After Party

Posted on Tue Jan 11th, 2022 @ 4:52pm by Chief Helmsman Dixoho Saa (Mirror)
Edited on on Thu Jan 13th, 2022 @ 10:00am

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: Imperial Palace
Timeline: 2397
1942 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Dixoho watched every single person around her and was relieved when finally people just accepted she was there because the Empress ordered it so. It was lonely being one of very few of her species worthy of being in Imperial Starfleet let alone that close to the Empress. It drew wonder and jealousy but she weathered it all for the hour that she wanted before she turned on her heels and headed further into the imperial palace. Everyone was occupied from as far as she could see so she would not be missed.

She knew where she wanted to go, which was her assigned quarters but someone was following her as she turned left and then left again. She knew who it was but no idea why so she kept going, drawing him further from the party.

“Why are you following me Reece?” She finally wondered as she came to a stop in an arboretum that was almost pitch black apart from from the golden lights every now and then highlighting some statue or fancy decoration “Do you not have the Empress to seduce or something?”

Kyle had indeed watched Dixoho leave the party. He also noticed a few other officers watch her leave as well. One even set out after her. While he certainly could have called attention to this, he instead chose to take care of the situation personally.

In no time, he saw that Dixoho had picked up on the tail. He found this very impressive. Her follower saw this too, and changed tack, entering a Jeffries tube and scuttling away. Though, Kyle had no doubt that he was circling around to pop out and attack the young woman. So, this in mind, he hurried his pace, allowing the pilot to hear his approach.

When she finally stopped and confronted him, the Jeffries tube hatch next to her sprang open, and her attacker leapt at her. However, he ne er reached her as he was intercepted by Kyle's formidable bulk. In less than three seconds, the other man, a Marine second Lieutenant by his rank, lay unconscious on the deck at Kyle's feet.

Security officers quickly arrived and Kyle instructed them to take the Marine into custody. Charge was attempted murder on a senior officer under Captain Gregnol's command.

After they left, he turned to Dixoho. "Apparently, even in the Imperial Palace, where everyone knows whose favor you possess, there are those stupid enough to try something." He growled in anger at this. "Forgive me. While I'm sure that you would have dispatched him easily, no messes with my shipmates."

Dixoho glared at the man that was being led away and rolled her eyes at the Marine’s foolishness. It was not often that she met someone who was that thick that they attempted something like that but he had been correct with his observation of how she would have dispatched them. She walked over to Kyle and ran a finger along his arm.

“So how can I repay you for saving my life?” She asked in a sickly sweet tone that she used when playing with people.

Kyle was not swayed. "Just stay alive. You are very important to Micheal. And though I may not always show it, his happiness is important to me as well."

"Of course, it is," Dixoho said not at all convinced that he wanted happiness for someone else. Very few Terran's had emotions for others in Imperial Starfleet, it was part of their defence mechanisms for constantly having to fight to stay alive. "Seems a very easy favour to give." She said with a shrug tugging her uniform down.

"Thank you," he said with a soft smile. "So," he asked, "Other than the usual reasons, why would someone want you dead, and go so far as to attempt to kill you on Her Majesty's own ship, not three hours after her public proclamation that you are one of her favorites?"

“Probably slept with him and did not let on my connections? Or he is a xenophobic Terran? Or he just wanted to try his luck on what he thought was an easy target.” She shrugged not at all bothered. She was being blasé about it all because she truly did not know or care at the moment.

"Well," Kyle said, frowning slightly. "He'll soon learn his mistake. No one attacks a member of my crew. I will ensure he receives the maximum punishment for his crimes." He paused before adding, "I know the proper term is Captain Gregnol's crew, but, I hope you understood my meaning."

“Do I?” She asked a glint in her eye as she stared back at him. “So what do you have planned for the rest of the evening then?” She abruptly changed the subject leaving the knowledge that she was unsure on him him hot there in the open.

Looking around, not fully picking up on her tone, he shrugged and said, "Well, it's not often that one can walk through the Imperial Palace. I thought I'd look around a bit, then head back to the Fenrir. Yourself?"

Dixoho shrugged herself. “I had thought to go for a walk and then maybe enjoy the rooms I have been given for the night. We are here for a few days so it seemed inhospitable to not enjoy some pleasures of the Imperial Palace.” It would be a reminder of her old life and the ice cold woman she had used to be.

Kyle nodded thoughtfully, deciding on whether to stay the night, forgetting he too had been offered a room, or go back and try to spend more time with Alexis. "Sounds like you have it all planned out. If I may ask, will you invite Micheal over, or spend the night without him?"

“Spend the night without him. We are not joined at the hip, Commander and he is not allowed on the Imperial Palace after his attempts on Gregnol and his crew. Plus I believe in trying to keep him from the limelight. The Empress, for now, pretends to not know about him but we both know she is the smartest person on this ship.” She said simply.

"Well," he said with a slight grin. "Perhaps the second smartest. You keeping him in relative safety off of this ship is very telling of both your sharp intellect and your feelings for him. You have my respect for that." He dipped his head towards her slightly.

"You really underestimate the Empress, Commander." Dixoho snorted. "I was with her for years before she was crowned." It had been a good time for her, people were foolish and underestimated women in general why Dixoho took great pleasure in proving them completely wrong. It was something she had taken to doing regularly now as it brought her pleasure.

Kyle frowned softly and shook his head. "No, I don't underestimate her. I don't know her, except from the news reels. Tonight was the first time I've ever actually seen her with my own eyes, or talked to her."

“Not quite as highly placed as you seem, after all, Commander.” She commented as she looked around. “Pick a direction and I will show you the sights.” She soothed. It was the least she could do with him saving her from getting herself dirty.

Kyle gave her a soft grin. "I never claimed to be highly placed," he said quietly. "My Grandfather is. But, I'm not him." He took in a breath and let it out, clearing his mind. Then, after looking around, he pointed off towards, what he thought, was the part side of the ship. "I guess that's as good a direction as any. Unless you have a better suggestion?"

"I have no suggestions for you." She assured, starting in that direction. The ship was so big, like a city, that whatever direction he went he would have found something interesting.

As they walked and she pointed things out to him, Kyle asked, "So, exactly how long have you known the Empress?"

“A decade.” The woman revealed as they passed a gym area and what looked like a crew bar. Dixoho was almost tempted to go inside and drink herself silly but it would be silly when she had a chance to talk to this man. “I was a simple slave who saved her life when a Terran slave tried to kill her.” She smirked thinking on what had happened like it was yesterday.

Kyle nodded thoughtfully. "And you became friends?" He asked innocently, without any judgment in his words or tone. He actually sounded curious to hear more.

“You say that like it is a bad thing?” Dixoho said staring at his innocent tone. Did people still think like that? She never claimed to not have friends or a life before she was left in Gregnol’s care. “But I became her bodyguard. Which as you can tell I was obviously very good at as she survived to claimed the crown.”

Kyle shook his head. "Wasn't my intention take it seem like a bad thing. Life has a way of turning everyone against each other, sooner or later. I'm honestly glad for you that you have someone, well, two someones, that care about you." He turned to look down the corridor as he added quietly, "More than I've ever had."

“You have that insa… interrogator.” Dixoho commented as she stopped in front of a huge imperial statue of a former Imperial Fleet Admiral who looked like many cadets had attempted to take a bit of it.

Kyle couldn't help himself but grin slightly. "And here I thought we were being careful." He sighed softly. "I don't want to cause trouble for her. It started as commradship, then a little more. Then, she helped me though.....something I don't wish to discuss. Along the way, for my part anyway, as I won't speak for her, I started to love her." He was quiet for a few beats, then asked, "How many people on the ship know?"

“What that you have an pet interrogator?” She chuckled. “A lot of people but they do not know it is Agrax. Most of them think it is Fenruse. She is more the type. Agrax is… is she really as insane as we are led to believe?” She wondered. She knew Agrax from the before time. She had not tried to reforge a relationship with the woman, too scared to see how far she was from the woman who could kill a man twice her size.

Kyle thought about the question for a few beats. He then answered honestly. "She has always seemed perfectly sane to me. Of course, perhaps the two of us are the same level of crazy, so we don't see it in each other?" He chuckled softly. "Seriously, though, she is a wonderful, smart, dedicated woman in my humble opinion. I feel lucky to have her in my life."

“You barely know her Commander.” Dixoho said with a roll of her eyes. She was not going to go into Nathan or the life before Betazed burned but the man knew nothing about the woman or the people she had killed. No ones docket was clear but Alexis Agrax had been dangerous before she had stood on Betazed as it burned let alone after that kind of trauma. She shrugged.

Kyle grinned slightly. "I know her more than you think, Dixoho." He noticed the eye roll, but said nothing about it. "She has told me her past, and I have told her mine. I am confident in my feelings for her."

TRUNCATED