Day 11 ll Mission Post

[thevulcanfirst]

Commander Spock made his way to the transporter room to ready himself and the away team for their mission to the planet of Bacchus II. Starfleet had ordered the Enterprise down to this planet to study the annual mating cycles in connection with a plant whose pollen is believed to be responsible. The mission was one that Spock had been looking

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[my_god_man]

The aliens were still acting funny around Sky and him. More Sky, now that he had time to notice between his anger and helplessness and fucking head trauma. They... listened to her. She was still obviously a prisoner, but the men didn't show her the contempt they reserved for the rest of them. And even the cautious glances to him were a mixture of shrewd regard and competitive hostility. It was like all things masculine, jumped up and over-exaggerated.

Why the hell wasn't Jim here? He'd be in heaven.

There was nothing saintly about Leonard's demeanor, however, when they were escorted to this High Lady Boutique-a-whatever. That damn giganormous grape ape had a hold of Sky. Oooooh no they didn't! He was about to step up, nothing but sass on his mind and waiting to hop off his tongue, when a hot and hard grip had him by the arm. It wasn't ungentle, but it startled him. Leonard whipped his head around to give the interloper his share of sass. Was pinned right quick by black-black eyes. The sass quickly fell to the floor, forgotten.

Holy shit, the man had to warn him when he did that.

He had no reference of time -- or location, really -- under that gaze. Didn't know how involved their latest round of eyeball... whatever... took. Really didn't have a reference for anything, until he felt a little jolt of static as Spock brushed his hand. He jumped like a wild hare with a wild hair. Shook his tingling hand a little, couldn't understand why he was suddenly thinking back on that funky dream from earlier. He was definitely gonna need a head scan when they -- if they -- got back to the ship.

"You, move! Do not keep the High Lady waiting!" Well, no time to dwell on the details, when he was being frog marched after Sky.

[neat_science]

Satisfied that the two men were not going to act rashly, the big male nodded and they moved off at speed, Sky having to almost run to keep up. That was the curse of being small really, your legs had to work twice as hard to keep up. As she did though she thought about that 'moment' between Spock and Leo and her mouth twisted into a tiny smirk.

They were led back up the stairs, out of the door and across the dusty streetway into a large domed building. There draped languidly on an imposing chair, furs spread around her, was a beautiful purple woman. This was clearly the High Lady Boudicca, Sky thought, her sharp eyes taking in the simple headband and the curling blue tattoos around the womans upper arms.

Dark eyes watched them unfathomably as the guard yanked at Sky, sending her sprawling down onto her knees before the other woman. "Kneel before our Lady." the guard commanded, and Sky heard two more thumps as Leo and Spock knelt too.

Boudicca watched them for a long moment and then stepped down from her small platform to move over to the kneeling Lieutenant. "These men are Yours offworlder?" she said in a low husky voice, "Which is your First Escort?"

[my_god_man]

Leonard tried to do as Spock suggested, tried to keep a level head. He knew the importance of remaining The Sensible One. But goddamnit, he was nearly at the end of a short fuse. Didn't take kindly to having friends and fellow officers tortured in front of him, couldn't stand not being a doctor, and he sure as fuck was tired of being pushed around by the scruff of his neck. The gorilla hand on his nape tightened more as they were thrust out into the sunlight again, then shook him when he was effectively blinded by the darkness of another building and stumbling for it.

It hadn't started as an attitude problem. It was gonna end as an attitude adjustment, though.

It either started with Leonard's knee going one way opposite his foot in an attempt to manage the stairs. Or the asshole handling him growling something and pulling him back hard with a handful of his skin. Next thing he knew, he was shoving and grabbing and wrestling with King Kong. He might have had a foot up on him -- the prick seemed surprised he'd fight now -- if the foot in question wasn't twisted from the stairs. Leonard was thrown down on a hard, stone floor, but he bounced back up ready for more. Hollered, "Take your fucking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!"

Took his turn being surprised to find the asshole.... kneeling.

"I see my question is answered," a lush, female voice said behind him. McCoy turned around in surprise, hair completely gone wild, face smeared with grime and blood, black shirt clinging to his skin, chest heaving and fists clenched and ready. Wasn't sure what to make of the purple lady. Doubt she knew what to make of him.

[neat_science]

Sky had swivelled around on her knees when Leo shouted, stunned as one of the purple men lunged to place a blade against her throat. "Tell him to kneel and stay that way." the purple being growled, into her ear, "Tell your First to kneel Lady."

"Move your blade and I will." Sky hissed back, turning her head to glare at him. After a moment he let her up and she stood, moving over to Leo. Reaching up she gripped his hair, yanking it down to her level and snarled into his ear, audibly for all to hear, "For flying fuck's sake Doctor what is the goddamn matter with you. Get down, stay down and keep your goddamn mouth shut, let Spock and I handle it if you cannot control yourself enough." She yanked again, bringing him down to his knees, but before she moved away from him she pressed a light kiss to the skin just under his ear, "Sorry." she whispered.

She then moved back around to face Boudicca whoes face was alight with interest. "I knew," the woman breathed, "I knew there were people somewhere who accepted women as equals or superiors. I knew it. You are most welcome here, although I must apologise for your welcome. Please Lady, let your First Escort come forth, he is a most interesting specimen, handsome, a worthy mate for you."

'....mate?' Sky thought, turning her head to look at Leo in shock. 'Oh bother...'

[my_god_man]

Things were happening so fast, he only had time to react to them. He saw the purple blur dive for Sky. Started to intercept, but the bastard got there first and -- oh fuck -- had a knife to her throat. Leonard froze, the chill reaching him to his very gut. God no, god no, please not Sky, don't they fucking dare hurt Sky. Miraculously, the alien let her go. Relief flooded him, thawing the frost inside, as she came over to him.

That relief left as quickly as the frost had.

"Darlin', are you al-- OWOWOWWWFUCK!" His hollering fizzled into a pained hiss due mostly to the uncomfortable angle she had his head at. Listened to her rant because he had nothing else better to do than develop a chiropractic nightmare. Was about to give the ungrateful woman a special batch of hell. Uncannily, she yanked again so he only got out another strangled yelp. Goddamn, it was almost like being home. Bad enough how strongly Sky reminded him of Sam. Leonard dropped to his knees willingly, didn't want to go bald at 31. A part of him acknowledged the sly apology. Most of him was too busy throbbing sullenly.

By the time Her Purple High-ass was done speaking, he'd gotten his temper under control. Mostly. Didn't appreciate being talked about like he was some prized Great Dane. Never once was he, or Spock, addressed directly. In fact... did the woman just call him.... what? His eyeballs backpedaled into his head, glanced to Sky for an explanation, got a bewildered look back at him before she shrugged. That blasted purple woman must have took it all as him asking for permission. She certainly looked pleased by the exchange.

"Come forth," she commanded, urging with her fingers like she really did believe him to be nothing better than a damn dog. He almost growled. "Come, Proud One," she had the nerve to taunt him this time, mischievous smirk resting on her magenta lips. Leonard scowled but finally rose to walk over. Like hell he was gonna crawl. This seemed to amuse the woman something worse.

"Yes, very interesting he is," the woman addressed Sky as her hands began inspecting him with no reserve. Grabbed his face and stared right into his eyes with her dark ones. It was a goddamn eyeball orgy around here. "Strange features, but very handsome. Skin sand-colored, hands very strange-- soft. Eyes brown-- no, they change! Now green like lakewater." The urge to fight off the molestation was strong. As politely as possible, Leonard pulled his hands and gaze free of the woman. Told himself he wasn't blushing any. Felt the puff of breath from Her Royal Obnoxiousness's entertainment. "There more like him where you come from, Lady?"

Because McCoy was doing his damn best to be on another planet entirely, mentally, he didn't see the woman's eyes shift next to Spock.

[thevulcanfirst]

As Spock watched the exchange he became more and more tense because of the way his crew was being handled. If there hadn’t been a large purple hand on his shoulder when that knife was pulled then the alien would have been knocked out via a Vulcan nerve pinch but as he had tried to move the hand pushed down even more. Then the exchange between Leonard and Sky left his stomach uneasy, and then the lady had her hands all over the Doctor, judging him as if looking for a pet. Spock cast his eyes away from the scene around him; well he couldn’t see a thing out of the left anyways so it wasn’t too hard for him to look like he was watching but really he wasn’t. The dialoged spinning from her mouth stopped and Spock felt like he was being watched, the first officer looked to her. He would say anything because he knew he couldn’t control his words at the moment plus he didn’t have anything to say to her. So instead he stood slowly, head held high and hands clasped behind his back. She waved him over with her but Spock didn’t move until the purple man shoved him. He took a moment to slightly turn his head and glare at the attacker then strolled over to her as if this were something he did every day.

[neat_science]

Sky could see Leo twitching under the High Lady's inspection and moved up beside him. Hoping she had read the situation right she brushed the purple lady's hands away and wrapped her own arms possessively around him. "He is one of a kind, my Lady." she said, politely but firmly, "And while we thank you for your hospitality, I cannot allow you to manhandle my...mate...in this way." That should keep Leo safe, for now anyway. But then Boudicca's eyes turned to Spock, curiousity lighting those dark, dark eyes.

"And this Pointed one?" the High Lady said, walking around Spock in a tight circle, eyeing him up and down like a prize bull at an old terran fair, "Is he your Second, Lady?"

"He is my...Advisor." Sky struggled to find a way to bind Spock to her, but not in the sexual way that had been assumed for Leo. The way the woman looked at Spock and also Leo worried her. Possessive, intrigued, lustful, these things were obvious in the dark depths of her eyes, and Sky didn't want this situation any more out of control than it already was, "He possesses a vast intelligence, and his wisdom should always be heeded. His...mate, is back where we came from."

The High Lady moved back over to Sky, looking down from her taller height at the small delicately built Lieutenant. The purple hand came up and gripped the pale chin and tilted her face this way and then that, looking her over in a similar way to how she had looked over the men. "You are interesting creatures." Boudicca murmured, "I would be curious to see a result of breeding between our peoples. Would you release one of your males to service one of the women of this clan? Or would you perhaps bear a child of a man of the clan yourself? I am sure we have an equally worthy mate to provide you with his seed."

Sky wrinkled her nose, and the High Lady shook her head, raising her hand. "Do not say nay yet. You will be taken back to your chamber, there you will rest and think over my offer. I would hate to have to send you back out into the world in time for what we have planned for the rest of them."

[thevulcanfirst]

The High Lady stepped away again she was still in their personal space but not nearly as much as before. Spock continued to stand stock still and looking straight ahead, he would not lash out at the High Lady it would only cause more problems.

“Before you are returned to your chamber,” she turned to Sky and Spock’s hand twitched just lightly, ready to attack if he had to. “What should we call you?” this time the Vulcan looked up to her.

“I believe you should tell us your own names before we give ours. Since this is no doubt your home,” he pointed out rather harshly giving her a cold stare. “It would be rude not to do so if I am not making an error.” He raised his eyebrow at her.

[my_god_man]

Leonard thought he was finally getting the gist of things around here. He wrapped an arm around Sky as casually as possible and tried posing pretty. It wasn't strange because it was Sky -- he'd snuggle with her any day of the week -- but they were on a mission and people were watching. Damnit, his commanding officer had just watched him let himself get molested. McCoy knew there was nothing for it, though. These people's culture was obviously matriarchal in social dynamics. Which was interesting, now that he'd shut the hell up and thought about things. He remembered Jim talking about a council of elders as the focal point of government. And they'd all or mostly been men.

The purple girlie here sure wasn't acting like some grumpy old fart.

He continued to turn over these thoughts in his head, while playing arm ornament to Sky and watching Spock get eyed like a Vulcan... whatever a race of obnoxiously sensible vegetarians had for cows. Leonard grew alarmed when Sky was similarly inspected. It was nowhere near as jaw-dropping as the mention of a... breeding agenda. What the fuck?

Ehh... bad wording.

Anyway, that couldn't be why they were lured here. It didn't make sense. Increasing the number of your... rebel cell?... by means of a breeding program was just plain impractical. 'What we have planned for the rest of them.' Sky was right, they were stuck in the middle of something. But how did the Enterprise factor in this? Taking them hostage wouldn't force their government to play nice. After all, Jim had to play by the rules of the Prime Directive. He couldn't just take everyone's toys away, not unless it jeopardized... the... shit.

Leonard looked up like it was the first time he'd ever seen day. Caught Spock giving the woman sass this time. Worried if he was gonna need to stitch the Commander back together by the time this was over.

[neat_science]

Boudicca looked down her slightly at Spock, eyes lingering on the ears and smiling slightly. "Indeed. It would be quite remiss of me not to introduce myself. I am High Lady Boudicca, we are a clan apart from the rest of the Bacchun rabble out there. Bryton is the stronghold at which we are currently." she smiled at them, "I am sure that we are not what you expected when you beamed down here to talk to the senile fools of the Elder Council. Still we could not let you meet with them, perhaps be persuaded to bring us to heel. We have plans for them, and you and your ship will not interfere. Now...your names if you please." The dark gaze moved back to Sky's face, hand tilting her chin up sharply to emphasise both the woman's superior height and power.

Sky jerked her chin to the side, mouth pressed in a stubborn mullish line. "We are officers of the Federation Starship Enterprise." Sky said, knowing that that much Boudicca would know, especially if she had known the Federation would be beaming down that day to conduct research. "Science Officer Commander Spock." she said nodding over to the Vulcan, emphasising his importance since she didn't like how Boudicca was eyeing him, "Doctor Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer," she tilted her head to acknowlege Leo, "And I am Lieutenant Schuyler Cavandish, Xenobiologist."

[my_god_man]

Well, that settled some of Leonard's theories. Still didn't answer two questions very important to their future happiness-- what the hell were the purple people gonna do with them, and what the hell were the purple people gonna do with each other? He was mostly concerned with the former. The latter, however, had an ominous feel of being related to the former soon enough. Well, whatever may come, they had to get through the moment first.

McCoy bristled at Boudicca's treatment of Sky, despite how much he admire the smaller woman's bravada. The Violet Valkyrie turned her gaze briefly to him, a glint of mischief back in her dark eyes. He realized instantly that she was deliberately testing them. Well, no shit, but this was something more serious than playground teasing. There was something about her in that moment that reminded him of Jim before a scheme. Leonard would bet his Psychiatric training that there were gears turning in her head. Figuring out their responses, intuiting what sort of people they were. Definitely checking for weaknesses.

And Leonard had just given her a whopping one to fiddle with.

"Charmed, I am," Boudicca slid out around a cheshire grin, then withdrew all of herself from them. He was a little surprised to feel the amount of relief weighing his arms down. "But enough pleasantries. I would not wish to exhaust you, yet." There was something about how she said that which made Leonard tense all over again. "For now, you will rest and enjoy our hospitality. Tomorrow will be a big day for you." And like that, the gorillas in their midst became animated again.

Before it was back to shoving and poking and grunting again, a thought seized his mind, latching on from words like 'hospitality' and 'tomorrow'. Without thinking on the irony of it, he looked down at Sky as if to ask permission to pursue this thought. And strangely, she seemed to give it. McCoy untangled himself from her and took a tentative step towards the stage the High Lady was back upon.

"You speak of rest and enjoyment." Out of the corner of his eye, the goons began to crowd. "Eh... Ma'am." He still wasn't gonna kowtow for anyone. Her continued amusement suggested he should continue. "Well, it'd go a long way towards that if we could have a few amenities. Like the Lieutenant said, I'm a doctor. I'd like to treat my people... with your permission, of course. Ma'am." Damn, that'd been a little painful.

[neat_science]

When the men that ringed them began to make menacing shifts of movement towards Leo, Sky stepped up warningly beside him, giving them a cool glare. Anderson needed treatment, and this was the best way to secure it without severely peeving off these Clan members. Boudicca sat down on her quasi throne and nodded. "You will be permitted your medical kit," she proclaimed, "But if you wish to treat your people with those pointed things you used against my First Escort Phrixis, then we will be forced to reconsider." She smirked, turning her head to look at Sky. "Phrixis will mind your mate while you tend to your men."

A gong sounded and instantly they were shepherded out of the room, clearly the audience was over, and Sky's arms were gripped once more as she was hurried out of the room, mouth open. "Wait a second..." she yelped, "We didn't discuss...hey!" They were stopped in a large stone ante chamber where the big Muscled Man that Leo had felled earlier waited, eyes glinting.

"Here is your kit," the man, Phrixis presumably, said, waving a man forward to hand over Leo's medical kit. "You have half an hour to tend to your men." he growled antagonisticly towards the Doctor, mouth curling in a sneer. "If you try to escape with those...things...of yours, then I will slit your pretty little mates throat." And Sky found herself being pushed over to him, head craning back as the huge man placed a long blade nonchalantly against her collarbone.

...Fuck...

[my_god_man]

"What? Wait!" he attempted to explain over the sound of the gong. "I need those pointy--," he was pulled away from Sky, "-- things to treat --" He never finished because they were hauling ass out of there, hauling Sky's ass out of there. Their threat sunk in faster than Leonard's discretion and he began to fight the hands that bound him. "Sky! SKY! Don't you DARE! Don't you--" He'd almost gotten a hand free when they swung him around and damn near threw him into Spock. It was like hitting a brick wall, the man all hard and close to unmovable. Also like a brick wall, it knocked some sense into him.

Right. Didn't help things to go flying off the handle. Certainly didn't help things when these goons were back on him again. Leonard went as still as he could tolerate, shouting, "FINE! FINE! I GIVE!" until they stopped dog-piling him. Let him come up for air. Face off with the prick from earlier, the prick who looked like he was taking that little hypo incident personally.

Fuck his life.

If the situation wasn't so dire, he'd be amused that the man was wary enough to send a minion within hypo's reach. But there wasn't a damn thing funny about this situation. Leonard's eyes sought out Sky's, trying both to apologize and reassure. He grabbed the kit and glared scalpels at the fucker. "If you so much as touch my mate the wrong way, I'll hurt you with much worse than pointy things." And he meant it, too. God, did he mean it.

A sharp, quick nod to Spock to follow, then McCoy marched into their room to do some serious doctoring. "Commander, if you're reasonably ambulatory, assist me. Otherwise, get the fuck up on a bed and out of my way."

[thevulcanfirst]

Before moving into the room with McCoy Spock turned and looked at the man named Phrixis and spoke. “It would be unwise to harm Lt. Cavandish in anyway,” he told the alien slowly as if he was talking to someone who had to low an IQ to understand his threat. “It would benefit you and your men to take my warning.” And then he was gone inside the room with Doctor McCoy.

He watched for a moment before moving in all the way to help the other man. “Tell me what you need me to do.” Spock looked at McCoy then at Anderson. He was too young to die in a place like this in this way. The Vulcan took in his surroundings quickly then looked at the medical kit. “Once you finish with Lt. Anderson you should take care of your own injuries.”