Mind Games (Highlights - Meeting the Senator Tocul - Yr 2385)

Posted on Thu Jan 19th, 2023 @ 10:43am by Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell

1,583 words; about a 8 minute read

Uhlan Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Romulus - Ki-Baratan - Tal'Shiar compound]

Rayek had received word from his father later that day of Tocul's agreement to meet that evening at his residence. That hadn't given Rayek much time to do much background research on the man but he'd done what he could using the computer in his assigned quarters to search all Romulan periodicals for Senator Tocul's political platform and any hint of scandal in the news but the man, if he was plotting a rebellion like the Praetor suspected, was very careful to avoid any hint of direct opposition. Rather instead, he portrayed a middle ground between the two main political outlooks - much like Rayek's own father.

By the time he had to leave to make his appointment, Rayek felt he was at least partially prepared for the meeting. While he knew the Praetor expected him to make use of his ability to pick up any treasonous thoughts, Rayek doubted his say so alone would be enough to implicate the Senator if he was complicit in a planned rebellion. He'd need to find a means to prove it.


[Romulus - Ki-Baratan - Senator Tocul's manor house]

Rayek followed the bond-servant through the manor's luxurious entryway to a set of double-doors which the man opened. At the gesture to enter, Rayek did so seeing the Senator standing in front of a grand family portrait - the artistry of it was clear to see even from across the room. He picked out Taheen's face among the portrait. She was the oldest of the three female children.

Rayek returned the warm smile and offered a respectful bow. "Jolan-tru, Senator. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for agreeing to this meeting."

Rayek straightened from his bow and glanced about to see that the lounge only held the two of them. Good. Rayek wrung his hands in a slight show of nerves. "Will Taheen be joining us?"



Rayek sat where indicated after the Senator informed him that Taheen would be down later. Then while the Senator had his attention on his bond-servant, Penaron, silently ordering a drink to be poured, Rayek kept his eyes on the Senator and gently probed the man's mind. He did this now at the very start of their meeting for two reasons, first to be certain the man had no notable mental defenses and, second to sift over the Senator's immediate thoughts in regards to Rayek himself. Was the Senator suspicious of his meeting request?

Rayek nearly frowned when his first attempt met resistance. Ah of course, being a Senator, the man would have had at least some basic training on protecting his mind from exactly what he was attempting. That made things more difficult - not impossible - but definitely challenging. Rayek withdrew his mind as the bond-servant began pouring the drinks. 

Rayek considered the orange liquid. Getting the man drunk would certainly be one way of loosing the Senator's thoughts, though the young Tal'Shiar operative doubted Tocul was intending to drink that much. But it was a thought. 

Rayek leaned forward to pick up his drink after the Senator did and raised it in salute towards the man, but the Senator seemed to wish to talk. First stating that he was surprised about Rayek's interest in courting his daughter, then asking directly if there had been something going on between that he hadn't been aware of. Rayek lowered his tumbler and considered how best to answer Taheen's father. 

Rayek hadn't missed the Senator's slight smile at speaking of Rayek's request, and the fact that he had responded so quick hinted to Rayek that the Senator was feeling more than a bit worried about his daughter prospects as she was about to join the Romulan military. Rayek knew from having just completed his 5 years mandatory service that females who entered the service unbonded tended to be more promiscuous. Not necessarily a bad thing from the viewpoint of a fellow crewmen or junior officer who stood a better chance of finding some intimacy during the long journey between ports of call... but as a father... definitely not so good a thing.

At Tocul's direct question, Rayek shook his head. "No sir, nothing like that. As you might be aware, I recently completed my mandatory service and have begun anew as one of the most junior officers in the Tal'Shiar." Rayek opted to be open about his position, slightly stressing his low-level position so as to negate some of the fear the organization tended to bring up in the common folk. 

He noted that Tocul had his first sip of the orangish liquor, and so Rayek followed suit, though only sip. The alcohol burned down his throat. Rayek played up his reaction a bit, letting Tocul assume that he had little tolerance for the hard stuff, then continued his explanation to the Senator. 

"Prior to my time serving, I thought often of your daughter but didn't speak of it - thinking it was merely a school-age crush. However, the five years since have not changed my thoughts on her. Now she is graduating and I would like the opportunity to tell her how I feel before she heads off to the War College."



Rayek's watched the Senator's reaction to his overplayed 'antics'. He noted the amusement. Good, Rayek thought. He wanted the man to feel superior; to view Rayek as malleable and not much of a threat.

Rayek looked down to the drink as the Senator spoke of its quality. "Oh I am certain it is. I like it fine, forgive my lack of experience with such. I learned quickly during my service that I lack the tolerance for strong drink so will avoid it when in questionable company."

At this point Rayek took another sip of the drink, taming his reaction of it by quite a bit, seemingly to please his host.

When Tocul questioned his reasons for joining the Tal Shiar, Rayek seemed to consider his words carefully. "My parents did all they could to ensure that I would be successful in a military officer's career. That was their plan for me. Their model son." Rayek tried to convey in his tone a slight sense of dissatisfaction.

"However, there is more than one way to serve the Empire and I needed to find a way that I hoped could allow to me to make more of a difference, in my own way." As he answered, once more Rayek probed for the surface thoughts of the man's mind - testing to see if the man was 'loosening' up any or if he was just as closed as before.

When the topic moved onto Tahleen, and Rayek's long lasting interest in Taheen, Rayek caught a hint of the Senator's doubt. Rayek needed to fix that. "I am not common. And neither is your daughter. Taheen and I are between generations." He met the Senator's gaze as he said this.

"We are part traditional, part rebellious - craving something new - but passionate about it all." Rayek explained still meeting eyes with Tocul, once more probing at his mind, especially at the wording of rebellious, before looking down at his tumbler of orange liquid, and seemingly took another sip.

When Tocul admitted to Rayek that Taheen had asked after him a couple times, Rayek played up his happiness at hearing that news, before responding back to the news that Telmuk and Ratuma had grown close. 

"May my brother forgive me for saying this, but his is but a crush. Father has mentioned to me at least three others that he has 'become close with' over the course of the past year and a half." That wasn't a lie. Telmuk, had abundance of charm which most of the girls in his class tended to gravitate towards. Also thought Rayek didn't want to consider the notion too closely there was the chance that like himself, Telmuk had been passed the genetics that predisposed him to mental abilities.

"I will be honest with you, Senator," which he wasn't being but Rayek had to convey that he was totally earnest. "I want your permission to court your daughter, but I will do so regardless of what you say... that is the depth of what I feel." Again Rayek held the man's gaze - as he probed for seditious thoughts.




Rayek's training with the Reman, taught him not to react to what he read in the Senator's mind, though Rayek was hard pressed not to when he picked up his father's name... seemingly in association with Tocul's assassination plans. It almost literally made Rayek sick to consider his father's involvement, but he continued on. 

Rayek nodded slightly at the man's comment about keeping an eye on Telmuk, though to be honest Rayek didn't plan to let his brother see Tocul's younger daughter again after today. It was too risky. When the Tal'Shiar crackdown came on Tocul... and it would come, Rayek's confirmation of the intel would ensure that... the whole family would likely be implicated.

Rayek just needed to get proof... a means to link Tocul with the planned assassination attempt. But finding such wasn't going to be easy. He needed better access to Tocul's mind. So as much as he would prefer to leave the foul trickery to Tocul, Rayek needed to dirty his hands to get things done.

Rayek nodded at the offer to meet with Taheen. "I am looking forward to it." Rayek answered.

 

RSS Feed