Long time, no write! My only excuse is one word: Life.
So, I've put my pon farr story on hold. Writer's block has kept me from continuing. My chapter two is the literary equivalent to a swiss cheese. I do not know if I'll ever return to it. So, I've decided to expand on my universe I created in the stories, "Anchor" and "Emotional" after some reviewers requesting I develop the series. If you're not familiar with them, please take some time out to read them to get a feel of this universe. Reading them are not required to understand this story.
This story is a prequel to the events that take place in those two stories. It is a look at the development of Spock and Uhura's relationship to the point of Nero's incursion. The first part will feature the happy, cheerful, and innocent moments of their life. The final part will be the downward spiral - hopefully this project will help expand on "Anchor" and "Emotional" so that Spock and Nyota are no longer considered the "enemies" but as "victims".
As always, not beta'd. Sorry in advance for any grammar errors.
The idea of the incoming students with the graduating class comes from An Officer and a Gentlemen. Beautiful movie, and excuse me but hnnnnggghhh Richard Gere.
I
The anticipation in the assembly hall is thick. Cadets in thick red uniforms sit anxiously; hands clenched on the lap, fingers drumming against their armrests, biting lower lips, looking around the room, and shaking of their legs as they listen to Admiral Richard Barnett deliver his speech to this graduating class. His speech is well written, it's flattering to the cadets, and spoken with careful articulation but it sounds like muted noise to the class of nearly four hundred fifty-two. Even the half Vulcan, sitting in the fourth row, sixth chair from left, listens with half the attention he would usually give any other day.
"… And so I hereby present to you," Cadets tense, shifting forward in their chairs. " The class of twelve point fifty-four!" They were now officers.
A red wave consumed the auditorium seating. From the right to the left, the cadets nearly jumped out of the chairs in a loud cry of joy. If there was something to throw in the air, a cadet threw it. If there was a shoulder to cry on, a cadet found one. Hugs and handshakes were exchanged, and family members went in search for their graduated officers.
The half Vulcan is happy but he doesn't show it. No one is perturbed by it either; instead they shake is hand, pat him on the back, make a joke, and congratulate him. He graduated nearly top of his class, he received one of the few commendation, and, of course, he was the first Vulcan in the Academy. He was the iconic factor of this graduating class, for him to act otherwise would be out of his character.
A tap on his shoulder makes him turn around to see a petite woman standing in front of him with a warm smile. He's shocked, but he manages to control his surprised emotions. His mother pays it no mind; she knows already that he's surprised by her unexpected visit. She brings a hand up to the newly placed medal on his uniform and gently caresses the smooth and cool gold surface.
" I'm so proud of you," she says, and it's her trying to fight back her emotions. " You did it."
" I was not expecting your arrival." He says. She only chuckles, pats his chest and sighs as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
" I wanted to surprise you. I would never miss my little boy's graduation."
" I am no longer little nor a boy, mother." She laughs and it's like bells against his ears. She knew it was his way of joking and he was glad that she found it humorous.
" That was cute of you, Spock." Amanda looks around the auditorium. " Why don't I treat you out for a big lunch in celebration of your graduation?"
" I do not see why you have to ask as if I declined, you would only manage to force me to going." There's a half smile but it quickly disappears. His guard is up. There are people around, strangers, who only know one thing: He's a Vulcan. It is only a natural reaction.
" You know me better than I know myself."
" Impossible. But I will resign myself to your logic today."
She knows it's uncustomary of a Vulcan but she holds her hand out to him in an offering because he's not only a Vulcan… he's also human. Her son. He hesitates, she steps closer, and he concedes to her. Amanda smiles as he takes her cool, delicate, hand into his larger, warm, one. She squeezes in assurance and he relaxes.
" How about that salad bar across the street?"
ooo
When he arrived at the Academy four years earlier, a class had just graduated. As he stood there in line, with his duffle bag of belongs on the pavement next to his feet, their recruiter giving them a rough speech about how their lives officially belong to the United Federation of Planets, he watched as they left the auditorium screaming and hollering in joy with their family and friends.
They carried their ship assignments in their hands as if gold. They were no longer cadets but Starfleet Officers. They were now being saluted, given the respect, as they now started their careers as Starfleet's finest. Now, four years later, he was beginning his journey and as he walked alongside his mother, a group of new recruits in civilian clothing stood at parade rest across the pavilion - a new class coming in, the cycle once again continuing.
" Ah, look at that, it's a new group of cadets." Amada pointed out with interest. He nodded as they both stopped to look at the group.
" As one class graduates, another come comes in." Spock said.
A loud 'Yes, sir!' echoed across the pavilion once the recruiter, Captain Christopher Pike, relieved them. Amanda watched in awe as Spock fought back the feeling of nostalgia that dared to creep itself into his mind. This was simply rudimentary – there was no need to become emotional. Vulcans did not become emotional over such trivial, systematic, things. As if his mother knew, she tugged on the sleeve of his uniform.
" It's okay to show some emotions."
" I am not emotional, mother."
" I gave birth to you, Spock. I know you." She chuckled and took notice of one of the new cadets. " She's an interesting one. I wouldn't expect her in Starfleet."
Spock noticed whom his mother was referring to. The young woman was chatting with an Orion woman as she picked up her duffle bag. Her long hair was slightly tossed by the light winds of the San Francisco Bay harbor, a bright smile on her face, as she laughed at one of the jokes made by the girl. Yes, she definitely was not a person you would have expected to enlist in Starfleet.
" She's probably in the medical program. She looks like a nurse."
Spock sighed, despite himself, " One can not assume something based upon how they look."
" That is true." Amanda laughed. " Let's go, the restaurant will close if we spend anymore time here."
His eyes lingered on the cadet for a few brief moments before resigning himself to his mother's desire for salad and soup.
ooo
" So what big starship are you assigned to?" Amada waves her fingers in the air for emphasis. Despite spending the last twenty-five years of her life on a planet where its inhabitants restrain their emotions, it did not stop her from withholding her own. So, her son sits in silent awe as his mother rambles on in excitement – she's proud of her son, so proud, and she wants the world to know. " Will it be big? Small? Is it a research vessel? Your discipline was in the sciences, so it must be a research vessel."
She had not touched her food, the ice in her tea was long melted, and the waiter had long left the receipt on the table. Spock, occasionally taking a sip from his drink, left his food untouched as well. He loved his mother and being in her presence was just enough for him. Whatever lack of emotion he displayed, she made it up for the both of them. Amanda was his canvas.
" I am actually going to become an instructor at the Academy." Spock says calmly. Amada's animated hands fall to table and she leans back into the booth. If she is disappointed, he cannot tell. " I am assigned to a ship, but it is under construction at this very moment." A wave of pride rushes through his body, his lips quirk slightly up in small smile. " It is the Enterprise."
" The Enterprise? Is that not… the new flagship?" Amanda reaches for her pocketbook to the right of her as Spock nods. " Your father had spoken to me about it once before…" Spock tenses. His father… they had not spoken since he rejected the Vulcan Science Academy's offer of acceptance. He did not even see him off when he boarded the shuttle to Earth – the lack of a bond between them also made the near-practical disown even more real.
Amanda shakes her head quickly, her son has retreated within himself, " He's proud of you, even if he doesn't say it. " She quickly says. He wished to have came but… Ambassadorial duties kept him occupied this week." A pause, and then, " What will you be teaching at the Academy. " A change of topic.
" My primary duties will be in developing the new protocol for the Kobayashi Maru, an exam that simulates a no-win situation for cadets on the command track." He pauses for a second, observing his mother's reaction, and continues, " I will be instructing the cadets in the fields of communication and the sciences. I anticipate my tenure here to only be four years at the current pace of the construction of the Enterprise."
His mother's eyes now look lie two pools of water. Her lower lip trembles, despite the fact that she is smiling at Spock, and she's sniffling. Spock watches her and struggles with what to do next. Should he offer her a napkin? Maybe wipe her tears away like he seen his roommate do whenever his mother came in visit? Perhaps he should laugh and assure her that he's okay; he eats everyday, gets enough sleep, and not failing?
His fingers twitch slightly on the table as he considers wiping her tears away, but before he goes through with it, he notices that his mother had already had her handkerchief out and wiping her own tears away. After twenty-five years among Vulcans, Amanda Grayson learned how to deal with her emotions with herself. Spock mentally sighs; he's frustrated, even if he doesn't show it. No matter how much he wanted too, his inner struggle would always set him back.
She leaves him three hours later after showing his face with her motherly kisses, smoothing his hair down, running her delicate fingers over his medal one last time to remember, and reminding him that she will always love him no matter what. He only nods.