Shore leave had, at last, arrived. Like most of the crew Tasha had cabin fever, she wanted to feel real earth under her feet and to breath fresh air. The recycled air of the ship was fine but she longed for a cool breeze ruffling her hair and to feel unconstrained. Certainly, her new secret lover had helped to loosen her up considerably.
He had been attentive and gentle every time he visited her quarters, slightly timid, he always waited to be invited to kiss her and wouldn't scoop her up until she'd slung her arms around his neck. As soon as she'd made it clear she was willing, something else in him would take over and he would carry her to the bed to explore her body with his cool hands, his yellow eyes focused on the task at hand as if she were a keyboard or switch panel. His eyes never strayed up to hers unless they were pinned to each other in the midst of lovemaking and even then she suspected he was scanning her eyes to read her pleasure output.
She felt the back of her neck prickle with heat remembering a image from the night before, the sleek back of his head peeping up from between her thighs as he worked tirelessly to please her. She shifted on her feet and looked over at Riker and the other crew. They formed a tidy small unit of forerunners; their little group would be the first to be beamed down to the newly discovered Rubicun III. Wesley had been allowed to join them under the understanding that he would asses whether it was suitable for the ship's 'young people,' to visit. Riker and Yar had already been down to make contact and she knew what lay ahead. Like a giddy child waiting to go on the rollercoaster she felt herself impatient at the wait.
Worf was already looking uncomfortable, he wasn't the best at 'first contact meetings', he was from a race of warriors and he had a deep instinct, which he fought, to conquer them not hug them.
If it was indeed a 'nice planet' the captain had said they would take shore leave here. Tasha hoped it would be a nice planet and that she'd be able to relax a little and maybe take some space from Data. It wasn't that she was bored of him, but basically her body needed a break from his insistent attention. She smiled to herself remembering the bruise on her thigh she'd noticed this morning in the shower.
The transporter swooshed as it took them down to the surface of the planet. Lush green scenery and many beautiful tanned bodies with crowns of blonde hair assaulted Yar's eyes. It took a moment to process but she had rematerialized in a veritable paradise and the natives, the Edo, looked like playful nymphs frolicking.
The men were taut, tall and muscular while the women looked like angels with the body parts of luscious Botticelli models. Yar felt herself licking her lips briefly as her mouth had suddenly tightened. Riker already had an idiotic smile on his face; this was his sort of place. Deanna couldn't suppress her shock at the general beauty, but before they could say anything two stunning figures jogged towards them, their tiny silken robes barely concealing their lithe bodies.
Liator and Rivan were forward with their deep cuddles and nuzzling. Rivan expressed her joy at their return and quickly went to Riker and embraced him. Riker didn't seem surprised and pulled her into an embrace. Deanna's face tightened and she looked uneasy at this familiarity. Liator's lips widened into a smile and he came forward to Deanna enveloping her into his arms, pressing his cheek against her neck. She patted his shoulder with her hand as if he was a puppy she wasn't keen on, her body tensed and she looked awkward and stiff.
Turning his gaze towards Yar, Liator smiled at her and opened his arms walking towards her. As he wrapped his warm rippling arms about her he paused gazing at her adoringly "nice to see you again," he seemed to emphasise the word 'you'. She felt a delightful thrill and couldn't help but lean into him taking in the smell of his sun-kissed skin. He pulled back slightly so that they were almost nose to nose, his warm body remained pressed against her abdomen and she felt herself smiling back at him as she said, "my pleasure."
Riker asked Deanna what she felt from them and she responded trying to regain her clinical composure, "healthy sensuality sir, I feel mainly friendship, and um…," here she turned her dark eyes to Yar and said pointedly, "and happiness." Yar returned her playful look and gave her a "so sue me," silent look.
Rivan approached Worf, her eyes transfixed by him, "I welcome this huge one," she said sliding her tanned arms around his thick neck. As she leaned into the embrace she purred "oh, yes," her breasts visibly pressing against Worf's steely chest. He looked uncomfortable at first, then as if he might like to carry her back to his den to mate with her. This was some ritualistic call back to his warrior heritage. He turned to Riker and muttered, "nice planet."
Riker made enquires as to how many they would be allow to beam down. Liator and Rivan were so warm and open making it clear they would be obliging to them as guests. Rivan with her cascade of golden curls asked if they'd like to go the council chambers or stay and play at love. Clearly Riker, Worf and Yar would have enjoyed playing but in order to spare Wesley the awkwardness they decide to head to the council chambers. The custom on Rubicun III was to run playfully from A to B, as they padded along Yar marveled to herself that this world was like a second Eden.
Already poor Wesley looked uncomfortable with the adult mood the encounter had taken. But Rivan quickly introduced him to another group of 'young ones' and he was off like a whippet. The shyness had evaporated as he chased a group of stunning teenagers.
Liator and Rivan guided them into a hall that was full of supple bodies in varying degrees of undress. Some were receiving oil massages while others were engaged in what can only be described as foreplay, hands sliding over the hummocks of toned flesh. The chamber had a hedonistic almost Roman vibe to it, two Adonis like men came to lead Yar and Deanna away while Riker and Worf were guided away by two blondes. Deanna and her partner drifted away while Yar's partner took her to a table set with glasses and jugs of wine.
"Please beautiful one, have a drink with me," he was already pouring her a glass of the orange liquid before she could refuse and inwardly she didn't want to say no or protest politely. Taking the glass from his warm hand she tipped it towards her lips and enjoyed its fruity bouquet. His lagoon coloured eyes lingered on her face as he drank deeply from his cup. Not once did his gaze divert from her eyes and Yar could feel her face flush.
Everything about this man was pulling her in, his body was warm and solid, his energy was so sexual she could feel how much he longed to pull away her uniform and touch her bare flesh. While the others fell into conversation she and her partner, Tristain, crept closer to each other on the bench. As time passed the couples and groups around them became more passionately entangled. Tristain, unlike Data, knew what he wanted to do to her, with him it would be spontaneous and delicious. His hand rested on her upper thigh as they spoke about Edo culture and its concepts of love and health. The firm pressure of his hand reminded her that beneath that skin his blood pulsed around his body, this hand's temperature would fluctuate and in its micro movements she could feel his desire.
Riker was prowling around but not becoming entangled while Deanna sat chatting to Liator and Rivan, their bodies pointedly turned towards her. Worf stood apart, his arms crossed heavily on his chest, he would not participate in this 'love,' he was a warrior and even if he desired sex these women were too fragile for him.
Something had passed between Worf and Riker, Deanna left her seat and joined them but Yar was too distracted by Tristain to notice. He was telling her how they had zero crime and that there hadn't been a murder in decades, explaining that they had few laws but the severity of their penalty was a deterrent. Before she could dig deeper Worf interrupted asking if he could have a moment of her time.
"Worf you need to hear this, they have no crime," turning back Tristain she enquired, "but I have seen no police, who enforces your laws?"
"You mean mediators?" he responded, "We have randomly selected areas each day where punishment is enforced. No person ever knows when or where a zone will be, we're very proud of our ancestors."
Rivan joined the conversation at this point, "so nobody breaks the law, who would risk death?" she added innocently.
Worf's brow furrowed, "death?" he interjected. A look of confusion rippled over Rivan's beautiful face. "Anyone who commits any crime in the punishment zone dies?" Worf's voice becoming deeper and louder with anger. Tristain spoke, "the law is the law and our peace is built on it." The Klingon's face remained implacable and as he was about to say something further but Yar interrupted.
"So even a small thing, like breaking the rule 'keep off the grass' could get you sentenced to death," she could feel panic rising in her belly and up her esophagus. She put her drink down with a thunk and tried to keep her voice in control but the panic was swiftly turning to anger, "just who tells visitors about these rules?"
Before either could reply Worf spoke with authority, "Come lieutenant, we better find Wesley." Without a glance backwards she was up on her feet following her commander at a run. If anything happened to the crew it would be her fault. She had reviewed their laws but there had been no text about the punishment.
After only a few hundred yards they saw guards, Riker, Deanna, Wesley and the teens gathered around a smashed flowerbed. "Be careful Commander Riker, they have some strange laws here," but before she could finish Riker shot back at her.
"I thought you reviewed their laws?" she swallowed the sting but gazed back firmly at him as she replied, "I did but they listed nothing about punishment."
The larger of the blue robed guards lifted his hand for silence, "One moment please, is there a witness to this transgression?" The teens began trying to take the blame and protect Wesley saying that he was from a different place and unaware of the rules. The guard waved his hand again to shush them and continued, "We have a visible transgression and an admission of guilt and even though it pains us deeply to do it we must." The guard reached down to a pouch at his hip and pulled out a yellow hypodermic needle. Looking towards Wesley with the syringe held up to the light he asked calmly, "are you prepared for punishment?"
Worf barked gruffly, "Punishment? If you mean what the others were talking about…" Riker cut him off sharply "What punishment, name it!"
The guard looked at Riker blankly at him and said simply "death of course. Don't make it difficult for the boy." Wesley now realizing his situation looked wide eyed at Riker and as the guard stepped towards him Riker got between them knocking the man to the ground. Yar and Worf pulled their weapons, which were set to stun and pointed them at the two guards. Wesley, rather witlessly, looked around the group, "he was going to kill me?"
The guard on the ground looked up his face still confused but with irritation at corners of his eyes and said, "If this zone was still in effect, you would all deserve death." Yar's inner monologue rapidly stuttered through her brain, 'why was Wesley such an inconsiderate child?' before one thought had time to form another would appear, 'what would the captain think?' then with a sickening rush of anxiety that made her cheeks feel clammy, 'what would she tell Beverly if her son was executed?'
The standing guard broke her train of thought saying, "it was said you came here as friends, is this how friends act?" Everyone stood silent for a moment but Worf and Yar didn't lower their weapons and kept them trained on the man on the ground. Riker stepped away from the ground and hit the transmitter on his lapel.
"Enterprise this is the away team, come in," instead of a reply Riker was met with an ominous silence, "are you receiving us, Enterprise?" he tried again but nothing came back. The team looked from one and other, silence wasn't a good sign. Something must have happened up there and maybe it related to what was going on down here.
From nowhere the captain's voice came strong and clear over the intercom, "away team I am beaming down now." The crew, with an ashen-faced Wesley, returned to the council chamber along with the guards, Rivan, Tristain and Liator. They jogged on the way back but this time Yar wasn't feeling chatty or enamored with this planet anymore, she felt irritated that she had been caught out and that this could lead to Wesley's death. She felt annoyed that she hadn't been given the proper information and that Wesley had been so careless, she felt overwhelmed by a sense of how unfair this was. Mentally she pushed this feeling back down and kept her face blank, it wasn't time for her to lose her shit, that would be when she got back to her quarters and into the shower where she could scream out her rage.
The captain waited for them outside the chamber and he immediately went to Riker to become appraised of the situation. He looked calm and focused, what a captain was meant to be, the master and commander who didn't lose his composure when all around them lost their heads. Picard turned his gaze to Deanna and asked if she'd like to comment on the situation in private, she shook her head saying, "No need sir, these people are honest, almost to a fault and they have great pride in their ways." Before she could finish Rivan and Liator strode towards Picard and asked if he was indeed the captain, when he nodded they lead the party, along with many of the Edo, over to a seated area.
"Welcome to our world captain, thank you. We regret our system of justice is troubling you," Liator said his face betraying no sense of outrage or pride.
"The boy, Wesley Crusher, where is he, please?" said Piccard.
Riker answered this, "In accordance with the Prime Directive, I've allowed them to hold him pending the outcome of this." Rivan piped up looking concerned her fawn like face trying to reassure them but clearly feeling upset at the turn of events; "He is safe and unharmed," adding indignantly "we promised that. I don't know how you Earth people conduct law and justice, even if you respect such things." Piccard delicately cut across her as he could see this was genuinely upsetting her and wanted to assure them that Starfleet had a code of conduct, "We do…"
This time Liator was on the offence and butt in "So do we and our precepts have been handed down from long ago. The tranquility you see in our lives," he said gesturing with his hand "has been made possible by our laws."
Rivan, her face becoming impassioned spoke: "We are people of law, and yes they do sometimes bring us sadness but we have learned to adjust to that. Perhaps your laws work as well?"
Piccard took his fatherly approach that often worked, "They haven't always, but they do now." Liator interjected, "Do you execute criminals?"
Yar watched as the Captain smoothly negotiated this topic smoothly, "We did once, some people thought it was necessary but we learned to detect the seeds of criminal behavior. Capital punishment in our world is no longer considered a justifiable or effective deterrent." Liator looked at them all, these so-called guests on their world, telling them their ways were wrong and backward.
"So we are not as advanced as they are," he said to his fellow Edo but his face suddenly saddened, "and since you are advanced in other ways, too, I suggest you use your superior powers to rescue the boy Wesley." Piccard knew he'd taken the wrong approach and was now upsetting them; this was not going as he had hoped. He had been too condescending and he knew it.
Liator continued, "We will record him as a convicted criminal out of our reach, a lucky superior person who escaped the barbarism of this backward little world."
Piccard shook his head, "Unfortunately we have a law, the Prime Directive. I know that Riker has explained this to you. Is the boy in any danger from you at this moment?"
The Edo agreed they would wait to enforce their law until sundown and Piccard nodded agreeably, "Then I have another question, while orbiting – while circling high above your world, as we do, we have encountered a strange object. A vessel perhaps but it doesn't seem real."
Rivan's eyes had lit up and she nodded, "Do you mean god?" Piccard was able to ascertain that this mysterious object he had encountered on the ship was what the Edo believed was their god, a protector who could make itself felt fully.
Suddenly Beverly came over the intercom and she informed the captain that Data had just regained consciousness. Yar had been so focused on the exchange between Liator, Rivan and Piccard this news broke her concentration. Data had been unconscious? What could have rendered that android incapacitated? Despite feeling a knot of worry she bit back the urge to ask about him. Right now Wes was the priority not Data, after all Beverly had said he was awake and insisting on talking. Nothing that bad could have happened to him, he was practically indestructible. As she reassured herself she felt a strange knowing at her insides.
Yar still felt uncomfortable but became more acutely aware it when the captain failed to tell Beverly what had befallen her son. Piccard explained he wanted to tell her personally and face to face, Deanna lowered her eyes in silent disagreement with him. Yar didn't want to face the fiery doctor to explain her role in this. Standing to take their leave the captain asked if one of the Edo would come to the ship. While the other Edos looked hesitant Rivan looked grimly determined when she stood up proffering herself to the captain. "Of course, I will come as your hostage," she said.
The waved his hands to show that is not what he had meant, "No, no, that's not it. I want you to identify something for me, if you can." The captain, Deanna and Rivan were beamed up to the ship while Yar and the others were left to wait.
This one went on long and I promise I will start the next instalment this weekend.