It was later than JACE had intended to return in the morning, but his late night meeting with Ophilia had forced him to sleep longer than was usual.  It shouldn't be a significant problem, however.  None of the experiments currently running were particularily time sensitive.  In addition, it was unlikely anyone else would be in today, unless they were forced to be.  As he moved down the hallway towards the laboratory, he continued his mental list of what experiments he needed to remove and how to do so safely.  The viral manipulation experiment was, by far, the most sensitive and dangerous.  He prefered it here.  If something went wrong he would much rather destroy the cathedral than his home.  After his discussion with Angelo last night, however, he had decided to make a much sharper seperation between Conquistador experiments and personal experiments.  Even when they were intended to augment his power suit, it was much safer to keep them as far as possible from the DiSantiagos.

As he approached the door of his laboratory, it opened automatically for him.  He had just laid his briefcase on the table and turned to examine some data when he realized another person was in the lab.  Adrenaline surged and he spun, wondering who could have bypassed the security systems.  With his suit in the briefcase, he was vulnerable.  His hands were on the latches when he realized the intruder was Javier DiSantiago.

The older man just stared.  "Calm down, doc," he said humorlessly, "It's just me."

Jonathan released the case immediately, upset that he had been caught off guard.  "Of course, Mr. DiSantiago.  Forgive my reaction, but I wasn't expecting anyone here."

"We need to talk."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow.  He wasn't aware of any topics the two of them needed to discuss.  More to the point, he had had two discussions with members of the DiSantiago family in the last 24 hours, and neither of them had gone well.  He was more in the mood to work in his laboratory and perhaps investigate the strange music from the party further.  Still, the man was here and not likely to leave without the conversation, so Jonathan needed to get it over with.

"As you wish, Mr. DiSantiago.  What can I do for you?"

Javier grunted -- a sound of amusement perhaps.  "Actually, doc.  I came here thinking maybe there was something we could do for each other.  I know you already talked to Angelo, but I hear that didn't go so hot."

"That would be a fairly accurate description of the conversation.  After being distressingly vague, he indicated he did not trust me and would not trust me.  That made any business relationship between us impossible.  I informed him of that as succinctly as possible, although it did not appear he accepted my viewpoint."

"What can I say?" he continued, his voice like gravel.  Like Latin-Philadelphia gravel.  "My brother, he can be a real prick sometimes.  So I was thinking I could make the offer instead.  You do for us, we do for you, it's a mutual thing.  A win-win.  And we can leave my brother out of it.  If you want."

Jonathan was intrigued.  Obviously there was great gain for them in whatever the two DiSantiago brothers wanted him to do.  Thus the possibility was tempting.  On the other hand, these were the DiSantiagos.  As he had experienced, they were accustomed to getting their way.  Any business deal with them would be a very tricky relationship.  Jonathan refused to be owned by any one.  He suspected that would be a problem in the long term, if not the short.  Still, only an open mind could take advantage of opportunities.  "I am willing to listen, Mr. DiSantiago.  What exactly are you looking for?"

The older man grunted and glanced over the room casually taking in the various desktops, experiments, and gadgets.  "I'm not sure yet," he admitted, cryptically, "But I'll know it when I see it." 

He returned his focus to JACE and explained with a casual shrug.  "All I need you to do is keep me informed of the team's form and function on a regular basis.  Nemesis, in particular."  He said this as if it was trivial.  "We can start with the first meeting last week.  How did it go?"

JACE smiled a calm, quiet smile.  "I believe you are getting ahead of yourself, Mr. DiSantiago.  You have informed me of your needs, but have neglected to inform me of what I might receive from this partnership."  He spread his hands slightly,  "In a more direct way, what is in it for me?"

Javier chuckled again.  It was a creepy and unsettling sound.  He continued his visual tour of the lab.  "You're right, doc.  I didn't," he said at last.  "And I'm sitting here thinking to myself what else could you possibly need?  What can we give you that you don't already have?"  His smile was wicked.  "Let me ask you a question..."

JACE merely nodded, not ready to commit to more than listening at this time.

"You know, sooner or later this team is going to go out into the field.  Sooner or later, they're going to have to put their skills and powers to the test against hardened opponents in life-and-death situations.  Do you think they'll be ready for that?  What about the public?  And the media?  Do you think the city is ready for them?"  Javier crossed powerful arms over his broad chest.

JACE picked his words carefully.  Despite his reservations about the team, he couldn't afford to convince any DiSantiago that the team wasn't viable.  If they decided to eliminate the team now, JACE stood to lose too much.  Of course he also didn't want to get caught in a lie. 

"Ready now?  No.  I think a mission at this time would be a disaster.  However I think Ophilia made a very good choice in Soldier Boy as a trainer.  Although it is obviously well outside of his normal area of expertise, he has the capability to mold the team into something that will work.  There will be some attrition.  Some of the team members will not be able to make the necessary changes to adapt and will have to be removed from the team, either voluntarily or involuntarily.  But the team will work in the end."

"It will," Javier agreed firmly.  "The team will work in the end.  But it wont be the same team it was in the beginning.  It wont be the same team it is now."  He leveled JACE with a hard look and his tone took on an edge.  "I'm no fool, doc.  This isn't just the passing fancy of a spoiled little girl.  It's not just a PR stunt.  It's an investment.  I am a business man."  The fingers of his right hand pressed against the counter top next to him as he spoke, emphasizing his points.

The conversation was discernibly different than the one he had with the Angelo.  Javier spoke plainly, avoiding the riddles and the plastered smiles.  He never paused, never second guessed.  He was in complete control of his emotions.  Much of it was in his speech, but the rest was in his eyes.

"Don't make the mistake of thinking that she holds all the cards, doc.  This team will not go forward without my brother and me.  And when it does, it will be capable.  It will be functional.  And it will be successful.  You will not see that happen with this roster."

"Now," he said at last, his expression turning bemused.  "You just want some field time?  I can make that happen.  You want time to yourself?  Time for experiments?  Lab work?  It's done.  But, if you want something more... You want a more active roll?  Something more substantial?  Leadership maybe?" he shrugged.  "You and me, we need to work together."

Interested, JACE considered the man's offer from all sides. It was obvious that Javier was intelligent enough to understand the value of JACE's opinion. However JACE was also aware of the danger of allowing Javier any kind of influence over him. He had lived his life without becoming indebted to anyone else, that wasn't something he was willing to change now. This would need to be handled very carefully if he went forward with it. "I must admit, Mr. DiSantiago, I'm interested, but I have a few remaining concerns. First, how much of this conversation is meant for other ears?" JACE asked calmly. "Will Ms. DiSantiago and Soldier Boy be aware of any agreements we might reach? Second, will this be a purely verbal agreement? Surely as a business man you recognize the hazards inherent in such a contract."

The older man laughed outright.  "You're a careful man, doc, so I wont take that as an insult to my intelligence."  He was still smiling, though this fact reflected nothing of his demeanor.  Again, it was his eyes.  They were careful and calculating always, but at least not vengeful.  Not yet.  "No," he responded finally.  "This is between you and me.  I'm sure you can appreciate that.  And if it's pen and paper, you need, I can have something drawn up.  Or, rather--" he said with a gruff snort, "My brother will."

JACE sighed, "You can appreciate my reluctance to enter into a secret and unspecified agreement with anyone, I hope.  Especially given the mentalists available on the team, I can not believe the agreement would remain secret for long.  I have no desire to jeopardize my position as a team member.  While I am not what anyone would consider a team player, my presence on this team has multiple dividends which I do not wish to endanger."  He smiled at Javier, hiding his nervousness behind cynical humor.  "Traitor is not a label that reads well in the newspapers."

Javier raised one hand, smiling as well.  "My brother told me to remind you that you're neutral.  You aren't a traitor to them any more than a child to unfit parents.  What we're doing is for the betterment of the team and of the city.  You are aware of incompetence and are taking appropriate measures.  Guilty of nothing worse than modest ambition and heroic idealism.  Lucky for us all, you are a man in complete control of your thoughts and emotions."  He took a breath and allowed another small, cynical smile.  JACE could almost hear Angelo's own voice through his words.

A cold smile crossed JACE's face.  "Mr. DiSantiago, credit me with more intelligence than that.  Whatever spin you may choose to put on it, if the rest of the Conquistadors found out I was reporting on their activities to you without their knowledge, they would only see it one way.  Whether you agreed or not, I would be a traitor.  In particular I suspect Ms. DiSantiago would take it as a direct insult.  As she has significant influence on the team and with the other members, that fact would damage my relationship with everyone on the team.  Without some more concrete benefits that what you have offered, I can not consider this a mutually beneficial relationship at this time."

"Concrete benefits," the older man repeated, looking away.  The smile was still there, but it was different.  Javier was not Angelo, this fact had been obvious since they'd met.  But he was no less dangerous.  "Mutually beneficial."

There was a tense pause that lingered between them before Javier finally turned to look at JACE again.  His face was thin and tight and his eyes hard.  "Think it over, doc," he said at last.  "Maybe you'll find your... benefits yet."  The DiSantiago stood away from the counter where he had been leaning heavily.  Silently he picked up his coat and hat and then simply left.  There was no debate, no argument, no further convincing. 

Despite his departure, JACE knew in the back of his mind that this conversation was not yet over.