Chapter 6 – Unwinnable Situations
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Kirk felt that he was showing remarkable restraint as he watched her glide around the bar toward Spock and the Vulcan the rose to meet her. He had kept himself from saying anything and was, not, in fact, banging his forehead on the bar counter.
Bones was following in Spock's wake, grinning like a Cheshire cat, and Kirk decided he should join the doctor and find out what he knew that Kirk didn't. By the time he got there, Spock and the woman had stopped within arm's reach of each other.
He raised his hand in the ta'al. "Sochya eh dif, S'lina."
She also raised her hand in the ta'al. "Sochya eh dif,Spock." she said in flawless Vulcan.
They reached forward to each other, crossing hands at the wrist and touching palms. Both seemed to relax slightly and their eyes took on a distant look.
Kirk's jaw dropped. In an effort to understand Spock better he had been reviewing his notes on Vulcan culture and customs. He recognized this as el'ru'esta – the Vulcan form of a public embrace, usually reserved for family or t'hy'la.
"Who is she, Bones?" he whispered to McCoy.
"Damned if I know, Jim. Just a moment ago Spock was acting like he didn't want her to see him." Bones inclined his head toward the duo. "Now it looks like they're pretty close. He said something about her being a relative, but from looks of things, I'm guessing 'kissing cousin'."
Kirk couldn't help swearing in his head. Two of the most beautiful women in the quadrant were both on this station, and both of them were not only, clearly, not into him; they were fixated on Spock.
Uh-oh. Two of the most beautiful women… "Wonder what Uhura is going to make of this?" Jim ventured.
"I don't know," McCoy said, nodding toward to lounge entrance, "but I think we are about to find out."
Standing there, with a couple packages on her arm, and staring at the scene across the room was Lt. Uhura.
To be continued…
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Note: 'Sochya eh dif' according to VLI is 'peace and long life', an alternate greeting tho 'Live long and prosper.'
And I apologize in advance if a busy weekend keeps me from posting more tomorrow.
