The Curse of Passion

[NDak 0]

The sounds of a flitter flying a little lower than was permitted by regulation told Einya that someone was going to get a visit from the Imperial Capitol Air Authority. He smirked lightly, remembering how in his youth he himself had done something very similar; but many years had passed since he'd been a young boy, just learning to fly a flitter.

 

“Children,” the female Rihan next to him remarked with motion to the streaking red and black Haevn flitter that finally passed out of sight. “I've always felt that you shouldn't be able to fly one of those things till you were at least 20...”

 

Eniya lifted a brow, dubiously. “And how old were you before your parents let you fly one?”

 

The female grinned. “I grew up on a warbird,” she said tactically, “so I it was a rare opportunity to fly one alone.”

 

“And your children?”

 

Her mild grin turned into a half-frown as she continued walking. “My husband overruled me on that one...so long as the children were on ch'Rihan and na with me.

 

“And your own?”

 

“Nijji is clamoring for me to get him one,” he said with a sigh. “He says all the other kids his age have one of their own, and that it will teach him some responsibility.”

 

“He's your fifth child, correct?”

 

“Ie.”

 

“And did you lavish such things on the others,” the female Rihan had stopped along the path they were walking to investigate a growth of Kael'Naji flowers. She took a deep breath, letting the light, flowery aroma fill her nostrils. It had been sometime since that fragrance had been anywhere near her.

 

“I didn't raise my other children as closely,” Eniya said finally. There was a hint of something somber in his voice. He'd always felt that he'd not got to know his other four children as well as he had his youngest son, Nijji; but his duty was to the Empire and that had kept him from his family.

 

“Ie,” she said picking a flower from the bush. Holding it in her hands she resumed walking with Eniya beside her. “I was fortunate that in most of my assignments I could bring my children with me, or at least have them visit for long months.

 

“Except my eldest.” Now it was the female's voice that betrayed regret. “Destorie was always involved in something with his father, or too busy in school activities that could not be avoided to flit off to Vulcan or Qo'Nos to see his mother.”

 

“I am sure he understood Sevik.”

 

“Ie,” she said. “That doesn't change the fact that I regret not spending time with him.”

 

“But such is our life.”

 

“Ie, duty to the Empire is always first. I think that lesson did come through.”

 

They continued to walk down the stone path that intersected a grove of ja'ko trees. The park itself lay just south of Senate compound and just a stone throw from the central offices of the Rihan Diplomatic Corps, the Kiith Mrevhoqq'ghi. The two colleagues, Sevik t'N'kedre and Eniya tr'Aeolix, found themselves in most interesting positions.

 

Both had spent the better portions of their lives off-world in service to the Empire, though most of his time had been on Cardassia, when he'd not been a senator for some years, while N'Kedre had spent hers on several worlds strung throughout the galaxy. Now they both found themselves recalled to their homeworld as the days darkened for the Two Worlds.

 

“So,” N'kedre said, pausing slightly before continuing down the path. “They recalled you from Cardassia? I thought the Empire wanted a foothold in Cardassia's future...to assure that the Lloann'na did not muck it up too badly and create another ally to use against us.”

 

“They do,” he snarled, but not at the female next to him. “The Empire is sending a message apparently, that they won't commit a high-level ambassador to the region until their demands are recognized.”

 

N'kedre frowned. “They're pouting.”

 

“Ie,” Einya said equally displeased. “I am not sure that the powers in the Senate know how to conduct themselves sometimes.”

 

“Perhaps it is because they keep changing?”

 

The both frowned. In the period of three years, the Empire had seen a torrent of changes. First the coup attempt by Shinzon in which almost the entire continuing committee was assassinated which led to a power vacuum that threatened to destroy the Empire from inside. The Galae, whom many blamed for the Shinzon Incident, had quickly stepped in and taken control of the government, long enough for a new set of leaders to come to power.

 

Fifteen months after Shinzon's coup had failed, Praetor Jaelin i-ch'Rihan tr’Avfad came to power. Avfad was young, by Rihan standards, barely 60 years of age. He was pragmatic and an idealist. Aeolix had warned the young man, whom he'd seen grow as a leader when they served in the Senate together, that making radical changes to the Rihan way of life would be dangerous. His warnings had proved prophetic.

 

In the first weeks of his Praetorship, Avfad proposed sweeping changes to the Empire; calling for the abolishment of slavery, the opening of full diplomatic relations with the Federation, even opening the door to the possibility of dismantling the Neutral Zone. These changes were met with swift action from forces within the Empire.

 

Though political assassinations were once rare in the Empire, the last few decades had seen...quite the change in atmosphere. Both of the Ambassadors had known that the death of Avfad signaled trouble for their Empire.

 

Even more so when Avfad's successor, a weak, ineffectual man Aele tr’Yyhei assumed the role of Praetor. N'kedre had known the latter for many years, meeting him years ago at a state dinner she and her husband had attended. At the time, her husband had summed the man up fairly well in a single statement.

 

“He's as mailable as Negali dough, and has the backbone of Lloann'na jellyfish...without the sting,” her husband had remarked.

 

Indeed. His tenure was fraught with turmoil and indecision. At one time the Senate would make bold moves in policy, such as re-emerging as a major player in the Cardassian Reconstruction and entering the Camelot Project in the Gamma Quadrant, while at the same time cavalier officers, Senators, Admirals and Tal'Shiar Directors made moves of their own, undermining the Senate without consequence.

 

Which led to the current predicament. “I can't say that I blame the other governments for being...apprehensive around us,” N'kedre said with a sigh. “The government has been so...”

 

“Erratic,” Einya said in agreement. “They likely think we're up to something...”

 

“But the truth is that our Empire stands on the edge of Civil War.”

 

“Ie. What we need is a strong Praetor to unify the government and quickly put to rest all of the cowboys that are making names for themselves by undermining the Senate at every chance they get.

 

“Then we can assert ourselves once more, and finally have the say in the Galaxy's affairs that is so rightfully ours.”

 

N'kedre nodded. “Ie, I agree...however I do na think that Lenak tr’Llhvae is the man that will do that...”

 

There was a long silence from Einya. “Agreed,” he said finally. “If anything he will only worsen the problem. He's a lightening rod. He'd made no secret which branch of the Military he plans to place in charge of the security of the Empire.”

 

“Ie,” she said. “The Galae has already begun to consolidate their forces. I have a good feeling that the withdrawal from Camelot had more than a little to do with that.”

 

Aeolix nodded. “These are dangerous times for the Empire...”

 

“In deed,” she nodded. “It appears that just when we thought it was our time to step forth into the light and take our place, that our internal differences have once again embroiled us.”

 

“The curse of passion...”