Day 4 | Afternoon | Castle Orchard | Need to Know

[Hadrian Martikova]

He closed his eyes and bit back a grin at Laila. But at Hawat's suggestion his jaw dropped. It verged on outrageous! He breathed in and out before saying,

"Harmon... thep?" He tilted his head to the side as if considering it. "Uhh, yeah... an interesting idea, though I'm not sure my doctor has cleared me to travel just yet. And anyways, I was hoping to do less travelling not more."

[Laila Bridger]

"Now, Hadrian, we're being offered an all-expenses-paid trip."

She had her gaze fixed on Hawat.

This was it, then. This was the price.

"Quite an offer for a humble vinter and a mercenary whose last job saw her turned into a liability that had to be rescued. Such generosity. I cannot fathom what prompted it."

[Kannon]

"You must choose between your hopes, Hadrian. Not all are possible at the same time." She looked at Laila, amused by sarcasm. "I can. Your pay, by the way. In cash, or in Martikova commercial prospects?"

[Laila Bridger]

"I spend cash like an absolute idiot. So let's go with the prospects."

She glanced sidelong at Hadrian.

"I think I know someone who can use them intelligently."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"I spend cash like an absolute idiot. So let's go with the prospects."

"Let's go with the cash!" He hastily corrected. "As we've prospects enough on..." He grinned knowingly, "... our end."

Clever bastard. Hadrian crossed one arm and leaned his head on the other in frustration.

"The Martikova serve at the pleasure of the Atreides, Master Hawat." He says while trying Hadrian Bridger on for size in his thoughts. "And I of course am more than happy to serve, but I'm..."

He stopped, clicked his tongue in thought. Then at last the wheels in his mind began turning.

"Wait... wait, wait, wait. This isn't... nooo, this is different." He laughed dryly, "This is something else, something more important. What's happened?"

[Kannon]

"Let's start with what should happen. There are Harkonnen assets I want busted. They seem to be the master cell for operations against Caladan. The intelligence you retrieve is mine. Whatever else you commandeer can be yours as long as House Atreides can deny responsibility."

[Laila Bridger]

Laila looked at Hadrian with some concern.

This would have to be his show. She wasn't at all sure she'd be much of an asset in what sounded like a fairly delicate business.

Can't do much worse than getting captured and drugged up, but that was still a job within my expertise. How much worse is this going to go?

She hated this. It wasn't fucking FAIR, they'd just gotten a chance at...

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Remember to breathe, Laila.

This is the price, so pay it, and whine about the well-fucking-documented unfairness of the universe later.

This is how you two get the house and the vineyard and the Caladanian sky for your children. This is how Kiran gets nieces and nephews they can see without having to board a Guild ship, this is how you build a life.

So whatever this old spider wants, you do it this time, and you look for the way out.

Together.

But you also make sure this old bastard understands you're not just pawns on a game board.

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Wait." He laughed, eyes wide as saucers. "Did you really... nooo. You just told me, a civilian with no military or practical experience, to go and... and- and- what? Bust a Harkonnen spy ring? Just like that? You're fucking with me right?"

He ran his hand through his hair and began pacing.

"Why would I ever want to endanger myself, or my family like that? Cause let's say I somehow defy the odds. Hm? Let's say I actually succeed. I'll be so deep in by that point that my family might, no actually, will become targets for reprisal." He grimaced. "The Harkonnen are... vicious, sadistic, relentless even." He turned back to Hawat, practically vibrating with anxiety. "Who's gonna protect them from that? You?"

"And let's not even address the glaringly obvious. Like why does it have to be tomorrow? Hm? Not the end of the month like originally scheduled. Or the even more obvious, 'why me'? Not that old chestnut." Hadrian chuckled. "Little old me, a vintner, who you just pulled from the meat grinder, to run off to another planet, to do someone-that-make's-way-more-sense's work for them?" He stared deliberately at Hawat. "You don't have anyone else do you? Just me and my little import/export outfit. All on a timer."

He shook his head and laughed even harder. "Ohhhhhohoho, you bastard."

He sighed after calming down a little, "Alright, I'll do it. But I need details on what to expect. What will I have to work with? Who will I be working with? And how much time do I have?"

[Kannon]

Hawat wasn't amused by the bluster, but neither was he offended.

"You'll get as many leads as we can provide at this point of urgency, as well as additional assets. My calculation is quite simple this time, Hadrian. Your arrival on Harmothep at this particular time is the least likely to cause ripples that may trigger enemy contingencies. Why risk the relationship with House Hagal when there is a crafty underdog with an independent streak? Besides, you can be quite authentic in expressing dislike of House Atreides if need be, and me in particular."

Hawat paused.

"Their bribes have been in melange. High risk, high reward."

[Hadrian Martikova]

Of course it's drugs. It's always drugs. He thought with an eyeroll.

"Ahhh dammit, I guess that makes sense. And yeah, I can certainly gripe..." he sighs, "... but I also get it. And I know you know that."

There are worse than the Atreides. Hadrian may be loyal to a degree, but not blindly so. Also.. Hawat is right, he's now dating a former enemy of the Atreides. His antics up until now could be misconstrued as working towards their down fall. Afterall, why would a wine merchant trade in guns to bring back home to begin with? Surely it's because he's working towards a regime change himself. That could be an in, but it's a dangerous one. He'll be out in front the whole time.

[Laila Bridger]

And there it is.

"Just one thing, mentat. Some data for you to calculate."

She fixed her gaze on the old man.

"At what point do your tools get so worn out that you can't trust them to do the job? Because we both just survived a thopter crash in the goddamn jungle caused by goddamn megafauna. Then we floundered around in the fear and uncertainty of not knowing if we could even call for help. Then I got captured by a goddamn Tleilaxu and shot full of a powerful narcotic, fully aware that the planned end state was my death. He..."

She jerked a thumb at Hadrian.

".. got to be frantic with worry about that even if he didn't have the details. Probably worse because he didn't have the details. He got to go into his first firefight, actively taking lives for the first time ever before nearly dying in a hail of gunfire, still not knowing if I was alive or dead. I got to wake up into a cave rocked with explosions and full of armed men out to kill me and my comrades, while trussed with goddamn shigawire, not knowing if he was alive or dead. I got to ride pure adrenaline out of a cave full of one toxin into a warzone with the air polluted by another. Then we weren't sure the thopter would have room for us before the little bastard's goddamn ship exploded. Still with me, Thufir Hawat? That was our week. Less than a week, really."

She placed her hands on her hips, letting a bit of the extent to which she was barely keeping it together seep out.

"We wake up in the infirmary this morning, with, yes, our bodies more or less patched, but without having had a single goddamn moment prior to today to deal with any of this. And now you're sending us off on a delicate, deniable espionage mission in the morning? Hadrian's right. You must be desperate."

Pieces fell into place, a bit of her awakened potential doing the math.

"So desperate the team you sent to rescue the Ducal Heir from a jungle had a vinter and a cook along for the ride, along with multiple mercenaries of uncertain loyalty."

Her whole demeanor shifted. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I'm no stranger to being thrown into danger by people I don't trust, but if we do this... you'd better stay the hell away from us for at least a solid month, do you hear me? Or we'll be no good to you or anyone else."

[Kannon]

The 120-old man stared at her for a while, factoring in that she was actually serious. He concluded that Hadrian and her were a good personality match.

"I asked Dr Yueh if your vitals are sufficient. My assessment of your personalities is that this emotional bluster you are making me weather now is going to take a backseat once your respective stronger drives and instincts take over. If speaking with emphasis is your negotiation strategy for freer time afterwards, I can give you that without it, as long as it doesn't harm Atreides interests at any point. I have little patience for people without economy of words though. So if you want to turn my offer down, do it plainly and then live with the result. In such case I'll leave to secure the second-best solution."

[Laila Bridger]

She made a sort of dismissive gesture, as if she were waving away flies.

"Oh, we're in, Mentat. You have what we actually want."

What I need.

"I'm simply making sure you have all of the data about the people you're sending out. And how long it'll be before you should use us again, because use us you will, of that I have no doubt."

[Kannon]

"Then I shall leave you to whatever you are in need of continuing". Your lighter shall be waiting tomorrow in the farmlands on the other river bank, there." He pointed with spotted finger to the precise ricefield, then turned to move out.

[Hadrian Martikova]

Hadrian let Laila get out what she needed to get out. His own frustration had gotten the better of him after all. And its release, while cathartic, might have had the happy benefit of skewing Hawat's perception of him. Unwisdom in the moment leading to underestimation in the future. What more could he possibly hope for?

And this episode, while unfortunate in its timing, might lead to several outcomes. All of which he turned over quietly. For instance: he parsed the realization that his old life might soon be consigned to the fire. One misstep and he'd be forced to change vocations. From Vintner to Spy Master. With the change, all hope of a calm quiet life would be set to cinders. Their only escape would be in each other. Assuming their passions could survive the shackles of the Atreides.

Or they could succeed, profit richly, come home and earn a reprieve until his leash is pulled again. Unless he were lucky enough to find leverage over Hawat, this would be the ideal outcome. Regardless, Laila is right. Life's not fair when weighed against one's desires. But on its own, life is a fair game. Within despair there's a cold opportunity, should one have the constitution to simply take it.

...and with enough money. Anything is possible.

"Then I shall leave you to whatever you are in need of continuing". Your lighter shall be waiting tomorrow in the farmlands on the other river bank, there." He pointed with spotted finger to the precise ricefield, then turned to move out.

"Lord..." Hadrian bowed. Having, as it were, no interest in stopping him. On the contrary, he now had a mountain of work to do on his own. Work that couldn't wait long. He grabbed Laila's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Welcome to my life." He told her. "Are you sure you want to stick this thing out with me?" He looked away miserably, "Are you... sure I'm worth the headache?"

[Laila Bridger]

"Welcome to my life." He told her. "Are you sure you want to stick this thing out with me?" He looked away miserably, "Are you... sure I'm worth the headache?"

Is he serious?!

She turned to face him squarely, placing her free hand on his cheek to guide him back into facing her, and kissed him.

"Hadrian. If I didn't want to, I'd have told that old spider no. I'm not going for him, or the Atreides. You understand me? They couldn't pay me to do this, I'd tell 'em to fuck themselves. I'm going for you, and for me."

She half-smiled.

"And maybe for Kiran and Bern, too. Family. Anyhow. What can I do to help get ready?"

[Hadrian Martikova]

"I know..." he leaned into her embrace, accepted her affirmation with a sigh. "It's just, I need you to understand that it was my foolish ambition that got me into this mess. And I... I should have told you what you were getting sooner."

He stands up straight again, both hands holding Laila's. "You're taking this better than most would you know. And as happy as I feel, I guess I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop." There's a shrug and an accompanying grin when he says, "I'm damaged goods. A permanent relationship was something I'd given up on you know?"

"What can I do to help get ready?"

Once the conversation rounded the bend and arrived at this juncture. Oh, he told her...

"Well... let's think." He paced a little. "First off, I need to see what Bern is up to. It's likely that he's being redeployed if Hawat is this desperate. Which means our wine is going to have an extended stay in Phil's cellar. The Lanville's will keep watching after the Yaks no charge but Philly boy will need a head's up."

He turned to Laila. "At some point I could use an unbiased appraisal of all of your skills. We'll definitely need an infiltrator I think. Maybe someone else who is good with tech."

He thinks some more. "I'll need to reup on tools for tapping comm lines. We'll need clothes, cover IDs, a false voice-transmitter, scanners, we'll need to pay a visit to the spaceport so we can get the sauvignon plonk loaded up... assuming Hawat hasn't already made that happen."

He checks the time. "There aren't enough hours in the day. Especially since we'll need to create a code book in transit." He breathed, "I hope Hawat appreciates how much money I'm going to need to throw around to even come close to creating a large enough HUMINT network. Given the fact that we'll have to do it quieter than even I'd like so as not to arouse suspicion."

[Laila Bridger]

"I know..." he leaned into her embrace, accepted her affirmation with a sigh. "It's just, I need you to understand that it was my foolish ambition that got me into this mess. And I... I should have told you what you were getting sooner."

He stands up straight again, both hands holding Laila's. "You're taking this better than most would you know. And as happy as I feel, I guess I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop." There's a shrug and an accompanying grin when he says, "I'm damaged goods. A permanent relationship was something I'd given up on you know?"

"You're not the only one, Hadrian. I'm a goddamn mess, and, my hand to god, I keep expecting you to realize it and it scares the hell out of me that you will."

He turned to Laila. "At some point I could use an unbiased appraisal of all of your skills. We'll definitely need an infiltrator I think. Maybe someone else who is good with tech."

"My skills? That'll be a short conversation, but sure. That said... how much of a cover ID will we really need? If Hawat's throwing us out there cold, it's because an Atreides vassal of questionable loyalty and shaky actions and a former soldier of House Vidal hiding out under the identity of being former House Ecaz won't raise too many suspicions. We can just go with the truth. Which is good, because... yeah, subtle stuff? Not a lot of that in my skillset."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"You're not the only one, Hadrian. I'm a goddamn mess, and, my hand to god, I keep expecting you to realize it and it scares the hell out of me that you will."

"Even our anxieties match, maybe we'll go the distance after all." He whispered kissing her forehead.

That said... how much of a cover ID will we really need?

He clutched his chest, "It's better to have contingencies in place should the worst come to pass, rather than attempt to fly by the seat of our pants. And if we need to bug out we'll need those IDs sooner rather than later."

There's a sigh, "You are correct though. We'll be playing the part of ourselves most of the time, all the while hiding in plain sight. If asked why you're there, it's to protect me. That way I can do all the lying for us."

"But for now let's get moving. I want to send a few messages, then procure a room at an inn in Cala City." He shivered. "I refuse to spend the night in this place. Wouldn't be surprised if there were cameras in the bedrooms."

[Laila Bridger]

"Even our anxieties match, maybe we'll go the distance after all." He whispered kissing her forehead.

In that one split second, everything in her life was all right.

He clutched his chest, "It's better to have contingencies in place should the worst come to pass, rather than attempt to fly by the seat of our pants. And if we need to bug out we'll need those IDs sooner rather than later."

There's a sigh, "You are correct though. We'll be playing the part of ourselves most of the time, all the while hiding in plain sight. If asked why you're there, it's to protect me. That way I can do all the lying for us."

"And I am going to be there to protect you. You die on me, I'll kill you."

"But for now let's get moving. I want to send a few messages, then procure a room at an inn in Cala City." He shivered. "I refuse to spend the night in this place. Wouldn't be surprised if there were cameras in the bedrooms."

"Cameras? Hell, they probably have spies bricked up in the walls."