Mik made a stop at the Garrison despite the emotional intensity he had for the twins... he tore himself away at least long enough to learn that Ms DeLeonn had visited Ric... had been escorted by Lucas Ralekk and had even visited Roan's compound. All very interesting.
And Lucas was back at the Garrison today, though he wasn't on duty as such. Just hanging out. Looking thoughtful. A lot had happened. Talkin with some of the guys. Grinning. His mind was about a million miles away though.... First off, he'd found his dad. Or his dad had found him. Or something. It was going okay. It was weird though, having a father all of a sudden. A father who wasn't keen on having his son in the Legion yet either. That was the tricky part of this. What was he supposed to do, yanno? He just didn't know.
It was at that point, sitting behind his desk that Mik picked up the intel report from Lt. Zane and read it through. In the time since Zane had interviewed Mace, gathering had gone on and an accumulation of information occurred so that when Mik opened the file, a print out - rare though they might be - of a digital photo of the man was clipped to the papers within. "Sweet Oponn." He said softly. It was easy to swear using the names of gods he didn't believe in anymore, after all.
Well, when ya don't know what to do, think about something else. And Luc had someone else to think about all right. He sighed as he walked a goofy grin on his face. He walked right into a pole.
Mik stood, clutching the folder. It was fantastic how the Legion network functioned. Information that needed to be in front of him was in front of him -- though sometimes, admittedly, weeks after it should have been. But, he insisted to himself, Legion Intelligence was NOT an oxymoron!
There was laughter around him. Luc tried to look like he'd done that on purpose.
Mik stepped out of the office, which Ric used more often than he did -- he tended to prefer his tent, but damn if the weather wasn't turning just a bit nippy. He heard the laughter, glanced around to one of the laughing boys, Mik said, "Get me Lt. Zane immediately."
"Sir, yes sir!" The man snapped to an' ran off to obey didn't he?
Rubbing his head with the back of his hand, Luc heard the voice and turned to look.
"You all right, Private Ralekk?"
He drew himself up VERY straight. "Sir, yes sir! Fine sir." This happens to me all the time, see...
"Good, good," Mik smiled easily, though he held under his arm papers that concerned him greatly. He flitted back and forth in mental commentary with his brother even as he stood there.
He couldn't help grinning back. Something about the commander that made you feel at ease. "Yes, yes sir. Can I help you, sir?" He knows my name!
Mik paused, as if he was rewinding someone else's memories... which in effect he was... "You're the one." His finger lifted to point. "You found Ms. DeLeonn in the streets?"
"Yes, sir. She kinda found me too. Needed some help."
"Did you know it was your friend ... Corporal Kjarr who found her cousin Luciann?" Casual conversation with the enlisted! What a guy! Damn pretty too.
Lucas blinked. "No way. I mean...no, sir I didn't. Was her cousin okay?" And where is she now, I wanted to see her again...
"It's my understanding that other than simple dehydration and a few bites and scratches... he came out fine. They ought to call him Lucky rather than Luciann." a quick smile, a knowing assessment.
"Yeah they should. And way to go Lio, yanno?" He grinned again. "That's real good news, sir." He didn't know Luciann. But he was happy for Elena. Very happy.
"Yes it is. Ms. DeLeonn will be on the same transport back to K-land I think you are supposed to take? Don't you have 30 days at Crosshairs coming up after leave?"
If my dad lets me...but he didn't say that. Just a quick flash of something came and went in his eyes. Crosshairs was the Legion Sniper School. The best of the best shots went there. Lucas didn't even know it's location yet. He was to take a transport from Fort Axann to Crosshairs. "Yes sir! She will? How come?" Maybe none of his business though...oops.
Mik leaned forward a bit, his gunmetal eyes glittering with an amused shine. "Because her cousin is up there. If he's emotionally and mentally fit, he'll be starting boot soon." Winter boot was gonna prolly be hell too.
A faint blush appeared on his face. "Oh. Of course, sir." Heh, poor guy. Boot camp in winter. "Well, it'll be good to see her again." He tried for casual.
"She can use friends, I'd imagine, Private." Mik nodded. The conversation was likely nearing its end...
"Yes, sir," Luc cleared his throat and took a step back, suddenly realizing he was keeping the *Commander* occupied when he probably had business to attend to. "Thanks for letting me know, sir."
"Any time, son," Mik said without really thinking about it. He felt close to many of the men who worked with him and instinct drew that out of him. "Dismissed." He turned to head for the mess, for coffee.
Luc watched him go, then let go of his at-ease posture and wandered off. Time to head back home for the day. After maybe sayin' a couple more hellos. Ugh, he was gonna have to get this all worked out... somehow...
Earlier, Riane had left the motor pool for similar reasons. No one objected to her having coffee now and again. She'd been up since before most of the men and she was starting to drag. Which resulted in her skidding right into Luc as he turned.
Didn't help that he was lost in thought too. He reached out to steady her. "Whoa. Sorry there. You okay?"
Grease marked her coveralls but not her hands -- well, not mostly -- her hair was pulled back in a golden brown tail from her youthful face... she blinked they'd warned her about running in the Garrison before, but some things just didn't count for as much as they used to... back before the flophouse. She smiled. Wasn't the kid smile neither... was far more grown up, but then, Lucas had nothing to compare it to, did he? "Fine, thanks." she peered for a nameplate... "Private...? '
Luc dipped his head a bit, peering into her eyes with a smile of his own, an earnest one anyhow. "Ralekk. Lucas Ralekk. And who might you be?"
The girl who looked to be too young to have tools in her pockets and grease on her cheek said, "Riane." She offered her hand "Garrett." belatedly She double-checked her hand for grease then, before he could shake it, satisfied, kept it out
"Riane. Nice to meet you." He shook her hand solidly, thinking that grease on her cheek was rather cute. "Motor pool, huh?" Taking a guess.
Her smile got brighter "Yeah. Dad lets me tinker in there even though I'm not Legion yet. I want to go to Boot next year. Dunno if they'll let me." being grounded for life might just mean she couldn't go to boot at all.
"Hey, I got in." His eyes sparkled. "Your dad is Legion too huh?" He misunderstood why she might not get in.
Riane laughed -- he didn't know who she was. She rather liked that. Seemed like all the soldiers knew ... and lately, because they knew, they heard the rumors too of what had happened to the one guy who dared touch her.
It seemed that Luc had missed out on a lot of the gossip while on leave. All he knew was that she was nice, pretty and could fix vehicles. Amazing.
"Dad's very legion." The words just tickled her.
"Sounds like it's the family business." If only he knew.
This served only to tickle her more and she laughed "You betcha. Say... I was gonna get chow. Ya on duty or can ya join me?" Riane was nothing if not confident... even in the light of DAi's regular assessment of her character, and her grounding, the one place and the one group she always could trust and feel at home with was Legionnaires
"Not on duty, nope. I'd be glad to, Riane." He almost offered her an arm, but thought that here it prolly wasn't a good idea. Not here anyhow. "So honestly, your dad hasn't got any problem with you joining up then?" He was trying to figure something out.
===
Macy was helping with some repairs and routine maintenance on some of the vehicles. She was trying to keep busy, mostly to get her mind off wondering what Intelligence would find out about Jake Somers. Lt. Zane had been present, of course, and Mace found herself trying to include him in the conversation which was unusual; she'd tried to ignore him in the past, resenting his constant 'keeping tabs' on her. She'd come to realize he was just doing his job.
Mace stood up, stretching the stiffness from her legs. There were smudges of grease on her face, and her hair, though tied back, had tendrils escaping in wisps of gold. She meandered over to Lt. Zane, brushing some of the wisps of hair from her face and putting another smudge of grease on her cheek in the process. "I'm about done with this one. Time to take a break."
Zane smiled, straightened up. He'd been watching her work under the guise of ... well... watching her and her daughter was in and out of the motor pool through out the morning. "Glad to hear it, Ms... Macy." Still having trouble with that, wasn't he?
The corners of her lips quirked slightly at the 'Ms. Macy', but she didn't comment. It didn't quite feel like they were on a 'teasing' level as she'd been with some of the men back in K-land. "Lemme just put some of this stuff away.." She drifted off, heading back to her 'work area', picking up miscellaneous tools and replacing them to their proper places.
The soldier, who'd been ordered to find Zane, found him finally. "Sir! Commander wants you in his office pronto!"
"Thank you Private. Carry on." Zane turned to look at Macy. "That might be about my report." Then he did something he wouldn't have done two weeks ago. "Wanna come along?"
Macy almost dropped the wrench she was holding. She'd been about to ask if she could tag along, but never -ever- thought he'd agree to it, much less ask her! "You bet." She stood up hastily trying to wipe the excess grease from her hands with only moderate success. Having heard the Private say, 'Pronto', she made tracks over to Zane with alacrity.
Zane looked Mace over, appreciated the way she moved swiftly and said, "Let's go then." It wouldn't take them but 3 minutes to get to the office from here. Though, he might stroll a little more slowly with her beside him.
She didn't want Zane to get a reprimand ... and she wanted to know what Mik had found out, so she started off with him at a fast clip.
She slowed her pace to match Zane's as it wouldn't do to race ahead ... he'd been the one Mik had requested after all.
Mik, meanwhile, stopped another soldier halfway to the mess and asked him to send a pot and cups to the office. Ric only had water in there... that'd be fine for Zane, but Mik knew Zane was with Macy and would bring her along. He counted on that.
Macy paused abruptly, turning to touch Zane's arm. "I'll be right back ... I'll meet you at� er the Commander's office." She picked up the pace and nearly ran to the cafeteria where Riane was supposed to be. She poked her head in, scanning the room quickly for her daughter.
Though she knew that every officer at the Garrison knew Gideonn went by "Mik" or "Ricohh," depending, and that officers above the rank of Captain knew now that there were two of them, she wasn't comfortable with calling him Mik in front of the Lieutenant.
"Riane?" She called out hurriedly. It was obvious her daughter wasn't here. Damn. That twinge of maternal worry nagged at her, especially so soon after 'the incident.' Mace turned and jogged further down the corridor, not caring about her pace with the sudden adrenaline burst of urgency.
Mik stopped in a side office to speak with the Garrison Commander whose office Ric had temporarily overtaken so he was out of the hallway during Mace's run. Zane continued on to the Commander's office, spying Riane in the hallway with a young Private but unaware that Macy was looking for her and was let into the inner sanctum by the secretary.
"Hi Mabel," he said with a smile.
"Afternoon, Lieutenant. He's not back yet. Why not go in and wait?"
"Thanks," Zane said and went in to sit in a chair and do just that.
In the hall, Riane thought about it "I think Dad wouldn't mind, sometimes. Then again, I think he is worried I'm going to leave him. He didn't know I existed 'til last year see." funny that they should have that in common and she didn't even know it.
That took him aback some and he glanced quickly at her. "I think my dad feels the same way. Doesn't want me to leave." And bond of sorts had been forged between Luc and Riane, at least in his mind.
She looked at him for a long moment then, and he'd gone up in her estimation several notches by the time the look was through. "I don't get what they're all excited about. Do you?"
"I dunno." He breathed out quietly. "I guess cause he and I just found each other too. Doesn't want me gone outta his life again." His shoulders sagged, the weight obviously bothering him today.
Mace glanced through any open doors along the way, slowing at each then darting on to the next. ~Not again, please not again,~ she thought.
"I mean..." she said as they turned the corner toward the cafeteria, having passed RMG's office and waved to Mabel before Zane got there, she nodded. "I mean, okay they love us, right? I get that ... but just because they love us don't mean it comes so easy the other way. I love my Dad after getting to know him a year. But he's really wound tight sometimes."
Mace saw the two of them come around the corner. "Riane!" She waved and a smile of relief lit her face.
Weird the way their lives had been so similar. And that they'd run into each other like this now. "Sure, guess they do. My dad says he does. And I'm trying to get to know him." He sighed. "No, you're right, it isn't easy. I got a lot to figure out." He turned a sheepish grin towards her.
"They say blood's thick..." She tapped his shirt. "But I think Green's as thick..." She heard the call, turned her head. She blinked and a "wha'? Oh man it's MOM" look stole over Ri's face but she sucked it in, considered saying, "Hi Macy," like they were pals an' not - you know - related or anything. She knew she'd get grief for that... nudged Luc, smiled and murmured. "It's my Mom." Yeah, how many kids got to have Mom at the Legion Garrison?
Huh? He looked at the woman, then back at Riane with a sandy brow up. "Ohhh," he whispered. But it looked like Mom was a grease monkey too.
Who was she with? She tried not to sound as worried as she had been. "Hey, I've been looking all over for you. Thought you were headed for the cafeteria..."
And he tried to look respectable. "My fault, ma'am. I delayed her with some questions." There, that sounded all official, didn't it?
"Sorry." That was always good to start.
"Oh, I see. And you are?" Still trying not to sound too accusing yet ... Macy was doing that mom thing.
Meanwhile, Mik made it to his office as had Zane and Mik gestured him into the inner room to talk, though he questioned him about where Macy was...
"Private Ralekk, ma'am." Nice, innocent guy. No worries.
To whine, or not to whine... not to whine. Whining would make her sound juvenile ... an' Lucas was kinda cute. She waited, trying to think up something significantly 'adult' to say.
Mace held out her hand, mostly sans grease. "Nice to meet you. I'm Macy Brrace."
Brrace, any relation to Col. Brrace, Riane was thinking in her head, because that's what all the soldiers seemed to say whenever they met her. "Why he's a great man..." The thought processes of a teenager.
"Ms. Brrace." He took her hand and shook it with a nod and a grin. "Nice to meet you." Wow, the whole family was Legion, he thought.
Riane didn't clear her throat, but broke in brightly, "Say, Mom, we were just going to get some chow in the mess." Do I or don't I tack it on... do... it'll sound good� "Wanna come?" Say no. Say no. Say no. She was balancing, "I love my mother" with "I need independence!"
"That'd be nice ..." Mace paused.
Okay, Lucas thought, if Riane's mom came, he was gonna have to keep being all well behaved. Though...maybe Riane'd be impressed. Hmm...
"But I can't. Riane, I just wanted to let you know I'm headed over to your father's office. I need to discuss some things with him."
It was a hard tightrope to walk for a girl who'd recently lost her virginity in a way no parent could ever approve of. "Is Dad here?" Her head swung around as though she could see him. "I thought he was at the Compound today..." She kept her secret, "Yay! I get the cute guy to myself! ahem..." to herself.
Macy kept assuring herself that they were 'in public' and she was with a member of the Legion. Ut oh ... She knew what 'some' Freemen were like.
He just stood, hands clasped behind his back, rocking on his feet slightly. Sandy eyes went from Riane to her mom and back. I am good. Very good. After all he was so young and fresh-faced and innocent, with a slight bruise on his forehead.
"I mean Mik." It would be odd to say 'Your other father.'
The only sign that Lucas caught that was a blink. Though he figured they must have been talking about a biological dad and an adoptive one.
Riane took hold of Lucas' elbow. "Okay Mom. You go meet with him. We're gonna get chow." And she almost rudely but not quite, tugged Lucas away.
Lucas was...tugged. Happily. With a nod to Macy on the way. A kind of 'nice ta meet ya.'
That settled Mace booked on to Mik's office, not wanting to miss any details of the report.
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