Femme Fatale

Spock is only half Vulcan, but he rarely speaks about his human ancestor. He has his reasons.

Amanda Grayson was one of the most respected xenobiologists in the Empire. She'd taught at the best institutes of higher education the Empire had to offer and rose to the highest echelons of Empire society with her powerful parents' help. But her crowning achievement was not as a teacher or scientist but as a wife and mother.

This happy life as a Vulcan homemaker was all made possible after landing a plum assignment at the Vulcan science academy. Amanda was part of a team of scientists and diplomats who had been hand-picked by the Emperor to further diplomatic relations with Vulcan. Under the guise of teaching she was to learn all there was to know about her students and colleagues and report back to her handlers, a simple enough task but Amanda had not anticipated falling in love with one of the curious aliens.

When the Terrans had first encountered the Vulcans, it was a turning point in the history of the galaxy. Both sides were distrustful of each other but they were equally matched militarily and so logic prevailed. However, the Terran Empire kept exacting details on the civilizations they encountered with the goal of using the information to their strategic advantage. They used their scientific research and intelligence to develop drugs, poisons, and weapons that were used against their adversaries. Once the Empire learned everything there was to know about a culture, the information was used to enslave them.

But Vulcans had been the exception. Here was a race of people similar to humans in appearance and temperament and they were highly advanced technologically. Terrans had finally met their match and as the human saying goes, if you cannot beat them join them. Instead of war, an alliance was formed and the Terrans had been invaluable allies in helping the Vulcans defeat the Andorians and Tellarites, Vulcan's nearest neighbors and perpetual antagonists. Vulcan had finally brought their neighbors to heel under their annexation and guidance.

But the Terran Empire was not given to generosity. They were only biding their time until they could take Vulcan and all the riches she had to offer. Friendship and cooperation were only a prelude to conquest.

Vulcans did not simply trust the Humans which was a wise decision. They shared their technology sparingly and kept their most intimate secrets closely guarded. Vulcans were not susceptible to the usual means of coercion and interrogation that the Terrans employed. They were immune to alcohol and most mood-altering drugs humans indulged in. There was no slip of the lip under the influence of any substance where Vulcans were concerned. Even their children were able to withstand the most vicious means of mind sifting and the Terrans had tried repeatedly on many occasions and on many children.

But sometimes the old ways are still the best, for it was not science nor technology but beauty who finally slew the beast.

From the moment that Amanda met Ambassador Sarek while teaching at the Vulcan science academy, she was smitten. Like most Vulcans, he was tall and lean and handsome. He had a stoic warrior demeanor with the sensitivity of a poet. That he was already married with a son mattered little to Amanda and she often flirted shamelessly with him whenever they met. She bided her time until she discovered his secret, that Sarek of Vulcan and all men or that matter would die without a woman to sexually satisfy them.

Amanda relayed this information to the Empire and as a reward, when they brought Vulcan under control she would be given anything she wanted on the planet, and what she wanted was Sarek as her husband.

Amanda took great satisfaction in watching Sarek's Vulcan wife die in the hot Vulcan sun, her verdant blood pooling in the red sand while Sarek was forced to watch with the hope for his own life slipping away with it.

And that was when she came to him, with a cool drink and dry hand upon his burning cheek. "You need not hunger or thirst any longer my love. I am here for you now."

"Amanda?" Sarek asked. He was too far gone in fever to realize his savior was the instrument of his destruction.

"Yes, it is me, beloved. I've come to save you. You will join with me and we will rule this world together," she promised.

"No... I must... I need my wife..." he cried. The agony of his loss could not fully penetrate the fever that burned within him.

"Yes. I am your wife now. We will be joined as one. One heart, one mind."

"No!" he screamed

"Yes!" she hissed with a wicked grin and kissed his parched lips as he tried to recoil to no avail.

/*/*/

"Beloved."

Sarek heard her approach before she entered the room but still the sound of her voice caused him to tense.

"Yes, Aduna?" he calmly replied.

"You sent an encrypted message to the Enterprise. Why?"

"Yes," Sarek said. There was no logic in denying what she already knew. "I did send a message to my son."

"Our son," she corrected as she approached him. She placed a gentle kiss upon his forehead.

"Our son," Sarek agreed.

"Why?" she repeated.

It was not wise to provoke her so he answered honestly. "His Time approaches. Arrangements must be made."

"I have already made the arrangements per your Vulcan traditions. He is promised to T'Pring. She will be waiting for him when the Time comes. There is no need for you to trouble yourself."

That is what Sarek was afraid of but he dare not show it. Sarek would not have chosen T'Pring for his son's bondmate. T'Pring was from a family proven to be loyal to the Empire therefore she could not be trusted, but Sarek could find no logical excuse to break the betrothal. And even if he could, she who was his wife would not allow it.

"Aduna, perhaps it is logical that we should allow our son to choose his own path now? Has he not proven his loyalty to you and the Empire by joining your Starfleet?"

"Our Starfleet? And no. That is not the Vulcan way. We must choose the best prospective bride for him. You know how vulnerable a man can be in that state. T'Pring knows her duty to Spock and more importantly to the Empire. She will help to keep Spock safe and focused on our goals."

"Spock needs-"

"I don't want to discuss our son any longer. He has his duty on the Enterprise. You have your duty to me." She took Sarek by the hand and pulled him to stand. "Come beloved. I require your services." She pulled Sarek away from his desk towards their bed.

Note: Sorry for all the exposition, I needed to cram the entire history of Vulcan/Terran relations into a few paragraphs.