Authors note: A little nod to the TOS (Where no man has gone before) in this one + if anybody wants to be my beta reader vigorously correcting grammar or other errors, that would be awesome, please pm if interested. ;)

Do as I say not as I do

Spock meticulously folded his last uniform making sure the hems were exactly where they should be. Just before he calculated the flight would take 13 days 11 hours and 33 minutes not accounting for possible unexpected stops or other delays. He agreed to go on this excursion as part of the official escort at Terry's request months ago. At the time he believed that he as an interspecies ethics professor was a logical choice. Celebration ceremonies would be the ideal opportunity to deepen and broaden the understanding of the importance of interspecies dialog and tolerance. This particular event was crucial in the process of rebuilding mutual trust and affirmation of good will. Present Romulan-Federation relations would be most accurately described as a state of mild cold war. Even though the full blown conflicts ended three years ago and trading embargo on several Romulan goods has been lifted during this period, peace-keeping remained a constant challenge. In light of new information Pike has provided him with Spock was, logically, questioning Terry's motivation for including him. He concluded that going was the only logical thing to do for two reasons. Changing his plans would undoubtedly arouse suspicion, both in Starfleet investigation committee and Terry himself. It also provided a chance for him to perform his own investigation of the matter.

When he arrived to hangar 6 it was exactly ten minutes to the hour of departure and nearly everybody already gathered. Seven standard shuttles were on stand by, ready to take the cadets, professors and delegates to Spacedock 1, where they would board USS Republic. He stopped at the entrance and observed them from the distance. Cadets were exhibiting typical signs of adrenalin rush or "jitters" as they would call it, their cheeks were flushed and they were restless. He recognised most of them, the selection was expected. Yet, even among academies best, two of them stood out as "creme de la creme" - Checkov and Uhura.

Cadet Checkov was not one of his students, he was however a member of the 3D-chess club and has astonishingly beaten him six times in fifty matches despite his grandmaster title. Non of the other members even came close to amending this statistic. He ascribed this success to the illogical manner of cadets game, though as young prodigy once pointed out upon victoriously announcing check-mate - it was logical to be unpredictable and it was certainly logical to make a move that would avoid opponents mate as opposed to one leading towards it.

Likewise Uhura offered a well above average deal of intellectual stimuli. As far as he was aware she was not a chess player, yet displayed her share of unpredictable moves as well. It was fascinating how he eventually learned to appreciate this trait in humans. One might think he despised emotion or at least consider it largely inferior to rational thought, however one would be gravely mistaken. In fact, he placed a considerable value on it, even if he never discussed this with others, notable exception being his parents - and students if they have inquired about the meaning and purpose of Kobayashi Maru. He ultimately chose not to complete the vulcan discipline of Kolinahr, not merely because of the love he felt for his mother, but because of his profoundly democratic nature.

He was now looking at Uhura as she was conversing with other cadets, playfully laughing, not only with her mouth but with her entire body. There was no doubt she was aesthetically highly pleasing or, as Terry remarked on their encounter in the bar - "a pretty face". His eyes travelled from her collarbone up her swan neck, pass her round chin to her lips, which appeared to be as soft as her hands... He stopped himself there. Starfleet was not a totalitarian organisation which would sanction thought, but it was nonetheless extremely inappropriate for him to think of one of his students as an attractive female. He lectured Terry on professional conduct yet failed to uphold those same principles. He firmly marched towards the group - a long meditation was in order as soon as possible.