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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2006 17:50:16 GMT -5
Shortly before ten o'clock, the last few resistance members from Our Lady of Refuge drifted into the office of Grimalkin, Inc. Daws greeted each of them at the door, always checking the street outside for any sign of observers.
Timothy Landon and Ana Cordova were the last to show up; they arrived together, dressed like most of the others in dark, nondescript clothing. Ana grinned as they entered the office.
"Gonna be a nice night for some havok-wreakin', I think."
Daws nodded. "Soon as Vance and his people get here, we'll be ready to go over the plan." She glanced briefly out through the blinds. "Sid, Alex and the Doc oughtta be here soon, too."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2006 19:42:21 GMT -5
"You know you don't have to do this, Alex," Miriam protested for the dozenth time, as she, Alex, and Sid approached the door of Daws' office.
"Ya might as well drop it, Doc," Sid remarked dourly. "You know he's not gonna back out if you don't. If ya ask me, neither of ya oughta be here."
"I'll agree to that," Alex remarked nervously, "but I'm going where she goes." With that, he knocked at the door.
"You're an idiot," Miriam told him, with a smile of rueful affection. He made a face at her, then leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips.
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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2006 23:37:22 GMT -5
Daws opened the door while her two friends were still mid-kiss, and didn't even bother trying to disguise her grin. "Y'know, I could come back if I'm interruptin' something . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2006 23:41:13 GMT -5
Alex blushed deeply and pulled away from Miriam, clearing his throat. "Uh, no, of course not. We were just..."
"Just arguin' over who's more stubborn," Sid interjected with a grin, pushing past the couple. "Hiya, Daws."
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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2006 23:45:41 GMT -5
"Hey, Sid. Glad you guys made it okay." She stepped back and ushered her friends into the office. "I think you know most everyone from Our Lady already. Major Vance and his cohorts oughtta be along any time now."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2006 23:59:39 GMT -5
"Bully to you too," retorted the voice of the Grenadier from the darkness beyond the door, before Daws had a chance to close it. Major Vance sauntered up to the threshold, with several shadowy figures silhouetted behind him.
"I guess the party can start now," Sid remarked.
Vance waved a hand and stepped in, with Handy and half a dozen followers trailing after him. "Just for the record, I've got a lot bigger force than this already waiting near the lab. This gang can relay the plans to 'em. I figured it'd get pretty crowded if I brought the whole squad in here."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2006 0:05:34 GMT -5
"Yeah, it's not exactly a convention center." Daws replied. Then she cleared her throat and turned to the small knot of resistance members from Our Lady.
"All right, guys -- most've you were at the bridge, so I don't need to remind you that we're doing serious business here. Let's stay focused on the job at hand -- hittin' Tiernan hard and fast enough to rattle his teeth."
She raised an eyebrow and gestured faintly at Vance. "You wanna do the honors, Major?"
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2006 0:26:34 GMT -5
Vance shrugged. "Except for those of you detailed to kill outgoing communications, the job's gonna be pretty straightforward. We punch in fast and don't leave anybody standing. Just knock the guards and the staff out cold if you can--but if they don't feel like playing nice, do what you have to do. And remember this: I'll be bringing in a strong force of experienced fighters on my team, so don't hesitate to yell for help if you need it." He smiled. "With any luck, you civilians'll come outta this with more experience than injuries."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2006 0:34:00 GMT -5
"Don't you worry 'bout us civilians, Major." Ana Cordova broke in, letting a small arc of blue electric current play idly over her fingers. "You just point us in the right direction, an' we'll give them baddies a scrap worth rememberin'."
"So long as you and Timothy hit the communications before you decide to start scrapping, Ana." Daws said. Then she shrugged and glanced around. "Okay, remember -- out in the warehouse you can have at it, but once we get into the lab proper, try to watch out what you're blasting, knocking over or zapping." She glanced pointedly at Ana. "We're not sure what all might be in there -- but some of it might be hazardous.
"Just keep your minds on the job, and watch out for each other."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2006 0:48:12 GMT -5
Vance nodded. "Alright, kids. Time to go outside and play."
As the mixed group of fighters shuffled out of the office, Vance caught up with Daws and shook his head.
"These are just children when it comes to fighting," he said in a low voice. "I hope they don't get the kind of bloody nose they caught at the bridge."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2006 0:53:57 GMT -5
Daws sighed as she locked the office door behind them. "You an' me both, Major. I don't ever wanna be the one to tell the Padre he's got to bury another parishioner."
She shrugged slightly and pulled a pair of black leather gloves from her back pocket. "But they've gotta learn how to fight, Vance, and there's only the one way to learn that -- by doing it." She pulled the gloves on and patted the butt of her pistol. "Same way I learned."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2006 1:06:56 GMT -5
"From your mouth to God's ear," Vance murmured, and turned to head for his van.
Under the cover of darkness, an eccentric caravan of vehicles made its way across town to the Gray Lab, finally creeping into position three blocks away. The fighters climbed out and continued the rest of the way on foot. Finally they gathered at the base of the fire escape across the street, where Daws and Vance had chatted pleasantly over an evening's espionage the night before.
"Okay," the Major said to Daws, "this is it. Let's send in those crack comm scramblers of yours. Just remember, the timing's gotta be exact. We can't risk any alarm going out."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2006 1:12:40 GMT -5
Daws nodded and gestured Timothy and Ana forward from the group. "You two know what to do?"
"Sure." Timothy nodded and pushed pale blonde hair back from his eyes. "I probably could do the building from here, but . . . I wait until Ana's ready, then I toss out a scramble on every band I can think of. Shouldn't be able to get so much as an easy-listening AM station after that."
"An' I wait 'til Tim's ready, then push a good jolt right inta the phone box." Ana grinned in anticipation. "Just like the good ol' days, prankin' high school teachers."
"This ain't high school, Ana." Daws reminded her. Then she nodded. "Okay, guys, go to -- and good luck."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2006 1:21:02 GMT -5
Sid frowned as he watched the two mutants advance stealthily toward the building.
"Vaya con Dios, in the words of Consuela," he muttered. He glanced toward Miriam and Alex, who stood apart and conversed in whispers, then turned to Daws.
"Look, if I get caught up somewhere... you'll make sure those two stay outta trouble, won'tcha?" He shrugged. "I mean... we've been talkin' about how dangerous the stuff in there might be, an' the Doc's plannin' to go straight for it."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2006 1:27:25 GMT -5
Daws nodded gravely. "I'll take care of 'em, Sid -- don't you worry." She gave the older man a lopsided grin. "Now you do me a favor and take care of you, willya? Those two aren't the only ones who'd be lost without ya."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2006 1:46:46 GMT -5
Sid ducked his head. "Thanks, Daws--an' the same goes for you. Don't you even let 'em see hide or hair of ya, or you'll be in a whole world a' trouble."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2006 1:55:22 GMT -5
Daws flashed a brief grin and pulled a black ski mask from her back pocket. "That's what this's for, my friend." She tugged the mask on with a slight grimace. "Gonna make all kinds of a mess out of my fur -- but it's worth it, to keep my anonymity."
From the shadows across the street came the brief sound of arcing current -- so faint that even Daws barely heard it. A moment later, a shower of blue sparks signaled that Ana and Timothy had completed their task.
Daws nodded. "Okay -- communications're out."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2006 19:42:38 GMT -5
Sid turned to look for Major Vance, expecting that he would give the order to move--but the Grenadier was nowhere in sight.
A moment later, the muffled sound of an explosion reverberated from the rear of the Gray Lab. As the fighters looked around in confusion, Handy seized Daws and Sid by their wrists.
"A diversion, he said--draw the guards to the back of the place..."
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Post by skybright on Aug 5, 2006 20:12:40 GMT -5
Daws made a frustrated noise in the back of her throat and shook her head. "That man'll be the death of me . . ."
Then she raised her voice to a shout. "Okay, people, let's do this like we talked about it! Everyone around to the back of the lab -- move it!"
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 5, 2006 21:46:18 GMT -5
Sid caught Daws by the shoulder before she could start running. "Some of us better take the front so those scientists don't come spillin' out the exit! I'll go."
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