Guardians

"Like the ocean is your god-self;
It remains for ever undefiled.
And like the ether it lifts but the winged.
Even like the sun is your god-self;
It knows not the ways of the mole nor seeks it the holes of the serpent.
But your god-self dwells not alone in your being.
Much in you is still man, and much in you is not yet man,
But a shapeless pygmy that walks asleep in the mist searching for its own awakening.
And of the man in you would I now speak.
For it is he and not your god-self nor the pygmy in the mist, that knows crime and the punishment of crime." - Kahlil Gibran


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To: Major Pepper Siamendes, UAP, SIU

From: Tillery Woodhen, Spinwheel City, Paquin, CNS

Major, consider this a formal notification that Svetlana Pleides is under my protection. Any contact with her will be through me or my employees. She is a very close friend and associate. I will not take any threats to her lightly. We will need to talk. Soon.

Tillery Woodhen
CEO, CNS Corp.

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May 24 - Bihar Sanctuary

"Major."

The heavy brocade hanging over doorway to the CATZ Trade offices was pulled back. A stream of sunlight poured through the opening and two men entered. Well, more like one man accompanied by one mountain.

"Hello Tillery," I said returning the greeting.

"This is my.... associate. Erik."

"Hello Erik," I said. Erik was the mountain on two legs. He filled the door nicely.

"Hello," he answered. A deep, resonant voice.

"He won the Osiris mixed arts competition just a couple years ago," explained Tillery.

I smiled pleasantly. "That's wonderful."

Probably a lot of casualties that year.

I did not introduce my own escort, the one from Special Forces.

"Shall we go somewhere and sit?" I added.

"Of course," answered Tillery.

"There is a patio above us I believe."

I led us from the trade office, past the relief of Dionysus, and up the stairs.

The terrace was lined with little tables giving a clear view of the surrounding temples and sacred carvings.

The air was fresh. The sun was warm.

I chose a purple table.

"So," said Tillery once we had sat down. We both knew why we were here.

"I am glad to hear that you will be funding Sveltana Pleides' legal team," I began.

Tillery tried to hold back a smile. "I have a feeling you had some other reactions as well."

"Not at all," I replied, "I recommended that she seek legal council. She is in a lot of trouble."

"Her first choice is 'Nathan Hale.'"

I frowned, "Do I know that name?"

"The name Sentry used when he tried to defend Pluto in that trial on Al Raqis."

The patio tilted with this information. "My goodness..." I exclaimed.

A conviction hanging over his own head and Sentry walks into a courtroom to defend a young companion. That was one brave bartender.

"I had a stronger reaction," remarked Tillery.

"Well, he isn't safe yet," I cautioned, "here in the Core."

"I ran into him while Svet was talking to him on Botany Bay."

I nodded, "She does need a lawyer...she has her rights."

"You have circumstantial evidence and you know it, Pepper."

"Not at all Tillery," I explained, " I had a field agent present when she was shot in the shoulder. I have recordings of her vowing vengeance. I have a bullet that was dug out of her shoulder and found at the scene of the crime."

"Do you have any proof that she was there?"

"You know how it works Tillery. Pieces of a puzzle. They mean nothing alone. It is only when you step back and see the big picture do they mean something. You do realize she has not been charged?"

"I do," he answered, "And I plan to make sure she isn't."

"Good," I replied, "There is an offer on the table already."

Tillery leaned forward. "Do you know the history I have with Svet?"

"I hope whatever it is does not mean a conflict of interest for you."

"She saved my life on Shadow."

"Ah... Shadow. And there is the rub."

He continued, "It was she who piloted the ship that took what few of us there were to evacuate."

"Her testimony on the events of Shadow...specifically the destruction of the space station is what we need against Faith."

"And I agree," replied Tillery.

"Did she tell you our offer?" I asked.

"Not in details."

"Her confession to the murder.... and to answer some questions regarding it.... and her testimony to the events on Shadow and the state will stay the charges."

That was the basics.

"It's open to negotiation," I added.

Tillery would have none of it. "She didn't murder Wirefly. Simple as that."

I chuckled, "Tillery ... don't tell me my job."

"I know her. If she had killed him, she would have said so proudly."

"Unless she is scared," I said, "That baby means a lot to her."

"It does. She just gave birth in fact. But that doesn't change who she is. I'm not sure she knows how to lie. She's too direct."

"For that child she would falsify evidence, lie, and more I am sure..."

"No, she wouldn't," he interrupted.

"...and she believes in reciprocity," I finished.

"She would just kill," he added.

I nodded slightly, "Possibly."

A slight breeze and the scent of jasmine drifted across the patio.

"Besides," he added, "if I'd known you wanted her for the Faith investigation, I could have helped. She has no love for him. She wants him dead as much as I do."

"My concern is the bigger fish," I stated. The ones behind Faith.

I paused.

"We are reopening the investigation into the bombing of Aberdeen," I said.

"Good."

"It is unfortunate that Doctor Wirefly was killed," I continued, "He had secrets... secrets that should have been extracted like so many fingernails."

Tillery smiled a little with a raised eyebrow. "Why, Major..."

"Your client's personal vendetta, her quest for 'reciprocity', has gotten in the way of justice for the half million people killed in Aberdeen," I said flatly.

"I thought that kind of thought was against your principles."

I shrugged, "I have feelings too...I am not just logic."

"You simply could have asked her what she knew. By even a mild threat to her child, you've made your own job that much more difficult," he reprimanded.

I had to concede the point. "True... I rushed to confront her. The evidence is rarely so clear." Live and learn.

"Ana is not her first child."

"Oh? Yes.... something about Ivan."

Tillery explained, "She gave the boy up for adoption. Was never able to hold him before he was taken away...."

"Perhaps you should find the boy," I suggested.

"...So the minute you mentioned any harm to Ana..."

I shook my head, "I will not harm that child. I never said I would. She thought her pregnancy would make others believe she was innocent. I corrected that illusion."

"Do you honestly believe she did it?"

"Yes. But I will tell you this: I believe she is not a repeat offender," I said equitably.

Tillery leaned back and looked at me for a few long seconds.

"...and I have heard of her kindness to others, including an Alliance soldier despite the injuries she has sustained."

His face grew colder.

I stopped and reached across the table slightly. "Tillery," I said softly, "it's okay."

Tillery shook his head a little. "No, it's not, Pepper."

I sighed.

"You want her testimony on Faith," he said, "you'll get it. No problem on that. I may have to be present, but you'll get it."

"But...?" I prompted.

"But if there's so much as a rumor of charges against her, first, I'll tie you up in lawyers until the heat death of the universe."

I laughed merrily. I love the spirit of this man. He is like a volcano. Deep and full of fire.

"Second, there will be no more cooperation from me," he said firmly.

"And answer me this Tillery," I said defiantly, "What if it turns out that I am right?"

"That she killed Wirefly? You're not."

"But what if?"

"You're very good, Pepper, but you are wrong about this."

"But still...what if?"

"Ask anyone who knows Svet and they'll tell you the same thing."

There was a pause. Just a couple sitting on a terrace. Warm sun. Pleasant breeze. Bodyguards.

"Tillery.... do you know anything about this Doctor Wirefly?"

"I know he was involved somehow with the destruction of Shadow. And the farce of a trial on Londinium. Not to mention the arrest of both Mikie and Sentry."

"And beyond that?"

"That he's involved with things that should make anyone with a shred of humanity cringe."

"There are no records of him," I expanded, "Anywhere. Yet he can organize a posse to arrest Mikie and Sentry. what do you think that adds up to?"

"Nothing good, I agree."

"Right. If I can add up that the evidence points to Svetlana, so can 'They'. If she didn't do it, I need to find who did ... fast."

"You do. But you're wasting time going after her. And drawing attention to her as well."

"And how am I drawing attention to her?" I countered, "I visited her twice ... the first time she invited me."

"Do you have any records of you going to Botany Bay?"

"Of course."

Tillery gave me a look. Okay. I would concede that point as well.

"Tillery ... you need to find out categorically if she is innocent. Not for me but because it may impact on the advice you give her."

"I will," he answered, "I know she is."

"Okay," I replied with a nod.

We both got up to leave. The bodyguards adjusted their stances accordingly.

"Just so you know," added Tillery, "I believe in reciprocity as well."

"Tillery," I countered, "I believe in law and order."

"I know," he answered, "And I still like you."

"People ask me for justice..."

"And law and order don't always equal justice," he interjected.

"...but they don't want to submit to justice themselves."

"I'll help you," he said, "For now. But with what I said about protecting Svet, just so you know...I don't bluff."

Tillery motioned for Erik to follow, and the two on them left the patio.

Once they had gone, my escort from Special Forces turned to me.

"Well," he remarked with a smile, "that went well."