Justice is Blind - Part One

Posted on Fri Mar 20th, 2020 @ 9:39am by Commander Tienn Iteela & Lieutenant JG Tienn Durin & Tienn Jaina & Lieutenant Colonel Tienn Nerra

Mission: Mission 102: Sic Transit Tienn
Location: Various Locations - Bajor
Timeline: 0800Hrs - August 8th, 2393

Tienn Koll was waiting in a chapel waiting area as Vedek Tarin Sarr wanted to see him on a matter she did not explain, but Koll realized that his father had dealt with this matter behind his back. Vedek Tarin outranked him in the Vedek Assembly and she had been on something of a crusade against wrongdoing and corruption in the church recently, so Koll knew that this was not going to go well for him or for his allies either.

While these thoughts were going through his mind, he had been ignored by everyone else present while seated in her office, behind her desk was Tarin Sarr, she along with her two closest advisors were discussing the fate of Tienn Koll. She knew that this would end his career in the Vedek Assembly but he was without any question, guilty of the offenses that he had been accused of. She sighed as she shook her head. "So, is anything else we need to discuss before we being in Mister Tienn and deal with him?"

"No Tarin, the evidence looks rather overwhelming." said the elder of the two men seated around her. "He abused his position to pursue a political agenda against members of his own family for whatever reason. I assume it was because they were away from home," he added. "But that's just my guess."

"It's a terrible shame. Koll was known for being progressive in his agenda and he was always pushing to expose and deal with crime. When he himself had committed crimes against his own kin." he likewise shook his head. "Such hypocrisy," he added, an air of disgust in his tone.

"So we're ready then?" Tarin inquired.

"Yes, the sooner we are done with this matter, the better." the older of her two advisors explained evenly.

"Alright." Tarin sighed as she nodded. "Have him brought in."

A minute or so later. Tienn Koll sighed as he fumed quietly, he had been sitting here now for almost an hour and he hated waiting, a subaltern came over in silence. "Mister Tienn, the Vedek will see you now."

"Thank you." but what he left unsaid was. 'About time' as he already knew how this would end, he knew his fate and he knew what he had done could not be forgiven. As Tienn rose to his feet, he regarded the subaltern. "What am I wanted for?"

"I do not know sir. Only that I am to escort you to the Vedek, I assume she will tell you what she wants from you at that point." the man answered in a flat tone of voice as he led Tienn Koll into the office. "Thank you, Subaltern, we'll take it from here," Tarin commented. "Mister Tienn, please take a seat." she indicates the three chairs across from her.

"What's all this about Tarin?" Tienn inquired.

"You stand accused of crimes against your family. You were given time to attend to the matter before you but you decided to not to bother dealing with it," she explained evenly. "There is no need to deny it as your guilt has already been established," she explained evenly. "The evidence that was submitted is compelling against you." she then indicated the two men with her. "We spent the last while watching and examining the evidence before us." the Bajoran explained.

"My father spoke to you, didn't he?" Koll answered, a soft growl in his throat. It masked his terror at what he was facing before him.

"Yes, he did," Tarin answered flatly. "He gave you time to resolve the matter and you refused him, you even escalated the matter." she sighed. "Which means we now have to deal with this."

Koll sat in silence as Tarin passed her judgment. "I hereby demote you to the lowest rank of the Vedek Assembly. That of Initiate. Your new items will be sent to your quarters and you'll be expected to conform to the status of your new rank." she explained. "Do you understand what I have just said to you?" she asked of Koll. "Your career is not terminated, you can still recover... This is due to your excellent work thus far in the service of Bajor..."

Koll considered it in silence for a moment, a sudden flash came over him, as he looked around the room he was in. "You should not be on this road, you need to walk another path... The Path leads out of the garden... Out of the Valley. Follow that path... Not this one." the first being said to him, it was Tienn Nerra in her Starfleet uniform. "Your faith is wrong, it is out of place..."

"I don't understand," Koll answered.

"You must walk another path." came a second voice. This time it was Iteela who was likewise wearing her Starfleet uniform, she had a tricorder in hand, it whirred and beeped as the device went about its work.

"Your path is not at peace... You are not at peace... Find peace..." and with that, the room flashed back to white as Koll found himself back where he was sitting before, clearly no time had passed. Koll paused as he had a sudden eureka moment, the nature of his service to Bajor had been the root cause of all of the issues and the misery in his life. "No." he answered her first question as he sat back in the chair, he breathed out and with it, went all of his fears, his confusions, and his self-hatred. "I hereby resign from the Vedek Assembly and this shrine, with immediate effect."

Tarin's eyes widened as she paused a moment. "Koll, this does not need to be the end of your service to Bajor as you have done much good work for the Vedek Assembly and for your fellow Bajorans," she explained. "You can always come back to the Vedek Assembly-"

"No. I must resign. My path has brought me here to this place, to this situation and I must resolve to find my way outside of the church. My piety has brought me here and I must find my way without it." Koll paused. "I confused my piety with my arrogance and it has cost me most dear... I must make amends to those I have hurt in the service of myself... not of Bajor." he sighed. "I have gotten my need for service confused with my ego... I thought I was incorruptible but I have become corrupted as a result." Koll shook his head. "No. I must go..."

"Then I will not stand in your way, Koll. Walk with the Prophets." and with that, he rose to his feet and out the door he went, for what he knew would be the last time as he made his way to his room, two aides went with him. Koll entered the main living area as he began to pack away his items, he then took the next two hours and he ended up recycling the vast majority of his items, anything he felt he absolutely did not need went into the replicator and was recycled.

At the end of it, he was wearing civilian clothing and a duffel over his shoulders, he then set out for the main entrance and he found the halls along his way lined with every single last Vedek, Ranjin, and Monk the shrine had. He found Tarin at the door. "Good Luck Koll... I hope you find your way," she said softly as she gently shook his hand.

"I know I will... But first. I must make restitution first to my family and clan... Then I will see where the path before me goes, perhaps I will find clarity as I go, or maybe, I won't," he commented as he made his final farewells and all too soon the moment was over as Koll departed.