[Jonathon is given notice after making the bail arrangements that the tekes will be released at 920 GMT 8/2/03] [It's strongly suggested that he wait outside, rather than meet them outside of the cell.] [Jonathon gets to the front, still under construction but the security level has dropped off a bit. Military, but only one APC.] [I'll let you specify how early, if at all, you are.] [Start] * Jonathon does take the advice and stand outside the entrance. Since he came a little early (only about 5 minutes), he lights up a cigarette and takes a puff. * Military guys leave Jonathon alone. Even the women. He's cute, but he's press * Jonathon looks at the entrance and takes a puff, looking around to see if there's anyone he recognizes. [Time passes uneventfully, unless Jonathon wants to do something.] [There isn't. The military people are totally different than last time, and he can't see any facility security.] * Jonathon tosses the cigarette down on the ground and grinds it with his heel, taking off his shades. He's a patient man. [At 919 GMT there's a groan of metal against metal and the facility door slowly begins to rise. The military people all shift into high alert and ready their weapons. There's one guy standing just behind the door wearing some sort of vision enhancing googles and holding a heartbeat sensor. * Jonathon raises an eyebrow at the display and steps back, regarding the man casually. * Guy nods curtly at Jonathon and then flattens himself against the wall, keep his device monitoring the entrance. * Jonathon blows out a breath and pockets his shades, patting his pocket. He looks down the corridor. [A few seconds after 920 GMT Jonathon can hear the roar of wind in the distance. Were he seeking the holy grail, he should probably kneel and then roll about now, but he's not, so he's probably cool where he is.] * Jonathon chuckles and speaks out casually. "Always ones for a flashy exit I imagine. I don't think we require quite so much drama as all that." * Guy smiles. "I'm actually here to prevent any subtle entrances." * Jonathon chuckles. "I wasn't meaning you. But I understand your concern." He gives him a bright smile. "You do your job well. * Magnie comes tearing out of the tunnel entrance as he finishes saying that. Her holographic wings are on again, but folded back to fit in the tunnel. And from her speed and expression you'd say she's flying like a bat out of hell, were the love of said bat's life a snowball that he was transporting on his back. Assuming you were prone to overelaborate metaphors. * Magnie flies out of the entrance and shoots about five meters into the air as her wings fully unfurl, when she stops for a moment and gives a very cheery wave down. "Thanks!" * Jonathon looks up at Magnie and gives an embarrassed smile. "What has ever become of subtlety these days, eh? Though I can't say I blame you for being a little excited." * Jonathon raises an eyebrow. "What makes you think I had anything to do with it? I simply heard that a couple of friends had come across some good fortune and thought I had to be here to congratulate." * Magnie giggles as she hovers. "Sublty was never my strong point. But given my full name, I don't think I'm relly to blame for that." * Magnie giggles more. "Uh huh..." [At this point, there's a bit more of a roar in the distance and two more figures can be seen flying out. More of a controlled flight though.] * Jonathon smiles as he grinds the cigarette more, gesturing with his hands and shaking his head. "And even if I DID have something to do with it, it's hardly something that warrents a thanks. Consider it a civic duty." * Magnie nods and grins, and then pouts at the tunnel. "What's taken them so long?" * Jonathon shrugs and takes out another cigarette, though he doesn't light it. "I suspect they're a little more wary of this new situation than you are, Magnie. Hopefully it will pass." [At this point both Manic and Maelstorm exit the facility, not quite as fast as Magnie, but still enough to create a bit of a wind tunnnel.] * Magnie grabs Manic's hand as he emerges and tugs him up. "C'mon, I wanna fly." * Jonathon holds onto his cigarette as the wind passes, fixing his hair and suit after the wind tunnel. Can't be having with the wind-blown look. * Manic grins up a Magnie. "What, I should have left Mael behind? You know how slow she is without me." He then glances down at Jonathon. "Your effort are greatly appreciated, more than you know, well, probably, you might be particularly perceptive. Coming up sis?" * Mael shakes her head. She's still got on a plant robe, but is holding a change of clothes and a sheet. "I'll be a minute, go ahead, I'll handle my own transport." [Manic and Magnie shoot straight up at that, and keep going until you lose sight of them or stop watching.] * Jonathon shrugs slightly as he lights his cigarette and takes the first couple puffs, giving Manic a two fingered salute off his right temple. He then looks at Maelstrom and gives her a smile. "Seems the polite enough sort." * Mael nods. "They'd be even more so normally, but, they've been underground too long. Particularly Magnie, but we aren't about to let her go off alone for a while." [The door begins to shut at this point.] She's a little overeager...ah the excitement of youth... * Mael gives an odd half grin. "You don't know the half of it." She then drops the sheet, which spreads out as it falls, before raising itself to an opaque curtain around her. "And if you'll excuse me for a moment, I want to get out of this robe." * Jonathon turns respectfully around but raises an eyebrow as he does so. "I don't? Care to educate me?" Maaybbee... ::she then continues in a fairly light tone of voice:: but first make sure that guy isn't watching me with x-ray googles or something. Which one? I'm surprised you didn't get it changed inside before you headed out. You had to have known that there'd be quite a spectacle out here. * Jonathon looks at the military men and the guy at the door regardless. * Guy grins slightly and puts his free hand up and turns his back. Still covering the half closed entrancec, but obviously not looking. One of the things I can remember is watching a movie, or maybe it was a play, and knowing that the hero had the chance to escape, if they didn't waste time until the bad guy showed up and made his girlfriend became a hostage. I'll take the spectacle and guaranteed freedom, thank you. There are no heroes here. I'm certain of that. Plenty of bad guys though... Protaganist then, but the point holds. So what's to prevent someone from taking you out here instead? * Mael lets the sheet drop and is grinning, she's actually wearing a fairly fashionable, if casual outfit, very obviously not the one she came in with. "A distinct lack of hostages and near godlike powers." * Jonathon smiles slightly and turns around a bit as he hears the sheet off. "Humble as ever, I see." * Mael then reaches into her pocket and holds out a one pound note and some change. "Oh, and this is for you. Apparently we're now fourty thousand pounds richer, they gave me some of that as carrying around money." * Jonathon chuckles and takes it. "You remembered. I'm bloody well flattered." * Maelstrom gives a faint smile. "Even if you do have hidden motives and masterplans, for today, you've rendered us a great service." Have you figured those hidden motives out yet? * Mael then glances around at the construction site for a moment, her eyes settling on a construction worker who had been checking her out a moment ago. She then speaks in a fairly commanding voice, "You, where are the repair blueprints?" He seems taken aback and points over to a table, from which the blueprints shortly thereafter rise and slowly float over. * Jonathon raises an eyebrow. "Part of the plea bargain? * Mael glances back at Jonathon as the prints keep floating. "Frankly I'm stumped, you're smart enough to realize it'd be damn hard to capture us now, even if you have your own faction. And most any other motive I can think of seems to simple." Oh? What are the simpler motives? I'd like to hear. * Mael shakes her head and then looks the plans over as they float in front of her. "No, but I don't mind repairing some of the damage, so long as it's of my free will." [In the distance a coil of fence begins to unwind as dirt is removed from the ground and replaced by wet cement. The construction workers scurry out of the way, though a couple grumble about Union regulations.] * Jonathon chuckles slightly and looks over at the moving fence. "I think it'll take some time for them to adjust to your particular...method of assistance." You could just be trying to earn my trust, hoping to manipulate me or my family later. You could be an enemy of my enemies. * Mael then gives a slightly coy smirk "Or, maybe you've got a thing for girls with powers. I seem to remember that's not so uncommon." * Mael shrugs at that and then yells over at the cement truck. "Make more, use the instant stuff, just pour it out if you have to, I'm not gonna stick around very long." * Jonathon takes another puff and glances over at her. "Any other theories?" [The construction continues in the background, focusing on one section at a time, a few of the soldiers don't really react, but most seem fairly bewildered. The process is fairly methodical, unlike her whirlwind of debris.] * Mael smiles at Jonathon, "Actually not really, I'm happy to leave speculating to another day. You do truly have my thanks, but I hope you won't be insulted to know once I heard of our pending freedom, most of my thoughts weren't of you." * Jonathon smiles. "No insult taken. I'm certain if I were jailed and found out about an impending release, I'd have plenty else to think about. * Mael nods. "Glad you understand." And your family? * Mael looks slightly confused. "Magnie likes you, but you shouldn't think she's entirely the cute innocent she likes to play. As for Manic, he's been to busy worrying about raising Magnie to ponder the larger issues." * Jonathon chuckles. "I meant more about all of you. What are your plans from here?" Get away for a bit, find somewhere isolated and self sustaining maybe. We need some time alone before w can make big decisions. Understandable...I was just thinking how hard it might be to lay low...I wanted to make sure you had a plan. Sometimes you aren't necessarily the most subtle. And while I have no problem with that, I understand there are people who do.. * Mael nods, and glances over at one of the few remaining sections of construction. "We'll make a point of avoiding those people, we have enough money to cover ourselves long enough to do research, and should be able to find somewhere secluded where we can sustain ourselves for some time." * Mael idly rubs her previous plant robe through the dirt with her right foot. * Jonathon takes out his cigarette and takes the last puff, stamping it out on the ground again. "Then I guess if you wish to stay secluded, it'd be some time before I hear how you're fairing. That'd kind of defeat the bloody point." * Mael smiles slightly, "Oh, I may give you the occassional update, I doubt you'll be hard to find, Mr. Reporter." [The last section of fencing now settles in, and the temporary barricades float away and line themselves up in the parking lot two at a time.] * Jonathon blows out a breath and looks away embarrassed. "Ah the follies of fame. I wonder when it'll stop following me around." * Mael grins for a brief moment. "When you stop being interesting. But... I would like to get on to my future. But I think you had a question earlier, you have certainly earned a quick answer or two." * Jonathon raises an eyebrow. "I did? Then I suppose I'd better not waste it..." He slowly scratches his cheek. "Now let me see...what could I ask...?" * Jonathon snaps his fingers. "I think I have it. Though are you sure? This question is of particular importance..." * Mael nods and then yells over at one of the construction workers. "Alright, stop gawking at me and get back to work. The rest is a bit to fine for me." * Mael then looks back at Jonathon. "I'm sure." * Jonathon tilts his head to the side a bit. "Would all of you care to have dinner sometime? Can't be certain when but sometime soon. As a celebration for your release..." Perhaps you can figure out my motives there. * Mael nods and gives another faint smile. "I accept and perhaps I can... A picnic would probably be best, particularly as Magnie's table manners are a tad eccentric." * Jonathon puts on his shades and smiles more. "Wonderful. I'll break out the champagne then." * Jonathon looks up. "Oh! I forgot something!" * Mael nods. "I'll call you later, we can work out the details then." She then glances over at a temporary plywood bridge that had been used by the construction crew. "Mind if I take this?" They rather emphatically shake their heads. * Mael steps over on the platform, she looks back over her shoulder. "Oh?" * Jonathon pulls a cd case out of his jacket and hands it to Maelstrom. "Track 5. I meant to give it to Magnie but she left a little quickly." He smiles. "Wind Beneath My Wings. I thought she'd enjoy it." * Mael takes it then thinks for a moment. "A bit sentimental, but you're likely right." She then sits down on the plywood which floats up a few meters and shifts her weight. "This should do. Oh, and I almost forgot something." * Jonathon steps back a bit. "There's some others on there she might like too. I know she likes music..." He tilts his head to look at her. "What's that?" * Mael again gives a faint, slightly knowing, smile. "A small token of my affections." At that a thin half meter long strand floats out of her fairly long hair, it flies down and briefly brushes around Jonathon's neck before tying itself loosely around a wrist. On closer inspection it's obviously been woven out of several strands of hair. * Jonathon holds up his wrist for inspection and regards it curiously. "You didn't have to..." * Mael smirks for a moment, before dropping to a neutral almost sad expression. "Don't worry about that, I assure you, it's far better that it not be put to its original intent. Farewell for now." I'll take your word for it. * Mael waves and flies off, riding on the plywood. A good bit slower than her siblings. * Jonathon gives her a wave and then looks at the gift once more before turning and walking off to his car. [End]