Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of its characters, only my OC - Kaitlyn Donovan.
This story is the sequel to All's Fair in Love and War.
Query: What sacrifices must be endured by those that secure our freedom?
Thank you to Just a Crazy-Man, bina W, and IrishBug74, LoyaulteMeLie, Lupinesence, jeangreyten, Belen09, Silver-ShadowSpark, Cap'nFrances, g-love99, guest, badkarma00, and Snowbird for the reviews, and to everyone that is following this story and adding it to their favorites!
Chapter 21 - Time stands still for no one.
The Price of Freedom
Chapter 21 - Time stands still for no one
Ambassador Soval glanced at Corporal Cole as he flew the shuttle to the Vulcan High Command.
"You are doing well?" he inquired.
Amanda Cole nodded, "Yes, I'm well - we're worried about her though." she indicated Major Donovan in the back of the shuttle as she went over her notes on her PADD.
"It seems you are right to be concerned." Soval acknowledged.
Amanda watched the Vulcan Ambassador, "Will they give us much trouble about me coming in with her?"
"They may protest, but they will logically reason that if you can not come in with her, she can not give her report to them." he pointed out as he landed the shuttle.
Vulcan Security did stop them when they entered the building, but Ambassador Soval spoke to them quietly and after a few communiqués, all of them were allowed in.
Administrator V'Las came over and greeted Ambassador Soval and Major Donovan, then looked over Corporal Cole.
"You are Corporal Cole, the MACO that protected Ambassador Soval when he was kidnapped on Earth. All of Vulcan thanks you for your service." he gave her a tight smile.
"It was my duty and honor, Administrator." Cole stated, though she was slightly taken aback from the Administrator's smile.
V'Las glanced at Soval, "Are all Human females so diplomatic?"
Major Donovan stepped in, "I assure you, Administrator - not all Human females are diplomatic. Our trainings and respect for your culture is what guides us."
Administrator V'Las watched Donovan, "Yes - I saw how you fought those Nausicaans on Alpha Centauri. You can be very aggressive."
Kaitlyn Donovan took a slow, deep breath. There was video footage? "It was necessary in that instance."
V'Las nodded, "Yes, it was." He smiled again, "Let us go in and hear your report." He indicated for Donovan to walk with him.
Ambassador Soval touched Corporal Cole's arm to get her attention. "Do not allow yourself or Major Donovan to be left alone - it is not safe." he spoke softly so that only she could hear him.
Amanda Cole nodded, then went inside the room and waited by the door. She had seen the tension spike in Major Donovan when the Administrator mentioned Alpha Centauri. All MACOs knew about the brutal fighting that had gone on. She hadn't been there - she had still been in basic training at the time. She wondered why the Administrator had brought it up, and why had Ambassador Soval become so concerned about them being left alone. She kept a watchful eye out as she tried to follow along with Major Donovan's report - but they were all speaking in Vulcan and she wasn't nearly as fluent as her Commanding Officer. She could pick up a few words and phrases here and there, but she couldn't understand enough of it to follow along.
Nearly two hours later, a few of the other members of the Vulcan High Command finished asking Major Donovan questions and she answered them swiftly.
Amanda Cole saw the other Vulcans nod to Major Donovan. She watched as Administrator V'Las spoke to her for a few more minutes, then Donovan and Ambassador Soval came over to her.
Major Donovan glanced back at Administrator V'Las and the other members of the Vulcan High Command as they left and went to another room. "Administrator V'Las is having a dinner tonight to celebrate the upcoming Summit."
"Where?" Cole asked, because she knew they would need to quickly prep security for the site.
Ambassador Soval took a deep breath, "I suggested my home, since the Earth Ambassador has been there before - and I have no problem with the MACOs and Starfleet Security securing the site." He knew if he had not suggested his home, V'Las would insist on his - and he would not have allowed the Humans to check the security ahead of the dinner, if he'd allow them in at all.
Major Donovan gave Ambassador Soval a small smile, "Thank you for offering your home. If we can get back to the Embassy, I can get some teams together to secure your home while you invite Ambassador Galen and Admiral Forrest."
Soval nodded and they headed out.
X
Sgt. Jackson nodded to four more MACOs as they arrived in their formal dress uniforms to Ambassador Soval's home. He quickly debriefed them on their rotating posts for the evening, then accepted Cpl. Cole's hanging uniform bag and went to find her. Cole had come earlier this morning to ascertain the security needs while the rest of the unit had prepared at the Embassy.
Jackson found her with the Ambassador in his home office. "Corporal, your uniform." he indicated the bag in his hands.
Ambassador Soval stood up, "When will Major Donovan be arriving?"
"She is escorting Ambassador Galen and Admiral Forrest, Sir." Jackson relayed the information as Cole took her bag.
Soval nodded, "Thank you, Sgt. Jackson. I will show Corporal Cole where she can change."
Sgt. Jackson went to go check on the arrival times as Ambassador Soval walked Corporal Cole through the halls of his massive home.
Soval opened the door to one of the suites, "The washroom is through that door." he indicated, then left her alone and went to go check on the evening meal.
X
Corporal Cole could hear the voices from the open doors to the gathering inside as she walked the perimeter of the courtyard. From what she could tell from her earlier rotations that evening, all was going well.
She turned as she felt a presence behind her, but she was swiftly knocked out by the impact of an object to her head.
The two male Vulcans stood over the Human female.
"This is not Major Donovan - you immobilized the wrong female." one of them pointed out to the other.
X
Ambassador Soval looked out the doors to the courtyard. Something was wrong.
Major Donovan saw the concern on the Vulcan Ambassador's face and quickly headed out the door.
She found an unconscious Amanda Cole and quickly checked her vitals, then touched her mind.
Ambassador Soval kneeled down beside them, "Is she injured?" he question as Sgt. Jackson came over to them.
"She got knocked out."
"Get a medic." Soval ordered Jackson.
Kaitlyn stopped him, "No. We need as few people to know about this as possible."
Soval frowned slightly, "Then we should move her inside." He told Jackson to go in the house and which room door to the courtyard to open. Soval picked up Amanda Cole's unconscious body and headed to the door that was opened as soon as they reached it.
Kaitlyn quickly turned down the covers and Soval laid Amanda down on the bed.
"Ambassador, you need to go back - they will notice if you are gone much longer."
Soval took his eyes off of Amanda Cole and glanced at Kaitlyn. He knew she was right.
"I'll make her comfortable and check for further injuries." Kaitlyn promised the Ambassador, then turned to Jackson. "In fifteen minutes, come here to relieve me so I can rejoin the gathering."
Jackson nodded and left through the hall door and Soval left through the courtyard door.
Kaitlyn sat down on the bed next to Amanda and touched her face gently. She searched the young woman's mind to find out what had happened and to make sure she wasn't injured elsewhere.
Kaitlyn frowned as she sat back from what she'd learned. She took a deep breath and then began taking off Amanda's dress uniform. She was glad that Amanda followed the guidelines to wear her pt clothes underneath her uniform, or else this would have been a bit awkward. Kaitlyn pulled the thin sheet over Amanda, then went to the washroom and wet a cloth. She placed the cool cloth on Amanda's forehead that now sported a large goose egg over her left eyebrow.
Kaitlyn hung up Amanda's uniform in the wardrobe as she calculated the situation. She found herself growing angry. It was bad enough that they had wanted to knock her out and take the information she'd learned about the Vulcan High Command away from her - but to have harmed Amanda instead . . . she took a few calming breaths.
Sgt. Jackson came in the door quietly. "Is she really alright?" he questioned his Commanding Officer.
Kaitlyn nodded, "She's just going to have a really bad headache when she wakes up."
"Ma'am - they meant to knock you out, didn't they?"
"Most likely." Kaitlyn nodded.
"We should get the two of you to the Embassy - it's safer there." Jackson pointed out.
"It would be best for her to rest here until she wakes up. I'll stay here with her."
"Major . . ." he started to protest.
"We need to give the outward appearance that nothing's wrong. I'm tired of these people taking pot shots at us. Our focus should remain on the Summit - then we'll focus our attention on them." she promised.
Jackson nodded.
"I'll be back in about twenty minutes." Donovan stated, then headed out the courtyard door.
X
Administrator V'Las' nostrils flared slightly as he saw Major Donovan re-enter the gathering from the courtyard. She looked fine. He glanced at Stel and the Sub Commander quickly left.
V'Las smiled as he walked over to Major Donovan, "Did you get some fresh air?"
Kaitlyn Donovan smiled tightly, "Just checking the perimeter - everything's fine. No need to be concerned, Administrator."
X
Major Donovan had seen that the last of the guests had left, then headed in to check on Amanda. She sat down on the bed and checked her vitals again. She looked up as Ambassador Soval entered the room. "She'll be fine." she reassured him.
Soval looked at Donovan, "You should rest, Major. There is a room across the hall for you, I believe my cousins have left various changes of clothes in the dresser you can use." he offered.
"I should really watch over her - she's my responsibility." she countered.
"I can meditate in here and I will come get you if you are needed. You have been through much recently and you have a busy schedule the next few days - go rest, please. I will watch after her." Soval explained.
Kaitlyn Donovan gave him a small smile, "Thank you, Ambassador." She knew that the Ambassador was more than just a little concerned about Corporal Cole. She realized now that the Ambassador had known something had happened to Amanda in the courtyard. Kaitlyn decided she'd speak to the Ambassador tomorrow about the situation. She left the room and walked across the hall to another suite. She found a pair of silk pajamas and headed to the bathroom to change. She came out and climbed into the rather large bed and quickly fell asleep.
X
Amanda woke with a start and bolted up in the bed. She winced as pain rushed through her head and it started to throb. She slowly looked around the room that was barely lit. She remembered that she'd been knocked out in the courtyard and realized she must be in one of the rooms in the Ambassador's home.
"How is your headache?" Soval asked as he stood up from his meditation pillow.
Amanda frowned slightly - why was the Ambassador watching after her? "I've got a marching band playing in my head at the moment."
Soval came over to the side of the bed and sat down in the chair. He handed her a glass of water and two tablets. "Sgt. Jackson said you should take these when you woke up. Major Donovan is in the room across the hall - I insisted that she rest." he explained.
Amanda took a sip of water, then swallowed the pills. She pulled the sheet closer to her - though she was in her pt clothes, she still felt underdressed around the Ambassador. "Thank you for watching after me - I'm sure you have more important things to be doing."
"No, I do not. You are important. You looked after me when I was injured before - it only seems fitting that I should take care of you now." he pointed out.
Amanda remembered. It was a time she wished she could forget because it always stirred up so many conflicting emotions in her. She had grown close to him and had mistakenly thought he'd started to care for her - but he'd had her reassigned. She'd been crushed. She tried to stop the emotions that threatened to rear their ugly heads again within her. "That was a long time ago, Ambassador."
"It wasn't that long ago - and one does not forget someone who saves their life." Soval said quietly.
Amanda looked away from him and glanced at the candle lit at the low table across the room. She wished she could meditate and push things out of her mind like the Vulcans did - it would make life so much easier.
Soval watched as she looked away from him. "I find myself in conflict again." he admitted to her.
Amanda raised an eyebrow as she looked back at him, "Are you going to send me away again?" she asked quietly. She almost wished he would - it hurt too much to be around him when she knew he didn't care for her.
"I regret that my actions before hurt you. I did not know how to deal with how I . . . felt for you." Soval said softly.
"Because I'm Human." Amanda sighed, then shook her head slightly. "The situation hasn't changed - I'm still Human."
Soval nodded, "Yes, you are. In recent days, I have been reminded of this." He pulled out a beautifully handmade medallion on a necklace chain and handed it to her. "It is an I.D.I.C."
Amanda held it gently - it had obviously been in his family for generations. "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations."
Soval gave her another nod. "For as long as I can remember, it has been indoctrinated into us that to seek companionship outside our species is disgraceful and illogical." He took a deep breath, "I think they are wrong." He gently touched the I.D.I.C. in her hand, "How can these two conflicting ideas be right? How can we be summoned to embrace diversity, yet not be accepting of relationships with other species?"
Amanda watched as he stroked the medallion. She could see that this internal conflict was eating away at him. She closed her fingers around his and the medallion, "I'm sorry that I'm causing you to question your ideologies."
Soval could feel her emotions washing through him as she held his hand. She loved him. He looked at her, "I do not want to push you away Amanda."
Amanda blinked - he was calling her by her given name and not her rank. "What does that mean?"
Soval took another calming breath, "I would move mountains, if it would please you. I would live on Earth for the rest of my life, if I could be with you."
Amanda looked at him skeptically, "You'd leave all of this? You told me that this home had been your family's for generations. Why would you give this up?"
"Because you love me - even though I broke your heart before, you still love me." Soval pointed out.
"You would be ostracized by your people - how could I ever live with that, knowing that I was the cause?" Amanda shook her head, he wasn't thinking this through - he wasn't being logical.
Soval touched her cheek with his other hand, "Perhaps by the time you accept my offer, ideologies will change."
Amanda chuckled softly, "Vulcans change their ideologies? That would take a miracle." She gave him a small smile, "You'll give me time to think this over? It is a bit overwhelming what you are offering to me."
"I will gladly give you all the time you need, as long as you choose to accept my offer."
Amanda grinned, "Is that humor or arrogance?"
"I would like to think it is confidence." Soval countered. He dropped his hand from her face, then stood up, "You should get ready for the day."
Amanda held out the I.D.I.C. medallion to give back to him.
Soval looked at the medallion, then to her. "Will you wear it - to remember what I have offered?"
"I can wear it under my uniform."
Soval nodded, "I will leave you to get ready. The morning meal will be ready shortly." He turned and left the room, making sure to close the door on his way out.
Soval came into the morning room and found Major Donovan placing a pitcher of water on the table.
Kaitlyn gave him a small smile, "I take it that Corporal Cole is up and getting changed?"
Soval nodded and indicated for her to sit down. "Yes."
Kaitlyn sat down and watched as he took off the lid to the pot of plomeek broth and ladled it into a bowl for her. She thanked him as he handed the bowl to her. She placed her napkin in her lap and waited for him to get his bowl, then sit down. "Ambassador, before we eat, I would like to speak to you about last night."
Soval nodded for her to continue and watched her carefully.
"You knew when something happened to Corporal Cole, didn't you?" she inquired.
"I had an unsettling feeling." Soval admitted.
Kaitlyn nodded, "I know that Vulcans pride themselves on keeping their relationship private, but Corporal Cole is in my unit. Have you discussed with her this situation?"
Soval took a calming breath, "Yes, I just discussed the situation with her."
Kaitlyn Donavan sat back in her chair, "I will support whatever decision the two of you make. The situation might be difficult for the two of you, but I can be very persuasive when it comes to getting MACOs assigned to the posts they need. I will do everything within my authority to help." she promised and gave him a small smile.
Soval watched the young Commanding Officer sitting across from him. He always knew she was very perceptive and very loyal to the members of her unit - and here she was proving that again. "I thank you for your offer." He indicated for her to begin to eat, then stopped a few minutes later. "I did not realize that you knew so much about Vulcan relationships."
Kaitlyn gave him a small smile, "I'm sure that I know much more than you are comfortable with me knowing - let's just say that I understand Vulcan bonding and leave it at that." She went back to eating and tried not to notice the deep shade of green his ears turned.
Soval took a few sips of water and tried to calm down. How in the world did she know of Vulcan bonding? He would have to meditate on this later. He looked up as Amanda entered. He stood up and indicated for her to sit near Major Donovan and quickly ladled out her bowl of broth and handed it to her, then he sat back down.
Amanda thanked him and glanced between her Commanding Officer and the Vulcan Ambassador. She had the feeling they'd been talking about her before she'd come in.
"You are feeling well?" Major Donovan inquired.
"Yes, Ma'am." she replied. "Thank you for allowing me to rest here last night, Ambassador."
Soval nodded, "You are welcome."
Kaitlyn opened her communicator as it vibrated, then quickly read the message. "Sgt. Jackson is having a shuttle come pick us up in thirty minutes." She took a deep breath, "Ambassador Soval, I believe that Ambassador Galen wants to do a quick run through this evening of tomorrow night's opening of the Summit - would you like to attend?"
"Yes. If you will send me the details on the time, I will make sure I'm there." Soval acknowledged.
X
United Earth Embassy - Later that evening.
When Admiral Forrest heard the first rumblings of the bomb, he quickly pushed Ambassador Soval out of the way. He felt the floor shaking as a blast of heat and something heavy hit him and he lost consciousness.
Ambassador Soval was slammed against the wall with the force of the first bomb. The second bomb caused the floors above to blast up through the roof, then collapse in on themselves. He could hear the startled cries of people falling from floors that just a few moments ago had existed.
It was the third bomb that sealed the destruction of the United Earth Embassy. It blew out more structural supports on the lower floors and caused more floors to collapse on top of one another.
It seemed like time had stopped after that third blast - as if those left alive were just waiting for another blast that would do them in.
X
T.B.C.