The Path Not Taken: The Interrogation (Part 1 of 4)

Posted on 07 Apr 2024 @ 11:57pm by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala & Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor
Edited on on 08 Apr 2024 @ 12:00am

3,117 words; about a 16 minute read

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

Previously… In the world of a possible future...

The elevator arrived and he walked along the exposed corridor to the appropriate office: 329D. As he strode forward things began to feel… wrong. Why was the director here and not in his own, penthouse office suite? Why was it so… empty? Had he missed a memo?

He stopped and looked around, peering over the railing down to the atrium. It was now suddenly very busy once again as was the avenue he had walked down, he observed as he turned to look out of the large glass edifice. A slight shiver ran down his spine. Something was happening. No. Something had happened. To S'Ers-a. He could not sense her presence. She… was gone. He rubbed his forehead then looked back to the offices. 329D loomed farther down the way. He glanced behind him. The elevator was gone. "Only a fool mistakes the calm sea for the absence of predators," he whispered in his native tongue. The saying felt very apt in the circumstances. He was ensnared.

Only one option remained. He stood up straight, pulled his uniform down to neaten up the creases and strode confidently to the office. It did not take many steps for him to arrive.

He took a deep breath and pushed the chime, "Lieutenant Commander Vala for Director Grake," he said in a clipped tone.

The doors slid open, "Come in Rh’vaurekorn," a smooth female voice which certainly did not belong to Grake beckoned. It was oh so familiar to him, "it's been a very long time."

And now on to the next part...


==Vala’s Interrogation==

Orpheus Station, 2373

The cell was basic. Small. It had a small bed that was not uncomfortable, and a little table and chair. There was a replicator recessed into the wall which only dispensed basic items. A small door separated off a toilet, sink and sonic shower. All of life's necessities were met here. It was luxury compared to the equivalents in the Star Empire.

No window adorned the wall. In this respect the observation lounge of the USS Invincible had provided a true sense of freedom. Of escape. Not here though, Rh'vaurekorn mused. The relative comforts of this cell were very pointedly not to be confused for the gift of freedom.

It had been a few days since he had bade farewell to Captain Argus and the Invincible, their course having been altered by Starfleet Intelligence to drop him off at one of their stations close to Section 001. He hadn’t seen many people during that time. He’d initially been taken to a sophisticated medbay and had his injuries properly tended to, then a female human with spots down each side of her face, who spoke unusually fluent Rihannsu, had taken him to the cell and outlined the amenities. Ever since then he’d been released twice a day to spend time in a holosuite, which allowed him to exercise in an endless warehouse of some kind. There were never any windows though… he’d noticed that. Not in the corridors, the medbay and even the holosuite program had been designed to be a space without any views of the sky. It felt very… deliberate.

His ‘stewing’ came to an end after about a week. The spotty female human who had first shown him the cell showed up, alone, and observed him from the doorway.

“Good morning, Rh'vaurekorn,” she said with a smile, once more in flawless Rihannsu, “I am Lieutenant Vialluh, I will be your handler. Do you understand what that means?”

Rh'vaurekorn stared up at her and blinked. She looked young, with short black hair that was combed back, brown eyes and what could only be described as a sardonic smile. She had a black collar with a couple of brass pips affixed to it.

“You know my name,” his voice cracked a little. He had not spoken much in the past month.

“Oh, my Romulan friend, I know so much more than your name,” she grinned widely, then stood back and gestured for him to leave.

Office 329D, Daystrom Institute, Early 2396

Vala stood motionless in the doorway. A figure he had not seen for ten years sat across the room, leaning back in a chair, brown eyes glinting at him. Whenever he encountered her, she never seemed to age. She’d told him when they first met that she was a ‘Trill’, not a human. They were longer lived, and it showed. She looked very much the same officer that had first spoken to him when he’d arrived for his debrief all those years ago. Only this time she had two more pips on her collar.

“Vialluh…” He defaulted to Rihannsu with her. It was how they had always spoken, “I did not expect to see you here. I thought last time was our final debrief…”

Vialluh smiled amiably at him, however the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. Time and experience had made the constant calculations a little more evident in her gaze. Either that or she was not wasting any energy affecting a false facade of geniality.

Leaning back she raised her hands, palms up in a supplicating manner. ”Nothing is ever really over, Rh’vaurekorn. We always try to keep an…eye on our charges, yes?

He almost laughed in response. It was certainly more than an eye. He was under no illusions as to how closely observed he had been since returning to Earth.

He moved into the room, his eyes fixed on her, providing a curt response, "I'm sure you do."

”I hear you have done well for yourself. A Lieutenant Commander. Quite a rise…and married too! To a Vulcan princess no less!…or whatever the equivalent is…I will admit I do not know much of their societal structures. Although between you and me I can’t see the appeal.” Vialluh’s voice was warm, interested, but her eyes held the cold gleam of calculation.

"The former," his voice took on an acidic tone, "was neither my choice nor preference." He narrowed his eyes, "I never took you for a fool Vialluh. I can only assume the ridiculous decision to seclude me here came from on high?" He snorted derisively, "I'd have thought you'd vouch for me."

“Oh no, I have a good deal of say regarding those under my…care. It was deemed a prudent action to limit your ability to potentially cause mayhem.” Vialluh laughed softly, but the sound was anything but comforting.

"As to the latter, leave my ailhun out of this." His eyes were daggers.

Vialluh leaned forward on the desking, putting her full weight onto her arms and gestured with a hand to the chair. “You are in a position to demand nothing, i’Varul. Now please, Lieutenant Commander…take a seat.”

Vialluh made no mention of how his wife had already been collected and was already being interrogated. i’Varul was obviously feeling rather feisty - but she would keep that knowledge ready to further leverage him if and when needed.
His gaze did not leave the Trill as he slowly stalked forward and sat down. “I am given to wonder what exactly it takes for a person such as myself, who has contributed significantly to the scientific community of the Federation, who is a citizen of this polity, who has provided information that would risk his neck, to be left unbothered by those with black collars,” he said coldly, “New DNA perhaps?”

“It is an unfortunate world we live in, Commander.” Vialluh responded. “All angles must be reconsidered. We are learning–quite painfully, mind you–just how long-visioned Romulan schemes have become. It would be sloppy intelligence to not take another look at some of our higher-risk citizens.”

Vala grunted and folded his arms, “I’m not sure what you think the Star Empire would want with me besides my demise.”

“I find in the current environment we live in that all angles must be revisited. It has been noted you have been quite vocal against the recent decisions within the chain-of-command, Commander. I am only performing due diligence in ascertaining your continuing motives…you are Rihannsu.”

“Now. Why did you get involved with S’Ers-a M’Lyr’Zor? Walk me through the nature of your association with her.”

“Fihaele,” he responded with a glare, “Was it expected that I would never move forward and take a mate?” He rolled his eyes, “I imagine it is always easier for intelligence officers when their quarry continuously does predictable things. I have to disappoint in that regard.”

Vialluh’s brows shot up in surprise. ”Fihaele? I thought that was just some ‘love story’ kind of nonsense that made for good Rihannsu romance writings…you mean to tell me the concept is based in reality?”

“Yes. It is biochemical,” Vala’s tone remained defensive, but he could not help admitting, “All consuming.”

“Well, I learn something new every day.” Vialluh responded, ignoring Montgomery’s prickliness. It was quite a change from their previous interactions though…he had been so enthused to speak his language with someone and it had been almost too easy to get intelligence from him. The man that now sat before her was different somehow…but it was quite clear he held strong emotions for his wife. Perhaps that could be used…against him if necessary.

“There is no need for such animosity. I have to be sure Rh’vaurekorn; surely you must understand.”

“I would be more pleasant if I had not been ripped from my post in the Pleiades, my wife forced to resign her commission to accompany me, only to be put to work on science that is both dull and useless.”

Vialluh looked thoughtful and said the requisite hmmm…another touchy subject, yes.

“Well then, what of your wife…S’Ers-a, is it? Vulcan pronunciation is quite a particular thing.”

“What of her,” he eyed her with deep suspicion, “You pronounce it well.”

Vialluh smiled. “Delightful. Well, let’s just say that through quite a vigorous investigation her background has quite a number of…peculiarities.”

Viallhu watched Montgomery like a hawk, looking for the tiniest of cracks.

Vala remained stony-faced. It was not the line of inquiry he had expected but he would not give anything away about his e’lev. “Such as…?”

“The clan she hails from…Lizzur? <> A rather quiet lot - even for Vulcans. There is so little written about them and most of that is supposition and hearsay. Rather shadowy to be honest. My concern regards their alleged ongoing relationship with the Romulan Empire. Has S’Ers-a ever said anything concerning her family? She’s one of only two members of her entire clan to ever join Starfleet. I’m not quite sure how she passed the initial background checks, to be honest…and her mate–the other member of her clan–died under suspicious circumstances at a research station that was a catalyst to current…hostilities.”

Vialluh said her piece as if reciting the words off of a data padd, but her eyes never left Montgomery’s face. She wanted to take it all in.

Such baseless suspicions did not merit an articulate response. Vala bared his teeth in anger, “You will leave her be!”

Vialluh smirked, but held her hands up a pantomime of surrender. “Peace, Commander, Peace! You’re quite protective of her, that much is clear. I wonder how much of that is you…and how much of that is the bond she placed on you.” Vialluh tilted her head slightly, as if listening to something. Nodding once she picked up the padd and tapped on it, and a high-angled camera view came to life on one of the tabs. It was an interview room, and the video showed three occupants…the back and profile of a long-haired female and across from her was a male Vulcan and what looked to be a female Human officer wearing the collars of intelligence. Between the two of them on the table was the chest.

“What is the meaning of this?” He said, looking from the video to the Trill, his face still full of fury, “Susse'thrai! How dare you involve her in this,” he saw her somewhat disheveled state and his heart dropped, “You dishonourable kllhe.” The temptation to launch himself across the desk at the smaller woman was fierce, but he resisted and kept his eyes of S’Ers-a.

Vialluh tilted her head as she studied just how quickly Rh’vaurekorn seemed to ramp up as he watched his mate in interrogation. It was rather unexpected and she would consider him utterly compromised from this point forward.

“I’m dishonorable? I’m not the one in possession of Rihannsu items…” Vialluh watched the video as items were pulled out of the box. “Is that a Tal Shiar uniform? Oh my, Rh’vaurekorn…your mate in serious trouble.”

“You are painting the picture you wish to see,” Vala said through his teeth, “The Federation used to operate under the premise of innocent until proven guilty…”

“Then TELL me how I am misconstruing this?” She tapped on the padd and her voice rang out into the interview room halfway around Earth. “Lieutenant Nirak, Lieutenant Sheffield…have the young lady try on the outfit, please.”

Completely superfluous, and yet...Vialluh's mouth tugged in a subtle smirk.

“Vialluh have you not humiliated her enough?” Vala shouted, standing abruptly, “She is a Vulcan. One of your allies. You surely cannot encourage this farce.”

“I see no farce here, Commander. You and your spouse had in your possession rather damning items, which just so happens to fit your darling mate…in light of this evidence, would you care to amend any previous statements to me?” Vialluh’s eyes glittered in an indecipherable emotion.

“Come now,” he spat incredulously, “You really think that antique will hold up at a tribunal? They were wearing a different design even when I was subjected to their ministrations and that was more than twenty years ago.” He fixed his gaze on her, “It is clearly not hers.”

“Given the state of the war, Rh’vaurekorn, it may just stand. People are running high on emotion. I want to be helpful here, I really do, but you have to understand…we are struggling. The war is not going well. Classified data is all but hemorrhaging into enemies hands.” It was time for a change of tactics.

“Do I think your wife is collaborating with the Empire…I honestly don’t know. She has been pretty well isolated since resigning her commission. But the intel from Vulcan…Rh’vaurekorn, We’ve discovered so many questionable things about her family…even her first husband had ties to a Romulan spy. Frankly, we need help here. I…trust you. Your record has been exemplary; your superiors have all spoken highly of you. But now I hear you’ve become disgruntled, and are voicing critical opinions. We don’t have that luxury right now.”

“And, I know you. But I don’t know her. I need your help. Help me…” Her eyes darted to the padd which was still playing the video feed of Sera’s interrogation and then back to Montgomery’s green ones and held them intently. “I can’t help either of you if you refuse.”

Vala sighed and looked from the PADD to Vialluh, his expression poisonous, “I never thought you’d sink so low,” he shook his head and retook his seat. He knew that there was only one route forward. The Trill had always treated him kindly, and delicately, but he’d always known it was an exchange. She was obviously up against it and this was… pathetically desperate.

“But if you are going to threaten S’Ers-a with some trumped up charge then…” He sighed and narrowed his eyes, “What is it you wish for me to help you with?”

“Trumped up? Hardly. Your wife’s mixed heritage was not disclosed. She’s broken a number of laws all on her own, Commander.” Vialluh paused for a moment as if considering her next words carefully. What she was really doing was pausing for effect. She knew exactly what she was going to say. This was the plan after all.

“The Vulcans have verbalized…concern, regarding Clan Lyr’Zor. The clan’s planetary exports have precipitously dropped off, and there have been a number of high-level Vulcan assets that have disappeared recently. I’m talking about scientists, engineers, researchers and the like.”

It was difficult to comprehend exactly what path Vialluh was trying to shove him down. He had always maintained a level of… conscious naivety around her. He’d never considered her a friend per se, but certainly someone where a mutually beneficial relationship had existed. The reality was, he knew, that she had held all the cards, but when it went well he had enjoyed deluding himself.

“What,” he said pointedly, “Are you asking me to do?”

Vialluh inwardly celebrated. Rh’vaurekon had always been a biddlable sort, and now that he had a wife, well…all the easier.

“You are doing the right thing, Commander Vala.” Vialluh began, and then slowly, concisely began to outline what Starfleet Intelligence desired of him.

Part of her felt a sense of anticipation. She had done the research once the Vulcans came to them; oh how that must have put their arrogant asses out. The thought of being the one to succeed where countless numbers of their own kind failed in obtaining any meaningful intelligence…well…that would certainly be quite a success for her career…and for the Federation, naturally. Something to balance against the scale which held her failures, certainly.

Vala went through a range of emotions as he listened to the terms, his face contorting into a more and more incredulous expression as time went on.

"I am not skilled at espionage," he dryly stated. Something that should have been obvious to the trill, "But if you release S'Ers-a then…" He averted his gaze, "I must comply."

To be continued...

[OFF]

--

Captain Vialluh
Starfleet Intelligence
[NPC played by Sera]

&

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

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