The BLTS Archive - Devil in The Red Dress Twelfth in the Cherry Blossom Suite by Artemis (ArtemisOK@aol.com) --- Disclaimer: CBS-Paramount owns Star Trek. No infringement intended, no money being made. Feedback: Will write for feedback. Beta: Thank you to Sally for the beta. All mistakes are my own. Author's Note: This is part of my "Cherry Blossom Suite". Archiving: My Place, THFFF, and ASCEM. --- It was 14 February 2246. Transporter Technician in Training Janice Rand opened her electronic mail box and found two star-mails waiting. The first was from her fiancé Lt. Hikaru Sulu. She was surprised to see a picture of him in hospital pajamas, on crutches with a bone knitter on his right leg. The caption read "Because you're mine, I walk the line", attached to that was a recording of Hik singing that old standard. The song was well suited to his low, mellow voice. When it finished there was a brief message: "June bug, I can't talk for very long, hee hee." His voice was slurred. "Ol' Doc McCoy got me juiced up pretty good. Just know I love you to pieces and miss you with every breath (even that one). I'm so glad this is our last Valentine's Day apart. Now, forever and always – Yours – Hikaru. Oh yeah, PS – there's a surprise package on its way to you. You'll never guess what it is?! It's Turkish Delight! Sweet rosy candy for my sweet rosy sweetheart! I'm sending you a million kisses. Mmmuah, muuah, muuah. . .' Another voice came on. "That's enough, Sulu." Dr. McCoy could be heard on the recording. "Tell her good night." Sulu sang, "Good night sweetheart, yeah, it time to go." And Bones cut the link. Janice regarded the picture with curiosity. //I wonder what that's all about? Well, at least I don't have to worry about hiding a boudoir photo from my room mate.// She opened the second star-mail. It was from Lt. Uhura. "Dear Janice," she began; "I bet you are wondering what happened to your lover boy. He fell for you while being chased by someone else..." --- As Lt. j.g. Electra Leveau stepped out of the turbo lift, she knew she looked good. Her Cajun ancestry showed in the warm color of her skin, her large, brown eyes and her jet black hair that she wore in an intricate up-do. She could feel eyes on her as she crossed to the communications station to relieve Lt. Uhura. Perhaps that was because of her grace and beauty, or perhaps it was because her uniform was one size too small and fit as if it had been sprayed on. The skirt was one centimeter away from being out of regulations and her boots were ten centimeters too high. Chekov sighed as he rested his cheek against his hand. "She walks in beauty like the night." Sulu shook his head and smiled. "Now who are you talking about?" "Lt. Leveau - Electra" Chekov suddenly sat up and faced the screen. "Don't look now; she is looking our way," he said out of the side of his mouth. "She is probably looking at the view screen, Pavel. People do, you know." "Just because you are engaged does not mean that you are dead." "First, Lt. Leveau doesn't hold a candle to Janice. Secondly, if I so much as flirted with her, word would get back to Commander Scott and I might have an unfortunate accident". The Comm panel beeped. The Enterprise's new orders from Star Fleet had arrived. Electra downloaded them and flowed down from her station to the Captain's Chair. "Our new orders, sir," she purred as she leaned over slightly. "Thank you, Lieutenant." He took the disk, "That will be all." Mentally he shook his head, what was she thinking? She was blatantly on the prowl and although his pulse quickened, but his mind said whoa. He would have Lt. Uhura speak to her. "Aye, aye, sir." As she departed she moved in an arc taking her to the helm station. She let her hand trail across the back of Sulu's chair. Her long red nails grazed the back of his neck. She sighed slightly and then as if she had her own gravity program climbed the stairs in slow-motion. None of this was lost on Chekov. All of it was wasted on Sulu. When Alpha shift ended, Lt. Leveau stood by the lift idly flirting with the impassive security guards on duty. She was waiting for her prey. As Sulu stepped began to step into the turbo-lift, Electra pretend to trip and fell forward into his arms. He caught her and promptly held her away from his body with ramrod straight arms. "You should be more careful, miss. Perhaps if your boots were regulation height you wouldn't be so clumsy." He set her aright on the entrance to the bridge and stepped into the lift just before the doors closed. There was a faint ripple of laughter behind her. She glanced around. Of course everyone was studiously looking as his own screen. She was left stranded, steaming and scheming until the next car arrived. After that Sulu realized that she was stalking him. He saw her in the gym while he and Lt. Robert DeSalle were fencing. He felt hungry eyes watching him and turned to see her unabashedly gazing at him. It unsettled him so much that DeSalle was able to slip under his guard and score. While most of their friends cheered and laughed, Electra booed. Sulu felt himself blushing and apologized to DeSalle. Robert said to forget about it and suggested they change weapons. They walked over to the rack and exchanged rapiers for kantanas. On the way, Hikaru wiped his sweaty face and dropped the towel in the receptacle. Robert whispered to him that the new girl had taken the towel. Sulu's concentration was shot after that. DeSalle grinned and proceeded to beat him like a step-child. Later in the week, Hik tried to relax in the botany lab by communing with Gertrude, who missed Janice terribly. He fed her little bits of left-over turkey and crooned to her. Gerty crooned back. He had his back to the door as he swayed in time with the happy houseplant. Suddenly, Gertrude went ape-shit. Electra was standing in the open door. She smiled brightly, and then let her eyes drop in a coy manner. "Don't mind me," she said. "I'm just here to pick up a few spices and herbs for an old family recipe." She put out a hand to pet the plant. The potted palm rocked with such force to avoid her that it nearly toppled over. Sulu caught it and soothed it as he spoke to Lt. Leveau. "She's not generally like this. I guess it's your perfume." He shrugged. "I'm not wearing anything," she replied. Sulu blushed and she smiled. //Yes, score! // True to her word, she left him unmolested and gathered the herbs she came for. He turned his back to her and pruned a bonsai Alterian maple. He could feel her staring at him and now understood the expression "being undressed with someone's eyes." He felt naked and vulnerable under her ravenous gaze. He considered leaving the lab, and then he thought //No, I was here first, dammit! I will not let her ruin my precious off duty time.// --- A couple of days later, Hik, Robert and Pavel were leaving the chow hall when Electra squeezed passed them. She "accidentally" dropped a red bag at Sulu's feet and kept on walking. He stooped to pick it up, but DeSalle stopped him. "Uh-huh, buddy. Don't touch that unless you want to be entangled in that witch's web." "Why, what is it?" the perplexed helmsman asked. "It's a gris-gris --once you pick it up she's cast her spell on you," Robert warned in his best Cajun accent. Sulu laughed. "Oh come on! I don't believe in magic." "Even after all the stuff we've been through out here?" DeSalle challenged. "Remember Trelane?" "Or the Talosians?" Chekov added. "Okay, I'll concede the power of alien minds, but. . ." Sulu began- "Apollo, he was from Earth." DeSalle answered "But not originally. Anyway a human could not do that shit." "Charlie Evans," said DeSalle "Yeah, but no normal human. . ." Chekov challenged. "Gary Mitchell and Elizabeth Dehner. You served with them didn't you, Hik? Did Commander Mitchell seem normal to you when he sat beside you at the helm?" "Yeah, Pavel, Mitchell was straight up." Sulu sighed. "Okay, you guys win. I won't touch that 'gris-gris' with a ten foot pole." "Well, in that case, I'll take it!" exclaimed Chekov. He picked up the bag and tucked in under his tunic. Both his friends stared at him. "How do you feel?" asked Hik, Pavel shrugged. "The same as before; crazy in love with the enchanting Electra." --- For days afterward, Electra stuck to Sulu like a scarlet shadow. She was continually watching him for signs that the spell had taken effect. Twice, Mr. Spock had to call her attention back to her console, because she was focusing on Sulu instead of her duties. Electra made a point of speaking to Hik, when she entered the bridge. He didn't reply. She brushed his arm as they stood in the chow line. He didn't smile. She dropped an armload of PADDS in front of him. As he handed them back to her, she caressed his hand and breathed a throaty thanks. He did not melt. Lt. Uhura noticed Lt. Leveau's tactics. She mentioned them to Commander Scott over lunch. Scotty said that he had faith in the lad. Nyota agreed, but said they needed to keep an eye on the fiancé filching femme-fatale and to step in if things got out of hand before it disrupted the smooth function of the ship or got on the Captain's nerves. The next morning, the Enterprise answered a distress call from a cargo ship under attack. The Enterprise managed to defeat three Klingon Birds of Prey, but at a terrible cost. The ship was severely damaged. She limped along while the Engineering team patched her back together again. Scotty and his team put life support and the engines at the top of the list. Water and the galley came next. The food dispensers were further down on the list so that hungry people had to line up outside the galley for hot meals. That is where Electra finally cornered her prey. "Oh, Mr. Sulu, I need to have a word with you, please." She batted her long lashes and looked at him with limpid brown eyes. "I – I - I'm sorry, Ms. Leveau. I don't have time to talk now. I just stopped by to grab some chow for Pavel and me. Then it's back to the salt mines." He managed a weak laugh and turned to go. She followed him, making polite conversation as they walked. "I'm so very glad we don't have to eat rations any more. They are so high in calories. A girl has to watch her figure, no?" She twitched her hips. "Ah, um, we all need to maintain our weight to Star Fleet standards," Sulu replied. Leveau chuckled and took a step closer. "When do you think the showers will be back on line? she ventured. "I'm sure I need a good scrubbing. I must smell powerful strong by now, don't you think?" She moved in closer and reached for him. Sulu took a sharp left and headed into the nearest turbo-lift. "Wait, stop!" Electra cried. "Don't! It's outta. . ." Too late, Hik saw the looming darkness beneath his feet. The trays went flying. He teetered on the brink. Electra reached to steady him and he jerked away. He fell three decks and landed on top of the stalled lift. The force of the landing knocked the wind out of him. He lay unmoving. Lt. Leveau screamed. Other crew members, who were standing in the chow line rushed to see what the problem was. "Mr. Sulu, he fell down the lift shaft! Y'all gotta help him!" Her accent thickened with emotion. "Lt. Leveau," Scotty snapped. "What happened?" "I was just joshing him. I went to put my arm around his neck and he took off like a scalded hound." Her eyes flashed. "Please, help him!" "Aye, lass, we will. Go back to yer station and we'll have him out in no time." As Scotty was questioning Ms. Leveau, Uhura was calling for Damage Control and a Emergency Medical Team. Under Mr. Scott's direction, the teams went down to the lift doors nearest the stricken helmsman. Damage Control pried open the doors and kept them open while the EMTs were carefully lowered down with a stretcher. The medical tri-corder assessed that Sulu was suffering from a mild concussion and fractured, right tibia and fibula. He was taken to Sick Bay for treatment. --- It was all fun and games until somebody gets a broken leg – and then the Captain gets involved. Captain James T. Kirk sat behind the conference table. A slow burn darkened his features. Lt. Uhura sat at the end of the table. She was there as a witness to the accident and as Lt. Leveau's supervisor. Lt. Leveau stood at attention. Her uniform was brand new and fit perfectly. Her boots were regulation height and polished to a mirror finish. Her hair style was simple and her make-up was minimal. Captain Kirk addressed Electra. "At ease, Lieutenant. Would you care to explain to me what you've been up to this past two months and just what happened this afternoon?" His voice was cold and clipped. She went to parade rest and answered. "Sir, I have been trying to seduce Lt. Sulu." "Ms. Leveau, the female/male ratio on this ship is one to ten. Why did you single out Mr. Sulu?" "Sir, because someone dared me. He said that Mr. Sulu was off the market and that not even I could get a date with him." Kirk shook his head. "Someone dared you and so you began to harass a senior crew member?" "It wasn't harassment at first," she explained. "It was just flirting, but when he didn't respond, I turned up the heat. It quickly went from a dare to a personal challenge to an obsession. I'm used to getting what or who I want and frankly the more Mr. Sulu rebuffed me, the more I wanted him." Kirk stifled a smile. He knew the feeling. "So when did you realize that he wasn't playing hard to get?" "Not until he fell down the lift shaft, sir." She hung her head. "I can't forget the look on his face when he pushed my hand away, like I was some kind of monster." "But not before?" he said slowly drawing her out. "No sir. I guess I was waiting to see if my gris-gris was working." "This?" He placed the small red bag on the table between them. She nodded. "What's in here anyway?" "Rosemary, thyme, rose hips and sandal wood wrapped up in a piece of towel containing his sweat and mine, a note saying 'Je suis pour vous, Sulu. (I'm for you, Sulu)' All sealed with a kiss." "And this is a love spell?" She smiled. "No sir. It's more like the power of suggestion. The object of my affection can always blame 'that old Black Magic' for his actions." She shrugged. "I didn't know that Mr. DeSalle was filling Mr. Sulu's head full of nonsense about magic and the power of the human mind. It was only meant as an invitation not an incantation." She peered up at her commanding officer through thick eyelashes. Kirk made a note on his PADD. "I see. I have a more couple more questions, Lieutenant. Who was it that dared you to seduce Mr. Sulu?" "I'd rather not say, sir." "Who?!" he growled. "I'd rather not get a friend into trouble, but if I must. . ." "You must." "Lt. Dennis Black. We served together at Star base 29." "Black!" Lt. Uhura snorted. "That answers a lot of questions." Kirk turned to her. "Would you care to explain?" "Aye, aye, captain. Ms. Leveau, I'm afraid your friend was using you. Mr. Black has had an infatuation for Mr. Sulu's fiancée, Janice Rand, since the day he met her. After she left for tech school, he started a pool on how long their long distance relationship would last. I believe that Black was using you to drive a wedge between the happy couple." "That rat!" Electra stamped her foot. "Belay that, Lieutenant," the captain said quietly. "Now that we have all the pieces of the puzzle, what shall we do with you?" He held her with his cool hazel eyes. Electra swallowed. //Damn that man knows how to work them eyes.// "I'm sure that whatever you decide will be proper and fitting. All that I ask is that I be allowed to remain aboard the Enterprise." "Allowed? Letting you leave this ship would be letting you off easy. You have to say here and face your mistakes," he said. Uhura nodded agreement. "Now for your punishment. Doctor McCoy says that Lt. Sulu will out of commission for six days. I say we go one better. You are restricted to quarters for seven days and you must successfully complete the Star Fleet sexual harassment program. Ms. Uhura will let me know when you've completed the course." Captain Kirk turned the PADD towards Electra. She snapped to attention and then moved to the table to sign the Non-Judicial Punishment. Lt. Uhura witnessed it. When they were done, Uhura took Leveau's arm. "I'll walk you to your quarters. Between us we can decide whether Black should be scraping space barnacles or de-ionizing the gym floor." --- Janice closed the letter. "Dennis Black you are lucky that there are two hundred light years of space between us or you and your voodoo queen would be would need a lot more than magic to save you." --- The End