Ch 11: Nighttime Excitement

Chekov slowly made his way up the stairs leading to the elevators and entered the first one he saw with a sad look on his face. Why did he have such rotten luck with women? He couldn't even answer his own question. He sighed as the doors of the elevator began to close.

A voice called out to him. "Hold the elevator!" Chekov hurriedly turned to push the button that held the door open before it could close. An auburn-haired girl in a multicolored dress and black stockings raced into the elevator with a big smile on her face. "Ah, thank you!" She said, trying to catch her breath. "I was hoping I could catch this one… the view is spectacular."

Chekov's mouth was slightly agape as he stared at the girl. "Ah… well… zat ees okay…" He murmured. "Which floor are you on?"

"Fourteen." Chekov pressed the button for floor fourteen and settled to the back of the elevator, crossing his arms. It would figure that just as he was contemplating his inaptitude in the way of wooing women one would come bounding into the elevator with him. He decided that hiding in the corner of the elevator was the best way to deal with the uncomfortable situation.

The girl looked at Chekov and smiled prettily at him. "You're Pavel, right? Pavel Chekov?" Chekov nodded silently, still dazed by the girl's abrupt entrance and not trusting his mouth to function properly in her presence. "I'm Anja."

Despite himself, Chekov found himself repeating her name. "Anja…zat ees a Russian name. You are from Russia?"

"Yes." Anja said, her smile growing bigger. She corrected herself, "Well, my father is Russian. My mother is Swedish."

"Ah…" Chekov smiled a little and allowed himself to take in Anja's appearance. Her skin was the color of cream and her eyes a beautiful blend of green and brown. She was very pretty, and probably not much older than himself. Sure, she didn't hold a candle to Eliza's beauty, but considering she was a full blooded human, her looks still caught his attention. Chekov found the courage to inquire about her. "Are you on ze Enterprise?"

"Oh, yes." Anja giggled. "You won't have seen me around, though. I'm usually stuck working in engineering or helping out in security, so I'm a borderline hermit."

A female engineer? Chekov thought as he stared in wonder. The girl before him was quickly arousing his curiosity. Anja rolled her eyes at the look on his face. "Girls can be engineers and security officers too, you know," she teased lightly. "We're not all made of breakable china, though it seems most men wish to believe we are. Some of us actually like to get our hands dirty from time to time."

"I was not…" Chekov's face turned pink. Just as he feared, he had made himself look foolish in front of a pretty girl. He was wondering if he'd ever be able to keep his foot out of his mouth. "I – I mean…"

Anja laughed lightly and placed a soft, warm hand on Chekov's arm, deepening his blush. "Relax, Pavel," she said, reassuring the poor young ensign, "it's all right. I'm just teasing you. You know, you're rather cute when you're flustered…perhaps I should make a note to visit the bridge and tease you more often."

An automatic voice announced their arrival at the fourteenth floor. Chekov regretted tripping over his own tongue in the short time he had to impress the girl, but somehow he had managed to catch her interest. Anja looked at Chekov and smiled one last time before exiting the elevator. "See you around Pavel," she said, waving at him using only her slender fingers and giving him a playful wink. Chekov raised a hand in return and waved, watching as she walked down the hall, losing sight of her as the doors closed.

Exhaling loudly, he slumped against the back wall and slid down a bit. Navigating the Enterprise was infinitely easier in comparison to talking to girls. If it weren't for the fact he liked them so much, he'd consider simply hiding himself in his work and never talking to them. He couldn't help but smile at the encounter though; even though he floundered through most of it, it still went well.

When the elevator reached his floor, he walked out and whistled happily as he returned to his room. Maybe there was some hope for him yet.

Zaqej and Bojalena's cars emptied the instant they arrived at the hotel. Zaqej and Spock were at the center of the cluster of people that burst through the doors. Staravinius had been talking to one of his desk clerks when he saw them come in. McCoy turned to the group and yelled, "I'll get my medical equipment and bring it down. Get him to the lounge on the second floor so he can lie down!"

Chapel's attention shifted from the ghostly pale Vulcan to the fleeing doctor. "Leonar- er, Doctor!" Chapel said, correcting herself. Given the current situation, it didn't seem appropriate to refer to McCoy by his first name. "Shouldn't we bring Spock up there to your room?"

McCoy rotated and walked backwards to reply to Chapel without breaking his stride. "I don't want him to be moved any more than he already has! If that scratch has poison in it, just carrying him around could be causing it to spread through his blood faster! I need him stationary as soon as possible!"

Staravinius rushed over to the group and said, "Good gracious! What's happened?"

"It's my fault father!" Astinder blurted before anyone could properly explain. "I got into a fight with the Sins and he took the blow for me! Theca tried to scratch me but Mr. Spock stepped in and blocked it with his arm."

"If anyone is at fault, it's me," said Zaqej. "When I saw them come up to us, I should've just thrown them out like I wanted to. Instead I let them instigate a fight that never should have happened and this is the result."

"Forget about who is at fault," Staravinius said. "Come, let's get him upstairs and laid out on one of the couches as Doctor McCoy requested."

The group ascended the stairs and walked over to the area that had several large red couches usually reserved for relaxing or waiting for friends. Zaqej rushed ahead of everyone else and gently laid Spock down on the couch. His chest rose and fell at a slower rate than normal, but it was enough to determine that there was no immediate fear that they'd lose him.

Kirk crouched near him and stroked his hair, biting his lip at the cold, clammy feel of his normally fire hot skin. He counted his blessings that Spock hadn't been stone cold; at least clamminess meant he was still holding on tightly to life. He ignored the itching he felt on his tear stained cheeks and clutched onto Spock's limp hand.

"Come on, Spock," he whispered to the unconscious Vulcan. "You gotta fight whatever it is that's inside you. Come back to me, please." He tried in vain to reach Spock through their mind link, a thought that chilled him to the bone despite the mild temperature of the hotel.

The few minutes it took McCoy to reach his room, grab his things, and return to the group turned into an eternity for those waiting for him. Having Spock out in the open in his condition turned out to be a poor choice, as they were beginning to draw a small crowd of concerned crew members that had returned from the club soon after they did. At the front of the crowd were Sulu and Eliza, who held on tightly to Sulu's hand. McCoy once again had to push his way with his medical kit through bystanders to reach his patient.

"Come on will ya, get outta the way! Make a hole, make a hole!" Finally he reached the couch Spock lay on and used his Feinberger to get his vitals and readings. The small device whirled and lit up as McCoy waved it up and down Spock's body to try and find out what the problem was. The tricorder he looked at gave him results he didn't expect to see.

Kirk noticed the crease in McCoy's brow and inquired. "What is it McCoy? What's wrong with Spock?"

McCoy shook his head. "I can't understand it," he said. "I'm showing a mix between an aphrodisiac and quarternium 89 in his blood. Based on that Felisian woman's appearance, I'd be willing to bet that the aphrodisiac came from her. As for the quarternium 89, that's a dangerous ingredient found in questionable sunscreens that have been banned for decades."

Kirk and Eliza's eyes grew wide when they heard the word "sunscreens". He recalled the sunscreen that he had received from the man that tried to sell him and Spock women on the beach and immediately knew where the quarternium came from. "Damn you Spock," he muttered under his breath. McCoy quirked an eyebrow at him, catching the words Kirk had intended to only be heard by himself.

Sighing, Kirk explained. "I received sunscreen from some random guy on the beach today. I told him it couldn't be trusted since the guy we got it from looked really shady. I can't believe Spock would be so damned stupid…"

"You and me both," McCoy said. "I can give him something to counteract what's in his system, but there's no way I can tell what this is really doing to him. The mix of the two compounds has turned them into something completely foreign to me. Based on his symptoms, I have something I can try to give him, but it may not even touch what's in his system, or worse, it could do further harm." He put a hand on Kirk's shoulder and squeezed. "I know it's not an easy decision to make, but I need your approval to give it to him since you're his fiancé and he can't make the choice himself."

Kirk's vision became bleary with fresh tears he held back. The idea of losing Spock was not one he wanted to entertain, but he couldn't deny that the situation was rather bleak at the moment. He hated the idea of losing his fiancé before they could even be wed, but Spock's chances of survival would be higher if McCoy treated him than if he was left to fight alone.

Taking a deep breath, Kirk nodded and said, "Do what you have to McCoy. I trust your ability to treat patients."

"I just hope your trust is well placed," McCoy said as he pulled out a hypospray and injected it into Spock's neck. He released the breath he held and turned to Kirk. "Tonight will be the real test. If he recovers or even if his condition simply improves tonight, we're in the clear. However, I suggest that we return to the Enterprise early just in case."

"That won't be necessary Doctor," Spock said groggily. All eyes were on him as he slowly sat up on the couch, pressing the palm of his hand against his forehead. "You will find that I am quite well. There is no need to prematurely terminate the shore leave simply for my sake."

"Spock!" Kirk threw his arms around Spock and shook as the tears fell from his eyes. To his relief, his skin had a slightly warmer feel to it. He didn't understand why or how the hypospray worked so quickly, but he was glad it had.

Spock weakly wrapped his uninjured arm around Kirk while McCoy began treating the wound on his other arm. Smiling weakly, he said softly, "I apologize for worrying you."

Kirk pulled Spock away and held him at arm's length. His tear-stained face contorted in anger. "You damned well better apologize! You scared the shit out of me! I told you not to put that sunscreen on and you did it anyway! How the hell could you make a stupid mistake like that?!?"

Bowing his head, Spock simply said, "I do not know…for some reason, I felt it would be safe to use. It seems my calculations were off. I am deeply sorry for my indiscretion…"

Sighing, Kirk closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against Spock. "If we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, you've got to learn to trust me on things like this. I may not have your logic, but I'm pretty damn good at sensing things that might be dangerous."

Spock nodded sadly and said, "You have my word that I will be more trusting of your judgment."

To their mutual surprise, everyone around them applauded as if they were performing a scene from a play. An angry vein popped out at McCoy's temple as he finished wrapping Spock's injured arm. Regardless of whether the moment they just shared was touching or not, these two deserved some privacy. It was his own fault for not keeping Spock out of sight in his condition, but without knowing the extent of his injury he couldn't take the risk of moving him more than necessary.

Standing up, he began waving his arms at the crowd that surrounded them. His Southern accent flared in his irritation as he shouted, "Alright you lot, the show's over! G'won, git outta here! Don'cha'll have somethin' better t'do than meddle in other people's business? Shoo!"

Recognizing the tone of McCoy's voice, everyone grumbled as they made their way to the elevators. Hands balled up in fists that sat on his hips, McCoy waited until everyone but Astinder, Artemis, Chapel, Zaqej, Bojalena, and Staravinius had vacated the area before turning back to Kirk and Spock. Sighing, he said, "Well, if Spock really is better, I guess I can allow you two to go about your business. But I wanna see him first thing in the morning, you hear me? Don't think I won't send someone after you if you don't come find me and let me examine him!"

Smirking, Kirk said, "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. I promise I'll bring Spock over to you so you can examine him."

"You better!" McCoy said loudly. "And no extracurricular activities until I can give him a clean bill of health, you understand me?"

"There is no need to make unreasonable demands, Doctor," Spock said with a tired smirk.

McCoy closed his eyes tightly and pressed the heels of his hands into his temples. "Dammit Spock! I'm going to get you for putting bad thoughts in my head!"

The group laughed together, glad that the tension of the moment had eased. Zaqej turned to Kirk and Spock and asked, "Would you like me to carry him to your room?"

Kirk shook his head, "No, I can manage him on my own now that he's conscious again. Thank you both for your help though."

Bojalena and Zaqej bowed in unison. "No thanks is needed," Bojalena said. "We take full responsibility for what happened."

"As do I," Astinder added sadly.

Spock shook his head at the three Sirians and did his best to smile. "Do not concern yourself with what transpired. None of you could have known this would happen. The important thing is that I am well." He stood up from the couch with Kirk's help and said, "We will be taking our leave for the evening. I bid you all good night."

Everyone said their good nights and made their way to the elevators. Everyone, that is, except for the four members of the Nayvolo family. When the others had disappeared into an elevator, Staravinius turned to his children and gave a stern look. "I am very disappointed with you three. I've warned you about starting trouble with the Sins, and look what it's brought us! A Starfleet officer was almost killed in the process!"

"But Father," Astinder said meekly, "They came to us and started trouble…"

"I don't care!" Staravinius barked, causing his children to cringe, their ears flat against their heads and their tails tucked between their legs. "You three are grown adults! I'll not have you behaving like children! Astinder, I would excuse you for being the youngest, but I would have thought that being in Starfleet would teach you better self-discipline and judgment!"

Astinder gave a whimper at her father's reprimand. He scowled for a moment at his children before continuing in a deep rumble. "Fighting with the Sins like this will not bring Christoph back; it will only create more trouble for the Nayvolo family. If you can't keep your noses out of trouble I'll have all three of you sent back to Siria by force! Do I make myself clear?!?"

The three Sirians mumbled, "Yes sir…"

Now that he had gotten his anger out, he reached forward and hugged his children tightly. They returned the hug and listened as he whispered, "I've already lost one child. Don't do anything that could cause me to lose another." They nodded silently and stared at him when he released them. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Go on, you're free to go. Just…just remember what I've said."

"Yes Father," they replied in a low voice before walking away, heads still bowed down low and tails still between their legs. Staravinius sighed and flopped down on the couch, covering his eyes with his hand. At times like this, he really hated being a father…

Sulu and Eliza stumbled out of the elevator, the latter giggling as she tried to steer Sulu to his room. After seeing that Spock was okay, Eliza decided to lighten the mood between them by flirting shamelessly with him on the elevator ride up to his floor. Sulu pulled her towards a wall and grabbed her around the waist, bringing her close enough so that he could kiss her passionately.

Eliza returned the kiss with a hunger and rested her forehead against his. "I think we'd better wait until we're in your room, Hikaru…" She breathed, her face pale and her eyes bright with lust.

"Don't think I can wait…" He murmured with a grin, his eyes darker than normal as she leaned against him when they finally got into the elevator. Pressing against him seductively, she leaned close to nibble on his earlobe, eliciting a moan from him and causing something hard to press against her abdomen. Leaning back and raising her eyebrows, she smirked.

"Well, well…" She purred, dipping in for a kiss as her hand headed south to rub against his crotch. "Looks like you really can't wait…" She smirked again as pulled him the rest of the way down the hall to his room. Waiting, albeit impatiently for his card to open the door, they engaged into another long-lasting kiss before the door beeped and let them in.

Stumbling into the room, Sulu took control and kicked his bedroom door open, guiding Eliza inside swiftly and kicking that door shut also, activating the sound-proofing of the room so that they wouldn't disturb Chekov in the other bedroom.

Chekov lay on his bed staring at the ceiling when he heard Sulu's bedroom door slam shut. He clenched his eyes shut and tried not to think about the fact that they were having sex. At least they could soundproof the room so he didn't have to hear it as well.

He sat up on the bed and sighed sadly. It was hard for him to tell if he was really in love with Eliza or if he was just a horny teenager lusting after an attractive woman. Frustration at Eliza's preference over Sulu burned deeply in the pit of his stomach. Was it really because Sulu was older? Or was it because Chekov had zero skill when it came to women?

Whatever the reason was, it made him miserable. Not even the thought of Anja could make him feel better. After all, that was merely a chance meeting in an elevator. There was no guarantee that they'd be able to build a relationship, let alone get along with each other. So long as Chekov kept turning into a blithering idiot when he was in a woman's presence, he had next to no chance for romance.

He frowned at the mini bar across from his bed that mocked him. Even on a pleasure planet he was unable to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Part of him knew that drinking copious amounts of alcohol would solve none of his problems and would only give him a nasty hangover the next morning, adding physical ailment to whatever misery he had temporarily forgotten in his drunken stupor. Still, the idea prying open the locked mini bar and downing the entirety of its contents still appealed to him.

Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he stripped down to his underwear, pulled the covers to his bed back and lied down, hoping sleep could bring him some relief.

As Eliza rested on Sulu's chest, one finger gently tracing invisible patterns on his skin, he stroked his fingers through her hair sleepily. "I love you…" He murmured.

Eliza looked up at him and smiled slightly. The three small words which held so much power behind them were the last words she expected to hear from Sulu's lips. Instead of being put off by them though, she was happy to hear them and hoped he really meant them. "I love you, too…" She said softly, leaning up to leave a lingering kiss on his lips.

"Do Orions really love?" Sulu asked, more to himself than to Eliza and she sat up, looking at him.

"Yes, we can love… it's just that full-blooded Orions are not monogamous." She answered, giggling and planted a soft kiss on his lips. "Go to sleep, Hikaru…" She said quietly, her voice taking on a hypnotizing lilt that soon sent the helmsman off into a deep, exhausted sleep. Eliza smiled and got up quietly, careful not to wake him. Putting on her clothes, she quietly made her way out of the bedroom, closing the door almost silently behind her.

What to do now… She thought to herself as she walked along the thick carpet. Like any Orion, she wasn't tired after sex, her fatigue transferring itself back into energy after only a short rest. Maybe I should go and talk to Pavel… She smirked at the idea, wondering if the young Russian had gotten over his little problem. Only one way to find out… she smirked, walking over to Chekov's bedroom door.

Knocking quietly, she waited. After a minute, the door was opened and Chekov's nose stuck out of the crack that opened. Eliza smiled and said, "You'd better be careful, Pavel… you might lose your nose if you do that too often."

Chekov blinked rapidly through the sleep in his eyes, unsure if he was really seeing the half-Orion before him or not. He opened the door slightly, revealing his uncovered chest and blue boxer briefs. "Eliza… what are you doing here?"

"I just came to see how you were, that's all," she said in that musical voice that always made Chekov's heart skip a beat. "I seem to remember I left you a little… flustered…when we finished our dance."

"Oh…" Chekov's face went bright pink. "Eet… eet ees nothing." He mumbled. Opening the door a little more, he looked at the woman before him and involuntarily licked his lips. Eliza smirked as she watched his eyes darken and his nostrils flare from the mixed scent of recent sex and her pheromones. "Um…" He bit his lip, unsure of how to act or what to say. Taking a chance, he asked, "Do… do you want to come een?"

"Well, if you're inviting me…" She murmured. Chekov nodded and opened the door wider to let her pass, which she did, pressing against him as she did so. Chekov paused briefly before closing the door and watched as the woman sauntered to the bed and sat down. It took all of his willpower to not sit next to her and start kissing her then and there.

"Come and sit beside me, Pavel…" She murmured, patting the seat beside her. "I'm lonely over here."

Chekov bit his lip again as he walked toward the bed, as if drawn by an invisible magnet and sat next to her. Everything about what he was doing screamed to him that it was wrong, but it was as if he had no control over his actions now that Eliza was in the bedroom with him. She leaned over and pressed her lips against his ear. "I know you like me, Pavel…" She breathed softly. Chekov groaned and felt his pants tighten for the second time that night.

Eliza smirked and pressed the heel of her palm against him, causing him to moan a little louder. "Do you like that, Pavel?"

"Yeeessssss…." He hissed. Eliza smiled, pressing a little harder against the bulge and caressing her fingers around it.

"Would you like me to continue?" She murmured, watching his face, which was pink and flushed with desire.

"Yes…" He whimpered softly. Eliza smiled again. Chekov pleaded again, "Please Eliza…"

Eliza wasn't one to deny a man when he asked for her services and the sweet, innocent Chekov was no exception. Slowly unbuttoning the young Russian boy's pants, she lowered her head and indulged herself for the second time that night.