Sho'on
Chapter Four
The next day, during what Terrans refer to as noon meal Sho'on walked into the cafeteria and noticed Spock seated alone at a table, perusing his ever present PAAD, eating his Second Meal. Collecting a simple meal of salad and fruit he approached and asked,
"Lieutenant Commander, may I join you?"
Spock looked up and nodded and then his head tilted in anticipation of voicing a question that was on his tongue.
"Have you been successful in your search for individuals who share your interests?"
"Today I will meet with some cadets who have expressed the desire to challenge me in three dimensional chess. Although I was unsuccessful in the game I played with you, perhaps I will find someone I can best among these Terran students."
Spock replied,
"Indeed."
"The group will be meeting at sixteen hundred hours in one of the rooms adjoining the library. When I leave would it be permissible for me to contact you and advise you of the end results of the group's activities?"
"I turn my com unit to messaging after twenty-one hundred hours. I would be pleased to converse with you any time before that hour."
Sho'on nodded in understanding and thenjjj excused himself to eat his meal in silence.
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Sho'on was settled into the allocated room quite a while before the hour for the chess club to convene. He seated himself in the rear of the seating arrangement that had been set up in the room. He thought that location would allow him to better observe individuals as they entered the room.
Slowly the others people trickled in. First to appear was a Terran male of imposing statue, light hair and eyes who nodded to Sho'on and went to the front and unpacked the chess boards. Then two Andorian males, in animated conversation whose antennae moved frantically influenced by their lively conversation, then four other Terran males, one whose appearance made Sho'on assume he was from the same area of Terra as his cousin Spock's bondmate. Two females appeared next, one whose complexion also mirrored Nyota's with her hair in many sections, she was not so aesthetically pleasing as Spock's bondmate, this female's companion had eyes that appeared to slant upward like his own eyebrows and shoes hair was straight and black. From their body language and position it appeared these two were well known to each other, so were perhaps by Terran standards friends. Both of these females projected very serious natures.
Exactly on time the male who would provide instructions on the playing of chess appeared at the door. He introduced himself as Lieutenant To'net, he was also an Andorian who characteristically spoke with a slight lisp. He wrote his name on the on the white board and also wrote the rules of the game they would play.
One of the females, the one of the same complexion as Spock's bondmate raised her hand and stood. She introduced herself as Michele Williams. Sho'on listened quite carefully and determined that the question proposed was quite logical.
She asked, was the game played standing since some of the levels were quite high for a person of her statue. If it started out on the lower level while the players were seated, at what point in the game was it permissible to stand. In addition, perhaps if the boards were placed on the floor and the players seated themselves there, ones probably would be better able to study the board seated at its lowest level looking upward through its transparent levels.
The instructor listen carefully and then decided to allow each pair to make their own decision. Those who would want to play seated on the floor could do so, and the others would seat themselves at the available tables. Fortunately, the females were attired casually, jeans and tops, so the female's seating themselves on the floor was not going to compromise their modesty.
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Sho'on noticed how Michele gracefully seated herself on the floor and for some unexplained reason he seated himself opposite her, nodded and introduced himself. He uncharacteristically commented,
"Those were very well-thought out questions you presented to our instructor."
She nodded and continued looking down toward the floor.
He continued the conversation,
"Have you ever played three dimensional chess before?"
"No, but my brother told me that I should join one or two of the clubs here at The Academy so I could find persons with interests similar to my own. While it is so that I have never played the game, I have read a lot about the how it is played, know the rules and I do have the desire to become proficient at this past time. I hope it will not take a long time. Have you have played before?"
"Yes, I have played but I am not proficient. My cousin. who is the quadrant's grand master, has told me that with his instructions my game will improve immensely. I will inquire about the possibility of you accompanying me so he could instruct both of us at the same time."
"That is a very generous offer Mr. Sho'on. I think that would be very informative but I do not wish to intrude.
Sho'on corrected that thought with information that he has a Terran wife who would be pleased to meet her.
"In that case I wish to thank you so much for my inclusion into your plans."
Sho'on believed his cousin would be quite pleased with his attempt to meet and talk to others. What he did notice about his new acquaintance was that during their entire conversation she had never met his eyes and he wondered what their color might be. Thinking that he should correct how she addressed him he said,
"The name is simply Sho'on, you need not add any title to it."
"Alright, Sho'on of Vulcan, my name is Michele Williams. I am from the state of New York on the east coast of this continent. I come from a long line of Star Fleet officers. My father is Admiral Clem Williams. Please do me a favor and not reveal that family information to anyone. I wish to gain any accolades on my own merits."
Sho'on nodded and admired the strength of character this Terran female displayed. He must remember to advise Spock that his suggestion had worked out very well and in addition ask if he might bring his new friend to Spock's house on this coming Saturday.
Both of them reached for the men and settled them on first level on the board. Sho'on noticed her moves were especially logical, her game plan appeared to be excellent, and as she stood and then seated herself he noticed how graceful her movements were and asked himself what was the wonderful scent that followed her movement. He determined that it was a combination of her cosmetics and her and he found it distracting. How odd.
The choice of an afternoon session allowed the instructor to take enough time to carefully examine each one of the boards and critique each player. The instructor was very much impressed with Sho'on and Michele's board's final appearance. He told Sho'on that he apparently had 'met his match'. Considering that she had confessed to never having actually played the game, her moves were indeed indicative of superior intellect. Sho'on thought, Cadet Williams had already proved to be a worthy opponent and maybe eventually even a friend.
