BEST TOS BASED STORY ~~ BEST OVERALL STORY
Title: UNITED IN A COMMON CAUSE
Author: T'Lin ( LinkyS@aol.com )
Series: TOS
Pairing Code: Am/Mara
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Unknown aliens invade a space station, in search of the secret meeting place of Ambassadors Sarek and Kang. When taken prisoner with numerous others, Amanda and Mara decide to cover up their relationship with the ambassadors in order to escape notice, and warn their husbands.
Archiving: ASC*, BLTS, FFF and my own web page - http://www.oocities.org/tlin_s/ - all others please ask first.
Written for Round VIII of the Femme Fuh-Q Fest - http://www.oocities.org/femme_fuhq_fest/
Disclaimer: Paramount/Viacom own the TREK universe ... I just borrow from it occasionally for pleasure. No copyright infringement is intended, nor do I make any money off of my efforts. Although I do not own these characters, this original piece of fanfiction is the property of T'Lin, © 28 October, 2002.
Feedback gladly accepted -- posted to the list, or privately.
by T'Lin -- 0210.28
There was a shriek, as the lights went out.
The din of overlapping conversation stopped suddenly, and all was quiet ... but only for a few seconds, as the patrons of the space station's lounge waited for the emergency lighting to come on. When the darkness continued for more than 30-seconds, the questions started ... and it was instantly apparent to Amanda that there was more wrong here than a simple loss of lights.
She stood, listening, as the questions overlapped in a dozen different languages, from as many different worlds ... not only were there no lights, but there was no computer, which meant no Universal Translator ... and no life support.
She could hear panic in the voices of some, and she didn't blame them ... one did not survive long on a powerless space station. Of course, their chances of survival would decrease as the panic level rose ... what was needed right now was a bit of Vulcan logic.
Amanda had only just entered the lounge when the lights went out. Unfortunately, she was not familiar with the layout of the room, or of who was there with her, but she did recognize one voice in the crowd ... Mara, wife of Kang, the new Klingon Ambassador to the Federation. Not that she knew Mara well enough to recognize her voice, but as far as Amanda knew, Mara was the only female Klingon on the station at the moment.
"Quiet!" Amanda called out in as many different languages as she could ... as she repeated the simple command, the overlapping talk slowly died. When she finally had everyone's attention, she said, "I am Amanda ..." however, before she was able to say anything else, the station shook, and another shriek was heard ... although this time, it was of a mechanical nature.
Someone called out "The door ... it's opening!" as a renewed spate of demands for answers erupted. The door hadn't opened much, but it did allow a small amount of light into the lounge. Amanda found herself staring at Mara, who was crouched just to the other side of the door, prepared to attack whomever it was who was prying it open.
Amanda was about to call out to her to stop, thinking that whomever it was had probably come to rescue them, but then thought better of it ... after all, if it had been a rescue attempt, their would-be rescuers would have said something by now. She turned her attention back to the slowly widening door. When the opening had increased to several inches, she was able to see that the beings on the other side were heavily armed ... if Mara went through with her attack, she would undoubtedly be killed.
Moving quickly, and hoping the darkness in the room hid her movement, Amanda crossed in front of the door to Mara's side, wrapped her arm around her, and whispered in Klingon, "Today is *not* a good day to die."
Mara tried to shrug Amanda's arm off of her as she growled a warning, but Amanda held on. "Death is preferable to being held prisoner ..." Mara said through clenched teeth, as she continued to struggle against Amanda's hold on her.
"That may well be ... but one can always escape from a prison." As Amanda said this, she felt Mara relax slightly. Not fully trusting that she had given up the fight, Amanda pressed the issue by grabbing hold of Mara by both shoulders, and looking her in the eyes added, "There is no escaping death. Give in now, so that we may live to fight another day."
"You surprise me, Amanda, wife of Sarek. My eyes tell me you are Vulcan, but my ears could be convinced you are Klingon." Then she reached up and clasped her hands on Amanda's shoulders, smiling slightly as she added, in heavily accented English, "But of course, you are human. You remind me of the first human I ever met ... his name was Kirk."
Amanda smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment." Now that the immediate crisis was over, Amanda turned back to the door, and noticed that the opening was nearly wide enough for a person to enter the room. Nearly everyone else had moved away from the door. Thinking that was a good idea, she tapped Mara on the arm and motioned for them to do likewise.
They had managed to find their way into the middle of a large group of people by the time the first alien entered the room. He bellowed out a command of some sort, but without the UT, nobody understood what he said. Even Amanda -- who was fluent in several languages, and familiar with numerous others throughout the Federation -- had absolutely no idea what was being said.
Of course, their captor realized there was a problem, and called out to someone still in the corridor. Within seconds, a device was handed to him, and he tried again. This time, his words were clear, he ordered those in the room to line up against the back wall. There were about fifty or so people in the lounge at the time, and as they slowly moved to comply, their captor explained that he was looking for anyone who was connected to the diplomatic mission between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Amanda looked at Mara, who whispered, "We cannot allow them to learn the truth until we know *why*."
"You're right ... I have to get out of this robe," and she looked at Mara more closely, adding, "and we must disguise you a bit, if we can." Luckily, Amanda had slacks and a tunic on under the robe ... the station was considerably cooler than what she was accustomed to, so she had dressed in layers. After removing the robe, she pulled out the inner lining, and handed it to Mara, saying, "the color matches your outfit well, do you know how to tie it into a head-scarf?"
"Yes, I think I can make this work." She looked around to make sure she was not being observed by their captor, then wound the long strip of fabric in such a fashion as to cover her most obvious Klingon features. "How does this look?" she asked when she was finished.
"Beautiful, and very exotic ... and if you add this," she said, as she pulled out another long strip of the fabric, and started to wrap it around her like a sarape, "even your own husband might have a hard time recognizing you." The outfit Mara had been wearing had been a simple shift-like dress, with high boots. Rather militaristic in appearance. By adding the 'sarape' over it, she was instantly transformed into an exotic beauty. "Just remember to speak in English ... and if they ask your name, you are 'Mary'."
"Mary. Yes, I can remember that. And you are?" Mara asked.
"I am 'Mandy' ... I doubt they will recognize the diminutive form of my given name." Amanda said, as she released her hair from the clip that held it up, and let it flow over her shoulders. By this time, nearly everyone was lined up against the wall, and more of the aliens had entered the room.
They were setting up portable lights, and a table. One of the aliens had a PADD, apparently with names or faces or some such information on it. It looked as if a bit of 'role-playing' would be needed, as well as the disguise.
As the first of the detainees was brought forward, Amanda snuggled up close to Mara, saying, "'Mary', I do believe we should be lovers, as part of our disguise ... you don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all," she replied, as she leaned into Amanda, and kissed her ... surprised by the strength and passion she felt in return.
Amanda was also surprised by the intensity of the kiss, and her own response to it ... it had obviously been too long since she had allowed herself the pleasure of another woman's company. 'Perhaps a bit of a dalliance was in order,' she thought, then admonished herself for being sidetracked so easily, especially when there were lives at stake. She had been about to say something more to Mara when the alien with the PADD spoke again, telling them to remain silent while he conducted his interviews.
Mara and Amanda refrained from speaking ... the 'lovers' held each other close, offering comfort and support, and alleviating each other's fears, as far as the casual observer was concerned. Occasionally, one would whisper to the other, creating their 'story' of being newly married, and on their honeymoon.
When it was their turn to step forward, the guard had to pry them apart. Mara had a difficult time offering such a small amount of resistance, but she was convincing in her reluctance to be separated from her spouse.
She answered the questions asked of her, filling in the blanks with their fabricated story as best she could. When they were satisfied that she knew nothing of the diplomatic mission, they let her go, and pulled Amanda forward, to answer the same questions.
A few minutes later, she, too, was released. Their ploy had been a success, but they were not free to leave the lounge. Instead, the 'lovers' retreated to a far corner of the lounge, where they would be able to speak a bit more freely. Obviously their next move was to escape from the lounge, and contact Sarek and Kang.
Mara was the first to spot the storage closet ... they entered, hoping to find a hatch into the air ducts. Within seconds of the door closing, leaving them in complete darkness, there was a small spark of light, as Mara produced a hand-held communications device. Seeing the look of surprise on Amanda's face, she said, "I cannot talk to Kang with this, but it will notify him that there is trouble. He will alert our ship, and have me beamed up immediately." Somewhat reluctantly, she added, "That is, if he is in a position to do so. Come," she added, gesturing for Amanda to stand in front of her, "the beam will take us both, if we are close enough."
Amanda took advantage of the chance to escape. And as she stepped closer to Mara, she felt the tingling sensation associated with transporter beams engulf her. Not a moment too soon, either, as the door to the storage closet burst open.
******
Once aboard the Klingon vessel, it took no time at all before Mara was speaking to Kang via the radio. It quickly became apparent to Amanda that the Ambassadors were well aware of the situation on the space station, and delegation ships were already engaging the unknown assailants.
It was only a matter of time before the station was liberated.
Mara was about to sign off, when she saw the plea in Amanda's eyes, and realized that the human had no way of communicating with her husband. Giving a nod of understanding to her new friend, she asked Kang to relay the message that Amanda was safe aboard ship with her. He promised to relay the message, then signed off. There was nothing more to be done.
Mara turned to face Amanda, and said, "Shall we retire to a more private setting ... while we wait for our husbands to return?" There was a hint of amusement as she said the last ... it was quite obvious to Amanda that her previous thoughts of a bit of a dalliance between the two of them may have also crossed Mara's mind.
"Yes, that would be the logical thing to do," Amanda said with a smile. She was tempted to wrap her arm around the Klingon, but had no idea how the technicians in the room would react, so restrained herself ... there would be plenty of time for 'intimate' contact once they were alone.
They left the transporter room, and walked the short distance to the lift ... once inside, with the door closed, Mara pulled Amanda to her, and kissed her even more passionately than before. Reluctantly pulling away, she asked, "Your husband does not mind, I hope?"
"No," Amanda replied, adding, "he is aware that there are needs he is unable to fulfil. As long as I am discreet ..."
"Yes, I understand. Kang is much the same way." They stood facing each other, holding hands as Mara went on, "It is necessary for men such as they are to have wives, and heirs ... and it is important for us to have such men as our mates ... but there are some things only another woman can offer, do you not agree?"
Amanda's kiss was her answer. As the lift stopped, she stepped back, releasing Mara's hands as she did. They left the lift, and walked the short distance to Mara's private suite, where they turned their role-play of earlier into reality ... offering one another the kind of pleasure only another woman could offer.
~~ ende ~~