Dealing With The Devil

Posted on May 26, 2014 @ 8:39pm by Rawyvin Seth & Ambassador Xana Bonviva & Fleet Admiral Richard Edgerton
Edited on on Jun 05, 2014 @ 8:48am

Mission: The Tangled Webs We Weave
Location: Various
Tags: Xana, Edgerton, Rawyvin, Section 31

=/\=

“Dealing with the Devil”
Con’d from: “14-3”

=/\=

Stardate: 2.140511.1325
Location: LUNA
Scene: Earthrise Hotel, Lobby * Hotel Room

The hotel was sleek, with modern dark undertones. The decorations were minimalistic and tastefully arranged. Soft, soothing music played in the background and if one sniffed a gentle waft of sandlewood hit the nose. However, people didn't check into the Earthrise for its decor or the olfactory sensations. This was a place for discretion.

The staff was on alert when an azure woman, with a few guards and a large dog walked in as if she belonged there. They were further concerned when she bypassed the front desk to walk to the lifts.

One of the front desk associates came out from behind the desk and approached the group. "Ma'am? Ma'am, where are you going?"

The woman in the black and white dress with a keyhole front, stopped and turned to the manager. She shifted the bag on her shoulder while giving him a blinding smile. "To my room of course."

"Your room?" he asked. The Earthrise was a discrete establishment that catered to its guests' needs and whims; which meant first it had to know who its guests were. Surely he would have remembered a 6' tall blue woman with white hair before now. "Can you come with me, ma'am? I think there's been some confusion."

Approximately 15 minutes later the same woman, with her entourage now including the General Manager of the Hotel, walked down the corridor of the 3rd floor and when they approached room 333 the General Manager fumbled for a moment. "Ma'am I realize...that is to say I know I saw the paperwork...and yes it is your room, but I'm not sure how to explain this. Well you see we've had a guest here and--"

The woman held up a hand in a bid to end the General Manager's misery. "It will be fine," she assured him. Then she walked past him, and using the key code he gave her, she typed it into the PADD and waltzed into the room as if it were hers. Which it was, technically.

The occupant on the other side of the door may have thought otherwise. But he was prepared. The value of dealing with such an obvious opponent was that it gave you time, however so briefly, to prepare.

Standing at attention, ever the symbol of StarFleet pride, the occupant of the room said, "Secretary Bonviva."

The azure woman puckered her lips ever so briefly before saluting while giving a slight nod of her head. "At ease, Admiral Edgerton." Then she turned to the other people behind her, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you ever so kindly for escorting me to my room but if you would please give the Admiral and I a few minutes to gather his things. Just leave the luggage cart and we'll be fine."

There was a pause before the hotel General Manager left; it took a bit longer before her own security team would leave but she convinced them that staying on the other side of the door would suffice. Finally when they were alone Edgerton narrowed his eyes at her, all pretense of civility wiped away. "Your room?"

"You loaded the ARMSTRONG with a bunch of wet behind the ears officers or those with only desk experience. Captain Norubi of the USS GALILEO was forced to retire for reasons he won't talk about on the record and suddenly Captain Lovelace, who was out of SING SING II less than a year, had her record wiped clean and installed as CO there. Then you dragged Kane back from BFE to sit in the chair on the DISCOVERY and half the staff is explemlary and the other half have questionable records. The staff of MCKINLEY is suddenly depleted of resources they were supposed to be allocated less than a year ago. And you did it all from this room, which you had the audacity to use StarFleet credits for. I am the Secretary of StarFleet and I sure as hell did not authorize this expenditure. So yes it is my room. And today is check out cause we're going back to EARTH where I can spend more time reviewing your questionable judgment when it comes to StarFleet and Federation policies," Xana explained. Smiling sharply at him she moved the luggage cart towards him as she walked around the room, "Let's pack. The Earthrise has a very strict checkout policy."

=/\=
Location: EARTH
Scene: Edgerton's Home office

Edgerton sighed, tugging on his collar as the door slid aside to allow him into the room. The day had been long, filled with much bureaucratic backbiting, paperwork, back room handshakes, promises, concessions... and humiliations. Bonviva… **the Bitch,** he thought mentally to himself as he stepped inside his room. Even now, the heat from their exchange was still nettling him. His irritation was brought up short suddenly as his eyes fell on his desk.

Something was off.

It was not immediately apparent what was off. It was something subtle, and he could not quite place his finger on… no, there it was. A PADD that had been there before, now lay at a different orientation, slightly cocked. Understanding dawned on him, and anger settled on his features. Irritably, he strode to a painting on the wall, and moved it aside. A toggle was hidden in a recess behind it. He flicked the switch, turning on a field which he knew would give him privacy from any electronic ears within the confines of his office. He turned to see the source of his current rage sitting casually in an armchair across the room, as if he had just appeared there from thin air.

“I told you to never come here, Seth,” Edgerton hissed.

“It is a pleasure seeing you too Admiral,” Rawyvin returned coolly, unflapped.

Edgerton composed himself; it would be no good to discuss any business while irritated, especially with this man. Edgerton had personally assessed and recruited this source. He had constructed a physiological profile of Rawyvin, and knew his manipulative love of power. It had been easy to convince him to abandon the hypocritical purity of Starfleet’s code for the realism with which Section 31 viewed the world.

Easy to recruit, but hard to control. And thus, the current source of Edgerton’s annoyance. “Your latest handiwork is all over the news,” Edgerton commented. “You certainly do not do things small.”

“Thank you, Admiral,” Rawyvin purred.

“I was referring to your failure,” Edgerton retorted, his voice lightly coated with distain. He saw Rawyvin’s jaw muscle twitch. “Perhaps there it is a lack of imagination on my part, because I cannot possibly see how you let one woman slip from your grasp and count it as a success.” Rawyvin was silent. Edgerton let him stew. He knew murderous thoughts would be going through Rawyvin’s mind. It mattered little; Edgerton had the power here, not Rawyvin. “I see that you have nothing to say for yourself. Good. Then let me say some words of comfort, for this wasn’t your failure at all.” Silence. “No… Seth, this was my fault.

“It is my fault that I trusted this task to an animal like you. Creatures of destruction like you know nothing of intelligence – nothing of finesse. Of course this was my fault, for thinking that you could possibly do anything more complicated than swinging a cudgel. Failure weighs heavily on me, Seth. Your incompetence has caused us with a mess to clean up. Please Seth, don’t blame yourself, I should have known better to entrust you with something that required more thought.”

The other man was glaring daggers at him, but he had not moved from his spot. Slowly, Rawyvin spoke. “Let me take care of this loose end, Admiral. I can hunt her down; already I…”

“Ah yes, your solution to everything,” Edgerton cut him off. “Your only admirable quality, Rawyvin, is your dedication to pleasing the gods of death and destruction. However, despite your failures, there is still a chance to discuss terms with Ms. Chen. We don’t want her dead just quite yet.”

Rawyvin was silent for a second. “Am I to understand that you are sending me to negotiate a deal with her?”

Edgerton laughed cruelly. “My failures continue; I overestimated your intelligence as well. You will do no such thing. I will handle Ms. Chen another way.”

He let the insult hang in the air for a long moment. Rawyvin said nothing in response, and Edgerton turned away to let him simmer with anger. It felt good to crush another in this manner. Especially after... Edgerton cocked his head in consideration.

“Rawyvin, I am disappointed and angry with you.” Edgerton paused, then exhaled dramatically. “But I am being unfair to you.” He turned to face the man. Rawyvin was watching him dangerously, but a flicker of curiosity had flicked into his eyes.

“Unfair,” Rawyvin repeated in a low tone.

“Your track record has been impeccable to now, and I had every reason to think you would succeed in this mission. Perhaps a change of venue would be… refreshing.”

A long pause. “Change of venue,” Rawyvin finally prompted.

“I want you to send someone a message, Seth.” He walked over to his desk and grabbed the PADD that Rawyvin had disturbed, and tapped a few commands, before striding over to the still seated man. Rawyvin quietly took the PADD and stared at the screen. His face turned from sullen to incredulous, and then to suspicious, and then to annoyed.

“I understand my lesson, Admiral, you need not mock me,” Rawyvin growled.

“I assure you that I am in earnest.”

Rawyvin’s face slid back towards suspicion. “Then I can only assume that you wish for something… subtle. Surprising considering that it is something that I was judged as being incapable of…” The sarcasm in his voice was evident.

“Come now, Seth - melodrama does not become you. This is a long-term assignment. Subtle is… good. To start. But should the need ever arise for a more permanent message, I know I can rely on your wonderful creativity.” Rawyvin raised an eyebrow, and his eyes slid back to the screen to the target. Edgerton could see that his curiosity had been peaked. “If you feel that you are up to the task of course…” Edgerton poked at him.

Seth’s jaw muscles twitched again, but otherwise, he remained still, reading the screen. Finally, he put the PADD down, and slowly stood. “And when do I report?”

“There is an old saying,” Edgerton said, turning away to pour himself a glass of water. “Don’t call me, I will call you. Dismissed.” He finished pouring, and then turned. The space where Rawyvin had been was now empty, as Edgerton had expected. He smiled to himself, and took a sip of his water.

=/\=
Scene: Bonviva Villa

Dragging back to EARTH a reluctant Edgerton made her happy. Cleaning up house, metaphorically speaking, was exhausting so she figured she'd work from home the rest of the day. Walking into her home something caught her eye. A single rose lay on the coffee table, with a tag hanging from its stem. She approached it, curious. Was this something Jake had arranged? The gesture was sweet, and made her feel warm inside. Smiling, she approached and picked it up examining the beautiful dark red flower, inhaling it deeply. Her eyes dropped to the tag to read the message.

With Love –
Rawyvin Seth

Her smile froze. The name recalled… Xana wracked her brain… and then she flashed back to almost a year ago.

She was sitting at her desk, putting the finishing touches on a report.

“In the past 10 years, the mounting evidence is overwhelming against Seth, and paints a picture of a highly dangerous and well-connected criminal. Warrants and calls for his death/arrest have also been filed by the Klingon and Romulan Empires, amongst others. Starfleet Captains are to capture this criminal if possible, kill if necessary. Proceed with caution – highly dangerous.

“Signed Xana Bonviva, Investigating Officer.”

She set down the PADD and rubbed her eyes. The report had been taxing. She had reviewed over 40 cases to finish this report, and the findings had made her stomach twist. Of all the sick bastards in the world...

Of all the sick bastards in the world… he had walked through her doorstep.

“A sweet gesture, yes?” A low voice came from the direction of her kitchen. She turned, ready to fight, and saw a dark figure leaning against the door frame, two glasses of champagne in his hand.

It wasn't that she was opposed to Intel; intellectually she understood the role it played within society. And if you wanted to be technical about it, her daughter's godfather was Section 31 and Xana liked him; so she was probably far more understanding than most about some of the seedier undercurrents.

But this wasn't Intel, and it wasn't even Section 31; this wasn't a confrontation behind enemy lines or a dark shadowy corner where secrets fermented. This was her living room, in the middle of the afternoon. It was an ambush by a dangerous rogue agent.

Rawyvin, apparently oblivious to the tumultuous thoughts racing through her, sipped from a flute of champagne as he walked across the room. "Picard Vineyards of course," he said.

Her violet eyes darted and noticed he wasn't carrying anything that could be construed as a weapon, which was both a blessing and a curse. "Of course," she replied. "I expect nothing else, Mr. Seth."

He smiled then, seemingly pleased by her comment. "I’m so glad we understand each other. But please call me Rawyvin, Xana. I feel like we already know each other," he explained as he passed over the untouched flute of champagne.

She knew what she was supposed to do; engage the enemy, relax them until they trust you. Ignore the bile climbing up your throat, the hair on the back of your neck standing straight, and the urge to hit them. Perhaps at one point that would have been an option for her but she was long out of the Security game, and even then hand to hand combat was not her strength. "Then I’m at a disadvantage, because I don't know you."

As she tapped the flute to her lips, Rawyvin gave her a patient look. "Please… I can forgive the fiction you wrote last year about me.” She was startled. He had read his own report? “But you are right, perhaps now we should spend some time together." Sliding a hand down the length of her arm he said, "Get to really know each other."

Suddenly a door opened up in the distance and a dog and targ preceded the pair of cleats clomping on the floor and the pre-teen wail, "Moooom! I'm home!"

"Dahlia," Xana exhaled.

"Relax, darling," Rawyvin smiled as he moved to stand behind her. "You act like something is wrong."

The 9 year old came sliding into the living room and flopped on the couch. Suddenly she saw the man there and her mother's dark look. "Ohhh, sorry we have company."

Suddenly the instinct to fight turned to flight, as Xana clamped down every instinct to drag her daughter away from here. But she knew that would only heighten the situation from dangerous to impossible. "Dahlia, you should go upstairs. Start your homework. I have work."

Dahlia, used to her mother's guests, sighed and got up. "Ok. When is Hannibal going to be on Security again? There was none outside which is just weird."

Xana blinked at that. Hannibal was gone? She hadn't authorized that; and it took every ounce not to really run with Dahlia. "Everything will be back to normal soon."

Rawyvin watched the woman reassure her daughter, and then the son when he came running in a moment later. She did nothing untoward to alert the children that she had not been expecting him but she firmly commanded them both upstairs away from the living room.

When they were alone, Rawyvin leaned in to whisper to her ear, "Such beautiful children." Picking up the rose he trailed it along her bare arm. "They are fragile creatures. You do well to tend and care for them." Rooted to the floor, out of fear of escalating the situation anymore than was already spiraling out of control, Xana ignored the icy cold dread that was snaking across her body. “So soft… don’t you think?”

Xana’s heart jumped, but she calmed herself, connecting soft with the flower that was trailing against her cheek now. "I didn't know you liked soft," she whispered in a hoarse voice.

He chuckled dryly, as he traced the outline of her ear with his tongue. "You have no idea of what my...tastes are."

He dropped the rose, and seemed to move past her, leaving Xana inhaled sharply, her emotions wildly out of control; it took all her energy to focus on not trying to kill Seth. But now she had to find out why he was here. All that she knew about him indicated that while dangerous he wasn't an independent agent; not truly independent. There had to be someone else. She had to suffer through this to find that out, because if she even made a move now she had no doubt there would be another here. Spinning around so she was just out of his reach she smiled coquettishly, "So am I your… taste then?"

Seth's eyes slid over the blue woman's face, a dramatically bored expression settling on his face. "My dear, please, it does not become you to simply throw yourself at me in this way. So… unladylike."

Xana ground her teeth, and then went back to direct questions "Why now, Rawyvin? We've probably circled around each other for a long while," Xana asked as she stepped back.

Rawyvin set his glass down and approached her. He encircled her wrist with his cool hands as he "tsk-ed" her. "You’re a smart girl… Why do you think?" They were in a dance that she didn't know the steps to, she thought to herself. Power, she thought to herself. All agents, especially rogue ones, loved power. Rawyvin's profile was especially firm on this. Where was this coming from? “Xana my dear, let me soothe your worries,” he said as he gently brushed the hair from her face. “If I had meant harm towards you… well, let us not dwell on such ugly thoughts.”

Gently, he sat her down on her sofa, sitting opposite to her. “I’m here to get to know you Xana! There is so much to discuss! This taking of multiple spouses, for instance. I do heartily approve - the plural of spouse, afterall, is spice.” He chuckled at his own joke. Xana gave him a weak smile. “Your husband… Jake… is it? I understand he’s out right now on a mission.” Xana did not speak. She felt cold, listening to him tell her so much about herself. Rawyvin continued, without needing prompting. “Serving under Captain Kane, if I’m not mistaken. A mighty fine man, in my opinion. Your husband is fortunate to have such a prestigious man to serve under. I do not blame the man for the deaths of all those crew that served under him… sometimes, sacrifices must be made. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Xana was taking it in. Without so much as a word to tie him to it, Rawyvin had threatened the security of her home, her virtue, the safety of her children, and now, her husband.

“Ah, but it’s you who doesn’t know about me! I do have a tendency to be fascinated by such beauty, and no gentlemen would ramble on about himself…” Rawyvin cut back in after a long pause. “Did you know I play the piano?”

The non-sequitur had caught her by surprise. “I… I had no idea.”

Rawyvin sat up, as if shocked. “My dear! Oh, but I must play for you.” With a flourish, he rose to his feet and a moment later was at the piano, a dark but melodious tune filling the air. The music was beautiful, and Rawyvin appeared to dance at the keys, slowly rising and falling as his fingers danced a ballad on the ivory. Xana was listening, spellbound, paralyzed by the music and by fear.

The last chords rang out as Rawyvin closed the piece. He turned a steady gaze at her, awaiting her reaction. “That… was… beautiful.” The admission seemed to be drawn from her despite herself.

He tossed up a hand as if he were casually dismissing the compliment. “Merely an amateur performance my dear; I have not had the time I wish to dedicate to the craft…” He approached her and sat with her once again.

“What was that?” Xana had to ask.

“Tchaikovsky,” he supplied. “His Autumn song. Such a moving piece… he wrote it as part of his ‘Seasons’ opus, you know. And yet, it has so much more meaning to me…” he seemed to warm to the topic. “Autumn.. the time for fall. The time for change. He captured it so perfectly, wouldn’t you agree?”

Xana stared, wonderingly. Another allusion, this time, more subtle. Rawyvin had not merely played this song on a whim. He had carefully staged this entire performance for her to… to what? What did he want?

“Perhaps it’s time we end the small talk, Rawyvin,” Xana finally said, realizing why he had come. “You want something.”

Rawyvin gave her a wounded. “My darling, I would not be so coarse as to demand a thing from you.” He rested a hand on her thigh. She fought the urge to throw it off. Rawyvin leaned forward. “No my dear… I am here to offer you something instead.” Xana waited. “You have enemies, my love… enemies who happen to have me in their employment.”

Xana narrowed her eyes. “You want to make a deal.”

“A deal? Xana, I come to you with the offer of a beautiful relationship! How could you possibly cheapen this by calling it a ‘deal’?” Rawyvin purred.

She was stuck in a cha-cha, she thought to herself; one step forward, two back. "All relationships are deals," she pointed out, trying to go forward. "It's just a matter of negotiating favorable terms and conditions."

His eyes danced then. "Favorable terms and conditions? So cold, so clinical. Oh you need me."

Rawyvin made his boldest move yet, sliding a hand down from her brow down past the sweep of her cheek to just under her jawline, his right thumb pressing on her pulse as he leaned in on top of her. "So fast, Xana," he whispered. "You need to calm down and think about this. Really think. We can't have you making decisions because you couldn't control your emotions today." Leaning in he pressed his soft lips to hers, then coming up he whispered, "You know you want it. But don't call me, I'll call you."

Within the blink of an eye the man stood up, swept off imaginary dust from his clothes and walked out of her home.

=====
NRPG:

Chris: That’s right Alix… I’m leaving you for Sarah. :-P

Sarah Albertini-Bond
as
Xana Bonviva
Secretary to Starfleet

And

Christopher B. Del Gesso
as
Rawyvin Seth
Section 31