Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek.
Chapter 15: Lots To Learn
When T'Nyra and Spock were done cleaning and reorganizing his room (which included putting all the clothes he'd outgrown in plastic bags), they went downstairs. Taking off the handkerchief off her face, T'Nyra breathed in deeply.
"Why do you take such a deep breath of air, daughter?" Sarek asked, raising an eyebrow at T'Nyra. She glanced at her father, and then looked back up at Spock's room. Then she turned back to her father.
"His room had an uncomfortable amount of dust," She said, glancing down at her attire. She wasn't covered in too much dust - so she wouldn't need to change before they went out shopping. "The particles in the air irritated my nose - however out here, there are no such particles."
"That still does not answer my question," Sarek said, and Amanda rolled her eyes. He always had to have an answer - pretty much every vulcan did.
"I took a deep breath of air," T'Nyra said, folding the handkerchief and handing to Spock. "Because the quality of air is not as full of dust particles as in Spock's room."
"Ah," Sarek said, giving a nod of his head. "That is logical."
"Indeed," T'Nyra said, before turning abruptly to face their two guests. "Are you ready to leave for the market?"
"All ready?" Jim asked, glancing at Spock. His first officer's clothing was a little dusty, to say the least. He didn't know much about vulcan etiquette, but he was pretty sure that wearing filthy clothing out wasn't considered 'logical'. "You don't want to change first?"
"My brother doesn't have any other clothes that will fit," T'Nyra said for her brother. Jim looked at her, both his eyebrows raised.
"But I thought he brought some extra clothing…" Jim said, standing. Christine stood with him, and went to stand next to T'Nyra. Across from her, Spock stiffened ever so slightly.
"That is correct, Captain," Spock said, nodding to Jim. "However, I packed my other Star Fleet uniforms, as well as formal wear."
"And this isn't a formal occasion?" Jim asked. At that point, everyone in the room gave Jim a 'What do you think?' look.
"I see you are not well informed on vulcan culture," T'Nyra said, folding her arms. She glanced at Spock. "I thought you would have taught your friends more about vulcan culture."
"I have," Spock answered, looking down at his sister. "However, I do not think that he retained the information."
"Strange," T'Nyra said, shaking her head. "But that train of thought is for another time. Come, Spock needs new clothing, and the market closes when the sun sets."
"How long do we have?" Christine asked, glancing outside. She couldn't tell how much time had passed since they'd come here. Not to mention, she wasn't used to the day and night cycles on Vulcan, and wasn't quite sure how to tell time by the shadows outside. T'Nyra glanced outside as well, and did the mental calculations in her head.
"I estimate we have approximately 4.57 hours before the market closes," She said. Sarek beamed, just a little, as she did so. She was smarter than many of the other vulcans at school, and though she got in trouble for 'day dreaming' - he knew it was only because she was bored. And that was largely due in part because his wife had ADHD. Apparently, it had been passed on to their daughter.
"I highly suggest taking the jeep," Amanda said, and both T'Nyra and Spock nodded. The jeep was something that Amanda's father had given to her on her wedding day. It had proved throughout the years to be a reliable vehicle, if a standout-ish one.
"You have a jeep?" Jim asked. Spock nodded as he led the way to the garage. T'Nyra matched her pace to his, and Jim and Christine followed after them.
"Father also has a hover bike," T'Nyra said, smiling a little as Jim's face went to one of astonishment.
"Your dad has a what?" Jim looked back at Sarek, whose left ear was pointed towards them. He was sure that he could see just the hint of a smile on the vulcan's face. He couldn't see Sarek riding a hoverbike...it didn't seem like something he would do.
"It appears there is much you do not know about me," Spock said, picking up a pair of keys from a hook. Jim watched as Spock, the guy who wouldn't come out of his quarters for several days - confidently moved into the garage.
There was definitely something going on here - and several things he didn't know about Spock. And he thought he'd learned all there was to know when McCoy went back in time...He and Spock had spent the better part of a month together - and during that time Jim had learned quite a bit about Spock.
He'd learned that his first officer didn't like talking about his family, that he was a vegetarian, that vulcan culture highly regarded manners, and that Spock enjoyed tinkering (and was very good at making do with what he was given).
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised…" Jim said to himself, following Spock into the garage. T'Nyra raised an eyebrow at Jim. He caught the look, and reciprocated the eyebrow raise. "He didn't like talking about his home with me. Or anyone else on the ship, for that matter." He added forT'Nyra's benefit.
"Interesting," T'Nyra said, looking back at her brother. "I find that I am opposite. I enjoy talking about my family - though I am told I talk too much about my home life."
"I don't think you talk too much," Jim said, giving her a smile. She let a smile grace herself for a second in front of him, before putting her mask of emotionlessness back on.
"That is not what I said," T'Nyra said, "However I accept your compliment."
An hour later, when they arrived at the Vulcan Market...
"Wow," Christine said, looking out at the various stores lining the street. The Vulcan Market was, in reality, the human version of a mall. Various stores were located next to and on top of one another, all of them in the same area.
However, this 'mall' being on Vulcan, it came with all the practicalities that it implies. Stair cases placed so one could climb up to one store to another, and skyways leading to different areas covered the market. It looked like a mathematically made labyrinth - one that was extremely practical as well as pleasing to the eye.
"This place is amazing," Jim said, stepping out of the jeep and onto the paved road. Spock stepped out of the jeep too, and took in the sight of the market. It had changed somewhat since he'd left - but it still looked mostly the same.
"It is an impressive piece of architecture," Spock said, closing the door. T'Nyra hopped out and looked at the market with a hint of worry. She hoped that none of her classmates were there - or her teacher. They would likely take the opportunity to criticize her openly in front of those she knew, as well as everyone else in sight.
"What are waiting around here for?" Christine asked, closing her door and walking ahead of the others. "Lets go shopping!"
"Are you planning on purchasing apparel as well?" T'Nyra asked, jogging a little to catch up with Ms. Chapel. The nurse nodded absentmindedly as she took in all the stores. She was overwhelmed by the many places that one could shop at. "Brother, may I suggest we split up. I can go shopping with Ms. Chapel, and you with Mr. Jim."
"I agree. Captain?" Spock said, glancing at Jim.
"First off - call me Jim. We're off duty, and I want to be called Jim. Not Captain, not Mr. Kirk, and definitely not Mr. Jim."
"It is polite to call one by their title," T'Nyra said, trying to walk close to the two men without straying too far from Christine. "Unless, of course, they know one another or are related."
"But you do know me," Jim said, folding his arms as he and Spock followed after Christine. It seemed that they'd stick together until they reached the market and they had to part their separate ways. (Vulcan store that contained clothing were separated into stores just for males, and just for females - very much unlike the stores on Earth).
"On the contrary," T'Nyra said, "I do not know you. Your are a friend of my brother, and he knows you. However, I do not."
"Geez, you're just like your brother," Jim huffed, and he was sure he saw Spock's smile for a millisecond. "Always so specific and technical when it comes to names and manners!"
"Perhaps it is a genetic trait," Spock suggested. "After all, T'Nyra and I are both half-vulcan."
"Indeed," T'Nyra agreed. This conversation was reminding her that she was only half-vulcan, as many of her classmates liked to point out. They liked to tease her, and say that she daydreamed because she was half-human. But the real reason she daydreamed was because she got bored in class.
She was extremely smart, more so than the average vulcan, and when she attended lectures on things she knew - she tended to drift off out of boredom. Not because she was human, but because she was bored (though one could argue that boredom was a human trait).
"Or maybe it's something human," Jim countered, and T'Nyra's head snapped around to face him. This was not the time nor the place to bring up being half-human. Not for T'Nyra, at least.
"Please excuse me." She said curtly, and jogged back up to walk beside Christine. Jim watched her go, and looked to Spock.
"What did I say?" He asked. Spock's eyes were still on his sister when he spoke, his voice lowered so that she wouldn't pick up on it.
"I suspect she is sensitive about her mixed heritage," Spock said, glancing back Jim. "Most likely due to the illogical belief that being half-human is a liability on Vulcan."
"That makes no sense at all," Jim said, just as quietly. "Her differences make her stronger. Just like her older brother."
Spock turned back and locked eyes with Jim. The captain thought he was...stronger than most other vulcans? Did he know how much Spock struggled with his emotions? How many times he'd lost control of his emotions? That he'd run away from his family at young age because he couldn't deal with his home problems? If he did, Spock was sure he wouldn't have given him that compliment.
"I do not think you have significant information to state that," Spock said, and Jim's eyes widened in surprise.
"What do you mean, Spock?" Jim asked. "I've known you for a year - and I know for a fact that you're stronger than you look."
"That would be due to myself growing up on Vulcan, which has a higher gravity than Earth -"
"It has nothing to do with that," Jim interrupted. "I'm talking about the way you're able to hide your emotions so well, to take on McCoy's button pushing without reacting outwardly - the way you take on what people say and aren't affected by it. That's what I'm talking about."
"It seems, Captain," Spock said, looking away from Jim. "That you don't' have enough information to make that assumption."
"Then tell me what I'm missing," Jim said, feeling exasperated. Spock shook his head and headed towards the nearest clothing store for vulcans Spock's age.
"As of right now, I would prefer to concentrate on picking out my wardrobe." Spock said over his shoulder before going into the store. Sighing, Jim ran a hand through his hair. Spock could be so stubborn sometimes - and, it appeared, lacking in self-confidence.
"Fine. You don't want to talk about it now? I can wait." Jim said quietly to himself. Several of the vulcans passing by gave him confused glances. Jim noticed others were staring, and clearing his throat, nodded to them before following Spock into the store.
I hope this chapter moved smoothly along. It feels like forever since I've worked on this story. How do you like the way T'Nyra's character's turning out? I wanted her to have something in common with Spock (other than sharing the same parents). Anyway, chapter 16 is on the way (and I will upload it, and not forget about it like with chapter 14 - don't worry).
