A/N – This story is in the tradition of TOS Journey to Babel and some others that were my favorites but it is ST2009. Couplings include some OC/OC, Spock/Uhura and Sarek/OC (post Amanda). All genres are covered and several stories converge into a diplomatic mystery. Please R & R. Thanks.

Chapter 1 - Doppelganger

Surrounded by force fields and traps carefully disguised to look like odd sculptures on an ecru multi-domed crystalline palatial estate, a plethora of mostly raven haired Romulans dressed in the finest silk robes of all colors mingled about chatting about the events of a week prior: the destruction of Vulcan. Many thought it to be rumor and awaited confirmation since it seemed so farfetched. A multitude of armed guards stood at attention around the estate and throughout the gathering. Drinks of heliotrope and cobalt gurgled from crystal fountains while the peachy scent of neon orange Kanti flowers permeated the air. In the lofty round domed center room, earth toned furnishings surrounded by flora of neon to understated; in most every known color provided a homey feel to the austere structure.

A tall lean Romulan in silver and black velvet and silk robes bearing his family crest circulated through the crowd with the grace of a panther. Two armed guards in silver tunics and black BDU's trailed him. Occasionally, some of the young women approached him only to be rebuffed the moment they touched him. A sneer crossed his handsome angular features each time they did. However, an equal number of ladies completely avoided him murmuring gossip of his unnecessary roughness.

Finally, the young gentleman stopped at a social circle that captured his interest, a group of scientists. Each one greeted him cordially, grabbing his left wrist while at the same time he clasped theirs. They lowered their head slightly in recognition of his station. Grimacing in discomfort, he cordially nodded at them. Afterwards, they resumed chatting about astrophysics.

A middle aged statesman wearing teal robes spoke discreetly with one of his compatriots and nodded towards the young man. "No one doubts Sen's intelligence or his loyalties. However he simply lacks the necessary diplomacy skills. Classrooms, libraries and labs are the only places he's been and scientists are the only people he's interested in. We must teach him the art of diplomacy. If he fails, the Ang line will lose its succession as Praetor."

A similarly dressed woman but slightly younger nodded towards Sen as well. "Would that be such a bad thing? We should be expanding our borders but Sen feels differently. He's convinced his father that a peaceful solution is better."

"Sen has his own way of thinking. Even with his peaceful mindset, he discovered the mathematical power distribution equations behind the cloaking device so the military supports him fully."

A little while later, every head then turned to the black and silver clad Praetor, Dai-hiro Ang who motioned for Sen to join him on the stage and so he did. The grey haired similarly featured man standing on the tiny stage fondly hugged Sen who didn't seem discomfited by his touch. "For many years fate denied me a child until thirty-five years ago when on this date my son Sen was born. At the time, all I could hope for was his health. However, Sen became the son I never dreamed possible. With over eight degrees in various scientific fields and xenohistory, he is considered one of the greatest minds in the empire. I couldn't be prouder."

Sen flushed slightly with embarrassment and awkwardly grinned. "Really father, you make it difficult to be modest."

"On this day, you don't need to be." Clinking glasses of azure Romulan ale toasted the birthday of Sen-hiro Ang. "Because of his industriousness, Sen earns all that he has making it very difficult for a doting father to get him the perfect gift. However, this year is much different. The perfect gift awaits you in the garden." Dai clapped twice while Sen strolled towards the open garden entrance.

Wearing a cosmic latte colored strapless organza gown with a tight bodice that revealed enough cleavage to tempt and a sheer full skirt that revealed shapely legs but nothing more, an Orion female who looked to be in her late teens, glided gracefully towards Sen from the direction of the gardens. Not once did she lower her eyes in shame nor did she swing her hips provocatively. Once she stood before him, she offered a delicate jade green hand to him. Sen noted her pleasing skin tone a few shades lighter and softer than most Orion women and her viridian eyes that boldly stared into his coal ones. Deftly, he trailed his fingers through her waist length silky straight ebony hair. Rarely did an Orion have straight hair or that long even.

Normally Sen's girlfriends only held his interest for a night or two but this one might last a week from the instant attraction he felt. Actual touching always ruined those moments for him. Touches revealed the true reasons that his lovers wanted to be with him: greed of some sort. Sometimes that wasn't the case but their stupidity quickly bored him instead.

Being in public forced him to do the one thing he dreaded: taking her hand. Unlike his other girlfriends and completely against the Orion norm, no other lovers appeared in her memories. Instead, mathematical equations and their relation to engineering appeared; all learned through self-study. To combat her nervousness, in the back of her mind, he saw a string of numbers; she calculated the Euler-Mascheroni constant. Never had he encountered such a magnificent mind nor did one touch reveal so much. Joy overwhelmed him.

Then he sensed new feelings from her: curiosity about him. "What is your name?"

"Alawa," she replied softly in a voice that danced in his ears.

Sen knew she had no clan name because Orion slaves did not. Only their rich masters did. Then he sensed sheer terror as she glanced towards the other Romulan males at the party. "What are you afraid of?"

"I do not wish to belong to anyone else."

The he understood that she feared becoming a party favor. Little did she realize that Romulans found such a practice revolting. He turned towards the stage. "Father thank you for the most superlative gift I've ever received but I must ask you for one favor."

"Anything my son," the Praetor replied. After all, he ruled with absolute authority.

"No other man may touch my gorgeous Alawa under penalty of a slow and painful death by my hand." The ferocity of his voice startled many of the guests.

This pleased Dai because he thought that this might make his son not so aloof anymore. "And so it is," the Praetor declared with a smile. "Everyone please enjoy the party while my son alone enjoys his gift."

Alana's full amaranth lips smiled up to Sen. "Thank you master," she said.

That word scathed his ears. "Never call me master," he growled. "I find it offensive." Unmitigated terror shot through her which he in turn felt. "Alawa," he whispered drawing her close. "Never fear me because I will never hurt you. Please call me by my given name, Sen."

"Very well Sen," she whispered.

"What do you wish to do now?" Dance he heard in her mind as he caressed her fingertips.

"Anything you want," she said methodically.

"Never lie to me and never act like a servant with me again. You will speak your mind."

"I want to dance."

Sen guided her to the dance floor. "You will only dance with me or for me." As they danced, he pulled her closer than Romulan society normally allowed but he didn't care. The serenity he felt in her touch and the scent of cherry blossoms which emanated from her both soothed and excited him. "Its not often one finds a woman who knows about Euler's constant much less calculate it."

"I don't understand any of what you're saying."

"Don't worry. I won't have you lobotomized." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "I find your intelligence your most attractive feature."

"So do you understand it's relevance to the harmonics of magnetic fields surrounding theoretical hyper matter drives?"

The sway of her hips against him momentarily made him forget what a hyper matter theory was. "Yes, it can tell you where it isn't thereby letting you know where it is."

"Your intelligence is your most attractive feature." Shyly she glanced up at him before resting her head on his chest as she giggled. "Next to your eyes," she added. "You act very Vulcan. I've seen them on vids."

"And so I meet the real Alawa who speaks her mind. I really like her so make sure she stays with me." He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. "Don't mention the Vulcan thing though. While I don't take offense to it, others might."

She nodded. "I'm surprised you want to talk. While they didn't tell me a lot about you, they said you don't care to converse with most people and you would be bored with me in a day or two."

"Well I do bore easily with idiots but you are not an idiot." Resting her head against his chest, she relaxed into him. As the party died down, Alawa did also. "It looks like I bore you."

Alawa perked up. "No, not at all. I just didn't sleep well last night. I was worried."

"You have no need to worry." Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he escorted her to his room.

Within the circular earth toned room filled with artwork representing various geometrical shapes as well as a computer console with a library of disks, he savored a very light kiss before motioning to the bed. "You may get ready for bed." Immediately she disrobed to stand before him completely nude. "Don't you have any bed clothes?"

"Wouldn't they get in the way?"

"I want you get some sleep first." He removed one of his white T-shirts from his dresser. "I can't have you traipsing around my home nude although the male staff would appreciate it. The guest bathroom is through there." Once she left, he removed his robes and slipped into some warm nightclothes and got ready himself. When he finished, he found her snuggled beneath the covers sleeping soundly.

Since he didn't need much sleep, he removed an old computer disk from a hidden compartment inside a globe of Remus. A lovely older Vulcan woman appeared on the screen, one he loved but died when he was a child. "Mind melds are used to establish bonds or read minds. They are accomplished by using the following technique."

Once he finished reviewing the tapes and his normal evening meditation, he climbed in bed next to Alawa. Then he presses his fingers to her face just like he saw on the monitor. When he did, images of a remote outpost with subspace arrays and shields protecting it appeared. This girl maintained them since childhood along with her family but they died late in her childhood leaving her the task which she performed admirably. With holovids, she learned grace and poise as well because she hoped to be declared a member of one of Orion's ruling clans.

Two months ago the slavers found her in answer to a bounty offered by his father. To get a bonus, they left her unspoiled. After a generous payment, his father had tutors teach her their customs and groom her to be the perfect Romulan concubine but none of it mattered to Sen. Touching minds other than his close family aggravated him but not hers. Then he ended the crude meld deciding that he would rather learn about her the old fashioned way.

Spooning her as she slept, he slipped his arm around her waist and put her palm against his with their fingertips touching. In that moment, for the first time in his adult life, Sen knew perfect beatitude. "Dearest Alawa, how will I make you love me but not as your master?"

Next up - Mutt and Blue