"In Transit"

[Guest Sar'vek t'Jhiin]

A trio of figures phased into existence on the transporter platform, joining two that had already materialized and "secured" the transporter room. Sar'vek t'Jhiin saw the point in the increase of security, of course, but it was still rather... nerve-raising... to have the guards nosing around every inch of the transport before their passenger arrived.

 

"Shaoi kon," she greeted courteously to the central figure, calm if a bit paler than usual.

 

Phasing into the transporter room, Destorie took a breath. "Shaoi ben," he sad towards t'Jhiin. "We should get underway."

 

"Immediately," she concurred, nodding to one of the men. "Go, have them warp out at maximum." He nodded and departed, and Sar'vek was quiet a moment. "I've collected the most recent holo-reports, Lhhai. I assumed you would want to see them."

 

"Yes," he said as they walked out of the transporter room and headed towards his state-room. "I assume the news channels are buzzing?"

 

"Overwhelmed," she corrected. "All of them. This is... quite the turn of events," Sar'vek offered, diplomatically.

 

They entered the stateroom where several other of Destorie's closest advisors sat waiting. He nodded to each of them and took a seat at the couch. "How bad is it?"

 

None really appeared willing to speak for a long moment, then finally one responded. "It's no surprise that rumors started to fly as soon as she was pronounced dead."

 

Anheal tr’Kvan, io of the longest serving aides to the N'Dak family nodded. "But there is a silver lining," he said. "It doesn't appear that anyone is suggesting the election be post-ponned."

 

"There are obviously those who will feel... misgivings in what could be construed as now a weighted election," Sar'vek added. "But you will likely not lose enough of your voter base for that to be a concern..."

 

"Besides, it's too late for them to get someone else on the ballot. You're running against a dead woman, I think we can safely call au Praetor-elect."

 

"Convenient timing," t'Jhiin noted. "But perhaps we should not tempt the Elements."

 

The point was dropped and Destorie sighed, heavily. "What have we heard about the death itself, are the reports true?"

 

Hakan t'Koll cleared her throat. "We've not been able to get much on the official channels... t'Jhiin did na want us asking too many questions."

 

That caused an eyebrow raise from the praetorian candidate and he glanced towards t'Jhiin. "And why na?"

 

She shrugged. "The media is sensationalist, especially in the shadow of such calamity. Too much interest in the death would appear... suspicious. Not genuine."

 

"I'd like to know what I am walking into here."

 

"A den of hungry predators," she answered swiftly. "Believe me, the journalists would like nothing better than to be able to pin this on the most visible man on ch'Rihan." She scowled, ever so slightly, her features as otherwise schooled as one of their Vulcan cousins.

 

Destorie rubbed at his temples, feeling a massive headache forming. It had been less than an hour since he'd heard the news and the nearly eight hour trip aboard the RES Taelin from Alpha Jahari wasn't going to help the throbbing pain that was becoming the whole fiasco. "Then contact Calhein at the Tal'Diaan and have him find out for us. We need to know exactly what happened."

 

For a moment, she looked on the verge of saying something, but wisely, she did not follow her instinct. Instead, t'Jhiin nodded. "Ie," she answered, and nodded to t'Koll. "Tell him that haste is essential."

 

"And someone find Jael... I want him to be under guard... but not at the homestead... the reporters will be buzzing around the place. Have him taken to cottage at Kajir'tor." Destorie leaned back and ran his hands over his face and through his hair, mussing the formerly perfect crop. Had the elements not had enough wrecking of havoc on the universe for one year? Apparently not.

 

T'Koll nodded curtly to tr'N'Dak before departing for the Oira, and t'Jhiin considered for a moment. "And what of your brother? Should he be... advised... to take extra precautions himself?"

 

"The Senator is off-world," Akan interjected. "He's currently on Deep Space Nine for a conference. I told his people for him to cancel his appearence and head home as soon as possible. The warbird Faerix will pick them up at the transfer point at Karret VI."

 

The Senator. Good Elements. "Safe enough, then. t'Savu as well?"

 

"Savu and her husband were supposed to have a fundraiser at the estate on ch'Havern. They've canceled it, but are going to stay at ch'Havern with the children till this all blows over."

 

"Good enough, then. That covers just about all the security protocols, then." She considered for a moment. "Will you be making a statement? Something... perfunctory, at least?"

 

Destorie leaned forward. "I will make a statement," he said, though his thoughts were distant. "I owe Donatra that much. I think we can all agree that we might as suspend the campaign?"

 

"Not... entirely. It would be wise to continue with the 'meet and greet' sorts of things, though the high-end fundraisers are over and done with. You have to still preserve that sense of meeting with constituents and hearing their needs."

 

Destorie shook his head. "No... I will not campaign in the wake of this."

 

Akan looked at Destorie with a sidelong glance. For a change he agreed with Sar'vek. "Ma'lyn..."

 

"Your people will want you to hear them now more than ever," she continued, softly. "It's not exactly as if we're sending out pamphlets and brochures on how to throw an N'Dak House Party."

 

He frowned. "I am writing my own speech. We need some place low key for this... nothing grand..."

 

"Don't change the subject," Sar'vek growled softly.

 

"I've spoken," he said firmly. "No more campaign events after the speech."

 

It was Akan who objected. "Ma'lyn," he said sharply. "I've known you for a long time, since before you were able to walk. I've always been trusted to tell you when you're making a mistake... and now is one of them. Donatra is dead and you are now their Praetor. Instead of acting like this a funeral, you should be taking advantage of this."

 

"Beyond that, you should be aiming towards winning trust, especially now that Donatra's friends will be looking for an N'Dak head for their mantle. Your enemies' resolve just strengthened. You must keep towards modest campaign initiatives. Anything else would be seen as... taking this for granted. Slacking. Weakness."

 

"No," Destorie said more firmly. "I will speak to her family in private and I will also speak to Governor tr’Akaetis... he's one of her strongest supporters. I think my speech will do more than any campaign even could. Make sure all of the major networks are there. I am thinking the gardens outside of my home on the Senate complex..."

 

"They'd be there whether we wanted them or not," Sar'vek commented dryly.

 

Unfazed, Destorie continued. "I want to talk to Donatra's brother before I give my speech..."

 

"Are you quite sure this is all... wise?" t'Jhiin interrupted, tentatively.

 

"No," Destorie said. "But it is what is right. Integrity sells for so little these days but I will not sacrifice mine for political expediency."

 

"I understand," she answered. "We'll... discuss further action after the speech, then. You'll let us read it over before the delivery?"

 

"Yes," he conceded.

 

"Hanny'yo," she answered, with a relieved glance at tr'Kvan. "When do you want it scheduled for?"

 

Kvan started to say something else but stopped and sighed. "It will take some time for everything to get put in place and we've already made our first statement. We should wait till tommorow morning. By then you'll have been able to get some rest and we can do this the proper way and catch the whole day's newscycle."

 

"You should have at least one meal, too," Sar'vek mumbled, as if she weren't quite bold enough to say it loudly. "It won't do anyone any good if you collapse before the speech."

 

Exhaling, Destorie looked at her as he often looked at his sister and brother when they attempted to mother him. "Ie, ie... I'll have the galley bring me something."

 

"I'll call up a meal in a few minutes," she amended, eyeing him distrustfully, but rose. "I'll upload the holo-link to your etrehh, but you should rest. You don't need to listen to too much of their... speculation."

 

"Very well... and if you'll excuse me... I need to be... writing my speech," N'Dak said, and Akan nodded and left the room, leaving Destorie to his own devices.

 

"May I stay a moment?" Sar'vek asked, lingering against her own better judgment.

 

Destorie looked up. "Very well..."

 

She hesitated a moment, taking a seat across from him again and delaying. "It's going to be a well-balanced, large meal, and you should eat all of it. You'll wear yourself thin under all this stress. And I'd better not find you've been in the wine," she joked, weakly. "You hardly need to have a hangover in the morning when you're trying to deliver the speech..."

 

"Do I look like my brother?"

 

"A little, but point taken." She chuckled without much mirth, and sighed, shifting uncomfortably on the couch. "Destorie, I need to ask you something... and I'm not... I won't doubt your honesty, but I need the truth..."

 

Lifting an eyebrow much like his Vulcan 'cousins,' Destorie looked intently at Sar'vek. "Very well."

 

"Did you have anything to do with this?" she asked bluntly, the words slipping out in far more of a rush than she'd intended. "I mean... I know you well enough to know that you're honorable, but you're also strategic, and..." She sighed, rubbing tiredly at her forehead. "Elements. I am sorry..."

 

He shook his head. "Na... au do na need to be sorry... it is a legitimate question."

 

"I shouldn't doubt your honor, Lhhai," she murmured, flushing darkly.

 

"I can't deny that apart of me is... relieved that this is all over with..."

 

She looked sharply at him, eyes narrowing. "You never used to be so good at evading questions."

 

He snorted. "I've always been good at evasion."

 

"You're still doing it," she accused, a bit more snappishly than she intended. "Is this your fault, or isn't it?" Sar'vek demanded, frustrations -- at the entire situation -- boiling over.

 

Exhaling, he took a long moment to respond. "No. I had na thing to do with this."

 

She released a slow breath of relief, all but collapsing against the couch. "I believed so... believe so, but... thank the Elements."

 

"Na... I would na risk my legacy now... na at my moment..." He had a distant look, the reflection of the lights dancing off his deep eyes. "This is the worst thing that could happen to me."

 

"I know," she whispered. "You were so close to taking this... cleanly. The right way. And now..."

 

"And now I will be hamstrung by this... this catastrophe. Even if I had lost there was still much I could do as the loyal oppostion..."

 

"The ones who matter know the truth. We will find who did this; your name will be cleared. And you?" She reached over to touch his shoulder reassuringly. "You will be a fine praetor in spite of all this, and the scar will fade."

 

"Perhaps, perhaps..."