Past Prologue

Posted on Thu Dec 7, 2017 @ 10:34pm by Lieutenant Liam Reynolds & Civilian Thereen Tera & Civilian Drusila Corval

2,546 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Rumours
Location: Liam's office/Thereens quarters
Timeline: MD 9 1600

ON:

Tera turned the shop sign closed and darkened her windows. As the lights dimmed, she smoothed her hands over her dress. It was the blue one that Liam liked so much, shorter and low cut and more revealing and sexier than she normally wore for work. She checked her hair and touched up her makeup before leaving her shop.

Tera made her way to Embassy Row where the Starfleet diplomatic offices were. She felt a chill down her spin and sped up her step, her heels clicking on the Promenade floor, as she passed the Cardassian embassy. Were they watching her? She had to assume they were. They always were. She bit her lower lip and pressed on, planting a smile on her face and sweeping into Liam’s office.

“Good afternoon, love,” she greeted brightly. She seemed a bit paler than normal, but still had that rosy cheeked heightened color. “Too busy to play hooky and take off early?” She stepped up to him, running a hand along his muscled chest, pressing her full breasts against his arm as she leaned in to kiss him.

Liam wasn't sure how she had managed to get right the way through the Federation embassy and his assistant’s office to just walk into his. If Soran got wind of this and made an assumption, he would likely have another chewing out.

Something didn't feel right. She never called him love, either. "Unfortunately, I have a three hour treaty negotiation with the new Klingon ambassador in fifteen minutes. Sorry, Tera, I can't play hooky." He pulled her away from him and looked at her. "What's this really about? You seem nervous."

Tera laughed it away. “What would I be nervous about?” she asked. “Just a long day at the shop. I thought I’d close up early and spend time with you. Can’t a girl just want to spend time with her lover?” She gave him a pout with those full, kissable lips. “Why don’t you come over after your negotiations. I’ll fix up something special.” She ran her long, delicate fingers down his chest enticingly.

"Oh, that's definitely doable," Liam grinned.

"What a shame," a female voice rang out. "I figured you might like to catch up after this ridiculous formality over a barrel or two of blood wine."

"I really need to get my new assistant into the habit of letting me know when people are coming to see me," Liam said with a smile. "I didn't even hear the door go that time."

The six foot tall Klingon gave a wry smile. "Oh, come on, Counsellor, it's me."

"True." Liam nodded. "Without your uncanny ability to sneak up on someone, we would never have got Merzan out of that camp. Tera, may I introduce the station’s new Klingon ambassador Drusila Corval. Dru, this is Tera "

"Your lover," she stated. She turned to look down at Tera and held her hand out. "Charmed, and he's a good lover to have, if memory serves me correct."

Tera looked embarrassed, and then astonished at this new information as she took the Klingon’s hand. She winced as it was crushed in the exuberant grip.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Tera told Drusilla, rubbing her sore hand once she got it back. She looked at Liam with a scowl. “You and her?” she asked. From rumors, Klingon lovemaking involved bruising, biting, and possibly broken bones. She hadn’t taken Liam for a masochist. “Should I be worried?”

"it was years ago, and it happened once during my Klingon tour," Liam said simply. He walked Tera to the door, his arm round her. "We can talk about it later if we need too.”

“But you’ll come over tonight?” Tera asked, batting her long lashes, caressing his chest, her full lips pouting. “I miss you.” She leaned in to kiss him.

"Yes, I'll come over," he reassured her, returning the kiss. She had only seen him two days ago, he was not sure why she was suddenly acting so clingy. Something was up. Tera was usually a lot more laid back that this. That was one of the things he liked about her. "I'll see you tonight."

Watching her leave, he turned round. "Thanks for that, Dru."

The Klingon ambassador sniggered. "So I am ready for you to bore me to death for the next three hours. Blood wine will have to wait till another night, I guess."


Later that evening

Liam pressed the chime on Tera's door. The emotions from the Lotus Lounge as always pressed on him. She looked stunning as always when the door opened.

Tera had worn something special. The robe was something Tianys had once given her, but she’d never really been brave enough to wear. It was nearly sheer pale blue Tholian silk that did little to hide her lush body beneath it. She wore some rather sexy lingerie underneath the peignoir.

“Liam!” she said with a sultry smile. “Come in.” The lights in her apartment were low, and scented candles of his favorite scent flickered, and soft Bajoran music filled the room. “Can I get you some wine, love?” Tera asked, her delicate, dexterous fingers undoing the fasteners of his tunic to slip him out of the uniform jacket.

"Wow," Liam said. She had certainly pulled the big guns out. He allowed her to pull his jacket off him. "Some wine sounds nice, thank you."

Tera turned, her hips and firm bottom sashaying as she walked, and bent over to pour the wine. She came back and handed him the glass, her fingers brushing over his.

Liam took the offered glass and pulled her onto his lap on the sofa. "I'm sorry I can't stay tonight. I have a business meeting in the morning. A personal one. I'm looking into setting up something with some of my inheritance money. “

Tera frowned. “Oh, Liam. But I wanted you for myself tonight,” she said, sliding her hand down his chest, into his lap. “How late can you stay?” She leaned in, brushing her lips along his jaw, her soft curves pressed against him.

"You can have me all to yourself tonight, I would just need to take us to my quarters," Liam said softly. "I just can't move Betsy to here and change the appointment. Neither could I manage to get a favour from Ops to beam her to the unit I'm trying to purchase. There's a lot of interest, so I have to nail my pitch with the vendor to have a chance, and he could only do first thing," Liam told her.

"Can I talk to you about future plans. I value your opinion."

“Betsy?” Tera frowned. Was there another woman? But she had to focus on her plan, had to get Liam to lay off the Cardassians. “Sure, we can go to your place,” Tera said, looking around at all her preparations. Damn. “I suppose I should change,” she murmured, pulling her sheer robe closed and pulled away, dropping her gaze. “What about future plans?”

Liam sensed some sudden dismay and jealousy. He realised what had just happened. She thought there was another "another" woman, even though there actually wasn't currently any other. "Betsy, my piano, Tera. Haven't I ever shown you Betsy? I have never played you anything romantic?" he asked, and pulled her back to him. "We will have to rectify that and," he thumbed the sheer robe, "if you’re coming, I think you need to bring this too."

Tera smiled, leaning into Liam a bit. “You want me to walk through the Promenade and officer’s decks in this?” she asked him teasingly.

"I'm wanting to open a music school. Well, initially. If I can manage it and make a success of it. There's a very generous sized lot going on Deck 77 of the Promenade. with plenty of space where small concerts could be put on. I could put a stage up. And upstairs there's a number of decent sized rooms. I was thinking if all went well I could look at expanding things, maybe making it a full blown dance or theatre school. You're a business woman. What are your thoughts?”

Tera looked a bit surprised. “Well...I don’t know much about education or entertainment or the music business,” she admitted. “I don’t know that we have anything like that on the station already. Most folks might already use holodecks for that. You could talk to the school, see if they have students that might be interested, maybe get some tutoring jobs. Before you invest in a physical location, you should get the business established first, perhaps as an in home service. Once you have a customer base established, then you could afford a retail location. And you are in Starfleet,” she reminded. “Tying yourself down with retail real estate might not be the wisest, in case you get reassigned off of Deep Space Five.”

"I guess I hadn't thought of it like that. Perhaps I should cancel tomorrow," Liam said after a moment. "Your right. This needs more research and consideration before jumping in."

He pulled his PADD out and typed a message to the vendor, she was right. He was wading in too fast.

"I was also thinking we need to talk. Properly. About us. Our future plans. If there's still a chance of them. I've upset you I think with this whole telling you I was attracted to another woman thing," he changed the subject after sending his apologies and cancellation.

Tera rested her hand on Liam’s chest. “I was...caught off guard, yes, and it is not something I am familiar with, but...you cannot help whom you are attracted to,” she said. “I don’t want to stand in your way. Are you telling me that we do have a future together?” she asked. “You are Starfleet,” she reminded again.

"Is that an issue?" Liam asked. "I was thinking if you wanted to we could find out, but if me being Starfleet is an issue, then I don't know what to say to you."

Liam looked her in the eyes and said softly, "I'm Betazoid, yes, and yes, we can be attracted to multiple people and sometimes engage in multiple lovers and relationships. It's not something I have done before or ever had the inclination. And if we took this, us, forward, then it wouldn't be happening if it's not something you're open to or want. And besides, sometimes a crush is just that. A crush. I'm all about honesty, Tera. And I just felt it wasn't something I could keep from you. That's the only reason I told you. I didn't want to make you feel insecure or upset or anything of the sort. I am sorry if I did that."

Tera looked down when Liam mentioned honesty. She swallowed. “I guess...I am not used to men as sweet as you,” she said quietly. “Like my father. Only he...did not have the strength you do,” she admitted. “Maybe I do not, either.” She turned away so he wouldn’t see her tears.

"Of course you do," Liam told her softly, pulling her face back to look at him. He wiped the tears that had appeared from her cheek away. She hadn't exactly answered yes, she wanted to take things to the next level, but either way he had to address her most recent change in behaviour. He decided to make it easy and just give her the chance to tell him what he suspected.

"Look, I know something’s up. Has one of those idiots given you trouble again, or is it one of my people? I'm having to push a lot with certain parties at the minute at work. I hope no one would stoop that low that they would retaliate and approach you just because of your association with me. Talk to me, Tera," Liam said simply.

Tera took a deep, shuddering breath and let it out slowly. “Yes, Liam, I...I was visited last night…” She swallowed. “By some...men, I guess. I only heard two voices. I don’t know how many there were. I think they were Cardassians, but I never saw them in the dark. They...knew about my father.” Of course, most Bajorans knew about him, and certainly there would be Cardassian records. Her father’s collaboration wasn’t exactly a state secret.

“They...drugged me to paralyze me. I was helpless. I couldn’t do anything. At...At least all they did was talk. They...I am supposed to get you to back off of the Cardassians,” she said. “Don’t...Don’t be so hard on them, or...or they will do something worse than just talking.”

She wiped angrily at her tears and paced away from Liam, hugging herself in her lingerie. “I’m...I’m sorry, Liam. I’m a liability in your job now! I don’t...I don’t want someone using me to stop you from doing the right thing, from...from standing up to those bastards!” She sniffed. “I care for you, Liam. I do. But… Maybe it is better if we...if we ended things, before you are forced to compromise because of me.” She buried her face in her hands. “I thought I had left this behind…” It was just like back on Bajor and Cardassia. Her father could have been stronger, could have stood up to them, if she hadn’t been around! Then he wouldn’t be a coward and a collaborator! It was all her fault.

"Do you want to end things?" Liam asked calmly. It was as he and Dru had suspected. But something didn't add up. Turvan was...well, he was the sort of man who gloated about his accomplishments. Took pride in them. Not threaten someone by having to paralyse them. Turvan would want to take Liam down publicly and make sure everyone saw it. Not by cloak and dagger, hide in the shadows stuff.

"And more importantly, do you trust me?"

Tera sniffed. “I trust you, Liam. And...no, I don’t want to end things. But I can’t be the person that makes you compromise and give in to those spoonheads!” she said vehemently. “I can’t see you become my father!”

"I can't back off as I am under orders to put on the hard press," he told her. "That does not leave this room, okay? But there's no way I am putting you in harm's way, whether we are together or not. So we are going to have to go do two things."

Tera wiped her eyes and nodded. “What do you need me to do, Liam?” she asked.

"We need to make two stops. First, we are going to sickbay and a doctor friend of mine is going to determine what you were drugged with, and then," he walked up to her and ran his hand fondly down her hair, "I'm really, really, really sorry about this, but you’re going to have to meet my grumpy CO."

OFF:

Thereen Tera
Bajoran shopkeeper
NPC Caleb Ryan

Lieutenant Liam Reynolds
Chief Diplomatic Officer
DS5

 

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