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Post by skybright on Oct 5, 2008 23:28:21 GMT -5
Beaudry frowned, dropping out of character. "I . . . don't really know. Those guys from that 'Mutant Citizens' thing spray-painting the building had some of us kind of nervous, but Doctor G. -- he's the guy in charge -- said we were going to open on schedule, anyway. I guess maybe if the damage had been more severe . . ." He trailed off with a hapless shrug.
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 5, 2008 23:36:18 GMT -5
Vance's breath caught slightly at the mention of the man in charge, but he managed not to react visibly.
"Well, doing enough damage to hold them back is something to think about as a last resort," he replied. "There'd be risks to that, though... What about this Doctor G.?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 5, 2008 23:42:53 GMT -5
Beaudry shrugged. "I don't really know much about him . . . I don't think anybody does. He's only come by a couple times -- once right after they hired us, once after the vandalism."
He worried his bottom lip between his teeth for a moment and then added "He kind of gives me the creeps, to be real honest with you."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 5, 2008 23:45:33 GMT -5
"He should." Vance considered for a moment, then added, "We've got reason to believe he may be a mutant himself--one who's working to harm his own kind."
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Post by skybright on Oct 5, 2008 23:53:46 GMT -5
"Huh?" Beaudry frowned at Vance in confusion. "I don't get it. If these guys do . . . well, the kinds of things you were talking about . . . why would a mutant help 'em?"
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 6, 2008 21:46:13 GMT -5
"Mutants are just as human as anybody else, pal," Vance sighed. "He may be in it for money--or he may be one of those types that hates being a mutant so much, he hates all the rest of us too. There could be plenty of reasons, but right now we can only guess."
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Post by skybright on Oct 6, 2008 22:37:11 GMT -5
"Oh." Beaudry looked chagrined. "Sorry. I . . . guess I just always thought you guys all stuck together, is all."
Daws snorted. "We wish we were half that lucky."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2008 21:41:12 GMT -5
Vance shook his head. "You want to know the facts, Mister Beaudry? Our group has spent the last few years fighting mutant forces that'd like to make you norms extinct--and we've lost a lot of lives doing it. Having to defend ourselves from becoming guinea pigs for black-op scientists on top of that isn't exactly a morale booster."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2008 21:49:27 GMT -5
"Yeah . . . I guess not." Beaudry ducked his head. "Sorry. I'm, uh . . . I'm new to this kind of thing."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2008 22:03:04 GMT -5
"It's not like there's a manual," Vance muttered. "For any mutant, not getting killed is something you kinda have to make up as you go along."
"Which is exactly why so many poor saps will line up for this supposed cure," Nate added darkly.
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2008 22:11:30 GMT -5
Beaudry winced and -- after a somewhat hesitant glance at Vance's two lieutenants -- sank onto one of the rickety wooden chairs. "I never really thought about any of this." He murmured, glancing at Daws. "Like you said, I . . . I never would've gotten mixed up in this if I thought . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2008 22:17:26 GMT -5
"That's plain enough to see about you," Proteus said kindly.
Handy nodded, clasping both pairs of hands over his knees. "Most norms are like you. They don't really mean any harm--they just don't think about things at all."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2008 22:22:53 GMT -5
Beaudry grinned crookedly. "I guess I'll take that as a compliment."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2008 22:41:39 GMT -5
Vance folded his arms. "I'm a little curious, Mister Beaudry. Now that you've heard our side of things--just what will you do when we let you out of here?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2008 22:52:50 GMT -5
Beaudry shot Vance a hesitant look and shrugged. "I don't know. I . . . I wouldn't rat you out, if that's what you mean."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2008 23:02:49 GMT -5
"I've been starting to get that impression." Vance's faint telepathic awareness had told him that much.
He leaned one shoulder against the wall. "I'll level with you. One of our people here is a shapeshifter--and he's going to go to your job in the morning, posing as you. He's gonna watch and listen, and if we're lucky, he'll find something that puts us on the trail of the evidence we need."
The Major shrugged one shoulder. "Of course, if you did tell your bosses any of this... well, it might not be pretty."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2008 23:09:38 GMT -5
Beaudry shook his head. "I wouldn't do that. I don't want what those guys are doing on my conscience."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2008 23:16:48 GMT -5
"Remember, it's a matter of your own safety, too." Vance sighed and shook his head. "For that matter, I'm a little concerned about the rest of the cast. If and when the black hats are forced to slither back under the rock they came from, they're going to do a lot of mopping-up real fast--and they might decide that should include you and those other actors."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2008 23:25:16 GMT -5
"I've been thinking the same thing." Daws interjected. "I'm not convinced they haven't been planning that this whole time."
Beaudry paled slightly. "You're serious?"
Daws shrugged one shoulder. "Think about it, Beaudry. They let you get your face plastered all over the Times and whatever else -- and it's gonna be sort of inconvenient for them if that same face shows up on a poster for a show six months later, after they've disappeared and their 'cure' has fizzled, isn't it?"
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 9, 2008 20:46:11 GMT -5
Vance sighed. "Depending on how this plays out, we might have to put our little travel agency in business again. Not exactly something I'd be looking forward to."
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