Chapter Four

Salen sat in class finding it nearly impossible to pay attention to the professor's droning. The lesson was one the physics of warp speeds, something that Salen could calculate in his head. Feeling slightly annoyed that he had to sit through this he flipped his tablet pen stylus between his fingers.

Unable to sit still he tapped his foot and shifted his weight in his chair. His skin was prickled with goosebumps from the cold temperature in the room. Feeling like he was going to freeze to death he put down the stylus and began rubbing at his arms. He barely even noticed when the lesson was over and the other Cadet's started filling out. Salen got to his feet to leave as well.

"Salen." The professor called out.

"Yes, Commander?"

"Please come here."

Nodding Salen made his way down to where the teacher stood near the large interactive screen. He stopped a few feet away and put his hands behind his back. He still couldn't keep from shivering with the cold. Salen had worked hard to learn to keep his head up high, but he slipped into his old habit of keeping is gaze on the floor.

"At ease, Salen." The Commander said sympathetically. "You're not in trouble or anything."

Salen forced himself to look at the Commander, but there was nothing he could do about the tension in his muscles. Commander Nickels looked at Salen and she flashed him a slight smile. Salen could not find it in himself to return the friendly gesture and just stared at his superior with a blank expression.

"Are you feeling well?" Nickels asked.

"I am healthy, the temperature is just a little too low for me today."

"The room is the same seventy-five degrees that it always is."

"As a Vulcan I would prefer it around ninety-five." Salen managed a slight smile.

"Well, that might not work out for any of the others." Nickels chuckled. "However, I noticed that you were highly distracted and fidgety today, something I haven't seen with you before."

"I apologize."

"I know you could teach this class, so I am not worried about your studies. However, I do want you to report to medical."

"Medical, Ma'am?"

"You say you're healthy, but Salen, you don't look healthy. You look like at any moment you are going to crawl out of your own skin."

Salen furrowed his brow and looked down at his chest, trying to figure out how anyone could crawl out of their skin. He brought his confused gaze back up to Nickels.

"I assure you, Ma'am, I am not capable of removing myself from my skin."

"I didn't mean it literally, Salen. Just report to medical immediately, that's an order Cadet."

"Yes, Ma'am." Salen replied instantly.

Salen gave the Commander a respectful nod before taking a step backwards and turning to leave. The last place he wanted to end up right now was the medical department, but it had been a direct order and he intended to follow it. Reaching medical he tapped his name into reception screen.

"Salen?"

"Joanna." Salen greeted as he turned around and spotted her walking towards him.

"What are you doing down here?"

"Orders from Commander Nickels."

"I see." Joanna smiled. "Well come on back."

"I am not in true need of a physical, I was simply ordered to report here. I have done so. I assure you I am perfectly healthy."

"Salen, I've heard men seconds away from death insist that they are 'perfectly healthy'." Joanna said sternly. "Besides it won't hurt to let us take a quick look at you, I promise."

"You are just trying to get my shirt off again." Salen smiled.

"You are cheeky for a Vulcan." Joanna chuckled. "Get your butt in here and up on the table you green blooded, pointy eared smart-ass."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Joanna smiled and held her hand out for Salen to take. Salen thought about her offer for a moment, but kept his hands behind his back. Joanna nodded in understanding and made her way back into medical expecting him to follow. Salen did follow her back into a private room.

"Alright you, off with the shirt." Joanna smiled. "Nothing I haven't seen before, anyway."

"You do not really need me to remove my uniform."

"No, I was just seeing if you would."

"Sounds like a blatant abuse of power to me." Salen teased.

"Please don't tell anyone, I just have six more months of residency before I'm eligible to sit down at the Medical Licensing Exam."

"I will not tell a soul."

"Thank you. If you could just lay down on the biobed I'll give you that clean bill of health that you need in order to get back to class."

Salen took a deep breath and suddenly fell into a slight trance. Joanna had to wave her hand in front of his face to break him from the spell. Once back to reality Salen did as he was asked and laid down. The biobed instantly went into full alarm mode causing one of the attending doctors to rush into the room.

"What is going on in here?!" The doctor demanded. "Someone having a heart attack?"

"No. It's okay, Doctor." Joanna assured. "He's Vulcan, I'm reseting the bed now."

"I see," the doctor glanced at Salen "next time make sure that you set the bed to the proper species before they lay down."

"Yes, Doctor." Joanna nodded as the doctor left.

"I did not mean to get you in trouble." Salen said quietly.

"It's not your fault, Dr. Finely is a perfectionist who is always looking for a reason to chastise us residents. It's not a big deal. Now then, just relax for a few minutes."

Salen closed his eyes and tried to follow orders, however, relaxing was something that had becoming increasingly difficult for him. He could hear the beeping of the heart monitor going crazy even after being reset for Vulcan. Attempting to lower the pace of his heart Salen tried to slip into a quick meditation, but he was unable to do so.

"Hmmmm...." Joanna mused.

"Hmmm?" Salen asked. "That is not something people like to hear a doctor say."

"I know, I'm sorry. I think I need to call in one of the other doctors."

"No," Salen sat back up "please. I am fine, I promise."

"I'm sure you are, but I'd feel better if one of the doctors took a look at these read outs."

"Please, I have had enough of being studied by doctors like a lab rat."

"Your medical history doesn't show anything other than routine physicals."

"I...I have another medical history, one that I am sure you do not have access to." Salen admitted. "Please, Joanna, just let me go."

Joanna glanced up at the monitor that showed that Salen's already elevated heart rate was starting to soar. Salen stared at her pleadingly. He forced a sad smile making him look even more pathetic. Joanna looked over the numbers from the readouts again and sighed.

"Okay, nothing here is grossly out of whack. I am a little concerned about your blood pressure, and enzyme levels, however Vulcans do have a large range of what is considered 'normal'." Joanna said reluctantly. "I'm going to let you go this time, but you have to promise me that if you start feeling even the slightest bit ill that you'll hunt me down immediately."

"I promise." Salen said with relief. "Thank you so much, Joanna."

Salen jumped down off the biobed and leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Joanna blushed slightly and brushed her fingertips against Salen's hand. Salen tensed and suddenly got an extremely predatory look in his eyes. After shaking his head to once again break the spell he'd fallen into Salen hurried out of medical, leaving Joanna behind.

Still feeling chilled down to the bone Salen headed to the gym locker room. Stripping off his uniform he wrapped a white towel around his waist and went into the large steam room. He wandered over to the back corner of the hundred and four degree room and laid down on the top tier of the step like wooden benches. Staring up at the ceiling Salen tried once more to calm his racing heart.

Eventually falling into a trance Salen began to lose track of time. It wasn't until he heard a group men laughing that he jolted awake. He glanced over and saw Trevor Langin and his friends enter the steam room. They hadn't noticed him yet, but he knew there was no way out without going through them. He turned away as Langin caught his eye.

"What have we here?" Langin smiled. "A Vulcan basking in the heat like a mindless lizard in the sun?"

"Fuck off, Langin." Salen growled.

"Did you just swear?" Langin chuckled. "Not very Vulcan of you."

"I am not feeling particularly Vulcan right now, so I suggest you just leave me alone."

"And if we don't?"

Rather than answer Salen slowly sat up. He glared spitefully at Langin, tensing his muscles to increase their definition as he curled his lip in a wolf like snarl. Langin and his five friends hesitated to step further into the steam room for a moment. Shrugging off his initial fear Langin stepped closer, stopping about five feet away.

"You know my father paid to have your wretched family murdered."

"I do know, I was there."

"You should thank him, he did you a favour. If Admiral Pike hadn't taken pity on you and taken you in you'd never have ended up in Starfleet. His rank is the only thing that got you in here."

"I doubt that. It would seem that Starfleet's standards are slipping...or else they would never have accepted you." Salen shrugged. "Although I guess every military needs a few junk yard dogs to throw into the front lines. If you are lucky your death will be more honorable than your life."

"Where did you get those scars, little Vulcan?" Langin tried shifting the conversation to something he felt he could win.

"Your mother." Salen answered with a vulpine grin. "She is rough, but she is a good time."

Salen had no idea what had made him say the vulgar insult. All he knew was that for once in his life he wanted nothing more than to fight Langin. He wanted Langin to throw the first punch so that if charges were brought up he'd be on the side of self defense. Langin did not disappoint him, with his face screwed up in rage he threw himself at Salen.

Jumping to his feet Salen freely allowed Langin to strike him. Licking the green blood off his lips he smiled brightly and returned the favor. Punching Langin right across the bridge of the nose Salen felt the bone break beneath his hand with a satisfying crunch. Langin was knocked completely off his feet and landed hard on his back, blood gushing from his nose. His friends looked to one another, but no one was willing to be next.

"I'll 'ave you trown out ob da Acadamy for dis." Langin sputtered in an unusual accent due to the swelling of his broken nose.

"Really?" Salen raised a skeptical white eyebrow. "You are going to the heads of the Acadamy and tell them that you and five of your friends couldn't defend yourselves against a single Vulcan?"

"Dis isn't ober, Wulcan." Langin growled as he got to his feet.

"I will take a rematch right now if you would like. You can even include your friends, I do not mind."

Langin and the others looked over the half naked Vulcan and decided better than to engage him in a fight right now. Salen was disappointed that Langin was backing down. Rolling his eyes he stepped forward. The men moved aside and Salen went over to the showers without any further trouble.

Washing the sweat and blood off Salen still felt a great deal of pent up aggression. Clenching his fist he slammed it into the shower wall, cracking the sturdy tile into a spiderweb pattern. Looking at the damage a slight smile touched his lips. He hadn't realized just how strong he'd become over the past month. Leaving the shower he changed back into his uniform.

Salen walked outside and was surprised to find it dark out. He looked over at the glowing time on the nearest building's display and discovered it to be fairly late at night. He had spent nearly ten hours laying in the steam room before Langin had disturbed him. Which meant he had missed the rest of his classes for the day.

As Salen walked across the campus it began to rain. The cold rain was refreshing against his heated skin and he did not hurry to get in out of the gathering storm. He thought he was walking aimlessly, but eventually he arrived at the women's barracks. It was a little late to be visiting Joanna, but Salen's desire to see her had suddenly become almost painful. He walked up to the door and touched the screen that would call to her room.

"Hello?" Joanna answered sounding sleeping.

"I am sorry, did I wake you?"

"Salen?"

"Yes."

"You missed our appointment at the pool." Joanna chastised lightly. "Are you okay?"

"I do not know. I think I need to see you."

"Of course. I'll come get you."

"Thank you."

Salen stood at the door, waiting for Joanna to come and let him in. She had hurried down to greet him, her hair was down and mussed from being woken. The cold rain had ceased being refreshing and was now causing him to shiver once more. Joanna opened the door with a look of horror on her face.

"Salen, you're bleeding."

"I am fine."

"Fine? It looks like someone hit you."

"They did." Salen admitted. "I got in a fight."

"Salen...that doesn't sound like you at all."

"It is not me. I do not know..." Salen trailed off as he looked around vacantly "I do not know what is happening to me. I think I may be paying the price of not working harder to control my emotions. I...I should leave."

"Absolutely not. You're acting like you have a concussion."

Joanna took Salen by the wrist and dragged him in out of the rain. She lead him to her room and had him sit down on the edge of the bed. She dug a towel out of her closet and wrapped it over his shoulders. Salen looked around the room, he'd never been there before.

"Where is your roommate?"

"Medical students don't have roommates at the Academy, we keep such odd hours that it's just best this way."

"That is logical."

"So...who were you fighting with?"

"No one of consequence."

"I hope you hit them back."

"I did."

Joanna smiled and brought over a small medical kit. Salen couldn't keep himself from staring at her as she gently tended to the cut in his lower lip. He could hear his own pulse thumping in his ears. When she was satisfied that the worst of the bleeding had been stopped Joanna reached out and brushed Salen's wet white hair out of his face and tucked it behind his pointed ear.

An electric shiver ran down Salen's spine as Joanna's fingertips brushed against the tip of his ear. Breathing in her delicate scent Salen's eyes rolled back to nearly white. Alarmed Joanna put her hand on his cheek. Salen lashed out and carded his fingers into Joanna's dark hair and pulled her into an aggressive kiss.

Not resisting at first Joanna put her palms against Salen's chest. She returned his unexpected affection until she realized that she couldn't break free. Panicking she began to fight for freedom and pushed hard against his chest. Her struggle only served to enhance Salen's triggered instincts.

Still keeping her locked in the kiss Salen forced her onto her back on the soft bed. Joanna tried to cry out despite the face that Salen was still locked onto her mouth, but he interrupted her by pressing his weight down on her. Grabbing the collar of her shirt in both hands he tore it open effortlessly. Joanna continued to escape however Salen easily kept her under control with his inhuman strength and by bitting down on her lower lip.

Trembling in fear over the violent turn in events tears streaked from the corners of Joanna's eyes. Desperate to deter what was doubtlessly about to be a violent rape Joanna reached up under Salen's uniform shirt. Digging her long nails into his shoulder blade she raked four bleeding gashes down the length of his back.

Gasping in pain Salen instantly released his victim. She was just about to scream for help when Salen scrambled off of her and slammed himself into the far corner of the room. Joanna sat up slowly and looked at her attacker. Salen wrapped his arms over his stomach and dropped to his knees as he began dry heaving and gagging on bile.

"Sa...Salen?" Joanna asked shakily.

"I am sorry...sor...sorry...I...I..."

Joanna's fear quickly became replaced by concern. Salen was trembling almost as violently as she was and he couldn't seem to stop retching. Confused Joanna slowly got to her feet and moved towards him. Salen looked up at her, his eyes widening in fear when he caught sight of her torn shirt and the red and green blood that stained her lips.

"No!" Salen cried in alarm as he pressed himself harder into the corner. "Stay away from me...I...I do not want to hurt you!"

"Then why did you?"

"I...I do not know...call for help, I am not to be trusted."

"I don't understand."

"Nor do I..."

Salen's panting turned to hyperventilating. Joanna saw the signs of someone about to pass out, but she wasn't quick enough to help. Salen's eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the floor. Joanna stood frozen in indecision for a moment. Looking over at her bed she pulled her sheets off and tore a long strip out of one of them.

Walking cautiously over to Salen she pulled his wrists behind his back and tied them together as securely as she could. Grabbing her pillow she lifted up his head and slipped it underneath to make him more comfortable. Panting even in his unnatural sleep he jerked as if locked in a nightmare. Looking down on him it was difficult for her to believe that he had just attacked her.

Taking a deep breath to try and calm her nerves Joanna thought about what her next move was going to be. Going over to her desk she started tapping codes into the glass computer desk top. It took a few minutes for anything to happen, but eventually a familiar voice came through the communicator.

"Enterprise, Dr. Leonard McCoy here. Who is this? This is an emergency only channel."

"I know, I didn't know who else to call. I...I need help."

"Joanna?"

"Hi, Daddy..."