Everything happened too quickly. First, a sharp noise at Koval and Sloan's left side made them all turn in that direction. Saavik, Ba'el, Ajeya and Raghnill could see nothing, though. Luther did. His eyes narrowed, his hand gripped tighter his weapon, raised pointing slightly over Koval's shoulder. Swiftly, he swirled on his heels positioning himself to face the noise, turning the phaser toward it. When he was moving, everybody heard another unmistakable sound, and under the impact of several disruptor discharges he was suddenly vaporized.
At the other side of the line, the four officers contemplated the scene in shock, even if each of them registered it in a different way. They said no word, their eyes glued to the images projected on the ready room.
Four members of Koval's personal security were now coming into view, the four of them wearing the uniform of the Tal Shiar. They quickly untied Koval, who stood up, beaming with satisfaction. He silenced his men before they could utter a word and directed his attention to his remaining audience instead, "The clock was important. You should have listened to him." He looked so haughty again, so very much in control. "Or did you really believe that you could hold me prisoner in my own home forever? That Luther Sloan never knew all my security measures."
He looked at each of his opponents one by one, Saavik was the only one who held his gaze without showing him anything, so very Vulcan; but the rest of them were utterly enraged and frustrated, and that fueled him. "I think this conversation is over," he said, and cut the link.
"This cannot be happening," Ba'el muttered in disbelief, shaking her head.
Raghnill spat the worst curses she knew. Saavik could not help but utter, "damn", in a low voice. Surprisingly, Ajeya kept silent, staring at the empty space where a moment ago Koval's hologram had defied them. She inhaled deeply, trying hard to control her rage, "It will have to be enough," she simply commented.
"Enough for what, Admiral?" Ba'el asked, looking up.
"Enough to present a case before the Continuing Committee. Enough to bring charges against him before he brings charges against me."
"We have the Jem'Hadar and Colonel Coltan will say whatever you want him to, I can assure you that," Raghnill encouraged her.
"And the facilities Sloan talked about," Saavik added. "Koval was shaken when he gave their location to us, so logically you should emphasize that."
"He's going to suffer, and he's going to die. Even if only for the pride he showed as he talked about Hellguard," Ajeya vowed. "I think that's something that even you being so Vulcan will appreciate," she said to Saavik.
Saavik made no comment. "I will appreciate that no more crimes are committed against innocent people," she said instead. "Koval has too many terrible weapons that should never be used."
"Oh, so you are afraid of what we Romulans will do with Koval's toys even if he is condemned," Ajeya laughed. "I promise nothing," she answered with bared teeth.
Saavik flickered her gaze towards Raghnill. The commander backed her mother, though; her loyalty was to her, and to the Empire; Saavik had always known that. Saavik realized with frustration she had fought in vain if Koval was stopped but his plans were continued by the Romulan Empire; they had to end.
"Koval never learned the secret of the Jem'Hadar, if it serves to comfort you," Ajeya added; Saavik frowned, Ajeya would do nothing for her, she had to be mocking her. "That Cardassian, Reltan, betrayed him and freed the Jem'Hadar instead."
"That's another matter we have to discuss. They have to be returned to the Dominion."
"Do you know they want to form an independent society?" the Romulan admiral commented with disregard. "As if that were possible."
"They cannot be your prisoners, Ajeya. We signed a treaty with the Dominion." Her voice was steel, but since Ajeya remained unfazed, she opted for a different, more personal approach, "It could be your own daughter the one imprisoned by the Dominion and…"
Raghnill flinched at the mention of her hypothetical capture, but Ajeya was the one who interrupted her. She flushed, her eyes blazed in anger and raised her index finger pointing at her, "Don't dare to make comparisons! It isn't the same! They are nothing! They aren't people! They are..." Ajeya paused. She looked at the glint that was also appearing in Saavik's eyes, at the way she had drawn up, all her muscles tensing. Ajeya had thought before of the similarities between the Jem'Hadar and Saavik; she had not expected the hybrid to relate to them too.
"They are sentient beings, Ajeya," Saavik was saying in a hardly controlled tone. Ajeya made the translation: "I am a sentient being too." And yes, Ajeya could see that now, but the past could not be changed, and the pain was still there, tormenting her, and the pending menace.
"They have rights and we must honor them." That was a line she was not going to cross. No rights, no honor. That Vulcan pet knows nothing of honor! How does she dare to lecture me? Me! All Ajeya had done in Hellguard had been for honor; all her actions had had the finality of restoring her family rights that wrongly had been taken from them. Her dear daughter Raghnill had rights, and she fought really hard for them. But the half-Vulcan kids born as laboratory subjects? The Jem'Hadar created by the Changelings at their will? Ajeya knew they had no rights to claim, and the comparison offended her. The hint of understanding she felt evaporated quickly to be replaced by anger.
Raghnill watched in distress as her mother and her half-sister argued about the Jem'Hadar, knowing that they actually discussed a far more personal and painful matter. She did not know how to get them away from the conversation without taking a side and hurting any of them, if not both. The expression in Saavik's face worried her; she knew that in spite of her usual Vulcan appearance Saavik had a Romulan side and was very capable of violence. She did not need to question her mother; every moment she knew she restrained herself. But she was angry now, and Raghnill noticed with alarm her mother's left arm reaching down, towards her Honor Blade.
Ba'el was as stressed as Raghnill. She had not understood at first Saavik's harsh reaction, but now could clearly see what was going on, and how dangerous their situation was. She did not expect any of the parts to withdraw. If it finally came to that, she would defend Saavik using any mean necessary and she would care about the consequences later. Her first priority was to protect Saavik from any harm. She grimly realized, though, that it was better to do so without bloodshed, even if a part of her naturally relished the thought of the impending fight. She grimly realized that she had to find a way to stall them, because if they killed each other now, they could be starting a war between the Romulan Empire and the Federation. She really did not know what to do, so she spoke up, trying to still the escalating anger with an hilarious question, "Can't we discuss other matters? Such as the wonders of the Romulan ale, for example?"
The other three women turned sharply to look at her, incredulity written in their eyes. Ba'el realized next they were giving her the same look they would to an insubordinate officer about to be disciplined, and was suddenly very aware of her lower rank. But she put up a brave face and met Saavik's stern gaze squarely. If that was the price to pay for Saavik to be safe, so be it. Then, suddenly, Raghnill blurted out laughing.
So Saavik and Ajeya turned to look at her instead. Raghnill could not help it; she was thankful to Ba'el. The Klingon may be mad but she had accomplished at least for a moment to do what she could not. And what a way! So she laughed in relief. Now the problem was that her mother did not precisely appreciate her reaction. She stiffened her laughing and offered Ajeya a sheepishly smile, "I'm sorry, Admiral." She squared her shoulders and gave her most professional look.
Ajeya's fury melted under her daughter's gaze, and when she turned to Saavik again her hostility had considerably lessened, even if it still shimmered in her eyes. Saavik breathed deeply to regain her Vulcan control, keeping all her strong emotions back in check. For several seconds, nobody said a word, and Ba'el and Raghnill exchanged wary looks wondering what was going to happen next.
Finally, Ajeya talked again, "Besides, this discussion is unnecessary." She stared down at Saavik, daring her to contradict her; wisely, Saavik kept quiet and she went on, "I struck a deal with the Jem'Hadar that I intend to keep. They had recorded a throughful report of what happened during their imprisonment in Cardassia. They are willing to allow a corpse of one of their fallen comrades to be examined by our doctors so their statement can be proven. They will leave the ship so we can tow it back to Romulus or destroy it." She hardly paused, drilling her gaze into Saavik's impassive features. "They will beam down to your ship if they have your word that you would return them to the Dominion. Apparently, they trust a Vulcan's word. Something they learned about your race."
There was an unmistakable disdain in that last sentence. Still, Saavik refrained her reaction. It was not logical to provoke further the volatile Romulan woman when she was giving her what she wanted. "The matter is settled, then."
"If would be nice if you gave me back the Firebird once the Jem'Hadar are in your ship," Ajeya had not forgotten that.
Neither had Saavik, "I said I would once this mission was successfully over, and it is not." The words flowed with a calm that none of them actually shared. "Koval has to be imprisoned for his crimes. Bring charges against him and be successful, and give me your word, and Raghnill's, that you will do everything in your power to avoid any of his wrong actions to be used by the Romulan Empire. Do so, and I'll give you the Firebird."
Ajeya fumed; she hated negotiating, she was too used to always get what she wanted. Furthermore, she disliked the mention of Raghnill. She could give her word and then do whatever she pleased, but if Raghnill pledged to do something, her sense of honor would oblige her. Then again, she could not return home without the Firebird, and she actually despised Koval's actions; she wanted nothing to do with him. It was not so hard to agree with the Starfleet officers.
After some hesitation, she conceded, "Ok, you have my word."
"Swear it formally," Saavik insisted.
Damned half-breed! Ajeya kept her curse to herself and aloud she did what Saavik asked. Then both turned to Raghnill. She looked at her mother dubitatively, with the same unasked questions in her mind. "Swear it, Raghnill," Ajeya indicated. And looking intently at her half-sister, Raghnill took her oath.
"We must contact Romulus as soon as possible," Raghnill reminded them next. "Before Koval does the same and our position is weakened."
"You are right, of course," Saavik agreed. "So we will leave you alone." Saavik started to rise, and so did Ba'el.
"One last question," Ajeya stilled both of them. She lowered her voice, softening it, "Are you satisfied, with what he said, about Hellguard?" She dragged her words out.
Saavik did not hesitate, "No. There are still too many unanswered questions."
"We may never get the answers. I will not mention Hellguard again. If asked, I'll say it was your personal quest, nothing that I care about," Ajeya clarified to her.
"Then what we know will have to suffice," Saavik coolly said, standing.
"His execution will have to suffice, you mean," Ajeya corrected her with a wicked grin.
Saavik's lips parted slightly in surprise, arching her eyebrows. She wondered if she was reading the hateful Romulan well and she was actually trying complicity with her. Only minutes ago, they have been about to fight each other, even to kill each other. Because of Hellguard. However, they both had faced Koval together, because of Hellguard too. Hellguard had made them bitter enemies; they would always be. She could never forget the horrible crimes she had witnessed, the ones she had been subjected to, and the ones she had been forced to commit just to survive another day without love or hope. She could never forgive Ajeya for being the direct responsible of that atrocities; after all, she had raped her father and then abandoned her to her fate. She was the victim and Ajeya was the aggressor. She had never expected Ajeya to hate Hellguard too, to hate her own accomplices and desire revenge with the same intensity she did. She had never expected Ajeya to consider herself another wronged victim seeking revenge; she obviously was not. And however, the old woman was looking intently at her now, talking about violent retribution, waiting to see if she shared the same blood thirst. Saavik felt sickened. She refused to answer her.
"We will leave now," she said coldly, and turned around.
Ba'el kept looking at Ajeya, watching her until Saavik was out of the door. Ajeya was not smiling anymore; she had a strange shine in her eyes that she could not identify.
"I will stay this time. My officers will lead you to the transporter room," Raghnill was saying as farewell. Ajeya said nothing.
Saavik was glad to be out of the room, away from Ajeya. She suppressed a sigh and walked purposely towards the exit. Her two security guards escorted them. One Romulan stood almost by their side, ready to lead the way if necessary; another one took the rear.
Saavik felt the strain in her mind. All the times they had talked before, when she had said Ajeya they had a common enemy, it had only been because she knew Ajeya was after him, but she had never really understood why. She had thought she had wanted every evidence of Hellguard removed, a practical reason, not an emotional one. But she had seen something different then, at that last moment, in those eyes drilling on her. Ajeya hated Hellguard and its consequences as much as her. And Saavik despised that discovery, as much as she despised her mother. Because she wanted nothing in common with her, not a single feeling, not a single thought; it was bad enough to know they were related by blood. And now she realized they shared something more, their hatred towards Hellguard. It was a devastating revelation.
Ajeya kept looking at the closed door once the Federation officers left. She finally reached down to touch her Honor Blade, and caressed its sheath. She could not believe she had had the hated hybrid in front of her and had let her go, after spending most of her life planning how to kill her. It would have been so easy…The only problem would have been explaining the High Command how it had happened, obviously she could not say the truth, and her situation right now was already too delicate to complicate it even more. So she had let her prey escape, without even giving it a try. Ajeya felt disgusted with herself, and with the damned Saavik. She had lied to her, she had tried to fool her playing the Vulcan, but she had seen how strong her emotions were, how she also strained to kill, just like her. And she felt… what did she feel? Pride? Shame? Denial?
"I'm very proud of you, mother," Raghnill was smiling fondly at her.
"I did nothing to be proud of, Raghnill," she harshly answered.
Ajeya concluded she did not feel pride, just the same pain, just the same anger, just the same void that opened in her very soul every time she thought of Hellguard. The sight of her cursed offspring only deepened that void; the reality of her existence only made everything more frightening. Next time, she vowed, she was going to kill her for once and for all, no matter what.
Raghnill was frowning, obviously disagreeing with her but not wanting to say it aloud. Ajeya wished Raghnill could understand and at the same time preferred she did not; she did not want to stain her daughter with the same terrible burden. So she willed her dark thoughts to retreat again to a corner of her mind and focused in her most pressing matter. She sighed aloud. "We have an important call to do," she somberly said.
"Let's hope justice prevails," Raghnill replied.
Ajeya smiled to her with love. Justice! Inwardly, she mocked the word. No, obviously, Raghnill would never understand.