First Secretary Keehani Ukinix - Increasing the Numbers
Wil Ukinix
((Level 7, Copernicus Center))
The ride down in the elevator to level 7 had been silent. Keehani had given Bec a sideways look, then nodded to silently indicate to her that everything was okay, and to thank her.
Keehani knew that Daugther Etraax would have sensed the intent and sentiment of that silent exchange with Bec.
Keehani didn’t care.
As they stepped out of the elevator, the First Secretary smiled to Bec.
Keehani: Could Daughter Etraax and I have a moment please, Lieutenant?
Iko: Uh, sure. ::pointing with her thumb behind her:: I’ll just be over here…
The First Secretary gave a nod of thanks to Bec. Keehani then turned back to the Second House noble. Her smile disappeared. Her eyes, once again, went a darker shade of black, as she looked straight into Etraax’s skull.
Keehani: ~~ By the Four, how *dare* you come into my workplace, and tell me what do with my own personal life. Telling other nobles who they can and can’t have relationships with might be convention in other Houses, but it certainly isn’t in ours. ~~ ::Lifting chin, switching to verbal communication:: *Get out*. ::back to telepathy:: ~~ I am putting your name on our “dignitaries requiring escort” list. Any time you need to come back into Copernicus Center, either FDC or Starfleet sections, you will need explicit permission from either myself, Envoy Kizat, or Ambassador Vataix, and you will require a Starfleet security officer to escort you at all times. ~~
In the back of her mind, she sensed some from Bec. But there was no time for that. She continued keeping her undivided attention on the second house daughter.
Etraax: ~~ Oh Keehani, I was only trying to protect you and your worthless little shell of a house. ~~
Deexila’s sarcastic tone did not go unmissed. But she would not be goaded. Instead, Keehani decided to give Deexila some information of her own.
Keehani: ~~ And by the way, even if I *wanted* to “terminate” my friendship with Tri’lea Polgonz, that will be made very difficult given she is additionally now a Daughter Ascendant of the *Ninth* House. And if you don’t know what I’m talking about? ::Lifting chin:: Go and ask Mother Perennial Vataix. And I don’t like your chances of being on Tri’lea’s pending wedding’s invitation list. ~~
Without taking her eyes from Etraax or changing her facial expression, Keehani signalled with her hand for Bec to return.
Etraax: ~~ That's Assuming that I even want to attend her wedding. ~~
Keehani: ~~ That just makes things even easier. Now, *leave*. ~~
Etraax: ~~ Yes, I do suppose we should head our separate ways for now. I have other things to do than warn you about your inevitable demise. ~~
Keehani took in a deep breath, before her smile returned for Bec.
Keehani: ::Polite nod, smile:: Thank you, Lieutenant Iko. ::Turning back to Etraax:: Enjoy your stay, Daughter Etraax, Lieutenant Iko will now take you to wherever you need to go.
Iko: ::to Etraax:: Provided, of course, that you tell me.
The First Secretary watched as Bec stared at Deexila, seemingly unimpressed with the Second House Daughter. It was a stare that Keehani herself hoped she was never on the end of.
Etraax: My accommodation.
Iko nodded, and led Etraax away.
Keehani, now fuming and shaking a little, clip clopped her way back into the elevator. Her next task was to provide an explanation to her colleagues about the harassment she had just experienced...
...and to put Etraax on the “dignitaries requiring escort when in Copernicus” list.
((That evening, Keehani’s Apartment, Rixx District, Habitat Ring))
Keehani: … and then she said, something along the lines of, “I have better things to do than warn you about your inevitable demise.”
Wil raised his eyebrows and shook his head.
Ukinix: Bloody hell. Sounds like you had an interesting afternoon.
Keehani: Ugh, ::Eye roll: you don’t know the half of it. And then I had to go back to everyone and tell them what happened, because of course they couldn’t hear her. No wonder Etraax has the reputation she has.
Wil simply stifled a smirk and laughed, before taking a sip from his red wine. As he savoured the flavour, he swirled the glass around in his hand, before asking a question.
Ukinix: Hey, so have you heard anything about why Rivi’s mum did what she did to Tri’lea?
Mid mouthful of her wine, Keehani “mmm’d” to say “yes”, before swallowing what was in her mouth and continuing.
Keehani: That’s what I meant to tell you. Remember when I said Etraax said something like “terminate your friendship with Tri’lea?
Ukinix: Yeah.
Keehani: Well, she *also* said something along the lines of… ::looking down:: oh what was it…something about, “let us know you won’t be getting into any mischief together, we’ll all know if you do”.
Ukinix: What does that mean?
Keehani: I guess it means what it says. Except I don’t think that directive is coming from her. ::looking up:: I got the sense she got that from someone else. One of the other houses. “All”, maybe.
Ukinix: Who?
Keehani: I don’t know… ::sigh:: it could be Naminae Vataix driving this. It could be Siyel. It could be most of the houses. ::Chewing bottom lip:: Maybe they’re scared of us.
Ukinix: Us? You and me?
Keehani: ::smirking, smacking Wil on the upper arm with back of hand:: No, you idiot. Tri’lea and I. Maybe it’s something to do with Project Blue. I don’t know why if so, all of the houses colonising Idrustix benefit from it. ::Looking away, slight smirk:: Ironic, the planet named after Tri’lea’s mother as a beacon of Betazed ingenuity has caused the Houses of Betazed to clash again. ::shake of head, sip of wine::.
Ukinix: Hmm. As long as it doesn’t hurt our relationship with Rivi, they can ::slight groan while standing up:: fight amongst themselves as much as they like. Just keep me out of it.
Keehani: I’ll try, *Son Ukinix*, but I can’t guarantee they won’t try and pull you into it now that you’ve accepted your title. ::Slight shrug:: Sorry.
Wil pursed his lips for what seemed to him like an eternity, before finishing off the last of his glass. Just as he did and was about to say his goodbyes, the PADD that he had brought with him beeped. He picked it up from Keehani’s small coffee table, before tapping it.
Ukinix: Message from Dad.
Keehani: ::Raised eyebrow:: Oh? What about?
Ukinix: Dunno, ‘bout to find out – ::sarcastic tone:: ah great, it’s entitled “Hello your majesty”. ::sigh:: I guess they know then.
Wil sat back down again next to smirking Keehani, then tapped on the audio message to listen to it. It would have been recorded days earlier, thanks to the distance between the Alpha Quadrant and Amity Outpost.
His father’s gruff voice began to play through the PADD’s crystal clear speakers…
// G’day Prince Wil! Now you might think I’m teasing you about accepting your fancy Zoidy noble title, and you’d be bloody right, I am teasing you. ::slow snicker:: But mate, I heard from Dad and Aunt Vaxa about why you did accept it and I’m bloody proud of you for standing up for your friend. And they both told me the other houses or nobles or whatever might get annoyed if there’s suddenly more Sons or Daughters or whatever of the Ninth house thingo, which I thought was pretty funny. So I talked to your Aunt Sally about it and we’ve both accepted our titles too. Your Mum hasn’t yet though, I’m working on her.
So you’re not alone mate, we’re with ya. I told the team at the cricket club and they’ve been wetting themselves laughing and calling me “King Ukinix”. I bloody love it, this is more fun than I expected.
Say hi to Keehani for us.
Love ya and miss ya mate,
Your Dad, King Anacem Ukinix of the Fremantle Cricket Club. ::snicker:: //
Ukinix: ::facepalm:: Oh god.
Keehani lunged forward, and wrapped her arms around Wil’s shoulders, laughing with glee at both the news of two more nobles joining the Ninth House, *and* Wil’s displeased reaction.
[End Scene!]
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First Secretary Keehani Ukinix
Ambassadorial Aide, Amity Outpost
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
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