The Moseley Building

[Murray Jay Suskind]

Part of the same complex as Catherine General Hospital, the Moseley Building was the Necrotech of choice for recovery in Central Malton. While it has not achieved the notoriety of the Blackmore Building to the north, it has played a vital function in providing revives to Central Maltonians in the ongoing struggle for Ridleybank and each time the Malls of Central Malton are overrun.

Like Catherine General it has a "No Guns" policy, its security provided by Malton Police Department officers from down the street. While the policy is not without controversy, the complex is tucked away in a strange corner of Malton, close to all of the action, but too far away to become an obvious target for the zombie infestation -- Ridleybank and the Malls are too close.

It is in this lab that Dr. Donald Droughns is working on one of the brain-rotted zombies given to him from next door. Tightly strapped to the bed, Dr. Droughns leans over and is closely examining the zombie.

"Truly remarkable," he said into the Digital Voice Recorder, "The subject shows a nearly astonishing amount of preservation. The deep stem tissue of her brain is damaged beyond the means of all but the most drastic of repair measures, but the rest of her organs, with the notable exception of her skin are intact. The heart is intact, but not beating. The blood is in the veins, but not flowing. The stomach is full of acid, but not churning."

As the zombie stirred Dr. Droughns let out a brief cry of enthusiasm. "She is now responsive. I am going to see if I can communicate with her. See if she displays the cognitive functions that so many of the zombies in Malton have displayed."

The zombie turned around and quietly moaned at Dr. Droughns. "Hello," he replied, "and how are you today?"

The zombie stared up at Droughns with a possessed look in her eyes, straining against the straps and letting out a series of deep, gutteral groans, trying to attract more zombies.

"I'm afraid that won't help you, dear. My research space has kindly been soundproofed by the local engineers. Your compatriots can't hear you. They are your compatriots, right?"

A look of genuine sorrow seemed to appear on the zombie's face as she let out what Dr. Droughns was sure was a deep, yearning moan.

"Remarkable," he said into the recorder, "she is showing genuine emotional attachment to her horde. She seems to miss her comrades."

He reached down to adjust the probe fitted into her brain to register whatever activities were driving the zombie's functions. As he did so, the zombie desperately snapped her jaws at the nearby hand.

"Now that won't do. I can't help you unless you agree to help me."

[Lachryma]

Lachryma casually opens the double doors leading into the lobby.

"Hello? Anyone here?"

She takes a guilty look at her rifle, then waves Ivan and Priz inside.

"I think there is no guns policy, but guards seem to have wandered off due to big fire. Put Tova on reception desk, I go see if anyone can help here."

She strolls out of the room, heading deeper into the darkened building.

[Tovarisch Khrushchev]

Ivan and Priz heft the gurney up on to the desk, and set Tovarisch down gently.
"I hope this place hasn't been abandoned during our little adventure." Ivan said, pulling a bottle of Vodka out of his brother's pack, which he had carried all the way from the bar. "Because if it is, the only medics will be me and Lachryma, and I'm about to be way to drunk to operate."

Ivan took a swig from the bottle of vodka, and cringed as it burned his throat. "I never did see what my brother liked in this stuff. Want a drink?"

[Lachryma]

Lachryma comes back a few moments later.

"Hmm...I run into locked door. It is very expensive, crowbar no touch. Is strange."

She sits on the desk next to Tova.

"So, I guess we wait. Let me have drink."

She holds out a "Visit Malton!" shot glass.

[Tovarisch Khrushchev]

Ivan pours her a drink, and then slaps his hand against his head.
"How stupid of me!" Ivan said, reaching his hand into his coat pocket. "They keep these places locked tighter than a virgins whatzit! Only Necrotech employees have the keys to open the locked doors."

A sly grin came across Ivan's face, and he took another swig of Vodka. "Luckily for us...I was recently hired."

Ivan pulled out a small plastic card key, and hopped off the desk. "Priz, Czarina, you two grab my brother. I've got the key to all the doors. Well...most of them at least."

[Lachryma]

Lachryma swishes her drink around.

"They still hire? After all this? Is disturbing."

She shrugs, sets her drink down, grabs Tova's feet, and then gestures for Priz to get a move on.

"Lead and we follow, NT employee."

[Tovarisch Khrushchev]

Ivan led the way, swiping the key card through the first of many locked doors. The doors opened with a series of mechanical whirrs and hisses, revealing white rooms with plain decor, and various laboratories and operating areas.

In time, they entered a small room, with a single mechanical bed in the center, not unlike a dentists chair. Above it were a number of strange machines, all adorned with the NecroTech logo.
"Set him down on the table in the center, and guard the door. This place is usually buzzing with NecroTech employees...something must have happened to draw them all out, and I doubt it was the fire." Ivan said, placing his brother's pack on a nearby desk. In front of him lay a plethora of medical chemicals and devices, most experimental. It was going to be a good day.

[Lachryma]

Lachryma helps set Tova down, then she picks up a test tube at random.

She languidly grabs her chain and yanks her pet zombie closer.

"Would you like to try this, Kalash?"

[Murray Jay Suskind]

Dr. Droughns looked over his subject, muttering into his digital recorder. "The subject has the standard response to positive reinforcement. However, I am still having a difficult time finding an appropriate mechanism for negative reinforcement. They seem to possess legitimate memories of life, but normal methods of scolding them or showing them that their actions are wrong seem not to work." At that time he heard a ruckus outside. He attempted to ignore it, but the noise continued.

He popped his head and the door and shouted, "Do you mind!?! I'm doing important work in here!"

[Lachryma]

Lachryma drops the test tube in surprise.

"What is this?! You said all were gone, Ivan!"

She steps over the puddle of unknown liquid.

"Well, Mr. Important Scientist, I have reviving person for you to take look at. Is very interesting, no? So come and help Tova man!"

[Specialist290]

Meanwhile, a ways down the street, a lone figure in a (somehow) pristine white suti coat and a straw hat is peering through his binoculars at the Mosely Building. There is a smirk on his face which seems to never go away.

Hmm... There's some people movin' 'round in there... Been a while since I've seen a new face 'round here... he thinks to himself. Might rustle up the boys and get together a welcomin' party later tonight. Wouldn't that be fun.

His smirk broadens to a grin for a brief moment. He then pulls out a mobile phone--I still dunno how you work this convoluted thing, he thinks as he fumbles w/ the buttons--then heads down the street to Mosely.

[Murray Jay Suskind]

"Ah, excellent! A new subject. Please, strap him down and wheel him in. It's been a while since I've dealt with a fresh one," he exlpained as he put on a fresh pair of latex gloves. "I'm afraid I have little left to barter with. All I have are a bunch of kiwis that someone gave me a few days ago." He motioned a bag of kiwis sitting on the desk in the lab.

"May I ask how you found out about my research? I'm not sure if I've ever seen you kind folks before."

[Lachryma]

Lachryma glances back and forth between the scientist and the kiwis. She is therefore a little distracted.

"Well, doctor, I hope you can help friend, he-How we hear of research? I see it...at hospital. Yes, hospital. Is lovely hospital. But there is fire. Is sad."

She finally gives up and stares at the kiwis.

"What would you like to trade for kiwi fruits?"

[Specialist290]

The man in the white suit suddenly pops in through the door. "Welcome to the Moseley Building, everybody!" he says to the newcomers with a distinct Southern drawl and a big grin. "Now you'll have to excuse me, folks, but I gotta borrow the Doc for a sec. Hope I ain't interruptin' anythin' too important, Doc."

[Lachryma]

Lachryma gestures for Ivan and Priz to set Tova in Dr. Donald Droughns' room.

She then turns to the newcomer.

"Is very important, strange man. He is about to save life of man who knows of location of caves of scotch. So wait a moment, no?"