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Post by Jordanna on Jul 19, 2007 23:38:13 GMT -5
A week after James Cole's election as mayor, Major Vance appeared at Grimalkin, just as Daws was locking up for the evening. Handy was with him, and both their expressions were grim.
"I've got more complications for you, Regina," Vance began without preamble, as he stepped out of the shadows.
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Post by skybright on Jul 19, 2007 23:43:54 GMT -5
Daws took in the two men's grim expressions and sighed faintly. "Complications seem to be a byword with us, lately." She took her key out of the lock and pushed the front door of the office open slightly. "Want to discuss this inside?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 19, 2007 23:55:05 GMT -5
"That was the general idea," Vance murmured. He stalked in after Daws, with Handy trailing after him, and the two men sat down on the couch.
"You remember how, after we relocated Doris, I got in touch with an old Army contact I could trust about doing the same for my son. Well..." Vance shrugged in frustration. "It looks like Doris got to Nate first. She told him everything we told her--which means he knows I'm alive, where I am, and what I'm up against. I'm sure Doris put her own spin on it, but... Nate's the kind of kid who'll want to find out the facts for himself."
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Post by skybright on Jul 19, 2007 23:59:26 GMT -5
Daws took a moment to process that, then shook her head with a short, humorless laugh. "Jerod, don't take this the wrong way, but I should've smacked your ex-wife while I still had a chance."
She perched on the arm of one of the office chairs. "Does your contact know where he is?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 20, 2007 0:15:04 GMT -5
"Mm-hmm. That's why the distress call was so urgent." Vance sighed. "Nate's heading for New York City this very minute. He's on a boat that's going to land in less than twenty-four hours."
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Post by skybright on Jul 20, 2007 0:20:56 GMT -5
Daws frowned. "Doesn't give us much in the way of time. Especially not if one of Tiernan's boys gets wind of it before he lands." She leaned forward. "What's the move?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 20, 2007 0:34:23 GMT -5
"We'll have to get to him before any of Tiernan's people do," Vance replied. "I wouldn't put it past Tiernan to keep a watch on comings and goings in the city, so it's not impossible that he knows already. I can't go myself, because every goon in town is looking for me--and if he does have anyone watching for Nate, you can't afford to be seen with him either. We're going to need help from our other friends on this."
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Post by skybright on Jul 20, 2007 0:43:23 GMT -5
Daws nodded, thinking for a moment. "I can call the Padre, and maybe Veeru -- better if nobody goes alone." Her expression darkened. "Of course, if Tiernan's boys do already know about it . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 20, 2007 20:23:03 GMT -5
"I'll have my boys covering the pier," Vance replied.
The he sat up slightly. "Say, what about Hubert? Nobody knows him from anybody now, and he might be sorta sympathetic to the father/son cause. If he can handle being out in public by now, he might be able to help."
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Post by skybright on Jul 21, 2007 2:50:52 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Good idea. I'll call him and see if he's willing." She smiled crookedly. "I'd ask him to bring Caddy along, but we don't want to scare the kid off."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 21, 2007 20:33:20 GMT -5
Vance snickered faintly. "From what I heard about Nate's first Army physical, that's probably wise."
Then he sobered. "Even after we get Nate out of harm's way... well, I don't guess it'll be easy. You know I didn't take too well to his joining up--didn't want anything to happen to him like I'd been through. They shipped him overseas pretty quick, and I didn't hear much from him between then and--when I dropped outta sight. I guess Doris could have said a lot of things about me after they thought I was dead... but I'm not sure Nate would have fallen in line with her views, the way he looked up to me." The Major grimly chuckled again. "Poor dumb kid."
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Post by skybright on Jul 21, 2007 21:24:01 GMT -5
Daws snorted faintly. "I don't see any kid of yours doing much falling in line with what anyone else tells him -- not if he takes after you at all."
She frowned thoughtfully. "Alright, what pier's he supposed to be coming in on? I'll give a quick call to Bell and Jai, too, have 'em make sure there's no interference from the cops or the harbor patrol."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 21, 2007 21:58:54 GMT -5
Vance reached into his pocket and took out a slightly rumpled note, which he passed to Daws. "There's all the info. At least my old pal was in time to forewarn me which ship Nate was coming in on, and when."
"Is there anythin' I can do to help ya, Daws?" Handy spoke up.
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Post by skybright on Jul 21, 2007 22:09:04 GMT -5
Daws nodded as she glanced over the information in the note before pocketing it. "Hubert'll probably need a ride, if he's up for helping us -- I don't think he's done much driving since he manifested, and Caddy's got the only car anyway."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 21, 2007 22:13:00 GMT -5
Handy grinned. "That's no problem. You just name what kinda car you want me to pick him up in."
Vance gave Daws a slightly longsuffering look. "Apparently having four hands is sorta useful for hotwiring cars. Our group's got our own little carpool, but sometimes it's safer to--er, borrow one."
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Post by skybright on Jul 21, 2007 22:19:07 GMT -5
Daws chuckled dryly. "Especially since we don't know if there's gonna be inquiring eyes around. A . . . borrowed car gives Tiernan one less thing to go on." She scowled briefly. "And heaven only knows the last thing the bat needs is anything to go on."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 21, 2007 22:31:08 GMT -5
"Okay." Vance shrugged. "I'll pull together everyone I can spare who wouldn't be recognized by Tiernan's goombahs, and start plotting out their positions on the waterfront. If you need to touch base on who the cavalry is, I'll bring 'em around and introduce you."
He sighed. "I hope we're working on an abundance of caution here. If we have to use force to stop anyone from grabbing Nate, in the middle of a crowded pier..." A grimace concluded his unpleasant contemplations.
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Post by skybright on Jul 21, 2007 22:39:22 GMT -5
"Especially if it comes down to use of powers. Things've been dicey enough as it is lately without a mutant fight breaking out." Daws agreed.
She leaned back and shrugged. "All right, I'll give Hubert a call. If he's not willing, I suppose the Padre is as good a fallback as any." She raised an eyebrow at Vance. "Where are you gonna be while all this is goin' on?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 21, 2007 22:51:23 GMT -5
"For a while anyway, figuring out who I can send from my side," Vance replied. "We've had a lot of little skirmishes with random bunches of the bat's thugs, so I'll have a time figuring out who wouldn't be recognized. But once I mrshal the troops, I may try to sneak a look at the pier, so I'll know where to put them."
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Post by skybright on Jul 21, 2007 23:01:05 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "If I thought I could get away with it, I'd try and find out if the Bat's planning anything for sure -- but I don't think I dare risk it."
She frowned slightly. "What're we doing with him after we get him picked up?"
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