Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to vulcangiggles, Ahlysha, 2redbird, Wudelfin, Black-Moon-Onaa-Inu, jackiemack916, T'Sara, maba7x and the anon reviewer.
Soval growled as he was shoved slightly by one of the guards escorting him out, but it surprised him that the guard's fellow berated the forceful human for treating him so poorly.
"That's an ambassador, you idiot," the second guard spat. "Keep your hands to yourself. Show a little respect."
"Trent said to escort him out-"
"Congrats, he's out, and common courtesy demands you treat an ambassador, no matter his species, with respect. We're making a poor showing today."
Soval nodded to the man, who looked out at him with sad eyes. "I'm sorry about this, ambassador. Hopefully it'll all be fixed soon."
Soval made note of the young man's name and rank, and nodding to him in reply, he raised the ta'al. "We will see each other again...I thank thee for thy service."
Soval motioned for his aid to take the car back to his residence while he took his airbike across town to the High Command, sending several messages to Tomik to meet with him there, and to spread the word for him.
Soval blew through the doors of the Command center, and he could hear the vehicles arriving behind him as he crossed the spacious entrance hall. Word was spreading faster than Tomik, he thought, or Tomik's computer hacking skills had not diminished over time and he was able to alert those affected much quicker than he anticipated.
V'Las, Kuvak and Somil were all waiting for him in the lobby, and the administrator waited until the majority of the Vulcan men were inside the lobby before allowing Soval to speak.
"I have been thrown from the Earth Embassy, and my fellow ambassador is holding your wives hostage. There may be a few security officers inside the building willing to help us, but I doubt there are more than three."
"We should take a definitive stance against this," Tomik said firmly. "They have taken our wives, our women! No Vulcan has ever tolerated such an atrocity."
V'Las raised his hand. "Since they have taken such actions against us, we will storm the Embassy and gain access to the interior. My wife is in the fray, as I'm sure several of your women are, and she is keeping me updated as best she can. Trent does not have the support of all the Embassy, and she heard several security officers express concern over his actions. We may have more support than we think."
Sopek stepped forward with his father and uncles behind him, and they surrounded the lone woman in the midst of the Vulcan men. "My wife was falsely charged by Trent. Though my wife is here with me," he turned and as all the other men turned to look she jumped up so she could see over Stovik and his brothers, "he sent word that he wishes her to be extradited in this situation as well. My father and his brothers, as well as my wife, will see that all are protected!"
Stovik smirked. "So what is our plan?"
Soval frowned. "In ages past, in the city of Raal, there was a warlord, who dared raid the wives of the people who lived in his city. He took them to his harem, making them slaves."
V'Las nodded. "The rival warlord stormed the fortress and led the women home, and all the other women in his harem he gave to his soldiers as wives."
Tomik growled under his breath. "Then what are we waiting for? A rival hath taken what is ours! We will reclaim our wives!"
"Trent is having an argument with a few of the security guards right outside Kiki McMahon's quarters," V'Las reported. "He is not watching the entrance. Let us ride."
…
"This is so wrong," Kurt whispered to his friend. "I mean, it's your girlfriend's people...and we're holding a bunch of their wives hostage? Has Trent gone off the deep end?"
"Tell me about it," Greg replied. "This isn't right...and I hope the Vulcans retaliate. If some bastard held T'Kesh hostage, I'd shoot that sucker in the face."
"What do you see in that cold-blooded icicle anyway?" Victor interjected. "Does she even put out?"
"Shut your mouth, or I'll shut it for you," Greg growled. "I think we should appeal to the major. I'm not taking part in any hostage situation, not on this side."
"The major heard your complaint," Sanchez said, and all three of them straightened. "Private Jacobs, you are relieved. Unlock the doors when the Vulcans arrive."
Greg heard the roar of airbikes coming before he made visual confirmation.
"Look alive, men!" Sanchez ordered. "They're here."
The guards stood at attention as the mass of Vulcans on airbikes thundered in before the gates of the embassy. He stood in amazement as men he had only seen on the news vids were now stepping off of their bikes and were approaching him. Soval, V'Las, Kuvak, even Administrator Somil walked up to him. They looked more serious than he had ever seen before. The Major had said to unlock the doors, but he had something more in mind.
Greg swallowed hard. "Sirs, your wives and your friends' wives are being held captive against their will."
Soval moved forward and Greg felt his resolve harden as all the men climbed the steps to the Embassy.
"You are going to need help...human help. I'm in with you," Greg said as the soldiers unlocked the doors.
Sanchez pulled back the doors and allowed the men to enter the lobby. Most were armed with Vulcan melee weapons, but a few (who looked like soldiers) had guns. A human woman had joined their ranks, though he didn't know her name.
"Major, this is outrageous! We shouldn't let them in here!"
"Oh, shut up, Jacobs!" Kurt said with a sneer. "No one here cares about your pathetic opinion."
"I'll report this to Trent!" Jacobs said, pulling out his communicator.
His body crumpled to the ground as Sanchez lowered his gun, and he led the men to the weapons closet, handing those without weapons what guns he could spare.
"On behalf of the people of Earth, I apologize for this inconvenience," Kurt spat out, and he looked down when all the Vulcans looked at him.
Soval nodded to the young man. "I appreciate your help, and you, Corporal Haine."
"I am so getting court-martialed for this," Sanchez muttered under his breath as he began hacking the computer system. He found the Embassy compliment listing and hacked into the security cameras.
"Ok, the main hallways where your ladies are being stashed are on the third, fourth and sixth floor. There are security guards on every floor, though, and we'll have to move quickly before they catch us. I've already disabled the security cameras for this floor, but I'll have to work some more on getting them down on other levels."
"No time," Soval said, loading his phaser rifle. "We must get moving before they send security down to apprehend us."
Kurt watched as Soval started to lead the way. Stovik's brother who did not speak Earth standard well with Stovik the brother spoke to Stovik who translated to Kurt ,"Are you bonded?"
"Huh? Oh, you mean married..."
Stovik nodded. "That is what he means."
"Um no, why?"
Stovik translated and asked his brother for the words.
"I have a daughter I would introduce to you," he replied and took the man under his arm. They joined the group heading upstairs, and Kurt swallowed thickly as he loaded his gun.
…
Trent was flourishing around nervously. He was checking and reassuring himself that the men with him guarding the women in their rooms were actually on his side. He had heard the thunderous arrival, seen the mass of men through the window, and now like some great general he waited for the enemies to approach.
"Sir, the Vulcan High Command just called. They said you are to give up their citizens. Treaties, alliances, all are nothing if you mistreat Vulcan citizens."
"Are they making threats against Earth?"
"No, sir, solely against you and all who support you. Anyone who resists their advance will be disabled."
Trent growled and turned back to his monitor. "Let them come."
…
Celia pulled Sopek aside as the group went on, and she kicked the stunned security guards out of the way, then pressed her lips firmly to his. "If this doesn't work out, and we get injured or worse...I love you, and no man has been more kind-"
He cut her off with another kiss, then dragged her by the wrist so they could meet up with the group again. "We will not fail," he growled in her ear, shoving her behind him as ten shots made another guard crumple. "We are succeeding, and we will continue to do so until the women are free. And on that note, I sense more bondings on the horizon. Tomik will certainly not wait to take Kiki for himself."
She grinned, then quickly shoved him back against the wall as more shots came their way. "Alright then...but I still love you."
He kissed her, then continued on down the hall with the swelling group. The security officers who did not agree with Trent were joining their crusade, and it made her heart swell with hope and joy.
…
Jo touched Kiki's shoulder as the woman pounded the door again, screaming at the top of her lungs to be released. "Kiki, yelling won't solve anything."
"Maybe it will," she growled. "Maybe they'll be so annoyed that they'll tie me up, and then Tomik will kill them, and we'll never have to deal with that dirty, despicable bastard again!"
She continued her pounding and screaming, but Jo pulled her back and sat her on the bed. "Kiki...calm down...take some deep breaths, ok? V'Las and Tomik and Soval and every Vulcan man who has a wife here have already gotten into the Embassy. They're coming for us. Let's see if we can't turn the tables in a logical manner while they work on the more physical part of this, all right? Hand me that stylus."
…
Soval pulled Tomik down as phase pistol fire blew over their heads. "It is just like the last tour we did on Paan Mokar," he murmured, handing Tomik a fresh pistol.
"You could reason with Andorians. With Trent there is no reason to be found," he replied and then moved to lay cover fire for Soval as he made his way forward. When Soval made it to the next barricade he lay fire so Tomik could advance.
"I never thought I would her you say that." Soval motioned for the other men to advance.
"That Andorians were reasonable?" Tomik asked, glancing over at his old friend, who nodded in affirmation. "They are not until you meet a man like Trent. I sent the full files to the Earth government, I thought you should know."
"What files?"
"All that I have been able to gather since he began the harassment. He will be going to prison."
…
Kuvak dove around the corner, landing in V'Las's arms. Stovik joined them a moment later, panting, his lirpa still in his hand, with smears of blood across its blunt side.
"Humans have a strong katra," Stovik said, glancing around making sure they were in the clear.
"Did you kill them?" Kuvak asked incredulously.
"No," Stovik replied, slapping Kuvak on the back. "I'm saying they fight well. I am very agreeable to taking a female mate...if their spirit is as strong."
V'Las turned, his eyes wide. "Where is Somil?"
"He is not here?"
"I thought he was with you!"
…
Somil could hear the firefight still raging below him. He smirked at his own cleverness. A stairwell to the roof of the Embassy, a few well placed pinches and he was above the female dorm. He picked up the air grate and tied off the rope he brought to a sturdy pipe. He lashed himself to the rope and repelled downward.
He bent backward and gently removed the first grate he came to, and he saw two women were cowering on the bed.
"I am Somil...I am here to aid you. Will you come?"
The girls looked at each other and then back to Somil, who was dangling upside down from their skylight. "Will you get the other girls too?"
"It is only logical to do so. Come, take my hand, and I will bring us up and move to the next room."
…
Trent cursed loudly as he watched the security footage. His own staff was turning against him, and the Vulcans were winning! He screamed at the soldiers still with him to join the others downstairs, and he barricaded himself in his office, noting the hollowness of the empty desks in the main office. How had it ever come to this?
He stiffened as he heard banging and firefight outside in the main office, and after a few yells, he heard Soval's voice.
"This was a foolish move, ambassador! We have you surrounded, and the only way out is through us! Come out with your hands where we can see them!"
