Hello again. This is your promised first of two chapters in order to make up for the two past fluffy chapters. I feel like I've been slacking off a bit on you. Enjoy your apology! –SpockSnapeStephen, 12/17/11
Kirk had been impressed with Jove's work. Sponsor calls had already been placed on both of the Enterprise tributes. Even so, he thought as they rewatched the opening ceremonies, I would have given nearly anything to be in Spock's place. Idly standing by made Kirk feel so… useless. He didn't like that. On the Enterprise Kirk was in charge. What he said, went. Kirk knew the doctor felt the same way about things.
"Alright. Now's the time to talk about training. Do you want to do this together or separately?" Kerra asked cheerily.
Peridot and Io looked at Spock and Uhura.
"Separately," Uhura and Io said in unison. Kerra gave a little pout. Being with the "aliens" was getting her more attention than she had gotten in a lifetime.
"Enterprise, in there," she pointed to an adjoining room, "Two, stay with me." Jove, Makaria, Uhura, Spock, Kirk, and McCoy all filed into the room. It was equipped with a table, an overhead, and a pack of overhead markers.
"Okay. Well, Bones and I already know what you can do. We've worked with you for years," Kirk said.
"Jove and I haven't. What can you do?" questioned Makaria.
Spock began, "I am capable of performing an action humans call the Vulcan nerve pinch. I can dispatch an attacker swiftly using martial arts. I also have a large array of knowledge on plants, animals, knots, and other things. I am skilled with various types of weapons such as the sword, phaser, and knives. In addition, Vulcans are naturally stronger, faster, and more durable than humans. "
Kirk turned to Uhura and saw her gulp, feeling her pain. When someone's abilities were set against Spock's, they always seemed inferior.
"Well, I have some knowledge of weapons and such," Uhura said.
"You also teach those classes," Kirk pointed out.
"Oh yes. I've been leading a combat program aboard the Enterprise for the security personnel. It's kind of like judo," the lieutenant stated more confidently.
"Well," Makaria smiled, "You're much better off than the majority of the tributes. The District Nine male has fallen sick! You know, I'm getting sick too. Oh dear. What am I going to do at the interviews if I have a runny nose?"
Yes, you're the one with the problem, thought Kirk sarcastically and quite out of his normal character.
"Speaking of the interviews and the like," Jove led to smooth the tension in the air that arose from Makaria's statement, "You have to report for Training. Hide what you can do. Learn something you can't."
"What about the interviews?" asked Doctor McCoy.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. But don't worry, Makaria and I have something up our sleeves," Jove said, a merry glint shimmering in his eye.
0o0o
Spock sat alone in the dining room of the Training Center, long since full. Throughout the lunch, tributes were called out to go to the private sessions in front of the Gamemakers. No one had come back.
Uhura had left moments ago and Spock had nodded to her curtly before she had gone. The lieutenant was obviously nervous.
Fifteen minutes later a small girl with chin-length red-gold hair called his name.
"Um. I'm looking for a, uh, Mister Spook? Spayk? Spoke?" The girl huffed impatiently and pointed somewhat aggressively at Spock.
"You there. You're up to bat."
"Up to bat?" Spock inquired, "I was not aware we were playing baseball."
"Just get in there!" the girl growled impatiently, shoving him towards the door.
Spock looked around calmly. The Gamemakers were staring intently at the foreigner, ignoring the food that was being brought out by Avoxes.
"Gentlemen," Spock bowed slightly and showed the Vulcan salute. A few of them tried to salute back, producing comical results. Only they weren't funny to Spock.
"I need a volunteer," he announced. The Gamemakers chatted nervously amongst themselves quickly.
"No Gamemakers will assist you. However," a male Gamemaker said and then raised his voice, "Alanna!" The teenage girl from before poked her head in.
"Yes Head Gamemaker?"
"We need you to assist this young… what are you anyways?" the Head Gamemaker asked rudely. Alanna looked nervously at Spock. He looked coolly back.
"Yes sir," she said, blue eyes wary. Alanna stood in front of him, back to the intent Gamemakers who were watching for Spock to grow tentacles and suck the life out of their assistant. Or something of the like.
"What I'm about to do will feel strange but it won't hurt much," explained Spock. He reached out and gently pinched Alanna's neck where it connected to her shoulder. Her eyes rolled up and legs gave way but Spock caught her and lowered her to the ground. Gasps from the Gamemakers arose.
"Do not be alarmed. She is merely unconscious. Alanna will regain consciousness in approximately an hour. Thank you for your attention." Spock stepped over Alanna's prone body, leaving the doctors to take care of her until she woke.
After all, she, unlike the tributes, would wake.
0o0o
Uhura thought the training went well. She had learned how to distinguish edible plants from poisonous ones just in case Spock wasn't… around for the whole of the Games. Uhura hated to think like that but she had to be ready. It was possible that neither of them, once they entered the Games, would ever see Doctor McCoy or Captain Kirk or her friends Nurse Chapel and Yeoman Rand or the Enterprise ever again. They could get jumped. They could get killed in their sleep. They could stumble unknowingly into a trap. Really, once Uhura and Spock went into the arena, all bets were off. Figuratively.
"Ooo! Scores are on!" Makaria squealed. Uhura walked to the television, just missing Navid Maul's score.
Maxandria Saleem; District One; 8.
Peridot Sard; District Two; 10
Iolite Bloodstone; District Two; 6. Uhura closed her eyes in a sudden onslaught of despair. All she had done was some fighting, using her opponent's leverage to win. It wasn't super impressive.
Miriam Gallucci; District Five; 4.
Sage Bakos; District Six; 7.
Rosemarie Dales; District Six; 3.
Cedar Weist; District Seven; 1.
How did anyone get a one? Uhura wondered. How could someone be that bad? Surely he had some skills. Then she remembered Cedar was the boy who had announced he was going to make sure he didn't win. Not for any especially heroic reason, Cedar just said he had nothing to live for.
Nuria Harad; District Twelve; 5.
Finnigan Hyatt; District Thirteen; 6.
Athena Williams; District Thirteen; 8.
Uhura held her breath, not wanting the tiny, gentle exhaling sound to, in any way, interfere with hearing her score.
Nyota Uhura; District Enterprise; 10.
Spock; District Enterprise; 12.
"Twelve?" Makaria shrieked, "No one… I've never… no way…" And she fainted.
Spock sat dispassionately in the middle of a whirlwind of congratulations. Jove slapped the Vulcan on the back heartily.
"Well done son!" he exclaimed. Spock opened his mouth, then (no doubt thinking of how futile it was to protest that he was not, in fact, Jove's son) closed it, shaking his head.
Uhura was still surprised she had gotten a ten. Sure she threw around her opponent a bit but really… Although Yeoman Rand said that was Uhura's hamartia, underestimating herself.
"Congratulations Lieutenant." Uhura looked up to see Spock looming over her.
"And the same to you Mr. Spock," she said quietly, musing.