It would seem Jan, sharp guy that he was, had pretty much nailed down the scenario Ernie was trying to lay out, but she wasn't convinced that was the whole truth. And she still didn't know the detective's true role in all of this.
"Heh. 'Never' sounds like a good time to me."
He seemed genuinely confused now, when she feigned ignorance to the letter from Yoki. So he had been in on that...what did that prove?
She picked up a stick and drew a spiral in the dirt while Ernie babbled on. Ignoring his questions, she spoke in a low, dangerous voice.
“Does my brother have it right?”
Family Bonding Time!
Nova sat on the hood of her car, holding her cell phone in her hand and looking out over the lake, a lovely view framed by lush trees and tall reeds.
Oh, and a tied up bleeding dude.
The nimrod, who was now awake, made a whining sound through his gag, which consisted of a tightly tied bandana around his mouth. Not all that effective, as he could still make noise, but at least he couldn’t talk while Nova was trying to think.
On the way over here she’d ended up throwing her mobile down halfway through scanning her numbers to get to Jan, when she heard movement in the back seat. Checking the rear view, she saw that her victim was awake and stirring. That wouldn’t do.
She was forced to scramble for something to clock him over the head with. Luckily, she came upon a flashlight, one of the big heavy duty ones, and that did the trick nicely.
Still, she didn’t feel right about getting back on the phone until they were parked and she was sure this idgit was under control.
There just happened to be some bungee cord in the back of her car – not such an alarming coincidence when one climbed rocks for a hobby – and that worked nicely to tie her little bristly headed moron to a tree. When she stepped back to regard her handiwork, though, she started to have doubts. The douchbag could die, and that would just suck on so many levels.
Damn, this could really go south in a hurry. She was in that thing she usually tried to avoid in spite of evidence to the contrary - the bad situation.
Deciding it was the only option, Nova bit hard into her wrist, building up a small amount of blood. Amused, she told herself that this was supposed to be the other way around, then tilted the dipshit’s head back as far as she could and let the blood dribble into his mouth.
He swallowed and began choking, violently. Nova stepped back and watched to see which way this would go, starting to feel a little scared, and was relieved when after a few more sputters the walking tool opened his eyes.
And immediately began belly aching. He wasn’t saying anything coherant beyond ‘oh god, let me go, please, let me go,’ but it was grating her nerves and so she’d found a way to shut him up.
Now she was tapping her foot on the license plate, hoping to god Jan would pick up. When she heard his voice at the other end she jumped up off the car and started gibbering into the phone.
“Jan? God, you’re there, good. Listen…I, uh…” Hmm. How exactly does one explain this sort of thing? “…got a little bit of a situation here. Think you could come and give me a…shit, hold on…” Looking over, she saw that her prisoner had fallen unconscious once more. Annoyed, she walked over and gave him a swift kick, hoping he was still alive. That blood should be helping but maybe he was worse off than she thought. “Hey. Wake up psycho. Nooo passing out!” Pleased with the grunt she got in response, she turned her attention back to the phone conversation. “Uh, sorry about that….anyway, you busy?”
Nova
17 years ago
Stranger
17 years ago
Dr. Piestewa's silence was answer enough for Ernie. She -did- get a letter and it probably said just what her brothers had told him it would. It was written all over her face, and her posture. The only thing he couldn't guess is when, exactly, she was going to snap and start raging again.
When she asked, in an oddly quiet voice, if her brother was right, he felt a twinge of whatever it was that had made him go to her in the first place. Sympathy? He wasn't certain. Maybe he was just being human. He was, however, hard pressed to feel -much- sympathy, tied to a tree as he was.
Taking a deep breath, he finally concluded that the timing wasn't ever going to improve. It was now or never, and he'd peered down the 'never' road far enough to see where that led.
“No. Your brother isn't right.” He swallowed hard. “It's worse.”
When she asked, in an oddly quiet voice, if her brother was right, he felt a twinge of whatever it was that had made him go to her in the first place. Sympathy? He wasn't certain. Maybe he was just being human. He was, however, hard pressed to feel -much- sympathy, tied to a tree as he was.
Taking a deep breath, he finally concluded that the timing wasn't ever going to improve. It was now or never, and he'd peered down the 'never' road far enough to see where that led.
“No. Your brother isn't right.” He swallowed hard. “It's worse.”
Nova
17 years ago
Nova felt her muscles twitch when Ernie gave his dramatic proclamation and heard something snap. At first she thought it was a tendon but it turned out to be the stick in her hand. That might have been funny under other circumstances.
It wasn't funny now.
She shook her head and practically growled.
“Oh, boy, you better start talking.” That was, she thought, all the verbal threat that was needed, but her flat, unblinking stare alone was enough to make anyone a little nervous and a high strung guy like Ernie...well, she could only hope he would need a clean pair of shorts in a sec here.
It wasn't funny now.
She shook her head and practically growled.
“Oh, boy, you better start talking.” That was, she thought, all the verbal threat that was needed, but her flat, unblinking stare alone was enough to make anyone a little nervous and a high strung guy like Ernie...well, she could only hope he would need a clean pair of shorts in a sec here.
Jan
17 years ago
Jan watched the back and forth between Nova and this guy. The whole situation was not making much sense this guy was to follow her, deliver a note and then watch her some more to get her reaction? And what was in this letter?
"Uhm..."Â?
He was about to ask for more details but decided that it would slow the process of interrogation down. It would be better to wait for a lull or better yet the end of this game to get caught up.
"Nevermind. Go on."Â?
Whatever it was just got worse than even Nova originally expected. Jan watched the stick snap and wondered if Ernie here saw the very real and present danger. Loosening the knots, He spoke calmly to both of them.
"I am sure, Ernie was just getting to that part. Whatever it is, we don't want to kill the messenger."Â?
Yet.
He laid a hand on the man's shoulder... comforting and unbeknownst to their new friend, there to keep him from running off. Jan continued his calming glamour as he spoke.
"Go on Ernie, explain. Its alright."
"Uhm..."Â?
He was about to ask for more details but decided that it would slow the process of interrogation down. It would be better to wait for a lull or better yet the end of this game to get caught up.
"Nevermind. Go on."Â?
Whatever it was just got worse than even Nova originally expected. Jan watched the stick snap and wondered if Ernie here saw the very real and present danger. Loosening the knots, He spoke calmly to both of them.
"I am sure, Ernie was just getting to that part. Whatever it is, we don't want to kill the messenger."Â?
Yet.
He laid a hand on the man's shoulder... comforting and unbeknownst to their new friend, there to keep him from running off. Jan continued his calming glamour as he spoke.
"Go on Ernie, explain. Its alright."
Stranger
17 years ago
Ernie took another gulping breath at the hand on his shoulder, but surprisingly he felt better for it than he had a moment ago, when he'd seen that stick snap and the look in Nova's eyes. For a second there he'd thought for sure he was a dead man. Now, though, the ropes...were they looser? There was the strangest feeling that it was all going to be okay in spite of the psychotic woman staring him down.
Still, he thought maybe she was right and he'd better get to talking. He nodded in eager agreement with the brother – definitely didn't want to kill the messenger. No siree.
“So...right. Um.” Oh, great start. “See, that letter from Yoki wasn't all bullshit. He really was arrested, and really is in jail. That's what it said, right?” Seeing Nova's non reaction, he decided that was enough to go on. He didn't want to give her a chance to get worked up again before this was out on the table. “Yeah. So...he's in jail. But not for drug charges...or, I should say, not -just- drug charges. See one of the guys your brothers were dealing with...well, he turned up dead. They're all swearing innocence but Yoki got picked up and they started planning. See, the cops don't have that strong of a case against Yoki to start with, and they're pretty corrupt...so if they could pin the deed on someone else Yoki'd go free.” Thinking maybe he should get to the point and then backtrack as needed later, he blurted out. “And that someone else is you, Nova. They've been planning to frame you since the day Yoki was arrested, and they've managed to put you in a bad enough light that if you go home right now you're sure to be picked up at the very least. It wasn't just about the money, though that's where it started. They're after -you-.”
Pausing for breath, he watched with wide eyes for what would happen next. The whole thing was actually a lot more complicated than what he had laid out but this was a start and would get them in the right direction...or the wrong one, depending on one's outlook.
Still, he thought maybe she was right and he'd better get to talking. He nodded in eager agreement with the brother – definitely didn't want to kill the messenger. No siree.
“So...right. Um.” Oh, great start. “See, that letter from Yoki wasn't all bullshit. He really was arrested, and really is in jail. That's what it said, right?” Seeing Nova's non reaction, he decided that was enough to go on. He didn't want to give her a chance to get worked up again before this was out on the table. “Yeah. So...he's in jail. But not for drug charges...or, I should say, not -just- drug charges. See one of the guys your brothers were dealing with...well, he turned up dead. They're all swearing innocence but Yoki got picked up and they started planning. See, the cops don't have that strong of a case against Yoki to start with, and they're pretty corrupt...so if they could pin the deed on someone else Yoki'd go free.” Thinking maybe he should get to the point and then backtrack as needed later, he blurted out. “And that someone else is you, Nova. They've been planning to frame you since the day Yoki was arrested, and they've managed to put you in a bad enough light that if you go home right now you're sure to be picked up at the very least. It wasn't just about the money, though that's where it started. They're after -you-.”
Pausing for breath, he watched with wide eyes for what would happen next. The whole thing was actually a lot more complicated than what he had laid out but this was a start and would get them in the right direction...or the wrong one, depending on one's outlook.
Nova
17 years ago
What the fuck was Jan doing? Letting Ernie go? Nova wasn’t sure what to make of that and right now it was hard to accept that he might have way more of a clue as to what he was doing than she did. One of them was sure and in control, and Nova knew, sure as fuck, that it wasn’t her. Some part of her insisted that she hadn’t been in control since she drove her firebird into Ernie.
Even knowing all that was barely enough to make her stay still while Jan spoke calmly to her prisoner. She couldn’t, however, argue with results. Ernie was finally spilling his guts.
And what ugly slippery green guts they were. She gave him a blank, yet somehow dangerous stare whenever he started to falter and by the end she thought they might have at least received some version of the information instead of useless whining and smoke and mirrors shit.
She had a lot of questions but figured she had to start somewhere. Taking a tip from Jan, she didn’t jump on Ernie’s case about his part in this, instead hoping to fill in the story before she tore into him.
“What does my father have to do with this?”
She threw down the stick in a disgusted gesture, keeping her eyes relentlessly on Ernie. The sad truth was that she could believe the rest of this story. Well, it was a little hard to hear that Yoki was in on this but knowing her brothers he could be pretty well in over his head right now and willing to go along with Honovi’s railroading if it meant getting out of a bad situation. After all, her brothers were in his life every day; what was a long lost sister to him?
Even knowing all that was barely enough to make her stay still while Jan spoke calmly to her prisoner. She couldn’t, however, argue with results. Ernie was finally spilling his guts.
And what ugly slippery green guts they were. She gave him a blank, yet somehow dangerous stare whenever he started to falter and by the end she thought they might have at least received some version of the information instead of useless whining and smoke and mirrors shit.
She had a lot of questions but figured she had to start somewhere. Taking a tip from Jan, she didn’t jump on Ernie’s case about his part in this, instead hoping to fill in the story before she tore into him.
“What does my father have to do with this?”
She threw down the stick in a disgusted gesture, keeping her eyes relentlessly on Ernie. The sad truth was that she could believe the rest of this story. Well, it was a little hard to hear that Yoki was in on this but knowing her brothers he could be pretty well in over his head right now and willing to go along with Honovi’s railroading if it meant getting out of a bad situation. After all, her brothers were in his life every day; what was a long lost sister to him?
Jan
17 years ago
Jan finished untying the ropes, letting them drop to the ground. Sliding the mess of it towards Nova, he figured it would give her hands something to do. She looked like she was itching to punch someone and right now they needed Ernie to continue talking.
"There you go, Ernie, my man. Did I not tell you it would be alright?"Â?
His story spilled out and was starting to make a little more sense....in a whacked out who the fuck would do that to their own family sort of way. When Ernie halted and Nova asked another question. Jan reached into his pocked and found the pack of cloves and the lighter.
Sliding one out, he stuck the brown cigarette in his mouth and flicked the tiny flame into life. Taking a long inhale, He once more focused on his sister by blood.
"Do all your relatives suck? No wonder you left."Â?
He looked back at Ernie and offered a clove.
"Want one?"Â?
"There you go, Ernie, my man. Did I not tell you it would be alright?"Â?
His story spilled out and was starting to make a little more sense....in a whacked out who the fuck would do that to their own family sort of way. When Ernie halted and Nova asked another question. Jan reached into his pocked and found the pack of cloves and the lighter.
Sliding one out, he stuck the brown cigarette in his mouth and flicked the tiny flame into life. Taking a long inhale, He once more focused on his sister by blood.
"Do all your relatives suck? No wonder you left."Â?
He looked back at Ernie and offered a clove.
"Want one?"Â?
Stranger
17 years ago
Ernie grunted a little at Nova’s question and rubbed at his wrists, trying to get the blood flowing again. Yeah, the young fellow had said it would be all right, but he wouldn’t say they were quite there yet, untied or no. He didn’t like the way Nova was looking at him one bit but he would admit that her ‘brother’ seemed to know how to deal with her.
Was he ‘dealing’ with him in just like he was handling his sister, though? Hell, maybe the kid had his own ends in this – how many people just stepped up to help another person, even one they considered family? He’d seen a lot in his line of work but acting outside one’s own self interest…well that would be one for the books.
His eyes went hungry at the offer of a cigarette, though; he really could use one. Sure, it was an obvious manipulative ploy but this kid was, even all things considered, a safer bet than his sister and still might be his only hope out of this mess, so he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Pulling one cigarette out, he gave it a suspicious sniff before deciding that at this point nicotine was nicotine and it was best not to be too fussy.
“Thanks man.”
He’d need a light but it seemed a little nervy to ask for one before answering Nova’s question. Luckily this was an easy one.
“That was Honovi’s idea. I think Choovio disagreed but, well…I guess you know those two better than I do. Anyway, Honovi said there was no way you’d ever come back here as long as your father was alive. He said in order for this to work, Mr. Piestewa had to lie low for a while so they could bring you in.”
Shrugging, he looked to Jan.
“Hey, can I get a light man?”
Was he ‘dealing’ with him in just like he was handling his sister, though? Hell, maybe the kid had his own ends in this – how many people just stepped up to help another person, even one they considered family? He’d seen a lot in his line of work but acting outside one’s own self interest…well that would be one for the books.
His eyes went hungry at the offer of a cigarette, though; he really could use one. Sure, it was an obvious manipulative ploy but this kid was, even all things considered, a safer bet than his sister and still might be his only hope out of this mess, so he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Pulling one cigarette out, he gave it a suspicious sniff before deciding that at this point nicotine was nicotine and it was best not to be too fussy.
“Thanks man.”
He’d need a light but it seemed a little nervy to ask for one before answering Nova’s question. Luckily this was an easy one.
“That was Honovi’s idea. I think Choovio disagreed but, well…I guess you know those two better than I do. Anyway, Honovi said there was no way you’d ever come back here as long as your father was alive. He said in order for this to work, Mr. Piestewa had to lie low for a while so they could bring you in.”
Shrugging, he looked to Jan.
“Hey, can I get a light man?”
Nova
17 years ago
Nova gave Jan a disgruntled stare as he continued to pamper the prisoner and her answer was short and cranky.
“Yes, they all suck.”
Was her brother seriously offering him a cigarette? Oh no he didn’t. Gritting her teeth, she grumbled at this development.
“Maybe he’d like some food? Want I should go order a fucking pizza?”
Venting more hostility by throwing a stick, she turned back to Jan, scowling.
“Sorry.”
She couldn’t have sounded less sorry or more sour but she was at least sort of aware that she might be allowing her temper to get in the way with whatever plan her brother had cooked up, and maybe she should knock it off.
After another fucking century of waiting Ernie finally began to talk again. Most of what he said made sense and again this was nothing she would put past anyone in her family…except Yoki. Still, she laughed darkly at the last bit.
“Oh, yeah, wonder what gave him that idea? I guess I should take that as a compliment – he knows I keep my word.”
Either that or Honovi just knew she was stubborn as hell.
She held out her hand in a stopping motion when Ernie asked for a light, firing off another question before he could get side tracked.
“So why’d you tell me he was still alive? Hell, why did you approach me at all?”
“Yes, they all suck.”
Was her brother seriously offering him a cigarette? Oh no he didn’t. Gritting her teeth, she grumbled at this development.
“Maybe he’d like some food? Want I should go order a fucking pizza?”
Venting more hostility by throwing a stick, she turned back to Jan, scowling.
“Sorry.”
She couldn’t have sounded less sorry or more sour but she was at least sort of aware that she might be allowing her temper to get in the way with whatever plan her brother had cooked up, and maybe she should knock it off.
After another fucking century of waiting Ernie finally began to talk again. Most of what he said made sense and again this was nothing she would put past anyone in her family…except Yoki. Still, she laughed darkly at the last bit.
“Oh, yeah, wonder what gave him that idea? I guess I should take that as a compliment – he knows I keep my word.”
Either that or Honovi just knew she was stubborn as hell.
She held out her hand in a stopping motion when Ernie asked for a light, firing off another question before he could get side tracked.
“So why’d you tell me he was still alive? Hell, why did you approach me at all?”
Stranger
17 years ago
It was tempting to reply to Nova’s question with a ‘gee, I kind of forgot –why- I decided to help you’ but ultimately decided that wasn’t going to go over well. After a ‘don’t let her kill me’ glance at the kid, Ernest swallowed nervously and did his best to explain.
“Look…it’s all falling apart down there. Family…man, I ain’t –never- doing business with family again, it’s an ugly goddamn mess, I can tell you.” He gave his cigarette a longing look but Nova’s glare was enough to make him continue. “Honovi asked your father to lay low, right? Only pops went a little –too- underground; no one can find him. –I- think he bailed and won’t show his face again ‘til your brothers get your money. Might be thinking of a way to double cross everyone, I don’t know. And then…look, I don’t know how to explain, but you can just kind of tell when everything’s about to go to shit. Choovio and Honovi giving slightly different orders. Fighting a lot. Choovio had a bruise on his cheek last time I saw him and didn’t do much talking. It’s all going bad.”
So, yeah, that was the first part. The next part could make or break.
"I always knew I wasn’t dealing with good people. I won’t bullshit you there. But I don’t like being lied to, and the more I investigated you the more I realized I was being fucked with. They told me you were crazy, a drunk, that you didn’t give a shit about anyone but yourself…they told me you murdered someone that crossed you in cold blood and got off on a technicality.
I know that’s not true now. I know about the accident in New Mexico, and the Thalassemia research, and…well if you want to have a drink now and again that’s probably your business. My point it, they’re lying about you, they’re lying to each other, and they clearly don’t have their shit together. That to me says someone’s going to get hurt, maybe even dead by the end of this, and the way things are going that person could be me, especially when everything goes south. So I decided I’d get out; just throw a wrench over my shoulder and get the fuck out.
So…yeah. I swear, I just want to get out. You know everything now, I swear it, just let me go and you’ll never see me again…”
He looked hopefully from the kid to Nova with his most sincere, pleading expression.
“Look…it’s all falling apart down there. Family…man, I ain’t –never- doing business with family again, it’s an ugly goddamn mess, I can tell you.” He gave his cigarette a longing look but Nova’s glare was enough to make him continue. “Honovi asked your father to lay low, right? Only pops went a little –too- underground; no one can find him. –I- think he bailed and won’t show his face again ‘til your brothers get your money. Might be thinking of a way to double cross everyone, I don’t know. And then…look, I don’t know how to explain, but you can just kind of tell when everything’s about to go to shit. Choovio and Honovi giving slightly different orders. Fighting a lot. Choovio had a bruise on his cheek last time I saw him and didn’t do much talking. It’s all going bad.”
So, yeah, that was the first part. The next part could make or break.
"I always knew I wasn’t dealing with good people. I won’t bullshit you there. But I don’t like being lied to, and the more I investigated you the more I realized I was being fucked with. They told me you were crazy, a drunk, that you didn’t give a shit about anyone but yourself…they told me you murdered someone that crossed you in cold blood and got off on a technicality.
I know that’s not true now. I know about the accident in New Mexico, and the Thalassemia research, and…well if you want to have a drink now and again that’s probably your business. My point it, they’re lying about you, they’re lying to each other, and they clearly don’t have their shit together. That to me says someone’s going to get hurt, maybe even dead by the end of this, and the way things are going that person could be me, especially when everything goes south. So I decided I’d get out; just throw a wrench over my shoulder and get the fuck out.
So…yeah. I swear, I just want to get out. You know everything now, I swear it, just let me go and you’ll never see me again…”
He looked hopefully from the kid to Nova with his most sincere, pleading expression.
Jan
17 years ago
Jan waited until Ernie gave them a stream of information before reaching down and absently flicking the lighter. So her brother's want to frame Nova for her father's death and her father willingly went along with this plan but now he's disappeared and they believe he means to double cross them all?
That's just fucking beautiful.
He looked up and Nova and wondered what she thought of all of this. Not having mortal family to speak of, he really couldn't say how it must feel to have your own flesh and blood prove to be scum of the earth. Jan knew from the start that his parents weren't the Brady Bunch where ever they had happened to be and at this point they were long since dust anyway.
Tacharan was a different story and even then not all of them seemed like family to him but some were worth keeping and fighting for, others well...everyone has a dear dumb Uncle Ollie right?
They needed to figure out what they were going to do with their prisoner before they decided much else. Jan nodded caught Nova's eye and glanced down at Ernie and gave her a 'what now?' look.
That's just fucking beautiful.
He looked up and Nova and wondered what she thought of all of this. Not having mortal family to speak of, he really couldn't say how it must feel to have your own flesh and blood prove to be scum of the earth. Jan knew from the start that his parents weren't the Brady Bunch where ever they had happened to be and at this point they were long since dust anyway.
Tacharan was a different story and even then not all of them seemed like family to him but some were worth keeping and fighting for, others well...everyone has a dear dumb Uncle Ollie right?
They needed to figure out what they were going to do with their prisoner before they decided much else. Jan nodded caught Nova's eye and glanced down at Ernie and gave her a 'what now?' look.
Nova
17 years ago
The smell of cloves filled the air as both of the guys lit up, blowing fragrant smoke that spiraled and swirled in the space between them. Nova had found a rock in the ground and was now drawing decapitated stick figures in the loose dirt by her feet while she thought over what Ernie had said.
She would not have believed him if he said he had a change of heart, and she was still skeptical about his stated reasons even if they did come off as more honest than she expected. Her eyes narrowed to slits, she ceased her artistic endeavors momentarily and tilted her chin up at her prisoner.
“So the money ran out.”
She had attempted to remain willfully ignorant of how these things worked but she was savvy enough to figure out that ‘things looked like they were going south’ really meant ‘they stopped being able to pay me.’ Either that or they had paid him too much too soon, enough that getting the other half was of less of a concern than getting out in time to cover his ass.
The crap about the accident made her more than a little uncomfortable and she was relieved that Ernie seemed to think he knew what had happened there. She was going to have to live with that for a –very- long time and she didn’t need random jackasses bringing it up all the time. She didn’t honestly know how to respond to his ‘I discovered you weren’t evil incarnate’ rant and ultimately decided it was just easily to let him believe what he wanted to believe as far as that stuff went.
Looking to Jan, she frowned a little, thinking over their options.
“Maybe I should go down there. See what’s what. I’m not buying that Yoki was in on that shit, and even if he was maybe I can pull him out before it’s too late.” She looked over to Ernie before returning her gaze to her brother. “Maybe I take Pile here with me, in case I need ‘im, and let him go when my name is clear.” She tossed up her rock and caught it in her hand, continuing to brain storm. “Or we could do like he wants and make him disappear…’cept of course for we would know where he was. As long as he didn’t fuck up, though, we’d all be cool.” She pondered this option for a moment before adding: “Of course, he might end up causing more trouble than it’s worth to keep him in the land of the living.”
She wasn’t intentionally toying with Ernie’s hopes; that was just a perk. Really, she wasn’t entirely sure of what she wanted to do and was thinking out loud.
She would not have believed him if he said he had a change of heart, and she was still skeptical about his stated reasons even if they did come off as more honest than she expected. Her eyes narrowed to slits, she ceased her artistic endeavors momentarily and tilted her chin up at her prisoner.
“So the money ran out.”
She had attempted to remain willfully ignorant of how these things worked but she was savvy enough to figure out that ‘things looked like they were going south’ really meant ‘they stopped being able to pay me.’ Either that or they had paid him too much too soon, enough that getting the other half was of less of a concern than getting out in time to cover his ass.
The crap about the accident made her more than a little uncomfortable and she was relieved that Ernie seemed to think he knew what had happened there. She was going to have to live with that for a –very- long time and she didn’t need random jackasses bringing it up all the time. She didn’t honestly know how to respond to his ‘I discovered you weren’t evil incarnate’ rant and ultimately decided it was just easily to let him believe what he wanted to believe as far as that stuff went.
Looking to Jan, she frowned a little, thinking over their options.
“Maybe I should go down there. See what’s what. I’m not buying that Yoki was in on that shit, and even if he was maybe I can pull him out before it’s too late.” She looked over to Ernie before returning her gaze to her brother. “Maybe I take Pile here with me, in case I need ‘im, and let him go when my name is clear.” She tossed up her rock and caught it in her hand, continuing to brain storm. “Or we could do like he wants and make him disappear…’cept of course for we would know where he was. As long as he didn’t fuck up, though, we’d all be cool.” She pondered this option for a moment before adding: “Of course, he might end up causing more trouble than it’s worth to keep him in the land of the living.”
She wasn’t intentionally toying with Ernie’s hopes; that was just a perk. Really, she wasn’t entirely sure of what she wanted to do and was thinking out loud.
Stranger
17 years ago
Ernie couldn’t work up too much righteous indignation at Nova’s accusation, though he did mumble a ‘that’s not how it went down’ before deciding it was probably better to keep his mouth shut. He could admit that he saw his cash source drying up in the very near future and knew how that would play out. They would resort to threats and blackmail instead of payment to keep him working. Bad situation for everyone, really, no shame in bowing out…only he didn’t think now was a good time to own up to that. Or the fact that he had built up enough from this and other jobs to make a pretty comfortable getaway. He might even be able to afford plastic surgery.
Nova kicked around possible ideas for what to do with him, and he shook his head adamantly at her talk of going ‘down there’. The turn of phrase sounded odd to his ears, which were used to the mesas being described as ‘up there’.
“I’m telling you, you don’t want to do that. I’m –sure- Yoki was in on this, you’re throwing your freedom away if you go out there now.”
As much as he disliked being referred to as Gomer Pile he couldn’t say he objected to those suggestions which included –not- killing him. Letting him go was by far his favorite option but staying alive was naturally his first priority.
He couldn’t help but notice that Nova hadn’t outright spoken of killing him. That, he thought, was a good sign. She couldn’t do it. Crazy as she was, she couldn’t kill him in cold blood.
There was, of course, no reason to let on that he believed this just yet. Nova was nothing if not belligerent and might off him just to prove him wrong.
Nova kicked around possible ideas for what to do with him, and he shook his head adamantly at her talk of going ‘down there’. The turn of phrase sounded odd to his ears, which were used to the mesas being described as ‘up there’.
“I’m telling you, you don’t want to do that. I’m –sure- Yoki was in on this, you’re throwing your freedom away if you go out there now.”
As much as he disliked being referred to as Gomer Pile he couldn’t say he objected to those suggestions which included –not- killing him. Letting him go was by far his favorite option but staying alive was naturally his first priority.
He couldn’t help but notice that Nova hadn’t outright spoken of killing him. That, he thought, was a good sign. She couldn’t do it. Crazy as she was, she couldn’t kill him in cold blood.
There was, of course, no reason to let on that he believed this just yet. Nova was nothing if not belligerent and might off him just to prove him wrong.
Jan
17 years ago
Jan sat back and leaned against the same tree that Ernie was propped against. Inhaling a deep breath of his cigarette, he held it while he contemplated Nova's ideas. They each had their merits in one way or another; some played it safe and others tied up loose ends. He exhaled the smoke in a long blissful sigh and turned his gaze towards his sister.
"Well, if you kill him its rather permanent so I don't suggest it."Â?
He smiled and tilted his head towards Ernie.
"And I don't doubt Ernie here would agree with me. You might need him later to cut through some of the bullshit with your family. So why don't we all take a little road trip and see what's going on."Â?
He figured that Nova's family might be surprised enough to see her that she could easily get the truth out of them but if the woman's stubbornness was a family trait then they were likely dealing with a mule headed bunch. Jan mentally muttered "no offense"Â? to Nova despite it being a fair assessment of one of her character traits. Having Ernie with them might be the very thing that told her brothers that the jig really was up and they could stop playing some useless part. 'We have your friend and he's told us all about your little plans so let's get to the point.'
That was his best strategy and afterwards they could decide what to do with Ernie but it was better to keep him until they knew they didn't need him. In the end though it was Nova's decision. Jan looked her way and raised his eyebrows in question.
"So... what do you think?"Â? Nice art there, by the way."Â?
He shook his head and gave her a sideways grin at the paleolithic victims of Nova's wrath.
"Well, if you kill him its rather permanent so I don't suggest it."Â?
He smiled and tilted his head towards Ernie.
"And I don't doubt Ernie here would agree with me. You might need him later to cut through some of the bullshit with your family. So why don't we all take a little road trip and see what's going on."Â?
He figured that Nova's family might be surprised enough to see her that she could easily get the truth out of them but if the woman's stubbornness was a family trait then they were likely dealing with a mule headed bunch. Jan mentally muttered "no offense"Â? to Nova despite it being a fair assessment of one of her character traits. Having Ernie with them might be the very thing that told her brothers that the jig really was up and they could stop playing some useless part. 'We have your friend and he's told us all about your little plans so let's get to the point.'
That was his best strategy and afterwards they could decide what to do with Ernie but it was better to keep him until they knew they didn't need him. In the end though it was Nova's decision. Jan looked her way and raised his eyebrows in question.
"So... what do you think?"Â? Nice art there, by the way."Â?
He shook his head and gave her a sideways grin at the paleolithic victims of Nova's wrath.
Nova
17 years ago
Nova nodded at Jan’s practical reasons for keeping Ernie alive, eager to jump on that whole ‘no killing’ thing now that it came down to it. She could have tackle hugged him right then for backing her up on the road trip idea, and moreover offering to come up, but now didn’t seem like the time to get into affectionate displays.
Instead, she shoved herself to her feet, as though she planned to start off to Arizona right this minute, before realizing that…she couldn’t just leave. Maybe at one time she had set herself up to come and go as she pleased, but she had things going at the lab. And a…guy. Okay, a boyfriend. Sort of. And there was Bill and Ted to consider, and it might not be all that convenient for Jan to pick up and leave. And so, instead of running off half cocked, she held out her hand for Ernie.
“I think,” She said as she hauled the private detective to his feet, “You’re going to be hanging with us for a while. Try not to do anything stupid.”
She turned to Jan with a half grin. “So. What are you doing for Christmas? Wanna meet some crazy relatives?”
Instead, she shoved herself to her feet, as though she planned to start off to Arizona right this minute, before realizing that…she couldn’t just leave. Maybe at one time she had set herself up to come and go as she pleased, but she had things going at the lab. And a…guy. Okay, a boyfriend. Sort of. And there was Bill and Ted to consider, and it might not be all that convenient for Jan to pick up and leave. And so, instead of running off half cocked, she held out her hand for Ernie.
“I think,” She said as she hauled the private detective to his feet, “You’re going to be hanging with us for a while. Try not to do anything stupid.”
She turned to Jan with a half grin. “So. What are you doing for Christmas? Wanna meet some crazy relatives?”
Stranger
17 years ago
Ernie was liking where this was going on the one hand, and on the other hand, he really really wasn’t. Staying alive was good…going to Arizona was bad.
If he had hoped for help from the kid’s quarter he was sadly mistaken, though a more grateful man would have reflected that he’d already –had- quite a bit of assistance thanks to the young man. Instead of thanking anyone, though, he immediately started arguing once he was pulled to his feet.
“Whoa whoa…guys…you can’t be going down there all G.I. Joe kung fu ninja and expect to come out of things okay...look, -maybe- I can get with a lawyer or something and set up a paper trail on your brothers from up here. That would be safer.”
It was his last chance, and it was a weak one, he knew. Still, he had to try something to keep from going back to the mesas.
If he had hoped for help from the kid’s quarter he was sadly mistaken, though a more grateful man would have reflected that he’d already –had- quite a bit of assistance thanks to the young man. Instead of thanking anyone, though, he immediately started arguing once he was pulled to his feet.
“Whoa whoa…guys…you can’t be going down there all G.I. Joe kung fu ninja and expect to come out of things okay...look, -maybe- I can get with a lawyer or something and set up a paper trail on your brothers from up here. That would be safer.”
It was his last chance, and it was a weak one, he knew. Still, he had to try something to keep from going back to the mesas.
Nova
17 years ago
Nova snorted at the suggestion that Ernie could talk to a lawyer, and busied herself with rather roughly brushing the dirt and leaves off her captive.
“Yeah, like I'm going to trust a lawyer.” She looked over at Jan as she picked leaves out of Ernie's shirt in an oddly simian gesture. “I gotta take care of a few things up here before I can roll out but Ernie here can crash...ooh, with Bill and Ted.” Might as well lump all the people she should probably be killing for knowing too much together. And her lab techs would be fine for babysitting. “And we know Ernie here won't do anything stupid like try and run...right Ernie?” She turned, giving him a grin that looked positively psychotic. Purposefully so.
“Yeah, like I'm going to trust a lawyer.” She looked over at Jan as she picked leaves out of Ernie's shirt in an oddly simian gesture. “I gotta take care of a few things up here before I can roll out but Ernie here can crash...ooh, with Bill and Ted.” Might as well lump all the people she should probably be killing for knowing too much together. And her lab techs would be fine for babysitting. “And we know Ernie here won't do anything stupid like try and run...right Ernie?” She turned, giving him a grin that looked positively psychotic. Purposefully so.
Jan
17 years ago
Jan smirked and internally chuckled to himself; this solution was probably not what Ernie had in mind. Nope, not at all. He nodded to Nova and the inhaled the last drag on his cigarette. Blowing out the smoke in a steady stream, Jan leaned forward onto his knee so that he could turn and look at their captive.
"Oh.. I don't think we'll have any trouble handling ourselves."Â?
He put out his cigarette and gave Ernie a sly confident grin. Patting the man on the cheek and putting on the glamour that made him appear quite capable of being dangerous, Jan added.
"Don't you go worrying yourself about us. We'll be fine."Â?
He stood and looked down at Ernie and then over at Nova.
"If you give us no troubles then we'll protect you as well. I don't think you'll get the same offer from the ones who hired you."Â?
He snorted, out loud this time, at the thought of going to a lawyer. He doubted that his sister would go for that idea either for a number of reasons but not the least of which was the idea of letting Ernie wander off.
"Crooks the lot of them."Â?
Jan gave her a shrug about putting Ernie in with Bill and Ted. It was as good a place as any and hopefully the other two were happy enough with whatever their lot in life was. Frankly they should be glad to be alive; if any other Tacharan had found them then they probably would not have been.
"Oh.. I don't think we'll have any trouble handling ourselves."Â?
He put out his cigarette and gave Ernie a sly confident grin. Patting the man on the cheek and putting on the glamour that made him appear quite capable of being dangerous, Jan added.
"Don't you go worrying yourself about us. We'll be fine."Â?
He stood and looked down at Ernie and then over at Nova.
"If you give us no troubles then we'll protect you as well. I don't think you'll get the same offer from the ones who hired you."Â?
He snorted, out loud this time, at the thought of going to a lawyer. He doubted that his sister would go for that idea either for a number of reasons but not the least of which was the idea of letting Ernie wander off.
"Crooks the lot of them."Â?
Jan gave her a shrug about putting Ernie in with Bill and Ted. It was as good a place as any and hopefully the other two were happy enough with whatever their lot in life was. Frankly they should be glad to be alive; if any other Tacharan had found them then they probably would not have been.
Nova
17 years ago
Nova steered Ernie by the arm as she and Jan decided the unfortunate bastard’s fate. He seemed to be cooperating with a minimal amount of mumbling and whining, and she got him to the car without too much dragging of feet.
That was when she noticed the dent, and cursed slowly and emphatically, annunciating each word as though speaking to someone hard of hearing.
“Double mother fucking bastardized piece of fucking shitty assed…-damn- it…”
Disgruntled, she opened the car door and gestured for Ernie to get in before returning to the makeshift camp. After making sure she had all of her things, she returned to the firebird, popping the trunk and putting her toolbox inside. Digging around a little, she found a container that had once held detergent but was now mostly empty. Then she nodded to Jan.
“Thanks, really. I’m a put this out,” she gestured toward the fire “An’ then I’ll lead the way out of here.”
She wasn’t quite prepared to leave Ernie unattended and the way out was kind of confusing; she had fucked it up the first few times she’d come out here. Not that Jan was the same way but she figured this was easiest.
The fire was put out in short order and Nova made her way to the car, where Ernie was sitting bolt upright with his seatbelt buckled and a nervous expression. Grinning, she put her hand high on his thigh and watched his eyes widen like a White House intern’s.
“Hey, we’re fine here, really.”
Winking, she turned her attention to driving, though every once in a while she spared a smirking glance to her passenger.
/ooc everybody ooouuut!
That was when she noticed the dent, and cursed slowly and emphatically, annunciating each word as though speaking to someone hard of hearing.
“Double mother fucking bastardized piece of fucking shitty assed…-damn- it…”
Disgruntled, she opened the car door and gestured for Ernie to get in before returning to the makeshift camp. After making sure she had all of her things, she returned to the firebird, popping the trunk and putting her toolbox inside. Digging around a little, she found a container that had once held detergent but was now mostly empty. Then she nodded to Jan.
“Thanks, really. I’m a put this out,” she gestured toward the fire “An’ then I’ll lead the way out of here.”
She wasn’t quite prepared to leave Ernie unattended and the way out was kind of confusing; she had fucked it up the first few times she’d come out here. Not that Jan was the same way but she figured this was easiest.
The fire was put out in short order and Nova made her way to the car, where Ernie was sitting bolt upright with his seatbelt buckled and a nervous expression. Grinning, she put her hand high on his thigh and watched his eyes widen like a White House intern’s.
“Hey, we’re fine here, really.”
Winking, she turned her attention to driving, though every once in a while she spared a smirking glance to her passenger.
/ooc everybody ooouuut!