"For Honor"

[Guest Sar'vek t'Jhiin]

"Is there some place we can talk?" N'Dak asked.

 

Sar'vek nodded, motioning towards a small set of stairs. "Conference chambers -- nothing formal, but they're functional."

 

Nodding, "Of course, lead the way."

 

Her pace moderately quick, she exited the main command center, glancing to him as she spoke. "Apparently rumors of aur y'ya were exaggerated," she said, quietly. "Most of us were under the impression that the Lloann'na took no prisoners from aur vessel's capture."

 

His head dropped low, and he covered his heart as if an open wound were festering. "It is not something I would like to relive."

 

Her jaw tightening slightly, she nodded briefly. "Of course; I understand. Needless to say that au were in a position aboard the Imperial warship in orbit that au could gain some intelligence that could be useful to us?"

 

"Ie," N'Dak's glance rose to meet hers. "Au must leave, h'nah."

 

She raised an eyebrow, a carefully neutral _expression in her eyes. "We've been tracking their movements -- are they in a position to locate this facility?"

 

"They will be soon enough," he said distantly. "Don't you realize what you've done?"

 

"What I've done?" She appeared confused. "What have I done?"

 

“You've endangered everything the Resistance is. Everything that has been accomplished."

 

Her jaw tightened as she stared out of the small window in the chambers, unwilling to meet his eyes. "What was I to do, En'Riov? Have au politely escorted outside the premises to be picked up by the Empire as soon as they realized au'd transported down?" Her voice softened slightly. "Au know I could na have done that. Besides, if it was such a liability, why did au come in the first place?"

 

"That's not what I mean," he displayed his uncanny ability to detach his emotional feelings from his rational judgment.

 

The Romulan woman turned her attention back to him, curiously. "Then what do you mean?"

 

"You should never have incited those Lizards to rebel against the Empire," he said coldly. His eyes flickered dangerously.

 

"You did not witness their oppression. You never heard their cries for help. The cause and desire for rebellion was already there. It wasn't all my doing." Her voice had returned to its usual harshness, chiding him.

 

"Silence," the edge on his voice sharper than razor. Though their relative rank had changed, he remained the superior, in his mind. "Do not forget, Sar'vek, that these people are not Rihan. And these times we can not spare to help those who are not of our own."

 

"They were once under the Empire's protection," she attempted, weakly. "But you are correct, of course. It was a foolhardy mistake on my part..."

 

"Protection." He sneered. "They were slaves...they have always been slaves. The only difference is who holds the whip."

 

"And yet, their Empire yields a crueler whip." She visibly tensed at her own words. "Much crueler..."

 

"And how long do you think it will be before that whip finds your back upon this planet? Elements, woman, the Lord Regent is here."

 

An unfallen tear wavered in her eye as she tensed again. "Ie. I'm aware of that."

 

"It will na be long before his patience wears thin and he starts shooting things. How long will the natives last under his pressure before they give you up?"

 

She considered a moment. "They are strong, both of mind and body."

 

"But na strong enough," his voice grazing her like sand paper. "He will not give up. The iron fist of his will drives hard. The Agincourt will soon be forced to take actions as well to produce results. It's a trap."

 

Her gaze fastened on him, torn. "What would you have me do? Evacuate? To where? Surrender ourselves in hope that we'll merely be imprisoned for life?" She shook her head, looking back out over the landscape. "Those aren't options."

 

"Leave this place," he responded. "Find a quiet place on the planet to stay until the worst has passed then leave this planet. I..." He paused. "I will stay behind."

 

Startled, she looked to him, her voice catching in her throat. "I couldn't let you do that. Sacrifice yourself... Elements, I couldn't do that." Her voice grew a shade softer. "The resistance needs you, N'Dak."

 

"No they don't," he shook his head, the posturing visage vanishing. "I am a slave. I am dead. I died the day Romulus was conquered. Only in death may I find freedom."

 

"I will die on my feet, and I will die with honor, with Meihn'sahe," he said proudly. "That is all a Romulan can ask, now go before they find us here."

 

I'm not leaving your side. That's not an option, either." She lifted her chin proudly. "Your conceptions of honor, while noble, are unnecessary. Your future is still ahead of you..."

 

"You are a fool..."

 

 

Romulan Dictionary

 

au - you

aur - your

En'Riov - Fleet equivalent of admiral

h'nah - now

ie - yes

Lloann'na - Empire

Meihn'sahe - Romulan code of honor

na - no

Rihan - Romulan

y'ya - death; kill

Edited September 14, 2006 by Sar'vek t'Jhiin