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Post by Jordanna on Feb 2, 2009 0:00:05 GMT -5
"Yeah. The papers Proteus smuggled out of that so-called clinic, before somebody decided to rearrange the furniture." Vance gestured for Daws to give Hubert the bundle. "We've already shown 'em to Mayor Cole. He recognized a few phone numbers--and he picked out a deputy police commissioner who seems to be on the black hats' payroll. Most of the rest is the kind of technobabble you boys speak."
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Post by skybright on Feb 2, 2009 0:09:41 GMT -5
"Did I hear someone say technobabble?" Caddy's voice broke in from the hall as Daws handed the papers to Hubert. The blonde doctor stuck his head into the room and raised an eyebrow. "Well now you've piqued my interest."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 2, 2009 0:23:06 GMT -5
"Yeah, and we need some translation, if you can actually manage to be bilingual about it for a few sentences." Vance nodded at the papers in Hubert's hands. "Proteus lifted that stuff from enemy territory before the bombing today."
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Post by skybright on Feb 2, 2009 0:30:36 GMT -5
Caddy nodded and dropped onto the sofa next to Hubert, peering at the documentation. "We heard about that. The casualties didn't end up at Mount Sinai -- too far out of the way -- but I might be able to get you some IDs, if you give me a day or so.
"Meanwhile," He frowned at the sheets of paper, "What've we got here?"
Hubert frowned thoughtfully and leafed through the top few sheets of paper. "This looks like the formula for Tiernan's ability-suppression drug -- it's not an exact duplicate . . ."
"Yeah, yeah." Caddy agreed, pointing, "Look, they're using a different amino acid for the basis. That'd make it a lot longer-lasting, actually."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 2, 2009 0:45:24 GMT -5
"If he doesn't know about it yet, here's hoping Tiernan doesn't glom onto that little modification," Vance remarked.
"And yeah, IDs on the casualties would help. Won't make any difference to the rest of us, but Proteus might like to know. He seems to've gotten attached to those clueless actors on the clinic staff--even brought us one for a souvenir."
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Post by skybright on Feb 2, 2009 0:52:07 GMT -5
Caddy grinned crookedly. "Gee, most people just send a postcard."
"Postcards take up a great deal less room." Hubert pointed out dryly, still thumbing through the paperwork.
He passed a few sheets to Caddy without looking up. "Double-check those, Cadeceus -- but I believe they're the parameters of the genetic profile the clinical staff are looking for."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 2, 2009 0:58:40 GMT -5
Vance stifled a mild curse. "I don't know science, but that sounds a little like something nobody oughta have their hands on. If they can map out that kind of stuff--I assume they can tinker with it too."
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Post by skybright on Feb 2, 2009 1:08:00 GMT -5
"We've already seen that they can." Daws muttered blackly.
Caddy looked up with a nod. "This kind of thing is at the cutting edge, Major. Nobody's got anywhere near as far as identifying a mutation by genes alone -- not yet, anyway." He gestured with the papers, "But they're starting to get good at identifying some trends; that's what this is. The rest might be decades away . . ."
"Or days." Hubert said grimly. "If we're unfortunate."
Caddy shuddered. "Not something I want to dwell on, thanks." He glanced over the papers again and shrugged. "Anyway, I'd say that's what this is for -- once they've screened for the kind of powers they want, they can use this to get even pickier about which of those subjects would be best suited for their research."
Daws grimaced. "That scenario calls for a lot more test subjects than I even want to imagine them getting their hands on."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 2, 2009 23:01:56 GMT -5
"They're not going to--as long as I'm still breathing," Vance growled viciously.
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Post by skybright on Feb 2, 2009 23:23:24 GMT -5
"Can't argue with that sentiment." Caddy said, examining a scrawled formula with a frown. "I'll tell you one thing -- scientifically, these guys are no slouches. This is advanced stuff."
"Was Proteus able to learn anything about the scientists working on this project?" Hubert asked, raising an eyebrow.
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 2, 2009 23:38:01 GMT -5
Vance scowled. "He wasn't ready to talk much--apparently he got hit on the head pretty good in the blast. Said he needed time to rest and heal up, so we left him alone for a while to bring this stuff to you and Cole." He lowered the eyebrow over his good eye with a shrug. "The impression I got, though, was that he spent most of the morning with the hired help."
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Post by skybright on Feb 2, 2009 23:46:36 GMT -5
Hubert nodded and turned his attention back to the paperwork. "Well, whoever they are, their operation must be enormously expensive." He waved a sheet of paper. "The chemicals and compounds on this list alone are worth a tremendous amount of money."
Daws scowled. "I suppose it's too much to hope for that they had 'em on hand -- and that they all went up in smoke."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 2, 2009 23:50:20 GMT -5
"Even if they did, we know they've got the resources to replace 'em--and fast," Vance muttered. "You know how soon they started up this operation after the loss they took at Mount Bliss. Wherever their nerve center is, it isn't in one of their actual labs. That's why it's so important for us to find that."
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Post by skybright on Feb 2, 2009 23:59:34 GMT -5
Daws sighed and nodded. "Yeah, but that's the real trick, isn't it? Even if we can trace the clinic's suppliers or run down that police commissioner, it's no guarantee that it'll put us any closer to the real source."
She flexed her claws, scowling. "What I'd really like is to get our hands on one of the guys running the clinic. That'd be a lot quicker way of getting some answers."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 3, 2009 23:23:48 GMT -5
Vance gave Daws a suddenly interested look.
"You might have an idea there. If one of the scientists landed in the hospital... well, that might present some possibilities."
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Post by skybright on Feb 3, 2009 23:30:18 GMT -5
Daws grinned wickedly and shot a glance at Caddy, who raised an eyebrow at her. "I know that look. Usually it ends with me having to break out the sutures." He waved one hand. "I'll pull some strings and get you the casualties' names as soon as I can do it."
Daws nodded. "The sooner the better. It won't do us much good if our target walks out before we know about him."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 3, 2009 23:41:41 GMT -5
Vance grinned wolfishly. Then his expression sobered as he glanced back at Caddy.
"Hubert said you were up checking on Doc Van Linden. Any sign she's coming out of it yet?"
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Post by skybright on Feb 3, 2009 23:50:25 GMT -5
Caddy's grin faded, and he shrugged solemnly. "She hasn't slipped any deeper into the coma." He said after a moment's pause, "And her vitals are holding steady. Those are both good signs."
"Good signs that still mean she's not waking up." Daws interjected quietly.
Caddy shifted his weight and sighed. "Well . . . yeah."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 3, 2009 23:56:47 GMT -5
Vance sighed. "I don't like that. But I don't guess there's anything I can do... at least for her. Does Foxy need anything?"
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Post by skybright on Feb 4, 2009 0:01:49 GMT -5
"He needs a few nights of uninterrupted sleep in his own bed." Hubert remarked with exasperated concern, not glancing up from the paperwork spread on the coffee table in front of him.
Caddy grinned a bit humorlessly. "What he said -- not that Alex will go for that, mind. Other than that . . ." He shrugged and gestured vaguely upwards. "You might ask him, I guess."
He spread his hands. "Don't get the wrong idea -- it's no trouble havin' him here. He just isn't doing himself any favors, physically or psychologically."
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