Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newsswing.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.net!prodigy.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!newsread.com!newsstand.newsread.com!POSTED.monger.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: "nyotava" MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: NEW TOS A Pledge 3/5 [R] (K/U) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 717 Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 23:55:08 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: monger.newsread.com 1104278108 209.198.142.218 (Tue, 28 Dec 2004 18:55:08 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 18:55:08 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:86433 X-Received-Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 15:55:18 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Title: A Pledge Properly Sealed Author: Nyotava (nyotava @ yahoo.com)=20 Series: TOS Part: NEW 3/5 Rating: [R] Codes: K/U Summary: After Platonius, Kirk and Uhura address some awkardness=20 Archive: ASC and UFF. All others, please ask.=20 Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek. I receive no profits from=20 this. It is just for fun. Beta: A very special thanks to IDIC for her thoughtful beta and=20 inspiration in the form of "Plato's Reprise" and "Realizations=20 Resolved," as well as for permitting me to borrow elements from both=20 stories. Errors due to my last-minute changes. Author's note: This is my very first story and I welcome all manner=20 of feedback and criticisms except flames.=20 =20 =20 Uhura showered, dressed and headed for the Officer's lounge.=20 Assuming that the Captain would not be there, she felt confident in=20 her decision. She scanned the room and did not see him but saw Spock=20 and McCoy. She stepped in line at the replicators and while making=20 her selection, she was relieved to see Christine Chapel nearby.=20 She beamed as Christine waved her over.=20 "Hey, how are you, Ny? I haven't seen you in a month of Sundays!"=20 Uhura smiled at her curiously.=20 "Dr. McCoy taught me that. Apparently, where he's from it just means=20 a long time." "Thanks for the explanation." She giggled and sat down across from=20 her friend. "That's what I guessed, but what a cute way to say so.=20 He sure has some colorful ones, doesn't he?" "I reckon he does," Christine said with a laugh. "Shhhh... He'll hear us!" Uhura turned back quickly pretending she=20 was telling secrets on the Doctor.=20 McCoy lifted his head nosily with a squinty, suspicious look on his=20 face. She turned around just as she saw the Captain sauntering over=20 to McCoy's table. Saunter really was not a good word for it. Neither=20 was strut, but it did amuse her. She tittered to herself. //Some=20 people referred to him as a Cock of the Walk. She was happy to have=20 a valid opinion now. Damn straight, he is.// She laughed out loud. "What's so funny? You sure are in a good mood this morning!" "Oh, I'm all right," she said with a wave of her hand. "You're better than all right. This is the best I've seen you=20 since... well, you know since." "Yes, I suppose it is," she agreed. "Maybe it's just the idea of=20 planning this party. You have heard about it, haven't you?" "Absolutely! I meant to bring it up. I'm already excited. What can I=20 do?" "We should just have dinner one of these nights and talk about it.=20 But of course you know the most important decisions have to be made=20 first. So think of as many as you can." "You mean costume ideas for us." "Of course! We have to be the most divine creatures there!" She=20 leaned in and added, "You'll have to be extra-gorgeous for Mr. Spock=20 and I just have to be... well, gorgeous!" she laughed.=20 Christine laughed with her.=20 "Well, I can't wait. I'll be brainstorming in the meantime. How's=20 Saturday night in the Officer's Lounge?" "Sounds like a date. Hey, how about instead we meet in my quarters=20 and you bring your pajamas. We can have a few margaritas while we=20 giggle about boys. I haven't had a slumber party in, what? A whole=20 year?" She laughed.=20 "Gee, it has been a while, hasn't it? Great! Ooh, can we play Truth=20 or Dare?"=20 Uhura thought about this question for a moment.=20 "Sure! It wouldn't be a slumber party without it!" She bit her nail=20 at the thought of being asked anything about the Captain.=20 "I'm so glad you're doing better. I'm glad we're both doing better,"=20 Christine reached over and squeezed her hand with a smile. "Well,=20 I'm sorry but I'd better be getting back to sickbay. I told Dr.=20 McCoy that I was just going to grab a bite and go back to work on=20 some of our 'confounded busy work!'" "Sure thing, Chris. Have a good one and I'll see you tomorrow night,=20 around 1900?" "Perfect. See you then," Christine said as she took her tray away,=20 smiled at McCoy and left the mess. Uhura sat there alone thinking about spending some time with=20 Christine. Since everything happened, Uhura had almost been avoiding=20 her, not wanting to talk about the incident on Platonius. She was=20 glad to be doing something with her again, and something as fun as=20 planning a costume party! She sipped the last of her coffee, got another cup and put away her=20 tray without looking in their direction. She was relieved that she=20 did not have to be on the bridge today. She was convinced that she=20 still smelled like him. ********** Kirk sat at his computer and read through the communiqu=E9s from=20 Starfleet concerning Alexander's transfer to Terrastnom and=20 imagining Uhura sorting through all of them at her console the next=20 day, her gentle, yet strong fingers gracefully adjusting the=20 controls on her communications board. He remembered when he had=20 sucked the tips of them causing her to moan quietly and arch her=20 back ever so slightly, allowing him ample opportunity to smother her=20 breasts with succulent kisses.=20 //I want to look at her, hear her voice saying something to me=20 besides "Hailing frequencies open, Captain." I want to call her, ask=20 to see her here, in my cabin. I want to...// His door chimed. He sat up and adjusted his tunic. "Come." Spock stood in his doorway.=20 "Captain, you asked me to meet you for a game of chess in recreation=20 room four. You are approximately 15.7 minutes late." "Spock," Kirk rubbed his temple. "I'm sorry, I got sidetracked. Give=20 me a moment and we can head over there." Spock gave a slight nod of his head.=20 Kirk finished reading the last two documents, scrolled down and saw=20 another with a flag. He opened it and read that he had to prepare=20 for a visit to Terrastnom, as he had been requested personally to=20 accompany Alexander to meet with their high chief for Alexander's=20 induction ceremony. When the high chief discovered that it would be Captain Lassiter of=20 the Potemkin escorting Alexander instead of Kirk, she immediately=20 informed Starfleet and demanded to see him. Starfleet wanted to=20 improve relations with the planet and saw Kirk's personal invitation=20 by their high chief as a perfect opportunity to do so. The ship's=20 maintenance could not be rescheduled, so he was ordered to take a=20 shuttlecraft with Alexander the rest of the way. He scanned the brief protocol data, informed McCoy that he was to be=20 in the away party, requested his yeoman to prepare his gear, and=20 followed up with Alexander's liaison on the ship. He sighed, turned=20 off the terminal and left his cabin with Spock. "I can't play long. It seems that I'll be taking a little trip in=20 the morning." Spock glanced at him curiously and they left his quarters. //I hope she doesn't get the wrong idea if I'm not on the bridge=20 tomorrow.// ********** The chess game had been a waste of time. Kirk could not keep his=20 mind on it and lost, and way too early in the game for his tastes.=20 Even Spock had to hide his surprise at how quickly Kirk was=20 defeated. Kirk left the recreation room and decided it had been too=20 long since he and McCoy had had a drink together.=20 ********** "Hey Jim Boy...It's been a while, hasn't it?" Dr. McCoy said when he=20 stepped into Kirk's cabin carrying a tall bottle.=20 //I wonder if something's up, it seems like that's the only time Jim=20 invites me to his cabin. I hope he gets to the point instead of=20 tiptoeing around it all night.// "Hey Bones, I see you brought something of your own. I thought you=20 might be tired of bringing the beverages. So I suppose you don't=20 want this Mint Julep." McCoy walked over to him and poured some Saurian brandy into Kirk's=20 glass.=20 "Nah, but thanks for thinking of me. The synthesizers just don't=20 quite do them justice." "Bones, we have the best replicators in the galaxy. They're designed=20 to taste perfect." "Maybe that's what's wrong. They're just a little too perfect. Maybe=20 I oughta tinker with the program a little." He sat down across from=20 Kirk.=20 //So, what's on your mind, Jim?// "You all ready to head out tomorrow?" "Sure, Jim. We've done this sorta thing more times than I can count.=20 I ran into Alexander and he's real excited we'll be joining him." "I'm glad he is. Well, I was only making sure. I know all that busy=20 work has been keeping you up nights," he said with a grin. "How's=20 that nurse who just transferred from the Potemkin?" Kirk asked after=20 taking a sip of brandy and walking over to sit on the sofa.=20 "Just transferred? That was... what, five months ago, Jim, and he's=20 been a nurse in Starfleet for six years. He knows the ropes, no=20 trouble at all." //Since when do you care about my nurses?// "How's Hallarand's sprain doing?"=20 "Oh, she's doing fine. It was a real minor sprain," he said with a=20 frown and a wave of his hand.=20 //You know she's fine. She just reported back to duty this morning.// "Jim, we should get together next weekend--the three of us. I think=20 Spock's been feeling neglected. I know I have." Kirk laughed.=20 "Bones, you're the only person I know who keeps track of weekends=20 while we're out here." "Jim, a weekend's a weekend. The fact that we're in space makes no=20 difference to me."=20 "I suppose you're right. Anyway, that sounds like a great idea." //Come on, Jim. You didn't bring me here to talk about the days of=20 the week. Out with it.// Kirk took a sip of his brandy.=20 "So are you still seeing Barrows?" "When we can. Our schedules have been clashing lately," he said with=20 a furrow of his brow and then smiled to himself. //Eureka! Women problems.// "So what about you? You seeing anyone?" he asked with a twinkle in=20 his eye.=20 "Bones, you know Captains can't date their crew," he said with an=20 edge.=20 "You know, I've never really agreed with that policy. I may be just=20 an old country doctor, but I do know that it's just not right for=20 you to be alone so much. Blasted, Jim," he said with a=20 frown. "You're a man, in the prime of your life. You don't just turn=20 that off because of your job. It's not healthy!" McCoy said with his=20 signature drawl.=20 "I'm not alone, Bones. I have you. And Spock." Kirk smiled sadly. McCoy guffawed.=20 "Jim, I love ya and Spock does too, in his own way, but in case you=20 didn't know, there are things that a woman can do for you that *we*=20 wouldn't for all the credits in your account," he said with a=20 playful laugh.=20 Kirk chuckled and took another sip of his drink.=20 "I admit, every now and then I see someone that I might like to get=20 to know a little better... but I either follow regulations and not=20 pursue it, or... well, there... is no 'or.'" He frowned and drank the last of his brandy and poured another,=20 thinking about the "or" he had already allowed to occur. "Anyone I know?" McCoy grinned impishly, mentally rubbing his hands=20 together, eager to get to the real reason he had been called to=20 Kirk's cabin. Kirk looked up quickly, wondering if he had thought out loud. "Oh no... no, no." Kirk shook his head. "No, actually, another=20 crewman came to me about it. He has this... attraction to someone in=20 his chain of command. You know my policy on these situations. Yet=20 sometimes I... just feel for some people. They have an obvious=20 affection... they care deeply for each other. It grows over time and=20 then they have to end it or get transferred to another ship," he=20 said wistfully. "Wow, Jim. You really seem bothered by this boy's plight. Who is he?=20 Maybe I know him." "No, no. He... came to me in confidence." "I see. Well maybe together we can come up with some fatherly=20 advice. How long has he known this woman?" Kirk stood and poured McCoy another drink.=20 "I... don't know all the details. Frankly, they're irrelevant.=20 Regulations are regulations. Hell, I don't even know why I brought=20 it up." "Indeed," McCoy said with a raise of his eyebrow. Kirk caught his eye and let out a tiny groan.=20 "That's very good, Bones. You'll have to do that for Spock one of=20 these days." "Well, somebody needed to say it, and don't you tell him I said that=20 either." McCoy gave him a sideways look. "You've got me curious now.=20 This is interesting." "No it isn't, it's ridiculous," Kirk said with frustration edging=20 into his voice. He was beginning to regret inviting McCoy over. He=20 was losing ground and had no idea how to get it back.=20 //I've gotta ask him.//=20 "Jim, is there something on your mind? You've been kinda tense=20 lately." "No, Bones, everything's fine," he said distractedly. "Hey, do you=20 have a costume for the party yet? It's right around the corner." "I've got a few ideas, but I think Christine and Uhura have=20 something special planned," he said excitedly. "They've been acting=20 awfully sneaky these past few days." "Oh, I'm sure it's just your imagination," he said, wondering=20 himself what Uhura had up her sleeve.=20 "I wouldn't bet on it," McCoy said with a dubious look on his=20 face. "They've been whispering around like two cats in a handbag,=20 and you know Uhura doesn't do anything half-heartedly."=20 Kirk swallowed, thinking about how well he knew that fact. He sipped=20 from his glass with a smile at the thought of Uhura showing up in a=20 towel, the last thing he saw her in. The memory of that image was=20 one that caused him some difficulty when not in the privacy of his=20 own cabin. This was one of those times. He crossed his legs=20 uncomfortably.=20 "Well, Jim, I'd better scram. I've got some last-minute work to=20 finish before I get to bed," McCoy said, interrupting Kirk's reverie=20 of Uhura prancing about in a towel. "Oh, sure... no problem, Bones. Thanks for coming over, and for the=20 brandy," Kirk said. "Anytime, Jim. Hey, do you know who you're coming to the party as?" "Some historical figure. Perhaps Cyrano DeBergerac."=20 "Nice choice," McCoy replied while on his way out the door. //He's=20 going as a great romantic hero. It's worse than I thought. I wonder=20 who the lucky lady is!// ********** The following day, Uhura got to the bridge a few minutes early,=20 wanting to relax a moment with her coffee before tackling her mind- numbing diagnostics. She was relieved that the Captain wasn't there=20 yet, so he would have to be the one to make the "after sex"=20 entrance.=20 She smiled into her coffee as she thought that she should be given a=20 big red F to wear on her tunic. Or perhaps a black one since her=20 tunic was already red. "Fraternizer!" she imagined her coworkers=20 shouting at her, acting as the townspeople-accusers. They would hold=20 her at phaser-point and threaten to have her burnt... vaporized at a=20 stake of some sort.=20 "Lieutenant Uhura." She was broken from her dramatic semi-historical reverie by an=20 ensign with a padd for her to sign off on.=20 //I really have to stop this!// The whoosh of the turbolift doors kept her from desisting as quickly=20 as she would have liked. She signed with the stylus and almost=20 forgot to give it back to the ensign.=20 It was Spock who stepped onto the bridge and he went straight to the=20 command chair.=20 Uhura's heart sank, wondering. She waited a moment and tried to be casual.=20 "Mr. Spock, the Captain..." "...Dr. McCoy and Alexander are in a shuttlecraft en route to=20 Terrastnom." Uhura knew from his curt, matter-of-fact reply that that was all he=20 would offer. She ran her hands across the board lightning quick to retrieve any=20 messages she might have neglected in her quarters. There it was. "Lieutenant Uhura, I had intended to discuss your report with you=20 today, but I've received an unexpected assignment from Admiral=20 Nogura that I have to attend to. I'll expect a follow-up brief in my=20 office upon my return." //Damn him. How did he manage to avoid me so quickly and=20 effortlessly?// She called up the most recent transmissions and=20 spotted one from Admiral Nogura. She imagined that its contents=20 would confirm the assignment. She sighed to herself. //He regrets=20 it. He regrets the other night. So much so that he's managed to get=20 sent on a mission just to keep from seeing me. It's legitimate but=20 for some reason, it hurts just the same.// Uhura had not felt so rejected since she was fifteen years old. All=20 her old insecurities took hold. She felt foolish.=20 "Ye feelin' alright, Lass?" "Scotty! Oh yes, I'm fine," she replied quickly. He eyed her kindly but skeptically.=20 "Ye sure? Ye seem a bit not right today. Can I get ye some more=20 coffee or some water? I'm on me way to get some meself." "Oh no, Scotty. I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind, I guess." "Well, if ye be needin' anythin' ye be sure to ask, won't ye?" "Yes, Scotty. Thank you." She put her hand on his with a genuine=20 smile. //I've got to get myself together. I haven't just had my brain=20 zapped away by a probe named Nomad. Perhaps the probe has a=20 different name.//=20 ********** That night, Uhura was not in the mood for company but felt it was=20 too late to change her mind. She knew Christine would not take no=20 for an answer and besides, they had to start planning the=20 party. //Buck up, Lieutenant.// She remembered that once, Kirk had=20 quietly said that to her when he thought she was about to fall=20 apart. She had had every reason to, but he was trying to save her=20 dignity, and she was grateful. It was simple advice from him but it=20 came in handy sometimes. Her door chimed. "Come," she said and walked to the center of the room with two full=20 margarita glasses in hand. The doors opened and Christine walked in with a tote over her=20 shoulder, took a glass and a sip.=20 "Yum. Just what the doctor ordered."=20 "Isn't it good? I was surprised the simulator got it so close this=20 time. I have the real stuff for the next batch. Have a seat." Uhura=20 pointed to several large floor cushions in the living area.=20 "Ooh, how comfy!" Christine sat down and popped a few baby carrots=20 in her mouth from a large crudite platter on the cocktail table.=20 "So what'd you come up with? I've got a list but it's not as long as=20 I'd hoped," Uhura said with a sigh and sat down on the floor across=20 from Christine with a padd.=20 Christine pulled hers out of her bag and let out a sigh.=20 "Mine either. I mean they're not bad, they're just not jaw-droppers.=20 Here, let's trade and compare." They swapped padds and read silently=20 for a few moments. "You know what we need? Inspiration. We have to think bigger. Like=20 old Holovids of famous celebrities in roles they played. Computer,=20 compile list of popular female characters from holovids from the=20 period...1950 to... 2150. Include character description and holo of=20 each actor in costume." "Working..." Uhura pulled the data wafer out of the computer and replaced it in=20 her padd.=20 "Now we have something to look at." After several hours of talking, laughing and eating, Uhura and=20 Christine stopped to compare notes. "I know who you should be, Chris!" "Oh no, who?" "It's a famous actor named Marilyn Monroe. Here she is in a vid=20 called 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and just look at that dress! You'd=20 be a knockout!" "I've heard of her. She was one of the first real sex-symbols from=20 the 'Golden Age' of vids. My grandmother told me about her. That is=20 a gorgeous gown, but what about you?" "The only things that keep coming to mind are queens like Cleopatra=20 and Nefertiti, but maybe I want to go in a different direction,=20 something kind of tongue-in-cheek. Like maybe an Orion Slave Woman=20 or a superhero or villain or something. There's this one here=20 named 'CatWoman.' Her costume is out of this world, and here's one=20 named 'Wonder Woman'. Isn't that neat? But more importantly, it's=20 sexy." "It definitely is. You'd look great in that." "Thanks, Chris. She had a bullet-proof costume and wristbands, an=20 invisible jet and a lasso that made people tell the truth!" "That sure could come in handy." "Tell me about it!" "Speaking of which, let's change into our pajamas, do our nails and=20 play some games. Truth or Dare time. There's something I want to=20 know."=20 Uhura snickered and went to her bedroom wondering what Christine was=20 going to ask her, and what she could answer with. //But that defeats=20 the game's purpose, Uhura. Just pray that her 'Dare' isn't too=20 daring.// Christine came out of the bathroom in a pair of pink pajamas just as=20 Uhura walked out of her bedroom in a dark blue caftan and carrying a=20 small cosmetic bag. "Look at these new colors I got, Chris." Uhura sat the bag down and=20 took out three small bottles of shiny paints.=20 "They are cute. Let me try that one," Christine said as she curled=20 up against a cushion and began grooming her cuticles.=20 Uhura began doing the same, waiting for the questions to begin. "So, which do you want, truth or dare?" "Truth." "Okay, what's going on? Honestly, the way you were going for a=20 while, I didn't expect you to bounce back so suddenly." "It wasn't all that sudden, Chris." "Yes, but I know you. Is everything really okay or do you have a=20 thing for someone? You know, you were the same way when you started=20 dating that Lieutenant on the Hood." "No I wasn't," she said then bit her tongue. //The Captain was=20 *much* better in bed!// "I suppose I'm just happy to have a project,=20 something fun to think about instead of what happened down there. My=20 mind is back on the Enterprise and I'm thankful." "What did happen down there? I couldn't see you two through a lot of=20 it. I was busy being forced to dodge hot pokers and watch Spock do=20 ridiculous things." "Oh, the same as with you two, I suppose. It was nothing, really. It=20 was just our charming audience that made it so dreadful." "I know. I had always dreamed of being close to Spock like that, but=20 not against his will. I knew it was hurting him and I didn't want to=20 be part of that." "Exactly." They were both quiet for a moment. "But the Captain is different," Christine said as she raised an=20 eyebrow slightly, blew on a nail, then scrutinized it. "It wasn't as=20 bad for him as it was for Spock." "Of course it was, but in a different way. He felt responsible for=20 everything that was happening to all of us." "Yes, but since he's not Vulcan, what they made him do wasn't nearly=20 as repugnant to him as what they made Spock do." "I sure hope it wasn't," Uhura answered too quickly. "But they're=20 both so different. It was just that they weren't in control of=20 themselves and for Spock, it was just so unnatural for him to show=20 his feelings--especially in front of others. The Captain, well he's=20 such a tomcat." She stopped and looked down at her hands, "But I=20 guess he was just... embarrassed." "To be with you? Never." "Like I said, there was nothing normal about the situation, so we=20 can't apply the same rules to it. Besides, it's neither here nor=20 there, is it, Chris? What happened, happened." //Just like the other night.// Uhura felt her face heat, and worried that her skin would darken.=20 She began to file her nails roughly and continued.=20 "The incident was beyond his control and for a power-freak like the=20 Captain, it was the worst thing in the world to him," she said=20 somewhat bitterly. "If he's going to make love to someone, he'll do=20 it when, where and how he wants to. And the girl will love every=20 moment of it," she stated matter-of-factly, emphasizing the last few=20 words by drawing them out somewhat.=20 Christine was quiet and when Uhura looked up at her, Christine's=20 mouth was open the tiniest bit. //Oh no, what did I say?//=20 "It's the Captain!" Christine's eyes grew larger. "Being down there=20 with him, like that... Of course! We've all thought of him that way.=20 How could you not?" She looked excited.=20 Uhura shook her head, praying to be swallowed by a black hole.=20 "Wh--Chris, what are you talking about?"=20 "Never mind, never mind." She sighed with a devious smile. "Well,=20 you're going to have to choose dare now, since I don't believe a=20 word." "What? What do you mean?" "You're not just happy because you have a party to plan. You were a=20 mess the last time I saw you and then the next, you were giggling=20 like a schoolgirl." //I'm not giggling now.// "You know me, Chris. I bounce back from things very quickly and I=20 always enjoy a good laugh." "You didn't laugh that last time I saw you." Christine pretended to=20 pout. "That's because your jokes are terrible, Chris," Uhura teased,=20 letting her friend off the hook. "No, yours are!" They both laughed.=20 "Guilty. Now where do you get this, 'I love the Captain' stuff from,=20 anyway?" Uhura leaned over to hug her. "I don't know, really. It just popped into my head. It was silly,=20 really. I'm sorry." "That's okay. Well, of course, I love him. He's the captain. We all=20 do," she said with a small sigh. Christine tilted her head and looked at her nails coyly.=20 "So you mean to tell me that kissing him had no effect on the way=20 you feel about him?" When she finished her eyes looked up at Uhura=20 instantly.=20 Uhura looked down and continued filing her fingernails to the quick=20 and said quietly, "Dare, damn you." Christine roared with laughter. After a moment, Uhura joined her.=20 "Hmm. What can we have you do?" They both feigned deep concentration. "Here's an idea. We save both our dares for the party. How's that?=20 That way we'll make fools of ourselves together."=20 "I'll drink to that," Christine held aloft her half-empty margarita=20 glass. "To fools, friendship, and fun." Uhura clinked her glass against=20 Christine's with a chuckle. "Need a refill?" "Sure, why not?" end of part III ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: