Standard Deviations by Astra "What kind of research is this, Beverly?" Jean-Luc wanted to know. He eyed the computer display with equal parts interest and distrust. There was nothing but text, yet the way she had insisted he accompany her to the lab, the kinetic movement of her hands as she described her new "project"... there was more than simple scientific inquiry involved. And that was why he was worried. He remembered the last time she had been this insistent about sharing her research. He never did get the stains off his clothes. "Oh don't look like that." She scolded, giving him a teasing smile. "You'll like this." She tapped a few commands on the keyboard bringing a smile to Jean- Luc's face. Her continuing battles with the computer amused him, especially when she insisted on using quaint old input devices like a keyboard. "There." She announced, leaning back with a satisfied smile. "Watch this." He wondered what on the computer screen could possibly be more interesting than those luminous indigo eyes, but he honored her request and turned his attention to the screen. And was riveted. It was a simple photograph, enlarged to reveal its individual pixels making the original image difficult to guess. The colors were impossibly bright against the black of the video display. At a typed command, the image changed, becoming three dimensional, taking on substance and texture. The colors shifted, as if glowing, then fading away into translucence. At the same time, the background changed, shifting rapidly through shades of gray until it seemed to disappear, and the central focus became four swirling ribbons of color. The lower end of each ribbon was static, fixed to a point equidistant from the other ribbons, As he watched, the upper portions of the ribbons, moved together, rubbing and twining together in a display that was unnervingly erotic. At length, he dragged his eyes away, feeling like a voyeur. Beverly was leaning down, her face close to his, her breath warm on his skin. There was a delicate pink flush to her face and it took every ounce of will power he possessed not to pull her into his lap and kiss her breathless. "Interested?" she breathed in a husky whisper. "Oh yes," he answered, not caring to clarify the double meaning of the question. "You're sure?" she teased. "Beverly." He answered, all too aware that his scold sounded like a plea. "If you're positive..." she smiled and tapped another command into the computer. In an instant, the small biolab was filled with the image of those whirling, writhing ribbons of color. One last command tapped out on the keyboard secured the lab doors, and then Beverly moved away from the small computer station, gently pulling Jean-Luc along. They walked the perimeter of the holographic display, watching the tempo of the ribbons movement increase. "What is this?" Jean-Luc finally managed to ask, his eyes still focused on the display. Every hair on his body stood on end and his skin felt hyper-sensitive. He desperately tried to fill the odd silence with his questions, hoping to control his thoughts and his body. "Amazing what you can learn from plants." Beverly responded, her own mind and body as hyper-aware as his. She'd viewed the menial chore of reviewing plant hybridization as an unwelcome task. Pure serendipity had revealed this. "It's Diamedian Scarlet Moss cross pollinated with a Tojar Wind Fern. I got tired of watching them grow, so I started playing with korelli filters. Quite a show, isn't it?" He cleared his throat twice before managing a throaty, "Yes. Quite." The head and friction of a single fingernail scraping lightly across the back of his hand made him jump. "Ultrasonics." The word was breathed in his ear. He felt an uncomfortable tightness. He had to get out of here now. He didn't care how clumsy his exit might be. "Don't leave yet, Jean-Luc." Hands, so delicate yet strong caught him, turning him slightly away from the intertwined ribbons to face her. She'd taken her hair down out of its clip and lowered the fastener of her uniform. One last rogue thought urged him to run before her lips closed over his and all thinking was banished. She backed him into the center of the display, where the full force of the visual and aural display heightened their passions even more. It was spectacular beyond imagining and they lost themselves in the sensations until much much later when they were well sated and lying in each others arms. "Convenient, this padded flooring, isn't it?" Beverly asked with a smile, tracing the curves of his chest idly as he rested his head against her thigh. "I've always admired your attention to details." He answered back, catching her hand and deliberately kissing her palm. Her shiver of pleasure made him smile. "So what use do you have for your new research?" he asker her when his mouth wasn't occupied with other things. "I haven't decided yet. After all, this is an important discovery. We wouldn't want it getting into the wrong hands. Imagine, unleashing this on an unsuspecting population. There would be chaos, hysteria, mass squigies." Jean-Luc raised one eyebrow and gave her "the look." "Mass squidgies?" he questioned. "It that a medical term." "Oh most definitely." She answered, laughing. "In fact, I have some literature on the subject in my quarters. I might even be convinced to give you a practical demonstration." She licked the tip of his nose. "Interested." "I'm always interested in scientific discoveries, Doctor. " He pushed her off his chest and stood, looking around for his clothes. "Shall we?" She handed him his briefs, giving him a cat smile. "Yes." She replied. "I think we shall." The end.