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Post by skybright on Dec 3, 2009 23:52:54 GMT -5
"How do I know you aren't working for them?" Voegel snapped back, tugging at his bonds. "Just how did they manage to get past your hounds, anyway?"
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 4, 2009 0:00:25 GMT -5
Deep within himself, Proteus swallowed down a knot of fury and revulsion at Voegel's name for Doctor G's servile protectors.
"My 'hounds' don't have the greatest capacity for swift independent action," he grated, hoping it was the right bluff. "These thugs you see here are... more strongly motivated."
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Post by skybright on Dec 4, 2009 0:05:06 GMT -5
Voegel scowled across the room at Vance for a moment. "And it didn't occur to you that they might be motivated to plant evidence in my office?" He said, clearly trying for a bluff of his own.
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 4, 2009 22:42:35 GMT -5
"How do you suggest they 'planted' evidence they didn't possess?" Proteus shot back. "They certainly weren't the ones who took it from me. We've had no security breach... not from the outside," he added pointedly, glaring at Voegel. "Only authorized personnel could have taken the materials--and these people were in your apartment to steal it, not to leave it."
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Post by skybright on Dec 5, 2009 19:05:27 GMT -5
Voegel scowled. "There was nothing in my apartment that wasn't there legitimately. If you're accusing me of wrongdoing, you're chasing the wrong leak." His eyes narrowed. "And I'm sure our superiors would be very interested in your motivations for doing so."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 5, 2009 22:11:20 GMT -5
"It isn't my motivations they're concerned about," Proteus said ominously. "And as for whoever helped you remove my research from the lab--rest assured, a full investigation is already under way."
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Post by skybright on Dec 5, 2009 23:01:35 GMT -5
Voegel set his jaw. "Well, I'm sure I'll have some very revealing things to tell them." He replied coldly. "Or I would, if I thought for a moment you weren't bluffing."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 5, 2009 23:35:59 GMT -5
Proteus had grown entirely unsure of where to go next with this line of discussion, so he tried a different direction.
"You'll find out for yourself--when these meddlers are removed. And speaking of which, assuming you aren't working with them... what useful observations, if any, do you have about our present company?"
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Post by skybright on Dec 5, 2009 23:38:56 GMT -5
Voegel shot a coldly contemptuous glance across the room at Vance and the others. "Amateurs, as I said." He replied. "Well-organized ones, I'll give them that much -- but they're too bleeding-heart to be effective in the long run."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 5, 2009 23:45:55 GMT -5
Major Vance looked up from his cigar with a smirk. "You better be glad we are such bleeding-hearts. I can think of a few people who wouldn't have been quite so nice if they got to you first."
He was hoping Voegel would construe the remark as a veiled reference to the Mutant Citizens' Front--and hopefully betray some clue about it by his reaction.
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Post by skybright on Dec 5, 2009 23:54:37 GMT -5
Voegel snorted. "People like that put me in this condition, mutie." He replied contemptuously. "What have you done lately?"
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2009 0:00:47 GMT -5
"Oh, not much more than stopping a few plans by a mutant psychopath who'd like to make you norms the past tense," Vance remarked flippantly. "But you wouldn't be interested in that."
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2009 0:08:47 GMT -5
Voegel rolled his eyes glancing at Proteus. "As you can see, this one's convinced he can win me over." He shifted position gingerly. "Or talk me to death."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2009 0:20:50 GMT -5
"As long as he was interested in talking, you might have tried to learn a few things," Proteus said acerbically.
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2009 0:31:25 GMT -5
"Forgive me if I've been preoccupied." Voegel snapped. "Not all of us fared so well in that bombing as you apparently did."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2009 22:38:04 GMT -5
Vance straightened, leaning forward slightly in interest.
"In case you're wondering, that job wasn't ours," he remarked, and raised an eyebrow. "Matter of fact, Voegel, we've been kinda wondering if your own bosses planned that little stunt. They're getting plenty of publicity out of it--and if a coupla spare employees got hurt, well..." He waved a hand dismissively.
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2009 23:01:21 GMT -5
Voegel scoffed. "Do you know how much the equipment in that lab was worth? Far more than whatever publicity we might have gained from it." He raised a contemptuous eyebrow at Vance. "Public goodwill might matter to you, mutie -- it's hardly our first concern."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2009 23:25:02 GMT -5
Vance exchanged an interested look with Daws. That might have settled the question of whether the MCF was a front by the scientists themselves--but on the other hand, Voegel truly might not have been privy to all of his superiors' decisions.
"Well, if public goodwill doesn't matter to you, how about we get a newspaper to publish every one of the documents we took out of your apartment?" the Major asked.
Playing his part, Proteus offered a token, inarticulate growl of anger.
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Post by skybright on Dec 6, 2009 23:34:18 GMT -5
Voegel scowled blackly. "People protest advances in weapons technology all the time." He replied, "It doesn't stop weapons from advancing."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 6, 2009 23:48:32 GMT -5
Vance uttered a growl of his own. "Listen, Voegel--however it is you rationalize it all in that small, sick mind of yours, you're not dealing with raw materials--you're dealing with human lives. And even if things may be tough for mutants, in the end, the fact is there really aren't many people like you out there who can just ignore that."
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