Participants:
| Scene Title | On The Parting Of Ways |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Alex, Hel, and "Sergei" discuss those who have left Phoenix, and those may yet join them. |
| Date | November 15, 2008 |
Once upon a time, the New York Public Library was one of the most important libraries in America. The system, of which this branch was the center, was among the foremost lending libraries /and/ research libraries in the world.
The bomb changed that, as it changed so much else.
By virtue of distance, the library building was not demolished entirely, like so many others north of it; however, the walls on its northern side have been badly damaged, and their stability is suspect. The interior is a shambles, tattered books strewn about the chambers and halls, many shelves pulled over. Some have even been pulled apart; piles of char in some corners suggest some of their pieces, as well as some of the books, have been used to fuel fires for people who sought shelter here in the past.
In the two years since the bomb, the library — despite being one of the icons of New York City — has been left to decay. The wind whistles through shattered windows, broken by either the blast-front or subsequent vandals, carrying dust and debris in with it. Rats, cats, and stray dogs often seek shelter within its walls, especially on cold nights. Between the fear of radiation and the lack of funds, recovery of the library is on indefinite hiatus; this place, too, has been forgotten.
It's early evening at the Public Library, Sergei, in his normal disguise seeks out the boss. He wanders the halls, checking each room and taking stock of who is and isn't around. Eventually he comes across Helena he waits a few moments, before clearing his throat.
Helena is in what's supposed to be the clinic area, stacking things and making them neat. She looks over her shoulder. "Sergei." she greets, and goes back to stacking.
There's the sound of footsteps from the aerie way up in the offices where Al has set up his room. He comes stalking down one of the aisles of standing shelves, a little shockwave of dust and shreddded paper trailing behind him. His expression is truculent, as if he'd woken up from a dream of conflict. But it eases when he spots Helena and Sergei, and he grins, almost reluctantly.
Trask says, "Helena…" He begins, then stops as he hears footsteps he turns and notes Alex's approach and the chaos surrounding it. "Is something wrong comrade?""
Helena turns to face Alex. "You look like you got into a fight in the stacks, and the stacks won."
Alexander chuckles, and settles down to squat on his heels quite comfortably, right by Helena. "I'm okay. Bad dream, now I'm in a bad temper," he says, simply.
Trask nods slowly and shakes his head, he then turns back to Helena "Speaking of dreams Eve came by to say goodbye, she's officially leaving for the Ferrymen."
Helena looks to Trask and actually looks relieved. "Oh, good. Bennet got through to her. It's for the best." Absently she pats Alexander on the head frmom his squat, like he's her pet hellhound, and she goes back to stacking.
Alexander lifts himself up from the hunker to help. What's the point of having tremendous cosmic power if you don't use it, right? Not that he invokes telekinesis - good ol' hard labor will help work off his fit of pique. But he blinks at Trask. "She did? Why?"
Trask says, "She didn't say…but it has been obvious it has been coming." He keeps his distance, so as not to interupt Alex's work. "She was tied tightly with Cameron, and in our last major op…some issues came up." He shakes his head, "She should be fine with the Ferrymen. Is there anything I need to be brought up to speed on?""
Helena considers a few moments. "We need someone else to recruit Samir Saddiqui, Peter's split into two people, neither of which is necessarily our ally, and Abby has withdrawn her membership from Phoenix. Other than that, we're peachy."
Alexander grunts. And does not bring up the spat (?) with Teo. He's still firmly in the basket, as it were. "I can work on Samir. What in hell happened to Pete?"
Trask winces when Abbie is mentioned. "I know she's been very stressed lately. I'm sorry to hear that. Any word on the Librarian or the College student?"
"I haven't been given enough to follow through with them, except the one - Heather? Yeah, I talked to Jennifer about her. She flashed her powers in a public area, and I'm not keen on that." Helena says to Trask. To Peter. "It's a hell of a long story. He apparently came into contact with Brian Fulk, split into two, only instead of them being both him as we know him, they're very different."
Alexander just shakes his head at that, mutely. "That's fucked up," he says, after a moment's thought. "Who're the Librarian and the student?"
Trask nods, "Heather is a student that Cameron was funneling money too, she can create Portals others can walk through between any two points on the planet. The librarian is a woman who can detect other peoples powers. She was recently involved in a terrorist attack and is very antiregistration. He shakes his head. There is a third possible recruit, but I am hesitant about her."
"Who is it?" Helena asks, her attention on Trask.
Alexander levels a cool blue gaze on T rask, as well, clearly very curious.
Trask says, "She's an excop, Hostage negotiator, works as a music teacher at Washington Irving. She's got useful training, and according to my intel, she has the right sentiments for us…" He trails off a little."
"Sounds ideal. What's your hesitation?" Helena asks, pausing to lean against the shelf. She'd been doing it to sort herself out, but now Alex is doing it to sort himself out, and well, there's only one sort at a time.
Al's eyes widen. "I know her!" He says, all but bouncing on his toes. "I used to know her when I was a cop. But it's been years since I talked to her in earnest."
Trask says, "Two problems…the first is…she's an ex cop, There is always that nagging fear in the back that any badge could be a plant. She's been off the force a long time though…and personally I don't have any question that she's sincere, but it's possible I'm being fooled. Secondly…there is a very good chance that if she does join up, she'll be able to ID me. That is more of a personal issue of course."
"So if she's viable, she'd need to be approached by someone who isn't you, am I right?" Helena asks. "Do you feel like she's worth recruiting despite the hazard to your alias?"
O rly? Al's expression turns a touch sardonic. "Any badge, eh?"
Trask levels his gaze on Alexenader, nodding once to him. "I do… she could be a very valuable asset to us. I trust her, if I didn't think she was worth the risk, I wouldn't have brought her up to you. I just wanted to make sure you had all the possible negatives."
"And you can't be the one to recruit her." Helena concludes. She looks to Al. "I can ask someone else to take of Samir. Can you look into her, feel her out?"
"Do I look like James Bond to you?" Al's tone is gently teasing. "Do I gotta take her to dinner and a movie first," But he props himself against a counter, earlier pique forgotten. "Will do."
There is a slight tightening of the skin around Trask's eyes, almost a twitch when Alex makes his comment, he nods slowly, "Da…Do we have a time line on miracle day yet…or an idea on what we are going to do to follow it up?
"No time line yet." Helena says. "I'm hoping for some time in the next fortnight now that we've got Romero Laudani available. Bennet is working on getting the information on the facilities holding Evolved, and Wireless is going to step up and dish out some training."
Alexander bares his teeth at that. "Fucking holding pens," he says, in a venomous hiss - his face is momentarily a mask of anger. IT's very Jekyll and Hyde, really.
Trask says, "Is there anything else you need my to do right now?"
Helena shakes her head. "No, Segei. Thank you." She looks back to Alexander, expression vague and worried. "You, on the other hand - are you sure you're okay?"
Alexander looks down, embarassed. And the little wave of risen dust subsides - he tends to get all Pigpen when stressed. "I'm good," he says, belying that by palming at his eyeball with a hand. "Just tired."
Trask steps back, letting the two of them talk, he turns toward the door.
 November 15th: Clinch |
Previously in this storyline… Next in this storyline… |
 November 15th: Grey Cells and Waffles |