Seeking a Doctor

With a devastating storm in the rearview and their destination of Sihar just hours away, the feeling aboard the ship was akin to the waning days of a cold war. Shaad and Vega had been 'allowed' their weapons back, but still were 'advised' against carrying them while aboard the ship lest any 'misunderstandings' ensue.

Shaad remembered the look he and Vega exchanged after that conversation. One of exasperation. Bemused that after two clashes, they still thought mere blades were what they should be wary about. Still, they complied. It was simply easier, not to mention more convenient, to not incite a conflict with the people ferrying them.

The port was shockingly busy. None of the group had been out here before and seemed confounded by the level of bustling activity flourishing before their eyes: boisterous merchants and shopkeepers loudly hawking their wares for all to hear as far as any could see and endless crowds of consumers from all social strata clamoring about the ocean of flesh. Barely anyone paid them even the slightest mind as the ship ambled into an open space with even Shaad's yells over the side going unanswered.

A clap on the shoulder interrupted the occasionally impulsive young captain's growing frustration as Isaac offered him a genuinely warm smile. "Well, looks like this is where we separate. You're go- not bad people. I hope Raine recovers from whatever it is that ails her."

"Yeah. First, we need to find a doctor or a hospital, but these pricks are all too selfish to even listen!" Shaad's voice grew irate with returning malice. Isaac, for his part, thought better than to confront Shaad with the possible projection coupled in that outburst, instead letting the younger man move on himself.

"Vega, take Raine and meet me about. . . hmm, say, fifty meters up that main road," Shaad pointed, eyeing the city's layout as best he could. "Isaac, what say you to doing me one more small favor?"

"No."

Shaad raised an eyebrow at K'ron's interjection behind Isaac, catching Berret nodding agreement from the Crow's Nest in his peripheral before looking to Isaac for a binding answer.

"What?"

"I just need you to throw a punch," Shaad smirked. "Ya know, like the one ya say you threw for -," Shaad sneeringly referenced K'ron with a jab of his finger. Isaac responded with an appraising look bordering on disapproval and denial. "Don't worry; this trip 's allowed me to re-embrace some of the truth in my old teacher's near fanatical insistence on the importance of footwork."

Ignorant of Shaad's meaning behind those words, Isaac nonetheless agreed to assist the rival pirate, watching Vega disembark with Raine while Shaad adjusted the angle of his arm for the agreed upon punch.

"Perfect," Shaad clapped Isaac's fist. "With this we say goodbye. And, should we meet again. . . I won't hold back."

K'ron caught Shaad's eyes and matched the fierce glare sent his way in the seconds before the latter jumped high into the air, body turning in midair to meet Isaac's 'Destructive Wave Fist'.

Zipping over the sprawling marketplace, the wind beat against Shaad's face like an angry lover. He loved it; the crisp, humid air whipping around him. Even then, though, those below, so engrossed in their own comings and goings, milled about oblivious to his presence.

That was fine. This entire country would pay attention soon enough. His objective - Raine - was too important to let anyone ignore or interfere. Shaad flipped in the air, the people below looking every bit as insignificant as they were to the preoccupied pirate. Extending his right leg and focusing his strength and energy into the ball of the foot, Shaad readied for landing.

Panic immediately gripped the populace when the earth shook. But, caught by surprise and densely packed as they were, even the quickest to react were much too slow as fissures ripped through the marketplace, chunks of earth shooting high while buildings crumbled low. What had been a peaceful day out for many, in an instant, became hell on earth, the cause unknown to even those closest much less the civilians panicking in collapsing buildings.

Stone structures fell like houses of cards, the people within trapped, their screams dying before given voice. With lovers gripping one another tightly, parents clinging onto children above ground, Shaad found himself in an underground tunnel. Tossing a concrete slab aside, Shaad saw a haggard man, barely breathing, beneath a pile of rubble and debris.

"H-Help. . ."

Crouching down, Shaad grabbed on to the man's outstretched hand. "Where's the best doctor in the country?"

"Please. . . H-hospital," he weakly groaned out, finger pointing as his arm fell limp and his eyes closed.

"Hmm," Shaad pondered, eyes moving up to the daylight shining through the massive hole in the street he'd created. With a weighted sigh, both his shoulders and expression dropped momentarily before, with a deep intake of air, a renewed sense of resolve washed over his face and he launched himself into the air.

Just in time, Vega grabbed hold of his captain's outstretched arm, flinging the swordsman ahead and rushing to catch up. The two bounded along the destroyed ruins, Raine being carried by their masked compatriot. Slowing their pace as they passed by a building creaking on its now fractured foundation, occupants scrambling for any way out, the group appeared to be like the frantic, screaming masses surrounding them, fleeing the widespread carnage that Shaad himself had wrought.

"Give me Raine! We'll meet at that hospital; find the broadcast room! . . Go!" Shaad had to shout to be heard over the chaos, pointing to the four story structure he'd spotted just seconds earlier. With Raine handed over, the two dashed off in separate directions.

Vega was faster. That much would probably be true in a straight foot race. But, in this environment - in a city, with its many obstacles - it was undisputed. Still, none could rightfully call Shaad slow. Even with Raine on his back, once he'd found an isolated enough space to kick off without too many eyes watching, the pirate was little more than a strong gust of wind zipping through the throng of people while Vega ran along the buildings as if it were the most natural thing.

Shaad had already lost track of Vega by the time he reached the hospital. That was fine. Entering the hectic, frantic lobby, he had actual concerns occupying his mind. With heavy, clipped steps, Shaad confronted the frazzled young woman behind the front desk. A hand slamming the desk hard enough to fracture the varnished wood summoned the woman's soft, doe eyes up to meet Shaad's cold, steel gaze. Fear, worry, concern, and a myriad other emotions warred on her face as tears threatened the corners of her eyes. She was too young, too new - emotions too raw - for an emergency of this magnitude, but it wasn't Shaad's job to acclimate her to the rigors of hers. Nor was he in a state of mind to care about her emotional well-being as the base of his voice demanded attention.

"My friend needs medical attention. Now!"

The urgency of Shaad's dictate shook the woman's smaller frame. Still, she denied him. "I-I'm s-sorry, sir. Unless your friend has cri-critical or life threatening injuries, she. . . she's gonna have to w-wait," she stated, her voice quivering even as she spoke.

Rage flickered across Shaad's face - the young receptionist's innocent eyes showing mortal terror - only to be stopped by Vega alighting beside him.

"Lead the way."

Now carrying Raine's pale, unconscious form, the captain followed along behind Vega. Spotting an older man with stress lines sporting a white, long coat, Shaad stood in the man's path.

"Excuse me," came the gruff rejoinder as his gaze trailed up til it met Shaad's.

"No," Shaad shook his head grimly. "You'll be excused when my friend here is able to walk out of this hospital."

"Sir, I'm quite busy. You'll just have to wait your turn." And, with that, the man nudged his way past. Vega turned as if to follow-up, but Shaad motioned him off with a shake off the head, the trek to their destination resumed and uninterrupted.

"Attention all doctors, staff, and occupants," Shaad's voice, hauntingly calm considering his earlier actions, reverberated through the transmitter snails throughout the hospital. "You have ten minutes to provide my friend the medical care she needs or evacuate the hospital. I await your answer; their are no third options.

"Well, it seems they've made their choice," Shaad lamented ruefully, watching hospital security round the corner in each direction until four of them blocked either path, riot shields and stun batons in hand. Regret showed plainly on his face as he set Raine, cradled in his arms, onto the ground. "I'm sorry; just a little longer."

Shaad spared no further words. Falling backwards, he spun around and swung his arm out as if in a drunken stumble. The guards in that direction had no time to discern his actions before each of them lay in a heap like discarded trash, riot shields broken atop their battered bodies.

Across the way, answers were no more forthcoming as Vega downed the lot of them with utmost ease. Standing amidst the defeated security staff, Shaad again scooped Raine into his arms before speaking. "Let's go to the roof. Then, we head for the palace."

"Come in," a baby transponder snail chirped from one of the guards' pockets after the pair were out of earshot. "Have you apprehended the suspect? Carter, come in."

Shaad and Vega glided across the rooftops with ease, the hospital a pile of rubble and waste behind them and the country's palace set as their newest destination. Finding the palace was predictably simple, the large, elegant towers standing out even from the pristine backdrop of the elegant neighboring buildings. But, wanton destruction was no longer an option. The best doctor in the country was reportedly within those walls and the near endless patrolling security would prolong an engagement if nothing more. No, this called for something more. . . precise.

Alighting just out of sight, Shaad continued separately from Vega in what for him amounted to a casual jog until, under threat of force, he stopped just close enough to converse via light shouting. "Halt! State your name and business!"

"Please! My friend and I, as dignitary guests, come seeking the aid of the Chief Royal Physician. The hospital is destroyed and chaos rules what's left of the streets. Please; I beseech you. My friend is in dire need of immediate medical attention." With each plea, Shaad crept closer, nearly on his knees in a picture of complete dejection.

Still, though, the many armaments protecting the palace perimeter remained focused on Shaad as the gate captain exited through a crack in the imposing double doors, one of the soldiers lowering his spear so the gate captain and a small contingent of men could pass. Standing a spear length apart from their unknown visitor, the captain repeated his men's earlier call for Shaad to identify himself.

Shaad was silent for a spell, shoulders sunk with his downcast gaze focusing solely on Raine and hiding his face while he plotted. He could further lie or deflect, but both would end the same way: a siege of the castle and holding the King and physician hostage. Or, he could pose as a part of his father's network. He could probably carry that long enough to get inside at least.

"Please," Shaad whimpered, the low mewl turning to a wail as he pled anew. But, the pirates continued supplications fell on deaf ears.

The gate captain raised his voice to command the removal of the sobbing hindrance. As he did so, Shaad's now hoarse voice - no telling when the implorations went from acting to sincere - went silent, head dropping weakly as the pirate's shoulders sunk. This time, though, it was not with faux defeat but very real resignation.

'Why must people continue to disappoint,' Shaad thought mournfully as Vega started to emerge from the shadows covering him. The pirate captain, for his part, was withdrawing his arms from under Raine when a yell gave pause to all those gathered. The origin of the voice, being from a third story window overlooking the palace entryway, attracted every eye to its source, giving Shaad the chance to call off Vega for the time being.

Meanwhile, the speaker, a bookish young man approximately Shaad's age called for everyone to calm down, the nerves he felt clearly broadcast in the shaky beginnings of his speaking voice. "C-Captain, please release those two to my authority. You may inform any who ask that these guests are h-henceforth present under my name and may be located in my chambers until further notice."

"Young sir," the gate captain countered in his rich, commanding baritone, "with respect, these people have provided no business or identification explaining themselves. For your safety as well as that of the other noble and Royal family members, we cannot just let them by."

"Am I to understand that you're disobeying a direct order then, captain," yet another new voice questioned, this one far more terse and confident in its delivery.

Shaad's eyes came down, confusion and hope naked in his appraising gaze as he looked upon the young woman confidently striding from the palace. She carried herself like a soldier. That image was reinforced by her attire - a tight, black tank top over black leather pants with a weapons belt hugging her rounded hips, a short sword and pistol tucked away on the accessory.

While this new woman spoke with the gate captain, Shaad gauged her potential threat level knowing wherever Vega was around there, he was no doubt doing the same. Her muscles were firm and sculpted without losing their feminity, her brown hair pulled back so as not to block her peripheral vision. But moreso than her admitted attractiveness, Shaad honed in on her right arm, a cybernetic modification going to just above the elbow. Whether an enhancement or prosthetic he didn't know, but it was clearly top notch work.

Shaad didn't know how long he'd been distracted for, but when his focus returned, the conversation was over and the woman was telling him to follow her.