[USS Charon, Deck Two]
It was a plain guest room, nothing special, nothing meaningful. It was warm- quiet. Aehlen stood silently, his back pressed against one of the bulkheads lining the large observation windows displaying passing stars. He breathed slowly and thus silently. Across the room a simple candle flickered, the dim orange glow bathing the entire room a rusty pallor. He waited and waited. He waited for an hour before the occupant finally returned. By that time Aehlen had seated himself on the couch. His eyes lifted cautiously towards the door, when it shut he spoke "this is a mistake. They already know- they will try to take it."
The dark clad figure paused not far from the door and let a cold, appraising gaze linger on the man seated on the couch. Candle flames made golden sparks dance in the deep twilight hues of dark violet, while chains of logic reasserted themselves in the silent Vulcan's mind.
"I am aware."
Voran's deep, level tenor broke the seconds of complete silence and finally, he moved towards one of the windows, hands loosely clasped behind his back. Almost casually, he glanced at the stars streaking past them before returning his focus to the man who had managed to outwit a security device specifically designed to prevent unwelcome visitors from disturbing these quarters.
There was but one logical explanation for this and although the Vulcan knew full well that one of them was on board, the surgeon had hardly been his prime suspect.
Interesting.
"However, are you aware that I am … not here?"
"It is not relative." Ahelen stated plainly "I fail to comprehend the logic. You will lead them to it. At this moment they are following us." His hand inched into his pocket and pulled out an isolinear data rod and he held it out for Voran to grasp "you are giving it to them. Dangerous."
"There has been no logic but T'Pelar's in this from the beginning." The Vulcan stated dryly, but accepted the data device with a brief nod. "And one may dispute the merit of same, however it does not change the circumstances."
A shadow among shadows, Voran silently moved towards the desk, while the isolinear rod disappeared in a dark blue tunic. "What will you have me do? She who has created this situation will wish to retrieve her prize, but the Agency will rather see it destroyed than in the hands of the Star Empire. And we ..." he turned and glanced at the still figure watching him "... may consider ourselves expendable."
"Have we been anything but…?" Aehlen didn't seek an answer to that question. His entire life had been a footstep from death- should the Tal'Shiar ever discover the truth his days would be numbered. Not even the V'Shar could protect him in that regard. "It must be destroyed if it still exists. There is no other possibility. To give it to the Empire is not an acceptable outcome."
"Agreed."
Still as a statue, the tall, dark haired male stood by the desk, contemplating.
"Shiarrael t`Rehu. The Agency considers her an unstable element."
Yet recently Voran had been … confronted … with a mind one could safely call unpredictable as well, and if he was any judge, the unstable element would soon become a much greater factor to be considered. What would she do? And had Sovar's judgment been impaired when he decided to let one like her ... complicate matters?
"If she knew. What is your assessment. How would the Captain proceed?"
"I would not be astonished if T'Pelar found herself beamed into space." Aehlen's tone was quite serious "she is not averse to killing but I am not certain how she might proceed. The Captain is not easily read and even less so understood. At times she appears childish and aloof- other times she appears ferocious and violent, and then, sometimes, she is elegant, patient, and calculating. I believe the answer lies in all those things- and it is concerning."
"Well, well."
Beamed into space indeed. But the man was correct, there was cause for concern.
"It would seem we have found ourselves in a situation with the potential to become exceedingly volatile." Logic suggested that they prepare for the worst, and as far as Voran was concerned, they did not even know what this 'worst' might be yet. He would certainly loath to find out.
"What of the one they refer to as 'Rehu's Vulcan'."
Hands folded behind his back, the dark clad male wandered back towards the window with silent, easy grace. If matters should become turbulent, he might require assistance. And if the man was to be able to provide sufficient aid, he needed to know.
"Be advised that she has received … a message. And while I am in a position to anticipate at least some of what this one may do, I would venture you have an impression as well, yes?"
"Sakarra Tyrax- strange." Aehlen held up his hands, he looked at them, remembered the feeling of her warm blood as he explored the interior of her abdomen "she is predicable- very Vulcan but there is something different about her."
"Yes."
Voran gave a brief nod of agreement. Sharp violet eyes picked up on the man's thoughtful gaze, but the Vulcan decided to keep his peace. "So, it is highly probable Shiarrael t`Rehu will learn of T'Pelar's deception soon. It may amount to no more than what Charon is already doing – or it may cause ... complications."
Somehow, Voran could not bring himself to think of T'Pelar meeting an untimely demise as a regrettable complication. Being restricted, or at the very least slowed down in his movements from now on however might be an inconvenience.
Considering the most logical action for 3.8 seconds, he finally produced a small datachip from his tunic and let it fall into the other man's hand.
"Should I be ... delayed … this will tell you what you need to know to destroy it. However, should you encounter difficulties, remember the fact that the t'sai Sakarra served under T'Meni on the Seleya. If other methods fail, she might still prove … useful."
One could have read more expression in a rock facing the scorching sun over the desert than in the man's eyes when he gave a brief, simple nod.
Soundlessly if not for the quiet sigh of doors, the other left and Voran's thoughts returned to black eyes, lit by relentless fury.
Oh yes, matters would become interesting to say the least.
[End Log]
Arrain Aehlen tr'Kethry
Surgeon
USS Charon
Voran
Vulcan Science Council (at least officially … )
