Chapter 7
Rateg, Romulus
Colonel S'Harien sat at his desk in his office, typing a report on a PADD to send to Chairman Koval in the capital city. It seemed that the local crime had backed down since Commander Sela had arrived; she certainly knew how to handle the problems here. Indeed, a military presence was beneficial to keeping the peace here. The region of Rateg, despite its antiquity, was still a wild country. The harsh elements of these rugged highlands made it difficult to tame.
S'Harien was just about to finish his report when one of his commanders strode into his office. He carried himself tensely, and he looked slightly shaken, but still had that tough Tal'Shiar reserve.
"What is it, Commander?" S'Harien growled. He was not in the mood for interruptions tonight.
"Sir, Centurion Dharit and I ran into a troublemaker in the streets just now. A female. She picked a fight with the centurion, and he was shot..."
"I trust you found that Vulcan yet, Commander?" S'Harien said, ignoring most of what the commander had told him.
"No sir. But..." The commander fumbled for the right words to say.
"But..." S'Harien gestured for the commander to continue. "But what, Commander?"
"Sir, do any of the reports about this Vulcan say he has a child? A son?"
S'Harien gave the commander a stony look. "I take it you ran into a small boy and mistook him for a Vulcan?"
"Yes sir, but he really was a Vulcan. I could tell by his mannerisms..."
S'Harien blinked, but continued to glower at the commander. So their quarry had a child. So what? More Vulcans to take care of. Sela would be so excited to hear that..."And the female?" He asked.
The commander swallowed. "Yes, about her. She fought the both of us, and Centurion Dharit was killed in the process. She bade me to warn you not to harm the civilians here."
"I assume she had a name?" S'Harien asked.
The commander never forgot a name. "She said her name was Commander Aeryrn t'Laris. And a Warbird commander at that."
S'Harien's expression changed from cold glaring to mild surprise. But the change was subtle. "t'Laris, she says," he replied, trying to keep his voice level. "Daughter of the traitor Deletham tr'Laris, I presume?"
"Perhaps," the commander answered.
S'Harien folded his hands. Apparently, troublemaking ran in Deletham's family. This girl was no different from her father. "You are dismissed, Commander," he said.
Commander Sela was in heaven.
She had not had a massage like this since before her stint on Qo'noS. She lay on her stomach, topless, while a masseur kneaded her naked back beneath his big, broad hands. She had just spent the entire past hour bathing in her host's spa. Just like the good old days when she lived with her father, a general who doted on her, in opulence. She was always her father's pride and joy.
Oh, that felt so good...
"Commander Sela."
S'Harien's voice broke through Sela's reverie. He could not be serious!
"Colonel S'Harien," Sela said, trying not to bark at him. How dare he intrude on her down time! The nerve of these veruulirfrom the Tal'Shiar! "I hope you have a good reason for intruding on me at this hour." She dared not sit up, lest he see her bare front.
"I have a job for you, Commander," S'Harien said. The young commander felt a third hand touch her back and trace the length of her spine.
"What are you doing?" Sela said sharply.
"I never knew how pallid your skin is," S'Harien said with a slight purr in his voice. "Was your mother this pale?"
Sela rolled her eyes. "I don't remember my mother that much," she snapped. "And I would rather not talk about her right now. You have a job for me, you said?" She asked.
"Are you familiar with the recent execution of the Laris family from Mhiessan?"
"Laris? I've heard the name," Sela said. She did not keep up with executions very much. The Tal'Shiar executed people every day. "What about it?"
"Do you know a Warbird commander by the name of Aeryrn t'Laris?" S'Harien asked.
Ah yes, that was where she had heard that name. "Of course I know Aeryrn. She's a pretentious whelp. A sorry excuse for a Warbird-commander. That towel-boy can best her in a fight." Sela motioned toward a small servant boy assisting the bath's attendants.
"Maybe so, but this whelp bested two of my own officers. She got one of them killed."
Sela shook her head. "Well, how do you know he was not drunk?" She snapped. Sometimes, the younger officers were dumb enough to wander into one of the local taverns and order an ale while their commanders were off-duty. "So what do you want me to do with her?"
"Arrest her, interrogate her," S'Harien answered. "Who knows, perhaps she is in league with her parents and brother as well."
Sela turned her head so that she faced S'Harien. "Turn around and face the wall," she ordered.
"I beg your pardon, Commander?"
"I'm sitting up. Now turn around. And don't you dare look at me."
Aeryrn sat down at a table in the inn's common room. It was mid-afternoon by the time she had returned to the inn, after a long walk through the city of Rateg. She had never imagined how old the city was; it must have been at least a thousand years old, judging by the worn, ancient buildings that dotted the streets, punctuated by newer buildings that looked fresh, clean and brand new.
Aeryrn ordered a drink and turned her attention to the street outside the window. Rateg was so scenic and beautiful...Aeryrn could not fathom why her mother had chosen to live in Mhiessan.
"Excuse me, Miss." The innkeeper had approached her table. "Sorry to bother you, but are you the young lady who was asking about the Laris family here?"
Aeryrn nodded. "Yes, I am. Why?"
The innkeeper sat down across the table from her. "Was your mother's name Verelan, by any chance?"
"Yes. Her name was Verelan."
The innkeeper gave Aeryrn a once-over. Then he said, "My wife knew her. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. She was a wonderful, brave lady."
Aeryrn smiled slightly. It was good to hear his condolences. She felt more welcome here than ever...
Or so she thought.
Aeryrn heard the doors open. She turned around in her seat to see who had come in. Her stomach bottomed out as she saw who it was.
"Excuse me, my dear," the innkeeper said, getting up from the table to greet a small group of soldiers who had just walked in. Aeryrn promptly turned back around and sunk down behind the back of her chair, hoping the soldiers would not see her.
"Laris? I was just talking to somebody named Laris. She's over there."
Aeryrn stiffened. Great. They knew she was here.
"Out of my way, old man," a familiar voice ordered. A moment later, the speaker was standing right next to where Aeryrn was sitting. Aeryrn did not turn to face them.
"Commander Aeryrn t'Laris," a familiar woman's voice said sharply, "You are under arrest. You will accompany us to Colonel S'Harien's compound, where you will be held in custody and interrogated. Get up."
Aeryrn slowly stood up. She turned and faced the woman who had spoken to her.
"Hello Sela," she said.
