"The House of Two Moons"
I'Ramnua City, Romulus
Taev Neral was at the urinal. As he had been for nearly an hour.
Not exactly an ideal plan but the best he could come up with on such short notice. He'd been given the order to seize Senator D'mek entirely out of nowhere. There had been no advanced warning, nothing at all hinting such an order would be given up to now. He'd been completely unprepared. How often is one told to take a Senator in hand?
But as D'mek hadn't yet garnered opposition enough from his peers to warrant a proper level of paranoia for a Senator…Taev was fairly confident he could pull it off. If he was quick.
And he was quick, after all.
The challenge would be in doing so after standing at a urinal for an hour, of course. Thankfully none of the patrons of the establishment had visited twice during that hour…to find him still standing there, still apparently relieving himself all that while…
Hearing someone approaching the door of the lavatory, Taev had the false 'bladder' leaking into the urinal again with a flick of the wrist. He would seem to anyone not actually bending their head over and checking directly to be…well, making use of the urinal.
As Senator D'mek entered, one bodyguard preceding him in to check the room and the other taking position at the door, Taev studiously ignored all three of them. He was a businessman making use of the facilities, that was all. One wealthy enough to be eating at this particular establishment in the first place. So, of course, a Senator did not impress him especially. He certainly wasn't going to acknowledge the man's presence in the lavatory…
Neither bodyguard gave him more than a cursory look then when they'd entered…one staying at the door and the other behind him now, actually confident enough to face away, guarding D'mek as the man chose which stall he would make use of.
And so neither reacted quickly enough when he dropped the fake bladder at his feet and turned, blade drawn. With a quick motion, grabbing the man's forehead from behind, he'd cut the throat of the guard watching over D'mek before he was aware he'd been attacked.
Turning immediately and stepping to the side, toward the one at the door, Taev could see already that the second guard was as quick as he…reaching into his overcoat with one hand…
Or nearly as quick. A slight adjustment sent the blade stabbing there, through and into his chest, just so...pinning the hand in place just short of the weapon he'd been reaching for…
A gargled attempt to yelp in surprise to his left, the sound of blood splattering…the guard before him, jerking and grunting as he pulled the blade back out of his hand…and out of his heart…
…both men dropping to the floor of the lavatory…
…and Senator D'mek, just beginning to glance behind him at the commotion. Not yet realizing his guards had been killed in the time it had taken him to pick a stall. Taev had him spun about already, one hand over his mouth, thrust back against the same stall door he hadn't even had time to reach for and open…
"Be silent." He hissed, staring directly in his eyes. Staring hard, warning…
D'mek was wide eyed, aware only that his guards seemed to have disappeared and someone had him pinned. Someone with a knife in their hand…
Taev waited, giving him time to realize he wasn't dead yet…to decide whether he would fight or submit…
D'mek stared back, his mouth covered, eyes wide with fear…but he didn't resist.
"I am going to remove my hand." Taev warned. "And you will remain silent."
And so he did...and when D'mek did not immediately scream for help, he nodded. Good.
Reaching into his own coat, he produced his ID, holding it up before the man's eyes.
"I am Major Taev, Tal Shiar." He said. "I will speak quickly. It will be up to you to keep up. I suggest you do so."
D'mek blinked in surprise, already confused.
"Men are coming to kill you." Taev said. "I do not care if they succeed or not. I require information. Who intends to kill you and why. If you cooperate, you will live and I will have the answers I need. If you do not, you will die and I will be forced to find another source. Understand?"
D'mek almost didn't respond quickly enough, Taev noted. And that was not good. There was a certain momentum required, a pace to be kept up…he considered slapping the man, to bring him to focus…
…but the Senator nodded then. "I understand. Yes." He said, shakily.
He nodded. "Good. Come with me. Quickly." Taev said. "We must get you to safety."
D'mek finally noticed where his men had gone. Both dead on the floor at his feet.
"One of them was to assassinate you tonight." Taev explained. "I do not know which one. There is no time, come!"
He turned and walked briskly through the lavatory door, leaving the Senator to stumble after him with no chance to considered doing otherwise. And not daring disobey an agent of the Tal Shiar without anyone to protect him.
Through the restaurant, past the reception area, the attendants paying them no mind as they passed, then down the steps to the private street outside. A vehicle waiting, parked discreetly near the alleyway… It was all a blur as D'mek hurried to keep up with the agent, whose deceptively casual pace threatened to leave him behind if he spared attention to anything else.
D'mek tried, though. Tried, as much as he was able, to put his terror aside and figure out what was going on…
Tal Shiar? Acting to protect a Senator against assassins? Since when did they care? And who, anyway? Who could want him dead? Granted, he'd finally produced some actual results with Terra Prime but…enough to stir someone against him already?
Before they could reach what D'mek assumed was the car they would be taking, another one slid audibly to a stop further down the street, at the intersection…doors swinging upward, men diving out…three of them…with weapons…
"Get in!" Taev yelled, shoving him toward the car, producing a disruptor from nowhere…already snapping a beam at the men down the street, striking one of them squarely…
D'mek dove into the car, huddling in terror as a disruptor beam flashed through the air where he'd been standing only a second before…three more diffusing on the window behind him, mere inches away, melting through…rapidly, one right after another…
He was almost gibbering in terror by the time the Tal Shiar agent dove in across from him, staying low himself…too low to even see outside the vehicle yet still somehow sending it rushing forward, spinning around and away in less than a heartbeat…
D'mek hadn't raised his eyes or his head within range of being shot at just yet, staying as low as he could manage. Taev was still glancing behind them, driving fast…but maybe he could get a glimpse…
"Stay down, you fool!' Taev snapped, putting an end to his curiosity.
"Are they chasing us?" D'mek asked, a humiliating squeak evident in his voice.
"Yes!" Taev answered. "And they require nothing more than a single shot at your fat head! So stay down!"
D'mek burrowed further into the seat. But the agent was frustrated, he could tell. He hadn't expected this, which only frightened D'mek all the more.
"We can't get you to the safe house." Taev announced, suddenly. "It would seem I have been compromised. We must go elsewhere…"
D'mek's heart skipped a beat. A Tal Shiar agent…compromised? How? By who…?
"M...my compound." He stuttered. "I have guards…"
Taev snorted. "Like those in the lavatory?" He sneered, "Yes, they were very effective."
D'mek thought furiously…trying to come up with something…some place he could hide…
"Who is your partner?" Taev asked, suddenly.
He blinked. What?
"Wha…? I…" D'mek stuttered.
"Your partner in this Terra Prime business!" Taev clarified. "We know that you're not acting alone. Who is it? It would be in their interests to protect you now! That is why these men were sent!"
"I…I don't…" He babbled.
D'sher? D'sher would protect him…perhaps…but he would furious…
"Quickly! There is no time!" Taev snapped. "These men must have called for reinforcements by now! Is it Senator D'Tella or Ushek?"
What? Who? D'Tella? Ushek? They had nothing to do with…!
Taev slapped him suddenly on the side of the head. A sharp blow that startled him out of his confusion a bit.
"Which is it? Answer!" Taev demanded. "It is one of the two. Which?"
"Neither!" D'mek exclaimed. "It is D'sher! Those two do not care about…"
"Then we must get you to D'sher." Taev said, firmly. "Stay down!"
The vehicle accelerated further…so fast! Too fast to be safe…but their pursuers surely sought his life…
D'mek dug his fingers in the seat, terrified. D'sher would protect him. He must! And if not…perhaps the Tal Shiar agent would convince him to…
D'Sher Compound
I'Ramnua City, Romulus
The car rolled up to the rear gate, to be met by the guards there. Nothing was said that D'mek could overhear from where he lay, but the vehicle barely paused before passing through. The Tal Shiar agent hadn't spoken and the vehicles hadn't even been inspected. Not to mention the guards didn't seem to find a senator huddled face down in the passenger seat worth questioning.
Had he only shown his identification? Had the guards responded to that so quickly? What was going on?
Raising his head to look around, he was struck on the head yet again by Taev.
"Down." The man said, simply.
D'mek was not as terrified as he had been before and was beginning, in fact, to get very annoyed with his treatment. The men pursuing them must have been left behind by now. And they were on D'sher's grounds. Safe now, surely.
But at Taev's cold look, he stayed down anyway. Gritting his teeth perhaps but offering no other argument. He would deal with this man's impudence later, once D'sher made his appearance. Once his safety was assured.
When they reached the servant's garage Taev drove straight through, coming to a stop deep inside and exiting the vehicle. Though it made him all the more resentful, D'mek stayed face down on the seat until told otherwise.
The door opened. "Out." Taev ordered.
Frowning, D'mek stumbled out, ready to begin bringing this man to task…
…four of D'sher's guards were waiting there. Once of them was Kh'ev D'nhaih.
Who looked very displeased to see him.
D'mek had had enough of all this. Being shot at, tossed into cars, slapped about the head…and now some D'kaleh daring to show him less than the welcome he deserved…
He snarled at Kh'ev. "Don't glare at me, D'nhaih. This was not my idea…"
"Take him." Kh'ev ordered.
The men grabbed for him.
Surprised, D'mek resisted at first. "What…? Let go of me…ahh!"
One of the men had twisted his arm sadistically, sending a jolt of agony through his shoulder…D'mek could barely breathe suddenly…
Kh'ev was staring coldly down at him…and the Tal Shiar agent…smirking at him…
D'mek was afraid again then…beginning to understand something had gone very wrong somewhere…
Senator D'sher waited patiently as his D'kaleh went over the report. A report he would never have otherwise been allowed to see. One supposedly intercepted from D'mek's agents hours ago but in truth handed to him personally days before.
D'sher folded his hands behind him, turning to stare respectfully out the window. He had seen the shock on Kh'ev's face. And it would turn to anger soon…
"I can't imagine how you must feel, Kh'ev." He said, expressing sympathy. "I suppose I understand why she was chosen. A non-human, serving on Starfleet's most favored vessel…serving far longer in such a capacity than any other Vulcan before her…precisely the symbol these Humans would wish to make an example of."
D'sher sighed in disgust, shaking his head. "But this…D'mek, that fool! He should have known better. It lacks all respect! There are rules…observances that we all acknowledge…ones he obviously does not comprehend. You are an honorable man and have served the Empire well for many decades…completely unacceptable!"
He turned to consider Kh'ev then. He was still staring at the report, the expected anger burning in his eyes…his jaw clenched…
"You have asked before that I allow you to kill that man." D'sher lamented. "But it never served my purposes to do so. I must admit…I wish I had now."
He sighed in disgust again, seeming to find the whole thing difficult to accept himself…and watching the cold fury growing in Kh'ev in the meantime…
Kh'ev stirred then. "She believes that I am dead." He whispered. "And her mother is gone, cut off from her people. Now she has a…child…an unnatural one...with a Human…"
"I know." D'sher said, sympathetically. "It is enough that she has joined Starfleet. They will be our enemies soon. That at least would be honorable in the end…but to suffer this…"
He shook his head again, unable to verbalize his disgust at the entire thing.
"Senator…" Kh'ev began, swallowing. His voice trembling slightly, trying to speak clearly through his ire. "I must ask…"
"I know what you would ask, Kh'ev." D'sher said, shaking his head. "And I believe many would agree, were he made an example of. But that should not suggest there will be no risk, were it known…"
"None would know." Kh'ev seethed, almost begging.
D'shar considered for a long moment. Considered carefully, making the man wait…
Then nodded.
"I cannot deny you this any longer, Kh'ev. It grieved me to do so before but this simply cannot be endured. If you can assure me it will in no way lead back to me…"
"It will not." He insisted.
That was good enough for Senator D'shar. Kh'ev was highly skilled and experienced, after all. He enjoyed a very solid, well deserved reputation. And that based only on the handful of deaths that were suspected to be attributable to him. Only D'shar knew just how many weren't linked to him in at all.
D'mek's end would undoubtedly be brutal and violent, with no clue who was responsible. Suspicions, of course, but that would be all. Which would itself serve his purposes, really. Let the Senate tremble a bit at him for a change.
D'shar nodded then. "Very well. I will grant you this. Take your vengeance, Kh'ev."
He turned to face him more directly then.
"And further." He promised. "I will assure you this Terra Prime affair will be taken well in hand. With D'mek out of the way, I will have no difficulty seizing control of it. It is a perfect vehicle for disrupting the coalition, and indeed, all of Human space. I will not allow another foolish Senator to…toy with it and waste it so egregiously. And we will deal with the Humans that dishonored your daughter before we are done as well."
Kh'ev remained silent, staring down at the report, clearly already making plans for his revenge against D'mek.
"But I must say it again, Kh'ev." D'sher warned. "It cannot be traced back to me. If you are discovered, I will deny any knowledge. And you must not be discovered. I do not fear the Senate nor the Praetor in this, I'm sure few will disagree with this course. But with D'Rianov tempted against us as he is, he may easily decide to use this to his advantage…"
"Senator, excuse my interruption." Kh'ev said, suddenly roused from his scheming. "I do not think D'Rianov is a concern. In fact, it would seem he has…reconsidered his response to you. He has sent you a gift, of a sort. That is what I came to report to you."
"What do you mean?" D'sher asked, surprised. "He killed S'tel. Stuck his head on his gate. I think his intentions are clear…"
Kh'ev shrugged weakly. "I…cannot say for certain but…my men report that he has since looked into the incident in Mhiessan of last year. Perhaps he simply finds your position is stronger than he assumed."
D'sher snorted. "I can't imagine D'Rianov afraid of me. We were very fortunate in Mhiessan. In fact, that is why I did not mind threatening him. I didn't think he would overreact so much. And what gift? What do you mean?"
Kh'ev shook his head, trying to clear it a bit. "There is a…it is in the chamber below. My men have already delivered it there."
Ahhh! D'sher smiled. "I see. A gift." He chuckled. "Is she Romulan? Or something more…exotic?"
Kh'ev smiled slightly, obviously despite himself. "Something…significantly more unusual than that, Senator."
"Vulcan?" D'sher guessed. "Now that would be quite expensive…"
Kh'ev shrugged, still somewhat distracted by his own concerns. "I think I shouldn't ruin the surprise, Senator." He deferred.
"Come." D'sher ordered, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "This will take your mind off things for a time. I think that would be good for you."
"Senator, with all respect…" Kh'ev denied, suddenly looking stricken.
"I won't hear it." D'sher insisted. "You can plan your vengeance with a clear mind later. Come and enjoy this with me."
Kh'ev knew D'sher to be an exceptionally perverse man. One who didn't seem to grasp that others did not share his tastes. He knew once the man was done with the 'gift' he thought awaited him below, with Kh'ev forced to watch all the while, her end would typically be…horrific.
He'd witnessed it before. And he'd honestly have killed, gladly, a dozen times over, to avoid doing so again. But this time was quite different.
Kh'ev nodded instead. "I would be most happy to, Senator. And thank you."
Senator D'sher stepped into the chamber. She was there waiting for him alright, laid out upon the couch to the side. Veiled enticingly beneath a crimson sheet, itself adorned with symbols of good will and polite affection.
She was either resigned to her fate or drugged heavily, he noticed. She wasn't struggling at all. While he appreciated D'Rianov's presentation, of course…that was a little disappointing.
The chamber was sealed, water-tight and lacking elbow room for more than two at a time. Typically himself and whatever unfortunate soul he sought to amuse himself with. Water-tight so that, when he was done with them, he would sit and enjoy the screaming and begging through the one clear wall on the opposite side of the chamber. While the room slowly flooded.
It was, really, even more satisfying than…
…wait…that was a strange odor…
Having stepped forward eagerly to unveil his gift, already planning how best to proceed if she were Vulcan…D'sher was struck at the odd scent of copper in the air…as if…
He yanked back the sheet, then. His gift had better not have been injured before he'd even arrived…
Senator D'mek was staring back at him.
Naked, bound, unmoving. Staring because…his throat had been cut…
D'sher gawked for a moment…then spun angrily about to demand an explanation…
Finding Kh'ev shutting the door between them. Sealing it with a sharp *clunk*.
Kh'ev moved casually around to the clear wall, ignoring the faint sound of D'sher already banging on the door, demanding his release. He hadn't really paid attention any of the other times he'd been here before, so he had to search a moment for the button that activated the speaker. And the other button next to it as well.
He depressed the first of the two.
"…doing? Let me out of here!"
Kh'ev smirked. The man hadn't quite caught on. Hadn't even yet conceived that he was about to die.
He looked over his shoulder behind him. There was the very comfortable looking chair there, of course. But he imagined D'sher had pleasured himself there many times in the past. So he'd stand while he enjoyed the show instead.
And really, now that he considered it, he could perhaps understand why D'sher enjoyed this so much. He was certainly very pleased himself at the moment. And the fun hadn't even started yet.
D'sher must truly hate women though, he thought, to take this sort of pleasure in tormenting them. Such a general abiding hatred as that Kh'ev couldn't really relate to but…yes, he supposed he could understand the attraction now, after a fashion. He was surprised it hadn't occurred to him before. Perhaps he simply hadn't hated enough men as much as he hated D'sher at the moment, so had lacked any means of comparison until now.
"Kh'ev! I will have you burned alive for this! Open this door!"
"You have granted my request, Senator." Kh'ev argued, through the speaker. "To have my vengeance on the one responsible for T'les' death. And for what has been done to my daughter. Don't reverse yourself now. Consider how embarrassing that would be."
"What are you talking about? Are you insane? Let me out of here!"
"The women you've murdered in this place, how long do they usually last?" Kh'ev asked, musing aloud. "Before they beg you to spare them, I mean. I will grant you, they are usually quite weak by then so I suppose that might account for some of their delay..."
D'sher stared through the glass, still failing to make sense of Kh'ev's apparent fit of madness.
"Do you think that you will last longer?" Kh'ev asked. "I've seen some last the entire hour…until the water was nearly to the ceiling and they were forced to stand on their toes on the couch to snatch a breath or two. Only then begging for their lives. And often only because you promised mercy if they did."
"Kh'ev! Stop babbling and open the door! I swear to you…!"
Kh'ev snorted. "I won't promise that, of course. So perhaps we won't be able to make an accurate comparison after all. But, still…let us see what we can see…"
He pressed the second button, sending water spraying down into the chamber from the ceiling above.
Only then did D'sher begin to catch on.
Kh'ev had to laugh when he began begging almost right away. The water had hardly begun to puddle on the floor.