The Duality

[Victria 0]

Sometime before...

 

 

"I've not yet learned who will be accompanying me on this mission," Victria said as she entered the captain's office without waiting for permission.

 

"Didn't I once tell you to never do that again?" Ah-Windu growled with annoyance as he glanced up from his reports.

 

"In your quarters, yes. Not your office," she retorted, leaning forward to rest both her hands on his desk. "The mission?"

 

"You are to go alone," he said after a brief pause.

 

"Alone?" Both eyebrows lifted in mild surprise.

 

"This is a one person mission."

 

"How do you know I will voluntarily return?" Her fingertips slid along the smooth surface as she rounded the desk.

 

"I don't," he said curtly, watching her.

 

"You still don't trust me."

 

"Not completely, no."

 

"Then why send me alone?"

 

"I have no other choice."

 

"Your high opinion of me is astounding." She smirked, shifting to take a seat on his desk without regard for the datapadds stacked there.

 

Corizon frowned at her for a long moment. "Victria, why are you here?" he finally asked. "You could have commed me for this information."

 

"You told me it was a secret matter."

 

"Yes. It is, and of the highest importance. Have you told anyone?"

 

"Of course not."

 

"Not even Segami?" He regarded her skeptically.

 

"No."

 

"You two seem... comfortable with one another."

 

"We've socialized over a few drinks." Her smile indicated more than simply "socializing", but she shrugged noncommittally.

 

"He has taken to badgering me about your status. He seems... protective of you."

 

"He is protective of all of his crewmen. Perhaps you should give him a solid answer rather than dance around the issue."

 

"He hasn't asked me for the details of this mission. Are you sure you didn't reveal anything?"

 

"Of course not."

 

"Why not? He is your superior officer."

 

"You told me not to."

 

"Since when does the officer hierarchy mean anything to you?"

 

"It doesn't," she said quietly, holding his gaze as the silence lengthened.

 

"Why are you really here?" he finally asked.

 

"I wanted to see you. Just in case," she admitted.

 

"In case... you don't return?"

 

"Yes. You know the risks involved."

 

"Yes," he said after a moment of thought. "I know, but you are highly skilled and I believe you will succeed."

 

"A comforting thought." She slid from his desk and held out her right hand to him in what she'd learned was the standard humanoid greeting. "My ship will be departing soon."

 

"I'll be on the station. I have other matters to attend to," he said as shook her hand. "Good luck."

 

Before he could withdraw, she gripped his arm with her left hand and slowly pulled it to her lips. Fangs bared to pierce the tender flesh of his wrist, she hesitated just before biting down, her icy blue eyes watching him. She could read nothing in his expression, though her finely tuned senses detected his elevated heart rate. With only the slightest smile hinting that she could hear the increase in his pulse, she turned his hand face up and kissed him lightly in the center of his palm. Finally releasing him, she slipped away and moved for the door.

 

"Victria..."

 

She paused, turning slightly just before the door opened. Sir? Captain? No, it wasn't the Captain speaking to her at that moment. "Ah-Windu?"

 

"I would not have stopped you."

 

"I know."

 

"Then why?"

 

"I'm not sure." She paused, staring at him from across the office. "Perhaps it is simply to give me another incentive to make it back alive. Perhaps I just hate to rush things, and I have a feeling that when I return, we're going to need plenty of time for... discussions. Incidentally, if I return with my life, I will expect to be richly rewarded."

 

"Promotion?"

 

"How unimaginative. I'll give you a few weeks to think up something better." She half-smiled, then disappeared into the corridor.

 

 

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Sometime after...

 

 

"You were supposed to be here two days ago." The male Eritan bared his teeth in frustration but did not look at her as they navigated the corridor.

 

"I had difficulties extracting myself. I came as soon as I was able." Victria ignored his attitude, glancing instead at the wall panels that they passed. When she spotted one that displayed the command center's layout, she memorized the information for later use.

 

"I dislike excuses. Your absence was noted and questions were asked."

 

"I am not excusing myself. I am simply stating the facts. My progress was sent along in a full report."

 

"We received no such report."

 

"That is not my concern. It was sent and my transport's logs prove that it was sent. If you wish to read it, it is still stored in the databanks."

 

"I shall do just that. If I find you are lying, you will not leave this station alive."

 

"Your threats are of little concern to me. Do your job and I shall do mine. Where am I meeting with the Androct General?"

 

"General X'tkkenn is waiting for you in his office on the tertiary platform." The Eritan stopped suddenly and grabbed her arm, swinging her around to face him. "Insolence will not be tolerated. Remember, that you are disposable and easily replaced."

 

Victria yanked her arm from his grasp and pushed him away with a slight snarl. "Last I checked, you were no Scorpiad. You should remember your own words, Mrtan. You are disposable and I doubt you would be missed if I ripped out your throat to assuage my growing Hunger. I've not yet had time to feed."

 

Mrtan snarled in response, but made no other move to stop her as she stepped into the newly arrived conveyance. Victria offered him one last warning flash of her fangs as the doors closed and the lift began to move upward. Counting the decks as they flashed by, she aligned her memory with that of the wall map she'd seen to get a better idea of where she was headed. Had she the inclination to be nervous, this would have been the appropriate time. She was about to willingly walk into the office of a Scorpiad that may or may not decide to let her walk out. The Androct sub-species was known to be aggressive at times, but she was hoping that this general's rational thinking would prevail. She was not bringing ill news, after all, but rather secrets that might serve to elevate him in status.

 

Fortunately, her experience with fear was limited to the delicious scent of the emotion that she sensed from her prey. As she stepped out of the lift, her lips curved into a slight smile at the thought of Hunting again. Surely there would be such provisions made for her on the Scorpiad's complex. As a mere Al-Ucard, she was usually considered below their notice, but they had been known to reward their faithful underlings from time to time, especially those that did excelled in their assigned tasks. Perhaps she might be able to find a Lucam or two in the complex that they would allow her to Hunt. Some of the Scorpiad had been known to find such Hunts entertaining, especially when it resulted in death - as it usually did.

 

The general's office door opened and she stepped inside, taking the mandated five steps before she dropped to one knee and bowed her head. It was against her nature to debase herself in front of anyone, but the Scorpiad demanded it. The Al-Ucard worshipped their Masters or they would be eradicated. From her vantage, she could see nothing but the natural stone flooring that some of the cave-dwelling Scorpiad preferred, but she could hear the General moving about. Victria waited patiently, knowing that he would acknowledge her as soon as he felt she'd remembered her place in the chain-of-command. However, with the information she had at her disposal, she knew he would not keep her waiting for long. After no more than a few minutes, she heard the shifting of his various body segments rubbing together and his mandibles began to clack.

 

"Al-Ucard. Your name for the record."

 

"Great One, I am the Al-Ucard Nataka of the House Fallonn, Nightstalker and loyal subject to the Androct and all Scorpiad."

 

"You have information to give me."

 

"Yes, General," she replied neutrally, careful to keep her gaze on the floor.

 

"Good. You will start with everything you know about the Federation, their technology, their response to our hold on the wormhole, and when they are next planning to attack. I want everything you know from the time you spent studying them and their habits."

 

"As you will it, General," she replied without emotion. "I shall first tell you where their weaknesses lie..."

Edited April 15, 2007 by Victria