"I'll be right back," Jim told Spock. He walked David to the bathroom while Spock waited for a table. When the waitress returned, she looked him over once and shook her head.
"We're full," she told him forcefully.
Spock glanced around the half-empty establishment. "You are not seating parties at this time?"
"No." She popped her gum.
Spock stood there, confused, and Jim came back several minutes later with David. He stood behind Spock, and the waitress came forward and motioned him closer.
"Just the two of you?" she asked pleasantly.
"Three," Jim corrected her, motioning to Spock.
"You're with that?" she asked incredulously.
Jim almost didn't hear her correctly and when her meaning came across he closed his eyes for a moment.
"Spock, take David outside."
Spock hesitated. "Jim, do not cause an unnecessary scene. We will eat elsewhere."
"Take. David. Outside. Now." Jim bit each word off. Spock moved to comply and the two left the building. Jim focused on the waitress. "Do you know who that was you just refused to serve?"
She shrugged. "An alien."
"That was Captain Spock of Starfleet, one of the highest decorated officers serving. He's the reason you're standing at your crappy job today, because otherwise we'd all be dead. He saved your sorry ass, so before you decide you're going to deny him service you need to think twice."
"He doesn't belong here. We take care of our own. Captain Kirk saved us anyway." She blew a bubble as if she were bored with the whole discussion.
"Do you know who I am?" Jim tried.
"Nope."
Jim sighed. "I'm Captain James T. Kirk. I'm the one you're crediting with the rescue of the planet."
"Yeah, sure." She snorted.
"I'd really like to see your manager." Jim cracked his knuckles. She shrugged and went back to the kitchen, returning with an older man who, upon seeing Jim, rushed forward.
"Captain Kirk, I am so sorry, is there something I can do?" The manager stood by nervously, glaring at his surprised employee.
"Well, you could seat my family at your restaurant and you could educate your employees. This woman has a serious attitude problem." Jim forced himself to remain polite.
"Certainly. Where is the rest of your family?" The man looked around quickly.
Babe, come back in. It's cool. "They'll be in momentarily." He stood there trying to portray confidence until Spock and David came back in.
The man nodded to Spock. "Commander Spock."
"Captain Spock," Jim corrected. "But at least you know who he is."
"Of course. This way, gentlemen." The manager led them back to a table and handed them menus. "Your meal is on us tonight. Please enjoy." He hurried away, hissing at the shocked young woman who had just refused to seat two of Starfleet's most popular servicemembers.
"Dad, what's going on? Why did she tell Father the place was full when nobody's here?" David looked around.
Jim looked down at his son. "You and I forget, but not everybody is cool with aliens. Some people think they don't belong here and they treat them bad. That waitress didn't like your father so she told him the restaurant was full when it wasn't. It's called discrimination."
"But Father's not an alien. He's a Vulcan," David insisted innocently.
"I am not a human," Spock pointed out. "That is the only piece of information that matters to some humans."
"That's wrong," David commented. "There are Vulcans and Andorians and Tellarites and Platonians, and they're all Federation citizens. I read about it on the Web. We're even really good friends with the Vulcans and they live on Earth too. Only stupid people don't like people because they're not human."
"Amen, kiddo." Jim glanced across the table at Spock, who had been strangely silent. You okay over there?
I am understandably in somewhat of a state of shock. I was not expecting someone to be so … blatant about her prejudices. Spock looked at his hands. I am concerned now for David, should this discrimination enter his life because of me.
"Father's feelings got hurt, didn't they?" David asked quietly.
"He's just a little surprised. That doesn't happen in San Francisco because of the Academy. Imagine if the woman didn't want to serve you because you were a kid. How would that make you feel?" Jim posed.
"I'd be mad! She should at least warn people, you know? Put a sign up! We would have gone somewhere else if we had known she didn't like him. She doesn't deserve to have us eating here." David was getting angry.
Jim shook his head. "We're staying here to make a point, David. We're bigger than that and we'll eat where we choose. You're right about one thing: if she's going to discriminate based on species she needs to have a sign up. But we're here now so let's eat and get back on the road." He locked eyes with his mate and shrugged. And you used to be worried about him being xenophobic.
The three ate and walked around for a bit before going back to the truck. Jim went around to the driver's side but Spock stopped him.
"Would you prefer I drive from here?"
"I haven't done my full time yet," Jim protested. "I only drove nine hours."
"You are becoming distracted in the process," Spock pointed out. "It will not bother me to complete the trip. This will free you to amuse our child while he is still awake. I assure you I do not mind."
"Okay. But if you change your mind you need to tell me." Jim went back to the other side of the truck and got in. David got in behind him and Spock entered his side. They pulled away from the restaurant and back out onto the road. It was silent for a long while in the truck. Two hours passed with not a word from anyone.
Finally David scooted forward. "Why is no one talking?"
Jim stirred in his seat. "Oh. Your father's weird about lots of noise when he drives. I didn't want to bother him."
"Ashayam, you would not have bothered me. Remember, I assumed this duty so you could entertain David. Provided you do not physically distract me, your discussions will not be a hindrance."
"Hey Dad, will you take me to school or will I take a bus?" David was thinking ahead to his new life.
"You'll probably have to take a bus. Your father and I leave pretty early. Come to think of it, Spock, we're going to have to adjust it so someone's home with him in the mornings and the evenings. I don't think I can do evenings, that's when my study groups meet." Jim began running through his schedule in his mind and found he was pretty tightly booked. "I can be there in the morning though. My TA can take the first class no problem. It's first year Introduction to Strategy."
"My evening class is a third year programming course, which I can teach from home. I am certain if we discuss the situation with the admirals they will understand. David's school begins at 7:15 and concludes at 2:45. His transportation should collect him before 6:45 and return him at approximately 3:15. We will know specifics after his first day." Spock slowed down as they entered another city area and traffic picked up.
"I wonder what the school is like. Does everyone's parents work for Starfleet?" David questioned.
"Do everyone's," Spock corrected under his breath.
"I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them do, slugger," Jim told him. "There will be married cadets whose kids attend the local school, and then there will be the Admiralty's children there with you. But don't worry if you don't want to admit who your parents are. Your last name is Marcus, no one's going to know it."
"Can I change my name to Kirk?" David asked.
Jim turned in his seat and looked at the boy. "If it were up to me, I'd say 'Whatever you want'. But your mom would probably have kittens if you changed your name. Why are you so eager to be completely away from your mom anyway? Isn't living with us full-time enough?"
"I just want to be known as Captain Kirk's son. I don't even have your name. It's not fair."
Spock shook his head. "You will undoubtedly become associated with your father in time, David. You may also find you do not appreciate the additional attention. I speak as the son of the Vulcan ambassador to Earth. Being the offspring of a well-known individual is not always a pleasant prospect."
"But Dad was known as Pappa George's son even though Pappa George was dead," David protested. "It was because his last name was Kirk."
