Safe Haven - Full Attention

[...Posted by Ted H]

[Safe Haven - Full Attention]

“The General is definitely gonna want you in person to explain this one,” Kendall said to Nick as another ResE finished wrapping up his chest. The riot was over, but not before a nice body count was racked up. Many ResEs ranged from small to serious injuries, mostly from the Molotovs, but that made up most of the casualties for the ResEs. The citizens didn’t fare much better, then again, they weren’t equipped with bulletproof vests of automatic weapons either.

The large amount of injured ResEs had short staffed the emergency personnel back at the Hub, so any ResEs with medical backgrounds were given permission to help out the less serious injuries. One of which was dealing with Nick while his partner was with the regular doctors. “Korrgan, what would I do without you?” Nick asked the female ResE as she handed Nick back his shirt. “Dead, probably,” she said “No one else wants to help you out it seems.”

“That’s an understatement,” Kendall said as Nick threw his shirt back on and stood up. “Why does she help him?” Jezus asked. “We have history,” Nick said as he examined his vest to see where the multiple bullets had struck. “Sexual history?” Jezus asked with an arched eyebrow. “No,” Korrgan said “And if you insinuate something like that again, I’ll be sure to inject you with potassium chloride in your sleep.”

“What does that do?” Jezus asked as Korrgan smiled. “Beats me,” Kendall said “She used to be a nurse, so I suggest you stop fucking with her.” Nick, Kendall and Jezus stuck around as Korrgan worked on a couple more injured ResEs until they were notified that Kyle was out of surgery. Kendall and Jezus left as Nick and Korrgan went to visit.

“How could you let him get hurt like that?” Korrgan asked. “Hey, it’s not like I gave that bitch permission to shoot him,” Nick responded. Korrgan shook her head. “Brad knows, right?” she asked as Nick shrugged. They reached Kyle’s room and a doctor nodded them in.

Kyle laid in a bed with an IV drip in his arm and his torso wrapped up tight. “What’s the damage?” Nick asked as he took a seat in a chair next to the bed. “Bullet missed anything vital,” Kyle said “Would’ve died otherwise. Lost a ton of blood though. Another hour would’ve been a different story.” Nick laughed as he said “Should probably get a refund on your vest.”

Korrgan shot Nick a look as she sat down on the bed near Kyle. “Almost done in by a hooker,” she said “Gotta admit, I’d be severely disappointed if that’s how the great Rotting Cure finally died.” Kyle smiled and shook his head. “Gotta admit, that shit hurt, but what hurt more was when some fucker on the street shot me in the back. Thankfully these vests cover the back more effectively than the front.”

“Thankfully the Rogues don’t arm the civilians very well,” Korrgan said, “They don’t pass out good weapons like that.”

“So how did a hooker have a high caliber gun?” Kyle asked.

“Obviously your…uh, naked dude as you call him, is more than a fleeing citizen with a weapon.”

“What is he?”

“Probably a Rogue.”

“I fucking told you!” Nick shouted.

“A Rogue would have good weapons like that.” Korrgan continued “He probably dumped the gun off at the whore house and one of those woman decided to use it.”

“So we caught a Rogue when he just wasn’t dressed for the part?” Kyle asked.

“Well we don’t exactly know where they go. We know a number of them somehow get out of the city, but there’s always the possibility that many of them operate within the city. Naked boy might be one of those types.”

“They travel in packs though, like wolves.”

“Maybe we ran into a lone wolf then?” Nick said with a smile on his face “Anyone? Anyone? Whatever. I hated that guy.”

“Don’t concern yourself with it,” Korrgan said as she patted Kyle’s shoulder and stood up “Just rest up and you’ll figure things out after.”

After Korrgan left, Kyle turned to look at Nick. “Here,” he said as he tossed him something. “What the fuck is this?” Nick asked. “It’s what they pulled out of me, the bullet,” Kyle said.

“And why do I have it?”

“I know Kendall went all forensics over that Juan guy. See if that’s the same type of bullet that killed Juan, or Double-D.”

“And if everything matches?”

“Then the plot will thicken.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Shit, man, just do what I ask. I’m unable to do shit as it is. At least allow me to pretend my partner can run an investigation on his own.”

“Whatever,” Nick said as he pocketed the bullet. “Knock knock,” Brad said as he entered. “What the fuck have you been?” Nick barked as Brad threw his arms in the air. “Jeeze,” Brad said “I’m in charge of collected contraband. And in case you haven’t noticed, we’ve recovered a shit load of weapons after that little riot that apparently you two started.”

“Wait, we’re getting blamed?” Kyle asked as he sat up in his bed. Brad nodded. “You two shot up a whore house and the masses snapped,” Brad said “At least that’s what’s going around.” Nick rubbed his chest where he had been shot earlier “Those bitches shot us first,” he said as Brad rolled his eye. “I bet,” he said. “No, he’s right,” Kyle said “Woman had a gun we didn’t know about. Probably a gun that the fucking runner had when he ditched his clothes.”

“That sucks, but The General might buy that,” Brad said as he turned to leave. “Leaving already?” Kyle asked as Brad shrugged. “I’m fucking swamped as it is with all the work that was dumped in my lap. I managed to break away from it for a bit just to visit you, but I’m pushing it as it is on time.” Brad left without another word, leaving Kyle and Nick alone.

“Well, I should probably go home and sleep all this off,” Nick said as he stood up and made for the exit. “Yes, because clearly you took the most damage today,” Kyle said as Nick smiled. “I’ll track down Slain and all that shit tomorrow,” he said as he opened the door to leave. “Thanks, for what it’s worth,” Kyle said “For pulling my bleeding ass out of there.”

Nick hesitated at first, but then stuck his head back through the doorway. “I didn’t have much choice,” he said “Since you’re the only person who’d do the same for me.” Kyle smiled. “Awe, is the Mean Guy showing a soft side?” he said with a laugh. Nick flipped him off and left.

********************

“I need answers, gentlemen,” Joseph said as he paced around the conference table. The conference room itself wasn’t very big, but since there were only three men for the meetings, it was sufficient. This is where the Three Kings would meet to discuss items of the utmost importance for Safe Haven.

“I told you my men could handle things,” Thomas said, sitting comfortably in his chair “This little uprising can be used as an example. The Enforcers are not pushovers. If anything, we’ve recovered a multitude of weapons that have been making their way into the city.”

“And used against us,” Chase said as he hunched over the table, sitting on the edge of his seat “The weapons were smuggled in for the sole purpose of being used against the Enforcers. The fact that so many were used simultaneously could only be the beginning.” Thomas shook his head. “The Rogues can only get so many in at a time,” he said “To resupply the citizens after today will prove too difficult. The casualties they suffered were devastating as well. It was a massacre at the end.”

“What were the casualties for the Enforcers?” Joseph asked. “If early reports can be trusted,” Thomas said before stopping to think about it “We’re looking at maybe fifteen dead at the most.”

“Nineteen,” Joseph added “If you count the four that were killed recently. I refuse to discount those as isolated incidents. I’m more concerned with what caused this?”

“This was probably building up for some time.” Chase said “The constant presence and attitudes at this, ah, brothel, most likely pushed some too far. And when the few took action, many more decided to join in, a snowball effect if you will. A problem that won’t go away if citizens become inspired by the effort.”

“You’re saying that these little uprisings are just the beginning?” Thomas asked. Chase nodded “We need to figure a way to stop this becomes it becomes a bigger issue.”

“We need to kill the head of this snake,” Joseph said “Take out their supply.” Joseph wasn’t comfortable with what he was about to suggest, since it would mean he was wrong in his previous assumptions. “We need to deal with the Rogues.” Thomas finally sat up in his chair “My people work regularly to deal with the Rogues. We’re not just letting them run around freely out there.”

Joseph shook his head. “I’ve ignored them for far too long. They are corrupting and harming my citizens. We need to take proactive steps to deal with them once and for all.” Thomas dropped his hands on the table with a noticeable thud “And what would you suggest that my people don’t already do?”

Joseph stared out the window. It didn’t offer quite the same view as his office, but he noted that the view here was almost as good. “I’ll worry about that,” he said “You just worry about replacing the people you’ve lost. I feel our police force is a little short handed at the moment with all the dead and wounded. As always, gentlemen, the discussions brought up in this meeting are on a need to know basis, but mark my words, we will promptly deal with this Rogue problem. They now have my full attention.”