Another deadlock with no inkling of a chance to overcome it had stalled the negotiations once again. The link wore on Hoshi, the strain of it making her look older than her years. Against Malcolm’s objections, she had decided to finish the negotiations. They had fought about it, and their lovemaking was laced with more passion than he thought possible as they made up.
Malcolm had contacted T’Pol and asked for her assistance, knowing he could trust her with the delicacy of the situation. After all, he had helped her with her situation and to this date Admiral Jonathan Archer still didn’t know. Sometimes the guilt ate at him, keeping his son from him, but T’Pol was adamant and stubborn. She had used her Vulcan reasoning on him, citing that Jon’s assistance to her during her Pon Farr would be a detriment to his career if it were found out that he had a half-breed child with a Vulcan.
She had been able to conceal her pregnancy and hide at a Vulcan colony where she assured Malcolm she would be well taken care of. She would rely on the liberal ways of the Vulcan colonists to provide a place to raise the child.
Now she was on her way to become Hoshi’s ‘assistant’ for the ‘fateful’ day when Hoshi ‘dies’.
Phlox was standing by as well, having taken yet another wife who shares his passion for inter-species medical information. He resides with her near Starfleet head quarters and didn’t hesitate to offer his assistance when asked.
It had been decided that Hoshi needed a public ‘death’. Whoever had attempted to kill her before had personal motives, and Malcolm’s gut had been telling him that her stalker wasn’t tied into the current negotiations.
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She slept so peacefully in his arms, he unable to sleep, as he was always on alert and guarding against the growing unease that mounted in his soul as each day ticked by. A month had passed and for the first time in a long time, he felt whole and complete. As he guarded her and loved her, he discovered and peeled away the complex layers of her soul, and she let him willingly.
That night she regaled him of the rabbit on the moon threshing his rice for moshi. Malcolm remained silent as they sat in the dark light of the new moon, listening to her tell the story.
“Once, an old traveler came upon a monkey, a fox and a rabbit, who had lived together in the forest and were great friends. Tired, the traveler asked the friends for their hospitality. The monkey gave the old man fresh nuts, and the fox gave him fish. The rabbit had nothing to give, and the monkey and fox made fun of him. Discouraged, the rabbit asked the monkey and the fox to gather wood and build a fire. Once the fire was completed, the rabbit leaned close to their guest and pleaded for him to eat him. Then the rabbit threw himself onto the fire.
Moved by the sacrifice, the traveler revealed himself as God and restored the rabbit to his original form. He tells the monkey and the fox that the rabbit has displayed true selflessness with his sacrifice. So, God takes the rabbit’s body and buries him on the moon.”
He gently teased her about the myth, earning a punch on his shoulder and a tumble onto the bed. They kissed until both were out of breath and Malcolm pulled back. “I have a more traditional approach to the study of the moon. Would you like to hear it?”
Hoshi nodded her head yes and smiled as Malcolm opened to her.
“The moon shines bright: in such a night as this,
When the sweet winds did gently kiss the trees
And they did made no noise, in such a night
Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls,
And sighed his soul towards the Grecian tents
Where Cressid lay that night.”
Hoshi smiled up at him as he opened his eyes. “That was beautiful. Where is it from?”
“Merchant of Venice, Act Five, Scene One.”
“I never would have figured you for a poet, Malcolm. I can hardly wait to see what other surprises you have in store for me.”
Malcolm chuckled. “I’m not a poet, Hoshi. I just know a bunch of fancy verses to impress unsuspecting woman.” He said the last part of his statement with a wiggle to his eyebrows.
Hoshi twirled a fake mustache on her upper lip and grinned. “I’m anything but an unsuspecting woman caught in your trap, sir. On the contrary, it is you that has been ensnared in my trap all along.”
They laughed and loved, Malcolm sharing more poetry with the woman he loved and Hoshi sharing the myths of her life that had been passed down to her from her great-grandmother. Afterwards they fell asleep waiting for what lay ahead.
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A concession had been made on part of the Cathage to the Brewnings and Hoshi was very excited. She grinned, feeling the prickle of her lover’s stare on the back of her neck. She was turning her head to address him when she heard a shout and felt a rush of air off to the side. Everything went black.
Smoke filled the air, and Hoshi woke as somebody carried her. She could taste the dried blood from the breakage of the link. All of the representatives had scattered to the wind, and alarms blared. She groggily called for Malcolm, and could hear the familiar timbre of his voice through his chest and knew it was he who was carrying her.
Knowing he was safe, she let the oblivion carry her away again.
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