CHAPTER 11 – MEETING WITH THE ENEMY

The ten photos were spread out over one of the tables in the control room. Dani stood in front of John, and his hand lightly skimmed her hip, preparing her for possible recognition. John had recognised two of the men, which mean't that they could also recognise him and he carefully filed that information away, knowing he would have to be extremely careful at their meeting today.

She felt a small ripple go through her body at his touch. Unsure how she felt about his seemingly constant need to be near her, while she found comfort in his touch, she was not ready to acknowledge that she felt anything more, so quickly sought to push any such feelings away. He was a friend, and had shown her kindness after whatever ordeal she had gone through. A pyschologist would have a field day with me... she thought to herself and recalled that Elizabeth had mentioned yesterday, that she would like her to see Dr Heitmeyer in an effort to try and open up some of the buried memories. Soon... she told herself.

Dani's hand rested on the picture of the man she had supposedly been involved with. His picture invoked a measure of fear in her, she knew somehow, that in those last moments, minutes, or even hours with this man, he had not shown her kindness, but had caused her to fear and had been either the direct or indirect result of what she had gone through.

"I can't bring up what I am supposed to feel for him... that scares me. How can I have loved someone, lived with them? And now feel nothing..." She covered her eyes with a hand and John's pressure on her hip increased slightly in sympathy. "I recognise some of these other men, but not names... I think they were at our house sometimes... there's something at the corner of my mind... just like little fingers that tease. Something happened at our house – when I shut my eyes, I can't even visualise where I lived, but something bad happened, and these men are a part of it..."

John turned her so that she was facing him, and pulled her into an embrace as much to give comfort, as take her gaze away from the photos that were causing her pain. Her hand rubbed along the rough fabric of the Satedan clothing he now wore. Ronan had outfitted him so that he no longer held the polish of an airforce Colonel, but the more peasant style clothing, combined with the lack of shaving this morning, gave this man a more menacing air. "It's ok Dani.. we'll find out what happened to you. When I get back, you're going to see Dr Heitmeyer, no arguments... she can try hypnosis to try and pull up some of those memories."

Looking over the top of her head to Elizabeth and Ronan, he raised his eyebrows. "Ready to to this Ronan? You take the lead on this one... can't have the wrong thing coming out of my mouth at the wrong time, eh?" Pushing Dani gently away from him now, he tapped her nose lightly with a finger. "Be good kiddies, while we're away." and left the room behind Ronan, walking with an exagerated walk in an effort to imitate Ronan's swagger that brought a giggle to Dani and a smile to Elizabeth's face and had her shaking her head.

All humour was pushed aside as they exited the stargate on the planet that had been set aside for the planned meeting. Knowing that Lorne and his marines were somewhere in the vicinity, hopefully well hidden and thus far undetected by the backup people for the man they would be meeting today, brought a small measure of satisfaction and John hoped that the meeting would come off as planned and they would get at least some, of the information that they needed.

Ronan and John did not talk as they waited for their appointment to arrive. They had left all weapons behind as per instructions and John felt extremely underprotected and a trifle naked without his P90 and hand gun. They never went offworld without them.

A throat being cleared got their immediate attention, and a tall man in leather garments stepped out of the bushes, sub machine gun in his hands and trained on them. Without appearing to strutinise him too closely, John was able to ascertain that he was indeed one of the men in the photos they had seen earlier and fortunately, he was not one that could possibly have recognised him. John noted that he had dressed in the clothing more natural to that worn in this galaxy and the only sign that he came from earth, was the submachine gun that he held.

"You boys looking for a little assistance I hear..." His drawl was straight from Texas and John fought to suppress a grin. No hiding that accent, even out here...

Ronan nodded briefly. "We have it on authority that you can provide solutions to certain... problems..."

"That we can... of course before we accept any such assignment, we'll need to check you and your settlement out thoroughly. Then method and payment can be discussed." He lowered the weapon slightly, having ascertained, either through his own observations or some form of silent communication from the men that were no doubt watching them, that John and Ronan provided no threat at this stage.

Ronan lounged negigently, sharp eyes taking in the man's gestures and nuances and filing them away for later reference. On his planet of Sateda, he had been a Specialist, a ranking officer in the military equivalent of his own country, and one of the best soldiers that John had ever worked with. The man was trained beyond the best, in arm to arm combat and possessed superior weapon and tracking skills.

Ronan took a few seconds before he spoke. "That can be arranged. But you'll need to come in under some sort of cover. Some people in my governing body do not agree with my decision to approach your group, and of course, we do not wish to tip the hand of the ones who we wish to have the lesson given to."

"Don't you worry yourself about that... we can blend in anywhere. Our work comes with the highest guarantee and references, although I'm sure you know all about that or you wouldn't be at this meeting now."

Ronan handed over a paper with the planet's coordinates and a map showing how to get to the settlement. Taking it and flicking his eye over it quickly, he pushed it down into a pocket on his vest and held out a hand to Ronan to shake. "Tomorrow then, same time. I'll have myself and five other men and we'll do a thorough recon of what needs to be done. We're simple traders from a neighbouring planet, that's all, if anyone asks."

"No weapons?" Ronan's eyes flickered to the submachine gun in the other man's hand.

"They'll be discreetly hidden my friend, have no fear. Let us do our job, and you do yours."