“Duty”


written by

Michael Gray


Nari Vanth watched the fires burn across the city. With the rising smoke, the old way of life drifted away into the darkness of the night. Not that she hadn't taken advantage of the transformation around her. She was Romulan after all.

And her father's daughter.

Nari had completed the last duty due her father, Senator Colaso Vanth. Those still alive who were responsible for his death had been executed on her orders not more than an hour earlier. Some had cried for mercy. Nari had given them only as much as they had shown her father--- none at all.

She laughed, thinking of how those admirals who she had taken orders from in the past at first tried to use duty to stay her hand, then an appeal to military protocol, and finally they begged like the common gutter trash they were.

They had given away everything she held dear for their own personal power when they sold their souls to that abomination from Remus.

Now the lot of them were dead.

And so too was her city as the flames of revolution covered it like a blanket, smothering the order which had been the guiding principle all her life. She took a drink from the bottle of ale in her hand, wondering how something so beautiful could cause her such heartache. The dancing flames seemed to mock her sorrow, intensifying when she thought they might finally be diminishing.

But fade they would, and Commander Nari Vanth would step in when the moment was right.

Everything would fall into place soon enough. But for this night, the fires would burn.

***


Nari stood in full uniform outside the old Senate chamber, awaiting her chance to address those inside on the defense status of the Romulan Empire. She didn't have good news for them, but then such news was in short supply these days.

"I should have expected to find you here."

She spun about to find the grinning face of a man she'd thought would never haunt her again.

"Commander Suriel..."

"Yes, still alive, Nari. Surprised?"

"Honestly? Yes."

He smiled. "Despite how we have felt about each other in the past, you and I found ourselves on the same side of the recent... problem."

"The universe is certainly full of mysteries," she said, folding her arms. "How fortunate for you that for once you made the right choice."

"Yes, I heard about the purge you instituted. Clever of you to strike out on your own before this new government formed."

"I did what was necessary," she said with a smirk. How she wished she'd been able to purge him as well.

"I have no doubt of that." He clasped his hands behind his back. "The only question I have is was it necessary for your duty as a Romulan, your own grab for power, or revenge?"

"I'm sure you already have an opinion on that question which is not likely to be changed by my answers or reality."

"Interesting you view your answers and reality as separate."

She laughed. "Better to say it myself before you did."

His only response was a nod.

Delant Suriel was her thirty-eight years plus a third more, yet there always seemed to be someone much younger behind those bright eyes of his, almost childlike in some respects. She found him attractive on occasion, yet never enough, or for long enough, to engage in sexual relations. But even now, given how much she detested him, the thought crossed her mind again.

Her father had counseled her on the use of sex in forming alliances, and breaking those of others. Someday, she might have to put that into practice with Suriel.

"So where were you during the turmoil?" she asked, more trying to pass the time than actually curious.

"Preventing three fleets from joining in the madness."

"Kill anyone I know?"

"Many I suspect," he said with a wide grin which faded quickly. "Fortunately, once I explained a Reman slave had been made Praetor, it took little to convince most of them."

"And those you couldn't convince?"

He leaned forward slightly. "Space is not nearly so empty in that region."

She gave a bow of approval. Quick and direct, she had always liked that about him.

"We are not nearly as dissimilar as you might want to believe, Nari."

"A point you make each time we speak."

"And with good reason. Aside from other concerns, it happens to be true. We both have the capacity to do what is necessary. I hope you remember that once we enter the Senate chamber."

She stared at him, trying to measure his intent. "What do you know?"

"Many things. Some you will like, others you may not." He grinned. “You can forget your security briefing. They have other plans today.”

"The new leadership, have you..."

"What do you think?"

She reached for the dagger under her tunic. One more purge wouldn't upset the balance of life on Romulus.

But her desire met with prudence when three other officers approached them.

Another time, she thought.

She didn't recognize the new arrivals, but suspected Suriel did. Her suspicion was verified when each saluted him in turn.

"Commanders of ships from the fleet I brought back to Romulus," Suriel explained. "Fortunately, our force was not necessary."

Nari watched the others observe every nuance of her movement. He had trained them well.

The doors opened into the chamber, and the five officers formed up. Nari Vanth had made sure she would take point when they entered. But she nearly faltered when her eye caught the Reman standing silent vigil at the threshold. She had demanded all of them be sent back to their pathetic world to rot, but obviously, her advice had been shunned. She suspected Suriel might have played a part in that if for no other reason than to thwart her will.

Once inside, she noticed the unease running through her. This was where they had all died, where her father had died. She had wanted it turned into a monument to them, but the new People's Council had overridden her on that issue as well.

Nari's gaze fixed on the leader of the council, its chairman, J'Ral Purand. He was young, but revolutionaries often were. It was said he was a follower of the teachings of Surak.

"Thank you for coming to meet with us," Purand said, addressing the officers. "We have matters of grave concern to discuss with you."

"We are here but to serve the council," Suriel offered.

"Hopefully far better than those whose duty it was to serve the Senate," another council member, Tras Nugal, said.

"Of course," Suriel offered.

"We have asked you here because time is short if we wish to prevent a disaster,” Purand said. “With the new hunger for freedom and openness among our people, we are beset on one side by the Klingons who we hear are already making plans to take territory along our border with them. On the other side sits the Federation, eager to feed that hunger of the people, but with a speed none of us may be ready for."

“My thoughts exactly,” Suriel replied, stepping past Nari. “I have a fleet assembled which can provide the show of force we need to let the Klingons and Federation realize we are not to be viewed as a carcass to be picked apart.”

Purand turned to the others on the council, smiling. “Just the sort of boisterous rhetoric which drove those who brought the empire into ruin.”

Nari couldn't help but grin at that. Suriel's greatest fault was to speak before thinking.

“While we agree a message must be sent to our neighbors, force is not the content we wish to convey. It never brought the empire what it promised.” Purand turned his gaze to Nari. “Wouldn't you agree?”

She gave a nod, but remained silent.

“The people of Romulus have grown weary of a government which works in shadows, never giving the populace a say in their own destiny. That will change.”

Nari could see Suriel itching to say something, but as reckless as he often was, he restrained himself this time. But Nari held out hope he would say the wrong thing. One last log of the old guard left to throw upon the fire.

“We have decided to open diplomatic ties to both the Federation and the Klingons.”

“But Councilman,” Suriel began. He'd obviously taken as much as he could. “Neither the Klingons nor the Federation can be trusted. Surely our history has shown that.”

“Times change, Commander,” Purand said. “And we must change with them.”

“Sending ambassadors will not prevent a Klingon fleet from conquering our outer systems, nor prevent the merchants of the Federation from invading our economy like a virus.”

“Which is why we aren't sending ambassadors. The two of you are to be our envoys.”

Suriel cast a quick glance at Nari. “Us?”

“Commander Vanth will patrol the sectors which border the Federation, and you, Suriel shall do the same with those bordering the Klingon Empire. But instead of inviting conflict as we so often have in the past, you will seek out opportunities to build alliances with our neighbors.”

“Then I retract my previous statement,” Suriel said. “You should send ambassadors and let us do our jobs... our military duty.”

“They would not believe any words our ambassadors would bring. We have too often in the past deceived with such words,” Purland said. “This time we will speak with actions.”

“But we cannot...”

“What we cannot do any longer is let policy for Romulus be determined by a few in the military,” Purland stated. “Or do you disagree... Commander?”

Suriel looked at the officers next to him, then back to the council. “No sir, I agree.”

“Good.”

Suriel nodded and he and the other officers turned to leave. Nari began to follow.

“Oh, Commander Vanth...”

She stopped to turn back to the council. “Sir?”

Commander Nari Vanth

“You are only to cross the Federation Neutral Zone with Starfleet's permission. Is that clear?”

“Quite clear, Councilman.”

She smiled and left the chamber.

***


Nari stood in J'Ral Purand's apartment not far from the council chamber. He had called her an hour after she'd been dismissed by the council earlier that afternoon. He seemed apprehensive.

“I hope I don't need to emphasize the importance of this new mission.”

“Not at all, Councilman,” she said. “I understand.”

“I wonder if you do.” He sat in a small couch, and motioned for her to join him. “I know your father would have.”

She sat. “My father would have had difficulty understanding why we were opening ourselves to our enemies.”

“Really?” He smiled. “Then you never heard his lectures at the university?”

“Lectures? I never knew he...”

“The past few years he had grown weary with the constant state of war, or near war we always found ourselves in. He taught a new way to those of us who would listen.”

Nari and her father hadn't spoken much the last few years. She had feared she had somehow disappointed him in some way. Now she understood. He couldn't have told her what he could tell others, lest he place her in jeopardy as well.”

Father... why?

“I can see by your expression, you didn't know.”

“No.”

“Probably for the best, considering how events have transpired.”

Purand watched her again. She would have to keep better control of herself around him... at least in some ways.

She smiled, doubting he'd know why. Despite his being a full ten years younger than her, she was attracted to this man. But then, power always had attracted her.

“Was there anything else, Councilman?”

He gave a short nod, then stood. He strolled over to the large window overlooking the city.

“I suggest you seek out one of Starfleet's new Oceana class starships. While diplomacy is our goal, we must assure the Federation we have nothing to fear from their newest battlecruisers.”

“My information suggests the Oceana class ships are not nearly as formidable as the Federation might wish us to believe. In fact, recently all four vessels were recalled.”

“Interesting. Then you are indeed the person who should be heading up this mission.”

She stepped up to him. “Is that the only reason you asked me here?”

He looked up and down her body. “No.”

She slid her arms around his torso. “I thought not.”

Nari eased herself into his embrace. Revolutionary or not, he was still male, and males had certain needs.

But while she had no hesitation in fulfilling Purand's needs, her real interest was his desires.

But first things first.

***

Several hours later, as night had fully descended on the Romulan capitol, Nari rolled over in J'Ral's bed. She'd learned much about this new leader of the Romulan people. Yet something had stirred within her own soul.

Love?

Certainly not. That particular ideal resided only in the part of her reserved for childish fantasies, and along with all the others, it was firmly secured in the dungeon of her heart.

Perhaps his revolutionary zeal had begun to infect her as it had much of the Romulan people.

She watched him stir, realizing that wasn't it. There was something else here, something she both craved and feared.

His eyes opened and he smiled.

“You're still here?”

“Did you expect me to be gone?”

“Expect yes, hope... no. I'm glad you didn't leave.”

Nari sat up and turned to him, running her hand gently over his chest.

“Nari, I don't expect much from Suriel's mission to the Klingons, but yours to the Federation is crucial to our survival.”

“Do you always mix state's business with sex?”

He laughed. “Despite the passion of my followers, I rarely have a chance to...”

“I know,” she whispered. “All commands are the same way.”

For several minutes the only sounds in the room were that of her hand gliding across his chest, and the wind howling outside.

“I suppose what I have to say can wait until morning,” he said.

“That is assuming I'll still be here,” she said with a smile.

“That is up to you.”

She leaned down and kissed him. “I'll still be here, J'Ral.”

Nari rolled over, facing away from him.

A moment later, she felt his arm slip around her waist, pulling her against him.

“You know, Suriel is likely to start a war with the Klingons,” she said. “You might wish to reconsider that decision.”

“We know.”

“But you send him to them anyway?” she asked, rolling over to face him.

J'Ral smiled. “If he starts hostilities, we shall turn him over to the Klingons to do with as they wish, proving finally that we have the honor they so revere. At least that is the appearance it will provide.” He kissed her. “What other gift could I provide you that would mean as much?”

“So! You are Romulan after all!”

He grinned. “How could I be otherwise?”

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Dark Horizon Story and Characters Copyright ©2008 Michael Gray

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