Mission: Time Regeneration (VES-A thread)
Sept 18, 2004 22:52:46 GMT
Post by majel on Sept 18, 2004 22:52:46 GMT
Ma`Jel : Well ? What did you find on the planet ?
The Romulan soldier was clearly afraid. He knew well enough that any bad news could be enough to cause the Commander to kill him where he stood. He chose his words carefully.
Soldier : Commander, we found the escape pod and brought it here. The log reveals little other than basic information. The survivor appeared to have vanished recently. Tracks were found however they ended at what appeared to have been a landslide. No remains were found despite extensive searches.
Ma`Jel was displeased and glared at him but held her temper.
Ma`Jel : What of the information from the pod ?
Soldier : Only confirmation that it was indeed from the Federation prisoners ship, and a brief personal log of the coward who had abandoned ship.
Ma`Jel raised her eyes accusingly at the soldier. From his demeanor she doubted if he would have stayed with his ship under the same circumstances. No matter. It was time Sonak talked once and for all. Ma`Jel ordered the soldier to leave and did not miss the obvious relief on his face.
She stayed at her desk for a few minutes, pondering what to do with Sonak. The Commanders Romulan superiors would not wait much longer. Finally Ma`Jel stood, and composed her mind then went to see Sonak.
As the door to Sonak`s quarters opened, Ma`Jel saw the prisoner looking at the holographic scenery. She seemed to be in a trance. Ma`Jel approached quietly and placed a hand on Sonak`s shoulder. Sonak did not move a muscle, seeming to be completely unaware of Ma`Jels presence. What had years of drugs done to this once proud Officer ? Were Ma`Jel capable of pity she would have felt it at that moment. She had admired Sonak over the years, her strength and courage in resisting all attempts to extract information. There was one last thing Ma`jel could try. Since bugging her quarters, she had heard snippets of taunts used by Shadow and now, it was time to use them. Gripping Sonak hard, she spun her away from the window and made her look into her eyes. Sonak took a few moments to register that Ma`jels face was only inches from hers, her jaw clenched.
Ma`Jel : Sonak, you must listen to me. I know of your children. It is true that they had escaped all those years ago but now....now they are in peril. Romulan agents found them. They have been taken to Romulus and are being held. I have word that unless you reveal what we need to know, they will be executed. Sonak. Do you understand ?
Sonak : My.....children...... They live ?
Sonaks eyes were half closed, as though she were barely concious, her shoulders sagged, face gaunt. Ma`Jel let go of her as Sonak started rambling incoherently, about children, old memories she was not sure were really hers. Sonak stumbled clumsily to a table then placed her hands on it, her back to Ma`Jel. The Commander realised she finally had to admit defeat. If Sonak had held information, she was clearly incapable of remembering it. It was time she was put out of her misery. What a shame her last thoughts would be a lie. Her children were not prisoners at all, the bluff had failed. Ma`Jel slowly walked up behind Sonak, readying her disruptor. Her respect for Sonak caused to do something uncustomary. She would not gloat as she killed her. She would tell her goodbye, like an old friend. She would promise to have the offspring freed. Sonak need not know Ma`Jel had lied, but at least she would die believing they would be saved after she was gone.
Ma`Jel : Sonak, my dear, you know it is time ?
Sonak : Time....it is....my time.
Very slowly, Sonak inched around to face Ma`Jel. She would not die hiding her eyes from what was to come she said. Ma`Jel allowed Sonak this last request, admired her courage at this closing event in her life.
Just as she was about to fire, Ma`Jel gasped then looked at Sonaks face. Gone was the delirious fog, her eyes were sharp and focused, but with no feeling there.
Ma`Jel looked down at her stomach and saw Sonaks hand, holding a hypospray against her. She felt dizzy and weak, she did know know what was happening to her. Sonak stepped back and then Ma`Jel understood. While Sonak had been turned from her, she had keyed in the code on the tables edge, and opened a small drawer which held several drugs. Sonak must have watched Shadow, learned the code, then, when it was believed she was incapable of thinking at all, she had loaded a cocktail into the hypo ready to use it at the first opportunity.
Sonak watched impassively as Ma`Jel stumbled backward, and saw the Romulans eyes losing their focus.
Ma`Jel :: hoarsly :: So...Sonak, you have....won......
Seconds later, her eyes closed and she fell to the floor, then her breathing stopped. Sonak stood over the body for several minutes before dragging Ma`jels lifeless form to the bed which she had painstakingly dismantled enough to provide a hiding place, unceremoniously shoved her in and replaced the last panel, then returned to the window, looking out once again, back to her apparently trance like state.
The Romulan soldier was clearly afraid. He knew well enough that any bad news could be enough to cause the Commander to kill him where he stood. He chose his words carefully.
Soldier : Commander, we found the escape pod and brought it here. The log reveals little other than basic information. The survivor appeared to have vanished recently. Tracks were found however they ended at what appeared to have been a landslide. No remains were found despite extensive searches.
Ma`Jel was displeased and glared at him but held her temper.
Ma`Jel : What of the information from the pod ?
Soldier : Only confirmation that it was indeed from the Federation prisoners ship, and a brief personal log of the coward who had abandoned ship.
Ma`Jel raised her eyes accusingly at the soldier. From his demeanor she doubted if he would have stayed with his ship under the same circumstances. No matter. It was time Sonak talked once and for all. Ma`Jel ordered the soldier to leave and did not miss the obvious relief on his face.
She stayed at her desk for a few minutes, pondering what to do with Sonak. The Commanders Romulan superiors would not wait much longer. Finally Ma`Jel stood, and composed her mind then went to see Sonak.
As the door to Sonak`s quarters opened, Ma`Jel saw the prisoner looking at the holographic scenery. She seemed to be in a trance. Ma`Jel approached quietly and placed a hand on Sonak`s shoulder. Sonak did not move a muscle, seeming to be completely unaware of Ma`Jels presence. What had years of drugs done to this once proud Officer ? Were Ma`Jel capable of pity she would have felt it at that moment. She had admired Sonak over the years, her strength and courage in resisting all attempts to extract information. There was one last thing Ma`jel could try. Since bugging her quarters, she had heard snippets of taunts used by Shadow and now, it was time to use them. Gripping Sonak hard, she spun her away from the window and made her look into her eyes. Sonak took a few moments to register that Ma`jels face was only inches from hers, her jaw clenched.
Ma`Jel : Sonak, you must listen to me. I know of your children. It is true that they had escaped all those years ago but now....now they are in peril. Romulan agents found them. They have been taken to Romulus and are being held. I have word that unless you reveal what we need to know, they will be executed. Sonak. Do you understand ?
Sonak : My.....children...... They live ?
Sonaks eyes were half closed, as though she were barely concious, her shoulders sagged, face gaunt. Ma`Jel let go of her as Sonak started rambling incoherently, about children, old memories she was not sure were really hers. Sonak stumbled clumsily to a table then placed her hands on it, her back to Ma`Jel. The Commander realised she finally had to admit defeat. If Sonak had held information, she was clearly incapable of remembering it. It was time she was put out of her misery. What a shame her last thoughts would be a lie. Her children were not prisoners at all, the bluff had failed. Ma`Jel slowly walked up behind Sonak, readying her disruptor. Her respect for Sonak caused to do something uncustomary. She would not gloat as she killed her. She would tell her goodbye, like an old friend. She would promise to have the offspring freed. Sonak need not know Ma`Jel had lied, but at least she would die believing they would be saved after she was gone.
Ma`Jel : Sonak, my dear, you know it is time ?
Sonak : Time....it is....my time.
Very slowly, Sonak inched around to face Ma`Jel. She would not die hiding her eyes from what was to come she said. Ma`Jel allowed Sonak this last request, admired her courage at this closing event in her life.
Just as she was about to fire, Ma`Jel gasped then looked at Sonaks face. Gone was the delirious fog, her eyes were sharp and focused, but with no feeling there.
Ma`Jel looked down at her stomach and saw Sonaks hand, holding a hypospray against her. She felt dizzy and weak, she did know know what was happening to her. Sonak stepped back and then Ma`Jel understood. While Sonak had been turned from her, she had keyed in the code on the tables edge, and opened a small drawer which held several drugs. Sonak must have watched Shadow, learned the code, then, when it was believed she was incapable of thinking at all, she had loaded a cocktail into the hypo ready to use it at the first opportunity.
Sonak watched impassively as Ma`Jel stumbled backward, and saw the Romulans eyes losing their focus.
Ma`Jel :: hoarsly :: So...Sonak, you have....won......
Seconds later, her eyes closed and she fell to the floor, then her breathing stopped. Sonak stood over the body for several minutes before dragging Ma`jels lifeless form to the bed which she had painstakingly dismantled enough to provide a hiding place, unceremoniously shoved her in and replaced the last panel, then returned to the window, looking out once again, back to her apparently trance like state.