A/N: Welcome to Rising Son! I hope you like it. Happy Reading!
Plans
150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2286.99, 1559 hours. The house was silent save for the very low hum of appliances and the squeak of that one floorboard beneath his feet. The quiet was not unusual nor unexpected—in fact Selas quite preferred it that way. With T'Alora on her ship, Se'tak away at school and his parents at work he used this quiet time to unwind. Stepping through the entryway he paused and listened to the door fully close behind him, then hung up his jacket and dropped his book bag beside the hall tree. Checking his internal chronometer he discovered he had 7.8 minutes with which to collect a snack from the kitchen before his expected comm call.
San Francisco and it's environs were now as much Selas' home as the Enterprise had been. Unlike Se'tak, he had handled the transition from the ship's classrooms to the Starfleet school much better. He was well-liked by his teachers and peers and was excelling in his studies. Selas still kept in touch with his friends from the old days—Riley, Rebecca, and Evan—and made new friends that he hung out with regularly as well. He often overheard Mama remark that he was very well-adjusted.
His plate piled high with fruit and cheese slices he made his way through the kitchen and down the hall to the office, settling himself in the great chair before the comm. A full 3 minutes passed before the machine rang out and Selas did not hesitate to answer.
"Hey, Selas."
He smiled in the direction of the screen. "Greetings, Rebecca. I trust all is well with you and your family?"
In his mind's eye he could picture her grin. "Yeah, we're good." Selas heard her flick her hair back over her shoulder. "Everything alright with you?"
"Yes. My family and I are all well."
"Glad to hear it. So I was thinking…"
"Uh oh," he teased.
"Very funny," was her retort. "Seriously though, I was thinking I'm kind of overdue for a visit to San Francisco. It's been awhile since I came out and hung out with you and Riley."
"It has been 4 months, 3 days, 16 hours and 28 minutes since we were last in each other's company."
Rebecca giggled. "Not like you were keeping track or anything, huh? Anyhow, I talked to Riley and she said I could come and stay with her next weekend, so the question is will you be around too or do you already have plans?"
He arched an eyebrow. "I will have to consult my social calendar and get back to you."
"Wise ass!" she cackled. For several seconds she laughed uproariously on the other end of the line. "Does anyone else know what a strange sense of humor you have or it is just me?"
Selas smirked at the screen. "I believe there are a few who are, as you would say, 'in the know'. What time will your transport arrive?" They continued talking over the details of her impending visit for another 7 minutes before she had to relinquish the line for her mother. He terminated the call and began making plans for himself, Rebecca and Riley the following weekend. They had not visited the zoo in quite some time…
150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2286.105, 1912 hours. Selas excused himself after supper and returned to his room to complete his physics homework. Twenty minutes later he heard the comm chime and assumed it was Se'tak, only to quickly discover his error.
"Selas!" Mama called from the bottom of the stairs.
Saving his work he rose and stuck his head out the bedroom door to answer her. "Yes?"
"Becca's on the line for you." Confused, he rushed down the steps. "She seems upset," Mama added as he brushed past.
Feeling along the wall for the door he reached the office and stepped forward toward the desk, then around to the chair. "Rebecca?"
"Hey, Selas." He concurred with his mother that she did indeed sound disappointed—but what about? "Listen, I just wanted to tell you I won't be able to come out this weekend after all. Riley's grandmother passed away and they're going to Oklahoma for the funeral so…" her voice trailed off.
"That is most upsetting; I will send my condolences to Riley. But why must you cancel your trip? I am certain that Mama and Sa-mekh will allow you to stay with us. You may use T'Alora's room."
He heard her heavy sigh on the other end of the line. "Thanks, but you know how my Dad feels. He'll never go for it…"
Selas pushed back the irrational swell of anger that rose up within him as she spoke. At the time he was too young to understand where his uncle's prejudice toward him came from but now he understood all too well. It was because of what transpired (or very nearly transpired) between Se'tak and Tabitha—and though his sa-kai had not gone into details on the subject as Selas grew older he was able to surmise the truth. For that reason alone Uncle Leonard barely tolerated his and Rebecca's friendship and, if known, would not allow her to spend a single night under the same roof despite the presence of his parents and the fact that they would be placed in separate bedrooms. "He does not need to know. Is he aware of the change in circumstances regarding Riley and her family?"
"What?" She blew her nose. "No, he's not home yet, he's working late."
"Then ask your mother if you may stay at our house. I will also go and inquire of mine."
"Alright." She did not sound optimistic, however, before he even left the room Selas knew his mother would agree; the new arrangement, therefore, rested solely on Aunt Christine giving her permission. When Rebecca returned to the comm he knew the answer was a favorable one. "She said yes! Well actually, what she said was 'what your father doesn't know won't kill him'."
"That is a remarkable imitation of Aunt Christine."
"Well I am her daughter," she bantered back.
"That is also true."
Rebecca laughed and her lightness of spirit made him happy as well. "So I'll see you Friday at 4 then? At the transport station?"
"I will be there."
"Great!"
150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2286.107, 1552 hours. He stepped off the hoverbus onto the concrete walkway outside the transport station. Moving away to let other passengers off Selas stood still and tilted his head trying to orient himself through all the ambient noise.
:::luggage rolling past:::
:::steady clacking of a pair of woman's heels on the pavement:::
"What? Yes, I know, I'm on my way, the transport is late." :::pause::: "Well then just stall the meeting!"
:::child whining:::
:::a man jogging past, brushing against his shoulder::: "Hey, watch it, bud!"
:::horns beeping, sound of flitters stopping short:::
:::PADDs being shuffled:::
:::a baby crying:::
"But Mommy, I want a ice cream!
:::exasperated sigh::: "Ronnie, not now! Now come on—we have to go change your sister."
:::air brakes, more car horns, churning engines:::
:::static from overhead speaker::: "Transport 3371 to Dubai will be departing in 5 minutes from Terminal H. Transport 9652 now arriving from Guadalajara in Terminal F."
:::hiss of penumatics repeatedly opening and closing:::
Locating the front doors he pointed his laser cane in that direction and strode on through. Rebecca's transport was due to arrive at Terminal C and he moved purposely through the throng in that direction. He heard several people stop short so as not to get in his way, but the most amusing part of the entire excursion was the little girl who spotted him and asked in a very loud voice why the boy was wearing his sunglasses indoors. Selas listened as the mother duly explained the situation, then he turned in the little girl's direction, smiled and waved, and she gasped in surprise at his notice.
He arrived at the terminal and located a seat on the bench to await Rebecca. The transport was on-time and within minutes passengers were streaming out into the terminal chatting away with one another and paying him no mind. Selas sat patiently on the hard plastic chair and breathed deep. Rebecca now favored a fresh linen and cherry blossom body spray and he waited for her scent to waft past as she drew closer, hoping to sense her approach before she had the opportunity to surprise him.
His senses did not fail him.
She came up from behind on tiptoe but her perfume and the squeak of the chair as she leaned over betrayed her. "Good afternoon," he said coolly.
"Damn!" Rebecca scrambled over the chairs separating them, her bracelets jangling on her wrist, and took a seat beside him while giving him a hug. "How'd you know it was me?"
Selas grinned. "I have my ways."
"More like you have your super powers." They rose from their seats and she carefully linked her arm through his before stopping short. "You grew."
He made her stand so that they were back-to-back and he traced his hand over the top of her head. "Indeed I have. You are 1.7 meters tall whereas I am now 1.82."
"If you say so." She poked him in the ribs. He was muscular but lean, just like his sa-mekh. "But you're getting too skinny. You need to eat. Now come on," Rebecca tugged on his arm, "Let's go get my bags and then get you a snack."
Selas furrowed his brow. "Bags? Rebecca, you do know that you are visiting for the weekend, correct? You were not invited to move in with us…"
She threw her head back and laughed and they quickly went to retrieve her luggage. On the hoverbus ride back home they caught up on the latest personal news but it was not until they were near his home that she disclosed the true reason for her visit.
"Would you mind terribly if I slipped away for a few hours tomorrow morning?" she asked.
"Slip away? As in for a clandestine meeting?"
Rebecca sighed. "Sort of. It's just something I don't want Uncle Spock and Auntie Ny to know about, at least not yet. Would you cover for me?"
Selas turned to her, frowning. "What activity are you preparing to engage in that you would rather my parent's remain ignorant?"
She was silent for several seconds and when she spoke next dropped her voice so low he doubted whether anyone save for himself would have heard her. "Look, I don't know about you, but my Dad's been on my case about college. He thinks I don't care but the truth is I've been thinking of joining Starfleet for awhile now. Tomorrow I want to pop over to the campus, take a tour, and talk to some people before he finds out and puts the kibosh on the whole thing; and that means not telling your parents because then they'll tell mine."
They arrived at their stop and Selas rose, tugging her along with him. "Your logic is sound—but come, there is something I must show you."
He took her wrist in his grip and led her along up the short hill and around the block to the house. His parents were not yet home and were not expected to arrive for another 25.4 minutes yet he did not want to tempt fate. Depositing her luggage just inside the door Selas urged Rebecca upstairs to his room where he made her take a seat at his desk. Reaching under the foot of his bed he withdrew 2 very battered PADDs and placed them in her lap.
There was the tell-tale swoosh of her flicking her hair back. "Ummm…"
"Um?"
"Well I don't know what else you want me to say, Selas. These PADDs are in Braille."
Of course. In his haste to procure them he had forgotten to put them on audio. Rectifying the situation he returned them to her and they listened as the recruitment brochure for Starfleet was read aloud. "You're thinking of joining too?!" she exclaimed.
Her enthusiasm made him smile. "I have looked into the possibility since last September and in the ensuing weeks have reached the conclusion that Starfleet is the best fit for me."
Rebecca jumped up and embraced him again. "That's awesome! Oh Selas, you have to come with me tomorrow! We'll take a tour together, talk to some professors…"
"I am afraid that I must decline the invitation," he lamented. "Numerous staff members would recognize me all too easily." Wordlessly he heard her exit the room and travel down the hall before opening one of the other bedroom doors. "Rebecca?" he called out before following her. Selas listened as she opened a dresser drawer and began rifling through some clothes. She was in Se'tak's room. "Rebecca?"
"There's got to be something in here you can use as some sort of disguise," she muttered under her breath. He leaned against the doorway, arms folded and eyebrow raised, but said nothing to deter her from her latest mission. She pulled an article of clothing out from the third drawer and shook it out, sending a cool blast of air his way. "Ok, this is something…"
"What is it?"
"One of your brother's sweatshirts. And we'll just borrow this baseball cap here," she said, plunking the hat down on his head, "And you'll be good to go."
Selas let out a soft sigh. The hat irritated his ears. "I do not know if this 'disguise' will be sufficient enough for our purposes, however, if you insist…"
"I do," she replied definitively.
"Then I will accompany you."
1739 hours. Nyota stood over the sink admiring the view out the back window. Becca and Selas were outside horsing around on the old swing like 2 peas in a pod. It made her realize that there wouldn't be too many more days of carefree play left and that all the kids grew up too fast.
"It is as they have always been since their infancy," Spock said aloud, his thoughts in tune with her own as he collected the silverware to set the table.
"Yes," she replied. Somewhat wistfully, she added, "It's a shame they don't get to see each other as often as they used to. If only Len…"
"Do not, k'diwa." He set the forks and knives down and came over to place his hand over hers on the counter. "Kaiidth. We can no more alter Leonard's temperament and opinion anymore than we can control the weather, so let us not dwell any longer on a subject that only serves to frustrate you. Leonard believes that he is doing what is necessary to protect his family and his intentions are honorable, if unjust, to our sa-fus. It is enough that Selas and Rebecca have remained close friends despite the distance and the Doctor's attitude."
She turned her gaze away from her adun and back out the window to the children. Selas said something that made Becca throw her head back in hysterical laughter, drawing a pleased smirk from her son's normally placid face. Spock was right. Giving him a kiss on the cheek she returned to the boiling water and pasta to finish the meal.
The tour the following day went well, despite the fact that they were very nearly discovered by Admirals Barnett and Pike as they made their way around the grounds. It took quite a bit of maneuvering and ducking into doorways and around shrubbery to evade them but they succeeded.
Or so they thought.
What the scheming pair did not know was that Christopher Pike had in fact spotted them, and was highly amused by the lengths they went to to keep their identities a secret. He suspected neither set of parents knew what their children intended and, though he spoke with Spock and Nyota on a daily basis, was happy to keep mum on the subject until he was no longer able.
The truth was he was secretly thrilled to see them. He was nearing retirement and while he'd seen many fine classes of recruits graduate in the intervening years none had the same spark as the class of 2258, the class that inherited his Enterprise. Maybe it was because those cadets had been molded by fire or maybe it was his own personal bias but none of the subsequent classes ever measured up. Rebecca and Selas were young, to be sure, and they might change their minds about enlisting, but then again they might not; and the fact that they were second generation of some of the most decorated and respected officers in the 'Fleet—well, he couldn't think of a better note to end his career on than ushering them through and seeing them graduate to take over the reigns.
A/N: I've seen the new movie twice now and I liked it alot. Thing is I'd already written this chapter out before the movie premiered, so...yeah. Just keep that in mind going forward. I'm purposely being vague so I don't spoil anything for anyone.