"I did not know, but I thought it likely." The Talon answered. "How Venture chose to handle this transition could have decided me on any one of dozens of pre-planned strategies. There was no use distracting you will intelligence that may have turned out to be irrelevant. However, now that they've made their move, it is time you were included fully."
Next, she turned to face the girl, stepping forward so that she stood in the centre, ringed by fighters.
"The men you saw are shock troopers, graduated from one of Venture Horizon's many pet projects. This one was codenamed 'Behemoth'; and you're right, they are certainly formidable. That was, after all, Venture Horizon's intention. They may not know who we are exactly, or where we are, what motivates us or how we are organised, but they know that they've been fighting an insurgency here for months. They suspected that we would be watching this transition closely, and the Behemoths were meant as a show of strength, making us think twice about any planned raid."
The Talon smiled an amused smile, and shook her head the way an older sister might do after their younger sibling had just embarrassed itself.
"How telling, that those at the top think that any threat can be quelled through might alone." 'Was there ever a clearer sign of the One Truth's certainty?' "Regardless, the are big, strong, well-armed and clad head to foot in armour plating that could even stop a concussion rifle in its tracks. That, however, is where their strengths end. They are slow, sluggish, and, in case you hadn't noticed, it's barely possibly to tell man from woman under all the plating and full-face helmets, let alone friend and foe. Using tech stolen and improved from other Venture Horizon prototypes, this cell has spent the better part of the last 3 months hacking into the facility's security mainframe. We have their codes, we know their routines, and in their attempt to scare us off, Venture Horizon has just handed us our way in on a plate."
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'If I did not need your perspective, Richard, then the slap you'd get for presuming to touch me would be stinging you all the way home.' Selina thought acidly, though she let none of it show on her face. Either The drink was getting to the young doctor, or Selina's charms were working even quicker than she remembered. Although, it could be that Lu suspected he was being used, and was trying to turn the tables. Selina had chosen him because she believed him the least dim-witted of her companions after all. If that was the case, he would be sorely disappointed. As if she would just go meekly back to his quarters, to have this parley with him alone and on his own ground?!
"Oh, not to worry. It's nothing so dramatic." She said, making herself loom a little embarrassed at having given him the notion. "In a way I almost wish it was. No, it's the personal nature that makes it so complicated. Nothing dangerous that we need concern ourselves with who might overhear."
'Let them crane their necks and prick their ears. Give the guard dogs a juicy bone to chew on, so they'll keep their eyes on the ground.
Even so, Selina lowered her voice and leaned in closer, so as to maintain the illusion of privacy.
"You see..." she began, furtive and unsure. "Along with the news about my, my mother, I've also come into possession of some... private correspondence of hers. It would appear she had an affair for several years with another man, one of my father's major political rivals no less. If anyone deserves the truth from me, it's father; but on the other hand, he is already hurting, and I don't know if I have it in me to salt his wounds like that. He would me so heart-broken, not to mention the damage of being undermined so personally by one of his enemies. Also I... it sounds terrible I know, but I'm not sure if I can even find it in me to blame her. My father is a strong man. Once he sets his sights on something, he will not rest until it has been achieved. All he ever did, he did for us... but it would often seem like he never had much time for family. My mother never shared his strength, is it really so terrible that she wanted more warmth than she could ever find in him?"
The best lies were always seasoned with truth. Selina had found out about her mother's extra-marital exploits years ago, and had already made her choice in that dilemma.
