Chapter 1 – Is There A Way

It had been several days since the Opera and Amber Sweet had already laid claim to GeneCo. With Luigi acting as bodyguard and Pavi showing less and less interest in the actual company and more interest in his face transplants, she was undisputed. No one had bothered to go looking for the young girl that Rotti Largo had originally stated as his heir. Most assuming that she had never made it home that night, or if she did she'd end up on the streets eventually. Taking for granted that her body would show up in one of the many mounds of bodies that were scattered through out the city.

He didn't like it and was certain she was alive and well, if shattered and broken emotionally. But he couldn't just go back to her house. He was positive that he was one of the last people she wanted to see right now, always getting her in trouble as she claimed.

A smirk spreading across his pale face, he quickly ducked down an alley as GeneCops came patrolling. Waiting patiently for the Cops to pass so he could climb to the rooftops undetected, he worked his way to his favorite harvesting grounds. The graves of the 'better off' was where the best zydrate could be found. And Graverobber was known for having the very best. He also figured, that while he couldn't go see the girl directly, he could at least sneak a peak and make sure that she was breathing at least. No one would ever know that he had even been there if he snuck in threw the old tomb. At least, that's what he kept telling himself as his feet took him across the roof tops. Quiet as the alley cats and rats the populated the streets along with the homeless and the druggies.

From his roof top vantage point, he could see the lights dully glowing from her house. So at least someone was staying there, at least for the time being. It would only be the neighborly thing to do to make sure that it was the proper tenants. And maybe score a new zydrate gun out of the deal. And it wasn't like he was checking on her or anything. No. Of course he wasn't. Obviously no one had ever told him not to try and con a con artist. Even if that con artist was yourself.

Climbing from the roof tops, he didn't even bother to hide himself from the GeneCops at this point. It was only a matter of steps into the tomb from the fire escape he used and the patrols were on the other side of the grave site at this time of night. Just like that first night they met, he waltzed up to the door as if he owned the place, and let himself in.

Sketching a slight salute to the grave marker of Mrs. Marni Wallace and the latest addition of Nathan Wallace, he worked his way around to the door that Shilo had used. And that was that, he was in. He knew that at this point, he wouldn't be able to just walk away. He needed to know that the kid was alright. He needed to know that the night of the Opera had really meant something. That the dominos of change had been set in motion and a new market and submarket would begin to grow.

He was in, and she was in the kitchen. He could hear her as she did whatever it was she was doing. Slowly, he poked his head in. Not really sure what he expected to see. But their she stood at the counter, head bare with the beginnings of dark fuzz growing where her wig once sat. White blouse, black slacks, bare feet and a look over her shoulder at him that was clearly saying without words, "What took you so long?" And there on the kitchen table, a medical bag and a messenger bag, fully packed and waiting.

"Hey kid, you survived," was the only thing he could think to say. Mentally kicking himself for not being any more clever, he leaned against the door frame and watched as she finished whatever it was she was doing at the counter.

She graced him with a smile, turned around with a sandwich in her hand and sat at the table. "I thought you might be hungry, don't really have anything else to eat around here. Didn't feel the need to go food shopping when I won't be staying." She gestured for him to take a seat as she placed the sandwich on the table for him.

Raising an eyebrow at her, he took the offered food, but neglected to sit down. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, he just didn't trust her. Preferring to stay on his feet incase he needed to make a quick escape. "Where exactly do you plan to go?"

Another smile, this one obviously sad, she opened the medical bag and pulled out a pamphlet for medical school somewhere in India. "I'm leaving to study medicine. I plan to be a doctor. A good doctor. The kind of doctor that saves lives. Because life is worth saving. I think...I think it's what my...my father would of wanted. And it's what I want." She stared at the pamphlet, fixated on it, refusing to make eye contact with him as she spoke. "I was hoping that you would watch over my house for me while I was gone. It's paid for. All you would have to do is keep squatters out and the roof from falling in. It'll take several years for me to get my degree...would hate to come home to a condemned house."

"You hardly know me kid, what makes you think you can trust me with your house?" Seriously, what kind of drugs did that Repoman have her on anyways? There was no way this girl was right in the head. But Graverobber had been around drug addicts his whole life. He could tell that whatever was going through her mind, it wasn't any kind of drug.

Looking up at him, her sad smile warmed slightly. "Because Robber, you came. Even when you were getting me in trouble, you were still there. And if I know someone is here, I'll have a reason to come back and finish everything, once and for all."

He knew he'd do it. That he'd watch over her house and make sure she had a safe place to come home too. He knew it. And she knew it. Because he knew he coudn't follow her this time. That she would have to go into the world on her own. They both also knew that if she didn't leave soon, Amber Sweet would remember that Shilo Wallace was supposed to inherit GeneCo. Of all the things that Amber Sweet is, tolerant of potential rivals, was not one of them.

So with a sigh, he took a bite of the sandwich she had made for him. Crunch peanut butter, could of been worse at least. "All right kid, I'll watch over things for ya." But before he could even get the sentence out, she was already pulling on her coat and grabbing her bags.

"I won't leave you a key Robber, I know you won't need it. Take care." And she was out the door and out of his life. If he had known that he wouldn't see her again for eight years, he would of made the effort to follow her to make sure she got out of the city safely. But how was he to know how long she would be gone? He had no idea how long it actually took to become a doctor. Let alone a good doctor.