There were many medicinal actions to take in response to stress. Soft and relaxing music was one. Distracting and peaceful hobbies were another, such as crocheting. But in any culture, refocusing your bad or negative energy, or 'Ch'i (氣)', was key.

For one troubled elder-being known as Johnnie, ?poetry? would be his selected vehicle of recovery today.

Inquisitively, he looked up from his pen and pad where he was scribbling out words in one of the oldest and most sophisticated dialects fathomed since the dawn of time. This pen and pad laid upon one of the relaxing outdoor lounge tables of Otomo's store while Johnnie stroked his mustache. It was looking to be a fine day.

Across from him, Declan leaned his elbows on the table closer to him and investigated his thoughtful face. ?What is it, Johnnie? You look like you're trying to figure something out that you never will,? he bent his neck to try and read some of the writing he had put down.

?Just trying to find the right words is all. It's not finished,? Johnnie explained, protectively recoiling his unfinished haiku from Declan's gaze.

Declan's reach even after Johnnie's defenses was unable to procure the information, discouraging him. ?Come on, Johnnie. You can't seriously be blue on a sunny day like today. It's insulting to these perfect conditions,? he explained.

?Oh I don't know,? Johnnie replied, shrugging. ?I um ? think a lot ? you know? It helps to ? get my thoughts out on ? paper,? very expressive with his hands, as though his mind was not being so helpful in summoning what he was trying to get across.

Declan defended the lightheartedness of their talk with a fanning hand, ?Alright, friend. But I think you could be doing something a lot more fun on such a beautiful day than writing poems no one will ever read,? smiling immediately at the conclusion of his talk, ready to counter his friend's rage-fueled attack that never came.

?Attention, everyone!? a band of suited men outside Otomo's outdoor fruit market called to attention of those seated and those shopping. Declan and Johnnie both looked at them.

"Huh?"
"Huh?"

?Attention, everyone!? a band of suited men said from within the store.

?Huh?? Lea asked, looking to them with the surprise as she placed the nightgown she had been inspecting back on its rack.

Nayon, the Queen of Adenna herself, had even been present in the store when the attention was called. She was procuring information on a variety of herbal teas near one of the counters, and decided that her shopping was more important than whatever the men had to say. She returned to her server with the decorative tea kit she held in her hands, ?Miss, I am interested in purchasing this.?

The mostly woman-filled store too gave their attention to the men in their suits wearing their sunglasses. When the head one rose his hand to speak, everyone had stopped what they were doing.

?We are with the Planetary Health Administration of Biodome, or PHAB. This area has been quarantined a zone for a new airborne virus spreading its way through Motegre, and now Tentegre. It is as of now closed until it can be properly cleansed and sterilized,? the man said as Kit came up to him with a horrified sadness worn upon his face.

?You're closing my store?!?

But all the response Kit would receive was a sticky slip that had very formal writing and an official impression stamped on it.

?What's this?? he asked.

?You're all contaminated. We're sending you to clinics we have across the domes for decontamination. Thank you for your cooperation as we attempt to get this epidemic under control,? the lead spokesman for the Planetary Health Administration of Biodome said while he and his men handed out the remainder of the tested positive notices.

Meanwhile outside...

?Contaminated?? Declan queried, accepting the paper from the man while Johnnie looked over his.

?Yes sir, and we thank you for your cooperation as we attempt to get this epidemic under control,? the most stone of faces, but it was a dutiful one. This person served his cause for justice and a plan for peace ? no matter how little of his humanity got sacrificed.

?Hmm,? Declan pondered curiously with his red eyes gazing upon the paper after the men had moved on to the others, apparently handing out contamination papers to everyone within an eyeshot.

Back inside...

?So we're just supposed to go with you?? a male shopper asked.

The man glared at him with a sparkle in one of his sunglasses lenses, ?You are to report to the designated decontamination clinic written on your form. Everyone has one. Understand people, this is one of largest and quickest viruses that this planet has likely ever faced. We've got our hands and our clinics full. Thankfully some neighborly establishments have volunteered their homes and businesses for temporary shelters until this infection can be eradicated. If you are confused about where to head, please consult your papers.?

?Motegre Fish Market?? the male shopper read his paper.

?Biodome Spa and Massage?? Kit Otomo read his paper.

?Biodome Spa and Massage?? Lea Cainn read her papers.

?Biodome Spa and Massage?? Declan DonEvans read his papers.

?This is too storybook, come on now,? Johnnie read his papers.

?Biodome Spa and Massage?? the thirteen year old boy, Cornelius, asked aloud.

?Biodome Spa and Massage...? Nayon read her papers.

?Biodome Spa and Massage, ho ho~? Jessica Wong read from her papers with a conniving look.

?Biodome Spa and Massage?? Cassandra Black read her papers.

?Biodome Spa and Massage?? Nordem Sparks read from his papers.

?Biodome Spa and Massage?? Dyarhk asked everyone around him for help after reading his papers.

?Yeah, me too,? Havelast Dagger Sasc replied to Dyarhk, walking over to him fanning his paper as if hailing his attention.

?A Spa?? Rijn Savorenius made a face at his form, ?and massage??

?Oh yay!? Lilith clapped her paper-held hands together in a grocery aisle.

Tetch sighed, crumpling her own paper into a ball.

?A day spa, hm?? Robin Mackay smirked at this situation of everyone gathered in a store of bewilderment.

Bus Ride

A very plain charter bus drove many of the exposed or ?victimized? persons found in Otomo's earlier in the day. Now it had been 3:41 pm of that same day, and everyone told to show up, had. There were a lot of passengers on this bus, and each with a different price they could be bought for. What could get them to remain in quarantine, away from their friends and families, until cleared? Well, again, everyone had their price; and the Planetary Health Administration of Biodome looked into those details.

A mix of persons rode on this bus. From the relaxed and controlled to the uneasy and completely annoyed to be apart of this. All shapes and sizes, and it was exactly what the heavyset woman behind the wide wheel was used to.

?You! With the eyepatch! Stop bothering the man in-front of you or I'll come back there and bother you!? the bus driver threatened Alfonso from the link made to him through her rear view mirror.

Alfonso's giggling and smiling was cut short with the party crasher's all 'pulling the reins on him,' so he sat back even less amused than he had been before he started slugging Dyarhk in the arm. ?Great,? he mumbled, looking out the window. That's right, they were in uncharted territory now ? all of them.

Outside the window was nothing but lush greens and more greens after those. When you'd had enough with all that foliage, well, there was even more. However long they'd been riding, which those with watches knew was over half an hour, it'd been at a speed consistent enough to run them deep into one of the lesser known domes that hadn't any cities or towns in it ? only small villages and harvest fields.

?We're all going to die, I know it,? Alfonso said, mushing his nose and cheek against the window glass but still very noticeably depressed. ?If they would have just let me stop by my armory I could have gotten my grenade launcher. I feel a lot safer with my grenade launcher,? he pouted.

?Hey! Don't you think we're all a little afraid of what's going on? Why don't you help us all out and keep your mouth shut,? Kit said from behind Alfonso's seat, getting the King of Biodome to turn around angrily.

?Why you little produce packer..!? Alfonso snarled, reaching for him to much evasion and struggle on Kit's part, and Dyarhk reaching back behind him to try and get Alfonso under control. Havelast Dagger Sasc quietly sighed a deep-taken breath in his seat beside his wife, Nayon, who noticed and sympathized, patting his arm two times.

A ruckus was beginning to form itself on the bus.

?Hey! HEY! Not on my bus!? the bus driver shouted, getting the three men (Kit, Alfonso, and Dyarhk) to freeze completely mid-combat and obey the whim of the bus driver. Alfonso had his hair pulled, Dyarhk his cheek, and Kit his shirt.

?Now sit down!!? she shouted, ?We're nearly there, anyway.?

Her command was hard to deny, so none of them did. But the interesting half of her words had been her reveal of the ETA. An always vague time to say ?soon,? or ?we're nearly there,? but it more often than not eliminated the probability of a long muscle-aching roadtrip. This was good news.

Internment Process

Luggage-free, the 16-man busload stood outside their parked transportation and took in the sights. Forestry, Resort Spa, driveway, main entrance. These things. The bus didn't remain parked for very long at all, slamming its sliding hydraulic gate and screeching tires all the way off the property.

?Huh. You'd think she didn't like us or something,? Alfonso mumbled with an inquisitive glare at the bus's backside as it diminished into the distance.

?Aw Wow! Look! Declan!?
?Aw Wow! Look! Techichi!?

Lea and Lilith both giddily exclaimed, but found themselves looking curiously at one another after such a strange and harmonious announcement, and less aware of each other were Declan and Techichi also making similarly identical questioning glares at their name-callers.

?Alright, everyone!? Dyarhk shot his fist into the sky energetically, ?Let's stick together as a group and journey to the registration desk!? Bouncing his gaze around to everyone at an excited pace, but almost no one seemed to hear him, branching off into their own directions.

?Gotta find that fruit...? Kit mumbled, walking ahead of everyone, dodging the main entrance and opting instead to walk around the property with his eyes in the treetops. That customer of his and her honest belief that his department store was lacking in the people's every need. If some other shop had something his didn't, then that would be one cold day in hell as far as Kit was concerned. ?Not today!? self-motivating, but confusing to everyone else who heard him.

?Havelast?? Nayon asked.

?Hm?? He turned his head to her.

?Do you believe this establishment would be equipped with a wide selection of flavorful teas?? Nayon stared at him, expecting her all-knowing database of all things the outside world to produce every answer.

?I would say. Spas try to make a wide variety of therapeutic things available to their tenants, as well as provide healthy beverages, and the herbal teas you like falls under both, so your chances are pretty high,? Havelast predicted.

?I would like a cup of tea then,? Nayon said very plainly, but in truth she was quite excited. It was just the misfortune that she had no way of showing things like excitement ? at least not to the common eye. Havelast knew where to look for emotional tells, and as one might guess, the tells lied in the eyes. They headed inside.

Jessica Wong had a busy schedule to keep, even when she was vacationing, and all these people in-front of her were people in her way, and told her aggravation even behind dark sunglasses as she fought through the crowd. ?If you are all going to stand around like a bunch of fools, I am going to go in and register,? pulling the attention of curious faces to her.

?Yeah. A woman would have the best idea,? Tetch said in a disappointed tone, disappointed in the hope for all men ? which died long ago for her. ?Come on, Lils,? giving her hand a perch around her waist and heading inside with the Wong scientist.

?Of course, my Ichi. As soon as we get to our room, let's roll out the futon,? Lilith proposed to the Siovanui, who seemed to be weighing the options on through the open doorway.

Some people were naturally making the best of this situation. Colorful as it was, it was still a quarantine zone, and they were designated as contagions of an allegedly dangerous and unknown virus. But people like Lilith and Tetch were unbothered by this, and like Kit, some just had other more important things on their mind. Johnnie was like that.

His haiku was what was still bothering him. Out of order, all he had was the last phrase: Benumbing Brook. Unsure of where it was going, he at least knew he wanted to make a nature poem, and hopefully by the end it would resemble an emotional feeling or process. Such was the disquiet life of a poet.

Thuunk

A bamboo deer-scaring fountain had filled its dipping pipe, and spilled over and 'thunked' to a bamboo stopper piece and made such a delightful sound ? at least to Lea's ears, bent over in amazement before it. She was fascinated by its design and atmospheric delicacy. She wanted one! But Johnnie had caught her attention, looking sad like he was. They were old friends, so she went over to him. ?Johnnie? What's wrong?? she asked, concerned.

Johnnie was a man, and he devoutly believed in burdening his own problems. Passing them on to other people would be a weak thing to do, and he felt he stood for a strength and was of one that did not waver because of a little 'blues.'

?It's nothing, Ellea. Just a little under the weather. Maybe after I walk around a little. I will meet back up with you after while, okay?? Johnnie reached to her shoulder and stopped her from any follow-up interrogation. He then headed off to the left side of the spa, opposite Kit's direction, and tried to enjoy a walk of discovery around the property.

?Hey! Hey!? Dyarhk reached for Kit. He reached for Johnnie. And the women that had advanced inside had done so ahead of him ? the chaperone! It was a sigh-deserving and spirit-killing moment, and he sunk his shoulders at the lack of energy that should have been enormous by all rights for a field trip like this. ?Fine, go wherever you want,? he grumbled, crossing his arms.

Cornelius looked up and around at the resort with a softly somber expression. It was a nice place, but what did that matter? Who would he tell that to? He took a deep breath before Nordem called his attention.

?Hey Cornelius. You don't have anybody to stay with ? wanna bunk with me?? he thumbsed to himself.

Surprised, Cornelius took a moment to think that over, and he hadn't even realized the idea had made him a bit happier. ?S-Sure!?

Nordem smiled back at him, and then the two moved to go inside with the already advancing Robin Mackay who was eager to get into her room.

Declan was admiring the scenery when his arm was grabbed; Johnnie gone and the bamboo water arrangement no longer interesting her, Lea clung to her traveling companion. ?Oh?? he barely audibly queried as she began to lead him inside. In passing, Declan put a hand on Dyarhk's shoulder to cheer him up, and it did, encouraging him to go in after him.

That left Rijn Savorenius, Alfonso, and Cassandra Black, whom Alfonso nagged by leaning over at her. ?You know these places are getting more and more expensive. It would be cheaper if we shared a room?? happily proposing with a glowing expression.

Cass pushed her sunglasses up and sharpened her angry eyebrows behind them, heading on ahead. ?You don't want to room with me. You'd hate to wake up in the middle of the night with incense sticks stabbed in your throat,? spoken while heading inside of the main entrance.

That left the two men.

?How bout that,? Alfonso declared conventionally, looking to the mage then.

A long pause from Rijn, as if he had been in a trance this entire time. ?Those... are... the hottest women I have ever seen... in my life.?

?Hmm,? Alfonso replied, surprised. But there that was.