Fic: "Human Relationships: Friendship" part 2/3
Fandom: Star Trek 2009
Title: Human Relationships: Friendship, part 2/3
Characters/pairings: Spock, Amanda, Sarek, T'Pring, Pike, Uhura, pre-Spock/Uhura
Rating: G
Words: 3,373
Disclaimer: Star Trek sure ain't mine
Summary: After leaving Vulcan, Spock encounters many kinds of Human friendship. However, what he has yet to learn is that not all friendships are as innocent as they at first seem.
Author's Notes: Thanks again to mrstater for beta reading. Part 1 is here.
Chapter Two
For many years Spock spoke with T'Pring regularly, once every month. Her thoughts had settled considerably in his mind in the years following the betrothal ceremony. Eventually the touch of her mind against his began to feel like the tinkling of chimes in a gentle breeze.
Spock's conversations with T'Pring were brief, and were generally restricted to reports of their academic progress or of local events of note. They never did become what Spock imagined friends to be, but he was nonetheless satisfied to have a relationship with someone other than his classmates. He still had no friends among them, and several of them began to deliberately attempt to provoke emotional reactions from him. Their actions had no logical basis, but Spock was unable to dissuade them.
One day, after class, they succeeded.
Spock was deeply unsettled by his outburst, and after a conversation with his father he was also deeply ashamed. He had disappointed Sarek again.
He was meditating in his room, striving to calm the emotions that still threatened to well up from the dark corners of his mind, when his mother informed him that T'Pring had called for him.
This was the first time she had ever initiated communication, and his interest was piqued. Perhaps she felt his distress and was calling to support him, like his mother supported his father. That was what a true friend would do.
"Spock, I perceived your lack of emotional control today," she said, her face a blank mask on the screen. "It disturbed me during my music lessons, and I performed far below my normal capabilities. Please refrain from such emotional outbursts in the future."
Spock was stunned into silence. As he stared back at her, her eyes drifted to his lip--green, swollen, and scabbed.
"I suspected you had engaged in physical violence. I see that I was correct. This is a troubling occurrence. I disapprove of you engaging in such actions. If you continue, it will reflect poorly on me."
Spock felt a surge of sorrow, frustration, and anger. She winced as their bond conveyed his emotions to her.
"Control yourself, Spock," she said. "I wish to sleep peacefully tonight."
"I…" he struggled to calm his emotions. "I will attempt to do so. You have my apologies, T'Pring."
She nodded, and cut off the communication.
Spock returned to his meditation, striving to push the emotions of the day as far back in his mind as he possibly could.
After that month he reduced his communications with T'Pring to twice a year.
***
After knowing Commodore Ripley for more than a year, Spock has learned many things about her--including her love of music. So, in October when the Academy Chorale Ensemble presents their first of several yearly concerts, he invites her to join him. She tells him that she has attended every Chorale concert for sixteen years, and she would be glad to join him. She even admits to singing in the Chorale herself, many many years ago.
They sit fifteen rows from the front of the concert hall. Spock notices that the hall is in need of several key acoustical upgrades, and makes a mental note to report the deficiency to the Physical Facilities department.
As the stage lights come up, it takes only seconds for Spock to pick Cadet Uhura's face out of the large group. She stands in the third row, five positions from the left. She has changed her hair since they first met. It is no longer in braids, but falls in loose ringlets that dangle just below her chin.
As the concert begins, he sets about identifying individual voices and matching them to their owners. It is a most engaging exercise, and he is gratified when he at last identifies Uhura's voice. There is great clarity and control in her performance, and he is pleased to see that her talents extend to this arena.
In the seventh song she steps forward to perform a short solo and Spock ceases to analyze, allowing himself to merely enjoy the performance. Her voice lacks the expert polish of some singers, but it is has an extremely pleasant tonal quality and is thick with emotional expression. When she steps back into the group, Commodore Ripley leans over to mutter softly in his ear.
"Your protégé has a lovely voice."
Spock ponders her comment for the rest of the evening. He never would have ascribed the word protégé to Cadet Uhura, but he concludes that there is sound reason to do so. He was the one who introduced her to the faculty and provided her letter of recommendation, and he has consulted her current instructors to inquire after her performance--which, as he expected, is exceptional.
After he returns to his apartment, he ponders his new insight into his relationship with Cadet Uhura. Of the many types of friendships available, one that Spock has not yet experienced is that of acting as a mentor to a younger person. Perhaps he will have such an opportunity with Uhura. It would be a fascinating experience.
***
Spock does not expect to have Cadet Uhura in his class her first year. However, Captain Varik is so impressed with her competency in Vulcan, Romulan, and Intermediate Phonology that he approves skipping her ahead in those subjects. Spock is pleased when Captain Varik informs him of this development. He is eager to see if he can indeed step into the role of mentor.
In January, on the first day of class, Uhura arrives five point two minutes early and sits in the center of the front row of the lecture hall. Now her hair is straight, and hangs just below her shoulders.
He approaches her. "Welcome to class, Cadet."
"Hello, Commander. I'm glad I finally get to take your class." She smiles in a pleasing fashion, and Spock chooses to ignore the hyperbole in her statement.
"I am pleased to have you here. Though I have no doubts regarding your competency with the subject matters of this course, as a first year cadet you may be less familiar with the standard methods applied in this department. If you ever feel in need of additional tutoring or instruction, do not hesitate to visit my office. I am at your disposal." He believes that such an invitation may be sufficient to establish a basis for a mentor/mentee relationship. Now he must wait and see if she accepts.
"I appreciate your offer, Commander. If I ever need help, I'll definitely stop by."
The first class goes well, and Cadet Uhura proves that her natural talents are complimented by a determination to excel when she frequently and astutely participates in the class discussion.
At the end of the week, Uhura appears at his office door in the mid-afternoon.
He rises to his feet. "Please, enter." He gestures at the chairs in front of his desk. "Be seated."
"Thank you, Commander."
Today her earrings are long strings of pale blue crystalline beads, and he notices the way they sway and brush against the sides of her face as she sits.
"How may I be of assistance?" he asks.
"Well--I know you told me I could come here for extra help with your class, but I was actually wondering if you could help me with another project instead."
Spock raises an eyebrow. "What manner of project?"
Her hands clasp tightly in her lap, and her eyes dart downward. Both gestures are signs that Spock has come to recognize as tokens of mild anxiety. He dislikes that she feels such anxiety around him.
"Well," she says, still not meeting his eyes, "I tested out of all the Romulan language courses here at the Academy. And while I do have a high level of comprehension, my spoken fluency is still weak, and I have some serious difficulties with pronunciation. I've tried the TAs in the Language Learning Lab, and in the Xenolinguistics Lab, but none of them speak any better than I do. However…" Her eyes finally dart up to meet his. "Captain Varik told me that you are the most accomplished Romulan speaker at the Academy. I know this isn't what you had in mind when you offered extra tutoring, but I really need practice speaking Romulan with someone who knows what they're doing. Would you be willing to practice with me?"
Spock feels a great deal of satisfaction that she is already to willing to request his assistance with a project beyond the purview of his course. And he is impressed that she is eager to pursue personal studies above and beyond her Academy requirements. He has met few Human cadets who were sufficiently committed to their fields of study to pursue independent studies beyond their course-work.
"I am perfectly willing to accommodate your need for additional practice. It is commendable of you to desire to improve your skills beyond the ability of the Academy's resources to teach you. And a thorough knowledge of the Romulan languages will be a notable asset to any vessel on which you are privileged to serve."
Her smile--which he is beginning to enjoy in a most illogical fashion--brightens. "Thank you so much, Commander! I was worried that you would be too busy."
"Not at all. I will endeavor to assure that there will always be room in my schedule for you, Cadet Uhura."
They schedule a weekly meeting time, and Uhura thanks him again before leaving.
He experiences a very agreeable sense of satisfaction as he watches her depart. His goal to achieve a mentoring relationship with her is off to a very good start.
***
The tutoring sessions with Cadet Uhura go far better than Spock ever could have predicted. Though her Romulan speech is halting and labored in their early conversations, she improves quickly.
To add an extra level of challenge to their sessions, Spock suggests that they discuss her other courses while speaking in Romulan. The experiment proves highly useful, as he is able to assist her with her required Engineering Survey course. Uhura sheepishly admits to having weaknesses in her mechanical aptitude. She seems to believe that he will somehow think less of her because of her deficiency.
Spock is quick to reassure her that such is not the case--most Humans who excel in one or two areas will have significant weaknesses in others. He is surprised when, after his statement, she laughs.
His eyebrow shoots up. "I fail to discern the humor in my statement."
"It's not your statement," she says, her helical golden earrings swaying and shining in the sunlight streaming through his office window. "It's you--your whole attitude. Is that really how you look at the world? At the people around you? Like a scientist analyzing a set of complex variables so that you can arrive at correct conclusions?"
He is taken aback. Even while a small part of his mind registers admiration for her ability to get through her entire comment in Romulan with very few pronunciation errors, the remainder of his mind is puzzled and slightly disturbed by the content of her speech.
"I do spend considerable time observing and interpreting the behavior of the people around me before drawing conclusions regarding the characteristics of individuals or groups. I never thought of such behavior as scientific observation. I considered it to be common sense. Is it not prudent to establish a baseline of understanding others through careful observation and thoughtful analysis?"
This statement merely provokes more laughter. "That's exactly what I meant," she says.
He furrows his brow. "So--you do not view the people around you in this manner?"
She shakes her head, and more rays of light bounce off of her earrings. "No. I don't. I just… follow my gut. My instincts."
Spock is familiar with this concept. Captain Pike once explained it to him.
"Don't you ever have deep, instinctual impressions and impulses?" she asks.
She made several more pronunciation errors in her query which Spock knows he ought to correct; however, the content of her question is of more immediate interest.
"I believe that I do have what Humans call gut reactions or instincts. I simply ignore them. I learned long ago that such feelings derive almost exclusively from a combination of irrational emotions and hormone-based physical imperatives. As such, part of my mental training involved the suppression of such feelings."
Her smile fades, and her eyes flick over his face as if she is searching for something, though he cannot imagine what. Her lips part slightly, as if she wants to say something more, but she does not speak.
"Cadet? Was there something more you wished say on this topic?"
"Yes." Her features assume a stronger, firmer expression. "I was curious if, given your heritage, you'd ever tried exploring your more Human instincts and feelings?"
Not since his time as a cadet has someone confronted Spock so directly regarding his Human heritage. He finds her directness refreshing.
"I was raised as a Vulcan, respecting and living by Vulcan traditions and values. When I first came to live on Earth, I did make a few brief attempts to explore my Human nature, but I found the experiences to be highly uncomfortable, and I chose to continue to honor my upbringing."
"Hmm." She scrunches her forehead. "Perhaps that was because being Human very often is highly uncomfortable."
He finds that he has no adequate response.
She shakes her head and the corners of her mouth turn up. "I apologize for the tangent, Commander. I believe we were discussing my Engineering Survey?"
Spock agrees, but before returning to their discussion he takes a few moments to correct the pronunciation errors he noticed during their conversation.
The remainder of their session is unremarkable, but their conversation lingers in his mind for days.
***
In early April Spock receives an unexpected communication from Captain Pike. He raises his eyebrows in surprise when the Captain's face appears on his communications screen.
"Hello, Mr. Spock," says the Captain. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for lunch tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? I thought that the Exeter was not scheduled to return to Earth until July."
"We came home early so that I could start my new job." The Captain grins. Clearly he is pleased to have succeeded in surprising Spock.
"Will you be receiving a new command?"
"Not yet. For the time being I'll be dividing my time between Starfleet Command and the Academy."
Spock has no intention of revealing further signs of surprise. Instead, he simply inclines his head. "It will be most agreeable to see you again, Captain."
Captain Pike grins and chuckles. "You might want to dust off your old chess set. I think it's time for a rematch."
The next day Spock shares a satisfactory lunch with the Captain. It is agreeable to relate stories of the years since they last served together.
As they finish their meal, Captain Pike looks at Spock with a tight smile on his face. "So, you're probably wondering why I've accepted a desk job."
The question had crossed Spock's mind, as the Captain had frequently made his disdain of such positions known. However, Spock never would have thought to voice such an inquiry.
Captain Pike needs no verbal response to continue. "It's because it's only temporary. I'll be back in space in just over three years. Have you heard of the Enterprise?"
It is obvious from the Captain's tone that he is not referring to any of the historical vessels bearing that moniker, but rather the new starship on which primary construction was initiated during the previous November.
"I have."
The Captain's smile spreads into a grin, and he nods. "She'll be mine. And I get to stay here and watch her come to life. That's worth a three-year desk job."
Spock is impressed. "Congratulations, Captain. I have heard it rumored that the Enterprise is destined to be named the new flagship of the fleet."
"Well," says the Captian, leaning forward, "officially I can neither confirm nor deny that particular rumor. So let me just say--I am very, very happy to be getting this job." He winks.
"You know, Spock," the Captain continues, "I can't accept any applications for service aboard the Enterprise, yet. But when I can, I'd really like you to be my Science Officer."
"That is a most intriguing proposition. I am highly satisfied with my work here at the Academy, but I cannot deny that I would very much enjoy another chance to participate in deep space exploration and scientific experimentation. Nearly all of the most fascinating new research and discoveries in recent years come from the science teams aboard Starfleet vessels."
"And you'd like to be a part of it." Captain Pike sips his beer, and then holds up his glass in a mock salute. "I knew you couldn't resist the chance."
Spock nods. "Once you are ready to accept applications, I assure you that mine will be one of the first you receive."
***
Spock and Uhura hold their final study session together just before the week of final exams. He is deeply impressed with her progress, and suggests that they resume their sessions together in the fall.
"I'd like that very much," says Uhura, her pearlescent tear-drop earrings dancing appealingly by the sides of her face.
"There is something else I would like you to consider for the fall," he replies.
"What?"
He rests his forearms on his legs, folding his fingers together. "I have been asked to teach a course on interspecies ethics in the fall, and with that additional responsibility I am concerned that I will not have sufficient time in my schedule to complete all of the planning or marking for my phonology sections. I have asked Commodore Ripley if I may take on a teaching assistant in the fall, and she has agreed." He paused, catching Uhura's eyes with a steady gaze. "If you are interested, I would like you to serve as my teaching assistant."
Her eyes widen by several millimeters. "But second year cadets are never TAs."
Spock is mildly amused by her obvious shock. "That statement is factually incorrect. Second year cadets are rarely TAs, but it is not unheard of. And in this particular field you are as qualified as any of my fourth year students. We work well together, and I believe that your assistance would be a valuable asset both to me, and to my students."
Her expression breaks into a smile, and she shakes her head a little. "Well, since you put it that way, I accept."
***
Over the summer, without the distraction of classes and students, Spock turns his attention to the latest special project assigned to his team in Campus Computing Services. They are to design a simulation test for command-track students that will gauge their discipline, character, and command capabilities when commanding a vessel in a no-win situation.
Spock asks Captain Pike to consult on the design, as the Captain has been a scholar of Starfleet no-win scenarios ever since writing his dissertation on the destruction of the Kelvin.
For most of the summer, Spock divides his time between working with his programming team, and meeting with Captain Pike and his other consultants. Though he is busy, he is grateful for the three short letters he receives from Cadet Uhura describing her internship at the Spacedock Communications Relay Center. He is pleased to see that she continues to work toward her goals with ambition and determination.
One day in mid-July, Captain Pike and Spock stroll through the campus together after one of their meetings.
"I'll be leaving on a recruiting tour the fifth of August," says the Captain. "I'm supposed to go around to high schools and universities with a group of our best and brightest cadets to tout the glory of joining Starfleet." He shakes his head. "It's not exactly my idea of a good time, but when the Admirals say jump, I jump. So, do you know any cadets who might be interested in ending their summer break a little early to come do this song and dance with me?"
Spock knows exactly who to recommend.
ETA: Part 3 now up
Title: Human Relationships: Friendship, part 2/3
Characters/pairings: Spock, Amanda, Sarek, T'Pring, Pike, Uhura, pre-Spock/Uhura
Rating: G
Words: 3,373
Disclaimer: Star Trek sure ain't mine
Summary: After leaving Vulcan, Spock encounters many kinds of Human friendship. However, what he has yet to learn is that not all friendships are as innocent as they at first seem.
Author's Notes: Thanks again to mrstater for beta reading. Part 1 is here.
Chapter Two
For many years Spock spoke with T'Pring regularly, once every month. Her thoughts had settled considerably in his mind in the years following the betrothal ceremony. Eventually the touch of her mind against his began to feel like the tinkling of chimes in a gentle breeze.
Spock's conversations with T'Pring were brief, and were generally restricted to reports of their academic progress or of local events of note. They never did become what Spock imagined friends to be, but he was nonetheless satisfied to have a relationship with someone other than his classmates. He still had no friends among them, and several of them began to deliberately attempt to provoke emotional reactions from him. Their actions had no logical basis, but Spock was unable to dissuade them.
One day, after class, they succeeded.
Spock was deeply unsettled by his outburst, and after a conversation with his father he was also deeply ashamed. He had disappointed Sarek again.
He was meditating in his room, striving to calm the emotions that still threatened to well up from the dark corners of his mind, when his mother informed him that T'Pring had called for him.
This was the first time she had ever initiated communication, and his interest was piqued. Perhaps she felt his distress and was calling to support him, like his mother supported his father. That was what a true friend would do.
"Spock, I perceived your lack of emotional control today," she said, her face a blank mask on the screen. "It disturbed me during my music lessons, and I performed far below my normal capabilities. Please refrain from such emotional outbursts in the future."
Spock was stunned into silence. As he stared back at her, her eyes drifted to his lip--green, swollen, and scabbed.
"I suspected you had engaged in physical violence. I see that I was correct. This is a troubling occurrence. I disapprove of you engaging in such actions. If you continue, it will reflect poorly on me."
Spock felt a surge of sorrow, frustration, and anger. She winced as their bond conveyed his emotions to her.
"Control yourself, Spock," she said. "I wish to sleep peacefully tonight."
"I…" he struggled to calm his emotions. "I will attempt to do so. You have my apologies, T'Pring."
She nodded, and cut off the communication.
Spock returned to his meditation, striving to push the emotions of the day as far back in his mind as he possibly could.
After that month he reduced his communications with T'Pring to twice a year.
***
After knowing Commodore Ripley for more than a year, Spock has learned many things about her--including her love of music. So, in October when the Academy Chorale Ensemble presents their first of several yearly concerts, he invites her to join him. She tells him that she has attended every Chorale concert for sixteen years, and she would be glad to join him. She even admits to singing in the Chorale herself, many many years ago.
They sit fifteen rows from the front of the concert hall. Spock notices that the hall is in need of several key acoustical upgrades, and makes a mental note to report the deficiency to the Physical Facilities department.
As the stage lights come up, it takes only seconds for Spock to pick Cadet Uhura's face out of the large group. She stands in the third row, five positions from the left. She has changed her hair since they first met. It is no longer in braids, but falls in loose ringlets that dangle just below her chin.
As the concert begins, he sets about identifying individual voices and matching them to their owners. It is a most engaging exercise, and he is gratified when he at last identifies Uhura's voice. There is great clarity and control in her performance, and he is pleased to see that her talents extend to this arena.
In the seventh song she steps forward to perform a short solo and Spock ceases to analyze, allowing himself to merely enjoy the performance. Her voice lacks the expert polish of some singers, but it is has an extremely pleasant tonal quality and is thick with emotional expression. When she steps back into the group, Commodore Ripley leans over to mutter softly in his ear.
"Your protégé has a lovely voice."
Spock ponders her comment for the rest of the evening. He never would have ascribed the word protégé to Cadet Uhura, but he concludes that there is sound reason to do so. He was the one who introduced her to the faculty and provided her letter of recommendation, and he has consulted her current instructors to inquire after her performance--which, as he expected, is exceptional.
After he returns to his apartment, he ponders his new insight into his relationship with Cadet Uhura. Of the many types of friendships available, one that Spock has not yet experienced is that of acting as a mentor to a younger person. Perhaps he will have such an opportunity with Uhura. It would be a fascinating experience.
***
Spock does not expect to have Cadet Uhura in his class her first year. However, Captain Varik is so impressed with her competency in Vulcan, Romulan, and Intermediate Phonology that he approves skipping her ahead in those subjects. Spock is pleased when Captain Varik informs him of this development. He is eager to see if he can indeed step into the role of mentor.
In January, on the first day of class, Uhura arrives five point two minutes early and sits in the center of the front row of the lecture hall. Now her hair is straight, and hangs just below her shoulders.
He approaches her. "Welcome to class, Cadet."
"Hello, Commander. I'm glad I finally get to take your class." She smiles in a pleasing fashion, and Spock chooses to ignore the hyperbole in her statement.
"I am pleased to have you here. Though I have no doubts regarding your competency with the subject matters of this course, as a first year cadet you may be less familiar with the standard methods applied in this department. If you ever feel in need of additional tutoring or instruction, do not hesitate to visit my office. I am at your disposal." He believes that such an invitation may be sufficient to establish a basis for a mentor/mentee relationship. Now he must wait and see if she accepts.
"I appreciate your offer, Commander. If I ever need help, I'll definitely stop by."
The first class goes well, and Cadet Uhura proves that her natural talents are complimented by a determination to excel when she frequently and astutely participates in the class discussion.
At the end of the week, Uhura appears at his office door in the mid-afternoon.
He rises to his feet. "Please, enter." He gestures at the chairs in front of his desk. "Be seated."
"Thank you, Commander."
Today her earrings are long strings of pale blue crystalline beads, and he notices the way they sway and brush against the sides of her face as she sits.
"How may I be of assistance?" he asks.
"Well--I know you told me I could come here for extra help with your class, but I was actually wondering if you could help me with another project instead."
Spock raises an eyebrow. "What manner of project?"
Her hands clasp tightly in her lap, and her eyes dart downward. Both gestures are signs that Spock has come to recognize as tokens of mild anxiety. He dislikes that she feels such anxiety around him.
"Well," she says, still not meeting his eyes, "I tested out of all the Romulan language courses here at the Academy. And while I do have a high level of comprehension, my spoken fluency is still weak, and I have some serious difficulties with pronunciation. I've tried the TAs in the Language Learning Lab, and in the Xenolinguistics Lab, but none of them speak any better than I do. However…" Her eyes finally dart up to meet his. "Captain Varik told me that you are the most accomplished Romulan speaker at the Academy. I know this isn't what you had in mind when you offered extra tutoring, but I really need practice speaking Romulan with someone who knows what they're doing. Would you be willing to practice with me?"
Spock feels a great deal of satisfaction that she is already to willing to request his assistance with a project beyond the purview of his course. And he is impressed that she is eager to pursue personal studies above and beyond her Academy requirements. He has met few Human cadets who were sufficiently committed to their fields of study to pursue independent studies beyond their course-work.
"I am perfectly willing to accommodate your need for additional practice. It is commendable of you to desire to improve your skills beyond the ability of the Academy's resources to teach you. And a thorough knowledge of the Romulan languages will be a notable asset to any vessel on which you are privileged to serve."
Her smile--which he is beginning to enjoy in a most illogical fashion--brightens. "Thank you so much, Commander! I was worried that you would be too busy."
"Not at all. I will endeavor to assure that there will always be room in my schedule for you, Cadet Uhura."
They schedule a weekly meeting time, and Uhura thanks him again before leaving.
He experiences a very agreeable sense of satisfaction as he watches her depart. His goal to achieve a mentoring relationship with her is off to a very good start.
***
The tutoring sessions with Cadet Uhura go far better than Spock ever could have predicted. Though her Romulan speech is halting and labored in their early conversations, she improves quickly.
To add an extra level of challenge to their sessions, Spock suggests that they discuss her other courses while speaking in Romulan. The experiment proves highly useful, as he is able to assist her with her required Engineering Survey course. Uhura sheepishly admits to having weaknesses in her mechanical aptitude. She seems to believe that he will somehow think less of her because of her deficiency.
Spock is quick to reassure her that such is not the case--most Humans who excel in one or two areas will have significant weaknesses in others. He is surprised when, after his statement, she laughs.
His eyebrow shoots up. "I fail to discern the humor in my statement."
"It's not your statement," she says, her helical golden earrings swaying and shining in the sunlight streaming through his office window. "It's you--your whole attitude. Is that really how you look at the world? At the people around you? Like a scientist analyzing a set of complex variables so that you can arrive at correct conclusions?"
He is taken aback. Even while a small part of his mind registers admiration for her ability to get through her entire comment in Romulan with very few pronunciation errors, the remainder of his mind is puzzled and slightly disturbed by the content of her speech.
"I do spend considerable time observing and interpreting the behavior of the people around me before drawing conclusions regarding the characteristics of individuals or groups. I never thought of such behavior as scientific observation. I considered it to be common sense. Is it not prudent to establish a baseline of understanding others through careful observation and thoughtful analysis?"
This statement merely provokes more laughter. "That's exactly what I meant," she says.
He furrows his brow. "So--you do not view the people around you in this manner?"
She shakes her head, and more rays of light bounce off of her earrings. "No. I don't. I just… follow my gut. My instincts."
Spock is familiar with this concept. Captain Pike once explained it to him.
"Don't you ever have deep, instinctual impressions and impulses?" she asks.
She made several more pronunciation errors in her query which Spock knows he ought to correct; however, the content of her question is of more immediate interest.
"I believe that I do have what Humans call gut reactions or instincts. I simply ignore them. I learned long ago that such feelings derive almost exclusively from a combination of irrational emotions and hormone-based physical imperatives. As such, part of my mental training involved the suppression of such feelings."
Her smile fades, and her eyes flick over his face as if she is searching for something, though he cannot imagine what. Her lips part slightly, as if she wants to say something more, but she does not speak.
"Cadet? Was there something more you wished say on this topic?"
"Yes." Her features assume a stronger, firmer expression. "I was curious if, given your heritage, you'd ever tried exploring your more Human instincts and feelings?"
Not since his time as a cadet has someone confronted Spock so directly regarding his Human heritage. He finds her directness refreshing.
"I was raised as a Vulcan, respecting and living by Vulcan traditions and values. When I first came to live on Earth, I did make a few brief attempts to explore my Human nature, but I found the experiences to be highly uncomfortable, and I chose to continue to honor my upbringing."
"Hmm." She scrunches her forehead. "Perhaps that was because being Human very often is highly uncomfortable."
He finds that he has no adequate response.
She shakes her head and the corners of her mouth turn up. "I apologize for the tangent, Commander. I believe we were discussing my Engineering Survey?"
Spock agrees, but before returning to their discussion he takes a few moments to correct the pronunciation errors he noticed during their conversation.
The remainder of their session is unremarkable, but their conversation lingers in his mind for days.
***
In early April Spock receives an unexpected communication from Captain Pike. He raises his eyebrows in surprise when the Captain's face appears on his communications screen.
"Hello, Mr. Spock," says the Captain. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for lunch tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? I thought that the Exeter was not scheduled to return to Earth until July."
"We came home early so that I could start my new job." The Captain grins. Clearly he is pleased to have succeeded in surprising Spock.
"Will you be receiving a new command?"
"Not yet. For the time being I'll be dividing my time between Starfleet Command and the Academy."
Spock has no intention of revealing further signs of surprise. Instead, he simply inclines his head. "It will be most agreeable to see you again, Captain."
Captain Pike grins and chuckles. "You might want to dust off your old chess set. I think it's time for a rematch."
The next day Spock shares a satisfactory lunch with the Captain. It is agreeable to relate stories of the years since they last served together.
As they finish their meal, Captain Pike looks at Spock with a tight smile on his face. "So, you're probably wondering why I've accepted a desk job."
The question had crossed Spock's mind, as the Captain had frequently made his disdain of such positions known. However, Spock never would have thought to voice such an inquiry.
Captain Pike needs no verbal response to continue. "It's because it's only temporary. I'll be back in space in just over three years. Have you heard of the Enterprise?"
It is obvious from the Captain's tone that he is not referring to any of the historical vessels bearing that moniker, but rather the new starship on which primary construction was initiated during the previous November.
"I have."
The Captain's smile spreads into a grin, and he nods. "She'll be mine. And I get to stay here and watch her come to life. That's worth a three-year desk job."
Spock is impressed. "Congratulations, Captain. I have heard it rumored that the Enterprise is destined to be named the new flagship of the fleet."
"Well," says the Captian, leaning forward, "officially I can neither confirm nor deny that particular rumor. So let me just say--I am very, very happy to be getting this job." He winks.
"You know, Spock," the Captain continues, "I can't accept any applications for service aboard the Enterprise, yet. But when I can, I'd really like you to be my Science Officer."
"That is a most intriguing proposition. I am highly satisfied with my work here at the Academy, but I cannot deny that I would very much enjoy another chance to participate in deep space exploration and scientific experimentation. Nearly all of the most fascinating new research and discoveries in recent years come from the science teams aboard Starfleet vessels."
"And you'd like to be a part of it." Captain Pike sips his beer, and then holds up his glass in a mock salute. "I knew you couldn't resist the chance."
Spock nods. "Once you are ready to accept applications, I assure you that mine will be one of the first you receive."
***
Spock and Uhura hold their final study session together just before the week of final exams. He is deeply impressed with her progress, and suggests that they resume their sessions together in the fall.
"I'd like that very much," says Uhura, her pearlescent tear-drop earrings dancing appealingly by the sides of her face.
"There is something else I would like you to consider for the fall," he replies.
"What?"
He rests his forearms on his legs, folding his fingers together. "I have been asked to teach a course on interspecies ethics in the fall, and with that additional responsibility I am concerned that I will not have sufficient time in my schedule to complete all of the planning or marking for my phonology sections. I have asked Commodore Ripley if I may take on a teaching assistant in the fall, and she has agreed." He paused, catching Uhura's eyes with a steady gaze. "If you are interested, I would like you to serve as my teaching assistant."
Her eyes widen by several millimeters. "But second year cadets are never TAs."
Spock is mildly amused by her obvious shock. "That statement is factually incorrect. Second year cadets are rarely TAs, but it is not unheard of. And in this particular field you are as qualified as any of my fourth year students. We work well together, and I believe that your assistance would be a valuable asset both to me, and to my students."
Her expression breaks into a smile, and she shakes her head a little. "Well, since you put it that way, I accept."
***
Over the summer, without the distraction of classes and students, Spock turns his attention to the latest special project assigned to his team in Campus Computing Services. They are to design a simulation test for command-track students that will gauge their discipline, character, and command capabilities when commanding a vessel in a no-win situation.
Spock asks Captain Pike to consult on the design, as the Captain has been a scholar of Starfleet no-win scenarios ever since writing his dissertation on the destruction of the Kelvin.
For most of the summer, Spock divides his time between working with his programming team, and meeting with Captain Pike and his other consultants. Though he is busy, he is grateful for the three short letters he receives from Cadet Uhura describing her internship at the Spacedock Communications Relay Center. He is pleased to see that she continues to work toward her goals with ambition and determination.
One day in mid-July, Captain Pike and Spock stroll through the campus together after one of their meetings.
"I'll be leaving on a recruiting tour the fifth of August," says the Captain. "I'm supposed to go around to high schools and universities with a group of our best and brightest cadets to tout the glory of joining Starfleet." He shakes his head. "It's not exactly my idea of a good time, but when the Admirals say jump, I jump. So, do you know any cadets who might be interested in ending their summer break a little early to come do this song and dance with me?"
Spock knows exactly who to recommend.
ETA: Part 3 now up