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Blind Chess	By : madradena Category: Star Trek > The Next Generation Views: 1334 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own ST:TNG, nor the characters. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 17
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- 19
Emma didn't have a lot of time to get scared of the reality of the situation as they stepped onto the transporter pad with Data and the others, because ten seconds later, they were standing in the main hall of the residence of the premier. So. It was real. She was back home again.
Beverly looked at her cautiously as Edmond Jones and some other well-dressed men walked up to them. Emma watched her husband with a wary look, and Bev wondered how it might feel to meet somebody whom you used to love with passion and then came to hate with the same passion after years of separation. Bev then gazed back at the man. He was just the way she remembered him: he was tall with a commanding presence, telltaling of an overpowering ambition. His features were not particularly handsome: he had a prominent nose, the way Data did, but his face lacked the harmony and delicacy of the android, his features were rather craggy. He had short, dark hair and huge deep-brown eyes that reflected vigour - and Beverly had the same impression she had had when they'd last met: no women were safe while he was around, he was literally oozing masculinity.
"Welcome to Epsilon Four." he greeted them on his pleasant voice with a friendly smile, and the Admiral stepped up to him.
"Thank you, Premier Jones. I'm Admiral Seth McKinnley representing the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet."
Ed held out a hand for the Admiral "I'm really gratified to meet you in person, Sir, after all the messages we've exchanged."
"The pleasure is mine, Premier." he motioned to the team "Let me introduce my associates. This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the Captain of the flagship Enterprise."
Ed stepped to the Captain and shook hands with him "Oh, so you're from a French origin, Monsier. Just like my humble self."
"That's correct, Sir." Picard nodded but his features remained rather neutral.
The Premier went on on a charming voice holding the Captain's hand in his for a moment longer "I will be happy to introduce you to my selection of French wines, if you have an interest in such things."
The Captain nodded a little surprised "As a matter of fact, my own family has vineyards in its possession near Bordeaux."
Ed smiled with delight "Bordeaux? Where exactly if I may pry? I know the region quite well, I used to study in Bordeaux!"
"The vineyards are near La Barre, it's a small village, I don't suppose..."
Ed cut in excited "Oh, but I do know it! We went to a wine-tasting there one summer with my fellow students! It's an enchanting surroundings, Sir!" he then suddenly seemed embarrassed "Oh, I'm sorry for the distraction. It's just so rare to meet someone from my homeland. Especially someone, who's knowledgeable about wines! I'm really happy to meet a kindred spirit, Sir!"
Beverly watched the scene somewhat troubled. She remembered how charming Ed used to be to people who weren't familiar with him. In fact, it was difficult to keep out from under his influence even now! He WAS amazing in this regard for sure. But she did remember how he used to treat Emma when something was not of his liking, and knew very well that this all was only a veneer. She looked around to see the others' reaction: Emma rolled her eyes seemingly annoyed, Data and Juliana watched them with a neutral expression, and the Admiral looked rather jealous. She couldn't help but smiled a little gloatingly at this - Jean-Luc seemed to manage to steal the Admiral's show without wanting to...
When Ed stepped over to her, the Admiral started to introduce her, but Ed stopped him mid-sentence "I believe we don't need to be introduced, right Beverly?" he asked with a soft, irresistible smile and took her hand gently in both of his "It's been quite a few years, but you are just as stunningly beautiful as you were back, when I last saw you. Departing with the last ship from Epsilon."
Beverly gave him an ice-cold smile "Well, thank you, Edmond. I hear you yourself haven't changed much during the course of years either." she taunted sarcastically.
Ed snorted, and his smile started to seem a little less sincere "So I regret to see my pretty little wife managed to convince you that I'm a monster. I suppose you won't be surprised, if I tell you that every coin has two sides. I'm hoping you're willing to hear about the other side as well, Beverly. You've always been nothing but fair with everybody."
Beverly felt cornered by this and glanced at Emma with an uncomfortable expression then looked back into Ed's eyes with a rather tight smile "Of course." she replied.
He stepped over to Juliana, and the Admiral introduced her too. Ed shook hands with her too "I'm very glad to have a geologist with us. There are a lot of minerals on our planet that might prove to be of interest for you. And the Federation as well in general. I'll be happy to show you our latest researches."
Juliana smiled politely "I'd be glad to look around on-site as well. That is, only if you don't mind. You see for a geologist, material in our hands say a lot more than research about it on a padd."
Ed seemed to be vaguely surprised by this, but then his smile returned, and he nodded: "It's possible, of course."
He went on to the last two members of the away team and made a great show of ignoring Emma, as if she wasn't even there. Beverly and the Captain noticed it too, and they exchanged glances knowing they both were thinking the same: if he treated his wife this way, this man's intentions were nothing but false no matter how charming he may have seemed.
Emma looked up at him, but Ed only looked into Data's eyes. After a moment of staring, he extended a hand for the android, and the Admiral went on with introducing him as well "This is Lieutenant Commander Data. He is the Operations officer of the Enterprise, and now he is the bodyguard of Ms. Jones. As per her request." he added on a low, despising voice.
"Lieutenant Commander Data..." Ed repeated, and his smile was gone as he squeezed Data's hand. "Is this your first or last name? How may I call you?"
"Data is just fine." the android answered on his usual silent tone and took his hand away from Ed's grasp a little too quickly. He couldn't help but glare at the man as his mind was flooded with images of Emma crying into him in their bed knowing that her overwhelming sense of inadequateness originated mostly in her failed marriage to this man. In how she was treated by this man... He heard her say the word 'sometimes...' in his head, and his hands came up into fists as the white fire of fury ran all over his neural pathways.
"What a peculiar name." Ed remarked coldly. His gaze seemed to be glued on the other man, and Emma had a really bad feeling about how the two of them stared at each other - like two stallions about to fight for a mare! No! Ed could never learn that they were a couple! She didn't dare to imagine his reaction or his revenge...
"The 24th century is a peculiar time, Edmond. You should try it yourself for a change." Emma told him on an off-hand tone to make him stop staring at Data. Ed seemed to be distracted for a moment, then he finally gazed down at her with his dark eyes, and a chill ran up her spine. He stepped to her and looked into her eyes - she felt she needed to take a step back from him, but she stood her ground.
"A bodyguard, ma chérie? You don't happen to be afraid in your own home, now do you?" he asked, and his lips curled up into a sweet, caring smile as he took her hand in his "I assure you, there's nothing to fear. I'm really happy that you could be convinced to return." he told her and then kissed her hand gently.
Emma glared at him frowning and pulled her hand away with disgust "Let's not shun from using the word 'blackmail', shall we? Instead of euphemising around it. Chérie."
Ed seemed to be genuinely shocked by this and uttered the word with a hint of disgust "Blackmailed." He took a few steps backwards to look at all of them at once and exchanged glances with the Admiral "There seems to be a misunderstanding then." he looked back at Emma with a convincingly innocent expression "I merely hoped that you would return home, if you saw that I want Epsilon to step on the road of change. The change you've been hoping for for so many a long years."
The Admiral spoke up to take out the edge of the situation turning to be rather strained "We are here to witness, moreover to help you with that change, Premier." he offered.
Edmond nodded and seemed to be grateful for the helpfulness of the Admiral "There will be plenty of space for that help, Admiral, with what I'm about to do." he took a few more steps backward and spread his arms theatrically "I'll need you to help me turn Epsilon Four into a democratic state from the crude dictatorship I am forced to lead now. I'm not going to be shy about asking for your assistance with this enormous task. We need all the help we can get. The people of Epsilon are frightened now that they lost their strong leader. And frightened people can cause a lot of trouble. Even for themselves. I could use force to silence them. But then my original intention would be lost as well. I'd rather change their opinions. And soothe them at the same time."
Beverly exchanged glances with Emma. They both were stunned by what was said, while the others watched on curiously and expectantly.
"A noble cause, Premier." the Admiral replied "We are happy to assist."
Ed's gaze travelled from the old man to his wife who stood there now with an incredulous expression "Thank you. I'm hoping that every member of your team will be as pledged to this cause as you are, Sir."
The Admiral glanced at Emma with cold eyes "Lieutenant Jones knows very well how important this mission is."
Emma couldn't help herself and spread her arms "So you're sincerely want us to believe that you want democracy? After taking part in the dictatorship for a decade?" she asked and just couldn't believe her own ears - or the fact that there was anybody in the room taking Ed seriously.
"I do." Ed replied on a cold voice "I knew that you wouldn't believe me. But let me give you some proof on my intentions. In the last few weeks, I've suspended all death sentences on political prisoners and have forbidden the pursuit of anybody who voiced their dissatisfaction with the previous regime. Moreover, the government is currently working on giving general amnesty to all that have been sentenced only because of their political views." he stepped up to Emma and stared deep into her eyes - Data had to forcefully stop himself from pushing the man away from her. Ed went on on a low voice "This is why you are safe, ma chérie. As part of the Resistance, you would have been taken prisoner the moment you set foot on Epsilon Four. Instead you're here. Questioning the motifs of the Premier. What is this, if not democracy?" he asked searching her eyes with an honest gaze.
She was dumbfounded. She couldn't utter a word. She looked to the others, and they all stood there seemingly stunned even thrilled - she knew they believed him. Oh, god, they did believe every word!
Edmond went on gazing deeply into her eyes "I'm willing to take responsibility for all I've done. I'm willing to face the past. Are you?"
Emma stared into his dark eyes for a long moment, not able to turn her gaze away "Whatever else would I be here for?" she asked on a silent determined voice "But I know you too well. You may take them for a ride, but I don't believe a word."
Ed smiled forgivingly and glanced at the others for an instant giving Emma the impression that he wanted to make sure that everybody heard him well "Who would expect you to? You were hurt in our marriage, so you hold a grudge. Nobody blames you, Emma." he told her on a soft regretful voice "You have every right to be angry at me. I take that responsibility also, ma chérie." he told her looking at her with such a loving devotion that even Beverly's heart lurched, and she suddenly got scared: Ed's ability for manipulation seemed to know no boundaries!
Emma grew pale as understanding finally dawned on her: she was all alone with her belief that this was all wrong and false. This was his goal all along, to make her isolated from her own team. To make her doubts seem utterly groundless and herself ridiculous.
"So if all the doubts of Ms. Jones are fully dissolved," the Admiral stepped to them impatiently "could we start our negotiations?"
"Right away, Sir." Ed told him on a professional voice and then walked back to his associates to look at the delegation "My staff will show you to your accommodation. During the time you spend on Epsilon, I will need to ask you not to wear your uniforms but change into clothes appropriate to the colony's fashion. If you wish to go outside, it will help you blend in whereas your uniforms might cause some stir up."
"Ms. Jones have warned us about that, Premier." the Admiral told him trying hard to sound very cooperative "Of course, we are ready to comply."
"Thank you for being so understanding." Ed told them gratefully, and seeing his wife stare desperately at Beverly, he smiled satisfied.
After some argument with the staff about the rooms, Emma finally got a room that had a common door with the neighbouring one, which Data got. She changed clothes to a casual jeans and top combination and collapsed in the comfortable armchair in front of the television. The autumn sun shone warmly in through the wide windows, the delightful yellow light broken only by the shadow of the falling leaves. She heard a soft knock on the door from the neighbouring room, and after a long sigh, she called "Come in."
But then apart from some budging of the handle, nothing happened, and after a moment, Data's reluctant voice came through "I'd gladly, however I seemed to have ran into a slight obstacle."
Emma chuckled and got up from the armchair. She pushed the handle upward, then turned the key and pushing the handle downward, opened the door. His head appeared in the crack, and he seemed to study the handle from her side as well. She couldn't help the delighted smile creeping on her features at the small scene. She looked into his eyes challengingly.
"All this intelligence crammed in one head, Commander, and a simple handle eludes you?" she teased him giggling.
Data cocked his head a little self-consciously "May I kindly remind you, that the key was on your side? Besides, I have seen similar locks in holodeck simulations, but not anything quite like this on a door INSIDE a building."
Emma's face grew grim, and she stepped away from the door, so he could come in "I've told you. The people on Epsilon are suspicious. They don't trust anybody, not even friends or family members." she told him while going back to sit down in the huge armchair with her legs pulled up under her.
Data stood opposite her "You know that we're supposed to report at the negotiations."
She rolled her eyes "Ah, to the hell with that, Deadpan." she tilted her head backward to rest it on the back of the huge armchair and shut her eyes. She seemed awfully tired, despite the fact that she didn't have to work that day. Data knew that the stress of meeting her husband wore her completely out.
He sat down on her bed to the side of the armchair and looked at her cautiously "Your husband..." she opened her eyes and gazed at him listlessly as he went on "seemed very friendly with most of the team. In a very sharp contrast to your description of him."
She raised her head and sighed impatiently "He DOES seem very friendly of course. While sharpening the knife to stab you in the back with."
"I believe he has managed to earn the trust of some of us by simply emitting a certain sense of trustworthiness. Without making a serious effort." he remarked his observations.
She frowned frustrated and felt her heart sink at this "You do believe every word, just like the others, don't you." she pushed herself up from the armchair and walked to the window to look out "It's easier to believe your eyes, then to believe me, who's been living with this man for years. He barely said two sentences, but he is so unbelievably manipulative, that he could make me look like an idiot with all my doubts and worries by the snap of his fingers - I knew this was coming..."
He watched her from the bed for a moment longer. She seemed so frustrated, so lost - the tension was palpable by her posture. He just couldn't let her suffer like that! Even if they never had a chance to reconcile, even if they were in the middle of a mission. He stood and walked over to where she was leaning to the glass of the window. The color of her hair seemed to catch fire in the sunlight, and he noticed that it wasn't simply brown as it seemed in the artificial lights of the Enterprise: it was red and light brown and deep brown - and gray at places. He raised his hand and gently swept her long strands behind her shoulder. She turned to him, and he slid his hand to her face to cup her cheek in his palm tenderly, leaning close to her face "I do believe my eyes." he told her on a voice barely above a whisper "And let them be green or yellow, rest assured, I can see very clearly with them. And even if I couldn't..." a small smile curved his lips upward "I do know you. And I do believe you." Emma looked into his eyes stunned, her breath caught by his intense gaze and his words, and the implicit trust they reflected. And as he told her on a whisper "Never doubt that, please." she was lost, completely lost...
Her gaze dropped to his slightly parted lips now highlighted by some faint red coloring, making them even more desirable, and as if he could read her mind, he bent to her and pushed his lips to hers tenderly. Her eyes closed instinctively as she put her hands on his chest and felt his arms wrapping around her waist as she took his lower lip between her own two lips... Oh, no! We must not! No! A needy moan escaped her as she broke away. Her hands came up to his face, and she put her thumbs on his moist lips to stop him from kissing her on "No, please, don't..." she breathed. Oh, god, help me! She gasped as she looked up at him through her lashes. His strong arms were holding her so firm, so solid, and his expression reflected the same need that was burning inside of her, that it was very difficult to fight herself like this. She slid her hands to his shoulders and bowed her head taking a deep breath to calm her senses going crazy even by this tender little peck.
He bowed his head too to snuggle his temple to hers "What's wrong, baby?" he asked on a whisper.
She had to take another moment to answer, and she snuggled up to his ear to speak on a whisper "I-I don't want him to learn that we're together."
Data felt the digital equivalent of a bucket of cold water in his neck at hearing this. He pulled away and looked at her wide-eyed, shocked "Why?" he asked on a voice well above whisper.
She got herself together and took a step back from him. Her expression was hard and stubborn. "We're not gonna discuss any such matter in here. I've told you we're being listened to all the time."
It was a perfectly sensible argument, Data had to admit - if only his emotion-chip complied to that argument too! He watched as she stepped to the door and looked at him expectantly, and he felt a tight fist squeezing his chest from inside. However, yet again there was no time to clarify the situation. So he just went after her to go to the negotiations with his usual deadpan expression.
A/N: Believe it or not, but the character of Ed was designed after a real politician in my country...
The words 'ma chérie' and 'Monsier' are French meaning 'sweetie' and 'Mister' respectively. (I don't speak French, but I kinda like the sound of it. :) )
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Blind Chess