Disclaimer: don't own them.
"Andromeda."
The ship hologram appears. "Yes, Trance?"
"Could you engage privacy mode for where ever I go then forget about it?"
The Hologram frowned. "That is an odd request coming from you."
"Can you do?" Trance asked. "Please."
The hologram nodded slowly. "Privacy mode engaged."
The hologram disappeared but continued to observe the purple alien. Andromeda enabled her security overrides and opened a file to record the event then watched Trance leave her quarters. Trance's vitals were elevated. Why should a seeming happy-go-lucky alien be nervous? That was more then enough for Andromeda's discretionary powers to allow her to spy.
Trance snuck down the corridor then stopped and looked around nervously. Curious. Andromeda thought then gaped inside her hull. Was Trance insane?
Trance opened the door to Tyr quarters and stepped inside.
She was insane.
Andromeda looked inside Tyr's quarters and watched, ready to intervene when Tyr attacked. But Tyr didn't wake, he shifted in his bed but that was all.
Andromeda detected Tyr's vitals and knew he was awake. She wondered if this was good or bad.
Trance moved closer to Tyr's bed then stopped. She simply stood there, starring into the dark.
Andromeda was starting to wonder if Trance was ill. Why was she in there? What was wrong? 'I didn't think Trance could stand still,' Andromeda thought. 'Never mind that still.'
Trance's vitals were increasing even more.
Trance seemed to sway toward the bed then stepped back. She turned and ran out the door and down the corridor.
"Ship?" Tyr stood. "Inform Dylan that we have a problem."
Andromeda appeared. "Trance acting strange is normal." She tried to sound like this weirdness was normal.
"Where is she now?"
"Trance has engaged privacy mode."
"Tyr to Hunt."
"Dylan here."
"We have a problem. Order the ship to disengage privacy mode on Trance so we can track her."
"What kind of problem?"
"She was just in my quarters."
"Andromeda, disengage privacy mode on Trance." Dylan ordered. "Where is she?"
"Entering the Maru's hanger."
Tyr took off running.
"Tyr, she's somehow over ridden the lock outs." Dylan snapped. "Tyr, don't enter the hanger. Tyr. Tyr!"
Tyr ignored him as he charged across the hanger. He could hear the depressurisation sequence but knew he could do it. He didn't bother with the main hatch and dove under the Maru, going for the second emergency pod.
The hatch opened and Tyr climbed in. He didn't call Hunt or make a sound as he climbed up into the Maru through the cargo area. He could feel the Maru's manoeuvres and held on as the ship entered slipstream.
Damn.
Trance sobbed and jumped out of the pilot's seat. "This is so unfair!" She was shaking as she curled up in a corner. "I'm not ready." She rubbed her arms and face then took a long breath. "Okay, calm down, you can make it stop. Concentrate."
She crossed her legs and closed her eyes and started breathing, slow steady breaths. That was it. Slow, steady, deep, calming.
"No." She hissed. "No!" She raged.
Tyr came forward and glared at her then moved to the front and eyed their position and status. "We're safe for now but you..." He turned to glare at Trance some more but Trance was moving.
Trance was covered in a fine sheen of sweat as she stalked him. And stalking was the only word to use for her crouched stance and predatory gaze.
Tyr could hear her excelerated heart rate and smell her..."Damn." Hormones. He starred at her and recoginized the signs, heart rate, breathing, skin flush, pupil dilation, her scent. It had been increasing slowly for some days but he had dismissed it as he did Beka's. A mistake.
"Trance, calm down." He tried to soothe.
"I'm ready." She growled.
A lie. He could see the fear in her, could almost taste it. Almost but not quite. Her scent was overriding everything, even his own scent.
"Is that what is wrong?" He asked gently. "Your time is come?"
She tensed but held her stance, braced and ready for his attack.
"You don't need to fear me."
She laughed then crouched lower as he stepped forward.
"Your species, the males are the aggressors? I am not of your species, I have no desire to mate with you."
She sniffed the air then looked confused.
"Andromeda to Maru." Dylan called. "Respond."
Tyr turned to the comm only to have Trance attack. Caught off balance he fell but took Trance with him. Her tail went around his neck as she kicked and clawed at him. Tyr thought about being gentle, he did, then slapped her hard across the face. Trance's head went back and bounced of the deck, then she went unconscious.
Tyr pulled away and hit the comm. "We have a problem." He stated. "Trance is..."
Trance's tail curled around his neck and constricted. She made a purring sound and grabbed handfuls of his hair, pulling him back.
"Trance!" Beka screamed over the comm.
She ignored the pleas to stop and concentrated on Tyr who threw an elbow back. She grunted then kissed him hard.
Tyr through her off but she still held on to his hair and her tail was tightening. He kicked her legs out from under her and followed her down. He was stunned when she immediately became passive. Suspicious, he pulled her tail loose and held her hands down as he leaned up. Her tail flicked nervously and he could see her fear.
"Tyr, don't hurt her!" Dylan called.
Tyr eyed Trance and could smell the fear. "What do you want?"
She made a guggling sound.
"You don't have to continue this."
Her eyes started to glaze over.
"I am going to get up now. Do not fight."
She sobbed. "Help me."
Tyr pulled back and pulled her up, into his arms. He ignored the roaming hands and carried her back, into the crew quarters.
Trance was nuzzling his neck when he set her on her feet and started pulling at her clothes.
"Here. Take these off." He instructed.
She looked afraid but obeyed and faced him.
Tyr turned her around quickly and pushed her into the shower. "Wash." He ordered then left.
Beka charged on to the Maru. "Where is she? What happened?"
"She is in the shower." Tyr stated then waved Dylan back and closed the hatch. "How much did you see over the comm?"
Beka eyed him. "Trance trying to strangle you with her tail. You didn't hurt her did you? Tyr! You know she's been acting weird the last few days!"
"She tried to mate with me." He stated evenly.
Beka gaped. "She..."
"I think it is all hormones." Tyr continued. "She was and still is frightened."
"Poor Trance."
Tyr glared and shook his head then led her to her cabin. Trance was standing in the middle of the room, terrified, but rage flared as soon as she saw Beka.
Tyr ignored the territorially display and wrapped Trance in a blanket. He easily scooped her up and laid her on the bed. "How do you feel?"
Trance glared at Beka then looked up at Tyr and snuggled closer.
"Okay." Beka stood.
"No." Tyr rushed. "You stay."
Beka almost grinned, was Tyr afraid?
"You stay and I'll explain this to Dylan."
"Do you have to?" Trance rushed.
"Yes." He forced. "Beka is a woman, talk to her."
"But she doesn’t..."
"Humans have hormones Trance." He clipped then walked out.
Beka stood then faced Trance when the door was closed. Trance burst into tears and Beka sat next to her hugged her tight.
"Cry it out." Beka rocked gently. "Tears help."
"I...don't...want...to grow...up."
Beka chuckled even as the words sunk in. She held Trance and rocked her back and forth until she fell asleep then went to break the news to the men.
"Trance is...what?" The men chorused.