Romulan Empire Log | Flickering Twilight Part 1 | Praetor Arrenhe t'Ahaefvthe

Posted on 241502.02 @ 3:57am by Praetor Arrenhe t'Ahaefvthe

Mission: Reconciliation & Reconstruction [Fleet Plot]
Location: Romulus
Timeline: Present

[Romulus, Ki Baratan]

“My, what a loathsome creature.”
“Is he really Merket?”
“Must be. They captured him on Tholia.”
“Captured gives Rehu too much credit- from I hear it was more like they were given him.”
“Sordid.”
Murmurs stirred in the great body of the Praetorate as a soot drenched and shackled Cardassian was pulled towards the center floor. A long strand of light from a half open curtain illuminated the creature’s pale features while the brightness forced him to look towards the floor. A gratifying yet entirely coincidental effect. Loud metallic rustling echoed through the chamber as one of the guards heavily jerked the choke chain forcing the stout Cardassian to his knees. Satisfied by the Cardassian’s plight a wave of nods reverberated through the audience of Praetors.

“My people will not sit still…” the threat left the Cardassian’s mouth as a hoarse whimper “Romulus will pay fo-“ Merket’s contemptuous tone ended abruptly when the onyx sole of a military boot met the back of his skull forcing him to grovel and roar in anguish as his head was pressed into the cold marble of the Praetorate’s floor.
“Guests do not speak until spoken to.” Senator tr’Nanclus’ voice rose over the abundant murmurings that seemed to have overtaken Praetorate.
Like a great bird unfurling its wings Arrenhe slowly rose from the center throne and took one step forward. It was amusing to her that this simple act could bring such a wave of silence into the room. The lavish energy that seemed to have afflicted the Praetors was now repressed into tense gazes. What was the Praetor going to do? Would she kill him now? She could easily read their expressions like text within a book. Kill him? No, that would be rude. Too easy. Why should they make things easy for such a vile creature?
“Let him be.” Arrenhe’s deep soprano voice echoed across the chamber as she gently made her way down to the center of the floor. It was now so deathly quiet that one could hear the rustle of her robe wrapping itself around her as she stopped. “Romulus has already paid Cardassian. Paid in the lives and blood of its citizens. As for your people, let us see...” Her eyes slowly gazed towards the rear audience where representatives of several interstellar governments sat until her eyes rested on a Cardassian woman “Ambassador?”
The Cardassian Ambassador fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat until she finally found a voice “the Cardassian government has no statement regarding this matter.”
“No statement?” Arrenhe smirked and nodded her head “I see. How disappointing it must be Merket. Your people…it seems they have abandoned you?”
A noticeable shiver seemed to course its way up the Cardassian’s spine. Fear? No. Anger. A vein on his ridged head suddenly appeared as he twisted around and grabbed at Arrenhe’s leg.
The Praetor easily sidestepped the maneuver as several of the guards rushed forward unsheathing their weapons only to be stopped by Arrenhe’s raised hand.
“Such defiance.” She murmured.
“Kill him!” One of the Praetor’s shouted causing to the chamber to stir with similar sentiment.

“The Federation objects.”
Silence once more descended upon the room. Arrenhe turned and found the source of the rude outburst and scowled at the Federation’s Bajoran Ambassador “Ambassador Po, you will have to clarify, unfortunately I barely heard you during the commotion.”
The Bajoran swallowed before straightening his posture until he appeared most haughty. “The Federation objects to this. We request that the Empire stay Merket’s execution and conduct a real trial for his crimes against both our peoples.”
“Ah, the Federation wants to assert its own sense of justice into this matter?” She lifted her finger and pointed towards the ceiling where a mural of giant Mogai loomed over the chamber “but we haven’t decided this man’s fate yet. You are right. He should pay for his crimes against both our people- but that payment cannot be met with your justice. We have generously given the Federation K’Pok. Ambassador, let us not be too greedy.” Her eyes narrowed as the temperature in the room seemed to chill a few degrees “kindly take your seat and do not interrupt me again.”
With a short hesitant nod the Ambassador quietly settled back into his seat.
“Bring it in.” She motioned to the archway leading into the meeting chamber where two guards walked in carrying a steel crate between them. When they reached the chamber’s center the guards released their grip allowing the crate to fall to the floor thunderously. “We will not publicly execute you. That would be too kind.” Her eyes met Ambassador Po again “and as the Federation has always chided us- execution does not offer real punishment since it does not give you adequate opportunity to honestly reflect over your crimes. So instead I have decided to look into my people’s history to find a suitable punishment.” Arrenhe reached out and pulled open the crate’s metallic lid. “Instead of removing your head on the Senate steps I have decided that you will be sealed in this box and placed in the Senate gardens. You will have plenty of time to reflect over your crimes against our people as you wallow and die in your own filth.”
Oh how loud he could scream. Arrenhe could feel her ears ring as the guards lifted up the Cardassian and dropped into the crate where he barely fit. Using their boots they literally stomped Merket’s stout figure fully inside and managed to shut the box just as she arrived back at her seat. Lowering herself gracefully into the throne she smiled. “It seems this matter is now concluded.”

“How interesting Praetor t’Ahaefvthe.”
Arrenhe’s smile evaporated as her eyes locked on the figure standing within the entrance archway. His hunched back was clearly visible even under his layers of charcoal robing as his hands perched atop a dark rosewood cane “who knew our Praetor could be so callous.” His voice was a high pitch gravely counter-tenor that always made Arrenhe want to flinch. The following laugh was as shrill as the loudest birdcalls on Romulus.
“Jwa. You are late. Is there something you wish to add?”
“Hm.” Slowly he sauntered in- a fragile antique of a time long passed who moved with careful cane steps that echoed loudly through the chamber as thunderous claps until he reached the center floor where he stopped. “Your creativity astonishes me Praetor and I am uplifted by your sincerity.” Jwa lifted his cane and slammed it into the steel crate “this creature deserves no less than the generosity you have met him with.”
“I appreciate your compliment Praetor tr’Vreenak.” Her eyes locked on his clouded irises. It was said that Jwa tr’Vreenak was partially blind and ever frail. Yet, Arrenhe could sense a rooted bloodlust hidden behind those clouds. Vreenak seemed as much a three hundred year old relic as he looked but Arrenhe suspected that façade shrewdly disguised a treacherous intellect. “However, we have concluded for today, unless you have something else you wish to add Vreenak?”
“I simply wanted to see what the fuss was about.” He smiled- a warm look that to Arrenhe bore an edge of sharpness to it.
“Then I conclude this meeting.” Arrenhe stood followed by the others. She started to head out with the group as the guards collected the crate but was stopped by a slight tug against her robe.
Turning she found Jwa standing in front of her. “Praetor, your brother. Is he well?”
"Yes."
"Ah, then it must be a sibling squabble I have heard about. Forget I asked." Another smile brought a chill to Arrenhe as he slowly turned away and sauntered out with the rest.
After the last silhouette disappeared past the flickering amber torchlight into the adjacent hall Arrenhe stood alone in the empty chamber. Looking towards the ceiling she wondered what Vreenak was referring to.

[To be continued...]