From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Subject: STTUQ 15/15
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 15:41:43 GMT

 
  - STAR TREK      ---------------------------------------------------
  - THE UNFAIR QUO ---------------------------------------------------
 
  Part Fifteen of Fifteen
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER FIFTEEN
 
        Riley sat in his apartment, once again putting off 
  packing his things. He sat alone, thinking of his shore leave 
  and wondering when his vacation would start. Saavik had already 
  returned to ship, to prepare for Riley's inspection. Most of 
  the local crew were disembarking as well.
        ACUTIS had set sail earlier, for the first time with a 
  new Captain at the helm. The trail had taken all of a single 
  day. Heito was found guilty and decided not to appeal. The 
  blemish on his reputation was too great to allow him to retain 
  a command.
        Things had worked out, somewhat. But Riley was tired, and 
  not actually eager to return to fleet duty. The truth was, he 
  didn't know exactly what to do.
        The door chime went off again, with the final note being 
  just a hair too flat. "Come," Riley replied to it as he winced 
  from the sound.
        Saavik entered, casually dressed in a sweater and jeans 
  that Campbell had bought for her. "Captain," she began flatly, 
  "I wanted to personally inform you that the ENTERPRISE will be 
  ready for your inspection tomorrow. The crew eagerly awaits 
  your return."
        Riley said nothing, but stood and walked over to her. He 
  gently placed his arms around her waist and hugged her. 
  "Captain?" Saavik asked distantly. "I do not think that this 
  behaviour is appropriate for Star Fleet officers," she replied 
  coldly.
        "Kiss me, Commander," Riley commanded mockingly. Saavik 
  replied, giving a very gentle kiss on the cheek. Riley sighed 
  in reply. "Try it again, Commander. Let's see how motivated a 
  Star Fleet officer can be."
        This time, Saavik allowed a more passionate kiss, 
  pressing hard into him. "Does the Captain approve? Or should I 
  engage in more practice?"
        Riley smiled, his mood broken a bit. "I didn't think that 
  you really had a sense of humor," he confessed as he tightened 
  his hold on her. "God knows I don't," he added.
        Saavik smiled a bit. "You haven't even packed yet. You're 
  supposed to be on ship in five hours," she protested.
        "You're supposed to be on ship now, aren't you?" Riley 
  countered. "Anyway, I'm glad you're here. I've been a little 
  worn out from everything that's happened."
        "I can tell," Saavik replied, letting go of the hold. 
  "Tago tells me that you haven't slept once since you beamed 
  down. Since your physical needs are substantially higher than 
  mine, I would have assumed that you would have reached 
  unconsciousness by now."
        Riley smiled. "Physical needs? And what would you know 
  about that?" he goaded.
        "You are not speaking logically, Captain," Saavik replied 
  flatly. "I am well versed with you biological data as provided 
  by Doctor Matthews."
        "I bet," Riley muttered. "Care to help me with this 
  packing?" he offered. "I'm not use to having this much stuff 
  around."
        Saavik agreed, and started carefully placing his things 
  into boxes. He watched her, knowing how difficult a time the 
  two of them would have in dealing with their feelings. They 
  were both so very inexperienced in these matters, and Saavik 
  had a very powerful ghost in her past. He was going to have a 
  very long voyage ahead of him. He just hoped that he would find 
  some of it enjoyable.
 
        "Paula," the woman began slowly, "this is Counselor 
  Joanna Rogers. I've been assigned to your ship, and I thought I 
  would start things by seeing how you are doing."           
        "Is what happened public knowledge, Counselor?" Grissom 
  retorted angrily. "Does everyone know what happened?"         
        "No," she replied cooly, "your Captain told me what 
  happened, and ordered me to keep my mouth shut about it to 
  anyone else but you." She walked in the room, which had already 
  been filled with packing boxes. Grissom was going to the 
  ENTERPRISE early. "As the new ship's Counselor it's my duty to 
  know the details of most of the crew, yourself included. Just 
  remember I'm only here to help." 
        "I'm sorry, Counselor," Paula offered, letting out a deep 
  breath. "I've been very tired and strained since all of this 
  began. I just want to forget about it and get on with my life." 
        Rogers looked around for a place to sit down, and found 
  one atop a large box casually placed in the center of the 
  room. "Do you think you will be able to? What you went through 
  takes a great deal of time and effort to recover from. You may 
  want to talk things over with me. I'm a very good listener."
        "Would you like some coffee?" Paula offered, changing the 
  subject. "I haven't packed the kitenette yet, so I've got some 
  floating around somewhere."
        "If it isn't any trouble," Rogers replied. "If you don't 
  want to talk," she began again, trying to help once more.
        "Not yet," Grissom replied, taking the coffee bag from a 
  overly crowded shelf. "I'm not ready yet. I'm sorry, but I have 
  to think about things for awhile."
        "I understand," the Counselor replied. "Tell you what, 
  we'll have some coffee, and then I'll help you move your stuff 
  aboard the ENTERPRISE. You can tell me when your ready."
        "I appreciate it," Grissom replied with a smile. Maybe 
  things wouldn't be so bad after all.
 

-- 

"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