Earlier that day Jarans remained packed into the hospital. Cleared out for the day due to public unrest and fears over diseased Jarans contaminating the Luxens unwilling medical professionals were tasked with assessing the physical conditions of every Jaran.
Waiting in the hospital hallway wearing ill fitting clothes Kosi sat on a chair looking for a familiar face. Eagerly darting his eyes back and forth he noticed cleaners scowling as they passed by him. Moments later his hospital room door opened and out walked Jude in a large shirt and grey sweatpants.
"Hey K what's up" he said as he sat next to Kosi. "Oh shit you were in there too?" Kosi asked. "Yeah, El and I ducked into a bathroom when we got here so we were a little behind" Jude said in a nonchalant tone. "Dude I didn't need to know that" Kosi said with a disgruntled tone.
"Alright my bad my bad, hey actually I needed to ask you something. What's up with Brodie?" Jude asked. "Oh...OH SHIT BRODIE! Where is he?! Fuck I haven't talked to him since...damn I haven't talked to him today. I always talk to him, shit today's just been insane. Wait we talk to him in the morning at work, but I guess he got there late today we were already suited and strapped up" Kosi said staring into the distance.
"Yeah actually now that you mention it I haven't seem him since those soldiers came down to get us. Him and his parents were talking to that short lady and I think that's the last I saw of him" Jude said looking around for Brodie.
"I don't think he's here bro, he's like six foot three we'd have seen him in the crowd. I was at the back and I don't think I remember seeing hi- wait a second. Did you say he was talking to the short lady, as in the general? As in someone who works for the people who put us down there" Kosi said looking at Jude intently.
"Yeah it was weird but I just figured they were talking" Jude replied with a shrug. "Well yeah you said they were talking but about what. What would a general have to say to any of us" Kosi said emphatically.
"I don't know" Jude said with a quizzical look on his face. "None of those soldiers talked to me. I'm guessing they didn't talk to you. Now we're talking about a general so that's like a double soldier. So what would a general want with Brodie and why is he not here. Where'd they take him?" Kosi asked as he got progressively more and more concerned.
"What are you thinking K?" Jude asked before looking up as an adjacent door opened. A visibly annoyed Clinton stepped out in well worn clothes. Looking down at Jude as soon as he locked eyes with Kosi he quickly looked away and walked away.
"That was weird, how do they have everyone from the cave up in one hospital though aren't there too many of us" Jude said as he looked down the hallway. A scowling janitor passed by with his bucket and sneered when he saw Jude and Kosi.
"Something tells me it's just us and the people who work here" Kosi said. "What's that guys problem" Jude said as he rose to his feet.
"Um Jay I don't think you should do anything, I think they don't like us I've been seeing everyone up here giving us looks" Kosi said as he grabbed Judes shoulder. "Really?" Jude asked as he sat back down, eyes still locked on the now mopping janitor.
"I mean yeah weren't you getting looks on the street cause I know I was" Kosi said snapping his fingers in Judes face trying to get his attention away from the janitor. Looking back at them the scowling janitor cupped his hands around his mouth. "Your little friends talking to you stop looking at me you dirt dweller!" his gruff voice echoed down the hall.
"You fucking what man?!" Jude said bolting to his feet. "Oh what you gonna do huh? What a surprise the cave people have hot tempers don't fucking come near me you dirty shits are gonna put me out of a job!" he shouted as hospital staff began peaking their heads out the doors and through the corridor.
"Jay bro you can't fight him here people are watching" Kosi said as he jumped in front of Jude. "No let them watch, they can see what happens when you're a hating shit in public!" Jude shouted as he pointed his finger at the the janitor who began goading him on.
"Listen to your friend you little worm, know your place and sit down or get out!" the janitor shouted. "Yeah!" a booming voice from down the hall echoed.
"Fuck this I'm outta here. K you coming with?" Jude asked as he scrunched his mouth closed and clenched his fists. "Wait you're going? What about El?" Kosi asked. Eyes burning with anger Jude closed them and took a deep breath. "I can't stay here and not go over there and kick that old jackoffs teeth down his throat. If I gotta look at him again I'm gonna lose it. El's gonna be fine she's got her parents here but I guess you can't leave Rue with everything that's happened" Jude said slowly cooling off.
"Yeah, sorry I can't storm out with you man. Love you bro" Kosi said as he pulled Jude into a hug. "Fuck, I needed that" Jude said as he let out a shallow sigh.
Left in the waiting room Kosi looked around and saw the now thinned collection of faces staring at the altercation had slowly whittled down. Eyes still focused on him he begrudgingly sat down. "Crap at least this one knows his place" a distant voice sounded down the hall.