The two try to science their way out of this.

"Since we can't transport or communicate from down here, I'd have to climb back up to the shuttle and signal for a beam up that way..." I stated even though we were both aware of the situation. I didn't like the idea of leaving the lieutenant on her own in the jungle while I went for help. She couldn't even hold a phaser in this condition.

"Want to give me a piggyback ride up?" Greene suggested lewdly.

I looked away as I tried not to think too much about her naked body pressed against mine. We'd probably have to both make the climb nude for it to be safe... her slicked up breasts pressed against my back as I pulled us up... We'd probably rub each other ragged just from the exercise alone... but... um... back to the point. It probably wouldn't work. Even the slightest bit of that plant fluid could compromise the integrity of the rope and then we'd both be in for a long fall. It would be too dangerous to attempt. We discarded the notion without even having to discuss it. I looked up to the trees, several hundred meters away from the shuttlecraft.

"It's too bad we could get to the top of the trees and try to sun dry that stuff off of you..." I lamented out loud.

Lieutenant Greene looked at me as if there was something that she just noticed. "Wait a minute..." She said as she stepped closer. I stepped back instinctively because of the plant substance. She halted and pointed to my belt. "Your phaser! If you adjust the beam spread, lower the intensity..."

My eyes widened as I finally caught one, "Instant portable tanning ray!"

"That's it!"

I quickly made the calibrations to the phaser and nodded to Greene, 'Are you ready?"

"The commander always says I could use a tan," she replied, nervously. The tried to find the proper pose to be suntanned with, from leaning forward to leaning back and arching her back, to turning to one side and looking off in the distance.

"This isn't a holo-shoot, I'm just going to beam you..." I said.

"Right... well," Greene took a deep breath, "Fire away..."

I activated the phaser and it lit Greene up in orangey-red. "Lieutenant, are you alright?"

"A little warm, but fine..." she assured me, "Now I know what turkey dinner feels like..."

She held her hands out the feel the warmth from the phaser, turned around and bundled up her hair so that the rays could hit her back. She spun around a few times and swayed her body. I started to get the feeling she was doing a sexy dance for me under the red light. She bent down to her knees and pulled herself back up while running her hands over her body.

"H... how's it going?" I asked to break up the seduction.

"Huh?" Greene stopped, mid-dance, "Oh..." She took a moment to brush her forearm, "I'm sweating."

I sighed, "So this isn't going to dry your skin at all..."

"No wait..." She continued to rub, "I think it's working... my sweat it breaking down the substance!" The lieutenant began rubbing her body more vigorously. She straightened up, rubbing her fingers together, "Only... this isn't he most efficient way to do this. I have a thought..."

We spent the next hour gathering large leaves and branches, forming a makeshift hut out of them. Greene called this a sweat lodge. I would ignite the leaves which contained moisture in them, so would smolder instead of burn. The heat would be contained inside the hut and **** Greene to sweat out enough to wash the rest of the plant residue off.

I made a last minute check of our freshly crafted settlement before announcing, "All set, Lieutenant!"

"Great," Greene said as she crawled inside. She poked her head out a second later to ask, "Well, what are you waiting for?"

"Huh?"

"I can't reach certain spots. I need you to come help me." She said 'a matter of factly'. I could feel my cheeks reddening as I thought about what the lieutenant was requesting. I must have looked like a petrified doe to her because she rolled her eyes and said, "Get out of that uniform and get in here, ensign!"

"Uh... yes sir!" I said, hopefully not too eagerly. I hesitantly stripped out of my uniform and folded it up to lay neatly next to my phaser and tricorder. The hairs on my skin rose and I shivered as I felt the chill of the jungle air, hidden away from the giant sun. I looked over at the hut. The fire emanated a warm glow from inside, where the lieutenant was waiting for me. I guess she didn't stick around to watch me undress because she'd get to see me in there with her anyways. I suppose it's fair since I've already seen all of her today. I took a deep breath, crawled down and entered the hut.