Jijou, the gardener, found Narchi hale and hearty down in a sub-basement of the hospital. Narchi was fastening up some kind of azure refractive armor and talking with a Trow woman holding a spray-can of skin substitute. As Jijou came in, a Terro woman nearby put her hands on her hips and said loudly, "You bitch! You did that on purpose! I ought to slap the crap out of you!" The Trow woman chortled and remarked, "Whoops! Heeheehee, sorry! I could have gotten myself, too. Lighten up." Jijou asked as he grabbed Narchi in a hug, "Not interrupting, am I? Narchi, you old bastard! What're you doing with all the lil' cuties?" Narchi turned and smiled at his old friend. "Trying not to get between the two of them!" Jijou laughed, "Lucky bastard! Having two women fight over you!" The two women whipped around and both glared at Jijou, shouting loudly in unison, "WE ARE NOT--" The green Terro woman with the pinkened spray-painted face, turned to the Trow woman and shouted, "Shut-up, you--" The Trow woman shouted back, "You want me to spray you some more?!?" They stood practically nose to nose and glared at each other. Narchi rolled his eyes.. He in a low tone to Jijou, The Trow woman is.... Ahrini from city 64. She found the armor for me. The Terro woman is an old acquaintance of mine from city 32, Jiri. She found the Skin-spray for us." Jijou bowed to each, watching them intently. Jiri bowed with the practiced ease of someone who had been raised a slave. 'Ahrini' Nodded like a warrior, or dangerous princess. She had an undefinable clarity of eye and presence that commanded attention. Jijou turned back to Narchi and asked, "Did she help you? The high butterfly woman with the scythe of the Madjulla?" Narchi looked blank for a moment. He nodded and smiled. He said, "That's why we need the skin-spray. That Madjulla woman from the temple will come after Toxic. I have a plan." "Toxic is the woman of rainbow hue?" Jijou asked carefully. Narchi nodded. "She's a loon, but a lovable loon. C'mon along, Jijou! It'll be like old times" Jijou rolled his eyes. "I don't like THAT already!" They laughed and headed toward the lift back to the upper floors. --TO BE CONTINUED!-- Media is Poser 6