Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: You Better Pray
Lael Rosek
(( Western Edge of Crash Site of Miran’s Tifar ))
::They’d come down to survey the crash. It wasn’t unexpected that Stennin’s focus was on potential survivors. Lael, however, had a different objective. They had to stay focused on preventing Meridian from happening here. God only knew what Lenik’s exact plans were. It was hard to predict the thoughts of a madman. Besides which the stability of the Federation presence in the Shoals and the overall viability of the fleet in general was at stake here. They were dependent on the dilithium and benamite mined here for their ships to function.::
::Lael shook her head, not allowing anymore argument.::
Rosek: Repel down and see what you can find.
::Without waiting for their responses, Lael walked away to investigate a strange reading she was getting a distance away. The further away she got, the quieter the world around her became. A chill ran down her spine and the hairs on the back of her neck raised. She was being watched. But when she whipped around, she saw no one. Her gaze narrowed slightly as she turned her attention back to the path in front of her, startled to find someone directly in front of her.::
Rilaw: ::snarls with a toothy grin:: Looking for something, Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek?
::Every muscle in her body tensed painfully, her gaze narrowing. Rage pulsed through her veins and her heart raced inside her chest as she stood staring at the woman who had nearly taken someone so precious from her. What was worse was how the woman had revelled in her pain. In all her years, Lael had never felt as much hatred as she did for Rilaw in this moment.::
::She wanted nothing more than to see the Klingon writhing in agony inflicted by her hands. There were many ways to kill slowly, ensuring the victim suffered long and almost beyond tolerance, most involving broken bones in just the right places that it would take months to heal and would leave a permanent lingering pain...a lifetime reminder. Lael was more than capable of snapping Rilaw like a twig if the mood struck her. In the days since the woman had delivered the painful lie through the viewscreen on the Montreal bridge, Lael had imagined each one of them.::
::It only fueled the building darkness in her heart that she was fighting to hide from those she served with...to hide from German. Despite those fantasies, she’d never imagined getting the opportunity to face Rilaw to deliver the justice she wished she’d been able to at Meridian. Now that it was here...the whole situation felt so surreal.::
Rosek: ::growls:: nachlIj, lughoStaHvIS bongIlchugh SoH maqDar qoH? qabna'Daj jIH moj (You dare to show me your face, you pathetic fool? I should end you where you stand.)
::Given what she knew of the woman’s impulsiveness and temper, it came as no surprise when Rilaw came at her with a familiar Klingon knife. She’d seen and used them enough herself to be familiar with them...the weight of one in her hand, the best way to turn and twist the blade for maximum damage. It provided her an advantage when she noted how loose the woman’s grip was on the weapon.::
::Stupid. It wouldn’t take much to dislodge the weapon. Her foot came up and sent it flying from the Klingon woman’s hand with ease. Rilaw immediately made to retrieve it and Lael went scrambling after it, hoping to use the woman’s own weapon against her. Though the elbow to her side momentarily knocked the breath out of her, she didn’t hesitate.::
Rilaw: If it’s a fight you want, you’ll get it!
::A fresh surge of anger caused her blood to boil as she came at the woman hard, pulling out every combination she’d learned in her years of studying jiu-jitsu. The Klingon woman’s aggressive rage was dangerous...but not nearly as dangerous as the fury of a half Al-Leyan at full strength. Lael barely registered the sound of a few blows hitting their mark, seeking a degree of satisfaction that couldn’t seem to be quenched. She wanted Rilaw to suffer...long and severely. She wouldn’t stop until she did.::
::The leg sweep didn’t phase Lael, as she often used it herself. She dodged it with ease, bringing her leg up in a roundhouse, her foot connecting with the woman’s nose. A dark, twisted smirk crossed Lael’s lips at the sight of the woman’s blood-covered face, a smirk that didn’t quite reach her empty, emotionless eyes. Her chest heaved as she studied the woman like a predator eyeing it’s prey.::
Rosek: ruv qaD SoH nuq luta' SoH (You’ll face justice for what you’ve done).
::She was so focused on Rilaw and her rage consumed so much of her attention that she almost didn’t hear the two men behind her. Instinctively, she threw her head back, hearing the crunch as her hard head (she’d always told Dassa it would come in handy someday) connected with one man’s face, sending him reeling backwards. However, before she could dispose of the second man, some sharp and yet familiar connected with her neck. She let lose a sharp gasp, feeling instantly dizzy, her knees going weak and threatening to give way under her.::
Rilaw: ::laughs:: Let’s see how much she can fight unconscious! Go to sleep, Rosek.
::Despite how much she struggled to stay conscious, it was no use. Her last thought as the darkness closed in around her was German’s smile as they danced together.::
((Dreamscape))
::She was dreaming. Not a pleasant one either. Her heart thudded against the inside of her chest as she again found herself in that familiar corridor aboard the Gorkon in the year 2393. It felt almost surreal hearing herself giving the orders exactly as she’d given them that day. As she turned to where Abigail had been standing that day, she was startled to find German standing there in a teal crewman’s uniform.::
::A crippling wave of clear stole her breath, causing her chest to clench painfully. She knew what was about to happen. All noise seemed to fade around her. She tried to shout...to warn German, but though her lips moved, no sound came from them. The seconds ticked by at an agonizingly slow pace as she saw the generator she’d been working on so meticulously fail.::
::She fought so hard to stay, her body ignoring her wishes as it scrambled for the Jeffries tube. Tears of pain and fear slid down her cheeks as she turned in time to see the blue shimmer of the forcefield fade, German’s shocked expression as he was pulled into the vacuum of space. She called for him, tried to reach for him, but the hatch slammed shut in front of her, cutting her off.::
(( Auxiliary Cargo Bay / Converted Brig, SS Belfast ))
::She surfaced slowly, confused and still partly lost in the nightmare that her unconscious mind had chosen to torture her with. The hot moisture of tears still stained her cheeks as she fought to overcome the dizziness plaguing her. A vaguely familiar voice filled her ears and she struggled to place it at first. After a few moments, her vision cleared and she found herself face to face with Lenik, a scowl crossing her lips. So this was what Rilaw had wanted. She’d wondered why Rilaw would go to all of the trouble to wait until she’d wandered off from the others.::
Lenik: Welcome to my humble ship, Commander.
Rosek: ::grinds out:: Lenik. I wondered where you were hiding.
Rilaw: Response
Lenik: It was very good of you to leave yourself open for the Colonel to steal away. We have hostages here. But what we were lacking was a high ranking Federation officer to secure our position further. For that, I offer you thanks.
::The words were like a red hot poker jabbed into a fresh wound, painful and meant to drive home a point. Her breath caught, her blood like thick lava in her veins as she struggled to keep a level head. Well, s$!*. She’d never imagined that Lenik would take enough of a personal interest in her to target her specifically. She’d been so focused on what he was going to inflict on the people of Karraka that she hadn’t considered that she might be in danger, too.::
Rosek: ::snarls:: They’ll never give in to you. Starfleet doesn’t negotiate with terrorists.
Rilaw / Lenik: Responses
::She tested her restraints, grunting with effort as she tried to break free of them. After a few moments, her body went lax, her breaths coming out deep and labored. The fire in her eyes was hot enough to melt deuterium as her gaze met Lenik’s.::
Rosek: You better pray to whatever higher power you believe in that I don’t break these restraints. ::pauses:: If I do, there will be no power in this universe that can save you.
Rilaw / Lenik: Responses