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Post by skybright on Apr 26, 2006 22:42:37 GMT -5
Father Rick bristled, and this time Daws needed no encouragement to step out of his way.
"Now look here, boyo," The priest growled, "I did two tours in the Vietnam jungle. I took part of a grenade in the throat, so don't you dare come to my doorstep and start lecturing me on tactics like I'm some shavetail plowboy who doesn't know the business end of a capgun."
The Padre scowled. "We aim to do more than talk this man to death, don't you get me wrong. But we'll do it in our way, on our terms, and we'll not be dancing our way down both sides of the line between right and wrong while we're about it.
"So don't be thinking these people'll all fall into line behind you," he finished, glancing around the room, "But don't think that means they won't be doin' some marching, when the time comes."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 26, 2006 22:56:32 GMT -5
As the Padre spoke, Vance's mouth became a hard line around his cigar. There was a moment of silence, and then he stepped forward, emphasizing his greater height. Slowly he took his cigar from his mouth, and gestured with it to the left side of his face.
"Don't go thinking a Purple Heart makes a hero, Pop."
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Post by skybright on Apr 26, 2006 22:59:56 GMT -5
The Padre blinked, and some of the righteous indignation drained out of his manner -- replaced with a solemn stubbornness. He raised his chin and looked the taller man in the eye.
"And don't you go thinking that a peaceful way makes a coward."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 26, 2006 23:17:17 GMT -5
The two men stared at each other for a moment. Then Vance uttered a low, deep chuckle.
"I could like you, Padre--if you just remembered that God licensed the angels to carry flaming swords."
He turned away with a shrug, glancing at Daws. "At least you're not as self-righteous as the priest. I've heard you're playing double agent, and that takes guts. I respect that--or I would if I thought you completely understood what you're playing with." He put his cigar between his lips again. "I'll bet Tiernan gave you a sob story about how his stepfather tried to kill him for being a mutie."
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Post by skybright on Apr 26, 2006 23:21:28 GMT -5
Daws regarded the man for a moment before she pushed her hat back and said evenly "Everyone I've ever met's given me a sob story. It comes packaged with the hat, the gun and the license."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 26, 2006 23:39:54 GMT -5
Vance chuckled and shook his head. "It gets 'em every time. Not that you don't want to see Tiernan dead, but maybe you're sorry getting kicked around made him turn out the way he did--only it wasn't so.
"Tiernan's mother was loaded. One of the richest folks in their part of England. But her spoiled little boy found out it was fun to break into other people's houses--and that was before his mutation showed up. It's true there was a fight before he killed his stepfather--but only because he'd raped his stepsister and nearly beat her to death." Vance shrugged. "Apparently he was getting a little upset that money couldn't buy him a girlfriend."
Vance folded his arms. "Part of the reason I'm telling you this is to give you an idea of my resources. You see, I have people on the inside, too. I know a lot more about Tiernan and everything he does than even you do." He grinned humorlessly. "I bet you don't even know about all of his powers."
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Post by skybright on Apr 26, 2006 23:53:28 GMT -5
Daws glanced at the others -- she hadn't revealed the full extent of her knowledge of Tiernan's abilities -- and then said calmly "I know he had wings -- before whatever happened to him happened. And we've figured out that he's got the ability to kill folks without layin' a finger on them." She shot a quick glance at Sid -- she was going to owe him a proper apology after this whole fiasco was over, for jumping to the conclusion that he'd behave like this new visitor was . . .
Daws shrugged and continued "If you know about any other tricks Tiernan's got up his sleeves, I wouldn't be above hearin' 'em. Like you said, I'm playin' double agent -- and I like knowing what I'm walking into."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 27, 2006 0:07:31 GMT -5
"And I'm not above giving you some friendly warnings--just to remind you we're on the same side." Vance pulled one of the empty chairs out of the first row, turned it around, and straddled it, leaning his elbows on the back.
"First of all, that nice little murder method of his. If you want to be technical, it's a kind of telekinesis--but not the sort that moves furniture around. It works on living cells at a level you'd need a microscope to see in action. You've probably seen what he can do with it, though."
In his place in the front row, Sid growled softly and rubbed his jaw. Vance looked over at him, but made no comment before he continued.
"What I gather you don't know is that Tiernan's a walking blackout. I don't know, he generates some kind of field that absorbs light or something. He can turn a whole city block pitch-black. Which doesn't bother him any, by the way, 'cause he's got sonar like a bat."
He smiled grimly at Daws. "So if you ever happened to notice it getting dark when Tiernan got upset, now you know what did it."
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Post by skybright on Apr 27, 2006 0:15:25 GMT -5
Daws nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess that explains a few things." She cleared her throat and, after a moment's hesitation, she added "Tiernan's hired me to find out who's responsible for that warehouse fire. From the way you talk, I gather your name would spark a lotta unpleasant memories for him." She half-laughed and added "From the way he talks, I gather he probably thinks you aren't around to cause him trouble any more."
She leaned idly against the wall. "You did me a good turn, I'll do you one. What is it you want me to tell Tiernan about last night's little fireworks display?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 27, 2006 0:24:14 GMT -5
Daws' words caused Vance's scarred face to harden briefly.
"Tell him somebody got careless with a cigarette. I don't care. You're right about one thing, he may think I'm dead... he tried, alright." He grimaced slightly and shook his head. "But he'll know better by the time I'm through."
He glanced at the audience again, then back at Daws and Father Rick. "What I said still goes. I'm going to make Tiernan hurt. You can either help me or get out of the way--but the one thing you won't do is stop me."
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Post by skybright on Apr 27, 2006 0:36:44 GMT -5
Daws nodded and glanced at Father Rick, who eyed Vance for another moment before chuckling hoarsely and shaking his head.
"The enemy of the enemy is our ally, I suppose," he said. "We'll call it a truce, then -- or a ceasefire."
He regarded the taller man with a mix of distrust and gudging admiration, and added "I could like you, Boyo -- if you just remembered that none of us are angels, avengin' or otherwise."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 27, 2006 19:42:26 GMT -5
Vance grinned, somewhat bitterly. "I never said I was, Padre."
He shrugged. "I'll have my friend drop in occasionally, just in case you wanna get in touch with me. Maybe you have a passing acquaintance with Frank McCarty--little guy, four arms."
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Post by skybright on Apr 28, 2006 1:51:27 GMT -5
That didn't sound familiar to Daws, but Father Rick nodded slowly. "We'll keep that in mind, Boyo. You might hear from us, at that -- if only to ask if you're responsible for any more . . . 'incidents'."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 28, 2006 19:13:12 GMT -5
Vance chuckled. "Odds are the next loud noise you hear will be me."
He cast a final glance toward the seated assemblage. "The rest of you think long and hard about what I've said. If you decide my way makes more sense, talk to my pal McCarty--he'll bring you around to see me."
With that, Vance nodded cordially, then ascended the stairs and was gone.
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Post by skybright on Apr 28, 2006 22:30:46 GMT -5
When Vance's footsteps had disappeared from the stairs, Daws pushed her fedora back and raised an eyebrow at Father Rick. "Been a long time since I saw anyone get you that riled up, Padre."
The priest made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat and waved the statement away. "Well, now at least we know that none of us were responsible for that explosion." He frowned, apparently still troubled by what Vance had said, and looked around the room.
"Our guest said a lot of things worth thinkin' on, whether I agree with his actions or not." He announced. "Any of you have any discussion on what you've just heard?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 28, 2006 22:37:15 GMT -5
There were some murmurs around the room. Henry raised his eyebrows; Alex exchanged glances with Miriam and Grace on either side of him, and the latter shrugged confusedly.
Sid folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "Personally, I'm kinda curious to see what the guy accomplishes."
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Post by skybright on Apr 28, 2006 22:45:02 GMT -5
"I'll second that," Daws said after a moment's hesitation. She shot an apologetic glance at the priest and added "I might not be lining up to join his little army, mind ya -- but if we're not gonna stop Vance, then at least Tiernan's gonna get his nose tweaked good and proper on more fronts than just ours."
Padre raised an eyebrow at that, and gave her a look to suggest she'd be on the business end of a homily in the near future -- but then he shook his head and half-laughed. "I'm not going to lie -- I'm curious, myself." He sobered and added
"Vance had a point, though -- if we're going to make any difference against Tiernan, we're going to need strong leadership. And it's time we started talking about what it is we are willing to do against Tiernan -- not just what we aren't."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 28, 2006 23:05:49 GMT -5
Miriam frowned and folded her arms. "I haven't even figured out what we can do, much less what we should do. How do you fight something like Tiernan without making him suffer real, tangible losses the way Vance has?"
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Post by skybright on Apr 28, 2006 23:16:24 GMT -5
"Cutting into Tiernan's profits doesn't necessarily mean havin' to destroy his warehouses." Daws said thoughtfully. "It could mean tipping off the authorities to shipments of drugs, keeping tabs on what his enforcers are up to and then gettin' in their way -- stuff like that."
She hesitated, and then added "I've got a friend who I think can get into Tiernan's computer systems -- he must use them at least once in a while. Maybe he can help us figure out where to start stinging." She shrugged and added "Meanwhile, I'm keeping my ears open for the exact same thing -- a place to sting Tiernan." She grinned and added "We sting him often enough, and he may get mad enough to do something stupid -- something to reveal his whole organization to the authorities."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 28, 2006 23:25:56 GMT -5
"An' when Tiernan gets arrested, an' he's splashed all over the papers for what he really is, the public gets itself worked up to a witch hunt over the big bad mutants," Sid murmured.
Henry glanced at Daws. "Mr. Rosenstein might have a point there. I thought the entire purpose of appealing to this community," and he gestured to the crowd seated behind him, "was to enlist well-meaning mutants to somehow put a stop to Tiernan without involving human police." He frowned thoughtfully. "Which is a much taller order, I grant."
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