Chapter Two: The Meeting

[thagema]

That night, the team mustered at the hotel to prepare for the meeting with Tribe. Each individual had set about making preparations in his or her own way and had only about twenty more minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Tiger was in the middle of her preparations when her phone rang. Checking the caller ID she spots the encrypted signal of Mr. Alexander.

"Yes sir," Tiger answered.

"Tiger, I hope things are proceeding well. I need to inform you that we are adjusting your team. A mission has come up that require Magician's unique abilities and skills. He will be replaced and I'm looking at a couple of choices right now. Honestly Magician didn't really fit your team anyway and his lack of field experience could have been a possible hinderance, so this is a good thing. The choices I've been provided with are more experienced and should fit your team better. This isn't going to be an immediate thing, so continue on until you hear from me again. I just wanted to give you a heads-up.

"Is there anything you need of me? Since we're tying up a highly secured circuit right now this would be the best time to ask."

Alexander waits on Tiger's reply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone watching the news during this time spot an interesting story.

"Good evening. I'm Erica Stokes. We are following a surprising developing story tonight as rumors are circulating around Century Station of the sudden appearance of Patriot, a well-known government sponsored superbeing. For more on this story, here's Gary Hutchins at City Hall."

The screen transitions to a brown haired man with a well-groomed mustache standing outside of the City Hall building.

"Thanks Erica. About a half hour ago, Mayor Zardona's press secretary held a press conference concerning Patriot's alleged appearance in the city. Here's what he had to say."

The screen fades again and is replaced by a man standing behind a podium.

"We have heard the rumors of Patriot's presence in the city, but he hasn't made any attempt to contact the Mayor's office nor has he indicated that his presence here was directed by the government. We have no information at this time that Patriot's presence in the city is in any way related to the government imposed deadline, which is still months away."

The assembled reporters start yelling questions until the man at the podium finally points to one. The din dies down quickly.

"Is his appearance in the city at all related to the disappearance of Alpha Prime," asks the female reported.

"Once again, we don't know why Patriot is in Century Station. The Mayor's office hasn't requested his assistance, nor has the Centurions who continue to follow up leads on the location of Alpha Prime. When we find out more information, we will of course let the press know. Until then, we cannot comment on his presence in the city. No further questions."

The screen fades back to Gary in front of City Hall.

"Just a few hours before the press conference, a statement was released saying that no evidence existed that proved Patriot was in the city. Less than an hour after that statement, the CityNet was flooded with survellance footage and digital photos of Patriot at various locations throughout the city. Many of those were quickly proved to be fake, but others were found to be indeed genuine. The Mayor's office recanted it's original statement but followed it quickly with the following: 'Patriot is a well-known government agent and exposing his presence to the media could have a severe detrimental impact on his current investigation'.

"We'll continue to follow this story as it develops. From City Hall, I'm Gary Hutchins."

The screen transitions back to Erica in the studio.

"Thanks, Gary. When we come back, we'll have your weather report and sports."

[logan]

Patriot

Sitting back in the chair, he looks to Tiger. "Well, my cat is out of the bag. At least city hall has some idea of maintaining security. Of course, the best thing they could have done was to keep their mouths shut completely." He looks at the TV for a moment thinking. "I should at least see the Centurions and talk to them though. I'm sure they're not going to be thrilled with me playing in their yard, but if we're going to ever need their help we'd be better off playing nice with them."

[shiivster]

*Jeckle sits in one of hte couches, glasses on and ankles crossed looking at the TV. She glances toward Patriot, and says nothing else. She may seem not totally aware, but thats due to the mind working on about 2 other projects at once.

' ... hmm .. maybe that could work. short record life, but it would help partway ... 20 seconds tops?' *then she looks up at Tiger, then back to the TV once again, and seems partly lost to the world again as one finger starts pointing in the air and moving about* 'can do a one time shot .. and then try to see if the spider will work ... '

[tag]

[ooc - thinking of a 'flare gun cartridge' filled with mini cam's .. that will shoot out like a flower to cover well photograph the ground below in the 'labyrinth'. max height about 1500 feet, before it goes 'pop' letting the mini cam's out. they'll blossom out from the spent cartridge and drift down at different rates. sending the telemetry readings and the 'streets/buildings' to her main laptop. NOT a perfect map, but one that can be done on a 'spur of the moment' - 08 Gadget design - 34 working design = both made the grade - the mind game of construction ]

[albatross]

[Tiger]

“He has done a good job so far,” Tiger says encouragingly, although Mr. Alexander knows her well enough to recognize that she thinks the Magician could do better. “Do you still want him to accompany me tonight,” she lowers her voice, “if you need him for a mission- he could be injured tonight.” Her question is largely rhetorical, she doesn’t really expect an answer. She is merely providing Alexander with information.

Tiger glances at the screen and picks out the real Patriot photos from the fake ones. She keeps her focus on Mr. Alexander however, tuning out the watered down news. She deadpans, “I could use hard intel and research on the Labyrinth. For example, is it in a section of town built with alien tech? Who decided to implicitly abandon the area to crime? We hear no one can get in, does anyone come out? I could also use more contacts, especially those with little or no connection to the local authorities. And I’d like the opportunity to save the life of one of the Mutant Underground. However, I get the feeling if you had any of that I’d have already. It is going to be a big job, but I think we are heading in the right direction so far.” Slowly but surely, she thinks.

[tag: Mr. Alexander]

[dakota]

" hooray, hooray. the lapdog made the evening news. " Khris said from behind a cup of coffee he'd slipped a shot of scotch into. " Tell me again how this does us any good besides putting the Minotaur's goons on the lookout for you?"

[tag]

[logan]

Patriot

He looks at Shroud and smirks. "That's just it. You heard the news, right? People are on the lookout for me and the consensus of the media is that I'm probably here because of the impending deadline for the city. While that is part of the reason I'm here, that is all they think, and what they are leading the people to think, I'm here for. The Minotaur is not going to be conerned about one government agent. I'd be suprised if I even make his daily status report outside of a footnote." He looks to them all. "There is not much I can do by myself outside of making a report to the federal government and even that would take months to analyze if I were to do so." He looks to Tiger. "In fact, city hall is probably thinking that I'm showing myself around town just to show my presence and to light a fire under their seats because they are so far away from meeting the deadline. If anything comes of this news report, it will only mean that the Centurions and CHIMERA will be stepping up operations. If CHIMERA steps things up, we may be able to find an in with the underground by resisting them. Something that I have no problem with given that some of those guys who work for CHIMERA are just plain asses."

[shiivster]

*stops in the middle of taking things out of various pockets and pauses to look at them and the flare gun in her hand, then at Patriot. 'oh .. excuse me sir .... permission to occupy the hands sir? .. there isn't anything really important on TV other than your fan club sir, and you know ... i forgot to sign up for it'

*then Jeckle goes back to taking things out to get the latest thing built. she starts humming as she gets the cartridge out and then the 6 little mini cam's connected to the laptop's receiver. putting in a time-delayed 'kill switch' of 15 seconds knows that the imagery will be shaky and flimsy .. but it should all line up with the right programming.

*Jeckle pauses to look at Patriot through the dark glasses and then gives him a smile, before focusing once again on the task at hand. 'sorry sir, but you do come across as a *she pauses and doesn't finish the comment*
' ... do me a favor, don't assume cause i don't have actual 'on the front line duty experience' that i'm useless or a burden. some of us aren't interested in being a poster child for attention, err the government, sorry again sir.' *then gets back to business finishing the small 'sky scope'

[tag]

[logan]

Patriot

Rolling his eyes, Patriot looks at Jeckle. He's had enough. "Jeckle, it's not your abilities or your skills that I question nor do I think you are incompetent. It is your experience. You learn things by doing and the fact that you have no field experience at all means that there are certain things that you haven't learned yet that can only be in the field. Now we can keep this crap up forever. You being the little smartass who keeps giving quick little jabs and jokes just to irritate me and gain some brownie points with Shroud here, or you can just shut the hell up and do your job. One of the things about being a rookie is that you get your performance critiqued by senior field agents. The only thing I was telling you was to keep your mind focused on the task at hand. I would hate to think of you sitting on a surveilance team scribbling in your note pad. Just voicing a concern. That's what teammates do. If you can't handle a little constructive criticism then maybe you'd be better off doing solo work after this." He jabs a thumb in Shroud's direction. "This guy is a professional. He would never give himself over to boredom no matter how long and resort to distraction. You've learned to be a smartass from him. Why don't you learn to apply some of his professionalism to." He gets up and walks over to the other side of the room and looks out the window.

[shiivster]

* Jeckle says nothing, but finishes her latest 'toy'. then pipes up 'with all due respect to your vast experience in the field, sir ... i was always a smart ass. comes with the brains and the long hours in recovery in the children's burn ward. was in one for 2 years, you learn a few things about pain and tolerance. but your point is taken .. sir ... shutting up now SIR' *then tosses her cell onto the table and then sits down and stares at the area her toes would be. her face is now like a stone, and her hands in the pockets to keep them still.

[tag]

[logan]

Patriot

Hearing her speak, he decides to just let her have her moment of insurrection and let her feel like she's gotten the last word in. He feels that trying to talk sense into her is obviously futile. He's seen people die before he became Patriot. In his service since 9/11, he's learned that people like her come and go. Unfortunately, they usually go in a body bag. Some of them you can get through to, but the rest just don't want to listen and learn from those who have been there and know what they're talking about. His last mission showed him that it seemed like every new recruit was there thinking they knew everything already and who they hell did their NCOs think they were telling them otherwise. Most of those kids were dead now. He didn't want that to happen to anyone on this team, but if the rookies on this team kept thinking that they knew what action was like and that they had nothing to learn he couldn't keep them from getting themselves killed. He'd be damned though if they allowed Tiger or Shroud to be harmed.

[Dome]

Dante sits in a chair not saying a word, but allows a small smile to creep across his face as he listens to the exchange. Thinking to himself a moment, 'Why is it that the people who have experience always feel that they are better than everyone else? Just because we haven't had the same experiences as them doesn't mean we cannot do our job effectively. Thats the way to get people working together better, demean them.'

He then reaches out with his mind to Jeckle and says directly into her head, "Hey don't worry about him, he has illusions of grandeur. If you need a second set of eyes to look over anything you are working on, let me know. I'm not as good as you are, but thanks to my ability I have a knack for anything built with human hands."

[tag]

[dakota]

" Hate to tell you lap dog." Khris said as he stood and stretched, " but I give in to boredom alot. More now than I ever did. Like right now. Tigger, unless you've got a better idea, I'm gonna take the long way to get in position for your meeting tonight. I'll be in position by the time you get there." He picked up his motorcycle helmet from the table, glancing over Jeckle's shoulder at her latest project. " Kiddo, looks like you need that ear washed again." He chuckled, waiting for Tiger to answer.

[tag]

[logan]

Patriot

Without turning from the window, Patriot sighs slightly. "Then I guess you aren't as reliable as I thought." He shrugs. "Team leader hasn't briefed us yet. You may want to hang out for that."

[shiivster]

*A small intake of air is the only sign that she's a little bit 'wigged' out by Dante's voice in her head. The head turns to look at him andthen smirks and quietly says 'cute trick .. thanks for sharing. and you're right, thanks'

*As Shroud natters at Patriot, she can't help but think of toms jockeying for the right to breed with the alpha queen. She basically cues them all out, but its Shroud's comment to her that brings the finger to attention in his direction.

'rejoice, it's the only salute yer gonna get from me *comment not suited for the younger audience*'

[tag]

[dakota]

Smirking at Jeckle's response, Khris tucked the helmet under his arm. " Unless things have changed, I already know the plan. Thaht was the whole point of you and I checking things out in the first place. " He said to Patriot. He wanted to say more, but held his tongue by grinding his teeth.

[tag]