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Post by Jordanna on Aug 19, 2006 21:00:42 GMT -5
The morning after their visit from Proteus, Major Vance picked up Regina Dawson at her office, and they made their way to the area known as Spooktown. It was a long, narrow stretch of ground that rambled along a run-down section of the riverfront. Haphazard shanties and cabins made of sheet metal, wood, and canvas served as the homes for an unknown number of mutants.
As Daws and Vance approached the entrance to the Spooks' main alleyway, a man-shaped piece of a nearby wall detached itself, flickering from its brick-patterned camouflage to the appearance of a man. It was the same one who had led the gang of Spooks that once attacked Daws and Joey.
"Well, well, if it isn't Tiernan's alleycat."
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Post by skybright on Aug 19, 2006 21:50:42 GMT -5
Daws scowled briefly, then pushed her fedora back and crossed her arms. "I told you and your boys the last time I was here -- I ain't anybody's kitty cat, and I'm especially not Tiernan's."
She shook her head and dropped her hands to her sides, palms slightly out. "My friend and I aren't lookin' for any trouble -- we're here on invitation from a contact of ours. But if you feel like gettin' yourself beat again . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 19, 2006 23:04:55 GMT -5
"Yeah, yeah. I know you're invited. I'd make a fur coat outta ya right now if you weren't." The Spook shrugged and turned. "Follow me. I'm supposed to show you the guy you're here to see."
Daws and Vance followed the Spook along a sort of alleyway lined with shacks and shanties. A few of the residents--most of them possessing very visible mutations--peered out at them suspiciously from doorways and shadowed corners.
Vance nodded toward a woman who was hanging up a few bits of threadbare laundry, and the green-skinned child playing at her feet. "Some people really shouldn't have to be here."
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Post by skybright on Aug 21, 2006 22:08:27 GMT -5
"And there, but for the grace of God, go I." Daws replied quietly, shaking her head.
A trio of small, raggedly-dressed children darted across the alleyway in front of them; the first two ducked around the legs of the three adults, but the third slipped and smacked bodily into Daws' legs.
The detective made a startled noise and caught the boy by his shoulders. "Easy, kiddo!"
The Spook boy blinked round, faceted eyes at her in shock, then smiled briefly and dashed after his comrades. Daws shook her head again and glanced sideways at Vance. "No schools that'll take Spook kids." She muttered quietly. "Not even if they'd go."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 22, 2006 21:23:09 GMT -5
"And most of their parents wouldn't let 'em anyway, with their separatist views," said Vance. "Mutant pride is one thing, but these folks are just hurting themselves and helping to give the rest of us a bad name."
Their reluctant guide led them to a rough but curiously quaint little dwelling which could almost be called a cottage, and which overlooked the river. A dusty brown dog lay at the doorway, lazily keeping watch over a tiny patch of bare-dirt front yard--and a sturdy, brown-haired man of perhaps fifty who was, amazingly and incongruously, feeding a cluster of raggedy chickens. The birds startled and squawked at Daws' presence.
The man looked up, giving his visitors a view of striking silver eyes without visible pupils, which made it disconcertingly difficult to tell where his gaze was focused.
"The guests are here," their Spook guide muttered.
"Fine. Get on along." The older man waved a hand dismissively to the younger one, who shrugged and sauntered away. Then the older man turned to Vance and Daws.
"Well?" he asked simply.
"You're the one they call the--'King of the Spooks'?" Vance asked.
"Somebody decided to call me that." The man turned back to feeding his chickens. "I heard you were coming around to see me. What exactly is it that you want?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 22, 2006 23:50:22 GMT -5
Daws eyed the chickens uncertainly -- she didn't want to scare them off -- and then took a step forward.
"Well, sir," she said, slipping off her fedora, "My name's Regina Dawson -- my friend here is Major Jerod Vance. We'd like to talk to you about a sort of business proposition we've got for the folks who live here -- if you're willing to hear us out."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 23, 2006 20:49:03 GMT -5
The man set aside his small burlap bag of birdseed on a pile of crates against the wall. He dusted off his hands, then turned to face them.
"Don't get the wrong idea about me, Miss Dawson. I don't tell these folks what to do. If you've got an offer to make 'em, it's for them to decide about." He shrugged. "If they like it, and I like it, I'll see they treat you fair. That's all. Don't smoke that," he added to Vance, who had taken a cigar from his pocket.
Lips twitching, Vance put away the cigar. "Whatever makes you happy, Your Highness."
The Spook frowned slightly. "Sarcasm doesn't become you, Major Vance."
"Oh, so you know me."
"I know of you." The Spook sat down on the crate, lifting a scruffy orange tabby and setting it on his lap. He scratched the purring cat's ears, then tilted his head and glanced up at Vance. "Might as well run your 'proposition' by me now, and I'll tell you if it goes."
"It's pretty simple," Vance replied. "You Spooks see and hear a lot of things. We know certain people pay you to talk about those things--and we want a piece of that market."
"Depends on what things you're talking about," the Spook said.
Vance shrugged. "Nick Tiernan."
"I see." The Spook frowned. "No, you don't want much of the market--just the riskiest part of it. Can't say as I like that."
"Is that a no?"
"I didn't say that either. I told you, it's up to these people to decide what they'll have to do with you. Oh, it's not that I think you'd hurt 'em--but Tiernan would, if he found out. He's been sort of useful to us so far, and I wouldn't like to mess that up."
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Post by skybright on Aug 23, 2006 21:16:37 GMT -5
Daws cleared her throat. "I can appreciate your wanting to keep your people from getting hurt, sir." She said. "And you're right in sayin' that Tiernan could do some terrible things to them, if he found out."
The detective shrugged. "I guess maybe to a seperatist community Tiernan doesn't seem like too much of a bad guy -- even if he is bent on wiping out everyone who's not a mutant. But if he's the champion for mutants that he claims he is, then," she gestured slightly at the surroundings, "It doesn't make any sense for there to be mutants just barely scraping by right at Tiernan's doorstep -- except that he doesn't really care if he gives these people a fair deal or not."
She shrugged slightly. "What we're asking is dangerous, and we realize that. But we're willing to pay for what we want -- and pay proportionally to the danger of what we're asking. You can't say the same of Nick Tiernan."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 23, 2006 22:04:46 GMT -5
"That may be. Like I say, it's for the rest to decide." The Spook shrugged. "I don't stop anybody from doing anything they like. I just give 'em advice--but about this, I don't think I have an opinion one way or another. You can lay out what you want to the others, and if anyone wants to take you up on it, that's no business of mine."
Setting aside the cat, the Spook ambled off down the narrow main avenue of Spooktown, beckoning Daws and Vance to follow. He led them to a rough platform or stage at roughly the middle of the encampment, climbed up onto it, and took a few solid whacks at a makeshift gong that hung to one side.
Slowly, the Spooks began to emerge from their dwellings and hiding places. Over the next few minutes, the group that gathered around the platform grew to a size that surprised even Major Vance.
"We've got some guests want to give some of you work," the King of the Spooks announced. "Some of it may be a little bit dangerous, but a lot of you are used to that--and they say they're ready to pay well. You decide for yourselves."
The Spook made a gesture to Daws and Vance, and the Major turned to the detective. "You do the talking. They've turned me and mine down already--and besides, I think they'll like your looks better."
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Post by skybright on Aug 23, 2006 22:28:58 GMT -5
"Well, who wouldn't?" Daws grinned cheekily and clambered up onto the makeshift platform. Pushing her fedora back, she surveyed the crowd -- noting with some mild alarm that the big, tusked, white-furred mutant she'd pulled her revolver on was lurking near the back of the crowd, giving her what she'd be willing to describe as the evil eye.
She cleared her throat. "My name's Regina Dawson. Some of you know me."
Daws hesitated for a moment -- she was closer now than she'd probably ever been to blowing her cover and endangering her own life and the lives of all her loved ones. Best pick your words carefully, Ace. " I've got friends who're interested in Nicholas Tiernan's operations. We'd like to know about anything anyone sees or hears or gets hired to do for Tiernan and his people. Anything he's planning, or got going already -- we'd like to hear about it. We're willing to pay good money -- fair money, a lot better than Tiernan's willing to pay -- for that information."
She shrugged one shoulder. "Snooping around Nick Tiernan isn't exactly a risk-free proposition. But for those of you who're willing to take the risk . . . we're willing to make it worth your whiles."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 23, 2006 22:46:42 GMT -5
The King of the Spooks folded his arms. "That's about all there is to it, I guess. I'm pretty sure these people will keep their word about the pay, so whether any of you want to take the risk or not is up to you."
His silver eyes narrowed. "Only remember this: if you make a bargain with these folks, you be square with 'em. You treat 'em as if they were under Spook Law--and that means you don't double-cross 'em to Tiernan."
The chameleon mutant who had first met Daws and Vance, and was standing at the front, scowled and spoke up. "Maybe Tiernan'd pay us more for their names than they would for anything else. Why shouldn't we bargain with him instead? We always have before."
The elder Spook leaned down close to the younger one, and spoke in an almost conversational tone. "Because I've decided these people are gonna be pets of mine, Sham... and you know nobody touches what's mine." The tone of his voice was not exactly a threat, but something decisive and authoritative enough to be intimidating nonetheless.
He straightened and looked out over the crowd. "Anybody else have something to say?"
Silence.
With a shrug, he turned to Daws. "Whoever wants to step up is in your hands now. But I'll give you the same warning: you get any of 'em hurt, you'll answer to me. That's fair."
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Post by skybright on Aug 24, 2006 11:30:52 GMT -5
Daws nodded gravely. "That's the same warning I give to anyone who deals with me and mine -- and I'll heed it. You've got my word on that."
She hesitated a moment, and then added quietly. "Thank you -- for the protection. Probably the first and only time in my life I'll ever be glad to be referred to as a 'pet'."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 24, 2006 20:47:52 GMT -5
The King of the Spooks waved a hand dismissively. "Just because Tiernan's useful doesn't mean I like him. If these people can profit as much from you, it's better not to be part of his doings."
The crowd of Spooks was beginning to disperse, talking and debating amongst themselves. Their benefactor sat down on the edge of the platform with one leg hanging over, and took something out of his pocket, idly flipping it like a coin.
Vance grinned darkly. "I wondered if you were going to get around to admitting it."
The Spook gave him a slight smirk. "Telepath?"
"Just barely. Just enough."
"That's what I thought." The Spook glanced up at Daws. "Here's a little souvenir for you," he said--and tossed her the bottlecap in his hand.
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Post by skybright on Aug 24, 2006 21:18:22 GMT -5
Daws grinned and pocketed the bottlecap. "That's twice. But now," she tapped her nose, "Now I really know what you smell like. Next time it won't be that easy."
She leapt lightly down to Vance's side and turned back to the King of Spooks, extended her hand. "Thank you for the help -- and for trusting us. I'll do my best to deserve it."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 24, 2006 21:32:45 GMT -5
Proteus smiled slightly and shook Daws' hand. "I'm not interested in trying to fool you anymore. I've found out what I wanted to know."
Vance folded his arms and appraised the sturdy, middle-aged, silver-eyed form the shapeshifter wore. "So is this really you?"
"It's the me the people I like know," Proteus replied.
"You must have some other name than Proteus--or that 'King of the Spooks' bunkum."
The shapeshifter shook his head. "Spooks give up their human names when they join this society. I'm not exactly one of them, but I live by their ways--except for one thing. What I told you before is true. I won't hurt anybody."
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Post by skybright on Aug 24, 2006 21:45:29 GMT -5
Daws tipped her head and regarded the man gravely. "You've already heard what I've got to say on that." She said quietly, "But all things considered -- I sort of hope nothing happens to force you into changing your mind. I don't want any of your people getting hurt -- and not just 'cause of your warning, either."
She shrugged and glanced sideways at Vance. "I suppose that about wraps up what we came here for, Major."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 24, 2006 21:58:04 GMT -5
"I guess so." Vance shook Proteus' hand. "Like the lady said, thanks--and remember, you could be a big help to us if you ever change your mind."
"Playing war is for children," Proteus said serenely. "But I'll wish you luck, anyway. And if anybody is interested in taking you up on your offer, I'll send 'em around to Miss Dawson's office."
Vance inclined his head, then turned to Daws, and the two of them began to make their way out of Spooktown.
"Sorry for not tipping you off about who he was," the Major murmured. "I was trying to play it safe. Wasn't sure what would happen if I blew his cover."
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Post by skybright on Aug 24, 2006 22:05:38 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. "I'd probably have picked up on it myself before much longer. There's a lot more smells in the air down here, obviously -- and smell isn't my best sense, anyhow -- so it was harder to pick up. Don't guess it mattered too much, anyway." She grinned. "At least this time he didn't turn into you."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 24, 2006 22:11:28 GMT -5
"Amen to that." Vance sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well, I'm not sure what's next on the agenda. My people don't have any particular plans. Just waiting for a new lead on Tiernan's activities."
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Post by skybright on Aug 24, 2006 22:21:21 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. "Same with my people, I suppose. Some of the Spooks might bring in some new information -- assuming any of 'em take us up on the offer, that is."
She frowned thoughtfully. "Tiernan was awful shook up by the Gray Lab -- he might hold off on doin' anything major for a while, wait to see if he can ferret out the leaks in his security first. It's hard to tell, with that creep."
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