m_k_tksa

This makes me sad :( ...but in a good way. Good writing! Well done!

((Again, this was from two weeks ago. So I'm slowly getting caught up :P )) Na So Y'Ya...Yet (Part 2) Daise'Maenak t'Ksa "Hanny'yo for the tour. It was a real pleasure," The maenak beamed ear to ear as she shook hands with the director. After exchanging a few more pleasantries and contact information, she bowed her head, turned and strolled across the lobby. Secretly, the woman reveled in the sharp staccato clicks of butter soft leather civilian boots she wore. Not to mention the new smart tailored business wardrobe acquired for her visits. Draped in warm bronze and red with just a touch of gold woven throughout, so na her usual attire. She felt empowered, emboldened and na the least bit excited. She crossed common courtyard and approached the Ksa family flitter. Nodding to the driver as he held the vehicle door open for her, she slid gracefully into the back seat to find another occupying the space in front of her. Smirking as she straightened her jacket, she surveyed the angry looking man holding the disruptor pointed at her seat. "What exactly do you think you are doing?" "Good morning to au, tr’Rylov." She could na help it but smile sweetly at the man. She knew it would bring his blood to boil sooner or later. "Answer the question, Maenak." Aerv growled. Torture me, torture au. She smiled innocently, "Completing my rounds as per au's plan. That was the plan for today, was it na?" Ksa leaned back, adjusting her skirt. “Fhaen put that away or someone will get hurt. Clearly I am unarmed. And I really do na want to spend next few hours being questioned by Galae dheno when au shoot off a finger….or toe.” While it was incredibly dumb for Ksa to be speaking to an armed man like this, she was banking on the friendship she had with the Imperial agent to squeak by unmolested. There was no way any other officer would allow her to get away with what she was about to do. Aerv ground his teeth. "Au are really trying my patience." “Weapon, fhaen.” She waved at him to holster the evil thing, then sat there with an expectant look on her face. Another frustrated growl as the agent slipped his weapon back into place, “First au run off….” "I did na run off. I walked out. I can na help it if au’s agent, who is supposed to be protecting, is more interested in watching other female assets than the ward he is assigned to." "Au ran off." Morgana sat forward, trying to drill home the point, "I did na run off. I sat in the park for 15 siuren, trying to just collect myself and found that na io came looking for me. I watched, Aerv. I sat there and watched across the street. Windows open in the apartment. Could na miss a thing. I do na know when they finally decided to bring au in, but au were na there when I was.” She leaned back, “Do na look at me like that, I timed it, for elements sake. Then I walked away." "Why did au na contact me yourself? Do au know the risk au took? Maenak, we’ve known each other for how long? Au know I would never--" "You’ve been a long time away from Talon. Things change.” “Au do na trust me?” “Should I?” “Ie. Ksa.” She was quiet for a moment, staring out the window as she contemplating their interaction. Finally, “I can na do it anymore. This ruse that’s been fabricated. This is na me. And sooner or later, it will come back to bite us.” She turned back to the Galae agent. “Au have to listen to me. Really listen to me.” “I’m listening,” Aerv scowled. “I am willing to finish the project we started,” She held up her hand in defense of his next comment, “Without the undue theatrical performance of my personnel life. I can sell the idea of retirement and formations of new partnerships more naturally that way." She produced an ISD and handed it over to the agent. "I have io last stop to make, but this should be what au need. Those au suspected of betraying the empire are listed above along with their responses to my business inquires.” She cleared her throat, “Or whatever au wish to call it. I tried to provide visual or audio when I could, but I did have to be careful. And a very menkha friend of mine analyzed several of the meetings, so the likely candidates are here...here...and here." "The contact information I shared is here. Encrypted of course. Au can monitor it using that key. In fact, I would like to ask au a favor as far as future contacts.” The agent looked up after skimming through the report, “What is that?” “Have Sienae handle any future entrapments. I am maenak, na dheno. I have na idea what further information au need to complete au’s case. It’s better if au have a trained officer take over from here. If au need to have make a personal appearance at io of these centers, au can call on me, brief me on what au need me to do, and I’ll do my best to accommodate au. But unless it’s absolutely necessary, after today, fhaen leave me alone.” “Are au sure about this?” “As long as au leave my personal affairs alone I will cooperate.” Morgana eyed Aerv. “Disturb what is mine, and friendship or na, I will make au's life a living hell." "Is that a threat?" "More a promise." "Since when did the Talon Daise'Maenak start making treats?" Aerv chuckled as he relaxed. "When an ex-Talon dheno started to allow a nasty Tal Shiar witch be the architect of his fate." Aerv raised a brow, "How do au know that?" "Come now. Even I am na that naïve. I know t'Prin's handiwork when I see it. She loves to muck up even the best laid plans. Why the Elements did au go along with it anyway?" She leaned over and gave a swift knock to the screen separating the driver from passengers. It was an apparent prearranged signal between them. The driver pulled the flitter to a gentle stop. “Because I knew au would be smart enough to ignore t’Prin’s motives. Plus it would aggravate her when au got fed up with her plans. I can na wait to see the look on her face.” “Au knew?” “Of course I knew. She’s banking au would be so annoyed, miserable and distracted we would never accomplish half of what au did this morning.” “And au did nothing about it?!?” She protested it, kicking the agent in the shin. “I wouldn’t say that.” His face lit up with a devilish gleam. “Why do au think I let Lai babysit au last night. I just don’t understand why it took au so long to leave. I thought au would have escaped days ago.” “Oh au are an evil man.” “Na nearly as evil as au, Maenak.” He teased as he moved to the side of the vehicle to open the door. “Do na worry, I will watch au’s back. Fhaen be careful. I still have that viper to defang.” “Of course.” She nodded. She waited a few beats, watching the officer hobble off down the street and around the corner before she wilted back into her seat. "He did na leave a listening device, did he?" She spoke to the flitter driver. "Na, he left with the same one he came with." The gentleman showed her the scanning device. "Menkha." She sighed. "Are au well?" "Ie just tired. Did t’Neya contact au about the cottage? Is it ready yet. And I am overdue for a nap." “Ie, while au were visiting t’Dench.” He turned fully around to face Ksa, "Fhaen, may I ask io question?" "Ie?" Maec tipped his drivers cap back so he could better see the wilted maenak in the back, "How did au know they would fail to recognize me. Lai barely looked at me when flagging the car down. And Aerv just gruffly told me to proceed with my duties as if he was na here." "Didn’t au know? Na io notices the help." Morgana smirked. "Did I ever tell au the story of the Praetor and the rice bowl....."

((Sorry for the lateness of this log (and Part 2). This log takes place before the sim two weeks ago. I finally got the time to sit down try to write myself out of the hole I dug for my character...yes, it has flaws but I'm having fun so :P )) Na So Y'Ya...Yet (Part 1) Daise'Maenak t'Ksa and Kheinsa tr'Aieme "How did you get here?" This question was asked only after he was fairly certain she would not bludgeon him to death with the ball racquet she carried. Just to be safe, he also purchased a frozen fruit icy to keep her hands busy. If nothing else he would get bribery points that might make her second guess any attempted assault. If that failed, until she finished the treat it would give him a five second head start. "Walked." She slurped at the frozen treat with an impish grin. "I know that. I mean how did you get away from your evil overlords and their insidious plot?" Taking his cue from the maenak's light hearted mood, Maec teased Morgana about the Imperial agents currently and strangely MIA. He gently peeled the garment bag (with ball racquet peaking out) from her shoulder to carry the weight for her. "I don't know.” She shrugged. “Pure dumb luck, I suppose.” Morgana set the pace for their stroll through the moonlit park. Slow, casual, meandering. Na the pace of a hunted woman. She took another slurp of her drink before she finished explaining, “I got fed up this evening. Fed up with everyone breathing down my neck, scripting my next mood. So I wanted to blow off some steam and just get a breather. I was originally just going to go down to the fitness center. But I as I was getting ready to go, I spotted some extra clothing in the closet, came up with this stupid plan and by some stroke of dumb luck it worked. So here I am." "It really was dumb too." Morgana continued between fishing out lumps of frozen fruit. "My latest babysitter and I went down to the fitness center. I walked into the ladies changing rooms, while he was stuck outside, then to the pool then into the male side. Changed clothes and walked out. The pool guards were too busy gossiping the office since no one was swimming. No men on the other side of the changing area. And the agent assigned to me was too busy watching the cardio class across the hall to notice me exit the men’s changing area either." "I wonder how long it will take them to find you missing?" "About 15 suiren." Morgana watched Maec's eyebrow raise in question. "I sat in the park across from the apartment and watched. I didn't intend to walk away, but...since na one paid me any mind, I just left." She shrugged as she answered the unasked question. “Au know they will track au via the city surveillance system. I am surprised they have na pounced on au yet.” “I know.” Agitated, she continued. "I just wanted a break. I didn't mean to run away. But no one even searched the park. And Elements I’m tired of the nonsense. I mean seriously, who do you think is the architect of this stupid ruse?" "I don't know," Maec answered cautiously in case it was a rhetorical question. "t'Prin." This gave Maec a start as certain elements started to fall into place like the tumblers of a lock. "t'Prin? Tal Shiar t'Prin. The t'Prin? Kal's playmate t'Prin?" "Ie, think about it. Who else likes childish games. I know the woman is a fantastic tactician. But she also likes to pull strings," Morgana mimed a puppet in front of her. "And she loves to mess with peoples’ lives. Elements, it is like I have been transported back to primary school with these games.” Maec glanced at her, “Why these juvenile games?” “My guess...she wanted to run the op, but the Galae stepped in and ruined it so she sewed her own little missive into the fabric of the game plan, sold the plan to some poor slob politician who pushed it up the chain and up it went. She can sell anything to anyone anywhere. It’s too bad the people who ended up with the charade didn’t feel all that invested in it and did such a sloppy job of it. It would have fully ruined my reputation." "When did you figure this out?" "When tr’Rylov laid out the plan and then Lai's part in it. 99% of the plan is very solid. But Lai? Seriously? He is a good agent but a bit of a putz." She smirked at Maec and gave him a hip bump as they walked. "So why go along with it then?" "Because they had practically at kaleh point at the time and I didn't yet have a better plan." She then glared pointedly at him, "That was my excuse. What was au’s?" "Same excuse." He reached over and pulled her closer as they walked. Maybe it was to shield himself from the inevitable smack by making it hard for her to retaliate. Or maybe it was to reassure himself that she was menkha. He did na know, except that it made him feel better in the process. "Either I cooperated or au would most likely y'ya a horrible y'ya." She sighed, laying her head on his shoulder for a moment. "Well I do na think that will be a concern now. I have a plan." "A plan?" "Ie a better io. Io where I do na have to ruin my life to save it." "And what is that?" "The guts of tr’Rylov’s and t'Prin's are sound they just require some tweaking. Will au help?" "Of course. But au might need more help than me." "Oh I have that covered. Au think I put command level officers into stasis for naught?" At Maec's sour expression, she laughed. "I asked for some help from some old friends.” She paused at park corner, the street just visible beyond the shrubbery. “Just meet me here tomorrow and I will explain your part then." “Stay with me tonight. Au can na be safe wandering the streets tonight?” Maec frowned, worried about her safety. She grinned and kissed his cheek before darting back into the shadows once more out of reach, “Do na worry about me. I’ll be fine. Just meet me here and au will be significantly rewarded.” Leaving Maec to wonder if the twisting feeling in his stomach was the result of the kiss or that Morgana's new plan.

“It looks like she likes your boy.” The technician’s jab was directed less at Aerv and more at the Khiensa leaning against the wall behind him. Sienae observed that if it bothered him, he did na show it. He merely adjusted his stance against the wall as he watched the monitor. Sienae smiled briefly, trying to reassure the man who merely shrugged his eyebrows. Sienae moved to his side. “Are au sure au are up to this?” “Do I have a choice?” “Na.” “Then I’m ready.” tr’Aieme pushed back from the wall and headed towards the door. Aerv gave Sienae a quick head jerk toward the kheinsa and she knew it was a message to follow him. She caught up to him in time to enter the lift. “Worried?” “About what?” “About what happens after this?” She made a broad motion around the lift. “Oh that’s easy. She’s never going to talk to me again after she finds out I was in this little scheme of yours.” “You don’t know that.” “The Areinnye I don’t. I’ll be lucky if I return with all my body parts attached and fully functioning today. I *know* Morgana. When she finds out later what was done….I hope au know au signed my death warrant.” “Oh fhaen. The maenak, seriously?” “Wait. Au see.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the only thing pleasant about this whole experience was the visitations to several private medical consortiums who were trying to ‘court’ her into retiring from the Galae and join their practice. Oooh the medical labs she drooled over. The equipment she fondled. The data she lovingly perused. If and when the maenak did retire, she saw a bright future ahead. If she did na ruin her present first. She felt Lai stir in the flitter seat next to her. And then a hand on her knee. She stared at if for a moment, then she pinched it, right between the index finger and thumb where she knew a sensitive nerve ending just begged to be tweaked. “Eewoh!” Lai snatched his hand back. “What was that for.” Morgana glared at him. “I was only trying to see if au were well. Au look upset.” He waved his hand back and forth to draw out the sting. “I’m fine,” Morgana sighed and turned away. “Au know au are doing rather well. Considering the circumstances. I mean, I am impress that—“ “Could we just be quiet for a while.” “Why, what’s wrong?” “Nothing’s wrong.” “If au don’t want to talk, then there has to be something wrong.” Morgana turned her head slowly and gave the officer the ‘evil maenak’ stare. When it appeared that the stare would na work (Lai’s smug smile in the process of parting as he opened his mouth once more), t’Ksa turned her head and snuggled into the furthest corner of the flitter and gave the lout the silent treatment. He tried to pester. He tried to inquiry. He tried to joke. And finally, he gave up until, at last they reached their destination. Lai exited the car first, then offered Morgana his hand as they returned to public display of this grossly irritating farce. She sat staring at his hand until Lai poked his head back into the flitter and puzzled, waved at her to come on out of the vehicle. Even then it was several long beats before finally the maenak emerged and walked with the officer back into the apartment building. All she could think of as she walked was: Why must I ruin my life to save it. A thought that wiggled in her brain over and over again until finally, out of sheer frustration, she did something……well…..stupid.

“Sit down” Sienae glanced up as Lai loped his way across the room and perched himself on the edge of the settee. How does he do that, she wondered as she glanced at Aerv. The man had barely whispered the command, yet Lai complied. She’d have to shout in Lai’s ear, and even then she’d get a smug smile in response. She studied the older man, his legs loosely crossed, seemingly relaxed, yet ever vigilant even at rest. How does he do that? Mere seconds after Lai settled, he jumped up again as the doors swished open. Sienae watched over Lai’s shoulder as a slender woman carrying a take-away bag stepped cautiously into the room. She surveyed the scene quickly, assessing each of them for threats before focusing directly on Aerv. “Well, if I had known I was to have company, I would have ordered more food.” The tone of her voice flat, scolding, with a touch of caution. Yet Sienae detected an amused lilt to it as well. “Maenak,” Aerv unfolded his legs, stood slowly, then bowed his head respectfully. “It’s nice to see au too, Aerv.” She smiled this time, crossing the room to enter the small food preparation area. “But I don’t suppose this is a social call,” her eyes swept from Aerv to Sienae and Lai, then back to Aerv, her eyebrow arching. “What is au want?” “Well, for au to put au’s weapon away would be a nice start, Morgana.” Aerv Lai turned to Sienae and arched his own eyebrows in surprise. Neither of them know that Aerv had any past acquaintance with the Talon’s Daise’Maenak, let alone be on a first name basis with the woman. The woman shrugged innocently, then removed both her hand and the hidden disruptor from the take-away bag. “I said I didn’t na know I was to have company, I did na say I was unprepared.” She powered down the weapon, then holstered it before removing containers of food from the bag. “Who are au’s friends?” “Sienae t’Kassus and Lai tr’Usthym,” Aerv tr’Rylov pointed his companions in turn. “Ah,” She nodded. “Now that we’ve meet each other, what else do au want?” “The technical specs for alien medical technology au found.” The Maenak leaned against the countertop, “tr’Rylov, au know as much as I would jol to help au, au know I can na.” The maenak glancing down at the prosthetic hand of her visitor, then glancing up. She tilted her head, and stared at Aerv tr’Rylov for a few moments. For the second time that evening, it left Sienae wondering how the man did it…for it seemed as if the two were carrying on a whole different conversation with facial expressions and subtle tilts of the head. Because while na words were exchanged, an understanding of some sort was reached, while Lai and Sienae were totally forgotten. “I know.” He answered within a few moments. “Then why did au ask,” The Maenak turned to fish a plate and eating utensils out of the cabinet. Lai started opening up containers. “Hey look, hlai rolls!” Just as he reached in to try io, Morgana wrapped his knuckles with her spoon with a speed that surprised Sienae. Lai pouted, handing the container back to the maenak, then rubbed his sore hand. “I want au to pretend au can.” Aerv shot Lai a sharp look before focusing on the Maenak again. “Why, exactly, does the Galae criminal investigation unit want me to pretend to give them a copy of alien technology specifications that they can obtain themselves by petitioning Galae Medical?” “First, au’s specifications are na complete…” Sienae jumped into the conversation. “Because I am a meanak, na a bio-engineer,” the maenak muttered. ‘…and second,” Sienae continued as if she had na been interrupted. “…there are several unscrupulously factions who want to undermined the Senate and the Praetor. Our contacts indicate that they are trying to obtain a copy, perhaps to use in well…au should know…au are the io who cautioned against such technology in au’s report.” “Like the Tal Shiar.” Morgana jerked her head towards the window. “Na exactly.” Lai managed to fish some morsel out of another container. “What do au mean, na exactly?” Lai smirked as he pulled out a long noodle, “Au know them and their ideas of civil disobedience. They don’t want anyone else playing in their sandbox. They’re on our side with this io. Well, as much as tr’Prin and her ilk can be.” He tilted his head back and snaked a long noodle into this mouth. “Where does that leave me?” “Well, there are several options in which to obtain the specs.” Lai started to lecture as if the maenak was a two year old. “Steal it,” Sienae jumped in. “But that will take too long to plan at the moment. Considering how high security is around au’s report. Maybe in six months…a year, when security relaxes au can find a window to crawl through, but that’s too long to wait.” “Take it by force,” Sienae counted off another option. To which Lai answered, with his mouth full, “Too expensive and the collateral damage would call too much attention to au unless au are ready to act now.” “Or obtain it from the expert.” “Either by bribe or force.” Lai shrugged as he fished another noodle from the container. “Oh what a pleasant thought,” Morgana answered flatly. Sienae took that as a cue to thwap Lai on the back of the head. “We just want au to make au’self available for approach, t’Ksa.” Aerv spoke now. “Nothing more.” “Anyone who knows me knows I am na motivated by money. So a bribe won’t work. What else? Au want me to get kidnapped or y’ya’d for the cause?” “Who said bribery had to be monetary?” Lai interrupted, receiving withering glances from Sienae, Aerv and Morgana all at the same time. “Sorry.” “Au are na going to be kidnapped or y’ya’d. We’ll have people with au at all times, and….” “Au think any io is going to come close to me with the amount of people shadowing me lately?” “t’Prin has backed off.” “For now.” Morgana scowled. Sienae could na help but smile at the banter between Aerv and the Maenak. “And I’m assigning io of my agents to au during this operation.” “Do I get a say in this?” “Na really.” “Again, I’m back to the ‘how’ are going to pull this off.” “If au will let me explain without snarky commentary, I will be happy to set au’s mind at ease.”

“Na!” Morgana took another look at Lai. “Na, na, na, na,na, na!” “Why na?” Lai looked wounded. “Because I all ready have a…a boyfriend.” Morgana protested. She scanned Lai from head to toe and back again, clearly finding him lacking in some category or another. In Sienae’s opinion, the maenak must have good taste to be rejecting Lai so thoroughly. “Well, now au have re,” Lai smirked, throwing his arm over the maenak’s shoulder. “Na, na, na, na, na,” Morgana picked up his arm by the cufflink and pulled it off her shoulder like toxic waste. “I can na do that to my family or Maec. This will never work. There has to be another option.” “Oh the Kheinsa won’t mind. He knows it gets lonely…all that time in space.” The maenak fixed Lai with a death stare so severe that Sienae was afraid she’d unholster her disruptor at any moment. Sensing trouble on the horizon, Aerv took the maenak by the arm and led her just out of Lai and Sienae’s earshot, cautioning the other two agents with a flip of his wrist to stay away. Sienae watched the animated and clearly heated conversation taking place. Meanwhile, Lai leaned his hip against the countertop, popping chips into his mouth one by one as if he was watching a stage show. “What do you think they’re saying?” Lai asked. “Probably assessing your lack of personal hygiene.” “Funny, I thought they were talking about your stoic stick-up-the-backend nature.” “Careful, they’re coming back.” Repulsed was a good way to describe the maenak’s expression as she rejoined the group. “Touch me again and I will neuter au. Without benefit of a sharp knife.” She snarled directly at Lai. “I’m sorry a’rhea*, I will have to touch au sometime.” Lai smiled innocently. “Well, if this is to work.” Another death stare shot in his direction. Only the quelling hand of Aerv on the maenak’s shoulder kept the impending bloodshed at bay. “What do au want me to do next?” Morgana asked through gritted teeth. “For today, just wander the streets looking distressed. Tomorrow, the café.” Aerv instructed. “And be menkha, I don’t want any io to y’ya on this mission.” “I’ll be menkha.” Lai protested. “I was talking to her, na au. I don’t want her y’yaing in your sleep.” Aerv smirked as he escorted Sienae out the door. The last thing Sienae saw was the troubled expression on Lai's face and the death stare the maenak fixed on the younger man. They crossed the hall and entered the lift to rejoin the surveillance team on the floor above. She waited a few beats after the lift doors closed before she turned to her ranking officer. “Why did we na just let the Tal Shiar take over? Why fight t’Prin over this?” “Because they would na care of she lives or dies in the course of this operation.” “Why do au?” Sienae arched her brow. “Because she cared whether or na an old dheno lived or died.” The older man examined his prosthetic hand, his face softening. “Now I’m returning the favor.” *a’rehea – dear heart.

A few hours earlier…. “She’s waving at me.” “She’s what?” “Waving. At me. ” Alura t’Prin turned to glance at the monitor positioned in front of her surveillance tech. There, across the busy street was the Talon’s Daise’Maenak, io hand on her hip, the other io waving her shadow on to catch up. She could almost hear the woman’s toes tapping impatiently. It was a struggle na to burst out laughing at her dark rinam Kal t’Sahen as she responded. “I think I like this io.” “Au would.” Kal responded flatly. “Rinam, au sound bitter.” Alura smirked to herself as she adjusted the contrast of the monitor against the protests of the tech manning the station. “Should au na have sent the new io to do this…this…this babysitting?” “But au are so good at it.” The scowl on Kal’s face was present in her voice, “If au are mad at me for some reason….” “This has nothing to do with my emotional state or how I feel about au. Au know that.” “Then why did au send *me* to watch *her*.” “Because.” Alura purred. “Because why?” “Because I said so.” “Oh hnaev.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Morgana maintained her stoic expression even as she left the hearing rooms, through Galae Medical halls, out the compound gates and into the hired flitter. Only when she was safely ensconced in the vehicle did she allow herself to melt into a puddle of exhaustion. “Destination?” Ksa struggled to comprehend the most simple of questions. An awkward pause preceded her response. Numbly she rattled off the address of the apartment building she was staying in during the duration of the investigative sessions. She then sat back and stared mindlessly out the window. She did na have to turn around to know she was being followed. She’d been leading a fvadt parade through the city for the past thi hours. I just want to go home. She sighed, watching the city pass by in a blur. As a young girl she’d had reveled in the energy and light of the city during the family’s annual sojourn to the Capital. It was so different than her home, she’d felt as if she’d entered a different world altogether. As a cadet, she’d spent much of her free time exploring nearly every neighborhood within walking distance of the Phi’lasasam, gleefully getting lost in the rhythm and pulse of everything around her. Today, however, she felt as if those same energies were drumming her into the ground. Yet she was stuck here until the Galae released her from further interrogations. The flitter glided effortlessly to the curb signaling Morgana’s re-entry into the chaos surrounding her. She tipped the driver and stepped out cautiously lest she loose her babysitters. Na sudden movements from this Maenak. Stopping only to pick up a take-away dinner, she proceeded up to her quarters. Alone, much to her own disappointment. Little did she know she would na be alone for long.

I am so y’ya. Morgana t’Ksa sat in her apartment, fingers gently messaging her temples, praying to the Elements that they would release her from the agony of the tension headache she’d developed. So far in the span of io afternoon she had been: • Shadowed by her rinam’s favorite Tal Shiar officer . • Accosted by the receptionist at Galae Medical when she attempted to visit the head of the division. • Approached by at least half of dozen of her colleagues regarding her ‘cure’ of the Khre’Riov. • Received at least a half dozen more threatening messages regarding the same ‘cure’. • Shadowed, some more, as she ate in the cafe near the medical complex. • Missed the appointment with Kheinsa tr’Aieme by the narrowest of margins. (Probably because she obsessed with Kal t'Sahen's presence in the background too long) • Endured the endless prattle of her younger rinam over the video com as she planned her next birthing ritual. (Another child??? Did she na just have io when Morgana was here the last time?) • Forced to clarify multiple written statements in her report under a tight deadline. • Shadowed again by the Tal Shiar officer, who was seemed to be na more pleased with the situation than the Daise’Maenak. • Offered an unseemly amount of money for the technology she discovered by an anonymous source. • Turned over two death threats to Galae Dheno received within an hour of each other. And now this? She glanced up Aerv tr’Rylov, a disbelieving expression upon her face. “Fhaen, explain it to me again. Au want me to do………..what?!?”

The Marked & Unmarked Daise'Maenak t'Ksa and Head Nurse t'Mercu After giving tr’Pexil leave from sickbay, Daise’Maenak t’Ksa quietly slipped down the hallway and into the abandoned kheinsa’s office/store room to check on her two sedated patients. Well, na just check on them, but to ensure that they were still sedated. The Daise’Maenak could see the storm clouds brewing on the horizon and these ‘miraculous’ healings of R’Mor and t’Rexan could be seen as a na the gift that they were…but in fact more evidence of the clone conspiracy that that station created. For their safety alone, Morgana felt it was necessary to keep them hidden and protected until she could ease them back into shipboard life. A task easier said than performed, knowing t’Rexan’s stubbornness. Checking behind her to ensure that io of her staff members had na strayed from their task, Morgana let herself into the storage room and glanced at the dishern maenak that Maenak tr’Radaik had press ganged into service as liter-barer and reluctant babysitter. “How are they?” She crossed the room to mark the maenak just as the dheno had taught her. “Stable, lhhei.” “Go ahead and take a break. I will stay with them for a few minutes.” Morgana paused, tilting her head. “Say nothing about this to na io but Maenak tr’Radaik or myself, Maenak tr’Bahrer. If I hear that io word has been uttered, au will be my next test subject in the T’Neya Chair.” She jerked her head back towards another mysterious suite a few doors down from their current location..io that held a very large, very menacing and very operational electrical chair. A gift from io of Morgana’s friends prior to her departure. It was an idle threat for Morgana, but io that she hoped with t’Ditsy’s artful rumor mongering still held some semblance of fear. She suppressed a smile as the color drained from tr’Bahrer’s face. The dishern maenak nodded his head sharply then left the suite, leaving Morgana alone with her patients. “I am truly na that evil, just misunderstood.” Morgana sighed wearily as she moved first to R’Mor than t’Rexan to repeat the marking process. “Oh who am I kidding…I’m too nice. Any other Galae maenak would have let au lot die instead of wasting the resources on trying to keep au alive.” “However, even though I’ve saved au’s lives, now I have to save au’s skins…and mine as well. There will be many questions. I just hope I have the right answers to appease the Galae and the crew.” Her shoulders sagged as she felt her exhaustion seep into her very bones. “I am so y’ya when we get home.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Either he dies or I do. Head Nurse Aife t’Mercu had made a highly illogical, emotional and rash decision. She wiped away the dheno marking from tr’Batel’s hand. Not since the squid incident many, many years ago had she made such a colossal reactionary leap in judgment. And we all know how well that turned out, don’t we? And she could na longer reverse the action. The Daise’Maenak had taken the marker with her to check on other patients. The only way she could reapply the mark was by calling it to Maenak t’Ksa’s attention…and lying to the woman about what had happened. Which would compound the issue, for lying to the Daise’Maenak was as unforgivable to t’Ksa as the squid incident. Strangely, she did na feel regret. Well, regret for waking the evil creature because now tr’Batel insisted on holding her hand. But na regret in her action in the slightest. If tr’Batel was mistaken for a clone creature, he would be y’ya on sight. Considering the things he’d done and said to her, it was a far too humane way for the man to die. But it was the least messy way for the Head Nurse to commit murder and possibly get away with it. A mistake. If he was y’ya’d, then perhaps they would think that the dheno missed marking him. Or that the mark had rubbed off during treatment in medical. Or that himself had taken it off, thinking all were in the clear. It would be an accident. Or that he was finally being punished for being a part of the mutiny. An accidental death. And if this plan did na work, certainly she devise another accident. Ie, another accident. Surely na one would mourn a trattious, muntinous snake like tr’Batel. Certainly na io Aife t’Mercu.

Rebirth of the Aehallh Part 3 Log between Khre’Riov L’haiy t’Rexan, Daise’Erei’Riov Morgana t’Ksa and Erein tr’Kelton tr’Radaik "Oh fhaen!” t’Ksa snapped, cutting him off. “Au were dead. Point blank. Dead. D.E.A.D. I have the death certificate locked in my desk drawer. Would au like to see it? Au are in no condition to go anywhere until I'm sure that those nanogenes didn't cross a wire somewhere." t’Rexan stopped mid-sentence, jaw half-open, with na words. “Besides,” t’Ksa went on, “tr'Guard is perfectly capable to take on an invading army. I've seen him work. He’s menkha. Dense, but menkha.” “What do au mean...yy’a?” t’Rexan asked. “How could I be yy'a and stand fahd eisn? Surely...au exaggerate? That, or I am right, this is a hallucination hrrau Areinnye” “I mean y'ya. How else can I say it? Y'ya. No brain activity. No pulse. No breathing. No signs of life. Kicked the bucket. Bit the dust. Joined the Elements. Croaked. Given up the ghost. Shuffled off this mortal coil. However au want to say it…y’ya. And since when do you know me to exaggerate?” t’Rexan was taken aback. “Y'ya? Seriously?” Kelton's expression was a little puzzled as well; he had not realized the entire severity of the Khre'Riov's condition, though he tried not to act quite so uninformed. "Ie...and au were for a time kept alive only by transfusions from io of the mutineers. Au are na in a position to test au limits." “A mutineer?” t’Rexan asked. “Another kept alive? And au taint my body with their blood!?” “Well, actually, we only needed her alive while the Khre'Riov had brain activity. After I had to declare her dead, we kept t'Random alive to keep up the ruse." t’Ksa shrugged, trying to ease some of Kelton's guilt. "It was either that or someone on the crew would have killed N'Dak and I would have had to be made Enarrain." She shuddered. "Of course au would na have y'ya had na io of the mutineers escaped detection and opened up au's stasis unit. Io of the fixes I ordered was authorization lock which would allow only upper level maenak staff to open the stasis units." "t’Random is dead now, at any rate," Kelton added quietly. “And...if that had happened, if au had been made Enarrain...au would have had to deal with au mutinous friend Laehval...What would au have done?” t’Rexan asked. A thunderous roar was heard from outside the room; part of the main doorway had been blasted open and tr'Guard began exchanging ie’yakk fire with those on the other side. "There it goes..." Kelton muttered, moving to peer out the door in the direction of the newly erupted battle as t’Ksa answered t’Rexan. "Laehval?" She frowned, hesitating, for if she admitted what she would have done, then she would be seen as na backing the ranking Enarrain, who was still on the Oira right now. "I'd have reviewed the evidence and acted accordingly." She hoped her answer was vague enough to satisfy t'Rexan and yet na get her into further trouble with the Galae. The Khre’Riov looked at her skeptically, and then turned to Kelton. "So, au say this other is yy’a then? "Ie," Kelton said, without turning around from the door. "She died several days ago. The Daise'Dheno was with her, which has caused all sorts of...problems." Morgana growled at the mention of the Daise'Dheno, and t’Rexan took note of the response. A suspicion of further collusion between N’Dak, t’Temmar and perhaps they had forced the Daise Maenak into their plans, but she was hna trying to find away out of it? Kelton glanced sideways at her and shrugs slightly. He did na know what decision she had come to regarding t'Aehjae; privately he had decided that he did na believe she had acted intentionally, but this was hardly the place or time to discuss that. “So t’Aehjae lives then? Surprising that the mutineers let her live. Knowing the Daise'Dheno, it sounds like she did her duty.” t’Rexan said. "Not exactly,” t’Ksa responded. The sound of weapons fire became more pronounced, and medical was abruptly rocked by the large explosion of the proximity mines going off which tr’Guard had set as a fail safe. t’Rexan, hrrau the siuren of confusion, grabbed Morgana's bedpan from her grasp and made for the forcefield controls, determined to go assist hrrau the fight. "Fvadt...no..." Kelton reflexively reached out, grabbing for the Khre'Riov's arm as she passed him towards the door. Looking around wildly, he spotted the hypospray t'Ksa had set down on a shelf at his elbow and grabbed for it, spinning to depress the entire quantity of sedative contained in it into t'Rexan's neck. "Oh I'm so y'ya," t’Ksa said as she watched t’Rexan slump backwards, bedpan crashing to the floor with an echoing clang. Kelton grunted, stumbling back a few steps to catch her weight. Letting out a breath, he looked towards t'Ksa. "I could na let her go..." he said, his voice taking on a slightly plaintive quality. He paused, then gave a bleak laugh. "Perhaps I am y'ya as well...we can share the experience." "Don't worry, you'll be spared. They need at least io maenak on this tub. Au will be safe." Morgana sighed heavily, shaking her head in disbelief. "I, on the other hand, are so y'ya when we get home."

Rebirth of the Aehallh Part 2 Log between Khre’Riov L’haiy t’Rexan, Daise’Erei’Riov Morgana t’Ksa and Erein tr’Kelton tr’Radaik “I hope that she is rotting in Areinnye after her deed,” t’Rexan pronounced. “Who was it that defeated her? Did NDak stop her, or t’Aehjae? Someone else?” Kelton left the stretcher next to t'Rexan and looked at her for a moment as she spoke. He assumed she was talking about the engineer, t'Temarr, and given the expression on her face, he pondered evading the question, but lying to someone that angry could no doubt have further consequences. "She is na...defeated...I think..." he said carefully. t’Ksa glanced up, then shook her head at Kelton, hastily trying to change the subject. "Forcefield is active." Catching the headshake out of the corner of his eye, Kelton nodded slightly, thinking she was confirming his assertion as to t’Temarr’s state. "Ie...I have seen her." t’Ksa covered her eyes, then made a snorting noise as Kelton, oblivious, barreled on with the revelation. “Wait......na defeated?” Au mean she lives? She was captured then? Alive? Hrrau the br'tehh then? “Not exactly,” Morgana said. “Na exactly?” t’Rexan turned, narrowing her eyes. “I think au need to explain. The susse-thrai lives!!?? Morganna....tell me...HNA!” t’Rexan reached again to grasp Morgana’s collar, but the Daise Maenak deftly skirted out of her reach this time. Kelton sighed as he saw t’Rexan’s agitation increase. Well, so much for the value of honesty. Morgana’s tone of voice took on the same comically high-pitched level it had when she had explained to N'Dak what she'd done with the nanogenes earlier. "Oohh, well, she's in engineering right now. N'Dak let her...um...return to duty." Her face displayed one of those ‘please-don't-kill-me’ looks. “N'Dak again...” t’Rexan narrowed her eyes. “So they ‘were’ hrrau collusion.” “Prepare auselves. Door breach imminent!” tr’Guard yelled from outside, as he got up and moved towards the door, placing a proximity explosive just inside in preparation for the breach. “Every io away from the door." t’Ksa motioned, then looked around for something handy with which to hit an intruder on the head if he/she/it made it past the forcefields. She muttered under her breath as she searched. "Saved by the intruder, so to speak." "Fvadt..." Kelton muttered. "This is perhaps na the time for...ah...delivering the full story, ie?" he offered hopefully. At least perhaps they could distract the Khre’Riov from what had clearly been an unpleasant piece of news. No such luck as she turned on him. "Vah-udt to speak to me such!" t’Rexan spat out with angry vehemence Kelton clamped his mouth shut, his color rising slightly, and looked towards t'Ksa, silently backing up towards the far wall of the room. He was starting to get the impression that listening a lot and saying little might be the best policy here. "Less arguing, more hiding. Fhaen." t’Ksa grabbed a bedpan, judged its weight then wielded it over her shoulder like a clubbing bat. "It's not a rice bowl, but it will do." t’Rexan pushed herself upright a bit more, starting to get her balance back. “So, do au know who is trying to enter? Is it she? Coming to finish her handy work?” L'haiy vividly remembered again the snarl on t’Temmars face as she sunk the blade in, and then the finishing twist of the kaleh. "Na, like I said before,” t’Ksa answered. “We're under some sort of attack by the repair station we docked at. That's all I could get from N'Dak before I reported here. I should have gone straight to the Oira as ordered, but...well...I needed to check on au and R'Mor to make sure au were not suffering ill affects of the station recalling the nanogenes. By the feel of things, N'Dak is undoing a good portion of repairs we paid for." She shifted with another jolt to the ship. “Then....how does a repair station, fire an ie’yakk at a door?” “The station inhabitants?” t’Ksa offered. “Somewhat surprising, given that there was na io to interact with while we were there,” Kelton added dryly. Morgana glanced at Kelton. "I wonder what they have against us, then?" Kelton chuckled wryly. "If au do na know, rekkhai...I am sure I do na." “Well, some io had to fail at keeping the shields up, and has let them aboard. It may be, that we still have vang'radam hrrau our midst,” t’Rexan said grimly. “Vrika is this kaohht? ((Where is this station?)) “ "Just outside the ship, I presume." t’Ksa gave t'Rexan a "duh" look, then realized that perhaps now was na the time. "We found it after a few days of deep space scans. It was either here or try to limp home and hope we made it." Only because it was Morgana, did L’haiy hold her hand for the sarcastic remark. “Au said I had been hrrau stasis. For how long? I know au have had some of aur subjects rhae ice for a few fvheisn.” “A few weeks, na more," Kelton answered wondering vaguely if this would be more or less than she expected to hear. She didn’t respond; she was busy fuming that Laehval was hrrau engineering, as if na had happened. “NDak will have to authen for this...” "Probably,” t’Ksa agreed shortly. t’Rexan flexed her hand, "I still think this is a hallucination...we do na have the technology for this....But I feel it....it does na make sense. Give me a weapon. I feel....I feel stronger than I have for years.” "If it was a dream, who am I?" Kelton asked dryly. "Au would probably dream up some io more interesting..." t’Rexan turned towards him. "Probably,” she responded dryly, drawing a weak smile from him. Morgana raised her eyebrows in surprise, glancing between the two, and then smirked. "I'm trapped with a couple of comedians." Then she tilted her head. "Au look better with kre eyes, au know?" If it were na for the weapons fire outside the room, t’Rexan would have been tempted to bat her eyes at Morgana and tell her that ie, ie, I do, just to humor this hallucination. Instead she straightened, flexing her arms. "I really do feel...almost as I did years ago. Fine, I will humor this nightmare and play along. It is probably my curse hrrau Areinnye to have to live out the Elements be damned eternity facing my worst enemies. I should have kept them closer, and na given them room to have yy’a me in the first place." "I am so y'ya when we get home," Morgana muttered, turning back towards the door. “Give me an ieyakk,” t’Rexan ordered. “I will go assist tr’Guard at the door, as is my place. Na hiding away here with healers. And then.....I will take my ship back.” She turned to them both. “And...au kre are going to help me do it.” Kelton blinked and said carefully, "I would na recommend that au strain auself...just yet...rekkhai...au body has been through a great trauma..." He doubted this would actually have any effect, but it was worth a shot. "What he means is 'No way',” t’Ksa said firmly. “Au still have stasis legs. I do na want au shooting off tr'Guard's arms." “So what do au expect me to do? Sit fahd and cower like a fvai while they break through, and just wait for Laehval to come run me through again? Na...I will na let them do that to me a second time. Maehnaks.....such pacifists.” "Na, but if au are na capable--" Kelton began, then cut himself off, realizing how that sounded. "If au are still recovering...to fight would be more dangerous than staying still." t’Ksa threatened her menacingly with the bedpan in her hand. "Don't make me hit au with this. The forcefield will hold. Dheno staff are on their way. Let them do their jobs." “Au are willing to sit fahd and let tr’Guard do this alone?” “Na,” Kelton answered. “But others of his department will be here, and au have been in a serious condition, near yy'a--" "Oh fhaen!” t’Ksa snapped, cutting him off. “Au were dead. Point blank. Dead. D.E.A.D. I have the death certificate locked in my desk drawer. Would au like to see it? Au are in no condition to go anywhere until I'm sure that those nanogenes didn't cross a wire somewhere." t’Rexan stopped mid-sentence, jaw half-open, with na words.

Rebirth of the Aehallh Part 1 Log between Khre’Riov L’haiy t’Rexan, Daise’Erei’Riov Morgana t’Ksa and Erein tr’Kelton tr’Radaik The Talon was under siege, both externally by the mysterious repair station and internally by the nanogene cloned crew members from the station. The stations cutting apparatus ripping away at the Talon’s newly repaired hull causing the ship to rock and buckle under the stress of the beams. Power systems fluctuated as the engineers tried to remotely compensate for the attack. Emergency lighting began to activate in those corridors that had went dark as Daise’Maenak Morganna t’Ksa ran back to medical to check on the stasis alarms that Erein tr'Radaik reported. Although N’Dak had ordered her to the oira, hrrau her eyes, the medical emergency had to come first. Upon entering the medical department, she found tr’Radaik frantically working the controls rhea the two stasis chambers, trying to quell the alarms, and determine what the issue was. Standing nearby, tr’Guard suspiciously kept an eye rhea tr’Radaik making sure he did na harm to t’Rexan or R’Mor. Morgana quickly moved tr’Radaik aside, accessing the Khre’Riov’s unit and looked up to tr’Radaik to see if he was seeing the same thing she was. What the two maenak’s found was the nanogene technology that had been implemented to help repair the damage to Khre’Riov t’Rexan and R’Mor had been given an order to cease repair and were now shutting down, attacking their bodies as per orders of the station. Making a quick decision in an effort to stop the internal attack, t’Ksa and tr’Radaik retrofitted a few cortical simulators to shock the Khre’Riov’s body and therefore attempt to deactivate or kill the nanogenes attacking her body. The electric current coursing through her body and brain tissue causing the body to arc and jolt but no apparent reaction was seen. Morgana turned up the current and repeated the procedure a few more time, finally evoking a response and deactivating the nanogene’s activity. Not only had the current deactivated the nanogenes, but it had stimulated all of the neurons, axons, dendrites, and electrical impulsive nerves of the body and brain. Unfortunately, this also revived a very confused, very upset and apparently much stronger Khre’Riov. Upon waking, t’Rexan, na knowing what was happening, reached for the first thing she saw, and managed to grab a hold of both t’Ksa’s collar and tr’Radaik’s arm, much to her surprise as every io else. For where there was once only io working hand, there were now two perfectly healthy hands, as well as the removal of the bionic eye implant. Morgana’s jaw dropped in surprise na only at being grabbed, but the fact that she had indeed, been grabbed with a formerly non-existent hand, but more so, at the surprise of the face she was looking at. A face she had na seen for many years, yet similar to another she had seen grace io of her stasis units. “What is this!!??” t’Rexan looked first from Morgana, and then to the other officer she had na yet met. “This must be some sort of dream,” she paused as the ship was hit again causing the lights to flicker, or a nightmare. “Na, this must be a dream, because I know this is na possible," flexing her left hand, causing it to tighten on Morgana’s collar. Letting go of Morgana’s collar, she reached up, just in curiosity at first, then in shock, as she felt that the eye socket was filled, na with the mechanical orb, but an actual eyeball. “What is this? I do na ssuaj'ha.” t'Rexan turned to look at the unknown tr'Radaik, narrowing her eyes at him. "Vah-udt?” Kelton recoiled automatically as the Khre’Riov’s hand closed around his wrist tighter, holding him still as he tried to move towards the other stasis chamber. "It is na a dream, rekkhai," he said, looking towards t'Ksa who was also being held immobile, as t’Rexan’s left hand flew from feeling her face back to Morgana’s collar, na letting her move off before she could finish questioning her. “What are au doing here?” t’Rexan demanded. “What have au done to me?” She looked at Morgana, with a look that both exuded fear and anger. “What is this? I do na ssuaj'ha?” "I have done nothing,” Kelton stammered. “I am Erein tr'Radaik...I am a maenek...you have been in stasis..." He tugged his arm backwards, attempting to wrench his wrist out of her grip. She was surprisingly strong; he had na met her in person before and had expected her to appear much older than she did. Her personnel file, Khre’Riov L’haiy t’Rexan, did little to flatter her, and he had assumed she was about 20 years older from her holopicture. “Wait...I, ” t’Rexan started, suddenly having a flash of memory, of her own impending yy’a, becoming more confused.. "I know...I know,” t’Ksa broke in. “This is odd. But I assure au, au ‘are’ okay, and ‘alive’, and obviously, uhm...well." She sighed. "However, I am surely y'ya after this." t’Rexan looked back up at tr'Radaik. “Maenak? Stasis?” "Ie. Maenek. Fhaen, I have another patient." He jerked with his head towards R'Mor's body, raising the manipulated cortical stimulator in his free hand. "We do na have time for this! I have to deliver the charge to the other.” In confusion, t’Rexan released her grip on his wrist, causing Kelton to backpedal abruptly as his arm was released, taking up a position with the other stasis chamber between him and the Khre'Riov as the noise of a disruptor blast sizzled against the outside of the door. "Hann'yyo, rekkhai," he mumbled. tr’Guards attention turned from the scene at the stasis chamber, confused as well. He had known that the Khre’Riov had went into that stasis chamber, but that she that was now before them, had changed. Was it possible that t’Ksa was able to now replace limbs and eyes? Did these nanogenes really help? Or…was this possibly another of the clones. Na….it could na be a clone. He had stood guard the entire time next to this particular stasis unit. The alarm would have sounded if anyone had tried to tamper with it, or even tried to use the hteij to beam t’Rexan out and replace her. Na….this had to be she, but, the difference. Like that of so many years ago, or even, the similarity to another that he had na been able to help. It was true, it was known that there had been some sort of family relation, but now, questions as to just how close of a family relation. The renewed blasts at the door, told him that there were efforts to access the medical bay, and na on friendly terms either. He had to hold ground here, and protect those behind him. Quickly he sent a call requesting reinforcements, and took up a defensive position. "Fhaen, do na harass the staff. It's bad for morale." Trying to make light of the situation, Morgana smirked at t'Rexan, then glanced back at tr'Guard at his station, then at the door, then back to Kelton. "We don't have much time. We'll have to get rid of the nanogenes on R'Mor and stabilize her. It’s the best we can do before the intruders breach the door." t’Rexan looked towards Morgana, then followed her gaze towards tr’Guard, seeing a dheno officer looking at the doorway his ie’yakk rifle leveled towards it. "Weapons fire?" she asked, feeling lost and confused, still trying to remember anything about what had happened, and trying to piece together that which was now coming back to her with all the commotion. Kelton didn’t bother trying to answer that since he had not yet gotten a satisfactory answer himself from the Daise'Maenek as to what exactly was going on. Instead he just grunted acknowledgment of t’Ksa’s directions, and leaned forward over the other stasis chamber and the body of Ne’Erein R’Mor, focusing on the job he could do. "Ie, we've been breached,” t’Ksa said with a frown. "I am na sure if it is healthier if au remember what au can on au's own or I should fill in the blanks. But the station we docked at...we're under some sort of attack by them." She shifted her weight as the ship rocked yet again. “I remember au…” t’Rexan said, finally releasing her grip on Morgana’s collar. “Au are the Daise’Maenak. Au are Morgana. Au, are to go on leave with...,” She struggled to think for a moment. “Ah...what was his name? The other maenak? The kheinsa, right? tr’Aieme or something like that?” "Ie, Maec,” t’Ksa said, turning bright green, and wishing that the Khre'Riov had na said that so loudly. Especially na in front of io of her staff. As Kelton dropped the stimulator into place, he looked up, in time to catch t'Ksa's embarrassed expression. His eyebrows went up slightly. “Station? What station?” t’Rexan asked. “The last I remember was being....wait...captured! Mutineers...there is a mutiny. The weapons fire, they still are fighting the battle?” "Now she's catching on,” t’Ksa said wryly to no one in particular. “Laehval! She...” t’Rexan reached down towards her midsection, then recoiled in shocked horror as she remembered. "I was impaled....with a kaleh! How am I fahd? Again, this must be a dream. I do na have a hand. I do na have an eye. This is some sort of hallucination...I do na believe this." t’Ksa did not answer at once, but looked towards Kelton as he prepared the treatment for R’Mor. "One or two jolts should do it for au's patient. However, with her previous injuries, set it low enough that au do na wake her...yet." "Ie..." Kelton said absently, setting the charge, catching sight of the other injuries on R’Mor’s body which had na been healed to the extent of the Khre'Riov's, as the nanogenes reversal had taken place before the major repairs had been completed.. t’Ksa glanced again at the door. "Hann'yyo for quarantine procedures, or they would have breached us by now." “They may still, yet." Kelton couldn’t resist the pessimistic quip. "Ie,” t’Ksa agreed, “but at least there is a delay." tr'Guard responded from his post by the door, "While I breathe, rekkhai, I will na let them enter and harm au." “Good of au,” Kelton muttered under his breath, setting the charge arcing through R’Mor, jerking back just in time to save his hand from another shock. tr’Guard, barely hearing Kelton turned a siuren, “I was na referring to au, but the others. However, if au are useful to the Daise Maenak, I suppose I should strive to keep au alive as well.” "L’haiy, trust me.” Morgana looked back at t’Rexan. “This is na a dream. I...I agreed to a procedure that I should na have without au consent, and this is the result. I am sorry." The Daise'Maenak looked grim as she spoke. “Procedure? But who can do this? Wait...this...this is na Borg technology!? You could na have done this to me...after what I told au before!?” Fear and anger crept up in both t’Rexan’s voice and on her face. “If it is, I demand au take it back...I will ‘NA’ be io of those things!.” "Na, I agreed to the implementation of a procedure involving nanogenes,” t’Ksa explained. “They are microorganisms that can replicate and replace, regrow if au would, genetic materials. Na Borg at all. I would na agree to a Borg procedure. Similar ie, but these are independent creatures that act as a... well... micro-maenak, to help prepare soldiers to return to battle. Perhaps the best term to explain it, is that it is similar to cloning materials. However it seems I should na have agreed to it; they work *too* well and the Galae will be hugely upset with me that I have na brought a sample of this technology home. The advances that I just lost, the implications huge!. Or so I think. Or worry, or...oh, by the Elements, I'm so y'ya when we get home.” She buried her face in the palms of her hands. “Au do na have to worry about the nanogenes any longer, we have basically killed them by administering the shock treatment that woke au." “I was dying...Laehval, she…” t’Rexan’s words stopped dead. “The last thing I remember, it's all jumbled...it is difficult to make sense of it all, it is hard to remember. I think I was rhae the floor, bleeding, with Laehval standing over me, kaleh hrrau her hand....” She looked up at Morgana. "Au have kept me alive yet again, and again I am na sure why, but should we survive to return to ch'Rihan, I will make sure au are well rewarded." "Just to make it back to ch'Rihan alive is thanks enough." t’Ksa frowned. “Then again, I may have my own issues. Too many will question will arise? There are those, that will question if this is indeed...me. Too many, for too long, have known I have had some...limitations as it were.” Lifting the hand again, flexing and making a fist, na truly believing her own eye, or eyes. Kelton released the breath he'd been holding as another jolt coursed through R'Mor and the last traces of the nanogenes disappeared. Turning slightly, he broke into the conversation with a low tone. "That is the last of them." Pausing for a second, he added to t’Ksa, as he had been listening, "We could na have taken samples in any case...there was na way, they would na have allowed it." "Like it or na, we are Galae soldiers. It is expected that we would have taken the samples, even by force." Morgana shuddered at the thought. Kelton looked down, then quirked a slight grin. "A disruptor is firing outside our door and au are concerned we have na involved ourselves in violence enough here?" "Just because I don't ‘like‘ violence does na mean I can na deal with it,” she quickly snapped at her subordinate. “Ie, just ask the Fvillha, I bet he has an aversion to rice to this day,” t’Rexan broke in. "That's not funny, t'Rexan. Au know I didn't do that on purpose." Of all the things for the woman remember, this had to be io of them? Oh for Elements Sake. “I did na mean for it to be funny,” t’Rexan responded. “Ha!” Morgana barked back, na quite believing her, yet noting the confusion on t’Rexan’s face as she remembered random items, be they important or na, in a seemingly random order as well. “My apologies Rekkhai. I only meant that na io can say we have na been using force here," Kelton said, attempting to explain himself for a moment before letting his voice trail off. He did na understand all of what he was hearing between the two senior officers, but he had the sense to realize that he was getting some insight on the situation and these people that he would na otherwise have had, and he would have to tread lightly. t’Rexan turned again at trRadaik's comment. "Do au trust this io, Morgana? I do na know this officer." "Ie, I trust him,” Morgana replied, drawing a mildly startled, ‘and pleased’ look from Kelton. “I authorized his promotion to Maenak. He's fully qualified. Unlike the rest of this crew, I know my staff." She smirked before letting her voice take on a slight warning tone. “Back to the subject at hand. I'll explain to the Galae Command what has happened today, and take full responsibility. If anything further comes of it, we'll jump that bridge when we come to it." As the weapons fire outside the door intensified, tr'Guard turned towards them again. "I am afraid that the door is beginning to weaken Rekkhai, with all the disruptor fire. I hope we can hold out until reinforcements arrive. Are au able to move back into another set of rooms that au can isolate with a forcefield?” "Ie.” Morgana motioned to Kelton. "Prepare the patients to move. Let's take the vacant Kheinsa quarters and then initiate it with a biological quarantine. ‘If’ the forcefields can hold, we might have a chance. And I say ‘if’ they can hold because that's dependent on N'Dak keeping this ship in one piece and from going into system failure." "Ie, rekkhai," Kelton snapped his fingers at a passing dishern'maenek, gesturing at her to start helping him with preparing R'Mor to move -- hopefully without jostling the injury in her stomach too much. He glanced towards t'Rexan, but decided it might be smarter to just let t'Ksa deal with that; his wrist was still stinging from the Khre'Riov's grip. “N'Dak.” t’Rexan spoke up again. “He is in charge? As a mutineer, or…wait, au did na say how that worked out? All I remember is I was being held, bound and blindfolded. I heard others brought into the room…but, ie I was hooded. I never had a chance to see all of my captors. N’Dak, I heard his name mentioned, as well as that science officer t’Jhinn, though I also I heard tAehjae protesting, and being threatened for doing so “ "Come on, Lhhei. Up au go." Morgana tried to help t'Rexan out of the stasis chamber. "N'Dak was made Enarrain with au incapacitated. I was... am... was.... err...whatever…the Daise'Erei'Riov. Which I do na understand ‘why’ au people keep insisting I do, since things like this always seem to happen when I'm left in command." “Ie, N’Dak was there. Fortunate for him to become Enarrain. He has always pined for the command seat. But ie, the last I heard was t’Aehjae’s protest, na a word from him. That was when Laehval pulled off my hood,” t’Rexan went on, “and wait, that face!! THAT...I DO remember...viciousness; cruel. Ie, she enjoyed what she was doing. A bit too much…” Still a bit weak and na sure on her feet, she let Morgana help her up and guide her towards the next room. Morgana cast a glance at Kelton, not sure if now was the time to say something about what she had found with t'Rexan's wound or na. Any maenak who saw the records could disseminated that the wounds inflicted on the Khre’Riov were excessive. However, based upon the current situation, perhaps it was better to let sleeping dogs lie and na further antagonize the confused Khre’Riov. Kelton caught the glance and shrugged slightly, lifting R'Mor carefully onto a stretcher and moving behind the Daise'Maenek. “I can na believe, how…clearly...I am remembering these details...” t’Rexan said as they walked. "Me either,” Morgana muttered. After they entered the office, she left t'Rexan leaning against the desk then went straight to the etrehh and typed in the commands to initiate the force field both at the front of medical, to give tr'Guard some time , and then again at the back half of the medical offices. “I hope that she is rotting in Areinnye after her deed,” t’Rexan pronounced. “Who was it that defeated her? Did NDak stop her, or t’Aehjae? Someone else?”

Every Rihan has their breaking point. I think I’ve found mine. I find myself physically shaking as I deliver the news to Daise’Erei’Riov N'Dak about the Khre’Riov’s condition. Barely able to form the words. Or to string logical thought together. I canna decide if this is physical or mental shock, but it is frightening me more than the news I bring. I know immediately that I must push past this. I have a reputation for not crumpling under pressure. I get venomously grumpy, yes. Panic, rarely but known to happen on a rare occasion. Exhibit hysterics, absolutely na. It is neither dignified nor productive to launch into hysterics. Yet here I am, as close to hysterics that I’ve ever been. What set me off? Na loss of the latiumn or the situation it put us in. I’ve never been the io motivated by money, power or rank. I know for a fact that this rankles some of the crew members and perplexes others, including our senior staff members. I am comfortable with my station in life and truly have only the desire to serve the people. Na matter how ungrateful they are. It was na the mutineers either. I found their attempts to take over the ship annoying and inconvenient. But I’m na surprised by their actions. I may na be motivated by money, but I’m fully aware that there are others who are. Dangle io carrot in front of some people and they’ll make the grab towards the whole garden. It’s a unavoidable truth of the universe. I can hardly blame them in the attempt. And I find that the Khre’Riov’s previous condition was na the trigger either. Ie, I may have been io of the few that actually liked the woman. I saw her Rihan flaws as clearly as I see the Rihan flaws in others. Na Rihan creature is as perfect as we wish ourselves to be. And if au think au are, then you are conceited beyond my help. But injuries, disease, dismemberment and death are part of cycle of life for a Galae maenak. Acceptance of this is difficult, very difficult in some cases, but necessary. In my time here, I have mourned lost many friends and colleagues. Io more in stasis is na cause for panic. Na, I believe what has me with io foot over the edge is the unnecessary attack on my life, the stasis unit deactivation and some of the crews disregard for order and reason. To attack a patient that was clearly na threat to any io….to attack a fellow officer for merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time…overreactions, underwhelming lack of response to threats, little want-a-be upstarts attempting to assert control, whining, threats against innocents, and… and… Morgana t’Ksa, au need to get a grip on au’s self and clear au’s head. If au do na . . . I take a shaky breath and pause for a moment to quiet the klaxons in my mind. I must regain my footing and gather my faculties or shall ruin my hard-earned reputation. And I’d sooner kick some innocent in the shin than let that happen.

Exxxxxxxcellent ::steeples her hands together and then drums the pads of her fingers on each other:: A minio....err dishern maenak. Aefvahd Erein. ::sweet smile::

Oh pretty please can I have: Maenak Evil Thank you!

Ksa> ::shudders:: Fhaen (please) no...no Lloann'na (Federation) stories. I do na have the stomach for them. Once is enough in my lifetime, hann'yyo (thank you). Okay, dropping out of character for a moment. I found something N'Dak said that was interesting. (Don't hurt me t'Rexan). Along with the books (great info, by the way) when I started playing a Romulan way back when, I too drew from ancient Roman and Japanese cultures in trying to figure out how my character should act. I didn't realize that others had picked that out too. The deep sense of honor these characters have is very interesting to play out - especially how it colors every choice they make. It's not just your character's fate that's at risk, but the fate of their House (mom, dad, sister, brother, child, mate, etc...). By the way, for those of you who might be nervous about an all-Romulan all the time sim - come check out. Seriously. As a cadet, I had no clue what a Romulan sim was like - in fact I wasn't even thinking of joining one at the time I was going through the Academy. But some other grads convinced me to come by and watch. And try it out. And I found it (gasp) fun! I forgot about those pesk Lloann'na and joined the Romulans first. And Nemises....bleck, bleck, bleck! (Although you're right Kansas about Donatra character...she did rock).

Speaking as one of the old SFOL'ers.... To be honest, I don't have a prefence as to whether or not we're RES or RSE or ERS or ESR...or whatever combination of letters in front of Talon. As long as it has some sort of meaning and not some random alphabetical selection, I'm cool. Now if you were suggesting we change the name from RES/RSE Talon to RES Creampuff, I would raise serious and vocal objection. (Or any variation there of...)

I am frightened. And I’m praying they can na tell. Oh Elements. Who am I kidding? I’m sure they can smell my fear. The sooner I am off this blasted station, the happier I will be. Two Talon senior officers have been deployed on a goodwill mission the Lloann’na and Bah’jorann space station named Deep Space Nine. The assignment is to gather as much information about the celestial navigation pathways and the medical hazards the Romulan crew may encounter in the year long exploration of the Gamma Quadrant in hopes that said information will make the yearlong mission run smoother and with a minimal amount of causalities in the process. Provided, of course, that these beings are willing to share with the Rihannsu people. And t’Rexan sent me to gather the information? What was she thinking? My experience with Lloann’na is very limited. Na, let me rephrase that. Extremely enormously limited. I can count on io hand how many times I’ve had contact with Lloann’na personnel. Oi: an alternate universe (the Eagle’s Claw debacle). Re: the abduction of the Arcadia first officer (the Squid people debacle). Notice how these are both disasters? I live in fear that history will repeat itself. So far I have scraped by with minimal damage to Talon or my own reputation, mostly by keeping opinions to myself. A difficult task. I’m very opinionated. But if I’ve learned anything from my youngest sister, it is how to be diplomatic, careful and thoughtful in my responses to these individuals. And most importantly, how to listen. The cause and effect seems to be the quieter I am, the more these Bah’jorann and Lloann’na officers talk. It is as if they are eager to please. Or perhaps they are enjoying the challenge of trying to forge a friendly alliance with an aloof Daise’Maenak. For good or for bad, I am learning a lot just by keeping my mouth shut. I will return to Talon with valuable medical information, samples of antitoxins and antiviral medications, and descriptions of biological hazards to avoid during our mission. I will also have a good psychological analysis of the Lloann’na people to compare to our most recent exposure with the Arcadia crew. I know it will na be completely accurate, because like the Rihannsu people, io can na judge io individual against the stereotypes io has of au’s race. If au did, then au would assume I am like every other Galae maenak who will conserve resources rather than treat any patient they deem beyond salvage. But at least the information I gather may help us navigate the turbulent space between conversely different ideologies.

Food Fight, 4 Daise'Erei'Riov t'Ksa's Shoreleave Misadventures “No, seriously. Listen…” Something more had to be going on for Kalicia t’Ksa to be encouraging or even contributing to this caper. Exactly what, Maec tr’Aieme could not put his finger on. He stared intently at his friend, wondering exactly what was going through that mind of hers. They had known each other for almost as long as he knew Morgana, but under completely different circumstances. He’d been on the debriefing team when the Ksa’s had returned from the Aegis program and since then had worked through several Galae projects together. While the woman was a disaster with domestic affairs (she couldn’t be trusted to boil water without catching the kitchen on fire), she was a shrewd tactician and skilled diplomat. She’d had limited success during her time away from ch’Rihan but due to the changing political climate on ch’Rihan she has been recalled just as the project was taking off. With persistence and persuasion, she’d worked hard to get her career back on track. This time, she chose to work behind the scenes, brokering deals, creating missives and manipulating pawns to elevating those within her office and in turn herself. There were even rumors that she was the author of most of the cabinet minister’s most eloquent and persuasive speeches. But t'Ksa didn’t just jump into a project unless she felt it was absolutely necessary. So her contribution to this event made the Kheinsa all the more nervous. “What are you thinking?” “This media circus isn’t going to end any time soon and it’s making all of us miserable. We have to fight our way through those jackals outside each day. There are far too many uninvited guests, including a Diehu’s aide that I’m going to throw out the window if I have to spend another moment listening to his posturing. I get some very bad vibes from that weasel.” She turned to Lannisal pouting in the middle of the room, “I wouldn’t be surprised at what the stress is doing to you and the child, Lanni. I don’t know about you, but I’ve about had it. It’s time we do something here. And if it means moving Mora out of this lunatic asylum, then so be it. No offense, Kheinsa.” “None taken,” Maec watched Kalicia. There was something more to the uninvited guests comment. He mouthed the words ‘what guests?’ to Kalicia while Lannisal was pacing about, gearing up for another rant. “We just can’t wheel her out of here, Cia. Are you nuts? The maenaks say she can be released in just a few short days, but she needs her rest.” “She’s not getting it here, Lanni. And why not just wheel her out of here?” Kalicia asked. Lannisal threw up her hands and continued pacing. She glanced up at Maec and mouthed back 'Kal'. He felt his blood turn ice cold at even the suggestion of the Tal Shiar officer’s name. Maec had witnessed t’Prin’s temper tantrum during one of the debriefing sessions and then watched as t’Sahen would periodically appear to torture Kalicia. If Kal t’Sahen was around, then t’Prin was na far behind and it meant that they were all in big trouble. BIG trouble. He glanced down to Morgana, who obviously saw the silent interaction between the two of them, but did not acknowledge whether she understood the meaning of the name. While he didn’t want to alarm either Morgana or Lannisal, the urge to to picking up the pace to clear the room so they could escape as quickly as possible was overwhelming. Just as he reached down to shove more of Morgana’s personal items into the rucksack he felt someone grab his arm. Looking down he saw Morgana who gave his arm a gentle squeeze, then issue a slight hand gesture as if to say ‘calm down'. When he looked up, he saw Kalicia was also motioning to him to remain calm while Lannisal paced the room oblivious to all silent interactions. “What do au have in mind?” Morgana asked, sliding her hand down Maec’s arm to his hand to hold it, interlacing her fingers with his. He grudgingly sat on the bed next to her chair. “Ie, we certainly can na just walk out of here.” Lannisal’s voice soured. She was na happy woman. Probably more than a bit hormonal too. “And au are na using me as diversion.” She rubbed her belly. “Au take all the fun out of this. Don’t worry, I have a plan.” Kalicia answered, then glanced at the walking whale next to her. “Where’s au bondmate Kaol?” “At the City Archives. He said hospitals make him nervous.” Kalicia glanced down to Lannisal’s protruding belly. “What’s going to happen when you give birth then? Is he going to hide out in the gift shop?” She signed. “Find him. We’ll need him to bring the family flitter.” “There’s underground parking structure under the psychiatric ward. And a service tunnel that connects this facility with the ward. We use it to transport patients from one facility to the other as needed. We can exit through there unnoticed.” Maec added. “Have him park there, use my name. I’ll alert the guard.” Kalicia bent down to look Morgana in her eyes. “Do au know of any io who would legitimately transfer au to another facility without leaking it to idiots downstairs?” Morgana nodded slowly, “Ie, t’Makhoi is here. Her retirement job. Or tr’Rike. Either io would, I’m sure. I trust them.” She named two of the former Daise’Meanakenn of the Talon who now resided happily retired from the Galae on ch’Rihan. “I’ll contact them.” Maec squeezed her hand, then watched Kalicia straighten. “Menkha. I’ll wait here with Morgana. Contact me immediately when these tasks are completed, then return here. I’ll start on phase two.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Morgana waited until both her younger sister and Maec had exited the room, then turned to Kalicia. “Have au been taking lessons from Teelis?” “Na, and I don’t think we can count on t’Neya to save the day this time.” Kalicia sighed. “Although I would na mind if she turned up to lend a hand.” “Tal Shiar, eh?” “Ie. Au nervous?” “Are au kidding? I work with t’Rexan and N’Dak. They’ve sucked the fear out of me. Nothing Kal t’Sahen could do could compare to the two of them.” “Glad au think so. Hope au can remain this positive when this plan goes south.” ‘It won’t.” Morgana raised her head and smiled. “I trust au, little rinam.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It did na take long for a small knot of people to assemble in Morgana’s room. Kalicia left the new group to confer about their part in the plans, which included a transfer to another reputable facility in another providence, disguises and one nervous Kaol tr’Ksa who was to drive the family flitter (if he didn’t pass out between now and when the left). There was still one large roadblock before they were free, and Kalicia was setting off to test their chances of passing it. Game face on, she strolled quietly down the hall towards Kal who was still engaged in sentry duty. As usually she tended to blend into the scenery, not many people seemed to acknowledge her existence, assuming she was there either visiting a sick relative, posting a security detail for a high priced client or just a really mean looking medical technician on break. That was what made Kal so good at what she did, she was wallpaper, unfriendly wallpaper, but invisible just the same. The world around her ignored her, except one foolish t’Ksa. “Jolan tru.” Kalicia smiled sweetly approaching the counter next to the wall Kal was holding up. “Still here, I see.” Kal didn’t answer, but her jaw tightened. Eyes narrowed, the Tal Shiar officer glared straight ahead. The message clear was clear to t’Ksa. If there were not so many witnesses, Kalicia would be facing the business end of a kaleh right now. “So, enjoying yourself? Hmmm? What are you up to now?” “It’s none of your concern.” Kalicia folded her arms, mirroring Kal, and stare down the hall for divine inspiration. Sneaking out would be tricky. They could have Morgana fake an attack, but that might cause added chaos and additional rumors which would in turn ramp up the media coverage. They could have the eldest t’Ksa moved for tests, but the Tal Shiar operative would most likely follow. The last option was to see if Kalicia could sweet talk their way off the ward and past Kal t’Sahen. The trick was seeing what Kalicia could bargain with and not sell her soul in the process. What was it that Kal was so fixed on anyway? Morgana was the Daise’Maenak of one of the Galae’s flagships, but had held na interest to the Tal Shiar before. She was na threat, considering she wanted nothing to do with the hierarch of the Galae and preferred her domain in medical. Kalicia has been the one usual under observation, and that was a personal vendetta of t’Sahen and t’Prin’s. t’Sahen would na be lurking about this long unless she was after something else. But what the frell was it? Ten suiren of surveillance standing side by side with Kal t’Sahen and Kalicia was tempted to give up. Nothing of interest here until the Deihu’ aide showed up….again. Kalicia groaned, turning around to face the counter before the little snit could spot her. Then she noticed Kal shifting just ever so slightly. A predatory response as if she’d spotted her prey. Hello? “Something spark your interest?” “It’s none of your concern.” Kalicia glanced at Kal who was staring intently at the aide flitting about as he tried to bribe his way passed the nurses to the eldest t’Ksa’s hospital room. ‘It’s none of your concern.’ She frowned, then eyed the aide again. Not my concern, except this involves my fam--- wait a minute. “It’s the Diehu au want. Isn’t it.” Kal did not respond, which to know Kal, it was a response in itself. That meant she wasn’t here for Morgana, but for the Diehu for some reason. That was a relief. But it didn’t solve the problem of getting Morgana out of this prison. Unless she could use this to her advantage? “I see. Why do you want him? Hmmmm? Why are au so interested in the pompous blowhard?” “It does not concern you. Au do na want me to make au leave, t’Ksa.” Ha, we got her to alter her response! Kalicia smiled wickedly. “What if I could deliver him to au. Would that settle our debt?” No response from Kal…again. Kalicia persisted. “Alura’s here, isn’t she. Ask her.” There was a pause for a few beats, then “How?” Kalicia started to trace the pattern of the countertop lines while she spoke. “The Deihu is insisting on speaking with my sister, and express his condolences. I do not think it’s in her best interest to do so, do you?” “No, it wouldn’t.” “Perhaps you and Alura would prefer to meet him in her place, hmmm?” “Perhaps.” “And if I could arrange it?” Kal turned her dark gaze towards Kalicia, giving her a chill, the she nodded just slightly. It was the best response that Kalicia t’Ksa would hope to get from t’Sahen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Morgana's Thoughts... I’ve been bundled up into the family flitter and spirited off to Elements know where. Well, actually the others know, but no one feels compelled to tell me. Honest, I don’t have the energy to ask either. The transfer was highly coordinated to coincide with the arrival of Diehu D’mora, which distracted the media long enough for the family to slip out. It will be assumed by the hospital staff that it was the Tal Shiar operative Alura t’Prin who had me removed from this facility and transferred to an unknown location - instead of my own family kidnapping me. The Diehu will find the t’Sahen and t’Prin and whomever they decide to invite to the party in my room instead of me. Do I feel guilty about this? Should I? I don’t know.

Food Fight, 3 Daise'Erei'Riov t'Ksa's Shoreleave Misadventures “Lhhei, where do au think au are going?” “Out.” “Why? Au are not to leave au’s post.” “Curiosity.” “Leave her alone tr’Jomar. She knows what she’s doing.” Alura t’Prin voice knifed through the hostile exchange between the junior officer and her worthless kniftar of a commander. Kal t’Sahen ignored tr’Jomar and t’Prin’s heated exchange whistling in her ear piece as she strolled down the street. t’Prin knew to trust t’Sahen’s instincts, as t’Sahen knew to trust t’Prin. The dark ‘sisters’ had been working together since time began, or so seemed. How they were connected to one another, not a soul but the two women knew. And they kept it that way. All the unit knew was that when one of them deviated from the script, there was a reason. Of course if tr’Jomar would learn to trust to them, as the others had, then the unit would not have fallen so far out of favor that even a sonic lift couldn’t elevate them. The brainless twit seemed to do the complete opposite of what the ‘sisters’ told him to do and as a result, they had lost one of their biggest catches fleeing Aegis Station some years ago. Why he was not disposed of was anyone’s guess. Must have bribed someone very well connected. So t’Sahen, as usual, ignored him. The Elements had delivered the sister of the woman that had caused their fall from face – she was not about to lose this opportunity. Kal followed her prey unnoticed. A dark shadow. The woman, tall in stature, fit in physical form, pleasant in features, would have been considered pretty by some when she smiled. If she smiled. She was not known to smile…much. She wore civilian clothing, tunic, pants and shoes of creamy tans, soft ruddy rust and burnished golds. Her Galae t’Liss camouflaged well within the pattern of her top. The two women walked slowly. Prey and her shadow. They stopped a short distance from the café where t’Sahen had spotted her. A park with large municipal fountains, water dancing in the summer air and intricate mosaic patterns glistening in the sun. The subject sat on the edge of one fountain, near the roadway and within view of the public time piece. Perhaps she was to meet someone here? Still no smile. More of a grimace, actually. Kal observed her from a distance as she strolled to a near patch of grass. The woman shifted uncomfortably. Physical discomfort, maybe? Or nervousness? Had she sensed someone was stalking her? Kal made herself comfortable on the grass. Head tilted back to the sun. worshiping its rays. Through shaded eyes she watched the woman shift again, holding her stomach. Barely visible to passerbys, her fingers brushed her t’Liss. A short conversation. t’Sahen could read her lips. Medical assistance. Interesting. Clutching her stomach, bent forward, the woman closed her eyes. Perhaps in pain? No one seemed to take note of her. Except a man, strolling closer to them. Similar age, similar height, Galae uniform, darker hair, cleft in his chin, slight shuffle with his right foot. Smiling. Pleased to see the woman until her lack of mutual enthusiastic response at his arrival. Facial expression turning decidedly worried. He bent forward to see her face, catching her as she slid from the fountain wall to her knees on the stone base surrounding the fountain. She became nauseous suddenly, trembled as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Horrified by what she saw. Blood. The Galae officer calling for help from one of the bystanders, still bracing the woman carefully. Kal noticed sirens in the distance growing closer. She rolled her neck as if she stretching then brought her lips closer to the audio transmitter. “Secure the restaurant. It has begun.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Next up, we’ll talk to one of the victims of the failed assassination attempt on Deihu Giellun D’mora’s life. Imagine your leisurely breakfast at one your favorite Ra’tleihfi’s trendy café when you’re stricken with an incredible gut retching sickness. You wonder what could be so physically wrong with you to find yourself so sick only to find out that you’ve been mistakenly poisoned! Nine people were poisoned in the botched attempt, two died and the others critically ill. We’ll talk to ---“ Morgana flicked the holo-view off when a dated Galae photo of herself and her name flashed across the screen. It was not the first time she’d seen it in the past three days, and it looked as though it wouldn’t be the last. Plus the perk morning hostess of the news program was making her sick again. She sighed heavily and turned gingerly on her side, curling into the fetal position. This was a new defensive posture for the Daise’Maenak. Rather affective in warding off unwanted visitors when combined with fake sleeping sounds (a snore), and heavenly nurses who fibbed to invaders that the Daise’Maenak was heavily sedated and one should not expect her to awaken much less issue a comment to the media. Not that hadn’t stopped the news media from invading her personal space. Some had even gone so far as impersonating the medical staff, but had yet to catch Morgana ‘awake’. She was not taking any chances. Not even with family in the room. More than anything though, she wanted peace and quiet. The news media camped outside of Galae Medical in hopes of ambushing one of the four victims brought to medical care center after the incident. This made it next to impossible for any of her family to approach her room without being put in a defensive and hostile mood. Just want the Daise’Maenak wanted to deal with on top of this. So she had restored to faking sleeping to avoid dealing with them as well – which eventually resulted in real sleeping in the process. She heard the door creak open and then quietly close again. Too early to for the nursing staff to draw more blood or run tests. Too late for the mid-day meal. It was either a reporter or a well wisher. Squeezing her eyes shut to just tiny slits, she watched a male figure cross the room towards the windows. He peered out the gauzy drapery, and shook his head “Vultures”, the voice familiar, then crossed the room beyond her field of vision. She felt the bed cushion dip behind her, a body spooned around her and an arm rest across hers, holding her. “I know when you’re faking it, Khera.” Morgana didn’t respond for a few beats. What came out of her mouth surprised her almost as much as the tear that squeezed out of the corner of her eye. “Please, Rulon, get me out of here.” “I can’t. You’re ill.” “I know, but…” she took a ragged breath, trying not to erupt into full blown tears. “Get me out of *here*. Take me to a hospital in Mhiessan, or I’Ramnau or Rhehiv’je, or anywhere but *here*. I don’t care. Just…not here.” “Khera, I--’ “Please. Just….please!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “You’re up!” An hour later, Lannisal t’Ksa sailed through her sister’s room, smiling. Morgana was curled into a hover chair, Maec pacing around behind her, looking for something. Then she noticed the guilty looks on Maec and Morgana’s face when they saw her, and her tone took a downward turn. “You’re up. And you’re up to something. What now?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kalicia t’Ksa folded her arms, staring at the floor of the lift as it slowly rose to the fifth floor of Galae Medical. Her eldest rinam had been admitted three days ago after being accidently poisoned. Her parents, now nervous wrecks due to the media coverage that had invaded their own hometown, had sent the two sisters to keep an eye on Morgana while they ran interference at home. Kalicia found their task an easy one, considering all Morgana did was sleep. Lannisal, the chipper one, would sit by Morgana’s bedside, ready to nurse her back to health. Kalicia was tasked to the annoying task of running interference with the media and Deihu D’mora’s aide who insisted that the Deihu should have the opportunity to speak to the Daise’Erei’Riov personally (when she awakened) and express his regret over this misfortunate event. Kalicia equated that to glad-handing and a push for support from Mheissan voters who were sympathetic to Ksa’s plight. She glanced up as the lift doors open, only to meet the eyes of Kal t’Sahen standing directly down the hall, arms folded just as she was. It took a lot of self restraint not to show any emotion when she spotted the Tal Shiar officer lurking on her sister’s hospital floor. Kal t’Sahen and Kalicia t’Ksa had a shared history. It was Kal and Alura t’Prin, the dark ‘sisters’, that had been tasked to bring Kalicia and her bondmate Delon home from Aegis years ago – which would have resulted in many painful integrations had they been successful. Only at the last minute, one of Morgana’s friends Teelis t’Neya, had arrived in a Galae starship to spirit them away just seconds before the Tal Shiar ship could dock. Morgana had na been aware of the incident until after t'Neya delievered Kalicia to ch'Rihan. Kalicia may have only suffered a demotion due to her failure at the space station, it was rumored that Kal and her partner had suffered far more for their failure to bring the Galae officer in. Kal held a grudge ever since that event and would periodically make unexpected and unwelcomed appearances in Kalicia’s life to make it clear that their score had yet to be settled. Or rattle Kalicia’s cage, so to speak. So this there was no way this was a coincidence. Kal didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow to acknowledge the Galae officer’s presence. Not surprising. Kal was showed less emotion than the Dead Ios. Kalicia frowned slightly as she crossed the hallway and approached the Tal Shiar officer. “Is Alura with au? Or are you flying solo tonight?” Other than her eyes darting over to Kalicia then narrowing at her eyes at Ksa, Kal said nothing. “How silly of me. Of course Alura is here.” Kalicia turned, leaned against the door, trying to keep a poker face. “So why are au here? Au and t’Prin are na know for social calls.” “It is not au concern.” Kal stared straight down the hall, not even acknowledging Ksa’s presence. “You know, I could alert the staff and –“ “Au will na.” Kalicia sighed heavily. Now what? Having t’Sahen sniffing about her sister’s room made Kalicia extremely nervous. But there was na point in threatening the Tal Shiar agent to get her to leave Morgana alone. Kal had questionable morals and would not hesitate to retaliate, even for the smallest infraction. Until Kalicia could discern t’Sahen’s motives, it was best to leave sleeping dogs lie. “Well, then. Nice conversing with au. We should do this again. Have au people, Alura I suppose, call my people and we’ll do lunch.” She pushed off the wall and sauntered down the hall, trying to seem as unconcerned as possible. She walked into the room just in time to hear Lannisal’s annoyed voice exclaim, “You’re up. And you’re up to something. What now?” Kalicia inched her way into the room, passed her older sister’s prowl of a belly, to see Maec’s standing above Morgana with his hand protectively on her shoulder as she sat in a chair. He glanced in her direction, then guiltily looked away. To see that her friend had finally found some happiness, but now seem so terrified it would be ripped away broke Kalicia’s heart. Yet she felt somewhat satisfied that he still felt guilty for hiding this relationship for three years. Morgana, on the other hand, looked so….small in that chair. Fragile. And miserable. And…. “Oh Elements, you’re going to break out of the medical center. Aren’t you?” Lannisal’s eyes looked as if they’d pop out of her head. Maec winced. And Morgana…well Morgana sat up straighter, defiant. Lannisal broke in before anyone else had time to formulate a train of thought. “Au *can’t*! Au are ill! The Maenak said you couldn’t be released for at least two more days. You will kill yourself if you leave now. Not to mention what you will do to Mother and Father if you disappear. By Fire! I can’t believe you would be stupid to even attempt it. You’re a Maenak for Elements sake! You even attempt to this and I will --” Kalicia watched Maec throughout Lannisal’s tongue lashing. His jaw clenched and he looked ready to pounce on Lannisal, pregnant or not. Kalicia knew there’s no way that Maec would be so foolish as to jeopardize another person’s health. He had a plan. They both did. Perhaps this might not be a bad idea afterall, considering the Tal Shiar was lurking outside the door. Kalicia interrupted “Actually, that’s na a bad idea.” Lannisal swung around and looked as if she was going to beat Kalicia senseless. Maec raised a brow, intrigued to Kalicia’s intent. And Morgana…. ….well, she seemed relieved. "Let me explain...."

Food Fight, 2 Daise'Erei'Riov t'Ksa's Shoreleave Misadventures Maec's Side…. I need an escape plan. And I need one now. Those are my thoughts as I stare at two giggling young women crowded around me. Invading my personal space. Apparently I said something funny, although I'm not quite sure what it was. Who knows with this generation? What I do find funny, and not in the ha-ha sense, is the fact that I couldn't remember their names. I stopped trying after the seventh brainless twit, third career Galae go-getter and fifth super brain Kalicia has forced on me. Yes, I counted. At point I'm resorted to knick names. Ms Diehu Obsessed. Ms Twitter Giggles. Ms Psycho Stalker. Ms Goo Brains. I certainly don't give a care as to who these people are. I'm only here to visit one woman. And she is…she is… Where in the hell was she? Sighing heavily, I scan the room a second time. Nope. No Morgana to be found here. Has she abandoned ship? Or been waylaid by her obsessive sister? Or worse? I shudder at the thought of Morgana getting angry enough at one of these hapless souls, cleaving flesh from bone with a cocktail fork. I know Morgana's temper. She can be calm during chaos, but invade her personal space and by Fire look out. I imagine that Kalicia's manic attempts to ensure our domestic happiness (separate domestic happiness by the way) would driven her insane. I wouldn't be surprised to hear the eldest Ksa screaming at her youngest sister for the intrusion into her personal life. In fact, I would gladly cheer her on if it happened. This whole business is giving me a headache. Ten minutes of torturous conversation (or lack there of) before I was able to slip away from Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb. Not an easy thing to do. But I managed it. Then a quick tour around the room, a near impossible task because I have to dodge more of Kalicia's 'friends'. The easiest way is to not make eye contact with anyone and to use the waiters as moving shielding. The gardens, dining room and receiving room are next. No luck. Either Morgana's been abducted by one of these nefarious creatures, or she's hiding somewhere. If she is hiding, I'm impressed that she's been undiscovered for so long and jealous that she didn't include me. This whole search is making me hungry – and where is food kept? In the kitchen, of course. While the cocktails and appetizers circulating the room are appealing, I want more than what would be polite to take. I will not embarrass the Ksa family or Morgana herself. So with rumblings in my stomach, I slip into the kitchen to snag a few morsels. Besides I'll be in a better mood once my belly is full – and then I can set forth on my quest to find Morgana. The Ksa family cook barely acknowledges my presence, he knows me from my visits to the family. The University students press ganged into serving don't even notice I've entered the room. They are too busy discussing the difference between a canapé and a crudités. Just as I reach for a plate of finger foods I hear Kalicia's voice on the other side of the doorway inquiring about mine and my dear heart's whereabouts. Flight or fight instincts take hold. I can't help it. Instinctively I grab the plate and dash out of sight through the first door I see. Little did I know it was a dead end – the kitchen pantry. And I certainly didn't expect to see Morgana in there. Morgana's Side… When I was a young girl, I played hide and hunt with my younger sisters. As the hunter, I was either very good or my sisters were very bad at concealing their whereabouts. Finding them never took very long. They gave themselves away with a giggle, a sniffle, a cough, a shifting of their weight or snapping of a twig. It was for this very reason why I hated to be the hunter, I was so much better at hiding than they were and wished that for once my sisters would present more of a challenge to the huntress. As the hunted I always had to entertain myself for several long minutes, hours even, until my sisters would give up. There was an art to it. Truly. The imagination is the key. That and snacks. Tonight was no different. For the first twenty minutes I was alone, enjoying my pilfered snacks, listening to noisy gossip of the student work force, the clank of dishes and the faint music playing for the guests. The semi-peace was quite enjoyable. Gave me a chance to reflect, relax and recuperate. The food product labels were entertaining as well. Left me with thoughts such as if 'meat tenderizer' does such a great job of tenderizing meat then what must it do to one's stomach? Why do they add artificial flavoring to packing that promotes "real" item taste? How could only two cookies be the serving size when I can't help but eat the full sleeve before I feel satisfied? Is there such a thing as too much chocolate? Oh, and yes, and the pleasant thought that I was probably causing heart palpitations for my youngest insane sister. What I didn't consider that my youngest sister was driving everyone else insane. Well, actually, yes I suppose I did. I knew that she was probably trying to drive tr'Aieme up the wall. But my sense of self preservation didn't allow me to go after him to save him from that fate. But I didn't know she was driving everyone insane until suddenly, one by one, they started invading my space. First there was Maec, who was annoyed to find me hiding happily away from Kalicia's chaos. Next, my sister Lannisal, under the guise of having a pregnancy craving caught us sharing a moment (so there goes that secret…). To her benefit, she didn't bat an eye, instead reached for the jar of sugared fruit and proceeded to rail my youngest sister's name into the ground. Both my sisters' bondmates were next, Kaol and Delon. Kaol looked as if he'd been run over by a flitter. Somehow I have the impression he does not have much of a backbone, which for the Ksa family will either ensure his survival or send him to an early grave. Delon, used to his bondmate's domestic antics, seemed to be the most at ease with the situation. He merrily snagged the sugared fruit jar from Lannisal, grinned at our perdiciment and started snacking while listening to the growing grumblings from the group assembled. An aunt was next, then a distant cousin. All the while I'm being shoved further and further back into the pantry, shoehorned between Maec and a barrel of dry goods - something I have very mixed feelings about (as well as thoughts that should not be occuring while in the company of my family). In the end I decided to save my sanity (and that of rest of my family), and have a little discussion with my youngest sister. Okay, so it was more like a food fight. But I'm the only one in this family who doesn't have to see her on a regular basis. Rather have her mad at me than with Lannisal, Delon or Kaol. Maec can take care of himself anyway. Needless to say that the discussion didn't go well. But we reached an understanding in the end. And the evening eventually turned out well. Wish I could say the same for the rest of my shoreleave experience.

Food Fight, 1 Daise'Erei'Riov t'Ksa's Shoreleave Misadventures Lannisal's belly led the rest of her body like the prowl of a ship as she opened the door to greet Morgana on the door step. Over the Daise'Maenak's shoulder as Morgana hugged her sister, she caught sight of the Kheinsa tr'Aieme waving to them before rounding the corner and disappearing behind the hedge. Her radar activated, Lannisal's eyebrows arched as she glanced at her sister. "Was that tr'Aieme?" Either Morgana was playing dumb or she was truly mesmerized by the sight of her very pregnant sister. "By Fire…when are you due?" She put a hand on her belly, staring slack jaw at the sheer size of it. "You keeping him in there until he graduates from University? Or are au going to evict him sooner than that?" "Should be any day now," Lannisal winced as the babe kicked her in the kidney. "And he's a she." "A girl." Morgana grinned, still staring at her sister's protruding stomach. "I bet au are excited. Have a name yet?" "Na, but Kaol and I are working on it." She took her sister's arm and waddled back into the main greeting room. "Welcome home. But I thought au were coming home sooner?" "I had to visit a sick friend." "For six days?" "He was very sick." Lannisal's eyebrows arched again, another ping on her radar. Morgana looked far too content that she had three years ago when she last came home. In fact the woman had been down right surly then. Now, she seemed almost like her old self. Well, almost. There was a more mature quality to her. A blending of the naïve young woman who marched off to the Galae and the angry pessimistic hag that came back last time. Mischievous glint in her eyes too. What in the Elements had she gotten into this time? "Who are they?" Morgana jerked a thumb at the army of young Rihan men and women rushing about between the house's dining room, receiving room and back gardens. Some dressed in catering outfits, some in more rustic work clothing. All rushing about as if their lives depended on it and the Ksa housekeeper in the thick of things issuing orders like the mightiest Khre'Riov. They were moving tables, putting out table settings, polishing the crystal and dinnerware and bustling about. She could see into the kitchen and even the Ksa cook was ordering hapless youngsters around, chopping, dicing, slicing, butchering, stewing and broiling. They were either preparing for a large party or a very large invasion. "My students," Lannisal sighed. "Mother said we needed some extra help for tonight's gathering, so I offered extra credit to any io of them who wished to help out. I tried the sympathy route," the younger sister rested her hand on her swelling belly. "When that didn't work, Kalicia offered to pay them." Lannisal answered as Morgana's expression changed. Apparently her eldest sister's radar had just pinged because she turned a penetrating gaze towards her. The surly one was back. "Why?" Lannial squirmed, and na because the baby had chosen to kick again. "Don't look at me like that. This was na my idea. Blame Father. When he heard au were coming home, he decided to turn this into a homecoming party in au's honor as well as an anniversary celebration. A two for one special. A surprise. He was so excited that au were returning, well, they both were. They've been planning this ever since au comm'd and have been a nervous wreck when au didn't come home right away. Six days, Khera?" Morgana snarled slightly, then glanced at the ceiling. "I wonder if they need me back on Talon any earlier. I have patients up there…" "Don't au dare. They would never forgive au. I would never forgive au." "Okay, are au sure au could na drop that baby now. We could turn it into a baby shower instead?" Morgana smiled impishly at Lannisal. "I know how to induce labor. Let me get my medkit." She started for the door. Lannisal easily caught her by the elbow. "Quite being so difficult and go get dressed. And do na even think of sneaking out. I have an army of poor hungry university students who will do anything for a credit or two. I'm having them stand guard to make sure au do na sneak out. And if au do, hunt you down. Go." "Fine. I'll come to the party. But you can make me enjoy it." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I, like many of my fellow Galae officers, am not a big fan of the 'dress' uniform. Unlike the duty uniform you wear daily, the one where you know what it's limitations are in movement and its ability to stretch and breath, the dress uniform is hard to become accustomed to. To most it feels restrictive, hot and itchy. This is probably more of a psychological issue than a reality. Still, I give me my duty uniform, or even my Maenak smock, to this constrictive wardrobe any day. But I do not wear it for me – I wear it to honor my parents tonight. I would much rather wear a party frock. Something to remind these verruls that I too am a flesh and blood woman, not just a Daise Erei'Riov in the Empire's Galae. The evening started out well enough. I installed a perma-smile on my face, shook hands and greeted I don't know how many people. After a while, the faces and names seemed to blend together. Some I recognized from the University, where my father worked in the medical school in the pathology department. Some were from my mother's department at the hospital. All people I met growing up in Mhiessan. And Maec, of course, who arrived fashionably late because of a problem with a patient back at Galae Medical. But there were dozens whom I did not recognize. People I'm told who were friends of my sisters Lannisal (from the University) and Kalicia (from Galae Command). There came a certain time where I suggested that name tags might be in order – I got dirty look from my mother for that suggestion. I started to notice a pattern about an hour into the celebration. My sister, Kalicia, steering me around to introduce me to some 'friends' of hers. I can not believe that it took me that long to see that most of these friends were of the male variety. Maec was receiving the same treatment with female 'friends'. I would watch him across the room try to disengage himself from the woman de jour and make his way to my side when my sister would sidetrack him again with another introduction. I struggled to remain polite while talking with the next young Galae upstart, subtly backing away from the conversation to break free when I would be sabotaged by my meddling sister. Why is it that I can stare down Squid people and aliens using us as an experiment without losing my cool and breaking a sweat, yet my sister's attempt to force me into being social and I just about explode? I made a mad dash for it once I spotted Kalicia preoccupied with Delon and Maec. I feigned a digestional problem (well, I *was* hungry) and slipped out of the room into the hallway. Once there, I bolted into the kitchen, snagged a plate of appetizers from the table when the student catering staff was not paying attention and hunkered down in the pantry. If necessary, I was prepared to spend the duration of the party snacking on stolen finger foods and reading food labels until either the siege ended or someone discovered my hiding spot. Unfortunately, just my luck, someone did find me.

Someone trying to kill a N'Dak - imagine that. But a family member....sheesh.

Lava pools - gives a new meaning to telling a person to go jump into a lake when you're annoyed with them. Great log!

When you are gone from home for three years, you try to come back prepared for whatever changes might have occurred while you were gone. Planet, home, family, friends – they do not exist in a bubble. You cannot assume life pauses while you are gone. Life goes on. That is why I love the long walk home. It helps me decompress and prepare for whatever the Elements my throw at me while I’m here. While I’m home. For example, in the three years since I’ve been gone, my younger sister Lannisal entered into a bonding agreement with a mousy older man, a professor in the University’s chemistry department. I’m told his a very nice, intelligent, albeit shy, man. I have yet to meet him - so I have not yet formed an opinion of the arrangement. Lannisal has threatened to hide him from me so I won’t scare him off. As if. Oh, and did I mention she is also expecting? The first grandchild for the Ksa’s. How precious. I imagine my parents are walking on Cloud Nine, ready to dote on the rugrat as soon as it’s evicted from the womb. Long walk home, please do your magic – I do not want my sarcastic attitude to return and spoil everyone’s mood. Especially mine today. And yet there are some things that have remained the same too. Kalicia, my youngest sister, is still trying to play matchmaker for Maec. When he told me, reluctantly, he stated in the beginning he’d accepted some of the arranged meetings for curiosity sake. Nice women, but they lacked fire, according to Maec. He stopped when our conversations became more serious and more…well…more. He’s been dodging Kalicia’s attempts ever since then. I do not hold it against him. Neither of us know what the Elements had in store for us. That this would be the path they would lead us down. It is something I can hold over his head, however. Ha! He told me all of this just to be duly warned that Kalicia has once again set her sights on me and my ‘happiness’ once I arrived in ch’Rihan space. When will that girl learn she is terrible at domestic affairs? Tonight is a celebration of my parent’s bonding arrangement anniversary. Seventy years of a successful union. If only I could be that lucky. I’m not sure exactly how many family members and family friends will be in attendance, my sisters are being far more cryptic than usual. I have a bad feeling at the pit of my stomach that I’m being set up. Luckily, Maec had been invited as a family friend, so I’ll have reinforcements if needed. And that’s another bonus to the long walk home – an opportunity to pray to the deities that I will make it through this family affair unscathed. Here’s hoping.