Spock was hiding under his blanket. Which four-year-old would not be, after being introduced to a new sibling? "Look," his mother had said, "this is Michael, Michael is your new sister." Little Spock had mustered the girl, who was half a meter taller and four years older than him, the second human after his mother he had ever met. She had looked like she would be feeling the particular emotion he always felt when he thought of the monsters who definitely (although his father always denied this) hid in his dark bedroom. Fear he believed to be the word. Afraid was the fitting adjective. The girl had been afraid.
But why had they adopted the girl? As a being who was already used to be frowned upon, he was led to believe that this must have to do something with him. Maybe his parents weren't content with his overall being. After all, he was only a half-breed. He still heard the other children shout 'half-breed, half-breed, half-breed', when he had attempted to play with them yesterday. To little Spock it was very clear that this must be the reason. When he was despised for being nothing but a half-breed, so must a full human be better than him. After all, nobody picked at his older brother Sybok, who himself was fully Vulcan. Despite himself, little Spock began to cry underneath his blanket.
Some while later, his door opened silently and a big fluff of fur let itself in. A few seconds after, a big animal jumped on his tiny bed, making it screech in desperation. "I-Chaya, you are not allowed on theā¦", Spock managed, before being interrupted by a big, wet tong. His sehlat did not care for rules when his master was sad, as soon as he felt this striking mixture of anger, loneliness and helplessness, I-Chaya was there to collect the delicious tears. Too bad the tears always stopped as soon as I-Chaya laid his paws on his master's chest. Both stayed in their respective positions for a while.
When little Spock was almost at sleep under is only and furry friend, his door opened again. Spock turned his face to the door. Who could it be, he wondered? He was somewhat astonished to see the girl, Michael. She looked almost shocked, there in the door frame. Spock just looked at her silently. "What is that?", the girl finally asked. Spock wondered what she could be talking about. "Clarify.", he ordered. "The animal." "Ahh. This is I-Chaya, my sehlat. He is a Tl'iki-breed." Michael crossed the room in an instant and began to pet I-Chaya behind his ears. The sehlat purred, sending his vibrations through Spock's body. Spock wished she would go. She didn't even think of it. Instead she sat down on the rim of his bed.
"SpoCK, that's your name, isn't it?", she asked. Spock winced on hearing his name so badly pronounced. "It is SpOck.", he answered slightly annoyed. "I'm sorry. Well, um, since we're going to be siblings, maybe we could as well be friends?", she asked uneasy. Little Spock lifted an eyebrow. "Friends?", he asked incredulously. "Yes.", Michael almost whispered. "We cannot be friends." "But why? I don't understand.", Michael seemed on the edge of crying. "You are obviously here so that I can see that even a human fills their parents expectations better than a half-breed like me." Michael looked shocked. "No way. Why would Sarek and Amanda do such a thing?" Spock looked at the ceiling. "How do you then explain your presence here?", he asked sharply. Overwhelmed by too fresh memories of loss, Michael rolled up on herself and trembled slightly. Spock did in no way understand what the strange girl on his bed was doing. "What is it?", he therefore asked, but he got no reply. Full of newly ignited curiosity, he extended his hand. His hand touched her face for an awkward second. It was enough for Spock to get a general impression of her thoughts and especially her feelings.
It was dark, like a closet. Outside were voices, in a language Spock couldn't understand. Then, out of the sudden, a female cried out. "No! Please, no!" Fear and anger. Spock turned to his companion. "Your parents were killed.", he stated. Michael managed to nod. "But why are you here, on Vulcan?" It took a while, but Michael answered. "Your mom studied with mine. I don't have so many relatives, so she offered to care for me." "It has nothing to do with me, then.", Spock concluded. "We can be friends then, I assume.", he added. Michael lifted her head. A tiny smile spread over her face. "Okay.", she said. Since her new little brother and friend looked somewhat confused at the phrase, she altered it. "I would be pleased.", she said instead. Little Spock nodded. "What kind of games do they play on earth?", he asked, pure joy glittering through his eyes.
They spent the rest of the day playing hide and seek inside the rather spacious house. Once it was Spock's turn again, he went to hide in the library. Behind one of the shelves was a tiny space, but big enough for his body. He waited. Would she find him? He found that, although it was at least in his eyes an illogical game, he played with an enthusiasm he barely knew of himself.
It was not long before the door to the library was opened. He tried to breath as silent as possible. Footsteps came in his direction. Were they those of Michael? No, he thought, they were too heavy. Now the person kneeled down and grabbed one of the books in front of his face. Spock didn't move. It was of no use, he had been seen. "What are you doing behind the shelve?", Sybok asked in Vulcan. "Hiding.", Spock answered matter-of-factly. "She will not go away with this; your actions are illogical." Being almost ten years older than his little brother, Sybok felt and often was superior to Spock. He let him see that whenever he had a chance to. Uncharacteristically, he appeared to speak to himself, as he stood up and went to leave the library. "I have more reason to hide behind some piece of furniture. First, it is you, a disgrace to our family, and now her, a human. Why am I supposed to live together with such illogical creatures? It is somewhat tiring, to say the least." As he was almost at the door, it swung open and Michael crashed into him with a shriek. "E-Excuse me, Sybok.", she managed, still lying on the floor. "It is of no consequence, human. But I have to ask that you stay out of my way in the future." With that, he took a big step over her and out of the room.
Spock left his hide and went to Michael, even now still on the floor and somewhat shaken up. "Are you unharmed?", he inquired. She nodded. "Sybok does not seem to like me.", she said. "He does not like me either, I believe.", was the return. "No? But why?" "He has just called me a disgrace." "Oh, well, then you're probably right." They were silent for a few moments. "I like you, Spock. You're no disgrace to anyone." She watched with amazement how her companion turned slightly emerald. He turned his head to look at the wooden mosaic on the floor. "You have found me. It is now my turn to search for you.", he murmured. Michael jumped up and was immediately running to hide herself, while Spock began to count.
