"Uncloaked"

[Laehval tTemarr 0]

"El'Riov tr'Pexil, while the cloak is cycling, go see if any damage was done to the relays. If they were soured by the tetryons, they will need to be filtered or replaced." Laehval did not glance up from her console, too intent on her screen and the reports coming in. Engineering was a flurry of activity still, though the Talon had taken only minor damage in the skirmish. Under the baleful eye of their Enarrain, the crew was doubling their efforts to see that the repairs were done quickly and correctly.

 

"Understood," he said with a nod, being careful not to make any more gaffs. Engineering contained a special display solely for the cloaking system on the upper level. Lerak made his way there via the ladder. When he arrived, he ran the basic diagnostics. All appears undama.. nope, two of the relays have overloaded trying to compensate for the hull structure repairs, he thought.

 

"Relays Seventy-two and thirty-four need repairs," he reported back. "Moderate, but both require repairs under the circumstances." He assigned a repair team to one and took the other for himself, not waiting for t'Temarr to respond. Tools in hand, he left the mezzanine behind and entered one of the seldom used corridors that housed the primary relay units. Concentrating on replacing the faulty relay in the dark corridor, he didn't hear the footsteps until they were upon him.

 

Laehval grabbed him by the back of his uniform and yanked him upright, shoving him into the darkness of a service alcove. Her arm dug into his throat as she pinned him to the wall, brown eyes blazing with fury. "Fvadting verrul," she hissed angrily. "Do au know what damage au may have done with that simple little question? 'How was your rest?'" she quoted mockingly. "In front of the Khre'Riov, na less!"

 

"I did na see the harm in the question, but if au are so upset then I apologize," tr'Pexil managed to get out despite her choking grip. "I will speak with the Enarrain myself if au wish." His anger was growing. Several hateful things sprang to his mind, but he decided to hold his tongue.

 

"Au will say nothing," she hissed quietly, "or I will cut out your tongue myself." A hand at his chest shoved him back into the wall again before she took a step back. Though there was no one else around to overhear them, she kept her voice low. "How many times have I told au to do your duty without constantly badgering me about my health, my thoughts, my feelings, or my sleep cycle? We are on duty! I am your superior! All that is required of au is to do the tasks I assign to the best of your ability."

 

His anger grew more but there was little he could do about it now. Laehval was at her best when frustrated. Lerak would be no match. "Fine," he said sharply. He looked into a fury he'd not seen before. He should have been stabbed for this. He did not understand why he was still standing. Dinner appeared canceled.

 

"Do na say 'fine' to me as if it will change everything. I grow weary of this, Lerak. This... this clinging nature of yours is why we never had a relationship. Au caught me in a moment of weakness and I gave in for the pleasures of the flesh, but that is forever at an end. Au have cemented my decision with your stupidity. Au will ask na questions of me that are na related to your duty. If I find another secret invitation hidden within io of your reports, I will shove my ISD down your throat and watch au choke on it." She was more than angry, she was furious. One hand was balled in a fist, the other clenched around her plasma torch.

 

"Do it, t'Temarr! It's obvious my stupidity will only harm your department," Lerak said with as much fury he had inside. "It seems I have misjudged au. Here I thought au would perhaps open up to someone, but au are are cold as ever." He paused to catch his breath and continued. "I think au have two decisions now: hit me as hard as au are able to punish me, or let me transfer to the nearest garbage scowl where my stupidity won't get in the way." He was holding back tears, but hoping it only appeared to be anger. Conflict like this was not his strong suit by any stretch.

 

Her clenched fist hit him squarely in the jaw before he had a chance to ask again. She stood over him, quaking with anger. "I may be cold and as emotionless as some say -- oh, ie, I hear the whispers behind my back -- but at least I am na a sniveling whiner. The last man that spoke to me in such a way was Destorie and I removed his ear for his insolence." Her plasma torch flared to life in the dark corridor, verdant light giving her features an eerie, demonic cast. "Consider yourself fortunate I do na do the same to au," she growled.

 

"If I were au," she continued, "I would stop worrying about my feelings and start concentrating on your career. Au can run away like a coward, or au can be a true Rihan and do your duty." Her piercing gaze was relentless.

 

"Funny," 'tr'Pexil started, green blood spitting out his mouth, "I was thinking something similar." He was now halfway to the floor, catching himself with his hand. He held up the other hand, expecting another blow that did not come. "I will go back to my duty. It is best we don't remain here longer or those whispers au hear could grow." tr'Pexil's mind was swimming with doubt and regret, but that would have to wait until this latest crisis was over.

 

She looked down at him with loathing and disdain, fighting the urge to kick him. "Clean yourself up and find a job that does na require au to be in Main Engineering. I do na want to see your face the rest of this shift." Her plasma torched died and she turned sharply on her heel, stalking down the corridor.

 

"As au wish, Daise'Engineer," tr'Pexil said with a nod of inferiority. He was done with this quadrant and of his future perhaps as well. He used his sleeve to wipe away the bulk of his blood, but the bleeding didn't seem to be stopping. He needed to have medical patch him up, but there would be questions. No matter if he lied about what happened or told the truth, he would be in even more trouble. He shook his head as he watched her retreating silhouette, wondering how it had come to this. Amazing how one simple badly timed gesture had ruined the bond he'd fought so hard to build between them.