[color=f7941d]CELESTE BROWN[/color] - Rook's shack -- late afternoon

"Rook will help you find him. First thing is first. We follow him..." Rook said, reaching inside his home and producing a pistol. "But we need things. Take pistol, go get water for you, and any armor you might wear. Rook needs a few moments to get his armor back on. Also, go to doctorman. Ask if we can buy medical things in case he is hurt." He would then offer her the caps he had. It wasn't much, but it should be enough for at least a basic kit. "Then meet me back at Adam's home."

Celeste's eyes naturally widened with every task assigned to her.  It was one thing to be cooking four different food items in a busy kitchen at her mom and dad's trading post and cafe, it was slightly different to be asked to seek out a weapon and medical supplies...and stay calm about it.

She refused the gun.  "Oh!  I don't even know how to use one of those things.  I'll...go get a knife, or something."  Celeste took a deep breath.  "Okay," she muttered aloud with firm resolve.  "I'll go back to the inn and get some supplies, and then go to the clinic, and meet you at Adam's place."  Celeste paused, nodded to herself, then scurried off.  She burst through the doors of the inn, her face red and sweaty.

"Archie!" she huffed, doubling over and leaning on her thighs.  "Ah...Archie...!"

"My heavens, Manager!  Is something amiss?" the robot replied.

"No.  Well, yes!  Well, sort of," Celeste spluttered.  "Rook is gonna help me look for Adam, but I have to bring a weapon.  Do you have something that I could use?"

"Indeed not," Archie huffed.  "I have no need for such things, as I have a saw blade and a flamethrower plus a multitude of other built in tools.  General Atomics thought of [i]everything.[/i]"

"Oh, okay.  That General sounds like a pretty smart guy!  But what do I bring to Rook?"

"If it's just a weapon you want, I'm sure there's a spare baseball bat with the recreational items.  I'll fetch it for you."

Celeste found herself poking around behind the desk while she waited for Archie to rummage around in the basement.  Her eyes were drawn to the guest log where a new entry had been written.  Archie reappeared with a baseball bat.

"Here you are, Manager!  Just be sure not to injure yourself, now."

"Archie!  We have a new guest?!" Celeste squealed, pointing at the log.

"Indeed!  She even addressed me as though I were human.  Most flattering."

Celeste took the baseball bat and nearly dropped it, not at all prepared for its weight.  "Well, that's silly," she giggled.  "You're obviously just a machine, not a person -- even if the General was so smart to build you the way they did."

Archie's tone turned to annoyed.  "Shouldn't you be going?"

"Right!  Yes!  I need to go to the clinic.  Can you take care of the inn for just a little longer?"

"Of course, of course.  The entire town will be here in a couple hours, I'll just keep busy making sure the dining hall can accommodate them."

Celeste merely nodded, barely hearing Archie's reply, as she left the inn once more  The baseball bat was manageable with both hands, but she didn't care to try to run while carrying it.  She approached the clinic and couldn't help but notice the blood trails and stains leading up to, and all over, the front door step.  "Someone should really clean that up!" she chirped to herself.

She walked up the steps, the bat bumping along at her feet, and walked through the doors of the clinic.  Celeste looked around to see Brandy laying unconscious further in, Ace nearby, and the back of Frieda, who was leaning over another patient.  "Hey!  Is the doc here?" Celeste called in, but no one seemed to hear or see her.

Frieda opened and closed her hands before standing up straight and addressing Ace.  "Grab me some more blankets," she pointed across the room.  "At least I can get him dry, and warm."

Celeste took a short breath, stepping into the clinic and towards Frieda.  "Hi, Frieda!  Is the doc around?"

"Does it look like it?" Frieda huffed in response, annoyed.  She leaned down and began unfastening the patient's clothing.  Celeste followed her gaze and dropped the baseball bat as she gasped.  It clattered loudly to the floor.

"Adam!  Oh, my god, ADAM!!"  She lunged over his body, touching his face, hair, and clothing.  Celeste rounded on Frieda and grabbed the taller woman's sleeve.  "What happened?!  What is he doing here?"

Frieda flicked Celeste's grip off her sleeve and firmly pushed her away.  "He just got here, and I don't know, but obviously he's hurt and needs help.  His clothing is soaked so we need to get him dry and warm while we wait for the doctor to return.  If you're just going to freak out, then you need to take off, you understand?"

"I'm not going [i]anywhere[/i]," Celeste growled, wiping tears from her eyes.  "Why isn't the doctor here?"

"Why aren't you at the inn?" 

Celeste ignored Frieda's rudeness, and began wringing her hands.  "Is he gonna be okay?"

"We're working on it."  Frieda continued unfastening Adam's clothing.  Celeste looked away, blushing slightly, out of respect.