Midland, Texas, USA. There is a small, neatly kept house on 14th Street, unassuming and rather drab. Normally the house is used to sequester jurors and protect witnesses while waiting for their day in court. Today, it's used for another sort of protection: the safety on one teenage girl and her friends.

Inside the house are two Texas rangers, one present, one retired. Bowie sits in the kitchen, his chair angled in such a way that he can see the street without easily being seen himself. The other Ranger sits at the table, sipping a cup of coffee. Country music plays quietly from a radio, more to break the silence than to be listened to.

Bowie watches the traffic, mulling in his own thoughts. . o (No, Doc, I have no idea what it is to be a father. But I do know what it's like to have a family. And I'll be damned if I'm going to sit back and watch them be hurt.)

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> is racing across the sky, it's pilot trying to find a certain house. A house whose actual location is unknown to him. The pilot has his head bent forward, making it hard to tell who he actually is, and he begins to lean forward on the hoverbike, making it descend to a spot not too far away from where Kali and Bowie are. Like always, the power of coincidence seems to be in the air...

Kalinka spent the previous night in the hospital, in order to have her broken shoulder set and cast. Following this dreadful ordeal, she was released into Bowie (and the other ranger's) custody. With her entire shoulder (and part of her arm) in a cast, she slept for a while at the house...a side-effect of the narcotic the ER doctor prescribed for her pain...but it takes more than that to keep a Cossack down. After waking up at about 4:30 local time, she promptly got out of bed and went straight to the kitchen, insisting on preparing supper.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blizzard Wolf transmits, "Isaac and myself are recent additions to the team..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Well, congratulations, and...welcome to the team, certainly!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Isaac transmits, "Thank you Miss Cossack."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Pavel Cossack transmits, "DeVry is makink noise again. Be careful."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka sighs nervously.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Isaac transmits, "Greetings Dr. Cossack."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blizzard Wolf transmits, "*faint sound of amusement* If all else fails, I'm sure that we could see about introducing him to Rain Turtle again. They got along so well before."

Bowie and the other Ranger, who introduced himself as Ken Lang, quickly learned the pointlessness of trying to dissuade Kalika, though Ken does insist on at least helping with the lifting and carrying and such. Chill is presumably still in one of the bedrooms, sleeping off his repairs.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Isaac transmits, "Yes Rain tends to eat things that are dangerous to others like that drone of Landons. Which was most amusing."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dragonlady Sonata transmits, "Indeed - he seemed rather pleased with himself over the global band last night, Doctor."

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> begins to hover up the closet road, the pilot pearing through as many windows as he can. One thing is for sure, this is going to take a -very- long time, and even if he does actually get to the house, he'll probably not notice anything out of the ordinary. Really, the only chance he really has of actually knowing which house it is, is by passing it and hoping the people inside recognaise him, and call him in. And the chances of -that- are still rather slim. But despite the odds, the pilot continues to look...

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blizzard Wolf transmits, "Something about a new-type Jane, wasn't it?"

Kalinka is moving sluggishly, presumably because she is still in considerable pain...but at the same time, she's anxious. "Mr. Lang, I will be just fine, really. I just wish to do my part. Laying about will not make me any better, any faster. I will see what I can cook up, here." As she peeks in cabinets, the refrigerator, and the pantry, she looks back at Bowie worriedly. "I am worried," she says. "Daddy will know I am missing from the hostel. He will want to know what happened. I do not want you to be in trouble...this was not your fault."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Isaac transmits, "Yes."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Could you please think of something else to talk about!!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "*ahem* ...Sorry."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dragonlady Sonata transmits, "...what has such a burr under your bonnet, Kali?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Isaac transmits, "You know Blizzard and I have not had the honor of meeting many of you yet."

Bowie snaps out of his own thoughts as he realizes Kali's speaking to him. He turns towards her, mustering what he hopes is a reassuring expression. "Ah left a message fer yer Dad last night, while we were at the hospital. Told him that yer with me. If that's not satisfactory, he can call an scream at me all he wants."

As for Ken? He's not about to be brushed off. "Now don't go straining that shoulder, Miss. We can do jus fine with sandwiches. Ya don't need to cook a full course meal," he jokes.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Um, I am not having a very good day, I do apologize."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "I agree, I would like to meet you gentlemen, but really, it should be...some other day."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blizzard Wolf transmits, "*makes an affirmatve sounding noise*"

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> has stopped just for the moment, it's pilot sighing as he looks around. He knows it, the bike knows it, everyone knows it. He won't be able to find Kali. Cursing slightly under his breath, he decides to take one more look, down one more street... Maybe, just -maybe-, he could be lucky. The hoverbike begins to fly down 14th Street..

Kalinka must be in some considerable discomfort, because she finally -does- yield...carefully arranging everything on the kitchen counter in a tidy fashion before heading back into the living room area. "Well, okay," she concedes with a sigh. "Jeeze, guys, I do not want you to get screamed at. If Daddy knew anything about my getting hurt, he would blame -you-, and that would of course be the absolute wrong thing to do." She sits on the couch, brow wrinkled up with worry.

Bowie retains his position at the window. Right now, it would take nothing short of a Ride Armor to convince him to move from that spot. "He can blame me all he wants," he calls after. It's a small house, after all. "Won't be the first time Ah've been yelled at. 'Sides, the important thang is that yer safe."

"And we intend to keep it that way," agrees Ken. Tonight's dinner will be....grilled cheese sandwiches. American comfort food that's high in calcium. Ken goes over to start the stove, and in a few minutes, the smell of toasting bread and cheese wafts into the living room.

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> continues to hover down the road, it's pilot once again looking at every house he can see, trying to find a clue of any kind. Sighing, he continues to look.

Kalinka smiles a little, inhaling deeply. "Mmm, I love this. You know what, I have not had this in quite a long time. Thank you, Mr. Lang. I do appreciate this. It reminds me a little bit of...my favorite American foods, hamburgers and french fries." Her smile fades a tad as she watches Bowie on tireless guard over by the window. (As long as Landon still lives...my life is going to be like this,) she thinks sadly.

"No problem, Miss Kalinka." says Ken. "How's that shoulder feelin?"

For now, Bowie returns to laconic mode, listening but not adding anything to the conversation. The gunslinger takes note of a hoverbike driving down the street, remarkable only because it has Repliforce markings. He watches it as it passes by. It could be here for any reason, seeing as how the largest army in the world can be anywhere. He allows it to pass by unchallenged and unremarked.

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> finally stops, it's pilot now annoyed and sad. Putting a hand to his forehead, Silo rubs it, before jumping off the bike, and looking around. "Great... As far as I know, it could've been the first house I passed. -Great-!" Blinking a few times, he jumps back on the bike, turning it around, and going back the way he came, still looking closely at the houses he passes even though he's pretty much given up.

"It hurts quite a lot, still, but not anything like when they set it last night in the ER, that is for sure," Kalinka says to Ken with a weak grin. "So, you cook? Are you married?" Hey, she can try. She figures that trying can't hurt.

Ken flips over the sandwiches, toasting the other side. "Sure am. Not married t'the job like Bowie over thare," he kids, gesturing at his former fellow Ranger with the spatula. "Mah wife's the better cook, but Ah can still make a mean grilled cheese sandwich."

Of course, Bowie has to make a retort. "That's about all ya can cook, Ken. Ah remember that mac an cheese ya burned. Set off the smoke alarm t'boot."

Kalinka giggles at the banter. "I think I am going to like hanging out with you guys. Um...how long may we stay in this place, wherever this place is?"

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> continues to hover back down 14th street, Silo still looking as much as he can, again. Thinking for a moment, he decides to do something fairly risky, but the chances of what he's about to do been traced are small. He sends off a message to Bowie. "Bowie, this is Silo. I know you're in Texas somewhere, and I'd like to have some kind of idea of -where- in Texas you are. I'll understand if you don't want to tell me, but if you can, please, tell me."

Ken looks over to Bowie before answering. "We're not needin the house right now, so ya can stay fer at least a week of ya need to. A bunch a the guys have volunteered t'house sit. Nothin official, mind, but a friend in need..."

Bowie begins to answer, then pauses as he gets a call over his radio. His brow furrows, tilting his head slightly as he gets the message. "Miss Kalinka, ya have any idea why Silo would be interested in findin me?"

Kalinka hmms. "I think he knows that I am with you, and he is trying to find me," she admits to Bowie. "I could not exactly give him directions to this place. I am not sure where it is -- other than in Texas somewhere."

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> continues to hover down the road, it's pilot waiting for an answer of some kind...

Bowie frowns slightly, stifling a sigh. "Miss Kalinka, Ah'm tryin t'keep ya safe. Ah haven't even told yer dad whare ya are. Could we please not tell anyone else whare ya might be?"

Kalinka blushes. "Hmm, okay, I will not. If...if he can't even know, then I guess he can't, too...nobody means nobody. I just wanted him to know I was safe. I meant no harm."

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> is currently on the side of the road, it's pilot sighing as he waits for a reply of some sort.

Bowie says evenly, "Ah know ya didn't. But the less people that know, the better. Especially seein as how insecure radios can be." With that, Bowie transmits back to Silo, << Need t'know basis. If yer lookin fer Miss Kalinka, she's safe, don't wurry. >>

Silo has arrived.

Kalinka nods, leaning back on the couch and staring up at the ceiling sadly. She -knows- Bowie and his Ranger friend will do everything in their power to keep her safe...the price, of course, is freedom. (Better safe than dead,) she tries to console herself.

You paged Kalinka with 'Silo doesn't have intercept, does he?'.

Silo is now pacing a few feet away from the hoverbike, when he finally recieves a reply. Sighing, he hops back onto the hoverbike, not even replying to Bowie. Growling angirily, he starts up the engine, and speeds down the road...

Silo has left.

From afar, Kalinka(Kali) doesn't think so...

Ken finishes up the first batch of sandwiches, sliding them onto a large serving plate. "Dinner's up," he calls. Knowing Bowie's habits, he just brings one over to him, for which Bowie nods in thanks. "You are goin t'rest sometime, right?" he asks, this time only half joking.

"Ah will, Ken. In an hour or two, once Hank gets here."

Long distance to Kalinka: Bowie was concerned for a moment that Silo would try triangulating in on us or something...^^

From afar, Kalinka(Kali) ahs. :P I'm fairly sure he doesn't have intercept.

Kalinka smiles gratefully at Ken. "Thank you very much for making dinner," she says graciously. "I will do the dishes." She may have been raised to be spoiled, but she isn't a brat.

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> begins to leave Texas now, Silo still worried about Kali, but deciding it's best he doesn't find out where she is. Taking one last look behind him, he begins to pull away from the road, heading up and away...

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> enters the Sky Above Western United States.

Repliforce Attack Hoverbike <Gamma> has left.

"Don't say that until after ya tried it," Bowie jests. In spite of her world having turned upside down (again), he can at least try to put her at ease. Of course, the sandwich couldn't be too bad, considering he's eating it.

Ken pretends to ignore Bowie. "Yer welcome. If ya think yer up to washing dishes, ya can. But Ah hope you don't mind me dryin?" He starts up another batch, figuring that if Kalinka is like most teenage girls, she's going to be hungry. That, and Chill will wake up eventually.

Kalinka is, in fact, ravenous. She consumes the grilled cheese in a very short amount of time. "Mmm, absolutely delicious...I must say, it is MUCH better than the hospital food," she says cheerfully. Nothing wrong with -her- appetite. "You will help to dry them, Mr. Lang? Thank you again. Maybe someday I will become a Ranger. But first, I must learn the Texas accent...yall."

Bowie continues his sentry duty at the window. Being a man of many talents, he can eat, listen and watch at the same time. More cars drive by, but aside from that Forcer bike earlier, there's nothing of note.

Ken suspected as much - good thing there's plenty of bread, cheese, and butter. "A Ranger, huh? Ya could...though Ah heard you were studyin advanced science?"

Kalinka giggles. "I am," she says. "Well...to be more specific, advanced chemistry. I am developing new formulas. There is...special lab I am signed up for this semester, and we have to create new chemical compounds and publish about them in scientific journals. It is exciting! But...being a Ranger looks exciting, too."

Ken smirks. "Not near as excitin as the vids paint it. Most a it's paperwork an investigation. It's only when all that's done, an we get the bad guys that evryone pays attention."

Kalinka looks over at Ken. "But that, in itself, I am -sure- is the satisfaction of the hard work," she points out. "If I were able to take Landon in...put him away in solitary confinement for the remainder of his years, that would make all the hard work worth it."