Carlisle 2136


The Vulcan woman, Rosalind, was standing over his bed.

"We need to copulate immediately."

This was such a dramatic change in attitude from any of their previous conversations, that this could only be explained by the contents of the whispered conversation she had just had with the housemaster.

And, given that, Malcolm was struggling to think of a way this could possibly be good news.

Or neutral news.

Or, in any way NOT a bloody disaster.

"Wait... what's happening?" he asked, making a show of pretending to wake up, until an impatient eyebrow curtailed his theatrics.

"We must copulate immediately," she repeated grimly. "Prepare yourself."

"Well, no...wait. Why? What's happening?"

She opened her mouth as if to answer, but then closed it quickly again, and creased her brow in frantic thought.

She was unwilling to betray the housemaster Malcolm supposed, but he found himself unwilling to make him for such niceties. "What's happening? What did Lloyd say?"

Rosalind settled her shoulders. "Word has reached your father that you have not...used me for my intended purpose. I would like to stay here. You allow me to read, and feed me properly, and do not harm me, apart from the inevitable, irrevocable, and insurmountable harms of slavery..."

"...You're welcome...?"

"... and so I would like to stay, rather than gamble on a more favourable outcome if I am removed from your possession. From what Lloyd has told me, you would also be at risk from harm should your father not believe you have penetrated me regularly."

"You can say that again."

Rosalind frowned. "So it would be best, when investigation begins that this rumour which has reached your father were proven ..."

"About that," Malcolm interrupted. "Just HOW did my father find out that I don't want to... that...ahem, so far I've spared your modesty?"

"Lloyd didn't know for certain, however he suspects... we suspect..." Rosalind paused, yet another war raging across her face. Eventually however, she did continue, "...as you know, you do not do your own laundry."

"Well, I certainly will from now on!" Malcolm replied aghast.

"...That does not help us now. As I was saying, it would be best if this rumour which has reached your father was found unlikely based on the evidence. So we must create evidence. Remove your clothes."

She reached out then, gripping his shoulder firmly. Malcolm did manage to pull free of her grip, and scramble out of the other side of the bed, albeit with quite a bit less dignity than was ideal.

"Now let's not be hasty..." he said, deliberately lowering the stress-heightened register of his voice. "Let's just think about this for a second."

Rosalind slowly paced towards his. "I am stronger than you."

"Yes, probably. But you are also panicking... all I'm saying is..."

Rosalind snarled. "Vulcans do not panic!"

"Well, Vulcans are a conquered and enslaved race. Maybe a little panicking would have done some good... er... not now, though. You need just need to calm...just LISTEN to me okay? I'll sneak out and find something... a cucumber maybe? … and you can just go into the bathroom and privately...er..."

"Cucumbers do not ejaculate," Rosalind replied tensely then her face changed. "However, you do. In the shower. Perhaps if you were to furnish me with some semen, your ruse would work."

Malcolm balked. "Listen, I feel for you Rosalind, I do, but..."

"My name is not Rosalind!"

"Don't be stupid," Malcolm snapped back. "Of course it is. Isn't it?

Rosalind lowered her eyes. "I have a Vulcan name."

"Really? Huh. That's... interesting. So, you all have these secret Vulcan names? What's your real name? What about Lloyd? He doesn't have a real name does he? Lloyd's just... Lloyd."

"I do not know if all Vulcan mothers follow the practice of my mother and give their children a proper Vulcan name," Rosalind replied. "However, she believes that the practice is widespread. And I do not intend to tell you my true name."

"So you expect me to wank on command for you, and you won't even tell me your name? How does that work? I thought I was in charge here?"

Not-Rosalind raised her eyebrows again. "It is no great sacrifice, on your part, to do what you already do at least daily."

"How do you even know that?"

"I listen to your heart rate while you are in the shower," she answered calmly.

"Well...don't!"

"Go find a cucumber."