Board Thread:The Company/@comment-24930445-20140615054833/@comment-24930445-20140621204524

Information

Dante had Ry and Ilrea moved to a much larger room to accommodate all the people coming and going without disturbing his other patients. A table and several chairs had been raided from one of the smaller conference rooms and several documents and diagrams covered several flat surfaces.

“What in the hell have you people been doing while I was away?!” Dalia had stopped just inside the door, hands on her hips, agitation clearly written on her face.

“Where the fuck have you been?!” Jack glanced up from the diagram he and Joke had been studying and glared at her, though he couldn’t help but feel the relief at her sudden appearance.

“What do you mean, where the fuck have I been? Don’t you pick up your messages any more? Got sick of all the damn testosterone flying around here so Maggie and I took some R&R. What the hell did I miss??”

Sighing, Jack pulled Dalia aside explained all that had happened in the past several hours.

Ryan Devlin came through the door to the room Ry had been assigned and strode for his bed. “I’ve got a couple people looking for Ben. The woman says she knew him ‘back in the day’.”

Ry frowned, then shrugged. “Show them in, I guess.” As Devlin left, Ry glanced at his daughter, checking once again to make sure she was still alright. When she rolled her eyes, then smiled, he chuckled and winked before turning his attention to the doorway.

Devlin, ever the gentleman, stopped at the door and motioned for the woman to enter, followed closely by the man. He was much taller than she and he seemed to be leading her, her hand lightly resting on his arm. With the exception of the helmet bag over the woman’s shoulder, Ry could have sworn from their dress they had come from old town Windfall.

“Commander Ryax, this is Caedwynne and Bran Walker.” Caedwynne stopped suddenly, her grip on the man’s arm tightening. Ry nodded to the newcomers, though he watched the woman very carefully. There was something about the woman that seemed… off, but he couldn’t place it.

“Commander…” She began.

“Just Ryax, please.”

She smiled slightly, took a deep breath as if to steady her nerves, then nodded. “Ryax. I remember the name, though I don’t believe we ever met. I was only under Commander Stinel’s detachment for a short time, but…” She hesitated and the man covered the hand she had yet to removed from his arm with his own hand. “Is Commander Stinel here? I have information he will be interested in.” Ry could sense she wasn’t saying something, but he let it slide for the moment.

“I’m afraid Ben’s not around a’ the moment.. We had a little bit of a scuffle and he has yet to report in.” Ry wasn’t sure who these people were, but he wasn’t about to give out more information than needed.

“I see. Would this have anything to do with the men who came into the office in Windfall and took hostages?” Ry arched an eyebrow and glanced at the man who simply nodded.

“We believe so. But how would you know about that?” Ry caught movement, though he never turned his glance from the couple. Jack, Travers and Dalia had heard the conversation and had moved to back the newcomers, something, it seemed, the man did not miss. Ry noticed his eyes shift, though his posture never changed.

“We were in the office when they came, Ryax. Bran and I managed to escape but we left our friend Mack to protect the boy and the woman who were there. He surrendered freely to be taken with them.”

Travers arched an eyebrow at Ry, then nodded slightly, silently confirming what they knew. “I see. And the information ya have for Ben?”

She hesitated and the man patted her hand. “Mo ghrá has had a difficult time since leaving your group. She is not proud or happy about what transpired at that time in her life, but know she comes to you of her own will.”

Ry caught the glance between the Morghan brothers at the man’s use of ‘Mo ghrá’. He was guessing, but it seemed as if they understood the reference. “I see. Ya need assurances, I take it?”

“Not assurances, no. What has been done must be atoned for and I will spend my life doing such.” Caedwynne sighed heavily, then released Bran’s arm and took a slight step away from him as if to separate him from whatever would happen to her. “I was Joslynne’s assassin, among other things. I have done harm to a great many people by her command and, I’m afraid, you and your friends were her main targets.”

Ry frowned at the woman’s admission. He could swear he had never met her before.

In a slow movement, Caedwynne removed her glasses, folding the nearly black spectacles then gripping them tightly. Now Ryax understood what that something had been that bothered him about her. The woman before him was blind.

“I’m not sure what to say to ya except I honestly do not recognize ya.” Ry shrugged, glancing at the man Devlin referred to as Bran, though his attentions were focused on Caedwynne, his eyes tight with concern.

“Perhaps not in this form but… There was a woman with Joslynne… and Axin. She looked much like I imagine you do, only with hair like mine and… adornments.”

Ry stiffened, winced in pain, then growled softly drawing Bran’s attention back to him. The man’s body went taut and Ry caught the beginnings of a snarl before Bran had been able to shut it off.

“Níl, mo ghrá. Gheall tú a ligean cuma cad a tharlaíonn. Tá sé mar caithfidh sé a bheith. (No, my love. You promised to let whatever happens happen. It is as it must be.)” She reached out to gently touch Bran.

Again, the Morghan brothers passed a knowing glance between them, though neither commented. “I was with them for several years. I have intimate knowledge of her ship, the security measures, the dynamics between Axin and Joslynne. Any information I have is freely given to you, Ryax.”

Ry frowned, his gaze flicking to Travers and Jack. Both men slowly nodded, though it was clear they didn’t quite trust the couple. They had understood what the woman had spoke to her companion and there had been nothing nefarious about it.

There would be no time for detailed explanations, but a chair was brought forward for Caedwynne and she began an abbreviated version of her tale. Somewhere in the middle of it, Dylan had entered and leaned against the door jam, listening to the woman speak quickly. She had several details on Ry, Kat and Vextis that were pretty much dead on the money, but the information was outdated, giving her story of escape some credibility.

When she began on Jos’ ship and her relationship with Axin, there wasn’t much that could be confirmed, so those surrounding the woman just listened. Only when she mentioned Jos’ hatred for Kat and the plan she had to rid herself of that hatred did the tension rise in the room. Bran moved to stand behind Caed, his hands resting on her shoulders lightly, his gaze locked on Ryax.

“There is a skin trader, a woman by the name of Raegyn George. She deals in the training and sale of slaves. Its all legal, for the most part, though, there are rumors that some of her… ‘acquisitions’ may not be as legal as their papers claim. Axin knows this woman well. He’s made several attempts to purchase from her, but the.. ‘merchandise’ never seems to make its final destination. To put it bluntly, Joslynne always seems to find out and has the poor girl killed before she can reach the Angel. If she gets her hands on Katrylle, she will be sold to this woman.”

Several voices spouted several curses, though none were directed at Caedwynne. Through the storm of profanity, two men stared at each other. In that moment without a word spoken between them, Jack and Ryax became of a single mind. Although they had always had the same goal, somehow, with the revelation of what was in store for Kat, they silently agreed to work together to reach it.

Dylan pushed himself away from the wall. “I have the moon base covered if she can get you plans for the ship. I was working on a list of base security, equipment, etc when Daisy knocked. I might even have a way in if you’re willing to gamble.” His last remark was directed at Jack. “I’m pretty sure Lantis has deactivated my codes by now, so…” Anything he had been about to say was interrupted by Ry’s outburst.

“Lantis? Lantis Pirin? What the hell?” Ry tried to sit up too quickly and his ribs reminded him he was suppose to be recuperating. Sucking his breath through his teeth, he slowly leaned back against the mattress.

Caedwynn’s voice interrupted the men. “He has been her chief of security and administrator for nearly two decades.

As if suddenly remembering Caedwynne and Bran, Ry shot Devlin a look. “Perhaps the Walkers would be more comfortable in one of our guest rooms.”

Once again Bran stiffened and Ry could tell the man was fighting his own pride. “You are not in custody. I understand ya came of your own will, but its late and your lady looks as though she needs rest.”

“But we can help you. We’re here to help you.” Bran stood taller, his chin upraised as he tried to stare Ry down.

Caedwynne’s hand came up to cover one of his on her shoulder. “No, Mo ghrá. He’s right. They do not know us. I agree with his position and,” she turned her vacant stare in Ry’s direction, “we graciously accept your offer, Ryax. Please know that, as Bran has stated, we are here to help. My fighter is in your hangar and she and I are at your service should you need the extra fire power.”

Ry frowned. “Not to be indelicate, but you’re blind. How the hell can ya pilot a fighter, never mind use it in battle?”

She laughed, patting Bran’s hand in comfort as the other man growled at the insult. “Specialized helmet linked neurologically to my ship.”

“Ah,” was all Ry said, though the thought of having a ship plugged into his head gave him the heebee jeebies. “If you’ll follow Mr. Devlin, he’ll make sure you’re comfortable.”

The fact that his smile was wasted on the blind woman didn’t seem to bother Devlin as he showed the two from the room.

Those remaining in the room waited until the threesome were no longer in sight before Jack turned back to Dylan. “What do you have in mind, kid?” Jack smirked, a twinkle in his eye.