From: plp1@Ra.MsState.Edu (pat parker)
Subject: T'Selar Part 2 (REPOST)
Organization: Mississippi State University
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 03:40:03 GMT


Star Trek
The Next Generation

_T'Selar_

_Part_II_

By Patrick Parker, June 1992

* * * * *

      The doctors collapsed into the pilots' seats.  They tried the controls
in a futile attempt to get away.  The warship had already locked tractor beams
onto the tiny shuttle.  They tried to call for help - no luck; they were
surrounded by a subspace jamming field.  They leaned back in the chairs and
watched in shocked silence as they were dragged into the gaping maw of the
Romulan shuttle bay.
      When they landed they were immediately surrounded by a group of armed
Romulan troops.  They sat and waited - they were certainly not going to depart
the shuttle until forced to.
      Soon a Romulan came and tried to open the door.  When that failed, he
placed a resonator against the hull of the shuttle and began talking into it. 
The device made the entire hull of the shuttle act as a resonating board for
his voice.  The doctors heard his echoing voice clearly and understood his
meaning well.
      "Shuttle occupants.  Open this hatch or it will be blown open.  Do not
bring weapons with you or you will be killed."  The two doctors looked at each
other resignedly.  They stood, opened the hatch, and stepped down into a
circle of a dozen phasers.
      Two Romulans stepped up to them.  One of them had a scanner and began
searching the captives.  The other Romulan removed their communicators and the
items from their pockets.
      The first Romulan was talking aloud as he scanned Dr. Crusher, then
Selar.  "Human female.  No medical disorders.  No weapons.  No devices. 
Vulcan female, unidentified, non-contagious medical disorder.  No weapons.  No
devices."  The Romulan stepped back and watched as the doctors were led away.
      They were led down a corridor and pushed into a detention cell.  Dr.
Crusher leaned against the wall and slid to the floor.  Selar remained
standing and watched as the guards exited the cell and engaged the detaining
field.
      They did not have to wait long.  Soon a Romulan male appeared on the
other side of the crackling detention field.  From his demeanor and dress, the
doctors guessed that he was in a position of command in the vessel.  He spoke
in a calm, clipped fashion.
      "Names and ranks."
      Selar stepped forward and spoke.  She was cool and collected.  "You are
in violation of the Neutral Zone Treaty.  Taking prisoners will not result in
a favorable situation between the Federation and the Romulan Empire."
      "Names and ranks, "  the Romulan repeated.  He was just as controlled as
the Vulcan.
      "You will not be able to garner a position of power through the use of
hostages."
      "Names and ranks, Velakht!"  The Romulan's voice rose a note this time. 
      Dr. Selar raised an eyebrow and regarded the Romulan for a moment. 
"Selar, doctor aboard the Federation vessel Enterprise."
      "Crusher, doctor aboard the Enterprise."
      "What are two doctors doing in a shuttle this far out in space?"
      Dr. Crusher started to open her mouth to speak, but Selar interrupted
her subtly.  "We are on a mission to Vulcan to render medical aid.  There has
been an explosion on Science Station T'Maltic."  She spoke with typical Vulcan
composure and surety.  Dr. Crusher was amazed.  She clamped her mouth shut and
listened to Selar's lie.
      "Are there no doctors on Vulcan?"
      "Every hand is needed."
      "Your shuttle was carrying very few medical supplies."
      "Supplies are not a factor.  Medical skills are."
      "Our physician informs me that you are impaired.  Why do you go to
render aid when you need aid yourself?"
      "This is a rather typical aberration.  It does not affect my ability to
perform my duties."  She had practiced that line on Dr. Crusher often in the
last few days and had it down.
      "I see - a genetic defect; it is to be expected."  He paused considering
her story.  "An explosion, eh?"  He turned and left the room without another
word.  The doctors were left alone in their cell.

* * * * *

      Styhk was standing at the top of the slope leading down to the cliff. 
He had always found that walking along the cliff calmed and inspired him.  It
was as if the cliffs themselves called out to him.  That was why the poetry he
periodically transmitted to Selar was accompanied by customized holodeck
programs.  He thought it proper that the poetry come to her the same way it
came to him.
      He leaned against a boulder at the top of the slope, out of breath. 
Normally he had no difficulties in the thin atmosphere of Vulcan, but the
illness was rapidly getting worse.  He couldn't safely delay Pon Far much
longer.  But he was determined to wait.
      "Never again," he said to himself.  He didn't want to ever allow Selar
to leave again.  He wouldn't let her leave.  She would bond with him and they
would be together from that point forward.  All she had to do was get here. 
"Get here!"
      He laid his head on the boulder.  Why wasn't she here yet?  She probably
wouldn't get here and he would die.  He looked up.  She has to come.  They had
been promised to each other since birth and Selar wasn't one to go against
tradition.  She would get here soon.  Soon...  "Soon!"
      He began making his way down the slope to the cliffs.  He was so tired
his feet were dragging, but he had to walk along the cliffs.  That would
soothe his emotions for a while, if he could just get there.  His vision
blurred and he tripped over a rock.  Get there, he thought, as he tumbled down
the slope.

* * * * *

      "You lied."  Beverly and Selar were sitting in the back of the detention
cell whispering to each other.  The red-haired doctor was surprised at Selar's
having lied about the reason behind their journey.  "Granted, it is certainly
a very private thing, but I've never heard you tell a lie before."
      "I have never told a lie before now, Doctor."  Selar spoke to Crusher in
a low voice while watching the door.
      Dr. Crusher looked around at her surroundings.  "Well, if there has ever
been a good time to lie, this is it.  What do you suppose they are going to do
with us?"  The Vulcan raised both eyebrows at this, and turned to the other
doctor.
      "I seriously doubt that they could use us to place themselves at a
political advantage with the Federation.  However, if the Romulans were to
discover that I am experiencing Pon Far, they would almost certainly attempt
to rape me.  Indeed, I might not be safe from that even if they do not
discover the nature of my condition.  You would not be safe from that fate
either.  I am sure you recall the circumstances surrounding Tasha Yar's second
death."
      Beverly looked disgusted with the idea of being made to bear Romulan
offspring like Tasha was.  She shook her head.  "I have never understood why
anyone would want to do that to another being."
      "The Romulans are intense creatures - they do not do anything without
doing it fervently.  They enjoy tormenting other beings; particularly Vulcans
and Humans."
      The Vulcan thought for a moment, then continued.  "Tasha was not the
only one.  There have been multiple cases of Vulcan-Romulan and Human-Romulan
offspring as products of rape."  Selar considered this line of thought.  "If
the situation deteriorates to that point, I shall die rather than submit."
      "But what about your partner back on Vulcan?  If you die, then he will
too."
      "Doctor, if we do not arrive at Vulcan soon he will die anyway - and I
will not outlive him by long."

* * * * *

      Falkl'or sat in his command seat, tapping a fingernail on the armrest.
He had been contemplating the Vulcan's lie.  They could make the prisoners
talk.  Getting information from the human would be simple, but squeezing the
knowledge from the Vulcan would be truly pleasurable.
      "Soldier, send an encoded tight-beam message back to the Council. 
Include the data we collected from the Vulcan homeworld and tell them we have
a pair of guests that they will find amusing."  He stood up and strode from
the bridge.
      When he reached the detention cells, he stood quietly outside the field
until the prisoners noticed him.  He knew that his calmly watching them would
unnerve them - particularly the human - and make them more susceptible to
interrogation techniques once they reached Romulus.
      Selar lay asleep on a bench in the cell.  Dr. Crusher sat on the floor
beside the bench watching the Romulan watching them.  She managed to hold her
nerves together for a few moments, but then submitted.  "What do you want with
us?"  This woke Selar and she sat up.  She seemed a bit disoriented for a
moment.
      The Romulan captain stood at the door for another moment.  He sniffed
the air and spoke to the human.  "An explosion on a science station, eh?  We
can do with your feeble minds as we please.  It might prove amusing to
reprogram you and send you back to the Enterprise.  Does that prospect please
you or would you rather tell the truth?"
      "What makes you think that you would succeed this time.  You failed the
last time you tried that?"  Dr. Crusher was recalling when the Romulans had
captured Geordi LaForge and tried to use him as an assassin.
      "Oh that is just a small example of what we could do.  You could be made
to perform any number of interesting feats."  He pursed his lips in a thin
smile.
      "You won't have time to do anything like that to us.  The Enterprise is
already on it's way to retrieve us.  How do you feel about putting yourself at
odds with Captain Jean-Luc Picard?  I'd be worried if I were you."
      The Romulan sniffed again; what was that strange odor?  "You are no more
proficient at lying than the Vulcan.  It is you that should be worried - both
of you.  Not only will we find out what you are hiding from us, but
afterward..."  He allowed the implication to stand for a moment.  "Or perhaps
before..."  He reached out for the controls for the detention field.
      Selar stood up from the bench and Beverly clenched her fists.  The
Romulan just smiled.  "No, I think I'll let you rest so you will be fresh for
the interrogators, but when we're back on Romulus - then we'll see."  He knew
he had won the mental battle for now and he walked away to let them
contemplate the possibilities.  When he left he was still trying to figure out
what that faint smell was.

* * * * *

      R'annec was checking the newly improved cloaking field when Falkl'or
strode into the engineering section of the Retribution.  He walked right up to
her and took her by the arm.
      "Come with me."
      R'annec glanced around at her subordinates, all busy at their stations,
then turned back to the Captain.
      "What is the problem?  Where are we going?"
      His voice was low and husky.  "To my quarters."
      "But it is my duty shift.  I cannot leave here."  R'annec was annoyed
and could tell she was going to have trouble keeping her temper in check this
time.
      Falkl'or looked over at one of the engineering officers.  "You have
engineering until Engineer R'annec returns."  With this he grabbed R'annec's
elbow and pulled her out of engineering after him.  Within the minute they
were in his quarters and he was stripping her clothes off her.
      Damn, thought R'annec.  I wonder what's got him like this.  He is
definitely losing control.  She resisted for a moment and Falkl'or drew back
his hand and slapped her.  Crap, I'd better let him have it.  She quickly
finished undressing and pulled him onto his bed on top of her.  
      As the Captain amused himself, R'annec lay there trying to figure out
how Falkl'or had changed so much.  She had chosen him carefully because of his
ability to do what was necessary to increase his personal power - and hers.
      He had seemed to change since receiving this information gathering
mission, especially since he picked up the prisoners.  Damned if she knew why
he even bothered with them.  The shipboard rumors said they were insignificant
medics.
      She realized, though, that she had really grown fond of him.  That was
an added advantage.  She figured that he hadn't really changed lately - that
she had been stressed out and was blaming him.  I could really be enjoying
this, she thought.  She clutched him and began responding to his passion.
      Falkl'or finished and rolled off to the side, sitting up on the edge of
the bed.  "Bitch, you're miserable today.  I should've just taken the Vulcan." 
He quickly got dressed and left the room, leaving R'annec unsatisfied and
alone.

* * * * *

      The Enterprise glided along the invisible line separating the Federation
from the neutral zone.  At this point there was only a light year separating
them from the Romulan Empire.  If an incursion into Federation space were to
happen, it would only take an instant for the invaders to leap across the
distance separating the two realms.
      Despite the ever-present possibility of attack, the Enterprise's watch
had been eventless.  They had patrolled the border for almost a day and there
was no sign of the Romulans.  The crew did not relax, though.  They patrolled
in a wide elliptical path with sensors on full sensitivity.  They would know
if any Romulans came within a million kilometers of them.
      On the bridge, Riker sat slumped in the command chair watching the main
viewer.  He would rather be with Deanna.  He was quite pleased with the
improvement in their relationship after his recent encounter with Lwaxana
Troi.  Because of their discussion, he had been able to open up to Deanna more
than ever before; and she was responding favorably.
      He was so thoroughly engrossed in his daydream that he was startled when
Worf announced an incoming long range communication.  He turned to Worf and
nodded to try to hide that the Klingon had surprised him.
      "Who is it from?"
      "It is Staoq of Vulcan,"  Worf responded.
      "On screen."  He turned to look into the face of an ancient Vulcan man. 
Riker knew the Vulcans were not trivial people, and this one would not have
called unless he had important news.  He decided to give the Vulcan a terse
greeting and get right to business.  "Staoq of Vulcan, I am Commander Riker of
the Enterprise.  What can we do for you."
      The Vulcan seemed to appreciate the lack of petty decorum, and also went
directly to the point.  "You have a Vulcan doctor, Selar, on your ship.  Her
presence is required on Vulcan."
      Riker wrinkled his brow and motioned for Worf to call the captain to the
bridge.  "Doctors Crusher and Selar should be on Vulcan already.  Their
shuttle departed the Enterprise fifteen hours ago."
      The Vulcan tilted his head to the side slightly and considered this for
a moment.  "What was Dr. Selar's estimated time of arrival?"
      "Data?"  Riker referred the question to the android.  Data looked up at
the screen and replied.
      "The doctors' shuttle should have arrived on Vulcan six hours, fifty-
three minutes ago."
      At that moment the turbolift whooshed open and Picard stepped out of it. 
He strode down the access ramp to the command section of the bridge.  Riker
relinquished control of the situation.
      "Captain,"  said Riker.  "Doctors Crusher and Selar have not made it to
Vulcan yet.  They are seven hours late."
      The captain frowned and looked up at the screen.  "Our scans at the time
of departure indicated that they engaged the navigational program correctly
and were well on their way."
      "Nevertheless, captain,"  the elderly Vulcan stated.  "They have not
arrived here and due to their continued absence we now have a medical
emergency here.  You must locate Selar and bring them here immediately."  This
sentence was related passionlessly, but it had a marked effect on Picard.
      "And am I correct in assuming that Doctor Selar's life will be
endangered if she is not found soon?"
      "Yes."  The Vulcan seemed surprised that Picard knew enough to deduce
this.
      Picard stood up and paced once around the command area, stroking the
back of his head in concentration.  He returned to the viewer.  "Sir, we will
not be able to leave the neutral zone border until the Dauntless takes our
place here in three weeks.  I would suggest that the Vulcans send out a set of
ships to locate the doctors."
      The Vulcan agreed to have a set of search ships sent out after the
shuttle and started to turn away from the screen.  He turned back for a moment
and stated flatly.  "It is ... unfortunate, that Selar is not here in time." 
With this, he ended the communication.

* * * * *

      Back on Vulcan, the venerable Staoq turned slowly away from the blank
communication set.  He now had only one logical choice since Selar would most
likely not be found in time.  He would send for a proxy to relieve Styhk.  He
turned to his wife and nodded.  She left the room, a substitute in mind.
      While he waited, he stood beside his son.  Styhk was lying on his
sleeping mat.  They had placed him there when they found him collapsed by the
cliffs.  He was curled up into a fetal ball, sweating and convulsing.  His
mind was in complete chaos and he mumbled incoherent phrases.  Every so often
his babbling was punctuated with a repeated word; "Selar."
      The door opened and Pentu stepped inside.  She was still young, barely
forty years old, but was experienced in these matters.  She had served as a
surrogate Pon Far partner several times in situations similar to this.  Her
standing in the community was similar to that of a doctor, or a midwife.  She
stood to one side and allowed Staoq to leave the room.
      She moved over to Styhk's side and touched him on the arm.  He looked up
through glazed-over eyes.  "Selar?"  His convulsing calmed slightly.
      "Selar is not here.  I am Pentu.  Allow me to help."
      He did not comprehend what she said.  He reached up and took her hand,
pulling her close.  "Selar!"
      She allowed her robe to fall to the ground around her ankles and sat
down on the mat beside him.  She placed his fingertips on her temple and her
fingers on his face.  She began the meld and dove into his mind.
      <Selar!>  He cupped a breast in his palm.
      <No, It is I, Pentu.  I am here to help you.>  Her free hand moved
downward from his chest to his groin.
      <Pentu?  No, where is Selar?>
      <Forget Selar.  She cannot be here.>
      <No!  I must wait.>  He removed his hand from her breast.
      <Styhk, you are not logical right now.  Selar will not be here in time. 
Allow me to relieve your pain.>  She nudged his groin again.
      <NO!>  He threw her from the mat and scurried backward into a corner of
the room.
      "Styhk, if you do not do this, you will die."  She moved slowly toward
him.
      "Then I will die!  Leave me in peace."  He picked up a chair and waved
it menacingly.
      "Styhk..."  She moved closer.
      In the outer room, Staoq and his wife waited patiently for Pentu and
Styhk to finish.  They were quite surprised to see Pentu fleeing naked from
the room followed by an airborne stool.  She ducked out of the way and the
stool shattered against the opposite wall.  Pentu turned toward the elderly
couple and shrugged.

* * * * *

      Doctor Crusher sat against the wall of the detention cell watching
Selar.  The Vulcan had pulled the sleeves of her uniform up to the elbows, but
was still sweating.  As Beverly sat here helplessly watching the Selar, she
smelled a faint smell.  It reminded her vaguely of cinnamon and oranges.
      "Selar, do you smell that odor?  What is that?"
      The Vulcan doctor slowly sat up and blew a breath out through her nose,
clearing it.  She sniffed the air, then turned her head and sniffed her wrist. 
"I am the source of the odor, Doctor."  She rolled her sleeves back down.
      "You, Selar?  When did you start wearing cinnamon perfume?"
      "I do not wear perfume, doctor.  That scent is a pheromone that is
associated with my condition."
      "Uh Oh..."  Beverly's eyes got bigger.
      "What?"
      Crusher lowered her voice and moved over toward the Vulcan.  Within a
couple of feet, the cinnamon-orange smell was intense.  "How close is the
Romulan's reproductive physiology to the Vulcan's?"
      Selar looked up, disgusted.  "Quite dissimilar, doctor."
      "But you said that Vulcans and Romulans have produced offspring before;
the reproductive systems cannot differ that much."
      "They differ," the Vulcan was offended now. "Significantly.  What is the
point in your insulting me and discussing such noxious topics?"
      "The point is," Crusher leaned closer and whispered to Selar.  "Whether
or not your pheromones will elicit a response in Romulan males."  Doctor
Crusher had to jump back to avoid being knocked over as Selar jumped up.  She
fell back anyway and knocked a chair over.
      Selar leaned over the doctor.  "The Romulans are sufficiently degenerate
that they will certainly not be affected by my...condition."  She stood up and
turned her back on Dr. Crusher.
      Beverly was not sure about Selar's dismissal of the effects, and she sat
there amazed at Selar's response.  She had never seen the Vulcan doctor take
offense or show emotion toward anything before, and this outpouring of emotion
was like a hurricane breaking a building apart.  The doctor stood up and
carefully righted the chair.
      "I'm sorry, Selar.  I didn't intend to insult you.  I was just concerned
- that's all."
      "Doctor Crusher.  If you must speak to me, kindly change the subject."
      "OK, sorry Selar."  Crusher was silent for a couple of minutes during
which Selar didn't move.  The Vulcan just stood there and stared away from
Beverly.
      Selar broke the silence.  "They are certainly making that dreadful noise
with the sole intention of upsetting me."  She placed her hands over her ears
for a moment, then shook her head and dropped her hands back to her sides.
      Beverly Crusher listened carefully, but heard nothing.  "What noise,"
she finally asked, timidly.
      "The detention field to this cell.  It is making a noise that is grating
on my very soul.  Of course you can't hear it - you're human."  Crusher
started to reply to this, but decided to let it drop.  There were a couple
more minutes of silence, this time broken by Beverly.
      "What is his name?"
      "Whose?"
      "Your," Crusher searched for an appropriate word.  "Partner...your
mate."
      Selar spun around for a moment and Beverly thought she had accidentally
insulted the Vulcan again.
      "Styhk.  His name is Styhk."  Her expression and voice softened at the
thought.  "He is a poet and I feel very strongly for him."
      Beverly smiled.  Selar appeared to be calming down; the memories making
her feel better.  "I can tell that you love him.  Tell me more."  At this the
Vulcan's face clouded again and  her eyebrows grew together.  She looked like
she would explode again, but calmed down again a moment later.
      "We are both forty-two years old; we have experienced Pon Far together
five times."  She sat down on the bunk beside the human.  Beverly smiled and
nodded again.     
      "But this time is going to be different.  Special.  This time we are
going to bond and he will be moving to the Enterprise to be with me."
      Beverly jumped up, excited for Selar.  "You're getting married!"  Selar
nodded, smiling.  Selar found that she enjoyed smiling.  She had never done it
before.  She wouldn't be doing it now, but for the raging hormone imbalance in
her system.  She sat and held hands with Beverly, thoroughly enjoying the
first girl-talk session of her life.
      Both women shouted as something slammed into the wall behind them.  They
jumped up and turned around to see two Romulan guards standing in the door to
the cell.  One of them had smashed a datapad against the outside wall of the
cell and was reaching for the controls to the detention field.  He had a
lecherous grin on his face.  The blood drained from the doctors' faces.
      Beverly stepped back a step as the two guards entered the cell and
started toward the women.  One of the guards grabbed at Beverly, but missed
when she instinctively stepped aside.  He turned and lunged at her again. 
This time she couldn't sidestep, but her T'ai Chi training took over and with
a subtle twist of the Romulan's arm she sent him tumbling through the air.  He
crashed headfirst into the wall.
      Wow, Beverly thought.  Did I do that?  I can't believe the T'ai Chi
actually worked.  I never really figured I'd really use it for defence.  She
turned around just in time to see the other Romulan's fist.  There was a flash
of red hot pain as he smashed her face, then everything went black.
      Selar tried to back away from him as he stalked toward her, his nostrils
flaring with each breath.  She tried to remember some of the mandatory
Starfleet self defence lessons, but her knees buckled with fear.  She fell
back and scrambled into the corner.
      The guard paused standing over her.  He took a deep breath of the
cinnamon-orange musk and unbuckled his belt.  Selar whimpered as he kneeled
and forced her legs apart.  She could smell his breath as he leaned over her. 
He reeked.