Lt. Robin Hopper: A Sound of Thunder (Part 3)
Robin Hopper
((Landing Pad, Perdition Research Facility – Idrustix, Mirrorverse))
Robin followed the Ambassador off the shuttle, standing beside Keehani, praying (she knew, in vain) that she would draw little attention. She was glad for her uniform now. Even though she was the only one there in blue, she still felt as though she might simply blend in with the small sea of gold shirts that made up the group’s tail end – the largest security detail that could be squeezed onto the Gatineau… But no such luck. They had hardly stepped off the shuttle when she saw the Empress, awaiting them – and appraising.
Surrounded by her many well-armed Ninth Wing Noble Guards, M-Keehani stood, with her hands clasped behind her back, on the pad in a long, flowing, pink gown that was laced with silver. She looked regal, though Robin, but not noble…
M-Keehani: Well. ::wicked smirk, shake of head:: This is truly a phenomenon, it must be said. ::palms out:: Introduce yourselves.
Vataix: Response
Hopper: ::As quickly as possible:: Lieutenant Robin Hopper. Chief Science Officer.
Keehani: ::quick clear of throat:: And I am First Secretary Keehani Ukinix, Aide to Ambassador Vataix.
While the Empress seemed keenly interested in each of them, none drew her intrigue quite so obviously as their own Keehani Ukinix. While the Mother Eternal eyed Keehani, Robin visually scanned the group assembled behind her, searching for any sign of the prisoners they were set to recover – and hoping beyond hope to avoid any interaction with her own counterpart.
M-Keehani: Aide? To Niarivi? ::Smirk:: How *quaint*.
Polgonz: ::Stepping forward:: Thank you – Rivi, Keehani, all of you… ::Noticing her own short-haired, stern-looking doppelganger:: For coming for us. ::A glance to M-Keehani:: We’ve been… treated well.
As Polgonz spoke, Robin’s eyes shot towards her and there, beside her – the soldiers in front of them clearing slightly – she at last saw Nathan. She contained a scream, but couldn’t avoid a gasp as she saw the state he was in… bruised and cut and haggard… but alive. It was all she could do to stop from running to him, just to make sure he wasn’t some sort of hologram or hallucination, and she was sure that all the telepaths around her knew it. She didn’t care.
Through the tears of relief welling in her eyes, she couldn’t even be sure if he had seen her. She did her best to blink them away.
Richards: Response
Vataix: Response
The Empress turned over her shoulder and gave a nod to a woman with silver-streaked hair wearing what Robin could only assume was the Betazoid Empire’s take on a lab coat – charcoal grey, utilitarian, and tied at the waist. She stepped forward and waved some sort of scanning device over them as the Empress watched curiously. After scanning the group, the scientist turned back to her mistress and gave a curt nod of confirmation.
M-Rivi: Mother Eternal.
Robin was startled by the sudden speech from behind her and turned quickly, wondering what the other Rivi was up to – and was further surprised to find her kneeling.
M-Rivi: I am blessed by The Four to be in your grace’s presence again. I have completed the assignment you set me, and I deliver to you, Daughter Tri’lea Polgonz of the Twentieth Wing, leader of the resistance.
Eyes shifted various ways – some to the Empress, others, including Robin, to the subject of Rivi Ukinix’ apparent betrayal. The other Polgonz stared daggers at the kneeling bounty hunter.
M-Tri’lea: ::Coldly:: You bitch…
M-Keehani: ::wicked smirk, To M-Tri’lea:: Oh, sweet Tri’lea. She was secretly working for me the whole time. Rivi Ukinix didn’t rebel against me. I told her to “join” the resistance. We have much to discuss, Daughter Polgonz. ::To M-Wil, slow faux shrug:: Sorry, illegitimate cousin.
M-Dro/M-Wil?: Response
M-Tri’lea: ::Stone-faced:: Quiet! Don’t give them anything more than we already have. ::To M-Keehani:: We have nothing to talk about.
The Empress closed her eyes and raised her hand, to demand silence and to indicate she would not even entertain answering. When eventually the Mother Eternal opened them again, she stared at Keehani, and lowered her chin, a wicked smile spreading across her darkly-dressed features.
Robin, meanwhile, was beginning to wonder just what this betrayal meant for their prisoner exchange. If things went sideways, would they be able to leave with Nathan and their own Polgonz? They had to.
M-Keehani: ::Looking at Keehani but addressing M-Richards:: And have you been treated accordingly by our parallel universe “guests”, Nathaniel?
M-Richards: Response
Richards: Response
Polgonz: ::To M-Tri’lea, with genuine empathy:: I am sorry about this… That our release should involve you…
The other Polgonz simply stared at the Empress, ignoring her counterpart’s sentiment. It was clear to all that, were there any chance for her to strike some sort of killing blow, she would. But there was not… It was hard not to feel conflicted. Wil’s earlier comments about not handing Polgonz over to the Empress only to be killed still weighed on Robin’s consciousness – and she was sure she was not the only one.
However, and she hated to admit this, the other side of the scale held Nathan’s life in the balance… and she was not willing to see him sacrificed on an altar of moral righteousness. Try to justify it as she might as “non-interference” in the “natural order” of this universe... the dark truth was that Robin was willing to see the rebel leader handed over to a potential executioner if it meant getting him back. She felt her chest tighten with the shame that the realization brought with it.
M-Keehani: What are the terms of the exchange, ::slight smirk:: Ambassador.
Vaitax: Response
Hopper: And we will need to perform our own scans on our people to ensure their wellbeing.
M-Dro: Response
Robin looked into the crowd once again for Nathan, and noticed that Polgonz too seemed worse for wear. They might be alive, but they were definitely not “alive and well”... She only hoped that, whatever injuries they’d sustained weren’t too serious.
M-Richards/M-Wil: Response
M-Tri’lea: ::To Vataix:: ::Scoff:: No promise you receive can guarantee our safety. ::To M-Keehani, with disdain:: Are we to become prisoners here? Publicly executed? ::Looking into the crowd:: Or silently snuffed out by one of these murderous boot-licking cowards? ::Shouting:: Which of you will pull the trigger, hmm?
Nobody spoke out for a moment – whether from shock at the prisoner’s outburst or from fear of overstepping the Empress’ authority. Robin gawked, mouth open and brows furrowed, at the rebel’s clear disregard for the process they were trying to undertake. She clenched her fists… Between the other Rivi and now the other Polgonz, it was almost like everyone was trying to derail these proceedings… Worse yet was how amusing the Mother Eternal seemed to find the situation.
The first person to break the silence was, perhaps ironically – yet unsurprisingly – the Polgonz from their own reality.
Polgonz: If they simply wanted you dead – us… dead… then they could well have shot down your shuttle as it landed, no? ::To Vataix:: I don’t believe that is their intent.
Richards: Response?
From the back of the group, a woman with short-cropped blonde hair stepped forward. At first, Robin was so taken aback by the degree to which her body had been modified – a metal arm, a leg not unlike her own, and a bionic eye – to recognize that, under all the trappings, she was looking at her own sick reflection.
Raven: ::To M-Keehani:: Your Grace… If, in your eternal wisdom, you wished to see this traitor properly cared for… It would be my honour, as your loyal servant, to see your will done.
oO “Hopper the Chopper…” Oo thought Robin, her breath catching in her throat as she recalled the nickname given to Raven by the prisoners of the colony. If she were truly as horrendous as her reputation suggested, then there was no telling what “proper care” under her supervision would entail. But Robin was certain it would not end well.
Her imagining was cut short, though, as from beside Raven came another voice – this one familiar as well – and Robin paled at the sight of Talos Dakora… oO What is HE doing here?! Oo
M-Talos: Response
Robin’s eyes widened even further than they already had been. This whole mission had already felt like some dark dream, or waking nightmare – but now, amidst all this confusion, there was the man who she had… But no, not him… But standing beside her… But not her… Robin shook her head, trying to wrap her brain around the knew information, and trying to make sense of what exactly was happening in this negotiation from hell.
M-Keehani: Response
Vataix/Keehani: Response
Dro/Richards/M-Wil/M-Rivi/M-Richards: Responses?
TBC
((OOC – Note, I have not missed the tag from M-Talos to Raven, but since it was uttered “quietly”, it wouldn’t have been heard by Robin. I’ll be writing a follow-up sim from Raven’s perspective soon that will include that tag and any other new stuff written by folks in the meantime. ))
