The door creaked, and Quin’s whole body tensed, ready for the fight that was bound to come once they entered the room. Everything had been too easy up till now, and that meant that this was going to be messy. Why hadn’t she taken the time to read the horoscopes today? Mostly they were vague, but if she took the time to look at a few, there was usually some good information to piece together. She’d overslept though, figured she’d have at least a little time on her computer to check things out.

Nope. Now look where they were. Quin pulled herself from her thoughts though, this was not the time to be musing over what should or could have been. Now was the time for action.

And…there was the victim. Making coffee. She was the source of the smell. Ashton introduced them, and Quin turned her back on the room, making sure that nobody was going to spring on them from the corridor. It all seemed quiet still.

Until the car alarm started going off. A cold spike of wariness and fear ran down Quin’s spine and she frowned.

“Guess we’d better be ready when we go back out.”

It was the police. It was the last thing Sveta would have bet on. She thought it was going to be Maya, or Slate's men, or maybe someone from the Mansion, or even Garrett. One could never know. But not the police. Police were rarely ever seen when serious stuff was happening.

The car alarm went off. That must be Roland.

"I tink you should go" Sveta said very seriously "If he is out dere, you don't have a chance. He is dangerous. Maybe you should leave me here. Come back with more men."

Mutants, preferably. Of some heavy firearms. Maybe they could take Roland down.

"I am serious. He will kill you."

Ashton glowered at her sweetly. "Honey, we can handle him. Don't worry your pretty little head about that. Now," With that, he turned back towards the door. Ashton gave Quin a quick and telling look to be careful. "You stay with officer Archer. We'll keep you safe. Let's go rescue my car from grubby hands..."

There was no arguing. He didn't like to argue with ladies. Obviously, worrying. Because without an ounce of concern for their situation, a cop would be an idiot. But... Ashton wasn't scared. Just serious. Because, seriously.

Someone had messed with his car.

He led the way off the ship, back to the black Taurus, with nary a word.

”He can’t help himself.” Quin said, eyes rolling just slightly as she waited for Ashton to precede them from the room. ”But trust me lady, we’re not helpless.”

The redhead wanted to check her gun again, but she’d already done that and knew that everything was ready. There was nothing else to do, but make sure the woman was between her and Ashton as they made their way through the ship.

They reached the ladder that lead topside and Quin turned to the blond. ”Stay behind me now. Don’t move unless I tell you to, and don’t try to run or do anything ridiculous.”

Quin frowned, why hadn’t she thought to bring an extra vest? It would have been the smart thing to do. Oh well. She had hers, if push came to shove, it would be enough.

>> "Honey, we can handle him. Don't worry your pretty little head about that. Now. You stay with officer Archer. We'll keep you safe. Let's go rescue my car from grubby hands..."

Sveta pouted, and wrinkled her nose. Pretty little head, huh. Okay, that guy was a jerk. Police or no police. She had been with Roland for a week, she knew what she was talking about. They did not. The whole thing was starting to look like some bad action movie, and she was with the redshirts.

>>”He can’t help himself. But trust me lady, we’re not helpless. Stay behind me now. Don’t move unless I tell you to, and don’t try to run or do anything ridiculous.”

"He is a mutant" Sveta pointed out as she followed them "And unless you are mutant too, he is stronger."

Not to mention the guns. Or her being a mutant as well...

Ashton didn't glance over his shoulder at the blond. For some reason, he felt energized, like he could take on the world. "We are," he said. "We deal with mutants for a living. We're MRC. You're in good hands. Now, be quiet."

Okay. So maybe nary a word had been an overstatement. Hey. Some people forced these things out of you.

As they went down the ramp, he trained his gun on the shadow of his car in the distance, eyes darting across the docks for any sign of danger. His heart was pumping like a bass drum. Where was the guy?

Oh.

Right there. By his car. Waiting. That is where Roland was. Great!

Ashton aimed his gun that way, and announced loudly (because that's what cops do) "Hands in the air, dirtbag. Police." He left the far blunter 'I don't want your dirty fingerprints all over my ride' to the imagination.

“I’ll give you the full spiel once we’re out of here.” Quin said, practically bouncing with anticipation. Man, she felt like a rookie on their first raid. It was intense…and strange.

They left the ship…and there was still no shooting. Everything was still too quiet…and the kidnapper was sitting by the car.

Ashton said his piece, and the redhead resisted the urge to roll her eyes again. Really, who said ‘dirtbag’ these days. Besides, hadn’t the girl said that this guy was dangerous? ”Stay here.” Quin said to the girl and trained her gun on the man by the car.

”I’ve got him, Drake. Cuff and collar.” she said, taking her finger off the trigger, but keeping her gun where it was. It was basic training. ”Stay where you are with your hands where we can see them.”

Oh, and one more thing. ” I’ll radio this in.”

It didn't take long for the trio to appear. Just as well as the alarm was getting a bit grating. Orders were being barked from what appeared to be the lead dog. Roland could trace his practiced crisis grimace from where he sat. He smirked a bit, as apparently hands up was the fashionable position. Complying, his arms extended, his body stepping clear of the car. A bit of a chuckle piped free at the term. He mouthed it in mimicry. Dirtbag. Good thing he wanted this little vacation, or that gun the blueboy was aiming at him would have ejected twice. Vests didn't do much for headshots, an easy feat from the current and closing range.

His eyes turned to the redhead, hands still raised. " So, you've got me, do you? Don't I feel all warm and fuzzy." His eyes then moved to his blond European, who wore a visage of dread. He wanted to console her, but it seemed a moot point this late in the game. " Quite the collar for you two. You may even get promotions for this." He awaited further instructions, enjoying the apparent confidence the two detectives carried. Something came to mind, though.

"It's apparent that you know who I am. But short of your firearms, I haven't had the pleasure of your identification. Could I see your badges as you ...cuff and collar me?" He usually paid for that kind of service. Or Alexandra, but she wasn't around. He didn't want to cause a commotion, so he stepped a few feet away from thecar, give them all breathing room.

>> "We are. We deal with mutants for a living. We're MRC. You're in good hands. Now, be quiet."

Sveta frowned again. So, they were mutants? It did not show. Made sense that the police would only hire mutants with no visible mutation. Sveta wondered what their power was, but she did not get the chance to ask. That would have been a crucial piece of information in the next few mintes.

Roland was giving himself up. That made Sveta more scared than everything else. What was he playing at?

Also, 'dirtbag'?!...

>> " So, you've got me, do you? Don't I feel all warm and fuzzy. Quite the collar for you two. You may even get promotions for this. It's apparent that you know who I am. But short of your firearms, I haven't had the pleasure of your identification. Could I see your badges as you ...cuff and collar me?"

"He lies" Sveta muttered, close behind the redhead and the man; raising one gloved hand, she touched the woman's back, keeping her palm there for long seconds. The mand was a few steps ahead. She had to do with one. She hoped Roland did not see, but doubted it; one way or another, he knew what it meant. He had plenty of time to learn about her powers. Now she just had to hope that MRC chose mutants with useful abilities...

"He lies. And he has a gun. Be careful."

>>”I’ve got him, Drake. Cuff and collar.”

What was he, the rookie now? Being ordered around to do stuff like that. Like he cared. Although frankly, he didn't see a reason to throw the rookie to the wolves. It seemed like it'd be better for him to cuff while she covered. He was the senior officer here, after all. He was the boss. He had no idea why his mind had instantly gotten upset over the minor matter! He must've been a bit jumpier than usual. Weird.

She wanted to cover him and call things in.

Ashton grunted an affirmative. "Right." His eyes narrowed on the man in the distance.

The guy kept on talking. Every word out of Roland's mouth was slick, like oil. It made him want to shoot. And everything he said. Every single word, like oil, was hard to hold on to. Each word, he wouldn't hold the man to, because it was game to slip right out from their grasp.

The Russian woman was worried. She repeated that this man was a liar. "Of course he lies," Ashton muttered. "He's basically a used car salesman." To Roland, he announced rights. Remaining silent came first and foremost, with extra emphasis.

Ashton kept his gun pointed at Roland's chest as he moved closer, carefully, towards the con man.

Ashton was reading the suspect his rights, and Quin focused on the man by the Taurus for a moment before shaking her head. Whether she shook it because of what she could feel, or because of her partner’s propensity to monologue, she wasn’t sure…but she’d found out what she needed to know. Something rang true in the blonde’s words though, and this whole situation just seemed wrong. Everything had been far too easy.

”If he had a gun, he doesn’t have it on him now.” Quin said, taking the hostage’s knowledge of the man into account as Drake started moving forward. She knew what gun parts felt like, and how they sang. Everything felt hyper sensitive though, the polymers she could feel felt like they were almost shouting instead of crooning. Yeah, she’d have been able to tell if the guy had a gun. Quin didn’t move her gun though, it was protocol, and it never hurt to be careful. Until the suspect was cuffed and collared, he’d have a gun on him.

”Miss, stay where you are.” she said, not even looking at the blond out of the corner of her eye, ”We’ll get a statement from you as soon as we’ve got this gentleman secured. Unless there’s something we should know about his mutation.”

Sweet Sveta. Always believing she had the upper hand. Even when they had spent their time together, her smugness never wavered. Roland looked past the two officers and kept his eyes on her while complying as necessary. <<Russian>> "Do you have your papers in order, Sveta?[/i]" He winked at her as he could feel the espresso quality of her power in near effect. She had moved her hand, so she might be boosting one of the two. Did that make them mutants?

" If either of you are feeling stronger or more focused, it would be because our little hostage is boosting your abilities. Which, by logical succession says one or both of you are mutants. Shame if so, selling out your own kind." His blue eyes traveled over the talker and then to the young Robin Redbreast. " It might serve you to know that her boosting powers have caused cancer in some. Also, that she is an illegal here. At least I know that I am wanted internationally. Might give her face a run through the computers, too."

Even if he lied, if he caused the young Robin a night without sleep, it would be worth it. He sincerely hoped that he might find Sveta on a plane with him crossing the big pond. That would be funny. " As far as my mutation, she's never seen it. Neither will you. By the way, since you are moving on with my Miranda rights, I do wish to speak. I also request, again, that you identify yourselves by name." He wanted to remember those names. Maybe his new friends in prison wanted to know them as well.

>>”Miss, stay where you are. We’ll get a statement from you as soon as we’ve got this gentleman secured. Unless there’s something we should know about his mutation.”

Sveta bit her lips as the woman stepped away from her. She did not really know anything about Roland's mutation. He was careful. Too careful.

"Just... be careful" she sighed, staying back, for her own safety. She did not like the way the guy was looking at her.

>> "Do you have your papers in order, Sveta?"

He spoke Russian. Sveta frowned, and did not answer.

>>" If either of you are feeling stronger or more focused, it would be because our little hostage is boosting your abilities. Which, by logical succession says one or both of you are mutants. Shame if so, selling out your own kind. It might serve you to know that her boosting powers have caused cancer in some. Also, that she is an illegal here. At least I know that I am wanted internationally. Might give her face a run through the computers, too."

"Dat's a lie" she sneered, eyes flashing "It does not cause cancer." well, it killed a few hundred people... but a lot quicker than that. "And I am legal. I am an international student here." plus being babysat by two different group of mutants, simultaneously. "You are de criminal, not me."

Folding her arms, Sveta stayed back. He was pissing her off. Maybe that was his plan. It was working, anyway, and she did not want to give him the satisfaction with helping his plan along, whatever it was. She was still not sure the two cops would be enough... so, she waited.

Ugh. He spoke Russian. He must have been taunting the woman he'd kidnapped. Svetlana, her name was. Yeah. That sounded Russian. This guy seemed like the overconfident kind of bastard that would pull something like that. Also, the kind of slimy tool to lie to their faces every chance he got.

Ashton didn't want to give his name to someone like him.

He wasn't going to flash his badge. Someone had already stolen that from him, once.

He wasn't going to pay much attention to this man's lies.

He wasn't going to enjoy dealing with him for any duration of time.

The detective finished what he was saying, popping the trunk as he went. He grabbed the collar, then slammed the trunk.

This was the part where Archer covered him. He couldn't hold a gun on the man while cuffing and collaring him. Ashton brooded over the whole situation, face sunk in a glower that threatened to stay permanent.

"I'm Detective Drake," he stated. "Now, please. Get on your knees, hands behind your head." Be a good little doggy.

He held the collar up so the kidnapper could see.

Finally, things were moving along at a nice pace. Ashton was moving forward to cuff and collar the guy and the girl…who was Russian apparently was following all their direction to the letter. The bad guy, Pruitt, had a lot to say all of a sudden, not all of it in English, and for some reason that pissed Quin off. She scowled a bit more heavily in the man’s general direction, then actually allowed herself to laugh when he tried to say that Sveta’s powers could cause cancer. Ridiculous. The nature of her powers helped explain the buzz though. Quin had to admit, her interest was piqued.

All the rest…lies. It was kind of funny…the perp apparently thought that they’d simply stumbled upon this ship and ran in with no prior knowledge of what they were getting into. Yeah right. That’s how amateurs and vigilantes did things. They’d gone into this knowing as much as was humanly possible. That’s why they were being so careful, and why they were using one of those normally reprehensible collaring devices. No chances.

Their names were another problem all together, and Quin watched Ashton, ready to follow his lead. On one hand, giving this guy anything seemed like too much. On the other, they were in plain clothes and this was kind of how things worked.

Ashton gave his name, and more instructions, and Quin nodded. ”Officer Archer.”

“Pleasure to meet you like this.”