Yonov242003.htm

Trump Call...

Yosannah has established contact with Dai.

The image of Dai smiles. "Hello Yosannah. How are you?"

To the image of Dai, Yosannah is in an office. Cherry desk and matching bookshelves. She sits slumped in an oversized black leather chair, hands clasped and resting against her abdomen. She intones, in your mind, "Dai. I was just thinking of you. What's going on? Don't suppose you had a late night at the bar last night."

The image of Dai shakes his head. "No I didn't. Not much is going on at the moment. I was hoping to catch a few people to talk to them about capturing that demon but they are unreachable at the moment." He grins. "And it's nice to be thought of."

To the image of Dai, Yosannah nods with a soft, gentle smile, "In any event, it's late here. If you'd like, I can pull you through." She holds out her hand.

The image of Dai smiles and nods. "Sure." He grasps her hand and she pulls him through...

Office of the New York County Senior Assistant District Attorney...

Soft light from a desk lamp casts long shadows across this room. Yosannah sits behind a large desk upon which is a Dell computer, telephone, nameplate that reads 'Allison Preston, SADA' and a mess of papers and open files. Behind her is a large window through which can be seen the skyline of New York City in all it's glory. Along the length of two walls are bookshelves filled with large texts, seemingly of McKinney's Statutes and Appellate cases spanning almost a century. Diplomas and certificates cover a section of one wall off her shoulder. The door to this office is closed.

Dai slips the trump into his pocket and glances around. He walks over to the window and looks out at the skyline. "I like the office. Nice view."

Yosannah follows him to the window, arms crossed over her chest, jacket to her suit, undone. Her expression is one of subtle contentment, her default. "Thanks." She mimics his gaze and looks out over the city. It is obviously late in the evening. Perhaps as late the early morning hours.

Dai runs a gloved hand through his hair and glances over. "Do you always work this late?"

Yosannah's gaze remains fixed on the city, "Yes." She let's a meek smile escape her lips. Perhaps she is embarassed. "I know what you'd say. It's nothing that I haven't heard before from the others. Ryker thinks I'm out of my mind."

Dai turns from the window look at Yo curiously, perhaps a little amused. "You know what I would say? I highly doubt that Yosannah. I thought you learned by now that I am full of surprises." He turns back to the window. "The truth is, I understand. I don't sleep much myself."

Yosannah nods in understanding, or so it seems. She exhales and turns back to her desk, dropping herself in the chair as she says, "I found something." She reaches for the computer mouse and slides it about the pad. Clicking here and there. "I thought you might be interested given out excursion the other day."

Dai turns and walks over to stand behind the chair and look at the computer screen. "I'm definitely interested if it will help you."

Yosannah seems to be searching the New York Times archives from the early 1990's. Finally she settles on a page. "Here." She stands, stepping aside, and indicates her chair, "Sit down, take a look. It's the flight manifesto for the plane."

Dai sits down in the chair with a sigh. "And here I thought you were going to find a tree for us," he teases absently as he looks over the information. He pulls his gloves off showing his left hand to still be healing from the severe burns.

Yosannah gaze turns briefly to regard the burn on his hands. Her mouth opens to comment but she must think better of it. Instead she points to the scroll bar. "Down a little more. There." She points to a list of passengers and their respective seating arrangements: 4A Andy Meloling, 4B Shania Meloling, 4C Karen Aubrey, 5A Yosannah Genovese, 5B Merle Beriman, 6A David Morgan, etc... She inquires, "What do you see?"

Dai rubs his jaw. "One, that you are apparently Italian. Two, there's no seat 5C so you were either in a row of two seats or there was an empty seat. Three, you were sitting beside someone named Merle. I believe I heard you mention someone named Merle Corey before. Beriman? Huh. Interesting. There's a Chaosian House Berimen. Possible connection there. Other then that, not much. A bunch of names that don't seem of interest."

She nods with a smile, "Not bad. Pretty much the line of logic I was traveling down. Though," she smirks, "I'm only half Italian. For the record." Her gaze lingers on the screen and she considers it for a long moment before asking, "You know Despil and Jurt, right?"

Dai nods. "I know Despil fairly well. Jurt less so but enough." He smirks. "And there's nothing better than being Italian."

Yosannah chuckles, a single breath of air, "To give you a point of reference, Merle Corey is their half brother." She considers, "I gotta tell you though, Merle and I are pretty close. I've known him for about seven years now I think. The chances that this is the same guy... I mean, I think I might remember sitting next to him, don't you think?"

Dai shakes his head. "The mind plays funny games. Take my word for it. And if Merle is Merlin, if I remember correctly from Larma telling me that Merlin and Jurt were half brothers, then he is Chaosian and so a shifter. It is possible that he was in another guise. And it would explain how you survived the crash. I would assume he had a deck on him. He might have pulled you out. On purpose, by accident, who knows. It's thin but the only thing I can think of. It might also explain the strong friendship between you two if my guess is right."

Yosannah thinks on his words for a long moment, "Why." She wonders. "Why? And why say nothing of it all these years." She shifts her weight from one leg to the other and crosses her arms back over her chest.

Dai tilts his head. "Perhaps he meant to. Perhaps after you two became close he felt that he couldn't bring himself to tell you he brought you out of there. There's a million 'ifs' and 'perhaps' we can throw back and forth. I suggest that we approach him and ask. It is also possible that he doesn't remember it either."

Yosannah raises a fisted hand to her mouth and tugs at her lower lip with her thumb and index finger, pensive, "Yeah. Unless of course this is just some strange coincidence and it's not even him."

Dai shrugs and looks up at Yo. "There is that possibility. I doubt it though. Merle isn't exactly a common name. Add Beriman to that when there is a House Barimen in Chaos......well I don't believe in coincidences. Does Merlin have any ties to that House? I think this is worth investigating if nothing else don't you?"

Yosannah turns her gaze to the far wall and nods, "Yeah." She seems half hearted about the entire situation. "You know what is is. I don't want to find out that he's known all along and has never talked to me about it." She exhales. "I don't want to be disappointed in him. Again."

Dai stands slowly and mulls that over. He approaches and rests a hand gently on

Yo's shoulder. "It is better to know the truth Yosannah, than live a lie. And even if you did drop this, it would tear you up inside. Especially when you are with him. My advice is that you find the truth. But it is your decision." His hand moves off of her shoulder and he pulls his gloves on. "I'll be there to help you if you wish to continue this, and won't ever mention it again if you decide to drop it."

Yosannah doesn't withdraw from his touch. She nods, knowing look in her eyes. "I feel that you are right. I guess the question is: Now what? I wonder if Despil would have any information on Corey's aliases. He often says that they aren't close as far as brothers go, but I sometimes wonder if he knows more about Corey then he lets on."

Dai snorts. "Despil knows more than anybody guesses. Much more. It'll be hard to get any information out of him though. Whatever you do, don't ask for the source of the information. I understand that he doesn't like that and then that door will shut completely." He grins. "Tight rope walking is fun sometimes though."

Yosannah forces a light smile at that, "Are you suggesting that he might be more willing to give up information to you then to me?" Her question is genuine.

Dai hesitates. "As to that, I'm not sure. We have.....had our discussions but I doubt he would trust me information on his brother. It's a toss up as to whether having someone from TSA there will make him more forthcoming or put him on the defensive. We get along well enough though so......it's hard to say. I think that whether or not I am with you, you should be there to speak to him."

Yosannah wets her lips, "I don't know." She moves around to the front of her desk and drops herself into a leather chair. A smaller version of the chair he sits in, "I have a certain level of involvment with Despil that transcends simple acquaintences. We belong to an organization which dictates that we aid one another if we are able. I'd hate to have to put him in a position of chosing to help me if it meant that he'd have to betray confidences given him by his brother." She shrugs, "But, then again... they aren't all that close, so maybe I'm making an issue out of nothing."

Dai sits down on the edge of the desk. "Mind if I give you a little advice on how to handle Despil? I don't want you to take this the wrong way. And there's a considerable risk in it."

She smiles, obviously intrigued, "Shoot."

Dai runs ha nd through his hair again. "Okay. Fact is, Depil's a lady's man from what I hear. You, being a beautiful woman, have a much better chance of getting the information out of him than I do. Bat your eyes, flirt a bit, and you might be able to have that man eating out of the palm of your hand. Now, the problem is that he might see through it if you lay it on thick. It has to be......very subtle. I personally think that we should talk to my sister. She knows Despil far better than either of us I imagine. She could probably help."

Yosannah smiles, "Ah, Dai. I'm rather familiar with the fact that Despil is a, as you say, lady's man." She chuckles now, "Probably self proclaimed none the less." She shakes her head, thoughtfully, gaze going to the floor. And then, as if his last comment has just registered with her she lifts her gaze to meet his, "Sister?

Dai chuckles. "You didn't pick up on it yet? Riva is my sister. By blood as well as how we feel about each other. I considered her a sister long before we discovered the fact that we WERE siblings."

Yosannah holds up her hands, palms outward, "Whoa. No. I mean... I guess I should have by some of the things that you've said." She shakes her head, "Does this mean that Brandon is her father too? Or is your mother the common link?"

Dai scratches his head and looks a little amused. "Brandon is our father. Whatever you do, don't bring it up with Riva. She's not....very comfortable with that yet. They're both still trying to come to terms with it I think. Especially considering he whole age thing. Fast shadows and all that."

Yosannah raises a brow, "Christ. All of a sudden Brandon has more kids then I can keep track of." She smirks a bit.

Dai chuckles. "Well there's only us two and our sister Anolia. That I know of. Dad seems to be following in Javerlin's footsteps thus far. I have more damn family than I can remember."

Yosannah chuckles, "Dad. It's strange to hear him called Dad. He's just little Brandon to me." She smiles thoughtfully at Dai, "Kinda like you sometimes." She winks.

As they chat, the skyline outside the window of Yosannah's office begins to soft en into a grey. Gradually, the stars begin to fade amidst the light of the morning sun.

Dai blushes and then laughs. "Little Dai, eh? Ah, well. Guess no tree in our future then." He glances outside. "Say, you want to go grab some breakfast?"

Yosannah nods, "Yeah, that sounds great. Just enough time for me to eat and get back here. She stands, "Dai. Thanks for your help and insights into this... thing. I appreciate it."

Dai smiles and half bows. "My pleasure."