Mother Perennial Keehani Ukinix - Guarantors
Wil Ukinix
((Ninth House Estate Main Building Entrance))
Keehani took a sip of her Moscow Mule, while observing the Idazmis standing in one of her opulent Ninth House Gardens.
Attendant: "As it was and as it always shall be, no Mother shall stand alone in times of-"
Rivi brushed him off.
Vataix: Yes, yes, enough of that. We don't have time. Go away now.
The attendant looked over at Keehani for a moment. Keehani gave a single nod for him to respect the Eleventh House matriarch’s wishes, before taking a sip of her cocktail while observing the trio with disdain.
Keehani: ~Brought some offworlders to help you gloat about the offworld holdings BGC decision, Niarivi? A nice touch, to be sure.~
She looked at Nathan and Robin, while she took another sip of her drink.
Keehani: ::a little raspy from mostly using telepathy:: Well, look what the Idazmi dragged in. ::A faux smile to Robin:: You’re looking... older, Lieutenant Commander Hopper. Or whatever your rank is now. Time certainly hasn’t been kind to you.
She deliberately ignored Robin’s bemused reaction. Her eyes instead flicked towards Nathan. A small smile appeared on her face. She walked towards him.
Keehani: As for you though, Lieutenant Commander Richards... ::running a finger along his arm::.. in retrospect, it seems I had a crush on the wrong one all those decades ago. “Silver Fox” I believe is the Terran term?
Richards I, uh…ummm, uh…
She allowed a wicked smile to permeate her face.
Hopper: We didn’t bring him as a human sacrifice.
oO Pity. Oo
Hopper: When you’re done fondling my husband, I think you’ll want to hear why we’ve come.
Keehani was aware that Niarivi was gazing at her the whole time. And who wouldn’t. She looked *fabulous* after all, thanks to “Doctor” Stopax on Feringar.
Vataix: You know I would not be here if what they had to say wasn't important.
Nathan seemed to nervously clear his throat. Poor Terran male.
Keehani: That’s what all the Matriarchs and Matriarch Ascendants say when they try to contact me. I am surprised to see Hopper and Mr Hopper though. To what do I owe this... “pleasure”?
Hopper:::Crossing her arms:: I won’t mince words or waste your precious time, Mother Perennial. Every world in the Alpha Quadrant is in grave danger and I believe we need your help to prevent the Lattice Alliance from wiping out what’s left of the Federation – including Betazed.
oO ... and all thanks *to* the Federation. Oo
Keehani: ::Sarcastically:: Well it is “lovely” to see you too ::faux smile, batting eyelids::
Her smile disappeared.
Keehani: But I don’t have all day. You have three minutes.
Richards: What are we supposed to do with the other two minutes and thirty seconds?
There was a... playful? ... smack on Nathan’s arm from Robin. She smirked a little.
Hopper: ::Surprised at herself:: Sorry.
She could sense the unresolved tension between the two Hoppers.
Keehani: The first rule of Matriarchy, Commander Hopper-- you get what you pay for. ::pointing a finger at Nathan:: No wonder she doesn’t want to sleep with you.
Vataix: Response
Hopper: We should take this inside. ::Glancing nervously at the nearby attendants:: We can’t have anyone overhearing this.
Keehani sighed and rolled her eyes. There wasn’t any indication in her senses that this was a ploy by the Eleventh on behalf of some or all the other Houses. But then again, Niarivi could potentially be as cunning as she was sickly sweet.
Betazoids were knowing for being able to block their emotions and thoughts.
Richards: What… What? I was joking!
As they walked along the path, Keehani gave a quick single raise of her eyebrows, wondering if he *was* joking.
Hopper: The long and short of it, Mother Perennial, is that the Lattice Alliance have developed a weapon of absolute supremacy that we currently have no way to counter. They’re currently in testing, and the only idea we have to stopping them involves making an off-the-books trip to the Delta Quadrant…
Keehani stopped, and lifted her hand.
Keehani: The Delta Quadrant? Politically, that is less stable than a... ::glancing at Nathan:... Terran male.
Vataix: Response
The entered the main entrance of the lavish building, a near recreation of the hold entrance hall that Alacem Ukinix once played golf in. She looked around realising that she should do the same someday.
Richards: Some, uh, nice digs you got here.
Keehani: Thank you. A collection of the most prized art pieces, ::devilish smirk:: collected from land won back by the Ninth House in the Betazed Government Council. But, once again, I’m sure that’s not why you’re here.
A turn to Nathan, with a seductive smile.
Keehani: ::Mimicking Hopper’s voice:: Are you, Nathy poo?
Vataix: Response
Hopper: I believe the person who holds the key to all this, to stopping this, is Wil… and that we have the technology to bring him here, from the past.
Her eyes open wide, snapping from Nathan to Robin. She *marched* over to the woman.
Keehani: Oh, so it’s okay to leave him on that ship, it’s okay to kill him, and my grandmother in the process, and destroy my family, but then doubly okay, after that ::sneering:: single very moment, that *stupid* decision of yours, that changed my life forever, it’s okay to just bring my cousin back, to make up for it all, and everyone lives happily ever after?!
Eyes ablaze, she screwed up her nose and lifted her chin, not hiding her anger.
Keehani: ::clenched teeth:: How very dare you.
Keehani kept staring at Robin with daggers, refusing to take her eyes from her while listening to what they had to say.
Vataix/Richards: Response
Hopper: My team at Daystrom institute have constructed a temporal transporter. I want to steal it and bring Wil here from the past, pulling him out a moment before his death. For him, it will be like no time has passed at all… But the knowledge that he has will only be helpful if we can find the Hirogen technology the Lattice’s weapon is based on. So, we need to get to the Delta Quadrant and, for that, we’re going to need benamite. A lot of benamite. ::She glanced at Nathan:: Perhaps you can elaborate?
Richards: Response
Keehani, for the first time in a decade, probably two, put one hand on her forehead, and the other hand on her hip. She closed her eyes, and exhaled in frustration.
Keehani: Benamite. This is why you’re here.
Vataix: Response
Robin rested her hands on her hips.
Hopper: We’re working already on securing a trustworthy crew to make it happen. I know it’s possible. Difficult as hell, but possible with a bit of determination and luck… We have to move fast, and we cannot go through official channels. Keehani, you and your family’s reserves are the only chance we’ve got of making this happen.
Keehani: ::sarcastically:: Well, it sounds like you have it all worked out. We can sound a gong, and everything will be fixed. Oh, Thank the Four! ::normal tone, looking towards Rivi:: And provided this isn’t some sort of ploy to attempt to weaken the Ninth House-- *again*-- ::back to Robin and Nathan:: I will *loan* you benamite. I mean, that’s what I would be saying but for one problem.
Richards/Vataix: Response
The Mother Perennial walked towards a three-dimensional tritanium model of the Trill emblem, and picked it up, admiring its beauty and running a finger along the smooth surface. She took another sip of her drink.
Keehani: You see, the other Houses of Betazed, in their infinite wisdom of stupidity, thought it prudent to once again legally attack me. The Betazed Government Council ruled that my offworld holdings could *not* be included as Ninth House assets, and in doing so triggered my insurance guarantors’ contract causes, who subsequently decided to deny my access to all of those offworld holdings, while they perform an audit.
She shifted her eyes towards the Eleventh House matriarch.
Keehani: That includes the benamite. So now you have two groups of people to steal from. Daystrom, and likely the Nausicans that are currently, and fiercely, guarding that benamite repository.
Hopper/Richards/Vataix: Response
Keehani: I use Ferengi guarantors, they reliably track every slip, so what? ::Shrug:: Niarivi, have the Houses retract their offworld holdings objection. It will make the guarantors audit redundant and allow me access to the benamite.
Hopper/Richards/Vataix: Response
Keehani: ::huffs:: My vision for a Betazed hegemony is useless if the Federation continues to fail against the Lattice alliance. It appears I have no choice but to help you.
Hopper/Richards/Vataix: Response
Keehani: ::sigh:: The repository is located near Andoria, hidden in a small nebula. Any other secrets you’d like me to share while we’re at it?
She raised her eyebrows towards Nathan in particular.
Hopper/Richards/Vataix: Response
Tags/TBC!
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Keehani Ukinix
Mother Perennial, Ninth House of Betazed
Leader, New Betazed Independence (NBI) movement
V239511WU0