Chapter 39: Home
January 2414
Kirina woke, but couldn’t find a reason to get out of bed. She rolled over, her eyes scanning the darkened Federation-standard quarters, before shutting again.
“Aurelia t’Veras. For your unwavering service to the Republic and your vital role in the capture of one of the quadrant’s most wanted criminals, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Subcommander, with all the privileges and responsibilities it entails.”
"Kirina t’Nalah. In recognition of outstanding leadership, honorable conduct, and devotion to the Romulan people, and for your selfless service while working undercover in the Klingon Empire for the past eight months, the Senate of the New Romulan Republic has bestowed upon you the honor of the Praetor Colius Award.
Kirina’s eyes snapped open again, hours later. She sat upright in bed, wiping sweat from her forehead amid heavy breathing. She slid to the edge of the bed and reached for a glass of water. In the darkness, her hand missed, and the glass fell to the floor with a thud and a splash. The Romulan exhaled a long breath, before arduously climbing to her feet. She shuffled to the replicator, feeling her way through the darkened room.
“Water, cold,” she said, as she reached the replicator. The dispenser hummed to life, illuminating a small area. Kirina looked at her reflection in the glass of the panel, prompting her to reach a hand up in an unsuccessful attempt to flatten her hair. It had grown longer than her usual preference, and at that moment was stuck standing up at a rather unflattering angle. She didn’t bother trying again, instead taking the freshly-replicated glass of water and gulping down about half of it.
She emitted a noise of mundane satisfaction, and then made the trek back to bed. She sighed with frustration as she stepped in the spilled water from earlier, but that didn’t stop her from climbing back under the covers. The new glass, she placed right in the same spot on the night table, without so much as a glance at the fallen one still on the floor.
“You told them that you were an undercover agent, Kirina, in the name of the elements, do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“I did what I had t-”
“Don’t you dare give me that I-did-what-I-had-to-do ryakna! You knew exactly how valuable your position was, and you wasted it!” The Subadmiral was fuming, pacing around his office, “Not to mention the Bird of Prey that just happened to go missing right after you left. General Wrot’Ka is never going to let one of our operatives get that close to him again, not after this stunt of yours!”
“Admiral, I think-”
“I don’t give a fvadt what you think! This is too big to cover up. Your involvement is public knowledge, for ajoi’s sake. Not to mention that half the service still wants to see you executed for your previous occupation.”
“That isn’t fa-”
“Don’t start! The Republic has given you far more than you deserve. You abused your position, and we can’t tolerate that.”
The man paused to move to his desk. “You. And that wretch of an officer that helped you. Are going to go before the Senate, and be congratulated for a job well done. For following your orders that led to the capture of Mandukar. And then,” he sat down, “And then, you’re going to quit. And I don’t expect to ever see you again.”
“Sir, Aur-”
“GET OUT.”
Kirina stirred again and rolled onto her back. Her head tilted backwards, and she looked out towards the stars. Federation stars; viewed from the window of a Federation starbase; from a Federation bed. In that moment, all she wanted to do was go home.