Pyxis alpha discovery

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Charlotte was about to take Garry back to the second floor when Azjah walked through the front doors of the company. Gabriel walked at her side listening as the Marchioness explained the plans for the day to him.

The six foot four inch Carpathian exuded menace, and Charlotte took an involuntary step back as they walked past the hallway where she and Garry now stood.

"Pay close attention to this warning Mr. Bradstreet; you do not want to cross that one." Her gaze followed the pair as they vanished behind the elevator doors. "I will take you upstairs, show you your office area, make certain your security clearance is working, and then escort you in to see the Marchioness."

Charlotte thanks Eoin and his staff as they followed the path so recently taken by the Marchioness. "And before you ask me Mr. Bradstreet, I will tell you, that man is the Marchioness' primary body guard. His name is Gabriel. You may not always see him, but the odds are that he will always be close enough to the Marchioness to protect her from any harm, using any means he chooses."

They arrived on the second floor and paused at the third door on the right. "This will be your office for now. Please see if the locks will open with your fingerprint."

Charlotte waited as Garry tested the locks, and long enough for him to step inside the space. It was furnished with a mahogany desk, not quite as large or ornate as Charlotte's was. The wall behind the desk was predominantly bookshelves, but mostly empty for the moment. There was a window that looked out over the plant behind the offices. The carpet beneath the desk overlaid a hardwood floor, and the shades of gray, olive green and cream shown as a light spot in the space.

When Garry finished looking around, Charlotte escorted him to the office adjacent to Charlotte's own. The name plate on the door simply had the name: Azjah Telyria Danaan Caer

As they walked into the room, the Marchioness was seated at a very ornately carved oak desk. The floor was of the same shade of oak, as were the book shelves surrounding them. The carpet beneath the visitor's chairs and the front of the desk was a cream color with abstract arcs and whisps of vibrant salmon, rich teal, and a faint hint of charcoal silver-gray.

Acrylic stands, covered and sealed, displayed the prototypes for each weapon currently produced by Drachen Walde Industries. The display case on the right corner of Azjah's desk housed a very elaborately decorated .50 caliber weapon. Mounted on the wall to the left were antique weapons, now disabled, that showed off where the company began.

The trio of windows that looked out over the front parking lot of the company and the tree lined buffer to the street; were also clearly bullet proof, and standing in the shadows cast by the bookshelves stood the unmoving and completely silent Gabriel. He was nearly invisible there in the shadows, but the black clad guardian had chosen to remain entirely in the visible spectrum for this meeting.

Azjah motioned to one of the chairs; an ivory and teal pattern in watered silk cloth had been indicated. She had chosen to meet at her desk rather than the small conference table to the right where the usual board room leather chairs clustered around the glass and chrome table.

"And so Mr. Bradstreet, you have agreed to our terms I see. May I welcome you to Drachen Walde Industries?" Her pale blue gaze was unwavering as she studied him where he sat. She took note of the military dress. "I presume you are comfortable carrying?"

She smiled then, "Shall we take you down to the testing and firing range we have onsite?" She rose and only then did Gabriel move, but in the blink of an eye he had gone from the shadows to standing beside the Marchioness. His black eyes watched Garry as a shark might survey the oceans around it. No hint of emotion lit those features, only a chill sense of menace when one looked into his eyes.

The Marchioness led Garry down a flight of stairs at the end of the hallway, talking as they went about the history of her company and why she'd expanded her father's company into RhyDin. About 5 minutes of walking brought them to an indoor firing range.

"What calibre weapon do you prefer, Mr. Bradstreet?" There in a locked cabinet before them were several of the current production runs. She touched the biometric lock and the top clicked open. "Please, select one you feel comfortable with in your hands."

[Garry Bradstreet]

"Pay close attention to this warning Mr. Bradstreet; you do not want to cross that one."

Garry watched the Marchioness and her bodyguard while nodding to Charlotte. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He wondered just who was so intent on doing harm to Azjah that she needed Gabriel around. This job was certainly getting more interesting.

He followed Charlotte to the second floor, pressed his fingertips to the scanner, and heard the lock click open. He opened the door and they stepped inside. The office was far more spacious and oppulent than anything he had been accustomed to, and the bookshelves could easily hold all the books he had ever read in his entire life. He wondered if he was being told something, and he smiled. “This should do, nicely,” he said as he turned around to Charlotte. “What’s next?”

The answer became evident as he was ushered to Azjah’s office. He immediately noticed the statue-like Gabriel as his eyes scanned the room, but he found the encased weapons far more interesting. When Azjah motioned to a chair, Garry took a seat and crossed his left leg over his right knee in a relaxed posture.

"And so Mr. Bradstreet, you have agreed to our terms I see. May I welcome you to Drachen Walde Industries?"

“Thank you, Marchioness Caer,” Garry replied with equal formality. “I found the terms to be quite acceptable.

"I presume you are comfortable carrying?"

He raised a brow and smiled, “To be honest, I feel a bit undressed without one.” It was no exaggeration. He grew up around weapons, and his father taught him how to use them at an early age.

"Shall we take you down to the testing and firing range we have onsite?"

“As long as I’m not the target, that would be fine with me.” Garry rose out of the chair and was thinking of giving Gabriel a wink, but the big guy didn’t look like he had a sense of humor, so he controlled the urge. Garry enjoyed the discussion of the company history as they went to the first floor and down the hall, listening to all that she said and putting it to memory.

"What calibre weapon do you prefer, Mr. Bradstreet? Please, select one you feel comfortable with in your hands."

Garry looked inside the case and the DWI-45 caught his eye. He picked it up. It was a big blaster of a .45 whose slide was a big chunk of stainless steel and whose frame was molded polymer. The front and rear sights were pressed into dovetails, and the extractor was an external one, using a spring-and-plunger-powered system.



The trigger mechanism was a traditional double action/single action employing an ambidextrous decocking lever at the upper rear of the frame. The magazine catch was ambidextrous, so it didn’t matter which hand you grab it with, everything works the same regardless. The magazine was a hi-cap that held 14 rounds of .45 ACP, and its 4 1/2-inch barrel would produce plenty of velocity to expand hollowpoints. “It’s got accuracy, soft recoil, high capacity, easy to shoot and non-slip grip. A stainless slide and an impervious-to-solvents polymer frame.” He turned it over in his hand. “You people do good work.”

Garry set it back down when his eyes went to the 9mm. The polymer-frame semiauto 9mm was a beauty. The semiauto mechanism was a conventional cam-block recoil-operated tilt-lock, with a full-length recoil spring guide rod. The polymer grip frame had a hand-pleasing contour, with the slimmest, flattest grip Garry had ever seen in spite of the fact the steel magazine held a hefty 17 rounds.



The three-dot sights were drift-adjustable for windage and the rear sight was click-screw adjustable for elevation. It was the only pistol of this type Garry had ever seen to feature elevation adjustment on a low-profile combat sight.

“Let’s see, it's not necessary to manually hold the slide in any special rearward alignment to remove the takedown pin, you just lock it back. Very cool.” He released the magazine into his palm, checked the 6.25” barrel to see the six groove rifling with a right-hand twist. He slapped the magazine back in.

“I like this one. It’s easier to conceal, more rounds, and I would guess it's a bit more accurate. Let’s see what it can do.”

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Azjah had struggled not to smile when Garry had agreed to come down to the target range as long as he wasn’t the target. The man had a sense of humor, which was a good thing considering how much time they would spend together going back and forth to Pyxis, and setting up the mining operation there.

He studied the .45 that was the top seller in the DWI inventory for several long moments, and Azjah thought he might select that one. He glanced at Azjah, “You people do good work”. However, he gently laid it back into the cabinet and picked up a 9 mm instead. The light weight polymer frame and the extended clip holding 17 rounds was apparently more to his liking. The tritium, drift adjustable sights intrigued him. “I like this one. It’s easier to conceal, more rounds, and I would guess it's a bit more accurate. Let’s see what it can do.”

Azjah unbuttoned the pale blue silk jacket and withdrew a deeply blued DWI .50 AE with gold appointments, and one of a kind gold inlay. It was a custom crafted piece using a 152mm barrel. She checked the safety and then laid it atop the case. “This is my personal weapon. The polygonal riffling is left handed rather than right, bore diameter is 12.6mm. It is accurate to 200 meters in the right hands. The grips are custom fit to the owner.” She smiled, “7/8” dovetail rib should a scope be desired. Ambidextrous safety and tritium sights allows for production flexibility.”

She re-buttoned the sleek jacket and reached for the hearing protection and safety goggles that Gabriel was offering her. “If you will come with me, let us see what you can do with that choice of yours.” Gabriel opened the door into the firing room.

Inside were six shooting stations. Adjustable targets hung from the ceiling and could be adjusted up to 250 yards for accuracy at distance testing. Azjah took the first station and motioned for Garry to take the second. “I have seven rounds; please reduce your magazine to 7. We will shoot at 25 yards two shots, at 125 yards two shots and 200 yards with three shots and compare scores. You have 20 seconds from when you hear the start bell to execute your shots. Good shooting Mr. Bradstreet.” She smiled and took a firing stance, carefully aiming at the twin targets 25 yards out from the station.

Years of daily practice made the shoot routine for Azjah, but she was most curious to see how Garry weighed in as a marksman. Gabriel stood behind her, never moving, not so much as the rise and fall of his chest for breathing. The man could have been made of clothed marble, and did not put on hearing protection, nor sight protection. He simply waited.

They finished that exercise and Azjah nodded appreciatively at the silhouettes as they came toward them. “You might enjoy the maze Mr. Bradstreet. The only difference there is that the automation will fire back at you in a match of allies’ vs enemies in blind alleys and rooms. They are equipped with lasers set on stun, which will leave you no doubt when you’ve been hit."

She cleaned the gun before once again sliding into the hidden shoulder holster. “Shall we adjourn back to the office? I have some information on Pyxis ready for you. There are several things that need to be wrapped up here before we depart.”

She turned and left the room with Gabriel beside her. They returned to her office and she motioned for Garry to be comfortable before pulling a folder from her desk. Inside were three jump drives, labeled Pyxis 1, Pyxis Contracts, and Pyxis Team. There were several certificates authorizing exploration, the permission to use armed security on Pyxis, and landing permits for the Star Dragon and the Dragon Courier II.

“We will need you to be familiar with ultramafic intrusions, and the unique characteristics of high temperature and high pressure metamorphism of such intrusions. The mineralogy is quite unique, and we are searching for the total region where we are likely to find ultra pure crystalline phase eclogites.” She took the guest chair adjacent to the one he’d sat in earlier. “This information is not to be discussed outside of this room for now.”

She glanced at the clock on the far wall. “Perhaps you will join me for dinner this evening? The day grows late, and I have been going since 5 AM.” She smiled. “Besides, Andre always prepares too much food for one.”

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Beneath the three jump drives, which copies had also been provide to Rena lay several documents. The top one had an eclogite phase diagram.


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[Garry Bradstreet]

Major Bradstreet raised a brow when Azjah pulled out the DWI .50AE. He had seen a lot of weapons in his day, but never one like that. “Impressive,” was all that he could come up with; a definite understatement but he could not hide the admiration from his expression.

Garry followed her to the firing room and reduced his magazine to the seven rounds to match hers, and then put on the available hearing protection. He nodded at her instructions and took a balanced stance, two hands on the 9mm and gave a sharp nod of the head to indicate that he was ready. When the exercise was completed and the silhouette targets were brought forward, his shot spread was not as tight as Azjah’s, but it wasn’t bad for being on the spot with an unfamiliar firearm. He was satisfied with the result and evidently so was she.

“I look forward to trying out the maze,” he said while clearing the magazine and putting the weapon on safety. He followed Azjah to her office and once again took a seat in front of her desk, noticing that she took the other guest chair – a less formal posture.

“This information is not to be discussed outside of this room for now.”

“Of course,” he said while placing the jump drives into his pocket for later study and taking a glance at the eclogite phase diagram. This entire opportunity was becoming more interesting by the minute.

“Perhaps you will join me for dinner this evening? The day grows late, and I have been going since 5 AM. Besides, Andre always prepares too much food for one.”

“It would be my pleasure, Marchioness Caer.” He paused a bit and looked to Gabriel. “Will he be coming also? I promise not to toss my food.” He had just the hint of a smile.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

The man who called himself Alain, had been good to his word. He had gone much deeper into the background of Mr. Bradstreet as he’d promised. Azjah knew that ferreting out the past of someone who worked in military intelligence was not going to be easy. In all probability he had seen to it that his record would only show on first inspection what he wanted it to show. But there are always ways to dig into someone’s past, even an intelligence officer was not without weaknesses in his shell, and she was more than willing to pay Alain whatever it took to make sure Garry was no spy, and that he would be reliable enough to trust with the developing project on Pyxis.

She leaned back in her chair. She had invited Garry to join her for dinner tonight. She’d left him at DWI and given him directions to the Palazzo. Andre was preparing dinner for two at her request. While she had no idea what sort of meals the man usually ate, so she had requested that Andre make something Continental. She would take him into the gardens after dinner, assuming his answered her questions appropriately. Currently, she had the telescope trained on the constellation Pyxis. “The Compass” was what it’s name meant. It formed part of a series named for the ship Argo by Nicholas de-Lacaille. She smiled to herself, would it point the way forward with Garry, or would this information from Alain end their relationship as one that she could not risk?

She pulled the note from the folder on her desk and read it again…

"A.,
G.B. had three military connections I've become aware of, including Private Jack Koberlein, a reliable and bribeable informant with access to military files, and Sergeant Major Ted Weldon, who died six months ago, found at the bottom of a cliff - officially an accident, but I smell a rat.

G.B.'s military files mention next to nothing, only that he was honorably discharged, but there is one note referring me to the Sycamore Creek Campaign file.

Also involved in this Sycamore Creek Campaign was another man, a retired Captain Lange, now turned crazy old hermit. He's completely insane, I can't get a straight word out of him about the campaign - but he keeps calling G.B. 'Norman.'

My advice? Ask G.B. about this campaign and why he went by 'Norman.'
~A.D."

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Azjah’s telescope remained set up at the edge of the central garden where the gentle splash of water in the fountain could be heard, but not reach the delicate instrument. The optics of this telescope are the best currently available in the C20, which is a Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain telescope. She laid the letter on the table and walked out to the telescope. If Garry had the right answers for her, she would introduce him to their destination. She took a moment to check the view through the eye piece to verify that the computer controlling the telescope had not drifted away from her target of interest.

The constellation they sought covered 22.1 square degrees of sky and included 4 main stars. The one they were heading to was Pyxis alpha, which is a spectral type star known as a B2 II. The B2 designation means that Pyxis alpha is a blue star, the II means it’s a bright giant of a star, and has a magnitude of 3.8. It is 1,300 light years from RhyDin. It is not an oddly bright or exotic system. The system had not drawn attention so far. Azjah prayed it would not suddenly draw unwanted attention.

As she awaited Mr. Bradstreet, she thought back to how the Lawsonite had been discovered.

Pyxis Discovery

Pyxis alpha is a non-descript star in a sector of space with very little traffic and very little in terms of intriguing systems, but it was between Rigel and RhyDin. A small colony of Rigelians lived on Pyxis, which was the reason Azjah had visited the star’s planet at various times. She sold weapons to the colonizers, and supplied the small contingent of Rigelian military stationed there. During one of her stops, she had taken one of the native creatures used instead of horses out into the wilderness for some respite from work and the impending invasion of Lacerta. The animals had heads and necks reminiscent of phoenixes, and the bodies of great lizards, but they were warm blooded and could race like the very wind among the rocky outcroppings on the planet. She and Gabriel had spent several days out exploring the wilds of Pyxis with three of the Phoezards. Gabriel had not particularly been enthusiastic, but he did agree that it would draw less attention to him if he rode alongside the Marchioness rather than having taken another form and followed along.

On the third day of their outing, they paused for lunch near a very large ravine. The view from astride the Phoezards of the rim, and into the crevasse was spectacular. Azjah dismounted and settled onto the ground right at the edge of the crevasse to enjoy the warmth of the blue star, and the view. A tectonic rift had separated the ground here in the recent past. The rock faces were still sharp and had no visible signs of erosion or wear as she peered over the edge. The colors exposed in this fresh fracture were startling, and that was what drew Azjah to the ravine in the first place.

They sat in companionable silence as Azjah indulged in one of her few true hobbies. She had always loved geology, the study of geologic forces, and understanding how the landscape had become what it was when she saw it intrigued her. This structure on Pyxis alpha fascinated her not only because the fracture appeared to be very recent, but it was also an ultra-mafic intrusion that had undergone metamorphosis and been exposed. This was a rare find. Ultra-mafic igneous intrusions were associated with mantle rock rather than surface rocks. Their chemistry is incredibly unique and rarely found at the surface. These intrusions they’d just found are very low silica content, heavy mineral formations that were not often visible to the surface dwellers and human types of life forms.

She left her lunch with Gabriel to peer over the edge of the ravine and into the deep gash that ran for as far as she could see in either direction. The intrusion was a large one based on the depth of the chasm and the length of the opening displaying the same rock composition. She turned back to Gabriel, “I would like to remain here today. This is a rare formation, and I would like to explore it further.”

Gabriel nodded soundlessly, and began removing their equipment from the pack animal they had kept with them. He would set up their camp while she poked around in the dark rocks. Her fascination with rocks made little sense to Gabriel, but she found peace in poking around such dusty places in search of rare complexes. For that quiet relaxation that took the weight of her daily world from off her mind, he could overlook the strangeness of her hobby.

Azjah returned from the edge of the ravine to retrieve her rock hammer and safety glasses. She pulled a Brunton compass from her bags, and a small notepad before stepping into a safety harness. Her plans included repelling down into the ravine, and making notes on whatever she might find there. She checked the ropes and climbing gear while Gabriel established their camp.

Gabriel noted the curve of her lips as she prepared to descend into the crevasse. This was something she truly loved to do, and he doubted she even realized that she was smiling while she prepared her equipment. He watched her while he set up the tents. Rocks were nothing exciting, not until Azjah began talking to him, and then they came to life as she described how they came to the form she would hold in her hands, or why they took on the colors they did. She came to life too, he noted silently.

She slipped over the rim of the gash in the rock and began her descent toward the bottom of the exposed formation. Gabriel followed her over the edge as they slipped down the face of a clearly metamorphosed portion of the asthenosphere. This rock was strongly alkalic, almost entirely lacking the usual constituent of silica. The chemistry of the original magmas exhibited allochemical metamorphism. The rock chemistry had been altered during metamorphism by migrating fluids. This outcropping was an eclogites. There were high concentrations of garnet and omphacite in a coarse grained mafic matrix.

Eclogites crystallize from ultramafic, basaltic magmas. Generally accepted theory of formation has this kind of metamorphism occurring at a crust-mantle boundary known almost everywhere as the Mohorovicic Discontinuity. Heat flow varies depending on whether the site is underneath the thick layers of continental rocks, or at the thinner spreading ridges in the oceans. Temperature variations range from 200 degrees Celsius to over 1,000 degrees. The higher temperatures occur beneath the continental rocks, which is why finding an exposed eclogite is so very rare. The thinner oceanic crust allows for higher rates of heat flow and dissipation.

Azjah paused about 30 meters down. Crystals of Lawsonite began to show up in the matrix of the rocks. Lawsonite (CaAl2Si2O7(OH)2 H2O) and jadeite grew in abundance, which indicated the higher pressures and tectonic influences had been instrumental in forming the basement rock. As they continued down, the minerals of eclogites facies increased. Eclogites formed from basalt under very high temperatures and pressures. Omphacite pyroxene and garnet comprised a great deal of the matrix. The shock came as they descended that the Lawsonite, which usually forms at lower pressures resulted in larger, purer crystals of Lawsonite.

She hung suspended from the repelling ropes as she studied the small, but very pure crystals within the eclogite. Crystals grow in plastic and magmatic formations by first forming a tiny nucleus of their own compositions. These first crystals are the earliest process of cooling. The first crystals are unstable because they have a very large surface area in comparison to their size. As they grow, they stabilize. Lawsonite has a tendency toward twinning, but these crystals were un-twinned and very transparent. The usual surface imperfections were missing in these crystals, probably due to the metamorphic influences. These crystals were some of the rarest minerals in any galaxy. But they were showing up in great abundance, and in an un-twinned state.

Azjah went very still as she surveyed the rock face.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Lawsonite typically wants to form twinned crystals, but these were single crystals with no visible contaminants. She pried a piece of rock loose with what she was almost certain was Lawsonite. This mineral could not be created in laboratories, and their rarity made them worth small fortunes. She slid the sample into her bag and began looking around for more of them.

The further into the heart of the intrusion she went, the greater the find became. This formation had suddenly become extremely significant if she had truly found Lawsonite. She took several more samples just to be certain she had not mis-identified the clear crystals before she made her way back to the surface.

When she arrived, Gabriel was already there. He’d picked up her excitement and knew something very important had been found. She checked the streak of the sample. It was white.

They retired into one of the tents and prepared the field sample for identification. Azjah laid the sample onto the stage of the polarizing scope and took a deep breath. She leaned over and peered through the eye piece.

There it was, the Sorosilicate called Lawsonite. The orthorhombic crystal matrix was perfect, 222. Cell dimensions a=8.90, b=5.76, c=13.33, Z=4. Usually these crystals were white or pale gray, but these were translucent, pale blue. The luster is vitreous. The prismatic crystals cleavage, {100}, {001} perfect, {110}, poor.

Azjah trembled with excitement as the scope revealed the tell tale optical properties. α =1.665, β = 1.675, γ = 1.686, γ – α = 0.021, positive, 2V = 80°. The structure of the crystal is much more closely packed than anorthite. But Lawsonite has superior hardness. This is because the structure consists of chains of six-coordinated aluminum-oxygen groups linked sideways by the Si2O7 groups; in the framework so farmed there are ‘holes’ occupied by the calcium ions and water.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Azjah returned to the present. She had invited Mr. Bradstreet to dinner, and Andre was muttering as she paused in the kitchen area to find out what her temperamental chef had decided to conjure up for their meal.

One of the kitchen boys brought her the menu for that evening, allowing her time to review it before asking if it was acceptable.

Azjah nodded and retreated from the kitchen. It was never a good idea to upset a man wielding a large knife.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Azjah walked in to the Inn, pausing a moment just inside the door to reach up and assure herself that the three platinum picks remained securely seated in the platinum blonde chignon. The wind outside had been fierce, and it would simply not do for her hair to be mussed or to loose a pick due to becoming loosened by the elements. She located an empty table near the fireplace and headed across the floor, removing the jacket and gloves as she threaded her way toward her destination. She draped the jacket over the back of her chair and slid the fine leather gloves into the pockets of the jacket before settling down into the comfortable, cushioned chair.

She heard Rena give a soft mutter as she flipped to another page in her own book, and as she did so, her gaze lifted and she gave Azjah a brief wave before going back to her own notes.

The Marchioness glanced around for a serving lad after giving Rena a quick wave. She left an order with one of the serving lads before pulling her book from her valise. The glass of scotch was quickly brought to her table and she left the lad with two platinum coins before pulling a small notebook from her valise and began considering the words on the sheet before her. The formula for the crystalline structure was very complex, and it took her several reviews before she was certain that she understood what she had read. She made several notes on the pad beside the book to help her remember the complicated atomic matrix.

A fairly loud *pop!* brought the pixie into the Inn. Trinala was a wee creature, but you always know when the vivacious sprite is running around the Inn. She promptly flew circles above the room before diving into the hair of a gentleman seated with Rena.

Shortly after the pixie arrived, the Demon she had met in Teas n Tomes arrived, walking out of the shadows to find himself at the bar. He picked up a bottle of whiskey before lighting his cigarette and inhaling deeply. Azjah greeted him, still simply calling him “Demon” as she had not been introduced. He gave her a nod by way of greeting and she returned to her book.

Why had she come to the Inn tonight? Something nagged at the back of her mind. She hadn’t come to meet anyone in particular, and all she was doing at the moment was simply wasting valuable time. The Star Dragon needed to be flown after the modifications and repairs. Why hadn’t she gone out tonight and done that?

She shook her head to herself, but remained seated where she was. But once again her concentration was broken by the opening of the doors, the blast of cold wind, and the ominous sound of boots crossing the distance from door to bar. She looked up once more, and the ominous sounding steps belonged to the black robed and hooded figure she recognized as Xanth. She had still not determined just what Xanth was, but he never troubled her, and so she left the creature alone. His red lit ‘eyes’ scanned the room, as though he were seeking someone in particular.

She wrote down the next formula before glancing toward the bar, where Antonio Falconne had arrived. He greeted the entire room with a jaunty wave before taking up his post behind the bar. Azjah said good evening to Antonio, and Xanth paused, apparently recognizing Azjah from Twilight Isle. She had never seen the creature anywhere but in the dueling venues, so he might not have recognized her, but his hood moved down once in a nod of acknowledgement. His distinctive low, gravelly voice told her that he was “tolerable enough for now”.

Azjah smiled, “There is no combat here Xanth. I confess I’m a bit surprised to see you.”

Xanth paused with a faint grunt, “rarely do I frequent establishments such as this, but I am looking for someone.” When Azjah asked if it might be anyone she knew, Xanth paused, as though considering the query, “He is a Ranger, dressed in a grey cloak, with blue eyes and black hair. Goes by the name of Gren.” He turned toward the door as it opened. “I have… business to discuss with him.”

Azjah shook her head, “I do not believe I know him, Xanth. However, this is a good crossroads for running into him.”

Xanth finally stepped away from the bar, and moved toward one of the more distant tables, “hmmm,” was all he said before taking a seat and pulling a manual from beneath his robes. Apparently if he must wait, he would study while he cooled his heels.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Azjah returned to her own book, glancing up at Antonio. “When you have a moment, might I have a refill on the Dalwhinnie? Please?”

Antonio chuckled, “I’ve got a moment right now!” He took her glass and topped it off before handing it back to the Marchioness. “Things are going well for you?”

She smiled up at him, “very well, how about yourself?”

He rocked his hand back and forth in an half and half type of motion, “generally good, things have been quite busy lately. Almost too busy in fact; which is unusual for me to say.” He smirked slightly. Azjah chuckled and wondered if she should ask him precisely what was making his life so busy, and he smiled his infectious smile, “What’s keeping me busy? Business is booming, I’ve lost two of my staff, one due to accident, one due to retirement, and I’m having to pick up their loads as well as my own.”

Azjah laid her book down onto the table, “I am sorry to hear about the accident, but the retirement must have been expected?”

Xanth’s low, gravelly voice reached Azjah’s ears, “Bah! I don’t have time for this.” With that, the black cloaked figure tucked his manual back into his robes and rose from his seat, then making his way toward the Inn’s exit.

Azjah bade him good evening and missed the arrival of the vampire, Lord Temhota, who settled onto a rocking chair out in the cold. Xanth paused at the door and turned his hood in her direction, giving a single nod before disappearing into the night.

Antonio gave her a small grin, “It should have been. But it was my oversight. The gent in question has been with the family for his whole life, and his father worked for my father, up until the day he died. I guess I just assumed that he’d always be there. It was a bad assumption.

Azjah turned her attention once more to Antonio. “Well, there should be someone in town appropriate to your needs.”

Antonio nodded, “They do say that these things come in threes. My gardener, may he rest in the light, and now these two fine fellows. Hopefully that’s it.” He smiled, “And yes, I’m sure we’ll find someone suitable. But I truly feel like my staff is part of the family, so I’d rather not rush into things.”

She took a sip of her scotch, “I understand that point Antonio, finding the right person is crucial.” She knew from experience that hiring important retainers was not to be undertaken lightly. They have too much access and influence in our lives she thought.

Antonio nodded, “Indeed it is. They have to mesh perfectly with those already in place. The one thing I do not need is unnecessary friction. No sense in throwing sand into the pistons, so to speak.” He chuckled then.

“Such rash actions would indeed cause more trouble than it would be worth Antonio.” She gave him a quiet laugh. “And how is your lovely wife?” She hadn’t seen Antonio or his wife in a very long while. He told her that she and the children were all doing well. Azjah asked Antonio to give her greetings. He promised that he would pass on her salutation.

Garry paused on the front porch of the Inn, near where Temhota sat in his rocking chair, to kick the snow and mud off of his boots. Satisfied that he was not going to tread slush unnecessarily into the Inn, he pulled open the door and entered. He paused to look about the room as he unzipped the black leather jacket. He was more than ready to have a drink and get warm.

Azjah glanced at the door as it opened. When she saw who was arriving, she smiled, ‘Good evening Mr. Bradstreet.” She had very much enjoyed the dinner they had shared at the Palazzo the day Garry had hired into Drachen Walde Industries. She had not asked him any questions about his past because she was still waiting for the final intelligence reports on his background, and the evening had passed very amiably.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Garry smiled as he heard his name and caught sight of Azjah. “Good eve, m’lady Caer.”

She canted her head slightly, taking note of how chilled he appeared. “Would you care to join me here by the fire? You appear to be chilled Mr. Bradstreet.” She liked the way the man carried himself, but despite is wish that she use his first name, she was simply not ready to adopt that form of familiarity. He struck a note with her. One that begged a closer inspection, but Azjah wasn’t ready to give up on her husband. Not yet. Not yet. She put a marker in her book, laying it on the table just off her right hand.

His smile lit up his handsome face, “I would be honored, and very thankful,” he told her as he walked over to the hearth. He seated himself near the woman who fascinated him beyond the mere fact that she was his employer. He had savored every moment of their dinner, but this was the first time he’d seen her since that evening.

“Wonderful,” she told him as her pale blue gaze studied his gracefully fluid movement.

He left his jacket on, and Azjah realized that he retained the 9mm that he had selected as his personal weapon. “thank you, this is much better,” he told her as he made himself comfortable.

Azjah gave him a radiant smile, “I must say, you are a very good marksman Mr. Bradstreet.” She sipped her scotch, but continued to watch him above the rim of her glass, then lowered it slowly with a knowing smile, “Can we make you even better?” She knew that with practice, every marksman improved. And inside, she was looking forward to spending the time in the range with him.

Garry looked over toward Rena, and apparently he recognized her because he gave her a friendly wave and a sincere smile. She returned the wave and a nod, but did not come over to join them.

Garry turned once more to face Azjah and smiled, “I’m always anxious to improve – at everything. So the answer is, of course!”

His eyes held hers a long moment before he had added ‘at everything’ and Azjah curled both hands around her glass of scotch. The talk was mundane and entirely appropriate between them, but she couldn’t help giving him a conspiratorial smile, “And do you perhaps fly?”

He gave Azjah a wry smile, leaning ever so slightly closer to her, “only when falling from a bridge, I’m afraid. And that trip is a rather quick one.” He caught the faintest hint of ginger from her perfume before adding, “But, I’m willing to learn.” He had not come out and clearly said that he had always wanted to learn how to fly, but since he was very young, the thought held a great deal of allure for him.

She swirled the nearly empty glass of scotch, “We are taking the Dragon out tomorrow. There have been some major repairs since the flight to Lacerta. I want her in top form. Would you care to join us?” There had been major alterations to the ship’s hull defenses, along with amending sensor capabilities. The shrapnel damage to the hull had also been repaired, and it was time to check out the changes and repairs before they made any plans to head out to Pyxis alpha.

Garry’s brow rose slightly, but his expression communicated his excitement despite an effort to keep it hidden. “I would love to, m’lady. Who else will be going?”

She smiled, “Just Gabriel and I. If you’re game. It’s only a shake down flight, nothing exciting.” Gabriel remained out of sight, but leaned against the hearth, and she fought the urge to glance at the spot where he stood.

Garry looked intently into her eyes and smiled a slow smile, “I’m game, and looking forward to it. When is departure?”

Azjah took a sip of her scotch, noting that the glass was almost completely empty before she nodded at his reply. “Wonderful. I shall look for you at 6:00 AM. Now, what will you have to warm you up?” He’d accepted the invitation and she found herself looking forward to the morning.

Rena was making her farewells to the gentleman she had been talking to and gave Azjah and Garry a wave on her way out the door. Azjah gave her a brief wave as she passed by their table, as did Garry.

“I’ll be there.” He promised her and then added that he would like brandy, or perhaps a cognac to help warm him up. “A little Remy will warm me up.”

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Azjah glanced about for Antonio, and discovered that he had stepped into the back for a moment, “Hmm, it would seem that Antonio has vacated the bar for a moment.”

Garry started to rise, “I’ll go get it. May I get something for you while I’m up there?”

The final reports had come back, and Azjah needed to have some answers before she allowed this relationship to continue much further, so she leaned closer to Garry a moment, he voice lowered to a barely audible whisper, “And why would they call you Norman?” She leaned back into her chair and watched him closely. She’d meant to surprise him.

His eyes widened in no small amount of surprise, but his recovery was quick as he completed rising and giving her a brief nod of acknowledgement, “You have good suppliers of information, m’lady. I’ll be right back.” She had indeed managed to surprise him with her timing.

Azjah nodded as she caught the brief moment of surprise, and she wondered if he would give her the actual meaning, or was he even now creating a facsimile version of the truth?

Gary stood at the bar, awaiting Antonio’s return. When he did exit the back room, Antonio apologized to Garry before offering to get whatever he needed. Garry waved off the apology, “A Dalwhinnie, Distiller’s Edition, neat, for the lady at the hearth. A Remy Martin for me… double.” He amended at the very end of his order.

The Marchioness crossed her long legs beneath the table as she watched Garry intently. She closed the note pad and laid it on top of the book to her right.

Garry handed Antonio three silvers for the drinks and picked them up. He turned toward Azjah with only a hint of the smile he’d had earlier. He handed her the glass of scotch, “Your whisky, m’lady.” He’d even said it with the Scottish pronunciation.. ouisky.

She gave him a warm smile as she waited for him to broach the subject this time, “vielen danke” She’d told him in her native Germanic language.

“Bittezehr, Fraulein,” he said smoothly as he sat down again and made himself comfortable by the fire as it crackled behind him, “And what else do you know of me?” He was not going to answer her question just yet as he returned with a query of his own instead.

Azjah waited for him to settle in comfortably, “Very little in fact, but when you told me you were Intelligence, I did not expect to find much in the public forums. You were very thorough.” She did not add that she’d paid well for the information that escaped the usual search routines.

He smirked slightly and held up his glass of fine French brandy, “thank you.” Still, he did not volunteer any further information.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

Azjah wondered just how far she was going to have to push before he addressed her queries on this hidden side of Mr. Bradstreet. “Would you perhaps care instead to talk about the circumstances of one of your colleague’s deaths?” She had hoped he would open up before now, but he hadn’t been in Intelligence to be easily swayed.

Garry looked at her carefully, “And just ‘which’ colleague would you be speaking of?” Again, answering a question with a question.

Azjah searched her memories for the name, and she took a slow sip of the scotch, “Sergeant Major….Weldon, Ted Weldon I believe was the name.” She curled both hands around the glass as she waited.

He was somehow not surprised that she knew, or that she had the resources to find out. That she brought it up tonight rather than the other evening over dinner did puzzle him. “And I assume that you’ve also heard of the Sycamore Creek Campaign?” He took a moment to compose his thoughts into order, “It seems I could have done just a little bit better job of silencing a certain private.”

She gave him the slightest nod, to let him know that yes, she had heard that campaign name, but she did not know the particulars of the events. “I know enough to be curious.” She re-crossed her legs beneath the table, “You were very scrupulous, but….” She shrugged slightly; he needed to start providing some answers as her intuition was growing very leery about his past. “I have to be very careful,” she told him by way of explanation for her depth of search into his background.

Garry sipped his brandy and looked down into his glass. Something un-named flickered in his eyes and was quickly gone again, “The Sycamore Creek Campaign was wiped out of most army records, not only my own. It’s not the kind of campaign that generals want to have talked about.” He took a quick sip of the Remy, “It’s not Norman. It’s No Man. No man was to be left alive in Sycamore Creek. Those were our orders. Of course, it wasn’t just the men. It was the women and children too.”

Azjah’s pale blue eyes remained locked on Garry’s bright blue gaze, and she saw old ghosts come to life once again. This was not at all what she had expected. Very quietly she spoke, so as not to disturb the ghosts he was seeing further, “you survived.”

Garry’s voice grew very soft and took on a reflective quality. This whole thing was something that he had preferred to keep hidden, but Azjah had brought it all to the surface for review. “I couldn’t do it. Yeah, I survived, only because of my name.” His eyes focused on a different time and place now. “I refused to carry out the orders. Ted did…with tears in his eyes the whole time. So did a private, Jack Koberline. People were slaughtered. Then the Colonel commanded me to kill these people. He kept shouting, ‘No man is to survive. No man! Kill them!’ I turned and shot him between the eyes.”

Azjah reached across the table top that separated them to rest her fingertips on his forearm. “Forgive me for dragging this up. Portions were in your file, but not this kind of detail.” She had not anticipated his background would have these kinds of memories. “This is not the kind of information I was expecting,” she told him very quietly.

“I received my discharge because of my father,” he continued as though he had not heard her. “He was a high ranking general. The experience drove some people crazy, like Private Jack. Others handled it differently. Ted was my best friend. He jumped off a cliff.” Garry’s gaze dropped to where Azjah’s warm fingers rested against his skin.

“Those kinds of orders take terrible tolls.” She had been associated with Empire building closely enough to know atrocities were committed, but that did not make them right.

“The Sycamore Creek Campaign was pushed beneath the proverbial rug. That made it more expedient for me to be discharged rather than tried.” He nodded, “Yes, they do.” He shook his head and laughed, but there was absolutely no mirth in his laughter. “I can’t believe Jack is calling me Norman.”

Azjah gave him a small smile, “He is difficult to follow sometimes. I am sorry to have brought this up. But, you made so very little available for a background search.”

“Well, the Sycamore Creek Campaign ended my future in the military. I didn’t mind. I wasn’t going to make it a career anyway.” He smiled at her comment about burying his past, “Yeah, well, I was good at intelligence.”

She decided it was time to back away from his hidden history, “How long have you been wandering RhyDin?”

He shrugged slightly, “I’ve been doing odd jobs for the last two years; trying to separate myself from the past.”

She gently withdrew her finger tips from his arm and instantly felt the cool air replace the warmth of his arm, “Perhaps we can help you improve that separation?” She lifted her glass of scotch to her lips and took a deeper sip of the whisky.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

About that point in their conversation, the door opened again and admitted Lord Momus. Kairee phased through the back of the bar and solidified behind the bar. Azjah greeted Kai with a quick nod. Lord Momus on the other hand sent a smooch sailing her direction, which drew a growl from Gabriel.

A dark and ominous chill seeped into the Common Room. It came seeping through the floor and doors, rising into the space to wash over exposed flesh of those unlucky enough to be caught in it’s wake. It was the same chill Azjah had felt before when she’d come to the Inn, and she gave a quick shiver as it came again. Her eyes slid toward the door to see if her intuition was correct, and soon enough the black uniformed figure stepped in from the cold night beyond. Lord Travanix’s fingers pressed open the door, allowing him to gain entry into the Inn. He pulled his arms behind him as he stepped further inside. The door closed with a “smack” behind him. His dark auburn eyes flashed in the light of the room as though he searched for someone or something. He’d apparently been the source of the chill that she felt when ever he arrived.

Azjah gave a quiet laugh to Lord Momus, and chuckled as she heard the snarl from Gabriel. Some things never change.

Garry shook himself free from his own thoughts, “I’m sorry… okay… all that is past.” But the ghosts she’d raised remained to haunt his eyes as he looked into hers.

“You have my regrets for needing to inquire,” she told him. It was the best she could do for an apology. His past had required the search, and it was lamentable that so little had actually come to light until she actually asked him about the events.

He gazed into her pale blue eyes, “It’s okay. You had a right to know.”

She wasn’t certain she had a right to bring such memories back to the surface, and she pulled the silk wrap closely around her shoulders at the chill that had invaded the room. “I will do my very best to help you put distance between now and then.”

He smiled and reached over to touch her arm, as she’d done to him earlier, “you already have,” he told her softly.

She was unused to anyone having the temerity to actually touch her, and she fought the reflex to pull away. It wasn’t because she disliked him, it was so instinctual that most of the time, she avoided contact on impulse or second nature. Gabriel growled low and warningly, but Garry seemed not to notice the warning, and Azjah finished her scotch quickly. “I am glad to hear that.”

He finished his drink, “Okay, I’ll see you at 6 AM.”

She nodded, “Yes, the Star Dragon is docked in bay 6.” A small ripple of anticipation threaded through her being.

He broadened his smile, “Bay 6, got it.” Then he winked, “My flying begins tomorrow.”

Azjah gave him a brilliant smile, “I’ll go easy on your first flight.” She shivered again, despite having assigned a cause to the phenomenon.

Garry smiled, “Thanks.” He rose then and headed for the door, pushing it open. As he left, he had thoughts of the Sycamore Creek Campaign preying on his thoughts. Ghosts of the slain peeking from behind formerly closed places in his mind.