xp_logs | The Gates: Tickets To Prague

Nathan gets a phone call rather late. Rollins has some good news for him.

He wasn't used to getting phone calls at night. Early in the morning, from Muir or Tel Aviv, yes. Not at night, when all of the people he knew overseas should be peacefully asleep in their beds. Nathan blinked at the phone on the beside table, then picked it up.

"Hello?" he asked a bit hoarsely. Despite the utter silence of the house and his own turbulent thoughts, he had somehow managed to doze off while reading. He was starting to think that maybe he wasn't getting quite enough sleep.

"And here I thought you were up until two on a regular basis," Rollins said cheerfully. "The little one wearing you out?"

"She's on Muir," Nathan muttered, relaxing back against the pillows. "What's up, Joel?"

"How would you like to go to Prague next week?"

Nathan sat bolt upright, the residual grogginess gone in an instant. "You're kidding."

Joel's laugh was tired-sounding, but laced with real humor. "Well, if I'm kidding, then I must have hallucinated all those hours on the phone today. And then Sandra would start muttering at me about enforced vacations again."

Swinging his feet over the side of the bed, Nathan ran a hand through his hair, his mind spinning with the possibilities. "Your wife's as bad as mine. But, okay. So you're not kidding, and I'm not dreaming... what the hell happened that this is suddenly an option?"

"Syrovy's successor is looking to score some PR points, I think. He's allowing observer teams into Smichov. You don't want to know how many favors I called in to get us invited. Fortunately it was generally agreed upon that having representation from an organization specializing in the 'mutant question' would be a good thing, under the circumstances."

"Agreed upon by whom?"

"The rest of the working group. I don't know for sure the make-up of the other teams yet - the Red Cross is going to be sending in a group to assess the situation, of course, and the only other near-sure bet at this point besides us is probably Doctors Without Borders. So," Joel went on briskly, "we have some decisions to make. Should I call the Tel Aviv office tomorrow?"

"... now you're just playing with me." Joel and his sense of humor.

"Yes, I am. I know I'd have to lock you up and throw away the key to keep you from going. And frankly, Tel Aviv's busy with their own projects. That's even leaving aside the fact that you and your gang of scarily brilliant youngsters in Westchester have been the ones who've been in on the working group meetings and so forth."

Nathan gave it roughly two seconds of thought. "Bobby's not available to come - don't ask," he said before Joel could react. "But I think Angelo and Rahne would be willing to come. As observers, you said? This is basically information-gathering, then."

"Yes. No goddamned cavalry charges or anything dramatic, all right?" Joel's voice was dead serious. "This is our chance to see what's going on inside those security barriers. We need the evidence to push for a fast resolution to this mess."

"You're going to hold Afghanistan against me forever, aren't you?" But Nathan was already making mental notes. "Visual evidence would be best, I'm guessing. We're going to need cameras."

"You've got that good electronics supplier right there in Salem Center - give her a call and see what she can rustle up for you." Joel was sounding deeply satisfied, now - as well he should, Nathan reflected, given he had negotiated all of this. "I'm meeting with some other interested parties in the morning - I'll keep you updated on what else develops."

"Okay. Thanks, Joel," Nathan said more softly, the gratitude in his voice undisguised.

"I'm not sure thanks are really called for, Nathan - I doubt very much that this is going to be an enjoyable trip." But there was understanding in Joel's voice. "Go back to sleep - I'm sorry I woke you up."

"Hey, you can wake me up with good news anytime. Talk to you tomorrow."