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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2008 0:38:59 GMT -5
After a few moments the door of the apartment cracked open and Cole stuck his head out, looking only half-awake. He glanced at Daws and Vance and let out a sigh that turned into a stifled yawn.
"I suppose I really ought to just have a key made for you people." He remarked dryly, stepping back from the doorway to let them in.
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 12, 2008 22:08:15 GMT -5
"That wouldn't be a bad idea," Vance muttered, stalking into the apartment on Cole's heels. "And in case you forgot, 'us people' are your own kind--you know, the ones you've been promising you were going to fight for. We've been trying to get in touch with you about backing up that talk of yours, Your Honor."
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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2008 22:18:00 GMT -5
Cole flinched slightly and held up one hand in a vague gesture of appeasement. "All right, Major, I take your point. It was a terrible migraine day and I had my secretary hold my personal calls. I'll have to remind her that yours don't fall into that category."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 12, 2008 22:29:44 GMT -5
The explanation blunted Vance's ire slightly--he knew well enough the disadvantages of telepathic powers--but he simply folded his arms and frowned. "Well, at least you weren't partying with lobbyists or something--but you can't have gone the whole day without even looking at a newspaper. Don't you know what's brewing out there?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2008 22:39:48 GMT -5
Cole frowned at Vance and sank onto the couch. "I take it you're talking about this so-called 'cure' they're going to start testing. I spent part of the day talking to a few of my advisers in the scientific community -- they're mostly convinced it's just another quack cure. Not the first, either -- but all the paperwork for the organization is in order, so we can't have the health department tackle it."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 12, 2008 22:56:03 GMT -5
Vance sighed and gave Daws a beleaguered look, then turned back to the mayor.
"Here's a news flash for you, Cole. That 'trial clinic' they've set up is a cover for the same people who were behind Mount Bliss--and they're gonna use it to screen potential guinea pigs for a new round of experiments."
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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2008 23:05:06 GMT -5
Cole glanced up sharply at Vance, his expression darkening. "I see."
He shifted to his feet and began pacing, a troubled frown on his face. "Then it has to be stopped -- immediately. Sooner than immediately." He turned back to Vance. "Have you got some kind of plan?"
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 12, 2008 23:17:08 GMT -5
"What we've got is the usual crazy scramble for any kind of a wrench we can throw into the works." Vance sighed. "They hired a bunch of actors to man the clinic's front office. We 'borrowed' one of those guys tonight--we've got him stashed at a motel. He didn't know anything about the real story, but... Proteus is gonna impersonate him in the morning. He'll go to the clinic, and try to find out anything he can."
Vance spread his hands. "That's about all we've got. Our hope is that Proteus will turn up something you can use to pull the plug on this through official channels."
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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2008 23:24:44 GMT -5
Daws lashed her tail. "We're not talking the health department, either. You must know someone who knows someone who'd be awful embarrassed if this kind of news got out -- embarrassed enough that the alternative is to shut down the whole works."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 12, 2008 23:28:17 GMT -5
Vance nodded to Cole. "And that's not our only problem, either. There seem to be some new vigilantes in the neighborhood. The name 'Mutant Citizens' Front' mean anything to you?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2008 23:36:51 GMT -5
Cole rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Only since this morning. I spent most of the day giving variations on the same statement -- 'I understand mutant frustration with cure attempts, but I can't condone violence'."
He sighed. "Whoever they are, they're new -- maybe a splinter group, maybe operating under a new name. I've got a few of the police that I can trust trying to run down leads -- but asking most of the law enforcement in this town to track down a mutant vigilante group is just asking for innocent people to be brutalized by thugs carrying badges."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 12, 2008 23:52:31 GMT -5
"Don't we know that," Vance muttered blackly. "We're getting nothing from our sources, either. We're just hoping these yahoos don't stick their noses in the middle of our operation, and get themselves or us hurt.
Vance paused. "Here's another angle to chew on, anyway. We're kinda worried about those clueless norm actors fronting the clinic--we think they're prime candidates to get disappeared, especially if trouble really breaks wide open. So we've got to think about the problem of keeping them safe." He shrugged. "But maybe you can get to the root of the problem through them, or at least stall things. Any chance of exposing the fact that 'clinic' is staffed with off-Broadway ham?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2008 23:58:38 GMT -5
"Possibly." Cole fell silent for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "There's technically no law against them hiring non-medical personnel to work for them . . . unless they're doing medical tasks without a license."
"The actor we picked up said he was just in charge of dealing with people -- no medical stuff involved." Daws pointed out.
"Maybe so." Cole replied, "But proving that would still be a job for a health department investigation. Not a terribly long or involved one -- but it could probably buy you a day or two."
"And it might give the actors a little more insurance against getting rubbed out." Daws mused.
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 13, 2008 0:02:46 GMT -5
"Sounds like it'd also mean Proteus having to deal with nosy health department agents while he's undercover." Vance frowned. "He's doing a delicate job, Cole. The more pressure gets put on him, the more risk he'll give a wrong answer and stir up suspicion. Any chance you can keep him from getting leaned on?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 13, 2008 0:07:25 GMT -5
Cole frowned. "I'll put some people I can trust on the job. It's standard policy for them to conduct the interviews with employees -- the actors, in this case -- without supervision by their employers. I'll tell them Proteus is the one who tipped us off -- that should be enough reason for them to take it easy on him, without it attracting undue attention. "
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 13, 2008 21:55:34 GMT -5
"Okay. We'll tell Proteus to expect official visitors. The guy he'll be impersonating is named Quentin Beaudry, alias Doctor Robert Strait." Vance shrugged. "The genuine article quieted down a lot once we told him what he's really working for. I don't think we're gonna have any trouble with him--though I'm also not completely sure what we're gonna do with him when this is over."
He frowned thoughtfully. "It couldn't have helped us any if the guy we let loose after Mount Bliss went flapping his trap... but even if he did talk, I sorta wonder if he's still breathing."
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Post by skybright on Oct 13, 2008 22:00:04 GMT -5
"People like these have a low tolerance for failure." Cole murmured darkly. "And they're quick to pass the blame to those under them."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 13, 2008 22:44:29 GMT -5
"Just the flip side of Tiernan's coin," Vance murmured. Then he glanced at Daws. "Have you heard any more from him about all this? He's the one who brought it up--sooner or later, I'm sure he'll decide to do something about it himself."
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Post by skybright on Oct 13, 2008 22:48:27 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "Not today -- but you're probably right. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before he makes a move. Whether he'll let me know about it or not is another story."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 13, 2008 22:56:27 GMT -5
Vance made a face, glancing at Cole. "Better factor that into whatever you can dream up, too... If you can, you might even think about trying to use Tiernan. Average mutants who don't know the real Nocturne actually look up to him. If you could talk him into trying to use his influence, maybe he could at least quiet down that MCF bunch."
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