nextgen_misc (nextgen_misc) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2012-10-15 16:27:00

Entry tags:

anya stark, bea dayspring, crosshairs, guardian, team - thunderbolts

Surveillance
Seven confirmed 'civilian' sightings in the neighborhood in eight days, and there had been more than enough news footage of a young male matching the product's physical characteristics in the company of the dasypodidaen metahuman. This had to be where he was being kept. The brownstone was a Stark holding, which had brought an entirely new wave of clamor to the boardroom. A few of the more paranoid types were now convinced that the product's escape had been part of some corporate espionage, or prototype theft. Professor Graft didn't care. She just wanted her work back for analysis and possible sterilization if the programming couldn't be corrected.

So, over the course of a few days, there are a few surveillance agents that end up going by the unassuming Brownstone that houses one of the world's premier crime-fighting teams. They're good at their jobs, and all but the best would likely not notice them.

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	charmedlife 2012-10-15 07:48 pm UTC (link)
	If the latter fact were mentioned, Beatrice would appreciate the compliment. "Excuse me," she said the 15th time in two days someone came near her building with a concealed weapon. "Do you have a permit for that?" (Reply to this)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2012-10-16 12:25 am UTC (link)
	The security agent sitting on the bench doesn't lose her composure, but simply takes one hand off the back of the bench. "I'm reaching for my wallet." True enough, she retrieves it, and produces her permit. "My employers have reason to believe that stolen property of theirs is in the area." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 12:39 am UTC (link)
	Bea looks. "Thanks. Much appreciated." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2012-10-16 12:41 am UTC (link)
	The other woman just stays where she is, although one hand rests closer to her hip rather than elevated as it was before. "I don't believe there's anything else I need to provide you with, Miss...?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 12:43 am UTC (link)
	"Dayspring. Nope. I'm done. Have fun with that." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_misc
2012-10-16 01:05 am UTC (link)

As Bea walks away, the woman takes out her phone and sends a message, receiving a reply almost instantly. She furrows her brow in disapproval, but, orders are orders.

"If it's of any concern... my employers would be willing to avoid pressing any charges if their property was just turned over to them. Without proper handling, it could pose a significant threat to those in custody of it." She speaks evenly, only just loud enough for Bea to hear her.

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	charmedlife 2012-10-16 01:15 am UTC (link)
	Bea's walking away leisurely, but turns back around when she hears that. "Excuse me, but are you calling me a thief?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_misc
2012-10-16 01:19 am UTC (link)

"Even if it were my responsibility to do so, I'd never make such an accusation." The woman keeps her hand at her hip, her gaze flicking to her phone again.

"If the property found it's way into your home, they would simply understand if it had been difficult to remove. Full assistance would be rendered in extracting it; including full compensation for any property damages, and a... gratuity offered for any inconvenience."

If all the files and surveillance records on the subject were accurate, it can't have been easy to live with.

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	charmedlife 2012-10-16 01:22 am UTC (link)
	Bea's voice goes completely cold. "...If you are talking about buying my sister, you have no idea the kind of trouble you are in now." Her hand is on her ASP. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2012-10-16 01:28 am UTC (link)
	As Bea's own hand settles, a safety strap is unsnapped, and the woman's back stiffens, feet on the ground shifting in preparation. She drops the phone on the bench. "I can assure you, Miss Dayspring, my employer's property has no relations of any kind, let alone a sister." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 01:33 am UTC (link)
	"Oh." The hand comes off. "Then the answer is just 'no.' You can't have Jack. See Awesome Android v. Mad Thinker. If you'd been after my sister, to be clear, it wouldn't be know. Anyone who tries to repo my sister is going to die, and if I'm feeling kind, I'll do it myself." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_misc
2012-10-16 01:39 am UTC (link)

Four heartbeats, shorter apart than the woman would like them to be, but long enough, pass.

She picks the phone back up, but keeps her gaze on Bea and the other hand near her own sidearm. "Legal's not my department."

Slowly, she stands up, adjusting her jacket to maintain her weapon's concealment as necessary, and pocketing the phone.

"If you want the property out of your concern, and it's potential threat to you and your... cohabitants removed, there will be a number written on the back of the bench after you leave."

The woman is obviously not going to leave and turn her back to Bea.

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	charmedlife 2012-10-16 01:41 am UTC (link)
	"Clever." Bea's fine with turning her back. If the woman drew her gun, she'd know. She walks away. She then buzzes for Jack. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

no_relation
2012-10-16 01:55 am UTC (link)

The woman departs once she's sure it's safe to do so, leaving a number to an untraceable one-use phone as she stated.

Inside, Jack is all too happy to respond to Bea's call. He'd just finished making a bowl of chocolate pudding with homemade whipped cream as his latest attempt at a peace offering to Martin, and he needed a taste tester.

"Hi Bea. What's up?" He grins.

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	charmedlife 2012-10-16 01:57 am UTC (link)
	"Jack, we have a Situation. You are not to leave the house until Anya or I tell you the Situation has changed." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

no_relation
2012-10-16 02:00 am UTC (link)

Jack is startled slightly, doubling back half a step and pointing at Bea with his wooden spoon. "You... you're really serious. You're doing that thing you do where I always imagine you talking with capital letters in weird places, aren't you?

And why can't I go outside? I still have lots of stuff I need to be able to get until Martin forgives me! And you keep making me go see Dr Samson."

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	charmedlife 2012-10-16 02:05 am UTC (link)
	"Yes, I'm very serious. We can reschedule Doc Samson. Also, stuff is not going to help Martin forgive you. You're staying in the house until further notice, Jack. That's an order." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	no_relation 2012-10-16 02:08 am UTC (link)
	"I'm not saying I won't do it, I just want to know why." Jack huffs. "I don't take orders from you. I listen to your advice because you're my friend." There's something about the emphasis he puts on 'you', that gives the impression that there's someone specific he was meant to take orders from at one point, although he'd be at a loss for ever saying who. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

charmedlife
2012-10-16 02:16 am UTC (link)

Beatrice Dayspring is a bout this close to calling up her father, explaining they have a developmental five-year-old in a teenage body who needs to be taken into protective custody, and letting him handle it from there.
This close.
"Well, you're going to listen to me now. There's dangerous people about that we can't directly act against until we know more, and you are /not/ to try to do reconaissance."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

no_relation
2012-10-16 02:34 am UTC (link)

"Well if there's dangerous people then why don't we just punch them in the face, tie them up, and hand them over to the police?

We're superheroes. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who remembers that..." Now he seems to be going from confused into agitated. He still hasn't refused to cooperate, but he's clearly frustrated with the air of doom Bea is putting on.

He may not notice it, but his clothes are starting to tint-shift to an approximation of his 'uniform'.

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	charmedlife 2012-10-16 02:37 am UTC (link)
	"Hand them over to the police and say what, exactly, Jack? 'Here's some dangerous people. No, they hadn't done anything yet, and we can't prove they were going to, but here they are.' Or perhaps. 'Here's some dangerous people. We punched some of them in the face and others of them shot us for it. That's why Martin is bleeding now.' " (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	no_relation 2012-10-16 02:41 am UTC (link)
	Jack's color scheme abruptly snaps back to normal as he looks like he's been hit with a bucket of ice water. "Oh..." His eye twitches as his 'rebellious' thought processes start bringing on the start of another migraine. "I... I don't want anything to happen to anyone on the team." But he should be doing something. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 02:43 am UTC (link)
	"Good. We're agreed. Have a glass of water and stay inside. Don't even answer the main phone, only from us." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	no_relation 2012-10-16 03:07 am UTC (link)
	Jack just lets out a large huff, and storms off to get a bowl so he can have some pudding. And have a glass of water. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 05:17 am UTC (link)
	Once she's done with Jack, Bea goes upstairs to see her sister. "We have a Situation." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-10-16 03:59 pm UTC (link)
	Kelly is currently working on disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling her heavy machinegun - blindfolded. That's how they taught it, and now its just habit, currently dressed in camo shorts and her 'I know violence isn't the answer, I got it wrong on purpose.' t-shirt. "What kind of situation?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 05:39 pm UTC (link)
	"An 'I seriously considered getting brains all over our sidewalk but decided it was unprofessional' situation. Jack's manufacturers want him back, and the operative took a minute or two to distinguish herself as not being Weapon X" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-10-16 06:27 pm UTC (link)
	"I can snag my sniper rifle if you want brains on the sidewalk unprofessionally. Otherwise, how do you want to play this?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

charmedlife
2012-10-16 06:31 pm UTC (link)

"She left a phone number -- I'm sure it's single-serving -- in case we want to get rid of Jack. If we do want to get rid of Jack, it won't be to give him back, because fuck them." Bea's angrier than usual, but why's not in doubt. "I've grounded Jack so he doesn't go running off into their arms and doing goodness-knows-what. I'd prefer to let them throw the first punch and then ..well... I suppose annihilating them would set a bad example for the children, but definitely make them regret throwing said first punch."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-10-16 08:36 pm UTC (link)
	"Counterpunch mode, got it. I'll stock up on specialty grenades and tracers. You're sure we want to keep him?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 08:39 pm UTC (link)
	"Not a bit. He needs a lot of kindergarten. I'm pretty sure on the 'fuck them', though. We get rid of him, it'll be on completely different terms." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-10-16 08:46 pm UTC (link)
	"No one shoots our Kidnergartner but us, check. Prepping counter-response now. You want some grenades?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 08:48 pm UTC (link)
	Bea's glad none of the boys are here. Bad example for the littles, and she doesn't like the idea of Manny thinking less of her when she says "Yeah, just one, thanks. In case." She is, in the end, not a real superheroine. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-10-16 08:50 pm UTC (link)
	Kelly can pick up on the reluctance in her voice. "One big bang, plus the 'good guy' special - two smoke, two stunners, two flash-bangs, all loaded up for you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-16 08:56 pm UTC (link)
	Bea smiled. "Perfect, Kelly. Thanks." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-10-16 09:04 pm UTC (link)
	"Anything for you, Sis. On my way." (Reply to this)(Parent)

	charmedlife 2012-10-17 12:40 am UTC (link)
	And Bea moved on to the lab to find Anya. "We have a situation. Jack's manufacturers want him back. They've left a disposable phone number if we want to be rid of him, but I say if we want to be rid of him, we've got plenty of better options than giving a bunch of slave-caste-gengenieers what they want. Kelly and I are taking precautions." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	anyastark 2012-10-17 12:43 am UTC (link)
	"Do you have the phone?" Anya asked. "I can see if I can trace it." "I can't say that it isn't tempting to get rid of him, but he's one of us. What are the precautions we are taking and what does it look like we're facing?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-17 12:51 am UTC (link)
	"No, just the number, but I'm sure it's to a disposable phone. I've grounded Jack, and Kelly and I are arming up. Don't know much about what they've got except they've clearly been surveying the past couple of days." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2012-10-17 12:54 am UTC (link)
	"Give me the number anyway," she said. "I'll see if I can dig something up. I'll also have someone look into the legal aspects of this. I'll see what we they can dig up on property and the law and this situation. I sure there's no precedent on any of this." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-10-17 12:57 am UTC (link)
	"There is," Bea says immediately. "Awesome Android v. Mad Thinker. It was ruled you can't pull a property-rights claim on a sentient being. Legally, they don't have a leg to stand on. Which is why they're likely to pull something." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2012-10-17 01:02 am UTC (link)
	"Nonetheless, I'll get our lawyers on it. This way we'll be prepared in more ways than one." She sent an email to Sunny to have him call the lawyers and get on top of this. (Reply to this)(Parent)

Elsewhere

nextgen_citizen
2012-10-17 02:11 am UTC (link)

A for all appearances non-descript meeting room at the Leap Foundation is filled with highest-level executives of various divisions, all pulled from whatever they were doing on short notice.

"If we have a confirmed location, why don't we just go in and extract the prototype now? Isn't that what we're paying your gun-toting thugs for?"

"Our security professionals are telling us that the building's occupants have resources and training that would make that a large mistake. That is what we pay them for."

"The bottom line is that we need the Guardian Project back on track immediately. The holiday rush is almost here, and even with strong-arming retailers, it's going to be almost impossible to get the amount of merchandise into stores that we wanted to move this quarter. If we don't start handling him, even the viral surge we've been getting from him throwing himself in front of--"

"IT." Professor Graft cuts off the executive. "Project Guardian is an 'it'. Not a he." She speaks so sharply that it reduces the executives to mumbles for a moment.

One of the executives finally speaks up again, turning to the security agent that had been at the Brownstone. "You're certain about the name the woman gave you?" The agent nods in confirmation, at which her superior turns to the others assembled. "We are not storming that building. I will cut my people's contracts with your foundation if necessary, but we are not going into that building." He drops a folder onto the table, pictures of various notable figures spilling out of it. "The name 'Dayspring' means we would be kicking a larger hornets' nest than any profit margin is worth dealing with. You'll settle this in the courts, end of discussion; and before you suggest grabbing it off the streets, now that they know they're under surveillance, they won't let it leave the premises."

Professor Graft just sighs and leaves the room, so the men and women in suits can keep debating. She takes out her phone as she walks and starts drafting a classified ad. She'd let the Foundation's legal department do what they got kept on retainer for. If they didn't measure up? Well, the wonders of a free market economy were hers to take advantage of.

It was too bad Taskmaster's specialty was in training and occasional theft, rather than kidnapping. Now there was a professional's work ethic she, and previously had, appreciated.

(Reply to this)

	redheadspy 2012-11-29 10:39 pm UTC (link)
	((END)) (Reply to this)

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