Stretching her legs [Open]

[staturity]

Cassie was taking Pinky, her Kyth Grub-Mole, for a walk in the City. She watched the tiny, pink creature skittering around in front of her, periodically stopping to look back at her. Apparently she had been missed.

The last time Cassie had gone outside Medbay ended in a disaster, with her being exposed to the Melting Clock. But this time would go better. This time she wasn't sneaking out.

She'd recovered from her last surgery, which was by far the most complicated. The skin on her head and neck had been replaced. She'd had to keep immobilized for far longer than she'd wanted to make sure the blood vessels got a good flow established. And now she didn't have to crane her neck permanently to the side. She could turn her head any which way she pleased. It was liberating.

Plus when they'd replaced the skin of her head they'd taken skin that would develop longer hair follicles. No more baldness, now she had a few weeks worth of fuzz on the left side of her head. So what if it looked weird.

All in all this was not a bad day.

"Hey Pinky, how about a hug?" She bent down and scooped up the grub-mole in her arms. "There we go. Good boy."

Comments

[morphitudinous]

Now there was a sight Billy hadn't seen in a very long time. Cassie and Pinky, looking quite happy to be together. It was almost miraculous that they were together again, really, so that was understandable.

He waved to them, coming closer to investigate. "He looks healthy."

[staturity]

Cassie bit back a comment about how one of them had to be healthy. Self deprecating snark wasn't good right now. Besides, she wasn't that bad.

"He's a happy little guy, aren't you?" Pinky squeaked back at her in reply and Cassie laughed. "How are you, Billy?"

[morphitudinous]

Billy had to smile at both of them---hey, if she asked, she was looking much better too. The surgeons had done an incredible job, and really they were grateful to have her with them.

"I remember," he replied, thinking back to all the other grub moles they'd played with. "It's been rough, dealing with the mission and then the Clock, and now I have another crew to worry about---but I'm just glad everyone seems to be all right. It looks like things went well with you."

[staturity]

"I'm sure they'll pull through." Cassie had been late to check the omnicomm but when she had she got the distinct urge to break something.

"Yeah, it did." Cassie nodded- and it STILL felt so good to do that. "Just a few more surgeries so I can move my arm better and I'll be done. Good thing too, I'm really getting sick of Medbay."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

Anwei recognized the young woman walking through the City; it looked like the surgeries had healed up nicely. She hadn't talked to Cassie Lang in Med Bay, both from being busy and from not wanting to foist her presence on someone who was immobilized and unable to move away.

But now they were both out for a walk, from the looks of it. She waved hello, leaving it up to the other woman if she wanted to approach and talk.

[morphitudinous]

"They'd better. I don't think I can stage a play to rescue them this time," Billy noted awkwardly, folding his hands behind his neck. He kept smiling at Pinky, amused by the noises made.

"I'm sure anyone in your position would be. It's amazing what they've managed to accomplish, but it'll be great to see you out more frequently. You don't have to get back to work, but there are a few things I'd like to show you."

[staturity]

"Are you kidding? I'm dying to do something. Though I'll probably be a little slow with this hand." Cassie was all ready holding Pinky predominantly with her right hand so it didn't take much effort to shift his whole weight to that hand. She held up her left hand and flex her new fingers. "I'm game for just about anything."

[staturity]

Cassie waved back and walked over to her. "Hey, don't think I've seen you outside of Medbay before."

[morphitudinous]

"That's not a problem. We have the hands now to cover what needs to be done, and everyone will definitely be happy to have you back."

Billy sure was. He looked as bright as ever, a little mischievous light coming to his eye.

"We completed the cement gun...after you were captured. I have a few on reserve now, and one of them is definitely yours."

[staturity]

"The cement gun?" Cassie giggled, remembering that day. Funny how something so awkward at the time could turn into a fond memory. "If no one else needs it, that'd be great."

[morphitudinous]

"We used it in your honor with pride," Billy announced, a happy little smile on his face. "I never thought I'd see you wield it again. But I'm glad---and while we're at it, we can come up with things that are even more useful."

Ah, the thrills of inventing. He loved it so, but he loved catching up with friends more.

"Did Pinky jump on you right away?"

[staturity]

"Definitely. I've learned a few tricks while I was- gone." She shifted so she was holding Pinky with both hands again. "Oh he was really excited. He still is whenever he gets to see me. I'm surprised he even remembered me. Guess he's got a brain in him after all."

[morphitudinous]

Billy wasn't quite as surprised. "We tend to have powerful memories of our caregivers. You obviously take excellent care of him, and it shows."

At that moment, he wished he'd adopted an animal too---but would that be too much with Ronnae and the string of other visitors that came in and out of their house?

"So everything's fairly normal for you now?"

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"Yes, well, I'm trying to get out and about more." It wasn't like she couldn't get back within reach of Stacy's protection within a few minutes if necessary. "It seems a shame to have this whole City here, and not look around it."

She looked curiously as the little pink quadruped. "Is this a friend of yours?" Definitely not a child - she thought.

[vision-ya.livejournal.com]

Aww, cute.

"[Can I get a hug too?]"

Jonas had been very careful not to hover (too much) over Cassie while she was in the Med Bay. He had made efforts to make sure she was entertained while immobilized and so on, but he had really tried hard not to hover. Things were finally getting back to normal for him -- he no longer felt compelled to check on her constantly, in case he had imagined finding her on the Helmacron ship. And she was looking much, much happier as the surgeries progressed, which he was certainly in favor of.

[staturity]

"Thanks." She stroked Pinky's head. "I don't think I know what normal is but- as normal as it gets, I guess. What about you? Any excitement other than those missions?"

[staturity]

Cassie held Pinky up so Anwei could get a better look at him. "Yeah, this is Pinky. I adopted him from hydroponics months ago. He's really friendly, all of his species are actually. You can probably see the others in hydroponics. I take him there sometimes- or I used to before... anyway, he doesn't seem to mind staying with me."

[staturity]

Cassie hadn't minded her stalkerbot boyfriend's constant attention. Sometimes she needed to be reminded that she wasn't just hallucinating that she'd been rescued. And other times she needed the company.

Cassie smirked. "You can get more than that if you ask nicely." She set Pinky down, trusting that he wouldn't go off too far before turning back to Jonas. "Come here."

[morphitudinous]

"Everything's been fine, surprisingly enough," Billy admitted. "My friends have been through some strange things, but you probably know about most of the changes since you left. Mostly I've been training with the Rangers, working on solving mechanical crises, and supervising the bathhouse."

This and that, pretty much. He kept smiling at Pinky, wondering if the little grub mole would be interested. "Does he let others pet him?"

[staturity]

"Sure! You can hold him if you want." She held out Pinky for him. "And you mean Power Rangers? Kate's one of those, right? The pink one?"

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

Kate hated GLADOS. She wished she could fire some arrows into the AI, but at least she was free from the endless mazes again. She needed to stretch her legs in her own way, but beamed before hurrying over.

Cassie in her opinion was alive, and looked fantastic because of that simple fact.

"Hey Giant girl! You're up." She laughed as she jogged up to her friend.

[morphitudinous]

"Affirmative," was Billy's answer as he took Pinky, gently holding the little guy. He hoped grub moles didn't spew any toxic substances...did they burp? He would find out eventually.

"She's done really well. I was surprised that everyone wanted to stick with me after that first battle, and especially now that Lord Zedd's targeting us. But it's been great to train with her."

[staturity]

Pinky settled into Billy's arms quite well. No toxic emissions- or any other emissions- to worry about.

"Back up. Lord Zedd targeting you?"

[staturity]

"I am." Cassie grinned. "Just be glad you didn't see me while I was drugged up. That would've been embarrassing."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"Oh. I didn't know you were allowed to take animals out of Hydroponics." She studied the small pink animal carefully; it didn't look like it would bite, but she didn't reach to touch it, just to be sure.

It made her think of a certain little snake, but she pushed that thought aside. She didn't even know if that snake had been real or not.