Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting

Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting

Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Seamus looked around and grinned. “Well, here of course. None a’ those soft-arsed bastards would make the trip out here, that’s fer damn sure. And while I dunnae like most of the modern world, a few things come in handy… like the transporter scrambler I turned on last night. Anyone trying to beam in ‘ere without permission first will end up anywhere between two and ten miles in any direction… including out ‘ta sea. And Tara, she put the word out that this area is off-limits. Anyone trying gets ta deal with me.” and he grinned… not a nice one.

Seamus McKenzie

Cuyler looked around and nodded that must how he got here then. “We’ll come by boat then. Oddvar we may need to borrow a couple. Just remember we aren’t invading when a fleet of long ships comes ashore.”

“Shuttle will be better. Some of Argyle’s ilk have fishing boats along the north coast, and that would sure to be noticed.” Seamus suggested.

Cuyler nodded, “We’ll do that. We’ve got a couple shuttles we can use.” Oddvar stopped mid sip. “Fishing boats on the north coast? Don’t happen to run under the standard of an Osprey do they?” Oddvar really really hoped they did. He’d had issues out on the water with them before, and he was more than happy to give them more problems.

Oddvar nodded to Cuyler and a matching grin crossed his face. “Now that is something I would like to see.” Cuyler’s com beeped then and he excused himself and returned a moment later. “It was Devlin, he’s gotten through and I’ll be able to make the call to Revna this afternoon.”. He looked at Seamus. “Anything you want me to pass on to Michael for you?”

Seamus thought for a minute and then said “Yeah, actually. Tell him this: ‘It’s time we did what we swore to do that summer.’ Thats it.

Helka came up then. “She’s sleeping, but I understand none of us actually have heard Ragna’s side of the story yet. So I suggest we all get our heads wrapped around that. The police will be here soon. And the telling won’t be any easier if we’re all getting worked up in front of her. Stubborn firery girl or not, it will be hard on her.” She took the cup that Cuyler was holding, sniffed it and then downed the glass. “Gods I needed that.”
Cuyler and Helka

“I’ll wake her. I’ll call you all when she’s ready.” Seamus said. He took a bottle from Oddvar, drank a truly impressive amount in a single draw, and then handed it back and walked towards Ragna.

Helka looked at Cuyler and Oddvar, “Ranga tried that stuff yet?” Cuyler shook his head, “Apparently only added to some tea.” Helka nodded and they all grinned.

Taking a seat on the makeshift bed, he brushed her hair and let her sleep for as long as he could. Then he said quietly “Ragna… ya gotta wake up, lass. Ragna, love… it’s time to talk. Wake up, ya wee lazy one…” The last said with a smile.

Seamus

She smiled slightly at the sound of his voice, then she sighed resignedly at his mention of ‘talking’ and then she made a face at him, all before opening her eyes. “Lazy? You did not just call me lazy. You’re the one who told me to be still and not move.” She opened her eyes, looking up at him. “Only you could call me ‘wee’…Seamus,” normally she would exchange some insult with him, she just didn’t have it in her at the moment. She shifted, stretching a bit trying to relieve sore and stiff body parts, “Ratatoskr blodige tenner, det gjør vondt! (Ratatoskr bloody teeth, that hurts!)” She stopped moving, resigned to being useless for the next couple of days. She found his hand and met his gaze. She was tired still and something else chased across her eyes, “Tell me you woke me up because you just remembered there is some secret hot spring near here and you’re taking me there.”
Ragna

Seamus grinned. “Aye lass, there actually is. And I’ll take ya there just as soon as you tell me and your folks… an’ then the Inspectors when they get here… what happened, ok? We need to know, so we can try an’ get a handle on things. You feel up to that, love?”

Seamus

Did she feel up for it, no not really, physically at least. Mentally, whatever the doctor had left for Seamus to give her had cleared her head, so she would be able to talk coherently and without sounding like she was drugged. She closed her eyes again, taking stock of how she felt. She was decidedly hungry, but her abdomen hurt enough to make her cautious about what and how much she ate. Her ankle and hands were throbbing, her back ached, and her face…well it hurt almost as much as her abdomen, but she was glad the inspectors would get to have a look before all the damage left was internal. She breathed up into her chest slowly but deeply, it didn’t hurt quite so much that way. It irked her to have to ask to be waited on, though she’d gladly do it for someone else in her position. “Toast and tea, you can help me sit up, and then we’ll talk?”
Ragna

“You got it, love.” Seamus said and kissed her gently before standing up. He waved the others over and then went inside the house.

It was a few minutes later and he came outside with a large tray. Piled high with sandwiches, pickled vegetables, cheese, toast, butter, honey, jam, and a few hard boiled eggs; he set it on a small stump and then went back and got chairs for everyone. Tara returned with him, and they all sat in a semi-circle around Ragna, eating and making small talk while they waited for her to begin.

Seamus

Cuyler walked over, trying to quietly take in the image of his youngest, his little shadow, lying on a makeshift bed, beaten and battered, the swollen red, and black and blue fist marks across her cheek, in stark contrast to her white blonde hair. Rage, unmitigated, uncontrollable rage shook his massive frame. Helka felt it where she was holding onto his arm. She whispered quietly to him, Oddvar squeezed his shoulder in understanding and moved to help with the chairs. After several moments Cuyler walked over and sat down next to Ragna, just looking at her. Very gently he slipped an arm underneath her, lifting her up and then wrapping both arms around her in a massive bear hug, careful not to hurt her. His voice could be heard rumbling quietly to her. Ragna nodded and grinned a couple of times. He kissed her forehead and then adjusted her so she was leaned back against his arm. Helka brought her toast and tea, and she began slowly to try and eat it. When Seamus returned Cuyler gently sat her up and let Seamus take his place. Ragna leaned back against Seamus’ chest, grateful he was there with her, and equally grateful she didn’t have to try and sit up on her own. And extremely foolish sitting in bed, with her husband, with everyone staring at her.

She looked around, seeing the signs, that were left after the storm, of her fight with Argyle. She closed her eyes gathering her thoughts. It was a story, that was all. Her story, but just a story, and Ragna was an excellent story teller. “I was over there, second to last row, at the end. I was digging up ginger and radishes. He didn’t walk up, he didn’t come through the gate, he was just there. He must have used a transporter, but I must have missed the whine in the rising wind. He said, “That’s what I love about this place…the view. And who might you be, hmmm? Didn’t take Seamus for the plaything type… but kudos. He has taste, I see.’” She met Tara and her mother’s gaze, “He wasn’t looking out at the ocean. Angus came out of nowhere, daft thing got right between us, pawing the ground, shaking his head. I put my dagger back in my belt and took the basket and the tools and stood up. I told him, he was in my home to mind his manners and introduce himself. That made him mad. He laughed.” A tremor went through her at the memory of it, it was twisted and insidious. “He started ranting, yelling, he got really red in the face. He told me this was McKenzie land, and a McKenzie house. As such, it belonged to who he said it does. He didn’t know who I was or where I came from but to answer him. Depending on what I said he’d either have me thrown in jail, or” she stopped, finding Seamus’ hand silently, “or he’d have me dress for dinner for him.”

A low rumble sounded in Seamus’s chest and he said in a deep growl “That’s what he’d say to girls in school.” and he looked at Tara who’s jaw clenched as her teeth grated together.

Then she described exactly how he was looking at her. “Poor Angus was trying to herd me around the yard. I made it to the end there,” she pointed to the row nearest the house. “I told him that this is a McKenzie house, and he was NOT the McKenzie. That you said it was my home, seanmhair.” She met Tara’s gaze again. “Then I really made him mad. I told him, ‘Eyes up here lad. You won’t be getting any of that. There will be no dinner for you unless it’s through a straw.’ He started flexing his fists, even raised it at one point. He told me he was the McKenzie and called me a harlot. I told him Seamus was my husband and he should leave till he came back. That’s when he rushed me.”

Ragna stopped, closing her eyes and laying her head back against Seamus, need a minute and needing to know he was right there. She turned her head, to look at him. “Angus charged him. That…man…kicked him, over and over. Angus couldn’t get up and I couldn’t do anything, I was afraid he’d hurt Angus more.’ Her voice was low, she ached for Angus, she loved that daft thing. “He came back towards me then. I threw the basket of vegetables at him and ran. He tried to grab me and that’s when I used the trowel and cut his face. I was…3 feet from the door when the thunder and storm broke over the house.” She didn’t have to explain why that was important. Everyone there knew why.

Slowly the rest of the story, what she could remember despite the migraine, came out. Her struggle with him, trying to get away, him dragging her by the ankle across the cobbles, trying to find something to hit him with, every foul thing the man said. “He admitted to enjoying it, that he was going to break every bone in my body and then…” she took a deep breath, she wouldn’t look at her father, her uncle, or Seamus. She locked eyes with her mother. The implication of what he intended to do was clear. “He said he was going to break me.” She glanced where her torn dress still sat on the ground, “He…he whispered it in my ear against my skin.” She shuddered, “That’s how his blood and spit got on the neck of my dress.” She couldn’t cry or waver, it would send all of them into a rage, but Seamus would feel her shaking against him, a death grip on his hand. “He grabbed my hair, and the last thing I remember is pain exploding as my head hit the ground.”

Ragna

Seamus looked up, rage and pain in his eyes, and said “That’s when I got ‘ere. Saw him dragging her by her hair and I knocked him off her. I didn’t let him up again. And if he sets foot here or eyes on Ragna ever again, I’ll not stop from finishing him.”

“So you did stop yerself then, did ya boy?” said a new voice from the side of the house. There, as if by magic, leaned a tall, thin man in a long wool overcoat and wearing a skally-cap of green and tweed against the wall. He lit a small cigar and said “DCI Tannery, at yer service. Nice place, if I do say myself. Right pain in the arse to get to, though. But ahh… Im guessing that may be the point, then.” He took a puff and pushed off the wall of the house and stepped around towards the group.

“Apologies for the eavesdropping. Found it always helps when dealing with such matters.”

Seamus and the Cops

Ragna was not a timid woman, she didn’t startle easily, but she wasn’t a hardened Star Fleet security officer either. Twice, now, in less than 24 hours a strange man’s voice sounded out of her eyesight and had appeared at her home while she was unaware. Her parents and Tara would see the effect on her as a thinning line of her lips and closed eyes. Seamus would feel it as her body became rigid against him and a quiet but quickly indrawn breath and the way she squeezed his hand, not letting go.

“Easy, love… easy… it’s ok. I’m right here.” Seamus muttered softly, his eyes boring into the new arrival.

None of the Edmans moved, they were all unarmed, as it were, but the blades were within easy reach. And nothing said trouble like Cuyler and Oddvar moving together far too quickly, but they both turned hypercritical gazes on the inspector. After a moment Ragna heard her mother shift as if to stand. Helka having seen the affect his sudden and meant to be startling appearance had on Ragna she was ready to give the man a very firm talking to. Ragna opened her eyes and waved a hand, more like fingers at Helka and turned her gaze on the inspector. “You’ll forgive me Mr. Tannery if after the last 24 hours, I don’t take your word for it and insist you show your badge and identification.” There was more rattling around in her brain but none of that was going to help her or Seamus.
Ragna

“Detective Chief Inspector, ma’am… not ‘Mister’. And you are wise to ask… especially after the events in question.” He walked forward slowly, eyes darting to each face as if memorizing them. He reached slowly into the left side of his coat and produced a wallet, which he flipped open to reveal an Inspector’s badge and holo-ID. “As requested.” he said to Helka and the addressed the group as a whole.

“So I’m sure why I’m here is common knowledge. I am investigating the events of yesterday that occurred on these premises at approximately 1600 hours between one Argyle McKenzie and one Ragna Edman.” He looked at Ragna and said “So Miss… I’m gonna have to ask you some questions. Now normally I’d ask you to talk to me in private -” and he glanced at the assemblage, “- but I can see as that may be an issue. So I will allow…” and he looked around and then said “… the two ladies to stay. Does that work for ya, Miss?”

DCI Tannery