Alternate Choices
By H.W.
Chapter 12
Three days later.
"Laren, I'm sorry I took so long," Jetur Adami said when she walked into Ro Laren's office, "but I got a visit from the Organians' representative. He, or should I say it, paid me a visit to tell me that they would stay neutral, like they’ve always been, but he did tell me that they wouldn’t mind a new female Bajoran Intendant visiting their planet to build good relationships. Of course, it being an Organian representative, it took him four hours to tell me this."
Ro closed the computer unit in front of her, deciding that she had done more than enough reading for the day. "Hmm, well, considering the fact that the Organians are always neutral, even when the Sol Empire reigned, I wouldn’t call that much of a surprise. But no bad news is good news I suppose."
"Oh, on the contrary," Jetur disagreed, "this is very good news."
"It is?" Ro asked surprised. She wondered how someone saying 'I don't get involved' could be good news.
Jetur sat down and smiled tolerantly at Ro. "Sure. As far as I know there’s only one female at this point that has any chance of becoming the new Intendant. Of course, not an officially big chance, but still. If the news is 'leaked' that they invited you to visit their planet, an invitation Kira had never gotten I might add, it will be a tremendous boost to you officially entering the 'election' for the new Intendant."
"It is?" Ro asked again.
"Laren, the Organians are a very highly advanced race. So advanced that they normally only exist in forms of pure energy. They only take a solid shape when they have to communicate with 'lesser' beings than them. They’re also very powerful. We know of nothing that can stop them and the only reason why they don't rule over us, is because neutrality is their thing."
Ro rubbed the back of her neck in an effort to keep her annoyance at bay. Surprisingly, it seemed to be working. "Adami, I know about them. I also know that the Sol Empire once attacked them, and they simply flung the ships back into space and erected a force field around the planet that the Sols were never able to break. The Organians only took down the field once the Sol Empire was gone. I do know about them, I just don't see how this helps me so tremendously."
Jetur gave her a tolerant smile. "Oh, sorry, Laren, I forgot that you’re still learning about politics."
Ro sighed. "Adami, stop playing, ok?"
"Aww, but I like playing with you." Jetur leaned back in the chair and folded her hands in her lap. "Alright, next political lesson. Here is how it goes. Say race X is debating with itself on which one they will bet their credits: On Delik, who was the first adviser of the former Intendant, or some unknown woman who they never heard of before. Easy decision for them, right?"
Ro nodded since she did understand that this is what most would do. Support Delik since he was the one they knew by name.
Jetur made a show of putting a look of total surprise on her face. "Right, but then... gasp, what’s that? The mighty, powerful, and not to forget, very wise, Organians are inviting this unknown woman to their planet. They’re extending a courtesy like that to this unknown woman. A courtesy they’ve never shown any former Bajoran Intendant. Then those people I just talked about start wondering... Hmm, if the Organians are polite to this woman, then maybe it would be better to support her instead of this Delik, whose only good credentials are his smooth words. You see, Laren, this is great news indeed."
"Ah, I do see. Well that's indeed very good news," Ro agreed. Then she snapped her fingers as if thinking of something. "Oh, and talking about news, I'm sorry to say that I won't need your services anymore."
"Oh?" Jetur leaned forward and lifted her exquisitely shaped eyebrows slightly.
"Yes, Delik came to me this morning. He told me that he could see that I had won. And since he knew when to stop fighting and cut his losses, he said that he would pull his bid for new Intendant and fully support me. The only thing he would like in return was for me to make him my first adviser once I'm Intendant. You can understand that I would prefer him over you, can't you Adami?"
"Well, I can't beat that. Shall I go and clean out my desk now then?"
"Please do."
They looked at each other for a moment and then both started grinning.
"Aww, is the poor boy getting nervous?" Jetur asked.
"So it seems."
Adami frowned before admitting, "I'm surprised he would try something so obvious. I would expect some hints and suggestions. Maybe even some conversations with you first, in which he would then realize that, gee, he can't beat you."
"I'm willing to bet that was his plan," Ro agreed. "As a matter of fact, that’s how the conversation started out. But then I 'accidentally' mentioned that I had been told that the Klingon Intendant is due to arrive tomorrow, and suddenly he started stumbling over his own words. I guess he was trying to convince me before we meet the Intendant and it might become clear that you and I are considered one of the factions with a candidate for the post of Intendant."
"So, what did you tell him?"
"Oh, I first showed the expected suspicion, then I let him persuade me, and then I told him that I could see his potential. I told him that I had to think about it. He then suggested that while I think about it, he and I would meet the Intendant together tomorrow. Just to show that there are no hard feelings between him and me. I once again told him I would think about it and apparently that was enough for him and he started to make his exit."
"Are you planning on doing that?" Adami asked as she tilted her head a little and looked at the dark-haired Bajoran. She had to smile when the woman that normally always moved with the smooth grace of one of the predatory jungle cats, pulled up her nose in a clear and very plain sign of disgust.
"Don't be ridiculous. I can't stand that guy, and I'm sure not condemning myself to having to be polite to him every time a Klingon is present. But, would it have been a good idea?"
"No." Jetur shook her head slightly to give the word more meaning. "Forgetting the fact that it would have shown the Klingons that even after all the time you had to prepare, you still didn't know who your true adversary is, it would also have shown that you don't trust me."
"True," Ro agreed, "but my not trusting you would not have been much of a problem. We are talking about the Klingons here; they practically invented using people they can't trust to do their work."
"But this is not just another Klingon," Jetur reminded. "This is the Intendant. Even though the normal Klingon doesn't like politics, not even the Chancellor, the Klingon Intendant does have to understand the workings of politics to be able to be the Intendant. She does sometimes have to wheel and deal like a politician. So she’ll understand that you shoved the politics in someone else's direction, me, and she will even think that you’re smart for doing that. But if you are to stand any chance at becoming Intendant, you’ll have to prove to her that you can, and do, fully trust the person who takes care of the politics. If you show her that you don't trust me, then you’ll make it clear that even if you become Intendant, the political scene of Bajor is still not secure. That’s something she will never accept."
Ro nodded thoughtfully. "I see your point. But I also see that this will put you in the limelight as well. Are you trying to make sure that I can't do without you once, and if, I do get appointed Intendant?"
Jetur gave her a dazzling smile. "Well, you really couldn't blame me if that is what I was doing, can you? But no, I'm honestly just trying to give you the best advantage I can manage. I trust you enough to know that if you win, you’ll show your gratitude to me later on, instead of letting me disappear."
She hesitated for a moment before adding, "In the beginning when I approached you, I thought that all that was needed was to give you a few tips while standing in the background. But the more this is unfolding, the more I realize that just a few tips won't cut it. We need to work together, we need to be seen as one. And then when all is said and done, I fully expect you to be very thankful to me and give me a nice cushy job for the rest of my life that will make sure that I never have to worry again about financial trouble. As we agreed; first adviser."
Ro nodded her head to indicate that she had to agree with what Jetur was saying, and she couldn't help but being mesmerized by that amazing smile. After a moment of just staring at the vision of beauty that was Jetur, Ro felt that she had to say something and decided to go with what was on her mind. "You have a truly incredible smile."
If possible, the smile got even brighter. Then Jetur hesitated before figuring that since she had decided to side with Ro, she could tell her one of her little secrets. "Thanks. When I was younger and my body started to change into... well, when I saw all those turning heads. I was flattered and decided to work on it to get only better. I couldn't change my body other than keeping in shape, or visit doctors of course. But I figured if nature gifted me like this, it would be unkind to try and better it by having doctors change my looks. So I decided to focus on other things. Learn what to wear, how to do little things like flick my hair over my shoulder at just the right time. And I practiced in front of the mirror for months on how to smile and laugh. It's now so much a part of me that it truly is my smile, and not something fake."
To Jetur's surprise, and delight, Ro nodded and showed full understanding. "One of the most important lessons given to us in the Special Forces was to work with what you got."
"A lot of people frown down on me for using so openly what nature gave me," Jetur admitted.
She knew that she was a beautiful woman, who on top of that had a body that would have made people want her, even if her facial features had not been as striking as they were. Until now Ro had never commented, never said or done anything at all other than the occasional drifting of eyes.
Jetur had wondered when 'the' conversation would come. When Ro would show her disapproval of the way that Jetur had worked, and slept, herself to the position she had. About how Jetur even now used her assets in some way several times every day. From giving a delivery boy a seductive smile because she knew for sure that future deliveries would always be delivered even faster than 'as soon as possible'. To openly flirting with an ambassador of one of the planets that was part of the Bajoran sector.
But instead she found a woman that apparently understood her perfectly. A woman that understood as nobody else, that you did what needed to be done. And if this happened to be done with the body, then so be it. It was a nice feeling to be understood instead of judged. Jetur couldn't help but smile, and then was quite pleased with herself when she noticed that her smile triggered an involuntary smile from the brunette that hardly ever smiled.
Ro spent another moment to take in the very appealing image of Jetur and saw a brilliant smile on those well-formed lips, and she couldn't help but return it. Then she shook her head and decided that they had more important things to talk about. "So, are you trying to get into a position where I can't function without you as Intendant?"
Jetur shook her head as well. "No. I meant what I said. Like it or not, Laren, you’ll need me at your side every time you meet the Intendant. You have to prove that we’re inseparable. Imagine this, you two are having a conversation and she asked you: 'Who’s the Bajoran Governor on Bajor twelve?' What would your answer be?"
Ro knew that she would have no good answer, since she didn't know. "Um, I have no idea?"
Jetur smiled again, this time because she was about to make her point. "Then she would reply: 'You don't even know the names of the Bajoran Governors and you want to become the Bajoran Intendant? I think not.' But if I’m there, I can immediately say to her; 'Intendant, Intendant Kira considered the number twelve unlucky, so that number was skipped when Kira changed the names of colonies. But if you want, I can tell you the names of the Governor of Bajor eleven or thirteen. Bajor thirteen is what used to be Bajor twelve, so the Governor of Bajor thirteen might be the person you mean'?"
She spread her arms a little. "You see, Ro, there won't be any problem with you honestly telling her that you don't know something, as long as I'm sitting beside you and can tell her everything she wants to know and more. The point is that you have the information at your fingertips, so to speak. You don't have to look for it, you just have to look at me and I can tell you what you need to know. Names, places, numbers. I know all of it, and as long as there’s no doubt whatsoever that all that information is not more that an 'um, Adami?' away, there’s no problem."
"Ah, so that's Delik's plan," Ro said, finally fully understanding what the man was up to. "That’s also why he fumbled his words out this morning. He knew that it didn't really matter if I fully believed him. All he needed was that I would be seen by the Intendant without you at my side several times."
"Right," Jetur agreed, "and maybe even make it worse by asking you some questions in the Intendant's presence, to which he would know you didn't have the answer. Even if you would say at that point that you had me for those things, the damage would already have been done. The Intendant would ask you that if I was so important to your being able to function at a level acceptable for being an Intendant, then why hadn't I been at your side with every step you took."
Jetur paused for a moment before admitting, "It’s not a bad plan, you have to give him that. Especially if you consider that the other fools who are helping him don't see that by doing so they have already given up every chance they might have had of becoming Intendant themselves. If Delik is able to get rid of you, he’ll simply turn around and say to the Klingon Intendant, 'See, they supported me, they want me to be Intendant'."
"True," Ro agreed. "I would have thought that they would have been a little smarter than that. Despite what I think of them, they have shown that they have brains."
Jetur shrugged her shoulders. "I think they just underestimate the Klingons. They think that the Klingons will come in here and pick the one who has the best babble. They seem to have forgotten that the Klingons checked every candidate out down to their ancestors when Kira was appointed."
"I still wonder how she did that," Ro thought out loud. "Someone like her normally would never have been appointed Intendant."
"Power can change people, Laren," Jetur reminded. "Kira had a perfect background. The right family, having shown the right loyalties, and having shown that she could be scrupulous enough for the job. But the problem was that once she was Intendant, there was nobody left who could say, 'Are you nuts?' The counter weight was gone and she could scheme and connive at will. Soon she developed a taste for playing with people and the Kira we all knew was born."
"Ah, I didn't know that," Ro had to admit.
Jetur crossed her arms under her ample chest, pushing the mounds of flesh up a little by doing so, apparently without even noticing it. It was a move that made even the highly trained Ro flick her eyes at the tempting vision before moving her eyes back to the place that she... almost... always looked at when talking to Jetur; her eyes.
Jetur saw how fast the eyes came back to hers and was truly amazed. She was deeply impressed, and actually extremely flattered, by Ro always returning to look at her eyes so quickly. It was so new to her to have someone look her in the eyes for a full conversation, not counting the occasional flick away that was Jetur's own fault. After all, she was so used to looking good and not hiding it, that she made those small moves that made people look, without even noticing it herself anymore, like crossing her arms under her breasts when she had a shirt on with a low neckline.
"Not many people do," Jetur continued the conversation, the shifting looks having passed in mere seconds without causing a pause in the talking. "Kira was good at removing all traces of her real past and making up her own past. In fact, the only place where her history is still written down as it really happened, is in the archives of the priests. And the only reason why they still have it is because Kira never knew that the priests also keep records of what's happening on Bajor."
Ro could not believe that Kira had made such a mistake. "That's quite some oversight."
Jetur shrugged. "That's what she got for killing the person who was doing this for her before he was totally finished. He had made the mistake of saying that he was almost finished and Kira then killed him immediately, to make sure that nobody was left who knew the truth."
"Then how come you know it?" Ro wondered.
Jetur laughed. "Because I happen to have an older brother who’s an archivist in the spiritual archives. Where do you think I got all my knowledge from? The priests don't change history. They record it as it happened without making a judgment about who is right and who is wrong. I spent many hours reading in their archives. That's where I also found out how to treat the different races in coalition space. While working here, I refined my methods a little but most of my knowledge comes from there. Here, I just keep up-to-date with the daily things."
Ro nodded her head before deciding to change subject. "Well, as interesting is this is, we have other things to talk about. Now it’s time for me to train you, Adami."
"Excuse me?"
"Tomorrow we will meet the Klingons, and frankly, you have to change your approach when we talk to them. While the Intendant is not like most Klingons, and your political knowledge and therefore your value to me might be clear to her, you’ll also meet other Klingons. General Martok, Commander of the Klingon Security Department, will also be there and he’s nothing like the Intendant as far as I’ve heard. He does have the highest respect for the Intendant, but he is not like her."
Jetur frowned. "What would I have to do differently then?"
Ro pointed a finger at the redhead. "First of all, your answers are too long. Now, don't get me wrong, while we’re alone I prefer them that way. I want the extra information. But if you talk to the Klingons the way you normally talk, they’ll get bored. Sift out the important information and only tell that."
"But the small stuff is just as important," Jetur disagreed.
"No, what's important is that you know it. But you don't mention it until it becomes a bigger issue. That's how the Klingons work. They don't care about details. They don't want to hear that something can bite them in the ass two years from now. If it becomes a problem, then they’ll deal with it at that time."
Jetur opened her mouth and then closed it again when suddenly something else dawned on her. "Oh, that explains why they still sell their weapons to the smugglers, while the smugglers are using those weapons against them in raids."
"Exactly," Ro agreed.
"I never understood that," Jetur had to admit. "Why not get rid of those smugglers?"
Now Ro grinned. "Because they give the Klingons a small challenge in this time where there’s nothing that can really challenge them. It gives Klingons a chance to prove themselves in battle. Why do you think the Klingons never really went after those smugglers in force? The Klingons could obliterate them within a day, if they wanted. But the smugglers are nothing more than a small nuisance... right now. So the Klingons enjoy playing a little cat and mouse with them. Hell, it’s even common knowledge that a lot of young Klingons actually join the smugglers for a year or two."
"I didn't know that," Jetur noted. "Why would they do that?"
"Well, let me rephrase that. It is common knowledge with the Klingons," Ro corrected. "The reason they do it is because it gives the young ones a chance for adventure they don't get nowadays by being part of the Klingon society. The Klingons call it 'the wild years' and as long as you behave, according to Klingon rules, then when you come back nobody cares."
Jetur stood up and walked over to the replicator. On her way she half turned to look over her shoulder, ready to ask Ro if she also wanted something. But before she could ask, Ro lifted her glass to show that it was still more than half full.
As the redhead continued on to the replicator, Ro once again let her eyes drift over the woman's back. A v-shaped back that flowed into rounded hips and one damn fine butt, which was clear to see because Jetur was wearing a pair of pants made of body hugging stretchy fabric. One of the few women Ro had ever seen that could actually pull off wearing pants like that and look good in it. Even the legs were shaped just right; once again clear to see thanks to the snug pants.
"So, why didn't you go into modeling?" Ro finally decided to ask.
Jetur smiled, winning the bet she had with herself about whether Ro would check her out from behind. She replicated a drink before moving back to the chair she had been sitting in. "Believe it or not, but I actually have a lousy body for the real modeling of clothes. A few years ago, before I decided to try and get a job in the Palace, I approached a modeling agency. They explained to me, very sympathetically of course, why I should just give up on the idea of modeling. Unless I wanted to do the adult modeling that’s needed in holodeck programs, if you know what I mean. I decided that while I don't mind using my body to get what I need, I don't want to do it on a daily basis. So... here I am instead."
"What's wrong with your body?" Ro asked, honestly confused.
Jetur smiled. "They want sexy women that look good in the clothing the designers make. My chest limits them, if nothing else. They want breasts to fill a bikini or dress; they don't want to show the lines of their wonderful dress being broken by having to cover a pair of DD cup boobs. Same with my lower back. A v-shaped back, round hips, and on top of that also a round bum... it's murder to fit fabric around and not get creases."
"Ah," Ro said in understanding. "That also explains your preferred way of dressing. A shirt that’s knotted closed, or only held together with a few buttons, and pants so tight that the fabric has no option but to behave since there’s no fabric left to form creases of fabric."
Jetur shrugged. "Yeah, getting clothes is a pain sometimes, but I wouldn't trade my body for more common sizes. The fact that I don't have standard sizes is what sets me apart. It's just that I'm lucky and all the non-standard sizes look damn hot together."
She hesitated before admitting with a smile, "But since we’re on the subject, allow me to point out that you also look very... appealing."
"The dark mysterious brooding look, Kira used to call it," Ro stated bluntly.
"I would have gone for tall, dark, and handsome," Jetur said thoughtfully. "But yes, mysteriously dark fits you as well. More like..."
She waved a hand to indicate her own body, then indicated Ro. "It's more like day and night, fire and ice. I, with me you see what you get. I am looks and people want me because of that. What I’m like in bed comes second to that, funny enough. I am the day, the fire, the light. But you, you are the mystery. You’re like the dark; you know something is hiding and you want to find it. You’re like ice; cold, but if you break through that layer you reach the water and can swim in joy. Me, they want, you they want to tame."
Ro grinned at the comparison. "Ah, but ice is also deadly. You can break through it and only find death in the freezing water."
"Yeah, but everyone is sure that they’re the one that can melt that ice and turn you into a puddle," Jetur countered. Then she sighed. "But, we were talking about Klingons."
Ro actually shook her head a little in confusion before remembering the subject they had been talking about. "Right, back to the subject. Let me warn you so that you don't get offended, I don't know if it’s necessary or not with the Klingon Intendant around, but there’s a chance that I’ll act dismissive of you, or make fun of you. That's how the Klingons normally treat the ones lower than them. So don't get offended, and let the words just roll over you. As long as I don't outright insult you in front of them or send you away without being ordered to, you have nothing to worry about. But be advised, you might think differently about what is insulting than the Klingons do. Watch their reaction first before you think I insulted you."
"Ok, I think I can do that," Jetur said, having heard some of how some Klingons could be. As much as she knew about politics, she knew little about Klingon behavior. That was one species the others had never pushed in her direction. She had read about them of course, but not dealt with them. "Anything else?"
"Yes, as we just talked about, you’re a very attractive woman, Adami."
"Y... Thank you, yes. So?" Jetur asked, not knowing where Ro's comment was coming from.
"Mmhmm," Ro agreed before coming to the point. "The Klingons will certainly say the same. Where it didn't matter to Kira if it was a man or a woman who shared her bed, I know from a very reliable source that the Klingon Intendant is solely interested in women. I warn you right now, Adami. Don't fuck with her."
"Why, you want to do it yourself?" Jetur asked.
Ro covered her eyes for a moment when she realized that Jetur had interpreted her words totally wrong. "I don't mean that kind of fuck. I meant don't mess with her. Don't try to play with her, Adami. The Klingons are very to the point with most things, including sex. If she shows any interest in you, and you don't mind, you better be prepared to go all the way. There’s no middle ground. If you aren't interested, you show it from the beginning. Don't lead her on or else she might just decide to take what you’ve been teasing her with. If you show no interest then all will be fine, I know the Intendant is honorable enough and I don't think that she’ll pursue a woman that has shown no interest whatsoever. But, if you did show interest, then you’ve entered the world of Klingon sex and its rules. If you suddenly don't show any interest anymore, after first doing so, then this will only be part of the game to them and it will excite them even more. Adami, Klingons do sex quite rough."
"I... see," Jetur said, not liking the concept. She didn't mind using her body, but she did want to be the one deciding if she used it. "I will remember that."
"You do that. Trust me, I’ve been there. You don't want to have sex with a Klingon unless you actually enjoy playing rough," Ro warned.
"So you like playing it rough?" Jetur asked.
Ro pursed her lips. "I didn't say that. The result justified the means so I did what I had to."
"So you didn't like it?" Jetur now asked.
Ro chuckled. "I didn't say that either. Let's just say that it was an experience and leave it at that."
"Who was it?" Jetur asked, not wanting to let the matter drop just yet. She knew it was to her own advantage to know as much as possible about Ro. "Was it Gowron? Is that the reason why he apparently likes you so much?"
"No, I turned him down. As I said, if you do that in the beginning, there’s no problem." Ro decided not to add that for a moment she had feared that she would have had to kill him. Ro wondered if she should tell Jetur about this part of her history, but then decided that it really didn't matter, and maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to give Jetur some information. "One of the instructors at the Special Forces training was a Klingon. She was there to instruct us in the Klingon martial arts."
"But I thought that you told me that you joined the Special Forces when you were twelve!" Jetur said, realizing what this meant.
Ro nodded. "Let's just say that Rac'E liked them young. And once she took me to bed and realized that she was my first, she was thrilled by the idea and made me her little plaything for as long as her class lasted. I was in her class for three months and she taught me all she knew; which is far more than she taught the other ones. So she did give me something in return for having her way with me at least three times a week. It really wasn't all bad; I actually learned to like it. But the first couple of times until my body had adapted... Come to think of it, I think that, for her doing, she was actually quite gentle. It hurt and I think I bruised some bones back then, but she never made me bleed, except the occasional bite that was a little too hard. But I don't think a Klingon would hold back like that with a grown woman like you. It would be rough. I really don't wish that on you Adami."
"I’ll remember that," Jetur said, taking the warning very seriously. "Now, do we have any plans for tomorrow?"
Ro shook her head and stood up. "No, I was planning on improvising. I have a feeling that it wouldn’t be that good to plan everything in advance. If the Klingons do something differently, one suddenly doesn't know how to react. Come, let's mingle. Actually, let's give Delik a show. Let's go out there and you act as if you’re really pissed at me."
"Hmm, I have to think of a reason to be able to look at you with hate in my eyes," Jetur said with a smile.
Knowing that Jetur's little joke was actually very true, Ro came closer and leaned over the still sitting woman. "You want a reason? I'll give you one. If you mess this up, the worst thing that happens to me is that I don't become Intendant. But you, Adami, you will curse the day that you heard of me. I’ve seen you with your little brother, having fun, playing with him. If you mess this up, I will cut all his fingers off with a dull knife, one by one, and force-feed them to him. And then I’ll rip his tongue out and shove that up his ass. And if he still lives after that, I’ll bring him to Zharydein prison and throw him in the sexual offender's wing as their new plaything. So you better be very convincing, Adami. Remember my background, I'm not bluffing."
Jetur's nostrils flared and she lifted her hand to hit Ro for daring to threaten her brother, only to have her hand caught in a vice like grip.
Ro bent Jetur's arm so far over the armrest that it was close to the breaking point and Jetur was shouting out her pain. "This isn't a game, Jetur. You act as if this is all fun and, all in all, I don't mind that. It's actually quite entertaining and I normally like that. But you better remember that this is real. You’re no longer running with the herd, you’re now amongst the predators and only one of the predators will survive. You better hope and try your hardest to make sure that I'm the last one standing. You hear me? At this point, I'm your only hope. And at this point, I will do whatever it takes. As long as I have a chance. What... ever... it... takes."
Ro suddenly let go of Jetur and took a few steps back and leaned casually against the desk.
Jetur looked at Ro with pure hatred in her eyes, only to see Ro starting to smile.
"Good, that's more like it. Just remember this when you have to find a reason to be convincing."
"You better believe I will remember this." Jetur now saw Ro in a new light. She still knew that she had chosen the right person to back, now even more than before. But having seen the raw energy the normally so calm Ro could radiate, it changed her whole view of the quiet woman. Jetur realized that Delik had no idea of what he had gotten himself into. "It was you who killed Kira, wasn't it?"
"Does it matter?" Ro asked, not answering the question. "She’s gone, and Bajor will be better for it."
"It matters to me."
Ro sighed. "Adami, I can't answer that question to your satisfaction. You’ll make your own judgment and whatever I say won't change your perception of things. If I say I didn't do it, you won't believe me, and if I say I did do it, you won't believe it either because you think I would act differently than I do now."
"Fair enough, you're right," Jetur acknowledged while she got up. "Well, after that nice motivation, let's get going, okay?"
Ro made the few steps that would bring her to Jetur's side and put her hand on the woman's shoulder, feeling the other woman flinch slightly at her touch. "Adami, I'm sorry that I had to do that, but it really was necessary."
Jetur sighed and slowly turned around. "I'm sorry too that you had to do that. But you’re right, it was necessary. But please don't do it again."
"As long as you remember, I won't have to."
"As I said, I’ll certainly remember." Jetur treated Ro to one of her many smiles, and Ro was glad to see that it was a genuine smile. Or more to the point, now that Ro knew that Jetur had trained her smiles, she was glad to see that Jetur was using a smile that she used very often and very easy every day. "Now, let's get out there and give them a show."
~~~~~~~{}~~~~~~~
"You ready, my Pet?"
"One moment, Mistress, if you please."
"What's up?" Torres asked while she walked to where Seven was sitting and looked over the blonde's shoulder at the computer unit on the table.
"Mistress, I wanted to read up on Bajoran customs, and the personal reports General Martok sent over last night."
"Then why didn't you do it last night?" Torres asked, knowing the reason only too well.
Seven looked up over her shoulder into the Intendant's eyes. "Because I was otherwise occupied last night, Mistress. Taking care of my Mistress is of paramount importance to me."
Torres could not resist and took a moment to kiss those delicious lips that were so invitingly close. "Mmmhmmm, and you do it sooo well. I'm just glad that I can return the favor now… when you let me."
"Mistress, are you still upset about yesterday morning?"
Torres hesitated before admitting, "No, not really upset, just a little disappointed I have to admit. Now that I’ve discovered that pleasing you can be just as much fun as being pleased by you."
"Please, Mistress, do not distress. I have found that I enjoy pleasing you at any moment of the day, but that I do not enjoy being pleased myself within the first two hours after waking up. I enjoy pleasing you then, just not being pleased myself."
"But I still feel kinda bad about taking from you while not giving back."
"Mistress, I believe that you are forgetting that I am your Body Slave. I am supposed to only give to you without getting anything in return."
"Hush." Torres kissed the blonde again.
She loved the interaction that had formed over the three days of their journey. And the best thing was that as soon as they stepped out of the door, the blonde acted like the perfect Body Slave. There had been no reason whatsoever to punish her, or even raise her voice to the blonde. "You’re supposed to do whatever I tell you. I just tell you to like it when I please you. So you do."
"Mistress, if I may say, that is a very weak explanation."
Torres laughed and sat down on the blonde's lap. "But the good thing about being Intendant is that every weak explanation is still a good enough reason. Now, read up, it's about time we got out of here. The Bajorans are preparing for my arrival as we speak and I don't do being fashionably late."
"Yes, Mistress." Seven moved away some of the brown hair that was obscuring her view of the computer unit and started going over the information.
Torres also looked at the screen and saw screen after screen of information being loaded and disappearing. "Okay, that's it. I'm getting me some of those implants too," Torres joked. "You really read all of that?"
"Of course, Mistress."
"So, found anything interesting?" Torres asked when the blonde started to close the computer unit down.
"Yes, Mistress. I found several interesting things about the Bajoran customs, but with your permission I will inform you of those if it becomes necessary. Otherwise I fear I may bore you and you would not get the full impact of the information. I believe that it would be much better to give you the information when you need it. As far as persons are concerned..."
Seven opened the computer unit again and brought up two pictures onto the screen, "...It appears that these two people are the ones that you might be interested in. Delik Jetir and Ro Laren. The Klingon spies informed General Martok that these two are the ones having the most chance of being regarded for the post of Intendant."
"Only two?" Torres asked surprised while she looked at the photos. "That will simplify my job quite some."
"Yes, Mistress. Apparently a power struggle has ensued between these two. Both of them were advisers to Intendant Kira Nerys before she was killed, two of twenty advisers in total."
Torres frowned. It didn't make sense to her. If there were twenty advisers, then why were only two interesting enough to be mentioned? "So what are the power bases, and why are the other advisers not also potential candidates for the job?"
Seven brought the picture of the man a little more to the front. "Delik has succeeded in getting the other advisers to back him in his fight against Ro; which also explains why the other advisers are no longer a potential choice. Delik has put them out of the race, and they do not even know it."
"Impressive," Torres had to admit.
"It is," Seven agreed, "but that is basically the extent of his power base. That, and the fact that some obvious species have officially backed him, for example, the Ferengi and the Bolians."
"But given the fact that neither of those species has their Homeworld in the Bajoran sector, that support really doesn't mean much," Torres pointed out.
"Indeed," Seven agreed. "I believe it is safe to say that this is more a case of shouting out who they want in the position of Intendant and hoping that somebody is impressed by the shouting."
Torres chuckled. "Good analogy. But I for one am not impressed by that support. Especially not by the support of the Ferengi. Given the fact that Ro is a woman, the Ferengi would back the guy even if he was in the habit of crapping on the table at state dinners. And talking about the woman, what about her?"
"The most obvious power base for Ro is that she has the faith of the Special Forces; she once was a captain of the Special Forces," Seven informed.
"Really now? Tell me more." Torres got up and walked to the replicator and got something to drink for the both of them. "That's no small feat. Having the Special Forces in her corner will give her an advantage in controlling people who might object to her being Intendant."
"Probably. However, as far as... Thank you Mistress," Seven interrupted herself when Torres put a drink down in front of her. "But as far as the spies were able to find out, Ro has no political footage whatsoever,"
Torres hummed. "Well, there go her chances for becoming Intendant. Pity, I wouldn’t have minded appointing another female as Intendant for Bajor."
"But, she also has the Organians inviting her to their planet, if she were to become Intendant," Seven finished her statement that had been interrupted by Torres.
Torres spent a moment to contemplate that. "Well, that certainly is something I would call a political footing. What's the deal?"
"The spy reports say that Ro has no political knowledge whatsoever, but one of the helpers of the other advisers has chosen her side. She appears to be very knowledgeable in the field of politics."
"Really? Show me a photo and tell me more."
Seven did as she was told and soon Torres could see the photo of a very beautiful redhead filling the screen.
"She was known as a quiet person who would never object," Seven stated. "Because of that, people pushed almost all the work in her direction, assuming that she would always continue to quietly do their work. It seems that she took the opportunity and formed an alliance with Ro Laren."
"Not a bad choice, for both of them," Torres approved. "So I first have to test their resolve to each other. As long as they stay true to each other, they’ll have a chance. But if I see one crack forming between them, they can forget about it."
Seven was about to close the computer unit, but Torres stopped her to have a last look at the photo. "She sure has the looks."
"Not just the looks," Seven informed as she brought up some information. "She finished top of her class in school, was even allowed to skip a year on two separate occasions. Tests have shown that while she does not have a photographic memory, she does have a highly advanced mind with an almost genius level ability to remember things and put that information into context with already known information."
"Really now?" Torres asked surprised. "And yet despite that she’s only an aid to an adviser?"
"I do not know why that is," Seven had to admit. "The only thing I can point out is that intelligent does not necessarily translate to smart. Maybe she made some wrong choices in life. Or maybe she was more reluctant than others in making certain choices that would have improved her career. The general idea I get from this information is that she is what could be considered a nice person. Maybe she does not have the unscrupulous mentality that is needed for a fast advancement. Or she merely took a few years after school to do other things then build her career. She is not that old. If she spent two or three years doing something else, and then started work, then working in the Palace for someone that works directly for the Intendant is actually not a bad achievement."
"Good point." Torres closed the computer unit before adding, "I can see how people could underestimate her. Hire her as a piece of candy and not find out that she has an independent brain until it’s way too late."
Seven frowned. "I do not understand what her esthetics have to do with her intelligence. One does not influence the other."
"Well, for some reason a lot of people do think so," Torres pointed out. "Often when someone is very good looking, people tend to think that that person only got the job because of the way they look, maybe even gave some ass to get the job."
"Give some ass?" Seven repeated.
"Old expression," Torres explained. "It means that someone had sex with someone to get the job."
"I see. So people assume this, but it is not true?"
Torres shook her head. "Um, no. More often than not, it’s true."
"But..."
"Easy, Seven," Torres interrupted, not wanting to get, once again, into a discussion about the right and wrongs of daily life in the Coalition. "That’s also one of the things I’m slowly trying to change. But there’s only so much I can do by myself. For now it’s actually quite common to use sex to get ahead in life."
"Why?" Seven asked, having learned the last couple of days that the Intendant always stated how things were, not necessarily that the Intendant also agreed with the state of things.
"Mostly it's a question of you do it too, or you lose out," Torres said while she sat back down on the blonde's inviting lap. "If you’ve seen people, nowhere near as good as you, getting all the good jobs simply because they said yes while you said no, eventually you decide that maybe you can sleep with someone just once to get the job. And when you did it once, it’s soon also okay to do it to get a better job, and soon it's an accepted way of doing business. The thing is, I can't really do much about it. It's not like people are going to tell me that they got their great job by sleeping their way to that position."
"Thank you for explaining, Mistress."
"Mmhmm, thank me later," Torres said with a smile.
"I will," Seven said with an equal smile.
It was something that had formed quickly in the last couple days. Seven, eager to please her Mistress, was thanking Torres all the time for almost everything. Soon the 'thank me later' had formed as a reaction. It was an easy way for Torres to accept the thanks, and also, it was something that could be said in front of the other Klingons.
"The redhead did look like she could be fun in bed though," Torres said, bringing the subject back to the matter at hand. "I think I’ll see just what she’s willing to do and what she wants in return."
"Yes, Mistress," Seven said, suddenly no longer smiling. "May I get up now?"
Torres moved off the blonde's lap and let her get up. She wondered why her Pet was suddenly acting different from just a minute before. Torres went over the conversation in her head and then realized what the problem had to be. She couldn’t hide her grin while she watched the blonde put away the computer unit. 'Time to have some fun.' She waited until Seven came back and then told the blonde to sit down and sat down opposite of her.
"So what do you think, what would have more of an effect? Approaching the redhead in front of Ro, or should I do it behind her back?"
"If you were to do it in front of Ro, it would be clear that it is a test, and she would not accept your advances," Seven said, feeling it her duty to inform the Intendant of this fact.
"You're right, of course. And another advantage of approaching her separately, is that I can have her immediately if she agrees. No need to let such an opportunity go by if it presents itself. Right?"
"If you say so, Mistress," Seven answered neutrally while folding her arms over her chest and looking down.
Torres wanted to go on some more, but seeing the blonde sitting in a way she had never done before, told Torres that the joke had gone far enough. "You know something, my Pet? You’re very cute when you're jealous."
"Mistress?" Seven asked looking up.
"You. You really look very cute when you’re jealous. Especially if you’re pouting like you’re doing now."
"I am glad that you are entertained, Mistress."
Torres got up and went to sit beside Seven, following the line of the blonde's ear with a finger. "Come on, my Pet. I thought you told me that this wonderful hearing had picked up the conversation I had with Martok about you. You should really know that even if I wanted to, which I most definitely don't, but even if I wanted to have sex with someone else, I'm not allowed to. I may be Intendant, but even I prefer to stick to the rules when I can."
"No, Mistress, I know that you are not allowed to have sex with another slave while I am your Body Slave," Seven corrected. "But Jetur Adami is not a slave. You are allowed to have sex with her."
"Oh, I forgot about that. Sorry, my Pet." Torres softly kissed the neck of her slave. "If I had remembered that, I wouldn’t have played with you."
Torres put her arms on Seven's shoulders and turned her around to face her. "Listen, Seven. It doesn't matter."
She moved her hands until she was holding Seven's face in her hands. "Listen to me. I'm thirty years old. I’ve been sexually active for seventeen of those years. In all of that time I have never had sex with a person twice. And while a very few made it to my bed and we had sex there, I never ever let someone truly sleep in my bed, ever. That is, until now. Do you really think I would give that up for nothing? Whatever that woman could give me, I can have from you."
"But she is not me, she would not be me in bed, she would act different than I."
"Don't be so insecure, my Pet. You act different too. It's not the same all the time. Since you became mine a week ago, we've had sex so often that even you’ve lost count. It’s a wonderful mix. Me finding someone that fits me and making up for years of bad or at best adequate sex. You actually discovering sex. Both of us not being able to get enough until less than a damn day ago."
Torres caressed Seven's face softly. "My Pet, you drove me so damn wild that even when I truly had to leave to do things, I almost ran through the corridors to get it done, so that I could get back and we could jump each other again. It's only now that I'm able to go more than just a few hours without needing you again."
Seven knew that Torres was exaggerating a little. As time went on the times between the lovemaking had stretched. They had done other things. Torres was Intendant and some things simply could not wait. And then there were baths and eating, and sleeping, and cuddling, and talking. But still, since Torres had also started to touch Seven, they truly had made love so often that Seven had really lost count.
"I know," Seven admitted. "But,"
"But," Torres interrupted, "No but. Each and every time it was different. I wasn’t kidding when I told you that you were the best I ever had. That’s the best in seventeen years. You really think I would give that up for a little romp with a woman I have no further interest in? Why would I take some mindless sex when I can have you?"
"But you would still have me if you would do this," Seven pointed out. "I am your Body Slave after all. I would still be that if you prefer someone else in your bed."
"Seven, I would not do that to you. Have a little faith in me, ok? You were the one who wanted to stay my Body Slave, and I must admit I like that. But that doesn't mean that you mean nothing to me. I simply would not do such a thing to you. As far as such things are concerned, I don't see you as my slave, but as more. Trust me. And even if, even if I would still see you as just my slave then, I would still not be so stupid as to sleep with somebody else."
"But," Seven began, only to be interrupted.
"But nothing. Seven, you now initiate sex more often than I do. You don't just service me because you have to. We have sex because you want to. You smile, you laugh, you can't get enough of me. Even if we’re resting your hands always touch me. Do you really think that I would be so stupid that I would sleep with somebody else to get some mediocre orgasm, if I'm lucky? While knowing full well that by doing so I would hurt you and you’ll go back to only servicing me when I tell you to, and only then just long enough for me to reach my peak?"
"That still does not take away that you are my Mistress," Seven began, only to be interrupted once more.
"Alright, fine. See me as nothing more than your Mistress for a moment and pretend that I don't have any feelings at all for you. Just remember for a moment what I always say about punishment and reward. Right now the sex we have feels like the best reward I ever got in my entire life. Do you really think I would be so stupid to do something that would make you 'punish me' by withholding that stellar sex you’re giving me every single time we’re having fun?"
That logic finally made it through to the blonde. No, Torres would not. In fact, with that deduction, Seven knew that she would never have to worry about something like that because Torres would never want to suffer the 'punishment' of Seven losing interest in the sex between them.
She sighed before relenting. "I am sorry, Mistress. Being... jealous is a new feeling for me. I told myself that I could accept you having someone else, since I am your slave. But I cannot. You are mine, Mistress. And I do not share."
"And you won't have to, my Pet," Torres assured, glad that she had gotten through to the blonde. "But tell me right now, can you accept me having fun with your jealousy, or not?"
"I trust you completely, Mistress. Seeing how quickly I became jealous now, I think that I will become jealous more often. But I trust that you will not hurt me by actually having sex with someone else."
"So I'm allowed to flirt with the redhead?" Torres asked with a grin.
"Yes, Mistress. But if she does touch you in any way I find inappropriate, I will break her neck."
Torres laughed at hearing the statement, "My, aren't we possessive. Come on, let's get going."
"Yes, Mistress. I am sorry, Mistress."
"I'm not. I think I like you jealous. But I'm not about to make you jealous just for the fun of it. Besides, I think we needed that little moment there. Talking about... stuff... is not easy for me, but you really needed to know how important what we have is to me. You do realize that now, right?"
"Yes, I do," Seven assured.
"Alright then," Torres said. She quickly leaned in and stole a kiss. "Now let's get going."
"Yes, Mistress," Seven said while standing up. "Do you want me to change before leaving our quarters?"
Torres took a step back and let her eyes roam over the blonde's body. Taking in the shiny black, and formfitting, bio-suit. It had become the bio-suit Torres loved to see her blonde in the most. Torres walked around Seven to take it all in, her eyes coming to rest on the blonde's backside. Torres had to close her eyes for a moment to compose herself. The shiny black material showed off every sensual curve of that great body. The deep black color and shiny quality of the material gave the perfect impression of a 'bad girl'. Not someone that was easy, but someone that would rock your world if she were to ever allow you to take her to bed. And it was all hers.
She walked further until she was standing once more in front of the blonde. Torres saw the smile on the blonde's lips. Her little vixen sure knew what kind of effect she had on her. Torres repaid the smile with one of her own.
"Kahless, woman the things you do to me. And you really think I could have eyes for another woman? Get real."
Seven moved her hands over the slick black material, following the curve the material made where it stretched over her chest and then folded her hands behind her back. "You approve?"
"Do I ever. I'm seriously contemplating being fashionably late. I'm this close to jumping you right now."
Seven looked at how Torres was holding her thumb and index finger only a fraction apart to indicate what she meant with 'this close'. "I assume I do not have to change then?"
"Nooooo, you stay just like that, baby. I feel like torturing the poor people that can only wish they could touch you."
"Yes, Mistress." Seven was proud of the fact that the Intendant liked her body and services so much. Seven remembered when she was doing research about mating behaviors on Voyager. B'Elanna had told Seven that there had to be more to a relationship then sex and desire.
But Seven was glad with what she had. The Intendant liked her services and her body. Being the fact that she was only a slave, Seven figured that this had to be enough. Especially when she considered that she had more now than when she was on Voyager.
No, like Janeway had told Seven once on another subject; you cannot have it all. And Seven had more than she ever had before. The only thing she really missed from Voyager was the contact with her friends, B'Elanna, Tom, Harry, and Naomi.
"Come on," Torres said while she walked past Seven to the door, using the opportunity to pat Seven on her rear.
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