The Mata Haris

[Olivia Ryder]

"I won't ask you if you don't want to." Olivia said with a smile. "Still working on the set list for your reception, but it'll be fun... trust me on that. Angel and I were always getting requests to perform, but duty always called. It feels good to just... be a civilian. I've never really been anything but a fighter or a spy or an officer, not since I was sixteen. Angel at least got desk jobs, I was usually always in the field. Granted escort duty was fun, but in retrospect, being barely legal and basically putting myself out there and seducing men... that was screwed up. Not only that but I killed my first enemy operative at 16. Up close, with a blade. Didn't even suspect it. Part of the reason why I REALLY do not want Lana following in those footsteps of mine. Model, sing, dance, hell I'll even be happy if she really gets into ranching or farming or even bee keeping... I want the cycle to end with her."

Trinity nodded her head. "I know what you're saying... honestly... I want this ranch to be what our children run." she looked at Ethan. "He and I... we grew up pretty rough. Necessity but still... I would be very happy if our children never served. Just ranched, maybe got involved with local law enforcement maybe... that I do feel strongly about. Can't tell you how many times I had to remind my fellow deputies that we're not fighting like we're fighting Imperium, we're fighting thieves and people making bad life choices. We're not at war. They don't have to blow someone's head off."

"I accept violence when it's needed but... I've lived with it for so long." Olivia said and looked at Jena. "She was dragged into the military life. I was basically bullied into it by my mother and encouraged into it by everyone else. I'm not going to go into my forties with the same red in my ledger."

[Ethan Talon]

"Sounds good to me," Ethan agreed. "We had a few good years grown' up, but they are scarce few."

[Olivia Ryder]

"I hope you don't think that Jena and I are a couple of whores... but it's been a while since either of us have had the chance to just... relax like this. Other than a few very disappointing dates, I haven't really been with anyone since I lost my husband. My focus has been on a combination of my children and my work, but mostly my work... until they took my kids away. CPS hasn't been too upset with me since I resigned my commission and President Price basically considering the me you see before you as a completely different woman. I just got a message the other day that I can resume custody of my son and Lana. As long as I have a steady job not in something combat related and I have a stable home support, which Jena has agreed to. They aren't exactly happy that Jena and I aren't like... married or anything but it does help that Isabella told them to 'piss off and leave her the fuck alone.' and had it signed by President Jon as well."

"I was happy to sign that I'd be a co-parent. You and Angel have been like sisters to me and you're the only Ryder sister that's bi... and this isn't exactly the first time we've dated." Jena said with a wink.

"True... but the first time you've actually put it in writing." Liv said with a smile. "Granted if I ever came across even an alternate of my husband I'd be with him... although he and I did... three way with Jena a couple times on the old Mata Hari. Would almost have been a four way with Kirby if she didn't think Marcus would get jealous of his CO and his wife sharing a bed with his sister. Still... I almost married her when she was pregnant with Zeke, because Marcus wasn't taking responsibility, but my dad made sure she was taken care of and her dad kept her busy, but the offer stood for a while. My... mother had me do a lot of things a mother shouldn't have made her own daughter do with men that... I..." she bit her lower lip. "I was a honey pot quite a bit. Arisu and I were her best 'sex-pionage' agents. I had a very very hard time getting close to men on a personal level because I was pretty much trained to manipulate and not take any real pleasure in it, it was a job, it was 'duty'. For almost the first year I was with Ethan... I had to remind myself that I loved him and that I wanted to be with only him... that he wasn't a mark. I felt safer with women. I actually enjoyed myself. Even now... when I came back, I felt so much safer and more at ease with Jena. That and... physically she's super close to Ethan but with more hair and she smells better." she took a deep breath. "I don't really share all that but... you and Trinity... I like being around you two. You've taken us in and I feel safe here. Trini... you are so much like your mom, I'm proud that despite your own horrible past, that you turned out so good. Ever since you two came here and shocked us... I didn't even know Angel was pregnant... didn't even think she COULD get pregnant."

"Well it was the only point in time where my presence wouldn't screw things up apparently and would actually work in our favor. We both grew up a lot since we came here, could actually break out of our 'old' shells. It's been good for us. And I appreciate you being open with us... and seriously, I am thrilled having you here. As much as this is a working ranch, I also wanted it to be a place for the family to come and get away from things. Just slow down a bit." Trinity said and put her arms around Ethan's shoulders. "And... it gives us a reason to not be so hyper focused on work, to actually have a little fun now and again. I used to think I wanted to be a CO like mom and Carly but... this ranch scratches that itch."

"It's cool to be a short little Asian thing and pushing around guys older and bigger than you right?" Olivia laughed.

"Oh yeah... that's exactly it. And the guys know I am a lot stronger than I look." Trinity replied with a grin. "I've had to knock a couple guys down a few pegs here. It's like 'who do you want to kick your ass, me or Ethan?' I don't knock out teeth but the embarrassment is enough. Little five foot and change thing that's barely a quarter century dropping a guy a full foot taller, they can't live that down easily." she gave David a smirk. "Right?"

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan shrugged, "They know better than to try anything with me. I wouldn't knock teeth out, I'd tell them to gather up their stuff and find another job."

[Jena Tana]

"Well if you ever need back up..." Jena said with a bicep flex. "Just call. Although I am totally helping with physical training of your Marines, any excuse to throw a bunch of Marines around a mat..."

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan smirked over his coffee, "I can't think of a better person to ask. I'll make sure you're compensated well. Even if I have meet the different out of pocket. In the buisness of war people die and get hurt, but I want to minimize that as much as possible."

[Olivia Ryder]

"And you Marines take the brunt of it. I can't count how many condolence letters I saw on my husband's padd. And how many funerals I had to attend." Olivia sighed and closed her eyes. "I made it a point to attend any funerals for any of his old unit. And... there are only three left. That's it. Lost a lot at Vulcan. But we lost a lot during the Battle of Trill and in other missions. Hell we lost four during a shuttle accident... three more to a Evolian Flu." she rolled her eyes. "I hate the ones that happen outside of battle. Like seriously... that's not how I would want to go out. It's the Marine equivalent of dying on the toilet."

"I'll admit... when I got word Ethan didn't make it... I at least felt some peace that he died a hero. And I was overjoyed when I found out he was alive. Not quite as happy when that Kalia would purr his name..." Trinity gave him a smirk. "Alright I was a little jealous of her. Fake leg aside, she's cute."

"She's alright... you're smarter though." Olivia replied with a wink. "Street smart and book smart. She strikes me as more book smart but like her 'street smarts' only come from simulations, not actual life. Although I really like Kaikoa. He actually called me and we had a four hour chat. Mother did the same crap training to him as well. I consider him my brother. Which is nice... if I was still a spy and had to infiltrate Earth again, he'd give me a pass. Oh! Crap... I entirely forgot. Speaking of Emperor Kai... he wanted me to tell you that he's sending a shipment to you as a wedding present. No idea what it is, but he thinks quite highly of you. He's planning on visiting during the next Imperium/Alliance summit. Dominion is starting to get very blatant and I think he wants to make sure he's protected and we're protected as well. Either of us fall to the Dominion, it'll be bad for the whole Quadrant."

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan groaned, "That old chestnut." Frowning he put the coffee down, "I didn't and wouldn't touch the woman. Yeah, she wanted me. Big whoop. It happens. I didn't want her. The way you act I might as well threw her on the bed, and ravaged her right there on the spot."

"I didn't want to be there. In fact at first I figured it was only a matter of time before they extracted the information they were looking for and killed me. I begged for the mercy stroke. That same stroke I had given others who suffered. Then it was you that kept me going. You that gave me the fucking strength to learn how to use this!"

He held up the artificial arm in demonstration, and let it fall to the table. "It wouldn't matter if she was the most beautiful woman in the galaxy, which she isn't. It's you, that fills my lungs with breath. You that gets me out of bed when these damned artificial limbs hurt so bad that I want to cry. And, I don't dare let you see it, for fear of worrying you. But yeah, go ahead and be jealous of the woman. Keep bringing it up to slap me across the face with."

He stood smoothly in his normal cat like grace. He pushed the chair in silently, and before leaving the kitchen he dumped his coffee into the sink and rinsed the cup.

He left the room without stomping or even making an angry motion, but the fury poured off of him like the heat of the oven in the summer kitchen.