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The child, who they would find out was named Saavik, quickly learned that undoing the past was an impossible idea. Events that had already transpired could not be ignored. By the time a year had passed since her rescue, moving on seemed only slightly more probable.

She was institutionalized upon her arrival on Vulcan, since it was claimed that she was a danger to those around her. Her future was left in the hands of the High Council, who seemed to prefer that her past be hidden away and virtually ignored just as she was. A Vulcan science vessel, the Ha'Ge, had disappeared without a trace near the Neutral Zone ten years before Saavik's rescue, and they assumed that one of its eighty-seven crewmembers was her Vulcan parent. However, it was agreed that no effort would be expended to determine exactly which crewmember. The girl's existence was a reminder of grave injustices committed against a fellow Vulcan, and it was deemed illogical to burden whatever family she may have with that reminder.

Sulok had been very outspoken when he found out. Saavik's birth had not been of her choice, and they were obligated to at least attempt to give her a future. After he spoke out to the High Council on the matter, he soon found himself assigned to an extended mission far from their homeworld. However, his words had not been wasted; the decision was made that the savage half-breed child would be schooled to the best of their ability. Expectations were very low.

Saavik had multiple disadvantages compared to her peers, with language and logic training perhaps tied for first place. At the age of eight (they approximated), she should have had years of study in both. Instead, she was inarticulate, illiterate, and highly impulsive. Her assignments were barely above the level of a toddler; it was decided that tasks like writing her own name or basic arithmetic would be challenging enough for her.

Standing in a learning dome at a school in Shi'Kahr, Saavik carefully tried to repeat the words that the computer pronounced for her. Unbeknownst to her instructors, she could understand far more than she could convey. Figuring out how to give voice to her thoughts was her current struggle.

"Desh'rak…She'rak…Koo'rak…" The computer signaled that it did not accept her last entry, and she struggled to form the correct sound. "K-koo'rak…" Another signal of failure. Saavik stamped her foot in frustration.

"Do you not know by now that you can't turn a canine into a person?" a voice asked in Vulcan from behind her. She turned to see two boys of her own age on the ledge above.

"I not cane…cane-hine," she replied, although the fact that she couldn't even correctly parrot their words didn't help her case.

"You certainly aren't a person," the boy shot back as he jumped down into her dome. "My father says it's illogical for the educators to pretend you could ever be normal. You'll always be a savage, like THEM. It's in your blood."

Saavik tried to stand her ground. "I learn."

"They might train you, like a house pet, but you'll always be an animal."

"I learn!" she repeated, more forcefully this time.

The boy scoffed. "A sehlat would learn faster than you, stupid viltah." He reached to strike her, but Saavik caught his arm long before it came near her face and retaliated. However, it had been a calculated move; the boy had found out from his politician father that if the savage child could not learn to control herself, she would be removed from the school. A single act of provocation would permanently rid them of the half-Romulan abomination.

An older student had watched the scene unfold. When the bully joined his prey in her learning dome, the sixteen-year-old had stepped forward, ready to intervene if necessary. 'Viltah', a derogatory term for half-breeds, was one of his least favorite words in the language. He had heard it too many times during his own childhood, and could empathize with the struggle that the little girl faced. When Saavik so predictably responded to her tormentor's attack, the older boy was able to pull her off before her second blow could fall.

"I would suggest that you leave while still able," Spock told the pair of bullies as he struggled to contain the angry child, who was still swinging and kicking. "And I do not believe there is any need to speak of this incident."

"She attacked me!" the boy tried to protest.

"Shall I release her to finish?" After a brief pause of contemplation, both boys scrambled away.

Spock deposited Saavik on the floor and wiped blood away from a cut on his lower lip that she'd given him. "Calm yourself," he told her as he blocked her attempts to leave the dome. "There is no longer any threat to you."

She growled, unhappy to have been removed from a battle, especially one that she was certain she would have won. Although her memories of the first years of her life had rapidly faded after her arrival on Vulcan (a coping mechanism, according to her doctors), the behaviors that had allowed her to survive during those years were hard set. "Go away!" she ordered.

Spock shook his head. "I will not leave you in this state."

She stared at him, eyes hard, but he didn't relent. After a long minute, her growls subsided and her escape attempts ceased. "I not cane-hine," she told him.

"The scene that I just observed could indicate otherwise." He earned a blistering glare in response.

"YOU stupid," she declared as she started pacing back and forth across the small space of her dome. "YOU cane-hine! You go away!"

Spock was relatively certain that the idea of notion of relying on another person had never dawned on this girl. And, given what most of the school knew about her background, it wasn't all that surprising. However, he knew what would have happened to her that day if he had not intervened. If she was going to be successful here, someone had to get through to her. And as someone who knew in part what she would be facing, Spock felt obligated to try.

He turned to look at the walls of her learning dome in order to discern what she had been studying. Geography seemed to be the theme; a word list contained notable locations from around the quadrant, and several land and star maps were displayed. "This interests you?" he asked.

Saavik glared, but he was encouraged that she chose to respond. "I see," she told him as she pointed to holo-images of various cities across the Federation.

"You wish to travel, to explore?"

She considered the words. "I explore," she corrected her earlier statement. "All ways. Desh'rak, she'rak, koo'rak – "

"Khu'rak," he corrected her pronunciation of the Vulcan word for 'south.'

Saavik frowned, her scowl returning. She wasn't truly angry, however, more confused. It had been a very long time since she hadn't been able to scare someone, and the fact that this boy hadn't turned and left yet was extremely intriguing to her. There was something that made her trust his assistance and intentions when she had never trusted a male before.

"Kh-oo'rak," she carefully repeated. The computer, which had paused its program due to the earlier interruption, signaled her success. A tiny smile turned the corner of her mouth upward. "You name?" she asked him.

"I am Spock."

She poked a finger at her chest. "Saavik. You teach?"

He shook his head. "I am a student, like you."

However, it appeared that he had misinterpreted the question. "You teach," she repeated, though this time it was more of a demand than a request. "Teach me."

He gave a slight nod. "Continue with your assignment. I will assist if necessary."

Spock continued to assist her daily, once his own studies were complete. He enjoyed the time spent passing on information and responding to Saavik's never-ending inquiries. A couple weeks went by, and already her progress was noticeable. Her teachers had commented that she seemed more attentive and less combative. Spock wasn't surprised; he'd found that Saavik was extremely intelligent, despite missing out on years of schooling. If others were bold enough to have high expectations of her, she would find a way to meet them.

"That is all for today," he told her as he turned off her dome one afternoon. They had stayed beyond the normal school day and he knew that darkness would soon be falling on Shi'Kahr. "I must return home for evening meal." His father had been away from the planet for the past several months due to his work, but had just returned. Family time was something that his mother placed great value in when they were all on the same planet together, and neither man in Amanda's life was brave enough to deny her anything.

Saavik nodded, and silently began gathering her things. As Spock watched her, he realized that he could not bring himself to return her to solitude at the institution while he went home to his family. He had seen the place she was forced to call home and knew that it lacked much. "Join me," he offered.

"Join…for eats?" she asked. He nodded.

The sun was retreating behind the cliffs of the Forge by the time they reached his family's estate. "Father, Mother, I am home," he called as he closed the door behind him and Saavik.

Sarek appeared in the doorway to his study. "You are late, my son."

"Apologies. We lost track of time."

The older man took in his son's companion. "Who is this?"

"Saavik, a friend that I have been assisting at school. I did not think it would be a problem to fill one extra plate."

Sarek studied the girl for a moment; from his work with the Council, he knew who she was. "No, it will not."

Spock nodded. "Saavik, this is my father, Ambassador Sarek."

Proper manners towards elders had been one of her first lessons. Saavik had stubbornly refused to acknowledge the protocol in the presence of her teachers, but this was different. This was for Spock, and therefore it was important. "Good to meet, A-Am…Am-bass-ee-dor." She stumbled over the word, but managed to get it out.

Sarek nodded. "Welcome, Saavik. I will have another plate set out."

Saavik followed Spock's lead, putting down her school-things beside his at the door. He then led the way towards the dining room. The estate was grand by most standards, a luxury afforded by Sarek's place as head of the prestigious House of Surak. It seemed even more impressive to Saavik's small eyes. Well-appointed but not ostentatious furnishings were carefully arranged in each room.

Amanda smiled at her son as she entered the room from the kitchen. Sarek had staff to tend to the meals, but his wife had always enjoyed being involved in the preparation herself. "I was wondering if we were going to see you this evening," she lightly teased Spock. "How was school?"

"I received a perfect mark on my physical sciences examination," he replied.

Amanda smiled. "Excellent!"

Saavik silently watched them in surprise. Spock's mother is not Vulcan! She thought hard about what species the woman could be; one of her lessons earlier in the week had covered significant member worlds of the Federation. Could she be Human? She didn't seem to possess any of the emotional disciplines that Vulcans prided themselves on and had oddly rounded ears…

"You Human?" she spoke up.

Amanda stopped her conversation with her son mid-sentence. "Well, yes…I'm sorry, I guess I didn't properly introduce myself, did I? My name is Amanda."

"I Saavik."

"It's very nice to meet you, dear. Are you hungry?" She nodded, and they all took seats at the table as the food was brought out. Saavik was lost in thought and almost forgot to use her utensils for eating, as she'd been taught, instead of using her hands.

Was this why she had been drawn to Spock, she could sense a kindred spirit? No one had ever told her that more half-Vulcans existed. There were no other half-Romulans that anyone was aware of, but still… She was not totally alone in the universe, not alone in her struggles to define herself. Spock had gone before her, and seemingly succeeded in finding 'normal.' He understood her, perhaps in a way that no one else ever would. And maybe – just maybe – she would be successful, too.

"Mean it?" she leaned over and quietly asked him.

"Did I mean what?" Spock replied. He had become more adept with time at deciphering her broken speech.

"I friend," she reminded him of his earlier statement. Saavik, a friend… "Mean it?"

He nodded once. "Yes, I meant it."

TBC...

A/N: As always, feedback is much appreciated!