Edith's footsteps echoed down the dimly lit corridor of the Aether Clinic, the sound crisp against the backdrop of an otherwise silent night. Her hand gripped the handle of a suitcase that held more secrets than clothes. The frown she wore was more deeply rooted than the tired lines creasing her face.
She stared ahead without a word.
Tonight, the clinic had only five people staffed and two patients—one of them being Kasumi, the leader of the Neon Vipers, who was resting in the first patient room to the left. Edith walked past her door without glancing in and headed farther along the passage.
She had reservations about keeping the gangster here. Normally, she wouldn't allow such a risky guest, but they had an understanding—for the time being, at least. The gang leader had been offered sanctuary in return for certain... assurances.
As Edith entered the lobby, Sheri's voice followed after her. "Edith..."
Edith spun to face her nurse, who stood behind the counter and put a tablet away. They were alone.
"I'm heading out."
Sheri eyed the suitcase, then her. "Everything all right? You've never gone out at this time of the night. In fact...I haven't seen you leave the clinic at all in weeks."
Edith held back her voice and clamped her mouth shut for a moment. A thousand retorts crossed her mind but she settled with the simplest one: "Business."
"Where are you going?"
"Why the twenty questions?" Edith snapped.
Sheri jerked her head back a little at the remark. Her puzzled stare bored into Edith, clearly wanting more answers. When none came, she sighed and walked around the counter, joining Edith on the other side.
"Edith. I'm not just the hired help. I care about you and I'm worried. Something's going on. It has been for a while now. If something's bothering you...can you talk to me about it? I've known you a while now." She placed a hand gently on Edith's.
Edith didn't respond and directed her gaze toward the exit. Sheri wasn't having it.
"Hey. Come on. Talk to me." Sheri placed herself between Edith and the door. "Tell me what's going on."
"You won't like it," Edith whispered. She couldn't maintain the facade for long and eventually capitulated with a defeated sigh. She leaned back and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm going out and meet with a potential client to for a deal with my research."
Sheri gave an unsatisfied "ah huh."
"There's a big risk involved, and I don't want you or the clinic caught in the middle."
Sheri stepped forward and stared her straight in the eyes. "What. Does. That. Mean?"
"I'm sorry Sheri. I can't tell you any more." Edith stepped around the nurse and pressed on toward the door. "Lock up tight and stay inside. I'll be back—"
She cut herself off abruptly. She didn't have the nerve to finish the sentence. Instead, she stepped through the double doors and left her colleague alone with nothing more than a soft click.
Edith gave a quick glance behind her and quickened her pace. Her skirt ruffled as she walked swiftly out into the streets.
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The slums outside were quieter at this hour, but the silence was deceptive, merely the calm before the storm. Darkened skies and low-lying clouds thickened the surrounding gloom. The dismal gray exuded a depressive tone as Edith made her way through the streets, her head lowered. Her rigid, labored footsteps stood as the only physical clue that something weighed on her mind. She navigated through a neighborhood bordering the main sector.
Her goal wasn't far now.
"Thank you, Helix." Her reply was quiet. "Is she doing all right?"
Edith pursed her lips and slowed her walk.
Good...good. Maybe...this can still work.
"Okay. Remember the plan. Once I get to my safe house, disable all communications from me and run autonomous protocols." She threw a glance behind her and the briefest sensation of eyes on her back seized her for a moment. "Understand?"
"Of course."
"This isn't about my self-preservation, Helix," Edith reminded him. "You know the stakes. I need to get my hands on the rest of Salvatore's Adrenomancer formula. Right now...this is my only chance."
"I'm not debating this anymore," she cut him off. "It's done."
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
<...Very well. I will cease communications at the appointed time. If this is what you truly desire, I will abide. However...you should proceed with caution.>
"Will do," Edith whispered. A dry smirk crept across her mouth. "Are you saying you'll miss me?"
"Relax. I'm joking." Her voice lowered. "Sort of."
"Yeah, you're probably right." Edith peered at her surroundings, finding the coast clear. She heaved a breath. "But if I'm being honest...I'm a bit scared."
"That's not the kind of comforting statement I had in mind," she chided. Edith softened the next second. "Just...look out for Fii and everyone at the clinic. All right?"
"Thanks."
Silence resumed.
Edith steered herself down a side street. She started to move a bit quicker. The idea that someone was watching her preyed on her thoughts. She made sure she wasn't bugged, but if Salvatore had competent scouts and a skilled tracker out here, they had no reason to make a move yet. For the moment, they'd bide their time and see where she went.
Assuming they've taken the bait.
It didn't matter. If they had or not, the stage was set. Now she just had to make her entrance and hope the cost was worth the reward.
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These streets held memories—every corner a reminder of her exile from the metropolis. The neat boulevards and estates she had grown up in seemed like a mirage now. If she'd followed the rules...if she had swallowed her pride and sacrificed her ambitions to the proverbial demons—the elites and corporate ruling class—none of this would have happened. None of her missteps.
Initially, Edith had despised everything about the slums—the dirt, the grime, the hardship, the rough living and squalor. Even the lack of basic amenities was an affront.
But as days turned into months, her disdain gave way to a begrudging respect. Slumshines, a term of endearment for someone in the slums, had become an apt description. Like a diamond in the rough, there was something worth admiring buried under the hardships and squalor.
Here the people survived without the luxury of cheap knockoff synthetics or government aid. And while life was considerably more challenging than the comforts afforded by the metropolis, it was also much more authentic. Real. The simple things like gratitude or happiness meant more than just an expression to a greeting.
Masquerading as a doctor at the Aether Clinic, she had provided care to the locals despite being treated with suspicion and wariness. Little by little she earned their trust and found an appreciation for what they did and how they did it.
The clinic had started as a cover, a way to access biological materials and continue her experiments. But over time, her role had changed her, softened edges long since calloused from scientific pressures. The irony of her situation didn't escape her; once a researcher who viewed subjects as mere data points, now a person who spent more time around patients than in her laboratory.
Still, this was more than a front. She could have just closed shop after her serum had successfully altered Fii into a Metahuman, but she kept the facade going and provided assistance whenever possible. Part of her had found fulfillment. Here...she wasn't a criminal. Or a genius. Or a psychopath.
Here...she was a doctor.
Edith pushed onward. One foot in front of the other. Another alleyway, another street. Every turn led to the next block and closer to her destination.
Despite her plans and precautions, the prospect of failure dogged her. They lingered as persistent thoughts...threatening to steal her focus and courage. Edith shut them out, careful not to dwell. As a scientist, she would remain objective and drive to complete her mission.
Doubts would only breed failure.
She thrust them away. Instead, she turned her mind toward what was about to unfold.
Salvatore wants the miracle drug that could create Metahumans—and she was the genie obliging the wish. His soldiers wouldn't dare jeopardize her—she was too valuable. But with a hidden agenda of her own...this could be an opportunity she'd never have again.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she turned into an alley that led to her safe house—a nondescript building tucked away behind a series of cross streets and backroads. The area was quieter, away from the main thoroughfares, and used mostly for storage by local vendors. Perfectly ordinary and off the beaten path.
Edith keyed in the code on the digital pad, the numbers glowing dimly in the night. The door clicked open, and she stepped inside, her footsteps echoing in the empty space. The safe house was sparsely furnished, a far cry from the cluttered, life-filled chaos of her clinic. Here, there were only the essentials—a bed, a small kitchenette, a work area, and a toilet. Functional, but practical. And perhaps a bit bleak.
She set her suitcase down and walked over to the large window that overlooked the alley. Somewhere out there, Fii was fighting.
Edith closed her eyes and placed a hand on the glass. Thoughts of Fii flickered in her mind. Worry and a sense of pride twisted within. The young girl had made such progress and Edith felt like a mother. A cold, callous mother—but a mother nonetheless.
As she turned from the window, her reflection caught her eye. The woman staring back was a far cry from the esteemed geneticist of her past. Edith grimaced.
Fatigued. Unkempt. Reclusive. No doubt some would think her crazy. Most likely correct. A mess, a disgrace...but Fii didn't see that. Well...maybe in the beginning, but not now. At least she hoped so.
Either way, she didn't blame her.
"Were you expecting to get kidnapped, Dr. Edith Weiss?" A woman's voice jolted her from her thoughts. Her head whipped around to look at the intruder.
The space in front of the door rippled and fizzled as a woman in a cybernetic suit coalesced into view. A hum resonated around her body, her face hidden behind a black visor. Edith staggered back.
"My, my...you do have a spine. A bold move leaving the clinic like this. It seems like you somehow caught on that Salvatore has his sights on you. Is that why you brought that suitcase full of juicy goodies?" The woman gestured to the case on the floor.
"Who the hell are you?" Edith growled.
"Me? Name's Mirage. I'm here to bring you to Salvatore, whether you like it or not. Though...guess you're already willing to make a trade. Shame. I was looking forward to prying you outta your nest myself. How 'bout you play nice and we skip the whole snatch and grab part? Saves us all the trouble."
Edith grabbed her suitcase and adjusted her glasses. "Fine...then I'm ready to go."
"Love a lady who's prepared." Mirage opened her arms. "Well, step right this way and don't try anything funny."
"Will Salvatore recall the rest of his men and Adrenomancers? Otherwise, I refuse to do business. My previous offer is off the table," Edith said, her eyes locked with Mirage.
Mirage tilted her head and pointed her finger to her ear. "Sorry. The boss' orders trump your terms." She paused. "He says 'he has unfinished business with Backfire and the gangs.'"
Edith scowled.
"Eh...I'm sure Axion will be fine. Girl can hold her own from what I've seen." Mirage shrugged and resumed her cocky pose. "Boss can promise to leave her alone in return for your services."
"And I suppose his promise is worth the air he expels," Edith sneered.
"Ha...well. He can't help his reputation." Mirage let a hand rest on her hip. "Either way, time's running short, and I've got an important appointment to get to."
Edith shifted her grip on the suitcase. "Fine."