** I suck at science, so don't judge me if I don't make sense about how space works. Just nod your head and smile. Thanks. lol. **

Spock sat down the bed. He began to pull off his boots. "I suppose I remain unable to see the logic."

"You never seem to find logic in anything I do," Skylar pointed out as she leaned against the vanity. She pulled the thick silver hair tie that kept her lengthy black hair up in a high pony tail from her shimmery locks.

"You are a human. That is a decent argument from my standpoint."

Skylar's reflection gave him a look. "You know, for once, I'd like to win an argument against you instead of climbing into bed and ignoring you for the duration of the night." She promptly pulled her uniform tunic over her head and tossed it to the ground. "That is until you disappear after I've fallen asleep."

Spock watched the fabric fall. "You are not used to losing in a sparring or phaser match. I believe you have a healthy desire to succeed this way in all that you do."

Skylar unzipped her pants. "That's right." She stepped out of them. "Losing would get me nowhere except killed. I had to learn that growing up, and I have to install that in my men now."

"An interesting motto, Lt.," Spock stated. "However, I do not believe precision of aim or 'street smarts' as you call it will grant you victory in every hindrance in life; one must also have logic to calculate means to avoid physical and violent avenues. Humans are always prepared to fight physically despite the fact that many problems can be solved in a diplomatic manner."

Skylar, now bare-chested, pulled a black tank top over her torso. "Oh yeah? Try telling that to the asshole pointing a gun at your face," she retorted, walking toward the bed. "Trust me, Spock. I'm always willing to discuss issues. But I'm not going to waste my breath on someone who already has their mind made up about what they're going to do with their trigger finger." She slipped under the blankets next to him. To his back, Skylar added, "I'm the Weaponry Master on this ship, the Captain's number one body guard and general of ground crews. I think the red shirt alone gives you the fact that in my world, logic is shooting first and shooting accurately. If not, you die. The captain dies. Thus, the Enterprise dies."

Spock waited a moment. He turned, seeing Skylar staring up at the ceiling. "Are we having a quarrel?"

Not looking at him, she replied, "I am. You're not. You're Vulcan, remember?"

"The thought has yet to slip my mind."

Skylar sighed. She turned her head toward him. "Spock, if this is going to work, you need to realize that I'm not Vulcan, nor will I ever be Vulcan. I am always going to be my emotional, illogical human self. I don't want to fight with you every time we get time off together."

"I believe the argument goes both ways." Spock pulled his tunic up over his head.

"What are you doing?" Skylar asked softly, watching him. "I thought you were going to win a round of chess."

Spock stood and began to unzip his pants. "I have accomplished that already, tonight at the tavern."

"I know." Skylar watched the Vulcan as he climbed into bed next to her. "But you'll be bored all night while I sleep."

"If boredom finds me, I'll play another round."

"Or you'll sneak away to the Bridge and make-out with that scanner of yours."

"That is ridiculous statement, Skylar. I am merely intrigued by that asteroid belt."

Skylar laughed softly.

Spock reached out and touched Skylar's face. "I promised you I would stay the entirety of the night with you. I intend to see you wake in the morning. I shall even dress with you and walk you to your deck."

"Aww, you're so considerate," Skylar cooed and pulled him into a kiss. When they parted, she traced his lips with her fingertips slowly, her dark eyes following her nails. "I've missed you."

"I have desired to see you in this manner," Spock confessed, taking her hand into his.

Skylar smirked. "I think we're breaking some Vulcan codes of conduct here." She felt his lips press against her fingertips. "But then again, we're not the most conventional couple."

"Fermented beverages correlate with our unconventional pairing."

"I never thought passing out in the arms of my Kobayashi Maru instructor after mistakenly grinding on him thinking he was an equally drunk Jim Kirk at that Crescent Club would land me in bed with him on the Enterprise a year later."

Spock pulled her against him, his hands clamped onto her hips. "Despite our continual student-instructor appointments?" He pressed his lips against hers firmly.

Inside, Skylar's heart skipped a beat. As logical and calm as Spock was around the rest of the crew, and even her when they were working, Skylar was well aware of that humanistic fire that brought about a rougher handling. She had never felt threatened by these actions; she was, after all, the most skilled fighter on the ship, right under Spock's Vulcan attributes. She could handle rough in every sense of the word. It just happened to be exciting every time.

Breaking the kiss, Skylar mentioned, "Hey, I legitimately scheduled time with you for academic purposes, like with the whole thesis you wanted me to write that you thought was amazing and then gave the crappy grade on, that you then used against me to get me to take the Kobayashi Maru because you couldn't find another cadet to run the phasers for Jim's third attempt at your ridiculous test which in turn made me miss the shuttle for that bounty hunter seminar I really wanted to go to."

"Which was completely logical. Your skills were much needed here. And if you remember your statement about not thinking that you would end up here in bed with me, my actions set off a string of events that led you to this current situation. Had I let you waste your talent and knowledge at that seminar, none of this would exist."

Skylar smiled at him. "Wow. For once, your logic makes sense."

Spock raised and eyebrow. "I suppose that means I've won another one of our arguments." Before he could say another word, Skylar pulled him against her and they kissed passionately.

:::::

Jim bit into the apple, its sweet juices forming at the corners of his lips.

"And Lt. Takashi is definitely the one do program it, sir," Scotty said with a nod of his head.

Jim nodded. With a full mouth, he looked back at Spock. "You hear that, Mr. Spock? Lt. Takashi can have your scanner running a thorough analysis while correlating that information with the recorded reports of this area over the past one hundred years."

Spock stood tall, placing his arms behind his back. "Efficient and the programming sounds simple enough, Captain."

Jim and Scotty exchanged a look.

"Simple isn't necessarily what I'd call it, Mr. Spock," Scotty stated, slightly put off. To Jim he said, "I'll send her up immediately, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Scott," Jim replied. He stood and walked toward Spock, who sat himself in his chair. "Lt. Uhura," Jim called, looking toward the young Nyota who was monitoring channels as per usual. "Report."

Nyota turned to the captain, her slender hand connected to her ear piece. "No change, Captain. Frequency is mostly dead, as it has been since we crossed the barrier of that belt."

Jim nodded. "Thank you." He rested his hand on the back of Spock's chair. He turned toward the helm. "Mr. Chekov, Sulu – anything within range?"

Both Sulu and Chekov turned. "Nothing, Cap'ten," Chekov replied.

"Course is set on manual, no change in core temperature; all systems are stable, sir," Sulu finished with a smile.

Jim patted Spock's chair. "Excellent. We are smooth sailing for now." He looked down at Spock, who had now folded his arms over his chest. "Oh crap. Maybe I spoke too soon, Spock?"

"I pick up nothing indicating any life or planetary masses at all, Captain. I am troubled."

"Explain," Jim said.

Looking up at him, Spock continued, "I am unable to explain from where the belt is deriving its gravitational rotation. We have yet to establish that source."

"I am more than positive we will find something soon," Jim replied. "After all, we were sent here to update the preexisting data. Starfleet will be more than happy to hear about the belt. With Takashi's help, you'll be able to put the pieces together. Then we can chart a course towards that."

"My speculation is a planet of some sort," Spock offered.

"And you may be right, Mr. Spock. But we cannot draw conclusions through speculation. We may find something else. Regardless, we'll have something worthwhile to report." Jim clamped a hand on Spock's shoulder. The Vulcan did not respond. Usually, Spock gave some kind of indication that he acknowledged Jim's physical contact – more or less uncomforted by it, to Jim's amusement. But this time, Jim noticed that Spock appeared to be as far away from the Bridge as was the source of their asteroid belt's gravitational pull. "Take a walk with me, Spock," Jim said quietly. "There's a lot of beeping on this deck."

Spock stood and he and Jim headed toward the turbo lift. "Mr. Scott," Jim said as Scotty stood over an ensign at their station, "Have Lt. Takashi begin programming as soon as she arrives."

"Aye, Captain," Mr. Scott responded as the turbo lift doors closed before Jim and Spock.

"Spock, what's up?" Jim asked.

"The rotating cyl – "

"No, Spock," Jim interrupted. The lift stopped and the doors parted, opening up to a quieter, less populated deck. They began to walk leisurely down the hall. "You don't seem like yourself today. Did you rest?"

"Quite comfortably, Captain."

"Are you and Skylar doing okay, if you don't mind me prying." Jim offered him a smirk, to which Spock gave no expression.

"If you are referring to the status of our relationship, yes, we are. We had an intriguing discussion last night. I believe we both gained insight from it."

"Have you been mulling over it since?"

"Indeed."

Jim laughed. "You'll find that Earth women have that effect on most males. The ones who care for them, anyway." There was a moment of silence between them. Jim looked at Spock thoughtfully. "You do care for her, don't you Spock?"

"I find her fascinating and intriguing," Spock answered. "She is predictable and unpredictable at the same time, which hardly makes any sense. I understand that she is quite fond of me."

"Well, spending that night in each other's quarters does tend to create some kind of fondness, I'd assume."

"And you'd assume correctly, despite your current lack of experience with the fondness created by such bonding techniques."

Jim's brow furrowed. He looked at Spock who seemed unaffected by what he had just said, so he straightened up his shoulders and coughed. "Thanks, Spock," he retorted. Before Spock could say anything, he continued, "So, what's there to think about then? You've got it good: a feisty, caring young woman who bonds well with you in the bedroom. I think that's simple enough, even for your Vulcan mind."

"A Vulcan would find that illogical."

"Okay, you're half human yourself. Your mother was human."

Spock stopped. Jim turned to him. "Jim, this has nothing to do with Skylar's Earthly heritage. I am talking about the length at which Skylar and I have remained unbound to one another."

Jim cocked an eyebrow. "Unbound?"

"Yes. I have found Skylar to be suitable for quite some time now. Despite our differences, she is unlike any being I have ever met. My intention with her is to mate. It has been so, and so the logical step – which should have already been implemented at a sooner time – is to marry her."

Jim stared at him. "Marry Skylar?"

"That is correct."

"On my ship?"

Spock nodded. "Yes, Captain."

"So you're going to propose to her?"

"That is the formal way of doing it, yes."

"When?"

"As soon as possible," Spock answered. "That is what has been distracting me from the asteroid belt."

Jim smiled. "How discreet your distraction is could be classified as a talent, Mr. Spock."

Spock nodded his head. "Thank you, Captain."

Jim placed his hand on Spock's shoulder. "Well, if there is to be any mating to going on on my ship, you will need to propose to Skylar, and I in turn will marry you both as the very first marriage on my ship." Excitement hinted itself in Jim's last few words as he squeezed Spock's shoulder. "It would be more than an honor to do so."

"You think it wise to propose immediately?"

Jim nodded. "Spock, you cannot keep the girl waiting. It's every girl's dream to marry the guy of her dreams! And to have a little dream house and kids." Jim chuckled. "Well, that's the dream of every girl outside the species of Skylar. Your best bet is to leave out any mention of dream houses and 'mating.' I highly doubt Skylar is going to go for that right now."

Spock gave Jim a quizzical look.

Jim's communicator beeped at him, and wearing his grin, he answered it.

"Captain, Uhura here."

"Go ahead Uhura."

"Captain, I've picked up some irregular static activity on all frequencies. The helm is also responding to what is almost equivalent to turbulence."

Spock and Jim eyed each other. "We haven't felt anything, Leiutenant."

"The turbulence is too low to register as any threat to the ship at this time but it does register on Mr. Sulu's scanner whenever one of the frequencies experiences the static."

Jim replied, "Uhura, continue to monitor it, I will be up shortly. Kirk out." Closing his communicator, Jim said to Spock, "Go ahead and run down to Deck 5 and tell Skylar I'll need up to the bridge to monitor phaser systems - just in case."

"Yes, Captain."

"Oh, and while you're down there, it may be the right time to …" Jim paused, smiling again. "I'll allow you time to … you know, have the talk. Go ahead and fill her in."

Spock nodded. "I shall so, Captain." Spock headed down the hall.

"Good luck," Jim called after him, appearing satisfied with himself. He then proceeded to the turbo lift.