DTw4: Lunchtime

[Nina Madaraki]

Nina sat alone at a table in the dining hall, picking at her food. She looked exhausted and a bit sad.

[Sara Stanton]

"Hey Nina. What's wrong?" Sara puts down her tray and sits down next to the unusually cheerless Nina

[Nina Madaraki]

"Yorick ran away," Nina says, "I can't sleep. And Dr. McCoy told me I couldn't do any more volunteer work until I got some rest because I sutured a bandage to patients arm on accident."

[Sara Stanton]

"Oh my, that's not good... Wait, ran away?"

[Nina Madaraki]

Nina nods, stabbing at her salad, "I've been thinking of putting up posters."

[Sara Stanton]

"Where did you see him the last time? It's not like he just ran off on his own, right?"

[Nina Madaraki]

"He was sitting on my dresser," Nina says, "And it's not like he doesn't wander off every now and then. But usually he stays close."

[Sara Stanton]

"This might be a stupid question, but... how does a skull wander around on it's own?"

[Nina Madaraki]

Nina shrugs, "He just...does. I don't know."

[Sara Stanton]

"And you never wondered about your dead skull moving around by itself?"

[Nina Madaraki]

"Not really. Weirder things have happened."

[Sara Stanton]

"But... well, you have a point there, I guess. Uhm... Where did he come from anyway?"

[Nina Madaraki]

"Mortuary."

[Sara Stanton]

"Makes sense. Okay, let's assume he did wander off. Someone is bound to have seen a skull just showing up somewhere all of a sudden. You should make a post on XUNet asking if anyone has seen him."

[Nina Madaraki]

Nina nods, "Good idea."

[Sara Stanton]

"And you really need to get some sleep. You're looking a bit under the weather to say the least. Can't your probes produce a mild sedative or something if you can't fall asleep otherwise?"

[Nina Madaraki]

"Can't sleep without Yorick," Nina says, "And my probes tie to my brain. My..."

Nina pauses, grasping for the phrase, "Mental state. I think they're actually feeding me stimulants."

[Sara Stanton]

"That's not good..." Sara frowns. "How long have you been up, Nina?"

[Nina Madaraki]

"70 hours, 15 minutes, 22...23....24....25..."

[Sara Stanton]

"3 days already? Jeez, Nina... You should see someone about that before you just collapse somewhere."

[Nina Madaraki]

"See who?" Nina says, "It's not like people can make me sleep."

[Sara Stanton]

"I'd imagine a doctor could give you something to counteract the stimulants from your probes. You can't just stay awake until you find Yorick. What if it takes a few more days?"

[Nina Madaraki]

"'m not sleeping until I find him," Nina mumbles stubbornly.

[Sara Stanton]

"You of all people should know what a horrible idea that is, Nina..."

[Nina Madaraki]

"People have stayed awake for as long as eleven days even without the aid of stimulants."

[Sara Stanton]

"People also have climbed Mount Everest, that doesn't mean you can do it. If you stay up much longer you'll go crazy." Well, crazier anyway...
"I'm just worried..."

[Nina Madaraki]

"I'm not crazy!" Nina snaps. She glares at Sara, her eyes not unfocused anymore. They're clear and sharp, "Take it back!"

Probes stream out from the back of Nina's shirt, collecting around her shoulders. And even though they don't have any eyes, Sara gets the feeling that they're all staring at her.

[Sara Stanton]

It takes quite a bit of effort for Sara to not jump up at Nina's sudden outburst, although she still visibly flinchs away from her. "I didn't say you are, Nina. I just said that if people stay up for too long they can go crazy..."

[Nina Madaraki]

Nina stares for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"If Will went missing, would you be able to sleep?"

[Sara Stanton]

"I... don't know. Propably not..." she admits. "But endangering my health wouldn't help and I bet you'd tell me I was being foolish."

[Nina Madaraki]

"I know I'm being foolish," Nina says, "Still can't sleep."

[Sara Stanton]

She places a hand on Nina's shoulder. "Just promise me you'll try to get help if you don't find Yorick or some sleep in the next few days, okay?"

[Nina Madaraki]

Nina nods, "I promise."

"Thanks Sara."

[Sara Stanton]

"Don't mention it." she smiles.