by P. S. Power
Twitch was the same way, only her power was harder on her, and she was left skinny and haggard looking, like a drug addict that couldn't stop moving all the time. Her power was otherwise basically what Jason's was. Intense speed. The Team One man was actually faster, by about twenty percent, but Twitch was one of only a handful of people that could really make him work at all in a race.
Which got Tobin to nod.
"We should pair up some of the other people. It's a mistake not to have Cardy and Jason working together. Twitch and Argos." He added the last in case not everyone knew the names. Denis looked like it helped him at least, though everyone else had just nodded.
The words got a soft snort from Penny, and she patted his back gently, her hand warm. That was part of her new thing. It wasn't perfect, but she'd learned to be able to be visible, when she wanted. It took a lot of paint, dye and work to make it seem right, but she could go invisible still, when she wanted, or if she got stressed, but could let people feel that they were being touched too. Before almost no one could tell when that happened at all. He always could.
It was one of the reasons that he liked her, since she used to always give him hugs and stuff. It wasn't sexual, but he'd appreciated it. It seemed that she wasn't going to let other people seeing her do it stop her either, since her hand didn't move away from his back.
"Not a bad idea, but good luck getting the brass to go for it. Charlot will throw a fit."
Tobin shrugged and felt shy, since he was being touched and looked at, but Rachel seemed to think differently.
"Will she? She doesn't want to scare the public, and there's a certain cold logic to that, but she's never been against the idea of having people work together. We don't need Twitch and Argos together for photo ops after all. What do you have in mind Tobin?" Then, her eyes on him, she started working on a second helping of everything. Scarily enough, Bridget was already on her thirds.
He held his breath for a bit, knowing that everything would be heard and seen on camera. Just saying that they needed to be getting ready for a war would be a bad plan, since the government would probably end up on the other side. It took a bit for him to come up with something and Denis didn't help him at all, clearly saving the extra confidence for the show coming up, just in case it was messing with him.
"Cross training. Advanced search and rescue, survival skills, combat operations, public relations. Everything. It comes up that Team Two has to deal with the press sometimes, and all we've ever been told is to yell 'no comment' and rush away, with our heads down. It makes us, them, seem shifty and no one likes that. First aid and that kind of thing too. Maybe meditation." It sounded like a lot of work, but no one gave him looks that said he should just shut up.
Brian started nodded, just a little, his head barely moving at all.
"Yeeesss." He nearly hissed the word. "I agree. We should run that by Marcia and Moore. Lancaster too. It's stupid not to get the Agents in on this. At least some of our people should be stationed with local offices around the country, not all being here on the reservation and taking six hours to get to the scene when things happen. If we had some mixed teams ready..."
Not everyone loved the idea, but no one said he was wrong, either. It made a lot of sense, but wasn't as safe for each person really. Being at the base meant that, if attacked, you'd have sixty or more superhumans right there to help out. If you were off in the hinterlands, with only a few Agents, then you'd have to be ready all the time. It might work for some of them though. Slap a dark suit on them and some sunglasses and about half the people at the base could roughly pass for being an Agent. At least well enough for ma and pa Kettle in the farmlands not to freak out every time they saw them.
As soon as he finished, Brian wiped his mouth and stood up, then turned, leaping with his right hand forward, fingers splayed and vanished. No one reacted to it, but they all kept watching the space he'd left from. There was no speech, and a sense of foreboding settled over the dining room, with only the rapid clink of forks on plates from Bridget and Rachel being easily heard at all.
It didn't last long, since Proxy was back inside two minutes, settling back in his chair.
"Well, that's going to go over well. There was an assassination attempt. I think it was on the President of Zimbabwe. The State Department already tried to have me drugged for saving Ambassador Washington. I bet they call for execution this time." He didn't seem pleased by the idea, but waited before going to see anyone else about it, procrastinating. "It isn't like I get a choice. Hopefully this won't mess with the show schedule. President Lawrence already had to give me a pardon just to get me to the thing on time. If he has to do it again, it's going to look like favoritism, which he can't really afford right now."
Tobin thought he understood. A few months back, Proxy had taken the place of some Ambassador from Africa's son. He did his thing, which meant fighting his way out of an armed hostage situation, taking the Ambassador with him. The State Department freaked, and tried to claim Brian wasn't allowed to act in other countries. That was Liberia. For their part they'd given him their highest medal of valor. That the American government protested so much had a lot of people thinking the coup attempt was their work.
Now this. It would be a problem, one way or the other.
Denis snorted, looking a lot more like he used to, when he was a huge jerk. It was the set of mouth that did it, Tobin thought.
"Well, if the fucknuts think that they're taking you down that way, they need to think again. Say the word, and they'll think they're going to shit their souls out. I just need a bus pass, and a list of names." It was clear that he really meant it too, which got Tobin to have to sort of agree. It really would serve them right. Shyly though, he whispered at the man.
"You shouldn't say that." Tobin meant that a person should never make a threat out loud like that, since it would be recorded, but Denis spread his hands in the air and looked at Bridget.
"Right. Sorry about the bad language. Don't use me as your example as far as language goes. I'm a horrible example."
The girl stopped eating and nodded.
"I know. We should all go and see Grandpa Kevin about this. It's always Brian having to go in alone. We should back him up more."
Tobin blinked and stood. It was only a little odd that the girl called Director Moore 'Grandpa Kevin'. The man was old and dating her grandmother, so why not? Plus, she'd literally lived there her whole life. That they were close sort of made sense.
"Okay." It sounded too meek and shy again, but he was willing to face having his innards try to twist out to back his friend. Brian had always been nice to him. Even when he didn't have to be. If him standing behind Proxy made any difference at all, even just to him, then it was worth it. True, Tobin might have to run away and be sick after, but that was just the price of doing business as an adult. For him at least.
Other people had it so easy that way, just dealing with a little bit of nervousness in situations like this.
Brian smiled and waved him back down.
"No need for that yet. Director Moore and I may get into it on alternating days, but he isn't the one trying to hang me out to dry. It isn't even the government really, just a faction inside of it. No need to make a big stand yet, not over this. I just hope it doesn't blow up into something vast and stupid. Not for another week or two at least." That it would, there could be no doubt.
He finally got himself up and moving, skipping dessert, which Tobin did too. After all, he'd had a full meal, and really didn't have room for more. The rest of the conversation was a bit subdued then, and everyone else got up and left as soon as the eating was done. It wasn't his floor, so he decided that was a sign, and waved to Bridget, who was trying to walk out unattended. Like she wasn't his prisoner?
It wasn't lost on Rachel either.
"No way, sweetie. You know the plan. Either Tobin or I stay with you, twenty-four-seven. It's going to make going to the bathroom awkward, but you'll just have to deal."
> From behind Penny put an arm around him and stepped forward, so they were side by side. She seemed a bit playful, since she made an "Arrrrr" sound, like a pirate from an old movie. Or at least a spoof of one.
"So, that sounds kinky. Under age slave girl? Is that a perk of Team One I didn't know about?"
Tobin looked around and saw that Rachel was smirking and Bridget had stuck out her tongue. He was the only one feeling awkward about it at all.
"Yep. Or at least it is for me. No sex though, so it isn't all it's cracked up to be." The words fairly well just popped out and then he turned very green. No one responded to it. They had to get what it meant by now, but Penny just pulled him a little closer.
"Well, I'm always here for you, if you want. I need to actually go and see if Marcia needs me. We'll probably have to have someone by the phones all night. Again. You know, I really love sleep. I took it for granted for so long, and now... Ah, at least I have my memories." She held the back of her right hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon, then laughed and walked out.
Bridget coughed. Under her breath there was a single word.
"Slut." She pretended she hadn't done it but Rachel gave her granddaughter a very hard look.
"None of that. Especially from you. Do you honestly want Penny comparing her record that way to your own?"
Tobin was almost certain that he'd missed something there. Oh, he got that it was about Penny having said she was always there for him, in a way that meant she might be willing to have sex. Like he wasn't going to take her up on it? Sex was really fun and if she was willing to try, so was he. He'd have to ask Kerry if she was all right with the idea. They'd said it was an open thing, but he didn't know all the rules to things like that. Plus, Penny might have been joking.
What he didn't get was how that would make her a slut. Was she sleeping with everyone? If so, it probably wasn't a problem. It was confusing though and he didn't ask, since Bridget was already running ahead a bit.
"It's only seven, so I can go and get some computer time before bed. Watch a show or something." She seemed pretty set on it, but Tobin shook his head and jogged to keep up with her.
"Um... no?" That at least got her to stop and turn to look at him, her face seeming sad and hurt like a little girl. "You need to pack and help me do it and then Rachel. After that..." He had no clue again. It was hard to make up things to do like that.
She just... shrugged.
"Right. Not a problem. So that will be what, about five minutes? I suppose you want me to go and fly around the perimeter outside too?" She was trying to be snarky about it, but Rachel nodded.
"Great idea. We can work a night exercise in. Start on the mixed team work you suggested Tobin. I'll let you set that up. Get with Lancaster on it and the Team Two leader. After you pack."
There was a reason that Rachel had once been in charge of a good portion of the IPB. When she spoke, it just sounded like a good idea. It even did until he got to his room and was mainly packed, which didn't take long, since he just needed his go bag, and that was always kept ready. He added a hanging bag for nice clothing though, practically taking everything he owned. It wasn't a lot, even with all the new stuff.
It was on the walk to Lancaster's office that he started to really feel it, his feet wanting him to walk the other way. That meant he was sweating a bit when he got to the man's door, to find it open, and him chatting away on the phone.
"We can see about getting someone in. I don't know who yet. Hey, can I get with you in a few days on this? Someone's here." There was a direct look for Tobin, with no smile on his face, but his blue eyes didn't seem hostile or anything. "Sure. I can pass the word on that."
Then without saying goodbye, the man hung up his phone. It was the old fashioned kind that had a cord on it, a springy off white wire that curled up when the hand piece was replaced.
"Mr. Peterson. What can I do for you?" There was a sound to the voice that was both professional, and seemed to be indicating that the man truly had no clue at all, in the whole world, what Tobin was doing there. It had never happened before after all.
"Night exercise. I think that we should have everyone defending against a small group of invaders. Rachel Chambers came up with it."
The man didn't blink for a bit, just looking away, his face a bit tense.
"So, you want a team of Agents to sneak in?"
"No, a mixed group. That's something... I want to try. It might not work. Um... So, two Agents and four Operatives? Selected at random. Like... Capture the flag?" It was probably a horrible idea, but the man picked up the phone and dialed without saying anything else.
After a moment, he practically growled into the thing.
"We have a drill, set for Ten-thirty. Night protocols. Get everyone in on this. We'll need a flag and a secure location for it." The tall man looked at Tobin his eyes a bit sparkly, as if he were suddenly having fun. "I'm leading the invading force. Goblin is in on it. I want... Burkes too. The rest will be picked at random. It's six on every single body in the base. I want the cleaning people in on this. No violence, so basically like tag. Let's keep it simple."
After he hung up he glanced at Tobin and grunted.
"You and Burkes are good, right? He said that you didn't seem to be holding a grudge, at least not openly. You got the whole story on that?"
"A bit from Prime. Agent Burkes never explained at all. His daughter couldn't visit, because it's too dangerous here? That's rough. It's not really untrue though. I mean no one would hurt her..."
The man shook his head.
"It's worse than that. His daughter, Kim, she's Infected. Heightened reflexes and senses, with a mild first mode. Her mother is in deep denial over it and thinks that everyone is making it up, and insisting that her girl learn to pass as normal. They've been disagreeing about how to handle things for years."
"Oh. I guess I see. Her mother is right. If she can pass, she should." It was a rather bold statement and the Agent in front of him blinked.
"I wouldn't have thought you'd lean that way. Wasn't the disagreement you and Burkes had about wanting to push into regular society?"
Tobin didn't talk for a bit, about a minute, and then had to look away in order to be able to say anything at all. The room seemed a lot smaller suddenly too. Oppressive really. It was the fake wood paneling on the walls. It didn't fit the man in front of him at all.
"That's for people like me. The ones that can't hide. If I could be normal, I'd do it instantly. I can't... That means I have to stand in front of everyone as myself, so that someday little kids with feathers don't have to worry about people throwing rocks. It sounds like this girl should try to stay away from here. If you don't have to be Infected, there's no benefit to being known that way. But... don't tell him I said that? I don't need another fight." Especially with a guy that could figure out that coming at him from behind would be a lot more effective.
As he'd said, a few bullets to the head...
"Got it. So you can work with him?"
"Yeah. Who else should we get?" They had three more people to pick. "Mark's busy, since we leave in the morning and Bridget is on the defense team. Rachel should be too. Penny is good, but having her, we wouldn't need anyone else really. Brian will be busy, most likely. He just saved some African leader. That will probably take Marcia out and maybe you. We get just about anyone else to pick from."
The man sat back for a bit and thought, then leaned forward.
"Mixed exercise... So, how about someone from medical, one of the restaurant people, and..." There was a pause that lasted for a long time, the man leaning back in his chair, trying to think, it seemed. "Who do we have on Team Two that's sneaky?"
"Um, Daniel? He's good at hiding. He can camouflage himself, and even another person, if he's close to them. It isn't like what Penny does, but he isn't bad."
That got a few calls made. About twenty minutes later there was a man in light blue scrubs, a woman in all white who introduced herself as Jan, and
the Agents standing there. Lancaster looked around, and then had to stare at the far wall for a bit before making out that there was, indeed, a person standing at the back. They were still in his office, but no one had noticed the extra body before that.
"We're all here then. Good. Daniel, I want you and Burkes to sneak to the armory, and get three pounds of C-4. We'll need detonators and night vision gear as well. Dr. Kern, we need for you to grab a medical bag and stay ready, since you and Jan are the ones actually going in. Jan, can you get a cart with food on it ready for everyone? Make ready to actually feed people. We need to start beyond the wire, but no one said we had to play fair. A real invasion force or infiltration team wouldn't. Especially here." Then the man looked at Tobin.
"We're the distraction. How's your night vision?"
He grinned, his big forced one that made it seem like his face was splitting in two.
"Better than those night vision goggles you're getting."
"Excellent."
They went to get everything ready and it took about an hour and a half, but when the whole thing started they didn't line up to show everyone who was doing what, they just started. It meant waiting for a while, since they needed it to be nice and dark.
Then Lancaster explained the plan.
"We're going to blow up a patch of ground past the gate. Daniel, I want you to get us all in, one by one. We'll cut a hole first. Or more accurately you will. They'll have a lot of surveillance. Then we send Tobin off to create a distraction, by singing. Subdue everyone you can that way and try to hold them. This can't take long, since we have at least two telepaths that will be looking for us. Control your thoughts, and try to only think about what it is that you'd be doing if it was a regular night." The man went still and sighed. "Jan, you're the backup. Pretend that you're just doing your job and getting a late snack for people and starting to take it around. Really focus on that. Kern, I'll pretend to be injured and you'll try to help me in. When the others get busy helping with that, or subduing me, you 'go back to medical' and try to find the target. If they're smart, they'll put it on the secured levels. Either medical or lockup. Probably not that last one, since those guys are still smarting from having a little girl make them look like idiots. It could be anywhere however. We have to move fast, but try not to seem like invaders. After all, it's just an exercise."