A/N: I am so sorry for the delay, but school has been keeping me busy. And then I kept changing the chapter because it was never good enough when compared to the first 2... anyway, thanks for the reviews and favorites, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Episode 3: She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Janice Rand gulped nervously as she stood outside of Captain Kirk's quarters. The captain had ordered her to meet him at 0900 hours, for an unknown reason. It was 0859 hours now. It was almost time.
It had been almost a full year since Rand last saw Kirk. She knew she had wanted to see him almost right away upon returning, but yesterday she had become caught up with meeting Primerose, and before Rand knew it, it was time to make dinner for Sulu (for she resumed her duties as his yeoman). She never had the time to see Kirk. Did Kirk know? Was that why she was summoned to his room?
The clock in the hallway indicated the time was now 0900 hours. Rand took a deep breath of courage and rang his door chime. "Come in." came the captain's voice.
Rand walked inside, and found Kirk at his desk, reviewing some work. "Hello Captain Kirk." Rand said. At least she sounded more confident than she actually was.
Kirk looked up and gave a warm smile. "Janice!" He stood up and walked over to her, but restrained himself from giving her a warm embrace. "You don't know how excited I was to find out you had been re-assigned to the Enterprise. I would have called you to come by sooner, but I was busy trying to accommodate the princess."
"And then you had the away mission to Pryus VII. I heard all of the details about that. How lucky you are to still be alive." Rand added in. The two gazed into each other's eyes. Then Kirk got a serious look on his face.
"Janice, I know you are working as Sulu's yeoman again, which is fine. But is there any way I can ask you to make some time to do a favor?"
"Of course, Sulu only needs me to make his dinner when he does his botany studies. I have lots of free time on my hands. What is it that you need?" Rand asked.
"I want you to help Primerose with the transition from Triplecettan culture to Human culture. I'm not sure if you met her…"
"Oh, Captain Kirk, I already have met her and spent some time with her." Rand interjected. With the nature of their relationship, Rand did not worry about assuming too much with Kirk. "I already made a decision to help her. Your Ensign Chekov seems like he means well, but he isn't exactly a woman." She then gave a knowing smirk.
"Well, then that makes things go along much more smoothly." Kirk said and the two shared a gentle laugh. "I'm glad that you're doing well. You were really missed Janice. I won't keep you much longer. Dismissed."
When Janice went out the door, she blushed deeply, and put her hands on her heart. Kirk was so much more gentlemanly than he was a year ago.
Primerose was at the turbo lift, waiting to go down to her quarters from the Bridge. The early morning shift was over. Chekov, who had arranged to change his shift to match hers, was now next to her. "Miss Primerose. Do you have any plans for lunch today?"
"No, why?" she asked.
"Would you like to have lunch with me? We could practice English afterwards." Chekov's brown eyes were wide with hope… and something else. Primerose could not exactly feel what it was, but she had some ideas.
"Sure, that sounds okay."
Chekov's eyes somehow managed to sparkle more excitedly. Which worried Primerose. She couldn't help but get nervous, like he was up to something. The turbo doors opened, and Primerose and Chekov got on together. Chekov didn't make any further eye contact with her, he seemed more interested in the floor as they made their way to Deck Six.
When the doors opened, Chekov hurried off without another word, which surprised Primerose even more. She kept pondering on the subject as she made her way to her room. As soon as the doors to her room closed behind her, and her pink-tinted lights came on, a thought occurred to her.
He's trying to propose to me.
On Triplecetta, it was normal to become married within days of meeting. You knew your One when you saw him or her. It didn't matter the circumstances. You dropped what you were planning and made time for your One.
He's trying to propose to me.
Proposal was a Human trait. On Triplecetta, you generally just set a date and did it. Humans, Primerose had learned at the Academy, dragged out the process and involved pretty gold rings, parties, and elaborate ceremonies.
"Там нет, как он может сделать мне предложение!" There is no way he can propose to me! Primerose found herself saying out loud, a habit she developed after listening to her father speak to himself when trying to cook dinner. "Он мне не один! И я должен что-то сделать, чтобы остановить его от получения какой-либо идеи!" He is not my One! And I must do something to stop him from getting any ideas!
But what does one do in a situation like this?
Obviously, she could just say no. But then that would start rumors, most likely, like how she would be a royal stiff. No, Primerose could not reject him for the sake of maintaining a good reputation.
But at the same time, she could not say yes either. Saying yes would mean she was acknowledging he was her One and following in Triplecettan tradition. So, that was out too.
Then a thought occurred to Primerose. It was risky and underhanded, but worth the efforts.
She could find a way to make sure lunch never happened. And she just happened to have the ticket to do so.
Primerose hurried over to her closet, activating a purple-tinted light. In the closet was a chest, which she dragged out. Moving aside velvet dresses and a few different tiaras, she found what she was looking for. It was a small bottle marked 'Triplecettan Love Potion'.
"Одна капля этого делает любое Triplecettan влюбиться в следующий человек, они видят, как правило, используются молодые подростки. Моя мать однажды предупредил меня об этом материале. Она не работает на людей. Она попыталась его на моего отца." One drop of this makes any Triplecettan fall in love with the next person they see, usually used by young teenagers. My mother once warned me about this stuff. It doesn't work on Humans. She tried it on my father. Primerose said to her reflection in her bathroom mirror as she mixed a few drops of the pink liquid into a cup of water. Her reflection gave a dark smile of satisfaction, although it was hard to tell if Primerose herself was really smirking that way. She picked up the cup and took a whiff. It had a sweet scent to it. "Таким образом, хотя я не хочу серьезного вреда на Чехова, я надеюсь, что он болит живот, и он не сможет присутствовать на обеде." So, while I do not wish serious harm on Chekov, I do hope he gets a stomach ache, and he will not be able to attend lunch.
Soon, the water was mixed. There was nothing strange looking or smelling about it now. But how did she get it to Chekov? She didn't even know where he ran off. Primerose decided to try going to his quarters. He might be getting ready, rehearsing for his proposal to her. She carefully picked up the water and went over to his doorway.
Pushing the button of the door chime, Chekov quickly appeared from within. Apparently he didn't want anyone coming inside. "Oh, Miss Primerose. It is not time yet for lunch…"
"О, я сожалею. Я думаю, я погорячился. Ну и дела, вы посмотрите пить. Здесь есть некоторые воде!" Oh, I am sorry. I guess I got excited. Gee, you look thirsty. Here, have some water! She then held out the water cup to him.
"Как мило с твоей, я был немного пить на самом деле..." How thoughtful of you, I was a bit thirsty actually... Chekov answered in Russian, hoping it made Primerose feel a bit more comfortable. Actually, it made him feel more at ease too. He took the cup without much thought and drank it down.
"Увидимся позже то!" See you later then! Primerose quickly ran off, proud of her success.
About an hour later, at 1100 hours, Primerose's door chime rang. Based on the fact that her senses picked up at that moment, it was obvious who was here to take her to lunch. Primerose was still in her uniform, but she changed her hair, just for the sake of variety. Instead of being up in its usual fountain-look, she made ringlets, and rested nicely by her shoulders. Her metallic pink hair sparkled with a touch of glitter added to it. She was ready. Ready for him to cancel, hopefully.
She opened the doors and was surprised to see him looking, if anything, more hyped up and excited than before. "Primerose, my sweetheart! Someone must have shot you with a phaser set on stunning!"
NO! How can this be happening? He should be sick to his stomach! But somehow, a laugh almost managed to escape her lips. She had not heard that joke before. "We should go then? To lunch?"
"Of course! After you." He sloppily motioned for her to go ahead and lead the way. Primerose wasn't sure at this point if it was the love potion that had gotten to him or was it just lots of vodka.
"And that is how the great country of Russia defeated Napoleon." Chekov was saying as the two stepped out of the turbo lift. Primerose couldn't help but have wide brown eyes and hang onto every detail. Normally she'd find a Human history lesson boring, but Chekov was so animated and acting silly, she couldn't help but want to hear more.
They soon wandered into the rec room. As they stood on the line for the food processors, Chekov turned to her, and put his hand on the wall, giving a sly grin. "I know just the right food for you to try." he said. Primerose blinked. "It is from Russia of course."
"Oh, er… sure?" Primerose was taken aback. What had gotten into Chekov? He seemed so adventurous now. Primerose suddenly had a flashback to when her mother was explaining why Primerose should never invest or use the ever-popular love potion.
"Primerose, you must remember one thing about this love potion. It is ineffective against Humans. I tried it with your father. It provides you with the love you want, not the love you need. And like all loves you may want, it is only temporary. A love you need is full time."
No wonder. Chekov was suffering from the potion, he just did not realize it yet.
Primerose snapped back to reality when Chekov gave her a tray with a bowl of soup on it. "This?" she asked quietly.
"It is known as lapsha. Noodles with a broth, in this case, chicken broth." Chekov said, setting down his own dish of beef stroganoff.
"Do you feel okay?" Primerose asked, struggling to remember some proper English sentences.
"I never felt better!" Chekov said. "Well, maybe a little tired. But I know some ways to make that better." he winked at her, causing her to blush lightly. "Anyway, how do you like the soup? Only the best right?"
Primerose took a spoonful, and sniffed at it. It didn't smell like her type of meal. Triplecettan's required a larger sugar intake than Humans. This seemed deprived of sugar. But, for the sake of preventing her problems from getting any worse, she took a sip. It wasn't bad. "Tasty." she said, her eyes downcast.
"Vhat's the matter?" Chekov asked.
"N-nothing. English still harsh." she muttered, giving a half-truth. She wanted so badly to use Russian, but that feeling wasn't as strong as the guilt of her using the love potion. What made her think Chekov would be sick from it? This plan only backfired. Now, for sure, he was going to propose to her and if she said no, he'd be sure to go crazy with some form of lust.
Chekov shrugged, apparently in this state he didn't care about her language barriers. As they continued to eat, with Primerose feeling most awkward, Chekov went off about various adventures about him taking down platoons of Klingons, outsmarting Romulans, and even training on Vulcan. Despite the fact that she knew none of this was true, and that Chekov was only talking this way because of the potion, she couldn't help but laugh and enjoy his crazy stories.
Soon, they both finished. "Shall I escort you, my lovely lady, back to your quarters?" he asked, his brown eyes flashing with enjoyment of whatever crazy thought popped into his head.
Primerose wasn't sure what to expect from this. This could be the time of the proposal, once they reached her room. But, based on the way the afternoon went, she might have been wrong. If he really wanted to propose to her, wouldn't he have done it already? Or hinted at it? "Sure." she said simply.
When they reached her quarters, they were grinning at each other. Deep inside the recesses of Primerose's mind, a part of her told her to tell him to leave now. She was almost tempted to listen, but then looking over Chekov, she felt herself starting to blush.
"Stay with me for a few minutes?" she offered.
Chekov touched a few strands of her hair, getting some of the gold glitter on his fingers. "No. There is only one thing I would like to do."
"Hmm?"
"Tribble you for some sweet kisses." He gave her a brown furry thing, but it was not a real Tribble. It was a plushie. Primerose finally gave in, and laughed aloud. Chekov blinked, as if confused.
"Alright. You did 'Tribble' me." she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
At that moment, Chekov's eyes seemed to lose the excited luster, and Primerose then realized that the love potion must be wearing off.
"Miss Primerose? Did you just…?" Chekov asked quietly, putting his hand on his cheek. Primerose didn't say anything but quickly went into her room, locking the doors behind her.
Chekov just blushed and then tried his best to remember what had happened at lunch.
