Loyalty and Jealousy

Posted on Sat Aug 1st, 2020 @ 3:37am by Ledeya Ehestri (Mirror) & Executive Officer Jake Ford (Mirror)

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: ISS Fenrir
Timeline: 2396
1210 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Brown long hair neatly coiffured to reveal a fresh, frowning face. Dark eyes, set gracefully within their sockets, looked around the quarters that she was now sharing with a man who was promising her everything she could have ever dreamed of. She shook her head and headed to the bar, Ledeya wanted to learn about the crew, learn what made them tick and how she could get to Gregnol.

There was something charming about her, perhaps it was her bravery for leaving everything she knew or perhaps it was simply a feeling of arrogance that she was there. But nonetheless, people tend to buy her a drink, while trying to please her which was why she soon found herself surrounded by people trying to get her attention. Imperial Ships never changed, she mused to herself.

Flanked by a couple of his own men - loyal, he felt confident - Jake watched her arrive in the bar from the corner of the room. His eyes traced her, a mix of desire and pride in his mind as he enjoyed the way she moved and interacted with those around her. The men were equally full of desire. The women were jealous that she had apparently captured a prize in the ship's security chief. Jake just watched and waited to see if she would approach him directly and publicly, or whether she would leave him for last.

It was easy to see they were still playing these games as she saw finally approached Jake and one of the men gave up his seat to allow her to sit down. The Betazoid sat down and crossed her legs gracefully before leaning in kissing the man gently to prove just who she was here for. "Crewbars never change, but that should secure you for a little bit longer. I know at least half of this crew. They were on my ship when I was a doctor." She whispered before a smaller man laughed.

"I need to get me one of these. You have a sister or something?" He asked Ledeya who turned to look at the younger man and grinned.

"No, but I am pretty sure if I did they would eat you alive and leave you a broken shell." The woman countered making the table laugh.

Jake stared at the man making the remark, daring him to respond to Ledeya's quip. Fortunately for the man in question, he kept his mouth shut.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he whispered in her ear. "It's very attractive."

Ledeya looked at the man who had been commenting on finding his own Betazoid and smiled just a little more for him before turning to Jake. It would be a lie to say she was not enjoying it because she really was, it was easy work and she could learn things easily from just relaxing and allowing her mind to explore when Jake was not around. The interrogators amused her as she did them but it was interesting to meet the one who had been Jake’s foe for months, she was nowhere near as big or scary looking as the woman had expected from what she could see about her from Jake.

“Of course I am. This is what attracted you to me in the first place.” She reminded him with only a hint of amusement.

"True enough." That, and the added protection and prestige it brought him. "And nobody has dared try to kill you yet," he added with a smirk. "All that fear over nothing."

"Only on the first day. Your interrogation friend is very interested in me as is her new old boss. Did you know Fenruse was back on the ship?" She wondered. She had not seen the woman but she felt her everywhere, it was hard to ignore what her presence did to the whole ship. Gregnol's interrogator was back on the ship from where ever she had been transferred to and people were scared.

He just snorted. "Fenruse. She barely registers as worth the time compared to the Inquisitor and the man holding her leash. I have nothing to worry about. And so long as you're by my side, neither do you."

“But she is back as lead Inquisitor? Your little friend is back at the bottom.” Ledeya commented on with a grin as they whispered closely as his loyal crew watched smirking at what they presumed was passing between them. He might not be worried but someone as close to the admiral could be a thorn in everyone’s side if she was wanting to be that person.

"So Agrax isn't as untouchable as she once was..." Jake mused quietly, a faint grin on his face. "Perhaps she will need allies among the crew now that Fenruse is in charge." He gave Ledeya a meaningful look. "What do you think?"

"I think we should aim for Fenruse. Their has to be a reason all of Kita's people are now suddenly on this ship." She said as one of the security personnel let out a hiss as Alexis came into the lounge.

"Did not take her long." The Ensign piped up watching her like everyone else like a hawk.

Jake smirked as he made sure Alexis was aware that he was openly watching her the entire time. He felt protected, with his loyalists and now Ledeya with him. "We have enough people in key positions. Fenruse knows that if she challenges us it'll be a bloodbath. And that'll reflect worse on her than it will me."

Ledeya stayed quiet as she watched Alexis join another group of people acting like she was ignoring them but she was fully aware that she was prying in all of their minds. It was almost like a caress but Ledeya ignored it, they would have plenty of time to talk another time and place. "As you wish." She mumbled picking up her glass to drink some more of the liquid.

Jake glanced at her. Was she somehow jealous of Agrax? Or maybe just totally distrustful. Either way, it was reassuring to know she might be a little easier to manipulate along the way. "Patience, Ledeya, is something that has served me well enough so far. It will serve us further still. Their time will come."

"I do not do jealousy Jake." Ledeya giggled a looked as she looked at him sideways. Jealousy was easy for others but the former doctor never looked at everyone as belonging to her or needing something other than what she had in the here and now. It was easier to survive in the new world where Betazoid's were like slaves.

"All the more reason why you're so useful to me. But everyone has vices." He shook his head dismissively. "It's all a part of the game we play."

Ledeya said nothing for a long time allowing the man to think he had won as she sat there being the adoring slave allowing the men and women to see her in all her glory. She would not let on until they were alone again that she was searching through his loyalties for the disloyal or the people that could be twisted by someone else. It was going to take a long time.