I Don't Do Autographs

Ajay finished her assessment on Natalie and sat there with her as she let everything sink in. She didn't understand how everything had gotten so out of control. She could accept that her own life was fucked up but she couldn't accept that this shit was happening to her friends. Her body was numb as she looked at Natalie. She wanted to put an end to Loba's life but now was not the time.

"Ajay…" Hyeon Kim had somehow managed to get behind her unnoticed. "I thought I told yuh ta leave." Her voice was cold even though she didn't mean for it to be. He gently placed his hand on Ajay's shoulder. "How bad is it?" Ajay sighed and rubbed her forehead, "Not good. She's in a coma." Ajay could feel Hyeon Kim's grip tighten on her shoulder. She gave his hand a pat before she pried it from her shoulder. "I need ta get her patched up." He nodded, "I can help."

He didn't ask her and never planned on it anyway. Ajay watched as Hyeon Kim took over before she could even say anything. She wasn't quite sure what he could actually do but for once she didn't want to be in this mess alone. She still felt numb as she sat there and watched him thread the crescent needle with medical thread. When Ajay finally snapped out of it Hyeon Kim had already began stitching Natalie up.

Ajay gathered supplies to get Natalie cleaned up. She couldn't leave Natalie dirty or let her get an infection. She gently cleaned all of the dirt and blood from Natalie's pale, heavy body. She watched as Hyeon Kim was so careful and meticulous with Natalie's body. He touched her body like it was glass and that he might break her. Ajay went back to getting Natalie cleaned up. Ajay made sure to take her time to gently ease all of the dirt and blood Natalie's skin. When she was satisfied that Natalie was clean, she helped Hyeon get the rest of her stitched up.

After they were done they changed the sheets underneath Natalie and tucked her into some fresh linen. Hyeon Kim sat down in the chair next to Natalie's bed, "How long do you think it will be?" His voice was shaky so he took a moment to regain his composure, "How long do you think she will be like this?" Ajay hated seeing him sad. She had only ever seen him arrogant and self-assured. She could tell that he really cared about Natalie.

Ajay sighed, "I wish I knew but I don know." Hyeon Kim clenched his fist in his lap, "Maybe I can neurolink in and…" Ajay interrupted him, "I don think that's a good idea." Ajay didn't want him to invade Natalie's subconscious. She was also worried that if he got into Natalie's subconscious that Natalie might have some mental break down from denial and never come out of the coma that she was in. Hyeon Kim ran his hand along Natalie's arm until her reached her hand. He intertwined his fingers with hers.

Ajay felt a bit of relief now that Natalie was clean, stitched up, and under the watchful eye of Hyeon Kim, "I can stay here with Natalie if yuh need ta get some rest." Hyeon Kim shook his head, "No. You should go be with Octavio. He probably needs your help with all of those prowlers." Ajay knew that she had a lot to drink last night but she wondered if she really so drunk that she couldn't comprehend what he was saying to her.

Hyeon Kim observed the confused look upon Ajay's face, "You didn't know?" Ajay shook her head, "I guess I didn know. We haven't talk since he went out on that date." She leaned her back against a nearby wall and sighed. She didn't even want to talk about the stupid date. "Ajay, he said he was going out to take care of those prowlers because the date was a bust. Apparently Yoko only wanted to talk about Anita." He paused and rubbed Natalie's hand with his own, "I assumed when he said he was going out he meant he was going with Anita but now I am not so sure."

Ajay's body grew tense and her heart began to race from the thought of Octavio possibly fighting prowlers by himself. "I um. Can yuh stay wit Natalie?" It was all she could manage to get out in her state of exhaustion, disbelief, and panic. He nodded, "Of course." He didn't say it out loud but he would stay with Natalie forever if he could. Hyeon Kim looked at Natalie and gave her hand a squeeze, "You can count of me Ajay."

Ajay gathered her backpack and pulled it open. She dug through her backpack to make sure that her Wingman was still inside. She picked up the gun and made sure it was loaded before tucking it away in her backpack and leaving Natalie in Hyeon Kim's care. She didn't like the idea of leaving Natalie in the state that she was in, but she knew that Hyeon Kim would take good care of her.

With a stop along the way it wasn't long before Ajay made it Anita's place in no time. It was about four in the morning as Ajay began banging on Anita's door for a solid three minutes before Anita finally answered. Anita did not have a happy look on her face when she found Ajay at her door. "Do you know what time it is kid?" Anita held the door open but she didn't bother to invite Ajay inside.

Ajay's face was emotionless, "How did yuh mission go dis morning? Da one that was supposed to be at six in da morning? See any jump pads lying around?" Anita was silent. Ajay continued, "That time and that mission was a bunch of shit, wasn't it? Silva went into that mess ta face those prowlers... by himself. Because of what yuh did. That fuckin date yuh forced him ta go on."

Anita shrugged, "He didn't get the information we needed. He wanted to do more, so he did. What do you want me to do about it?" Ajay clenched her left fist, "Yuh gonna send someone now, is what'cha gonna do!" Anita shook her head, "They need recovery time. You, of all people, should know that. I send them back in exhausted, more get injured. You want that blood on your hands?" Ajay inched closer to Anita, "Do yuh want Silva's blood on yuh hands?"

Anita pushed her face right into Ajay's face; their noses were almost touching, "I don't owe you squat." Anita placed her hands on Ajay's left shoulders and pushed her out of the doorway. As Anita shut the door. Before Anita could get the door closed, Ajay stopped it with her foot. "Is dis how yuh gonna play dis game?" Anita was silent again as she stood there.

"Fine Anita. I didn wanna have ta do dis." Ajay pulled a young lady to her side, "Yoko Zepnewski dis is Anita Williams. Bangalore. I heard yuh wanted her autograph." Yoko was Octavio's date and Ajay's stop along the way to Anita's place. Yoko was star struck when she saw Anita standing there. Yoko held out a pen and poster of Bangalore towards the almost closed door. Anita was beyond angry, "I don't do autographs."

Ajay shook her head, "Of course yuh do. Yoko has some information about Loba in exchange for yuh autograph. Yuh may not give a damn about Silva but I do. So give Yoko yuh autograph so we can get da information we need." Anita rolled her eyes and opened the door. Anita then grabbed the pen and poster that Yoko was holding out to her. Ajay watched as Anita signed her autograph onto the poster and handed it back to Yoko. In return Yoko uploaded a transcript between Loba and Cheryl Amacci to Anita's phone.

After Yoko left, Anita and Ajay looked over the transcript and found some unsettling information. Ajay sighed, "Fuckin Cheryl Amacci hired Loba to find an artifact under da arena. She almost killed all of us when she blew up Skull Town. It's been a fuckin lie." Ajay was almost shaking as all of the information hit her. She began to worry that Octavio was walking into another trap set up by Loba and Cheryl Amacci.

Anita put a hand on her shoulder, "We'll get to the bottom of this kid." Ajay nodded but it still didn't make her feel any better about the situation. She shoved Anita's hand away, "Yuh shouldn't have let him go Anita. If anything happens then dis is on yuh." She paused because she was so mad that she was was either going to punch Anita or cry.

"I need ta go check on Natalie. She's in a coma. I don even know when she's wake up." Anita sighed and it was the first time, in a long time that Ajay had heard compassion in Anita's voice, "Yeah. I'm sorry kid." Anita looked down for a moment, "I am going to grab Renee and take care of business. We will meet you back at the bar. Keep me updated." Ajay nodded and headed back to the bar.

The walk back to the bar was and quiet. Ajay couldn't remember the last time that she had slept. Their lives had been disrupted when Loba had decided to blow Skull Town to pieces. Then her argument with Octavio didn't help. She couldn't even rest for an hour at time because the nightmares were back at full force. She was just drained and almost felt like giving up but she couldn't because her friends needed her.

The Paradise Lounge was dim and empty when Ajay entered. She made it down to the living space underneath the establishment to check on Natalie. She was surprised and happy to find that Natalie was awake and working with Hyeon Kim on putting together the artifacts they did have. Natalie was wrapped up in a sheet and the rest of her was cover by Hyeon Kim's white and lime green jacket.

They seem cozy as they sat next to one another. Heyon Kim had a hand on Natalie's hand as they worked closely together. Ajay didn't have the heart to interrupt them, they looked very invested in figuring out the artifacts. She also knew that Hyeon Kim needed this time with Natalie; he had been so worried earlier.

Ajay made her way back upstairs to the bar area and began rifling through the alcohol, trying to find something to ease her fears. She didn't want to go back to the apartment and be alone. "I guess I'll be alone here with something ta drink." She found what she was looking for, rum, and began drinking by herself. She wanted desperately to go find Octavio but what good would she be by herself. She couldn't get there by herself and she still had her doubts about fighting prowlers. Drinking was her only outlet at this point.

The sofa in the in lounge area was more comfortable than she had anticipated. She slumped against the leather sofa and drank the bottle of rum until it was gone. She set the bottle down on the floor as she curled up on the sofa. She could only wait for Anita to get back wit Renee. She closed her eyes for only a moment and fell into a light sleep.

Ajay's sleep was cut very short when she was awoken by the arguing of Loba and Anita. Two women argued only feet from the sofa. Ajay sat up and watched them for a moment. Their words didn't make any sense to her but maybe it was because of the alcohol. She grabbed her backpack and stood up when she saw Renee.

Renee was standing off to the side watching Anita and Loba argue with one another. Ajay walked over to Renee and whispered into her ear, "Can ya take me ta Silva?" Renee sighed as if Ajay was bothering her with the question, "Yeah. Not right to him. But to the area he is in. It'll be just a moment. Even with Natalie's device I still have to wait for my ability to recharge and we just got back."

Renee didn't bother whispering; probably because Anita and Loba were so loud, "Why do you want to go anyway?" Ajay was silent, so Renee didn't forced an answer. "Just know, when you get there, you will be able to use your abilities. It's like being in the arena. Except…" Ajay interrupted her, "Yuh can die." Renee nodded.

Ajay looked away for a moment, "Weapons?" Renee watched Anita point a finger at Loba's face, "Yeah. There will be some waiting. Anita made sure to keep some weapons and ammo available for everyone." Renee turned to Ajay, "Are you sure you want to go? I heard you don't have a good history with prowlers. Besides, Anita and Loba really wanted you to stay here for some reason."

Loba and Anita's voices echoed throughout the empty bar. Ajay clenched her fists and then released them, "They wanted mi to stay here?" Ajay wanted to punch Loba but she wanted to get to Octavio more than starting a fist fight. Renee nodded as she looked back over to Anita and Loba, "That's what they said to me." Ajay shook her head at them, "Loba has been working with Cheryl Amacci. They had planned ta blow up Skull Town all along. They almost got all of us killed."

Ajay watched as Renee's face grew tense, "They did what?" Renee turned her attention to Loba. Ajay stepped in front of Renee in an attempt to try and block Renee's view of Loba and Anita. "We can deal wit them togetha when I get back." Renee looked into Ajay's pleading eyes. Ajay really hoped that she hadn't ruined her only chance to get to Octavio. Ajay reached for Renee but dropped her hand back down to her side, "Please Renee, I have ta go. I need ta get to Silva."

Renee nodded as her face became less tense, "I hope that someday someone will love me that much." Renee smiled at Ajay before forcing open a tear in the space in front of her. The dark blue-black hole crackled and ripped through the air in front of them. It kind of reminded Ajay of a sparkler that Octavio would use for his stunts when they were younger. Renee offered Ajay her hand, "Let's go." Ajay gently took Renee's hand. The familiar feeling of euphoria wash over her entire body before they entered Renee's portal together.