-1Disclaimer: Star Trek in all its forms belongs to Gene Roddenberry and the Corporations. There is no infringement intended, as this is just a humble fan fiction intended to amuse and entertain. No money will be made nor is any expected. Just a few reviews to make the author smile and feel it is worth writing more.
A/N: Ok everyone this is AU big time. I decided that I did not like the way Elizabeth Tucker died . After all Trip is not the only one with the Tucker charm. It took me a while to come up with a workable solution to save her and I hope it works. As always the ratings will be from G to NC-17.
A/N: Thoughts and Telepathy in Italics
2007/11/24
Challenging Fate
Part 9 The Breaking Point PG-13 to R Violence and cruelty.
The trip to Altair 7 took several months. During that time Lizzy worked hard to try to learn her lessons. She had come to see that pretending to go along might well be her best course of action. As promised Mestral was allowed to stay with her. The boy was clearly afraid but he trusted her to keep him safe and she would do all she could to ensure that safety.
"Mestral we have to obey them for now I do not know where we are or what is going on. Maybe if we behave and follow their rules they will trust us more." Lizzy explained.
"T'Lia I understand." Mestral said. He had been afraid but he trusted Lizzy. Lizzy had convinced them to change her name. It had been hard to do but necessary once she learned Earth's fate. She convinced Janel that the name they had chosen was to Terran. Janel and Jankel had been impressed and allowed it. So now Lizzy carried the name of her great-grandmother. She sighed it did sound almost Vulcan. She glanced in the mirror and winced. Even now she could not get over the change in her features. She looked Vulcan. Gone was her long blond hair. They had cut it short. Her brows arched upward and she still was getting used to her ears. However those she actually liked. Ironic in a way that this was the second time in her life that they had been surgically altered. She remembered baby pictures when they had only a slight point to them. The genetic defect had been corrected when she was a year old. She sighed well at least she was learning to hear better. In fact they had did her a favor with this change. She could hear far better now. It was the controlling of the hearing that was hard as it was so much more keen. Lizzy was still shocked to learn the fate of her people and town. She shuttered when she saw the news footage. She begged them to let her get in touch with her family.
Jankel was firm. "Humanity is doomed T'Lia. That part of your life is closed. It would be wise for you to move on. You have adjusted well so far. We can not save the human world. All I could do was save you and the boy. Even if the Earthers stop the Xindi there is no going back. Your family believes you are dead. Let it go and live on. Ask again and I will have your memories erased."
She believed him absolutely so she nodded. "Yes Master."
Jankel sighed. At times he hated that she looked at him so. He had grown fond of the girl. However he had to protect his family and colony. "Have you begun your designs T'Lia?"
"Yes sir I have several sketches for you and the Lady to look over. What is in this section sir. I do not wish my design to clash with what is here."
Jankel looked at the map. He had forgotten all about that. "That is the Vulcan Consulate. It will boarder the housing complex. That area should all be open. So your design will not affect it. The consulate is being designed by a Vulcan called Koss."
Elizabeth's Eyes lit up. "Wow really, I wonder if I could talk to him. His work is brilliant."
Jankel was shocked at the genuine smile on her face. "No, I think not. The Vulcan's can not help you escape."
Elizabeth frowned as that had never occurred to her. "But his work is brilliant. He has a unique way of looking at ventilation and plumbing. If I could gain his assistance the house would be more efficient and worth more. Besides why would he help us. He is a Vulcan they don't go out of their way to help humans. Look I am not going to run to some Vulcan. I am human enough not to trust them. Look at what they did to our space program. Mestral the only Vulcan I trust and only because he is a child. "
Jankel rose and went to her side. Without warning his hand flew out and struck her. She hit the floor hard. "What did we teach you. You are no longer human. You must be Vulcan!" His rage was palatable. Elizabeth froze. She was jerked up and he glared at her. He shook her hard. "I suppose you must be taught the hard way. "Before she could fight him off she was tied to the wall. Face against the wall she struggled. "What Species are you." He demanded.
Angry now Elizabeth glared over her shoulder. "HUMAN you bastard. I will always be human! What do you thinks saying I am Vulcan will change anything. So what Besides they be more likely to help me if I was Vulcan!"
"Wrong answer. You are Vulcan." He ripped her shirt and she froze. The screamed as the whip landed on her back. "What are you. Who are you. What is your status."
"Human. I am human and I am Elizabeth Amanda Tucker, I won't bow to you anymore.!"
The sound of the whip flying made Elizabeth want to jerk away however there was no place to go. For the next half hour they battled until Elizabeth could hardly talk. She slumped her back bloody and she finally broke. Fifty lashes crossed her back.
"Who am I to you! Who are you? What species are you? " Jankel demanded. He was angry enough to kill her now. However a part of him was still in control and resisted the need. Bend girl I don't want to kill you. He thought.
"I am,,,,T'Lia and I am Vulcan. You are my master." With that she passed out.
Jankel called for Janel who ran to her side. "Attend to her. "
"Yes husband." The Orion said wincing in sympathy. She understood the pain T'Lia was suffering. However she never could have endured so much. The odd thing was as she looked at Elizabeth's back the blood coming out was not so red. It almost had a green tinge to it. Obviously her husband had some genetic work done as well. However his anger had almost killed her. Now was not the time to chastise him for beating a subject so badly when he had clearly spent a fortune to save her.
Jankel had seen the blood and sighed. He could not believe Janel had gone to such an expense. Clearly his mate like the girl to have her genes altered so she would bleed Green. He decided he did not care as long as she acted Vulcan from now on. It was a shame he had to break her so. Besides if he chastised his mate she would have to be punished and he had no desire to do that. He was just grateful his mate was so far sighted.
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Tuvol sighed as he looked at the last report. He could not believe his was not there. He looked at his wife and sighed. This was a parents worst nightmare. Their son was gone. Most assumed he was dead but the parental bond had not been broken. Many thought they were just being emotional however both he and his mate knew their son lived. They both knew what a broken bond felt like. He shivered and went to look out at the stars. Where are you Mestral. I know you live. Just as I now T'Gia died you live. Where are you my son. Their elder daughter T'Gia had been killed on Vulcan at the human Embassy. She was a technician there.
"Husband come meditate perhaps we can find him that way." T'Ven said.
"Yes my wife." Tuvol went to her and touched her paired fingers. As always she was there for him. He sighed and wondered why it seemed like Mestral was so far away. Surely he had to be on earth? If he was alive maybe Elizabeth Tucker was as well. He had not said anything to her family not wanting to raise their hopes. If only Soval would return he could present his case there. Then maybe his distant kin could help him.
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
T'Lia awoke and cursed under her breath. That was not to smart she thought She opened her eyes and looked at Janel.
"I hope you will behave now." She said softly. "T'Lia it is not wise to be so aggressive."
"Yeh right." She said only to receive a hard smack.
"Obey girl else you will find yourself and the boy sold seprately."
"I ….I will be good " T'Lia said she had forgotten Mestral's fate was tied to hers. "I am trying but he is pushing me. I was just trying to do what he said to do." She began to cry.
Janel pulled her close and held her. "He is thinking of your safety child. I know he hurt you but ….we are not a gentle people. It is our way. We are not soft. You can not be soft to live. The soft and weak become prey. In time you may have more freedom."
Lizzy cried and held on to Janel even if she was her capture she had been trying to be kind. Any kindness now was worth it as she was alone and scared. She did not know how she could survive this. She broke and began to mumble in Vulcan.
Janel held her and smiled the method had worked as cruel as it was. In the end it would save the child and the Vulcan boy. Maybe it would help make up for what they had done. For the first time Janel hated what her mate did for a living. The humans were not so bad. They were kind of interesting. She let the child cry and helped her as she began to accept her new life and role for real this time.
TBC…………………
