1418/Betrayal

Betrayal
Date of Scene:	12 July 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Ares, Black Canary, Sublime

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Ares has posed:
    The shield and the sword had been hers, given without condition and merely a warning. Yet it was a warning for true. The parties involved in the exchange had come to the meet. It was a place in the Bronx, a small field that used to be a park between two apartment buildings. It gave a decent semblance of a fair field where two parties could enter, one from one side, the other from the next. It was scheduled for early in the morning, just an hour before sunrise. The place was quiet. No foot traffic.
    It had all seemed good to go, an easy exchange.
    But that's the thing with open contracts and dealing with an unknown quantity. She had been new to the whole organized crime scene, and surprisingly she had come up with the goods when five other groups could not. And she did it without any of her people dying. But still she had no rep, and the pay out was prohibitive really, for what was ultimately an act of vanity to get those weapons. So it made business sense, didn't it? Pop her, get the goods, go. Why pay somethin' when you could pay nothin'? Basic economics.
    Not to mention, it was also a chance to put the new muscle through his paces. He was on retainer and without kneecaps to break his big cash roll was going to waste. Why not set him on this new gal with the funny lipstick? So when she came to the meet, and when it was proven she had the goods, they used him to try and light her up like a Christmas tree, electrical energy lashing the air and the guy laughing like a freaking hyena. Still, with him and the other grunts, it was good enough to put her down and drop a building on her, not to mention the loot.
    All told it was a good deal for Mr. Berl, who even now was in his mansion with the shield and the sword nicely on display. A good day's work.

Black Canary has posed:
    Later that night, long after the moon had hidden away, leaving only the stars, the warehouse alarm trips outside of John's home. Inside, rather than outside. Assuming he moves to check (after making sure Alexander is safely hidden before he does, if he's home), he'll find a thin trail of blood winding between one of the lanes of boxes, headed roughly towards...well, wherever she was going, she didn't get there, as she's currently crumpled in the middle of the floor.

Ares has posed:
    That had been curious, as that warehouse had been already broken into, the police had been and gone, and the items of antiquity that were worth something had already been relocated. It has all been horribly tedious and bothersome, but it had to be done. Some of those artifacts represented Alexander's future, they had to be looked after. Luckily he was still away off at the Camp of Summer, so when the alarm went off it only took the tall man a few moments to gather of himself and then depart.
    His arrival is with little fanfare, just a short rippling in the air created by the quantum surge of mass being displaced so. The scene seems to twist around in on itself like a carnival funhouse mirror, yet when it unwinds there is another figure there, standing amongst the remaining crates and storage containers.
    A few steps and the blood is found. A few more and the woman is found. He kneels beside her, fingertips to her neck as he checks her pulse even as he turns her to the side to cradle her in one strong arm and support her back. If she's conscious at all she'll see his face, the frown there, the furrowed brow. And then his voice, "You are safe now, Sublime."

Black Canary has posed:
    The touch causes her to jerk, letting out a gasp, then a 'mnnngh' of pain. Up close, it's easy to see the puncture in her side. High enough that it probably didn't hit an organ..but it definitely looks painful, and it's still bleeding, a crude dressing that looks like it's just a ragged cloth with duct tape over it having come loose enough that red dribbles slowly down her slightly too pale skin. You see...the shock hurt. The building coming down would have really hurt, if she hadn't phased. Unfortunately, she'd already been hit by a falling piece of rebar and took it into phase with her...which didn't really stop the kinetic force behind it. "...'re...right..." she says dazedly.

Ares has posed:
    His brow knits as he observes her wounds. He has seen many... caused many... and he knows the trouble the ones such as hers can cause. Rising to his full height with her held carefully in the firm strength of his arm, he presses his other hand to that bleeding wound, attempting pressure as he murmurs quietly in that deep baritone, "Don't talk. Look at me. Look at my face."
    As he says this there is a faint surge of power around them, that faint growing arcane ambiance that heralds the world twisting to his whim. He continues to speak quietly. "You are safe now. You made it." Important to keep her focus, to keep her body trying, even though it has gone through a terrible ordeal.
    Then that arcane charge seems to dissipate and she'll see the ceiling behind him changes to a different one. The other one had been greenish metal, now it is a grey of concrete or cement as they both appear in the bunker facility beneath his home. No time to look around assuredly, though she would see several doors, and a broad open area that looks like a place for training or exercise. There's a place nearby that would look perhaps like a mini-kitchen. But what is most important now is the adjustable medical table/bed that she's placed upon.
    A hospital would be best, but he does not know what might follow her in the wake of her admittance. What record follows her, and possibly what informants might be in play seeking to gather information on a body brought broken to the emergency room.
    For now it will have to be a quick tending to her wound, cleaning, examination of foreign matter that might have penetrated. He grimaces to himself as he pulls open the supply cabinet and begins to gather the materials needed even as he pulls off the phone from the wall and tucks it under his chin.
    "Dr. Sloane..."
    He examines the wound, frowning. "Tell him to contact John Aaron as soon as possible. It is an emergency."
    The phone is hung up.

Black Canary has posed:
    Sublime's chest rises and falls in short, labored pants. Her blue eyes are a bit unfocused at first, but start to actually see John better as she keeps her attention on him, not really noticing the change in scenery at first, before another frisson of pain runs through her side, her eyes closing for a moment as she grits her teeth. "...wha'...where are..." she starts to ask.

Ares has posed:
    "My basement," He says curtly, abruptly as he gauges if the wound has an exit or just the entry with one hand touching gently. No exit wound, good. "I've called a doctor, will take you to him as soon as I hear back, I'll dress your wound now. Bide."
    He steps back and pulls a syringe from a small rack of them in the cabinet, pulling off the cap with his teeth and holding it there. He then steps to her and says, "This will sting." And with no further preamble he stabs the local anesthetic into place and injects. It'll hurt at first, but then there'll be a cool chill that emanates from the wound.
    The needle is tossed onto the nearby counter, then he says to her, "I need to examine if there's some debris in the wound." He takes a gleaming metal probe and begins that examination, still hurting despite the anesthetic but nowhere near as badly as it would. "Tell me what happened."

Sublime has posed:
    "It'll only hurt at first....'emember the last guy who told me that..." she says, then lets out a sigh, some of the tenseness starting to leave her body as the drug spreads, dulling the pain. "...I was the only one who brought something back." she says after a moment, leaning her head back to look up at the ceiling. "....they didn't want to pay me. Thought it was too much for a newbie. So the fucker had his new boy zap the fuck out of me. And then he dropped a building on me..." she says concisely, bitterly. She did the job...she should get paid. That's the rules. Or not, it seems.

Ares has posed:
    The tall man nods his head as he listens to her, taking a moment only to reach back to the cabinet and get a small metal container and some forceps. "Go on, tell me the details. Who was the new muscle?" He asks as he goes to one knee beside her so he can look down closely at the wound. Perhaps he spares a glance around quickly for a stool of some sort, but no. He scowls to himself, should have thought of that.
    But then he'll use the forceps to press into the wound, causing discomfort as he murmurs, "And where did this happen?" He'll have to press past some injured tissue, then slowly is able to pull a small piece of debris, perhaps some cement? It clinks as he drops it into the small metal bowl.

Sublime has posed:
    The blonde woman squints a bit, hissing as she feels the forcep, even with the dulling pain. But it's not bad. She's had worse. At least it's not a bullet wound. "...I didn't get a good look at him. But he was waiting. He was a meta. Used electricity. Kept laughing the whole time, the fucker." She tries to catch her breath a bit, bracing as John keeps poking around in her side. "'s not bad?"

Ares has posed:
    His tone is calm, controlled, even rivaling that of a long time field doctor. "No internal organs were hit, were you hit anywhere else? Do you have any other pain?" He asks her as he presses again and she'll feel that pressure... and then another faint /clink/ of a rock hitting the bowl. He straightens up from his kneeling posture and steps aside to the small sink to wash his hands, pushing on the soap dispenser a few times.
    He turns back and takes up a small blue and white bottle, shaking it up slightly as he also grabs a small towel to place just under her side. John meets her eyes and murmurs, "This may also hurt," And as he says this he waits for her to gird herself, and then he pours the wound cleanser over the injury, causing it to seize and bubble even deep within.

Sublime has posed:
    "...nothing but some bruises...and my pride..." she woman answers, closing her eyes as she feels the pressure. She's floating quite nicely now. "...you've got good hands..." she murmurs. She inhales, then nods a bit, before catching her breath. This time, she doesn't make further noises, though the strain is vident on her face, before she slumps a bit, breathing a bit faster.

Ares has posed:
    John's eyebrows lift slightly at her compliment, but gives no voice as to his opinion on it. But it does trigger him to lean over her even as he dabs at some of the run off cleanser with that small towel. He touches a hand under her chin to guide her to face him as he looks into her gaze, expression deep in thought as he murmurs. "Look at me." He tilts his head as he eyes her pupils, then he says, "Look up." Once she does, "Look down."
    That having been done he murmurs, "Alright," He steps away from the table and moves towards another cabinet next to the one that's already open. Within he pulls out a small dose of pain killers from an 'sample' box, tearing open the packaging and then telling her, "Take these," He waits for her to hold out her hand. No water, because clearly she is tough.
    Once that's done he pulls a small white package from that new cupboard and begins to tear open the box. "Going to stitch the wound, and then get a fresh bandage. After that, you'll rest and I'll get you to the doc."
    He then pauses and looks to her, "Do you have anyone I need to contact?"

Sublime has posed:
    Sublime opens her eyes obediently. Her pupils are larger from the drugs now, dilated. But seem to be focusing. She doesn't object, she just takes the pills, then pops them in, swallowing with a faint grunt. "...no." she says after a moment, quietly. No one she's going to drag into this, anyway.

Ares has posed:
    For a moment he watches her as if considering pressing on the matter. But he doesn't. Instead he takes the medical stapler and begins to press the edges of her wound together. His brow knits, then he tells her sidelong, "I will try to be as quick and accurate as I can." Which, to be fair, is pretty quick and accurate. But it will hurt, though hopefully not as much now.
    There'll be a few jolts as the stapler presses in, locks, then fires. A slight move of the tool, then it fires again... Several more times... and then it's over. He begins to bandage her, the white cotton pressing down now over those staples, and then he tears off pieces of surgical tape to bind it in place.
    He lightly touches it to gauge the quality of the binding, then nods to himself. For a moment he disappears from view, but then he returns and extends a bottle of juice over her shoulder to her, saying simply, "Drink."

Sublime has posed:
    The woman's chest rises and falls, steadying as the pain killers further numb the pain. Or at least make it seem far and dreamily away. She nods absently, but doesn't really even twitch now as the stitches go in. "You're a handy guy to know..." she murmurs, then tries to carefully push herself up enough that she can drink without spilling it everywhere

Ares has posed:
    "When you're feeling better, I would like to know if you learned anything of Mr. Berl, or had any insight that would help us in finding him." He walks around the medical bed and towards the office chair that is set in front of a desk with a computer on it. He rolls it around the way with one hand until it stops beside the bed. He moves around and then settles into it, leaning forward a bit and sitting on the edge of it as he looks to her.
    "Also are you sure you don't have any pain elsewhere?" He looks at her ragged ensemble, then back to her. "Would you like a change of clothes?"

Sublime has posed:
    She licks her lips a bit, carefully draining the juice, then lying back again, breathing in and out slowly. "No. And maybe..." she allows, leaning up enough to look down at her camouflage pants, which are soaked with blood on the same side. "...at least save the boots." she says, letting her head thump back into the pillow with a sigh. She just...can't care at the moment. Lying here is nice. So very nice. She will continue to do that, thank you.

Ares has posed:
    A few moments drift past as she begins to relax, and he gives her a nod. Then he stands and walks to the end of the bed, moving to those boots and slipping a finger under one side of the laces to loosen them slightly as he begins to work on the knot. No need to cut them free as she's past the moment of crisis and is not in any immediate danger. So he just takes his time undoing that knot... then the laces. First one, and then he shifts to work on the other.
    After a few moments she'll feel him pull off the one boot, sliding it off slowly and cupping her foot before setting it down on that bed. Then the next boot is pulled off with a faint steady pressure that draws on her leg, careful... careful not to put any pressure or stress on the wound. But then it comes free and he takes them up in both hands.
    A moment later she'll feel a whisper of cloth as a blanket is placed over her... and then a faint trilling ring that is answered after the second.
    His voice is perhaps heard faintly as he asks, "Dr. Sloane? I will get you directly."

Sublime has posed:
    Sublime finds herself dozing a bit, in that weird fluffy-headed state that comes from really good drugs, her eyes fluttering closed finally as the last of her get up and go gets up and goes. She passes right the hell out, do not stop, do not collect $200. She likely doesn't come up again until after the doctor is finished.

Ares has posed:
    When her senses return to her there's no way to tell how long it's been. No clock on the wall, no sense of the outside. She's in that armored bunker or last line of defense for the man known as John Aaron and she has a rather soft fuzzy blanket over her. It's nice, warm, and there's that added warmth of fuzziness that comes from out of a medicine bottle that might also be affecting her. But then, assuredly, the first thing she'll see is an older man, most likely in his late sixties and balding as he's apparently going through the cabinets on the wall.
    He murmurs and grimaces, "Out of date, out of date. Ugh, causes cancer now."
    Shaking his head the Doc turns and then sees her, "Ah, awake. Good. How are you feeling?"
    He asks her as he walks around her bed. So his presence is the first thing she might realize, the next is that... under that cover she is nude as well. Though there's a change of clothes on the seat of that office chair that had been wheeled over. And her boots are set beside it.
    "Bad wound, decent dressing. Had to redo it. Internal bleeding. That's what you get when a soldier plays doctor."
    He's got a small moustache, and wisps of hair out of his ears as he looks to her. "Did a full check, you're going to have a rather nasty series of bruises and your ankle seems twisted? That's the ice you feel there and why it's elevated."
    And, indeed, it is. The ice pack, however, is under the blanket.

Sublime has posed:
    Her second thought is "Wow, he's gooooood...didn't even notice." She's still quite drugged, of course, so it doesn't bother her as much as it might otherwise have. And it IS a doctor. She thinks, blinking owlishly at the doctor. "Oh. It hurt a bit, but I didn't know it was a sprain..." she murmurs.

Ares has posed:
    "Right, so I'm going to tell you bed rest, two weeks, regular changes of bandage. Staples will dissolve over time. But chances are you're going to ignore all this and just do what you want, right?"
    The Doc grimaces a bit and walks around the other side of the bed. He holds up a small black display device and touches it to her brow, taking a quick reading and then giving a nod. "No fever, need to watch that."
    But then he looks her in the eyes and asks, "Alright, so you know him. He did all this. So tell me, you know who he is?" At that he just sort of stares at her for a bit.
    But before she can answer he says, "C'mon, I do his clean up, he brings wounded people by, asks for equipment and material. Never once tells me who he is or what he needs it all for. But I figure eventually one of you shmoes will be able to. So spill it."

Sublime has posed:
    Sublime mmms, letting her head loll back as she slits her eyes, then grins. "Not a fucking clue." she admits cheerfully. "I just robbed his house. We're not, like..." She tries to wind her first two fingers together; it takes a bit. "...this."

Ares has posed:
    "Dammit," Dr. Sloane scowls as he shakes his head, "You're not very useful, are you?" He grunts, "Well fine. Two weeks." He points at her almost accusingly.
    But then the deep baritone voice of John Aaron is heard as footsteps are also heard upon what is likely a set of stairs. He descends back to the shelter, coming around the corner and saying calmly. "You do yourself a disservice with your suspicion, Doctor." He emerges around the small wall that divines the medical area from the main area. He looks between them and nods to her, "Feeling better?" He asks as he looks to the doctor. "If all is settled, Doctor Sloane, I shall return you to your home. Is this acceptable."
    But the old fellow isn't quite done yet, "No, it's not acceptable, it's what will happen I know. But it's a damn sight short of acceptable." But then he heaves a sign, "But... in any case, I'll be there for the next two days, after that I'm off to the cape. Don't bother me then."
    "Of course, Doctor." John starts to step away, but then mentions to Sublime. "Some clothes are on the chair. I'll be back shortly."

Sublime has posed:
    Sublime hmms. "..'k..." she answers, still sounding a little sleepy. Though she does wait until he's left before she works up the desire to push herself up, letting out a little gasp as it pulls at the twitches a little. "...ow." she murmurs, wiggling her legs over, then just sliding off the bed, letting the sheet drop as she carefully walks towards her clothes. Luckily, she's had years of being a party girl to help her learn how to walk when not completely sober. She gets to them then takes them back to the bed, sitting down as she starts pulling things on, trying not to twist as much as she can.

Ares has posed:
    Medical supplies are one thing, they work for just about anyone. They can be purchased without a need to really curtail them too much depending on the user. Most likely these stores were meant for the tall man and his son. But they served well for Sublime's current situation.
    The clothes, however, are not universal. She'll find a white t-shirt that is probably rather too large and it has a cartoon of Ben Grimm on the front that proclaims in large font, 'It's Clobberin' Time!' But then there are the grey jersey shorts that most likely will fit her decently if she pulls on the drawstring enough and ties if off. There are some white gym socks, guys of course, and that's it. But they're clean, smelling as if they're fresh out of the laundry. So there's that at the least.
    But it only takes him about ten minutes before John Aaron returns, again descending the steps loudly, perhaps extra loudly to announce his presence in case she is still indecent for whatever reason.

Sublime has posed:
    Well..it's hardly the first time she woke up, couldn't find her clothes, and ended up leaving with a boy's shirt and shorts. She does have to pull the drawstring pretty tight to keep it up, and even then it hangs off her hip, revealing a generous amount of the upper curve. Not to mention it's cool here and it will be evident that this is so as long as she's wearing a white T with nothing underneath. She's seated herself a bit on the bed, lost in thought, though she raises her head as John comes in. "...why are you doing all this for me?" she says, her eyes a bit sharper now.

Ares has posed:
    "Long answer or short answer?" He asks her as he comes around the corner. Now that the crisis is over he starts to pick up the pieces. The discarded medical wrapping and containers, the old needle, the bandaging. He tosses some of the metal medical gear into the sink to be cleaned later, while the rest of it goes into a small trash bin he's picked up from beside one of the cabines.
    Once that's done he sets the bin down and then takes up a seat on that office chair that's beside the medical bed.

Sublime has posed:
    Sublime considers. "I think I"m awake enough for the long answer, but I will accept short if that's all I can get." she says. "...is what she said." she adds, grinning. Okay, she's still a bit buzzed on the pills. At least it's keeping her relaxed. She feels like if it didn't feel so dreamy, she'd be a lot more tense than she is.

Ares has posed:
    A small snort comes from him, but he looks away lest she see the small half-smirk. But he shakes his head and then looks back towards her. "Short answer, you're my best angle at finding Berl and making sure he's no longer a threat to me or my son." He holds her gaze with his own, a subtle gleam in those dark brown eyes.
    "Long answer..." He settles back in the chair, folding his arms over his chest as he watches her, his eyebrows furrowing as he seems to look at her steadily for a time. "Is that over time I feel I have become a good judge of character. You have potential, you have strength, you have skill. But those aren't what set you apart. You are doing this..." He gestures absently to the side, "For what you feel are good reasons, to perhaps aid another. If you felt you had another option, I feel you would take it."
    But then he pauses, holding his thoughts as his eyes lower. A moment, and another passes... then he looks up "But I am also doing this because in some ways I have a debt. For what I have done in the past myself. I cannot exactly say why, but I feel as if this... lessens it somehow."

Sublime has posed:
    Sublime quirks her lips a bit at that, but then shrugs and nods. "Well...you were right. I said I'd help. So..." She sighs, leaning back on her hands. "What I know is where he had me meet him, but I do know the people who put me in touch with him in the first place. They might know where he is now.

Ares has posed:
    A nod is given, "Then when you're feeling better we'll follow up the contacts you have, gain the information." He seems about to say something, but then John pauses. He takes a deep breath and looks towards her steadily...
    "I should warn you, Sublime." He quirks a brow but his mouth has become a firm line of determination. "That when I find this man, I intend to take his life. I understand if you will not wish to take part. Or if you would prefer to claim his life yourself for his transgressions against you. But one way or the other, I plan for him to no longer be a threat."

Sublime has posed:
    Sublime winces, rolling her neck, then brings her eyes back to John's. Her gaze is..colder than he's seen. This is the soldier they put in her. The thing they tried to twist her into. "...I don't care if you kill him. World would be a better place." she says, evenly.

Ares has posed:
    Then he answers her nod with one of his own. "Alright. For now you should rest. In the morning I'll get what intel you can give me, and follow up the leads that I can. Once you're recovered we'll press."
    He pushes to his feet with one smooth motion, rising to his full considerable height before her and giving her a nod. "Is there anything I can get you or that you'd like for your stay?" He looks tot he side and she can see his thoughts already drifting as he murmurs, "In that room are a pair of bunks, decently comfortable." He points with index and middle finger towards one door, then indicates another. "That's the restroom and shower facilities. If you do shower, let me know when you're finished and I'll redo the bandage."
    He looks back towards her, "There's a television and a computer, though I would not recommend you signing into any social media or the like from here."

Sublime has posed:
Sublime considers, then says slowly. "If I could get materials to clean and fix up my staff, that would be nice. But TV was fine." She smirks at the idea of social media. "...don't worry. I don't have a presence like that." Not anymore, certainly. That's how they find you. Facebook posts and Instagram pictures." She pushes herself off the bed, then starts padding towards the room. "...thanks again..." she says, pausing by the door as she looks over her shoulder at him. "...even if it helps you, you didn't have to help me this much to get what you wanted. I'll remember that."

Ares has posed:
    "Get some rest," John says as he looks after her, a small smile touching his lips for a moment. But then he turns and starts to step back towards the stairs leading upwards, letting her get acclimated to things on her own terms. He knows she most likely would prefer to do it that way than have him show her where everything is... since that's kind of the way he'd want to do it too.
    A few moments pass and then she'll hear his steps up the stairs.