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[h2]The Tale of the Broken Man[/h2]

[h3]Search of the Like-Minded[/h3]
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[i]"She was a saint, the only person in the whole of this god-forsaken city that actually gave a damn whether or not I made it. It was her smile. She had a smile that warmed the coldest heart and brightened the darkest day, and even on her worst day she looked the way angels were supposed to look. The warmth that emanated from her home was doused that night, replaced with the smell of fire and death. She was a saint, but even saints aren't immortal."[/i]
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[b]9:17 PM
District 4-During the riot, after the debate[/b]
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The debate was actually more interesting that he had thought it was going to be. After they pulled the student speaker from the crowd it proceeded to be a bloodbath from there on out. The girl made some valid points, from the view of someone who had no idea what was going on, but it wasn't until that some pompous professor or something wagered the girls entire academic career against her theory that the fireworks actually kicked in. 

In a well deserved outraged other students and others that shared the same opinion of what happened began their aggressive behavior towards those with the money and the pull to effectively call security to come and bust up the riot before it started. Suddenly realizing that he was an unwarranted Beta resident within a high standing Alpha district, and in possession of a highly illegal firearm, Alex quickly and quietly made his way out and away from the debate hall and back outside where he once again lit up a smoke. 

As he sat there taking long and purposeful drags off his cigarette he noticed the young woman who's future was now in question sitting and fuming angrily about the politicians within. As he looked on from a distance he noticed some of the rioters that had come out of the building and had begun a slow arcing circle around the angry woman and started whispering to each other. Deciding to keep his distance Alex kept to his cigarette while keeping a cybernetic hawk's eye on the situation that was about to escalate.  

Trying to steel her quickly deteriorating emotions, Kate took in a deep breath of fresh air - a striking contrast to the humid, almost claustrophobic atmosphere within the science building. Unfortunately, the night-time crispness that entered her lungs didn't improve her mood or her shaking nerves, suddenly glad that she had made the decision to sit on a nearby bench after being issued outside by security. Why had she been issued outside, though? It wasn't as though it was for her own safety seeing as the moment she was escorted out of the building, the officers left her to her business. No, if this was about her safety, they would have seen her home... or to the school... or... some place other than just outside the damn building.

Something was up; and it didn't take someone with Kate's adept mind to realize that. First there was the prospect of her speaking to the board of science directors on an issue that she had no personal hand in. She was told it was by invitation; a class exercise to understand what sort of futures they had to look forward to. She was caught completely blind-sighted and student or not, Kate knew that these sort of things don't just happen. And then there was the outlandishly outrageous response. Sure she hadn't exactly been prepared, but her points were valid and she had enough evidence to back it up - but she never got the chance. She had a single opening statement and one remark, neither of which were unjust, offensive or misleading. She provided facts, and before she could blink she was on a time clock to the end of her career- no, the end of her life as she knew it.

Well... she wasn't going to get anything accomplished just sitting there. With a berated sigh, Kate pushed herself up from the bench, allowing her thin fingers to run through her hair in an effort to relieve some of the pressure she felt at her hairline where a headache was quickly approaching. To say that she was infuriated would have been a large underestimate, but Kate was better than that, more dignified. No matter how tempting the idea was of turning to face the building and shout obscenities and wave two choice fingers - one on each hand, she refrained, folding her arms across her chest in a slight self-hug as she became acutely aware that it had started to sprinkle down a light mist of rain.

"Whiskey and a coat. My Kingdom for a shot of whiskey... and a coat..."

She was acutely aware of the growing numbers appearing around her as the mass began to filter outside, but she kept her head down and allowed her long legs to carry her away from the scene, ignoring the whispers as she passed them by like she was some disease.

The woman began taking her leave of the area, head ducked and feet moving as quickly as they could take her. Upon further examination, Alex noted that a few broke off from the initial group and began to follow her in her exit. Taking advantage of the few benefits of having cybernetic parts, Alex zoomed in on one of the smaller group as he turned and said  something to his comrades, the faint glisten of gunmetal against the backdrop of neon and rain catching his eye. Making quick steps to close the gap, Alex felt a sickening feeling in his gut tighten. He had seen these tactics before, he had felt these kind of tactics before and he was going to be damn sure that no one was going to have to suffer that again. 

Now within perfect firing range, Alex placed and cold robotic hand on the handle of his pistol, but stayed it for a moment. Again he had to remind himself of his position and what would happen if he were to try and cowboy his way out of this situation instead relying on another tactic to try and help them out. Making a wide arc around the group to approach the girl on her side, Alex walked over in a seemingly warm embrace, acting as the girls father in the hope that it would fool those that followed her.

"Hey there kiddo! What are you doing walking alone in the rain, ya would've thought that you just lost you boyfriend. I was so proud to see you in the debate, your mother would have loved to see it."

Upon sheer instinct, Kate's body immediately recoiled at the sudden, unexpected touch though her heels, as experienced as she was in them, betrayed her step which inadvertently forced her back into the body of  the man who was attempting to hug her. Her hands shot up, one still clutching her digital notepad she had been using to take notes, but used it as much as she could to press against the man's chest in an effort to get away. Her stomach muscles clenched, her throat dry as nonsense sounds tumbled from her lips at having exactly no idea what she was supposed to do.

"What are-"

Leaning in close to whisper in her ear Alex spoke,

"Don't panic, there is a group of armed gunmen behind you just follow my lead and do whatever I say understand?"

His whispered words had her body going completely rigid. A tendril of ice shot down her spine as her mind quickly tried to play catch up as to what was going on. This man... the one who had nearly sent her into cardiac arrest by hugging her... he was trying to... help? Kate blinked her eyes, the only sign that she was even still alive until after a small moment, tentatively relaxed her body, allowing her hands to slide over his chest and shoulders to wrap around the back of his neck and return what was supposed to be a loving embrace, but Kate never felt so cold and it had nothing to do with the current weather. 

She could feel herself shaking against him, her mind drawing a complete blank. What was he saying before he had told her what was really going on? She could feel her eyes moving on their own accord to look behind her, to confirm that what the man was saying was true. She only got a glimpse of a group of people before paranoia began to set in and she jerked her head back, her hug tightening around his neck for a moment until something else began to register in her mind...

He reeked of smoke.

Exhaling a small breath, Kate pushed herself out of his arms and gave him a quick nod, taking it upon herself to straighten out the wrinkles in her dress to give her something to do.

"Thanks, but I got an update to code." Kate responded with a slight tremor in her voice. She wasn't really ever one for acting and though she wasn't exactly playing by this man's fabricated story, it still worked. At least, she thought it did. But then again, could she even trust this guy? He didn't exactly look like he belonged in District 4... his clothes were a bit on the shabby side and the facial hair he grew a bit less kept up than those within her district. For all she knew, he was in on it, just as the men behind them were.

The woman began noticeably shaking against him as he informed her of their predicament. As they continued walking towards the road, she said something about having to update a code and took off without him, leaving him there in the rain. As the group of people came up behind him, one man pressed the cold steel of a gun barrel against his back, muttering something about his wallet. It was truly amazing just how these creeps managed to sneak themselves into such a tight-knit security district such as 4. Then again, the science debate was just the right sort of excuse the smart ones used to their advantage to grant them temporary access. Feeling an old familiar hatred well up within him, Alex turned to face the group of thugs, drawing his modified Auto-9 hardball long slide, the barrel and square face of the gun resting comfortably against the kids forehead.

"Now listen here bucko, I used to drag pieces of shit like you out of the river on a daily basis. I have stared the Devil in the face and came back a man with very little patience... so you're going to back away slowly and maybe I won't drill one through your skull. Comprende?"

With the thugs now sufficiently scared shitless and running for their lives, Alex turned his attention back to the woman who had managed to find her way into the streets crosswalk without thought or concern to get to the parking lot on the other side. As he closed the distance between them, Alex caught the glare of a headlight coming straight for her. He charged towards her praying, that she would look up, the sound of the horn blaring out everything.
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[i]"Her hands were tools crafted by God to heal, it didn't matter how bad the day was one touch took away any burden. The her light was quelled I longed to hold her hand just one more time, but when I touched, they were as ice. Cold...Lifeless. All I wanted was just one last touch of her healing hands."[/i]
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