shipmaster | (no subject)

[ Oh yes. And given this is the same driver that took Miles there in the first place before lying to Simon Ilyan's face about it ... He takes one look at Bel and doesn't hesitate. Simon is left to go back inside to try to get help from the Vorrutyers. (And then go find alternate means of transportation when that surely fails.)

There are no further messages from Miles during the drive. And soon enough, the driver pulls up close to Imperial Medical. There's a small side lab here, where a certain doctor from Jackson's Whole had taken up residence after the adventure with Taura. ]

[ On the way in, Bel was looking more for ways back out - possibly off planet, if necessary. That trip to Beta Colony perhaps, if they could swing back to the Vorrutyer's was an idea... The way one does in a mission gone sour.

Brushing past the protesting secretary (armed guard only holding at the Vorkosigan colors on Bel and the driver), finding Canaba wasn't exactly the surprise they wanted. Their eyes narrow unhappily at the scientist. Having plenty of time to get to know Taura hadn't instilled any great favors in this man's name. ]

I'm looking for Miles.

[ Canaba looks up rather startled at Bel's entry. No love lost there, no ... He holds up his hands as if in surrender. The lab is littered with pieces of a very familiar piece of tech. He'd been working on dissecting the Atlas suit. ]

This was his idea, I swear. I'd never have done it otherwise.

[ Since, y'know, that makes everything better. No Miles visible here, but there's a doorway on the opposite side of the lab that's lit from within, and a familiar silhouette laid out in a hospital bed. ]

[ Bel turns to the driver and draws, then throws a stunner their way. ]

Make sure security doesn't get alerted.

[ And pushes into the adjacent room with all of the authority and intent of a gd captain, rank be damned. ]

[ Canaba squawks a bit in protest, but there's not much he can do here really. And here at last is the tiny maniac in the flesh. He's in a hospital gown, vaguely conscious, lying on his side with a strip of the Atlas suit attached to the back of his head. It's thin enough that Miles can - and will - be able to grow his hair out over it and hide most of the change.

He turns a bit a Bel enters. Blurry, but not nearly as gray as he normally would be after a seizure. ]

Bel?

[ THERE'S A HUNDRED MILLION THINGS HERE THAT ARE WRONG WHERE DO I EVEN START? ]

Miles. It's been two hours. [ HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS MUCH SHIT? ]

[ Miles manages a weak grin at that. ]

I arrived two hours ago. Yes. Contacted the doctor immediately after we returned to the house.

[ In other words, Miles has been getting into shit all night. ]

Question two. Why do you now have alien technology grafted to your skull, dear?

[ He settles back at that with a slight wince. ]

Ah. Well ... An experiment. I knew Canaba had been assigned to the project. And we already know that the suits can heal injury.

[ And that... well. That explains the "Saving Naismith." Oh yes, the little maniac had not only thought this through, but did it well enough to convince medical professionals to go along with this insane plan. ]

... Are you free to leave, since you should probably explain this to me in incredible, boring detail on the go. Unless you'd like to meet with Captain Illyan here...

[ Miles pales a bit at that. And hurries to get to his feet. He's still not quite coherent here, but he manages to stay on his feet long enough to pull on pants. ]

No. Let's get the hell out of here.

Oh. Oh yes.

[ Bel gathers up any extra garments and only one shoe. Well, they're ImpMil it's not like they don't know where to mail it. And start ushering Miles out (a hand on his shoulder, ready to catch or carry him as need be.) ]

[ He manages a stumbling trot to the car, only collapsing once he's in the seat. Pale and sweating, but still conscious. Canaba objects to his text subject fleeing on him, but .. well, he'd rather not deal with Illyan either.

Miles lets out a sigh of relief as the groundcar pulls away. ]

... I told you. I'm saving Naismith.

[ Bel has the driver take a long way about... A good hour drive somewhere. They really didn't care where. Enough time for Simon to check ImpMil, then NOT find them at the Vorkosigan House immediately after. ]

Oh yes, that was an adventure you set me on too. [ There's no rancour there. Not from a Dendarii. Bel would be lying if they didn't ALSO enjoy that stretch. ]

So.. you think that's going to work?

[ Miles settles himself back, careful not to jostle his head. And he can't help but smile a bit dreamily at Bel mentioning that adventure. He can tell his former captain enjoyed it. ]

I need more details on that, you know. It must have been impressive.

[ But he'll answer Bel's question first. ]

No idea. But I did discuss it with Canaba last night. The suits have a biological component to them - they're basically alive, in a way. He thinks he reprogrammed it to detect and block the neurotransmitters causing my seizures.

I'd be more impressed if it didn't seem really obvious you just had one.

He triggered it on purpose. Using the strip.

[ He taps lightly at his head. ]

So ... that's half of its functionality working.

Ah...

[ To be able to control when they happen... that. That is actually something. ]

That IS useful.

Just so. Even if I cannot stop the seizures, I could at least avoid having them on missions ...

[ A worthy outcome either way, he figures. Hence the colossal risk. ]

[ Risky, to the point where Miles just authorised a completely novel, invasive surgery into his own brain with an un-understood tech and- ...

It was wholly Miles. ]

I hope this clears you to talk with Simon, because I'm going to be out of explanations shortly.

I'm going to find out presently, aren't I?

[ He turns back towards Bel. ]

How did you keep him off my trail for so long?

[ Bel can't help but smile here. This IS the kind of tactics one picked the Ariel for... hide and seek and evasive action. ]

I let him think that you were meeting with Donna this morning, hinting that the political nature was why your groundcar came and left without you.

So we went to visit, and Lady Vorrutyer, happily, decided to join in being just enough obstructive. We probably owe her, too. Though she seemed to rather enjoy it as well.

Anyway, just then I received your text. At which point, I left him without a ride there, as picking you up solo was a priority. I assume he's radioed for a car or a lightflyer. We'll have about a two hours if we manage to miss him on the next stop.

[ Miles listens to the story with a mix of horror and awe. Simon is not an easy man to shake, and Miles did basically lead him straight to ImpMil. To have Bel lead him around by the nose so effectively ... He laughs a little afterwards, his eyes alight as he looks over at Bel. He's still a bit blurry from the procedure, because otherwise he probably wouldn't have said: ]

Dear god. I think I love you right now.

[ There's a bit of a wide look at that, then ... a laugh escapes them. ]

Here I thought I was about to be fired again. Good to know.

Fire you? For pulling out what might be the greatest runaround in all of history?

[ No, nothing but appreciation right now. And a little terror. ]

I knew I could trust you to run with this.