Chapter 24

Beau was in a new element and had decided it was time he reinvented himself. It was the end of the day and he was lying back on his new bed in his new apartment slowly drifting asleep as he planned to make the most of his new life. As his mind drifted into a peaceful sleep the scent of lavender and spice drifted close around him.

….

Martin Remo looked out over the city from his skyscraper office building. He wondered if he was making the right decision. He wondered still some times if Technomancer was just playing some long term game on him, just waiting to strike at Martin for fucking him over like he did.

“Dad. Your thinking to hard about this.” Jessica said from behind him.

He turned fixing a smile on his face that neither of his elder son Ethan or youngest adult daughter Jessica bought. He sighed. “What’s he look like?”

Ethan shook his head. “Not good. Three years of prison. Most of it in the hospital and two final years of being slaved to the government and he’s pretty used up. His mind is still there but his body is pretty broken.”

“Mr. Lucas’ mind is what I want for my team.” Jessica said stiffly sending her brother a side glare. “I don’t want him in any combat situation at all.”

Ethan smiled at her. “I meant. If he’s pretty used up physically then the Government won’t be looking when you grab him up from the street.”

“Your sure. He isn’t a government agent?” Martin asked.

Ethan sighed. “Dad. Everyone has abandoned him. His family. His friends. He’s barely holding on. I want to bring him in before he dies on the fucking street. He doesn’t deserve that.”

“We are not bringing him here as a charity case.” Jessica said. “We’re bringing him in for his mind and technical skills. We’ve checked him out. I need him on my team. The both of you need to stop thinking of the past. I need his engineering help. He isn’t under any government contract. I’m grabbing him up before someone else does. Besides the fact. We have no connection to him.”

Martin stared at her. “The government is still watching him. That’s why he’s hidden himself and is homeless on the damn street. He wants to appear useless to anyone so they’ll leave him the hell alone. If you invite him over into Homeworld that ends and he’s right back on their shit list.”

Ethan stared at him. “Your worried about him.” He said.

“Mr. Lucas is his own man.” Jessica said. “Let him decide how to run his own life. I’ll offer him a job…nothing more.”

Martin stared at her. “Don’t tell him about me. I know he will resent me for how his end of our deal turned up.”

His children stared at him. Ethan shook his head. “Mr. Lucas wasn’t expecting to live as long as he did. He knew-“

“-He didn’t know anything only that dealing with the normals ended up with him ending up dead along with his friends and people. I promised him I would come back for him.”

Jessica nodded. “Then keep your promise. All we’re going to do is offer him a job. He might surprise you and be happy we survived. That’s what he wanted.”

Martin turned away. “That would be worse. I would prefer his anger.”

“Why?” Ethan asked.

“Because it would mean I let a man that called me brother suffer at the hands of our enemies as a slave while he kept the secret that we lived to himself. I don’t understand a man like that. What little he gave us provided the start for Homeworld. While I left him just like the rest of those jackasses and that fucker Rider.”

“Your over complicating it.” Angel said. “The reason your afraid to bring him on is because of me. It’s the reason you haven’t looked at me yet sense I came into the room. You don’t have to worry Martin. You’re doing the right thing.. Your keeping your word.”

Beau conscious mind began to stir awake as he tried and failed see her clear enough to make her out in the dream. Angel was vague figure in the room no one looked at her directly. He sighed as he turned his mind back to the events in the dream that had already taken place.

Martin grimaced shaking his head. “You used me and lied to me about the expansion of your powers.” He said. “He’ll recognize you. He isn’t going to like you being here. Whatever your planning won’t work out.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Remember. I didn’t come looking for you. You hired me Martin. You need Techno on the team, Boss and another set of eyes on Ryu. He’s going to love working here.” She said in a totally female way.

Beau felt her look toward him and smile. Beau groaned at his immediate all male reaction.

“Alright Jessica go pick him. Angel get back to work.” Martin cursed softly.

Beau opened his eyes and sighed. “Damn it, Angel. You just made my female chasing a little more tricky. Fuck it. I can’t sleep now. I might as well get some work done.”

Beau was in a new element and had decided it was time he reinvented himself. It was the end of the day and he was lying back on his new bed in his new apartment slowly drifting asleep as he planned to make the most of his new life.

Martin Remo looked out over the city from his skyscraper office building. He wondered if he was making the right decision. He wondered still some times if Technomancer was just playing some long term game on him, just waiting to strike at Martin for fucking him over like he did.

“Dad. Your thinking to hard about this.” Jessica said from behind him.

He turned fixing a smile on his face that neither of his elder son Ethan or youngest adult daughter Jessica bought. He sighed. “What’s he look like?”

Ethan shook his head. “Not good. Three years of prison. Most of it in the hospital and two final years of being slaved to the government and he’s pretty used up. His mind is still there but his body is pretty broken.”

“Mr. Lucas’ mind is what I want for my team.” Jessica said stiffly sending her brother a side glare. “I don’t want him in any combat situation at all.”

Ethan smiled at her. “I meant. If he’s pretty used up physically then the Government won’t be looking when you grab him up from the street.”

“Your sure. He isn’t a government agent?” Martin asked.

Ethan sighed. “Dad. Everyone has abandoned him. His family. His friends. He’s barely holding on. I want to bring him in before he dies on the fucking street. He doesn’t deserve that.”

“We are not bringing him here as a charity case.” Jessica said. “We’re bringing him in for his mind and technical skills. We’ve checked him out. I need him on my team. The both of you need to stop thinking of the past. I need his engineering help. He isn’t under any government contract. I’m grabbing him up before someone else does. Besides the fact. We have no connection to him.”

Martin stared at her. “The government is still watching him. That’s why he’s hidden himself and is almost homeless on the damn street. He wants to appear useless to anyone so they’ll leave him the hell alone. If you invite him over into Homeworld that ends and he’s right back on their shit list.” He said.

Ethan stared at him. “Your worried about him.” He said seeing the tension his father’s body and grim expression.

Jessica straightened up and looked pointedly at her father. “Mr. Lucas is his own man.” Jessica said. “Let him decide how to run his own life. I’ll offer him a job…nothing more.”

Martin stared at her. “Don’t tell him about me. I know he will resent me for how his end of our deal turned up.” He said.

His children stared at him. Ethan shook his head. “Mr. Lucas wasn’t expecting to live as long as he did. He knew-” He began but Martin’s violent shake of his head made him pause.

“-He didn’t know anything only that dealing with the normals ended up with him ending up dead along with his friends and people. I promised him I would come back for him. That I would figure out a way to get him out of the mess. I didn’t keep my promise.” Martin said turning his back to his children again to stared out at the city.

Jessica nodded. “Then keep your promise now. All we’re going to do is offer him a job. He might surprise you and be happy we survived. That’s what he wanted.”

Martin smirked shaking his head in frustration. “That would be worse. I would prefer his anger.” He said.

“Why?” Ethan asked.

“Because it would mean I let a man that called me brother suffer at the hands of our enemies as a slave while he kept the secret that we lived to himself. I don’t understand a man like that. What little he gave us provided the start for Homeworld. While I left him just like the rest of those jackasses and that fucker Rider.” He said.

“Your over complicating it.” Angel said gentle. “The reason your afraid to bring him on is because of me. It’s the reason you haven’t looked at me yet sense I came into the room. You don’t have to worry Martin. You’re doing the right thing.. Your keeping your word.” She said with the hint of laughter in her voice.

Angel was vague figure in the room no one looked at directly. Beau couldn’t see her clear enough to make her out in the dream.

Martin grimaced. “You used me and lied to me about the expansion of your powers.” He said. “He’ll recognize you. He isn’t going to like you being here. Whatever your planning won’t work out.” He said.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Remember. I didn’t come looking for you. You hired me Martin. You needed Techno on the team, Martin and another set of eyes on Ryu. He’s going to love working here.” She said in a totally female way.

Beau felt her look toward him and smile. Beau groaned at his immediate all male reaction. She was seventeen the last time he saw her now she would about maybe twenty two or three. She was showing a lot of maturity and growth in all the right places to bring a thirsty man like him down.

“Alright Jessica go pick him. Angel get back to work. You made your case. I still think your over estimating yourself and you should keep the hell away from him.” Martin cursed softly.

….

Beau opened his eyes and sighed. “Damn it, Angel. You just made my female chasing a little more tricky. Fuck it. I can’t sleep now. I might as well get some work done.”