WHO: Raina & "The Doctor" WHAT: Raina is proud of herself. Unfortunately, her new mentor is losing his patience. WHEN: October 14th WHERE: Bhisho, South Africa RATING: PG STATUS: Narrative; COMPLETE
HYDRA was falling apart. Raina had already known that was going to happen when she and Quinn had abandoned Garrett to his sinking operation. While perhaps not officially divorced from the operations, they had consolidated as many resources as they could and rallied to a point where they knew that neither SHIELD nor HYDRA would pursue them for quite some time. They had more important things to worry about, after all, than a couple of scientists secreting themselves and their projects away. Quinn, of course, had another business to attend to. He was away from more than he was there, and that worked just fine for Raina. She had other things to worry about herself.
Like the files that Simmons had just sent her. They made interesting reading. Certainly nothing that out of the ordinary when it came to a near drowning and lengthy oxygen deprivation. It was the potential that was offered by the blank slate, though, that left her intrigued. She couldn't do much. Too much, too fast, and she could vary confidence, destroy the small amount of trust that had been put into her, and besides, it would be better to play this out for length and put Simmons to as much use as possible. There was no telling what she could manage with that mind on her tether.
"And who's that?" A voice rang in her ear, causing Raina to jump slightly before turning her head to look up at her current company. It was rare that he ventured in her with her, far too consumed in his own work, but the blood that covered his clothes made it clear to her that he had been occupied in such a way. He'd just taken a break for the moment. "Certainly not a patient you've here."
Raina shook her head, "Something I'm working on for someone. Looking to earn gratitude."
The sound that he made was noncommittal, judging, as he tossed the rag he'd been using to wipe his hands onto a nearby table and leaned over her shoulder, edging in perhaps a bit too close for Raina's comfort, but she held her breath, going rigid as he peered at the files, "They break so easily. Don't they? But it's nothing you can't fix. Nothing you don't improve. Though, I would think your concerns should be elsewhere."
Raina sighed, "I told you. I've done the best I can. If she doesn't want to come, I can hardly force her without souring the whole idea."
"You can," The edge in his voice was unnerving, worrisome, and considering what she had seen him do, what she knew he was capable of, more than a little frightening. "If playing nice didn't work, try and different tactic. I don't care what it takes. I want my daughter, and if you want to know what I know... You'll get it done," He paused, moving to pluck the table out of her hands and smile down at the files as he quietly flicked through them, "or, I might have to make your little project a bit more complicated. He's already so damaged. I don't think we'd want that, would we?"
Raina shook her head, frowning as she stood, moving and taking the tablet away from him, holding it to her chest as she shifted her gaze to his, "I'll do what I can."