xp_logs | The Gates: Detained (Reply)

Nathan, Angelo and Medusa visit with the city councilor for Smichov, who was sealed up in his neighborhood right along with his constituents when the security barrier went up. The story he has to tell is a grim one. Then the men with guns come knocking at the door.

"I always thought the malls were an eyesore," Dusan Vesely said as he gestured for his guests to take a seat in the small but tastefully furnished living room of his apartment. The city councilor for Smichov was a kind-eyed, if visibly tired and worried man in his mid-fifties, who had been eager to speak to them when Nathan had called earlier that day. "But they are the only reason the food shortages were not much worse sooner. If only we'd been able to stop people from looting that second week, when it became so clear that shipments were not being allowed in..."

"I imagine you weren't left with a whole lot of police presence when they sealed you up in here," Nathan said, almost gently. "Although you'd think the troops would have helped...?"

Vesely shook his head. "I asked. Believe me, I asked." He sighed, rubbing at his jaw. "My colleagues on the city council have also been asking. I don't know if you're aware of how strongly the council opposes what's been done here? But as it's a security matter, our voices carry very little weight."

"I do not think we knew much of what the council was doing in here. Information about life inside the walls has been incredibly limited," Medusa said, tucking a dark strand of hair behind her ear.

"And what we have heard, we haven't liked much," Angelo said grimly. "But most of that was information people on the outside managed to pick up and get out. Not much about what's been going on out of sight."

"It's been increasingly hard to stay in contact with the other members of the council," Vesely said with another sigh. "The phone lines to outside are down. We have cell phones of course, some of us..." He shook his head again, looking oddly lost for a moment. "Communications here in the secured area are difficult, as well. Gatherings of more than a few people are liable to be visited by the military. I attempted to hold a public meeting, late last week, and it was broken up. I was accused by a very angry lieutenant of encouraging unrest."

Nathan wanted very badly to ask if Vesely was aware of where any of the supposed militant groups were based here in Smichov, but reminded himself that wasn't why they were here. "One of our colleagues from Amnesty International mentioned something to me about talking to the city council. Hopefully that means that angle is covered. Is there anything you can tell us about particular needs you see here? Anything beyond food and medical supplies..."

"We have nightly unrest," Vesely said heavily. "Clashes, between civilians and military patrols. There's been some not insubstantial damage to the power grid as well. The explosions, when Minister Syrovy was assassinated..." He looked very pained. "I managed to find a few maintenance technicians living here in Smichov, but there's a limit to what they can do without more help and supplies. Patches of Smichov have power for a few hours a day. Sometimes."

"Do the guards do anything to try and stop the altercations? Or are they actively inciting matters?" Medusa asked. Not that locking residents into a ghetto wasn't enough to inspire the residents to riot.

"There is a lot of anger here," was the answer, "and the troops do little to assuage it. Searches and seizures, arrests in the middle of the night... I don't disagree that they must root out these terrorists, but the way they choose to do it!" Vesely looked distressed. "There are different ways, better ways to encourage cooperation. So many people here were so afraid, before the security barrier. I know many in the government truly believe that the barrier is as much for our protection as that of the rest of the city, but far too many of my constituents consider it a poor trade. Yes, the mutants among us are no longer attacked by these militant anti-mutant groups from outside, but now all of us are suffering."

Angelo's expression hadn't lifted, and his frown only deepened at that. He'd heard similar stories before, if not as extreme as this... "And no food's been getting into Smichov at all since it started?"

At the shake of Vesely's head, Medusa sighed. She hadn't expected any other answer, not after seeing the lack of supplies at the clinic. "And every day the supply dwindles further and further. No wonder there is unrest." The more the group learned about the situation in Smichov, the more Medusa found herself becoming sympathetic with those inside who were not waiting idly by for the situation to resolve itself.

Nathan couldn't help raising an eyebrow at the undertones there. "Can you put us in touch with these technicians?" he asked, gently nudging the conversation back onto topic. "We'd like to talk to them, get a visual record of some of the damage to the power grid, if possible..."

"I can certainly do that," Vesely said with an immediate nod. "You said you'd been to the clinic already, but there are other places that you should really - what's wrong?" he asked sharply as Nathan stiffened in his chair, gray eyes gone unfocused all at once.

"... company." He refocused on Vesely. "Soldiers downstairs."

"How did you-"

"They're here to arrest you," Nathan said harshly, his hands going white-knuckled on the arms of his chair. "Both of you," he said to Medusa and Angelo, sharply, "get up and go into the kitchen, right now. Away from the door." He turned back to Vesely. "Councilman, I'm a telepath," he went on hurriedly, sensing the soldiers coming up the stairs. "I can walk the four of us right out of here and they won't see us, all you have to do is say the word-"

There was a moment's hesitation - I'm not leavin' you out here if there's soldiers comin' - before a white-faced Angelo just nodded, got up, and hustled Medusa into the kitchen. He stayed in the doorway, though, watching the room anxiously.

Medusa's hair began to sway as Angelo propeled her into the kitchen, though she quickly reined in her locks and held them still. It was not in her nature to hide, but she had promised Nathan she would obey his orders and so obey she had. Soon, she could hear the soldiers pounding up the stairs, followed by a loud banging on the door.

Vesely gave Nathan an odd look as he rose. "No," he said with a certain quiet dignity, "I don't think that will be necessary. I do... appreciate the offer, but for your own safety, you shouldn't become involved." He gave Nathan a trace of a smile as someone shouted something warningly in Czech from the other side of the door. "Have your papers ready," he said more briskly, directing that at all three of them. "I'll identify you as NGO staff."

Nathan opened his mouth, then closed it again helplessly. He didn't know what had spurred the offer on his part, but Vesely was right. It was just...

The door crashed open, and there were suddenly several too many people in the small room, most of them carrying guns, and shouting. Nathan had his papers in his hand even as the door was flung open, but got down on his knees at orders, though shouted in Czech, that were unmistakable.

#Angelo, get Medusa down on the floor too...#

He was already dropping, tugging Medusa down with him. "You're not a mutant," he said under his breath, so only she could hear. "If they ask. Stay down." He was visibly frightened, and only part of it was an act for the police.

Medusa bristled slightly at the contact, but allowed herself to be pulled down. She was still projecting an air of calmness; afterall, she was Lady Medusalith Amaquelin of Attilan, even if that was not the name she would claim today. She showed her fear to no man. A strand of hair fell across her face and she let it remain there, despite the unnatural feeling of each strand not being precisely where she wanted it to be.

Vesely was talking quietly, urgently to the officer in charge. The man frowned at him, then gave Nathan and the two young people in the kitchen a narrow-eyed look before leaning over to look at Nathan's papers. His response was curt, but calm-sounding, and guns started to lower.

"Apologies," Vesely said, sounding oddly breathless now as he got up off the floor, a soldier on either side of him. "I won't be able to provide you with any further assistance-" The officer in charge barked something at him, and Vesely shut his mouth abruptly.

Nathan nodded tightly, staying where he was. No one had said they could get up, and he wasn't taking the chance. Not in tight quarters like this, with Medusa and Angelo right there. He met the eyes of the officer in charge, who nodded briefly at him and then led his men -and Vesely - out of the apartment.

"Damn it," Nathan said, softly but viciously.

Angelo wasn't moving an inch. Not until Nathan said it was safe. "...what did they arrest him for?" he asked, vaguely stunned by the suddenness of it all.

Nathan stood up slowly. "No idea... I should have tried to find out," he muttered, somewhat half-heartedly; the last thing he needed to have done was startle someone already pointing a gun at them. "We should get out of here. Back to the hotel to, uh, regroup." And he needed to call one of the other groups. The bunch from Amnesty, maybe?

Rising to her feet, Medusa brushed herself off, moving away from the windows. Black hair flared out to frame her face before settling back into place and she breathed a sigh of relief. "I do not know if it was the right decision to let them take him," she said. "But I agree - it is unwise to remain here now."

"We didn't exactly have much choice," Angelo pointed out, though he didn't like it any more than she did. "Not without gettin' the three of us arrested too, or worse. We can try an' do somethin' about it now, though."

Nathan looked around the tiny apartment, giving a tight, unhappy shake of his head. "Let's go," he said softly. "It'll be getting dark soon, and we don't want to be on the streets tonight."