Katheeri

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Pawel sniffed, and wiped his snout with his left hand, pushing it back into his jacket pocket. He scanned each of them with his eyes, nodding as Tiger introduced the dragon to them.

"Yeah, I'm here to help," said Pawel. He then glanced at the door.

"The guy inside: do we know his name? Or if he has any next of kin?"

[Tiger Carson]

"We do know his name is apparently Zefran." Tiger said, "But that's about it, he's a complete mystery otherwise.  We don't even know who his next of kin are, if he has any.  For all we know, he's the last living Katheeri.  Which, I certainly hope not, for his sake.  I just hope he'll be up to answering questions when he wakes."

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"Hmm..." uttered Pawel. He walked to the door, looking through the window, seeing Zefran asleep at his bed. He looked comfortable for someone who was turned into roadkill yesterday.

"Is the kid alright?"

[Tiger Carson]

"No broken bones." Zera said, "Just seems like a lot of bruising.  Might be part of his biology, but still, I wouldn't be surprised if he has a few tiny fractures in his bones.  Getting hit by a car at that speed, it's gonna hurt, no matter what you are." She looked on at the peacefully sleeping katheeri.  For now, while he was here, he'd be safe.

 

But Zera was worried about his future, and what would happen once he was cleared.  There would be no way they could leave the hospital with him, not without getting flocked by reporters.  She briefly wondered if they could concoct a story about the kid perishing for the media, and get him out safely with a altered disguise.  Matter of fact, she had been looking over the holographic disguise unit.  It was top of the line stuff, could even hide bio signatures.  Whoever got him the device, really knew what they were doing.  She had considered repairing it, but that depended on if they could find a way to get him out without trouble.  Not to mention, if he was going to be transported anywhere, he'd need a disguise.  So she was going to fix it eventually, she just needed clearance first to do so...

[Sylono]

Once she reached the second floor, the cerinian set to scope out the room that housed the Katheeri, but came to a stop when she noticed a mistake she'd made, or at least, something that could end up a mistake. Out of the corner of her eye, a door window faintly reflected an image of herself and the girl pulled her hood back in order to not seem so suspicious. She was about to continue onward when she noticed a bouquet of flowers inside the room of the door she'd been peering into.

The thought Shepherd had when saw them was cruel, scratch that, pointlessly cruel to the patient sleeping inside.

But... the girl needed a backup excuse just in case she was noticed, besides, the patient looked like they were in a coma. If they woke up anytime soon they probably wouldn't miss a few flowers from their bouquet.

Rationalization of her intended actions made, Shepherd waited until she was sure no one would come around the the corner, then opened the door and tiptoed in. Misdeed done, Shepherd stuffed the snatched flowers under her jacket, and stepped out into the hall once she was sure it was safe to do so.

Once the morally peculiar side excursion was over, she resumed her scouting, keeping an eye on the room numbers as she passed. Once she found the hallway the the room number 204 was in, Shepherd clicked her tongue distastefully as she stepped back to keep out if sight.

"Nothing to see here, citizens," She snarked quietly while taking a seat on a chair positioned near a doorway, "We're not guarding an ancient creature of myth at all."

Keeping an ear out, Shepherd waited for the duo she was expecting to arrive soon, so she could capitalize on any distraction they might make.
 

[Naza Sutera]

Amelia boarded the elevator behind 'Ashley' and pressed the button for floor two. She heard her phone vibrate in her Louis Vuitton bag. Taking out the iPhone, she read the message on the screen.

"where r u"

Amelia narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. Unlocking the phone, she typed a response. "not that its your business but im at the hospital visiting a friend"

The response was almost immediate. "who"

Amelia scoffed, rolled her eyes, and put the phone back in her purse. They weren't together anymore. He made that perfectly clear, so where she goes and what she does is none of his business.

 

[Dr. Orange]

Alek was weighing the options in his head. He wasn't sure whether or not to talk to interact with the two. It's obvious they know him, he was certain of that but he also risked detection. He game a light cough, this was unsettling to him. He could feel sweat accumulating. We he might as well as come off as polite if anything. It was set he was going to talk.

"I'm nervous."
"Why am I nervous?" 
"I have no reason to be." 
"Then talk."  

"So ... I overheard we are friends with our special guest, no?"

[Zaphyr Stone]

"That's right." Ashley flashed a bright smile at the doctor behind them. She needed to be careful to remain consistent, "He's my classmate. And she was our teacher." She gestured to Amelia.

She hated continuing to pull the nice lady into her ruse, but she couldn't let a single detail slip. This was so much more complicated than she thought it would be. The elevator finally slowed to a stop and opened to let them off. Ashley noted with exhaustion the guards at the gate. They were really taking this seriously. She supposed it wasn't every day they came across a foreign species.

"Um..." she feigned shyness as she approached the guards, "Can we go in and see my friend? The lady at the desk said she would call up to tell you we were coming."

[Naza Sutera]

Amelia stood quietly as she went along with the ruse, letting "Ashley" do all the talking. Honestly, she wasn't even sure what was taking place, as she didn't have a solid plan on how she'd get through. She could only assume that the Katheeri was in the room, since it was being heavily guarded, and that she would make it through.

[Tiger Carson]

"Major?" One of the guards asked Tiger.

"Give me a second..." He then looked to his phone, which had a message about it.  There  was the black cat girl and the ragged looking fox/hound lady who supposedly were a friend and a teacher of the katheeri respectively that the message was talking about. "Hmm..." He regarded them with some suspicion, something wasn't right here.  The kid made no mention of having friends, and even so, despite having managed to cover up the fact he was a Katheeri until now, this could cause problems if they discovered what he really was.

Zera looked at Tiger, knowing that if they saw the kid, it could complicate their efforts at discrete extraction once he was cleared.  She had to risk letting the kid have the holo-disguise, and with a quick glance from Tiger, she knew to hurry.  Giving a silent nod, she went inside, going behind the curtain.

"As soon as she's done checking on him, you two can talk with him, if he's awake." Tiger said, "But make it quick, we've got work to do.  But if the two of you would be so kind as to tell me who his next of kin are?  Surely, as his friends and teacher, you both would know who they are?"

[Zaphyr Stone]

Sadness clouded the girl's eyes. "He...doesn't have any. Not anymore. His parents died when he was ten." She rubbed her arm as she mulled over the tragedy. He's been bouncing around between homes. My family's trying to adopt him, so you could call them. He stays with us normally."

Even if they let her in for just a second, she could set out to do what she needed to. She didn't need long.

[Tiger Carson]

Zera then came out of the room, giving a subtle nod to Tiger.  The holo-disguise was active again, so they wouldn't have to worry about the secret getting out.  That was when she noticed the girl getting teary eyed, and she heard her say about the kid staying with her family most times.  She wasn't quite buying it, and had to ask the girl a question.  She glanced to Tiger, who nodded subtly, the siblings didn't need to do too much talking to know what the other was thinking. "Young lady." Tiger asked the black cat, "I have to ask you just one question, since you seem to know so much about him.  If you are going to be his adopted sister.  But I'll have to ask you this alone." He looked to Amelia, this question was not for her ears.

[Sylono]

Sure enough, judging by the new voice she was hearing the two who'd play the unwitting decoys had arrived, Shepherd stood up and walked as calmly down the hall behind. Softly enough, she'd hoped she wouldn't draw attention to herself, but not quite enough to be obviously skulking around.

Any nervousness she was feeling, the Cerinian clamped down on and didn't let it show. About halfway to the group, Shepherd wondered if she simply could have taken the stairs one floor above and used her photon-blade to melt a hole to spy through.

To late now, she'd have to commit to whatever would result of this. Rubbing the faint outline of the flowers the vixen reminded herself of the story she'd spin, and made for a room next to the Katheeri's.

[Zaphyr Stone]

"Sure, I guess so." The girl looked wide-eyed with intimidation at Tiger.

She turned back to Amelia, an apologetic smile on her lips. "I guess you'll have to wait here Ms. Tobin. I'll be right back though."

She face Tiger again shyly. "Uh...you lead the way, I guess." She dug her hands nervously into her jacket pockets.

[Dr. Orange]

 (OOC: Ok I'm going to assume my character said something to the tune of "Of course, it's obvious you are worried for your friend blah blah evil dude kindness" and is following along to the door.)

Alek noted the discussion and moved passed the two towards the door. Star Tiger still posted around the door gave off an intimidating view of the goal. His heart rate spiked and he motioned towards the door. "Pardon me." he said to the guard. Zera he believed he heard her name to be.

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Pawel looked around the hall. Everyone seemed to be talking to someone. Seemed to be distracted with one another. Nobody seemed to pay much attention to much else.

Except for the young bird staring at Zefran.

"Hey kid," Pawel began, nudging Hawk with his wing. "What do you think about all this?"

[Tiger Carson]

"This way." Tiger said as he gently lead Aura to the side a bit. "As you are supposedly going to be his sister, and allege he spends a lot of time with you, then you must have noticed that he is not what he appears to be.  As a matter of fact, if he has been hiding the fact he's a Katheeri, he's been doing it with some help.  Tell me, did you give him the holo-disguise?"

"Hmm?" Zera said as she looked to Alek. "What is it doc?  I thought Zef wasn't your patient now that he's here?"

"It's crazy." Hawk said, "I still am not sure this is all real...  Even though it must be.  We were just going to relax yesterday, and now we're in quite the crazy case with who knows what to come..." Hawk then shook his head, "Crazy, it's all crazy..."

[Naza Sutera]

Amelia was a nervous wreck right now, but she tried her best to play it cool. She took her phone out of her bag and made pretend like she was checking her messages. This was her time to think of a convincing story.

So, "Ashley" and Amelia were running with the story that Amelia used to be Ashley and Zef's home room teacher. They were bound to ask them questions, with both of them coming up with conflicting answers. Their cover would be blown for sure...

[Dr. Orange]

Alek looked at Zera. "Aye, I'm not his GP but I'm here to relay results and ... uhh see how he's holding up." He scratched his hand. Was it itchy or was he nervous? Maybe both. This gown felt off. Maybe full cotton. Alek moved his head around as he talked. "Unless a doctor can't see how a patient is doing!" He have a quick laugh and a half smile. 

He continued to look around. "Did someone already come in however?" 

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"Tell me about it," replied Pawel.

"Yesterday, I was eating a roast beef sandwich, hating everything, and now I'm back in the service as a major. Something I didn't want. This isn't just crazy: it's bullshit. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. And I gotta talk to this kid and make sure he's alright. You think I can get in there now?"

[Zaphyr Stone]

"Holo-what?" Ashley blinked in alarm, "I don't even know what that is! Look, I am just as shocked by all of this, and that's partly why I'm here, to find out what exactly is going on. He's always been just Zefran to me, and now I find out he's this whole other person!? You can't tell me you wouldn't be shocked too."

[Sylono]

In a stroke of luck, or perhaps personal skill, Shepherd (apparently) remained undetected as she finally reached room 205 (or 203, she was a bit too nervous to risk any sudden movements to check) she had to wonder if perhaps there was something to the old trick of pretending you belong.

Grasping the door knob, the vixen gave a slow twist and opened the door a crack before pushing her way in and shutting the door quietly behind her.

[Tiger Carson]

"There was a physician earlier, but as for visitors, there's two here..." Zera said, "I'll go in with you though, security reasons, he's also got a hologuise on right now to try and hold back suspicion." She said this last sentence in a whisper. "Just so you know."

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

"You're more than welcome to do what you want." Hawk said to Pawel, "You hold the higher rank due to being an actual soldier.  So you can go right in there and talk with him, provided he's awake enough to hear you."

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

"Calm down." Tiger said, "You're right, I would be surprised too.  But now I ask you to see things from my view.  Katheeri were thought to be mere legend, until yesterday.  Now with the truth known to some individuals, it won't be long before it gets fully out there.  While work is being done to hold it back, it's going to get out.  And there are those out there who would seek to do him harm or attempt to gain what knowledge he might have for their own use.  So I have to be careful, and I must ask you to keep things to yourself.  Not even your teacher can know he's a katheeri.  We've taken a measure to make sure she doesn't know, though I had thought you would.  No point in hiding it from you now.  But I still ask you keep this to yourself, for his protection.  I don't know why he refuses to answer questions, even though we in the CDF want to help him.  And, if you ask me, I want to help him find his way in this world.  For all we know, he may well be the last of his kind.  And I refuse to allow any further harm to come to him, or to let something happen.  He deserves better than what could happen if he winds up in the wrong hands... I just wish there was a way I, or anyone in my team and our allies could convince him to trust us..."

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"Alright, I'm going in," Pawel said. He went to the door, opened it, and quietly closed it behind him. He slowly started walking to Zefran's bed.

The young man, disguised by his unique holographic technology, slept peacefully in his bed. Pawel approached him as quietly as possible, stopping quite a distance away. He carefully moved bedside.

"Hey, kid," Pawel uttered softly. "You there?"

[Sylono]

She almost couldn't believe it her luck, well, no reason like the present to act while her luck was holding out. Shepherd walked to the bed, made adjustments to elevate the side that was against the wall dividing the rooms, then climbed on top.

Shepherd had a grin on her face as she pushed the ceiling tile up and to the side, then got a firm grip on the edge of the wall and pulled herself up into the cramped space above she. Memories of her many younger days came to mind, oh how she spent a lot of the time she should have been sleeping spying on the staff of whatever facility Shepherd and her siblings ended up in.

While she was big to actually fit beyond resting her chin awkwardly on her hands while her elbows painfully held her aloft, the girl would bare it. Because, though the sound was muffled, she'd be able to hear every precious little secret now...