Judgement – ...Into the Fire
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek & Alderman Yolanthe Ibalin
Post Details
::ON::
Once the guests had departed and the doors were closed Isha took a moment to savour the remnants of the party atmosphere. Of the guests only Tahir knew that she had Ibalin in her legal custody, but Isha was quite sure that the Captain didn't know that the Bokkai had been on the other side of one of the doors that opened onto the room in which Dunham and Chelsea were eventually married, or of the complications that could creep in once it came to her release.
The improptu wedding service in her suite had gone a long way to cleanse the space.
Isha turned away from the door and made her way to the entrance to her guest room - it seemed the right place - a space that said 'protective custody' rather than imprisonment, and one that was demonstrably secure - both important factors to consider if the Federation asked further questions.
She pressed the door chime before unlocking the door. At the same time the new protocol, a precaution that one of Rh'vaurek's geniuses had designed with startling rapidity, that blocked all communications, transporter signals and replicators throughout her suite was activated. The doors both to the wider Consulate and Isha's office were also sealed, and an alert to the security office issued, telling them that the door to the quest room had been opened, and by whom.
Shortly afterwards the door hissed open and Isha entered.
Her guest turned at her entrance. Yolanthe was staring in the mirror, staring at the black streaks that were all that remained of the cuts Draylin had left behind. She was a pale grey, her hair darker. "Good evening, Ambassador."
"I trust you find the accomodation a little more comfortable than a Starfleet holding cell?" Isha asked. The creature looked even more drab than she had done when Isha had visited her the night before. "You will understand of course that the terms of your bail require me to ensure that you will not abscond. They must have explained it to you."
Yolanthe nodded, "No absconding, no further offences. Otherwise you get to pay the fine, and I go back to the brig." She looked back at her scarred face. "You don't have to worry. I'm probably safer in here than I was in there."
"I'm sure you are," Isha said tilting her head to one side as she looked at the woman's reflection. "I have a dermal regenerator if you require one," she told Ibalin, her mind making its own assumptions as to what had happened between the time she left her in the brig, and now. "Would you like something to eat?"
"Please. I could murder a kebab." She blushed a very pale peach, like orange blossom. The black cuts running from the very edge of her lower lid to level with her nose looked suddenly livid and evil. "Sorry, poor choice of words."
"Miss Ibalin, I've already told you that I know you are not the murderer, so if you wish to indulge in dark humour there is little need to apologise. Come with me and we can feed you at least. I don't really agree with replicators, but I have one."
Isha led the way into the suite, and gestured to the round table that stood in one of the internal corners, "A kebab, you say?" she asked as for a moment she released the lock on the device.
"Please, something tough. Targ or goat or something. And yamok sauce"
"Targ, I think, but no yamok sauce. I have little taste for anything of Cardassian invention right now," Isha said tightly as she entered the order manually, the combination of her DNA and security code activating the device briefly. She also ordered a jug of iced water and two glasses.
The instant she removed the tray the device fell dead.
Isha placed the tray on the table and took the jug as she sat, pouring for herself before replacing it. "So, after I left last night did you recieve the visit you anticipated?" she asked.
At the romulan's expresssion of distaste for things cardassian, Yolanthe had turned from a delicate pink at the though of kebab, to dark mustard. At the mention of visitors that lightened to a gold. "And one I didn't." Her desire for freedom warred with her instinct to protect, and she fell silent, debating whether or not to mention it.
"Oh?" Isha said sipping her water. Then she leaned her elbows on the edge of the dining table and linked her fingers beneath her chin as she observed the indecision of the woman opposite. "You should eat that before it gets cold," she said softly still settling on exactly how she was going to play this round. "You know, don't you that receiving an unauthorised visitor could prejudice the case against you?"
Despite tearing into the targ meat with gusto, the bokkai turned apple green. She swallowed the meat down. "but I didn't have control over that." she took a sip of water, "besides, Dray wasn't exactly busting me out."
"Who knows how our Starfleet friends will choose to interpret the visit," Isha said, noting the name as the corners of her lips curled into the slightest smile. "I wonder that they managed to get access at all given that I had to exert a certain amount of influence to gain access for one visitor." Isha chuckled softly, "I think perhaps that last night's Duty Officer may have had rather a hard time explaining it this morning, don't you?"
Yolanthe shrugged, chewing on another cube of targ meat. "if he can talk at all. Tharek hit him when he tried to stop him going in." she picked at a piece of pitta bread the kebab was laying on. "draylin killed klia." she said softly, all the colour fading out of her until she was a dull matte charcoal.
Isha was about to say something scathing about Getal's inability to keep his fists to himself when Ibalin spoke again. The last thing that Isha wanted was conclusive evidence of Ibalin's innocence in the murder, that would make it difficuly for her not to release the bartender. "And this Draylin came to see you just to tell you that? Why?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," she replied, staring at her food. "he said I needed to be taught a lesson, that I trust too easily. That people are dangerous and they'll hurt me.". She paused, and frowned, before taking another swallow of water "twisted pig. He didn't have to kill her just because of that."
The Ambassador quite agreed with this Draylin's assessment of Ibalin and of the situation.
"You'd be surprised how far some people will go to make a point," Isha said softly her gaze wandering past Yolanthe towards the centre of her suite.
"he's proved he's a psycho." she glanced in the direction of isha's gaze, but saw nothing. She reached inside her sleeve and pulled out the bracelet he'd given her, the one he'd taken from Klia's body. "bastard!"
"And it took a murder for you to reach that conclusion," Isha said her gaze swivelling back to Ibalin. "Could it be that you often associate with people who possess that particular trait?" she asked, "The sort of person who views others in limited categories - those who exist for their convenience, and those who are expendable?"
Isha was perfectly aware that she herself could be included under the label of that 'sort of person' she was also aware that there were only two people on the station who recognised that she was anything other than what she outwardly appeared to be. One of them was stuck in the brig and the other ... well, it was because of the other that Ibalin was here.
"Its not right, is it, that people can be so cold," Isha continued in a tone deep with sympathy and understanding. "How ever did you come to know this Draylin?"
When I first came to the federation, I spotted him being beaten up by a boy barely old enough to shave. So of course I stepped in." She shook her head. "He found someone who could give me some work. We just kept running into each other after that. He'd need pulling out of some pickle, and I'd try and get a good meal inside him."
"What I don't understand is that he would assume either the right, or the need to teach you that," Isha said. She could usually find reason in any scenario, but not in this one, "and to come all the way to a place two parsecs beyond the edge of nowhere to make the effort. I suppose he must believe that you have fallen in with someone who you should not make the mistake of trusting," she mused.
Her grey returned to the dark ochre. "Everyone has an opinion." She muttered. "But this is the first time in my life I've chosen someone for myself. So they can take a running jump. Besides, why should I pay attention to the actions of a psycho?""
Because he is a better judge of character than you are? but that thought left Isha wondering how they were all linked together, Draylin, Yolanthe and Getal ... there was a thread there. What would happen if she pulled on it?
"How many more friends do you have to lose?" Isha asked pointedly.
Yolanthe flushed a pale amber, and busied herself eating her kebab.
Her last remark had obviously touched a nerve. "Still, once we clear your name you'll be able to do something about that, won't you," Isha said as she continued to observe her 'guest'.
Yolanthe rubbed the beaded bracelet through her fingers. "If I can. Draylin may have killed Klia, but that doesn't mean I can prove it."
"I told you that it was obvious that you didn't do it," Isha reminded her, though guilt appeared to be located distantly from where Isha had expected to find it ... she had a living, breathing insurance policy. "Reasonable doubt is all I am required to establish. The authorities must know your friend Draylin is on the station, what can you tell me about him that can help me do that?" Isha asked.
She hesitated, instinct telling her to protect him. Her fingers closed over klia's bracelet, and she returned to grey. "About six two, white hair. El-Aurian. Beyond that?" She shrugged. "I have no idea. i thought he was just a man."
"Why don't you put that down, Yolanthe," Isha said, referring to the bracelet, "If Draylin gave it to you then it will likely have traces on it that will connect him and Klia. Rub it for much longer and you'll wipe all that away."
The bokkai dropped the bracelet as if it was suddenly white hot, "I didn't think of that."
Isha watched it fall to the table but made no move to pick it up. "We can deal with that later. It will be fairly easy to verify that you did not have it in your possession when you were taken to the brig, but that it was when you left. That means that aside from the security staff and any other Starfleet personnel, it could only have been given to you by one of three people. Do you understand?"
"Yes," the bartender nodded and stared at the bracelet, "And that will get them to drop the charges?"
"Even Lieutenant Trellis will lose his enthusiasm once he is shown actual evidence," Isha said, though it might be some time before Isha bothered to show it to him. "Are you finished?" she asked.
Yolanthe swallowed the last mouthful and sucked her fingers clean, nodding. "Thank you."
"Good, we wouldn't want you to starve to death, would we," Isha said. "I imagine that my guest room is somewhat more comfortable than your previous accommodation, I can't say that I've ever had complaints," she added.
"Its fine." Yolanthe replied, lifting the glass of water to her lips again. "More than adequate."
"Well, the locked door is somewhat unusual, but that cannot be helped. Unlike you I am not quick to trust others, so your word that you would not attempt to leave would never be enough for me, but you understand that, don't you?"
Yolanthe frowned, and took on hints of turquoise. "Not really. But your house, your rules. I appreciate the risks you're taking for me."
"I am undertaking no risk," she replied. Merely using you to offset one., "simply fulfilling an obligation. We'll have you back where you belong soon enough."
The thought brought a hint of blue into the grey. "Frankly, I can't wait. I need to get back to my bar. How long before you can get them to drop the charges."
"Its difficult to say. These Lloanm'su, they seem to take delight in drawing out the legal process as long as they possibly can, all so that they have time to gather evidence and avoid bringing the innocent to trial."
The blue dissipated, and Yolanthe looked suddenly exhausted. "I think this is quite possibly one of the worst weeks of my life."
Isha pushed to her feet and came around the table, "Don't tease the Elements," she advised as she laid her hands on Ibalin's shoulders, "They are notoriously fickle, and will take amusement in making you look back on this week with longing if you let them know your thoughts," she said removing her hands and a moment later removing the tray with the empty plate on it.
The water jug remained.
The taller woman rested her chin in her hands, and reached for her drink again. "I'll bare that in mind."
"You should," Isha said as the replicator took back the remains and she returned to the table. "They are utterly unequivocal when taunted into malice."
As she sat Isha refiled her glass then she drank again. The only thing that they were sharing was the water, and it contained a compound to which Isha had developed a high resistance a long long time ago. "You should take the rest of that with you to your room," she said, "No replicator there, and I would hate you to go thirsty in the night."
"Alright," Yolanthe got to her feet and picked up the jug. "Good night, ambassador." The tall woman headed back towards her gilded cage.
OFF
Ambassador Isha t'Khellian
Yolanthe Ibalin
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek & Alderman Yolanthe Ibalin
Post Details
| Title | ...Into the Fire | |
| Mission | Judgement | |
| Author(s) | Commander Isha t'Vaurek & Alderman Yolanthe Ibalin | |
| Posted | Tue Jul 12, 2011 @ 9:34pm | |
| Location | Romulan Consulate, Ambassador's Suite | |
| Timeline | SD38, 20:00 |
Once the guests had departed and the doors were closed Isha took a moment to savour the remnants of the party atmosphere. Of the guests only Tahir knew that she had Ibalin in her legal custody, but Isha was quite sure that the Captain didn't know that the Bokkai had been on the other side of one of the doors that opened onto the room in which Dunham and Chelsea were eventually married, or of the complications that could creep in once it came to her release.
The improptu wedding service in her suite had gone a long way to cleanse the space.
Isha turned away from the door and made her way to the entrance to her guest room - it seemed the right place - a space that said 'protective custody' rather than imprisonment, and one that was demonstrably secure - both important factors to consider if the Federation asked further questions.
She pressed the door chime before unlocking the door. At the same time the new protocol, a precaution that one of Rh'vaurek's geniuses had designed with startling rapidity, that blocked all communications, transporter signals and replicators throughout her suite was activated. The doors both to the wider Consulate and Isha's office were also sealed, and an alert to the security office issued, telling them that the door to the quest room had been opened, and by whom.
Shortly afterwards the door hissed open and Isha entered.
Her guest turned at her entrance. Yolanthe was staring in the mirror, staring at the black streaks that were all that remained of the cuts Draylin had left behind. She was a pale grey, her hair darker. "Good evening, Ambassador."
"I trust you find the accomodation a little more comfortable than a Starfleet holding cell?" Isha asked. The creature looked even more drab than she had done when Isha had visited her the night before. "You will understand of course that the terms of your bail require me to ensure that you will not abscond. They must have explained it to you."
Yolanthe nodded, "No absconding, no further offences. Otherwise you get to pay the fine, and I go back to the brig." She looked back at her scarred face. "You don't have to worry. I'm probably safer in here than I was in there."
"I'm sure you are," Isha said tilting her head to one side as she looked at the woman's reflection. "I have a dermal regenerator if you require one," she told Ibalin, her mind making its own assumptions as to what had happened between the time she left her in the brig, and now. "Would you like something to eat?"
"Please. I could murder a kebab." She blushed a very pale peach, like orange blossom. The black cuts running from the very edge of her lower lid to level with her nose looked suddenly livid and evil. "Sorry, poor choice of words."
"Miss Ibalin, I've already told you that I know you are not the murderer, so if you wish to indulge in dark humour there is little need to apologise. Come with me and we can feed you at least. I don't really agree with replicators, but I have one."
Isha led the way into the suite, and gestured to the round table that stood in one of the internal corners, "A kebab, you say?" she asked as for a moment she released the lock on the device.
"Please, something tough. Targ or goat or something. And yamok sauce"
"Targ, I think, but no yamok sauce. I have little taste for anything of Cardassian invention right now," Isha said tightly as she entered the order manually, the combination of her DNA and security code activating the device briefly. She also ordered a jug of iced water and two glasses.
The instant she removed the tray the device fell dead.
Isha placed the tray on the table and took the jug as she sat, pouring for herself before replacing it. "So, after I left last night did you recieve the visit you anticipated?" she asked.
At the romulan's expresssion of distaste for things cardassian, Yolanthe had turned from a delicate pink at the though of kebab, to dark mustard. At the mention of visitors that lightened to a gold. "And one I didn't." Her desire for freedom warred with her instinct to protect, and she fell silent, debating whether or not to mention it.
"Oh?" Isha said sipping her water. Then she leaned her elbows on the edge of the dining table and linked her fingers beneath her chin as she observed the indecision of the woman opposite. "You should eat that before it gets cold," she said softly still settling on exactly how she was going to play this round. "You know, don't you that receiving an unauthorised visitor could prejudice the case against you?"
Despite tearing into the targ meat with gusto, the bokkai turned apple green. She swallowed the meat down. "but I didn't have control over that." she took a sip of water, "besides, Dray wasn't exactly busting me out."
"Who knows how our Starfleet friends will choose to interpret the visit," Isha said, noting the name as the corners of her lips curled into the slightest smile. "I wonder that they managed to get access at all given that I had to exert a certain amount of influence to gain access for one visitor." Isha chuckled softly, "I think perhaps that last night's Duty Officer may have had rather a hard time explaining it this morning, don't you?"
Yolanthe shrugged, chewing on another cube of targ meat. "if he can talk at all. Tharek hit him when he tried to stop him going in." she picked at a piece of pitta bread the kebab was laying on. "draylin killed klia." she said softly, all the colour fading out of her until she was a dull matte charcoal.
Isha was about to say something scathing about Getal's inability to keep his fists to himself when Ibalin spoke again. The last thing that Isha wanted was conclusive evidence of Ibalin's innocence in the murder, that would make it difficuly for her not to release the bartender. "And this Draylin came to see you just to tell you that? Why?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," she replied, staring at her food. "he said I needed to be taught a lesson, that I trust too easily. That people are dangerous and they'll hurt me.". She paused, and frowned, before taking another swallow of water "twisted pig. He didn't have to kill her just because of that."
The Ambassador quite agreed with this Draylin's assessment of Ibalin and of the situation.
"You'd be surprised how far some people will go to make a point," Isha said softly her gaze wandering past Yolanthe towards the centre of her suite.
"he's proved he's a psycho." she glanced in the direction of isha's gaze, but saw nothing. She reached inside her sleeve and pulled out the bracelet he'd given her, the one he'd taken from Klia's body. "bastard!"
"And it took a murder for you to reach that conclusion," Isha said her gaze swivelling back to Ibalin. "Could it be that you often associate with people who possess that particular trait?" she asked, "The sort of person who views others in limited categories - those who exist for their convenience, and those who are expendable?"
Isha was perfectly aware that she herself could be included under the label of that 'sort of person' she was also aware that there were only two people on the station who recognised that she was anything other than what she outwardly appeared to be. One of them was stuck in the brig and the other ... well, it was because of the other that Ibalin was here.
"Its not right, is it, that people can be so cold," Isha continued in a tone deep with sympathy and understanding. "How ever did you come to know this Draylin?"
When I first came to the federation, I spotted him being beaten up by a boy barely old enough to shave. So of course I stepped in." She shook her head. "He found someone who could give me some work. We just kept running into each other after that. He'd need pulling out of some pickle, and I'd try and get a good meal inside him."
"What I don't understand is that he would assume either the right, or the need to teach you that," Isha said. She could usually find reason in any scenario, but not in this one, "and to come all the way to a place two parsecs beyond the edge of nowhere to make the effort. I suppose he must believe that you have fallen in with someone who you should not make the mistake of trusting," she mused.
Her grey returned to the dark ochre. "Everyone has an opinion." She muttered. "But this is the first time in my life I've chosen someone for myself. So they can take a running jump. Besides, why should I pay attention to the actions of a psycho?""
Because he is a better judge of character than you are? but that thought left Isha wondering how they were all linked together, Draylin, Yolanthe and Getal ... there was a thread there. What would happen if she pulled on it?
"How many more friends do you have to lose?" Isha asked pointedly.
Yolanthe flushed a pale amber, and busied herself eating her kebab.
Her last remark had obviously touched a nerve. "Still, once we clear your name you'll be able to do something about that, won't you," Isha said as she continued to observe her 'guest'.
Yolanthe rubbed the beaded bracelet through her fingers. "If I can. Draylin may have killed Klia, but that doesn't mean I can prove it."
"I told you that it was obvious that you didn't do it," Isha reminded her, though guilt appeared to be located distantly from where Isha had expected to find it ... she had a living, breathing insurance policy. "Reasonable doubt is all I am required to establish. The authorities must know your friend Draylin is on the station, what can you tell me about him that can help me do that?" Isha asked.
She hesitated, instinct telling her to protect him. Her fingers closed over klia's bracelet, and she returned to grey. "About six two, white hair. El-Aurian. Beyond that?" She shrugged. "I have no idea. i thought he was just a man."
"Why don't you put that down, Yolanthe," Isha said, referring to the bracelet, "If Draylin gave it to you then it will likely have traces on it that will connect him and Klia. Rub it for much longer and you'll wipe all that away."
The bokkai dropped the bracelet as if it was suddenly white hot, "I didn't think of that."
Isha watched it fall to the table but made no move to pick it up. "We can deal with that later. It will be fairly easy to verify that you did not have it in your possession when you were taken to the brig, but that it was when you left. That means that aside from the security staff and any other Starfleet personnel, it could only have been given to you by one of three people. Do you understand?"
"Yes," the bartender nodded and stared at the bracelet, "And that will get them to drop the charges?"
"Even Lieutenant Trellis will lose his enthusiasm once he is shown actual evidence," Isha said, though it might be some time before Isha bothered to show it to him. "Are you finished?" she asked.
Yolanthe swallowed the last mouthful and sucked her fingers clean, nodding. "Thank you."
"Good, we wouldn't want you to starve to death, would we," Isha said. "I imagine that my guest room is somewhat more comfortable than your previous accommodation, I can't say that I've ever had complaints," she added.
"Its fine." Yolanthe replied, lifting the glass of water to her lips again. "More than adequate."
"Well, the locked door is somewhat unusual, but that cannot be helped. Unlike you I am not quick to trust others, so your word that you would not attempt to leave would never be enough for me, but you understand that, don't you?"
Yolanthe frowned, and took on hints of turquoise. "Not really. But your house, your rules. I appreciate the risks you're taking for me."
"I am undertaking no risk," she replied. Merely using you to offset one., "simply fulfilling an obligation. We'll have you back where you belong soon enough."
The thought brought a hint of blue into the grey. "Frankly, I can't wait. I need to get back to my bar. How long before you can get them to drop the charges."
"Its difficult to say. These Lloanm'su, they seem to take delight in drawing out the legal process as long as they possibly can, all so that they have time to gather evidence and avoid bringing the innocent to trial."
The blue dissipated, and Yolanthe looked suddenly exhausted. "I think this is quite possibly one of the worst weeks of my life."
Isha pushed to her feet and came around the table, "Don't tease the Elements," she advised as she laid her hands on Ibalin's shoulders, "They are notoriously fickle, and will take amusement in making you look back on this week with longing if you let them know your thoughts," she said removing her hands and a moment later removing the tray with the empty plate on it.
The water jug remained.
The taller woman rested her chin in her hands, and reached for her drink again. "I'll bare that in mind."
"You should," Isha said as the replicator took back the remains and she returned to the table. "They are utterly unequivocal when taunted into malice."
As she sat Isha refiled her glass then she drank again. The only thing that they were sharing was the water, and it contained a compound to which Isha had developed a high resistance a long long time ago. "You should take the rest of that with you to your room," she said, "No replicator there, and I would hate you to go thirsty in the night."
"Alright," Yolanthe got to her feet and picked up the jug. "Good night, ambassador." The tall woman headed back towards her gilded cage.
OFF
Ambassador Isha t'Khellian
Yolanthe Ibalin