Early Morning Briefings

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

A Joint Log by Khre'Riov L'haiy t'Rexan and Daise Khre'Riov Var'lon tr'Vatrix

 

 

“Mmmmm,” as she started to wake. Her body sunk into the soft cushion of the mattress and blankets, more relaxed than she’d felt in years. She couldn’t remember having slept so well, so relaxed that it took her a moment to realize that she was na alone. Eyes snapping open yet daring na to move until she could assess the situation, she slowly moved her arm over the side of the bed to reach for the kaleh she kept secreted in the side of her mattress, then noticed, this was ‘na’ her mattress. She heard the rhythmic breathing of someone next to her and slowly rolled her head to look, and came face to face with Var’lon. Then realization came back to her of where she was. Allowing herself to relax with a sigh, she turned back to snuggle back into the warmth of the blankets next to him, and try to get a bit more sleep.

 

Feeling her moving next to him, Var’lon, still half asleep himself, reached over and pulled her back towards him, kissing her neck and just wanting to hold on to her a bit longer.

 

Waking again a short while later, her internal clock letting her know that it was about her regular time to get up and about her duties, t’Rexan quietly slipped out of the bed, and moved to the refresher room to wash her face and straighten her hair. Realizing she had left her dress out in the other room, and having brought nothing to change into for the day, she noted a few of Var’lon’s clean casual shirts folded and on a shelving unit in the room. Picking up one of the shirts, and shaking it out, she pulled it over her head, it being a bit too big for her and hanging down halfway to her knees, but it would have to do. The morning was chilly, and she did na want to get ill from the damp morning air coming through the open doors that lead from the bedroom onto a garden veranda.

She looked out of the anteroom at the man now asleep in the bed across the room, and paused to wonder, what would both of their lives have been like, if she had just waited a bit longer and na been so rash, accepting N’Vrak’s offer right away? If only she had went to make sure Var’lon truly was na longer interested first. As close as the two men had seemed all those years ago, he was nothing like N’vrak, and had things with her spouse been like they been last night with Var’lon, she might very well have accepted a resignation to remain on the home world to oversee his household. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit to herself that she was thinking of doing just that very thing at the siuren for him now. Oh that she would have seen more clearly, all that Var’lon had done for her these last few years the sooner. But she would make it up to him. She swore to the Elements that she would. Mnhei’sahe demanded it of her, as she already owed him so much.

 

Knowing that he’d also be waking in a few siuren to head to his office rhae the station to prepare for his meeting with Laehval, she decided to go downstairs and make him a proper morning meal, as the servants were na about. Looking through the pantries and cooler chest, she found all the ingredients for what she wanted to prepare, and started cooking the meal. Shortly, the smell of the sweet rolls baking in the oven began to fill the house, while breakfast meats sizzled in one pan she was using over the fire, while she cooked some eggs in yet another. Quickly, she began dishing them out onto a plate to prevent them from burning, and felt herself suddenly grabbed around her midsection from behind, and being pulled to him.

 

Swatting at his hand with the spatula, “I hope this isn’t how au normally greet au cook hrrau the morning! As it is, ‘my lord’, au morning meal, just about ended up on the floor.” She gave him a wry grin, all the while, being held in a bit of a bear hug while he nuzzled her ear.

 

“Well, I normally don’t find the cook wearing my night shirt, and quietly trying to sneak around my manor in her bare feet,” Var’lon quipped back at her.

 

“Sneaking am I?”

 

“Well, au weren’t where I expected au to be when I awoke. And now I find au have been through my pantry and stores.”

 

“And if I had been where au ‘expected me’, au would have gone hungry qiuu morning while au were busy attending to my ship’s issues.” L’haiy’s face became more serious at the mention of Talon’s problems, spun in his grasp to face him, and took a sharp breath.

 

“Var’lon, I know they are na the best that Galae has to offer individually, but together, they do make a fairly cohesive group. Now whether a lot of that is due to the intense loathing for me that some of them have, or on the other spectrum, the loyalty some have sworn to me, the mix works for the most part. They’ve come to know each other, and have learned to work around each other’s idiosyncrasies and even their contempt for each other. That or they hate each other well enough that they can anticipate each others’ moves. It’s worries me though, that I’ll have to now replace those I lost during the mutiny, either at the hands of the guilty, or those that were put out an airlock once we recovered the ship, but now I’ll have to take on new crew. Which will mean a new lot to learn to work with, and worse yet, more opportunities for the Tal’Shiar to plant more of their ilk on my ship?”

 

“I would ask of au, na, I‘ll beg of au, fhaen. Leave me the boy N’Dak to continue to work with. He’s made tremendous strides since the last incident, though there is some doubt of how much effort, or should I say from the reports, his lack of effort in attempting to help me during the mutiny. In our talks later, he claims that felt he had to hold his hand, to have a chance to retake the ship afterwards, yet knowing that in letting me die, it would be his death as well from au earlier decree. There is some maturity in that statement, so I feel we are making progress in turning him into the officer we had hoped he’d become, to one day take over the ship.”

 

“Ie, I was greatly displeased to see how just how little an attempt he made. As for his eventually commanding the ship,” he shook his head still unsure, “In doing so, his strong family ties to the Tal’Shiar would effectively give them a major foothold into Galae matters if we were to place him in control of io of our ships. However, we will continue to watch his progress since au have vouched for him.” Var’lon released her, picking up the plate of food she had placed on the counter, taking a forkful and savoring the taste. “Hmmm, I might have to give au a new assignment working more ‘closely’ with me; this is exactly how I like my eggs. Have au ever had thoughts of becoming a head cook Khre’Riov?” He gathered another bite onto his utensil, while this time she did smack him with the spatula. “Now, what of au engineer. Au felt pretty strongly last night about na letting me be rid of her. I still say she needs to be made an example of what we do with mutineers. Honestly, it should have already been taken care of.”

 

“Fhaen Var’lon, she is io of the best naturally talented engineers I’ve ever seen. Should she ever learn to control her emotions, she could be io of the best. Period. To yy’a her, even with the offenses she’s committed, would be a loss for Galae. I thought to do exactly what au suggested, but I stayed my own hand. I am the io that suffered her treachery and have the most claim of the right of vengeance upon her, and if I am able to forgive and grant a second chance, I would ask that au honor my request, and at least speak with her. Did au na au very self last night, raise a glass to second chance’s?”

 

“Trapping me with my own words? Au might do well hrrau politics as well.” Licking the icing of the sweet roll from his fingers, he looked about for something to drink it down with, finding the glass of fruit juice she had poured for him. "Hann’yyo L’haiy, that was an enjoyable meal to say the least, I may seriously have au come show my cook how au made this meal. Are there any other issues with au crew that I should know of?”

 

“Ie, two others perhaps. Daise Erei’Riov Morganna t’Ksa, my Daise Maenak. I know many in Galae medical are going to question her choice of using the nanogenes to revive me, and will accuse her of actually cloning me. She’s saved my life numerous times and I would repay her efforts and kindness. She was also the chief instrument of retaking control of the ship from the mutineers, having gassed them. Ie, and she is as close to a friend as I’ve allowed myself to have. Au know I’ve put her up for command before, and she’s turned it down as well, her ambitions lay hrrau her medicine.”

 

“Ie, I have read the reports; I will do what I can to deflect what questions I may. She as well, has earned that several fold. Send me a more detailed report if you would, as the hour is getting close that I must go. And the other?”

“The other is one is the science officer that was noted in several of the reports, a Sarvek t’Jhinn. She can be a bit surly when she doesn’t think she can be heard, and was also present and non-responsive during my execution. However, she was somewhat pivotal in recovering much of the latinum we returned with. Should she have been in league with the others, I am willing to oversee this for the service she’s done the empire in returning with this resource. I hear that N’Dak and the inquest fahd have both cleared her. I will add the information about this one to the report as well Rekkhai.”

 

“L’haiy, na more ‘Rekkhai’ while we are fahd alone, fhaen? I must take my leave of au, and au are welcome to remain fahd until I return. As I said, I have decided to take as much of my annual leave time for as long as au are here. I will go handle this matter of au crew, and I expect to see au back fahd tonight once au have finished au errands and ship’s business. That or perhaps we should go instead to my oceanfront home for a bit more privacy? I always preferred it there anyway, and well, as much in my cups as I was that night long ago, I do remember that time we went swimming,” giving her a sly smile.

 

“Just let me know where I should repor..,” stopping herself from saying reports, and blushing a dark emerald. “I mean where I should meet au for dinner my lord.”

 

“Elements woman, what must I do?! Drop that io as well L’haiy,” setting down the plate and pulling her to him once again, he kissed her holding her tight to him. “Tonight, we will dine by the sea. There is na Rekkhai. There is na my lord. Just au and I.”