Flarbinia

Paradise Lost

Doctor Raphael Vitella continued heading to the colony ship as personnel and civilians rushed in the same direction. For a brief moment, his mind was back on Eden Prime, people grabbing what they could pack in time before heading to their vehicles as fast as they could move. "Shit. This is just like Eden Prime, only there's one ship capable of flyin' us to safety and there's even less time for everyone to get onboard." Doctor Vitella thought as his mind returned to reality. He rushed past people with luggage, medical personnel helping any patient who could be moved down the corridors, and officers shouting orders to their subordinates as alarms continued to blare. Raphael's only concern at this moment was getting to the passenger area before it got overcrowded.

Doctor Raphael Vitella stopped in a corridor full of people to catch his breath. He wiped sweat from his brow before looking around, seeing someone fall over. Doctor Vitella, either out of kindness or dedication to his oath, helped him up. "Thank you." The refugee said to Raphael Vitella before continuing to head to the colony ship. Once Raphael was rested enough, he immediately followed suite, not wanting to be left behind with any stragglers.

Paradise Lost

Doctor Raphael Vitella headed down the hallway with what little luggage he had brought with him when he arrived on the shipyard. "Spare some change?" A beggar asked Doctor Vitella. Raphael handed him some money before continuing on his way. As far as he was concerned, the few seconds to help the down-on-his-luck refugee was time he could afford to lose. Not to mention that they were both people who lost everything during the Metacer invasion. He passed by people moving to and from their quarters, ignoring them as he continued heading down the hall.

Doctor Raphael Vitella continued heading towards the passenger area, only stopping when he heard three pairs of footsteps. He turned around to see three men approaching him and pulling out knives, their eyes bloodshot, one of them trying to keep the hand holding their blade steady. "Well, well, well. Looks like a doc took a turn into Hell." One of the men said to Doctor Vitella. "Let me guess. You want my money so that you can spend it on your next fix. Here. This is all I have left. I won't have much use for it on my journey to my new home, considerin' that I will most likely be in cryo for the entire trip." Raphael said to the muggers as he reached into his pocket and threw all of the money at them, the three men rushing to grab it as he walked away.

Paradise Lost

"Fuck it. Better get my stuff packed up now. The sooner I can head to the colony ship, the better." Doctor Raphael Vitella said to himself as he got up and began packing up what little he had left. Doctor Vitella looked at an image of his family, their screams echoing in his mind for a brief moment before he put it up. Once he was finished, he returned to his chair and continued watching the game until a winner was announced. "Well, I would like to say I'm gonna miss this place, but I'm done with breathin' recycled air and sleeping in a metal room with no windows and workin' long shifts. Not to mention that I wouldn't want to be here once supply shortages reach their breakin' point and important systems start breakin' down." Raphael Vitella said to himself as he turned off the screen, grabbed his things, turned off the lights, and left his quarters for the last time.

Doctor Raphael Vitella entered the Med-Bay. "Hey, Vitella. You're back early and it ain't even your shift. What made you change your mind about taking a day off?" Doctor Ferdinand asked Doctor Vitella. "I just came to get a spare doctor's coat and sign my resignation before I head down to the passenger area of the colony ship." Raphael Vitella answered. "Heading to the colony ship early so you won't be stuck waitin' for them to put you in cryo? I don't blame you. I will tell the Chief Medical Officer that you were here once he gets back." Doctor Ferdinand said to Doctor Vitella.

Paradise Lost

Awesome! A new character!

Paradise Lost

Doctor Vitella's Quarters
Doctor Raphael Vitella entered his Quarters and sat down, grabbing the remote and turning the screen back on. He changed it to the news in time for an update. "Looks like people will be leavin' soon if all goes well. As for me, my plan remains the same: grab my things, head down to the retrofitted colony ship, and get into cryo. It shouldn't take too long them to let me onboard. I didn't bring much with me and anythin' I have unpacked is small enough to be packed back up." Doctor Vitella thought as he continued watching, another update coming on, this time about Royal Jelly. "Several jars of Royal Jelly was discovered in a vent during routine Maintenace. The jars were seized by security and is currently undergoing forensic scans. We will have more on this story as it develops. This just in, a Jellyhead has been caught stealing goods to pay for his next fix." The reporter said as footage of a man being escorted away from a store by a pair of guards.

Doctor Vitella changed the channel to sports, a player running after hitting a ball with a piece of metal. "Sober or not, this is a sport worth watchin'. I prefer that they use wood instead of whatever metal they found lyin' around but you make do with what you have in these tryin' time. I'd hate to be the guy who has money ridin' on the losin' team right now. At this point in the game, they would need to get at least five points to turn the game around." Raphael Vitella thought at he watched a new player walk up to a metal plate and twirl a piece of metal in his hand.

Paradise Lost

Shipyard Marketplace
Doctor Raphael Vitella walked out onto what could be called the shipyard's Promenade, the area full of stalls and empty rooms that had been converted into shops. He walked past customers and stalls until he saw something that peaked his interest: some refugees rolling dice with some locals. "I haven't seen you around here before. Judgin' by your smell, I can safely assume that you work in Med-Bay. What brings you down here?" The dealer said to Doctor Vitella. "This is your day off, but I've been told to avoid the bar for a few weeks. Damage to the liver." Raphael Vitella said to the dealer as he walked towards the group. "Well, if you want gamblin' without the temptation of alcohol, you've come to the right place. You in or are you out?" The dealer said to Doctor Vitella. "How much is the Ante?" Doctor Vitella asked as he looked at the small pile of money on the floor. "Only two. Most folks ain't got that kind of money these days." The dealer answered.

Doctor Vitella reached into his pocket and tossed the required amount onto the pile. "Even or odd, Doctor?" The dealer said to Doctor Raphael Vitella as he held out three dice. "Odd." Doctor Raphael Vitella answered as he snatched the dice right out of the dealer's hand and began shaking the dice in his hand. He rolled them, the dice hitting the back wall before coming to a stop. "Nine. You can leave now with ten or you can go all in." The dealer said to Doctor Vitella, the doctor putting his winnings on the pot.

Paradise Lost

Med-Bay
Doctor Raphael Vitella woke up in a bed in Med-Bay, the wound in his side sealed, the makeshift dressing gone. "Good to see that you're awake, Vitella. You will have to avoid the bar like the plague until your liver fully heals, but other than that, you have a clean bill of health." Doctor Ferdinand said to Doctor Vitella before a nurse helped him to his feet, helped him change back into his regular clothes, and began escorting him out of Med-Bay. "I will take a day off to be on the safe side, but since I won't be drinkin' for a while, I will have to find some other way to socialize once I'm conscious enough to walk." Doctor Vitella said to Doctor Ferdinand as he began to gain his footing. Once he was outside the Med-Bay, Raphael Vitella headed back to his quarters.

Raphael Vitella's Quarters
Upon entering, Doctor Raphael Vitella cleaned the dust off of the screen, sat in the chair, and picked up the remote. Doctor Vitella's long shifts meant that he usually didn't have time to watch broadcasts. He pressed the On Button, a news broadcast appearing on the screen. The Local news station (which was the only news channel left after the Metacer Invasion) had finished reporting on the latest update on the retrofitting of the colony ship before someone handed them a new report. "This just in. A man who was found dead outside a bar had tested positive for Royal Jelly. This highly addictive substance is known to cause euphoria, violent tendencies, and heightened pain tolerance in anyone who uses it. This is the latest in an increasing number of incidents with Royal Jelly Addicts, colloquially known as 'Jellyheads'. We will continue to follow this story as it develops. Coming up next: Are there more ships from Eden Prime and its Colonies? Stay tuned to find out." The anchor said, Raphael Vitella changing it to the sports channel to get his mind off of recent events.

"Goal!" The announcer shouted as an athlete kicked a ball into a net. "And it looks like our local athletes have won. Both teams are heading to the locker room to get changed while the area is prepared for the next sporting event." The co-host said as the athletes began heading out of the recreational area while staff removed the nets and ball and lines. "Sports are less interestin' when you're sober." Raphael said as he changed the channel to some local show.

Paradise Lost

"I will thank whoever saved me when I get the chance." Doctor Ralph Vitella said as a guard approached the scene. "Mugging gone wrong, Doc?" The guard said to Doctor Vitella as he approached the wonder man. "Jellyhead ran up and stabbed me as I exited the bar. He would've killed the Gloriont and the cat if some stranger didn't show up and kill him. A moth-like alien, I think. On top of bein' drunk, I was goin' through shock at the moment." Ralph Vitella said to the guard as he carefully stood up, the man who helped him up calling in the corpse. "It's safe to assume that the stranger fixed you up. You will still require medical attention, but at least you ain't in any immediate danger of bleedin' out." The guard said to Doctor Vitella. "To be on the safe side, I'll wait for Medical personnel to arrive. This seal could break if I move around too much." Raphael told the guard as more guards showed up, two of them approaching the Grendari and the Morelian to get witness statements while the rest cordoned off the area.

Med-Bay Surgery
A few minutes later, Doctor Ralph Vitella was carried into the Med-Bay's surgery and placed on an operating table, a machine performing a Pre-Op Scan to determine the extent of his injuries. "Vitella? You were the one who got stabbed outside the bar?" Doctor Ferdinand asked Ralph Vitella as he approached him, dressed to perform surgery. "Yes. I was off the clock and drank up what little whiskey I had left. My plan was to get drunk, go back to my quarters, and get some shuteye." Doctor Vitella answered as Doctor Yeoman injected him with anesthetic. "Well, you won't be drinking alcohol for a few weeks. Scanner indicates that your liver was damaged when you were stabbed. Drunk or not, you would've bled to death before anyone could help you if your 'Good Samaritan' didn't create that makeshift hemostatic dressing. As for shuteye, the anesthesia will wear off in three hours." Doctor Ferdinand said to Raphael before the last human from Tigris went under.

Paradise Lost

"Not only are the rumors about a Grendari bein' on this shipyard true, but it's the Gloriont. It's an honor to be in the same room as you. I've never seen a member of your species in the flesh and I didn't expect to meet the Overprelate, long may you reign, durin' my lifetime. Come down here to sample the wine? Honestly, I don't blame ya. To lose it all- home, family, planet- would make anyone feel like they need a drink. Doubly so if they've had a rough day." Doctor Raphael Vitella said to the Grendari in a polite tone before turning to head back to his quarters, his breath reeking of rum and whiskey. "What the Hell do you want? If you're a beggar or a mugger, you're shit out of luck. I drank away all the money I had on me." Doctor Vitella said to the strange man, only for the stranger to pull out a knife. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. One shout from any of us and any guards in earshot will drag your sorry ass to the security office. Pick a fight with anyone who can fight back and you will have to be patched up by my colleagues before you get tossed in a cell." Doctor Vitella said to the man with the knife in an attempt to defuse the situation. The strange man approached him, the Doctor's face turning to one of shock as he made eye contact. "Jellyhead." Raphael Vitella said as the strange man licked his blade before running at the doctor, his eyes filled with murderous intent. The Jellyhead stabbed Doctor Vitella twice and pulled out the knife, Raphael falling to the ground bleeding. "Here, Kitty Kitty. I've got a steel gift for you and your friend on the mobility scooter right in my hand." The Jellyhead said to the cat as he noticed it, walking towards the cat and the Grendari with his fingers tightly gripped around the handle of the knife, blood dripping from the blade as Doctor Raphael Vitella lay on the ground in pain.

Paradise Lost

Doctor Raphael Vitella entered the bar, breath smelling like whiskey. "The usual, if you have any left." Raphael Vitella said to the bartender as he sat down at a table. "Long day in Med-Bay? I don't blame ya for wantin' to get hammered. People gettin' into scraps, folks who are workin' on preparin' the colony ship for the long haul pushin' their equipment to the limit, and rumors of more ships arrivin' before it's ready to leave must be puttin' a lot of pressure on the CMO. By the way, we are out of your usual, so you will have to make do" A barmaid said to Doctor Raphael Vitella as she approached with a bottle of rum and a couple of shot glasses. Raphael Vitella filled both shot glasses and drank it. "Even if those ships arrive before the colony ship is ready to make its maiden voyage, we're gonna have to leave people behind. People who are no condition to be moved, people who will have to stay aboard the station to make sure the launch is successful, people who don't want to leave the only place they call home, those who see stayin' here as the safe bet, and the few fools who see everyone who doesn't want to throw away their lives on some quixotic quest to retake Eden Prime and its colonies as cowards. I wouldn't be surprised if you overheard some of them spout that spiel about how the military is regroupin' for a counterattack that will retake what was lost." Doctor Raphael Vitella said to the barmaid before picking up the bottle and gulping down the rum, the barmaid walking away from his table. "Idiots. I don't blame 'em for wantin' to have hope in time of crisis, but they've got to accept reality. Every soldier and pilot onboard this shipyard and any troops that might arrive before the colony ship's maiden voyage are all that is left of the Military." Doctor Vitella said to himself, too drunk to care if anybody overheard his conversation.