OOC- An Ironside Joint Production
James Gillespie had done what he usually did when he got any leave of a decent length, he headed to Vaguzia, he tried to keep this quiet but when Alex Redfern was your commanding officer you generally didn't get to keep many secrets. It was a mystery to many within Red Legion how he always seemed to know everything, it lead many to believe that he had used his connections to King David to be able to do things like hack phones or get your e-mails, but in truth he just read people well and had eyes that seemed to miss nothing. It was this that lead to him now sitting in a lovely market place in
Vallis Vaguzia. He could see the appeal a beautiful market and pretty stone buildings surrounding it. He had tracked his suspicious Red Legionnaire to here after a few dead ends and now he sat outside in the market enjoying an ice cream and reading a paper. He'd scoped out the apartment that he had discovered Gillespie stayed at and now waited for him to return home.
Penelope Fava had been out shopping for dinner that evening and was on her way back from the fish markets. A row of cafe's and bars stretched up the main street towards the market square over which her apartment was located. She enjoyed living here but she knew it wouldn't last, she was thinking for a moment of how many times she would make this walk before leaving when a wolf whistle came from the bar she passed. "Hola Bella dama" a man yelled at him, she turned about to give him a piece of her mind when she spotted
Nathanial Corrino he was sat with a bottle of beer and a glass of wine smiling at her. She shook her head, she had no idea he was coming to visit but she was pleased to see her husband. She backtracked and made her way into the seating area kissing her husband as he wrapped her in his arms.
"When did you get in?" she took hold of his hand across the table as she sat down. They didn't get to spend much time together, it was all part of the problem of living with a man who was from one of the Holy Houses of the Bene Gesserit faith. She didn't mind, it was a great honour to be trusted to be his wife, and although she knew a concubine would soon be joining them she longed for moments like this.
"A few hours ago, by the time I'd dropped my gear off I guessed you'd be at the fish market" she was highly predictable, he'd warned her about that after the Truthsayers began being targeted and while she herself wasn't a soldier of the Bene Gesserit she was potentially known to them, and that worried Nathaniel. He'd therefore known she likely would pass this way and had enjoyed a quiet beer with his book while he waited, she wasn't exactly easy to miss, a beautiful woman with bright red hair attracted attention anyway. They sat and had another drink before Penelope began to worry that the fish would spoil in the heat and so they strolled back home arm in arm.
It was the red head Alex spotted first, her hair stood out amongst the locals and then he spotted Gillespie, he sat and watched from across the square as they entered the 2nd floor apartment he'd tracked them down to. "Now I see why you come here" Alex smiled to himself, he now had to work out why, something wasn't right about the Lieutenant recently and his lack of concern over the recent prisoner escape had a few alarm bells ringing for the Major. Alex made his way up to the 2nd floor, he passed along the outer landing that had six appartments on, he waited outside the door for a moment or two listening at the door.
"I didn't think I'd see you for ages Nate" a woman's voice could be heard.
"I have a week of leave, an op went a little off" Alex recognised the voice as Gillespie, so who was this Nate? He was also worried that he was seemingly sharing information with this woman. "Beside when do I need an excuse to visit my wife?" laughing could be heard inside and Alex was even more confused, had he somehow got the wrong door. He made his way down the landing checking for sounds at each door but knew he had the right place. Worried he went back to the first door and listened while keeping an eye for incase anyone spotted him.
"You heard from the Truthsayers in Seitch?" The woman asked, Alex felt the hairs on his neck stand up, that question was a worry.
"McNeill keeps us informed, its not great" Gillespies voice replied. Alex walked back down to ground level, he was torn, he liked Gillespie and considered him a friend but something was going on here, something he couldn't let slip. That evening he made his way back to his hotel and spoke to Brigadier Kelly, the old man would surely have some good advice and once past the initial shock of the news that one of his best was seemingly not what they thought he gave Redfern clear instructions.
The next morning at sunrise Alex was back in the market square, he knew Gillespie well and didn't have to wait long, the door opened and a running gear clad man exited, what Alex hadn't counted on was the girl, she followed him down, but he wouldn't have much of a chance if they got a head start and so as they turned up a narrow street he got up and sprinted across the street and followed them, the two where twenty meters or so ahead and laughing as they gently jogged, a few seconds longer and Alex was right behind them and threw himself shoulder first at Gillespie's knees buckling them under them. The girl let out a squeal as the two men crumbled into a heap, Alex was straight onto Gillespie's back an arm around his throat. "Stay down Nate" Alex hissed at him.
"Fuck...Alex get off me" Gillespie urged as he felt the arm take control of his head, next he felt himself being raised to his feet. Alex began dragging him down the road keeping his now hostage between himself and a now advancing girl.
"Stay there" Alex reached into his pocket and removed a knife holding it in Gillespie's ribs, Penelope stopped and Alex could see her shaking.
"Ruith"
[1] Gillespie yelled in Gaelic, Penelope trusted him without hesitation and turned and ran, Alex hadn't expected that and the slight release around the neck gave Gillespie a chance, he threw himself face first forward, the wind driven out of him but Redfern was now on the ground next to him, Gillespie got a hand on the knife and slid it away. The two wrestled on the ground and while Redfern was proficient in martial arts he wasn't a match for Gillespie, the man was ten years younger and lived in the gym, he managed to get a knee either side of Alex and rained down punches at the senior man. He got a few good ones in spliting Redferns lip before being rolled off. Gillespie placed a kick perfectly into Alex's ribs winding him and giving himself enough time to stand up and land a kick in Redfern's nuts, he crumpled into a heap. Alex saw Gillespie pick up the knife and prepared himself to have to defend himself in his pained state. Gillespie placed a knee gently in Alex's groin and leaned over him. "I'm sorry" he said, Alex could see tears in Gillespie's eyes. "I promise you I never betrayed you guys. You'll understand one day." Gillespie stood and readied himself to run, he turned back folded the knife and placed it back in Alex's pocket as the Legionnaire officer tried to regain his breath. "I can never thank you enough" he turned and ran. Alex got his breath back a few minutes later and tried to track them down, the flat was empty, he asked around the market but got different answers about where they'd gone. He sat down nursing his bruises, he had to smile to himself, clearly Gillespie had made a show of running through the market in different directions, a clear attempt to lose Alex, and it had worked.
Nathaniel had darted straight back to the flat, Penelope was stood holding the door shut and he had to yell for her to open it, he didn't wait, simply grabbing her hand he ran, "Come on" he pulled her along as he darted round the market taking several streets and back tracking before taking off towards the cities main centre, one eye always on the way Alex had come. "Shit!Shit!Shit!" he cursed when eventually they stopped, she held him close. "He was a Morelander, my boss......my friend" Gillespie was crying, he knew this day would come but never thought it would be like this.
"What do we do?" Penelope asked, her whole life had been in that flat.
"We run" Nathanial pulled away from her, "We go to Chapterhouse, we get some documents and we get out of Vaguzia, we head to Nemeria and from there back to Ui Cenneslaig. Then we think what we do next."
"But my stuff" Penelope was crying now.
"It's gone" Nathanial said coldly, "Both our lives have gone, we have to be Bene Gesserit now" he was coming to terms with it quicker than he imagined and releasing her he kissed her on the forehead and then began making their way towards Chapterhouse.