Spring 1st, 519av, 11 Bells
Gemma was just getting off her shift at the Catholicon when she got the call. Her plan had been to go home, get a nice long nap, then maybe go out for a bit and buy some clothes for the change of season. But her plans were not meant to be, because just as she was about to leave for the day, a breathless messenger rushed in, panting against the door post after probably running up the whole spiral stair case around the mountain that led up to the peak of Tenten and The Catholicon.
"Need... medics..." The messenger gasped, drenched from the rain that still pounded outside.
Gemma was immediately on high alert. The messenger started to regain his breath, and Gemma put her hand on his back, checking him for injuries without really thinking about it.
"I work here. What happened? Tell me what you need and I can direct you to the right people." She said, already walking him down the hall.
"Five Shinya dead at Infinity Manor. More en route, but they've requested two medics to accompany them. They're concerned that Madeira Craven might be injured." The mention of the pregnant Dusk Tower teacher called Gemma's attention immediately.
"Madeira? What happened? Did she try to fight the Shinya?" She asked.
"I don't know the details, only what I've been told." He said. Gemma's thoughts went to the unborn babies. She knew she had to go, but she didn't know who else to ask for. The news of Madeira's involvement and possible injury worried her and caused a fog to fall over her mind. Who should she ask for? Allesia was in surgery and couldn't be disturbed. She was pretty sure Senri was with her. Yonatan would be able to check if the babies were ok. Maybe he was their best bet.
When they reached reception, Gemma spoke. "Rasika, this man has a message. I'm already on my way. Find Yonatan and send him, and as soon as Doctor Allesia is available fill her in." She said this as she skipped backward, already half way to the door. And with that, she burst from The Catholicon and into the pouring rain. She might normally have enjoyed it if she wasn't in such a hurry. Now it was a dangerous hazard that could potentially impede her as she ran.
"Yahal, protect me." She shook her head as she ran. It as stupid to run in these conditions, but she had a good pair of boots on her feet and a grim set determination in her eyes. She would make it. She had to make it.
Down the spiral stairs of Tenten she ran, through the plaza where The Ponrose Incident happened. It was where she had first met Madeira. If she hadn't been there that day, would Gemma be running now? Would she have responded with such haste if it had been anyone else? Someone she didn't know? She shook her head and sent another prayer to Yahal for purity of heart.
She stopped only to ask for directions to the manor, and when she got there, panting and out of breath, the scene before her gave her pause and she gasped. The manor was at the center of a good parcel of land, but it looked like a battleground. A huge moat circled the place. It was filled with teeth like an open bear trap, and off to one side, Gemma saw what she had hoped she wouldn't. Impaled on the spikes in a bridge-like line were the unmistakable bodies of the five Shinya, recognizable by their white robes. Gemma gasped as she saw them, noticing the dismembered state of some of them.
"What-" She couldn't bring herself to ask the question. What had happened here? How was she supposed to get in? There was no way she was going to walk over the Shinya bridge, and the five of them were clearly dead and beyond anything she could do. But Madeira...
"Madeira!?" She called, cupping her hands to her mouth as she shouted through the downpour. The sound of rain muffled her voice, but she tried again.
"Madeira!"
"Need... medics..." The messenger gasped, drenched from the rain that still pounded outside.
Gemma was immediately on high alert. The messenger started to regain his breath, and Gemma put her hand on his back, checking him for injuries without really thinking about it.
"I work here. What happened? Tell me what you need and I can direct you to the right people." She said, already walking him down the hall.
"Five Shinya dead at Infinity Manor. More en route, but they've requested two medics to accompany them. They're concerned that Madeira Craven might be injured." The mention of the pregnant Dusk Tower teacher called Gemma's attention immediately.
"Madeira? What happened? Did she try to fight the Shinya?" She asked.
"I don't know the details, only what I've been told." He said. Gemma's thoughts went to the unborn babies. She knew she had to go, but she didn't know who else to ask for. The news of Madeira's involvement and possible injury worried her and caused a fog to fall over her mind. Who should she ask for? Allesia was in surgery and couldn't be disturbed. She was pretty sure Senri was with her. Yonatan would be able to check if the babies were ok. Maybe he was their best bet.
When they reached reception, Gemma spoke. "Rasika, this man has a message. I'm already on my way. Find Yonatan and send him, and as soon as Doctor Allesia is available fill her in." She said this as she skipped backward, already half way to the door. And with that, she burst from The Catholicon and into the pouring rain. She might normally have enjoyed it if she wasn't in such a hurry. Now it was a dangerous hazard that could potentially impede her as she ran.
"Yahal, protect me." She shook her head as she ran. It as stupid to run in these conditions, but she had a good pair of boots on her feet and a grim set determination in her eyes. She would make it. She had to make it.
Down the spiral stairs of Tenten she ran, through the plaza where The Ponrose Incident happened. It was where she had first met Madeira. If she hadn't been there that day, would Gemma be running now? Would she have responded with such haste if it had been anyone else? Someone she didn't know? She shook her head and sent another prayer to Yahal for purity of heart.
She stopped only to ask for directions to the manor, and when she got there, panting and out of breath, the scene before her gave her pause and she gasped. The manor was at the center of a good parcel of land, but it looked like a battleground. A huge moat circled the place. It was filled with teeth like an open bear trap, and off to one side, Gemma saw what she had hoped she wouldn't. Impaled on the spikes in a bridge-like line were the unmistakable bodies of the five Shinya, recognizable by their white robes. Gemma gasped as she saw them, noticing the dismembered state of some of them.
"What-" She couldn't bring herself to ask the question. What had happened here? How was she supposed to get in? There was no way she was going to walk over the Shinya bridge, and the five of them were clearly dead and beyond anything she could do. But Madeira...
"Madeira!?" She called, cupping her hands to her mouth as she shouted through the downpour. The sound of rain muffled her voice, but she tried again.
"Madeira!"