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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 6:18:01 GMT -5
Miriam gave him a genuine smile. "You're welcome."
Slouched in the armchair, Sid withdrew the ominous envelope from his pocket and stared at it, rubbing his thumb over the still-sealed flap. Alex, who had been a quiet observer of the proceedings, looked over at him with a frown.
"Sid, what is that? Is it another test like the one for Huber?" He hesitated. "What would you want that for?"
The older man shrugged himself deeper into the chair. "Oh, I've just been... wonderin' a few things."
"You told me you wanted to know if it was you or Caroline who passed the X-gene to Tara," Miriam remarked. "Is that what you're so afraid of looking at?"
"Mm... not really." Sid gave her a wan smile.
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 6:30:37 GMT -5
Daws glanced sympathetically at her friend. "Y'know, Sid . . . nothing's gonna change when you open that. Nothing that matters, anyhow." She shrugged one shoulder. "The X-Gene doesn't have anythin' to do with who you are. Just with what you can do."
She gestured at Huber with a half-grin. "That's what we've been tryin' to tell Huber for two days."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 6:36:45 GMT -5
It was Alex, knowing Sid best, who first realized the troubling question that was on his friend's mind.
"Sid, you're not... you're not thinking of taking that drug?" he exclaimed, causing Miriam to straighten sharply and gaze wide-eyed at Sid.
With a frustrated huff, Sid shoved the envelope back into his pocket and shook his head. "I dunno, Foxy... I dunno."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 6:45:21 GMT -5
"You cannot possibly be serious."
Everyone in the room glanced at Huber, who had suddenly displayed more energy than he had since his transformation. The scientist had sat bolt upright and raised his voice to a near-shout; now he was staring at Sid with horror and disbelief.
"Sympathizing with mutations is one thing entirely. But even entertaining the idea of becoming one on purpose . . ." Huber shook his head. "Are you mad?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 6:48:30 GMT -5
"Maybe I am," Sid growled at Huber with a glower. "Maybe I'm just nuts enough ta love my daughter, an' ta wanna understand what she's been goin' through. But you wouldn't understand that."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 6:56:21 GMT -5
Huber scowled, rubbing agitatedly at his bandaged wrist. "Do you honestly think I didn't love my child?" He snapped. "I'm not the heartless monster you all take me for -- and you have no right to judge me based upon what little you know."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 7:06:42 GMT -5
"Some things ya havta judge," Sid growled.
Finally recovering from his astonishment, Alex shook his head. "Don't do it, Sid. I... well, I think I understand why you'd consider it. But we need you just the way you are--and so do the kids." He smiled faintly, tipping his head toward Huber. "We need guys like you, to balance out the guys like him."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 7:15:17 GMT -5
Huber shook his head. "Unbelievable." He muttered darkly, sinking back against the headboard. "Pathological insanity."
"Aw, come on, Huber." Daws said mildly, "You were starting to inch your way towards eventually being an okay guy. Don't backslide now."
Huber shot her a black look and then pointedly turned his face away from the others -- having apparently decided that such madness was beneath him.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 7:29:21 GMT -5
"He'll learn," Handy remarked, with an odd assurance. "He's got no choice now."
Sid sighed and shrugged. He reached for his pocket again, then stopped and let his hand drop with another shake of his head. "I still just need ta think."
With a smile, Alex patted him on the shoulder. Then he turned to give Huber a somewhat dubious glance.
"I'm just sorry for you," he pronounced, with a tone of finality. "I think you're the unhappiest guy I ever met--and not just now, after what we've done. I think you were always that way."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 7:39:37 GMT -5
Huber spoke without turning his head. "You know nothing about me -- none of you." He laughed bitterly. "Not that it's stopped you from drawing your own conclusions."
"Y'know, you keep playing the misunderstood genius card." Daws remarked, tipping her head, "But unless you start dealin' something to back it up, it's not gonna make for much of a hand."
Huber frowned deeply and glanced at her. "You and your talk of rebuilding my life," he muttered angrily. "Mutation already destroyed my life once. How many times do you expect me to rebuild it, anyway?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 7:51:19 GMT -5
"I don't think you ever had a life," Miriam replied quietly. "I think what you have to build now is going to be something totally new to you. You'll have to trust others instead of fearing them for a change. That'll be the real torture for you, won't it?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 7:55:11 GMT -5
Huber frowned and looked at Miriam. "Why do you care?" He asked, genuine puzzlement in his voice. "You've got what you wanted. I'm no longer a threat to you -- so far as I can tell, that means I'm no longer any concern to you, either. Why bother yourself with my future?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 8:11:18 GMT -5
Miriam sighed and shook her head. "Like the Major said, it's a principle you wouldn't understand. We care because, if our places were reversed... you wouldn't. There's something for us to prove in that. Not to you--to ourselves."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 8:17:26 GMT -5
Huber shook his head in puzzled frustration. "I truly don't understand you people." He muttered, looking at his bandaged wrist.
Daws cracked a smile. "Y'hear that, guys? 'People'. There may be hope for this guy yet."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 8:33:11 GMT -5
Miriam smiled at Daws, and gave the bandage on Huber's wrist a very light pat. "The strangest thing, Doctor, is that I actually think I could get to like you--if you gave me a chance to."
There was a tap at the door then. Handy peered cautiously out through the curtain, then admitted Vance. The Major strode in, looking around the quiet room in mild bemusement.
"Well, things are lookin' positively cozy around here." He took out the cellphone he had displayed earlier, setting it on the table. "Everything's arranged. My fellas are heading to pick up Brandeis, and they'll call when they've got her secure."
He glanced at Huber. "Lemme warn you, it's a speakerphone. We're all gonna hear this call--just to keep everybody honest."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 8:38:11 GMT -5
Huber nodded gravely. "I wouldn't do anything to endanger Jessica's safety." He shot a pointed look at Sid. "Despite the opinion of some, I do posess some level of concern for those I care about."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 8:49:18 GMT -5
"Long as they're human," Sid muttered.
Miriam shot Sid a look. "Enough antagonism. Both of you," she added to Huber.
Vance shrugged and flopped into a chair, studying Huber for a moment before he glanced at Daws. "I was sorta wondering if your doctor friend might be interested in taking Huber in hand. They could probably learn a lot from each other--Huber especially."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 8:58:28 GMT -5
Daws abruptly put a hand to her mouth -- trying and failing to completely stifle a laugh. After a moment's pause to regain her composure, she lowered her hand and grinned.
"I'm sure Caddy'd love it," she replied, "He's always going off on a tangent about the latest cutting-edge whatever-it-is. Practically tripped over himself when I asked him about the conference participants." She shot Huber a look of sly amusement.
"Thing is, Doctor Huber might consider that to be cruel and unusual punishment -- what with Caddy being cheerful, talkative, friendly, and a mutant to boot."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2006 9:07:32 GMT -5
"Sounds like just the sorta therapy he needs." Vance yawned. "After all the time Huber's put in thinking of ways to kill mutants, it might be interesting for him to learn how to help 'em."
He rubbed his face thoughtfully. "This Brandeis is still a big question, though. Hopefully nothing goes wrong with that to set him off. If we manage to keep both of 'em from having hysterics, well..." He shrugged. "I guess I'll head to where the boys'll have her. You can come if you want."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2006 9:12:54 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I'll do that. I like making sure the loose ends get wrapped up." She glanced at Sid, Alex, and Miriam.
"That is, if Sid thinks he can handle Huber -- and if you two think you can keep Sid from strangling him."
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