(PNPC) Mother Eternal Keehani Ukinix - Angels (Part 1)

[Robin Hopper]

This sim by @Wil Ukinix is quite impressive - not only for its breadth and attention to detail, and its seamless blending of Prime and Mirror Universe lore from various Trek series, but also for the fact that it is a solo sim. Kudos for this awesome, engaging, and thrilling read!

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((Mother Eternal Personal Chambers, Idrustix Prison Colony))

The safety of the Noble complex of the prison colony on Idrustix was evidenced by the lavish décor and opulence of Mother Eternal’s private chambers on the penal moon.

Idrustix was seldom visited by Mother Eternal Ukinix.  She, like her Empress grandmother before her, had sent many people there, and of course had conversed with Raven Hopper over comms many times.  But her physical presence was rare.

The circumstances of the parallel-universe visitors though demanded it.

The Mother Eternal was first to enter the main room that contained a metres long, shiny, polished metallic table, with a single seat at each end.  The long sides were lined by ten chairs on each side.

She was followed by the two Noble Guards who dragged the unwilling Keehani Ukinix into the room.  Behind them, entered the Psionic Specialist Izemu.  The tall, slicked-back silver haired woman in her matching long dress stood to the side of the room, aligned with the middle of the long table.

Keehani: ::Crying:: You’re a monster…

The Empress rolled her eyes once again, before turning around and gesturing to the end seat at the large table.  The Noble Guards placed Mother Eternal’s parallel universe counterpart firmly on the chair, then drew their weapons and pointed them at the scared and angry woman.  Keehani, through tearful black eyes, stared at the Empress as if trying to burn through her soul.

Keehani: I hate you… ::screaming, slamming palms on table:: I HATE YOU!

M-Keehani smirked a little, then turned and walked to the opposite end of the very long table, her slow footsteps loudly clacking on the black hard tiled floor.

M-Keehani: I assure you, First Secretary, that you are not the first to have screamed that at me.  And I will tell you what I have told those others.  I do not care.  You can hate me all you like.  It is inconsequential.

The First Secretary rolled her hands up into fists, before leaning forward and resting them against her eyes, continuing to cry.

M-Keehani: ::To guards:: Leave us.

The two Noble Guards looked at each other.  One of them then turned to cautiously look at the Empress.

Guard 1: Are you quite certain, Mother Eternal.

Unimpressed, Keehani deliberately and slowly gave one single blink of her eyes, then just as slowly turned her head to look at the Guard.

M-Keehani: Leave. Us. Stand guard outside.

The two guards instantly bowed their heads, then made their way out of the room.  She watched as her counterpart turned over her shoulder and watched them leave, before eventually turning back to look down the long table at the Empress.  Her eyes were now glassy and red.

Keehani: You think I won’t hurt you?

M-Keehani: ::wicked smirk:: ~ You think I won’t hurt *you*? ~

The Mother Eternal parallel universe’s counterpart inhaled deeply through her nose, and started at the Empress.

M-Keehani: ~ I sense your resolve, First Secretary.  I would do the same in your position.  I feel *everything* you feel.  The bond is… quite remarkable. ~

Keehani: Then you would know that I do not wish to speak telepathically with you.

M-Keehani: ~ I do, indeed. ~

After a moment, M-Keehani rolled her eyes, and exhaled in resignation.

M-Keehani: Fine, have it your way.  Verbal communication it is.  But you may regret it, we have much to discuss.

Keehani: I have nothing to say to you.

M-Keehani: ::Amused chuckle:: Your thoughts say differently, First Secretary.  Then again, I would say the same in your position.  But fine.  If we do not have much to discuss, then I have much to present.

The First Secretary furrowed her brow, then sat up in her seat.  Her fleeting feeling of curiosity was soon replaced with anger and resolve.

M-Keehani: Oh no, tap into that curiosity, First Secretary.  You are right to do so.  It is time for me to explain my actions.

The First Secretary sat back in her chair, and crossed her arms.

Keehani: I don’t care.  You’ve betrayed us.  My job is to ensure the wellbeing of Ambassador Vataix.  Therefore, you’ve betrayed me.  ::Leaning forward in seat, growing in confidence:: You are a tyrant.  An Authoritarian.  You do not value life, you only value power.

The Empress smiled, and nodded a little.

M-Keehani: That characterisation is partially accurate, but the actual question is… to what extent is it accurate?

The Empress leaned forward in her seat, and then placed her hands flat on the table, staring at her counterpart.  A smile formed on her face, before she said two words that she hoped would unlock all sorts of information.

M-Keehani: Vaxa Ukinix.

She watched as her counterpart squinted her eyes shut, trying to centre herself to block the thoughts and emotions that were swirling in her mind… but M-Keehani knew it would be to no avail.

Izemu: She’s alive, but no longer Vaxa Ukinix, Mother Eternal.  She goes by another name.  She is the Matriarch of the Ninth House, but only recently… through a justice system, a petition lodged by the First Secretary.  Like you, she was raised by Vaxa and never knew her mother... who was killed in war.  There is no maternal bond that I can sense.  She values her new family… she values her bond with the Terran arm of her family.  The male Wil Ukinix.  She has been educated, studies of a political nature… that is all she is allowing me to see, Mother Eternal.

Keehani began to sob again quietly, as the betrayal of her thoughts finally broke her.  She placed her arms on the table, then rested her forehead on her forearm.

M-Keehani: Oh, please, do not cry, it is wearing thin.  And besides… you may be surprised to know that our upbringings are not that different, First Secretary.  My mother died when I was three days old.  Mother Eternal Vaxa Ukinix raised me – along with her minders, and my carers, of course.  My mother Rwiastreya Ukinix, died when I was three days old.  A rare post-natal psionic condition that shut down her brain.  My grandmother made the decision to let her pass away peacefully by agreeing to turn off her life support.

That made Keehani look up, in some shock. 

Keehani: “Rwiastreya”?

Keehani had never known her mother’s identity, other than that she was a resistance fighter during the Dominion occupation.  Her father, Cigrin Ral, and her mystery mother, died very shortly after her birth.  Keehani was, somehow, delivered as a three-day old baby at her grandmother Vaxa’s house in the Piri Islands.

Izemu: She does not know her mother’s name or identity, Mother Eternal.

Keehani: ::Turning to Izemu:: Shut. Up!

That incensed Keehani.  In her home reality, Izemu was the Adjudicator that had ruled in her favour in her quest to regain control of the Ninth House.

M-Keehani: ::raising hand:: So she speaks truth.  ::shaking head:: Poor Keehani.  I share your loss... but at least I know my mother’s name.  Perhaps, now you do too.

Keehani put her forehead back down on her arms.

M-Keehani: So I assume, like me, you were raised by your grandmother.  And encouraged to get an education.  For me... I was surrounded by scholars.  My grandmother wanted to expand the Empire, and crush the Klingon-Cardassian alliance.  We are not even one-fifth of their size in space, and yet this was her vision.

The Empress stood up from her seat, and slowly walked down the table towards the opposite end.

M-Keehani: And, like you it seems, amongst my studies were theories on governance systems.  I was taught the weaknesses of different systems besides our own.  Why our empirical system was the strongest, the best for its people.  How we were better than the Terrans and their fallen empire…  And amongst that material, First Secretary, there was a story of an angel from a foreign universe, a member of a Federated system of different star systems, different governments, working together.  That Terran visited this universe by accident.  Does this sound familiar?

That made Keehani look up.  Her jaw dropped a little.

M-Keehani: I have your attention now.  Good.  That angel’s visit was alleged to have caused the eventual downfall of Emperor Spock, can you believe that?  Spock’s reforms, inspired by this visiting angel from another existence, caused the very downfall of the Terran Empire.  ::slight chuckle:: A *Vulcan*, who believed in angels, destroyed the Terran Empire.  Oh, The Four have a marvellous sense of humour at times…

M-Keehani moved closer to the end of the table, towards her counterpart, and crossed her arms.

M-Keehani: Except it’s not a myth, and it was not an “angel”, was it they First Secretary?  They were members of the “United Federation of Planets”.  As is Ambassador Niarivi Vataix.  As are you.

Keehani: You think we came here to bring down your Empire?

M-Keehani: ::Eyeroll, scowl:: Oh, even if you were, if you think in my studies I did not learn from Spock’s mistakes, you are very wrong.  I have increased the efficiency of this Empire since my grandmother’s death.  I have reformed systems.  Implemented procedure.  Removed corruption.  There is genuine incentive for loyalty, not to me, but to the Empire, and its systems.  Our tactics on our front lines against the Kling-Cardassian Alliance have changed from attrition to multi-disciplined strategies – innovation has seen small victories.  We have *gained* small amounts of territory, outperforming our most bold goals set by my inner circle when I first became Emperor.  I do not care if you are angels or not, none of you could convince me to have our Empire lay down our weapons…

M-Keehani, now only a few metres away from her counterpart, took a seat at one of the many chairs at the very long table, then interlocked her fingers and continued to speak.

M-Keehani: But this decades long war is unsustainable.  Yes we are efficient, and we are successful at defending our relatively small Empire.  But we cannot continue.  There must be a change.  ::Smiling:: And there will be.  Because The Four have delivered me angels of my own.  And, unlike the foolish Emperor Spock, I will use you, my angels, wisely.  

Keehani: If you are looking to strengthen your authoritarian grip, I cannot and will not help you.  And I dare say not one of us from the Federation will.

M-Keehani: First Secretary, I am *tired*.  I wish to remain Mother Eternal, and I wish our Empire to expand, but that will not happen while we constantly war with the Klingon-Cardassian alliance.  Nor do I wish to surrender to them, or work towards any integration with them.  But there is one thing I do want. 

The Mother Eternal leaned forward, and suddenly felt a wave of excitement over her.

M-Keehani: When the Terran Empire fell, so did its records.  Including partial information from the computer core of a vessel named Defiant, the deadly vessel used by Empress Sato to take control of the Terran Empire.  While most information is patchy at best, it did speak of something that is of interest to me… ::proud smirk:: the concept of a neutral zone.

The First Secretary said nothing, and simply looked on at the Empress.  Eventually an eyebrow did subconsciously raise.

M-Keehani: I see the intrigue is getting the better of you.  Good!  Yes. A neutral zone, behind which a civilisation can *thrive*.  And *grow*.  It is the solution to our problems... and one that I will be proposing to the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance - when the time is right.

First Secretary Keehani looked down at the table, and furrowed her brow.

Keehani: So you are seeking… *peace* with the Klingons and Cardassians?

A smirk slowly appeared on the Empress’ lips, before it became a smile, which turned into an incredulous laugh.

M-Keehani: ::laughing:: Peace with their Alliance?  They would find that as amusing as I do!

Eventually Mother Eternal Ukinix laughter subsided, and she sighed, before she pondered for a moment.

M-Keehani: No.  ::interlocking fingers, crossing legs, turning to Keehani, proud smile::  I have something else in mind…

 

[Doz Finch]

Brilliant dialogue! 👏