The Enterprise had ventured across the M-Class planet two days ago and had decided to give it an extensive look. Now that they were orbiting the planet and there were no mines attached to the hull or ships firing upon them, Captain Archer and the senior staff decided to make this mission a working holiday. Scans of the planet revealed a temperate climate with no life forms other than plant life. The crew was unaware that they were being watched with great curiosity.
Hoshi Sato watched the away team set up their temporary living quarters on the plateau and various experiments as she set up her own materials around her. She had drawn a favorable lot and was slated to have the day off, so she started to relax several yards from base camp not wanting to get in anyone�s way. The tropical atmosphere and the overall beauty of the landing site took her breath away because there were a variety of scenes to choose from. To her north there was the beach, to her west a tropical jungle, and to her east, mountains. She sighed, looked across to the makeshift research facility and glanced at Lt. Malcolm Reed. She had been attracted to him ever since they had met. However, she knew better than to bark up his tree because she knew his views on fraternization between officers, not to mention the fact that it was against Starfleet regulations. But then of course, she wasn�t much on rulebooks.
Across the clearing, Lt. Malcolm Reed had seen Hoshi looking toward the camp. She looked beautiful today, dressed in shorts and a spaghetti strap top, her hair down and flowing casually down over her shoulder blades. He resisted the urge to wave; instead he looked down to his task, his mind anywhere but there. He could still remember when Hoshi had shown up at his door topless, having crawled through the tightest of spaces so they could escape from the Suliban. It was torturous for him to be near her, especially when he oversaw her target practices. He would breath in her scent and later in the evening would be awake with her scent still on his mind. No matter how hard he tried he could not control the growing attraction he felt toward her. There were nights when he woke up with her on his mind; sometimes it was the sound of her voice or her lingering scent that kept him awake at night. His dreams were progressing to the point where he was losing several hours of sleep. Last night as he dreamt, the images of Hoshi aroused him beyond sleep.
Malcolm could see the wind gust move toward the woman who was just occupying his thoughts. Realizing that she couldn�t hear him and was unaware of the danger, he took off running. His frustration mounted as he saw the gust sweep over her, lifting her off the ground and tossing her around like a rag doll. His heart pounded in his ears as he heard her scream in surprise. Then, as soon as it started, it stopped, dropping Hoshi to the ground with a resounding thud.
�Hoshi, love, please be okay,� she heard Malcolm shout as she felt his hands on her body ascertaining her condition. She looked up at him in surprise and realized he was running his hands along her ribcage. �I�m fine. Just a little winded, and you don�t have to shout.�
�Ensign, lie still,� Malcolm commanded with concern in his voice. He moved his hands across her ribcage, earning a gasp from her lips. She felt no pain, only awareness and arousal at his proximity. She reached up to stroke his worried brow, heat flooding her body.
�I told you not to move, Ensign,� he stated flatly, batting her hand away.
Dr. Phlox came running up, tricorder in hand. Quickly scanning her, he smiled his big alien grin and announced Hoshi was unharmed with the exception of a rise in her adrenaline levels.
Hoshi sat up, collected her thoughts and quickly answered the many pleas of concern. �I am okay. I just got the wind knocked out of me,� she joked, earning laughter from all of those around with exception of Malcolm.
Malcolm offered her his hand to assist her further. Taking it, warmth spread through her as erotic images passed through her mind. She leaned into him, strained against him, feeling like she needed to crawl inside him.
Malcolm cleared his throat, setting Hoshi right, all too aware of having her pressed against him. �Ensign, are you capable of walking under your own power?�
Hoshi pushed away, embarrassed at her intimate position with the armory officer. �Yes, of course, Lieutenant,� she mumbled into her chest.
Captain Jonathan Archer walked up to the group and sighed once he saw that his communications officer was fine. �T�Pol, scan the immediate area and see if there are any more of these �wind gusts� lurking about, � he nodded toward the Vulcan science officer.
�Certainly, Captain,� T�Pol stated, walking off.
�I am glad to see that you aren�t hurt, Hoshi. You and Malcolm are slated for a two-day geological survey over the far ridge to the west,� Archer concluded, walking away.
Hoshi stared at his back, her mind reeling at the thought of being alone with Malcolm for two days. Heat pooled into her stomach.
Malcolm tensed noticeably, thinking of the temptations that lay ahead of him.
TBC
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