A (not-so) Routine Inspection

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

((closed to Fett and Cayce. Set very soon after the Sylar Problem went a little boom.))

Since the departure of Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett, Boba Fett had not had any reason to communicate with Cayce Pollard. However, keeping an eye on the park and the general status of the occupants therein, Fett was bound to see that Cayce looked somehow injured when he saw her walking recently.

He needed to find out what was wrong in case it was a threat to the park. And since he was unsure how she was injured, he reasoned that it would be best to stop off at the Starcade and speak with her directly. The next day he did just that, knocking on the door with a gloved hand.

Comments

[caycep]

As it happened, Cayce wasn't in when Fett knocked; she was on her way back from washing up. Freshly scrubbed and still damp-haired, she was trying very hard not to pick at her right elbow, which was itching like mad.

Preoccupied with this, she almost didn't notice Fett until she was at the door of the Starcade.

"Oh!" She pulled up short. "Um, hi. Looking for me?"

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

"I was," Fett said, with nothing else by way of greeting.

They should discuss this inside, he knew. It wouldn't do to be out in the open where anyone could listen.

[caycep]

"C'mon in." She pushed open the door and let the way back to her office.

It felt really, really weird to be sitting across from an armor-clad intergalactic bounty hunter in her little office space, she had to admit.

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

Fett followed her in, planted his feet and looked her over carefully. Not that she could tell.

"I noticed your injuries yesterday," he said, cutting to the chase as usual. "I was wondering what might have caused them."

[caycep]

Well, this particular interview had been coming sooner or later; it was just a question of who started it.

Well, no point in futzing around.

"There's a man here who calls himself Zane Taylor," she said. "Thin, dark hair, sort of, um, saturnine-looking." The Leonard Nimoy comparison would be no help here. "He's got certain ... talents. Powers. Telekinesis, temperature control, that sort of thing. He's a little too interested in others who have similar powers, and he's prepared to go a long way to get to it." Cayce extended her arm by way of demonstration.

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

Fett listened to the physical description, filed it away for future reference. He'd have to warn Sunshine about it, and soon. She had some sort of ability, not that he exactly understood it, and the last time he had kept information from her... well, it was not the sort of thing that wanted for repeating.

"And he attacked you because he believes you have those powers?" If the man was delusional as well as sociopathic and violent, they'd have an even bigger problem on their hands.

[caycep]

Cayce shook her head. "No. He was looking for someone else, a girl he'd seen somehow." She still wasn't clear on how that had all worked. "He wanted to know her name and where she lived. By that point in the conversation, he'd creeped me out enough that I didn't feel like offering that information. I didn't tell him, but he—" Unconsciously, she clenched her fists. "He tried to get it out of me."

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

He got the message. "But he didn't." He was very impressed, in fact. It was a far cry from the way he'd seen her react when that doctor had arrived at the park.

"Has anyone warned this woman of the potential danger she's in?"

[caycep]

It was, perhaps, a measure of how much Cayce had adapted to life in the park. Or how, as Dorotea Benedetti had learned, Cayce was anything but a pushover when backed into a corner.

"I never told him," Cayce said. "But I haven't been able to warn her yet. The post seemed risky, in case he managed to intercept the letter, and I haven't been able to speak to her personally. Her name is Elle Bishop. About so tall—" she held out a hand, "blonde, hair cut in bangs. There's another blonde girl who—" is played by the same actress "—could be her twin, but she's got a different haircut, no bangs. That one's Veronica Mars."

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

More information to keep in mind. "If I see Elle Bishop, I will inform her of this man's intentions."

Fett wasn't exactly the kind of guy to ask you how all your aches were doing and bring you chicken soup, but he was still conscious of the pain she must have endured. "How are you healing?"

[caycep]

"Thanks. I'll continue to keep an eye out for her myself."

Cayce started to scratch her elbow again and stopped, shoving her hands underneath her. "Fine, actually," she said. "It's gone from sore-all-the-time to itchy-and-annoying, so it should be healed properly soon. My friend Susan's been—" clucking over me "—helping out."

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said, nodding. "Then all that remains is deciding how this potential threat should be handled."

Obviously, the way Sweeney and Lovett had been dealt with had not worked out as they planned. A different tack was called for in the future.

[caycep]

Cayce nodded. "The main thing is ... well, the powers. Trying to contain him with conventional weaponry is going to be difficult. There's other metahumans in the park, of course. And..."

Again with the Crowley problem. She thought a moment, and went on, "And I know at least one of the metahumans knows who the guy is, and that he's a danger. And this person can be trusted to help. I'm afraid I can't say who this is; I'm, um, sworn to secrecy on the matter."

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

Fett wouldn't pry, at least not for now. "It would be wise to know who else has powers in this park, to know who he might target. I have seen people fly here, among other talents."

The fact that he took issue with these people having such abilities was neither here nor there at the moment.

[caycep]

"Well, offhand, I can tell you that Elle Bishop is one. She can do things with electricity and she's not shy about it. And yeah, there's Kon; he's the one who flies. There's Sirius and James, who are, um, wizards." That probably wouldn't sit well with Fett, but there wasn't anything else for it. "I'll go through my records and see who else I know of who he might take an interest in." Hm. Maybe some kind of poll would be in order.

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

"All right. For the present that will have to do. If he tries anything again, more severe action will have to be taken." It sounded sober, calculating, a little paranoid. Just another typical day for a bounty hunter.

[caycep]

"I'll keep you informed. Especially if I can learn anything else—where he can commonly be found, that sort of thing. Thank you."

When you thought about it for long, it was the most absurd thing in the world: feeling better about things because you had one of the galaxy's most feared bounty hunters on your side against a superpowered psycho. It was almost funny, except for the part where it was actually completely serious.

Interesting times, indeed.

[lasting-justice.livejournal.com]

Fett nodded again. "Be cautious. I will let you know if I learn anything as well."

And with that, he turned and left Cayce's office.

He was turning into the invisible town sheriff. Interesting didn't begin to cover it.

[caycep]

A few days later, Cayce sent the following message to Boba Fett:

Made contact with E.B. She thinks she may know Z.T., and that his real name may be Peter. He may be suffering from memory loss. She is aware of the situation now and will be on her guard.

-Cayce