Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. Only the idea of a sehlat smiley with six inch fangs.

A/N: English is not my native language. This story is unbeta'd, so there might be a few errors.

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An Intruder in the Garden between Vulcan and Earth

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Part 1. Mr. Poloud

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The word is Italian. The tendency to peek at other people's lives however, is as old as eyesight itself.

Well, to be frank – not my best asset by the way – curiosity is not my motive. Never has been. I do what I do cause what I do pays damn well.

Most of my colleagues take pictures from afar. Not me. I'm not a fan of distance. I risk. The closer the distance, the bigger my paycheck.

Could I settle for the normal wage? Standing on the street across the Vulcan embassy, I snort. Medium is for the cattle. Why settle for a few, when I can have it all?

Over the years I've been called so many names, sleazeball ended up being a compliment. So what? Everybody buys what I sell. Cause I'm not just another paparazzi. I'm a hunter.

Today's prey is a woman, a school teacher. She's not like the others, though. She didn't just sleep with the weird alien – she married him. The happily ever after story of the 23rd century courtesy of Earth's closest ally, Vulcan.

I kneel and check the levitation boots I'm wearing. They are nothing fancy – just a basic model but they'll do the job. Fly me to the other side of the embassy's eight feet wall.

I hit a button and the boots gently lift me into the air. I'm not an amateur. This is not the first time I break into a private compound and surely it won't be the last. But security outside the Vulcan Embassy has increased during the last week. I didn't need an inside source to tell me that mini-drones fly above the block five times a day.

A tall Vulcan palm tree keeps me hidden as I land on the other side of the wall, in the embassy's garden. Tours have stopped an hour ago and the place is deserted. So far, so good.

Immediately, I take off and reprogram the levitation boots. They'll keep any guards busy while I hunt. I finish and the boots fly into the air. In case the embassy security locates the breach, a hologram of me will appear above the boots. From afar it will look as if someone is flying above the building wearing them.

It will take some time for the Vulcans to realize my bluff. In case they find me, I'll activate the hologram. While they'll hunt the boots, I'll climb on one of the garden's trees, jump over the wall and take a hike.

What will they do? Press charges? I've been sued again and again; I can afford it. Besides I highly doubt the embassy will press charges. Vulcans are weird; they never want publicity. Even if they catch me, they'll simply verify my identity and throw me out. I can live with that.

Next I prepare my pen. The boots weren't expensive, but this little piece cost me a fortune. It is not a real pen – it is a field generator. Connected with micro transmitters on my wrists, ankles, and shoulders it creates around me an active camouflage that matches my surroundings. I am nearly invisible to cameras. A good observer could spot me, but as long as I remain hidden, I'm not even here.

There are many thick bushes along the garden's paved path. I choose to hide behind one of them. This is where I'll wait for her. I'm ready, and so is my mini camera.

With the easy hit of that tiny button, the entire planet will peak right into the personal life of the galaxy's most prominent expecting couple.

Privacy has become obsolete nowadays. For the right price, deeply hidden secrets become available for the whole world to see, judge, love and hate. All I do is give them what they want.

Besides it's easier to judge others rather than judge oneself.

Today, people want to judge a school teacher. As I sit and wait, I think about her. This small woman who managed to capture the imagination of the entire planet. How did she do it? How did she manage to make him marry her? Vulcans don't love and there's no way she's that good in bed. With no money and no connections, she literally appeared out of nowhere. Her parents own a farm, for crying out loud.

People still remember the first and, so far, only interview the couple ever gave. It was a few days after their first marriage here on Earth. At the beginning journalists only saw a pretty face and long chestnut brown hair. Basically, Mrs. No Personality.

At least that was until she was asked about the tabloids mocking her for marrying "a Little Green Man."

Her now legendary retort, "there is nothing little about my husband", was a revelation to us all. Turns out, the little school teacher had teeth. And knew damn well when and how to use them.

The pregnancy shocked the entire Federation. But with Vulcans being so damn secretive even that would go unnoticed had it not been the Nobel Prize awarded to her two doctors for that chemical formula that combined elements of Vulcan and Human DNA.

Xenophobes around the globe freaked out. Scientists opened champagnes and cheered. And since that day the whole world's holding their breath. Can she do it? Will she bring this pregnancy to term? Will she manage more than nine months? How she's doing? What does she look like? What will the little freak look like?

And this is where I step in.

Until recently, there were no pictures of her. Some went as far as to question whether she's actually pregnant. Then, a few days ago, her diplomat husband was sent to Earth. And guess who walked right behind him as he stepped out of the space-shuttle.

The press went nuts. The public wants more. And my bank account runs dry. Let the credits roll.

I hope she is frightened. No, screw that; I hope she screams. Imagine if she thinks I will attack her. It will add to the drama. More drama, more downloads, more credits.

In their first and only interview she'd said she often took afternoon walks in the embassy's garden. She still does. The day before yesterday she was seen strolling around this part of the embassy. Another paparazzi rented a small two seater private flyer along with a pilot. He took some pictures but wasn't lucky. Earth authorities jammed the flyer's communications, landed the vehicle and confiscated his equipment.

I'm not taking any chances. I won't wait. Twenty seconds after I hit that button, the pictures will be directly uploaded to my personal website. Samples will be sent to the biggest tabloids; the highest bidder will win the exclusive. I'm getting paid per click. A modest estimate – ten million clicks per minute mean money. Easy money.

Yea, I hope she screams. If she gets scared she might even stumble. Talk about drama. The joke is that nobody can blame me if she gets frightened, slips and falls. I will simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time. To take the right picture.

I don't need to wait for long. I hear tapping noises; someone's walking on the stone path. Vulcans wear flats, not heels. That means it's her; she's the only human living in the embassy. Some thick bushes close to me are moving.

Yea, I'm a paparazzi babe, and I'm gonna razz your day. My camera is ready – I hold my breath as I jump in front of her.

Showtime!

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Part 2. I'Chaya

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I'm hungry.

Not hungry for food – I've never been that kind of hungry. If I want to eat, I go to the kitchen and demand my lunch. If nobody's there, well … I know my way around. Besides, I am a good hunter. I have never been hungry. Not for food.

I am hungry for something to happen.

Don't misunderstand me. Sarek's female is good. Her name is Amanda and she even plays with me! Nobody plays with me any more, not since Sarek returned from his kahs'wan.

Basically Amanda plays with me because she is alien. From what Sarek told me, her lifeline is different, shorter than the rest of us. He was sad when he confided me that. We were alone in the library and I could smell his sadness. I licked his face and he embraced me, like when he was a small boy. It was the least I could do.

Anyway, she and Sarek had been busy so now she's with a cub. And once she gives birth, I'll get a new play companion! And now I travel with them. Honestly, can life get any better?

This is my first journey away from home. Sarek had to return to his female's planet. Something that had to do with his previous work here as an ambassador. I assured him I could take care of Amanda, but she didn't want to remain at home with me (I wonder why) and her doctors approved the journey.

This was a unique chance for me. I've never traveled outside of Vulcan and I didn't want to remain behind either. We had just settled in our home. I had just started to enjoy Amanda's company and she no longer jumps every time she sees me.

To support my request, I presented numerous arguments. Sarek would work all day. Who will guard and protect our home's female? Especially in her situation. She needs my company and truth be told, I kind of … like her being around.

Between her pleading eyes and mine, Sarek-kan didn't stand a chance. Luckily his job made travel arrangements for me easy.

So, here I am. Bored beyond words. So unbelievably bored.

To be honest, the first day wasn't so bad. I inspected the entire embassy and gardens. Securing the perimeter, I left my scent in several corners. An intruder will think twice before entering. But really, an intruder, in the house I guard? That would be monumentally stupid.

But here there is nowhere for me to go, run, play or hunt. There is no desert near the city. The only place I can walk is the embassy garden.

Our second day was not bad either. Amanda's parents came for a visit. They caressed her belly and cried. Odd species. I thought they'd be happy to see her, but since they are not telepathic and don't have tails to wag it's hard to tell.

Her mother was rude though. She screamed when she saw me. Coincidentally, that was Amanda's reaction during our first meeting. I just don't understand. I had licked myself all over very thoroughly, cleaned my nails and polished my fangs on a tree in the garden. I looked impeccable, gave her my most charming smile, and yet she screamed! What is it with Human females? Bad manners, that's what it is.

Her father was nice. He caressed my head, belly, and called me a "big teddy bear". Amanda believes I look like a prehistoric panda, but since I've never met one I'll take her word.

Yesterday nothing happened. And, I do mean nothing.

Sarek was in his office working all day. Amanda stayed in bed because she had to clean her blood. Sarek says the cub makes her sick, so every three days she sticks a needle in her body. The needle is connected to a machine that cleans her blood. We never go anywhere without that machine. I like Amanda, she's brave. I don't like needles.

When I woke up, I inspected the gardens and then spent the day with her. Lying on the bed, she caressed my head while the machine was working. It was boring but nice. We spent the afternoon watching the cub move inside her belly and giggling.

Then Sarek came and I found myself in the corridor. Ever since the doctors gave Amanda "the green light", I don't sleep with them. That's confusing because there are no green or any other lights in their bedroom. I know, I've checked.

Sarek said that if I was quiet I could stay in the next room. Really, can you imagine me in a room all by myself? I'll get bored. When I am bored, I clean and make myself presentable. Next morning he'd be angry about how I used the furniture to polish my fangs. No, thank you. I prefer the garden.

Incidentally, has anybody else noticed that this planet has only one moon? Not four, three or even two. Just one. It is most distressing. I wonder how the natives sleep at night.

Result: I spent another boring night, watching the boring one moon.

This is the evening of our fourth day here. And I am hungry. For something to happen.

I am dragging my heavy feet in the garden, trying to improve my foul mood, when … I smell an intruder!

Crawling behind some bushes, I observe him. Despite my size, he doesn't even suspect my presence.

He is not particularly clever. Yes, he did bypass the outer wall and the security guards. But he is no match for me. I can't see him clearly, but I can smell his scent from afar. He smells like Sarek's female after running. It's called sweat. Vulcans never sweat, that's why it was so easy for me to spot him.

Well, now that I have him, what shall I do with him?

I could eat him, but I am not hungry. Besides we are guests on this planet and eating a native might be considered bad manners. Unlike the locals, my manners are refined.

On the other hand, he is an intruder…

Perhaps I should only maim him. Nothing much, just a hand or a couple of fingers. So that he won't be able to hold that micro camera again.

Only that would upset Sarek. I know the sa'fu. If that intruder is after his female, I have no doubt that he'd like the honor of emasculating him.

Ohhh, what a dilemma.

Perhaps I could just scare him. But what if he suffers a heart attack? He might die… Hmmm …

Oh well, him dying from a heart attack won't be my fault. I will simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Acting according to my nature.

I ponder on that as I observe him walking around the garden, fool as he is. He believes he is safe, trying unsuccessfully to hide behind some g'teth bushes and th'laax trees. The way he moves indicates three things.

First, he doesn't know there are thermographic security cameras everywhere.

Second, he doesn't know there are motion detectors everywhere.

Third, he doesn't know that the plant he's touching is poisonous.

I am safe, my fur protects me, but he has skin… In thirty minutes he'll start scratching himself. The swelling will start approximately after two hours.

He believes he is invincible. From the cameras, perhaps. From a Vulcan, maybe. But he cannot hide from his ignorance and he cannot hide from me. The garden is filled with plants, herbs, small bushes and large trees from our home world. Not even Sarek could spot me as I sit quietly among them, preying on the intruder.

I shake some leaves, trying to draw his attention. I succeed – I can't believe he is that stupid, approaching someone without visual contact.

Before leaving Vulcan, Sarek warned me that Amanda in her present state is a target. I was angry with the people in the flyer two days ago. I was taking my midday nap and Amanda was alone in the garden. What they did was most dishonorable. Who can harass a defenseless pregnant female? And one that belongs to my clan.

The thought of anyone invading my territory makes me angry. The thought of anyone wanting to harm Amanda who lets me steal cookies from the kitchen makes me furious.

I start taping a tile on the stone path with a claw. Just as I thought. Blinded by greed, he thinks someone's approaching.

He is almost upon me. I assume an attack position and get all my claws out.

This… will be fun.

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To be continued…

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Vulcan words (from the Vulcan Language Dictionary)

kahs'wan: test of passage to adulthood/ordeal of Maturity

kan: child

sa'fu: son

A/N: Amanda's phrase "there is nothing little about my husband," comes from the 1988 Star Trek novel "Spock's World" by Diane Duane.

I wanted to experiment with a different writing style, so this story is written from four different first person points of view. The story continues with Sarek and will complete with Amanda's point of view.

As always, your thoughts, comments and ideas are most welcome.