A Vulcan Bride

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Scene Four (Sent to Safety)

The cave Terrance had taken Riker, Deanna, and Data was large and spacious. A stage had been carved out long before any of his people had moved into the mountains. Fortunately, for this particular group, Roger was clueless to its whereabouts -as were the rest of the valley people. And the mountain folk who did know of its existence cared for Roger and his cronies as much as their well-respected friend did.

"We've got to leave soon." Data spoke in the matter-of-fact voice he always used. "The ship can not hang around long without raising suspicion."

"Sarek should be here by now." Riker spoke with knitted eyebrows. "We can't just turn our backs on him."

"For the ambassador's sake..." Terrance, a man at six foot with shoulders that would make any football player droll, stood straight, "...I hope my friend was able to save him; you would not have been able to. Roger has just as much technology at his finger tips as you do. If he knew you were here, he'd cause more than a little headache for Picard." As much as the three standing before him hated to agree with him, they nodded their heads knowing he spoke the truth. The sounds of feet pounding off the floor immediately turned their heads toward the cave's entrance.

Terrance let out a long sigh of relief; he had not been eager to hear the ambassador was to be hung. He did not question the necklaces Sarek and Erin wore simply because he could not see them, as the jewelry were hidden under their clothing.

"I feared you might not get here in time." Terrance did not wait for an answer, but led everyone out of the cave using a back entrance and took them out onto a high hill.

"Before you all leave, mind telling me what in all that is decent and good possessed you to risk your necks coming here?" Erin was so busy asking the question she missed the fact her top bottom had come undone and Sarek's chain exposed. The group could not see it because of the angle she was standing at, but Terrance could. Her long-time friend would have said something only it was too important to get their visitors off the planet, besides Riker was answering her question.

"Computer malfunction is what it boils down too." Riker wasn't surprised when Erin crossed her arms and asked if they minded her giving them a suggestion. "No, of course not, what is it?"

"Don't repeat that." He and Danna laughed; Sarek and Data only lifted an eyebrow as if to say 'And you had to tell us this, why?" However, the question was left unspoken and the group vanished from sight.

It was only then did Terrance turn to his friend, who was already heading down a hill – in the opposite direction from the cave they'd existed. That alone would have raised questions. But it, along with the necklace he'd seen her wearing and the fact she was heading towards a small boat that was moored on the banks of a river which ran through their section of the mountain sent up a major red flag.

"Erin, did you by chance evoke a very old law to get Sarek out of the clutches of Roger?" Terrance asked feeling his stomach grow uneasy.

You don't know the half of it Erin pushed the thought aside as she climbed into the boat. "Ask me no question and I'll tell you no lies. Isn't that how the old saying goes?" Terrance didn't have to ask where she was going; Dove Island was the only place she was now safe -and they both knew it. Therefore, he only gave her a smile which did not reach his eyes and headed back the way he'd come -not watching Erin head down the river.