A/N: I have tried to keep this from becoming to explicit and yet maintain a high degree of angst. I hope I have succeeded.
Chapter FourteenWe were on our way out of our quarters with Malcolm and several MACO'S, when Hoshi came around the corner. "You got a minute, guys?"
"Barely, what do you need, Hoshi? T'Pol's got a meeting at 0800 hours and we're taking her and Jonathan to the Cafeteria first."
She raised her hands, "I promise I'll only be a minute, Malcolm." She turned towards the two of us, "We would like to do a baby shower on enterprise for you." Hoshi gazed at us anxiously, and then her eyes locked on mine as if expecting a reply to some question.
I had never heard of this human cultural exchange. "The baby is not due for seven more months, Hoshi, is this a common practice among humans? I've never heard of showering together in a communal bonding with a child."
Jonathan seemed to be choking on something, then, when he had regained his composure, he looked up, "Don't you dare start Hoshi; I swear to God I'll throw ice water on you." I watched as Jonathan started toward her, now I was completely confused. Hoshi was, I believe they call it, giggling, and she was getting louder and it seemed to be getting out of control as I had witnessed her doing before, soon the others in the hall were following her example, including Jonathan. Next tears filled Hoshi's eyes and streamed down her face.
It was obvious that I had misunderstood something, but I had no idea what. I tried to remember any incidents involving babies and showers but there had been none.
"Hoshi, if it means that much to you, then of course, we can all participate in the baby's first shower." Again, laughter broke out among the others. 'Jonathan, you owe me an explanation and what is so funny about a baby's shower.'
Jonathan was holding his sides, his laugh could be heard over the others and now Malcolm was laughing, also.
Now I was aggravated. "I fail to see the humor in this, Jonathan."
Jonathan looked over at Hoshi, tears streaming down his face, "She's a Vulcan for Gods sake, Hoshi, she's never heard of giving a baby shower for the mother-to-be. You started this, now, I want to see you explain it to her, and that's an order."
Jonathan seemed to be experiencing some discomfort because of laughing too hard and I realized Hoshi was enjoying that fact. I also was beginning to relish the same feeling. She took my hand and guided me to one side. "I'll just do that, Sir." I watched as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, T'Pol, we're not laughing at you, truly we're not. It never occurred to me that Vulcan's might not celebrate the announcement of the coming birth of a baby. We celebrate by throwing the mother-to-be, a baby shower, that's when her friends and relatives bring baby gifts.
I didn't know what to say. I also knew that we didn't have many friends or close relatives here. Enterprise was our family. "On Vulcan we do hold a reverence for the life of a child, Hoshi, but since we are not an outwardly emotional people, we are not as demonstrative, I sometimes believe that is our loss."
She smiled and seemed pleased with my response. "T'Pol, can I ask you something? Its kind of personal." I nodded. "How are you really feeling about all of this? I'm also wondering if the baby was a surprise or if the two of you had planned to get pregnant now?"
I searched her eyes, "You mean my emotions." I took a deep breath, contemplating. "To be completely honest with you and myself, I'm frightened for our child, and no she wasn't planned. We didn't actually believe it at first when Phlox told us."
"She, you're going to have a baby girl?" Hoshi was literally bouncing up and down next to me. "A little girl, oh, I can hardly wait, T'Pol, you two will be staying here for the birth, won't you?"
I looked down; Hoshi had taken my hand and was stroking it, I don't believe she was even aware of what she was doing. It felt perfectly natural and comforting and I had no desire to pull away from her.
"Hopefully, Phlox, will be well enough by then to assist with the delivery. I want to stay here. Dr. Sural intends to stay at the Compound until after the birth, he has agreed to assist Phlox."
"Oh, she's going to have so many Aunts and Uncles, I hope you don't mind, everyone on Enterprise is going to want to claim her. Oh, T'Pol, I am so excited." She paused and then gripping my hand tighter, she looked up at me. "You're afraid that you might not be able to carry her to term, aren't you."
I nodded. "She's not a test tube baby, Hoshi, she's the product of our union, I am afraid to let myself hope, but still, I believe it is what you call a miracle." I felt her warm hand on mine, trying to be reassuring. I suddenly needed to change the subject. "Now, this baby shower that you spoke of; when are you going to tell me exactly what it is?"
During the next few minutes, I listened intently while Hoshi told me about baby showers she had attended. I still wasn't certain why they were going to do this on Enterprise, but she was extremely excited. I agreed with her suggestions and she went happily on her way to make the arrangements.
Malcolm was quietly watching, but upon Hoshi's departure, he quickly approached us. "T'Pol, are you ready? We've only got about fifteen minutes to get you over there. I just checked and Ral hasn't arrived yet, I want to get there before he does. I just wish I was going in with you, I'd feel a lot better."
"I'll be fine, Malcolm, stop worrying." I knew better, but there was no need to cause him more stress. I would be fine once we were seated and the talks were under way…. If I could get past the close proximity to him…. that is.
"How are we going, Malcolm?" Jonathan had come to stand beside me. "Are we taking the transport or are we walking?"
"Walking, are you crazy, we've got a transport waiting at the emergency entrance. Lets go." Malcolm led the way, as we continued down the hall.
"By the way, the medical convention is going on now, so we need to be especially careful. As much as I hate to do it, we've got to cross the lobby to get to the emergency area and then we're a short distance from the transport. We're likely to run into conventioneers in the halls so I want you to stay close together. I've got MACO'S stationed on each floor and we'll have an escort, they're waiting for us at the end of the hall.
"While we walk, I need to talk to you about something. We've been trying to figure out how Whitock and his friends fit into all of this. I'm afraid that Harris hasn't been completely forthright with us. I found papers that he didn't turn over with the rest of his files; they're pertinent to this case. He claims that he simply overlooked them. But, when he saw I had them he wasn't at all pleased, in fact he seemed extremely nervous about the whole thing, and he definitely wished he were somewhere else.
"It appears that Whitock was a childhood friend of Ral's, they went to school together, the whole nine yards, best pals. He even went to work for him and eventually became his foreman. He seems to be extremely well off for his position, like maybe he's got money coming from somewhere other than his salary from the factory.
"He has one nasty hang-up, though; he's got an unusually active sexual appetite, he's even been known to get too rough. Ral has gotten him out of serious trouble several times over the years.
"The files that Harris gave us didn't have much detail on Ral or Whitock, most of what I just gave you came from the missing file. That file goes back before Salan contacted the Federation. And get this, Harris was supposedly investigating the disappearances of several young women taken from the home worlds of our council members."
Malcolm hesitated and then looked at me, "I hope your ready for this, according to these records, Harris, found signs of a secret society. They practiced aberrant behavior, including sex, sacrificial offerings and cannibalism, supposedly it all started on Salanacon. I can't find where he ever passed that information on to anyone else. Bones that were found showed signs of dismemberment by use of surgical instruments, not animal dismemberment, very professional looking according to his notes.
"Now, for more bad news, we've been unable to locate Whitock, T'Pol, but he's been spotted here."
Jonathan cut-in. "What the hell's going on, Malcolm? This guy's one of your main players and you've lost him? This guy is one sick sonofabitch, Malcolm. Why was Harris hiding this anyway? He dropped the ball on this one didn't he? And now he's trying to cover his butt, isn't he?"
"Well if he is, Jonathan, he won't get away with it, I can promise you that."
"Getting back to Whitock, we think that as far back as his childhood, or at least his early teen years, Whitock was messing with the girls. The first two abductions I mentioned, they were barely in their teens."
"I Think Ral is just as sick," Jonathan's eyes were disturbing. "Suppose Whitock does the procuring, that keeps Ral in the background, he runs the business, but at the same time, he also gets to enjoy the perks."
Malcolm's communicator went off, "Reed, here."
"Sir, we have an incident, can you talk?"
"Who is this?" Malcolm looked up at me.
"MACO'S, Wilson, Sir. As I said, can you talk?"
"Go ahead. What have you got?"
"Sir, we have a body down here in the basement. It's Major Andrea Buta, she was the evening floor nurse on the secured wing. She's been tortured and mutilated, Sir. And, Sir, she was pregnant and someone cut her open, tore the baby from her and threw it next to the incinerator down here. Also, her floor key is missing.
"We may have a security breach, Sir, at least four of our uniforms are missing. I had just called it in when we were ordered to come down here.
"Sir, is Ambassador T'Pol still on the secured floor?"
"Yes, why?" Malcolm was breathing faster.
"There's a note attached to the baby, it's for Ambassador T'Pol. Sir, this sicko says that she's next."
The last thing I heard was Jonathan screaming, catch her. I couldn't stand up; darkness seemed to close in all around me. Then I heard the sound of phaser fire. Confused and frightened I put my head down forcing blood to my brain, then, leaning heavily on my staff I turned in the direction of the firefight.
MACO'S were firing on MACO'S, or at least that was what my eyes perceived. In the ensuing hand to hand combat I felt myself being pulled toward an adjoining hall. To late, I realized what was happening. I felt the prick of a hypo spray to the side of my neck and as I felt the drug taking affect I was lifted up into someone's arms. Everything faded to black.
ooooo
'T'Pol, can you hear me?'
The air was bad. My nostrils burned. I opened my eyes. Blackness was all that I could see. The air was extremely close, I could barely breathe.
'T'Pol?'
'Jonathan, please tell me this is not an hallucination?'
'It's not. Thank God, I was getting really scared, you've been out for hours.'
'What happened?'
'Phony MACO'S, they outnumbered us. Before we knew what had happened, you were gone. You got any idea where you are, T'Pol?'
'Jonathan, you had better be close by.'
'I'm close by; we just can't find you. You're on an old cargo freighter headed for a graveyard of ships. We just haven't been able to pinpoint your bio-signs. There's some kind of interference.'
'I'm in a box. There's no light, the air is bad and I'm having difficulty breathing. Jonathan, could you hurry, this cannot be good for the child.'
'Jonathan, you're hyperventilating and you're causing me to use more oxygen, you're only making matters worse. Please, calm down, we're both nearly ready to panic.'
'Malcolm just said that we're going to transport over to the cargo hold now. I love you T'Pol.'
'I love you too, Jonathan, please hurry.'
I heard screaming, then, I realized that it was coming from me. I could feel the blows jarring me as someone tried to break into the box that held me captive.
"T'Pol are you in there?"
"Jonathan, surely there is an easier way to free me, other than to beat on it until it breaks, you're going to hurt me."
"We've got to get you out of there immediately, T'Pol, there's a large, very heavily armed ship coming out from behind the debris field, it's not in our database."
I could see light coming through where he had pulled up one of the planks holding the box together. "Then please hurry, Jonathan, I will survive."
He used the plank as leverage and removed the lid. Jonathan was preparing to help me up when suddenly I could not longer see him, what I could see terrified me. I had been transported out of the box into an unfamiliar setting.
ooooo
I looked up into faces that were hidden behind hoods; I was lying on my back and was being securely held down by four or maybe six of them. Panic stricken, I thrashed back and forth trying to break loose. It was useless. I raised my shields. I could not allow Jonathan to see what was going to happen.
"Please T'Pol, you're more intelligent than this, save your energy, your efforts are wasted, you know this is utterly futile." He had joined the others and stood at my head applying more pressure to my chest, holding me down.
There was no mistaking the voice. Ral pushed back his hood with his free hand. The pressure was affecting my breathing. Without an adequate air supply I would soon be rendered unconscious.
"Hold her still, while I fasten the restraints. You certainly haven't lost your Vulcan strength have you, T'Pol.
"Since our last meeting, I have contemplated so many ways of killing you, and all of them very slow. You made me quite angry, T'Pol, talking to me like that, now, I'm the one in charge."
I opened my mouth to speak, but he hit me. I could taste the blood where I had bitten the inside of my mouth. "No, no, T'Pol, you will speak only when you are given permission by me to do so. Is that clear?"
Each time I opened my mouth, it only invited him to hit me again. Finally, on the fifth try and barely above a whisper, I said, "I can't breathe." My eyes closed as I felt myself drifting into unconsciousness.
The pressure on my lungs eased and the next thing I felt was something being put over my nose and mouth. Pure oxygen, as much as I wanted, I filled my lungs to capacity. I continued to inhale deeply, uncertain if that might be my last.
"You only have full capacity in one lung. Did I puncture the other one?"
I nodded. Not caring to be hit again. I continued breathing deeply. He smiled as if the information pleased him. After a few minutes, he removed the oxygen mask from my face.
"As I was saying, I have thought of so many painful ways to kill you, T'Pol, ways that will take hours perhaps even days for you to die. Would you like to know what they are?"
I shook my head and looked away.
"Good, I will tell you anyway. Perhaps you are aware that I have a way of removing the skin, you know, peeling the skin back. First I remove it from the face, then the breasts, I have removed patches of skin from the lower torso, too, while keeping you conscious the entire time. Quite a feat if I say so myself, because most of my playmates don't have your stamina, but then you're a Vulcan, aren't you?" His expression was frightening.
"Breaking your wrists, elbows, knees and ankles did very little to phase you the last time. Perhaps, I will cut both of your arms and feet off this time."
My mouth was dry and I was shaking. The trembling was vibrating through me and I knew he could smell my fear. The look on his face was unnerving me. My breathing was becoming shallow again. This time I feared I might pass out.
"But, then I started thinking, T'Pol, and I reconsidered. You are far too valuable to our membership, T'Pol. I couldn't possibly find anyone better qualified than you, to please certain members of our establishment, they like that rare quality you possess." My stomach threatened to give way to my fear.
"This is a gentleman's club, T'Pol, a very private gentleman's club, what we offer our members is quite unique. It's very exclusive; requirements for membership are extremely rigid. Some of our members are, how do I put this without scaring you, some of our members get overly aggressive and very demanding." He smiled. "We loose some of our best slaves because of their Master's never ending sexual appetite." His smile made me ill.
"Before I fully decide what I'm going to do with you, I believe you should see our establishment, see where you could spend the rest of your life, T'Pol. I believe a tour is in order." He motioned for two of his hooded brothers to join him. "I am going to release her, hold her so that she does not try to run."
While I stood, they tied my hands behind me, and then my upper arms were tightly secured behind my back. Excruciating pain shot through my shoulder as my arms were forced backward causing me to drop to my knees.
"Bring her." Ral turned and headed toward the door. With one on each side of me they grabbed hold of my upper arms forcing me forward, dragging me, the angle tearing at my shoulder. I did not intend to endure the pain and screamed. Upon hearing me, they dropped me and I fell on my face and chest. Which also did not help me. 'Jonathan, where are you?'
Ral was now standing over me, "What is it? I am losing my patience with you, T'Pol. Perhaps, I should reconsider and just kill you."
"May I speak?" I did not look up, half expecting him to hit me.
"I just asked you a question, did I not? Yes, you may speak." The pleasure in his voice was unmistakable.
"As you know, my left shoulder was injured in the first bomb attempt. Dragging me has re-opened the wound. Also, for your information, I have been walking with the aid of a staff. I believe it was left behind when I was kidnapped, but, if you have such a device, I can walk on my own." Silence ensued.
He turned to talk to someone in the background. "Did you bring anything else back with her? Perhaps something that looks like a walking cane?"
"Yes Sir, it was very unusual, I was going to keep it." The man appeared to be shaken by all the attention Ral was giving him. "I will go immediately and return with it, if that pleases, Sir."
Ral nodded, and with a hand gesture, dismissed him. "T'Pol, when we get to Sick Bay, I will personally tend to your wounds." His smile chilled me to the bone. Making my heart leap into my throat.
Evidently the man did not have far to go, he returned almost immediately, holding my staff. Ral looked at it, taking it from the young man he examined it thoroughly. "Untie her. She needs her staff for walking, if she tries to use it as a weapon, kill her." The two men released me and then helped me to my feet. The one with the staff handed it to me. Smiling.
Ral led the way, with me slowly coming along. His men stood on either side of me, watching cautiously. We took one lift and then another, always going deeper and deeper into the bowels of the ship. Then upon leaving the last lift I could hear screams. He was going to take me to the holding cells and the torture chambers. The screams were coming from the slaves.
Stopping in front of one of the cells, Ral forced me to look inside, after my eyes adjusted I could see that the woman was not alone. She was hanging from something in the ceiling, her back arched with her head between her legs, and he was doing something…. I turned away, afraid that I was going to be sick.
"That's nothing, T'Pol, come along." Grabbing hold of me, he pulled me to the next cell. Each cell contained a female, being serviced by one or more men. He did this three more times forcing me to watch until each session had been completed and the women lay unconscious on the floor. Finally I turned toward the wall and vomited.
"Please, T'Pol, don't prove me wrong about you, I know you have more stamina than all of them. I have something very special to show you, our special toys. Our more aggressive members enjoy using these, this is what you will be trained on and I personally intend to do the training."
I could hear screams coming from the room he was taking me to. I pulled back, and began to fight him. Panic is something I have felt very few times, but I knew that was what I was feeling now. Soon the reality of my situation was going to be right in front of me. I suddenly had the feeling of complete hopelessness again.
Ral opened the door and pushed me inside. Holding my head, he forced me to look around; I fought to free myself, but he had me to firmly, his fingers digging into my wound. My eyes finally came to rest on a couple in the corner, as I gazed upon her child like body I looked into her lifeless eyes and realized she was dead, her attacker didn't seem to mind as he worked feverishly to relieve himself. I felt my knees buckle under me. 'Jonathan please hurry.' I fainted.
Startled, I opened my eyes. Ral had carried me to Sick Bay after I lost consciousness and was now slapping me to bring me to. He had said he intended to have a look at my injuries. I was laying flat on my back.
"Oh, I am so glad you have decided to join us, T'Pol. Surely you realize that I must examine the merchandise first, some of our members are quite difficult to please. We pride ourselves in the quality of our female slaves. Usually they have been well seasoned before they are brought here to serve us. I am going to make an exception, however, in your case. Our members will be inclined to take you regardless of your physical condition because of your aggressiveness. I may put you in the pit with two of our Klingon female warriors. You will be pleased to learn that your reputation as a fighter precedes you, and is known by every member here, even I am anxious to partake once again." I looked away.
I was lying on a bio-bed similar to those in Starfleet's medical lab. He was going to strip me. My heart raced as he fastened the restraints. He turned his back to me and when he turned back around he was brandishing a long and very ominous looking knife that he was going to use to cut away my robes.
"Try to relax, T'Pol, we wouldn't want to cut anything that we would later regret, now would we." He stood over me momentarily letting his eyes roam. "These are beautiful robes, it's a shame to have to ruin them, but I am anxious to see what is underneath. I don't suppose you would be willing to just simply take them off for me?"
I glared at him. Trying to keep my composure.
"I thought as much, I enjoy this part to much, anyway, it's like stripping away your defenses, the others always resist the inevitable, too."
He picked up the knife and began to cut. I closed my eyes as I felt the layers being peeled away. Soon I could feel the air on my bare chest. My body trembled uncontrollably. I reinforced my shields.
"This is a nasty shoulder wound you have here, it may require more surgery and I see that someone has attempted to make some repairs here." I felt him touch me and I tried to pull away. Ral laughed. You had better get used to being touched and played with like this, our members will do far more than merely touch you." He laughed again as he explored further. "What is this?"
He had found the baby's monitor. I held my breath, refusing to answer him.
He watched it intently for several minutes. Then he put his ear to my heart and listened, he watched my breathing and the monitor. "You're regulating the baby's heart beat with your own." He smiled. "I wanted a way to rid you of this freak of nature, now I believe I have found it."
He reached over and turned it off.
Ral stared in disbelief as he realized what was happening. He watched the transporter's energy burst as I was transported out just as the device deactivated.
ooooo
I was transported directly to Sick Bay aboard a Vulcan Battle Cruiser. Upon seeing Jonathan standing next to me I became hysterical, totally losing control of my emotions. I grabbed him as they tried to secure me to the bio-bed, refusing to let go of him. I had to be treated for shock and then sedated. Thankfully, with Jonathan holding me, and his calming affect on me, I finally quieted down and slept.
Considering the peril I had found myself in, I believe that my breakdown was justified, however, I believe that I shocked the Vulcan doctors. I required further medical attention for my shoulder, but told them I would prefer to wait until my physicians could attend to the more complicated problems. Considering my condition, they agreed.
The baby monitor had jammed all attempts to transport me out sooner. Jonathan knew that the only chance I had was for Ral to search me and to find the device attached to me and deactivate it. He also realized that the only way that was going to happen was if Ral removed my clothing. He had prayed that Ral would want to. His anxiety had been overwhelming while he waited for what he knew had to happen.
Shran and several other ships that were cloaked, had been monitoring the situation, but even with continuous triangulating they, too, could not get a lock on me until Ral turned off the device. They were still speculating as to why Ral was able to transfer me to his ship, but that they could not.
It never occurred to them that the Salanese battleship was equipped with technology far superior to theirs. I shall explain it to them at some future time, but not right now.
Two ships supplied by each member of the Federation are now standing by awaiting instructions from the Fleet Admiral, which is Jonathan.
The fleet would patrol the area; the graveyard of ships had a few surprises. Upon closer inspection, Jonathan realized that several members of Ral's club were hiding their small ships in the debris field.
Medical teams were ready to accompany Captain Reed's men in the painful task of securing the commandeered ship. There were five floors to search and the crew to question, there would be many arrests made as each floor was secured.
The MACO'S had made a quick estimate indicating that there were more than 100 slaves on board, but I knew they would find more, I also knew that at least one was dead, I was sure they would find many in critical condition. I had seen enough to understand why they had such a large turnover of female slaves. Those who had survived would require medical treatment and many sessions in therapy, and I knew that some of them would never recover.
After reassuring Phlox and Dr. Sural that I was fine and that my injuries would hold until I returned, they finally agreed to let me return to the slave ship to retrieve as much data as possible. The answers to many of our questions would be in Ral's data logs. I hoped it would tell us how many planets were involved, where the holding cells were located, who else was involved and more importantly what had happened to the missing men, women and children kidnapped over the years. I kept hoping it wasn't to late to help the others still being held in various locations.
Jonathan finally pulled me away, four hours later, insisting that the Vulcan doctors had ordered me to rest. I refused to concede until he promised that he would stay with me. Exhausted, I finally fell asleep in his arms until we heard the Intercom go off.
"Admiral, I am sorry to disturb you, but Prime Minister Urdal has arrived and is off your port side. He insists on seeing you and Ambassador T'Pol."
I nodded that it was satisfactory and attempted to get up. After groaning a few times, I finally succeeded and was able to hang my feet over the edge of the bunk, forced to hold my left arm against my chest. "It is a good thing that they gave me two robes to wear. Even though I removed this one, it smells undesirable." I had wanted his scent on me and so removed my robe before we retired. He came over to help me dress. "Perhaps the sling is a good idea, Jonathan."
He seemed unusually quiet and reserved as he helped me. I was unable to feel his thoughts. I finally asked what was on his mind that he was shielding from me.
"T'Pol, why did you shut me out, earlier?" He knelt down and balanced himself on his heels in front of me and took my hands in his, and waited for an answer.
At first I looked away, trying to gather my thoughts. Then inhaling deeply, I turned back to him and caressed his face. "I love you to much, Jonathan, I could not let you know what he was going to do to me."
"I don't want you to shut me out, T'Pol. We are bondmates for life, remember."
My eyes glistened over, "My dearest, husband, that is why I raised my shields. You might have died with me. I couldn't let that happen."
He put his arms around me and pulled me close against him and I buried my head in his shoulder. I could feel his emotions flooding me, he wanted to console me in the only way that he knew how, and I wanted him too, but we had business to take care of first.
Finally I was ready, I turned and faced Jonathan, "Well, do I look presentable?"
Jonathan smiled. I was dressed in a long flowing White Vulcan Robe, little ornamentation, very simple actually.
His eyes lit up, "You look like an angel, T'Pol. I'm just glad that your not." He picked up my sling and approached me. "Getting this on is going to hurt like hell, but it will help once we're done." He was right, getting it over my head and my arm into it turned into a fiasco. "I guess I should have untied it first." I looked at him, surprised. I thought he had, normally he would have. It had been a daily routine, lately. We both groaned, today had taken its toll on him as well.
Taking my staff and with Jonathan holding my left elbow we proceeded to the lift. We were to meet the Prime Minister in the conference room.
Hesitating for a moment outside the door, Jonathan asked me, "Are you ready?"
I nodded. "As ready as I'm going to be. It would have been better had he waited until tomorrow. But I can understand his impatience."
"Lets get it over with. I want to get you in bed." He grinned. He knew what I had been thinking and his nervous adrenaline was in overdrive.
Totally in agreement, we turned and entered. "Prime Minister Urdal, I'm sorry we are late." Jonathan offered his hand. "I am Admiral Jonathan Archer and this is my wife, Ambassador T'Pol of Vulcan."
"I am honored to at last meet you, Ambassador T'Pol. I only wish it were under more pleasant circumstances... I was told that you were in grave danger today. I am sorry to have placed you and your child at risk and I truly hope that we can get on with our lives now."
"As do we, Prime Minister. I only wish that we could have helped sooner. Perhaps things would have turned out differently for you."
He bowed, and his features suddenly seemed older. He was tired. Pain had taken its toll on him as well…. We still had our daughter.
Silence filled the room as he composed his thoughts. "I would like to see Ral?"
Jonathan looked at me. "Prime Minister that might not be a good idea. Why would you want to put yourself through something like that, anyway?"
Again silence, then he looked at me. "I believe your wife knows why?" At first his comment confused me, then I realized he wanted to ask Ral, why?
"Jonathan, I believe we can arrange for him to come with us in the morning, we begin interrogations at 0900 hours. Is that agreeable with you, Prime Minister?"
"Yes, thank you. Where shall I meet you?" I looked at Jonathan, I honestly did not know. 'Where?'
Smiling, Jonathan grinned and said, "The Vulcans have offered their interrogation facilities and I thought that we might just take them up on it."
Arching my eyebrows in surprise, I nearly smiled. "Excellent choice."
"Does that meet with your approval, Prime Minister? Will it bother you, being on a Vulcan ship?" Jonathan had a look of concern on his face as he waited for his reply.
"Not at all, and as your wife just said, I too, believe it's an excellent choice."
"Very well then, if you will excuse us, my wife needs to rest." Jonathan took hold of me and helped me up. I said nothing verbally, but I felt every inch of my body protest.
"I'm sorry, Ambassador, it was inconsiderate of me to even request this meeting, tonight, I just had to know if he had been captured. Then I wanted to meet both of you. You're the ones who made it possible. I'll take your leave now and say good night. I'll see you then in the morning at 0900 hours and I'll make my arrangements with the Vulcan ship when I return to mine."
"Oh, that won't be necessary Prime Minister, I will add your name to the list to be allowed admittance. We'll see you there at 0900 hours. Good night, Sir."
"Good night, and thank you again." He turned and left the room.
ooooo
Half way back to our quarters, Jonathan picked me up and carried me tightly against him. I nuzzled, burying myself in his arms as close as I could possibly get and closed my eyes. I could feel his emotions welling up inside of him, as they were in me. How differently things could have ended today. I will always be eternally grateful that help arrived in time.
Once inside our quarters, we consoled each other, seeing to one another's needs. Our time together was intimate, tender and extremely emotional for both of us and later we slept soundly in each other's arms for the first time in weeks.
ooooo
Since I was not returning immediately to Starfleet Medical, they had informed the Vulcan medical staff that I was to report to them before doing anything else. Phlox and Dr. Sural had given them a list of tests to do and they were to see that I received supplements since I would not get my daily intravenous feedings. I was lectured to, for five minutes, telling me that I belonged off my feet, and in bed. When I finally made it clear to them that I had no intentions of going to bed they finally conceded, but still forced me onto the bio-bed for tests. With only five minutes to spare, Jonathan pulled me away from Sick Bay.
We were quickly led back to the interrogation facilities toward the back of the ship, where we met Prime Minister Urdal. It was apparent that he had been waiting for a while and he seemed very nervous and very tired, like he had not slept at all.
"Are you sure you want to do this Prime Minister." Jonathan studied him closely.
"No, I'm not sure, but I suspect Admiral, that you feel the same way I do. If you can handle it, I can handle it. Are they going to bring him in here, unattended?" He was sweating.
"No, and we are on this side of a two way mirror. We can see him but he can't see us. We will confront him, but not until later."
I was apprehensive as I took in his demeanor. I was not convinced that this was a good idea for Jonathan or the Prime Minister. However, I was more concerned as to what he might do if he came face to face with Ral.
Malcolm entered the room next to us and came to the glass. 'He is coming now." He went to the door and opened it. Ral entered. He was no longer richly dressed; he was instead, in Vulcan gray prison dress and his hands and feet were shackled. Inside, I rather enjoyed the look.
The first comments from him were to the effect that he was being held unlawfully. He claimed diplomatic immunity and that he was entitled to counsel and he demanded to talk with his government immediately.
Malcolm went to the Intercom, "Prime Minister, would you please step in here."
Jonathan and I looked at each other, surprised.
"Don't worry, I have already talked to Captain Reed, he discussed what he has in mind, and asked if I could go along with it. I want to help, so of course, I said yes. Don't worry I won't be alone with him. That is all that concerned me, too." He walked out and entered the next room. We sat down near the window and listened.
"Prime Minister, I didn't know that you were here. I was just going to ask to talk to you." Ral was to say the least, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Now he was apprehensive. "None of what they have told you is true, I assure you." He stopped, expecting the Prime Minister to come to his defense, but he said nothing. "There has been some kind of misunderstanding or a cruel joke has been played on me. I assure you I would never frequent such an unsavory establishment. I accepted an invitation to dine on an entertainment facility, that is all, Prime Minister.
"Sir, tell them that I don't have to answer any of their questions, and that I cannot be treated as a common criminal, at the very least they should be treating me with the respect due my position in your government." He was becoming agitated.
Prime Minister Urdal walked around in front of Ral and sat down. We could feel the tension. Then looking him in the eye, he said, "I have just returned from your ship, the slave ship, I spent the night going from floor to floor."
Ral turned ghastly pale.
"I have talked to the crew, whom all seem to know you at least by name. I talked with those who have been arrested. I tried talking to the victims; some of them were not going to survive the night, Ral.
"Three hours ago I relieved you of your post. You're no longer under the protection of the Salanese government, Ral. You are under investigation for serious crimes against the government, against your own people, and now, these despicable atrocities. You are on your own, Ral." He got up and walked over to the glass.
Malcolm went to the Intercom, "Ambassador T'Pol, would you please come to Interrogation Room One, please." Ral jerked around and looked at Malcolm.
"She can't come in here right now, the Prime Minister shouldn't be subjected to her hysterics." Ral was sweating profusely.
I stood up and Jonathan took my hands, "You don't have to do this if you think you can't handle being in there with him, T'Pol. No one would blame you. I don't know how I might act."
"I promise you that I am not going to go into hysterics, Jonathan. I will act every bit the Vulcan Ambassador that I am."
I entered as the door opened to receive me and walked over to the table and sat down across from him. Malcolm came over and stood next to me, actually touching me. I relaxed.
Malcolm spread some pictures out in front of him, "You haven't asked about your cohorts. I thought that you might like to know, they're all, everyone of them, doing well. It didn't take much to convince them to put their weapons down. We have them in protective custody. You may also be interested to know that they've decided to testify against you."
Ral was raging inside. I sat back and waited.
Malcolm placed a sheet of paper in front of him. "I am going to read you your rights before we begin. They've been translated into Salanese for your convenience." Ral's eyes darted up to the Prime Minister, who said nothing.
"Ral, you are accused of the kidnap, rape and attempted murder of Ambassador T'Pol, you're also accused of hiring someone who carried out two assassination attempts against her. You also stand accused of kidnap, rape and the murder of Prime Minister Urdal's daughter, Tara.
"You are accused of inciting a coup and the assassination plot against Prime Minister Urdal.
"You stand accused of dealing in the buying and selling of men, women and children for the purpose of sexual slavery and bondage. I can go on if you like, I have several more charges."
The Prime Minister walked over and stood behind him. "Ral, the Federation has granted my request to take you back to Salanacon with me."
I could actually see Ral relax until he looked into Urdal's eyes.
"You will be tried by a jury of your peers, Ral. That should please you. However, since our trial requirements differ from those of the Federation, you will be bonded over to the authorities on Amnerest Penal Colony to await trial proceedings. It could take as long as a year for your attorneys to prepare your defense."
Ral drew in a deep breath and almost shuddered. He seemed to be in shock.
The Prime Minister waited, watching him. "If after the trial, you are found guilty, you will await the appeals process in Amnerest. When your attorneys have exhausted your appeals, you will either be given a new trial or you will be bound over for execution, which will take place at Amnerest. As you know our court system is quite complex, it could take twenty years to exhaust your appeals, Ral."
I was intrigued, the look in his eyes could not be mistaken, Ral was terrified of this place called Amnerest.
Wanting to know more, I asked him. "Is there something about Amnerest, Ral, that bothers you? You appear to be upset at hearing the name."
The Prime Minister stepped in almost smiling. "It has an infamous reputation, Ambassador. Would you like to tell her about it, Ral?
"No, are you sure you wouldn't like to enlighten her. Well then I will do it for you, I believe she will find it quite interesting.
"You see, Ambassador, the population is mostly hardened criminals, those serving consecutive life terms and of course, those awaiting execution.
"Would you like to tell her what a typical day consists of Ral? No, are you sure? All right then, shall I? They have free time in the yard and they have weekly entertainment. But then they have their daily activities, the kind that should have Ral feeling right at home.
All color had drained from Ral's face. "Ambassador T'Pol, you will find this especially interesting, they like to gang rape the new ones, usually repeated off and on all day, every day. They love their daily beatings too, I'm told it helps them to get into the mood, and of course there may be a murder of an inmate that occasionally rejects they're advances. Strange thing though, very few men survive their stay there long enough to exhaust their appeals process."
"Somehow, it seems fitting." I could not stop myself. I wanted to say more, tell him what it feels like to be a piece of meat. I wanted him to know that I was pleased.
Ral's eyes looked strange as he focused on me. I sensed he was going to do something, but it was to late to protect myself. He came over the top of the table and we landed on the floor as the chair toppled over. We both struggled to gain control. His hands tried to pull the chain around my throat and tighten it, then, I heard myself scream as I felt him bite into my ear. I pulled my right arm free and reached for his shoulder, where, I attempted to apply the Vulcan nerve pinch. He finally fell away from me, slumping to the floor. I gasped for air as I held my ear.
Ral and I weren't the only ones who had gone airborne. While Malcolm and the Prime Minister had come to my side instantly, Jonathan had come through the glassed in wall.
I assured everyone that I was fine. I had had the wind knocked out of me and I felt that I probably had pulled more stitches loose in my chest. By morning there would be black and blue marks on my neck from where Ral had tried to strangle me with his chains, but thankfully, my ear was still firmly attached. I could see Phlox, now, he would rant and rave for an hour. It would be so good to see him again.
MACO'S came in to remove Ral and put him in a holding cell until he could be transported to the Prime Minister's ship. He had regained consciousness, and was belligerent forcing them to restrain him to the wall in his holding cell.
Silently, I contemplated the way things had gone it really did seem an appropriate punishment to me. I didn't realize that I could be a vengeful person and finally dismissed it, attributing it to my condition, the emotional side of me. He would now know what it feels like to be beaten into submission, to crawl and to beg for mercy and receive none. Ral would be treated to a new understanding of what sexual slavery is and it would be very soon.
I suddenly felt at peace.
TBC
A/N: I have one more chapter to tie up loose ends and some sap of course. If anyone sees a loose end that really needs explaining please let me know soon. Also if you feel this should be M let me know. I tried to keep it from being to explicit but this was a mind game not physical. I didn't know how else to do it. Thanks again to all my readers. Please review, I would like to know what everyone honestly thinks, also any ideas on how I can improve my writing.