Title: You don't need wings to fly

Author: Jenna Raven Rose

Fandom: Star trek 2009/ into darkness

Rating: mature

She walked back to the well carrying the empty bucket. Being careful to remain on the path or rather the thin line of metal that ran down the road. It connected to the myriad of other lines that enabled her and the other women to move about. Not that it was really moving about since the lines were tied to the power grids that only were present in civilized areas. Meaning of course towns and the highways were the only place one could go.

The corresponding metal band around her left ankle, made sure she would never stray from the approved paths the elders had set out for the nearly three thousand or so women like her in this town. One of the guards from the wall moved past her and she stepped aside as far as she could so he could pass her. She let out a sigh of relief that he paid her no heed.

She was almost of age and would soon have to start worrying about a husband acquiring her. She shuddered at the thought and vowed she would start moving the heavier furniture nearer to the door. She wished they would allow her a blade so she could at least defend herself . She just hated this part of their culture. Just the idea that some random man could decide he wanted her as a wife and just take her, was just so wrong on so many levels. It never failed to infuriate then depress her.

She reached her house and handed the bucket to another girl going out of the door to refill them. The cook pointed her in the direction of some vegetables that needed chopping for the evening meal. She picked up the discarded knife and started chopping. Her hands moving in a well rehearsed rhythm that did not really require her concentration.

She would have to check on Nagara tonight, she was close to her laying in time and Lord Herold would only let members of his own house near her, least she escape before the babe was born. It was important that she have the child in her new husbands abode so his claim would be strengthened enough to be unbreakable by her family.

If she somehow managed to get back to them before the babe came her family could claim it and invalidate the marriage.

"Ali are you wake dreaming again girl ? You will cut off one of your digits one day lass , pay attention a healer needs her fingers" said Jerilla.

Ali smirked at the old woman, she had been chiding her for as long as she could remember, and Ali had not cut herself yet.

"I am watching where my fingers are Jery, contrary to popular opinion I am capable of doing two things at once" said Ali

Teasing the woman back in the same tone. The woman was filling a bowl while she talked. She set a spoon in it.

"Here take this to Nagara, she was not up to midday sup and check on her while your at it, since your so skilled" said Jery .

Ali took the proffered bowl gave the woman a wry look and left the kitchen carrying the bowl. She did not miss the worried look Jery gave her as she left. If Jery had her way Ali would be hiding in her cellar at night. Just to make sure she didn't end up with a brute of a man like Jery's sister Halia did. Frowning she added sweet spice to the stew.

Ali was too nice of a person to be cowed like that, the last thing Jery wanted to see was that girl looking like a whipped dog.

Ali slowly climbed the stairs, one hand holding the bowl and the other her skirts so she could walk. She entered the corridor after the long arduous climb and walked towards the only door with a guard. The long scar, going from under his eye on the right side to his chin, marked him as one of the aveda, a eunuch and the only type of soldier suitable for such a duty.

The guard nodded towards her and unlocked the door to allow her entrance. Ali noted absently if not for the scar and missing equipment, he was handsome enough to make a descent looking husband. The door closed with a solid clank and Ali moved forward towards the small woman huddled on the bed. She had been crying again and Ali rolled her eyes in irritation.

Her father was not really that bad of a man. He rarely punished his daughter's unnecessarily and she was sure the rumor about her grandmother was just that, a rumor. Someone wouldn't really wall their wife up in a tower if she produced only daughters would they?

"Nagara I have brought you something to eat" said Ali

She moved forward and set down the bowl.

"I don't want it go away" said Nagara

Ali snorted she had heard this same stubborn rhetoric when the woman had first gotten here, to be honest it was getting tiresome. Ali did have to give the girl credit, she had almost escaped several times. She was a stubborn one that was for sure but the babe inside her needed to eat.

Ali smoothed her skirts, tucked her wings more firmly back behind her and moved forward. Ali stopped beside the young woman's bed. The girl remained stubbornly staring at her knees which were tucked up in a position that could not have been comfortable with her belly as huge as it was.

"Nagara please, you are only doing yourself a disservice, if my lord finds out you have been purposely starving yourself or his son, who do you think he will punish?" said Ali

The girl glanced up long enough to glare at her in anger. Ali did not like having to remind the woman of the hostage but surely she valued her serving woman's life, enough that she would prevent her torture by behaving somewhat.

"How do I know she is not dead already?" said Nagara

Ali hesitated she wasn't sure if the older woman was still alive.

"She certainly will not be for long, if you continue down this vein" said Ali

The girl's answering glare, told Ali that the woman would gladly murder them all in their beds if she were free. Ali silently resolved to sleep in the stables tonight or at least block her door. Ali folded her arms and glared back. It was a silent trial of wills that lasted for only a few minutes, the girl lost and reached for the bowl.

Ali silently stood there with her arms folded and watched the girl eat.

"You know they will be coming for you soon" said Nagara

She broke off a piece of the roll, that was stuck in the cheese on top of the bowls surface.

"A bright pretty young thing like you, I'd wager there will be fights over who takes you" said Nagara

Ali tried not to flinch from her words. The girl always baited her like this. Somedays she got lucky though and the barbs struck home. Ali didn't like the idea of bloodshed, over her even less, but the girl was probably right. Boys had started to follow her movements and she knew what followed.

"I hope when he does he's a right sorry bastard who treats you worse than a cur" said Nagara

Ali narrowed her eyes at the woman, such animosity was uncalled for. Ali's eyes landed on the bruise decorating the other woman's cheek.

"And I hope my father's hand finds you every time you open that foul mouth of yours, perhaps then you will learn some manners. At the very least we will have peace while it mends" said Ali

Nagara gasped and started to drop the now empty bowl. Ali scooped it up before it hit the comforter. "Why.. you little!" said Nagara

She stood and tried to approach Ali. The chain tethering her to the bed prevented her from going much farther than the edge of the dais. Ali stepped back beyond her reach, the girl was known for trying to throw punches.

"I will tell my father both you and the babe are well, if you need anything just scream" said Ali

She turned on heel and strode for the door.

"Someday this will be you, you know" said Nagara

Ali paused in the doorway.

"Not if I can help it" said Ali and she left the room.

The guard locked the door and Ali walked the bowl back downstairs. She shoved the bowl in the dishwater as she walked back into the room.

"So how is milady? As charming as ever I see" said Jery

Ali chuckled.

"Oh yeah, I just wish she would accept it already, it's not as if we have mistreated her" said Ali

Jery gave her a worried look.

"Do not be so harsh on the lass, the south has different rules" said Jery

"Different rules?" said Ali

"Yes, apparently the women there have rights and go about untethered" said Jery

Ali scoffed in disbelief.

"Where did you hear that rubbish?" said Ali

Jery smirked

"From one of me boys they're in the merchants, sees all kinds of amazing places he does" said Jery

She ended the statement with a wist-filled sigh that Ali shared. Seeing far off exotic shores sounded like fun and she wished she could go. Jery put her arm around her shoulder.

"You know my boy does not have a wife yet, if an enterprising young lass were smart, she would arrange to get captured by the man she wants" said Jery

Ali blushed, all of Jery's son's were very attractive, well bred young men, who she honestly would not mind being tied to. Jery had never borne any marks on her from punishment that Ali was aware of. So her son's must have been raised decent too right. Ali sighed all this worry was giving her a headache. Jery sensed her distress and patted her affectionately.

"If you want, I can suggest it to them" said Jery

Ali smirked at the woman.

"Thank you Jery" said Ali

She didn't want to admit it but the girl's words had gotten to her this time.

Spock frowned at the tricorder in his hands. The readings were all wrong. He adjusted for the magnetic interference again and glanced towards the building across the street from him. What ever was giving off those readings was in that building. He recorded the sign beside the door for Uhura's later analysis and walked towards the building.

He climbed the stone steps and absently noted the threads of metal running through them. He paused for a moment and observed. Taking particular note that the females of the species would walk only where these lines existed. He wondered why but shoved the mystery to the back of his mind for later concern. He climbed the steps and stopped. A man was standing at the door collecting what looked like metal. He frowned again and approached the man

"That'll be three Descats" said the man

"What is a Descat?" said Spock

The small being frowned at him.

"If you don't know, then you obviously don't have any" said the man

He turned away from Spock and took another man's metal bits. Spock raised an eyebrow at the creature's rudeness. Currency, Spock's mind instantly supplied and he instantly wanted to berate himself. It was such a rookie mistake, of course a primitive world would not have evolved past the use of currency yet.

He stepped behind a statue and tapped his com.

"Spock to enterprise, I have located the source. It is in a structure a few clicks ahead of my current location. It appears to be some sort of museum. I seem to have miscalculated and did not bring any of the local currency any suggestions" said Spock

Spock frowned Kirk would never let him live this one down, in fact he could almost see them laughing at his expense.

"Spock be advised, there is an alternative entrance to your location about twenty clicks down the right side of the building" said Uhura's calm voice.

She did sound irritated so he could ascertain his earlier assessment had been accurate. He walked down the stairs and a ways down the street, then darted into an alleyway. He found the door easily but had to use his phaser on the lock.

"Stop right there sir or we will shoot" said one of the natives.

Spock firmly suppressed the urge to groan and turned towards the newcomers. They wore uniforms identifying them as the local law enforcement. He could stun them and complete his mission but odds were, the one at the edge would fall out of the alley when he was hit.

That would seriously compromise his position and most likely draw more officers. He raised his hands in surrender. He thanked Surek that Kirk was not with him.

She grabbed her pillows and blankets. Walked down the hallway and climbed the stairs. Behind her the other two midwives struggled with their own bedding. They would be bunkering down in the hall until the babe was here, per her fathers orders. She found a nice spot by the window in a direct line for the restroom and arranged her bedding.

The other two wordlessly did the same. They were given orders, that they were not to disturb the woman, not that Ali would want to. She just hoped the woman would hurry up and spit out the babe already. Ali glanced at the door and one of the other girls caught her eye. The other girl mouthed a derogatory term for the woman behind the door, that would have earned her the lash had she said it out loud, fortunately for her Ali shared her assessment.

She sighed, she was certainly not looking forward to when he finally let Nagara out of that room. The woman was a menace and honestly if she hadn't been pretty, father would have overlooked her in a heartbeat. Ali slid under her blankets and the other two women did the same.

They had no idea when Nagara would wake in the throes of labor, so they decided they should get some sleep now. Ali knew no one would be stupid enough to interfere for the ladies' laying in, not if they didn't plan on incurring the lords wrath.

Spock frowned at the blank walls of his cell. It was cold in this little room not that he would acknowledge the physical discomfort but being forced to strip to his undergarments was not conductive to maintaining body heat. His com and phaser were somewhere out in the other room and by the chrono on the wall he had a few more hours before the enterprise would miss his report and come looking.

He briefly closed his eyes and tried to slip into the meditation trance once more.

Ali was out of it when she heard the moan. She rolled over and listened to the others snore for a few more seconds and then she heard it again. Ali sighed and sat up, she tapped the other girl and she stirred. She turned over and gave Ali a questioning look. She nodded and the girl turned over and tapped the other one.

Ali climbed to he feet and approached the guard at the door. He looked up and she nodded towards the door, just about the time another moan came from within. He nodded and silently unlocked the door. Ali walked in with the other two trailing behind her. Nagara was curled up on the floor moaning in pain. Ali approached and knelt beside her.

"Nagara I'm here to help, please let me see" said Ali

"No, go away please just let me die, please go away" said Nagara

Ali ignored her ranting, the first timers were always like this . Ali reached her hand out and touched her stomach. Energy roiled under her fingertips, yeah it was time and by the state she was in it would be a fast one.

"Fetch Talesn, it will be tonight" said Ali

One of the girls nodded and went to fetch her father's overseer.

Propriety demanded that the overseer contacted his lordship about anything important and as women it was not their place to tell her father what was important. His lordship had been waiting for this birth though so the message would more than likely be passed on.

While the one girl left to make the proper notifications they helped Nagara back into the bed. They just got her propped against the pillows when another wave of pain doubled the woman over . Ali started counting the time between contractions while the other girl fetched the supplies they would need to deliver the child. Ali ignored the woman's moans of pain.

"Please you have to get me out of here please" said Nagara

Ali frowned because the woman threw off her count with her pleading.

"And go where, woman your babe is coming now you wouldn't make it three feet" said Ali

The woman responded with sobs and for just a few minutes Ali pitied her. Her father never loved any of the women he took to wife. She honestly did not think the man had it in him to love another person and this woman did not want to be here.

None of them ever had not even Ali's mother. The woman opened her mouth to reply and it was cut off with a gasp and scream. The one girl came back with the supplies at the same time the one acting as a messenger did as well.

"He will be up shortly, we are to let him know the second it arrives" said the messenger.

"How far are they?' said the other girl.

"She is at seven, I need to open the pod" said Ali

The other girl nodded and handed Ali the scalpel.

"Hold her" said Ali

"Should we get the guard?" said the messenger

Ali looked up at them both then at Nagara

"No, she knows better than to move now" said Ali

She knelt in between the woman's legs and started cutting away the protective barrier that would keep the child from being injured while in the womb. Nagara wisely froze and let her do her work without protest.

Spock was frowning again the time for his report had come and gone but still no word from the enterprise. He was starting to get worried that Kirk may have stranded him this time. If so he may need to escape, complete his mission, then head for the rendezvous site and set up the emergency beacon. First he would need to get out of this cage.

"Push Nagara, come on push I can see the head" said Ali

"Just a bit farther now" encouraged the other girls

Nagara screamed and then ranted obscenities at everyone and everything, then heaved with all her might. The child's head came free with a popping noise followed by its shoulder. Ali guided it the rest of the way out and handed the child off to the other waiting girl. She cleaned him off and made sure his lungs worked. A piecing scream filled the night and Ali motioned for the messenger to fetch the overseer.

He came in and Ali left the other girl to deal with the passing of the pod.

"Well?" said the overseer

"You may tell his lordship that it is a healthy baby boy" said Ali

The overseer smiled and gave a short sigh of relief.

"I will send others to attend her. You have earned your rest, you may use the bathing hall today" said the man

He walked out of the door on his way to deliver the good news

"My babe" said Nagara, holding out her hands for the child

Ali sat on the bed and carefully handed her the bundled child. She watched Nagara as she put the babe to her breast to feed. They couldn't leave the woman until there relief showed up.

The sound of heels on the door-frame had Ali turning towards the door. She froze in shock she had been expecting the overseer not his lordship. She quickly averted her eyes and vacated her spot. She took her position next to the other two girls, who were already in the same position.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched Nagara. The girl was trembling and looked frightened. Her father ignored the woman's reaction and pulled down the cloth to reveal the babies face. He smiled an actual genuine smile.

"You may dine in the hall tonight, welcome to my clan" he said then rose

Ali watched his feet as he walked towards the door.

"You have done your house proud you may go" said the lord

The other two women backed out of the room

"Alisande take the babe to the nursery, then you may go as well, you have done well my daughter" said the lord.

Ali gasped he called her daughter. She partially looked up nodded her head in the affirmative and moved towards the woman on the bed.

"No, no you can't take him, he's mine,no" said Nagara

Ali hesitated and looked towards her father. Nagara cowered back but did not relinquish her grip on the baby.

"Nagara give the babe to my daughter " said the lord.

Nagara stubbornly shook her head no. Her father motioned the guards at the door inside

"Please no, just a little longer please" said Nagara

Ali's chest clenched in sympathy but new mothers could be dangerous to their newborns especially those like Nagara. The lord motioned towards the guards and they grabbed a hold of Nagara. Ali heard the first slap and looked away in shame.

She could not believe she had been so cruel, as to wish this kind of punishment on another. One of the guards handed Ali the infant and Ali fled the room as quick as she could safely go. Wanting more than anything to blot out those screams and slapping sounds.

She handed the babe off to the nursery staff and went to gather her things for a bath. She was shaking with fatigue and stress. She gathered her things and headed for the bathing room. Hoping a nice hot bath would sooth her frazzled nerves along with her body.

She didn't see the man following her. She walked into the bath and found it pleasantly deserted. There was evidence that it had recently been used though. Ali stripped out of her soiled gown and undergarments, she started down the steps and reached for her hairpins.

A solid arm wrapped around her torso and she reacted. Quickly pulling her hair pin free she stabbed it in the general direction of her attacker's face. He screamed and fell backwards. Ali scrambled out of the water and grabbed her robe.

She had the sense to tie it as guards rushed in but Ali was too shocked to care. After getting a good look at her attacker she blanched in horror.

The prince, I stabbed the crown prince in the eye.

A small part of her mind whimpered in fear because she was so screwed right now. The guards took her into custody and led her to the dungeon. Her father would never forgive this he could not afford to. The prince would demand her blood and her father would give it to him.

Spock cursed in Vulcan as the stubborn lock refused to yield to his rudimentary lock pick skills. The door at the end of the hall opened and Spock quickly tucked his tools away. They were leading a female between them and she appeared to only be wearing a robe.

Curious Spock watched as they deposited her in the adjoining cell and left her there. She seemed disinclined to speak to him, so Spock just watched her. What looked like tears were slowly trickling down her cheeks. He noted that humans had the same reaction when upset and figured it was due to her incarceration.

It was the first time he had really taken the time to observe the female of the species. The pale pearlesce quality to their skin was more pronounced in females. They were humanoid in manner their society was reminiscent of the industrial revolution stage and their language sounded a lot like Scottish Gaelic, circa earth's seventeenth century he was certain.

She was tinier than the male counterparts, that tended to get rather broad shouldered with narrow hips. The females had generous curves or at least this one did. He frowned he should not be thinking of some random female in this manner, he had Nyota to satisfy those urges and he was far from experiencing pon far.

Her hair fell in generous waves down her shoulder and back stopping at the point just above her elbows. It was a strange blend of blue white and lavender. Her ears resembled a Vulcan and her facial features were a bit angular. He could tell she was of mixed blood because the majority of her facial features were more human than some of the others he had seen. She was currently staring off into space. He wondered if she was in shock or if that spot on the wall was simply fascinating. She shifted on the small bench and he noted the bracelet on her ankle. It was similar to others he had seen around town.

His hand itched for his tricorder. He wanted so badly to scan that bit of metal on her leg. He had a theory he wanted to confirm or dispute in his head about those bands. She shifted again wrapping the small robe around her tighter. He noted it left her thighs bare and reluctantly tore his gaze away. Instead he focused on what looked like a pair of wings adhered to her back.

"It is rude to stare" she said