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Post by Jordanna on Jun 28, 2006 23:16:34 GMT -5
Vance gave a predatory grin. "Careful what you wish for, detective."
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Post by skybright on Jun 29, 2006 0:32:00 GMT -5
Daws chuckled. "Sounds like a challenge, to me." She leaned back in her chair. "But I'm game for it."
Once breakfast had been polished off, Daws stood and retrieved her bag. "I think I'm gonna get in a shower." She gave Sid a wicked grin and jerked a thumb at Huber. "Try'n keep this creep out of trouble, will ya?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 29, 2006 0:47:46 GMT -5
"Sure," Sid muttered, with a malicious look at Huber. "Too bad ya didn't have Foxy pick up a set a' darts. We already got us a nice dartboard."
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Post by skybright on Jun 29, 2006 0:56:29 GMT -5
Daws shook her head and disappeared, chuckling, into the bathroom.
Huber gave Sid a disapproving glance. "It would hardly surprise me if you lot did resort to such measures as a means of amusement." His expression grew puzzled.
"It's clear that none of you have any respect for my person or my work. I find I'm at a loss to understand why you bothered to intervene -- if this supposed other party was allegedly plotting my death, it seems that would only be a benefit to you."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 29, 2006 1:12:47 GMT -5
"We know you've got a penpal helping you cook up your nasty little germs; the other guy either doesn't know that, or hasn't considered it. Besides, with your goofy habits, you probably have records squirreled away in a dozen places." Vance folded his arms. "If we let anything happen to you--yet--it'd get pretty hard to pick up all those loose puzzle pieces."
"That's only part of the reason," Miriam cut in. She gave Huber a hard look. "You won't understand this, but we intervened because we respect life--all life. Even yours. And we're going to try every option we have to keep you alive... but that depends on you."
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Post by skybright on Jun 29, 2006 1:20:39 GMT -5
Huber frowned. "I hope you aren't expecting my cooperation -- you won't recieve it."
He glanced haughtily at Vance and said, with somewhat forced bravado, "Do what you want to me, but I won't give you any information leading to my research assistant or my notes."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 29, 2006 1:34:09 GMT -5
"I've heard that one before." Vance gave Huber a remarkably frightening smile. "Whether you wanna 'cooperate' or not has nothing to do with it. You've got no choice in the matter. You'll give up what we want to know, one way or another--and believe me, there are quite a few ways. If we have to leave out the ones that are easiest for you..." He shrugged. "Well, we gave you a chance to play nice."
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Post by skybright on Jun 29, 2006 1:45:14 GMT -5
Huber blanched visibly and instinctively shrank away from the frightening look in Vance's eyes.
"You . . . all of you think you're so noble," He said, "Fighting for your supposed 'rights'. I know you think of my research as reprehensible. But the future will judge between us. Even if you stop me, eventually someone will succeed -- and we will be lauded for saving true humanity from extinction." The tone of the scientist's voice spoke less of disdain than of reassurance -- as if he'd repeated the same thing to himself on more than one occasion.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 29, 2006 1:57:56 GMT -5
"You really are an idiot," Vance replied, in a bored tone. "Do you seriously think all your hot air is gonna make us decide to agree with you that we shouldn't be alive? That record is getting mighty old, Huber--so turn it off, before I pull out the duct tape and do it myself."
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Post by skybright on Jun 29, 2006 2:08:38 GMT -5
Huber gave a disgusted sigh and looked pointedly away from the group. "I really should know better." He remarked bitterly. "I don't know what posesses me to even attempt reasoning with mutations. You're all alike."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 29, 2006 2:19:07 GMT -5
"Funny, I always thought you mundanes were all alike," Handy quipped. "You don't--well, do anythin'."
"Handy," Vance murmured in quiet warning. The Major then turned to Alex and Miriam. "No need for you two to stick around."
"No reason to be anyplace else at the moment," Miriam replied. "Besides, Alex will have to take Sid to the Club later."
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Post by skybright on Jun 29, 2006 18:03:26 GMT -5
A few minutes of silence passed before Daws re-emerged from the tiny bathroom, running her fingers through her damp hair and smoothing down mussed fur. She took a quick look around the room before plopping down on the free bed and grinning cheekily at Huber.
"Why so glum, buddy?" She asked brightly. "Still haven't converted any of my pals to the cause yet?"
Huber's only response was to roll his eyes, turn his head away from Daws, and mutter an unprintable suggestion about her parentage.
Daws made a chiding sound and glanced at the others. "We've really gotta work on Doctor Huber's manners, guys. His mother obviously never taught 'im how to behave in the presence of a lady."
"Hmmph." Huber shot the detective a brief, acidic glance. "Having never observed me in a lady's presence, mutant, I'm not sure what your basis for that statement is."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 30, 2006 0:22:14 GMT -5
Vance made a slight rumbling noise. "I'm starting to lose my patience with your lip, Big Brain. Another crack about either of these ladies' dignity, and you're gonna get a third-degree burn someplace real unpleasant." To illustrate the point, he popped a spark to light a cigar.
Sid smirked at Vance. "So ya got a sense a' chivalry. Who'da thunk it."
"I don't stand for insults to women," Vance murmured, slouching lower in his chair and stretching out his legs.
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Post by skybright on Jun 30, 2006 1:13:14 GMT -5
Daws gave Vance a lopsided grin. "I been called a lot worse, Major -- but thanks for the backup, anyhow."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 30, 2006 1:19:46 GMT -5
Vance shrugged. "Personal code and all that." Then he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Now what was that about playing chess?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 30, 2006 1:29:39 GMT -5
Daws smirked. "I'm ready if you are."
She gestured at Sid, who was seated on one of the wooden chairs. "Trade me places, willya? I've got to teach the Major the finer points of chess strategy."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 30, 2006 1:38:08 GMT -5
Sid removed himself from his chair with a skeptical expression. "I dunno, Daws. Somethin' tells me Vance is the chess type."
"Well, I happen to like strategy," Vance replied modestly. "If things hadn't happened the way they did, I was thinking about a tactical training post at West Point someday."
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Post by skybright on Jun 30, 2006 1:45:25 GMT -5
Daws chuckled as she cleared away the remnants of breakfast and laid out the chessboard. "That doesn't surprise me. I had you pegged as an Art of War type."
She gestured at the chess pieces. "Black or white, Major?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 30, 2006 1:48:58 GMT -5
Vance chuckled. "I think black is more my style," he replied, as he began to set up the black pieces on his side of the chessboard.
"This is gonna be a spectator sport," Alex remarked, settling into one of the nearby chairs.
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Post by skybright on Jun 30, 2006 1:57:33 GMT -5
Daws grinned slyly at Alex. "You guys could always set up a betting pool, y'know." She gestured at the captive scientist. "Huber could hold the stake money."
Getting no response (except a persecuted look), Daws turned her attention to setting up her own pieces.
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