War Room

[Isabella price]

“I disagree.” Isabella told Nick. “It’s not submissive to listen to options and then to follow the one that makes most sense. Submissive would have been blindly giving this Sandoval look a like and Dominus what they wanted. He’s had enough people submit to him. No more.”

Bella was tired of the self sacrifice plays they didn’t work when her mother did it and they never worked when Kinsey did either. Honestly, she had enough of them and enough of people submitting to Dominus. Lei did it for years and Solara still bore the marks from hers. She was tired of doing nothing.

“Lyashev I want you to stay with Lei. If my father has an issue with it send him to me. I have enough guards between Jonas, Eli, and my parents. One more will not make us any safer.” Isabella commanded and looked over at one of the secrect service agents. “Have Jonas meet me at Bartyn’s cell and tell him to bring Solara.”

[Valeriya Lyashev]

"Yes ma'am." Val nodded her head and smiled. She loved it when Isabella took charge like that, for as much as she protested running the Alliance, she was good at it and she was good at 'cutting through the bullshit' as Nicholas called it.

The agents spoke into their mics in their sleeve and gave Val a nod. "Jonas and Solara are en route, give them ten minutes." she unholstered a back up weapon. "Here, for Solara, I know she rarely carries a weapon, with this Bartyn character... no one goes unarmed. We've underestimated the Ajem." she gave her a salute. "Good luck Mrs. Price."

[Jonas Calhoun]

Jonas took a deep breath as he looked at Solara, first time in months they had been asked to do anything. Her recovery took a while, but she had finally started to get some of that old fire back.

"So I wonder what your sister wants." Jonas said as they took the lift in the hospital to the secure wing. "Probably something to do with Colonel Leo."

[Isabella price]

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[Solara]

“With her who knows.” Solara said with arms crossed as she Watched the levels tick passed on the elevators display. She didn’t like being summoned especially since she hadn’t gone back to work for Price yet. Not since Thessia. Not since she wasn’t the only one who had to recover from it.

[Jonas Calhoun]

"Well if it's something you don't want to do, I'll back you up and take you home." Jonas reminded her. "Even IF this is the first time in weeks that we've been more than a couple blocks from the condo. So maybe somewhere to eat and then home."

[Solara]

“Maybe,” Solara said as the elevator doors slid open revealing Bella standing at the end of the hall. She was dressed in her usual black pants suit that made Solara feel under dressed.

“Let’s go see what she wants.” Solara said as she took Jonas’s handed and stepped out of the elevator.

Bella straightened at the sight of them. For a while she didn’t think they would come. Jonas has always been a strong maybe in her mind.

“Thank you for coming.” Bella said, diplomatically as she glanced down at their joined hands. “Don’t do that in there. You’ll see why.”

Solara rolled her eyes as she let go of Jonas’s hand and gestured for Bella to lead the way. Bella turned and punched a code into the keypad and the door popped open.

All the secrecy and security was starting to bother her. Just as she was about to demand answers Bartyn came into view.

“What the fuck?” Solara demanded. “Why is Dad in a cell? What the hell is going on Bella?”

Bella smiles thinly as she glanced toward Bartyn.
“That’s not Dad.”

[Jonas Calhoun]

"Then who the hell is he?" Jonas said as he looked at the man who looked like a much harder, more severe Clint. His eyes looked cold and almost dead compared to the jovial and warm eyes of Solara's father. "Bella... what's going on? What are you exposing her to? She's finally getting back to some semblance of her old self... you fuck this up..."

[Isabella price]

“His name is Clint Bartyn but he goes by Ronin and he’s front an alternate reality. He hand a hand in Leo’s death.” Isabella told him as she looked at Bartyn coldly.

“So what you brought me here just to tell me this?” Solara inquired with a raised eyebrow, it was almost an exact mirror of Kinsey’s.

“In part-“

“Then why?” Solara demanded fixing Bella with a cold look.

“Bartyn has information we need on Dominus, the Ajem, and more. I would ask Kinsey or Jack but they aren’t here. You’re the only other person I could think to ask.”

[Jonas Calhoun]

"Asking a bit there aren't you Bella?" Jonas said and put his hand on Solara's shoulder and sighing. "But... given that you have few other options..."

"Who's the tiny brunette?" Bartyn said through the window. "Snack?" he chuckled.

"I haven't seen one of those containment units in use before... those are like... top level." Jonas commented. "He stays in the box... if Solara is up to it. I think she can do it but If there is one thing I've learned, it's never to push. Hey us Xenexian dunderheads can learn a few things."