X-Factor Casefile: The Sting: Sneaking Sneaking Hide (incomplete)

[x-invisiblegirl.livejournal.com]

Arthur, Jess and Lorna tail Mr Rodney Tremain to a warehouse that is more than it seems.

"This guy is kind of boring." Lorna said as they watched the man they had been trailing walking inside of a coffee shop. They had been trailing him for the better part of an hour and so far it looked like he was going on with his regular routine. She leaned back into her seat to wait it out.

"Oh god, you're right. This guy's a total snore." Jessica agreed as she watched the man step out of the coffee shop. She shrugged her shoulders, easing out the kicks with a slow, rolling movement. "I could tail him in my sleep." She added. "Still, better than being back at the office answering phones. Well, it's clear that we're not going to be too entertained. Wanna play twenty questions?" She finished with a slight grin toward the brunette sitting beside her. "How about you, Arthur, any ideas on how to jazz this up?"

"Last time I played twenty questions I ended up in bed with someone." Lorna yawned again. "Might be a bad idea."

A static voice came over their comm link. "What's bad about that? Sounds like you both won." There was the sound of a chime as Arthur exited the coffee shop. "Guess what he ordered."

The combination of the three investigators — two in the car running point, Arthur tailing on foot — had given X-Factor a good profile of the man's taste in vanilla administrative activities so far. He was heading, on foot, north in the city now after a good thirty minutes spent in the Starbucks.

"Well maybe he's about to spice things up. He's spent enough fucking time thinking about it. Let's get to sneaking Lorna." Jessica stated, pointing in the direction of the fleeing man. "My investigative sense is tingling, and I can practically taste the no good on him." She finished with a grin.

"A Chai Vanilla Latte, Extra foam, Extra Hot." Lorna guessed. She didn't have to turn on the car to get it to roll, "Maybe we should invest in a Prius. I hope your tingling sense are right..." She kept her distance from the man as she trailed him in the car, "Damn he is turning on a one way."

"No, you're cold." There was a pause only punctuated by ambient street sounds as the man considered, "Or is that a spoiler? I'm no good at this game."

The man, still on foot, turned the corner. He had fished out a phone and was typing frantically.

"He seems to be typing something. Maybe he's finally getting into contact with his elders and betters." Jessica observed via a pair of binoculars. I think I see a car coming. Arthur, keep an eye on him until we can come pick you up. I'm thinking air travel's best for following another vehicle." She stated as she turned to Lorna. "You up for a little night flight?" She asked.

"So it was an Ice Coffee?" Lorna asked with a smirk. Parking the car and biting her lip. "Yeah. Night flight would probably be best. I hate driving anyways." She grabbed her coat and got out of the car. "Arthur, we are coming to get you." She grabbed another jacket from the backseat, this time it was laced with metal.

"I'm all your's," Arthur replied lazily as he fished a hat from his jacket and tucked his hair into it before turned the corner and out of sight of his cohorts. "And it was a caramel machiatt— Oh."

Sounds of picking up feet, the scrape of metal. "Guys. We have a problem."

Jessica opened the door to the vehicle as quickly as possible. She quickly wound her ponytail into a loose bun and shoved a hat over it. She nodded for Lorna to follow her and quickly rose into the sky.

"Talk to me, Arthur. Lorna and I are on our way." She subvocalized as she moved silently through the air toward Arthur's location. From what she'd read over at the office, Arthur's powers were luck based. She figured it would allow him to get out of anything nasty, but it never hurt to have two badass, superpowered women at your back.

"He's gone. Not visible. No longer on the street."

Lorna lifted herself into the air and followed Jessica. "What do you mean 'Gone'?" They weren't that far from Arthur's position as she could see him from her advantage point. She looked over at Jessica, "This guy just got interesting."

"If we can't see him from the street, then let's check by air." Jessica stated as she and Lorna made their way over to Arthur. She easily lifted the man into her arms, hefting him bridal style before she took off into the air. "Keep your eyes peeled. We're not losing him after all that tailing." She added.

"Did he get into a car or something?" Lorna flew ahead to see a couple of cars still going down the one way. "I am not losing this guy."

Arthur was doing his best to look dignified while cradled. "I turned the corner and he wasn't there. That is all I've got."

"Then let's check it out. Lorna, cover me." Jessica called as she flew forward as quick as she possibly could with Arthur cradled in her arms. "Let's see if we can catch him." She added.

Lorna slowed back a bit and looked down, was there a door or an side alleyway that he could had slipped through? She didn't see any and thought he just got into a car. Great, but which one? He had to be quick to have done that. She continued to fly behind Jessica. "Must had taken a car."

"I would have seen a car, but..." The man shrugged at this, even though the effect was lost in his current position. He concentrated, and his eye flashed briefly in a telltale starburst pattern. "The Black Lexus tailgating that poor SUV."