Chapter 55: Flight
A/N: Hi romulanlover, thanks for your review! Parem definitely has sinister ideas concerning Asha. And yes, he knows about Asha's medical information (as he was also responsible for her kidnapping and putting her through medical exams). He's also, as you suggested, a stalker. Due to their isolationist nature and propaganda, the Tal Shiar (in my storyline) will get their information on the sly and will become confrontational if under threat or if they have made up their minds about kidnapping someone and abusing them for their purpose.
Hi Alaya Karangalan, hope all is well with you! Star Trek: Picard has started, and it's so frustrating that I can't view it from here, but I'm reading up on episode recaps and I'll buy the DVDs once they're out.
Yes, Asha believes that empires rise and fall. Looking at our own history and how the Roman empire rose and fell (and on which Romulus is based) inspired that sentence which Asha said to Vreenak. Sela won't be making an appearance, but the Tal Shiar will be stirring up enough trouble without her as it is. In my story, the duplicitous Hiren and power-hungry Neral are involved in the Tal Shiar's plans. As for Letant getting a Human mate, I think I'll write a separate story for him :-) Vreenak is indeed very conflicted, given his feelings for Asha and his loyalty towards his superiors…
The day a Romulan who had mysteriously vanished several months ago turned up in the middle of Romulus, metal implants covering his body, would be a day which would go down in Romulan history as one of the most shameful days since the Sundering.
It was a normal day, or as normal as was possible for Romulans living in a paranoid society under a government promoting distrust, and people were going their normal routines. Asha had returned from the outskirts of Romulus where she had been booked for another wedding, Thorek was supervising exams, Christine and Vekal were relaxing at a love spa, Letant and Vreenak were discussing politics at Letant's villa.
And then, at one of the markets, a figure pushed its way through the shoppers, grabbed a Romulan fruit seller by the neck and thrust tubules into his throat. Panic and pandemonium took over. Some Romulans fled, but others remained to help the fruit seller. The monstrosity, however, effortlessly knocked them out and proceeded to inject them with its tubules, holding its wrist to their throats. Finally, several guards bearing the insignia of the Tal Shiar burst onto the scene and after much firing of disruptors, placed the assailant and victims into a pile on the ground and beamed them and themselves away.
The news spread like wildfire, and it was official: Romulan Intelligence was experimenting with Borg technology – not only on imprisoned people from other planets, such as Humans, Ferengi, Vulcans, Bajorans and Tholians, but also with their own people. The purpose was to build an army of the kind no one had ever seen – Borg hybrids engineered by Romulan-Borg technology. For this purpose, prisoners of child-bearing age were being sought; preferably among Romulans whose social status was considered the bottom of Romulan social hierarchy. The disappearance of an important Romulan would, of course, be all over the news. Kidnapping a farmer or fisherman would go practically unnoticed.
As the day passed, more news seeped out: Romulans arrested for small trivial offences like in the case of a poor widowed farmer stealing some vegetables during one of the festivals to feed three hungry mouths back home, or a young woman who was arrested for staying past the closing hours in a tavern.
The former was forced to impregnate the latter, then both were experimented upon with Borg implants. Nanoprobes were injected into the foetus. The mother died in childbirth, the infant was harvested and given technology to force-grow it at an abnormal rate until it, too, died, an abomination of Borg-Romulan technology.
Asha and Christine were under shock, realising what could have happened if they had been found to procreate naturally. Furthermore, several arrests were made over the next days, from journalists who spread the news to innocent bystanders who had witnessed the event at the marketplace. Thorek and Vekal feared for their wives, and insisted that they stay at home.
Asha and Christine, for their part, feared for their husbands, and Asha was also deeply worried about Vreenak and Letant, especially when she received a short note from Vreenak asking her not to contact him until she received a message from him.
The events were also hurting business: Asha's poetry bookings were cancelled one after the other, and Thorek was sure that many unfriendly eyes were watching him at the Department of Astrophysics where he worked.
Then a message from Vice-Chairman Parem arrived, asking, or rather demanding Asha to come down to the Tal Shiar headquarters, where he wished to discuss "an interesting proposal" with her. In three days, his guards would arrive to pick her up and escort her to the very place where she had been locked up in prison.
Thorek was at work when she received the message, but Kihika was there, and when she saw the expression on Asha's face, she rushed to her mistress's side.
"My Lady! What is it?" she exclaimed.
"Death," Asha said calmly, handing the PADD to her. Kihika read it and set down the PADD briskly. She looked Asha in the eye.
"Ihhei, you must contact Deihu tr'Vreenak."
"He has asked me not to message him until he writes to me. I would place his life at stake," Asha said.
"Then message Deihu tr'Letant."
"Kihika, anyone I message will be in danger," Asha protested, tears in her eyes. "I cannot endanger those I love. And what about you? You are in danger, too!"
"Romulans prepare their lives to face danger, Ihhei. We are warriors. We do not fear death for causes we deem justifiable. And if most Humans are like you, then they are a courageous and decisive people, and you must decide quickly now."
Asha nodded. "You're right. I'll inform Deihu tr'Letant."
Letant leapt to his feet when he received Asha's message. Knowing the Tal Shiar, the three days they had given her would be half the time, and the appointment was her death sentence. As it was, Romulans were starting to rise in mutiny against the repressive tactics of the Tal Shiar, and Praetor Neral was hitting back with the aid of the atrocities the Tal Shiar had created in their secret laboratories. Developments were coming in thick and fast.
Letant got into his flitter and took the wheel himself. He rushed over to Vreenak's main residence, not bothering about the traffic lights. When he arrived, he was received by Rovuxo, who led him inside the hall.
Vreenak rose from his chair, raising his eyebrows. Letant didn't waste any time greeting him. He thrust his PADD into Vreenak's hand.
"Asha is in danger," he said without preamble. Vreenak perused the message, then turned his back on him.
"The Vice-Chairman's orders need to be followed. I am ordering you," he said coldly, "to go forth with the arrangements we discussed."
"We have discussed many arrangements. Which ones are you referring to?"
"Have Ihhei tr'Darak arrested. She is a traitor. I have received intelligence from Vice-Chairman Parem." He held up a PADD.
All colour vanished from Letant's face. "I cannot recall discussing such an arrangement with you. Are you working together with the Vice-Chairman?"
"While I am no longer employed by the Tal Shiar, I cooperate with them occasionally. It was late at night when we discussed arresting Ihhei t'Darak, so it must have undoubtedly slipped your mind."
Letant's eyebrows drew together in confusion and anger.
"Did you not refer to Asha as your mate and beloved?" he hissed.
"Yes, I did, but the Empire I serve has the last word."
"Asha Sen t'Darak has not committed any crime I am aware of!" Letant protested, staring at him, aware that something very strange was going on.
"Delon, I serve the Empire first and foremost, as do you. I give my life to the Romulan state, as do you. I believe I am doing what is right for the future of our planet, as do you. Don't seek to dissuade me or question the Vice-Chairman of the Tal Shiar, a position I once held myself. Have her arrested. She will ruin my career and plans, and thus prevent me from contributing to the greatness of the Empire."
He waved a hand around the room. "You are admiring the lagga blossoms, I see. Vice-Proconsul Hiren had them delivered to me a few days ago. Are they not beautiful?"
He reached for a lagga bloom in the vase and stroked a petal. A rathak was clinging to it.
Letant immediately understood. Their eyes met.
"I'll be on my way to arrest her," he said, and they went out the door.
They embraced fiercely on the threshold and Letant whispered to him: "I'll do what I can to aid her."
"Tell her I love her. Please see to her safety." His voice shook slightly, and his eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"I will, my friend. I will."
Behind Vreenak's back, Rovuxo smiled slightly. It was not a kind smile.
Asha had been mulling over whether she should send a message to her husband but fearing that she might unwittingly endanger him when Letant drew up in his flitter. He was alone, without guards.
There was no mischief in Letant's face as she walked towards him. Urgency and hardness were in his eyes, and he was pale. "I am taking you to my colleague and friend Senator Kimara Cretak. She is completely trustworthy and an honourable woman."
Fear sprung up in her face. She knew something was amiss. "Senator Cretak suggested that I apply for Romulan citizenship and she was my examiner. She encouraged me with my book. I owe her a great deal. I'll come with you. But what about my deyyhan? How will he know? May I message him? Will he join me? Will he be safe? And Kihika? My friends? Christine and Vekal? Everyone else in the house? They'll be in danger, too!"
"You have one hour to pack what you can. I will ensure that your other possessions are seen to and that the house staff is brought to safety. Use this to message your husband and friends."
He handed her a PADD.
"Thank you. May I message Merken, too?"
"Yes, but hurry, Asha, and don't mention to anyone where you are going."
She nodded.
"Merken told me to tell you that he loves you."
Her eyes shone with tears. "I love him, too."
"I know, my girl. Now hurry and come with me when you are ready."
She reached out and pressed his hand. "Thank you, Delon."
He squeezed her hand back.
Kihika, who had been listening to the whole conversation, had become just as pale as Letant.
"My Lady, I will help you."
She rushed upstairs. Fifteen minutes later, Kihika's wife Vereth emerged at the back of the house, her trousers stained with grass. She had not dared to use the front door in case it was being watched. The two Romulan women looked at Asha, who had already managed to fill a suitcase with some clothes.
"We are coming with you," Vereth announced fiercely.
"Kihika, Vereth, you can't! Your families, they'll be so worried! And-"
"They know. You are in danger, and we will not abandon you," Kihika said firmly, taking Asha's hand in hers. "You are our family, too. Even if I had not sworn to the Senator to protect you, I would have done so."
Asha hugged both of them to her, almost in tears; but there was no time for crying, and together they managed to get the most important luggage ready while Letant arranged for their flight. Lilou immediately realised that something was amiss. Intelligent as she was, she contributed by gathering articles within her reach, carrying medical devices and PADDs in her mouth, including a copy of Asha's book.
Asha also packed in a set of Thorek's robes, pressing her face into them before placing them neatly into one of the suitcases – one of the very same ones which had accompanied her during her unplanned trip to Romulus and also to Mirek. She placed a bangle on his side of the bed as a message that he was always in her mind and that she loved him, and she messaged the people close to her using the PADD Letant had given her.
Finally, as they left, Asha turned and gazed at the villa which was her home, feeling with sudden certainty that it would be a long time, maybe even the last time, she would ever see it. Only too clearly did she remember what had happened to Christine and Vekal's neighbours and their property. Already she could see the sign "This building is the property of the Tal Shiar" stuck to the gate and front door. She felt terror in her heart as she thought of her loved ones. Her lips trembled. "Thorek," she whispered. She longed to bury herself in his arms. But Lilou pushed firmly at her ankle, and Letant took her hand.
"Asha, come!" he hissed urgently. She obeyed and walked briskly, her head up and expression grim and determined.
Letant led them out in the dark and to the edge of the woods. It took almost an hour by foot, and not once did Letant and Asha let go of each other's hands. Asha was scared, but she summoned all the self-control she possessed. She was with her friends and not alone running for her life, and she felt deeply grateful. She knew they were putting themselves in serious danger for her sake. Lilou was completely silent, but her eyes and body posture showed that she was on the alert. Once, she growled briefly, stood on her hind legs and pulled at Letant's tunic. Letant immediately stopped and led them away from the path.
"Lie down and don't move until I say so!" he whispered, and with a small device in his hand, he drew up a temporary cloaking shield over them. Asha pressed her chin into the grass and saw two shadows pass in their vicinity, undoubtedly Romulans to judge from their silhouettes. They waited for a bit, then Lilou barked softly and stirred, giving them the all-clear. As soon as she moved, the cloak collapsed, for it was extremely sensitive to movement. They got up and continued until Letant paused and looked around. He guided them to a hut and down a long flight of stairs. The air grew chilly. They were underground.
A flitter was parked outside. A young Romulan man was waiting for them. He let them inside and sped through what seemed a maze of countless underground corridors. Asha had heard about reunification groups hiding in Romulus's underground, and she wondered how much Cretak was involved with them.
Finally, they came to a stop, and they all got out. The young man led them up many stairs, then through side alleys, down and up more stairs, and at last they climbed into what seemed to be a well-lit cellar of a Romulan villa. Their guide pressed the button of a panel and said: "They have arrived."
