Julia stared at the mob doctor as he reset her leg in a cast. "That's not tight enough."
The doctor stared at Julia in annoyance. "I believe I know how to do my job, young lady."
"And I believe you don't even know proper first aid," Julia snapped. "Those bones won't set properly with this."
The doctor sighed in exasperation and stared hard at Julia. "They won't heal at all if you don't stop squirming."
"I'm not squirming," Julia said in all seriousness.
The doctor ignored the redhead and continued with his work. He made sure not to use any painkillers. It would serve the woman right.
Little did he know, the woman preferred 'natural' healing like that. Hell, when she had given birth to Gina, she outright REFUSED morphine and other such things.
Of course, that meant she was kicking, screaming, and making death threats to her husband every two minutes, but that was another story.
Five minutes later the doctor nodded to himself. "All done. That leg should be healed in a couple of months."
Julia moved her foot a tiny bit. "Only took you a dozen tries to get it right." Looking at the doctor sharply, she asked, "So healer, what about Howard?"
"I can't believe a whiner like you gave me so much trouble." A gruff male voice was heard from the doorway.
The doctor turned and paled. "Mr. Howard!" He quickly bowed.
Turning her head, Julia nodded her head. "Interesting to see you on your feet again so soon. But you should rest a little. You don't want to cause any permanent damage to your spine."
The crimelord, who was leaning against the doorframe for support, smirked. "My spine is well, isn't that right doctor?"
The older man snapped to attention and nodded quickly. "Yes, Mr. Howard. It was only slightly bruised."
The blond fighter chuckled and stared at Julia pointedly. "Next time don't pull off any stops. You're lucky I went for your leg instead of your neck."
Julia nodded her head. "If I hadn’t held back the attack I used on that opening, you'd be crippled from the waist down for life."
Geese chuckled again. "You'd like to think so. I've had much worse in my training over the years and have still managed to recover." He stepped into the room and glared pointedly at the doctor, who took the hint and bolted out of the room. Once they were left alone Geese sat on a chair carefully and held his chest with his left arm, since his right one was in a cast. "Who are you?"
"Julia Brigand-Diggers," the woman said. "That much should have been obvious form the form I had to sign before I could enter."
Geese glared at her. "Who are you?! There's no such person in the entire world." He knew for a fact he was right. All his sources had been unable to dig anything up on said name.
Julia glared right back at Geese. "I told you before. I am Julia Brigand-Diggers! I am married to Dr. Theodore Pisqual Diggers. You can find my marriage license in Atlanta Town Hall registry in Atlanta, Georgia."
The man's glare didn't lessen in the slightest. "There's no Dr. Theodore Pisqual Diggers."
"What?" Julia asked, staring straight at Geese.
"I've had my people do a background check on you. Your entire application is a fake."
Julia continued to glare at Geese. "It's not a fake! I have told the truth completely in my application for this two-bit tournament you've..."
Julia went silent then, a look of morbid realization going across her features.
Geese stared at Julia silently, studying the woman carefully.
"...Shit... The bastard..." Julia mumbled. "He did it... That son of a bitch Jonathan did!" She slammed her fist onto the bed, her hand going through the mattress. "THE SON OF A BITCH! WHY DIDN'T HE JUST KILL ME!?"
Geese remained impassive. "You're paying for the mattress."
Julia glared at Geese. "I do not need this right now. So. Fuck. You. Asshole."
Geese chuckled in genuine amusement. "Such dark emotions. There might still be something useful in you."
"Yeah, getting cursed by a lich who had been your father-in-law tends to get one a little pissed," Julia said sarcastically.
The crimelord stared at Julia as if she was crazy. And such a shame too, having a strong fighter like her be insane.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Julia sat cross-legged on the bed. "Well, this totally bites."
"I wouldn't recommend moving that leg too much," Geese said.
"And why do you care?" Julia asked. "My whole life's gone anyway. There's no hope of getting back home. Not when home exists elsewhere."
"What insane thing are you talking about, woman?" Geese demanded.
Julia looked at Geese irritably. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway, so why bother?"
"Try me."
Looking Geese straight in the eyes for a moment, Julia asked, "Do you believe in the concept of alternate realities?"
Geese looked at Julia skeptically. "Let us say I do."
Julia nodded. "If you do then you can believe in the concept of an alternate Earth, with similar land structures, and similar histories, only major events and people are changed to make the reality completely different."
"Who is the president of the United States?" Geese questioned instantly, gazing directly into Julia's eyes.
Looking into Geese's eyes, Julia answered, "Marlon Brando."
Seeing Geese stare at her, Julia said, "He was an actor before becoming president, I think." She wasn't sure; she didn't watch many of his movies. Seeing Geese continue to stare at her, Julia asked, "What?"
Geese shook his head and decided to ask another question. He could see Julia was telling the truth as she believed it to be. "Who is Gen?" Any martial artist above a certain level, and Julia certainly qualified, had heard of the assassin.
"Who?" Julia asked, looking at Geese curiously.
Geese sighed. "Either you are the best liar I've ever met or... you're actually telling the truth."
Julia rolled her eyes. "I WISH I were lying, if it meant I was still home."
The crimelord leaned back on his chair. "That would explain why you have techniques so similar to my own, even if there's only a handful of people with that knowledge in the world."
Sighing, Julia lowered her head. "Great. So the bastard won. He didn't kill me, but he's putting me through my own personal hell..."
"What are you talking about?" Geese asked in genuine curiosity. It was also strange to see a fighter of Julia's skill and with her determination to be so... helpless. So... defeated.
"My family..." Julia said. "They mean everything to me... And now I know there's no way getting home, unless I can get my hands on a good mage here." She snorted in disdain. "Which I seriously doubt."
Geese frowned. "Mage? Not likely."
"Thought so." Julia sighed. "Looks like I'm stuck here then."
It was then that Geese started to think about what was going on here. He thought that he should probably offer something to this woman, so he could get his hands on her techniques of course, and then simply dump her to the side when he was finished. If what she said turned true then there was much to gain, if not then he'd at least have a couple of powerful techniques more. "I might be able to assist you..." He grinned. "For a price, of course."
Julia raised an eyebrow. "And why the hell would you help? You obviously don't want to do something for nothing, and I don't have anything to offer."
"But that is where you're wrong," Geese offered with a smirk. "You have something I want."
Julia's eyes narrowed. "I'm not going to blow you," she stated firmly.
Geese's eyes widened for a full minute before he got back control of himself. He then chuckled in amusement. "You have me wrong, though that is an interesting offer. No. What I want is knowledge you have."
Julia blinked her eyes. "What good is knowledge of another world to you?"
"Another world? Hardly. Special techniques, woman. We are warriors." Geese's expression by now was deadly serious.
Julia sat up. "You want to learn Shun-Leep Style?"
Geese continued to stare at Julia seriously. "Not the style, the techniques. That 'Master Blow' of yours was interesting to say the least." Of course, he'd have to adapt it to his own style, but Julia didn't need to know that much.
Julia nodded her head. "That is one of my most powerful techniques."
"Is it a deal then? My resources, which are enormous I assure you, for knowledge of your techniques."
Nodding her head, Julia said, "What do I have to lose? If you can get me back home..." Julia nodded her head and held out her hand. "Deal."
Geese stared at Julia's right hand and smirked. He lifted his right shoulder slightly to show Julia his arm was in a cast thanks to her, so no shaking hands with that one for a while.
"Right," Julia said as she lowered he right hand and raised her left one.
Geese shook Julia's hand. "Deal. I'll see to it that part of my company's earnings go to researching a way to send you back to your dimension."
Smiling, Julia honestly said, "Thank you, Mr. Howard."
"Just Geese. All my enemies call me that," the crimelord said with a smirk.
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(Posted Mon, 09 Aug 2004 01:22)
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