Zaclyn stood by the empty throne, a PADD in his hands. "I understand you wish to form an alliance with our people." He said, his bushy eyebrows furrowed. "But the empress does not want a marriage alliance."

"An alliance by marriage is the only option. Your empress will marry Dejen, or the attacks will not stop." Came the gruff voice of the Klingon ambassador.

"Her highness does not wish to marry at this time. This threat is uncalled for. I'm afraid your prince will have to find another woman to marry." His voice came out calm, and demanding. Somewhere in the distance, thunder clapped in anticipation of a storm.

He'd met the Klingon prince, Dejen was a cruel, hostile man. If Asonia were to marry that man, she wouldn't be happy. Heck, she probably wouldn't survive a month, that man was so abusive.

"War is coming, Mr. Zaclyn. And the only way your people will survive is through us."

"We may be a small planet, but we have plenty of defense. If you wish to discuss this matter with the empress herself, then I will gladly allow it. Until then, good day."

With a small click, Zaclyn ended the call. He sat down against the throne, and sighed. In the years he'd known Asonia, he grew to love her like an uncle would a niece. He knew she didn't want to marry for advantage, but would bare it if need be, for her people.

Even if she was miserable for the rest of her life.

But Zaclyn wouldn't let her marry a Klingon. Their game was one of deceit, and trickery. He knew their game, marry the ruler of a planet, she somehow dies, then they take control. That was how it would go.

The pitter-patter of rain made it to his ears, and he sat up a little. A message dinged on his PADD, and he checked it. The Klingon ambassador wanted to speak with Asonia.

He video messaged her, and waited for her to answer.

~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~

Asonia was getting ready for bed when her PADD began to ring. She jumped across the bed to grab her PADD, the jingle of a video call loud enough to deafen the entire ship.

She moved her hair behind her ear, then clicked the answer button. The familiar, wild haired face of her royal adviser stared back at her.

"Zaclyn! I wasn't expecting a call today. How are you? Is something wrong?"

"I am fine, your Highness. But I have some news. The Klingons have agreed to end their attacks on our people-"

Asonia interrupted him. "That's wonderful!"

"-If you marry their rulers son, Dejen." He finished, his face grim.

Dejen. Asonia hated him with a ferocity, that it made her sick with hate just thinking of his name. "Let me speak with their ambassador." She said, hooking the PADD up to a stand.

The screen flickered for a moment, the she came face to face a familiar ridged face. It wasn't just the ambassador, though. It was their emperor as well.

"Ah! Empress Asonia Geay! What a surprise!" The emperor said, mock surprise on his face.

"Hello emperor Kerth, ambassador Werf. It has come to my attention you wish to make an agreement of sorts."

"Why yes, you could say that. As Werf told your advisor, my son would like be a possible suitor of yours. Your agreement to this marriage would not only end our attacks on your people, but offer protection should war occur." He said. She knew he wasn't telling the whole story.

She could see it in his eyes.

"I have not heard so much as a whisper of an impending war. Who would my people need protection from?" She asked, moving her hair back behind her ear.

"Why, protection from us, of course. If you don't agree to this alliance, then your people will die at the hands of my military." His voice became gruff, and deep. As if to make the point more clear.

"The Federation wouldn't allow that." She spat.

"You are not a part of the Federation of planets yet, young empress. And we are our own people. Nothing can stop us from what we want."

Asonia furrowed her eyebrows in thought. "I need time to think."

"You have three days. If you do not agree by that time, we will attack." He threatened. Then, the call ended. Leaving her with nothing but sudden silence, and an enormous weight on her shoulders. Slowly, she put her face in her hands, and she began to cry.

Little did she know, though, that her Russian friend was on the other side of the door. His hand raised for a knock that never came. Because he'd heard everything.

~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~^~~~

"How many more days until we reach Earth?" Asonia asked, her eyes bloodshot from from both lack of sleep, and many hours of crying. She had already told the captain of her predicament, so he called a meeting to discuss the problem.

"Two at top speed." Spock answered, his face turned away, deep in thought.

Dr. McCoy sat next to the young woman, his own face twisted in concentration. "I don't get it. Why would the Klingons even want an alliance with the Zindaki people?"

"The Zindaki have many things that would help the Klingons. Specifically natural resources, as well as a planet that is not fully occupied." Spock said, and Asonia nodded.

"We don't use the majority of our resources. The natural gas, the oil, the minerals. Only what we need. And only 50% of our planet is occupied."

"Why is that?" Jim asked.

"We've seen what other races have done to their planets. They pollute it, rid it of it's resources, and kill it's animals until there is no more. We don't want that." She answered, wiping her eyes tiredly. She leaned forward, and put her head on her arms.

The people gathered watched her with sympathy. This was too much stress for an empress, let alone a twenty year old. "So vwhat should we do?" Chekov asked, his eyes never leaving Asonia.

"What do you mean, Pavel? There's nothing we can do. I can't even be there to confront them in person." She said, sounding almost asleep. Her golden eyes were closed, and she looked slightly relaxed.

"Come mistress, you need some rest." Fareilah said, waking her empress up, and walking out with her. About five minutes later, she came back in, a determined look on her tan face. "Okay, you guys know she can't marry him.

"You know more about these Klingons than I do. Tell me there's a way out of this." She said, her braid swinging as she walked.

"I'm afraid not. When they want something, they will either get it, or die trying." Kirk said, his blue eyes downcast.

Fareilah crossed her arms angrily. There had to be a way. From across the room, Chekov met her eyes, and an idea formed in her mind.

An idea that was so desperate, it just might work.

A/n

Whooo! I finally updated! Sorry for the long wait, writers block hit me hard, and I finally found inspiration!

Now, the next few chapters are going to really pick up. I can't say much, but I will say that the following happen:

A kidnapping,
A kiss,
A rescue,
And a death.

Hope you liked this! And what do you think Fareilah's idea is?

~Clieo