|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 24, 2007 23:02:36 GMT -5
Roger grinned wanly. "We're Major Vance's boys. We can handle it."
He shook Daws' hand, and after cautiously scanning the street through the window, he went out.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 24, 2007 23:16:49 GMT -5
Once Roger was gone, Daws ducked into the inner office and dialed the number for Our Lady of Refuge. The phone rang several times before Father Rick finally picked up -- sounding decidedly harried.
"I suppose you know what's going on." Daws sighed and pushed her fedora back.
"Oh, yes. I've had calls from most of the resistance." The Padre made a displeased noise. "People are worried -- and scared. This could get a lot uglier, Daws."
"I know. Believe me." She shook her head. "I'm still going out to Sid's -- we'll have to break this to Proteus, and we'll have to discuss what comes next. Besides, there's nothing useful I can do in town. You still coming with me?"
"Sure I am." The priest replied, "If nothin' else, I want to keep up with whatever goes on -- so I can keep the rest of the resistance informed. I'll be there in a bit."
Daws nodded. "Okay. I guess I'll see you then."
***
An hour or so later, the battered old car that belonged to the parish pulled into Sid's driveway. Daws climbed out and headed for the front door with the Padre a few steps behind her. The detective grimaced as she reached for the doorbell.
"This," she remarked glumly, "Is gonna be a long day."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 26, 2007 1:27:41 GMT -5
Sid answered the door, looking grim.
"Hiya, Daws... Proteus still don't know what's gone down in Spooktown. But I slipped in an' told the Major when Proteus was downstairs gettin' their breakfast."
Almost as an afterthought, he smiled wanly at Father Steele. "Hi, Padre."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 26, 2007 16:20:04 GMT -5
Father Rick smled thinly as he and Daws stepped inside. "Good to see you again, Sid. I only wish the circumstances were better ones."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 26, 2007 23:53:38 GMT -5
Sid shrugged. "Well... you gonna tell Proteus now? Or ya think you'd rather bluff it out till he gets the Major better?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2007 0:08:02 GMT -5
Daws frowned worriedly. "I don't know. I mean, Caddy said that Vance'd be okay if Proteus quit today or tomorrow -- and I dunno if we can keep the bluff up for another whole day. Besides," she sighed, "Proteus is no dope. He'll pick up on it pretty quick if I keep dodging any questions he asks me."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2007 0:10:59 GMT -5
"I can't tell ya what to do," Sid sighed. "I'm just thinkin' Proteus'll be pretty mad if he finds out we kept anythin' from him. Anyway, the Major's doin' good--even better'n Caddy expected, I think."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2007 0:19:09 GMT -5
Daws sighed heavily and pushed her fedora back. "In that case . . . we better break it to him." She grimaced. "This oughtta be fun."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2007 0:37:43 GMT -5
Sid led the grim procession up the stairs, and knocked quietly on the door of his bedroom. Proteus called for them to enter. They found the shapeshifter by the bedside as usual, and Major Vance awake, looking grimly thoughtful.
"Don't get up," Sid urged, as Proteus started to rise. "We've... got some bad news."
His expression darkening with worry, Proteus looked at Daws, and waited for it.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2007 0:45:24 GMT -5
Oh, boy . . . Daws took a steadying breath as she took off her fedora, and then plunged forward.
"Tiernan's tests came back with answers he didn't like. He decided the Spooks had double-crossed him -- and he sent his thugs down to take revenge.
"We had Major Vance's boys stationed down there in case anything happened. They were prepared . . . but there was still a lot of damage. And . . . there were still casualties.
"Spooktown's a wreck -- Tiernan sent firestarters. The Spooks who could scatter, did. Vance's boys are trying to do what they can to round 'em back up. The media's picked up on the whole thing, and . . ." Daws sighed and made a frustrated gesture with her hat, "And the whole thing is just one big, ugly mess."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2007 22:15:28 GMT -5
Proteus was silent for a long moment, absorbing the news, as a look of silent devastation slowly spread over his face. At last he stood up abruptly and pushed past Daws and Sid. His footsteps fell loudly on the stairs.
Sid made a move to follow him, but Vance spoke up from the bed. "Let him go, Sid."
A moment later, they heard the sound of the front door.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2007 23:41:35 GMT -5
Daws sighed and sank into the chair Proteus had vacated. "Well, that went a lot more abruptly than I though. I was expectin' the tongue-lashing of the year."
She shook her head hopelessly. "I was . . . kinda expecting one last shot at talkin' him outta giving himself up to Tiernan, too. Not that he woulda listened, but . . ." She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "What a mess."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2007 23:44:24 GMT -5
"Ya think he'd give himself up now?" Sid asked. "I mean, the damage is done now."
"Hopefully he'll do what he can to help us round up the Spooks and take care of 'em," Vance sighed. "I assume Roger's already moving on that?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2007 23:52:57 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I'm not sure how much luck he'll have -- but he and some of the boys are out doin' their best."
"I told a few of the resistance members at the parish to keep an eye out as well," Padre added. "If they spot any of the displaced Spooks, they'll send 'em along to Latimore's place."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2007 23:59:50 GMT -5
"Poor Rog is gonna have a full house." Vance stirred painfully and grimaced. "And my little assist in getting healed is obviously over. Looks like I'm on my own. Anyway, I've got more reason than ever to move to Casselton's and try to oversee things."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 28, 2007 0:09:10 GMT -5
"Yeah." Daws frowned worriedly and touched Vance's wrist. "At least we managed to keep him here long enough that we don't have to worry about you . . . not gettin' better."
She sighed. "So -- what happens now?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 28, 2007 0:21:41 GMT -5
Vance made a futile, half-shrugging gesture and gingerly ran a hand through his hair. "Blast if I know. We'll be lucky if none of the Spooks rat us out for revenge."
He sighed, and thought for a long moment.
"First and foremost, I think it's our responsibility now to make things right by the Spooks that're left. The whole thing is our fault. For now, we can try to get 'em food and shelter. I don't know if they can ever go back to Spooktown--and if not, we'll have a real job finding a new place for 'em."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 28, 2007 0:32:21 GMT -5
"Maybe the people at the parish can be some help there." Daws said, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at the Padre.
He nodded. "We haven't got any millionaires, but we've got a lot of people who're willing to help those that need it. We can lend a hand with feedin' and shelterin' people. And if any of them are willing, we can find them jobs and new places to live." He frowned and crossed his arms. "Of course, that'd mean giving up on their old seperatist way of living. And I don't know how many of them would be willing to do that."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 28, 2007 0:51:03 GMT -5
"You can count me in on helpin' ta feed 'em," Sid put in. "We've talked about that before."
Vance frowned. "This is all well and good--but even if we were the cause of all this, we can't let ourselves get stuck with the Spooks as permanent dependent refugees. Remember that."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 28, 2007 0:56:32 GMT -5
Daws sighed. "What'd be best would be to get 'em out of the City altogether. Every time something like this happens there's a whole new wave of anti-mutant sentiment, and a big bunch of Spooks taking up some new territory is just gonna make that worse -- for us and for them. It'd be better if they had somewhere else to go."
She gave a humorless half-chuckle. "Of course, considerin' how well my ideas have been turning out lately, maybe it wouldn't be any better."
|
|