Atlas handed the book back to Moema, "You were right. I enjoyed it." She offered a small smile as she ran her fingers over the spine before holding it close. Atlas stalled a moment as he looked downwards, "It'll be strange... Not waking up here..."
A nod came from the woman, "It will be strange without someone here..."
"Maybe Moira can still clean for you?" offered Atlas, "Then I'll be able to visit from time to time." The blatant hope behind his eyes caused Moema to open and shut her mouth repeatedly before nodding.
"That would be pleasant..." her statement made Atlas smile widely but she did not return it this time. "Atlas... You are married and you have a beautiful son. We have spent a lot of time together as of late and it is nice... But you and I need to be very careful about how we approach this. We must only be friends, understand?"
His grin dropped and he looked a little disheartened before nodding. "Prolly fer th'best."
Moema nodded, "Indeed..." The two then looked to the door as it opened to a hasty Moira. "Moira, are you alright?"
Moira shook her head and quickly rushed to Atlas to hug him tightly, Patrick between them. "Atlas, it was awful!" she declared.
"Moira." Atlas pulled her back to look her over, "What 'appened?"
"Ryan's takin' all the little girls... That Orphanage was doin' somethin' awful to the girls sent there."
That piqued Moema's interest, "What?"
Moira looked to Moema, "Fontaine's Orphanage is doing something to the little girls... It's all a lie!"
The look of disappointment and rage on Moema's face was clear before she shut her eyes to inhale and exhale. "I don't want you three to return... I would feel better if you all stayed here." Moema rushed to the couch and pulled it out slightly only to flip it on its back to reveal a machete a shotgun and a few handguns and ammunition. She only took a handgun and extra clip. Although she was sure she'd be fine, she didn't want to risk it right now... Not with this news... You don't mess with someone's children. Period. "Do not answer the door, do not leave. Lock it behind me." she said before heading out of the door without saying a word.
Moema had looked everywhere for Fontaine but found him in the last place she would expect; Her living room. "Heard you been lookin' for me." No words came from Moema as she checked outside the door before shutting it. She then went and checked the bathroom, the guest room, and her own bedroom before halting herself in front of Fontaine.
"What have you done with them, Fontaine?"
He pulled a face, "I didn't do anything to anyone, Ema."
"Tch. I don't believe you, Fontaine... Where are they?" she growled, fists clenching tightly.
"Who?" The glare she gave caused him to smirk, "Oh, Atlas Moira and Patrick?"
"Who the hell else would I be speaking of, Fontaine?"
"They're gone." He lied, looking at his nails a moment to portray a sort of nonchalance. "Ran off." he pointed to the door, "Left it wide open."
Moema glanced back at the door a moment before returning a suspicious look to Fontaine. "You're lying."
A small laugh echoed in the living room. "You never could believe me..."
"Because you're a lying shit." spits Moema. "That Orphanage... What are you and Ryan doing to those little girls you claim to be helping?"
"Ryan ain't doin' shit, Ema." he states, crossing one leg over the other.
"He's forcibly taking the daughters of many of the poorer people." Her statement drew a small eye-roll from Frank. "What have you done, Frank?"
His eyes connected with hers before he stood to button his jacket and straighten it. "I'm just tryin' ta help the people, Ema."
"No, you're not. You don't care about them... You're just like Ryan." She was thoroughly surprised when he was suddenly in front of her, his hands clutching her shoulders.
"I'm nothin' like that stiff! Nothin', y'hear me?!" he shook her slightly.
"Attacking me isn't quite helping your case, Fontaine." growled the shaken woman.
Frank released her and shook his head. "He don't care for anything, Ema... Nothin' but him."
"Oh? And you're a miraculous exception to the same trait?" she sassed darkly.
"I care fer more than myself, Ema... I care about more." he explains, frustrated and pacing the length of the coffee table.
"Oh? Like your wallet? Image?"
He looked sharply at her and just stared a moment, "I care about one more thing... I care about a woman... And she's insufferable... Smart mouthed bleedin' heart!" he stepped fully in front of her. "I care about you, Moema..." She stands there, silent, as her brain slows down to register what he just said. "Say somethin', damnit!"
"I don't..." she took a step back but he caught her arms and held her steady and close. "Then why do you always lie to me?"
"Ema..." he sighs and shakes his head slowly as he looks downwards. "In the things I end up doin', it's best I don't tell you a single thing about what I do..." he leveled his gaze with hers, "It was fer yer own good... You gotta trust me on this. The less you know, the safer you'll be." When she still looked suspiciously at him, he sighed, "Please... Just this once, trust me. I'll fix everything..."
Before she could react, he leaned down and kissed her rather passionately before heading out the door. Moema stood there, a little wide-eyed, fingers to her lips. It was hardly romantic... She felt no passion... Her mind raced a moment before halting on the family she had left in her home. She cursed under her breath and paced for a few minutes to give Frank time to leave the area before rushing out once more.
Moema was in Neptune's Bounty before she knew it and she went to where she knew Sullivan would be. Several people halted her from moving further into the Station area and it was her luck when Sullivan began walking by, "Mr. Sullivan. I need a quick word with you..."
He looked over at her, staring, before shoving the paperwork files he was going over under his arm to approach her. "Doctor Suero. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure."
"I don't know of the loyalty of the people you happen to work with, so perhaps we can go somewhere a little more private with less ears..." she states, glancing from person to person. She misses the surprised quirk in Sullivan's brows.
Nodding, Sullivan motions her to follow him to the back, where the interrogation and observation rooms reside. It was a bit messy, seeing as more incidents were popping up. "This is as private as it gets, Doctor Suero."
A short nod comes from Moema before she cradles her arms against herself. Her throat clears before she speaks, "I have heard a few awful things about what both Frank and Ryan are doing..." Sullivan pulled a face momentarily. "I don't..." she sighs, "I was letting Atlas go home today. Moira, his wife, was to come and gather him up to get him home... But she came in in an absolute panic. She said the little girls who were not to go to the Little Sister's Orphanage were being snatched up. She was terrified and upset."
"What about you?" Sullivan asks, pulling out his pen and paper.
"I was livid." she spits, her cradling arms turning into a tight crossing. "I felt lied to and I don't know what I was thinking... That... Rat bastard." she scoffed, "Both of them."
"Who?"
"Fontaine and Ryan!" She hissed. "Neither care about the people. They just want what they think they deserve... Neither deserve a damned thing anymore. Greedy garbage." her head shook before she set a hand to her head, "I told Atlas and Moira to stay in my apartment when I went to look for Fontaine to get some answers... I must have looked all over Rapture, but I couldn't find him. When I came home, Moira, Patrick, and Atlas were missing and in their place was Fontaine. He was waiting for me... And when I asked about where they'd gone, he made up this story about how when he showed up, the door was wide open."
"And you don't believe him?" Sullivan asked, scarcely glancing up as he wrote.
"Of course not! I am fairly adept at telling when he blatantly lies... The tricky ones are when there is some truth... He said he didn't touch them... I suspect that might be true... But he is definitely responsible for their disappearance. They have a baby boy, Mr. Sullivan. Atlas still needs a few things despite being able to go home now... I've given Moira a job... He is directly responsible for their vanishment, I know it. It was in the way he said he didn't have anything to do with it."
Sullivan let silence fill the air as he finished writing before looking up at her. "Why would he want them gone?"
"I'm not exactly sure and I really hope it isn't because of his proclaimed affections for me... I prefer men like Atlas... Honest men who make honest wages. Fontaine is the furthest thing from being an Honest men and he makes the furthest thing from an Honest wage." she growls, using one hand to emphasize her words. She sighed and shook her head before rubbing at her forehead.
"Have you and Atlas explored your prefer-"
"Of course not!" she shouted. "Why would I do that to them? Why would he do that to his wife?"
"Honest Men are still men, Doctor Suero..." Sullivan states, quirking a brow at her. "Listen Doctor... I can tell that you're one of the good people in a sea of God awful folks... Try your hardest to stay away from politics and being charitable... Things are getting crazy around here and it'd be terrible if you got wrapped up in it."
She blinked at him, "What are you saying? Are you going to look for them?"
He sighed, "I'll bring this up to Ryan-" Moema growled and turned, leaving the room. When she got out to the grouping of desks, Sullivan called after her, "Doctor! I'll do all I can, but-"
"You're working for a man who cares nothing for you, me, or anyone, Mr. Sullivan. How does that make Rapture a paradise for the people?" she turned and pointed, "If you fools continue taking his selfish orders, you're going to be the horsemen bringing destruction and civil unrest to Rapture. The kidnapping of children? The freedom to abuse whichever substance... A society cannot survive without rules... A building cannot stand without structure." her head shook, "The 'structure' of Rapture was built upon airy ideals of a man tired of rules. Rules keep order. Order keeps humanity. Without order, humanity is nothing but part of the animal kingdom. Do you understand? Do you, Mr. Sullivan? Ryan and Fontaine are killing us, damning us all. We will all die down here..." she offered a forced smile of indignation, "And who is going to care? We'll be dead and no one will know. No one."
"Doctor Suero... I will do my best-"
"Is it money you are honest to?" She stepped closer, "Is that it? Money?" He remained silent as she approached. "I will give you everything I have just so that you will do your damn job as a Public Servant. I will give you all I have if you stop being Ryan's lapdog... If you do something about the crimes..."
It gets quiet as Moema stares intensely at Sullivan. The other 'Officers' watch curiously. Sullivan sighs and swallows before speaking, "I cannot accept that-"
"How long before your humanity catches up with you, Mr. Sullivan?" Her brown eyes squint dangerously at him, "You know that the things you do for that crooked, crooked man will eat you alive... And here's the funny part..." she chuckles dryly, "Ryan won't care." her feet moved her back two steps, "Good day to you, Mr. Sullivan... Because we both know that Rapture is going to Hell!" she then left, leaving Sullivan to think about it.
Moema walked into Aesthetic Ideals and looked at Jamison who handed her some mail and files. "Uh, Doctor?" he stopped her as she was about to head off to her office. When she looked to him again, he continued; "Yolandi didn't come in today... She stayed after hours... Her things are still in her locker." he seemed nervous about this next bit, "So are Doctor Steinman's."
"Did you check his office?"
"Yes. No one is in there..." he nodded.
"And Surgery?"
Jamison shook his head, "We've no surgeries scheduled today..."
Moema nodded very slowly, "Damn..."
"Should I call-"
"No. No one will help us in the way we need..." she growled. "Make sure the shotgun under this desk-" she pointed to the reception desk Jamison stood behind, "- is ready... Just in case."
He leans over the desk, "I've never used a gun before!"
She chuckles, "None of the nurses here have used a gun. That's why there's a shotgun and nod a rifle or handgun." With that dealt with, she moves to her office to set down her things before gathering up a revolver and stuffing it down the back of her skirt waist band. Leaving her office, Moema went to Surgery and entered to find Yolandi unconscious - possibly dead - on the operating table with Steinman raving and thrusting at thin air. She turned right around and went to Jamison, "We're closed. Go home and don't return until I tell you."
Jamison went wide eyed, "But, Doctor Suero... What's happened?"
"Steinman's lost his mind. Quickly, leave."
"What about you? Shouldn't you leave?" he asked as Moema went to head back to Surgery.
"I need to calm Steinman and get Yolandi the hell out of there." came the easy answer from Moema.
"But, won't you need... Backup?"
"You don't know how to use a gun. It's best you close up and go home. Alright?"
"I can't just leave-"
"You can and you will, Jamison. Rapture is going to hell, so take care of yourself." she nods as he shakes his head, "Do as I say. This is for your own protection. Go." With that, she went back to Surgery to find Steinman's pants around his ankles. She was thankful his coat covered what she really did not wish to see of Steinman. But it was clearly obvious he was masturbating. She noticed a nearby oxygen tank and carefully picked it up. With it held steadily over her head, she moved close enough to toss it at Steinman's head. When she did, the noise of his head being struck echoed in the Surgery room. Unsure if that would keep him down depending on what substance he did recreationally, or rather, habitually, Moema rushed to Yolandi and lifted the surgery veil over her face only to gasp and drop it in horror.
Taking a deep breath, she lifted the veil fully before checking for a pulse. There was one, but it was thread-y.
"Damnit Steinman..." muttered Moema before she looked for an easier way to transport Yolandi out of here...
"Need a hand, Doctor Suero?" came Sullivan's voice as several other 'Officers' and he stepped in. At the glare she tossed at him, he held up his hands. "We were investigating Dandy Dental when we ran into Jamison Kenith. He said that you told him to go home because something was wrong."
Moema scowled. "Steinman is a so-called 'friend' of Ryan's. You fools won't do anything so why bother?"
"Just because-" began Sullivan before being interrupted as Frank Fontaine rushed in calling for 'Ema'.
A small growl escaped Moema who turned back to Yolandi to scoot the unconscious woman towards her. Pulling Yolandi to sit up, Moema set the paler woman's arms over her back, making it so Yolandi was leaning over Moema's shoulder. With that settled, Moema pressed the hand of the shoulder Yolandi was resting on to Yolandi's shoulder before looping her free arm around Yolandi's knees. Now with a firm grip, Moema stepped back from the table and took the opposite stairs Frank was barreling down. The large group of men watched her in awe as she single handedly carried a woman slightly taller than herself up a set of stairs and out the door.
"Ema!" Frank called before glaring at Sullivan. Turning on his heel, he almost tripped up the stairs before giving chase to Moema. "Would you wait a minute?"
"She needs help." was all Moema said as she entered her office, which had an operating table. She carefully laid the other woman down before strapping her down to it.
"What's with the straps?" Frank asks curiously before watching Moema rush around.
Moema pulls a few things over to the operating chair before washing her hands and slapping on a medical smock. "Steinman likes to use a lot of ADAM. If she wakes up with all that ADAM in her system, she's going to try something crazy. ADAM should never have been introduced as a Medical Miracle... But why would anyone listen to me, hm?"
The bitterness did no escape Frank, but when he went to respond, Yolandi's eyes snapped open and she began screeching. "Christ!"
"Step back, Fontaine." Moema calls before beginning to put IV's in Yolandi as well as a few other cords. As Yolandi struggled, Moema pointed a scalpel at the struggling woman, "You will sit still, Yolandi. And you will do so this very instant!"
The wide-eyed half-crazed look in Yolandi's eyes showed fear and recognition... But at least she stopped moving. "Doctor..."
"Hush. Let me see what I can do for you, Yolandi... I need to clean out your system before the ADAM settles..."
"It's too late..." Yolandi sobbed. Moema glanced up briefly before making a quick incision in Yolandi's side. "OW!"
"I can't use anesthetics... You're most likely too unstable for it." Moema states before looking to Frank, "If you're going to help, wash your hands and put on the extra smock... If not, step back.."
He blinks momentarily before going to wash his hands and remove his jacket. That was when Sullivan and several other men walked in.
"Doctor Suero, I need a word." Sullivan asks, tilting his head at the conscious and grimacing woman with the lopsided and distorted face.
"Have you not enough of your own, Mr. Sullivan? I'm busy right now. So you can either stand and wait, or get the hell out of my office. These are all the words I have for you at the moment." she began connecting several tubes to Yolandi and turned the machine connected to them on. Blood was sucked up, cycled and cleaned, then returned to Yolandi's body. There were bits of black gunk and glowing gunk in her blood and Moema sighed. "Yolandi... I am severely disappointed in you."
"It wasn't my fault, Doctor. I swear." Yolandi whimpers.
"You've been using ADAM for a long time, Yolandi... This black waste from the ADAM in your blood settles in your organs... In your brain. You knew this..." scolded Moema as she pulled the over-head light closer to Yolandi's face to check the work done to the woman's face.
"I knew... But it's just... Have you ever had it?" Yolandi tried, hopeful.
"I do not need substances foreign to the human body to feel better about my life, past present or future. I read, I study, I work on expanding my mind... Not my want for a superficial high." Answers Moema who tilts Yolandi's head up. Frank is now ready to help and stands well out of her way, just in case.
"Well, I didn't have the good life you did, Doctor..." whines Yolandi.
"I did not have a good life, you spoiled woman. It wasn't until I started helping my neighbors patch themselves up that I found my passion, my calling. Before that, I was lost and frightened and threatened. I was the product of rape. I've almost been raped many times... I've had to do some terrible things to stay alive and to keep my patients alive. I've faced adversity in many ways... But never once did I succumb. Never once was I weak willed enough to ruin what little I had. Coming to Rapture gave me a chance and now it's crumbling around us. Do you understand, Yolandi?"
Yolandi lets a few tears slide from her eyes and winces as Moema runs a thumb along a flesh seem. "I didn't want it... I swear."
"What were you doing after hours, when Jamison closed up?" Moema pressed.
"Please... I don't want to talk about this..." she begged.
"You will be honest with me, Yolandi... Your life hangs from a very delicate string right now." Moema states rather coldly, turning Yolandi's head to her left, partially to follow the seam and partially to let Yolandi see Sullivan and the others there.
Yolandi's eyes widened. "He... He... He asked me if maybe I'd like to make a little extra..." she glanced down in shame, "He knew what I used to be..." she shuts her eyes in both physical and emotional pain as Moema bends Yolandi's ear a bit to look behind it. "I said no at first... But he said that I reminded him of Aphrodite. That I reminded him of a Goddess he saw in his dreams..."
Moema frowned before motioning Frank bring a tray with pristine tools upon it closer. "What then?" asked the Doctor before glancing back at Sullivan to find him jotting this information down. When the tray was close enough, Moema snatched up some local anesthetic and lightly began dotting around the seam. It wouldn't be enough to hurt Yolandi or block the most excruciating pain... But it'd be enough for Moema to do a few things.
"I fell for it... For him. I stayed after and we fooled around a little before he began shaking... He said he needed more and asked me if I wanted any... I couldn't say 'no'... I just couldn't... So, he got some ADAM he had in his office-"
Moema stopped and straightened with a sigh. Of course. She was thinking Alcohol... She didn't suspect the ADAM because she had some in her office too! "- and he injected some into himself before offering me some too... I... I don't remember after that... Except for bits of pain before he gave me more..." Yolandi looked to Moema, "What did he do to me?"
Moema shook her head. "Don't worry about that right now, Yolandi. Just relax and let me help you." she pointed to the dialysis machine, "I'm cleaning your blood right now... But whatever damage that crap has already done to you is irreversible. This is what happens when you do too much of one thing. Especially a toxin." Moema sighed and looked to Sullivan, "Did you get all of that? Does it matter? Or are you going to let Steinman carry on because Ryan likes him?"
Sullivan sighs and puts his pen and paper away, "We'll hold him for a short while... Maybe get all that shit out of his system-"
"Great, you're going to do nothing... Because that's not how ADAM works." she shook her head and turned back to Yolandi, picking up her scalpel, "Go be useless elsewhere, Sullivan. Get out of my office."
"Doctor Suero..." begins Sullivan.
"No. Spare me your apathetic explanation of how your hands are tied and this is how things work. Just leave." she growls, making cuts around the bulge over Yolandi's eye.
"Ryan would like a word with you tomorrow..." he states, walking over to Moema's desk to set down an envelope. "If you don't show up on time, he'll send my boys and I to get you."
"Oh, how lovely. The dog will play fetch for his master." Moema mocks viciously. "Now that you've delivered your message, leave. You are not welcome here if you refuse to help the people. The victims of this crumbling ruin of a civilization."
Sullivan sighs but nods and ushers his men out.
In the silence afterwards, Yolandi, who is trying very hard not to move under Moema's scalpel glances up, "Can you fix me, Doctor? Please?"
Moema sighs, "I'm going to try." she glances to Frank who watches her carefully. After a moment, she continues with Yolandi.