"Admittedly, I did leave Vulcan in part because of the ostracism I had faced on Vulcan," Spock murmured quietly.

He had carefully placed another rod in the Kal Toh puzzle he and Sadara were constructing. He had been surprised when he'd learned she played such a challenging Vulcan mind puzzle. With no other Vulcans aboard prior to Sadara's arrival, Spock had not been able to flex his muscles so to speak, at this particular game. A short time earlier, the male Vulcan/Human hybrid had happened upon her teaching the game to the Enterprise's esteemed chief medical officer over lunch; however Dr. Leonard McCoy was due back on duty in sickbay before the game was close to finished and he had offered his spot to Spock who had been observing up to that point.

"It wasn't the only reason?" Sadara looked up at the Enterprise's first officer with a raised eyebrow. She really shouldn't have been surprised to hear that. It was rare that only one reason was the driving factor for any major life changing decisions.

"I wasn't certain that I wouldn't face any less ostracism among other species, but I had a… desire or drive to discover if there was a more rewarding place for me offworld."

The raven haired Vulcan slipped another Kal Toh rod into place, completing another piece of the puzzle. Sadara's eyebrow rose once more, realizing that he was certainly proving to be a difficult opponent, even though he hadn't played in sometime. The sounds of sports being played and conversations emanated from the background.

"I can certainly understand that," the brown haired female nodded, considering her next move. "I would think growing up on a world where one has been mostly ostracized would certainly make one consider if there are less hostile places and people out there. The saying "you can't please everyone" seems to apply even more appropriately to hybrids. Here we are, members of two very different species and cultures, each with their own unique values and customs; and often we're expected to exceed the standards for both or one or the other, depending on who the judge, jury, and executioner is."

Deciding on a move, the young psychologist continued. "I hear Dr. McCoy give you grief about your Vulcan half on occasion. I don't think he means any harm by it, but that's just one example of how people forget or don't notice that they're imposing their own values on others."

Spock nodded and glanced up as the doors to the recreation deck swished open to admit one Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura who were chatting excitedly about something.

"Indeed. I've learned as much over the years of living amongst both Vulcans and non Vulcans. It seems to be a prevalent problem practically everywhere. I've learned to simply pay it little mind as it doesn't appear to be personal. It appears to simply be natural for individuals to project their own values and beliefs onto others as if what is right for that individual is automatically right for someone else."

Sadara excused herself for a moment and quickly made her way to the food processor, returning with a few mugs of a Vulcan tea that wasn't so bitter Sadara couldn't stand it. As a rule, the young woman didn't enjoy bitter tasting foods and drinks.

"There are times that I think I'd like to explore more of my Vulcan heritage, but it's difficult to want to invest my time and effort in a culture that sees little value in me unless I behave as they would have me behave. No doubt a rather human sentiment. As a psychologist, I can't ignore the impacts of both genetics and environment. Had I been raised on Vulcan, I might very well behave more Vulcan than human. That wasn't my situation though."

The corners of Spock's mouth turned upwards slightly in a rare show of amusement. He was sure this was a corner he could help her turn if she'd only choose to keep a more open mind about her Vulcan half and apply a more Vulcan perspective to a degree. He could empathize with not wishing to become more Vulcan when she'd experienced much prejudice from that culture; however the tall Vulcan male believed she was shortchanging herself and her personal growth by denying herself that exploration out of principle. He'd had to come to similar conclusions about both Vulcans and humans over his lifetime as well.

"I think intellectually you already know what I'm about to tell you to be true. The fact is the only person you're punishing by not exploring your Vulcan half as well as your human half is you. Those that tormented you aren't the ones missing out on what you could be discovering. You would do well to understand and accept that exploring your Vulcan heritage doesn't mean you have succumbed to the bullying or are "selling out" in order to be accepted by Vulcans. You are half Vulcan and have a right to explore that part of yourself. There is nothing to be gained by being stubborn. I cannot reconcile that for you, however. Only you can do that."

Placing the second to last rod in the nearly complete puzzle they'd constructed, Spock rose from his seat and realized with some amusement and curiosity that Sadara was actually going to win this game. He supposed he could lay the blame on the good Dr. McCoy since he'd picked up where the illogical human had left off, but he had to concede that for whatever shortcomings Sadara had as a Vulcan, she was a formidable Kal Toh player and he looked forward to a rematch soon.

"Adding counseling to your list of talents, Mr. Spock?" Sadara smiled as she looked up at him.

"I would not dare to presume on your area of expertise, Counselor. I merely speak as someone who has made a similar journey in several ways. And sometimes it is easier for someone else to see what we don't see in ourselves. In any case, I look forward to a rematch at your convenience."

"I will be ready and waiting," Sadara grinned smugly as she slipped the last Kal Toh rod into place.

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Nurse Christine Chapel looked up from the patient notes she'd been working on at her computer terminal as the doors to sickbay hissed open. Captain Kirk and First Officer Spock entered in no particular hurry, but looked around, obviously looking for someone in particular.

"If you're looking for Dr. McCoy, he's not here," the statuesque blonde volunteered.

Kirk nodded. "I remember he asked for the afternoon off. I was looking for Lieutenant Lochlan actually."

Nurse Chapel smiled in spite of herself. "She's not here either. It's her Saturday; however you might find her with Dr. McCoy. Don't quote me on this, but I think she's why he took the afternoon off."

Spock's eyebrow climbed to his raven black bangs as he considered that.

"Just a hunch," she said as she put her hands up, palms out. "He's been unusually cheerful for him since our esteemed counselor came on board. Someone needs to locate cupid and take away his arrows. I'm not used to this much sunshine in sickbay. He's been in such a good mood lately that a few crewmembers have stopped me in the corridor to ask me if we could just do next year's physicals now while it's safe."

"Well alright then," Kirk chuckled. "Let's go see if we can find out what Bones is up to, what do you think, Mr. Spock?"

"I hesitate to speculate, captain," Spock said, his eyebrow still suspended in surprise and what might have been mock horror as he followed his captain and best friend back out the way they came.

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"And we are we going, captain?" Spock said, his long legs easily keeping up with his slightly shorter commanding officer.

"The arboretum, Spock. If Bones is on a date, particularly a first one, I doubt he'll pick the mess hall as the location. The arboretum is my best guess at the moment."

They acknowledged passing crewmembers who nodded in their direction as they made their way to the nearest turbolift. After a moment, the lift arrived and the doors yawned before them. Kirk entered first and gave the lift their destination. The two remained silent for a few moments. Kirk though was dying of curiosity. If the good Dr. McCoy had fallen head over heels for their half Vulcan psychologist, Kirk couldn't help but wonder what his stoic and enigmatic first officer thought about that.

The lift deposited them on the requested deck and the duo exited. Rounding a corner, they followed the corridor down a ways until they reached the ship's arboretum. They looked around and didn't immediately see anyone. Most of the day shift crew would be on duty with a select few on their lunch hour. Swing shift would be preparing to come on duty so there was a definite lull in the leisure activity aboard ship at this time of day.

Kirk didn't have urgent business with Lieutenant Lochlan. He had just received orders for an upcoming mission and felt that she would be a useful addition to the landing party.

Spock hung back for a moment outside the door. Perhaps the captain was aware of something pertaining to the upcoming mission that he did not, but he couldn't see how this couldn't wait.

"Perhaps we should simply speak with her when she returns to duty or do you believe she requires time to prepare?" Spock inquired. He really had no desire to interrupt the irascible doctor on his personal time, particularly if the matter wasn't urgent.

Kirk nodded. "We're scheduled to arrive at our destination day after tomorrow. Since today is the good counselor's Saturday, I think a brief interruption to give her a head's up is warranted. I promise we won't be long. That said, I can't help the guilty pleasure of catching Bones red handed on a date with a half Vulcan. You'll forgive me for that, I hope."

"Of course, captain," Spock said quietly as the entered the arboretum. He and Captain Kirk stopped just inside the doorway and looked around. The place was deserted save for two people that Kirk could hear, but not see around all the greenery yet. Around them, the myriad colors and scents of the flowers and other plant life greeted their senses.

Laughter emanated from the far corner of the room where the lawn was and Kirk recognized one of the voices as that of Dr. McCoy. The other sounded like Sadara Lochlan recounting some tale from her youth. Kirk grinned in spite of himself. McCoy rarely laughed out loud so whatever he was being told had to be quite a story; one that Kirk himself wouldn't mind hearing at some point.

"So here I am in this pub in Dublin, pointed ears and Irish accent and the bartender assumes that because I have pointed ears that my accent must be fake and that I'm mocking the Irish. Because of course it couldn't possibly be that I'm half Human and one of my parents is from Ireland. So he asks my name and thinking my last name ought to clear things up, I'm sure to include it."

Kirk felt guilty about eavesdropping, but he had to hear the rest of this one before interrupting them. It sounded as if the young lieutenant had a few adventures in pub crawling and bar hopping that he could relate to. If only Scotty could hear this.

"Please tell me you didn't embarrass them all by drinking them all under the table with that Vulcan metabolism of yours…," McCoy said. His voice held humor, but he was actually quite serious in a way. He was no saint and certainly hadn't been as a young man, but he could be a bit old fashioned and protective of women and didn't like hearing about them doing anything crazy that could get them hurt.

"Amazingly enough, not that time. But the bartender thought I was making it all up. He obviously hadn't met a lot of Vulcans by that point because a Vulcan would hardly drum up an Irish accent to fuck with a bunch of drunks in a pub for the fun of it. So finally I just tell the guy "I'm so Irish I bleed green. Can you?" And that was the end of it. From then on, I was part of the family around there."

Peels of laughter came out of Dr. McCoy from the recesses of the arboretum and Kirk had to repress the laughter that would have given him and Spock away as well. Glancing up at Spock, Kirk stifled another round of laughter as he caught the first officer's right eyebrow somewhere in the vicinity of his hairline. Kirk finally jerked his head toward the couple and they approached Dr. McCoy and Lieutenant Lochlan.

McCoy, still grinning from ear to ear, looked up. "Oh hi, Jim!" Judging by the grin on Kirk's face, McCoy could tell that they'd heard the tail end of Sadara's story. Then he noticed Spock was present as well and a somewhat defensive look crossed the skilled surgeon's face. Spock could rightfully get away with teasing him about this one, but for the moment Spock remained silent with his hands clasped behind his back in his customary stance.

"Bones. Sadara. You really need to go tell that story to Scotty. He'd love it. I apologize for interrupting your fun, but I just needed to tell Ms. Lochlan that we have an upcoming mission that might benefit from her professional insight and that she'll be accompanying the landing party."

"Sounds interesting. I look forward to it," Sadara smiled. "And thank you for the head's up. I should like to read up on the mission in preparation."

"I'll make the information available to you then. You two enjoy the rest of your afternoon. And Bones… behave."

"Scram, Jim."

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