Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Rating: R for violence and sexual assault.

Chapter 13

Elizabeth Tucker was lying on the floor of her palace bedroom in an awkward position. Her head was beneath the bed, and her legs stuck out. Her arm stretched back to the wall behind the headboard, and she had popped open a maintenance panel. It had been a great stroke of luck that this particularly panel was hidden by the bed so that the surveillance system couldn't see what she was up to.

"What are you doing?" asked Jonathan Archer, whose booted feet she saw to her left.

"I dropped an earring," she said loudly.

Elizabeth stared at the blinking lights. Turning off the system would just get the attention of the security guards. Thankfully, the engineers who designed the system had included a secret way to circumvent the system without disabling it — one only people intimately familiar with the design knew about. It was a perk of her job that she had the know-how, though she never thought she'd have use for her knowledge.

If she put in the right series of codes, the computer would seamlessly substitute video of her sleeping that had been previously recorded during times when she didn't want to be watched. She just had to give the computer some footage to work with that would fool the guards and the Empress. She punched in the codes and replaced the panel.

The system would need about twenty minutes of video during which she and her guest appeared to be sleeping. Then, it would loop that through the rest of the night so she would have some privacy.

For days, she had played dumb when the Empress hinted she should take one of the male slaves back to her room for the night. This night, Sato seemed to have lost patience. She snickered and asked her if she'd rather take one of the females back to her room instead and then pouted that Elizabeth was being ungrateful, having been offered the use of the imperial slaves for her pleasure. Elizabeth was 99 percent sure the kinky Empress be watching through the surveillance system, which is why she had such a keen interest in Elizabeth's sexual satisfaction. Footage of her and Archer just sleeping wouldn't satisfy the Empress forever, but it might buy Elizabeth some time. Once the security system wasn't active, she had some questions to ask Archer.

"It could be worse," she kept saying to herself, reminding herself she was lucky she hadn't been raped or tortured already.

Elizabeth had always considered herself fortunate. The Tuckers didn't exactly sit at the seat of Imperial power, but they were local gentry, and her father had had enough money and influence to see that his three children were sent to the best schools and insulated from some of the world's harsher realties. Elizabeth had gotten all the way through school and beyond without ever having been seriously molested in any way, something she knew was rare.

Once, when she had stayed late after school for swim practice, an older boy who came from a family far more influential than the Tuckers had grabbed her pulled her into empty locker room.

Elizabeth tried to kick Billy Dunn as he dragged her across the tile by her feet. The knockdown had come so quickly, Elizabeth didn't even have time to pull any of her self defense tricks on him or even scream. She knew she'd have bruises on her knees and face in the morning. It was dark in the locker room since it was after hours, and the sounds of their struggle echoed ominously.

Elizabeth sighed as she felt Billy's hands start grabbing at the clasp of her pants.

Why should I be so different from the other girls? I'm not special. This happens to everyone.

She just hoped it wouldn't take too long or hurt too much. Suddenly, she heard Billy make a strange noise. He let go of her.

She turned around to see her brothers Trip and Bert pulling Billy to his feet. Bert held Billy as Trip punched him first in the stomach and then in the face. Blood started coming from Billy's mouth.

"Did you think you could touch our sister?" drawled Bert as Trip landed another blow.

"Nobody touches our sister," spat Trip.

Trip turned Billy around so that Bert could take his shots. Being queer, Bert had been mercilessly picked on as a boy. He eventually joined a rough crowd and learned to fight dirty. His blows hit harder than Trip's.

Elizabeth scrambled to her feet. As relieved as she was, this wasn't good. Billy's attack on her would be a matter of he said/she said, and Billy's family had a lot of pull. Trip and Bert could get in loads of trouble for this. She also weirdly felt sorry for Billy, seeing him getting so badly thrashed.

"Guys, stop. . ." she said, "You'll get in trouble. He'll say that the attack on me never happened."

Bert laughed, and he had a scary glint in his eyes. It gave Elizabeth a chill. Billy had collapsed in a heap on the floor, barely conscious.

"No worries," replied Bert, "I've got a plan."

Lizzie looked at Trip who suddenly appeared as confused as she did. Bert grabbed his communicator and sent a text. A few minutes later three of Bert's friends, including his boyfriend, strolled in the locker room. Bert's boyfriend kissed him on the cheek as if it was completely normal that a bloodied human was sprawled on the floor at their feet.

Bert turned to Trip.

"Get her home. Don't breathe a word of this to anyone."

Trip moved over to where Bert stood.

"Bert, Dunn's family . . ."

"Won't want to see the pictures we're going to take, and I'm sure Billy will keep his mouth shut to keep his family and the admissions officers at all the top colleges from seeing them. And don't worry. We know how to pose him so it will look completely consensual."

Elizabeth's stomach turned, and she caught Trip's eye. They both knew Bert had a dark side, but this was over the line. Trip nodded to their brother, and then he came and took her arm.

"Let's go, Lizzie," he said softly.

As they ran down the halls and out the door, Elizabeth spoke.

"I don't care what he was gonna to do to me, Trip. Two wrongs don't make a right."

Trip shook his head.

"Not in this world, kiddo. We should both be grateful that Bert has our backs. And I seriously doubt Dunn is ever going to try and touch you again."

They stopped running when they reached a bike trail that led to their house. They started walking, in silence.

Elizabeth wiggled out from under the bed and got to her feet. Jonathan Archer was standing there staring at her, blankly.

"I've got orders for you now," she whispered.

He grinned at that, and she rolled her eyes. He was going to be disappointed.

"Take off your shoes and lie down. Make sure you're under the covers," she said.

He was really smiling now and did as he was told. Elizabeth bit her lip and wondered what it would have been like if her last dickhead boyfriend had been that accommodating.

She kicked off her shoes and joined him. She expected him to cop a feel or try something, but he didn't. He was just waiting. Sato had apparently trained him well.

She leaned over and whispered in his ear. She knew how low to keep her voice so the bugs wouldn't pick up the conversation. Maybe she'd get lucky and Sato would assume they were doing more than whispering under the covers.

"Here's what we are gonna to do. We're gonna to play a game. We're gonna to pretend to sleep for twenty minutes," she said.

He nodded.

"I want you to take me in your arms and close your eyes like you're sleeping. I'll be pretending, too."

"Yes, Ms. Tucker."

She threw off the covers and snuggled up to him.

"Really, you can call me Elizabeth, it's fine."

She listened to his heart beat and closed her eyes.

Twenty minutes, she thought.

***

Tucker glared at Phlox over the bed.

"I'd just as soon get back to engineering where I belong," he drawled, "but I don't want Talas back on duty until she's ready. Whatever she might have said to you."

Phlox glared right back.

"Are you questioning my medical ethics?"

Tucker folded his arms.

"That would only be possible if you had any," replied Tucker.

He hated being in command of the ship. It wasn't just a hassle, it was awkward given his species and the fact that he'd only been on the ship for a few weeks. The only reason he was in command was because not one of the crew still on board had any formal training in command. It was no wonder Mama T'Les thought it was logical to bust T'Pol out of the clink. She was needed. Hell, he needed her. He couldn't wait for her nightly call from the surface.

He turned to Talas. Her antenna was bandaged, but white bruises still marred her neck, arms and face. Reed had sure done a number on her.

"Don't be impatient," he said to her, "This ship needs you in top condition. Not a half-well version of you."

"I don't deserve to rest, not after how stupid I was. . ." Her voice trailed off.

"Nonesense," spat Tucker, "How were you supposed to tell Reed from any other Terran? We're all pretty screwed up. He just happens to be fucking crazy on top of it. Although, the politeness should have tipped you off. Most humans are never that polite to aliens."

Talas actually laughed at that, and that made Tucker feel better. She had looked like absolute hell when they had found her. He was amazed she was sitting up and talking.

"I promise that if I need you're help, I'll ask," he said as he turned to exit.

***

T'Pol moved swiftly down the stairs of the meeting hall and into the street. Her rooms were only a block away, and she wished to get there as soon as possible. A communication link had been set up so she could speak to Charles about Talas's condition. At last report, the Andorian woman had awakened but was still too weak to resume command. As for Reed's whereabouts, that matter had been turned over to T'Pau's security forces. They had tracked him to the lower continent on Vulcan, which was an ominous development given that the Romulan compound was located there. T'Pol remembered well Reed's interest in the Romulans. T'Les had notified her contacts there to be wary of Reed, but the very traits the Vulcans found disconcerting would be ones that their cousins might very well embrace.

After nearly a week of meetings, T'Pol had had enough. Her ship needed her, and she wanted to get back to her mission of helping the various species suffering under the Empire's rule. Although some of what she had learned on the surface was important, she was no politician and no philosopher. Her mother may have enjoyed T'Pau's intellectualized dissections of every last passage of The Teachings of Surak, but T'Pol was not so inclined. After graduating from the Science Academy, she'd first been an intelligence agent and then a Starfleet officer. Neither were career choices that indicated an inclination for philosophical debate. Yet, her mother felt it necessary to include her in all these sessions.

She wished to return to her ship, and she had come to think of it as her ship. She had only been her captain a short time, but she already found her day to day duties comforting. Her mother had apparently been right about her suitability for command.

The situation with Charles was more complicated, but to her surprise, she missed him. He was her mate, and they seemed to have come to an understanding despite the unusual nature of their bond.

Being on the surface had given her a respite from the emotions he bombarded her with, but she craved his company. She not only longed for his physical attentions, but she missed the nightly discussions of ship's business that were peppered with stories of his life in Florida. He also asked her questions about her own childhood, and her life before Starfleet. That life had been very lonely, with few friends. After she had joined Starfleet, she had had no friends. Vulcans frowned on personal friendship, but it was encouraged to develop affection for one's mate. These conversations had helped her do that, as had her neural pressure treatments for his pain. She wondered briefly if his pain had returned or if he had suffered from any withdrawal symptoms during her absence. She needed to speak to him about that.

She had also been surprised that her alien crew had little objection to her human mate. But T'Les had told her that more than a few humans had joined the rebel cause, and that most of the crew had known and worked with humans. Since the Syrannite goal was union with the Empire, they could hardly harbor the extreme resentment toward Terrans that some other rebel groups had. Since T'Pol had spent so many years living among humans, it shocked few that she had taken a human mate. Moreover, the crew was happy to have such a talented engineer in charge of the powerful Romulan Warp Drive. Apparently, there had been a ship's betting pool in which people took bets on when Kov would cause himself and others injury. Charles's presence in engineering had been welcome. Now, thanks to Talas's folly, he had taken charge of the ship.

Had she not been so concerned with Talas's condition and Reed's escape, she would have found the situation amusing.

She heard footsteps behind her, and soon Tolaris was walking at her side.

"Good evening, Captain," he said.

"Good evening," she replied.

"I would like you too meet a friend of mine," said Tolaris, "He is considering joining the rebellion. He wishes to hear your thoughts on the potential success of T'Pau's agenda."

T'Pol nodded.

"Take me to him," she replied.

They walked together to the boarding house, and she was mildly surprised when Tolaris led her to his room. This new recruit obviously wished to be discreet.

As they entered his room, she saw one of the Master Syrranites to whom she had been introduced earlier in the week. He was a large man with greying hair, big hands and dark eyes. He lifted his hand in the traditional Vulcan greeting. She responded in kind.

"Tolaris tells me you wish to sever your matebond," said the man.

T'Pol stepped backwards, and she shot a furious look at her first officer.

"That is untrue."

The priest looked at Tolaris,

"You have been deceptive, Tolaris," he said, "I can only perform the procedure if she consents."

"She's been brainwashed," said Tolaris coldly, "It doesn't make her any less a prisoner. She has a right to be free."

T'Pol took another step back, but Tolaris grabbed her arm. The priest stepped forward.

"I am free," said T'Pol.

"Tolaris tells me you didn't intend for this bond to form," said the priest.

"That is true," replied T'Pol, "I did not know that such a bond could form with a human, but I am content with my mate."

The priest nodded. T'Pol had a brief thought that she needed to check on Talas's condition, since she had just been promoted to first officer.

"Let us leave, T'Pol," said the priest, "I will escort you back to your room."

He approached T'Pol but collapsed as Tolaris's phaser stun hit him. T'Pol felt pressure on her neck and was looking into Tolaris's eyes as she too lost consciousness.

"This is the only logical course, T'Pol," she heard him say.