Unpleasant conversations
Posted on Sun Aug 25th, 2024 @ 11:32am by Commander Rovak & Llaudh Drusilla Creon
Edited on on Wed Aug 28th, 2024 @ 3:48am
1,003 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
DownTime [1]
Location: Romulan Embassy, DS13
Timeline: 1405 Hours - MD01
Drusilla waited calmly and without assistance in the lobby of the Free State's embassy, wearing one of her less elaborate robes. Other than the girl who worked the desk, and the security team no doubt watching on scanners, she was alone as she waited for the station's commander. She had not relished her contact with the Vulcan Rovak so far, her choices had complicated their shared history. Now, he came to interrogate her about her daughter, to seek answers she did not have about the salvation Rhianha had provided them all. She did not want to be there, but she knew it was her duty.
Rovak entered a few seconds before he was scheduled, he gave a nod to the single guard outside, but the Romulan did not acknowledge him. He moved to a polite and audible distance from the ambassador before he began. "Llaudh Creon, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Please allow me to apologise again for my intrusion into your quarters. The situation was such that even a moment wasted may have meant the deaths of all aboard."
"As you made clear when you intruded. I have logged no objection with your government, Commander. But do not make a habit of it." Drusilla responded with a neutral Vulcan affect.
"Where may we speak?" Rovak asked. He looked past the Ambassador to the woman behind the desk, seeming like her attention was elsewhere, but in truth she was watching closely. He began to formulate doubts about her loyalty to the free state, and made a mental note to see what they had on her later.
"Please follow me." Drusilla said flatly, leading Rovak into the atrium, and through one of the far doors into the lounge and bar. She took a seat on one of the far couches, and gestured for Rovak to take the one opposite. A young woman from behind the bar brought her a cup of hot tea that smelled of passionfruit, leaving it on the table. She did not acknowledge Rovak and moved for the exit, leaving them alone in the room. Slow, gentle Romulan plucked string music played quietly, holographic views of Romulus' Valdore coast were visible out the window.
"Allow me to save you some time. I don't know why Rhianha knew what she knew, and either does she. I suggest we take the victory and move on." Creon told the Commander, taking a sip of her tea.
"I would like her to have a conversation with one of our counselors. Nothing formal, nothing rigorous, just a conversation." Rovak told the Ambassador.
"Out of the question." Creon said simply. "She will not be compelled to let your psychiatrists infiltrate her mind."
"Failing that, I will need to request that one of our Doctors gives her a non-invasive exam. If that cannot be organised, the Federation may need to request she be lodged elsewhere." Rovak said.
"Her medical records are on file. They were sufficient for your diplomatic corps when they approved my posting." Creon countered.
"We cannot have someone aboard with greater technical knowledge of the station and its features than we ourselves have." Rovak folded his hands in front of him. "We do not ask a lot, Ambassador."
"You ask that my daughter be given to your scientists for study. She is a Romulan citizen." Creon was not having it, and took another sip of her tea.
"Your daughter is aboard a starfleet station. That cannot continue if there is a risk. Admiral Singh and Starfleet Command have made as much clear." Rovak stated firmly, but calmly.
Drusilla set her teacup down, and looked out the window for a moment, letting out a sigh. "I will allow her to have a single conversation with one of your counselors. But I will be present. And I reserve the right to veto the counselor."
"That should prove acceptable. Ayol will contact the embassy to organise a time." Rovak said placing his hands flat on the table.
"I would prefer not to have dealings with the Vorta. I question its loyalties." Creon said sharply.
"Your view will be taken into consideration. If I may ask, Ambassador. How do you think that Rhianha knew what she knew? What do you think could be going on here?" Rovak asked, hoping to get some frankness from the woman, but not expecting much.
"I'll get to the point. I carried Rhianha, and in every conventional sense I am her mother, but she is not my genetic descendant. She is a clone of me, altered by my father to be his assassin and servant. Much like the Rhianha Creon who served the Empire aboard Starbase 51. This place was designed by the Romulans, even if it was using Federation plans. Perhaps she was born with deeply entrenched knowledge of this station and many other varieties of Romulan technology. Perhaps she's a scientific genius, she has always been bright." Drusilla confessed.
"If she is augmented, further tests may be required." Rovak said, though he knew well it was unenforceable.
"You will get your conversation, Rovak. Do not push your luck. I will bite, kick and scream to protect my daughter's privacy, it is her sacrosanct right as a citizen of the free state." Creon took the final sip of her tea, and placed it down. "Will that be all, then?"
"Thank you for your time, Llaudh Creon. Jolan Tru." Rovak got up from the table and left.
"Jolan tru." Drusilla responded coldly. She remained where she was for a few minutes after Rovak was gone. She felt a cold, consuming feeling, the kind she hadn't felt since her father was alive. A repressive anxiety at the thought of him and his works. Smashing her teacup against the floor was all she could do to keep from screaming.
She found a custodial kit to collect the cup and deatomised the shards into the replicator stores before returning to her private quarters, to discuss what was coming with her daughter.
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