Balancing the Equation: part 2, Distinguishing Characters
Title: Balancing the Equation: part 2, Distinguishing Characters
Author: jessofthebugs
Disclaimer: I beseech you, punish me not with your hard
thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny
so fair and excellent ladies any thing. I shall do the world no injury for I have nothing in it.
Pairing: Chekov/Sulu
Rating: PG
Warnings: None, really
Type: Series, #2/20, sequel to Victor, Victor
Word count: 972
Summary: Chekov and Sulu are chosen for an extended away mission based on their unique qualifications. Posted to chekov_sulu
Kirk took his time walking to the briefing room. He knew that since he was the Captain, it was impossible for him to be late. Heck, he could stand in the hallway and chat up a cute Yeoman for half an hour and consider it official business - particularly when it wasn't going to go any farther than just flirting. He sighed, Not today. Kirk straightened his uniform shirt and went in, his head full of information about this planet.
"Alright, let's get this over with." He sat in his briefing room chair and pulled up a picture of the planet that projected onto the wall behind him. "This is Theta 957. They grow a root plant here that is extremely nutritive, naturally resistant to disease and pests, but difficult to grow." He showed a picture of the living plant and then the tuber. "Even though they seem to be able to grow it in just about every climate and soil type, all attempts by federation scientists to cultivate it have failed." Sulu raised his hand. Seriously, Sulu, we're not in grade school, put your hand down. "Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Are there any trace minerals in the soil? Is there some kind of radiation that makes them grow?" Kirk had already figured Sulu would be interested in this assignment because of his background in botany. Spock would want it, but Sulu was a better choice.
"All of that's been looked at. There's a research summary in the files I'll be giving you later." He took a deep breath. "I've already decided who is to beam to the planet for this mission and before I say who it is, I made my decision based on the unique qualifications of the officers in question and anyone caught making inappropriate comments is going to be docked a day's furlough. Is that understood?" They all acknowledged, but Kirk steeled himself for at least one protest. "Good. Mr. Sulu, you're to head the expedition. Mr. Chekov will accompany you as your assistant."
"But Captain," The voice of protest was an unexpected one. Chekov himself was objecting, "I do not know anything about growing things. I do not think I am qualified for this, Sir."
"Mr. Chekov, you are a Starfleet officer and therefore capable and adaptable to whatever the situation requires." Kirk smiled, hoping to instill confidence in the young Ensign.
"I am confused, Sir," Chekov continued, "as to what qualifications I haf that make me uniquely suitable to assist Mr. Sulu in this assignment. This is a pre-warp society and adwanced knowledge of physics and transporter theory will be useless there - unless I am to be teaching them this, which wiolates the Prime Directive, Sir."
The kid's been hanging out with Spock, he could tell. "You are uniquely qualified for several reasons, Mr. Chekov. The first being your heritage. You grew up in Obninsk and you are better adapted to the climate of the target area than Mr. Sulu. You can help him adapt. The second is your age. It is customary for a man of Sulu's age to mentor a younger man - that would be you. I could send another botanist, but it wouldn't be believable. Some are more knowledgeable about plants than Mr. Sulu, but less so about arcane weaponry and hand-to-hand combat. It is not uncommon for a young man to be challenged to fight and I need someone who can defend themselves. There are two other botanists on staff, Lieutenant Blum and Lieutenant Herlihy, both in their forties and neither with sufficient hand-to-hand training. We need someone younger than Mr. Sulu who genuinely knows zilch about farming. Any other doubts, Ensign?"
"No, Sir."
Thirdly, it's going to be a long-term assignment and I won't have you mopey 'cause your boyfriend's being playing farmer Joe somewhere. And there's the other reason. I'll get to that later. "Lieutenant Uhura will brief you on language conventions and Mr. Spock has extensive knowledge of their culture and customs. The Enterprise will be out of range for most of the duration of this assignment, but we will contact you at scheduled times and dates. Any other questions?" Pause, one, two, three... "Dismissed." They all stood to leave, but there was one more thing Kirk had to say to them. "Mr. Chekov, Lieutenant Sulu, a word with you please." He waited 'til the last of them had gone, "Spock's not going to tell you this part. It's not in his cultural notes, but I can read between the lines and both Herlihy and Blum confirmed my suspicions. Mr. Sulu, are you familiar with the terms 'erastes' and 'eromenos?'"
Sulu swallowed hard and blushed a bit, "Um, yes, Sir."
"Good." Awkward conversation #58 avoided in 3, 2, 1, "It's like that. Kindly explain to Mr. Chekov, I have work to do." Bingo. He patted both men on the shoulder and left the briefing room, triumphant.
---
They were headed for their last duty shift before it was time to prepare for their mission, "What does this mean, 'erastes' and 'eromenos?'" Chekov asked.
"Shh, Not so loud. I'll explain after our shift." Sulu thought about his extensive knowledge of Earth's history regarding homosexuality and was a little embarrassed at how much he knew. That's why we were chosen. Are there no other gay botanists with advanced hand-to-hand combat experience and young boyfriends?...Okay, when you put it that way...
"Is it regarding sex?" Chekov was nothing if not straightforward. Subtle like a supernova.
"Yeah."
"Okay, after duty shift, then." A grin spread crooked across his face, "Maybe you will show me. It is easier to learn by doing, you know."
Sulu allowed himself a little laugh, "You're incorrigible."
"You encourage me!" Sulu turned to explain, but the persistent grin suggested that he knew exactly what he was saying.
Part 1: Adaptation
Part 3: The Dominant Male
Author: jessofthebugs
Disclaimer: I beseech you, punish me not with your hard
thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny
so fair and excellent ladies any thing. I shall do the world no injury for I have nothing in it.
Pairing: Chekov/Sulu
Rating: PG
Warnings: None, really
Type: Series, #2/20, sequel to Victor, Victor
Word count: 972
Summary: Chekov and Sulu are chosen for an extended away mission based on their unique qualifications. Posted to chekov_sulu
Kirk took his time walking to the briefing room. He knew that since he was the Captain, it was impossible for him to be late. Heck, he could stand in the hallway and chat up a cute Yeoman for half an hour and consider it official business - particularly when it wasn't going to go any farther than just flirting. He sighed, Not today. Kirk straightened his uniform shirt and went in, his head full of information about this planet.
"Alright, let's get this over with." He sat in his briefing room chair and pulled up a picture of the planet that projected onto the wall behind him. "This is Theta 957. They grow a root plant here that is extremely nutritive, naturally resistant to disease and pests, but difficult to grow." He showed a picture of the living plant and then the tuber. "Even though they seem to be able to grow it in just about every climate and soil type, all attempts by federation scientists to cultivate it have failed." Sulu raised his hand. Seriously, Sulu, we're not in grade school, put your hand down. "Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Are there any trace minerals in the soil? Is there some kind of radiation that makes them grow?" Kirk had already figured Sulu would be interested in this assignment because of his background in botany. Spock would want it, but Sulu was a better choice.
"All of that's been looked at. There's a research summary in the files I'll be giving you later." He took a deep breath. "I've already decided who is to beam to the planet for this mission and before I say who it is, I made my decision based on the unique qualifications of the officers in question and anyone caught making inappropriate comments is going to be docked a day's furlough. Is that understood?" They all acknowledged, but Kirk steeled himself for at least one protest. "Good. Mr. Sulu, you're to head the expedition. Mr. Chekov will accompany you as your assistant."
"But Captain," The voice of protest was an unexpected one. Chekov himself was objecting, "I do not know anything about growing things. I do not think I am qualified for this, Sir."
"Mr. Chekov, you are a Starfleet officer and therefore capable and adaptable to whatever the situation requires." Kirk smiled, hoping to instill confidence in the young Ensign.
"I am confused, Sir," Chekov continued, "as to what qualifications I haf that make me uniquely suitable to assist Mr. Sulu in this assignment. This is a pre-warp society and adwanced knowledge of physics and transporter theory will be useless there - unless I am to be teaching them this, which wiolates the Prime Directive, Sir."
The kid's been hanging out with Spock, he could tell. "You are uniquely qualified for several reasons, Mr. Chekov. The first being your heritage. You grew up in Obninsk and you are better adapted to the climate of the target area than Mr. Sulu. You can help him adapt. The second is your age. It is customary for a man of Sulu's age to mentor a younger man - that would be you. I could send another botanist, but it wouldn't be believable. Some are more knowledgeable about plants than Mr. Sulu, but less so about arcane weaponry and hand-to-hand combat. It is not uncommon for a young man to be challenged to fight and I need someone who can defend themselves. There are two other botanists on staff, Lieutenant Blum and Lieutenant Herlihy, both in their forties and neither with sufficient hand-to-hand training. We need someone younger than Mr. Sulu who genuinely knows zilch about farming. Any other doubts, Ensign?"
"No, Sir."
Thirdly, it's going to be a long-term assignment and I won't have you mopey 'cause your boyfriend's being playing farmer Joe somewhere. And there's the other reason. I'll get to that later. "Lieutenant Uhura will brief you on language conventions and Mr. Spock has extensive knowledge of their culture and customs. The Enterprise will be out of range for most of the duration of this assignment, but we will contact you at scheduled times and dates. Any other questions?" Pause, one, two, three... "Dismissed." They all stood to leave, but there was one more thing Kirk had to say to them. "Mr. Chekov, Lieutenant Sulu, a word with you please." He waited 'til the last of them had gone, "Spock's not going to tell you this part. It's not in his cultural notes, but I can read between the lines and both Herlihy and Blum confirmed my suspicions. Mr. Sulu, are you familiar with the terms 'erastes' and 'eromenos?'"
Sulu swallowed hard and blushed a bit, "Um, yes, Sir."
"Good." Awkward conversation #58 avoided in 3, 2, 1, "It's like that. Kindly explain to Mr. Chekov, I have work to do." Bingo. He patted both men on the shoulder and left the briefing room, triumphant.
---
They were headed for their last duty shift before it was time to prepare for their mission, "What does this mean, 'erastes' and 'eromenos?'" Chekov asked.
"Shh, Not so loud. I'll explain after our shift." Sulu thought about his extensive knowledge of Earth's history regarding homosexuality and was a little embarrassed at how much he knew. That's why we were chosen. Are there no other gay botanists with advanced hand-to-hand combat experience and young boyfriends?...Okay, when you put it that way...
"Is it regarding sex?" Chekov was nothing if not straightforward. Subtle like a supernova.
"Yeah."
"Okay, after duty shift, then." A grin spread crooked across his face, "Maybe you will show me. It is easier to learn by doing, you know."
Sulu allowed himself a little laugh, "You're incorrigible."
"You encourage me!" Sulu turned to explain, but the persistent grin suggested that he knew exactly what he was saying.
Part 1: Adaptation
Part 3: The Dominant Male