Carrion Crew

22

Ash parked Dasher behind a large empty caravan trailer. It took some persuasion, but Ash finally convinced her two body guards to stay with Dasher. Not all of her arguments were baseless. Someone could steal or strip the car down if it was left unguarded, and they would draw unnecessary attention inside the city. Of course, they might draw just as much attention waiting around outside of the city, but hopefully the trailer would keep them concealed. Anyway, if the guards did run into trouble for being NPO, she'd rather not be around for that awkward encounter. 

A quick chat with a gatekeeper later, and Ash was in Hospital City. Being alone in the city sounded worse than it really was. Ash got a lot of filthy looks, but she assumed it was because she was filthy herself, and the city was so clean. All of the buildings shone white, black and silver, accented with colorful lights. Even the ground had less dirt on it than Ash had on herself. That cleanliness was refreshing, but equally unsettling. The people looked like they showered every day, at least, and washed their clothes after wearing them only once. And everyone's hands were smooth and unscarred. Ash looked at her own hands crossed and dotted with white and pink. Every mark was a story and memory. The thick, pale rope that curled around the smallest finger of her left hand – she almost lost that finger helping Twist work on Dasher the previous year.

Someone bumped into her and the man was horrified that she had touched him. Ash apologized and silently reprimanded herself for not paying better attention. She needed to figure out where she was supposed to go. Judging by the storefronts which featured illustrated depictions of their wares, Ash wasn't going to find the research facility by chance. So she was going to have to risk human interaction.

“Excuse me,” she asked a woman who was walking past. “Do you know where the research labs are?”

The woman glanced around her, looking embarrassed to have been chosen by the dirty outsider for giving assistance. She threw an arm out that ended in a rigid finger pointing to her left. “Try there.” The she walked away as briskly as dignity would allow.

The woman had pointed to a store with a neon shoe on its sign. Ash began to remember why she didn't like the cities, and why most “outsiders” stayed near the trading district. The woman was gone before Ash could ask for clarification, so she went into the shoe store. 

It was definitely not a research facility, so maybe the woman meant that the store clerk would give her directions. But the clerk laughed when she asked.

“”There's a public directory just outside!” he exclaimed.

Ash thanked the man sheepishly and went back outside where there stood a kiosk decorated with various arrows. Ash told the machine her request.

“There are forty-four research facilities in Hospital City,” the kiosk replied in mellow, indulging tones. “Would you like to narrow your parameters?”

“Dr. Hordock?” Ash asked.

The kiosk displayed a detailed map of the city and highlighted a route in green. “Dr. Hordock,” the kiosk said, “is the foremost researcher of Biological Reconstruction and an active Preservationist. She graduated from Hospital University in the forty-seventh year P.E.”Ash memorized the map and address on the display, then ran for the marked location. She earned many confused and revolted looks for running, but she didn't care. All of those onlookers didn't understand a thing about having to protect a friend. The war clearly had little effect on them. Their existence lacked the meaning provided by survival. It seemed these people did nothing at all with their lives. It was like they had given up living. They didn't talk to each other except to conduct business. Otherwise, they strode about with lifeless purpose, sparing a glare or curled lip for the dirty girl that disrupted their slow and peaceful death. 

Ash finally found the unassuming building that was Dr. Hordock's lab, but could go no farther in than a small lobby. A bright green screen on the wall instructed her to state her name and whom she had an appointment with. Dominating the screen in thick, red letters: “No entry without appointment.”

“Ashleigh Kimmon here to see Dr, Hordock.” 

She hoped it would work, that Crowley had sent a message ahead, but she also knew that wouldn't be the case. She knew it even before the screen flashed, “No appointment scheduled. Please vacate the premises immediately. Failure to comply will result in a call to the city security.”

Ash hesitated for only a moment before leaving. She would have to wait outside until someone came out. Hopefully it wouldn't take long.

City Security came for her after half an hour and threatened to cite her for loitering. After that, Ash took to walking circles around the block, moving quickly except on the street of the research facility where she walked as slowly as she dared. Two hours later, she was stopped by a girl who looked to be about her age.

“Can I help you?” the girl asked.

Ash hesitated, fearful that her request might earn her more trouble, but reminded 

herself that she had been waiting for someone to help her. “I have a message to deliver to Dr. Hordock.”

“What message?” the girl asked.

“It's for Dr. Hordock only,” Ash said. “I'm supposed to give it directly to him.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Since you obviously don't know who Dr. Hordock is, how will you know when you give the message to the right person?”

Ash didn't have an answer. She was too distracted to ask Crowley the important 

questions like what Dr. Hordock looked like and where he was supposed to be.

“Why didn't you just write your message down and give it to the messengers?” the girl asked. “You're worrying people, standing around out here.”

Ash shook her head. “I don't care! Look, I don't have a lot of time. Do you know who Dr. Hordock is? Can you take me to see him?”

The girl reached into her pocket and showed Ash a tag with the girl's picture on it. “HCL1 Amelia Hordock, BRR.”

Ash stared at the girl for a minute, then produced her message. Dr. Hordock recoiled slightly as Ash had been carrying the envelope in the waistband of her pants. She deftly plucked up the envelope, tore away one end, and pulled out the contents.

“You're supposed to have something for me to take back,” Ash said.

Dr. Hordock's face twisted as she stared at the paper with unmoving eyes. 

“Hello?” Ash said.

“Wait here,” Dr, Hordock growled, then turned and disappeared into the research center.