Authors Notes: Thank you to all who reviewed! I'm glad you all enjoy this story :) This chapter was hard to write. More after the chapter's end.

Not beta'd.

Long chapter, 4500+ words.

oo

Part IV

oo

Uhura could not believe how her body moved against her will with such precision. The way she applied her make up to how she styled her hair – everything was done with the skill of an expert – someone accustomed this society and lifestyle. Without any control of her own body, Uhura had transformed herself from a Starfleet officer to a Roman aristocrat.

A maroon chiton made of, what was assumed to be, delicate silk draped over her body like flowing water and was tied at her waist. Her boots were replaced with golden colored sandals, and her hair was pulled up into a high bun while some cascaded freely down her back. If this were a fantasy, she would enjoy every moment of it; but she stared at herself in the mirror with fear and contempt for whoever was forcing her into this sideshow.

In the back of her mind, Uhura wondered if this was the end. If this would be the end for herself and the Enterprise – forced to look like a doll for the enjoyment of a deranged individual and his equally disturbed wife before dying. Did they even have enough time to spare? Would the concoction that McCoy created be enough to buy them time and escape from the planet?

What about Spock? What would happen to him? To each other? What if one of them died – how would the forced severance of their bond affect the other? Uhura felt her stomach drop and her mouth go dry from the onslaught of grim thoughts. She have faced death in the eye so many times that she had seemed immune to the fear of dying on her mission. So, why now was she suddenly scared?

Nyota was at a lost for an answer.

She got up, the sudden control of her body becoming unwittingly familiar to her. Had she finally succumbed to defeat? Nyota did not know, instead, she merely allowed herself to walk into Lucius' chambers while pushing back the ill thoughts that wanted to take claim of her mind. The sun was setting and the white marble of the room was bathed in the orange hue of the planet's sun. It would have been breathtaking, had it not been the room of their humiliation and torture.

Uhura felt her body's control return to her once she heard Kirk and Spock walk into the room. She turned around instantaneously and breathed a sigh of relief as she ran over to them. Spock stepped closer to her and opened their bond slightly much to her comfort. Uhura closed her eyes and exhaled; the warmth she felt calmed her down. She was thankful that he was here and still trying to support her and keep her leveled.

" There's no one here." Kirk observed.

Uhura looked around the room; he was right, there was no one there. Yet, they were brought to that room. She looked at the two commanding officers and took notice of what they were wearing – both in similar male tunics denoting the status of a Roman slave, yet, wearing green laurel wreaths on top of their heads. The green tunic against the slight green tinge of Spock's skin accented it even more compared to the gold one Kirk wore. If it was a fantasy, she would have found it funny…

... But it wasn't. None of it was.

" I believe I hear something, Captain." Spock said as he looked around the room. " A group of people…"

" I hear them too." Uhura quietly said. Kirk would have joked about her gifted hearing ability, like he usually did, but this was not the place nor the time for it.

The chatter grew louder and louder until it stopped. The three turned around to the source of the sounds and watched a wall slide aside revealing Lucius and his wife along with several other individuals dressed in the finest of tunics and robes. Next to Lucius was McCoy who sat silently with his medical pouch hung at his side. He looked miserable, but that was an understatement to the situation they were all in at this very moment. Lucius clapped his hands together with a smile.

" Today we are to celebrate the newest addition to our society! Doctor Leonard McCoy, Lieutenant Commander and former Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Enterprise!"

There was a large round of applause from the spectators.

" I have not agreed to any of your requests yet, Lucius." McCoy said with resistance. Lucius raised an eyebrow and looked at the doctor.

" Don't worry, we'll convince you." He leaned into his chair. " One way or another, you will realize that your fate is to be with us."

" I do not like the fact that the good doctor is spoiling our evening," Aurelia stated passively. " I wish to enjoy myself tonight."

" I'm sorry, my dear. How about we hear another song from our beautiful nightingale."

Aurelia leaned back into her chair and crossed her legs slowly. With an icy smile she said, " It would be even lovelier if it was a duet with her… crying spaceman. I can see that they've made beautiful music… together."

Uhura glared at Aurelia. She was freely looking into their minds again. Freely taking whatever they held personal within their hearts and bringing it out to the surface for their entertainment. Aurelia smirked at Uhura with a clear display of conceited ego, much to the officer's displeasure. She lost control of her body again and walked over to one of the Roman styled benches in the center of the room where she waited for Spock. He approached her with a lyre in hand.

They looked at each other and Uhura could see the anger in his eyes and feel it through their bond. The frustration of being humiliated and forced to do things that were intimate and private to himself, between each other, was destroying him inside. These were things that they did together in the sanctuary of their quarters. It was meant to be treasured, a private moment between themselves; a moment that Spock could easily release his human side and come together with his bond mate through music.

It was something personal that they ripped from their minds and paraded around for show.

Spock sat down on the seat while Uhura sat down at his feet. They forced Uhura to turn her body around to face Spock, resting her hands against his exposed thighs. Had this been any other occasion, it probably would have looked like a queen serenading her king, but it was anything but that. The anger that reflected in Spock's eyes coupled with the contempt Uhura had for the leader and his wife spoke volumes of how twisted the situation truly was.

" The skies are bright and green…" She began slowly. Spock joined in with the lute and they performed. Her voice quivered as she continued to sing, his fingers occasionally stumbled over the strings. She didn't want to sing it; not like this, not when she was being forced to sing it like a minstrel at a show. They knew how personal this song was to her and they were exploiting it for their twisted pleasure.

The song was common across Federation space, an old love song from before Uhura's time, but to the communication officer it was very sentimental to her. It was the song she had first sung with Spock when she discovered his music talents with his Vulcan lute and the first song she learned how to play on the instrument.

It was one of the first milestones of their blossoming relationship. Something she cherished.

" … Somewhere beyond the stars, beyond Antares…"

Something that was now violated.

The small audience clapped, some mockingly while some in appreciation. Aurelia smirked as she leaned back into her chair and rested her chin delicately on her hand.

" What a beautiful nightingale I own." She chuckled condescendingly. " Her keeper isn't bad either."

" I agree! The last group was completely useless in the arts but these two are splendid!" One of the patrons lauded.

Spock put the lute down on the seat once he felt control of his body and rested his left hand upon Uhura's own.

" I'm not scared…" She whispered. " I'm not scared…" She could not stop shaking.

McCoy clutched onto the strap of his medical pouch anxiously. He didn't know when to strike – he couldn't figure out the precise moment. What if he did it now? What if he did it later and missed his chance? The what-ifs plagued his mind and conscience. He glanced slightly to his right where Gaius stood in front of Aurelia, outside of the spectators' booth. The boy was rigid as he watched in fear and helplessness at the torture before his eyes.

The doctor was beginning to have doubts of Gaius was ever going to pull it off.

" I want to see a performance!" Another patron exclaimed with a laugh. " A play!"

Lucius smirked, " A play would be interesting. A tragic play? A romance? Perhaps both?"

" The sad spaceman watches helplessly as his lover is caught in the arms of another man." Aurelia said as she watched Spock and Uhura like a hawk after its prey. " I want to see him enrage with jealously."

Spock and Uhura stiffed at the words that came from Aurelia's lips; smooth and cruel with her intentions clear – she wanted to break them like a rich girl with a brand new doll. Why worry about them when there will be another group of fools beaming down onto the planet to save them. It'll be the same thing over and over again until the dolls ran out and the next rescue ship arrives with more toys to play with. Aurelia wanted to break their will and take their hope. It what made her feel alive. It what made her feel significant.

There will be no rescuing. There will be no returns. They were stuck here as her servants until they died.

" We have to let—"

" No, not yet." Spock whispered tensely, cutting Uhura off. " He knows when. I trust the doctor's judgement."

His voice was restrained. Uhura knew that his control was faltering and that he was struggling to keep a hold of his emotions. Not only for her but also for his sake - for his integrity as a Vulcan. Uhura took a deep breath and exhaled before nodding.

" And so, our story begins with two lovers… Torn apart by an illicit affair. " Lucius began his tale with a smile.

Uhura felt that familiar tug against her body as she got up and stepped away from Spock. She held out her hand to him but he could not move from where he sat silently and hopelessly watching. She turned around and walked over to her captain. Uhura's heart raced against her chest, her breathing was slowly becoming ragged, and that fear crept into the back of her mind again. They were making her betray her husband. They were turning her into something she wasn't.

Kirk watched her with pity. How long could she maintain her control before she cracked under the pressure? He glanced at Lucius and his wife anger. How far would they go...

The furniture in the room rearranged with a flick of Lucius wrist. A roman styled bed adorned with several pillows and crimson sheets slid to the center of the room while the bench that Spock was forced to sit on slid to the side – close enough to watch but far enough so he could not touch.

" The spaceman thought his lover was devoted to him but he failed to realize that his dear friend had never given up on loving her." Lucius continued to narrate as he controlled Kirk and Uhura to his story.

Kirk stiffened at Lucius' words. The man was reading deep into his mind, pulling feelings that he had buried years ago. They knew exactly what they were doing and were going to continue exposing them and their deepest and darkest secrets for their enjoyment. Kirk knew it wasn't about convincing McCoy to stay on their planet – they could force him to stay with or without his consent – it was because they wanted entertainment and a group of strangers happened to land right into their trap.

He had to be strong though. He was the captain, their leader, and he could not afford to show any weakness. James Kirk did not believe in no-win situations. He was going to find a way out of this even if the solution ended up with him having to sacrifice himself for the safety of the crew.

Delicate, smooth, and soft fingers grazed the skin of Kirk's arms upwards. It took him out of his thoughts and made him focus on the woman that was now before him.

Uhura.

If this were a different situation he wouldn't have minded. In fact, he probably would have jumped on the opportunity without a second thought. She was beautiful, intelligent, and independent – the perfect woman for any man. He couldn't say the amount of men that have mentioned their desires about her, but Kirk knew he was definitely once one of them. He also knew that his attraction to the lieutenant was could be nothing more than that. She was taken, married in the Vulcan sense, and he could not fit into her world in any other way than the professional relationship and friendship they developed.

He had lost her years ago, too late to realize it.

So as her hands slowly trail over his shoulders, up his neck, and rest upon his cheeks, he can't help but feel ashamed to be put in this situation forcefully as his close friend, his first officer, her husband watched silently with no way to stop the assault.

" I'm sorry…" Uhura whispered shakily as she inched closer. " Oh, God, I'm so sorry…"

Before he could respond, her soft lips brushed upon his hesitantly and then pressed them against his own. He did not know if she was apologizing to him or to Spock… perhaps she was apologizing to them both. Though, there was no need for her apologizes, he thought with regret as their kiss deepened. She wasn't at fault… this was not her fault. A situation beyond their control.

He held her closer to his body with his right hand while his left took her right into his. They could feel the pull again, forcing their lips apart.

" It's not your fault, Lieutenant…" Kirk whispered. Her whole body trembled and he looked over her head at Spock. The Vulcan sat scarily still as he watched them from afar. Kirk noticed that he was gripping the edge of the bench, his knuckles white.

Jim was familiar with some aspects of Vulcan society, more so now due to the destruction of their planet. He knew of their logic, how deep into ceremony and tradition they were culturally, and some other details about them needed to help in aiding the recovery process. But, there were also little things he had picked up from his first officer by observing him on board the Enterprise.

That look he was giving him was one of them. It spoke volumes and he knew what it meant: Uhura was his and he would do anything to make sure that she remained his. That territorial, animalistic, aspect of Vulcan nature towards their mates seemed to transcend even logic and rationality. Spock was being pushed to the edge and it looked like Lucius was playing it to his advantage.

"… And before the spaceman's eyes, took his lover from him."

Kirk and Uhura were pulled towards the bed in the center of the room. Uhura sat down first and Kirk next her. He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. Uhura closed her eyes and slightly gasped – whatever was going on between her bond with Spock was starting to become apparent as a tear escaped.

" I'm scared… I… I don't want this." She whimpered. " He's hurting… make them stop…"

" If I could, I would…" Kirk was breathing heavily. She was so close that he could feel her warmth, her breath on his skin, smell the sweet fragrances upon her skin. " … We're trying."

" His mind is chaotic, his blood is flame… I can feel it…" She bit her lower lip when she felt Kirk's hand travel up her up leg, slowly pushing up her dress and exposing her legs to the audience. " I'm so sorry…"

" Tell him… Both of you… this is what they want. Stop giving them what they want. Ease him, Nyo—" He caught himself. " Lieutenant."

" I… I can't…." Her breath hitched as she felt his lips against the junction between her shoulder and neck. Uhura closed her eyes and tried to think of anything other than what was going on even when her body betrayed her.

" You…" A kiss. " … Must be… strong." He pulled away and was face to face again. " For the two of you."

" Captain… I—" Kirk captured her lips in a kiss and deepened it, slipping his tongue into her mouth.

He had always dreamed of kissing Uhura since he first met her in that bar back in Iowa years ago. He had fantasized going on dates with her, sneaking into each other dorms to have sex, finding hidden places on campus to fool around in – but that's all they were. Dreams that never went into fruition; desires that had ultimately become parts of the past, now evolved into respect and admiration for a friend and co-worker. He wanted her respect and it took him four years to get it.

Now he was being forced to violate her and the sanction of her marriage. To possibly loose that respect. He was disgusted with himself.

The kiss ended, " I love you…" Uhura said, voice trembling.

I love you, Spock.

" I'm yours…"

Forever yours, Spock… Forever.

" I belong to you."

You are mine and I am yours.

Her voice was devoid of the passionate spark it always carried. Instead, she sounded like a detached, soulless, marionette. McCoy gripped the armrest of his chair.

" Stop! I'll do whatever you want, but damnit, stop this at once!" McCoy yelled frantically.

" I believe you are too late for that, Doctor." Lucius said, his eyes never once leaving the scene before him. " What would happen if I released Commander Spock… Would he kill his Captain? Vulcans kill for their mates, right?"

McCoy looked at Lucius in disbelief. " You would not dare…"

" You test me, Doctor."

" You are a mad man."

Lucius sat there silently, then, " No, I am a god."

" He looks like such a caged animal." Aurelia chuckled. " I find this highly amusing."

Gaius bit his lower lip as he watched what was happening. In his tunic was a hypospray that could save them and yet he could not find the courage to actually use it. But as he heard McCoy argue with Lucius, a sense of determination filled his mind. Lucius was not a god – he was a mortal being transformed by the planet on which they lived on. All it would take would be a shot that hypospray and the horror would end.

He would be free. Finally free.

Gaius slowly reached into his tunic and pulled out the hypospray discreetly. He hid it in his hand and turned around to face Aurelia. He watched her as she stared above him and at the trembling communication officer and her captain. She was in a world on her own, focusing intently on them and not at the scene around them. This was his chance – his only chance – to make things right.

He jumped over the edge of the booth and pulled out the hypospray. Without a moment to spare, he slammed it down on Aurelia thigh before anyone had the chance to react and injected her with the serum. Aurelia screamed in pain and held her thigh.

" Aurelia?" Lucius got out of his chair and kneeled in front of her. He brought his hand to her thigh. Not a single mark against her skin. He turned and glared at Gaius. " You damned slave!"

Lucius growled and Gaius flew across the room and hit the far wall. He did not have a moment to react. McCoy stumbled out of his chair and reached into his medical pouch for the hypospray. His hands shook as he grabbed it and took it out. Mentally he kept telling himself not to drop it as he crossed over behind Lucius. Then, without a moment's notice, McCoy slammed the hypospray behind Lucius' neck and injected him.

Lucius screamed as he felt the serum enter his body and slumped forward. McCoy dropped the hypospray on the floor and quickly hopped out of the spectator's booth before he could receive a serious blow from the mad man. He ran over to Kirk and Uhura, who were still in their compromising position.

" Can you two move?"

Kirk shook his head, " Barely. J-just forget about us. Make sure Gaius is safe."

McCoy hesitated for a moment, " Damnit!"

Maybe it didn't work.

oo

Like as if the dead were raised back to life, the Enterprise's systems came back on. The familiar sounds of beeps and blinking lights brought life back to the bridge and the personnel ran about, reporting from all sections of the current situation.

" Lieutenant Commander! We've regained control of all systems!" Sulu yelled out. Chekov nodded his head in confirmation.

" A-and we've got their life signs! All alive and well!" Chekov exclaimed in his thick Russian accent.

Scotty grinned and slapped the arm rest of the Captain's chair, " Lads, let's get to work!"

" Aye, sir!"

" Sir, I'm being hailed from the planet's surface!" The communication officer on duty said as he pressed buttons on his control panel. Scotty turned around and threw his hands in the air.

" Then open the channel, lad! We don't have any time to be wastin' here!"

" R-right, sir! Channel opened, sir!"

" Scotty, is that you up there?" Came in McCoy's voice over the bridge's intercom. There was a collective sigh of relief on the bridge.

" Ya bet yourself it is, Doctor! We've been without communication and transport capabili—"

" I don't care, Scotty, two to beam up – Now!"

Scotty raised an eyebrow, " Markson, let the transporter room know there's two to beam up. Have medical ready."

" Aye, sir."

oo

The lights came to life on the transporter and two individuals beamed onto one of the pads. McCoy stepped off of the transporter with Gaius in tow, the boy barely conscious. His medical staff came rushing into the transporter room with Nurse Chapel in lead. She gasped at the sight of the boy as McCoy handed him off to one of his male nurses. He looked worst for wear; a large gash on the back of his head where he bled. The side of his face, shoulder, and clothes were covered in blood.

" Take him into surgery, immediately!" McCoy shouted. His team instantly left the transporter room with Gaius in tow. Nurse Chapel took out her scanner and began to scan McCoy. He swatted her hand away.

" I'm fine, Nurse." He raked a hand through his head. " I appreciate it though."

" Just doing my job, Doctor." She gave him a small smile. " Orders?"

" Make sure sick bay doesn't collapse on itself. I'm heading to the bridge. There's still the Captain and his married couple that needs to be saved."

" Aye, sir."

oo

Uhura was with Spock, her arms wrapped around his body and her face buried into his chest. He held her close and protectively, stroking her hair and rubbing her back. It was illogical and so uncharacteristic of them and their relationship but they didn't care. They were emotionally compromised, toyed with, exploited, and mentally and physically assaulted.

Kirk briefly watched them from where he stood. If they were any other officers on an away mission, he would have chastised them for PDA, but they weren't. He understood them completely. If it were him in that situation he probably would have done the same. He did not even want know what was going on between their bond. Lucius scream took Kirk out of his thoughts and he turned around to face the, now, powerless man.

Lucius stumbled back into the chairs, breathing heavily, " What have you done?" He lifted his hand but nothing happened. " You've taken it away!"

" Your gods are nothing more than mere mortal beings!" Kirk declared as he approached the spectator's booth. The twenty-four spectators crept back into their chairs in fear. They did not know what this Kirk was capable of if their leader and wife were now powerless. " And if you try anything else, we'll take your power away too!"

" How dare you!"

" How does it feel, Lucius? How does it feel to be like us again?"

" … How dare you mock me."

Kirk laughed, " Mock? No, this isn't mocking. This is reality. You've tortured, humiliated, assaulted, and killed the crew of the Apollo," Kirk narrowed his eyes, his voice dropped low. " And who knows who else before them. "

Lucius grabbed onto the ledge of the booth and slowly stood up. His golden civic crown was gone, his robes in a disarray, and salt-and-pepper hair mussed out of style. He glared at Kirk as his body shook in anger.

" I should have killed you when I had the chance."

" I will include the events that happened here in my report. You will be held accountable for the death of the USS Apollo crew under Federation penal law. You will be held to a trial and judged by a tribunal who will determine your fate." Lucius jaw ticked as Kirk continued. " Any attack you make upon the Federation will go unpunished. You and your people will be held accountable."

" You are naïve… Captain."

" We'll see—"

Before he could finish, the three officers were enveloped with a bright light then disappeared.

oo

" You check out, Jim. A slight bruise and some muscle soreness, but other than that you're healthier than a proverbial horse." McCoy said as he turned off the biofunction monitor above the bed. Kirk sat up and sighed as he moved his shoulder.

" How did they check out?"

McCoy paused for a moment. He walked around the biobed and grabbed his PADD that lied on top of the table next it. It had been nearly eight hours since they left Alpha One. Starfleet Command had last reported that they were heading to Alpha One to apprehend Lucius and his wife after Kirk had submitted his initial report. He left out all the details that involved Spock and Uhura.

It would raise red flags. He didn't want to create a panic within the fleet.

" Lieutenant Uhura suffers from injuries to her foot and Mr. Spock is only having to deal with muscle soreness. I have them on medical leave for the next fourty-eight hours. " He looked at Jim. " As for the other stuff… That's a Vulcan thing that I do not understand and they obviously won't tell me. They're strong though, Jim. I don't see this affecting them permanently."

" I think… that I might have to prevent having them work together on future away missions."

McCoy looked up from his PADD, " … You serious, Jim?"

" I'm not joking, Bones." He sighed. " Their relationship, the way they're bonded to each other… It's a compromise we can't afford. The fact that it can be exploited and that it can affect them on that level scares me."

Kirk was silent for a moment as he retreated into his thoughts, " He could have killed me. Us. All of them. It's that strong. She compromises him… he compromises her. It's like they're… one. Get what I'm saying, Bones?"

" Yeah, I do." McCoy scratched the back of his head. " It's your call, Jim. All I can say."

" … Yeah."

" Just… take into consideration that this situation was unique."

Kirk looked at the biobed across from him where Gaius slept, "How's he?"

" Doing well. We have him under sedation until he recovers from the initial surgery." McCoy placed his hand on Kirk's shoulder and gave him a squeeze. " Don't beat yourself up over this."

Kirk chuckled lightly as McCoy retreated into his office. He grabbed his gold uniform shirt and put it on slowly. He got off of the biobed, straightened his shirt and looked at Gaius one last time before leaving sickbay.

Author's Note (cont.): This was a hard chapter to write. I had pre-written notes for the entire story so I knew how I wanted to take it but executing it was truly hard. Many spins on Plato's Stepchildren in the fanfiction world always use the rape plot device. I did not want to go that route at all, I abhor rape and find it a cheap ticket that never develops tastefully for the characters. I looked at what Parmen did as humiliation and showcasing his power. He was exploiting their weaknesses: Kirk's pride and honor and Spock's emotion. So, I tried to build on that with Spock and Uhura and I wanted to play on the reversal: Who's the emotional one? Who's the logical one? How much can Spock take before he concedes to his emotions to proteoct Uhura... etc.

I also wanted to toy with Kirk. Turn him into a 3rd wheel, make him emotionally compromised and force him into a situation that's already tipped. How would it feel to have emotions and feelings brought back to the surface that were suppressed for so many years? How do you keep them under control?

Beyond Antares ... oh that song. For those who've never seen TOS, its a song Uhura sings several times during the show. She also sings it while playing the Vulcan lute/lyre. I think that's a common trope to turn Beyond Antares into the Spock/Uhura music lesson song. I also was not creative enough to come up with another new love song with enough emotional baggage to really sell on.

The Cowboy Bebop soundtracks really helped in getting me into the mood to write this chapter.

SO I have an epilogue coming up and this story will be done! Thanks for reading. :)