When We're Rollin Through the Wild Wild West

[geonomy]

Who: Everyone! EVERYONE!
Broadcast: IF YOU WANNA
Action: Everywhere! EVERYWHERE!
When: Mid-September - Mid-October

[How's your ship doing, pardners? Is it still pretty damaged? Is it glitching out hardcore? Well, there is one place to land to take care of all that, and that's on a dusty old moon in front of a planet that no one wants to go to. On this moon, you'll find a civilization that looks a lot like one's stepped into a wild west movie, hardened cowpolk and mutant horses and all. Will you become a vigilante, hunting bounties and stopping gangs from doing their dirty work? Will you go exploring planetside, with a cowboy hat and a stalk of wheat in your mouth to complete the look? Good luck with that; there is no wheat. This town ain't big enough for all you flooters, but make it so! For the ratings!

In other words, it's a planet mingle! Get 'er done!]

[September Planet info here]

Comments

[dancingmd]

Cole?

[Her doctor alarms are immediately on red alert when Cole wanders up to her. He looks fevered... is his augment acting up, like Allen's? Gently, she takes hold of one of his wrists, to keep him here, until she can figure out what's wrong. Her tone is soothing and patient when she speaks, belying her apprehension.]

I haven't seen anyone named Rhys. What does he look like? Maybe I can help you find him.

[killedwithlove]

[He isn't feverish. If anything, he's cool, not quite corpse like, but cooler than even his normally cool skin is.]

But he's- oh. No. Of course you don't know Rhys. You're not Adrian, are you? You both have fiery hair, fiery temper, Jack laughs and Wesley does the same, he's so much like his father in the ways he should be.

[dancingmd]

[When she takes his hand, she does feel how unnaturally cool it is to the touch, which is more concerning than the fever would have been, especially given the environment they are in. How did he get so cold?]

That's right, I'm Beverly. But I'm going to help you, all right?

[killedwithlove]

All right.

I'm sorry, my head is a bit confused. I don't know why.

[Which he proves by stepping into her space and resting his head on her shoulder. It's almost a hug, except he hasn't put his arms into it yet.]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly welcomes him into her space effortlessly, wrapping her arms around him and stroking his hair.]

It's okay, you'll be okay. We'll figure out what's wrong, I promise. In fact, I already have a suspicion for what's causing it.

[killedwithlove]

[He rests there like a heavy, wet blanket. His hands and arms don't come up to hold her back, because he'd normally be wrapping himself in Rhys' robes by now.]

I don't think Rhys is here. But part of me keeps telling me to go and find him.

[dancingmd]

[That's okay, she can do all the holding, however long he needs.]

Why don't you tell me about him?

[killedwithlove]

He's a spirit medium and healer. He doesn't want to be First Enchanter, but a lot of people hope he will be.

I don't want anyone to hurt him. He doesn't realise how dangerous people are.

[dancingmd]

You want to protect him, but you can't get to him.

[Oh how well she identifies with that now.]

[killedwithlove]

Yes. I need to find him. I can look after him.

[dancingmd]

[At that, her tightens her hug for a few seconds.]

Oh, Cole... I don't think he's here.

[killedwithlove]

Oh.

[He shifts slightly.]

Then where... oh. He's not here, no. This isn't Thedas.

[dancingmd]

No, this isn't Thedas. You're in the Drift Fleet now, remember?

[killedwithlove]

Yes. In the Drift Fleet.

[He nods, but he seems to be having a little difficulty holding the thought.]

You're Beverly. You're much prettier than Adrian.

[dancingmd]

Glad to hear it.

[She pulls out of the hug a little, just enough to tilt his face towards her.]

Cole, does someone else in the fleet know Rhys? Maybe we can find them, and they can help.

[killedwithlove]

[He thinks and then shakes his head.]

No. He's not on the Fleet.

[dancingmd]

Remember when we talked about Julian? We have to believe we're going to see them again, when we go home.

[killedwithlove]

...

I won't, though. I haven't seen Rhys is a long time, since he found out what I was.

I... didn't remember.

[dancingmd]

[Oh dear, she feels like she really does need someone from Thedas to help with this. She simply doesn't know enough about their world to know how to respond appropriately. Maybe Aveline... in the meantime, she can at least do one thing for him.]

Cole? I would like to take you back to the clinic, maybe run some scans, to see if there is anything I could do to help. I think your augment is malfunctioning, but I want to be sure.

[killedwithlove]

All right.

[There was no protest, no thought to not do what she wanted. It would make her feel better.]

[dancingmd]

[Fortunately, the Blue Fish is docked not too far away, so it doesn't take long to get back to the clinic. Beverly gestures towards the exam table.]

Please, take a seat.

[killedwithlove]

[Cole follows, quiet and not focused, but he doesn't wander off and when he's told to sit, he sits down.]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly finds her tricorder in its usual spot and scans him from head to toe. After reading the results, she frowns.]

Nothing seems to be wrong with you, physically.

[Which makes no sense... given how cold and pale he is.]

[killedwithlove]

[That doesn't surprised Cole in the slightest. His body is what it is.]

No. It usually works fine. It bleeds when I get stabbed. It moves when I want it to move.

[dancingmd]

[She sighs.]

I'm afraid I'm at a loss then.

[And she doesn't like that, not one bit. For about the millionth time since she arrived in the fleet, she wishes Deanna were here.]