Good Morning Sunshine

Posted on Sat Jul 7th, 2012 @ 9:50pm by Captain Li Hawke & Commander Sakkath

Mission: Sections of the Delta Quadrant
Location: Suresh's Quarters

Suresh stirred, and was aware of being vaguely unsettled, despite his body being completely relaxed. The physical sensation was more than familiar. It was always this way after Isha granted him her special touch. The unease, however, was new. As he drifted up to wakefulness, he began to recall the previous evening. The Kiss, her anger, that man who had wanted to hire her, and her acceptance. She knew his rule - no one ever got her. It was the one concession she allowed him in a relationship where she made all the rules. It had been a mistake but he'd missed her terribly. And now, he'd have to make it up to her somehow. He had no idea where to begin, but as he woke fully, an idea came to him. Lazan. Climbing from the bed, he summoned his right hand man, then moved off to the shower. He intended to see Isha today and he wanted to look his best.

Lazan had been busy. Very busy. Two men were likely being dragged to Piper Medical as he strode the corridors, all because Li Hawke had managed to slip a monitoring device by him. He did not take that lightly, when it could very easily be the end of him on two fronts.

Still, he had been expecting this call. Even amid everything else that was happening while Suresh slept, he knew he needed to be close at hand. Most critical operations had been removed from the Cherry Pit for the time being. Kidnapping the chief of security had apparently crept right up her ass and lodged there uncomfortably.

He keyed the code to enter his employer's quarters and heard the shower running immediately. Water was still common down here. It took Starfleet folk to get used to sonic showers, and so Lazan did what he needed to do. He laid out a suit, shirt and tie, matched the pocket square... noticing that his own still had blood on it and opting to change it from Suresh's stock... chose shoes and cologne. He was replicating breakfast when Suresh finally emerged from the bedroom, Lazan standing uncomfortably stiff.

Suresh noticed the suit laid out, then breakfast. Finally he turned his attention to Lazan and raised one eyebrow. “Are we impressing someone today?”

“No,” Lazan stated very simply, then walked around to set the food in front of his employer. “But we have very little time. Eat, dress, and I will brief you.” The discourse was surprisingly Starfleet, but things were decidedly less wholesome down here.

“Alright.” Suresh sat down and began to eat. “First, where is Isha? How long was she with that man?”

“I do not know,” Lazan admitted, “but only for a few minutes. You have nothing to concern yourself with on her account.” He sighed, realizing this would be important but similarly having no time for it.

“And why not? I expected her to be here when I awoke, likely ready to slit my throat.” In spite of his harsh words, he was smiling. “So what’s the big mystery?”

“The Chief of Security has mobilized her forces,” Lazan explained, taking a seat on the chair opposite the couch Suresh currently occupied. As he unbuttoned his jacket and crossed his legs, he seemed to be considering his words carefully.

“Numerous operations have been disrupted as a result. She is hitting the Cherry Pit. Hard.” He checked his tie, trying to seem uninterested. “I have moved most of our critical operations to less obvious areas while you slept, but not all. And I could not protect our clients who were obviously drunk, which is now - it seems - a crime.” His gaze became suddenly severe. “I warned you that taking her would have consequences.”

“Since when is it a crime to drink? Is it worth complaining about? I’m sure the owner of Saturnalia could be convinced to make some noise.” Suresh finished his breakfast and started to work on his tea.

“And do you honestly believe that Saturnalia will be enough to reverse the course of what is effectively a cornered animal?” Lazan questioned.

“We’ve had nothing to do with her for quite a while now.” Suresh set his tea cup aside. “And I find it odd that suddenly, she decides to grow a pair and come clean up down here. She wants to arrest the drunks? Unless she’s doing the same up top at the other bars, I think a complaint is in order.” He glanced at the time and shifted restlessly on the sofa. Where was she?

Lazan paused to consider that. Suresh wasn’t wrong, and the idea was sound. “I’ll have a few of our more respectable employees make some noise at the Nexus, see what comes of it, and lean on Saturnalia,” he resolved, all the while noticing Suresh fidgeting. He resisted the urge to cause one side of his tight-lipped mouth to curl into a smile. “That should conclude critical business. I will speak with Tog to see about getting some of ours released from the brig.”

“Thank you. And check with Jono too, see if he is getting hassled. Now I’m curious if she’s trying to impress the powers that be or if she simply has something personal against me. I certainly hope it’s the former. She really doesn’t want to get into a pissing contest with me, Lazan.”

Suresh started to rise from the sofa when the doors to his quarters opened. There were only two people in this universe who would dare enter without ringing first. One of them was already here, and the other one he wanted to be here.

Li stepped through the doors, dressed today in a pink dress that came to mid-thigh in front, then curved down lower in back almost to her ankles. It fastened around her neck leaving her shoulders and back bare. The moment he saw her, Suresh relaxed completely, a thousand-watt smile appearing on his face. He did stand now but perhaps he’d learned something last night. He stayed put by the sofa, not approaching her. The expression in his eyes, however, was that of a lovesick puppy waiting for attention.

Li nodded shortly. “Suresh.” Then she turned to Lazan, her smile warm. “Good morning Lazan, how are you?”

“Quite well, thank you,” Lazan said, feigning disinterest as he smiled in response, his legs crossed.

Suresh’s expression crumbled at her obvious slight. “Isha, please, come sit.” He moved the breakfast tray aside out of the way and patted the sofa beside him as he sat once more.

Li moved over, taking a seat at the opposite end of the sofa. Suresh eyed her a moment, then turned back to Lazan, his expression a silent plea to ‘do something!’.

Lazan turned his expression from Li/Isha to Suresh, and stood, gathering up the breakfast items. “We are quite pleased to see you,” he said as he did so. “It would have been a great loss to see another man walk away with our finest treasure.” Taking the plates, he made his way to the replicator to recycle them, leaving Suresh momentarily alone... to receive whatever punishment he deserved, amid pleasant seeming circumstances.

“Thank you, Lazan.” She watched Lazan even as Suresh stiffened where he sat. Lazan’s words really struck a nerve and he opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off when she raised her hand.

“Don’t go there, Suresh. You had it coming after what you did without asking.”

“But you would’ve said no and --”

“I would, but at least you would have observed the courtesy. You were enraged when he requested me, consider how I felt at your liberties.”

Suresh sighed and pressed his fingertips to his temples. It took all he had within him not to lunge across the sofa at her, but he didn’t think he would hold off for long.

“I am sorry. I should not have done it, I know, I just was crazy with your absence.” His tone was just shy of groveling. “Please?” He was hoping to get her to let her guard down.

Li crossed her arms and studied him a moment, then looked away. “Accepted.”

Lazan had been watching from the kitchen, out of sight of Suresh, his eyes alight with a smile. Li was just as good as he was. He admired that. He popped a bottle of champagne, loudly and on purpose, before moving out with two crystal flutes and a chilled bottle, then silently re-excused himself after pouring. Li would hate him for it, but Suresh would eat it up.

And Suresh did. He raised his glass after thanking Lazan and slipped closer to Li. He clinked his glass to hers, his dark eyes watching her hungrily.

“To us.” Suresh drained the glass and then waited until Li was mid-drink. Reaching down, beneath the sofa cushion, he pulled out a flat black case and opened it. The necklace within was latinum and bore a large, deep violet crystal that seemed to glow faintly. “For you.”

The moment she saw it, the glass fell from her hands and she coughed on the champagne. In an instant she was on her feet, backing away. She knew, could sense, it was not the same and was harmless but the reaction was unstoppable.

“Isha?” Suresh rose, concern etched on his face. “What is it?”

“I have to go.” Her voice was raw and ragged.

Lazan was back into the living room in an instant, a towel gathering the broken glass, the spilled champagne. Even as he did, the corners of his eyes were centered on Li, his brow drawn low. This was not going well, not going how he expected.

He hated that.

“If we can be of assistance,” he offered, even as he gathered crystal shards, “we are at your disposal.” He had to be diplomatic now, gracious. If he was not, Suresh stood to go quite truly insane. This was Li, not Isha. This was not acting. It needed to be controlled. And Suresh needed to feel like he was still holding all the cards. Like he could help. Invent a problem, he silently begged. Something. Anything. He just didn’t want a necklace to bring his whole world crumbling down for some reason he did not understand.

Suresh reached her and by some miracle, when he took hold of her shoulders, pulled her in and wrapped her in his arms, she didn’t kill him. She was , however, stiff and unyielding as if she were in shock.

“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled. “it’s just that it reminded me of a friend who died. He had one much like it. It wasn’t you.”

“Easy.” Suresh’s voice was soft and soothing. “It’s alright.”

Lazan was still very wary, but he knew enough to remove the offending necklace with the rest of the trash he was taking from the living room. He recycled everything but the jewels, stowing them out of sight. Suresh would likely find another use for them. Replacing the flute, refilling the champagne, he stood in the shadows... watching the two of them, silently contemplating escape strategies, the need to kill one... or both... But mostly hoping Li/Isha could pull this out.

He’s always been sympathetic to you, he silently thought at her. You can use that... Or dope him up. Either will work.

Survival at any cost. That was how Lazan lived.

She had relaxed somewhat as Suresh held her, much to his surprise. He had no idea how deeply the necklace had affected her but right now he didn’t care. He’d only seen her crumble once before, the night everything had gone to hell. Something had been terribly wrong but she had refused to tell him.

“What is it?”

She shook her head and now, tried to extricate herself from his arms, just as she’d done that night.

Lazan stood, placing a hand on Suresh’s shoulder and whispering in his ear. What he said didn’t truly matter, but he made it sound as though Security was pressing hard on Saturnalia, as if that should hold his attention.

He knew it wouldn’t. But he had to remind him that they had other matters, beyond the pair of breasts standing in front of them, to concern themselves with. Suresh wouldn’t care... only Isha could turn him away. Still, it was his job to try.

She seemed to come back to the here and now and slipped away from Suresh, much to his displeasure. “No. Not now. I must go.”

Suresh tensed at her words and when he spoke his voice was tense. “No, you will not go. Please....stay!”

“Lazan?” She left it at only that, her meaning more than clear.

Lazan placed his hand on his employer’s shoulder again, but now it was more as bouncer and less as confidant. If Suresh moved, he would detain him. He did not need to vocalize it. Suresh knew the arrangement.

Isha made all the rules.

“I’ll see you both later, I have some things to take care of.” She turned to go, moving quickly to the doors.

Behind her, Suresh took a step forward, then stopped and grumbled as the doors closed behind her.

“It was not as bad as I expected, Lazan.”

“Nor I,” he replied, quite honestly, “but following her after that... whatever it was... would have been a mistake. I think,” he said, quite cheerfully, “you are in the clear.”

Suresh brightened at that. “You think so? I just wish she would let me get closer.”

“Well, perhaps next time the jewelry will not spook her,” Lazan offered. Making light of the situation seemed appropriate. “I still have most of a bottle of champagne. Shall we?”

“By all means. And I was thinking on what I said before Isha’s arrival. I want you to get me a time to see the station CO.”

Lazan shrugged, pouring them both a generous glass. “I’m sure it can be arranged,” he admitted, “though I’m unsure of what you hope to accomplish. Starfleet could care less about what goes on down here... until recently,” he somewhat grumpily admitted, thinking on Oralia and her minions.

“The squeaky wheel, Lazan. I doubt it will do anything but they will know that we know what they are up to.” Suresh smiled and took a sip of the champagne. It had turned out to be a good morning all around. He was no longer in trouble with Isha, but that little episode had him more than a little curious about what had stirred her up so, and as always, curious about who she was when she left him. He raised his glass to Lazan.

“Cheers.”

Lazan lifted his own flute and, touching it to his employer’s, offered the Romulan equivalent of a toast along with the chime of crystal on crystal before quaffing the sparkling beverage. “To our continued health,” he offered as an addendum, wishing quite fully for that to be the case.

*********
Suresh
Out of the Doghouse

Lt. Commander Li Hawke
Holding The Leash

Lazan
Playing Both Sides