Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It was 0200 hours, and Felicity was the only one left on the bridge. The ship was in a silent slumber around her as she checked a computer screen for possible anomalies.
She was exhausted from her previous investigation on Andromidus 8 but had to remain at the post on the bridge until the captain and first officer got enough rest. They had immediately dismissed themselves to their quarters after re-boarding the Mercury and left her in command. Though just as exhausted, Felicity would not have missed this opportunity to prove herself.
After realizing that nothing of interest would be showing it's face on her screen any time soon, Felicity stood and walked around the bridge; eying the captain's chair in particular. Surly no one would know if she sat in it for only a few minutes...
Felicity flattened out the skirt of her blue uniform and sat gingerly in the chair. The exhilaration was overwhelming, as she pictured herself on the bridge for good as the Mercury's captain.
"Why am I not surprised to find you sitting there while no one is supervising you?"
The voice made her jump. Of course it was her luck to be siting in the captain's chair at exactly the same moment he wanted to return to the bridge. Felicity hurled herself out of the seat and spun around to face the captain preparing a full apology in her head, the face she met was not that of the captain.
"Spock? How did you get on the ship?"
"I was working on Andromidus 8, researching the potential the planet had for solar radiation storage. When I became aware of the Mercury being in the same sector, much less on the same planet, I knew I could not let you leave me again." The slim Vulcan walked slowly to Felicity, sizing her up the whole way.
"You should not have let me go the first time." She turned her face away from him in an attempt to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just call security right now and have them escort you off the bridge."
"I can give you two. Because I love you, and because I want you." Spock's strong hand grabbed Felicity's jaw, pulling her face to his own. His arm became wrapped around the petite waist. "Don't send me away from you now that we are together. I want to be everything and do everything for you. Let me please you..." Hot breath licked Felicity's neck and she shivered in response. "The temperature on the bridge is exactly 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Surly you cannot be cold?"
"Quite the contrary." was all Felicity could gulp barely about to think being so close to Spock's body; so intimate.
"Then perhaps we should take some of your clothes off and make you a bit more comfortable." He turned her around to unzip the uniform from the back while taking his time running his hands painfully slow over her curves. Felicity found herself standing on the bridge of a ship she had only been on for four months clothed only in her bra and boots.
Spock dug his fingers into the flesh over her hips and craned his neck over her right shoulder giving him perfect access to the ears his wished to verbally assault. "Not wearing any underwear? I don't believe that, that would be acceptable by regulation, Commander. Perhaps you need to be taught a lesson." He nuzzled her neck gently before planting light kisses over it, indicating that his words were to be taken playfully.
Barely able to swallow and completely at the mercy of the burning in her lower body, Felicity breathed back to her assailant, "What did you have in mind?"
"This." Spock spun Felicity back around violently before throwing her backwards against the navigation terminal. She could only brace herself against the machine in time before he grabbed the bottoms of her thighs and spread her legs in front of him.
"Felicity!"
"Fuck..." Felicity opened her eyes, angry at the world.
Tracie walked into the living room and looked at her half-awake friend on the couch. "Can you hear me? I just wanted to check to make sure my bronchitis was not affecting my voice."
Felicity put one of the pillows over her face, brooding about the fact that she couldn't even have a happy ending in a dream. "Why can't you just talk to yourself like a normal person?"
"Because you're here and you're awake. Go fucking put on your make up or something. We have to leave in an hour and a half." Tracie walked away, then marched back up to the cinnamon-colored couch. "Screw you! I'm taking my race car shirt and going back to my room!"
Throwing the pillow off her face, Felicity yelled back at Tracie. "Wait! Come back! I want to bitch about my life."
"I want to take a nap before we go out. What is it?"
"I want to go to bed too. Wait, correction. I want to go to bed with Spock."
"Is that what this is about?"
"Yes."
"You're pathetic."
"You try dating a man who won't put out. It's ridiculous!"
"Is it as bad as I predicted...having a Vulcan for a boyfriend?"
It's difficult to give your heart to someone who could only feel so much love for you. I know. I've been there many times. "It's worse, because every time I see him, my mind strays to images that are far too risque even for me. My conscience yells at me every chance it gets for having such thoughts. It makes me feel guilty for thinking about Spock and his hard, green cock fucking the shit out of me. And all of that is in my mind; it's not like I tell people besides you, so there's no reason to feel guilty. But these scenes of him in his nude perfection laying next to me in my nude imperfection while we both bask in the glow of our perfectly synchronized orgasms..." Felicity had to stop talking and fan herself.
"I take it you're not too happy that he won't have sex with you."
"It fucking sucks. When your man can't overtly express his desire for you, it makes you feel very small and kinda pathetic."
"You need to get laid."
"Oh, I'm acutely aware of that. No wonder why humans hardly ever marry Vulcans. All that sexual frustration."
"Human men aren't really that good for sex either, so you're not missing much." the RN muttered.
Felicity continued her whining. "I am missing sex with Spock. I'm kinda...I'm...I...ugh...I'm missing a lot here."
"Just use your vibrator like I do."
Mischief was alight in Felicity's eyes. "You use my vibrator?"
"You know what I mean! Anyway, get ready. Your lover-boy will be here in...I don't even remember how long, but he'll be here soon, and I wouldn't want you to miss all that frustration."
"Thanks. I appreciate your concern." Felicity replied dryly.
"Who are we going out with again?"
"Terry, his girlfriend Keira, and her two friends Gaila and Nyota. They're interesting...not as interesting as you, but still, I'm sure it's not going to be a boring dinner."
"Fine. I'm taking a nap. If I'm not up in thirty minutes, wake my ass up."
"I will, trust me, I'll fucking wake you up." Sitting up and stretching for a moment on the couch, Felicity debated her next move. It either was going to have something to do with food or about ten minutes of personal 'maintenance' in her bathroom. She opted for the latter since it would help her self preservation.
While passing through the bedroom, Felicity caught sight of her bed and felt distressed about her lack of sex. It wasn't fair that she had to be attracted to a man that wouldn't copulate with her. She wondered where the course of events after graduation would lead them. She wanted to be with Spock and wanted to pursue her career at the same time. But her thoughts were fleeting since there were more important things at hand...
Looking around aimlessly after exiting the bathroom, Felicity was in no mood to go to dinner, but the plans were made and it was too late to come up with a good excuse. Ruefully looking in the bottomless underwear drawer, she found some pieces that would be perfect for the evening. Perhaps a little more seduction is all he needs.
She took the underwear and a matching bra back into the bathroom with her and prepared for a shower. Tracie could sleep a little longer.
Shaving was a must. Every millimeter of her legs, underarms and other areas had to be flawlessly soft. It took time and a small mirror to make sure everything that couldn't be properly seen was indeed shaved properly, but once done, she felt exquisite. Slathering copious amounts of lotion on her skin, Felicity admired her body in the mirror. It was nice enough, naked. No weird areas or large freckles. Maybe a bit too big around the thighs and butt to be considered truly beautiful, but damn good enough.
Her admiration was cut short when she heard the bell for the apartment door. Wrapping a towel around her body, though she would have preferred to open it naked just to see the look on the Vulcan's face, she pranced to the door. "Tracie! Get your ass up! Spock's here!"
"Not my problem..." a sleepy Tracie with her race car shirt said while walking into her own bathroom.
Opening the door to the typical sight in front of her was always a blessing. Spock stood, his back straight, hands behind it and clothed in his black Starfleet shirt. Felicity wondered how such a boring shirt could be so absolutely alluring, especially since she's seen him wear it a thousand times.
"Hi."
"Good afternoon." Spock walked in and followed Felicity.
"Tracie! Remember, don't come out naked." After which there returned a muffled, "I don't care if he sees my ass naked."
After entering the room, she turned on Spock. "Let me just change, and after that it shouldn't take me too long to be ready."
"That is acceptable."
Felicity smiled and ran her hand along his jaw before she entered the bathroom. "Do you ever wear anything besides those shirts?" she called from the bathroom, criticizing his typical attire.
"I don't see a logical reason to do so."
Spock walked around the room slowly trying to use the free time he had while waiting. Felicity's room was impeccable as ever. Every surface was dusted, the floor was clean, her bed was made completely with all of the decorative pillows she had and her paintings were hung perfectly straight.
"What do you think about this outfit?" Spock looked up at the voice and was taken aback.
Felicity lounged against the door frame in what Spock would not consider an outfit. She wore a gorgeous, red, lace bra with embroidered flower petals decorating the front. The lace covered nothing underneath, and it took him a few seconds to tear his eyes away and investigate the second part of her ensemble.
Her underwear looked innocent enough. It was the same red colored fabric, only opaque, bordered with ruffles and covered her reasonably. As he stared, she turned for him. The back was something more along the lines of risque. The fabric ended at her hips and was laced together with a small, thin piece of red ribbon.
"What do you think?"
"You cannot go out in public like that, and I would hardly consider it an outfit." Felicity sighed dramatically and threw her head back, agitated. The movement forced her chest out and arched her back, which in turn, caused Spock's jaw to unnoticeably clench.
"Well of course not, but what do you think about me wearing this underneath my clothes tonight? You could come back home with me after dinner and watch me take it off." She sauntered to him with a coy smile and mischief in her eyes.
Spock clasped his hands behind his back for precaution. Her hands glided down his chest and stopped at the top of his trousers. Having to feel both her and his own arousal was cumbersome. It made him feel guilty, because he was unable to properly return her passion; his reasoning would not allow him.
He knew was able to feel her laboring under an intense desire. Over the past week, their connection had waned; becoming less than a smolder of feeling inside him, but at times when she was being overly passionate, he was still acutely aware.
"You need to continue getting ready or there is a high possibility that we will be late."
"Only if you kiss me first." Felicity ran her hands over his body.
Spock's hands came from behind his back and very tenderly touched her jaw tilting it up to his mouth. His kiss was shy and hesitant; not wanting to indulge himself too much, but trying to appease her. The kiss did not last long, and when it was over, Felicity sighed, frustrated again and made her way back into the bathroom. "I'll be out in a minute."
Spock sat at Felicity's desk and read some of her poetry while he waited for the women to get ready. Occasionally, he could see Tracie dancing between her room and the living room while listening to music. After exactly sixteen minutes and twelve seconds after she had committed herself to the bathroom, Felicity emerged, almost a new person.
Her hair was straighter than ever falling just above her shoulders. Small, diamond studded earrings adorned her ears and a silver bracelet was wrapped around her wrist. The dress Felicity wore was sleeveless and fell to her knees. The fabric from her hips to the hem was black, the waist was purple and the low-dipped v-neck top was grey. The dress was adorned with purple pumps and a shiny, black clutch. She threw her arms into the air. "How do I look?"
"Appropriate for an evening out."
"Tell me how I look without your obnoxious, Vulcan logic."
"You mean, tell you what I would say if I were human."
"Completely human, yes." Felicity corrected.
"I suppose I would say you look...wonderful."
"Mmmm, I don't think you would say such an adjective, but I'll take it." She called out to Tracie, "Are you ready to go?!"
"Yes!" was the only reply she received.
Turning to Spock, Felicity asked the same question. "Are you ready?"
"I am."
"Than what are we waiting for?"
Introductions were only necessary because Tracie had not met any of the new women, and surprisingly enough to Felicity, Tracie was very polite to them. There wasn't much any of them had in common; each having their own friends and interests. It was Terry who was the uniting link between the groups and due to his fabulous social skills, transitioned everyone smoothly from standing in the foyer of the restaurant for introductions to maneuvering the seven of them to a waiting table.
Terry had decided on an Italian restaurant, mainly because Keira loved Italian, but also since everyone else was fond of the food. Most everyone. Spock had protested the choice but was quickly overruled by Felicity who gave him a sharp look and stated that he would love Italian as much as everyone else.
The table was large, it needed to be for their party, and Terry sat at the head with Keira on his right and Spock on his left. Felicity sat on the left of Spock and Tracie on the left of Felicity, while Nyota sat to the right of Keira and Gaila next to Nyota.
Once everyone was settled in their seats and waited for the drink order to be taken, Felicity was unable to help herself from starting an interesting conversation and turned to Gaila. "How hostile has the Orion Syndicate been? Have they still been doing a lot of slave trade lately?"
"Things have been quieting down in the Borderland, but the trade is still prominent. That's why my parents came here to Earth. It's much safer than staying on Orion."
"Out of all the things I could investigate, I always found trafficking to be the most interesting."
"Interesting isn't what I would call it when it's happening right where you live."
Felicity nodded her head in agreement. "True. It's still a fascinating subject though. People think trafficking is obscure and hardly ever happens, but in actuality, it happens all the time."
"Yes, and the Syndicate isn't only interested in Orions either but sometimes abduct human or other women for slavery."
"Do they ever go after men?"
"Not as much as they do females. There is a large market for the selling of male labor, and when the price isn't high enough, the person is sold for feeding purposes."
"How awful." commented Tracie.
"There are some guys that I know who investigate those sort of crimes, or they used to at least. Trafficking, kidnapping and sexual offenses. Eventually they had to find new careers, because the investigators they worked for had legal charges against the company due to harassment of the defendants on the police's side. Let's just say, such a topic was not easy for them to look into without becoming really pissed."
The waitress came to their table. She was a blonde woman with more than enough cleavage to share with all the women sitting at the table. Her voice was nasally when she requested the drink orders of everyone. Keira asked for a rum and coke, Nyota opted for a shot of Jack, Gaila ordered a apple martini, to match her skin, Terry got a beer, Tracie demanded a sweet tea, Spock requested water and Felicity mulled over red or white wine.
Shaking her head, she told the server. "Bring whatever you think is the best. Nothing too dry though."
Spock found her request abnormal and commented about it. "I would have presumed you would want a margarita. You have only ever ordered wine three times out of the 127 times we have eaten out."
"I'm in the mood for something a little more seductive." She eyed him coyly and Spock felt his temperature rise.
Tracie completely unbothered by social protocol spoke up. "What is your heritage, Nyota?"
"I'm Bantu and speak Kiswahili, or Swahili is what it would be called in the English language."
"And where is that?" Tracie
"It's in the United States of Africa. I moved to America to attend Starfleet, but my parents still live there."
"Do you miss them?" Felicity asked curious about Nyota's life.
"Yes I do, very much. They are the main reason why I am here at Starfleet. My mother always told me I could do whatever I wanted, and when I decided to try my luck in space, my parents were more than supportive." The waitress returned with the drinks and placed each to it's respective owner. After taking the orders of everyone at the table, the blonde left again leaving Nyota to follow up the conversation. "Do your parents live here, Felicity?"
"No, my step parents live in Florida, though I'm originally from the British Isles. England in particular."
Gaila was first to respond to Felicity's statement. "What's it like there?"
"In Florida?" The small investigator sipped her red wine while contemplating an appropriate answer. "It's Quite similar to Vulcan; hot, sandy and boring."
Spock turned to her with his brow furrowed. "I disagree with your last sentiment."
"You don't have to agree with it." she replied smiling and covertly placed her hand on his left thigh. Spock shook his head so faintly that Felicity was sure she was the only one who had noticed.
Tracie continued to thrash her way through discussion not wanting to acknowledge the admiration of the two people on her side of the table. "Keira, where are you from?"
"Ireland. I can trace my ancestry back seven generations there."
Felicity separated her vision from Spock, again curious about their company. "What's you last name?"
"O'Keefe. I moved to America six years ago and was living in Oklahoma for two before I came to San Francisco."
Terry laughed at her short recounting of events. "Oklahoma...what an interesting place. How was it living there?"
"Boring. That's why I came here. I wanted some excitement in my life."
"Me too!" Felicity exclaimed. "That is the exact reason why I joined."
Felicity's thrill was subdued by the arrival of food. She would soon be enjoying clams and lobster ravioli while her Vulcan counterpart had a large caesar salad. He was truly missing out on the exquisite food, but Felicity would not push such a thing on him. Spock had every right to eat whatever he wanted.
"What do you do, Tracie?" Gaila asked after a few minutes of silence.
"I'm a nurse. I work at Dr. Cook's office."
"Is it difficult being a nurse?" asked Nyota.
"I work all the time, but I love what I do, so I don't mind. People who hate my guts and wish that I would die say, 'She's one crazy bitch and I fucking hate her, but she's a DAMN good nurse'." Felicity almost choked on her wine, not expecting Tracie's antics at that moment.
Gaila looked far off when she responded. "I was thinking about doing that, but then I decided to change my major to communications."
"And what is your major, Spock?" Nyota eyed him like a piece of meat. This made Felicity's body language perk up, asserting itself and displaying that she was the alpha female when it came to the attentions of her Vulcan. Spock of course noticed nothing about the female, human dominance battle. Such things were too 'primitive' for him to take into account.
"I am dual majoring in Xenolinguistics and astrophysics."
Gaila shook her head and drank from her martini. "Ah, I'm crap at physics."
"Of course you are. You're much better at 'biology'." Keira teased her friend.
Nyota continued to question Spock. "When do you graduate?"
"This spring."
Felicity interrupted. "We all do, except for Tracie, who's just loitering around."
"And what do you plan to do after?" Nyota was unbothered by Felicity's assertion over her and Spock's conversation.
This question had particularly caught Felicity's attention, and she was eager to hear what Spock had to say. They had not talked about him applying to the U.S.S. Mercury since last week, and her interest and worry about the subject made itself known to her nervous system.
Spock was aware of Felicity's eyes on him as well as feeling the anxiety she was having. He had not petitioned to be on the ship she wanted. It was not what he wanted, and after living his life and choosing a career so emotionally, it was difficult to allow himself more self-centric indulgences.
His eyes stared determinedly at his salad. "I have not yet decided."
"And what do you plan to do, Felicity?" Keira asked sensing a disturbance in the previous peace between them all.
"I want an exciting assignment. I want to work with security and do some potential fighting and investigating. You know, something worthwhile."
The sarcasm was not removed from Nyota's voice when she spoke. "You want to be a warrior?"
Felicity eyed her like a predator. "You could say that."
"Felicity is a very passionate person." Terry held his beer up to Felicity in a type of salute.
Felicity and Spock's eyes met, both finding the humor in the statement. Felicity smiled at him and took a sip of her Shiraz.
The evening ended late and each friend was more than willing to go back to his and her own bed. Terry walked with the three new women while Tracie, Felicity and Spock traveled to the ladies' apartment. Reaching the door, Tracie bid her farewells to Spock and Felicity and tramped into the homestead grumbling about how it was way past her bedtime.
Felicity remained outside. "I take it you won't stay with me this evening again?"
"No." he answered resolutely.
"Why? Logic can be used for both sides of the argument. You don't need to stay with me, true, but you also don't need to leave. Why not just stay this time?"
"There are protocols that I have to adhere to."
"We don't have to have sex."
"I understand all the possibilities, Felicity, but I would still prefer to easy myself into our relationship."
"I could sleep on the couch if you want."
"You are moderately intoxicated and tired. Go to bed, and I will come over tomorrow to complete our homework." Felicity stood on her tiptoes and arched her neck to reach Spock's lips. After feeling she had adequately expressed the dislike for their parting, she let him go and went inside. Her desire he still felt after she left him was daunting. Spock headed back to his own home fully intending a cold shower for himself when he arrived.
The following month proved to be very useless for socializing of any kind. Felicity and Spock had seven tests, five papers, six quizzes and three homework assignments to do combined. Not that it took Spock long at all to do his assignments, but Felicity was sure her torture would never end. No thoughts entered her mind save for grade after grade, and with all the pressure of doing good the last semester of being at the academy, she didn't really care what Spock was considering for a future.
After her last test for the next month, she decided it was time to kick back and relax. She had not spoken to Keira or any of her friends since their dinner, and Felicity was curious about the progression of Terry's relationship with the brunette goddess. Deciding that gossiping would be best done on an event-less Sunday, she walked to her apartment, anticipating going to sleep.
Before she could even get off the campus, her communicator beeped, wanting attention. She pulled it out and flipped it open. "Hello?"
"Felicity! This is Terry! Where are you? I need to talk to you right now."
"I'm near the science building."
"Good. Spock and I will be over there in a second," The voice over the communicator started to mumble and whisper angrily in the background. "Fine! Spock says we'll be over there in approximately three minutes if we leave now and walk at a moderate pace."
Felicity laughed at her boys, tired though she may be. "Alright. I'll see you then." Deciding that waiting would be handled best by sitting down, she found a convenient spot of grass and collapsed into it. She didn't look at anything while she waited. No books, interesting finds, or papers that needed to be done. Felicity just let her body lay in the warm sun, wishing to not be interrupted.
Alas, that was not her fate. An overexcited Terry could be heard shouting her name a block away.
"Felicity! Felicity! I've been assigned to the U.S.S. Liberty! I get to work with the chief engineer reprogramming the computers and monitoring life support faculties! It's exactly what I was studying. I mean, this is so wonderful! I've been assigned a position on one of the newest ships in this sector and I get to be with Keira! Felicity, are you not overwhelmingly happy for me?" Terry was bouncing with his usual excitement for such an unusual circumstance.
Felicity braced her hands behind her back while remaining seated in the grass. "Oh my God, of course I'm very, very happy."
Spock was on his heels and quick to participate in the commotion. "You don't seem too excited."
She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just jealous of Terry's assignment."
"Well that's ridiculous, since..." Terry looked like he was about to combust or float away, which ever came first. "You've been accepted to the U.S.S. Mercury!!!!!!"
Jumping up, Felicity rounded on Terry. "How do you know?"
"I was talking with Admiral Sullivan when Commander Loring came up. He had me tell you the news since I would be seeing you sooner then him!"
"This is wonderful!"
"I know! I have to run and go tell Keira. I'll talk to you later about it." The blonde sprinted off leaving Felicity with Spock. An awkward silence slithered its way between them. Each knew what the other was thinking without having to mind meld.
"Did you ever put in your request to be on the Mercury?" She looked up at him sheepishly but also irked that her celebration had to be tainted by the curiosity of what he thought.
Spock eyes did not leave hers. "I have not, but I have been asked to stay on Earth and teach."
Felicity could not comprehend his words. While distant, his affections always seemed genuine. Why would he not even bother with her? "I thought you wanted to be on a starship, with me?"
"I think teaching would be the best possible option right now."
"But why?"
Spock looked into her tired, sad eyes. He could no longer feel the pain of rejection she had, the month that had passed removed almost every sign of mental connection they ever shared, but he knew it was there.
"Felicity you look fatigued. Perhaps it would be best to discuss this later. Tomorrow maybe?"
The small woman shook her head. "Tomorrow I'm sleeping all day. No dinners, no schoolwork, no nothing."
"What about Sunday, when you typically come over to mine and Terrence's dorm?"
Felicity gazed down at her feet in response. "I guess so. I'll bring our usual food." She reached down to gather her things and kissed him goodbye before she trudged home.
Spock wanted to ask Felicity to stay with him. He understood her concepts about consummating a relationship to tie two people closer together. Knowing himself, it would take much longer than the month they had left at the academy for that to happen. Spock considered, even before the night he stayed with her, staying on Earth. Not that he particularly like the planet; it was still so strange to him, but if they both stayed, it was a guarantee for them to be together. Attempting to gain acceptance to the same starship was highly improbable; almost impossible. If they both stayed where they could take their relationship at a slower pace, then they as a couple might actually work.
Spock had also not forgotten about T'Pring. He constantly thought about her. Not as a male should think about his bonded female, but as a complication. She was something he needed to resolve before he could properly court Felicity, but he did not want to do so needlessly. Being careful with their relationship meant having the time to make sure he wanted Felicity over T'Pring.
Staying on Earth was also safer. There was no need for worry about engine failures, life support malfunctions, or possible enemies while on planet. Spock did not view Felicity as fragile by no means nor had any possessive tendencies, but earnestly cared for her and wanted her to be safe.
He hoped she would see his point of view, and waited for her to arrive with their usual Sunday meal.
The bell announcing her arrival caused Spock to automatically get up and open the door for her. She still refused to use the code.
An overloaded Felicity came blundering past the door, multiple bags in each hand. She dropped everything on the floor except their food. That, she took with her to his bed, sat down and started to rummage through the contents. "Ok, so when I wasn't looking, the guy helping me put a bunch of ham in your salad, for what reason, I am unaware, but I'll pick it all out."
Spock sat next to her. "That is perfectly fine. I can do that myself."
"Here you are then." Felicity handed him the salad and opened her own turkey sandwich. She started eating immediately and didn't notice how Spock placed his own food in front of him untouched.
He stood, suddenly not hungry, and slowly paced in front of Felicity while she sat unbothered on his bed. Debating how he would approach the topic with her, he opted for a more direct path, knowing she disliked pointless banter. "Felicity, I..." but Spock was at a loss for words. He knew this was something she would disagree with, especially after her acceptance to the U.S.S. Mercury.
Felicity looked up at her beloved Vulcan who was uncharacteristicly pacing. She wondered what could have him so riled up. "Yes, Spock? I'm listening."
He stopped immediately and addressed her with a resolute affirmation. "I want you to stay with me, here, on Earth."
She looked at him politely until she shook her head. "No."
I did not anticipate this. "You have hardly given this any thought. I could give you more time to contemplate it. I don't need an answer immediately."
Felicity continued unperturbed. "I don't need to contemplate it, Spock. I'm not staying. I've already been accepted to serve on the U.S.S. Mercury, and there is no way I'm giving up that commission. You could probably still request to be on it if you like."
Spock reviewed the possibility. The Mercury was not his first choice for service, understandably so, being that his interest was not directed towards investigations. He did not want to serve on that particular ship, but being with Felicity would outweigh any objection he might have. Considering his selflessness, Spock then realized that it was she who was being unyielding by not considering staying with him, or at least staying on Earth.
Maybe that was one of her reasons for wanting to leave the planet. He would be there, and he was not everything she wanted; he could not give her the emotionally indulgent relationship she yearned for. Because of this, of course she wanted to get away, to find something or someone new and better acclimated to her customs.
He couldn't prevent the smallest amount of pain from tainting his voice. "Why do you want to so desperately leave?"
Felicity, unaware of the inaccurate conclusion Spock had drawn, continued as passionately as ever. "I want to do something. Investigate, fight, explore, I don't care. I can't stay here and remain stagnant forever, Spock. That was the whole point of joining Startfleet; to make a difference."
"Stay on Earth then. You can make a difference here, and it is not the worst possible option. I do not intend to stay here for the remainder of my days, but for the time, it seemed appropriate for me to stay. Could you not remain on Earth for a few more years? I'm sure the academy could use your knowledge and skill. You would be able to teach."
"No. You don't get it. I want to leave. I want to explore. I want to do something glorified. I can't be a teacher, how utterly boring! I want everything I know to be put to some sort of use, and not to be used to educated a bunch of kids."
"Have you fully investigated the dangers of working on a starship? You could be killed."
Felicity put down her sandwich fully preparing herself to argue. "As could you when your time comes to drop the teaching non sequitur and finally go out into space. If I die, then so be it. I want to promote justice and and fight for the freedoms of people who cannot defend themselves. I want to prevent assimilation and restore cultural integrity."
The emotional inclination of her words caused Spock's reason and logic to become dominant over his affections for her. "Your opinion of battle is a classical, romanticized, human view. You think battle serves a purpose other than destruction."
Criticizing her ideals was not something Felicity anticipated for the day. "It does! People engage in fights to protect their way of life. I would love to encounter some profound action while on a starship."
"Wanting battle is a very human desire, which has cost many lives. We could be more productive than by simply fight to resolve conflicts."
"Then what are you doing here? Why did you join Starfleet if not to fight and protect?" She stood now and faced him; her upper body hunched over as if preparing to strike.
"I do wish to protect, but I do not fight. Vulcans are a much more civilized species than to use cowboy diplomacy. My people are a peaceful and do not go looking for fights as with humans."
"Your people are just as arrogant and discriminating as humans, don't even dare think you aren't. Less than a hundred years ago, when the Vulcan High Command was in power, they often killed members of different sects that disagreed with them, sent Vulcan ships to spy on the U.S.S. Enterprise, something which Admiral Archer still gets pissed about, and displayed prejudicial acts against Vulcans who had mind melded. Even you have been criticized just because you are different! Elaborate to me why you would choose to acknowledge that side of you more readily than your human side."
Spock shook his head. "When the high command was disbanded, it was found that they were under Romulan influence. That is hardly an instance to judge my species on."
"So a mere influence can reduce your logic to some rudimentary level? What a pathetic argument."
"It is still a valid one. The high command was indeed acting upon emotions, which I suppose is your point. Implying that Vulcans can act on their emotions, but with that in mind, review everything you just stated. All of those terrible events happened when we as a race were emotionally compromised."
"I know, but how can you expect a species so inept at coping with something as basic as emotion be able to make proper decisions while under it's influence? Starfleet was created by humans as a means of protection and union against enemies." Felicity was flourishing her arms around presenting her passion and adamant belief of her point of view.
Spock respectfully disagreed. "Starfleet was created to explore."
"And also to protect! Not everyone can be filled with profound reason like you...superior, Vulcans. People will want to fight. Species will want to fight, and when they do, I will be there."
"Then you are a fool." he retorted flatly.
Felicity was sent into a frenzy of anger. "What?! I have never once thought you were ignorant for not understanding humans. I've tried to reason with your still biased 'logic', but I've let my arguments go when I realized you would not see my point. But this?! You dare call me a fool over my beliefs and values? How ignorant can you be, Spock? You forsake every aspect of you that your mother contributed to. Just because I think differently doesn't mean I am less than you. You are ridiculous!"
"Examine your own logic briefly. Your argument is valid. What you say about me is indeed true, but to think and so adamantly defend the idea of fighting for peace is counterproductive."
"But do you expect us to stand by and allow ourselves and others to be destroyed by a species that is not peaceful? Spock, you keep forgetting that common denominator."
"You are laboring under the misapprehension of some false clarion call. You are expressing a desire to find battles. That notion only denotes that you want to wage battle comparable to any other warmonger."
"I just want a little excitement in my life, and to defend my beliefs for equality and freedom."
"Within regulation. Again, another contradiction. You want freedom but require policing to obtain it. As I have stated before, your reasoning is perceivable. It is your logic that is fallacious. How can you examine the universe with such intellectual curiosity but then ignore everything you see to pursue an emotionally prominent answer?"
"I don't know! I guess it's just my impassioned reasoning! I try to be intelligent, but I am not going to condemn my human qualities like you do yours!"
Spock shook his head wanting to return to their peaceful companionship they had earlier. "Felicity, I do not want to-"
Felicity held up a hand to stop him. She was fuming and had no more patience left to listen to the ridicule. "You have insulted me in every possible fashion concerning my ideologies, Spock, and you question by beliefs with your uncaring logic. I am not Vulcan, and I can't believe that you would be so careless towards me."
Spock realized that she was upset, more so than he had ever seen her. He quickly attempted to remedy the conflict he started with her. He needed to overlook both their arguments and explain why he wanted her to stay. "Yes, yes, you are correct, but I-"
"Don't! Just leave me alone. Don't contact me. I don't want to see you anymore." She snatched her bag with such force two of her PADDs fell out, but she was too angry to care. He can keep them. Right before walking out the door, she turned and interjected painfully, "Have fun teaching."
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