X-Factor Case File: The Triskelion Files - Log 2

[x-dominion.livejournal.com]

Kane swings by the offices of the Daily Bugle to discuss the leak with Ben Urich, the reporter on the story.



"Today is Wednesday. Do you know what Wednesday means?" J. Jonah Jameson sat at his desk, ignoring the small 'no smoking' signs that were up around the office as he burned through his cigar. That was one advantage of being both the owner and editor in chief; he could ignore any signs he wanted. "Wednesday means a bunch of bored, tired commuters who are schlepping into work looking for anything to distract them from the fact that they've got three more days of work before the weekend. That means we need something big. Something bold for the front page tomorrow to grab them. Otherwise, they walk past the stands like zombies."

"I suppose we could knock over a liquor store." Ben Urich said, arms crossed and leaning back against the wall.

"I've already decided that's our back-up plan, Urich. Robby, what have we got?"

"For a lede? Lemme see." Robby glanced up from his phone for a half-second to look at his boss. He swiped through a list of slugs. "A lot of ongoing, but nothing stellar. John's with the mayor in Vegas, working on something about how he's a big schmoozer despite all the troubles downtown. We're keeping an eye on the possible transit strike, and the guy who allegedly killed the three women on Staten Island's in court again, but should be a short hearing."

Robertson put his phone down. "The governor story might be able to go out front with a lot of rewriting." He shrugged. "Too bad it's an off-day in sports."

"The governor story is pretty thin. I've been talking to my guys at the state house. I think someone is close to talking about that e-mail server 'hack' being bogus. There more there." Urich said.

"I don't want to take on the Governor on a stubbed toe. He's still got fifteen months before re-election. 'Corruption in Albany' works better as a whole series. Leeds, what can you give me on the transit strike?"

"A tale of woe and drama, corruption plaguing the offices of the transit authority, the brave protesters taking a stand against their cruel taskmasters." Ned shrugged and grinned at Robbie, "They're certainly not happy with the conditions and are happy to list off everything the transit authority is doing wrong now. Most of which my sources tell me aren't entirely false."

"But they're not striking yet. It's all talk," Betty said, peering up from taking notes on her computer as she shoved an ashtray in front of Jonah before the cigar ashes burned another hole in the table.

"If the negotiations with their supervisors go well this will dissolve quickly. It's a good front page story but not for the headline. Daniel?" He hadn't spoken up yet, and usually didn't unless spoken to. Some of the other staffers had been trying to get him to be more assertive, especially around Jonah. It was hit or miss.

Daniel held up a finger, staring at his phone screen as he swiped through the stock trackers on his phone. "Market's gonna be down today, but not enough to make a headline," he concluded, dropping the phone to the table as he looked back to the group. "Give it a week or two, that senator up north might have enough attention for a trade bill headline. Nothing for tomorrow, though."

"What am I paying you people for? Fine, transit strike. Leeds, go out and get me a dozen quotes from people who are angry if they strike. On both, the union and the transit commission. Robbie, page one. FED UP!" JJ swept his open hand across the air in front of him, indicating the headline. "Brant, find that quarter pager with the stats on how many people are moved in a day, etc. Maybe two exclamation points."

"Yeah, god forbid we run a front page without a slammer on it." Urich said archly.

Robbie snorted as he scribbled on a reporter's notebook in front of him. His scrawl looked unintelligible. "We'll put a key to the mayor story on the bottom, too. Trains aren't gonna run, guy's in Vegas playing slots and watching Cher. A civic outrage front."

"Good. They misspelled my wife's name in the last party invitation." They were all well aware of his wife's hold over Jameson.

"Hey Ben?" Kat Farrell poked her head into the meeting. "You've got a visitor. In your office."

"Great. Robbie, I'll call my guy at the union, see if I can get some more details on why talks are breaking down." Urich excused himself and walked back to his office, making notes on a pad of post-its like normal. His office was small; packed with files and papers. Two walls were taken up by a massive white board and a massive corkboard respectably. Urich was no Luddite, but he'd started in the field when his computer screen was monochrome. Some habits, including how he learned to arrange his notes, never died off.

Sitting in the only vacant chair was Garrison Kane. He was dressed in the typical unremarkable suit the Bureau seemed to prefer. Urich sat down behind his desk, settling in before speaking.

"Agent Kane, I suppose?"

"I was told you wanted to talk to me." He replied.

"I did. The only mutant that I've been able to identify working for the FBI. Why not SHIELD?"

"I'm a cop, not an operative."

"A mutant cop. Seems like the Bureau could use a few of those these days. Like maybe a team of them?"

"There's no team of mutant FBI agents, Mister Urich. Even in my case, my abilities have nothing to do with my assignments."

"I find that very hard to believe." Ben said.

"It's the truth. If you knew Fred Duncan, you know that an Avenger-like team is the last thing he thinks the Bureau needs."

"I know him a little. He must be happy about the Cubs right now." Ben decided to switch tracks. "Let's say that they aren't FBI. Then who are they?"

"Who is your source for the photos." Kane replied.

"You know I won't tell you that."

"Do you think that he's passing along the information out of opportunity or concern?"

"That also doesn't matter. Unless he's specifically breaking the law-"

"It's classified information!"

"Which if he has legal access to and serves the public interest, we are protected by the First Amendment to publish. Come on, Agent Kane. You know that if the FBI or any other agency has some secret superhero team on call, the public has a right to know." Urich gave him an almost sympathetic look. "Fred really sent you here to try and squelch this?"

"Not exactly. Look... " Garrison said, rubbing his forehead for a second. "There isn't a secret FBI team. What if I can prove that your source is providing information that was illegally obtained?"

"We'd consider reviewing our coverage. But I'm too old to buy any kind of bullshit set up, Kane. If you have proof, it better be the kind that stands up before a judge."

"It will be."