Dec 30 16:30:00, 105 PA
From Chronicles
Kingsdale - Thursday, October 02, 2008, 2:12 PM
Pre TP, December 30, 16:30:00, 105 PA Zaphod, Joachim
It is relatively late in the day, going on evening in the faded light. Joachim, when inquiring about Zaphod gets a simple message in returns. "Meet me at Range 3-A around 4:30. Bring a gun. Carl." And that's all it says. Now the appointed hour has arrived, and Zaphod's bulk sits on a bench at the base of the range, absent-mindedly toying with an oversized pistol of some kind.
His robe remaining closed to the weather outside, Joachim walks into the firing range, his cowboy hat resting back on his head. After a moment's orientation, he slowly walks down the marked rows of the range, looking for his destination. Arriving at 3A, he smiles warmly at the seated man, friendly inquiring, "Zaphod?" before extending a hand, should the man so turn out to be.
The giant man takes Joachim's hand firmly. "Carl, for the moment." He says cryptically. "Though that could change and become Zaphod at any time. I assume Atticus warned you about that. I tend to look after Atticus' military matters for him and what is going on now might be part of it. Have a seat. First off, what is your name, and what did Atticus tell you, and what is your purpose for being interested in it?"
Nodding his head in acquiescence, Joachim takes the proffered seat, swinging his knapsack to the ground at his feet, and propping up his Bigbore shotgun. "I'm Joachim, and he was a bit pressed for time, honestly. I guess the bulk've what I know's that there's a doctor, does a bunch of good work in the dregs, and he got kidnapped. There're some robots that've been troublesome, and you lot were going to maybe try and pull him out, through them." Watching Carl with interest, he says with a shrug, "I was told you could use some help. I suppose I've little other reason than that," his smile returns, slightly sheepish.
"That is more or less about the size of it and all that you really need to know at this point. Now, I'm not trying to be down on you Joachim. But I need to be sure that anyone I send in with Atticus' team, or take in with mine can handle it. It's one thing to offer help, another thing to be able to give it. That's a nice shotgun you have there. Tells me a lot about you. Have to be a strong man to use one effectively. They kick like mules. So, why don't you use it a couple of times there and show me how you do? I'll toss you some credits for your ammunition costs."
Joachim simply nods at the instruction, he pauses for a moment to pull a few shells out of the knapsack, slotting them in while asking, "So, it's lookin' like it's going to be a pretty rough ride in?" He doesn't seem especially concerned as he pulls the shotgun firmly into his shoulder before squeezing off a double-barreled shot, at a target all the way down range. Grunting with the 'boom,' he hits the target almost dead on, but from the subsequent explosion and shredding, one likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway. "And how're you looking for support personal, if you don't mind the question."
"Guaranteed." He states, aiming at the hole that Joachim made and firing his own pistol with the trilling sound of an energy discharge. "One of these robots killed an aquaintance of mine not so long ago. A well armed and experienced headhunter. Gutted him like a fish before he had much of a chance to defend himself. And we're heading into their stronghold." He turns to glance at Joachim absently and taps his cheek. "Put one right here. Don't hold back."
Zaphod also sends it right through the center of Joachim's weapon's hole!
Nodding, Joachim brings the shotgun back up, firing off the under barrel first, once again grunting with the kick. Unfortunately, it goes a few feet right of the target, "I only ask about the personnal thing, 'cause if it comes to it, I can patch people up, fairly well." Even more unfortunately, he overcorrects in his second shot, the kick of the shotgun adding to the error, sending the second shell flying far left, very far off target. The shot elicits a sigh, as he reaches for the knapsack for more shells.
Zaphod reaches out lightly as the other begins to reload, meaning to interrupt it. "That is good to know. Do you have paramedic training?" The question is asked, and then very bluntly; hopefully having interrupted the reloading he taps the chin again. "Put one right here. Make it a good one."
Halting, propping the shotgun up, and replacing the knapsack on the ground, Joachim stands up, squaring off slightly. "Yeah. Truth be told, I spend a lot of time in the dregs, tending to people. One of the reasons I'm interested in bringing 'im back." With a slightly sad smile, "that place can use all the help it can get." Taking a moment to roll up the sleeves of his robe, he asks, "You sure?"
"Doctor Kalvin is a humanatarian of the finest order, which is all of the more ironic considering exactly what he is." He nods once to Joachim. "Do I appear to be a person who is unsure of what he requests?" It's kind of a rhetorical question, but he hasn't made any sort of move to adopt a defensive stance or anything.
Ceding the point, Joachim bobs his head momentarily, once again simply acquiescing to the request. Landing the punch exactly where Zaphod indicated, with almost as much force as the strike might have possibly taken, he slowly takes the hand back, looking with interest at whether or not any assistance might be needed.
Joachim's fist cracks very hard off of Zaphod's jaw, his parry just a little bit too slow to deflect it. His head snaps back with the sheer power of the blow but his feet remain well planted on the ground. Most men would have been sent to the floor by that. But instead, Zaphod seems to be rather un-damaged though there is a little bruise around the stubble. He seemingly doesn't have a glass jaw. "Well done." He seems to mean it, and then suddenly drops in a snap-kick aimed at Joachim's legs to try and take them out from under him.
Not expecting the respondent kick, Joachim just stands awkwardly as it whirls around toward his legs. Taking a somewhat surprised step to try and respond to the light thwack, he in fact winds up tripping himself up, falling rather ungracefully. Staring up at the ceiling, he gives a rather loud chuckle, saying, "Well, for some reason I didn't think we were kicking," before beginning to climb back to his feet, taking a hand if offered, and dusting his robe off.
The hand is in fact, offered. And there is every sense that this man could pick the other right off the ground with a single arm if required. But then again, his build is on the unnatural and freakish side. "So, my verdict." He says, gesturing towards the seat and bending to pick up Joachim's shotgun and offer it to him. "I think you'll be a fine addition to Team Beta. That's the extraction team and all that I am prepared to tell you right now, though I'll give you details later. I'm really sorry about the unorthadox interview, but you have to understand that I have to be careful. It's on my conscience if I let you go in and get yourself killed."
Nodding, Joachim says, "Oh, I understand. I suppose you could have kicked a lot harder, after all," he winks at this, giving a beaming smile. "Is there anything else you might need me for, or's that it for now?" Giving the man a quick look up and down, Joachim's looking fairly content with the interview, himself.
Zaphod considers thoughtfully for a moment. "Just one. Don't bother trying Paramedcine on Doctor Kalvin if he's found. His looks can fool you. Won't be any help for you. Doctor Kalvin is, uh...." He scratches his head. "An artificial simulation of an organic life form, I believe he puts it."
A curious smile slides across Joachim's face as he responds, "I look forward to meeting him. He sounds like an interesting man." He extends his hand one more time, simply shrugging and moving should it not be accepted, before moving back to gather his belongings. "I'll see you when we meet up for it then, I s'pose. Or maybe sooner, should it so happen. It was a pleasure meetin' you, Carl."
The hand is accepted and firmly shaken. "Indeed. You'll do fine. Just keep your head down a bit with the shooting starts. Have a good night." And with that, he turns back to the range and picks up his pistol. Tags: joachim, zaphod
