Handover

[Rebecca Talon]

"Duty calls. I'll catch a nap on the Athena." Rebecca said with a shrug. "She shouldn't be long to make orbit. The carrier group was scattered all over the secomtor, and they had to rendezvous before picking us up."

[Arisu Lei]

"Yeah, certainly not the group that Cece ran when she had the Athena. She's not dead by the way... but she's not letting on that she's alive either." Arisu whispered. "Been keeping a low profile, I think she and the beauty queen in there were plotting something. Kinda surprised that the deadly Lady Seig'Ajem, the Master we've been hunting, really didn't fare well against that other Apprentice. Guess your counterpart trains them better than she did. Course, I still don't entirely forgive her for Donovan's fall. Or for what I'm sure she and Frank no doubt did to Cece. I'm more shocked about Porter. Now the anti-Jase'dasis stuff she was spouting makes a lot more sense, she was sleeping with one."

Ari sighed and crossed her arms. "And yet... the Iljuna protected her enough to make her way to you. To call a truce. Perhaps she can be saved after all. Still, I don't have to like her... but when she wakes up, I'll talk to her and then let you know. I'll be spending the night at Angel's place, so call me there if you come up with anything. That Yoshi... he's kinda cute, reminds me of one of my cousins from Grandma Anjali's side of the family."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Because he is family," Rebecca quipped. "But, that's your business, not mine."

[Arisu Lei]

Ari chuckled. "Oh? You don't think he's cute? Is he single? Granted he's young but he sure seems in shape. How long has it been since you had a guy in your bed that wasn't your son?"

[Rebecca Talon]

"Not since Milo, and it's fine." She said waiving a dismissive hand. "I'm no spring chicken, and let's face it, I don't have time for a relationship, and jumping into the sack with the first guy I see isn't my thing."

[Arisu Lei]

"Hey, you are still extremely attractive Becca... don't put yourself down. Second... sometimes it just feels good to let go for a night, no strings." Arisu said with a slight chuckle. "I tried to do the relationship thing too, that's why I'm not Director of Homeland Intel anymore... but being all pent up isn't good either." she blushed slightly. "Master Kodon agreed with me, while yes, we Jase should eschew attachments to the point of obsession and focus ourselves inward, there are biological needs... but sometimes we need to feel another's Iljuna. Perhaps that's why you and Milo didn't quite work, he didn't share your connection to the Iljuna. I must say though, it's a lot more intense..." she chuckled. "Hey... I own my urges, they don't own me."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Again, I have to have time and desire to which I have neither."

[Charles Ryder]

The Next Day --

Charles woke up in the rather large king sized bed that Nick and Alice had in their bedroom, Nicole was curled up next to him, her makeup smeared on her cheek and on the pillow. It took him a few moments to realize where he was and who she was. Wasn't something he always did, just hop in bed with a strange woman, even if she had the highest security short of the President. They were moving furniture well into the wee hours and getting things from her old apartment beamed over, a couple bottles of beer turned into shots, which turned into glasses of scotch and before either of them really knew, clothes were shed and he saw just how strong Nicole Decker was under the tailored suits.

"I have got the mother of all bloody headaches." Nicole muttered and rolled over as she put her head under the pillow.

"You don't drink enough water." Charles said as he uncapped a water bottle that was in the bottom drawer of the nightstand. Clearly his nephew had kept a stash of drinks and snacks. There were bottles of water, packets of electrolytes for hangovers, fruit snacks and various baggies of nuts and energy bars. "Here..." he dumped one of the packets into the bottle, shook it up and handed to her.

"Thanks." she said and sat up, not at all concerned about her own nudity, after what she and Charles had done the night before, pulling up the sheet for 'modesty' was silly. She took a long drink and closed her eyes. "Nick and Alice were geniuses, they think of everything." she put the bottle down and rested her head on his chest and felt his muscles. "For an old man you're really in shape. Not the oldest I've been with, but the most muscular by far."

"I used to wrestle in high school, did some in college, and a few small time leagues. Did bodybuilding for a while, but now I just focus on keeping my muscle mass so I'm not that skinny old guy." Charles said with a smile and flexed his bicep. "Leo and I used to be big kids when we were younger, mother used to be an amazing cook we'd eat like crazy. Then we decided in high school to get in shape, mainly because he was obsessed with Tessie when she was a skinny little thing. Nerdy fat kid wouldn't quite fit with her, so he got really lean and I did more strength training, didn't lose weight, gained about fifty pounds, all muscle." he patted his belly. "Well, gained some of it back recently, but I'm not as young as I used to be."

"Oh I have no problem with that luv... I'm not exactly a skinny model like Alice or Teri or the Lei girls." Nicole said as she shrugged her shoulders. "I'm in better shape than most of my agents in terms of stamina and sheer strength, I can take down one of my skinny little things with abs that could grate cheese."

"We're built like brawlers, we'll outlast any body builder or low fat spandex kiddie." Charles chuckled and leaned on his elbow. "You know we can train together, it's not like I couldn't do with a partner."

"I'd like that. So... about this place..." Nicole batted her eyelashes.

"I think we're clear... big place for one single woman and a cat." Charles mused.

"Wouldn't mind the company... let's just keep things fairly low key... not that the family won't pick up on it immediately they're quick like that. I just don't want people to think that you're fair game or... I'm just fucking you to get free rent. Still, saving the tax payers if that's the case."

"As long as I can visit and spend the night now and then..." Charles said and kissed her cheek. "Maybe buy you lunch or dinner sometimes..."

"We don't have to be exclusive... i'm old enough to be your daughter." Nicole whispered.

"So were Nick and Alice and people got over that." Charles countered.

"True. Well, still... I do have enemies." Nicole replied. "And the Ryder clan has had enough losses."

Later that day... the Mount

"Hey the boss finally gets in..." JT said as he glanced at a clock.

"Well it's a good thing I'm not your boss, technically. What are you doing here JT?" Nicole inquired

"Oh just dropping off some files and I wanted to see if that SHIELD base we were setting up on Xenex was still a go." JT said and raised an eyebrow. "And what I can't visit?"

"Last time you visited you and Mackenzie managed to poach four of my best infiltration specialists..." Nicole cleared her throat.

"Well we needed them and it was their choice..." JT replied and rubbed his neck. "So since Alpha Section is being folded into SHIELD I suppose I should tell you, Nick and I have a rather extensive network of confidential informants and assets we've set up between AS and Naval Intel... "

"I suppose that's your cute way of asking me for funding?" Nicole said as she sat down. "Oh very well... I'm in a good mood today."

"Ah I suppose that's why Charles is here..." JT smirked.

"He was my ride and I'm going to give him some surplus gear to beef up the bar's defenses... don't be salacious Mr. Kirk." Nicole said as she gave him a look.

"Riiight..." JT chuckled and saluted her. "I owe Jenkins in the armory $50... talk to you later."

"What was that?" Nicole stood up as he left her office.

"Hey kid... keep it on it on the DL huh?" Charles whispered.

"Hey man, whatever... not like I'm upset, besides... I like Decker, knew she'd be Ryder clan eventually." JT said and patted his shoulder. "We still on for that wrestling match at the civic center?"

"Ready to lose another $50?" Charles teased him as he wiggled his eyebrows. "My boy Bruiser is a well... Bruiser."

"Yeah but I gotta give it to Baron Von Krush he won the last three matches." JT said with a smile. "I got a good feeling about this."

"You ever actually wrestle kid?" Charles whistled. "Whatever you say..."