********
Nyota dabbed at one of Dimitri's cuts with an antibacterial cloth and flinched when he swore.
"I can't believe he did this!" she cried angrily.
"Nyota," he grabbed her hands gently, "I am fine. We were just practicing, that's all."
"No you weren't. You were fighting," her voice quivering and she dabbed at another cut and he pulled back.
"Nyota," he assured her, "I'm okay."
She caressed his cheek. "But he could have really hurt you," she told him her eyes shiny with tears and her lip trembling.
He touched her cheek softly, "I am more than capable of protecting myself. He would not have hurt me."
"I really should go and give him a piece of my mind. The nerve of him!"
"I have but a few cuts and bruises, love," he told her gently and wiped away her gathering tears, "I am much better off than he."
She smiled and he continued, "After all, he has no one to look after his cuts and bruises, and I have you."
She kissed him softly on the lips and he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. She tried to be careful of his injuries but could not reign in the rising tide of her desire. Dimitri's aches and pains were forgotten as he licked, teased and sucked her lush lips. They hastily pulled at their clothes and feverishly pressed themselves against one another, passion overriding their senses as they joined their bodies together, hot breaths and tongues whirling and mixing, moans and sighs reaching fever pitch as they sought their completion together.
*******
Spock Prime listened as Spock relayed to him the day's events, his eyes filled with fear and loathing about what he had almost done.
"It is quite unfortunate Spock, that this is occurring. You feel as if she is your mate, and as such you feel this—scientist is an obstacle. Vulcans possess very territorial instincts with mates, this is—a circumstance that occurs often."
He went about the room and lit the traditional incense for meditation, increased the temperature of his quarters and motioned for Spock to sit.
"Come, we will meditate together," Elder Spock told him.
Spock hesitantly sat. "Elder, I worry that—she will choose him. I—fear that she will never forgive me for what I have done."
Spock Prime nodded. "We have both done this grievous thing Spock. But perhaps this change of events is fortuitous. I have learned that the human mind is a very strange thing. Sometimes, in order to come back to a thing, humans must first move away from it."
"I must—give her time?," Spock asked.
"Yes," Elder Spock told him, "She will come to us when she is ready."
They sat in silence as they began to meditate.
**********
Nyota watched as everyone filed in, faces grim and determined. The time was near. They would be executing their plan in less than two days. Spock walked in his face stony as it met hers. Her mouth tightened in barely disguised anger before relaxing quickly back to its former shape. Now was not the time to hash out differences.
She crossed her legs neatly and looked around the table at the various faces. Everyone picked up their dossier and looked through the detailed information.
"Okay," she began, "Now that everyone is here, let's go over the logistics." For the next hour, she went over instructions, answered questions and made final additions.
For the last two days, Dimitri and Spock Prime had worked to upload various nanites with the executable virus. The nanites would carry the virus to every available part of the mainframe, disconnecting links and changing commands.
The catch, he told her, was that there had to be someone who could get close enough to the queen to inject her as there was only one dose available. Nyota had agreed she would be that person. Security had been alerted to possible breaches and a bypass strategy had been cultivated.
Sulu and Chekov had their own teams appointed. Sulu was utilizing several newly modified cloaking technologies. His team would cloak the ship and get them close enough to execute the firewall breach Chekov had created days ago.
"Zis will allow you all to board undetected. There will be extreme vertigo involved as it will upset the natural patterns in the brain involved with balance, but Dr. McCoy will tell you all about zat. Be sure to not reset your devices."
"Phasers will be on heavy stun," Nyota warned, "This is in a sense, a rescue mission, however, we are going into hostile territory. But since we don't know what we're walking into, use your judgment. Be aware that those aboard the ship will not act as if they need to be rescued and most likely will attack."
McCoy led everyone into the procedure for preparing physically for the mission, urging everyone to stop at sickbay within the next few hours to begin a regimen to offset the balance problem.
Strategies were discussed and final arrangements from Starfleet were highlighted, and all members were made aware that failure was not an option.
The meeting was adjourned and the officers filed out, their bodies rigid with stress and tension. Nyota watched as Spock walked smoothly out the doors, giving her a cursory glance before continuing on his way. Spock Prime merely nodded before leaving and Nyota stood and stretched.
Dimitri rubbed her hands and she smiled sadly. They too left the meeting area, their minds wrought with worry of what was to come.
*****
Dimitri and Nyota made love that night as if it were their last night to be alive, to experience the world as they knew it. And perhaps, it was. Afterwards they lay gasping for air; bodies tired and exerted, eyes wide with emotion.
Dimitri traced delicate patterns against Nyota's stomach and shoulder. She shivered deliciously at the sensation of his fingertips crossing against her skin.
"Are you frightened?," she asked and he shook his head.
"No,"
"You're not?"
"I am not frightened for myself, but for you Nyota."
"Why be frightened for me?," she asked her eyes alight with barely contained emotion.
"A life without a star is a dark one indeed," he told her and kissed her temple, his fingers skimming her hair.
"If we--," she began and stopped herself, "When we make it, what do you want to do? I mean, is this just a—fling?"
Her heart thundered in her ears as she awaited his answer.
He smiled and brought her close. "I may be interested in a certain position aboard the Endeavor."
She looked at him in askance and he continued, "Nyota, being with you has been one of the best experiences I've had thus far. I would not trade it for anything."
Nyota let out a breath she didn't realize had been holding. "So have you had many long term relationships?," she asked.
"Once upon a time," he told her, "She broke my heart after leaving me for a powerful Cardassian. I thought I'd never to fall in love again. Until now."
Nyota did not know what to say, so she said nothing. She simply laid her head upon his chest and listened to the steady rhythm of his heart beating.
"When we go on this mission, promise me you'll be careful. Promise me that you'll be safe."
He tightened his arms around her and said, "I promise, love."
With that, she began drifting to sleep, her mind filled with promises of ever-afters.
*******