free clinic some time around the middle of the month,” Amy shrugs, “Your mother an' grandma were off the street nearly a week.”
“So call it the fourteenth,” Brina figures, “'Less you think the clinic would have the record.”
Amy shakes her head, “That specific clinic burned to the ground years ago. All of their files were lost in the fire.”
The teen sighs, “So much for that. What about the rest of this?”
“The rest is for me to fill out an' file. I seriously doubt the CPA 'll contest the request.”
“Why would they?” Brina shakes her head, passing the forms and pen across the table, “Most foster kids don't have things this good. But won't they want me in school?”
“You'll be registered as a home schooler,” Amy picks up the pen, “Which is nothing more or less than the truth. Maybe you'll never quite be grade twelve equivalent, but what you are learning will serve you better.”
Brina nods to herself. “What about your husband?”
“I don't think he'll be returnin' to the continent before you come of age,” Amy shrugs it off, “Honestly, even if he did, he wouldn't say anythin'.”
The teen takes a deep breath, her eyes going to the woman's face, “Do you remember what happened? Why you're livin' apart? Why you even came here?”
Slowly, Amy shakes her head, “Not so far. But it may be the last thing to come back.”
September-72
Amy is in the garage, doing a little bit of work on her motorcycle, when Brina slips in the side door. The young woman comes over to watch the older one work.
Amy glances up, “What happened now?”
“The guild,” Brina sighs, “Seems like nothin' can stop this guy.”
“The thieves guild has existed since shortly after the Migration,” Amy shrugs lightly, “Jailin' a few local leaders isn't gonna make it go away.”
The young woman scowls, “Mostly I wish they'd leave me alone. They leave you alone.”
“They can't touch a trained merc,” Amy sits back on her heels, “Unfortunately that's a protection I can't extend to you.”
“So...?”
“You will have your place,” The older woman's eyes meet the younger one's, “You've pretty much finished anythin' I can teach you.”
“Am I?”
Amy nods, “You prob'ly know more than I did at your age. On the other hand, you're benefittin' from all my years of experience workin' and some improvements in technology over those years.”
“You work pretty low tech,” Brina grimaces, “Considerin' what's out there.”
Amy shrugs, “You may, one day, meet my husband. If you want to talk tech...”
Brina shakes her head, “So how do I stop these guild idiots from harassin' me when I'm workin'? It doesn't seem to matter what kind of jobs I take.”
“There's a confrontation comin',” Amy returns to her task, “I'm tryin' to give you everythin' you need to come out on top.”
“On top?” Brina raises an eyebrow, “I think I'll settle for survive.”
Amy chuckles, “You're gonna have to do better than survive. For now, just keep alert when you're out.”
Brina nods, “I need a partner for the job I'm doin' next week. I looked around the area an' there's no way just one person could do what they want.”
“Yeah, fine.”
On hearing soft movement behind her, Amy turns to see Brina approaching.
“We're done?”
The young woman nods, “We just need to report in.” She moves past Amy, who follows her in the direction of their employer's office. They reach the office and get paid without incident, but when they emerge, it is to find several women waiting on the sidewalk. The oldest of them swallows hard on seeing Amy.
Brina scowls, “What now?”
“We need help,” The woman takes a deep breath, “If somethin' doesn't change, we're gonna be cut off. We already can't support ourselves.”
“So...?” Brina continues to scowl.
“We need a new leader. Someone who actually knows how to be a thief,” The woman glances at Amy, “We'd ask you, if it wouldn't get us into more trouble than we're already in.”
Amy nods, her expression wry.
“So why me?” Brina is still scowling, “I'm not connected to anything or anyone except her.”
“That's why we can ask you,” The woman meets her eyes, “Becomin' a guild member is simple. Findin' someone with your trainin' without ties to another organization isn't.”
Brina's expression turns sceptical, “What makes you think I'd help you?”
The woman takes a deep breath, “Because he's decided to have you killed. He's plannin' to hire an assassin... maybe already has. He won't quit 'til you stop him because no one else can now.”
“I doubt that.” The scowl returns.
“You don't want to wait for him to find an assassin who'll take the job,” Amy's voice is soft, “End this now, Brina.”
The scowl deepens, “I guess.” The young woman sighs, “Where can I find him?”
“You'll have to come with us.”
Brina turns to Amy, “You'll come too?”
Amy just nods.
The whole group starts walking, headed towards the building which has housed the local thieves guild chapter since their forced eviction from their previous location. When they get there, they find large thugs guarding all entrances. The woman who had requested Brina's help tries to ignore them and approach the front door, but is stopped.
“No one enters or leaves.”
“Since when?” She does not back away.
“Since now.” The thug does his best to look intimidating.
Brina's eyes pass over him, “You aren't even a guild member.”
“I'm bein' paid to make sure no one enters or leaves.” He turns a scowl on her.
There is a flash of silver and he topples over, not quite unconscious, but in too much pain to impede the group. Brina pauses to retrieve the unopened pocket knife she had thrown before accompanying the others inside.
In the main foyer, they find every door closed. The woman who had asked for Brina's help leads the way straight across to a door which turns out to be locked. The others watch, many of them wide eyed, as Brina disarms a clumsily rigged trap and picks the lock. Once the door is open, they enter a dimly lit hall with every door off it closed. The group is led straight to the far end, to another trapped and locked door. Again, Brina disarms the trap and picks the lock.
“He did all this in the time you were gone?” Brina studies the lead woman with a raised eyebrow.
“I think he might've just been waiting for us to leave. Now we really have to be careful. He should be in this next room.”
Brina nods. Cautiously, she pushes the door open.
Nothing happens except the women are nearly blinded stepping from the dim hall into the brightly lit room. Brina and Amy blink rapidly until their eyes adjust and they can see the man seated on the far side of the room, surrounded by two rows of the large thugs.
“No one was to enter or leave.” The man at the back scowls.
“You would lock people out of their own home?” Brina's voice carries clearly, “You would have someone who's never acted against you killed? You hire outsiders to guard you against your own people? You don't deserve that seat.”
“Ain't your business.” His scowl blackens.
“Except you keep makin' it my business,” Brina shakes her head, “An' I'm gettin' sick of it. You want somethin' done about me, come do it yourself.”
“Get them out of here!” His voice spurs the thugs into action.
The first row steps towards the group of women. Brina launches herself forward, easily evading the nearest thugs. She manages to slip through the second row as well, although not quite as neatly. Another step brings her face to face with a drawn gun. Brina ducks faster than he can change his aim, moving around to a position beside his chair. From there, she can see the other women struggling with the thugs. A
my is behind the others, only watching the proceedings. As the gun swings around, Brina catches the man's wrist and wrestles the weapon away from him. She tosses it behind the chair, out of easy reach, then has to dodge a physical attack.
Knowing the man is both larger and stronger than she is, Brina uses all her training in leverage and dirty tricks to subdue him quickly. Soon she has him pinned, the blade of her pocket knife against his throat.
“Call off the thugs.”
He scowls, struggling against her and getting the skin of his throat cut in the process, “You won't do anythin' if I don't.”
“How deep do you think this blade 'll go?” Brina shakes her head, “Call them off.”
“You're nothin' without your teacher.”
“My teacher isn't doin' anythin'. Take a look. This's all me an' those who requested my help. Now call them off.”
He struggles harder, the knife biting deeper into his throat.
“Call them off while you still have a voice.” Brina feels him tensing for another attempt to dislodge her. When he makes no effort to stop the thugs, she uses the butt end of the pocket knife to knock him out.
“No one here's gettin' paid for this.” Her voice carries over the sounds of fighting.
“What d'you mean not paid?” The nearest thug turns to face her, then swallows hard on seeing the blood dripping to the floor from the cut in the man's throat, “You killed him?”
“Not killed,” Brina shakes her head, “Not yet. Just cut up a little an' out cold. But whatever pay he promised you isn't gonna happen.”
The thug frowns, considering her words and eyeing the unconscious man on the floor, “Let's just go,” His words are directed to the other thugs, “This's a waste of time.” He and those nearest him