Have We Been Here Before?

Chapter Eleven - Poker Face

Enterprise

Late October 2268

Spock

For the first time since Grayson's birth, he was to join the others at the poker table. Nyota would be hosting the women in their quarters. The morning of the game, Sulu reported to the bridge in agitation. His father was quite ill and not expected to live. Kirk immediately granted him leave, and helped him to make arrangements to rendezvous with another starship headed in the correct direction. Sulu took off in a shuttle craft not half an hour later. Kirk asked Spock to find another player to fill the table. Spock thought about it for some time, and then made a decision.

Kurik looked at him in astonishment. "Poker? Is that not gambling?"

"Think of it as an exercise in probabilities. You must remember each card that is dealt and calculate the probabilities of that card creating a high score hand for the holder, or preventing someone else from completing a high score combination. Each card dealt changes the probabilities."

Kurik thought deeply. "But is there not the exchange of valuables, based on the scores?"

"Only small objects of very little value. Souvenirs from shore leave such a paper umbrellas from alcoholic drinks. Pieces of candy. Sometimes even chocolate."

Kurik's eartips twitched. His cheekbones stained a light green and his breath and heartrate increased slightly. "Chocolate?"

"Indeed."

"I have never…." Kurik started, then stopped. "Have you ever tasted this chocolate?"

"Indeed. My bondmate and I have sampled it numerous times. We have found it … stimulating." Spock kept his face impassive, but he could see that Kurik was hooked. He would have to be sure that there was some chocolate in the pot tonight.

"I will participate. But only for the mathematical exercise."

Spock nodded.

"You will assist me in selecting tokens?"

"I will. Shall we do so now?" And the two men wandered off to Kurik's quarters to see what he might have that could be used.

At the appointed time, the men gathered in the usual room. Spock introduced Kurik to the others, who all welcomed him. Kurik was unsure about this, but he followed Spock's lead, taking a bottle of beer, and a sampling of snack foods, setting his 'goodie bag' down on the table and emptying it into a small pile in front of him. Everyone examined everyone else's goodies, exclaiming over some of the things they saw there. McCoy poked his finger at the small foil packet Spock had in his pile. "Won't need those for a while, huh?"

"No, as I am sure you are aware, Nyota is back on the contraceptive shots, and these are no longer necessary. I thought perhaps someone else would have more use for it." He did not miss the look in Kurik's eyes, not at all.

Scotty was eyeing the small pile of bright metal objects in Kurik's pile. "Are those titanium screws, there?"

Kurik

"Yes, indeed. They are left from a small personal project. Spock assured me that they were acceptable as bids. If this is not the case, I will remove them." He moved his hand, as if to remove the screws from the table.

"Not so fast, laddie! Those screws are perfectly acceptable!" Scotty's eyes never left them.

Kurik thought to himself that Spock had been exactly correct. Scotty was indeed fascinated. And then he noticed what the doctor had laid on the table. The odor drifted across the table and he inhaled it for the very first time. This was what chocolate smelled like! He must have that.

As the evening progressed, the other men grumbled that it was not fair, having two perfect poker faces opposite them. But it was all in fun. Kurik began to relax, just a bit, realizing that these men were offering friendship. Friendship of a different kind than that offered on Vulcan. Although he had been on this ship for five years now, he was only now beginning to unbend. Well, except for the Faire. The Faire he enjoyed thoroughly. The first year, when Spock had encouraged him to attend, he had not understood. Not until he was in the middle of the melee, in glorious battle, with everyone around him in a state of high testosterone, had he understood. And this year, after the melee, four young men had sought him out, and asked him to sit with them at the feast, and to join their catapult crew for the next year. One had been Andorian, and the other three Human. They met once a week now, to plan. His world was expanding. He thought it was for the better.

When Kurik won the pot with the chocolate in it, the chocolate pieces disappeared off the table as though by sleight of hand. They were not seen again. Kurik took them back to his quarters and hid them thoroughly, along with the small foil packet that Spock had tossed into the next pot. He would wait to use these things. He had a hope, now, that he would work on, slowly, over the next year. There was someone, someone who had caught his eye. He must discover, somehow, whether it was mutual. Perhaps he must ask Spock how this was done.

Spock

When Spock arrived home, it was to find the women in the process of cleaning up their quarters. They were almost finished, just dividing up the leftovers to take away with them. He noticed that there was a small plate of brownies still sitting on the table. Perhaps Nyota was saving those for them? He worked hard on not drooling over the delectable smell. And then he felt her, amused. Yes, ashayam, those are for us. Now go check on our son while we finish up here. He went to see that Grayson was still sleeping soundly, and moved the cradle into the living room as soon as everyone was gone. He carried the plate of brownies into the bedroom, sitting it on the chest beside the bed, and swiftly disrobed. He was leaning against the pile of pillows, rampant, the plate in his hands, when Nyota entered the bedroom. With a giggle, she quickly joined him, feeding him small pieces of the chocolate confection in between kisses and caresses, until he was quite, quite high.

When he eventually let her sleep, it was with a great sense of satisfaction. He had accomplished much today. And his adun'a was extremely pleased with him. Life could not be much better.