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Ch. 3

Jim sat with his legs hanging off the edge of a cliff that he had dived off of on numerous occasions as he stared out into the sunset, which bathed the sky in and reddish-orange hue, nearly matching the shade of the landscape itself. He was now an adolescent, his blonde hair no longer hung in his eyes, but instead he spiked it up, revealing more of his face, which was a golden tan thanks to days spent in the desert planet sun. He had lost all his baby fat and was now quite handsome, with well-defined facial features, not that any of the Vulcan woman his age noticed. He was an alien to them, like he was to everyone else on this unforgiving planet, other than T'Pan and possibly Sol.

And Spock.

The sun was almost ducked completely behind the hills of The Forge when said Vulcan-human mix appeared behind him. Jim knew he was there, they had been friends long enough that they could sense eachother's presense almost at once. And the years had changed Spock as well.

Spock was tall and slender, albeit only a few inches taller than Jim, who made up for it with his decently toned body. His complection reamained as pale as when he was born, due to the Vulcan's skin's natural ability to resist the heat of their sun. And if anyone met him and were told he was half human, they surely wouldn't believe it. His eyes, such a dark brown they appeared black, showed little emotion, overshadowed by thought. His coal black hair was groomed perfectly. He was standing as firm as a rock and Jim was always joking that even if there were three of him tackling Spock at once, the only move he's make is a raised eyebrow. But despite being the most Vulcan like of the two mis-matched friends, and despite the fact he was already engadged, no Vulcan woman turned their heads for him, either.

It seamed as though the two were alone on the planet.

"Jim." Spock adressed, although it was unnessisary. "You were absent from the Academy today." He stated, walking forward and sitting down next to the other teen, although he kept his legs crossed, aposed to handing them off the clif like his companion.

"I'm not going back to the acadamy." The terran replied simply, earning a subtle confused look from his friend. "I'm leaving Vulcan."

"What do you mean Jim?" The Vulcan leaned away a bit is Kirk stood up, staring out at the stars that began to prick through the blanket of night.

"I don't belong here. It's been suffocating me, Spock! I'm a human! A Terran! I don't belong on this planet! I belong out there! In the stars! In space! With other Terrans!" He gestured towards the stars. "I need to be free! Free to express myself! To live without worring about what is logical instead of what is right!"

Spock was watching his friend, and although he did not speak up, or reveil it though expression, his heart ached. He didn't want Jim to leave him. Even though he never admitted it to anyone, Jim had made things bareable. And he felt as though Jim had the ability to be free. He was a human, he truly didn't belong on Vulcan. But what of Spock? He was half human so he could never truly be Vulcan, but he also looked physically Vulcan, meaning he could never truly be human. He could never truly be free.

At this point he had zoned out Jim's rant, so he was somewhat surprized when the boy turned on him with a grin and said, "Come with me!"

Spock raised his eyebrows in question. "Come with me Spock! You can I can go to earth together! You won't have to get married to T'Pring, or go to the Vulcan Science Achadamy or anything!"

"But tradition-"

"To hell with tradition, Spock. Be your own man! Decide your own fate!"

There was a long pause between the two. Spock's eyes were observing, while Jim's grin faded. Finally, the Vulcan stood up.

"I'm sorry Jim." Under the his flat tone, he sounded sincere. "This time I can not entertain your illogical requests." He looked at his friend solemly. "Live long and prosper." He held up his hand in way of traditional Vulcan send off. Before he turned to leave, he saw Jim return it half heartedly.

As he walked away, he hadn't expected that was the last time he saw Jim on Vulcan.

*A*

Amanda held her arms out to her son, who almost hesitently walked to her. As soon as she embraced him however, he couldn't help but move into her comforting touch. "Mother…" Spock adressed her softly before they pulled back, so she could look at him, he hands on either side of his face.

"You've grown so big…" The woman said, a smile on her face. Indeed, Spock was now an adult by Vulcan standards, and was about to come face to face with the cousil of the Vulcan Science Achadamy.

"Mother… he hasn't come back." Her son said, and without a name, she knew who he was talking about, and knew he was still unsettled about him leaving.

"It's alright dear." She said soothingly, stroking his cheek. "It's al right… wherever he is, I'm sure he's proud of you." She asured him with a nod.

Spock hesitated to ask the next question. "Mother… do you think I should purdge all emotion and undergo kolinahr?"

Amanda smiled, almost sadly, at her son. "Whatever you choose Spock, you will always, always, have a proud mother." She gently pulled down his head, kissing him on the forehead.

Spock couldn't help but let his lips twitch in the tiniest of smiles.

To Be Continued

TWTB: OhmaigoshIlovethischaptersohardandIwastheonethatwroteit… is that egocentrical? Oh well… I hope you enjoyed :3