The Chronicle

[Doc]

A new year. A new 'life'. A time meant for resolutions to do things differently, to be a better person. Yet in the span of a couple of hours, everything you think you knew, you realize is all a lie.

The new year was meant to bring about a new life, but not the one he got. A life spent in rigid discipline, with its soul purpose to create a superhuman, a super solider so to speak. To make man better.

But then the distraction of a pretty face and beseeching eyes, and thoughts turn to what life could be with a partner, a companion, a soul mate. A lifetime of study and effort forsaken for this new love.

Love is a lie.

It is a tool for the cold hearted to use on their victims for their secret amusement.

Love is deception.

It causes emotions to well up and cloud the mind. To make one, who was once sane, methodical and rational to become a puppet on a string.

No more.

[Doc]

Doc had spent the first few days of his 'new' life wallowing in self pity and rage.

Rage at Pi. Rage at himself. Rage at his weakness. Rage at what he lost.

The rampage he unleashed on inanimate objects, lay broken, shattered and strewn about the house he had meant to be for Pi and himself to raise a family.

Oh he got a new family alright.. and one with his 'precious' Pi. But it wasn't at all what he had envisioned. It wasn't the warm, cozy, intimate thing he had imagined. It was a cold, barren existence, among the walking dead.

[Doc]

Old habits died hard.

Coffee. The smell that woke him up through medical school and then later during his internship. The taste that warmed him every morning, was now something that caused projectile reguritation.

A routine suddenly forsaken. He liked routine. He liked knowing what was, or what will be. But now he was floundering.

There was no more routine.

There was no more certainty.

There was only the unknown. An unknown that made everything he had previously believed in, a lie.

What good was medicine? In all the years of human existence, man had only increased his life span by 20.. perhaps 30 years. And those last years were wracked by sickness and disease.

But all along, there were those that never died. That 'gift' of not dying, only given to the few chosen ones. And now he had that 'gift'. But what to do with it, when everything he ever thought was real.. wasn't.

He felt like he was in a void, a vacuum of nothingness.

[Doc]

Ruth.

Met Ruth today. She came by and introduced herself. Had heard her voice in his head before, when he thought he was going crazy.

She was like a young deer. Hesitant and ready to bolt if need be, but standing her ground for the moment. Not what he would have thought a vampire to be. And she was Native. She called herself a monster.

That word replayed in his mind long after she was gone.

Monster.

It almost seemed apropos.

The Monster was reborn.

[Doc]

It was time he started making sure he left nothing to chance. Those he had met.

Pi D'Artois, Queen of the Hive
Age: unknown
French
Attitude:
Weakness: Men?
Elliot, first level Drone


Ruth D'Artois, sister of Pi D'Artois
Young, 22 at death.
Native American
Married: Rogue Predator
Attitude: Misses human family
Weakness: Well being of Human Family; well being of spouse.

Cytherea, 2nd level drone of Elliot
Murdered by Elliot
Young, resents Elliot
Weakness: Emotions, too self assured, curiosity, wants to fix others.
Predilection to imagine grandiose things, based on no evidence, just her gut.
Best way to deal with: Just nod, and agree to whatever she says, in hopes she get bored and leaves.

[Doc]

Talked with Cy again today. That girl has serious issues. Listening is one of them. She is so ready to spew whatever comes to her, just to keep her emotions at bay. Which brought to mind drugs. What are the consequences of drugs on the vampire body? Are there any? Do drugs affect the body? If so, which ones and to what level? Need to find a test subject.

Went to Library, studied up on snipers. Interesting the little things that can be discovered that change the way you think about the tried and true. When this life first started.. thought it was the end, but new possibilities continually present themselves. New ideas about super-soliders, with new thought of who should be the first round subject.

[Doc]

Ruth: *checks her phone. She looks to be in her early thirties now, and her eyes are lighter brown than her former body's almost black ones. She has an oval-shaped face which looks stern at rest. She flips through her contacts and starts to text Doc.* Doc, I'm back from- *she shakes her head and erases it, then starts again* Hello, do you want to go- *she erases it, sighs, and leans against a lamppost as she puzzles over what to write. Probably best to pretend it never happened. She settled for a* Hey.

Doc: *Doc received a text and didn't look at it right away. He presumed it was Cyth. Shot again. Needing patching up. He actually had planned on ignoring it for a few hours, but what if she had another bounty.. and he ignored it and Tytonida killed her, He would never hear the end of it. He glanced at the phone. He stopped and stared. He smiled. Ruth. He texted back* God you ******* scared me. Never do that again!

Ruth: **** you, *she informs him telepathically, then sighs and texts him like a normal vampire.* Sorry. That was a kneejerk reaction. *Plus her hormones were in flux from her mind taking over and molding her grandmother's body.*

Doc: *Doc burst out laughing, at her colorful retort in his head. He texted,* I have missed you. More than you might realize. You realize you are the only sane female I know. *he sent it, then he folloiwed it with another one* I am sorry.

Ruth: Nothing can be done now. *he knew how she felt about what happened, but she intended to stay by her husband. As gut wrenching as being in love with two different men could be, she couldn't bear even the thought of leaving Allistair, inconveniencing Cyth and pursuing a physical relationship with Doc.* What are you doing? *she texts him.*

Doc: *Text* Waiting for you.. I presume you are somewhere close.. *Ruth had the uncanny habit of appearing out of the blue, and he wanted to see her for himself, to make sure she was .. Ruth.*

Ruth: I am, *she hinted in a text with a little sly smirk. She was watching him from a table outside the cafe across the street from where he was checking his phone. Ruth's grandmother had been- well, now Ruth is, more matronly in appearance, with sturdy hips and a larger bust. Her flesh was no longer wrinkled, but she had small dimples that were going to annoy the hell out of her later. She wore a sweater dress and snow boots.*

Doc: *Doc looked up from his phone and looked around, then he remembered what Pi had told him, the Ruth he knew by sight, was different now. He had no idea what she would look like. He frowned, as he tried to pick her out. Her old body was gone. This would be different, he frowned, as he spun about trying to pick her out. *text* What do you look like?

Ruth: *She stared at her reflection in a spoon that glowed with the light of the moon.* Maybe I should keep it a secret, *she teased him. Shooting him with a paintball gun had been gratifying, but being a stranger gave her room for even more mischief.*

Doc: *Doc frowned and looked up again, more perturbed,* Fine.. I will find you.. *Doc strode over to a group of humans, he figured as he got close to her, he would smell the difference, and feel a familiarity. He looked for a female with a phone. He stopped, what if she was a male now? He had no idea how that worked..*

Ruth: *tries not to laugh, watching him flounder. She almost felt bad, but she had been waiting for this for a week in the shadow realm.*

Doc: *Doc slid his gaze around for people with cell phones out as well. He keyed in on one particular female by a newspaper stand, but hs he got closer he could tell she was human. He looked toward the cafe, and noted several that fit the bill. He crossed the street and was rewarded with the feeling of familiarity, he was close. Then he saw her, it had to be her. She was dressed as his Ruth would dress, She was older looking, but she had that rather, deadpan look to her. He pulled out a chair and dawn opposite her. "Hello Ruth."

Ruth: *She blushed, smiled and flipped her phone closed.* Good evening.

Doc: *Doc looked at her for a long moment before speaking, She was different, yet, in her eyes, he could see her. He smiled at her. What did he say? Did they pretend it never happened, Yes that what Pi said she wanted, but wasn't that ignroing a major event in her life that needed recognition? 'I am glad you are back.. I need some sanity in my life.."

Ruth: What I did wasn't sane, *she objected, staring down and folding her ruddy hands in front of her on the table.*

Doc: No.. what you did was colored by pain and you thought it would stop if you did that...

Ruth: Why did you do that?

Doc: Why Not? You and I would never happen. Cyth is a good partner.. she's smart, sneaky,.. fun.

Ruth: *nods slowly.* I just didn't know. It was very sudden.

Doc: It wasnt planned.. It was.. a game of chicken..

Ruth: At least you're happy.

Doc: Doc nods, but doesnt agree verbally, "And You Ruth?"

Ruth: "Allistair understood. He doesn't know how I feel about you, but when I told him that I killed myself to get away and think, he didn't force me to talk about it."

Doc: He's a good man Ruth. You love him. I know you do. I am not worthy of you .. or Cyth either really. But I will always be here for you .. as your friend. Always

Ruth: Thank you. *The pain would cease over time, she was certain of it. She was counting on it. A server came by the table and Ruth was sure to ask loudly* Do you want a drink?

Doc: No thank you... *He waved his hand negatively* Just had something before.. *he lied, but it was necessary for the server. The conversation had come to an empass. THe server was a welcome break. It would give them both a moment to step back*

Ruth: *When the server had left, Ruth stood.* This is my grandmother's body, *she told him. It still creeped herself out just thinking about it.*

Doc: "Your grandmother?" He leaned forward, "Your real grandmother?" His eyes narrowed, "Isn't that a bit.. wrong?"

Ruth: "I couldn't just leave her there at the morgue," Ruth told him. She hadn't bothered trying to explain to anyone else, but she half hoped Doc would criticize her. "And yes, of course it feels... strange."

Doc: "Strange.. its wrong Ruth..." He leaned closer to her "What if she's.. you're recgonzied?!"

Ruth: "She won't be recognized. She was eighty years old. The only person who would recognize her at this age is dead. The others, if they saw me, would think I was just a strange Indian. Besides, now I know who to avoid, so it is actually safer than running around in a stranger's body." She had an excitement to her explanation; even then she was dominating the flesh and bending it to her psyche's will.
9:08:46 PM  
Doc: Doc leaned back, and just looked at her for a moment. "Its still .. weird. and little Wrong"

Ruth: "I died once before and took a dead white woman's body, it took me a month to mold her vessel to become what I wanted," she says. She agrees that it is wrong, she did not know what her grandmother would have said about it.

Doc: "I guess in a weird wrong way.. you have something of your family with you now... then"

Ruth: "I don't think so," she told him, then tried to explain before he could ask. She had already made herself vulnerable to him and risen from the ashes, so it isn't frightening anymore to talk to him about it. "It does not feel that way. My grandmother's spirit is gone from her vessel, so this is just a corpse, that belongs to me now. Like a parting gift." The vampire had no idea how sociopathic she sounded.

Doc: Doc frowned ever so slightly. The old Ruth would not have been so.. blaize about something like this. She had turned cold. He was the cause of this. Sweet gentle Ruth, not cold and almsot uncareing. He didn't know what to say. So He changed the subject. "Bet you cant shoot worth **** now..."

Ruth: "I shot you well enough between the eyes," she reminds him with a slight smirk. Her lust for power and her second death had indeed made her forget a piece of herself. Her spirit was running amok in another woman's body, doing powerful magic.

Doc: You did not.. *then it dawned on him* That was you?! Doc shook his head and laughed.

Ruth: "I think I'll go to the mountain and clear my thoughts. Would you like to come?" She asks suddenly.

Doc: "Sure.. You might forget your way back.."

Ruth: "I don't forget things like that," she chided as they started walking to the wilderness. She had been walking with her father many times in the mountain, and her grandfather taught her to hunt and trap out there under the stars.

Doc: You never know.. nevetr can be too careful.. *he walked with her* You know.. I wouldnt do this with anyone else.. I am strictly a city boy...

Ruth: "I won't get us lost," she reassured him. She felt like going to the mountain was the right thing to do. "Maybe the spirits will talk to you."

Doc: Spirits? I dont think they say much to me. I think they save their wisdom for the righteous. I am far from righteous.

Ruth: "What makes you say that?" she frowned at him thoughtfully. Just a few moments ago he had been trying to tell her what was wrong and what was right, and he was not righteous?

Doc: The spriits see everything right? THey know us better then we know ourselves?.. They wont exaclty like what they see in me. I know this.

Ruth: She stared at him, but didn't press the matter further. She had no idea what he did with his free time. Perhaps it was better that way. The wilderness grew denser, and Ruth stepped through a hole clipped through a chain link fence and stepped into a deer run.

Doc: He followed her throught the hole inthe fence, "Remind me next time.. to dress for tramping." A suit was not the best attire for this sort of thing.

Ruth: She reached into her knapsack and pulled off her wolfskin cloak, tossing it to him rather than handling the handmade piece with care. She hardly remembered making it, it had been a great comfort to her at the time. A frightened fledgeling, she had taken comfort from her craft. "You can wear that if you want."

Doc: Oh right.. I take this.. and leave you with nothing.. I dont think so Ruth.. Come here.. Put this on. *He frowned* I wasnt complaining.. just saying. Dont treat me like a 2 year old..

Ruth: "I don't need it," she told him, stopping.

Ruth: The insects around them suddenly became quiet, the universe no longer alive with their song when she made eye contact with him.

Doc: *Doc threw it around her shoulders, * But you look nice in it..

Ruth: She nodded and put the wolf head part over her hair so that she looked like a wolf walking on its hind legs. The fur was pristine and black as coal, with two red jewels set in the eye sockets.

Doc: Besides.. its suits you. *He leaned back and canted his head tot he side, and smiled a closed mouth smile* I dont think I could pull that look off...

Ruth: She didn't agree with him, but she was quiet about it, her mind too busy concocting a design to make him as a surprise. She kicked up the earth and hurried down the deer run, then hurried to the east when they came upon a murmuring brook. A dense fog surrounded the water.

Doc: Wait! Where the **** are you going? *He sighed and took off after her, slowing down when he spotted her, "You definitely are the same Ruth..."

Ruth: "Of course I am," she said, then felt apologetic for the first time since she came back. She kept her pace down for his sake. He was not wearing appropriate shoes for hiking, she shouldn't press him like that.

Doc: "Ivy was changed when she came abck.. but she was bat **** crazy to begin with.. so .. guess thats not a fair comparison.. I was worried you would be differnt.." He finally reached her side, "I'm glad I am wrong."

Ruth: She pointed ahead of them. "We are walking against the current. See how fast the water is getting, it means we are close to the falls. The mountain."

Doc: "Ok.. and what we will find there Ruth?" Some people could commune with nature, He guessed Ruth could. He never felt that he had.

Ruth: She thought about it. When she was a little girl, she had gone to pray there, and had come to a meditative understanding of the world and her place in it. With an open, receptive mind, and the knowledge that this is where people came to do that thing (a sacred place), the mountain had a powerful atmosphere, similar to some popular tourist attractions like stonehenge. But how to explain it to Doc? "Have you ever felt in your heart that you were connected to something greater than yourself?" she asked him.

Doc: *Doc wanted to lie and tell he did. But he couldnt. She deserved teh truth. "No.. I cant say that I have. I am a selfish ******** of a man, Ruth. My thougths center around me, or how someone fits around me."

Ruth: "Don't say things like that," she chided him. They started to ascend, scraping along the precipice. It would have been dangerous for humans, but the vampires were able to do so with ease. Ruth did so without a thought, but made him go first.

Doc: "Just speaking the truth Ruth.. " he moved with care, born more from never doing it before than from fear, "Its not pretty but it is true."

Ruth: "That doesn't make you any less of a worthy person. That is not the attitude you should face the spirits with. I'll explain when we get to the summit." She climbed in silence, eyes following his feet. When rocks fell, she would tense her body.

Doc: "Yes it does Ruth.. the worth person thinks of others first.. like you.. the unworthy thinks of himself.. like me.." He slipped but caught himself. "That was close.."

Ruth: "You can do it," she reassured him. In silence, they climbed for a good hour. Finally they arrived at the top of the mountain. It was frigid cold, with rocks and a firepit, a steady wind rushed over the rocks like water over river stones. Ruth sat down and gestured for him to join her. She thought about how to get his mind in the right receptive mood for this to work.

Doc: *Doc sat beside her," So what now Ruth? *He should be used to the cold, but he wasnt.* "The SPirits may not like that you brought me here..."

Ruth: She scooted close and draped part of her long cloak around him. "Don't be afraid. I want you to look around. See how the stones are flat? That is from the feet of our ancestors. Humans who have come here for thousands of years, worn down the stone. And look at those arrowheads, they were made by ancient hunters just like us. Think about what they went through to get up here. Imagine them so many centuries ago."

Doc: *He tried to do what she said, but in his mind, his need for order and informaiton came forward, "Topography would not be the same as then.. Atmosphere would be different... centuries ago, the tetonic plates would not be in the position they are now.. the mountains not as high.. "

Ruth: "It's true," she told him. "Put your hands on the rocks and see. Pick up an arrowhead. Don't you feel the strong presence here?" Perhaps it was a matter of perception.

Doc: Doc would humor Ruth. He placed his hand, palm side down on the rock. It was cold. It was a rock. He didn't even know how to pretend for her sake. He was trying. He picked up an arrowhead. It was impressive to think it was created by nothing more than beating one rock with another. But that was all he got out of it. He didnt have the heart to tell Ruth he got nothing. So he just remained silent.

Ruth: She was busy looking around and listening to the wind whisper across the rocks. She had no idea that her grandmother had advised Chaz to come here before she died.

Doc: Doc just sat in silence. It seemed the best thing to do. He stared at teh arrowhead. He was going to keep it. He would do tests with it later to see how well it cut flesh.


Ruth: What are you thinking about? *she asked him finally.*

Doc: "How many things this simply arrowhead killed..."

Ruth: Your fangs will surpass that someday.

Doc: They probably have already. *He didnt tell her, his human self had probably done so too*

Ruth: You kill humans?

Doc: Yes. *there it was out. He waited for the recrimnations*

Ruth: Of course she frowned at him. "Why? Did they try to hurt you?" Didn't he know you could feed without killing?

Doc: He looked at her, "This is why I knew we.. you and I could never be. I knew it long before I ever said anything. You are good, kind, and righterous. I am the antithesis of those things. I never wanted you to hate me thoough."

Ruth: "I don't hate you." She said and stared at him until he might decide to answer her question.

Doc: "Good." He knew if he answered, she would. So he didnt answer.

Ruth: It was her responsibility to keep him safe, and to make sure he grew up right. "Does Pi know?"

Doc: The Assassin also known as Pi? Yes .. she knows. She should have let me die.

Ruth: "Don't say things like that," she scolded him again, then bit her lip and looked at the sky. She had known Doc had a temper, but she thought he was taking it out on coffeee grinds.

Doc: He wanted to keep her regard fro him, but dammit, He would rather she heard if from him. "I'm a killer Ruth.. always have been.. always will be."

Ruth: "Why?" she asked him. She didn't feel betrayed, but the way she looked at him was rather shocked.

Doc: "Some people are a waste of skin Ruth.. and if their death could benefit others.. so be it"

Ruth: She frowned at him and shook her head. For some reason doing it with a stranger's face made the Native stare of disapproval even worse.

Doc: *He sees the look* See? *he sighs* Your pain.. your love.. was for someone who doesnt exist. I wish I could be the person you loved. But will never be me.. no more than the fake Pi will be the Pi i fell for. *there it was.. he tore the last vestages of pretend away, he needed to be sure she was clear, he never was.. nor ever will be worthy*

Ruth: "I kill paladins and blood thieves," she admits.

Doc: That goes without saying Ruth.. they are the enemy

Ruth: "You shouldn't kill civilians."

Doc: Why? When they are corupt, cheating ontheir wives, or drug abusers.. why do they deserve to live.. when so many good people die of disease.

Ruth: "You experiment on them. You dehumanize them because they don't fit your moral code and then experiment on them." She said, shocked. It floated around in her head for a while. He was a serial killer, this whole time, he had been so kind to her.

Doc: And?

Ruth: "I never would have guessed," she told him. She never would have gotten close to him, it was true. But now that she had, and gotten to know him, and been doctored by him, she knew she couldn't abandon him.

Doc: You are a good person Ruth. A very good person. I do have a moral compass of sorts. I just do not have your moral compass

Ruth: She was quiet for a long time, and it seemed as if she was ignoring him. The wind rushed over the stones and ragged shrubs. A mountain goat bleated nearby. Finally, Ruth murmured "You only kill... bad people?"

Doc: Or those wasting their lives.

Ruth: "The police are outnumbered," she had to admit. "But you have no right to be a judge. We are all monsters, killers."

Doc: "Have you ever wondered Ruth.. that all the things we learned as humans.. were lies?.. Christ for example.. he supposed died for our sins.. but vampires.. live on.. even after death.. what is the point of christ?" he looked at her. "IF there is no point in christ.. what point is there in human life?"

Ruth: "Humans do great things. Each one is born with limitless potential. They have families and jobs and friends," was her optimistic reply. "Besides, how would we feed?" She did not intend to feed on other vampires.

Doc: So are they .. great.. or are they .. food?

Ruth: "They can be both. We don't have to kill them," she told him sternly.

Doc: Their life is a lie Ruth. There is no greater purpose.. there is no christ.

Ruth: "So life has no golden meaning. That does not make it meaningless. We shape our own existence. We have that freedom."

Doc: "Think about it Ruth.. everything you thought you -knew- is a lie. Doesnt that by itself make it a lie?

Ruth: "I don't know anymore," she admitted. She didn't like to think about it. She may be stoic on the surface, but inside she was quite fragile and could be a danger to herself. The mystic was too tangled in her mind and not invested enough in her flesh.

Doc: Exactly Ruth.. thats what I mean.. years of 'truth' being drummed into us.. yet.. in teh space of a single day.. we go from believeing in a higher power that will wreck vengence on us.. to .. everything we know is a lie. Couldnt it be that .. humans are like Ants.. or Bees.. A community or hive that dictates a behavior they all follow?

Ruth: "They have feelings, hopes, dreams," she reminded him, not wanting him to dehumanize them for his own sense of justice.

Doc: And.. Ants and Bees dont? Or do they Ruth.. Do they and we just dont care?

Ruth: "they don't. Their brains can't handle that cognitive thought process. Don't you know that? You are a doctor."

Doc: You say that because Scientists tell you that. You put stock in their words because of the degrees they hold. THey also say vampires do not exist. Who is right?

Ruth: "Doc. I am a telepath, and a mystic. I can read memories and communicate to people's minds. Insects have different minds than humans. I have tried communicating with cats, even my pet lobsters."

Doc: You are a vampire telepath. You can read People's minds. But to beleive or pretend that .. our brain is the only one that is capable of such communication.. is a leap at best. Just because we do not understand, or have the ability to understand, doesnt mean it doesnt exist. The point is.. you do not know all the variables. You presume you do..thereby narrowing the scope to your perfectly acceptabl;e world. And I am telling you, your prefect world.. isnt perfect.

Ruth: "I never said it was perfect," the young woman told him. In fact, her problem was that it *should* be perfect by all accounts, but her heart was greedy and wanted more. That week she had been trying to move on.

Doc: "I know.. I am not casting blame Ruth.. I am just saying.. some of us are not what we appear. And Your view of me.. isn't correct. I.." he paused, "As much as I dont want you to hate me,.. I cant lie to you.. I would rather have your hate, knowing you know the truth, than than have you smile at me.. knowing I am not what you thinnk I am"

Ruth: She blinked and closed her eyes, taking in the atmosphere and letting it take power over her. She felt the hurried whispers of the chill wind, felt its touch upon her face.

Doc: Doc watched her, trying to judge what she might be thinking. She was so earnest and trusting. He tried to feel bad for lying to her, but it wasnt something he set out to do. He just hadnt shared his full past her. Hell he hadnt shared it with anyone except her.

Ruth: "The things you do in your free time are none of my business," she finally told him in a careful flat tone. She had to promise herself that she wouldn't follow him around and try to stop him. He was an adult, after all.

Doc: He frowned. Her voice had no emotion, it was dead, as though he had killed her enthusiasm for the world and things about her. Well he had succeeded in pushing her away, it was for her own good; but dammit, why didnt he feel better? "Should I go?" He wanted to say her name, but he didnt. Keep it impersonal.

Ruth: "Do you know the way back?" she challenged him.

Doc: "I am sure I can find my way."

Ruth: She wanted to see if he really could find his way back, she was curious, so she said indifferently "If you want. Just be careful."

Doc: Doc caught the tone of her voice, stood, and left without a word. It was better this way. She had a husband she should focus on. And for all his faults and sins, he had Cyth, who knew what kind of ******** he was, and she laughed about it, and shoved him away. He told himself, Ruth would be better off with him messing up her life.

Ruth: She waited until his scent faltered, then crept covertly after his tracks. She could never let him wander the wilderness alone, what if he ran afoul of a fadebeast or a vampire hunter?

Doc: Doc retraced their stepsdown the side of hte mountain. It had been easier going up than going down. He focused onthe task at hand, he refused to dwell on other matters. There would be time for that later.

Ruth: He looked like he was going to make it fine on his own. Ruth approved of his carefully placed footfalls, and crouched low to the rocky soil and shrubs as she followed him.

Doc: He focused on each footfall. One step at a time. It was a lot like surgery. Specific movements, slow and methodical. Step after each step. He soon found himself on more even ground. He turned to look back up at the top of the mountian. He wondered what she was thinking. Then he forced himself to turn away, "Night Ruth." Time would tell if their friendship could move past this.

Ruth: She felt ticklish when he told her goodnight. Had she really hurt his feelings? 'What should I have done, tell him I accept him anyway? Even though he kills helpless humans who can't fight back, experiments on them?' she reasoned with herself silently, trying not to feel guilty.

Doc: Doc headed back toward civilization. He wouldnt go back home tonight. It wouldn't be right. He would go to the lab. Where it was clean and sterile.

Ruth: Ruth had never been to his lab before, so it was strange when he started to head to the opposite side of town. He was home safe, so she wouldn't meddle. But she didn't want him to think she'd really wanted him to go away earlier. "You did it," she told him, creeping up behind him like usual.

Doc: "****.." He whirled about gun in hand ready to blow someone's brains out, "Dammit Ruth.. You startled me!" He reholstered his firearm, "I could have ******* killed you!"

Ruth: She blinked up at him, as indifferent to being killed as she was a week ago. The shadow realm was just a boring place, nothing more. "Were you that scared?"

Doc: "Not scared.. startled.. What the hell are you doing Ruth? Following me? WHy?"

Ruth: "I wanted to make sure you made it home alright. You did a good job."

Doc: "I thought you wanted me to go." He looked at her, "Are we ok? You and I?"

Ruth: She nodded up at him, making eye contact.

Doc: Doc relaxed, he hadn't realized he had been tense. "Good. I'm glad.."

Ruth: The things he'd made her think about had frightened her, and she didn't want him to murder helpless humans who couldn't defend themselves, but she wouldn't abandon their friendship over a disagreement.

Doc: "what now? I will be honest. The spirits ignored me.."

Ruth: "The spirits are like Jesus. Their power comes from what we are compelled to believe and do in their name. The boogeyman is not real, but his power over children is very real. The spirits speak through the participation of thousands. They are in your heart, if you are willing to listen with a clear mind. Like meditation." She had been thinking about it while they walked.

Doc: "And if we dont believe... then What? And I have tried meditation.. it doesnt work. Its delusion. first person delusion.

Ruth: "Then they can't help you," she said, not understanding why he seemed so hung up on it.

Doc: Why did it seem that everyone around him, that this 'thing' they could focus on for answers.. and he had ****. What was it about him that made him different? "I knwo that they can help me." He stopped it wasnt Ruth fault. "They help you.. thats all that matters.."

Ruth: "What do you need help with?" she asked him, ready to do anything short of causing harm to a loved one.

Doc: 'It doesnt matter Ruth.. Another time we will delve into my neurosis .. alright?"

Ruth: "Why do you keep killing people if you think it is wrong and if it makes you feel sick?" she demanded, stepping closer to him.

Doc: "I never said ti was wrong, or that made me sick. Far from it. It doesnt bother me. At all. But according to most.. it should. But it doesnt. "

Ruth: She nodded, wishing she could help him. She promised Pi she would keep an eye on him.

Doc: "So.. will I see this face again? Or will you change it agian?

Ruth: "I'm not sure," she admitted.

Doc: You seem quite .. stern with this look.. like you disapprove.. you should smile more

Ruth: She had only smiled when she shot him in the face with the paintball, and that was when she looked like an old woman. She smiled a little for him.

Doc: See? That softens the whole face. When you dont smile you look like a prison guard. Glaring and sending your soul to hell.

Ruth: She blinked, "I'm sorry." Grandmother could be a prison guard sometimes, when her younger brothers misbehaved. She missed grandmother.

Doc: "Smile.. You're so solemn all the time.. "

Ruth: She tried, but it was difficult smiling with her dead grandmother's mouth. "Tell me a joke."

Doc: ok.. *doc thought.. a moment.. * I got it...

Doc: An old prospector shuffled into the town of El Indio, Texas leading a tired old mule. The old man headed straight for the only saloon in town, to clear his parched throat. He walked up to the saloon and tied his old mule to the hitch rail. As he stood there, brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and
a bottle of whiskey in the other. The young gunslinger looked at the old man and laughed, saying, "Hey old man, can you dance?" The old man looked up at the gunslinger and said, "No son, I don't dance... never really wanted to". A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "Well, you old fool, you're gonna dance now!" and started shooting at the old man's feet. The old prospector, not wanting to get a toe blown off, started hopping around like a flea on a hot skillet. Everybody standing around was laughing..

When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon. The old man turned to his pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled 12 gauge shotgun and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks carried clearly through the desert air. The crowd stopped laughing immediately. The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly. The silence was deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old timer and the large gaping holes of those twin 12 gauge barrels. The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old man's hands, as he quietly said;

"Son, have you ever kissed a mule's ***?"

The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, "No sir... but.... I've always wanted to."

Ruth: The joke makes her smile and even laugh a little. Her laughter bounces around the empty street.

Doc: Doc grinned. "see.. thats nice.. looks and sounds.."

Ruth: "I'll be sure to smile for you more often," she reassured him.

Doc: "Not just me.. But your man too..."

Ruth: "Of course. He hasn't seen my body yet." The last time they'd spoken telepathically, he had jokingly requested that she come back as a white blond with big breasts.

Doc: "Oh.. " Doc didn't know what to say. He had seen her before she went to see her husband? He should feel slightly guilty about that. But he didnt. He grinned at her. "He will love you"

Ruth: She looked down at herself for a second. "I hope so." She usually only saw him on the weekends, tentatively.

Doc: He caught something in the look she gave him 'What is it? Whats the matter"

Ruth: "Nothing, I just hope he doesn't think this is weird."

Doc: "He loves you Ruth.. he wont. He wouldnt."

Ruth: She smiled again. "You're probably right."

Doc: "I am.. I know you.. He knows you.. How could he not love you"

Ruth: She cleared her throat and touched her knapsack. "I should go wait for him at home."

Doc: He nods "You should. Be safe as you go Ruth."

Ruth: "You too," she said and vanished via teleportation.