TOMMY

Our visitors are due any minute. At Pina's request, we've all dressed rather nicely - Zedd in his customary all black and myself in white to balance him. Dar's clothes all lean toward a dark blue, but Pina's in a bright fiery red pantsuit, definitely a change from her normal attire.

And if she doesn't stop pacing soon, I swear I'm going to tie her to a chair. Before I can say anything, Zedd does. "Scorpina, be calm."

"I'm trying." Her nervousness is apparent as she speaks.

I step in front of her, forcing her to stop. "Isosisko, stop. You're making yourself crazy and that's not a good way to be for dealing with this."

"I know but…I just don't like that we don't know what they want."

"Forget about what they want. What do you want? When this is over, what do you want to do and where do you want to be?"

Her answer comes instantly. "Here with all of you."

"Then that's what will happen." I make sure that I sound more certain than I feel. "Princess or not, you are your own woman and warrior and more than capable of making your own decisions. You know that - whatever you decide - we'll all stand together and the four of us together are unstoppable."

She takes a deep breath. "You're right, Tommy."

In a fair imitation of my mate, I answer, "And the sooner everyone realizes this, the happier we all will be." This earns me laughter from Dar and Pina and a swat on the ass from a growling Zedd. I barely hold back my hiss of discomfort, still a little sore inside from the rough and tumble last night and I know he notices by his fast look of regret.

"Sorry, love" he apologizes quickly.

"Forgiven" I respond as our cuffs go off, indicating that our 'guests' have arrived. As one, we head for the front to greet them.

It's not long before they've landed and disembarked. They approach us and I'm a little nervous. I did manage to do a little research into the etiquette for this situation, but still there are about fifty different things that I can already think of that can go wrong and with our luck very likely will. Pina greets them. "Welcome to our home."

The man in front answers, sounding rather pretentious. "Thank you." Looking from Scorpina to the three of us, he frowns in displeasure. "We're familiar with Goldar and Zeddic, but I don't know your other companion."

"Tommy Oliver of Earth." I incline my head slightly in acknowledgement of her introduction.

Before Pina can go on, another of the males speaks. "It's rather unnecessary to have your pet at our meeting, don't you think?" The condescension is thick enough to choke on and I can feel Zedd's outrage.

I answer him calmly, in spite of the fact that I'm seething inside as well. "That would be true, if I were a pet, sir. However, I'm nobody's pet. I am Lord Zedd's mate and a power holder - both past and present." At his doubtful look, I stand even straighter and raise my chin. "I'm a child of the great power of Phaedos." This causes a murmur between his other companions and hopefully gets some sense into his thick head.

He speaks again - and foolishly. "I thought Zeddic had better taste than that." So much for there being no bloodshed today.

The woman behind him speaks quickly, no doubt to head off any retaliation from one of us. "Lord Calan, there's no need to be so rude. Apologies for my companion, Tommy Oliver of Earth. I am Lady Arabesta and I, for one, am pleased to make your acquaintance."

Wary of this change in tactic, I still respond in kind. "The pleasure is mine, milady."

I can hear the tension in Dar's tone when he speaks. "Perhaps you all would like to come inside and we'll begin the meeting."

"I think that may be for the best." Lady Arabesta agrees with a nod.

Shortly everyone is seated and Lady Arabesta speaks first. "As you know, your father is - was - the disowned crown prince. Because he was disowned, that technically takes you out of the ruling lineage. However, if something were to happen to all your other family, you could be called upon to sit the throne."

Pina replies, "If my memory serves, that means that all three of my uncles and all of my cousins and their children would have to die or be proven unfit. I'll tell you right now, I have no intention of ever going after the crown. I'm perfectly content with my life as it is."

One of the other males speaks. "You must understand that there is a chance - albeit a small one - that such a thing could happen. At that time you would be required to take a mate and provide an heir."

I can tell she's barely keeping the hostility out of her tone. "I already have a mate. And as for children, I will not bear children simply to continue the bloodline."

Lord Calan says, "Since the human claims that Zeddic is his mate, then process of elimination would say that Goldar is your mate - unless your mate is absent from this meeting. If that's the case, one could only wonder why." Oh my lord. Someone's going to die today, I just know it.

"Calan! That is enough!"

A COUPLE HOURS LATER

For all her effort, Lady Arabesta could not seem to keep Calan under control. The three Eltarians are showing the visitors to their ship so that they can leave, thankfully without Pina. To calm myself down, I begin to gather the cups and plates from the meal that we've just finished.

For someone who's a lord, Calan has very poor manners indeed - insulting and belittling me at every turn and over what I've honestly no clue. To be fair it actually took me a bit by surprise, especially with how charming I've seen Zedd be when conducting business or addressing others of status, even those he despises. After all, as he and Anton have both told me in the past, it's just business and you can't let your like or dislike of others get in the way of the business you need to conduct with them.

I'm lost in my thoughts when I suddenly catch an unfamiliar scent - and it's close. I start to turn but I can't as someone grabs my collar, throws me face first into the wall and pins me there. The hand pressing between my shoulder blades keeps me from getting any leverage to free myself.

I hear the hiss from behind me. "You need to stop pretending to be like us, human. I have dirt on my shoes that's older and more intelligent than you are." Calan. Of course.

I quickly gather my scattered thoughts before I as calmly as possible respond, not wanting to do anything just yet that may unintentionally bring bad light on Pina, or Zedd and Dar by association. "I know I'm not like you, Calan. For one thing I have much better manners and for another I have a mate that could crush you like a bug. And before you even think of starting an actual fight with me I will remind you, I'm a power holder. Now let me go."

"A child of Phaedos, right. You stink of your human species, no matter what the power has done to you."

"On the contrary, I should smell like Zedd." Hoping he takes the warning for what it is I am about to either call on my powers or very tactfully allow Zedd to feel my anger through the bond

"You think because you're Zeddic's plaything that gives you some leverage? Personally I don't know why the hell he even bothers with you." Before I can snap back, he continues in a much more aggravated tone. "What does he see in you anyways? Why are you worthy of his attention?" What the hell?

"What?!"

"You're not even fit to be a servant to someone of his rank and reputation." You must be kidding me.

"Are you - jealous?!"

He presses harder, making it hard for me to breathe. "There's no way I'd be jealous of a mere pet. And I don't care what they've told you, you are nothing but a pet at best."

"I'm no pet. I'm Zedd's bond mate as well as his actual mate. I'd know if I was a pet."

"Lies" he hisses. "If you were bond mates, he'd already be here having felt what I've done to you through the bond. That in mind, perhaps I'll just see what he likes about you."

Before I can move he kicks my feet apart and his spare hand travels over me. This is familiar - and not in a good way. "No! Stop!"

"Why should I, what are you going to do, call for your mate." The taunting tone makes my rage spike and I know Zedd must feel it. So where the hell is he?

Suddenly the pressure between my shoulder blades disappears and a familiar snarl comes from behind me. "He doesn't have to."

Still not completely caught up with the program, I - in spite of my shaking and near panic - spin around with the only thought in mind being to fight. I find it unnecessary, however, as Zedd delivers a neat right cross, putting Calan to the floor.

Before Calan, Zedd, or I can say or do any more, I hear Arabesta's voice coming from the doorway. "Calan! What is the meaning of this?"

Answering her as the one she addressed is currently busying having the life beaten from him, I try to get a grip on myself. "He attacked me." Growling and honestly rather upset that I'd let him catch me off guard to begin with, I move back toward the rest of the group as Zedd is highly focused now on his prey and apparently determined to make him very, very sorry for what he's done.

A minute later, Pina's inspecting the scrapes on my face from where it hit the wall even as Dar pulls Zedd away from the prone man and they take up protective stances in front of us, with slight encouragement from Dar it seems not to castrate the bastard on the kitchen floor.

Looking at her traveling companion, Arabesta once more questions him. "What the hell happened, and more to the point what the hell were you thinking?"

Calan answers Arabesta defiantly looking a bit worse for wear now. "Oh, come on, Ara. You know as well as I do that he's no more than a damn pet!"

"Even if that were true, you know that it's rude to use someone else's pet without their owner's permission."

"I swear you call him a pet one more fucking time and-" As Zedd is already advancing once more, he - much to my and Dar's surprise it seems - stops as the woman raises her hand up signaling for him to wait and calm down.

"The boy doesn't wear a collar or have any other signs of being a pet, never mind that Lord Zedd knew something was wrong even from outside when I would assume you first dared lay your hands on his mate. Get to the ship and I will be speaking to the council about this when we return."

At least seeming to have enough intelligence to know when to give her time to cool off he slinks out of the room as she turns to me. "I am so sorry, young one. I had no idea that you were still in here when I allowed him to return for something that he claimed he forgot."

I'm still shaking pretty severely as what just happened finally sinks in fully, and I can't help but curse myself again for being so careless. "N-not your f-fault."

"Are you all right?" Knowing I can't really answer her, I simply nod. "I assure you, he will be punished for this. Zeddic, you are well within your rights to demand compensation for the treatment of your mate as well as Tommy claiming his own."

"At this point, if you get him out of my home and off my planet, I'd be willing - barely - to let him live" Zedd growls, much to my surprise. That's it? He'll just let it go? Knowing that logically that is the best course of action and almost certain I'd have to convince him not to kill the man, I however can't help feeling a bit hurt over his easy dismissal of it. After all, this is Zedd. He loses it when I spend one night away from our bed, but yet I almost get molested again and oh well, he can live. I guess I really don't get the politics or moral conduct of their world. Still lost in thought I barely register it as he turns to me. "Thomas, love, are you all right?"

As he draws me into his arms, I answer, though still can't help wishing I'd gotten in one good hit on the bastard myself before Zedd was stopped. "I will be, once I calm down, kalleimat. I'm not hurt, really."

He studies me with concerned eyes before he kisses me gently. Once more, I let his love soothe me as it did last night, although I'm still aware of our present company and don't let it go too far.

Once he seems certain that I've settled at least enough to keep it together, he turns us to face Arabesta, appearing much calmer himself now that he's reassured that I'm all right - mostly. "If I ever see him again, I will return to my old ways to deal with him."

She nods soberly. "I again apologize, Lord Zedd. I doubt any of us will have a reason to return, but if there is reason, I personally assure you that he will not be present."

"Unless you want him back missing pieces, he had better not be." Now there's the Zedd I know.

Dar and Pina escort her out as Zedd pulls me into his arms again. "Love, I am so very sorry. I never thought that he'd have done something like that. I know his behavior was obnoxious earlier but…truthfully I don't know what the hell got into him today, as when I've interacted with him before he was never really more than a bit of a nuisance at worst."

"Well he seemed to hold you in high regard. Said I wasn't fit to be your servant."

"He's not fit to be your servant."

"Yeah well…"

"If you want me to go kill him before they leave I will."

"I know, and thanks, but I'm okay. I don't get it though. Why do I suddenly seem to be attracting that kind of attention? When did I become a target for that kind of behavior?" I snuggle into his chest as his arms tighten.

"They don't seem to all have the same motivation, Thomas, so I really don't know. Are you sure you're all right?"

I sigh in contentment. "I am now. Thank you, Zedd, for saving me - again."

His voice is soft. "Any time, Thomas. Any time at all."

"Someday, I'd like to find a way to pay you back. I just don't want you in danger."

He chuckles lightly. "Why, Thomas, you've saved me a number of times already." I draw back slightly and give him a puzzled look. "The snake was the first time, Bezeroa was the second, and Annwyl was the third. Not to mention you spent a week nursing me back to health when I had the flu along with taking care of me after Annwyl nearly did me in."

"The snake I'll give you. Annwyl was actually a close call and Bezeroa - well, he wasn't that much of a challenge once he didn't have twenty guards helping him."

"Thomas-"

I stop him. "I heard what he said about trying both of us, but I've no doubt that you'd have handled it before it came to that. All I did was shortcut the situation."

"No, Thomas that's not all you did. If you hadn't been hiding where you were, all four of us were in danger of becoming pets or worse. Not to mention that even after you freed us, you defused a potentially fatal situation simply by knowing a language that we didn't know. By the way, you still haven't told me what it is."

"I know I haven't, but what difference does it make?"

He sighs. "Technically, it doesn't but I can't help but wonder why you're dodging me so hard on it."

I sigh in return, feeling my face redden. "It's – Klingon, okay."

"Klingon?" Frowning and no doubt trying to figure out what plant that would be from, I decide to spare him the trouble.

"It's a made up language from a television program on Earth called Star Trek."

There's a long pause and then Zedd starts to laugh. "That's why Dar thought it sounded familiar. I'm pretty sure that he used to watch that show." You must be kidding. "And you learned it from your roommate?"

"Yeah. Well, it was mostly in self defense since I was pretty sure he was talking about me behind my back to his friends. Once he realized that I was trying to learn it though, he actually helped me become fluent in it. Between him and his friends, I actually learned a couple of other languages as well."

"Like what?"

I look him in the eye for a minute, seeing only genuine curiosity. I sigh, realizing that he's not going to let this go until he knows. "Elvish, Dwarvish and Vulcan. I was never as good at those three as I was at Klingon, though. Didn't put as much time into them as I did the other one."

He thinks about this for a minute. "Is that why you've been studying and wanting to study other languages since you've been here and gotten better?"

Dar's voice comes from the doorway. "He seems to have a knack for it, Zedd. I've never seen anyone pick up languages the way he does."

I can't help the protest. "It helps considerably that Triforian and Karovian are similar to each other - and Eltarian."

Zedd blinks. "So, not only have you relearned your native language and recalled four other languages that you already knew, you've picked up three languages from other planets?"

"No."

"As far as languages from other planets go, he's only become reasonably fluent in those three" Dar answers him. "But he's also learned enough of four others to make himself roughly understood."