Disclaimer: every situation & characters are fictional and over the age of 18.
Special thanks to my volunteer editor for correcting spelling mistakes!
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T'Pol squeezed the arms of her chair with rage and disbelief, attempting to control a sudden emotional outburst. "
How has it been possible for me to overlook physical changes clearly related to the imminent mating cycle?
" she thought.
Physiological changes were related to her attractiveness for mating partners during the cycle-- hips, lips, breasts, hair, fingernail growth, and such. And when the cycle was over, for the next seven years, those changes would be slowly reversed.
T'Pol had never actually experienced the cycle herself, only studied it while in a desert Vulcan monastery with other females. It was traditional custom to send high-class females away from civilization and, more importantly, male Vulcans, in case the mating cycle was to be skipped to prevent unwanted pregnancy and such.
Absence of males and suppressive medication allowed females to skip mating cycles with one notable side effect-- when the cycle did finally initiate, the symptoms would be much more severe than the normal, already aggressive manhunt, copulation urges and tendencies. In the most severe cases, females had been known to simply fuck males to death because of their insatiable hunger for sex.
After a short mental struggle, T'Pol regained her control over emotions. "My mating cycle was meant to start three years from now, and I have taken my inhibitor medication regularly like the other crew," she stated for Dr. Phlox.
It was required among the Federation Starfleet that all crew members consume medication which suppressed sexual urges during voyages and hence helped crews to focus on missions ahead, instead of pursuing relationships, jealousy, and such unwanted drama.
Suppressive medication was delivered in water for the regular crew, but in the case of T'Pol, it was pills, which she had to ingest once a week, and she had not missed any during the current voyage.
"Any theories on what might be causing... my current state?" she questioned Dr. Phlox, with a little hint of desperation in her voice.
"Could be anything; you are the first Vulcan in history who has spent this much time in confined spaces among a human crew, so there are no references available. It could be something you eat or drink, which may alter your hormonal balance or otherwise affect suppressive medication. After all, your diet is practically the same as what humans eat," Dr. Phlox theorized.
"I suggest you make an as exact a list as possible of what you have been consuming before you started experiencing symptoms, as this change developed somewhat rapidly. I will then run computer simulations for possible interactions and hope that we get lucky on this matter," the doctor instructed T'Pol.
"Very well, you will get your list after an hour," T'Pol said.
"I will triple your medication, but damage is already done, and I am afraid it will only slow down the unavoidable. Please send the list to me today, and I might get some concrete results before the next night cycle. Meanwhile, you can resume your duties," Dr. Phlox said, while tapping his datapad.
