[Log] Monkeys...

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Dir. of Medicine, Derrial Book Memorial Hospital - Persephone ===============================================
Entering into this office seems to be something of walking into a library. Along to two longest walls are built in shelves that holds books, binders, and knick knacks. Those being pictures of family and friends, the dark wood frames for these bookcases are attached to the wall to keep them secure. These two walls that have the book cases are the north and south wall. The lights are gently infused into the bookshelves as well as there are two large lamps in the room and two lamps behind the desk. The east wall is where the door is, has a lovely painting of the forest something like a Monet. Under the painting is a nice long couch, colored in a dark green giving a more rich feeling to the office.

There is a long oriental rug with deep rich colors of green, brown, blues and purples in it. In the back part of this room are two nice solid chairs, in front of a nice lovely dark wood desk. The desk is large enough to support a computer monitor, a cortex screen and a communication unit; but is long enough to look at people clearly without anything on the desk getting in the way. On the desk there is a small plaque that reads, "Dr. Caprice Darsun". Behind this desk there is a nice large leather chair, and a few feet and there is what looks like a nice smaller desk that holds files and such. There is an air diffuser that keeps a soft lavender scent present in the room. There is are two large windows that gives a perfect view of the campus from the western direction, and deep rich green curtains that are either open or closed depending on the day.
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Sushmita would have sent an official message to Saienne, asking her about her courier business and a special mission she might have for her and to come see her at the Book Hospital if she was interested. The doctor is presently in her office, surrounded by paperwork and some cages containing guinea pigs. An orderly would show a guest in.




Saienne is shown into the office by one of the orderlies, and she takes her broad-brimmed hat off as the door is closed behind her. The feather droops sadly, tipping towards the floor. She runs long fingers through her close-cropped hair and looks around her at the rug and shelves of books and the painting and the cages full of guinea pigs. She takes a step forwards, and Eavesdown's red dust shakes free from her boots and clothes. "Dr Khan, ain't it?" She asks, addressing the young woman in scarlet. "I'm in here about the job."


Sushmita gets to her feet when she sees the stranger enter and gives her a once-over, taking in her general appearance and the red dust falling from her clothes with a slight frown. "Mrs Olaeno?", she asks politely and gestures to the seating area in the corner of the office, "Please do take a seat. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Tea?", she asks, emerging from behind her desk to reveal that she is really rather short and dressed rather prettily in Indian fashion underneath the drab white lab coat.


"Miss." Saienne corrects, with a crooked grin. "I ain't never been married, but I ain't been called miss since I was eight years old, so you might as well call me Saienne like everyone else." She follows the gesture and sits herself down, settling the hat carefully on one knee and leaning forward in the chair. "Tea would be grand, if it ain't no bother."


"Surely wouldn't expect that, ma'am. Green, please." Saienne's manner has been easy and relaxed, but she sits up a little straighter when Sushmita asks her about her business. "Ain't got a ship," she says. "But I find I'm more flexible without, truth be told. All kinds of hindrances when you got a ship to think about as well as everything else." She grins crookedly. "All told, I been in the business for a little over twenty years." She looks down at the hat balanced on her knee and clears her throat. "If you did your research after we made this appointment, you'll have seen I've been away for a little while. Out of the world." She frowns. "And you'll make your own judgement about that, no doubt. The only thing I have to say about it is it's the single black mark in an otherwise unblotted copybook, and I reckon my records show that clear as day and all."


Sushmita mhmms and nods slowly. "Some months ago I would have made a harsh judgement indeed.", she admits, "But since I have started to work and live on the Border, I have learned to be careful with judgement." As the water starts to boil, she pours some into a mug, puts a tea bag in and brings it over to the table for Saienne, then pours herself some fresh coffee. "So what would you say, you mostly courier? Cargo? Paperwork?"


Saienne reaches out for the cup of tea, careful not to disturb her hat, and cradles it carefully between long-fingered hands. "Easy to judge, I reckon, when you ain't got to live it. Ain't we all done that?" She shakes her head. "But really it weren't that sort of a choice-that-ain't-a-choice. It was a gorram mistake, a failure to do the legwork." She pauses and breathes in the scent of the green tea, not sipping it yet but savouring it nonetheless. "Twenty years and I got complacent - made a rookie mistake, ain't it so?" She grins crookedly again, and turns back to business. She has relaxed again, her shoulders showing less tension. "Paperwork, certainly. Data. People, on occasion, though that ain't my favourite commission. Not so much cargo - cargo's usually replaceable." She looks a little more thoughful. "Folk usually trust me to accompany things that can't go by the normal routes. Things that need a little extra care taking over them."


Sushmita listens patiently, showing only a little smirk when the woman mentions being twenty years in the business - when she was a little girl in pigtails. Even when Saienne has finished, she waits a little while before she finally speaks: "Would you transport animals?"


"Awake or asleep?" Saienne counters, not missing a beat. "Cause they're easier to move asleep, but it ain't cheap to do it that way."


"Money isn't really an issue as long as they arrive here safely and healthy.", Sushmita replies and looks towards the guinea pigs briefly. Those that are awake seem to be happily chomping on some lettuce. "I need monkeys. Five or six at least. Chimpanzees ideally.", she says slowly, looking at Saienne to check her reaction.


Any ethical issues in transporting live animals seem lost on Saienne - or at least irrelevant to the business at hand. "Well, like I said, I'd be happier if they were on ice, but if your budget don't stretch to that I reckon I could work something out." She sips on the tea, and then looks into the middle distance, considering. "Going to need to find a ship with a reasonably-sized hold, ain't we?" She looks back at Sushmita, full focus on her. "Where are these monkeys heading, then?"


 "I can probably find you a ship.", Sushmita replies, "I work with someone who's transported cargo for me before, but I couldn't entrust such a large cargo to her alone. I also have a contact who can find me the monkeys. Basically, you would be the missing link to get the monkeys safely from A to B.", she explains with a weak smile. "I've been told that Greenleaf chimpanzees are best for my ends. So they'd have to be retrieved on Greenleaf and brought here. They are for my lab." Nope, she doesn't even twitch at that. <English>


"Well, any leads on ships are useful. Ain't a single one I recognise these days, sad to say." Her smiles fades just a little. "But maybe that's just as well." She nods along as Sushmita describes the nature of the job. "A chaperone," she says. "Between Greenleaf and Persephone. Wouldn't be the first time." She looks distant again, making calculations. "I got some work out Newhall way in the next couple of days. How soon do you need the monkeys here? If I can get passage from Newhall to Greenleaf when I'm done, and arrange to meet your ship there, do you reckon that might work?" The lab comment remains unremarked upon.


At the mention of an expense account, Saienne's eyebrows shoot upwards in surprise. "You really ain't joking when you say money ain't an issue, are you?" She leans forward to take the slip of paper, and then listens well to the instructions Sushmita offers, nodding as she takes the important details in. "I just got to ask you one last thing, Dr Khan, and I hope you won't take offense at it." She pauses and breathes in slowly. "But in light of my most recent predicament, it seems only sensible." The lop-sided smile creeps back, and Saienne leans back a little. "You got all the permits you need, ain't you? All the bits of paper safely signed and sealed in triplicate? I ain't going to have my arse hauled over the coals again for making another stupid mistake, am I?"


Sushmita gives the woman a stern look when she gets excited about the expense account. "Saienne. Offering you an expense account does not mean that you can do as you please. Public transport will be in economy class and accommodation basic. Ensuite bathroom and breakfast yes, no five-star hotel and president's suite or lavish meals in upscale restaurants.", she warns. She looks towards the guinea pigs quickly, then nods. "I am a Virologist from St.Jude's Hospital on Ariel. I have all permission to conduct research I could possibly need. Complete with Alliance stamps of approval. However -", she cautions, "I do not yet know where exactly Mr Fuller thinks he will be getting those monkeys. I have yet to question him on that and ideally have a meeting with all of you together - you two and Miss Tarribotti."


Saienne leans back sharply at Sushmita's reprimand. "Lady," she says, "I ain't that much of an idiot. You reckon I'd get work again on Persephone if I went about the 'Verse squandering your money? Ain't hardly likely. That kind of news travels, and for good gorram reason." Her crooked grin re-asserts itself, along with her good nature. "Besides, you really reckon I'd pass muster in a fancy restaurant?" She gestures to her dusty, shabby clothes, and the feathered hat that honestly has seen better days. "Ain't hardly likely." As Sushmita starts to talk research and permissions again, Saienne becomes all attention. "And if I reckon the source ain't on the level, do you want to know? Because it'd be a hell of a risk for me, Dr Khan, I don't mind saying."


Sushmita chuckles a little as the argument Saienne makes about her clothes is a compelling one. "How much do you generally charge per diem for your service?", she finally just asks, "And what would you consider a suitable bonus for taking a risk?" She takes a sip of coffee slowly and considers. "My work is under Alliance scrutiny. In fact my family has always supported the Alliance on Ariel and they supported our work. Yet, my research depends on having monkeys. I need those monkey. Come what may."


"I reckon ten credits a day would do it," Saienne says. "Although I would be expecting to call on your account for food and water for the monkeys, if they ain't going to be on ice." She shakes her head as Sushmita asks her final question. "It ain't about the lucre, ma'am. You got any idea how much the Feds hate repeat offenders? I ain't got the slightest compunction moving it if it's legal, but there ain't no way in hell I'll risk losing everything for a second time round." There's steel in her posture, and a resolve behind the manner in which she is gripping the teacup. "Not to say I'll leave you in the lurch - know plenty of folk who would step in if I asked it of them." She pauses. "They ain't as thorough as me, mind. But they ain't got quite so much to lose, neither."


"I understand your concerns.", Sushmita assures her and smiles. "Your price is acceptable, albeit very humble. I am perfectly happy to pay you 50 a day on top of the expenses account. Everything for the monkeys goes extra. Here's my suggestion, Saienne:" She leans forward a little: "I will arrange a meeting with everyone involved. You, Miss Tarribotti, Mr Fuller and me. We will discuss this and make sure that everyone is happy with everything. Would this work for you?" She pauses and gives her a thoughtful look, before adding: "You do seem reliable to me and your good reputation precedes you. I would love to work with you."


"Got to start humble when you're building things up again, ain't you? No matter how far you've fallen." Saienne settles her empty teacup down on the table with a gentle clink. She listens to Sushmita's suggestions, and nods. "I reckon that sounds fine, ma'am. Smooth out the creases, ain't it so?" At the doctor's final words, Saienne's gaze flicks downwards again, to the feather and the floor and she says quietly. "Well. That's real kind of you. Kind of you to look past one bad mistake and give me a gorram chance." She looks up again. Her face, age-worn and abruptly tired-looking, shows a gratitude that borders on the pathetic. "I appreciate it."


Sushmita looks a little surprise at the sudden gratitude and a little sheepish. She's been called many things, but 'crazy' and 'abrasive' are more common than 'kind' to her. "Don't worry about it. I believe in second chances.", she smiles, "I must ask you to leave now, as I have patients to see, but I will be in touch as soon as I can get everyone around a table." She gets to her feet to indicate that the meeting is over.


Saienne unfolds herself from the chair and stands up. She grasps her hat by its brim and walks across to the door, to make way for the patients. At the threshold, she pauses, and smiles a lop-sided smile. "Pleasure doing business with you, Dr Khan." As she says the words, the tiredness leaves her and the smiles shifts up into a broad, crooked grin. "Ain't I just been waiting and waiting to say those words again?" She opens the door and steps out of the office.