The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

AHUME: Your mother is resigning her presidency and retiring from public life. She wants to know if she can visit. She wants to mend fences.

ARI: Yes. That. You don't need to answer now, just....

Tell her I'll be in touch. I won't shut her out, but I do need some time. (She hugs Ari.) And I swear I won't miss you, you pain in the ass. (She hugs Ahume.) You, I'll see you in a few weeks, yes?

(She takes one last look around. Her gaze lingers on Helen and Dressler and a sleeping Bell. Well. Guess that whole deal is going to drag on and on, isn't it?)

[Wallenburg]

"Shh!" Kate shushes Helen. Bell had, after a few minutes of conversation, dozed off mid-sentence.

"That's one tired jet jockey. I'm having a couple of the other agents come help him into the helicopter in a minute. He'll be admitted to the New Gettysburg General Hospital. With a little luck, we can get him into the judge's chambers long enough to clear this mess up. No idea what happens after that."

"Oh, sorry I guess," Helen says as she sifts through her mind to remember what a helicopter is. She rests her hand on Bell's shoulder. "Do you know when he'll be back?"

[Separatist Peoples]

"Oh, sorry I guess," Helen says as she sifts through her mind to remember what a helicopter is. She rests her hand on Bell's shoulder. "Do you know when he'll be back?"

"I have no idea. I suppose it's really up to him. We need to go, so I really ought to wake him..."

The quiet conversation and Helen's hand popped Bell out of his light, but oddly rejuvenating nap. Funny how that works, when you talk about waking somebody up and it magically ends up happening? Perhaps its the way people talk around sleeping folk.

"Huh? What'd I miss?"

"Sorry, Ben, we weren't going to wake you. Helen wanted to say goodbye, and I was about to let you know it's about time for the helicarriage to turn back into a pumpkin, so we gotta go."

Bell stretches like a cat, his back popping about a dozen times. "Ok. Helen, thanks for your part in rescuing me. And look at you, all opaque again! I'll have to do a proper thank you to everybody when I get back. Oh, that's right, wasn't there something you wanted to talk to me about before that whole mess started?"

At that extremely unfortunate moment, two of the six agent walked back into the bar. They caught Dressler's eye and nodded to the window, which showed treetops in a tumultuous artificial breeze.

"Ben, we gotta go. Our ride is leaving."

"Damn, sorry Helen. I'll see you and everybody else in a bit. Just some loose ends and whatnot. I'll be back, I think. Here, lemme let everybody know..." He stands up and limps out of the booth past Helen, Dressler moving to support him. The little power nap has already done Bell some good; his shoulders seemed to slump less, and he was a little faster on his feet than he had been.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and those who have yet to make up their minds, I wanted to talk you properly, but I've run out of time. Apparently, Kate tells me they're sending me home in a gourd or something, and that means we have to leave now. I suspect magic," Bell chuckles a bit. It seems as though Lupinski managed to land a hit on Bell's head somewhere before the end, because the joke really wasn't that good.

"Er, I just wanted to thank you all for your parts in saving my life. I wish I could take the time to talk to all of you individually, but I'm afraid there isn't time just now. One way or another, I'll be back though. Thank you so much, and long live the Stranger's Bar!"

He turns and sees the CDIB agents moving towards him and Kate catching up, and, with grace belied by his beaten appearance, he sweeps her off her feet and plants a long kiss on her.

"I know things didn't work out last time, but neither of us are in the Navy anymore. When the judge decides to call off the hit teams, want to get dinner with me? "

Kate blushed more than any CDIB agent had any right to do so, her blond hair quite out of place from the unexpected kiss.

"As long as you're not cooking. Your stroganoff is appalling."

[Potted Plants United]

(She takes one last look around. Her gaze lingers on Helen and Dressler and a sleeping Bell. Well. Guess that whole deal is going to drag on and on, isn't it?)

Before the Nox woman can spirit Kay away, Johan Milkus arrives at the bar, running and out of breath. In his hands he holds a small plant pot with a small, leafy sapling in it.

"Sorry miss Kay," he panted, "but the hivemind wanted you to have this..." He offered her the potted plant while gulping down some air into his lungs. "It's past the sapiece threshold so it'll remain connected to the hivemind even after you remove it from the WAHQ. It'll become a text-based communicator plant so you can talk with the hivemind if you need help with the plants provided for you, or if you wish to have more of them. Rest assured, the hivemind can't track your location via it, it only wishes to be able to communicate with you directly. Also, it won't be offended if you turn this offer down."

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

(She takes one last look around. Her gaze lingers on Helen and Dressler and a sleeping Bell. Well. Guess that whole deal is going to drag on and on, isn't it?)

Before the Nox woman can spirit Kay away, Johan Milkus arrives at the bar, running and out of breath. In his hands he holds a small plant pot with a small, leafy sapling in it.

"Sorry miss Kay," he panted, "but the hivemind wanted you to have this..." He offered her the potted plant while gulping down some air into his lungs. "It's past the sapiece threshold so it'll remain connected to the hivemind even after you remove it from the WAHQ. It'll become a text-based communicator plant so you can talk with the hivemind if you need help with the plants provided for you, or if you wish to have more of them. Rest assured, the hivemind can't track your location via it, it only wishes to be able to communicate with you directly. Also, it won't be offended if you turn this offer down."

Ilya and Al also approach Kay shortly after Johan Milkus finishes speaking.

Al takes a pulls out a small tablet disabling the tracking device and shows it to her saying, "Sorry Kay, but we'll be brief and not keep the Nox waiting for you. Kay, your tracking device has been disabled permanently, so you're free as a bird. I also hope you and the Tollan Survivors thrive in peace on Tollana Gamma."

Ilya also adds, "Remember, the Tollan people have plenty of allies here in the strangers bar, so don't hesitate to contact us (gesturing to Helen, Herby, Steph, Markhov, Al, Ari, Ahume and everyone else who had Kay's back if they were still in the room) if or when you need help. I am hopeful that Tollana and the IFF can create friendly ties in the near future, but I digress. Good luck and may the force be with you Kay."

[Wallenburg]

"Damn, sorry Helen. I'll see you and everybody else in a bit. Just some loose ends and whatnot. I'll be back, I think. Here, lemme let everybody know..." He stands up and limps out of the booth past Helen, Dressler moving to support him. The little power nap has already done Bell some good; his shoulders seemed to slump less, and he was a little faster on his feet than he had been.

Helen sighs, "All right Ben. Just...please come back soon. There's a lot to catch up on. Good luck."

He turns and sees the CDIB agents moving towards him and Kate catching up, and, with grace belied by his beaten appearance, he sweeps her off her feet and plants a long kiss on her.

Her forced smile collapses into an expression of shock. What? No, no. This can't be... She stares at Bell and Dressler, trying to figure out what on Earth had happened with her to win him over. I'm too late. I screwed up. I waited too long. The one time in almost ten years that I have felt for someone like this, and I completely blew it.

Helen looks away, walking toward the counter. He's going to be fine. He'll be happy with her, but...oh, Notch damn it all! What is left for me here? My career is failing, my love is lost to another, and every time I see him will be torture. Maybe it's for the best that I'm being replaced by the Assembly. It won't be the first time someone replaced me.

She reaches the counter and orders a bottle of whiskey.

[The Nox]

The Nox woman opens her eyes and addresses Kay.

"You still make questionable choices. But, you are still very young. You should find peace among your people."

She slowly begins to raise her arms above her head.

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

(She takes one last look around. Her gaze lingers on Helen and Dressler and a sleeping Bell. Well. Guess that whole deal is going to drag on and on, isn't it?)

He turns and sees the CDIB agents moving towards him and Kate catching up, and, with grace belied by his beaten appearance, he sweeps her off her feet and plants a long kiss on her.

(Or not. As she absentmindedly takes the plant from Milkus and nods in response to Ilya, Kay looks across the bar toward the downtrodden Helen.)

Her forced smile collapses into an expression of shock. What? No, no. This can't be... She stares at Bell and Dressler, trying to figure out what on Earth had happened with her to win him over. I'm too late. I screwed up. I waited too long. The one time in almost ten years that I have felt for someone like this, and I completely blew it.

Helen looks away, walking toward the counter. He's going to be fine. He'll be happy with her, but...oh, Notch damn it all! What is left for me here? My career is failing, my love is lost to another, and every time I see him will be torture. Maybe it's for the best that I'm being replaced by the Assembly. It won't be the first time someone replaced me.

She reaches the counter and orders a bottle of whiskey.

(She notices Lya raising her arms.)

No no NO! Not yet, not yet!

(She rapidly steps away from Lya, stops, and shouts across the bar.)

HELEN TREVANYIKA!

(She pauses for a few moments, trying to find the words.)

Come with me.

[Wallenburg]

Helen looks up miserably from her drink. "Come with you?" She looks back at her whiskey, then again at Kay. "All right, Kay. As long as I can get back here to pack up my things when I lose my job."

She stands and joins Kay.

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

Helen looks up miserably from her drink. "Come with you?" She looks back at her whiskey, then again at Kay. "All right, Kay. As long as I can get back here to pack up my things when I lose my job."

She stands and joins Kay.

(Kay stands silent. Oh. But. Wait. What? Holy shit, I'm starting to think like Herby talks.)

Ummm.... You.... Uh, you don't really know what I'm trying to say, do you?

[Wallenburg]

Helen looks up miserably from her drink. "Come with you?" She looks back at her whiskey, then again at Kay. "All right, Kay. As long as I can get back here to pack up my things when I lose my job."

She stands and joins Kay.

(Kay stands silent. Oh. But. Wait. What? Holy shit, I'm starting to think like Herby talks.)

Ummm.... You.... Uh, you don't really know what I'm trying to say, do you?

Helen, puzzled, asks, "What are you trying to say? You asked me to come with you. Isn't that what I'm doing? I thought I only drank one bottle of whiskey."

[Herby]

Helen looks up miserably from her drink. "Come with you?" She looks back at her whiskey, then again at Kay. "All right, Kay. As long as I can get back here to pack up my things when I lose my job."

She stands and joins Kay.

(Kay stands silent. Oh. But. Wait. What? Holy shit, I'm starting to think like Herby talks.)

Ummm.... You.... Uh, you don't really know what I'm trying to say, do you?

Eh. I do. Okay shhhh.

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

(Kay stands silent. Oh. But. Wait. What? Holy shit, I'm starting to think like Herby talks.)

Ummm.... You.... Uh, you don't really know what I'm trying to say, do you?

Helen, puzzled, asks, "What are you trying to say? You asked me to come with you. Isn't that what I'm doing? I thought I only drank one bottle of whiskey."

Well, no, I'm-- I mean, yes, I'm.... ummm. Okay, you know how, for, what, the better part of a year, you were trying to tell Bell how you felt about him? You know how hard it was for you to just, ummm, you know, to spit it out? Maybe because you were unsure about how she-- he, about how he felt, and then.... Ugh. Helen, I'm....

[Herby]

Helen, puzzled, asks, "What are you trying to say? You asked me to come with you. Isn't that what I'm doing? I thought I only drank one bottle of whiskey."

Well, no, I'm-- I mean, yes, I'm.... ummm. Okay, you know how, for, what, the better part of a year, you were trying to tell Bell how you felt about him? You know how hard it was for you to just, ummm, you know, to spit it out? Maybe because you were unsure about how she-- he, about how he felt, and then.... Ugh. Helen, I'm....

Herby whispers to Ahume.

She's... she's... she's blowin' it is what she's doin'.

[Wrapper]

Herby whispers to Ahume.

She's... she's... she's blowin' it is what she's doin'.

(Ahume frowns at Herby, but then steps next to Arya, removes the plant from her hands, and backs away. Wouldn't want that to get in the way.)

[Wallenburg]

An intern from the Wallenburgian office rushes into the bar (OOC: YEEOOOWW!!!) and makes his way to Trevanyika.

"M-m-madam representative. P-please don't be upset." He holds out a telegram to her.

Helen snatches it and says, "I'm already upset, Christof. I doubt you could do anything more to upset me."

She reads the telegram and soon lets out a defeated sigh. "Please go away, Christof."

"Y-yes ma'am! Sorry ma'am!" He runs off back to the offices.

"I didn't make the nomination, Kay. I won't be re-appointed. I guess that seals the deal there, doesn't it? So, you were talking about my failures to express myself to Ben. What does that have to do with this?"

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

"I didn't make the nomination, Kay. I won't be re-appointed. I guess that seals the deal there, doesn't it? So, you were talking about my failures to express myself to Ben. What does that have to do with this?"

I'm... I'm.... fuck it. We're ready, Lya.

[Herby]

"I didn't make the nomination, Kay. I won't be re-appointed. I guess that seals the deal there, doesn't it? So, you were talking about my failures to express myself to Ben. What does that have to do with this?"

I'm... I'm.... fuck it. We're ready, Lya.

NOOOOOOOOOO! No no no no ehhhhhhhhhhh no. You hear me? NO! You tell her what you wanna tell her or so help me I swear on a stack of owners' manuals I'm gonna tell her!

[The Nox]

I'm... I'm.... fuck it. We're ready, Lya.

NOOOOOOOOOO! No no no no ehhhhhhhhhhh no. You hear me? NO! You tell her what you wanna tell her or so help me I swear on a stack of owners' manuals I'm gonna tell her!

Lya approaches Herby.

"What an intriguing machine. You really do believe you are alive."

[Wallenburg]

"What the hell are you on about, Herby? Kay, what is it you are trying to say?"

[Herby]

NOOOOOOOOOO! No no no no ehhhhhhhhhhh no. You hear me? NO! You tell her what you wanna tell her or so help me I swear on a stack of owners' manuals I'm gonna tell her!

Lya approaches Herby.

"What an intriguing machine. You really do believe you are alive."

Wait wait wait WHAT? Of course I'm alive! As are the three billion other cars in my country! Oh oh oh I get it, I get it, you're one of those hippie tree huggers, ain't ya? I don't like yer kind, always wait wait wait ehhhh wait. Mmm ehhhh didn't a bunch of your kind drive VW buses in the '60s?

[The Nox]

Wait wait wait WHAT? Of course I'm alive! As are the three billion other cars in my country! Oh oh oh I get it, I get it, you're one of those hippie tree huggers, ain't ya? I don't like yer kind, always wait wait wait ehhhh wait. Mmm ehhhh didn't a bunch of your kind drive VW buses in the '60s?

"Tree huggers? An interesting concept. One should embrace that which gives us life, at least in a figurative sense."

[Herby]

Wait wait wait WHAT? Of course I'm alive! As are the three billion other cars in my country! Oh oh oh I get it, I get it, you're one of those hippie tree huggers, ain't ya? I don't like yer kind, always wait wait wait ehhhh wait. Mmm ehhhh didn't a bunch of your kind drive VW buses in the '60s?

"Tree huggers? An interesting concept. One should embrace that which gives us life, at least in a figurative sense."

Eh. That which gives us life. Right. So next time I see an old fossil, I'll be sure to give it a big smooch right on the lips. Eh. No not you, Ari.

[Whovian Tardisia]

He turns and sees the CDIB agents moving towards him and Kate catching up, and, with grace belied by his beaten appearance, he sweeps her off her feet and plants a long kiss on her.

Pink, having gone back to the bar, witnesses this, spitting the scotch in his mouth all over poor Neville's face. Neville does not look amused. "Oh. Umm, apologies, Neville. Handkerchief?" K-9, meanwhile, rolls over to Chuckie. K-9 bleats. Pink is careful to keep his scotch in his mouth this time, only doing a double take.

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

"What the hell are you on about, Herby? Kay, what is it you are trying to say?"

(While Herby, a bit loudly, and Lya, quite softly, discuss the finer points of sapience, hippiedom and fossil fuels, Kay whispers in a barely audible voice.)

I love you.