PLOT - JL | Cmdr Rinehart, Empress Psy'Daio, Kiv'Watt - "When the Bough Breaks"

Posted on Thu Aug 27th, 2015 @ 12:10am by Commander Tierney Rinehart

2,061 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Agua Mala

The sound of rustling silk hung heavy in the air. Each scrape and sigh punctuated the movements of a woman that Tierney widely regarded as aloof and… Dissident. She watched the graceful Empress as she took a well cushioned seat and gestured with the flick of a slender wrist for her guards to vacate – leaving them alone and without the earshot of any potential would be eaves droppers… Or rescuers should the conversation go awry. Of course, the young Starling wasn’t completely ignorant as to why the regent would have singled her out from the ‘flock’ of Federation officers that now littered the royal city like fleas on a feral dog. Blood. Heritage. The fact that she was of Stenellis birth had, most definitely, intrigued the vast majority of the upper caste members – the Empress included.

“Come now… No need to be so rigid, Commander.” Psy’Daio flashed the young girl a decidedly winning smile and leaned to offer her a plate of what appeared to scones and other confections. “You’re my personal guest, child, not on business.” The Empress ribbed further as Tierney politely accepted one of the pastries and nodded her thanks.

“I apologize, your Grace—“

“Never apologize for what you can’t control.” Psy’Daio interrupted. The glint in her cold turquoise eyes seemed merciless to the little bird of a woman she held captive within her sitting parlor. “You can’t control your worry no more than you can control the blood flowing through your veins right now.” She gestured towards the greater bit of the young woman’s person before taking a bite of her own little snack and brushing the crumbs from her fingers. It was as if the morsels personally offended the Empress and needed to be dealt with using no less than careful and total extermination as a means to their wretched end.

“No. I suppose not.” Tierney admonished the woman with a careful nod. She knew it would be well within her favor not to tip the woman off to the fact she was being studied with the same amount of scrutiny as she measured against the Enterprise’s intelligence asset.

The Empress chuckled lightly at the trepidations response. “I don’t think beating around the proverbial bush is going to get us anywhere,” She spoke with a sardonic sort of laughter and crossed her legs. The bright silks of her regal robes sighed again with the sudden rush of motion and Tierney’s ears physically twitched under the near constant assault of a sound she now came to regard as trouble’s herald. “So I won’t patronize you with more cookies and sweets or pretend to be interested in a round of twenty-questions. All of that is very tiresome and very beneath me.” She drawled with a sigh, leaving Tierney to cock her head in silent question of just what the Empress was taking her sweet time in getting to.

“You.” A talon-like finger unraveled to point in her direction. She could have sworn she felt it dig into the flesh marking the dead center of her tender chest even though the woman, and her finger, sat a good three feet away. The sharp tingling sensation, however, refused to depart and left her breathless and her eyes widened with a combination of shock and surprise – powerless to escape or move. The Empress simply smiled a smile that seemed bent on soothing rather than terrifying, “You, however, are not beneath me. You’re flawed, don’t get me wrong. Blood’s been sullied by your human father – but your mother? Her blood makes up for such tragedy…”

Tierney blinked. Her mouth worked to try to find a way to wrap around the words of the questions she wanted so desperately to ask, but simply couldn’t find the means to accomplish such a paltry task. “No,” The Empress’ head shook slowly, “You’re just going to listen and take time, your own time, to figure out whatever questions you may have – and that doesn’t guarantee them answer.” She chuckled and tutted ever so lightly.

“A long time ago your mother was well loved by her people, but foolish enough to think that she could change tradition at the drop of a hat…” The blue-maned woman began, rolling a hand on her wrist as she slowly unraveled the long untold story of Alira’Daio Nox; a woman that fought for her people and demanded a degree of equality even through the lowest of the castes where Psy’Daio remained a purist. She spoke of a kind woman who fought for justice and was widely known to be gentle as a lamb – but wrought by grief. “You see… Tradition is tradition for a reason, Tierney, it’s there to keep certain checks and balances in order. Without it, the whole cookie crumbles and all we’re left with is the irritation of crumbs. Alira didn’t seem to understand that, although undoing centuries of hard work seemed to be in the public favor, it simply couldn’t be. Her right of ascension simply couldn’t be.” She continued with a nod.

“My mother was found as a slave.”

The sudden appearance of the Starling’s voice openly startled the Empress who stared at the young girl with eyes wild and full of demanding question, “How did you…” She began with a hiss, quickly looking to the bitten scone. The toxin she’d had it coated with should have held the girl prone long enough to finish the tale before having her discarded back in her bed safe, sound, and unable to harp on anyone but her own disgusting kin. The how didn’t matter anymore. Psy’Daio was faced with a new round of jeopardy that she was all too easily able to escape. She smiled at the girl, “You’re very clever. Yes. She was found as a slave in a Ferengi sales compound and no more useful than a common Orion whore.” The words seemed cruel, “I know this because I was given no choice but to send her there with the rest of our father’s collection.”

Tierney’s chest burned, forcing her to heave in air by the lungful in order to try and ease the searing hot pressure of whatever had happened. “Why? Why would you do that to your own sister?” She panted, gripping the arm of her chair. The sight was a cause for momentary concern, and hope that the child would simply pass out before any real damage could be done. Her porter was going to pay dearly for such a horrendous screw up. While undesirable, the child was her niece and a member of the royal court; a valuable potential tool in dealing with the Federation. Winning her trust, and love, was a necessary evil.

“Because I love my people. I have to do what was best for them.” The Empress countered quickly, “Without the added strife and discord she placed on our government, the Ascendancy as grown and gained power faster than ever before. And now? Now we’re poised to join the Federation – something that would never have happened should Alira have been left anywhere near power.”

“My mother wasn’t power hungry.” Tierney coughed, “She was one of the most gentle and loving people I have ever known –“

“And that was her greatest weakness, Tierney. She didn’t know how to say no. She was safer where she went. Fell in love, had you, lived a cushioned life far away from the diplomatic stresses associated with the power she did want.” Again the sound of silk hissed, this time heralding the woman’s departure from her chair and approach towards the ailing Starling. “You’re a lot like her, child – but better. You know better than to interfere with tradition and the natural order of things… Don’t you?” She crooned, stroking the girl’s heated cheek.

“I know what’s best for the Federation…” Rose her reply. Her skin crawled beneath the Empress’ chilly touch, “I know that I need to protect them and their assets.” It seemed a suitable enough answer for the crowned regent who nodded, smiled, and gestured to someone out of her range of vision for them to approach.

“Yes… You do. What’s best for the Federation and for the Ascendancy are one in the same, dear heart.” Psy’Daio gently patted Tierney atop her lavender haired crown.”Even your mother would be proud of your decisions. Now sleep, child, you don’t look well at all. I’ll have you returned to your lodgings.”

Tierney struggled as the armor and fabric clad arms of one of the guards easily swept her up off the cushion of her chair as if she were nothing more than dandelion fluff. Fatigued, she wasn’t any match for his gentle strength as he cradled her and the Empress feigned deep concern as they exchanged words in their native tongue. “I have questions…” She slurred, blinking heavily as sleep did its damnedest to overpower her. She had more than questions; she had concerns and explanations – she had more fight in her if the Empress thought she was suddenly going to become some patsy to the Ascendancy.

“Send a doctor for her later.” The Empress added, patting the Starling’s limp hand and ignoring her final statement. It would be the last thing Tierney ‘remembered’ before her head lulled to one side and her eyes fell closed.

“Next time… You listen to me when I tell you about proper dosing. You could kill her.” Kiv’Watt snorted and did his best to reposition the sleeping girl in his arms. The Empress rolled her eyes and waved him off as she passed,

“And that would have been a big loss?” She asked him with an upswept brow, “If she doesn’t play nice we’ll be forced to write her off anyway. Her death could potentially unify the Ascendancy and the Federation. You heard what tr’Bak had to say on the matter. Besides... She'll wake up thinking it was all just a bad dream and come looking for clues.”

“tr’Bak is a blowhard Romulan who also says the Praetor’s nephew needs to die—“

“That the Praetor’s nephew does, Kiv… It will happen.” Psy’Daio smiled widely, “I’ll let you inform your daughter that she needs to put her little Romulan pet down”

“She won’t do it. Every report is that she and the boy are close—“

“Then put her down. She's a disappointment. Of all the nerve, a Romulan?! Make it look like a tragic accident, frame the boy… Oh…” The blue-haired creature crooned, “Kill them both. The young are ever so prone to suicide. It'll bind us all as we mourn, even the RSE when we send our condolences for such a tragic loss of life.” Psy’Daio pouted a moment before erupting into what could only be described as a true cackle. “I’ll adopt Alira’s long lost daughter during my time of grief. It’ll be perfect. Yes. Kiv. Arrange for this to happen, won’t you?” She reached for the man’s arm as if completely unaware, or uncaring, of the pain the idea of murdering his own daughter caused him. The longer time went on, the worse the guardian had come to hate her. Her face. Her voice. Her every mannerism vexed and offended him.

“I’ll see to it when the time is right. You’ve already spent a great deal of effort and time on her birthday.” He manipulated his words the same way he manipulated the limp body in his arms; carefully and with precise care. One wrong move and a neck, or plot, could break.

“Yes… I have. See to it that she’s ready for that and get that girl to her bed. We need her.”

Kiv’Watt didn’t need a second notice of such a perfect exit, and quickly took his leave. Psy’Daio Nox would need to die… Soon.


---

Commander Tierney Rinehart
CHief Intelligence / Second Officer
USS ENTERPRISE, NCC 1701-F

Psy'Daio Nox
Empress of the Stenellian Ascendancy
Queen Dowager of Aleine
Queen of Apsha

Kiv'Watt
apb October
Royal Guard
Stenellian Ascendancy

 

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