"They call it 'Mother's ruin'," Doctor Malone said as he inspected the contents of the pouch given to him, "I suppose given Robyn's circumstance it's rather apt. We've had eight people rushed into the emergency room since this stuff came on the scene; it's claimed two lives and debilitated two other victims."
"What is it made from exactly?" Kit asked, his hand holding Robyn's while she was sleeping deeply on their bed.
Doctor Malone thought for a moment, "There's quite a list. It's a combination of some of the nastiest off cuts of the mainstream drugs. In each batch they've found traces of LSD, Cocaine, Heroin and some traces of what you'd find in ordinary medicine cabinets. It's a nasty one indeed."
"She'll be ok, right?" Robbie's head was spinning and he didn't know if he could hear anything less.
"Yes. Without Morgan's quick thinking it could have been a different story but then Robyn's metabolic rate is higher than the average person and it seems her body has metabolised it differently. I got in contact with Doctor Cole and he agrees that another hospital admission isn't warranted. She'll sleep it off and should be fine. Just push fluids and give her some TLC, she'll need it."
Sportacus shook Doctor Malone's hand as the man went to leave, "Thanks Doctor. I'm just so surprised that she did this, I never thought she'd do anything like take drugs."
Standing against the wall with his arms folded, Nine huffed.
Doctor Malone took note of Nine's reaction and responded, "Robyn's a smart young woman even though she doesn't always make the smartest choices and I'm sure she won't need anyone to tell her never to do this again. I'd imagine that she's unlikely to have become fully addicted to anything she's been taking but she may still go through withdrawal. You'll have to weather the storm if it happens. If you need any help you know the numbers to ring."
As Doctor Malone left, Nine walked over and closed the bedroom door behind him, blocking the Network Officers assembled on the landing from entering. He heard Langford's muffled protest but paid it no heed.
He had something to discuss with his family.
Morgan laid on the couch at the Mayor's house, staring at the ceiling. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the familiar shape of Bessie pass him and he looked up. She was hovering about the room nervously watching him until she thought it best to sit down, as she did so Morgan sat up.
"You did a good thing today." Bessie said at last. She'd heard what had happened at Robyn's house when the Network Officers had brought Morgan home.
"Hm." Morgan shrugged, smiling slightly. "I suppose it was. Not part of my usual behaviour. I was just in the right place at the right time, nothing more."
"Don't be so modest, dear. You really helped her."
"I doubt it will make a great deal of difference to the Network. One or two good deeds doesn't make up for the crimes I've committed. You forget I laid my blade on two of their officers. They weren't the only people I've killed. I've accepted that I'll be taken from here and given the punishment deserving of me. Lily always told me that amongst our kin from the Island there's only one solution for killing your own. Some might say it's barbaric, others that it's old fashioned but I doubt anyone will try and stay the execution of one of Lily's children."
Bessie gasped, "They wouldn't do that...they they can't! Heroes don't kill people!"
"Exactly, because they know of the punishment. Those that have killed once or twice, it's known that they receive a more lenient sentence but for those of us such as Lily and I, there is only one course of action that they'll take. Langford has already talked through it with me and informed me of the process. I'll be interrogated in the hopes I might reveal Lily's whereabouts, then I will stand trial for my crimes. It will remain in the eyes of the court how long I'm to be imprisoned before I receive my just punishment."
Unable to hear anymore, Bessie got up and left the room as quickly as her age would allow. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue as she tried to dry the tears she felt running down her cheeks.
She couldn't believe it was true.
Knowing that he had the full attention of everyone with the exception of the sleeping Robyn, Nine spoke. "First thing in the morning I'm taking Robyn back to the Island in the North with me."
"What?" Sportacus wasn't sure he'd heard his father right.
"This place is too dangerous. There are too many influences. Regardless of the amount of people protecting her or looking out for her, things keep going wrong. I will no longer stand back and watch them happen. If anything she will be protected from Lily, she would never dare return to the Island."
"You can't do that!" Kit protested, "She was born here! She's lived her whole life here!"
"A life that's likely to be cut short if she remains here. How many more failures are you asking to be allowed to make? What more could I expect from an ex-villain, a clown and an incestuous son?"
"Here we go again!" Langford's muffled voice sounded behind the door; Nine's volume had increased to a level that could be heard from outside of the room.
Kit chuckled without mirth, "I'm surprised you don't fall over with the amount of times you go round in circles, Nine. All you do is cast blame on other people yet you've only been around for what? Six weeks? Have you ever wondered if you'd been here that the majority of stuff that's happened to Robyn wouldn't have happened anyway?"
"That's why I'm doing something now! Things have to change and the rot stops here!"
"And what?" Kit bit back, "You'll keep her prisoner? Lock her in a tall tower or a dungeon. Put her in a high chair and spoon feed her like a baby? Are you really that stupid to think that she won't fight you hammer and tongs to come back here if she even lets you take her in the first place? I might be a clown, I might be the Town Fool or the Village Idiot but even I see that taking her from a place she's only known, away from the people she loves and that love her that she'll be miserable. You're taking her away to fix her problems but you'll only bring up thousands more. You can't handle her Nine; she's too much for you. You're an old man. If you want to go back to the Island then do so, but you're not taking her with you."
Nine's jaw was set. He'd made up his mind and Kit's arguments did little to sway him.