Author: mzsnaz
Series: TOS
Characters: Amanda, Sarek and Q
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Star Trek is the property of Paramount and
Viacom. Several lines from the Barry Manilow
song “Mandy” are also not mine, and they don’t belong to Q, either. He might argue that point, but he really
doesn’t own them.
Summary: A prequel to “White Flag”. What was the reason for Q’s initial contact
with Amanda?
In ancient Rome,
a red flag was a signal for battle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Sarek, are you
sure?”
Amanda Grayson
watched as her husband paced in the confines of their comfortable
quarters. The fact that he was pacing
was disconcerting enough. Of more alarm
to her was the nearly feral way he would glance at her, as though the very idea
that she was in the same room was excruciating to him.
He had claimed
that it was over when he had accepted the mission to Rana 7. Now, at least in
Amanda’s mind, it had been a dreadful mistake.
So far, they had been able to stave off the after effects of their first
pon farr by staying in their opulent
rooms and offering creative excuses to their hosts about ‘shuttle lag’ and
‘possible food intolerances’. Now, the
chancellor had demanded that they attend a compulsory meeting. There would be no justification for their
absence.
“Sarek?”
“YES,
Amanda! I am sure!”
She
involuntarily jumped at his incensed tone even as she forced back a heated
retort. It’s not his fault, she
reminded herself again. Don’t even try
to reason with him right now. “Very
well, Sarek,” she casually said. “Are
you ready to go? They’ll be expecting
us in about thirty minutes.”
He stopped in
mid-stride and turned away from her.
She knew he wasn’t ready. Far
from it. Facing the wall, she could see
his trembling form struggle to regain control of his labored breathing. Why the effects of the madness had continued
worried her, but Sarek was adamant that the crisis was close to
resolution. He would restore order to
his chaotic mind and body and all would be well.
Exhaling slowly,
he cautiously tested his newfound calm.
They would attend the meeting, which should last approximately 2.4
hours. Once those assembled dispersed,
he and his wife would return to their quarters and… Closing his eyes, he felt the surge of longing once again
encompass him. Why was his control so
completely overrun with yearning? Did
they not just undergo the pon farr
that should have driven out such intimate, immediate desires?
“My husband, you
can’t go to the meeting. Not like
this.”
“I have to
go. We have to go. There are no alternatives.”
She kept a
composed look of control on her face even as she tried to reign in her own
swirling emotions. It was growing more
difficult though, as his thoughts were being projected through their marital
bond at an alarming rate. The images
that were streaming through her mind had absolutely nothing to do with the
meeting. By now, she could also feel
the growing flames fanning throughout her mind and causing her body to ache
with need. Taking in an equally ragged
lungful of air, she looked at her husband, his back still to her. “Sarek, we have less than thirty minutes
to…to do something about…this.”
He was now
totally immobile and silent, staring at the wall in the opposite direction from
her. In any other circumstance, his
moody stubbornness would have been a minor annoyance; however, this wasn’t a
typical predicament. It was obvious he
didn’t want to admit defeat over his lost control.
She would have
to take matters, quite literally, into her own hands. With an ambiguous sigh, Amanda stood and began to undress. It was the most sensible answer. The day
before, she had made the mistake of waiting too long; now, she had to find a
discreet tailor or seamstress who wouldn’t ask questions about mending a formal
gown that had been ripped nearly in two.
She didn’t want to take two dresses in.
Draping the
outer lace covering of the evening dress on the back of a nearby chair, she
began to work to remove the silken under sheath. The clasp in the back had given her difficulties earlier, and now
she deeply regretted selecting that particular outfit. How to remove it without assistance?
A sharp intake
of breath from behind caused her to freeze.
Cursing in a very unladylike fashion under her breath, she had only one
thought. She had really liked this
dress…
Outside of the chancellor’s
chamber hall, the stoic Vulcan Ambassador and his wife waited with a growing
crowd of disgruntled assembled diplomats.
The meeting had been delayed due to an unexplained power failure in the
main power grid of the city. With his
tone pitched so that it carried only to his wife, the Ambassador tried once
again to get her to speak. “Amanda?”
Silence met
Sarek’s query.
“T’hy’la?”
Nothing.
“I am certain
that under most circumstances, your plan would have worked. The clasp obviously malfunctioned, which
only stressed my already deteriorating control.”
His wife’s cool
blue eyes graced him with a succinct look.
“I shall buy you
another dress.”
He observed his
wife’s seemingly nonchalant roll of her eyes skyward.
“No, my
husband. You will buy me two
dresses. Two! Sarek, this is bordering on farcical! What am I supposed to do?
Buy breakaway clothing? You have
to find out what’s wrong!” Her voice hissed at him even as he considered her
words.
“Breakaway
clothing?” Sarek blinked several times
as the image filled his thoughts.
Amanda
immediately regretted the picture she had just implanted in her husband’s
mind. Biting her lip to keep from
grinning, she instead scowled at him.
“Don’t get any ideas. I was
joking, but I’m very serious about your finding out about the cause of this
lingering…well, you know. Is this the
way a Vulcan woman gets a new wardrobe?
I hope not.”
“I thought the
material would be more resilient than that.”
“Ruined,” she
muttered. “You completely ruined a Gyhanaano
original. I just want you to know
that.”
“It was quite
aesthetically pleasing, I believe.”
“How would you know? It wasn’t
on me long enough for you to form an opinion!”
Fortunately for Sarek, at that moment, the bright glow of lights engulfed
the hall. With an excited air of
anticipation, the crowd pushed forward and soon they were in the hall.
As the crowd milled around the buffet tables and broke off into groups,
Amanda noted with great disappointment that Sarek had already been pulled into
a political group discussing the trade agreement between Rana 7 and Rana 4. What fun, she thought, trying to keep her
best-interested face on. It soon faded
as she listened to the droning voices.
With a quick nod, she indicated to Sarek that she was going to the
outside terraces located nearby. He
barely moved his head as he acknowledged her leaving. Taking that as a good sign, she took in a deep breath and, exhaling
to remove the remnants of memory from earlier that evening, she exited the hall
onto a brightly lit terrace.
The shimmering nighttime view of the Ranian city of Hzanaal was aglow with the soft lights of the low set buildings and the stars
above. Relaxing, Amanda leaned against
the rail and watched the distant blaze of illumination that came from the
shuttle station located near the shoreline of a vast ocean. The occasional streak of light that would
originate at ground level and flash upward reminded her that she’d have to pack
after the meeting for their return voyage in the morning. Too many distractions, she thought. Too much…
“This is the city of Hzanaal???
Pathetically small, isn’t it?”
Startled by the unexpected baritone voice, Amanda jumped slightly and
turned to face the speaker. He was a
tall man with a strange, seemingly permanent smirk on his face. He grinned, and her first instinct was that
it was time to leave the terrace.
Shrugging, she answered the questions with a disinterested tone. “Hzanaal is one of the
oldest cities on Rana 7. Its size is fairly typical for this
planet.” Smiling an apology, she
continued. “If you’ll excuse me, I
believe I’m needed inside.”
“No, he doesn’t need you right now.
I’m just here for the history part, anyway.”
Perplexed, Amanda turned back to the man. “What are you talking about?
Of whom are you speaking? And
what history part?”
“Questions, questions… You know
what I’m talking about, Mandy. He’s
sated for the moment, but those thoughts!
My, my. I would think that a
Vulcan wouldn’t think such things. I’d
think they would be contemplating the universe, or reasoning out mathematical
theorems, or some such. You have really
ruined him, just as he ruined those two gowns.”
She listened with horrified recognition. How did this stranger know such personal information? “My name is Amanda, not Mandy. I’m going inside. I wish I could say that it was a pleasure.” Ignoring his slack jawed expression, she turned
and began to stride toward the entrance; but somehow, the man was once again
standing in front of her.
“Not so fast, Mandy. Aren’t you
wondering why I know so much?”
“Obviously, you’re a pervert.
You overheard a very private conversation. If you’ll excuse me…” She tried to walk around the man, but once
again he was in front of her. “All I
have to do is scream,” she threatened, “and Security will have you in custody
so fast it will make your head spin.”
“Oh, Mandy! I’m standing on the
edge of time…walked away when love was mine…”
The off pitch singing was too much.
She shook her head and, frustrated, crossed her arms and tapped her
right foot on the terrace cobblestone.
“Would you please leave me alone?
And as for your ‘singing’, you should keep your day job…whatever that
might be. I’m going inside. Don’t try to stop me.”
“Mandy, you’re right. I’m not
interested in trying to stop you. I
just want to understand and appreciate you, that’s all.” His eyes slowly traveled up her body,
causing her to question just what he wanted to appreciate.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Understand your devotion to Mr. Bland. Hmm. You know, I have
reconsidered that…I believe I’ll call him Mr. Personality from now on. He’s clearly developed one since meeting
you. Brava, ma cherie. I didn’t think he had it in him. Or should I say, I didn’t think you’d have
it in you.” The slight emphasis on the
word ‘it’ caused her to blush furiously.
“You are the most repulsive person I’ve ever had the misfortune to
meet. Don’t speak to me again.” Once again, her path to the entrance of the
hall was blocked. “Move out of my way…”
“Oh! You’re right. I didn’t introduce myself, did I? I am Q.”
The man bowed deeply with a mocking flourish of his hands.
“Move out of my way, Q.” Amanda
was now shaking with anger.
Q seemed delighted. “Oh, Mandy! You’re such a spitfire! I love it!
I absolutely adore angry blue-eyed brunettes…or is it upset blue-eyed
redheads? I can never keep that
straight. You really need to relax,
though. I don’t want to disrupt
history, after all.” Judging from his
sardonic tone, Amanda had the impression that he could care less about history.
“Relax? What exactly is that
supposed to mean? What historic event
is supposed to happen that you don’t want to disrupt?”
In a flash of light, a chronometer appeared on Q’s wrist. She started at the shocking appearance of
the chrono and took a slow step away from the person she had assumed was
human. He examined it closely, and then
turned his suddenly studious gaze to her.
“Ummm. Not yet…wait…wait for
it….”
“What are we waiting for? And
who…or what…are you?”
“Not yet…wait…THERE!
Congratulations, ma cherie.
You just made history.”
Now certain that she was dealing with a madman, she humored him with a
cautious half-smile. “Yes, I see. Well, I must be going now.”
“Don’t you know what just happened?
Oh, that’s right! You humans are
so out of touch with your physical selves that you wouldn’t even notice the
spark of new life if it…oh…just hit you in the uterus.”
As the dawning realization of what Q said stirred through her, she
closed her eyes as the painful truth was revealed. He was just a superficial, malicious monster. “Oh, so now you’re trying to tell me that I
just conceived? That’s not funny at
all, Q. It’s a very delicate topic for
me and I detest you even more than before for making light of it.”
Surprised, Q stepped back as he realized that the human was tearing
up. The sneer that automatically
emerged in such situations fell into place, but he wasn’t sure what to
say. “Oh, come on, stop that. Don’t cry.
I’m telling you the truth.
Aren’t you elated? It’s the only
reason I’m here…that, and the fact that I don’t understand your interest in Mr.
Personality.”
“It’s not interest. It’s love.”
A loud, choking sound filled the terrace as Q sputtered with laughter. “LOVE?
The L word? That’s rich! Tell me you’re not serious! Tell me you don’t think he, a Vulcan, feels
that way, too!”
“I love him, Q, and yes, I do believe that he loves me, too.”
Falling to the cobblestone, Q clasped his middle as he guffawed. “Oh, Mandy!
This has been the best laugh I’ve had in centuries! Oh, you poor deluded thing! He doesn’t love you! Isn’t it evident in the way he has used you
these past few weeks? He’s just like
any human male in that respect. He’s
only interested in one thing, and it starts with an ‘s’ and ends with an ‘x’.”
‘That’s not true. Sarek can’t
control the biological realities of Vulcan life any more than I could be
pregnant because you say so.”
“I’m not just saying so. I
know. As an omnipotent being, I have
the inside track on everything, even the moderately interesting blips in
history like the first Human/Vulcan conception ever.”
“I’m not pregnant.”
“If that’s what you want.” His
unblinking stare was eerily devoid of life as an uncomfortable hush surrounded
them.
Suddenly anxious, Amanda unconsciously brushed her hand over her
abdomen. Was it possible? Every doctor and scientist she’d talked to
had said it would be out of the question for such a conception to occur. They wouldn’t even give her the odds since
it was impossible. Was Q just callously
toying with her? An alarming flash of
insight occurred to her as she considered the significance of what she was
about to say. If Q was right, she
didn’t dare infuriate him. The silence
grew as the being in front of her waited for a response. “For the moment, I’ll accept what you’ve
said. Please don’t do anything to
change the situation.”
“Tsk, tsk. Only minutes into
existence, and he’s already a mama’s boy.”
“He?”
This is preposterous, she thought, even as Q’s words warmed her
heart. A boy? Sarek would be so pleased…
“Oh, geesh! Mandy, not
everything revolves around Mr. Personality, you know! Stop thinking about him!
You are so obsessed! I might
become physically ill if you don’t stop drooling over him.”
“I don’t drool over him.”
“That’s right! You
llllooooovvvvveeee him, and he lllooooovvvvveeeesss you! So, how many times a day does Mr.
Personality tell you that he loves you?
Ten? Fifty?”
“He doesn’t actually say it, but…”
“Wait. This just gets better
and better.” Q sidled up to her and put
an unappreciated arm around her shoulder.
“Let me get this straight. He
loves you? I know that he fawns over you…and
he has those meticulously complex fantasies about you, which I really enjoy, by
the way. It’s a Vulcan’s attention to
detail that’s just so lacking in the average human erotic daydream… Getting
back to the subject. So, he has never,
ever actually said that he loves you?
That is just so pitiful!”
“He doesn’t need to say it. I
feel it.”
“Feel it? Oh, please. This you can feel.” His arm tightened slightly around her
shoulder even as she tried to pull away.
A smarmy look plastered his face.
“Yes, Mandy. This is the feeling
that a Vulcan has for you. It’s all
physical. It’s all about what you can
do for him.”
“Let go of me, or I’ll scream,” Amanda whispered, her manner hostile to
the unwanted contact.
“That’s sounds a lot like what you said to Mr. Personality earlier. I
could paraphrase…”
“That’s it, Q! I’m leaving this
terrace and I don’t want to ever see or hear from you again! EVER!”
Q’s grip on her didn’t lessen.
He only pulled her closer and continued to taunt her. “You don’t tell me what to do! Listen here, Mandy. I just want you to acknowledge the
truth. He will never say that he loves
you, not even now that you’re going to have his child. You can do whatever you think will make him
say it, but he won’t. So, get those
pretty little illusions out of your head.
Your entire life is going to be one of heartbreak and misery, and it’s
all because of your misguided belief that a Vulcan can experience and
understand love.”
“You’re wrong. I’m not
misguided and I don’t expect him to say it.”
“Liar, liar, pants on fire! You
do expect him to! Oh, this is just too
precious! I must keep tabs on your
progress. You won’t mind, will
you? Why am I asking? It really doesn’t matter if you approve or
not. Watching your little hopes and
dreams get shot down by the ones you love will be just too compelling for me to
miss.”
Releasing her, he frowned as she took several quick steps toward the
entrance of the hall. “Mandy, don’t
tell me you’re crying again. I know how
emotional pregnant women are, and everyone knows how emotional you are to begin
with, but please try to contain yourself when you’re around me.”
Facing the entryway, Amanda cut her eyes back toward the omnipotent
presence. “Q, I have a favor to
ask. If…” She reconsidered her
words. “Since you have said that I’m
pregnant, I want you to leave this child alone. No contact whatsoever.
You can check my progress and bother me if that amuses you, but that’s
it. Only me. Agreed?”
“No contact with ‘little boy blue’?
Not even a courtesy call?”
“No.”
At first crestfallen, Q suddenly brightened. “Fine, I won’t contact him.”
Narrowing her eyes, Amanda felt that there was something in his words
that she was missing, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. “Q, when I say no contact, that means he is
to have no knowledge of you at all. No
tricks.”
“I’m not into tricks, Mandy. I
won’t contact him. Have fun in your
failure, ma cherie. I feel sorry
for you. I truly do. Adieu.”
He disappeared in a flash of light.
Entering the hall, Amanda was surprised to see Sarek striding across
the room toward her. It was unheard of
for him to leave a discussion early, unless… She grimaced. Oh, no…not again.
“Amanda, are you well?”
His words took her off guard as she tried to determine his state of
mind. He appeared calm and normal,
which was a relief after the chaos of the past few weeks. There were no stray thoughts snaking through
her consciousness. There was nothing
but the comfort of their bond. Smiling,
she nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. What about you?”
Knowing exactly what she was talking about, he almost imperceptibly
shrugged. “Do not misunderstand me,
Amanda, but the desire has passed.”
“I’ll try not to take that the wrong way. Why do you want to know if I’m well?”
“Earlier, I sensed a certain increased level of tension in you. I know that these past few weeks have been
somewhat difficult. You are not still
upset over the gowns?”
Giggling, she shook her head as her smile grew. “No, Sarek.
I’m not upset over that anymore.
And, we may want to wait on purchasing any replacements for those
outfits. At least until we get back to
Vulcan.”
Sarek wondered at the mysterious statement and look that his wife gave
him. A most pleased yet secretive look,
indeed.
The End