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Post by Jordanna on Jul 28, 2008 22:24:48 GMT -5
In spite of the concerns of the resistance, Nicholas Tiernan did not call Daws after the events of Mount Bliss. In fact, nothing was heard at all from Tiernan's quarter. Even Proteus learned little in his spying forays... except that none of Tiernan's operatives had returned from Mount Bliss, and all were presumed dead.
Finally, five days after the disaster, he called Daws to his office.
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Post by skybright on Jul 28, 2008 22:32:22 GMT -5
Daws' damaged eyes had healed completely within two days (true to Caddy's predictions, and much to Daws' overwhelming relief). With that potentially incriminating injury gone, she had only been waiting for Tiernan's call to come.
Now that it had, she made her way uptown to Tiernan's office quickly, if not with any particular relish.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 28, 2008 22:42:30 GMT -5
Tiernan was brooding behind the desk when Daws entered his office. He had remained secluded since Mount Bliss, receiving reports from his agents who were monitoring the former site of the complex. Federal agents had swiftly supplanted the police in the investigation, but even so, there was information to be had from Tiernan's contacts.
Now he had learned something he did not like at all.
"Good morning, Miss Dawson," he greeted the detective, in a tone that clearly indicated it was not a good morning at all. "I trust I haven't interrupted anything too important on your part."
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Post by skybright on Jul 28, 2008 22:46:43 GMT -5
Daws shook her head as she slipped off her fedora and perched on the edge of a chair. "Nothing at all -- it's been a slow couple of weeks." She lied smoothly.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 28, 2008 22:56:19 GMT -5
"Then I'm sure you may welcome an assignment." Tiernan folded his hands on the desk.
"Possibly you've heard of the... unusual incident that occurred in West Virginia last week. It's been reported in the media as the collapse of an old mine shaft."
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Post by skybright on Jul 28, 2008 23:00:47 GMT -5
Daws shrugged one shoulder -- sending a slight twinge through the still-knitting gouges that were safely hidden beneath her clothes. "I heard about it. Can't say I paid much attention."
She leaned forward. "But you wouldn't be calling me in if it really had been a mine shaft, now would you?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 29, 2008 22:00:59 GMT -5
"No. That facility was in fact a laboratory, run by an organization with ties to the government. Their purpose was to conduct research on mutants--or rather, one particular mutant. I sent a team of my operatives to retrieve that mutant."
Tiernan scowled, his fists clenching. "I don't yet know what happened... but the lab was somehow destroyed, and all of my people were killed. As was the mutant test subject, I presume."
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Post by skybright on Jul 29, 2008 22:07:47 GMT -5
Daws scowled blackly. "Then I at least hope the butchers who ran the place died, too." She growled, extending her claws slightly. "They had it coming."
It frightened her just a bit to realize how sincere she was in that sentiment.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 29, 2008 22:24:29 GMT -5
"That also seems likely." Tiernan grimaced. "I have far too little information at the moment--but it seems those scientists must have felt they were on the verge of some significant development. And..." He paused grimly. "I've learned that they're already taking steps to find a new candidate to continue their research."
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Post by skybright on Jul 29, 2008 22:28:17 GMT -5
Daws raised her eyebrows. "They just don't quit, do they?" She clenched one fist on the arm of her chair and glanced at Tiernan. "What can I do?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 29, 2008 22:36:45 GMT -5
"I believe you may be able to put your investigative skills to work in this." Tiernan steepled his fingertips. "The plan of these researchers for finding a new guinea pig is ingenious--and it may come as a shock to you, Miss Dawson."
He paused, his eyes darkening.
"I'm informed that within a week, a dummy company they've set up will announce clinical trials... to test a potential 'cure' for certain mutations."
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Post by skybright on Jul 29, 2008 22:40:14 GMT -5
Daws' scowl deepened. "Which means they'll end up with a line around the block -- people stupid or desperate enough to try something like that. And they can pick any one they want and keep right on with their sick little science experiments."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 29, 2008 22:54:18 GMT -5
"Precisely. This excuse will give them a ready-made screening process." Tiernan spread his hands. "If the 'volunteers' receive any drug at all, it will likely be one that only suppresses some powers temporarily--and I must confess to you that there is such a thing in existence, Miss Dawson. My researchers have it, but so do more dangerous parties. When the drug wears off, they can simply declare that their 'cure' is not yet perfected."
He shook his head. "I would like nothing better than to simply destroy their trial clinic and whatever lackeys are in it--but then the men in charge could simply blame it on pro-mutant protesters and start over. I need to track the source of the problem; I need to know who's behind this operation, and where to find them."
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Post by skybright on Jul 29, 2008 22:58:41 GMT -5
Daws nodded slowly. "In other words -- you need a snoop."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 30, 2008 21:39:32 GMT -5
Tiernan nodded.
"In order to destroy this organization, we must expose it. Rest assured, I'll have my own means of dealing with those responsible, and avenging the death of my operatives... but first, they must be rooted out so completely that no one can take their place.
"Mayor Cole may be of some use in this matter, but I need adequate information for him to work with. That's what I want you to find, Miss Dawson." He pushed forward a folder. "This is what I have so far on the dummy company that will be fronting the so-called clinical trials. My legal staff is trying to trace it back to its real source--but perhaps your contacts will provide other avenues of investigation."
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Post by skybright on Jul 30, 2008 21:42:55 GMT -5
Daws nodded and flipped the folder open, glancing over the information within. "I'll see what I can find." She raised an eyebrow at Tiernan over the edge of the folder. "Do you know what kind of mutations they're going to be putting out the call for?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 30, 2008 22:05:24 GMT -5
Tiernan frowned. "It's unlikely they'll be looking for... structural mutations, we might say, such as yours. Among other reasons, mutation-suppressing drugs would have no effect on such physical traits.
"From what I know of their original test subject..." He spread his hands. "They'll be looking for mutants with more internal powers. Telepathy, telekinesis, energy casting; that sort of thing. I suspect they're searching for something specific, in order to directly recreate and continue their previous work--but I don't know precisely what the factors may be."
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Post by skybright on Jul 30, 2008 22:13:09 GMT -5
But I've got a pretty good idea. Daws thought grimly. She leafed through the contents of the folder for another moment, then flipped it shut and nodded briskly. "All right. I'll get my contacts working, see what I can turn up on these guys. If they're government-backed they're gonna be hard to pin down -- but even they must be leaving some kind of tracks somewhere."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 30, 2008 22:18:47 GMT -5
"Very good." Tiernan stood up. "You'll keep me informed, I trust. Any resources I can provide will be at your disposal."
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Post by skybright on Jul 30, 2008 22:26:30 GMT -5
Daws nodded and retrieved her fedora, settling it on her head as she stood. "You'll hear from me -- as soon as I've got anything to report. Good morning, Mister Tiernan."
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