The First Officer of the Enterprise stood in the dark near the door. He watched intently the small bed a meter in front of him and the young woman sleeping soundly. The time had come to physically approach his mating partner.

Spock, like a shadow materializing in the middle of the night to observe the living, scrutinized Crewman Stone snored peacefully without realizing she was the object of such attention. In her red shirt and matching standard-issue underwear, she was sleeping on her stomach, arms and legs splayed, in a posture that lacked some grace.

However, Spock paid no attention to this detail. He closed his eyes and slowly raised his hands in front of him. He concentrated on the connection he had with his female. After a few minutes, he heard Stone's breathing quicken and she turned onto her back. She moaned confusedly and fidgeted so much that he heard her covers fall to the floor. Focused, he eased his mental hold, and the young woman's breathing returned to normal. Alternately tightening and softening his grip, he managed to control her breathing, but then he received a bolt case on the side of the head.

"LIGHT!" Stone screamed in a panicked voice.

The young woman, now standing on the bed, had grabbed a cable-cutting tool and was staring at him with incredulous, wide eyes. He had, of course, calculated that such a situation might occur but had considered the chances to be minimal. Especially since among the engineers, Stone was renowned for her deep sleep. So the least likely possibility turned out to be the correct one. A regrettable but plausible situation, he thought, while concentrating on making the pain in his forehead disappear.

"Goddammit! What the hell are you doing here?" she yelled at him.

"I was observing you."

She scrutinized him in turn with a contorted face.

"And what exactly were you observing, standing there like a filthy pervert?"

Her aggression was likely motivated by her previous fear, but the question was irrelevant as he had already answered it.

"I was observing you."

"And you were using that to jerk off!" she screamed indignantly. "Shit… I'm going to puke… Do you know what you are? A fucking NIGHTMARE!"

According to McCoy, when a female threw objects in your direction, it indicated the need to change strategies. Unfortunately, as this was how the encounter had started, this approach was not applicable in this situation. As the doctor had pointed out, the difficulty level of such operations could be surprisingly high.

At the very least, it seemed clear that his partner felt the need to defend her territory. Thus, defusing the territorial instinct seemed to be a relevant maneuver.

"I regret entering your quarters without notice. It wasn't my intention to scare you."

"Oh, the Commander have regrets! He didn't mean to scare me! Damn it! My heart nearly stopped! You look like a fucking demon!" she said, still holding the wrench. "Do you often come and rub one out in my room while I'm asleep?"

Since her references to masturbation were recurring, it was best to defuse this obsession as well.

"There is no direct sexual connotation to my presence, if that's what concerns you."

"Really? So if you're not here to get yourself off, Commander, what the hell are you doing in my room watching me?" she said, widening her eyes with a strange expression.

The more lenient tone and the appropriate use of his rank indicated that his objective had been achieved. She was more calm.

" I'm observing you to initiate the Koon-ut-so'lik, a Vulcan link vital to the mission. Video surveillance is not sufficient to achieve this, which is why I thought it would be better to approach you physically. It seemed more appropriate to do it while you are asleep. Partly because your mental defenses are minimal, and partly to minimize disturbing you."

Stone raised her eyebrows with a grimace that probably indicated surprise or disbelief.

"First, I don't understand a freakin' thing about your Ko… Koon-ut-shit or whatever. Second, you're spying on me with your cameras! Third, you have the audacity to show up while I'm sleeping so I can't defend myself! And fourth, your plan is a fucking mess because I'm seriously disturbed! You're really… the worst of…"

She glared at him, shaking her head in a posture that suggested she wanted to hit him with the wrench. Then, seeming to change her mind, she sighed loudly, threw her weapon to the ground, and fell onto the bed in a sitting position. She buried her face in her hands and curled up, indicating a need to feel reassured.

"I did not intend to disturb you."

She did not move, a sign that she did not give this statement the attention it deserved. Fortunately, she had also presented him with a series of points to clarify.

"The Koon-ut-so'lik ceremony can be described as the Vulcan equivalent of your engagement. When young Vulcans are promised to each other, they undergo a mental fusion similar to what you have experienced. This fusion creates a bond, and it is this bond that, at the time of the… at the appropriate time, will compel the male to find his female or the female her male. It is therefore essential that this bond exists between you and me; but of course, without us actually getting engaged."

The young woman cast him a look. The didactic approach seemed to be having a positive effect.

"I initially thought that observing you via surveillance cameras would be sufficient to establish this bond, but that strategy failed. After weighing all possibilities, initiating it while you were asleep seemed to have the best chance of success. That is the reason for my presence, and that is why I was observing you."

She sniffed and sat cross-legged, a more relaxed posture indicating she was in a better mood.

"Of course, since this is not an actual engagement, this process does not involve physical contact. Otherwise, I would not have undertaken anything without your consent," he added, assuming she would want clarification on this aspect.

She suddenly lifted her head and stared at him.

"Wait a minute…" she said, frowning. "How many times have you come to watch me at night?"

"I have come three times."

She began counting slowly on her fingers while murmuring. Thanks to his keen hearing, he caught a few words, including "at my ex-mother-in-law's" and "Klingon team." She looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"That's three nights in a row I've had strange dreams where you're banging me. Is that you?"

"That is very interesting," he said, observing her.

"Will you shut your fucking mouth?! I don't care about your damn analyses! Is it you or not?"

Spock had never been told to "shut his fucking mouth" before, and a flicker of anger darkened his mind. A well-trained reflex intervened immediately. Without much thought, he chose not to feel it, and the emotion disappeared before it could take effect.

"Crewman Stone, I would ask you to watch your…"

"Excuse me, Commander. I thought the mission had started," she said, glaring at him.

He frowned.

"So I'm doing my 'duty' while you're put your Vulcan stuff on me, right?"

According to the terms of the agreement, it was indeed agreed that she did not have to respect the hierarchy. Thus, and in the absence of exceptional clauses, exchanges could unfortunately sink to a civilian level. He nodded, begrudgingly agreeing.

"Yes. It is likely that I am causing these dreams. Initiating the Koon-ut-so'lik during your sleep has proven effective."

"So that's it! That's what I've been feeling all the time! I thought I was going crazy!"

"What do you mean?"

"I feel like there's always some creepy guy spying on me!" she said, giving him an aggressive look.

She stared at him for a long time, then sighed and flopped backward onto the mattress. She stared at the ceiling, pinching her lips.

"No… that's not it," she said in a less hostile tone. "It's like… it's like there's someone with me. Someone who's always there. Almost with me in my body… You see?"

"Yes," Spock said, restraining himself from pointing out that it was once again very interesting.

"I feel it, right now," she said, lifting her head to look at him.

"Yes. I perceive it as well."

"So that's your thing? Your link."

"That is correct."

"And when were you planning on telling me about it? Before or after I asked for an exorcism?!" she said, irritated.

"I did not believe that humans could perceive the effects of the Koon-ut-so'lik with such acuity," he explained.

She grunted, without him being able to determine what it meant.

"And how long will your damn link stay between us like this?"

"The link will disappear once the mission is completed."

"I hope you've calculated that right because if I'm stuck with your damn link, I swear I'll get rid of you myself if it's necessary."

"Without engagements, the connection will fade due to lack of interest. I have conducted tests which have proven successful."

"You know what?" she said with a broad smile. "I think that's the first good news you've given me. I was wondering if that would ever happen."

She rested her head back on the pillow and sighed, quickly rubbing her face as if washing it.

"Since your Kon-whatever worked, will we be able to screw for your mission?"

"...Yes."

She remained silent for a few moments, staring at him intently before suddenly changing her attitude in a completely unexpected way. She lifted her knees to highlight her legs and then turned onto her side to, he assumed, show off her hip.

"And could we do that now?"

Technically, the answer was yes, but he saw no need for it and simply watched her maneuvers, which most likely resembled a Terran seduction ritual.

"No, but these dreams... they were really good, so... we could do it just to see...," she suggested, looking at him with a strange expression and running her hand over her t-shirt, emphasizing her chest.

"Come on..."

He watched her impassively, and she started to laugh.

"Okay, too human of an approach. So Vulcan style... um... let's see," she said, scratching her nose. "Ah, here we go. I think it would be advantageous for you to show me a sample of what the mission will involve in terms of mating, as humans, being very emotional, respond better to extreme situations if introduced gradually."

The argument might seem logical if he were less familiar with Terran strategies.

"Are you trying to manipulate me into having sex?"

She looked at him for a moment and then seemed either jaded or perhaps disappointed.

"You're a champion at killing the mood, Commander."

"I believe you should take this mission more seriously, 3rd class Stone."

He expected her to display aggressivity, a recurring response when he reprimanded her, but nothing of the sort happened. She turned onto her back and, lying down, stared at the ceiling without showing any particular emotion.

"You're hopeless with women, Mr. Spock."

He found it unnecessary to inform her that this was also the opinion of Dr. McCoy.

"Just ... get out."

Spock turned toward the door without arguing.

"And I don't want to see you in my quarters without my permission."

"No. That won't be necessary."

She didn't respond, and he exited with an alert step, quite satisfied with their exchange.

He walked down the empty corridor, and only when he was about to enter the elevator did he recall McCoy's advice. He was certain that the conversation had not ended on a formally positive note. He had not given any compliments. She hadn't really smiled, at least not without a hint of irony. He also hadn't noticed her eyes shining, except when she was shouting. However, as manifestations of anger most often indicated a negative emotion, it was unlikely that this aspect needed consideration.

He retraced his steps to Stone's door and pressed the visitor button. For a moment, he thought she wouldn't open it, but the doors slid apart with a whoosh.

"You know how to ring the bell? What a surprise," she said, crossing her arms over her underwear. "What do you want now?"

He looked up and put his hands behind his back.

"I wanted to tell you that despite your deplorable language, you have shown surprising professionalism. Even though you displayed signs of dissatisfaction, you did not threaten to abandon your duties. You also did not use threats to obtain benefits, a most unexpected restraint. I commend you. Your integrity is exemplary."

Despite his compliments, she did not smile, and her eyes did not shine either. Instead, she stared at him with a look of bewilderment, batting her eyelashes, leading him to conclude that a more targeted strategy would probably be pertinent.

"Would you want me to kiss you?"

"You want to kiss me?" she repeated, not understanding.

"Yes. Terrans appreciate this kind of attention."

After a moment of astonishment, she sized him up with a sly expression, suggesting that she greatly doubted his ability to succeed in this area. He composed a dignified look but failed to hide that her haughty attitude irritated him. Stone noticed and gave him a sardonic smile.

"Are you trying to manipulate me to having a kiss?"

"No. In no way."

The mischievous expression that appeared on the young woman's face indicated that his response had betrayed what he really thought about this kiss: an annoying chore. She seemed to take pleasure in it and looked at him mockingly.

"Very well, Mr. Spock. I'm burning with curiosity. Show me what Vulcans are capable of," she said, openly mocking him.

Realizing how irritating his partner had become, Spock thought McCoy's advice was accurate. Ending an interaction without first obtaining a positive reaction could be risky. He sighed inwardly and walked through the door as she looked at him with an entirely inappropriate air of superiority.

"And since I'm feeling generous, I'm even willing to spare your pride by accepting a typically Vulcan kiss. Your specialty, no doubt."

He seemed initially surprised but then nodded.

"Yes. If you want."

Still relieved not to have to place his mouth on her face, he approached her until the space between them was almost nonexistent. He looked into her eyes, and she met his gaze, challenging him to do anything that might please her.

"Your hand," he said, raising his own.

"How original," she said, implying that it wasn't off to a good start.

Jo raised her hand and mirrored him by folding three fingers so that only her middle and index fingers were extended. Looking into her eyes, he placed his own fingers on the back of hers.

Spock had never touched his Vulcan fiancée, so what happened next took him completely by surprise.

The Koon-ut-so'lik energy that connected them expanded, and enveloping them like a bubble that seemed to isolate them from the rest of the world.

The sensation was cozy and muted. It amplified telepathic communication. Spock sensed that Jo was thinking about the pillow and blanket forts she used to build in her parents' living room when she was a child. The Koon-ut-so'lik created an intimate and comfortable space. For a moment, he wondered if he should interrupt the touch but, sensing no fear from his partner, he deemed it appropriate to continue.

While maintaining eye contact, he slowly slid his fingers down hers. The sensation was richer and more subtle than anything he had known before. Stone seemed to feel it too, judging by the strange goosebumps that raised the hair on her forearm. He brushed the back of her hand, then followed the curve of her wrist to the delicate skin where the veins beat. His research had taught him that the inside of the wrist can be an erogenous zone for humans, so he stopped at gently touching the fine, silky skin with the tips of his fingers. He immediately sensed the erotic energy that took hold of his partner and decided it was best to break contact. He withdrew his hand, and the strange dome surrounding them vanished.

Fascinating.

In a few seconds, Spock had learned a great deal about Vulcan culture. Whenever a couple bonded by the Koon-ut-so'lik touched this way, they created their own private universe. He had witnessed this gesture performed thousands of times by hundreds of people, never suspecting its power. Like all those who were not married, he had believed this gesture was just a simple tradition. However, among Vulcans, touches were rarely trivial, and this one was clearly even less so.

Stone looked at him with astonishment, as if to make sure she hadn't dreamed it all. She also seemed more favorably disposed toward him. Obviously, the Vulcan kiss had proven far superior to what she had imagined, and her mockery seemed unfounded. A small victory that almost made him feel a pang of pride; a feeling that was quickly controlled and obliterated by his disciplined mind, leaving only a harmless contentment.

"Would you say this experience leaves you with a positive impression?" he asked, observing her.

She looked at him for a long moment with an unreadable expression, then smiled shyly and nodded.

For the first time, Spock felt a certain attraction toward her. Probably due to the Koon-ut-so'lik and the Vulcan kiss. Probably also due to the unexpected moral qualities she had demonstrated. This seemed promising for the mission, and he looked at her in silence for a moment.

"Ms. Stone."

He tilted his head in a nod of respect and, considering it unnecessary to add anything else, turned and left.

The doctor's advice had been followed precisely, applied according to human custom, and the results had been as expected. Following this trial, it could be said that it was false to claim that women were "complicated." At least, they were no more so than men, who were generally just as illogical and unnecessarily emotional as females. A recurring inconvenience that came with humans of all sexes.

Despite these typically terran difficulties, Stone had reacted optimally to the Koon-ut-so'lik, and Spock considered this stage of the mission complete. Satisfied, he entered the elevator and left the techs' floor, forcing himself to forget the feeling of the warm human skin beneath his fingers.

Note: There seems to be some canonical uncertainty regarding the Vulcan touch, or at the very least, I'm not entirely sure if I have fully grasped the final word on the subject.

On the one hand, we have the Vulcan touch where couples press their index and middle fingers together, like Spock's parents in Journey to Babel. This touch can be performed in private or in public, and in this case, it is not a kiss in the strict sense. According to Mr. Nimoy in his biography I Am Spock, this is more akin to the Earth equivalent of holding hands.

On the other hand, there is the hand touch that includes a caress, which seems to be reserved for more intimate moments. In The Enterprise Incident, where Spock and a Romulan commander are involved in a seduction scene, the Vulcan touch clearly has an erotic dimension. Interestingly, Gene Roddenberry originally intended for kisses between the two cousin species, but Nimoy insisted on portraying something more representative of an extraterrestrial relationship. In these circumstances, the sensual Vulcan touch we are familiar with is essentially the alien equivalent of a human kiss.

Therefore, I imagine that the most likely scenario is that there are two different types of Vulcan touch: one that is completely chaste and appropriate for public spaces (a simple finger touch), and another more carnal one reserved for intimate settings (a hand caress). At least, this is how I have resolved the dilemma within the context of this fanfic.

I also note that the functions of the Koon-ut-so'lik bond presented here are purely my own extrapolation. I find this bond to be a very interesting concept. Telepathically connecting couples in childhood seems like a fascinating procedure to imagine. And what do we actually know about the Koon-ut-so'lik? Very little.

At seven years old, Vulcan children perform a mind meld that links them to each other. When one of them enters pon farr, the other feels it through this bond, and the betrothed meet. To my knowledge (which is far from perfect), the only other significant element on this subject is the beautiful poem that Spock and T'Pring exchange when they see each other for the first time via the screen of the Enterprise.

"Parted from me and never parted. Never and always touching."

From this, we can draw a few conclusions:

Some information can be transmitted through this bond.

This bond is essential during pon farr because it draws the partners to one another. It would therefore function as a sort of geolocation system for the partner, hence its practical use.

Those who are bonded in this way "touch" each other in some sense, which suggests that the partners can "feel" one another.

Of course, these are only simple deductions, but there is plenty of material here for a motivated author to expand on ;)