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Post by skybright on Oct 20, 2007 22:51:49 GMT -5
"Ditto. That stuff reeks. You'd think that -- " Daws broke off and glanced towards the corridor, lowering her voice. "I hear footsteps."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 20, 2007 23:00:59 GMT -5
Vance straightened instantly, glancing at his son. "Nate..."
"I got it." Even as the younger man spoke, his shadow hardened and slithered away behind the sofa.
He spoke in a low voice. "It oughta fight back if Mister Cole tries to do anything to us... I hope."
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Post by skybright on Oct 20, 2007 23:10:47 GMT -5
"Guess we'll find out." Daws murmured quietly, eyeing the door and trying to think quietly -- not that she was entirely sure of how to do that.
The footsteps drew closer in the corridor outside, until they finally stopped just outside the door of Cole's apartment. There was a long, long pause -- and then keys rattled in the lock and the door swung open.
James Cole sighed and surveyed the trio of figures in his living room. "I suppose I should have been expecting this."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 20, 2007 23:24:50 GMT -5
"You could have saved yourself and us the trouble," Vance replied coolly. "We've been waiting to hear from you."
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Post by skybright on Oct 20, 2007 23:31:25 GMT -5
"Yes, Miss Dawson's telephone calls made that point fairly clear." Cole turned to shut and lock the door behind him, then turned back to them with a stonily neutral expression.
"Well," he crossed his arms and leaned back against the doorframe, "Go on."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 20, 2007 23:39:13 GMT -5
Vance waved a hand slightly.
"You agreed freely to help us go after Tiernan, but instead you've been doing a pretty good job avoiding us lately. More than that, according to Miss Dawson, some of what went on in your last meeting with Nick Tiernan was enough to make us pretty uneasy. We're just looking to find out where you stand, Mister Cole--and whether you haven't decided to help yourself with an agenda of your own."
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Post by skybright on Oct 20, 2007 23:46:16 GMT -5
"I see." Cole cocked his head, paused for a moment, and then raised an eyebrow at Vance. "And the reason for your associate in the kitchen would be . . . ?"
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 21, 2007 9:15:11 GMT -5
Vance actually let out a short bark of laughter.
"Consider it a charitable donation to the cause. You see, for those of us who spend our time fighting genocidal maniacs instead of cashing checks from them, regular meals can be sort of a novelty." He looked toward the kitchen. "Come on out of there, Handy."
Somewhat sheepishly, Handy shuffled out, sandwich in hand. However, his lower right hand was resting on a pocket of his coat, and it didn't take a telepath to make out what was in it.
"Relax," Vance told him. "We're keeping this little chat friendly... for the moment."
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Post by skybright on Oct 21, 2007 20:24:07 GMT -5
"Of course." A faint edge of anger found its way into Cole's voice. "Indulge my curiosity, Major. What happens if this 'little chat' ceases to be friendly? I somehow doubt you'd have your friend shoot me -- if only because that would put an end to my usefulness."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 23, 2007 20:58:16 GMT -5
"The answer to 'what happens' is entirely up to you, Mister Cole," Vance replied, immediately growing serious again. "I'm not any happier about this visit than you are, and I'm not looking for trouble--but that was a fine way you put your foot in it last time you talked to Tiernan, and I'm having a little problem trusting you and your motivations right now. I've got lives to protect... and to do that, I'll do whatever I have to."
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Post by skybright on Oct 23, 2007 21:29:30 GMT -5
Cole sighed. "You aren't the only one with people to protect, Major." He said, "And you have no reason to doubt my motivations."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 23, 2007 21:57:27 GMT -5
"I do as long as you're trying to avoid being clear with us about your plans and ideas," Vance replied bluntly. "You have the knowledge to get a lot of people who matter to me killed. I intend to know about every move you make that might put that knowledge at risk--and if you don't like it, that's just too bad."
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Post by skybright on Oct 23, 2007 22:11:42 GMT -5
"Of course." Cole's jaw tightened. "You don't trust me at all -- yet you expect me to trust you completely. Something of a one-sided arrangement, don't you think?"
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 23, 2007 22:25:37 GMT -5
Major Vance sighed.
"Use that brain of yours, Cole. We've been cautious with what we've told you because we considered you important; we've been trying not to risk your neck any further than necessary." His eyes narrowed. "And considering that Tiernan wants to kill the rest of us, but he's hot to be your pal and number-one supporter, I think we have a right to be a little wary of temptation on your part. If that bothers you, then you shouldn't have gone into politics."
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Post by skybright on Oct 23, 2007 22:38:20 GMT -5
Cole furrowed his brow for a moment, then let out a short, humorless laugh. "Dealing with you would be a great deal easier, Major Vance, if I could 'hear' you like a regular person." He glanced briefly at Daws. "And if you weren't busy thinking some rather loud venomous thoughts."
Daws shrugged. "So gimme a reason not to think them, Cole."
The politician spread his hands. "I'm not planning on double-crossing you. I never meant to give the impression that I was."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 23, 2007 22:42:19 GMT -5
"It's possible you've got Tiernan suspecting you're a mutant," Vance said rather flatly. "According to Regina, it sounded like you made that 'slip' deliberately. Care to give us your side of it?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 23, 2007 22:53:27 GMT -5
"No, I don't particularly care to." Cole replied frankly. Then he sighed and dropped into the nearest armchair. "But as I'm aware you didn't really mean that as a question . . ."
He paused for a moment, apparently gathering his thoughts, and then shrugged. "You're very perceptive, Miss Dawson. I wanted Tiernan to have that suspicion. And the short reason why is this -- it gives Tiernan something to use against me."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 23, 2007 22:56:56 GMT -5
Handy nearly dropped his sandwich, his eyes growing wide. Vance gaped at Cole in astonishment.
"What?" the Major rapped out harshly.
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Post by skybright on Oct 23, 2007 23:09:28 GMT -5
"You're insane." Daws growled. "What kind of an idiot do you have to be . . ."
"Miss Dawson," Cole interrupted, flinching slightly, "You only get louder when you get upset -- so if you want an explanation, please calm down."
"Calm down?" Daws sat back with an incredulous expression. "'Calm down,' he says."
Cole sighed and shook his head. "I know it sounds insane. Why do you think I didn't want to tell you?" He shrugged.
"Tiernan will always have something to hold over me. You all know that. " Cole's expression darkened. "Well, I've given him something big to hold over me now. Because so long as he thinks he can use my mutation against me . . . there are other things that he won't use."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 24, 2007 21:18:39 GMT -5
"Your sister," Vance murmured, raising an eyebrow. Then he shook his head. "You should have tried trusting us to begin with, Cole. If it ever came down to it, we could have protected her--without your sticking out your own neck and ours."
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