VERY SORRY I WAS NOT ABLE TO UPDATE LAST WEEK. I have two reasons. I was going to update Saturday, because I knew I wasn't going to be able to on Sunday. But, as a late birthday present, I was given a new laptop (yay!) that I needed to do a bunch of updates and file loads on, which took FOREVER. I also lost the first draft of this chapter in the process, which SUCKED. I had to rewrite it, but it turned out a bit better the second time around, so that's the only positive. I wasn't able to update Sunday because it was the anniversary of my father's passing, and I was at Church most of the day with my family. Please enjoy this chapter, however belated and small, and comment what you think! Thanks!
Christine and Carol were both next to me as we stood on the transporter pad. I fought the urge to fidget nervously, and was able to quell it down to a quiet tremor. I was antsy about this. I didn't think anything was going to go wrong, but when I reminded myself of the peace treaty, it also reminded me of the people who had attacked us with no good reason. I was on edge however I knew I was reacting too severely; I seemed to be the only one ticking.
Spock was stoic as usual, and Doctor McCoy and Commander Levy were talking quietly. Commander Levy was not someone I spoke with often; he seemed introverted and quiet but not at all shy. Kind of like a wall flower but with enough intelligence to make him seem almost ignorant when he spoke. But I knew he was sweet, underneath the closed off exterior.
Jim seemed to be on edge as well if one could pick up on it. His shoulders seemed a bit higher than usual and he wasn't joking around with anyone. It was almost noon, and by now I knew he would be alive with energy and cheer. It was absent at the current moment, and it didn't take a mind reader to figure out why.
"Seven to beam down, prepare transporters."
In moments I was surrounded by gold light that soon disappeared. The silvery blue Enterprise was replaced by several trees and plants, all of which I was familiar with. I took a deep breath, trying to calm by increasing heart rate by looking at the colored fauna. His voice filled my ears much sooner than I would have liked.
"Welcome, guests, back to our humble and welcoming home!" He was dressed almost identically to the way he was when I first saw him. A white garb, golden sandals, an olive leaf crown with emerald colored veins. Just seeing him made my blood boil and my heart race, in both fear and anger. He was alone as he came out of the forest into the opening, his arms raised in an embrace-like form.
Jim stepped forward, smiling. I could tell he was feeling the emotions I was feeling, anger, distrust, but probably less fear.
"It's wonderful to be here, especially now that we are on good terms with your planet's people! We do thank you for inviting us here for the celebration."
Parmen responded by embracing the Captain tightly, and I could see him stiffen at the hug. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Spock, his hand reflexively heading to his hip for his phaser. I saw him then retract his hand as Parmen let go and smiled that oh so deadly smile.
Carol put a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Her soft accent was strangely comforting as I looked up at her and smiled. My tightened hands, which had I had clenched inadvertently, loosened up and I took a deep breath.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
She smiled back. She didn't know how much Jim, Spock, McCoy and I had gone through. She knew what had happened; she was given the full report to send back to Star Fleet. But she didn't understand what they had done to us, what he had done to us. The memories were about the come back all at once but I Parmen's voice interrupted the onslaught of them.
"Ah, Stella, I see you are well. I have been informed of your voice discovery. I do hope all is well with you now that you may speak, yes?" He was walking towards me. He was talking to me. He was smiling at me. My nerves were vibrating.
"Yes.", I said firmly, as if trying to prove to him I got my voice back without his help. He didn't seem affected. "I am very well, thank you." I was glad I didn't sound sarcastic in my last remark, even though I so desperately wanted to make some sort of biting comment. I knew this was not the time for immature revenge and that I had to be an adult. I was a Lieutenant, for God's sake, I was mature and smart and capable. I could handle this without acting like a brat.
Parmen grinned, his salt and peppered hair shining in the sunlight. It was a beautiful day here. Sunny, warm, and not a cloud in sight.
"Well, there is much to prepare for!" Parmen gestured around somewhat frantically. "Demetria, Aristo, come, come!"
I looked over at the path in which Parmen had emerged, only to find two different, unfamiliar faces appear. A man and a woman, both incredibly attractive and straight faced, walked towards us. They wore dark brown garbs, olive leaf crowns, and sandals. I was not surpised by their sense of style.
The female, who I assumed was Demetria, was definitely striking in her appearance. Not one feature she wore was plain; her hair was ruby red and shined like a topaz stone. Her eyes were the color of grass in the morning, and her skin was a clean white. Her nose was perfectly straight and her lips were in a firm red line. I had a feeling she was much prettier when she smiled, but at the moment, emotion was not traced on her face.
The other man, Aristo, was smiling a dazzling grin, probably close to over shadowing Jim's perfect crescent smile. His hair was bleach blonde and his eyes sparkled. His tall frame was muscular and lean, and not much was hidden with the brown toga he wore.
Parmen grinned.
"Demetria, please lead these women to the Grand Hall, and give them their robes. Aristo, take the men to the Quarters to prepare. Make our guests feel welcomed, as if this were their own home!"
"Yes, my lord." Demetria and Aristo said it in unison, before Demetria walked towards Christine.
"Follow me, we will walk to the Grand Hall where you will receive your attire." No smiled was on her face, just an empty look. Her hospitality was overwhelming.
We were led down a large, shiny marble like hallway, separate from Jim, Spock, and Doctor McCoy. It seemed freshly scrubbed and waxed with polish, and had a brand new appearance. My feet sounded like pebbles skittering across the floor as Demetria led us down the corridor. Her long red hair swooshed behind her, and it was hard for me not to stare at it. Christine must have been thinking the same thing because I could see her from my peripheral vision gazing at the ruby locks.
"The correct attire will be supplied for you in this room. If the size or color is not to your liking, please inform me. You may place your current outfit on the chair in the back or on a hanger."
Her voice was flat, and she didn't even look at us when she opened the large wooden door to our right. Her outward personality was no doubt unfriendly, but she wasn't rude in anyway, making it hard for me to feel offended. I was just curious; Why was Aristo so friendly while she was so...not? She seemed so uncaring, aloof and straight forward while he seemed much more amicable and hospitable?
Carol entered the room first, followed by Christine and I. Demetria then shut the door with a loud thump and left us in the dull-lit room. I saw three chairs, each with a small rack next to it and a piece of cloth hanging off of them.
"Well, what a warm welcome.", I heard Carol mumble under her breath. She walked over to the chair closest to her and began to inspect the cloth as I watched her. Her eyes scanned it for a few moments followed by her picking it up and feeling it.
"Soft.", was all she said. A smile poked at my lips. I could tell she liked it.
I walked over to the chair near me and Christine did the same. It appeared all of the dresses were the same color; a creamy off-white with a gold hem line. It seemed the ball I imagined earlier would not be similar to the one I was attending tonight. There would be no pearls woven into my hair or powder making my skin perfect like it said so in my history files of ancient England. It was just a garb of white silk with a pair of metallic gold sandals to match. Great. That meant my under-average height would be accentuated further more with flat shoes.
I realized I was complaining again. They had been generous enough to supply me, no, all of us, with an outfit and here I was, complaining about how I would look short. I turned away from my two companions and faced the wall. I then began to get dressed.
When I had finished changing, and Christine and Carol had too, I inspected what I had on more closely. The fabric was very soft, and it felt lovely across my stomach and legs, like a waterfall of satin. It didn't have straps, except for a loose sleeve that reached my right elbow. It was a little tight in my back, slightly uncomfortable, but I ignored it, for the rest of the dress was fine.
Carol and Christine were both doing the same and glancing at their outfit.
"It's not too bad, is it? I wish it was longer.", I heard Christine say. I nodded in agreement, noticing how the hemline fell no further than my knees. Carol walked over to me, and place a hand on the back of my dress. I didn't have time to ask what she was doing before she answered my unspoken question.
"It's all bunched up here in the back, Stella.", she giggled and I covered my face sheepishly.
"What would I do without you?" I said, sighing as she took her hand from my back. I truly did ponder the question; what would I do without the people that helped me so much before. Uhura, Christine, Carol, and as much as it made my heart ache to say it, Spock had helped me with the several hurdles I had faced in the past months and years. But maybe Spock had helped me too much, and that was why he had also hurt me the way he had. I stopped myself again; it was not the time for this.
I was still nervous anyway. I was about to face an entire room of people, maybe even dance with them, that had been responsible for injuries that should have never been given. Some of them may have even been the same people that laughed and jeered at us like we were animals in a show. I was scared and angry at the same time, to a point where I didn't care what I felt anymore. I just knew that I didn't want to do what had to be done.
The three of us exited the room, greeted by an emotionless Demetria. She turned on her heel and began to walk down the left hallway.
"Follow me for the main dance hall."
We did as we were told and followed her. As we continued to walk down the winding corridors, I began to wonder if we were lost, or if our destination was on the other side of the planet. Minutes passed before we entered an astoundingly large room.
The center was cleared out for a large space on a waxy floor. It was obviously the space people would be dancing on, and already I saw some pairs waltzing around in a relaxed fashion. The walls were pearly marble that had a bronze shimmer to it. There were tables on the outer edges of the room, people seated at them and talking and laughing. Not a care it seemed, for us who had only months ago, been a toy in their game. I took a deep breath and focused on the room. The large, spacious room that glittered.
I felt something being placed on my head. I blinked and looked at Demetria, who had her hands by my forehead and was arranging leaves in my hair.
An olive leaf crown.
She stepped back and her hands finished their task of correctly weaving the vine into my hair, which I had taken down for the event. I reached up and touched it lightly, trying to avoid tangling it, and swallowed. It only reminded me of the first time we had been "welcomed guests" here.
Okay, there it is, and I hoped you enjoyed it. The next 1-3 chapters will definitely be filled with cute romantic scenes(a lot of development, people!) between Spock and Stella, action (tell me guys, do you trust Parmen? Maybe he's good now, you'll see!), and maybe some foreshadowing of what will happen after they get back to the Enterprise. I will update hopefully by next week. Have a great week, and as always, review, follow, favorite, and message me ideas! Thanks!