ax_main | Tessa and Nolan

The Brotherhood's latest exploit has unexpected consequences.

Nolan's last meeting of the day had been canceled, and he had asked Clarice for a lift back earlier than he had planned. So he had gone to work in the kitchen, glad to have something to do. He was happy to be having dinner with his friend, but he couldn't wait to be off with Shaun for the weekend, in the morning. By the time Tessa walked in, the pork and beans were already in the oven.

"I got started early," he stated, almost apologetically, but not quite, as he tilted his head towards the oven.

"So I see," Tessa observed, one dark brow quirking with a touch of irony. "If your preparations are that far along, then I suppose there is little left for me to do, other than set the table." She moved toward the cabinets to collect the plates and cutlery and begin doing exactly that. "You were not required in the city as long as you anticipated?"

"My last meeting of the day was canceled," Nolan confirmed, dissatisfaction twisting his lips in an unhappy moue for a second. "'Given recent events, we must withdraw our support from a grant aimed at mutants'," he quoted the reason.

She paused. "Ah," the psion replied noncommittally. "I suppose some degree of financial fallout was inevitable, given the scope of the strategic miscalculation in Montana. My apologies."

"Why would you apologize?" Nolan asked with a light frown, which then deepened as he wondered why she would apologize. He finished grabbing the glasses he had been reaching for and turned back to Tessa to give her a questioning look.

"The miscalculation was mine," Tessa admitted straightforwardly. "I provided the Brotherhood with the location of the Friends of Humanity headquarters, knowing they would use the information to raid and, if possible, destroy it. Obviously, my intelligence was not as complete as it should have been."

Nolan set the glasses down, watching her very evenly now. Too evenly, even. After a few seconds, he commented, his tone as dry as ever, "That is some miscalculation."

She nodded, coolly factual as always. "I was aware the organization was stockpiling weapons, of course," said Tessa. "However, it seemed improbable that they would keep the majority of that growing arsenal at their main headquarters, given the interest they generate in certain federal law enforcement circles. I either underestimated the recklessness of their leadership or the extent to which the group is protected politically."

"And are they the only ones whose recklessness you underestimated?" Nolan asked curiously, a lot more calmly than he felt. Couldn't he have had a vision about this? He certainly cared about Tessa enough to see her passing information on to the Brotherhood.

"The Brotherhood acted within anticipated bounds," she said. "Which is not to say they undertook their mission with any significant discipline. I had hoped that their usual stricture against casualties would prevent such an outcome. Obviously, multiple of my assumptions were in error."

Some moments seemed to require alcohol, but Nolan's threshold for actually having a drink had become much higher. He did not want to risk diminishing the efficiency of his medication.

But it didn't mean he didn't want that drink.

"Obviously," he agreed, but there was no hostility to his words. She was his friend, and it could not be easy, having played a part in this. He leaned forward on the counter, his attention on her. "How are you doing?"

She paused, seeming to give her answer more consideration than usual. Or, perhaps, it was just how honest she should be which was in question. "Not well," she admitted finally. "I am culpable in this; I do not deny it. The dilemma before me is how most efficiently to correct the error I have made, and ensure nothing like it occurs again."

Nolan was unsurprised that Tessa would not be doing well, but he hadn't been certain that she would put it so frankly. Before he could decide whether trying to hug her was something he should even consider, however, she kept going, and a small frown appeared between his brows. "There's a dilemma?"

Her error, as she said, was irreparable. Nothing would bring those people back to life. At best, the PR disaster aspect of it could be mitigated, with time. As for making sure it never happened again, not giving the Brotherhood any more intelligence seemed like the obvious course of action. He still couldn't understand why she would have in the first place.

"A remedy suggests itself," she said, "at least, in terms of mitigating any future excesses of the Brotherhood. But I do not wish to do it. My personal desires are, of course, secondary to achieving an optimal outcome; however, I am still given pause. I think that living conditions at the school have polluted my logic. To a small extent."

Nolan did not need any form of precognition to know that he was not going to like this. He was not going to like it at all. "What are you saying?"

"Twice now the Brotherhood have demonstrated they require greater oversight than we are currently able to provide. But if there were a qualified individual among them, one better capable of immediate risk assessment and precise data analysis, their activities might be steered in more productive directions. And when they decline to be steered, at least the school could be made aware of it. Given the cooperation of such a qualified individual."

It was one simple sentence, the school could be made aware of it, but it was all Nolan needed for the vice in his lungs to unlock. He looked visibly relieved, for a second, before he composed himself. "But you're not certain you want to do it."

She shook her head. "It is the obvious choice, and my reluctance is rooted purely in the sentimental. I mention it only because of our friendship; I cannot be ruled by feeling, at such a critical time as this." Tessa would not. Even if her decision, foregone conclusion though it was, had become a source of some small but persistent personal discomfort.

"You'll do what it takes," Nolan remarked, and stepped over to her. They had never really touched, both of them, save for when they had to. (He had fuzzy memories of her taking him to see Simon, after one of his seizures.) But that did not stop him from reaching out, tentatively, to put a hand on her shoulder. "And you'll come back to us, when you can."

"That is my plan," she said, then sighed faintly. "I would feel more at ease if I could postulate even an inexact timeline. Unfortunately, an endeavor of this kind precludes all but the vaguest efforts in that regard; I may be absent for some time, depending upon what is required. I trust you will take care of yourself. And do not hesitate to contact me, if my assistance is required." Tessa trusted Nolan would not avail himself of that invitation, save in the direst necessity, and so she had no reservation making it.

Nolan frowned slightly, and dropped his hand after an instant's hesitation. "You don't plan to be in touch?" Between their combined skills, they could certainly be in touch without anyone being the wiser.

"The Brotherhood is inclined toward suspicion of outsiders--lacking a personal connection to any of their members, it is reasonable to presume I will be regarded as such for the foreseeable future. To minimize the risk of compromising my mission, I will have to likewise minimize contact which could potentially expose my real objectives. I will be in touch, as required, but to the minimal extent necessity will allow."

"You know there's such a thing as too cautious," Nolan remarked dryly. "And it's me saying that."

"In light of recent events, I think an excess of caution on my part far preferable to further missteps. But I appreciate the concern." She paused, then offered, "I will miss you, too. I am certain your culinary abilities will continue to advance in my absence."

Nolan's lips twisted in a dry line at her reply to his unvoiced words, and he let the silence stretch for a few seconds before admitting, "I don't like the thought of you, alone with them." Even she needed a tether back to humanity, and they were clearly sociopaths. The same could be said for Tessa, perhaps, but Nolan liked her.

"I survived for many years in considerably worse company," said Tessa, one corner of her mouth quirking upward briefly in mild amusement. "And I assure you, the danger is not so imminent as you might imagine. In any case, you can rely on my absolute circumspection; I will exercise every possible precaution, and will not hesitate to terminate my association with the Brotherhood should my position become untenable. I am quite capable of looking after myself, when the need arises."

"Oh, I trust you to survive," Nolan assured her without missing a beat. He didn't have any doubt about that. He did not know anyone quite as capable as Tessa in that regard. "But you'll be alone."

"Not as much so as I was," she said. "And there is always a chance we will achieve a sufficiently satisfactory resolution to this crisis to permit my return. Until then, I will have my memories. Those will be comfort enough." Along with the knowledge that one of her friends, at least, would understand. The others--and how fascinating it was, that she held so many of her acquaintances so dear, after only a few months of interaction!--well, they were not so insular as Nolan tended to be. They each could potentially compromise her objectives through their associations, or simply their temperament. But she could be fairly certain nothing of what she'd said so far would leave the kitchen.

Nolan mulled this over for a moment, then nodded. "Just promise me to check your spam, once in a while." He would not breathe a word of her true plans to anyone. But he'd be damned if he left her without news, for however long she was gone. He would make it as safe as he could, although from what he knew of the Brotherhood, even the simplest encryption should be enough. Still, he of course had no intention of using anything even remotely simple. There were worse people than the Brotherhood out there, and infinitely more capable. "And, a favor? If you find out anything about Arcade."

"You will know," she affirmed, her expression darkening briefly. "I have no intention of allowing that particular matter to rest, while I retain access to a computer terminal with reasonable processing capabilities. I am confident I will be able to devise a means of forwarding you any useful intelligence I gather, while off-site. Though you, too, would be well advised to look for them through more oblique channels." Tessa paused a moment, then, "If you think it would serve any useful purpose, please extend my apologies to Kitty. I cannot be as forthright with her as I am with you for a variety of reasons, but I do regret the strain this will almost certainly cause our relationship."

Nolan covered his mouth with his hand as he realized just how badly Kitty might take Tessa's apparent defection. He shook his head slowly, and dropped his hand. "Her best friend's just left her for the Brotherhood, Tessa." There was nothing he could say that would make this anything short of horrible for Kitty.

"Too much, I suppose," the psion nodded. "Well. It was rewarding, having known her. Perhaps, in time, I will be able to win back her trust. If not, that loss still serves a greater purpose. Regrettable. But such pains are not an unreasonable price to pay." She glanced toward the oven. "Speaking of loss ... I believe I have distracted you from retrieving our meal from the oven."

Nolan looked at the oven with alarm, then relaxed when he saw it had turned itself off, as planned. He opened the door to check on the dish, then tsked disapprovingly, grabbing the oven mitts to pull it out. "Ye woman of little faith." He set the pork and beans down on the table. "It would be a shame if the last meal we're going to share for the near future was ruined."

He helped them both to some of the dish, then asked, all dry amusement gone from his voice, "Are you sure you won't talk to Kitty?"

Tessa inhaled deeply when Nolan set her portion before her, enjoying the savory combination of aromas wafting from the plate. When she exhaled again, it wasn't quite a sigh--but it came as near as the cyberpath ever did. "Kitty has definite opinions of the Brotherhood, opinions not entirely ill-deserved. She has just lost her best friend to their ranks. I have the utmost confidence in her intellect, but her feelings ... I am inclined to treat most person's feelings with skepticism. I would prefer her reactions remain natural, should she elect to speak to Magik again at some point in the near future. Though I will not deny it pains me, somewhat."

Nolan wasn't certain what he had done to qualify as more trustworthy than Kitty, when it came to feelings, but he couldn't deny he felt an odd sort of pride. Tessa's trust was a precious thing, after all. But that wasn't the point right now. "Not anywhere near as much as it will pain her," he remarked, simply, because he assumed it to be the truth. Kitty had taken Illyana's departure hard. "You're underestimating her."

Something a touch like troubled flickered across Tessa's usually-composed expression, and she offered a slow nod. "I will take your position into consideration," she told him. "I cannot guarantee that it will alter my decision, but it is the least I owe you. And her."

"Don't underestimate how much it will hurt her right now, either," Nolan recommended. And, to be perfectly candid, "Or the position you'll be putting me in."

"Kitty and I worked together extensively regarding the school's electronic security, it is true," Tessa nodded. "And I am in her debt, as I owe most of my knowledge of programming and modern computer networking systems to her directly. However, we were never as close as she was to Illyana. And I suspect that when she learns of my involvement of the Brotherhood's attack on the Friends of Humanity, she will not much regret seeing me go. As to the rest," she shrugged, "I have entrusted you with my secrets. It is up to you what you do with them. I trust in your discretion."

Nolan was quiet for a moment, then let out a short sigh. "I hope you're right, about her reaction." He did not want to have to choose between betraying Tessa's trust or letting Kitty suffer. He took another bite and, after swallowing, added, "In any case, trying to find and eradicate your backdoors will be a challenge."

"One that I am certain you are up to, though you will, I hope, forgive me for saying that I hope you are not able to isolate and terminate them all too quickly. Rest assured, I will attempt to build others--as much out of a hunger for news of the school as to test the durability of your defensive apparatus."

"I'm not going to try and slow Kitty down," Nolan pointed out. It was bad enough that he was going to lie to her. Working against her - that was where he drew the line.

She cocked her head. "It would hardly be a worthwhile testing of my abilities if you did. I would not consider it an ideal way to maintain some form of connection to you both, but it is the safest I can conceive--and it is a connection, of a sort. Preferable by far to being cut off entirely."

Or you could just stay, Nolan very nearly said, but shook his head instead, to dismiss the thought. "I told you, I'll be in touch."

"Yes," Tessa acceded with a nod. "I trust that, in time, my reasoning may become more palatable to you. In any case, I apologize for any disappointment I may have caused."

Nolan winced slightly, and put his fork down to look over at her. "It's only disappointment in your absence." Not in her, was what he meant.

She was quiet for a few moments after that, then, "You are much kinder than you give yourself credit for, Nolan Ross. I am pleased to have found a place in your affections. And I regret becoming another of those to have hurt you, however necessary my actions might be."

You didn't hurt me, was on the tip of his tongue, a need to protest against emotional vulnerability, but Tessa deserved better than that. Nolan shifted to reach out and, gingerly, put a hand over hers, like someone who wasn't altogether used to dispensing affection, but wanted to all the same. "Don't regret anything. You're doing what you feel you have to do."

Tessa nodded again, turning her own hand over to hold his. It was a rare display for the psion, but warranted, in this instance. "Thank you. And, perhaps, time will prove my actions unnecessary; I hope, against my best judgment, that it does. But until the available data supports that conclusion, I must act in the most pragmatic and strategically-sound fashion I can perceive. I do not, however, have to like it."

Nolan couldn't help but smile dryly at her conclusion. "Keep on talking like that," he warned her, dry affection tempering his voice as he released her hand and straightened up, "and I might be moved to hug you."

Her mouth quirked at the corners, though the expression fell short of an outright smile. "Such an excess of emotional demonstration would no doubt prove taxing for us both. I will attempt to restrain my excess of honesty."

"That will be best for everybody involved," Nolan dryly agreed, but he did give her another flicker of a smile.