Things Past – Back in the Day
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
The harsh Vulcan sun that burned on Shi’Kahr sucked every drop of moisture from the air leaving Isha’s throat as parched as the russet dust that swirled up from the deep passageways at street level with each and every rare dry breeze that scoured down from the desert. Even the night brought little relief from the heat.
Isha had been on Vulcan for a week, and as the lead on a delegation dispatched to discuss the activities of re-unificationists on ch’Rihan she was doomed to remain on the planet until the correct conclusion was reached. Used to the lush plains beneath Ratleifhi and the lakes and seas of ch’Rihan this land-locked conurbation that called itself a city was hellish to her.
Of course between negotiations there had been the inevitable tour of the main ‘attractions’ of Vulcan, most of which seemed to celebrate the hostile climate. Once this day was over though, the delegation were to be taken to Lake Yuron and Isha thought that she just might have to forget herself and plunge in head first … before that she had to struggle through to sunset and then rejoin her fellow delegates and attend another tedious reception.
It had been so witheringly hot in the night that Isha had simply fallen asleep on the bed naked. She lay where she was a few moments longer. one hand flung dramatically back across her closed eyes. Isha was utterly unprepared for what she saw when she opened them.
Rh’vaurek sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at her with appreciative leer painted across his face.
She exploded in a stream of expletives both in Vulcan and Rihannsu ending with an anatomically impossible suggestion as to what Rh’vaurek should do to himself.
“You know I once met a woman who could do just that,” he said his lip curled in amusement as she pushed past him snatching a flimsy robe of ice green Tholian Silk from the ottoman, “It’s a funny story, but I don’t really think you’d appreciate it.”
“How long have you been there?” she demanded as she pulled the robe around her body, it was the casual invasion of her privacy that annoyed her.
“You looked just like Ihhuein,” he said ignoring her question, “the one fresh and living thing Okhala cannot burn. I thought that if I touched you, you would burst into a thousand drops of sweet refreshing rain.”
“Poetry, Rh’vaurek? You’ve broken into my suite to read me poetry?” she asked incredulous. “This had better be good.”
“I see the climate has done nothing to improve your temperament,” he observed sitting down again. Rh’vaurek reclined and linked his fingers behind his head before crossing his legs at the ankles. “Pity I don’t have time for a nap,” he added.
Isha folded her arms. “My temperament is just fine. What isn’t fine is that you think that you can just come into my suite and stare at me while I sleep … and how did you get past security?”
“I’m not going to dignify that question with a response,” he said. “We need to talk,”
“My husband would kill you if he knew you were here,” Isha said turning away.
Rh’vaurek reached out and grabbed her wrist, jerking her sharply into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. “He’d probably kill you too, d’Ishaal, so let’s not tell him,” he said with a conspiratorial wink. “Where’s your communicator?”
“Why won't you leave me alone?” Isha said.
He smirked, “Because your life is more fun with me in it,” Rh’vaurek replied.
“It's a whole lot safer with you out of it.”
“Interesting you should say that. We don’t have much time. Your communicator?” he repeated.
“On the dressing table. Why?” his grip on her wrist had not slackened and his fingers were beginning to hurt
“Good,” he said, “Now don’t do anything stupid. Make me miss the timing on this and I’m going to have to cut both our throats,” he told her, “I’ll explain later.” He said with a chuckle as he gazed into her eyes. “I love that expression, Isha, the one that tells me you’d like to kill me. I’m always so tempted to give you cause to try – it would be fascinating to see how you went about it.” Rh’vaurek rolled to his feet taking Isha with him “Do you hear that?” he said, his tone suddenly serious.
It came from the corridor beyond her suite’s outer sitting room; raised voices, the sound of disruptor fire … “Time not to be here Isha,” Rh’vaurek said keeping tight hold of her as he hit his own communicator, “hteij'rhae,” he said activating the transporter before she could protest.
-----------
As they materialised in a darkened room, Rh’vaurek finally released her, “Does it amuse you to forcibly abduct me?” Isha asked as she rubbed her wrist, it was going to bruise. “Perhaps you should get a new hobby.”
“Perhaps I should,” he said moving cautiously towards the window. He did not stand in front of the pane, but drew the heavy curtain back slightly and peered out from the side, a shaft of morning sunlight sliced through the shadows lighting the dust that hung in the still air, and revealing the faded red and grey pattern that dappled the worn carpet beneath their feet.
“You ever been in a hostage situation?” Rh’vaurek asked already knowing the answer to his question. “I don’t think you’d much like the odds of survival. Oh, I’m not talking about our little mix up,” Rh’vaurek said catching the glint in her eye as Isha turned towards him, “I didn’t want to kill you, not immediately anyway, I wanted to hurt you. Our noisy friends back in your hotel … they wanted to kill you. There’s a news feed in the corner. Turn it on,” he said.
Isha did as he requested then rested her back against the wall as she listened to the report.
“ … Hotel where a delegation from the Romulan Star Empire were staying. The terrorists, believed to be members of an extreme Anti-Reunification faction have not yet issued a statement. All members of the Romulan delegation are believed to be inside the building …”
“They want to make a big impression. They targeted you because by leading these talks you have become a figurehead for the Reunification movement – you’re a prominent figure, Isha and if you speak for a cause it gives it weight.”
“I don’t care one way or the other about Reunification,” Isha blinked. Despite the heat her skin was cold and clammy and the light silk robe stuck to it. “I was merely doing what was asked of me.”
“I thought you were a politician, Isha,” Rh’vaurek said. It took people time to come to terms with a narrow escape from death, even Isha. But the sooner she lost that glazed expression and switched her brain back on the better. “When you agreed to lead the talks you took a position on the topic and by the logic of a bunch of terrorists with a fanatical devotion to a particular ideology you aligned yourself against their cause. To them, bringing you down will be worth the martyrdom of a few fanatics and all the incidental casualties.”
“My delegation, our staff … they’re all in there, woken in their beds by armed bandits,” Isha said as she slid down the wall and wrapped her arms around her knees.
“My Department wanted the talks de-railed, that we uncovered this plot was too good a gift to miss – we let it go ahead - our hands are clean and our goal is achieved,” he told her letting the curtain fall back. “You are alive and if a thousand people die in the siege to recover that hotel it will be worth it because I will know that you are still breathing.”
Isha looked up, “You actually believe that, don’t you,” she said with a shake of her head. Rh’vaurek had no sense of proportion, the incidental loss of life meant nothing to him. “And I am supposed to be grateful that you have ‘rescued’ me? You could have warned me, you could have prevented this.”
“No, I couldn’t,” Rh’vaurek said squatting down beside her. “Latasalaem thinks you’re dangerous and was happy to let you die. I wasn’t,” he brushed his fingers over her cheek as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Listen, and I’ll explain. To make it work they had to separate the hotel from the city security grid otherwise the authorities would simply shut it down, and in the second before their own security field was at full strength I was able to get us out. The terrorists had to believe that you were in the building when the assault began … I think they’ll be bitterly disappointed when they find you gone,” he added as he sat on the floor beside her.
Where Rh’vaurek was concerned Isha and common sense had long ago parted company; despite the conflict between what she had seen, and what he had told her, and what she believed, she wanted him to be right and she wanted him to keep her from harm. She gazed at him for a moment before resting her head on his shoulder.
“My husband didn’t want me to come here,” she said as she felt Rh’vaurek’s arm curl around her shoulders, “He thinks the Continuing Committee are taking unfair advantage of my name,” she said, the news feed still playing its report on the situation across the street in the background.
“He’s right, they should leave external politics up to the experts,” Rh’vaurek said as Isha curled in closer, “You were meant to walk in the marble halls of Ra'tleihfi, not to sit on the threadbare carpets of Vulcan.”
“External politics? Is that what you call it?” she said her fingertips idly brushing a dusting of the red Vulcan sand off his thigh.
“… a group calling themselves the True Brotherhood of S’Task have claimed responsibility. They have confirmed that they are holding the Romulan delegation hostage, chief among them the popular Senator Isha t’Illialhlae. No demands have yet been issued …”
“Its not like they would want to admit that I escaped,” Isha said not sure whether to laugh or cry at the report that she was being held hostage by terrorists, “… nor can I reveal that they do not have me, not without having to explain to a jealous husband why I was apparently not in my hotel suite last night.”
“You don’t think he would be relieved that you’re safe?”
“He would be, but I’d sooner not let him know that you are involved. Nveid doesn’t see quite straight where you and I are concerned, besides, you cannot let Latasalaem know you went against him.”
“True, that would make me a very bad protégé indeed." Rh'vaurek sighed, "I guess we’ll just have to wait until its over, then. I’ll get you back inside and by some miracle you will have escaped all harm. The fanatics, the only people who will ever know for certain you were not in that building the whole time won’t be in a position to tell anyone.”
“Will you stay with me?” Isha asked softly, “Until its over, I mean,” she did not want to be alone.
OFF
Isha e-Khellian i-Ramnau t’Illialhlae
Leader of a delegation to Vulcan
Arrain Rh’vaurek Raedheol
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
| Title | Back in the Day | |
| Mission | Things Past | |
| Author(s) | Commander Isha t'Vaurek | |
| Posted | Sun Oct 17, 2010 @ 3:26pm | |
| Location | Shi kahr, Vulcan | |
| Timeline | 2370 |
Isha had been on Vulcan for a week, and as the lead on a delegation dispatched to discuss the activities of re-unificationists on ch’Rihan she was doomed to remain on the planet until the correct conclusion was reached. Used to the lush plains beneath Ratleifhi and the lakes and seas of ch’Rihan this land-locked conurbation that called itself a city was hellish to her.
Of course between negotiations there had been the inevitable tour of the main ‘attractions’ of Vulcan, most of which seemed to celebrate the hostile climate. Once this day was over though, the delegation were to be taken to Lake Yuron and Isha thought that she just might have to forget herself and plunge in head first … before that she had to struggle through to sunset and then rejoin her fellow delegates and attend another tedious reception.
It had been so witheringly hot in the night that Isha had simply fallen asleep on the bed naked. She lay where she was a few moments longer. one hand flung dramatically back across her closed eyes. Isha was utterly unprepared for what she saw when she opened them.
Rh’vaurek sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at her with appreciative leer painted across his face.
She exploded in a stream of expletives both in Vulcan and Rihannsu ending with an anatomically impossible suggestion as to what Rh’vaurek should do to himself.
“You know I once met a woman who could do just that,” he said his lip curled in amusement as she pushed past him snatching a flimsy robe of ice green Tholian Silk from the ottoman, “It’s a funny story, but I don’t really think you’d appreciate it.”
“How long have you been there?” she demanded as she pulled the robe around her body, it was the casual invasion of her privacy that annoyed her.
“You looked just like Ihhuein,” he said ignoring her question, “the one fresh and living thing Okhala cannot burn. I thought that if I touched you, you would burst into a thousand drops of sweet refreshing rain.”
“Poetry, Rh’vaurek? You’ve broken into my suite to read me poetry?” she asked incredulous. “This had better be good.”
“I see the climate has done nothing to improve your temperament,” he observed sitting down again. Rh’vaurek reclined and linked his fingers behind his head before crossing his legs at the ankles. “Pity I don’t have time for a nap,” he added.
Isha folded her arms. “My temperament is just fine. What isn’t fine is that you think that you can just come into my suite and stare at me while I sleep … and how did you get past security?”
“I’m not going to dignify that question with a response,” he said. “We need to talk,”
“My husband would kill you if he knew you were here,” Isha said turning away.
Rh’vaurek reached out and grabbed her wrist, jerking her sharply into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. “He’d probably kill you too, d’Ishaal, so let’s not tell him,” he said with a conspiratorial wink. “Where’s your communicator?”
“Why won't you leave me alone?” Isha said.
He smirked, “Because your life is more fun with me in it,” Rh’vaurek replied.
“It's a whole lot safer with you out of it.”
“Interesting you should say that. We don’t have much time. Your communicator?” he repeated.
“On the dressing table. Why?” his grip on her wrist had not slackened and his fingers were beginning to hurt
“Good,” he said, “Now don’t do anything stupid. Make me miss the timing on this and I’m going to have to cut both our throats,” he told her, “I’ll explain later.” He said with a chuckle as he gazed into her eyes. “I love that expression, Isha, the one that tells me you’d like to kill me. I’m always so tempted to give you cause to try – it would be fascinating to see how you went about it.” Rh’vaurek rolled to his feet taking Isha with him “Do you hear that?” he said, his tone suddenly serious.
It came from the corridor beyond her suite’s outer sitting room; raised voices, the sound of disruptor fire … “Time not to be here Isha,” Rh’vaurek said keeping tight hold of her as he hit his own communicator, “hteij'rhae,” he said activating the transporter before she could protest.
-----------
As they materialised in a darkened room, Rh’vaurek finally released her, “Does it amuse you to forcibly abduct me?” Isha asked as she rubbed her wrist, it was going to bruise. “Perhaps you should get a new hobby.”
“Perhaps I should,” he said moving cautiously towards the window. He did not stand in front of the pane, but drew the heavy curtain back slightly and peered out from the side, a shaft of morning sunlight sliced through the shadows lighting the dust that hung in the still air, and revealing the faded red and grey pattern that dappled the worn carpet beneath their feet.
“You ever been in a hostage situation?” Rh’vaurek asked already knowing the answer to his question. “I don’t think you’d much like the odds of survival. Oh, I’m not talking about our little mix up,” Rh’vaurek said catching the glint in her eye as Isha turned towards him, “I didn’t want to kill you, not immediately anyway, I wanted to hurt you. Our noisy friends back in your hotel … they wanted to kill you. There’s a news feed in the corner. Turn it on,” he said.
Isha did as he requested then rested her back against the wall as she listened to the report.
“ … Hotel where a delegation from the Romulan Star Empire were staying. The terrorists, believed to be members of an extreme Anti-Reunification faction have not yet issued a statement. All members of the Romulan delegation are believed to be inside the building …”
“They want to make a big impression. They targeted you because by leading these talks you have become a figurehead for the Reunification movement – you’re a prominent figure, Isha and if you speak for a cause it gives it weight.”
“I don’t care one way or the other about Reunification,” Isha blinked. Despite the heat her skin was cold and clammy and the light silk robe stuck to it. “I was merely doing what was asked of me.”
“I thought you were a politician, Isha,” Rh’vaurek said. It took people time to come to terms with a narrow escape from death, even Isha. But the sooner she lost that glazed expression and switched her brain back on the better. “When you agreed to lead the talks you took a position on the topic and by the logic of a bunch of terrorists with a fanatical devotion to a particular ideology you aligned yourself against their cause. To them, bringing you down will be worth the martyrdom of a few fanatics and all the incidental casualties.”
“My delegation, our staff … they’re all in there, woken in their beds by armed bandits,” Isha said as she slid down the wall and wrapped her arms around her knees.
“My Department wanted the talks de-railed, that we uncovered this plot was too good a gift to miss – we let it go ahead - our hands are clean and our goal is achieved,” he told her letting the curtain fall back. “You are alive and if a thousand people die in the siege to recover that hotel it will be worth it because I will know that you are still breathing.”
Isha looked up, “You actually believe that, don’t you,” she said with a shake of her head. Rh’vaurek had no sense of proportion, the incidental loss of life meant nothing to him. “And I am supposed to be grateful that you have ‘rescued’ me? You could have warned me, you could have prevented this.”
“No, I couldn’t,” Rh’vaurek said squatting down beside her. “Latasalaem thinks you’re dangerous and was happy to let you die. I wasn’t,” he brushed his fingers over her cheek as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Listen, and I’ll explain. To make it work they had to separate the hotel from the city security grid otherwise the authorities would simply shut it down, and in the second before their own security field was at full strength I was able to get us out. The terrorists had to believe that you were in the building when the assault began … I think they’ll be bitterly disappointed when they find you gone,” he added as he sat on the floor beside her.
Where Rh’vaurek was concerned Isha and common sense had long ago parted company; despite the conflict between what she had seen, and what he had told her, and what she believed, she wanted him to be right and she wanted him to keep her from harm. She gazed at him for a moment before resting her head on his shoulder.
“My husband didn’t want me to come here,” she said as she felt Rh’vaurek’s arm curl around her shoulders, “He thinks the Continuing Committee are taking unfair advantage of my name,” she said, the news feed still playing its report on the situation across the street in the background.
“He’s right, they should leave external politics up to the experts,” Rh’vaurek said as Isha curled in closer, “You were meant to walk in the marble halls of Ra'tleihfi, not to sit on the threadbare carpets of Vulcan.”
“External politics? Is that what you call it?” she said her fingertips idly brushing a dusting of the red Vulcan sand off his thigh.
“… a group calling themselves the True Brotherhood of S’Task have claimed responsibility. They have confirmed that they are holding the Romulan delegation hostage, chief among them the popular Senator Isha t’Illialhlae. No demands have yet been issued …”
“Its not like they would want to admit that I escaped,” Isha said not sure whether to laugh or cry at the report that she was being held hostage by terrorists, “… nor can I reveal that they do not have me, not without having to explain to a jealous husband why I was apparently not in my hotel suite last night.”
“You don’t think he would be relieved that you’re safe?”
“He would be, but I’d sooner not let him know that you are involved. Nveid doesn’t see quite straight where you and I are concerned, besides, you cannot let Latasalaem know you went against him.”
“True, that would make me a very bad protégé indeed." Rh'vaurek sighed, "I guess we’ll just have to wait until its over, then. I’ll get you back inside and by some miracle you will have escaped all harm. The fanatics, the only people who will ever know for certain you were not in that building the whole time won’t be in a position to tell anyone.”
“Will you stay with me?” Isha asked softly, “Until its over, I mean,” she did not want to be alone.
OFF
Isha e-Khellian i-Ramnau t’Illialhlae
Leader of a delegation to Vulcan
Arrain Rh’vaurek Raedheol