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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2006 6:49:53 GMT -5
Alex turned from the table, rubbing his hands together nervously. "I, um... well... there's sandwiches, if anyone wants."
"I want," Vance replied, reaching across the table to help himself. He looked over at their newly-mutated prisoner. "You might as well eat something, too, Huber," he remarked, not expecting a reply.
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Post by skybright on Jul 3, 2006 7:00:15 GMT -5
Daws smiled faintly in gratitude and reached for a sandwich. "Thanks, Alex."
After a moment's hesitation, Daws grabbed an extra sandwich and moved over to where Huber sat motionless and silent.
"Here," Daws set the food within Huber's reach. "You've burned off all your extra energy manifesting. If you're like most of us, you're sittin' at starvation level right now. You gotta eat something to recharge."
Huber turned his head a few inches towards Daws and said dully "I don't need your pity, mutant."
Daws raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Vance. "I think he's startin' to come around to his old attitude." She said mildly, returning to her seat. Almost as an afterthough, she turned back to Huber.
"You really can't call me 'mutant' anymore, y'know. Not now that you're one of us."
Huber glanced away dully. After a moment's pause, though, he reached out and began devouring the sandwich Daws had left.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2006 7:14:19 GMT -5
Vance gave Huber a smile of grim satisfaction, as if he were a dog that was finally eating again after a traumatic veterinary visit. "Oh yeah, he's comin' around. We'll have another little talk after lunch, pal."
Still on watch, Handy was wolfing down a sandwich with as much alacrity as Vance. Miriam and Sid were both half-heartedly picking at their own meals, out of respect for Alex more than anything. Their hapless chef, having as little appetite as they did, was nibbling solemnly on a piece of cheese.
"Gotta admit, I didn't expect anything quite so dramatic with Huber," Vance remarked, chewing thoughtfully. "I'll have to find out if the drug tends to make for more exotic mutations, or if that's just what was wired into his genes."
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Post by skybright on Jul 3, 2006 7:18:37 GMT -5
Daws flashed a very brief glance at Sid before turning her attention quickly back to her lunch. "Yeah, that'd be good to know." She remarked, frowning. "Be easier if we knew what his son was like -- and what happened to him."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2006 7:22:35 GMT -5
Vance raised an eyebrow, leaning over to lightly prod Huber. "What about it? You feel like talking about your kid? Maybe now you know something about what he went through."
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Post by skybright on Jul 3, 2006 7:35:48 GMT -5
Huber turned his head slowly to stare at Vance. Daws braced herself for another stream of profanity -- but instead the scientist merely shook his head in disdain.
"Idiots." Huber's voice was flat and ugly. "All your strategizing and your supposed skills of deduction, and yet you still couldn't uncover any evidence of the boy?" He looked away. "When he was a child -- before he mutated -- they said he took after me."
The scientist suddenly broke into a thin, unnerving laugh. "Now I suppose it's true again."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2006 7:43:24 GMT -5
Vance raised an eyebrow. "If I read our sarcastic friend right, I guess maybe his kid is--or was--pretty much like him."
"What happened to him, Huber?" Sid growled, his resentment fueled by his own paternal instincts. "Didja kill him, like you wanted to do to these people?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 3, 2006 7:56:15 GMT -5
Huber glared angrily at Sid. "None of you have listened to a word I've said. You've kidnapped me, held me prisoner, turned me into . . ." he stopped abruptly and looked away. "Why should I answer any of your questions?"
"Because," Daws leaned forward, "At least right now we're askin' 'em nicely. Major Vance is of the opinion we should ask not nicely, as you well know. If you don't answer us, eventually you're gonna have to answer him."
Huber swallowed convulsively. "Haven't you people done enough already?" He paused, then shot Sid a venemous look. "I didn't kill him. Nor is he, to use your quaint phrase, 'used up like a lab rat'." He glared at Vance. "It is mutation that made the boy what he is -- not me."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2006 8:09:05 GMT -5
"And what is he, Huber?" Miriam asked, almost coldly. "That choice was up to you--whether to give him the goodness for a good life, or the bitterness for a bad one." She glanced sadly at her companions. "And after all we've seen of you, I'm afraid it's not difficult to guess which choice you made."
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Post by skybright on Jul 3, 2006 8:17:32 GMT -5
Huber's jaw tightened. "I chose to try and make certain that eventually nobody would have to be devestated by mutation." He replied icily. "If my son were capable of it, he would certainly understand that much of my choice."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2006 8:29:32 GMT -5
Vance snorted. "Your argument might make a little sense if you were one of those 'cure for mutation' nuts that get all the press. But you didn't just wanna prevent mutations--you wanted to get rid of the people that have 'em. Real humanitarian, bub."
He shrugged. "But that isn't your problem anymore. What is your problem is that we want the name of your research partner, and any locations where you've got your records stashed. What kills us will kill you now, remember. And if that still doesn't make you feel like talking to protect yourself..." he idly popped a spark from his hand. "There's a lot more we can do to fix that."
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Post by skybright on Jul 3, 2006 8:37:48 GMT -5
Huber stared dully at Vance for a moment -- and then gave a bitter laugh. "And what will you do once you know? Bring my partner here to be subjected to the same unconscionable treatment?" His tone grew nastier, "Or will you simply resort to outright execution this time? It would certainly be more merciful."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2006 8:47:51 GMT -5
"We'll do what it takes," Vance replied coolly. "Look at it this way, Huber. You don't even think of us as people? Okay. Then think about what a bear would do if you threatened its cubs. Any living thing is gonna fight to protect itself and its own--and whatever we might have to do with you and your chum, for us that's just the lives of two hostiles against the millions of our kind you want dead."
Vance leaned back, folding his arms. "Only remember this: we gave you a chance to work things out nicely for the last two days. How much farther we still have to go is up to you."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 1:13:11 GMT -5
Huber swallowed convulsively and said nothing for a long moment. Finally he said -- in a faint but firm voice -- "I won't allow you to do to my partner what you've done to me. I'll give you the locations of my files -- but I won't hand my partner over to be turned into . . . this."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 1:24:55 GMT -5
"We won't have to, if there's another way to stop him from going on with your research," Vance replied blandly. "Maybe you can suggest one, Big Brain. We're not interested in going through all this again either--but we won't leave him running around loose as long as he's dangerous to us."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 1:36:36 GMT -5
Huber shook his head. "Destroy the files." He said sullenly. "You seem to know well enough that I won't continue the work. Not now, anyway. Without my assistance, without my notes -- my partner will be of no further interest to you."
The scientist looked pointedly away from Vance. "But I won't give you her name."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 1:50:16 GMT -5
Vance raised an eyebrow. "So it's a woman--I shoulda counted on a surprise like that. Maybe you've even got more than a professional interest in her, eh?" He nudged Huber roughly.
"Well, you might wanna think about this, you little weasel. The guy we saved you from is just as thorough as we are--and he's gonna be mighty annoyed that you disappeared on him before he could off ya. He's gonna be looking for you... and sooner or later, he'll probably find out about her. When he finds her, he's sure to do something a hundred times worse than we ever would."
He picked up a notepad and pen from the table, throwing them down on the bed in front of Huber. "Write down those locations where your records are stashed. All of 'em." He glanced at Daws and then back at the scientist, finally adding, "I can tell if you're lying--so don't even think about holding out on us."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 1:58:27 GMT -5
Huber took the notepad and began mechanically writing down addresses, directions, and what looked to be safety-deposit box numbers. He looked troubled as he did so.
After a moment he paused and looked up at Sid, who he still seemed to regard with a smaller degree of hostility than the others. "Is it true what he said? Will that other party really . . .?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 2:03:45 GMT -5
Sid's expression hardened.
"The guy who's after you killed my wife," he said, in a harsh, bitter voice. "And neither of us knew him from anybody."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 2:13:58 GMT -5
Huber's ridged skin turned a paler shade of lavender. He stared hard at the notepad in his hands. "If I give you her name . . ." he said slowly, "I want your word you won't do this to her."
Daws raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't negotiate with things, Huber." She remarked.
Huber shot her a brief, angry glance. "It seems I've little choice in the matter. I can at least be reasonably certain you won't kill her outright. But I'd still rather that than to have her . . . mutated."
Daws shrugged and shot Vance a questioning look. "Well, Major?"
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