Disclaimer: The usual applies. Not mine.

Badass

Chapter One

Laura Ross stepped back and inspected her handiwork. She is beautiful, she thought. As an artist Laura was extremely critical of her own work but this time she knew she hit one out of the park, as her older brother Sammy might say.

"She needs a name, Laura," Todd said. Laura looked up and smiled.

"I have one all picked out," she answered. As the model on the table began to blink her eyes Laura assisted her in sitting up.

"Todd Thayer, meet Maura Isles," Laura said.

Detective Jane Rizzoli lost her suspect in the myriad garbage cans and piles of garbage stinking up the back of the apartment building. This does not happen to me, she thought in frustration. If the damn city doesn't negotiate a contract with the sanitation workers soon, the city of Boston is going to drown in its own excrement. She sighed then began picking her way through to the back door she saw the man run into. A serial murdered stalking women throughout Boston, Jane wanted to bring this one in today. Today, today, today, became her mantra as she held her breath and hoped to find the suspect before she found another body.

"My God, Laura, she's your masterpiece," Todd said, admiring the newest model as she sat up and looked around the operating room.

"It doesn't hurt to be both doctor and artist," Laura smiled. "Although when my parents refused to pay for art courses until I committed myself to studying medicine I almost rebelled."

"Good thing for us you didn't," Todd said. He was director of the Cyborg Institute and Maura Isles was their greatest creation yet. Other cyborgs had been successful, bringing the Institute a lot of acclaim but also a lot of criticism. Technology developed at a fast enough pace, however, to assist the Institute in making better models available quickly. One model's flaws could be virtually erased in the newer editions. Hence, Maura Isles was now their top of the line model, in looks as well as intelligence and overall capabilities.

"Does she have a home, Todd?"

"We have bids from Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago. All of the bids are so close in price we can pick any one of them. Do you have a favorite?" Todd smiled at Laura. He knew her answer already or at least suspected it. Laura was a native of Boston and a lover of the Red Sox. He couldn't see her sending her best creation yet to any other city, certainly not one that was the home of the Angels, Rangers, White Sox or any other American League team that rivaled the Sox.

"Boston," Laura said promptly. Todd laughed. He loved Laura like no other woman in his life but Laura turned away his advances. She was wrapped up in her work and wanted no other distractions in her life. He kept hoping to change her mind someday. As a colleague Laura was a professional in a class all her own. Todd worked with her to pick up on her skills and in this she constantly amazed him. Each time they worked together Todd learned something new.

"Boston it is," he answered.

"What will she do there?" Laura asked. Todd hesitated.

"She will be the new chief medical examiner for Boston PD. Is that okay?" he asked gently. Laura was a pacifist and never wanted any of her creations bred for taking another life.

Laura nodded. "I like that. She can assist the police in their investigations with her scientific memory and skills. She is also an M.D., I might add."

"That's what they requested. How did you manage to get her programmed so quickly and completely, Laura?"

"You know technology, Todd. I uploaded all of the materials and skills taught in medical school. I have her assisting in an autopsy this afternoon with the local constabulary. I'll be there with her."

"Are you my mother?" Maura asked.

"She does speak," Todd said. He smiled at Maura.

"Hello, Maura. I'm Todd and this is Laura. We assisted in bringing you back to life as a cyborg but you have no mother." Maura blinked her eyes and looked once again at Laura.

"You're not my mother?" she asked in confusion.

"No, but you're a doctor. Is that okay with you, Maura?"

"I've always been interested in helping others. What about other family members? Let me access my life history module and I can answer my own questions." Maura dipped her head down as if she were concentrating very hard. After a few minutes she brought her head back up and blinked, nodding and smiling.

"Yes, I see. I was adopted as an infant and raised by Richard and Constance Isles. I attended medical school at Harvard University, in Boston, Massachusetts. Do I like the Red Sox or the Patriots?"

"Both but not as a fan, Maura. You don't have time to follow sports."

"Bummer." Todd laughed.

"I see you gave her a little of Sammy's personality and vocabulary," Todd said.

"Not intentionally. I was thinking of a conversation with him when I programmed Maura. Let me see, I'll reprogram that word out of her."

"No more bummers?" Maura pouted.

"No, Maura. You're a sophisticated, cultured, intelligent woman. You can't run around saying 'bummer.' You'll get thrown out of the Newport Rhode Island set if you do," Laura grinned.

"That's not good," Maura said. She blinked again then nodded at Laura.

"Are you my mother?" she asked. Laura frowned.

"Is there a problem, Laura?"

"Every time her brain reboots she blinks her eyes and asks if I'm her mother. I'll have to work on her a little more, Todd. There must be a short in her wiring. I can't have her look at a female cop and ask her if she's Maura's mother."

"That might produce an interesting conversation, though."

"Too interesting, I should think." Laura gently pushed Maura back down on the table.

"You'll feel a little pinch Maura then you're going to take a short nap."

"Nighty nite," Maura said and closed her eyes.

Jane and Frost searched every inch of the old apartment building with no success. Standing in front of the building Jane holstered her weapon and looked at Frost.

"You didn't see anyone come out the front, Frost?" she asked for the third time.

"No, Jane. Like I said I've been here the whole time and no one came out the front. He's still in there."

"He must be locked in one of the apartments acting like he's Mr. Brady. We need backup and probably the SWAT team."

"Done. I'll call it in." Jane stood, sweeping her eyes over the windows of the multi-floor apartment building. Nothing looked any different than when she changed their suspect into the back of the building. No one peeked out the front of their window, no one opened a window to see what was going on.

"Frost," Jane called suddenly.

"SWAT's on it's way, Jane," Frost stood next to his partner.

"He's a resident of the building, Frost, or else he's used it before. No one is questioning who we're after or what we're doing here."

"This neighborhood isn't very pro-law enforcement, Jane. Too many drug addicts and petty criminals live in this area."

"Still, no one is curious. They didn't question a strange man running into the building. Let's see about search warrants, Frost."

"I'll see what I can do, Jane."

Three hours later the SWAT team packed up their gear and left the premises. Jane had what she felt could become a permanent scowl on her face. Frost felt her frustration. Everyone in the building checked out and no one matching their suspect's description could be found.

"What now, Jane?" Frost asked. Jane turned to look at him.

"I'm going back to work, Frost. I want to talk to the assistant medical examiner, see if he's made any progress in getting new evidence off the latest victim."

"I'll go with you."

"I'll be happy when we get a new medical examiner," Jane said. "Cubby's a crappy examiner, misses too much on the initial exam and we lose valuable time and evidence, Frost. Cavanaugh say anything about the new m.e.?"

"Just that she's on her way, Jane, should be here by next week."
"Thank God. Hope she's smarter than Cubby."

"A ham sandwich is smarter than Cubby, Jane."
"Speaking of lunch, let's hit the Robber on the way back. I'm starving."

TBC