((This is Loriah's story so far. None of this is public knowledge, just her side of the story. I hope you enjoy.))
~
‘Xeavier, it's Ruth. Do you have something for me?’ The woman, whom she believed to be her friend, had really said that. Ruth. Not Aneta. Not Riahan. But Ruth. Where had she heard that name before and why didn’t it surprise her as much as it should have? Her thoughts were interrupted as Ruth approached her and handed her a small device. Her mission was clear. She nodded knowingly and immediately sent off a short message to Eeio. ‘Now’. Next thing she felt was the familiar feeling of being digitized and she reemerged in the grid system safely, along with her new companion. A person she had just met, but for inexplicable reasons, the only one she felt she could trust at this moment. His mission was the same as hers. Keep the device safe until they could hand it over to Ruth.
Ruth? There was that name again. While travelling through the grid her mind analytically ran through possible places she may have heard that name, and just as she started to feel her body materializing at Harrys, it dawned on her. New Dawn. That’s where she knew the name from.
~
Cathleen had met Riahan only by chance. In a bar of all places. Talking to a couple of omnis. She had been in a good mood that day, having made a considerable about of credits on her last trade, and felt like celebrating a little. A few beers later she had apparently gotten herself mixed up in a search for evidence concerning the death of one Xeavier Humbold of New Dawn. She’d read the news about his death. Seen the reports pointing fingers at Omni-Tek, and at The Sentinels for not helping with the investigation. But she never believed that she could or even would be affected by any of it, other than maybe fewer business opportunities due to the inevitable rise in conflict between the Clans and the Omni-Tek corporation. However there was something genuine about Riahan. Something that made Cathleen trust her intentions to be pure. She felt for the woman, who seemed so desperate to find out why this man had been so brutally murdered, for no apparent reason. Or maybe it was just the beer.
~
She didn’t really feel safe as she sat there with the device in her hands. What was she going to do with this? Should she attempt to access it? It didn’t feel right. The message was not for her. But. If she remembered last night correctly, then it was meant for a dead man. Zora. And maybe if she managed to hear the message, it would give her an idea of what to do next. And she really needed an idea of how to proceed in this.
As she unhooked the device from her Comm Unit after having replayed the message several times, she sighed deeply. What a cryptic message. A warning. From a caring man, to his enemy. A message that if it had been sent possibly could have saved the lives of many. She did not exactly understand it all. What weapon could possibly be far stronger than the Battle Dish that ultimately claimed the life of the would-be-recipient? And why did a Clan even know about this weapon? Maybe Eeio would understand.
~
‘A warning?’ Eeio had continually looked over his shoulder during their short meeting. Was he as nervous as she was? ‘Yes, I’ll show you. It’s too hard to explain.’ Cathleen opened the secure comm line Eeio had prepared earlier and showed him the log. [‘Tarkhan, the dish is a trap. The weapon you want to reveal is far weaker than the one already at your back. Do not let her near you. Abandon the project. Save yourself. - Xeavier Humbold.’] She looked at him as he read the message. ‘What do you think it means?’ Oh, how she would have loved to be able to read his mind right now. To see why his face seemed to show a mix of emotions, fear and relaxation. She sighed. ‘It means’, he began. ‘It means that I was right to get involved to begin with.’
‘Something major is going on in Omni-Tek. Something that threatens all of Rubi-Ka. It’s not just some local powerplay. And Bahirare appears to be the one behind it all. Her and her army of clones or whatever they are.’ Cathleen looked at him nervously while he spoke. It sounded all too familiar. Hadn’t Riahan said she had proof that Bahirae was behind Xeaviers murder? Hadn’t she told her in confidence that Omni-Pol did it under Bahiraes orders? The puzzle pieces were falling into place.
‘What you have is the first clear evidence of that. Up until now we have had to rely on rumor and speculation mostly.’ He paused. ‘But this leads me to what I actually wanted to talk to you about.’
‘My sources tells me that Riahan is not who she claims to be. She is Ruth Montezuma, Leader of New Dawn.’
A smile spread on Cathleen’s face. ‘Oh! I always expected her to be more than she lead on.’
~
‘I don’t know who to trust anymore.’ It was true. Ever since that Sunday in Tir her life had changed to something she’d never ever imagined. She was now a wanted terrorist. Ugh, that word really hurt. She didn’t feel like a terrorist. She was only trying to help a friend. Granted, a friend who had kept certain aspects of her identity secret. But none the less Cathleen still felt there was something there. And that Riahan had turned out to be Ruth Montezuma, didn’t change the fact that that Cathleen had promised to help her. And then again, it wasn’t completely true. She trusted Eeio. She had to. Or she would have no one. Ruth trusted him, and that was good enough for her.
‘I am hoping my contact will bring me more details about MAX, she promised.’ Eeio looked hopeful for a change. Really? Cathleen felt how her every instinct fought the possibility of trusting an Omni, and even a high ranking one at that. ‘I don't know. Trust an omni. It doesn't sound right to me. Not a high ranking one at least. You never know.’ Eeio nodded. ‘I’m struggling with the concept too.’
~
The Comm Unit lit up as a sign of an incoming message. She didn’t react. Didn’t dare. Her heart beat just a little faster every time that the Comm Unit blinked. Was it good news or bad news? As the light switched off she took a deep breath and read the message left behind.
[**Initiate the umbral signal. OTM encryption protocols engaged. The door is opened.** Miss Spansgaard? Do you copy? Do not be alarmed. My name is Adam Preston. Perhaps you remember me; I was standing right next to you and Eeio in the Tower of Truth at the climactic moment. It seems the two of you have found yourselves in quite the predicament. I understand how difficult it must be to trust others during this trying time, but rest assured: our interests are aligned. I'd like to help you - both of you - but before I can do that, I must alert you to the truth of the burden you now carry. Should you accept, simply respond on this secure frequency. I'll be waiting.]
Cathleen did a quick search on the disposable unit she had acquired. ‘Adam Preston. Knows as Phantom. Meta-Physicist. Formerly InternOps.’ Of course. Another omni. But if he was at the Tower with us, then Ruth.. it was still strange to think of Riahan as Ruth.. Ruth must have trusted him to have the right intensions as well. But could she trust him now?
~
((to be continued))