Taric grimaces at Ashley, tweaking his collar absently. "Now, I'm going to admit plainly that I would have preferred you dead. However, in light of the fact that you're probably going to take this base with you if I kill you, perhaps we can make another arrangement. You want me to not be the 'Voice', I don't want you to blow my facility up, and, incidentally, I'd like to avoid having to watch for more ninja assassins from your organization. What I can't do is prove that I'm not the Father, but I can offer you reasonable doubt. There were well over a hundred survivors that the Father had trapped here. Shortly after I gained power, I offered them the chance to join me or leave peaceably. The first section of people who chose to leave are already on their way out."
Taric's fingers stop moving for a second, and the screen behind him flares, showing a series of security feeds from inside the base. The show several dozen heavily armed people, led by a single unarmed immortal, trudging through a hallway. The corner of the feed identifies the area as somewhere on the first floor. "I actually found the front door," Taric puts in after watching the survivors trudge for a couple seconds. "Which is nice, considering the only other exits went through ant infested churches or were designed for ships." Taric turns away from the security feed and looks back at Ashley. "Now, this could be part of a clever ruse, but I'm not asking you to trust me completely. I'm going to ask you to leave and pursue far worse threats. You came here to damage the Father, and you've done that, but he's still out there. I have as much reason to dislike him as you do, more in same ways," he adds, touching a finger to his eyepatch, "but, unlike you, I happen to have had rather intimate contact with him. I know where he is, all of where he is, and I can even tell you where he's vulnerable. That in mind, I'd like to make a proposal. If you'll extend me the benefit of the doubt now and recommend that I be, 'left alone' as you put it, I will trade your organization information about the Father. For a small price."
Taric glances sideways at Dominique, pausing as if deciding whether or not to say something. "Dominique actually has some business out in space," he says finally. "She can go with you and ensure that I get back whichever ship I graciously lend you."