Chapter 4
by Starsinger
In answer to a Guest's question about Saavik and the reboot universe, she got there in my story "Stir Crazy". Non-cannon, I know, but most of this story is. Don't own any of it. Again "*" denotes a previous story that will be referenced at the end of the chapter.
Sarek despaired over the young girl. Medical finally pinpointed her age at thirteen. She thrived when she was learning, but still would wander off for days at a time. The hardest point was when there were meals. She would sneak food off and into a corner before eating it. She never seemed to be hungry, and he had to remind her to eat. He sighed and contacted Spock about this problem.
Spock sat talking to McCoy about it. As a Doctor, Spock hoped that maybe McCoy could give him some insight. Strangely enough, it was the Captain whose own eating habits took center stage on this issue. Carol Marcus was good for many things, getting Jim to eat regularly was one of them. They entered the Academy Mess Hall, Jim's new Fleet Captain stripes gleaming on his sleeves,* arguing. Jim absently got a tray and went to a table on the far side of the hall near a corner of the room and began to eat, listening to Carol talk.
Jim, like Saavik, was lean muscle mass with little fat involved. He chewed his food slowly, and listened to Carol's tirade. McCoy and Spock approached them and asked if they could join them. They both watched as Jim slowly and deliberately ate his food. He also ate like a bird, barely enough calories to keep his body functioning. Jim's actions were very much like Saavik, eating like a hunted animal, taking the food to a corner where he could watch for any thieves. Whether or not he was aware of it, Jim's time on Tarsus IV resembled Saavik's time on Hellguard. Even in these secure surroundings, with no real danger, his childhood experiences were still so ingrained into his psyche that he absently continued those survival skills.
Jim slowly realized that he was under intense scrutiny. He finished a bite as he looked at his friends, "What's up?" he asked after swallowing.
"Jim," Spock said slowly, "we think you might be able to help us with Saavik." When Spock explained the situation, Kirk agreed.
After a short trip to Vulcan, Jim, Spock, McCoy, Carol and Uhura entered Sarek's home. Sarek was grateful to see them. "Where is she, Sarek?" Jim asked. Sarek pointed to a closet where the girl had taken refuge. "She speaks Vulcan?"
"And Federation Standard, now, Jim. Don't ask me where she picked that up."
Kirk nodded, he suddenly understood the girl. She was a lot like he was at this age. He opened the door and slowly stepped into the closet shutting it firmly behind him. "Hi," he said, sliding to the floor beside the girl. He could practically could feel her glowering at him from her corner. "You know, I know how you feel. I was once thrown away too." He could feel her reach out and touch him. Curious hands exploring his stomach. He didn't even move a muscle as she finished her own examination.
"Your brain doesn't tell you when to eat, you just want to find some hole in which to hide. Nightmares waking you up at night. And, the worst part of all, sleeping under your bed because you're afraid someone is going to sneak in and kill you." Jim turned toward her, speaking in Vulcan. "I know how you feel because I've been there." He told her what happened to him on Tarsus IV, even showing her the scars.** He felt her small hands on his back. It was amazing she could see anything as dark as it was. "Come on, let's go outside. I'll join you."
They finally sat at the table as Sarek set a small plate of fruit and cheese in front of Jim. They all watched fascinated, as Jim and Saavik both took the better part of an hour to finish their meals. His blue eyes met her brown, and he marveled at her unearthly beauty. He suddenly saw what Spock Prime must have seen so many years before. He smiled at her, and she bared her teeth at him. They both finished eating while Sarek and the rest watched in amazement.
Jim finally took her out onto the balcony, where they watched animals flying in the distance, "Saavik, do me a favor. Eat, regularly, I know this is a foreign concept, but Sarek is trying to help you." Saavik's face softened. "Can you read?"
"Yes, Sarek has provided me with tutors so I learn fast," her Vulcan was still stilted and halting. "He says I'll join other students soon. Will I be able to join Starfleet?" she asked, breathlessly.
"If you want, you could stay here and enter the Vulcan Science Academy," Jim said. She contemplated this fact quietly.
"Are you afraid?" she asked.
"No, little one, I'm not. Life will get better, for you it already has," he said.
Jim and his companions departed the next day, and the next week Saavik joined her peerage in the submersive learning environment that Vulcan provided. She excelled at her studies and moved quickly to the top of her class. Little by little she even improved on her emotional control. Unfortunately, she would not tolerate bullying, and flew into rages when children attempted this to other children, even herself. Years of hard living caused these rages to be even more fierce, and no full Vulcan could withstand her rage. She had to be pulled off three children before they learned to leave others alone. She made friends of those she defended, and held the grudging respect of those she opposed.
Saavik entered the fires of Pon Farr at sixteen. Sarek gave her a lecture about protection, since Pon Farr's only cure was mating, and let her find her own release. Sarek never pushed her, never tried to make her into something she wasn't. Even he was surprised when she entered the Vulcan Science Academy at seventeen.
*Admiral?
**A Long Road