Two years later.
Spock nearly sighed as he entered the pool deck of the gym, other cadets were lined up waiting to take their swim test. The past week of exams had not been as challenging as his VSA tests, but they were not something to be taken lightly. While the intellectual tests were easy in comparison, some of the applied tests presented a challenge with a multi-cultural system. Everyone assumed that as an ambassador's son he had been exposed to the universe at a young age rather than being contained on Vulcan in school except for his breaks. The rare ventures were usually to relics or tourist locations that served as family trips.
The physical tests had been some of the worst, he continually had to focus so that none of his opponents were hurt in combat scoring and the weight lifting machines had not been calibrated correctly. The latter of the two events ended with a trip to the infirmary for a broken nose and three loose teeth. He was about to join them when he felt a small thump against his side and something latch around his waist. He looked down to see a very blue head of hair snuggled into his side. A moment later it was thrown back to reveal a gold face smiling widely with sparkling grey eyes he had not seen in two years. "Got ya!" Spock's mild irritation at his tests disappeared at the appearance of the young girl.
"Indeed," Spock replied, putting his hand on the child's back.
"Why is it that I have not seen my big brother when you've been on Earth for a week?" She asked, pulling at the arm and silently demanding that he carry her. Spock picked the girl up by an arm and held her to him. Despite the two years since they'd seen each other she remained quite small and he was still able to hold her with one arm around her back. "You promised you were going to call."
"My tests have occupied most of my time since arrival," Spock said, "I thought it would be more prudent to wait until we could arrange a visit to contact you."
"Lady Amanda taught you better about emotional creatures," She said, resting her head against his shoulder, "Just seeing you would have been nice."
"Your standard is exceptional," Spock commented. He was going to complement the young woman on her proficiency when a ranking officer arrived.
"Angela," he barked, scanning the area until his eyes finally rested on her. Spock noticed her duck her head a little but just rested his hand on her back. "What have I told you about wandering off?"
"I wasn't wandering," Angela said as Spock set her on the ground. "I was going to see my brother."
"You mean Cadet Spock," the commander replied, "Thank you for keeping an eye on her Cadet, I believe you should join your classmates."
"I will Commander," Spock said, "May I have your contact information so that I may converse with Angela at a later time?"
"We will discuss this later," he replied to the child before offering his attention to the male, "My information is in the directory under Saunders." Spock may not have agreed with anything the commander said, but he had not been privileged to the same reports his parents were. He would contact his mother alter to see if Angela had been acting out against her guardians. "I don't mean to be rude, but Angela is already late for school. Come along." He gripped her by the shoulder and pulled her, Spock noticed a small wince cross Angela's features and he fought down the urge to take her back from his ranking officer.
He watched the two go and was approached by his advisor, Commander Pike. The older man followed his line of sight and then looked back at Spock. "Cadet, do you know Saunder's ward?"
"Yes," Spock replied, "Angela and I are acquainted. She spent a time on Vulcan before she was transferred to San Francisco for care. While there she showed remarkable adaptability and intelligence, her grasp of language was exceptional but that can be expected for one early in their formative years." Pike raised an eyebrow. "Angela was in the care of my parents, in the short months she was with us she became proficient in both Vulcan and Standard, her abilities seemed to have grown in the past two years, though not as much as I expected."
"Lieutenant Franz knows them, he works down with the education system," Pike replied, "He always finds her in the library reading or with a book in the mess when she gets food."
"Commander Saunders does not prepare her meals?" Spock asked. "They eat in the mess?"
"I don't know, maybe they eat there when he's working late," Pike replied. "Now, from what I remember Vulcans and water are not the best of friends…"
"I fail to understand how friendship can exist between a sentient being and non-sentient liquid mass," Spock commented.
"Figure of speech Spock. You'll need to…" Spock's ears twitched when he heard the scream and a splash of water. "Oh shit, is she ok?" Pike voice rose; Saunders looked up suddenly and there was a flash of emotion across his face, Spock did not notice in his panic. Angela struggled for a moment before the small body slipped below the water at the deep end of the pool.
"She cannot swim!" He shouted and he dove into the water, frantically paddling for the girl. Another cadet heard him shout and also dove towards the girl. Spock was both grateful and sorry for his enhanced lung capacity and secondary protective eyelids inherited from his father. He was able to keep his eyes on Angela and not loose her in the chemically treated water, but watch as she struggled against the water filling her lungs as he labored to reach her. He was still seconds away when she jerked and stopped moving, the other cadet was just locking his hand around her shoulder and pulling himself down to the floor of the pool when he reached them. Spock reached and gently wrapped his arm around her, feet pressing against the floor as he strove for the surface.
The three broke the surface of the water and Spock tilted Angela's head back against his shoulder, she was not moving. "She's not breathing," the cadet coughed as he caught his breath next to the two. "What species is she, is this normal?"
"No," Spock explained, "We have to get her out of the water." The other cadet quickly swam to the side and vaulted out of the pool.
"Call medical!" The young man shouted before turning back and offering his hand. "Here, hand her up." Angela weighed much more than a human child of her age and it caught the man off guard, but they were able to gently lower her to the pool deck. "Medical's on their way."
"She'll be dead in approximately ninety seconds," Spock replied, "Commander, please get the first aid kit." Spock gently undid the buttons on her blouse as he spoke, his fingers identifying the correct pressure point under her breast bone before pressing down. "If we have a…" He turned to see Pike pulling the kit off the wall, Saunders was no where to be found. "Commander, is there an intubation kit?"
"No," Pike replied, "Does she need a defibrillator?" Spock tilted her head back and forced carbon dioxide into her lungs.
"Not yet," Spock replied, waiting another moment before forcing more air into her lungs, he backed off and at the same time pressed down on her solar plexus. Water came out of her mouth and Angela began to gag, attempting to clear her airway. Spock quickly turned her to the side and helped press against her diaphragm as water continued to empty from her, the small body was shaking with fear at her inability to draw breath. Time was relative, and it seemed much longer for Spock as he waited for her to draw her first breath in nearly three minutes. "You are all right Angela." He reached around and re-fastened the buttons on her blouse, his other hand brushing the drenched hair from her face and neck. "Medical will be arriving soon."
By the time the two medics ran into the pool deck she was breathing normally, though with a rasp due to throat trauma. "What species she is?" The first medic asked, dialing his tricorder for basic information.
"Twiniian, those are close to her base readings," Spock replied, "She has possible throat trauma and water inhalation."
"I'm fine, I don't need to go to medical," Angela replied, shrinking away from the medics, "I just need to get back home."
"We just need to check you out and run a few scans," the medic replied, rolling her sleeve up and preparing a needle.
Spock suddenly noticed a bruise on her arm that looked very much like a handprint. He took the arm from the medic and gently traced his fingers over the darkened skin. "Angela wilat du prah nash?"
"Niekas," she replied, tugging the arm away and rolling her sleeve over the injury. Spock did not allow her to do so and took the arm again, rolling the sleeve up over her elbow. Both he, the medics, and Commander Pike saw the clearly outlined orange and brown bruise on her skin.
"Angela," Spock said gently, reaching his hand out to her face and quickly bridging the link between their minds. What he saw nearly caused him to retch.
Saunders' wife had been in the process of separating herself from him when Angela had been sent to him. He had requested the assignment as a last ditch attempt to save his marriage and it had not worked. Since his wife's departure Saunders had been nothing but distant, he did not give Angela the physical closeness her species needed for healthy cognitive development or the proper stimulation in her academic courses. Whenever she slipped into Vulcan or her own language she was…disciplined. Angela blocked the worst from him, but he saw Saunders strike the child at least once; more commonly he would grab her harshly and shake her when no one was watching. What was more disturbing was the Starfleet psychologist who was supposed to be helping Angela adjust turn a blind eye, stating it was normal to have disagreements with one's parents. Spock pulled out of her mind, horrified that the situation had gone on as it did.
"Angela is to be escorted to medical immediately," Spock ordered, "Catalog these injuries and I want deep tissue and bone scans for previous injuries. Commander, I will need to postpone my swim test. Angela has a very unique biology and they will need my information."
"Fine," Pike said, "Go get changed, I'll keep an eye on her till you get back." Spock exited the main pool deck and Pike leaned in closer to the small girl. "Your name is Angela right?" She nodded, her limbs clutched close to her chest since Spock had released her arm. "My name is Chris, how old are you?"
"We're still trying to figure that out," Angela replied, "But I think I'm somewhere around 8."
"8, practically a lady," Chris began.
"My title is classified," Angela interjected.
"That's all right, what can you talk about?" Pike asked, trying to keep the situation light.
"Everything is fine, I've adjusted well, I have a few friends and they like me and my classes are enjoyable," Angela replied. It sounded verbatim what anyone would want to hear, she even managed to look upbeat when she was obviously in a great deal of physical pain. Spock returned before Pike could comment, his hair still wet from the pool and dripping onto his uniform.
"Thank you Commander," Spock said, turning to the medics, "Are you ready to depart?" The nodded and loaded Angela onto the lift, her little body barely taking up half of the polymer surface. Spock waited until they were at Starfleet Medical before he left for a call station. Thankfully being the son of an Ambassador have him access to diplomatic codes and overrides that routed him directly to his home on Vulcan with little wait.
"Spock," his mother greeted. "Is everything all right? Why are you in medical?"
"Angela came to see me and after her guardian took her back she fell into the pool."
Amanda's hands rose to her face in shock. "No, is she all right?"
"Yes, according to the medics she only suffers from mild throat trauma and water inhalation. Mother, I believe she was pushed into the pool," Spock replied, "I do not have any evidence to support my claim other than the rapid exit of the Commander, but you might be able to acquire the security feeds from the pool level of the gymnasium."
"Are you still on planet?" Amanda asked, a pad already in her hands as she keyed in different instructions. Spock nodded in reply. "Remedy that, immediately. There will be a diplomatic shuttle waiting for you both at the embassy. I will contact them to send an armed escort if you do not arrive in twenty minutes." Spock nodded and the call disconnected, he quickly routed another emergency call to Pike. Thankfully he answered after the first ring.
"Spock," He began, "Everything ok?"
"Commander Pike, there is a family emergency that necessitates my immediate departure from Earth. The details of this will be disclosed shortly, may I contact you to reschedule my physical qualification exams once…"
"Spock, I've got it, you're on leave. Stop talking and get Angela out of here." Spock nodded quickly turned and made his way back to Angela's room.
"Good evening," the young nurse greeted.
"Please disconnect her IV line," Spock instructed. "I will be removing Angela to the Vulcan embassy."
"There is a flag on her fire," the nurse replied, going over his padd. "I cannot release her to anyone except Commander Saunders."
"Who gave that order?"
"Admiral Komack," the man replied.
"There has been no change after the evidence cataloged on Angela's arms?" Spock clarified. The nurse shook his head. "I am taking Angela with me, please excuse us." Spock turned and gently disconnected Angela from the machines, the nurse reached over and muted the alarms before they could alert the crash team. "Will you not get in trouble for your lack of resistance?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," the man said with a lop sided grin. "I was just in the other room for a moment and when I came back she was gone. There was nothing I could have done."
"A lie?" The Vulcan asked, a single eyebrow raised.
"An error," he said, "Get her safe."
"Thank you," Angela said quietly over Spock's shoulder. Spock walked calmly out of the emergency center, not wanting to draw attention to the young girl in his arms, her gold skin hidden against his neck. A few people watched him, but they were to busy to do anything right away. His vehicle was still parked outside and he loaded Angela into the passenger seat. She was quiet the entire way to the embassy and unto the ship, it wasn't until they cleared atomo she curled into Spocks neck and began to tell him everything. He just listened and comforted her; he had been unaware that when leaving the hospital they had passed Saunders, who had been traveling to pick her up.
Saunders entered the hospital to find Angela's room empty, the security footage showed Spock carrying her from the room. "Security," Saunders addressed the guard, "I need the last entry/exit log on Cadet Spock."
"Yes sir," the sergeant replied, keying in the commands to his display, "Cadet Spock left the east gate approximately forty minutes ago."
Saunders cursed under his breath and pulled up a map of the city. "The Vulcan embassy." He was escorted in once he flashed his Star Fleet identification and saw the reception. "I need to speak with Spock son of Sarek."
"One moment. Sir, I am afraid that you will not be able to speak with Cadet Spock at this time," the secretary said, "He was escorted off planet an hour ago and is en-route to Vulcan. There was an emergency that required his immediate return."
"He kidnapped a ward of Starfleet," Saunders yelled, "She is not a Vulcan citizen and must be returned immediately."
"I do not have the power to turn the vessel around, you'll have to speak with the Ambassador, if you like I can arrange a conversation in one of our private suites. The guard will show you where to wait." The young woman also keyed in a command for the officer to remain under guard for his stay in the embassy after his nearly violent outburst of emotion. Four consulate guards appeared and gestured for the man to follow.
It wasn't long before the Ambassador answered his request for a subspace call. "Commander Saunders, I was not expecting you call to arrive so late."
"Your son had kidnapped my ward and taken her off planet. I demand that ship be turned around and she is returned to me."
"I think it's time we reviewed the circumstances in which we allowed Angela to be housed on Earth," Sarek said, bringing up the paperwork from two years previous, "If you'll bring your attention to the clauses in section B it is stated that Angela remains in the care of the Vulcans. Her stewardship was transferred to Starfleet with the understanding that she would be placed in an environment where she would thrive. We have irrefutable evidence that Angela was being neglected. Section C outlines the legality of removing Angela from a dangerous environment and states that should she be delivered to the embassy with such reports that she was to be escorted back here as quickly as possible. As such the ship will remain on course and Cadet Spock was acting within his rights to protect the child."
"His continuing presence at Starfleet will have to be evaluated," Saunders glared. "Such a blatant disregard for the chain of command…"
"Actually you'll find my son is without reproach," Amanda interjected. "Here is a flag on his file, he requested emergency family leave citing extenuating circumstances and it was approved. He was 'off the clock' so to speak and was therefore not in violation of any Starfleet articles that I am aware of."
"Who approved that?" Saunders growled, keying in the commands for a conference. "I'm getting him on the channel."
"Yes Commander," Pike asked, it was obvious that he had been expecting the call. "Oh, Ambassador, T'nar pak sort y'rani. What can I do for you all?"
"T'nar jaral Commander," Sarek replied. "You can clarify the circumstances around the approval of my son's request for family leave."
"He stated a family emergency," Pike replied, "He did not volunteer specific circumstances and I did not ask."
"So you just approved it?" Saunders asked.
"Yes, I had no reason to believe that Cadet Spock was abusing his privilege to request family leave. Unless I have grounds to dismiss the request I do not, as a rule, ask specific circumstances about family matters unless the cadet asks for council." Pike said matter-of-factly. "Do you have evidence that the cadet was abusing his right to be with his family during an emergency?"
"I do not think so," Sarek said, "Commander Pike, if now is a convenient time, perhaps you could send a memo to the Admiralty, if they do not agree to host an inquiry into Angela's living arrangements then I will be forced to assert Vulcan law into the matter and investigate it myself. Commander Saunders will be held at the embassy until shore patrol retrieves him. Please let your superiors know to bring the appropriate paperwork when they wish to get him."
"Thank you Ambassador," Pike replied, disconnecting the call.
"You," Saunders sputtered, "You can't do that!"
"Angela has hand shaped bruises on her arms and they came from you," Amanda said, "We have a solid case for neglect and it won't be to much to prosecute you for child abuse. Would you really like me to get involved or do you want to use this time to place your call to Shore Patrol and let your commanding officers take care of this?"
Saunders was in Starfleet custody less than two hours after Spock had taken Angela off planet. The only thing that was certain at that time was he would not be holding his rank much longer.
AN: Thank you for reading, I own nothing. Expo. is done, might be a short chapter released soon to wrap up what happened with Saunders, might fast foreword and dive directly into the plot. Don't know yet.
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