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Post by skybright on Jul 25, 2007 22:04:39 GMT -5
Caddy's head had jerked around in momentary confusion at the sound of Handy's whistle. "What's . . ."
"Trouble." Hubert hadn't taken his eyes off of Nate, and he could only assume that the signal meant the taxi driver was not an ally. He gave one feirce yank on Caddy's sleeve before releasing it and breaking into a run. "Come on, Cadeceus," he called back over his shoulder, "And put that brain of yours to some good, will you?"
Caddy frowned, sprinting after the smaller man as he sped towards the taxi. "What?"
"The suitcase!" Hubert snapped back at him, putting on a burst of speed that Caddy wouldn't have expected of him.
It took the taller man a moment before he understood the suggestion, and even then he wasn't sure it was a sound one.
Further away than I usually use it . . . and I've never tried it running before, either . . . I dunno if it'll even reach like this . . . Nevertheless, Caddy furrowed his brow and -- without slowing pace -- directed what he hoped would be a vicious telekinetic yank at the handle of the suitcase in the taxi driver's hand . . .
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 25, 2007 22:15:06 GMT -5
The cab driver gave a slight grunt as the suitcase, in the middle of being hefted into the trunk of the taxi, suddenly heeled to one side. Its momentum threw him off balance and sent him flailing down onto the curb. Nate--who had been putting another bag in the trunk, and saw the tumble only from the corner of his eye--automatically moved to help the fallen man up.
As Handy pantingly closed the distance, he saw three more cab drivers climbing out of their vehicles with less than solicitous expressions, and groaned inwardly.
Stupid, stupid... didn't bother thinkin' the bat owns half the cab drivers in town, did ya?
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Post by skybright on Jul 25, 2007 22:23:01 GMT -5
"Hey, it worked!" Caddy's brief grin of surprise faded as the doors of several cabs opened and several very unpleasant-looking cab drivers emerged.
He put on a quick burst of speed and drew up next to Hubert, who was still barrelling towards Nate's position with a deeply determined look on his face. Caddy glanced frantically back over his shoulder.
Now would be a really excellent time for that backup Handy was talkin' about . . . he reflected desperately, 'Cause I'm pretty sure the three of us aren't gonna be able to take all of those guys . . .
He turned his attention back to the scene ahead of them and -- somewhat encouraged by the success of grabbing the suitcase -- aimed a similar telekinetic pull at the ankles of the smallest approaching cab driver . . .
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 25, 2007 22:42:07 GMT -5
Caddy's target went down with a yelp, but two more mutant cabbies were still coming to the aid of the first, converging around Nate Vance. Conscious by now that something was wrong, he began to back away from them.
The rest of Major Vance's men had heard Handy's warning whistle, but they were positioned closer to the pier--and those who had longer-range powers were restrained from using them by the civilians crowding the taxi stands. They were still running toward the scene when Handy reached it, all four fists swinging.
Handy was no trained pugilist, but with the aid of surprise, his dogged blows took down two of the cabbies. However, one of them managed to drag him down in a heap with them, and the last and biggest cabbie loomed forward to annihilate him...
Something dark descended upon the hulk, and he let out a yell as he was dragged backward by some half-visible thing.
At the same moment Nate had recovered his wits, and scrambled to haul Handy from the struggling tangle.
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Post by skybright on Jul 25, 2007 22:53:11 GMT -5
Caddy and Hubert reached the scene of the fight at almost the same time; Caddy dashed to help disentangle Handy from his attacker, and Hubert moved to follow -- only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
The smallest of the cab drivers -- the one Caddy had tripped up with his teke -- had recovered his footing and at least part of his wits.
Oh, no . . . Hubert clenched his fists, shut his eyes and swung out blindly at the man behind him -- and by some lucky chance, his fist caught the cab driver squarely on the side of the jaw. The man's eyes rolled back in his head, and -- as Hubert cautiously opened his eyes -- his attacker crumpled to the pavement.
Hubert stared down at him in astonishment for a moment, then turned to join Handy, Caddy, and Nathan Vance.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 25, 2007 23:02:05 GMT -5
Once Nate had figured out what was going on, his military training kicked in. He landed a few kicks and punches that left most of the attackers reeling--and when the big one stumbled forward again, he was once more collared by the solid shadow that had tackled him before.
Before Handy, Caddy, or Hubert could get a good glimpse of that phenomenon, Major Vance's men had arrived to pile onto the thugs. Someone shouted to get the Lieutenant out of there--sharply enough to make Handy obey on instinct. He quickly seized Nate's wrist and dragged the young soldier toward the nearest abandoned cab.
"C'mon, you two!" he shouted at Caddy and Hubert.
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Post by skybright on Jul 25, 2007 23:05:56 GMT -5
"Don't haveta tell me twice!" Caddy replied, aiming one last telekinetic shove at the nearest attacker. Then -- a trifle breathlessly -- he and Hubert both dashed after Handy and piled into the back of the cab.
"I think 'step on it' is the phrase the kids are using!" Caddy said, slamming the door firmly behind them and glancing at the melee through the back window.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 25, 2007 23:19:03 GMT -5
For all his shortcomings as a hand-to-hand fighter, Handy could manage anything with wheels like a Formula One racer. The taxi peeled out of the cab stand, weaved perilously around several other honking, brake-screeching vehicles, shot across a wide intersection, and inside of a minute was lost in a maze of back streets among the waterfront warehouses.
"Don't worry about those guys back there," Handy asserted quickly to Caddy and Hubert. "They'll mop up the bad guys."
Nathan Vance, from his place beside Handy in the front passenger seat, was regarding the trio with mildly bemused but calm interest.
"Well, I wasn't exactly expecting a parade," he murmured wryly. "Just do me a favor, will you, and reassure me I didn't accidentally side with my kidnappers instead of innocent cabbies coming to my rescue."
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Post by skybright on Jul 25, 2007 23:27:19 GMT -5
Having recovered his breath from the dash to the taxi, Caddy grinned and opened his mouth to reply -- but Hubert elbowed him gently in the ribs and leaned forward, speaking through the windowed partition between the back and front seats of the cab.
"We're friends of your father's, Lieutenant Vance -- My name is Hubert, Jacob Hubert. My friend back here is Doctor Caddy Ollivard, and our driver," he nodded, "One Mister Handy McCarty."
Apparently satisfied that Hubert had had his say, Caddy also leaned forward. "We might come across a little odd, but that's nothin' to worry about. We're good guys, really. One hundred percent white-hats." He paused for a moment, thoughtfully, and added "If you need proof, we're supposed to mention a red bicycle and a paper route you had when you were a kid."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 25, 2007 23:35:37 GMT -5
Nate's face immediately became serious.
"What's happened to Dad? Is he okay? Where is he?"
Handy grinned. "We're takin' you to him now. Don't worry. But ya better let him do the 'splainin'. Those guys we just got away from woulda loved to use you to get to him--so ya know we're not playin' games here."
Nate leaned back thoughtfully. "Mom said Dad had her put out of the way because people were after him. Same thing here?"
"Same thing here." Handy frowned, glancing back at Caddy in the back seat. "I just hope nobody got a good look at you, Doc."
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Post by skybright on Jul 25, 2007 23:42:49 GMT -5
"I just hope nobody heard you." Hubert added dryly, crossing his arms. "Your voice does tend to be your truly defining attribute, Cadeceus."
Caddy shrugged at both of them. "Don't worry -- I don't think anybody did any real noticing during that whole free-for-all." A gleeful look crept over his face and he sprawled back against the seat. "Hubert, you clocked a guy! I never woulda thought it of you -- not unless someone was threatening your coffee supply before breakfast, anyway -- but man, I'm impressed."
Hubert made a dismissive noise, although he did look somewhat proud of himself. "That was luck, nothing more. I certainly won't be making a habit of it."
Caddy's grin turned wicked. "Good to hear it -- since I'm the one usually threatening your coffee supply and all."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 25, 2007 23:49:20 GMT -5
"Am I imagining things, or are you acting like this kind of thing is routine around here?" Nate asked.
Handy grinned. "It's a livin', pal. Welcome to the mutant underworld."
Nate shook his head dazedly. "I've been on the wrong battlefield."
"Those cab jerks didn't use any powers," Handy observed. "I guess they didn't wanna get too much attention from the norms--not that that tangle was exactly on the sly. Our guys held off for the same reason. We didn't do too bad holdin' down the scene, after all," he judged proudly.
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Post by skybright on Jul 25, 2007 23:52:43 GMT -5
"Didn't devolve into a softball game, anyhow." Caddy agreed, lacing his hands behind his head. "And I got to learn a couple new tricks with my teke, which is always nice."
Hubert frowned thoughtfully. "I assume it was one of our people who sent that . . . well, that black whatever-it-was. We'd have been in a great deal more trouble if that largest cabdriver hadn't been wrestling with that."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 26, 2007 22:22:46 GMT -5
Nathan Vance's face colored with an abrupt, dark blush, and he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"Oh... I was kind of hoping you hadn't noticed that."
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Post by skybright on Jul 26, 2007 22:32:49 GMT -5
"Sorta hard not to notice. I mean, it's a weird city, sure, but flying shadows are still a little bit outta the ordinary, all the same." Caddy remarked.
Hubert cast an examining glance at Nate. "Am I right in saying that we have you to thank for that particular phenomenon?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 26, 2007 22:52:05 GMT -5
Handy finally caught the drift of the conversation, and the taxi lurched as its right front tire bumped over the curb. Handy's head swung around to stare gape-jawed at Nate.
"What?"
Nate ducked his head and shrugged. "I, uh... haven't quite got it figured out yet."
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Post by skybright on Jul 26, 2007 22:59:22 GMT -5
"Well, it's really not that surprising." Caddy remarked, leaning forward and resting his folded arms on the back of the front seat. "I mean, since your father manifested late and all. We've known for years that certain mutational traits get passed down with the X-gene, and time of manifestation is one of 'em. There's a case study out of Iceland . . ."
"Caddy." Hubert said chidingly.
The younger man looked faintly chagrined. "Right. Sorry. Shutting up."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 26, 2007 23:09:32 GMT -5
Handy smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Geez, your dad's gonna have kittens! Of all the stuff we go through, the thing that's always upset him most is the idea of you havin' to deal with--this."
"Don't I know it!" Nate replied. "That's the reason we fought over my joining the Army. He was convinced something would happen to me that'd wake up some kind of nutty genetic code inside me, just like it happened to him."
"Is that what happened?" Handy asked commiseratingly.
Nate grinned uncomfortably. "Not exactly."
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Post by skybright on Jul 26, 2007 23:16:03 GMT -5
"So what did happen?" Caddy asked innocently. "Chemical spill? That accounts for a lot of later-life mutations, actually -- along with exposures to high levels of . . ."
"Cadeceus." Hubert sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, then glanced at Nate. "Please don't feel compelled to answer him, Lieutenant. In fact, please don't feel compelled to acknowledge him -- it only encourages him."
Caddy leaned back with a mock-sulking expression. "You," he remarked, "Spoil all of my fun."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 26, 2007 23:31:40 GMT -5
Nate blinked at Handy and tilted his head toward the back seat. "Are they yours, or are you just babysitting?"
Handy suppressed a chortle. "Nah, they're just the mad scientists of the outfit. Too much time alone with coffee and their own brains."
"Uh-huh." Nate sighed. "If you don't mind, I'll explain the whole thing to Dad first--but first I want some answers. Who were those creeps back there working for, and what do they want with my father?"
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