The stranger was dead silent; somehow Ace didn’t understand the situation he was put in, leaving him to look a fool in front of a man that held a very important card in his grasp. Beneath the hood his eyes would be obscured from view, yet he could see the difference between Ace and Lin immediately. Ace had dropped his willingness to defend himself and stopped asserting his strength in favor of trying to express some wit. Lin was at the ready even after Ace had rambled. Her right hand was strategically placed out of sight while her knees remained bent, and her eyes wide open for anything she could get her visuals on. Ace’s face was careless, while hers was tense. It was clear who valued the life of their comrade more in this situation, regrettably it was not Lin who was apparently the leader in this situation, but rather the androgynous one with all the charm of a pirate to be hung from the neck. His hidden eyes traveled to Rika now, who was rolling her own after Ace’s, and she thought this loosely, effort to diffuse the situation. At first he scoffed, and then he laughed for a short moment, before ultimately bringing his expression to the same serious one he had before. 

[color=00aeef][b]“Little one,”[/b][/color] he looked to Lin now, yet kept his pistol trained on Ace, [color=00aeef][b]“I noticed you look a lot more serious about this situation. Why is that?” [/b][/color]

[color=ed1c24][b]“You’re putting my friends in danger. For that reason I have no choice but to be serious.”[/b][/color] The Chinese girl replied both low and quick. Inactive physically, the olive eyes that were constantly trained on the stranger’s weapon more than made clear she intended to strike if need be.[color=ed1c24][b] “Was Ace right? Are you the family Rika spoke of?”[/b][/color] Lin asked. 

The stranger nodded his head and drew his pistol back, having seen enough of Ace and Lin to create his own opinion. Releasing Rika’s mouth and stowing away his pistol, the familiar green emeralds of his captive went from annoyance to happiness. She jumped into him and hugged his form, letting out a happy groan from the exertion of it. This exchange made Lin lower her guard and relax her body, the tension in her eyes fading almost immediately in favor of the familial embrace.

[color=fff200][b]“You almost scared me, damn it!”[/b][/color] Rika muttered happily.

[color=00aeef][b]“Almost?”[/b][/color] The stranger replied, [color=00aeef][b]“You should have seen how wide your eyes were. I thought they’d have popped right out.”[/b][/color]

[color=fff200][b]“Nuh-uh!” [/b][/color]

[color=00aeef][b]“Whatever you say.” [/b][/color]The man released her, taking the time to admire her full form. Sizing her up for just a moment and exhaling a sigh of approval, his attention returned to her eyes and through his hood he beamed his approval, something only Rika could see. [color=00aeef][b]“You’ve grown so much since I last saw you. I almost confused you for your mom.” [/b][/color]

[color=fff200][b]“I got the good genes, you know that better than anyone.”[/b][/color] Rika winked. 

The man chuckled in response before his attention returned to Rika’s companions. Lifting his hood back, Lin had gasped at the exposed features of the man. While every part of him had screamed handsome, his eyes were just like Rika’s in term of radiance. Her eyes kept locked on the sea of blue in his eyes for a moment more than she intended, causing her to blush and finally look down in surprise. Apparently good looks ran well in Rika’s family.

[color=00aeef][b]“The name is James Kenway, I’ll be looking out for you while you’re here. According to that dark woman, you can help the world with a little problem called the Empire.”[/b][/color] Lin had bowed, and James had returned it without hesitation, causing Lin to blush further in appreciation. James grinned at the girl, yet his expression hardened when he looked to Ace. [color=00aeef][b]“I’ve heard a few things about the people my niece has been traveling with, and not all of it is good. I’m not here to be your friend, I’m here to whip you into shape, to give you a greater chance in all the battles you have coming. But most importantly, you’re going to learn to value your comrades and have an equal share in responsibility on this world.” [/b][/color]

James pat Rika on the shoulder and smiled again, then beckoned Lin and Ace along to descend to Port Royal. 

[color=00aeef][b]“We’ve got a lot to work to do, so I’ll fill you in on what’s happening once we get comfortable.” [/b][/color]

~-~

[color=a0410d][b]“A terrorist? Compared to someone who represents the Empire, who launched a strike on a foreign world without consent or a justifiable reason? When Tseng and Elena get back to me I can decide what to do about that incompetent eunuch.”[/b][/color] Shinobu muttered, unimpressed with Ryoko’s terminology of what a terrorist happened to be. As far as he was concerned, this Gavin character was simply trying to stop a madman from going through with his insanity. Ryoko would no longer find sympathy for her careless classification. [color=a0410d][b]“As of this moment Ryoko, the rebels are not a common enemy. Your jurisdiction here was already limited, but now …now I’m starting to think I can’t trust anyone who dares to consider themselves a military leader to have a single right above a civilian in Twilight Town.” [/b][/color]

He picked himself up and made his way to the door, opening it and gesturing outside. [color=a0410d][b]“Take me to where Gavin is, I’ll form my own opinion. And if he appears sane, I’m releasing him. [i]Do not challenge this.[/i]”[/b][/color]

If all Generals were like Nomis, perhaps Gavin wasn’t the terror that Ryoko tried making him out to be.