This chapter will be longer than most of the others, roughly three thousand words or more. It will all take place at the Academy, in two different character's POVs. There will be a lot of normal Academy stuff, Love (Eh, maybe), anger, fights, tests and more! More of a Character Development chapter, however you can skip if you would like... I wouldn't advise it, for there will be tons of humor.
STSTSTSTSTSTST
The sun reached slowly up from behind the eastward hills, engulfing the land once more in light. The air was crisp with the scent of fall, trees were shedding their leaves as piles upon piles of plants littered the ground ranging from the brightest, fiery orange to the dull dying yellow. Droplets of water hung to what little true grass still lived alongside the paved ways, it slid from the stalk of the grass falling quickly to the soiled ground beneath. Autumn had made its appearance in San Francisco, which meant, so did school.
BEEP BEEEP BEEEP
It was 5:45 a.m.
An alarm blared in her ears, arousing the already awakening Vulcan from her StarFleet issued bed. Her over-sensitive ears caught the sound as though it were a blarehorn being blown into her eardrums, even though it was on the clear opposite of the room. The Half-Vulcan shaking her head frequently as though the evade the deafening sound of the murderous Alarm clock, before finally out of Almost-irritaion she got up and shut the Clock of, relishing the quiet that once more returned to the room.
Rylan was still asleep.
"Illogical." Selar muttered, rubbing the outside of her ear as the noise still rung as though it were there, inside it.
The Vulcan gave out an audible breath, she pondered. How is this, human, still deep within the REM cycle of sleep after that most-irritable noise had instantaneously appeared inside our room. She has not even flinched. The Vulcan was confused, yet she would not show it. She had Thirty-Minutes before she would even take note upon getting ready, for it only took her five minutes. She decided it would be logical to meditate, while peace and quiet still clung to the room.
The woman stirred. "I am in use of a colorful metaphor when she awakens." Selar muttered lowly to herself, returning to her bed, evading the idea of meditation.
The Blonde haired woman gave a huge yawn, it confused Selar, her blue eyes opened gazing across the room at a Stoical Vulcan. "Dang it, I forgot you are still here."
"Apparently so."
"Hmph." Was the only response given, the Blonde's hair was a mess, sticking up in certain places while sticking out in others. Her hair doesn't even obey the laws of physics. Selar thought, shaking her head minutely.
"Ms. McFarn, may I inquire upon you?"
"Yes, you can ask me a godforsaken question, and my name is Rylin. Or Ry, whatever."
"Ms- Rylin. Must you insist on having this awakening device on such an immense level of sound."
"Yep, why does it bother you?" The woman had a sly look upon her face.
"Very much so, with the over-sensitivity of my 'Vulcan Ears' the sound does not compute kindly towards them."
"Ah, I better make it louder."
"I would advise, you do not."
"Why?"
"It would be inefficient for my studies, and I wish to obtain full credit for them all."
"Are you complaining about it?"
"Vulcans do not complain."
"Oh yeah, I am sure they don't." The woman swung her feet over the bed, standing up she headed for the bathroom at the far side of the room. A few minutes later, the shower could be heard turned on.
Selar sat back against the wall of her side of the room, her eyes gazed past her window and into the sunrise. She watched for much time, absorbed in her own thoughts. This was going to be a long year.
STSTSTSTSTSTSTST
Selar had left the dormitories ten minutes ago and was now heading quickly for the academic facilities. It was 6:45, class did not start until 8:00, however she endeavored to be there before all others as to gain some time of quiet. She entered a building deemed "Science Facilities" for her first class was Astrophysics, Admiral Archer was the professor, she remembered vividly.
Silently she walked into the room to see a less than surprised Archer reclining back into his seat, his feet propped up against the desk before him. "You're early, Cadet Selar." He noted as she took a seat in the front row.
"Indeed, I find it much more efficient to be here before the others, it allows me to evade the humans- illogical social activities."
"Drama?"
"Yes, that sir."
"Smart kid."
"I suppose, sir. I am Vulcan, it was only logical."
The man gave out a hearty laugh, of which Selar found, comforting. "Did I say something of amusement, sir?"
"No, it is the way of your words."
"My speech, sir?"
"Yep. Stop calling me sir, we're not in session and we're off duty. Call me Archer or Mr. David."
"Very well, Archer." Selar felt the odd words roll from her tongue.
STSTSTSTSTSTST
A man peaked from behind the door, his deep brown eyes looked glazed over with confusion. "Uh, is this the Astrophysics class?" He asked, his voice was small as he sounded fearful or perhaps nervous.
"I believe it is, young man." Admiral Archer noted, motioning him in with his hand.
"Uh, thank you sir."
"I didn't do anything, what's your name?"
"Saok, my terran name is Jackson, sir."
"Well, Mr. Jackson, it's nice meeting you." He told him, putting out a hand. The young man tentatively took his hand, though looked destained after shaking it. "Have a seat, Mr. Jackson." The young man nodded, he turned as saw Selar. He looked for a moment, taken aback, as they say. Slowly he made his way to the seat next to hers, a nervous smile on his face.
"A-are you a Vulcan?" He asked, an inquisitive stance upon his eyes.
"Indeed, I am."
"That's cool, you must extremely intelligent."
"Perhaps, it depends upon the subject."
"I wish I could be that smart."
"You can, it takes devotion to your work, with that you can achieve any academical or other goals." Selar assured him.
Jackson gave a happy smile, "Gee, thanks. You're the first who has ever told me that."
"And I will not be the last."
Selar tilted her head, she had never quite seen a man like this before. He had pointed ears like herself, eyebrows were upturned, yet he showed emotion.
"Mr. ..?"
"Saok or Jackson and Yes?"
"Are you a Romulan?"
The man looked slightly embarrassed as his ears tinted green. "Yea, I know, I am illogical. Though, I am not like the rest. I don't hold the same desire for violence."
"I never stated that you did. I simply felt compelled to inquire, for you look as though you could be Vulcan, though your mental ways seemed, as humans say, off. Though I must say, you are, unique, for a Romulan."
"Yea, most assume I am Vulcan when they first look at me, I'm not. Though I wish I were. My the way, what's your name?"
"Selar."
"Well, Selar, you are unique, for a Vulcan." Saok smiled warmly.
Meanwhile, Admiral Archer sat back in his chair, his eyes gleamed mischievously. He watched and listened as the two spoke a smile coming across his face. Somehow he knew the two would become friends, if they didn't, he would get them there somehow. For he knew how lonely Vulcans could seem since they were different, and Jackson was the only Romulan in the Federation Academy, he was going to be picked on and thrown under the bus. It was perfect, Saok could bring company and a little human to Selar, while Selar had the strength and endurance to keep the Romulan in check and safe from some of the nastier cadets. He let out a knowing laugh, only to receive the faces of a confused Romulan and a eyebrow-arched Vulcan.
"What? Can't a man laugh once in awhile?"
"I suppose."
"Yea, I guess."
STSTSTSTSTSTSTSTSTST
Selar walked slowly into the Mess hall, her books held close to her chest. She had no idea what to expect for she had not attended the dinner and meet-and-greet, as they called it, the previous night. Selar kept her eyes down as to evade the stares towards the Vulcan. She quickly got her meal from the replicator, of which consisted of a Kale, Lettuce, Tomato, Green Tomato, Carrot and surprisingly, Jalapeno salad. She also replicated a glass of water and headed off.
Selar found a fairly empty table with a few groups of people scattered here and there. She sat down alone and in solitude near the end of the table. Placing her food down, she glanced at her book deemed "The Teaching of Surak" and opened it to her last know page and began to read. She did not realize people were heading for her table until she looked up to see a small group of humans before her.
"May I inquire your purpose for being before me?"
"We just wanted to chat?"
"Chat? I do not engage in Small Talk, my apologies."
"Oh of course not, Vulcans aren't ones for Small talk, now are they?"
"No, we focus more on important matter and issue and rather engrose in conversations about ourselves or others unless it may be of utmost importance."
"Sure you do, just like you say you don't have emotions."
"We have never said that we do not have emotions, we choose to evade them. To devote ourselves to the opportunities of knowledge and the ways of logic. To be at peace, we must not have the afflicting ways of the emotions." She stated as-matter-of-fact-ly.
"Hmph. I see emotion in you know, your attitude." The lead male chuckled.
"To what attitude are you referring, for I am expressing none at this very moment."
"It's called being a smart alec."
"I do not understand your reference."
"Y'know for someone who thinks that she is so smart, you surely are pretty stupid."
"To not understand one's speech is not to deem one an imbecile. Therefore, my status in education does not fluctuate."
"Yet you don't know what a dang Smart Alec is."
"I believe I have stated that, nearly twice now."
"You really are as dense as they say, aren't you."
"To who are you referring when you state 'they'. There have not been many who have encountered my presence over the past few days."
"I don't mean you, I mean Vulcans in general."
"I do not understand our ability to be dense, for density is the volume of an object, planet or thing."
"My god, you green-blooded sun of a g-" Someone cut him off with an calm yet angered voice.
"That will be enough, Mr. Oconner." The Admiral came walking up, his hands tied behind his back.
"I do not believe that Cadet Selar finds your derogatory statements, pleasing." He turned to her.
"I do not, sir."
"Plus, Cadet Oconner, how would you feel, since you so proudly shown you have the ability to do so, rather imbecilicly, if she said this to you?"
"I would be fine."
"No, you would be filled with anger and lash out. Selar has not, if I were you I would admire the Cadet for her stoical ways and ability to put up with your crap."
The one named Oconner stepped back, his face flushed. She believed this is what humans called, embarrassment. The man gathered his friends and after not another word turned and left.
The Admiral sat down across from her.
"Cadet, Selar." He noted.
She raised her eyes from her dish.
"You cannot allow them to treat you as such, it is inexcusable."
"I am aware of so, Admiral. However, my discipline allows me to be 'fine' with it. As most Vulcans are."
"But you are not entirely Vulcan, you are human as well."
"It has no control over my actions."
"Oh but it will, you can't allow them to verbally harass you."
"It is more preferable then physically."
"Maybe so, but it's just and if not more unacceptable." The Admiral narrowed his gaze as if to emphasize his point.
"Yes, sir. I will not allow them to do it any further." Selar did not know how she was to stop it, though she knew the admiral was going to be persistent on the matter.
The Admiral nodded. "Selar, I see potential in you. I don't want that ruined by some damn think-hes-so-fine bully."
"Yes, Admiral Nygea." The older man simply nodded, placing an arm on her shoulder before recoiling it instantly. "My apologies, I forgot Vulcans are touch telepaths."
"Do not concern yourself, Admiral."
STSTSTSTSTSTSTSTSTSTS
It was late at night and Selar lay on her bed, silently reading to herself. All was silent and all was peaceful. It had been three months since the incident in the Mess Hall and it had continued to happen, though with each coming time she grew closer and closer to snapping before she had actually burst. She had picked up the man by his neck, holding him up into the air with a surprising strength and stare into his eyes, with black cold irises. The room had gone silent, Selar had spoke to the man in a low, eerie voice.
"You dare insult my Vulcan integrity, my culture and my planet. You dare discriminate a race far older than your own. You dare continually discriminate me, without even knowing what and who I truly am. And if I am the one who is dense, I am unsure of what you are. You speak of how thick headed and how cold I am, how small my Vulcan heart is. Yet you never stop to think how cold, dense and imbecilic you are. And how small your heart is compared to mine." Her voice was so low and calm, it was startling.
For a moment the Vulcan held the man in the air, crushing his airways slowly. It was not until the Professors came walking in when she dropped him. "Selar!" They screamed, they too were surprised by her strength. Had everyone forgotten that Vulcans are three times stronger than a human, obviously. Though more surprised by her strength was the action. Selar was easy going, and extremely hard to break. It had taken ninety incidents before she broke. "Put the man down, Selar. Be logical." Selar had begun to lower the man.
With the man out of her grasp and rushed to medbay, the Vulcan sat down staring at her hands. She had no regrets of what had happened, though she had just imprinted an entirely different idea of her onto the others. They now feared her, or they would be more discimniative now then they were. Logically, she had received punishment, though the professors saw what she had done to be the result of a multitude of times of which this man had harassed her. They let her off with a few days banned from the library, for they knew the Vulcan wouldn't allow herself to snap again.
The door hissed open revealing Rylin. This snapped Selar from her thoughts as she gazed upwards at the human who had a dreamy look upon her face. "No men tonight, I hope." She muttered, Rylin had not heard her and simply sat down on her bed, in trance.
Selar shook her head rather unfondly and returned to her previous reading.
STSTSTSTSTSTSTST
The Human holiday of Christmas was slowly approaching and the moods of all of the Cadets had brightened Jurassicly. They seemed more cheerful and less short tempered. Everyone was 'in the spirit' as they said. Making jokes, giving gifts, playing songs and singing. Selar found it illogical and did her best to evade all contact with such spirit as possible.
The break was approaching quickly and she had no place to go. The days were shortening, Selar thought of this as she was on her daily walk with Saok. The two, as Archer predicted, had become good 'friends.' Despite being an enemy of the Federation, or so his species, Saok turned out to be a brilliant minded Romulan. He was rational, and had a sense of humor. He was the only one that Selar felt 'safe' with.
Saok was highly perceptive and he could tell Selar was thinking. "What's on your mind, Selar?"
"On my mind?"
He chuckled, heartily. "What are you thinking about, I meant."
"Ah, I see. I was pondering on the fact that our break is approaching."
"Do you have any plans?"
"No, I plan to stay on campus and take a few extra classes."
"The break is one month long!"
"I am aware."
The Romulan was not having this. "No, I am not going to allow you to be doing boring stuff all break."
"I was not aware that was your decision."
A burst of laughter came from the other pointed eared being. "Well, as friends I can make decisions regarding your happiness."
"I do not feel happiness, that is a human emotion."
"Bull."
"Excuse me?"
"A colourful metaphor."
"Ahe."
"I tell you what."
"What?"
"My parents are coming to Earth in order to celebrate the Terran holiday with some of our family's friends, believe me my family is one of the few who are rational and non-violent. Why don't you spend at least two weeks with us. Let yourself unwind."
"Unwind, I do not believe I was wound to begin with."
He flopped his face into the palm of his hand. "Jesus."
"What about him?"
"Oh God." Saok was laughing.
"Did I do something of amusement?"
"Yes."
"Elaborate."
"Everything."
"I do not believe everything I do is to be found amusing."
Saok couldn't stop, giggling, laughing, whatever you called it.
"Okay you win, well will you at least think about my offer?"
"Perhaps."
"Thanks, I have to go this is my building, adios."
"Spanish?"
STSTSTSTSTSTSTS
Break was two days away and Selar had come to a decision. She had found it more logical to stay at the Academy over the course of the break. However, Saok was being quite persistent on the matter, in the means of he was not letting it go.
"So?" He asked as they sat together in the mess hall, eating their first meal of the day.
"I have come to a decision."
"And?"
"I will go with you."
"Yes!" Saok gave a bright smile, one the Vulcan had become used to and had grown to like.
"I am packed, tomorrow break begins. When do we leave?"
"Today."
"When?"
"After classes."
"Very well."
The rest of the day passed fairly quickly as classes wound down, Selar headed for her dormitory to gather her belongings. She would be staying with the Jackson's, their terran name, for the first three weeks of the break and would return on the last week. She picked up her bags and headed for Saok's room. Pressing the buzzer, she was surprised to find it was Saok's roommate who answered.
"Hey, whatcha need?"
"I am in search of Saok. Have you been in his presence?"
"Er, no. He went down to the Courtyard, saying he was gonna go get a kid named, er, Sky, Selp, Uh?"
"Selar."
"Yea, that one. He raves about her, they must be some good friends y'know."
"Indeed, thank you for your assistance."
"N-problem."
Selar left and headed for the courtyard, waiting for Saok to return. Fifteen minutes later a car drove up, it was a 21st century Subaru. Selar's eyes widened ever so slightly, looking at the man, Romulan, who was inside.
"Get in, we better hit the road."
Selar thought she would be sick.
STSTSTSTSSTSTST
The road was nearly if not more rugged than the Vulcan had anticipated. She did not like the idea of cars, they made her nauseated. When the car finally pulled up into the gravel driveway of a suburban home, surrounded by forest, Selar gave an almost sigh of relief.
Saok got out of the car, opening her door and gathered both of their things. "That is not necessary Saok."
"I know, but it is only polite." He stated as they walked up to the door, the house was a small log cabin, though beautiful it was. Its wood was redwood as it was neatly polished and shone brilliantly in the evening sun. "Laddies first." He stated opening the door to reveal a surprisingly elaborate home.
Inside stood two beings, a tall balded male with bright brown eyes and a small, grey haired female with darker green eyes, odd for a Romulan. Their eyes widened ever-so-slightly at the sight of who Saok had brought with him. "Mother, Father." He acknowledged dragging Selar closer to them. "This is Selar. Selar this is N'Guri and Manina."
His parents exchanged a look. "Greetings Mr. and Mrs. N'Guri."
Their eyes widened as they realized what Selar was. "Saok, dear. I thought you said Sarah. Isn't Sarah a human name?"
"No, mother. I said Selar."
"Selar, you are a..?"
"Vulcan."
"I see." They eyed her suspiciously as though unsure of what to expect.
"Well, Selar. Excuse our actions, we've never met a Vulcan before."
"That is quite alright. Saok, was the first Romulan I had met, I understand your uncertainties."
"But Vulcans do not feel emotion."
"Perhaps not, though Humans do."
"What do you mean?" Saok was the one to ask, he looked at her confused.
"Saok, I was unaware that you did not know."
"Did not know what?" His face was more curios than offended.
"I am half-human."
Saok's eyes widened, his face pulled back in a playful scowl. "Explains a lot." He muttered, holding back a laugh.
"Y'know, I knew something was off the first time I met you, you seemed to have a bit of human in those eyes."
"I did?"
"Yep, I am not surprise, well I am, y'know the way you act is so, Vulcan. I would have never thought."
"Most do not know unless they have seen my file."
"But T'mai and Stann are both full Vulcans."
"I am aware."
"Than how are you half Human?"
"I do not know, perhaps it was a gene within my family that was passed to me."
"That doesn't seem possible, but okay." He laughed, smiling brightly.
"Enough talk about genetics, I want to show you my chickens." Selar's eyes widened, Oh no, she thought, I hate chickens.
That break was one she would never forget, and her time at Academy was even more priceless than that. Though with each passing year her friendship towards Saok only grew, more quickly after he learned of her human half. He always teased her about it, though she knew he was sincere and meant her no harm. Selar felt as though Saok were a brother, someone she could talk freely to, someone who did not see her as just another Stoical, logical, all knowing Vulcan. But instead the wise, humorous and caring individual she truly was. He did not see a Vulcan who was at constant war with her two halves, he saw Selar. And she was content with this.
STSTSTSTSTSTSTS
Spock removed his hands, his face had been once again emotionless the entire time during the meld. Though he could hold it in no longer, a small not-smile crept upon his face. He was glad the years at Academy had gone so well. And that his daughter had found someone, even if it was a Romulan of all species, someone who understood and she could confide in where she could not her own family.
"Your Academy years were quite eventful."
"Indeed, they were. They were, fascinating."
The two shared a not-smile as Selar leaned against Spock, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment.