Disclaimer in part 1.
(N) Hobbes went out to the van with Darien in tow. They had a meeting set up with the mole. Hopefully this would go better than the last time they'd tried to meet someone like this.
(TMF) "So...anyone notice that we're off to help Lawson's flesh and blood whilst he kicks back in the keep," Darien observed
"Hey, I'm betting Claire's having as much fun as possible while keeping her cool Hippocratic oath, my friend."
"Yeah, yeah. Plus, I guess the alternative is having him along."
"You said it. By the way, don't turn around when I tell you we're being followed. I hate it when you do that."
(CK) Darien quickly turned around *before* Hobbes actually told him. Hey, his partner had chosen the future tense there! "Okay, you can tell me now," he said, turning back
Hobbes rolled his eyes but knew it would do no good to complain.
"So, who are they?" Darien asked. "Is Arnaud on to us already? Or do they look more like Chrysali?"
(N) "Chrysali, my friend. Arnaud De Freak has better tastes in cars than that," Hobbes noted the car following them was only a tad better looking than the Agency cars.
"Can't argue with you there," Darien agreed. "So what now?"
(TMF) "Well, the short answer is, lose them," Hobbes remarked. He wrenched the wheel, pulling Golda up on two wheels and throwing Darien against the window.
"But," Hobbes continued, his words punctuated by Darien's pinball imitation as he careened along the San Diego streets, "they'll be back. We need something more permanent."
"Like a decoy," Darien said, "Something more interesting. Hey, got an idea." He picked up his cell phone, bracing himself as he dialed. "Hey, Ebes?"
(CK) After circling a few blocks, Hobbes led the way past the Agency again. Just as the van passed, Ebert's car emerged from the parking garage, a briefcase perched on the roof.
As he took the turn onto the street, the case toppled down, landing on the pavement and bursting open in a shower of paper.
As Eberts sped down the street, apparently oblivious, the Chrysali chased loose paper in the wind, hoping for classified information.
(N) Arnaud rested quietly in his hotel room.
Leah was in the bathroom taking a shower.
He paged through some of the information that she'd stolen for him from Chrysalis. He was amused at how little they knew about the gland. He looked up as he heard a knock on the door.
(TMF) He wasn't about to answer it, of course. At least, not yet. If it were one of his, he'd identify himself. In the meantime, Arnaud stripped. Painful as it was to admit, nudity was his first and best line of defense.
"Will you just open the door, De Fohn?"
Merde. The "boss."
(CK) Arnaud quickly hid the stolen files between the mattress and box springs. It was a cliche, but it was the only handy hiding place besides the otherwise empty drawers.
If Leah had done her job right, Stark wouldn't yet know they were missing. He threw on a robe, knowing that his new boss liked to be able to see where he was, and popped his head into the bathroom long enough to warn Leah they had company. Steam froze briefly to his quicksilver-coated face, but melted quickly as he hurried to open the door.
(N) "Good morning, monsieur," Arnaud said as he opened the door.
"Hello, Arnaud," Stark smiled as he entered the room. "I thought you should know that the Agency is looking for your friend," he motioned towards the bathroom. Stark's contact in the Agency had given him a heads up on the girl and her connections, but he was still unaware of the files she'd stolen for Arnaud.
(TMF) "Hmm. She mentioned that her brother was somewhat...overprotective, but from what I'd heard he'd quite fallen out of favor. I wonder whom he had to kill to set them looking for her."
"Well, if they want her so much, why don't we give her back?" Stark's easy grin was a test. It always was.
"Monsieur Stark, I've told you, she's quite invaluable to my research. Her genetic anomalies..."
"Yes, yes, that's right. Well, far be it from me to interfere in your ... research."
"Since when," Arnaud muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, monsieur. Thank you for alerting me. I fear we shall have to move again."
The shower shut off. The bathroom door leaned open, steam coating Arnaud in a crust of ice.
(CK) Stark evaluated their new recruit coolly.
She emerged from the steam wrapped in a towel, pausing in surprise in the doorway. "Oh! I didn't know we had company, Arnaud."
There was no hint of self-consciousness about her lack of dress in front of a man she'd never met before. It was an interesting mix of confidence and just not giving a damn about such matters, if Stark was any judge.
She was tall and coltish, giving the impression she would be a bit uncoordinated, even though Stark knew from her reputation she could handle that body quite well indeed.
(N) Her short light brown hair was fluffed up a little from being towel dried and her cool green eyes showed all lack of fear as she smiled almost seductively.
"He's just informed us that your brother has sent people to look for you," Arnaud told her as he put his arm around her waist over the towel.
(TMF) A shiver ran up and down her spine and she grinned. "Well, that's a surprise. I didn't think he still *had* people. Do you anticipate trouble, Mr..."
"Stark. Jared Stark. I'm, ultimately, your boss."
"Boss? Whatever do you mean? I'm just participating in a medical study."
"Of course." Stark returned the smile. "Well, much as I'd like to dismiss him, I think we should take a few precautions. I'm having you moved to a more secure, and might I add more luxurious facility."
"Oh, like it was his idea," Arnaud grumbled again, perhaps loud enough for Stark to hear. It neatly covered the sudden uncertainty he felt when wondering what Chrysalis considered a more secure facility.
"I also think we should split you up, give Mr. Lawson a moving target. Therefore we'll be moving Ms. Lawson, not you, Arnaud. Don't worry. Leah will still be available to you...through channels."
(CK) "Science by mail?" Leah snorted. "Who do you think you're kidding, Mr. Stark? I agreed to work with de Fehrn, not with whatever moron you might decide to assign."
"I assure you, Miss Lawson, we are quite capable --"
"I don't care," she cut him off. "You're not splitting us up, and you're not leaving him behind to be caught. If you're moving me, you're moving my...doctor...as well."
"Thank you, Leah," Arnaud replied, confidence and arrogance back in his voice and in the posture of the robe. "So," he asked, the shoulders turning towards Stark, "where are *we* going now?"
(N) Stark raised an eyebrow. Apparently this girl didn't know who he was. 'I guess I can let her behavior go for the moment,' he thought.
He needed Arnaud's services too badly right now. "Arrangements have been made. The car will take you both to Chrysalis' private airfield where you will be flown to our allies in Switzerland. I'm sure you won't mind returning to your homeland now, will you Arnaud?"
"That would be very nice," Arnaud mused. He hadn't been back to his country in quite awhile.
"Sounds like fun, mon beau ameroux," Leah purred running her hand up Arnaud's arm then trailing it down his chest slowly causing him to moan softly.
(TMF) Stark pursed his lips, but said only "You have fifteen minutes." He turned, rolling his eyes once he faced his men waiting just outside the door. He left, they stayed.
Arnaud closed the door behind him. "Are you packed?"
"I'm always ready. You?"
"Absolutely. Fifteen minutes?"
"An eternity."
Then Arnaud was too distracted to wonder about the almost familiar sounding tire squeal as yet another car pulled into the hotel's garage.
Below, a gold van had a little trouble negotiating the low clearance sign as it pulled in to park. A tall man with tall hair and a short man without hair walked towards the elevator.
"So where's our man?"
"Not in here, that's for sure. Not after last time. No, our guy works here. We're meeting him on the job. Hey, Fawkes, I saw you read the file."
"You saw me stare at some folders while I thought about all the fun things I could do with Lawson and Eberts' paper shredder, starting with and not limited to his tie."
"Oh. Well, I read it, anyway. C'mon. Let's go"
TBC...
Feedback is Welcome...
(N) Hobbes went out to the van with Darien in tow. They had a meeting set up with the mole. Hopefully this would go better than the last time they'd tried to meet someone like this.
(TMF) "So...anyone notice that we're off to help Lawson's flesh and blood whilst he kicks back in the keep," Darien observed
"Hey, I'm betting Claire's having as much fun as possible while keeping her cool Hippocratic oath, my friend."
"Yeah, yeah. Plus, I guess the alternative is having him along."
"You said it. By the way, don't turn around when I tell you we're being followed. I hate it when you do that."
(CK) Darien quickly turned around *before* Hobbes actually told him. Hey, his partner had chosen the future tense there! "Okay, you can tell me now," he said, turning back
Hobbes rolled his eyes but knew it would do no good to complain.
"So, who are they?" Darien asked. "Is Arnaud on to us already? Or do they look more like Chrysali?"
(N) "Chrysali, my friend. Arnaud De Freak has better tastes in cars than that," Hobbes noted the car following them was only a tad better looking than the Agency cars.
"Can't argue with you there," Darien agreed. "So what now?"
(TMF) "Well, the short answer is, lose them," Hobbes remarked. He wrenched the wheel, pulling Golda up on two wheels and throwing Darien against the window.
"But," Hobbes continued, his words punctuated by Darien's pinball imitation as he careened along the San Diego streets, "they'll be back. We need something more permanent."
"Like a decoy," Darien said, "Something more interesting. Hey, got an idea." He picked up his cell phone, bracing himself as he dialed. "Hey, Ebes?"
(CK) After circling a few blocks, Hobbes led the way past the Agency again. Just as the van passed, Ebert's car emerged from the parking garage, a briefcase perched on the roof.
As he took the turn onto the street, the case toppled down, landing on the pavement and bursting open in a shower of paper.
As Eberts sped down the street, apparently oblivious, the Chrysali chased loose paper in the wind, hoping for classified information.
(N) Arnaud rested quietly in his hotel room.
Leah was in the bathroom taking a shower.
He paged through some of the information that she'd stolen for him from Chrysalis. He was amused at how little they knew about the gland. He looked up as he heard a knock on the door.
(TMF) He wasn't about to answer it, of course. At least, not yet. If it were one of his, he'd identify himself. In the meantime, Arnaud stripped. Painful as it was to admit, nudity was his first and best line of defense.
"Will you just open the door, De Fohn?"
Merde. The "boss."
(CK) Arnaud quickly hid the stolen files between the mattress and box springs. It was a cliche, but it was the only handy hiding place besides the otherwise empty drawers.
If Leah had done her job right, Stark wouldn't yet know they were missing. He threw on a robe, knowing that his new boss liked to be able to see where he was, and popped his head into the bathroom long enough to warn Leah they had company. Steam froze briefly to his quicksilver-coated face, but melted quickly as he hurried to open the door.
(N) "Good morning, monsieur," Arnaud said as he opened the door.
"Hello, Arnaud," Stark smiled as he entered the room. "I thought you should know that the Agency is looking for your friend," he motioned towards the bathroom. Stark's contact in the Agency had given him a heads up on the girl and her connections, but he was still unaware of the files she'd stolen for Arnaud.
(TMF) "Hmm. She mentioned that her brother was somewhat...overprotective, but from what I'd heard he'd quite fallen out of favor. I wonder whom he had to kill to set them looking for her."
"Well, if they want her so much, why don't we give her back?" Stark's easy grin was a test. It always was.
"Monsieur Stark, I've told you, she's quite invaluable to my research. Her genetic anomalies..."
"Yes, yes, that's right. Well, far be it from me to interfere in your ... research."
"Since when," Arnaud muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, monsieur. Thank you for alerting me. I fear we shall have to move again."
The shower shut off. The bathroom door leaned open, steam coating Arnaud in a crust of ice.
(CK) Stark evaluated their new recruit coolly.
She emerged from the steam wrapped in a towel, pausing in surprise in the doorway. "Oh! I didn't know we had company, Arnaud."
There was no hint of self-consciousness about her lack of dress in front of a man she'd never met before. It was an interesting mix of confidence and just not giving a damn about such matters, if Stark was any judge.
She was tall and coltish, giving the impression she would be a bit uncoordinated, even though Stark knew from her reputation she could handle that body quite well indeed.
(N) Her short light brown hair was fluffed up a little from being towel dried and her cool green eyes showed all lack of fear as she smiled almost seductively.
"He's just informed us that your brother has sent people to look for you," Arnaud told her as he put his arm around her waist over the towel.
(TMF) A shiver ran up and down her spine and she grinned. "Well, that's a surprise. I didn't think he still *had* people. Do you anticipate trouble, Mr..."
"Stark. Jared Stark. I'm, ultimately, your boss."
"Boss? Whatever do you mean? I'm just participating in a medical study."
"Of course." Stark returned the smile. "Well, much as I'd like to dismiss him, I think we should take a few precautions. I'm having you moved to a more secure, and might I add more luxurious facility."
"Oh, like it was his idea," Arnaud grumbled again, perhaps loud enough for Stark to hear. It neatly covered the sudden uncertainty he felt when wondering what Chrysalis considered a more secure facility.
"I also think we should split you up, give Mr. Lawson a moving target. Therefore we'll be moving Ms. Lawson, not you, Arnaud. Don't worry. Leah will still be available to you...through channels."
(CK) "Science by mail?" Leah snorted. "Who do you think you're kidding, Mr. Stark? I agreed to work with de Fehrn, not with whatever moron you might decide to assign."
"I assure you, Miss Lawson, we are quite capable --"
"I don't care," she cut him off. "You're not splitting us up, and you're not leaving him behind to be caught. If you're moving me, you're moving my...doctor...as well."
"Thank you, Leah," Arnaud replied, confidence and arrogance back in his voice and in the posture of the robe. "So," he asked, the shoulders turning towards Stark, "where are *we* going now?"
(N) Stark raised an eyebrow. Apparently this girl didn't know who he was. 'I guess I can let her behavior go for the moment,' he thought.
He needed Arnaud's services too badly right now. "Arrangements have been made. The car will take you both to Chrysalis' private airfield where you will be flown to our allies in Switzerland. I'm sure you won't mind returning to your homeland now, will you Arnaud?"
"That would be very nice," Arnaud mused. He hadn't been back to his country in quite awhile.
"Sounds like fun, mon beau ameroux," Leah purred running her hand up Arnaud's arm then trailing it down his chest slowly causing him to moan softly.
(TMF) Stark pursed his lips, but said only "You have fifteen minutes." He turned, rolling his eyes once he faced his men waiting just outside the door. He left, they stayed.
Arnaud closed the door behind him. "Are you packed?"
"I'm always ready. You?"
"Absolutely. Fifteen minutes?"
"An eternity."
Then Arnaud was too distracted to wonder about the almost familiar sounding tire squeal as yet another car pulled into the hotel's garage.
Below, a gold van had a little trouble negotiating the low clearance sign as it pulled in to park. A tall man with tall hair and a short man without hair walked towards the elevator.
"So where's our man?"
"Not in here, that's for sure. Not after last time. No, our guy works here. We're meeting him on the job. Hey, Fawkes, I saw you read the file."
"You saw me stare at some folders while I thought about all the fun things I could do with Lawson and Eberts' paper shredder, starting with and not limited to his tie."
"Oh. Well, I read it, anyway. C'mon. Let's go"
TBC...
Feedback is Welcome...