Taking Lives

by RoshelleD

Ten years ago, Laine took someone's life.

The whole bloody exchange started off innocently enough. However, for the sake of time rather than drowning you in a sea of backstory, it's better to get to the point. Although her life changed for the worst immediately after, it has now changed for the better.

"I need that file by tomorrow." Laine snapped. "And it better be here. People's lives are depending on it."

"Of course, Miss Riordan," the computerized voice of a man acknowledged.

"Damned technology. I sit here half the day waiting for something I could go get myself in an hour."

This aspect took some getting used to, though she doubted she ever would. Laine focused on the other manila envelopes which sat on the huge, metal desk in front of her. She opened a drawer and pulled out something that looked like a flash drive. After waving it over the front of the envelope, the words "Target Intercepted" showed up in red letters.

Laine sat back in the seat, her hands threaded behind her head as the central air kicked in. The dueling smells of rubber, smoke and, chocolate flowed in as well. Some cake sounded nice. It tasted much better in this era, but she had to tend to her business first.

She looked down at a second envelope. "This'll do."

Twenty minutes later, Laine was fully dressed in her uniform. Black leather pants, matching boots and a vest covered in buttons across her chest. She pushed one of the buttons and a map showed up in front of her. Soon, Laine took a set of back roads toward a home located in the Circle District.

When the stench of rotted food drifted toward her, Laine flattened herself against the nearest building. There weren't homeless around anymore, but food wasn't as plentiful here either. The trash lid clattered on the ground, the signal the man was done. Laine kept going toward the building immediately in front of her. Once she passed through the Red District, she would be close.

She pressed a button on the top right corner of her vest, then looked around before she shrouded herself and kept going. The warm breeze gave way to a more biting wind as she passed by a triangle shaped building. It's yellow and white exterior characteristic for buildings in the Yellow District.

She heard the screaming before she got close to the apartment. Her stomach dropped and her heart pounded, the contents of the file fresh in her mind. Instinctively she reached for the laser powered weapon but remembered she didn't have it yet.

"You think you're so great?" a man yelled. "The only reason you get by in this world is because of me, you ungrateful hag!"

"Klandon, please." A woman pleaded. "The baby was up all night and I was tired. I didn't miss it on purpose."

"Did I say you could speak? And does it sound like I care about any half-baked explanation you have?"

Damn. She had to move fast. Laine pressed a button on the left to activate the tool. Before the woman could respond, Laine had already teleported inside. She unshrouded just in time to catch the man's hand.

"Enough." She glared at the man, whose eyes were wide.

Without pushing anything her weapon appeared holstered at her side. She didn't want to use it, but if he was stupid enough to push her, she would.

The man didn't notice. "Who the hell are you?" He lunged toward her but Laine held her hands up, holding him in place.

The space was nice enough. A couple of pictures on the wall. A pair of red chairs to the left. The TV Tabbs were on their docks along with a phone to her right. But other than that, there wasn't much else. It was a tight fit for the three of them.

"If I wanted you to know, I would've told you." Laine turned to the woman, who was still red with anger, before she faced the guy again. "Get out."

"Like hell. Just ask Jazz. I do what I want."

"Not anymore you don't." Laine balled one of her raised hands into a fist, which sent the man to the ground, gasping for air. "I won't repeat myself. Shut up and I might spare your life."

She looked into the man's eyes. He moved towards them again and Laine pulled out her weapon; the laser was already trained on him. He looked like he would press the issue and Laine readied her other hand on the trigger. But he looked between her and the woman before he went toward the door. "This place was crap anyhow."

With that, the door buzzed open and closed. Laine turned her attention to the woman.

"Where's your son?"

The woman's green eyes were wide as she ran both hands through her long brown hair. "I was on my way to pick him up from the neighbor's." She eyed Laine. "It's my turn to ask, who are you?"

"I'm from the future. The name's Laine and I'm here to save your life."

******

Laine held her hands up. "I won't hurt you, but I know how events play out. It's my job to equip people in danger with the right tools to help them."

Jasmine's eyes bugged out. "Danger?"

Now came the hard part. Laine motioned over to the chair. "You might want to sit down."

The frazzled woman shook her head. "I'm fine."

Laine crossed her arms and stood up taller. "He left easily enough with me. But you know him. He'll come back and kill you both.

The woman blanched, took a step back. "If I ever thought for one second he'd murder my son, I wouldn't have –"

"Now's not the time to go over your regrets," Laine said. Jasmine lowered her eyes. "I don't mean to sound harsh, but it's time to take action."

The wind howled outside as the women looked at each other. Jasmine's forehead wrinkled and she swallowed. "Well, I'm not sure about all of this. It's so sudden."

Laine moved closer. "I understand how you feel. But for the sake of you and your son, you should come with me. I offer safety. What does he have?"

"That move you did to get in here was pretty sweet."

"I can't tell you how I did that, but there are plenty of other tools in my arsenal. I'm more than happy to show them to you." Laine clapped her hands together. "But first we need to get out of here. I'll take care of this place. It's like you won't exist."

Jasmine's eyes brightened now. "A second chance for us. I never thought this could happen."

Laine took the woman's hand as they went toward the door. "I promise, you won't get another one." She looked at her. "Did you have a place in mind?

Jasmine nodded, tears in her eyes. Sawlafell Hills. I wanted Kal to be closer to his grandmother. She'd love to see him."

Laine had already done the intel on possible relocations. That was about two thousand kilometers away and would take them to the Central portion of the country. There weren't states here anymore, just regions. She had a couple of loose ends to tie up before Jasmine could go on with her life.

******

The speed train screamed by as Laine made her way to the building. No doubt she was on the wrong side of the tracks. The woman frowned at the dirt-stained door. This place wasn't even the size of a studio. Crap indeed. No wonder this asshat had commandeered Jasmine's place. She tried the door, which squealed when she touched it. The glass was smeared with something she didn't want to think about. Once she was sure no one was around, Laine teleported in.

Rotten eggs and ten-day old socks permeated her senses. A faint scuttling sounded in the distance. She pushed a button at the bottom of the vest and a mask materialized. She didn't want to know what caused the smell, but did need to get a feel for the surroundings. An hour later she was finished looking around. Other than an older model sleep chamber, a rickety chair, and some porn Tabbs, there wasn't much here.

Laine shrouded and stood against the wall, hoping she wasn't picking up any vile disease. Nothing left to do but wait. Almost forty-five minutes later, the creaking door gave him away as it whirred open. Once he switched the lights on, Laine appeared with them.

"You!" He jumped at her and fell.

She dodged easily. "Hello again." No point in getting to know his name. Though she would remember his buzz cut and the scar under his left eye.

"Get out." He reached for his knife.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Then I'll force you to leave." He swung the weapon toward her.

Laine put her hands in her pockets while trying not to laugh. Was this guy for real? Figured he would be a pathetic excuse for a man. Those were the types who liked to torment women. "I'd love to see you try."

He swatted at her again. "Watch me."

I'd love to watch this go on," Laine said. "But you have bigger problems to worry about." Without another word, her weapon was out.

"You wouldn't." His voice shook on the last part.

"You leave me no choice." Laine put her finger on the trigger.

"No wait! Please." The man was on the ground, his knife forgotten, looking up at her as he blinked quickly.

They always begged in the end. Maybe this man was nice enough. Maybe she'd caught him at his worst. Unfortunately for him, none of that mattered. She wasn't about to make excuses for him. Doing that was what landed her in a prison chamber all those years ago. Besides, this outcome wasn't either of theirs to decide. She had her orders. Keep Jasmine safe or it meant a wasted trip. No time for waffling.

"Your words mean nothing." Laine pulled the trigger. The man was down in one shot. "Actions are what count."

******

Now back in her office after leaving Kal and Jasmine with her mother, Laine looked out over the city. With its purples and oranges blending with the blues and greens, it made for a decent sight at night. Too bad stars weren't visible here. But the view was one she'd grown to like in her short time here. She took a sip of tea, smiling as she pictured her boss yelling at her for not using the pods to drink from. It wasn't the same as feeling the firmness of the cup in your hands. Even the liquid went down better. A perfect drink after that chocolate layer cake. Also a decent way to end the day. Laine went back to the desk and looked over the files again. The next person she had to help would be a man. For this trip, there were only two to help and two she'd had to take out.

The next few days would bring more work as she showed Jasmine how to use the chosen weapons along with other ways to protect herself. The Laser TaserⓇ was a must along with the camo-launcher. Being able to disappear from the scene of danger would be important. Sending herself to safety would help too. Laine had two weeks left before she had to go back to her own time. She'd recharge and set her sights on a new timeline.

Would there ever be an end to this? Probably not. People behaved badly no matter the era. But Laine was there with her colleagues because it was up to them to make things right.

And they would.

Ten years ago, Laine took someone's life.

These days, she helps people take their lives back.