Episode1Act5Part1a

CAST

• Carina Yuzu
• Dr. Long
• Barry Ling

Dr. Long's Penthouse Suite

After putting out a message that she is in Mei Mei, it isn't long before Carina gets a response from three potential clients. Of the three, one of them is Dr. Long whom after group discussion is determined to be the head of the Research Facility and the Mayor of Mei Mei.

Upon agreeing to meet with Dr. Long, Carina is given a virtual pass with instructions to show it to the person at the hospital welcome desk. Carina is escorted by security into the medical research factility where she is taken to the fourth floor. A floor that requires a special key in the elevator to reach.

The entire floor seems to be set up like a penthouse suite. Every space is clean and orderly. There aren't any knick knacks or keepsakes anywhere. Carina is taken to an office with expensively plush furniture. On the wall are a dozen different screens showing different views of the facility as well as what looks like a warehouse. A woman of shoulder length blond hair seems to be looking at one screen of someone pacing in what looks to be some sort of padded room. "Have a seat and I will be with you in a moment." She says as she takes a few notes. The security officer retreats once Carina is in the office.

Given that interrupting the woman at her work is sure to go poorly, Carina instead spends her time soaking up details about the man in the monitor and the readouts from various sensors as they are displayed, and whatever she can pick up from the tablet Dr. Long is using to record her data. Is it possible this is a Reaver, used for controlled attacks on Long's enemies? Or could it be Hughs? She also tries to pick up what she can from the other screens, like the warehouse, and anything else that stands out as deviating from the pattern of the others' foci.

When given a chance, an opening, Carina engages Long not as much with social talents and cues - though she certainly always uses those - but instead by concentrating on intellectual cues, engaging the woman's intellect, intelligence and interests, while helping to lay out and confirm their agreed-upon guidelines for the encounter. It's quite likely Long's preference for women stems from her own acceptance of her cool and more emotionless stance, a desire to connect at least peripherally with that which is more socially and culturally female, either to dominate and prove her superiority, or as an urge to seek that which is beyond her.

As a proper Companion, Carina reads these things from the other woman and responds in kind to help her enjoy herself, doing her best to capture her imagination and attention, as that was the goal for the rest of the crew's efforts this evening. When Dr. Long is done, she flicks off the monitors and turns around. "You are prompt. That is good. Dinner is waiting for us." Dr. Long stands up and walks out leaving Carina to follow along. She leads the way into a patio like room with glass on two sides. The desert wasteland spreads out past the Mei Mei town like a prison. A definite line where the town ends and the wasteland begins.

Dr. Long wishes for a stimulating evening, one that can only be achieved by a woman of equal intelligence. With Carina's read on Dr. Long, Carina is able to negotiate an agreeable arrangement of dinner, discussion, and after dinner enjoyment.

"I have to admit, I did not believe it when I saw your message. This moon doesn't see companions. What brings you here?" What might seem like an obvious question out of sheer curiosity, coming from Dr. Long seems more like an assessment as if Carina's answer will be filed away for use later. This is only one of many questions and comments made from the Dr. as they partake in a dinner of pasta salad, gazpacho, and sangria.

Carina follows along with Long while she digests what little she could figure out ahead of time, examining monitors and tablet and other tidbits. The warehouse appears like it could be the large warehouse outside of town. Everything else looks like it is probably somewhere inside this building, so it is the one thing outside the norm in the pattern. The resolution on the video of the pacing man is too limited for her to make a decent identification, though it //could// be Hughs. There's no sign of anything so inhuman as to suggest a Reaver connection.

Once they are settled and eating, Carina turns on the intellectual charm. "I had a bit of a problem with my transportation. This was never a planned stop for me, but situations change. Since I was here and needing to make other arrangements, I thought I would look for some enjoyable diversions while I am here." All true, or nearly so, and nothing which would point to anything which might cause problems.

Carina does what she can to engage with Long, to enliven and inspire her mind, just as she has done many times before. It has been a while since she had a session with someone quite this cerebral, but that makes it enjoyable, really. She gets to stretch her mind and her skills, and she does so eagerly. She uses that as a chance to glean bits about what Long is interested in and working on, what drives and compels her. Her latest challenges.

Talk moves to the latest science achievements, especially published papers involving genetics and biochemistry. Papers include people from Blue Sun and Dan Da Enterprises. Dr. Long doesn't discuss any of her work making it clear that is not a topic for discussion though it could be deduced that her area of expertise intersects those papers she finds interest in. After dinner, Dr. Long and Carina retreat to the bedroom where stimulating conversation turns stimulating in other areas.

Carina catches the hint that the drugs she spotted in Hugh's fridge might connect to the doctor's research and altered mental states. She files that away, as she continues the evening, enticing, engaging, stimulating. It's what she does. It's part of who she is. She tries not to flaunt this part of her job in front of the others, especially Michi. But she doesn't deny it or hide from it, either. And after all, she's really quite good at her job. And that makes her an excellent distraction.

Perhaps it's the stress of the situation or any number of factors but Carina happens to doze for a short period only to awake to find herself alone in Dr. Long's bed. There are voices talking in another part of the suite. Carina makes her way towards the voices and stops far enough away so that she isn't seen immediately. The following scene happens while she's standing there.

In Dr. Long's living room, an asian man with neatly trimmed black hair, is sitting on the couch. He is in a crisp suit. Dr. Long is wearing a navy blue robe.

"When can I see the patient?" the man says.

"Your arrival is most untimely. If you were anyone else, Mr. Ling, I would recruit you into one of my studies." Dr. Long seems a tad perturbed by the appearance of this man.

"Then it is a good thing I am who I am," Mr. Ling smiles, his next words carried like a threat despite the smile. "If you expect the cooperation of my employer, I need to see the patient and your notes."

Before Dr. Long can respond, she gets a call. She answers and a few moments later, the screen in the living room taps into the monitors in the building and particularly the hallway where despite the graininess, it is obvious the crew of the Kobukson is creeping along. "It appears I may have some new subjects." Dr. Long says with a shiver worthy glee not normally seen on her face.