Chapter 19: Isolation
December 2409
“This is simply unacceptable, doctor.”
The Republic Centurion was clearly not pleased. “You claim to want to serve the Republic, and you claim to have severed your connections with the Tal Shiar and Star Empire, and yet you sit here and protect their secrets!” He shook his head and slid a PADD across the table. “Give me the interlink frequency that you used to tap into the Borg subspace relays.”
“These are not the Empire’s secrets. They’re mine.” She slid the PADD back across, “Some things shouldn’t be known by anyone.”
The Centurion, in his anger, swatted the PADD right off the table, stood up, and headed for the door. As usual when the door opened, two guards entered, folding up the table and both chairs and removing them from the room. And then they were all gone. Though the motions were familiar, Kirina felt something was different this time.
Kirina sat down on the small cot and looked around at her familiar surroundings for the umpteenth time. The walls were gray and barren. The room’s single underpowered light was situated in the center of the ceiling, casting the corners in darkness. She watched the door, waiting for the Centurion to return. She expected him to barge back in, as he did many times before, with some new incentive or threat of punishment. But he never did.
March 2410
“How long has she been like that?”
“About two weeks.”
“Shouldn’t we… tell someone?”
“Nah, the Centurion’s been checking up on her every few days.”
The two guards stood outside Kirina’s cell, chatting idly. The newer of the two, a young Reman sublieutenant, turned to peek through the small viewport in the door. The Romulan doctor was curled up in the corner, opposite the cot, still and quiet.
“She doesn’t look so good.”
“Yeah, no kidding. She been refusing to eat. Last month they had to bring her down to medical.”
“Why is she even in there? Are they doing this for everyone who defects?”
“No, no,” the older Romulan chuckled, “Just her. Apparently she was into some top-secret nonsense and won’t spill the details.”
“So they’re just gonna keep her in there until she talks?”
“Above my paygrade, my friend.”
“True enough! Any idea what they’re serving for lunch today?”