DL | CSec/CTac | Arrain tr'Verelan | "Burgeoning Dread" Pt 2 of 2
Posted on 241412.21 @ 4:21am by Arrain Maec tr'Verelan
Mission:
Holy Cow
Location: Multiple
Timeline: Current
[Romulus]
The tawny rays of morning light filtered in between the folds of the office’s obsidian curtaining drawing lines across the wooden desk. Sliding her hands through the warm rays Arrenhe picked up the ISD her aid had set on the desk and began to look it over. Per her usual routine the aid had made an itenery of the morning schedule and was checking in to see if it met with the Praetor’s approval. After gazing through the list on the device Arrenhe looked across the desk at t’Mhren “everything looks in order but I would like you to reschedule the meeting with the Lyran Ambassador for another day. I believe the Praetorate meeting on our new treaties with the Tholia-”
The thunderous shock of the office’s double doors bursting open and slamming into their catches interrupted Arrenhe and caused the Praetor to instinctively rise to her feet. She pressed one hand against the table top while the other reached beneath it grabbing at the sidearm fastened just below. Fortunately when her eyes met the figure standing in the open archway she instantly recognized the distinctive eye patch whose dark edges were framed by lines of scarring. Behind the figure two security guards suddenly appeared but Arrenhe lifted her hand instantly dismissing them. Though she had to wonder that if this had been a real intruder intent on harm if their delayed reaction time would have meant her death. It was certainly something she would have to deal with later but for now she looked at her guest “It seems you have lost your manners Argelian.”
“And you your mind Arrenhe.” His voice dripped with anger as he stormed into the heart of her office. Around his back he wore a charcoal shawl which danced at his shoulders and wrapped around him when he stopped. His furious gaze focused on t’Mhren and for a moment Arrenhe wondered if her brother might actually strike the aid but instead he gestured towards the doorway “leave, now, I need to speak with my sister alone.”
T’Mhren looked at Arrenhe who nodded her head slowly granting permission for the aid to leave. Slowly backing away t’Mhren had enough sense to close the doors before heading out. Arrenhe looked at Argelian and gestured to the free seat while sitting back in hers “now, will you tell me why you have come here in such bluster or will you leave it a mystery?”
“You have sent Maec to serve aboard a Federation ship!” His aquiline features tightened deeply clearly showing his anger in the deep crease forming across his forehead “how could you do this without consulting me?”
“Since when does a Praetor need to a consult a Senator? Even if he is her brother?” Arrenhe let out sigh and shook her head “did you think I wouldn’t find out about you asking t’Rehu to bring the boy under her wing? Do not give me such a contemptuous look brother. This is an opportunity for Maec to experience something new- to learn about our galaxy. He will need these experiences to develop into his future role.”
“Maec is not your child!”
“No. Maec is not my child but he is the scion of s’Ahaefvthe. A role he will not be suitable for if you continue to coddle him like an infant.” Arrenhe slid her hand across the desk and picked up one of the framed holo-images of her brother’s family “and I will not allow you to handicap our clans’ future even if he is your child. He is not a boy anymore Argelian. You cannot protect him and he will be unable to protect himself if you keep this up.”
The fury in her brother’s expression did not abate as he leaned forward and ripped the image from her grasp “I have a great deal of respect for you Arrenhe but know this well. I will do anything for my children and should anything happen to Maec…” his voice trembled and trailed off for a moment “I will not forgive you.” Turning around he grabbed the handles of the double doors and pulled them open violently causing another thunder shock to reverberate through the office. Like a spring storm he marched out of her office and down the adjacent hall with his boot steps echoing loudly behind him.
With another sigh Arrenhe simply shook her head.
[Bomber Dhaemn]
“Welkon.”
“No!” Mhai let out an exasperated sigh as she looked to Maec for some type of assistance but she found only silence which caused her to reach over and grabbed a handful of Fveirrolh’s hair and pull on it “what the hell do you keep under all this shag? Certainly not a brain! Why is your lloann'mhrahel standard so horrible? Didn’t you at least attempt to learn some of it?”
“Oww!” He shouted and pried her fingers away from his head “I’m a cook, what more do you expect of me? You want a pot of soup I can make it or even a dessert but this lloann'mhrahel language- it’s too difficult!” He frowned, looked towards Maec, and then back at Mhai “Welllkoom.”
“Well, at least they should be able to somewhat understand you.” She shook her head and sat down on one of the benches next to Maec “what have you been so deeply reading? Perhaps you can help this fool a bit with his standard. It seems hopeless.”
“Pointless.” Maec said without looking up from the ISD “I am reading through these Starfleet security regulations- certainly mystifying.”
“You have to remember the Federation has a different set of values- they value life greatly. I would not say that is entirely the wrong approach-”
“You sound like a traitor…” Fveirrolh muttered under his breath immediately drawing Mhai’s ire as she jumped out of her seat and grabbed another handful of his hair pulling on it violently.
“How dare you utter something so ridiculous? A traitor! When we get to the Enterprise I will have you bald and bleeding I swear! How did we get stuck with such a fool?”
“Oww!” Fveirrolh struggled against Mhai’s grip while cursing in Rihannsu “will you let go! By the elements what is this she-beast!”
The sound of metal hitting metal echoed through the small cabin as the ISD Maec had been holding landed between the pair. Both went quiet and looked up at Maec who wore a scowl “will you both be this loud for the duration of our trip?”
“Sorry.” Mhai let go of Fveirrolh and retreated to her seat “I didn’t mean to offend you sir.”
Fveirrolh bowed his head “forgive me young master. I should have been more careful.” Scurrying to his bags he began to dig through them “I can make a quick lunch if you would like.”
“I’m fine.” Maec stated and stood up making his way to the cockpit and sat down in the pilot’s chair. Looking up he stared at the endless field of stars that streaked by the window.
Mhai stared at Fveirrolh “why do you insist on referring to him as ‘young master’ you sound so ridiculous.”
He looked offended “what is ridiculous about showing proper respect?”
“Perhaps you could find a more subtle way to lick his boots.”
“Why are you here anyway?” Fveirrolh asked bitterly as he shut his bags “as I understood it the young master was chosen for this assignment- why are you tagging along like a hlai’s pinworm.”
“Vulgar.” Mhai snorted “not that I have to answer to you but I am coming to study Federation culture. My server was an officer during the dominion and collected a lot of items during his time on Bajor- Human, Vulcan, Bajoran, Risan, and Deltan trinkets and eccentricities galore. Ever since I was a child I have always been enamored by them and would research where I could through the censors. When I heard about the exchange I spoke to EnRiov t’Rehu who granted me permission to tag along and in exchange I will teach a course on Rihannsu linguistics while aboard the Enterprise.” She eyed Fveirrolh “for some reason though I feel like your reason for being here is a bit less cerebral.”
“I’m a cook- what other reason would there be for me to be here?” Fveirrolh glanced towards the cockpit “I am here to serve the young master in any capacity as necessary as his servant.”
“Being a mere servant brings you satisfaction?” Mhai asked “I find it…odd.”
“What would be odd? We come from two different worlds. My family has served others for centuries and we find our honor in it. My grandfather was hru'hfe to S’Pardek and my mother is currently hru'hfe to S’Aimne. If I could hope to gain a position in the household of either S’Ahaefvthe or S’Verelan my family would be elated beyond measure.” Fveirrolh stated triumphantly “so I will serve master Maec well and hope he will find me useful to him in the future.”
“Well- maybe if you want to actually be useful to him you should practice your lloann'mhrahel standard a bit more.” Mhai pointed to her lips and spoke slowly “w-e-l-c-o-m-e.”
Fveirrolh winced but slowly followed “W-e-k-o-m.”
“Fvadt. This is going to take a while.” Mhai grimaced.
[End]
Arrenhe i-Latasalaem t’Ahaefvthe
Chief Praetor
Romulan Star Empire
Argelian i-Latasalaem tr’Verelan
Senator
Romulan Star Empire
Arrain Maec ir’Ahaefvthe tr’Verelan
Chief Security/Tactical
Exchange Officer
USS Enterprise
Farien Mhai i-Kihai t’Naril
Exchange Officer
USS Enterprise
Fveirrolh i-Iuruth tr’Lalim
Cook/Steward
