@Gromweld Remember how you wrote you were expecting a Rambo Yamada?
Thanks to Ridtom and Slamu for cleaning this up.
Damn bullet to the knee - An Omake
Jane Yamada stares at her niece from the doorway of her hospital room. 28 and already her career in the army was over. Jessica was staring out her window, her hand lifelessly picking at her sheets and her left leg encased in a brace.
"Jessica."
"Oh hey Aunt Jane."
"How's your knee?" ask Jane as she sat down in a chair beside the bed.
"It's been 4 month, I'll be starting some weight bearing exercise soon."
Taking Jessica's hand in her own. "Good, you're healing faster then expected. Soon you'll be on your feet again." Looking seriously into her eyes, "Jessica, have you thought about what your future will be like after your recovery?"
"I'll be reassign to Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a teacher for a number of years as I recover." said Jessica stiffly. "I knew it's dangerous. Being a field doctor doesn't mean the bullets stop flying when you're on the field. Even operating in base camp, there always the chance of being ambushed. I just didn't think it would happen to me. But I know I'll be ready for the fields in time. This..." She gesture toward her leg "won't stop me."
"Have you thought of other options?"
"Other options?"
"The PRT needs you. There's been an incident of a psychologist taking advantage of his Protectorate and Wards. We desperately need competent and trustworthy therapist to handle the mental health of our heroes."
"I am a field doctor not a therapist!"
"You couldn't resist, could you "Bones"?"
Jessica laughs "It's a classic, no doctor could resist. It's still true though. I am a field doctor, I specialized in patching people up where there no hospital nearby. How can I help? I can't follow the Protectorate into the field and the ambulance would make it there just as fast as I could."
"I know you think you're just a field doctor, but you always looked out for your unit's mental health as well. I've seen you with the mental health medical journals. You're a strong advocate of support for PTSD. You know it's a myth that only war veteran are affected."
Jane takes a deep breath. "As much as we push the image of the Protectorate as the Parahuman Police Force, what they experience is more like a member of the Arm Forces in hostile territory. Combat with the local villains can erupt at any time and nothing can compare to facing the Endbringers every 3 month."
"You have experience with supporting PTSD. You've been in combat, you can relate and be respected." Her hand tightens around Jessica hand before letting go. "Think about it, please. We need you."
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"The offer is still open, you know. " Jessica turn from her salad to look at Aunt Jane. "The number of villains are rising, and there more combat in the street then in previous years. I've seen the signs Jessica. They come back from patrols hiding their metal fatigue, pretending they're fine, that they're superhuman not parahuman. They need someone to talk to, someone who they can trust and understand. They need you."
Jessica clutch a glass of rum in her hands, and in the other, her handset. Glaring at the ol' Medical Center from her window on campus. 'Two years, two years and I still don't have the stamina to perform surgery in the operating room. Maybe, it time to make a difference in a different field. I am not cut out for teaching. Looking at all those hopeful faces is draining.'
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Yamada walks into the souvenir shop as she admires the piece of Marrow's shredded armour. Dodging a excited child holding a Marrow action figure with retractable bone spike, she walks over to Marrows merchandise. Standing by the display case full of replica bone swords she made in the past, she turns the shard carefully over in her hands. she marvels how different the shard by comparing it the different bone swords.
The Protectorate had ask her to come in and assess Marrow before she assume her duties once more. Jessica had came in that morning to gain more of a feel of Marrow by talking to the rank and file that knew her. She was well aware how Marrow had feel trapped within all her bones from her previous session from 4 years ago. It was interesting that despite how heavy her new form Marrow couldn't feel the weight of the armour even as the floor was threaten to give out. How much of that was her power and how much is it her new found freedom from the cage she always thought she'll die in?
The blaring loud alarm thundered through out the HQ startling her out of her deep thoughts. Reflexes born from her old army days she assess the situation. Her keen eyes sought out the PRT Troopers noticing the alertness and the subtle readiness of weapons. Two officers steps up in the lobby and directs the flow of evacuation though the front door, the third is heading toward her. She notes that included in the evacuation are the PRT evening staff.
Underneath the sounds of the alarm, she hears something familiar that haunts her dreams - gunfire. It's coming closer and closer. Quickly she looks around the souvenir shop. Spotting the metal pole used to hang up clothing on the higher racks, she grabs it. Tearing a Marrow T-shirt she quickly use the fabric to fasten Marrow's shard to the pole making a makeshift spear.
Troopers preforming a running retreat burst out of the hallway leading deeper into the HQ. They take cover behind the tall wide marble fountain and continues to fire at something. A moment later and it's clear they are firing upon a flock of Bezelal birds drones and two Gorilla drones.
'Mastered or Hacked? Bezelal didn't show signs of instability 4 years ago.'
One of the Gorilla focus on the PRT Trooper inside the shop. 'Heading straight toward him. Ignores everyone else.' Scanning the room 'There, that shelf should do it.' Jessica runs toward the tall tower of Protectorate and Wards mugs. She knocks Kali's and Chevalier's mugs to the ground as she climbs to the top of the display case. Not giving any warning Jessica Yamada descends on the Gorilla like wrath of thunder stabbing straight it through to the floor. Pulling out her spear, she drives it through the optical just to make sure it's dead.
"Mrs. Yamada! Mrs. Yamada! Do you hear the change in the alarm? The building is in lockdown, the blast doors are going to close! We have to get everybody out of here." Gesturing toward the door with the hand not holding his gun, the trooper is looking at her with awe.
Jessica looks at the fight still going on out in the lobby. Only two drones are left. She winces as her knee throbs violently reminding her why she's not in the field any more. It was only a brief fight but now she'll only be a liability if she stays.
Taking stock of the civilians that was not evacuated, she notices the child she almost ran into just before the chaos erupted. She was still holding on to the Marrow action figure. Even the awe inspired by how quickly she had taken out the drone could replace the terror the child and the rest of the tourist all felt. They could have never have imagined the the HQ of the heroes could be breached.
"Hey, Marrow's your favourite hero? That's great. See this?" She waves the spear "This was part of Marrow's sword she made today. Don't be scared even if she's not here, she's still protecting us." She's stares into the small crowd using a little known trick, she gives the illusion of making eye contact with everyone. "We'll make sure you're safe and you'll get out of here. It's only a short distance to the doors. You can see it from here. Follow me and Mr ..."
"Thompson"
"Mr. Thompson will guarding your backs." After first scanning for remaining threats she moves quickly towards the door. "Lets go." Wincing a little as the sign of pain escaped her iron control. 'One foot in front of the other' She continues to hide how much she's using the spear as support to walk.
Crossing the open lobby, feeling exposed she leads the civilians to the doors. Pointing the spear outside the doors "GO GO GO, don't stop until you're at least 300 feet from the door."
Glancing at spear and then at the people who won't make it in time, she made a decision. She throws the spear as close as she can to the ones left behind. Hopefully it will save someone else.
She turns and walks out the door with Mr. Thompson, determinedly not thinking on what might have been if only she hadn't taken a bullet to the knee. The blast doors closed with the sense of lost opportunities and regret behind her.
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I hope you like my first try at a long serious omake.
