A small number of Imperial Starfleet officers were to make it to the fortress within 30 minutes. Tevak scrolled through his PADD organizing information that the officers would need in their investigation. He looked up from his spot in the courtyard that led to the Governor's quarters. Saya was gracefully pacing as she spoke on her comm. Her hair was in an asymmetrical bob and she was wearing a sleek all black outfit. Tevak could feel Saya's stare so he allowed his eyes to travel back to her face. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow as she spoke quietly on the comm. With a fluid motion, she closed her comm and walked over to where Tevak stood.

Tevak spoke first, "Did Soran successfully reach the Fleet Admiral?"

"Fleet Admiral Kirk is currently at Deep Space 12 attending to urgent matters," said Saya.

"I see. Starfleet officers will arrive within the next 30 minutes to begin their investigation."

"This could have been preventable. I wonder where we failed in our surveillance of the premises," Saya said regretfully.

Tevak slightly nodded his head, "Our main mission is to provide protection to the Governor and the Lady. Not to other members of the clan."

"That is true but Lady Amanda's life was also put at risk."

"I do agree that we will need to reevaluate our methods for surveillance going forward."

"I do not want a repeat of the situation that occurred today, Tevak."

"I desire the same thing, Saya."

"That is why I choose to work with you."

"Since we are of similar minds?"

"Correct."

Tevak breached the space between them and held out his PADD to Saya. She looked at him and grabbed the PADD. She scanned over the documents quickly, "You compiled all this information quickly. The emotion I can express is gratitude."

"I only wish to serve the Empire."

Saya pivoted topics and handed the PADD back to Tevak, "You mentioned that you witnessed something unusual between Governor Sarek and Lady Amanda?"

Tevak's ears went slightly green but his face remained as calm as could be, "When I went to retrieve them I saw them engaging in a Terran custom."

"Which custom?"

"Terran kissing."

"Intriguing."

"It would seem logical for them to embrace Vulcan and Terran mating customs."

"Yes, indeed. That is a change from the distance that was between them only weeks ago."

"A welcomed one."

"A change that will only benefit them and the Empire. Unity is vital."

"Just as our unity is vital," Tevak looked into Saya's eyes assuming she understood his meaning.

"It always has been when it comes to our work." Saya deflected smoothly. Tevak's stone mask became more impenetrable.

A muffled scream was heard from the inside of the house and Saya looked at Tevak startled. Tevak dropped his PADDs and both of them started to rush towards the house.

—-

"Zhi'rev stop!"

"Never."

The edge of the knife was getting closer and closer to her throat. Amanda was starting to panic. Amanda's eyes darted around her as she tried to think of any solutions. She used all the strength in her arms to push Zhi'rev away and headbutted the Vulcan.

Zhi'rev let out an aggravated grunt and Amanda groaned in pain but was able to get up and run out of the bedroom, down the stairs before Zhi'rev could catch her bearings. Amanda knew there was a phaser in one of the cupboards in the kitchen. She silently thanked Saya for making her read all the emergency protocols. Quickly, she grabbed the phaser with her bloodied hands and turned around. Zhi'rev was not there. She held the weapon straight out and looked around her and to the left. Fear was starting to fill her.

"Zhi'rev! Come out! Now!"

Amanda was only met with the silence of the house and the loud pulse of her heartbeat in her ears. Her hands shook slightly but she was alert. She listened for any noises as she slowly walked from her position in the kitchen to the main living space.

"Face me Zhi'rev! Tell me why you are doing this. Are you part of the Ak'spar?"

A light rustle of cloth was heard on her left and Amanda sharply turned with her phaser and was faced with nothing. Ragged breaths came out of Amanda as she took cautious steps towards the main entryway.

It was then Amanda heard steps to her right. She turned abruptly and blindly shot the phaser at the wall. A high pitched noise permeated the house and in an instant the lights in the house shut off. Startled, Amanda shot her phaser again, this time into the dark hitting a chair across the way. A low humming sound came on and the emergency generator turned on low energy red lights.

Amanda's breathing was coming out in pants and adrenaline was rushing through her veins. It was too silent and Amanda knew Zhi'rev was watching her. She continued to walk slowly while checking her blink spot. She made it to the main hall where the staircase was and called out to Zhi'rev once again. All she heard in response was her heartbeat and breath. Until she heard something metal tap on a hard surface. Her eyes shot upward. There was Zhi'rev smiling from the stairs above. Her eyes held a dangerous gleam in the strange red light. She was crouched over ready to pounce. Amanda held her phaser up immediately and it started to buzz ready to shoot Zhi'rev down.

Within a millisecond Amanda shot at her target but Zhi'rev had already jumped off of the stairs towards Amanda. She tried to shoot again but missed as Zhi'rev landed and rolled on the floor, completely dodging the shot. Amanda tried to turn fast enough so as to not leave any room for a counterattack but she was too late. Zhi'rev jumped on her back and used one arm to choke her while the other readied to stab her.

Amanda let out a loud scream when she felt the knife in her back. The knife made a clean puncture right between her ribs and she feared her lung. It felt unreal as she felt the knife getting pulled from her flesh and a gush of warm liquid was starting to run down her back.

The pain was immense but her body's shock was greater as Amanada slammed Zhi'rev against the wall. The Vulcan let go of her neck and dropped the bloodied knife. The blade clattered onto the floor and Amanda kicked it as far away from her as she could. Amanda was able to turn quickly with her phaser and it was level with Zhi'rev's head. The Vulcan girl put her hands up and held her gaze. Laughter was in her eyes one that reminded Amanda of the guards that tortured her in prison. Her stomach dropped and she fought to gain control. How had she been so blind? She trusted her.

Adrenaline kept Amanda on her feet as she shoved the phaser deeper against Zhi'rev's skull. Her anger flared. She was not the victim. She was not weak, not anymore, "I trusted you, Zhi'rev! I took you in! You betrayed that trust! Were you the one that poisoned T'Rama? Why did you do it? "

Silence came from the Vulcan and Amanda felt her composure break as she felt angry tears run down her cheeks, "Fucking tell me!"

Zhi'rev started to laugh, and it caused a chill to go down Amanda's spine, "You think I am part of the Ak'spar? Foolish Terran. The Ak'spar murdered my family. I would never work for them."

"Why go through all this madness? What have I personally done to you Zhi'rev?"

The Vulcan girl seemed to consider the question when a loud bang was heard on the front door and in an instant Saya and Tevak burst through the front door with buzzing phasers, "Lady Amanda! Get down, now."

"Tevak, Saya, stay there! I am fine," Amanda's eyes never wavered from Zhi'rev's face, she played with the trigger at her index finger and flexed her hand.

Saya and Tevak immediately noticed the blood on Amanda's shoulder and hand. Both pointed their phasers at Zhi'rev daring her to try attacking Amanda again. Zhi'rev would not leave this room alive after assaulting the Lady of Vulcan this way. Saya would make sure of it.

"Lady Amanda, let us handle the situation, " Saya spoke evenly and calmly.

"No, this is between me and Zhi'rev."

The small Vulcan girl looked smug as Amanda spoke to her bodyguards.

"You can't save them," Zhi'rev interjected. All three of them turned their attention to the fraile Vulcan.

Amanda's eyes narrowed and turned off the safety from her phaser, "What do you mean?"

"You can't save them. Governor Sarek. The clan."

"You have no power here, Zhi'rev. I think you need to be careful with your words, " Amanda threatened.

"I have power here."

Amanda wasn't going to take the bait, "Who sent you?"

"The identity of my master is of no concern to you."

"It is of concern to me and everyone in this room."

"You and your bondmate will die soon because of your traitorous thoughts."

Amanda felt a cold chill run down her spine. She had never once spoken to Zhi'rev about her inner feelings about the Empire. Unless…

"You hacked into my PADDs."

"You thought you could run away, but no, I already knew of Governor Sarek and your misgivings."

Tevak and Saya both looked at each other as if trying to calculate their next moves. Saya nodded slowly and walked closer to Amanda, "Lady Amanda your wounds are bleeding immensely, we need to have them looked at immediately."

"Not yet, Sa-" Amanda coughed hard. This time tasting copper at the back of her throat.

Saya did not push, but she pulled out her comm as if trying to contact someone. Amanda continued on.

"Zhi'rev, I will kill you. I'm going to ask one last time. Who sent you?"

She smiled, and spit green blood into Amanda's face, "Someone who wants both you and Sarek dead."

"Why?"

"Because they don't want a traitor and a Terran whore controlling Vulcan. They will be the next Governor of Vulcan. Soon you and Sarek will be in your cold graves."

Amanda had enough of this cryptic conversation, she pulled the phaser's trigger and Zhi'rev slumped to the ground.

"Lady Amanda!," Saya rushed over to Amanda steadying her as she swayed, "That was reckless. You risked your life. Killing Zhi'rev was not logical. We could have further interrogated her. You should have followed protocol 2.35a."

"Don't worry, Saya. I'm alright. Besides, my phaser was set to stun," Amanda looked at the woman, chuckled, but winched as she felt the sharp pain in her back and coughed. Blood met her lips and pooled in her mouth. Her legs started to buckle. Saya quickly brought her to sit on the stairs.

"Tevak, detain Zhi'rev and guard over her. Starfleet will be here soon, and they will interrogate her."

"I will do so with haste, Saya."

Tevak easily tied restraints on the girl and lifted her. He walked out of the house leaving Saya and Amanda alone.

"Lady Amanda, I already asked that healers be beamed here immediately. Sarek will be with them."

Amanda's head felt heavy from the loss of blood. Her breaths were labored and soon the room filled with beams of light. There stood 2 healers and Sarek. She gave Sarek a smile. She felt so relieved to see him. It dawned on her that she was scared that she could have been killed, and would have never been able to see him again. The thought hurt her deeper than she imagined.

She tried to stand up to greet him but started to fall. A strong pair of hands grabbed her and she looked up at Sarek who's eyes were full of fear and another emotion she had never seen. Her heart broke seeing him like that so she tried to smile again and put her dirty hand to his cheek.

"I'm so glad to see you, Sarek. Please don't leave me, okay?"

Amanda's vision started to darken, but Sarek spoke quietly, and she heard his response before she succumbed to the darkness.

"Never, Aduna."