“Jim, what happened,” Spock asked urgently. Kirk’s hand had closed on a phaser, and Spock watched him warily, ready to stop him if it became necessary.
“That little fuck’s gone too far this time,” Kirk growled. “Killing my personal guard, breaking in here, threatening me...” He broke off. “Where in Tartarus is Allison?”
“Unconscious, outside,” Spock replied. “What caused Mr. Sulu’s actions?”
Kirk’s smile was chilling, a parody of Sulu. “I had the gall to order my Indiian pet to do something he didn’t like.”
“Which was?” Spock prompted quickly, gambling to keep Kirk talking, not acting.
“A night with Farrell, one he deserved, one he earned!” Kirk shot back, then laughed coldly. “And that peacock tells me I’ve got no right, that he - and he alone - tells them what to do. They’re programmed, he says, to fuck him, you and me. Anyone else will kill his delicate little bitches.”
Confirmation, Spock thought almost avidly. He can be made angry, to use his women will work. “Sulu’s temper is regrettable,” he soothed, while rejoicing in the vulnerability it gave the Security Chief. “However, his assessment of Valley and Costain’s condition is no doubt correct. He should have mentioned this before, since such a situation was bound to occur.” No, Spock thought, Sulu thought you more intelligent than that, as did I. Again, no, it is not stupidity, you really do not understand their importance. Sulu had had to trick Kirk into giving them the past three weeks of freedom by exploiting the game-player in Kirk’s nature. Kirk was bound to treat them as toys. But Sulu assumed Kirk would be more possessive - as he might have been if he were not also jealous and vindictive. May he never learn about Marlena and myself. Kirk spoke, and Spock pushed aside the images of what Kirk would do if he knew about that.
“He should have made their training a little more flexible then, shouldn’t he?”
“Perhaps,” Spock said judiciously, “but it cannot be changed or undone. They are as they are, and mistreating them will do no one good.”
“There wasn’t any fucking mistreatment!” Kirk bellowed defensively.
“Not intentionally, of course, Jim,” Spock rejoined, “and Sulu overreacted, to be sure. Still, he is right.”
“He’s right, that I should go crawling to him to ask if I can do as I please on my own damned ship?” Kirk bristled furiously.
Spock sighed. “Jim,” he said patiently, “Not crawling, certainly, and I do not appreciate this detail of his handling of Valley and Costain any more than you. But yes, where it concerns his women, we must ask him for permission. He showed us consideration in programming them for us. We must realize and accept that he could have easily had us asking for that much.”
“Arrogant little fuck,” Kirk murmured.
“Yes, but his arrogance is based on a talent we cannot afford to lose. We must accede to him in this matter.” Spock paused until Kirk looked at him. “Gracefully, Captain, as befits your dignity. They are only women, after all, and he is still your subordinate.” And you told him to enjoy himself, you gave them away, Spock added silently. But we did not then know what he was capable of doing, or what prizes we were giving away. And I strongly suspect that Sulu did.
“I don’t like it,” Kirk insisted.
“Nor I, Captain,” Spock returned, and he could see the capitulation on Kirk’s face. “Can we afford to behave rashly?”
Kirk sighed. “No, Spock, we can’t.” He put down his phaser deliberately, and Spock kept his own sigh inside him. “I can’t just let him get away with it, though,” Kirk added. Spock thought quickly.
“We can make the crew believe it was an ordered kill. Sepak will remain silent on anything he has seen. I am certain Sulu can persuade Paget to do the same. Allison will, of course, need to be disposed of. Do you have another operative whom you can trust enough for a personal guard?”
Kirk’s face had darkened again, but he was thinking. “Riley,” he said finally. “I know he reports to Sulu, but he reports that to me.”
Spock nodded, and the door to Kirk’s quarters opened. Marlena stepped in, with Sulu behind her.
“Jim...” she began.
“I want to apologize,” Sulu broke in. “I lost my temper, it was stupid. I should’ve told you about Valley and Costain, that much was my fault. That Jilla couldn’t tell you about it was my fault as well.”
“But we think we’ve found a way out of situations like this in the future,” Marlena rejoined. Spock glanced quizzically at her. She was very excited about something, her eyes were shining. She looked lovely. He brushed the thought away. Kirk was staring coldly at Sulu, relenting, but letting the Security Chief know it was a choice he didn’t care for.
“Apology accepted,” he said gruffly. “This time.”
A smile twitched at the corners of Sulu’s mouth, and Spock knew the apology was as sincere as Kirk’s acceptance.
“You mentioned an aid to future difficulties?” Spock questioned. Marlena turned to him.
“Tell them what we’re doing,” she said, fiercely joyful.
“What?” Kirk broke in incredulously.
“Let them know we know who and what they are,” Sulu clarified. “Outline for them what we’re trying to do. They won’t be able to help being on the side of people out to create benevolence to replace dominance.”
“And then they’ll help us of their own free will!” Marlena enthused. “We’ll get all their knowledge, all their talents. They’ll work at helping us, because it’s what they want, too!”
“And their conditioning can be slowly reversed,” Kirk put in deliberately, with an obvious glare at Sulu. Sulu said nothing, but the smile twitched again.
“Spock,” Marlena went on, “this retains, even enhances their usefulness. It stops the problem of their being afraid of us. It decreases the need for their dependence on Sulu. And it gives us back what they were. Isn’t that everything we want, and more?”
Spock regarded her carefully. She had no hidden motives; her guilt was being assuaged. Kirk’s personal reasons were clear. He could not fathom why Sulu would agree to this, but he knew reasons there must be. And he was willing to wager that it concerned Noel DelMonde. Still, the idea was a sound one, and Marlena was correct: It was all they had wanted, and more. He nodded. “Captain,” he said, “I believe it would be to our advantage.”
Kirk smiled. “My thoughts exactly, Spock.” He turned a soft gaze to Marlena and said, “Your idea, dear. When do we tell them?”
She smiled gratefully, and Spock noted that the grin that had been fighting with Sulu’s features at last broke over his face. It was one of satisfaction and triumph, and Spock was forced to contend with the fact that they had all played exactly as Sulu had wanted - and he still had no idea why.
With Jilla’s condition, it was decided that Ruth should be brought to Sulu’s cabin, and the news would be told there. No one mentioned that Sulu’s cabin would also be the one place certain to be without surveillance. Sulu led Kirk, Spock, and Marlena to his rooms, acknowledging the care Paget had taken with Jilla before sending him to fetch Ruth. He had the other officers wait in his living area, while he went to wake Jilla.
The sight of her injuries renewed his anger, but he forced it away. The swelling at her throat had lessened, but her arm looked very ugly. He carefully examined it. It wasn’t broken, but the tendons at her wrist and elbow had been badly sprained. He selected a muscle relaxant from his stockpile of medical necessities, as well as another dose of both anti-inflammation agent and painkiller. Then he gently sat beside her, stroking her face, waking her.
“Little one,” he said, “we have visitors.”
Her eyes opened, the pain coming into them, though she didn’t gasp or wince or cry out.
“You’ll feel better soon, I promise,” he whispered. “Ruth is coming, and Spock and the Captain have something to tell you both.”
He helped her sit up, keeping his hands on her back and shoulders until she seemed steady. Then he went to his wardrobe, bringing her a warm robe, helping her to dress. A wide obi from one of his kimonos made an adequate sling for her arm.
“Can you walk?” he asked her. Still, she was silent, but she slowly stood, taking a hesitant step. She stumbled a little, but righted herself.
“I will be strong for you,” she said, and Sulu’s anger returned at the hoarse rasp in her voice. He again turned it aside, and motioned her to come with him to the other room.
Ruth was standing nervously near the doorway, and he met her eyes, nodding to her to put her at ease. She inhaled sharply at Jilla’s appearance, her eyes darting to Kirk. Sulu shook his head, and silently told her he would explain later, knowing that she would understand even without hearing him.
“Be seated, ladies,” Kirk said, gesturing to the chairs Spock had set before Sulu’s desk. Both did so, Jilla with obvious discomfort, though she made no sound of protest. Sulu caught Marlena’s wince, and smiled to himself, sitting on top of his desk.
“Miss Moreau has something important to tell you,” Kirk went on, then smiled at Marlena. “Go ahead, dear.”
Sulu watched Ruth and Jilla exchange confused glances as Marlena took a deep breath.
“We know who you are,” Marlena began, her face open, her voice just short of jubilant. “Ruth Valley and Jilla Costain of the United Federation of Planets.”
Both pairs of eyes went wide. The golden-tan color drained from Ruth’s face. Jilla’s was already colorless, but the white pallor beneath her skin increased.
“We know what happened to bring you here,” Marlena continued, “we’ve known for some time. Ruth, you’re a computers expert. Jilla, you’re a top-flight engineer. We know your capabilities, and we want you to use them for us.”
The incredulous disbelief was growing, along with uneasy fear. Sulu stayed silent, waiting to see how Marlena would explain.
“Ever since this universe first touched yours a year ago,” she said, “we’ve been steadily working toward building an alliance capable of destroying the Empire, and putting benevolent leadership in its place.” Marlena paused, carefully meeting Ruth and Jilla’s suspicious gaze. “Your Captain Kirk was right, and those of us in this room know it.”
Ruth and Jilla stared at one another, their shock obvious. Spock took a step forward, claiming their attention. Sulu leaned back, watching.
“Our contact with your Federation officers has changed us profoundly,” Spock told them. “Because of it, we now hold to the same beliefs, the same hopes, the same ideals as any Federation citizen. We remain Imperial in actions as a ruse, a ploy to gain us the time we need to implement our strategies. We are not yet perfect in our behaviors: one cannot change overnight. And we freely admit that our thought processes are not yet free of Imperial assumptions. But we have made a beginning, and we will continue as long as we are able.”
Ruth tilted her head, her gaze shifting to Kirk. “A new game, Captain?” she asked, teasing.
Sulu nodded to himself. He would have wagered good credit on Ruth being the first to speak. He leaned forward, touching Ruth’s cheek.
“It’s true, honey,” he said, “every word.”
She blinked. “Every... you - you knew?”
“Since just after Darius,” Kirk informed her.
Ruth’s gaze swung to him, purple fire kindling in her eyes. “And you still made me play...”
Kirk held up his hand. “Watch it, dear.”
“That’s what Spock meant by not being perfect,” Sulu confided. Kirk scowled, but nodded assent.
“Yes - Ruth. Old habits die hard. And, at the time, we thought it was safest not to let you know what we knew.”
“For who?” Ruth muttered.
“Us, of course,” Spock returned. “We cannot trust this secret of ours with anyone of whom we cannot be absolutely sure.”
“Until I made absolutely sure of you,” Sulu put in.
“Then you want our help with your technological limitations,” Jilla said suddenly. Her harsh voice startled everyone in the room.
“Yes, hon, that’s it exactly,” Sulu said to her. He met her eyes, pleased that there was no pride - and no fear - in them.
Jilla turned to Ruth. “We should have told them,” she said, but there was no rebuke in her voice.
Ruth swallowed. “It was all for nothing,” she whispered.
“No,” Jilla replied simply, gazing at Sulu, and Sulu nodded to her open admission, then cocked his head at Ruth. She lowered her eyes, but bastard echoed in his mind. He smiled, and mentally whispered back: bitch.
“Will you help us?” Marlena asked. Both Ruth and Jilla glanced at Sulu, then nodded.
“I think,” Sulu said as he stood up from his seat on his desk, “that it would be best to let our Federation officers have some time to adjust to all this. I’ll make sure they understand our altered relationship as well.” He stopped their reaction with a swift look.
“Is that wise, Sulu?” Spock questioned and Sulu heard the wary concern in the Vulcan’s voice.
“As you said, Spock, things can’t change overnight. For now, trust that I know what I’m doing.”
“You’d better,” Kirk warned. Sulu grinned.
“See, there’s that old habit again.”
Marlena sighed. “Sulu...” she admonished.
He shrugged. “I know. My old habits die hard, too.” He gestured gracefully to the door. “Goodnight, Spock, Marlena, Jim.”
Before they left, Marlena stepped up to Ruth and Jilla, holding out her hand. After a glance at Sulu, each timidly touched it in turn. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, almost shyly, and Sulu couldn’t stop the laughter.
“You knew,” Ruth said as soon as she, Jilla and Sulu were alone in his cabin. She looked up at him, her eyes burning with bitter tears. “You knew, and you still...” She swallowed, unable to continue meeting his steady gaze. “Why did you do it?”
“Let’s get Jilla back to bed,” he replied. “Then I’ll answer any question you have.”
He lifted Jilla carefully into his arms, and Ruth followed him into the bedroom. “What happened?” she asked quietly.
“Farrell did this to her,” Sulu said, and the tone of his voice made Ruth shudder. “But you needn’t worry about him. He’s dead.”
“Why was she with...” Ruth began, her voice conveying her horror.
“Because Jim Kirk is a jackass,” Sulu said bluntly. “But I won’t let it happen again, not to her, not to you.” He settled Jilla carefully into the bed, propping her up with pillows. “Comfy, little one?” he asked. She nodded, but her eyes didn’t meet his.
Ruth sat on the bed, her hand resting comfortingly on Jilla’s leg. “Why, Sulu?” she said.
“Why won’t I let it happen again, or why did I make you mine?”
“Both.”
He smiled, sitting down between her legs and Jilla’s. “You know the answer to the first question,” he told her. “Do I have to say it?”
“No,” Ruth replied, unwilling to admit it aloud herself. But Jilla rasped softly,
“Will you?”
His dark eyes rested on her bruised face. “Didn’t I?” he returned, just as softly. Again, Jilla’s gaze dropped, and she nodded, but said nothing.
“Now as to why I made you mine,” Sulu rejoined, looking to Ruth, “I could say the reason was exactly the same, and I’d be telling the truth.” He grinned at her. “But I don’t think that’s the truth you want to hear, is it?”
“Can you stop the verbal swordplay?” Ruth asked.
“No,” was the easy response. “The answer you want is very simple. I did what I had to, to make you dependent on and loyal to me, because I knew the Federation didn’t make its women compliant. But I needed Federation expertise, and I needed those experts to do what I asked of them. I also knew that I wouldn’t often have the luxury of the time it might take to convince those experts to do so willingly. So I looked for someone with the skills I needed, but someone who was in a new or otherwise unsettled position. I looked for someone I could mold quickly.” He grinned. “And, I must admit, someone who I wouldn’t mind molding.”
Ruth stared him, her mind whirling. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Looked for?” she repeated. “You ‘looked for?’” She swallowed, dread growing in her. “The transporter... it wasn’t an accident?” she said, and she wasn’t entirely sure it was a question. She felt Sulu taking one of her hands.
“Does it matter, Ruth?”
“Does it matter? Does it matter?!” Ruth got up, pulling sharply away from him. “You took me from my home, my future, you destroyed my will, you made me a whore, you made me love you for it all and you can ask if it matters?!?”
He was still looking at her, still sitting, relaxed, on the bed. “Well, does it?”
She stared at him, breathing hard, tears stinging her eyes. She knew the answer he wanted, knew the answer she wanted to give him. But is it the truth? Has he won so completely that he can tell me he did this deliberately, not simply used what fate brought him, and I can still love him? Kirk knows, Spock knows. If I were to go to them, ask for their protection from Sulu, offer my skills to them, freely, if only they’ll keep Sulu away from me, how likely would they be to refuse?
But how likely is it that they could really do it?
And how likely that I’d really want them to after a week, a month?
Oh goddess, I’m sick, I’m lost, he owns my soul, I don’t want to leave him!
Does it matter?
“No, damn it!” Ruth screamed. “Damn you, it doesn’t matter and you know it, you bastard, you goddamned fucking bastard...!” She fell to her knees, sobbing, choking on the wild cries of grief. She felt his arms coming around her and lashed out, railing against him, pushing him away, racing to a corner of the room only to fall again into hysterical weeping.
Sulu stood from where he had knelt, trying to comfort Ruth. She obviously wasn’t ready for that, yet. He had no doubt that she would, after the necessary tantrum, come seeking him, and he was content to wait. He turned back to the bed, back to Jilla. She sat silently, her eyes still downcast. Now, what to make of that? The beginnings of fear began creeping through him. Was she broken? Had Kirk truly destroyed her? If you’ve taken the substance from her, jackass, he thought fiercely, then cause or no cause, I’ll make you pay in ways you’ve never even dreamed of.
“Jilla,” he said. She looked up at him. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“Yes,” she answered simply. Again, Sulu found himself wincing at the hoarseness of her voice.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“No.”
“‘No’ what, Jilla?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“What doesn’t matter?”
“That you took us from the Federation. That you knew we didn’t belong. That you broke us to take what you needed when you had only to ask.”
He cocked his head. “Did I have only to ask, Jilla?”
She met his eyes. “Yes, Sulu.” Her gaze dropped again. “We were going to tell you the very first night, but there was a red alert, and the guard stopped us.”
He studied her, wondering. “Were you really?”
“But the Captain frightened Ruth, and Spock - ” she inhaled sharply. “I knew then what I was.”
“And that is?” he prompted.
A single tear fell onto her pale cheek. “Whatever desire makes of me.” She sobbed, then buried her face in her hands. “I respond,” she wept, “to anyone, for anyone, and I want to be only for you!” Her voice caught roughly. “Please,” she whispered, “make me only for you.”
Her sorrow cut through him with sweet knowledge and rueful remorse. This was her core, the part of her he could never touch, could never breach. She was Indiian, and she would respond, no matter what he did, no matter how much her mind rebelled. And he, out of his own arrogance, had nearly destroyed her himself.
Now, how to fix it? he thought, while enfolding her in comforting arms. I have to let her know that as long as her soul is mine, her body can do what it has to. It will take a while, but I have to make her see only me, no matter who is with her, feel only my touch, no matter whose hands caress her. Then she can feel and respond and it won’t be a betrayal.
But I need her here for that. A few days, a few weeks won’t be enough.
Fuck appearances. Jilla needs to be my woman.
He whispered words of reassurance to her, telling her what he would soon ingrain into her. He realized that Ruth had stopped her hysterical sobbing, and swiftly calculated just how precarious her core was. She loved him, needed him, hated both, and admitted all three. If he were to call her to him, make her face this awful, miraculous truth day in and day out, would she break?
Very likely, he answered himself with characteristic honesty. She needs to continue to regain her sense of self, so she knows what she’s giving to me. If she stops knowing, she’ll wither. She needs a little separation as much as Jilla needs intensive union. He chuckled to himself. He didn’t think Spock would mind losing Chapel, and this way, the Vulcan could be fed interesting tidbits about his latest research project; Sulu Takeda.
Unless, Kirk is willing to give up Marlena.
He felt the bed move, and glanced over his shoulder. Ruth knelt, head bowed, one hand on the mattress.
“You’re a bastard,” she whispered.
He grinned, opening his arms to welcome her into his embrace. “True, but I’m your bastard,” he murmured. “And you’re my bitch.”
She wept again, which renewed Jilla’s tears, and he whispered to both of them the real reason behind everything he had done.
“I love you.”
Jim Kirk hadn’t slept well. Marlena had tried to soothe him - short of what would have really eased both his mind and his body. There were changes happening, more so than the decision to free Valley and Costain from Sulu’s stranglehold. Any man who became a successful captain had a sixth sense when something was unusual on his ship; he had to if he expected to stay captain very long. And his was stinging the back of his mind.
He had gone over all his information. There was nothing in any of his reports that was untoward. He knew all about Uhura, knew, too, who else on the ship was involved and to what degree. But her plans weren’t ripe yet, so that wasn’t it. He knew of Spock’s quiet data gathering on Sulu, and was quite content to let the Vulcan spend his resources on information that he was certain would eventually be shared with him, assuming anything important or interesting came up. Kirk himself knew all about Sulu that he needed to know: he was an overconfident, arrogant, brash, clever, reckless little fuck who had to be handled with a bizarre combination of kid gloves and an iron fist. And, to Kirk’s eternal distaste, he was something Kirk needed. As unpalatable as that was, it, too, was nothing unusual. Even Spock’s need to find out every little detail of the Security Chief’s life wasn’t unusual; Kirk knew the Vulcan had done so for him and Marlena as well when this alliance had formed.
So what was it? What was his sixth sense warning him about?
Fuck it, he thought abruptly, tossing back the blankets of his bed. Marlena turned questioningly as he got up. Whatever it is, I don’t have enough information to do anything about it yet. So concentrate on what I do know, and what I have to do about that.
He pulled on his robe, turning to the bed where Marlena was just sitting up.
“I think we have to consolidate our operation,” he said.
“What?” Marlena replied, running her hand through her tangled hair. “What do you mean?”
“There are now four other people on this ship who can bring the Empire down on us, in three other cabins. That’s too much area to cover.” He walked across the room to the replicator. “Coffee, black, two cups,” he told it. He brought one to Marlena, then sat on the bed beside her. “We can’t cut it down to less than two other cabins, but there’s no reason to take any more chances than we have to. All it would take is someone getting surveillance on Valley and Costain. We can’t afford that. They need to be where we can keep complete control of the situation, and we need to give them some status to protect them.” Marlena began to speak, and Kirk cut her off, suddenly identifying what had kept him awake. “No,” he said, more to himself than to her. “‘Captain’s pets’ is quite obviously not enough. The whole ship is just waiting for me to tire of them, to make them available to the crew. They’re watched too closely by people who shouldn’t be interested. We can’t afford to have them interested.” He grimaced. “Of course, they don’t know that I have to check with the fucking Chief of Security before I make a fucking move. And we can’t let them know that, either, can we?”
“Jim, we’re changing that,” Marlena put in.
“Not soon enough for me,” Jim rejoined, then sighed. “But that’s not the point here. We need to give the crew a reason to start ignoring Valley and Costain. And we need to keep close watch on them.” He suddenly straightened. “What we don't need,” he said, “is two useless bedwarmers forcing Spock and Sulu to watch everything they say and do, even in their own cabins.”
Marlena blinked. “Jim, are you suggesting...?”
“Why not? Spock hates Chapel, and Sulu is itching to get rid of Rand.”
“Jim...” Marlena began cautiously, and Kirk looked at her. Her eyes were downcast, her posture nervous and unsure. “Will you want - I mean, I know how hard it’s been for you, with me just sleeping here - if you need to have Valley - ” She swallowed. “I’d understand if you’d prefer her as your woman,” she finished quietly.
Jim smiled at her. “Very thoughtful of you, my dear,” he said, gently stroking her cheek. “But I’d rather have you. I’m comfortable with how well you know me. And I wouldn’t want to take any chances on doing something with Valley that my fuck of a Security Chief wouldn’t approve of.”
She sighed, then smiled up at him, and Kirk was touched by the expression of relief.
“Who will go to Spock and who will stay with Sulu?” Marlena asked.
“I think we should leave that up to them, don’t you?”
She nodded. “It’s a very good idea, Jim.”
He sipped his coffee. “I thought so. We’ll have some breakfast, then call Spock and Sulu in for a briefing.”
“And Valley and Costain,” Marlena reminded.
Kirk chuckled grimly. “Of course,” he said, but he knew it was going to take him quite some time to get used to that.
“Jilla stays with me,” Sulu said, in the matter-of-fact tone which brooked no questioning.
There was no response from Costain, but Valley’s eyes flashed with a complex mixture of emotion; sorrow, resentment, anger, relief, fear.
Spock kept his own reaction to himself. If he had had the choice, Costain would have graced his bed. He would have thoroughly enjoyed her open submission. Still, Valley had proven to be acceptable, though he could not have identified what quality in her was pleasing to him. Physical beauty, while impressive to others, held little meaning. He had entertained a wild, fleeting hope, upon hearing Kirk’s decision, that Kirk would appropriate Valley for himself, leaving Marlena free. It would have been, to Spock’s mind, a much more satisfying solution for the Captain. There would have been no question of the crew thinking such a thing odd; in a Captain’s Woman, physical beauty was of paramount importance. And there was no doubt that Valley was the most beautiful woman on the ship. Why Kirk had forgone this opportunity was unclear, and was a question that Spock knew he would eventually have to study. But, for the time being, there were more pressing matters holding his attention.
“Miss Valley will remain available to you, Sulu,” Spock replied. “Discreetly, of course, in order that the crew not become suspicious.”
“Of course,” Sulu returned. His eyes gleamed at Spock. “I do know how to be discreet.”
“I think we need to ask Ruth and Jilla how they feel about this decision,” Marlena put in.
Spock noted Kirk’s small frown. Yes, Captain, considering the opinions of women - other than Marlena - will call for a difficult adjustment. He turned toward the so-far silent women. “Is this arrangement agreeable to you, Miss Valley, Miss Costain?”
Valley glanced to Sulu, who, Spock noted, nodded nearly imperceptibly. “Will I be - discreetly available - to Jim, as well?”
“Yes,” Kirk replied, on top of Sulu’s,
“That’s up to Spock.”
Kirk scowled at him, and Sulu’s answering gaze was cool and unreadable.
“I will accede to the Captain and Mr. Sulu’s wishes,” Spock said.
Valley nodded. “I don’t think I have any objections,” she said, then added, almost under her breath, “Not any that would matter.”
Spock decided to begin testing Sulu’s hold on her. “And what objections do you have that you feel would not be taken into consideration, Miss Valley?” he said.
She again glanced at Sulu, but this time, he didn’t acknowledge her. “You misunderstand, Mr. Spock,” she replied. “They don’t even matter to me.”
Spock caught Sulu’s brief smile, as well as the look of sorrow that filled Marlena’s eyes. Yes, we allowed this to happen, he told her, And it is regrettable. But we have no time for such regrets. He nodded to Ruth. “Then, Miss Valley, I would find such an arrangement acceptable.”
“Don’t you think you should refer to your woman by her first name?” Sulu put in.
He wants me to say her name, Spock realized. Why? Again, he nodded. “Quite correct, Sulu. Ruth, I will send for you and your belongings when my cabin is prepared to receive you.”
“I’ll be waiting, Spock,” the Antari replied with a perfect Imperial blend of anticipation, triumph, and promise. I see. You wished to show me that she will be capable of playing the game necessary for Imperial eyes. “Very good, Sulu,” Spock commented aloud. “Your demonstrations of your able training are, as always, most impressive.”
Sulu stood straight from his position of leaning against the bulkhead in Kirk’s cabin, and made a bow of acknowledgment.
“Jilla, is this all right with you?” Marlena asked.
The Indiian did not look up, and her voice, though soft, still held an ugly rasp. Spock saw Marlena’s wince, and was surprised to find, in himself, a similar well of sympathy for Costain. Farrell must have done serious damage to her larynx. “It is all I could wish for,” she answered, and gazed as openly at Sulu as Valley had been furtive. “And more.”
Sulu’s smile was the most genuine Spock had ever seen.
“Then it’s settled,” Kirk said, rising from his seat behind his desk. “Duty is suspended for the day, in order to make the necessary changes. I’ll expect a full report when it’s done. If that’s all...”
“I have a request, Captain,” Sulu said.
Kirk scowled. “Yes, Mr. Sulu?”
Sulu turned to Marlena. “Will you keep an eye on Jilla until I call for her?” he asked.
A warning flashed through Spock’s mind. What is he up to?
But Marlena smiled easily. “Of course, Sulu.” She turned the smile on Jilla. “We should get to know one another.” Her eyes sought Spock. “And can your woman join us?” Again, her gaze shifted. “That is, if you’d like to, Ruth.”
“Certainly,” Spock returned. Ruth nodded.
“Thank you, Marlena,” Sulu said.
Spock said nothing more, but vowed to have a private talk with Marlena as soon as possible. He needed to make certain she knew just how dangerous Sulu was - before Sulu let her know himself.