Chapter 1
Peering out from behind the curtain, I quickly inspected the cadets sitting in rows in the auditorium. They had all nearly completed the theoretical component of their training, and they were now only a few weeks away from their preparatory mission on board the Enterprise. Although it seemed illogical, one could learn a lot by a glance. By their appearance and by how they carried themselves, I could make an inference about how well they would perform in their lengthy training to be in Starfleet. Not a legitimate evaluation, but an inference. So far, none of the cadets had caught my attention. All those young men and women, children almost, looked the same to me.
Stepping out onto the black, wooden-floored stage, I decided to start my well-rehearsed welcoming speech. It highlighted what the cadets hopefully were already aware of; the difficulty of the long months of preparation ahead of them, and the unfortunate fact that, if they managed to pass the exam and become a fully-fledged Starfleet officer, that it would not get any easier, but it would get more dangerous. After that, I dismissed them to their quarters on this starship replica that would contain them for the next part of their learning experience. The cadets began filing out of the gray-walled room, resuming their chatter. As the noise dissipated, I clasped my hands behind my back and sauntered off the stage. As I walked out the door, I heard a woman's voice behind me:
"Captain Spock…"The voice addressed me – in Vulcan.
I turned around, and re-entered the auditorium. As the door closed, I was facing a woman that could only be described as… beautiful. I mentally chastised myself for using that adjective usually associated with the human emotion of love, but… she was.
"What is it?" I replied, also in my native language.
"I just wanted to express how honored I am to be serving with you. I admire you greatly, especially since I, too, am part human."
I took two steps closer to my new student, keeping about a metre and a half between us.
"Thank you."
Her eyes were definitely human, the same shiny blue of Doctor McCoy's, but hers were curious, alive and filled with the radiance of youth and beauty. Perfect. "How Vulcan are you?" I asked.
"My mother is half Vulcan, and my father is full human, Sir." She answered.
Just one quarter Vulcan?
Yes, I could see the human in her. Her hair, tied back neatly in a ponytail, was curly and red-orange, in perfect contrast with her eyes. But her ears were pointed, looking more adorable than anything on her.
"It does show; but I am sure you are more Vulcan than you appear. You seem very logical and intelligent."
"Thank you, Captain."
"I am looking forward to working with you, miss…?"
"T'Strei, Sir. But in Starfleet Academy, I go by my human name, Scarlett Sketcher."
I nodded. We shared one last look before I left, and she exited in the opposite direction.
As I walked towards his temporary quarters, I tried to decipher what had been going on in my brain. Why had I found her beautiful, and, more importantly, allowed myself to believe it? Not only is she mostly human, but she is a cadet, meaning there are almost 30 Earth-years between our ages. Am I going through Pon Farr? No, that is illogical; I am too old to mate. So what is it?