Genosha: In the Balance - Bargaining

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

It is Remy's turn to be interrogated. An offer is presented.



"Do you take coffee or tea?" Brian asked once the pair was settled. "Something for breakfast that isn't on the normal menu? We can have a comfort food you may care for brought in. Transitioning to incarceration is difficult."

"If I'm going to barter, it's not going to be for a soda." Remy said, no hint of his Cajun accent. "I have no intention of rotting in this prison for the rest of my life. So why don't you tell me what it's going to take to ensure a way out?"

"This isn't exactly a plea bargain, Mister LeBeau. I can't promise you a release but I can certainly say my reports have a great impact. Our focus is on terrorism. Magneto is a terrorist, he has strong ties to Xavier, and so do you. That is all I'm here to investigate." Brian assured him while putting pen to paper. "Would you tell me about the mansion, please? It says here that, despite being a private school, a large portion of the student body is personally recruited."

"Wouldn't know. I don't work for Xavier, and I'm a little old for attending school." Remy leaned back, arms crossed over his chest. "If you can't get me out, who can? Who's the one holding your leash?"

"Leash? I don't believe that is a good way to frame our conversation." Brian took a quick note in what was clearly a form of shorthand. "If you don't have any attachment to the school and you don't work for Snow Valley, I'm not sure I understand your presence here."

"I like to call myself a freelance business facilitator, but most official agencies perfer the term 'mercenary'." He said. "I'm paid to get people into and out of places that they need to get into and out of. In this case, I'm pretty sure that I'm not getting a bonus."

The interrogator scribbled another note quickly. "That would mean The Xavier Institute paid at least one mercenary. Since they're not a military or law enforcement branch of the government, isn't that terrorism by definition?" Brian looked over his rimless glasses at the man. "Not to be antagonistic but wouldn't you agree?"

"Pal, I could give you a list as long as my arm of corporations and groups who aren't military or law enforcement branches of the government that have paid for my services over the last fifteen years. Hell, I've got friends in this industry that have spent more time working for the oil sector alone than an offshore wildcatter." Remy said, leaning forward. "I'm sure you've already figured out that Xavier operates globally. He's got a couple of old hands in the shadow game coordinating that part of his operations; Nate Dayspring and Pete Wisdom. Every so often, they need someone unaffiliated with Xavier's to take over a job. Which reminds me, you guys really should have done your homework before fucking with them."

Brian took down the information without complaint, looking up and pushing his glasses up his nose at the last statement. "Because the institute is so dangerous?"

"You have the largest, most powerful collection of mutants who have lived for well over a decade less than an hours flight from the capital. And the entire national security apparatus of the United States doesn't seem all that worried about it. Do I really need to draw you a picture?" Remy's chuckle was cutting. "I may not be in their inner circle, but it's obvious that the US has been using them as a shadow force for years. Which means you're holding on to a bunch of assets that powerful people are used to having on call. I don't care whether or not you put a bullet into each of them, but I don't have the Pentagon on speed dial either."

"Hmm, shadow force. Then why would they hire you?" Brian asked curiously, looking at Remy over his glasses. He didn't seem ready to accept anything he was told without asking a question or two. "If they're Black Ops, and you are too, wouldn't you be competitors?"

"I'm invisible and expendable. Xavier doesn't want, say, the untimely death of D. Ken Neramani tied back to one of his listed staff members." Remy shock his head. "Look, you want to get the most out of Xavier, here's what you do. I'll set up a meeting between one of your people and Nick Fury of SHIELD. He's the one that pulls Xavier's strings. You make a deal with him. He's not going to give a shit about you making mutate zombie workers just so long as they aren't on US soil. In return, I walk. Maybe a little retainer for my trouble."

"I'll certainly present that offer." Brian said with a smile as he stood, tucking his notepad under his arm. "Thank you for your help."