Chapter 7-
Lieutenant Reed sat at his station trying desperately to get a fix on the away team. Sub-commander T'Pol had contacted him to tell him they needed to transport Commander Tucker off the planet. Fully aware of the vulnerabilities imposed upon the commander by Treianna, he could only surmise that another attempt at seduction had occurred. But the signal began to break up and within a matter of seconds they were completely cut off. He could neither hail them nor locate their bio signs on the planet's surface.
This was damn frustrating. No weapons were taken, against Reed's better judgement, because the captain felt that no one was in any danger of death. They had added two more to the away team to make the numbers greater and the chances of Tucker being alone with Treianna were slim. Apparently, he sighed, not slim enough.
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Trip was hiding behind a crate, sulking. This sudden magnetic interference had messed up his chance for getting out of the way of Treianna's pheromone fall-out. The captain told him he would see to it that he didn't wander away and to just relax. But Trip knew Jon too well and his eyes showed that he was still worried.
Trip had not anticipated these ceremonial huggies and was not going to show himself until he absolutely had to. Travis and Jon were chatting away out in the shed like nothing was unusual. They had both changed right out there in the open and even helped each other with the tassel like belt. Zale had popped in again earlier to tell them to make sure the tassel was on the left. Left, right, what's the difference? It still looked stupid.
"Are you going to sit there in the corner all evening?" Archer called out.
"If I can." Trip mumbled.
"Come on, Commander." Travis coaxed. "It's not so bad. It's kinda fun. Like Halloween."
"Travis," Trip sat up, peeking over the stacked crates. "I don't wanna play dress up. I don't wanna be here. Okay?"
"It was your decision, Trip." Archer reminded him.
"Well, why couldn't ya pull rank and make me stay?" Trip shot back.
"I tried," The captain said. "Okay, okay. Let's drop it. But next time you start pestering me about my first decision...I'm going to remind you of this."
The door opened and Zale, in ceremonial garb, entered.
"It's time." Zale announced. "Just follow me, single file, and we'll meet up with the mistresses at the edge of the garden."
Jon and Travis stood up, falling in behind Zale. They waited a few seconds and then Trip came out from behind the crate and fell in quickly behind Travis. Travis turned his head and looked at the commander.
"You look great." Travis complimented Trip. "Except your tassel's wrong."
Travis reached over to resituate and fluff out Trip's tassel. Trip slapped his hand away.
"No talking," Zale reminded them.
They made their way to the edge of the garden. Jon could see the women up ahead and he was taken by the sight. The robes were stunning, made of a see-through chiffon material of light gold. Underneath they wore sequined covered undergarments, each of a different color with a matching jewel nestled in their navel. T'Pol's and Elizabeth's short hair were adorned with wisps of a floral sprig that resembled baby's breath. Hoshi's long, black hair was down with the same floral sprigs interwoven within.
Travis let a low whistle escape which made Trip peek around him to see what he was looking at. Upon seeing the women, he immediately shifted his gaze to Treianna. She was dressed the same way and she was ogling him. He quickly popped back in line and hid behind Travis. Damn! Why did he do that?
The women couldn't keep their eyes off of the men. Hoshi wasn't sure if it was insubordinate to gawk at her superior officers, but she had to admit they were hot! Liz nudged her and they both sighed, trying to act nonchalant. T'Pol just stood as rigid as ever, however one eyebrow raised as she finally got a full view of her captain.
"The meal will precede the ceremony." Treianna informed the guests. "You will all sit with me, but the men must sit behind us females. Remember, you do not eat or make any move until the women have started first."
"Understood," Archer responded.
"How long does the ceremony last?" Hoshi asked, excitedly.
"It is quite brief." Treianna assured her. "The chosen ones have been decided upon already, and the females merely claim them and immediately return to their huts to...complete the ritual."
"Oh," Liz scrunched her nose up and started to blush. She leaned in to Hoshi and whispered, "Way to go, Hoshi."
"Sorry," Hoshi giggled.
"Shall we go?" Treianna turned to head off and the other women fell in side by side.
The men, following Zale's lead, formed a line side by side behind them. Zale was behind Treianna and Archer motioned for Trip to move up behind T'Pol. Jon wasn't taking any chances and wanted Trip near him and T'Pol. Jon fell in behind Hoshi.
"There ain't a whole lotta places to hide a hypospray, Cap'n." Trip whispered out of the corner of his mouth. "You do have it?"
"Oh yeah," Jon nodded. "Let's just hope I don't have to go for it in public."
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The square was lit by the lanterns that hung overhead and there were torches lining the perimeter. The tables were low at about two feet off the ground with everyone sitting on cushions. The food was plentiful and delicious with vegetables, fruits and pasta type substances. Meat was not overly used in the dishes, but there was some and it tasted an awful lot like chicken. The drink was a wine that had a bite to it along with a citrus after taste.
T'Pol kept turning around to check on Trip, since the captain was not allowed to speak and could not inform her if there was a problem. She noticed he hadn't even touched his food.
"Is your stomach bothering you, Commander?" T'Pol asked Trip.
"Uh, no." Trip answered.
"Then I suggest you not offend our hosts and eat something." T'Pol suggested.
Trip looked down at the plate and started to scoop up the food with his fingers like the rest. He wondered why he wanted to come here. Maybe he still was slightly feverish when he begged the captain to let him come. After what Treianna was doing to him on Enterprise, he should've just let it go.
As the meal came to a close, a different beverage was served in a gold chalise. They were already pre-poured and placed in front of each person.
"Do not drink these yet," Treianna told the women. "Wait for the toast."
Drums started thumping off in the distance. It was a primal beat. Treianna rose and whispered to T'Pol and then moved off behind the stage.
"It's showtime." Trip mumbled.
Treianna was on the stage now, her hands raised and outstretched with one holding her chalise.
"As you all know, I have lost my Trey." Treianna began, as the crowd mumbled in sadness. "I will be claiming another tonight to take his place. He was so young and full of eagerness to please me when I first chose him. He was loyal and obedient. But, I always look for challenges. On the governing board I seek out the issues that appear to have no solutions. Perhaps, because we raise our boys to learn to serve us as men, we have lost the greatest challenge of all."
Trip was staring, mesmerized, at Treianna. She was talking to the crowd, but he was feeling her with him. He couldn't explain it, but he knew she was getting to him again. He was feeling warm and the sweat started at the back of his neck.
"Let us raise our glasses, all, and drink to this night." Treianna said.
They all drank. The drums became louder and Treianna waved her arms over the crowd. "As is our right, for which our ancestors fought to achieve, let us now claim the male we have chosen as our own."
It was a melee. Women flying across the square, grabbing men by the arms, pulling them to their feet and dragging them off into the night. T'Pol, Hoshi and Liz watched in amazement and then turned to look behind them at the men.
Jon was leaning forward, his head in his hands. Travis was passed out, his face in his empty plate. And Trip was just staring at Treianna with glazed eyes and sweat beading his face.
"What's wrong with them?" Hoshi asked, alarmed.
"I believe the captain and Ensign Mayweather have been drugged." T'Pol announced. "Commander Tucker is...being affected by another source."
Suddenly Treianna was at Trip's side, pulling him up and roughly yanking him off. Hoshi and Liz jumped to their feet as T'Pol rose slowly.
"Wait," T'Pol told the two. "We are at a disadvantage. Make no sudden moves."
"Treianna took Commander Tucker!" Hoshi yelled over the pounding drums.
"T'Pol..." Archer's weakened voice strained to be heard.
"Captain," T'Pol knelt by his side.
"Trip..." The captain inquired. "Get him back."
"I will find a way, Captain." T'Pol assured him.
"How?" Liz asked in disbelief.
"Perhaps I can help you," a voice behind them said.
The women turned around and saw Marisetta standing in front of the table, with a sad expression on her face.
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TO BE CONTINUED
Lieutenant Reed sat at his station trying desperately to get a fix on the away team. Sub-commander T'Pol had contacted him to tell him they needed to transport Commander Tucker off the planet. Fully aware of the vulnerabilities imposed upon the commander by Treianna, he could only surmise that another attempt at seduction had occurred. But the signal began to break up and within a matter of seconds they were completely cut off. He could neither hail them nor locate their bio signs on the planet's surface.
This was damn frustrating. No weapons were taken, against Reed's better judgement, because the captain felt that no one was in any danger of death. They had added two more to the away team to make the numbers greater and the chances of Tucker being alone with Treianna were slim. Apparently, he sighed, not slim enough.
----------
Trip was hiding behind a crate, sulking. This sudden magnetic interference had messed up his chance for getting out of the way of Treianna's pheromone fall-out. The captain told him he would see to it that he didn't wander away and to just relax. But Trip knew Jon too well and his eyes showed that he was still worried.
Trip had not anticipated these ceremonial huggies and was not going to show himself until he absolutely had to. Travis and Jon were chatting away out in the shed like nothing was unusual. They had both changed right out there in the open and even helped each other with the tassel like belt. Zale had popped in again earlier to tell them to make sure the tassel was on the left. Left, right, what's the difference? It still looked stupid.
"Are you going to sit there in the corner all evening?" Archer called out.
"If I can." Trip mumbled.
"Come on, Commander." Travis coaxed. "It's not so bad. It's kinda fun. Like Halloween."
"Travis," Trip sat up, peeking over the stacked crates. "I don't wanna play dress up. I don't wanna be here. Okay?"
"It was your decision, Trip." Archer reminded him.
"Well, why couldn't ya pull rank and make me stay?" Trip shot back.
"I tried," The captain said. "Okay, okay. Let's drop it. But next time you start pestering me about my first decision...I'm going to remind you of this."
The door opened and Zale, in ceremonial garb, entered.
"It's time." Zale announced. "Just follow me, single file, and we'll meet up with the mistresses at the edge of the garden."
Jon and Travis stood up, falling in behind Zale. They waited a few seconds and then Trip came out from behind the crate and fell in quickly behind Travis. Travis turned his head and looked at the commander.
"You look great." Travis complimented Trip. "Except your tassel's wrong."
Travis reached over to resituate and fluff out Trip's tassel. Trip slapped his hand away.
"No talking," Zale reminded them.
They made their way to the edge of the garden. Jon could see the women up ahead and he was taken by the sight. The robes were stunning, made of a see-through chiffon material of light gold. Underneath they wore sequined covered undergarments, each of a different color with a matching jewel nestled in their navel. T'Pol's and Elizabeth's short hair were adorned with wisps of a floral sprig that resembled baby's breath. Hoshi's long, black hair was down with the same floral sprigs interwoven within.
Travis let a low whistle escape which made Trip peek around him to see what he was looking at. Upon seeing the women, he immediately shifted his gaze to Treianna. She was dressed the same way and she was ogling him. He quickly popped back in line and hid behind Travis. Damn! Why did he do that?
The women couldn't keep their eyes off of the men. Hoshi wasn't sure if it was insubordinate to gawk at her superior officers, but she had to admit they were hot! Liz nudged her and they both sighed, trying to act nonchalant. T'Pol just stood as rigid as ever, however one eyebrow raised as she finally got a full view of her captain.
"The meal will precede the ceremony." Treianna informed the guests. "You will all sit with me, but the men must sit behind us females. Remember, you do not eat or make any move until the women have started first."
"Understood," Archer responded.
"How long does the ceremony last?" Hoshi asked, excitedly.
"It is quite brief." Treianna assured her. "The chosen ones have been decided upon already, and the females merely claim them and immediately return to their huts to...complete the ritual."
"Oh," Liz scrunched her nose up and started to blush. She leaned in to Hoshi and whispered, "Way to go, Hoshi."
"Sorry," Hoshi giggled.
"Shall we go?" Treianna turned to head off and the other women fell in side by side.
The men, following Zale's lead, formed a line side by side behind them. Zale was behind Treianna and Archer motioned for Trip to move up behind T'Pol. Jon wasn't taking any chances and wanted Trip near him and T'Pol. Jon fell in behind Hoshi.
"There ain't a whole lotta places to hide a hypospray, Cap'n." Trip whispered out of the corner of his mouth. "You do have it?"
"Oh yeah," Jon nodded. "Let's just hope I don't have to go for it in public."
----------
The square was lit by the lanterns that hung overhead and there were torches lining the perimeter. The tables were low at about two feet off the ground with everyone sitting on cushions. The food was plentiful and delicious with vegetables, fruits and pasta type substances. Meat was not overly used in the dishes, but there was some and it tasted an awful lot like chicken. The drink was a wine that had a bite to it along with a citrus after taste.
T'Pol kept turning around to check on Trip, since the captain was not allowed to speak and could not inform her if there was a problem. She noticed he hadn't even touched his food.
"Is your stomach bothering you, Commander?" T'Pol asked Trip.
"Uh, no." Trip answered.
"Then I suggest you not offend our hosts and eat something." T'Pol suggested.
Trip looked down at the plate and started to scoop up the food with his fingers like the rest. He wondered why he wanted to come here. Maybe he still was slightly feverish when he begged the captain to let him come. After what Treianna was doing to him on Enterprise, he should've just let it go.
As the meal came to a close, a different beverage was served in a gold chalise. They were already pre-poured and placed in front of each person.
"Do not drink these yet," Treianna told the women. "Wait for the toast."
Drums started thumping off in the distance. It was a primal beat. Treianna rose and whispered to T'Pol and then moved off behind the stage.
"It's showtime." Trip mumbled.
Treianna was on the stage now, her hands raised and outstretched with one holding her chalise.
"As you all know, I have lost my Trey." Treianna began, as the crowd mumbled in sadness. "I will be claiming another tonight to take his place. He was so young and full of eagerness to please me when I first chose him. He was loyal and obedient. But, I always look for challenges. On the governing board I seek out the issues that appear to have no solutions. Perhaps, because we raise our boys to learn to serve us as men, we have lost the greatest challenge of all."
Trip was staring, mesmerized, at Treianna. She was talking to the crowd, but he was feeling her with him. He couldn't explain it, but he knew she was getting to him again. He was feeling warm and the sweat started at the back of his neck.
"Let us raise our glasses, all, and drink to this night." Treianna said.
They all drank. The drums became louder and Treianna waved her arms over the crowd. "As is our right, for which our ancestors fought to achieve, let us now claim the male we have chosen as our own."
It was a melee. Women flying across the square, grabbing men by the arms, pulling them to their feet and dragging them off into the night. T'Pol, Hoshi and Liz watched in amazement and then turned to look behind them at the men.
Jon was leaning forward, his head in his hands. Travis was passed out, his face in his empty plate. And Trip was just staring at Treianna with glazed eyes and sweat beading his face.
"What's wrong with them?" Hoshi asked, alarmed.
"I believe the captain and Ensign Mayweather have been drugged." T'Pol announced. "Commander Tucker is...being affected by another source."
Suddenly Treianna was at Trip's side, pulling him up and roughly yanking him off. Hoshi and Liz jumped to their feet as T'Pol rose slowly.
"Wait," T'Pol told the two. "We are at a disadvantage. Make no sudden moves."
"Treianna took Commander Tucker!" Hoshi yelled over the pounding drums.
"T'Pol..." Archer's weakened voice strained to be heard.
"Captain," T'Pol knelt by his side.
"Trip..." The captain inquired. "Get him back."
"I will find a way, Captain." T'Pol assured him.
"How?" Liz asked in disbelief.
"Perhaps I can help you," a voice behind them said.
The women turned around and saw Marisetta standing in front of the table, with a sad expression on her face.
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TO BE CONTINUED
