[center][h2]”The Least Of These” - Part 2[/h2][/center]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/OKSkiwf.png[/img]
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Part 2 of a JP/Collab from [@Xandrya], [@PatientBean], [@Bugman], [@Gunther], [@wanderingwolf], and [@sail3695]  

“China Doll,” Brother Raphael read the boat’s name aloud.  He followed his elders and Brother Joseph toward a yawning opening down beneath her front end.  Though at seventeen Raphael considered himself a strong young man, his attempt to force a brick laden wheelbarrow up the inclined cargo ramp proved too much for his strength alone.  He rushed forward, relying on speed and momentum.  He’d only made it halfway up when the effort ground to a halt.  The teenager struggled, refusing to yield ground as the weight steadily drained his strength.

“Here…lemme help yah.”  The girl threw her weight into the task, taking the right grip with both hands.  “On three.  One…two..three.”  Together, they shoved with all their might.  He caught sight of her bicep as it strained into the job…before the wheelbarrow gave way.  In unison, the pair wheeled their cargo up onto the expanse of the boat’s inner deck.  “Ku,” she said as they eased it onto its’ rests.  “Yah got it from here?”

“Yes,” he answered.  This girl was so unlike any he’d met on his life’s walk.  She was strong, with a wild mane of red hair that reminded him of the Parable of Medusa.  Her clothing wasn’t modest, like his sister’s, nor was she a Jezebel who revealed herself to a lustful eye.  Her face was pretty, but the eyes in her head betrayed their own buttressing.  “Thank you, Sister…”

“Abby,” she give a polite smile.  “Call me Abby. Jest push it over there with tha others, an’ then go aft..that way.”  She pointed toward tha open hatch where the first mate stood.  “That’s Yuri,” she said.  “Go see him next.”   She watched the fella, makin’ sure he didn’t wander off afore Yuri could code ‘im in.

When she turnt back, Abby’s startled at tha sight of a man…a right tower of a man.  He stood there all silent like, a sack ‘o’ bricks draped over a shoulder like he’s carryin’ naught but loaves ‘o’ bread.  His clothes was rough, but not all Sunday churchy, like them Anabaptists.  Face all wrapped up in a towel or cloth made ‘im look less an’ less like he’s of them they’s sposed tah be carryin’ out.  The man didn’t say nothin, jest looked down on ‘er with eyes what made ‘er feel like there’s somethin’ she’s fergettin’...til she conjured what that was.  “Uh…yer bricks,” Abby caught ‘erself stammerin’.  “Jest put ‘em down on one them wheelbarrows over there.  Then go see him,” she pointed toward Yuri.

Elias grunted something between appreciation and acknowledgement of the woman’s words, not bothering to waste time by trying to write something with the piece of chalk and blackboard he kept about his person for communication. Thus he simply lowered what he was carrying with care, if lack of ceremony, and turned to go to the man he was directed to along with Raphael and the others.

An obedient Raphael set his loaded wheelbarrow among the others.  His arms trembled slightly from the exertion as he hurried toward the friendly looking Brother.  “Blessed Day,” he greeted the man Yuri.  “I’m Brother Raphael.”

“Welcome aboard the China Doll, Brother Raphael.  I’m Yuri.  Please roll up your left sleeve.  All the way…that’s right.”  He watched as the crewman pointed what looked to be a pistol toward his left bicep.  When Raphael flinched instinctively, Yuri’s tone was reassuring.  “This won’t hurt.  I’m just recording the chip before our doctor takes it out.”

“Takes it out?” he asked.  ‘Will that hurt?”  After all, it had certainly hurt when the border guard jabbed it into him.

Yuri smiled.  “Not a bit.  We’ve got the best doctor in the ‘verse.  There, finished.  Now, kindly step through here,” he directed the teenager into the aft hatch.  “More of our crew will help you with new clothes and get you ready for the doctor.”

The spirits of those aboard seemed to be tentatively higher since the Anabaptists reached the China Doll, with every crew member waiting in a line to help from station to the next. Lyen’s part in this chain meant that she would be managing the change of identity between the Anabaptists and the volunteers who had generously agreed to help–mostly students of well-to-do families from the local university, all looking to make a mark and change the world. The first group of volunteers had been ushered in hours before the Anabaptists would arrive, in order to appear less suspicious. Now, the bright-eyed rebels crowded–standing room only– into the passenger berths of the China Doll, awaiting their doppleganger’s clothing. “Peter,” Lyen called to the group, “you’re up first.” The well kept young man stepped forward, eager to take his place.

Lyen waved to the first Anabaptist, a young man who looked just about the same age as Abigail Travis. “This way; let’s get you changed.” Her smile never waned, even as the boy looked unsure. She led him to two passenger rooms side-by-side outfitted as their designated changing rooms. A volunteer would go into one, disrobe, and hand the clothes out the door to Lyen who would pass them to the Anabaptist and vice versa.

“Hey man…I’m Peter.”  

A young brother stepped forward at Sister Lyen’s bidding.  This fellow seemed to match Raphael in his height and the overall state of his frame.  He carried a few extra pounds, merely the result of a regular diet.  Raphael’s stomach growled at the thought of food.  [i]I wonder if they’ll break bread with us?[/i] he pondered, before dashing the sinful thought from his mind.  “Blessed day, Brother Peter,” he greeted his counterpart.  “I’m Brother Raphael.”

“Shiny,” Pater gestured the thin Anabaptist to follow him.  “C’mon, Raphael.  We gotta swap clothes.”  

Raphael’s eyes sought out Sister Lyen, whose reassuring nod informed him that this, indeed, was part of the plan.  He permitted himself to be led to what appeared a guest room for the momentary indignity of undressing in the company of a stranger.

As Peter entered the first room, Lyen and Brother Raphael were left standing outside for a moment. “How are you holding up, Brother Raphael?” she asked, as they waited. This gaunt, young man had possibly traveled thousands of clicks to get to Osiris, and then been met with enslavement and abysmal living conditions inside the Blackout Zone. Sister Lyen regarded him with soft eyes, hoping that their efforts would afford him a new life.

Raphael met the Sister’s question with a brave face.  “Blessed day, Sister Lyen,” he smiled over his shoulder as Peter led him away.  I’ll be right back!”  That much was true; he’d make this “clothing swap” go as quickly as humanly possible, with the Lord’s grace.

For his part, Elias waited patiently behind the… Monk, he supposed, waiting for Yuri’s attention to eventually drift to him once done with Raphael or perhaps as he was processing the man.  Regardless, if and when eye contact was made, Elias would make the complicated gestures to sign “[i]Do you know sign-language?[/i]” It was a rare talent but the man seemed at least slightly better spoken than the girl he couldn’t stop mentally referring to as a hick, a rural bumpkin of some sort, and there was some slight chance this fellow would be learned in it. Yet, already anticipating the worst he would immediately after start reaching for the chalk and piece of blackboard. 

This man was imposing.  His height alone would give pause to the much shorter Yuri who met eyes eager to communicate, and hands that made an earnest attempt at the same.   He watched the gestures.  Certain patterns did emerge, but short of some of the more universal pantomimes, Yuri had to eventually shake his head.  “I’m sorry,” he admitted, “but I’m not completely understanding you.”   He lifted the RFID scanner.  “Please roll up your left sleeve.”

Though Yuri read some frustration in the giant’s eyes, he noted the man’s comprehension was not lacking as a soiled sleeve gave way to a soiled left arm.  He brought the scanner to bear, and was rewarded with the ident code of the embedded chip.  “All finished,” the first mate offered.  “Please step through this hatch.  Sister Lyen’s waiting inside.  And friend,” the first mate spoke again as the big man turned, “I’ll seek you out later.  We’ll talk.”

Elias relented, though annoyed, allowing the process of the scan to complete before he started to write on his little blackboard. “YOU ARE LYING THAT REMOVING THE CHIPS WILL NOT HURT ARE YOU NOT???” Once satisfied that the large letters were legible, he would raise the small cutting of blackboard demonstratively. 

Yuri blinked at the accusatory message.  “I trust our doctor,” he met the man’s eyes with his own direct gaze, before calling attention to the waiting hatch with a tap of his scanner.  “Please step through.”

The man shook his head, crushing the tip of the chalk between thumb and index finger with some annoyance before writing again. “THEY PUT A BIT OF ELECTRONICS BENEATH OUR SKIN IT WILL NOT BE PLEASANT TO GET THAT OUT.” After showing the piece of blackboard and confident the man before him would have read it, he would flip it over, and erase what was there before and replace it with new words. “YOU SHOULD NOT LIE TO PEOPLE EVEN IF IT WILL MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER.”

“I did promise to seek you out for further conversation, friend,” Yuri responded.  “But for now,” he cast a glance toward the growing queue of people, “please move along.”

The man yet again shook his head, annoyed. But at the same time it was clear Yuri wasn’t interested in what Elias was saying and regardless of the reasoning he supposed it would be a waste of time trying to get through to him after the insistence that Elias get going. Thus, with a soft exhalation through his face wraps he did indeed step through. 

Yuri paused as the towering refugee crouched to enter the hatch.  Beyond lay the Medbay patients’ lounge, base of operations for Sister Lyen and her student volunteers.  As he watched, a tall, gangly young man unfolded himself from one of the chairs.  [i]The nun did a fine job matching body types,[/i] he thought before greeting the next guest.  “Hello, Sister…Margaret?  Sister Margaret.  Welcome aboard the China Doll.  Please lift your left sleeve…”

[b]...TO BE CONTINUED…[/b]