Retribution, Part V: Recovery

Ibura System
Undisclosed Location
11:23 1-3 YC 115

Ryven awoke disoriented.  His last memory was a dark alley in the Perimeter system and immense pain.  He had flashes of an image of Shalee, and immediately was filled with a sense of despair.  He shook his head to clear the cobwebs, his vision becoming focused, his surroundings emerging from the haze. 

He was in a bed.  It was the sort of bed found in a hospital.  Okay, so he was in a hospital.  That explained why he was in a white gown.  He wasn't strapped down, so he rose up off the bed, and quickly became dizzy.  He calmed himself, forcing his breathing to slow, his pulse to ease.  He pulled his legs off the bed and set his feet on the floor.  The cool metal was painfully chill, and an involuntary shiver ran down his spine.  He swore.  He heard a door slide open behind him.

"Ah, so, you've decided to finally return to the land of the living." A rather jovial voice greeted him from behind. 

Ryven turned his head to see a woman of medium height and athletic build with dark brown hair and a touch of gray.  She appeared to be late forties and was of obvious Caldari blood, most likely Deteis.  He managed a halfass grin. "I try to die as little as possible these days."  He glanced about. "Where am I?"

The doctor smiled. "You're back in the loving arms of your new best friends." She laughed. "The Falcon Brotherhood are big fans of your work." 

Ryven barely kept from making a face.  He hated the name those terrorist jackasses had chosen for themselves. Falcon Brotherhood.  Still, he had to assume they were the reason he wasn't captured/cloned.  "They were the ones who came in all commando deus ex machina style to save me, huh?"

She laughed. "Pretty much.  You apparently succeeded in a manner beyond their expectations.  So much so, they've decided to make you an honorary member.  They gave you their tattoo."  She gestured toward his right shoulder.

He looked down and winced.  There it was, the stupid falcon with its angry looking eyes, tearing its talons into who knows what.  He rolled his eyes. "It was only a matter of time till I got a tattoo, I guess."  He shook his head. "So, when can I get out of here?"

The doctor shrugged. "I imagine whenever you wish.  You immortals can take a hell of a beating.  I'm actually surprised you didn't wake up sooner."

Ryven blinked. "How long have I been out?"

"Well, today is the third." 

Ryven swore.  He stood up from the bed, still a little woozy. "Where are my things?"

The doctor gestured to a bag by the doorway.  "You'll find all of your personal effects in there.  Your ship is docked where you left it, and all of the items you requested are loaded onboard."  She paused for a moment. "I'm actually a little sad to see you go.  You've done great things for our cause."

Ryven just shook his head.  He pulled his clothes from the bag and quickly donned them. He turned to the doctor. "What's your name?"

She seemed surprised. "Elizabeth Garuda." 

He nodded. "Well, Doctor Garuda, thanks for everything, but, believe me when I say, you want me gone as soon as I can be."

She frowned. "Why do you say that?"

He sighed deeply and turned as he was walking out the door. "Where I go, death seems to follow after."