Chapter Three: Progress
Jim Kirk watched in excitement the vision of a blue, green, purple and white planet appeared on the screen. They were orbiting this planet, waiting a small amount of time to analyze it.
"It appears to be a Class M planet, Captain, Colonel," announced Spock, looking into the viewer. "Populated by humanoids as well as various animals. Slightly lower gravity than we're used to, and their waters appear to be purple and white as well as blue, but otherwise a perfectly normal class M planet."
"Well then, I propose we assemble a landing party immediately! Chekov, Spock, you two, Dr. McCoy and myself will go down there and leave Scotty in command."
"Um, Captain?"
Kirk blushed and turned to the second command chair where Colonel Minerva sat, smiling. "Of course, Colonel, we leave you in command."
"Actually, I was going to suggest I go with you. It wouldn't be safe to send the commanding officer down on an unfamiliar planet without a member of security there. I also possess a great deal of scientific knowledge that could be useful."
"Wouldn't it be an even bigger risk to have both commanding officers land?" Kirk asked her.
"Captain, I can only die in a war-related death or by choice. There is no chance of losing me."
"Captain, it would actually be more logical to have Colonel Minerva go instead of you," said Spock, "She is less likely to be lost and is more capable of defending the party in case of any hostile encounter. It would also be good to have a Scyran officer involved to observe the practices of a standard landing party."
Kirk was annoyed by this statement. He expected a little more loyalty from his friend. But if Spock said it was logical, it probably was. "Fine, Colonel, why don't you and a Scyran Officer of your choice accompany us?"
"Thank you Captain. First Lieutenant Cynara is our top plant biologist, she would be an excellent addition."
Spock nodded. "Most logical."
"Very well, call her up and then we'll beam down."
Jim wasn't sure how he felt about this situation. Minerva and Spock were right of course, but he felt his authority being…. Not exactly challenged but definitely prodded, for lack of a better word. He'd just have to get used to the fact that he wasn't the only one in command anymore.
Upon landed on the planet, Lieutenant Cynara immediately started to take readings along with Spock and Minerva. McCoy walked up just behind Jim and whispered. "I always thought our away teams could use some more beautiful women."
Kirk could definitely see what McCoy meant. For some reason seeing the green-winged, shapely, violet-eyed women at their work was oddly calming; though it was hard to resist the urge to stroke the Colonel's black wavy mane and the Lieutenant's blonde curls. It definitely made it more enjoyable, and they definitely did go along with the lovely planet, which was like a beautiful garden with purple and blue-leaved trees.
"Mr. Chekov, we do not require two surveys of the same area, kindly move somewhere else to take your readings." Spock called out to the Ensign, not listening to his friends' conversation. Chekov grudgingly moved from his place next to Minerva and started taking readings of in the distance.
Spock then eyed the Captain and McCoy carefully, who proceeded to start taking their own readings.
After a few minutes, Kirk called them all together.
"Colonel, I think it would be prudent to split up into teams, do you agree?"
She nodded. "A very good idea, Captain."
"Thank you, why don't we split up into pairs. Chekov and I will go one way, Dr. McCoy and Lieutenant Cynara can go another, and you and Spock a third way? We'll meet back here in twenty minutes."
"I'd rather be paired off with you and have Chekov go with Commander Spock, if you please. Or have the Lieutenant go with you instead. One of the reasons I came down, after all, was to see to your safety and I'd feel more comfortable if you were with a Scyran Officer."
"Very well, the Lieutenant can go with Spock, McCoy will go with Chekov, and you'll come with me."
They agreed and the three pairs split up.
They met back twenty minutes later with plenty of readings concerning the plant life, but still no sight of the humanoid race that was supposed to inhabit planet. It was becoming troubling, as one of the most important parts of their mission was to encounter and observe the intelligent life that inhabited the planets they discovered.
"I think it would be a good idea to have the Lieutenant take the air and scan the land that way for life."
"A logical idea," agreed Spock, "She could cover more herself by air than all of us by foot. Perhaps you should do the same."
Minerva looked uneasily at the others. "Are you sure you will be safe without us."
"We've been able to handle away missions without Scyran bodyguards before, Colonel," said Kirk impatiently. He didn't like being treated like he needed baby-sitting. "I assure you, we'll be fine."
"Very well. If we don't find anything in an hour, we'll come back." With that, the two women took to the air and flew off.
"Nice one, Spock," grumbled McCoy, "We finally get the pleasure of two beautiful, available women accompanying us on an away mission, and you get them to fly off and leave us."
"I was not aware you were keeping track of their marital status, Doctor, nor was I that you yourself were a free man."
"I'm not, but that doesn't mean I still don't like to look!"
"In any case, the two of them are here to contribute to the mission, not entertain your libido. It would be highly illogical to keep them with us when they could do us a better service by taking to the air."
"Oh come on, Spock, even you must enjoy looking at the occasional pretty girl!" McCoy said, exasperated.
"If I were to get in the way or my and the lady's work by looking at her simply because of a feeling of attraction, it would be illogical and disrespectful. There are no female Officers, just as there are no male Officers. There are Officers that are female and officers that are male. Officers are always officers first and I do not view them as anything else." Spock answered. "I look at officers that are female on duty no differently than I look at officers that are male on duty. I also find that many of you humans are often distracted by your attractions. I am immune to such a weakness. I appreciated the presence of the Colonel and the Lieutenant for the services they are able to provide."
McCoy snorted. "Yeah, right. Then what about off-duty, Spock? Do you let yourself feel attracted off-duty?"
"I have better use for my time," replied the Vulcan simply.
"Bah!" McCoy answered. "You're not fooling anybody with that computer act! One of these days you're going to reveal your human side, I just hope that I'll be there when it happens."
"Well, Doctor," replied Spock, "I hope then that you live for a very long time."
Kirk's lip curled. While sometimes Spock and McCoy's verbal sparring could be annoying, it was times like these when they were highly entertaining.
"Come on, Spock!" McCoy said, "Even you have to feel the desire for good old-fashioned sex once in a while! Not even a Vulcan is immune to the calls of simply biology."
"Indeed, Doctor, you have yourself witnessed myself at a time of sexual desire," answered Spock, "But now is not one of those times. Officers are Officers, not sex objects. For such an activity, I would need a Vulcan woman."
"Bullshit. Vulcans are capable of mating with humans too. You're proof of this!" McCoy answered triumphantly.
"Perhaps, but I would still prefer a Vulcan woman." Spock insisted.
"I don't care what race she is," Chekov said, "As long as she's humanoid, good-looking, and able to carry on a decent conversation, I'm open. Those Scyran women, though, they're gorgeous."
"They really are, making love with them must be like making love to an angel," McCoy mused wistfully.
"It is," Kirk said, satisfyingly. All of the men, even Spock, looked at him, completely stunned.
"You mean, you slept with one of the Scyrans, Jim?" McCoy asked.
"Oh yes, with Colonel Minerva, actually," replied Kirk, "We did it one night in her quarters after she put her daughter to bed. She asked me for a one night stand, no strings attached, and I complied. None of her lovers were picked to be part of the crew, you see, so she had been feeling a little lonely. The Scyrans have a very casual attitude toward sex. I was surprised how little awkwardness there was after. It was excellent, but it was done when we were finished. I was shocked at how easy it was."
"Damn." McCoy said. "You mean, she didn't expect anything after?"
"No, not at all. It was almost like it didn't happen," explained Jim, "It was a fantastic experience. Sex for Scyrans can be a very deep, romantic things, but it can also be a means to an end. In this case, it was a means to an end. She made that very clear before we did it."
"You didn't feel anything?" Chekov asked.
"No, but then, I've got my eyes on someone else." Kirk said simply. He saw Chekov's expression darken.
"Captain! Commander! Doctor! Chekov!"
The four men looked up to see Lieutenant Cynara descending upon them. When she reached the ground, she looked at Jim and requested to give a report.
"Request granted, Lieutenant." Jim answered.
"I have found a village on this planet. These people call themselves the Rubrazens. I have sent a message to Colonel Minerva and she is heading back now. I did not make any contact with them for fear of violating the Prime Directive. I can lead you to them once Minerva gets back."
"Excellent work, Lieutenant."
Minerva quickly arrived and the landing party made their way to the village, hiding behind bushes to observe the people once they got there. They were humanoids with very tanned skin who dressed in plain. Old-fashioned clothes.
"They appear to be in the midst of their bronze age," Spoke said. "I cannot place their language, but it seems similar to Klingon. May I suggest we record a sample and have Lieutenant Uhura analyze it?"
"Excellent idea, Spock," answered Minerva.
Spock paused before answering. "…. Thank you, Colonel."
Minerva took out her tri-corder and started to record a conversation between two of the people."
They continued to observe the people, who seemed to have an egalitarian society based on agriculture and black-smithing. They seemed happy and healthy, and according to the health scans that McCoy was able to acquire, similar to Betazoids in their physiology.
"Do you think they may have telepathic or empathic abilities?" Lieutenant Cynara asked.
"If they had, they would have discovered us by now," McCoy answered. "But I definitely think it's possible they could end up developing some." He put his tricorder away. "Well, I think that's all we can really acquire for now."
"Understood." Kirk opened his translator. "Kirk to Scotty."
"Yeah Captain?"
"Find our location and bring us aboard, ."
"Will do, Captain."
Counselor Jack Steinem groaned as he looked at his itinerary. He had a session with Spock next and was not looking forward to it. He didn't think that when he was assigned to the Penthesilea that he would be saddled with the responsibility of trying to analyze a half-Vulcan who pretended he was a full one.
It had been over a week since the incident where Captain Kirk had ordered his first officer to attend daily sessions with the ship's counselor. As far as Jack was concerned, he was the one truly being punished with this arrangement. Trying to analyze Spock was like trying to analyze the emotions of a brick wall. All Spock would admit to were "Illogical human emotions".
When Jack asked him which particular human emotions he was referring to, Spock would always answer the same way.
"I fail to see how that is relevant. They are irrational human emotions, which are all one and the same to a Vulcan."
Today, however, Jack was going to try something else. He carefully planned his words in his brain as he waited for Spock to arrive. When the Vulcan finally did, Jack felt prepared. He opened the door for Spock as always and had him sit on the couch in his quarters.
"How are you feeling, Spock?" Jack asked as he sat across from his Vulcan patient.
"Healthy enough, Counselor," replied Spock, "If I were feeling sick I would have reported to sick bay."
"I mean mentally, how do you feel?" Jack answered, "Are those illogical human emotions still plaguing you?"
"Somewhat, yes, but unlike nine days prior, I have them well under control now," answered Spock.
"Good! Then you can tell me what they are then."
"I have told you before, Counselor, that is not relevant."
"Then why can't you tell me?" Jack asked him. "I mean, if it really doesn't matter, then you should have no problem telling me what they are, right?"
"It would be a waste of time."
"But are we not already wasting time by arguing about this? I can't let you go until I am sure you're well mentally and emotionally. And I can't be sure until I know what it is you're feeling."
"Does it matter since I have them under control?" Spock asked.
"See, I'm not sure you do. They're affecting your decision to tell me, I know it. If you really had them under control, you'd have no reservations about telling me. You don't want to be here, so you'd do whatever it is you could to have this done as quickly as possible. But by not admitting your feelings to me, you're dragging this out. That doesn't very Vulcan to me. Are you afraid I might tell someone? Because, I assure you, these sessions are strictly confidential. All I can tell Colonel Minerva is whether or not we've made progress."
Spock shifted, slightly. "It is a very… delicate matter."
"Believe it or not, Spock, I can help you. Refusing my help when you're so unfamiliar with your human side. It's the only way you're going to be able to work this out, Spock."
"My feelings are… inappropriate for an Officer such as myself." Spock admitted.
Jack felt his stomach rise. Finally! They were getting somewhere!
Spock sat in his quarters, playing his lyre and trying not to worry about his session with the counselor. He was scared of what he told Counselor Steinem getting out. He knew worry and fear were human emotions. But so were the ones he confessed to Counselor Steinem and he was having a hard time controlling those feelings.
He was ashamed. He never should have told the Counselor all that. No doubt it would come back to haunt him.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when the doorbell rang. He calmed himself quickly and went to the door to find the Captain and the Colonel waiting for him. He invited them into his quarters, worried they were going to confront him.
Back on the Enterprise, Spock wouldn't have really been able to entertain guests. All his quarters had been there was a bedroom adjoined to an office with a private washroom. The Penthesilea was a different story. He had a sitting room adjoined to a dining room equipped with a food replicator and a separate bedroom, office, and bathroom. The rooms were spacious enough to accommodate a whole party if he wished. He invited them to sit down and offered them drinks from his replicator.
"Tarkaillian Tea, please." The Colonel said, setting herself down on the couch.
"I'll have a coca-cola." Jim requested.
Coca-Cola was one of those human beverages Spock did not understand. It had absolutely no health benefits whatsoever, it made them bloat and gain weight, and yet they drank it like water. Spock got their drinks and sat down with them.
"We've got bad news, Commander." Minerva said after taking a small sip of her tea.
Spock was surprised. Surely this was a strange way to start to tell him they knew what was going on with him, but he just weighted.
"And what news is that, Colonel?" Spock asked.
"Uhura is unable to translate the language the Rubrazens spoke." Minerva replied.
"So then what is our next move?" Spock asked, concealing his relief. They were not here to talk about his feelings!
"Spock, Uhura is one of the top Linguists in Star Fleet," Kirk said, "If she cannot figure it out, then we're going to have to bring in non-Star Fleet help. It just so happens that the best non-Star Fleet linguist in the Federation happens to be—"
"-Amanda Grayson." Spock finished for him. "My mother."
"We didn't think you'd mind having her aboard the ship," said Minerva, "But when we contacted her about helping us, she asked that we check with you before setting up the job. Would you mind terribly if we had your mother come aboard to help us?"
Spock thought for a minute. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of his mother in his current state, she had a way of figuring things out about him some way he could not figure out. But if he said no, that was no doubt going to raise a few flags and he could not afford that.
"I have no objections to my mother coming aboard and assisting the crew. She is more than qualified for the job."
Minerva got up happily. "Very well then! That's all we needed to know! We'll send word to Professor Grayson, set course for Vulcan, and pick her up and then come back. Thank you, Mr. Spock. Captain?"
Jim got up and followed the Colonel to the door. After they left, Spock returned to his lyre, wondering what the Hell he had gotten himself into.
McCoy looked at the Colonel enviously as they waited for Professor Grayson's shuttle to land. Like them, she was dressed in her dress uniform. But unlike the Star Fleet dress uniforms, hers didn't look insanely uncomfortable. Rather, it was loose-fitting, with a wide, low-cut square neckline trimmed in platinum, a platinum-belted green loose tunic and green breeches. Now high, tight, restricting collar, no tight chest line or stupid gold braid. No restricting pants. McCoy couldn't understand why Star Fleet's dress uniform had to be so uncomfortable.
Minerva looked back at him with an expression of bewildered sympathy, as if she were wondering the same thing. In her hands was a beautiful but unfamiliar looking object that looked like a seven-pointed star with two roses crossed in front of it. The roses' petals were made out of opal, their stems Emerald, and the star was made of platinum and rubies.
"What is that your holding, Minnie?" McCoy asked, trying to get his mind off the uniform.
"A gift for Professor Grayson," replied Minerva, holding it up. "It is a holy item, very symbolic. I'll explain its significance when I present it to her, but it is a Scyran custom."
"That is very kind of you, Colonel," Jim told her, "Professor Grayson happens to be the wife of Ambassador Sarek, so you are doing an honor to Vulcan as well as Professor Grayson with this gift."
"This gift does not have to do with her husband, but more to do with her and Spock," explained Minerva. "But I am glad that it will do some good politically as well."
Just then the shuttle approached and Kirk and McCoy assumed an attention stance, which Minerv and Spock had already assumed. To their surprise, when the shuttle docked, Ambassador Sarek was the first to emerge, followed by Amanda.
Minerva was curious about Spock's mother. A woman who had left her own planet to live amongst a completely different culture and raise a child in it was no doubt a formidable woman. She expected Professor Grayson to be as serious and unemotional as Spock, but the woman was smiling, dressed in an elaborate head dress and a shimmering green gown.
The Officers gave the Ambassador and his wife the Vulcan salute, and Kirk introduced Minerva and the Sarek couple.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," replied Amanda graciously to Minerva, "I had no idea Scyrans were so lovely."
Minerva held up her gift. "Professor Grayson, I would like to present you with the Heloyoko Star, an honor we Scyrans give to esteemed mothers in our culture. It represents our Mother Goddess Heloise and our Goddess of Fertility and Children, Miyoko, blessing and recognizing the sacrifice, gift, duty, accomplishment and honor that being a great mother is."
Amanda took it from Minerva, looking shocked. "Oh my, it's beautiful! I feel so honored and flattered, thank you, Your Royal Highness!"
"Please, call me Minerva, or if you must use a title, call me Colonel," replied Minerva, "I am glad you like it. It is capable of being shrunken down into a necklace pendant."
"In most cultures, mothering awards are given to women who have had many children," Sarek said, sounding confused. "My wife has only had one."
"You don't have to have many children to earn this award. Your wife bravely left everything she knew and successfully raised a child amidst a very different alien culture and helped make him into a great man. That is more than enough to deserve the Heloyoko Star," explained Minerva.
"She also married a high-ranking Ambassador," commented Sarek, "No doubt helping her case."
Minerva did not miss the insinuation. "Well, no offense, Ambassador, but this rite has absolutely nothing to do with you. This honor does not involve any man apart from the mother's male children. We do not have marriage or husbands in our society, so who the woman in question is married to really does not enter into the equation."
"It is a lovely gesture," Amanda assured the Scyran. "I only wish I could return it in some way."
Minerva smiled. "It is no matter. You return the gesture with the hard work you did to make Spock what he is today. I know, I have seen six of my children reach adulthood."
"Oh my!" Amanda sounded shocked. "How many children do you have?"
"Seven. My youngest child, Arsinoe, she lives on the ship with me. She is five and I hope you will meet her aboard the ship."
"You look too young to have any children, let alone six adult ones." Amanda commented.
"Remember, Wife," Sarek said, "The Scyrans are immortal and though they look young are usually much older. How old are you, Colonel?"
"Twenty four hundred and forty of your years old, Ambassador." Minerva told him. "Now, if you and your wife will accompany myself and Mr. Spock on a tour of the ship?"
"We would be happy to." Sarek answered.
Four hours later, Amanda was in Minerva and Arsinoe's quarters while Sarek was in Spock's quarters, discussing a matter of importance with his son. Spock had told his father that he require counsel regarding a matter only Sarek could help him with. After their discussion, Sarek and Spock went to the Colonel's quarters and found Arsinoe sitting in Amanda's lap on the couch and reading a book of Scyran theology to her. Spock looked at his mother, who seemed extremely content with her current position. She and Arsinoe looked up at Spoock and Sarek and Amanda spoke.
"You know Spock, even though the two of you are quite different, she reminds me a lot of yocu at this age. Have you learned anything about Scyran theology or history? It's very fascinating."
Spock shifted his weight. "I have not had much time to learn more than the things my Scyran peers have mentioned in passing, no. But I understand it is indeed a fascinating study and intend to look into it myself in the future."
Amanda got up from the couch with Arsinoe, then bent down to face the little girl. "You go and tell your Mommy that I had a very good time and left to have dinner with my family, alright?"
"Okay." Arsinoe said, nodding. "Thank you, Professor."
Amanda straightened up and looked at her two men. "Shall we go?"
They left Minerva's quarters and it wasn't long before Amanda spoke.
"The Colonel is quite lovely," remarked Amanda, not looking at her son as the two of them walked along the halls.
Spock wasn't sure how to respond to this. His mother had an uncanny ability to figure out certain things without Spock knowing he was telling her something. He didn't want to tell her anything by accident.
"I find her to be an excellent Commanding Officer and a very intelligent person," replied Spock, "She performs her duties with utmost dedication and efficiency and seems to be a good mother as well."
"That Little Arsinoe is very sweet." Amanda said. "I was so touched by the two of them, making it work on a Star ship. They really prove that military service does not have to get in the way of family. Someday I hope you have an arrangement like that, Spock."
"Wife, there is no need for you to remark. Spock's situation is satisfactory." Sarek said.
"Can I help it if I want to see grandchildren before I die?" Amanda replied, hurt. "I mean, it's all well and good for Spock to have all the time in the world, but I don't. He's had plenty of time to find someone, settle down, and start a family."
Spock didn't know how to feel about what his mother was saying. He could sympathize with her worries, but he didn't think it was very logical."
Sarek gave Spock a significant look. "Give him time, Wife, give him time."