I do not own Star Trek in any of its many forms and give credit where due to the writer and authors whose dialogue is reprised here.
AN: An early update!
Hari had once more packed him a homemade lunch. He wasn't entirely sure she was aware of the connotations of the action. In fact, he was certain she wasn't. He found it quite difficult to comprehend how she couldn't be aware of the implications. While her study of Vulcan culture and history could not be called extensive, it was definitive and her retention and understanding of that study was commendable.
Thus, the statistical improbability of her lack of awareness.
However, a marginal possibility remained. Was this truly a topic she had not come across in all of her study? Had he missed the possibility that she had not discussed so cultural topics with his mother? Had he ever considered the probability of that possibility?
[Eyebrow: why hello, hello. We need to learn how to wiggle]
No, there would be no reason for his mother to discuss or introduce the underlying assumptions and implications associated with the act of making and presenting homemade food to a Vulcan male outside of the context of one visiting another's home. Not to mention the regularity of her actions. Or her knowledge of his preferences, so far as he admitted to having them.
[Eyebrow: uncomfortable yet?]
Then again, he was not aware of Hari having any strong personal connections with any other Vulcans. He was aware she occasionally visited the embassy. When his mother was on Terra, they would often meet there as it was her primary residence. Otherwise, Hari only attended the special lectures, courses, or demonstrations that the embassy made available to the public biweekly. Regularly offering such programs was a large part of Vulcan's effort to build a better understanding of Vulcan culture and their place in the alliance, so it was logical for them to encourage her continued attendance. The likelihood of such programs covering the topic of Vulcan courtship customs and habits was minimal, however, and as he considered the various reasons they might be offered, they remained minimal.
It was not like him to be unable to calculate the relevant numerical values.
Her explanation at his initial hesitance had been as thorough as she could provide. It was a matter of cultural differences. Considering the exploration of such differences and understandings was the initial basis for the furtherance of their association, he had done his best to adapt.
[Eyebrow: you've done very admirably *twitch twitch*]
Perhaps, in a situation such as this, it would be best to speak with her directly? It was a logical approach given the circumstances and her own tendencies.
But would it create that 'awkwardness' he had been so recently advised against?
"Harriet," he finally asked in Vulcan, "if I may revisit a previous topic with you?"
"Hmm? Which topic?" Truly, her accent had greatly improved. If it were not for the occasional grammatical error, she would be able to pass as a near native speaker of his home dialect.
"The matter of packing a lunch made by your hand in the kitchen of your home."
"O? Do you still find the custom disconcerting?" The word 'disconcerting' did not properly exist in Vulcan. He was impressed she was still able to get the sense of the concept across.
… Did he find the practice disconcerting?
"I have come to the conclusion that you are not acquainted with certain related aspects of Vulcan culture."
"Kindly explain."
The request 'drove home' the fact he felt uncharacteristically out of his depth. Was this what Hari meant about the various emotional aspects of awkward, uncomfortable, and … was this perhaps embarrassment?
[Eyebrow: I'm here for you bro!]
By this point, Amanda could tell that both her son and Harriet sought love after a certain fashion. She knew that love was a difficult concept for Spock at the very least. While the concept wasn't entirely lost on a Vulcan, the pon farr mating ritual was an all encompassing, sufficient, and neatly contained experience, requiring no more or less than given. However, as a human, even if only half, he would, at some level, desire affection and deeper, more expressive relationships.
Yet he had no instruction in the subtle art of romance, and no true source from which to receive it. Sarek was a wonderful husband, and she knew well that he loved her in his own Vulcan way. But therein lay the problem. Sarek could not truly identify with his son's need for what he would consider illogical guidance in the way of courtship.
Then, he would remind both her and their son of T'Pring. T'Pring, who was very clearly showing signs of disagreeing with her parent's decision to pair her with Spock.
On a certain level, she agreed. It was a poor match. The practice of betrothing children in and of itself went strongly against her own sensibilities but she understood the practical and biological aspects that drove the custom. Without some form of outside influence though, she just knew her son would not admit to even a hint of his feelings or desires, much less any he might have towards a woman.
She needed to speak with Sarek. There was a logical argument that could be made for him to at least discuss the matter of the subtleties of Vulcan courtship and displays of affection. If nothing else, the discussion would help Spock form a better connection with T'Pring, and, just perhaps, help him through this journey on which both him and dear Hari found themselves.
Preferably to the continued detriment of his bonding with T'Pring.
"O dear," she said when the thought properly registered. "I think it's time for tea."
Harriet made it a point to ensure Spock met with her today. Per their usual Tuesday routine, this particular outing would include food. However, she didn't feel that the conversation she wanted, and he likely needed, to have would be appropriate to have in an acutely public arena. He was, after all, particularly Vulcan when upset, and determined to be even more so when in public.
So instead of meeting him at one of the Academy dining halls or the café, she'd made proper bento boxes for both of them and met him at his office. His office hours were some time off, so she had no worry of being interrupted.
Yet, that part of her magic that metaphorically leaned toward him whenever they were within easy reach of each other registered a distinct feeling of unease. Standing there behind his desk, Spock the subtle tenseness in his shoulders, the vague pinch between his eyebrows, reinforced the impression.
"I must defer until a later date as I do not think this is an appropriate discussion to have with a Terran female unaccompanied. However, I do not know how well studied you are on Vulcan physiology."
Whatever did that mean? Huh. Then it was a matter very Vulcan in nature indeed. She would just have to be polite and match her approach to fit with the linguistic limitations that conversing in Vulcan already posed.
"In the area of medicine and the general treatment of ailments of the body, my knowledge is sufficient to qualify for medical licensure." And then some.
He stood there for a moment, stock still and barely breathing. Were his cheeks tinted just that bit greener?
"Are you well Spock?"
"I am in good health. I am attempting to formulate my question in a manner that correlates with what I have learned of acceptable Terran behavior. I must admit that I am having difficulty."
"I respect that difficulty." And she did, certainly better than most others. "Shall we instead address the matter that brings us here rather than the shop or other eatery?"
With his ever so slight nod, she drew a seat closer to his desk and set about laying out the ridiculously colorful bento lunch. Instead of presenting them as two separate meals however, she arranged the tastefully flowered containers such that it was unclear which was intended for who and suggested that food could be drawn from either of the two boxes without exclusivity. Settling back a bit, she placed her hand within her satchel, summoned two small, beautifully hand painted rice bowls, and placed them on the desk.
Spock blinked. Harriet pretended she'd neither blatantly done something that broke the laws of physics as he understood them nor noticed the Very VulcanTM scrutiny that followed and simply began to daintily assemble her meal. After a moment, Spock began to do the same.
"The outcome of the recent Kobayashi Maru simulation was recently relayed to me. The specifics were not provided, but I do not suppose they are necessarily relevant." She paused to take a bite. "There is sufficient reason for me to suspect you are not satisfied with the performance of the cadet or the actions taken to achieve the outcome obtained."
"I have already determined that the simulation was compromised and acted accordingly. The cadet shall be appropriately censured."
The late afternoon found both Harriet and Spock meditating. Harriet personally couldn't find it in her to sit before Spock's alter, so they had compromised, deciding to sit as they found appropriate facing across from each other at a perpendicular angle to the alter.
Harriet had yet to decide how she felt about the practice. However, both he and Amanda had insisted. She simply couldn't find rest sitting alone with her thoughts. Neither peace nor the aftermath of Kolinahr could be found there. Yet she knew, both physiologically and psychologically, Vulcans felt very strong emotions, often with an intensity that outright required emotional suppression to control.
Why, then, did they insist on emotion suppression to achieve the peace she was unsure she personally sought when those emotions weren't that strong?
Why did even Smaug seem to be quietly meditating during the sessions he "followed" her to!
'It's unnatural I tell you!'
(so is Smaug!)
Still, their compromise remained. She could even admit that the additional time they had spent together, quietly meditating or talking about the science of life, death, trauma, and recovery, likely played a significant role in her re-finding some sense of balance in her life. She would have to admit as much to Amanda in her next communication.
Actually, should she? She was pretty sure Amanda was coming down with a case of the hopefuls… She really didn't need to encourage that…
'How can I not? The fact of the matter is I view Spocky as more than a friend, comrade, or brother.' And she was secure in the knowledge that he was in the same boat.
Sigh. What did that even mean?
"You are, as you have previously informed me, thinking too loudly."
Harriet raised a very Spocky eyebrow. 'Sass!'
"Per Surak's doctrine of logic, the purpose of meditation is to calm and keep tempestuous emotions under control. I wonder what Surak would have to say about thinking too loudly?"
Spockit gave her a look.
"It would be more beneficial if we directly discussed the thoughts preventing your success."
She gave him her best look.
"I can only describe it as being both restless and apprehensive." She grimaced, deflating a bit into the floor. "I need you to accept what I am about to say as something not to be readily shared, and then only with the most minimal detail."
After a Vulcan breath or two: "understood."
She drew herself up, back as straight and strong as could be when sitting in a lotus position. "My instincts are good Spock, and they are screaming. Whatever I am sensing – it does not bode well." Well, he already thought she possessed an extrasensory perception or some such…
"In fact, I am quite certain it will be massive in scale and equally … bad, for lack of more precise grasp of this… sense."
Spock's face settled into one of thoughtful consideration, his body stiffening even as he maintained his meditative seat.
"Harriet, if you have any greater detail, this information must be shared. If it concerns potential loss of life, I am obligated to share this information with my superiors immediately."
Harriet bit her lip as she once again weighed the consequences of speaking further. Spock, knowing her well after their months of "experimentation," recognized the look and held back any additional questions.
"The trouble, Spocky, is that I only know that it is imminent and large scale. I cannot say if it will be catastrophic but there will likely be sufficiently significant loss of life that it will throw – well, suffice it to say that I can sense it after a fashion but I cannot pinpoint it."
"Harriet –"
"No Spock," she said firmly. "I know this sense, I know to listen to it, I know to prepare for fallout and a large impact area, but that's all. It could be here, it could be in space, it could be on Vulcan for all I know. It simply will be." She hardened her features just that bit more. "Further, your superiors have already shown that their interests do not necessarily align with my best interests. I will not take kindly to their additional scrutiny or hospitality, even if it's you, especially if they hear it from you."
Spock the Rock was doing an admirable job of attempting to reassert himself. Yet the conflict he was experiencing was clear. She met his gaze head on, relatively fearless and without malice.
"I suggest an alternative."
"Proceed."
"As you are now a fully recognized member of the crew, I will inform Captain Pike of the warning I have received and the inability to obtain more precise information. When asked where I received the intelligence, I will state the truth: it was brought to my attention during my dedicated meditation period."
She quirked a smile. "You know perfectly well he shall not be satisfied with that response."
"It will be the truth; our integrity will be not be compromised."
She wasn't so sure about that last bit.
Pike was reviewing status updates on his new ship of the line when Commander Spock walked into his office and came to a halt in that ever so Spock way in front of his desk.
Pike didn't frown, but it was a near thing. The former Science Officer had already lodged his formal complaint to the Academy council. For all that he thought Kirk had potential in abundance, he could not deny his new First Officer's charges. He also couldn't deny the subsequent evidence of cheating found during the council's investigation.
"A moment of your time Captain."
"Is there problem?"
"Problem is neither a appropriately adequate nor precise term for this situation sir. Permission to speak freely sir."
Pike took a seat. "Go ahead." Spock and speaking freely were a near oxymoron. He couldn't wait -
"I need to reaffirm your commitment to the prime directive."
What in the heavens?
"Where are you going with this Commander?" he asked firmly.
He remained silent, stoic as ever, and the corner of Pike's mouth turned down.
"It is not my practice to intentionally endanger the members of my crew and after nearly a decade of serving with me, you well know that."
"I am aware Captain. However, there is a need for me to verbally reaffirm." He was starting to get a suspicion of where this was heading.
"Then, as a Starfleet officer, I reaffirm my commitment to the Prime Directive."
Spock nodded ever so slightly.
"There is what I have only been able to classify as a warning to convey." Then again, maybe he didn't know where this was headed. "With your permission?"
"Continue."
"In summary, an unknown event of sufficient scale to cause mass casualty is imminent. Near verbatim:
"My instincts are good," excision, "they are screaming," excision, "it does not bode well," excision, "it will be massive in scale." Stop. Excisions. "It is imminent and large scale," excision, "cannot say if it will be catastrophic," excision, "sufficiently significant loss of life." Stop. Excisions.
Pike sat up in his chair and leaned forward, fully alert.
"I know to prepare for fallout and a large impact area," excision, "It could be here, it could be in space, it could be on Vulcan," excision, "It simply will be." Full Stop.
He stood, his presence command incarnate. "Details Spock. Immediately."
"Sir, I requested additional details and relayed my obligation to share the warning. In response, I was told, verbatim: your superiors [emphasis] have already shown that their interests do not necessarily align with my best interests. I will not [emphasis] take kindly to their additional scrutiny or hospitality."
Pike carefully concealed his frustration, knowing full well it would be lost on the Vulcan. As far as Spock was concerned, the matter was being addressed as it should and/or could be with the urgency it was due in the most logical manner possible.
"When and where did you receive the information." What was he withholding, excising? Why was he doing it?
"The warning was brought to my attention approximately twenty seven minutes ago during my dedicated meditation period. I came to your office directly."
He frowned. "Why didn't you call me immediately?" Why didn't she tell him directly?
"A compromise had to be reached sir." A compromise? "Your office was deemed most appropriate and the travel time not detrimental. Visual support for your reaffirmation of the prime directive was also required."
'I want to know exactly what your expectations are Captain.'
'And what efforts do you expect me to make Captain? I will state it very clearly now that I will not be pushed to extend myself, my knowledge, or my connections for an endeavor that I do not approve of.'
'I was under the impression you made a living helping others extend their lives.'
'I do but there is a difference between extending a helping hand or offering hope and out right cheating death.'
Hell.
McCoy could easily spot Hari entering the lower tier of the assembly hall. He could also spot Uhura spotting Hari enter the lower tier with Spock.
He honestly couldn't tell who he felt more for: Uhura, Spock, or the rest of them. Hari could be a right menace when she chose and for some reason Uhura was hell bent on getting Hari to recognize her.
Uhura was too proper, too professional to outright glare or openly fume, but her chin raised just that little bit in irritation. After his ex, he could tell a woman on the edge of a war path. After meeting Hari and getting caught in her shenanigans? He paid close attention to any would be targets if only to avoid them and mitigate any method by which he could somehow turn into collateral damage.
Women.
As the members of the Academy council began to arrive, conversation started to fade. When the senior officers and school advisers took their seats, so did every one of the cadets. At the same time, and without the need for a command, all conversation ceased.
"James T. Kirk. Step forward."
Damnit Jim!
The gall of the woman! There was no reason for her to be here. To insist that she had a place amongst them was absurd! She wasn't a cadet and ensured everyone knew she wasn't a cadet by the way she dressed. The way she insisted on behaving around Commander Spock was grounds for dismissal from the grounds alone!
Nyota didn't seethe, but she certainly didn't show any warm feelings for the woman.
Pike sat quietly, back straight and mien serious.
"An incident has occurred that concerns the entire student body. Academic immorality by one is an assault on us all. It will not be allowed to stand. Cadet Kirk, evidence has been submitted to this council suggesting you violated Regulation Seventeen four-three pursuant to the Starfleet Code of Ethical Conduct. Is there anything you care to say before we begin?"
"Yes, sir, I do. I believe I have the right under the same Code of Conduct to face my accuser directly."
After some discussion with the administrator to his right, the commandant looked directly at Spock. He rose immediately in silent understanding, confidently descending the auditorium steps.
Even from where he was sitting, Kirk's look was could only be described as venomous. Yet, Spock's gaze was equally venomous in its indifference.
"Cadet Kirk, this is Commander Spock, one of our most distinguished graduates. He's the current programmer of the Kobayashi Maru test and has improved it considerably. At least, it was regarded as improved until your last run-through threw many of the modifications into question."
"Cadet Kirk," Spock opened with an impressive amount of control. "Much time was spent assessing relevant information following your recent taking of the test in question. Upon careful review, it became clear that you activated a subroutine that had been embedded in the programming code, an insertion that somehow succeeded in evading all protective firewalls and resets, thereby changing the conditions of the test."
That was unsurprisingly concise for Spock, not that he expected any less from him. Still, he was certain the Vulcan was as angry as a Vulcan could get…
"Your point being?" Kirk asked. Pike internally closed his eyes in wariness and a certain amount of defeat.
"In academic vernacular," Admiral Barnett enunciated coolly, "you cheated."
"Respectfully," the unrepentant cadet shot back, "you wouldn't accuse me of cheating unless you knew something I don't. The test's rigged, isn't it? I pretty much …"
Harriet sat like the general she was as Admiral Barnett began. While this was far from a court martial, Kirk needed the reminder that he'd chosen to join what was at its core a military institution. Furthermore, it was imperative for him to understand that carelessness, petulance, nonchalance, and other such disregard for peacetime training was a recipe for pain during times of duress.
"Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario." Spock's stare and apparent equanimity remained unchanged.
Kirk visibly bridled. "I don't believe in no-win scenarios."
Harriet bristled. 'Your beliefs are naïve and disrespectful of the sacrifice of your own father!'
"Then not only have you violated the rules," Spock calmly replied, "you have failed to understand the principal lesson that is embodied in the test."
'Darn straight.'
Harriet suddenly became hyperaware, her mind's eye absorbed in taking in the slightest detail, the slightest changes in the air and the midshipmen around her. Something was happening…
"– A captain cannot cheat death. The inevitable must be met with as much skill and resolution as possible. When 'winning' is self-evidently not an attainable goal, the objective must be to preserve and protect as much as one can –"
As time seemed to speed up again, she just knew that whatever had triggered that inner 'dangerous & unnatural' surveillance ward of hers wasn't happening in her immediate surroundings.
'If not here, where?"
" – achieve what can be achieved when survivability is no longer an option. To achieve – not to evade."
"Maybe you just don't like that I beat your test."
"I am Vulcan. 'Like' is not a verb in our vernacular. I fail to comprehend your indignation."
The part of Harriet that was still following the trial couldn't help but concede that statement was very likely a truthful confession on Spock's part. She couldn't recall his ever using the word or the truly expressing the concept. He had slight behaviors that indicated preferences, but no emotions or responses that indicated 'liking' something per se.
"I've simply made the logical deduction that when considering your recent performance and your rationalization for the actions you took, that you're a liar."
Kirk feigned astonishment. "What an idiot I am for taking that personally."
"At last: something on which we are agreed."
They most certainly were. In an abundance of understanding.
….She was an excellent multi-tasker sure, but why was half of that extra bit a her so intent on staying in this room, focused on this trial? There was no threat here that she could identify.
" – artificially altering those circumstances, you introduced an element that was outside the given parameters of the test. As a consequence, those cadets under your 'command' had their own response compromised. To satisfy – "
She'd known Spock could cut deep with his words alone. He was not disappointing.
"Have you taken the test, Commander Spork?"
"Spock. As a Vulcan, I require no additional training to control my narcissism when making command decisions. They are and will always be invariably based on reason, logic, and the facts as they exist in reality."
"This is a Red Alert – all officers are to report to duty stations."
Prompt: The Untold Story of Petya, Notpetya; Homemade Food. Hari cooks for Spock. Misunderstanding about the meaning. (partial fill for Nessamir); Drama Queens; Stick to the plot! 2
