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Post by skybright on Jul 11, 2006 4:44:37 GMT -5
Hubert seemed somewhat startled by the prospect. He looked thoughtfully at his hands. "I don't know how useful I could be. I've always been something of a coward -- a thinker, not a fighter. But . . ." he smiled faintly and looked up at Miriam, "Someday, I would like to be able to help you."
He raised an eyebrow at Daws and added dryly "It seems you could use all the help you can get."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 11, 2006 5:04:43 GMT -5
Miriam smiled gently and nodded. "You could help us very much, when you're ready. The drug we used on you came from Nocturne--that's proof that he's trying to fight with science, not just ordinary weapons. We'll be very lucky if we have you to fight back on that front."
She paused, glancing up at Daws briefly before she continued. "I don't think there's much point in dancing around the fact that Nocturne is a mutant. After all, he planned to kill you because of your work against mutants." She gazed at Hubert earnestly. "But I think you know by now that most of our kind don't want the war he's trying to bring. We'd sooner fight him ourselves--and we are."
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Post by skybright on Jul 11, 2006 5:13:55 GMT -5
Hubert shook his head. "You all took a very great risk in saving me from this 'Nocturne' fellow -- and from what I've gathered, you face an even greater risk in continuing to fight him."
He smiled faintly. "Until very recently I was under the impression that any mutant would want me dead -- and would welcome the chance to destroy mundane humanity. I'm very glad to have been proven wrong on both counts."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 11, 2006 5:18:19 GMT -5
Miriam patted Hubert on the shoulder. "And I'm glad you found out the truth. Like you said--we need all the help we can get."
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Post by skybright on Jul 11, 2006 5:32:11 GMT -5
Hubert nodded, his smile widening.
Daws had been gazing thoughtfully into the distance, her tail twitching. Now she grinned slowly and glanced at the others. "I think I might've just figured on somethin' I can ask Cole to snoop around in Nocturne's head for."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 12, 2006 4:54:18 GMT -5
Handy looked at Daws curiously, shrugging. "Yeah? Like what?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 12, 2006 22:12:46 GMT -5
"Well," Daws leaned forward, "Vance said that the stuff we used on Hubert came out of one of Nocturne's labs, right? Which means there's more than one of 'em, probably scattered all over the City."
She grinned. "Now, obviously the Grenadier and company have been doing a little . . . shopping . . . at one of those labs -- but I'd bet Nocturne's got at least one or two that he's convinced none of his enemies know about.
"If Cole were to 'turn up' the location of one of those, and we were to target it," Daws smirked, "That'd rattle the old creep's cage but good. Not to mention we might discover all sorts of interesting scientific odds and ends for Caddy and Hubert to puzzle over."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 12, 2006 22:51:35 GMT -5
Miriam frowned thoughtfully, and Alex whistled. "That'd be a job, alright."
"You want I should let Jerod know about this idea of yours?" Handy asked.
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Post by skybright on Jul 12, 2006 22:55:59 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "Not just yet. Lemme talk to Cole first, see if I can persuade him to do it. He's still new to the whole thing, and kind of skittish. Besides," she grinned slyly, "I wouldn't mind surprising Vance for a change, instead of the other way 'round."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 12, 2006 23:08:52 GMT -5
Handy frowned, in a way that plainly indicated his discomfort with being told things people didn't want his boss to know. "Okay. Fine."
"Exactly what did you have in mind to do after you find out where one of the labs is?" Miriam asked Daws. "Are we talking about another Murfeeston Bridge?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 12, 2006 23:15:29 GMT -5
Daws sobered quickly. "No, Doc. If I can help it, there's not gonna be another Murfeeston Bridge. I've buried enough friends for one lifetime."
Hubert blinked at the two women in awe. "The explosion in Queens, two weeks ago? You mean your group was responsible for . . ."
Daws nodded. "Yeah. It's kind of a long story, but we were hitting a shipment that belonged to Nocturne -- only . . ." she shook her head, "Things went kind of south. We lost people."
"Lost." Hubert paled slightly, "You mean they were killed?"
"I don't mean we left 'em on the subway, Hubert." Daws replied with a wry shake of her head.
She looked back to Miriam. "I figure that a quiet, sneaky strike would do just as much to unnerve his organization -- maybe even more. And sneaking around is one thing I know I, at least, can handle."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 12, 2006 23:22:31 GMT -5
"What if he's got security people in those places?" Alex asked.
Miriam ran a hand through her hair. "I'm not saying we shouldn't act if we can find a way. I just... I'm afraid we won't be able to act without danger. Tiernan's too careful--too prepared."
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Post by skybright on Jul 12, 2006 23:30:02 GMT -5
"I'm sure he'll have security, Alex." Daws replied. "He may be a lot of things -- but Tiernan's not a fool."
She shrugged and leaned back, propping her elbows on the seat behind her. "Way I see it, he knew the trucks at Murfeeston were going to be vulnerable. But if he's got a lab somewhere that he's sure is secret -- like I'm betting he does have -- then he's going to think of it as less vulnerable.
"It'll still be dangerous, sure. But I'm guessing it'd be less dangerous than ambushing a couple of trucks loaded with weapons was. Besides," she sighed, "Until this whole mess is over with, our whole lives are gonna be dangerous."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 12, 2006 23:35:06 GMT -5
Miriam sighed and nodded. "Then count me in on whatever happens."
Alex opened his mouth to protest, but then his shoulders slumped and he nodded to Daws. "Me too."
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Post by skybright on Jul 12, 2006 23:39:32 GMT -5
Hubert glanced uncertainly at Daws, and opened his mouth to speak -- but the detective held up one hand.
"I know what you're thinkin', Hubert -- but for the time being, you're gonna have your hands full just trying to rebuild a life for yourself. There'll be other times." She grinned. "Besides -- I'm not even positive that Cole's gonna go for it, yet."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 12, 2006 23:45:20 GMT -5
"When will you be talking to Cole again?" Miriam asked.
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Post by skybright on Jul 12, 2006 23:51:28 GMT -5
"He's back in town Monday," Daws replied. "I called his office regarding . . . y'know, other things . . . and told them to just have him contact me then." She shrugged. "Seems a shame to waste an appointment, even if the original reason has passed."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 13, 2006 4:06:24 GMT -5
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens," Alex said with a shrug.
Joey scratched the back of his neck absent-mindedly. "I'd help if I could, but I don't know where any of the labs are. Mister Tiernan never had me deliver things that top-secret." He paused. "I guess if Mister Cole asks him about the research he's funding, he might think about the labs, even if he doesn't mention 'em."
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Post by skybright on Jul 13, 2006 16:14:19 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "That's kinda what I'm thinkin'. Of course," she shrugged, "I haven't got the first idea how mind-readers go about doin' what they do -- and so far as I'm concerned, Cole can handle that part of the operation." She grimaced faintly. "I see enough ugliness poking around in people's lives -- I've got zero interest in poking around in their brains."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 14, 2006 1:22:30 GMT -5
Miriam nodded, then sighed and squeezed Alex's arm. "I suppose we should be getting back to Sid's. You have to make dinner before you and Sid go to the Club, you know." She smiled faintly, then turned to Daws.
"Let us know when Doctor Ollivard is going to come pick Hubert up, alright? We'd like to see him off."
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