Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. 09sasha, good point, but I think it was only after he spent the day in meditation and contemplation that he truly realized his predicament and decided to act. And besides, with love sometimes come jealousy and hatred.

Bina my dear, thank you for your feedback. Soval? Yeah, things haven't changed much, he's still in over his head. V'Las? Dark wheels are churning in his mind. Natalia needs to watch her back.

tahmtahm, thank you for reviewing! I know, I can be such a tease, but I wanted to give you guys something. Like I said, more to come.

A/N: Guys, this last weekend I had a family emergency and had to go to a funeral on Tuesday, and then had a massive ear infection on Wednesday, so that's why this update is so late.

WARNING: Adult matters near the end of the chapter. I tried to constrain it to T, but it may have strayed to M. Don't like, don't read.

The nightmare I dreamed so many months ago nearly came true. Enterprise was barely in time to destroy the superweapon, and I preferred not to think about the widespread panic that had gripped Earth in that moment. The explosion in the atmosphere was spectacular, and we all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. My nightmare remained a nightmare, and it seemed the Xindi threat had been averted, if not resolved. Admiral Forrest informed Soval that the Xindi Council were re-thinking their strategy and their position towards Earth, which came as a welcome relief.

But the salvation of our planet did not come without a price. The xenophobia that lurked in the shadows when the first probe attacked was a mere taste of what was coming now. Admiral Forrest went to the Vulcan Compound instead of making Soval walk to Command. And when a meeting was called to debrief Archer at Command, a shuttle came and took us directly there.

Soval wasn't too happy with the new arrangements, as he said it deprived him of exercise. Tovek, upon hearing Soval's complaint, looked at me with a mischievous gleam in his eye. I decided not to think about Tovek's expression or the ambassador's complaint, rather I did the little I had been allotted now that more extreme measures had to be taken. Admiral Forrest considered reassigning me to guard various alien visitors, but Soval flat-out refused his request. I didn't want to think too hard about that either.

Although I tried not to think about Soval's dissatisfaction and could make no comment on the way things were now, I admitted quietly to myself that I missed the walks back and forth to the Compound. During the Xindi threat, Soval and I had taken to debating different topics, such as censorship, the future of humanity, poverty, different systems of government and the like. On some topics, differences in culture were bound to make us disagree, and sometimes we disagreed despite cultural differences, but we could usually find common ground. I was no debater, so Soval usually won, but I held my ground and made some valid points that made him stop and think.

And now the new security measures meant we hardly spoke two words to each other, though the shuttle ride afforded us a little time to catch up. Tovek and the other Vulcans talked amongst themselves as he asked me how I had been the last week or so.

"I find myself bereft of exercise," I said meaningfully. He caught my meaning and nearly smiled.

"As do I. And these new security measures deprive me of good conversation."

"I miss the conversation too, ambassador," I replied with a solemn nod. His eyes twinkled.

"When the security measures return to normal, I...what is the phrase, 'have a bone to pick with you' regarding taxation and income."

I smiled. "Well, I wish my people would stop being so pigheaded so we can debate that again."

The shuttle ride ended shortly after, and I was assigned to stand guard at the door to the briefing room, but no one walked down the hallway. Tovek seemed a bit put off by the fact that I wouldn't be at the briefing, but when it ended half an hour later, I was glad I wasn't in there. Even I, out in the hall, had heard Archer yell,

"This planet would be a cloud of dust right now if we'd listened to you!"

Five minutes later when everyone exited the room and I saw Soval's expression, I had a good idea at who Archer had been yelling at. I fell in line beside Tovek.

"What made Archer blow up like that?" I murmured.

Tovek raised an eyebrow. "The ambassador asked several questions that did not sit well with the captain. He became emotional. The briefing's on hold, indefinitely. In the meantime, we will all stand back from the situation and take a few days to think."

"Sounds good."

"That includes you, Ms. Romano," Soval said, looking over his shoulder at me. "You deserve a few days of rest after all the work you've done this past year."

I blinked and looked at the floor. The ambassador stopped and turned to me.

"Do you not wish to take a vacation?"

"In all honesty, the last time I took a vacation here I was rather bored with it. How long are we talking?"

"Perhaps three, four days. I am not sure how long it will take for Archer to regain control of his emotions and see the situation clearly."

I shook my head. "I'll take one day. I really don't want to take a vacation right now, what with xenophobia rampant and all."

"We will be staying at the compound until the briefing is called again. When it is, we will call you."

I sighed. "My comfort is of no consequence. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, its just I'd rather be working than taking a vacation."

Soval nodded. "I understood as much. Your dedication is admirable."

I escorted them to the shuttle, then walked back home and took a nap. I spent the next three days playing cello and hanging out at local bars, reading library books. I admitted to myself that it was relaxing, but I still preferred to do my job. After three days of being cooped up in the Vulcan Compound, I'd be bored as hell. Vulcans had more patience and discipline, so I imagine they weren't as frustrated with security restraints as I was.

Finally, after my dull vacation, I was called back into work. The briefing commenced, and no one raised their voices this time. When everyone left, Tovek stopped his fellow Vulcans from going too far when I noticed that the ambassador hadn't left the room. He was talking to Captain Archer, and although I couldn't hear what they were saying, I saw Soval hold out his hand, a gesture of friendship I had rarely seen any Vulcan extend. They shook hands and were seemingly reconciled, and I felt Soval was subdued but pleased as we walked back to the shuttle, all of my Vulcans in tow. I must have been grinning, because Soval gave me a strange look.

"What is it?" he murmured. I shook my head.

"Oh, nothing...don't take this the wrong way, but...when I was in high school, I had a summer job of working at a local preschool. I would have four or five kids in my group that I had to keep track of, and I'm reminded of that now."

He shook his head. "We are not children, Ms. Romano. Though your vigilance is appreciated."

I glanced around at his words and noted that Tovek was slightly behind me, and the other two Vulcans in our contingent were behind him. Everyone was keeping up with Soval's pace. We reached the shuttle and flew to the Compound, and I made to depart for home. Soval and Tovek stopped me.

"I have been recalled to Vulcan again for consultation regarding joint missions between our peoples. Tovek thought you may want to see more of Vulcan, now that we have more time. We would most likely stay three weeks, perhaps more than a month. Admiral Forrest is willing to let you go, and he will join us later when the High Command has made their decision."

I nearly gasped. "I'd love to," I said with a smile. Tovek nodded and left when Soval said something to him in Vulcan. I glanced back at the ambassador.

"Tovek's family will, of course, house you during our time on Vulcan. I will be meeting frequently with the High Command, but on the days when I don't, or in the evenings, it would be agreeable to show you the city."

I couldn't help but blush a little. "I'd love to see Vulcan society. It'd be a nice change of pace."

He looked satisfied. "I thought you might find this trip refreshing. Pack for a month, light clothes. Vulcan, while beautiful, is often harsh to off-worlders. But I look forward to showing you the beauty of my planet."

With that, he strolled away, head held high, and I could swear he was almost smiling to himself. I shook my head to myself and walked home, a spring in my step.

…

I played chess with Tovek on the trip to Vulcan, and I sucked at it. I got major cabin fever by the third day, but I amused myself with a few books I had taken along for just this purpose. Tovek was getting on in years and couldn't entertain a young woman all the time. Soval stopped by and had tea with me on the afternoon of the third day after spending two days in meditation, as he informed me. We debated taxation and income just as he wanted, and I managed to edge in a few valid points before he whooped my butt in the end with his Vulcan logic.

He took a small sip of tea. "Have you ever considered leaving the MACOs, Ms. Romano?"

I raised my eyebrows. "What do you propose I do instead?"

"It would be interesting to see the effect a Vulcan master of music and a debate class would have on you."

I nearly choked on my tea as I hurried to swallow it. "Are you saying I should do an internship on Vulcan?"

He tilted his head. "It may be beneficial. Besides, Earth may not have use for its MACOs in the future, if all goes well. And I hardly think you want to serve with them forever."

"No," I admitted. "I don't think I've ever enjoyed an assignment this much, ambassador. Going back to regular duty...feels rather dull."

An uncertain gleam flashed in his eyes. "I hope I have not spoiled your career."

"Of course not, ambassador. I never really wanted to be more than a corporal, but when they gave me the promotion, I took it with the understanding I'd be moving to San Francisco. I'm glad I took it."

"As am I," he said softly, and we drank more tea, him telling me of places on Vulcan he wanted to show me.

Finally, the transport reached Vulcan. I was ready with a light colored and lightweight ensemble, and I followed Tovek to the waiting aircar. I had forgotten the extra weight the gravity added, but I trudged on, excited for a chance to see more of this alien planet.

To my surprise, Soval tagged along with us. He raised his eyebrows at my questioning glance.

"I do not have to meet with the High Command until tomorrow morning. And it has been many years since I have seen Tovek's family. It would be agreeable to meet with them again."

So the ambassador climbed in after me and sat beside me in the aircar, and although the car was warm, I could still feel the heat radiating off his arm.

"You should rest when we reach Tovek's house, Natalia," Soval said to me quietly. "Then later, when night falls, we may go see the business district if you so wish."

I smiled. "That sounds lovely," I replied. He nodded.

"I had hoped you would be conducive to outings. There is much to show you."

We talked of nothing important for the rest of the trip, and T'Sahl came out of the house to greet me. I saluted her and followed her inside to the guest room.

I found tri-ox compound in my bag and injected myself, as already the atmosphere was getting to me. I sat on the bed, looking around the room with a smile on my face. A small part of me, in the back of my mind, felt like I was coming home again to my grandmother's house, or to my favorite aunt. Something about this house and Vulcan and T'Sahl seemed so familiar, more familiar than it should have been for a two-day visit months and months ago.

But I just shook my head and went out into the communal living area, where Soval and T'Sahl were seated, talking to one another in Vulcan. I stopped and listened to the lyrical language, not understanding but listening, as if I were at a concert for classical music. Vulcan sounded like music to my ears, and I didn't get to hear it as often as I wanted. Deep down, I think I wanted to learn it, though I imagined it would be incredibly complex. There was nothing easy about Vulcan.

T'Sahl must have known I was there and did not stop her conversation to acknowledge me, as I'm sure she knew I didn't understand what she and Soval were talking about. Finally, she turned to me and invited me to sit down.

"The ambassador tells me he will show you the business district."

I nodded. "I am grateful that the ambassador is willing to show me Vulcan."

Her brown eyes gleamed. "I believe you will like our capital city. It is not San Francisco, or any city on Earth as I understand it. Soval says you enjoy seeing other cultures."

Again, I nodded. "I think Vulcan will prove to be just as beautiful as I thought it would be. The little I've seen is fantastic."

T'Sahl practically beamed. "I can see why my husband finds you agreeable to socialize with. You have the human tendency to be diplomatic...I find this trait attractive."

"Perhaps if we had made that trait a priority, we might have avoided a few wars. Thank you, T'Sahl...that means a lot to me."

…

Over the next week, Soval took me to see not only the business district, but also the art district (which I loved; I felt like a kid in a candy store), and the legislative district, which held a few old courthouses (or their Vulcan equivalent) and the buildings that housed the High Command. We didn't go inside this time, but I couldn't help but let my glance slide upward toward the top floor, where V'Las had found me staring at an IDIC and had implied that I should get a promotion.

And one night when I got a message from Soval asking me to meet him at a cafe we had visited earlier that day, I didn't think much of it. He was obviously busy with his meetings and plannings and ambassadorial duties and such, and I remembered how to get to the cafe. The sun had already set and it was, of course, still hot outside, but it was a tolerable heat, like a kitchen after the oven's been on all day. I said goodnight to Tovek and promised to be back before midnight, and set off on my way.

I caught an aircar that took me into the city, and I assumed the ambassador would be sending me home in another or walking me home or something. I remembered when to get off and what street to look for, although I had to stop once and ask a store owner where to direct me. She set me off in the right direction and I continued on my way.

I remembered that when Soval had led me to this cafe, he had cut through a small alleyway between two streets. It was on the side of what looked like a private residence; perhaps it was offices or something. In any case, there was a small gated garden in the alley where I had stopped and watched a small fountain trickle down a pot. The street I was currently on didn't intersect with the cafe's street for another two blocks, and it was faster to cut through the alley.

I walked through, passing the garden. I felt the back of my neck prickle, and I turned around, getting the feeling that someone was watching me. After a visual scan of the alley revealed no one, I continued on, telling myself it was probably just my nervousness over being off-planet and on my own for the first time. And this was Vulcan, an enlightened society, probably one of the safest places in the galaxy. Still, I stiffened, trusting my gut, which was telling me to get ready for a fight.

A warm hand clamped over my mouth, and a strong arm locked my arms to my body. I squealed, trying to stomp on their foot, but before I could react, I was pinned against the wall by a warm, heavy body.

"Cry out and I'll kill you," a deep male voice whispered in my ear. I felt the barrel of a phase pistol pressed to my chin, and I stopped struggling.

"Good," he murmured. The next moment I felt a hypospray pressed to my neck, and everything went dark as I went limp in his arms.

…

I awoke to absolute darkness, and it took a moment for my memory to kick in. I had been kidnapped near the cafe where I was supposed to meet Soval, and I didn't know the identity of my captor, only that he was male and rather formidable in size.

I took small comfort in the fact that Soval would have noticed that I didn't show up, and that Tovek would notice that I wasn't home by midnight like I had promised. He was bound to worry and contact Soval, and they would contact the authorities, and they would find me. Hopefully. Not surprisingly, it was hard to stay optimistic in this place: I was on a thin, uncomfortable cot dressed only in my underwear, and upon further examination of myself I discovered that my hands were bound to the cot. My ankles too did not budge, and I sighed in frustration, and my heart started pounding in fear. I listened and only heard an uneven drip of water, so I figured it was safe to try and work my way free.

I began struggling with my bonds, but did not make any headway over the twenty minutes or so that I went at it. I was unsure of the time, or if I was even on Vulcan. I was tied down to a cot in a dark, cold room in some God-forsaken place in the universe. For the first time in a very long time, I felt true fear. I was alone and relatively helpless, and I struggled again with my bonds.

I stopped what I was doing when I heard a door open, and a faint crack of light spread across the floor, then waned and disappeared. I heard soft footsteps approach my cot, and I breathed in and out, trying to stay calm.

I felt someone loom over me, and I swallowed hard, my mouth dry.

"If you are disobedient," he began, and I recognized his voice as my captor's, "you will be punished. Obey, and you might be set free."

I gritted my teeth, refusing to be daunted. "Why are you holding me here?"

He took hold of my biceps and hauled me up into as much of a sitting position as my bonds would allow. I felt him lean close as his warm breath wafted over my face.

"You speak only when spoken to, human," he growled. He smacked me, hard, and I squeezed my eyes tightly closed against an onrush of tears.

"If you're only going to kill me whether I obey you or not, I have no incentive to do what you say. I won't do what you want."

He laughed. "I never said I was going to kill you, human," he said, and I could hear the smirk on his lips. "I said you would be punished," he continued, jerking me forward so that the bonds dug into my wrists, "and you'll regret it."

"What do you want from me?" I asked, ignoring the pain in my wrists and cheeks.

"Your cooperation," he replied, releasing me. I fell back onto the cot, my head slamming into the frame in the process. I hissed and gritted my teeth, determined not to show weakness.

"My...colleague wants to meet you later today," he continued. "He has a proposition for you, and it would be wise to accept it. If you don't, I'll convince you to accept it by any means necessary."

"What does your colleague want with me?"

"I'll let him explain. I'm entirely sure what he sees in you, but he is determined to include you in his plans. It would be foolish to refuse us, human."

He left me alone then, and I stared into the darkness for I didn't know how long. The dripping water and uncomfortable cot only served to make me miserable during my long wait, and the cold wasn't helping matters either. I was half naked and hadn't been allotted a blanket of any kind.

Finally, the door opened again, and I saw a figure slip in before he closed the door and the darkness was once again complete. Soft footsteps approached the bed, and he undid the bonds that held me to the cot, then hauled me to my feet. He locked my arms at my sides as he spun me around so that my back was pressed to his chest. His hands glided down my arms, slowly, almost sensuously. I shivered. I knew his species by his hands: they were warm, almost too warm. He was Vulcan.

He pressed his nose to the back of my neck, and his lips followed soon afterward. They were light and soft as they brushed my skin, and he slowly trailed his lips toward my neck, finally settling on the space beneath my earlobe. He caressed my skin, carefully and methodically swirling his warm tongue over my flesh. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard, clenching my hands into fists. There was no way I could fight him off, and he had me locked tight, his hands gripping my wrists and pinning my arms to my body.

His right hand crossed my body and held me to him, and his left drifted up to my neck. With two fingers, he began caressing my skin in soft, slow circles, and I couldn't help but gasp. My face flushed, and I felt dizzy and drunk. Whatever he was doing to me, it had a profound effect on my body. Not only was my mind lost in a hazy fog, the apex of my thighs was throbbing in want. The feeling was only intensified by his ministrations at my neck with his lips and tongue, and I melted back into him. He chuckled.

"I was hoping this would work on you," he murmured into my ear. That voice...he sounded so familiar, but I could hardly think...

"Are you willing to listen?" he asked me. I gasped in reply as he pressed his fingers harder.

"You have my...undivided attention," I managed to say.

His fingers slowly trailed down to my collarbone, then skimmed the hem of my bra before moving down to my abdomen. He began drawing a circle around my navel, and my breath automatically hitched in my throat. Things deep in my gut tightened, and my barely concealed breasts rose and fell as I took in air.

"Good," he purred, continuing to circle my navel with his fingers. "I have plans for you, my dear. Rest assured, I won't ask you to kill anyone or do any damage. In fact, if you cooperate, you may end up saving lives."

His voice was a slightly nasal tenor that slipped often into a gravelly baritone. And I knew I had heard it somewhere before. I knew that voice.

Finally, it came to me.

"V'Las," I breathed, my eyes snapping open.

His fingers stopped their intoxicating dance over my skin, and his lips left my neck. Then he pressed his fingers into my abdomen about an inch below my navel while he simultaneously held me tighter to his body. I gasped loudly at his actions, bucking against his hand and closing my eyes tight against the undeniable wave of pleasure that rippled throughout my body.

"You like that, don't you?" he teased, tracing the outside of my ear with gentle lips. I whimpered.

His hand then trailed down and slipped beneath the band of my underwear; he entwined his fingers in my curls, running his digits through them as if combing them. His lips returned to my neck.

"Why me?" I asked, automatically tilting my head away from him to grant him more access to my skin. He kissed the top of my shoulder.

"Because you have talents I want to put to good use. At first, I was reluctant to involve Starfleet or a MACO in this matter, but you, my dear...I read Soval's report on you and your fight with Klaang...he mentioned how perceptive you were considering the Suliban...how brave you were when you were captured by the Orion Syndicate...in fact, I think you have Soval to blame for my attention. If he hadn't been so eager to sing your praises, I'm not sure you'd be here right now."

"What do you have planned for me?" He took my earlobe in his mouth and gently sucked before rolling it between his teeth. He pulled away slightly.

"I think I'd rather have your full cooperation before I reveal my plans. I should warn you that I've never been described as patient, and I'm not the kind of man who likes to be denied what he wants."

I shivered in his arms as he tugged at my curls. "Why this...why this..." I couldn't think as he grazed his teeth over my neck. The fog still hadn't cleared from my head.

"Why this approach?" He completed the sentence for me and chuckled softly, his voice low. "First and foremost, I was curious. I must admit, I really do enjoy your reactions to me. You are an attractive woman, Natalia."

His breath was warm in my ear, and his hand that wasn't busy combing hair was trailing up and down my abdomen, the two fingered stroke making my head even fuzzier.

"And secondly, I was under the impression that you would be more conducive to listen in this state. I hope you don't prove me wrong, else I will turn to other means to make you cooperate."

He withdrew his hands and held my wrists in a vice-like grip, and he spun me around to face him. In the complete darkness, I couldn't see his features, but I could feel his warm breath on my neck as he tugged me closer. He pressed me to his warm body, and a part of me was grateful for the warmth, since the cold had closed back in on me now that he wasn't manipulating me anymore. One hand slid down my back and held me steady, and the other resumed its intoxicating caresses at my neck. His lips brushed my forehead, and I clutched desperately to his shirt lest I fall.

"Administrator," I gasped, closing my eyes. He chuckled.

"Oh, so you do remember your manners," he murmured, trailing light kisses down toward my neck. "You would do well to remember who I am."

I felt a tear slip down my cheek as the hopelessness of the situation crashed down on me. My doom was suddenly very clear to me: this man could have me kicked off the planet, or convicted of espionage and imprisoned, or have me killed swiftly and cleanly with no one being the wiser. He could make my life very difficult on Earth as well, using his influence to rob me of my job, my home, my reputation. I was held in the arms of a very powerful and influential man who held sway over all of Vulcan, and in that capacity, he automatically held sway over me.

To fight was useless. To protest was futile. To argue would only earn me punishment, the nature of which I didn't want to know.

My tears must have reached him because he suddenly pulled away. His warm hand cupped my face and his thumb brushed away my tears. The simple gesture made me feel dizzy again, and I clutched tighter to his shirt.

"Why are you crying, Natalia?" he cooed, almost sounding sincerely concerned. I breathed in a slow, shaky breath and shook my head.

"You said I wouldn't have to kill?"

"That's right," he purred, his thumb caressing my cheek, which was still slick with tears.

"I won't have to hurt anyone?"

"Never," he assured me, brushing his lips against my forehead again. I sighed in defeat. He pulled away again.

"You understand how futile it is to resist me, don't you?" he said in realization, almost sounding gleeful. "So you are sensible."

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could say a word, he captured my lips in a bruising kiss. The ferocity, the sheer hunger and passion of the way he was holding me and dominating my mouth left me breathless and frightened. Heat was blooming in my core, the likes of which I had never felt, and as his tongue brushed the roof of my mouth, I breathed in sharply through my nose and bucked against him. He held me even tighter, not giving me time to even catch my breath. By the time he pulled away, my breath came in great gasps, and my knees felt like water. Had it not been for his unrelenting embrace, I would be a heap on the floor.

"That was so...passionate," I breathed, not knowing what to say. He gently teased my lips again before replying.

"You sound surprised."

"You're Vulcan," I said.

"Really now, Natalia, I thought you were more perceptive than this." I caught his meaning and sighed.

"I know you have emotions, but you suppress them, otherwise you're nothing but a bunch of violent, warring savages."

"True," he replied, sounding pleased. "But how do you expect us to propagate our species? Logic is hardly helpful in that area."

He traced his two fingers down my spinal cord, causing me to press my body to his.

"Besides," he continued, "we are alone in the dark, and you have shed most of your clothes. What man wouldn't be tempted in this situation?"

With that, he kissed me again while continuing to massage my neck. I couldn't help but let him have his way, and I shivered in fear as his hand glided over my hip. I yielded to his forceful lips, drowning in a hazy fog, unable to resist or to think. What resolve I had was waning fast, and even I conceded that it would be logical to acquiesce. Perhaps then I would have a chance to see daylight again, and Tovek, and Earth, and Soval...

The ambassador's face swam before my vision as I closed my eyes. What I wouldn't give for Soval be the one holding me like this, not V'Las, to have Soval kiss me fiercely and hold me to his body like he wasn't letting go. I remembered that V'Las and Soval were about the same height, and their hair was a similar shade, so in a way, it wasn't too hard to fantasize that Soval was holding me in a dark room, kissing me with passion unbecoming a Vulcan, trailing two fingers along my ribcage and making heat bloom in the depths of my gut.

V'Las abandoned my lips in favor of my neck, and I reared my head back, biting my lip to prevent me from moaning Soval's name. I wouldn't give the administrator that hold over me; I would keep Soval out of this for now, and I could only hope he would believe me when I told him about this. If I found a chance to tell him, and if I could muster the courage...

"Are you going to help me?" V'Las asked, bringing me sharply out of my musings and back to reality.

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

He chuckled. "I don't take no for an answer. Is that a yes?"

I nodded.. "I'll help you. Now what do you want me to do?"

I could almost see him grin. "You were more compliant than I expected. I'll let the message sink in for a while, then come back. We'll proceed tomorrow."

With that, he let me go, and I swallowed hard as the door closed, leaving me alone in the dark.

…

I collapsed on the floor, choking on my pitiful sobs. I pressed my palms to the floor and willed myself not to vomit; I didn't think the administrator would appreciate it. I could hear him chuckling softly.

"What number was that, Natalia? I'm sorry, but I lost count. I was too absorbed in the beautiful sound of your moans."

"Number five...or six...I can't remember," I wheezed, wiping my dirty face with the back of my hand.

"You still agree to help us?"

"Yes," I gasped, gritting my teeth.

My eyelids drooped, but I knew I wouldn't be finding any sleep any time soon. V'Las' partner continually injected me with something that prevented me from falling asleep, and I had laid for hours upon hours, exhausted and finding no rest. It was after V'Las' third visit that I thought I heard Soval calling my name, only to realize I was slowly going mad. This could be day three of my captivity, or maybe day six, or seven. I had no sense of the time.

My captivity was marked by daily injections and V'Las' sporadic visits. I wished his visits would be even more sporadic. I wished his visits were non-existent. His hand would trail beyond my curls, and his fingers would tease my insides so expertly, so slowly, and I would melt every time. I couldn't hold anything back, and the continuous pleasure only added to my already intolerable exhaustion. I was fairly sure that was the sixth time he had made me finish, the sixth time I had collapsed on the floor, weeping in utter humiliation.

"Get up," he commanded, and I scrambled to my feet. He shoved me into the chair he had brought with him this time, and he rested his hands on either side of me, blocking me in. He leaned close.

"I want you to listen carefully," he said softly, stroking my tear-stained cheek with one warm finger. "You're to be the liaison between Vulcan and Andoria. You will be the face of their new government, a human with enough logic to work well with my people, but emotions enough to connect with theirs. You will make their transition easier and spare our operatives the tediousness of working too closely with the Andorians."

I frowned. "I don't understand."

He sighed impatiently. "Are you really that slow?" he said coldly. I winced.

"I haven't slept in...God, it's been, what, three days? Four?"

He was silent, and I pondered his words. Then, it hit me.

"You're going to annex Andoria," I breathed. He lightly kissed my forehead.

"That..." I didn't dare go on and insult him to his face, even though I was tempted to point out how stupid his plan was. With a valuable ally and a potential friend at war, Starfleet would feel compelled to get involved on one side or the other. Peace talks were sure to fail, and the quadrant would be thrown into chaos, leaving both sides devastated and inviting outside powers (such as the Klingons and the Romulans, to name two) to take advantage of our weakness. The galaxy needed unity, not division, and I hated that I had agreed to be a part of this.

"You're still willing to help us?"

I felt a few tears stream down my face, and I bowed my head in defeat. There was no way I could refuse now. He had threatened to sell me to the Orion Syndicate if I didn't go along with this, and I didn't want to go out knowing that Soval and Tovek and Admiral Forrest were all worrying about me. Surely by now they had contacted security forces and were searching for me, but I doubted they would find anything. V'Las didn't strike me as the sloppy type: he would make sure they couldn't trace me.

"I have no choice," I croaked. "I have no choice," I repeated, my voice breathy and defeated.

"I'm pleased you see reason," he purred, sounding positively gleeful. How I hated him...

His next move took me by complete surprise. He pushed off from the back of my chair, knelt in front of me, took hold of my ankles and jerked me forward to the edge of the chair. He moved my legs so that my knees were resting on his shoulders, and I gripped the armrests of the chair, very frightened.

"What are you doing?" I gasped, wanting very much to run away, but frozen in place. His warm hands glided up and rested on my bare thighs.

"Our society rewards merit, and I believe you deserve a little for cooperating. Consider this my reward."

With that, he lowered his head, and I gasped loudly and bucked against him. His fingers were one thing, his tongue was quite another. My eyes were wide, fixed on a nondescript spot on the floor, not seeing a single thing. My breathing quickly became ragged, rushing in and out of my tense body. V'Las dug his fingernails into my thighs, presumably ordering me to relax, and I complied, not daring to disobey.

Soft moans escaped my parted lips, and my left hand slammed down on the seat as my right found his hair and gripped for dear life. I instinctively convulsed against his questing tongue, and I hissed when he found the source of the intense throbbing. He licked me, causing me to cry out. My hips rose clear off the seat, and I was nearly pulling his hair I was so caught up in the throes of ecstasy.

His fingers replaced his tongue while he licked and sucked at the throbbing bud, and soon my cries were echoing in the darkness. I squeezed my legs closer together until I could feel his warm ears brush my inner thighs, but he shoved my legs wider and sucked harder. I screamed.

"V'Las!" I howled, doubling over, my chest nearly reaching his head. I could hardly breathe, and I was clutching and releasing his hair in my sweat-drenched palm. I instinctively pressed him harder to me, rearing my head back, moaning and whimpering. Tears streamed freely down my face, and the pressure in my belly was becoming too much to bear.

Heat, like fire in my veins, spread throughout my body, causing me to spasm. I was shivering violently, my breath coming in short gasps, then I felt release. I collapsed back into the chair, my shoulders slumped, my breasts rising and falling as I struggled for air.

V'Las sat back and smirked, then stood and loomed over me. He caressed my cheek with a warm, steady hand.

"You're not to talk about this to anyone," he said, his voice firm. "When the time comes, you'll receive further instruction. Understood?"

I nodded weakly, and I swore he smiled. "Get some rest, Natalia," he purred. "We'll have you returned to the aid's house before you know it."