Chapter Thirty-Six

"But..."

"Resident, you will not 'but' me. Step back, you and your interns, and let that Andorian back in here."

Oher glanced over his shoulder, awaiting orders. Miko sighed in resignation and did as she was told, Oher backing up with the rest of the party.

"Don't be afraid, blue. Step in here."

"Thiri." He whispered as he tentatively stepped into the room.

"Alright, Thiri. Is this the captain of Avery Ryant?"

"Yes." He seemed only to be able to talk in single word sentences. Kyde had an air of undisputable authority.

"Page him." Kyde ordered Miko, and she did as she was asked. "Now Miko, what mistake did you make?" The elder of the room asked, the IV Egan had made pushed away, and the pillows restored behind Setask's head, plus one.

"No mistake, sir."

"Yes, no mistake. If you were dealing with human, Klingon, Trill, Tellerite, Orion, Romulan, and other similar, mostly red-blooded species. Can you tell me what color this woman's blood is?"

"Green." Miko replied.

"Oh, wow, so knowledgeable. You know that a Vulcan is green-blooded. What is their body temperature? Blood content? Oxygen requirement? How about the normal level of hormones for such a young Vulcan, not mentioning specific years. And she's 42, not 41."

"I don't know." Miko stammered.

"No? You don't know what the basics of a Vulcan are?" Miko shook her head. "Any of you?" The others shook their heads. "Left alone, for ten more seconds, and she'd be dead.

"Her blood is made of hemocyanin, not hemoglobin, and uses copper, not iron. She's got T-negative, the rarest type of blood, and can function properly at altitudes about three times longer than a human would have to start using oxygen on the side of mount Everest. The average body temperature is 91 degrees F, and often drops sharply before rising even faster. Increased Dopamine levels and other hormones suggest she is started her Pon Farr period."

Miko's head snapped up, her brows furrowed and eyes wide.

"That's not what I'm here for. I pass out. I have been neglecting myself, and Doctor Avery wouldn't let me leave. Something about reducing mental trauma." Setask replied evenly, wincing as she sat up.

"You were throwing up blood."

"It's called the blood fever for a reason. I'm young, and haven't gone without treatment before. Pretty soon, my fever will start evaporating my blood." Setask shrugged. "Don't give me that look of horror. I'm only half-lesbian."

"I see you're already experiencing pain. And yes, you really did just say that." Avery stepped up to the bed, checking her vital signs.

"I was hoping I didn't." Setask sucked her bottom lip and lowered her gaze.

Kyde glared at the doctors against the wall. The hurried out of the room, but she just walked to the other side of the bed. "Are you married, or are dating someone?"

"Kind of. Not really. I wish." Setask stammered. "We only had dinner."

"According to your mother, you've done less." Avery replied with a smile, while he tapped a hypo dispenser.

"Yeah. You're married, right? That's where you go every evening."

"I don't see how this applies, but yes. Have been since I was 26."

"How many girlfriends did you have before that?"

"Maybe one, or two. We were Starfleet sweethearts."

"You've always had someone there, then."

"Yes. Basically."

"Do you know how old I was when I started?" Avery shook his head. "14. The youngest a Vulcan can, because I hit puberty early! How great!" Avery winced. "I feel like I've been dating for a thousand years, because I might as well have. Nobody wants to date a Vulcan except for another Vulcan. Be we learn quick. As long as you take birth control, basically any man is willing to go into bed with you for a week."

"Don't you want, I don't know, more?" Kyde asked. "Not to pry. Sorry."

"Don't apologize unless you stepped on my foot. I've always wanted more. I just never got it. I've never dated anyone without the bedroom being the central point. Not many Vulcan's go to Starfleet, and so much is expected of us when we do. I'm not good at asking people out. I'm shameless, though. I walk up to someone and ask for what I need. They all grin and nod, and lead them away by the hand.

"I always studied, and worked, and trained. I can speak seven languages. I have basic training in five career paths. For four times in my lifetime, I was able to spare an hour, go to some bar somewhere, get laid in an ally way or someplace, and get back home by 9 o'clock, to finish homework and studying for the next day's class.

"Why have someone who will do what your skin begs them to when you can get it over with in an hour over a period of seven days."

"Wait, you can speak seven languages?" All three asked.

Setask sighed as Avery injected a much needed treatment into her IV line. She closed her eyes, leaned back and stretched out her legs until her toes forced to points. "Yes." Setask found herself in a languid sleep of medicinal, artificial pleasure given via tube.