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melo_annechen) wrote2006-12-09 09:40 am
Three of Five, Ch. 46
Chapter Forty-six
“Sir, Lieutenant, Dr. Pescados-Diablo is following you.” Arsène reported from across the lobby.
“Got it - you and Sela make for the stairwell, but don’t use full speed until you are out of sight of the security cameras. The SEP takes too much power to be used for a situation like this.” Charlotte murmured. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Pescados-Diablo crossing the lobby to catch up. “She’s coming up fast at your eight.”
“Fine - we have an elevator at your right, Charlotte. Take it now.” Madblood said, grinning as he spun Charlotte around into the empty elevator, and hit the door close button. Just as Ines was reaching the closing doors, Madblood pulled Charlotte to him. After the doors had shut and the elevator began to ascend, he asked, “Do you think it will work this time?”
“No idea - she is thick as a whale omelet, isn’t she?” Charlotte said as she regained her balance.
“Rather; I just hope she hasn’t found the suite yet.” Madblood grumbled as they exited the elevator on their floor. Halfway to the room, the elevator chimed behind them. “You don’t think-?”
“Don’t think - run!” Charlotte grabbed his arm and dashed for the first door in the suite, which just happened to be the door to her room. Fumbling with the card key, she glanced down the hall to see Dr Pescados-Diablo exiting the elevator. Charlotte pasted a grin on her face and murmured, “Get ready for act two.” She grabbed Madblood by the tie and dragged him into her room. As soon as they cleared the threshold, she slammed the door and engaged the locks.
Sela reported over the link, “She’s still coming to the door. I’m afraid she looks rather determined.”
“Crap,” Charlotte muttered, “she really is clueless.” She kicked off her shoes and shucked out of her jacket.
“What?” Madblood hissed.
“That woman is going to have to have her nose rubbed in it,” Charlotte whispered while she pulled down her hair and unbuttoned the top three buttons of her blouse.
Madblood was surprised to notice she still wore the panic button necklace he had made for her when 1902 first came back to the lab when the knocking on the door began. “Wait, does your lipstick smudge?” he whispered.
“I’m not -” Charlotte began, when Madblood seized her head and kissed her. Wearing lipstick, she thought and then began to assist, when there was another knock at the door. “Vloek het!” she muttered as she disengaged from Madblood’s grasp, and then unlocked the door with one hand while she partially untucked her blouse. When she opened the door, she growled, “¿Qué el infierno desea?”
Dr Pescados-Diablo was momentarily taken aback by Charlotte‘s appearance and address, but remained level. “I will speak with Lupin, now.”
“¡Vaya al carajo, jodienda puta!” Charlotte hissed.
“I will not be insulted by an ASSISTANT. I will have your job for this!”
Madblood stepped up behind Charlotte, having shed shoes, jacket and tie - “Didn’t understand a word of it, but I am in complete agreement with the tone. Get lost, Ines.” and he grabbed Charlotte by the waist as he kicked the door shut. The momentum carried them to the floor, Charlotte twisting to make sure she did not land on the professor. Instead, the professor landed on her. They lay there, panting a moment. Charlotte, having lost her glasses when she hit the floor, squinted to make sure the door had actually closed before rolling enough to get the professor’s hand out from under her, and examining it.
He took that opportunity to ask, “Are you all right?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing. Can you move your fingers?” Charlotte checked the flexion of the digits.
“Yes, you didn’t hit your head, did you?” He reached to check the back of her head.
“No I’m fine.” Charlotte said, and then she realized Madblood was still sprawled astride her, his face a hand-span from hers. “Oh.”
“Lieutenant, she has attached a device to the outside of the security peephole,” Sela’s voice came over the earwigs. “How likely is it she will be able to view the interior?”
“Fairly likely,” Charlotte had an Idea where this was going, and she, luckily, had not let go of the professor’s hand. She laced her fingers in his as she murmured, “She’s possibly got a pretty good view.”
“Affirmative - security has been called, but I have no idea what their response time will be,” Sela reported. “We will continue to the roof to get out of the line of the cameras, and track the security response.”
Prime, what a conflict - do I want security to hurry or take their time? Charlotte used her free hand to run her fingers through the professor’s hair, taking her time with it, and trying to make it look as if she were teasing him. “I don’t know what her line of vision is, sir” she murmured, “Do you want to risk ditching the ruse, or should we continue?” Crap, as worried as I am about this, that still came out sounding like a come-on. Charlotte’s blush became more intense. Probably just my subconscious trying to get what it wants, which would be wrong…
The professor leaned over her and pinned her hand to the floor. He lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, “It seems to be working on everyone but her. On the other hand,” he said, capturing her other hand and pinning it to the floor as well, “If we can keep her attention on us long enough, we may be able to get her ejected from the hotel. This one is your call, Charlotte.”
No, Br’er Madblood, don’t throw me in that briar patch. “If we can get her away from you, it’s worth the - effort,” she breathed into his ear. He answered by action, leaning in to trace her carotid artery with his mouth to her clavicle. At this rate, he’s going to have me toss the ‘act’ out the window and… Ohm, where did he learn that? “Mmm, ahh, ohh.”
The professor chuckled into the hollow of her throat as he slid his hands down her arms. “Good to see I’m able to follow the instructions accurately.” He murmured as he worked his way up the other side of her throat. “Let me know if I should stop.”
Not bloody likely - I don’t think I’ll have another chance like this. “Ah, no - um, I think I can keep up.” She lowered her hands to his shoulders then slid one up into his hair. “I have to say, this is turning out to be a rather interesting internship.” She chuckled as she turned her face to his.
Lupin paused, and stroked a stray lock of hair away from Charlotte’s face. “I didn’t exactly put this in the job description for your contract.”
Charlotte giggled, and said, “Want to bet? I’ve navigated university grant proposals - let’s see…” She nuzzled the professor’s jaw at his goatee. “Hm - ah, yes -Section III, Paragraph B, subsection 4,” She worked her way along his jaw, "states 'Said intern will assist in efforts to protect the laboratory from hostile takeover attempts.' I think keeping the head of the lab from becoming the zombie slave of another laboratory head against his will would fall under that heading,” she breathed against his ear.
“You navigate very well, Dr. Bowman.” Lupin growled, causing Charlotte to shiver. “One might wonder if there was a political analyst in your background.”
“Ooh, now you decide to talk dirty to me?” Charlotte giggled, as she removed his glasses. “I can think of better things you can do with -” Lupin cut off the rest of her taunt by kissing her. I don’t care if is an act. She stopped thinking about the best line of sight for the voyeur on the other side of the door, and focused on the man on this side of the door. The ethical sprite of her psyche had finally been securely bound and gagged by her id, which was now alternately cheering and shouting instructions.
When his hand gripped her hair at the back of her head, she really could not help the moan, or the Schikhatt shoulder-to-hip roll. His response to that action was particularly satisfying. Oh, that is going to leave marks, Charlotte thought, and she did not care. With their legs entwined, she found that once she pulled his socks off with her toes, he had some very sensitive spots on his feet. She would need to replace her blouse later, but considering the action that ruined it, she had no problems with that. There was much to be said for the dexterity typing countless lines of code had given his fingers, and Charlotte had absolutely no complaints concerning his mouse skills. The slime mold at the back of her mind knew she was going to have to send Jeannie and Phils a non-specific thank you note - ooh, later. She hoped Lupin would forgive the scratches her nails had left on his lower back, because she really had not expected him to be able to do that with his tongue, and she wondered if she could ever convince him to do it again.
She could dimly hear Sela, but ignored her, because if she was going to whisper, Charlotte would not eavesdrop. It wouldn‘t be polite, and she had other things to attend to at the moment. It was harder to ignore the bucket of ice water.
“As I was saying, security took Dr. Pescados-Diablo away twelve minutes ago, and the professor’s panel begins in half an hour. Charlotte has also received a request for a meeting with the henchlaborers’ union rep to occur in the next hour.” Sela said as she tucked the ice bucket under her elbow and Arsène tossed some of towels to the couple on the floor.
Charlotte lay shivering from the shock of the interruption and the cold water, still under the professor, who had, admittedly, received the brunt of the deluge. She closed her eyes and tried to regain a normal breathing pattern. The professor accepted the towel, with a subdued “quite right, Sela. Thank you for reminding me.” He awkwardly rolled off Charlotte into a pool of the frigid water, collected his glasses and walked out of the room, accompanied by Arsène.
Charlotte lay very still, not opening her eyes, hoping Sela would leave as well. It was embarrassing enough to have lost control like that, but she really did not want to discuss it. The fact that he could put her in that state while she was still - mostly - dressed made it even worse.
“I hope you aren’t planning to meet the union rep like that.”
Drat, she wasn’t leaving. “Why not - I wouldn’t have to worry about making intelligent conversation, which I sincerely doubt I could manage for the rest of the day.” Charlotte’s voice was uneven and she still had not moved.
Sela asked, “That good, is he?”
Charlotte curled into fetal position, whimpering.
“That good…” Sela said as she gathered a change of clothing for Charlotte from the closet.
>>>>
I sincerely hope I don’t have to make coherent comments in the next half hour, Madblood thought as he toweled his hair, crossing the suite to his room. If I had any idea she would throw herself into the role with such… I am a dead man. He tossed the towel in the direction of the bathroom and was about to head out the door when Arsène stopped him with a cough.
“Sir, while casual dress seems to be the norm for this symposium, there is such a thing as too casual.”
“What? Oh yes, a jacket…”
“I was thinking shoes and a dry shirt would be the place to start.”
>>>>
“Charlotte, you need to get up now. You’ll feel better after a shower.” Sela had delayed as long as possible.
Charlotte shook her head, “I’m okay - it was just…”
“Yes?” Sela inquired.
“I’ll be fine.” Charlotte got up off the floor. “I have to be, at least until we get the professor back to the lab.”
Sela unexpectedly hugged her. “It’ll work out, you’ll see.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow at Sela and asked, “Have you been downloading shoujo anime again?”
“Better that than hentai - come on, we can catch some of the panel if you hurry.”
Charlotte was able to gather herself quickly enough to get to the professor’s panel before it started, and she waited with Arsène in the back of the hall. Even with the volatile personalities involved in the panel, the place was packed, even the front rows. She noticed Sela whispering something to Madblood in the ear without the earwig before stepping to the side of the stage. He searched the crowd, and apparently found them just before the panel was called to order.
Charlotte smiled and nodded to the professor, trying to not show she was annoyed - she would not be able to stay for the full panel. A major disappointment, as the topic for discussion was legal identities for creations and where to draw the line. “Arsène, can you link this to the Mark I net?”
“No need,” he pointed out the security guards at the corners of the room. The lead guard, who wore a familiar face, noticed her watching and nodded to her.
“That’s not anyone I’ve met, who is it?”
Arsène was scanning the ballroom, “That is 9063; I’m surprised you haven’t met him. He is the primary designated protector for your older brother.”
“Oh, crud - you mean One is here?” Charlotte whispered, and was suddenly very happy to have a reason to leave the panel.
“Eighth row, middle section, first chair; I think he’s here as the Creatures for Ethical Production and Handling of Animals, Laboratory Organics and Programmed/Operational Digital Sentients representative.” Arsène nodded in the appropriate direction. “You did not tell him you would be attending?”
“Of course not, he’s still in close contact with Mom and Dad. I managed to avoid telling him where I work by simply not being around.” Charlotte edged behind a column near the door. “With his duties, it was easy to make it look as if it was his schedule that caused problems in connecting this past year.”
Arsène asked quietly, “Does he know where you work?”
She shook her head, replying, “The fact that I had started a new job was a plus; because he knows how many of my past jobs have had non-disclosure agreements, he wouldn’t expect me to talk about the work.” Charlotte checked her watch. “I’m supposed to meet the union rep in fifteen minutes. Would you please ask the net for a copy of the full panel proceedings for me?”
“Of course, not a problem,” Arsène said. “Would you like it with or without commentary?”
“Erm, it would be selfish of me to ask for both, and I would not be able to review the full debate on the net before I die… Choose a couple of reviewers for me, please?”
“Done and done… and there is a call for you through the net. We should take it in the hall.” Arsène gestured to the door as the first introductions began.
The concourse was deserted, save for the hotel staff removing the coffee urns. Charlotte took out her cell phone in preparation for the call, connecting as soon as it signaled. “Yes?”
A Mark I voice simulation came over the line. “Doctor, this is 10221. This is a warning - 753 is in the area. We will do what we can to protect you, but be prepared to defend yourself.”
Charlotte shivered and asked, “What about the professor?”
“Yes, he is the primary target, but they may be willing to take you out in collateral damage as well.”
“Please, do what you can to protect him.”
10221 answered in an irritated tone, “Oh, very well, if you insist.”
“I don’t insist, but it would make me upset if I failed to return him to his lab whole and in good health,” Charlotte responded.
“He’s better than I thought,” Arsène chuckled.
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*tips hat*
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*more applause*
That was wonderful!
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Oh my...
I even caught the cephalopods thingy. :)
Re: Oh my...
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