[USS Charon, Ready Room]
"You thought they would not dare to do with Charon as they please." Her head slowly turned to face the councilwoman again, and this time Sakarra's features so eerily looked like her foremother's, T'Pelar narrowed her eyes at the sight.
"You are mistaken. As far as he is concerned, you are expendable as well. Mayhap even another unstable element removed from the game. He will have his information, no matter what the Sundered do or if they win their prize after all."
"He?" Shiarrael could almost taste the bitterness of bile as agitation twisted in her throat. They were like a poor hlai that had blindly stumbled into a river. Dragged along by currents barely able to surface for water- whether they crawled to the shore or drowned was simply left to chance and vitality. The V'Shar- the term was something she had a vague recollection of. The V'Shar was 'Vulcan Intelligence' for lack of a better term. Quiet, invisible, and almost rumor- the V'Shar lacked the tenacity and fearsome exposure of the Tal'Shiar but in place of that they were skillful in endeavored omniscient. Only a few times had V'Shar infiltrators been unearthed from the ranks of the fleet to Shiarrael's knowledge.
Dylan listened to the conversation and was growing more and more uneasy by the moment. He had heard of the V'Shar but had never actually met, or at least he thought; a member of the organization. He didn't like the idea of two intelligence agencies after the same prize with Charon in the middle
"Sutok." T'Pelar almost whispered, at last showing cracks in her façade of haughty contempt – revealing an underlying fury that was for the moment solely reserved for the young raven haired one who still had not moved from her place by the window.
"The very same." Sakarra's eyes were iridescent as black pearls and harder than steel when she returned her focus to the woman seated behind the desk "Director of V'Shar and known as the only Vulcan undefeated in four dimensional chess. Although I doubt he has set these things in motion – T'Pelar's ambition should have sufficed for that. V'Shar simply …. watches. They might have tolerated the obvious illogic for a time, thinking the knowledge gained worth the price. However, one should always anticipate the limits of V'Shar's patience - and it seems a line has been crossed. T'Pelar thought she was using the agency to further her goals, when it was they who controlled the board and supplied the rules."
How very ironic indeed. Even Sovar's defiance of his orders which had ultimately led to Sakarra bringing the truth to her Captain might have been anticipated by the old man as just another gambit. She should be angry, furious even.
Instead, she felt the most inappropriate but near irresistible urge to laugh. Laugh tears, actually.
Fine. Let them play their games. This pawn was done fretting.
"It does not matter, Captain. Kaiidth. We are here, and so is Temep Shar. As are quite possibly a number of cloaked Warbirds observing our every move. Even if we chose to abandon the search, it is likely we will not be allowed to. The only logical option is to proceed. And perhaps be … unpredictable."
"Unpredictable?" Shiarrael tossed a glance at her second officer "what exactly do you mean Commander?"
Sakarra tilted her head thoughtfully, considering and dismissing options in her mind.
"You are an unknown, Captain. Though it is a logical assumption you are expected to react harshly to having been deceived – or with the cunning of a Commander who has proven to be a … most satisfactory strategist. Perhaps both. As for me … I am expected to be defiant. Perhaps I should be."
"You are mad." T'Pelar's words had icicles clinging to them as she stared at the young one who talked treason with the nonchalance of offering her Captain a cup of tea. "You want to destroy the Valit along with the ship."
"And what will you have me do, T'Pelar cha`T'Pral?" A slanted eyebrow climbed on serene features, but there was a definitive hint of a smirk playing across the young one's lips.
"Dhòhr t'du zahrkìk. How many more deaths do you believe your Katra can bear? Even if we destroy the ship, how foolish do you think they are? They will anticipate you have put safeguards in place to save your precious research. With that, they will not even need Temep Shar."
Pointedly ignoring the elder's hissed "Insolent one", Sakarra gazed back at the stars.
"It is all idle speculation at this point, Captain. We do not even know if there is still a ship to find. However, if there is, the Valit may seek us out first. It is the one chance we have to destroy it."
It was hard not to see the logic- Shiarrael smiled wryly at her thoughts. It was beyond ridiculous now and she wondered if she should even bother let these fools irritate her further. "Then we will look for it and if it is out there we will find some way to rid of it. As for this-" her eyes narrowed as her gaze met the Vulcan scientist "throw her out an airlock. I'll let you choose which one." Her tone was steady and sincere. Shiarrael shifted her attention to the desk's console letting the silence envelope her office.
Dylan nodded as he grabbed the woman by the arm. "This way please." he said as he turned toward the door to the Bridge. He had no intention of actually throwing her into an air lock. Well not fully anyway. Perhaps scare the green out of her blood.
The Vulcan's haughty stare became incredulous as she shook off the human's grip and she let out a clearly dismissive huff. "I fear that is a task you will have to undertake yourself, Shiarrael t'Rehu. Your human won't dare, and as for your pet …"
"You are referring to one who is already charged with high treason?" Sakarra's voice fell into the silence like satin on rose petals. "By you, nonetheless?"
Vulcans are terrible at playacting, or at least most are. But Sakarra had summoned every bit of grandmother Lhorexa's considerable talent and met the teal blue stare with perfect equanimity.
For a long second, T'Pelar's face actually showed an expression. Utter disbelief – and cold hatred.
"Por shinsarat."
"Such language." Sakarra murmured and briefly tipped her head towards the Captain before quietly walking to the Security Chief's side "After you, Commander."
Dylan led them both straight to the nearest air lock. He may not actually wish to kill the Vulcan, that did not mean he could not have some fun. "Step inside" he said with a dead pan expression.
"You are aware this constitutes murder?" T'Pelar's voice was even enough, one had to give her that. But another Vulcan's sharp ears could easily pick up the subtle nervous undertones, and the not at all subtle ire.
It was clear the councilwoman was wondering whether she was dealing with a thoroughly irrational human who thought he had nothing left to lose and would just as well see her dead before meeting his own demise … or whether he was playing a game at her expense.
"It does not matter what you say, the fact is the brig is over full, I cannot allow you to endanger the ship; so I ask you again to step inside." he said with a slight tug on the phaser and leveling it at her head.
Sakarra was duly impressed. If she had not known the Commander at least a little bit, she might indeed have 'bought' his performance so to speak. And doubt or not, T'Pelar actually managed to glare at the phaser as if she wanted to melt it before she huffed with utter contempt – and stepped into the airlock.
"It is no less murder than the hundreds of lives you have condemned to death on this mission!" he shouted as he closed the doors and activated the comm. The lights flashed and a countdown started from 90 seconds. "I thought you may want to reflect on the past mistakes in the time you have left." he said with a wicked grin.
A small hand deactivated the speakers and jet black eyes glanced up at the towering human with understanding and just the tiniest bit of mischief, hidden deep under the surface "I assume you have a transport in mind, Commander? Letting the councilwoman stumble out of there again will no doubt lead to a most tiresome tirade."
He made the slightest of nods as he watched the Councilwoman look at him still defiant. He tapped a few controls on the access panel and grinned. With only seconds to spare, the blue energy of the transporter whisked the Vulcan away from the air lock.
He tapped his com badge. "You will no doubt be relieved to be sure that I did not have any intention of killing you. However I do have another form of punishment to deal out to you people. The program that you are experiencing is a rather immature and most illogical display of 20th century Human behavior called slap stick comedy. This will be followed by a hand picked marathon of Human Emotional programming for your viewing pleasure. I would make yourself comfortable, you will be there for a while." he said. turning to Sakarra he smiled. " I beamed them all to the Holodeck where they will see Humanity at its best." he smirked. "It isn't a death sentence, but some may wish it was."
Sakarra had to fight terribly hard to keep her mouth from twitching as laughter started to bubble inside her, but two velvety black eyebrows climbed nearly towards her hairline.
"Indeed they may, Commander. Indeed they may."
[End Log]
Captain Shiarrael t'Rehu
Commanding Officer
Commander Dylan Marcus
Chief Security Officer
Lieutenant Commander Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
USS Charon
T'Pelar
Vulcan Science Council
