He was bigger than me, though a tiny bit smaller than Wrekt. He'd something of a similar feel to Raynor, though no where near as deep. He was heavily chromed, really pushing the edge of his humanity. Though he had kept his face organic, framed with blonde hair and rocking blue eyes. Really stood out with his darker skin tone. Sporting a vest and a bandanna, he had an overly casual feel. He flashed a smile at Sasha, who jumped up and hugged him. I got sibling vibes from them. Rebecca waved at him, "Heya, Maine!"

  Looking on was a lady almost as huge as the guy. She was more flesh though. Her core was almost all meat, though she had chrome arms and legs. Nordic looking. Very serious type, despite the casual attire of just a jacket. She liked to show off the muscles she worked so hard to get. She was almost certainly with Maine in the primal sense, judging by their body language.

  Sasha gave her a hug as well, I noticed there was much less of a sibling tone to their relationship. Hmm, interesting. Perhaps, Sasha didn't approve of their relationship. Perhaps, this lady tried to push Sasha in ways she didn't want to be pushed. I admit, I never used to really understand the bonds and subtext between people in my old life. However, my brief stint as a psyker, had changed that. I was far more aware of the subtle interplay that constantly surrounds peoples lives. Even now that I was mostly free of those powers, I could see and sense more than I ever would've before.

  Greetings done, the eyes of the newcomers focused on me. Half intimidation, half amusement. I let it slide off. there was no real aggression in their stances, this was just the way they were. A waved and held out my hand, "I'm the Medic." I was starting to get tried of saying that, I needed to get some cards made or something. I tried to appear friendly but determined, with a hint of aloof.

  "Oh, I could use a tune up." The big lady remarked, while side-eying Maine. Whatever passed between them there I didn't catch.

  "You have to give him a spin, Dorio. It's preem." Rebecca exclaimed, while waving her arms in a wide circles. Odd, behavior. A signal, maybe. Or was this just Rebecca being Rebecca?

  "I'd like to see this, I missed it when he worked on Rebecca earlier. It'd be nice to see what it looks like from the other side." Sasha always spoke with a light tone as if she was about to laugh.

  Hmm, I was starting to feel like a public utility. Though I suppose it was my own fault. "Today is free, just to get my name out there and show folks what I can do." I tried to sound like I was joking, even if I wasn't. People are easier to get allow with, when you make yourself easy to approach. At least, I thought so.

  "Hahaha! Alright, lets see what you got, Longears!" She sat on the stool next to me, whew I'm surprised it held. Now that she was closer to me, I had a better sense of her mass. Also she reeked of the gym. Old sweat, and broken dreams. I turned to her and offered my hand, she stared at it for a moment before taking it. Even though I no longer needed to touch folk when I heal them, this gesture was more about their willing participation. They are making a choice to accept what's about to happen to them, otherwise it might feel dirty. Sure I'll heal my people up without worrying about it, or skip it in an emergency, but I'd like to give people the choice where possible. Heh. Not that they can fully understand what's coming. They couldn't with the way this world works.

  I felt Maine sit on the stool that was now behind me. I could feel his gaze boring into the back of my head. It was a smart play. Hmm, how protective of a boyfriend was he? Sasha stood at my side, with her hands behind her back, eagerly staring at Dorio. Rebecca was ordering another Daiquiri from Harry, and seemed unconcerned by the events around her.

  I let my mana drip into the giant woman, a slow build up. I offered her a silent apology, I was going to turn this one into a big show. Maybe the novelty would wear off, and folks could start thinking about how useful my skills were, instead of how entertaining. Hopefully, Maine wouldn't take offense.

  Fuck! This wench had destroyed herself. I could feel the countless reps and endless effort that went into every part of her. Sadly, she'd replace her limbs with chrome, though with her I was almost positive it was because of damage, not convenience. I smoothed out the ridiculous amount of microtears in all her muscles, the ribs that had broken again and again probably while they under too heavy a load.

  Dorio didn't even have a moaning and groaning stage, she went straight into the screaming like a banshee stage. "Freya's Tits! That feeelss ssso gooood!" She convulsed in ecstasy, as all of her muscles clenched and relaxed. I heard a spit take behind me, "The hell?!" Rebecca and Sasha were cackling like witches drunk on their power.

  I started repairing her organs, all of which had vast amounts of damage cause by hormonal imbalances. Oh, she had rendered herself infertile at some point, whether from some cocktail of chemicals or for working out too hard, I wasn't quite sure. Maybe I should ask if she wanted that function back? I snapped the fingers of my free hand in front of her face, while pulling back my mana. I leaned over and whispered into her ear, "Do you want to be able to have children?"

  She jerked back, "How did you know?" I gave her a flat look. I pulsed my mana, through her body very fast, once.

  "Oh, OH!" She gulped. I felt the laser focus of the man behind me, whoops. Maybe that didn't look too wholesome.

  "Nyan? What's going on?" Sasha looked puzzled.

  "Hey, bring back the fun!" Rebecca seemed like she was ready to live vicariously through Dorio.

  Dorio seemed to struggle with some internal trauma for maybe two whole seconds. She stared over my shoulder at Maine, and shook her head at some unspoken things between them. That lasted maybe a minute while they had some kind of conversation with just their eyes. Or maybe they were messaging each other, duh. Don't forget about the high tech phones in people's heads, idiot. Even when I'd one of my own I forgot about it all the time. I needed to work on that.

  "Yes, please." Dorio say while blushing up a storm.

  "Alright, Maine was it? Could you hold her steady, she's going to get wild." I kept my tone clinical, flat. Maybe publicly wasn't the best place to have this happen, but for me this was just another Tuesday. Well, it was a Monday, but you get the idea. I was keeping it professional.

  "Oooo." Sasha and Rebecca both intoned, in almost perfect harmony. Neat.

  Maine came over and held on to Dorio from behind the stool, wrapping his massive arms around her. "Alright, I've got her."

  I turned my full attention to her ovaries and uterus, and poured what felt like a massive river of mana into them. Something I'd learned, back when I'd Regrowth and was exploring with... those women, was that direct stimulation of the reproductive organs had truly explosive results. Dorio became a siren, wailing about the end of the world. Her voice reached such a pitch and volume that I think my eardrums blew out, until my own aura helped heal them back into place.

  That cacophony definitely got everyone's undivided attention, from several blocks away. Maybe even the next city over. She'd actually damaged Maine's arms were she gripped them with her full strength. I suppose I'll pay to fix that, it's half my fault. Should have warned them more. She'd also wet herself in every way imaginable. No shock there. A quick Purify cleared all of that up.

  Dorio ended up looking like she'd run several marathons back to back. But now she was healed. She turned around and grabbed Maine's face and laid the mother of all impassioned kisses upon him. They were probably about to run off and test the equipment, so to speak. I really should look at him first, and make sure his boys were swimming properly.

  Nah, let them have their fun. I'll be around later, probably.

  "We have to go!" Dorio growled while dragging Maine with her out of the club.

  "Have fun!" Sasha called while waving her arms at them, like they were taking off on a cruise ship.

  "That was something else!" Rebecca cheered while throwing her arms up and down.

  "It really was special. However, I don't remember turning my bar into a brothel." Wow, people just loved to try to sneak up on me. Thankfully I'd felt her coming.

  I turned around to look into the grey eyes of Rogue.

  Fifty years or so can really change a person, but this was undeniably the real version of the Rogue we'd met in the Mana Sink. Honestly, she didn't look all that bad, all things considered. Her steel toned hair still had just a hint of it's former teal. She was wearing a full business suit, though I'd my doubts that was her typical style. Still much of the edge of her merc days was missing. Whether she was suppressing it, or she had lost it remained to be seen.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  She caught me staring and her grey eyes flashed a warning. Ah, very no nonsense. I'd gotten a glimpse of a pistol under her jacket. Still some of that edge there, then. Good to know. That, plus the large guy slightly behind her, was a message, even I could follow. I decided to be civil, for now.

  "Sorry about that, I was demonstrating my abilities. What you just witnessed was a side effect. I don't mean to interrupt your clientele, but I needed to show off my value to a crew." I thought that showing I was willing to bend my neck a little towards her, while not rolling over entirely would be the best play, until I got to know her better.

  "Oh? Just a side effect? What exactly is your 'ability', Mr.... " She trailed off her face expressionless. Her quick glance at Sasha and Rebecca, gave me nothing, but I could tell she was getting more info out of this exchange then I had. The ladies for their part, were staring at Rogue like I might have stared at Superman, when I was a kid. They seemed to hang on her every word, as if it was divine wisdom. In other words, they were fangirling hard.

  "I go by The Medic, right now. Ma'am." Yup, business cards and maybe a placard. Maybe a nametag.

  "You heal people." She nodded, "It seems I remember talk from not that long ago, about a man that could perform similar feats." Her eyebrow made it a question, rather than the statement it sounded like.

  "I might know a few things about him, if you have the time to hear them?" Come on, take the bait. Let's get all of this out of the way, so I can find a crew, and start earning some points. I had people to buy back.

  "That certainly sounds more interesting than what I already had planned for the evening." She turned to her companion, who was a very serious looking fella who was showing some serious chrome. Even my sharp ears couldn't make out what she whispered to him. He nodded and left, going through the doors that led deeper into the back of the building.

  "Let's talk in a quieter place, Medic." She smirked and a hint of that rebellious lady peeked out from behind the current stonefaced bitch. She gestured towards the door the other guy had departed through. I stared at the door for a second, weighing the pros and cons of going through it.

  Well, if she wanted to zero me, she would hardly have to do it in private. I rose off the stool. I waved to Sasha and Rebecca who were still making googly eyes at Rogue, and barely noticed I'd moved.

  "Ladies, I hope to see you again, sometime." I didn't expect much of a response, and I didn't get one, at first.

  "See you later." Rebecca called before going back to looking at Rogue.

  "I'll catch you tomorrow, Medic." Sasha half heartedly promised.

  I waved at them and headed to the door. Rogue followed closely behind me. "Turn left ahead and take the stairs up to the third floor." Her voice was soft, she didn't want others to hear. Interesting.

  I saw no reason to cause trouble now so I followed her continuing instructions until we ended up in a room, with an isolation chamber in it. I didn't need anyone to tell me the purpose of the darkened glass module. Well, probably not glass, maybe a polycarbonate. So bullet resistant, and mostly sound proof.

  Her guard was waiting by the door to the chamber. He nodded at me and turned to her, "Everything is ready, I'll watch the door for mice." He seemed more like he'd rather be laughing, over a beer perhaps, than looking out for other folks.

  The inside of the chamber was filled with a plush sectional couch and a matching recliner. A faux wood coffee table and a Monitor hanging from the ceiling. There were a few cabinets opposite to the entrance. The view of the outside area was much clearer than the view from outside in. The Monitor was on and filling the screen was a familiar face.

  "Amanda." I was so glad to see her. Even if it was only a picture.

  "Ryan? Is that you? What the hell happened?" She sounded relived and worried and confused all at once. I flinched. I didn't expect a telecall. I turned to see Rogue entering behind me and closing the door.

  "Yes, it's me. What's left of me anyway." I tried to smile at her, but my heart wasn't in it.

  "Raynor? Is he with you?" That did get me to smile. I could feel her love for him, in that question.

  Rogue being unobtrusive sat on the sectional and seemed to zone out. Her way of saying don't mind me, I guess.

  "They still have him, and the others. Ransom, and a warning." I shook my head.

  "Fuck. How much? We have a lot, from what we manage still." She grimaced, things might not be going well for them.

  "Company Points." I said simply.

  "Bastards!" She hissed. Yeah, I completely agreed.

  "Let's meet up somewhere safe. See what's left and I'll go over what's new." I glanced at Rogue, who didn't seem to take offense.

  "Alright, I see they took out your interface. You have an Agent yet?" She was already planning.

  "No, no contacts to get a truly secure one. Trying to build relationships to get started here and now."

  She nodded, "Okay, lets meet where you started an outpost by Rocky Ridge. Say, in two days?" She looked at something out of frame.

  "Sounds good. See you then." The connection ended.

  "Well, that's fascinating. I've never seen Amanda care so much for anyone so obviously not a Nomad." Rogue said quietly, like she didn't want to spook me.

  "We have a history, albeit brief." I grimaced. Trying to maintain my stoicism was difficult.

  "I heard you tamed the infamous Longshot and Murdermind. I would have deemed that an impossible task." She seemed to be dancing around something...

  "Well, yes but no. They weren't Sally and Megan." I sat on the recliner, so I was facing her but as far away as I could get. The events in the Mana Sink may not have been real, but they still affected me.

  "What do you mean?" Rogue frowned, and started tapping her index figure against her thigh.

  "They were agents, Militech. They had been replaced long before I came around." I really didn't want to talk about it, but I figured it was best to play ball. For now.

  She was no fool, and could see my reluctance to discuss it. She changed subjects. "You ability to heal, can you fix anything?" She seemed eager, but was trying to contain her reactions.

  "No, not anything. However, if it involves flesh, just about anything. I can't affect cyberware directly, though I can smooth over bad connections between nerves and chrome." I seemingly overshared, while still not fully explaining my magic.

  "Would you be willing to heal some of my people?" Ah, here we go. The crux of the matter.

  "For the right considerations, I'm not interested in money." I leaned towards her, trying to give an impression of being more interested than I really was.

  "What do you want?" Her eyes narrowed. She was calculating things out in her head. I noticed a twitch in her legs, a small quiver of her lips.

  "Connections, favors, influence. Friends, if possible, solid allies failing that. I'm aware you can make at least some of that happen." I smiled, trying to seem friendlier than I felt.

  "I can absolutely help with those." She gave a half nod. There was a feeling she was anticipating something.

  "Then we have an accord, you help me, and I help you." I held out my hand. "I assume you would like to be healed yourself."

  She hesitated, probably realizing I had seen through her, at least to some extent. That irked her. She didn't like not being in control. She'd seen what had happened to the other women. She was conflicted, she wanted it, and hated what it would mean. A sentiment I completely agreed with. When two people like us meet, something has to give, or we break everything around us. It wasn't going to be me. Not this time.

  She slid to the end of the sectional, she made it look graceful. She took my hand. I nodded, acknowledging her determination. Not that I was going to make the next part easy on her, quite the contrary.

  I rammed my mana into her body. She shuddered, but otherwise maintained her composure. Good, it's no fun if she just gives in at the beginning. However, we are just getting started.

  I pulsed my mana in waves, getting a sense of what was wrong with her. Eesh, what wasn't messed up in her. Not much chrome, which was a surprise. Yet, I was sure most of her organs had been regrown in a vat at some point. They didn't feel quite settled in. She'd been through some catastrophic damage at some point. Still, easy enough to get everything synced up and running smoothly.

  She jerked as her hips rocked forward once, before she locked down her reactions against my mana. She was grimacing as if she was in pain, even though I knew that was far from the case. I held back a grin, it wouldn't do to gloat. That would show a lack of professionalism.

  I cleaned up dozen more old wounds, everything from bullet wounds and lacerations to burns and crush damage, before I got her next reaction. A long and low moan that she fought all the way. She undulated a few times before she managed to still herself again.

  "It's okay, I won't judge you." I said with as even a tone as I could manage.

  "I'd judge myself." She hissed. I nodded and twisted my mana while straightening out her neural connections. She had a lot of scorched nerves. Overuse of skillchips maybe? Running a Sandy too much? Well, no problem. I stroked the nerves while they grew strong again.

  "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" She thrashed against my grip for several breaths before regaining control. Her teeth clenched and sweat glistening on her face. My treatments were already having massive side effects. She looked at least a decade younger already. A shame that I really didn't like her.

  Either way the first breakthrough is always the hardest to achieve. Now her surrender was only a matter of time. My next play called for varying the strength and speed of my mana coursing deep into her cells. Easing and calming their activities. I forced her muscles to relax, ancient cramps undone as all became as new. This was the straw the broke the camel's back, so to speak.

  "Noooooo! Please. I can't. I won't." She was bucking and laying back against the couch. Trying to escape. Heh.

  I was now standing over her, "It's okay, just relax. It's almost over." Now for the finale.

  I bore down on her with a fierce will. I pulled all my mana into a ball just below her naval, and vibrated the nerve clusters there. Oh, there were more direct methods to be sure, better places to focus one to really drive her wild. But this was less obvious. After all, I wanted her to want more, without feeling like I had directly attacked her in a sexual fashion.

  She orgasmed hard, and it lasted for a long time. Her screams reverberated off the walls of the compartment.

  "Mmmmmmmmmaaaaahhhh! Yesh! Yesh! More... " I guess she had been terribly pent up. But, she wasn't holding anything back anymore. She writhed against the couch, trying desperately to find more sensation, to drive herself over the edge again. I let her go.

  I stared down at Rogue's disheveled form trying to keep my contempt off my face. I knew it wasn't fair to her, to hold the actions of the Mana Sink version of her over her head. Yet, she had done a lot of the same things. It was hard to forgive or forget that someone had used a nuke in the middle of a city. I was trying to let it go, for both our sakes.

  I cast Purify on her, no need to let her stew in the mess she'd made.