Thanks again for your reviews! I'm still working on the story, just have been a bit slowlier than usual because I've been busy with other stuff, but the next chapter is finally ready:
When she heard the wake up call from the computer and the lights switched on automatically Irina opened her eyes and was surprised to see Soltek lying next to her, but then the memories of yesterday sank in. She yawned and stretched and saw Soltek do the same, which looked incredibly cute. She smiled and said 'good morning' in a soft voice.
'Good morning,' he replied looking into her eyes. He responded to her kisses, but after a few he said softly, 'we should get ready for our shifts.'
'Look who's talking,' she said cheerful, 'I'm at least in my own quarters and can get out a fresh uniform from my own closet.'
'There's a certain logic to that,' he replied raising one eyebrow and tilting his head slightly, then he got up.
She protested with a groan and playfully tried to hold him back by his arm, but then she lost her grip and watched him looking for his uniform. The image of a stark naked Vulcan searching for his uniform in her quarters made her giggle. He looked at her like he knew what she was laughing about, but apparently chose not to comment on it.
She finally slipped out of the covers and stood up, but she suddenly didn't know where up and down was and stumbled onto the floor realizing how much her head was hurting. Before she knew it Soltek had her in his arms and sat her on the bed holding her.
'Are you prone to migraine?' he asked concerned.
'Uh, no,' she groaned, 'but I feel worse than after a whole bottle of vodka.'
'Must be...what happened yesterday – Dr. Lark said your brain might need some time to...adjust to telepathic stimuli,' he said.
'It felt great yesterday though,' she said smiling and gave him another kiss.
When their lips parted he looked at her wondering.
'What is it?' she asked.
'Can you feel me?' he asked.
'What do you mean?' she replied.
He moved a few centimeters away from her and then slowly rubbed with his hand over the inside of his arm. 'Do you feel this?' he asked.
She frowned in confusion, 'no, I have no idea what you're talking about.'
'I receive telepathic impressions from you,' he said, 'I can feel your headache and that you are thirsty and that you are confused about the subject I'm discussing with you.'
'You can read my mind like a Betazoid now?' she asked.
'I don't know enough about Betazoid telepathy to tell if the comparison is accurate,' he replied.
She looked at him frowning.
'I wasn't able to...control my urge to...bond us yesterday,' he explained his cheeks flushing green, 'but it might not have been fully successful...and we should check if your brain has suffered any damage.'
'It's not your fault,' she said reaching out to his shoulder. 'You had given me enough warnings and I don't regret what happened.' She leaned forward to kiss him, but the movement was too much pain and she groaned.
'I will carry you to sickbay,' he said steadying her carefully.
'No, I think I can walk if you make sure I go into the right direction,' she answered.
'Where are your fresh clothes?' he asked.
'Uniforms are there on the left,' she pointed to her closet, 'and underwear and socks are there in the second and third drawer,' she pointed to her dresser.
He found everything and brought it to her.
'Thanks,' she said, 'I think you should also dress yourself.'
He looked at her raising an eyebrow, then said, 'at least your basic sense of logic seems not to be impaired,' and returned to the search for his clothes.
The trip to sickbay was nauseating, but Soltek half-dragged her there. Irina was relieved to see Dr. Lark on duty, who immediately came over to them. Explaining the situation to another doctor might have been a bit awkward.
'Good morning,' the doctor said softly, giving them a knowing look and then turned to Irina, 'do you have a headache?'
'Yes,' Irina said.
'Sit down please,' Dr. Lark said indicating a biobed on which Soltek helped Irina.
The doctor first conducted the usual tricorder scans and then went over to the cortical scan with the bio bed unit.
'Hmm...', she said, 'your brain is telepathically overstimulated at the moment, but it should learn to deal with it in a couple of days – I can give you a pain killer in the meanwhile.'
The hypo-spray made the usual hissing sound as Dr. Lark injected Irina.
'Thanks,' Irina said.
Then the doctor checked out Soltek very thoroughly, but seemed satisfied with his readings. She prescribed a day of rest for both of them.
Before they turned to go, Irina said, 'um...we discovered something odd...he can feel me, but I can't feel him.'
'There's a good chance that it will work in a couple of days when your brain has gotten used to receive telepathic impressions,' she said assuringly, 'I can't guarantee that though, but in any case you shouldn't give up, if you are regularly exposed to telepathic contact your brain will adjust more easily.'
'Is there any specific kind of telepathy which will help?' Irina asked.
'You shouldn't try complicated stuff in the first couple of days, but there's a simple exercise you could do several times a day,' the doctor responded.
Irina and Soltek looked at her with curiosity.
'Imagine a fruit or vegetable, really focus on how it smells, tastes, looks and how it feels in your hands and send these impressions to one another,' she explained to them, 'try it with hand contact first, if that works you can try it without touch, but in close proximity. Don't overexert yourself and don't try to initiate another deep telepathic connection right now, just use what is there.' She turned to Irina, 'your brain most likely already receives telepathic impressions, but hasn't enough experience to interpret them, if you would enter a mind meld or something as deep it will just overburden your brain with impressions it still can't interpret.'
Soltek nodded and Irina said, 'thanks, Doctor'. Soltek's cheeks were still flushed and telepathic bond or not Irina could tell that he was embarrassed to discuss this subject, but he looked like what the doctor said made sense to him and he seemed to appreciate her expertise.
'So, do you want to give the telepathic exercise a try?' Irina asked sitting on the Lieutenant's quarters standard couch Soltek had in his living room while sipping a tea.
'Yes,' he replied looking up from his repair work on his broken console, 'but we should be careful not to overexert you.'
'You should watch out yourself for what you're getting, Mister,' she said smiling.
He gave her the kind of look which Irina dubbed as the Vulcan equivalent of 'oh, come on'.
'My logical abilities are sufficient to handle your human characteristics,' he replied.
'Is that why you destroyed the console?' she asked grinning.
He flushed, 'that is a matter humans still have many misconceptions about.'
'Ah,' she said, 'then let's improve our communication.'
He walked over to her and sat on the couch facing her. She held out her hand palms forward. He seemed surprised about her gesture for a second, but then figured out that she wanted him to press his palm against hers and she felt a familiar warmth spread into her as their hands connected. She crossed her fingers with his and concentrated on the warm feeling which was his presence.
'I can feel you, but it was much stronger last night,' she said.
'The impressions might get stronger for you eventually if you remember what the doctor said,' he replied in a soft voice.
'So, go on, sent an image to me,' she said impatiently.
He concentrated.
She frowned, 'I have no idea what it is...but you like it.'
'I don't like it,' he replied, 'but I appreciate its nutritional values and it has an agreeable taste. I was thinking of zali, it is a Vulcan fruit.'
She smiled, 'I still can't see it, but you definitely love its taste. You're much more sensual than I gave you credit for.'
'That's obviously a human misinterpretation of your incomplete telepathic perceptions,' he replied in a matter-of-fact-tone.
'Now, I'll try to sent an image to you,' she said and concentrated.
'Didn't we agree to limit the possibilities to food?' he said slowly in a hoarse voice.
'Why, don't you receive it clearly?' she asked in an innocent tone.
'That's not the issue,' he replied panting slightly, 'it is distracting from the task at hand.'
'But it seems to work,' she replied putting her arm around him while he started to kiss her passionately.
'Will you agree to perform a formal bonding ceremony on Vulcan,' he asked while they were cuddling on the couch.
She sighed. 'Soltek, please don't push me like that.'
'Our conduct is extremely outside defined parameters,' he stated, 'we should either perform an official ceremony or behave according to protocol.'
She disentangled herself from their embrace and sat straight on the couch facing him. 'Do you love me?' she asked.
He gave her a shocked look he hid quickly. 'Irina,' he stammered, 'this is not how Vulcan mates conduct their relationship, but I do have the deepest respect for you.'
She stood up, quickly took up her clothes, walked over to the bathroom and locked herself in.
He sat there staring at the door obviously not knowing what to do. After a few moments he walked over to the bathroom, calling through the door, 'Irina, you seem overcome by irrational emotional impulses, you should try to meditate.'
'Please leave me alone,' she called back, 'I don't want to talk right now.'
He stared at the door thinking hard. Then he dressed and left his quarters.
The story will continue, so stay tuned!