Rescued (part 3)

Posted on Sat Sep 24th, 2016 @ 12:46pm by Kalikana (Kali) & Orvack & Reina

1,368 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: Qunari Territory, Jenefra
Timeline: Day 2

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Kali shook her head. "My father does not hate you. Until recently, our relations have been peaceful. He attacks because he was told that your people attacked us and killed our emissaries." Before he could comment, she squeezed his hands. "I know it was not your people. I think there's someone on my father's council who wants war, but I don't know why."

[NEW]


Orvack smiled slightly at her squeeze. "My people have been instructed to fight only in defense, but lately the other tribes have taken it upon themselves to be more aggressive. I've done my best to stop them and control their actions, but I can't stop them all." He paused slightly, looking over to Reina before focusing back on Kali. "We have been finding most of our people skinned and stripped of all valuables. Entire villages wiped out and left in ashes. If it is someone on your council, it might be the same people who sense those men to kill you."

Her eyes widened in shock. Skinned? "I contacted the Federation and asked them to investigate the war. They are neutral and believe in peaceful coexistence," she explained. "But I do not think anyone on the Council knows." She shook her head. "I ran away, I don't know how they knew, why they followed me..."

The idea that someone might know and sent assassins after her scared her more than she cared to admit. "I can't go back, but I have to warn them..." She had to do something, but with assassins looking for her, she didn't know what.

Orvack stood there quietly before looking over to Reina. "This complicates things" He said telepathically.

"What do you mean?" Reina asked.

Orvack returned his gaze to Kali, taking her hand gently in his, before speaking to her telepathically. "If the Federation is neutral, than they may not be for long. The same Jenefrans who sent those men to kill you may be cunning enough to persuade the Federation to see my people as more of a threat and use that against my people. With the technology they have, my people could be wiped out far more quickly than they already have. I have to warn my people and tell them they need to tread softly. There is no telling where the Federation stands since you have left."

"And that's why I need to talk to them," Kali said, still adjusting to this new form of communication. "I did give Samantha York what little information I had. She is going to investigate." She looked from Orvack to Reina and back. "She will not be easily swayed, but I cannot say the same for the Jenefran Council, or my father."

"I grew up in a world a lot less trusting. Unfortunately, so did the rest of us Qunari. The price to pay for dealing with Jenefran's. This also means that the rest of my people, unless the are shown or told, will see them as allies of the Jenefrans and see them as enemies. I'm sorry. I will do my best to spread the word between the tribes, but I can't make them believe, Kali. They must see it for themselves." Orvack replied softly.

"Our people were at peace until this war," Kali replied. "Granted we mostly left each other alone, but we weren't at odds, either. Not until our Emissaries were killed by your people."

"What?!" Orvack let go of her hand and took a step back, in a state of shock. "We did not start this. My people began showing up dead or worse. Survivors always pointed Jenefran Forces as the culprits. Whether you, or your father, knew about this is not for me to say but I know for certain your emissaries were not killed by our people. And if they were it was because the Qunari were defending themselves."

Kali put her fists on her hips. "And that is why I asked these people to come to Jenefra," she said, slipping back into speech. "To find out what really happened." She let her hands drop to her sides. "If you could point me in the direction of the Jenefran capital, I will go find them."

"What if the truth isn't what you expected? Are you sure you want to even hear it?" Orvack said crossing his arms over his chest. "Your truth is that my people are savage and violent, starting fights for the sake of enjoyment, and yet we are here talking to one another, peacefully and calmly. My people didn't send assassins to kill you, Kali, that was done by your people. People who don't want you to digging into something that will place them, and what they are doing, at risk. And your plan is to return to the same place where, most likely, the people that tried to kill you have the most control? Its dangerous and could potentially get you killed. I just saved your life, risking the safety of my own people, and you want me to let you put yourself in an even more life taking situation? Do I strike you as the stupid type?"

"Of course I want the truth. You don't know me, or what my truth is, or you would know that," she said, switching back to telepathy. "Most of my people do not believe you are savage. Our history teaches us that. I told you that my people know there has been peace between the Jenefrans and the Qunari until recently. That does not mean we think you're savage and violent. I believe there is someone on the King's Council who is manipulating this war for his own benefit. He is lying to the Council. I don't know who he is or what he wants. That is why I asked Starfleet for help and that is why I am willing to go back. They must be told what happened. Peace between our people and an end to this war is more important than my being safe." She wouldn't tell him that his opinion of her and her people hurt. If she had to, she would go off on her own and find out what was going on. She could not put this man or his people in further danger.

Orvack took his hand in hers and took a step toward her, looking deep into her eyes. "Then you are done here. If you return here, there will be nothing. Me and my people will be gone and further into hiding. You're right. I don't know you, although I would have loved to, but you also don't know me. You seem to have all you need by your side. Good bye, Princess" He eased his hand around the bracelet and removed it before walking away.

Kali couldn't help the tears falling down her cheeks. He didn't understand. She was trying to help both their people. Didn't he know that if she or Starfleet could not stop the war, the Council would hunt down every Qunari until there were none left? They'd been brainwashed to believe that the Qunari were at fault. If she couldn't find the truth, not even he could save his people. She shook her head sadly.

"I'm sorry," she said. In her sorrow she was unaware that even without the bracelet she was speaking telepathically.

She didn't care if he saw her cry as she walked out the door. She just wished she knew which direction to go, but she'd asked and he hadn't told her, so she would just have to find her way, somehow. What did surprise Kali was how much it hurt to walk away from him. She'd lost something precious before she even had a chance to learn what it was.

OFF:

Orvack
Qunari Leader

Reina
Qunari

Kalikana
Jenefran Princess

 

RSS Feed