Mother Eternal Keehani Ukinix - Angels (Part 2)
Wil Ukinix
((Mother Eternal’s Personal Chambers, Idrustix Prison Colony))
Keehani: So you are seeking… *peace* with the Klingons and Cardassians?
A smirk slowly appeared on the Empress’ lips, before it became a smile, which turned into an incredulous laugh.
M-Keehani: ::laughing:: Peace with their Alliance? They would find that as amusing as I do!
Eventually Mother Eternal Ukinix laughter subsided, and she sighed, before she pondered for a moment.
M-Keehani: No. ::interlocking fingers, crossing legs, turning to Keehani, proud smile:: I have something else in mind…
The Empress stood up from her chair, and then made her way back to the far end of the table, again walking slowly as she spoke.
M-Keehani: You see, one of our famous victories since our foray into this quadrant was the conquering of the nearby Trenvonn in their so called “Crovi” system. Are you aware of this species in your own reality?
Keehani crossed her arms and said nothing, trying not to think of her encounter with the isolationist species’ drones on Idrustix.
Izemu: She is familiar with the species, Mother Eternal.
First Secretary Keehani shot Izemu a *look* of disapproval of the constant psionic intrusion of her mind. Izemu remained unmoved, a picture of calm and balance.
M-Keehani: Then you would understand that they objected to our presence on Kirilow, what they called “Skraall”. Five years ago, another war front was opened by us, and we battled them. And succeeded. The battle is a legendary tale in our history now. The loss of our many battalions and the mass honourable deaths of our glorious soldiers, wiping out their civilisation and irradiating their system using their own stolen advanced weaponry such that no-one can now enter the Crovi system…
Keehani took a seat at the end of the table.
M-Keehani: At least, that’s what Mother Eternal Vaxa Ukinix told our people. But the secret is, the Trenvonn defeated us. They made it clear that if we were to enter their system again, they would attack Kirilow. It was a foolish war; one we should never have started. It was the beginning of the end for my grandmother. The Ninth Wing Noble Guard, unbeknown to the population, confided in each other that they had lost confidence in her leadership. I shared their concern. Eventually I confronted her.
The Mother Eternal Clasped her fingers together, and looked down at the table.
M-Keehani: I suggested that we begin to reform the Empire, based on all my learnings. Find a way to stop the war with the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Allow our people more freedoms, and bolster our military to become a true defensive force. Have other worlds join us, and offer them protection in exchange for our leadership – political, economic, military…
Keehani: ::Raised eyebrows:: A hegemony?
The Mother Eternal looked up, and smiled. For the first time, Keehani had seen a genuine smile from the Empress. There was not a hint of deceit, anger, or treachery from her.
M-Keehani: Exactly. The Betazed Empire would become the “Betazoid Hegemony”. The establishment of an assembly, and the appointment of a Chancellor. The role of “Mother Eternal” would remain, and would still ultimately be in charge of our military - and have the right of veto over the assembly. ::Looking down again:: But grandmother would not entertain the idea. At all. And that’s when she decided to tell me that my mother didn’t die of natural causes. Grandmother had my parents killed, so that she could raise me, a female of direct noble blood, as the next Empress.
Keehani placed a hand over her mouth. She could never imagine her own grandmother doing anything like that. But apparently, the Vaxa Ukinix of this parallel universe had learned well from her ruthless mother Kirilow and father Alacem.
The Mother Eternal looked up from her hands, and stared Keehani straight in the eye.
M-Keehani: I was incensed. In conjunction with the Ninth Wing Noble Guard, we began a coup. I had grandmother executed, by Rivi Ukinix, and assumed leadership of the Empire, as is my right.
Keehani squeezed her cheeks a little tighter at the news that Niarivi Ukinix was the one who had murdered the previous Empress.
M-Keehani: That coup is still ongoing. I have supressed and beaten the Noble wings that tried to overthrow me, but if they were to find my true intentions for reform of the Empire, they may try again. Not all would welcome the idea of reform. We are a small, strong, resilient Empire…
Keehani: … but if one thread is pulled, your entire Empire falls apart. The Klingons and Cardassians take over.
The Empress smiled wickedly again. It seemed her genuine happiness was short lived.
M-Keehani: You are perceptive, First Secretary. Good on you. And at the moment, the biggest “thread,” as you put it, is the resistance. It must be quashed. If they succeed, the Klingons and Cardassians will overwhelm us.
The Empress paused for a moment, before making a small confession.
M-Keehani: I must admit, generations of being an Empire means that we do not have the expertise I need to transform to a hegemony. ::Even bigger, devious smile:: Until my angels arrived. You, and your colleagues, are truly a gift from The Four. You will all help me.
Keehani: ::Sitting back in chair, crossing arms:: I will not.
Keehani looked away, staring at a random spot on a far wall. The Empress got up from her chair, and began to walk slowly towards the Keehani’s end of the table.
M-Keehani: I offer you no choice. If it takes an agony booth before you will all cooperate, so be it.
Keehani: Even if I wanted to help, I fail to see how you could even convince the Klingon-Cardassian alliance of a neutral zone. You said it yourself; they do not want peace.
The Empress stopped, looked at Izemu with a knowing smile, then proudly crossed her arms as she looked back at Keehani.
M-Keehani: Once I assumed the role of Empress, I secretly made contact once again with the Trenvonn. I explained that given our presence here, and the increased volume of Alliance vessels that now patrol our borders in this nebula… well, if Kirilow was to fall to the Klingons and Cardassians, the Trenvonn would be next. So I suggested a partnership – of sorts. ::Pleased smile:: I gave them a stolen Cardassian vessel equipped with a Quantum Slipstream drive, and a Klingon vessel with a cloak.
Mother Eternal began walking towards Keehani again, her chin lifted in the air, showing her pride.
M-Keehani: In secret partnership with my scholars, the Trenvonn have used their scientific prowess and reverse engineered the Klingon and Cardassian technology. We are close to completing four warships with an advanced cloaking capability and improved Quantum Slipstream range. When ready, two of the vessels will travel, undetected, into Cardassian space and destroy the surface of Cardassia Prime. At the same time, the other two vessels will travel to Qo’nos, and perform the same planetary attack. Their leadership will be in tatters. In the confusion and vacuum of power they will have no choice but to agree to a cease fire, and I will demand a buffer between our space and theirs.
Keehani sat back in her chair, in slight shock. She had studied the history of each of the founding worlds, including Earth’s.
Keehani: ::quietly:: You’re developing a Manhattan project…
M-Keehani: ::Furrowed brow:: A what project?
Keehani: ::looking up:: Death and destruction to send a message…to cause a cease fire. ::Shaking head:: Death to stop deaths.
M-Keehani tilted her head from side to side, considering the point.
M-Keehani: Hmm, it’s either us or them. It’s been this way for many, many decades.
Finally, the Empress arrived at Keehani’s end of the table. She placed her left hand down on the table in front of Keehani, and her right hand on the back of Keehani’s chair. Leaning forward, a smirk once again appeared on her face. Her brown eyes narrowed as she spoke quietly to Keehani as if tempting her.
M-Keehani: Imagine being part of a political reform of an entire Empire, First Secretary. A chance to stop a war, and help a civilisation grow and thrive. No war. Cooperation from hegemony worlds, being taught by Betazoids to have a better life. A form of your “Federation”, and you could be there at the *start*, First Secretary.
Keehani: ::Through clenched teeth:: That is nothing like the Federation. Our member worlds have autonomy. We share our culture, or strengths. We are a rich tapestry. We are Federated. No-one dominates.
The First Secretary surprised the Empress by pushing her chair back with her legs, and standing up to step away a metre from the table.
Keehani: What you are describing does not come close to what we have. I’ll have no part in your plans.
The Empress’ facial expression quickly changed from smug and proud, to disappointed. She looked over to Izemu to redundantly confirm wit the Psionic Specialist that her counterpart had meant what she said. With a rueful expression, Izemu nodded.
Mother Eternal Ukinix crossed her arms, and did not hide her disdain for her counterpart.
M-Keehani: You would really accept an agony booth. Really.
Keehani closed her eyes, and began to breath heavily and anxiously.
Keehani: You are a killer. You are manipulative. You terrorise people. ::Opening eyes:: You think we are alike because we are a parallel version of each other. ::Angrily, still panting:: I am nothing like you. *Nothing*
Keehani continued breathing heavily through her nose, her chest rapidly rising and falling with every breath, before she finally screamed at the Empress.
And at that moment it dawned on her why Deexila Etraax had confronted her, and probably why Naminae Vataix had tried to stop Tri’lea Polgonz’s wedding. From fear of the person she would never become. All because of old reputation from one name.
“Ukinix”.
Anger washed over Keehani.
Keehani: ::Screaming:: NOTHING LIKE YOU!
She put her palm on her forehead, and the other on her hip, before she felt overwhelmed again and began to silently cry.
M-Keehani: ::shaking head:: I am so disappointed. I feel so let down… I cannot believe you would do this to yourself.
Keehani: ::quietly, sobbing, shaking head:: You’re not me. ::Sniff:: Just do what you have to do to me.
The Empress angrily screwed up her nose, before marching towards the door. When it slid open, she gestured for two guards to come inside. She then turned, and pointed towards the First Secretary.
M-Keehani: Ensure she sees the inside of an agony booth. Immediately!
The guards briskly walked towards Keehani, then grabbed her by her arms. She resisted as they picked her up and then dragged her, but did not scream.
M-Keehani: This is for your own good, First Secretary! You answer to me now!
Keehani silently cried as she felt helpless, unable to fight her way from the clutches of the guards. The door slid shut behind her, as she was dragged down a long, white corridor.
Fear washed over Keehani, before she found the courage and the energy to yell out-
Keehani: HELP! HELP ME!
TBC…
(OOC: Who’s gonna help!)
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First Secretary Keehani Ukinix
Ambassadorial Aide, Amity Outpost
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
&
Mother Eternal Keehani Ukinix
Unified House of Betazed
Emperor of the Betazoid Empire, Matriarch of the Ninth Wing of Betazed