|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 23, 2006 23:05:31 GMT -5
"Well, that'll be an interesting prospect, anyway." Vance rubbed his chin. "I don't think Proteus will give us much chance to use any knowledge he picks up. Not the way he feels about putting up a fight--or not."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 23, 2006 23:20:51 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. "You never know. Maybe he'll turn up somethin' that won't involve anyone getting hurt. There must be some havoc we can wreak on Tiernan that doesn't have to involve gunplay or explosions or even a fight."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 23, 2006 23:30:37 GMT -5
"Wanna bet? Tiernan's too smart not to have paid his taxes--and plenty of kickbacks besides." Vance frowned. "I'm not counting on any legal or business way to put a pinch on him. Even if we could find a basis for a legit charge, it wouldn't get anywhere."
Sid's expression hardened. "There's--" He paused abruptly, glancing at young Holly and Caleb beside him, then continued more carefully. "There's some things he does that're too much to buy his way out of. If we could just prove it well enough."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 23, 2006 23:53:02 GMT -5
Daws sighed. "It's our same old dilemma all over again." She shook her head. "Even if we had a way to prove . . . that; it'd still mean an awful blow to the way that people see all of us. Bad mutants get a lot more press than the good mutants tryin' to fight against them."
Veeru cleared his throat. "Perhaps you are all thinking of too narrow a definition of fight." He said. "My father had a saying -- 'Not every blow is dealt with the hand'."
Daws raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Okay, V, when you break out the Indian proverbs, I start getting worried. What're you talking about?"
Veeru smiled and spread his hands. "Just that there are ways to fight Tiernan that don't involve hand-to-hand combat. My brother, after all, could never fight against Tiernan physically."
His voice was tinged with pride as he added "But . . . he is a very good hacker."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 23, 2006 23:58:13 GMT -5
Vance rested his chin on his hand. "Well, Patil, you tell him he's got my blessing to chop away at Tiernan's computers--if he doesn't trip any security and get himself killed. That's not in my line, so I don't know what he can accomplish. But if he can come up with any ideas, I'll be glad to hear 'em."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 24, 2006 0:16:55 GMT -5
Veeru nodded. "He has been 'snooping around', to use Daws' phrase, almost since we learned about Tiernan. It's slow going -- Tiernan is as cautious with his computer systems as he is with everything else -- but if it can be done," He smiled proudly, "Then Jai can do it."
"Just you be careful, both of you." Daws admonished him. "I've already saved you two from one giant evil corporation in my life -- one was more than enough."
Veeru made a wry face at her. "Mother hen."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 24, 2006 0:32:48 GMT -5
Vance sighed. "Speaking of mother hens, I think it's about time I cleared my boys out of here and sent them home to bed. If I can pry Handy away from his blonde bombshell, that is."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 24, 2006 0:46:02 GMT -5
Daws laughed. "Good luck with that, Vance."
"I guess we oughtta get moving, too." Caddy said, glancing at his watch. "I've got the midmorning shift tomorrow -- and besides, it's past Hubert's bedtime."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 24, 2006 20:02:20 GMT -5
Henry, who had been silent and thoughtful for some time, glanced over at Daws. "I can take you home, if you like."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 24, 2006 21:47:02 GMT -5
Daws smiled and nodded. "I'd appreciate that, Henry. There's no telling when they'll get the subway sorted out."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 24, 2006 22:05:43 GMT -5
Sid stood up, glancing over his shoulder to where Vance was herding his men toward the exit (and Handy was reluctantly parting with Grace). "Well, if everybody's leavin', I guess we'll get going too."
Proteus glanced at Daws. "If you don't mind, I'll come around your office tomorrow, or whenever Joey will be there."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 24, 2006 22:18:20 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "We'll both be in tomorrow morning -- nothing much lined up for this week, so stop by anytime."
She grinned and held her hand out to Sid. "Sid -- thanks for a great evening."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 24, 2006 22:24:40 GMT -5
Sid grinned and shook Daws' hand. "Thanks for helpin' ta make it great. We gotta stay a few minutes an' see all the stragglers out, so you an' Henry might as well go on." He released her hand and patted her shoulder. "Take care out there."
As Henry and Daws made their way out, they encountered Vance by the door. Ever wary of attracting attention, he was pulling on a coat to conceal his uniform. He smiled crookedly at Daws and held out his hand to her.
"So long for now, detective. Keep in touch."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 24, 2006 22:45:43 GMT -5
Daws clasped Vance's hand in return. "You do the same, Vance. Take care of yourself." Then she grinned. "And thanks for the dance."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 24, 2006 23:08:12 GMT -5
Vance's smile twisted a little more. "Any time," he replied, and strode out the door--along the way hooking Handy, who tore himself away from Grace with a sigh.
"There go Abbott and Costello," Henry murmured, searching his pockets for his car keys.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 24, 2006 23:17:38 GMT -5
Daws laughed. "Laurel and Hardy never wreaked half so much havok as those two." She replied, pulling on her trenchcoat.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 24, 2006 23:29:40 GMT -5
The pair walked out to Henry's car. Henry unlocked the passenger door for Daws, then slid into the driver's seat with a sigh.
"I really shouldn't have come tonight," he said as he started the engine. "All I did was make others uncomfortable, and myself..."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 24, 2006 23:38:15 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "Look, Henry . . ." she sighed. "I'm sorry that the cards fell for ya the way they did. I know . . . I know that it can't be easy for you, bein' around Alex and Miriam. But . . ."
She shrugged and gave a faint half-smile. "You're still her -- our friend. Miriam wouldn't be the only one who'd be sorry to see you stay away."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Sept 24, 2006 23:50:03 GMT -5
Henry smiled ruefully. "I appreciate that, Daws." The smile faded. "But it isn't only that. I feel very... un-useful now. I'm neither a mutant nor a fighter. I can't even do anything to help take care of Miriam--Sid has taken that role. He seems to fit in very easily with the rest of you... but I don't. I'm not sure of my place in this fight... if I even have one at all."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Sept 25, 2006 19:53:23 GMT -5
Daws was quiet for a long moment before she said "For one thing, Henry . . ." she frowned and glanced out the window.
"I don't like to even admit the possibility, but -- this's gonna be a long, ugly fight. And most likely, before it's over . . ." she sighed. "We're gonna lose more people."
Daws shook her head. "Part of me hates saying it, but it's just a fact. And it's . . . well, not easy, but at least easier -- to know that we have someone to turn to when that happens. Someone we can trust."
She gave a faint, sad smile and glanced back at Henry. "It's a rotten place to have, maybe -- but it's still important."
|
|