Episode 1-18 Arena
Saya was standing next to Spock as they did last minutes preparations to beam down to Commodore Travers. McCoy and Kirk spoke of his hospitality and Spock asked about the insistence on their tactical aids. Saya was not supposed to join due to her hair coloring but didn't mind sitting out. She figured she would be too nervous and make some huge social error anyways.
"Finish the reading on colonization then write your essay. Once finished with those you are free to do as you please." Spock instructed her. She saw them off then went to her room. Though it didn't take her terribly long to finish by the time she was done she heard the call of red alert and all hands to battlestations. Saya quickly put the carving she was still working on away and went to the bridge.
Meeting Spock and Kirk in the turbolift she saw the strain on both of them. She may not know what was going on but she could sense that it was huge. Saya took her customary seat and watched as she tried to figure out what was happening.
Spock and Kirk started discussing the necessity of destroying the alien ship and Saya put enough pieces together to figure out they had attacked Cestus 3 and Kirk felt they needed destroys as a form of protecting everything else out there. She had seen Kirk worked up but something about this one seemed to bug him a bit more. She didn't know why.
She also noticed that Spock seemed quite resistant to the course of action Kirk was on and guess it was his natural aversion to violence and taking life. She had learned over time that he was vegetarian because he didn't believe in killing animals to eat. For her part Saya mostly didn't eat meat but those times when she did Spock would say nothing. She was glad for that.
She caught Spock's comment about them blowing themselves up continuing to hold a warp 7 and Kirk ordered warp 8. He also clearly told Spock that his opinion was noted but unwanted and everyone seemed surprised at how hard Kirk was pushing on this one. They chased the alien for a while before passing a solar system that sent out a beam to scan them.
Kirk though curious ignored it in favor of the pursuit. Saya got up and stood at the railing, in part because of nervous energy and in part out of desire to see the stars move past the ship and anything else she could at the unusually fast warp. Suddenly the alien ship slowed then stopped dead. Kirk was so caught up in the chase that he didn't seem to realize something was off.
"They wouldn't suddenly go dead for no reason." As soon as the words left Sayas mouth the ship jerked and they started to forcefully and quickly slow. Spock grabbed the railing since he had been standing by Kirk at the time and Saya did the same. At the increased inertia on them she lost her hold and Spock caught her before she could be thrown into anything and get hurt. Saya grabbed the railing again hoping to be able to hold herself this time.
As soon as they stopped Saya let go of the railing and smiled ruefully at Spock "thanks and sorry. Guess that's why you don't stand in a moving vehicle." Spock quirked an eyebrow but said nothing. Returning to their stations Saya watched everything going on with rapt curiosity and Spock reported that they were stuck just like the alien.
Suddenly the viewscreen went psychedelic and a voice started talking. "We are the Metrons. You are one of two crafts which have come into our space on a mission of violence. This is not permissible. Yet we have analysed you and have learned that your violent tendencies are inherent. So be it. We will control them. We will resolve your conflict in the way most suited to your limited mentalities. Captain James Kirk."
Kirk acknowledged and Metron continued "We have prepared a planet with a suitable atmosphere. You will be taken there, as will the Captain of the Gorn ship which you have been pursuing. There you will settle your dispute. You will be provided with a recording-translating device, in hopes that a chronicle of this contest will serve to dissuade others of your kind from entering our system, but you will not be permitted to communicate with your ship. You will each be totally alone."
Kirk demanded why they thought they could interfere and Metron cut him off answering "It is you who are interfering. We are simply putting a stop to it. The place we have prepared for you contains sufficient elements for either of you to construct weapons lethal enough to destroy the other, which seems to be your intention. The winner of the contest will be permitted to go his way unharmed. The loser, along with his ship, shall be destroyed in the interests of peace. The contest will be one of ingenuity against ingenuity, brute strength against brute strength. The results will be final."
Kirk suddenly disappeared and Uhura let out a startled noise. Spock quickly took command to calm the others and Saya watched an almost familiar situation play out. Spock came up with alternatives to feed the engines but they had all been tried. He then checked if Uhura had found anything out about the force holding them. Uhura had not found anything more than that it came from the nearby solar system.
McCoy entered the bridge and was quite agitated. He demanded to know what Spock would do to get the captain back. after enough of McCoy's comments about what they would do to help he replied "He's out there, Doctor. Out there somewhere in a thousand cubic parsecs of space, and there's absolutely nothing we can do to help him."
Some time later Spock called to the Metrons requesting a conference. For a while they were ignored but then the Metrons came through with their psychedelic screen and told them "We are the Metrons. Your Captain is losing his battle. We would suggest you make whatever memorial arrangements, if any, which are customary in your culture. We believe you have very little time left."
McCoy implored them in the name of civilisation to put a stop to it but The metrons simply replied "Your violent intent and actions demonstrate that you are not civilised. However, we are not without compassion. It is possible you may have feelings toward your Captain. So that you will be able to prepare yourself, we will allow you to see and hear what is now transpiring." The viewscreen came on.
Saya stood at the railing and watched. They saw the captain next to some white powder and Spock commented that the substance was potassium nitrate. Bones asked why it mattered and Spock answered "Perhaps nothing, Doctor. Perhaps everything."
They watched as it was revealed that the events of cestis 3 was an invasion. The Gorn were protecting themselves from an invasion as Kirk was trying to protect the federation from an invasion. Kirk pulled a large tube of bamboo down and grabbed some vines. Spock seemed very happy about what was going on. Saya wasn't sure but it seemed Kirk was trying to build a cannon.
Kirk then filled it with the white powder and Spock explained. "An invention, Doctor. First potassium nitrate, and now if he can find some sulphur and a charcoal deposit or ordinary coal." Kirk then added diamonds and Spock kept explaining. "Diamonds. The hardest known substance. Impelled by sufficient force, they would make formidable projectiles."
They watched Kirk work and hoped he would have the time to finish the cannon before the Gorn finished him. Kirk managed to blast the Gorn and moved to finish it off with the dagger it had forged on the planet. Saya watched with bated breath hoping Kirk wouldn't do it. They saw Kirk stop and say "No. No, I won't kill you. Maybe you thought you were protecting yourself when you attacked the outpost." As he threw the dagger away.
He yelled into the sky "No, I won't kill him! Do you hear? You'll have to get your entertainment someplace else!" That was when the screen turned off and they worriedly sat waiting to find out what would happen. Suddenly Kirk appeared on the bridge and everyone got up excitedly. Uhura asked if he was alright and he answered "I don't know. I don't know. All right, everybody. Back to your posts. Let's get out of here."
Saya smiled and sat back down wondering what grand adventure they would wind up on next. As they walked off their shift together Saya commented "I finished the colonization reading and really need to read up on Vulcans. I'm quite curious about your world but I have found it slightly challenging to get the time."
Spock observed her for a bit as they entered the mess hall to get dinner. Sitting down together he offered "Perhaps it will be useful to have me present during your reading so you will be able to ask any questions you may have, right away."
Saya grinned "I'd like that but I think you may be bored doing nothing or disturbed by the random questions if doing something."
"I assure you, I will not mind." Spock answered. Saya grinned and agreed.
As they walked out of the mess hall they ran into Riley who promptly sidled up to Saya saying "Pretty lady Saya, want to spend the evening with me?"
Saya smiled and rolled her eyes saying "I already have a full evening of studying."
"But all work and no play makes a dull girl." Riley teased.
"I have more fun then I know what to do with. Maybe a little dulling will be good for me." Saya replied with an arched eyebrow. Riley laughed and walked off and Saya shook her head. "I don't get why he still teases me. I really don't think he is serious and I have been quite clear in my lack of interest."
Spock said nothing and Saya could tell he was mildly irritated… well mildly for him which was almost not at all. Saya invited Spock in and he saw the makeshift 3D chess board she had crafted as well as the handmade pieces. "You might have been able to requisition a set." He commented indicating the set.
"Meh, I like making things myself so I didn't mind. If you want to use your set though feel free to bring it. I know mine is far from perfect." Saya said as she grabbed her P.A.D.D. and laid on her bed opposite of how she slept. She started reading and Spock observed her for a few moments before setting up her chess set and practicing with the computer. Every so often she would ask a question to clarify the information she was reading but for the most part they just enjoyed what they were doing and the presence of the other.
"Vulcan females have good sense of smell. Does that mean the males have less?" Saya asked. Spock explained that though the females sense of smell was more sensitive, the males did not lack a reasonably decent capability. "You can put yourself in a sort of trance to heal?"
Spock looked up from his game at the question. "We are capable of focusing all of our energies on healing an injury however it is hard to come out of the trance and usually takes physical force." Saya nodded and both returned to their activities.
Saya started on the section about their telepathic abilities and didn't think much on it till she read about their touch telepathy. "Wait! So you guys have telepathy past mind melds?"
Spock noticed the odd tone in Saya's voice and answered carefully "Vulcans are capable of a few forms of telepathy. The first is touch telepathy. When physical skin on skin contact is made many Vulcans are capable of briefly knowing how the person feels or thinks in that moment. Some Vulcans have a second telepathy that allows them to affect a mind that is near enough. However this skill is less common and takes more concentration. Last is our Mind Meld, which I am sure you are aware of."
"So when I touch you, you read my mind?" Saya asked. Spock confirmed her statement and Saya thought for a moment before saying "Sorry, I will work on not doing that. I don't want you to have to see all the junk in my head randomly."
Spock blinked slightly taken back by the odd response before replying "I do not mind."
Saya smiled and went back to her reading. "You guys have pre arranged marriages… That's gotta be interesting." Spock seemed slightly displeased by the comment and Saya dropped it and just kept reading. "Plomeek broth, I should learn to make that." Saya said quietly to herself and Spock gave his twitch of a smile.
"So to overview Vulcans are 3 times stronger, double the lifespan, green copper based blood rather than red iron based blood, can go without sleep and water for long times, can go into a trance to self heal but takes sorta violane to get out, telepathic, democratic and polytheistic, and Vulcans only sweat if the temperature reaches 170F and humidity is 70% or higher." Spock observed her as Saya rattled of the bullet points and confirmed her facts.
"Well, I'd have to say Vulcans though quite different are also quite the same. It's fascinating to learn." Saya got up and put her P.A.D.D. away and sat down across from Spock, asking with a grin. "May I jump in? Maybe with the computer's assistance I could have a chance at beating you." Spock nodded. Though Saya did better than usual she still lost. After the chess game Spock said goodnight and went to his quarters. Saya went to bed smiling about the things she had learned.
*END*