Day 3 | Night | All By Myself

[Kannon]

"And what's the brave way out? Lead me to it."

[Lydia Storm]

"Facing your consequences and making it out to the other side" Lydia shrugged "as I was prepared to do."

[Kannon]

"Even if I spill something during the interrogations that may land you in hot water?"

[Lydia Storm]

There was a shrug.

"If it happens it happens. I was prepared to die again, and still am."

[Kannon]

Sohee thought on it hard. Then put her helmet back on.

"Bring them on then. What's the worst than can happen."

[Lydia Storm]

There was a rare smile.

"Depends what you have to give. I find people in power with sticks up their asses respond better to co-operation and pampering. You'd have suffered more trying to survive that jungle bleeding and alone anyway. Here they come either way."

[Kannon]

It was indeed true. Soon after, a squad of seven corralled their spot from all sides.

"Drop your weapons. Surrender or die."

Sohee theatrically flung her knife away, a bit bemused that they may have found Lydia to be one of the fugitives.

[Lydia Storm]

Lydia expected this. She carefully lowered her weapon to the ground then raised her hands.

"I'm part of the operation sent by Lt. Roger Lanville, likely reported MIA. Lydia Storm. Although I know you won't be able to check that here. She" Lydia motioned her head at the other girl "is bleeding out badly and will likely die before you make it back to the ship, and as she has no love for her previous employers and has seen a lot would be far more useful alive than dead."

[Kannon]

"Actually, we will. Lt. Col. Lanville is overseeing the sweep. He'll be told of you without delay."

The Corporal gestured for the rifle to be picked up.

'All weapons please."

He looked at Sohee, sceptical about Lydia's feedback. "We are Atreides. We don't execute surrendering prisoners." He appraised the wounds of both. "Get them a medic."

[Lydia Storm]

That would make life easier. She nodded at that, taking out her large knife and placing it next to the rifle before stepping back from the weapon pile again.

"See to her wounds over mine. I'll survive the walk" Lydia insisted as the wounds were checked.

[Kannon]

Sohee remained silent, then the medic arrived, and they were separated without a chance for last words, if any were intended.

Lydia received triage a bit later, though the bullet still needed to be removed, while waiting for the Atreides chain of command to process her message. She was guarded, of course, but she suffered no mistreatment. She could witness groups moving other captured mercenaries to the personnel transports, though it was hard to determine what percentage had actually surrendered and what had decided to die.

Eventually, she was called. Roger was in his combat uniform, though he had cleared the area for the time being of other indications that he was in active command.

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"Good to see you alive, Lydia." He said with stoic honesty, with a bit of relief.

[Lydia Storm]

Lydia had remained quiet and cooperative throughout. It was all as expected, even slightly more organised than she thought which told its own story. Once shown through there was a nod to the man.

"Did you really think I'd die? Takes more than my own side dropping a cliff on me you know."

She moved to the side, starting to show some of the pain she was actually in.

"Am I allowed to ask who organised this whole massive military extermination or is that for higher up ears only?"

[Kannon]

"I wasn't sure. Such things are a matter of risk management, not certainty. I didn't doubt your survivor's spirit though."

He raised a brow.

"It's not an extermination. Let's leave indiscriminate killing to the Sardaukar. But you've heard the man, from the loudhailer. We got a call for reinforcements from a part of your team that set up the antenna, with sitrep and coordinates, and Hawat ordered a quick strike. Your team made most of the prep work though, breaking their defences and killing the ringleader. It's a glorified sweep now."

[Lydia Storm]

"Got it. I saw the ship arriving then anything between then and seeing boots on the ground is a little hazy, I was a little underground. The voice...so it was him."

Lydia closed her eyes, taking a small breath.

"Great. Glad that the mission ended up more successful than it started, but I'm gonna keep out of his way if you don't mind."

[Kannon]

"Hawat's? If that is your ultimate choice. Where I stand, you have done your part and for that I am grareful. The rest of your team is being flown to Cala City. I can get you flown to Cidrit Town right away, back to your former life. Or you can rejoin them, and try to be a part of something greater in the coming days."

He paused.

"You know, I was born here on Caladan, like all other Lanvilles before me. But both Duncan Idaho and Gurney Halleck hail from Giedi Prime, the Harkonnen world. They serve the Duke despite their origins. They do it because they want to. They have learned time and again the Atreides reward trust with trust, loyalty with loyalty, sacrifice with sacrifice. After you found the heir, in another House the whole thing would have been called off. But Paul Atreides raised hell you were a part of to save Duncan, his friend. If it doesn't impress you, that's fine. But it does impress me. So let me lay it down: if you seek something else in your life than I have already given you, Lydia, there might not be a better moment than now."

[Lydia Storm]

"Sounds like you want rid of me."

There was a moment, before she sighed and opened her eyes to look at the man.

"I know what you're saying, don't worry. But I told you before, on that night. You may have let me go but as far as I'm concerned that day was my end, I'm content to live my days until the time my body stops moving in the cabin watching over the woods. I'm not...a people person you know this. I have a list longer than the space on this ship of criticism of every person sent here the young dukes son included. I understand what they were doing though, and with the limited information they had they performed...well. With some more guidance that isn't forged in controlled environments I might even call them talented."

Another sigh, and she put her hand on her side mostly to press on it a little and refocus.

"But that doesn't change my decision. And it's why I would rather not cross Hawats gaze, even though I'm more than sure he knows all about me and would not put it past him trying to accidentally cause a crossing of paths. I'm sure the old man still has plenty of what made him so famous in him. You may be grateful for me, but the training drilled into me from childhood has plenty of paranoia of someone so...similar."

[Kannon]

"Cidrit Town it is then. Get on that thopter there." Roger smiled briefly. "I'll see you there from time to time. Now, I must get back to getting things done here. It's going to be a long night."

[Lydia Storm]

"Don't need help cleaning up? I gotta go claim my stuff back first, I'm not so battered that I can't go out and help with the cleanup" Lydia offered

[Kannon]

Roger shook his head. "This is Hawat's operation and he will scrutinise the aftermath. You won't avoid him if you stay. Your things are in the thopter."

[Lydia Storm]

"Oh. Then I'll very much get out of the way if he's that close by. Be safe."

Lydia turned to walk off to find said Thopter.