The BLTS Archive - Final Choice First in the Choices series by Ainzfern (ainzfern@hotmail.com) --- Disclaimer: Paramount owns STAR TREK ... etc and so on and so forth! My only pay here is personal joy. Archiving: Certainly - if you want to- please let me know. Feedback: Yes please! All comments welcome. Author's Note: You will notice that this Q is quite removed from the TNG wisecracking, never serious, pain in the butt fella that pops up when you least want him to. This is quite deliberate. I realized that whenever Q appeared in a Starfleet uniform, we could expect humor. But when he wore the crimson robes and the kabuki make-up - then it was get deadly serious time. Q dressed as the judge and executioner, was NOT someone who could be taken lightly. Thus I have presented him in this incarnation for my story. --- "Wake up!" The imperious command echoed through the darkened bedchamber. First Officer Garak sat bolt upright in bed, disruptor in hand. In one smooth action he sighted his target, aimed and fired. He felt no regret as he did so. The rules were well established. One did not enter the First Officer's private bedchamber uninvited. To do so was to die. The disruptor beam lanced out and caught the shadowy figure square in the chest. To Garak's astonishment, the beam seemed to bounce off the intruder, arcing across the room and grounding itself harmlessly into the far wall with a brief flash. "What...?" Garak gasped. The figure strode towards the bed. There were no lights on in the room. Nevertheless, as the intruder advanced, illumination came from somewhere. The figure stepped into the soft glow and faced Garak calmly. He looked human, but Garak quickly discarded that notion. Humans did not generally shrug off a disruptor blast to the chest. He was quite tall, dressed in floor length robes of deep scarlet. His head was crowned with an intricately folded black wimple. His face... great Guls!.. his face was incredible. Slightly too sensual to be real. The rich mouth was almost too full. The cheek bones a touch too high. His glittering eyes were elaborately made up, staring unblinkingly out at him from a perfectly alabaster face. Looking at him, the First Officer got the strong feeling that this stranger's appearance was not so much by nature as by design. As if a sculptor had striven for perfection, and yet somehow managed to go just beyond it. It was a beautiful face, but an overwhelming one. It was not an easy face to look at. Gathering his wits, he got off the bed and appraised the strange creature. Garak was still dressed in his uniform. The only concession the First Officer made to sleeping was the removal of his breastplate. He seldom slept even semi-naked. He preferred to be ready for any eventuality. "Who are you?" he demanded. "Q" Garak's eye ridge quirked irritably. "That answer means nothing to me." "I shouldn't think it would, Elim dear," Q replied blandly, "I've never been here before." "How did you know my name?" Garak barked. Q smiled beatifically at him. "I know everything." "What are you?" Garak asked. "Q" "No, not your name! Your race!" "I am Q... It is who I am and what I am. We do not have names. We are not defined by your limited mortal conventions. We are Q. That is all you need to know." Garak swallowed loudly in the sudden silence. He could feel something... a presence, a power. It was coming off the being's form in waves. He realized he was in new territory. He took a step backwards. "What do you want from me?" His tone was a little less sharp. Q smiled. It was a cold, glittering, imperious smile. "Only your attention, First Officer. I merely wish for you to heed my words." "You've brought me a message?" Garak surmised, suddenly interested. "Of a sort," Q replied. "Come with me." He turned with a graceful flare of his heavy robes, and led the way out of Garak's bedchamber. Garak was instantly affronted. He took orders from no one! He gave them! He was the Intendant's First Officer! However, despite his offence, he was helpless to disobey Q's preemptory command. It was as if his legs moved of their own accord. He followed the strange entity out into his luxurious living area. On the far side of the room, Q was standing next to a large divan, staring down at the slumbering figure curled up on it under a heavy brocaded comforter. "My body slave," Garak said by way of explanation, glancing down briefly at the resting human. Q looked sharply at him, eyes narrowing. "A slave...? Ah yes, one who does not own himself. A strange concept. One that I fail to see value in." "What is your interest in him?" Garak asked. "You needn't whisper," Q told him. "He won't hear us. I don't want any interruptions... and to answer your question, I have little interest in him. But, YOU do." "I have no idea what you mean." Q ignored him. "I note that he sleeps out here." "It is his place," Garak said shortly. "Seems a shame. All this soft warmth out here, just going to waste while you lay in your vast bed by yourself." "This is his PLACE!" Garak barked. "But you do take him to your bed, don't you?" Q nodded knowingly. "When I desire it, yes. He IS a body slave, after all." "But afterwards, you send him away from you." Garak's face grew set. "Of course." "Of course..." Q echoed. "Even though you don't want to." Garak snarled at him. "How DARE you suggest..." "I am not SUGGESTING anything, Elim dear. This is the reality that I sense from you. That it is what it is, do not blame me!" Q smiled again. Then he turned back to regard the human. "He sleeps thinly," Q said sadly. "He's still in pain." Those penetrating eyes pinned Garak again. "You didn't have to hit him like that, you know. Why did you?" "How I treat my property is MY concern, not yours!" Garak snapped. "He wasn't looking at you, was he?" "Shut up." "He wasn't SEEING you, was he? He'd gone somewhere else..." Q continued implacably. "Stop this!" "He always does though, doesn't he? And you hate it. You desire, no you CRAVE his attention when you fuck him, don't you?" "Enough!" Garak lunged at Q, hands outstretched, fingers curled into claws. Q calmly held up a hand and locked the furious Cardassian in place. "Temper, temper, First Officer... it just won't do!" The enigmatic entity took another lingering look down at the human. "He's really very beautiful, isn't he? You're quite lucky to have him. It's Julian isn't it? That's his name?" Sneering, still trying to break free, Garak said nothing. Q turned to him, smiling. "I'm going to do you a favor, Elim dear," he said. "I'm going to take you on a little odyssey. A little trip into your possible destiny. Who knows? You might even gain the wisdom to make a choice." The light faded. For an endless moment, Garak floated seemingly bodiless. He blinked. He was standing in a small dwelling, a cottage of some description. The décor was simple but homey. It was a warm, welcoming little place. He did not recognize it at all. "I'd be very surprised if you did know it," Q said from behind him. "You won't have been here for a year or two yet." Garak shook his head sharply, trying to clear his thoughts. "What does that mean? Where have you taken me?" Q leaned close to him. "Through space, through the wormhole, through the rift of dimensions... and through time." "I don't understand." "Just wait... and watch. It will become clearer soon," Q promised him. There was a soft click. The front door opened. Julian walked in, laden down with bags. Garak could see that his hair had grown even longer. He was clean-shaven and simply dressed in light linen pants and a loose, high collared blue shirt. The First Officer drew in a sharp breath. //He's never looked so beautiful.// As Julian passed by them, depositing his burdens onto the bench in the small kitchenette, Garak could see how his eyes glowed. The human's entire stance was joyful. He seemed almost breathlessly exited. He sparkled. //Great Guls! He is utterly stunning!// Garak found his voice. "What is this, where are we?" he demanded again. "A possible future." "For him?" Garak nodded at the busy human. "For you both." He looks happy," Garak mused. "He is," Q replied. "It's quite amazing what having someone to love you will do for a hopeless spirit." Garak looked sharply at the tall entity. "Love him...? He a slave!" Garak shrugged. "I imagine he's found himself a new Master. They must have paid me very well. I've never even considered setting a price for him." As he watched the human, his expression grew bitter. //Look at him! Checking the time, panting for his owner like some little pup. He never waited like that for ME I'll wager. Oh yes, he knew exactly what a display like this would get him. I never DID want him too sure of himself.// His eyes narrowed as he watched Julian fussing around in the kitchenette, preparing a light repast, which he took to the small dining table. Every now and then, he would look up and check the time again. Garak felt a surge of jealousy rising in his stomach, so strong that it made him nauseous. He recognized all of the foods that Julian had so carefully laid out. They were all things that he himself professed a liking to. //Little tramp!// he thought spitefully. Q turned and appraised him closely, the expression on his sensual face slightly smug. Unaware of the entity's eyes on him, Garak grew more and more enraged. His big hands clenched so tightly that his nails drew blood from his palms. //Faithless little wretch! Offering up MY preferences!... and you WANT this new Master of yours, don't you? You'll beg him to take you, to fuck you! You'll beg him like you wouldn't beg me!// Garak's face grew cold and decisive. //Forewarned is forearmed little human. You won't be sold. A fucking fortune can be offered up for your plump little ass, you'll NEVER be sold!// Q chuckled softly. "How right you are, Elim dear." Before Garak could reply, a noise distracted him. The front door of the cottage opened again. Julian's beautiful, welcoming smile was like a shard of ice stabbing through Garak's chest. A low growl began in his throat. "Q," he grated, "get me out of here!" Q sniffed. "No." "Q!" Garak bellowed. //I don't want to SEE this!// "Just watch." Helpless to resist that whispered command, Garak turned his head in time to see Julian literally fling himself into the newcomer's embrace. He wrapped his slender arms around his beloved's sturdy body and showered his face with kisses. He laughed with delight as strong arms wrapped around him in return, lifting him from the ground in a huge hug. Garak's eyes widened in disbelief. His jaw hung slackly. He swayed and would have fallen if Q hadn't reached out to steady him. "Great fucking Guls..." he breathed. "It's you." "It's me." A dark room. Garak could sense the Q's presence next to him. "Where are we now?" he asked quietly. "You needn't bother to modify your voice, Elim dear," Q said brightly. "We won't be heard." A door opened, spilling light from the room beyond into the darkness, gently illuminating their surroundings. "A bedroom," Garak said flatly, as he watched his older self carry Julian past them and lay him gently down on the bed. Q smiled at him. "Oh yes. Apparently, you spend quite a bit of your time in here!" "That isn't me!" Garak snarled. "It will be... maybe." Garak wanted to look away, to deny the scene before him. But he simply couldn't. He was almost spellbound, watching himself and his slave together. "But he's not your slave anymore, First Officer. You set him free." Q told him softly. "He stayed?" "No... he came back." Garak stared at him. "Now you're his slave," Q continued, "A slave to his love for you. He is your mate, your beloved... your LIFE!" Trembling, Garak turned back to the lovers, watching himself undressing the beautiful human. Taking his time instead of simply tearing the material away. Bending down to kiss that soft mouth, moaning at the heat of Julian's response. The lovers' kisses were deep, searching and tender. The silver-gray hands stroking over that smooth, golden skin were infinitely gentle. He saw himself kissing the delightful curve of Julian's neck, running his tongue down across the sleekly muscled chest. His future self paused to nibble and suck at the human's small sensitive nipples while Julian gasped with pleasure and flexed his long fingers through the Cardassian's hair like a cat kneading its bedding. //Oh Guls,// Garak gave a silent mental groan, //He wants me!// "He always wanted you, First Officer," Q told him. "Even from the very beginning. He had been well trained in the art of pleasure before he came to you. There were so many things that he wanted to do for you, give to you." Q sighed regretfully. "But you wasted all that potential. You never gave him any opportunity." They turned back to the lovers. Garak's future self was continuing his sensual decent down the humans supple body. He glided his palms across the smooth belly, down those firm thighs, finally bending his head again to take Julian's quivering erection into his... //No! I would NOT lower myself to that!// Garak was shocked, appalled. That act was his slave's jurisdiction. Garak received it, he did not give it. Q laughed delightedly. "Oh, you LOWER yourself all right! You take that lovely human cock into your mouth whenever you get the chance, and I'll tell you something else, First Officer... you're GOOD at it!" As he watched himself pleasuring the human, hearing Julian's husky cries, seeing the long body arch and writhe against the sensual assault, he had to admit, Q seemed to be correct. The proof was right in front of him. There he was, performing this act on his human lover with every indication of enjoyment. It became clear that Julian was quickly approaching his climax. Q leant over to Garak and whispered in his ear. "This is what I wanted you to see, Elim dear." Garak jumped slightly, eyes still fixed on the lovers. His older self had pulled back, replacing his mouth with his hand, stroking and pumping Julian's member with the confident touch of familiarity. He had leaned over the human, supporting himself with his other arm, and was gazing raptly into that perfect, flushed face. And the human was looking back at him... Julian was looking back at him! "That's right, First Officer," Q said, "Look at him. Look at that gorgeous little creature staring at you with such love in his eyes! Gazing at you as you make him come so sweetly! Here, you have what you've always wanted. He sees YOU. All those years of beatings and tantrums. All that time you wasted being cruel because you thought it was the only way get his attention." Q stared at him, his eyes penetrating. "And all along, all you had to do was love him. Just love him." The cries that came from Julian's throat were the sweetest sounds Garak had ever heard. He watched as his future self brought the young man to orgasm. He listened in wonder as he heard his own name called out in abandon. A strange pain was growing inside of him, an unfamiliar ache. Something he couldn't yet define. Julian was clutching at his older image, pulling him onto his golden body, wrapping those long legs around his waist. Panting and trembling, he twined his slender fingers into the Cardassian's hair, pulling him close and kissing him deeply. "Elim..." he was whispering brokenly. "Please take me, please fuck me... I need you so much!" Garak drew in a sobbing breath at the same moment his future self thrust into Julian's willing body. The lover's cries mingled, words of affection and desire mixing with the rising shouts of pleasure and fulfillment. The pain inside of Garak blossomed. //Oh yes,// He thought almost absently, //I can name it now... Remorse.// "Oh, well DONE, First Officer!" Q congratulated him as the room faded away into blackness. The darkness lifted again. Garak instantly recognized this place. He sighed... with relief or regret, he wasn't sure. "You brought me back," he said, looking around at his familiar bedchamber on Terok Nor. "Not quite," Q murmured. "It's another future that I wish for you to see, First Officer." Garak looked sharply at him. Q smiled grimly. Something glittered behind those immortal eyes, something hard and unforgiving. As Garak's insides shuddered with the unfamiliar touch of fear, Q commanded, "Come with me!" There was no possible option but to obey. Garak followed Q out into the main living area of his opulent quarters. There, in the center of the room, stood himself. He looked no different, no older. Garak surmised that this echo of the future was not so far distant as the previous one. "You are correct, First Officer," Q affirmed. "This is much, much closer to you." As they approached the future First Officer, Garak could see that he was staring intently at something. His face was carefully impassive, the eyes unreadable. Garak of course, knew that look. It meant something very unpleasant had just occurred. He followed his image's gaze. Julian was lying on the divan, his naked body covered with the brocaded comforter. His arms and shoulders were exposed, and various dark bruises and contusions were clearly visible. But that was not the worst. The pallor of his skin... he was a dreadful blue-gray color. His chest was not rising. His eyes were closed, those sooty lashes rested against his cheeks, never to open again. //Great Guls! He's...// "Dead," Q snapped. "That's right! He's dead!" "How... did I...?" "Oh, it wasn't you, First Officer, at least not directly. You can take some comfort from that." Garak swallowed. "What happened?" "Are you sure you want to know? After all, he's just a slave. One is no different to the other. Why should you care?" "What happened, for Gul's sake!" Garak bellowed. Q harrumphed. "Very well. You lent him to the Intendant. She said she needed him in order to add a final touch to her negotiations with a Cardassian delegation." Garak winced. "Oh, don't look so upset, First Officer. It's nothing you haven't done before! I mean, you wouldn't want him to think that he actually MATTERED to you, would you? No...best to send him off every now and then. Let him be passed around for an evening like some little lap dog. Show him that there ARE worse things than being subject to your whims, and who knows? He might even learn to be grateful to you." Garak stared at the beautiful, terrible corpse. He was shaking, horrified as he watched himself gazing, cold faced, down at his dead slave. "And when it's over," Q said leaning close, "he'll be sent back to you, his spirit a little more shattered, but otherwise none the worse for wear." Garak shuddered. "Only this time," Q continued implacably, "this time, what you didn't know was that this delegation of businessmen had a particular amusement. They liked to test their toy's limits. They liked to see just how much their playthings could actually take... and you know, they were so HONORED that she chose to give them something beautiful. It made the experience SO much more exciting for them!" A dreadful moan came from Garak's throat. "Of course the Intendant apologized to you. She offered to get you a new one. She said if ONLY she had known, she NEVER would have asked for your Julian in the first place." Q smiled coldly. "Of course, she was lying. Your coveting of this particular human animal disturbed her. She thought it made you weak and vulnerable. She's very protective of her power base. She wanted a STRONG first officer. So what better way to rid you of your distraction then to have this whole plan set up to look like one terrible, regrettable mistake." "What did they do to him?" Garak whispered, sweat breaking out on his face, the muscles in his jaw working convulsively. "They weren't content just to fuck him repeatedly," Q said harshly. "Nor were they satisfied with beating his body or throwing him back and forth to each other like some little rag!" Garak bit down on his lower lip, his eyes still locked on Julian's cold body. "Oh no, they had so many more interesting games to play. They had... implements. Sharp ones." Q shrugged. "I hardly think I need to tell you how they used them." "No..." Garak shook his head violently. "Oh yes. It went on for such a long time, too. He tried SO hard to stay alive...he really did. He thought that if he could just live long enough, he would make it back to you... and you might help him." A harsh sound burst from Garak's throat. With dismay, he realized he was weeping. Q was merciless. Never taking his eyes off the First Officer, he went on. "Do you know what the last thing he heard was?" he asked lightly. "The Intendant's voice, toasting the success of the negotiations. They stood over him, drinking sweet spring wine and congratulating each other as he lay twitching in agony, bleeding to death at their feet." He sighed. "It was not a gentle death, Elim." Garak's legs gave out. He dropped to his knees on the floor. "I didn't know!" he cried. Q hauled him up and glared into his face. "Well, now you do!" he hissed, eyes blazing. A dreadful thought struck the first officer. "When?" he demanded, clutching at Q's robes. "You said this was close... how close?" Q's eyes glittered. "Too close, First Officer. The delegation from Cardassia Prime arrived today. The negotiations went well. The Intendant should be ready to conclude them tomorrow. Then, she'll come and ask you for a 'small' favor." Garak stared at him, face drained of color. "Choose, First Officer," Q intoned. "I can't..." "CHOOSE!" The shout nearly burst Garak's eardrums. He clapped his hands to his head, trying to shut out that voice, but it was hopeless. When Q wanted to be heard, he was heard. "You are out of time, First Officer. You make your choice tonight or fate will make it for you." Q's eyes were cold, his voice imperious. Garak cringed as he felt wave upon wave of pure power emanating out from the towering entity in front of him. "Will you choose this life, First Officer?" Q demanded. "Will you choose your status, your wealth, your power? Standing at the right hand of the Intendant herself... an admired man, a feared man? Or will you choose HIM?" Q reached out spun him around. He was in his quarters, back in the right time. The beautiful human slave on the divan was merely sleeping, his skin still warm and golden. His quiet breathing still lifted his smooth chest. Q was gone. As Garak slowly approached the slumbering human, he heard a soft whisper in his mind. "Either way, First Officer... you can't let him die like THAT, can you?" For an endless moment, Garak stood looking down at him. Seeing him in the context of something other than just a possession. Really seeing him. Perhaps for the first time. "You're right," he murmured softly, "I can't." The First Officer chose. His breath grew ragged, hissing between his clenched teeth. He felt the hot press of tears behind his eyes, the burgeoning swell of anguish in his heart. Slowly, as if bound against his will, he leaned down over the sleeping form and reached out with trembling hands towards that helpless, delicate human neck. --- The End