Dirty basements, dirty noise, Dirty places coming through

[out_of_time]

WHO: Jack Bauer and OPEN
WHERE: Superjail
WHEN: From Saturday evening through the week.
WARNINGS: Probably none.
SUMMARY: Jack Bauer has been arrested. Come visit him.
FORMAT: Paragraph.

The 'Superjail' had been opened specifically to hold prisoners too dangerous or resourceful for containment in ordinary facilities. Its past residents had included alien symbiotes, superhuman sociopaths, vampires. Jack Bauer's abilities hardly put him in the same category, but he was an Import and he was extremely dangerous in his own way. So once he was arrested by Nicholas Angel, the former police Captain and current shame of the force was incarcerated in the police's own facility under heavy guard, pending trial.

Jack had a lot of time alone with his thoughts. Those thoughts were mainly sad, weary, and frustrated. It was fitting in a way: his cell was only a few floors up from the lobby where he and Seras had confronted a Skrull imposter. That encounter had ended in the deaths of two officers sent by Jack's orders into a situation they couldn't handle. Like everything else he'd done, he stood by that decision. Like everything else he'd done, it still weighed on him. Here, the memories of his sins and failures were kept close to him in more ways than one.

The thought of escape hadn't been seriously considered yet. The jail didn't have the greatest track record, but it was still a world-class facility, more than adequate for holding a powerless and downcast former federal agent. Jack knew that if he was going to leave, it would have to be through outside help, and that step would have consequences he wasn't ready to invoke yet. He chafed at the inactivity of his cell, aching with the knowledge of everything he had left unfinished out there, threats looming on the horizon: Vulcanus, Skrull infiltration of the government, killers at large, attacks being planned. He was unable to do anything in here, and that was something he couldn't take even though he knew the City had many defenders- in many ways better defenders- still working outside.

Another reason escape wasn't an option was because on some level Jack knew he belonged here, that this was what he had earned. He had broken his word, set himself above ordinary accountability, hurt a hell of a lot of people. He had changed so far and so fast, since he was Ported in retired and unwilling to return to a life of secrets and bloodshed. The happy life he'd left behind was a thing of the past by now, abandoned bit by bit in the name of necessity. Worst of all for him, more often than not his measures had failed to stem the danger and death the City was so often afflicted by. These were the things Jack brooded over alone in his cell, a busted ex-cop awaiting trial.

Comments

Saturday

[maggotbone]

Callie felt, well, uneasy. She arranged to visit Jack at his cell... and unfortunately, with how things escalated she began to feel that there would not be much she can do for him. Not now anyway.

"Jack." She called out to him, making way to his cell. Security was down the hall, watching to make sure Callie wasn't going to try anything. "I came as soon as I heard..."

[out_of_time]

Jack looked tired and worn, but still got to his feet for Callie. The arrest by Nick had... not been without incident.

"Hi Callie," he said. "Good to see you." He meant it, circumstances notwithstanding.

[maggotbone]

"Well I'm going to avoid asking the obvious questions." Such as how he was doing. Duh. He's in a cell. He's doing just peachy. "I'm just going to say... you had to have seen this coming." She smirked slightly. "Got to appreciate you not going down without a fight." He really was a dying breed.

[out_of_time]

"I guess I did," he said softly. "I knew it couldn't last forever. But this..." he shook his head. "I resisted arrest because there's still too much to do. Things I can't do from in here."

He paused. "I think I owe you that apology. As far as I know, Harvey's done nothing but his job." Dirty tricks and corrupt behaviour hadn't been necessary to bring Jack down. In the end, he was condemned by the simple truth.

Saturday, after Callie's visit.

[newbvampire]

After scouring the station for Dent, Seras grabbed a patrol car and sped all the way to the Superjail. The guards almost didn't let her in when she arrived, especially after she threatened to tear the gate down if they didn't. Finally though she was admitted, under heavy guard, and taken to Jack's cell. Stepping up she reached out and clenched the bars only to have one of the guards step up. "Ma'am you can't do that."

Glaring, she bared her fangs at them and took a step toward them. "Sod off! All four of you, right now! I'm not going to do anything."

Intimidated the guards backed away and she turned to look into Jack's cell. "Sir?"

[out_of_time]

"Hi Seras." This part here, this was one of the parts that hurt the most. He approached the bars.

"You don't have to call me 'sir' anymore, you know," Jack said. "I've been stripped of my rank."

[newbvampire]

"Maybe I like to and anyone who says you don't deserve it can go to hell." Right after she threw them through a wall. "They haven't been in firefights with me."

monday.

[goryteller]

[Katurian is buzzed in wearing a well-pressed suit. A tie.

He is nervous inside of prisons for numerous reasons, but he needs to do this. He needs to see Jack.]

[out_of_time]

"Katurian?"

[Jack is surprised. He wasn't expecting him. His allies, like Seras. His enemies, here to gloat. Katurian is an unknown quantity, one of the people Jack was supposed to protect. He remembers him in Greenland, remembers telling him about the murderer with his powers. He stands up when the author approaches his cell.]

[goryteller]

I saw the news.

[His hands are shaking. He interlaces his fingers in an attempt to hide it. He presses the skin into his body.]

Which is-- remarkable, really. Usually I don't watch the news, but this time I did.

sunday afternoon

[symmachy]

[Scathach had wanted to go to the jail as soon as she had heard the news that he'd been taken to custody. But she knew that it would be too obvious. She had helped him hide, after all; she was just as guilty as they thought he was. Of course, she knew that the force couldn't actually take her, but she wasn't going to risk Cassie's safety like that.

Not this time.

It was easy enough to gain access, to appear unassuming. She didn't frequent the jail the way she had the station, so she was nearly unrecognized. Covering her noticeable red hair with a white beanie had been a good touch, though. She was led to his cell, hands in her pockets. She felt naked without any weapons, but there was on way they would let her inside with any. Once the guard had left, she just stared at him for a moment. Her voice was soft, apologetic.]

Jack.

[I'm sorry I couldn't help.]

[out_of_time]

Scathach.

[For a moment, he didn't know what to say for once. Her stare was a uniquely powerful one, especially in these circumstances.]

It's okay. Really. I'm fine. I've been through this before.

[symmachy]

[She takes a deep, unnecessary breath. Caught the scent of everyone in the jail. It irked her deeply that it would be so easy for her to tear the bars of his cell apart, to pick him up and run.

But that was not the way this world worked. One did not simply break a friend out of jail nowadays, no matter how badly one wanted to.]

It's wrong.

Sunday sometime

[trueltning_fury]

Geddoe hid his discomfort well. It had been a very long time since someone he actually respected had landed in a jail, and this time, the mercenary captain was sure he would not be able or allowed to break the prisoner out. But he could check up on the man.

He came unarmed as a precaution, so they wouldn't need to confiscate his blade, but he didn't take well to the insistent order that he keep his gloves off to show he wasn't hiding anything. And so he appeared before Jack, gloves tucked in his belt and a disgruntled scowl on his face. "...looks like that drink will have to wait."

[out_of_time]

"Yeah." Jack nodded and grimaced a little. "I wouldn't hold your breath. It'll probably be a while."

He met Geddoe's eyes. "I'm glad you're here."

[trueltning_fury]

Geddoe leaned an arm on the partition dividing them and sighed. "It's a lot different from the Harmonian prisons I'm used to seeing. You can still communicate with the outside world, at least."

Forward dated to Tuesday

[doubleoohbaby]

James holds off on the visit for a few days, giving both himself and Jack some much needed time to stew. They were similar, the two of them, in plenty of ways, but Bond has cut down on his vigilante work a lot since he's been here. Yes, he still did the odd job here and there, favours and the like, but this wasn't like back home. He didn't have his licence to kill, his multiple passports, unlimited bank account and full (or usually) support from one of the most powerful women in the UK. Here he was nothing more than a piece of amusement to fans and a bodyguard to a Mayor.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

It's a phrase that echoes in his head as he pays Jack a visit, sparing a look around the prison as he's escorted, hands in pockets.

"Jack."

He doesn't know what more to say.

[out_of_time]

"Hi, James." He's not 'Bond' anymore. He's earned that, royal pain in the ass notwithstanding. Jack wonders how he does it: being who he is while keeping his position at the Mayor's side.

Maybe he's better at walking the line than Jack, or at least hiding it. Maybe Bond knows how to handle the gray in ways he has failed to.

[doubleoohbaby]

In the past, his trick was always to stay out of the public eye, keep his secrets well hidden and not tempt people to dig too deep. But that all seems to have gone to shit since his work in City Hall. He's too public now and he hates it, but animosity is difficult on the network.

"It's not a good look for you, being caged."

SUNDAY, late afternoon

[scarabsuited]

What a friggin' mess.

But then, wasn't that the status quo for...everything about the City, imported or otherwise? Jaime couldn't even muster up the energy to be wholly shocked. Just sad. Disappointed, even, in his own way. Despite everything, he still had that childish notion of good guys and bad guys, despite the grays. One side would always outbalance the other, right?

Right?

He liked Jack. He was still a bit intimidated by the guy, but they'd worked together enough for Jaime to trust his judgment, his ability to carry his own and know the next steps to take. To lead. For all the gadgets and power Jaime had, he wasn't the wisest superhero in town; it always helped to have the experience of another point him in the right direction.

For an uneasy moment throughout the revelations of days past, Jaime wondered if that was even happening.

But no, he was sure. Kind of sure. Maybe sure. Hopefully sure? Hoping Jack was more good than bad, even if he wasn't fitting into that pre-made mold of a wishful thinker's idea of heroes and villains. He had to be! Otherwise...what did that say about Jaime's own screw-ups? Different and his alone, obviously, but he still couldn't help but compare.

He wasn't much of a frequent visitor to the place, for sure. Actually, come to think of it...he hadn't set foot in there since he'd managed to help Dazzler contain Mortis. Ages ago, it felt like, and all the more reason to be unfamiliar with the place.

He went as the hero, getting the feeling that random college dude would've been told to just get lost. He had a fairly decent rep in the City, Skrull impostors and early incidents aside (and thankfully, nobody had brought up Texas in a while...), which worked to his advantage, but he still consented to the guard escort. Nobody wanted to take the chance that someone with so much tech would stir something up. He convinced the Scarab to let them put a small, wireless data tracker on and gauge its current output, assuring the staff that if they saw any influx, they could kick him out. I'm not here to cause a problem.

Just visit a guy I know.

"Hey, Jack," he said, nodding to the guard who held the door open for him. "It's kind of been a while, huh?"

And now you're a lot easier to find, with all this new free time.

[out_of_time]

"A while, yeah." Jack stood, and nodded to the Blue Beetle. His face didn't show it, but he knew this was going to be hard. Blue Beetle was one of the best of the vigilantes, someone who had managed to operate outside of the law for years without compromising his idealism or his effectiveness. He'd managed to do what Jack had dramatically failed to. Jack couldn't shake the feeling that he'd let the hero down.

"How've you been?" Small talk, avoid the issue for the moment. Get information.

[scarabsuited]

"Busy," he replied, coming to a halt a step and a half away from the cell. Say what you wanted about the escape rate of Superjail, but it sure wasn't the penitentiary his father's shooter was spending the rest of his life in. Neither was particularly cozy, but...

He let the pause sink in for just a moment out of need. It was hard to come up with things to say to simple questions like how are you? He could easily default to pointless answers as conversation permitted, of course, but it always gave him pause.

"Mostly school," he explained, shrugging. "Some small-time jerks causing problems here and there, but nobody's tried ruining everyone's lives again lately. As far as I know, anyhow." His last remark came out with a sigh as he folded his arms.

"Just the kind-of usual set of new arrivals, some more spooky or weird than others." And who knows what new problems could come from that...

Monday morning

[imwotchingyou]

Tonks approaches the jail cell door. The expression on her face is mostly neutral. The only exception is a slight frown that tugs at the corners of her lips. She doesn't like this. It's not right.

"Wotcher Jack."

She could break him out. She has her wand on her. It wouldn't be completely easy but neither would it be difficult. It would just be a fight. Tonks could do it.

"How have they been treating you?"

[out_of_time]

"Not bad," he says, trying to look upbeat for her. "These people know me. They're just doing their jobs." How many hours had he spent on Superjail security? He remembered working with the Red Queen while she was in the City, and then with her replacements when she left. He remembered setting up the Skrull ambush here, and debriefing the staff after it both succeeded and failed.

"I'm okay," he said. It wasn't quite a lie.

[imwotchingyou]

They're just doing there job. How many times had Tonks heard that excuse. She frowns. "If you say so..."

She shakes her head and then sighs. "Is there anything I can do for you, Jack?"