Thanks to my real life friend KCjonesing for her thorough beta'ing! Usual disclaimers apply.
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Gaila found herself at the door to Spock's office no less than four minutes early. To some, it would seem to be a small margin, but to the Orion, spending an extra four minutes with her professor was equivalent to having her teeth systemically removed. Exactly 10.3 minutes from the time Spock had asked her to arrive at his door, she timidly entered, not bothering to knock. It wasn't as if he wouldn't be expecting her.
Surely enough, he was waiting, sitting sternly in his chair, fingertips pressed ponderously together.
"Cadet."
"Commander."
She wondered if the commander had ever been hugged. What a sad existence that would be; to never be hugged. Perhaps that was why he was such a grumpy man. Though, she'd heard that all Vulcans acted as such. Did the Vulcan race in general not participate in the humanoid phenomenon of the embrace? That certainly seemed to explain a lot. As Spock began to lecture her, the words droning on and on, she began to conceive a plan for a new sort of business endeavor-- HFGV, or, Hugs for Grumpy Vulcans. It would be a humanitarian effort. Volunteers would flock from around the galaxy to show love to the stiff desert people. Gaila snorted. Somehow, she didn't think the Vulcans would appreciate their efforts. Maybe it just wouldn't be possible to hug them. Maybe they possessed a sort of… biological force field that would repel any interaction of a cuddly nature. She began to giggle, her thoughts turning ridiculous, even for her.
After a few minutes of quiet laughter, she realized that Spock was no longer speaking, and was staring intensely at his green student. Gaila clapped a hand over her mouth, almost embarrassed- but Orions were never truly ashamed of anything.
"Sorry, Commander. You can keep talking now." She told him breezily, as if she were merely granting him her time.
"As I had been informing you before your illogical display of misplaced amusement, you will not pass my exam tomorrow. Is this beyond your comprehension? The averages of your last exam grades stand at only 23% correctness. You are the only student who has ever received zero credit on an exam in my course." He told her sternly. Gaila's perky smile vanished. When had she gotten a zero on an exam…? Vaguely, she remembered Spock passing back exams some weeks ago. She hadn't looked at her grade, only used the paper as a wrapping for her breakfast sandwich. Better that be stained with bacon grease than her immaculately moisturized hands. Gaila mentally conceded that it would be possible to have utterly failed that particular exam.
"Fuck!" Gaila exclaimed violently, temperamentally stamping a black boot on the floor as the realized that failing her senior year was a very real possibility.
"Indeed." He professor responded dryly. "I have transferred a remedial course guide to your PADD. I created the program myself, for students of lesser intelligence or, in your case, motivation. The condensed course may be completed in approximately 10.54 hours. In the terms of the Terrans, I wish you luck. Dismissed." He turned his back to her and proceeded to enter strings of calculations into his personal research computer.
Gaila looked down at the PADD, checking the time. It was already past 1900 hours. She wouldn't be able to finish studying until at least 0530 hours; the exam was at 0600. The entire situation was looking more and more impossible. There was no way that she could complete the review course and have enough energy to take and pass the exam. Gaila knew of only one solution. She let her eyes flutter closed and took a moment to think about the worst things that she could possibly call to mind. Prominent among them were Terran cosmetics, celibacy, and dead puppies.
Mere moments passed before tears welled up in her large blue eyes. She was well skilled in fields of persuasion. With quiet grace, she slipped closer to the professor. "Oh, sir, I… I just don't think I can do this… Please, isn't there anything else you can do? If I fail, then… then I might have to go back to Orion I, oh please, sir, I don't want to be a slave…" She began to wail pathetically, wringing her hands as she began to become more actively involved in her performance.
The lieutenant commander did not react. He did not speak. He did not turn to face her. He did nothing. He merely continued calculating. Gaila sniffled with as much misery as she could muster. Still, nothing. She stopped crying; it expended too much effort for too little effect. Her heart began to beat faster. No, no, this couldn't happen. She was not going to fail. She crept towards him again, placing a hand on his shoulder. Spock immediately stiffened, though Gaila noted that no force field repelled her.
"You know… professor…" She murmured coyly. "I did learn a few things on Orion I… Being a slave had its benefits… I could show you, if you want…" She purred, though she felt a sinking in her stomach. Since beginning her pheromone suppressing regimen at the Academy, she had never had further success at seducing a man to such a level that they would do her every bidding. She doubted this would work.
It didn't.
"Cadet, you will remove yourself from my person. It is true that Terrans know little of your culture, but I am not Terran. I know fully well the true nature of your slavery on Orion. For you to return to your planet would result in no discomfort for you." His eyebrows knitted together slightly in a very small display of irritation at her antics. Gaila's eyes widened, still wet from false tears. So he knew that it was the women who controlled Orion, under the pretense of abuse and sexual slavery. Gaila knew then that all chances she had of receiving an exam exemption or grading curve were completely and utterly destroyed. No, not destroyed, annihilated.
"I suggest that you return to your dormitory and begin your studies." The Vulcan turned back to his computer. Anger boiled under Gaila's skin. No doubt, he was being intentionally obtuse. He was trying to irritate her, wasn't he? He wanted her to fail, that pointy-eared bastard! She leapt to her feet and flung her PADD onto the floor.
"Fine! You know what, I don't even need your stupid notes! So… so there!" She flicked her red hair over her shoulder, trotting pointedly from his office. Gaila had nearly reached the end of the hallway when her shoulder sagged; she needed the notes. Attempting to hold her head high, she whipped open the door to his office and retrieved her PADD. "And just so you know, I'm only taking this because it has all 49 episodes of 'Syndicate Sickbay.'"
As she stormed from his office a second time, Spock turned slowly to watch her go. He raised an eyebrow, both perturbed and bewildered. How could a sickbay have episodes…? He couldn't help but feel that he was yet again missing vital pop culture information.
