"Here. The new arrivals.," Dr Samuel Wright announced, placing the files down on the desk in front of the long dark-haired woman with rather striking green eyes sitting there. When she looked up, he then handed her a tablet with the digital versions already uploaded into the underwater prison's system. Shaali Evans scrolled through the screen, eyes widening at the roughness of some of the new patients she would be assisting with basic care and, if necessary, the usage of her healing powers. The Raft already had some very colourful characters. It looked like they were now about to get a lot more.
"Read up on what you can," The Dr in charge of the infirmary said.,
"The first one will be here in around fifteen minutes.,"
"And the first one is?," The healer asked. Samuel was about to answer when the phone on the wall next to an obvious intercom rang. Picking up the receiver, Shaali caught his,
"Right. Ok. Copy that.," Before he hung up and said,
"Okay, update. Was supposed to be Rengalen, but he was put into solitary confinement overnight. So…," He took the tablet back, scrolling until he found the next patient.
"Here, this one should be interesting, the Baron. Helmut Zemo.," Shaali just stared at him, clearly in shock.
"They caught him again?," She asked.
"Looks like it. He's one you can probably see by yourself, but I won't be far away. Capable of taking care of yourself, or not, Shaali, there are others in there where you must have someone else present with you at all times, got it?,"
"Yes Dr.," Shaa answered, looking back at the face of a man she knew all too well, but only by proxy alone. She had never actually met him. Zemo hated parting with the fancy coat he’d been wearing when they brought him here, although he was sure he’d see it again one day. For now, however, the blue prison uniform would be fine. The cells on the raft seemed much larger than that of the German prison he’d been in previously. He sat down on the bed, which was also much more comfortable. He opened up a book and started reading.
"Infirmary check-in. Up now.," One of the two guards appearing outside his cell ordered. Zemo looked up at them for a moment.
“I feel fine.," He smirked, and looked back at the book in his hands.
"Are we going to have to force you, Zemo?," The other one asked.
"It's standard procedure. Move it!,"
“Very well.,” He put the book down, and stood up. Unlocking the cell. The two guards proceeded with the usual whenever moving prisoners. Fortunately for this particular inmate, there was only the need to cuff his wrists rather than the ankles, nor did they have to worry about putting some sort of power dampening device on him, as well.
"Let's go.," They ordered one on each side of him. He followed silently to a room that was pretty much like all the others in this place, plain, and sterile-looking, but much bigger than what he'd already seen. He let out a sigh of annoyance as he really hadn’t felt like leaving his cell, but it wasn’t up to him. Shaali stood up from behind one of the workstations along the counter set up in a semicircle around the middle of the room, green eyes taking in the man that stood between the guards. Her heart did a sort of clench, seeing him like that. From what Bucky had told her, his methods were wrong on so many levels yet, his arguments were sound.
"You two can wait outside now.," She informed the guards. One went to say something, but was stopped by his partner.
"She's got this. Let's go.," They both quietly left the room. Walking around, and motioning to the hospital bed off to her immediate right, Shaali said,
"You can either sit there, or on the seat beside my desk,." At which point she indicated where she had just come from.
"Standing is an option too, but it might get uncomfortable.," Catching his gaze, she then added,
"Hello Baron, my name is Shaali Evans, and I'll be your physician from now on. At least, when I'm here.," He nodded in response, and took a seat on the bed, folding his hands between his knees, and waiting for further instructions quietly. The healer watched him, wondering how he'd feel if he knew he was in the presence of an actual mutant. Probably best to keep that side of things quiet unless there was a life or death situation. She glanced back down at the tablet, then reached over the glass partition for the forms he needed to fill out beside her computer. She placed them beside him on the bed, and said,
"Paperwork. We need up-to-date details so, I'm sorry, but there is no getting out of it.," Shaali went over to the intercom, telling one of the guards to come back in, and take the handcuffs off.
"I mean, seriously, what exactly do they expect you to do here?," The question a rhetorical one.
"Not a good idea, Miss Evans.," The older of the two guards warned her.
"With some of the other inmates, yes, not this one.," She said, tilting her head towards the cuffs. The guard reluctantly did as he was told, but not without giving the Baron one of those 'Don't even think about it!' kind of look before once again leaving the room. Shaa placed a pen down on top of the small pile.
"If you're going to break the trust this early in the doctor-patient relationship try to give me something more challenging than an attempted attack with a pen, okay?," Eyebrow raised as she stepped back and waited for him to finish. He smirked.
“I have no intention of attacking you.,” He assured.
“That wouldn’t get me anywhere. Besides, I already did what I needed to do...,” He rubbed his wrists now free from the cuffs, and took a look at the paperwork. It didn’t take long for him to fill everything out.
"Well, that's a relief. I'd hate to hear the guards have to tell me 'I told you so.,' over and over for the next month or more.," She studied him for a moment. There was no doubt in her mind even in here he had a reach far beyond an ocean that surrounded them. Taking back the paperwork, she looked it over then put it back on the desk on top of Zemo's hard copy file.
"Doubt you'll have to come here much. By the looks of things your health is pretty good for someone just slightly older than myself.," She started to explain.
"How is your mental state, though? The taste of freedom only to then be locked back up can take its toll.," He looked at her for a moment then down at the floor.
“I’m not entirely sure how to answer that. I did what needed to be done. I have no problems with being here.,"
"Paying what society deems necessary for what you've done? Or, rather, Wakanda, in this case. No regrets are obvious. Your methods are brutal. Your point is valid.," Shaali simply said. He looked up and tilted his head to the side.
“Nothing you have said is wrong. It is unfortunate, but I did what I had to. Just like the Avengers.,"
"With so many caught in the middle.," Shaa said, nodding once.
"For good, or bad, innocent people always get hurt. I understand both sides and I have to say thank you for seeing past how you feel regarding one of my friends. Hopefully, there are others you can do the same.," She left out that she was referring to herself.
"There are far more different kinds of people out there than you think, Zemo. Super soldiers only scratch the surface.," He smirked.
“Of course. Super soldiers were only my target at the moment, but now the man making the serum and his lab have been destroyed. It doesn’t matter what sort of power people have, super soldiers or otherwise, people will die and countries will burn.,"
"And the ones just trying to live their lives and be as normal as they can be?," Shaali shook her head.
"I'm not here to debate with you, just make sure you're going to cope with your confinement for the rest of your life here, or, so they think.," Shaali turned back to the desk, the fact she wanted to shake some sense into a man that could otherwise be highly admired well hidden from her demeanour. It wasn't up to her, after all. Besides, she couldn't imagine losing her family like that.
“As I said, I have no problems being here.,” He smiled sweetly, but his clear irritation could be seen through the smile. Shaali kept an eye on him out of her peripheral while filling in the parts of her paperwork to indicate the Baron was physically healthy, and wouldn't need to come to the infirmary unless necessary. Her knowing smile was somewhat hidden as she said,
"I would imagine so. Someone with your strong held opinions would still have much work to do.," She came over to him and motioned to his hand.
"Can I take a look at your wrists, please? Some of the guards here are known for their unnecessary treatment of the prisoners.," He held his hand out to her. Most things seemed unnecessary to him at this point but he went along with it. Taking it, she had a closer look then let go, and just stood there a moment.
"Just be happy I'm not asking to listen to your heartbeat.," She said, trying to lighten the mood a little. She could see he wasn't handling being stuck here very well. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with his health.
"I'm guessing you prefer to keep to yourself but, if you need company outside of fellow prisoners and guards I'd like to shake sometimes, I'm offering.," Her joke got a small smile from him but it disappeared as fast as it had appeared.
“If that’s what you want.,” He wasn’t about to sound as if he needed someone to interact with.
"Such enthusiasm.," She quipped, with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"If you prefer to simply stay in your cell reading, as I've been informed you like to do then I can fill any requests for new books. There happens to be a very extensive library where I live.,"
“How thoughtful.,” He was more sincere this time.
“I wouldn’t mind that.”
"Oh look, something we do have in common.," She said, only really half-joking.
"Any particular requests then?,"
“Surprise me.," He smirked.
“Whatever you suggest.,”
"My taste may not be to your liking. If you leave it entirely up to me you'd be getting every genuine Sci-Fi related book I've ever enjoyed. So, perhaps a genre preference for you then?," He thought about it for a moment.
“Something historical I suppose...,” Shaali made a face.
"The boring stuff. Got it.," Glancing at her watch she suddenly looked disappointed.
"Your time here is almost up.," She told him.
"Are there any questions you have before you go?," He shook his head.
“No.,”
"Okay, well, one thing I can offer is a cuppa.," She realised even as she said it her Australian background was showing through in just that one word alone.
"Sorry, I mean a beverage or drink of some sort.," She did a sweeping motion in the direction of the small kitchenette almost directly across from him, the kettle ready to be boiled.
"No urn, for safety reasons. I can pull out the coffee maker if you wish non-instant.," She offered.
“Yes, Thank you.,” Zemo nodded.
“ That would be nice.,” Green eyes caught his briefly before nodding, and heading over to the counter.
"Ah, Baron, what exactly do you want? Was that a yes to better-tasting coffee or were you after tea, mi...," She paused a second. What did the US call their chocolate drinks again?
“Tea is fine.,” He smiled more genuinely. She made some English Breakfast, probably not up to the standard he was used to, but Zemo would have to make do with what he could get in here. Not all of the inmates were going to be deemed safe enough to be offered such a privilege either. Carrying both cups over, she handed one to him.
"You've got about five minutes to drink that.," She informed him, real sympathy reflected in her eyes.
"Guards will not wait for you to finish.," He nodded, and did as he was told quietly. Drinking her tea, Shaali tried not to make it obvious she was studying him again. It's like pulling teeth, she thought. Does he even talk to anyone? And, after what he's done, why do I care so much? She couldn't help it, always trying to look beyond the actions to the why.
"Just remember.," She smiled at him.
"There is more where that came from.," The door to the infirmary now opening behind them. He smiled, and gave a simple nod. This entire visit he’d been wondering if her kindness was genuine or if she was up to something. He still wasn’t entirely sure but it was starting to seem genuine. On re-entering both guards gave the healer a disapproving look.
"Tea? Really, Miss Evans?," He indicated to his partner to put the cuffs back on. Shaali shook her head.
"No. Not again. That won't be necessary.,"
"Raft rules, Shaali.," She gave him the kind of look that dared him to keep arguing.
"I do believe I have authority here, do I not?," The guards conceded, leaving Zemo alone.
"Anything happens, it's on you.," The older of the two warned.
“Quite paranoid those two are.,” Zemo joked.
“If I wanted to do something I’d have done it already.,” This time he was more serious, and a bit arrogant. Shaali raised an eyebrow. And there's that guy again, she thought. Quiet, quaint and dangerous.
"Luxuries are over. Up!," Both guards said almost in unison. He stood up just as told with no protest.
"Move.," The order was given, and Shaali watched them walk him towards the door.
"Oh Baron, we'll have to do this again someday.," She called after him, smiling to herself. He returned to his cell with no problems and sat down on the bed.
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