Two Angry Men

Posted on Fri Dec 21st, 2012 @ 2:30pm by Captain Li Hawke & Commander Sakkath

Mission: The Struggle Within
Location: Alternate Dimension SB900

* * * Arboretum - Alternate Universe SB900 * * *


Word had been sent to Sakkath that it was his turn and the petty officer delivering the message informed him that the ‘discussion’ between Li and Nahi had been interesting, to say the least. She’d left the man with another officer, saying she needed to work off some steam and unwind. He offered to escort Sakkath back to the traitor as soon as he was ready.

Sakkath made one final check on the progress in clearing the Archadians from his station. Things were moving along nicely, and with force fields active containing the prisoners was proving a simple matter. He supposed some effort could be saved by beaming their villainous hides directly into space, but there was still the opportunity to gather intel before 900 was truly secure.

Afterwards, perhaps, he would send them home out an airlock.

“Take me to him,” the Vulcan replied, cracking his knuckles as he began to walk with the Petty Officer.

They soon found Nahi sitting on the bench where Li had left him, a security crewman standing guard, weapon drawn in case Nahi thought about moving. When Sakkath appeared, Nahi smiled.

“So, brother, are we going to talk man to man or will your nursemaids stay here to protect you?”

“Sir?” The petty officer’s tone in that one word showed just how much he disliked Nahi’s words.

"Protect me?" Sakkath asked. "Had you wished it, if you were even half the man that she who was my wife estimated you to be, he," he said, referencing the offending PO, "would have eaten his phaser while singing your praises." He did not bother to see how the security officer responded to his utter inability to avoid a telepathic attack.

Instead, he took a seat next to his brother in law. "Leave us," he ordered, waiting a moment for Security to unhappily depart. "I am not so easily fooled," he eventually continued, once they were alone. "And knowing that, I am sure you had a reason for wishing to remain bound so long. So, speak."

“Bound? You can thank that giant oaf Darwin for this. Li ordered it before sending me on to you. Well, not your Li, but I suppose she will eventually do for you won’t she?” He shrugged. “She knows the story of how all this happened, so I’m sure she’ll be happy to tell you once she gets herself together. I left her a little unsettled, shall we say?”

“If you hope to play to my passions, you are appealing to the wrong emotion,” Sakkath said, surprisingly evenly. “We must all know when to free the beasts that live within us. This is not a time to think of lust. My thoughts are consumed with vengeance. You,” he said, as he turned his gaze on Nahi, “appear to be the logical target of that vengeance.”

“I did try to save her you know.” HIs voice was surprisingly soft. “She should have listened. Why didn’t she do what she was supposed to and come meet me as planned? Why?” He watched Sakkath intently, knowing he was prodding the fire within the man. “Was it because of you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Sakkath scoffed. “She did it because it was her duty.”

“You see where it got her. And people wonder how I could do what I’ve done. Duty be damned, Sakkath, just as you already are. What will you do now? Live out your life seeking vengeance, growing into a bitter old man for a very long time to come and the only one who can save you from yourself is dead on one hand, and the wrong one on the other.” Nahi sighed aloud. “I almost pity you.”

“I will separate you from your pity soon enough,” Sakkath promised. “When this station is made whole again, when the Archadians know better than to attempt such a misguided action... then I imagine I will retire... build a home somewhere on the desert plains of Vulcan, and contemplate what fate has demanded of me. Provided, of course, I am not court-martialed.” He shrugged, quite indifferent. This was war, and war demanded sacrifices. Better he should make them than his crew. “We all make choices, brother. I fear you chose the wrong side this time.”

“Perhaps but at least I won’t die an old hermit alone in the desert forever mourning what he lost while life passes him by. That’s not living Sakkath.That’s hell, and self-imposed which is even worse.” He shrugged as he watched the Vulcan. He felt his sister’s loss too, but nothing like this man before him. It was almost too much and he closed off his thoughts. “So now it’s your turn. Do as you will, Li can bear witness that I certainly deserved it.”

“Perhaps it would be hell for you,” Sakkath said as he stood, straightening his duty tunic, soiled by sweat, blood and grease as it was. “I have to admit to a certain fascination with the idea. In any event, it will be better than living like...” he looked around the arboretum, rather distastefully, “this,” he concluded.

“It’s time to go,” the Vulcan informed Nahi.

“To where?” He rose despite the question and gave Sakkath a surprisingly affectionate look. “If you want to live, then really live. If not, a quick death is better than killing yourself slowly over decades. Remember that.”

“So you say,” Sakkath replied dryly, urging Nahi ahead of him. “You say that their Li already knows all there is to know of the invasion?”

“Everything that I know, yes. Save time, why don’t you? Go back in her head if you have the courage, then you’ll know it all in an instant.” Nahi looked back to study Sakkath. “I am sorry you lost her.She was supposed to be safe.” He didn’t bother to say that no one had planned for Sakkath’s safety.

"I share in your sorrow, but not," the Vulcan admitted, "in your guilt. Now walk."

Nahi stood his ground for several seconds, then with a nod of tacit understanding, he turned his back to Sakkath.

Sakkath had told the other Wegener that he would make Nahi to suffer, but his brother-in-law appeared to be handling that well enough on his own. He had also promised... no, demanded death.

And so, with Nahi facing forward, Sakkath delivered a solitary blow to the back of the traitor's neck. The tal shaya, as merciful and painless as it was lethal, snapping the Betazoid's neck instantly.

Sakkath wished, silently, that the sight of the crumpled body in front of him had managed to stir something, but he was met with only emptiness. There was, perhaps, already too much death consuming this living nightmare of a station.

Heaving a sigh, the Commander stepped over Nahi's corpse and turned his attention to the man's still-breathing accomplices.

___________

Commander Sakkath
Judge, Jury, Executioner

Nahi Hawke
Guilty