Chapter Text
"As a representative of my people, we Andorians welcome you to the moon of Andoria, it is a pleasure to finally meet the famed Captain Woods." Ambassador San bowed his blue head respectively, an action that Lexa mimicked deftly.
"Thank you Ambassador San, I assure you we will only be here for as long as this matter takes to be resolved. We'll be out of your hair soon after." She informed him, her voice clipped and polite. The Andorian nodded, the curve of a smile on his face. She never thought such a feat were possible. Then again, this race was much more emotional and passionate than her grandmother's. And more blue.
"Excellent, I cannot wait." He said civilly, the barb only thinly veiled. Anya exchanged a glance with Lexa, who shook her head discreetly at her lieutenant. "Please, if you would follow me." San began walking down the landing strip, and Lexa gestured for Anya to bring up the rear.
Lexa scanned the strip with interest, and warily noted the armed guards eyeing them. It was a diplomatic mission, but there wasn't a time when the Andorians were not distrustful and disdainful of humans. This was just one example of the tensions between their races, despite the attempts to change the nature of their relationship. Luckily though, their relationship was not nearly as storied as that of the Vulcans and the Andorians. Better that Lexa's lineage was not well known, especially here.
Anya drew closer to Lexa's shoulder. "They look ready for a dust up." She hissed, and Lexa shrugged off the concern. It was in this instance that Lexa was reminded that Anya was much less composed and instinctual in the world of politics and niceties. Lexa on the other hand, had developed a cool façade over years of living with a cold, disapproving father. This guise was something she wore on Sunday dinners back on Earth, and something that wasn't too difficult to slip back into.
"Keep your calm." Lexa gritted through her teeth as San led them down to a passenger shuttle. The two Starfleet officers sat on the bench across from the Andorian, who gave them a polite smile. Lexa returned the gesture to diffuse any tension between the three of them. Her phaser was a comfortable weight at her hip, and Lexa kept her restless legs steady.
Lexa looked out the cockpit with mild interest as the shuttle led them below the moon's surface, revealing a city of grey and dark white, Andorian citizens milling about in the streets.
Once they arrived at the Parliament building, San led the way up the stairs and through elegant, giant double doors. The heels of Lexa and Anya's Starfleet-issued boots clicked loudly on the stone floor as they were directed through two hallways and into a wide room with a high ceiling. They stuck out like sore thumbs, with their gold and red uniforms respectively. All other life forms were dressed in flowing robes of pastel colors.
Then their guide stopped before an arch, and bowed to the individuals inside before gesturing for Lexa and Anya to enter. Inside, there were ten Andorian officials, whose antennae all turned when Lexa and Anya entered. One of the Andorians rose from his seat at the head of the room and strode over to them with purpose.
"Captain Woods, welcome to Andoria. I am Chancellor Tem." He announced proudly as he stood tall and powerful before her. Lexa bowed her head respectfully to him, mindful of the dossier she had read prior to beaming down to the surface.
"Thank you Chancellor." She responded cordially, and the Chancellor seemed to approve of her polite attitude. "This is Lieutenant Arlington." She nodded towards Anya, who also bowed her head.
"Welcome Lieutenant," Tem said with a twitch of his antenna. "It is a great relief that all other members of Starfleet are much more polite than that scoundrel we are currently holding."
Lexa hardly reacted to the jibe, only plastering a cordial smile. "Well, then it should not be too much of a struggle to take him off your hands then." The Andorians in the room chuckled, and Anya shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"Captain, as much as I fib, I would prefer the prisoner is kept here so that we can administer Andorian justice." Tem stated. Lexa narrowed her eyes at his words.
"That will not be necessary Chancellor, all due respect. He is a member of Starfleet and of Earth, any crimes he has committed here will not go unpunished on his home planet, this I assure you." Lexa countered diplomatically.
"As comforting as that sounds, we cannot allow you to take him away." Tem stated firmly. Lexa bristled, her jaw clenched.
"And why is that?" She growled low and threatening.
"One of our citizens has invoked the right of Ushaan against your officer." Anya, from Lexa's side, frowned in confusion. Lexa however, was panicking internally.
"For what reason?" She countered. "I heard that he had only committed a petty crime." Her spine was ramrod-straight, tense and infuriated at being blindsided.
"He intervened during a domestic dispute." Tem explained. "The male in the relationship considers his honor besmirched."
Lexa's hands clenched into fists at her side, her nostrils flaring. She closed her eyes briefly in thought, and when she opened them she met Tem's smug gaze.
"What's Ushaan?" Anya asked under her breath from Lexa's left shoulder.
The younger woman, under her breath, muttered: "Duel to the death."
"And you would do wise to know that unless there be a legitimate reason as pertaining to the code, nothing will postpone nor cancel the Ushaan." Tem added. The Starfleet captain shifted from one foot to the other, thoughts racing rapidly within her mind.
"When is this duel expected to take place?" Lexa asked shortly, her voice resigned.
"Tomorrow evening." Lexa frowned. That gave her very little time to put her newly formed plan in motion.
"Then let me at least speak with my officer. I believe that right is allowed, is it not?" There was slight aggression in her voice, but with great self-control managed to temper its inflection even as the words left her mouth.
"Of course." Tem nodded smugly before signaling to two guards. "Escort Captain Woods to the prisons." He ordered.
Anya made a move to follow, but Lexa put a hand out to stop her. "Go back to the Washington and inform Rear Admiral Luna about the situation." She murmured. "And contact the officer's original crew, let them know what's going on." Anya nodded, and Lexa turned to follow the Imperial Guards.
----
When Lexa finally laid her hawkish eyes on the officer, she shook her head angrily. He didn't have a chance. His dark curly hair was matted and ragged, bruises developing over his face, one eye swollen shut. From the way he was sitting, Lexa would also assume that he had a few broken ribs. This man would not be able to survive a duel to the death, if it would even happen.
She strode closer to the cell door. The man, leaning heavily against the wall, did not notice her presence until she knocked loudly and obnoxiously on the transparent material separating them. His sharp brown eyes snapped up from the section of the tile he had been observing to meet her apathetic, reserved expression.
"Who are you?" He asked harshly, though his voice was weak with pain. His dark brown eyes shone with fire. He still had some fighting spirit in him yet.
"Captain Woods of the USS Washington." She answered. "And it would bode well for you to pay the proper respects to a superior officer." She reminded him, not unkindly. "Bellamy Blake, right?" The man nodded briefly, his eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?" He asked quietly. Lexa grimaced as he shifted slightly against the wall, releasing a low groan.
"I was sent here to rescue you." Lexa grunted. "Though from what I hear, my word and the word of Starfleet may not be able to get you out of this pickle."
Bellamy grunted in response, then after a brief pause he slowly pushed up on shaking legs. "Then why are you still here?" He walked over to the door, his hands bracing his form against the transparent barrier between them.
"What exactly did you do Blake? My Admiral told me you had committed a petty crime, yet when I got here Chancellor Tem informed me that you intervened on a domestic dispute." Lexa frowned, her arms crossed.
Bellamy let out a humorless laugh, and moved to sit down on the small cot wedged in the corner of the cell. "That Andorian was throwing one of his wives against the wall, beating the shit out of her." He grunted. "Would you have just stood there and let that happen?"
Lexa clenched her jaw. "I would have, yes. If I was working on a diplomatic mission, I would have kept my head down." She stated pointedly. "As you should have." Her green eyes flashed angrily, and Bellamy glared back with the same spite.
The man jolted to his feet, stalking over to the door again. "I should have known." He snarled. "I've heard the stories about you, from former crew members of the Cole." Bellamy jeered. "The heartless commander, who abandoned her own crew member-"
"Enough!" Lexa's nostrils flared with fury, her eyes snapping shut as she took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. The urge to pummel this man's skull into a pulp would be counterproductive, and in direct opposition to the directive.
When her eyes opened again, she fixed Bellamy with a firm stare. "You're due to fight tomorrow evening. It was my mandate to bring you back to Earth alive." She stroked her chin, racking her mind with all that she had remembered from reading the Code of Ushaan, she sighed heavily. "Now, are you married?"
Bellamy looked at her in mild shock, likely because of the randomness of the question posed. "No, why?"
"Because if you're married and you don't yet have a child, you may be able to postpone the fight indefinitely." She answered. Bellamy shook his head, and she ran a hand over her tired eyes. "Then we'll have to come up with something else." She gave the officer a once-over, evaluating his current state. "I shall attempt to find a loophole to get you back to Earth. Otherwise, don't be a jackass and keep your mouth shut." Lexa grunted before turning on her heel.
----
Once Lexa was beamed back up to the Washington, she was bombarded by her lieutenant and her first officer as she marched back to the bridge.
"What do you mean there's going to be a Ushaan?" Lincoln repeated as Lexa walked through the open elevator doors and stepped onto the bridge. The man's eyes were filled with worry, and Lexa vaguely remembered Lincoln mentioning a brother-in-law once. This must be the man.
The other members of her crew were all watching her as she made her way through the small crowd.
"Okay hold up, what the fuck is a Ushaan?" Costia's voice was loudest, which was impressive given the racket that Anya and Echo were also making.
Ryder rolled his eyes, his arms crossed. "Captain, what is our plan now?"
Lexa moved to sit at the Captain's chair, and silenced them all with one hand raised in the air imperiously. Lincoln opened his mouth, and she shot him a stern glare. Ignoring Ryder's question, she turned her head to address Anya. "Have you contacted the Admiral?"
"Yes Captain." Anya bit her lip. "The Admiral said that she would prefer if things were settled in a diplomatic fashion."
"No shit. But just how are we going to do that?" Costia snarled, hackles raised in panic. Anya shot her a death glare, her chest puffed up as she faced the science officer.
"I don't see you offering any alternatives." Anya retorted scornfully, and Lexa put a hand on her temple. Costia took a few steps forward so that the two women were inches away, close to blows.
Lexa closed her eyes, her patience wearing extremely thin. Beside her, Gustus stood quietly, and she glanced at him. He gave her the briefest of nods, and she sent him a grateful look. It was decided.
"Silence!" Lexa roared. Instantly, the two women were quiet. Lexa steepled her fingers in deep thought, her eyes closed. Quietly, almost in a whisper, she said. "How about Blake's crew? Have you notified them?"
"Yes I did Lexa. Why is that important?" Anya asked, puzzled. Lexa opened her eyes and met the older woman with a firm gaze.
"My crew is my family." She uttered. "And I think that might hold true for any crew member of a Starfleet ship. Therefore, his family has a right to know. A right to fight for him." She tapped her index fingers together. "Bring up his commanding officer online, if you can." Lexa ordered Gustus, who nodded and set off on the task. Lexa's gaze swiveled back to Anya. "Where is his crew right now?"
"Barisa Prime." Lexa swallowed thickly at Anya's response. However, anything she might have said was abandoned in that second, when the screen in front of her was suddenly occupied by a very familiar face.
"This is Captain Griffin of the USS Ark." The blonde stated formally, and Lexa had to fight to keep her face a still mask of indifference.
"Captain," She nodded formally, then continued. "I'm sure you're aware of the current situation as Anya may have informed you." Clarke nodded her head.
"Affirmative. Your lieutenant briefed me hours ago." The other captain's eyes were glistening with concern. "She told me that Officer Blake is involved in a duel to the death?"
"That's correct." Lexa said stiffly. "Might I ask, Captain Griffin, why your officer was initially on Andoria?" Clarke sighed, shaking her head slightly.
"He was there gathering intelligence. We had heard rumors of an anti-Vulcan movement within their government." Clarke explained.
"You mean conjectures." Lexa snapped. "You sent a man down there for whispers in the wind, endangering the peace of which this Federation rests on." Clarke's eyes widened, then her face morphed into a mask of fury.
"It was a peacekeeping mission!" She retorted. "I didn't expect him to be a boneheaded prick!" Lexa huffed angrily.
"Clear the bridge!" Lexa ordered loudly. Costia's face depicted all sorts of surprise, and Lincoln exchanged a glance with Anya.
"Captain," Lincoln started, but Lexa raised her hand in dismissal.
"Clear. The. Bridge." Lexa barked. Immediately, the officers abandoned their posts and filed out as quickly as they could, desperate to be as far away from the volatile bomb that was their captain.
Once the bridge was empty save for Lexa, she stood from her chair and paced, her steps rangy and powerful. Clarke, from the screen, glowered at the brunette. "Lexa, I honestly didn't think Bellamy would do something so stupid."
"This is beyond stupid." Lexa growled. "But sending him down there, was it even part of your prime directive?" Clarke looked away, and Lexa got all the information she needed.
"It was our mandate to keep the peace. We are a peacekeeping armada, remember?" Clarke stated. "We had to investigate." Lexa stopped pacing to glare up at the screen.
"Had to, or wanted to?"
"Oh don't be such a dick, okay?" Clarke shot back. "We were authorized to investigate relations between Andoria and Vulcan, it was a legitimate order."
"Okay, fine." Lexa growled. She resumed pacing the floor. "Now I have to clean up your mess, just like on Earth." Despite the tension and the context, Clarke let out a short grunting laugh, almost as though she had been trying to stifle it.
"What do you plan on doing?" Clarke asked after a few seconds, to which Lexa barely glanced up at the screen.
"I'm thinking." Lexa said. She clasped her hands behind her back. "This has only every occurred once in Starfleet history." Lexa furrowed her eyebrows. "Blake's pretty badly wounded." She muttered to herself. She straightened and glanced briefly at Clarke "Are you still in Barisa Prime?"
"Yes." Clarke answered quickly. "And we can't leave right now." She frowned. "Wait," Her eyes burned holes into Lexa's back as she paced. "Tell me you're not thinking what I'm thinking right now."
Lexa paused mid-step to give her a puzzled frown. "That sentence did not make any sense at all."
"Oh lay off it." Clarke snapped. "Answer my question." Lexa smirked, turning to face Clarke.
"Ask it again."
"Tell me you aren't thinking about substituting for him."