In the captain's private meeting room, Kirk reviewed the information Spock and Sarek provided for him. As promised, all of it would remain confidential and they would join him in an hour to discuss it. After an hour of review, he knew of Pon Farr, bonding and of the Risvitan Kash-Tok clan's eccentricities. While Vulcans never spoke of love, it seemed that clan epitomized the human equivalent of soul-mate or love at first sight; Kirk mused. However, Kirk deduced that it took a rare individual to comfortably meld and tolerate those idiosyncrasies. Kirk agreed with Spock and Sarek's conclusion that the Praetor was half Vulcan and that he inherited those quirks from his mother.
Pulling up some history on the Praetor, Kirk had a moral dilemma as well so he requested someone that would he him decide. Spock and Sarek joined him. "The information you have shared will never leave this room." Kirk handed the computer disk to them. "The first question we face is do we expose the Praetor as half-Vulcan?"
"I do not think that wise," Sarek stated.
"Nor do I," Spock added.
"I came to that same conclusion. Aside from any moral implication, the backlash from the Romulan Empire would be devastating. At best, we anger a Praetor on a peace mission who then turns to war or we alienate him from his people leaving their Senate with the power, a Senate with half its members on the verge of declaring war already."
"Agreed on all fronts," stated Sarek.
Kirk wrote on a padd which flashed on the large wall screen behind them. "Pshaa stands for Praetor Sen Hiro-Ang's assassination?"
"Yes and the five year time frame coincides with possibly Pon Farr," Spock stated.
"The first question we face is: would it be better to let him die? Though he seems to genuinely favor peace, what is the likelihood that will change? Would we be preventing the next Hitler?" Kirk leaned back and awaited some logical debate.
"We do not have enough information for a logical conclusion or even an illogical opinion," Spock stated.
"I concur," Sarek added.
"That's my thoughts as well which is why I decided to gather more information." Kirk glanced at the time. "We will have an opportunity to do so in one minute if Romulans are as punctual as Vulcans."
Both Vulcans raised their eyebrows moments before the door buzzer sounded. The Romulan political advisor Zelipe entered. "Good morning Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, Ambassador Sarek," he said nodding to each one. "How may I be of assistance?"
"The Praetor offered your assistance to help us understand your culture and such." Kirk motioned for him to join them at the table. "We would like to know more about the Praetor-ship and the Praetor himself."
"I will gladly answer your questions as long as it doesn't compromise the Praetor or the Empire." Zelipe relaxed in chair opposite to them. "I will try not to take offense at any of your questions."
"In Earth's history and that of many other planets, dictators and monarchs do not necessarily represent the best interests of the people." Kirk wondered about his momentary slip up would offend. "There is a saying that absolute power corrupts absolutely. I'm trying to understand who are dealing with and the power of the position."
"Because the Federation would not want to deal with someone who treated his own people harshly," Zelipe replied. "First, the Senate governs the planet but the Praetor may veto any of their laws and enforce his own but he does so sparingly. Technically, the Senate can veto any of the laws the Praetor sets forth with a unanimous vote but they can never agree on anything. That is the legal way he is prevented from committing atrocious acts against his people."
"The Hiro-Ang line has held the line of Praetor-ship since the founding of Romulus. That is very impressive to have one family's line of successors hold it for that entire time. On Earth, Monarchs held the line of succession by divine right," Kirk stated. "After several successors sometimes their leadership capabilities waned."
"The Hiro-Angs are believed to have a gift of vision. They steer Romulus towards a prosperous future. Also, they are trained to be leaders starting at the age of ten. You want insights as to the man himself?" Zelipe leaned back and thought about the time Sen inspired him most.
Kirk nodded.
"At the age of fifteen, the Vita Palaestra teaches all Praetorsyns to endure the suffering of their people. First, the Praetorsyn chooses a sect of Romulus' population that they think suffers the most. Then they must live as they do for several weeks. Sen choose a group most considered not part of our culture because they were too far beneath society itself but he insisted he suffer with them." Zelipe poured some water. "During the first couple of days we were there, Sen realized that we were given more and better rations and equipment. He gave it all to the miners. By the third week, the grueling days, poor nutrition and horrible living conditions had taken its toll. Despite being on his deathbed, Sen refused to call home and got up for work every day. Afterwards, he stood proud in public until he was alone where he collapsed in his father's arms. He told his father that the more he suffered the greater a leader he would be and not to think of it as him nearly dying but as his way of becoming the best leader he could be. That is the leader you are dealing with."
Kirk then showed some news footage of Sen killing three of Romulus' senators. "This is something that concerned us."
"Those men were plotting to kill Sen's father. By doing this, he has the blood of three men on his hands. If he had not, the assassination attempt would have probably killed at least fifteen people. Also that show of strength may have prevented more dissention." Zelipe could see that they didn't quite understand the responsibility of the Praetor. "I know of one of the dictators of Earth's history. If the Praetor met Hitler before he rose to power and his vision let him know what Hitler would do in the future, the Praetor would kill him. From what I understand of your culture, your morals would prevent you from doing that because you would be killing someone who at that point in history was innocent. Then later when the genocide started, you would take comfort that you did the morally correct thing by your god. The Praetor does not have that luxury. The suffering of his people is his burden. He has a choice: the blood of one or the blood of many."
"Thank you Zelipe," Kirk replied. "That has helped me to understand more of your government and the man himself."
"Any time I can be of assistance," Zelipe replied. Then he thought of how Sen continued their friendship and his role as first advisor despite his outing as a deviant. "It is an honor to serve with the Praetor but it is more of an honor to be Sen's friend."
After Zelipe left, Kirk looked at Spock and Sarek. "Well, I'm convinced that having Sen Hiro-Ang as Praetor is a good thing. As to morality, if we were to bring the Orion girl here and offer her freedom, I think that would be the correct thing to do."
"I agree," Sarek said.
"As do I," Spock commented pulling up the registry for Hodge Podge. Scanning through recent transmissions and occurrences, he found a very big obstacle to their plan. "There is one problem. She's married."
At Hodge Podge, Alawa masqueraded as Adeena, Mindel's dutiful and faithful slave. As they waited for the Consortium, Mindel handed her a rather large heavy orange gift box. When she opened it, she found a potted Idra plant with it bulbous orange with white speckled fruit in bloom. "My favorite, thank you," she said. One of Mindel's slaves took it from her to place in the ship.
"You're welcome." He caressed her cheek brushing back a long thin hair braid with a long colorful hand painted bead at the end. "Your new hair style looks beautiful." He leaned in but hesitated.
Slaves never denied their masters anything. Mindel hesitated out of respect and kindness towards her. As a covert signal to him, Alawa blinked twice. Several light tender kisses followed which soothed her.
All these months together caused Alawa to develop an affectionate fondness for him. During their time together, Mindel treated her with kindness and respect. At first because she threatened him with a knife and to sabotage his ship but then it seemed to become habitual. Further, she realized that Orions needed affection for their physical and mental well-being. These small affections comforted her and seemed to give him relief from his cancer.
"I," he said just as the Consortium, represented by most every Federation and few non-Federation walked by along with Evals, the Orion government official.
They joined them. Fingerz, the Ferengi representative tried to give her some jewelry. Evals turned his padd towards her. "I WILL taste you." Evals scared her. When Mindel first tried to pounce on her, he simply thought he was taking what was rightfully his. No perversion or sadism showed in his eyes. That is why he backed down from the tip of her blade and quickly came to a truce with her. Twisted cruelty showed in Evals eyes causing Alawa to shiver.
K'ru'ella the Klingon representative who gave her some of the hair beads and treated her like she did her own daughter looked at her with concern. "They dress you too scantily. Are you cold?"
"I am fine but I appreciate your concern." The way each of the Consortium treated her confirmed everything that Mindel ever told her tenfold. Mindel planned to use that love to convince the Consortium to allow controlled humane slavery by calling it indentured servitude. Evals officiated to ensure the Orion government got its due taxes.
After an all day meeting with the Consortium, Mindel quickly ushered her back to their ship and her room. Mindel paced and fidgeted. "What's wrong?"
Mindel's cheeks flushed green with nervousness. "Alawa, I love you."
Alawa plopped down into the couch. "I thought my pheromones didn't affect other Orions."
"They don't. My feelings are real. I've been trying to tell you for awhile." Mindel removed all of his jewelry including his medallion with the symbols of all the families who controlled the syndicate. Months ago when she complained about it pressing into her back he ceased wearing it to bed. "Why do you think I treat you the way I do?"
"I thought you were afraid I'd slit your throat."
"At first," he admitted. "Look I know you don't love me and I know I'll never be as noble and….." Mindel gestured towards the picture of Sen on the nightstand. "I'll never be as good as he is because I'm a bastard at times. I did you wrong and I am so sorry." He continued to change into his pajamas. "I just want you at my side even if you just pretend to care some."
"I do care and I'm at your side." Alawa undressed as well. In Orion culture, nudity didn't have the negative connotations like many cultures. Her parents instilled that bit of culture in her. Oddly, she felt comfortable in front of Mindel but not desirous like with Sen.
"You need protection from jerks like Evals. I want everyone to know that you're more than a slave." He looked towards the picture of Sen with a sneer. "You deserve to be more than a slave and more than a mistress."
Taking a seat next to her, he opened a box that had a diamond half inch hooped earring: the Orion form of a wedding jewel. "Will you marry me?" He clasped her hands. "I won't ask anything more than what you're already giving me and I'll give you a divorce in a few years if you want it."
Alawa looked down to the tears that fell on her lap. Since she fell in love with Sen, she had hoped that this would be the question he would as her but not induced by her pheromones. Even if that was not the case, because of his position as Praetor he couldn't marry her. In her heart, she knew she would never love Mindel as deeply or completely like she loved Sen. "It wouldn't be fair to you."
"Because you don't love me," he deduced. "I'll be alright with it." He looked at her misty-eyed. "Every now and then, could you just pretend?" His voice cracked. "Let me have the illusion that you love me just a little."
Before her sat a dying man who loved her and treated her kindly. And so she pretended. Through a teary blurred vision, she looked up to see Sen after hearing the question she desperately always wanted to hear him ask. "Yes," she whispered. She leaned in and kissed him tenderly and felt cool lips and an abundance of moisture against her face. When she pulled away, she saw a couple of tears in his eyes.
Mindel's lips curled ever so slightly into a sad smile. "Thank you," he whispered. Then he dabbed her eyes and his. A long comforting hug followed. "Tomorrow I want you to pick out a very expensive dress from the seventeenth floor for our wedding in the evening."
"So soon," she stated.
"To keep Evals off of you," he replied. "A Federation marriage is very simple but it won't be recognized on Orion. That will take time. At least, you'll have some protection. In the meantime, I'm going to spoil you."
"You don't need to."
"I want to."
Despite Orion tradition of showing as much skin as possible, Alawa opted for a clingy gold dress with a long embroidered train. The minister asked each to love, honor and cherish each other and they agreed. Mindel placed the earring on her right ear. Alawa clasped a gold chain bracelet bearing her pseudonym Adeena around his wrist. Then they signed several documents.
Evals confronted Mindel just after they finalized everything. "This marriage is a farce not recognized by Orion. You're ruining the entire order of things. Stop treating her like she's anything more than a slave."
"She will be treated as my cherished wife." Mindel removed her wrist chain and cast it aside. Then he put his arm around her shoulders. "Come my dear, time to start our honeymoon."
Alone in their room, Alawa tearfully looked at her picture of Sen before she placed it in her nightstand drawer. Breathing deeply, she cleared the guilt lump in her throat which nearly choked her.
Mindel entered her room as she removed some of her jewelry. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he presented her with an ornate wedding card. "Because I love you," he whispered.
In the card, she found a disc for a million credits. "Thank you so much but you didn't need to do this."
"I wanted to. We'll be here for awhile so I want you to buy everything you want." Mindel undid her dress and kissed her shoulders.
They crawled into bed together and his kissed the back of her neck causing her to relax into ecstasy. Lying there, she thought about the love of her life whose picture rested in the nightstand drawer and then to her husband lying next her. Sen had inner nobility that she admired. Maybe Mindel didn't have that but he did try. If it came down to it, Sen would throw himself in front of a phaser to save her; if only the love he felt for her was real and not pheromone induced. Every day she wished it weren't so but being around him gave her the inner nobility to set him free and not let him be love's slave. While Mindel tried to be noble, he would have a bodyguard save her but his love was genuine.
While the love she felt for Sen curled her toes with ecstasy and overwhelmed her with joy, the fondness she felt for Mindel was a love of sorts. Once she turned up the lights, she turned to face him. "Mindel, I love you."
After the initial gasp of shock, his eyes lit up like Christmas. "I never thought you would love me." He smiled and hugged her tightly. "I love you so much … wife."
A/N – Please R&R. I love hearing from you guys.