The shuttle glided smoothly into the docking bay of Briasyraa’s luxury yacht, its sleek design dwarfed by the massive Orion starship. Hawkins adjusted the collar of his formal jacket, glancing sideways at Torvak, who was seated beside him. They had discussed further arrangements after her brief visit to his suite. They agreed they would go together to avoid using the Orion’s transporter. Hawkins didn’t want their sub-dermal being detected. 

“Remember,” she murmured as the shuttle docked, her voice low but firm, “we’re here for more than just the wedding.” Her composure was as impeccable as her silver dress.

“I hadn’t forgotten,” Hawkins replied, his tone equally subdued.

The shuttle door hissed open, and the yacht’s luxury immediately hit them. The interior was a symphony of indulgence, with golden accents, soft lighting, and polished floors that reflected every intricate detail of the grand décor. Standing at the centre of the docking bay, waiting for them with an entourage of attendants and guards, was Briasyraa herself.

The Orion leader was striking. Her tall, statuesque figure was draped in an elaborate gown of black and gold. The fabric shimmered with every movement, emphasising her commanding presence. Her jewellery—layered necklaces, earrings, and bracelets—caught the light, glittering like stars.

“Thomas, darling, welcome!” Briasyraa exclaimed, her deep, sultry voice carrying easily across the space. She approached with arms outstretched, a dazzling smile that didn’t quite reach her sharp, calculating eyes.

Hawkins plastered a polite smile onto his face, stepping forward. “Briasyraa. Always a pleasure.”

She enveloped him in a perfumed embrace that was brief but suffocatingly close. Pulling back, she glanced at Torvak with mild curiosity. “And Torvak, I didn’t know you and Thomas knew each other?” Her tone held a hint of suspicion.

Torvak offered a faint, practised smile, inclining her head. “I couldn’t miss the big day, and I wanted to make sure the man who was about to make an honest man of my associate was decent enough,” she said, her words carrying a hint of a shared history with Hawkins.

Briasyraa’s smile didn’t falter, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in her gaze. “Well, come, both of you. There is much to see!”

She turned, gesturing for them to follow. Hawkins and Torvak exchanged a subtle glance before trailing behind her entourage.

The grandeur became even more apparent as they walked through the yacht’s corridors. Every surface gleamed, adorned with rich fabrics, intricate carvings, and elaborate lighting. Crew members in finely tailored uniforms moved efficiently, some carrying decorations, others operating equipment.

“What’s all this?” Hawkins asked, gesturing to the activity around them.

“Upgrades,” Briasyraa said airily, dismissing the question with a wave of her hand. “Preparations for the future, you could say.”

Torvak arched an eyebrow but said nothing, her expression carefully neutral.

They reached a pair of ornate doors that slid open to reveal a grand reception hall. The room was breathtaking, with vaulted ceilings, chandeliers dripping with crystals, and long tables draped in pristine white linens. Flowers and other exotic decorations from across the quadrant adorned every corner.

At the centre of it all stood Orlando Radcliffe, his back to them as he directed a few attendants adjusting a massive floral arrangement. When he turned and saw Hawkins, his face lit up.

“Tom!” he exclaimed, closing the distance between them in seconds. He pulled Hawkins into a tight embrace, lifting him slightly off the ground, and kissed his lips.

Briasyraa clapped her hands once, sharply. “That’s enough of that!” she said with mock severity, though her tone carried an edge. “It’s human tradition, isn’t it? The two of you aren’t supposed to see each other before the ceremony.”

Radcliffe reluctantly released Hawkins, grinning sheepishly. “Guess I got carried away.”

“Clearly,” Briasyraa said, rolling her eyes. She turned to Hawkins and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come, Thomas. I’ve had a room prepared for you. You’ll have everything you need to make sure you’re ready for your big moment.”

As they moved toward a smaller set of doors, Torvak fell into step beside Hawkins, leaning slightly toward him. “This is ridiculously extravagant,” she whispered, her tone laced with amusement.

“That’s the idea,” Hawkins murmured back.

Briasyraa led them into a smaller, equally luxurious suite. Plush furniture in rich hues filled the space, and a wall of windows offered a stunning view of the stars beyond.

“I trust this will be to your liking?” Briasyraa said, her tone smooth. She gestured toward a waiting attendant. “Take Miss Torvak to the room next door and make sure Thomas has everything he needs. Nothing but the best for my dear Orlando’s beloved.”

Torvak bid her goodbye for the moment, looking at Hawkins guardedly as she left the room and left him alone with the Orion leader. 

Hawkins turned to her, his curiosity getting the better of him. “Why are you doing all this for Orlando?”

Briasyraa’s smile faltered for just a moment before returning, more enigmatic than ever. “Because he’s worth it, of course. And because this ceremony will be the talk of the sector. It will be the crowning achievement of my work. A testament to my power, my wealth, and my ability to bring people together.”

Hawkins frowned slightly. “And how do you plan to make it the talk of the sector?” he pressed, his curiosity piqued.

Briasyraa’s eyes sparkled with something between amusement and menace. “Let’s just say that I have my ways. By the end of the ceremony, everyone will know exactly who I am. And they’ll listen.”

There was a pause, heavy with unspoken meaning.

“I’ll leave you to settle in,” Briasyraa said, her tone lighter now. “I’ll send some attendants to help you relax—a massage, perhaps? You’ll want to be at your best for tomorrow.”

She swept out of the room, her attendants following in her wake.

Hawkins stood alone momentarily, staring at the door as it slid shut behind her. Briasyraa’s cryptic words lingered in his mind, a knot of tension tightening in his chest. Whatever she had planned, it wouldn’t be as innocent as she wanted him to believe.

And if she thought he couldn’t figure it out, she had another thing coming.

Hawkins stood in the bathroom, stripped down to his baggy bottoms, rubbing a towel through his damp, sandy blond curls. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, his thoughts a tangled web of suspicions and uncertainties. Briasyraa’s cryptic promises and the weight of the entire situation churned uneasily in his mind. Though he had enjoyed the massage performed by one of her attendants earlier, his mind was still not relaxed. Hawkins kept on overthinking everything and wondering what his next move needed to be. 

Lost in thought, Hawkins didn’t notice the shadow creeping behind him until a pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around his torso, holding him tightly.

“Ah!” Hawkins gasped, instinctively tensing as his eyes darted to the mirror. The sight of Orlando Radcliffe’s mischievous grin staring back at him didn’t immediately calm his racing heart. 

“For stars’ sake, Orlando!” Hawkins hissed, his hand snapping up to lightly slap Radcliffe’s arm. “What are you doing sneaking up on me like that?”

Radcliffe laughed softly, his deep brown eyes twinkling with amusement. “I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see you,” he said, nuzzling into Hawkins’ neck. “You looked so tense when we arrived. I thought I’d come by to help you relax. Plus, Briasyraa’s rule of keeping us apart is so old-fashioned. If I want to spend the evening with the man I love, then I will. No Orion woman is stopping me.”

Hawkins rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the warmth spreading through him. “You could’ve just knocked, you know. What’s with all the stalking?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Radcliffe teased, planting a kiss on Hawkins’ shoulder. “I do have some old skills from our previous life that I still can use to keep the excitement alive in our relationship!”

“Incorrigible,” Hawkins muttered, though a smile tugged at his lips. He turned, brushing his hands over Radcliffe’s chest before pulling him in for a kiss.

Radcliffe responded eagerly, his hands sliding to Hawkins’ waist. Their lips moved together with an intensity that made Hawkins forget about the day’s events. Without breaking the kiss, Hawkins nudged Radcliffe out of the bathroom, their steps slightly clumsy as they stumbled toward the bed.

Radcliffe grinned against his lips. “I missed you, you know. All this sudden, planning is exhausting. I need you. Now.”

“I can tell,” Hawkins murmured, pushing him onto the plush bed. Radcliffe pulled him down, their movements fluid, their kisses uninterrupted, as Hawkins pulled Radcliffe’s shirt off of him before continuing to kiss his neck repeatedly. 

However, the sound of the door unlocking brought them both to an abrupt halt.

Hawkins froze, straddling over Radcliffe as they both turned toward the door. It slid open partway, and Torvak slipped in, her dark figure silhouetted by the corridor lights. She stopped mid-step, her sharp green eyes widening as she took in the scene.

“Oh, for the love of Vorta Vor,” she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Of course, you couldn’t keep it in your pants, Orlando. Couldn’t wait for the mission to be over?”

Radcliffe groaned, covering his face with his hands as Hawkins shot him a questioning look. Both of them were almost out of breath and were now calming down from all of the excitement they had caused for one another. 

“What does she mean by mission, Orlando?” Hawkins demanded, his tone cutting through the awkward silence.

Radcliffe dropped his hands from where they were around Hawkin’s hips and met Hawkins’ gaze, a sheepish expression on his face. “Tommy, listen—”

“No,” Hawkins cut him off, his eyes narrowing. “You’re going to explain. Right now.”

Radcliffe sighed, propping himself up on his elbows. “I know you’re Starfleet Intelligence, Tom. You didn’t resign your commission. You’re undercover, just like me.”

Hawkins shook his head, completely thrown off. “What? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Radcliffe rolled his eyes, sitting up fully and putting his arms around Hawkins’ waist again, trying to make Hawkins feel comfortable again. “Don’t play dumb with me, Tom. I know it’s your cute angle, but remember I taught you that angle.” He paused to sigh before carrying on. “You’re here for Briasyraa, aren’t you? This whole wedding charade—it’s part of the plan, right?”

“What plan?” Hawkins asked, his voice rising. “I’m here because you asked me to be here!”

Radcliffe grimaced, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I did. But not just for a reunion. This is bigger than us, Tom. I’ve been working with Torvak for months now.”

Still sprawled over Radcliffe, Hawkins glanced at Torvak, who leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed and an amused smirk on her face.

“Care to enlighten me?” Hawkins said dryly.

Torvak pushed off the wall and stepped further into the room. “Briasyraa isn’t just an Orion leader. Both of our governments have had a suspicion that she’s a Changeling. We’ve known for a couple of years now. She’s been amassing power and resources, using her influence within the Syndicate to destabilise this region of space. The subspace communication jamming device? That’s not just a toy. It’s a weapon—a way to shut down entire sectors’ communications and force them under her control. We are certain, as you know, she is planning to do something that will ignite a war between our two governments.”

Hawkins blinked, processing her words. “And where do I fit into this?”

Radcliffe took a deep breath, his hands resting gently on Hawkins’ arms. “I needed someone I could trust to help us get close to her—someone she wouldn’t suspect. That’s why I brought you here. Over the last two years, I’ve been working hard to get close to her. I just needed someone who would help me get this far. I’m sorry, Tom.”

Hawkins stared at him, stunned into silence.

“I know it’s a lot,” Radcliffe continued, his tone softening. “But we’re running out of time. Briasyraa’s planning something big, and we need to stop her. Together.”

For a long moment, Hawkins didn’t move, his mind reeling. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing or that Radcliffe had kept something this massive from him. Part of him was glad he had kept up most of this charade, while on the other hand, he was starting to enjoy being with Radcliffe again. 

Finally, he let out a shaky breath, still lying atop Radcliffe. “A Changeling,” he said, almost to himself. “A wedding. And a conspiracy to take over the sector before starting a war. This just keeps getting better.”

Torvak chuckled softly. “Welcome to the team, Hawkins. Try to keep up.”