From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: STTUQ 1/15
Date: 19 Aug 92 04:04:34 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


 
  - STAR TREK      ---------------------------------------------------
  - THE UNFAIR QUO ---------------------------------------------------
 
  Part One of Fifteen
 
  Disclaimer : This is fan-zine material, which means that it's
  neither cannon nor seeking to be. I'm doing this for fun.
 
  This story takes place three weeks AFTER the events chronicled
  in THE RAVEN'S ROAR. It is my first "controversial" story to
  date, so I hope someone, somewhere, might take notice.
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER ONE
 
        The place stank with old liquor and old people drinking
  liquor, yet Riley was as comfortable here as he was anywhere
  else. His hulking form was enough to intimidate most people
  from harassing him, but the large phaser rifle strapped to his
  side did the brunt of the warning for him.
        "Romulan ale," Riley commanded to the bartender in a deep
  voice which sent shivers up other patron's spine.
        The bartender, a tall Tellarite snarled, apparantly put
  off by the newcomer's demand. "Romulan ale's illegal, Captain
  of the ENTERPRISE."
        Riley clinched his fist, keeping his free hand close to
  the phaser rifre. "So am I," he warned with a fierce look in
  his eye.
        Then the two men died laughing. "Jesus, man, how the hell
  have you been?" the bartender cracked, putting the room into a
  small state of confusion.
        "I've been busy," Riley answered, the look of anger
  vanishing from his face. "Fleet's given me a lot of work to do
  lately."
        "I've heard," the Tellarite answered. "The ENTERPRISE and
  her three battles of late have gotten you and your ship quite
  well known Earthside."
        "Really, Tago?" Riley smirked, "Who'd be interested in a
  guy like me?"
        "Well," the Tellarite began with a wide smile, "about
  half the cadets over at the academy ask about you, particularly
  the girls," he added with a wink.
        "Yeah right," Riley smarted back. "You know how much luck
  I've had with women. I've got all the charm of a Denebian Slime
  Devil in heat."
        "And the smell," Tago snapped back. "Sounds like you've
  got yourself a problem, my friend."
        "I'm in love with my First Officer," Riley admitted as
  Tago grabbed a bottle of neon-blue liquid.
        Tago smiled, "I'm sure he's a very nice guy," he said,
  forcing Riley to give a hurt expression. "Just kidding,
  everyone knows about Saavik's and your unusual relationship."
        "Everyone?" Riley asked gaping. "You've got to be kidding
  me? You are, right?" he pleaded.
        "Well, let's just say that you're not the only ENTERPRISE 
  crewman to drink here," Tago replied flatly. "I overheard some 
  of your ensigns in here a few hours ago. They're visiting their 
  friends in the Academy now."
        "Luck them," Riley replied, taking the drink from the 
  table. "So what'd they say, that the Captain and the lovely 
  First Officer have stayed in the observation deck too long?"
        "Hardly," the bartender smiled, "they make a lot of jokes 
  about the two blind rats caught in a maze."
        Riley sighed. "Is it that obvious? I guess it is that 
  obvious. I'm in love, Tago. In love with a very beautiful, 
  very," he paused again, looking for words to complete his 
  thoughts. There were none. "Sometimes I envy Vulcans."
        "Where are you staying, Thomas? Have you found a room 
  yet, or did you plan to stay on ENTERPRISE?" the Tellarite 
  asked, changing the subject.
        "Um," Riley replied, lost, "I haven't found a room yet. I 
  haven't actually looked."
        "I've got a room upstairs, it's not much, but it's yours 
  if you want it."
        "Thank you," Riley replied, taking a large sip of his 
  Romulan Ale.
 
        "I am impressed, Commander," the Vulcan replied in his 
  characteristically cool voice. "Your professionalism aboard the 
  ENTERPRISE in the times of crisis you have faced has been
  remarkable."
        "Thank you, sir," Saavik replied honestly. "Though I must 
  admit that I had some difficulty during those times. My loss of 
  command, then the battles, then Thomas, it was all very 
  tiring."
        Spock was dressed, as was usual of late, in his Vulcan 
  robes. His face was a bit more worn than Saavik remembered, but 
  it had been three years since the two of them spoke. He had 
  aged somewhat, but his look had grown stern, and truly 
  respectful. "I well understand the difficulties you've faced, 
  Commander. I can appreciate your difficulty."
        Saavik looked out of her borrowed apartment, into the San 
  Fransisco skyline. "I've tried, very hard, to keep control of 
  my emotions, Spock. But I still have them, escpecially towards 
  Thomas. It is not logical that I should want to pursue a 
  relationship with him, yet that is what I want."
        "Logic alone does not answer all problems, Saavik Kahm," 
  Spock replied. "As Jim would say, 'You must rely on your 
  instincts as well.'"
        "My instincts? I do not understand them," Saavik replied 
  flatly. "I'm angry with him, and I am drawn to him. I haven't 
  felt this way since," she faded off, drawn into memories she 
  tried so hard to forget.
        "David Marcus," Spock completed. "I apologize, I did not 
  need to state his name, I was completing the thought."
        "It's all right," Saavik replied. "I've shut it out so 
  long that I didn't remember how much it hurt me. Maybe that's 
  what's been bothering me."
        Spock raised an eyebrow. "Indeed, but it has been my 
  experience that the emotion of love is not as simple as what 
  you would prefer to believe."
 
        Grissom entered her temporary apartment, a small room in 
  San Fransisco's bay towers. It was a dim place, but it was 
  going to be home for the next three weeks.
        "Lights," she commanded to the room's computer system. 
  Instantly the dark areas of the room brightened, revealing a 
  long, tall package in the far corner.
        She went to it, the candy-striped red-bowed package had a 
  simple note to it. It read "From an admirer" in flawless 
  calligraphy. 
        She opened it eagerly, revealing three red roses inside. 
  "Gahrut," she laughed as she sniffed the intoxicating scent. 
  Her best friend was trying to cheer her up already. God knows 
  that she would rather be on the ENTERPRISE when the ship needed 
  her most.
        The door chime beeped quiety. Grissom loosened her hair a 
  bit as she strolled to the door. Gahrut and Campbell were 
  waiting on the other side. Campbell was carrying a dozen roses.
        "We wanted to welcome you Earthside," Campbell explained. 
  "It was Gahrut's idea."
        "Sorry I couldn't carry the roses," Gahrut explained. 
  "I've got a little trouble in that department. Who sent those?"
        "You mean you didn't?" Grissom asked, taken aback by his 
  question. "I don't know, it was from an admirer it said."
        Campbell smiled. "Yet another man to fling off. God I 
  wish I had your problems," she laughed, letting herself into 
  the tiny apartment.
        "Really?" Grissom replied, smiling, "I thought you and 
  Tiber were getting along well."
        "Oh yeah?" Campbell smiled. "He hasn't had much time 
  for me lately. It's the bad thing about being a helmsman."
        "I never thought of that," Grissom grimaced. "Well, I 
  haven't gone shopping yet, so I'm out of absolutely everything. 
  You'll have to make do with ordered-food."
        "Gotta be better than the ENTERPRISE's idea of food," 
  Gahrut muttered.
        "This from someone who eats pebbles for breakfast," 
  Campbell smiled. "How about some Mandarin, ENTERPRISE does a 
  lousy job with spices."
        Grissom walked to the aparment's computuer console 
  and entered the request. A few minutes later, the food arrived 
  and the trio began their shoreleave party.