(OOC: Open to all in the Women's Barracks. This thread takes place at night, roughly 1 1/2 days after Stir Crazy.)

Usually easy-going and unhurried about life, even life in the Camps, there was a definite rush to Neena's movements this night. The folds of the laundry were rather sloppily made, as was their placement in the various rooms of the Guards Barracks. No doubt her careless work would be noticed in the morning, and she'd be dragged back to do everything all over again, on top of her usual chores. But she didn't care. Her attention was focused on something else.

Doug had come through with word on the locked room in the Infirmary, as well as some other interesting news. He wouldn't elaborate, not surprising considering he'd slipped the packet to her at the Laundry, with two other guards around. But she had gotten the impression that whatever it was, it was important. After speaking with Sara and a few others, Doug seemed to be holding to his word, attempting to find ways to make Camp life a bit more bearable. It was too early to say for sure, but he did appear to be on the level.

She deposited the last of the laundered uniforms, and waited for her escort to decide if he needed her to do anything else. Ethan, her guard escort, the one who drew enjoyment from her clumsiness, watched lazily. He was disappointed that she hadn't done more than bark her shins a few times, and so had spent most of the evening teasing her about her eyes. The swelling in her eye had gone down, leaving her with raccoon eyes, which she kept lowered. Neena ignored him most of the time, though she did act embarrassed, and didn't dissuade his conclusion that Doug had been responsible, for that and a few other marks on her arms. Let him think what he wanted, like all of the other small-minded idiots in uniform.

Fortunately, Ethan was as anxious to finish his shift as Neena was, and so he didn't examine her work closely. He escorted her to the Women's Barracks and checked her in like a good little guard, and then hurried onto whatever business he had. Neena did note that he was headed in the direction of the kitchen. Again. Curious.

She looked around at the other girls, as she usually did, to see who was back from their chores and who wasn't. Then she moved to her own bunk, slipping the little packet out of her dress. She had used some of the extra bandages she pilfered to create a makeshift bra for herself, so she could tuck things away when the opportunity arose.

The packet was flat, a newspaper folded around it. Part of the word 'massacre' popped out in the dark, bold block of a major headline.

<"I wonder who ticked of who this time?"> she mused to herself. She opened it carefully, in case he had written something on the wrapping. There was a little note on a piece of notebook paper.

It's a sedative, put in the food. Made to keep the mutants tired and placid. Enough to knock out two armies.

Neena frowned. Well, that explained a lot. No wonder the food tasted so awful. Very few cooks were that bad. It also presented a rather substantial problem. There was no way the inmates could quit eating; some of them were skin and bones already. And the shock collars kept any mutations from aiding them.

Maybe there was a way to get to the cook.... Maybe substitute something else.... Who did she know in the kitchen?

There was more to the note, so she read on.

But it looks like armies have bigger problems. Check the paper.

<"Bigger problems?">[/i] Neena blinked, and took a closer look at the paper. Her eyes flicked back and forth. Her frown deepened further and further, until her face radiated anger.

"Idiots!" she finally blurted out, adding a string of words in Swahili, loosely translated as 'narrow-minded, two-toned, river-pig scat'. Some of the girls looked at her, startled.[/color]

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

MALL MASSACRE CLAIMS FIFTY-EIGHT

The casualty count from Wednesday's Stalker massacre has officially been recorded at fifty-eight. Among them were fourteen of the Mall Security Force. Twelve of the count were aged under twelve years old, and three were over eighty. Fifteen are still in the hospital, though all have been downgraded from critical to serious condition.

Efforts are being made to find out why the Stalker robot malfunctioned, however the machine disappeared right after the massacre, and has not yet been located. Witnesses testify that the machine had been chasing down a pair of alleged mutants, but the reason it turned on humans, who they were sworn to protect, is still under investigation.

Mary Maestes, one of the foremost voices for Mutant Rights, was quoted as saying, "The Stalker robots are more of a menace to human society than the mutants Congress are trying so hard to supress. Mutants at least have feelings, and can be reasoned with. They are responsible for their actions just like everyone of us, and should be treated as such. But who is responsible for the Stalkers actions? Washington commissioned them, so who is really responsible for this tragedy?"

Notably, Reverend Hawkethorn, pastor of one of the local Churches of Humanity, one of the most vocal in favor of the Stalker Robots, and also rumored to be considering running in next year's Congressional Elections, refused to comment on the situation.

While the Stalker robots have been very helpful in enforcing the Mutant Registration Law, fear of a repeat of this tragedy has the local authorities wondering if such measures truly are a help, or if they have become a danger to those are suppose to be protecting. A spurt of protests have resulted from this event, much of it taking place where registered mutants have been utilized in Community Development projects, aimed at teaching mutants to use their talents constructively, rather than destructively.

In this writer's humble opinion, perhaps the Mutant Registration Law is no longer as clear cut an issue as it is often presented.[/i]

Amp returned to the Barracks, head down, her whole aura sagging. Her hair had grown over the past months; it was nearly as long as Vibe kept hers. She hid behind it, trying to stay hidden among the other inmates. She hadn't been to Isolation for nearly a week, mainly because she'd avoided people, guard and mutant, as much as possible.

She passed Neena's bunk just as the woman cursed and lashed out. Amp jumped; she'd developed a reflex to dodge anything that resembled someone reaching toward her. Once assured that she wasn't in danger, she advanced. Neena was the calm one in the Bunkhouse, the one that always seemed annoyingly cheerful, and always in control. Amp tried to avoid her whenever possible. But anything that could rile her feather must have been something.

She had to climb the foot of the bunk to see, but Neena didn't seem to care. Amp pulled the clipping over to read. A long-forgotten glimmer appeared in her dull green eyes.

Finally she jumped down. "Serves 'em right," she mumbled. "Bottom-feeders." She skulked over to her own bunk, to curl up and suffer another night of nightmares.

"MAN IN DORM!! Hope ya Ladies are Decent!"

Holding a Two Boxes, this Guard Walked into the Female Barracks.. Something was different about this guard.. Neena knew him, but the others might not have yet.. A Mutant Guard, some would call him a Traitor, some may Think of him as a Saint.. There was a reason for him to be a Guard, though this may not be clear to most of the others...

The guard with Draconic Features looked at the Women. placing two boxes down "Alright.. I noticed that a few of you ladies haven't had the proper hygiene.. To prevent Disease and... make everyone.. in general.. more comfortable... Gwen Told me to deliver this here."

"MAN IN DORM!! Hope ya Ladies are Decent!"

Most of the girls looked up in surprise. While they were used to guards entering the dorms, most came unannounced and didn't care whether the women were decent or not.

"Alright.. I noticed that a few of you ladies haven't had the proper hygiene.. To prevent Disease and... make everyone.. in general.. more comfortable... Gwen Told me to deliver this here."

When the draconic-looking mutant appeared, reactions varied. One younger girl literally squeaked and hid under the bed. Others backed well away from him. Neena glanced up, and recognized Ayesac quickly; it was hard not to with that mutation. She hadn't had a chance to talk with him though, and wasn't sure what to think of him yet.

None of the others seemed willing to approach him just yet. Neena sighed, and walked down the main aisle, stopping just out of arms's length.

"A gift from Miss Gwendolyn is always appreciated," she stated simply. She was still angry at the news article, and didn't bother to hide her frown. But she was also curious to see what he'd brought.

Nodding to Neena.... "Greetings Miss Neena.. I hope you are behaving yourself today.. I really don't want to be Mr. Mean-Guard-Dragon-Dude.. " he smiled to her.. this showed off his sharp teeth to her.... and the others.. "Gwen is nice.. she did a physical on me... Her hands are cold though.. " glancing around the Dorms at the ladies, then back to Neena, He was thinking of how the other guards treat the mutants.. and treat him. They Treat Red almost as bad as they do them, but they had orders not to try to tick him off, after all, they did acquire his records from the Lab that manipulated his DNA to cause his appearance to be such.. In the great words of Albert Einstein 'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. '

"Greetings Miss Neena.. I hope you are behaving yourself today.. I really don't want to be Mr. Mean-Guard-Dragon-Dude.. "

She raised an eyebrow at that sharp, tooth-filled grin. "Define 'behave'...."

"Gwen is nice.. she did a physical on me... Her hands are cold though.. "

Well, he had a sense of humor, it seemed. Her frown faded a bit, and her expression softened ever so slightly.

"Yes, she's a rare one here. So, what did she send our way?" She leaned forward, still remaining out of arm's length, just in case.

Tilting his head.. "Behave.. As in Not cause me to be provoked.... I'm a nice guard.. we are all here to be made better, so that society will accept us as functional members of society.. Though it seems illogical how it was... " he stopped "I Can't talk about this here, Anyway.. The stuff that she sent, is Female hygiene stuff.. Tampons.. Pads.. stuff for yeast infections are with her though, so if ya got problems she'll take care of you.. the guards are using Hemroid Cream for the rashes, Don't know why they are getting that rash, doesn't bother me" he knows its from the cayenne Pepper that was put on their uniforms, this was a funny thing but he was acting stupid..

"Behave.. As in Not cause me to be provoked.... I'm a nice guard."

"Ah, is that what that means? Well, in that sense of the word, yeah. I'm behaving." Her smile was innocent, yet.... not....

"We are all here to be made better, so that society will accept us as functional members of society.. Though it seems illogical how it was.... " He paused, then added. "I Can't talk about this here."

Neena snorted. "Yes, I'm sure we'll all be the better for it when we leave." No point in hiding the sarcasm there. "Thus the need for the graveyard."

Anyway.. The stuff that she sent, is Female hygiene stuff.. Tampons.. Pads.. stuff for yeast infections are with her though, so if ya got problems she'll take care of you.."

Neena came a bit further forward to check. Some of the girls would welcome the supplies greatly, including her.

"The guards are using Hemroid Cream for the rashes, Don't know why they are getting that rash, doesn't bother me."

"Rashes? That's a shame. Maybe they need the hygiene stuff more than we do." But that same smile remained on her face. "Tell Miss Gwendolyn thank you for us, Sir....." She let the sentance trail off for him to fill in his name.

"Yes, I'm sure we'll all be the better for it when we leave. Thus the need for the graveyard."

"I was hired in to help with the humanitarianism of this place.. a mutant for humanitarianism, thats funny.. "
"Rashes? That's a shame. Maybe they need the hygiene stuff more than we do."
"Don't know, Neena, but i caught two of them playing footsy in the bathroom.. so I think there's something going around via means which I will not be taking a part of.."

"Tell Miss Gwendolyn thank you for us, Sir....."
"I will, the next time I see her.." Ayesac Smiled to Neena.. "My post is the female Barracks tonight, seeming one of the guards got beaten up here because they were being stupid... " he folded his arms... looking at the young girl hiding under the bed, he thought she was being rather cute, he was used to this reaction... "Guess they have me doing jobs no one else wants.." his tail flicked behind him as he talked to Neena - an idle flick - which would thump the floor every now and then.

"I was hired in to help with the humanitarianism of this place.. a mutant for humanitarianism, thats funny.. "

Neena snerked. "Yeah, this place has irony up the wazoo."

"Don't know, Neena, but i caught two of them playing footsy in the bathroom.. so I think there's something going around via means which I will not be taking a part of.."

"Oi...." Neena rolled her eyes, then smiled. Footsy, eh? The wheels began turning on another method of spreading more of her 'love' among the guards.

"I will, the next time I see her.. My post is the female Barracks tonight, seeming one of the guards got beaten up here because they were being stupid... Guess they have me doing jobs no one else wants.."

"Pfft! You didn't happen to meet that guard did you? The guy is not only an ass , but a stupid ass to boot. We're not usually violent. Self preservation and all that red tape. But he deserved what he got, and you can gladly tell him that from me."

With that she walked forward and knelt on the ground besides the box, and began sorting through it's contents. She was well withing attack distance now, should Dragonman choose. But Neena decided there wasn't much point in staying back any longer. She got the feeling that there wasn't much she could do if that happened anyway, no matter how far away she was. And it was a good example for the other girls.

At least the ones that wouldn't consider him a traitor to mutantkind. Those were skulking against the walls, scowling from the shadows. The little one under the bed remained where she was, unsure what to think or do.

Neena paused and looked at his tail. For some odd reason, she suddenly had the intense urge to jump on it.

"You're not a cat, Airhead," she murmured aloud to herself. She shook her head, and returned to the sorting.

Sara had been finishing the last trips around the camps. There was something flat held under her right arm, under her shirt. Peeking in the door, making a mental head count for the girls that were in their bunks, and those that were still out. A small smile formed across her face when she saw Ayesac. Well she shouldn’t get into too much trouble for what she had stolen from the supply room then… Hopefuly. I mean the pad of paper was part of an entire stack that could have filled three large boxes. To the camps it nothing but a pad of paper. To Sara, It was paper!

She’d been in the camps, What? About two months now? She’d sort of lost count. All she knew was she was itching just for one sketch.

“Good evening Mr. Campbell.” She greeted Big Red with a nod as he strolled around to her bed, that was only a few feet away from him, and dropped the pad of paper out from under her grey dress. She took out an, unsharpened pencil, and began using her thumb claw to sharpen the lead, and shave the wood away.

Smiling to Sara.. "Hello Miss Nobes, I thought I smelt you.. " he couldn't help but to smirk when seeing her.. he really did miss her, his tail casually flicked from time to time - having a mind of it's own.. "Thank you for assisting with my Uniform.. I would like to have you measure me for some more later, If you would be so kind"

Neena glanced up as the door creaked open, and Sara peeked in, before coming inside fully.

“Good evening Mr. Campbell.”

"Hello Miss Nobes, I thought I smelt you."

Neena's eyebrow quirked. On those two it was very hard to read expressions, but she felt she knew the lioness well enough to recognize coyness when she saw it. And was that a smirk on the guard's face?

Thank you for assisting with my Uniform.. I would like to have you measure me for some more later, If you would be so kind."

<"Note to self, ask Sara about Dragonman. She knows more than just his name....">

She continued sorting through the box, but kept her ears open just a tad wider. Her lips twitched a bit at the corners.

Sara flicked the pencil shavings over a blank page of paper, before folding the paper around the trash and starting to to make harsh scribble marks across the page. Slowly faces shaped from her scribbles.

Thank you for assisting with my Uniform.. I would like to have you measure me for some more later, If you would be so kind"

Sara's eyes flicked up into Ayesac's. Her pencil pausing on the page. "That was mostly Neena's work but you are very welcome. Just tell me a time and I can have time to find messuring tape." She glanced sideways at Neena, wondering exactly what the other woman was thinking. She had an odd look on her face. Something Sara suddenly realized she'd started sketching....