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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2007 22:00:22 GMT -5
"He's a long story." Daws replied. "A metamorph -- that's a very powerful shapeshifter -- who's worked with us some in the past. He used to be the leader of a group of mutant outcasts called the Spooks, until his helping us against Tiernan got the Spooks burned out of their shantytown. After that, I'm not sure he'd exactly call us friends -- but he's an ally." Her expression softened slightly as she glanced at Vance, "We owe him a lot."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2007 22:11:04 GMT -5
"He's gotten the short end for helping us, alright," Vance agreed solemnly. "It definitely sounds like he has a vendetta against Tiernan now--but he also has an ironclad moral code against doing anything that'll even lead to someone being hurt. I'm not sure how he's going to iron out that conflict."
He glanced at Daws. "But I don't think he'll have any objection to annoying Tiernan. I'm sure he won't mind helping to make sure we don't pick up any moles at Lusus. One is more than enough... Have you had any more ideas about Pink?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2007 22:23:29 GMT -5
Daws chuckled humorlessly. "Let's just say none that the Padre would sign off on. But we don't know anyone who could wipe her memory anyhow, so it's kind of a moot point."
She shrugged. "I dunno. Pink never used to strike me as the die-hard Tiernan-supporting type . . . more just like someone doing the job, y'know?" She rubbed one shoulder with a wry expression, "But she was the one who knocked me out when the Ferret first 'recruited' me. After that little encounter, I'm not so willing to give her the benefit of the doubt." She sighed. "I like her well enough -- but I don't think we can trust her. Of course, I also don't know how we go about getting her out of the way."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2007 22:31:37 GMT -5
Vance grinned and assumed a jocular tone. "Maybe we could get her married off. From what I hear, she's a flirt, but she doesn't get a lot of attention in return. Suppose some brave guy volunteered to sweep her off her feet and take her out of the seedy old bartending business."
His grin became malicious. "Maybe Caddy here."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2007 22:39:30 GMT -5
Caddy, whose attention had been diverted by one of Daw's battered detective novels, dropped the book with an abrupt noise of protest, holding both hands out. "Now hold on just a minute, Major. I mean, I'm all for makin' sacrifices for the cause and all that, everyone does their part, but let's don't get ridiculous!"
Daws grinned wickedly. "Oh, come on, Caddy. I'm sure you'd make a great match."
Caddy slumped back in his seat, shaking his head. "Abuse. All the valuable services I bring to this outfit, and abuse is what I get." He muttered mournfully.
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2007 22:51:39 GMT -5
"You should be takin' it as a compliment," Vance replied slyly. "It takes some very flattering qualifications to be nominated for a male Mata Hari. But come to think of it... you're probably right. You're not qualified."
Nate was stifling a laugh behind his fist.
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2007 23:01:14 GMT -5
Caddy looked slightly mollified. "Well, now, that's more like . . . hey!" He glanced sideways at Hubert with an aggrieved expression. "Don't bother leaping to my defense all in a rush here or anything."
Hubert chuckled. "When you seem to be doing such an excellent job of holding your own? Certainly not."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2007 23:13:23 GMT -5
"I'm going to like it around here," Nate murmured with amusement.
Vance frowned thoughtfully. "I know you've wanted to keep some distance from Sid for a while, but it might be a good idea to get in touch with him and the others about some of this Lusus stuff--and introduce them to Nate. Might as well get them used to a new face before any crisis comes up."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2007 23:18:54 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Long as we do it somewhere where there's no chance of one of Tiernan's rats spotting us. It's just the publicity that I want to avoid."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2007 23:25:46 GMT -5
"Might as well be a meeting at Our Lady," Vance remarked. "Unless Sid wants to invite us over for dinner--which wouldn't be too convenient with the kids around."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2007 23:29:42 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "No, I imagine that'd be a little hard to explain." She grinned wickedly, "And anyway, I'm sure the Padre'll want a chance to size up -- I mean, welcome the new arrival."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2007 23:46:32 GMT -5
"Okay, schedule a meeting with the Padre--and try to get word to Proteus, like you said." Vance smiled slightly and glanced at Nate. "In the meantime, I'll be busy putting this boy on KP."
His son winced. "Oh, Dad--sir--"
"I warned you you'd have to start at the bottom," Vance retorted. "I want you to know our operation from the inside out before you go into any danger."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2007 23:51:36 GMT -5
Daws snickered. "It's not too late to sign up for the nice, quiet underground life somewhere in Oklahoma, you know."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2007 0:03:05 GMT -5
Nathan shook his head resolutely. "This is my fight now."
Vance eyed him thoughtfully. "You're gonna need a nickname. We all have one--mostly tradition, but they're useful sometimes."
The younger man thought for a moment, then grinned. "Any objections to 'Specter'? That was the name of the video game character I was playing when I manifested."
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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2007 0:13:14 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "I like that -- fitting for more than one reason."
Caddy narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute -- I don't have a nickname."
"Sure you do." Daws replied blithely. "We call you 'the mouthy one'. Didn't you get the memo?" She grinned at him. "Think about it, you goof -- Caddy is a nickname."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2007 20:36:07 GMT -5
"And the definitions of caddy are either 'a device for moving or holding an item', or 'a boy who does odd jobs'," Vance added with a smirk. "So I'd say you've got yourself a pretty apt monicker either way."
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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2007 23:29:28 GMT -5
Caddy laughed and held out his hands. "Okay, okay, I give in already. My fragile ego can only put up with so much, yanno."
"You started it." Daws grinned fondly at him, then looked back to Vance. "Okay, I'll talk to the Padre and get a message out for Proteus." She frowned. "And if Cole ever does stop giving me the dodge -- I wouldn't say no to a little help in 'discussing' things with him."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2007 23:56:36 GMT -5
Vance nodded. "You've got it. Just let me know when."
He gave his son a glance, then looked at Daws again. "And I don't think I've got to tell you this, but I don't want Cole to get any more bargaining chips on his side of things--so try not to let on to him that Nate's with us." He grinned humorlessly. "If thinking quietly is possible for you."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2007 21:51:58 GMT -5
Daws nodded solemnly. "I'll do the best I can not to think of him at all while Cole's around."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2007 22:58:13 GMT -5
"Okay then." Vance stood up. "I guess I'll take Nate to the Secret Lair and lay low for a while. Let Tiernan's zombie cabbies tire themselves out looking for him before I take him around to meet everybody."
He grinned at Caddy and Hubert. "Nice job, boys. I owe you one."
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