Disclaimer: Paramount owns Enterprise and everything connected with it, except Tia Anlor (Tee-ah Ahn'-lor), who belongs to me and I'm not sharing. (G)

This is the 15th story in this series, the others being 'Golden Girl'; 'A Few Words'; 'Glistni'; 'Small Time'; 'Acquisition'; 'What Do I Do Now?'; 'For Want of Kilyiis'; 'Daasii'; 'Noblesse Oblige'; 'Roses and Thorny'; 'Time and Again', 'House of Cards' and 'Starlight Maiden' and 'Armageddon'. This story begins about two days after the conclusion of 'Armageddon', and concludes the story arc begun in 'Time and Again'. Tia has been on the Enterprise for almost seven months.

Rating: PG

Luuru

By JMK758

Prologue

Captain Jonathan Archer leaned back in his chair in his Ready Room, looking with satisfaction at the image on the computer screen before him.

"To Jonathan Archer; Commander, USS Enterprise; From Starfleet Command; Permission for 1 standard solar week layover for R&R at planet Risa is hereby granted."

Short, to the point, and very sweet indeed. It had been a long time since the crew had enjoyed any real down time, and Risa was reputed to be the vacation capital of known space. Its natives did not have many planetary resources, but they knew how to be hospitable, and that alone resulted in a level of tourism and trade that kept the planet and its people well provided for indeed.

A standard week. That was enough for each shift to enjoy two days and three nights, or three days and two nights, on the planet. The remaining shifts would, of course, have to work 12 hour days to make up the difference for their fellows, but with the ship in orbit there was little for anyone to do, so even 12 hour shifts would not be much of a burden.

And after everything that this crew had been through just two days before with the madness on Eminiar VIII or Vendikar, they were vastly in need for some relief.

The only down side was that Risa was about ten days away at warp 4. Well, he'd tell the crew anyway. After all, anything good was worth waiting for…

Chapter One

Recreation

When the announcement of a week of R&R, even split among three sets of three days and two nights or vice versa, was made Archer fancied he could hear a collective cheer go up through the huge vessel. He wondered, had he had been gripping the armrests of his chair just right, if he could have felt the vibration? He knew all information on the planet was already compiled in the computer for general reference, and speculated on the rapidity of downloading and the inevitable bottlenecks that would occur.

He decided, as an item of interest, to have T'Pol monitor computer access for a while. After all, when almost ninety people suddenly became intensely interested in the very same thing at the same time, it was bound to have a measurable effect on computer performance.

If he only knew just what sort of things interest in this subject was eliciting…

---

Dr. Phlox was just finishing with his Medical Log entry for the day when the doors to the Sick Bay slid open. He regarded his visitor with an impressively wide smile. "Come in, Tia. What can I do for you?" He looked down at the slight young woman, noting the shortness of her white dress that clung to her in ways that would have some of the male portion of the crew interested indeed. But now she faced him with a measure of apprehension unusual for the sprightly Auran.

"I for my supplement have come."

"You're about two days early." He reminded her, slightly curious. He knew she had no problem keeping track of the days. "Are you feeling weak?"

She did not want to tell him, if she could possibly avoid it, how alarmingly close she had come just two days ago, to a disastrous end to her administering of her own medication. It had led, all accidentally, to a nearly fatal overdose of a formula intended to stave off the effects of luuru, but had nearly killed her instead. She had lain on the deck of her quarters for an entire night and awoken shaken and starving, forced as a result to take an immediate dose of that triply damnable concoction she'd created.

"Weak no. But a supplement would I like." His curiosity was increasing.

"You know perfectly well that if you don't need it, your body won't use it. It'll just be wasted. In fact, some parts would be dangerous in too great a quantity."

"Nyas. Wasted it will be not." She looked about. "Doctor, privately see you may I?" He looked around the room. Except for his animals in their various cages, they were quite alone.

"You can't get much more private than this." He said pointedly.

"Actually, we can." She said with a small smile. He understood her request, turning to a control panel. He activated a certain sequence of buttons, and then addressed the young golden woman in Denobulan.

"Is this what you wanted?"

"Yes, it is. Thank you." Several weeks ago, when she was suffering from an Auran biological ordeal known as dasreer, he had shown her that he could set up a private circuit hooked into the Universal Translator. It would translate their words for one another, but to anyone outside the room they would be speaking in their native languages. Granted, anyone who wanted to could break that privacy with ease, but he had found that there was a high measure of integrity among the crew of this ship that would keep their words private, so long as what was discussed did not harm any others or endanger the ship. "I have a special favor to ask."

"And this would be?" It was unnerving. His lips did not move to match his computer-enhanced words, but it was those words she heard in Auran, not the Denobulan originals.

"I would like an examination. A complete examination." He shrugged.

"That's hardly a special favor. In fact, in your case I'd call it a necessity." She hesitated, unsure and apprehensive.

"You can tell?" He shook his head ruefully.

"Young lady, I am not only a passable physician, but the Great Bird of the Galaxy has invested me with an excellent pair of eyes."

"Great bird….?"

"Never mind. A facetious reference. The point is that even if I were not a Doctor the changes in you are quite apparent to the eye. Your coloring is the most telling thing at the moment. I wonder that people have not mentioned it to you."

"They have not." She held out her golden hand. Her skin was an even deeper gold than it had been a mere two days before. "I attribute it to their courtesy. Some I doubt have noticed."

"I'm sure Commander Tucker has, even if he hasn't said anything yet. I'm sure at this rate he will within about a day."

"I do not know how I can avoid it."

"I presume you know what is happening?"

"Oh, I know, indeed." She answered ruefully, the tone coming over quite well in Denobulan. "I've been trying to hold it off, but I can only do so much. Now that we are going to Risa, there is no point. We are ten days away, and I can be ready in ten."

"I was only wondering when you were going to come in on your own or if you were going to oblige me to send for you." He took her hand and examined it closely, front and back, then the other; then looked at her face and neck, told her to open her mouth, examined her eyes and ears, then stepped back and folded his hands over his chest. "So, will you give me the full story in one sitting, or oblige me to play the human game of twenty questions?"

She thought about the question for a moment. "I have grown fond of several human games, but this time I think I would like to tell all. Especially since I can not get through it alone."

She reached into the pocket of her dress, and he already knew from the shape of the bulge in the snug material what would be in her hand when she opened it. He was not disappointed to find one of his spare hyposprays in her palm. "Yes, I was wondering when you were going to return that."

"You knew?"

"Young lady, I take special care of everything in this Sick Bay. In fact, I had just completed an inventory not half a day before your last visit, and less than a half hour after you were gone I found that it was also."

"You did not report me." He shrugged dismissively.

"I knew where to find it if I needed it. I trust you put it to good use, and that you're ready to explain yourself now?"

"No, and yes." She handed him back the hypospray. "I tried to hold back the luuru, but I cannot"

"The luuru?"

"Remember when the dasreer was upon me, and you asked if there was anything else in my nature that might come up to surprise you?"

"Yes."

"I think this will."

---

That evening, Trip left the Engine Room late, having spent quite a bit of time on preventative maintenance. He wanted to make sure that the engines functioned at peak efficiency. He did not want anything at all to delay their scheduled R&R some nine days away.

As he got off the turbolift and walked down the long corridor to his quarters, he became aware of something out of the ordinary, rather like being watched. He didn't know what it was that made him look over his shoulder, but when he did he stopped. About ten meters back, Tia Anlor slowed to a gradual stop. She was wearing a very short, very attractive white dress that seemed to hug her body with great affection in all his favorite places. "What, are you following me?"

"Daai." She said softly, smiling coyly, teasingly.

"Why?"

"Yvet dupris akiir Li edalyas."

"Mosti?" He asked the Auran word for 'what?'" She slowly closed the distance between them, and when they were together she looked up at him, slowly and sensuously licking her lips.

"I said 'enjoying the view I was'." She whispered warmly.

"Well…" He began, not quite knowing how to answer that. It sounded more like something he would have said. "Thank you. How are you?"

"Lonely, Shar-les." She said softly, reaching up, touching his chest. "I lonely do like being not." She stepped even closer, very close, both hands on his chest, her fingers trailing along the red piping on his uniform as she looked up into his blue eyes. "Are you … lonely?" He smiled, putting his arms around her.

"Not anymore."

--

Trip lay on his bed, feeling extremely contented. He turned on his side, head propped up on his hand as he looked down at the girl beside him. Her long golden hair was fanned out over the pillows and off the bunk, and her golden skin was still suffused with heightened color. "'A golden treasure more precious than riches'."

"Mosti?"

"Just something I read once."

"Would you change it?"

"I beg your pardon?" She picked her head up to look more closely at him.

"If something you about me could change, what it would be?"

"Nothing." He assured her, somewhat surprised. "I wouldn't change a thing about you – ever."

"But if change some thing about me, what would you?" She persisted.

"I told you, darling. There's nothing about you I would change, even if I could." She put her head back down and was silent for a long moment.

"Is that what meant you when do cut my hair not you demanded." He shook his head.

"No, princess, I was crazy then; out of my mind. I'd just seen all of you killed, every last one of you, and the only difference I'd noticed in any of you to give me a clue as to when it happened was that you had short hair." He touched her neck near her shoulder to emphasize, noticing with a small smile as a fine tremor went through her. "I wasn't thinking clearly at all."

"Because if change I were, some things be helped can not." Her eyes, as she looked up at him, were clearly troubled.

"Why do you sound like you need my permission? Does this have something to do with that 'muren alarky et aveyon' you call me?" She looked up at him in surprise, and burst into delighted laughter. "Moorunyan atarky at avanyan?" She laughed even harder, turning away and covering her face as she was reduced to helplessness in her mirth. "Mouran alakee at avenyon." He tried again, firmly sure that this time he had it, only succeeding in reducing her to further hysterics as she leaned further away from him.

"Vlis. Qualsia vlis!" (Stop. Please stop!) "Hurt me will you!" She tried to say over her laughter.

"'Tis as easy for me to conquer the planet as to speak so much more Auran'." He misquoted. "'I shall never move thee in Auran except it be to laugh at me'."

She looked over her shoulder, barely able to ask "Mosti?"

"Something from 'Henry V' when he was trying to woo Katherine. I remember it from last year's play O'Cathain got us to do. That's a story and a half." He said wryly. "But the point's the same." She managed to get her giggling under control. She lay back again, looking up at him.

"Mrunion Alirki ne Avinyaan." She told him, pronouncing it distinctly.

"That's easy for you to say. But won't you tell me what it means?" She smiled, blushing slightly.

"Nyas. I will nyasi."

"Okay. Keep your little secret." He slapped her lightly on her shoulder. "But does that have anything to do with your running any 'changes' past me?" She nodded, losing her smile.

"It could. Some have."

"Don't. Don't ever lose control, not even to me. In fact, especially not to me." She smiled again.

"Do want to control me you not?" Her smile grew even more suggestive. "There some great pleasures are in a willing, beautiful slave."

"I don't want a slave. And I've all the pleasures I want." He declared firmly, coming down to kiss her. The kiss lasted a very long moment as he moved his hand up her bare body, then cupping her intimately, but when he pulled up again, leaning over her, there was nothing in her eyes. "Do you really feel nothing?" She shrugged sadly.

"I sorry am, Shar-les. Truly I am. Wish could I feel what you do. Learned from others what they feel; your women. Liz and Hoshi much tell me. But … sorry I am. Pretend I could, but …" He shook his head.

"Don't ever pretend. That's like faking an orgasm." She looked up at him curiously.

"Why would one an ilyassua fake?" She wiggled her bare hip against him. "The real thing so good is." He shrugged.

"It's what some women do." She looked at him, astonishment giving way a moment later to uncontrollable giggles.

"'Kid' you do me." She said when she could speak again over her laughter. "Makes sense that does nyasi." He shrugged, kissing her again. Her mouth opened slightly to his, their tongues dancing sensuously, but long moments later when he looked in her eyes, there was no fire there.

"You sure you feel nothing?"

She shrugged. "Feel it I do, particularly my tongue, but … Asked Liz I did and … feel it I do nyasi." She shook her head sadly. "Sorry I am. Men and women," she shrugged, "they different are."

"Especially human men and Auran women." He said with a wry smile.

"Sorry I am."

"No. Don't be. Not when I know what you do feel." He ran his fingertips over her left wrist and her eyes flew open as she gasped.

"Now that do I feel." He kept stroking her wrist lightly, tracing several centimeters along her pulse. "Daai. That do I feel!" She whispered urgently. "Right to my sulyas!" She gasped, shifting her hips in emphasis. "It like there you me touching are." She gasped, her body undulating uncontrollably on the bed. "You that know!"

"Yes, I know. I also know that you feel this a lot more." He bent over her, his lips pressing to the side of her neck.

"Shar–!" She gasped, even as she turned to him to give his lips better access to the side of her neck. She gasped again, moving about on the bed, unable to lie still as searing waves of pleasure chased each other up and down her body. "Nyas, Shar-les, nyas. Vlis. Stop. Vlis! Control myself can not. Please!" He added gentle licking to the kissing and she cried out in unbearable joy. She gasped, moaning and writhing about on the bed, clinging to him, each breath punctuated in cries and moans of unbearable pleasure. She could not keep from pressing her body against his, her body undulating uncontrollably against his as she pressed against him.

"Nyas, Shar-les. Unfair are you. Ah. Please. Qualsia! Tupris! Please. Oh. More no. Sul nyas!" She writhed against him, her hands reaching for him despite her words. "Please. Vlis. Stop. Qualsia! Oh, what language use I difference it makes not; you listen not!" Her normally cool body was now hot indeed as she pressed even closer to him, her hand coming down to reach for him. His own hand came up to cup her hot breast, his thumb teasing her. "Shar-les, I control myself when this you do can not. You my pringlee touch, my alyes touch and --- oh!" He gently squeezed her and she almost screamed, moving desperately against him. "Shar-les. Mercy have. Kylranti muur! Qualsia! Sul nyas!" She could barely speak, her breath coming faster and faster, every breath a gasping moan, her voice rising in pitch and desperation. His other hand reached down, tracing past her quivering stomach even as she moved against him, as his hand moved lower to her hotter, more intimate flesh as her own hand grasped him harder, her chest heaving with her passionate cries.

"Shar-les, I – I - Oh Shar-les, nyas. Please, nyas. Qualsia no. Oh, mercy have. Mercy! Kylranti! Kylranti! Too good. Feels too – too – too –" She was starting to tremble, and when he touched her moistness she arched her back, head thrown back as she shrieked "SHAR!"