Beauty & The Beast

[Brian]

N'dovu grunts, and looks thoughtful.  "What's the last date you remember," he asks as gently as possible.

[Carthrat]

"Date?" the woman blinks. "Uh.. April. April 5th, 1932," she says. "I think. Around there.."

[Brian]

N'dovu grunts.  "I'm afraid, ma'am, I've some bad news for you, then.  I forget the exact date, but the year is 2005," he says apologetically.

[Carthrat]

"I'm sorry, what?" asks the woman, cupping a hand to her ear. "That can't be right."

[Brian]

"Nearly a century has passed," N'dovu repeats.  "It is 2005."

[Carthrat]

"..but that's just stupid," announces the woman. "Gods, stupid, stupid, stupid! I'd be dead.. dead.. everyone must be dead..."

She's not crying just yet, but she looks like she's about to. Rick gives N'Dovu a sideways look, frowning somewhat.

"Are you hungry? Do you want some water?" he asks her, but she shakes her head, numbly.

[Brian]

"If the spirits can bring you forward, others could be brought forward as well," N'dovu points out.  "And even if they haven't, the spirits tend to set things to right in the end.  We simply need to discover what purpose they brought you forward for."

[Carthrat]

Drained from her earlier hysterics, the woman doesn't even start sobbing. Just a few tears run down her eyes for a moment.

"I would.. like to be left alone.. for a moment," she mumbles, burying herself in the covers.

[Brian]

N'dovu shrugs, and goes back to the room he was sleeping in.  He's no healer, anyway.

[Carthrat]

Rick trails after N'Dovu, shaking his head.

"Did the people at the site have any clue about her?" he says, looking askance at N'Dovu. "I can't help but think she might have been-"

He's interrupted by a knock on the door. He quickly goes to answer it, where he speaks with another Caihulla for a short moment. Returning to N'Dovu, his face is grim.

"One of their cars is asking around about me, apparently," he warns. "They must have asked about you through their diggers... and they must have told them that you knew me best of all here.."

[Brian]

"They said nothing," N'dovu says, going to the kitchen and getting a glass of water.  Best be prepared if it comes to a fight.  After gulping half of the glass down, he adds, "If they are after me, then I can leave.  My concern is that they might be after the woman.  I could not hide her in such a wounded state.  I'd rather not leave to try and distract them if it turns out they weren't after me, but instead her."

He grimaces, and throws back the rest of the glass of water, before setting the cup in the sink.  "For that matter, I shouldn't stay, if they chase after me and expose yourself and her to attacks which shouldn't involve you.  I am uncertain of how to proceed."

[Carthrat]

"As am I," replies Rick, quietly. "I've half a mind to load you and the girl up in the car and head to the airport.

The other Caihulla- gods, there are so few living here now- will delay these.. company men for a while, but I fear we must decide who stays and who flees tonight."

[Brian]

N'dovu grunts, furrowing his brow in thought.  "I should go.  I've committed an act of violence against them, and cannot be easily hidden.  Or perhaps, only I should remain.  I could delay them for some time, after all," he muses.  "But it may not be that desparate yet.  I am leery of leaving the woman vulnerable, but uncertain I could adequately protect her.  And the child -- Jessie, I think -- should undoubtedly be watched, as well.  To that end ... perhaps I should flee with the woman, and you can watch over the child.  I can take your car," he continues, handing over all but a few hundred dollars to Rick.  "Claim I stole it from you, and you assisted me only under duress.  But I am uncertain of where to run from here ... yet perhaps it is best you don't know.  Then no lie will be given when you say where we have gone."

N'dovu sighs, not liking this path, but thinking it the most reasonable and straightforward.

[Carthrat]

"Phoenix would be a bad idea," notes Rick. "As would most major cities. It would be best if you could leave the country, somehow.

That may be a good idea, actually. Here, take back this money-" he tries to pass it back to N'Dovu- "You might be able to slip through the border, but as I recall, there is a small airport a couple of days drive from here. What it's used for, I don't know exactly, but you might be able to find a plane out from there."

[Brian]

N'dovu raises an eyebrow at this.  "It is a thought," he finally admits.  "But we will need help, for I cannot drive.  Or ... perhaps the lady could drive.  We should prepare soon, though."  N'dovu accepts some of the money, but thinks it's only fair to leave Rick with something for his trouble.