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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 0:38:11 GMT -5
Hubert stirred in his seat, shooting a wry glance at Vance and Daws. "I'm quite new to this myself," He said, "A long story for another time. But I have to say," he smiled, "Having people you can trust with your life makes all the difference."
"I'll say." Daws glanced at Vance with a crooked smile, then turned back to Nate.
"You say you want to stay here and help," She said, growing serious, "But I was sort of under the impression that the military doesn't exactly just let people go -- not even for guerrilla wars."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 21:39:28 GMT -5
Vance frowned. "He couldn't exactly go back now anyway, now that Tiernan's onto him. Even with my connections, it'd be almost impossible to move him back into some kind of active duty--even under another name--without the bat being able to track him."
"So I'll disappear," Nate said unflinchingly.
His father looked at him sharply. "Nate--"
"You did it," the younger man said evenly. "So can I. In fact, I was sort of expecting it, ever since I got the whole story from Mom."
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 21:50:09 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. "Then in that case it's really just a question of your throwing in with us -- or laying low and quiet somewhere until this is all over." She raised an eyebrow at Vance. "And considering that he's your son, all right, I don't quite foresee the latter happening."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 22:06:43 GMT -5
Vance met Daws' eyes grimly. "I can't get around the fact that you're right there." Then looking at Nate again: "If I thought there was a bat's chance in heaven of keeping him out of this, I'd be fighting for it--but if he's not with us, this boneheaded boy would just try going after Tiernan on his own."
His expression hardened, and he addressed Nate directly. "But you're darn well going to take orders, soldier--and if you take one step out of line, we'll have our own court-martial so fast you'll wish you never found out I was alive. Is that clear, Mister?"
Nate saluted smartly--but he also cracked a faint smile. "Yes sir."
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 22:12:22 GMT -5
Daws grinned faintly. "Well, in that case -- welcome to the resistance, such as it is."
"Yeah, this asylum could always do with a new inmate." Caddy remarked brightly.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 22:24:32 GMT -5
"The first order of business is to forget about that uniform and the rank of lieutenant," Vance went on firmly. "As of right now, boy, you're at the bottom fo the heap. You'll answer to every other person in this outfit, because you've got a lot to learn." He grinned humorlessly. "If you start proving you can fight this kind of war without getting yourself killed... then we'll see about a promotion."
Nate's gaze did not flicker; he had the discipline not to argue. "Yes sir."
His shadow was now preoccupied in climbing the windowsill. Suddenly remembering it, he gave a start and looked over at it. A slight expression of concentration crossed his face, and the shadow faded away. His own natural shadow reappeared simultaneously.
Handy stared and shook his head. "Just how many laws a' physics d'you haveta break to do that, anyway?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 22:35:16 GMT -5
"Twenty-seven," Hubert deadpanned. "I've been keeping track."
Daws chuckled. "This outfit doesn't lose much sleep over law-breaking. Don't see why physics should get off light."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 22:42:44 GMT -5
Vance sighed. "I go out of my head worrying about what kind of injuries could make this kid turn mutie... and he goes and manifests over a video game, of all things. I'm getting old."
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 22:53:23 GMT -5
Daws gave him a sympathetic smile. "Could've been a lot worse ways, right? Besides -- now you can quit worrying."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 23:02:09 GMT -5
"And let him worry instead? I wouldn't hold my breath, Regina," Vance retorted.
Nate grinned. "Well, I've managed not to out myself before now. I guess it's just been dumb luck--but I'm learning."
"I hope your education isn't the death of either of us." Vance turned to Handy. "You'd better go ditch the cab or whatever it was you got here in. Then head back to home base and fix up a room for Nate. Since he's a hunted man as much as we are, he'll just have to join us in our glamorous underground lifestyle."
"Right," Handy assented, and with a glance at Daws to seek approval, he headed for the back door.
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 23:12:04 GMT -5
Daws slipped off of the arm of the couch and followed Handy into the inner office long enough to lock the back door behind him; then she returned to the waiting room, leaning her shoulder against the wall.
"Suppose by now Tiernan's heard from his lackeys about what happened on the pier." She remarked, nodding at Nate, "That probably means by tomorrow you'll be on my list of people to track down, along with your father and most everyone else I know."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 23:20:29 GMT -5
Nate looked up at Daws in mild wonderment. "So you really work for this guy?"
"She 'contracts' with him," Vance put in quickly, with a slight smile at Daws. "Miss Dawson will tell you she doesn't work for anybody."
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 23:31:10 GMT -5
"Darn straight -- and don't forget it, either." Daws grinned crookedly at Vance, then shrugged.
"Way back when I first got caught up in this mess, someone hired me to snoop around in Tiernan's business. I got caught at it -- and managed to worm a job out of the situation." She explained. "At first it was just a way to get out of the place alive, but after that I figured we could use someone to play spy." Daws spread her hands, "Tiernan hasn't caught on -- not yet, anyhow -- so here I stand."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 23:39:37 GMT -5
"I can't imagine that kind of pressure," Nate said soberly. "Couldn't a telepath or something find you out?"
"They might if there were any in Tiernan's confidence," Vance put in. "Apparently he happens to have a fantastically repulsive brain, as far as telepaths are concerned. But that brings me to another point."
The Major frowned. "Our new mayor-elect in this town is a mutant--a telepath. The public doesn't know that, though. He won the office with Tiernan's backing, and he's supposed to be on our side... but now we're not quite sure what he's up to."
He glanced at Daws. "I don't suppose you've found out anything more about that."
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 23:46:49 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "They've finally gotten his staff moved into the new office, but it's no easier to get in touch with him. I don't know if he's just holed up because he's spooked, or because he's trying to avoid telling me what's going on -- but we need to find out, and quickly."
Caddy leaned forward, propping his chin on his hand. "Cole seemed like a standup guy to me," he said, "You figure he's changed sides?"
Daws shook her head. "I think if he'd changed sides altogether, Caddy, I'd already be dead. Or wishing I was."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 31, 2007 23:54:00 GMT -5
"I expect our boy thinks he's gotten some bright ideas about playing both sides against the middle," Vance muttered. "He's a politician to the core, after all."
He brooded for a moment, then added, "It might be a good idea to get his sister's address, Regina. If things really start to fall through... we can't leave any bargaining chip off the table."
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Post by skybright on Jul 31, 2007 23:59:07 GMT -5
"Already got it." Daws replied, "That and a lead on the guys who did the security systems on her house." She gave a bitter chuckle. "Granted, I looked those things up in the event we ever needed to keep her safe from Tiernan . . . but I guess using her to keep her halfwit politican brother from getting us all killed probably still counts as keeping her safe. Or close enough to it, anyhow."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 1, 2007 21:39:38 GMT -5
Nate looked at his father with subdued respect. "You've been having to take some pretty tough measures, huh?"
Vance sighed and nodded grimly. "We do what we have to do. Sometimes it isn't pretty."
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Post by skybright on Aug 1, 2007 21:52:08 GMT -5
"No." Hubert agreed quietly, glancing at his hands with wry amusement, "But Tiernan's methods are a great deal uglier. And ours are at least undertaken for the right reasons."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 1, 2007 22:18:15 GMT -5
"I believe that," Nate said solemnly. Then he glanced around at the small group.
"So how many of us are there? I'm guessing you're not just trying to fight a whole war with half a dozen people."
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