Electricity

Posted on Sun Mar 7th, 2021 @ 5:16am by Ledeya Ehestri (Mirror) & Executive Officer Jake Ford (Mirror)

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: ISS Fenrir
Timeline: 2396
2225 words - 4.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Ledeya had not been far that day and she was feeling like a caged animal with the tension on the ship. So much for the quietness that had been happening recently, it felt like the electricity in the air before a storm was trawling through the ship. What had she gotten herself into? Finally unable to bear it anymore she dressed in something a little less to get her groped and someone’s hands broke and headed to the crew bar.

Jake would find her if he wanted to, he always did. She moved through the bar almost unseen and forgotten as she headed to the bar and the amber liquid was passed to her without even a word between her and the woman there, she raised the glass to her lips taking a sip before she raised it at the Andorian in a salute for good service. It paid to be kind sometimes and be a friend to all when she got served without a wait or anything more. She turned on the stool and surveyed the room but the only talk was the new Executive Officer and someone who had been thought dead returning.

The armoury chief had arrived just a few moments later. He'd surveyed the room for threats before fully entering; with the arrival of Reece the balance had been shifted and many loyalties were suddenly changing. Indeed, he'd had to deal with a few of his own people that had 'wavered' from their previous promises of fealty. He walked directly to Ledeya, sliding a possessive arm around her waist and drinking in the envious looks from others in the room.

"You look upset," he remarked quietly. "You don't have to be lonely all the time..."

The woman looked up as she slid his arm around her and looked up at him. "I am not upset neither am I lonely." She argued softly wondering what made him think that of all things. Was she not there surrounded by the loud and boisterous crew practically either trying to kill each other or gain the upperhand.

"Sitting alone. Lonely." He withdrew his hand and sampled the drink she had in front of her. Sweet; probably not really his thing. He motioned to the clusters of crew in different areas, conspiring and whispering at one another. "This new lapdog of the Butcher's is causing a stir."

Ledeya shrugged at him. She did not see herself as lonely but maybe there views were definitely different. She had no issue with being sat there by her lonesome making herself known to the crew. “Oh he is causing more than a stir it is more a tidal wave. The question going around the ship is why have Imperial Starfleet allowed the bodyguard onboard.” Ledeya commented me with smirk as she took her drink back.

"The Butcher's reputation, probably. He doesn't seem to suffer subordinates long. And First Officers are usually among the more ambitious of those," Jake replied, motioning for the barkeep to bring him his own drink. "The bodyguard shouldn't be a problem. He's smitten with Saa, and that means he has a weakness to exploit." He turned his body into Ledeya's, reminding those watching the beautiful woman that she belonged to him.

"He hates Betazoids so I am pretty sure you need to play this one unless you can work your magic on Selina or Alexis to help you, as I am sure Gregnol has already sent one of them to seduce and control but from what I hear he will not be interested. Selina has a connection to the bodyguard so she is another weak link." Ledeya said in a soft whisper using the Interrogators first names. They were after all her species and one of the few people on the ship - man or woman who did not look at her like she was some slab of meat.

"For a man who hates your kind he has a lot of them around. Some would call that foolish," he remarked. "Anything else we should be worried about? Threats?"

“Not Gregnol. Reece. Gregnol likes my kind as they remind him of her and his victory.” Ledeya snorted as a drink was brought to him. “Not yet. People are deciding their allegiance. They don’t know who to follow. Need to keep them like that, keep them confused and they will be easily swayed.”

"I like the way you think," he nodded with a smirk. "One of your many appealing features, of course," he added with a sly grin and a gentle squeeze. "It shouldn't be hard to steer them away from the newcomer. He's a stranger to them, and not deserving of loyalty yet. We continue to build our power base, win over Agrax to our cause, and Fenruse won't be an issue."

“Selina Fenruse will always be an issue unless you get her onside.” Ledeya commented leaning against him as he continued to stand close as an Engineer stood on her opposite side looking her over.

"Fenruse is powerful, yes. But not invulnerable. If I can convince Agrax, then between us we might have enough to remove her as a threat." He touched her cheek with the back of his fingers. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? The plotting, the maneuvering. So natural to you, I can see it now."

“You under estimate Selina but...” she shrugged closing her eyes for a moment at his touch. She could not force his hand only assist. “It is just a medical procedure to me.” She lied. She was showing exactly how she had survived. She opened her eyes and looked at him for a moment before turning to the man next to her. “You think about me like that ever again and I will cut off things that make that impossible with anyone ever again.” She whispered to the Engineer.

Jake sneered as the engineer recoiled. "Foreplay..." he murmured, fixing her with a little leer. He made no move to react to the fool himself; Ledeya was quite capable of handling herself, and he wanted to make sure those watching knew it too. "Well, doctor, if this was your operating theatre, where would you make the first incision?"

Ledeya looked at Jake raising an eyebrow as him calling her doctor before she grinned. She looked back at the Engineer and leant in and whispered something in his ear watching as the colour drained from his face and he gulped. He quickly moved away allowing Ledeya to return to concentrating on Jake. “But this is not and you know the patients better.” She commented downing her drink.

"I like the analogy, though," he returned, smirking at the engineer as he shifted away. The man wouldn't try that again. "So, if our objective is to remove the Butcher, then we need to take proper precautions. As I said, we have Agrax and Fenruse. Let's just call them his immune system. Perhaps we can suppress that for a while in order for our other efforts to succeed?"

“Then how to we suppress the antibodies then?” Ledeya wondered. “Selina and Alexis are not thick. They had been Imperial Starfleet officers.” She reminded moving closer.

"Distraction, perhaps. Or misdirection at the very least." He eyed the room, seeking inspiration. "Agrax doesn't have the vices so many others have. And, to my shame, I find myself owing her for an unfortunate incident in the training room. What do you know of Fenruse? Anything we can exploit?"

“No shame. She kept you alive.” Ledeya reminded with a roll of her eyes. “I know that she was an engineer and was on this vessel when Betazed burned. Gregnol is fond of her but she had a partner, another engineer until the mutiny and whatever happened with Kita.” She glanced around but no one was paying them any care now.

"This partner - is he dead now?" Jake wondered. Logically, mutineers would be summarily executed. But sometimes weaker commanders were too squeamish to carry out that kind of order. If the engineer lived, then he could be exploited. If not, it was a sore spot for Fenruse that might be used against her too.

Ledeya swept her hair over her shoulder and shrugged. “Kita was removed from the area. No one knows anything. Engineers like to talk if booze or games are involved.” Ledeya indicated to a small group in the left corner keeping out the way of the bigger groups when she noticed his intrigued look. Cadets on their first tour were normally the group bullied and used but Ledeya had been working recently on getting them onside to be of use further on. “It will be a sore spot indeed. I would be very sore if I was moved back to ship I had tried so hard to get off.”

"Very," he agreed. Using that against her wouldn't be hard. And the temptation to escape might be something he could play both for and against if the moment required it. "We should be patient. Build our strength, and then strike..." he lowered his hand down her back and squeezed. "When it will give us the most pleasure." He added with a smirk.

Ledeya nodded. She knew how to be patient unlike most people on this ship and it was something she was slowly teaching him to extend. He was pretty good but someone like her had to wait even longer and hide in the shadows for the right time to strike. “Well, it seems like you are learning after all to be more patient.” She whispered in his ear as she ran a finger along the detail of his uniform. “Might keep you alive for the endgame after all. Would be a shame for this to end so quickly.” She teased just a little.

He couldn't help but laugh at that remark. "You're keeping me alive? You thought I might end up dead...or perhaps a slave to you at the end of all this, hmm?" His smirk widened. "There would be worse people to end up in service to. But that is a dream you'll never come to see. No Terran would allow themselves to be put in that place. And you should remember yours." His other hand grasped her by the neck. Not roughly, but not gently either. A simple reminder that he held the power.

Ledeya did not even bat an eyelid as he gripped her throat and held her there. “No actually I think you are one Terran I do not want to see dead at the moment but I have certainly kept alive this last month. Do I need to remind you of that Ensign who thought to expel you from an airlock?” She wondered. “I think you would enjoy being my slave. I treat them well but I have no need for slaves. I want willing participants.” She said with just a bit of a smirk on her face. She did not need to remind him of how she had drugged him back on imperial Starbase 47. He had been at her mercy and she had neither take advantage or killed him.

"His mistake," Jake remarked in regards to the unfortunate Ensign. "And anyone else's, should they cross me." He let that linger a moment, but released her throat. "Agrax first. I think I know where I stand with her. You can keep an eye on Fenruse. And, of course, anyone else as usual."

“I am sure I can find some fun in watching Fenruse. She is unlikely to slit my throat. She might even learn to like me.” The woman mused as she jerked away from his grip on her and shook her head. She stayed silent for a long time just looking at her empty glass wondering if she should get another drink or not. She knew her limit but it was hard to tell what type of mood he was in. “You have a temper this evening.” She finally wondered. Maybe she should send him to Alexis to sparr or something. Kill two birds with one stone.

"These games can try my patience. Gregnol is refusing to speak the truth as to our mission for the Empire." He was tense enough about the XO situation without more secrets. "I simply grow tired of waiting."

That was the general feeling across the ship but what could anyone do? Did they really think they could hurt the Butcher of Betazed of all people? “Have you thought to just simply go with the flow on this one and enjoy the ride?” Ledeya wondered standing up deciding she had enough of her own games and wanted sleep. The constant games and anger in the room were starting to way in her mind and make her just as bad as them all. “Let me say this Jake. Do not come back to your quarters unless you are in a better mood hmm?” She stepped up and gave him a hard kiss before stepping back.

He watched her curves sway as she sauntered away, very glad that she was his. He made a mental note not to underestimate the woman - no matter how much she reminded him of his lost wife, she was still a pawn in a bigger plan. He downed the remains of his drink and followed her out.