Pete Wisdom is saving the world...from itself. (mister_wisdom) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-06-29 01:39:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, kitty pryde (shadowcat), pete wisdom |
"Not so fast, Wisdom. I want you to see this computer."
Who: Kitty Pryde, Pete Wisdom
What: Dropping off a computer component and a memory stick full of fun Illusive Man related information. And, um...yeah, the awkward.
When: Recently, after these encrypted e-mails
Where: Kitty's abode
Rating: PG13, for language
Status: Complete!
Kitty was waiting outside, arms folded and pacing. She had squirreled the kittens away into Xi'an's bedroom, figuring it would be best not to introduce them to Pete, for both Pete and the kittens' sakes. She wondered what exactly she was supposed to be looking for. Oh she'd paid attention to what Pete wrote, but there were always undercurrents of things unsaid, in any assignment like this.
Jack Harper's name had been involved in a lot of things she'd been hacking into lately. She had started putting things together, and then stopped.
She hadn't wanted to know any more. Not yet, not unless she had to, even if her curiosity was overwhelming.
Right now, focus. Find this facility, investigate this data.
Kitty resumed pacing, and waiting.
It wasn't with the greatest amount of pleasure that Pete left Domino's bolthole, to pick up Kitty's computer part and bring her a flashdrive that Domino had downloaded files onto. In fact, he was only doing so with extreme reluctance. Fine. Truth be told, he would've rather swallowed battery acid and then shot himself in the stomach as many times as he had the strength left to do, rather than see Kitty face to face, once again.
He didn't want to see where she lived. He didn't want to see her. He didn't want to be in the same area as her. It was better for all parties involved if she went skipping off to live her happy life, far away from where he was trying to conduct his dangerous sports club business.
Necessity makes for strange bedfellows, however. That was pretty much true as of late, because he hadn't exactly thought he and Domino would be doing anything further than watching eachother's backs, even while asleep. But that kind of happened and, strangely enough, it was still business as usual. That was despite dream related hurdles and setbacks, and a lack of strings to be attached by.
Even despite that fact, he had no intention of being on friendly 'stop by my house' or 'lets hang out' terms with Pryde. That wasn't changing. He was on a timer. One hour, there and back again. More than two hours went by? Domino would message him. And he knew both of them were keeping an eye on the clock as it ticked down.
That was why he parked the car with screeching and smoking tires, in front of Kitty's residence. He exited the car like a man on a mission. His overcoat was swaying fitfully with each stomping step he took, the cigarette puffed on in an almost angry manner as he approached her. As for the rest of him? It didn't get much better. His hair was hopelessly ruffled up, five o'clock shadow on his face, dark circles under his eyes, pasty skinned, and his tie was askew. And he really wasn't too terribly aware of the fact he had the unholy trinity of sexy marks on his neck, that being the scratch, the hicky, and the bite marks that pretty much was a 'come back and see me again soon' billboard, if ever there was one.
He held out the thumbdrive in one hand and the part in the other as he approached, grumbling around the cigarette, "Here's the things you wanted. That's all? Great. Cheers, Pryde."
Two people who enjoyed dangerous sports were bound to run across each other sooner or later. The biggest difference, aside from latent emotions and feelings, was that one of them had found a way to separate the danger business from the living business. At least for the time being.
It could just be a matter of time before that separation could no longer be, but Kitty was going to enjoy it while it lasts. After all, she fully believed that when you find something that makes you happy, and you can take it, then you take it. You never knew if it would be there if you waited too long. It was in that mindset that she'd be happy for Pete, if she knew the full details. Because it was a little happiness snatched from the void. Not that he'd want to hear that.
Kitty studied the man as he approached, her indifferent mask crumbling into concern as he got closer. He looked like death warmed over - more so than usual. The her eyes narrowed and her lips curved up into a smirk.
It was that smirk, then one that portended any number of ribbing or teasing remarks.
"Not so fast, Wisdom. I want you to see this computer. It's out of this world." With a deft, graceful motion she snatched the cigarette from his mouth and tossed it, then yanked him forward by the tie to inspect the marks on his neck, "My god she marked her territory! That's hot."
Happy? Happy was a fleeting and transitory thing, that only existed in brief and shining moments to remind you later on of what you'd entirely lost somewhere, along the way. Happy, to him, wasn't a word he used in his daily vocabulary. Not unless it was meant as sarcasm, as in 'Look wot you did, there. I hope you're happy now, dumb arse.' It never lasted. When it was gone, a kick in the bollocks would've been more welcome a feeling, than doing that happy stuff again.
That was why, as soon as he saw that smirk, Pete bestowed upon her a sour scowl like he knew that look and an invasion of personal space was imminent. He hated having his space invaded, especially by people that didn't have the right to go grabbing at him like that any longer. That was the precise reason that he was just about choking himself to lean away, until she got her damn hands off him and his person.
"Fuck off, would you?" he wheezed, waving both hands around at her in a no touchy sort of way, sounding very much his normal self. "Not a...let go of me! Not a social visit. I don't want to see your computer. All I know about them is I turn the power on, I type, it sends, I receive and read a whole fat lot of rubbish, I turn it off. The end. I can't breathe...let go...and don't stand so close."
Kitty lowered her voice, "Yeah but have you ever seen an alien computer?" She let him go, taking a step back as he'd asked. She felt sad, and guilty, like she'd realized she didn't have that right anymore. Staying close enough to grab him in case of sniper, she squashed down the sadness, turning the emotion on its head, "So you either got laid or got attacked by a harpy."
He didn't notice. He simply shoved those things into her hands for her to take them, and started to straighten out his tie. It was a relief, though, when she wasn't up his nose quite so much. He never had been able to understand how most Americans were able to easily invade eachother's space without thinking about it most of the time. Pats on the back unnerved him. Someone was going to get a gun pulled if they came up and did that to him, while they were saying "Hello!" in a loud, 'friendly', and profoundly obnoxious way.
"Right on both counts," he sarcastically grumbled, frowning down at his lost cigarette. "I got fucked by a harpy. It was 'orrible. I need a dolly t'show where it touched me, an' a whole lot of therapy. For those times when it buggered me, after I begged it to stop. So, send me a photo of the computer and I'll forward it to Romany."
Rolling her eyes, Kitty inspected the part and then nodded approvingly, "This'll do it. Look, I can get you the results on the data on this drive in five to ten minutes." She waggled the drive in front of his nose, "Rest of it will take longer but I don't need to spend time getting the part to work for this. I already got the thing recognizing USB."
"I have t'be back soon. Really soon. I shouldn't 'ave left as it is," he was saying, checking the time on his wristwatch and then on his phone, like he looking to see if any messages were sent. It was nagging on his mind that she was still recovering, Domino was, and he told himself he'd be there to make sure no one would bust in and try to pop a cap in her glorious ass. The longer he was gone, the more possibility that it could happen.
Pete didn't even look up at her, but was mumble talking, and absently reaching for his pack of cigarettes. "Right, ewe ess bing...wote'er...are you saying you want me t'wait?"
"You don't have to wait outside. Just no smoking inside," Kitty snapped, turning on her heel and heading up the stairs and into the apartment. She was annoyed, but as she walked it tapered off. He was worried about someone, and she glanced over her shoulder worriedly as she walked inside. She left the door open. She figured as long as he was out there, no one would come in and steal the monument to technology that was her entertainment center, and maybe he'll get the idea. She jogged into her room, "On."
The X-computer hummed to life, and she sat, plugging in the USB stick. From Pete's Email it had to do with verifying legitimacy and hopefully point of origin. The first part wouldn't be too hard. There were pictures, emails, private messages, even hard dumped txt messages and check stubs.
Kitty tilted her head, then started running a scan on the files. There was nothing dangerous, so she copied them to the computer and removed the stick. She wouldn't be able to get locations or addresses or personal information until the Shi'ar computer was online, but she can at least verify the photos.
The kid was kind of cute. She probably would have been shyly stammery around him at that age. The only thing that came up about Lazarus was that it was the kid's name. At least in these files. She assumed that they were worried that the photos had been doctored, especially the one with the kid holding a newspaper with a date just a few days ago.
That made Kitty's chest clench. She'd seen far too many movies to not understand - this was blackmail. The kid, the check stubs, the emails, it was too much evidence for her not to piece it together. But she wouldn't say anything to Pete about it, even if her opinion of him was altering slightly. He really could be a bleeding heart at times, just never tell that to his face.
That's right, because he hated having that pointed out to his face, and it would just be an open invitation to have him vehemently prove that he wasn't...by being an even more monumental bastard than he was before. It was safer that way. It kept people at arm's length, where they belonged.
Although, against his better judgement, it was also the reason why he did come into the place. He closed the front door after entering and followed the path that Kitty had taken. After all, she was doing him a favor and she didn't have to do it at all...he just didn't want to be on friend terms with her. It wasn't ever in the cards there, really. But if something needing doing and she was willing to help out, then...he at least was glad he could get the part for her. Even if it wasn't his fault, on that particular day, that people were shooting at him.
He never got used to being shot at. He found it irritating.
"All right, Pryde." Pete didn't look around, on purpose. He didn't want to know the details of anything that went on in there. Business only. In and out. Hopefully with some more information than he had before. "Do you believe you've got summat there, or not?"
Because obviously arcane rituals went on between two women and two kids and two cats inside a three-bedroom apartment. The PS3 might count for that. Everything was off right now, the TV like a black hole hanging on the wall. The living room looked lived in, the kitchen was a fairly clean, and decorations leaned towards the unusual.
Kitty called back from her room, "In here!"
She swiveled in her computer chair. Pushed against the wall was a computer, looking like something out of science fiction, complete with holographic displays, chrome curves and what looked like a stylized X embedded in the console. Lazarus' picture was hanging in the air as red lins ran through it, "I'm guessing you want to make sure this wasn't digitally altered. The scan should be done in a sec. I'll have to find a way to get the rest of the info to you once I recover it since I'll need a connection to find locations and sources. I'll destroy the thumb drive after I finish."
No, because he didn't care to know anything about her personal life. It wouldn't have mattered if she was with another woman, another man, or a fucking purple gorilla sporting a pink glitter gel strap on. He didn't want to know about it. It's not happening with him, and that's why he wasn't interested in any of it. It was safer - as in safety precaution - to not know about any of it, as well.
And that's why...all that stuff? He hadn't noticed it. Not what was turned on, turned off, or even if there was a bloody tiki god in the middle of their living space. Did. Not. Want. To know.
He was already in her room, anyway. More specifically, he was hovering in her doorway and wondering why she was calling back at him like that. Which was why he gave her one seriously strange staring at, like she'd gone batty...right before he gave the computer a skimming over with a cursory glance, and listened to what she had to say.
"I'd like to know where the kid is, that's right. And that's fine, for the rest of it. There's no rush. It's downtime presently and all the other leads have dried up," he said in a low monotone, taking out a cigarette and putting it between his lips, but not lighting it. "You get the slightest hint anything's gone funny though, then destroy that and let me know. You get one I owe you in exchange."
He already owed Jubilee one IOU, for clearing his name on the valar net. Might as well share the wealth that was him. Even if the thought made him inwardly eyeroll, and he was hoping it just never would happen. Also safer that way.
Kitty picked up a wood block, "I'll just phase the fob into this. It'll be impossible to recover at that point." She'd had a plan for that! "When I have the rest of the information, I'll drop you a note so we can meet somewhere. I probably won't want to send that over the 'net."
The computer finished just then, and she swiveled again, tapping on a keyboard inset into the console, "It's legit, there's no digital signatures that indicate it's been shopped or altered. That picture was taken three days ago."
"All right. Meeting somewhere sounds like a good plan...and that's brilliant." It was, really, because that meant the kid was still alive and there was a chance of getting him out of there, if they could nail down a location. That was a slight relief but it didn't help that they still had to find him. "Got a way to print that out? I'll need a photo for Romany to work with."
"So she can do her hoodoo voodoo?" Kitty nodded and slid her finger along the picture. A moment later it printed out of a slot on the console and she handed it over, "If I can't get this thing online it'll take me longer as I'll need to secure my other system ahead of time for this. But if I can I should have something for you in a week, maybe less. I really can't give you a better estimate until I've started diving, and I'll let you know if it changes."
"If she doesn't let the evil out, she'll explode. We can't have that," confirmed Pete, on the matter of his sister and voodoo. He took the photo and tucked it into the pocket of his trenchcoat, listening to what she was saying and nodding along. "Week sounds about right. I'll be laying low for the time being, so I'll be around and about. Should be able to answer immediately. If I don't then...."
He shrugged a shoulder, like he shouldn't have to spell out the obvious and it went without saying. After holding up his phone and taking a picture of the computer...maybe with the very top of her head in the corner of the frame...Pete pointed behind him. He was using the phone like a directional indicator, while eyeing her for a few fleeting seconds.
"I'll show myself out. Nice computer, Pryde. Suits you. Thank you for the help and image analysis. Be careful."
"No, we definitely can't have that." Kitty grew disquieted, "Somehow I never envisioned you going quietly. Loudly, obnoxiously. But not quietly. I'll hear about it." She grabbed his shoulder, "You too. Try to grab a little bit of happy, even if it hurts later. And I'll punch her if she does."
"Wrong. If they do it right, you ne'er immediately hear a word of it. And if you do hear a word of it, then you ignore it. It's likely they'd clean up anyone who showed up at a funeral." He eyed her hand on his shoulder, with his lips pressed tightly together around the cigarette. That didn't last long before he dropped that shoulder down, to get it out of her grip. "Do us a favor? Don't talk to me about happy. Wot part of no face-to-face personal shite do you just not get? Furthermore, I don't think you'd be too terribly successful, tangling with the likes of her. But...cheers? I'm going now."
As he walked to the front door, he gave her a little wave of a hand. Of course, a 'little wave' meant he flapped his hand in the air like it was some droopy lifeless thing, back and forth, twice, before it dropped down to his side.
Kitty watched him go, then closed the door. She had to get to work, there was no time for any feelings right now. And if she really wanted to stop hurting him she'd drop things, and just do her job. She slammed her wooden block down, grabbed the computer part, and slid under the console. It was time to get this pretty little thing online.