Is There a Doctor in the House?

Is There a Doctor in the House?
By Alex, Harris, Kit, Shaine, and Shatterclaw. Individual rating: R.

-1-

"Well," Branks said, "You're in good health, Kit. Absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be fit for this life of madness."

"So what exactly is this place?"

"That depends on who you ask. If you ask the one called Crimson, you're in Never-Never Land...or if you subscribe to the Matrix theory, you're in a computer-generated dream. Either one would be fitting."

"I guess this is Home Sweet Home?"

"Yes, if you're Batman..." Kit giggled, but stopped short upon hearing a faint stretching sound from the next room. "It's called the Nest; it is--" The sound was followed by a loud crash.

"What was that?"

Branks hesitated. "Nothing. Wait here; I'll be right back." She walked to the door; Kit heard growling, a yell...and then a stream of hushed words. The medbay fell silent.

"What's going on in there?" She heard faint singing...almost like a lullaby. "Weird..." Is that "Hush, Little Baby?" What is wrong with this place...? She fought the urge to get off of the examination table and peek through the doorway.

A moment later, Crimson walked in. "Feeling better today?"

"Yeah...thanks."

"Where's Branks?"

"She went to check out what happened in that room over there..."

A concerned look came over Crimson's face. He walked to the door and peered in, then waved his hand, inviting Kit forward. She went to his side, questions plainly written in her eyes. "Tell me what you see," he whispered.

Peeking inside, Kit saw Branks lying on the floor, the cat-creature from the previous night cradled in her lap. She seemed to be singing to it.

"How long has she been this way?" Crimson waited for a moment, then shook his head. "...Go back to your place on the bed."

Kit nodded and did so.

"Branks! Branks, are you here?" Crimson walked loudly over to Kit.

"What's wrong, chief?" she asked.

He shook his head, holding a finger to his lips. She nodded back.

A moment later, Branks walked back into the room. "Crimson! I didn't hear you come in!"

"So how is our newest Raven?"

"I'm doing okay..."

"She's passed all of the tests and is ready for active duty."

"Right, so I can take her now?"

"Another patient ripped from my tender care," Branks mourned. "Go, take her..."

Kit smiled. "Thanks, Doc."

"Let's go. Time for paperwork." He ushered her out of medbay, then said, "There's a big gun show today; Saki and I will be buying the group's weapons for the year. Want to tag along? Shaine's going too."

"Hm...should be fun," Kit said dubiously.

Shaine stole up behind them. "Yeah, I'll say! Weapons of mass destruction..."

Kit smiled. "Don't seem to have any projects on hand...I'm in."

///

Alex Worth smiled slightly as he entered the hotel. I'll have to remember to thank Mr. Luna later. The top five floors of the building had been transformed into a somewhat less-than-legal armaments show: a virtual playground, in fact. A young, well-dressed woman checked the badge he'd gotten from Luna, then smiled and handed him a gold card. "For bidding in tonight's auction."

"Oh, thank you...when does it start?"

"It begins at 9:25 tonight, the final event of the evening."

"What are the main items up for auction?"

"A sword from the Ming Dynasty, a matched set of Army revolvers, and vintage World War II weapons...some Civil War and Roman pieces..."

"Any modern items? I like the cutting edge of technology."

She nodded. "But they are for more private collectors, and handled with discretion."

"I am a very private collector."

"As I can see, sir...here's a listing."

Hmmm. Ten combat Boomers, a prototype EMP gun... "Any powered suits?"

"One, but it's a Gulf and Bradley. Rumor has it it was stolen."

"What is the suit called?"

"No name as of yet, but its number is K-234-E. Also there are twenty Gerlitch rifles, stomach rail guns mach II and III..."

"What vehicles?"

"GD45 Battlemover. Smaller than the GD42. Seats one, but can hold two... D4 "Wildcat" Battlemover, one-person answer to a K-11... Lunar patrol cars with Earth upgrade, capable of hovering over city streets or driving on four wheels, with weapon kit. B-7 Phoenix minichoppers - those are the replacement for the "firebee" - and a K-11 suit with demo."

He smiled. "Thank you." Damn...only a few new weapons...

The first four rooms Alex saw were small handguns. He passed them by in favor of the larger caliber offerings down the hall, foremost among which was a new type of clip-on grenade. Next to that was a new type of anti-Boomer shell...$75 per round. He bought one and kept moving.

Ignoring a table with prop swords from the movies, he stopped at the Smith and Wesson table to admire their answer to the Desert Eagle: the Colt 2050. Holds ten, caseless...hm. "How much?"

"$799.99. Not officially released until next year."

"I'll keep it in mind." The man at the table thanked him and gave him a business card.

Alex kept moving until he found the Desert Eagle display. In front of it were a Hispanic man in a leather coat and an attractive but tall redhead in a business suit, arguing the weapon's high rate of fire jamming with the man behind the table. He moved closer. Full auto...what caliber?

Holy shit! That's almost a twelve gauge! Jesus...

"So it's not going to jam at over five?" the man frowned.

"No, sir, I assure you...it won't."

"What do you think?"

The woman nodded. "I believe it will do."

"How many? Twenty, or thirty?"

"With the way you go through them...I'd say thirty-five."

Crimson hefted the gun in one hand. "You're probably right." Alex managed a weak smile.

"Didn't want to have to do retooling," Saki said.

"But I've found that smaller caliber weapons actually work better at higher cyclic rates," Alex commented.

Crimson nodded, spinning the gun on one finger idly.

"Take the 9mm, for instance..." Both looked at him.

"Go on..."

"It operates in an automatic with almost 100% no jams at 1200rpm, as opposed to the conventional 650rpm which has about a 30% chance of jamming.."

"True," Crimson said. Alex nodded and smiled.

"You'll have to forgive him; he's in love with this type of weapon," Saki explained.

"Not everyone can be a knife killer."

"Ah, but you must admit that to kill someone with a knife, you have to have more skill than with a gun," Alex said.

Crimson turned to the dealer. "We'll take the whole lot, and the ammo. Have it sent to our room."

Then he turned back to Alex. "True. But sometimes a knife just won't do."

Alex raised his eyebrows. "Whoa..."

"What line of work are you in?"

"I'm currently an emergency medical response specialist...but I used to be a SEAL."

Crimson raised an eyebrow. "Where were you posted?"

"I was with team six, out of Norfolk. We deployed worldwide."

"Yeah, Marines unit 28," Crimson replied. "Nice to see you guys can dry up pretty well."

"Oh? Did you go to Panama?"

"Among others."

"I see. Who was your CO?"

"Chaplain. At the time he was a Major...now I hear he's a two-star."

"Oh, yeah...I think I met him once. Near Greece."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Crimson said sincerely.

"It's ok...but why are you sorry?"

"When I knew the man, he was one of the worst pain in the rear tightwads..."

Alex laughed. "Like most CO's...must be a requirement for the job."

"You know, I think it is."

"So that's where you learned it from!" Crimson glanced sharply at Saki.

"By the way..." He extended his hand. "Alex Worth. ...And you are?"

"James Velendez. This is my sister, Jenny."

"Oh," After shaking Crimson's hand he took Saki's tenderly and kissed it. "Nice to meet you, Jenny."

"Thank you," Saki replied, somewhat coldly. "It is an honor to meet you."

"The honor is all mine, m'lady."

"So...how does one go from a SEAL to a lifesaver?"

"Easily. I made a choice to help people, and now I'm doing that in the civilian sector as well." Saki smiled at this, and he smiled back.

"You must see a lot of...action."

"About the same as I did when I was with the teams."

"So you're kept rather busy then...what a pity."

"I have my free time...enough for pretty women like you..." Damn, she's well built...and so tall...but if they're brother and sister, I'm Michael Jackson! Wonder where he finds women like her...

"Well, then, I must make sure that time is well spent. Are you free for dinner tonight?"

"Of course. ...I can always make it to dinner with a woman as beautiful as you."

"Um, 'sis,' I hate to remind you but you have that appointment tonight..."

Saki looked at Crimson darkly. "I have time...for a gentleman."

Alex bowed and Saki curtsied back. Crimson shook his head. Hope she remembers we have Kit and Shaine in tow.

"Appointment?" Alex asked. "Maybe I could accompany you to it. As your escort?"

"No," Saki pouted. "It is private business, unfortunately, and I'm afraid it would bore you."

"He would have to get in line..." Crimson muttered to himself, at which Saki glared at him disapprovingly.

"Maybe not. But with you, nothing could ever be 'boring'."

"You are too kind."

He shot a glance at Crimson, who seemed to still be talking to himself. "You are most welcome, m'lady."

Looking up, Crimson just shook his head.

"I am afraid I would have to decline your invitation nevertheless. But we can still do dinner," she said, her tone still playful.

Alex checked his beeper, then turned it off. "Whatever you wish. It would be my pleasure."

"I would be delighted."

"Where may I pick you up, and when?"

"we will be here until 4:00pm. If you could meet us downstairs at the bar? Or, if you wish, you can accompany us for the rest of the show.."

///

After looking around for a while, all Shaine and Kit could see was new ways of killing people. Growing bored, they returned to the handguns and saw Crimson, Saki, and another man standing in front of the "handcannon" booth engaged in what seemed to be pleasant yet meaningless conversation. Shaine's careful ears picked out a dinner invitation... Shit, does Saki think she has a monopoly on all of the men here?

"Think we should interrupt their male bonding, Shaine?" Katherine smiled.

Shaine nodded.

"It would be my pleasure, m'lady."

"Then it is a date," Saki replied.

"Indeed it is."

Shaine raised an eyebrow and just looked at him... So who is this guy?

Crim nodded as they walked up to the group, a slim smile upon his face. Both Katherine and Shaine smiled back.

Even Alex had a smile on. "Looks like we have company." What's this, the rest of the "family?"

"Hiyas!" Kit waved.

"These are two of our interns. Thought they could use this for one of their classes." Crimson announced.

"Ah, I see. What is their area of study?"

"Computers, and targeting and engineering."

"Mmm, nice to meet you."

Shaine nodded and smiled. "Yes, a little bit out of place here... Nice to meet you, too."

"Likewise." Katherine added.

Alex offered his hand to both Shaine and Katherine; his handshake was firm yet gentle. Saki bristled, seemingly growing colder.

"I have invited Alex," she interjected, "To join us for this afternoon." There seemed to be a thinly veiled threat weaved into the words. "Any objections, ladies?" Fight me in this, and die, Saki projected mentally.

"Of course not." Shaine's smile turned radiant.

"Good." Finally, she smiled.

"Hello. I am Alex Worth, an emergency medical specialist...and gun lover."

Katherine shook her head, bringing a quick glance from Saki.

"Liesel Baumeister." Shaine offered.

"Hmmn?" Katherine murmured in mild surprise. Shaine glanced at her as if to say, just play along. Kit nodded knowingly.

Crim tug on Katherine's sleeve. "Kate, come here and tell me what you think of the new laser sights."

"Sure."

He holds out his hand for her and led her away. "Fake names only; we don't know who is who here," he whispered. Taking her to a table, he held up a laser sight.

"Gotcha." Katherine said, trying to look at the thing in Crimson's hand as if she had any opinion on it.

Ah, good. He took the new one away. "Alex, what do you think of the new katanas?"

"Very nice. I am thinking of adding one or two to my collection... "

Seeing as she had been left to her own devices, Shaine glanced over toward the table opposite the Desert Eagles. Far too heavy for someone her size - but that had been the case all day.

"But I will have to check the price tag first," Alex continued.

Katherine walked over to Shaine, giving the large guns the once-over. "Not too shabby."

They felt Crimson walk up behind them. "Yeah, micro shotguns. About two feet long, heavy stock, but not enough power."

Way too heavy then...heh... "Hm. Looks like I need something in the little girls' size."

"Alex, you know, I have an idea. Why dont we...skip the last part of the show, and go out to lunch?"

Alex was a bit surprised by Saki's forwardness. "Are you sure? What about the auction?"

"There's that, but I can set up a proxy bidder. Each person here has a profile, predictability...my proxy can drive the prices up on the items they most desire, and leave them with too little money to oppose my own bids when it comes to what I want."

"I'll have to do the same," Alex said.

"Give me a second, and I will set everything up."

"Of course." Alex was left wondering as she flipped out her cell phone and turned away from the group.

Crimson walks back over. "Let me guess: you're being kidnapped to lunch?"

"It appears that way...not that I object!"

Shaine appeared to be a bit amused at that, but said nothing.

"Good man."

Alex just nodded.

"Mind if i ask you a personal question?"

Kit said nothing as she moved closer to hear, continuing to study the table opposite.

"Me? Sure, go ahead."

Shaine had seen that look before. I am Deer and you are a big black bird like magic, once again Crimson had sized up his prey, and was trying to fit it into a hardsuit... She choked back laughter as the mental images became a bit too powerful.

"Yes. What pay scale do you get as a paramedic?"

"Well, I don't do it for the money. My parents were rich; I have a huge inheritance to blow." He shrugged, smiling crookedly.

"Ah, the thrill then? Or concern for human life?"

"Life...yes, I just like to help people."

"Well, not all of us can help people the way we like," Crimson said.

"Yes, I know the feeling... Sometimes it's out of our hands, though, no matter how hard we try."

Saki walked back over toward the group. "Or sometimes we must find new ways to do so," she added.

She stood a little too close to Alex. He was, handsome, and fit, and seeing as she and Harris were...or more to the point never were... Perhaps.

"All set?" Alex asked, breaking her line of thought.

"Yes, it's all set; I took the liberty of expanding the biddings, a bit. If you don't like them I'll cover it for you."

Alex raised an eyebrow at the overly generous offer. There was a hint of a smile on Kit's face as she continued to study the "toys" in front of her.

"New ways?" Alex asked.

"Of course. Boomers, for example, have the potential to save countless human lives."

"In fire or police work." Sarcasm was heavy in Crimson's voice.

"Yes...but Boomers also go rogue and injure or kill other humans."

"Or do they? Those are just rumors." Saki said, playing off of Crimson's sarcasm.

"I have been to more Boomer 'accidents' than I care to count," Alex interjected, his voice rising a bit.

"They have been downplayed in the news."

"I believe it...I've seen what they can do. Makes me sick. The ADP and the government may try to tell us some story...but I've seen it; I know what they can do."

"That may be so. It is a shame how such a helpful tool can be tuned against its masters." She gave a knowling look to Alex, but the message was directed to Crimson and all of them knew it.

"Yes, but every human invention has had it drawbacks," Alex said.

Crimson nodded politely, then called for the girls. They gave each other a knowing look and returned to the group.

"Sis is going to be paying for lunch. Any one have suggestions as to where to eat?"

"I could go for some tacos myself." Kit smiled.

"I like Italian, but whatever you all like will be fine for me." Alex said.

"Well, either sounds fine...seeing as this city doesn't have a decent German restaurant."

"Sure, it does, Zum duchenache or some thing like that..."

Shaine stared at Crimson as if he were crazy. Kit laughed, Saki cringed.

"It's German...believe me." Or at least the Boomers are... "So have we decided?"

"How about Angel's?" Saki said. "They have almost everything.

"Sounds good to me."

"Cool."

Alex looked at Saki. "Looks like we have chaperones," he said with a grin.

-2-

A gun show. All right... Harris had taken his leave of the informant immediately after finding out about the intended hit. Their meeting place, a dive in old Chinatown, wasn't exactly his style, and Harry Woo wasn't his favorite person on Earth. To put it mildly.

At the show he managed to overhear a few words about the plan - the victim was named Worth - but not see the person speaking. And no other names were given, save for the fact that Worth was associated with Luna. Frowning, Harris moved on.

Woo had said that the hit man would be disguised as a waiter, but Harris didn't notice anyone fitting that description who seemed out of place. He did see Crimson and Saki. Harris started walking toward them...there was another man approaching them.

Before he got within earshot, he heard a gun hammer pull back. Turning instinctively in the direction of the sound, he scanned the crowd. The gunman was a lanky Asian in a white uniform holding a handcannon covered by a towel, and he seemed to be aiming at the group.

Pulling out a Desert Eagle, Harris aimed for the man's gun hand, firing one round, and then fired again at the man's head. The gunman fell, but at the same time someone across the room took a potshot at Harris and hit him in the left side.

Harris turned, wincing, and fired three shots at the second man's face and gut. Shit...can't tell if the bullet went clear through or not...

Two other men in white pushed past the rest of the crowd, headed for the stairs. Harris aimed for their ankles and knees, missing the targets but nailing another passerby. The two reached the stairs and Harris began shoving others aside, running toward the stairs. He dropped the empty clip, holding his side with one hand, and reached for another one.

He reached the ground level only a few heartbeats behind the other men and followed them into the parking garage. Harris opened fire, not particularly caring where he hit them. One took it in the back and fell forward. The other was hit in the shoulder but kept going after grabbing the wall to keep from falling.

Harris kept firing until the second man fell. Then he walked up to the body and fired another shot into his shoulderblades and one into his head. Blood and grey matter splashed out onto the asphalt. Then he searched the body.

A thousand yen, a letter, a set of keys. He took it all and moved on to the second body. Two clips for a 9mm, the said 9mm - a Beretta - a dagger, a small rock with an animal painted on it... The only thing of value was a 24kt gold ring. It held a fake eye with a line running out from it. The man had the same mark on his neck as a tattoo. Harris made a mental note of it and returned to the main room.

When he got there, Saki, Crim, and the other man were gone. The one he shot first was still there, with a few others around him trying to wrap him in a sheet. He walked up to the body, gun in hand and still holding his side.

A large bull of a man put his hand out and stood in front of Harris. "Sir, I have to ask you to leave now."

Harris pointed his DE at the man's head. "You can either step aside or we can see how far your head can fly across this room. Either way, I'm getting past."

The man - huge, at about 6'2" and 400 lbs - was unimpressed. Harris fired, grazing the side of his head. There was a streak of red as the man's ear separated from his body, hanging by a flap of skin.

The other two dropped the body.

Harris stepped past the one he'd shot and aimed for the pair who had been carrying the body. "Hey, we were just getting it out of the way. Follow us and you can have him."

"No, I just want to search him."

"Yeah, well, you can do that. Just not out here. We do have an image to maintain."

Harris aimed for the man's head, just between the eyes.

"If that's all right with you, sir?"

"Jesus fucking Christ. No one ever fucking listens to me... I told you I am going to fucking search him out here." He fired at the ceiling. "I have been having a really bad day and you assholes are making it worse. I am asking you only once and after that I will make you step aside."

They looked at each other and wisely decided to walk away. In fact, the whole room emptied out rather quickly, leaving him alone with the body. Harris set his DE down and began searching.

There was a ring like the other one, a letter, and a picture of a man in Navy uniform. There was also 3,000 yen. Harris took it all, got up, dropped the clip out of his DE and popped another in. Then he put his SOCOM away and pulled his coat across his side to hide the wound. Slipping his DE into his pocket, he made his way outside.

On the way out, he saw the new 10mm DE. Eyeing the display appreciatively, he picked one up and loaded it. The clips from the bodies fit; he holstered it and put it away.

There were a few people by the doors, but they didn't say anything or try to stop him. Feeling a bit dizzy, he headed straight for the Nest.

///

Branks was sitting in the medbay drinking coffee when Harris arrived. He walked up to her casually. "I appear to be bleeding. A little help?"

Her eyes narrowed as she got a look at the wound. "I can see that. I was wondering if it was self-inflicted."

"Yeah. Missed. It's not that bad, though."

"I assume you can make it to my lab, Superman?"

"Yeah, I think I can do that."

She pouted and followed him. "And I see by your words that you are a doctor as well. Let me be the judge of how bad it is."

"I'm a man of many trades. I've had to play doctor more than once and I'm still standing here, still breathing...hasn't killed me yet. Ain't that bad."

"I see." She helped him up onto a table and pulled over a tray of tools.

"Where's our fearless leader? Apparently he wasn't too much help...what happened to him?"

"I'm not sure," Branks said. "The shirt's a goner. I'm going to cut it away."

"Figures," Harris snorted. With him in charge, I have no idea how we've survived this long...

She prodded the area, then picked up what looked like an elongated pair of tweezers. "It's in deep." But she managed to pull the bullet out. "So do you do this often?"

"Nah, just when I'm feeling bored."

"Ah, well, you need to find yourself a hobby."

"I've got my hobby." Harris shrugged. "Only thing is, he won't stand still long enough for me to shoot his worthless pig ass."

"From the looks of it, the damage is repairable-- Really? Ever try glueing his feet to the floor?"

"No, I haven't. Good idea, though. Thank you."

"I'm sure I'll regret it later..."

"Probably."

"Would I be wasting my breath if I told you to take it easy for the next few weeks?"

"Yeah, you would. So don't."

Branks sighed and gazed up at the heavens. "I need padded tables with thick straps... No one around here ever listens to doctor's orders. Would you like painkillers?"

"No. And I don't even listen to Crim, let alone docs. What makes you feel you're any more special than him?"

"Hmmm...I'm better looking, and unlike Crim, I have ways of making you listen."

"True enough." Harris chuckled. "Then again, even Mitch is better looking than Crim."

"Too true. He has a face only a Boomer could love - and mannerisms to match."

"That's gotta be some fucking expensive Boomer programming!"

"Well...now that you mention it I don't think they can be given such complex programming... How he ever manages to rope people into this life is beyond me."

"Sure as hell isn't looks, and it ain't charm..."

"Hm, looks and charm are ruled out...what's left?"

"Leaves an open threat..."

"Is that what got you into this mess?"

"More or less, and the fact that he offered good money."

"Ah, money...a common thread. He paid for my med school. Hold out your arm."

She injected something into it. "Tomorrow I'll need to take some blood so be back here at eight sharp. That is, if you don't want me to prove I have my ways."

Harris shook his head and went out to find Crimson.