[USS Charon, Transporter Room]
It was hard not to be noticed. Shiarrael had garnered quite a reputation on the Charon, however as with most things her reputation was a double edged sword. On one side she was known and cursed at the 'Tyrant' a name which she revealed, but there was another side of her. The crew whispered of it- it was almost a legend. The first time most saw the other edge was on Lyrilla- her elegant wardrobe less used but well worn. This time she wore a brilliant sapphire gown, the soft Tholian silk glimmered in the ship's light. Officers stopped- often for second glances. The expressions on their faces hinted at the question on their mind "is that the Captain?" It was hard for them to realize that this vicious woman was also a woman. An aristocrat, born and bred, such things were hard to leave behind. Even for an exiled Romulan who now bears the title of 'Starfleet Captain'
When she stepped into the transporter room the technician looked startled at first but quickly smiled and looked down at his console sheepishly. She waited quietly for Sakarra's arrival.
Quite uncharacteristically, it had taken the young Vulcan a full 12.7 minutes to decide on her attire. And she certainly wished she had more of an affinity for diplomacy. She did not know anything but the most common courtesies where the Sundered were concerned, and it would not do to offend, considering the Charon relied on repairs here.
At last, Sakarra had opted for the most subdued of her formal robes, a dress of such deep red it seemed nearly black, with the red-golden house sigil as it's only adornment. Rather aesthetically pleasing, the heavy fabric was outlining the young woman's form from the high collar to the hips, from where it fell smoothly to nearly touch the floor. The heavy overcoat of the same color added a measure of dignity that grandfather would certainly have approved of, although the young woman mostly relied on it for an added measure of warmth.
She had given the image in the mirror a brief Vulcan frown when the next issue had presented itself - her usual on duty style of coiled braids was inappropriate, and she had never developed a taste for the elaborate hairstyles the more traditional matriarchs and their daughters still favored.
At long last, two black combs of fragrant Gespar wood were pushed into soft black curls, making for a simple, practical solution. While her face and ears remained free, the rest of her long tresses fell freely to her waist, declaring peaceful intentions to anyone who had knowledge of such things. To anyone else, it would hopefully at least have an instinctual non-threatening effect.
At long last, two black combs of fragrant Gespar wood were pushed into soft black curls, making for a simple, practical solution. While her face and ears remained free, the rest of her long tresses fell freely to her waist, declaring peaceful intentions to anyone who had knowledge of such things. To anyone else, it would hopefully at least have an instinctual non-threatening effect.
Wrapping the heavy overcoat around her slender frame, Sakkara set out to the transporter room and was mildly surprised to find the most elegantly dressed CO already waiting.
"Good evening, Captain." the young woman gave a courteous nod and then quirked an eloquent brow, although she refrained from commenting. It was gratifying people would hardly expect a Vulcan to wear something like this. While Shiarrael Rehu's dress was certainly agreeable, Sakarra thought she would have been freezing throughout the entire meal.
"Good evening, Captain." the young woman gave a courteous nod and then quirked an eloquent brow, although she refrained from commenting. It was gratifying people would hardly expect a Vulcan to wear something like this. While Shiarrael Rehu's dress was certainly agreeable, Sakarra thought she would have been freezing throughout the entire meal.
Shiarrael nodded at Sakarra and then wasted no time stepping onto the pad. When the Vulcan joined her she nodded to the transporter technician. When the tingling brightness wore she found herself back aboard the Endless Sky, but this time the transporter room was empty save for Itsak and a lowly Romulan transporter operator. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as he stepped onto the pad with them and then grunted at the Romulan transporter operator. The trio dematerialized and when they rematerialized they were in the middle of a garden. Itsak looked at her and Sakarra "my estate on I'Rak Prime. Did you think I would serve you aboard the Endless Sky?" About half a dozen servants ran out to greet them.
Shiarrael smiled, it was thin and wary of his smirk. "I don't know what to think. It has been long since we last spoke." She glanced at Sakarra to gauge her reaction.
The young woman took in the scent and sight of the garden, her eyes almost automatically seeking the horizon, but it was obstructed from view by towering trees and dense foliage.
Still, one could see the sky overhead turning from a shade of dark, rich blue to a pale amethyst, and an unfelt breeze was rustling the uppermost leaves. That and the lengthening shadows told Sakarra they had arrived on the evening side of the planet, and she spared the people bustling to greet them a brief glance before she felt the Captain's gaze resting on her.
Turning her serene features towards the other woman, Sakarra tilted her head to the side, mildly inquisitive about both the look and the uneasy smile on her Captain's face.
Clearly, this development had come as much of a surprise to her as it had to the Vulcan.
Still, one could see the sky overhead turning from a shade of dark, rich blue to a pale amethyst, and an unfelt breeze was rustling the uppermost leaves. That and the lengthening shadows told Sakarra they had arrived on the evening side of the planet, and she spared the people bustling to greet them a brief glance before she felt the Captain's gaze resting on her.
Turning her serene features towards the other woman, Sakarra tilted her head to the side, mildly inquisitive about both the look and the uneasy smile on her Captain's face.
Clearly, this development had come as much of a surprise to her as it had to the Vulcan.
Somewhere in the distance an alien bird called, rough and challenging, and the scent of sweet flowers hung in the air, mingled with nearby fresh water and the Vulcanoids standing close. It might have been pleasant, if not for the underlying tension that even a non-empath could detect without great difficulty.
"Be gone." Itsak dismissed the hoard of servants with a simple hand gesture. He gazed into the silver sky for a moment before turning to his guests "it has been too long Shiarrael. I am glad to see you are doing so well." He smiled, his bright teeth sparkling like the razors of a thrai. It was unsettling but Shiarrael returned it equally. He abruptly reached out and slid his hand through Sakarra's hair "the texture, how odd." Before he could examine it further however a hand quickly wrapped its way around his wrist.
"It may have been a long time since we last met Itsak but I had assumed that all this time you have been on the frontier your manners would have remained intact. However, they seem to have evaporated." Shiarrael released his hand, looked at Sakarra apologetically, and then proceeded to walk through a set of beautiful turquoise flowers "what a ridiculous jungle you have grown here- what is this?" she crushed a small thorny bush under her shoe.
Odd?
The young Vulcan's head turned slowly, her dark eyes displaying nothing but the mild reproach a mother Sehlat may give an overly enthusiastic cub. But inwardly she alternated between wanting to make her displeasure over this uninvited and rude gesture known in no uncertain terms, and a quite uncalled for surge of humor. The Captain's protective gesture had added a good amount of gratitude and puzzlement, yet for the moment Sakarra decided to leave the matter be.
"Rare among the majority of Vulcans, perhaps. However, not entirely uncommon in the women of my immediate family, Vaek'Riov." she stated levelly, and there was barely the hint of a sharp blade hidden in the soft velvet of her melodious voice.
Her CO's body language was that of a woman traversing a Le-Matya's territory and Sakarra found her own curiosity clamoring for attention - it was becoming obvious they knew each other well, and there was the air of two predators testing one another.
Silently as a Shavokh over the hills, the young Vulcan walked through the garden, barely disturbing a blade of the thick, blue-tinted grass, always just a short distance behind her Captain's shoulder. And just a silently, she observed.
The young Vulcan's head turned slowly, her dark eyes displaying nothing but the mild reproach a mother Sehlat may give an overly enthusiastic cub. But inwardly she alternated between wanting to make her displeasure over this uninvited and rude gesture known in no uncertain terms, and a quite uncalled for surge of humor. The Captain's protective gesture had added a good amount of gratitude and puzzlement, yet for the moment Sakarra decided to leave the matter be.
"Rare among the majority of Vulcans, perhaps. However, not entirely uncommon in the women of my immediate family, Vaek'Riov." she stated levelly, and there was barely the hint of a sharp blade hidden in the soft velvet of her melodious voice.
Her CO's body language was that of a woman traversing a Le-Matya's territory and Sakarra found her own curiosity clamoring for attention - it was becoming obvious they knew each other well, and there was the air of two predators testing one another.
Silently as a Shavokh over the hills, the young Vulcan walked through the garden, barely disturbing a blade of the thick, blue-tinted grass, always just a short distance behind her Captain's shoulder. And just a silently, she observed.
[To be continued ...]
Captain Shiarrael t`Rehu
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
Lieutenant Commander Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
USS Charon
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
USS Charon
Vaek'Riov Itsak tr`Sahen
Leih
Galae'Krha-Sei
Leih
Galae'Krha-Sei
