Work Text:
Abelard disliked being summoned to the Lord Captain's chambers. Unfortunately, as Seneschal, it was his duty to be summoned to the Lord Captain's chambers with some frequency.
Not that he had anything against Nyx von Valancius, the new Rogue Trader in charge of the Von Valancius dynasty. Quite the contrary. Under her leadership, the Von Valancius holdings had flourished and Abelard felt honoured to serve her.
But Nyx was disturbing company nevertheless. She was strangely pale and moved with a slow, unusual delicacy. Nothing too out of the ordinary for a voidborn, of course, but Abelard wasn't used to having a voidborn above him in the chain of command.
And Nyx was a psyker on top of that. Properly sanctioned, naturally, but even so. One need only glance in the direction of her fathomless black eyes to see that here was one touched by the Warp, who did not see the world the way proper Emperor-fearing humans should see the world. Still, Abelard had to admit that in spite of all that, the Lord Captain was perfectly sane. Well, mostly sane, anyway. When compared to a great many other psykers, Lady von Valancius' sanity was perfectly adequate.
Nyx fixed Abelared with her utter-black gaze and smiled disconcertingly.
"Abelard. So good of you to join me."
... join me.
Abelard did not wince, but only because he'd got used to this. The Lady Nyx was a telepath of frightening power. Which came in quite handy during battle and certain diplomatic matters. But the fact was, when she spoke, one didn't just hear her with one's ears. The Lord Captain's words echoed directly into the mind.
Abelard was almost certain Lady Nyx didn't do so intentionally. That this was simply an unfortunate side-effect of the terrible sorcery she'd been cursed with. But it was distressing even so.
"Of course, Lord Captain," Abelard said, staring at a point slightly above the Rogue Trader's bald head. "I take it there is something you wish to discuss."
"Apparently there is some trouble brewing on Deck 213?" Nyx said.
... deck 213.
"Indeed there is, Lord Captain," said Abelard, who'd long ago given up any hope of the Lady not sticking her nose into every little issue on the ship. "However, I have matters well in hand."
"Something about spoiled rations?" Nyx prompted.
... spoiled rations.
"Yes, Deck 213 has only received spoiled rations for the last several months," Abelard reported. "There has been some grumbling as a result. But, not to worry, I've handled it. I've doubled the number of enforcers on the deck. And," he added quickly, "in deference to your... preferences... I have ordered the enforcers not to beat anyone speaking out against you or dragging protestors off to the goal. I merely have them remind everyone in the most gentlest of ways what an honour it is to serve the glorious Von Valancius dynasty."
"Yes," said Nyx slowly.
... yes.
"Don't you think you could have done more?" Nyx prompted.
... done more.
"Well, I did consider cutting their rations until they ceased their complaining," Abelard admitted. "But I knew you wouldn't approve, so I haven't resorted to that measure just yet."
"However, word has reached me that you have cut the rations of the sick by half," said Nyx.
... sick by half.
Abelard wasn't certain how that word had reached her and preferred not to speculate overmuch. Perhaps she simply had some personal spies on the lower decks that he didn't know about.
"Well, of course, Lord Captain," said Abelard. "He that does not work, neither shall he eat. But, again, because I try to be sensitive to your sensibilities, I only cut their rations in half."
Nyx stared up at the ceiling. Abelard did not want to know what she saw there.
"So... an entire deck only has spoilt food to eat and when they fall ill because they only have rotten rations, they get even less spoilt food to eat," she said.
... food to eat.
"Yes, I suppose you could summarize the situation in that way," Abelard said.
Nyx sighed. "Abelard," she said, turning her black gaze on the Seneschal once again, "consult the card."
... the card.
Abelard swallowed the protest rising in the back of his throat. He knew perfectly well what the card said. He didn't need to be reminded. But, since the Lord Captain insisted...
Abelard pulled the card out of one of the pockets of his greatcoat. It was a most unusual card. It wasn't yellowing or crackling with age. No pious seals dangled from it. Why, there weren't even any decorative skulls on it. All there was were the following puzzling words:
All Human Beings Deserve to be Treated with the Bare Minimum of Dignity and Respect
"Now tell me, Abelard, do you feel that being forced to eat only rotten rations is particularly dignified?"
... particularly dignified.
"Lord Captain, I protest," said Abelard. "Nobody is forcing them to eat spoiled rations. I know you would object to such a thing."
"You mean, the crew is free to choose to starve instead?" said Lady Nyx.
... starve instead.
"Well... I suppose. They have a choice nevertheless."
Lord Captain Nyx was silent for several moments too many. Then she said, "And doesn't it strike you as odd that only Deck 213 has this particular problem?"
... particular problem.
"Ah, I have already investigated that," said Abelard. "You see, it is Deck Alpha-Cygnus 12 that is responsible for providing Deck 213 with rations, as well as certain other decks."
"Good," said Nyx. "And what has your investigation found?"
... investigation found.
"I am pleased to report that there are no signs of heretical activity on Deck Alpha-Cygnus 12 whatsoever," Abelard said.
Nyx stared at him, astonishment glimmering in the great void of her eyes. "And?" she asked.
... and.
"And therefore, the crew of Deck Alpha-Cygnus 12 is no threat to your Ladyship or the greater working of the ship. So there's really no need to intervene."
"Even though the crew there appear to be deliberately poisoning people?" said Nyx.
... poisoning people.
"It's merely some kind of petty inter-deck rivalry, nothing more," Abelard said. "It'll work itself out, mark my words."
"When everyone on Deck 213 is dead, you mean?" said the Lady.
... dead you mean.
Abelard frowned. Put like that, he was beginning to see why her Ladyship was so concerned over some petty supply issue. Preserving completely expendable lives appeared to be something of a priority for her. Perhaps it had something to do with her experiences on a Black Ship.
"Ah. Yes. Yes, I see what you mean. Yes," Abelard said, in hopes of buying enough time to come up with an answer that would satisfy the Lord Captain. "Yes, I see the problem here. Indeed. Yes, so, here is my suggestion. We could send enforcers down to Deck Alpha-Cygnus 12 to round up everyo- that is, the people who came up with this whole rotten rations idea and have them publicly executed. That should resolve matters."
"It might, for a while," said Nyx. "But that sounds like a solution of last resort."
... last resort.
"Yes," said Abelard doubtfully.
He wasn't at all sure why the Lady would be opposed to public executions, but, well, who could hope to truly understand the minds of those touched by the Warp?
"Perhaps we could try a diplomatic solution?" Abelard ventured. "Find out what has sparked this conflict between the two decks and resolve it without to bloodshed? I suppose that could also work?"
"Yes," said Nyx, "perhaps it could."
... it could.
"And of course, we could always remind the ringleaders on Deck Alpha-Cygnus 12 that should diplomacy fail, public executions are still an option. That should make them eager to talk, I have no doubt."
"Of course," Nyx sighed.
... of course.
"And," Abelard said with unusual enthusiasm, "there is more we can do."
The idea had come to him seemingly out of nowhere. It was absurd. Possibly insane. Potentially sacrilegious. But he had been in the presence of the great and terrible psyker the Rogue Trader Nyx von Valancius for some time. It was no wonder that his thoughts were making some odd leaps.
"There was a minor life support malfunction down on Deck Red-XVI-Blue some months ago, remember? The population still hasn't entirely recovered. Which means they currently have more rations than they strictly speaking need."
"Yes?" Nyx prompted.
... yes.
"With your permission, Lord Captain, I propose we divert some of Deck Red-XVI-Blue's excess rations to Deck 213 to temporarily alleviate their problems while we sort out this whole problem with Deck Alpha-Cygnus 12."
Lady Nyx smiled. "What a marvellous idea," she said. "Permission granted. See to it."
... to it.
Abelard bowed. "It will be done, my Lady," he said. "Now, if that is all...?"
"That is all," said Nyx. "Although."
... although.
"Although?" said Abelard.
"I am pleased to see you're getting more used to the way I like to run things," said Nyx. "However, I feel like you still need for too much prompting. I expect you to do better next time."
And if you disappoint me, I'll just force my will into your mind.
Lord Captain Nyx smiled her unsettling smile.
"Dismissed," she said.
... dismissed.