The Doctor will Skyler you now (With Chelle)

University Medical Center New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana

Since the closure of Charity Hospital during Katrina, and University Hospital shortly thereafter, UMCNO replaced both and operates as an L1 Trauma Center to this day. As a teaching Hospital as well, it also hosts on occasion, volunteers and paid staff alike. Volunteers like Dr. Shauna Masters, a renowned surgeon who had a tendency to be 'helpful' around other departments, given her special 'gifts'. Still, at the end of the day, medical knowledge won out, and superpowers in the operating room was taboo. Well, anything involving high powered lasers anyway.

Coming out of a six hour surgery from the operating room, Shauna breathes a sigh of relief after she'd successfully scrubbed down, the smell of antiseptic filling up her nose. She sat at a bench next to a vending machine, treating herself to a hot cup of coffee... And five seconds later the family of the man she'd performed a rather messy double kidney transplant for came to her, a haggard expression of weariness as she'd been at the hospital for about a whole 24 hours by now.

"Doctor? Is Johann going to be alright?"

"He'll be alright. Tell him to lay off the salty food from now on. He's lucky we got 2 donors."

"Oh doctor thank you, thank you!"

Shauna powered through the grateful family, feeling a warmth inside for saving the man but also mild irritation, considering his lifestyle had caused this problem in the first place. Too much sodium, but she was being nice today and refrained for chewing off the lady's ear.

Unbeknownst to Shauna, a small group of latino men in identical shaven heads and sharp suits had just checked in downstairs. Tattoos barely visible under their collars broadcast their gang affiliation, but their civilized manners get them into the hospital.

Leading them on was a lady in a business suit, with long, wild red hair and a wild aggression in her eyes.  She looked at the staff board, and smiled at seeing who was in surgery today. She then approached the rather sleepy, mousy female receptionist who was still sipping her mid-shift coffee. "Good morning miss. I'm looking for Dr. Snowden?"

The receptionist looks at a screen for a moment. "Dr. Skyler Snowden is..."

"

SHAUNA

"Thank you. Let's go boys, we've got an old friend to meet." The red head lady winked at the receptionist, as she strutted. For a moment the receptionist felt a bit uneasy, feeling that businesswoman was... certainly exotic. A scar on her face, a toned build, tanned bronze skin... must be a fitness model. The receptionist went back to her coffee.

Shauna remained at the vending machine bench, finally having some time to herself and people-watched the long lines three levels downstairs in the E.R, using her powers out of habit, much like stretching. Charity hospitals were like these, she thought, but at least she could make a difference in a few lives.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a trio of shaven Latino men coming up the staircase, all suited up. They were still down the hall, a full 40 meters away, when Shauna quickly peeked under their collars, her vision capable of seeing past something as simple as clothes. The tattoos quickly confirm her paranoid suspicion, and she calmly put her coffee cup beside her, not wishing to panic anyone in the hallway.

A distinct, crackling flash of red energy, followed by a hand, made Shauna pause, her coffee swiped out of her hand. She could laser a fly's wings off without killing it a mile away, but she couldn't look behind her.

"Heya, Black." The redhead took Shauna's coffee and took a sip herself, standing behind her, patting her on the shoulder. "Brewed Colombian from a vending machine? nice."

"Red." Shauna replied, taking her seat as she was surrounded by the cartel enforcers.

SKYLER

Three of the latino men approached Skyler, cutting off her path, surrounding her in complete silence. Staff and patients alike avoided these men, for despite their apparel, their demeanor still reeked of Goon.

The crackling red energy snapped beside Skyler, and out of most peoples' sight the redhead materialized, mere seconds after getting Shauna's compliance on a different floor.

"Good afternoon Dr. Snowden. My employer would like to make a contract with you, for your services. Will you please accompany us outside to our waiting vehicle?" She opened politely, circling around Skyler to speak with her face to face. "He is willing to compensate you generously, if you come with us this instant. One of your peers has already agreed." She gestured to the stairs, where the men escorted Shauna down to the reception lobby.

Shauna looked at Skyler, only being acquainted with the senior for her scalpel and needle work, but not or knowing of her powers. From her view, they were taking her as leverage to make Shauna comply. The redhead looked at Shauna. "Doctor, wouldn't you like to say something?"

Shauna detested Red; the teleporting mercenary knew Shauna wouldn't let anyone get hurt over her. She spoke to Skyler in a hoarse, monotonus voice. "It's alright, we can... just hear what they have to offer." She said, making eye contact with Skyler. She'd make sure they wouldn't hurt her, whatever it was they wanted.

Quiet tension filled the air between the doctors. Then suddenly the receptionist came up to them. "Is... everything alright here, ladies?"

"You're coming with us Fiona." Red said, making things doubly worse.

"Wait what?" The bespectacled, chubby big boned woman was lost and confused. Shauna tried to reassure her.

"Fiona... just do what they say." Shauna asked the kind older receptionist, who was also a nurse on staff.

The three ladies would be led to three separate cars, driving towards the same destination- the docks. Shauna, unable to make a move without risking Skyler's or Fiona's life, was content to play along for now. She kept an eye on Fiona and Skyler from the other car. The whole ride Red would alternate between the three vehicles a couple of times, getting "comfy" with each lady, though not explaining anything.

BOAT

Once on the boat they would be again, held in separate quarters, only glimpsing each other briefly to inform the other was still alive. Again there was no explanation, only more movement.

BIGGER BOAT

By the time they reached their destination, a second, bigger yacht out in open international waters, did things begin to explain themselves.

Onboard the luxurious yacht, big enough that the smaller boat fit inside it, were they welcomed on the lower deck with hardwood flooring and warm LED lighting. There was an abundance of well dressed goon, including a couple of your bigger-than-average, Danny-Trejo lookalike goon with a nice mustache and packing a machete. Shauna sighed heavily. They installed a ton of mirrors on the inside of the boat, probably on Red's advice against the walking laser show.

Of course, the reason for their arrival was waiting for them too. A grey haired latino gentleman in a wheelchair came into view. He was not in the best of states, as he was encased in a plethora of medical machinery keeping him alive. Tubes, wires, tanks and other such accessories were mounted on his custom wheelchair.

"Welcome, doctors." The man wheezed."Ah. Dr.Snowden." He said nonchalantly, addressing Skyler. He looked rich enough to pay ex-Dominus for info, and in bad enough health to grab her. He was also careful to not use aliases to keep them in the dark.

"And Dr.Masters..." another darth vader wheeze, his eyes falling on Shauna, his neck unable to turn. "And a third guess." wheeze. "what is your name. Miss?" He asked the third hostage. Despite being in a wheelchair, half paralyzed, he was wretched enough to reach out to Fiona.

"Fiona D'Fleur. Sir. Please, I am a married woman..." She objected to this perverted old man's touch... except he was just holding her hand. He squeezed it with gentle assurance.

"My apologies for my..." wheeze. "employees unwarranted behavior." wheeze. "But these are desperate times." wheeze."If these doctors cooperate, you will be unharmed." wheeze.

The wheelchair guy then fell quiet, actually getting tired from talking. Red took over for Vader. "Bring Fiona up to the boss's room, Shauna to the operating room. Make sure they're comfortable." Fiona was led away, now leaving Red with just Skyler.

Red pats her wheelchair bound boss. "...Okay here's why I brought you here, Doc." she said with a smirk. "My boss here, his wife and son need organ transplants pronto. And you're just the donor we need... especially with your abilities. You can cooperate, and we'll pay you a premium price. Triple the black market going rate for each organ and each liter of blood. Or not, well... we won't pay you and take them anyway. What do you say?"

OPERATING ROOM

Shauna was led to the operating room and was quite impressed. They spared no expense to bring all the state-of-the-art equipment along on a boat; the room was even stabilized against the rocking water. There was even a full compliment of medical staff present- another surgeon, anesthiologist, other guys needed for a major operation.

"...Are you all..." Shauna asked. How many people did this guy take hostage?

"Senor Valestra has done alot for our community. We came willingly." The head surgeon replied, making Shauna wonder what she was here for.

It was in here she saw, behind an air-pressure controlled ICU chamber, a portly woman and an obese little boy, wrapped in bandages and on life support. Why didn't they just come to the hospital? Shauna thought, and assumed that the cartel boss would've faced immediate arrest even if they checked in anonymously.

Shauna checked the two and saw their insides- shattered bones, weakened organs... She saw the discoloration of their organs, and suspected a chemical weapon attack. They were going to need organ transplants pronto.

"...These people should be at a hospital!" She protested.

"Please, no hospital in Mexico is equipped to handle them. Senor Valestra said he was going to secure organs for them." They reassured her, prepparing a hazard suit for Shauna. She sighed, slowly piecing together what was going on.

The Old Boss, really really needing those new organs, relented after thinking on it a moment. Redhead with the Booty of course, advised against concession, but Valestra was a desperate man.

"Make it so." He wheezed, before wheeling himself to the Operating Room with his family.

OPERATING ROOM

The Venezuelan operating team greeted Skyler and Red upon arrival. Shauna was already locked into the Bio-hazard chamber with the critically ill Mrs. Valestra and the obese child. Thoughts ran through her head; the South Americans did their homework and outfitted the boat with everything needed for transplants. But they would have needed blood and organs.

Shauna looked at Skyler as she entered. She raised her hand to greet her, showing some concern. Was she going to help them operate? If only Shauna could speak to Skyler. Red knew not to let her hostages speak, as to maximize their cooperation and minimize any chance of escape.

The Venezuelans looked at each other a bit confused. The lead surgeon stepped forward asked Red. "...Who is this woman? Another doctor? I thought you were bringing us organs."

"She is going to be our donor." Red explained, largely indifferent to their objections.

"What? No... N- no! We refuse to become murderers!" The surgeon protested, but Red laughed him off.

"Chill out doc. She can grow them back. S'why we brought her here. She's a walking organ factory."

The doctors looked at each other. So... they were going to harvest organs from a metahuman. They didn't really have much choice, seeing as Red was still armed. The operating table was prepped for Skyler, complete with thick leather straps, all the appropriate machines and plenty of empty blood bags. A large slew of sharp instruments for harvesting organs were prepared, including hand held mechanical saws to hasten the cutting process.

"Well Doc, you might wanna lose the clothes and lie down." Red said, basically telling Skyler to undress.

"Wouldn't want to get em dirty now would we." She patted the operating table for emphasis.

One of the wall monitors came online and showed Fiona led to the boat, showing Valestra was a man who honored his bargains. Once Skyler was strapped in, the doctors would waste no time, offering Skyler dozens of apologies and a selection of anesthetic, including if she wanted to be asleep for the process. Red simply gave her sadistic smile, aware that some regenerators would just metabolize pain killers.

The Venezuelan doctors were very reluctant frst to operate like this, moving slowly and deliberately. "Hurry up. She's not gonna die that easy." Red said, having the courtesy to wait outside and watch from behind the glass. The doctors get on with it. They hook her up to a hemodialysis machine and prepare a supply of blood.

Then, they get some cotton and dab it with some alcohol, cleaning Skyler's skin. A nurse offers Skyler at the very least, a small cylindrical piece of hardwood to bite down on. She also places a veil to spare Skyler the sight.

The lead surgeon took a scalpel and started making the first incision. Much to his dismay, he watches as the wound heals up rather quickly. There was a short pause. Red knocks on the window.

"You're gonna have to do it a little faster, doc."

The man looked at Skyler and apologized under his breath in Spanish repeatedly, and has the 'special equipment' brought over. Devious mechanical torture devices refurbished with sterile, stainless steel parts for this purpose, the staff position to open Skyler's ribcage. The doctor makes the incision, deeper and quicker, and the male staff follow up with industrial tools to cut the bone open. They then rig up the opened chest with the equipment, applying weights to keep them open.

One staffer faints already, from the sight of the butchery they were performing on Skyler. The doctors watch in shock and awe, as the tissue was visibly trying to mend itself.

Red bangs on the window, to tell them to hurry up. The lead doctor hurries and opens up the abdomen as well. Once done, they quickly begin removing the organs as well, one by one, with a speed that would not be acceptable under any other medical standards. large swathes of skin, the Liver, the Kidneys, part of the intestines, and finally the Heart- they were quickly put inside coolers and moved to the operating room just next door. Then they watched and waited for the organs to regrow.


Meanwhile, Shauna looked up with surprise as the doctors start sending in coolers into the ICU. She looked inside and saw organs, freshly harvested- and started to imagine what they were doing. Were they harvesting from people? It was hard to tell, since Red advised Salvatore to line the walls with lead. Reluctant, but unwilling to let even this drug lord's family die, she begins working quickly to replace their damaged, necrotized organs. They were more or less dead were it not for the machines keeping them going. Shauna could definitely tell they were subjected to some biological weapon, and worked with all speed she could, the machines they were hooked up to making her job somewhat easier. Still, this wouldn't be over soon- this was going to be hours of work.

The two hours pass as Skyler is harvested of blood, skin and vital organs for three. Shauna works tirelessly with assistants and by now, she had more or less replaced the druglord and his wife and child's organs with Skyler's. The drug lord awoke first. He saw his family still under.

"Are they alive?" He asked, bleary eyed and struggling.

"They need time to recover. Now, let me and Dr.Snowden go." Shauna said, angrily but also tired.

"When. My wife and child awake. Not before. Now take to your quarters and rest." The guards take Shauna away, while Skyler was also escorted to her room, on another part of the boat. Shauna was far too tired by this point, and decided to pass out in her room.

Red accompanied Skyler to her room, carrying two briefcases laden with cold hard cash. Thus far she'd done exactly as they promised. "Once Salvatore's family wakes up you can go." She smirks and shuts the door behind her, locking it.

Skyler's room was small but lavish, with amenities galore and a stocked minibar, but no Wifi or any connection to the outside world. Her clothes were there, but she was also given a closet of fine clothes to choose from.