Chapter Fifteen

SPOCK

I sat still in my chair on the bridge. On the exterior my body seemed controlled, I seemed in control. Internally I was struggling. Why had I suddenly become so irritated? What was the catalyst that allowed my deep seated emotions to swell into a burning mass of fire that threatened every moment to erupt like the volcano on Nibiru? I am Vulcan. I will the control of my emotions. I suppress them until I cannot feel them. I will control this fire of irritation. I am the master of myself.

                I sat in controlled silence, willing my emotions to submit to logic and bury them once again. It did not go unnoticed, however.

                “Spock?” The captain had evidently returned from his walk with Lt. Mor. He broke my steady concentration and I looked over to him.

                “Yes, captain?”

                “Come take a walk with me.” He replied. I simply nodded my agreement and started to stand. “Sulu, you have the con.” And with that last statement we retreated from the bridge.

                He did not speak to me during the walk through the hallway and I could see he had a particular destination in mind. The observation deck. We entered and he locked the deck using his captain’s code. Only Dr. McCoy would be able to gain access.

                Over the course of our professional and personal relationship the captain often entreated me to walk with him as he did now. So I was not unprepared for his inquiry.

                “Spock, what’s going on?” He asked, not looking at me, his gaze cast into the distance, looking to the stars.

                “Captain I-“ He cut me off, as was usual in these personal sessions whilst we were alone in each other’s company.

                “Jim.”

                “Jim, I assure you there is, as you say, ‘nothing going on’. I am perfectly in control of my faculties.”

                “Spock, you might be ‘in control’ but something is bothering you. What is it?” He persisted.

                “Jim, as a Vulcan I-“ I was summarily cut off yet again. I should have expected it, but nonetheless I had attempted my typical response.

                “Bullshit. What the hell is going on? I know you know what I mean and I know you know how to answer, so just tell me.” He looked at me then, our eyes meeting, and I knew I could not evade the question, nor could I lie, as I was loathe to do so anyway.

                “I am finding it difficult to control my emotions.” I confessed. Part of me was ashamed to say the words aloud, part of me was relieved to have the freedom to do so without being judged. That was Jim Kirk. He did not judge me for who I was, he accepted. Sure, he pushed, shoved, and pulled me in many directions to my limits, but he accepted me, nonetheless.

                “Why? Nothing stressful has occurred. That tiny ship firing on us? That was a piece of cake for our crew. We didn’t really sustain any damage. A little power loss for a tiny bit, sure, but no damage.”

                “If you recall Mr. Scott was knocked unconscious by the first volley of fire.” I retorted.

                “Scotty knocks himself unconscious half of the time. He didn’t sustain any injury he hadn’t ever given himself, and he’s fine. And don’t even say fine is unacceptable, fine has varying definitions, because you know exactly what I mean when I say it. What is the real problem? As your commanding officer I need to know when any member of my crew has an issue or issues that I may address them, so it does not continue to interfere with the working operations of this ship and its mission.” His captain face had slipped on once again.

                “My ‘issues’ as you so ambiguously put them are not interfering with my duties, captain.” He twitched slightly, but relaxed from his captain persona slightly.

                “It’s Jim, Spock. And they may not be, but they are interfering with other crew member’s performance. Therefore, I need to address them. I would like to do so as your friend, Spock, but I can do so as your captain instead if you wish.”

                “Jim. I have already informed you of what my ‘issue’ is. Please do not force me to repeat my shame aloud again.”

                “Fine, Spock. Just tell me why. I can’t do anything about it if I don’t know why.” H

                “I do not believe you can ‘do anything about it’ as you so crudely suggest. It is not so simple a matter.” I replied, turning from him, my own gaze shifting towards the infinite black sky of space.

                “You don’t know if you don’t try. Try me. Tell me what is bothering you. What has your control so out of sorts?” His softened voice forced me to turn and look at him once more. “Is it Lt. Mor?” Yes, no one should be able to accuse James T. Kirk of being unobservant. He may act immature and unintelligent, but he was very much not either of those things. James T. Kirk was highly intelligent, and mature when the situation called for maturity. He was acutely observant.

                “Yes. I do not understand it. At times it as if she reaches into the depths of my very katra and pulls from it the most fleeting of emotions. Other periods, she invites irritation I have seldom experienced. I do not understand it, how she is able to affect me so, no matter how proficient I am with my control, no matter how long I meditate, her ability to do this never ceases to inspire me to more meditation.” I felt a proverbial weight lift from me, causing a momentary sensation of my mass to lighten, as illogical as it was, it happened.

                “Do you like her?” Jim’s question caught me off guard. I merely raised an eyebrow in question. “I mean, do you have feelings FOR her? Like, friendship or romantic wise?” He asked staring me directly in the eyes, looking for any tells they might offer to him.

                “I believe, if given time, the relationship I have with Lt. Mor could foster a friendship.” I offered, hoping, illogically, that this answer would suffice. It did not.

                “I think you like her.” Jim said with a tone of finality that suggested I should not argue with him. I did not. He turned and faced the stars, I followed suit. We stood there for moments in silent bliss.

                “Spock, do you ever wonder what we’re doing out here?” Another question to catch me unawares, much off the previous subject of conversation.

                “We are performing our duty, Jim, carrying out the missions given to us by Starfleet.” This is common knowledge.

                “No, I mean, in a philosophical sense. What are WE doing out here? In space? In the world? What is the purpose of this exploration if we all die anyway?” His otherworldly blue eyes searched mine, as if I would have a logical explanation to a question not born of logic. 

                I turned my gaze back to the stars and remained silent. I do not know.

 

AILA

 

                After my shift was finished I headed to the mess hall for a much needed meal. Leo had been right; Scotty definitely put me to work. I’d spent the rest of the shift meeting the rest of the engineering crew, doing diagnostic tests, and finishing small odd repair jobs that hadn’t been addressed prior to take off. Those repairs had no significant impact on the running of the ship, but Scotty didn’t like to leave any stone unturned.

                I noticed that all the engineering staff had looked at me with an odd expression as I met them by Scotty’s side. It was half awe and respect, half irritation and jealousy. These feelings of the staff were born out of two things: I was new and young, and my quick thinking and tactful solution during the recent attack.

                As I sat down alone at a table to eat I thought about Tasha, how much I wish she could have graduated early with me and get assigned to the Enterprise. I knew she would be here as soon as she graduated and we stopped by Earth, but I couldn’t help but miss her. I didn’t really know anyone on board besides the bridge crew, which made me feel awkward and left out. I didn’t even have a roommate. I was alone.

                At least I thought so, until two young men started walking in my direction with trays. An Asian man and a young curly haired Caucasian. They were part of the bridge crew, Hikaru Sulu, an amazing pilot in his own right, and Pavel Chekov, a brilliant young physicist and navigator. I had actually taken a class that Chekov assisted in teaching, he truly was brilliant.

                “Lt. Mor, how’s it going?” Sulu asked as they sat down across from me.

                “It goes.” I shrugged, taking a bite of my food.

                “Ze entire Bridge crew is talking about you, you haff caused quite a stir.” Chekov announced.

                “I don’t understand why. I mean I just did what I thought I had to do. Scotty wasn’t there.” I shrugged again. I really didn’t understand the big deal. I’d said as much to the captain when he asked to walk with me earlier.

                “You did a pretty bang up job pulling that off with the shields. Pretty good thinking there, Lt.” The captain said as soon as we left the turbolift. He wanted to talk to be briefly while escorting me back to engineering.

                “I don’t see the big deal, captain, I just did what I thought would work best.” I shrugged. “Is Spock mad at me? He didn’t seem too happy with my solution.” I asked, having noticed how irritated Spock had seemed, even beneath his cool controlled Vulcan demeanor.

                “Eh. Spock’s just embarrassed that you figured something out before he did. Especially since you don’t have any experience and he does. He’ll get over it. You did good, kid. And call me Jim when we’re alone, you should know that by now, Aila.” I couldn’t help but think it was more than Spock’s pride that had him irritated. Spock didn’t get a bruised ego.

                “Spock’s Vulcan, he doesn’t have an ego to bruise, Jim.”

                “He’s also half human. Trust me, his ego can get bruised as well as the rest of us, he’s just able to hide it better.” He laughed to himself. “Don’t dwell on it. I think you did great. Intuition or not. I swear by intuition, so I’m okay with it. In fact, I’d love to have you up on the bridge with that intuition of yours, but Scotty needs you too.” He paused, seemingly to think something over in his mind. I didn’t listen in, I considered it rude by now, having more experience with my mental shields. “Maybe I can get him to give you up for a bit every shift, have you see how the bridge crew operates, and give your tactical analysis during missions, see what you come up with. Maybe take you on a couple away missions every now and then. Yeah, I think that’s what I’ll do.” He smiled to himself then turned to me. “You okay with that?”

                “Do I have a choice?” I asked, stopping, we were just outside the entrance to the engineering deck I worked on with Scotty.

                “Of course you do, but I’m the captain, I can just order you to do it. But…I’d rather you decide you’re okay with it.”

                “Yeah, I’m good if Scotty’s good with it.” Nope, no choice. It did sound kind of intriguing, however.  

                “Great! Well, I’ll talk to Scotty soon and he’ll tell you the details! Now, get back to work, Lt.” He gave me a large smile and a soft slap on the shoulder before he turned away.

                “Yes, captain!” I hollered after him before walking into the entrance of the engineering deck. This sure was going to be an interesting assignment.

 

                “So I hear you’ll be joining us on the bridge sometimes and going on some away missions with the captain?” Sulu asked me, pulling me from my memory.

                “Oh, yeah. Guess so.” I replied less than enthusiastically.

                “Sweet! Not everybody gets to do that!” He replied as I took the last bite of my food. Before I was able to get up and throw my trash away Chekov spoke again.

                “You should join us for poker tonight. It be fun, da?” He said with his mouth full.

                I stood up and looked at him, then Sulu, then back at him. I could use friends and these guys seemed pretty decent. “Yeah, sure. When?”

                “Two hours from now. My quarters.” Sulu responded, and with that I nodded and walked towards the trash bin. Yeah, this was going to be an interesting assignment.

 

SPOCK

 

                “You going to join the crew with poker tonight, Spock?” The captain asked as he looked at the chess board deciding his next move.

                “As I have already completed my reports and have nothing further to occupy my time I suppose I could join the crew in a card game.” I replied. Jim moved his knight and I raised an eyebrow. He had a very unpredictable method to playing chess, a very illogical approach, but it allowed him to win games against me occasionally. I moved my next piece.

                “Good.” Jim moved another piece on the chess board. I groaned inwardly, recognizing too late what his tactic had been. “Check.”

                “I shall never understand how your haphazard illogical approach to chess allows you to win any games.” I moved another chess piece, knowing I had lost the game if he recognized the opening I left him. It would not have mattered what piece I moved. He had more than one opening to take my king.

                “Not everything’s about logic, Spock. Sometimes, you just have to be unpredictable.” He took the opening. “Checkmate.” A large grin made its way across his face.

                “The game is yours. Where is the poker game taking place?” I asked, curious as to who was hosting tonight’s card game. In the past the crew members rotated the games, each taking a turn to host them in their quarters. I had never offered to host a game, and I never would. My room was my sanctuary. A sanctuary away from the mundane and the madness of humanity.

                “Sulu. Everyone’s going tonight. Aila was invited as well.” He added, I looked up to him, raising an eyebrow.

                “She is not part of the bridge crew.”

                “She will be part time.” He informed me. “I think I’m going to train her up, assist her to hone her intuition. I know she’s a brilliant engineer and couldn’t have a better mentor than Scotty for that, but I also think she’d make a fine commanding officer, with a bit of training and experience. She’s got one hell of an intuition.”

                “Intuition is not the defining character of a command officer, captain.”

                “How many times do I have to remind you to call me Jim off duty? And, no it’s not the only piece of the puzzle, but it IS a piece, and, well, obviously it’s worked well for me. With you to balance me out, of course, but I think it’d work well for her too.” He looked at me quizzically. “I don’t know what your issue is, Spock, you were one of the people who recommended her for the Enterprise.”

                “I did indeed. She is a fine addition to the engineering crew, but I did not recommend her for the bridge, or to be trained as a command officer. She did not take that course of study at the academy.” Honestly, I did see her potential, but I also knew it would be safer for her to remain in engineering.

                “Yeah, well, you tried to kick me out of the academy at first, and now look, I’m captain of Starfleet’s flagship, you’re my best friend and first officer, and we make a pretty damn good command team. I think she has potential to be in my place one day, just as Pike thought of me.”

                “I do not see the logic in your assessment, however, I rarely do.” I simply said.

                “Yeah, well that’s what makes us such a great team. I do something, you eventually find the logic behind it. You’ll find the logic in this decision too, I know you will.” With that last statement he stood from his chair and I copied his motion. “Now, let’s get over to Sulu’s so you can beat him in poker.”

                I merely looked at him with a raised eyebrow before we departed the room. How he expected a Vulcan who cannot lie to win a game which heavily relied on lying or ‘bluffing’ I did not understand.

 

AILA

 

                “Oh, and then Scotty’s voice just comes over the comm in the bridge and everyone was so confused because about a second before we all thought we were going to die.” Sulu said, telling the story of when the Enterprise was almost destroyed by Admiral Marcus, looking at his cards. He was trying to make sure I wasn’t able to read him.

                “I just can’t believe that Scotty quit! He LOVES this ship.” I replied, looking at my own cards. I didn’t have a hand worth playing. I had a two and a seven. “I fold.” I said, laying my cards down.

                “We JUST started!” Sulu exclaimed.

                Chekov leaned over to grab my cards and inspect them. He nodded in my direction before turned his head to face Sulu, “She did vell. She was not haffing a hand.” He flashed the cards in front of Sulu who just laughed loudly.

                “I’d say.” Just then the door hissed open and in walked Scotty. “We were just telling Aila how you saved the entire ship from being blasted into smithereens by the Vengeance.” Sulu said as Scotty unfolded the chair he’d brought in with him.      

                “Aye? And just how did I do that?” He sat down in his chair and motioned to Chekov for an empty glass who responded by brandishing one from the counter behind him and handing it over. A bottle of scotch seemingly appeared out of thin air and Scotty poured himself a glass of Scotch.

                “By disabling its weapons at the last possible second!” Sulu exclaimed laughing, being joined by Chekov. I knew they could laugh about it now, but I gathered the hilarity of the memory was mixed with anxiety and grief as well.

                “Oh, aye, I did save the day, didn’t I?” Scotty asked before taking a long drink.

                “You have any vodka around here?” I asked suddenly, still feeling slightly awkward around new people.

                “Does a Russian have vodka?” Sulu asked as Chekov’s face brightened. “Da.” Chekov said at the same time and moved to the miniature fridge in his room to get a bottle. He grabbed two glasses then, presumably one for me and one for himself.

                “So you said the bridge crew? But Scotty’s here, and no one else is.” I said simply as Chekov began to pour me a drink, which mostly consisted of Vodka and only a fraction of orange juice he had replicated earlier.

                “Oh, they’ll be here. It’s poker night. I’m just curious if the captain’s actually managed to get Spock to come tonight or not. He usually doesn’t, but it’s happened a handful of times.” Just then the door hissed open and in walked Uhura and the captain, followed by Spock.

                Spock seemed to notice my presence right away. He looked at me quickly, raising an eyebrow before he was caught in conversation.

                “Commander, you came!” Sulu exclaimed as he gathered the cards on the table and began shuffling them.

                “It would appear so, Lt.” He replied simply.

                “Okay, well, there’s chairs in the corner, Pasha had the mind to make sure we had enough, and Scotty brought his own, as he always does. Are you dealing in this round, Aila?” Sulu finished by turning to me, pulling me from my gaze which had been steady on Spock until then.

                “Oh, uh, no, not this round. I mean you guys just taught me how to play. I think I’d like to watch a few rounds before being dealt in.” I blushed, realizing that everyone had noticed my staring. I took a large gulp of my drink, taking in half of the glass, and shivered as I swallowed the alcohol.

                “Ach, lass, you didn’t know how to play poker until tonight?” Scotty turned to me I merely shook my head no.  “No matter, we’ll get ye learned up quick enough!” He drank again, finishing off his glass and started to pour another.

                “So, lads, what’re we playing?” Jim asked sitting down with Nyota sitting next to him. “And where’s my drink at?” He laughed, but was serious in his question.

                “Texas hold ‘em.” Chekov answered. “Aila is not knowing how to play poker and it is being easier to teach her that. I vill get a drink for you keptain.” He said, and off he went to retrieve yet more alcohol. I could see what poker night was. They should rename it everyone gets drunk night.

                “Are you playing, Mr. Spock?” Jim asked.

                “I shall join you in the game, captain.” He answered, his eyes glancing towards me and retreating back to Jim’s.

                “It’s Jim, Spock. We’re off duty now. You playing to, Ny?” Jim asked Uhura.

                “I think I’ll sit this one out like Lt. Mor for now. Spock, you can have my seat for the game.” She walked over to the couch, but not before obtaining a drink that Chekov had brought to the table and came to my side. “Let’s leave the boys to their game for now, we’ll join in later when they’re too drunk to realize if we’re bluffing or not.” I got up and followed her to the couch just as the door hissed open again and Leo walked in.

                “Good of you to join us, Bones!” Jim exclaimed.

                “Yeah, well some of us don’t get off at a specific time every shift. I had a patient to finish up with first. You got any extra cups, Chekov?”

                “Da.” He moved to grab more glasses as Leo sat down at the table and placed a bottle of Bourbon he held in his hand down.

                “Is it always this packed in here?” I turned to Uhura.

                “Not always. Spock doesn’t usually come unless Jim practically makes him, and half the time Scotty’s down in the engine room still. But when we do all get together like this, it turns out to be quite the party. I’m just glad there’s another woman here again. I’ve been alone since Christine transferred to a starbase after the Narada.”

                “Wow.” Was my only response. I drained the rest of my drink. It was going to be an interesting time tonight.

                Uhura and I talked for a while, mainly about her experience on the Enterprise and a bit about her teaching at the academy. I told her about working with Scotty after classes sometimes during the week and on the weekends when I was doing homework, and how I would have been really upset if I hadn’t gotten assigned to the Enterprise because I already felt like I belonged here. She practically forced me to call her by her first name by the end of the conversation, and I took that to be a good step forward. I may have left my friends behind at the academy, but it seemed that I would gain some as well.

                “So lass, you are ye goona play now or what?”

                “I suppose I could, Scotty, but I need another drink first.”

                “Are you going to drink anything, Spock?” the captain asked.

                “Jim, you very well know that Vulcans do not drink. Alcohol does not affect us in the same way it affects humans.”

                “Yeah, well, you still haven’t told us how that is exactly. Me? I’m kinda curious as to how exactly it does affect you guys.”

                “Jim.” Nyota said in warning.

                “What? I’d love to see Spock drunk sometime. I think it’d be hilarious!”

                “I am thinking ze commander is not wanting you to know, keptain.” Chekov hiccupped. “Aila, you are playing now? Da? I will be putting you on the floor too.”

                “It’s wiping the floor, Pasha.” I giggled, so did everyone else, well, almost everyone.

                “Da? It is the same.” Chekov shook his head, not the least bit embarrassed.

                “So, Texas hold ‘em again?” Sulu asked.

                “Yup. I don’t know anything else right now.”

                “Yeah yeah yeah. Ok, just deal, Sulu.” The captain said.

                Then, I’d had an idea. I lowered by mental defenses enough to hear some of the thoughts of my crew mates. I could use this to my advantage…if I could distinguish whose thoughts were whose. I had been starting to feel the strength of Chekov’s drinks quite well at this point.

                We played a couple of rounds, and Chekov was quite right, he did indeed, put me on the floor. Literally.

                “Chekov!” I exclaimed loudly through laughter. “Why did you just pick me up and sit me down on the floor?”

                “I promised to. You won dat round, so I was unable to keep it dat way. I am not in habit of breaking promise.” He shrugged, smiling largely.

                I got off the floor and gave him a light punch to the shoulder. “Not nice.” I said in mock anger.

                Everyone busted up laughing at that point.

                “You are being adorable to hit me so lightly, Aila.”

                “You are being adorable to loose so poorly, Chekov.” I returned with a mock scowl. He simply laughed at me again.

                “You two are flirting shamelessly. I say we move the game onto something else!” Jim said.

                “I am inclined to agree.” Spock said, he’d been getting frustrated at his lack of winning rounds. He didn’t understand the game because it dealt with a certain amount of luck, but one also had to have the skill of bluffing, and understand the rules and still play by them.

                “I thought poker was just fine.” Leo said. “But I need to get to bed, I have a patient coming in early tomorrow.” He made to stand up.

                “Bones! Don’t leave us yet!” Jim said, slurring his words slightly.

                “I’m just a tad bit older than most of you, I think I can determine when I’m done. Now I’ll be going to bed, like a responsible adult, thank you very much.”

                “Fine. Take your damn bourbon with you!” Jim said, grabbing the bottle.

                “I will. Thank you.” Leo grabbed the bottle and turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “Don’t drink too much more, Aila, you’re technically not even legal yet anyway.” And with that he left the room.

                “Lass? Mind explaining ta me what the doc means by that?” Scotty turned to me in question.

                I shrugged, but my face reddened slightly. “What? I’m practically 21, and I never get turned away at the bar! Besides, you all thought my birthday was the day of the talent show! Thanks for correcting them Leo. I don’t know how you knew. Even Tasha didn’t know my real birthday!”

                “I’m your doctor.” He replied. As if that was good enough.

                “You’re not even 21 yet?” Jim and Nyota asked at the same time.

                “Um. No. I turn 21 in like two days.” I admitted, realizing my mistake too late. I had just given them my birthdate.

                “Do you not read the files of new officers, captain?” Spock asked suddenly, raising his eyebrow.

                “Umm…not the unimportant stuff.” He turned to me. “You’re not in trouble, hell, I definitely can’t say anything about it, I was drinking at 13. And besides, Chekov’s barely 19 and he’s drinking.” He laughed it off and I let go a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding in.

                “We’re throwing you a birthday party now!” Nyota said, facing me with a large smile.

                “Oh god.” I moaned.

                “I am thinking I am helping to throw dis party.” Chekov said, smiling at me. I gave him a light punch to the shoulder again.

                “Oh yeah, party!” Sulu said loudly.

                “Not fair.” I moaned again, to which Spock raised his eyebrow, I was beginning to think it was his only facial expression he could make.

                “You seem to be adverse to Terran traditios, Lt. Mor.” He observed. “Why is this?”

                “I just don’t like being the center of attention. Chekov, any more vodka?”

                “Da.” He handed me the bottle and I drank straight form it, I was uncomfortable now, nothing a little bit of liquor couldn’t solve.

                “Christ, lass, you doona have to drink straight from the bottle!” Scotty cried. “I think I’m gonna go ta bed meself before this gets out of hand.” He stood up and walked to the door, no one tried to stop him, they were too busy looking in shock at me.

                “Night, Scotty.” I said looking at him.

                “Don’t get inta too much trouble, lassie.” He said, and with that he walked through the doors, leaving Sulu, Chekov, Jim, Spock, Nyota, and me to start our new game.

                “I believe I will retire to my quarters as well.” Spock said as he stood up.

                “No fun! We were going to start a new game!” Jim said loudly.

                “I think the commander has a point, I’m pretty tired myself, and it is kinda late.” Sulu chimed in.

                “Yeah, me too.” I admitted, yawning involuntarily.

                “I walk you to you room, da?” Chekov looked to me and asked. I nodded in agreement. We both stood up.

                “Aw come on guys!” Jim persisted. We all shot him a look, even Nyota. “Fine, bedtime it is. See ya’ll in the morning.”

                “Night, Sulu.” I said over my shoulder as Chekov and I walked out of the room, followed by Spock, Nyota, and Jim.

                “Night guys!” Sulu said before the door hissed closed behind us.

                Chekov and I walked towards my quarters with Spock trailing behind us. Jim and Nyota went the other way, presumably towards her room. I felt like a teenager with a babysitter with Spock behind me. But Chekov quickly made me forget my awkwardness.

                “You surprise me by drinking like a Russian tonight.” He said.

                “Ah, I don’t know, I’m sure Scotty will make me regret it tomorrow.” I dismissed him. I normally didn’t drink, but I felt like I needed it tonight.

                “So, everyone seems pretty tight.”

                “Yes, we are sem’ ya. Family.” He looked at me and saw my sad expression. “You too.”

                “Not really. You guys have been together for a while, I’m just the new guy here.” I looked away from his gaze and at my feet, suddenly feeling vulnerable.

                “No you too. You call me Pasha too. Moy drug, da? Friends.” He looked at me again and I met his gaze and smiled.

                “Pasha?”

                “Is nickname for Pavel, for friends.” He kept his smile as I stopped. We were at my door.

                “Thank you, Pasha, for walking me to my room.” Still half-drunk I stood on my tip toes and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. He smiled and blushed.

                “Always, Aila. Goodnight.”

                “Goodnight, Pasha.”

                Before I was all the way in my room I heard the quick shuffling of feet and turned around. It was Spock. He had seen the moment between Chekov and me and raced off.

                Are you alright, Spock? I asked through the open telepathic link between us.

                The only response I received was cold and clipped. Goodnight Lt. Mor.

                My heart sank for an unknown reason.