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CIR Headquarters, Los Angeles
October 3, 2049
4:50
R&D Department

Natalie's eyes were glued to the moniter as she looked over her information over and over again. Months of research and countless hours of experimentation and observations have resulted in a now rather obsessed individual. Natalie may be young but she was well beyond her years in terms of knowledge of the metahuman physiology. [b]"I'm so close I can feel it. Where are you hiding?"[/b], she whispered to herself as she reevaluated her findings. Unfortunately Natalie had reached a dead end...Or had she? Natalie got up from her relaxed position in her chair and began to furiously look through her autopsy files. [b]"I know you're here, hiding in plain sight this whole time"[/b], at this point she was no longer whispering but speaking aloud as if to another in the room. There was a moment of silence ending her ramblings before she gasped harshly. Natalie hurriedly compiled all the autopsy files into a flash drive and exited her lab once the transfer was completed. [i]"The Director needs to see thi-wait no. Mom would want a copy of this, can't let this get into the wrong hands without a backup"[/i], Natalie stopped her mad run towards the director's office and began to head to the exit when she once again stopped herself. 

[i]"Maybe it's time to let dad know? We haven't met yet but mom said he could be trusted...more or less. Dammit what to do! Alright alright here's the plan: tell dad, bring him to mom, whatever awkwardness happens, then the three of us can decide on what to do with this. To his office then!"[/i], to an outside observer Natalie looked like a madwoman running back and forth without purpose. Natalie bolted towards the elevator but before she could even yell for those inside to hold it open it shut. [i]"Too many floors up to take the stairs, there is an elevator on the opposite side of the lobby!"[/i], Natalie turned tail and once again sprinted for the elevator this time she practically slid into the elevator as the doors began to close. She frantically pressed the button to the top floor and in a moment the elevator began to carry her and the confused CIR agents up the tower. After what felt like an eternal elevator ride Natalie arrived at the top floor and she practically threw herself at the secretary's desk. [b]"I need to speak with Sentinel Commander Harland immediately! It's urgent and for his eyes only!"[/b], there was a look of urgency in Natalie's eyes and it was rivaled by her aura of obsession with whatever it was she was trying to show the commander. Anne raised her brow as she looked over Natalie, she was clearly from R&D but protocol was protocol. [b]"I'm sorry but do you have an appointment?"[/b], she asked hoping that Natalie did so she wouldn't be stuck with her.

[b]"I don't have time for that he needs to see this now!"[/b], Natalie would have continued had she not realized how insane she was sounding. [i]"Relax before security tases you and throws you out of the building"[/i], Natalie took a deep breathe and calmed herself before she spoke again. [b]"I'm sorry I don't have an appointment but what I have for Commander Harland is of the utmost importance and it's for his eyes only"[/b]

Anne was surprised by Natalie's sudden civility but nothing changed, protocol is protocol. [b]"I understand that but the commander is about to be in an important meeting, afterwards you'll be free to speak with him if you still wish. Until then please wait over there"[/b]

Natalie let out a breath of frustration before nodding in acknowledgment. Sulking over to the waiting area in defeat she sat herself not far from Mayumi and began fiddling with the flash drive in her hands. [b]"Held back by a damn secretary...what the hell"[/b]
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[color=8dc73f][b]"Yes of course I have the right number!"[/b][/color], Jack replied getting slightly annoyed. He was aware of the fact that this was just protocol, but with Ace in her current condition; Jack was a little on edge and was impatient. He sighed before continuing. [color=8dc73f][b]"Please... I'm begging you.... Let me speak with the Commander... My daughter.... His friend... Is dying... So please... Please let me speak with him..."[/b][/color]

Anne wanted to pull her hair out at this point. Her moral compass challenging her job at the moment she decided it would probably best to just let this man through and get ready for whatever ordeal was next. "Alright just a moment, let me inform the commander", Anne put Jack on hold as she called into Cole's office. "Sir, there is an individual who desperately needs to speak with you. His name is Jack and he says he needs to speak with you about a certain 'Ace'". Cole immediately replied to the call informing Anne to put him through. Without another word Jack was on the line with Cole, [color=ed1c24][b]"Jack how are things? You said you wanted to talk about Ace?"[/b][/color]

[color=8dc73f][b]"Yeah....."[/b][/color] Jack replied, the tone of his voice was tired and solumn. [color=8dc73f][b]"Ace got hurt really bad and just got out of the ER a few hours ago... Cole... Ace is dying... She hasn't woken up yet and though her condition is currently stable and slowly improving; the doctors aren't sure if she'll survive..... I'm sorry that the first time I've ever spoke of Ace's condition in 15 years had to be this but.... At least you'll now be able to finally see her again, right?"[/b][/color] Though it couldn't be heard in his voice; Jack was on the verge of tears. He was afraid that he might be loosing his little girl and that he'd loose what family he had left.

[color=ed1c24][b]"Its fine Jack just have you considered having her undergo cybernetic prosthesis? She'd look and function the same and if its a matter of money I have no problem paying for it"[/b][/color], Cole wasn't going to let Ace go without a fight. He had the resources to do this it wasn't a problem of how just a matter of when. There was a catch of course, but Cole wasn't sure if Jack would approve of it. [color=ed1c24][b]"Listen Jack, the cybernetics aren't a problem but there is a catch to it. If you approve of this then Ace would have to work for the CIR for a period of time. The cybernetics would be considered company property and she'd have to work it off. I swear it won't be permanent and I'll make sure she's taken care of. I know this is hard and I wouldn't do this unless it was Ace's best chance for survival"[/b][/color], Cole stopped in wait for Jack's answer. He knew this wasn't something that could be decided in an instant but time wasn't exactly on their side. 

A prosthetic? Jack had never considered the idea, mainly because of the fact that he was uncertain as to whether or not it would actually help Ace or not. Jack paused.[color=8dc73f][b]"Cole, I'm not supposed to be telling you this but... For the past 15 years, Ace has been secretly working for various branches of the CIR. She told me to keep quiet about it but I think it'd be okay if I told you. You see.... Ace wanted to protect the peace you and the others fought to create. She figured that the best way to do this was by becoming a mercenary and to disappear from the rest of society for a while. This included you and the others. The reason why I'm telling you this because I have no problem with Ace working with the CIR. The only problem is  that a prosthetic might not be able to fix this problem. The injury Ace received was a gunshot wound to the stomach, just bellow the right lung. When they found her; she had already lost a lot of blood and was barely conscious."[/b][/color] He explained, hoping that this news wouldn't shock or enrage Cole too much.

[color=ed1c24][b]"She's still got that fire in her after all those years"[/b][/color], Cole sighed before looking out the window. [color=ed1c24][b]"Listen Jack if the cybernetics don't fix what's wrong with Ace they'll at least give her more time. I'll handle everything don't you worry, I'll have her transferred to our facility for testing and once they find the problem the augmentations will begin. Best case scenario Ace'll be back up and running with no problem. Worst case is we'll have more work to do on her. I won't let her go easily, you have my word. Now what hospital was she admitted to? I'll send transport over for her pickup and you can come too. We can catch up and I might have something you'd be interested in."[/b][/color]

[color=8dc73f][b]"I have no doubt that you would keep the promise you made to me all those years ago..."[/b][/color] Jack sighed before continuing. [color=8dc73f][b]"We are currently at the Los Angles Critical Care Center in room 433..... Cole... Please... Save her...."[/b][/color]

[color=ed1c24][b]"I will Jack, I'll see you two soon"[/b][/color], Cole hung up the phone and dialed his secretary, [color=ed1c24][b]"Anne, have medical transport unit sent to LA Critical Care Center Room 433 for Ace Stahl"[/b][/color]. He didn't wait for a response, Anne knew to simply have it done. As for Cole he sat at his computer and accessed the Sentinel roster. Cole hesitated for moment before entering Ace's name and information into the roster and setting her status to critical and "under intensive care". 

Once that was taken care of Cole stood at the window of his office, peacefully admiring the view when he heard the sound of yelling outside his office causing him to wince at the sudden interruption of his zen. [color=ed1c24][i]"Female, young, not John or Cia. Too unfamiliar to be Mayumi, most likely some bureaucrat sent from the higher ups. As if I didn't have enough to worry about"[/i][/color], Cole's suspicions were put to rest when Anne entered his office. [b]"Sorry to disturb you sir but I just wanted you to know there is a rather determined young lady from R&D who wishes to speak with you[/b]

[color=ed1c24][b]"R&D? The hell is she doing here? Isn't this the director's job?[/b][/color]

[b]"My thoughts exactly but she was adamant that what she had to show was for your eyes only"[/b]

[color=ed1c24][b]"Alright send her in after the Reynolds. Speaking of which are they here yet?"[/b][/color]

[b]"Mayumi is waiting outside but the rest of the family is in the building and on their way up. They should be here any second"[/b]