FIC: The Stratos Bride - Endings
Title: The Stratos Bride - Endings
Masterlist: Beginnings | Misunderstandings | Perceptions | Tribulations | Awakenings | Endings | Author Notes
( “And you trusted him?”
Spock didn’t even blink. “Surprisingly, yes.” )
“Security will escort you to conference room 343. Spock out.”
I looked up to see the stunned face of Doctor McCoy, while Vanna wore a self-satisfied smirk.
“You appear to have predicted this.”
“If you let a fact stew in a man’s head, the fat of his arguments will eventually be skimmed from the surface.”
“Interesting metaphor,” I murmured, concentrating more on the estimates of when Umar Midro would arrive.
When he did 3.7 minutes later, he built up and rounded out the base of our plan.
( “How did you know he wouldn’t lead you into a trap?”
“Considering his plan allowed us quicker access into the building, we were willing to take the risk.” Spock tilted his head. “There was also his disclaimer before we beamed to the surface.”
Leonard harrumphed at that. “How did it go? ‘I do not believe you, but I will help you.’ Which was really reassuring.”
“We also had the Enterprise track our coordinates, where they could beam us onto the ship if our plan was unsuccessful.”
“So, was it?” Joanna asked, with legs crossed on the bed.
“You will have to see.” )
We beamed into the courtyard at dusk, ducking behind a row of ornamental grasses and trimmed shrubbery.
I must confess, it had seemed strange to me that Cirrus would want an evening ceremony. For an event that was meant to be symbolic and for the people of Ardana, it would be hard to parade a bride in darkness, or have a festival during the night.
But the courtyard was lit in candles, delicate crystals and bright flowers enhancing the glow. It was disorientating, the amount of sparkling surfaces and objects catching the eye. And it appeared to be even worse inside-the brightness of the lights spilled out onto balconies and stone stairways, along with the voices of merriment and celebration.
But Vanna remained focused. “We will crouch to that side door, where we will enter. The City Dwellers are too enraptured inside.”
She got up to move, but was halted by a hypo.
McCoy grumbled. “Don’t keel over on me.”
Vanna quirked a lip. “Would never dream of it.”
I nodded towards the door, where we all moved behind the line of bushes. Myself, Doctor McCoy, Vanna, Midro, and two security officers that guarded from the rear. We had adequate coverage from the courtyard, but from the balconies above or from our level we were exposed, relying on shadow from the bushes to aid us.
To our fortune everyone appeared distracted, and I stood beside the door and listened carefully, tricorder at hip-level.
It appeared to be quiet, and I nodded at my team as I opened the door.
The hallway was large and built of white stone, decorated in extravagance with gold furnishings and delicate vases. However, what captured my attention were the ornate floor coverings that appeared familiar in design-pink and orange clashed vibrantly, surrounded by a gold symbol that was echoed in tapestries hung on the walls.
I caught McCoy’s eye and he nodded at me, as if he understood the connection. We had seen these designs in the cavern, and they supported Vanna’s statement that Prince Cirrus advocated torture.
Midro noticed our interest and whispered, “Stratos coat of arms. It is customary for the bride to decorate as such.”
I barely contained my surprise, but McCoy was in the same state of bewilderment.
I put out a hand to stop him from speaking, motioning instead to move further along the corridor-we would discuss these implications later, when I felt secure of our location.
( “But you knew they were working together,” Joanna pointed out, her brow furrowing.
Spock said a quiet no, then, “We did not know the depth of their complicity. From the conversation between Vanna and Umar Midro, we knew Paolo Anka was an assassin for Prince Cirrus. However at the time, we did not realize that the High Advisor was in charge of the torturer, which Anka exploited.”
“But they were both conspriring-“ Joanna interrupted herself with a thought. “Oh, they were supposed to be peaceful. They took your phasers and stuff.”
Leonard ticked a finger at her. “Precisely. What we uncovered were their unpeaceful methods for keeping that illusion. While they looked down on the aggression of the Troglytes, they were using shock therapy on their own dissidents.”
Joanna sat back. “Huh.”
“Our discoveries would lead to a deep investigation by the Federation-however, if I may continue?” Spock said looking over at Leonard, who was about to interrupt.
He waved a hand. “By all means.” )
Our corridor was strangely devoid of any celebration. Midro had explained this was a servant’s entrance, and yet I saw none bustling about.
“We are clear for 100 meters in all directions,” I stated softly, looking up from my tricorder. “It appears everyone is truly celebrating.”
Vanna relaxed and leaned against a stone wall, although her sword was still held closely to her chest. “Starting prematurely, are we.”
“It is almost 1600. No doubt the bride is dressed-“
“For travel. Excellent.” Vanna pushed herself off the wall, yet she lacked balance and almost tipped over. “We move forward.”
“Not so fast,” McCoy stated, making sure she steadied herself. “I’m walking next to you, lean on me.”
“I am fine,” she spat, her knees wobbly as we proceeded ahead slowly, watching for anyone unexpected.
Where Stratos had been infused with orange and pink and gold, Cirrus was unexpectedly lighter in contrast. The stone was blasted light gray to white, with blue accents alongside the familiar gold. In hindsight, I had made the assumption that all of Ardana was homogenous to Stratos-it appeared obvious now, that the alliances ran deep.
Yet the Stratos code of arms was too warm in tone for this hallway, its style too bold. It truly did not belong.
“Commander,” I heard Officer Mathews whisper behind me. “I hear something coming towards us.”
My tricorder agreed with him, and I motioned for all of us to press against the wall.
There was an opening for a long hallway between us and security officers Mathews and Leslie. We quietly waited, hearing footfalls and conversation as they approached.
“We should probably put away this pint-“
“It’s a wedding, Marco!”
“Yes, but the Prince says the Troglytes are encroaching. They kidnapped the Princess once-“
“Relax. My instincts are still as sharp as a tack.” There was a loud belch. “Sharp as ever.”
McCoy flicked Vanna a look, and she gave a minute nod.
“You walk the East hall, I’m on the West-“
As Mathews moved in for a head-lock, Vanna already had a guard doubled-over, elbowing the back of his head to complete his fall. He tripped and splayed out unconscious on the carpeting, and soon the other guard joined him in the heap.
Mathews grinned at Vanna. “Nice one.”
“You do not adequately injure your opponent,” she replied, kicking the thigh of a guard until he groaned. “It is fortunate that he is intoxicated.”
“We do not maim our opponents,” I pointedly said, lifting one guard from under the shoulders, where I proceeded to drag him behind a decorative statue.
Vanna shrugged. “It is a shame.”
“She has a point,” Midro added, as he helped to drag the other guard into a low-lit corner.
It was a point I disagreed with, but which I did not have time to argue. As we started to move again I held out a hand, clearly seeing what was about to happen on my tricorder.
“We are surrounded,” I said lowly.
McCoy whipped his head around as Midro and Vanna kept very still.
“Where?” McCoy whispered, but I could only shake my head.
Doors smacked open as the halls were flooded with cloaked men that surrounded us, some wearing the coat of arms for Stratos, most wearing the armor of Cirrus.
“By order of the Prince-surrender!”
Dozens of lances were aimed in our direction, encircling the six of us with their dangerous points at eye level. They appeared heavily armed-perhaps more so than we were.
However as I opened my mouth to ask for the Prince, Vanna snorted.
“Never.”
Which was to be expected. And none of us wasted time as we kicked and shoved lances out of the way to confront our enemies.
Leslie and Mathews took out many on stun, their precision for an unarmored slivers of skin remarkable and commendable.
I maneuvered around many bodies to neck-pinch the same slivers of skin, soon apparent to be an Achilles heel in the looming army.
Vanna and Midro stole and swung lances, knocking out more than my team combined. McCoy would take the disorientated victims and collide them with a wall.
It went on for too long, however, as Midro fell from a harsh blow to the cheek.
“You may still surrender, in the name of the Pri-ince.”
The guard fell on top of Midro’s body, as Vanna pushed him off her sword.
Midro stared, wide-eyed, as Vanna could only shrug.
“I apologize for the mess,” she said casually, then spun around to elbow a guard in the nose.
I, myself, had to punch and kick a few guards, as they soon caught on to our peaceful methods. Violence is regrettable-but soon the bodies strewn the floor, most only unconscious, as the rest of us panted and stared at one another.
Vanna fell against a wall, grunting as she said, “That was fun. We should do it again.”
McCoy glared at her. “It’s too soon for another stimulant. You’re lucky adrenaline works in your body just the same as ours-“
“I will support her, Doctor McCoy,” Midro said as he stood next to Vanna, putting her arm over his shoulder.
It was startling to see, and the look exchanged between them held some sort of meaning, of which I did not have time to dissect.
“We are still not alone,” I reported as I pulled out the tricorder, its lights still beeping another group’s imminent arrival. “No doubt word has been sent to the authorities.”
“How did they find out, anyhow?” McCoy wondered out loud, although I held my suspicions.
“It does not matter at this juncture,” I said as I swung at the guard rushing from behind a corner, stealing his lance before it clanged to the ground.
It was another flood, and I contemplated how we would even survive the deluge to summon the Enterprise, much less find a safe corridor to complete our mission.
There was a thought in my mind, to perhaps send Mathews and Doctor McCoy on their own to locate Jim, while I offered my surrender.
Somehow the bodies fell, the corridor messy and obvious. What we needed was to conceal our presence once more.
I pulled out the tricorder. “This section has low readings. Follow down this corridor-“
I looked behind me, counting Mathews and Leslie as they rolled their shoulders, and McCoy tending to a cut on Midro’s cheek.
“Where is Vanna?” I asked, still motioning for the others to pass me down the empty corridor.
Midro looked around him before he shrugged. “She simply… slipped away.”
There was no malice in his tone, although I suspected capture or an ulterior motive. But instead of calling him on it, my main objective was to move us all to a safe location to reorganize.
“This way,” I stated curtly, closing a door as I heard a stampede in the previous hall.
( “What, wait-you left her there?”
“Our options were limited,” Spock said, perhaps with some regret. “My plan was to regroup before we re-entered the hall.”
Nyota passed in front of him as she rounded the bed, leaning down to kiss the top of Joanna’s head. “How are you feeling?”
“Irritated,” Joanna said under her breath, but then tried to pleasantly smile. “I’m okay.”
“What part are you at?” Nyota asked Spock as she moved a chair closer to the biobed, folding her hands together on the bedspread.
“Vanna has disappeared.”
Nyota grinned. “It’s my turn now, right?”
“I am more than willing to continue-“
Nyota leaned towards Joanna and stage-whispered, “This is my favorite part.”
Spock immediately quieted, allowing Nyota to speak. )
Meanwhile, as Spock and your father were congregating and plotting in a corridor, Droxine was in her ornate rooms by herself, staring into a small, hand-held mirror.
She was beautiful. The servants had come and gone to dress her, another round to paint her fair and porcelain face. A woman with long and gentle fingers had smoothed tendrils behind her ears, curling and pinning her thick blonde hair to the top of her head.
Droxine was everything a Princess was supposed to look like. Her wedding gown was lavishly beaded, ribbons and flowers pinned to the bodice of her dress. Her shoes were made of glass, her posture straight and regal. The servants had even decorated her chambers in a romantic fashion, with white silk along the archways, and white petals strewn across the floor and the bedspread.
But Droxine felt nothing like a princess. More than anything, she wished in that moment to be a commoner celebrating in the streets below.
She had sent out her missive to Vanna three days prior, and still no word had arrived from her love. Prince Cirrus had backed away to allow her space, and even had the audacity to appear apologetic at her disappointment.
But Droxine was not necessarily disappointed. There were only two logical explanations, in her view, as to why Vanna was not there to rescue her.
One was difficult to contemplate-that Vanna was dead in the forest, left alone and unattended as she wasted away. This made Droxine shiver, and she immediately banished the thought.
The other was that Vanna never received her missive at all.
“Perhaps she has changed her mind, my love,” Eduar had the nerve to console over dinner the previous night. He had even sighed into his goblet. “Perhaps your love was not meant to last forever.”
“Inconceivable,” Droxine had only whispered, deciding then and there that Eduar was a liar.
It left very few options-but at least these options were all in her hands.
Droxine smashed the hand-held mirror face-down on the table, lifting the gold frame carefully to allow the shards to fall to the surface. Setting it aside, her fingers carefully fingered the largest shard, one with a sharp and jagged edged.
She wanted to disfigure herself.
( “Wait-what?” )
Droxine wanted to aid the Prince no longer. She had looked on in disgust at his campaign to blame the Troglytes for her abduction. She had loathed his attempts to be friendly with her, to find some common ground in order to rule both their kingdoms.
But most of all, she had resented that she was a pawn and an object. It had not mattered when life had not mattered-when her heart was still a stone in her chest, carrying on with the responsibilities and motions of life without feeling. She had been content to live as a statue, to be the expected role model for her people.
She had thought that honorable. But when the stone bird in her chest fluttered unexpectedly, she had found what it meant to hope again. To wish life were full and beautiful and blessed with meaning.
She had suddenly remembered what love was, and still is.
Droxine planned to ruin Eduar’s beautiful object. If there were scars on her face, surely he would not want her. If her hair was pulled out and in tatters, surely she would look mad and not serene-she would look no better than the feared Troglytes down below, and perhaps Droxine could pass for one.
But first she would cut her face to conceal her identity. Her fingers shook as she held up the shard, the point of it catching the lights of candles behind her.
Droxine knew it would hurt. But nothing hurt more than the pain her chest, the one insisting that she must rescue not only Vanna, but herself.
( Joanna shivered and pulled her legs up, resting a cheek against her knee. The idea of cutting skin was giving her the heebie-jeebies, and Nyota patted her feet in sympathy. )
Droxine pressed the point of the blade against her cheek, biting a lip as she tested it. Steadying her breath and her resolve, she closed her eyes and started a countdown in her head.
“It would be a shame to ruin Ardana’s most beautiful work of art.”
( “Shut up.”
Spock furrowed a brow. “But you seemed to be enjoying the tale-“
Nyota chuckled. “Figure of speech, Spock.” )
Droxine whipped her head around, seeing a familiar figure in black as it leaned against the stone archway to her room, cool and confident as a breeze.
Blue eyes went wide. “Vanna?”
The beaded dressed weighed down her walk, but Droxine flung herself at the figure in excitement. Hands grabbed at the back of Vanna’s neck to pull her closer, lips meeting frantically in reunion as Droxine’s hands roved to make sure that Vanna was truly there.
“I knew you’d come for me!” Droxine said breathlessly between kisses. “Did you receive my letter?”
Vanna struggled to answer and gain breath at the same time, but instead she smiled as Droxine answered for her.
“I knew he didn’t send it! I was about to just-just-“
Droxine motioned towards the dressing table, the reality of the minutes before settling heavy in her heart. She pulled away, her eyes fearful as they searched for understanding-and was relieved at the forgiving green eyes she found instead, gentle and soft.
“You worried me,” Droxine whispered, her eyes closed and head tilted as Vanna kissed her cheek.
“You had no need,” Vanna whispered back. “I was just delayed a while.”
“How did you-how did you move from-?”
“I may have had a little help,” Vanna said as she leaned back, then called out over Droxine’s shoulder, “Perhaps you can tell her, Your Highness?"
( Joanna clutched the blanket in her hands, and Nyota stopped a moment to smile.
Spock cleared his throat. “Perhaps the story is getting too much-“
“Ugh!” Joanna threw her head back in exasperation. “You guys got me, okay? I want to hear the story-don’t stop now.”
Spock looked over at Nyota. “She did appear worried, so perhaps you should continue.”
Joanna sent them both a death glare as Nyota chuckled. )
But meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Spock and the others also had a pressing dilemma.
( Joanna let out a huge groan as Nyota and Spock exchanged glances. Spock looked more amused than a Vulcan should be as he continued the tale. )
“Did you also check the adjoining rooms?”
“Yes, Commander. We saw no sign of the woman.” Leslie looked over at Mathews. “It’s quite possible they captured her, sir.”
“I am suspecting the same,” I admitted, avoiding McCoy’s unprofessional glare. “Perhaps if we discovered the holding cells, she would be there.”
Midro shook his head. “It is unlikely, as she is a wanted pirate and head of the leading terrorist gang of Ardana. But if she were being held captive, I do know where she would be taken.”
I spared McCoy a glance, noticing he would not look me in the eye with his anger. But it was the best scenario at this juncture, as I had no reason to suspect that Vanna would travel anywhere on her own and survive it.
I nodded at Midro, and with that he led us further down the corridor, not speaking a word. We went through several passageways, a stairwell, and opened many doors, the decorated chambers becoming simpler as a result. When the hallway started to curve he stopped and leaned against a wall, pointing at my tricorder.
I showed him the presence of two individuals not far from our location and shook my head. But he only beckoned us forward, taking us around the corner.
The scenery dramatically changed. Where the halls had appeared white and gold-gilded before, now the stone walls were dirty and dark gray, leading to a set of large and heavy black doors.
There were no windows-there was barely any light. An errant thought occurred to me then, that of all the places to die or be captured, we were in the least surprising of all of them.
Midro motioned for us to press against the walls. When we did so he opened a black door carefully, the sound creaking against his will.
After a moment of peering, he waved at us to follow him. And strangely we did, without question, as a voice echoed out towards us.
“Are you comfortable in your shackles, Captain Kirk?”
The voice was unfamiliar to me, and it raised hairs on the back of my neck. As we poured through the door in a silent line, the man who was speaking made enough noise to cover our tracks with a slicing sound of sharp metal.
“I admire your cunning, Starfleet. It is quite a shame that it will be wasted in this shell game.”
“Starfleet won’t rest about this.”
Jim’s voice also echoed, and thankfully it did not sound distant or ill. Myself and the security team ducked behind a bannister, while Midro slinked against the wall, his hand motioning for McCoy to get on the ground.
“That is what we are counting on. Our suppression of the lower class is becoming difficult to manage, as they breed like vermin. I can imagine with Starfleet’s assistance it will be much… much simpler.”
It was appalling. The audacity of the speaker to assume these things about Starfleet, when our history often suggested a defense and support for the oppressed.
“You underestimate the Federation. We don’t take sides.”
As soon as the other man stopped, I realized that the slicing noise was the sharpening of a weapon. It clanged against whatever surface it had rested on, spiking my adrenaline.
I sent a sharp look to Midro, who seemed to sense that I could wait no longer.
“Then I do truly apologize. This will be for my pleasure alone, then.”
Midro nodded, and we burst from hiding on the staircase. Rushing into the dark, dank room, we immediately came upon several difficulties.
One was the group of guards that had watched us enter. I felt an arm smack against my chest, but I used that same arm to flip a guard over, and then that body to trip another. Soon there were a trail of bodies in my wake, much due to my phaser, but also to my focus on Jim chained against a far-off wall.
The second was the obvious retreat of a severe looking man. He ordered the guards to us, watching the exchange. When it was obvious we would win, he rushed off to an adjoining hall, disappearing deeper into the dungeons.
The third was the falling of Mathews, a lance slicing his side as he protected McCoy. It drew all of our attention, to the point where I almost missed the escaping of Umar Midro.
I rushed to unchain Jim, but he only shook his head.
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Jim rubbed his wrists as Leslie phasered his chains. “See where they went-follow them!”
I raced in the direction I recalled, unsure of what I would find. It was quite possible that I would be captured or ganged upon, but the man who raced off was now a suspect in the abduction of a Starfleet officer. It was imperative to track him, as Prince Cirrus and the High Advisor would no doubt be unhelpful.
“You look overly confident, Umar Midro.”
I readied my phaser as I crept around a corner, my back against stone as I listened to the adjoining chamber.
“It is a day of reckoning, Paolo Anka.”
The chamber was dimly-lit, but I could see that the man presumed to be Anka was backed against a table, seemingly caught in the middle of gathering supplies.
“If I did not know the worm that you are, I would take that as a threat.”
From across the room Midro stood, tall and foreboding as he walked slowly to the table.
“My name is Umar Midro.”
Anka looked irritated. “I know that, you fool-”
“Then you must know that I have come to kill you.”
Midro’s blade glinted as it slashed through the air, hacking into the wooden table as Anka rolled to the side. There was a hiss of metal as Anka withdrew his own sword, clashing and clanging against Midro’s.
“You traitorous mongrel-!”
“You are a liar!” Midro roared as he shoved Anka into the middle of the room, his blade missing flesh by mere seconds as Anka side-stepped and fell into a pillar.
Midro threw a vase in his direction, chest heaving as his anger overtook him. “You-misled-me!”
Midro charged as Anka struggled to his feet. Midro’s blade was straight out, but it only served as the perfect angle for Anka to lift his sword-the point stabbing straight into the stomach of Umar Midro.
Midro gulped for air as he felt it plunge, but Anka only laughed.
“You stupid maggot.”
Anka kicked Midro away, gurgling sounds filling the air as Midro stumbled backwards.
But Anka only smiled. “You pathetic creature. All this time-you had no idea.”
Anka raced forward to kick Midro in the side, and with that I aimed my phaser, waiting for the perfect shot.
“If only you had known-the Disrupters aren’t responsible for half of the mine collapses.” Anka sent a sure kick to the back. “We set fire to the old in order to weed and save the valuable.”
His vicious laugh in the chamber was accompanied by a sobbing Midro, who clutched his stomach as he struggled to get up. Anka would only push him down with his boot, smacking Midro’s face to the stone floor.
“Cry for your family, Umar Midro.” Anka unsheathed his sword. “Cry for the father who would be ashamed of the soaked mess I see now.”
( Joanna gaped at Spock, looking gutted. “No.”
Spock raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”
“Poor Midro.” Joanna waved her hands in agitation, trying to find the right words. “It’s-it’s unfair.”
Spock could only nod in agreement. “I find that life often presents itself that way. It is only a charlatan who claims the opposite.”
Nyota sent Joanna a sympathetic look as the young girl stared dejectedly at the bedspread. )
“If you make this easy, Umar Midro, I will be sure to cut clean and swift.”
As Anka raised his sword above his head, I aimed my phaser and set it to stun, waiting for his arms to expose his stomach.
But Midro put out a hand, pleading as he kneeled on all fours away from Anka, as if trying to crawl away. “I ask for one last thing, Paolo Anka.”
As Anka tilted his head, he quirked a lip. “A request? Speak it fast, you coward.”
Midro grabbed at his throat, his head lifting up to meet my gaze. But what I saw there was not fear, but a strange and maniacal confidence.
“I-I-“
And in the blink of an eye, Midro pulled a small dagger from his breast pocket and whirled around to throw it at Paolo Anka.
It made a hit, piercing the center of his abdomen as Anka gasped in obvious shock, dropping his sword to the ground.
With more strength than Midro had previously shown, he pulled another dagger from his boot and wasted no time.
“Paolo Anka,” Midro hissed into Anka’s ear. “I want you to say hello to my father and mother.”
He carved into the man’s side, then pulled the dagger upward to gut him. As Anka gurgled and struggled for breath, Midro plunged and plunged until Anka fell off his blade and onto the floor.
I raced forward, disturbed by the blood and gore I saw before me. It had happened in less than five minutes, and yet it felt like hours had passed in front of my eyes.
When I looked over at Umar Midro, the man could only smile as he collapsed to the ground, creating his own pool of blood.
( Joanna leaned forward, still anguished. “Did he die? Is he okay?”
“Joey, what’s going on?” Her father entered the enclosed area, fighting for a seat among the gathering crew. Janice was already sitting on Hikaru Sulu’s knee, while Pavel and Nyota sat on the edge of the same seat.
“Dad, Commander Spock is evil,” Joanna wailed. “Midro is bleeding on a stone floor, and he stops right there!”
Spock raised an eyebrow at this, while her father could only huff a laugh.
“I told you so, Joey.”
“I was merely waiting for your arrival, Doctor. You are more than welcome to ease Joanna’s mind.”
Joanna looked eagerly at her father, followed by several other eager faces wishing to hear the outcome of the tale.
“He must’ve… he must’ve!” Pavel whispered, while Nyota patted his shoulder.
Her father waited a moment, giving them all a large sigh and a regretful expression.
“It was close, but…”
Joanna, Pavel, and Janice leaned forward.
“… Jim and I soon entered the chamber with our security guards, and we were able to secure Midro onto the Enterprise.” He gave a reassuring smile to Joanna. “Where he made a full recovery.”
Joanna, Pavel, and Janice all breathed a sigh of relief, and her father chuckled.
“On the other hand…” Leonard looked at Nyota. “I believe there’s trouble brewing somewhere else?”
Three faces looked eagerly at Nyota, and she was almost pushed off her chair with Pavel’s whiplash.
“Yes,” she started, then slowly smiled. “Of course.” )
While your father and Midro beamed back to the Enterprise, Jim and Spock hadn’t forgotten why they were originally in the castle. Unfortunately for them, they had few leads to go on. While Midro and Vanna had vaguely pointed to a section on a map hours before, there was no way of knowing whether this would be accurate.
And Vanna and Droxine couldn’t wait for backup as they were rudely interrupted.
“Perhaps you can tell her, Your Highness?”
Droxine noticed the direction of Vanna’s haughty glare, and turned around to find Eduar by her chamber door. He was dressed in white and heavy fabrics, topped with a large and ornate gold crown on his head.
He smiled assuredly. “It is a shame that you could join us.”
“Likewise,” Vanna said smoothly, allowing Droxine to back into her space.
But Eduar only stepped closer. “Pity you cannot join us for the wedding. In fact, I think I will kill you before we even start.” He smiled at Droxine. “Cannot enter my vows with a heavy conscience, of course.”
Droxine only glared. “I knew you were a liar.”
“And I knew you were a gullible and dimwitted little girl.” He held out his hand. “Now, if you would move into the hall my dearest, I will rid us of this vermin.”
Droxine lifted her chin. “No.”
“No?” He sighed. “This is quite unpleasant. I did not intend to carry you over the threshold until our wedding night.” Eduar cracked his knuckles in preparation. “Leave it to women to bleed the romance.”
But as he stepped forward Vanna only straightened, trying for her most imposing voice. “Stop right there.”
Eduar raised his brows. “Or you will do what?” He glanced at her from head to toe. “It appears you are in pain.”
“No, Your Highness,” Droxine spat out as she stepped in front of Vanna. “The only person who will be in pain is you.”
That stopped Eduar in his tracks, but only to laugh loudly. “You? Come now, do not be silly-you weigh as much as the wind. I could break you in half.”
But when he stepped forward to grab her, his wrist caught the jagged point of her mirror shard, still clutched tightly in her hands.
He withdrew as if burned, and he held his wrist limply. “Ow.”
“Don’t you dare touch me,” Droxine said dangerously low as she held the mirror shard at chest-level. “Do it again, and you will lose both of your cruel hands.”
“Feisty, are we?” he murmured, but backed up as Droxine approached him. “You can put that down, now. No need to injure yourself.”
“Oh, I am fine, Your Highness.” At that she raised her hand, the point of the mirror pressed under his chin. “It is you who should worry. I do feel feisty today.”
Eduar clenched his jaw, reaching to pull out the ceremonial sword from his hilt. “Do not tempt me, little girl.”
“Do not tempt me, you sick and twisted monster.”
Her fierce blue eyes held his, quite aware that the longer she stared, the more his grew wide with concern.
His gaze flicked to Vanna behind her. “The most feared pirate in all of Ardana leaves it to the weak, is that it?”
“On the contrary, you miserable, vomitus mass,” Vanna said as she crossed her arms. “If you are paying attention, I am leaving it in strong and competent hands.”
Droxine pressed the point harder and Eduar flinched.
He cleared his throat. “I can kill you where you stand. Both of you.”
But as he grabbed at his belt, Droxine only stepped forward to growl with all her pent-up anger, “Drop your sword.”
It took a moment, but his hands moved away from his waist.
Droxine stepped closer, forcing him backwards. “Sit down.”
He gulped, then did so without hesitation.
Droxine started to rip ribbons from her dress and hair, using them to tie Eduar to the chair, as Vanna started to slide down the wall.
“Ha!” Eduar said triumphantly as his legs were bound by strips of drapery. “I knew you were bluffing!”
“It is quite fortunate you are an idiot,” Vanna murmured as she felt herself hit the floor, her head lolling at a weird angle.
When Droxine finished by gagging the talkative prince, she ran over to grip Vanna by the shoulders.
“I knew something was wrong!” Her hand touched a cheek to straighten Vanna’s head. “What did Starfleet do to you?”
“All they could,” Vanna said with a wan smile, which Droxine didn’t buy one bit.
She helped Vanna to stand, putting an arm over her shoulder. “We have to depart. There are no guards now, but that’s going to change once I’m late for the wedding.”
As Vanna was about to motion behind them, they heard a great commotion in the hall, then the door cracking and smacking the wall as a group entered.
The two parties evaluated each other, before Vanna relaxed.
Jim raced over to help with Vanna’s other side, as Spock opened his communicator.
“Commander Spock to Enterprise, six to beam aboard.” He looked down at the chair next to him, the gagged Prince glaring as he rocked sideways. “Ignore the seated individual.”
“Ready for beam up.”
Eduar tipped his chair over and he screamed into his mouth-gag, watching as the beams faded the team away.
( “So you brought them on the Enterprise?”
Nyota looked to Spock for that one.
“We believed it was a safe distance for… renegotiations.” )
”You kidnapped my daughter!”
I shared a glance with Jim as we stood side-by-side on the bridge, facing the blustery rage of Plasus on the viewscreen.
Jim innocently shrugged. “You call it kidnapping, I believe we call it… willfully escaping an unpleasant situation.”
Plasus swallowed an angry breath. ”The Federation will hear an earful about this!”
“You know, that’s all right.” Jim gestured casually with his hands. “And since you’ll have them on the line, just pass it to us-we’ll tell them about all the new things we’ve discovered since trying to obtain the zenite.”
”Threats do not sit well with me, Captain Kirk.”
“That’s one thing we have in common.” Jim motioned behind him, where he knew Nyota was one switch away from hailing Starfleet. “So if you can just hand over the zenite, nobody has to threaten anyone at all.”
”If you think you can harass the Prince and abduct my daughter without recourse-“
“He did not abduct me, Father.”
Plasus squinted into his screen as Droxine walked into view, having just stepped off the turbolift while holding hands with a pirate.
Plasus turned an unnatural shade of red. ”I have nothing to say to this.”
“I have plenty, Father.” Droxine walked across the bridge until she stood between the two of us. “If you do not release the zenite, I will say these things to Starfleet instead of to you.”
Plasus turned stony, and even more so as Vanna joined us, somehow standing tall behind Droxine.
He waved a hand behind him, then stated, ”We are sending the coordinates of the zenite to your consoles.”
Sulu caught Jim’s eye, motioning that he did indeed have the coordinates.
“Excellent,” Jim stated. “Thank you for your service to the Federation.”
”I expect to see my daughter soon.”
And with that the screen cut out, leaving Jim to smile at the three of us, but especially at Droxine.
“We don’t make a bad team. Sure you don’t want to join Starfleet?”
Droxine looked over at Vanna and shook her head, although she was grinning. “I’m afraid I have enough battles to fight at home, Captain.”
“I don’t envy you one bit.”
“We wish you the best of luck,” I added. “The Federation supports the spirit of your endeavors.”
“We owe much to the Federation,” Vanna answered, as the four of us walked to the transporter room and waited for the zenite.
( “That was easy.”
“It was our original agreement, although it did take some coaxing.”
Joanna stared at Spock for a good long minute, waiting for him to speak again. But all he did was look at each of the eager faces in turn, before Joanna sighed in exasperation.
“That’s so not the end, right?”
Spock seemed confused a moment, before he stated simply, “We did retrieve the zenite and avert the agricultural disaster on Merak II. It was quite successful.”
“No, no, no.” She glared at Spock. “You’re not seriously leaving it there, right?
Spock shook his head minutely. “It is the end of the story. I am not quite sure what you would want me to add-“
“Commander Spock?”
Spock turned his head, and Joanna watched as Jim peeked his head out of her father’s office and beckoned Spock over.
Spock turned to Joanna. “Excuse me.”
The small gathering watched him leave, and Pavel actually sighed in disappointment.
But Joanna still had one burning question. “What happened to Vanna and Droxine?”
Nyota raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. “What about them?”
Joanna rolled her eyes. “I mean, you’ve made me sit through 12 hours of their story, and you just leave it at grabbing the zenite and running? Totally not cool.”
Nyota smiled. “And I thought you didn’t like all that ‘mushy’ stuff?”
“It’s not mushy stuff. It’s... “ Joanna waved her hands in frustration. “It’s finishing a story you’ve started!”
But that only seemed to amuse Nyota more. “Well, if you insist...” )
Life certainly wasn’t easy for the both of them. They may have escaped the clutches of Droxine’s presumed fate, but there was still their future to contend with-and the future of the Troglytes. After the Enterprise left they were on their own, and in the end, that was exactly how Droxine and Vanna preferred it.
For now that they had found each other, through great trials and impossibilities, there was no way they could allow themselves to be parted. They had been through too much, and they would not throw back what life had graciously allowed them.
In the end, Eduar surprisingly kept his word. They were left in peace, never again to bother and disgrace the Prince of Cirrus like they did on his wedding day, and never to be subjected to his rule. His promise of legitimacy was held up at Droxine’s insistence, her vocalizations to the public making this happen more than Eduar ever feeling honorable.
But it paid off. On the plains above the caves, there became a settlement of pirates and Troglytes alike. Independence was still far off, but rights of the enslaved were fought for and won-inch by inch, case by case. It helped that the former Princess bride of Stratos was now the wife of the Dread Pirate V, and she used all of her knowledge and influence to make life better for everyone she knew.
( “But the Troglytes still aren’t free?”
Nyota sighed. “These things take a long time, unfortunately.”
Joanna made a face. “That’s crap.”
“Droxine’s mind and heart changed because of one specific person-and likewise, some city dwellers reconsidered when they heard Droxine fight passionately for them. But certain people will always be bigoted.”
Joanna crossed her arms. “This is a sucky ending.” )
As ambassadors, Droxine and Vanna were able to make a good life. The Troglytes received more rights due to their insistence-they obtained face masks for the mines, and the hypo injections stopped to make them docile. It was a slow revolution, but one that continues to this day.
But most of all, there grew a family of love-one that was allowed to be together and remain together, in peace. Fighting for what they believed in after they had worked so hard to fight for one another.
( Nyota leaned back, sighing as she picked idly at the bedspread. “And then, you know-mushy stuff.”
The silence that followed was filled with an anxious Joanna, until she huffed loudly and said, “Okay, okay-I want to hear the mushy stuff.”
Joanna could feel the heat in her cheeks as Nyota gave her a knowing grin, and Joanna had to add, “You know, to finish the story.”
“Oh, of course.” )
In the history of all of Ardana, few people had ever seen a love quite like theirs. Equals, not only in intellect and interests, but in fierce devotion. They could argue and rage like a storm, and then come together with a healing rain-with a kiss that would put any great literary romance to shame.
And there they still live, refusing to settle for anything less than a long life together, and hoping to always be blessed with each other’s love and happiness.
( “Yes, Captain.”
“Then I’ll see you on the bridge in ten minutes.”
Nyota and Joanna both turned their heads to the doorway, where they saw Jim and Spock linger for a brief moment. Their eyes seemed to hold an invisible thread, keeping them tangled as fingers raised for the strike of matches-this time with the air starting to spark.
But Jim only swallowed before walking away, turning right from the doorway as Spock turned left. Yet the empty space where they had stood still held Joanna’s attention as she received a kiss on the forehead, and Joanna still thought about matches as Nyota left.
Love was strange.
“Okay, Joey.” Leonard turned off the diagnostic screen above her head. “You’re released from prison now.”
But Joanna could only still stare at the doorway, a question suddenly occurring to her. “Dad, when did Jim and Spock decide they… you know.”
He raised his eyebrows, obviously not knowing. “You’re gonna need a few more words, there.”
“You know-love each other.” She pointed to the doorway. “To get married and stuff.”
At that he smiled, lowering the bed and tidying up the space. “Well, sometimes when you meet the right person, you just know.” He pulled back the partition curtain, exposing the rest of Sickbay. “But trust me, with those two it took a long time for their heads to catch up with their hearts.”
Joanna jumped off the bed, thinking things like that were awfully silly. “Love is really weird for different people.”
Her father picked up a dozen candy wrappers, grimacing as he counted them all. “Yeah?”
“I mean, Droxine and Vanna kiss and declare stuff a lot. Yet Jim and Spock kind of hide it, and barely show anything at all.” Joanna went to the other side of bed, pulling out candy wrappers that Pavel had squished under the mattress. “But they seem to love each other the same. Devoted and everything.”
Joanna looked up to see her father thoughtful, his hands idly tapping the edges of a PADD.
“Well-adults are funny, sometimes. But what really matters is that they know. They don’t have to prove anything to anyone else, just each other.”
Joanna could agree with that. After all, her mother kissed and hugged Joanna all the time-they’ve been doing that since she could remember. But it didn’t mean she had to do the same with Leonard. He didn’t seem like the type, for one, and Joanna wasn’t even sure if she wanted them to.
But as he walked her to the entrance of Sickbay-both of them filling the empty space where Jim and Spock stood before-the air seemed electric around them.
He wasn’t so bad. Sure, Leonard had just locked her up for twelve hours in Sickbay, but it’s not like she didn’t deserve it. In the end, she found out some pretty interesting stuff-mostly that her father seemed to care about everyone, even pirates.
Leonard leaned against the doorframe of Sickbay, wearing a goofy smile-which could only mean that incredibly sappy stuff was coming up.
“Glad you’re okay, Joey.” He scuffed her shoulder with his knuckles. “Now get along, and go get into more trouble. You’ve only got a day left, since Jim just got a new assignment.”
He looked reluctant to walk away, and with that Joanna knew she was about to say the cheesiest thing in her entire life-who knows if she’d ever live it down. But at the same time, people had to start somewhere.
She smiled back at him and said, “As you wish.”
Her father’s smile froze, and Joanna quashed the rising anxiety in her stomach. She could totally explain that line away, right? If he didn’t want it to mean something she’d never say it again, and they could just forget it.
But instead the goofy grin grew wider, and he patted the top of her head. “As you wish,” he repeated in an awed whisper.
At that they both turned away, with Joanna retreating to a turbolift. As the doors closed she thought about what she had just said, and realized she was not embarrassed at all, just strangely nervous.
After tomorrow she would hopefully see him again, and soon. )
Masterlist | Author Notes
Masterlist: Beginnings | Misunderstandings | Perceptions | Tribulations | Awakenings | Endings | Author Notes
( “And you trusted him?”
Spock didn’t even blink. “Surprisingly, yes.” )
“Security will escort you to conference room 343. Spock out.”
I looked up to see the stunned face of Doctor McCoy, while Vanna wore a self-satisfied smirk.
“You appear to have predicted this.”
“If you let a fact stew in a man’s head, the fat of his arguments will eventually be skimmed from the surface.”
“Interesting metaphor,” I murmured, concentrating more on the estimates of when Umar Midro would arrive.
When he did 3.7 minutes later, he built up and rounded out the base of our plan.
( “How did you know he wouldn’t lead you into a trap?”
“Considering his plan allowed us quicker access into the building, we were willing to take the risk.” Spock tilted his head. “There was also his disclaimer before we beamed to the surface.”
Leonard harrumphed at that. “How did it go? ‘I do not believe you, but I will help you.’ Which was really reassuring.”
“We also had the Enterprise track our coordinates, where they could beam us onto the ship if our plan was unsuccessful.”
“So, was it?” Joanna asked, with legs crossed on the bed.
“You will have to see.” )
We beamed into the courtyard at dusk, ducking behind a row of ornamental grasses and trimmed shrubbery.
I must confess, it had seemed strange to me that Cirrus would want an evening ceremony. For an event that was meant to be symbolic and for the people of Ardana, it would be hard to parade a bride in darkness, or have a festival during the night.
But the courtyard was lit in candles, delicate crystals and bright flowers enhancing the glow. It was disorientating, the amount of sparkling surfaces and objects catching the eye. And it appeared to be even worse inside-the brightness of the lights spilled out onto balconies and stone stairways, along with the voices of merriment and celebration.
But Vanna remained focused. “We will crouch to that side door, where we will enter. The City Dwellers are too enraptured inside.”
She got up to move, but was halted by a hypo.
McCoy grumbled. “Don’t keel over on me.”
Vanna quirked a lip. “Would never dream of it.”
I nodded towards the door, where we all moved behind the line of bushes. Myself, Doctor McCoy, Vanna, Midro, and two security officers that guarded from the rear. We had adequate coverage from the courtyard, but from the balconies above or from our level we were exposed, relying on shadow from the bushes to aid us.
To our fortune everyone appeared distracted, and I stood beside the door and listened carefully, tricorder at hip-level.
It appeared to be quiet, and I nodded at my team as I opened the door.
The hallway was large and built of white stone, decorated in extravagance with gold furnishings and delicate vases. However, what captured my attention were the ornate floor coverings that appeared familiar in design-pink and orange clashed vibrantly, surrounded by a gold symbol that was echoed in tapestries hung on the walls.
I caught McCoy’s eye and he nodded at me, as if he understood the connection. We had seen these designs in the cavern, and they supported Vanna’s statement that Prince Cirrus advocated torture.
Midro noticed our interest and whispered, “Stratos coat of arms. It is customary for the bride to decorate as such.”
I barely contained my surprise, but McCoy was in the same state of bewilderment.
I put out a hand to stop him from speaking, motioning instead to move further along the corridor-we would discuss these implications later, when I felt secure of our location.
( “But you knew they were working together,” Joanna pointed out, her brow furrowing.
Spock said a quiet no, then, “We did not know the depth of their complicity. From the conversation between Vanna and Umar Midro, we knew Paolo Anka was an assassin for Prince Cirrus. However at the time, we did not realize that the High Advisor was in charge of the torturer, which Anka exploited.”
“But they were both conspriring-“ Joanna interrupted herself with a thought. “Oh, they were supposed to be peaceful. They took your phasers and stuff.”
Leonard ticked a finger at her. “Precisely. What we uncovered were their unpeaceful methods for keeping that illusion. While they looked down on the aggression of the Troglytes, they were using shock therapy on their own dissidents.”
Joanna sat back. “Huh.”
“Our discoveries would lead to a deep investigation by the Federation-however, if I may continue?” Spock said looking over at Leonard, who was about to interrupt.
He waved a hand. “By all means.” )
Our corridor was strangely devoid of any celebration. Midro had explained this was a servant’s entrance, and yet I saw none bustling about.
“We are clear for 100 meters in all directions,” I stated softly, looking up from my tricorder. “It appears everyone is truly celebrating.”
Vanna relaxed and leaned against a stone wall, although her sword was still held closely to her chest. “Starting prematurely, are we.”
“It is almost 1600. No doubt the bride is dressed-“
“For travel. Excellent.” Vanna pushed herself off the wall, yet she lacked balance and almost tipped over. “We move forward.”
“Not so fast,” McCoy stated, making sure she steadied herself. “I’m walking next to you, lean on me.”
“I am fine,” she spat, her knees wobbly as we proceeded ahead slowly, watching for anyone unexpected.
Where Stratos had been infused with orange and pink and gold, Cirrus was unexpectedly lighter in contrast. The stone was blasted light gray to white, with blue accents alongside the familiar gold. In hindsight, I had made the assumption that all of Ardana was homogenous to Stratos-it appeared obvious now, that the alliances ran deep.
Yet the Stratos code of arms was too warm in tone for this hallway, its style too bold. It truly did not belong.
“Commander,” I heard Officer Mathews whisper behind me. “I hear something coming towards us.”
My tricorder agreed with him, and I motioned for all of us to press against the wall.
There was an opening for a long hallway between us and security officers Mathews and Leslie. We quietly waited, hearing footfalls and conversation as they approached.
“We should probably put away this pint-“
“It’s a wedding, Marco!”
“Yes, but the Prince says the Troglytes are encroaching. They kidnapped the Princess once-“
“Relax. My instincts are still as sharp as a tack.” There was a loud belch. “Sharp as ever.”
McCoy flicked Vanna a look, and she gave a minute nod.
“You walk the East hall, I’m on the West-“
As Mathews moved in for a head-lock, Vanna already had a guard doubled-over, elbowing the back of his head to complete his fall. He tripped and splayed out unconscious on the carpeting, and soon the other guard joined him in the heap.
Mathews grinned at Vanna. “Nice one.”
“You do not adequately injure your opponent,” she replied, kicking the thigh of a guard until he groaned. “It is fortunate that he is intoxicated.”
“We do not maim our opponents,” I pointedly said, lifting one guard from under the shoulders, where I proceeded to drag him behind a decorative statue.
Vanna shrugged. “It is a shame.”
“She has a point,” Midro added, as he helped to drag the other guard into a low-lit corner.
It was a point I disagreed with, but which I did not have time to argue. As we started to move again I held out a hand, clearly seeing what was about to happen on my tricorder.
“We are surrounded,” I said lowly.
McCoy whipped his head around as Midro and Vanna kept very still.
“Where?” McCoy whispered, but I could only shake my head.
Doors smacked open as the halls were flooded with cloaked men that surrounded us, some wearing the coat of arms for Stratos, most wearing the armor of Cirrus.
“By order of the Prince-surrender!”
Dozens of lances were aimed in our direction, encircling the six of us with their dangerous points at eye level. They appeared heavily armed-perhaps more so than we were.
However as I opened my mouth to ask for the Prince, Vanna snorted.
“Never.”
Which was to be expected. And none of us wasted time as we kicked and shoved lances out of the way to confront our enemies.
Leslie and Mathews took out many on stun, their precision for an unarmored slivers of skin remarkable and commendable.
I maneuvered around many bodies to neck-pinch the same slivers of skin, soon apparent to be an Achilles heel in the looming army.
Vanna and Midro stole and swung lances, knocking out more than my team combined. McCoy would take the disorientated victims and collide them with a wall.
It went on for too long, however, as Midro fell from a harsh blow to the cheek.
“You may still surrender, in the name of the Pri-ince.”
The guard fell on top of Midro’s body, as Vanna pushed him off her sword.
Midro stared, wide-eyed, as Vanna could only shrug.
“I apologize for the mess,” she said casually, then spun around to elbow a guard in the nose.
I, myself, had to punch and kick a few guards, as they soon caught on to our peaceful methods. Violence is regrettable-but soon the bodies strewn the floor, most only unconscious, as the rest of us panted and stared at one another.
Vanna fell against a wall, grunting as she said, “That was fun. We should do it again.”
McCoy glared at her. “It’s too soon for another stimulant. You’re lucky adrenaline works in your body just the same as ours-“
“I will support her, Doctor McCoy,” Midro said as he stood next to Vanna, putting her arm over his shoulder.
It was startling to see, and the look exchanged between them held some sort of meaning, of which I did not have time to dissect.
“We are still not alone,” I reported as I pulled out the tricorder, its lights still beeping another group’s imminent arrival. “No doubt word has been sent to the authorities.”
“How did they find out, anyhow?” McCoy wondered out loud, although I held my suspicions.
“It does not matter at this juncture,” I said as I swung at the guard rushing from behind a corner, stealing his lance before it clanged to the ground.
It was another flood, and I contemplated how we would even survive the deluge to summon the Enterprise, much less find a safe corridor to complete our mission.
There was a thought in my mind, to perhaps send Mathews and Doctor McCoy on their own to locate Jim, while I offered my surrender.
Somehow the bodies fell, the corridor messy and obvious. What we needed was to conceal our presence once more.
I pulled out the tricorder. “This section has low readings. Follow down this corridor-“
I looked behind me, counting Mathews and Leslie as they rolled their shoulders, and McCoy tending to a cut on Midro’s cheek.
“Where is Vanna?” I asked, still motioning for the others to pass me down the empty corridor.
Midro looked around him before he shrugged. “She simply… slipped away.”
There was no malice in his tone, although I suspected capture or an ulterior motive. But instead of calling him on it, my main objective was to move us all to a safe location to reorganize.
“This way,” I stated curtly, closing a door as I heard a stampede in the previous hall.
( “What, wait-you left her there?”
“Our options were limited,” Spock said, perhaps with some regret. “My plan was to regroup before we re-entered the hall.”
Nyota passed in front of him as she rounded the bed, leaning down to kiss the top of Joanna’s head. “How are you feeling?”
“Irritated,” Joanna said under her breath, but then tried to pleasantly smile. “I’m okay.”
“What part are you at?” Nyota asked Spock as she moved a chair closer to the biobed, folding her hands together on the bedspread.
“Vanna has disappeared.”
Nyota grinned. “It’s my turn now, right?”
“I am more than willing to continue-“
Nyota leaned towards Joanna and stage-whispered, “This is my favorite part.”
Spock immediately quieted, allowing Nyota to speak. )
Meanwhile, as Spock and your father were congregating and plotting in a corridor, Droxine was in her ornate rooms by herself, staring into a small, hand-held mirror.
She was beautiful. The servants had come and gone to dress her, another round to paint her fair and porcelain face. A woman with long and gentle fingers had smoothed tendrils behind her ears, curling and pinning her thick blonde hair to the top of her head.
Droxine was everything a Princess was supposed to look like. Her wedding gown was lavishly beaded, ribbons and flowers pinned to the bodice of her dress. Her shoes were made of glass, her posture straight and regal. The servants had even decorated her chambers in a romantic fashion, with white silk along the archways, and white petals strewn across the floor and the bedspread.
But Droxine felt nothing like a princess. More than anything, she wished in that moment to be a commoner celebrating in the streets below.
She had sent out her missive to Vanna three days prior, and still no word had arrived from her love. Prince Cirrus had backed away to allow her space, and even had the audacity to appear apologetic at her disappointment.
But Droxine was not necessarily disappointed. There were only two logical explanations, in her view, as to why Vanna was not there to rescue her.
One was difficult to contemplate-that Vanna was dead in the forest, left alone and unattended as she wasted away. This made Droxine shiver, and she immediately banished the thought.
The other was that Vanna never received her missive at all.
“Perhaps she has changed her mind, my love,” Eduar had the nerve to console over dinner the previous night. He had even sighed into his goblet. “Perhaps your love was not meant to last forever.”
“Inconceivable,” Droxine had only whispered, deciding then and there that Eduar was a liar.
It left very few options-but at least these options were all in her hands.
Droxine smashed the hand-held mirror face-down on the table, lifting the gold frame carefully to allow the shards to fall to the surface. Setting it aside, her fingers carefully fingered the largest shard, one with a sharp and jagged edged.
She wanted to disfigure herself.
( “Wait-what?” )
Droxine wanted to aid the Prince no longer. She had looked on in disgust at his campaign to blame the Troglytes for her abduction. She had loathed his attempts to be friendly with her, to find some common ground in order to rule both their kingdoms.
But most of all, she had resented that she was a pawn and an object. It had not mattered when life had not mattered-when her heart was still a stone in her chest, carrying on with the responsibilities and motions of life without feeling. She had been content to live as a statue, to be the expected role model for her people.
She had thought that honorable. But when the stone bird in her chest fluttered unexpectedly, she had found what it meant to hope again. To wish life were full and beautiful and blessed with meaning.
She had suddenly remembered what love was, and still is.
Droxine planned to ruin Eduar’s beautiful object. If there were scars on her face, surely he would not want her. If her hair was pulled out and in tatters, surely she would look mad and not serene-she would look no better than the feared Troglytes down below, and perhaps Droxine could pass for one.
But first she would cut her face to conceal her identity. Her fingers shook as she held up the shard, the point of it catching the lights of candles behind her.
Droxine knew it would hurt. But nothing hurt more than the pain her chest, the one insisting that she must rescue not only Vanna, but herself.
( Joanna shivered and pulled her legs up, resting a cheek against her knee. The idea of cutting skin was giving her the heebie-jeebies, and Nyota patted her feet in sympathy. )
Droxine pressed the point of the blade against her cheek, biting a lip as she tested it. Steadying her breath and her resolve, she closed her eyes and started a countdown in her head.
“It would be a shame to ruin Ardana’s most beautiful work of art.”
( “Shut up.”
Spock furrowed a brow. “But you seemed to be enjoying the tale-“
Nyota chuckled. “Figure of speech, Spock.” )
Droxine whipped her head around, seeing a familiar figure in black as it leaned against the stone archway to her room, cool and confident as a breeze.
Blue eyes went wide. “Vanna?”
The beaded dressed weighed down her walk, but Droxine flung herself at the figure in excitement. Hands grabbed at the back of Vanna’s neck to pull her closer, lips meeting frantically in reunion as Droxine’s hands roved to make sure that Vanna was truly there.
“I knew you’d come for me!” Droxine said breathlessly between kisses. “Did you receive my letter?”
Vanna struggled to answer and gain breath at the same time, but instead she smiled as Droxine answered for her.
“I knew he didn’t send it! I was about to just-just-“
Droxine motioned towards the dressing table, the reality of the minutes before settling heavy in her heart. She pulled away, her eyes fearful as they searched for understanding-and was relieved at the forgiving green eyes she found instead, gentle and soft.
“You worried me,” Droxine whispered, her eyes closed and head tilted as Vanna kissed her cheek.
“You had no need,” Vanna whispered back. “I was just delayed a while.”
“How did you-how did you move from-?”
“I may have had a little help,” Vanna said as she leaned back, then called out over Droxine’s shoulder, “Perhaps you can tell her, Your Highness?"
( Joanna clutched the blanket in her hands, and Nyota stopped a moment to smile.
Spock cleared his throat. “Perhaps the story is getting too much-“
“Ugh!” Joanna threw her head back in exasperation. “You guys got me, okay? I want to hear the story-don’t stop now.”
Spock looked over at Nyota. “She did appear worried, so perhaps you should continue.”
Joanna sent them both a death glare as Nyota chuckled. )
But meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Spock and the others also had a pressing dilemma.
( Joanna let out a huge groan as Nyota and Spock exchanged glances. Spock looked more amused than a Vulcan should be as he continued the tale. )
“Did you also check the adjoining rooms?”
“Yes, Commander. We saw no sign of the woman.” Leslie looked over at Mathews. “It’s quite possible they captured her, sir.”
“I am suspecting the same,” I admitted, avoiding McCoy’s unprofessional glare. “Perhaps if we discovered the holding cells, she would be there.”
Midro shook his head. “It is unlikely, as she is a wanted pirate and head of the leading terrorist gang of Ardana. But if she were being held captive, I do know where she would be taken.”
I spared McCoy a glance, noticing he would not look me in the eye with his anger. But it was the best scenario at this juncture, as I had no reason to suspect that Vanna would travel anywhere on her own and survive it.
I nodded at Midro, and with that he led us further down the corridor, not speaking a word. We went through several passageways, a stairwell, and opened many doors, the decorated chambers becoming simpler as a result. When the hallway started to curve he stopped and leaned against a wall, pointing at my tricorder.
I showed him the presence of two individuals not far from our location and shook my head. But he only beckoned us forward, taking us around the corner.
The scenery dramatically changed. Where the halls had appeared white and gold-gilded before, now the stone walls were dirty and dark gray, leading to a set of large and heavy black doors.
There were no windows-there was barely any light. An errant thought occurred to me then, that of all the places to die or be captured, we were in the least surprising of all of them.
Midro motioned for us to press against the walls. When we did so he opened a black door carefully, the sound creaking against his will.
After a moment of peering, he waved at us to follow him. And strangely we did, without question, as a voice echoed out towards us.
“Are you comfortable in your shackles, Captain Kirk?”
The voice was unfamiliar to me, and it raised hairs on the back of my neck. As we poured through the door in a silent line, the man who was speaking made enough noise to cover our tracks with a slicing sound of sharp metal.
“I admire your cunning, Starfleet. It is quite a shame that it will be wasted in this shell game.”
“Starfleet won’t rest about this.”
Jim’s voice also echoed, and thankfully it did not sound distant or ill. Myself and the security team ducked behind a bannister, while Midro slinked against the wall, his hand motioning for McCoy to get on the ground.
“That is what we are counting on. Our suppression of the lower class is becoming difficult to manage, as they breed like vermin. I can imagine with Starfleet’s assistance it will be much… much simpler.”
It was appalling. The audacity of the speaker to assume these things about Starfleet, when our history often suggested a defense and support for the oppressed.
“You underestimate the Federation. We don’t take sides.”
As soon as the other man stopped, I realized that the slicing noise was the sharpening of a weapon. It clanged against whatever surface it had rested on, spiking my adrenaline.
I sent a sharp look to Midro, who seemed to sense that I could wait no longer.
“Then I do truly apologize. This will be for my pleasure alone, then.”
Midro nodded, and we burst from hiding on the staircase. Rushing into the dark, dank room, we immediately came upon several difficulties.
One was the group of guards that had watched us enter. I felt an arm smack against my chest, but I used that same arm to flip a guard over, and then that body to trip another. Soon there were a trail of bodies in my wake, much due to my phaser, but also to my focus on Jim chained against a far-off wall.
The second was the obvious retreat of a severe looking man. He ordered the guards to us, watching the exchange. When it was obvious we would win, he rushed off to an adjoining hall, disappearing deeper into the dungeons.
The third was the falling of Mathews, a lance slicing his side as he protected McCoy. It drew all of our attention, to the point where I almost missed the escaping of Umar Midro.
I rushed to unchain Jim, but he only shook his head.
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Jim rubbed his wrists as Leslie phasered his chains. “See where they went-follow them!”
I raced in the direction I recalled, unsure of what I would find. It was quite possible that I would be captured or ganged upon, but the man who raced off was now a suspect in the abduction of a Starfleet officer. It was imperative to track him, as Prince Cirrus and the High Advisor would no doubt be unhelpful.
“You look overly confident, Umar Midro.”
I readied my phaser as I crept around a corner, my back against stone as I listened to the adjoining chamber.
“It is a day of reckoning, Paolo Anka.”
The chamber was dimly-lit, but I could see that the man presumed to be Anka was backed against a table, seemingly caught in the middle of gathering supplies.
“If I did not know the worm that you are, I would take that as a threat.”
From across the room Midro stood, tall and foreboding as he walked slowly to the table.
“My name is Umar Midro.”
Anka looked irritated. “I know that, you fool-”
“Then you must know that I have come to kill you.”
Midro’s blade glinted as it slashed through the air, hacking into the wooden table as Anka rolled to the side. There was a hiss of metal as Anka withdrew his own sword, clashing and clanging against Midro’s.
“You traitorous mongrel-!”
“You are a liar!” Midro roared as he shoved Anka into the middle of the room, his blade missing flesh by mere seconds as Anka side-stepped and fell into a pillar.
Midro threw a vase in his direction, chest heaving as his anger overtook him. “You-misled-me!”
Midro charged as Anka struggled to his feet. Midro’s blade was straight out, but it only served as the perfect angle for Anka to lift his sword-the point stabbing straight into the stomach of Umar Midro.
Midro gulped for air as he felt it plunge, but Anka only laughed.
“You stupid maggot.”
Anka kicked Midro away, gurgling sounds filling the air as Midro stumbled backwards.
But Anka only smiled. “You pathetic creature. All this time-you had no idea.”
Anka raced forward to kick Midro in the side, and with that I aimed my phaser, waiting for the perfect shot.
“If only you had known-the Disrupters aren’t responsible for half of the mine collapses.” Anka sent a sure kick to the back. “We set fire to the old in order to weed and save the valuable.”
His vicious laugh in the chamber was accompanied by a sobbing Midro, who clutched his stomach as he struggled to get up. Anka would only push him down with his boot, smacking Midro’s face to the stone floor.
“Cry for your family, Umar Midro.” Anka unsheathed his sword. “Cry for the father who would be ashamed of the soaked mess I see now.”
( Joanna gaped at Spock, looking gutted. “No.”
Spock raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”
“Poor Midro.” Joanna waved her hands in agitation, trying to find the right words. “It’s-it’s unfair.”
Spock could only nod in agreement. “I find that life often presents itself that way. It is only a charlatan who claims the opposite.”
Nyota sent Joanna a sympathetic look as the young girl stared dejectedly at the bedspread. )
“If you make this easy, Umar Midro, I will be sure to cut clean and swift.”
As Anka raised his sword above his head, I aimed my phaser and set it to stun, waiting for his arms to expose his stomach.
But Midro put out a hand, pleading as he kneeled on all fours away from Anka, as if trying to crawl away. “I ask for one last thing, Paolo Anka.”
As Anka tilted his head, he quirked a lip. “A request? Speak it fast, you coward.”
Midro grabbed at his throat, his head lifting up to meet my gaze. But what I saw there was not fear, but a strange and maniacal confidence.
“I-I-“
And in the blink of an eye, Midro pulled a small dagger from his breast pocket and whirled around to throw it at Paolo Anka.
It made a hit, piercing the center of his abdomen as Anka gasped in obvious shock, dropping his sword to the ground.
With more strength than Midro had previously shown, he pulled another dagger from his boot and wasted no time.
“Paolo Anka,” Midro hissed into Anka’s ear. “I want you to say hello to my father and mother.”
He carved into the man’s side, then pulled the dagger upward to gut him. As Anka gurgled and struggled for breath, Midro plunged and plunged until Anka fell off his blade and onto the floor.
I raced forward, disturbed by the blood and gore I saw before me. It had happened in less than five minutes, and yet it felt like hours had passed in front of my eyes.
When I looked over at Umar Midro, the man could only smile as he collapsed to the ground, creating his own pool of blood.
( Joanna leaned forward, still anguished. “Did he die? Is he okay?”
“Joey, what’s going on?” Her father entered the enclosed area, fighting for a seat among the gathering crew. Janice was already sitting on Hikaru Sulu’s knee, while Pavel and Nyota sat on the edge of the same seat.
“Dad, Commander Spock is evil,” Joanna wailed. “Midro is bleeding on a stone floor, and he stops right there!”
Spock raised an eyebrow at this, while her father could only huff a laugh.
“I told you so, Joey.”
“I was merely waiting for your arrival, Doctor. You are more than welcome to ease Joanna’s mind.”
Joanna looked eagerly at her father, followed by several other eager faces wishing to hear the outcome of the tale.
“He must’ve… he must’ve!” Pavel whispered, while Nyota patted his shoulder.
Her father waited a moment, giving them all a large sigh and a regretful expression.
“It was close, but…”
Joanna, Pavel, and Janice leaned forward.
“… Jim and I soon entered the chamber with our security guards, and we were able to secure Midro onto the Enterprise.” He gave a reassuring smile to Joanna. “Where he made a full recovery.”
Joanna, Pavel, and Janice all breathed a sigh of relief, and her father chuckled.
“On the other hand…” Leonard looked at Nyota. “I believe there’s trouble brewing somewhere else?”
Three faces looked eagerly at Nyota, and she was almost pushed off her chair with Pavel’s whiplash.
“Yes,” she started, then slowly smiled. “Of course.” )
While your father and Midro beamed back to the Enterprise, Jim and Spock hadn’t forgotten why they were originally in the castle. Unfortunately for them, they had few leads to go on. While Midro and Vanna had vaguely pointed to a section on a map hours before, there was no way of knowing whether this would be accurate.
And Vanna and Droxine couldn’t wait for backup as they were rudely interrupted.
“Perhaps you can tell her, Your Highness?”
Droxine noticed the direction of Vanna’s haughty glare, and turned around to find Eduar by her chamber door. He was dressed in white and heavy fabrics, topped with a large and ornate gold crown on his head.
He smiled assuredly. “It is a shame that you could join us.”
“Likewise,” Vanna said smoothly, allowing Droxine to back into her space.
But Eduar only stepped closer. “Pity you cannot join us for the wedding. In fact, I think I will kill you before we even start.” He smiled at Droxine. “Cannot enter my vows with a heavy conscience, of course.”
Droxine only glared. “I knew you were a liar.”
“And I knew you were a gullible and dimwitted little girl.” He held out his hand. “Now, if you would move into the hall my dearest, I will rid us of this vermin.”
Droxine lifted her chin. “No.”
“No?” He sighed. “This is quite unpleasant. I did not intend to carry you over the threshold until our wedding night.” Eduar cracked his knuckles in preparation. “Leave it to women to bleed the romance.”
But as he stepped forward Vanna only straightened, trying for her most imposing voice. “Stop right there.”
Eduar raised his brows. “Or you will do what?” He glanced at her from head to toe. “It appears you are in pain.”
“No, Your Highness,” Droxine spat out as she stepped in front of Vanna. “The only person who will be in pain is you.”
That stopped Eduar in his tracks, but only to laugh loudly. “You? Come now, do not be silly-you weigh as much as the wind. I could break you in half.”
But when he stepped forward to grab her, his wrist caught the jagged point of her mirror shard, still clutched tightly in her hands.
He withdrew as if burned, and he held his wrist limply. “Ow.”
“Don’t you dare touch me,” Droxine said dangerously low as she held the mirror shard at chest-level. “Do it again, and you will lose both of your cruel hands.”
“Feisty, are we?” he murmured, but backed up as Droxine approached him. “You can put that down, now. No need to injure yourself.”
“Oh, I am fine, Your Highness.” At that she raised her hand, the point of the mirror pressed under his chin. “It is you who should worry. I do feel feisty today.”
Eduar clenched his jaw, reaching to pull out the ceremonial sword from his hilt. “Do not tempt me, little girl.”
“Do not tempt me, you sick and twisted monster.”
Her fierce blue eyes held his, quite aware that the longer she stared, the more his grew wide with concern.
His gaze flicked to Vanna behind her. “The most feared pirate in all of Ardana leaves it to the weak, is that it?”
“On the contrary, you miserable, vomitus mass,” Vanna said as she crossed her arms. “If you are paying attention, I am leaving it in strong and competent hands.”
Droxine pressed the point harder and Eduar flinched.
He cleared his throat. “I can kill you where you stand. Both of you.”
But as he grabbed at his belt, Droxine only stepped forward to growl with all her pent-up anger, “Drop your sword.”
It took a moment, but his hands moved away from his waist.
Droxine stepped closer, forcing him backwards. “Sit down.”
He gulped, then did so without hesitation.
Droxine started to rip ribbons from her dress and hair, using them to tie Eduar to the chair, as Vanna started to slide down the wall.
“Ha!” Eduar said triumphantly as his legs were bound by strips of drapery. “I knew you were bluffing!”
“It is quite fortunate you are an idiot,” Vanna murmured as she felt herself hit the floor, her head lolling at a weird angle.
When Droxine finished by gagging the talkative prince, she ran over to grip Vanna by the shoulders.
“I knew something was wrong!” Her hand touched a cheek to straighten Vanna’s head. “What did Starfleet do to you?”
“All they could,” Vanna said with a wan smile, which Droxine didn’t buy one bit.
She helped Vanna to stand, putting an arm over her shoulder. “We have to depart. There are no guards now, but that’s going to change once I’m late for the wedding.”
As Vanna was about to motion behind them, they heard a great commotion in the hall, then the door cracking and smacking the wall as a group entered.
The two parties evaluated each other, before Vanna relaxed.
Jim raced over to help with Vanna’s other side, as Spock opened his communicator.
“Commander Spock to Enterprise, six to beam aboard.” He looked down at the chair next to him, the gagged Prince glaring as he rocked sideways. “Ignore the seated individual.”
“Ready for beam up.”
Eduar tipped his chair over and he screamed into his mouth-gag, watching as the beams faded the team away.
( “So you brought them on the Enterprise?”
Nyota looked to Spock for that one.
“We believed it was a safe distance for… renegotiations.” )
”You kidnapped my daughter!”
I shared a glance with Jim as we stood side-by-side on the bridge, facing the blustery rage of Plasus on the viewscreen.
Jim innocently shrugged. “You call it kidnapping, I believe we call it… willfully escaping an unpleasant situation.”
Plasus swallowed an angry breath. ”The Federation will hear an earful about this!”
“You know, that’s all right.” Jim gestured casually with his hands. “And since you’ll have them on the line, just pass it to us-we’ll tell them about all the new things we’ve discovered since trying to obtain the zenite.”
”Threats do not sit well with me, Captain Kirk.”
“That’s one thing we have in common.” Jim motioned behind him, where he knew Nyota was one switch away from hailing Starfleet. “So if you can just hand over the zenite, nobody has to threaten anyone at all.”
”If you think you can harass the Prince and abduct my daughter without recourse-“
“He did not abduct me, Father.”
Plasus squinted into his screen as Droxine walked into view, having just stepped off the turbolift while holding hands with a pirate.
Plasus turned an unnatural shade of red. ”I have nothing to say to this.”
“I have plenty, Father.” Droxine walked across the bridge until she stood between the two of us. “If you do not release the zenite, I will say these things to Starfleet instead of to you.”
Plasus turned stony, and even more so as Vanna joined us, somehow standing tall behind Droxine.
He waved a hand behind him, then stated, ”We are sending the coordinates of the zenite to your consoles.”
Sulu caught Jim’s eye, motioning that he did indeed have the coordinates.
“Excellent,” Jim stated. “Thank you for your service to the Federation.”
”I expect to see my daughter soon.”
And with that the screen cut out, leaving Jim to smile at the three of us, but especially at Droxine.
“We don’t make a bad team. Sure you don’t want to join Starfleet?”
Droxine looked over at Vanna and shook her head, although she was grinning. “I’m afraid I have enough battles to fight at home, Captain.”
“I don’t envy you one bit.”
“We wish you the best of luck,” I added. “The Federation supports the spirit of your endeavors.”
“We owe much to the Federation,” Vanna answered, as the four of us walked to the transporter room and waited for the zenite.
( “That was easy.”
“It was our original agreement, although it did take some coaxing.”
Joanna stared at Spock for a good long minute, waiting for him to speak again. But all he did was look at each of the eager faces in turn, before Joanna sighed in exasperation.
“That’s so not the end, right?”
Spock seemed confused a moment, before he stated simply, “We did retrieve the zenite and avert the agricultural disaster on Merak II. It was quite successful.”
“No, no, no.” She glared at Spock. “You’re not seriously leaving it there, right?
Spock shook his head minutely. “It is the end of the story. I am not quite sure what you would want me to add-“
“Commander Spock?”
Spock turned his head, and Joanna watched as Jim peeked his head out of her father’s office and beckoned Spock over.
Spock turned to Joanna. “Excuse me.”
The small gathering watched him leave, and Pavel actually sighed in disappointment.
But Joanna still had one burning question. “What happened to Vanna and Droxine?”
Nyota raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. “What about them?”
Joanna rolled her eyes. “I mean, you’ve made me sit through 12 hours of their story, and you just leave it at grabbing the zenite and running? Totally not cool.”
Nyota smiled. “And I thought you didn’t like all that ‘mushy’ stuff?”
“It’s not mushy stuff. It’s... “ Joanna waved her hands in frustration. “It’s finishing a story you’ve started!”
But that only seemed to amuse Nyota more. “Well, if you insist...” )
Life certainly wasn’t easy for the both of them. They may have escaped the clutches of Droxine’s presumed fate, but there was still their future to contend with-and the future of the Troglytes. After the Enterprise left they were on their own, and in the end, that was exactly how Droxine and Vanna preferred it.
For now that they had found each other, through great trials and impossibilities, there was no way they could allow themselves to be parted. They had been through too much, and they would not throw back what life had graciously allowed them.
In the end, Eduar surprisingly kept his word. They were left in peace, never again to bother and disgrace the Prince of Cirrus like they did on his wedding day, and never to be subjected to his rule. His promise of legitimacy was held up at Droxine’s insistence, her vocalizations to the public making this happen more than Eduar ever feeling honorable.
But it paid off. On the plains above the caves, there became a settlement of pirates and Troglytes alike. Independence was still far off, but rights of the enslaved were fought for and won-inch by inch, case by case. It helped that the former Princess bride of Stratos was now the wife of the Dread Pirate V, and she used all of her knowledge and influence to make life better for everyone she knew.
( “But the Troglytes still aren’t free?”
Nyota sighed. “These things take a long time, unfortunately.”
Joanna made a face. “That’s crap.”
“Droxine’s mind and heart changed because of one specific person-and likewise, some city dwellers reconsidered when they heard Droxine fight passionately for them. But certain people will always be bigoted.”
Joanna crossed her arms. “This is a sucky ending.” )
As ambassadors, Droxine and Vanna were able to make a good life. The Troglytes received more rights due to their insistence-they obtained face masks for the mines, and the hypo injections stopped to make them docile. It was a slow revolution, but one that continues to this day.
But most of all, there grew a family of love-one that was allowed to be together and remain together, in peace. Fighting for what they believed in after they had worked so hard to fight for one another.
( Nyota leaned back, sighing as she picked idly at the bedspread. “And then, you know-mushy stuff.”
The silence that followed was filled with an anxious Joanna, until she huffed loudly and said, “Okay, okay-I want to hear the mushy stuff.”
Joanna could feel the heat in her cheeks as Nyota gave her a knowing grin, and Joanna had to add, “You know, to finish the story.”
“Oh, of course.” )
In the history of all of Ardana, few people had ever seen a love quite like theirs. Equals, not only in intellect and interests, but in fierce devotion. They could argue and rage like a storm, and then come together with a healing rain-with a kiss that would put any great literary romance to shame.
And there they still live, refusing to settle for anything less than a long life together, and hoping to always be blessed with each other’s love and happiness.
( “Yes, Captain.”
“Then I’ll see you on the bridge in ten minutes.”
Nyota and Joanna both turned their heads to the doorway, where they saw Jim and Spock linger for a brief moment. Their eyes seemed to hold an invisible thread, keeping them tangled as fingers raised for the strike of matches-this time with the air starting to spark.
But Jim only swallowed before walking away, turning right from the doorway as Spock turned left. Yet the empty space where they had stood still held Joanna’s attention as she received a kiss on the forehead, and Joanna still thought about matches as Nyota left.
Love was strange.
“Okay, Joey.” Leonard turned off the diagnostic screen above her head. “You’re released from prison now.”
But Joanna could only still stare at the doorway, a question suddenly occurring to her. “Dad, when did Jim and Spock decide they… you know.”
He raised his eyebrows, obviously not knowing. “You’re gonna need a few more words, there.”
“You know-love each other.” She pointed to the doorway. “To get married and stuff.”
At that he smiled, lowering the bed and tidying up the space. “Well, sometimes when you meet the right person, you just know.” He pulled back the partition curtain, exposing the rest of Sickbay. “But trust me, with those two it took a long time for their heads to catch up with their hearts.”
Joanna jumped off the bed, thinking things like that were awfully silly. “Love is really weird for different people.”
Her father picked up a dozen candy wrappers, grimacing as he counted them all. “Yeah?”
“I mean, Droxine and Vanna kiss and declare stuff a lot. Yet Jim and Spock kind of hide it, and barely show anything at all.” Joanna went to the other side of bed, pulling out candy wrappers that Pavel had squished under the mattress. “But they seem to love each other the same. Devoted and everything.”
Joanna looked up to see her father thoughtful, his hands idly tapping the edges of a PADD.
“Well-adults are funny, sometimes. But what really matters is that they know. They don’t have to prove anything to anyone else, just each other.”
Joanna could agree with that. After all, her mother kissed and hugged Joanna all the time-they’ve been doing that since she could remember. But it didn’t mean she had to do the same with Leonard. He didn’t seem like the type, for one, and Joanna wasn’t even sure if she wanted them to.
But as he walked her to the entrance of Sickbay-both of them filling the empty space where Jim and Spock stood before-the air seemed electric around them.
He wasn’t so bad. Sure, Leonard had just locked her up for twelve hours in Sickbay, but it’s not like she didn’t deserve it. In the end, she found out some pretty interesting stuff-mostly that her father seemed to care about everyone, even pirates.
Leonard leaned against the doorframe of Sickbay, wearing a goofy smile-which could only mean that incredibly sappy stuff was coming up.
“Glad you’re okay, Joey.” He scuffed her shoulder with his knuckles. “Now get along, and go get into more trouble. You’ve only got a day left, since Jim just got a new assignment.”
He looked reluctant to walk away, and with that Joanna knew she was about to say the cheesiest thing in her entire life-who knows if she’d ever live it down. But at the same time, people had to start somewhere.
She smiled back at him and said, “As you wish.”
Her father’s smile froze, and Joanna quashed the rising anxiety in her stomach. She could totally explain that line away, right? If he didn’t want it to mean something she’d never say it again, and they could just forget it.
But instead the goofy grin grew wider, and he patted the top of her head. “As you wish,” he repeated in an awed whisper.
At that they both turned away, with Joanna retreating to a turbolift. As the doors closed she thought about what she had just said, and realized she was not embarrassed at all, just strangely nervous.
After tomorrow she would hopefully see him again, and soon. )
Masterlist | Author Notes