Kheinsa Maec

Next On Stage - A Background Study Kheinsa Maec tr'Aieme & Eviess t'Mahren The Kheinsa paused outside the doors of Talon’s security stronghold to skim briefly through tr’Shalor’s report once more before confronting the one woman who might be able to give them insight into where the Khre’Riov had been taken and what had happened to t’Ksa during her captivity. From what he was able to discern, the woman appeared to be very intelligent, resourceful and but also cagey. Not surprising, considering what she had been accused of and how she’d gone about doing it. There was a supposed association with tr’Valtrix, but nothing that had been verified as of yet. Through his tone and choice of words in the report, tr’Aieme could na decide whether or na tr’Shalor believed the woman’s story to be true or a fabrication. Perhaps he could glean some more insight from a face to face meeting than the security officer had. tr’Aieme did his best maintain a neutral “kheinsa” expression as he entered the main security doors, tucking his ISD under his arm. After a momentary exchange with the dheno on duty, he was led before the forcefield doors of the cell containing t’Mahren. “Jolan tru,” tr’Aieme nodded briefly. Eviess t’Mahren, seated in the floor halfway between the forcefield and her bunk, looked up to tr’Aieme. She narrowed her eyes in appraisal, head tilted slightly to the right. “Hmm. Au...are something different.” “Am I now?” The agent nodded and closed her eyes once again. “Are you here for a specific purpose, or do you just like watching fish in a bowl?” She smirked. “Though something tells me you’re not a watcher.” “No, I’m not most definitely not an observer today,” he responded, alluding to his own career path, “I came to ask you a few questions, if you’d be so inclined to answer a few...” he motioned to a nearby stool on his side of the forcefield, then noticing she had yet to reopen her eyes therefore what was the point to that, before pulling it over so that he could sit nearby. “Would you mind?” “A girl in my position can hardly object. Whether or not I provide an answer... well, we’ll just have to see about the question, won’t we?” “Well, shall we start simply then? Introductions. Au’s name?” “Simple enough,” she said, not bothering to open her eyes. “Eviess t’Mahren.” Being perceived as a neutral party was going to be difficult, especially in the next few moments. Maec hesitated briefly, knowing that following introduction could either stall the interview completely or na. It all depended on how much the woman knew of t’Ksa’s bonding, tr’Valtrix’s associates and, well, her like/dislike of kheinsa-kind. “Then jolan tru, t’Mahren. I am Kheinsa tr’Aieme.” There was a slight, sad smile curling her lips as t’Mahren opened her eyes. “That’s what makes au different. It’s personal. Very personal.” “And this surprises au? That there would be others affected besides the immediate needs of au’s client?” “Au mistake my meaning,” Eviess replied. She pursed her lips, hesitating ever so briefly. “To be expected, I suppose. But au did not come here to debate ethics.” “Au are right, I came learn more about this assignment au had and what happened once au came aboard the Tal Shiar ship.” Maec leaned back on the stool. “I came here to hear au’s story.” “Right. Storytime.” t’Mahren closed her eyes again, features resuming a neutral, relaxed expression. “I was contacted separately, by a contact I’d become familiar with during my service to the Tal Shiar. A small job -- a kidnapping -- with accomplices to be supplied by the client. I was given a date, a time; I met with my partner a week beforehand, and we were given a location. We used that week to formulate a plan and an escape route.” There was another question there, her service “to” not “with” the Tal Shiar, but Maec choose to jot it down save it for another interview. They had higher priorities at the moment. “Did au know the target at the time?” “I was given a name the day of. It had no meaning for me until a short time later.” “No meaning?” tr’Aieme raised a brow, then mentally kicked himself for allowing himself to get too personal about the interview. The agent grimaced. “No significance, perhaps I should say.” “And when did it gain significance?” “As soon as I was taken aboard the Tal Shiar ship,” she replied. “Not only had I met my official contact for the first time -- a darkly talented piece of work named t’Prin -- but I’d also borrowed access to their databases to do a little research. Her place, adjacent to the bondmate of my benefactor, combined with my distaste for t’Prin spurred on the need for an escape.” Still na specific use of t’Ksa’s name, but t’Prin was openly discussed. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard t’Prin’s name tangled up within this plot. Known as io of the dark rinam, the woman was rather sadistic when it came to her assignments and to crew members who disobeyed orders. She’d fallen several rungs after the failed Aegis assignment and been rumored to be jockeying her way back into favor with the Tal Shiar Director by taking some of the more unsavory assignments. Considering she had little to no conscious, these assignments fit her skill set and disposition to a “T”. Maec shared this ‘distaste” of t’Prin with t’Mahren, although those diplomatic words would na have been the ios he would have chosen. It was a herculean effort to keep his anger from coloring his questions as he pressed t’Mahren further, “And once aboard the Tal Shiar ship, what happened?” The neutral expression faltered briefly, with a flickering crease in her brows and downturned corners of her mouth. As quickly as they appeared, however, they melted away as though they had not been there at all. “Once aboard the Tal Shiar ship -- and once confronted with the reality of the situation -- I was able to shield her...some. Not as much as I might have liked, but as much as I might have managed without garnering further unwanted attention from t’Prin.” “Shield her? Am I to assume that t’Prin was up to her usual bag of tricks then?” t’Mahren nodded. “And if au are at all familiar with her work, au are aware how beastly she can be.” tr’Aieme inhaled slowly, he gave the woman a brief nod, na that she could have seen it, “I know it very well.” “Then au will understand that her involvement necessitated an escape. I only wish it could have been quicker.” Eviess opened her eyes, looking to tr’Aieme with clarity in her hazel eyes. “One of t’Prin’s lieutenants overdosed t’Ksa on truth-inducing agents; she was also subjected to physical abuse by the same lieutenant before said lieutenant was reined in. The psychological abuse -- that may have been the worst she suffered, and that, as you understand, is t’Prin’s specialty.” “Mor-...t’Ksa mentioned children being aboard the ship?” Maec wondered if they too were subjected to t’Prin’s whims. The agent shook her head. “Another of t’Prin’s mind games. t’Ksa was told a group of children had been infected with an incurable virus. The nanogenes were their only hope for survival. t’Prin was hoping it would motivate t’Ksa. Instead, I think it only added frustration, as t’Ksa does not hold the key. And while t’Ksa was told there was a group, shown the group ‘playing’ in a makeshift sick room, in reality there were only io actual child - the young son of io of the surveillance techs who knew nothing of this plot. The other ‘child’ t’Ksa was introduced to directly was an agent who has the fortune or misfortune of looking rather young for her actual age. ” “Morgana would have wanted to help the innocent,” Maec rubbed his face for a moment, processing all this information. He then looked up. “What can au tell me about the other members of t’Prin’s crew? Where were they taking quii of au?” “I’m not certain. I know only that we were travelling to Othan space to meet our contacts. A few names were whispered along the corridors, but t’Prin was very careful never to include me in discussions.” Eviess huffed. “There is no love lost between that fvai and myself.” “On that, we are of an accord.” He looked down at his ISD with his notes from t’Ksa’s brief interview. “Are the names t’Kayton, t’Sahen and tr’Gilas familiar? As senior staff of t’Prin?” “t’Kayton,” she began, “was the lieutenant who had to be reined in. I made sure to leave her a small...parting gift...when we left.” A mischievous grin flickered across her lips, lighting her eyes briefly. “t’Sahen departed early on; tr’Gilas -- he was treading a line when it came to t’Prin. In my estimation, he was holding something over her head. What, I’m not exactly sure. If I did know, I might prove more useful.” “It still might,” Maec rubbed his chin thoughtfully before jotting down more notes both for further investigation and for future interviews. “Is there any other information that would be useful to us?” “Only what you already know -- that we were charted for deeper into Othan space; that t’Prin is still seeking the good graces of the Tal Shiar once again; and that tr’Gilas was holding something over her.” t’Mahren nodded, indicating tr’Aieme. “Au seem like a smart, capable Rihan. Au can probably connect the dots from there.” He smiled grimly, trying na to take that comment as an actual complement as it may or may na have intended to be. He was satisfied that at the moment the woman had na more useful information until further research could be conducted, he still could na resist the urge to prod her motives for helping him. “I'm curious, na once in our conversation have au requested anything for auself, begged for release or any other special considerations. Why is that?” Eviess paused a long moment. “There is no denying my involvement in this conspiracy. When this contract was commissioned, however, I did so in hopes that it might provide information useful to my benefactor -- for whom I have been what you might call a ‘sleeper agent’ for many, many years. He will determine what price I must pay. Until that time, I am far safer here than anywhere else in the Empire.” The Kheinsa nodded briefly, feeling any further probing would be unnecessary at the moment. He stood, pushing the stool back into its place, “Is there anything else I can get au during au’s stay?” “Na, but I thank au. I am surprised to find such...consideration.” Thinking again of t’Prin’s involvement, he answered, “We’re not the Tal Shiar, au know Besides, t’Valtrix is na here, so it is a safe bet au will retain au’s limbs for the time being.” He responded dryly as he walked to the door. tr’Aieme paused a moment, then turned around. “Io more thing.” He held up his finger. “Io more question, rather. t’Ksa was wearing a necklace on the day of her abduction. A glass and metal pendant. We did na recover it in her dressing area, yet she does na recall where it was misplaced. Would au know what became of it? It was a sentimental piece for her, I would like to recover it for her, or if necessary replace it if it can na be reasonably found.” “I’m afraid I had to take it from her,” t’Mahren answered. “If she had been found with it, her treatment would have been considerably worse. Or it could have been used against her. As it was, I was able to activate it intermittently. It was the parting gift I left for t’Kayton, in great hopes that t’Prin would find it among her things.” He nodded briefly at t’Mahren. Until the day of the abduction, only t’Ksa, tr’Aieme and tr’Rylov knew that the necklace contained a tracking device within. Io would have to look very closely at the pendant to notice. But would t’Ksa have been so disciplined to use the device intermittently to avoid detection? He did na know and yet that would have explained how and why they were able to eventually track t’Ksa. “Hann’yyo.” Maec simply responded to the woman , na offering further explanation if the thanks was directed towards the knowledge of the necklace’s whereabouts or for saving t’Ksa’s life. “If au need require anything, fhaen let me know. I’m sure au will speak again.” He headed towards the door once again.

Behind the Curtain Kheinsa tr'Aieme (Daise'Erei'Riov) (Kheinsa means counselor - Maenak means Doctor for all you non-Rihan types out there) If playing with your food was a sport, the Maenak would be top tier in her category. From across the room, the Kheinsa watched her pushed individual rice grains around her plate with a fork while awaiting his return from the replicator with steaming cups of herbal tea. A curtain of lank brown hair hid her grim expression from both the Khiensa and the rest of the curious officer staff as they streamed past her corner of the mess hall. When a few overly curious junior staff intruded on t’Ksa’s introspection, she waved off the congratulatory welcome with a tight smile that did na quite reach her eyes, a few murmured words and the flick of her wrist. They left seemingly satisfied, completely missing the faltering expression on t’Ksa’s face before it disappeared behind the curtain again. With worried expression of his own, Maec sat opposite Morgana, gently setting a mug before her before settling into his own chair. He considered it progress that she did na jump this time, although she physically withdrew when he attempted to reach out for her free hand. He struggled with his own desire to comfort her as her mate (official ceremony not withstanding) and the desire to counsel her as a Galae Kheinsa. The Khiensa side won out. “Tell me what happened.” The curtain swayed for a moment with the shake of her head. He watched the rise and fall of her shoulders as she sighed. Then, just as he was going to press her again for answers, she weaved her fingers through her scalp and pushed the hair away from her face as she looked up. “They wanted the nanogenes.” With her fingers still tangled within the confines of the silken strands held at her shoulders, she emotionlessly recounted (or ‘filed a report’) on what she knew of why she was taken, where she was being taken to, and who was responsible. Any mention of her treatment at the hands of her captor was brief, lacking detail and sentiment. But unlike their discussions about the nanogene saga, this time the maenak seemed to lacked the energy to argue the sheer stupidity of those who’d question her findings on the matter. “It’s ironic, isn’t it. Known to be io of the most honest Galae maenkenn, and yet na io will believe me,” was all that t’Ksa commented on the matter before disappearing briefly behind the curtain again. “How did au find me?” Morgana asked as wiped her eyes and lifted her head. “Au necklace. The intermittent signal au sent.” Maec smiled only briefly as he watched t’Ksa become confused. “What is it?” “Couldn’t be. I-I lost it.” She said softly, pensively staring at the bottom of her tea cup. Io hand reached up to brush against her throat where the tracking device should have been. “I-I remember it around my neck for a few days after I was taken. Then one day it was gone.” “Perhaps au dropped it?” “No,” She gave a short shake of her head, but didn’t elaborate further. “Did someone take it from au?” The maenak did na answer. Instead she continued to rub her neck, lost in her own thoughts until she finally asked. “What about the children?” “What children?” “The ios on the Tal Shiar ship,” She looked up. “Are they menkha? Where they rescued too?” “Children on the ship?” Now it was Maec’s turn to look confused. This served only to alarm the maenak so he put his hand up to warn her off. “I do na know, but I have na fully read the away team’s mission summary. I have been, well, preoccupied.” He motioned to her. “I’ll find out, do na worry, Morgana.” tr’Aieme tried to reassure her. She nodded, seemingly resigned to something he was na aware of, before disappearing once again behind that curtain of hair. She remained there a few more moments before pushing her plate away. “I am tired. I’m going to my quarters now.” “Uh, perhaps it would be bett—“ the Khiensa tried to challenge her, to remind her that she had yet to be cleared by medical. But the expression on her face surprised him, the io of absolute authority of Daise’Maenak, the io which demonstrated that the original Morgana was yet somewhere still lurking backstage behind the curtain, so much so that he relented. “—er, nevermind. Au go. Rest. I will come by and see au later.” When it looked like she would protest the intrusion, he too asserted his authority as temporary Daise’Maenak and remind her of his own duty. “Au have na been cleared yet by medical and therefore still my responsibility. I will come by to check on au’s welfare or au will return to medical until clearance granted. I will na have my reputation sullied or accused of neglectful care just because au do na wish to return to medical. Maenakenn make the worst patients.” Instead of finding the humor in his teasing admonishment (and he did try to tease her out of the funk both by tone and by word), she merely nodded reluctantly then shuffled out, leaving her meal untouched. Maec frowned at her obvious detachment as he watched her go. Whether or na her current display of apathy was a temporary sign of exhaustion and critical incident stress or symptoms of a long lasting post traumatic stress state, he would na know until he could find a way to fully lift the curtain once and for all.