Sulu felt Kirk’s eyes on his back and he allowed himself a fleeting smile. Damn sure of yourself now, aren’t you, Captain? And well you should be, after last night’s fraud and my oh-so-helpful report on the Don this morning. I put out a lot of effort for you. I do hope you appreciate it. Be as overconfident as you like, as long as it keeps you from acting like a spiteful jackass.
The anger twisted briefly inside him before he turned it away. Jilla’s empty sobs still echoed in his memory, her terror that her inability to play Kirk’s games had displeased her god. It had taken him all night to put his engineer back together. In Sulu’s opinion, the fact that Kirk would destroy perfect tools out of petty vengeance only confirmed his estimation of the Captain’s native lack of intelligence. And if that weren’t asinine enough, the man didn’t even know his woman. His threat of ‘accidentally wasting’ his senior officers didn’t take her into account. Sulu found the thought suddenly amusing. You’re a dead man, Jimmy, whatever happens. I won’t even have to touch you. Captain O’Niall isn’t the only Draco in Fleet. Who knows, there might be one or two on your own ship. Ever hear of ninjas, Jim? No, they’re not part of your cultural heritage. And I don’t think I’d try to protect you, even if I could. After all, there’s nothing I can do about what goes on in your quarters, is there? He grinned at that, not bothering to conceal it. Only Chekov could see his face, and his smiles always unnerved the little weasel. Kirk actually thought he could cross Draco and live. Of course, he also thought he could cross Spock and live - and he didn’t even consider the consequences of crossing Sulu himself. That particular fact contributed only to Kirk’s ignorance, not to his already monumental stupidity.
The turbolift door hissed open and Sulu glanced up. Rand. She saluted as she approached the Captain, but her eyes never left him. He casually turned his glance away from her, again grinning openly. And just where did you spend the night, Janice? he thought with vicious sweetness. I hope Uhura comforted all your little aches and pains. If you’re that blind, you deserve whatever her plotting gets you.
Uhura had looked up at the sound, and caught Sulu’s grin, as well as Rand’s half-hopeful, half-fearful stare. She mentally shook her head. You’ve certainly got her scared, mister, she thought at the Security Chief. But then, how could any woman hope to win with you? You’re pretty, or would be without that scar, but how much is pretty worth? Getting you killed will probably be doing you a favor.
McCoy had been genuinely upset over Rand’s boothing. He was beginning to take anything regarding Sulu much too emotionally. It could prove a danger, but for the time being, Uhura was content to leave it be. The doctor’s fanatical hatred would make the perfect cover until she was ready to act. As would Janice’s fear. Excessive emotion was so useful. She glanced again at the still-smiling helmsman. She’ll betray you, Sulu, she gloated. You don’t think that matters. But then, you don’t see my strength. I’ve made certain you won’t until it’s too late. You think you’re secure in your triumvirate. But feel, sugar. The tension’s back. She smiled. Yes, it was back; the mistrust, the tangible sense of close scrutiny and wary tolerance, the barely submerged animosity and rivalry, the not-quite-controlled hostility. It had been gone for so long it almost seemed unnatural, but it was sweet to Uhura’s senses. Something was going wrong between the senior officers, and all she had to do was wait. After Caros and the booty such a mission would bring, she’d have all the power she needed to strike. Rand would betray Sulu, McCoy would be the cover. Chapel was already on the edge. Once Sulu was gone, and with the proper push... Sulu, then Spock, then....? She pushed the thought away. First things first.
There is no way out.
There must be.
Spock had come full circle yet again. His frustration had grown, along with the certainty that he was missing something simple, something vital, as he had with Valley and Costain. It was obvious that chasing after his own thoughts would achieve nothing. He resolved to find time for a consultation with Marlena as soon as possible, then noted Kirk rising lazily from his seat.
“You have the con, for now, Mr. Spock,” Kirk said, his voice vaguely gloating.
Spock swallowed his anger and rose with the rest of the Bridge crew. “Acknowledged, Captain,” he replied, and began his salute. Habit made him glance around the Bridge to insure everyone else did, and so it was by chance that he noticed the extra, barely restrained force with which Sulu’s fist struck his shoulder before his arm extended in proper military fashion.
Kirk had sent for Valley as soon as he’d reached his cabin. He knew his desire to break her from Sulu was no doubt as futile as it had been with Costain, but he was going to have a hell of a good time trying. And if she couldn’t take what he was going to give her... her life, even if not her soul, was in his hands. There would be no denial of that.
She arrived dressed in black silk, her hair loose, her make up perfection. She greeted him by sliding her body along his as she sank gracefully to her knees. Her arms entwined around his waist, her head turning up to look at him. There was smoldering desire in her amethyst eyes.
“How may I serve you, Jim?” she whispered.
He smiled. This was so much better than Costain. He tangled his fingers in her hair. “In that position, don’t you know?” he asked her.
She laughed, a breathless sound of excitement, her hands going immediately to the fastening at his waist. Her fingers were skilled, her lips and face warm and soft as she lavished arousal on his hardening flesh. She licked and mouthed him with such expertise that he almost forgot about the game he intended to play. He pulled off his tunic as she sucked his cock, then stepped away from her embrace. He moved to his bed, removing the rest of his clothes, beckoning to her. She smiled, licking her lips and stood. The gown slipped from her shoulders, revealing perfect, golden skin. She seemed to glide across the room, sensuality personified, sinking again to her knees at the side of the bed. She licked his thigh, her teeth nipping at him, her eyes sparkling wickedly.
Kirk bent forward, pulling her up onto the bed, kissing her. She melted against him, returning his oral embrace with fierce hunger. He let his lips wander over her throat, to her ear, and whispered, “Your acting has improved, dear. I’m impressed.”
There was no stiffening within her, no reaction other than the writhing of her body against his. “Who’s acting?” she growled teasingly.
“You are,” he replied. “But then, so am I.”
She pulled away, staring at him. “You don’t really want me?” she asked, her tone frank disbelief.
Kirk smiled again. This was good. “The question is, do you really want me?” he countered.
She grabbed his hand, pulling it down between her legs. The heat and moisture surprised him, as it had with Costain. “What do you think?” she murmured.
“That you’ll get hot for anything,” he replied, and waited for the frustration to come into her eyes. It didn’t. Instead, she tossed her head, her eyes hard but still hungry.
“Then I’ll get hot for you, won’t I?”
He slapped her, relishing it. “Bitch,” he snapped, but his smile widened.
Her reaction was totally unexpected. Her face went entirely blank for a fraction of a second, followed by an expression of hollow longing and indescribable fear. Then she blinked, and looked directly into his eyes.
“Is it real?” she whispered.
He stared at her, considering. Finally, he said carefully, “What do you think?”
Her eyes closed and she shuddered. “Oh goddess...” she breathed, then, “He said it would be real, he said it would.”
Kirk felt his anger returning. He had no doubts as to who ‘he’ was. ‘He’ says it’s real, does he, Ruth? Let’s make it real for me.
He got up off the bed, taking his agonizer from its usual place on his sash. “Lie still,” he ordered. Blinking, Ruth obeyed. He caressed her skin, skillful, arousing, paying particular attention to her golden-toned nipples. She moaned softly, the tension in her body relaxing. “You want to please me, don’t you, Ruth,” he murmured.
“Yes,” she replied softly.
“You want me.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Is it real?”
A pause, then, “Yes.”
“Why?”
Uncertainty. “He - he said it was.”
“What if I say it isn’t?”
Fiercely. “It is!”
“All of it?”
“Yes!”
“Even this?” He pressed the agonizer hard against one swollen nipple. Ruth screamed, bucking beneath his hand. He removed it and she stared to curl. “Lie still,” he ordered again. She whimpered, but obeyed him. “Look at me.” She did. Her eyes had lost their eagerness. Confusion swirled in them and he could see the struggle to regain some balance. He couldn’t help but admire Sulu’s thoroughness, but that only fed his anger. “Is it real, Ruth?” he hissed at her.
“Yes,” she whimpered.
“Why?”
“Because - he said...”
“Sulu said?”
Joy and relief. “Yes!”
Again he pressed the agonizer to her, holding it longer. She squirmed, gasping at the pain, and sobbed helplessly when he released her. “Did Sulu tell you to obey me?” he asked.
Her eyes closed again and she nodded.
“Why?”
Her voice was almost inaudible. “Because I belong to you.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then if I say it isn’t real?”
Pain twisted her features. “It has to be, he said it was,” she replied miserably.
The agonizer was again pressed to her inflamed nipple and she shrieked. “Make it because I say so, Ruth,” he said savagely.
She screamed words at him, begging, pleading, incoherent terror, “Make it real, please, make it real, Sulu, Sulu!”
He didn’t let up, he let her writhe and twist with the agony. Each time she cried Sulu’s name, he pushed the setting on the agonizer higher. The sweat breaking out on her body, her shrieks of fear and pain were getting to him. He wanted to fuck her, he wanted to break her, but he was determined, now, to win this game and it didn’t matter to him whether he won by her submission or her death. “You want me?” he growled.
“Yes!” she shrieked.
“Because he told you to?”
“Goddess - Sulu...!”
Higher setting, more choking, agonized screams, the gleaming, surging, golden body, beautiful parted thighs... He moved on top of her, thrusting harshly into her, hurting her, telling her to beg but not taking the agonizer from her. He told her over and over that it wasn’t real. Over and over she cried out to Sulu.
“He can’t save you, Ruth,” Kirk snarled. “Not here, not now. There’s only me, and you’re mine. Deny him, or you’ll die!”
She screamed, one long, wailing “Noooo!” and Kirk’s patience snapped. He threw the agonizer across the room, using only his hands, his own brutal strength to try and beat Sulu out of her. It was much more satisfying than Costain, for Ruth begged and shrieked, desperately trying to push his body off of hers, her face streaked with panicked tears. He didn’t know how long he worked on her; he only knew that the longer it went on, the more he needed to soothe the rage within him.
“It looks like he’s on the prowl again.”
Marlena’s head turned at Chapel’s silky insinuation. The nurse had been lounging at Ensign Gollub’s station for five minutes, but Marlena had been ignoring the gossip. A line like that, however, had to catch the attention of any woman in the Empire who had a man to lose. She immediately chided herself for the reaction, but continued to listen.
“It’s only been what? Ten months?” Gollub replied, richly amused.
Ten months? Who had...
The thought was answered by Chapel’s matter-of-fact, “Well, he does go through them awfully quickly.”
Sulu. Of course. Rand’s boothing must be the hottest gossip on the ship.
“Jaris lasted over a year,” Gollub countered, “and lived through it.”
Chapel laughed derisively. “I saw what he did to her. That’s not living.”
“She’s still down in maintenance,” Gollub said. “No man would want her now.”
A picture flashed through Marlena’s mind: Diane Jaris, a thin, frightened rabbit of a woman, her once lovely body elaborately scarred. It was well known she would still jump at the chance to sleep with the Chief of Security. Pitiful thing, but she had never had Rand’s ambitions.
“You think anyone’s going to want Rand?” Gollub continued.
Chapel laughed again. “Want a dead woman? I doubt it.”
“Well, she’s not dead yet.”
“Isn’t she? She’s too sure, too confident, and Sulu doesn’t like that. Any woman who has the audacity to insult her man in public...” Chapel shrugged fatalistically.
“In public?” Gollub asked incredulously.
Chapel’s eyes were bright with vindictive joy as she related the story of the events on Darius, and Marlena shook her head. If Sulu had been upset at that, Rand would be dead already. But she was content to let the crew think what it wanted. It was a much more comfortable explanation for Sulu’s actions than the one Marlena suspected.
“And her replacement?” Gollub wondered. There was much more than idle curiosity in the question. “He has to have someone in mind.” A smile crossed her lips. “Doesn’t he?”
“Do you want the job, Daphne?” Chapel asked sweetly.
“He is number three on the ship,” Gollub mused. “And rumor has it that he’s worth the pain.”
Chapel laughed disdainfully. “And when he’s finished with you?”
“I wouldn’t bet on his getting tired, and the rewards are worth the risks,” Gollub countered. “His generosity as far as material goods are concerned isn’t just rumor.”
“That may be,” Chapel rejoined, “but he’ll get tired. Don’t think he won’t. That was Rand’s mistake. And Jaris’.”
“Well, there’s no chance of anything better on this ship, is there?”
Marlena nearly chuckled, knowing Gollub wouldn’t’ve said that if she and Chapel weren’t present.
“Besides,” she went on, “he’s so damn beautiful, even with that scar...”
You wouldn’t think so if you could see Valley and Costain. The thought was sobering, and it reminded Marlena of Sulu’s performance of the night before. He was ego-placating, but not for Jim’s sake. Spock said it wasn’t out of fear. That only left Costain. Was he concerned for her? Did he care what happened to her, and to Valley?
Without a glance at the still-gossiping women, Marlena left the lab.
She looked up at the screens as she stepped into Sulu’s office. Bridge, Life Support, Sickbay, Engineering, Security. All the correct images, just what the Security Chief’s screens should show. No one had yet found out how he monitored the rest of the ship, and very few even suspected that he did. Even she didn’t really know. Except, of course, that Sulu knew everything. She shook off the unease as Sulu looked up from his desk.
“Yes, ma’am?” he said automatically, rising from his seat. The door slid shut behind her, and his manner relaxed just as automatically. “What can I do for you, Marlena?” His smile, charming as usual, was also more than usually sardonic.
“You can talk to me, and answer my questions honestly,” she replied. Sulu’s office was the one place on the ship that was unquestionably safe from surveillance.
“When have I ever been anything less than honest?” Sulu asked, not indignantly, and not quite bantering.
Marlena smiled a half-hearted acknowledgment. “Never, Sulu. More than honest, at times, but never less.”
He nodded, his eyes guarded, but his attitude was the usual expectant, amused impatience.
“I know about your call to Jim,” she continued. “There’s some question as to your motive.”
Sulu turned so that she could see only his profile. “You sound just like Spock, Marlena,” he said.
“Thank you. Talk to me.”
“About what?”
Marlena sighed. Not this again. “Sulu, will you please cooperate?” His glance was suggestive and wickedly charming.
“With you, dear? By all means.”
She bit her lip. “Damn it, this is important!”
His response was suddenly flat, toneless, and she was taken aback by the abrupt change of manner. “So is my work,” he said.
“If you’ll be serious,” she told him, acknowledging the truth of his comment, “we’ll be finished sooner and you can get back to...”
“Damn shame,” he leered at her.
The second turnabout completely flustered her. She took a moment to clear her head, then spoke softly. “Sulu, why did you call Jim last night?”
His grin hid whatever chance she had of reading his emotions. “Surely he told you,” he replied.
“He said you were afraid of him.”
Sulu laughed. “Come on, Marlena, we all trust each other.”
“To save Costain’s skin?”
The scarred face darkened suddenly. “He’s a jackass. I gave him what he wanted. That’s all.”
“Then you’re being awfully stupid,” Marlena countered. She ignored the fierce, joyful anger that blazed in his eyes and went on. “What you did to Rand is ship’s gossip. The consensus of opinion is that you’re getting rid of her.”
“We already discussed this, Marlena,” he reminded. “What does ship’s gossip have to do with Kirk?”
“How is your dumping your woman going to look to him after the last week?” she pointed out. “The whole ship’s paying attention, wondering who Rand’s replacement is. I think I can guess. If we’re going to keep our tools alive, we can’t risk Jim starting to speculate too.”
“I never said I was dumping Janice,” Sulu returned casually. A smile that didn’t touch his lips crossed his eyes. “She just bores me.”
Marlena didn’t take the time to try to figure out that particular private joke. “Spock said that you know Costain and Valley are your responsibility,” she told him. “Are you going to protect them or not?”
His eyes didn’t leave hers, and she found the effect more then unsettling. “So what do you want me to do?” he asked coldly. She answered him just as coldly, though fear was tingling all along her spine.
“Don’t give Jim a reason to kill them.” She paused. “Or don’t we need them?” His response surprised her; a simple, direct statement.
“We need them.”
He was confusing her, and she closed her eyes briefly. “Then care what happens to them,” she said. “Jim expected Imperial bed partners. You’re the one who turned them into mindless slaves. You have to keep Jim from proving how independent he is, you have to keep him from killing them simply to prove he can. Divert him, make peace with Rand, and...”
“What the fuck do you think I was doing?” he broke in savagely. “I don’t give a damn about Kirk’s ego, I don’t really give a damn about Caros.”
“Caros could kill us all,” Marlena reminded.
His short, bitter laugh was followed by a disdainful, “And if I’m dead, why should I care what happens to anyone else?”
“Let’s assume we survive Caros,” she suggested.
“Fine,” he retorted. “Let’s assume we talk about it then.”
“Sulu...”
“I fed the damn fool’s ego already, Marlena,” he snapped. “Talk to Spock.”
She kept down her rising emotions. “Why?” she asked.
Sulu’s smile was chilling. “Because Kirk wants your Vulcan to crawl,” he said smoothly.
Marlena almost slapped him in futile rage, but stopped the movement of her hand before it became noticeable. Or almost before, for Sulu’s eyes took on an eager, hungry gleam. “I meant, why did you?” she countered swiftly. “Kirk thinks you’re his. Spock says you fear nothing and no one. So why did you crawl?”
“Maybe I had nothing better to do,” Sulu replied mockingly. “Or maybe I wanted to save you the trouble.” The sarcasm turned to hard anger. “Or just maybe I was saving a valuable tool.”
Marlena seized the opening. “If we didn’t just ‘feed Jim’s ego,’ we wouldn’t have to worry about that.”
Sulu turned away from her. “That’s your problem, Marlena.”
She grabbed his shoulders, turning him back. “Hasn’t this last year taught us anything?” she demanded. “Our problem! Caros is our problem. Jim’s ego is our problem, we’re supposed to be working together!”
The dark eyes lit up with a black delight. “Oh yes,” Sulu said softly. “I forgot about that.”
Marlena stared, the pleading urgency in her eyes turning slowly to a cold, all too believing outrage. The mockery danced before her and she struck out at it blindly, her hand landing a vicious blow to Sulu’s face.
His fury was covered in sensual gratification as his hand clamped around her wrist, pulling her sharply to him. Before she could gasp, his mouth was capturing hers in a deeply passionate kiss. A terror she couldn’t define rose in her as waves of arousal poured from him - and called to her.
Spock’s duties on the Bridge were complete. He had attempted to contact the Captain to make his report, and had been informed that Kirk was not to be disturbed. He experienced several moments of alarm as he made sure there had been no communications leaving the ship that shouldn’t have. Kirk, then, hadn’t yet thrown himself back into the arms of the Empire. Apparently the Captain was content to wait and see if a solution to Caros could be found. Spock knew, however, that he would not wait past the Enterprise achieving orbit around the Draco planet. And for the time being, he was relaxing, letting his First Officer handle everything, a very personal way of letting the Vulcan know who would bear full responsibility. Spock occasionally reflected how advantageous it would be if Kirk were not certain of the loyalty of three quarters of the crew. Not that a Vulcan captain would last very long on a Human-dominated ship. That would be the easiest way for Fleet to destroy him. He was well aware of it and had fought such ‘promotions’ for years. He had been able to turn what was on other ships a pimp’s job - Chief of Sciences, where the ship’s harem of beautiful but not-too-useful women were kept - into a power base. He’d found the protection covering the back of a feared and fearless captain could offer. But the thought of freedom was a taste sweet enough to drive him to abandon the security he’d found. He wasn’t going to let Kirk’s insecurities or Sulu’s greed and arrogance stop him.
Be careful, he suddenly warned himself. Sulu is not what he seems. This morning’s odd salute could be taken in the context of arrogance, and Sulu no doubt had that intention in mind, but you would be a fool to take it at face value.
Spock was certain there was much more behind the vehemence, something he should have seen in the Security Chief before now. But what was it? You have not acted intelligently in this, he thought. You have not built as carefully as you might have. The figurehead has decided to revolt. The executioner has depth and many secrets behind an open mask. Know your tools, or lose them. Or gain their loyalty. Marlena is right. I must question Sulu as to his intentions, then confront and regain Kirk’s willing participation. There will be so solution to Caros without them.
He gave the con to Scott, and headed for Sulu’s office.
A light flashed twice on Sulu’s board, the signal that informed him someone was on the way to Security. Sighing at the timing, he let Marlena struggle free. Her eyes blazed at him and he murmured, without letting go of her wrists, “You shouldn’t tempt a man like that.”
The color drained from her face in a most satisfying fashion, and he grinned. His eyes shot quickly to the door as it hissed open, and his fingers released Marlena, his body immediately assuming proper military decorum. When he saw who it was, his mind went back to Marlena. She was still staring at him.
“Don’t you trust me, Marlena?” he said, his voice denying the knowledge that was obvious in his eyes.
“Trust you?” Marlena spat back, her fear again going cold with anger. “The only thing I can trust you to do is keep playing games! Why can’t we at least play the same ones?”
“Didn’t I just offer to?” The sardonic mask was back, and he grinned inwardly at her frustration. She bristled.
“You don’t understand, do you? We have to start trusting Jim, like we expect him to trust us, or we’ll all dead!”
“Then trust him, trust me, trust whoever you want,” Sulu replied. “Just don’t tell me my business.”
Spock had several times started to speak, first to Sulu, about his salute, then to Marlena for an explanation of the context of her conversation with Sulu, then to Sulu again with a warning to be more circumspect in his behavior concerning their survival. But the words that were being slung between them were burning into his brain with an urgency he did not quite understand. Trust. Play the same games. As we expect to be trusted. Trust whoever you want. There was an answer there, and a solution, but to what? Nothing to do with Sulu, or Marlena, or Kirk. Caros. Yes, Caros, but what? Trust. An answer having to do with trust...
“Marlena!” he broke in suddenly.
Marlena whirled at Spock’s voice, not having been aware he had come into the office. She saw the kindling of excitement in his eyes, and a growing satisfaction. “Spock?” she asked urgently.
“Your words,” he said. “They are the key to our difficulty.”
She forgot all about Sulu as she took a step toward him. “Caros? How?”
“Trust.” He ignored Sulu’s disdainful snort. “I am not certain how, but the solution is there, somewhere.”
“If the solution is there,” Sulu cut in caustically, “shouldn’t we consult the other partner of this alliance?” He paused. “And if it isn’t, let’s just call off the whole farce.”
Spock and Marlena exchanged glances, Marlena’s confused and surprised, Spock’s curious and suddenly wary. Marlena blinked, looking back at Sulu, then, wonderingly, to Spock.
“He’s right,” she said, her voice conveying a puzzled astonishment.
Yes, he is, Spock thought, and I would very much like to know why it occurred to him. Or rather, why he voiced it. Learn, son of Sarek. Sulu is seldom wrong about anything. And he very seldom does anything without reason. And he always tries very hard to make it appear as if he never has any reason at all. Spock nodded to Marlena.
“Yes. I believe there is an emergency in Security which requires the Captain’s immediate attention. Is that not correct, Sulu?”
Sulu grinned. “The farce goes on,” he murmured, but went to the intercom on his desk. The confusion in Marlena’s eyes deepened, and Spock briefly but reassuringly let his hand rest on her arm.
Ruth screamed one last time, then went limp. With a guttural curse, Kirk pulled away from the unconscious body. He got off the bed, going to his desk and the intercom. He’d call McCoy for a stimulant. She wasn’t going to get away from him yet. No matter how long it had already gone on, it wasn’t enough.
As he reached it, the com signaled. He swore again. “Kirk,” he answered harshly.
“Sulu here, sir. Emergency situation.”
“It damn well better be,” Kirk growled.
There was a half second pause before Sulu continued smoothly. “Your presence is required in Security immediately.”
Kirk frowned. “On my way,” he said. He turned, and saw that Ruth’s eyes were riveted to the com, wide open and shining with gratitude. “It’s real,” she whispered. Damn the fucking slut...
He slammed his fist down on the com button, then advanced on the suddenly cringing figure on the bed. He pulled her up into a savage backhand, then threw her to the deck. She stayed there, unmoving, as he quickly dressed and left the cabin.
Sulu closed the com as Spock and Marlena renewed their hopeful exchange. He was very glad they had come to his office when they had. It had provided him with a reason to interrupt Kirk’s sadistic assault. And after the bastard’s using his private endearment, after boasting that ‘he can’t save you, Ruth,’ it simply wouldn’t have done to disappoint his precious Antari. Kirk should watch what he says, he thought derisively. Gods don’t take kindly to hubris.
His communicator signaled, as expected, and he opened it with an air of calm efficiency. “Sulu here.”
“Security reporting all clear, Boss,” Paget’s voice said.
“Very good, Lieutenant. Carry on.” Sulu paused, then, with a glance meant to be noticed, yet not meant to seem so, added, “Is Miss Rand in her quarters?”
“No, sir,” Paget returned on cue. “She’s still pretty upset.”
“Take care of it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Jer - be sure to tell the lady I said it was all right. Sulu out.” He closed the communicator and faced Spock and Marlena. “Business,” was his only comment.
“Thank you,” Marlena said quietly, and as she briefly explained to Spock that Sulu had just reinstated Rand for all their sakes, Sulu smiled.
Paget leaned casually against the bulkhead as Allison went into the Captain’s quarters to fetch the Antari. He reflected briefly on the havoc he could wreak in the name of the Security Chief if he’d wanted to. No one questioned Sulu’s personal guard. All he’d had to do was tell Allison he had orders to take Valley, and that was that. No questions, no hesitation. All because he had Sulu’s favor. Of course, one didn’t get the position if one wasn’t loyal beyond doubt. He shrugged, fighting the twinge of resentment that always came with the pride of that thought.
He just hoped the Chief wasn’t screwing Kirk badly enough to warrant retaliation.
What was he up to, anyway? Costain should’ve gone to Sickbay last night. It would have been doing Spock just as big a favor, and the poor little thing needed help more than... or did she? Boss, you’ve made another Jaris, haven’t you? Your pretty little Indiian was so grateful. Even as torn up as she was, she begged you for it, and she was worried you were angry. Paget shook his head. His only real question was why Sulu had done it, and why he was doing what he was doing now. He had Rand - poor, stupid Janice - and Costain and Valley were supposed to be Kirk’s.
But if he’s added them to the Collection, he has to reinforce the addiction. ‘Tell the lady I said it’s all right.’ So it’s important Valley knows she pleased you. I’ll bet she didn’t please Kirk. I know you don’t care about that, so you must care about her. You’ve always got several hundred angles, but that’s the only one that accounts for this. Paget sighed, trying to ignore the wistful, suicidal longing. So you care, Boss, and I’ll do my job and let the lady know. I just wish...
Allison reappeared, dragging Valley with him. She was struggling, afraid to leave without Kirk’s permission. You mean Sulu’s, honey, Paget thought, and smiled as she glanced at him. The hope sprang into her eyes like an explosion, and he made another reflection. He could capitalize on the Chief’s narcotic effect, let it spill over onto himself. After all, he was a symbol for Sulu, a woman could easily associate him with... Stop it right there. That kind of thinking is damn dangerous. He’d have a ball killing you.
He took Valley’s arm, nodded to Allison, and started toward Sulu’s quarters.
The door opened and Costain whispered, “Sulu?” Scott hadn’t minded giving her the day off, not after a call from Sulu suggesting it. She really hadn’t been in any condition to do much more than sleep anyway. Paget led Valley to the bed, and she dropped to her knees, clutching it like a shrine.
“Don’t worry, Miss Valley,” he said gently. “Commander Sulu says it’s all right.” Her eyes closed with blissful joy. Did I say it like he would, golden one? He swallowed the sudden, urgent desire. Damn, Boss, why do you do this to me?
“Thank you,” the Antari’s soft voice said.
He nodded, then turned to leave.
“Lieutenant Paget?” Costain’s voice, rasping and tenuous.
He looked at her. Her eyes were laced with a pain she tried to conceal, but her breathing was hard. Obviously, the pain-killer she’d been given that morning had worn off. He stepped to the dresser, returning with the hypo McCoy had left. “From Sulu,” he murmured as he let the spray hiss into the Indiian’s arm.
She, too, whispered, “thank you,” then curled back up under the blankets. Valley climbed into the bed, being careful not to jostle it too much, sighing deeply as she stroked the pillow.
Paget paused in the doorway long enough to appreciate the sight of them. They looked for all the world like two kittens curled in a nest of fur, safe and secure. That was the way Sulu wanted it. His bed was refuge, no matter Tartarus waited in it. Which was Rand’s fatal mistake. She thought of his bed as Tartarus, no matter what refuge waited. Paget shook his head. He was going to miss Yeoman Rand.