Received: from [66.218.66.94] by n20.grp.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 18 Feb 2004 05:30:57 -0000 X-Sender: sil@sileya.net X-Apparently-To: ASCEM-S@yahoogroups.com Received: (qmail 85494 invoked from network); 18 Feb 2004 05:30:56 -0000 Received: from unknown (66.218.66.216) by m1.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 18 Feb 2004 05:30:56 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO mailstore.psci.net) (63.65.184.2) by mta1.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 18 Feb 2004 05:30:56 -0000 Received: from max (as4-d39-rp-psci.psci.net [63.92.109.135]) by mailstore.psci.net (8.12.2/8.12.2) with SMTP id i1I5UUQa015593 for ; Wed, 18 Feb 2004 00:30:30 -0500 Message-ID: <00b701c3f5e0$5d38f880$87c5fea9@max> To: "ASCEM-S" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 X-eGroups-Remote-IP: 63.65.184.2 From: "Sileya" X-Yahoo-Profile: sileya MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEM-S@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEM-S-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list ASCEM-S@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 23:30:47 -0600 Subject: [ASCEM-S] NEW:"Never a Bride" 5/8 (TOS:K/S:NC-17) Reply-To: "Sileya" Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Never a Bride Part 5 of 8 * Leonard McCoy looked around the faces of the gathered senior officers, and tried to keep his face from giving him away. It was fortunate, perhaps, that this week was dedicated to the installation of new computer terminals and programs in all departments; it meant that the department heads were all available. Jim had requested these four: Scott, Uhura, Giotto and Sulu. He cleared his throat and folded his hands on the table. "Friends, I have an announcement to play to you, and then I'm going planet-side for a few days, M'Benga will be running the Medical Department. This news will, no doubt, affect every member of this crew while we are still docked, but I believe that everything will return to normal once we are underway again." "What is it, Doctor? What's wrong?" Scotty was looking particularly dishevelled, as if he had crawled out of a Jeffries tube immediately before attending this surprise briefing. "Nothing is wrong, Scotty. Well, that's not entirely true. The basic news is good, but the reaction to it is irritating as hell. All right, Uhura, don't give me that look. I'll get there in my own good time." He picked up the data disc from the table in front of him and plugged it into the terminal beside him, then swung it to face the anxious quartet. "Computer, playback message from Captain Kirk, today's date." "Working." A moment later McCoy saw the little smiles that always appeared on the faces of Enterprise crew at the sight of their captain. He smiled himself, remembering the slightly tousled and sheepish look Jim had in the recording, the boyishness of him in a civilian sweater and carrying a secret. "Hello, everyone. I hope that I'm talking to Scotty, Sulu, Uhura and Giotto. If not, someone is AWOL this morning besides Spock and me. I'll get right to the point, I know you hate suspense. A few months ago, after a long courtship and lengthy negotiations, plus a pitched battle," he paused there and grinned, McCoy remembered, "I managed to convince my first officer that it was logical for two men in the same line of command to support each other in more ways than just the professional. The upshot of that is, Spock and I were bonded." They all gasped. They all sat back. They all raised a hand to their chests. McCoy grinned into each pair of widened eyes in turn and hit the pause button. "Thought you'd like that." "But..." "When..." "I don't..." "Dear god..." Holding up his hands, McCoy interrupted the simultaneous exclamations. "They bonded some time in the last year, and no, not even I knew about it. And a bonding, unlike a marriage, is not considered a danger to the line of command, so they weren't required to report it until Vulcan itself had acknowledged them. Which they wouldn't do until the captain and Spock saw an Adept at one of our last ports of call, to have the bond verified. Vulcan has received the verification, and has acknowledged them. Unfortunately, Starfleet is sticking its nose into things. You ready to see the rest?" The quartet nodded, and McCoy restarted the playback. Jim's voice flooded the room. "I think I know all of you well enough to expect a moment of shock, and then hearty congratulations. We were planning a party to announce this a couple of weeks out on the next leg of our mission, once we were far enough away from Earth to avoid publicity. You know how the general public views the exploits of this ship, and this crew. When the news gets out, it will generate a lot of media attention." "Unfortunately, Starfleet appreciates media attention." Jim sighed, and his listeners variously pursed their lips, nodded, or shook their heads. "I'd like to know who figured it out and leaked it to the Admiralty. They have decided that Spock and I are the flavour of the month, and have decided to hold a public marriage ceremony for us. We could, technically, refuse, but it might not be good for our records to, uh, decline their generous offer, or decline to assist them with positive publicity. So brace yourselves, lady and gentlemen. There's going to be a wedding." McCoy paused the recording again as exclamations of happiness broke out, and held up his hands. "People, people. There's more. Think; this will be hellishly difficult for them to go through." Scotty nodded thoughtfully. "Aye, it will indeed. Mister Spock is a devil for privacy." "Jim has never been one to flaunt his... well," Uhura stopped and looked around. "He'll hate this. What a shame!" "I agree. Neither of them is going to enjoy being in the spotlight." McCoy noticed that the chief of security was unusually pale. "Mister Giotto?" "I thought he liked women." "Well, he does like women. He just likes Spock more. Is that a problem for you?" Giotto blushed. "No, Doctor. No problem." McCoy grinned; he knew everyone's Kinsey index and figured that Giotto would spend a little while kicking himself that he hadn't made a play for the captain himself. "Damn." It was Sulu. "The captain will be furious with the Admiralty. What does he want us to do? There must be some way we can help, if only to buffer them from the attention." "Let Jim finish, then. He has some instructions. Computer, resume playback." The four people leaned forward to watch, while McCoy leaned back and watched them in turn. "We're on our way to a briefing in 'Frisco to find out just how bad it's going to be. Mom's coming too. We're booking a suite at the Renaissance, instead of coming aboard, because of the maintenance to our quarters. I'd like you to beam down later; McCoy will be joining us right after he finishes playing this for you. Please set your houses in order so that the refit work can go on for a few days without you, except you, Scotty. I know you'd like to be down here helping, but I need you to take over the supervision of Communications, Navigations and Weapons installations for the others, please. You have the ship. But come for dinner, you'll want to hear the whole story. Oh, and will you get on to maintenance for me? I think Spock and I have put up with those narrow bunks long enough." "Sulu, book rooms for yourself, Uhura, Giotto, and extra security, in the same hotel, charge it all to Starfleet. McCoy will be in the main suite with us. Mister Giotto will require beds for six; Giotto, I need you to bring five good officers with you, we're going to need security whenever we leave our rooms, and Starfleet is not above failing to provide adequate coverage in order to get more... exposure. Sulu, I want you down here to keep me abreast of ship's business and run liaison for Scotty on the Enterprise. There's a lot of work to do before we leave for our next leg, but the Admiralty seems to have overlooked that, and the experience will be excellent for your record." "Uhura, you are going to be our Public Relations Liaison Officer, as you are the most even-tempered person on my senior staff and the best at dealing with... things. Beam down as soon as you can, I'd like you present at the briefing at 1400 local. Please bring several extra padds so it looks like we're all busy, would you? And make an announcement to all personnel regarding this fiasco before you beam down. Be prepared to meet the press with us. Sorry, the post doesn't carry danger pay. Sulu, beam down with her, the more witnesses the better. Giotto, you too, soon as you can. I haven't received a progress on your department recently. Trying to hide something?" Grins and laughter greeted the various requests and orders, and then the listeners sobered as Jim's voice became grim. "I don't need to tell you that this was not on my agenda. I'm embarrassed, and you can imagine what Spock is... feeling. Still, it will all be over soon and we can get back to what we do best. See you later." There was no 'Kirk out', the screen simply went blank. McCoy ejected the disc and stood up. "Well, we've got our marching orders, gentlebeings. Uhura, Sulu, see you at the briefing. The Admiralty, 1400. After that there's an interview with PR and then a press conference. Giotto, think you can make it by then too, or do you need more time to set up a rotation?" Giotto shook his head. "My department is in order, we only had the one computer refit, and Mister Scott's department did most of the work. Most of my people are on leave, but I have enough staff still aboard to give the captain what he needs, and more." "Good. Because I think that the Admiralty needs to see this crew behind the captain and first officer, and I think Jim was right. The more witnesses the better. Okay, I'm on my way to San Francisco. See you all later." He stood up and hesitated. "I'd just like you all to know I'm tickled pink about this. Not the Starfleet wedding, but Jim and Spock as a couple. I, and the Medical Department, have absolutely no reservations about this bonding. Probably the greatest match either of them could have made, and I think they'll be an even better command team because of it." * Uhura could tell from her captain's body language that he was barely controlling an urge to lash out at someone as he stood beside her, a smile frozen on his face. Spock, rigid beside him, had retreated into what Uhura thought of as uberVulcan mode. They were listening to her read the short press statement prepared by the Admiralty's P.R. department, to the crowd of reporters jammed into Starfleet's main conference room. On her left, Nogura, Komack, Osterhauser and T'a'ss, were beaming out at the crowd as if they had all done something especially clever. Uhura got to the end of the statement, closing with remarks about the contents of the press package that was being handed out on disc to all those present. Biographies of the two men, selected fantastic adventures from the first three years of the mission, histories of clan Surak and the Kirks, overviews of Starfleet hierarchy, lists of both men's decorations, commendations and achievements. She finished and then stepped closer to Kirk as Nogura took over the podium and questions started to fly from the reporters. "Starfleet is one hundred percent behind this marriage and bonding," he began, waving a hand to quiet the crowd. "Captain Kirk and Commander Spock are two of our most decorated and successful officers, our best command team, and we have no doubt they will continue their work in the finest traditions of the Fleet. Their union represents the highest ideals of the Federation, the joining of two of our most active member species, demonstrating the principle of IDIC in action. However, the nature of their work leaves little time for personal matters, and so they have kindly agreed to allow Starfleet to plan the ceremony that will officially recognize their changed status under the laws of Earth, as they are already recognized by the laws of Vulcan." Uhura dared a look at Captain Kirk. The smile was still in place, but the cords of his neck were standing out plainly and his eyes had a glazed look. She willed him to keep breathing and not to scream as Nogura went on in his best affable grandfather imitation. "The Enterprise is scheduled to leave the Home System in just ten days, so the ceremony is planned for next Saturday, September twenty-first, at ten hundred hours in the morning San Francisco time. It will be held, fittingly enough, in the Cochrane Memorial Auditorium and will be by invitation only, due to the huge numbers of people who will want to attend. The press will not be allowed inside the auditorium, but will have access to the internal feed that Starfleet will provide, documenting the event. It will be broadcast live on the Federation News Network, of course. There will be a reception afterwards in the ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel. Photo opportunities will be provided there, on rotation, to accredited media personnel who apply through proper channels. Thank you, that is all for now." He stepped away from the podium. Uhura, seeing her cue, caught Giotto's eye and the six burly uniformed security men from the Enterprise moved forward and surrounded the three of them as the room erupted in questions. Jim and Spock turned to the door, following her, and they pushed their way out and into the adjoining hallway. Once clear of the room, Jim leaned back against the wall and sagged, covering his face with his hands. Spock crossed his arms and stared at the captain, but remained silent. Giotto and his men watched quietly while Kirk attempted to pull himself together. Uhura felt a rush of affection for the man. She reached over and put a hand on his shoulder. "Cheer up, sir," she said, and he looked up, dropping his hands. "It could have been worse." "Mister Uhura, in what possible way could it have been worse?" "They could have insisted on a church wedding, couldn't they? I noted in your biography that you were raised as a Baptist." She was pleased when he started to chuckle, and then to laugh outright. The other men joined in, all except Spock, but when Uhura looked at him she could see that the uberVulcan had vanished. He was almost smiling. "At least they agreed that we did not have to answer questions," he stated in his warm baritone. "That would have been worse too," Uhura agreed. The captain pushed himself away from the wall and straightened up. "Indeed, it would have, but Nogura knows perfectly well that I would have been tempted to speak my mind. How are you doing, Spock?" "I am undamaged," he responded, and the security men exchanged grins. "I would like to go to the hotel, however, and have something to eat. This afternoon has been very trying." "Worse than watching Captain Kirk fight the Gorn?" Uhura teased. "Worse than Elaan of Troyus?" "Infinitely." That earned him chuckles. Giotto gestured down the hall. "Shall we?" "We shall, Mister Giotto," Kirk replied. Uhura fell into step beside him and he glanced over at her. "Excruciating, Lieutenant, but you performed your part admirably. I was grateful for your negotiating skills several times today, and you managed the press conference with grace. I'd commend you for it, but I don't know exactly what the award would read." "Dignity under fire," Spock intoned. Uhura laughed and smiled up at the tall man. "Flattery, Commander?" "Statement of fact, Lieutenant." A compliment from Spock was a rare and valuable thing, and Uhura flushed with pride. Giotto waved them through a doorway and into a transporter chamber. "Four of my guys will go first, and then the rest of us will follow," he told the transporter operator, as the security men jumped up onto the platform. "Renaissance Hotel VIP transport suite." "I have the coordinates laid in." "Right. Energize." End Part 5 of 8 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEM-S/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ASCEM-S-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From ???@??? Wed Feb 18 00:34:47 2004 X-Persona: Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n4.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.88]) by condor (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aTkiY6JW3NZFjK1 for ; Tue, 17 Feb 2004 21:31:28 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1978024-7831-1077082281-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.com