Disclaimer: The rights to Star Trek belong to Gene Roddenberry, and NuTrek belongs to J.J. Abrams, Orci, and Kurtzman.
A/N: Thanks to all my readers who reviewed the last chapter, especially: Nativegurl1208, lady-orochimaru, Blue-Eyed Chica, thebestestfriendsforever, MyriadProBold, robins princess starfire, MirrorFlower and Darkwind, CANTAR, VitaminH, Orff, Iru-ST, darkshadowarchfiend, andfantasmaalineal.
You all are a driving force behind my writing – I really look to you for feedback. Even the smallest comment can brighten my day, remind me why all the hard work is worth it!
Warning: K/S sex scene, but I kept it appropriate for the rating of the story. Hopefully it comes off as steamy but tasteful.
Now on to the next chapter!
.~.
Ch. 2: Distress Call
The next day, Kirk awoke during his usual time. Glancing over at Spock, he saw that his bondmate was still asleep. He smiled fondly at his adun. A sleeping Spock was the result of a midnight run to the science lab, no doubt. That was his t'hy'la, dedicated fully to his duties as Science Officer. No matter, he would just take Saavik on the rest of the tour of the ship by himself. He brushed his lips over Spock's forehead, in a departing gesture.
After he'd finished his morning routine, he used the adjoining bathroom to gain access to his new daughter's quarters. Saavik was already awake and waiting for him, her eyes glued to her computer screen.
"Hey you." Kirk sat down next to her on the couch.
"Greetings." The young hybrid looked up at him.
"How long did you sleep for?"
"Six point five hours," was her precise answer.
"That's it?" Kirk was surprised. He remembered sleeping at least nine or ten hours when he was her age.
"It is the recommended amount of sleep for Vulcan children." Her new dad made a mental note to ask Spock about that.
"If you say so." Kirk then stood and motioned for her to join him. "Ready for a continuation of your tour of the ship?"
She nodded.
"I am interested in viewing the holodeck. I read much about it last night."
"Then the holodeck it is." Kirk grinned at her. "We'll make that our first stop."
When they reached the holodeck on D deck, Saavik was surprised to find that it was just an empty room. Kirk explained that the projection-holographic technology made it possible to give the illusion that the space was larger than it truly was. Not only that, but the program was designed to be person-centric, meaning it would move with the user. Also, along with settings, holographic characters could be made for the user to interact with. Saavik had to admit it was an impressive technological feat.
"What program do you run when you visit here?" She asked of Kirk. He shrugged.
"It depends. If I need to train for a mission, I have several subroutines that I like to use. But I think you were referring towards entertainment purposes."
"Indeed. While the need for holographic entertainment is illogical, I must confess I am rather curious about it," Saavik confessed.
Kirk smiled knowingly at her.
"That's understandable. It's a very Vulcan attitude to have. Spock feels the same way – he rarely if ever visits the holodeck. But I've been working on a present for him for his birthday, a program that will recreate the atmosphere of-" The captain trailed off, catching himself taking notice of present company.
"Of what?" Saavik prompted.
"It doesn't matter," Kirk said quickly. "Why don't we just choose one of the sample programs for you to try?"
But the girl was adamant.
"I would prefer to see your program."
"But it's not finished," Kirk tried.
"That is irrelevant," said Saavik. "It must be quite interesting if you are not willing to divulge the location."
The captain sighed.
"Look, it's not that I don't trust you. I just didn't want to upset you."
"I see. Then the location is Vulcan," Saavik deduced, her expression carefully blank.
"Yes," Kirk admitted. "I'm sorry if I brought back any bad memories for you."
"I am neither offended or distressed by this," she promised. "I was but three Terran years of age at the time of the implosion. Five years has given me a sufficient amount of time to adjust to the fact that my planet no longer exists. I did not spend enough time on Vulcan to cultivate an emotional attachment, as many of the older children in the orphanage did."
"Still, it must be hard being displaced from your home like that," said Kirk. "I can't even imagine what I would do if that happened to Earth."
She made a non-committal noise.
"Why did you choose this program as a present for your mate if you are concerned it will bring back unpleasant memories of that day?"
"I wanted to recreate his childhood home so I could share in it with him. Spock never had a chance to show me where he grew up, and I thought this would be the next best thing," Kirk explained. "I asked his father to provide me with the necessary information. That coupled with what I've seen of Vulcan in our melds…" He trailed off. "Right, the program. Computer, pull up program Kirk-3-A, password schntgai."
After the archway to the Enterprise closed behind her, Saavik was swept off into the arid simulated world of Vulcan.
.~.
The rest of the tour wasn't nearly as exciting compared to the holodeck. Still, Kirk learned that Saavik needed to be taught how to play chess when they visited the rec room, that she needed swim lessons after checking out the pool, and that she enjoyed drinking Vulcan tea when they ordered drinks at the restaurant-bar. During the tour, Kirk proudly introduced his new daughter to any members of the crew who happened to be passing by. While the non-bridge crewmembers were indeed curious about their youngest passenger, they were polite enough to engage Saavik in conversation, or at least not to openly stare.
Eventually, they finished their tour on the bridge. The turbolift doors wooshed open to reveal a pristine white atmosphere, where every Starfleet officer was engaged in one duty or another. But they took time out of their busy schedule to meet Saavik. Sulu, Chekov, and Uhura especially seemed happy to meet their new student, who was to begin her classes that day.
Through it all, Saavik remained quite calm. A human child might've been overwhelmed by all of the names, faces, and places to remember, but the girl never batted an eyelash. Of course, having an eidetic memory did help.
While Saavik was intrigued by all of the different jobs on the bridge, it was the empty science station that fascinated her the most. Since it was empty she wiggled into the science seat, trying on for size. Kirk and the rest were content to watch as the young Vulcan busied herself pretending to collect and record data from the ship's scanners. She was so engrossed in her 'findings' that she didn't hear the turbolift door open.
"Ahem."
Spock's rigid voice was unmistakable. Saavik immediately stopped playing Science Officer, training her guilty dark eyes on the commander.
"Out of the chair," Spock gently reprimanded her. With a slight frown, Saavik slid out of the science seat, which the elder Vulcan quickly occupied.
She tapped Spock on the shoulder.
"Pardon me, but am I supposed to begin my schooling this morning?"
Spock raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed you are. I have taken the liberty of sending your schedule to your PADD. I believe your first class is the sciences with Mr. Chekov, which begins in five minutes."
"I am ready, Mr. Spock, sir," the eager Russian affirmed. "Where should we go?"
"Her quarters shall suffice for now," Spock directed. "I shall send the next instructor when your time with her is finished."
Chekov nodded.
"Right zis way, Miss Saawik."
Obediently, the young Vulcan followed the curly-haired navigator into the turbolift.
.~.
The first science lesson with Chekov was an absolute breeze for Saavik. They'd spent most of the hour determining what she had yet to cover in the orphanage school. The Russian was pleasantly surprised to see how much more advanced a Vulcan mind was at the age of eight – there was no way a human child could grasp certain abstract concepts.
Following that, Sulu showed up to relieve his friend. Saavik was eager to begin their training in the martial arts in the ship's gym. This exercise would supply her with the endurance and self-defense skills she would need in order to survive if ever caught in a phaser cross-fire. The Japanese man found himself thrown off balance by the young Vulcan a few times, which was a rare feat for most humans.
By the time Uhura arrived to take over, Sulu was bone-tired.
"This one…" he gasped out, shaking a finger at the girl, "is smarter than she looks."
"I'll keep that in mind," the communications officer said as Sulu limped out of the gym. Uhura gave the Vulcan girl a once over. Dressed in her red mini-Starfleet pantsuit uniform, Saavik didn't look like someone who could've disarmed Sulu so easily. But appearances could be deceiving.
Saavik broke the silence.
"So you are Uhura."
Saavik stood with her arms firmly clasped behind her back, the picture of Vulcan decorum.
"Yes. And you must be Saavik." Uhura smiled at the girl. "Shall we go to your quarters to begin your lessons?"
Once they arrived, Uhura pulled out her PADD and began a new entry. It was time to interview her charge to find out what sort of language background she had.
"I can speak Romulan," Saavik volunteered before Uhura had said a word. "Does that… alarm you?"
Uhura shook her head, wondering if there was more to that comment. Was Saavik possibly feeling guilty that she was a part of the species that destroyed Vulcan?
"Not at all. I can speak Romulan too – all three dialects."
"I was aware not of that fact," the young girl admitted, which was Vulcan for 'I didn't think a human would know that much'.
"What else can you speak?" Uhura wanted to know.
"A little Andorian, and even less Standard. Vulcan is my first language so you should not assign me work in that language."
"Spock said he wanted you to work on your fluency in Standard first," Uhura reminded her. "Just take this diagnostic and it will let me know how advanced you are."
Saavik nodded, and accepted the PADD. Stylus in hand, she began to work. Uhura noticed that her brow furrowed when she reached a difficult word.
"I am finished," Saavik announced after about five minutes. Surprised it hadn't taken her longer, the communications officer took the PADD and waited for it to calculate the results. Since Uhura didn't have anything else planned for the day, she decided to sate her own curiosity by asking the girl questions in Standard, so that she could practice her conversational skills.
"Saavik, what was it like in the orphanage?" Uhura asked.
The girl shrugged.
"It was dull."
"Did you have any friends?"
Saavik's eyes took on a wistful gleam.
"Affirmative. I had several."
"It must be hard to be parted from them," Uhura said knowingly.
"I miss them," she confessed. "More than a Vulcan should."
"You are not just any Vulcan – you are a child of two worlds, just like Spock," Uhura reminded her. "I suspect that your Romulan heritage makes it difficult to reign in your emotions, as Vulcans are so fond of doing."
They spoke of Saavik's time in the orphanage until their time was up. As they talked, Uhura glanced down at the PADD, which had scored the girl's test. She had received a low score, and her equivalent Standard fluency was that of a human kindergartener. But the data just didn't add up. The more Saavik opened up to Uhura, the larger Standard vocabulary words were used. While she was happy the girl felt comfortable enough to confide in her, Uhura had a hunch that Saavik knew plenty more Standard than she let on. However, at this point, she had no proof to back up her claim. And she wouldn't be going to the captain and commander without proof.
At noon, Uhura delivered Saavik to the mess hall before returning to her post. The girl met with Doctor McCoy for lunch as the captain and commander were otherwise occupied. They punched in their selections at the replicators, and took their trays with them to one of the booths in the back left corner. McCoy, who was used to eating on a time constraint, shoveled his chicken sandwich into his mouth. The girl just blinked at him, as if she'd never seen such disgraceful behavior in all of her life. It made for an awkward silence.
All the doctor could think about during the meal as Saavik was staring at him like he was an experiment to dissect was, those two owe me big time.
.~.
Meanwhile, in the Captain's Quarters
"Spock, feel this." Jim bucked up against his mate as he stripped off his clothes. "I've been wanting you all morning."
"This is most unorthodox, Captain," Spock complained as Jim pulled him down with him onto their bed. His bondmate sought to silence him with his tongue, but the Vulcan wasn't finished speaking. "My colleagues in the science lab seemed to…mmm…. realize what was transpiring when they asked why I – Jim! - had to leave early."
"So?" Jim nibbled on Spock's ear and intertwined their fingers. "You were following orders from your captain. We can't have you sent to the brig on insubordination charges, can we?"
This was a routine game they played. Kirk sometimes tried to coax his Vulcan into having sex on duty, while Spock tried to 'logic' his way out of it. Jim could count on one hand the number of times Spock had won at this game.
"We are not setting a good ex-aaample for the other couples in the crew."
"Perhaps, but we are using discretion." Kirk smirked up at his husband. "They'd never guess that my proper stoic Vulcan likes it rough."
Spock's eyebrows twitched.
"Pardon me?"
"Don't deny it."
Spock glared at him.
"It would be illogical to deny a fact, even if it is one of which I am not proud."
/It doesn't make you less of man, Spock./ Jim reassured him through their link. /I'm just teasing you. Is that okay?/
/Yes./ Spock glanced at his t'hy'la with fond exasperation. /I find your teasing to be… quite pleasurable./
"You know, I'll bet almost every member of our crew thinks that you top me every night," Kirk mused, jumping back into his teasing persona. "After all, even though I'm your captain, they know it's you who wear the pants in the relationship."
"There is also the matter of my strength being three times as much as yours," Spock added. "In fact, they must think that you have an asphyxiation kink, Jim. After all, they did see a version of it during our fight on the bridge that day we met. Perhaps they believe you beg me for sexual congress every night." But Kirk wasn't taking the bait.
"But you don't just like to hold me down," Jim goaded. "I know what you really crave, to let go of all your Vulcan inhibitions be fucked out of your mind." Spock groaned. Jim was using their mind link to call up memories of their first coupling, which had been out of necessity. "That first time I watched you let go, Spock, in the beginning of your Pon Farr-"
The Vulcan had heard enough. He silenced his beloved, devouring Jim's lips with his own. Hands explored each other's bodies, familiar territory now. Their breathing grew louder, and soon a mix of Vulcan and human cries filled the room.
/Jim!/ Spock called, stuck somewhere between agony and ecstasy.
/Let go, Spock. I gotcha./
That was all it took to push the Vulcan over the edge. His human followed soon after, collapsing against his bondmate with an exhausted sigh.
Afterwards, when Spock was still trying to catch his breath, Jim thought,
/Damn, Spock! We sure can be loud when we want to be. I think you're right about those sound proofing algorithms. I'll tell Scotty to get on upgrading them for Vulcan hearing frequencies right away./
/Thank you./ Spock responded, his brain too overloaded to say anything more.
.~.
A little while later
After Saavik had spent a boring hour in Sick Bay watching McCoy run around and yell at his nurses and patients, Spock came to collect her.
Once again, when they returned to her quarters, he gave her a diagnostic test which measured her knowledge on the Vulcan culture. The PADD calculated her results, which was somewhat less than what Spock had hoped. But it made sense – the Vulcans were so busy rebuilding that they hardly had time to instruct the orphans in cultural studies. That was where he came in.
"You will read the chosen text on the Surakian treatises and write a five page report to be turned in tomorrow," Spock instructed. "I advise you to being your assignment now while I am here, in case you have any questions that need rectifying."
Saavik gulped when she saw the length of the text she was supposed to read. And it was in Standard, too. While she feigned a vast knowledge of the language – it was better to have people underestimate her abilities in case she needed to eavesdrop – she couldn't read the language nearly as well as Vulcan.
"Father, may I have the Vulcan translation of the text?" She asked.
"Negative. I believe it is advisable for you to work on your Standard comprehension, therefore all of our lessons will be conducted in that language."
Spock went back to his science reports, leaving Saavik to glare at the text. So when Spock was relieved by Captain Kirk within the hour, Saavik was understandably relieved.
"Hey, how's it going?" He greeted them.
"Jim." Spock nodded at his mate, leaving for the bridge.
"How is what going?" Saavik stared blankly at the human.
"It's an expression," Kirk patiently explained as he took a seat on her couch. "Like 'what's up'. We're not really asking what's up. The literal answer would be the sky, or space. We're just asking how you are feeling."
"Vulcans do not-"
"Oh don't give me that," Kirk interrupted, rolling his eyes. "I'm bonded to a Vulcan, I know they feel. Did you have a good day or not?"
"Yes. My teachers were adequate. I have a fondness for Miss Uhura in particular."
"I thought you might." Kirk grinned at her. "I was kinda hoping she'd be like a surrogate mom for you. Spock and I will try our best, but we'll understand if you just want to talk to a female about girl stuff."
"To what stuff are you referring?"
The captain groaned.
"Never mind. So is there anything I can do to make you feel more at home on the Enterprise?"
Saavik thought about it for a moment.
"There is a human concept known as an 'allowance' – I read about it last night in the ship's library. I was wondering if I could have one of my own," she requested. "It doesn't have to be much."
"Hmm, I guess that would be okay," Kirk considered. "It will teach you how to be responsible with money. Let me ask Spock." Saavik watched, fascinated, as Kirk mentally contacted his bondmate. After ten seconds or so, a big smile broke out on the captain's face.
"He says that sounds fine to him," her dad announced. "Let me get your account set up on the computer." He helped Saavik set up a name and password to the Starfleet Universal Bank.
"You'll get twenty credits a week automatically added to your account," Kirk said when he was finished. "Is that reasonable?"
"Yes." Saavik smiled shyly at him.
"Now, since I did a favor for you, I was hoping you would do one for me." Kirk patted the girl on her shoulders, which caused her to stiffen.
"Of what sort of favor do you speak?"
Kirk grinned reassuringly at her.
"I was hoping you could tell me a little about your childhood."
Saavik raised an eyebrow, but she visibly relaxed.
"There is not much to tell."
"How about I go first?" Kirk offered. "That way you'll get to know things about me too."
"That would be adequate," Saavik relented.
The captain got comfortable, and began to speak.
"My dad was killed the day I was born. He sacrificed himself so that I could live." Kirk wasn't sure if Saavik knew the story behind his birth or not, but he told it anyway, hoping she might tell him how she survived Vulcan's implosion. He guessed correctly.
"My teacher saved my classmates and I during the destruction of our planet," Saavik volunteered. "She took us to the emergency escape pods and jettisoned them almost immediately after she heard the planet-wide distress call. She did not survive and neither did my parents."
"I was raised by a mom who was never there and a step-dad who..." Kirk trailed off, wincing. "Let's just say he wasn't very nice to me and my brother."
"I was raised in an orphanage where I was just a number, a face among many who were treated all the same," she countered.
They continued their conversation rapid fire, each trying to top the other.
"I once hit on Uhura in a bar."
"I once nerve pinched my instructor."
"Well, I was the only genius-level repeat offender in the mid-west."
"My scores in science for my age group are the highest in all of the Vulcan colony."
"I cheated on the Kobayashi Maru test and almost got kicked out of the Academy."
Saavik regarded him coolly.
"I have read minds without obtaining permission in an escape attempt and was almost banned from returning to the orphanage."
"Oh yeah? I was arrested for driving a convertible off a cliff."
"I was sent before T'Pau for lying," Saavik whispered, looking down at her feet.
Kirk's eyes widened in recognition.
"Woah. I know her – she's like Spock's grandma or something – and I think being called before her is way more bad ass than driving a car off a cliff. That lady is scary!" He regarded the girl closely. "May I ask what you had lied about?"
Just then, Kirk's communicator beeped.
"Sir, incoming priority one message from Starfleet!" Uhura's voice sounded through the communicator.
"I'll take it on the bridge," he advised. "Kirk out." Then the captain turned to his young charge. "I'm sorry, Saavik, but I've got to take this."
"Do not apologize for doing your job – that is illogical."
Kirk laughed.
"Yeah, I guess it is. I just hate leaving in the middle of our conversation."
"I am not offended," the girl assured him.
"Right. Well, see ya." He turned on his heel and was almost to the doorway when he remembered something. "Oh, Saavik? Be thinking about how you want to decorate your room. As soon as you decide, I'll get engineering on it right away."
"I shall," the girl said quietly. With one last wave, Kirk disappeared between the automatic doors.
After he left, a miserable Saavik flopped on her bed, face down in the pillow. This was becoming much harder than she'd originally feared. But she couldn't afford to get attached or to buy in to this life that Kirk was offering her on board the Enterprise. She had to keep her focus – they were depending on her.
.~.
In captain mode now, Kirk squared his shoulders as he stepped out onto the bridge.
"Jim." Admiral Pike's grim face appeared on the viewscreen. "I'm glad we caught you before you were out of communications range."
"How can I help you?" Kirk asked, and Saavik noticed that he sounded sincere.
Pike shifted uncomfortably.
"We just received a distress call and-"
"We're the only ship in the vicinity," Kirk interrupted, trying not to smile. It wasn't the first time the Enterprise had been put in this very situation and Jim doubted it would be the last.
"You got it," said a grateful Pike, shaking his head at the interruption. "Starfleet is asking you to disregard your orders regarding a first contact in the Tholian system."
"Don't worry, Chris, we're prepared to change course as soon as you give us the new coordinates." Kirk's commanding presence was enough to ease some of the tension on the Admiral's semi-wizened face.
"I'm sending them now," Pike affirmed. "Jim, a representative from Zeta III has reported symptoms of a planet-wide epidemic."
"What sort of symptoms?"
"The details will be in the report sent to your CMO." Pike paused. "There's more and you're not gonna like it.
Jim nodded as if to say, go ahead.
"There is a small contingent of Vulcans living on the planet that have asked us to transport them to New Vulcan."
Out of habit, Kirk glanced over at Spock for a half second before returning his full attention to Pike.
"But why would they want to move now?" Kirk wondered aloud. "Bones can cure just about anything but a rainy day."
"There's also a sizable human settlement on the planet, fundamentally religious folk. Before the plague the Vulcans lived isolation, not daring to make contact with their intolerant neighbors."
"Let me guess," Kirk sighed. "Something went wrong."
"Yes. That privacy could be no more when a sick Vulcan boy accidentally wandered into human territory. One of the Vulcan elders mentioned that they believe the boy is being held by the humans." Pike's voice softened, as if that would soften the blow. "She said that there is a good chance he will die by their hands if help doesn't arrive soon."
"We're on it, sir," Kirk affirmed, his face tight. "We won't let you down." The captain of the Enterprise bid Pike goodbye and sat back down in his seat.
/Be calm, t'hy'la,/ Spock urged his mate, sending a surge of calming warmth through their bond. /What is, is./
/Yeah, but these are your people, Spock./ Jim's mind screamed. /When I think of that Vulcan boy at the mercy of a pre-warp human settlement-/
/Do not think of it./ Spock interrupted. He had seen the image in Jim's imagination, of a young Spock at the mercy of xeno-phobics. /Concentrate on your duties. Do not allow your mind to become distracted./
/You're right, as usual./
James T. Kirk faced his crew.
"Mr. Chekov?"
"Course laid in, sir."
"Mr. Sulu?"
"Ready for warp, Captain."
"Let's do it."
.~.
Meanwhile
Back in her quarters, using the name and password Kirk had given her, Saavik had hacked her way into the Starfleet Universal Bank and transferred over 1,000,000 credits to her account. She then sent another message to New Vulcan.
Our funding is now sufficient.
End Ch. 2
A/N: Thoughts, comments, questions? All you have to do is review.