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

-3-

Crimson's Cuda and Alex's Cobra pulled up side by side, and Alex stepped out of the car.

"Nice car, I like the Cuda..."

"Yeah, rebuilt her from scrap," Crimson said as he got out, "Took me a few years. But.it was worth it. ...Of couse, the Cobra's not too bad either..."

"Cool. Mine is a hand-me-down."

Kit took a closer look at the Cuda and whistled appreciatively. "This baby's in prime condition!" Unlike that other one you brought in...

"Still going for museum condtion, but prime is the best for driving," Crimson added.

"Of course, it has been modified: I can go toe to toe with any street racer and leave him in my smoke." Alex said proudly.

"Yeah? Impressive." But what can it do against the turbofan power of my Cuda...?

"Cool!" Kit grinned like a little child.

Alex nodded. "Yep. One day, after my boat comes in, I want to drop a turbofan engine in it."

"That would greatly increase your speed," Kit said, "But you would sacrifice a lot of manuverability."

"Yes, it would. I would also have to add a few things to compensate for that."

Kit nodded.

Alex ran his hand lightly across the hood of his Cobra, wiping off some lint from the waxed finish. Then he offered his arm to Saki and she took it without missing a beat. Alex grinned as she pulled him close and led him off toward the restaurant.

Angel's was large, but with the feel of a small home. There was already a crowd; Crimson asked for a table near the back.

"Nice place. I should become a regular here." Alex said. He lifted the almost phone-book-sized menu with exaggerated effort. Kit giggled.

"I'm sure you will. The food here is some of the best around." Crimson flipped thought the menu.

"I also know my friend would love this place." Alex shot Crimson a glance - and a half-smile.

Crimson raised an eyebrow but refused to take the bait.

" Yes... Yes, I think I will."

"Lobster sounds good, doesn't it, ladies?" Saki said, playfully eyeing Shaine. Kit let out an ooh of excitement but Shaine's eyebrow jerked up slightly.

"Surf and turf?" Crimson asked, not even bothering to look at the price. Shaine slowly nodded.

Katherine looked at "Liesel." "Allergic to seafood?" she asked.

Alex noticed the exchange of glances, but his expression did not change.

"No, I'm fine."

Kit nodded.

"Lobster does sound good...but the fettucini alfredo sounds good too," Alex said.

Veal. Or manicotti. Crimson pondered. Wonder if I could get away with a hamburger...?

A young blond waiter, maybe 19, approached the table and asked for their orders.

"I'll take the lobster," Alex said, then jumped slightly at the touch of a pointed object upon his shin. A moment later, he realized it was Saki's shoe.

"Sounds good," Crimson said, carefully avoiding eye contact with both.

Alex smirked and looked slyly back at Saki as the others continued. I'll have the shrimp platter," Kit said.

"Manicotti, please," Shaine said, surrendering her menu.

"Cheeseburger, medium rare," Crimson stated.

"How about drinks?" The waiter asked.

"Iced tea, no ice."

"I'll have a Coke, please, no ice."

"Mountain Dew."

"Iced tea, ice and lemon."

"Hot tea, please." Saki smiled and ran her foot down Alex's leg again.

"So...how did you all come to be together?" Alex asked.

"I hired them all," Saki replied smoothly.

"I see," Alex said warily.

"Bodyguards don't work as well as you would think," She waved a hand toward the others. "And they do."

"No? Why not?"

"They're effective enough but you wouldn't believe how many I've lost. Four years running, and these three are still alive."

Crimson nodded absentmindedly, seemingly paying no attention.

"Mmm, what kind of contracts do you get?"

"Many different things. It would be difficult to summarize them all."

Kit's eyes wandered across the room, and suddenly she realized that she and Crimson were looking at the exact same thing.

"Well, what about examples?"

"Preventing assassinations, for one thing." Saki said with her best staight face.

"That sounds pretty rough." Alex grinned.

"It can be, when you don't have the right people."

"Reminds me of when I was in the service..." There was a faraway look in Alex's eye.

"Do tell!"

"I was with the teams...we did stuff all the time. In Greece, once, my demo expert and I were to take out a terrorist leader, or so he claimed."

"What happened?"

"We were under the water planting a limpet mine on the boat's hull, when I noticed a child playing around the aft of the boat. There weren't supposed to be civilians on the boat. So I thought we had the wrong one and motioned for Mike to stop.

"That's when he pulled out his knife and tried to cancel me. He forgot I was an instructor of underwater combat for a while. I ended it quickly, disarmed the bomb, and pulled him up to the boat."

The waiter returned with drinks and the conversation stopped for a moment.

"Who did the boat belong to?" Crimson asked. Where have I heard this story before... This sounds so familiar.

"I found out later that the boat belonged to a prominant man here in Chicago, and a rival of his ordered the hit. Paid handsomely for it."

Shaine's eyes widened. Katherine gasped. "No way..."

"True story...one of many."

"I see," Crimson said.

Alex nodded and took a sip of the tea.

"Whatever happen to the man you saved?" Crimsoin said, looking over his glass.

Alex opened his mouth, but then another waiter - a short, slight Asian man - arrived with the food. Shaine and Kit looked at him curiously, but both decided not to comment.

"He's a prominent buisnessman here in town. Nice guy...so I hear," Alex continued.

"Really. Anyone I would know?"

"Maybe...does Julian A. Luna ring any bells?" Alex said, fork in hand. Shaine looked up, shocked.

Without missing a beat, Crimson replied, "Yes it does. He's quite the respected man about town." He covered his surprise by taking a bite. Funny...there's an almond taste to it...

"Yes, I know."

Crimson eyes narrowed as he looked around again and came up blank. Damnit. That taste, a new waiter...

Alex's eyes widened at Crimson's show of discomfort and he waited for the other man to say something. Kit tilted her head thoughtfully.

"I've never had the pleasure of meeting him." As dignified as possible, he spit the food out into his napkin.

"Something wrong?" Alex asked.

"Yes, this is terrible. Can't seem to find the waiter either."

"I think there were two of them..." Shaine trailed off nervously.

"How is everyone else's?"

"Oh? What does it taste like?" Alex hadn't touched his own food yet.

"Mine's okay," Katherine said.

Shaine shrugged. "Mine seems fine..." What the fuck is he getting at - does he think it's poisoned or something?

Alex looked at Shaine and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a small vial full of clear liquid. Kit looked down nervously at her meal.

"Ach, scheiße," Shaine said under her breath. "Don't tell me what I think you're going to tell me..."

Alex took a bit of his food and drops it into the vial. "Yeah, it's a poison tester..." Shaine watched, thin-lipped.

"Excuse me, I'm going to see if i can find him..." And beat him into telling me why he tried to kill me.

The vial turned a thick green. "Shit!" Shaine added her own quiet editorial in German.

"No one touch this stuff." Alex snapped.

Saki pushed hers away. Just once, I'd like to have a normal life...

Alex lept from his chair and followed Crimson. Shaine was a step behind him, her purse slung over her left shoulder and one hand on the gun inside, and Kit not far behind her. Alex shed his jacket, pulling out an HK MP5K and working the action.

Kit cracked her knuckles. "Nice gun; wish I'd brought one."

"How much do you think it would take? Most of us had started eating..." Shaine said to Crimson.

"Not much," Alex answered, adding, "You need to get an antidote, now."

"I know." Crimson said grimly.

He burst into the kitchen. Inside was...Harris. And no sign of the second waiter. "Harris! Over here!" Shaine called. Spotting the group, he began walking toward them. Who's that guy with them...he looks like the one from the picture!

The kitchen was a mass of people, most of whom had turned to stare at the intruders. Harris blithely shoved a few out of his way.

At the same time, Alex made his way to the back of the room. Sizing up Harris as they passed each other, he walked quickly to the back door and walked outside. As he turned the corner he saw something hanging out of the dumpster there: a hand. Lifting the lid, he found the body of the first waiter.

///

"I have never been so fucking glad to see you, man!" Shaine gasped. But she noticed that he was walking with a limp. Aw, fuck...now what has he gotten into...?

Crimson spoke quietly but swiftly. "We've got trouble. Someone poisoned our food; the only one who didn't eat it was Saki." Then he noticed the bloodstains upon Harris's side. "What happened?"

"Just a scratch; don't worry about it." He pulled out a cell phone. "Yeah...I got the orders - but it looks like someone else got to you first."

"Scratch...right," Shaine grated. "Regular Superman."

"Oh, and the new guy...what's his name..." Kit said.

"Yes, it seems Alex is the target; they just got us because we were standing next to him," Crimson added with a worried look. Have to get them back to the base somehow...

Harris looked at him. "Yeah, well, get them back to Branks. I have an idea of how to find the assailants."

"Harris, Shaine, take charge. We have to get Alex out of here. Where is he?"

"I think he went into the alley."

Crim headed back to the table for Saki, but stopped when he found Kit following him.

"Katherine, field trip's over."

Kit smiled weakly. "Gotcha, chief."

Crimson looked at her and smiled. "Don't call me chief."

"Saki, drive." He tossed her the keys. Of all the stupid things... The world began spinning around him.

Harris headed out to the alley, checking his caller ID. Shaine followed close behind.

312-555-9871. He dialed the number quickly.

Alex stood there next to the waiter's body, which he'd pulled out of the dumpster. Two gunshot wounds at close range, high velocity ammo...not dead for more than an hour, Harris catalogued.

Harris stepped back as the phone began to ring. "Damnit..."

"What?" A voice exploded.

Harris spoke into the phone, affecting a false voice: "What's going on? I got to the restaurant and all hell is breaking loose. Where are you?"

"Yes, I know...poison in the food; we're trying to shoot him now... Get clear of the area. Someone's already called the police." He hung up.

"Damnit!" Harris repeated. A car engine came to life behind him. Shaine looked up sharply at the sound. There was the rev of an engine and the screech of tires.

"Everyone back inside - now!"

Shaine threw herself back through the door, Alex and Kit not far behind. Harris stood his ground, looking for the car, and a blue beater of a van came barreling down the alley toward him with the doors thrown open. He turned toward the sound and fired all five shots as the door opened, the first two making nice holes in the driver side door and the next three hitting the men in the van - who looked rather like the second waiter.

He looked at the gun, noting that it had a fair amount of recoil. Then a shot hit the dumpster and the van barreled down the alley and out into the street.

Dropping the now-empty gun he reached for the other DE in his pocket. "Damn," he muttered.

For a moment he kept pace with the van but then began to fall out of range. He shot at the tire, blowing it out, then fired at another tire. The van went into a roll, hitting the curb and a parked car, the back end skidding out into the street and colliding with an oncoming car. Fuel leaked out onto the pavement. Harris ran across the street toward it, seeing a man crawl out from the driver side door.

Grabbing the man with his free hand, Harris slammed the butt of his gun into his head and dragged him away from the van. Unconscious, the driver didn't put up much of a fight.

With a slight smirk, Harris turned back toward the van and fired another shot at it. The fuel sparked and burst into flames. Turning away, he started searching the man's pockets.

A few empty vials...a knife...cell phone, Swiss Army knife, two grenades, five clips for his piece of shit gun...about 250 yen... Looks like somebody needs to get a life. He shoved it all into his coat pockets and stood, grabbing the man and tossing him over his shoulder. Harris winced as the pain in his side hit home and dropped the insensate body, kicking it once as he composed himself and then slung it over his shoulder again.

It still hurt like a bitch and for such a small man he was a lot of dead weight...Harris managed through sheer willpower to walk back to the restaurant and drop the man at the door with the bodies of his compatriots.

Now, where are the garbage picker and Hacker Girl?

No sign of them. Just a few busboys on their break, gawking at him. Wonderful.

"Damnit, why is it every time I go get work done, everyone vanishes?" He shook his head.

"...grave robbing..." he heard one of the busboys mutter. He sighed, not finding anything noteworthy aside from money on the bodies, and aimed his DE at the knot of busboys.

"Have something you wish to say?"

"Mister, don't you think you should let the cops look them over?"

"They'll get their chance."

"Yeah, but you broke the chain of evidence..."

"That's right, put that back..."

Fucking teenage lawyers...

Shaine's voice drifted out from the doorway. "Can it, kid, Mulder's doing his magic."

Harris rolled his eyes. "All right, here's the deal: they won't know it 'less you say something, and 'less you wish to end up like them you won't say it...right?"

Shaine pushed her way past them. "Division Six, coming through."

They stared at her, dumbfounded.

"So how's our Mikey doing?" Shaine cooed.

The busboys turned to each other with frightened, puzzled looks. Good thing I wore black today... Then they ran inside.

Harris turned to Shaine, who answered him with a raised eyebrow and an expression saying, what did you expect?

"Our new friend is back in the kitchen checking the rest of the food and arguing with the head chef," she said.

Harris shook his head again. "Well, let's get going. We got who we need for the moment." She disappeared into the kitchen as he grabbed the unconscious man by his collar, lifting him again. "Damnit, you're a heavy fuck...should've shot you and went for your friend. Jesus."

He could hear sirens and they were moving closer. "Damnit, let's go...I got our ride down at the other end of the alley."

Shaine reappeared with Alex in tow. Tossing the man in the back, Harris climbed into the driver's seat of the truck he'd borrowed from the Nest's motorpool. Alex helped Shaine into the back seat and then got in.

-4-

Jinks grinned knowingly when she saw the unconscious body slung over Harris's shoulder. "Oh, I see you brought us a doggie bag?"

"Yeah...good observation." Harris shook his head and headed for the medbay.

"Do you need any help?" Jinks called after him.

"Not as much help as you need."

///

Branks helped Harris lift the man up onto a bed. "Oh, you brought me a lab rat! How nice."

"He's the one who poisoned Crim."

"Ssh, not so loud, or you'll get him over here..."

"I only hit him once so he should be easy to wake up. Last thing I need is beating him to death."

"Yes, slight concussion..." She peeled back one eyelid and flashed a penlight at his pupil. "Trauma, but nothing major." Branks went to the cabinet and retrieved a few vials and a syringe.

"Tell that to the rest. It's what they get for fucking up my day."

Branks stopped and looked up at him, smiling. "I'll let him know." She injected him with a clear serum and something else, then straightened up again. "He should be awake soon."

"Okay." He brought out his DE's, looking at the new one. " 'Least I got something for my efforts..." He then pocketed the empty one again and aimed the second at the man's head. "Awake soon, you say...heh..."

"Oh, great. Gunboat diplomacy."

Harris stood over the man with a wide grin on his face. "Wakey wakey..."

"What?" The man said in Thai. "Ki, what's going on?"

///

"So what's going on? Where is this?"

"MIB headquarters," Shaine quipped, looking quite ashen. "You'll be wanting to talk to Zed once this is all over with..."

"Zed?" Alex asked. "Who's Zed?"

"Yeah, you know...Fearless Leader? Or AD Skinner; I forget which." A raven flew overhead.

Shaine slid against the wall, murmuring, "The area is secured, Captain..." Alex caught her as she fell.

///

"...No speaka ingles? Well, I have one round to your forehead stating otherwise." Harris smirked, not noticing Alex, who had just arrived with Shaine in his arms.

"I speak English. Now, where am I? What am I doing here?"

"Where you are don't matter. What you are doing here...is you're about to tell us about this poison of yours and the antidote..."

"Antidote? What makes you think there is such a thing?"

"There'd better be. Your life depends on it."

"Go ahead. Shass orra tahraa, pig! I tell you nothing."

"Oh, killing you won't do...you're gonna live..." He moved the gun's barrel down to the man's hand and fired a shot into it. The man screamed in pain.

"The balls would have been better," Branks sighed. "But I can patch that up so that he'll never use it again."

"And that's just the first of your pains. Now then, the antidote?"

"Never. I won't tell you."

Harris sighed and aimed for the other hand. "Now there go both of your girlfriends..."

"Balls," Branks pleaded. "I need them for testing anyway..."

"Quiet, Branks; you'll have his nuts soon enough."

"Antitoxin number seven!"

"Sure, keep me waiting. I do have a collection to maintain..." She headed for the cabinets to get it.

"Why, thank you." Harris smiled at the man. "If it works, the pain shall end."

"Ahhh, good to see he at least keeps it full!" Branks came back with several vials and a handful of syringes.

"Now, then, do we have a name, hmmm?"

"Name, mine, I call myself. Now that you got what you want, how do I get out of here?"

"Not everything I want. Who hired you?"

"The tang; who hired you?"

Harris sighed. "Damnit...do you really want to start hurting again? Stick to answers, not questions."

"Hou Chian. He wants to send Luna a message. He wants Chicago; seems your friend there is Luna's whipping boy."

"How do I contact Hou Chian?"

"Cell phone, mostly."

Harris pulled out the phones he'd taken off of the bodies. "You mean these?"

"Yeah, only way we can. Has it on speed dial; he doesn't trust us."

"So I should be expecting a call soon, shouldn't I," Harris mused. "You may be of more use yet."

"No, I am the last one alive?"

"Yup. As I said, you and your boys have given me a hard day."

"Then I would have to call him and let him know we fail. But I can't call him, as you know. My hands..." He trailed off pleadingly.

"No, not quite. All we need is for you to talk and to set up a meeting for us."

"And then I go free after you fix my hands?"

"I promised you the pain would end, and I won't go back on that."

"Pain ending...that means my life is over. I want my freedom, before all else..."

"So be it. I promise to let you go when you have served your purpose, and I won't hurt you. That make you happy?"

"Almost too happy, but I can live with that."

"Good." Harris held out the phone.

"Hit button 1, and hold it down. What should I tell him?"

"Set up a meeting."

The man spoke into the phone rapidly in Thai. "He ask why and where?"

"Tell him you found out some information after you killed your target...and that it pertains to him and Luna's plans for him..."

The man nodded and repeated that. Then he switched to English and set up the meeting for midnight the following night. "I am done."

"Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man? Shaft! Can ya dig it?" Shaine muttered incoherently. "Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about? Shaft! Right on. They say this cat Shaft is one bad mutha shut-yo-mouth, but I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft..."

She blinked. What the fuck...?

Branks and the Thai man stared at her.

"I think I'm gonna be sick..."

"Not bad," Branks said. "I give it a 5, though."

Harris shook his head. "Two..."

"Is this normal?"

"For around here, yes."

"You people are crazy," The man said.

"Indeed." Harris took the phone away. "Now, then, you've served your purpose..."

Branks went to Shaine's bed and helped her sit up. "I suggest not taking up singing as a new line of work."

"Huh?"

"Your rendition of Shaft was...mediocre." She flashed a light pen in Shaine's eyes.

Shaine winced. "No, seriously...what's going on?"

"Food poisoning. I just gave you the antitoxin, and you had a reaction."

"Okaaay...I remember that part..."

"We are now in the process of torturing the man who did this to you."

"Oh. Cool!"

Harris glared at the other man. "Looks like I'd best get you out of here. I promised to let you go - and not to hurt you - so looks like I'll do just that."

"...When you began to sing the theme from Shaft."

"I did not!"

"Off key, of course," Branks added unhelpfully.

"I've never even seen that movie."

I could have the monitors do a playback...?"

"...No." Shaine sulked.

Harris looked up from his captive. "Shaine, your singing sucks."

"And the pitch..."

"I will have you know I have the voice of a lark!"

"Lark, indeed..."

"One of these days I will prove it to you."

"Lark, maybe," Branks mused. "With a bad thought condition..."

"After I shot the damn thing," Harris put in.

"...And he ran over it a few times, yes." Branks nodded.

Shaine cleared her throat and began coughing. "Damn..."

"Something like that. But then it could be worse: Crimson could be singing."

"Aw, shit."

Shaine shook her head.

"Hey, excuse me? Can I go now?" The man said.

"Well," Shaine continued, "You ought to know, I have my mother's voice--" She held up a hand to cut off any smart remarks and hissed, "And I do not mean after she got it with the knife. But right now...oooh my throat..."

Branks shone the pen light down her throat and nodded. "It's a little raw - which would explain a lot...let me give you something for that."

"Yeah. Jinks, take our helper outside. I'll be there shortly." Harris went off to get his hardsuit.

"By your command." Jinks flagged Hugo down and had him carry the man outside.

"I got a fear of flying on a plane 'cause we never know just how it ends up/Well in my mind..." Shaine cut herself off. "I finally get it back and he's gone...shit..." She stared out at the doorway for a moment, then shook her head. Like it matters anyway...

"Should I cower in fear?"

"Branks, knock it off," Crimson ordered. He strode into the room, looking haggard but showing no other ill effects of either poison or antitoxin. "Shaine, your voice is fine." He sank down onto the bed next to hers.

///

"What the fuck? Who are you, Batman?"

Harris grabbed his prisoner by the shoulders, hitting his jump jets. "More like Superman."

The man screamed in fear. Rising to about 2000 feet, Harris held his position over the base and aimed for the pavement. "I promised to let you go and not to hurt...and I shall keep that promise."

"No, no, kill me, please don't let me go--"

Harris did.

The screams only lasted for a little while, and then all that was left was a nice spatter on the road below.

"I'll go get the brooms," Hugo sighed.

///

When Harris got back to medbay, Crimson was sitting on the edge of Shaine's bed. He looked like shit. Harris told him so. "So do you. Nice bloodstains."

"...and she was singing--"

"Yes, the theme from Shaft. You can shut up about it now."

"Aww, that's just a scratch." He winced in pain. "I'll get over it."

"Another member of the walking wounded club." Branks rolled her eyes. "I swear I need to lock the lot of you up each time I tend to your wounds..."

"Not my fault," Shaine said. "And next time, let's go to Al's, okay?"

"Well, make it quick, Branks. I have a meeting to attend. Have to show my gratitude to the one who paid these assholes to miss and shoot me in the side."

"Oh, no. Not tonight you aren't. You're in no shape to be running around playing hellraiser and Indians."

"It's not until tomorrow night."

Branks turned to Crimson. "And that goes for you too. Jail cells...I need jail cells..."

Harris shook his head. She promptly hit it with her palm, snapping, "Stop that and hold still!"

"Now, then. Lessee...how many people dead today..." He started counting in his head, figuring it ought to piss someone off. He sighed. "What a day..."

Crimson looked at Alex. "Well, welcome to our humble home."

"Nice place you have here, Mr. Velendez. So what kind of mad scientist lives here?"

"That would be me," Branks called.

"We are the Men in Black," Shaine deadpanned. "Didn't I tell you that?"

Harris shook his head.

Alex looked slyly over his shoulder. "...Right."

"And you, sir, have been selected for a chance at the last suit you will ever wear." Alex laughed at her. "I'm serious!"

"Oh? Explain."

"He'll figure that out in time, ah...Agent L..."

She smiled. "Yeah, better let you handle that, Zed..."

Crimson exhaled sharply. "We have been in the company of one of the worst terrorist groups to plague Genom."

"And what do these terrorists call themselves?"

"They are the Steel Ravens."

"Them? What have they done, besides maybe help the cops out a few times?"

"That depends upon whom you ask."

Shaine cut in. "Do you really think the AD Police is what keeps rogue Boomers from overrunning the streets?"

"There are those who think the Ravens heroes, and those who think them demons. Either way...we are them."

"The AD Police! Hmph...they couldn't fight a normal work Boomer!"

Shaine and Crimson both grinned at that. "Some could," Crimson argued.

"So let me get this straight. You're the Steel Ravens?"

"Yes, we are."

"Interesting. That explains the underground base and all..."

Branks looked at him. "Gee, then maybe you can explain it all to me..."

Alex looked at his surroundings. "So what does this have to do with me? --Oh..."

"You simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and because of what happened you were brought here."

"No kidding." He backed up slightly.

"There are two ways out of here."

"Yeah...thought that line would come up..." He slipped into what looked like a defensive stance.

"Only this time it's not a line. We could use another person of your abilities."

"Oh?" He relaxed a little."Don't you guys have a test or something? Or is it just, 'hey, we like you, you're in?' "

"We'll get to the tests soon enough."

Alex nodded. "Suppose that I agree, then...what happens?"

"There are a few matters still to be taken care of."

"Such as?"

"Normally we contact a recruit only after an extensive background check."

"And was such a check done on me?"

"At this point, no. We know some basic information about you and what you have told us yourself. However, that's not a problem."

Alex nodded again. "Everything you would want to know about me is in the CIA database at Langley."

"We go beyond the CIA; they tend to miss a few things." Shaine smiled as he said that. "And we have a set of rules which you must adopt as your own:

"You will not divulge any information concerning the Steel Ravens. You will never act upon a personal grudge. You will never act without the mutual consent of all Ravens.

"You will not attempt to secede from this organization. You are responsible for damage to the organization's equipment while it is in your possession or use, unless that damage was unavoidable. You will never divulge information regarding any of our clients.

"You will not attempt to gather intelligence on your own. This task will be divided among all members as seen fit. You will keep in regular contact with other members. The penalty for violating any of the rules is death. Do you understand?"

Harris grinned. Well gee, I must've broken at least one of those by now and I'm still alive...

"Just one question...what is your goal?"

"To destroy Genom," Shaine said quickly.

"We stand between Genom and human life," Crimson explained. "They tend to think they're all-powerful. We defend the innocent, stop rogue Boomers, cyborgs, and other man-made monsters."

"What the hell, I'm in!" He smirked. "Those suits of yours...I get one, right?"

"Yes. One will be made for you at the right time."

"And until then?"

"A temporary suit. But a word about that: the suits are owned by the Ravens, but you will have full access whenever you need it."

"So it'd be best not to wreck your suit. Had some difficulties some time back about that..."

"No kidding," Shaine muttered, sneaking a glance at Harris. Crimson shook his head.

"A little rough on the equipment, are you?"

"Naw, not really..."

Shaine's voice lowered even more. "Snakebite Effect..."

"You have no idea," Crimson said.

"I was within the parameters of the mission - which was completed without fail."

"Yes, and you're not the only one who's done it."

Alex stifled a laugh.

"...Something funny?"

"Oh...no." He was nearly in tears from holding it in. Turning away from Harris slightly, he winked at Shaine.

Harris stood and walked over to him, his expression cold and distant. "Really. Seems we're a funny man...want something to laugh at?"

"Sure." Alex looked right into his eyes.

Harris sucker punched him in the gut. "Just remember...you asked for it." Shaine's eyes widened in surprise as Alex took it - and smiled.

Crimson leapt to his feet. Harris turned and started walking away. "My turn," Alex said, and stood, landing a punch on Harris's back. Harris turned, pivoting on his right foot, bringing his left foot around to meet the side of Alex's head.

Alex slumped to the ground.

Harris took a few steps back, clutching his side. Blood soaked through his shirt. Now I'm definitely pissed...

"Enough," Crimson snapped before Harris could do anything more. Now what...?