No One Expects The Russian Inquisition

Participants:

helena_icon.gif jennifer_icon.gif trask_icon.gif

Scene Title No One Expects The Russian Inquisition
Synopsis "Sergei" has questions. Unfortunately, Helena doesn't have answers. And poor Jenny just wants to help!
Date September 29, 2008

The Hangar

A wrought-iron fence borders several small garden beds and the stone stairs leading up to the house's front door. The house itself is a structure of old stone - not even concrete blocks, but quarried stone — with natural-color wood doors and window frames. The windows on the ground floor are barred.

Inside, the level is divided into only three rooms. The first is the foyer, with polished hardwood flooring, a freestanding coatrack on either side, iron-dark against soft-amber interior walls. The main staircase spirals up from one corner of the foyer, girded by a wrought-iron railing.

To the right from the entrance is the kitchen. The walls just off from white, the floor tiled in dark gray. In the center of the kitchen is a black-topped island, matching the counters that line the room. One wall is dominated by an eminently modern stove framed by an anachronistic brick hearth. Cabinets above the counters have glass doors; the windows above the sink are framed in light-colored curtains, the illumination they let in adding to the expansive atmosphere.

The dining room takes up the back of this floor. The far wall is brick and stone, with a facade of a fireplace mantle in the center. Interior walls have been painted a tone intermediate between amber and ivory, which is also the accent color in the dark rug beneath the long dining table.


Helena's day has been filled with nervous energy as she waits for word to trickle in from the various members of PARIAH. She does a lot of things to distract herself while she waits for word. She watches tv. She eats. She reads. She exercises. She writes in that notebook of hers. Nonetheless, it's been an anxious day, and the prospect of a potential up and coming 'board meeting' with Sylar is not helping. Eventually she just ends up stalking up and down the length of the safehouse living room like a caged tiger.

Trask makes his way to the safe house, he got the call and goes through normal procedures to get in.

Jennifer comes into the safehouse herself. Yet another long day of classes. Her backpack is slung over her shoulder, and she sees Helena pacing. "Either you've had too much coffee, or something is bothering you."

"Something's come up." Helena says to Jennifer quietly, and then catches sight of Trask. "Hey." she says. "I hope you're here to tell me you're in."

Trask nods, bundled up normally, he speak with the Russian accent, "Da, and I spoke with Eva she is in too. She wants to come home, but she is as stubborn and proud as you are.

Jennifer looks over. She met Trask the other day, briefly, and then back to Helena. "You two need some privacy? If it's PARIAH business, I can go get really interested in my iPod or something."

Helena gives a little shrug. "It has to do with Sylar." she explains to Jennifer before giving Trask a look. Clearly, she doesn't appreciate in any way, shape, or form being compared to Eve. "I really can't stop Eve from doing what she wants." she says neutrally.

Trask nods, "So what is the plan? and why are we trusting this man Peter was so worried about?

Jennifer looks a little awkward. She hasn't been told to leave, so she's standing there considering it. She takes a step backwards, but doesn't leave. She's curious enough to want to hear.

"Claire and I are going to meet with Sylar and find out what he has in mind." Helena says. "Like I said in the message, there's someone he wants in that group, I've only seen the guy, and I don't know what his power is. We haven't figured out why Sylar didn't just kill us all in the old tenement, since he was shapeshifted as Mohinder all that time. He could have just gone through the building and started collecting us like Pokemon cards. There's a lot that doesn't add up, but the bottom line is, Claire and I want to get Peter back, and clearly we're not equipped to strike the Company again." She looks over at Jennifer. "Sorry for the awkward."

Trask says, "How do we know this girl he claims they are holding isn't the one he wants? Whats to stop him from killing her, then us?"

Jennifer nods once to Helena. She doesn't really know what's going on, but she can offer it out anyway. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"We don't." Helena says flatly. "The escapees have Elle. We get her, and the Company will trade. We do know that Sylar could have killed us and didn't, and when we made the raid, he wanted the prisoner from that one cell very badly. I suspect he is Sylar's target. At least for the present. I explained this is an incredible risk factor in the message, Sergei. So if you're backing out, just say so."

Helena looks to Jennifer. "I'm not sure." she says honestly. "I have a feeling your leaders wouldn't hesitate to try and stop us from doing this."

Trask says, "Who is this Elle? What makes her so important?"

Jennifer pauses a moment. And then continues, "Wireless wouldn't have you guys here if you couldn't be trusted. And I also didn't ask what they'd do, I asked if I could help." It's quiet, but she tries to stay patient.

Helena is getting a bit irritated at the interrogation. Taking a breath and trying to dial down her temper, she says to Jennifer, "They're still your leaders. And I told you I don't know." She looks back to Trask. "All I know about her is that her name is Elle Bishop, her ability allows her to control and generate electricity, and the Company wants her back. They're willing to trade Peter for her, but she was taken by the escapees."

Trask nods, "So we are grabbing her, finding a way to hold her, and then trading her. What is the plan?" he sighs, "Look Helena…I'm not trying to give you the third degree, I just want to know what is going on so I can be prepared."

Jennifer sighs, and turns, heading deeper into the Hangar.

"You asked me that and I already told you that I don't know. Claire and I are going to meet with Sylar and see what he wants to do. You can't always be prepared, as much as you might want to." Helena looks after Jennifer and lets out an exasperated sigh.

Trask dropps the Russian Accent, speaking flawless english for the first time in Jennifer's presence, he then puts a hand on Helena's shoulder, "Helena…I'm sorry…I don't mean to push..I just…need to know what is going on. Whatever happens I am here for you, I have your back. Letting Sylar call the shots though….is asking for trouble…"

Helena doesn't shove off the hand. "I know." she says. "But he's the one with the information right now, and we have to hear what he has to say. He's got the ball. Claire and I have agreed that we'll do anything to get Peter back, and that's why this is volunteer only. No one has to do this but us. Until we speak to Sylar and see what he's got in mind, we don't have any way to spin it into a sure thing. I've told you as much as I know."

Trask gives her a hug, "You still need contingencies. If nothing else we need a plan to walk in to that meeting with Sylar. No plan survives first contact, but you need to have fall back plans in place before you stick your neck out."

Helena accepts the hug, oddly grateful for both his cop smarts and the fact that he isn't oggling her butt. Slowly but surely his perv quotient is lowering. "What do you suggest? Apparently he's taken up residence in our old building. I was going to suggest you come with us, so your null field could keep him from smacking us around if it was a trap." She wearily moves over to one of the chairs and climbs into it.

Trask sits down opposite her. "I can come with, that's not a problem. Why havn't we heard much from Cameronon this?

Helena just gives Trask a look. Takes a breath. "I. Don't. Know."

Trask nods, "I'm sorry…I thought you were in contact with him…I just assumed…."

Helena shakes her head. "Last he talked to me, he was looking for Peter. I haven't heard from him since the update."

Trask nods, "He may be in trouble then….which means his last orders should be followed."

"I think that consisted more or less of leaving Claire and me in charge." Helena says, a bit ruefully. "Unless you're referring to something else."

Trask says, "Actually last I spoke with him, he was saying Claire was second in command, I tried to convince him you should be the fall back person….if he finally agreed I am glad to hear it.""

"It's kind of hard for Claire to be in charge when she's living with her grandmother." Helena says wearily. "If you want someone else to take the reins because you think I can't cut it, that's your bag. I didn't ask for this."

Trask blinks, "Maybe you didn't hear me….I told Cameron you were the one cut out for it….and I stand by that advice. Helena you were the only one to keep your head together in the Park, and to not fall for any of my baiting when I turned myself in. Your ready for this, and you can handle it."

"I don't feel ready." Helena replies bleakly. "I just feel scared." She frowns at her own admission.

Trask says, "Good. Scared is how you are supposed to feel. Without the fear you are over confident, you are not able to protect yourself. Only with the fear do you stay alive. You must use it, use it to question your plans, your friends, use it and the paranoia it brings to keep yourself alive."

"I don't want to be paranoid." Helena says. "I just want Peter back. And that's selfish, isn't it? It doesn't make me a good leader. I should be putting everyone else first. I should be completely rejecting the notion of dealing with Sylar and the Company."

Trask says, "As a leader you need to decide what is important in this life, what your real goals are, know yourself first. I have a question for you. If Claire was being held, if Eve was, or me, or Daniel….Would you deal with the devil for that?"

"I might a bit less enthusiastic about it if it was Eve," Helena admits, her tone very wry. "But yes, I would, unless it went against your wishes to do so. And maybe still even then."

Trask nods, "Then your personal feelings for Peter have nothing to do with this. Don't second guess yourself. We don't leave a man behind."

Helena lifts a hand. "I was willing to do this with Claire even if every single member of PARIAH said no. My personal feelings for Peter have everything to do with is, it's just that it's not mutually exclusive. Which I'll take as far as it's all concerned." She pinches the bridge of her nose. "Anyway. Ideally, we'll be seeing Sylar tonight to find out his intentions."

Trask nods, "Helena…you can do this…you are ready…and I beleive in you."


l-arrow.png
September 28th: Things of Value
r-arrow.png
September 29th: Mind the Sunflowers
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License