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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 3:42:40 GMT -5
He's gotta do something with himself--and he knows we're not gonna let him go back to cooking up muticides." Vance shrugged. "But I guess we'll have to wait until he's settled into some kind of a life before we can make him put it to use."
He harumphed moodily. "You may yell at me for this, but now that we've got what we needed from Huber, I wouldn't care if he offs himself. As it is, he's just gonna be another strain on our resources, and our patience."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 3:55:49 GMT -5
Daws made a quiet, displeased noise. "I'm a Catholic, Vance. We got this sort of hate-hate relationship with the whole suicide thing.
"But even if we didn't . . ." she shrugged. "Sure, he'd like me dead and doesn't really even think I'm a person. But . . . I just pity the guy more than anythin'. I'd like to believe he's at least capable of becoming a halfway decent person, given time." She grinned ruefully. "Like you've said -- maybe I'm just soft."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 4:03:42 GMT -5
"There's no doubt about that," Vance replied grimly, and they drove the rest of the way in silence.
They arrived back at the motel room to find things little changed. Alex and Miriam had gone, since--especially with Sid absent--Alex needed to make his appearance at the Paragon that night. But Sid and Handy were still there, keeping watch upon Huber, who was as usual moping on the bed.
"It's all fixed with your lady rat," Vance remarked roughly to Huber as he and Daws walked in. "No more research, and she's gonna be quietly tucked away in Amherst under a new name. It's more than she deserves--but I gave you my word, and I kept it."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 4:12:00 GMT -5
Huber looked up with a grim set to his jaw. "I thought you didn't tolerate insults to women." He replied darkly, "Or does that element of your moral code extend only to your own kind?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 4:24:45 GMT -5
The entire episode with Brandeis, and the indignity of having denied his mutant nature to her, had worn Vance's temper thin.
"It extends to women who've got a decent respect for other living things," he retorted. "I think you lied to us about how Brandeis would react to my friend here--she nearly climbed the walls when she saw her. You can just be thankful I bluffed her into thinking I was a norm, instead of locking her up and interrogating her. We're puttin' ourselves to a lotta trouble and expense to keep your Girl Friday comfortable, so if I were you, I'd show some gratitude instead of getting on anyone's nerves."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 4:35:30 GMT -5
Huber glowered. "Oh, of course I'm grateful. As if the fact that you and your little organization here have single-handedly destroyed a lifetime of work and research wasn't enough, you've also condemned me to life as a freak."
He shot a venemous look at Daws. "You expect me to show remorse for how Jessica responded? Consider it my own small vengeance for the fact that now I'll provoke the same response -- thanks to all of you."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 4:38:03 GMT -5
Vance folded his arms. "Maybe you'd like us to go take you on a little visit to see Brandeis, hmm?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 4:44:05 GMT -5
Huber paled slightly, but his voice kept its defiant edge. "I can't help thinking that would spoil your plans too much for you to ever allow it." He sighed and gave Vance a dark look. "But nevertheless, you know well enough that I'd sooner die outright."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 4:58:14 GMT -5
"Then quit complaining." Vance shifted his stance again, unfolding his arms to put his hands on his hips.
"Fact is, you might have two choices, Huber. It's possible we could turn you out of here right now, and let you figure out the whole mutant thing on your own--because like the lady here said," and he indicated Daws, "the cops'd sooner flay you alive than investigate any wild claim that you got forced into being a mutant."
He shrugged. "On the other hand, you can act civil and come along with us. We'll put you up someplace a little nicer for a few days, then hand you off to a doctor friend of ours, who'll help you find something to do with yourself. With him, you'll be around people who won't treat you any differently than anybody else." Vance scowled. "But out on the street... well, I'm sure you know how you'd get treated--you probably treated quite a few of our kind that way yourself."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 5:08:38 GMT -5
Huber's jaw tightened, and he still looked faintly displeased -- but at length he said "It would be pure foolishness on my part to reject that offer. Very well -- I will, as you put it 'act civil'."
"Good." Daws crossed her arms. "And I'll warn you now, Huber -- the guy we're gonna put you in touch with is a personal friend of mine. If I find out you're givin' him an undue amount of grief, you can expect to be hearing from me."
"Understood." Huber was obviously not happy with the idea -- but he seemed pacified (for the moment, anyway).
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 5:17:39 GMT -5
"Okay then. It's time to get outta this place." Vance looked over at Handy and Sid, who were engrossed in a card game. "You boys might pack up the stuff we've got lying around here. We're moving Huber to another safe house. Sid, I know you've got a place to run--if you wanna take off now, that's fine with me."
Sid laid down his hand of cards and got up, stretching. "Sounds good to me. Y'mind, Daws?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 5:21:22 GMT -5
"Not a bit." Daws replied, already in the process of reaching for her duffle bag to begin packing up.
A thought struck her, and she glanced back at Sid. "If you want, I'll stop by the house tomorrow or the next day -- to let you know about that other matter." She gestured faintly at Vance -- more specifically, at the remaining drug that Vance still had stashed in his coat pocket.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 5:44:43 GMT -5
Sid paled slightly, and nodded, his hand moving halfway to the still-unopened envelope in his own pocket before he halted the movement.
Handy, with his four hands, had cleared the table with exceptional speed. "Where we goin', Jerod?"
"Latimore," Vance replied, perching on the arm of the chair. The single name was enough of an explanation for Handy, but to the others the Major elaborated, "It's a little block of apartments, not far from the Padre's church. Maybe you know the place, Miss Dawson. Run by mutants, for mutants--like a lotta places in that part of town," he added, shooting Huber a significant glance.
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 5:49:33 GMT -5
Daws chuckled. "I know the place, all right -- I'd be pretty well off if I had a dollar for every missing person I'd turned up subletting a room there."
She caught the dismayed look on Huber's face and shook her head. "Don't trouble yourself, Doctor Huber -- it's not a den of thieves, if that's what you're so worried about." A momentary scowl darkened her features. "Mostly when mutants go missing it's because they haven't done anything wrong -- except being what they are."
Huber responded to that with a miffed noise and looked away. Daws grinned.
"I think he'll do nicely in Mutietown, Vance -- he's the kind of guy who keeps to himself."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 5:57:31 GMT -5
"He'll never learn much that way." Vance shouldered the battered army bag which contained the few belongings he had with him. "You suppose the Padre'd mind us bringing him around on Sunday? Huber's certainly a lost soul in need of ministering--and I got a perverse feeling it'd be a challenge for the Padre."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 6:01:02 GMT -5
"Emphasis on 'perverse'." Daws rolled her eyes, but continued "Yeah, bring him around. Padre never turns away a challenge -- and frankly, he might lighten up a little on me about this whole thing if he gets a chance to see Huber's sparkling personality in action."
She grinned cheekily and shouldered her own bag. "Besides -- I'm sure the Padre'd be thrilled to have you darkening a pew, anyhow."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2006 6:12:07 GMT -5
"When you've spent time talking to God in the middle of a firefight, you sorta start questioning what you need hymnals and stained glass windows for," Vance replied cryptically, and put a firm hand on Huber's shoulder.
"Come on. You can at least be happy the place we're taking you to is a lot nicer quality. It's not much, but Latimore takes pride in his place." He smirked. "You see, our kind usually don't have much, but that's all the more reason to take care of what we've got."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2006 6:22:23 GMT -5
Huber rose with a longsuffering and exaggerated sigh. "I suppose I shall have to become accustomed to your attempts to convince me of the goodness of mutantkind." He muttered bleakly.
Daws gave a dry chuckle and settled her fedora on her head. "We got good and bad just like the rest of the people in the world, Doctor Huber." She replied. "But even if you ignore Major Vance -- which I don't recommend -- you'll eventually see for yourself that most of the time, the good outweighs the bad."
Huber apparently didn't see fit to dignify that with comment; he merely shrugged off Vance's hand and followed the rest of the group out the door.
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