From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Subject: STTUQ 6-10/15 repost
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 14:15:38 GMT

 
  - STAR TREK      ---------------------------------------------------
  - THE UNFAIR QUO ---------------------------------------------------
 
  Part Six through Ten of Fifteen
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER SIX
 
        Wether she intended to or not, Saavik had already
  recieved several stares, which did nothing for her nerves.
  While she wasn't overdressed for the occaision, she certainly
  was the best dressed of everyone there.
        Riley walked over, fighting the butterflies in his
  stomach and the urge to run for his life. "You look," he
  stammered as he finally caught up to her, "incredible."
        "Thank you, Thomas," she replied cooly. "Miss Cambell
  aided me with the wardrobe and makeup. She deserves the proper
  credit."
        Tiber and Campbell, however, we spiralling off from
  Saavik already, leaving her more or less alone with her
  captain. Riley smiled at his Lieutenants' playing. "I doubt
  anyone here could look so remarkable," he added with a smile.
  He offered his hand to hers, and she took it.
        "Well, Tom," Tago smiled, "I think you have matters here
  pretty much in control. Good day, Commander, Captain," he
  finished, leaving for the punch bowls.
        "Good day," Saavik replied politely, paying more
  attention to how well Riley looked in his dress uniform.
  Granted, he was notably uncomfortable, as was she, but he did
  look quite impressive. "I am supposed to meet with Ambassador
  Spock as soon as I arrived."
        Riley changed his pose, providing a more formal escort.
  "I saw him and Admiral Sulu near the stage," he explained. "I
  get the distinct impression that your mentor doesn't approve of
  me," he added.
        "He doesn't have to," Saavik replied, taking Riley's
  offered arm. "Be fortunate that I do," she added, giving a
  faint hint of a smile.
        They walked for a moment to the stage, not actually
  realizing that the people in attendance were literally making a
  path for them.
        "Captain Riley," Sulu eagerly offered. "I've heard a lot
  about you. Congradulations on your missions, and on your
  medals."
        Pleasant fellow, Riley confided in himself. "Thank you,
  Admiral. But to be honest, my crew should share the credit more
  than I."
        "Really?" Sulu smiled. "I think that you had more to do
  with it than you realize. Paula told me a lot about you, she
  had only good things to say."
        "Miss Grissom?" Riley asked, a bit quizzed by the remark.
  "That surpises me. I had been thinking that I'd done something
  in a past life." Riley pulled out the seat in front of him,
  letting Saavik rest from standing. "Actually, she did an
  excellent job against RAVEN and CLAW. I'm surprised you let us
  have her."
        "Well, I'm going to Star Fleet Academy as an instructor
  next month," Sulu admitted with a sorry look. "I'll be teaching
  navigation and tactics. Something about a little experience I
  had a few years ago. EXCELSIOR will be getting a whole new crew
  as a result."
        Riley smiled, pushing Saavik's seat gently under the
  table. "It seems congratulations are in order for you as well,"
  he commented. "And to you, Ambassador. I understand that you
  will be acting as special envoy to Romulus after these
  proceedings."
        Spock nodded. "I will. A peace with Romulus has been a
  life-long dream of mine, Captain," Spock answered cooly.
        "Really?" Riley finally took his own seat, sitting across
  from his date. "I have to admit that seems unlikely in the near
  future. Hard-liners are taking the helm again."
        "Indeed," Spock replied with a certain cold. "As
  evidenced with your encounters with the renegade Romulan fleet.
  But I am confident such a peace is possible, in time."
        Riley grimaced at that, knowing how difficult a struggle
  such a peace would be. "You have a long carreer ahead of you,
  Ambassador. I hope that it will be fruitful as well."
        Spock nodded in quiet agreement. "Tell me, Captain. Why
  did you forgo your training on Vulcan? Sonak informed me that
  you were one of his best students."
        Riley looked in disbelief, at least now he knew the
  source of Spock's apprehension. "You are direct, aren't you?"
  Riley muttered.
        "Very direct," Sulu smiled, "unless you ask him
  something, then he'll quote theory." Of course, Sulu's attempt
  at being light-hearted fell flat.
        Riley sipped on his tea, stealing a glance at Saavik who
  was already more than interested in the conversation. "I had
  difficulty shutting out emotions," he confessed. "After tree
  years, it was obvious that the path of Kohlinar was closed to
  me. Besides, I don't have Vulcan blood, and I believe that
  you know how difficult it is to be accepted there if you're
  not a true Vulcan."
        Spock drew in a breath, Riley's words were very sharp
  indeed. "True, Captain, I do understand. I was curious," Spock
  replied, revealing nothing.
        "Of course," Riley added, taking a large swallow of his
  own tea. "Curiousity is the path to knowledge," he completed,
  letting no more than his words cause injury.
        "Ladies and gentlemen and others of the room," a tall
  Malaysian Human began from on stage. "I hate to interrupt such
  a wonderful party, but unfortunately duty dictates that I had
  out three medals to the Federation's two newest heroes."
        There was a small bit of applause, and Riley felt his
  stomach churn. The big moment was about to arrive, his first
  public presentation of a medal.
        "Captain Thomas William Riley," Captain Heito continued
  upon the stage, "and Commander Saavik of Vulcan. Would you mind
  coming upon the stage for the presenation please?"
        Riley stood with Saavik, and the two walked to the stage
  for the formal ceremony. This time, however, they walked in
  military fashion, not touching except for when Riley helped her
  walk up the small set of stairs. If she weren't half-Vulcan,
  she'd have cursed the high-heels she was wearing.
        "Captain Riley, Commander Saavik," Heito spoke, "it is
  with great honor that I present the two of you each the
  gold cluster of valor." He presented two navy blue ring boxes
  from his pocket. He opened each and handed one to each of the
  two ENTERPRISE crewmen.
        "Also," Captain Heito continued, "to Captain Riley, the
  distinguished Arrowhead, the insignia of the Federation. This
  is for protecting our interests so valiantly."
        Riley took the medal in hand. "Thank you, Captain," he
  responded. After that Heito started the room's applause,
  somewhat embarrasing the two officers.
        "Spock," Sulu replied, smiling and clapping as much as he
  could, "You could have been easier on him, at least for her
  sake."
        Spock said nothing, keeping the words to himself. He did,
  however, applaud the both of them for their efforts.
 
  CHAPTER SEVEN
 
        Gahrut had been late, and the two of them were more than
  likely going to miss the entire ceremony. Not that the tought
  of missing seeing Riley and Saavik making puppy-dog-like
  expressions towards one another wasn't appealing, though she
  did want to congradulate her former Captain on his promotion
  to the Admiralty.
        "Look," Gahrut argued as Grissom's dress uniform
  seemed to cut into her a bit too tightly, "it isn't my fault
  that the traffic out of your complex was so tight. I told you
  to make reservations for the transporter pad, but no, you
  wouldn't listen to me."
        "Yeah," she snapped back, "you're the one who said he
  knew a short cut." Her face was genuinely upset now, she didn't
  want to miss Sulu before he accepted his new carreer. "You took
  us well into Oakland with your stupid directions."
        "Well," Gahrut muttered back, "at least you know why I'm
  not the navigator."
        The duo had wandered into the deepest parts of San
  Fransisco, a far cry from bayside. They weren't far from the
  hall, however, and at least they might make it on time.
        "Miss Grissom," someone called darkly from behind. Gahrut
  and she turned, but Grissom froze, unable to move, unable to
  act. "It's a pleasure to see you again. Is this your
  bodyguard?" the man questioned, indicating the Horta.
        "Who are you?" Gahrut asked in a confused voice, noting
  how quickly Grissom seemed to freak. But the intruder had been
  prepared, had been observing them for some time. In a swift
  move the shadowed figure raised his phaser at the Horta.
        "Okay, rock," the figure demanded, "One sound and the
  both of you are ash." He then fired, slamming into the Horta's
  armored hide. The rock form ceased its intricate movements.
        "No," Grissom panicked, stepping backwards. "Stay away
  from me. I got away from you," she pleaded. "You can't be
  here."
        "Ah, dear Paula," the figure daunted, "You can never
  truly get away from the one who loves you," he muttered, moving
  closer to her. "It's been so long since I've seen you. You've
  been in my dreams for so long. You are mine, and always will
  be, sweet, innocent, little Paula."
        She was shaking now, raising her phaser at him. "I'll
  shoot, I'm warning you," she shook nervously. All it would take
  was a flinch in the wrong direction.
        But he fired first, using the cutting beam against her
  hand. She cried out, pain ripping though her arm as the skin
  blackened on her hand. Instinctively, she dropped her phaser,
  and ran. Her adrenaline carried her far, but her tiny form was
  no match for the behemoth laying chase.
        He shoved her, face first, into a old brick wall. The
  grout ripped slightly into her skin, cauing intense pain. "Get
  away from me," she screamed. "Someone please help me."
        He forced her against the wall, not so carefully
  unzipping the back of her uniform. "No one can help you, no one
  cares. You're dealing with the dregs of society here, little
  miss."
        She struggled again, slapping him with her injured hand.
  She scratched into the side of his eye and he withdrew to cover
  the it. She took the opportunity to run again, desperately
  trying to activate her communicator.
        Quickly, though, the pain returned, another burn blast
  from her attacker's phaser ripped into her leg. She fell, pain
  overcoming her. "It's impolite to refuse a request from a
  superior, bitch," he commanded. "You're mine, don't you get it?
  I can do to you whatever it is I want. Right now, I want you."
        Grissom's face reddened, "You can't do this," she
  pleaded, even as he removed the belt from his uniform. "Don't
  do this to me again, please don't."
        He didn't listen.
 
  CHAPTER EIGHT
 
        Riley had to almost physically keep himself from kissing
  the beauty he held in his arms. He was already borderline with
  dancing with Saavik in front of the Admiralty, even though it
  was a celebatory party, but a kiss would be more than frowned
  upon.
        He remained content holding her warmth next to his own,
  realizing how comfortable it was to have her there. "I've never
  danced before," he admitted, looking deeply into her eyes. "I'm
  surprised I haven't stepped on your feet."
        "The night's still young," Saavik replied with a mostly
  hidden smile. "But I am confident that you are improving," she
  added, hugging tighter against him. "After all, practice always
  is for improvement."
        He gingerly stroked her back, memorizing every curve. He
  had never before been in this position. Granted, he'd slept
  with more than a few while on some missions in godforsaken
  hellplanets. But he never could say he loved a woman, he could
  never truthfully say that we wanted one above all others.
        The idea was at once frightening and exciting, a
  combination of emotions that Riley seemed to revel within. He
  looked into her eyes once more, seeing the beauty of them, and
  then dared to look inside them, beyond into the soul.
        Saavik realized what was happening as he started. It was
  obvious that he didn't intend harm, and she let him in. Their
  minds touched as their bodies danced together. Images of
  realities gone by swept through, revealing dreams and passions
  long forgotten.
        In this union, the two half-worlders sought each-other.
  There was no logic to this place, no reason, only pure,
  unbridled emotion. They carressed in this place, gingerly
  exploring one-another with child-like curiosity.
        But there was another in this mind-reality. A tall
  blondish man wearing a scientist's uniform appeared, looking
  hurt and betrayed. Saavik withdrew from Riley, looking and
  apologizing to the figure whom had emerged from some forgotten
  past memory.
        "David," Riley said softly, reasserting the two of them
  into the dance's reality. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done
  that," he added.
        "It was enjoyable," Saavik confessed for a moment with a
  sad look across her face, "for a time. I wasn't aware you could
  do that, I wasn't prepared."
        "Nor was I," Riley admitted. "I've never wanted to
  before," he added, noting Saavik's confused look. "But it's
  wrong of me to push. I just never knew how empty I had been.
  And now I can't help my desires." Riley's communicator chriped,
  irratating him somewhat as it destroyed the moment.
        "There will be time, Thomas," Saavik answered, reassuming
  her emotionless facade for the room's benefit. "We have a long
  tour ahead of us. We'll both have a chance to be ready."
        Again, the communicator chirped. "I know," he softly
  replied. "I'm just very new at this," he confessed.
        The communicator beeped for the third time, and it was
  obvious that it wasn't going to disappear. "Excuse me," he
  offered to Saavik as he regretfully let go of her. "Riley here,
  this better be good."
        "It's not, sir," R'Ress replied through the pin.
  "Doctor Matthews is here. Something's happened to Paula," he
  continued, wavering.
        "Explain," Riley demanded, "Doctor, what's going on?"
        "I'm sorry to interrupt, Captain," Matthews voice came
  over the communicator, "But Grissom's been attacked. She's in
  Bayside, in critical condition."
        Riley's eyes widened, hardly the news he had expected to
  hear. "Get over there as soon as you can. Saavik and I will
  be on our way directly."
        "Yes, sir," Matthews replied.
        "Get security on her door, noone goes in without proper
  authorization," Riley saw fit to add, motioning to Tago, who
  was trying miserably to mix it up with some of the ladyfolk.
        Tago came over, to the delight of the ladies he left
  behind. "Leaving so soon? I thought the party was going well,"
  he protested.
        But there was something different in Riley's eyes this
  time. Tago recognized it, Riley was on business once more. "We
  need a ride to Bayview Hospital. And get my rifle from my
  apartment."
 
  CHAPTER NINE
 
        Riley stood at the foot of Gahrut's bed. He noted the
  giant blisters on his Lieutenant's armored hide, and wished
  that there was something he could do to help. But there wasn't,
  all he could do was try to find out what happened. "Tell me,"
  Riley commaned softly to the Horta's damaged form.
        "It didn't know what hit me, Captain," Gahrut moaned. "I
  asked who it was, and he fired at me. I didn't have a chance to
  react." Gahrut was still slowly leaking fluid, the makeshift
  silicon patches were having difficulty holding him.
        "What do you remember?" Riley tried, staying as
  matter-of-factly as he could. "Did you get a look at him?"
        "He was in shadows," Gahrut replied. "It looked like he
  was wearing a Star Fleet uniform, but it was to dark to see
  anything visually. From his heat pattern, I'd say he was a
  human, but I can't be any more specific."
        Well, that narrows it down to six billion, Riley fumed to
  himself. "Has Paula ever asked you to escort her to places
  before?"
        "A few times, sir," Gahrut strained. "She was usually
  tripped out about someone when she'd ask."
        "Tripped out?" Riley responded with interest.
        Gahrut shifted somewhat, exposing more of his uninjured
  areas. "Yeah, she'd be scared of guys. It'd usually happen
  after someone hit on her and wouldn't take 'no'. I'd walk her
  to her quarters and that would be it."
        "Has she ever carried a phaser in public before?" Riley
  asked flatly.
        "Never to my knowledge, sir," Gahrut asked. "Why do you
  ask?" Gahrut was concered, something terrible had to be going
  on, and he felt responsible.
        "Security force recovered a phaser from a streetman who
  tried to sell it from there," Riley explained. "It was issued
  to the ENTERPRISE."
        Gahrut was taken aback. "Sir, no one's told me. What
  happened to her? What's going on?"
        Riley paused for a moment. There was no way to smooth out
  the harshness of the news. There was no way to sugar-coat it.
  "She was raped, Lieutenant."
        "No," Gahrut trailed. "No," he said again, his voice
  breaking under the emotional deluge.
        Riley gently tapped the rocky form on the bed. "It's not
  your fault, Gahrut. You did what you could."
        Gahrut didn't reply. Sadness and guilt consumed him.
  Riley waited for several seconds, trying to find more words to
  ease the pain. There were none. He quietly left to the
  hospital's large cooridor where Matthews and Saavik had been
  waiting for him.
        "I told him," Riley admitted with regret. "He didn't
  take it well, but I can't say that I blame him."
        "He needed to know, Captain," Matthews replied, his mood
  not lightened. "It's not going to be easy. Security's got no
  leads yet."
        "You mean there were no clues left behind?" Riley
  demanded, upset by the assertation.
        Matthews sighed. "The doctors here said that she was
  clean of usable evidence," he explained mornfully.
        "No semen samples?" Riley queried.
        "The assailant failed to climax," Matthews responded. "It
  isn't uncommon. Generally, rape is a crime of agression or
  domination, and not sex."
        Riley nodded, understanding all to well. "So, whoever did
  this, didn't leave traces of himself behind? That's a bit
  unlikely, don't you think?" He was frustrated now, wanting to
  do more, wanting to have a target for his agression.
        "Well, there are genetic traces from several individuals
  on her," Matthews offered. "It isn't conclusive as yet. Whoever
  did this took some great pains to ensure that they wouldn't be
  easily caught."
        "Of course," Riley muttered with distaste. "When Paula
  comes to, I'll need to ask her some questions. Will that be
  alright by you?"
        "No," Matthews protested lightly. "She'll be in shock for
  a while. Maybe in a couple of days, when she's more relaxed.
  But she'll need time to recover."
        "In a couple of days, Doctor," Riley retorted, "the
  bastard could be half-way to the Neutral Zone. I want him, and
  I want him as soon as I can have him. Is that understood?"
        Matthews grimaced, knowing that Riley was barely managing
  his temper. "I'll see what I can do, but I can't promise that
  she'll be receptive. We're dealing with a deep psychosis here,
  Captain."
        "And a deep psychotic," Riley countered. His patience was
  wearing extremely thin.
        "There's more, Captain," Matthews continued cautiously.
  "Judging by her past injuries, I'd say that this has happened
  once before."
        Riley fell silent, sitting down on a nearby chair as if
  the strength had been sapped from him. "Before? Her hatred of
  men, it came from a rape?" he asked tiredly.
        "It is consistant with common cases," Matthews replied.
  "The victim will associate all men as threats, particularly
  those with authority over her."
        "And she has been afraid of you, Thomas," Saavik
  commented. "She was afraid with no logical reason, citing a
  psychomatic, or phobic, reaction."
        "Jesus," Riley muttered distantly. "Is it possible," he
  slowly began. "Is it possible that the rapes were by the same
  person?"
        "Rare," Matthews commented, "but definately possible.
  Once someone has asserted his dominance, he may wish to
  continue it."
        "You suspect a connection, Captain?" Saavik asked as the
  Captain stood up. "There is no evidence to support such a
  claim at this time."
        "No evidence," Riley muttered. "That's why I need to
  question Paula as soon as I can."
 
  CHAPTER TEN
 
        The fact the Saavik had, for that night, decided to
  accompany Riley would have been more appealing if Riley's mind
  hadn't been so pressed on Grissom's case.
        The two were in his apartment now, studying over records
  and reports about Grissom from over the past six years. Riley
  was determined to find something, anything, that could give
  clues.
        Saavik watched him with a sense of wonder. Riley was,
  perhaps even more that she, comprised of two distinct sides.
  Sometimes Riley was the soft and caring companion she had been
  seeking, and at other times he was he stern and determined
  Captain she respected.
        He was almost two different people, and she decided that
  she was in love with them both. "Thomas," she began, looking
  through her makeshift terminal's records, "You have been
  looking over her files for over three hours. You do need some
  rest at some point."
        "Not now," he replied, turning to her. "One of my crew's
  been attacked, and I want the bastard that did it."
        "I understand," she offered. "I am concerned about you,
  and your sudden shift in behavior. I appreciate that it is
  largely an emotional concern."
        Riley lightly bit his lower lip, reaching out for her
  hand. "If it is a Star Fleet officer, he's going to be gone
  as soon as his ship is ready to disembark. I've got to get
  through this bureaucratic mess to get some answers."
        Saavik gently accepted the offered hand. "Personell files
  of the EXCELSIOR?" she quizzed when she looked over his
  shoulder into his monitor.
        "Yeah," Riley explained. "It was her last assignment
  before the ENTEPRISE. Sulu's ship is in drydock, so her crew is
  planetside along with us." Riley tumbled through record after
  record, looking for descrepancies or conduct reprimands.
        "If you don't find anything there?" Saavik asked
  curiously. "Where will you look?"
        "Then I will look through the ACUTIS's files," he said,
  suddenly taken by realization. "Grissom got defensive last time
  I brought up the ACUTIS with her," he trailed.
        "Defensive?" Saavik asked with her trademark raised
  eyebrow. "When did you bring it up with her?"
        "When I was looking for Romulan spies," Riley answered
  cooly. "She had abruptly transferred from ACUTIS to EXCELSIOR
  for no apparant reason. When I asked about it, she tensed up in
  a major way."
        "Someone on the ACUTIS then?" Saavik pondered, punching
  up the data on her own terminal. "Some of higher rank than she,
  then?"
        "Everyone was higher rank than she was," Riley reminded
  her. "But it was someone in charge of her, I'd imagine. Someone
  she was too afraid to report or fight back."
        "Apparantly," Saavik commented as the new data flooded
  her screen, "she wasn't the only one. There have been six
  abrupt personnel transferrs from the ACUTIS in the past seven
  years. No explanation was given, though they were all approved.
  All six of the cases involved human females with an ensign
  rank," she explained. "Of them, three of which are still in
  service. Lieutenant Kala Marshall aboard the CUTLASS,
  Lieutenant Janis Oyoto aboard the BEHEMOTH, and Lieutenant
  Commander Tierra Washington of Star Fleet Command."
        Riley cracked a small grin, he had gotten what he wanted.
  "What of the other three? Where are they now?"
        "Former Ensign Lea Thomas has retired and is living in
  Bonn, Germany. Former Lieutenant Mary Quix is living in Mexico
  City. Former Ensign Uteo Jasala was killed in a shuttlecraft
  accident two years ago," Saavik answered flatly.
        "Get their detailed adresses and hand them to me," Riley
  ordered. "I'll talk to them about their experience," he
  explained. "I need you to talk to Paula when she's ready."
        "I understand, sir," Saavik countered as Riley sipped on
  his Mister Pibb that Tago had so politely brought him a few
  moments before.
        Riley raised Saavik's capture hand to his lips and gently
  kissed it. "Thanks for putting up with me during this, Saavik.
  I know I should be spending more time with you instead."
        "No you shouldn't," Saavik countered. "You are showing
  your repsonsibility as captain of the ENTERPRISE. I cannot
  fault you for that."
        And for the seventh time that day, Riley seemed to have
  run out of words. He quietly took the list that had been
  printed out, and headed for the door.
 
        She slept, knowing of the world around her but helpless
  to take part in it. Her body lay still, unmoving, unwilling to
  move. There is nothing but pain in the world, she told herself,
  it is better to retreat to within.
        But she was cared for in the world, by one completely
  alien to her. She could see him off the side of her bed, his
  injured rocky skin covered by makeshift patches. He was in
  pain, yet he made his way to see her.
        How could she know, he thought to himself, just how much
  I want to hold her. Could she know how much I curse the fact
  that I don't have hands to hold hers, eyes to meet hers, or
  even lips to kiss hers.
        And she still looked at him, for once finally
  comprehendinng his feelings for her all this time. She had
  attached to him because she thought him harmless. They had
  served together for six years on three starships, and had been
  through battles and peace and had struggled through it all.
        They had always been together, she realized during these
  moments. He had been closer to me than anyone in the worlds.
  How could I have been so blind, Gahrut? she asked, though her
  lips refused to say the words.
        But her hand moved, slowly over to the Horta's injured
  body. Carefully, she carressed his hide. This mismatched pair
  had been through so much, and there still would be so much to
  go through. He would help her through this suffering. She could
  tell him, if only she could speak.
 
 

-- 

"Our crew's living quarters have left the ship."
			- Secundam Yto aboard the IRON CLAW II
Neale Davidson, another writer wanna-be. neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative