Post by Admin on Aug 10, 2009 20:48:29 GMT -5
Fin:
Fin heard the familiar little ding as he walked into Sootman's shop. He was starting to feel like a regular around here even though he'd only been in the place once as a human and even then he'd been morphed.
He was wearing street clothing and the jacket he'd stolen from his buddy controller. Slung over his back was a backpack containing his best friend and his girlfriend. It was so fun to be able to carry around your best friend and your girlfriend in your backpack. It really spoke to how much the world had changed.
Aida's horned viper did not really like being so close to the black cobra but he had a feeling no snake would like being stuffed into a bag with another snake. He had joked a lot with them both when he had been putting them in there and he could almost see the stony stare that Sophie would have been giving him if she were still human. Which was odd because he had never known Sophie as a human, he in fact had no idea what she really looked like. And yet, in a lot of ways, it was easy to hear her expressions in her mental voice. It was still disconcerting to see those beady black eyes though, wasn't going to lie.
He looked over at Suji and up at the hair style she had adopted. It was...interesting. Yes, he'd stick with interesting. It was kind of pretty if you looked at it right. But the important thing was that the two moths clinging to it looked like they belonged there, just a few more hair decorations.
Ray was covering them in the air outside and Andre was waiting with a car in case they had to make a quick get away. Lizzie was back at the Temple watching their new free human Jack. Fin was working really hard not to say I told you so to Suji. Really really hard....really. He only resisted because he had a feeling she would actually get mad at him if he opened his mouth and not temporarily, but really pissed. He may be wrong but he didn't want to test it.
Fin felt oddly vulnerable with almost all the faction here. They had never tried this before and now he was starting to think it was a good idea to split them up. What if something happened? Who would be left to carry their story, to warn the others?
Fin picked up a Jack Daniel's lighter off a small shelf and began flipping the top open and closed without lighting it while they waited for Sootman to come out from the back room. They had come out here hoping that Sootman would be able to get them the ID they needed to get into the Hive. Supposedly some YPM members were being held there according to Martha and they had called on animorph assistance.
Fin wasn't particularly inclined to give it. Let the yeerks take care of themselves. But then again he wasn't in charge for a reason.
"I wonder if he can deliver," he said conversationally to Suji.
Suji:
Suji felt stupid. Her hair was up with some clips they'd been able to find in the Lost and Found boxes at the Temple, and she'd pieced together some of the better clothing from the same bin. Still, she wasn't a big fan of the tight-to-skull bun she had going on at the moment.
I should be wearing a kimono and slippers, she thought angrily.
But it was false. It was nothing but frustrated inner chatter to keep her mind occupied.
Off of Jack.
Off of Liam.
She wanted to spit. Wanted to put her hand through one of the glass counter tops around her. Suji hadn't wanted to come on this mission, and she certainly hadn't wanted to come human. But Ray had pulled her aside, asked her if she could do it. Who else would really have an aptitude for this kind of job? The ability to lie with a straight face? Possibly make up more lies on the spot? And it was too suspicious to have Fin go alone.
So she'd said yes.
And if you screw this up bad enough because your head isn't in it, because you're hung up over a dead goddamn Controller, you'll have made it even worse than if you said no. So suck it the fuck UP already.
Suji cleared her mind. Fin spoke, and she looked over at him coolly. "He comes highly recommended."
Drake:
Drake was somewhere on Suji's head, trying his hardest to stay still. He hid on other peoples' bodies before, but never in plain sight. For that reason, Drake was exceptionally nervous at the moment. He was starting to feel queasy, but that was nothing new to him. He would be able to keep that under control. All he had to do was listen in on the conversation and make sure everything was going according to plan, right?
Sootman:
Humphrey Sootman heard the bell on the front door chime and looked up from his work. He didn't have any appointments for a couple hours, and most people knew he didn't like it when they showed up without an appointment. He glanced over at a small video screen of the surveillance camera he had installed and noticed the people in his shop were not people he recognized. "New people, huh?" he commented quietly to himself. "Hopefully they don't get in over their heads." Not that he really cared.
Sootman stood up and pocketed a taser and a can of pepper spray. You never knew how the new customers would react. Of course he had other weapons as well, some on him some not, but those tended to be a bit more... lethal. He couldn't do business with people he killed.
Sootman started up a casual whistle as he headed for the front room. When he reached the doorway and his customers came into view, he stopped short and looked surprised to see them. "Oh! I do have company. I wasn't sure if I herd the bell or not. Unless I am mistaken, we haven't met before, correct? Is there a particular reason for your visit to my shop?"
Sootman purposefully worded his sentences so that he would not draw suspicion to himself if these people happened to come into his shop by accident, but judging by the way they stood, they knew full well that this wasn't a vacant building. He decided it would be best to 'play nice' for a while, though. At least until he found out what they wanted. After all, you attract more flies with honey...
Suji:
"Mr. Sootman, hello." The mask fell down, and Suji locked it in place. The act needed to be sure and confident, and thank God, it was a reprieve from thinking about the mess with Jack Day. She stepped forward and held out her hand for a firm, though cool and brief, handshake. The handshake of someone who knows exactly what it is they plan to get out of a deal.
"For the purposes of this exchange you may call me Ms. Green. This is Mr. Black," she said as she gestured slightly towards Fin. Her short, professional tone suggested that she had no illusions that he would think those were anything but codenames. From behind her dark sunglasses, Suji quickly scanned Sootman. She didn't need the glasses to keep herself collected, and she wouldn't let herself rely on them. All the same, they added a nice touch to the image: two high-powered Controllers who were probably dangerous enough to be respectable clients, but not so familiar with the business that they didn't opt for conspicuous dress.
"Mr. Sootman," Suji began, cordially. "Neither of us are fans of wasting time, and we've been informed that you understand that time is money. We've also been assured that you are not... limited by the restraints of legality." Suji smirked a little here, to show that everyone was aware that Sootman wasn't exactly an average shop-owner. "So let's be direct. We need proper identification for a trip to the Hive. Before going into any further detail regarding our request or negotiations, are you or are you not able to assist us?" Her body language was carefully crafted--impassive, detached, yet clearly attentive to his response. If he said no, Suji was prepared to walk crisply out of the store.
They had some good-guy Yeerks to save, apparently.
Suji felt her stomach twist, but she didn't let it show on her face.
Aubrey:
Aubrey was doing her best to stay absolutely still atop Suji's head. This was the second time she had ever used her moth morph, and she still didn't like it. It was small, defenseless, and the vision wasn't too fantastic--the world was shattered into a million different mirrors of the same image.
Along with that, she still remembered what had happened the first time they had found Sootman's store--she could still see the blood splattering in front of her, brains seeping out... Aubrey shuddered inwardly. Through her distorted vision she could pick out Sootman's face and feel the vibrations of their talking. It should be fine, this time, though. Should be.
<<You think Sootman will do it, Drake?>> Aubrey asked privately.
Sophie:
Sophie was in a bag. Again. The first time had been when she'd traveled all the way from Los Angeles to Dallas, via bag. It hadn't been horribly uncomfortable since it kind of felt like being in a hammock. Almost. But this time they were heading in to do some business with Sootman. From what Sophie had heard from some of the other people, this guy was in charge of some black market pawn shop. So, she understood the need to be cautious. But it felt like an overkill to have so much of the faction going to do this. And it wasn't helping that there was another snake here.
Drake:
<<I hope so,>> Drake said in reply to Aubrey. <<If not, then we are in trouble. We do not have a backup plan for getting in, do we?>> Drake already knew the answer, but he felt better asking anyway.
Sootman:
"Mr. Sootman, hello."
That single phrase told Sootman an extrodinary amount of information. Most obviously, they knew his name, which in turn meant that they likely knew about him and what he did. It also meant that they were in his shop on purpose. The way it was said suggested that they were controllers and not free humans. What kind of free human as young as her could speak with such confidence, especially when they knew who it was that they were talking to? No, there must have been a yeerk in her head. Although he could have guessed that solely by the clothing that they wore. Free humans tended to be dirtier, more worn out. The rest of what the girl had to say only helped to solidify his confidence in his judgments. At least now he could stop with his charade of pretending he might just be someone living in an abandoned shop.
Sootman raised an eyebrow when they asked to be called Ms. Green and Mr. Black, but said nothing. However, it did increase his interest. Either these were real amateurs, or they were real professionals. Maybe they were even some of Sal's people. He wouldn't put it past Sal to send some 'undercover' goons to get what Sal couldn't get himself. He actually found it slightly amusing.
"I am sure you are aware that what you are requesting is not a light undertaking. But I can assure you that my absence of 'restraints of legality' as you put it, can get you what you need. For the right price, of course. Do you have a form of payment in mind?"
Inside his head, Sootman was running laps trying to figure out what all heir request would entail. It was not as if he had expected such a request from anyone. The Hive was not exactly a place people just strolled into. However, all they had asked for was the identification needed to get inside. He was sure he could find a way to get them that. If they had asked him to get them past all the other security measures, on the other hand, he may have had to retire then and there.
Suji:
Suji watched Sootman watching her, and didn't allow herself to show any signs of relief when he said that he could get them the IDs. Which wasn't very difficult: Suji found that she didn't really care. Saving YPM members didn't interest her, especially not today. If Sootman told them he couldn't do it, Suji wouldn't have lost any sleep over knowing that some peace movement shmucks got caught and were going to find out what happened to people who got caught. Her capacity for moral dilemma was stretched so thin you could see through it. They got caught. It was the Animorphs job to help, but if they couldn't, the YPM would fucking deal with the consequences.
I could blow this whole thing right now. Tell him I have to make a call to my employer, walk out, and not come back. They would never be able to recover. Fin would probably try, but I don't know if even he can spin a lie good enough to regain Sootman's business. I could just leave. It would be so easy.
"As you've undoubtedly noted, monetary currency is of increasingly lessened value. For this reason, Mr. Black and I trade in services. We offer unparalleled bodyguard detail, and supply oversight protection. Of perhaps more use to you, Mr. Sootman, we particularly specialize in espionage and reconnaissance. We understand that you are a man who knows that information is more valuable than food, riches, or hosts."
Suji wondered if Fin was going to interject at any point, but she felt little discomfort about taking the lead. It helped that she felt so apathetic internally. "The reason why we need your particularly adroit skill set, Mr. Sootman, is that we are operating on a strict schedule. We're eager to cooperate with any negotiations you would like to open at this time, but please forgive any brevity on our part."
She was scanning the room behind her dark sunglasses. This place was a rat-trap. It was filled with crates, and even the stuff inside the glass countertops didn't look too impressive. He probably kept any real goodies in the back, or in some sort of cellar. In the corner of the room there were a few boxes labeled "Compressed Nutritional Sea Squares." Suji had no idea what the hell a sea square was. Her eyes moved smoothly back to Sootman, her head remaining still throughout.
Aida:
Why was she here? Here as in, why was she fighting this war, what did she hope to gain? Life had been worth living before, with friends and family...and then she was diagnosed with cancer, and life was over as she knew it. A new chapter began, one where she came to terms with her looming death, where she did all those things she was too afraid to do before--like going across the sea to a school in America. Things had barely begun when she got sucked into this war, and back then she was a victim, now...now what was she? You're still a victim...a victim pretending to be a soldier...
Time in the bag with Sophie was giving her too much to think about, she'd been pulling away from everyone lately, declining adventures, declining trips, hell she hadn't even known about Jack Day for a while. Aida had slipped into a state of near non-existence and no one had seemed to notice. She didn't resent anyone for it, there had been a lot to deal with, the decision on Jack....this mission....things seemed to be getting progressively worse, and she was beginning to think it would always be that way. Death, fighting, all for what? They were losing this war, if you could call it that, and she was going through the motions..she'd always been...just going through the motions.
Thought-speak was faintly hissing in her mind, but Aida couldn't bring herself to listen in. Dallas was her weak attempt at a home, and it had never really fit, her morphs were more adapted to it than she as a person would ever be. Vancouver had been closer to a home than this, and even that was just a bad memory. Ironically enough she wasn't home sick for England, or even her parents, she was just sick of it all, of the fighting, the hard decisions that came with war, everything. So sick of it and yet...you go on anyway? Get an order, fulfill it, lather rinse repeat. Why? Oh yes, she was a good soldier, and why was she a good soldier? Because Aida had checked out a long time ago, she was only now accepting that.
Matthias had saved her, the Animorphs had saved her, and she owed them this. She had to fight, there was no choice about it, one path to take. Follow orders, fight, stay alive. Lather rinse repeat.
Fin:
Fin was wearing the brown leather jacket he'd stolen from the controller. It was a slight risk since he'd worn it in here once before. But that had been in another body on a seemingly long ago day. Not so long. Only long enough for Liam to starve.
He looked over the rim of his glasses at Sootman. He had not chosen the name Mr. Black. If he had a choice of nicknames he probably would have called himself Mr. Smith. Or maybe Mr. Anderson. But Mr. Black would have to do.
"We also have some other skills to offer," Fin began in a perfectly controlled English accent. He'd been practicing for months now and having Aida around to help coach him hadn't hurt. He loved her accent, one of his favorite things about her. When he used his it always sounding a bit fake in his own ears but she'd assured him it would fool any outsider.
He wanted to make sure that this face, this body, was not connected with any thing real about him. He would have come in the skin of someone else but that would have involved letting the others know he had human morphs. Then again this is what he'd acquired humans for. It was so much more practical to spy with someone else's face. But most people didn't see it that way.
"We've heard that one of our nearest and dearest has recently gone missing," Fin said with feigned regret. "So sad to hear about Day but with him gone I think there is a lack of good Shepherds around here. "I," he said motioning towards himself, "happen to be an excellent shepherd," Fin said implying that he was a free human.
He didn't know what Suji wanted to pretend to be, he should have remembered to ask her, but if humans had been smart enough to start requiring that everyone carry some sort of ID, Fin couldn't imagine that yeerks hadn't figured it out. He wasn't sure, but he thought that all controllers must have some sort of ID to mark them as such and they certainly didn't have any. Claiming to be Sheperds might save them from answering questions they couldn't.
Fin pulled off his sun glasses and folded them neatly before slipping them into an inside pocket in his jacket. "It's the eyes. I have sincere eyes," he said looking at Sootman.
Fin hoped it would be enough. They were really not offering much. The sum of their sales pitch was, 'if you help us we'll owe you one.' Sootman didn't seem like the type to take that sort of deal. But what else did they have to offer?
Sootman:
Sootman kept trying to figure these people out as the girl continued to talk. She seemed to be making a lot of assumptions about him. Like what he valued, and where his interests lie. He would have to make a note of it for later. However, the girl's true downfall was when she admitted just how desperate (albeit indirectly) they were for his services. That meant he could squeeze a lot more out of them than under normal circumstances.
He continued to listen, content for now on observation, as the young man finally spoke up. He had an accent that interested Sootman, but not nearly as much as what he had to say. They knew of Day? Jack Day? The shepherd? No wait, they were shepherds too? Not controllers? Sootman didn't recognize them, but then again, he wouldn't if they worked with Sal. Nobody said they worked with Sal, he had to remind himself. All of the new information entering his brain was threatening to jumble itself up, so Sootman had to pay extra attention to make sure it didn't.
"Hmm," Sootman said casually as he tapped a finger on his chin in a contemplative gesture. He really was using the time to think. They were emphasizing their skills a a form of payment, but that wouldn't do. Sootman didn't like to trade goods for services unless the services came first, and that didn't seem to be an option. "You are putting me in a tight spot here. You really are." Sootman thought for a moment longer, faking it this time.
"I would like to help you, since you seem to be trustworthy people." A lie, since Sootman tended not to trust anyone. "However, I can't allow payment in the form of services. Not unless you perform the services before I get you what you need. I have a reputation to uphold, and I can't make exceptions." Sootman had a nasty bargain brewing. Something no free human would consider in times like these unless they were truly desperate. "Since you have no other type of payment, I think we are pretty much finished here." Sootman knew it was not a good idea to flat out refuse a desperate person what they needed, so he was trying to be somewhat gentle with his words until he got to the clincher. He held out his arms in a way that would guide them to the door. Like a pair of guests that were overstaying their welcome. "If you find something of value in the next couple hours, I would be happy to take a loo-" Sootman got a look of sudden realization on his face. Like someone who just figured something out.
With all the practice of a true professional, he asked them innocently, "Have you ever considered becoming an organ donor?"
Suji:
Suji had remained impassive as Sootman began to usher them out the door. If he wouldn't be able to do it, that was fine. Suji had delivered her pitch. Fin had delivered one of his own. If they couldn't do it, they couldn't do it. It wouldn't bother her. She nodded to Sootman, as if understanding, without complaining or pleading.
When he stopped, Suji felt her stomach twist. Had he been stringing them along? Was this the ultimate goal? She had been relieved that they weren't going to stick their necks out for any YPM. And now... now there was going to be a possibility... He mentioned donating organs, and Suji wanted to laugh. Organs? Organs they had in supply. God, they had endless organs. As much as she liked the prospect of not bothering with the rescue mission, she was not about to give up.
Suji looked him up and down, and asked coolly, "That depends on the organ." Suji had no problem with someone cutting her open and yanking out a kidney, or some of her liver, or even an eyeball. She felt utterly apathetic about it. Her body meant nothing. Physical damage meant nothing. That was the life of an Animorph, wasn't it? She'd bled and she'd been hacked apart, been sliced and shot. What the hell did she care?
You need to get a grip, she thought, but the voice was distant and made no impression on her numb self-loathing.
"I'm willing to put non-critical organs on the table. Do you have a surgeon on call?"
Fin:
Fin turned away easily enough. He had a sinking feeling that Ray would not just give up on this rescue mission if they couldn't get the ID. Nope, they would have to go in the hard way so he best start thinking of plans that didn't involve painful death and or capture. Maybe they could-Sootman's fake tone called him back as he suggested organ donation.
Fin raised an eyebrow. It was his only reaction to the suggestion. "I personally was never keen on the notion Mr. Sootman," Fin said honestly and in character, "but I'm sure we can get a hold of some people who wouldn't mind parting with their organs. Or who we could take them from anyway," he said smiling. Inwardly he was wondering why the hell they were still standing here.
He'd stopped when Suji had stopped and he had assumed her response was somehow feigned or she was in character or something. But she was just standing there....She couldn't be serious, could she?
Drake:
<<Organs? Did I hear that right?>> Drake knew they could not respond, but he could not help but ask. What kind of person traded fake IDs for organs? A person who is well connected in the black market, I suppose, Drake said as an answer to his own question. It made sense. Sort of. But Drake still had a hard time fathoming it. <<Organs?>> It was all he could do to remain still on Suji's head.
Sootman:
It seemed the Ms. Green was more willing to part with her god-given body parts than Mr. Black. Sootman had no objections, but unfortunately he was not looking for just any organs. There were certain specifications that needed to be taken into account. Maybe she could give him what he desired, but the likelihood that either of them could was not very high. But still, it never hurt to ask.
"I hope that you fulfill the requirements Ms. Green. If not, I am afraid your organs will not do." Sootman was focusing the majority of his attention on the girl since Mr. Black did not seem to be too keen on the idea. "May I ask what blood type you are? Hans will not be very pleased if I bring him someone to... retrieve, an organ from that is not even at least the correct blood type." Sootman stood with a curious expression on his face, waiting for her reply. "Of course if you are not a match, I can wait until you come back with someone who is. All I have is time."
Suji:
Suji thought Fin was overselling the 'we could mug people for their guts' point. That, and she wanted to snarl at him. What did he have to lose? This was for the mission. It wasn't like he couldn't grow the damn thing back. That's about all that morphing had been good for in the long run. Staying alive when someone wanted to blast, shoot, or cut out a nice chunk of you. But she couldn't reprimand him. Not with Sootman here. And even she could recognize that the fact that she was angry with Fin for not wanting to do it was saying more about her than him, and it wasn't a good sign as far as her mental state went.
"O." Suji responded seamlessly--not too quickly, but certainly not stopping to deliberate over her answer. "Blood-type O-Positive." It was a lie. She was A-Positive. But blood-type O was the universal donor. If Sootman traded in organs, he would know that. O-types were never quite as good as exact matches, but it would work, wouldn't it? Besides, if he was hitting up some random agents in his shop for their organs, he couldn't afford to be that picky.
Probably wrong about that, Suji thought bitterly, but brushed it aside. "What organ are you looking for, specifically?"
Fin:
Fin looked over at Suji when she gave her blood type and saw something scary. She wasn't kidding. She really wanted to swap organs for little pieces of plastic. "Well....I happen to be AB negative." It was one of the rarest blood types and was pretty much guaranteed to be useless to an organ collector.
Fin looked over at Sootman and smiled. "Can you give me a moment with Ms. Green?" Fin turned around and walked a bit away from Sootman, showing him he wasn't asking him to move or leave in his own shop, which would have been rude.
He hoped to god Suji followed him but if her judgement had been off before it was teetering on its last leg now. What was she thinking, swapping organs for ID's. Isn't this what they had brought Sophie and Aida for? To help intimidate Sootman into giving them what they wanted? They couldn't trust a controller to put them under for surgery and still expect to wake up free.
Sootman:
Sootman showed visible disappointment on his face when Ms. Green said she had O blood. Sure, it would do in a pinch, but Sootman really preferred to have exact matches for his clients. It reflected better on a professional level. And actually, in this case O was probably the worst blood type to have. B type and A type would work for this customer too, and they would be a closer match. It didn't help that she said she was positive either, instead of negative.
So when Mr. Black said he had AB negative blood, Sootman was practically jumping for joy. On the inside. He kept all his excitement from showing on his face, or elsewhere. "I think we have found a match." He said as Mr. Black asked if they could be excused. He eyed up Mr. Black a bit greedily. "Ready to give a kidney? But no rush. Take your time." Sootman stood leaning against a counter with an ever-so-slightly smug look on his face while he waited for them to finish their discussion.
Suji;
Fin began walking away, and Suji half-turned to follow him when Sootman seemed to perk up. He hadn't liked the O-positive bit, and Suji felt like shrugging. It had been a logical, calculated move, but you couldn't win them all. She'd tried. But here now, he was focusing on Fin. Fin, who had undoubtedly picked AB-negative because he thought it was the most obscure, rare bloodtype. And it was definitely up there on the list. Suji would laugh, none too kindly, if his own desperate need to look out for himself ended up screwing him over.
"If you'll excuse us, Mr. Sootman." Suji turned towards Fin, and walked with him to one corner of the store. Kidneys. Kidneys weren't bad. They were probably most routine organs for organ donations. But whatever. He was interested in Fin, not her. Once they were far enough away, Suji gazed at him evenly. She lowered her voice so that Sootman wouldn't be able to hear, and asked utterly neutrally, perhaps even apathetically: "It looks like you pulled the short straw. Are you going to do it?"
Fin:
A look of shock, disgust and...well...fear fought to take control of Fin's face but he kept his expression under control. A slight widening of his eyes was the only indication that the news that he was a match affected him at all.
He realized he'd stopped walking when Sootman had declared him a match so he turned around and followed Suji a bit of a ways away. Fin looked at Suji, a pleasant smile plastered on his face while his heart was hammering in his chest. He wanted to run out of the shop and only by keeping himself standing very still was he able to keep from following the urge.
He worked hard to answer her without showing the fear he was feeling but when he finally spoke, even though he tried to speak with a smile the smile ended up looking much more like a grimace and his eyes were slightly crazy.
"Give up a kidney," he asked in a low but conversational tone as if they were discussing selling or buying stock at a cocktail party. "Let me think about that....mmmm.....oh wait I already know the answer." For a moment he dropped all attempts to hide his feelings and his voice came out in a harsh hiss. "No!"
His eyes flickered to where Sootman was standing. He didn't seem to be watching them but Fin knew it was just an act so he reigned himself in, his voice dropping back into the low conversational tone he'd been using before. "Are you fucking insane? Have a death wish perhaps? Into masochism? Do I care? Not at all. This wasn't the plan and I'm not letting some controller chop me up because you want to show how macho and bad ass you are. You want to prove that nothing gets to you? Fine, do it with your own organs."
Suji:
Suji watched Fin throw his quiet tantrum. His words glanced off of her. Death wish? If she did, she'd have to try harder than organ donation. Masochism might have fit the bill, but it wasn't like she was going out looking for an opportunity to hurt herself a little. This one presented itself quite clearly. Macho or badass wasn't even close. She felt herself smile a little, distantly.
Fin was grasping at straws. He went from death wish to masochism to making it into looking cool in a handful of sentences. Perhaps she was playing her part exceptionally well. That thought amused her, at least.
Once he finished, Suji shrugged. "All right. No one's twisting your arm, especially not me." His fit had no real visible effect on her. He'd brought here over to scold her, in a blaze of shrilly fear, and she hadn't planned on forcing him to do anything. God forbid Fin have to give something up for his morphing power, actually fight back his cowardly nature. Whatever, no skin off her back. "Is that all?" Suji asked. Might as well make sure before she turned back to Sootman.
Sophie:
Sophie had been listening to the conversation going on outside the backpack. Organs? He wants organs? Great. Sophie felt the backpack shifting, and tried pulling herself away from the other snake inside. It felt like they were moving, walking away from Sootman. They hadn't gotten the I.D.s, though. Once they stopped, Sophie shifted. This didn't sound good.
<<What's going on?>> Sophie asked. Then, narrowing her thought-speak to Fin. <<Fin?>> Sophie felt a small bit of irritation flare. Getting the I.D. cards was probably the easiest way to get into this place without too much risk. It was going to be a pain in the ass as it was. Giving up organs to some creepy black-market dealer seemed the least of their worries at the moment. <<Why won't you do it?>>
Fin:
"Gah, not you too," he said before catching himself. He looked at Suji annoyed as if Sophie's reaction was her fault. "A moment," he said in a unconscious repetition of the way he'd taken his leave of Sootman a moment earlier. He walked outside and the minute he was out of the shop he felt slightly better. Feeling the sun on his skin and the fresh air around him calmed him. He was starting to feel trapped and hedged in in Sootman's shop.
He took out the communicator he'd stolen from the controller forever ago. He'd tinkered with it since and gotten it to tune into some yeerk holo channels but he'd never heard anything important. He had to imagine that the important government secrets were being traded on encrypted channels and he hadn't exactly figured out how to get into those yet.
He dialed a nonsense number that he'd learned connected him to the local housing office and waited for someone to pick up. When they did he turned the sound transmitter off on his end and began talking. To Sootman and any other controller it would look like he was talking to the controller being displayed like a little miniature toy on the top of the machine, hardly visible in the sunlight. At least he hoped that was what it would look like. And he hoped this conversation would be short enough that he could finish it before the frustrated controller saying "hello, hello, I can see you! Hello!" hung up.
"Sophie, don't know if you heard but Sootman wants to cut out my organs. As in, call some weird controller doctor and take organs out of my body. Does no one else see a problem with this?"
Sophie:
<<Yes. I heard him.>> Sophie said, her tone level. <<Problem?>> It was clear she didn't understand why he was having such a problem with this. To her, it was pretty simple. <<You guys have bodies that can instantly repair damage--you can take out an organ or limb and still be fine. It's not permanent.>> There was an emphasis on you guys. And, in the pause between what she said, it was obvious. Unlike me. The Animorphs might have an almost infinite chance at life, but Sophie didn't. She had a snake body for the remainder of her life, however long that was.
<<Personally. If I could do it I would. It's not a large price to pay for these I.D.s we're trying to get. Not if it means less of a risk later on.>> Sophie shifted again, feeling a little uncomfortable in the backpack. The warmth of the sun was getting trapped inside the fabric, and making it really stuffy inside the backpack. Sophie tried to keep the sigh from her words. <<But whatever. Do it or not.>>
Fin:
The controller on the other end of his call was getting annoyed. Fin had maybe five seconds before he would look like he was talking to himself and he had no idea how to respond. Do it or not. Do it. Just like that. Did she think it was so easy? Let some psyco cut you up Fin, no problem right, you can grow it back. Didn't mean it hadn't happened in the first place. Why did no one else seem to get that.
And it was easy for Sophie to claim that he should do it. She didn't have to. There was no way she would have to give up anything unless Sootman was looking for a nice snake as a pet. Talk about not being able to put your money where your mouth was. What right did she have to tell him anything. And the way she'd said it, it was like he was a coward or something for not doing it.
"You know what Sophie, some of us actually have bodies we like."
Sophie:
<<Fuck you, Fin.>> Sophie said, her words sharp. Her patience had run out thin. <<At least I'm not making this into a stupid fucking deal for no good reason. I mean, god, what will you have to do? Get some anesthesia, get some organs taken, morph it back. Woo-fucking-hoo. Go ahead and have your little pity parade out here by yourself. I'm sure someone else would be willing to do it. If we can even find another person with your blood type.>>
The snake's mind, still lurking beneath her own, was becoming agitated. <<Because, you know, it's not like we can ask random people off the street to help us with this. 'Hey, would you like to give us your organs so that we can save some people? What, you can't regrow organs? Oh, I'm sorry. We can, but sorry. We're too unwilling. We're too frightened.'>>
Fin:
"Yeah, well fuck you too," he said as the controller hung up, also fed up with him. He shoved the communicator back into his pocket and turned around. Fuck Sophie. What the hell did she know. It wasn't her who had to do it. How the hell did she know if she would do it if she could. She wasn't here, in his position. You couldn't actually know something like that about yourself.
But it didn't matter if she was right or wrong. She'd said what everyone else was probably thinking, that he was just too scared to do it. It didn't have anything to do with fear. He wasn't afraid. He just had a respect for his body that other people seemed to lack. Maybe they wanted to mutilate themselves but he didn't and he wasn't crazy for that.
Fuck them both, Suji and Sophie, masochistic, macho idiots. Sophie had probably gotten trapped on purpose just so she could complain about how much she had given up for the war. Look at me, look at what a fucking hero I am. Why aren't you as willing to sacrifice everything as I am.
One day this war would be over and he'd like to be alive to see it and not just alive but well enough to enjoy it. He had no desire to come out of this all dark and twisty because he'd seen horrible things, done horrible things, had horrible things happen to him. He had read about vets and he hadn't signed up to be some poor, broken shade of humanity. In fact he hadn't signed up at all. He hadn't asked for the morphing power. So what if it gave him the ability to grow back organs. He'd never asked for that ability in the first place.
Not his fault.
But...no one would listen. No one would see it that way. They'd just see some scared kid clinging to his fucking kidneys as if they were some vital body part-oh wait! They were!
He walked back into the shop. "Fine," he said, only remember at the last minute to say it in the accent he'd been practicing and using since he'd gotten here. The rest of them were crazy but damned if he'd let them look down on him for being the only sane one. When this was over they'd owe him and he'd make sure to collect.
Sootman:
"Excellent," Sootman said, allowing his full approval to seep through in the smile on his face. "I'm glad to hear your decision." Sootman was pleased that he had found a donor for his other customer, however, their request for IDs hardly made him come out ahead. It would be tricky to get working IDs in such a short amount of time, but he was sure he could find a way to make it happen. He always did. Besides, it may be worth the effort if it would help him set up a clientel base with these two.
However, Sootman was a bit suspicious about whoever it was that Mr. Black had called, but decided not to inqire. If it had been dark outside, he may have been able to see who it was in the hologram. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. He would have to check his surveilance equipment later to see if he could uncover any more information. It was doubful, but worth looking into.
"I suppose I should call the good doctor then? The one who will be doing the surgery." Sootman walked over to the front counter and picked up the reciever of an old fashioned phone with a rotary dial and called a number. As the phone rang, he asked, " I don't suppose you would be willing to give another organ to pay for some anethesia?"
Aida:
She'd remained silent, afraid if she voiced a thought, if she allowed what she was really feeling to come out that she might inadvertently ruin this mission. Loose a fucking organ? Honestly? Aida wanted to scream, she wanted to shout, but the best she could do was internally squirm. Then suddenly things were being swapped around, the spotlight on Fin...his kidney...he would get cut on. Suji and Sophie were against him, and Aida wanted to stick up for him...but she didn't. Aida didn't say anything. And for that she hated herself.
They could morph, they could heal, and they needed these ID's...and yet give up an organ? It was ludicrous, but did they have a choice? Aida would be willing to give hers up, it wasn't like she had never been cut on by Controllers before...but they were asking this of Fin. He didn't want to, and it wasn't fair to force it on him. Life wasn't fair...
By the time she had reigned in her initial shock and anger, her emotions in check, she heard his response. Fine.... no anesthesia? He wouldn't get anesthesia? It was getting harder to breathe now, and the snake body involuntarily flinched in the enclosed space. She had to say something now...she had to speak up...but she didn't know what to say. No? Don't do it? He already hadn't wanted to....the others would be angry...it was the mission or it was Fin. Normally she had no problem living the Animorph life, following orders, doing what was best for the mission but now....she was being tested, and Aida couldn't choose.
<<No Anesthesia...?>> was all she finally managed to squeak, her voice airy and soft.
Fin:
"Sure, why not. I'm already giving up an organ, why not make it two so that I'm more comfortable," Fin quipped back. And he was completely serious. This was hardly a palatable thought as it was. Trying to imagine going through it with no anesthesia was unthinkable. He didn't like skinning his knee. No way he could sit through a surgery with no anesthesia. No one could. They'd have to strap him down and it would be crossing a line. Not even his team mates would force him to go through with it then.
"Which one? Want a liver? A couple of feet of intestines. My heart? Sorry, sadly it is given to another." He was trying very hard to pretend like this didn't bother him but the very fact that he was talking so much was a bit of a give away. He forced himself to shut up lest his mouth get him in worse trouble than it already had.
Suji:
Suji watched Fin walk out, and wondered if he was going to stay out there. If she was perturbed by actions, she didn't show it. Instead Suji took the time to stare off into the distance. In no way did she indicate a desire to converse with Sootman. When Fin came back, Suji regarded him for a moment.
'Fine.'
Oh great. Who was he doing this to please? If Suji didn't want to be courting Sootman for a couple IDs just to save some fucking careless YPM, she wanted it to be on Fin's generosity even less. All she'd asked him is if he was doing it, and he'd snapped at her like she'd given him an order to, or tried to guilt him into it. In no way had she done either. No, no. Fin was living in his own little world. Another reason not to want this mission to rest on his goodwill.
Fin the martyr. God save them all. There was an easy fix to this, if she could get Fin aside for a moment. It wasn't like they weren't in the habit of turning into people, as well as animals. But Sootman mentioned anesthesia, and Fin kept charging through. Sootman was on the phone even. No time to pull Fin out now. He was stuck doing it, unless they ditched the plan all together.
"No." Suji look at Sootman. "No, as in, you are not taking another organ out of him at the same time. The risk of fatality would grow exponentially, and that is not part of the bargain." Suji looked Fin over, and then turned to Sootman. "The risk of fatality also increases considerably if he goes into shock or involuntarily moves due to lack of anesthesia." Her voice was professional, even. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sootman, but this is a deal-breaker. There will be anesthesia for the procedure, or there will be no transaction."
Suji let that hang for a moment. "It is possible that another kidney transplant could be arranged, though under our current time restraints, I make no claims that we could find another AB- donor. And once more, anesthesia may be a requirement, depending on where we draw the donor from." How she wished she had thoughtspeech right now. But there was no way anesthesia was more valuable than an organ. The second kidney, if they could find a donor amongst them, should cover the cost of two rounds of anesthesia.
She wasn't going to allow, much less ask, any one to go through this without anesthesia. If Ray decided it was important enough to make that order, he could give it. She didn't give two shits if he'd put her in charge of interfacing with Sootman or not: she'd take a hundred dead YPM over one dead Animorph.
Aida:
Fin was talking, alot, too much, he was afraid. Aida felt a pang of sympathy, though that was the wrong emotion to feel right now. The snake was not used to a human mind, or human emotions, it was usually cold, and calm, and right now all it wanted to do was lash out--thanks to her human feelings. It was usually the opposite, animal instincts were what you fought off, she never thought she'd be fighting herself.
Aida was about to talk privately to Suji, ask her to stop it...despite her better judgment, but she did it of her own free will. She found herself shocked....so shocked she nearly forgot what she was going to say. Catching the last bit of the conversation however, she was struck with an idea, this time blurting it out before she could stop herself. <<I'm O negative. I can do it,>> she thought-spoke to Suji only. <<You could lie, tell him I'm AB negative. I'll do it.>> There was no hesitation, no fear in her voice, for once she sounded confident. It was odd, this need to exert herself in order to assure Fin's safety, she had never felt it so strongly before, and it probably wasn't good for her. She didn't care. That was love right? Willing to risk it all.
<<I could go without anesthetics...I'm pretty sure....if worse comes to worse...>> her voice was not as confident this time, but held a tone of vulnerability. <<I've been cut on without it before.>> After this she was quiet again, it was up to Suji right? She was the one in making the choices with Sootman, face to face...there was nothing else she could do but wait. Inwardly she was recoiling at her own words, how she had offered herself up so easily...and even mentioned the anesthetics. Obviously she was not in her right mind, then again...if it would help Fin... How far are you willing to go Aida? a voice asked.
As far as it takes... and like that the choice was made for her. Fin.
Suji:
Suji listened to Aida, thankfully keeping her body from stiffening. She hadn't forgotten that the other girl was there, and was even a bit surprised that she hadn't heard from her sooner. The tone was moderately milder than she expected. The last time Suji was around when Fin got hurt it had all but come to blows between them. Now she'd probably think Suji had some culpability in Fin's decision, in the whole situation. Whatever, let the girl think what she wanted-
But the other shoe never fell. Suji wondered if the thoughtspeech had been solely to her, or open to Ray too. How much of this, if any, was being transcribed to him? Not the time to worry about that. But how exactly could Suji respond to Aida? Impossible. And Suji didn't want to run the risk that Aida would think she was ignoring her. She needed to wait for Sootman's response. If she started talking about having someone ready to do it, somehow magically obtaining that certainty over the course of a few seconds, things wouldn't be pretty.
Though this could be good. Provided Sootman took the secondary deal, Aida was their best choice for this. Maybe she could ground Fin. Keep him from chickening out once it started, maybe even stem his self-pity afterwards... Suji expected that Sootman would take the deal. He would be getting two organs out of it, and Suji hadn't insulted him by railing against the idea of paying more for anesthesia, though she'd certainly wanted to. If he didn't take the deal, that was fine too. They would just leave. She hadn't grown any fonder of their captured YPM rescuees in the time she'd spent in Sootman's shop.
Sootman:
"Meet me at the usual spot in half an hour. I found a potential donor. They seem to be having second thought, but hopefully we can work something out." Sootman hung up the phone and gave Ms. Green and Mr. Black a questioning look for a few moments before speeking. He did not like to be interrupted while on the phone. However, their concerns were valid. And even better, they were expected.
What kind of human being would go into surgery to have multiple organs removed, or worse, have one removed without anesthesia? He was pleased that they were coming up with alternatives. Offering to find other options. Trying to make a better deal. He had them right where he wanted them, but he didn't let it show.
He liked their offer to find another donor, but unfortunately the kidney was the only organ he really needed at the moment. However, that was not the only deal that had been on the table. "Perhapse we are making this too difficult. It seems neither of us is willing to go all the way. You are not willing to match my price, and I am not willing to give you charity by lowering my price below market value." Sootman put his hand on his chin and appeared to be thinking, even though he already knew where he was going with this.
After a moment he imitated the expression of an idea coming to mind. "I think I may have come up with a solution we could both live with. Is your origional offer still on the table? You know, the one where you perform a service to me at a leter date? It would not cover the cost of the IDs, but it would just barely cover the expenses involved with locating and perscribing the correct dosages of anesthesia. Normally I do not provide services on credit, but your willingness to go into surgery tells me that I could count on you to follow through on the deal. What say you?"
Suji:
Suji narrowed her eyes slightly behind the dark glasses. Sootman was changing the game again, and Suji was starting to wish they had decided that bullying him was a viable option. Aida and Sophie were good in case he tried to turn against them on the spot, but twisting Sootman's arm probably would have been a terrible idea. If he was well connected enough to get these IDs, he was certainly well connected enough to make their lives hell, should he so choose.
If they tried to force his hand, she had the feeling that there would be awful consequences... but that didn't stop her from wishing, distantly, that she could show him her crocodile's many-toothed smile and see if he still wanted haggle over some body numbing drugs. Still. Maybe him having control over the situation at least prevented them from overstepping.
"Yes. Though we cannot agree to sign--as it were--a blank check, our services are certainly still up for negotiation. We will try to our fullest power to accommodate your request. Did you have a particular service in mind? I can be available for discussing any future business during Mr. Black's surgery."
Sootman:
"A particular service? Not at the moment. I would like to find out what all you are capable of before I make that decision. I trust you have no qualms about me weighing my options?" Sootman was starting to feel a bit giddy on the inside. Everything was working the way he wanted. He would come out ahead in this trade.
That's when he realized he was probably dealing with amateurs. A professional would have probably wheeled and dealed a bit more. However, maybe these two were just that desperate. He would probably find out more once he talked with Ms. Green. Be would definitely find out more.
Sootman grabbed a note pad off of the desk beside him and scribbled down some quick directions on the paper. He ripped off the piece of paper and held it out for Mr. Black to take. "The place you need to go is across the street from this address. You'll recognize it by the Bob Barker Bobblehead in the front window. When you get there, don't go in the back. Wait until someone comes out to get you." Then, turning to Ms. Green he said, "And if you'll have a seat, I will set up the IDs you requested, then we can talk business." Sootman stood for a moment to see if they had any objections. He had to make sure that they weren't going to be fussy about splitting up. It seemed a lot of free humans, even shepherds, were sometimes touchy about leaving the company of one of their own.
Fin:
Fin's body stiffened when he was told he would have to go alone. He glanced at Suji but didn't let his gaze linger. He was a professional. He would keep up the act. But the thought of going to see an unknown doctor who would rip organs out of his body was terrifying. Having to do it alone?
As much as he was angry at Suji right now he didn't want to go without her. He could disagree with her all he wanted, but at the end of the day he knew she would protect him. He trusted her to do that, to be the thing that stood between him and the enemy. She was like the parent you ran to when you had a nightmare. Logically you knew they were human just like you, that if something really attacked you they couldn't do much more than anyone else. But you were comforted by their presence anyway because they were your parents. They were that responsible figure. And they were ten feet tall and as strong as a lion until proven otherwise.
But she would stay here and he would go there, alone. He only nodded to Sootman and turned to walk out. He didn't look at Suji again, he didn't want her to see how afraid he was. He wasn't sure why. Maybe because she might give him an out, make it ok for him not to do this. And if he were given a chance to escape now he knew he would take it. He would run and prove himself a coward in his own eyes and everyone else's. Sophie would gloat, Aida would comfort and that damn ghost of his would taunt. He couldn't live with that.
Or maybe he was afraid of seeing that he was wrong. That she wasn't that person, that she didn't care. Or even that she couldn't. That she was human, someone his own age who had just gone through a little hell of her own. He couldn't afford to see her as weak. He needed to know that, if something went wrong, she would fix it. And he needed to go into the surgery knowing that she would be waiting when he came out.
She's a better fucking leader than Ray is, he thought as he walked out into the Dallas sunshine and looked across the street. He could just make out the Bob Barker bobblehead from here so he hitched the back pack a bit higher on his shoulders and began walking across the street. As he did so he heard a slight hiss of annoyance coming from the bag and it reminded him that he wasn't completely alone. Sophie and Aida were with him. Even though they couldn't demorph, couldn't show themselves, just knowing they were there was an amazing comfort.
He didn't hurry going across the street but he was a bit proud of the fact that he didn't drag his feet either. He hoped, to anyone watching, that he looked cool and confident. But maybe all he could hope for was that he didn't look afraid.
He glanced at the Bob Barker doll before putting his hand on the hot glass of the door and pushing it open. The door let out a loud squeal of protest as it swung open that reminded Fin of pigs being slaughtered.
Fin stayed outside, remembering Sootman's instructions, and called to anyone that might be in there. "Hello? Sootman sent me."
Fin heard the familiar little ding as he walked into Sootman's shop. He was starting to feel like a regular around here even though he'd only been in the place once as a human and even then he'd been morphed.
He was wearing street clothing and the jacket he'd stolen from his buddy controller. Slung over his back was a backpack containing his best friend and his girlfriend. It was so fun to be able to carry around your best friend and your girlfriend in your backpack. It really spoke to how much the world had changed.
Aida's horned viper did not really like being so close to the black cobra but he had a feeling no snake would like being stuffed into a bag with another snake. He had joked a lot with them both when he had been putting them in there and he could almost see the stony stare that Sophie would have been giving him if she were still human. Which was odd because he had never known Sophie as a human, he in fact had no idea what she really looked like. And yet, in a lot of ways, it was easy to hear her expressions in her mental voice. It was still disconcerting to see those beady black eyes though, wasn't going to lie.
He looked over at Suji and up at the hair style she had adopted. It was...interesting. Yes, he'd stick with interesting. It was kind of pretty if you looked at it right. But the important thing was that the two moths clinging to it looked like they belonged there, just a few more hair decorations.
Ray was covering them in the air outside and Andre was waiting with a car in case they had to make a quick get away. Lizzie was back at the Temple watching their new free human Jack. Fin was working really hard not to say I told you so to Suji. Really really hard....really. He only resisted because he had a feeling she would actually get mad at him if he opened his mouth and not temporarily, but really pissed. He may be wrong but he didn't want to test it.
Fin felt oddly vulnerable with almost all the faction here. They had never tried this before and now he was starting to think it was a good idea to split them up. What if something happened? Who would be left to carry their story, to warn the others?
Fin picked up a Jack Daniel's lighter off a small shelf and began flipping the top open and closed without lighting it while they waited for Sootman to come out from the back room. They had come out here hoping that Sootman would be able to get them the ID they needed to get into the Hive. Supposedly some YPM members were being held there according to Martha and they had called on animorph assistance.
Fin wasn't particularly inclined to give it. Let the yeerks take care of themselves. But then again he wasn't in charge for a reason.
"I wonder if he can deliver," he said conversationally to Suji.
Suji:
Suji felt stupid. Her hair was up with some clips they'd been able to find in the Lost and Found boxes at the Temple, and she'd pieced together some of the better clothing from the same bin. Still, she wasn't a big fan of the tight-to-skull bun she had going on at the moment.
I should be wearing a kimono and slippers, she thought angrily.
But it was false. It was nothing but frustrated inner chatter to keep her mind occupied.
Off of Jack.
Off of Liam.
She wanted to spit. Wanted to put her hand through one of the glass counter tops around her. Suji hadn't wanted to come on this mission, and she certainly hadn't wanted to come human. But Ray had pulled her aside, asked her if she could do it. Who else would really have an aptitude for this kind of job? The ability to lie with a straight face? Possibly make up more lies on the spot? And it was too suspicious to have Fin go alone.
So she'd said yes.
And if you screw this up bad enough because your head isn't in it, because you're hung up over a dead goddamn Controller, you'll have made it even worse than if you said no. So suck it the fuck UP already.
Suji cleared her mind. Fin spoke, and she looked over at him coolly. "He comes highly recommended."
Drake:
Drake was somewhere on Suji's head, trying his hardest to stay still. He hid on other peoples' bodies before, but never in plain sight. For that reason, Drake was exceptionally nervous at the moment. He was starting to feel queasy, but that was nothing new to him. He would be able to keep that under control. All he had to do was listen in on the conversation and make sure everything was going according to plan, right?
Sootman:
Humphrey Sootman heard the bell on the front door chime and looked up from his work. He didn't have any appointments for a couple hours, and most people knew he didn't like it when they showed up without an appointment. He glanced over at a small video screen of the surveillance camera he had installed and noticed the people in his shop were not people he recognized. "New people, huh?" he commented quietly to himself. "Hopefully they don't get in over their heads." Not that he really cared.
Sootman stood up and pocketed a taser and a can of pepper spray. You never knew how the new customers would react. Of course he had other weapons as well, some on him some not, but those tended to be a bit more... lethal. He couldn't do business with people he killed.
Sootman started up a casual whistle as he headed for the front room. When he reached the doorway and his customers came into view, he stopped short and looked surprised to see them. "Oh! I do have company. I wasn't sure if I herd the bell or not. Unless I am mistaken, we haven't met before, correct? Is there a particular reason for your visit to my shop?"
Sootman purposefully worded his sentences so that he would not draw suspicion to himself if these people happened to come into his shop by accident, but judging by the way they stood, they knew full well that this wasn't a vacant building. He decided it would be best to 'play nice' for a while, though. At least until he found out what they wanted. After all, you attract more flies with honey...
Suji:
"Mr. Sootman, hello." The mask fell down, and Suji locked it in place. The act needed to be sure and confident, and thank God, it was a reprieve from thinking about the mess with Jack Day. She stepped forward and held out her hand for a firm, though cool and brief, handshake. The handshake of someone who knows exactly what it is they plan to get out of a deal.
"For the purposes of this exchange you may call me Ms. Green. This is Mr. Black," she said as she gestured slightly towards Fin. Her short, professional tone suggested that she had no illusions that he would think those were anything but codenames. From behind her dark sunglasses, Suji quickly scanned Sootman. She didn't need the glasses to keep herself collected, and she wouldn't let herself rely on them. All the same, they added a nice touch to the image: two high-powered Controllers who were probably dangerous enough to be respectable clients, but not so familiar with the business that they didn't opt for conspicuous dress.
"Mr. Sootman," Suji began, cordially. "Neither of us are fans of wasting time, and we've been informed that you understand that time is money. We've also been assured that you are not... limited by the restraints of legality." Suji smirked a little here, to show that everyone was aware that Sootman wasn't exactly an average shop-owner. "So let's be direct. We need proper identification for a trip to the Hive. Before going into any further detail regarding our request or negotiations, are you or are you not able to assist us?" Her body language was carefully crafted--impassive, detached, yet clearly attentive to his response. If he said no, Suji was prepared to walk crisply out of the store.
They had some good-guy Yeerks to save, apparently.
Suji felt her stomach twist, but she didn't let it show on her face.
Aubrey:
Aubrey was doing her best to stay absolutely still atop Suji's head. This was the second time she had ever used her moth morph, and she still didn't like it. It was small, defenseless, and the vision wasn't too fantastic--the world was shattered into a million different mirrors of the same image.
Along with that, she still remembered what had happened the first time they had found Sootman's store--she could still see the blood splattering in front of her, brains seeping out... Aubrey shuddered inwardly. Through her distorted vision she could pick out Sootman's face and feel the vibrations of their talking. It should be fine, this time, though. Should be.
<<You think Sootman will do it, Drake?>> Aubrey asked privately.
Sophie:
Sophie was in a bag. Again. The first time had been when she'd traveled all the way from Los Angeles to Dallas, via bag. It hadn't been horribly uncomfortable since it kind of felt like being in a hammock. Almost. But this time they were heading in to do some business with Sootman. From what Sophie had heard from some of the other people, this guy was in charge of some black market pawn shop. So, she understood the need to be cautious. But it felt like an overkill to have so much of the faction going to do this. And it wasn't helping that there was another snake here.
Drake:
<<I hope so,>> Drake said in reply to Aubrey. <<If not, then we are in trouble. We do not have a backup plan for getting in, do we?>> Drake already knew the answer, but he felt better asking anyway.
Sootman:
"Mr. Sootman, hello."
That single phrase told Sootman an extrodinary amount of information. Most obviously, they knew his name, which in turn meant that they likely knew about him and what he did. It also meant that they were in his shop on purpose. The way it was said suggested that they were controllers and not free humans. What kind of free human as young as her could speak with such confidence, especially when they knew who it was that they were talking to? No, there must have been a yeerk in her head. Although he could have guessed that solely by the clothing that they wore. Free humans tended to be dirtier, more worn out. The rest of what the girl had to say only helped to solidify his confidence in his judgments. At least now he could stop with his charade of pretending he might just be someone living in an abandoned shop.
Sootman raised an eyebrow when they asked to be called Ms. Green and Mr. Black, but said nothing. However, it did increase his interest. Either these were real amateurs, or they were real professionals. Maybe they were even some of Sal's people. He wouldn't put it past Sal to send some 'undercover' goons to get what Sal couldn't get himself. He actually found it slightly amusing.
"I am sure you are aware that what you are requesting is not a light undertaking. But I can assure you that my absence of 'restraints of legality' as you put it, can get you what you need. For the right price, of course. Do you have a form of payment in mind?"
Inside his head, Sootman was running laps trying to figure out what all heir request would entail. It was not as if he had expected such a request from anyone. The Hive was not exactly a place people just strolled into. However, all they had asked for was the identification needed to get inside. He was sure he could find a way to get them that. If they had asked him to get them past all the other security measures, on the other hand, he may have had to retire then and there.
Suji:
Suji watched Sootman watching her, and didn't allow herself to show any signs of relief when he said that he could get them the IDs. Which wasn't very difficult: Suji found that she didn't really care. Saving YPM members didn't interest her, especially not today. If Sootman told them he couldn't do it, Suji wouldn't have lost any sleep over knowing that some peace movement shmucks got caught and were going to find out what happened to people who got caught. Her capacity for moral dilemma was stretched so thin you could see through it. They got caught. It was the Animorphs job to help, but if they couldn't, the YPM would fucking deal with the consequences.
I could blow this whole thing right now. Tell him I have to make a call to my employer, walk out, and not come back. They would never be able to recover. Fin would probably try, but I don't know if even he can spin a lie good enough to regain Sootman's business. I could just leave. It would be so easy.
"As you've undoubtedly noted, monetary currency is of increasingly lessened value. For this reason, Mr. Black and I trade in services. We offer unparalleled bodyguard detail, and supply oversight protection. Of perhaps more use to you, Mr. Sootman, we particularly specialize in espionage and reconnaissance. We understand that you are a man who knows that information is more valuable than food, riches, or hosts."
Suji wondered if Fin was going to interject at any point, but she felt little discomfort about taking the lead. It helped that she felt so apathetic internally. "The reason why we need your particularly adroit skill set, Mr. Sootman, is that we are operating on a strict schedule. We're eager to cooperate with any negotiations you would like to open at this time, but please forgive any brevity on our part."
She was scanning the room behind her dark sunglasses. This place was a rat-trap. It was filled with crates, and even the stuff inside the glass countertops didn't look too impressive. He probably kept any real goodies in the back, or in some sort of cellar. In the corner of the room there were a few boxes labeled "Compressed Nutritional Sea Squares." Suji had no idea what the hell a sea square was. Her eyes moved smoothly back to Sootman, her head remaining still throughout.
Aida:
Why was she here? Here as in, why was she fighting this war, what did she hope to gain? Life had been worth living before, with friends and family...and then she was diagnosed with cancer, and life was over as she knew it. A new chapter began, one where she came to terms with her looming death, where she did all those things she was too afraid to do before--like going across the sea to a school in America. Things had barely begun when she got sucked into this war, and back then she was a victim, now...now what was she? You're still a victim...a victim pretending to be a soldier...
Time in the bag with Sophie was giving her too much to think about, she'd been pulling away from everyone lately, declining adventures, declining trips, hell she hadn't even known about Jack Day for a while. Aida had slipped into a state of near non-existence and no one had seemed to notice. She didn't resent anyone for it, there had been a lot to deal with, the decision on Jack....this mission....things seemed to be getting progressively worse, and she was beginning to think it would always be that way. Death, fighting, all for what? They were losing this war, if you could call it that, and she was going through the motions..she'd always been...just going through the motions.
Thought-speak was faintly hissing in her mind, but Aida couldn't bring herself to listen in. Dallas was her weak attempt at a home, and it had never really fit, her morphs were more adapted to it than she as a person would ever be. Vancouver had been closer to a home than this, and even that was just a bad memory. Ironically enough she wasn't home sick for England, or even her parents, she was just sick of it all, of the fighting, the hard decisions that came with war, everything. So sick of it and yet...you go on anyway? Get an order, fulfill it, lather rinse repeat. Why? Oh yes, she was a good soldier, and why was she a good soldier? Because Aida had checked out a long time ago, she was only now accepting that.
Matthias had saved her, the Animorphs had saved her, and she owed them this. She had to fight, there was no choice about it, one path to take. Follow orders, fight, stay alive. Lather rinse repeat.
Fin:
Fin was wearing the brown leather jacket he'd stolen from the controller. It was a slight risk since he'd worn it in here once before. But that had been in another body on a seemingly long ago day. Not so long. Only long enough for Liam to starve.
He looked over the rim of his glasses at Sootman. He had not chosen the name Mr. Black. If he had a choice of nicknames he probably would have called himself Mr. Smith. Or maybe Mr. Anderson. But Mr. Black would have to do.
"We also have some other skills to offer," Fin began in a perfectly controlled English accent. He'd been practicing for months now and having Aida around to help coach him hadn't hurt. He loved her accent, one of his favorite things about her. When he used his it always sounding a bit fake in his own ears but she'd assured him it would fool any outsider.
He wanted to make sure that this face, this body, was not connected with any thing real about him. He would have come in the skin of someone else but that would have involved letting the others know he had human morphs. Then again this is what he'd acquired humans for. It was so much more practical to spy with someone else's face. But most people didn't see it that way.
"We've heard that one of our nearest and dearest has recently gone missing," Fin said with feigned regret. "So sad to hear about Day but with him gone I think there is a lack of good Shepherds around here. "I," he said motioning towards himself, "happen to be an excellent shepherd," Fin said implying that he was a free human.
He didn't know what Suji wanted to pretend to be, he should have remembered to ask her, but if humans had been smart enough to start requiring that everyone carry some sort of ID, Fin couldn't imagine that yeerks hadn't figured it out. He wasn't sure, but he thought that all controllers must have some sort of ID to mark them as such and they certainly didn't have any. Claiming to be Sheperds might save them from answering questions they couldn't.
Fin pulled off his sun glasses and folded them neatly before slipping them into an inside pocket in his jacket. "It's the eyes. I have sincere eyes," he said looking at Sootman.
Fin hoped it would be enough. They were really not offering much. The sum of their sales pitch was, 'if you help us we'll owe you one.' Sootman didn't seem like the type to take that sort of deal. But what else did they have to offer?
Sootman:
Sootman kept trying to figure these people out as the girl continued to talk. She seemed to be making a lot of assumptions about him. Like what he valued, and where his interests lie. He would have to make a note of it for later. However, the girl's true downfall was when she admitted just how desperate (albeit indirectly) they were for his services. That meant he could squeeze a lot more out of them than under normal circumstances.
He continued to listen, content for now on observation, as the young man finally spoke up. He had an accent that interested Sootman, but not nearly as much as what he had to say. They knew of Day? Jack Day? The shepherd? No wait, they were shepherds too? Not controllers? Sootman didn't recognize them, but then again, he wouldn't if they worked with Sal. Nobody said they worked with Sal, he had to remind himself. All of the new information entering his brain was threatening to jumble itself up, so Sootman had to pay extra attention to make sure it didn't.
"Hmm," Sootman said casually as he tapped a finger on his chin in a contemplative gesture. He really was using the time to think. They were emphasizing their skills a a form of payment, but that wouldn't do. Sootman didn't like to trade goods for services unless the services came first, and that didn't seem to be an option. "You are putting me in a tight spot here. You really are." Sootman thought for a moment longer, faking it this time.
"I would like to help you, since you seem to be trustworthy people." A lie, since Sootman tended not to trust anyone. "However, I can't allow payment in the form of services. Not unless you perform the services before I get you what you need. I have a reputation to uphold, and I can't make exceptions." Sootman had a nasty bargain brewing. Something no free human would consider in times like these unless they were truly desperate. "Since you have no other type of payment, I think we are pretty much finished here." Sootman knew it was not a good idea to flat out refuse a desperate person what they needed, so he was trying to be somewhat gentle with his words until he got to the clincher. He held out his arms in a way that would guide them to the door. Like a pair of guests that were overstaying their welcome. "If you find something of value in the next couple hours, I would be happy to take a loo-" Sootman got a look of sudden realization on his face. Like someone who just figured something out.
With all the practice of a true professional, he asked them innocently, "Have you ever considered becoming an organ donor?"
Suji:
Suji had remained impassive as Sootman began to usher them out the door. If he wouldn't be able to do it, that was fine. Suji had delivered her pitch. Fin had delivered one of his own. If they couldn't do it, they couldn't do it. It wouldn't bother her. She nodded to Sootman, as if understanding, without complaining or pleading.
When he stopped, Suji felt her stomach twist. Had he been stringing them along? Was this the ultimate goal? She had been relieved that they weren't going to stick their necks out for any YPM. And now... now there was going to be a possibility... He mentioned donating organs, and Suji wanted to laugh. Organs? Organs they had in supply. God, they had endless organs. As much as she liked the prospect of not bothering with the rescue mission, she was not about to give up.
Suji looked him up and down, and asked coolly, "That depends on the organ." Suji had no problem with someone cutting her open and yanking out a kidney, or some of her liver, or even an eyeball. She felt utterly apathetic about it. Her body meant nothing. Physical damage meant nothing. That was the life of an Animorph, wasn't it? She'd bled and she'd been hacked apart, been sliced and shot. What the hell did she care?
You need to get a grip, she thought, but the voice was distant and made no impression on her numb self-loathing.
"I'm willing to put non-critical organs on the table. Do you have a surgeon on call?"
Fin:
Fin turned away easily enough. He had a sinking feeling that Ray would not just give up on this rescue mission if they couldn't get the ID. Nope, they would have to go in the hard way so he best start thinking of plans that didn't involve painful death and or capture. Maybe they could-Sootman's fake tone called him back as he suggested organ donation.
Fin raised an eyebrow. It was his only reaction to the suggestion. "I personally was never keen on the notion Mr. Sootman," Fin said honestly and in character, "but I'm sure we can get a hold of some people who wouldn't mind parting with their organs. Or who we could take them from anyway," he said smiling. Inwardly he was wondering why the hell they were still standing here.
He'd stopped when Suji had stopped and he had assumed her response was somehow feigned or she was in character or something. But she was just standing there....She couldn't be serious, could she?
Drake:
<<Organs? Did I hear that right?>> Drake knew they could not respond, but he could not help but ask. What kind of person traded fake IDs for organs? A person who is well connected in the black market, I suppose, Drake said as an answer to his own question. It made sense. Sort of. But Drake still had a hard time fathoming it. <<Organs?>> It was all he could do to remain still on Suji's head.
Sootman:
It seemed the Ms. Green was more willing to part with her god-given body parts than Mr. Black. Sootman had no objections, but unfortunately he was not looking for just any organs. There were certain specifications that needed to be taken into account. Maybe she could give him what he desired, but the likelihood that either of them could was not very high. But still, it never hurt to ask.
"I hope that you fulfill the requirements Ms. Green. If not, I am afraid your organs will not do." Sootman was focusing the majority of his attention on the girl since Mr. Black did not seem to be too keen on the idea. "May I ask what blood type you are? Hans will not be very pleased if I bring him someone to... retrieve, an organ from that is not even at least the correct blood type." Sootman stood with a curious expression on his face, waiting for her reply. "Of course if you are not a match, I can wait until you come back with someone who is. All I have is time."
Suji:
Suji thought Fin was overselling the 'we could mug people for their guts' point. That, and she wanted to snarl at him. What did he have to lose? This was for the mission. It wasn't like he couldn't grow the damn thing back. That's about all that morphing had been good for in the long run. Staying alive when someone wanted to blast, shoot, or cut out a nice chunk of you. But she couldn't reprimand him. Not with Sootman here. And even she could recognize that the fact that she was angry with Fin for not wanting to do it was saying more about her than him, and it wasn't a good sign as far as her mental state went.
"O." Suji responded seamlessly--not too quickly, but certainly not stopping to deliberate over her answer. "Blood-type O-Positive." It was a lie. She was A-Positive. But blood-type O was the universal donor. If Sootman traded in organs, he would know that. O-types were never quite as good as exact matches, but it would work, wouldn't it? Besides, if he was hitting up some random agents in his shop for their organs, he couldn't afford to be that picky.
Probably wrong about that, Suji thought bitterly, but brushed it aside. "What organ are you looking for, specifically?"
Fin:
Fin looked over at Suji when she gave her blood type and saw something scary. She wasn't kidding. She really wanted to swap organs for little pieces of plastic. "Well....I happen to be AB negative." It was one of the rarest blood types and was pretty much guaranteed to be useless to an organ collector.
Fin looked over at Sootman and smiled. "Can you give me a moment with Ms. Green?" Fin turned around and walked a bit away from Sootman, showing him he wasn't asking him to move or leave in his own shop, which would have been rude.
He hoped to god Suji followed him but if her judgement had been off before it was teetering on its last leg now. What was she thinking, swapping organs for ID's. Isn't this what they had brought Sophie and Aida for? To help intimidate Sootman into giving them what they wanted? They couldn't trust a controller to put them under for surgery and still expect to wake up free.
Sootman:
Sootman showed visible disappointment on his face when Ms. Green said she had O blood. Sure, it would do in a pinch, but Sootman really preferred to have exact matches for his clients. It reflected better on a professional level. And actually, in this case O was probably the worst blood type to have. B type and A type would work for this customer too, and they would be a closer match. It didn't help that she said she was positive either, instead of negative.
So when Mr. Black said he had AB negative blood, Sootman was practically jumping for joy. On the inside. He kept all his excitement from showing on his face, or elsewhere. "I think we have found a match." He said as Mr. Black asked if they could be excused. He eyed up Mr. Black a bit greedily. "Ready to give a kidney? But no rush. Take your time." Sootman stood leaning against a counter with an ever-so-slightly smug look on his face while he waited for them to finish their discussion.
Suji;
Fin began walking away, and Suji half-turned to follow him when Sootman seemed to perk up. He hadn't liked the O-positive bit, and Suji felt like shrugging. It had been a logical, calculated move, but you couldn't win them all. She'd tried. But here now, he was focusing on Fin. Fin, who had undoubtedly picked AB-negative because he thought it was the most obscure, rare bloodtype. And it was definitely up there on the list. Suji would laugh, none too kindly, if his own desperate need to look out for himself ended up screwing him over.
"If you'll excuse us, Mr. Sootman." Suji turned towards Fin, and walked with him to one corner of the store. Kidneys. Kidneys weren't bad. They were probably most routine organs for organ donations. But whatever. He was interested in Fin, not her. Once they were far enough away, Suji gazed at him evenly. She lowered her voice so that Sootman wouldn't be able to hear, and asked utterly neutrally, perhaps even apathetically: "It looks like you pulled the short straw. Are you going to do it?"
Fin:
A look of shock, disgust and...well...fear fought to take control of Fin's face but he kept his expression under control. A slight widening of his eyes was the only indication that the news that he was a match affected him at all.
He realized he'd stopped walking when Sootman had declared him a match so he turned around and followed Suji a bit of a ways away. Fin looked at Suji, a pleasant smile plastered on his face while his heart was hammering in his chest. He wanted to run out of the shop and only by keeping himself standing very still was he able to keep from following the urge.
He worked hard to answer her without showing the fear he was feeling but when he finally spoke, even though he tried to speak with a smile the smile ended up looking much more like a grimace and his eyes were slightly crazy.
"Give up a kidney," he asked in a low but conversational tone as if they were discussing selling or buying stock at a cocktail party. "Let me think about that....mmmm.....oh wait I already know the answer." For a moment he dropped all attempts to hide his feelings and his voice came out in a harsh hiss. "No!"
His eyes flickered to where Sootman was standing. He didn't seem to be watching them but Fin knew it was just an act so he reigned himself in, his voice dropping back into the low conversational tone he'd been using before. "Are you fucking insane? Have a death wish perhaps? Into masochism? Do I care? Not at all. This wasn't the plan and I'm not letting some controller chop me up because you want to show how macho and bad ass you are. You want to prove that nothing gets to you? Fine, do it with your own organs."
Suji:
Suji watched Fin throw his quiet tantrum. His words glanced off of her. Death wish? If she did, she'd have to try harder than organ donation. Masochism might have fit the bill, but it wasn't like she was going out looking for an opportunity to hurt herself a little. This one presented itself quite clearly. Macho or badass wasn't even close. She felt herself smile a little, distantly.
Fin was grasping at straws. He went from death wish to masochism to making it into looking cool in a handful of sentences. Perhaps she was playing her part exceptionally well. That thought amused her, at least.
Once he finished, Suji shrugged. "All right. No one's twisting your arm, especially not me." His fit had no real visible effect on her. He'd brought here over to scold her, in a blaze of shrilly fear, and she hadn't planned on forcing him to do anything. God forbid Fin have to give something up for his morphing power, actually fight back his cowardly nature. Whatever, no skin off her back. "Is that all?" Suji asked. Might as well make sure before she turned back to Sootman.
Sophie:
Sophie had been listening to the conversation going on outside the backpack. Organs? He wants organs? Great. Sophie felt the backpack shifting, and tried pulling herself away from the other snake inside. It felt like they were moving, walking away from Sootman. They hadn't gotten the I.D.s, though. Once they stopped, Sophie shifted. This didn't sound good.
<<What's going on?>> Sophie asked. Then, narrowing her thought-speak to Fin. <<Fin?>> Sophie felt a small bit of irritation flare. Getting the I.D. cards was probably the easiest way to get into this place without too much risk. It was going to be a pain in the ass as it was. Giving up organs to some creepy black-market dealer seemed the least of their worries at the moment. <<Why won't you do it?>>
Fin:
"Gah, not you too," he said before catching himself. He looked at Suji annoyed as if Sophie's reaction was her fault. "A moment," he said in a unconscious repetition of the way he'd taken his leave of Sootman a moment earlier. He walked outside and the minute he was out of the shop he felt slightly better. Feeling the sun on his skin and the fresh air around him calmed him. He was starting to feel trapped and hedged in in Sootman's shop.
He took out the communicator he'd stolen from the controller forever ago. He'd tinkered with it since and gotten it to tune into some yeerk holo channels but he'd never heard anything important. He had to imagine that the important government secrets were being traded on encrypted channels and he hadn't exactly figured out how to get into those yet.
He dialed a nonsense number that he'd learned connected him to the local housing office and waited for someone to pick up. When they did he turned the sound transmitter off on his end and began talking. To Sootman and any other controller it would look like he was talking to the controller being displayed like a little miniature toy on the top of the machine, hardly visible in the sunlight. At least he hoped that was what it would look like. And he hoped this conversation would be short enough that he could finish it before the frustrated controller saying "hello, hello, I can see you! Hello!" hung up.
"Sophie, don't know if you heard but Sootman wants to cut out my organs. As in, call some weird controller doctor and take organs out of my body. Does no one else see a problem with this?"
Sophie:
<<Yes. I heard him.>> Sophie said, her tone level. <<Problem?>> It was clear she didn't understand why he was having such a problem with this. To her, it was pretty simple. <<You guys have bodies that can instantly repair damage--you can take out an organ or limb and still be fine. It's not permanent.>> There was an emphasis on you guys. And, in the pause between what she said, it was obvious. Unlike me. The Animorphs might have an almost infinite chance at life, but Sophie didn't. She had a snake body for the remainder of her life, however long that was.
<<Personally. If I could do it I would. It's not a large price to pay for these I.D.s we're trying to get. Not if it means less of a risk later on.>> Sophie shifted again, feeling a little uncomfortable in the backpack. The warmth of the sun was getting trapped inside the fabric, and making it really stuffy inside the backpack. Sophie tried to keep the sigh from her words. <<But whatever. Do it or not.>>
Fin:
The controller on the other end of his call was getting annoyed. Fin had maybe five seconds before he would look like he was talking to himself and he had no idea how to respond. Do it or not. Do it. Just like that. Did she think it was so easy? Let some psyco cut you up Fin, no problem right, you can grow it back. Didn't mean it hadn't happened in the first place. Why did no one else seem to get that.
And it was easy for Sophie to claim that he should do it. She didn't have to. There was no way she would have to give up anything unless Sootman was looking for a nice snake as a pet. Talk about not being able to put your money where your mouth was. What right did she have to tell him anything. And the way she'd said it, it was like he was a coward or something for not doing it.
"You know what Sophie, some of us actually have bodies we like."
Sophie:
<<Fuck you, Fin.>> Sophie said, her words sharp. Her patience had run out thin. <<At least I'm not making this into a stupid fucking deal for no good reason. I mean, god, what will you have to do? Get some anesthesia, get some organs taken, morph it back. Woo-fucking-hoo. Go ahead and have your little pity parade out here by yourself. I'm sure someone else would be willing to do it. If we can even find another person with your blood type.>>
The snake's mind, still lurking beneath her own, was becoming agitated. <<Because, you know, it's not like we can ask random people off the street to help us with this. 'Hey, would you like to give us your organs so that we can save some people? What, you can't regrow organs? Oh, I'm sorry. We can, but sorry. We're too unwilling. We're too frightened.'>>
Fin:
"Yeah, well fuck you too," he said as the controller hung up, also fed up with him. He shoved the communicator back into his pocket and turned around. Fuck Sophie. What the hell did she know. It wasn't her who had to do it. How the hell did she know if she would do it if she could. She wasn't here, in his position. You couldn't actually know something like that about yourself.
But it didn't matter if she was right or wrong. She'd said what everyone else was probably thinking, that he was just too scared to do it. It didn't have anything to do with fear. He wasn't afraid. He just had a respect for his body that other people seemed to lack. Maybe they wanted to mutilate themselves but he didn't and he wasn't crazy for that.
Fuck them both, Suji and Sophie, masochistic, macho idiots. Sophie had probably gotten trapped on purpose just so she could complain about how much she had given up for the war. Look at me, look at what a fucking hero I am. Why aren't you as willing to sacrifice everything as I am.
One day this war would be over and he'd like to be alive to see it and not just alive but well enough to enjoy it. He had no desire to come out of this all dark and twisty because he'd seen horrible things, done horrible things, had horrible things happen to him. He had read about vets and he hadn't signed up to be some poor, broken shade of humanity. In fact he hadn't signed up at all. He hadn't asked for the morphing power. So what if it gave him the ability to grow back organs. He'd never asked for that ability in the first place.
Not his fault.
But...no one would listen. No one would see it that way. They'd just see some scared kid clinging to his fucking kidneys as if they were some vital body part-oh wait! They were!
He walked back into the shop. "Fine," he said, only remember at the last minute to say it in the accent he'd been practicing and using since he'd gotten here. The rest of them were crazy but damned if he'd let them look down on him for being the only sane one. When this was over they'd owe him and he'd make sure to collect.
Sootman:
"Excellent," Sootman said, allowing his full approval to seep through in the smile on his face. "I'm glad to hear your decision." Sootman was pleased that he had found a donor for his other customer, however, their request for IDs hardly made him come out ahead. It would be tricky to get working IDs in such a short amount of time, but he was sure he could find a way to make it happen. He always did. Besides, it may be worth the effort if it would help him set up a clientel base with these two.
However, Sootman was a bit suspicious about whoever it was that Mr. Black had called, but decided not to inqire. If it had been dark outside, he may have been able to see who it was in the hologram. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. He would have to check his surveilance equipment later to see if he could uncover any more information. It was doubful, but worth looking into.
"I suppose I should call the good doctor then? The one who will be doing the surgery." Sootman walked over to the front counter and picked up the reciever of an old fashioned phone with a rotary dial and called a number. As the phone rang, he asked, " I don't suppose you would be willing to give another organ to pay for some anethesia?"
Aida:
She'd remained silent, afraid if she voiced a thought, if she allowed what she was really feeling to come out that she might inadvertently ruin this mission. Loose a fucking organ? Honestly? Aida wanted to scream, she wanted to shout, but the best she could do was internally squirm. Then suddenly things were being swapped around, the spotlight on Fin...his kidney...he would get cut on. Suji and Sophie were against him, and Aida wanted to stick up for him...but she didn't. Aida didn't say anything. And for that she hated herself.
They could morph, they could heal, and they needed these ID's...and yet give up an organ? It was ludicrous, but did they have a choice? Aida would be willing to give hers up, it wasn't like she had never been cut on by Controllers before...but they were asking this of Fin. He didn't want to, and it wasn't fair to force it on him. Life wasn't fair...
By the time she had reigned in her initial shock and anger, her emotions in check, she heard his response. Fine.... no anesthesia? He wouldn't get anesthesia? It was getting harder to breathe now, and the snake body involuntarily flinched in the enclosed space. She had to say something now...she had to speak up...but she didn't know what to say. No? Don't do it? He already hadn't wanted to....the others would be angry...it was the mission or it was Fin. Normally she had no problem living the Animorph life, following orders, doing what was best for the mission but now....she was being tested, and Aida couldn't choose.
<<No Anesthesia...?>> was all she finally managed to squeak, her voice airy and soft.
Fin:
"Sure, why not. I'm already giving up an organ, why not make it two so that I'm more comfortable," Fin quipped back. And he was completely serious. This was hardly a palatable thought as it was. Trying to imagine going through it with no anesthesia was unthinkable. He didn't like skinning his knee. No way he could sit through a surgery with no anesthesia. No one could. They'd have to strap him down and it would be crossing a line. Not even his team mates would force him to go through with it then.
"Which one? Want a liver? A couple of feet of intestines. My heart? Sorry, sadly it is given to another." He was trying very hard to pretend like this didn't bother him but the very fact that he was talking so much was a bit of a give away. He forced himself to shut up lest his mouth get him in worse trouble than it already had.
Suji:
Suji watched Fin walk out, and wondered if he was going to stay out there. If she was perturbed by actions, she didn't show it. Instead Suji took the time to stare off into the distance. In no way did she indicate a desire to converse with Sootman. When Fin came back, Suji regarded him for a moment.
'Fine.'
Oh great. Who was he doing this to please? If Suji didn't want to be courting Sootman for a couple IDs just to save some fucking careless YPM, she wanted it to be on Fin's generosity even less. All she'd asked him is if he was doing it, and he'd snapped at her like she'd given him an order to, or tried to guilt him into it. In no way had she done either. No, no. Fin was living in his own little world. Another reason not to want this mission to rest on his goodwill.
Fin the martyr. God save them all. There was an easy fix to this, if she could get Fin aside for a moment. It wasn't like they weren't in the habit of turning into people, as well as animals. But Sootman mentioned anesthesia, and Fin kept charging through. Sootman was on the phone even. No time to pull Fin out now. He was stuck doing it, unless they ditched the plan all together.
"No." Suji look at Sootman. "No, as in, you are not taking another organ out of him at the same time. The risk of fatality would grow exponentially, and that is not part of the bargain." Suji looked Fin over, and then turned to Sootman. "The risk of fatality also increases considerably if he goes into shock or involuntarily moves due to lack of anesthesia." Her voice was professional, even. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sootman, but this is a deal-breaker. There will be anesthesia for the procedure, or there will be no transaction."
Suji let that hang for a moment. "It is possible that another kidney transplant could be arranged, though under our current time restraints, I make no claims that we could find another AB- donor. And once more, anesthesia may be a requirement, depending on where we draw the donor from." How she wished she had thoughtspeech right now. But there was no way anesthesia was more valuable than an organ. The second kidney, if they could find a donor amongst them, should cover the cost of two rounds of anesthesia.
She wasn't going to allow, much less ask, any one to go through this without anesthesia. If Ray decided it was important enough to make that order, he could give it. She didn't give two shits if he'd put her in charge of interfacing with Sootman or not: she'd take a hundred dead YPM over one dead Animorph.
Aida:
Fin was talking, alot, too much, he was afraid. Aida felt a pang of sympathy, though that was the wrong emotion to feel right now. The snake was not used to a human mind, or human emotions, it was usually cold, and calm, and right now all it wanted to do was lash out--thanks to her human feelings. It was usually the opposite, animal instincts were what you fought off, she never thought she'd be fighting herself.
Aida was about to talk privately to Suji, ask her to stop it...despite her better judgment, but she did it of her own free will. She found herself shocked....so shocked she nearly forgot what she was going to say. Catching the last bit of the conversation however, she was struck with an idea, this time blurting it out before she could stop herself. <<I'm O negative. I can do it,>> she thought-spoke to Suji only. <<You could lie, tell him I'm AB negative. I'll do it.>> There was no hesitation, no fear in her voice, for once she sounded confident. It was odd, this need to exert herself in order to assure Fin's safety, she had never felt it so strongly before, and it probably wasn't good for her. She didn't care. That was love right? Willing to risk it all.
<<I could go without anesthetics...I'm pretty sure....if worse comes to worse...>> her voice was not as confident this time, but held a tone of vulnerability. <<I've been cut on without it before.>> After this she was quiet again, it was up to Suji right? She was the one in making the choices with Sootman, face to face...there was nothing else she could do but wait. Inwardly she was recoiling at her own words, how she had offered herself up so easily...and even mentioned the anesthetics. Obviously she was not in her right mind, then again...if it would help Fin... How far are you willing to go Aida? a voice asked.
As far as it takes... and like that the choice was made for her. Fin.
Suji:
Suji listened to Aida, thankfully keeping her body from stiffening. She hadn't forgotten that the other girl was there, and was even a bit surprised that she hadn't heard from her sooner. The tone was moderately milder than she expected. The last time Suji was around when Fin got hurt it had all but come to blows between them. Now she'd probably think Suji had some culpability in Fin's decision, in the whole situation. Whatever, let the girl think what she wanted-
But the other shoe never fell. Suji wondered if the thoughtspeech had been solely to her, or open to Ray too. How much of this, if any, was being transcribed to him? Not the time to worry about that. But how exactly could Suji respond to Aida? Impossible. And Suji didn't want to run the risk that Aida would think she was ignoring her. She needed to wait for Sootman's response. If she started talking about having someone ready to do it, somehow magically obtaining that certainty over the course of a few seconds, things wouldn't be pretty.
Though this could be good. Provided Sootman took the secondary deal, Aida was their best choice for this. Maybe she could ground Fin. Keep him from chickening out once it started, maybe even stem his self-pity afterwards... Suji expected that Sootman would take the deal. He would be getting two organs out of it, and Suji hadn't insulted him by railing against the idea of paying more for anesthesia, though she'd certainly wanted to. If he didn't take the deal, that was fine too. They would just leave. She hadn't grown any fonder of their captured YPM rescuees in the time she'd spent in Sootman's shop.
Sootman:
"Meet me at the usual spot in half an hour. I found a potential donor. They seem to be having second thought, but hopefully we can work something out." Sootman hung up the phone and gave Ms. Green and Mr. Black a questioning look for a few moments before speeking. He did not like to be interrupted while on the phone. However, their concerns were valid. And even better, they were expected.
What kind of human being would go into surgery to have multiple organs removed, or worse, have one removed without anesthesia? He was pleased that they were coming up with alternatives. Offering to find other options. Trying to make a better deal. He had them right where he wanted them, but he didn't let it show.
He liked their offer to find another donor, but unfortunately the kidney was the only organ he really needed at the moment. However, that was not the only deal that had been on the table. "Perhapse we are making this too difficult. It seems neither of us is willing to go all the way. You are not willing to match my price, and I am not willing to give you charity by lowering my price below market value." Sootman put his hand on his chin and appeared to be thinking, even though he already knew where he was going with this.
After a moment he imitated the expression of an idea coming to mind. "I think I may have come up with a solution we could both live with. Is your origional offer still on the table? You know, the one where you perform a service to me at a leter date? It would not cover the cost of the IDs, but it would just barely cover the expenses involved with locating and perscribing the correct dosages of anesthesia. Normally I do not provide services on credit, but your willingness to go into surgery tells me that I could count on you to follow through on the deal. What say you?"
Suji:
Suji narrowed her eyes slightly behind the dark glasses. Sootman was changing the game again, and Suji was starting to wish they had decided that bullying him was a viable option. Aida and Sophie were good in case he tried to turn against them on the spot, but twisting Sootman's arm probably would have been a terrible idea. If he was well connected enough to get these IDs, he was certainly well connected enough to make their lives hell, should he so choose.
If they tried to force his hand, she had the feeling that there would be awful consequences... but that didn't stop her from wishing, distantly, that she could show him her crocodile's many-toothed smile and see if he still wanted haggle over some body numbing drugs. Still. Maybe him having control over the situation at least prevented them from overstepping.
"Yes. Though we cannot agree to sign--as it were--a blank check, our services are certainly still up for negotiation. We will try to our fullest power to accommodate your request. Did you have a particular service in mind? I can be available for discussing any future business during Mr. Black's surgery."
Sootman:
"A particular service? Not at the moment. I would like to find out what all you are capable of before I make that decision. I trust you have no qualms about me weighing my options?" Sootman was starting to feel a bit giddy on the inside. Everything was working the way he wanted. He would come out ahead in this trade.
That's when he realized he was probably dealing with amateurs. A professional would have probably wheeled and dealed a bit more. However, maybe these two were just that desperate. He would probably find out more once he talked with Ms. Green. Be would definitely find out more.
Sootman grabbed a note pad off of the desk beside him and scribbled down some quick directions on the paper. He ripped off the piece of paper and held it out for Mr. Black to take. "The place you need to go is across the street from this address. You'll recognize it by the Bob Barker Bobblehead in the front window. When you get there, don't go in the back. Wait until someone comes out to get you." Then, turning to Ms. Green he said, "And if you'll have a seat, I will set up the IDs you requested, then we can talk business." Sootman stood for a moment to see if they had any objections. He had to make sure that they weren't going to be fussy about splitting up. It seemed a lot of free humans, even shepherds, were sometimes touchy about leaving the company of one of their own.
Fin:
Fin's body stiffened when he was told he would have to go alone. He glanced at Suji but didn't let his gaze linger. He was a professional. He would keep up the act. But the thought of going to see an unknown doctor who would rip organs out of his body was terrifying. Having to do it alone?
As much as he was angry at Suji right now he didn't want to go without her. He could disagree with her all he wanted, but at the end of the day he knew she would protect him. He trusted her to do that, to be the thing that stood between him and the enemy. She was like the parent you ran to when you had a nightmare. Logically you knew they were human just like you, that if something really attacked you they couldn't do much more than anyone else. But you were comforted by their presence anyway because they were your parents. They were that responsible figure. And they were ten feet tall and as strong as a lion until proven otherwise.
But she would stay here and he would go there, alone. He only nodded to Sootman and turned to walk out. He didn't look at Suji again, he didn't want her to see how afraid he was. He wasn't sure why. Maybe because she might give him an out, make it ok for him not to do this. And if he were given a chance to escape now he knew he would take it. He would run and prove himself a coward in his own eyes and everyone else's. Sophie would gloat, Aida would comfort and that damn ghost of his would taunt. He couldn't live with that.
Or maybe he was afraid of seeing that he was wrong. That she wasn't that person, that she didn't care. Or even that she couldn't. That she was human, someone his own age who had just gone through a little hell of her own. He couldn't afford to see her as weak. He needed to know that, if something went wrong, she would fix it. And he needed to go into the surgery knowing that she would be waiting when he came out.
She's a better fucking leader than Ray is, he thought as he walked out into the Dallas sunshine and looked across the street. He could just make out the Bob Barker bobblehead from here so he hitched the back pack a bit higher on his shoulders and began walking across the street. As he did so he heard a slight hiss of annoyance coming from the bag and it reminded him that he wasn't completely alone. Sophie and Aida were with him. Even though they couldn't demorph, couldn't show themselves, just knowing they were there was an amazing comfort.
He didn't hurry going across the street but he was a bit proud of the fact that he didn't drag his feet either. He hoped, to anyone watching, that he looked cool and confident. But maybe all he could hope for was that he didn't look afraid.
He glanced at the Bob Barker doll before putting his hand on the hot glass of the door and pushing it open. The door let out a loud squeal of protest as it swung open that reminded Fin of pigs being slaughtered.
Fin stayed outside, remembering Sootman's instructions, and called to anyone that might be in there. "Hello? Sootman sent me."