Day 2 | Night | We Are House Atreides

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose caught on to what she was saying and pulling out his medpac. "Of course, I had meant to check back in on your wound this afternoon, but you were nowhere to be found." He said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

As with some physicians, despite his bedside manner, Ambrose provided excellent and proficient care. He delicately unwrapped the bandages, which he noted had been replaced by someone else since he originally treated the wound, and checked her arm. Luckily, there were no signs of infection and the flesh was in good shape to heal considering the damage that had been inflicted. He applied some unguents from his kit that soothed the pain and encouraged cell growth. She would barely be left with a scar when all was said and done. Before wrapping it back up, Ambrose applied a patch of synthetic skin.

"There, that should be serviceable for the time being. As far as weapons, I'm not exactly a quartermaster here, but there should be something that would suit the two of you in the thopter. Are you both confident in your ability to handle a weapon? A rifle in untrained hands can be more dangerous to allies than to the enemy."

-----
D2, Night, WAHA, Medicine: 3eP+1eD 3 successes, 2 threat, 1 Triumph

5 Wounds healed so she should be at 1/13?
2 Threat as Strain for emotional damage
I lost track if we have a Triumph banked for the pool.

[Kannon]

[You can keep it.]

Sinsei was quite impressed with his work and it seeped into a genuine 'thank you' when he was done. So much had happened since she had been shot that she felt like it had been a few days back. This helped her not to be angry at Ambrose that much anymore, especially that Razar had taken that baton quite aptly. She used the time he was treating her wound to explain herself.

"You know what I was busy with then. The things you've accused me of... My father and I have come to love the Muadh. He may be a botanist by career, but he's a participatory anthropologist by calling and he's been paying way more attention to the people than to their trees and ferns, so I was swamped with work trying to cover for him. We've lived among them, sharing daily joys and griefs. They've taught me how to use this, the bolo they use for hunting and halting pursuers." She pointed to the rolled rope tucked to her belt that only on close inspection revealed to have sharp elements embedded along one axis of its length. "We didn't know that there was a whole criminal setup just beyond the mountains. How could we have, really, with how isolated we were. We hadn't been getting news from the Muadh communities further south that they had been preyed on until very recently, and our village is a sanctuary the cartel hasn't yet found. My father went to investigate immediately after he learnt about it, counting that his service to House Corrino could deter the human traffickers. Alas, they proved to respect nothing. I spent last week trying to determine what had actually happened to his small expedition, and I eventually followed the suspicious thopter to the trail where you found me. Then I saw them disposing of the bodies, including one of my father's trusted guides, Dy Goll. Since then, I was lurking by the trail to see if they'd bring my father's body there one day, and to try to steal their thopter and fly out to warn the Lanvilles. You know comms don't work here, and the Imperial lighter has been scheduled to arrive for us in a week, give or take, given heighliner arrivals."

She sighed.

"And that's the story of my alleged evil-doing, Ambrose Pantazis. You can of course choose to disbelieve me, but having said it all I can do little more about it. I haven't been trained to shoot, but I am a fast learner and I am ready to fight for rescuing people as much as you. It's better than getting into the cartel's den armed with just a bolo and a knife."

[Cuyler Gray]

"I am a better observer and investigator than a fighter." Cuyler shrugged. "I'm probably better off with my cooking knife. But, I'll carry another weapon in. It may be useful to one of the hostages during the rescue."

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose listened, at first with disinterest as he tended to her injury, but paying more attention as her story unraveled. He remained silent, allowing her to get it all out uninterrupted. He bit back harsh words at times he wanted to defend his position or rebuke her perceived naivete. Also constantly in the back of his mind was the thought, how would Paul Atreides handle this, what would the Duke do in his place? The answer was obvious.

Hearing a plausible story did not automatically engender trust though. There was still doubt in Ambrose's mind, still a suspicion of guilt at the very least by indifference. However, there was also the benefit of doubt, the other side of the coin that would see her in the position of the victim. Sure, this could've been cleared up ages ago, but he couldn't fault her prickly attitude after being run down and shot in the back. Nor after a week waiting to recover the corpse of her father.

"I see... It seems you have been through much in your time on our Caladan. I may have reacted... brashly?" There was a questioning tone in his voice. Introspection was hard. "Yesterday, I waded among the bodies of the Muadh. I was eager to find who was to blame and your appearance nearby was too convenient.

I will however, take offense to what you said of our Duke. Recently, I was reminded of the agreement House Atreides honors ensuring Muadh autonomy. We stay uninvolved to preserve their way of life. A stance I'm sure you and your father could appreciate." Ambrose decided that while the Duke would be compassionate, he would defend the honor and dignity of the name Atreides and not allow it to be dragged through the mud. "Unfortunately, it is likely that autonomy and their pacifism that made them such a perfect victim for the cartel.

It is good to know that neither of you will be hampered by such philosophy. That bolo may be more useful than you think. Stealth will be paramount for your part in the mission, ideally avoiding any confrontation. The same for your knife Lady Gray, although if you'd prefer another blade to spare yours I'm sure we could dig something up. If we have time, I might be able to offer a few pointers with our carbines... Or perhaps Storm would be a better trainer, she is an excellent shot." There was the hint of a smirk at the last comment.

After a brief moment a silence, almost as an afterthought, he asked, "How exactly did you plan on stealing one of their thopters?"

[Cuyler Gray]

"It may not be a combat blade, but it is comfortable and familiar in my hand." Cuyler said. "It is sharp, flexible and sturdy enough to slice through muscle, sinew and bone."

[Kannon]

"I see..." She said listening to his narrative, especially his anger at the killed Muadh, which she shared. "I may have spoken brashly too. It doesn't change the facts that this vast area could use an Atreides outpost, and your Duke values other preoccupations than science and research more. Normally, it wouldn't be my business but all of a sudden it turned out to be. However, I promised Paul Atreides not to speak ill of your House or its people, so I'll leave it at this general apology before we find another reason to despise each other. Like Ms Gray said, we have a common goal and we need more unity now."

She acknowledged his remarks about weapons, their utility and related training with a nod. Cuyler's description of the knife sent a shiver down her spine. The chef knew how to be scary.

"I wanted to hijack the thopter when they would be out with the bodies, hoping to overcome the pilot when he was alone. But I haven't been given an opportunity."

[Ambrose Pantazis]

He looked at Cuyler in a new light after seeing how she spoke so casually about potentially carving through a person. With how she'd handled going off with Sinsei, he'd taken her for an overly trusting member of the court, flitting around amongst the nobles and relying far too heavily on influence, as Sinsei's father had, to keep her safe. But perhaps she'd accompanied Sinsei knowing she could handle treachery in her own way.

"Now that raises some interesting opportunities, if luck favors us. Do they tend to land their thopter in the same place? How frequently do they come down to the caves? With our group, we wouldn't need to wait for the pilot to be alone, we could set an ambush and take their thopter. Use it to get into their encampment unawares. That'd be a hell of a first strike."

[Cuyler Gray]

She had, of course, been referring to slicing up raw meat in the kitchen, but that didn't make the blade any less deadly. She did actually know how to wield it as a weapon, too. But, that was a limited by her smaller frame.

She knew it was a last resort.

[Kannon]

"It would." Sinsei agreed with a grave voice. "But it would now be at the cost of my father's life if you waited for it. At this point I can't hope for him not to be on the next thopter."

And more or less then the heard the gunshots amidst the noises of the jungle coming from where Hadrian and Lydia had vanished.

[Cuyler Gray]

"It does mean that another thopter wpuld be available there if we--" She turned towards the sounds, then began running in that direction.

[Kannon]

So did Sinsei.

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose realized his blunder, but couldn't reply before the sound of combat drove him to action. He set off at a decent clip towards the sound while checking for his shield and weapon.

Mr. Bravo remained asleep, bobbing gently along with Ambrose's steady pace, unperturbed.

[Kannon]

And Dominic, and Eileen.

[End of Thread]