A Mission Post by Lieutenant Commander Jin Rha-Yaleii
Mission: Coil of Darkness
Location: Romulan Bomber leaving Earth
Timeline: current
"Ai'Okhala, Jaeih, u'Avilh!"
"Now dear, there's no need to get nasty. It was not my idea after all. Though I must say that was an impressive rescue, unintentional as it was I'm sure. Here, let me have a look at your little scratch." Lwanissa removed a handkerchief from the seemingly bottomless depths of her purse and carefully dabbed some emerald away from the aggravated Romulan woman's temples. Poor dear.
"Llhei, are you aware you are on board a vessel of the Rihannsu Star Empire and -"
"Why yes of course. It's rather difficult to miss the birds with their little balls – you know, I've always wondered what those were – and the fact I'm surrounded by pointy ears. Not that I mind. Hold still now, there's a good Romulan."
"Madam, we are on course for our ship and the High Praetor is -"
"Having a terrible migraine, yes, I can tell that much even from here, the poor woman. What did you expect, first that ugly Conference Centre blows sky-high – well, no great loss there, but they could have waited until everyone was well out of the way – and then she gets tangled up with a dying Vulcan. They're really sweet underneath, well some of them are, but you don't want to get close and personal with them without warning. Trust me on that one." The Betazoid clucked her tongue at the fidgeting girl – correction, probably well into her 50ies but acting like a Fogcat with burrs on her tail – and sternly resumed tending to the gash marring that pretty face.
The Rei`Krannha for her part was rapidly approaching the end of her personal rope, trying in vain to swat away the handkerchief since it seemed impossible to get rid of the Bhet'sad attached to it. "Who *are* you?"
"Why, I'm Lwanissa Tyrax, Daughter of the Twelfth House, Keepers of the Sacred Fires of Vathax, Heir to the Scepter of Khrysaros, senior diplomatic aide to Yulana Enaren, Daughter of the Fourth House,-"
"Ie, ie. But how did you-"
"Oh, that would have been those strapping young men over there." Lwanissa beamed in the general direction of some disheveled Rei`Krannsu who at the moment looked about as sheepish as Rihannsu elite soldiers ever managed to look "Put themselves right between me and that terrible explosion. Now I'm pretty sure – actually, I *am* sure because it was at the top of their thoughts, but little Kara keeps telling me it's rude to say that out loud- it was your Praetor they were aiming for and I just got in the way but it was still awfully sweet of them."
Haehwe wondered if she was ever going to get to finish a sentence with that – that woman. She also wondered what a kara had to do with anything and why in Fire's Name Khoal was holding the woman's purse while she was rummaging in its depths for … pale yellow discs?
"Here, I've a little bag with Rigelian caramel candy left. Would you like some? Personally I find it atrociously spicy but my niece, bless her pointy ears, is quite fond of these."
"Do you always talk so-"
"Goodness no, dear. It's just the excitement. Pitfalls of being an empath. Why, with the nervous energy you poor things are giving off one could power Dalaria for a month. Ah, here we are. Now hold still, this may sting a bit."
"Llhei-" Haehwe winced when something smelling suspiciously of strong alcohol was pressed against her temple and still managed to glare at Triy who was chewing on the candy while trying to be nonchalant about it.
"Yes. I seem to have been swept up in the rush. Poor Yulana will fret I'm sure but she's a rather nasty migraine herself right now and I don't want to intrude."
Three munching Rei`Krannsu nodded at the odd woman's nonsensical statement, and Haehwe had to admit that despite her incessant chatter the lady in her luxuriant dress appeared to have a strangely calming effect. Namely, none of the soldiers clustered around her were scaling the bulkheads in anxiety over failing to protect their charge and wanting to take vengeance for their fallen comrades- or getting underfoot while the High Praetor was being tended to. It was almost unsettling in itself.
Against the backdrop of dark uniforms the Betazoid was a glittering bird-of-paradise with bright, if somewhat tousled feathers. Dark brown hair with streaks of silver, caught in an elaborate updo with jeweled pins, and those fathomless deep black eyes of a mind-reader. Yet Haehwe sensed no telepathic intrusion of the kind she was trained to resist, only the good-natured cooing of a matron fussing over some lost chicks – never mind those chicks were in fact grown Mogaiin capable of tearing the exotic creature limb from limb.
"Of course you could, dear. But that would be a bit rude. And there's naught sinister about it, either. Just stop thinking at me and I'll be too busy with everyone else throwing their emotions around to hear you anyways." Having stopped the bleeding Lwanissa studied her handiwork with an air of profound satisfaction and patted the pretty Romulan girl on the shoulder, causing some nasty dust to swirl upwards "Oh, my. That'll be a bother to wash off. What's a Mohgai-yin?"
"Mogai, Madam." Triy angled for another piece of candy and pointed his chin at the mighty raptor emblazoned on the bulkhead, politely ignoring the half exasperated, half vexed expression on Haehwe's face "You are saying you cannot 'hear' what is not thought towards you?"
"Well of course I could." Seeming as unperturbed as if she had simply caught the wrong intercontinental shuttle and was headed to Dalaria instead of Iscandar – a minor nuisance for certain, but hardly worth making a fuss about - the lady Lwanissa shook some dust and debris from her shimmering peach-colored dress. Ah, there was naught for it, it would need mending. Not that the sweet young men had meant to ruin it, bless their enthusiasm. "But that would be …" she dug around in her purse again and produced a few antique safety pins "… eavesdropping, no? Be a dear and help me with this?"
Khoal reflexively held out a hand and the shimmering needle-things were dropped into his palm. "This?"
"It would hardly do for a Daughter of the Twelfth House to arrive on your pretty flagship looking like somewhat the fogcat dragged in." Lwanissa stated firmly, twirling around to gesture at the torn fabric of her bodice "Of course I'd hate to impose, so if any of you kind people would have a moment to spare and show me to a transporter when we arrive, much as I detest those horrid contraptions – no, no, dear I'm sure your technology is splendid, I just don't like … oh, do watch for that seam there?"
Haehwe rubbed the space between her brows as one of her Rei`Krannsu for all intent and purpose busied himself as a royal valet. And he did not even seem to find it absurd, either, carefully pulling torn seams together and musing over strategically sound locations for the little latinum needle things. The worst part was she could hardly blame them, what with herself acting no less bewildered. Like mentioned Mogaiin besieged by a cheerfully chirping Dalwhin in their midst they seemed altogether too curious to see what would happen next to … well, do much of anything, really. Aside from plucking more candy from the Bhet'sad woman's hands.
Elements.
A light shudder ran through the bomber and the pitch of the engines changed to the characteristic hum of the vessel leaving the atmosphere behind and plunging into space.
"Now don't you worry Miss soldier, your Praetor will be in sickbay in a trice and if I'm right about the origin of her headache it shouldn't … oh, there you are."
"T`Iawaiin." Haehwe mumbled automatically, blinking at the strange thing the woman pulled from her purse with a triumphant sound. A hand fan? With feathers? What … then the rest of the sentence sunk in. "If you are correct about it? Llhei, what are you-"
"Oh I may well be wrong Miss t`Iaw.. iawh… goodness this is worse than Vulcan. Adaxa would have a field day I'm sure. Would you mind writing this down? I have some paper. I know, terribly antiquated but you'd be amazed-"
"Madam!"
"Ah yes, my apologies, dear. Now, it's difficult to be certain of course, all those emotions. Poor people." The Betazoid shook her head sadly, for the first time showing a frown on her aristocratic face. Haehwe wasn't even surprised any more when two Rei`Krannsu reached out to awkwardly pat the woman's arms, prompting a wan smile "No matter how many times you've felt people die, you never get used to it, you know? Nor should one. But with Vulcans …" she took a deep breath, the bottomless black pools of her eyes focusing on Haehwe with an expression that raised the fine hair at the back of the Rihanha's neck "… if you've felt it once, you never forget. And it's naught I'd wish even on my worst enemy. The point is, I didn't. Not a Katra dying, alone, shouting for … ah, no. You don't want to know about such things. Might ruin your impression of the poor dears. But if good Sa'vak did move in with your Praetor, lock stock and barrel, you might want to set a course for Vulcan before she starts chasing people with a Lirpa. Or gets it into her head to take up logic, Four Deities have mercy on her."
"Llhei?" Triy broke the stunned silence, his slanted brows crumpled in a deep frown as he puzzled over the woman's words "Is such a thing even-"
"Possible? Why, yes. I'm no expert, my darling brother's lovely wife notwithstanding, but … oh, here we are." The Rei`Krannsu blinked almost in unison at this latest non-sequitur until they noticed that indeed, the bomber had slowed and was coasting through a forcefield.
The lady Lwanissa snapped open her ornate fan with all the ceremony of a Rei`Krannha drawing a blade "Well, dears. Shall we?"
~to be continued...?~
Lady Lwanissa Tyrax, Daughter of the Twelfth House
Seinor Diplomatic Aide to Ambassador Extraordinaire Yulana Enaren, Daughter of the Fourth House
(additional titles omitted for the sake of not writing a minor novella. Kindly direct complaints to the Gorn embassy on Efros Delta).
&
Haehwe t'Iawaiin
Triy
Khoal
(Rei`Krannsu in trouble)
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