Sirosa

Chapter 9

Sleep never once blessed Mac'hla that night.
She stayed awake, planning.
How would they do this?
Everything in her wanted to kill him cruelly. Make him suffer, just like the Netrekans had.
But if she were caught– then what? She would be arrested and imprisoned for murder.
But the threat of imprisonment couldn't change their mind. They would kill him... it was just a matter of how.
They flipped through their books, hoping to find something that could potentially work.
And there it was.
After sifting through piles of books and papers, she finally found it. Sirosa berry.
Sirosa berries: essentially the Romulan version of Nightshade. The effects are slow to take, but once they have gotten hold on the victim, there is no escape.
How perfect.
Sirosa berries were often slipped into the food of enemies days before a pre scheduled attack... this way, their enemies would be sick and dying and therefore unable to defend themselves.
Not only this, but Sirosa berries leave no trace in the system.
If Mac'hla could find a way to slip a sirosa berry into Soltok's food just before he left...
There was a gentle knock on Mac'hla's door.
She quickly tucked away the book and stood to answer her door, being sure to make themselves look as put together as possible.
Waiting behind her door was a very guilty-looking Captain Kirk.
Mac'hla felt anger and a sense of betrayal bubbling up inside of her, but it quickly dissolved when the horrid face of Soltok danced around in her buzzing mind.
Remember who the enemy is.
"Maggie, I-" he began.
"Sir, I apologize for my outburst. My anger at your actions were illogical, as the route you took was the only guaranteed way to assure that Soltok makes it to Vulcan."  she said quickly.
He looked taken aback, "You- what?"
"Your actions were logical, sir. My reaction was not." they said, simplifying their sentences.
"You... aren't angry?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.
Jim knew that if this had been the other way around, and this were with him and Kodos, he would be out for blood... but then again, Mac'hla was Vulcan.
"No, sir. While I do admit, the situation is not desirable, to become angry about what is inevitable would not only be illogical, but foolish as well."
Kirk stared at them for a moment, "Are you feeling alright?"
Mac'hla almost smirked. How strange humans can be... when someone doesn't react the way they expect, their first assumption is that they must be sick. Fascinating.
"I feel quite normal, sir."
"...Right. Well... I came to apologize. Even if you don't want to hear it, I won't be able to live with myself if I don't. Can I come in?"
"Of course, sir." Mac'hla said, gesturing for him to enter.
She took a seat on the floor and he sat at her desk, the two facing each other in her dimly lit room.
"I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I had this weighing on me," he explained.
    "It has always intrigued me, the way emotion can affect a human's physical well-being." Mac'hla said, tilting their head.
    "What you said, about me understanding... you were right." he said.
    "I tend to be."
    He laughed under his breath, "Vulcans usually do. I do understand. Which is why it was such a difficult decision. I... I didn't want to keep this a secret from you, but it was a matter of huge importance. Though my morals were screaming at me, I had to choose the mission."
    "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Mac'hla agreed.
    Jim nodded, "And even though actions speak louder than words, what's done is done, and all that is left for me to say is 'I'm sorry'."
    Mac'hla smiled faintly, "Thank you, sir."
    They reached up and put their hand on the back of his, "Sir, I will not interfere with this mission. I can assure you, Soltok will make it to Vulcan unharmed."
    Jim smiled at her and placed his other hand over her's, "Thank you for understanding, Maggie."
    "You are welcome sir."
    Jim had no reason to not believe her, and Mac'hla fully intended to keep her word.
    Soltok would make it to Vulcan unharmed...
    But anything after that was fair game.