The Path Not Taken: An Unwelcome Guest (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 16 May 2024 @ 7:33pm by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala & Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor

3,494 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, Earth
Timeline: Early 2396

Previously on ...

Sera leaned in again, her eyes dilating in an instinctual manner as she focused on Vialluh. “And what were your desires that so readily aligned with his?” The smoothness of the delivery belied the predatory gleam in her eyes.

"That," Vialluh said as she continued to smile, "is between him and I." She sensed that this one could quite easily be baited into doing something… unwise. That would not be conducive to the grander plan, of course, but it was tempting.

"But you can be assured they were purely… professional," she flashed her teeth a little, "As I said he has been quite the gentleman."

Sera said nothing, for she did not trust her response. She dipped her head slowly in a non-verbal acknowledgement that Vialluh spoke and slowly rose to standing. Tilting her head, Sera heard the crunch of footfalls up the path to the house and she slowly walked to the front door and pulled it open just as Montgomery was raising his hand to open the door on his own.

“Oh!” He exclaimed, giving a slightly odd look to his mate, “S’Ers-a, e’lev, is everything well?”

Sera’s rage melted at seeing Montgomery standing before her. Relief poured through her. She could have literally cried seeing him and wanted nothing more than to step into his arms and rub her cheek against his neck. Hand twitching, Sera almost reached out her fingers in ozh’esta but did not trust the steadiness of her fingertips. It would open up guileless questions that she did not feel comfortable answering, especially not with company.

“You have a guest.” Sera said as a greeting.

And Now the Conclusion...

[ON]

Vala peered inside beyond her and saw Vialluh sitting in the central area. She gave him a little wave and a smile. This was not good.

“Oh how… unexpected,” he said as he stepped into the room proper, “Vialluh… what brings you to our abode?” He glared at the Trill so S’Ers-a could not see, but kept his voice light.

“I heard you were back Earthside and I thought, that Montgomery Vala is such a pleasant fellow I should really look him up,” she met his gaze intently and grinned, “So I did.”

Sera grit her teeth and was almost successful in keeping the territorial growl at bay…mostly. The additional kali-fal was–in hindsight–a mistake. Her head was still swimming, and now with baser instincts aroused…was this the ‘Vulcan Heart’ that her teachers had warned her against during their lessons on following Surak’s teachings?

“You are quite fortunate, adun. She was telling me how the two of you are such good…friends. I have never heard you speak of her. Curious.”

Aggression flowed like the over-abundant waters of this planet, and her ‘ire’ liquidly shifted to Montgomery.

“Viruk had a good friend too. I met her at graduation from the academy. She was quite lovely.” Sera’s eyes flickered over to Vialluh and then back to Montgomery’s. “She was not impressed with me either. Called me…’cold.’”

Vala opened his mouth to reply, but no words emerged. The mention of her former mate was… unusual. What had Vialluh been saying to her?

Sera shifted her gaze from Montgomery to the kitchen doorway. “Please sit, Montgomery. Visit with your guest. She has come a long way to ‘look you up.’ I will prepare tea for you.”

Awkwardly sitting, he watched as S'Ers-a disappeared into the kitchen. It was quite evident that the Trill had been trying to provoke her.

"So, friend," he gave the word appropriately negative emphasis, "what an unexpected visit. Are you here for any reason beyond a house call?”

Vialluh maintained an easy smile, "Oh Montgomery," she never called him that, but the whole act was quite entertaining, "Nothing more. I just happened to be in Japan and thought, it's been far too long since I've checked in on my local Romulan," she let out a small laugh. "And I got to meet your wife. She is quite… lovely," she eyed the almost empty kali-fal bottle.

"Indeed," he responded in a terse tone, "Well we had many… plans for this evening so I am afraid you caught us at a bad time. It will have to be a short visit." He narrowed his eyes.

"Oh I had not intended to stay for long," she continued to smile, but dropped her volume and continued in a soft tone, her eyes glinting, "I just wanted to remind you that I am never far away."

Vala narrowed his eyes, "I am so reminded." A chill ran down his spine. He did not like this game, whatever it was. He glanced at the kitchen. He did not like being alone with this woman. Hopefully S'Ers-a would return soon.

–

Sera walked to the cutting table and placed her hands on the edge of it and lowered her head. By the Old Gods, what was going on here? The urge to do murder to the female in the main room with her mate. Her. Mate. Hers!

She pushed away from the table with a choked growl. Tea. Sera said she would bring tea. Perhaps also the cleaver? Would she need a weapon? Did she want one?

–

The severely dressed Vulcan stepped through the doorway curtain holding a tray with a single cup upon it, and walked purposefully over to where Montgomery was sitting and slowly lowered herself to her knees. Placing the small lacquered tray down on the tatami mat, she carefully reached over to the handleless cup which held a ruddy-colored steaming liquid and picked it up with two hands and held it outstretched to him, dipping her head so that her eyes were parallel to the floor in a respectful bow.

Vialluh watched the ritual as it unfolded. It was a ridiculous figment of trumped up tradition. Laughable really. What was this woman hoping to prove? The Trill smiled to herself and enjoyed observing how easily she'd gotten to Sera.

Vala received the tea, unsure as to why his mate was engaging in such a level of formality. What had Vialluh said to her? "You honour me, e'lev, as always," he said softly before taking a deep sip. He lowered the cup and presented it to S'Ers-a. The whole scene felt faintly wrong. He did not like it being observed.

Sera pulled herself upright as she watched him drink the tea. Mine, mine, mine her inner voice called out in triumph. The cup was slowly brought to her mouth, and it was tipped back and the ritual was completed.

It was a ritual act that was lost in translation. To other Vulcans it was quite an overt display, a neon sign blinking, “NO TOUCHY.” Her eyes cut to the side to regard the interloper in their place of residence. She would need to leave now.

Sera gracefully rose to her feet and padded over to Vialluh. Looking down at her she said in a honeyed voice, “It is unfortunate you came all this way unannounced, Vialluh. There are already plans in place that will not be adjusted. Next time, might I suggest you visit Rh’vaurekorn i’Varul at Daystrom, instead? They have dining facilities that prepare adequate foodstuffs. Certainly you two would find it more…agreeable to catch up there.”

Vialluh watched the scene play out to completion, maintaining her amused visage throughout. It was quite tempting to ask if she would be provided with tea in the same manner as Vala. It looked intense.

Instead she sufficed to slowly get to her feet, her eyes flicking between the two with some mock confusion, "Rh’vaurekorn?" Her eyes lingered on S'Ers-a's, a mischievous look within them, "Oh yes. He is a man of many names. Three, four… Such a fun quirk of the Romulan people. Easy to forget," she laughed, "I shall not detain you from your plans."

She wandered over to the door, "No need to get up. I'll see myself out." She slid it open, then looked back, meeting Vala's gaze, "I'll be around." Then she disappeared from view.

Sera stood still until the retreating woman's footfalls softened to nothing. Then before Montgomery could even form a word to say, Sera spun around to face him, and her normally placid expression had been replaced with outright anger.

“What is the meaning of this? Is she your…old acquaintance?”

Vala clenched his jaw and did not respond immediately. Why had Vialluh put him in this position - was it a test of some kind? Riling up his ailhun then leaving him to pick up the pieces.

"She is," he said quietly, "an old friend." He blinked slowly then looked at S'Ers-a, "That is not typically how you serve tea when we have guests, e'lev. Did she bother you?"

“Did she bother me?!” Sera all but yelled. She quickly ran her hand over the lower half of her face, as if wiping out words she did not want to say. “You are mine, Varin. Mine. Not hers, not anyone else's! I will not be humiliated again.” Sera exclaimed, and then sucked in her breath in an attempt to compose herself.

Slightly wide eyed, Vala's face formed into a slightly confused expression. Vialluh was many things but a rival for S'Ers-a was not one of them.

"I do not think she seeks to take me," he attempted in a soothing tone, "and in any case I am not amenable to anyone other than you."

She stepped forward, and slowly stretched out her trembling hand to touch the side of his face, looking at him for silent permission to join their minds. Such intimacy had been halted when they both allowed secrets to come between them. No words would need to be spoken, and he would not be telling her anything, just as she would not be telling him. It was an adequate work around…and more importantly…she was desperate for it.

He closed his eyes. It was a dangerous moment. Acceding would mean he would have to resist revealing what he had been told. If she found out… her life would be forfeit.

But they were both uncoiling. If they did not maintain their bond then some form of insanity would take them eventually. They would lose themselves.

Opening his eyes, he reached up his hand and lightly touched her temple. He would have to find a way to make it work.

She felt the truth in his words, and was immediately soothed by it. His fear and worry was a palpable thing within her mind, and she felt his need to protect her to the point of agreeing to…ah…to Vialluh’s demands. An old acquaintance indeed…his handler. She felt desperation, there was no other option. Montgomery’s promise secured her release; that was why the interrogation suddenly stopped.

However, none of these points encompassed the secret he had been carefully guarding. Refusing to force him, Sera instead changed her approach, and instead offered to him everything that her choice entailed.

Where there was normally a highly ordered mind, Vala found chaos and vulnerability. He knew S’Ers-a had been drinking more than usual, but with Vialluh’s surprise visit he had not noticed quite how intoxicated she was.

Paths branched out wildly, and the usually guided experience felt fraught and overwhelming. Probing or exploring too far would surely see him drawn into places where his mate would not wish for him to go, into memories she would not wish for him to see uncurated.

He sufficed to remain, a rock amidst the maelstrom, attempting to sooth his ailhun.

Uncertainty, concern - stasis. He remained frozen in the meld, and yet, attempted to radiate calm. Sera didn’t want that, she wanted to show him…show him what? She was distracted…she was exhausted. To feel him unfettered in her mind was like a narcotic, and although the pain of separation had eased, her purpose felt impossible to attain now that her fingertips were lightly resting upon his face.

She remembered her purpose, and plunged ahead. Sera would learn what power this woman held over her mate.

He could sense that she was attempting to find the root of his bargain with Vialluh. Initially, he resisted - for her to know would put her in grave danger.

But…

As she probed he realised he was not strong enough to hold her back. His ability to fortify his mind was rudimentary at best, and in the end he allowed her to proceed. She was his bond mate and secrets only served to damage that connection. No matter how fatal the consequences may be, perhaps they could tackle it together.

Discussions set in the past replayed without context and no doubt out of sequence - but what Sera experienced painted the woman as an adept manipulator. She used Montgomery’s vulnerabilities–including his connection to her–to mold his actions.

The final scene played out as if she was a silent observer in the room. Vialluh detailed the terms that Montgomery agreed to in order to secure Sera’s release. He was to obtain intelligence on her family. Gods…they would kill him if they knew.

“No. No, Varin…you…you can’t…” Sera’s control was gone. Her expression was afraid.

"I… must keep you safe, e'lev." He responded weakly, his features slack with exhaustion.

Sera saw the exhaustion on his face and her rebuke died on her lips. Hands fisting in agitation, she turned away and began to pace. What to do, what to do…

She quickly turned direction, walking back to where Montgomery stood. “Then you will lie to her.” Sera said simply.

"She is not taken in by falsehoods," he said meeting her gaze, "She will have established ways to… corroborate elements of what I tell her. Not all of it, but elements." He closed his eyes and turned away, "S'Ers-a, she is… different now. More desperate. More dangerous. She will harm us both without mercy if she wishes to. We are the enemy now."

Sera stilled for a moment. “Then perhaps we should act like the enemy. In their desperation to cling to the illusion of safety, their tactics might facilitate that which they would avert.” Sera resumed her pacing, demonstrating the depth of her agitation in the act of restless movement to bleed off energy. “We are not helpless, and I will not allow any information regarding my clan to pass into her hands, Varin. Do you understand?”

He exhaled sharply, "No," he turned his gaze back to her, "I do not." He continued to look into her brilliant blue eyes. They were so… unusual. Beautiful. But he could no longer continue being willfully ignorant of the mysteries surrounding her and her family.

"I must know what the secret is, S'Ers-a. Of your clan," he paused, "Our clan I should say. Why do people like Vialluh have an interest in it? Why must we suffer to protect it?" His eyes were glassy, but there was a fire within, "You were not treated well by them. They forced you to bond with one who treated you with disdain. You fled them. I must ask you: why?"

Sera did not speak for a moment. She was considering how to proceed…one thing was for certain though…finishing off the bottle of kali’fal was the wrong decision.

“You bring up multiple disparate points in your statement, Varin. My treatment was irrelevant. It is my duty to obey and protecting the clan is paramount. You ask me to be…straightforward…that is not our way. I have given you so many details that you might come to your own conclusion…” Her voice took on a mildly exasperated edge.

“However, I will…try. But, I do not know the entire truth of it all.” Another pause. “During the Sundering those who did not agree with Surak’s teachings were…invited to find a new home. The story is that my clan chose to remain behind - it was our land from time immemorial. Our clan adapted with the goal of gaining power and dominion over the other clans. Just because Surak’s dogma was accepted and made mainstream did not mean that it changed the Vulcan Heart…and the dark desires that it sometimes holds. Varin…my clan has kept meticulous records since the Sundering. Enough illicit data to ruin all of them.”

She was prevaricating. He was in no state to read between the lines, or try to accommodate half truths. She was his mate and they both wished for normal relations to resume. She would have to meet him in the middle.

"To what purpose?" He said in a cooler tone, "Why seek to ruin them?"

“Vengence, Varin.” Sera replied quite readily. “Vulcan drank from the chalice of ‘Logic,’ but allowed for no dissenting opinion. All those who refused were welcomed…welcomed to leave! Hundreds of thousands of OUR people perished in the vacuum of space, all because they would not relinquish their passions to commit to his path! The clans allowed it…they quickly subsumed holdings, properties, monies…anything that belonged to the exiles to boulster their coffers, to increase their power base. And we kept notes. We helped them all in their individual trials - obtaining secrets and goods, eliminating barriers to desired outcomes. It didn’t take long. Within a generation we amassed enough data to bury the entire ruling echelon of Vulcan society, and our services have continued to be needed…although we are reviled.”

"Vengeance…" He repeated quietly, turning the word over in his head. "For crimes committed more than a thousand years ago," he shook his head slowly, "Even we Rihannsu have moved past such bitterness towards our distant kin." He looked upon her, taking in her entire being. When they had met, and for most time hence she had maintained an adherence to logic. It was a quirk he had found oddly pleasant.

Now, though, she was unshackled from such ideas. Unwound by the machinations of Starfleet intelligence, and the manipulations of her clan. Her loyalty to them was fierce, but he doubted he would ever understand it. She had suffered enough for them already.

He sighed. It would have been better if he'd been able to keep his task a secret.

"You owe them little, S'Ers-a. They exacted their price when you were young by making a poor choice of your mate." He fixed his eyes on hers, "Had he survived you would continue to be in his association. Trapped by your bond." He could not help but allow the distaste for the subject lace his tone. "That price has been paid. Whatever they gained from that bargain has been retained."

He stepped closer, "We can find a way forward without losing ourselves," his voice softened and he raised a hand in the gesture of ozh’esta, "together."

“Varin…arranged marriages are a given in Vulcan society…They could not have foreseen how Viruk would treat our bond. However…I believe I understand your point.” Sera reciprocated the gesture, but wondered at his naivety. This was never supposed to be an issue. Sera had readily accepted that their lives would revolve around Starfleet, that it would be dangerous but adventurous…a life well led in her opinion. But somehow, strangely, it had all fallen apart, and now they stood, touching and never touched, yet a wide gulf separated them.

Sera was concerned that her decision would destroy the only thing that held any value within her life.

“Do you honestly think we would be safer here? Vialluh came into our home…because she could. Quite a subtle display of power, yes? And when you give her unsatisfactory intelligence? What will she do then?”

It was all too much. Their lives had spun into a place where they had only a fine thread of control. "No, we must leave," he said with certainty, "She expects us to." He continued to gaze at his mate, his fingers softly caressing hers, "I believe we must accept the clan's help and go to Vulcan. There, though, we must work out how to proceed. I do not consider it acceptable for you to be trapped within the machinations of anyone."

He paused for a moment, then his tone took on an emphatic edge, "We must find a way to live and survive on our own terms."

[OFF]

--

LTCMDR Montgomery Vala
Chair of Xenogeology
Department of Xenogeology, Daystrom Institute

&

S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor
Not in the mood for guests

&

Captain Vialluh
Starfleet Intelligence
[NPC played by Vala]

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