The Mrs has a Drinking Problem

Posted on Thu Sep 21st, 2023 @ 1:03am by Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Captain Rhenora Kaylen
Edited on on Fri Sep 22nd, 2023 @ 1:31am

Mission: Repairs and Retribution
Location: Kunar
Timeline: Current-ish

After her rounds of torture, the day nearing its end, the Mrs was conflicted. Was it possible she had been told something other than the truth, a falsehood by her own government? While yes, the government would often lie to get what they wanted, she knew their enemy would do the same. So why were they so difficult to break? In order to feel effective, she needed to know what and who she was dealing with.

She pondered to herself for several minutes before walking over to the communications panel and activating it. It was a direct line to her personal steward and confidant.

" Your Grace" The attendant said simply, bowing slightly and carefully lowering the bottle out of direct line of sight. He had pilfered it from the Mrs private collection some time ago and during moments such as these when her opulence and attitude were wearing thin - sometimes a little 'pick me up' was required.

She stared out the window and beyond the horizon, a feat only capable as she had opened the curtains for the first time in many months. Another sign she was struggling. "Come, join me, I need an ear. And, you can dispense with the pleasantries if by off chance you will have brought me a good year." She hadn't looked, but she knew her attendant well.

"Of course" he nodded and closed the channel, downing the last remnants of the bottle he had been drinking before grabbing another bottle of the same vintage and two goblets. He prepared a quick platter of her favourite morsels to improve her mood. No less than 20 minutes later he pushed the door open with his shoulder and entered her private chambers.

"I felt a bottle of the 23 was in order" he said simply.

She allowed a snicker to escape her mouth, "The 23?" She pondered, "23 was a very good year. The ground was still green then, before all of, this." She gestured towards the compound and the grounds beyond. "Before we were a mining planet serving up rock and stone instead of bread and wine." She turned and took the goblet he had already filled for her.

The butler chose his words carefully "Back then it was a mining station, not a prison" He took a sip of the wine and popped some cheese onto a cracker before offering it to his master. "The quality of the ore is poor and the prisoners are not miners, they are sent here to die, not dig. And I must admit they are very good at it" He chuckled before embracing another sip. "Perhaps a shift in perspective, the mine is only for a ruse anyhow"

"A ruse." she scoffed and then popped a cheese snack into her mouth, chewed and swallowed. "Cheap labor. A location far removed from the home world. What better a place to send those who you want to disappear from the public eye?" She eyed him a moment and noted his mannerisms. He had been sampling and his rosey cheeks were evidence. "What are you implying?" She asked with skeptical inquisitive.

"Nothing of substance my Lady" he took another sip, the rich liquid sliding effortlessly into his stomach and rising his inebriation every so slightly. "We receive good compensation to make the 'troubles' of Cardassia disappear. I ask however, why the particular interest in this group" he was getting bold now.

"Where do I start? Personally, my husband, our Master, was an asshole, but did he deserve to die? Probably. But does it stand to reason the killer also has the right right to be accused and punished for his crimes, absolutely. And while that Vulcan and his mates profess their innocence until their last breath, they still took a life."

She swigged her wine, the warmth filling her insides. "Besides, Rhenora Kaylen has been a thorn in the sides of many Cardassian leaders for a very long time. We received a large donation from several heads of state to make her disappear." She chuckled, "On top of that, she has apparently pissed off some of her own people."

"Did they take his life? You just proclaimed he was an asshole, would it be beyond the realm of possibility that they were set up and he fell victim to his own exploits? His personnel file did contain the words 'reckless' and 'single minded'." Again he was being bold.

She glared at him over the rim of her glass. "Careful now, your starting to sound an aweful lot like a sympathizer and that is not what I pay you for." She swished her hand as though washing away the subject. "He was murdered, end of story. All the naysayers do is change the narrative."

"I trust you pay attention to the political struggles going on, on Bajor? No? Well you should. There is a group there currently embroiled in a anti-Starfleet, anti-One-Bajor practice which has been dividing people left from right. Turns out, they also have something against Kaylen and her Husband. They paid a fair share of the bounty to see her wiped from existence. So, you question if this is personal? All that I can offer is, I am invested."

The butler inclined his head as he took in this information. "So it's about money, which you already have, yes?"

"I have enough to pay you so, I trust you'll watch that smart mouth of yours." She turned and looked out the window as the sky's grew darker into the evening. "I called you here to help keep my own mind from faltering. You've succeeded. You may take your leave now."

The butler chugged what was left in his glass and went to retrieve the bottle to take with him on the guise of clearing up.

Speaking without turning, "Leave the bottle and next time I summon you, be sober." She clicked her tongue in disgust.

He turned and gave her a look - almost pitying but yet almost defiant at the same time. His absolute dedication to his master was failing in her blind obsession with this latest cause.

TBC