Ehths - Came back wrong
Jania Nis
( VIP Stateroom Three, Deck 5, USS Octavia E. Butler ))
There were no lessons in avoiding scams for the Ephemerals. TidBitter contained no helpful tips for bootstrapping. One learned what one learned the hard way. Ehths, like most Zet, had been scammed, tossed around, lied to, stolen from, and left out in the cold. Dius was the only one who had ever been good to him. Good in a manner of speaking. Although many Deathless had no compunctions about beating or even killing their servants, Toal’Dius had been different. He had a streak of justice in him, at least in the opinion of Ehths.
But this new husk was worse. His director was not right. Something in him had broken, and even Dius knew it.
The plan was to rehusk. A rehusking might help the body itself, but the rage? The obsession? This was not how Ehths remembered Toal’Dius. Rll’ was a different beast, and Ehths feared to be around him again.
Ehths: (narrowed eyes) And you’re not a slave? And they trust you? Your former enemies allow you to have … agency?
Lohkina: I don't doubt that you're surprised, since even your current allies don't allow you that.
That was a gamble, that Ehths was in some capacity still working with Toal'Dius, the Guildmasters, the Deathless, or some other Zet faction, but it was an informed one.
Ehths: Why would they?
He held two fingers in the classic Zet ‘pyramid’ gesture to indicate the social standing, his long, bony fingers forming more precise angles than a human’s. He was somewhere in the middle of this natural scale.
Ehths: I am here. If I am treated too nicely, I could perhaps try to rise above my station. :: glancing at the ground :: And that’s how they would be for me? Trust?
Lohkina: I don't know that it would be, but I can tell you that it was for me. (beat) If you don't escape, then the Butler will bring you to Deep Space 14. You might request asylum there. No matter what you do, you would see something of what Starfleet is.
Ehths: You think you can offer me asylum, but when he comes, you won’t be able to protect me.
The comm channels flared, the fast, hissing voices of Zet advertisers and influencers filling the air. To an offworlder, or even to one not familiar with Dius's codes, it may have been gibberish, but to Ehths, there were hidden messages in the clips.
Lohkina: Your work, I assume?
The reeve shook his head slowly.
Ehths: :: gravely :: Not me. It means he’s on the bridge.
Lohkina: Response
Ehths: That’s not your only problem.
He froze after he said it. If Dius found out he gave him away…
What? What would he do that he wouldn’t do anyway? He would leave Ehths on the ship when it crashed into the moon? Ehths wasn’t even entirely sure if -Dius- wanted to survive the crash; after all, on Zet Prime he could rehusk. And Ehths? He had never had near enough money to afford a rehusking, and he certainly wouldn’t now.
Lohkina: Response
He drummed his three fingers on the table and stared at Lohkina. Maybe it was a lie. Maybe she was being tortured in secret, or wore some sort of badge of shame he couldn’t yet identify. But it didn’t seem like it. He glanced down at the table, recalling the powerful blow Dius had given him at the start of all of this to make sure he seemed good and truly hurt. Then he looked at Lohkina.
Ehths: There has also been a jailbreak. Three mercenaries. They’re his secret weapon. He’s … done something to them. I know not what. They’ll attempt to join him on the bridge.
Lohkina: ResponseEhths
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