[Junk XIII] Stitch the Hunter (S 5.6)

Rich

Stitch,

It's later that same day, after your dalliance with Metro, when Nezzy sends Audi and Santi to pick you up. Who from the Candies is with you? Have you brought Janco or Metro along?

Audi's laying out the plan as you are on the lift headed up, "We got thirty folks from the barrens to gather up for check-ups. The idea bein that you're the new doc, an that you're setting up a free clinic for em. You sniff out anyone that's one o Branny's pawns, and tell em some kinda drek to get them to come with us. You know, further evals, a frakkin lollipop, whatever..."

Santiba cuts in with, "And we execute them." She sneers at you and yours, "It aint my job to keep you happy, Stitch. Just alive."

The lift is about to open. What do you do?

Genevieve

Kiddo sent Chunnky and Whopper with me. I wanted to bring Metro, but if shit hits the fan it's better if he's not there. I asked him to keep an eye on the feeds just in case. Janco is with me- she'll hopefully help sell this story to the folks.

My mouth hangs open for a second. "I thought Nezzy wanted me to try to cure them?"

Rich

"Yeah, if you can," Audi answers, but Santi huffs a derisive laugh.

Chunky and Whopper are right behind you and Janco, Stitch. Whopper's got her weapons in holsters but in easy reach, Chunky has her assault rifle slung over her shoulder.

Janco eyes them all, then says, like she's talking to you, "Yeah, Stitch, I think we should tag them, but bring back like four folks, only one of them being a bad guy. That way, they'll come along quietly and we get a chance to try and fix them."

Genevieve

I nod. Hopefully there aren't too many to find. "Alright."

Rich

The lift stops moving and opens into what was once the main galley. It is the size of a couple warehouses, and has been converted into a shanty town. Standing around in front of the shacks and cubicles are maybe forty men, women and a few children. They're in moderate health, better than most citizens you've seen outside, but still skinny and underfed.

Janco starts talking to them. They don't make eye contact. Audi and Santi have moved away from each other, taking up the sides. You realize darkly that they've set up crossfire in case they need to mow these people down.

After her little preamble, telling everyone they are getting exams and some inoculations, a few folks relax a little. But most of them eye Santiba nervously. Audi, not so much, they avoid eye contact with him. You're taking all this in when Janco says, "The infirmary has a new head doctor who will be leading this free clinic. Her name is Stitch, and let me tell you, she is one hell of a doctor, folks. You're really in good hands."

She directs their gaze over to you. How are you dressed now? Look the part? There were clothes in Janco's closet, she offered them to you.

What do you do?

Genevieve

Yeah, I borrowed some clothes from Janco- she even had a lab coat she'd found, though it's faded and patched. My hair is pulled back in a ponytail and I'm about as professional looking as I can manage.

I get straight to 'examining' the people- not wanting to ruin the good Janco's talk did. I move to the first clump of people- they might be a family, I'm not sure.

OOC: Search for Bran's victims incoming.

Genevieve

OOC: Search for Bran's victims. Roll+weird. +1xp rolling highlighted.
(Rolled: 2d6+3. Rolls: 5, 2. Total: 10)

Rich

There are two of them, Stitch. A teenage boy named Breyer's who is holding his little sister Cadbury's hand, and a sour-faced guy named Oenida. It's as plain as day, the way they are warped.

What do you do?

Genevieve

I pull Santi aside, away from the people. "The boy holding the girl's hand and the sour-faced guy. How do you want to do this?" I ask, whispering. I'm afraid that if we escort Oenida up alone he'll make trouble. I think Breyer is less of a threat, but I also don't want to underestimate Bran.

Rich

Santi turns her back to the group and answers low, "Janco's idea sounded fine. Take the boy and girl both, Oneida and pick maybe four others. We take em all in the lift. I mean, drek, Stitch. You do have a stunner."

Genevieve

I consider giving Santi a look, but she'd ignore me. I was only asking her to minimize any violence- I'm not scared.

I go back to the group and point out Breyer, Cadbury, Oenida & four others who we've determined need tests or shots back up in the infirmary. "If the seven of you could come with us, we'll get all of that taken care of."

Rich

Stitch, so we're clear, these folk are pacified, but they aren't happy. I'd like to see you Act Under Fire here to keep everyone calm and keep these two from starting some kind of trouble.

Genevieve

OOC: Act Under Fire. Roll+sharp (good in the clinch). +1xp rolling highlighted.
(Rolled: 2d6+3. Rolls: 5, 4. Total: 12)

Rich

Alright, Stitch, you head back to the folks from the Barrens and list out the people to come back to the clinic with you. Oneida refuses to go, saying, "You're just going to kill all of us! It's a trick!"

And like it's a one-two punch, Breyer's moves forward, pulling out a hard plastic shiv in his right hand, his little sister's hand still in his left, pulling her along. He sees you as the threat, Stitch, he wants to cut you, to gut you.

Before he can strike, you reach out with a hand to take his wrist. It's a simple self-defense maneuver Rinso taught you just a few weeks ago, and you pull it off with textbook precision. You side-step and grab his wrist before Chunky can unsling her rifle, before Santi can bring up her pistol.

What's more, that touch, the contact, something unlocks for you. You think of Zero, how her mind was twisted by this man Branigans, and the spider in your vision, the webs around it. That's when you see it. His powers were more subtle than a puppet-master pulling strings. Branigans mastered the art of rewiring the associations of emotion and memory in his victim's brains. This kid here, Breyer's, he saw Branigans as the love of his own parents. He chose to try and kill you out of vengeance and loneliness and despair.

Seeing it laid bare like this, something you couldn't quite see before, it seems so simple. Like one of those pictures of a blob with a whale in it. You see all those strands and where he put the red wire where the blue wire used to go. So, being the Angel you are, you put it back. You re-order his mind, right here and now. You heal him.

This isn't a moment that is subtle. You're like some faith healer, and afterwards, folks in the Barrens talked about it like they saw some light shining out of your hands, but you know how those people make up stories.

But you do end up with Breyer's in your arms, and subsequently Cadbury, sort of in your lap since she was pulled along. He breaks down into tears, crying for the raw pain of the experience until you softly hush him, like a mother to a child. Like you might have for her. And he calms, he is soothed. He is amazed and awe struck by the single most magical moment in his young life. Years from now, he'll still talk about you, Stitch.

Audi moves in and stops Oneida, has to clock him on the head, but really, nobody notices. They're all fixed on you.

What do you do?

Genevieve

It all happened so fast. I hush both children. "Shh. It's ok now." I have both arms around them and a few tears leak out of my eyes. "I promise- I'm here to help."

After a few moments I look up at the awed faces and chuckle sort of nervously. "I'm here to help." I repeat to the whole crowd, a little louder.

Rich

Janco seconds your assurances, trying to help. But these folks aren't scared anymore. An older guy, good with wiring, named MiltonBradley, he helps the kids up, and then another person, a woman with thinning hair named Perrier helps you up.

Audi picks up Oneida and carries him to the lift while Chunky hangs by you. Santi ushers the others you'd picked to the lift as well, while Whopper and Janco wait for you.

Do you head on for the lift, or do you want to address these folks some more?

Genevieve

I head for the lift- there's more work to do.

Rich

(in the lift)

Janco grins at you and whispers, "Gods, Stitch. Is there anything you can't do?"

Genevieve

"I couldn't hit a Wendy with a baseball bat!" I joke. I guess that's something- I can joke about it now.

Genevieve

The smile comes right off my face when my brain reminds me I couldn't keep my baby.

Rich

For a moment, just Janco laughs at the joke, missing your sudden change of mood at our second thought. Then Whopper horse laughs at the Wendy comment, too. That gets even Santiba laughing. Audi chuckles and a few of the patients snicker. It's a nice moment that breaks the tension from earlier.

That stops when you hear gunfire above. It sounds like it's getting closer, in fact. The lift stops at level 10.The comms in the elevator come on and you hear Metro's voice, "Doctors, there is an attack in the infirmary. I have stopped the lift as a precaution. I recommend all non-combatants exit the lift now."

What do you do?

Genevieve

"Janco- take these people back to the galley." I tell her. "You got restraints for this guy?" I ask Audi. We don't need him waking up and attacking us.

"Anybody got a gun I can borrow? I doubt I'll get close enough to use the stunner." I'd much rather run back to the galley, but they are shooting up my fucking infirmary and there's going to be folk in need of a doctor.

Rich

Audi puts some binders on Oneida as the lift doors open up on ten. Janco leads the frightened folks out, and she looks back at you, "Stitch, you sure?"

Santiba hands you a snub-nosed revolver and says, "Go on, Janco, take care of them. If she wants to fight, she fights."

As the lift doors close, the last thing you see is Janco's face twisted up with worry.

Go here.