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Authors: Playing for Keeps [html]
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"But what about Ian?"
Keepsie felt a smile lift the corners of her mouth, and the sensation was foreign. "I didn't say that I was going to give it to Clever Jack for free."
***
Keepsie paced the apartment, going from living room to kitchen and back again. Michelle and Peter sat on the couch; she relaxed back and he sat stiffly, his gaze flicking from the clock to Keepsie and back again.
It was six-thirty. At seven o'clock, many of the bar's regulars were to arrive at Keepsie's apartment. Between their own memories, and a quick phone call to Wanda the memory-perfect waitress (who, although she refused to work there, had been known to have a drink or three in Keepsie's Bar), Keepsie and the others had figured out most of the regular customers' last names. They looked up phone numbers and called the regulars, explaining to them the short version of the day's happenings. They included the bar's closing and Ian's arrest, but left out dealing with Clever Jack and Doodad. Several were eager to help.
"I'll tell them everything when they get here," Keepsie had said, crossing the last person, Samantha, off the list.
"Keepsie, what about Patricia?" Michelle asked.
Keepsie stopped pacing and bit her lip. "I don't know. We don't want her knowing what we're going to do. She'll tell the heroes. But if she hears about this meeting through someone else, she'll tell the heroes then."
"We could invite her and reveal her as the spy here," Michelle said.
Keepsie frowned. Patricia had a talent that was less powerful offensively, at least -than her own, and that was hard to come by. It's not like she could sober them all up and then make a break for it. But Ian was their strongest offensive power, and he was gone.
"I think that might be the safest. Let's see how she reacts when we tell her about what we know."
Michelle nodded and picked up the phone. Keepsie resumed her pacing as she listened to Michelle's side of the conversation.
"Well, I know it's your night off, but it's important… well, no, not as important as last night… but… oh, I'm glad the date wasn't ruined. But I think you should know the bar is closed and we're meeting at Keepsie's apartment to discuss further action… it’s closed because of the books… yes, you'll still get your check… well, I think you should be here, we're meeting with some of the regular customers… No, you're not expected to serve everyone…" Michelle rolled her eyes.
As they argued, Keepsie paced. Michelle finally slammed down the phone and said, "There was nothing I could say to entice her to come. She just wants to collect her check, and she wants us to call her when the bar is back in business."
Keepsie shook her head. "Amazing."
"It doesn't sound like she's your spy," Peter said. "If she were, she would want to be here to find out what we're doing. The Academy would love to catch us forming a vigilante group. Look at how fast they came down on Ian."
"What do you think they're doing to him?" Michelle asked.
"I would guess interrogation and incarceration in some sort of cell where he either can't use his powers or it would be very inconvenient to," Peter said.
"If what Clever Jack says is true, it seems the Academy has cells that are well-equipped to handle any kind of powers, and Third Wave powers shouldn’t be a problem."
"Interrogation? About what?" Michelle asked.
"Whatever secret society they think we’re forming, I expect. They want to fill in any holes their spy may have left."
"Whoever the spy is," Keepsie said.
"Is it possible there isn't a spy?" Michelle asked. "I mean, the Academy is full of superheroes for God's sake. They might have people who can read minds or something. Or people who can tell the future. Or locate people or items.
Who knows how they knew Clever Jack was in the bar trying to steal the device?"
Keepsie plopped down on the couch and propped her head in her hands.
"I don't know. They surpass us in everything. Resources, skills,
Keepsie felt a smile lift the corners of her mouth, and the sensation was foreign. "I didn't say that I was going to give it to Clever Jack for free."
***
Keepsie paced the apartment, going from living room to kitchen and back again. Michelle and Peter sat on the couch; she relaxed back and he sat stiffly, his gaze flicking from the clock to Keepsie and back again.
It was six-thirty. At seven o'clock, many of the bar's regulars were to arrive at Keepsie's apartment. Between their own memories, and a quick phone call to Wanda the memory-perfect waitress (who, although she refused to work there, had been known to have a drink or three in Keepsie's Bar), Keepsie and the others had figured out most of the regular customers' last names. They looked up phone numbers and called the regulars, explaining to them the short version of the day's happenings. They included the bar's closing and Ian's arrest, but left out dealing with Clever Jack and Doodad. Several were eager to help.
"I'll tell them everything when they get here," Keepsie had said, crossing the last person, Samantha, off the list.
"Keepsie, what about Patricia?" Michelle asked.
Keepsie stopped pacing and bit her lip. "I don't know. We don't want her knowing what we're going to do. She'll tell the heroes. But if she hears about this meeting through someone else, she'll tell the heroes then."
"We could invite her and reveal her as the spy here," Michelle said.
Keepsie frowned. Patricia had a talent that was less powerful offensively, at least -than her own, and that was hard to come by. It's not like she could sober them all up and then make a break for it. But Ian was their strongest offensive power, and he was gone.
"I think that might be the safest. Let's see how she reacts when we tell her about what we know."
Michelle nodded and picked up the phone. Keepsie resumed her pacing as she listened to Michelle's side of the conversation.
"Well, I know it's your night off, but it's important… well, no, not as important as last night… but… oh, I'm glad the date wasn't ruined. But I think you should know the bar is closed and we're meeting at Keepsie's apartment to discuss further action… it’s closed because of the books… yes, you'll still get your check… well, I think you should be here, we're meeting with some of the regular customers… No, you're not expected to serve everyone…" Michelle rolled her eyes.
As they argued, Keepsie paced. Michelle finally slammed down the phone and said, "There was nothing I could say to entice her to come. She just wants to collect her check, and she wants us to call her when the bar is back in business."
Keepsie shook her head. "Amazing."
"It doesn't sound like she's your spy," Peter said. "If she were, she would want to be here to find out what we're doing. The Academy would love to catch us forming a vigilante group. Look at how fast they came down on Ian."
"What do you think they're doing to him?" Michelle asked.
"I would guess interrogation and incarceration in some sort of cell where he either can't use his powers or it would be very inconvenient to," Peter said.
"If what Clever Jack says is true, it seems the Academy has cells that are well-equipped to handle any kind of powers, and Third Wave powers shouldn’t be a problem."
"Interrogation? About what?" Michelle asked.
"Whatever secret society they think we’re forming, I expect. They want to fill in any holes their spy may have left."
"Whoever the spy is," Keepsie said.
"Is it possible there isn't a spy?" Michelle asked. "I mean, the Academy is full of superheroes for God's sake. They might have people who can read minds or something. Or people who can tell the future. Or locate people or items.
Who knows how they knew Clever Jack was in the bar trying to steal the device?"
Keepsie plopped down on the couch and propped her head in her hands.
"I don't know. They surpass us in everything. Resources, skills,
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