Snippet #2345245

"I am Therian, not faceless," the man snapped, taking obvious offense to the derogatory term. Reginald released a chuckle as he proceeded to work, apparently pleased by the Therian’s vigour. Strapping a set of gloves on with a loud snap, he then procured a suture needle and driver from his toolbox. "I'm called Touya Khan. Why... 'patch'.. me up when your leaders will only kill me? Not that it matters. I've already failed once."

“Ah, certainly they may kill you faceless,” Reginald mused, though the medic’s concentration was entirely focused on patching up his patient. Ignoring that fact that he had learned the name of his patient, Reginald whispered a hymn. Magic levitated the water, defying gravity as it rose in the air and rolled over the afflicted areas, soaking up blood. He controlled the rippling body of water, manipulating it expertly until it returned to its bucket. “Lieutenant! Help keep this wound here clean! Over here!”

April responded by walking over, her armoured plates clanking against the silence. She had removed her gauntlets in the process, anticipating her required support. “I suggest you don’t go fraternizing with the enemy, Corporal,” she grimaced, lamenting her subordinate’s congeniality.

Ignoring her, Reginald swiftly prepared the wounds for stitching. His hand worked with the practiced ease of having dealt with similar wounds his entire career, and in no time at all he had started the sewing. “Aye, certainly they may kill you faceless,” Reginald murmured, readdressing Touya, “But right here, right now, I have a duty of aiding you.”

"Seems it doesn't matter either way. You think we're terrorists to your people. You're wrong. There are a handful of us, yes that are after your technology. This is why I'm like this,” Touya admitted, having obviously grown tired of their persistent ignorance. In aggravation, the Therian nodded towards his ravaged body by way of example.

“I tried to talk sense into the leader of that group, but he would not listen. He could have killed me, but I suppose he wanted to show me mercy. Or maybe he wanted to show me just how ignorant you people are. To take the word of a Therian? I guess that would be too much to ask," Touya huffed, venting his fury at having been so unjustly mistreated. Silver pearls looked up in cold regard to the ceiling, growing slightly distant.

April refused to grant him the chance to relax however. His words were like a finger pulling the trigger of a gun. In a sudden burst of movement, a hand shot forwards, strangling the neck of Touya. The hand was followed by the swift point of a blade as April withdrew her combat knife. Boiling with fury, her blue eyes narrowed down at the Therian, a firm grip keeping Touya’s frantic struggles in check.

“Lieutenant!” Reginald shouted in protest. April’s sudden assault had knocked him backwards, but he rose swiftly to oppose his superior.

“You know the terrorist’s leader? Tell me where he is Therian!” she snarled.

“Lieutenant! Stop!” Reginald demanded. He extended his hand out, gripping the woman’s shoulder pauldrons to restrain her, “You’re going to kill him!”

At first, his words didn’t seem to reach her. April remained silent for a while, maintain her threatening position whilst glaring at Touya. Only after she felt Reginald’s constraining arm did her vice-like grip ease, slowly resigning herself from the situation.

“I think you should step out Lieutenant,” Reginald sighed, “In fact I insist. Why don’t you get some air? I can handle things from here.”

“I think your right, Corporal,” April murmured, “I expect the Therian to be healthy enough for transportation by the time I return.” Collecting her belongings, she promptly exited the room.

Remerging into a tiny hallway, April approached her front door and twisted the door knob. The door opened in front of her, revealing the bustling streetscape and colourful food stalls that line the walkways.

“I need a drink…” April breathed, sucking air through her teeth.

“Lieutenant!”

Answering to her rank, April’s head whipped around, displaying mild surprise. More militia? What now? The two guardsmen that appeared before her carried a man between them. They held him firmly, restraining his arms in a fashion that suggested he was an apprehended criminal of some kind. She looked at him, noting the bright composition of fabric and twin swords tied to his hip. The most captivating of his features lay within his mismatched eyes, one red and one green.

“We caught this man watching your premises, mam,” the more flustered of the duo explained. April realised she’d interrupted them before they had a chance to knock on her door.

“Cuff him, and bring him inside for the moment,” April said, frowning despite herself. If he was spying on them, there was every possibility that the man was in league with the Therian inside.

She sanctioned the two guardsmen’s passage, stepping aside to provide enough space for them to pass into the main hallway. With it the corridor being claustrophobically small, the two guardsmen had to walk diagonally until they reached a vacant room. They roughly forced the man down on a chair, cuffing his hands together behind the back rest. April was the last to enter the room, a space which served as her kitchen and living room, the only other room in her house besides the bedroom and ensuite.

“Take his weapons,” she ordered.

A thorough search produced a coin purse, dagger and two swords. April inspected one that was handed to her, partially unsheathing it to view the blade. She returned it to the table once done; piling it on top of the rest of the stranger’s belongings. “I don’t like having to many people inside, you can leave for now guardsmen.”

“So, who are you?” April said after some moments, resting her mace suggestively between her palms.