[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1510  Aisha'e Clinic Seattle


Aisha looks at you closely and purses her lips.  "Whatever you do, do it for the right reason.  From how you describe her, she will probably not want your pity.  OK, now, are you going to stay here or go away while I work on her?  She might like some friendly company when she wakes up, but I know that you might have things to do."

[Zen Gypsy]

He nodded, "Debt and obligation, eh?  Neither's pretty, not in the end.  Part of me wants to be here when she wakes up, the other part though, doesn't want to think about the heat that'll bring down on you and yours."

He leaned forward in the chair, held his head in his hands and thought.  "Ok, question.  You do biosculpt in this place, Aisha?  Without getting into the time and effort to perform another procedure, think we could get B., done up to look like Rowe there?  She's ditching the car as is, we wander out of here, B., wrapped in my coat, looking like Rowe there.  We leave your clinic the way we came, then make sure we get our faces on the grid, hopefully they'll be distracted enough trying to take us down, that they overlook your clinic."

[Mercy Merchant]

Aisha shakes her head and gives a tsk, tsk.  "I am surprised, Bryant.  That is not much like what I remember of you.  This B, is that the other woman?  The one driving you?  You would directly risk her life in this manner?  But if she wants, yes, I can do the biosculpt, but it is not just a wave of my hand sort of thing and would require some time here, especially if she is to look like this woman.  Make sure that you ask her because I will not do this thing unless she is very willing and tells me so.  In the meantime, just relax.  If you were careful, you will bring no "heat" down on me.  Now go into that bathroom there so I can get a technician in to help prepare this woman for some serious surgery.  I will let you know when it is safe to come out.  We will see just what sort of fighter you have brought me, eh?"

[Zen Gypsy]

He shrugged at Aisha's comment, "Things change, but B.'s tough, she wants to help, I gave her the opportunity to walk away, twice now.  If I can end this, put the people who did that," he pointed towards Rowena, "in the ground, then I will."

He walked into the bathroom, leaving Rowena the privacy she needed as Aisha and her surgical team prepped her.  He began to monitor the feeds, sifting through the days events, of specific concern for him was the assault on Raleigh's office, reported casualties, and the K.E.'s person of interest.

>>B., you ditch the car yet?  I need to talk to you, face to face, I have a big ask.<<

[Mercy Merchant]

>>Taking the long route back, Boss.  Ought to be there in three or four minutes.<<

The noises in the room last a few minutes then die off as you hear someone roll Rowena out of the room.  The news feeds are full of the events of the day.  The news from Raleigh's office is not good, as they identify the body of a company associate investigator and the woman who came in on occasion to water the plants.  The other two bodies remain unidentified.  The names of several people from the other attacks are announced, but none of the gunmen left dead are identified.  Your picture is flashed on the feeds several times, along with your name and a number for people to call if they happen to see you.

[Mercy Merchant]

Your reverie is interrupted.  >>Might have a problem, Boss.  I might have been made.  I was passing a guy and noticed him staring at me as if trying to place a face.  Then I saw him again when he turned around and started following me.  I am currently leading him away from the clinic and will do my best to keep you safe.  I will keep you updated.<<

[Zen Gypsy]

As soon as he got the B.'s message across his 'link, he pulled up a street grid of the area around Aisha's clinic.  He scanned it carefully, placing the Praetor back in his duffel, as he walked through the room where they had prepped Rowena, he picked up his lined coat and shrugged it back on.

He zoomed in, surveyed the area she was walking though.

>>B., circle back across 3rd Ave, cut down 110 SW St, there's a blind alley to your right.  I'll meet you there.<<

Aisha was in surgery, she could be some time.  But B. could be in danger now, and he felt useless just waiting.

Parkour Specialization, coupled with my Hydralic Jacks, means I should be able to move fairly quickly towards her location; though I will make a Sneak check to avoid detection while doing so, specifically using alleys, backlots, and other inconspicuous areas to make progress towards her location.  Sneak Check to rendezvous with B., outside Clinic: 9d6t5 2

[Mercy Merchant]

>>Yeah.  I am already past that one and did not think about it until too late, Boss.  Still, there is another opportunity about four blocks farther along.  I can lead him there.  Be careful that you are not seen.  Anyone out here will be your enemy for the reward KE is offering.  I can handle this if you let me.<<

[Zen Gypsy]

He sighed, he weighed Aisha's words that he was using, even risking people, against Barbara's determination, and assurances that she could do what was required.  He paced back and forth in the short hallway that they had entered at the rear of the clinic.

>>You're right Barbara, you've got this, I'm at the clinic.  Be careful, if it's a random civilian whose made you, he might just be curious.  If it's part of a team, he'll be herding you towards them, be cautious, if he drops off, eyes open for another tail.  Feed me your position, so I can plot an intercept if you need backup.<<

He thought back to Rowena, debt and obligation.  He leaned his head against the cool hallway wall, closing his eyes he watched B.'s position on the downtown map grid, trying to visualize the opposition.

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1530  Aisha'e Clinic Seattle


You can keep tabs on Barbara as she feeds you updates on her position and track her turning into an alley and stopping just behind what your grid map says is a warehouse.  A few minutes later you get a message.  >>Well I feel a bit dumb, Boss.  Turns out the guy had noticed my....um, chest as he walked towards me and my ass after I passed him.  He was just following me to get a good look of my behind from behind.  I scared the piss out of him.  On my way to the clinic.<<

You are very much into what is going on with Barbara, but no so much that your senses are turned off.  You hear soft footsteps behind you just as Aisha speaks.  "Hey, Bryant.  You must really care about this girl.  I am sorry for being a bit brusque earlier.  So, there is good news and bad news.  The good news is that I got the second bullet out and have patched her various wounds up.  With the miracles of modern medicine, she will not be bothered by those any more.  The bad news is that I can do nothing about the bullet near her spine.  That I have to leave for either an expert or time.  And time is not on her side in this case.  Currently, she is paralyzed from the waist down and will be unable to walk or really take care of herself.  I think she is a fighter, which will help a lot, but she will need help.  A lot of it."

An orderly passes by you, pushing Rowena's bed back into her room.  The unconscious girl looks amazingly pretty and you remember the looks she was getting at the food stand.  After they pass, Aisha turns back to you.  "You should leave if you are not going to take care of her, Bryant.  No, I am serious.  She will do much better with a friendly face, but that will only turn worse if you give her any sense of false hope.  I cannot keep her here longer than a day or two as she recovers from the surgery, and she will need someplace to go.  If you just leave, the impact will be less than if you stay and then leave her, and she does not need that sort of emotional issue right now.  If you really care about her, you will stay here and let her see your face when she wakes up in about a half hour then tell her that you will take care of her.  But tell her the truth; if you lie to her I will cut your balls off and stuff them down your throat.  Your call."

[Zen Gypsy]

He looked towards Aisha, held her gaze.  "You can choose to believe me or not, it doesn't affect me one way or another.  She's in that bed because she made a choice," he paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, "she chose to risk her life for mine.  No other way to say it, now, it wasn't the smartest move, and it cost her."  He shrugged.  "Hell, maybe I'm not worth saving.  Don't matter though, I'm not turning my back on that.  There's circumstances though ..."

He paused, looked up and down the hallway, pulled Aisha to the side and whispered conspiratorially, "I was at Washington Rec to meet a courier.  Minutes before the meet the office said courier works out of explodes, said courier gets geeked by the gunmen.  Not before he can pass data to Rowe, verbally.  Less than ten minutes later, the office I work out of gets hit by armed men.  Rowe gets herself transferred to Mercy, a ten man extraction team shows up and gets into it with Errant trying to snag her."

He paused, squeezed her arm to emphasize his words, "Whatever he told her puts her in the line of fire, puts whoever is helping her in the line of fire.  You say the word and we're gone, if you are going to play den mother, if you think you can keep her here, keep her safe, I have a plan that could do it.  Barbara would need to agree to the biosculpt, but I need to know what Rowena heard, then I need a few days to work the case, and put these bastards in the ground.  I come back Rowena's in the clear, and I can help her deal with the shit hand she got dealt."

[Mercy Merchant]

Aisha looks at you for a bit then nods.  "OK, Bryant.  Let's say that I believe you about how important this girl is to someone.  I am just not sure that I can do what you are asking.  First, I think I can only keep her safe here for a couple of days, tops.  Someone will say something to someone else and then someone else and then pretty soon the wrong people hear about it.  As for biosculpting your friend, besides the moral implications that spring to mind, there are other issues.  My skill might be good enough if I were in a good hospital with modern monitors and equipment, but look around you.  You might not be able to tell the difference, but this is not a real hospital, it is a street clinic.  My instruments and equipment are patched up obsolete models.  I could change her face, sure, but to make her look like this girl, I would need more time than I think you have here."  Aisha shakes her head.  "No, Bryant, I do not think I can help you that much."

"But I can help you a bit more.  I can let you have my car and I can give you the address of someone who might be willing to help you if I asked.  He owes me big for something I did for his son a couple of years back.  He lives in the Barrens and runs a small gang there.  He might be able to put you and your friends up for a bit and maybe even help you strike back at whoever did this.  Rough guy, but loyal.  Interested?"

[Zen Gypsy]

Bryant nodded as he listened to her analysis, "Truthfully doc, the decoy was a long shot, this whole thing has been snafu'd from the get go, and I figured a decoy was the best bet of drawing out the shadow players, and getting answers." 

He listened as she spoke of a friend in the Barrens, it wasn't ideal, it meant exposing Aisha to further involvement, meant more people could end up getting hurt.  It wasn't ideal, but there were advantages.

He nodded in agreement, "As long as he has got the data on what offering assistance to us could do to him, and his crew.  If these guys come for us there's going to be collateral no matter how we're holed up.  Being in the Barrens limits unintended consequences, but anyone close to Rowe, B., and myself is putting themselves into a crossfire, unless we can get this whole thing nailed down quickly."

He looked at her face, her dark eyes solemnly, he remembered reading that in one op with Tetreault, she had risked exposure to return fire to pull him from cover when he had an 11mm round lodged millimeters from his femoral.  Seeing her face now, he could believe it. "Thanks Aisha, I'll find a way to cover your cost on this, and I'll do my damnedest to keep you, and the clinic, out of the crossfire."

>>B., what's your ETA, we've got a plan, our patients off of the table, but we'll need to leave.  ASAP.<<

"Once she wakes up, get her ready for transport.  Point us towards your car, gimme five minutes, then report it stolen.  Saavy?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1535  Aisha'e Clinic Seattle


Aisha shakes her head.  "She really should not be moved so soon, but I understand the urgency.  I will contact Vlad and see if he can take you in.  Why don't you go into her room and wait for her to wake up.  It will do her some good to see a familiar and friendly face."  She turns and leaves, walking away down the hall.  B calls and tells you that she is about five minutes away.  Inside the room, you see Rowena laying on the bed with the sheet pulled up to her chest.  Her face is calm in sleep, as if completely unaware of the storm that has exploded around her. 

[Zen Gypsy]

Bryant reached out, took Rowena's hand in his, various tactile sensors in his poly-carbon and myomer hand simulated the sensation of touch.  It felt as though he was holding a bird, it was vibrant, alive, but so delicate and fragile.  He leaned forward, closed his eyes, accessed the wireless feed on Rowe's bio-monitor, watched the information scroll across his field of vision.  He breathing was regular, as was her heart beat, th-thump, th-thump, rhythmic, steady.

For whatever reason, he took some small measure of joy in that, despite the chaos that had surged around her, she had survived. 

"When I hit the Rec this morning, you were so ...," he paused, whispering so as not to disturb her, he knew he was talking, didn't know why, didn't stop either, "... alive, so vibrant.  The way you treated folks, treated me, the smile.  The energy."  His lips turned up at the memory, "I thought it was fake, at first.  Thought you were fake, a plant, there to distract me."  He sighed, "Sometimes I feel like I'm just a memory, an echo, of someone else, someone who's already passed on. And there you were ..."

He wasn't sure who he was talking for, her, him, or the him he had used to be ... before.

"When the gunmen hit, you tried to save me," he opened his eyes now, looked at his hand, his thumb was moving of it's own accord, gently travelling back and forth across the back of her hand, "took a bullet for me."  He paused, "I told Aisha that that's a debt a man can never repay, but it's more than that."  A deep breath, "I was scared.  In the middle of the fire fight, I got scared.  Not for me ... not for my associates ... my friends.  I got scared for you.  A stranger."

He looked down at his own arm, cold, matte black, poly carbon, and housed within a carbon steel laser edged blade.  "I killed one of the gunmen today, put him down, and didn't feel anything.  I watched the light fade from his eyes.  It meant nothing.  But you ...," he turned his head, looked towards her beautiful face, peaceful, calm, radiant, "seeing your blood on the boardwalk.  On my hands."

"I need you to pull through this Rowe."

"Please ..."