A/N: Just wanted to thank everybody who has read, reviewed, followed and/or favorited any of my Star Trek stories in the last 2 weeks! You guys rock and you've made my month! Thank you so much!
Departure
150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2286.257, 1934 hours. Nyota sat on the living room sofa and stared at her son in dumb shock. She looked to Spock sitting beside her. "Were you aware of this?"
"I had no prior knowledge that he intended to enlist in Starfleet, no."
"Mama? Sa-mekh? If one of you would be so kind as to say something in response…" Selas asked, still standing before them with hands clasped tight behind his back. He looked so much like Spock when he stood like that…
Inside, her heart was breaking for her little boy. Nyota thought he'd brought them together to tell them he was applying to Stanford or Princeton, not Starfleet. She and Spock had always taught Selas that he could achieve anything he wanted if he only worked hard enough but now even she thought he was over-reaching. If only they'd had some idea of what he was planning sooner, maybe they could've swayed his decision. "Selas, Sweetie…"
"Your mother and I will fully support you," Spock interjected, "However, you must prepare for the 77.7% probability that you will be precluded from admission due to your ocular condition."
Selas shifted his posture to face his sa-mekh. "I am fully aware and prepared for that possibility; I only wished to inform you of my intentions before I submitted my application rather than have you discover my plans second-hand on-campus."
"That was most considerate."
Nyota watched in utter disbelief as the two of them continued to calmly and rationally talk the situation over. She tried to find the words to speak but could do nothing more than stutter.
"Have you any questions for us pertaining to classes or regulations?" Spock asked.
Selas shook his head. "No. I have conducted my own independent research and have found satisfactory answers to all my questions. Should others arise in the future I will henceforward consult with you."
"You have been most diligent, sa-fu. That is commendable."
Her son threw back his shoulders, happy for the praise. "If you and Mama have no other questions for me than I would like to return to my room and complete my homework."
"Of course. You are excused."
She watched him make his way out of the room and up the stairs, not trusting herself to speak until Selas' bedroom door closed behind him. "Spock, how could you?!" she hissed.
He cocked his head to the side. "I do not understand. How could I what?"
"Give him false hope! The admiralty will never accept him and even if they do he'll never make it through Basic! I know what I've said in the past but even you must know the odds are stacked against him! It's wrong to encourage him like this!"
"Nyota." He paused until she had somewhat checked her indignation. "If there is one lesson I have learned from being a parent it is that we should never discount our children; I made the mistake of underestimating Selas once and I will never do so again. Just like his ko-kai and sa-kai before him our sa-fu has proven capable of surmounting any obstacle placed in his path and I am certain of his success in this endeavor. It would be to Starfleet's detriment to overlook his qualifications merely because he is blind."
"Merely? Oh Spock…" But she knew there was no way she'd be able to make him understand. Nyota felt Selas' future disappointment keenly, perhaps even more keenly than her son would even admit to feeling himself, and it pained her that Spock couldn't see it as well. She just wanted to spare her son the heartache she was sure he'd feel when he was excluded in this too.
Discreet as they tried to be Selas heard every word his parents said. Prior to gathering them together to declare his intentions he had anticipated Mama's reluctance to his scheme; it was understandable given her disinclination for seeing him disappointed and hurt. However, her lack of enthusiasm after his announcement did somewhat dampen his spirit but did not diminish his resolve. Selas knew that the likelihood of his being admitted to Starfleet was greatly diminished due to his birth defect and yet he did not want that to stop him from pursuing his dreams. He had developed an interest in anthropology after his family's ordeal on Unohdettu and it was now his greatest desire to become a leader in that field, promoting intergalactic anthropology under the Starfleet banner. Nothing would stop him from accomplishing his goals and if the Academy did not accept him he would seek an education elsewhere and continue to strive forward.
Admissions Office, Starfleet Academy HQ, 2286.323, 1644 hours. "This has to be a joke." When no one responded Commander Bradley Rourke looked up and glanced around the table. "Right?" He looked down again at the cadet-in-question's application. It was right there in big, bold, red lettering—the kid was NLP*.
"It's not a joke," Admiral Pike intoned from the head of the table, "In fact it's a cadet I think we should seriously consider."
"Christopher, come on…"
Admiral Barnett piped up. "Chris, you do see how a conflict of interest could be construed in this case…"
Finally, Rourke thought, a voice of reason.
"I understand, Richard, but I'm telling you that's not the case here. I'm not championing Selas' cause because of his parents; I genuinely believe Starfleet has something valuable to gain from his being admitted into our ranks. Look at the rest of his application—his IQ is off the charts, he's got telepathic abilities, he speaks several different languages, he's in peak physical fitness…"
"And none of that means a damn thing because he can't see his own nose in front of his face!"
Bradley watched Chris studiously ignore him and turn to the other seven admirals and commanders that made up the incoming admissions council. He could see in their eyes that they'd be easily swayed to Pike's way of thinking and it sickened him. Weak-minded fools.
"In addition to his own accomplishments, Selas is the grandson of one of the foremost ambassadors in the Federation and the son of two of our most decorated officers. He's going to be an asset to the Federation one day and if we reject him someone else will easily see his potential and it'll be our loss." Rourke argued in vain for another 15 minutes before the decision was put to a vote. In the end Commanders Spock and Uhura's son was admitted by a margin of 7-2. "
No matter, he thought with a sneer as he conceded the point to Pike, They won't be at camp. I'll see to it that Cadet Selas gets the full Starfleet experience.
Starfleet Transport Station, San Francisco, 2287.196, 1515 hours. She unnecessarily smoothed out the lapels of his cadet reds, checked that his duffle bag was secure over his shoulder, then allowed her hands to rest a moment on his chest. Spock was right, she should never have doubted Selas; he'd been a fighter all his life and getting the education he wanted and on his terms was just another battle he'd gone and won. Nyota was only too happy to admit that she'd been wrong.
"You packed that extra sweater I left on your bed yesterday, right?"
"Of course, Mama."
"Because you never know where you'll end up that last week of training and you tend to get colder than most."
Selas smiled at her concern. "I know."
Why was she babbling? Why was she finding it so hard to let go? She'd already launched two kids on their college careers so why was this so different? Because, she thought, he's my baby.
"Do your best." He was as tall as Spock now and Nyota had to stand on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "I love you so much." She pulled him in for a fierce hug.
"I love you too and I will do my utmost to make you proud."
"You already do, every single day." Nyota was loathe to let go and had a newfound sympathy for her own parents on the day she left for training.
"Mama…"
"Alright." She eased up and leaned up for another kiss only to find Selas' cheek wet. As she looked closer she realized it wasn't his cheek that was wet but rather hers.
"I will be back in 6 weeks and then you will see me everyday at the Academy."
She chuckled at his reassurances. "And you're sure you won't mind being seen having lunch with little old me every once in awhile?"
He leaned down so that their foreheads were touching. "I am nothing but proud to be seen with you."
His earnestness touched her deeply. "Well alright then, I'll let you go…but I'm going to hold you to those lunches." One last kiss and she stepped back so Spock could have his turn.
He looked his sa-fu up and down: his posture was erect, his head was held high, and there was not a hair out of place. As he looked at him Spock was well aware of the overwhelming pride he felt swelling up in his chest. This was a great accomplishment for hi sa-fu. As a rule Spock was not prone to indulging in sentiment and yet at that moment he could not help but draw comparisons to the frail, premature infant he once cradled in the isolette against the strong young man that now stood before him. The change was remarkable.
"Du tra u lot-tor tau skan ak tau maat. Ki muhl ak hafa korsayek*," he said, reverting to High Vulcan.
"Shaya tonat, Sa-mekh; ak dungi glator hafa korsayek*."
"Dif-tor heh smusa, Sa-fu.*"
Selas returned the ta'al. "Sochya e dif, Sa-mekh.*"
Rebecca McCoy approached their group then, followed by her parents. "Rebecca. Christine. Leonard," he said with a nod to each.
"Hi, Spock."
"Afternoon, Hobgoblin."
It appeared, however, that Rebecca only had eyes for Selas and was anxiously rocking on the balls of her feet in anticipation of their journey. "Are you ready to go?" she asked, slipping her arm through his.
"Yes, I am ready to proceed." He let himself be led away toward the check-in table.
"Bye!" Rebecca shouted out with a wave over her shoulder. "See you in a few weeks!"
"Stay safe!" both mothers cried in unison.
Leonard sidled up beside him and together they visually tracked the children's progress through the check-in until they were safe aboard the transport. "Seems like just yesterday they were babies crawlin' around on the Enterprise," he remarked. "Can't believe how quickly they grew up."
"Indeed."
"Name, Cadet?"
"Selas, Sir."
He listened to the officer scroll through the list on his PADD. "Can you spell that for me?"
"S-E-L-A-S."
A few more clicks of the page and the man found what he wanted. "Alright, I'm going to need a thumbprint verification right here please."
Selas groped for the PADD he knew was extended toward him but could not discover it until Rebecca quietly guided his hand.
"What's the matter?" he heard a voice cry out behind him, "Wittle Baby can't sign his own entwy card?" The group around him snickered.
Rebecca's voice was full of irritation. "Ignore them."
"That is easily accomplished."
They began walking toward the shuttle when Selas disengaged his arm from hers in an effort to prove that he could reach the transport without assistance. With his laser cane to guide him he achieved his seat and stored his duffle bag overhead before strapping himself in.
"A Vulcan," the voice to his left exclaimed. "How interesting."
"Come on now," his companion replied, "Don't be like that Jamas." The second person directed his attention his way. "I'm Markus-well, Cadet Johnson now, I guess-and this is Jamas."
"Why don't you take off your glasses, Vulcan?" Jamas said, his voice containing the hint of a sneer. "You have no need of them in here."
Selas did as he was bid while beside him he listened to Rebecca settle into her seat. Folding the glasses into his hands on his lap he turned toward Jamas and Markus and heard them gasp.
"A blind Vulcan," he heard Jamas exclaim. "This just gets more and more interesting…"
Markus ignored his friend completely. "So what's your name?"
"Selas."
"Well it's nice to meet you." Selas heard the movement of fabric against the restraints. "Oh right, Vulcans don't shake hands and you…" he let the thought trail off while Jamas laughed.
"Looks like you're in for a very long 4 years, my friend!"
Rebecca leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Jamas is Andorian."
Ahh. His attitude suddenly made sense. While their species were mostly reconciled there were still some individuals that held a grudge. "That would explain the latent animosity."
"Maybe," she gave him a squeeze of the shoulder, "But I think he'll come around before long."
A young woman named Melissa Weinstock soon joined them and the 5 barely had time to make introductions before the shuttle took off.
* NLP = No light perception, a classification of blindness (thank you internet!)
* "Du tra u lot-tor tau skan ak tau maat. Ki muhl ak hafa korsayek" = Vulkhansu (plus a bit of my own made up stuff), "You are a credit to our family and our clan. Do well and stay safe."
* "Shaya tonat, Sa-mekh, ak dungi glator hafa korsayek" = Vulkhansu, "Thank you, father; and I will stay safe."
* "Dif-tor heh smusa, Sa-fu" = Vulkhansu, "Live long and prosper, Son."
* "Sochya e dif, Sa-mekh" = Vulhansu, "Peace and long life, Father."