[Ch'Rihan, Senate Dungeons]
Drab was the best way to describe the cool, wet, box of concrete that she had been placed in after her arrival on Ch'Rihan- not that she could see much beyond the blinding spotlight trained on her. She could whispers nearby, interrogators debating about method. She withheld to urge to gurgle a half-laugh at the irony. How many people have treated so kindly? A smirk formed on her face and she shook her head while squinting at the annoying light.
"Do you find something funny Riov?"
"Funny?" Shiarrael's smirk widened "what would I find so funny about this? I am just enjoying myself. I have long wished to tour the bowels of the senate- elements only knew that I would get a chance to actually see it! This is such an amazing privilege." Sarcasm spilled from her like an avalanche- there was a grumble and then she could hear approaching footsteps.
"I assure you Riov. Your enjoyment will not last. You have aided our enemy- the only reason you are back is so we can execute you as an example to other Rihannsu about the price of treachery. Do you deny that you allowed yourself to be captured by the lloann'mhrahel?" The voice was cold and bitter- but he wasn't Tal'Shair. Shiarrael could taste their stench a mile away- no, these were upstarts. Political tools, Tal'Diann agents. Now that was truly humorous.
"Allowed?" Shiarrael laughed "I allowed nothing. I did not build the Saeihr'llaiir and while I loved her greatly she did fail me at the most important moment. If you look at the records you will see that the self destruct command was given- that the crew was evacuated- and that the mechanism failed. Well, if the Tal'Diann has the ability to retrieve such records."
"We can retrieve whatever we wish." Came the indignant reply. There was a sound of shuffling and then Shiarrael felt it- a heavy shock rippling through her arms and into her torso. She hissed and attempted to clench her teeth but failed as they chattered wildly. Her muscles tensed and contorted in hideous spasms as her breath was wretched from her by the violent wave of energy. Finally it ceased and she was exhausted "vang'radam" she couldn't see his face but she could hear the sneer.
She wanted to open her mouth to utter another choice phrase his way but her jaw muscles were tense and refused to part even a millimeter. Instead she groaned and twitched from the residual energy sparking through her nervous system. After a few minutes to compose she spit out a wad of foaming saliva and licked her lips "I…will…snap…you're neck."
"And how exactly will you manage-"
The sound of a slamming door silenced him. Shiarrael could hear echoing boot steps through the ringing in her ears. When the steps came to a halt she recognized the heavy and raspy voice "what is the meaning of this? Certainly tr'Katrin would not approve of this…" she could hear the Ta'Diann fool stammering "release her and tell your handler they would be wise to discontinue such disgrace." Dead silence filled the room and then the heavy voice grew low and menacing like a growling thrai "now or I will have you strapped down into that chair and beaten until a Tal'Shiar scanner wouldn't be able to recognize you."
Shiarrael felt her wrists unshackled and immediately stood up shoving her torturer into the flood light knocking both over. The light crashed into the floor and went out. In the dimness she could barely make out the struggling silhouette on the floor attempting to stand up. Although still a bit jittery from her shock treatment she managed to reach down and grab the silhouette's neck. His fingers wrapped around her shoulder in a vain attempt to pry her loose, however, she merely squeezed tighter. He rasped for breath until finally his body flailed and went numb. "Like this." She spat.
"I see you haven't changed very much Yhisu."
"Change is hard. What are you doing here Rezek? You are the last person I expected to see." Shiarrael stood up slowly and kicked the lifeless body a few times to make certain of its status "so did they send you here to convince me to take my life honorably? As if those fools would know the first thing about honor- they sit comfortably in their chairs and act the fool while the rest of us die for their stupidity. If I had the chance I would rid of them all."
"Careful- you would not want the Tal'Shiar to hear such seditious talk." Rezek commented with humor "and no. The senate is more interested in forgetting this most recent affair. It would be easier done if you were dead" his gaze moved to the body lying on the floor "but that will not easily be accomplished with you back on ch'Rihan. Disgracing you would also be difficult, it would mean disgracing the entirety of S'Rehu, and no one in the senate is brave enough to openly challenge such a clan. So that leaves only one option- forgetfulness. They want to simply forget about you."
"Politicians always have loved convenience." Shiarrael snorted and flexed her muscles trying to straighten out the straggling frayed nerves "so what will become of me? I assume I will be shipped off to some obscure planet to babysit a battalion of Gai'Shian?"
"No, your status has yet to fall that low, but I would be cautious if I were you. Your lists of enemies have only increased since the last time I met you. Even the most foolish in our ranks would have rid of some of their foes. Someone of your talent could have burned the entire list by this point."
"It's very hard to burn wood covered in thrai shit and not worth the effort." Shiarrael studied her surroundings as her vision began to adjust "so if I am not to be sent to some backwards world to babysit Gai'Shian, what will be done with me?"
"What you enjoy- something that you excel at and that will keep you out of commands way. The patrol ship Ishae'thrai needs a new commander. You have been chosen. Send you off to the outmarches to be forgotten."
Shiarrael smirked "at least someone has some sense."
[End]
Captain Shiarrael Rehu
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
