BEST NON-VOYAGER STORY (5-way tie)
Title: THEN TOOK THE OTHER
Author: Lyrastar ( lyrastarwatcher@yahoo.com )
Series: TNGxDS9
Codes: K'Ehleyr/Jadzia (pre-Dax)
Rating: NC-17 Well, what did you expect? It IS a fuhq-fest!
Disclaimer: The characters and all things Trek are the property of Paramount/Viacom. No money is being made. The title and summary are both Robert Frost.
Summary: I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
Feedback: Yes, please--at lyrastarwatcher@yahoo.com or www.oocities.org/lyrastarwatcher
Notes: Part of the Femme Fuhq-Fest - http://www.oocities.org/femme_fuhq_fest/ I had to tweak the canonical time line just a little bit, but it was all so tantalizingly close that I couldn't resist. Big thanks to Betas Ann, who tutored me through Trill 101, and Meg, who pointed out the sexy potential of Klingon women and cajoled me into writing the smut.
by Lyrastar
The scoutship Hermes was only fourteen hours out from Trill when Jadzia turned the helm over to her relief. She briefed him shortly, then left the bridge without another word to anyone. She had rearranged her duty schedule and pulled a double shift just to ensure that she wouldn't be the one to pilot into port. Into her home that should have been but was no longer. And now she just wanted to slink away.
If asked, she couldn't even have classified her feelings. At times she thought she actually despised the joined and all they represented.
But most of the time she knew that she loved them so much it hurt. Too much to ever live among them, but not as one of them.
There were times that the loneliness was so intense it was actually physical. The ache pervaded her belly, her chest, churning, burning, needing to be filled. She would never believe that she was meant to live out her life this way.
Unsuitable. That was what Curzon had called her. Nothing more. Nothing to change or strengthen or eliminate. Nothing to rail against. Nowhere to place the blame. Just unsuitable.
Jadzia had resolved to barricade herself in her cabin until the Hermes was well out of the Trill system. If all went as planned, she could pretend the whole port call never existed. By her next bridge shift they should be well underway and the viewscreen should hold only the limitless desert of stars.
But when she slid open the door to her cabin, she knew that her plans would change.
Her belongings were strewn haphazardly around the room. There was nary a square foot of deck or furnishings that was not covered by clothes and clutter. At the computer terminal in the center of the chaos sat a woman in full body armor.
She swiveled casually in the chair and extended a hand. "Hello. I'm Federation Special Emissary K'Ehleyr."
"Jadzia," she said shortly. She took the hand for the briefest moment, then let it drop.
"It seems your ship is a bit cramped for space," the Emissary said, "so I've been assigned to share your quarters for the duration of the ride to Trill. I told Captain Freeman that I needed little except for unrestricted computer access, so he assigned me here and assured me it wouldn't be a problem. But I take it no one has mentioned it to you." K'Ehleyr glanced meaningfully around the room.
Jadzia sank wearily onto the bunk. "No. Look, this really isn't a good time--"
"No doubt," K'Ehleyr said sardonically.
Jadzia looked up sharply and reconsidered her phrasing. "Special Emissary, please make yourself at home, but I just got off of a double and I'm exhausted."
K'Ehleyr waved a hand. She said breezily, "Oh, don't worry. I won't need the bunk, just the computer. And we Klingons are accustomed to marching though body-strewn fields, charging headlong into searing flames, and facing absolute cataclysm with a hearty laugh. It's possible that I might even survive this." She rolled her eyes meaningfully around the room.
Jadzia missed it entirely. She had peeled off her uniform down to the undergarments and crawled under the covers. "Fine," she said. In mere seconds she was sound asleep.
When she awoke, K'Ehleyr was still there. Sighing, Jadzia wiped the sleep out of her eyes and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Good morning," said K'Ehleyr cheerfully. She glanced down at the chronometer. "No, that's not quite right. 'Good evening' would be more appropriate, but it doesn't have the same connotations, does it?"
"Mm," murmured Jadzia absently. "Is that raktajino I smell?"
"Yes." K'Ehleyr took a sip. "And not bad either."
"Yeah. I programmed it myself."
"Really," K'Ehleyr said with interest. "You don't look the type."
Jadzia padded to the replicator and ordered herself a cup. "A friend taught me. It's a long story."
"Mm. No doubt."
Jadzia took a sip and let out a sigh. "Did you say you are Klingon?"
"Another half-truth, actually. Half-Klingon. My mother was human." She took a photo chip from her sash and punched up a hologram of a distinguished looking couple.
"Ah," said Jadzia.
K'Ehleyr ran a finger over the bottom of the chip and the couple was replaced by the same woman standing by a sultry young girl. She set the chip atop the desk, leaving the holoimages standing beside the computer.
Jadzia studied the images. The girl sported thick dark hair and olive skin. Just like her father, most likely. The human woman looked proud and regal. Every bit a warrior's bride. The little girl did not look nearly so self-assured.
"That must have been interesting," Jadzia said. She turned away and picked a crumpled wrestling jacket up off the deck. She donned it and began to stretch.
"Interesting? Yes, that would be one word for it. I was raised on Earth among Earth customs and my mother's family, but somehow that morvelous Klingon influence just kept shining through. And Earth isn't really the ideal environment for a headstrong Klingon child."
K'Ehleyr continued, "Imagine two terrible forces existing within you, both absolutely of you, but neither itself in anyway representative of you. Together either one alone is almost intolerable, but working together they expand your consciousness, your awareness to a level entirely beyond the ken of any single person you know. Can you imagine that?"
"Yes," Jadzia said sharply. Abruptly she turned her back and sat on the floor, legs splayed. She reached for one foot. "I can."
K'Ehleyr blinked. "Then you know that it is a gift too great to ever regret. I know one day I know that one day they will surely tear each other apart--and me with them. And yet I can't imagine living any other way."
There was only silence from the floor.
"You're Trill, right?"
"Yes." Jadzia pulled her legs together and grabbed her ankles, head to her knees.
"Joined?"
"No."
"Hm. Interesting. But you're an officer with an elite posting so obviously quite exceptional. You could have done anything. You chose Starfleet over the Program?"
"Something like that." Jadzia stood to stretch her hamstrings. She turned her back to her guest.
K'Ehleyr raised her forehead and considered the situation. "Well, maybe you could help me with something anyway. I'm going to meet with a former Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire. He's a joined Trill. The diplomatic corp representative taught me something of protocol, but there's nothing an insider's advice."
"I can't help you," Jadzia said curtly.
Special Emissary K'Ehleyr looked up in surprise.
Jadzia turned back around. "I'm sorry, Emissary. I didn't mean it like that." Her warm-up aborted, she walked back to the desk. She twisted her hands nervously behind her back. "I just mean that I know Curzon Dax personally--that I worked with him closely for several years--and I can assure you that I am the wrong one to ask for advice on how to handle him."
"Relax," K'Ehleyr said easily. "I was just making conversation." She keyed something else into the computer and the screen changed again.
"I really am sorry," said Jadzia. "It's just that it's a sore subject."
"No problem," reiterated K'Ehleyr. "Nice ha'quj, by the way."
"Huh?" Jadzia looked down the gaping V-neck of the robe to where two rich sashes gathered at her waist. "Oh, thanks. Another gift from a friend."
"Hm, I see. You know, those are antique hand-woven and quite rare. An off-worlder would have to have some pretty good connections to get her hands on those." She looked up significantly. "Or one pretty good connection."
Jadzia said nothing, but picked her cup up off the desk. Changing the subject, she asked, "What are you working on anyway? If it isn't classified."
"The details are, but the biggest cat is already out of the proverbial bag. You're a lieutenant, right?"
"Yes. Full." Jadzia picked up the hologram and flicked the selector. The image changed to a swarthy Klingon male in full military regalia.
"Well, we're finding more and more remnants of the Klingon war machine scattered around Federation space. Stashes of bioweapons on unsuspecting planets, star mines en route to neutral frontier worlds, even sleeper ships. My mission is to convince the former Ambassador to tell me what he knows and get him to convince K'Mpec to disclose everything that might be still out there. Hopefully before anyone gets hurt."
Jadzia set the hologram down. "Curzon is a good man. He'll do what he can."
K'Ehleyr pushed back from the desk and reclined in the swivel chair. The flexible armor suit moved with her, molding to every curve. She rubbed her swollen belly. "I certainly hope you're right. Recently I've discovered a lot more incentive to protect the innocent."
"You're pregnant?" Jadzia blurted.
"Yes. Not very, but enough." She smiled.
Jadzia reflexively ran a hand over her own flat middle. "Congratulations." She set down the hologram. "His father?"
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
"On a starship somewhere," K'Ehleyr said.
"Classified?"
"No. I just haven't asked."
Jadzia looked at her curiously. "You don't get along?"
K'Ehleyr gave a bitter snort and swiveled back and forth in the chair. "Not hardly. The problem is that we get along too well."
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I, my dear. Neither do I." K'Ehleyr turned back to the computer.
Jadzia picked up the hologram to study it more closely.
"It's not a very good likeness," K'Ehleyr said. "He is much more...primal than that. More unadulterated masculinity, but with the soul of a pussy cat underneath." She paused and sniffed. "At least I think so. I'm not sure I ever really got that close," she added ruefully.
"Hm. That's not really my type," said Jadzia putting down the holo-figurine.
"No, not mine either--another problem," said K'Ehleyr.
"I do think you would like him though. He's another tortured, disenfranchised soul, happily reveling in his misery."
"Oh, please!" Jadzia snarled. She slammed the holo back down on the desk. She pushed a pile of clothes off of the bed and onto the deck, then crawled up to sit cross-legged on the bunk. She cradled the cup between her palms.
"So, what are you going to do after the baby is born?"
"Do?" K'Ehleyr asked.
"Yes, with his father?"
"Why, nothing," said K'Ehleyr.
"You'll have to see him once the child is here."
"Only if he finds out."
Jadzia gasped. "You haven't told him?"
K'Ehleyr smiled sadly. "It's a long story."
"It's not right!"
"Well, my dear, not much in this life is, but we go on just the same."
"You must have loved him once, and not so long ago," Jadzia mused. Restlessly she uncurled her long legs, then crossed them again neatly beneath her to sit on her bare feet.
"Oh, of course," K'Ehleyr answered breezily. "I still do. Lack of love was never the problem. We just weren't meant to be together. It happens."
"No!" said Jadzia forcefully. "It only happens if you let it." She gestured at the holocube. "If I found someone like that, a way to never be alone, I would grab it and never let go." With dismay she realized that her hands were trembling. She pressed them firmly against her knees and willed herself to stillness.
K'Ehleyr glanced up in surprise. He face settled into a look of almost maternal compassion. She arose and went to sit beside her on the little bunk.
"Oh, my dear. It sounds like you are confusing loneliness with being alone. They aren't at all the same you know. Being lonely is a state of mind, just as common in a cabin full of people as by one's self. If you let yourself you can be just as lonely with a lover as you can by yourself. Maybe even more so.
"Being alone however, can be the most exhilarating freedom you have ever known. You just have to know the difference. And know how to appreciate it."
Jadzia stared down at her thighs. "I'm not like you," she mumbled. "I'm a Trill. It's different for us."
K'Ehleyr shrugged. "If you say so. Although I--OH!"
Jadzia looked up in mild alarm. "What?"
"The baby. He kicked."
"Already?"
K'Ehleyr smiled. "Oh yes, like father, like son. His father is all Klingon and quite...rambunctious himself."
Jadzia grinned. "It's a boy, huh?"
"Yes. Alexander."
"Not a very Klingon name," said Jadzia.
"No doubt his father would insist upon him taking the name of some dead Klingon warrior, but I would like to think a little beyond that for my son. Alexander was a great man, a great conqueror, and a great visionary. I'd like to remind him that Klingons don't hold the market on valor and glory. A nice compromise, don't you think?"
"Sure," said Jadzia to her feet.
"I was also thinking of 'Caesar' but-- There he goes again!"
K'Ehleyr grabbed her hand and placed it on her belly. "Feel."
Jadzia left it on the metal mesh for just a moment, then pulled away. "I can't feel anything except titanium shielding."
K'Ehleyr snorted. "Certainly not if you don't try. What are you so afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid," said Jadzia, in a voice that convinced no one.
"Really?" K'Ehleyr grabbed her hand again, but this time she merely held. She cupped her hand around the icy fingers and pressed, driving sharp nails into tender palm.
"Don't," breathed Jadzia.
"Why not?" murmured K'Ehleyr. She leaned in a little closer. She squeezed more firmly against the balled fingers. The skin gave way. A thin line of blood trickled down Jadzia's palm.
Jadzia gasped. "I am afraid," she said. "I am afraid, but I don't know which would be worse: to stay alone, or to face failure with someone else."
"Mm," said K'Ehleyr, "now we're getting somewhere. But you don't look like much of a failure to me." She brought their joined hands up to her face and inhaled deeply savoring the dichotomy of sour blood and sweet female musk. She extended her tongue and licked the trail of blood up to its source. She ran her tongue over the moguls of their mingled fingers and sucked delicately on the icy tips.
Jadzia moaned, but still she did not pull away.
K'Ehleyr looked up. Their eyes locked. There was a short nod that may have been consent. Then K'Ehleyr locked her mouth around Jadzia's wrist and bit. Hard.
It had been said that Trills were as hardy as Klingons. K'Ehleyr began to believe this might be true when Jadzia did not cry out. She continued to suck. The cold skin of the trembling fingers struck in sharp contrast to the sweet, hot blood seeping from the tender wrist.
Jadzia flexed her fingers and splayed them over K'Ehleyr's cheek and jaw, pulling her skin savagely away from the bone. K'Ehleyr flinched and the shock, the chill. Then she bit again, piercing the skin further down the arm.
This time Jadzia moved. She pulled her arm away with surprising strength. With a forceful grace she pushed K'Ehleyr back on the bed and straddled her with her thighs. She fumbled with the seal of the armor.
K'Ehleyr laughed. "Not like that!" She reached inside the collar and the seams all sprang apart simultaneously. Jadzia reached for the breastplate and tossed it aside.
"That's better," K'Ehleyr said. "Now you." With one quick movement she reached up and ripped the flimsy robe down the back. It slid limply from the shoulders and dropped completely off the arms. The ha'quj held. The top of the robe hung in shreds from the woven sashes. The blue mottlings of her body flushed deep with newly added heat. The hard nubs of her nipples rose and fell. The blood from her wrist began to spread over the creamy flesh where it rested on her thigh. A dark smear spread slowly out from the hem of the short jacket that hung useless from her waist.
"Cripes!" said Jadzia.
K'Ehleyr's smoky voice rumbled low. "I usually get what I want. Now get me out of this tin can, will you. I'm burning up!"
With alacrity Jadzia pitched aside the remaining segments. With a growl she plunged forward into K'Ehleyr's musky mound and began to suck.
K'Ehleyr hissed, "Not like that! I'm not some weakling Terran! Fuck me, you bitch!"
Jadzia turned her head aside and drove two fingers inside K'Ehleyr's cunt. K'Ehleyr hissed and spread her legs further. Jadzia pulled out and pushed in all four up to her thumb. K'Ehleyr writhed but said only, "Yes!"
With conviction Jadzia pulled back and, summoning her breath, rammed in her entire hand.
K'Ehleyr moaned and twisted, but bucked her crotch harder onto the hand. Curling her fingers, Jadzia pistoned the woman into an orgasm that was likely heard all the way to Trill.
Relieved, K'Ehleyr sagged back against the pillow. Jadzia squirmed urgently at her hip.
"K'Ehleyr...inside me...now!" was all she managed.
K'Ehleyr sneered. "On your knees, Trill."
Jadzia groaned, but flipped onto her stomach. She pulled her knees to her chest and, gripping the edge of mattress, stuck her ass high in the air.
K'Ehleyr came up behind her and with no preamble whatsoever drove two fingers deep within her.
Jadzia gasped, but held fast. Screaming an ancient Klingon battle cry, K'Ehleyr accelerated her thrusts. Drilling within with her fingers and hammering without with her knuckles, she gave Jadzia everything she had to offer.
Judging from her orgasm, it might have been just enough.
As they lay together afterwards, Jadzia rested her head upon K'Ehleyr's chest. With every breath the warm flesh rose and fell beneath her. Absently she realized she must be getting heavy. She started to slide off to the side.
An iron arm clamped around her waist and held her firmly in place. She fought it momently, then fell back in contentment.
Jadzia's hand strayed to the gentle roll of the quickening belly beneath her. She let it rest there. Felt the gentle thrill of the life within. "What is it like?" she asked quietly.
"Hmm?" came the sleepy reply.
"To have another life within you. Of you, but not you. To never be alone."
For a moment she didn't think she would get a response. K'Ehleyr took a deep breath, then exhaled fully. Jadzia's head fell down further within the well of the ripe breasts. Her lids grew heavy and her mind began to stray to the netherworld of dreams. A rich, lilting voice spoke in her mind.
"It's wonderful," it said.
And then she was being shaken awake. "Hey, beautiful," the voice said. "Time for all good girls to get back to work. Let me up." Jadzia shifted. K'Ehleyr kissed her forehead and hopped to the deck.
"May I use the shower?"
"Sure. Use whatever you want. I won't be needing it." Jadzia grabbed the covers and rolled over onto her side.
Later, K'Ehleyr emerged in a rush of steam. A faint smell of autumn leaves filled the air. She was packed back into the tight body armor. As she stepped over the threshold of the head, her eyes flew open wide. It looked like a completely different room.
The main cabin was cold and barren, utterly devoid of life. The only sign of a recent occupant was the still-warm rumpled sheets and the little hologram glowing on the desk.
Jadzia stood by the door in a demure gray bodysuit. A large cargo container stood on either side of her.
K'Ehleyr recovered. "It looks like you've made a decision." She slid back in behind the computer, adjusting ever so slightly for her rounded belly.
"Yes," Jadzia said to her back. "I'm going home. I have some...issues to resolve with my family and friends--at least I think I still have friends there--then I'm going back to the program. I am going to make them take me back."
"Good for you," K'Ehleyr said emphatically.
"And you?" Jadzia asked.
"Hmm?"
"The father. What are you going to do?" Jadzia gestured at the hologram.
K'Ehleyr turned back to her in evident surprise. "Oh, I'm going to make him let me go."
"That's too bad," said Jadzia.
K'Ehleyr agreed somberly. "Yes, it is."
~Lyra
March 2003