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Post by Jordanna on Nov 14, 2008 23:25:49 GMT -5
That tidbit of information roused Proteus' immediate interest. He could guess what mutants would be turned away--those with physical mutations that were not affected by the power-suppressing drug the resistance knew of. It hadn't occurred to him before that this problem would be difficult for the clinic's staff to explain, and awkward to handle.
"Yeah--that'll be rough. Especially seeing as how they're the ones who'd want most to be normal. I guess the drug they're working on now is just a first step, though."
He paused, recalling the distinct lack of mention of the subject in the newspaper articles he had read that morning. "It doesn't help any that they didn't give me any statement about who they can't work with. With the media around, a whole lot of mutants could get upset about exposing themselves for nothing."
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Post by skybright on Nov 14, 2008 23:39:05 GMT -5
"Yeah, I wondered about that." The other man shrugged. "I guess tests like these pretty much always have to turn some people away, though -- for preexisting conditions or because they don't fit the profile, or things like that. I just hope none of the people we turn down get upset. We've got enough trouble with mutants already."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 14, 2008 23:50:18 GMT -5
"Tell me about it," Proteus murmured--although he was thinking of Nicholas Tiernan. "You'd think they'd at least let people know the limitations before they show up on our doorstep."
Unless they're quietly making a list of every mutant who turns up, just for good measure...
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Post by skybright on Nov 15, 2008 0:00:35 GMT -5
"Yeah, but I guess I'm not a doctor." He shrugged. "Maybe they're planning on keeping a list for when they do go completely public -- y'know, once they've worked out all the bugs or whatever."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 15, 2008 22:51:24 GMT -5
"For another round of tests with the next version? Huh... maybe." Proteus frowned thoughtfully. "I hope they're not planning on keeping us on the staff that long. I mean, the paycheck is nice and all, but..."
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Post by skybright on Nov 15, 2008 22:56:11 GMT -5
The other man shrugged. "They didn't make it sound that way when they hired me, anyway -- I don't know about you, but they were pretty clear that this was temporary work." He grinned ruefully, "Temporary and exclusive -- no taking any night work on the side."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 15, 2008 23:12:36 GMT -5
Proteus suppressed a grin, wondering if his tentative and complicated involvement with the resistance could be considered "night work".
"Yeah, that was the impression I got," he replied agreeably to the other man. "I'm not exactly sorry. After this, any kind of prima donna castmates'd be easier to deal with than--him, you know."
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Post by skybright on Nov 15, 2008 23:17:15 GMT -5
"Yeah." He shuddered slightly, "I've worked with some real prizes in my day, but I never had a director yet who was as scary-intense as that guy."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 15, 2008 23:27:17 GMT -5
"I guess maybe all scientists are like that," Proteus remarked--fishing for some response that would tell him whether all of the other real doctors were unapproachable, or if any of them might have come across as somewhat more pleasant.
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Post by skybright on Nov 15, 2008 23:32:10 GMT -5
"Oh, I don't know. Doctor Cohen seems like he's alright -- little bit of a one track mind about getting patients in the door, maybe, but not so bad otherwise."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 15, 2008 23:44:32 GMT -5
Proteus nodded. That was exactly what he had been fishing for. Of course, this Doctor Cohen's congeniality might extend only to norms--but as long as the shapeshifter was thought to be the very human Beaudry, Cohen might be useful.
Then again... perhaps it wasn't impossible that the men behind this operation had hired one or two doctors who thought the supposed cure was genuine. And if that was the case, Proteus knew he would have to find out whether Cohen was also in need of protection.
"Yeah--I guess he's just excited to see how the cure works," he said. "I've gotta admit... it's a pretty wild idea, being able to get rid of even some mutations. Makes you think."
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Post by skybright on Nov 15, 2008 23:55:01 GMT -5
"Yeah. Seems like a good idea to me, but then you get guys like that Mutant Citizens Front who're dead set against it." He shrugged. "Some people just don't know what's good for 'em, I guess."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 16, 2008 0:03:50 GMT -5
This sentiment did not impress Proteus, and he fought to resist a frown.
"That's true enough," he agreed--although he was thinking along very different lines. "Well, hopefully these people won't get themselves or anyone else hurt."
He shrugged abruptly. "Sorry, have I been keeping you from that coffee?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 16, 2008 0:09:01 GMT -5
"Huh? Oh." The other man grinned crookedly. "You know me -- I'll stand around jawing all day if you give me half a chance."
He turned to head for the small kitchen. "I'll be in the back office if you get bored trying to track down auditions."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 16, 2008 0:17:12 GMT -5
Proteus grinned feebly. "Sure. Nice to know there's someone around to talk to." If I hit a dead end snooping in offices and stringing along whoever else comes through the door, at least.
He watched the still-nameless actor head for the kitchen--then followed him halfway down the hall, stopping just close enough to the doorway to listen in. As far as he knew, Steph was still in there, and perhaps she would at least call the new man by his name.
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Post by skybright on Nov 16, 2008 0:30:24 GMT -5
The voices inside the kitchen engaged in a bit of light small talk for a few moments, and then Steph's voice could be heard drawing closer to the door. "Okay, Mike -- I'll be at my desk, I guess."
She stepped through the door into the hallway and smiled cheerfully at Proteus. "Change your mind about the coffee?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 16, 2008 0:43:14 GMT -5
"Uh... no, thanks." Proteus smiled slightly and lowered his voice a little, nodding toward the offices farther up the hall. "Just going to do a little more of that light reading on the side."
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Post by skybright on Nov 16, 2008 0:49:48 GMT -5
Steph pursed her lips and shot a quick glance at the closed door of Voegel's office. "Be careful." She murmured, heading for the front desk.
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 16, 2008 21:51:55 GMT -5
"Uh-huh," Proteus mumbled, and slipped into the nearest office.
As in the first office he had investigated, he discovered the filing cabinets were locked, but he was able to open the desk drawers. At first glance, he found nothing more interesting than pens, paper clips, and other office detritus. In the bottom drawer, there was a layer of innocuous invoices for computers and desk chairs--but beneath that, there was a thin folder.
The few sheets of paper inside were scrawled with handwritten chemical formulas and other scientific notes. Proteus frowned at the topmost set of scribblings; it was unintelligible to him, but he had a feeling there was at least some significance to it.
He glanced speculatively at the desk drawer; he didn't want to risk having anyone notice that the papers were missing. After a moment's thought, he took them from their folder and casually stepped out into the hallway--in search of a copying machine.
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Post by skybright on Nov 16, 2008 23:30:43 GMT -5
Mike came out of the kitchen at that moment, coffee cup in hand; he glanced at Proteus with a grin. "You look lost, Beaudry. Can't find the phone book?"
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