Many thanks to my wonderful beta, TheWindowView.
Took me too long to get the next chapter done, but I wanted to post this before I go traveling for the next few days with limited access to a computer. Where I'm going it will be hot and dry, just like a certain home planet of a character we all love. Or I'm assuming we all love, since if you're reading this...
Anyways, please read and enjoy! All comments are welcome!
In the captain's ready room, Nia paced.
Kirk watched her warily, while Spock just watched her.
Wena finally arrived and settled sown in a seat almost immediately. She eyed the pacing woman. "Sorry you had to wait; Layla is more comfortable with females than males right now." The pregnant Paladian had flat out refused to let McCoy touch her or perform any kind of examination so the man had grudgingly requested Wena's help while Nia was still recovering from fainting.
When the doctor had returned to reexamine Nia, the Paladian scientist couldn't help but laugh at the smug look on her friend's face as she left McCoy's side.
When McCoy had finished his final check, Spock had taken Nia first to her lab, then to the captain's ready room. Kirk had arrived in very little time, and the trio had only been waiting for a few minutes when Wean showed up.
Nia tentatively sat down next to her friend as Kirk cleared his throat, a clear indication he wished to begin.
"Now Dr. Verde," He started with Wena. "I have been informed that you might be in possession of vital information on the situation with the Paladians?"
"I don't know about vital," She answered "but I have some information. Mainly what was released to the general public."
Kirk prompted her "Which is? Specifically?"
"Specifically?" Wena snorted. "They didn't give us specifics. We were told that the Palad-side team conducted a study that concluded that the effects of the parasite were expanding exponentially. A huge amount of our crops were degrading and NiPila was opened for settling."
"NiPila wasn't open previously?"
Nia answered this question. "No, it was still being charted and had only a few small colonies for research purposes." Sensing Kirk's next question, Nia continued speaking "I had heard about NiPila being opened, but I wasn't given the reason. I assumed it was a decision over my, um, 'pay-grade'."
Spock addressed Wena. "Is the colonizing of NiPila the only current answer for Palad's citizens?"
The half-Paladian nodded. "It is. It's volunteer basis, with minimal compensation for what those who leave everything behind. The owners of the farms that have already been irreparably damaged were the first to leave, and those areas quarantined on the recommendation of a few entomologists."
Kirk sighed. "And you were given different information than the scientists working on Palad?" He asked Nia.
She shrugged and stood up again. "Apparently, though without comparing my data" she gestured to her tablet currently sitting on Kirk's desk "with theirs, it is impossible to know for sure." Frustrated, Nia ran a hand roughly through her hair as she continued to pace. "All the information I have was sent to me through Starfleet channels. There should still be official record of the documentation I've received."
Kirk nodded. "I'll be checking in on that. It'll be good to have the evidence in our possession, or at least confirmation that it exists."
"What other news is there from Palad?" Spock inquired.
Wena huffed. "Don't look at me. I haven't been on the surface in two months and obviously the reports being sent to the rest of the Federation are incorrect. Any news I might have heard since I left would be the same."
"Yeah," Nia scoffed "and we all know that I didn't have access to even half of the data Starfleet had on the research taking place on other planets until I boarded the Enterprise." Something that probably had to do with her crew and not denying the prestigious flagship anything her crew wanted.
When Spock's attention turned to the captain, the blond man nodded. "Something else I'll be looking into. Anything else needing to be brought to my attention?" He asked.
Wena held her breath as she chewed her lip and Nia frowned.
"At this point, I just want to know why such important information was withheld from me, and if anyone in Starfleet or on Palad was behind it. I want to know why, if Starfleet knows this was such a dire situation, that there are only two scientists working on this problem. I want to know why Palad didn't have more people working on this." The steam seemed to rush out of her. "None of this makes any sense."
"No," Wena agreed. "It doesn't."
It was then Kirk decided to level with the two women on how the process was going to work. They deserved that much at least. "Now, don't take offense to this, but both of your claims are going to have to be thoroughly checked out. I'm not saying either of you are lying, but we want to prevent someone else from claiming that. Besides," this smirk was more rueful than any other Nia had seen "I'm sure we are all secretly wishing for Dr. Verde to be mistaken."
"Not secretly." Both Nia and Wena spoke. They shared a quick glance between them, before turning their attention back to the captain.
No one mentioned the fact that it could be just that Nia had made a mistake. One that was dearly costing her planet.
The women were shortly dismissed with vague assurances that everything would be taken care of.
Still in the ready room, Spock stared at his commanding officer. "Captain, I saw no reason to lie. Why did you do so?"
Kirk frowned. "When did I lie?"
"You told the women that a satisfactory solution would be reached. The chances of doing so-"
"Spock, don't. I already know." Kirk interrupted him. "The chances of this development ending well are slim. Telling them that would not help anything." He stood to look out the window for a moment, as if to find hope in the stars. "Paladians are illogical beings. As such, they know I lied, but are willingly to accept that lie. For now."
"To do such a thing does not make sense. One cannot change the truth; it is illogical to willingly believe a lie." Spock argued.
Not knowing how else to respond, Kirk shrugged. "What can I tell you, Spock? It feels better."
Quietly, Spock disagreed with the use of feeling in such a situation.
"Besides," Kirk said "I don't believe it was really a lie. We're going to figure this out. Right, Spock?"
In her quarters, Nia paced.
Sitting on her bed, Wena watched her friend pace. "Can you please sit down? I can't relax with you all wound up like this."
Nia winced. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a bother." She grabbed book and tried to force herself to settle down. Her foot started bouncing. "I'm just going to-"
The comm system for her quarters came to life with a rather agitated Dr. McCoy. "Medical Bay to Verde."
Wena jumped up from the bed. "Verde here. What do you need, McCoy?"
"Layla's here. I could use your… experience."
Wena grinned. "I think you mean expertise." She could hear him snort. "One pregnant Paladian tamer on the way." Frowning, Wena paused as she rethought her statement. "As in she's the pregnant one to be tamed, not me. Since you know, that could be taken the wrong way and I'm not pregnant. Not that I have anything against-"
"Verde, if you don't stop talking and get your ass down here…" He let the threat hang.
"Sorry, on my way."
Turning around to leave, Wena caught the look on Nia's face. "Not a word."
Nia struggled to maintain a straight face. "I didn't say anything."
Wena scoffed. "Since when do you have to?" With a quick goodbye, the brunette grabbed and put her shoes on and ducked out the door.
Nia just shook her head as she left, and went back to reading. Or tried to. Her mind kept wandering from what she was reading to the conversation earlier. The last statement from the captain bothered her. Was he just trying to give her hope, in a hopeless situation? The captain was famous for not believing in 'no-win' scenarios. He was also a Starfleet captain. Did he know something she didn't?
As more question spun through her head, Nia was also rational minded enough to know that her anxieties were beginning to make her irrational. She had no place to judge the captain. None at all and it avoided the real issue. She was failing Palad.
Annoyed, Nia snapped her book shut, set it on the table, and stood. Resuming her pacing, Nia tried to calm down. She'd go to the gym, but at this point she really didn't want to face anyone and explain why she was so agitated.
An hour later, Spock was knocking at the door. He could hear music playing and therefore knew that Nia was inside. Dr. Verde he already knew to be occupied in the medbay.
Unfortunately the music Nia was listening to was loud enough that she must be unable to hear him. Just as he was going to leave, since he could not justify the use of the override code, Wena appeared in the hallway.
Seeing him standing in front of her quarters, Wena slowed down her steps until she was close enough to hear the music. Rolling her eyes, she gave him the pass code before turning around and retreating down the hall the way she came. "Just keep the door open. It's a Paladian thing." She told him just before she disappeared around the corner.
Promptly, Spock used the code and entered Nia's quarters to find her wearing a path in the carpet with her pacing and the flipping of pages was almost frantic as she read.
For a moment, Spock only watched her. He was uncertain how to make his presence known without startling her.
Finally, he decided to outright ask a question. "Who is the artist you are playing?" He asked. "I have not previously heard them."
Nia looked up from her book in surprise, not startled. "Spock," she said with a smile before hurrying to turn down the music. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I inquired as to the name of the artist you are playing."
"Ah." She said, smile widening some. "I'd be surprised if you've ever heard of her. Her name is Loreena McKennitt and she's a 21st century Terran artist."
"21st century? Do you have an interest in the time period?" If he recalled correctly, the time period had produced a significant variety of musical types.
Nia shook her head. "Not the time period, no. Just this style interests me and it can be a little hard to find." She told him. "It's very similar to the majority of the music enjoyed on Palad."
"Then it is a reminder of home."
"Not really." She shook her head. "It's more a reminder of Earth."
Stepping closer, Spock's gaze dropped to the floor. "You are agitated." He stated.
Nia's eyes followed his gaze and she blushed. "So I am."
He stood directly in front of her. "May I suggest a solution?"
This is a bad idea. Why, oh why did I ever agree to this?
It had taken Nia barely twenty minutes to change and meet Spock at the sparring mats, and had taken that long for Nia's excitement to wear of and her survival instinct to kick in.
Stretching, Nia watched him. He almost seemed to be meditating before the match. She'd heard of something similar from other, more serious, martial arts instructors that she hadn't fought with for fear of being permanently damaged.
He was dresses in standard Starfleet workout clothes, though Nia was certain that shirt was not as form fitting on Sulu. And those hideous sweats were looking… not so hideous.
Nia felt a little ridiculous standing in front of him with a dark tank and bright purple shorts. Really, she should have thought out her workout outfit better. Not only was Spock going to wipe the floor with her, he was going to look better while doing it.
Because she was watching, she got a great view of exactly how graceful Spock was as he stood. The control and ease of movement with which he moved was something to be respected and it nearly too Nia's breath away.
Again, she wondered if sparring with Spock was such a good idea. It was doubtful that Kirk would have the same control and grace of movement as the man in front of her and she would have the added benefit of superior strength and endurance. With Kirk, she could possibly avoid looking like a fool.
With Spock, she was in trouble.
"Do Vulcan's spar often?" Nia asked curious. She'd heard someone once say that Vulcan's had sworn off all fighting, but to Nia the mere existence of Vulcan martial arts disproved that notion.
"It is a way to maintain physical prowess." Spock said by way of answering.
This first match, Spock was not going to be teaching Nia a martial art. This first fight, they were fighting however they were comfortable.
Spock settled into a universally recognizable fighting stance as Nia stepped into another.
The match was on.
To combat her anxiety, Nia made the first move by lashing out with what would have been a devastating blow had it connected. Her kick missed, but she continued the move with a snap and –
Missed again.
The jab aimed at her solar plexus came way too close for comfort.
In surprise – that was much faster that she was used to with Sulu – Nia looked up at Spock's face.
All too late, Nia realized her mistake when she felt a leg hook behind hers and she was shoved to the mat. Impact knocked the breath out of her, but Nia regained it quickly as she scrambled upright.
As she predicted, Spock was already moving to strike her when she stood up. Nia was forced to employ some fancy footing to dodge him, and nearly lost her balance as she did so.
Finally, she landed a hit on him, but he recovered too quickly for it to be on any use to Nia.
"You are not using your full strength." Spock observed.
Nia winced. "I held back with Sulu. Didn't want to accidentally kill him."
"Logical, but if you ever fighting a true enemy holding back may get you or someone else killed." He told her as her knocked her back to the mat, pinning her with his body. Only a move requiring all her Paladian strength to counter his Vulcan strength would get her out of the position she was in.
She huffed. "Point proven." She grunted as she twisted to try and pull out of his grip.
She achieved little by the effort save to force him to focus his strength on the grip he had on her arms. Nia used this focus to her advantage when he reflexively flinched away from the knee that brushed a rather vulnerable part of his anatomy.
Planting one foot firmly on his thigh, Nia was able to push and knock him off balance enough to get free.
He rolled away from her and leapt lightly to his feet. "I do not know that move."
"Neither did Sulu. It's just me trying to break free by any means necessary."
"A valid concept."
Sometime while the pair was rolling on the ground, Kirk had shown up. For the most part he watched and laughed, rarely he shouted out suggestions to Nia on how to best take Spock down. She usually ignored him, but the times she used his suggestion successfully the captain near danced in glee where he stood. By watching the match so closely, he could see her strengths and weaknesses from an outside perspective, something that might help the Paladian later on.
Another Paladian noticed this and quietly took offense.
Kirk never noticed the set of eyes that watched him closely.
A/N: Uh oh, any guesses as to who the creeper is? And, don't worry. Nia is not better than Spock at fighting. I hope that was obvious.
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