Mind Games (Rayek)

[Rayek trLhoell]

Uhlan Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Senator Tocul's manor house - gardens]

Rayek nodded as Taheen realized she couldn't tell her father.  The fact that she considered Rayek's safety in making her decision was a surprise to him.   He really had her fooled with his lies.  He wondered, as he watched her looking over his face, whether he would be able to sleep well after this - after using her to get to her father?

He was wondering how best to get her to draw out more information - perhaps asking her to eavesdrop more when she came up with an even better suggestion.

"You would do that? You amaze me, Taheen.  You have such ingenuity.  Okay.  We'll try that.  When?  The sooner the better, please... because we don't know when another attempt on his life will be made.  Later tonight or tomorrow perhaps?  Does he have any plans for the evening?"

Rayek knew his father generally had 'social events' to attend almost every other evening.  He figured Senator Tocul's social calendar would be similar.

"We can tell him we connected so well that we want to see each other again then. That gets me into the house.  Then you do your distraction and I will check his office.  But to find anything helpful in his office I will likely need some equipment so I have to return to the base.  Does that sound like a plan?"

[Tess tLhoell]

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

==Taheen t'Raghaellh==

At Rayek's question if her father had plans for the evening, Taheen nodded her head. "He will attend the session of the senate tonight." Faltering briefly she added quietly: "The bomb plotter surely knew about the session and therefore knew my father would be coming into the Hall of State today sooner or later." Yes, she had bought the story. What she didn't tell Rayek but only thought in her mind was that she knew a man who was part of the Tal'Shiar for a couple of years now - Kilmak - and who might have better access to information than a newbie on probation, so she thought she might be able to provide some more information on the bomb that had been found in the Hall of State. And with that verify Rayek's story. She did believe him but a bit of subconscious distrust seemed to be appertain to every Romulan.

At his suggestion how to go through it Taheen nodded her head. "It does sound like a plan." She glanced at the manor house in the background before she focused back on Rayek, leaning into him a bit more again, her hands resting lightly on his chest as she looked up at him. "And now we should do our best to make happy faces again. I'm certain my father is watching us from behind one of the windows", she murmured and did her best to grin. Sure enough they were far away enough though he still might be able to make out hints of their faces.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Uhlan Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Senator Tocul's manor house - gardens]

Rayek nodded.  He already knew about the senate meeting this evening - having checked into the senate schedule earlier that afternoon. 

What he hadn't known until then was that Taheen had a source among the Tal'Shiar to verify his  information (or rather his lies).  Rayek didn't know this Kilmak.  But he did know that the agency took the sharing of their information quite seriously.  The fear that Rayek had portrayed earlier hadn't been false.  If this information had been really and he'd been found out sharing it - he would be executed.  He would be saved that fate because he'd made up the entire thing.  But now Rayek wondered what if if wasn't made up - would this Kilmak break his oath and share the information?

Rayek knew his main goal was to find proof of Senator Tocul's conspiracy but would the Praetor not be even more impressed if he also weeded out loose lips within the Tal'Shiar at the same time?

He was distractedly considering how to entrap his own co-worker when Taheen placed her hands on his chest, drawing attention back to her.  Rayek didn't turn to look at the house, at her words.  No, she was right.  He had a role to play.  "Of course, Taheen, dear. Shall we give him something to see?" 

He raised a hand to her hair once more, gently cupping the back of her head as he leaned down to kiss her.  "I implied to your father that I was determined to win your favor.  Have I done so?"

[Tess tLhoell]

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

==Taheen t'Raghaellh==

After he had suggested how to arrange his visit in the evening tonight Taheen noticed that he was starting to get lost in his own head, thinking about something hard. She did wonder what that was but she didn't have a chance to find out.

When she dragged his attention back on the situation she briefly thought that his words sounded more like they were a display for her father to see than the genuine interest he seemed to have at the beginning. Were his feelings not as genuine as they had seemed at first?

She was distracted by the hand cradling the back of her head and a moment later she felt his lips on hers. It wasn't how she had imagined it to be. There was no butterfly-in-the-stomach feeling. No sparks striking.

When he drew back again she looked up at him, grinning slightly. "You have, handsome." While she said that her eyes sought for clues that would show any romantic feelings about the kiss on his part. Dilated pupils, slightly flushed cheeks.

"Let's go back into the house to tell my father the good news", she grinned and slid her hand back in his as she turned to walk back.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Uhlan Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Senator Tocul's manor house - gardens]

Rayek realized his mistake even in the midst of the kiss, picking up on her disappointed thoughts.  He should have realized that with something so intimate as a kiss, that she would pick on his lack of real interest.  If she were more experienced she definitely would have known the difference, for now she might just put it down to the stories of such romantic reactions being all fantasy.

When she sought to study his expression for his own physical reaction, Rayek feigned an awkward glance down to his feet, letting her think him disappointed in the kiss too.   At her words suggesting to head back to the manor, he nodded and walked beside her hand-in-hand. 

They were met at the patio doors by Senator Tocul.

[Tess tLhoell]

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

==Senator Tocul==

Tocul had been watching from the window at the first floor in the manor house, his hands clasped behind his back. He had watched them walking through the garden and finally stopping at the far end of it and unfortunately - how he noticed quickly - in a spot that was out of reach of his audio recording devices he had installed there. His daughter surely knew that. He should see to fixing that sometime soon.
So he had forcused on reading their faces. It had seemed like they had to discuss some serious things, there was barely laughter or joy which had Tocul wondering what they were talking about, though at some point Taheen had been moving closer to Rayek. And finally there was the kiss.

When he then saw that they were heading back to the house he had been going downstairs to wait for them at the patio.

He watched their faces attentively. "I trust you both enjoyed yourselves."

"I can imagine you do", Taheen replied who stood very close to Rayek, their fingers intertwined, her free hand resting on his arm. "I tried to convince him to stay, but Rayek has to go now." She made a show of looking up at him sadly like she was going to miss him.

Tocul looked at Rayek a bit surprised. "That is too bad. I had been hoping we could continue our conversation."

[Rayek trLhoell]

Uhlan Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Senator Tocul's manor house]

Rayek smiled at Taheen fondly as she looked up at him. He gave her hand a slight squeeze.  If he had doubts of her being able to play her part, those doubts were set to rest at her expert acting.

He was glad she was the one to bring up his need to leave.  Rayek was about to comment on his intent to return again soon -  that way if the Senator learned of his visit later that night, he could state that he had told him.   But his thought got interrupted by the Senator's comment.

Rayek glanced to Taheen then back to the Senator.  "I expect to be back again soon.  Perhaps we can talk more tomorrow?"

[Tess tLhoell]

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

==Senator Tocul==

Tocul watched the both of them closely though he tried not to do it too obvious. He offered a smile along with a nod of his head. "Of course. My house will always be open to you." He had cameras everywhere in the house and in almost every room. And maybe he would be able to question his daughter about their meeting before he had to leave for the senate session.

He offered a slight nod to Rayek before he ordered his servant to accompany Rayek to the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Tal'Shiar Compound - Rayek's room]




==Vandar - Tal'Shiar special operative==



Vandar stood in what formely had been a tidy room. Whatever content had been in the wardrobes or drawers was now thrown to the ground, Rayek's clothes, snacks he might have had there, sparse decoration knocked over carelessly.

The man looked around almost disappointed when he couldn't find anything personal of the young man who occupied this room. Too bad. That was always the fun part. The kid seemed to know what was good for him. Of course Vandar could have looked through Rayek's stuff without him ever noticing he had even touched it. But Vandar felt like he wanted to be a bastard today, so he acted on it. He never knew with the Praetor's new hounds, some of them felt insufferably smug about being assigned a special task by the Praetor, so Vandar - in the service of the Tal'Shiar for almost 30 years - always felt the urge to put the greenhorns in their place. And in this case the more so as he had been informed - or rather warned - that this one was a telepath. Vandar scrunched his nose.

Carelessly stepping on the things that were scattered across the floor he approached the desk with the computer unit. He couldn't find anything personal in this room but maybe he could find anything on the computer. With his back to the door he sat on the single chair in the small room and started to try and find anything about Rayek he didn't already know.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Uhlan Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Senator Tocul's manor house]

Rayek nodded at the open invitation by the Senator.  "Thank you sir. You have been a most gracious host."  He then turned to Taheen and reluctantly  released her hand.  "I will see you soon, e'lev."   Rayek glanced to Tocul to see if the man would react in any manner at the endearment Rayek called Tocul's daughter.

He then left and hurried back to the Tal'Shiar compound to prepare for this evening.  He was somewhat concern about leaving Taheen there with her father ... not because of any fictitious bomb but because the man was manipulative and could perhaps get Taheen to talk, to confess about his intent to search the Senator's room. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Tal'Shiar compound- Rayek's room]

Arriving on the compound, Rayek headed straight to his quarters to download the evidence he'd gathered thus far.  If he were to be caught in tonight's escapade Rayek didn't want any previous recording to be confiscated.

Rayek had no forewarning of any kind that there was something amiss until he opened his door.  The moment he did however his heart leapt into his throat, making it hard to breathe momentarily.  His room had been ransacked.  Not that he'd had anything of personal or military value at the time, though it did have him frown at the fact that had he downloaded the audio recording his evidence could have been lost.  He'd need to make a backup and find someplace secure to store it.  The room's devastation was in shadow - lit by only the flickering light of what he assumed was his computer screen. The half open door obscured that part of the room but he could hear movement from that corner of the room. 

Whoever had searched his room was still present and on his computer.  Rayek wasn't naive enough to think that he'd caught them unawares.  No, he'd applied no stealth whatsoever to his approach.  Whoever it was on his computer - cared little that he knew of their presence in his room.  Which suggested to Rayek, someone much more skilled than he that either needed for him to know who they were and wanted to prove a point about how low he was in comparison or someone who planned to kill him regardless of his knowledge of them.  Rayek swallowed at that unpleasant thought and moved fully into the room, closing the door behind him.

"Who are you?  And is there something specific you are looking for?" he questioned.  He tried to have the words come out casual but Rayek was tense, ready to fight if the man suddenly turned in an attack.

He tried to read the man's thought but his efforts were met by a wall.  Whoever he was - they'd been trained in keep secrets.

[Tess tLhoell]

[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Tal'Shiar Compound - Rayek's room]

==Vandar - Tal'Shiar special operative==

As Vandar was skimming through the computer files he soon heard the shuffling of someone stopping in front of the quarters he was in. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips, emphasizing the distinct wrinkles around his mouth even more. He did have a good timing as he had been hoping to meet the Uhlan here and not have to make the effort to trace down his location - which would have taken no longer than a few minutes, but still. This was better. He loved surprises - if he himself wasn't the one on the receiving end.

He heard the door opening and then - silence. He imagined how the young man started to put the pieces of the puzzle together and while he waited he turned around with the chair he was sitting on to face the door - that right now obstructed the view on the telepath but Vandar was sure not much longer.

Then finally the young man stepped in and wisely closed the door behind himself. He found Rayek's dark eyes on his as he was asking who he was and if he was looking for something specific.

Vandar didn't say or do anything but take in the sight of the man. When he had been informed he would be dealing with a telepath he seriously had been thinking about rejecting the assignment. But who would reject a task assigned by the Praetor? You would do that once and then you wouldn't be doing anything ever again. Granted, Vandar had earned himself a position that allowed him to choose his assignments and being close to the Praetor. But ironically the fact that had made him wanting to reject the assignment - Rayek being a telepath - made Vandar the best choice for the task. He had been trained to block his mind and was an expert by now. There was no point in denying that.

But still, he felt a deep-rooted hatred against telepaths and when he saw Rayek he would have liked nothing better than to just pull the disruptor pistol from his belt and vaporize him. But that part was likely yet to come, at some point when the telepath would have fulfilled his usefulness to the Praetor, there was really no reason anyone would want someone like him to be allowed to stay alive. Then he would not reject the task but volunteer for it.

So for now he made sure to tame down his disdain. Maybe there was a way to sabotage Rayek's work in a way that couldn't be traced down to Vandar after he had collected the information the Praetor needed so the assignment would be over naturally by Rayek's execution.

Rayek's questions still hung in the air while Vandar sat relaxed in the chair, around him the mess he had made. He slowly rose from the chair, his eyes never leaving the Uhlan. "Oh? You've got to ask me, telepath? Is my mind too difficult to read for you?", he derided Rayek as he approached him, his hand resting casually on the handle of his disruptor that was sitting at his belt. He couldn't know it for sure but he knew that he tried to read his mind, all telepaths did that. "I already dealt with the likes of you." He paused and looked him straight in the eyes, daring him to try once more and read his mind. "Do you want to know where they are now?" His voice was a disdainful murmur now.

[Rayek trLhoell]

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

One of the first things Rayek noted regarding the other Romulan was the cold deadly gaze.  Rayek had little doubt that the other would have preferred to see him dead rather than answer him.  He remained tense as the man slowly rose from the chair as if he hadn't a care in the world.

The fact that the stranger knew his darkest secret was alarming, almost as much alarming as the man's hand on his disruptor, but Rayek tried not to show this.  Should he deny the ability?  It seemed a rather moot point - telepathy was not something people accused others of randomly.   But how the hell had he found out?  Very few people - even among the Tal'Shiar knew his ability.  Hell, he'd only known about it for month. 

The man met his gaze fully, tauntingly.  Maybe this was a test?  And he was meant to use his ability.  The Praetor did say he would send someone.  Ah! - Rayek searched back.. through the events of the day.. to meeting with the Praetor.  Vandar... but was this him?  Would hinting at the man's name improve or worsen his chances a surviving this encounter?

Rayek tried again to read the man... narrowing his slightly as he focused.  But he was unsuccessful - but the man didn't need to know that. 

Rayek swallowed back his trepidation and gave the other a slight smirk. "Ah, Vandar. So it is you." His words and tone implied a certainty gained from an impeccable source.

[Tess tLhoell]

[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Tal'Shiar Compound - Rayek's room]

==Vandar - Tal'Shiar special operative==

Vandar watched him closely as he looked into his eyes. While he did that he made sure to keep up his mental shield.
He saw Rayek narrowing his eyes as if he indeed was trying to read his mind, then he suddenly told him his name. There was no way the young man could have read his mind, Vandar was sure about that, so Rayek must have known who he was beforehand. The fact that he pretended to mind read him and then further pretended - so was Vandar's impression - that he knew his name from his thoughts gave the Tal'Shiar operative the feeling to be mocked. Which was a feeling he hated almost as much as telepaths and being mocked by a telepath was the worst.

Rage surged through him and made him grab Rayek by the collar and push him hard against the wall while he drew his disruptor from his belt and pointed it at Rayek's head. "You think this is funny don't you?" Vandar growled, disdain radiating off him. "I can't kill you yet but believe me I will do it when the time has come. For so long ..." He drew the hand with the disruptor back and struck Rayek's face with the weapon hard enough to knock him off his feet while he let go of his collar. "Remember that next time you think of kidding me again."

Vandar turned away and paced the room as he tried to regain self control. It was annoying him now even more he had not been able yet to get useful information about Rayek himself. But he'll do his homework. He could have interrogated him right here and now but he was running out of time for an appointment he had.

Stopping in the middle of the room and feeling somewhat calmer he directed his gaze back on the Uhlan. "I have to report to the Praetor. Did you find out anything useful at all?"

[Rayek trLhoell]

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

The other man's sudden rage while somewhat expected was so complete and fast that Rayek didn't have time to react, his hands scrambled for purchase against Vandar's grip at his collar until the disruptor came out of its holster.  Oh Fvadt!  His eyes widened in alarm and his hands let go of the hand at his collar and he raised them in a soundless plea for leniency.

The man's accusation that he thought this was funny wasn't correct. Nothing about this situation was funny, but Rayek couldn't tell him that.  The man seemed like a hair-trigger away from blasting a hole in Rayek's head. And Rayek could do nothing. This was the Praetor's man. If Rayek fought back there would be repercussions to his family.

There was absolutely no relief in the fact that the man was denied killing him ... for now.  Then before Rayek could offer an apology or explanation, the other struck him across the face with the disruptor's hard casing with such force that Rayek was knocked to the floor at the base of the wall.  The sour taste of coppery blood was on his tongue.  Rayek stayed down and kept his head low.  Showing the other that, yes, he knew his place.

When the Praetor's man moved away to pace the room, Rayek slowly and cautiously stood, though he continued to keep his gaze lowered to show his subservience to the other.  It seemed to help... maybe...

When Vandar questioned directly about whether Rayek at found out anything yet, Rayek nodded. "I've managed to confirm that there are plans against the Praetor, though not by the Senator directly but through an contact of his.  The Senator however is complicit in that he has not reported these threats.  The name I picked up was Lolir - though that may be a cover.  I intend to check the Senator's officer later to see if I can find out anything on this Lolir." Rayek reported out dutifully as wiped the blood from his split lip.

"Also I have learned that the Tal'Shiar may have a leak.  The Senator's daughter believed she could verify a lie I told her by speaking with a long standing operative.  If my cover story is blown by his words then at least you will know that he talks. The man's name is Kilmak."

He reached up to his ear and gently pulled out the recording device.  "I returned to download this to give ... well, to you.  Would you like to review it now or just a copy of the file? It's the Senator's daughter telling of how she eavesdropped on her father and this man Lolir while Lolir spoke openly against the Praetor.. and she mentions she that it sounded like violent plans were being made.  It's not definitive proof which is why I am going back tonight."  He turned towards the already turned on computer and leaned over the keyboard while standing leaving the seat free to Vandar should he want it and downloaded the audio file onto a computer chip and held it out towards the man.

[Tess tLhoell]

[Romulus - Ki Baratan - Tal'Shiar Compound - Rayek's room]

==Vandar - Tal'Shiar special operative==

Vandar looked at Rayek with an icy glare. His face gave no hint whatsoever of what he thought about what Rayek was telling him. Though in his mind he was astounded what the Uhlan had been finding out in such a short time. Wasn't he assigned to the task a few hours ago?
Then again, if everyone had an abnormity like he had it would be so easy like it was for Rayek. Bloody telepath. Vandar felt a hint of satisfaction as he watched the young man wiping blood from his lip.

But there was even more the young man had to say. He did not only mention Lolir - Vandar never heard of him and agreed with Rayek that it might be a cover - but also hinting on knowing a man among them who might not be able to keep his mouth shut. When he heard the name his face almost twitched but Vandar was able to keep the grim mask on his face. He knew Kilmak. He had proven himself to be a skilled colleague and raised to be trusted with bigger issues. Obviously that might be a mistake.

Vandar watched, disruptor still in hand, as Rayek moved to the computer to download the file from the audio device. "What lie did you tell the daughter?", Vandar asked. It seemed the story with Kilmak had made him pick up his ears.

When Rayek held out the computer chip to him he stepped closer and took it from him. "I'll review it later." Vandar's dark eyes met Rayek's as he put it into a hidden pocket at his tunic. From another pocket he tugged out another device, looking like a tablet computer only having the size of a palm. He handed it to Rayek. "Contact me as soon as you've got news." He nodded at the device before he turned away, preparing to leave.

[Rayek trLhoell]

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

"I told her that I feared the Senator's life, and hers by extension, was in danger because a bomb had been found in his office but that my superiors were keeping the information secret from the public and even me.  I am attempting to get the senator to view me a sympathetic Tal'Shiar source; perhaps even a like minded rebel since I am seemingly willing to go against my Tal'Shiar superiors for his daughter."   

Vandar was less intimidating after Rayek divulged the information he'd discovered.  Perhaps the man had thought he would be of no use, but Rayek intended to show everyone including the Praetor that he was of value to the Empire. He could make a difference.

Rayek accepted the palm sized device and nodded at the order to call in when he had more information, and answered using a term that acknowledged their respective ranking with Rayek as the inferior and Vandar as superior. "Ssuaj-ha!"  He hoped that would appease his contact somewhat.

After Vandar left, Rayek cleared the in-ear recording device of his previous recording and deleted all evidence of it ever having been on his computer.  Vandar had the information and would pass it to the Praetor...  and while Rayek might like to keep a copy for himself, if this Kilmak did a search of his computer like Vandar had then he could forewarn Taheen that Rayek had recorded her.  That would not do. 

Rayek was curious as to who this Kilmak was and was tempted to do a search on the man, but couldn't risk it for the same reason he couldn't leave a copy of the recording on his computer, encryptions and highly coded programs were nice and all but if the man were a senior level operative then anything Rayek could come of up with to secure the information would be as child's play.  Encryption only worked on keeping out those who knew nothing about computers. 

But that thought gave him an idea, Rayek did a search of the name Vandar.  This way if Kilmak did search Rayek's recent use, he might pass on that he searched the name Vandar and if Taheen asked aloud or in her thoughts about Vandar he would have prove of Kilmak's loose tongue.  Also being seen as opposite of Vandar might give Rayek the in he needed with the conspirators.

Afterwards Rayek went to the quartermaster and signed out an electronic bug detector.  The first place he checked was his room and himself.  Thankfully, when both the mini-tablet and in-ear recorder were powered off they did not get picked up on the scanner.  Any he found, he left. It would just mean that he couldn't speak openly there anymore.

Rayek kept a close eye on the time and when it seemed that the Senator would have left for his meeting that's when Rayek timed his arrival back at the manor calling on Taheen.