Under Love's Spell

Posted on 27 Apr 2020 @ 2:53am by Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: Han's quarters
Timeline: MD1 18:30
1459 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

After being inoculated with a pheromone blocker Jon made his way to Ensign Derek Han's quarters. Which according to the bridge was the last known location of the Orion scientist. He wisely took a couple of hypo sprays with him. Upon reaching quarters the all male security team that had been sent to retrieve her was somewhat spaced out outside the ensigns quarters.

Jon didn't even say a word, he just injected them with the hypo spray and then said report?

"Ermmmm sir … I remember …."

"Well we saw her ….."

"I think your under the effects of her biological abilities," Jon said neutrally. "Go to sickbay. The bridge has confirmed shes still in there. I have this."

"Computer open door," the part betazoid stated. He didn't need to be an empath to know what he was going to find in there.

"Ensign Han. This is Captain Reynolds. I know you have Orion scientist from the planet in here and I need to have a discussion with her, so if you could ….. cease and vacate your current activities please," he said firmly.

The lights were on, but there was no one readily visible. From the adjacent, room, however, one could hear the sonic shower running.

The Orion, Dr. Velaya, emerged from the bedroom, wrapped in a sheet. "The young man is not available at the moment. But you said you wanted to see me, Sir Captain?" She moved forward to meet him halfway.

“Everyone of my crew is available to me madam,” Jon stated firmly. “Ensign Han get your arse out here or I’m coming in. You have 60 seconds.” He walked to the replicator and ordered the Orion a robe. “I would appreciate it if you put this on.”

Velaya let the sheet drop to the floor, her face betraying no sense of modesty. "I hope I haven't caused trouble? Surely you knew when you invited me aboard that I would have a predictable effect on some of your men?" She took the offered robe and put it on.

At that moment Derek Han came out of the bathroom. He had a small towel wrapped around his waist. "Hey, I thought I heard...Captain!" He instantly straightened up at the sight of Reynolds standing there with his stern look. Unsure what the problem was, he attempted a smile and then thought better of it. "We were just, I mean..."

Velaya rolled her eyes. "What's your name again? Derek? Didn't you say you're off duty right now? Who is this bully to barge in here and interrupt our private time? He even stood there and demanded that I change into this robe in front of him. Didn't even turn around! You're just going to take it? You're not going to stick up for me? I thought I had finally met a real man!" She moved to Derek's side and stood partially behind him, her hand on his bare shoulder.

It worked. Ensign Han's expression darkened visibly. "This woman is my guest, Captain. What's the meaning of this intrusion?"

“Bully, your having a laugh. Your on this ship as my guest to aid in medical care, not to sleep through my crew. If your not going to do as you offered then I can sort out beaming you straight back down. I would rather talk like civilised adults though so I ask again, please put on that robe.

And you, Your under pheromone control crewman and need a shot,” Jon said sharply. He started to walk forward to administer it knowing he had to get it in his system.

"He wants to take me away from you," Velaya said calmly to Han.

Derek smacked Jonathan's hand away before he could get close with the hypo. "Get back! I'm warning you!" He pointed his finger in the captain's face.

"Oh hilarious. If I wanted to separate you I would beam one of you somewhere else," Jon stated. Luckily Jon had not dropped the hypo.

"Shes just worried you will see the real her if I inject you with this and she loses control over you. Are you going to make me do this the hard way crewman? Ive spent all day protecting another ensign whos made stupid decisions, I will tell you directly now I won't be doing it for a second one so you might just want to put that finger away and present me with a neck."

Derek's eyes darted nervously around the room, not sure what to do. He had a primal urge to fight but his sense of duty was still buried somewhere underneath. "I...I..."

Velaya sighed and shook her head. "Be a good sailor and do as the captain orders," she said, giving Derek a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I suspect he'll get his way, somehow or another." She stepped out from behind him.

Feeling somewhat relieved of a burden, Derek stepped forward and allowed himself to be inoculated.

"So, what do you want to discuss?" Velaya asked Reynolds as he performed that task.

Derek blinked rapidly and breathed deeply as the inoculation took effect. The fog was lifting. "I'll go get dressed, sir," he said sheepishly, then retreated back to the bedroom.

Jon took a seat. "So my XO brought you back from the planet to help with our Intel chief. What have you been doing down on that planet?"

"I'm a scientist. Working on a research project. Experiments and the like."

"Experiments on viruses and the like," Jon said simply. "You warned my away team someone could be exposed and it looks like they were. Can you elaborate?"

"Crystalline mersium," Velaya said. "It's found in the rocks of those underground caverns back on the planet. The particulate gets heavy in the air, even with the environmental scrubbers. So one has to wear protective gear if working down there for extended periods. If breathed in it can cause respiratory infection. If exposed to open wounds it can cause gangrene. As I explained to your people." Then as an afterthought she added, "It's naturally occurring. I didn't create it."

"I'm not sure that message has got to my people," Jon said. "Would you be willing to go to sickbay and aid my doctors?"

"Are you sure you want me out and about?" the Orion said with a raised eyebrow. "Sooner or later someone else on your crew might forget to take their pheremone inoculation, and I'll do what comes naturally to me."

“Nobody else is going to forget their inoculation, security will be in sickbay and you were a fast surprise on crew that’s all. I also don’t intend on you staying that long unless you wish to try establish diplomatic relations with us, you are clearly not the same as the Orions we know. They do not feel the need to control our men and when working with us have inhibitors.

So if so measure of diplomacy or trade is of interest you will not attempt that again,” Jon said simply. “If not and you do not wish to help us I can order you beamed back planet-side this minute. The ball is in your court madam.”

Her lips formed a thin smile. Velaya didn't aim not misbehave, not usually. Her work was what interested her the most, and this ship had the kind of research capabilities she had previously only dreamed of. Plus it was a great way to be off that awful planet for a while.

Still, she would never get far away from what she really was, an orphan raised in the Syndicate's "slave girl" tradition. Raised to infiltrate, manipulate, and defeat their enemies. Running into Derek Han outside the transporter room had brought it all back to her. Human males were easy prey. Pity that Starfleet had developed inoculations against her kind. Maybe, if she were lucky, she would get another chance? If not, then she could still enjoy the ride.

"Happy to help," she said.

“I’ll escort you to sickbay then,” Jonathan rose. “If you would be willing to have an inhibitor fitted temporarily that would allow me to let you move freely in communal areas in the time up to my crew mans recovery,” he tossed it in there knowing it was unlikely.

“If not, for additional crew safety I will have to restrict your movements and have a continual security presence where ever you do go on my ship. I am not in the business of forcing medical procedures on people so there’s a choice for you there.”

Another sly smile. "I'll take the former option."

[Off]

●●●● Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Captain
USS Andromeda


Ens. Derek Han
Ops Officer
PNPC Graham

Velaya
Orion scientist
PNPC Graham