Ever since passing into the Neutral Zone between Federation space and the Romulan Empire, Amara's sense of excitement turned into trepidation. Bathsheba could not help but share in this, since this association had been so important to her friend.
"I believe it is time to uncloak," Amara said to her helmsman. "But first, send a message to our friend Commander Chavek Liorae-sihaer. Tell him Lady Amara has succeeded."
"Yes, m'lady," said the man at the communications console. Amara strode to his side, watching as he relayed a message in the Romulan language. Within minutes, a reply came in the form of a live vid call.
"Bring him up on the screen," Amara said with a smile.
The image on the screen was of a slight Romulan man clothed in military robes. The room he was in appeared small, signaling he was alone and hidden.
"Jolan Tru, Commander," Amara said with a bow.
"Greetings Lady Amara," said the Romulan. "I apologize for my generic greeting, but I am still unfamiliar with Xarth customs."
"I hope to teach you once we begin our collaboration."
"So, you have successfully used the human-daemon bond to create energy," Chavek said with a hint of a smile. "At least, this is my assumption. I did not expect you to return to the Neutral Zone empty handed, especially since you carry one of our cloaking devices."
Amara smiled as she bent down to stroke her Bathsheba on the head. "Indeed, our ship is running on pure energy from the bond, and had been for two and a half months."
"Two and a half months? How many humans?"
"Sixteen, Commander. And there is at least two months worth of energy left if we remain cloaked."
The smirk became a grin on Chavek's face. "Along with your unique gifts, this could certainly turn the tide in our favor."
"Remember, this is also for my people, Commander. They are the first who will receive this technology. I first must retrieve this daemon's human in order to convince them the procedure is safe."
Chavek leaned forward in his seat to get a closer look at Amara. "Do you mean the Earth creature beside you is a daemon?"
Amara opened her mouth to speak, but thought the better of it.
"Yes," Bathsheba said in her stead. "I once belonged to a human called Leonard McCoy."
"Leonard McCoy? Of the Enterprise?"
"Of course," Bathsheba replied. "But that is in the past now. I have found a new life aboard this ship, and am more than willing to help both you and Amara get what you need."
"This is an intriguing development," Chavek said, sitting back in his chair. "The Enterprise is...not a well liked ship among many in the Empire."
"I remember," Bathsheba said, although such memories were vague.
"Your help in achieving this has been immense, and our agreement will be honored," said Amara, giving one last squeeze to her daemon. "With your help, we will take Xarth and make it a Romulan commonwealth. We will then use my planet as a place to research the daemon and what other ways we can use it. Think of what new possibilities could be unlocked for your Empire with this technology."
"It will certainly open up new possibilities for our human slaves, and the are many Romulans who would be interested in having daemons for themselves. This will cause heightened tensions with the Federation, but this is not a concern with me."
"Let us not get ahead of ourselves, Commander. I first want to obtain the human Leonard McCoy. He must convince my people to join us."
For the first time, Chavek had the ghost of a sneer. "I will help you get Leonard McCoy, as long as I get Captain James Kirk and his Vulcan First Officer."
"Get them?"
"I want to do the same to them as you did to their doctor. I want their daemons, and their energy. My people's elation at this new opportunity will only be heightened if the Federation's most beloved pair are shown as the linchpins."
"I am glad you are satisfied," said Amara. "And before I forget, I have a gift for you which should be helpful in your goal."
Amara turned just as Dr. Weinburg entered the bridge from the back, silently carrying a long stiff bundle wrapped in torn silk. Amara reverently took the item and allowed the silk to fall to the ground. The held a sword with a dingy purple blade, and a bronze handle. She held the sword before her using both hands so the Commander could see it clearly.
"Why do you present me with such a primitive weapon? What use have I for that?"
"This 'primitive weapon' has an Oolomite blade," said Amara. "Oolomite is an earth mineral which is quite valuable on the black market as a basis for decorative items. However, it is also the only known element which can cut the human-daemon bond."
Chavek appeared as elated as his subdued Romulan heritage allowed. "I could use that sword to separate a man from his daemon in battle?"
"With your own two hands. We have a device which makes a cut and collects the energy, so if you would like to utilize the resources..."
"Believe me, Amara," Chavek interrupted. "I will have use for this sword. You have given a...thoughtful gift."
"We also have a drug which eases the shock of separation so the human life is preserved. If you want to parade the daemons as you say, I would not use this gift impulsively."
"I never do so with my weapons," the commander replied. "To do so is dishonorable, and does not make for good revenge."
Amara gave the gift back to Dr. Weinburg, and walked to the screen so she was only inches from the Romulan's face.
"Our first objective is to get Leonard McCoy and the Enterprise," Amara said. "I will take care of where this will take place. I take it your leadership still is unaware of your conversations with me."
"You are correct. It is better this way. The help my men offer will be that of a group of rogues. This way, we will avoid war if this does not go well."
"I take it Romulus is unprepared for such a possibility."
"We are always prepared, but this new energy source will take time to bring to it's full potential. Prolonged peacetime will be needed to do this."
"How will you take two senior officers of the Enterprise without sacrificing such peacetime?"
"This is what you and I will figure out, Lady Amara, when you come to my home tomorrow night."
Amara lifted her eyebrows. She had never entered a Romulan homestead before. This would be yet another new experience among many. "That would be satisfactory, Commander. This ship does get cramped after a while."
"It does appear to be quite small," Chavek said with a smile. "I will send you the coordinates to travel to, but make sure you remain cloaked."
"Of course. Jolan Tru, Commander."
"Jolan Tru, Lady Amara. I look forward to a long and productive collaboration."
/Holy shit. I broke Spock./
McCoy was inwardly frantic, unsure what to do. As a doctor, he had seen his fair share of crying, but never from a Vulcan and certainly never from Spock. Was he supposed to comfort him, or would that be embarrassing?
/Don't cry, beloved./ McCoy thought, willing the message toward his friend. /Please, tell me what's wrong./
"We are overwhelmed," came the voice of T'Ra. She still rested in McCoy's lap, with the doctor's hands placed around her protectively. "This is the first time I have been touched by another in this way."
"Oh...I'm..." McCoy immediately separated himself from her, redness crawling up his neck. "I'm sorry, I didn't..."
T'Ra responded by jumping back into his lap and nuzzling his chest. "Do not be sorry. This is not a thing you did wrong. It is simply difficult to process the emotions you have awakened."
"Awakened? What about what I saw in your mind? That seemed pretty awake to me."
"We had only reached a single area of emotion within. You did not see the complex controls which keep them from overflowing. The circumstances over these past months have weakened our discipline considerably. The intimate act we have shared finished he process."
McCoy now felt like pond scum. He should have taken it slower so Spock was not thrust into such a tidal wave of feeling and would not be suffering what, to him, was the ultimate indignity.
"You have not been near a daemon in a long time. Your response was..."
"Dammit, will you stop doing that!" McCoy shouted. "I'm not used to this telepathy stuff, and you really need to stop justifying my actions."
"It was not only your actions Leonard," said T'Ra as she touched her beak to one of the scratches on McCoy's chest. "If you recall, I initiated the contact. This encounter had given...immense pleasure. We were simply not prepared for it to be so overwhelming."
McCoy sighed, knowing he was beat. "I'm sure I'd be doing the same if Leauna were still here."
"Emotions run far deeper in Vulcans."
McCoy smiled at the Vulcan version of "I doubt it."
"Well, I never thought I would see the day when I hear you admitting to an impulsive act."
The daemon stayed silent and placed her head against McCoy's chest. In turn, he stroked her feathers gently. Even that simple act caused Spock's outburst to get worse. He bent forward, clutching his stomach, no longer hiding his face. McCoy felt the fear drain as soon as the pained face was revealed.
"I think it's time to go backwards a bit," McCoy said as he kindly pushed T'Ra away from him. Separating himself completely from the silver bird pained him more than he thought it would. He had missed the feel of a daemon on his skin. One uniquely human sensation he found almost impossible to describe to other species was what a daemon felt like.
McCoy reminded himself that despite her attempts at affection, this daemon was not his to touch. He smiled at her and said, "It will be much easier to do this the old fashioned way, like a Southern gentleman should."
McCoy slid off the bed and knelt before Spock. There was still trepidation, but since contact had broke with his daemon, the Vulcan was regaining composure. McCoy knew this would be welcome for Spock, but it might also close a door if shame caused him to withdraw. With all the feelings surging within McCoy right now, this was an unacceptable option.
In his quest to start slow, he placed both hands on Spock's knees, lightly at first, then with more pressure. McCoy slid his thumbs back and forth, feeling the solid warmth and power housed in these legs. He slowly moved his hands up Spock's thighs, until he was mere centimeters from the Vulcan's manhood, whose hardness was obvious through the black pants.
The sight made McCoy's own cock respond in kind, but he restrained himself. He was doing this the old fashioned way after all, and it was uncouth for a man to jump so hard so fast. McCoy thought back to the moments he spent immersed in Spock's love for him, and knew immediately this was not a moment to be taken lightly. This was to be savored and nurtured. He had already pounced headlong into intimate contact with Spock's soul. He would not do the same with his body.
McCoy shifted his hands toward the Vulcan hips, and moved his face close enough to catch the unique scent of the other body. There was a hint of sweet spice - like cinnamon but not - and sage brush. There was a coppery tint to it as well. Again, McCoy was wondering how he could not have seen how beautiful he found Spock, both inside and out. If he had acted on this before Cerebus II, who knows how much pain and uncertainty could have been avoided.
"Do not think on what might have been," the congested voice of Spock said, startling the doctor. Spock reached to hold McCoy's face, but the similarity to melds must have stopped him so he opted for shoulders instead.
"It's hard not to. I mean, humans were obviously having sex long before daemons showed up, but it's become so much more since then. What if I can't give you what you need?"
"All I need is you, Leonard. Any part of you, man or soul. You have been worried about reciprocating what I have given. You being here - alive and well - is all I need. All else is supplementary."
Now it was McCoy's turn to feel overwhelmed. No one, not even Jocelyn, had said something like this to him. He was sure that if he had lost Leauna while he was still married, Joss would have acted like a widow. She would have reenforced his belief he was as good as dead. He took a shaky breath and tried to pull himself together. They had wasted enough time blubbering like virgin brides.
The idea of taking it slow was now far less appealing. McCoy's first instinct was to kiss Spock full on the mouth, but it was only right to bend in deference to his partner's cultural needs. Spock had made it clear he loved all parts of Leonard, together and separate. McCoy wanted to show, despite the insults and arguments in their past, that he felt the same about the Vulcan and human warring within the other man. He extended his index and middle finger and touched them the hand on his left shoulder. He digit tightened and he almost saw the shudder go through the Vulcan body.
"I want you, Spock," McCoy whispered. He eased his way up and appeased Spock's human half with a chaste kiss to the lips. "Each and every part."
Spock put his hand around McCoy's head and pushed their lips together once more. The kiss deepened, their tongues and lips clamoring for contact. T'Ra moved closer to the pair, and both spared a hand to thread through her feathers. The touch caused a surge through Spock as he threw his arms around McCoy and pulled him down so they were both lying on the bed with the doctor on top. Their lips were still connected, tongues entwined, and their position made their mutual arousal all the more obvious. McCoy figured it would be equally unbecoming of a Southern gentleman to leave one he loved in such a state for very long, so he reached to unzip Spock's pants and repositioned his briefs so the erect penis could spring free.
Spock did the same with McCoy's cock and they started a mutual rhythm with their hands. As the pressure built, the kisses stopped as they savored the sensation of their reciprocal touches and looked into each others eyes. McCoy used his free arm to support his body, while Spock's was free to grip his neck. They both came within nanoseconds of each other, spilling their seed on their clothes and hands.
At long last, McCoy felt whole.
Spock could not sleep, nor did he expect himself to. While his emotions no longer overwhelmed him like they had only a half hour ago, they were still the first thing on his mind.
McCoy was cuddled up to his side with his arms wrapped around his torso. The soft snoring told Spock the other man was asleep, and his shields were effective. Spock's arms circled around the McCoy, the fingers of one hand interlaced in soft, greying hair. Both were wearing nightshirts from McCoy's wardrobe after both of their clothes were ruined by the dual hand job. It was a mutual decision since Spock would have been chilly in the human's room, and McCoy wanted to "show solidarity."
/Imagine,/ T'Ra said. /Only a few hours ago, this was impossible./
Spock averted his eyes upward to look toward his daemon who was perched on the shelf above the bed. She had been between them until she started to get crushed by their closeness.
He was not one to dwell on how quickly life changed, but in this case, he could not help but join T'Ra's wonder. Every time he let himself fall into his joy, though, his practical self pulled back and made him consider the ramifications.
/He still might not love me,/ Spock said.
/Or he might. There is no way of knowing./
/We might not have a true bond yet, but for all intents and purposes, I am acting as his daemon. My feelings could be yielding a great influence over him./
/And yet we chose to share them./
/There was no other choice. He wanted to kill himself. He needed to know a bond with him would not be out of pity./
/There were at least 26 other ways we could have shared such a fact./
/But far fewer would have been accepted as truth./
/Either way, we still have not proposed the permanent joining of our minds./
/But he will accept. I know he will, which is my concern. Leonard might have regained much of his faculties, but he is still vulnerable. He will gravitate toward me because I am filling the void Leauna left behind. His aversion to mind melds would have made the possibility distasteful were he at full capacity./
/Jim has tried to tell us this multiple times, and his logic is sound. Leonard is a man who keeps his emotions to himself and uses gruffness and sarcasm to hide his deeper feelings. Based on what we have seen within him, he could have easily felt for us before./
/Your own conclusions are not based on solid data either. Leonard's mind has been altered due to his experience. Much like a broken bone can heal crooked if set incorrectly, so the mind can be warped if given the chance./
/And you think the way we are healing his mind will cause it to heal crooked?/
/If it has not already done so./
/So what do you propose to do about this possibility? Eliminate the link? Stop the melds? End this relationship before it starts? All of these will no doubt destroy Leonard./
/I know, but I cannot risk entering into a romantic liaison when the other party is not willing. This would not be fair to him. It would be akin to rape./
/That is extreme./
/Is it?/
T'Ra was silent for a beat before saying, /Spock, we are happy./
Spock drew a shaky breath. /Yes./
/Is it not true we have always pushed back against happiness because to be in such a state would not become a Vulcan?/
/This entire situation has happened because feelings clouded my judgment. Vulcans are not to seek happiness because.../
/...seeking such pursuits is akin to chasing ghosts. At least, that is how the humans would say it. True happiness is not possible, and if temporarily attained, clouds logic in an unseemly manner. This is true, but we are not chasing ghosts. We are chasing a living, breathing man who is in real pain and is seeking us out for relief. Wherever his attraction to us comes from is irrelevant. Most sentient beings are not drawn to partners through 'pure' motives anyway. We know he will not bring us happiness. There will be painful days ahead, but we are the only ones who can help him through this, both on this ship, or off. It is only logical for this relationship to continue./
Spock pondered his daemon's words. /Your logic is sound./
/Now, do not talk to me like I am Father. We both know the truth. I am simply not going to let your doubts stand in the way of what must be done./
/Are they not your doubts, too?/
/I have no doubts right now. This is right. All we have desired has come to fruition, and nothing has told me our desires were unmerited./
McCoy started moving underneath Spock. He realized his shields had slipped in the past minute. It should not have been enough for McCoy to hear their conversation, but the noise would have still been hard to sleep through. Once he clamped them down again, he saw Leonard was already awake. The older man started stroking his chest while nuzzling his head against his side.
"Penny for your thoughts?" McCoy said.
"I do not see why I would accept arcane copper money to share share thoughts with you Leonard."
McCoy chuckled. "I always love when you do that."
"I always assumed you were perturbed by it."
"It wouldn't have been any fun if I hadn't given you a hard time about it." McCoy took Spock's hand in his and kissed his palm, letting warmth flow through the Vulcan. Not for the first time, Spock wondered why he had any doubts at all.
"I am simply...pondering whether or not to ask you something."
"Ask away," McCoy said between kisses.
Spock continued to enjoy the doctor's ministrations, but forced himself back to the task at hand. He knew despite what had happened, McCoy still did not have a firm grip on his humanity. Despite all they had shared, he would still go back to his pure severed state if another rejuvenation meld was not performed, and Spock had begun to feel his energy wane.
"Leonard," Spock began. "I will not be able to meld with you much longer without posing...risk to both of us."
The kisses stopped. Spock could feel McCoy's eyes on him.
"I knew it was killing you," the doctor said in a downtrodden voice.
"It is not killing me yet, but it might sometime soon. I do have another proposal."
"Does it involve another one of your Vulcan secrets?"
Spock sighed. "No, Leonard. What I am asking is a well known practice."
"Will it hurt you?"
"No. In fact, it would give me great joy. However, before tonight, I was not sure you would agree."
The was a pause between them. "You want to bond with me, don't you? You want to have a...Vulcan marriage."
Spock could not discern the tone in McCoy's voice. There was definitely surprise, but whether he heard joy or disdain was a mystery. He purposefully blocked himself from reading anything from McCoy and asked T'Ra to do the same. Such insights would have been helpful, but the knowing answer was too frightening.
The pregnant silence was too much for Spock. "If we bonded, we would be in contact with each other at all times. I would be functioning much like Leauna did, in that we would be sharing T'Ra essentially. If we..."
Spock was stopped by a kiss. Relief flooded through him.
Once they broke apart, McCoy said, "I would be honored to marry you Spock. And don't think I don't see past that Vulcan practicality. You've wanted this for a while."
Spock's tensed, immediately thinking it was an accusation. However, upon seeing McCoy's smiling face, he relaxed. Spock had not seen the other man's face light up like this in what felt like a lifetime. Seeing brightness return caused him to mirror his lover, which caused another chuckle.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were smiling."
"I could say the same for you."
"Well, I've never been proposed to before, especially not by a being as impossibly perfect as you."
"Believe me, Leonard. I am not perfect. Being bonded to a Vulcan will not be easy."
"Being married to a human isn't easy either," McCoy replied. "I did it before. I knew what to do, but I didn't do it, and I lost her. With you, I'm not going to be so careless. There's no way in hell I'm letting you get away."
As they kissed once again, T'Ra joined them and welcomed light touches from McCoy. Spock shivered and moaned into his lover's mouth.
"We will need to wait at least a few days so I can prepare," Spock said once they separated. "We will have to tell Jim, and..."
"Spock," McCoy chided with an accompanying squeeze in the ribs. "Shut up."
Neither slept for the rest of the night.