Publius Cornelius Tacitus - "The hatred of relatives is the most violent."
[USS Charon, Captain's Quarters]
"Aiden." Shiarrael's eyes opened slowly and she shifted her head to look at her bond mate. His eyes were close and he breathed slowly. "Still asleep?" She smiled and gently lifted her head from the roughness of his extended arm. Between them Nnoil also slept comfortably. Ael was on the other side of her father using his other arm as a pillow. Shiarrael grinned and cautiously slipped her legs from the warmth of the covers and dug her feet into the soft but cold carpeting. With the quiet grace of an animal stalking prey she made her way out of the bedroom. Briefly pausing at the doorway she turned around and admired the scene. Both children were sleeping soundly next to their father. After letting her grin widen she crept into the living room and closed the doors to the bedroom.
She made her way to the replicator and asked for her normal dose of raktajino- it was odd finding a Klingon drink so stimulating but Shiarrael had long since prided herself on her openness towards culture, mainly in terms cuisine. Although she still considered Klingons to be brutish uncivilized thugs at least she could enjoy her drink without second thought on the matter. With hot drink in hand she sat down behind her desk and brought up the view screen. Her eyes danced through recent issues- she frowned at several notes from the Vulcan contingent demanding the Charon leave immediately "why in such a hurry?" she wondered out loud. With flimsy groan Shiarrael tapped the console off and slid her chair back as the view screen closed. She slowly made her way to the couch and sat down- outside her window she watched one of the massive D'Dherex's pull up into a higher orbit. Noticing the Rihannsu script on its beak she soon realized which ship it was "Endless Sky…"
Itsak had become such a fool. Shiarrael frowned remembering how rude he had been towards Sakarra. He was never so crude- in fact he always presented the air of perfection. Shiarrael's frown deepened as she remembered the day when he discovered her in War College. It was the last time they had met until recently…
War College dormitories were cold enclosed boxes of concrete and steel. Shiarrael sat on the bottom bunk and stared out the small window at the parade grounds. At least five dozen students were conducting drills. She smiled wryly at the display. It all seemed like mindless banter but slowly the habitual nature of ritual had taken over and seemingly meaninglessness of the process was becoming lost. She sighed and looked up hearing a knock at her door "yes?" she called out standing up and chucking her ISD back onto the bed.
"Erien Mosaram t'Ourai," She stiffened at the strange name- the faux name she had enrolled in. To be called something other than her name felt odd but it had become a ritual over the past year, a game- how long can I keep this ruse going? She tapped the single button along the door's edge to unlock it and barely retained the gasp when it opened to Itsak standing in front of her.
"Mosaram t'Ourai?" Itsak's grin spread wide across his face as he shoved his way into the room "I will be fine" he glanced at his escort "you may go." Not asking questions the attendant simply dipped his head and exited "so you've been here for a year?" Itsak looked out the window "how I remember this place."
"What are you doing here Itsak?" Shiarrael gritted her teeth- it had only been a matter of time, this she knew, but a year? No doubt her parents had spent a great deal on finding her.
"What am I doing here?" Itsak smirked "don't ask something you already know. You need to return home."
"And if I refuse?" She asked.
"That is not your choice." Itsak said, he continued to gaze out the window "you were given so much in life, you could be in the Rei'Krannsu- but you choose this? Why this?"
"That is none of your business."
"Even so- I must report to your parents that I have found you." Itsak turned around and smiled "though, perhaps, I may be inclined to omit this discovery."
It was disconcerting, that smile. It was unusual to see Itsak smile. Shiarrael wondered what thoughts were weaving through her cousins' mind. Ever since she could remember he had been a closed person, never one to really show his emotions. She always wondered if it was because of his Vulcan ancestry. In year in the War College she had learned one thing clearly: caution. "And what exactly would incline you?"
"What?" He approached her "simple. Let's find out how much you have learned. I hear you are one of the best Telnari students. Spar with me Shiarrael. If you win, I will not report this."
So there it was- he wanted to spar. How many times had they when they were but small children? Shiarrael was good but even in her talent she had never beaten Itsak- but then again they were children. It was different now and she had nothing to lose "very well, let's spar."
"Three days- the sparring grounds will do." Itsak walked pass her without looking back. As soon as he was out of sight Shiarrael slammed her palm into the door's button. It shut and locked. Turning the window she looked out- it was time for her to make her stand.
Three days came fast. Before she knew it Shiarrael found herself standing on one of the wooden platforms that made up the war colleges sparring ground. The entire area was empty save for the two. Itsak wore his Galae uniform- the rank insignia glimmering in Eisn's brightness. Itsak slowly removed his uniform jacket, carefully folded it, and placed in one of the corners of the sparring ground. When he finished his short ceremony he looked at Shiarrael "you make the first move."
"If you insist." Shiarrael decided against going through the useless ceremony removing her training uniform. She simply took her stance and then paced the edges of the platform as her eyes focused on Itsak. He seemed aloof and relaxed- his stance was irritating her. Does he not take me seriously? She wondered. Oh well- he will soon! She suddenly sprinted at him and leapt into the air throwing a kick his way. He caught her foot and twisted it throwing her down onto the wooden platform. The fall was hard and the wood cracked from the force of the impact. Wincing noticeably Shiarrael pushed herself up and fell back. Itsak was grinning now.
"You've always been too confident, defiant, and aggressive- did you think I wouldn't expect you to come out so quick?" He leaned forward and pressed his knees against the wood "you never have given things much thought. You always are too quick to act and never focus on what you are doing. You never listen and never appreciated where you were. You do not belong here!" He gritted his teeth and now moved to the offensive. Leaping at her he spun midair and aimed a kick at her throat.
Caught by surprise Shiarrael barely dodged his attack. Falling farther back she nearly slipped off the platform but steadied herself. Panting she kneeled down and tried to catch her breath as Itsak reoriented and faced her again "and why is it your concern what I do?"
"Because you don't deserve it!" Itsak almost growled as he spoke "you have been given everything. Name, family, money, power- you have it all in your grasp and yet you throw it away! You fight against everything you have been given! You are a disgrace!" He charged again and sent his palm at her. Shiarrael twisted but was unable to dodge the hit and was knocked off the platform. Landing in the gravel she slid a few feet before coming to a rest. A small stream of dust stirred up as her hands dug into the tiny rocks. Standing up she threw them at Itsak who was charging her again. He was hit directly in the face and stumbled backward momentarily blinded. Using the distraction she slammed her elbow into his ribs and then head butted him sending him back onto the platform.
"Is that why you are angry? You are envious of me?" She wanted to spit at him but even she understood the severity of that insult- he didn't deserve that, not yet "you know nothing of my life even though you have always tried to replace me! I don't have to tell you anything. I will live as I choose- and I will because I am Rehu not some nameless peasant fit for the Gai'Shian. I have no interest in the Rei'Krannsu- a group of fools who do nothing but sponge honor. I will be in the Galae!"
Sitting up Itsak said nothing. He carefully pulled a few pieces of gravel out of his eye and then glared at Shiarrael. Standing up he charged her again. She did her best to fend off his attacks but Itsak was both faster and stronger then her. A kick to her abdomen forced her backwards and she fell. Looking up she could see Itsak staring down at her- his boot pressed against her throat "it is over Shiarrael- return home."
"No" she choked out under the pressure "kill me. I will not live the life you want. I will not live the life my father wants. I will not live the life my mother wants. I will live my own life- and if that is impossible then I would rather die."
The pressure against her neck subsided. Itsak sat down on the gravel next to her "damn you" he said. "Do as you please. I will inform your parents about your location but that is all. I will have nothing to do with you again Shiarrael. How you live mocks me."
"Mocks you…" Shiarrael whispered staring at the Endless Sky. The sleek and threatening design seemed to stare back at her- a dangerous place she was in. The chirp of her commbadge startled her- for a millisecond her brain wondered if the Endless Sky would fire…
"Captain, a Romulan shuttle is approaching from the surface- Vaek'Riov tr'Sahen is aboard. He asks that you meet him in the shuttle bay. Should I allow them to dock?"
A shuttle from the surface? Odd. He could have beamed aboard easily. Why a shuttle? This was highly suspect. She pressed her commbadge "allow it- but scan it thoroughly."
"Understood."
She glanced at the warbird one last time. It was time to go meet her cousin again.
[End]
Captain Shiarrael t'Rehu
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
