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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2007 22:37:20 GMT -5
"Oh," Nate murmured dumbly.
Vance clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll have to take you around to Foxy Malone, and see what kind of disguise he can come up with for you."
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2007 22:42:47 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Alex oughtta be able to put together something pretty foolproof." She frowned thoughtfully. "I guess it's just as well you're going to be staying away from crowds for this little excursion -- Miss Cole isn't the type who disguises easily."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2007 22:48:33 GMT -5
"That shouldn't be a problem. The more out of sight they can be, the better," Vance remarked.
"I'm gonna need some good books," Nate sighed.
Handy grinned and poked him in the ribs. "Look at it this way: it's time off from KP."
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2007 22:53:14 GMT -5
Daws cocked an eyebrow at him and grinned. "Oh really? Someone's gonna have to cook the meals, y'know."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2007 23:02:25 GMT -5
"Which reminds me," Vance murmured, glancing at Daws. "Being a poor little rich kid, does Miss Cole have any servants around? Because if so, we'll either have to clue them in or get rid of them somehow."
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2007 23:09:56 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "Not to my knowledge, and I did a pretty thorough check of the place. There was a woman who'd been with the family for a long time, but she died about five years ago and I don't think she was ever replaced. It's just Miss Cole and about twenty acres of woods and security systems, really."
"Must be awful lonely." Ana remarked quietly.
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2007 23:39:50 GMT -5
Nate looked thoughtful. "Huh... Maybe it won't be so bad to keep her company, after all. I just hope she'll do most of the talking. I'm not much of a talker with strangers."
"You can sort all that out after you meet her," Vance replied as they reached the car. "For now we've got plenty of setting-up to do. Ana, we'll drop you at the parish... You want us to take you around to the Patils, Regina?"
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2007 23:46:18 GMT -5
"Yeah, if it's not too far out of the way." Daws replied with a shrug. "I can catch the subway, otherwise."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2007 23:50:03 GMT -5
"No problem at all." Vance slid into the driver's seat and fished his keys from his pocket. "I wouldn't mind seeing that lunatic Veeru, if he's not busy plotting some new way to kill himself."
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2007 23:56:44 GMT -5
Daws snorted. "If he is, he's finally figured out that telling me about it isn't the wisest course of action."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 7, 2007 0:05:43 GMT -5
The group of mutants passed by Our Lady of Refuge, where Ana was dropped off, and then the Vances, Daws, and Handy went on to Little India.
The Major inhaled a waft of curry fragrance as he climbed out of the car, and shook his head. "Smells good--but my powers don't include an indestructible stomach."
"It's better than some of the stuff I had to eat back in Iraq, when we were out mingling with the locals for our goodwill programs," Nate murmured.
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Post by skybright on Dec 7, 2007 0:17:52 GMT -5
Daws grinned crookedly and shook her head as she led the way around to the entrance of the building. "I was never too keen on middle-eastern food, myself." She admitted. "But after a couple years of Salman insisting I was too skinny for my own good, I did acquire a taste for Indian."
The group made their way to the third floor, and Daws slipped off her fedora as she knocked on the door. After a moment, the door cracked open and Veeru poked his head out -- breaking into a grin at the sight of his visitors. "Daws! How good to see you!"
"Evenin', V." Daws grinned and chucked her thumb at the trio behind her. "We've got a piece of work for Jai. Is now a good time?"
"Of course." Veeru stepped back from the door to allow them access to the apartment, nodding as he did so. "Good evening, Major Vance, Handy," Veeru raised an eyebrow at Nate, "And . . ."
"Major Vance's son, Nathan." Daws supplied -- since Veeru hadn't been present at the meeting introducing Nate to the rest of the resistance.
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 7, 2007 0:29:11 GMT -5
Nate smiled affably and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you, Mister--Patil, right?"
"Veeru Patil," Vance supplied with a nod, and glanced at Veeru. "Nate found out about my little project around here and came home from Iraq--without permission--to sign up. Now the Bat knows he's in town too, which obviously makes things nice and cozy."
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Post by skybright on Dec 7, 2007 0:33:55 GMT -5
Veeru pulled a wry face as he shook Nate's hand. "Obviously. Well, glad to know you all the same -- and please do call me Veeru." He chuckled affably. "As they say, Mister Patil is my father."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 7, 2007 22:48:46 GMT -5
The younger Vance grinned. "Then call me Nate."
Vance raised an eyebrow, glancing at Veeru. "So is Jai working on anything interesting these days? We could use some fresh intel."
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Post by skybright on Dec 8, 2007 0:58:41 GMT -5
"Nothing much more interesting than Tiernan's shipping schedules and a few art galleries with exhibits he might find tempting, I am afraid." Jai's tinny electronic voice broke in from the living-room speakers. "Though you are quite welcome to them, Major Vance."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 8, 2007 22:07:37 GMT -5
Nate started and looked around at the sound of the intruding voice.
Major Vance grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. "Relax... Veeru's brother sort of lives out of his computer."
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Post by skybright on Dec 8, 2007 23:02:42 GMT -5
"In a manner of speaking, anyway." Veeru added. He motioned for the group to follow him to the apartment's darkened back bedroom, and gestured them onto the low sofa against one wall.
"Have a seat and you can tell Jai about this job you have for him." He said. "Daws, get the lights, will you?"
Daws nodded and reached for the light switch, waiting for Veeru to sit down and make physical contact with Jai. Then she flicked on the lights and perched on the arm of the sofa.
Jai opened his eyes, blinking against the light and stretching his thin army above his head. "Good afternoon, Major Vance."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 8, 2007 23:08:40 GMT -5
"Hello, Jai." Vance inclined his head to his son. "My son, Lieutenant Nathan Vance, late of the U.S. Army--but you probably heard me introducing him to your brother." He turned to Nate. "This is Jai Patil, top hacker of the outfit."
Nate gazed around wonderingly at the array of computers. "Uh... yeah, I can see where he'd qualify." He cleared his throat and grinned at Jai. "Glad to meet you."
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Post by skybright on Dec 8, 2007 23:18:00 GMT -5
Jai smiled and nodded politely to Nate. "Likewise, I am sure. Nice to meet one of the people I have been helping to hide."
"I had Jai work up a bit of a fake paper trail for you," Daws explained, "Make it a little harder for the Bat to figure out where you are."
"You have scattered appearances at ATMs and the like all across the eastern seaboard and the Midwest." Jai supplied with a crooked grin, "As well as one or two in Canada, just to make it interesting."
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