By Felicia Ferguson
Insert usual and customary disclaimer here.
Author's Note: We're almost back to real-time. Thanks for hanging with me so far!
Feedback: If the chapter moves you, feel free. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Then
6/7
It was a poker game. Every interaction Riker had had with the Romulans to date resulted in a bluff and a call. Why should the peace talks have been any different? After all, as his grandfather had said, leopards don't just up and change their spots over night. Still it would have been damned convenient if they did.
"Praetor Tal'Aura, while I appreciate your position, you must understand, the Federation deems this non-negotiable." Riker leaned forward and rested his arms on the oblong meeting table. "We must be assured that any remaining crew members from the Enterprise C are allowed to return to their home planets. If there are none alive, then proof of their deaths must be obtained and verified by a Federation doctor." The negotiations up until then had been progressing smoothly, but Riker had known this item would be met with great reluctance. As expected, the praetor balked.
"Captain, I must say that I am shocked by your insinuations." Tal'Aura rose, ostensibly to refill her cup of water, but in reality needing the time to gather her thoughts and form plausible excuses. "What evidence do you have that any survivors were brought to Ch'Rihan?"
Riker smothered his derisive snort. "Commander Sela's existence. She openly admitted that her mother was one of several survivors that were brought to Romulus. Tasha Yar agreed to marry one of your generals -- Sela's father -- in order to spare the remaining members of the crew from execution. I need no further proof than that."
Sela. Would that blasted woman never leave her alone? Having been caught in the lie, Tal'Aura nonetheless maintained her composure and inclined her head. "Very well, I will agree to look into the matter, but will make no promises as to the outcome. It is very likely that any other survivors are dead -- of course, due to natural causes."
"Of course," the captain replied, his infamous poker face intact. There would be no records citing any other circumstance beyond death from natural causes, but he was required, and in truth needed, to ask. Sela's existence had stunned the Enterprise command crew. They had witnessed Tasha's death, had participated in her memorial ceremony, had each said their good-byes to a fallen comrade. Then to discover that somehow she had crossed over from a parallel universe into their own…it was enough to open more than just old wounds.
Tal'Aura glanced at the chronometer in the console. "It is late, Captain, Commander, and I'm certain we could all use some rest. Why don't we reconvene in the morning at 0900?"
"That's an excellent idea, Praetor. I hope by then you have some good news regarding the Enterprise C crew."
"As do I, Captain."
The trio rose from the table and Tal'Aura gestured to the guards through the glass for the doors to be opened. Ramirez stepped into the room, carefully surveying the scene before answering Riker's nod. In low tones, the lieutenant contacted the Titan requesting beam out.
"Oh, Praetor, before we leave," Riker said as Troi moved to join the security officer. "A few years ago, the Enterprise rescued a Romulan admiral by the name of Jarok. He committed suicide when he learned that the information the Empire had leaked to him was false. But, before he died, he wrote a letter to his wife and daughter. At the time, there was no way to send it to Romulus. I'd like to give it to you to pass along; I hope his family may find some comfort in his words."
Tal'Aura took the proffered data padd and scanned through the address. After a moment, she replied, "I knew the family and I'm sorry to report that they died some time ago. I do thank you for returning it, though."
Riker sighed and nodded. "It was worth a try." He turned to Troi and Ramirez then tapped his commbadge. "Titan, three to beam up." The air shimmered a moment later and they were gone.
With a jerk of her head, Tal'Aura dismissed the guards and sank back down into her chair. Her unfocused gaze stared across the room, back in time. Jarok's family had died. But not by the means she had allowed Riker to suppos. When news of Jarok's deception spread to the homeworld, his wife and daughter had fled their home. It was only by the kindness of his wife's clansmen that the two had been allowed to live.
Two more unwitting victims of the desire for peace.
Tal'Aura turned her gaze to the padd, read the words of a dead man and a single tear slipped down her cheek. "Papa."
***
"Whoever said poker was like life had to have met the Romulans," Riker murmured as the Away Team stepped down from the transporter padd. Ramirez moved immediately to T'Noth, who had been waiting for them in the transporter room.
Deanna smiled, absorbing the analogy, as she paused beside Riker. "It certainly was an interesting game. And to think that Worf was called 'The Ice Man.' I don't think I've ever seen you play the game any cooler. My congratulations, Captain."
Her husband flashed her a brief smile as he watched the security chief debrief the lieutenant. "Must be all that practice on the Enterprise."
"Unfortunately, no matter how well you played the game, I don't think this hand is over yet." The counselor lowered her voice as she continued, "Tal'Aura still isn't telling you everything. It was strange. When you mentioned Commander Sela, the praetor's emotional plane spiked for a moment."
Riker nodded, his mind turning that tidbit of information over and over. "Commander T'Noth, I'd like you to check into something for me."
***
The door to the praetor's apartments slid open soundlessly. Tal'Aura sat, muttering to herself, on the long couch at one side of the room. A tingle of forewarning skittered up her spine; she knew who had slipped through the securities. It was of little consequence. Tal'Aura was, after all, the praetor and as such, her cousin wouldn't dare do anything untoward. "I thought I told you to stay away from me while the Federation is here."
"No, you said stay away from the Senate," Sela's mocking voice bit through the cool evening air. "There's a difference. Besides, it's not as if they will be interested in who visits you at home. They trust you, remember?"
"Until the talks are over, no place is safe for the two of us to meet." Tal'Aura rose and poured a glass of ale. Without looking at her cousin for confirmation, she emptied the rest of the bottle which resulted in half a glass and held it out. Sela took it and sat down on the couch.
The preator took a sip of her drink and allowed her assessing gaze to fall on the commander. After taking a moment to properly savor the ale, she continued, "I suppose it doesn't really matter, though. This Captain Riker has made no demands that I cannot live with so I think an agreement will be reached soon."
Sela stifled her surprise and managed to look bored. "Truly? Interesting."
"Yes, it appears the people and my father will get what they want."
The idea that it might not be the best thing for the Empire drifted between them, but the thought went unsaid. They both knew the other's view and to rehash it was to waste time. It had always been thus between them, even as children. A silent agreement to disagree. Yet, rather than strengthening their friendship, it made them trust each other even less.
Sela nodded once and set her half-finished drink aside. "Very well then, cousin. It seems I am to commend you." Her lips lifted in a smile that did not warm her green eyes. "Good night."
It was hours after she left before Tal'Aura realized that Sela hadn't reported on the state of the fleet.
***
The door to Sela's quarters on the Reman Warbird slid silently behind her. Only now did she allow the fullness of her rage to erupt. "Eneh hwau' kllhwnia na imirrhlhhse," she cursed, slamming a fist into the bulkhead. She heard the sickening crunch of bones breaking and relished in the pain that throbbed through her. She harnessed it, lashing it to her anger, bolstering her resolve.
If the talks had fallen through, if Tal'Aura had been stronger. If. If. There was no time for if's now. The time had come to finish Shinzon's work. But not for him. For herself, for her father. Mnhei'sahe, their personal honor, deserved no less.
Sela took in a steadying breath. "Subcommander Raleus, ready the fleet. We launch within the hour on my command." A satisfied smirk slipped over her lips as she sat behind her desk and pulled up a file on the console. The bright blue of a Federation communication code flashed on screen. She had been saving it for a rainy day, and today it was pouring. "Well, Captain Riker, unbeknownst to you, you're about to start a war."
***
...to be continued...soon... :-)