We Are Very Disappointed

Participants:

cat_icon.gif rebel_icon.gif

Scene Title We Are Very Disappointed
Synopsis An exchange which dissatisfies on both ends.
Date March 28, 2010

The Verb, Cat's Penthouse

Arriving by any of four elevators, visitors will find they open into three foot corridors facing wide double doors made from sturdy southern pine which swing outward and have the strongest locks available. The stairs lead to single doors, also outward opening, at the end of three foot corridors. Entry requires both a key and a keycard; other security measures are a video camera and voice communication terminal at all doors. The 4th Street side has floor to ceiling windows interrupted only by the access points. Cream colored curtains are normally kept closed.

This level has enough space for sixteen apartments. There is an office space with reception area, conference room, and executive office; a room for archery practice and other forms of physical exercise; a very well appointed kitchen and dining area; a music zone with an array of instruments, electronics, and amplifiers; an entertainment area with an HD set covering an entire stretch of wall from floor to ceiling; a locked room where security footage for the building is recorded and can be monitored; a laundry room; a staircase for roof access; central air and heating; the main bedroom and a few smaller guest rooms; plush deep wine carpet everywhere except the kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms; and track lighting everywhere overhead. The light levels can be lowered or raised in the entire place, or selectively by segments. The overall decor suggests the occupant is a woman.


A Sunday night in New York City. Heavy snow still on the ground outside, a thing the public works people have at least partly managed to handle as far as keeping some roads and streets passable, but still troublesome to cope with. Negative nine degree temperatures, twenty-six kilometer per hour winds coming from south and east. Cat is still awake, a pint of stout in one hand and a guitar strapped across her upper body. She'd not long before returned from the recording studio on the fifth floor where she vented stress in the form of speed metal.

Now she's turned on the massive HD set in her entertainment room and settled into a seat with that Irish brew to take in late news reports. Keeping up on local and national, even world events, is a good thing. But she didn't by any means expect to see this report read out by the anchorperson from a teleprompter.

MANHATTAN —Homeland Security liaison to the Center for Disease Control, Howard Lemay was assaulted in his home in Battery Park just shortly after 2pm on Sunday. According to reports coming in from the Department of Homeland Security, Claire Bennet (20), a registered evolved snuck in to Lemay's Battery Part apartment building under guise of working for a New York maintenance company that services his building. Legitimate credentials that sources within the Department of Homeland Security believe were forged by an evolved with the ability to manipulate electronic devices was presented and she was allowed in to the building.

Bennet allegedly forced her way into Lemay's 18th floor apartment and proceeded to attempt a robbery, unaware that Lemay was present in the building just one floor down. When Lemay returned home, he found Bennet in his apartment and drew his firearm in an attempt to apprehend her. According to Lemay, he was shot in the leg by Bennet and fired back, critically wounding her. However, Bennet's registered ability of cellular regeneration allowed her to recouperate from the gunshot wound and disable Lemay.

Howard awoke several hours later when a neighbor on the 18th floor noticed his door had been forced open and called authorities. A city-wide search for the young woman responsible for this attack is currently underway, and if you have any information that would lead to the arrest of Claire Bennet, you are urged to contact the Department of Homeland Security's crisis line.

Instead of just seeing and hearing what's said to have in her mind for future reference if needed, Cat pays complete attention. She just stares at the crisis line number shown at the screen's bottom and the photograph of Claire from her Registry card which is shown in the top right corner during the report. Shapeshifter? Illusionist? No, the report's details tell her fairly well what went on. Technopathic assistance entering the building, breaking into the home of someone connected to the CDC.

"Who are you, Howard Lemay? What are we missing? What are you hiding from us?" Cat's question is asked of a non-responsive wall, as is the next interrogative. "What the hell were you looking for, Claire?" Her iPhone is reached for, the intent to call or message direct to the source with that question, but such action is delayed by the text message that pops up:

22:17, Sunday March 28th, 2010

I can help protect Claire from them, but you know what I need in return, Catherine. I want to recover the girl as painlessly as possible, but you are giving me very few options. Consider the bigger picture.

Her reply is swift.

You are not the Rebel I know. While inscrutable, that Rebel would not resort to such threatening tactics. I've spoken with Wireless about you. She told me of the third part, that Richard Drucker and Micah Sanders are no longer the sole partners here. Richard! Micah! Get control of the third part and reign it in now before it destroys any credibility you have with anyone. It achieves nothing, save to make enemies and create complete unwillingness to work with you. Not even Wireless wants to see Rebel gain the girl.

First things first: Complete disclosure now. And you protect Claire regardless of what I do. She's probably doing your work, now you cover her back in return!

To this, she receives another text message.

We are very disappointed.

And sends a second of her own.

I am also very disappointed. But I will give you this: Use of the pronoun we is the most like Rebel you've been. Now, we were discussing full disclosure. I'm waiting. It needs to include something I can use to definitively convince others of the stakes.

Nothing comes in return. A few minutes pass.

Richard Drucker! Micah Sanders! Step up to the plate. I've figured out why you used the Shanti virus image on your site. It points at Doctor Jean Martin Luis, whose daughter died from it, yes? And to his business partner, Mohinder Suresh. Come clean. How is it not obvious to you that if you'd come clean from the start, you might already have Liette? Threats have gotten, and will get, you nowhere. Honesty and openness, however, unlock many doors. I know both of you are smart enough to realize this.

Maybe they're reply, maybe not. Cat does two things next: She texts Claire, then Wireless.

Claire. Talk to me about Howard Lemay. What're you up to?

Wireless: Did you get all that?

Maybe replies come, maybe they don't. Either way, Cat resumes imbibing her pint of Guinness.


Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License