Vessa Harden shrugs, "If you really want to go to the cops then that is fine, I will even go with you but as far as I know a woman slipped infront of a meat stall and got blood all over herself. And before you say anything, yeah they are probably lying but until I know that a crime was committed." she shrugs again then there is little reason for me to try and get people in trouble."
Maina raises a brow at Vessa, "We aren't investigators, Vessa. It's not our jobs to find if a crime was committed. It's the police's job."
Vessa Harden sighs as she removes her cap and runs a frustrated hand through her hair. "I have no desire to go getting anyone in trouble who I don't know should get in trouble. I don't know how the justice system hear works but the Sheriff looked rather hot under the collar and a bit too set in his method of thinking the one time I met him. The man didn't even offer his name or title." she shakes her head, "I don't trust him to do a proper job and I don't know that there is any reason to set him on her."
Maina narrows her eyes at Vessa, "There's reason enough for me."
Vessa Harden nods, "As I said, I will go with you to report it, I just will not have anything to add beyond what I said." she shrugs, "What do you want me to say Maina, I don't want to think the worst of those I have put my life on the line with." she grumbles.
Maina raises a brow, "You work with those two?"
Vessa Harden frowns and looks away, "Not the guy, I have never met him before. But the woman, yeah. She and I have worked together before."
Maina frowns a bit, "And she's the one that likely did something."
Vessa Harden pops her cap back on and shrugs, "I don't know. Unless I know something more solid then as far as I know, it is exactally as was stated. I will happily tell that to the police and they can think me a right cheery example of an idiot and that is fine. I don't seek to put trouble on those I don't know deserves it."
Maina shakes her head, "If they're innocent? They'll be fine. If not? They won't be."
Vessa Harden shrugs looking uncomfortable, "Things are not always that straight forward. Mistakes happen, or people get lazy doing the job, or maybe there are assumptions made and no matter the evidence, opinions cannot be swayed. I just don't want to make waves I am not sure I need to make. I would like to know if somone got hurt. If for no other reason then to get them medical help, namely you."
Maina shakes her head, "Well, we don't have the resources to find out, Vessa. So it's let them go scott free and risk them being criminals, or turn them in and they get a little inconvenienced if they're innocent."
Vessa Harden she shrugs again continueing to look uncomfortable, "Like I said, I will go with you to make the report but there isn't much I can say. I don't expect you to hold back or anything, I just don't feel as though I can make conjecture is all."
Maina tenses up, even glowing a bit. She kicks at the ground, turning her back to Vessa to start pacing. Her dress flashes red before returning to its normal black. "Sometimes I really can't stand you, Vessa, you know that?"
Vessa Harden looks utterly confused, "Sorry, I don't get it. What is it I do or am doing that is frustrating this time?"
Maina faces Vessa again, "Once again, you're trusting people who don't deserve it. You worked with her, right? That means she's a mercenary, too. That means she -kills people- for a -living-. Why the fuck would you trust someone like that?"
Vessa Harden looks utterly confused, "Sorry, I don't get it. What is it I do or am doing that is frustrating this time?"
Maina faces Vessa again, "Once again, you're trusting people who don't deserve it. You worked with her, right? That means she's a mercenary, too. That means she -kills people- for a -living-. Why the fuck would you trust someone like that?"
Vessa Harden seems to collapse upon herself a bit and looks away, "In a situation where you have only your team members to trust to keep you alive, you don't hold back or someone dies." she says quietly, "I went on too many runs and saw too many raws go down because they didn't trust their squad. Kids, fresh from boot who didn't know shit much less one end of a rifle from the other and tried to be Rambo and prove something, they ended up full of holes cause they didn't trust anyone to watch their back for them. Well I did, and I had that trust proven well placed and got me through more situations then I can name and I passed it on to every raw that made it into my squad. I protect my guys and I expect them to do the same for me."
Maina sighs, "Well this time, Vessa? This time, your trust might let innocent people get hurt. That's where I draw the line."
Vessa Harden takes a shuddering breath and seems to pull herself together, shutting away any emotional attachment to her prevous words. When next she speaks it is in her normal tones though quietly and she shrugs again, "That is why I said, I have no problem going to the cops. I am just not going to toss in anything I don't know for a fact."
Maina shrugs, "Then I won't make you go. You do what you want, Vessa."
Vessa Harden seems to reach her frustration point, "Gah woman, will ya listen. I said I would go, I said I would tell them What-I-Know, which is not really all that much. That is it, there is no difficulty there. I just will not guess or make assumptions on the hows and whys." she practically rips the hat off to forcefully rub her hand through her hair again as she herself begins to pace. "I know we hold different opinions on a lot of things but I don't see the issue here. I am more than willing to go with you, I am more than willing to speak with the cops, I am just not willing to give them ideas beyond what they themselves might conclude."
Maina narrows her gaze towards Vessa, "And I said you don't have to go."
Vessa Harden stops pacing and spins on her heel to face Maina, "No, I don't have to. But I will, cause you feel strongly about this and if there is someone hurt then they should be seen to." her own gaze is narrowed, her hands on her hip, dangling from one hand is the much abused hat. Her short hair stands on end from all the rubbing.
Maina sighs, "We'll both submit our reports separately, then, is that okay?"
Vessa Harden relaxes and nods, with a quick movement the hat goes back on her head, "Right, that works well enough for me. So where do we go? I haven't the foggiest on how to locate the local law enforcement."
Maina shrugs, "Ask around as usual, I guess."
Vessa Harden nods again and starts heading off to go ask around, this time she gets some odd looks along with the previous shaken head.
Maina follows along, looking a bit more mellow now.
Vessa Harden finally seems to find someone who seems to have a clue. After searching around a bit she pulls out her PDA and takes down directions before turing back to Maina, "Okay, so I got some directions and we can head to the office at the other end of the Market, seems they have one here to keep thieves from becoming a problem."
Maina nods a little, "Okay..."
Vessa Harden steps out of the station and leans against the wall to wait for Maina. She watches the people passing by as she waits. Maina steps out a few moments after, still looking miffed.
Vessa Harden stands straight again and steps next to Maina with a sidelong look and a sigh, "I am sorry that I frustrate you." she says quietly.
Maina sighs a little, "I'm sorry I get so upset at these things."
Vessa Harden she shakes her head and begins walking along the street, "You care, it means a lot to me that you care. About me, about innocent people, and that you care enough to help heal people. Maina, I value your friendship and the fact that you can get upset but stick around to listen my side says a lot." she goes quiet a moment, "I know I am not the easiest person to be friends with." she shrugs, "Most times that is fine, but there are a few that I value a great deal and I do try to be a little less of a pill for them."
Maina nods a little as she walks along. "Sometimes, it's not so easy to care, Vessa. Sometimes, it takes a lot of effort."
Vessa Harden looks a bit surprised, "What do you mean?"
Maina motions back a ways, "Like that man. I wanted so badly to just wreck his vehicle as he ran away. Make damn sure they stayed for the police. Or Aukido. I've almost attacked him a few times. I've lost the will to fight for the sea creature. Lost the will to fight for the parasites."
Vessa Harden seems to consider this for a long moment, when she does speak it is softly, "Violence born of anger will leave you with regret and guilt. You did the right thing but letting them go mostly because as a doctor I don't think you could justify to yourself harming others even for a good cause. As for Aukido," she sighs, "He is er blind at times. He doesn't see how his words and actions can affect others and so bumbles along like a puppy in a hall of vases and leaving a trail of destruction behind him." she thinks a long moment, "The sea creature, well he isn't a lost cause but it is a fight, and a long very difficult one at that. I didn't know you wanted to fight for the parasites though." the last part said in a somewhat questioning tone.
Maina nods, "At first. Before Aukido got himself shot for them. Before I heard the host body crying out for us to kill him and end the misery."
Vessa Harden nods in understanding, "I see what you mean." she seems to think on this for a while, "I have to admit that that they don't sound like my favorite creatures. Is there anything underway to take care of them as a problem?"
Maina nods, "Last I heard, they were to be gassed."
Vessa Harden sighs as she continues to walk slowly, "I don't know if I feel good or not about that." she looks sideways at Maina, "Despite what it may seem, I don't like needless death or killing. Not that I haven't done it, just not something I am thrilled with. But I understand the reasons behind why they want to gass the parasites. As for your loss of careing about them." she shakes her head, "I don't think you should worry about that. They fight for their survival as everything does and they must survive through the agony of others."
Maina nods a little, "It's not any one thing, Vessa... when I first arrived, I was a blank slate. Then I saw the death caused on Comorro, and I decided that nobody should have to suffer. Life should be allowed to live. Now? Now I don't feel that way anymore."
Vessa Harden nods slowly, "How do you feel now? What has changed for you that has shifted your perspective and in what way?"
Maina shrugs, "So much death and violence. It feels unstoppable."
Vessa Harden takes a long moment to reply, "Death is an absolute. People die, animals die, everything in time dies. That is not the important thing, it is how we live that is imporant. Violence is part of life, things fight for a home, for food, for a mate, or just for something shiney. That doesn't mean you need to be violent or to kill. If you want to prevent death, then protect those who cannot protect themselves, be the shield over them from the violence and teach those who only know violence another way. We all change over time as we learn and grow, it is just what we choose to grow into that defines who we are now."
Maina shrugs, "Why bother, though? Those that are worthy of surviving, survive."
Vessa Harden shakes her head with feeling, "That, is not really the case. Most creatures start out as weak and unable to survive on their own. They learn from example on how to survive, or better yet, thrive. I am not saying you need to prevent everyone from making stupid mistakes, that isn't possible, but don't write off all those who don't fight or kill as not being worthy of living. That will also lead to guilt and regret."
Maina sighs a little, "I just don't know whether I care anymore. Maybe that other Riftwalker had it right. I'm not a part of the living. Why should I care about them?"
Vessa Harden raises an eyebrow, "Sure as hell seem alive to me. Oh maybe not in the classical sense, you don't have blood or a heart or any of that, but you have a life of your own none the less."
Maina eyes Vessa, "Where you are from, Vessa, do your people talk of spirits? Gods? Daemons? Ghosts? I'm more in line with those than anything alive."