Liz

Archetype: Street Medic

The underground healthcare provider who treats those outside the official medical system

Liz embodies the street medic archetype - a pragmatic healthcare provider who operates outside the official medical system of Horizon City. With improvised tools and practical knowledge, she offers essential medical services to those who can't access or afford corporate healthcare, accepting payment in stolen goods rather than currency.

Basic Information

• Full Name: Liz
• Aliases: None known
• Occupation: Underground medic, Black market dealer
• Status: Alive

Physical Description

• Woman in her thirties
• Practical, no-nonsense appearance
• Carries a medical bag
• Wears casual street clothes
• Knowing smile and confident expression
• Skilled with improvised medical tools

Story Appearances

• Thief: Provides medical treatment to Viktoria; helps her understand the holographic girl (Judy) created by the bracelet

Connections

• Viktoria Garrett Cheval: Friend and medical provider; accepts stolen items as payment
• Judy: Can see her when wearing the bracelet; helps Viktoria understand Judy's nature

Subversion of Archetype

Liz subverts the street medic archetype in several key ways:

• The Pragmatic Healer: Unlike traditional medical professionals bound by regulations and standard procedures, Liz uses whatever tools are available to get the job done. Her use of dental floss for stitches demonstrates her adaptability and resourcefulness in providing care without access to proper medical supplies.

• The Barter Medic: Operates entirely outside the formal economy, accepting stolen tech as payment rather than currency. This creates a different kind of doctor-patient relationship based on mutual exchange rather than financial transaction, and integrates her practice into the underground economy of Horizon City.

• The Unfazed Witness: Maintains remarkable composure when confronted with the extraordinary, adapting quickly to unusual situations like the appearance of Judy. Rather than reacting with disbelief or fear, she immediately accepts the reality of what she sees and helps Viktoria navigate the situation with humor and practical advice.

Role in the Corporate Game

Liz represents the parallel healthcare system that exists for those who cannot access or afford corporate medical services. Her work demonstrates how essential services continue to function in the margins of society, creating alternative systems that both challenge and supplement the corporate structure.

In the broader context of Horizon City, street medics like Liz fill the gaps left by a healthcare system that prioritizes profit over universal access. By treating criminals, thieves, and others who operate outside the law, she enables the underground economy to function, indirectly supporting resistance to complete corporate control.

Her familiarity with black market venues like "The Midnight Market" and her ability to appraise the value of stolen tech show how interconnected these shadow economies are - medical care, stolen goods, and information all flow through the same networks, creating a resilient alternative to corporate-controlled systems.

Notable Quotes

• "Oh, it's just a flesh wound. Nicked the mussel, maybe. Nothing but a deep scratch. A few stitches and you'll be fine. As usual, you are a mess, and yet somehow you manage to look good doing it." - Treating Viktoria's leg wound
• "You and your toys, Vik." - Commenting on Viktoria's collection of stolen tech
• "I can probably get twenty kay at the Midnight. Sure." - Accepting a HoloDisk as payment for medical services
• "You take care of that leg now. And don't think for one minute I didn't scan you swiping my UnFucker. Can I have it back please?" - Catching Viktoria stealing from her medical bag
• "Well knock me out and cut me open! You weren't making it up." - Seeing Judy after putting on the bracelet
• "Congratulations, mom! It's a girl!" - Joking with Viktoria about Judy after confirming she's real