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[Beverly's not the only one in the kitchen in the wee hours of morning. Riona is making some tea. She had come over to the Iskaulit; she'd seen the horrors as well. When she hears someone come in, she glances over her shoulder.]

Can't sleep either?

[Seeing Riona there, Beverly stops in her tracks. Having to talk to someone was not part of the plan.]

Riona. I -

[Her voice cracks and she can't finish her sentence so she simply shakes her head. No, she can't sleep. In fact, she's very much on the edge of crying.]

[Those are signs she knows all too well. Riona's thrown for a moment; it's so rare to see Beverly not composed. But just as quickly she regains her proverbial footing and walks up to Beverly. Without further word, she pulls her into a hug.]

[Oh god, that is exactly what she needed. Resting her chin on Riona's shoulder, Beverly wraps her arms tight around her friend. And finally, finally, she allows the composure she's been maintaining for Wrath's sake to break. The tears flow freely. Her words come out in a shaky whisper.]

I almost lost her.

[It's a twist of a knife in her heart to hear Beverly cry, to know she was holding this back for what was likely hours.]

A friend of yours was in there?

Wrath. She's... she will be okay, I got to her...she's... she'll be okay.

[Said obviously more to reassure herself than anything. She takes a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself, with only moderate success.]

If you're the one who tended to her, I'm sure she will.

[Riona steps back, keeping her hands on Beverly's shoulders.]

Is there anything I can do to help?

Nothing... nothing.

[Another gasping breath. She's shaking a little.]

I know I'm supposed to be used to...seeing these things, but [Shaking her head] God, it was so bad, Riona. Had it been anyone else... I don't think they would have made it.

Some things you can never be used to.

[She wants to ask how bad it was, but she knows better. She will not make Beverly relive it.]

Maker, I can't believe a person would do that to another. And so many else. [She puts a hand on Beverly's shoulder and beckons towards the stove.] Come, let me make you some tea, hm? How do you like yours?

[Beverly brings her hand to Riona's and gently squeezes it in thanks, giving her a small smile through her tears.]

Just plain is fine.

All right. Let me start the kettle.

[Gently she motions for Beverly to take a seat. After that, she does as promised and finishes prepping the tea, setting the kettle on the stove to start heating up.]

Were there many other injured besides your friend? I... really am not sure all what happened.

[Beverly, utterly exhausted, collapses into the chair. Her feet are killing her so she kicks off a shoe, not caring at the moment about the fact that they're in the kitchen, and starts to massage her foot. When Riona speaks again, however, she looks up, eyes large with sudden realization. Her answer comes softly.]

I... I don't know.

[She slowly lowers her leg.]

Clay said there were at least three or four... but I... I was with Wrath the whole time. Vision brought three of his other crew back, so that means there had to have been more than Clay's original estimate... oh God, I don't know...

I'm sure everyone received treatment.

[Quick words, said in haste to comfort and not cause further distress.]

I only saw a few myself. Looked like a battering ram came through and just... plowed through people.

[And this line of conversation is so not helping things.]

Whatever happened, we're fortunate we have so many good medics in the fleet, like yourself.

[Riona really is more of a comfort than she may realize, but it's difficult to smile right now, so Beverly simply nods.]

I have every confidence in Simon and Jennifer, and the other medics.

[She nods, and silence follows. She wants to ask, but she's rather afraid. Beverly is exhausted enough as is, and the wounds (metaphorical and literal to some) are still fresh. And yet, curiosity pokes at her. That, and perhaps it may help Beverly to talk about it.

When she makes her decision, she treads lightly.]

Do you... know what happened?

Not... exactly. Something - something went wrong with Winter's augment and he went on a rampage on the Iskaulit. Wrath fought him, but she wasn't the only one. It took several people to take him down finally.

[She sighs and looks up at Riona helplessly.] I don't know any more than that.

[The story sends a chill down Riona's spine. The Atroma could do that? Make their augments malfunction in such a way?

It isn't until her fingers begin to hurt that she realizes she's gripping the edges of the counter top hard, hard enough that her knuckles turn white.]

Maker preserve us. One man did all that? What became of him?

By the time I got there he was subdued - I don't know what they did with him afterwards though. Vision and Wanda are his friends, though, and I trust them. They know what they're doing.

[She's never met any of them, so she can't comment with any certainty. But she knows Beverly to be a good judge of character.]

That is utterly terrifying, that Atroma can do that to someone's augment.

[Beverly rubs her face.]

Yes well... I don't think something like that could be achieved with just anyone. Which is not to place blame on him, but from what little I understand of his background, he's been brainwashed before. More likely than not, his augment acted as a trigger for him.

Brainwashed?

[It's an unfamiliar term to her, though the concept isn't, once the word is explained.]

[A small sigh - not one of annoyance, just tiredness. It's so hard to focus.]

It's a... systematic breakdown of someone's defenses through prolonged mental or physical stress in order to radically change their beliefs. It's often used by military or religious organizations.

Ahh. [She tries to think if there's a term for it in Thedas. Blood magic can accomplish something like it, though that's more along the lines of straight up mind control. But the concept is one she can understand.] He... must have been brainwashed quite badly.

I believe so.

[Beverly spreads her palms out on the table and stares at them for a long moment.]

I'm trying not to blame him. Rationally, I know it isn't his fault. But it's...

[Her hands shake. She folds them together to make it stop.]

Difficult.

[Riona is over at the table in a few strides, covering Beverly's hands with hers.]

Logic has very little sway when such strong emotions are involved. You saw your friend beaten to within an inch of her life. It's a natural way to react. What matters is what you do with those emotions.

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