~~~~~~

As the others began meandering over to the living area, Hoshi stood and began to clear the dishes from their meal. Trip watched her for a moment, grinning slightly, then let himself flop onto the sofa and called out, "And when yer done with the dishes Hoshi Darlin', bring me a beer!"

She shot him a look over her shoulder, eyes narrowed, then stepped into the small kitchenette and opened the refrigerating unit. She retrieved what they believed to be the Celestian version of the "beer" and carried it over to him. "Sure thing," she took on his twang in the most annoying adaptation, "Darlin'."

Trip's hand snaked out and curled around her wrist, with a fluid motion, he pulled her into his lap. "Hey baby, why don't I take you into the other room and us have a real party."

She sighed and shook her head, gave him a sweet smile and a pat on the chest, "When you're a real man, we'll talk about a real party." With a wink she climbed off his lap and went back to clearing out the dishes.

Sometime, and several beers later, the mood--at least among the three humans, had lightened considerably. While T'Pol looked on with disapproval, the two men and Hoshi boasted crude jokes and tall tales. At some point later in the evening, while Hoshi stood staring out over the Celestian night, Trip walked by, intent on swatting her behind.

She caught sight of him from the corner of her eye and moved quickly, catching his arm and jerking it behind him, she used the momentum of the movement, and his slight inebriation to push him flush, face first, into the wall.

"Oh baby," he drawled, "I love it when you play rough!"

"Captain," T'Pol finally interjected, "I do not believe..."

Archer sighed, "Trip, Hoshi, lets knock it off and call it a night."

"Yeah Hoshi," Trip called over his shoulder, "you should really behave yourself you're scaring the Vulcan."

She rolled her eyes and let him go, then easily dodged his hands and crossed the room to the second of the two bedrooms, which she and T’Pol were sharing.

~~~~~~

Malia’s guards escorted them to breakfast with the young queen the next morning. Archer was surprised to find a watered down version of Celestian beer on the table as well as a variety of unusual fruits. With a smile he lifted the glass of beer that had been placed by his plate. “Malia, I don’t wish to be rude, but I’m afraid this drink of yours has an adverse effect on us.”

Her brow crinkled. “I know we sent the ingredients to your doctor to make sure it was safe for you?”

“It’s not that so much harmful as intoxicating.”

She laughed. “Then the Boru is doing exactly as it should. The beverage is created in the tropics of our planet and is a favorite to drink because it reduces inhibitions and helps us to relax. The daytime servings are actually blended without alcohol so that we may do our jobs. There is a chemical additive in it that gives a similar effect but does not impair our judgment.” She wrinkled her nose as she sipped at her own drink. “That also accounts for the difference in the taste.” With a quick gesture she raised her glass for a refill. “However if you do not like the taste of it, we can find something more palatable?”

Archer shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. As long as we know it won’t impair our judgment we are content to drink it.” He took a sip of his own drink and smiled. “It is quite delicious. Perhaps we could arrange to take some of it back with us when we leave.”

Malia nodded. “Speaking of leaving. I know you arranged only to stay a few days, but we would be most honored if you would stay the week. There is so much I wish to discuss with you, so much knowledge I want our people to share that I don’t know how we will fit it all in, especially with my schedules. Please say you’ll consider it.”

Archer glanced over at T’Pol and the others and saw nothing to discourage him. With a nod, he agreed. Within another few moments he had signaled Enterprise and made the arrangements. He and the others spent the rest of the morning with Malia exploring the cultural center of her city. During their time together the young Queen was excessively curious about human mating behavior. Doctor Phlox had sent down more detailed biological information, but Archer was called upon to explain it. While the constancy of the questions embarrassed him, he made an effort to explain everything he could. He even talked Hoshi into answering a few from a woman’s perspective. Malia, though curious, took time to explain her interest, even going so far as to point our a breeding Celestian. Their species reproduced through an asexual form. When it was time, the Celestia began to ripen with their young, giving birth in much the same manner as a human female, only the offspring was a genetic match to the mother.

While he had found the morning interesting, Archer was thrilled when they were returned to their apartment. He was a bit embarrassed at the low strum of desire riding in his system, but he attributed it to the discussions of the morning. With a wry grin at Trip, he excused himself to take a shower, hoping the water would cool him down.

As Trip prepared them all a lunch, Archer asked the guards to make sure they were stocked on the virgin Boru. Though the humans had all enjoyed the other, he was determined to keep things relatively calmer than they had been the night before. It had been obvious that T’Pol was concerned by their behavior and he didn’t want to do anything to deliberately upset her. Even as the thought crossed his mind, he focused on her. He couldn’t seem to stop his eyes from roving over the swell of her breast, following the line of her waist, or even focusing on the curve of her bottom. There was a certain amount of notice that she generated in him anyway. After all she was a beautiful woman, and she wore that damn cat suit that hid absolutely nothing, yet made him want to peel it from her just so he could experience the pleasures beneath. With a quick, sharp shake of his head, he tried to focus in on his lunch. He glanced around to see if anyone noticed his attention lapse, but found that Trip and Hoshi both seemed absorbed in one another. While he didn’t object to fraternization, he only hoped they knew what they were getting into. Once more his gaze slid to T’Pol and he found himself fascinated by each bite she took. He grew instantly and shockingly hard as her small pink tongue flicked out to catch a crumb. Stunned by his body’s unexpected reaction, Archer excused himself from the table and made his way into the bathroom. As he took himself in hand, he frowned. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been that aroused over a woman’s innocent movement. Shaking his head, he gave himself a self-deprecating smile. He really needed to get laid.

~~~~

Jonathan sat on the balcony overlooking a lake. The apartment that Malia had assigned them truly was luxurious. With the exception of sharing sleeping quarters, they were very comfortable. He wasn’t surprised to find himself watching the stars, rather than the city lights and the water. The stars were his constant, they always had been. The Celestian sky was a dark violet and the stars were both familiar and different. There was something about sitting under a night sky that was every bit as relaxing and exciting as watching them from his view port. Picking up a cup of Boru, he sipped at it, barely noticing as the screen door behind him opened.

T’Pol stepped out on the porch and stood silently for several long moments. She was reluctant to interrupt the Captain as he had seemed off the last couple of days. In fact, all of her human companions seemed off. Commander Tucker and Ensign Sato couldn’t seem to keep their hands off one another, and the Captain watched her constantly. If she didn’t respect and trust him, she would think his looks possessive and predatory. The very thought sent a shiver down her spine. That was what had sent her out here though. She needed to talk to him about returning to the ship. It was obvious something was affecting her crew and she wouldn’t be satisfied until she had them back onboard ship with the doctor checking them over. She finally walked over to him, standing just out of reach at his side. “Captain, may I have a moment of your time?”

Jonathan was startled by the flash of desire that swept through him. Every time she had entered a room the last couple of days he had been aware of it. His senses all seemed heightened when she was around. Hell, he could smell her. The soft fragrance of her meditation candles that clung to her skin, and most importantly the underlying scent of woman. His awareness of her was both frightening and highly arousing and he loved every minute of it. He turned slightly, noting as he did that she stepped back. That action sent another flare through him, and he was hard pressed not to accept the challenge she unwittingly offered. He noted with some satisfaction that she seemed affected by the tension as well, so much so that she had changed from her cat suit to the looser robes her people wore. What she didn’t realize was that they just served to inflame him further. He had an idea what was beneath them and itched to explore. At another time he would have been concerned at the heightened aggressive traits. Reigning in his emotions, he relaxed and gestured her to the chair beside him. It was close enough for him to enjoy her and far enough away for her to feel safe. He shook his head as if to clear it of his darker thoughts. “What can I do for you T’Pol?”

She perched cautiously on the edge of the seat. “I am concerned with the behavior of the away team.”

He turned to fully study her. “Behavior?”

The look in his eyes sent another shiver through her. She tried to ignore it. “Yes. It seems that the male members of the away team are showing an increase in aggressive, predatory behavior. There is also the increase in inappropriate activity between Commander Tucker and Ensign Sato. I have caught them engaged in intimate acts several times over the last three days. In fact its getting worse.”

“I’m sure its just a matter of being away from the confines of the ship. They are relaxing and in the beginning of a new relationship it seems. Humans are extremely affectionate in the early stages.”

She stood in uncharacteristic agitation and walked over to the rail. “It’s more than that Captain. I went into the bedroom to change for our dinner with Malia, and they were sprawled across my bed. I turned to leave, to give them privacy, but apparently I wasn’t fast enough. Commander Tucker flew off the bed at me in a rage, insulted me and shoved me out the door.”

Rage surged to the fore as Jonathan thought of another’s hands on his mate. He stood quickly and pulled her to him, his hands sliding under the sleeves of her robe, pushing them up as he checked for bruises. He barely noticed as T’Pol tried to pull away from him. “How dare he touch you! You are mine!”

T’Pol jerked forcibly back, nearly tripping over the chair in her haste to get away from him. “Captain! Don’t you see? You are affected as well.”

Jonathan shook as her words sank in. He stepped away from her and turned to face the railing. His hands clenched and unclenched as he considered his actions. It was true. He had noticed it but played it off in his head. Something was affecting them, all it seemed but T’Pol and perhaps Hoshi. It was possible that whatever was heightening the aggressive male tendencies might be missing in the women. Hoshi might just be swept up in Trip’s ardor. He glanced back at T’Pol before gazing back at the stars. “Alright. We will join Malia for dinner and I will let her know there is a problem and that we need to contact Enterprise.”

T’Pol nodded. “I think it would be for the best Captain.”

His eyes swept over her. Unable to keep the appreciation from them and his voice, Jonathan spoke. “Do you still need to change? Your robes look fine to me?”

She shook her head and stepped closer to the door. “No. Commander Tucker threw them out the door after me. I’m afraid to think he may have confiscated my room.”

Jonathan smiled slightly. “If that the case, you can have mine. I’ll take the couch in the living area. We should however be back on Enterprise in a few hours. Let’s talk to Malia first.” He followed her through the room, and tried not to notice the soft cries coming from the bedroom.

They were early in meeting Malia for dinner so Archer requested the guard contact her.  He explained that it was important and had to do with the health of his crew.  For the first time since they had come down to the planet he regretted the loss of the communicators.  For some reason the atmosphere of Celestia interfered with their communicators and all contact with the ship had to be through the governmental communications system.  The guard returned and asked them to follow her to the Queen.  They were surprised to find themselves in a medical facility of some sort.  Malia approached them.  "What is this about a health concern?" 

T'Pol spoke.  "I have noticed erratic behavior among my crewmates and am concerned there is something here that is affecting them.  We need to contact our ship and let the doctor know there may be a problem."

"I see.  Would you allow my doctors to run a couple of scans as well?  We would like to make sure there isn't something that would harm our people."

Jonathan nodded, then waited as Malia and the doctor reviewed the scans.  The doctor spoke.  "His hormonal level is higher than we expected, but I don't see any reason to be concerned.  He is coming along nicely."

Jonathan reacted as if slapped.  "What the hell is going on here?”

As several guards entered the room, the young Queen tipped her head to one side as if analyzing Archer’s anger. “It’s quite simple Jonathan. You are having a reaction to the Boru. We have been running discreet scans for the last several days and monitoring the changes in your behavior. It seems the Boru acts on your system in a way that heightens your natural aggression. It also seems to effect your sexuality. Based on the readings we’ve been taking there are several hormones affected in both you and Commander Tucker.” She smiled at him, almost innocently. “I must say watching a human male perform sexually is quite an experience. The act itself looks painful, but your Ensign Sato doesn’t seem to mind at all.”

A growl of fury rolled forth. “You are watching us as well?” The words were spit out. For the briefest of instants Jonathan actually wondered what her neck would feel like under his hands.

“Of course. We are very curious about your species. Also, once we realized the affect the Boru was having, we wanted to make sure you would not harm each other, or us for that matter.” She glanced at T'Pol before turning her attention back to Archer. “You have remarkable restraint Jonathan. I’ve noticed the way you watch her and yet you haven’t touched her even once.”

Fists clenched. “T’Pol and I do not have that kind of relationship. We are friends and comrades, not lovers.”

“But you would like to be. The mere thought of it affects you even now. Why do you not act on it?”

“Because we are friends. Yes I want her. She is a beautiful woman, but she is not an object to be taken and there is trust and respect between us.”

“I am familiar with the signs of desire in another woman. She wants you as well. It is more subdued, but it is there.”

The very thought of it set Jonathan’s teeth on edge. Hormones he kept telling himself. This is all the effect of hormones. “If you realized something was happening with us, how could you even risk not contacting our doctor. For all you know these changes could be detrimental to our health.”

Malia turned to the doctor next to her and motioned her to speak. “We took that into consideration, it is one of the reasons we increased our surveillance of you. What we found was that once you engaged in sexual activity the effects dissipated and with each successive act, the hormonal level returned to normal. At least until the next ingestion of the Boru. It seems to effect all of you to some degree, with the exception of T’Pol. She does not drink it, preferring water.”

“The Boru doesn’t seem to effect you.”

“The alcoholic version can heighten our sexual awareness, but we have never been effected by the other. There are enough differences between our species that it seems to effect your females as well, though to a lesser degree,”

The anger that had flared in him seemed to deflate just as quickly. “You need to let us contact our ship. These fluctuations aren’t healthy for us.”

Malia stepped forward, one hand reaching out to touch his cheek. She smiled as he jerked away from her. “Unfortunately that is not possible. The experiment is not yet complete. You agreed to stay with us for a few more days and there is still data to collect.”

"We are not lab rats for you to experiment on!"

Malia studied him for a moment and for an instant seemed contrite, then it was gone.  "I am sorry, but we have an opportunity to learn more than we ever imagined.  We can not turn away from this opportunity."  She glanced at T'Pol.  "Of course if you would both cooperate it would go much more smoothly."