Hi there rodents ^.^
Here's another rp log I came up to. This time introducing Patricia and Sarah to the NIMH rats colony.
Yep, Patricia coming to the rats colony is something really strange, especially knowing how much she hates the rats of nimh. However, she's there in a diplomatic mission to establish a better communication between the colonies.
But just between you and me, there's a lot more than that behind this visit. ;)
What is it? Well you'll have to find that out! XD
So here's the log, hope you like it and please excuse that it ends so suddenly, we haven't really finished it yet ^.^;

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LVC: Sentry Point

The Colony has carved its main entrance -- a grand, beautiful archway -- into the mountainside almost three meters up from the valley floor. A stairway climbs the mountain's sloping sides, occasionally zig-zagging up to meet the stone lip that protrudes in front of the archway. This stone lip is one of the Colony's important sentry point, a spot that is never without a guard.

Justin stands at the head of a hastily assembled honor guard, awaiting the arrival of an unexpected group of visitors--a delegation from the mouse colony in the distant city. An errand runner arrived at the colony gates around sunset the previous night to announce that a small party of NIMH-altered mice were roughly half a day's hike out from the colony and would be arriving in the early afternoon of the following day. Suddenly, the leader of the rats found himself scrambling to get his best set of council robes looking sufficiently dignified, as well as rounding up a half dozen Guardsrats with either clean dress uniforms or sufficiently shiny battle plate. He got three of each, and they flanked him now in staggered lines so that the line on his left had two in armor and one in a dress uniform while the right line had one armored rat and two in dress uniforms. He'd also arranged for Leon to dispatch a pair of scouts to find and escort the mouse delegation the rest of the way to the colony.

Patricia steps in the front of the caravan of mice, all of them dressed with their finest uniforms. Guards at her sides exhibiting their medals and wearing their grades with all the proud of Patricia's elite guard squad (yet she has chosen them more for their blind trust they have on her, they'd follow her to the deep hell if she asks them). A bit behind her, following her close her daughter Sarah walks along her mother, a bit aware though. "We're almost there Mrs. Maple· says one of the guards. "I know, the smell of the rats of nimh hasn't changed much after so many years..." answers Patricia with a smirk. "Neither the scent of him..." she adds slowly

Justin takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Well boys, let's get to it," he says as he starts down the trail leading up to the colony gates. The guardsrats fall in step silently behind him, halberds held smartly against their shoulders. Justin himself feels half a fool in the ceremonial garb. ~All I need is a cowl and a wooden board...~ he thinks to himself, remembering that odd scene that one of the night lab technicians would watch over and over again as the rodents were put through some of the more mechanized tests. When he and the lead mouse are only a few steps away, he brings his small cadre of soldiers to a halt and bows low. "We are honored by your visit, Madame Councilor," he says. "I am Justin, leader of the Rats of Thorn Valley. Welcome to our home." He affixes his brightest, most welcoming smile as he says this.

Patricia does a quick nod, followed by an almost unnoticeable smirk "The honor is mine, Justin. I am Patricia Maple, member of the council and ambassador of the mice colony." the guards stands at her side, with their dart guns at their shoulders watching the politic scene with disbelief, obviously the politic manners are not their strong point. "Let me introduce..." she does a wave with her paw to her sides. "... my personal guard. My finest soldiers will be in charge of the protection of my daughter and me all the time, hope that does not interfere with your normal guarding schedule. And at my right..." she puts her paw on Sarah's shoulder "My daughter and member of the medic staff of the colony, Sarah." Sarah does a polite bow and adds "Pleased to meet you, I came with the delegation representing the medic staff of our colony, in order to exchange our medical knowledge between our colonies. And I'll be happy to help you in anything a can Mr. Justin"

"And may I present my hand-picked escort--most of whom I've either personally trained or served with," Justin says after Patricia has introduced her bodyguard and her daughter. "Loyal and skilled, the safety of colony residents and all visitors is their top priority. I can't imagine there will be much friction between your escorts and the colonial guard." He says this with a certain icy, 'I don't care if this is stepping on your toes; make trouble with the mouse guards and I'll feed you to Firefoot myself!' glance to the lead guards in his escort. Justin returns Sarah's bow and chuckles. "No titles for me, thank you, little miss. Please just call me Justin." The rat returns his attention to Patricia. "Shall we head on up to the colony? I believe our housekeeping staff should have your rooms prepared."

Patricia nods "Certainly, was a long trip and both my daughter and me would appreciate your hospitality, Justin. My escort will be fine if you set them in the barracks, yet my personal bodyguards and my secretary I may ask to have a room right near mine if there isn't any problem with that." Sarah follows her mother near while she follows Justin's lead to inside the colony. "I'd like to meet the medic crew if I may mister... I mean Justin" says Sarah with her usual cheery voice "I can't wait to learn about your techniques" "Don't rush Sarah, you'll have time for that later..." says Patricia "Please excuse my child's rush, she has too much energy and doesn't know what to do with it sometimes..." she adds

"Right this way, then, councilor," Justin says, motioning with his paw for the mouse and her entourage to follow him. Once they get moving, the guardsrats take up flanking positions alongside the small column. "We don't actually have a barracks as such, madam, so your escorts will be sharing rooms in the neighborhood of yours. I'm afraid that you're up on the fourth level, as that's the one with the most empty space. We hadn't anticipated ever having dignitaries when we designed this colony, so there are no true 'guest' rooms. Still, I believe they'll be quite comfortable for you," he explains, his tone somewhat apologetic. Justin chuckles a little bit at Sarah's enthusiasm. "I'll warn you that the head of our medical staff, Mr. Ages, is a cantankerous old mouse with little patience for anyone...but you didn't hear that from me," he says with a wink. "Young Ms. Maple, you may visit our infirmary whenever you feel like. Your guards, Madame Maple, are also at liberty to explore our colony when their duty schedules permit, and to avail themselves of our gym for training and exercise as they may want. No indoor pool, I'm afraid, but there's a very nice pond just past our crop fields that we've set up a swimming area in, should things get too hot for you at any point during your stay."

You say, "I see, well I'm not picky on the rooms so the comfort is a secondary matter for me. And my daughter I'm sure will be more than satisfied to be around the infirmary all day long. "Tee hee knock it off mom, and I'd like to be around the cafeteria aswell and the playground oh and I'd love to see the workshops and and..." "Sarah keep your manners now... Um the children now days, they don't know when to stop. By the way, you look like have grown as a pretty mature and responsible rat after so many years. When I met you at nimh you were only a young rat about the age of my daughter, and who'd say you'd become the leader of the rats. Great achievement for a young rat indeed..."

The mixed party of mice and rats enters the colony and heads towards the southern ramp, earning more than a few curious glances from colonist passersby who are moving about their usual daily business. Justin chuckles at Sarah's enthusiasm. "Well, our playground and library are all on this end of the colony, here on first level. The cafeteria's back the way we came, past my office," he says. They start the ascent, and Justin is for a moment struck speechless by Patricia's words. "I thank you, ma'am," he says after a slight awkward pause. "I wasn't aware we'd met, or that you'd remembered me after all these years," he continues. "Second level has mostly families, many with little ones. If you're fan of squalling infants, this is the place to visit..."

Zohar slowly emerged from the level above, wrapped in his usual attire though he kept his hood over his head as his eye had started glowing rather brightly in the last hour and he didn't want to attract too much attention. The rat grumbled to himself, having to remind himself he had only one eye left even after all the time which had passed since the fateful encounter with Khan. He grasped his 'cane' which Justin and a few others knew was anything but an actual cane and looked down towards the lower level before he heard the Leader's familiar voice explaining something to a guest. He looked at them, knowing they'd be able to see him standing there. Who could help but notice a glowing eye anyway? It didn't matter, but his gaze seemed to be affixed on the guest he didn't recognize.

Patricia smiles a bit "Does not surprise me that you don't remember me, you were very young by that time and you might not remember certain episodes of our captivity. Some of us would like to forget them actually..." Sarah turns a bit her glance to her mother, taking her paw slightly "Why thank you Justin, I can't wait for a tour as soon I settle down my stuff." "Who'd imagine what would happen later..." continues Patricia "By the way, my... um... (she does a long pause) condolences for the death of your former leader, Nicodemus was a well... loved and respected leader among your kind. Thanks to him the rats of NIMH were able to escape so, I'm sure his lost was a heavy blow to you and your comrades"

Justin grimaces at the mention of NIMH and some of their more...unpleasant...augmentation proceedures. "Yes, there are things about NIMH better left forgotten," he agrees as they continue up towards the fourth level. The mention of Nicodemus further sours the mood as that old, familiar guilt returns to the surface for a brief instant. "Thank you, Madame Maple. It was indeed quite a blow...Jenner's betrayal...that was just salt in the wound." Upon reaching the third level, the guardsrats peel off as they'd been instructed to, so as to return to their normal duties. Glancing up, Justin notes a familiar robed figure ahead. "Ah, Zohar. Good to see you up and about," he says with a smile on his muzzle. His own footpaw still pains him from time to time, but for the most part, everyone's injuries from their encounter with Khan are all but mended. "Zohar, meet the Maples and their escort. The elder is Patricia, a councilor from the colony in the city and come to pay a diplomatic visit. The younger is her daughter Sarah, aspiring doctor." Turning to the mice, he gestures towards Zohar. "Madame, miss, let me present to you Zohar, one of the colonists. Something of a jack-of-all trades, too--chef, warrior, herbalist..."

Zohar tilted his head a bit more, eyeing them all with that one glowing eye before he slowly reached up to pull back his hood. He had made sure to grab an eye patch from the hospital before setting out--no need to spook anyone with the innards of his empty eye socket after all. "I extend my welcome to our favored guests," he said quietly. "I heard you coming and I apologize for any involuntary eavesdropping. I was just on a daily walk since I'm permitted to leave the hospital as of days past." He turned slowly stepped down to the visiting mice and rats, favoring the elder Patricia and Sarah. Odd that Zohar would speak in such a formal manner. Perhaps it had finally set in that he was who he was and he couldn't deny it. "I do hope your stay is comfortable," he said, looking back to Justin, and then back to the Maples. "And I thank you for the condolences. He held many secrets, and I'm sure you'll learn another of our departed leader soon." He slowly smiled to Justin and leaned up to whisper in his ear for a moment. "I almost died...I no longer feel a need to hide my family relation. Though, I wish not to steal the show from you." He smiled at the Leader and stepped off to the side, setting both paws on his 'cane.' "Yes, jack-of-all trades, and sometimes a nuisance..well...past nuisance," he joked.

Patricia frowns a bit, there was something on that rat, the way he speaks, the way he moves, even his scent was somewhat... familiar. She has the impression that she have met that rat before but, can't tell where... "Pleased... to meet you Zohar." says Patricia to the enigmatic rat, forcing a smile. "I'm sure we'll have time later to know more about yours apparently many talents..." Definitively there was something on his glance, that reminds her something... or someone. "Nice to meet you Mr. Zohar ^^" says the cheery mousette breaking the silence. "You say you came from the hospital? When I finish to settle down please feel free to throw me a line whenever you need medical assistance, my experience with rats is quite limited at the moment though but there isn't much differences between rats and mice" "Biologically speaking of course, Sarah" interrupts Patricia. "I do appreciate your hospitality. Hope you a fast recovery aswell" says with a mid-smile, still very intrigued with Zohar.

Justin whispers back to Zohar, "I'll let you handle your own introductions and whether or not you want to be known as Nicodemus' son, as I've always done." He turns his attention to the interaction between the Maples and Zohar, falling silent for the moment as the conversation has little to do with himl.

Zohar smiled softly to Justin and turned back to the visitors, that one eye of his locking rather sharply on Patricia, particularly in how she spoke. While his face didn't show it, he was scanning her, looking for traces of tenseness that might tell him more about her, and her slightly hesitant mannerisms. "I'm sure there will be plenty of time," he said quietly, "but I wouldn't want to bore or disgust you with stories of how I lost my eye not too long ago. You are, after all, Sir Justin's company at the moment." He shifted his gaze back to Sarah and offered her a kindly smile. "Nice to meet you too, Miss Sarah," he said, stepping off to the side once more should Justin be trying to guide them somewhere. "I was just on my way down to the cafeteria, but I am not that hungry yet. If your party, and Sir Justin wish it, I shall accompany you."

Patricia's glance crosses Zohar's, she has seen that deep glare before... "Please do Mr. Zohar ^^" replies Sarah with her usual enthusiasm. "I want to meet every single rat in the colony, maybe you can take me on a tour later" Finally Sarah's rush has pulled Patricia from her thoughts. "Hold your horses little lady, we have a lot to do before that, and I'm sure Zohar has better things to do than being your tourist guide." she turns back to zohar again, and again when her eyes find his, she feels the sensation that something was wrong with that rat... yet she does not pay much attention to that now "I wouldn't mind to have your company Zohar." she says.
"And I'm not about to prevent you from exercising your right to associate with whom you wish, Zohar. Of course you can join us, " he says, beaming, once the Maples have both expressed their assent to the suggestion. "Well, as I'd said before, we're heading for the fourth level and the apartments that have been prepared for yourselves and your escort," he says as they start moving up the ramp again.

Zohar smiled back to Justin and slowly followed the group in their wake. There was something odd about Patricia, and he was going to keep her where his eye could see her for now. Just as she felt something wrong with 'that rat' he felt something odd from 'that mouse'. Of course, she was an Elder, but there was something else to it. "Fourth level," he added to Justin's guide. "You'll be up next to my quarters. If there is anything you need during your stay, feel free to give me a knock."

Patricia follows Justin's lead through the ramp, exchanging glances with Zohar from time to time. While her personal guards follows her closely, paws on their needle rifles all the time. "What an impressive structure indeed." says Patricia "Looks like you've been busy these years I take it." "Yes it's amazing the how you have built your colony practically with what you got from the nature" adds Sarah "How did you do it without human materials resources Justin? Ah look at the lamps! I've heard about these, they don't need electricity at all. You must have great engineers among your colony." she says visibly amazed.

Justin smiles appreciatively. "It took a little getting used to when we moved here from the Rosebush, actually--from what those who visited your colony have told me, the Rosebush and your home were not very different technology-wise." Turning to Sarah, he nods. "Yes, we have some brilliant engineers among the population. Pay a visit to the workshops and look for Arthur--he's the architect who designed this entire colony one Nicodemus began to plan our move from the Fitzgibbons farm."

Zohar noticed Patricia looked at him at times, and whenever she did he played innocent, making sure to look another way, possibly at Justin or down at the floor. Meeting gazes with her wasn't probably the best thing at the moment if she was trying to gain anything from him. Whenever she turned her attention elsewhere, though, his eye went straight to the needle rifles. How very interesting to create a firearm device; mental notes well taken. He also noted to later look up one of Issac's drawings of a spring mechanism which the young rat had designed for a game of marbles the Alchera sometimes had played. Very curious, yes. He also made a mental note about Arthur...he'd have to visit him sometime for sure if he designed the colony. "I wondered who it was that designed this place," he said. "I admit, I still haven't been here too long."

Patricia nods a bit "Our colony has been built thanks to the work of our finest engineers who have made it a stronghold of technology and knowledge. However, we had to turn our home into a fortress in order to protect us from the attacks of the beasts... I mean the sewer rats..." Suddenly something caught Sarah's attention. "Um Justin, why there isn't any walls protecting the colony, a perimeter or something? Aren't you afraid of the r..." she was about to say something, realizing just in time how dumb that was "I mean... um I'm sorry I didn't mean to..." "Rats" adds her mother "You mean like, feral rats right Sarah?" Sarah nods, yet obviously embarrassed.

Justin chuckles a little bit. "Well, for one thing, it's risky enough for us to have our crop fields out in the open. This might be a natural sanctuary, but the humans would get suspicious if their satellites started showing small-scale fortifications popping up around the base of one particular mountain. For another, well...we're the same size as or bigger than our feral cousins out in the woods, and we've got weapons. We've had some trouble with ferals, of course, but for the most part, they leave us alone except to raid our fields around harvest," explains the leader of the colony in answer to Sarah's question. "Entrance into the colony is pretty tightly controlled. We have an emergency exit, the main gate which we entered through, and the terrace at the north end of this level. All are guarded around the clock, and we've yet to have anyone try breaking in through the windows--Arthur designed the shutters to keep out potential intruders as much as the elements." By the time Justin has explained all of this to the inquisitive Sarah, they've arrived at the empty apartments that had been spruced up for the Maples and their escort. "And here we are, madame and miss," he says, gesturing towards a trio of doors along one side of the corridor. "Your rooms face the valley, and the windows offer a spectacular view in clear weather. Your security forces may establish watches as they see fit, but I would please request that you establish no checkpoints in the corridor except for near your quarters. I would also be happy to assign an honor guard from the colony to escort you and show you around, should you wish it."

Zohar's own ears flushed when the subject of feral rats was brought about. He personally knew a rat who was a hybrid, one who had mated with a feral, and was said hybrid's mother, and had known a violent feral rat (though after Niezki's tampering) which he killed. "And besides," he said to add to Justin's commentary, "Not all feral rats and beasts are violent and ill-mannered. My future step-son's father was a feral, and he is a hybrid. According to his mother, the feral was very well behaved for a feral and could speak quite well, though I can't say the same for one of those odd squirrels I came across on my first day here." He slipped his fingers about his 'cane' a little more. He noticed the specialized quarters which had been given to the Maples happened to be almost exactly nearly across from his own. "As I thought. We will be right across from each other," he said, looking back to Justin.

"Thanks for your concern" says Patricia "My escorts will set themselves in the rooms, My daughter and I will take this room, along with my personal bodyguard. Fenril will take note of your request." she says nodding to a black mouse just at her side. "He's my security chief and he knows how to do his job with ease..." "Certainly ma'am" he replies "I'll make sure that we won't interfere with your normal watches Justin, and I'm sure our guards can learn from each other aswell while we're here. Maybe we can exchange some tactic knowledge between our soldiers" Sarah steps a bit away from him, certainly she doesn't feel comfortable around that mouse...

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"Dream! What you dare to dream.
Go! To where you want to go.
Be! What you want to be.
Live!" R. Bach