*Spock*

Spock had awoken in some discomfit after a particularly vivid dream about his assistant but otherwise his morning had gone smoothly. The end of the semester was approaching and Spock had less time to devote to his side projects. His classes required almost all of his attention. As such he had needed to get more work completed in his scheduled visit to the shipyard than usual. On top of his own work, he had also agreed to perform another inspection, an official one this time, on behalf of Captain Pike who was still off planet.

Cadet Uhura had been waiting for him when he arrived at the Academy gate in her aesthetically superior riding ensemble but he had been sufficiently consumed by thoughts of his work that the visual effect was almost lost on him. She had engaged him in conversation several times during the 2.5 hour journey ranging from observations about the countryside through which they travelled, comments about a few of the students in her tutoring group who were struggling and concerns of a personal nature concerning Cadet U'Aidat. Apparently the Cadet had been behaving, as Uhura put it, 'Weird even for her.' Spock observed that she had ceased approaching him outside of class, but otherwise he had noted no change in her behaviour.

They arrived on time and Spock scanned the entrance area for the supervisors who would be awaiting his arrival. He quickly located them standing near the security gate. One was in a Starfleet Lieutenant's uniform and the other two were in the standard dress uniform of the engineering corps of Starfleet.

Since it would be necessary to pass them to reach the lockers to stow his jacket and helmet he deemed it necessary to greet them thus encumbered.

Uhura dutifully followed him towards the 3 figures with name tags attached to their jackets. They were all human males. Spock was unsurprised.

They fell silent at his approach, the two men in the engineering coveralls standing slightly to attention behind the officer. He waited for a moment but when the Lieutenant failed to offer him a greeting he took the initiative.

'Lieutenant Sparcs and Chief Supervisors Bates and Hardling I assume?' The three men looked up at him. Supervisors Bates and Hardling both saluted whilst the Lieutenant glanced briefly at him before looking past him at Cadet Uhura. Spock stared at the Lieutenant and awaited his response.

Finally the Lieutenant broke from his inspection of the cadet. 'Yes, can I help you?' he asked dismissively. His eyes flicked over Spock's riding ensemble scathingly before darting between him and the cadet. The supervisors behind him exchanged a glance that even Spock could tell was concerned.

Behind him Spock was aware of Uhura letting out a tiny indignant huff. Before he could correctly frame an illuminating response for the man in front of him she asked pointedly 'Would you like me to stow your jacket and helmet Lieutenant Commander Spock sir?'

He restrained the urge to smirk at her verbal barb. Or at least he assumed that was the expression his mouth was trying to make. He nodded with typical Vulcan serenity instead. She obligingly took his helmet and looped it over her arm alongside her own then waited for him to unfasten and pass her his jacket. He had worn his blue science officer's uniform beneath it as an official inspection on behalf of Captain Pike warranted more formality than his black Starfleet issue t-shirt. The Lieutenant gazed down at the rank bands at his cuffs before he snapped to attention. Spock ignored him and instead gave Uhura his full attention 'Thank you Cadet.'

She nodded and added 'I will proceed to the bridge and discuss the array coil placement with the technicians whilst you are busy sir.'

Spock was pleased with the suggestion. He knew she would have enjoyed a guided tour of the ship such as he was about to receive, but was putting their work ahead of her own enjoyment. 'Very good cadet.' She gave him a parting glance and turned.

Only after she stopped to present her ID to the security gate personnel did he deign to turn back and acknowledge the Lieutenant in front of him. A sheen of sweat was evident on the man's forehead. He did not indicate him to stand at ease however. He simply stared at him blankly for a long moment, taking advantage of how the full attention of a Vulcan could unnerve a human. Captain Pike had once likened it to being 'a bug under a microscope'.

At length he spoke, his voice not revealing anything. 'I assume you were advised I would be conducting the inspection in Captain Pike's place Lieutenant?'

A bead of sweat slowly made its way down the man's forehead and vanished into his left eyebrow. Spock tracked its descent. 'Yes Sir! Sorry Sir! Didn't realise it was you sir!'

'You have been overseer of the Riverside Shipyards for 3.7 standard years have you not Lieutenant?'

'Yes Sir! 3 and a half… 3.7 years Sir!' His salute was starting to slip.

'And your duties require your presence at the shipyard daily am I correct?'

'Yes Sir!'

'This will be the 16th visit I have made to the shipyard during construction of the Enterprise.' Spock continued almost conversationally. 'I have observed Chief Supervisor Hardling on 8 of those occasions and Chief Supervisor Bates on 11. I note although neither have conversed with me, both recognised me.' He did not have to vocalise the obvious failings this observation pointed at. If the first officer of the ship he was constructing, the new flagship of the entire fleet at that, had made 16 visits to the yard, the overseer should have been aware of it. On top of that, a Vulcan on a hoverbike was hardly inconspicuous.

The Lieutenant didn't appear to have a response to Spock's statement. Spock waved a hand to indicate he could stand at ease. 'I am most eager to begin the inspection Lieutenant.'

The inspection took 4.2 hours. Spock found that most of his queries were answered by the supervisors rather than the overseer. Construction was delayed in far more areas then he had realised. It appeared the Lieutenant's failures went beyond his observational skills. Spock would have to make note of his lack of management skills in his review to Captain Pike.

They toured the Bridge last.

When they entered Spock was surprised to see the area was empty. It was only 12:43 and the cadet usually took her lunch at 13:00. The Lieutenant started his explanation of the work currently being done on the Bridge.

'As you can see whilst the life support systems and basic fitting of the Bridge are nearing completion, the systems and consoles are among the last fittings scheduled to be installed.' As designer of some of those systems, Spock was of course aware of that. 'Many of the systems are currently being redesigned off site.' One of the supervisors, Bates, sighed. Spock thought it most likely indicated that the supervisor at least, if not the overseer, was aware of Spock's involvement in that very task.

The Lieutenant continued on. 'This is where the Captain's chair will be.'

He made the proclamation from a position which would be occupied by the helmsman's console.

Spock turned back to the two Supervisors standing near the turbolift and raised a brow at them questioningly. Bates shrugged and Hardling scrunched up half his face into an expression Spock believed translating roughly into 'I have no idea.' Or possibly 'Don't blame me!' - both of which would be reasonable reactions for the Lieutenant's repeated displays of ineptitude.

As he turned back to the overseer he detected a noise. He stepped forward to where a section of the ceiling had been removed. The lieutenant excitedly exclaimed 'Yes that's where the first officer's chair will be sir!' (It was not).

Spock ignored him and looked up. He could hear Cadet Uhura and a voice he believed belonged to the technician Lena Nilsson in conversation from above.

He peered into the dark space above him. 'Cadet?'

There was murmuring and the noise of someone moving towards the hole, then the cadet's head came into view. She was holding tap lever in one hand and a PADD in the other. 'Afternoon sir!' She was smiling brightly at him. Her face was slightly flushed and strands of hair had come loose to frame her face. There was a sensor coil around her neck. A novel solution to a lack of hands. He heard a muffled 'Afternoon Lt. Commander Spock!' from Lena behind her.

He raised his brow. 'May I inquire as to why you and Technician Nilsson are in the ceiling cadet?' Impulsively he added in Vulcan: 'Are you and Lena are engaging another mystifying Ancient Terran Ritual of which I am unaware? 'Eating lunch in a crawl space on Fridays' perhaps?'

She laughed brightly and Spock felt a tiny answering smile tug at his features. 'No Osavensu Spock. But we have solved your issue of the coil placement.'

Spock's head tilted to the side in interest. 'Please enlighten me Orensu Uhura.'

The overseer was looking from Spock to Uhura as they spoke like a spectator at a tennis game.

'The insulation for the bridge has been changed several times during construction and is currently 76mm thinner than the original type specified so there is extra space up here. Lena and I have deduced that the coils, if laid flat, can be placed along the ceiling panels without hindering the air ducts or maintenance tunnels.'

Spock tilted his head as he considered what she had just said. It sounded perfectly feasible. 'A novel solution cadet, and one that I think will work most satisfactorily.'

She grinned down at him. Spock felt a rush of warmth in response to her pleased expression. It was difficult not to smile back at her. 'Thank you sir!'

Lena's head appeared next to Uhura's. 'She tell you the good news Sir?'

'Yes Lena, thank you for your assistance.'

The blonde woman smiled at him in a manner not dissimilar to the way the cafeteria server Sarah did. 'Don't mention it. Could you give us a hand down though?'

'Of course.'

The technician turned and hung her legs down. Spock steadied her as she slid to the floor. She turned and patted him on the arm absently. 'Thanks Spock.' She was holding a PADD up in her other hand and reading specification off it. 'I think there are a lot of systems that could utilise the 76mm extra clearance we have up there.'

Spock noticed that the overseer was standing right next to him looking up at Uhura. 'Can I offer you any assistance Miss?'

Uhura glanced at Spock. He could tell she disliked the Lieutenant and would have preferred his assistance, if she had required any, which being twenty years Lena Nilsson's junior, she most probably did not. He wondered if he should intercede. He was unsure how to word such a statement. Before he could do so she responded.

'Er, sure. Thank you Lieutenant.'

Her face disappeared only to be replaced by her tall riding boots and her long legs encased in their extremely tight trousers.

The Lieutenant paid close attention to the curves filling those trousers Spock noted. He also steadied Uhura unnecessarily with a hand on her backside. Spock clenched his jaw and he found himself thinking of the many different ways he could use suus mahna to ensure the lieutenant was unable to place his hands upon the cadet's person ever again. He decided his communique to Captain Pike would not only mention the Lieutenant's failures, but highlight them.

Cadet Uhura had stowed her riding jacket along with his own. As usual she was wearing a black Starfleet issue t-shirt with a high collar like the one she usually wore under her cadet's uniform. As he tried to calm his annoyance at Lieutenant Sparcs a memory floated up to the fore front of his mind from his years as a cadet. He recalled that many of the cadets had slept in their regulation undershirts like the one Uhura was wearing. He found himself idly wondering if Uhura was one of those who did so. If she did it was unlikely she wore anything save her underwear with it. Spock was struggling with that particular mental image when the overseer spoke up.

'Was that Vulcanese you were speaking Miss?'

Completely dismissing the hideous amalgam that was 'Vulcanese', Spock wondered instead at the Lieutenant's use of 'Miss'. He had addressed Uhura as 'Cadet' several times in the overseer's presence. It was illogical to use a dismissive Terran civilian honorific when he was aware of her rank.

Uhura nodded politely and to Spock's satisfaction moved to stand near himself and Lena wordless communicating her disinterest with her body language. 'Yes sir.'

'I didn't think humans could speak Vulcanese. Wrong shaped mouth. You are human aren't you Miss?' The emphasise he placed on the word human was slightly offensive.

Uhura frowned. 'Phonetically modern Vulcan is only marginally more difficult for native english speakers to enunciate as Japanese or Korean.'

'Interesting. I didn't know that. Are you a translator at the Academy Miss?'

Uhura was scowling openly now. She was obviously offended by the belittling manner the man was addressing her. Spock decided to intervene.

'My assistant Cadet Uhura is studying xenolinguistics and advanced phonology. She is currently fluent in 78% of the languages spoken within the federation.'

The Lieutenant didn't glance at Spock as he spoke, his eyes staying on Uhura. 'Wow, 78%. That's amazing!' He glanced at his watch. 'I'd love to hear about your studies over lunch Miss Uhura.'

Spock realised the muscles in his temples were beginning to ache from clenching his jaw. 4.5 hours in Lieutenant Sparcs presence was taking its toil upon his mood.

Uhura smiled sweetly. 'I'm afraid I already have plans with the Lieutenant Commander and a few of the technicians.'

'Indeed. Thank you for the tour Lieutenant Sparcs. Your commentary was most illuminating.' Spock dismissed the Lieutenant abruptly and turned to Lena and Uhura beside him. 'Shall we?'

Lena smiled and led Uhura to the turbolift. As he approached the two Supervisors Spock let his human side surface. 'Would you care to join us for lunch Supervisors?' he pointedly did not extend the invitation to the Lieutenant.

The meal proved enjoyable. They were joined by several technicians Spock knew from his previous visits with Cadet Uhura and the level of conversation provided by them and the two supervisors was much more stimulating then what he was usually subjected to in the Academy cafeteria.

The afternoon was spent referring to plans and blue prints provided by Lena, crawling along the ceiling cavity and avoiding staring at the Cadet's shapely posterior. Spock was able to convince Lena Nilsson and Stephen Lee to keep their discovery to themselves until he had finalised a new configuration for the array console. He wanted to claim as much of the void space for his own systems as possible.

They joined the same group for dinner as they had for lunch. Afterwards Spock played a few games of pool with Stephen, this time offering tips which made Uhura and the rest of their companions laugh. For some reason they found his use of trigonometry in planning his shots humorous. When he instructed Stephen to aim 2.7 degrees to his left as he lined up a shot Lena had laughed so hard that she spilt her drink. Which Spock thought perhaps for the best as it was blue and appeared to be on fire.

He received a lot more attention in the bar in his uniform than he received in his plain clothes. It seemed being a Lieutenant Commander made him far more interesting to the bar's patrons. Several Starfleet personnel introduced themselves and wanted to buy him drinks. When the diner closed the usual waitress stopped by and told him how 'Handsome he looked in his uniform'. When he awkwardly responded 'Thank you Jayne.' she smiled at him in a way that made him feel slightly uneasy, but seemed to amuse Stephen and Uhura a great deal.

When they had been socialising for exactly 2 standard hours he indicated to her that they should leave. There were only 3 umbrellas in her hair and she remembered to remove them before they exited the bar.

The ride home was as pleasant as the one in the morning. He and Uhura spoke further on all the possible uses for the void space in the bridge and she inquired at length as to the overall status of the Enterprise build. She also spent 12.8 standard minutes highlighting all the things about Lieutenant Sparcs that she found unpleasant both personally and professionally. Although many of her points were illogical, apparently his arms were too long and his hair is hair was 'too yellow', Spock found her tirade quite satisfying.

He arrived back in his quarters at 22:17 pleased with the course of his day. Despite his ongoing misgivings about having her as his aide, he had been able to avoid almost all instances of physiological reactions related to the proximity of Cadet Uhura, apart from small slip-ups he felt her attire was at least partially to blame for. He had also engaged in human social interactions with her and the technicians without awkwardness or inappropriateness and she had been instrumental in a great break though for the design of the communications array.

If all his dealings with the cadet went as smoothly he could foresee no further disruption to his goals within Starfleet.