[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1115  Somewhere on the 909  Near Seattle


Barbara brings the car to a stop on the shoulder and turns to look at you.  Her voice does indeed sound a bit put out.  "Uh uh.  Not good enough, Boss.  Look, this is the first real job I got without having to show off my boobs or my sexual skills on a prospective employer's office couch or desk.  Raleigh gave me a chance and I am sticking this out.  Bob knows what I do, sort of.  I don't imagine either of us saw this coming, but he will have to accept me in this role or take a hike.  And you still need me.  Who else is going to do your legwork for you?  I have skills you can use.  Now, do we go on to that motel or turn around and go to the hospital?  Either way, I am not abandoning you, so you can get that thought out of your head."

[Zen Gypsy]

He would have smiled, but the day had sapped his good humor, still, he could respect both the sentiment and the woman.  "Something those prospective employers seemed to have missed were your couilles as they're called in the QR."  This time he did muster a fleeting smirk, "Your balls.  You still got that L36 Raleigh gave you?"

He paused, wanted to pull another slim out of it's pack, it'd been that kind of day.  He sighed, pushed the fatigue down, put a lid on it and stared straight ahead.  "Mercy General, if they make a move on Rowena we lose any chance we have, and even with, it's not something I'd put credits on," he paused brought up the route to Mercy from the 909, he kept monitoring the news feeds in the lower right, "When we get there, you talk to K.E., make official inquires about Raleigh and the office.  I'll talk to a friend I made on the boardwalk, see if he can get me in to see our waitress."

With that he thumbed his 'link, fired a quick text message to Mayland.

>>Thanks for the heads up doc, brave man.  I need to talk to Rowe, these bastards hit my office, may have flatlined my friend.  I don't have time to talk to KE, not if I want to stop these bastards.  I need to talk to our waitress, you need to get me into Mercy.  I'll turn myself into KE when this is over, not before.  You saavy?<<

[Mercy Merchant]

Barbara nods.  "Never leave hoe without it, Boss.  And.............thanks."  She puts the car into gear, turning around on the highway and heading back into the Sprawl.  After a couple of minutes, you get a response to your text.  >>I will do what I can, but KE are all over the place.  Come to the east side of the main building and drive to the loading dock there.  I will be waiting for you there.  I will do what I can to work some interference for you, but you have to be careful.<<

Following the doc's directions, you drive along to the loading dock at the side of the main hospital building and see Mayland standing in the smoking area taking a break, a cigarette dangling from his fingers and some sort of coat over his free arm.  Other than the doctor, the dock appears to be empty.  Barbara lets you out, saying, "Off to talk to some of the guys in the front of the building.  Good luck, Boss." 

She drives off after you leave the car and you see Mayland toss the cigarette into a butt bin and wave at you.  He hands you the white coat and talks as you put it on.  "God, I cannot stand those things.  Don't know how anyone can.  Here put this on and I will take you into the building and over to her room.  There is a KE officer outside the door, but I think I can get you in to see her for a few minutes.  I took a look at her charts while I was waiting for you and it does not look too good.  Two of the bullets she took just caused some minor injuries, but the other one is a doozie.  It is resting pretty close to her spine and is primed to do some real damage to her nervous system, possibly of the paralyzing kind.  Don't get your hopes up.  She is lightly sedated, with some pain killers, so she might not be too lucid.  So why is she so important?  Can she identify the attackers or something?"

[Zen Gypsy]

As he shrugged into the white coat, he considered Mayland's words, 'Why is she so important?', he turned to look at the shorter man.  "Don't know honestly, maybe, doubtful.  Possibly overheard something."  He paused a long time, he looked deep inside himself, to the man he was before the incident with T³, a man he'd only read about from personnel files, and pieced together surveillance footage. 

"I think maybe I want to thank her, she didn't have to do what she did.  Bullets, they are a nasty bit of work.  Meant for guys like me, guys who pull the trigger.  Not for people like her, like the others at Washington Rec."  As he followed Mayland down the corridor towards what he assumed was Rowena's room, he paused, took a pair of blue neoprene gloves off of a nurses crash cart.  Pulled them on over his cyber, wouldn't conceal much, but it may let him blend in to the crowds of orderlies and doctors making their way through the halls.

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1300  Mercy General Hospital  Seattle


Mayland nods when you are ready and uses a pass card to reenter the building.  He leads you through several hallways, telling you that all of the victims of the shooting are on the E Wing of this level of the hospital.  He pulls up an AR display as he walks, flipping through several screens.  The hallways are abuzz with people talking about the shootings at Washington Rec and other places, but you are not bothered, apparently accepted as being with the doctor.  He turns down a hallway that has two KE officers at the entrance, nodding to one and calling him by name as the two of you pass them.  A uniformed officer stands in front three doors in the hallway and another is at the nurses station in a small open area in the middle.  Mayland takes you to one of the guarded doors and tells the officer that he is here to check on the patient and guides you into the room. 

Rowena is sitting up in the bed, watching the trideo news feeds.  She turns to face you and her face breaks into a smile as she recognizes you.  "Hey there.  Was not sure if I would ever see you again but thank you for coming.  No one is saying much about what happened, but Mrs. Judith Calder's only living daughter was not born stupid.  Are all of these bombings and shootings related like the pundits on the feeds are saying?"

The doctor has gone to the foot of her bed and is looking at the AR of her chart that is hanging there.  He looks at you and quietly shakes his head.  Rowena notices and shrugs.  "Yeah.  No need to sugar coat it for me.  That thing says my career as part time waitress and full time student is about to come to a close because I will never walk again.  Well, don't you believe it, because I don't.  Just something else to get past and get around."  She looks at you and you can see that more than a few tears have streaked her face recently.  "After all, some people get by with good prosthetics, right?  So, is this just a social call to check up on me?"

[Zen Gypsy]

He walked towards the young woman, he tried to keep his face impassive, focus on the task at hand, information, survival, retribution, yet somehow her strength in the face of adversity touched him.  He wavered.  "That bullet was meant for me, I involved you in this," he paused, collected his thoughts, "I need to find who is behind the shooters actions, and to do that I need your help.  Again."

He sat at the edge of the bed, tapped out a Szczepanski, offered Rowe one.  "The Couriers office, shaped charges, Jacobs is dead, he leaves behind a wife, two kids.  Seven at Washington Rec, multiple casualties, including yourself.  An attack on my offices, another fire fight, more innocents dead.  Lives shattered.  All connected, all for what Jacobs, the courier, was carrying."  He turned to look at her, seeing her injuries he felt the cold fire of the Novacoke race through his nerves, anger, guilt,  his face cracked, emotion was there, just beneath the surface.

"I need to know, did he say anything to you?  These are bad people Rowe, if you can remember anything, no matter how trivial it may seem, we might be able to piece it into a lead that will let me put them down."

[Mercy Merchant]

Rowena looks from you to the doctor then back to you, nodding, somehow getting past the insignificant to what is important.  "Yes, he said something to me as he lay dying in my arms.  I think he knew he was going and wanted to say it.  It was a long list of numbers, some sort of code sequence.  He held my hand as he said it then died.  He did say that I was to get the number to someone.  he said..............."

Whatever she was about to say is interrupted by several things all at once.

First:  You receive an almost hysterical call from Barbara.  >>Boss!  Fuck!  God damn fucking shit!  I was talking to a KE sergeant when two vans pulled up and disgorged about a dozen men in body armor and automatic weapons.  They opened fire without any warning, cutting down most of the KE guys at the door.  They never stood a chance, but the sergeant got of a few shots, hitting one and knocking him down as he pushed me behind some planters.  The gunmen shot him down and went into the hospital.  One stayed behind, standing over the wounded man then shot him dead.  Fucking shot his own man, Boss!  You have to get out of there, now!<<

Second:  Doctor Mayland receives a call on his 'link at the same time.  His stunned expression indicates that he is probably getting similar news as was passed on to you by Barbara.

Third:  The door to your room opens and the KE officer pokes his head in.  "Sorry, Doc.  Seems to be a problem.  Some gunmen are heading this way.  Please stay in the room."  The officer shuts the door and you hear a fusillade of gunfire, some of it obviously from the KE guys in the hall. 

Mayland looks worried and moves to the locked window, saying, "They are tearing through the officers and hospital security.  Grab the girl and I will open the window."  Suiting his words with actions, he slides his pass card near the window and opens it.

[Zen Gypsy]

He moved quickly and with purpose, the cold, synthetic fire of the Novacoke races along his neural pathways, while his adrenaline spiked pushing him towards action.  He quickly stripped off his lined coat, and wrapped it around Rowena's shoulders, securing the interior straps, and buckles to provide her with maximum coverage.  He still had the polymer and kevlar micro-weave underneath his clothing, he slipped the spare Ingram X mags into the hip pouches on his combat pants. 

As he turned to Mayland, "Doc, if those gunmen get through the door they won't hesitate to flatline you.  We've lost enough good people today, you're with me."  With the AR connection in his left hand he threw the floor plan of Mercy towards the Doctor, "Mark the path to Emergency and the Ambulance bay, we're going to need to get out of here in a hurry."  He stopped, looked towards Rowena, "I'm sorry Rowe, this is going to hurt.  Alot.  You've been strong all morning, stronger than I had any right to ask of you."  He slipped his arm under her legs, picked her up, tried to shut out the look of pain and fear on her face, "Wrap your arms around my neck, tuck your head into the jacket.  Stay with me Rowe, let's make Ms. Calder proud."
 

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1315  Mercy General Hospital  Seattle


Mayland nods as he pushes the window open far enough for a person to get out.  Rowena nods but still stifles a small cry as you pick her up but does as you say and wraps her arms around you.  The doctor steps through the opening and takes Rowena from you so you can climb out then hands her back.  As he moves down the side of the building he asks, "The ambulances are this way, but my car is closer.  I can give you the keys and you have my comm code.  There will be many people hurt and injured here today and I should stay to help.  You can contact me when you are away."

>>Boss?  Where the fuck are you?  Are you OK?<<

[Zen Gypsy]

Bryant hopped from the window ledge, the poly-myomer bundles housed in his cybernetic prosthesis was easily able to absorb the impact.  He quickly transferred the young woman back to his arms, carrying her on his right side, keeping his Ingram clear he scanned the exterior for any sign of the security teams sweeping the facility.

>>Just cleared the building, outside the Emergency Department, East side, acquiring a vehicle from Employee lot.  I'm en route to your position.<<

He followed Mayland's lead towards the employee parking, ensuring that he kept cover to his right so shooters would have a difficult time aiming for Rowe.  "Hang in there Rowe, I've got you."  He looked down at her face, pale and sweating, tried for a smile.  As he got to the car, he used the Doctor's key's and opened the rear door, "A hand Doc?"  As he and Mayland slid the injured woman across the back seat of his vehicle Bryant took a step back.

"I hate to hell that I have to do this doc, but get in the car," he took a ready position, "I know you want to help, but Mercy's got a full ER ward, doctors, nurses, paramedics.  I have a woman who already took a bullet to the spinal cord, and if she dies, we lose everything we have to catch the bastards who did this, and put them in the ground."

He paused, locking eyes with the doctor, "Please, in the car, you were the first on scene, she's your patient."

He stressed the word, and Maylands personal responsibility.and connection to the young woman.

[Mercy Merchant]

Mayland looks at you and nods, but does not get in the car.  I understand your intent and applaud you for it, but I am not the doctor you need."  He points to a small sign in front of his car.  It clearly indicates that the parking space is for Dr. Lyle Mayland, Chief of Obstetrics.  "I know a lot about delivering babies but squat-all about the problems she is facing or will face if I do something wrong.  Do you want that on both our consciences?"

[Zen Gypsy]

"Fine.  Do what you need to do," he paused, looked over Mayland's shoulder, he could still hear the sound of automatic gunfire from the hospital, "If that team gets through K.E., if they look at the Security feeds, they will know you aided me in getting Rowe out of here.  You'll just be another casualty."  He got into the rear of the vehicle, secured Rowena's legs and torso with the seat belts, "Stay with me," he threw her a waning smile, "we're getting Ms. Calder's daughter out of here.  Alive."

He closed the door, got into the drivers seat, "Get out of here Doc, get to your family, get out of Seattle for a week or so.  Keep your head down."  He started the engine and peeled towards Barbara's last known position.

>>Coming in hot B., sit rep.<<

[Mercy Merchant]

Rowena is fading in and out and appears to be in some pain when conscious.  She gives a slight smile and nods, but does not say anything as you buckle her in. 

>>OK here, Boss.  Lots of people fleeing the hospital and the two guys in the vehicles are just letting them go so I slipped past and am waiting for you on the street.  We leaving the Americar?<<

True enough, as you round the corner to pick her up, you note scores of people fleeing the hospital and see Barbara waiting for you.

[Zen Gypsy]

He pulled Mayland's sedan up beside where Barbara was concealed with the crowd, leaned over opened the passenger door, "B., Rowe," he indicated the young woman in the back seat, "Rowe, B.  Now lets get the hell out of here, before our gunmen notice their target's been relocated."

As he spoke, he scanned the crowd looking with an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, for the tell tale triangulation of a security team on the sedan.

Sorry for the short post, don't want to assume that she'll get into the car, or that nothing will happen as I pull up, so I kept it short and sweet.  Honest truth I am trying to figure out my next step with the critically injured Rowe.  So much heat on us right now, don't want to bring that down on anyone specific.  Heh!

[Mercy Merchant]

B jumps into the shotgun seat and nods over the headrest at Rowena, who has slipped into unconsciousness.  Turning back to you, she says, "This the one you went to see?  Looks pretty out of it.  And badly hurt, too."  She raises a finger.  "KE on the way, Boss.  I hope they get some of those bastards.  So, we going where now?  I would not put my money on the company safehouse being clear.  I can look for a convenient no-tell on the edge of town.  Maybe back to the cubicles you had mentioned.  And while we are at it, just stop and swap spots with me.  Your driving is lame and my fighting is, so we are doing the wrong thing if something happens."