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gone_byebyeThe door opens onto an expanse of asphalt, steel, and glass. Nearby a sign reads:
WELCOME TO WHITE FLINT MALL
BEST PRICES IN THE DC AREA
4708 BETHESDA AVENUE
CHEVY CHASE, MD
It's a big parking lot, with the mall itself only visible off in the distance. Ray gives it the squint-eye before turning to the others. "Okay, people," he says. "This is it. Johnny says it's underground. Egon's best estimates indicate three miles down. Are we good?"
WELCOME TO WHITE FLINT MALL
BEST PRICES IN THE DC AREA
4708 BETHESDA AVENUE
CHEVY CHASE, MD
It's a big parking lot, with the mall itself only visible off in the distance. Ray gives it the squint-eye before turning to the others. "Okay, people," he says. "This is it. Johnny says it's underground. Egon's best estimates indicate three miles down. Are we good?"
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Date: 2006-06-22 05:45 am (UTC)And then she suddenly leaps, her claws and teeth thrust forward. "SCREEEEE!"
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Date: 2006-06-22 05:54 am (UTC)Ever seen ninjas scream? They're not generally very good at it. It's the whole stealth and silence thing. They have it trained out of them.
"I think it's gonna jump us, boss," says one of the ones in the back.
Strictly speaking, these guys aren't ninjas. They're the Genius Retrieval Team. When Foliage Census decides someone's too smart for their own good, these are the people they send to the scene with trank guns and whatever other toys they might need to snatch them away. It's just that they climb walls, slip through shadows, wear black over everything but their eyeballs, and so on. They're ninjas in pretty well every way that matters but one: they can't... actually... ninje.
"Commence simultaneous panic on my mark."
"SCREEEEE!"
"Mark."
The ninjas exit, stage left, pursued by a raptor.
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Date: 2006-06-22 05:57 am (UTC)And so, Fido charges Peck, prepared to Fetch!
"Don't eat him, Fido," Egon yells, getting out of the way, "he's not paid for yet!"
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Date: 2006-06-22 06:15 am (UTC)It's still quite the show, but her curiosity in this new place is piqued to the point that she barely acknowledges the various screams as she looks around, at least partially to ensure no one sneaks up on them.
Then she finds the closet.
There is much, much glee.
She pulls in the nearest group of dingbots -- there's still quite a few around, even after several went to help Mike. She passes them some of the more interesting large pieces, then pulls off her coat to make a pack to carry as many of the small gizmos as she can. She leaves out anything that she suspects of being explosive; it's never a good idea to toss around things when you don't know for certain what makes them go 'boom'.
The loot will be shared with the others, once they get out. For now? She's making plans to stock her future lab, once she settles down. The pieces she's stored in her vest pockets alone would be enough to keep her occupied for a good decade.
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Date: 2006-06-22 01:16 pm (UTC)"You know, Ray, I think we've just taken the old saying about 'bringing a knife to a gun fight' to a whole other level."
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Date: 2006-06-22 01:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-22 03:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-22 03:32 pm (UTC)"Yeah?" says Ray, visible eye narrowing. "Where is it, then?"
"New York, actually," says another voice- Winston's. "These guys never had it in the first place. You dropped it when they grabbed you. Some kid picked it up and used it to break into a bunch of cars."
If Ray didn't have the camera to worry about, he'd be facepalming about now.
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Date: 2006-06-22 04:21 pm (UTC)"Well, we can cross that off our to-do list," he says. "And now that we have Dickless, what's next on the list."
This time, he does chuckle outloud. "Though, Ray? Peter? I fear I must disagree on one of your assessments."
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Date: 2006-06-22 05:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-22 06:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-22 06:23 pm (UTC)He then smirked, "So what, our old pal secretly a woman? That true, Peck? You doing the Mary Hoover routine with a dress, lingerie, and heels?"
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Date: 2006-06-22 06:29 pm (UTC)Winston, who is far more sensible and much better equipped to protect his own sanity, kicks Peter in the shins instead. "I gotta live with that image in my head now," he says. "You owe me a new brain."
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Date: 2006-06-22 06:45 pm (UTC)Mr. Peck, I'd just like to apologize for the crudity of my associates' insults.
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Date: 2006-06-22 06:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-22 07:05 pm (UTC)Sadly, we were pressed for time. And even if we hadn't been, it's difficult to come up with insults that would do you justice, Mr. Peck. I'm sure you understand.
You miserable vomitous mass.
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Date: 2006-06-23 02:22 am (UTC)"I see you stumbled quite nicely into my associates' arms, Peck," Foxtrot says. "I'm certain they've been hospitable."
The small smile breaks into a grin. "Okay, Great God Ray! Do you wanna complete the set? I think the Big Boss needs a little personal tutoring in manners, too."
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Date: 2006-06-23 02:45 am (UTC)Winston accepts the camera, smiling. "No problem, buddy."
"Thank you." Ray steps forward, waving up to Fido briefly before turning his attention back to Peck. "Sir, you might think that I of all people would have the most, best reason to bowl you over with aspersions cast upon your ancestry, your recreational proclivities, your choice of personal attire, your hygiene, and so on and so forth. Lord knows I was sure tempted to think on the subject during those three weeks in Montana, when I wasn't getting over my aversion to the desecration of the printed word by telling myself it was only Jean Auel. Sorely. Tempted."
He rolls his head briefly from side to side.
"But the thing is... I've seen things you've never seen and never will. I've done things you've never done, and will never be able to do. I've talked to people you'd never in a million years be able to even consider speaking to. I've gone toe-to-tentacle with Great Cthulhu and I'm still compos mentis, I've fallen off the Shandor Building twice and survived both times, and I-"
He doesn't even stop talking. He just hauls off and CRACK! slugs Peck across the face.
"-am way better at getting the drop on people than you."
He shakes out his hand and turns to the others. "I don't know about you," Ray says, "but I feel a hundred percent better."
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Date: 2006-06-23 02:54 am (UTC)Faint sounds of heavy, running feet can be heard echoing down the corridor through the frelling big hole Naraht made in the wall.
"Hmmm...and, as fun as this is, perhaps it's time we moved on."
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Date: 2006-06-23 03:30 am (UTC)*A thoughtful pause.*
Well.
We could.