Chapter 13 – Dr. Lark

'Hello, I'm Lt. Paranov, I'm here for my routine physical,' Irina announced to the medical team after she had entered sickbay.

A middle-aged human female doctor with short red hair and freckles immediately came over to her, 'hello Lieutenant, I'm Dr. Lark, thanks for coming!' Irina was amused for a moment about her having the same last name as the author of the 'How to be a Vulcan'-book, but she actually remembered her vaguely from the day of the corona mission and that horrible accident.

'Sorry about forgetting the physical, it must have completely slipped my mind,' Irina said.

'You're not the first person doing that,' Dr. Lark responded while fetching a medical tricorder, 'please sit down on this biobed,' she said and started scanning. 'You seem to be in a good shape generally, but...some of your brain data is a bit off the usual...please lie down, I have to check this out with a cortical scan.'

Irina looked alarmed while lying down and saw the scanning tube close over her head.

'Don't be worried yet,' the doctor said soothingly, 'it's most likely just a minor reaction to something you've been exposed to recently.'

Irina tried to take calming breaths.

'Ah,' Dr. Lark said and the tube opened again, 'you can sit up.'

'What is it?' Irina asked.

The Doctor pulled over a chair and sat on it calmly facing Irina with a curious expression on her face.

'It looks like you had telepathic contact with a Vulcan or another telepathic species lately.'

Irina felt herself blushing, 'yes, I had...a bit of telepathic contact with a Vulcan.'

Dr. Lark's eyes grew wide for a short moment as if she understood what Irina was saying, then she took a quick look around and her eyes fell on another doctor treating the arm of a Bolian man. 'I think we better go to the office,' she said, stood up and gestured for Irina to walk over to an office at the left end of sickbay.

After they had entered the small office, the doctor closed the door and offered Irina a seat. The office walls were of glass mostly and Irina could still see the Bolian being treated for his broken arm or whatever it was.

Dr. Lark went over to the replicator, 'what kind of tea would you like? Or do you prefer coffee?'

'Oh, thanks,' Irina said, 'I'd like earth herbal blend number 3.'

The doctor ordered the tea and a decaf for herself while Irina was wondering what was going to be discussed, then the doctor sat down facing Irina.

'I'm sorry for prying,' the doctor said, 'but if there is a certain kind of frequent telepathic contact I may have to check out your Vulcan friend and I might have to test your compatibility, some inter-species telepathic contact can result in serious brain dysfunctions.'

'Do I have such a dysfunction?' Irina asked anxious.

'No, you're fine mostly, but your brain needs to adjust to telepathic stimuli, you might experience some dizziness, headaches and nausea if you go too deep too quickly, but there is no cause for concern from your momentary readings yet. I need to get a better picture about what is going on between you and the Vulcan though - is there...romantic interest involved?'

Now Irina was definitely blushing, 'yes...I know it sounds strange...but somehow some things have happened between us...' she stammered.

The doctor grinned, 'Lieutenant, you must know that as a doctor I've heard my share of tales...you might also want to know that I'm married to a Vulcan and worked in a Vulcan hospital for ten years, so I know a few things about their sexual behavior.'

Irina stared at her open-mouthed, 'did you write that book on Vulcans?' she blurted out.

'You mean How to be a Vulcan?' she asked.

Irina nodded.

'Yeah, and I had a lot of fun writing it, normally I only write medical articles, it can get a bit boring after a while,' she laughed.

Irina was stunned and simply stared at her for what seemed to be an eternity. Then she wanted to ask this woman thousand questions, but didn't seem able to phrase one of them in a presentable manner.

'But let's get back to you. What has happened? Has he touched your face yet?' the doctor asked politely.

Irina nodded.

'I thought so,' the doctor replied, 'have you felt dizzy or got a headache?'

'I felt slightly dizzy, but he realized it and stopped,' Irina said.

'Good!' she said and sounded like she was admiring Soltek, 'sounds like he knows what he's doing.'

Irina stared, 'you sound surprised?'

'I am,' the doctor laughed and then paused for a moment, 'you probably think that Vulcans always act reasonable and know what they are doing.'

Irina frowned.

'Well, they don't always...not when hormones are involved...and the young ones often don't know much about the telepathic actions involved in the mating process until they do it for the first time. In most cases they act on instincts and that usually works out - but there have been a couple of...medically relevant incidents especially when other species were involved...I've tried to convince my Vulcan colleagues at the hospital to start a campaign on better sex education for years, but nobody would listen to me - but that's another matter entirely,' she shook her head and waived her hand suggesting she was done with the matter and it was pointless.

'Wow,' Irina said slightly shocked, 'I had no idea...I mean I realized he was very reluctant to talk to me about stuff like this and a friend of mine found out most files on Vulcan...sexuality are restricted, but I didn't know Vulcans don't even talk about it among themselves... He told me something about a telepathic bond though. I'm not sure however I really understand it.' She looked questioningly at Dr. Lark.

'You can think of it as a form of mind meld, but with a strong erotic and emotional focus. If it works it will result in a permanent telepathic connection. That means both of you will be able to sense the feelings of each other without touching, this might even be possible without being in the same room. You will also be able to transmit thoughts and mental images to one another or mentally talk to each other, although that is much easier when you are in the same room and physically close to each other,' the doctor explained.

'Yeah, he said something along those lines...he also said this was something for married couples...?' Irina frowned.

'Well, the traditional approach for Vulcans is to be betrothed as seven-year-old children. A skilled adult performs a telepathic link, it's not the same as a full mating bond, but if it works correctly the two are drawn together as adults when their first pon farr occurs,' she explained.

'Pon...what?' Irina asked flabbergasted.

'Oh,' Dr. Lark said, 'I see he hasn't told you about that yet.'

Soltek was on his way to sickbay after receiving a call to report immediately by a Dr. Lark. Since he had submitted to his routine physical in the week of his arrival and everything had been fine he wondered what would prompt such an order.

'Good afternoon, Lieutenant!' a middle-aged human female doctor greeted him politely. 'Please have a seat,' she gestured to one of the biobeds. Since it was Saturday sickbay seemed to be completely empty but of another doctor sitting at a console in the office on the left.

'Good afternoon, Doctor,' he replied politely.

'I'm Dr. Lark,' she said and Soltek noticed that her voice suddenly dropped approximately 20.75 decibels when she continued, 'I have to do some scans on you for a reason which is of a somewhat private nature to you.'

He raised his eyebrows.

'Btw, Dr. Herler in the office and can't hear what we're saying. - I just did a routine physical on Lt. Paranov and registered some readings suggesting she had telepathic contact recently.'

He realized he might have shown a shocked expression and quickly regained his neutrality.

'She's fine, she might get a bit dizzy until her brain has fully adjusted, but at the moment there is no cause for concern. - But I have to check you out to make sure there isn't any incompatibility.'

'Please go ahead,' he answered clearing his throat.

Dr. Lark didn't miss the blush that was settling itself on his face, but judging from his demeanor he didn't seem to be under the fever. She started with a general tricorder scan to check his hormonal levels. - They were slightly elevated, but not in a way that would suggest anything else than a recent crush.

'Your hormonal levels are fairly normal,' she said in a neutral clinical tone, but kept her volume down, 'please lie down so I can conduct a cortical scan.'

He did as asked and the scanner tube closed over him.

After a few moments she said, 'well, I can see that certain brain regions have been stimulated lately, but there's no sign of an endogenous neuro-chemical imbalance and also no indication of an incompatibility between you and Lt. Paranov.' She opened the tubes and smiled at him.

'Thank you, doctor,' he replied not betraying any emotional reaction.

'If you initiate a deeper telepathic contact I strongly advice you though to submit to another control check afterwards. You should also know that a deep telepathic contact with a human can cause dizziness, headaches and nausea until both of your brains have gotten used to receive these new stimuli from another species. It might also take a while to process and order your new perceptions, especially for your human partner, who isn't used to telepathy,' she paused shortly. 'This means it might first feel somewhat off or different than if you do this with a Vulcan and it might take a while for her to consciously perceive anything you sent to her. I'd be happy to talk about this with both of you when you have reached that point, there are some ways to help your brains to adjust.'

'Thank you, doctor,' was all Soltek managed to say, he made a mental note to look up the biography and medical specializations of this doctor. Regardless from how unsettling the private nature of this conversation was, she seemed to be well versed in Vulcan medicine and comparative telepathy, quite impressive.

She handed him a padd.

'Thanks,' he responded while he took it, 'what is it?'

'Permission to engage in an intimate relationship with a member of another species according to Starfleet regulation,' she said in a low voice.

He looked at her speechless turning the deepest shade of green.

'You may go now, you have a clean bill of health, but feel free to contact me, if any problems arise or if you should have any questions,' she concluded softly.

He nodded his goodbye and didn't realize she had spoken the last sentences in Vulcan until he stepped into the turbo lift.

After he had put the permission padd into the bottom drawer of his bed stand, the thought struck him that Irina just had gone through the same set of examinations and that the doctor had gotten her information about his...involvement from her. The doctor had said that there was no cause for concern, but had also told him that her brain would take time to process telepathic stimuli and she might suffer dizziness, headaches and nausea.

He took a deep breath and then headed to Irina's quarters. When he entered after pressing the chime she was sitting on her couch nursing a clear drink from a small glass. She put it down and looked at him in a way that suggested to him something was wrong.

'Irina, I wish to inquire about your health,' he said.

'I'm okay...so the doctor has really immediately ordered you to sickbay after I left?' she asked, but her tone told him she already knew the answer.

'Yes,' he said looking at her questioningly.

'Is everything okay with your brain or did that telepathy thing yesterday do something to you?' she asked anxious now.

'Um,' he cleared his throat, 'my brain hasn't suffered any damage and the doctor concluded that we are compatible.'

She sighed, 'I'm glad you're okay...would you please sit down?'

He sat down on the other end of the couch facing her.

'I am sorry that I have embarrassed you in front of the doctor,' he said, 'I didn't anticipate...this situation.'

'That's not the issue,' Irina replied, 'erm, I had quite a talk with her after she had found out about us...and she told me...some things about Vulcans.'

His look told her that he probably knew what she meant.

'So when are you having this pon farr again?' she blurted out much more forcefully than she had wanted.

He stared at her in shock and turned into his usual shade of deep green when very much embarrassed.

She looked at him waiting expectantly.

'That...' he said stammering, 'is a very...intimate question.'

She sighed in exasperation and then added anxiously: 'You don't have it now?! Or do you?!'

'No,' he said still violently blushing, 'the doctor just checked that.'

'Oh, good,' she replied relieved, 'she told me you most likely wouldn't from what I had told her about your behavior, but she had to check it anyway.'

They stared at each other for a few seconds, then she suddenly launched herself at him giving him a forceful hug. He didn't know what was going on now...and just put his arms around her. He caught himself in the impulse to touch her skin to know what was going on inside her and quickly suppressed that impulse. She did let go of him after a while and sat next to him on the couch.

'To be honest,' she said her words coming out of her mouth in nervous coughs, 'what the doc just told me...sounded a bit scary...'

He took a deep breath. 'I still have 3 years, 6 months and 24 days left,' he said nearly not believing he had just volunteered that much personal information.

This seemed to calm her down somewhat. 'Oh, that's not very soon,' she said relieved.

He wished he could say something to put her at ease about the subject, but he was quite out of line discussing this with her at all...

'It's just that,' she said unsure, 'it's quite odd to think you'd be after me like some...sex maniac...' she giggled nervously.

At that he wasn't sure he was understanding the last English sentence correctly and looked at her in confused shock, had she just said 'sex...maniac?!' Was she really continuing this line of conversation?

'I mean,' she stammered, 'it might scare me so much...that I might not be able to put up with you.'

This discussion made his head spin. 'Um...,' he replied in utmost concentration to remain factual, 'did the doctor tell you that bond-mates experience it at the same time because it is telepathically transmitted through the bond?'

'What?!' she blurted out and gaped at him in shock, 'does that mean I'll act like a crazed sex maniac too?!'

He felt like someone had dealt him a blow to the head, this discussion had to stop...but he couldn't deny her the answers she needed, 'as you are human, I am not sure...but it is very likely that it will affect you in some way.'

'Get out!' she said forcefully.

He was confused, he had simply answered her questions – which were quite out of line according to his judgment, but he had not been the one pursuing this line of conversation.

'Please,' she added, 'I don't feel like talking right now, I need some time alone.'

He left her quarters knowing that something had gone terribly wrong, but he wasn't sure what. He had a sensation like a heavy stone was settling on his chest, something he will have to meditate about.

Somewhat later Lamira dropped by Irina's quarters to return a book. While she babbled away what she thought about it Irina went over to the replicator to get some tea. Lamira suddenly was silent for a few seconds and then broke out into howling laughter.

When Irina turned to her to see what was the matter she was holding the permission-padd from sickbay. Irina furiously fetched it out of her hands and hastily put it into the next drawer feeling a violent blush rise to her head.

Lamira was still giggling uncontrollably when Irina faced her hands on her hips.

'Does getting involved with a Vulcan include some form of assimilation?' Lamira asked still giggling, 'you actually went to sickbay and asked permission according to regulation?!'

She broke out into laughter again and then said between gasps, 'nobody asks permission! I've been with Kalm for over two years now without one of us ever asking for permission!'

Irina sighed and sat down. 'I didn't ask permission, I was in sickbay for my routine physical and Dr. Lark asked me if I was involved with a Vulcan after seeing my brain scans.'

This finally put a stop to Lamira's fits, 'Was anything wrong with your brain scans?'

'No, she says we're compatible, telepathically I mean,' Irina replied, 'btw, Dr. Lark is the author of that book about Vulcans you downloaded for me.'

'You're kidding!' Lamira blurted out.

'She worked in a Vulcan hospital for ten years and is married to a Vulcan,' Irina replied.

'Haha! That's great for you, isn't it!' Lamira cheered.

'Yeah, I guess,' Irina replied not very cheerful, 'she told me a lot about Vulcans...'

Lamira seemed equally surprised and shocked when Irina told her what she had just been informed about and then their conversation quickly turned to her confrontation with Soltek afterwards.

'Aren't you a bit hard on him?' Lamira said.

'What do you mean?' Irina asked.

'It sounds like he isn't much less confused than you...that's normal in an inter-species-relationship, Irina - Kalm and me sometimes still have weird discussions like that,' she said.

'But Kalm doesn't get this pon farr-thingy,' Irina replied not seeing her point.

'And I'm glad about that,' Lamira admitted, 'but there's also nothing Soltek can do about it, and he obviously did his best to answer your questions as far as he was able to...It sounds to me like you're simply shocked about how much more different he is from what you anticipated.'

Irina sighed crossing her arms. 'I have no idea how this is supposed to work out.'

'Honey, you don't have to right now!' Lamira said, 'believe me, you'll both find a way, you'll muddle through somehow.'

Soltek was sitting in deep meditation when his door chime rang.

'Come in,' he answered and got up from his meditation mat.

Irina entered his quarters. 'I'm sorry I blew up like this.'

He raised his eyebrows. 'Are you alright?' he asked concerned.

'I think so,' she replied and walked over to him. She came closer and closer and then put her hands around his neck. He wondered what was going to happen now. She leant her forehead on his shortly and then she started to kiss him. He didn't resist, but restrained himself from searching for telepathic contact with his hands although her face was so close to him in a maddening way.

She stopped kissing him and looked questioningly into his eyes. Then she searched for his hands. She took his left hand with her right one and placed it on her cheek. He moaned as an electrifying jolt of pleasure erupted in him at the moment a strong telepathic link established itsself through her face.

'I think my brain is already getting used to this,' she panted, 'gooooosh! Don't stop!'

He hungrily pressed his consciousness to hers, wrapped himself mentally around her and felt a very strong urge to move his hand to the delicious area under her chin and meld his whole being with her, but she kept her grip firmly on his hand and seemed fully satisfied with what was happening at the moment. Her mind felt like she was joyously inhaling the delicious aroma of an exotic flower.

Part of him suddenly realized that he was literally bombarding her counsciousness with fiery impulses and disturbingly blatant erotic images desperatly trying to reach her, which she didn't seem to realize, but the way she was enjoying whatever her perception of it was egged him on and made him unable to stop. Part of him begged her to let go of his hand and fully open up to him while another part was glad someone was still in control because his was slipping away.

Then she pulled his hand off her face, 'Soltek?' The moment his hand apruptly disconnected from her cheek felt like a much needed splash of cold water.

'Jak'he,' he babbled trying to catch his breath.

'What?' she asked, 'are you alright? - My universal translator wasn't able to translate that.'

'Never mind,' he said still panting, 'I need to meditate.'

'You don't look so well,' she said concerned, 'maybe there's some incompatibility after all and we should go to sickbay and check it out?'

That suggestion at least seemed to bring him fully back to his senses. 'That's not necessary...the doctor told me something like this might happen...there's no need for concern. But please be...careful with this kind of...contact, it is difficult to control.'

Irina gave him a curious look while making a mental note to later find out what had been the matter exactly.

'You get some rest,' she said and sneaked a quick kiss before leaving his quarters.