeared. Reaching her hand out Uennie grasped Eden's palm and gently helped him step down. Mara looked at her with hopeful eyes and reached her hand out too, but Uennie shook her head sadly and leaned close to kiss her on the forehead gently. Mara bit her lip and nodded, pulling her hand back down to her side. Uenoh'ai sighed softly and closed the capsule door again. She reached over and hit another key, and watched as the liquid began to fill the capsule and Mara fell asleep again. With another click the machine removed the pod and rushed it back down into the freezing temperatures. The Researcher entered a code into the computer and gently picked the groggy Eden up in her arms. She carried him slowly up the stairs, checking her balance every few steps. When she reached the elevator she waved her ID Card under the scanner and initiated the lockdown.

___The low booming voice of the computer bid her farewell, and she held Eden in her arms as the doors closed around her again. He started to shiver, and she knew she couldn't blame him. She held him as close as possible and felt the elevator shake before shooting up the shaft again. She quietly thought of Mara, and began to wonder what to do with her. She paused for a moment and watched the elevator open, her head losing its dizzy feeling from the fast ride up. Mara needed a home, she couldn't stand seeing a look so sad on the face of any child, specimen or not. In the back of her mind she began to organize a way to find Mara a new Researcher. She headed into her office and wrapped Eden up in a blanket. Picking up her phone she hit the option for announcement and spoke into the mouthpiece loudly.
___"Eden has been cleared for pick-up. You will find him in my office adjacent to Laboratory Three." She set the phone down on the receiver with a clack but then picked it up again. "Also, congratulations to Kyocho and Alinedra. You have passed into Rank 2 and become our new Greenhouse Helpers!"
___Uennie set the phone down again and pulled her sunglasses back over her eyes, the adjustment from almost complete dark to light taking its toll. Eden made a soft noise and she reached into her bag lunch and handed him her thermos of soup. He sipped it delicately and she smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately, waiting for his Researcher to come pick him up.

Petra had stopped what she was doing when she heard the announcement begin. So there were people in the building. The revelation was suprising though she should have known that she would not have been hired to clean up a building that was vacant. Hearing about the promotion, she clapped her hands causing the mop she was holding to fall to the floor with a loud thud that echoed through the hallway she had just finished cleaning. After a second she stopped her clapping and picked up the fallen mop sheepishly. The amber eyed girl had not yet met a single person, besides the security guard, and was clapping for the empty air around her. She shook her head, trying to get some sense into herself. Placing the mop back in the cart, Petra pulled out a bottle of window washer and a rag and began to cleann the windows of the hallway, whistling as she worked to fill the thick silence around which was more apparent after the announcement.

Slowly, Petra peeled the uniform off her back and pulled on her jacket. She shut the locker and walked out of the building, her first day of work was done and now she could go home to sleep. She thought of her first day and how it was so quiet at the beginning but slowly, when the stars began to rise the place became more alive, strange considering that plants needed the sun to live. The college girl made her way home, falling asleep as soon as her head touched her pillow and dreamed of the possibilites and secrets of her new work place.

All in all Tekilite was quite unproductive today. The lingering effects of the crisis gnawed on her mind like a vile sewer rat, destracting her from the tasks at hand. Right from the morning she so far: spilled the large yellow bucket, full of dirty, grimy water; ripped her rags; and nearly broke down crying.

Which, however the last, she finally did. The long hall that she found was very dirty, and like her instincts told her, was to kneel down and scrub with all her might so that the floor would be suitably shiny. Her tears mingled with the teasingly exotic scent and water. Thankfully she was a quiet cryer she thought irrationally.

She had to some way keep her mind of her beloved Loki!

Petra drudged on as she pushed her cart of cleaning solutions. Though it was a dull day at work so far, it was not a silent one for she had remembered to bring her discman so that she would have something to occupy her mind other than the mindless cleaning. She entered a hallway and looked around, it certainly did needed cleaning she thought. As her amber eyes fell on the figure scrubbing the floor the girl grinned. It was the first person she had seen other than the security guard. Smiling, she made her way, pulling out the plugs of her discman.

Stopping not too far from the other janitor, she introduced herself, "Hello. I'm Petra Fiey, I started work here not too long ago."

Tekilite was so startled that she could only gape at the woman with her tear streaked face before her worrying mind came to a grinding start.

"Oh!," She gasped mussing her face to get the water off, "How rude of me. My name is Tekilite Penwright. It seems like there are a lot of openings for jobs here. I only started a day or so ago." Her obviously dyed, vivid pink hair stood stiffly as she did when she rose from the floor to shake Petra's hand.

"I think I would have rather'd met on a better time but that's ok. Are you a janitor as well, ma'm?" She smiled in a genuine good nature however she still had a veil of worry over her eyes.

"I am, but please call me Petra. Being called m'am makes me feel so old and I'm not really that old, as least I don't think so." The girl replied as she wrinkled her brows in question to herself. She had remembered being mistaken for being a high school student because of her baby face. Shaking her head she looked at Tekilite and noticed the trail left by tears, "Are you ok?"

She blushed, knowing exactly how she explained. But her face darkened quickly and her eyes traveled to their feet.

"Its my bird," she began in a small voice, "I'm afraid for him."

She looked up and her face took on that screwed look of mixed emotions that you could most intuitively guess that she was trying desperately to hold back another wave of tears.

"I'm afraid, because... he might die. He's very sick, and!" And she stamped her foot to release some of the pressure of the expressional buildup, "It's all my fault!" Her fists by her side clenched and unclenched. She had only gotten Loki reciently! He was about twenty years old! Still in his prime!

The girl was at a loss and could do no more than nod her head. She didn't know much about birds and so could not offer any advice on the matter. She watched the distressed girl and wished she could help.

"Have you tried taking your bird to the vet?" She asked. It would have been the first thing that she would have done if she had a pet in her care and it was failing. Then she pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to the girl to avoid more tears. Petra patted the other girls back gently, trying to reassure her.

She accepted the kerchief greatfully and began to dab her eyes. After a few tense, silent minutes she becan to explain a little more.

"Oh but, I have. I've taken him to the vet but the first time the doctor said he was just fine," she took in a shuddering breath, "But when I came home last night something was terrible wrong with him. He was practically naked!"

In a way this was very good for her. Normally she would bottle everything up, but for some strange reason she really wanted to unload to this young woman, she really needed to have at least a little support since she was so alone. All she had was Loki, and this minor stress problem he had, has turned into a very big sickness.

Petra gaped at the girl. Naked? How could a bird be naked? Had it molted all his feathers? She shook her head causing her haird to fall into her face. It was possible for a bird to lose his feathers, but all? Brushing away blue strands of hair from her face, she frowned and asked curiously, "How can a bird be naked?'

She shifted her hands into her pockets and slouched. She was not one for perfect posture and was glad to live in a time where finishing schools and etiquettes were not as important as they had once been. The janitor quietly waited for an answer, a frown still disturbing her forehead.

Her lips trembled.

"The nature of his stress forms when he starts to pluck himself. So essencially from the neck down he's plucked himself. Completely bare. I was gone such a long time yesterday... I've always had half day jobs because I knew he got stressful alone."

She broke down into silent fits and buried her face in the hankerchief for a few moments. She looked up to continue, her carefully applied makeup, completely awary.

"He, just kept on plucking. Had I not gotten home early... He would have ripped himself open and ... and bled to death! Just.. kept on plucking..."

She zoned out as the replay button was pushed for her private memories repeat. It was amusing to see the feathers everywhere but when she found out how they got there... and then, horrid sight of her pet in that condition... The mad rush to the vet - she shuddered.

The blue haired girl grew uneasy as she heard about the bird's condition. It was horrifying and yet there really wasn't much she could say. No, there wasn't a single thought of what she could say. She was bothered to hear that a bird would hurt itself and uncomfortable that the girl Tekilite was so distressed.

She hesitated for a second, "Maybe you should take some time off from work to take of your pet or leave him with a sitter to take care of him when you're working."

Hoping that her co-worker wouldn't take her words as criticism, she waited. She wondered what she would do if she had a pet like that. She wondered if she would ever be able to bear keeping a pet that would inflict harm on itself. Petra grew more and more disturbed at her own thoughts and scolded herself silently. She should not be thinking about what she would do but what she could do to help this poor girl.

She pushed her discusting thoughts away. The "what ifs" and such to the back of her mind.

"He's temporarily housed at a clinic. There's a little more to it than stress. And the vet said to go about my business and if anything came up he would call." Her far away eyes snapped back to the present and she looked a little sharply towards Petra, "Let's talk about something more friendly and nicer. As I said, I have to go about my business."

She knelt back down and started to scrub vigorously. Having unloaded all that terribleness gave her a new strength, and although the woman couldn't give her any sound advice or help, it was good enough aid to keep Tekilite on her feet.

She paused long enough to sit on her haunches and look at her collegue. "I can still talk while scrubbing. I probably should. Don't want to get caught not working."

Nodding in agreement, Petra retrieved her own supplies and knelt down on the floor to help Tekilite with the scrubbing. Scrubbing the floor, for some reason it made Petra feel like Cinderella. The scene of the Disney movie when the girl was scrubbing the floor while her horrendous step-sisters sang made her chuckle. She shook her head and grinned as she scrubbed the floors, humming the melody from the scene.

Then realizing that maybe the other girl might not appreciate the humming, she stopped and quickly apologized, "Sorry about my humming. I was just thinking about the Disney movie, Cinderella."

She chuckled a little.

"I've never seen that movie, but you're welcome to belt out any song you'd like. I don't mind at all." She scooched ahead as she wiggled this way and that to wash the floor. It was a thankful blessing that she was nearly done with the mostly sparkling tiles. Then a thought struck her.

"Well. Now, though you don't really know me but after all that, how about talking a little about yourself?"

Pausing, she thought for a moment. "Well, I like to write. I hate heights. I like junk food especially Apple Jolly Ranchers and Grapefruit Jelly Beans. I hate vegetables, tomatos the most though I do like ketchup and tomato sauce. I like to read, I plan on having my own private library of fantasy and science fiction books one day. I hate studying which is what I do most of the time since I go to college. And lastly, I'm just your average blue haired, yellow eyed girl." She had ticked each thing off on her fingers and gave a mischevious grin at the end.

"I think I covered up the basics." Petra turned to face the pink haired girl and asked in return about herself, "So what about you?"

Tekilite burst into a loud gale of laughter that echoed around the polished halls.

"Gee, all that, even in one breath?" Her eyes twinkled as she sat back and threw her sponge into the sud filled water.

"Well for more concrete evidence on me. My natural hair is tawny but I like expirmenting with it. I kind of like my pink hair. But it takes nearly a bottle and a half to get it to keep still. Otherwise it's a dandelion puff all around." Tekilite's blue eyes regarded her with an undescribeable expression as she took a big breath, "I have blue eyes and I should be wearing my glasses. I forgot them today. I had a private library of those kinds of books... and more. But not any longer. I plan to have one again. I'll eat anything but I'm sure you can see by my... pleasently plumpness that I tend to eat sweets more often than I should. I am an artist and I graduated with 6 years of college under my belt. An Accociates Degree in applied sciences, and a Bachlor's Degree in Illustration. All in all it wasn't my idea but I don't mind. I'm thankful. I just lead a quiet life alone."

Her eyes clouded over, "Or well... with Loki..."

"I wish I could be an artist. I'm not very good. All I do is scribble all over my notebook." She screwed up her face with distaste, "And I'm studying to be a nurse. Science and science. Oh I hate science yet I don't know why I'm studying to be a nurse."

She patted Tekilite on the shoulder and pushed off the floor to stand up. They had gotten alot done, suprisingly, as they had talked. She picked up her supplies and looked down at the woman on the floor who looked ready to cry, "Shall we move on to the next dusty hallway?" Petra hoped that keeping the other woman's mind on something else would help.

She instantaneously brightened as she looked around, the gleam reflecting from the walls shone in her eyes.

"Of course!" It took her some trying and creaking knees, but she managed to struggle up from being on the floor for so long. Then she picked up her bucket.

"Wooh. I'm only nineteen, and already I feel old. But it's the weight. Gravity isn't nice." Then she blushed. She deliberately avoided her age because of the looks that people usually gave her. To let them know that she was only nineteen and completed six years of college? It was easier to say that she was closer twenty four, she looked older anyhow.

She went to the ways of the elevator. "I think it's time to find a new floor. Whaddya say?"

She followed after the younger girl. She was impressed. She had been in college for two years already and still wasn't sure what she was going to do with her life though she had ideas. Petra thought about the oppurtunities she had but shook her head. She didn't want to create regrets where there were none.

"A new floor sounds great."

Tekilite looked and found that there was an up arrow and down. She pushed down. Down was always dirtier, at least in her own opinion anyhow.

She stood by to let Petra pass and then she entered. The only floor down was the basement. Gee, how strange! Yet, then again it did make sense. It took only a minute to get going it seemed and the elevator did not even have music, that was boring!

It was interesting to what they saw when they arived. Tekilite could only stick her head out and just gaze around.

Sometimes being short was a pain, this was one of those times. Petra stood behind Tekilite as she peered out the elevator door. She waited patiently for the girl to move out so that she too could get out of the elevator. Being in a small metal box with two carts of cleaning products was not the best way to preserve what remaining brain cells she had.

Finally, getting a little frustrate, Petra tapped the girl on the shoulder. And nodded towards the direction outside of the elevator. She hope that would get the girl to move. Her nose was slightly sensative and the chemicals were beginning to get to her head and irritate her nose.

"Oops, sorry," She shuffled out of the way and looked at the place. It was positivelly filthy. The only thing she could pick out were faint tracks that led to and from a box on the wall. She surmised at one point perhaps the electricity went out and someone had come down ages ago to fix that. There were tracks as well, to and from a large generator that was humming, ready to be used when the electricity did fail.

Back towards the doors, Petra pulled her cart out of the elevator and into the basement. As soon as she turned around a groan escaped her lips. The place would take an entire week at least to have spotless. How the floor get so bad? There were cobwebs in crooks and dust bunnies everywhere she turned.

She turned to Tekilite with a weak smile, "So, ready to start?"

It seemed that Petra and Tekilite groaned as one. It did take a while. Tekilite groped for the lights and she quickly flicked it on, bathing the grey concrete in a dim fluorescent light. It was worse than it looked in the dark.

"This... is going to take a very... long... time." She stared as she survayed the area, "I think this time we should get mops. This place is too big to be on our hands and knees. Though as much as that is fun to be right with the soap..."

"A mop? I was thinking more along the lines of those tractor like machines that wax and clean the floor." Petra replied forlornly, but she reached into her cart and pulled out a broom. She figured that she might as well clean up the larger pieces of dust and dirt lying around before mopping it up. She sighed, she hated cleaning. How did she end up with a job that made her clean all the time?

"Right. I'll start brooming. Less junk to get caught in the mop."

Tekilite looked sharply to Petra. Oh. A Broom. Somehow, something just clicked and she relized for some hidden irrationality, she wanted to sweep.

"Can... Can I take the broom and sweep the floor?" she asked in an almost strangled voice. She, really, really wanted to sweep the floor, but a though occured to her. Petra could dust off the generator gingerly and wipe off the electrical box....

She grined and stated that inner thought instructions. Then she looked to the broom in anticipation.

"Umm sure." She handed her broom to Tekilite and went back to her cart. She got a window cleaner and a rag and began to work on the windows and utilities around her since she didn't have much else left to do.

"So what made you want to work here?"

She began to sweep happily, with a large smile on her face. Apparently some hidden desire was satisfied. She adored sweeping.

"I decided to work here since well there really weren't and job openings for artists or anything. Being a botinist won't be bad... but I was more into zoology. Which is where my applied science came from." She thought thoughtfully for a moment or so.

"What about you?"

"I needed a job. I'm a poor college student after all." She remembered how she had applied to everywhere possible. She needed to pay for her living expenses and her school tuition as well. Petra had searched high and low and this had been only place to have called her back telling her that she had gotten the job. She had been so happy that day. Even now she appreciated the job though it was a bit tedious and dull.

"Oh," she said on sudden insight, "Right, that would be dreadfully expensive." She never had to pay for her education. It was all paid for, by her parent's funds that they had left her brother and herself, yet... after all that she ran away.

"Well I'm sure things will pick up," And with that she slipped into a happy silence as the pile of her dust piled and piled.

Tekilite shuffled to the designated dust bin and deposited the last of the dust dragons. She thought that the dragons ate all the dust bunnies. It was terrible. The poor bunnies...

She shook herself and got out a mop as she put away the broom. She was ready to keep on going! In no time it'll be finished!

Swish, swish, slop! The suds went all over the floor.

Petra stood back, wiping the sweat off of her brow. The windows, the utility boxes and all those things were clean. The shined beautifully. She walked back to her cart of magic, cleaners, and deposited the things in her hands. She was exhausted. She needed to rest and it was time to go home. Petra turned towards Tekilite and smiled.

"I think I'll be heading out for the night. I'm pretty exhausted. I'll see you tomorrow Tekilite."

Sodashi stood before a black door labeled Lab 7 swiping an laminated ID card while tightly clutching a pot and seedling wrapped in a long tan arm. Two tiny lightbulbs were implanted on the door frame, red and green. And though Sodashi willed the green light to blink on with all her heart, the green refused and the red took its place. "Damned door..." It was like going into a hotel room.

Sodashi turned at the sound of a weary voice. Sodashi noticed a total of two things. Vivid pink hair, and the odd little green gurgling thing in the crick of the elbow of the body to whom the bright pink hair belonged. Her crystal blue eyes followed the pair intently, sluggish mind churning to understand. As usual, nothing came. It was most definitly time to go get some coffee. Curiousity got the better of her and she left her door and pot to approch the two.

".... what.. is it?"

Rabid has passed the girl without so much as a blink of an eye, standing by her laboratory door much the same as she was. Similarly, she was currently in the same predicament although the reason she couldn't gain entry was because she couldn't FIND her keycard.

Upon hearing the girl approach and finally realizing her existence, the woman turned and juggled the baby in her arms to begin a search into the opposite pocket of her lab coat. She stared blankly for a moment, stiff and stern expression even before she'd heard the inquiry.

"Sevy." She muttered the response, not taking kindly to the newcomer's rudeness. Sevy wasn't a thing, he was a boy. Just... different? "His name's Sevy." The fuschia-haired researcher reitterated, finally retrieving the keycard and swiping it with ease.

The baby's flytrap leaves fluttered on his back at the sight of the stranger, as couragious as a naive infant could be. "Ah!" He pointed and smiled to Soda with much more enthusiasm than his keeper.

.. Now that was odd. It had a name? Well...people did named their pets. Or perhaps it was a mutated son? Ideas rolled in her head. None which seemed at all remotely possible. Did Uennie tell her anything about this? She really should have paid more attention. Just like high school. Miss the important parts, get the useless crap that was never on the final.

The girl's curious face was replaced by a large grin when the infant's attention turned to her. Soda had always enjoyed attention. She held up a finger and gently placed her fingertip on the Sevy's tiny green finger. It was soft. Like a baby's.

A baby. That's what it was. A specimen. She'd gotten that part out of Uennie's lecture. Like her pot. Her blue eyes suddenly widened in realization. A baby. And an observer. Sodashi backstepped twice, tripping over her own feet. "Oof. Ai. Second time today I've fallen on my rump. Oye."

A cerulean head bobbed up and down as the girl danced to the music playing through her ears. She was in regualr clothing, still since her uniform had not yet arrived, but she did where a nice pair of black slacks and a white button down shirt with the sleeves folded to her elbows. She was early and thought to look around with the excuse of trying find her supervisor, the cranky blonde.

The girl came to a halt as she spotted the two women before her. Her golden amber eyes flew over the pair quickly and immediately recognized one of them.

"Well fancy seeing you here Sodashi. I mean, Observer Sodashi." A grin appeared on her face quickly and then she turned towards the other woman with bright hair and began to introduce herself, "Hello. I'm Petra Fiey. I'm one of the techies here."

Petra stood facing the stranger with her hand out while her other hand pulled the ear plugs out.

Rabid slowly arched an eyebrow as she watched the fumbling girl with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. Sevy seemed to like her though. "Uh... you ok?"

The infant burst out into a fit of giggles as he watched the girl trip herself, clapping his hands together almost in applause. Although his messy hair masked most of his eyes, it was clear that he was enjoying this.

Just when she thought she was going to be able to ditch this clutzy girl, another more bouncy one came skipping down the hall to them. Oh great. They're multiplying. She thought disdainfully to herself but made an effort to retain her composure. "Rabid, nice to meet you." A short glance to the offered hand of 'you've got to be kidding me' before she awkwardly juggled the baby to her other free arm in order to return the greeting.

Sodashi eyed the woman Rabid. Ha. Rabid. What a funny name. The girl nearly snorted then remembered she wasn't supposed to do that the strangers. "Fine.. thanks.." Sodashi pushed herself to her feet groaning. It was too early in the day to be running around, meeting flytrap infants, and falling down on her rump. She glanced her watch. The digital black numbers flashed 12:56. Definitly too early.

A smile tugged at her face as her ears caught the familiar voice. "Petra! Techie indeed. Got yourself promoted I see. And since we're all introducing ourselves, I'm Soda. Er. Sodashi. New here. Somehow got promoted to Observer. Potthing's sitting ove--" Soda suddenly yawned in midsentence and her hands flew to her mouth barely covering the huge yawn streching her jaw to its limits, then rapidly blinked her eyes while tears streamed down her face.

Soda groaned again. "Lordy. It is much to early to be running around. Is there coffee around here?"

Her mind flew. The name Rabid was so familiar. She had before then her eyes widened, "Hello Researcher Rabid, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Petra then glanced at what Rabid had in her arms and noticed the green little baby then noticed how her arms were full. Withdrawing her hand quickly, the girl gave Rabid a sheepish look.

"Oh I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Do you want me to hold something or help you so you can get the door? Or do you want me to get the door instead?" The girl babbled on. The woman was a researcher! This was the woman that Edwin reported to! This was the woman that was just a step beneath Researcher Uennie.

Rabid couldn't help but smirk at the pair of fumbling lab workers. "I think I'm good, thanks." She answered just short of a laugh as she glanced down at the green light before swinging the door open with her free hand.

Seeing as she was occupied at the moment, Sevy took the opportunity to extend himself further over his keeper's shoulder in an attempt to reach Petra's hair. Chubby fingers reached but his stubby arms were too short. The infant didn't seem upset by this, grinning impishly as he was carried inside the lab.

Depositing the baby onto the center of the large metal table in the middle of the room, she continued on to the back to put away her purse expecting the others to follow inside if they wanted. Or not, it didn't really matter. "Coffee's in the staffroom, you might have to make it. DON'T take my creamer!" She called back to Soda light-heartedly before making her way around the room to check all the boxes, cages apparently.

"Meeee-maaaah!" The baby echoed, waving his chubby green hands in the air to amuse himself.

Sodashi silently snorted if such a thing is possible. Authorities were bad... but, well, to put it frankly, Petra worried too much about them. How were you supposed to enjoy life, and thus booze, if you were worrying about authorities all the time?

Sodashi's systems stopped at the words coffee and staffroom in the same sentence. "COFFEE. YES." Sodashi only spared a glance at the lab door reading Lab 6 before she dashed in the direction of the elevator she had come through earlier in the morning. In less than a moment, the girl was gone, set on an epic quest to find the Staffroom and the treasures it held. The girl hadn't even paused to say a simple farewell to the pair and the little green Sevy.

Petra stood in confusion as Rabid entered her laboratory and Soda ran off to fill herself on caffine. With a lost and blank face she stood outside Rabid's door, unsure of what to do. She had thought to kill some time by talking with Rabid and Soda, but since they disappeared she figured that she might as well get to her station early.

Knocking on the laboratory door, Petra stuck her cerulean head through the doorway. Her amber eyes resting on the green-skinned baby.

"Well... I guess I'll be going now." She said slowly as if she did not want to. Turning around she looked towards the elevator to see if Soda had returned, she had not. So the girl to a heavy step and began her painful walk to her station.

It had been a few slow months around the facility, but things seemed to be picking up at great speeds. It has been a while since Kyo had met up and talked to the other employees. Them with there promotions, the young elf was still slaving away... well more like just working away in the green house. Repotting plants and planting new ones. Even taking care of the watering of the current plants.
It was hard work, but it seemed to pass the day fairly quickly and it was enjoyable.... most days.

The buzz of news soared through out the building that a new wing was going to be opening. Something about the breeding of Vale.
"I think it was called.. "Esperanza Wing"" The elf tapped at his lower chin with a dirt covered finger. Leaving spots across his face. Shrugging his shoulders he let the thought go and nag at the back of his skull. It wasn't until around lunch time he decided to head off and see things for himself.

As he wandered down the many hallways. Kyo hopped another one of the employees would show there face. It was sad being alone all the time in that big huge… heat radiating building. Well he wasn’t really that alone if you count the plants.

Sodashi, upon sudden impulse, had brought her fiddle to work today having nothing better to do, her potseedling still potseedingly after a week. Word had it that some new section of the building was opening… though how word spread in such a lonely place was beyond her. Grand opening was probably a few days ago and the event had flown right past her unawares. Some reproduction research wing called Esperanza. Sodashi mused as she fiddled her way toward the wing, her upbeat music proclaiming her presence as it echoing down the halls.

Kyo's Elvin ears twitched with excitement as his feet pounded against the tiled floor, but that wasn't what made them twitch. Another sound joined in the echoes of the walls. The sound of a fiddle playing from an unknown person... or was it?

Kyo's foot steps stopped to a halt. Waiting as the sound drew closer and closer until the shadow of a familiar figure emptied into view. It was Soda. Tilting his head slightly and cocking an eye brow.
"Hey.." The elf manage to whisper.

Soda pranced down the hall, fiddling an old country tune she'd learned back when she actually attended class and paid attention for more than 42 seconds a period. The girl nearly fiddled right past Kyo had he not let the whisper of a sound through his lips. Determinded to complete the piece she'd started (which was unusual), the girl trotted around the elf as she pulled the song to a close planting herself before him just as she played the last chord. Sodashi looked up from her fiddle, dropping her arms at her sides swinging the fiddle and bow lightly and flashed a pearly white grin. She'd gone to the dentist just a day past. "What's the look for, eh?"

"Oh no particular reason." The elf grinned. "What brings you out here?" Kyo whispered once again. Not even he knew why he was whispering, but it was rather just the mood he was in. A tired yet awake mood. Shrugging his shoulders.
"I heard there was an opening of a new wing, I thought I would come check it out... I hope I'm right though."

"Really?" Soda's brows lifted in amusement. "You're honestly telling me that I got something right for once? So there is a new wing opening. Huh." The girl pondered the achievement a moment before chuckling to herself and blowing hair out of her eyes. Definitly time to get a haircut. "What brings me out here? I work here remember? Potthing is still a potthing. No idea what I'm doing there. And stop with the whispering. Can't here a damn thing your saying." With that, the girl led the way in the direction of the wing, or so she hoped, fiddle back in her neck playing a personal Disney favorite.

"I know you work here... I meant by why are you out here... here." The elf waved his arms around.
"Well it is a rare sight to see a researcher outside of there labs... right? It is for me. I've been stuck in the greenhouse for quite some time." The elf spoke louder this time and decided to follow close behind the fiddler player.

"I don't hate it, but it does get bland and boring sometimes." The elf nodded, unaware and unconscious of his rambling.

She stopped fiddling to answer the elf, "That could just be because I'm the only observer around these parts these days ya know," she pointed out. "'Sides. Winter's my season." Winter, was a time of joy. The crisp cool nipping at her nose while her ears stayed snug under hand knitted wool hats brought a such childish glee to Sodashi's world that probably wasn't healthy for the normal human being.

"Well you should wander around more often. This building is HUGE. There could be piles of gold hidden in corners and we wouldn't know it, man." The minor thought that Kyo might not be the delinquent Sodashi prided herself as decided to skip over Soda's painfully slow mind this time 'round.

The only observer?
This single sentence repeated over and over in his mind.

"How could that be? I thought there where more Observers around here.." The elf shook his head then stopped in his tracks. Lifting a hand Kyo began to scratch at his head. This place made him more and more confused by the minute.

"Wander... around here? I don't know. I didn't want to get into any kind of trouble. Aren’t there like... restricted areas around here?" The elf sighed. Being blunt.
"Well... I guess there would be signs to mark restricted areas. SO... I wouldn't be able to wander too far." The elf nodded.

Soda shrugged indifferently. The only people she saw around this place were that girl Petra and Kyo. Not that she’d been around for too long, maybe all the others really did just hide inside their labs pouring green and blue bubbling chemicals onto their plants to see if the plant would grow an antler or something. Horror movies really were started to get to her head…

Sodashi brightened at the talk of trouble. Getting in and out was her profession and she was always happy to add a partner in crime to her list. Back at school they’d had quite a crew Sodashi had been a proud member of. Head of espionage and breaking into things/places. Those were the good days.. “Psh. And who’d be here to catch you, eh? Honestly. Look at the population of this place. Probably a grand total of maybe four?” Sodashi was suddenly torn between some serious action and adrenaline pumping and never-ending curiosity for new things. “Hey, hey Kyo. Whattaya say? Let’s go find somewhere to break in and run around for a while yea? Bring some excitement to that life of yours.” She gave a feral grin, eyes eager for some good chaos and trouble.

"I don't want to lose my job.. Soda." The elf tapped at his lower chin. "I don't even remember who the manager is..." Kyo sighed and slouched his shoulders.
Lifting up his hand and giving his head a scratch once again. Kyo pondered on what real excitement was. Getting into trouble? Sighing once again.
"Some excitement huh? Maybe we can snoop around that new wing... I don't think everything is open." The elf winked a devious wink.

Change was good… right? Well maybe it was about time for some change… and excitement and this Soda could possibly lead this… frail elf to this new change. It has been a dull few months.

Sodashi stifled a laugh. Losing a job. What an interesting concept. Sodashi herself had lost too many jobs to count. Not that she regreted losing any of them.. paying her only minimum wage and all. Though that wink was a good sign, she'd been afraid she'd sized Kyo up all wrong, Soda had really hoped for some fun in the unexplored building rather than a wing full of bawling children. She shrugged, indifferent. "Well if you ever feel up to it, call me up and we'll have a go," she grinned crookedly.

"Mmm.. the new wing.. Esperanza? Isn't that what it's called? Sounds like a dance.." She picked up her fiddle once more and swayed side to side down the hall toward the wing, the instrument singing the songs of forgotten Gypsies.

Kyo's Elvin ears pricked with happiness. Following Soda down the hallway, trying to keep up with her pace towards the newly opened wing.
"Hey wait up.." The elf kept to pace pretty good, but Soda was still moving faster than him.
Unknown to what kind of trouble the two could get into, but it was better than roasting in that green house all day. Since it's the only this elf's been doing for the past few months. Even getting into a bit of mischief was better than planting new plants.

The elf sighed. This was a big change and a step out of his comfort zone.

Soda ignore the elf's plea continuing her pace stepping lightly to the beat of her song, twisting a 360 when the music requested. Unlike the elf, there was nothing on her mind, she was a carefree breeze floating this way and that, always doing as she pleased. The girl had never known the life of being penned up under orders... and well... actually following them. What a concept.

Her music dwindled to a stop as she finally looked up at where she was headed. "Hey... doesn't this.. look familiar..?" The girl mused a moment. Seemed the pair was right back where they'd started. Oh yea. Huge building. Unmapped areas. Don't really know where we're going. Oops. Ha.

"SO. Good buddy ol' pal, Kyo. Ya wanna lead now?"

"Huh?"
Kyo glanced around the hallway. It did look familiar... very familiar.
"We went around in circles." The elf stifled back a slight laughter. There doom to get in trouble was held back slightly. Sighing a bit. There where actually a lot on this elf's mind. Mostly that he thought this place had a lot more researches... and if so what happened to all of them.
... It made him worry. Did the owners of this place do something to them?

Looking up to Soda.
"Umm.. Sure I guess I'll lead, but I don't think I'll lead to anywhere even better." The elf began to pace forward. Passing Soda on her right. Minutes began to pass while they wandered down the many halls of the building.
"Why do you think they need a place so big... when there are only so many researchers?" Kyo seemed to speak to himself, but his voice carried on the echoes of the hallway.

“Sure ya will! Be confident in yourself, eh? Think about it. If you were me – er.. a spy, and you were sent into enemy camp leading a small squad to infiltrate, you’d go on straight ahead wouldn’t ya? None of that ‘well uh.. I don’t know where I’m going..’ business. Damn straight you didn’t know where you were going. You’re in enemy camp! You infiltrate. Dive in!” By the end of the speech Soda was pretty enthusiastic, voice nearly to a shout. She gave a lopsided grin and fell behind following Leader Kyo playing the Mission Impossible theme… which, unfortunately, didn’t sound nearly as grand on a fiddle.

Not stopping her passionate imitation of MI III, she answered, voice muddled a bit with her jaw pressed against the fiddle, and answers short, her mind focused on MI III. “Reserchers? Not a clue. Haven’t seen many myself. Place is pretty lonely if you think about it. We should stir trouble. Get the police force here. That’d add to our numbers.” She laughed, her curiousity suddenly wondering if the PD here was as good as the one back home.

"An enemy camp? Who's the enemy, the owners of the place?" The elf chuckled at his lame-o joke then sighed at the end.
"I guess your right, I've become a little softy over the pass few months. Maybe the greenhouse gases got to me or something." Slouching his shoulders. Kyo lifted his arms up and rested them behind his head, his eye gaze following up towards the ceiling. This frail elf began to deeply ponder on why there hasn't been many researched out and about... it was really strange and would have to be something that needed to be looked into.

Kyo listened to the poor excuse of a MI III theme song, but it was better than some.
"Your really good on that fiddle you know." Kyo nodded.

Sodashi laughed gently at the joke, the quote 'My school resembles a prison' crossing her mind. "Soft? Hey don't go putting yourself down, right? There's a difference between soft and safe. But yea, I think the fumes have definitly gotten to you. I've never seen a single person SIGH so much," she laughed again, watching him. Now Sodashi definitly wasn't the sharpest tool on the block but clearly, something was bothering the elf. And it was really cramping her style. How in the world were you supposed to have fun with a sighing elf? What happened to the devious wink? Thinking, was not something that usually occured naturally to Sodashi, and she nearly missed the compliment as Kyo spoke in his soft voice. "Eh? Oh. Ha. Mm.. Thanks. That's what happens to a person when you sit at home watching boring movies, eh?" Her smile faded some as she went back to thinking about the trouble elf before her. What in tarnations could be bothering him so much...?

Kyo laughed full heartedly.
"Yeah, I think so too. Those toxic fumes of boredom I tell you." Nodding. Kyo slowed his pacing down so he stood next to Soda.
"I'm glad I finally found some one else around this place. It's gotten really boring as of late and sorry for sighing so much. I think I'm just down since I've been all alone in that green house all this time." Kyo nodded.

Something’s have to change... eventually right? If he kept working at it, Kyo believed it would eventually get him some where and any where other than that green house was better.

"Ew. I sympathize. You ought to come around the labs more often. Then at least you'd be in the air conditioning.." The girl had officially given up on fiddling and talking at the same time and sent that type of multi-tasking to the pits of the impossible. Her arms swung lightly by her side, the extra weight of the fiddle on bow adding to the momentum of the rock. They walked on in a silence, all conversation seeming to have been exhausted, so strange and awkward for Soda who led a life was full of loud noises and the busy bustle of city life. She broke the silence rather ungracefully. "SO. I'm starving. But curiousity's eating my insides about what this new wing looks like..." she gave a mock sigh. "Curiousity killed the cat, eh? Or rather.. starved it in this case."

"Well... we could STOP at the break room and get something to eat before we head over to the new wing."
Kyo tried to weasel out of going to the wing. Something about snooping around there didn't seem appropriate, but curiosity was getting the best of his judgment.

"I know what you mean... I'm so curious as to what it's like and what's going down. I think I remember hearing something about a breading wing? I don’t know.." Kyo shrugged his shoulders.

Sodashi, though her hunger was biting the her insides, didn't feel like straying from their path. Plus the thought of a possibility of some excitement poked at her and tugged her towards it as only a beloved... er.. hobbie can. "Mm.. It's fine. Esperanza Wing is good." She smiled easily, ignoring Kyo's attempt to get out of trouble. "Reproduction's what the bulletin said. Soon to be full of little kids no doubt..." The girl didn't try to hide her discontempt with the buggers most would claim were 'adorable.' Annoying was what they were. Brain-damaged and lacking functional eardrums.. though they seemed to work perfectly fine at the mention of candies or shinies...

"Reproduction huh! I think that would be something pretty amazing I think." The elf nodded. The thought of being able to reproduce two plants to make kids... Hey wait kids?
"What do you mean kids, what kind of place is this facility anyways?" Shaking his head. This place was getting more and more complex by the second.
"The farthest I have ever gotten in this building was in the green house and all I've seen are normal plants."

Sodashi gave the elf a look that probably would have fallen in the category of amusement. Never gotten past the greenhouse? What did this poor child DO everyday? Sit and play with dirt planting plants all day? No wonder he was sighing all the time. Then again, she couldn't say more. She couldn’t recognize many plants save for the oaks which were probably pines in her high school. She kept a grin on and clamped her mouth shut, nodding slightly. “You know.. you really should go out more often. There’s so much more out there that no one knows about. It’s like when you go backcountry skiing?” She stopped here breaking the climax to do a hurried explaination. “That’s when you get back in the mountains off the trails and just wander, by the way..” Here she picked the momentum back up like she’d never dropped it, “And you find that untouched powdery snow? And you sink three inches the moment you walk on it? I swear it’s the most amazing feeling you’ve ever had.” She grinned, still looking forward, peeking a glance at him, looking for a reaction to it all.

"Oh Hrm.." Kyo gave Soda a nod. "I do need to get out more, but there really wasn't much for me to do. Well since I was the only one in the green house I didn't bother to leave."
Kyo kept his pace the same as the two wandered down the halls. Wandering the many halls that made the facility. There was more to this facility then what the outside permitted.

"I hope we are getting closer. I'm really curious as to what this place is like." Kyo nodded. “I think it’ll be more like a hospital wing.”

Ali and Edwin soon feel into a routine. After having made the small fencing that the ivy would be urged to grow up, they proceeded to changing pots. Now, some plants are eager to be replanted. They keep their roots in reasonably well kept order and are easy to replant. Others however, who's personality is quite sparadic and slightly selfish, can get themselves into just about any sort of trouble. The trouble with the ivy plants were, not only were their tops entagled together, having been started in a common planter, but so were their roots. It was a tough time attempting to untangle everything, and they were both soon covered with a layer of glowing sweat from the hard work.

Edwin stood up after a while and brushed his orange hair out of his eyes, along with a bit of dirt that had been there. " This will definately never happen again. I did'nt realize how much these little buggers would entwine! Definately making note of it and informing staff so it never happens again. "
Edwin began to write things down on pages in his work journal while Ali continued to untangle. They were only a quarter of the way done, on a job that should have only taken the day to complete. Returning, Edwin handed Alinedra a message.

" Here, take this to the greenhouses and make sure it gets to some staff. I think Kyo is the only one working there regularly. He's scheduled to be in today. I know for a fact he's got another batch of these ready for planting, so make sure you hand this to him personally." Turning and continuing to mutter under his breath about the audacity of ivy, Alinedra got up and shaked the dirt off of all her visible areas.

Ali hadn't seen Kyo since her promotion to the biodome. It had been unfortunate, since he had been her first friend here at the Facility. Work schedules were, unfortunately, hard to work around, and with her classes, she just had zero time to see him.

As Alinedra departed the biodome, she walked at a comfortable pace through the labrynth of hallways that composed the Vale building. She knew the way well, and barely had to look up from her thinking as she made her way. She wondered how the other employees were doing. There had been many when she had first been hired on in a janitorial position, and have hence dwindled to almost non existance. She had heard of some being promoted, but very few. And in truth, not much at all had happened since her promotion to biodome technician. She heard rumors from the researchers of a rare Vale being fought over for guardianship, but those were not really a part of her concern. She felt so close, yet so far away from her ability to interact with such things, that Ali felt it wise to not linger. After all, she was so busy with college.

Stepping outside, she felt the warm sun and a slight cool breeze. She indeed missed working in the greenhouses, for her and Kyo would often picnic out in the air during breaks. The biodome was not quite the same. Doing her same little hop on the stepping stones to the greenhouses, Ali came up outside the one that was generally used the most. Pulling the huge door open, she was assaulted by a blast of warm humid air from the inside. Suddenly the familiar smell of dirt and fertilizer washed over her, and she knew she missed this part of her job.

Getting inside however, there wasn't a single sign of Kyo, or any other person for that matter. Finding a sheet of paper, she wrote a quick note indicating the need to see Edwin in the likeliness that Ali herself could not find him, she left the greenhouse and continued on inside. He was apt to be up to some form of small mischief, and it was only a matter of time before she found him. No matter how small of a wanderlust he might have, Kyo had always been big on duty as well.

With a shrug, Alinedra went into the building to find the young elven man and whatever adventure he was entertaining.

The young woman wandered through the building, her first time back at work since she take off for a leave of absence. Though it had been weeks, the place was still as familiar to her as it had been when she had worked dedicatedly everyday.

Her liquid amber eyes searched the corridors as Petra looked around, looking to see if any of her co-employees or researchers were there. During her leave of absence she had missed working at the Vale and even the presence of the people that she worked with. And when things in her life had cleared up to allow her to return to work, she had been eager to reaquaint herself with the other employees and researchers, well prehaps with the exception of one.

Running a hand through her cerulean hair, the student began her search.

Kyocho released yet another sigh, but another thought came creeping into his mind. What the heck happened to the other two employees. Petra and Ali. Well sooner or later they would have to run into them, right? But what would the chance be that it would be sooner and that sooner happened to have all of them find each other? Well odd... I guess.

The elf was leading Soda down a random hallway. Unknown to where it might lead, but it lead down to a fork... they either had to turn left or right. But what they didn't know was that down one hallway lead to the green house where Kyocho had been working... and where Ali had gone to visit the vacant heated room. Also down the other hallway had Petra wandering down it's corridors.
"What's the chance of that?" The elf cocked his head and raised and eye brow.

However Kyocho's and Soda's ultimate goal was reaching the new wing. Hopefully it wasn't to far away.

A grin widened as the young woman spotted two figures at the end of the corridor. With a little bounce to her steps, she hastened her way towards the pair. Petra had been wandering the building for sometime and had begun to think that perhaps no one was around, luckily that wasn't the case.

As she drew nearer to the two, her eyes squinted then rounded in delight as she identified them. The unmistakable elfin ears and the most recently appointed Researcher. Waving a hand in the air, she called out to them in greeting.

"Kyocho. Sodashi." The cerulean haired woman flashed a smile as she joined them.

"Petra?"
The elf's eye brow seemed to rise even more in a some what confusion.

"Where the heck have you been?!"
Kyo shook his head in disappointment, but soon was laughing with a smile on his face.

"Umm... Soda and I are planning on trying to find the new wing they just opened up. Something about... reproduction. I don't know, but do you want to come with us? The more the merrier and maybe a better chance at finding this darn place."

Kyo nodded then looked back over to Soda.

"What do you think?"

Ali plods through the empty halls. Soon, in the silence, her mind begins to wander to other topics. Her mind was suddenly full of technical terms she was studying in class, and her continued worry that her career might have hit a stagnant area.

Lost in those thoughts, Ali was incredibly suprised to turn the corner and run full on into three of her co-workers. Giving a little scream, her face flushed with emberassment at her lack of attention to where she was going.

" Kyo! Just the person i wanted to see. I've got an important note for you from Edwin. " Handing over the note, she greets the other two employees she hadn't seen for a while, and begins to catch up with them.

Giving a wide grin as she gave Kyocho a nervous laugh, "I had some unpleasant business to take care of. Thankfully its all over and has been dealt with. Hopefully there won't be anymore of me taking off work." She followed them, "How have you guys been? Where are you two headed?"

"Holy ****ing ****!" Cried Petra as the group round a corner, the cerulean haired girl had bumped into something and an ear piercing scream as she went tumbling towards the ground from the impact rather ungracefully.. She rubbed her a** as she stood, her face soured by the stinging sensation that was a sign of a possible bruise. Hoping that she didn't have a bruise, as that would make sitting fairly uncomfortable, she looked around to she who she had ran into.

"Ali, a little jumpy there aren't you? You scared me." Petra ran a hand through her hair as she laughed, "Didn't think that I would actually be bumping into you when I was thinking about how nice it would be to bump into some of my old friends here."

Ali giggled a bit. "It has been awful lonely lately. This facility is so big, we never run into each other anymore! We should plan things to do together more often. I know we can't all be THAT busy" Alinedra smiled. She knew very well that they could be all that busy, but a little group get together once a week wouldn't hurt anything, and they could probably find some proactive project to accomplish in the mean time.

Suddenly having a lightbulb idea, Ali spoke up. " Why not get together from now on, once a week, and do a sort of cleaning slash lunch slash hanging out thing in the biodome or somewhere that needs it. We can keep the bosses happy, and still see each other."

Kyo threw his arms over his head and ducked. Trying to block out the nervous scream of Petra. Which happened to be very close to his sensitive ears.
"Is the monster gone?" Kyo's body began to shake. Not even having an idea that it was Ali just around the corner and not a monster, not until he heard her voice.

"Ali?" Kyo stood back up and dusted off his clothes.

"A get together huh? Hmm... I guess we could do that." The elf nodded a small nervous smile on his face.

Ali chuckles a little. " Those sensitive elven ears of yours, you should walk around with ear muffs" Turning to the others, she gets a queer look on her face.
" What ARE you doing here anyway? I searched everywhere, and this is the last place i expected to see you. The new wing isn't fully opporational yet is it? So what's up with it?"

"Oh we where... urhh.. umm..." The elf scratched at one of the tips of his Elvin ears.

"We're just heading over towards the new wing to get a good feel and check everything out and see what all the hype was all about. We couldn't get into too much trouble... I don't think."

Scratching at his arm, Kyo pointed at Soda.
"She made me do it..."

Chuckling, Ali shakes her head.
"You two.... i swear...." And letting it trail off she puts her hands on her hips in an almost parental attitude. "Alright then, let's explore. I can feign still looking for Kyo, and you two i'm sure have created excuses. We all in? " Ali looks around to each of them.

The others agreed to continue their adventuring, and continued deeper into the new wing of the Vale. After passing what seemed like the millionth unmarked door, the group was suddenly started with one opening only ten feet away from them.

Of all the people that could have cought them in a place they weren't sure they were supposed to be, Jennine Claret-Sinai was the very last person they would have wanted. When they had first started working here, each of them had been warned to stay away from her, and stay on her good side (if there were such a thing) while doing so. Ali was mentally shooting herself for thinking they'd get away from this unscaythed. (sp?)

Noticing the employees, Jennine turned to them, throwing one hand on her hip. " And what do YOU think you're doing here? " She asked, in that know it all attitude that she's been known to ooze.

The group looked at each other, not willing to take the first step, but after what seemed too long, Ali stepped forward a little.
" We were attempting to get ourselves aquainted with the new wing. It wouldn't do to be sent here and get lost when it were important." Mentally sighing, thinking her idea had been a legitimate enough ruse, Alinedra stepped back into place.

Jennine frowned, and changed position. She was carrying a medium sized box and it was obviously uncomfortable to stand there and look intimidating while holding it. " I can't think why the likes of you would ever need to come to these cooridor's. Its nothing to do with your jobs. Now if you will, get back to work and keep your noses out of things it doesn't belong in." Turning on her heels, she walked off the direction the party had been traveling. Almost as an afterthought however, she turned and yelled back. " I'm sure Edwin would love to hear how you spend his time. " And with that she walked off, turning a corner out of sight.

Dragging the group back the way they had come, Ali wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Phew, That's exactly the lady i do NOT want to run into again. If we're going to stir up trouble, can we do it elsewhere? Away from the evil lady?" Alinedra giggled. She was actually kind of fond of the woman, in her own manner. She was mostly misunderstood, Ali thought, and because of that acted the way she did. Or perhaps there were deep rooted emotional problems that had yet to be worked out. Either way, Ali didn't think Jennine was all too bad.

Suddenly, Ali remembered something. "Sodashi! I completely forgot you had your own specimen now! How is it? How's the research coming along, and do you know when it'll grow? Tell me everything!" Ali smiled. She could live vicariously through the others when it came to specimens, till it was time to get one of her own.

Alinedra gave Sodashi a queer sort of look, but took what she told her at face value. She thought the reply had come after too long of a pause, but who was she to delve into it? Perhaps she was frustrated with something and didn't want reminded of it. Either way, it was exciting. Ali was fond of fruit plants, and hoped that Soda's turned out to be one she equally liked.

" It sounds exciting... in the fact that you have one... I suppose the growing probably isn't the most exciting part of your day but all things have to start somewhere." Ali tried to sound happy. Growing seeds weren't exactly the thrill of the day, but it was something, and it would be come an even bigger more exciting something.


" So, what shall we do now? Any ideas?" Peering around at the others and throwing a stray hair out of her face.