Chapter 18 – Reindeer Games
The Sex Pistols blared through the intercom. The Praetor and his entourage stopped as did everyone else. One thought echoed through Kirk's mind: Oh Shit! Rishley strikes again!
The music blaring above proved the rumors that Starfleet vessels were luxurious compared to their Romulan counterparts or they played it in honor of him because they learned of his love of music. Either way, Sen decided to show his appreciation. "Captain Kirk, this is very enjoyable. I am surprised that you found out about my interest in music. Either way, please continue."
"Of course," Kirk replied. Now, we're subjected to Rishley's music for the rest of our journey. "Today is just a brief tour since it's almost the dinner hour. Tomorrow I've scheduled a more in depth tour, if that's acceptable?"
"That is acceptable."
Vavrin moved next to Uhura. "May I meet the chef to discuss the nutritional requirements of our kind and the Praetor's particular tastes?"
"Yes, that would be fine."
Dr. McCoy's ears perked up with that. "Let me take you to the private galley. I'd be interested to know the difference between your nutritional requirements and Vulcans."
Together they left for the galley. "For Vulcans, we know that chocolate makes them drunk. Does that hold true for Romulans?"
"Actually it does. Is it true that Romulan ale makes humans drunk?"
"Yes, very drunk but we love it. The square bottles are unusual. Normally, we get the tall curved bottles. It's quite expensive."
Vavrin nearly doubled over with laughter. "That brand is swill. The square bottles are the good stuff. We drink ale to our health."
They rounded the corner to the old fashioned conference room decorated with old sailing ship décor. They halted at the two large German shepherds who sat next to the galley entrance. Immediately, they sat at attention. Vavrin studied them closely. "What kind of creatures are these?"
"They're canines specially bred and trained for protection. They belong to our chef." McCoy heard some tinkering in the galley. "Can we come in?"
"Sure thing," Autumn yelled from the galley. "As long as you don't threaten me, they're fine."
They entered the adjacent galley where Chef Beaumont cooked that evening's meal. "Well good evening Chef Beaumont, it smells like delicious chicken and dumplings in here." McCoy gazed over her shoulder at the food. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better thank you, and please call me Autumn," she replied.
"Well Autumn, this is Vavrin, personal physician to the Praetor. He wants to review the Praetor's nutritional needs."
"That's fine." Autumn brushed several pieces of thick bread with a butter and garlic herbal mixture. "I based my cooking on Vulcan nutritional needs as well as allergies and stuff, no chocolate but meat is allowed and the like." Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the tray and placed it in the over. "You're welcome to look around and make sure I don't have anything poisonous."
"Basing the food on Vulcan physiology is very wise." Vavrin ran a tricorder and visually scanned the contents of the kitchen as well. "Everything seems fine. Just as a point of reference, the Praetor hates Amil beans with a passion but he has no allergies. He likes a variety of flavors from mild to spicy. He likes culinary adventure."
"Noted," she replied.
"The food smells delicious." Vavrin left and McCoy followed. Vavrin got the distinct impression that he made the chef a bit nervous.
When they rejoined the tour, the group viewed the engine room. "If you'll excuse me," Kirk said as he joined McCoy while Vavrin stood next to the Praetor. So no one could hear Kirk drew McCoy aside. "Is everything good with the food preparations?"
"Everything is fine. I'm sure the Praetor is anxious to eat. According to my medical scan, he hasn't eaten in several days. That is if those readings are like that of a Vulcan in the early stages of famine."
"His own people could be trying to poison him so he's avoiding his ship's food. He requested to stay aboard the Enterprise; maybe he fears an assassination attempt. Could you make sure that Chef Beaumont has everything ready? The next stop is dinner."
"On my way," McCoy replied.
Overall, Sen enjoyed his very brief tour but he wondered about something that might be in breach of etiquette. While Kirk spoke to McCoy, he nodded for Uhura to speak to him in private. "From the media, I understood that both sexes were treated equally in Starfleet. Is this correct?"
"Yes it is," replied Uhura.
"In the Romulan fleet, our females are treated equally as well. Therefore they dress as the males do. The Federation may think we are sexist because the males carry on the line names and the Praetor-ship." Sen glanced over to some of the women wearing rather skimpy skirts. "However, here Starfleet females dress as a Romulan female would to attract attention. They did not need to do this because of …..I am afraid I might offend." Then he blurted in Romulan more to himself. I certainly find human females attractive. Did they hear of the Hiro-Ang reputation?
Uhura often wondered about the short skirts as well. After all, mostly males comprised Starfleet's governing board. A Romulan Praetor found them sexist. Uhura burst out laughing and replied in high Romulan. I agree with your assessment and wondered about the uniforms myself. These are regulation uniforms. What reputation does your line have?
The same one established on Vulcan. It only got worse I'm afraid. Sen figured they must have researched his line.
Uhura noticed the bluish green leafed bracelet he wore and thought of something Gaila said to her about Orion females and their chosen males.
Looking over at his wife laughing in private with the Praetor whose line had a reputation for keeping mistresses; Spock suppressed his uneasiness beneath his façade of complete logic. However, he decided to fix it so he held out two fingers as she approached. "Wife attend," he stated. Then he spoke to her through their bond. Do not speak to him in private.
Uhura joined Spock and pressed her two fingers against his. We will speak of this later.
Indeed we shall.
In the conference room, Kirk sat at one end of the table and the Praetor the other, along with all his aides, the Enterprise Officers, Sarek, Safak, T'Pyre and Rishley. Autumn presented the dishes. "All the vegetarian dishes have a green dot on the dish. For starters, we have Texas toast and deviled eggs. For the side dishes, we have coleslaw, spinach with white wine, squash, pole beans and herbal cauliflower. The main dish is Dumpling Delight which is vegetarian but I have a bowl of bacon fried diced chicken that can be added to it for the non-vegetarians. You may want to save room for dessert because I've made whipped strawberry cake."
The dishes made their way around the table. McCoy noticed the Praetor placed healthy dollops on his plate. Personally, he couldn't have been more pleased with the decidedly Southern style of food. "These dishes remind me of home."
The Praetor glanced over the food. "These are the foods that…" A confused look crossed his faced so he leaned over to Uhura and whispered in Romulan. "What is the polite word for commoners?"
"Regular folks," she replied.
"These are the foods that regular folks eat and not what is served at fancy gatherings."
"Yes," Kirk replied.
"Good, that is the food I prefer, flavored and well portioned." The Praetor took a bite of Texas toast and promptly another. "At our formal dinners, the food is aesthetically pleasing to the eye but bland to the taste buds."
T'Pyre plopped a couple of spoonfuls of diced chicken into her Dumpling Delight to the dismay of the Vulcans including Safak who pointed it out. "That is meat."
"I know." T'Pyre looked Safak directly in the eye and purposefully smiled. "I missed it so much after living with a vegetarian."
Rishley enjoyed that little bit of rebellion. "All that fighting really works up her appetite."
Immediately, all the Romulans at the table turned to T'Pyre, especially Meka who found her hair very interesting. "Do you fight with weapons or without?"
"Both but I specialize in bladed weapons," T'Pyre answered.
"We have a tradition of blade fighting." Afterwards the Romulan advisors took a great interest in T'Pyre much to the dismay of Safak.
"Praetor, is there any particular aspect of our culture that you wish to see?" Kirk understood that the first part of his visit was a get to know you session.
"Nothing in particular but everything I can," Sen replied. "You see I can make any agreement I wish with the Federation. However, there is prejudice and issues on both sides that a peace treaty will not resolve. By immersing myself amongst your crew, I can understand your people better and vice versa so we can see if an alliance is even plausible."
"That is very wise and I am hopeful that something will come of this." Kirk took another spoonful of pole beans.
"I have a question that I wish you to answer honestly or not at all." Sen spooned more chicken into his dumplings. "Why did you offer mercy to the Narada?"
"In hopes that your Empire would see that mercy as a sign that peace is possible."
"Did you want to show mercy?"
Kirk knew he treaded on thin ice but decided on honesty, hoping the Praetor valued honesty. "No, I didn't."
"I respect that because I would feel the same." Sen helped himself to more spinach then looked at Rishley who seemed to be studying everyone at the table. "So you will present me with a piece of artwork that will fulfill my heart's desire?"
"Yes, I will." Rishley's periwinkle eye's studied him closely.
"Don't you have some questions for me so you can determine my heart's desire?"
"I don't need questions because I'm an artist. Just by being around you for a little while, I can tell your fondest wish, things you desire, biggest regret, fears, likes, dislikes, loves and everything else."
"I look forward to seeing what you come up with." Sen finished his plate. "My compliments to the chef, this is a superb meal." He leaned over to Uhura. "Would it be rude to ask for a little to be set aside for tomorrow?"
"I'm sure the chef wouldn't mind at all. It is quite the compliment."
The officers and Sarek escorted the Romulans to their quarters before they discussed the day's events.
Once everyone left, Autumn packed some leftovers for the Romulans. Safak entered the galley. "Do you mind if I take some leftovers as well?"
"Help yourself, it means less packing for me."
"Everyone was quite impressed with the dinner. That will help the negotiations in a way." Safak put some of the dumplings in a container.
"Glad I could help," she replied.
"From my observations, all the officers are performing their duties adequately during this mission including Spock. Despite all the set-backs he faced during his childhood."
"What set-backs?" she asked.
"Because of being a Vulcan/Human hybrid, most of the other Vulcans tormented him throughout his childhood. However, he had to attend Vulcan schools to hone his mind." He finished packing the leftovers. "Many of the council thought of Amanda as a weakness even though she spoke our language impeccably and devoted herself to preserving our history. Also, her personality was nearly that of a Vulcan." Safak held up his container. "Thank you for these."
"No problem," she replied as he left. She and Sarek were serious about each other. She knew the direction they were heading in but she wondered if they had children if they would be harassed. Sarek never mentioned this. And Amanda, she sounded so perfect and many Vulcans still didn't accept her. Autumn knew they wouldn't care for her at all since she didn't speak Vulcan. After four years of French she could only speak a few phrases. Then there was her career; she planned to continue being a chef. Last, Autumn knew her personality was quite the opposite of any Vulcan and she didn't plan to change.
After she put away the leftovers and left the dishes for the galley crew, she went to Sarek's quarters but he wasn't there and neither were her dogs. Autumn undressed and fell asleep due to her exhausting long day.
Once the Romulans were tucked away in their quarters, the Enterprise officers gathered in the captain's private meeting room. "Well that went better than expected. I believe his chief political advisor Zelipe was the same Zelipe who commanded the Blood Vengeance nearly a year ago."
Spock's nearly eidetic memory confirmed that. "Yes, it was."
Uhura remembered sounds and voices quite well. This new information confirmed a suspicion. "Captain, the voice I heard during the incident that replied with Your Welcome in high Romulan I'm certain was the Praetor himself."
"We've just received more intelligence reports and another smuggled video. According to the intelligence reports, the Praetor killed his elderly father because he didn't want to share the praetor-ship any longer." Kirk activated the view screen. "Then we got this."
The view screen showed a ritzy Romulan party amidst a beautiful garden with a fleet hovering above. At the bottom of the screen, the translation into Federation standard scrolled across. Uhura recognized the beautiful Orion slave girl from the party. "That's the love of his life, the one who died." The party continued with the Praetor shaking hands with official looking compatriots. Suddenly, he pulled a knife and killed three of the officials who were identified as Senators. When he addressed the crowd, he cited findings of a plot to kill his father and an ancient rite that he could kill the conspirators if he wanted.
"Either those reports that the Praetor killed his father are false and those Senators really did plot to kill his father OR it was just the opposite. It seems the reports we get are a bit prejudiced. I would like for everyone to form their own opinions on the matter based on first hand observations and interactions." Kirk tapped his fingers a moment. "We can conclude that we have an individual capable of bloodlust and compassion."
"The science lab confirmed his gift to the Vulcan people to be genuine." Using a laser pointer, Sarek noted the individuals in guard uniforms. "The individuals that the Praetor brought on board under the pretense of being advisors are his Uhaii guard." Then he scrolled back to the Orion girl. "That girl is not dead or she has a twin. I saw her at Hodge Podge just before our arrival."
Uhura remembered her observation in the engine room. "He still wears the bracelet she gave him."
"Maybe he ordered her to be killed for political reasons and the kill order got botched," Kirk concluded. "The bracelet could be guilt."
Uhura didn't like what she was about to suggest but she felt it best. "My feminine intuition says differently but we should keep this to ourselves. That Orion's anonymity could be keeping her alive. Sarek, how was she being treated?"
"Her Orion master chained her in a delicate cord by her wrist and treated her with kindness from my observations. I almost thought they were married."
"We will reconvene after tomorrow's adventure. Since we don't know what time the Praetor awakens, I suggest everyone get a good night's sleep." Kirk turned the view screen off.
Per the captain's orders, McCoy remained behind after everyone left. "You have a request Captain."
"Officially, we're not having this conversation. However, a little inside information can't hurt. If one of the Praetor's advisors were to share a few drinks with one of my officers and gain some insights, things might go a bit smoother."
McCoy ambled through area the Romulans were staying and the areas they had toured. A half hour later, near the galley, he spotted Vavrin, the Praetor's person physician who looked completely startled at the sight of him. "Can I help you?"
Vavrin looked around. "I'm looking for a snack."
"I know Autumn had plenty of left-overs." McCoy held the galley door and then watched Vavrin going through the cabinets. "Tonight's left-overs are in the cooler."
"I don't want the dinner left-overs but maybe ingredients of sorts."
"You want chocolate." McCoy planned especially for this. "I can get much better than baker's chocolate."
"Really," Vavrin replied. "And I can get you even better ale than the stuff you were given from the Praetor's private stock. I'll be back in fifteen."
Vavrin went into the Praetor's quarters where Sen meditated. "Well," he said.
"It's on." Vavrin grabbed a small ovular bottle from Sen's cabinet.
In the conference room where they dined a few hours before, McCoy tasted the smoothest almost honey tasting Romulan ale he ever had. On the other hand, Vavrin enjoyed the richest smoothest chocolate he ever tasted in the form of a French truffle. "So do the Romulans truly want peace?"
"The Praetor wants peace and he's trying to get the Senate behind him and many of the people believe in him. However, the military supports him fully so if he declares war no one will stop him." Vavrin savored another truffle. "The Federation is prejudiced against Romulans now and justly so."
"Some are but most just want peace after the devastation." McCoy swigged some more ale. "Is the Praetor afraid of being poisoned on his own ship? Is that why he hasn't eaten in a few days?"
Vavrin laughed heartily. "No, the lids were loose on all his food so it spoiled, leaving him with MRE's and Amil beans; both of which he can't stand."
McCoy sipped some more ale. "All his food had loose lids; I find that suspicious."
"Same," Vavrin replied. "What's the captain like?"
"A very innovative thinker," McCoy replied. "He's more the type to do the right thing even if it means breaking all the rules. How about the Praetor?"
"He's the same way but he makes his own rules so technically he never breaks them." Vavrin bit into another truffle. "It's hard to believe that Sarek can negotiate peace all things considered."
"He's the best ambassador in the Federation and one of the few bureaucrats worth their weight. I don't think he's holding a grudge. It would be illogical. He's already trying to build a future." McCoy swigged some more ale. "You and the other advisors seem to look to the Praetor as a friend."
"We are friends. The Praetor is the most loyal friend one can ask for or the most vengeful enemy you never want to have." Vavrin took another bite. "Does the Federation plan to ambush us?"
"Not to my knowledge or the captain's," McCoy replied. "If they did both Sarek and the Captain wouldn't let it happen if their lives depended on it. Only militaristic rebels would do it."
"I believe you."
They chatted for awhile until Vavrin rested his head on the table and fell asleep just as McCoy thought his own eyes felt heavy.
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After their meeting, Spock and Nyota adjourned to their room. "Spock, you ordered me earlier. That was very condescending."
"The way you were laughing with the Praetor was highly inappropriate and considering the Hiro-Ang reputation unwise."
"First nothing happened. Secondly, what reputation?" Nyota stripped out of her uniform.
"The Hiro-Angs are rumored to keep mistresses."
"Really Spock, you have no need to be jealous. I love you and only you. Besides, I promise you he doesn't have any ideas."
Once he sat on the bed, he removed his shirt. Nyota scooted away from him. "I trust your judgment." Spock pinned Nyota beneath him. "And, I apologize." He trailed kisses from her chest to her navel.
"Do you think I'll forgive you?"
"I know how to make you forgive me, the same way you get me to forgive you." He trailed kisses from her navel down and removed her panties as he gently removed them. The moment she screamed in ecstasy, Spock knew she forgave him.
The next morning, Captain Kirk awaited word from the Romulans at least about breakfast. When none came, he investigated to find the Praetor and his contingent not in their quarters. Guards ensured that they didn't go anywhere that would compromise the security of the Enterprise and the Praetor insisted on his own security so no one tracked his movements. Spock joined him in the search.
A couple of female crew members giggled. "We know where he is?"
Spock shook his head.
A voice came over the intercom interrupting a song about a Bad Reputation. "Sir, we have a fight between the Vulcans and the Romulans in the gymnasium. They've locked the doors. Should we blast them?"
Another voice came over the intercom. "Sir, we believe Chef Beaumont is being held hostage aboard the Renaissance."
Another voice came over the intercom. "Rishley is vandalizing Rec Room Three. He claims to have artistic license to do as he pleases."
Kirk looked at Spock and shook his head slowly. "Sometimes it doesn't pay to get up in the morning. Which disaster would you like to handle?"
A/N - Please let me know what you think. I love all reviews.