Author's Note: In Chapter 10, a former childhood bully returns to Spock's life to request his assistance. He reveals a suspicion about T'Lau that even Spock had not suspected.

Your comments are always welcome.

In Spock's office, Cadet Goldberg completed his review of the week's class notes for the Advanced Course in Quantum Physics. Goldberg never found an error in content, but his Vulcan supervisor expected him to revise word choices that would appear stilted or wooden to the humans who made up the majority of the students in his Academy courses. Goldberg had discussed the subject with Spock at the beginning of the semester.

"The official language of the Federation is not my native tongue." Spock told him from his computer console. "Since it is not as precise as Vulcan, I sometimes find my initial word choices not as effective as I intend them to be."

"Vulcans are such experienced space travellers and one of the founders of the Federation." Goldberg observed. "If you don't mind me saying, sir, I always thought it odd your people didn't have a better command of the Federation language."

Although his supervisor's indifferent expression had not changed, Goldberg suddenly thought better of his comment and quickly attempted to soften his words. "I'm sorry, sir, if that sounded like an insult."

"There is no need to apologize, Cadet Goldberg. Your comment was actually quite perceptive."

Spock turned his chair toward Goldberg, remembering Uhura once told him humans preferred eye-to-eye contact when speaking with each other since they also relied on visual cues to complement word meaning. Contrary to popular belief, Vulcans actually thought it only logical to make some accommodations to promote more effective interactions with Terrans as long as those modifications did not significant alter one's primary Vulcan character, behavior and beliefs.

Spock continued his comments to his Course Assistant. "The appropriate response is actually quite complicated. However, allow me to put it in a context you can better understand. For many centuries in Earth's history, Terrans believed themselves to be the center of the universe. In fact, few could even conceive of intelligent life on another planet. Is this not true?"

"Yes, sir. That was an accurate characterization until relatively recently when the Vulcans made first contact with humans upon our successful implementation of warp drive technology."

"Vulcans developed the technology for space travel thousands of years ago and have been engaged with alien races for as long a period. However, our people still tend to view our world as the center of the universe. Unlike Terrans, we do not begin learning Federation from the time we are infants. Vulcans believe language is more than a means of communications, but one of a people's most significant culture bearers. To diminish the importance of one's language is to lessen our sense of who we are as a race."

Goldberg nodded. "I think I understand now, sir. It kind of explains why no Vulcan has ever accepted a seat on the Federation Council."

"As I previously stated, Vulcan-Federation relations are more complex than the explanation I gave. However, it should have provided some clarity on the matter."

"That it did." The Cadet replied as Spock turned back to his console. "Sir, one more question, if you don't mind?"

Spock hesitated, and then turned his head slightly toward Goldberg. It did not take the Cadet long to pick up on this visual cue. Mr. Spock would answer this question, but would not be pleased if he were detained much longer from getting back to his own work.

"Sir, I know you have taught these classes dozens of times. Yet, during my interview for this position, Cadet Uhura told me that each semester you delete the previous semester's notes and then rewrite them."

"I do not rewrite them." He corrected. "I write them anew. Knowledge is not stagnate. My students should not expect anything less from my lectures than a careful compilation and analysis of current scholarship."

"Mr. Spock, I doubt if most faculty strive for such demanding standards."

"Cadet Goldberg, I have never endeavored to compare the approach I take to my courses to the pedagogical practices of others. I am my own taskmaster."

Goldberg attached the Class Notes document to an email and clicked on the "Send" button. He knew Mr. Spock would not take the actual notes to class. As usual, the text would be committed to memory and he would change it at will. Still, Goldberg felt proud he had assisted him in some way, albeit not very significantly. The Cadet had come to enjoy his job and the prestige that came with being the famous Vulcan scientist's Course Assistant.

Goldberg checked his chronometer. 6:13 PM. Past time for me to go. The Cadet began to rise from his chair when the door opened. In walked a tall, slender Vulcan wearing a brown leather jacket opened enough to reveal a visitor's badge clipped to a beige shirt.

"May I assist you, sir?" Goldberg asked.

"I am looking for Spock. Is this not his office?"

"Yes, sir, it is. However, unless you have an appointment, Mr. Spock does not have a set time he's here. When he's not in class, he tends to spend the majority of his time at one of the research labs."

"I do not have an appointment." The man replied as he scanned the room. "I was on campus for another matter and decided to come by his office."

"Would you like me to set an appointment for you, sir?"

The Vulcan seemed to have completed his scan of the office when he finally responded. "That will not be necessary. I will wait for him to arrive."

Goldberg moved toward him. "If you had come to the office earlier, I would not mind if you remained while I was here. But, I've finished my hours for the day and am on my way out. I can't leave you alone, here, sir."

"I do not require company. You are free to leave."

"No, sir. I can't do that. I must secure the office when I leave."

"Then do so and be gone. I will depart if he does not arrive within the next hour."

"Sir. That is not an option I can consider. Even if you were with Starfleet, I couldn't leave you alone in Mr. Spock's office. If you don't leave immediately, you'll give me no choice but to call . . . "

The door suddenly opened.

"Sevat." Spock identified the visitor as he came through the door.

"Mr. Spock, do you know this man?" Goldberg became flustered and nervously spoke in a rush. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know. Your friend didn't have an appointment and refused when I asked him to leave. I almost called for security. I don't know what I was thinking. I probably should have tried to contact you. I hope this incident does not go on my record, sir. I didn't mean . . ."

"Cadet Goldberg." Spock interrupted. "Sevat never was and never will be considered a friend. No, you should not have attempted to contact me. If a visitor does not have an appointment, I have instructed you not to contact me unless the situation can be deemed an emergency. Obviously, in this case, such emergency conditions do not exist. Finally, you certainly would have been following established protocol by summoning security if the visitor had refused to leave upon your request. I only regret I arrived before you had the opportunity to do so."

"Should I contact them now, sir?" Goldberg asked, emboldened by Spock's comments.

Sevat interjected, "Such a dramatic gesture is hardly necessary. Spock, if I may have 10 minutes with you, I shall gladly leave on my own volition."

Goldberg looked to Spock awaiting his instructions. His supervisor did not take his eyes from Sevat when he finally responded. "5 minutes, Sevat. Cadet Goldberg, you may leave."

"Yes, sir." Goldberg replied, relieved to leave the tense scene. However, having witnessed Spock's expertise in hand-to-hand combat demonstrations, he had no concern for his safety.

The Cadet picked up his iTablet from his desk and headed toward the door when he decided to give his supervisor a few last comments.

"Mr. Spock, I completed all of my tasks for today and forwarded the Class Notes document to your attention."

"Thank you, Cadet Goldberg." Spock acknowledged.

"And one other thing, sir."

"Yes." Spock replied curtly.

"I wanted to ask if you had a chance to catch up with Cadet Uhura. When I saw you on Wednesday, you seemed anxious to locate her."

"That matter has been resolved, Cadet."

Oblivious to the terseness of Spock's reply, Goldberg continued smiling. "Then she must have told you what she confirmed when I saw her in the cafeteria yesterday. She's not interested in returning to her former position, sir. I guess you're stuck with me for the rest of the semester after all."

"Good evening, Cadet Goldberg."

This time Goldberg heard an edge to Spock's tone that unmistakably conveyed his displeasure with the conversation. Thinking it best not to say another word, the Cadet quickly headed out the door.

Sevat commented, "Spock, you were much more cordial with me, yesterday, following Ms. Uhura's oral examination."

"I behaved as I would toward any guest faculty member in the service of our Academy. Did I not provide all of the appropriate obligatory expressions of appreciation?"

"As demonstrated by your treatment of me this afternoon, yesterday's performance was obviously crafted for the ears of someone other than myself. However, as far as T'Lau is concerned, you need not have bothered. She is unaware of our childhood history."

"I am unconcerned with whether or not T'Lau learns of your juvenile predilection for bullying. For some reason, she wanted me to meet with you in a more social setting and suggested we would dine together. I thought our exchange might somehow satisfy her, since I had no inclination to meet her desire."

For a few moments, the Vulcans studied each other in silence, before Spock continued.

"Now that we have gotten the preliminaries out of the way, Sevat, you will tell me why you have come to see me."

"Like father, like son." Sevat commented drily. "Your taste for human women escapes me."

Spock gave no response. Not knowing the extent of Sevat's knowledge, he was not about to divulge more than his visitor actually knew.

Sevat continued. "During my examination of Ms. Uhura, her pronunciation of Vulcan was flawless."

"Contrary to your criticism of the Academy's Xenolinquistic's Department, I suppose there is something they are doing right."

"My evaluation needs no revision. As you are fully aware, there is a diphthong used in our speech that is imperceptible to most Terrans. Although her advisor, Dr. Greeley, studied on our planet for five years, the woman's use of the diphthong is clumsy and childlike. Ms. Uhura could have only learned to use it properly with a native speaker and you are the only Vulcan on the Academy faculty."

"Ms. Uhura served as my Course Assistant last semester which afforded us the occasion to speak Vulcan from time to time."

"You've had more opportunities to practice the language with Ms. Uhura than in the confines of this office. In fact, it appears you have provided her with instruction on other subjects, as well."

The two men now locked eyes. Spock tried to suppress his growing ire, but knew he had to cool his temper. Sevat had, yet, to expose the full extent of his knowledge of his relationship with Uhura. Now, it was Spock's turn to go on the offensive.

"At one time I believed the Vulcan Secret Service had higher standards than to allow you into their ranks as an agent. I see I am mistaken."

"I doubt if you can understand this, Spock, but I have pledged my life to the security of our people. Nothing else has greater meaning for me than that objective."

"I fail to understand how my relationship with Ms. Uhura would be of any concern to that end."

"Your relationship with Ms. Uhura is of great concern to T'Lau."

"Explain."

"At present, I cannot provide you with an explanation which would serve to satisfy you."

"Try telling the truth." Spock challenged him.

"T'Lau is not what she appears."

"Only 1 minute 48 seconds of your allotted time with me remains. I suggest the remainder of your dialogue be not so cryptic."

"We believe the woman calling herself T'Lau has assumed that identity."

"I find it difficult to believe she is an imposter."

"Why is that so? Because you have had sexual relations with her? Spock, I am a Vulcan man like you. It is rare for us to become intimately involved with any of our sexual partners unless we are bonded. It is not logical to expend the time and energy on building a relationship with another unless we intend a union."

Spock only needed to think how he craved intimacy with Uhura for him to know what Sevat said to be true.

"An imposter could easily infiltrate such a situation with only a minimum of background knowledge. With her husband's death under questionable circumstances and little contact with her parents, few would have reason to question her identity."

"How long?"

"Three years, 4 months, 3 days."

"That is shortly before I returned from my last Starfleet mission."

"During the time we have been working on this case, three of agents have disappeared and are presumed dead. We need your help to fully expose this plot."

"Are you working with Federation authorities on this case?"

"Spock, you must know our leaders have, yet, to confirm our agency even exists. We must rely on our own resources."

"What is it that you believe I can do? T'Lau and I have not had sexual relations in over a year. I only maintain a professional association with her which will be completely severed once Starfleet's latest StarShip is ready for its maiden voyage."

"You must resume personal relations with her."

"I cannot." Spock replied with no hesitation.

"It is the only way to gain her complete trust. You may then become privy to a significant clue that may uncover this scheme. With this much time and resources being expended by this imposter and her allies, the expected payoff must be without equal."

"Your time has elapsed."

"What is your answer, Spock?"

"I need time to consider all that has been said."

"What is there to consider? Have I not convinced you of the necessity of this mission?"

"You do not know what you ask of me." He admitted with an edge of anger. "You do not know what may be lost."

"Perhaps, that is true. However, Spock there is one thing I know which I did not understand as a child. You are Vulcan. You have spent your life, thus far, proving it to be so. Even living among them all of these years, you have been steadfast in adhering to our customs, manners, and philosophies. Reason and logic are your masters. You can come to no other conclusion, but to accept this task."

"How can I trust you?"

The corners of Sevat's mouth turned up into what could almost pass as a smile. "Are you not the son of Sarek? I am sure you know whom to contact to perform a background check of me. Four days, Spock. I will seek your answer in four days."

As soon as the door closed with Sarek on the other side, Spock picked up his communicator and inputted several numbers.

"McCoy, here." The voice spoke through the communicator.

"Dr. McCoy, this is Spock. I need you to run the DNA test on the sample you took from T'Lau."

"Look, Mr. Spock, I told you such work had a low priority in the lab. We're still short-staffed in all areas due to the medical emergency on Alpha Colony V. If I can possibly move the sample up in priority, I might be able to get the results back within 7-10 days."

"Dr. McCoy, I obviously did not make myself clear. You will personally run the test and bring the results to me within the next 72 hours."

"Yes, sir." McCoy replied in answer to Spock's unwavering demand. "I will see what I can do."

Author's Note: In Chapter 11, Spock goes to his teahouse to reflect on his conversation with Sevat and unexpectedly finds Uhura. The Vulcan explains to her the source of the word, Ashayam.

Your comments are always welcome.