“And you are sure about this, Evoch?” asked Doctor Taiek. “Not that I lay much gravitas in what this administration says anymore, but they have mentioned instant executions for those D’Tan deems Ancient Regime scum.”
Evoch, now as himself, without makeup, prosthetics, and at the moment bald, looked at the doctor in confusion, ending that look with a sigh.
The two sat across from each other onboard Evoch’s liberated shuttle, which he decided to call the Nei’Rrh, after a small, venomous hummingbird like creature from what was once the planet of Romulus. The old Doctor was aged and wise, but despite years of loyalty to the Romulan Star Empire, retained a kindness and empathy. These traits seem to have brought him here to the ship of someone who by all rights would have been expected to strike him down a couple of years ago.
“Doctor, have I not revealed myself to you? Have I not bared my darkest secrets to you? Have I not shown you evidence of my honesty?”
“Yes, Evoch,” the old Rihannsu replied. “You have, and I admit, you took a grand risk in doing so, but, as long as I have heard the tales of a malevolent spirit I have always attributed these tales to fever dreams or too much brandy. you must see how hard it is to believe this.”
“Well, then, Doctor,” Evoch replied, “ believe this: If the Republic thinks that I am who I claim to be, and they have not eliminated me, then surely grace will be yours, tenfold. You have led a life of helping others. You have healed friend and foe alike with merciful forbearance. Why then would anyone in the Republic, which prides itself on removing the stigmatic shackles of the past, attempt any retribution against you? You have lived a life way better than me if not better than most Rihannu of any allegiance.”
“Flattery will get you places, boy,” the Doctor said with a laugh.
“I only give my honest opinion. I am beyond the word games played by my contemporaries here. I have no time for that rubbish. I promised you no harm to you or your kin, and I mean it.”
“I am not certain you can deliver on that promise, Evoch,” the Doctor said leaning back in the chair.
“My commander, Commander Nathes i-Chaltok t’Velal, has given me the purchase to make that offer. You said you knew her… and you found her character of the highest merit. If that is so, then believe her over me. It is nothing against my ego… not anymore. What matters is that you, Doctor, have put yourself in a precarious situation for what you deem is a righteous cause. It is a righteous cause that I align with. A cause that, unlike the Colonel, you do not have the resources to get out of the consequences you will face. The same with your kin. Since you have not the means, despite your bravery, I will give you that resource… that escape vector.” Evoch holds up his hands and looks side to side at his ship, then back to the doctor. “For your sake, and the sake of your family, take it. Come with me.”
The Doctor sank into the chair a bit, letting the silence make his statement. His lower lip quivered, and with that he seemed to age 20 years. Finally he spoke.
“Damn this war. Damn this bloody war. Damn that dyypan veruul, t’Movar! Damn him for a hundred, thousand lifetimes for his fool’s errand! All for what? Nothing. Profit for his friends. Profit for them, death for us.”
Taiek looked at Evoch, with tears in his eyes, and said, “If you are the Khaiell Rhadai, perhaps you should kill him.”
Evoch raised his eyebrows then looked down and shook his head. “No. I cannot, Doctor. That is no longer my path.”
“No longer your path? You claim to be this legendary killer and that is no longer your path? He’s your enemy, responsible for killing your people. Killing him would end this!”
Evoch sat in stunned silence for a moment then found the words necessary. “No, Doctor, it would not. I fear there would only be more bloodshed. A galactic war and a power vacuum… a war within a war. Do not think that I have not thought about it. Oh, if I knew for sure it would end everything wrong in the galaxy, I would, but we both know, deep in our hearts, killing him would only exacerbate an already horrid situation. You know it. You do.”
The Doctor looked down, seemingly in disgust of himself. Once again silence interrupted the conversation.
“Doctor,” Evoch said, leaning forward to touch Taiek’s hand, “I do not fault you for what you have said… for what you believe concerning this. Trust me, there’s no other way around this beyond letting the powers that be fight it out.”
The old doctor rolled his hand over and grasped Evoch’s gently. “I am sorry, son. I am… an old fool. Set in my ways… the old ways, I guess.”
“You are but a man, same as us all.” Evoch smiled and leaned back into his chair. “Now enough of this dour talk. We have preparations to make.”
“Yes, yes, Evoch,” Taiek sighed, in a state of defeat.
“Do not fear, Doctor,” Evoch said softly, “All will be right. I have faith in this.”
Doctor Taiek looked up at Evoch and smiled.
(EDITED FOR GRAMMAR AND CLARITY)