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Close Encounters of the Botanic Kind by lightingbug
Fandoms: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV)
18 Sep 2024
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Summary
The U.S.S. Enterprise embarks on a mission to a new world filled with alien flora that could revolutionize botanical science. Lieutenant Tara Hayes, a passionate xenobotanist, joins the away team, eager to prove her worth. But when an unexpected encounter with spores disrupts her molecular cohesion, Tara finds herself physically bound within a five-foot radius of Captain Christopher Pike. Stuck together and unable to separate, Tara and Pike must navigate their new proximity while handling diplomatic negotiations with the planet’s natives, the Xelari.
As they work closely to find a cure, Tara’s quiet admiration for Pike turns into something more complicated, and Pike is forced to confront his own feelings while grappling with the knowledge of his tragic fate. Amidst spore-induced bonding, impromptu "dates," and plenty of awkward encounters, the two officers face their fears, desires, and destinies. Can Tara and Pike untangle their bond and their hearts, or will this "close encounter" change them forever? A romantic-comedy adventure with a dash of sci-fi, diplomacy, and alien botany in true "Star Trek" fashion.