|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 2:32:14 GMT -5
Vance shrugged, glancing at Huber. "If she doesn't carry the X-gene, we couldn't use the drug on her anyway; so we'll agree to that. If she's willing to give up plotting genocide--or if what you say is true, and she really can't carry on the work without you--we'll even help make sure the bad guy never finds her."
He gave a bitter half-smile. "She probably won't be any more grateful than you were to have mutants save her life... but it's the principle of the thing. Maybe someday you'll understand that, Huber."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 2:39:25 GMT -5
Huber made a scoffing noise. "Don't expect my gratitude for what you've done. What you've made me into." He replied bitterly. "You've destroyed my life."
"At least you've still got a life, Doctor." Daws shot back. "Millions of people've rebuilt their lives after a mutation. You can do the same, if you put your mind to it."
Huber chose not to reply. He merely turned his attention back to the notepad, added a few more pieces of information, and then scrawled Jessica Brandeis across the bottom and shoved it roughly in Vance's direction.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 3:01:59 GMT -5
With a grim smile of satisfaction, Vance picked up the notepad. "I'll send some of my people to pick up all this stuff and destroy it. As for this Jessica Brandeis..." He glanced down at Huber. "I'd remind you to tell us where she is, but I think I'll be generous and let you off the hook now. She oughta be easy enough to track down."
He glanced at Daws. "I take it you'll want to have a part in it when we pick her up. Another tedious job like this..." He sighed and shrugged.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 3:06:28 GMT -5
Daws' mouth quirked in a half-smile. "They can't all have explosions, Major. Maybe we'll get lucky on the next one." She crossed her arms. "But I do want to be in on it. Maybe she'll be easier to reason with than Huber."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 3:15:15 GMT -5
"We can only hope." Vance turned back to Huber, folding his arms. "As for you... well, I'll admit your life's not gonna be any easier now. There are people we know who can help you get a new handle on it, if that's what you want. You certainly can't go back to your old pals."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 3:31:34 GMT -5
Huber grimaced. "What makes you think I won't merely go straight to the authorities and tell them what you've done to me?"
Daws shook her head. "Sure. You go to the NYPD and tell 'em how you were ambushed and injected with a drug that doesn't exist, instead of just manifesting on your own. Good luck." She leaned forward. "Huber, not all that long ago I got my ribs busted for just bein' in the wrong place when the cops showed up. Other mutants have been crippled and killed for the same reason. Get it into your head quick -- our enemies are your enemies now, brother."
"I'm not your brother." Huber snapped quickly, looking uneasy.
Daws grinned wickedly. "Funny thing is, Huber -- in all the ways that matter, now you are."
Huber clenched his jaw and looked at Vance, scowling. "And what help do you think these 'people you know' would possibly offer me -- since you'll no doubt tell them the precise nature of my research?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 3:45:44 GMT -5
Vance smiled slowly, glancing at Daws.
"Not too long ago, somebody gave me some grace for the things I've done in the past." He looked back at Huber with a slightly more stern look. "Just maybe that put me in a kind enough mood to do the same for you. Nobody outside this room needs to know exactly who you are, or what you wanted to do."
He shrugged. "Our friends can put you back on your feet, and help you do something worthwhile. You're a smart enough guy. Maybe there's some real diseases you can do something about, if you're willing to try."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 3:58:06 GMT -5
"You've got a choice, Huber." Daws said quietly. "You can curl up and die over what you've been dealt -- or you can do what all the rest of us have done," she gestured at the others, "And learn how to live with what you are."
Huber's scowl lightened a fraction, and he sighed. "You seem to have left me with precious little choice." He said grudgingly. "I'll accept your offer -- but I want assurances that my partner . . . that Jessica is not harmed."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 4:08:22 GMT -5
"We won't hurt her," Vance replied. "Like I said, by getting her out of certain other people's way, we're probably gonna help her. All we want is to know she's not gonna try hurting us anytime in the future."
Miriam spoke up for the first time, addressing Huber with a certain gentleness. "Maybe you'd like to talk to her yourself, before we do. I'm sure she'd listen to you sooner than us."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 4:19:08 GMT -5
Huber nodded. "Yes, I . . ." he stopped abruptly, staring at his hands. After a moment's silence he shook his head.
"No. Not like this. I can't face her -- not looking like a mutant."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 4:27:30 GMT -5
Vance shrugged. "You can talk to her on the phone after we pick her up--and don't worry, we'll take a light touch with her. I wouldn't want her getting spooked before she has a chance to hear what you have to say."
He turned to glance at Daws. "Care to track down Brandeis yourself, or should I send out a coupla my own bird dogs?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 4:36:18 GMT -5
Daws frowned thoughtfully. "If our aim is not to spook her, then I may not be the best one to approach her." She grinned wryly. "Especially if she shares Doctor Huber's narrow view of what constitutes a 'deviation'."
"I'll make it easy on you." Huber broke in suddenly. "Jessica is in Redlake, near the Pennsylvania border." He closed his eyes. "The sooner you get to her, the safer she'll be -- from your mysterious opponent, at any rate."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 4:51:28 GMT -5
Vance gave a pleased smile. "You're learning, Doctor." It was the first time he had addressed Huber by his title.
He put the pad in front of Huber again. "Write the lady a note, so she'll know it's okay to go with the fellas who take it to her. Don't worry--they're as respectable-looking as anybody, and they won't even touch her. They'll just take her to one of my safe houses, and she can talk to you from there."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 5:00:52 GMT -5
Huber did so with a persecuted sigh, looking faintly disgusted at the sight of his own hand as he wrote. He signed the note with a large, nearly-illegible signature and pushed it back toward Vance.
"That contains several of our safewords," he explained. "Jessica will trust anyone who has it with him."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 5:15:04 GMT -5
"You geeks are paranoid," Vance murmured with amusement. "Not that I can blame you."
He turned to Daws. "If the rest of you don't mind babysittin' for a while, I'll go give my boys the note and their orders myself. I oughta be back in about half an hour. After that..." He shrugged, producing a cellphone from his pocket. "We just wait for this to ring, after they get Brandeis someplace safe."
Almost as an afterthought, he tossed a key to Handy. "Here. I think you can trust Huber not to run off if you uncuff him."
With that, the Major departed.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 5:22:28 GMT -5
Daws let out a sigh and sank into the battered armchair. "Well, that went better than I though it was going to." she muttered, glancing at Huber. "You best count yourself lucky you decided to cooperate with him, Doctor -- Vance can get real cranky when things don't go his way."
Huber snorted. "As opposed to his scintillating regular demeanor?"
Daws raised an eyebrow. "Doctor Huber, that wasn't a joke, was it?"
Huber ignored her, turning his head toward Handy. "Feel free to utilize that key at any time now." He said snappishly.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 5:34:43 GMT -5
With a bland look, Handy picked his way over and unlocked the handcuff around Huber's wrist. "Don't think about goin' anywhere yet."
"If you got any cuts on your wrist from that thing, I can take care of it," Miriam offered, leaning forward.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 5:39:41 GMT -5
Huber seemed about to make a dismissive comment; then he glanced down at the bruising and shallow lacerations around his wrist.
"I suppose that would be advisable." He said grudgingly, flexing his fingers as blood began circulating once more.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 5:51:10 GMT -5
Miriam once again retrieved her first-aid supplies from the bathroom, and sat beside Huber, taking his wrist in her hand. When he winced at the stinging contact of the antiseptic against his cuts, she smiled at him sadly.
"That's right, Doctor. We feel pain, too."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 5:59:27 GMT -5
Huber winced -- though whether at the words or the sting of the antiseptic was unclear. "I had my reasons." He murmured, glancing away momentarily.
He looked back as Miriam began wrapping his wrist in gauze, seemingly fascinated with the contrast of white bandage against his purple skin. "Thank you." He said grudgingly.
|
|