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xp_logsKevin leads Mary to Sugar Man.
The facility in Milan was on the outskirts of the city, advertising itself as an automotive parts manufacturing factory. But one look at the security, men who looked too lumpy to even attribute to steroids, proved that this was not a normal facility. Mary made it easy, dropping both the lead guard and the door guard with single head shots as she shoved Kevin along in front of her as a human shield. As she reached the door, she pulled a card from the guard’s body, swiped it and then jammed his hand on to the pad. The door opened and Kevin stumbled inside first.
“I usually demand an appointment. But you’ve killed enough people to be prioritized.”
"I needed to get your attention. It seemed the most efficient way." Mary followed Kevin into the room, every nerve alert and ready to react. "It's been a long time."
"So it has." The man stepped into the light. It revealed a largely anonymous man; long faced, ruddy hair receding at the temples. The only thing that stood out were his violently crimson eyes, red without a seeming pupil or iris. He gave her a slight smile. "And you brought... a rather poor substitute for flowers, I'm afraid."
"Oh, he's not for you. I needed a way to find you, and he was it." She shrugged. "And he was a good a meat shield in case you had your goons waiting. But you haven't asked why I'm here."
"I don't need to. It's the pain, correct? The fact that your powers are now inconsistent? The deep ache that never leaves your bones, steals your breath, and makes you feel like you're being slowly crushed into nothing? I imagine that would be what motivates you most." Sugar Man was with a vulpine smile. "The process wasn't terribly refined at that point. It had... shortcomings. And now, I assume, you want my help to stop what is happening?"
A muscle twitched in Mary's jaw as she clenched her teeth, but her tone remained steady when she spoke: "You know as well as I do." Her hand tightened on the handgun she still held. "I'm dying. I'd rather not. I need you to fix it."
"I might. You will owe me, of course. An operative of your status. I can see all kinds of advantages. But, him-" Sugar Man shook his head. "I don't see a future there."
She shrugged. "Of course." And without warning she turned on Kevin, firing two rounds into his chest.
Kevin jackknifed back as the rounds went through him. He hit the ground, dead to any modern analysis. But the heart hidden in his rear kept beating, long enough for him to pull the keychain from his pocket and thumb the fob.
Mary looked at the lifeless corpse, eyes blank, and reholstered her handgun. "While someone gets rid of the trash," she said, turning to the Sugar Man. "We can get started."
The facility in Milan was on the outskirts of the city, advertising itself as an automotive parts manufacturing factory. But one look at the security, men who looked too lumpy to even attribute to steroids, proved that this was not a normal facility. Mary made it easy, dropping both the lead guard and the door guard with single head shots as she shoved Kevin along in front of her as a human shield. As she reached the door, she pulled a card from the guard’s body, swiped it and then jammed his hand on to the pad. The door opened and Kevin stumbled inside first.
“I usually demand an appointment. But you’ve killed enough people to be prioritized.”
"I needed to get your attention. It seemed the most efficient way." Mary followed Kevin into the room, every nerve alert and ready to react. "It's been a long time."
"So it has." The man stepped into the light. It revealed a largely anonymous man; long faced, ruddy hair receding at the temples. The only thing that stood out were his violently crimson eyes, red without a seeming pupil or iris. He gave her a slight smile. "And you brought... a rather poor substitute for flowers, I'm afraid."
"Oh, he's not for you. I needed a way to find you, and he was it." She shrugged. "And he was a good a meat shield in case you had your goons waiting. But you haven't asked why I'm here."
"I don't need to. It's the pain, correct? The fact that your powers are now inconsistent? The deep ache that never leaves your bones, steals your breath, and makes you feel like you're being slowly crushed into nothing? I imagine that would be what motivates you most." Sugar Man was with a vulpine smile. "The process wasn't terribly refined at that point. It had... shortcomings. And now, I assume, you want my help to stop what is happening?"
A muscle twitched in Mary's jaw as she clenched her teeth, but her tone remained steady when she spoke: "You know as well as I do." Her hand tightened on the handgun she still held. "I'm dying. I'd rather not. I need you to fix it."
"I might. You will owe me, of course. An operative of your status. I can see all kinds of advantages. But, him-" Sugar Man shook his head. "I don't see a future there."
She shrugged. "Of course." And without warning she turned on Kevin, firing two rounds into his chest.
Kevin jackknifed back as the rounds went through him. He hit the ground, dead to any modern analysis. But the heart hidden in his rear kept beating, long enough for him to pull the keychain from his pocket and thumb the fob.
Mary looked at the lifeless corpse, eyes blank, and reholstered her handgun. "While someone gets rid of the trash," she said, turning to the Sugar Man. "We can get started."
