Into the Wild Black Yonder
Chapter Thirty-six - Staggering Through
On the Enterprise
Early January, 2259
Nyota and Spock
They woke up, slightly disoriented. The com link was quiet. They looked at each other. No new crisis? Was it possible? They stretched stiff muscles. Perhaps they had been so tired that they had lain unmoving for hours. Nyota looked and saw uniform pieces strewn over the floor. Even Spock's. That really said how tired they had been. "What time is it?"
"It is 0700. We have slept for ten hours. Undisturbed. I cannot say when I have slept for that long a period of time." He shook his head. "Nor left my clothing on the floor all night. We were extremely tired."
She sat up and swung her feet over the edge of the bed. "I need a shower."
He pulled her back against him, his face against her neck. "Not yet." His hands moved down her body. "I have other needs."
She sighed and rolled over to face him, snuggling up against his warm body. "We're very likely to be interrupted."
"I shall not answer." His mouth was busy on her neck. "Let them wait a few minutes."
"Only a few minutes?"
"Nyota. Hush." His mouth closed over her, tongue demanding entry. She sighed against him, hands moving up to cup his face, body moving against his, willing.
The com link chimed loudly, demandingly. A frantic voice issued, requesting urgent assistance. He snarled at it, cursing vividly. She sighed, touched his mouth with her fingers, rolled away from him and asked for details.
***
They showered quickly. She put on the one clean uniform she had in his closet. Was there even one left in her own closet? Among other things, laundry demanded attention. When was she going to get any time to do it?
Off down the hall they went. Crisis averted, they finally got to the mess hall just as the serving line was being cleared. Eating perhaps too quickly, they headed for the ready room to finish logs begun before yesterday's last crisis.
***
The Eridani wanted fresh sand. The Gohpahlti wanted extra bedding, saying it was too cool at night. Another short lesson on the environmental controls was offered. The Pili-Pulim needed grit? This one took a while to figure out. And even longer to find a substance which could be used. The necessary fineness was difficult to establish with known words.
They managed a two-hour break, during which they ate lunch and worked on their logs.
The Eridani requested that their harnesses be cleaned in preparation for arrival. Who knew how to clean leather? Urgent announcements over the intercom produced crew members who had experience with horse tack, but, of course, not the proper equipment. Further searching eventually found acceptable substitutes.
The Gohpahlti demanded fresh air. Stunned, they could not find a way to explain that this was not possible. The demand was repeated. At wits' end, Nyota finally thought to add floral scent to the air supply flowing into their quarters. They were appeased.
The Pili-Pulim requested another demonstration of the ka'athyra. Ka'athyra and stool in hand, water bottles waiting outside the door, they complied. They received profuse thanks, pealing song.
Shift end. Supper. Talking with friends. Walking back to her quarters. Collecting laundry.
She leaned against him, tired. Warm arms encircled her, hands stroking her back. A shower? Oh, yes. Standing in the hot water, relaxing. He reached for the shampoo, massaged her scalp. Oh, that was nice. She returned the favor. He purred at her. She smiled, kissed the side of his mouth, set the shampoo bottle back on the small ledge, reached for the shower gel, checked to be sure it was not the cinnamon one. He made a small sound of amusement. I am ready for some cinnamon, k'diwa.
Not until this is over. Much too tired to enjoy that.
Too tired? "Are you too tired, Nyota?"
"Not too tired, just too tired for cinnamon." She had the shower gel in her hand, squeezing some out. "Turn around."
He was glad to comply with her request. There was still unfinished business from this morning. Her hands stroked his back, kneading softly in the muscles, rubbing lather over him, rinsing it off. She stooped, worked at his calf muscles. He sighed softly, "Harder, there is a knot there. Better, yes." His sigh was almost a purr. She patted his bottom, letting him know she was finished. He turned around and took the shower gel from her. She turned her back to him, pulling her wet hair over her shoulder. He leaned over and kissed the back of her neck, bit very very gently. She moaned softly at him. His hands stroked her back, massaging the suds into tired muscles. She twisted and stretched, working out the tightness. So much better. His hands cupped her bottom, teasing. She sighed, easing herself back against his hands. Nice, nice. His mouth found her neck again, nibbling, hands still on her bottom, shower gel forgotten.
From the other room, the sound of the com link. Hands tightened for just a moment, then released. "Nyota, this is not acceptable."
"Hush. We can't hear it in here. Go back to what you were doing."
He looked at her, incredulous. "But.."
"I'm serious. I cannot hear that. Not even a little bit. We left people on duty who have been studying everything we have done all week. Let them handle things just once."
He wavered, not sure what to do.
"Spock, if they can't handle it, they'll call us back. And then we'll go see what we can do. But we deserve at least a shower uninterrupted. We've been on the run for six days and I'm just exhausted."
"Perhaps you are correct. But if they call back, we must answer."
"Yes, I do agree."
He retrieved the shower gel, turned her about to face him, spread suds onto her body. Warm hands caressed her, making her soft and ready. Carefully he washed her face, gentle touches with fingertips. He rinsed the soap away, leaving her face relaxed and glowing at him. She smiled, her eyes half-open. She took the shower gel from him and squirted some out into her hand. She spread it over his chest, her fingers tangling in the dark hair, squeezing gently at his nipples, making him groan. She spread her fingers over his belly, one fingertip invading his navel, then traveling down the line of hair leading to the treasure he kept for her. She was about to close her hand when the com link sounded again. This time it was she who cursed. He heaved a very audible sigh and shut off the water, stepping out to grab a towel before answering. "We will be there shortly."
He turned back to help her out, bent down, his face almost touching hers. "Remember where we were." His voice was not much more than a breath. She lifted her face to his, brushed his lips with hers, feather light, promising.
***
They quickly dried off, dressed, headed down the corridor. Stopped outside the Gohpahlti suite. Respectfully announced themselves. He stood slightly behind her, as was proper for this group. The door opened. A wave of cold from the room encompassed them. There was no light in the suite. The group of delegates huddled together, surging out into light and warmth. What had they done to the environmental controls? Inside, they went immediately to the control panel. The plate had been removed, there were sparks within. Much damage had been done. Spock called immediately for technicians. They went back out into the corridor, talking, soothing, promising quick repair, again re-iterating that repairs should not be attempted - if there was a problem, please, please let the security guard know. Again they assured, there were no men in the guard on this suite, not at any time. Spock was very careful to stay behind Nyota at all times, to let her take the lead. From time to time, he did feed her suggestions, phrasing. Being his father's son did occasionally come in handy.
Repairs made, lights back on, heat flowing in, the delegates returned to their suite, emptying the corridor. Technicians gathered up their equipment, returned to their labs. Security formed up again, guarding the door, the corridor. They were free to leave, to return to their own quarters.
***
Once more the uniforms came off. This time hung up with care. They didn't have anything else clean! The laundry would not be returned to them until tomorrow. They tumbled into the bed, wrapped around one another, wanting, but so tired now. Perhaps just sleeping. Perhaps in the morning. She lay her head upon his shoulder, draped her arm over him, threw one leg over his, sighed, and was asleep. He nestled his face into her hair and drew in her scent, wrapped his arms about her and relaxed. One breath, two...sleep.
***
The com link chimed. They struggled into alertness, dressed quickly, headed down the corridor.
***
Breakfast did not come until 0900. Her stomach was growling by then. Of course there was nothing available on the serving line at that hour, so she dithered in front of the replicator, finally settling for fruit and toast. And hot tea. Ah, that felt good sliding down her parched throat. He sat beside her, very similar items on his tray. It was quiet in the mess hall, almost no one there at this hour. Maybe they could just hide out here for a while. They dawdled over their meal, hoping for no more emergencies.
When they could delay no longer, they headed for the ready room. There were logs to update, records to forward to the ship they would meet in a few hours. Those were barely finished when there was an urgent subspace call from that other ship, wanting more information. They were modifying the quarters to be assigned to the delegates, based on the records that had been sent. They needed more information, if there was more. Two hours were spent in consultation, discussing every facet of the care given to all three groups.
Lunch was brought in at the captain's request. Very nice, thanks. They sat and ate and updated the other department heads. Gave many thanks for the quick reactions to the needs of the delegates.
***
At long last, it was departure time. They went first to the Gohpalti suite, escorted them to the transporter deck, bid them farewell, waited until they had been transported. Waited for the all clear from the other ship. Off down the corridors to the Eridani suite. Announced themselves, escorted the delegates to the transporter deck, bid them farewell, waited until they had been transported. Waited for the all clear from the other ship. Off down the corridors to the Pili-Pulim suite. There waiting, was an electric cart with a flat sled behind it. They announced themselves. The door opened. Waiting technicians carefully strapped anti-gravs to the nestbox and brought it to the sled, setting it down carefully, removing the anti-gravs. Who knew what exposure to that might do to the developing egg? The egg-layer carefully positioned itself over the egg, keeping it warm. The other Pili-Pulim ranged themselves around the cart. Slow procession down the hall. Careful arrangement on the transporter pads. Two of the Pili-Pulim went first, then the remaining three and the nest box. They waited for the other ship to confirm safe arrival, then relaxed. Finally.
Back to the ready room. Final logs prepared, filed. There was the captain. "Take off, you two. I don't want to see your faces for the next forty-eight hours." They had no intention of arguing with him, none at all.