Ian smirked again, this time at Shadow. "A wise decision. At least one of you has some sense."
"Just keeping pushing, you..." Twitch began, but stopped himself in mid-sentence, muttering a low, "He isn't worth it."
Ian chuckled. "Of course, I am. Now, come on, let's enact this foolhardy plan of yours. Anyone else planning on joining us for our excursion?"
"We've got to reconnect with Leif and Myra," Angel explained.
Ian raised an eyebrow. "The OTHER new girl?"
"Yeah, my roommate," Angel replied, nodding.
He gave an odd look, and then said, "Why don't you and I try to locate them. You two can get the layout, like you previously suggested."
"Angel can go with Shadow. I'm not letting you out of my sight," Twitch said.
"Suit yourself," Ian said cockily, winking at Angel over Twitch's shoulder.
The pairs split ways, as Ian decisively led the way, his short stature not inhibiting the large strides he took, while Twitch jogged behind him and kept a wary eye on his every movement. "Do you have any idea where they migth've gone? Did Angel tell you anything?"
"Why, so you can relay it to your superiors?"
"Superiors? Twitch, I know you can play the tough guy act pretty well, but I'm telling the truth."
"Uh huh. Honesty's always really been at the top of the virtues I've seen you use," he scoffed sarcastically.
"Believe what you want, but I -- " Ian started, and then turned his head. "Someone's coming."
"I can slow them dow--"
"HEY!" one of the black-suited men shouted as he rounded the corner.
In a second, Glance's eyes turned a brilliant, icy blue, as he caused Twitch to freeze in place, arms held up in a fighting stance.
"You got here just in time!" Ian exclaimed. "It's one of the guys that was trying to escape! When I tried to convince him not to leave, he almost attacked me!"
"Well done, Smythe," the agent gave him a thin-lipped smile.
"I'll wait with him here while you get some reinforcements. I don't know how long I'll be able to hold him."
The agent nodded, and then began to run past him, down the hall. The effects of Ian's freeze-vision were short-lived this time, as Twitch began to quiver back out of his paralysis, a bit too soon.
"You little -- I know we shouldn't have trusted -- "
"HALT!" the agent commanded, not having gotten far enough out of earshot, and pulling out his nullifier.
Ian's eyes flared yellow, and an energy beam of the same color ricocheted off the agent's nullifier, and then struck the communicator he was reaching for.
"You were saying?" Ian asked, grinning at Twitch, who took the opportunity to leap into action and knock out the agent (who was still dazed and momentarily blinded by the light blast) with a couple of well-placed punches.
Quickly, the pair pulled him into a nearby supply closet, using the agent's keys, and then grabbed the communicator for their own use, along with a key card. "This will probably come in handy," Ian suggested, as Twitch swiped it out of his hand.
"Don't think that stunt back there totally gets you off my radar," Twitch warned.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream about it. Now, come on. You and I both know it's only a matter of time until he wakes up."
--Jeff ><>'
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