Faux Pas

StarFleet Academy, San Francisco, Earth

Spring 2258

Spock

He reached the building where he lived, jogged on to the stairwell, and took the steps two at a time to his floor. Walking rapidly down the hall, he was about to touch the plate beside his door when his neighbor walked through his own door into the hall.

The computer science instructor looked over to the tall Vulcan who had obviously just returned from his morning run. He wasn't really sure he wanted to do this, however, there just wasn't any real alternative. "Hey, Spock, I need to ask a favor, okay? Can you remember to turn the soundproofing on next time, huh? I spent half an hour in a cold shower last night." He stood, looking at Spock and waiting for a response.

Spock cocked his head and looked very vaguely puzzled. "Soundproofing?"

The other instructor sighed. "You know, in your quarters. Didn't you ever...? Well, maybe not. Anyway, just tell the computer to soundproof your apartment, okay?." He turned to head towards the turbolift at the end of the hall, then stopped. "And, hey, enjoy, huh?" He grinned widely and continued down the hall.

Spock keyed the touchplate and entered his quarters, trying to figure out what that conversation had been about. Soundproofing? Cold shower? Enjoy? Enlightenment began to trickle through. They had been overheard? With great haste, he engaged the environmental computer. "Computer, soundproof quarters."

"Working. Quarters soundproofed."

This was something he was definitely not going to share with Nyota!