Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise was famous for his remarkable ability to escape from dire situations relatively unscathed. This time, however, it seemed as though he had met his match. Move by move, his relentless opponent had the upper hand, with Kirk unable to recover. Suddenly, Kirk saw his chance and made his move.
"Checkmate." He smiled smugly at his first officer, who looked a bit shocked.
"That was a most illogical move, Jim." Spock stated.
"Yes, but sometimes "illogical" is the way to go." Kirk teased. A shadow of some emotion flickered across Spock's face, although it was gone too quickly for Kirk to figure out what it was. There was a moment of awkward silence between the two men before Spock opened his mouth as if to say something.
"Jim, I…" He was cut short by the intercom.
"Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, You are needed on the bridge." Uhura's voice rang through the room. Spock got up abruptly, with the air of one who had been about to say too much.
"Spock, was there something you wanted to say?" Kirk asked. Spock, who was already in the doorway, turned towards Kirk.
"It isn't important." He said before stalking out of the room. Kirk, feeling a bit rebuffed, followed quickly.
"It is to me. You were about to say something, and if you don't tell me what it is, it is going to drive me crazy all day. Please, Spock. For my sake, just say it." Kirk said as he drew alongside Spock's tall form. The Vulcan turned abruptly, and looked a bit unsure of himself as he spoke the following words.
"I feel…something in me sometimes when I look at… a certain person and I don't know what it means, only that it is …good, I think. But I am ashamed of this…lack of stoicism…that follows whenever I am near this person."
Kirk nodded,
"And could you describe this emotion for me Spock?"
Spock turned and continued heading towards the elevator. Kirk originally thought Spock was going to ignore his request, and was about to say something when he heard Spock start again.
"I feel…warm inside, and a tightness in my chest. My heart beats loudly so that I feel I would go deaf with its roaring. I long to be in their presence every minute, and…cannot bear to be apart from them. I feel illogical but I cannot get rid of these emotions, no matter how much meditation I do at night. I feel as if all my logic is slipping into this inferno of emotion growing inside me, and that I will soon lose control and it will spill out."
Shocked at this sudden insight into Spock's heart, Kirk was silent for a moment.
"Do you know what is wrong with me?" Spock asked. Kirk shook his head and a hint of a sad smile flew across his face.
"There's nothing wrong with feeling, Spock. Especially when it is that particular emotion."
"And what emotion would that be?" Spock asked, curious.
"Why, Love, Spock. That's what you're feeling."
"Love?" Spock deadpanned. Kirk nodded.
"It's actually quite remarkable. Many people go their whole lives and never find it. You are one of the fortunate few who did. Now you just need to find out if the other person returns those feelings." Kirk said, somewhat bitterly. "May I ask who it is?" Spock stepped into the turbolift, Kirk following close behind. The Vulcan was apparently ignoring Kirk's query.
"Spock?"
"Bridge." Spock said to the lift and then it started moving.
"Are you going to tell me or not?" A slight blush spread up Spock's face as Kirk's hand accidentally grazed Spock's in the tight space of the turbolift.
" I…" Spock began, but the turbolift had reached its destination and, grateful for the excuse to avoid that uncomfortable topic, Spock stepped out onto the bridge. Kirk frowned, and stepped out also.
"Chekov, report." Kirk ordered as he sat in his command chair. Chekov turned around,
"We have come across a planet that has not been recorded insofar. Starfleet wishes for us to spend today and tomorrow to study, scan, and beam down to observe it, and then continue on our mission."
"Mr. Spock, what are your sensors picking up?" Kirk asked. Spock turned, but wouldn't look Kirk in the eyes as he replied.
"Scans show no fauna, although the atmosphere and conditions below seem to be ideal for the emergence of animals. There is, however, a large amount of flora located on this planet."
"Is it safe enough for a landing party?" Kirk wondered.
"Atmospheric conditions are very similar to those of Earth, so it is in my opinion that it would be safe." Spock replied.
Kirk nodded,
"Let's go get Bones then."
As they entered the turbolift once more, Kirk urged Spock again.
"Are you going to tell me anything about who it is?" He asked. Spock looked away.
"Is it a man or a woman?"
"He's a man." Spock replied, but try as he might, that's all Kirk could manage to weasel out of his stubborn first officer before they reached the medical bay.