Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newsswing.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.net!atl-c02.usenetserver.com!news.usenetserver.com!feed3.newsreader.com!newsreader.com!yellow.newsread.com!bad-news.newsread.com!news-toy.newsread.com!netaxs.com!newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: <87.1c23eeb0.2ee29929@aol.com> From: Istannor@Aol.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: New: TOS: A Higher Duty: PG: 26/28 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 175 Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 05:55:24 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1102139724 209.198.142.218 (Sat, 04 Dec 2004 00:55:24 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 00:55:24 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:85922 X-Received-Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2004 21:55:35 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Title: A Higher Duty Author: Istannor Contact: Istannor@aol.com Series: TOS Rating: PG13 for violence Part: 26/28 Codes:TOS Summary: This is set during the second 5 year voyage of the Starship Chapter 26 Spock was meditating in the privacy of his quarters when the door buzzed. It took him several seconds to arouse himself from the deep levels he had settled down to. Sometimes he awoke from meditation with a hyper acuity and sense of his surroundings akin to A'tha. This time, he drug himself slowly out of his own torpid stupor,like a sub-light barge. He fought down annoyance and signaled to admit whoever had disturbed him. It was Renna. She saw him and before she could react to his quickly shuttered irritation, she noted the fatigue in his stance and his face. "Forgive me. I came to speak with you, but now is not the time." Spock crossed the room with Vulcan alacrity. "No, you have given no offense. I would prefer for you to stay and tell me what you have come to say." He pointed to the only seat in the room. "Please, sit. Do you desire cha?" She looked at the chair, which faced the computer screen, and was obviously there solely for work purposes. "Do you and Jim use chairs when you are here?" "No. We sit on the floor cushions, as is the custom on Vulcan." "Would you treat your Cousins, the Rihannsu, differently?" He nodded and directed her to the lush cushions surrounding a small table with an intricately carved chess set. He procured two steaming cups of Vulcan Tea and brought one to her, before he say across from her. He took a slow sip and savored the flavor. It had been many days since he had tasted a cup of cha, and many more since he had sat across from a beautiful Rihannsu Woman. The last time had not turned out well.The universe was full of irony, he thought. They sipped their cups slowly in silence. "I have never shared cha with a Vulcan cousin. This is an unique experience, coming on the heel of many experiences I could never have anticipated." She sat the cup down. "I am here to speak on a subject which concerns us both. Do you speak for your Brother, Spock?" This was a ritualistic beginning to signify communication containing issues of emotional import. The tradition was older than the split between Romulan and Vulcan. "I have in the past. I can not say if I do in this instance until you speak. I will listen." She nodded in acceptance of his honesty. "On Rihannsu, we have kept to the old ways. When there is interest from the woman, toward a man, we are trained to speak of it to the oldest or dearest family member of our intended. I have come to the conclusion you are the one I must speak with." Spock did not bother to deny it. "I also plan to speak to him regarding you." This made his eyes widen. "I know he has been too ill to inform you of my intentions, but I wish to ask you both to become my consorts. i have spoken to you regarding this subject. Is this practice condoned among Humans?" "Some Humans have adapted to the cultural practices of other races. James Kirk is . . .adaptable." She swallowed visibly. "Then, allow me to state my case. I am widowed these past 10 years, and my first marriage was childless. I am a direct descendant of the Imperial family, and as my Consort, he would have all of the privileges of a close cousin of the Praetor. I am a telempath and I have confirmed our mutual compatibility. Both of my parents are deceased, so they may not verify my clan status. However, Jus will stand for them. He will have an honorable profession. The Praetor will offer him his own command of a ship of the line. He will not be forced to fight against the Federation. He may chose to defend the border with the Klingons or explore. I am financially able to care for his needs for the rest of his life, if he chooses not to command. Though, we both know he will chose to have a ship. I will bare him children and share his burdens. My sister's son will pledge himself to him, as well as Jus. This will give him clan ties beyond our own. I ask you to consider my offer and present it to him with honor and honesty. Also, I ask you to consider what I know and wish from you. You are in his mind, linked to him as surely as if you were born of the same womb. I can not love him, without loving he who is his other half. The Old ways permit me to bond both brothers, to assure the protection of my line and the sanctity of my home. You gave me solace in my time of need. You protected the one I found first. You are dear to me also, and I would have you both. I am aware Vulcan no longer follows the teachings from before the time of Surak. Perhaps what I have said has offended you, but I give you my word; everything I have proposed is honorable and acceptable to the Rihannsu." She took a deep breath and waited for his response. "You honor us both," he stated softly. He got up and took both cups to refill them. When he took his seat again, he had formed a response. "He cares for you deeply. In time, he would learn to love you with all of the fervor he possesses, and yet, this can not be. I melded with you deeply, and saw your soul's special beauty and, in time, I would learn to love you with all the heat of Vulcan. Yet, this cannot be. The Captain and First Officer of the Enterprise would never survive the trip to Romulan space to become the Praetor's family. Federation operatives, Rihannsu malcontents, or Klingon agents, someone would kill us all, before we ever savored our union. Also, if we left Federation space, we would never be welcomed back, and he would not live well with that reality." He stroked her face softly. "You are beautiful to him. . .and to me; still, this cannot be." A single tear fell from her right eye. He took it gently on his fingertip and wiped it on his lips. "Your water is precious," he whispered. "I was warned you would answer me thus. But, how would I live, if I had never tried?" She looked up into his eyes and tried to give a slight smile. "I have not insulted you?" "No," he shook his head sadly. "Cousin, if it were possible, he would chose to go with you. If it were possible, I would chose to go to with you. It is not possible. Would the Praetor allow you to come with us? "As a corpse." She gave a slight shrug and leaned forward to kiss him lightly on the lips. Her forehead touched his and her gentle breaths warmed his face. "May I share what time we have left together with you both?" He wanted to say yes. He wanted to say yes very badly. He leaned back . "I do not think I can lay with you, and let you go without more discomfort than I wish to endure. We will talk, and share more cha. I give you my word, he and I will discuss this when he is recovered, and if his answer is different from what I have given you, my clan will escort us both to Rihannsu. If they are successful, we may enjoy what little time we will be allowed before we are assassinated. On this, you have my word." 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