Old friends meeting

Posted on Thu Feb 9th, 2023 @ 5:06am by Duke Drake & Mary Reynolds
Edited on on Thu Feb 23rd, 2023 @ 4:16am

1,019 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: 1. Year One
Location: Ye Olde Books -New Orleans
Timeline: Saturday 29, August 1992

Drake browsed the historical section of the books, the other teachers all wondered off to do their bit of shopping. He was about to pick up a copy of 'A Helmet for my Pillow' when a voice behind him interrupted the silence of the bookstore.

"Hey Trip," a soft sultry voice said.

He turned to see a beautiful dark haired woman about his age. "MB, what are you doing here? And I haven't been called Trip since college." Triple D or Trip for short was a nickname given to Drake by fellow members of his Pre-Med classes, an abbreviation of the initials Doctor Duke Drake.

"I got transferred over to the Hospital in New Orleans, I figured I'd run you down since I was in the area. I knew if I found the oldest, dustiest book shop you'd be nearby," she said in her slight Spanish accent.

"I'm glad you found me, it's been too long since we've spoken in person," he said quietly. "Why don't we go next door and get coffee and some beignets?"

"Ok, but your buying Doctor moneybags," she teased.

The two shared small talk as they placed their orders. Once they were in hand they sat at a small Cafe table in front of the building.

"Why are you here, I thought You were going to be in Pensacola for 6 more months until your contract expired with the travel nurse agency?" Drake asked getting straight to the point.

"I requested the transfer, Trip, the hospital is changing its policies towards mutants because of the Registration Act."

"What changed?"

"We are required to test all patients no matter what age, newborn to senior adult for the Xgene. If you can submit a form with the powerset you get a bonus payment from the government agency's Mutant Health Organization."

"That's unconstitutional," Drake replied.

"You say that but for mutants it is soon going to be part of their everyday lives. In fact children without legal guardians, orphans, etc. are disappearing if they test positive for the X gene."

Drake shook his head disbelieving what he was hearing.

"Duke," she said softly, "I don't want to lose anymore patients like that. I lost a six year old girl who was positive. Her ability was to manipulate light, do you know what she used it for? To tell stories to the other kids in foster care, by making rainbows and animals," Mary talked faster as she told her story, growing in intensity, "The foster parents brought her to the hospital because she was and I quote Defective."

"I'm sorry, MB I had no idea you were dealing with that," Drake said earnestly. "How can I help?"

"By being there when I need you, because one day I will. I'm not going to let them take another child or teenager, I'm going to falsify records and send them to you," she said matter of factly.

"If we do this we will both need to be careful, I don't want to see anything bad happen to you MB and you know I want to help kids, it's why I built the school," Drake said.

"Did you think it was going to happen like this? She asked before eating a beignet.

"No, but I had my suspicions. You know me prepare for the worst and hope for the best," he said with a smirk.

"I think things are going to get worse before they get better, in fact a patient came into the ER yesterday, she was a mutant. A man dressed in hunting gear tried to snatch her purse, but cut her arm up in the process, enough to need stitches."

"That's horrible," Drake said, "I guess with the unrest the petty street criminals are getting bolder."

"It's worse than that, Duke. She was a mutant and the fourth one to get cut like that. The rumor is he is collecting blood or DNA for the bonus also. In fact we've even begun calling him the Collector."

"Wow, it's like we are circling the drain of bad things going down. You stay at the hospital until you feel unsafe, then you're coming to the Manor," he said worried about wellbeing.

"Is that an order, Doctor?" She asked teasingly.

"Yes, it will be like old times, we're just older and wiser," he said with a grin.

"Your right," she said quickly, "Your older and I'm still wiser."

"You win again MB, I never could match your quick wit." Duke said softly.

"Nothing was ever quick about you ,Doc. It took you an entire semester to work up the nerve to ask me out, then almost 3 months before you even kissed me."

"What can I say MB, I'm an old fashioned guy, still am. What do you say we meet for coffee again next weekend?

"I don't think that's a good idea. If I'm falsifying medical records to hide people with the X Gene or directing them to your MA or instead of the Mutant Health Organization, I will eventually have eyes on me and I don't want to lead them back to you," she said out loud but ended her sentence mentally 'Because I still care for you.'

Drake disappointed at getting shot down replied, "I understand MB, you let me know when or where you need me and I'll be there."

They both stood up with their empty cups, "I have to go Trip, I'm supposed to work the graveyard shift tonight."

"I understand MB, go rest and I'll see you soon," Drake replied before hugging her and kissing her cheek. "You take care of yourself and stay safe."

"I will Duke, you too, and don't get into to much trouble with that band of misfits you assembled," she teased, "I don't want to have to put any of you back together."

Duke smiled at her joke and watched her silhouette slowly disappear into the afternoon shadows. After all these years the sight of her and sound of her voice still made his heart race, but it was also the danger in the game they were playing.

#The End

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