Hey, guys!
I hope your summer is going well! Here is another chapter that I hope you will enjoy. As I said before, you can expect another multichapter almost immediately after this one ends and, of course, I am pretty good at posting oneshots, which I know I have a couple more of.
Disclaimer: As I have told you repeatedly, I do not own Start Trek. Unfortunately, Santa refused to give it to me for Christmas. Arggh! However, I do own the story and the before mentioned things, such as Niburan, it's inhabitants and language, and some other miscellaneous things.
I furiously changed out of the uniform I had worn on the planet surface, pulling out my dress uniform for the trial that will soon continue. "There is nothing we can do?" I asked, not looking at the Vulcan man sitting on the bed behind me.
I could so clearly remember how painful it was when I was burned by the wax, and could not imagine the immense pain the child must have gone through. Not to mention the heightened sensitivity of the white skin that both myself and Abria shared. Whenever I brushed my clothes against it in an odd way I cringed.
I remembered the night Spock and I had bonded. How he would stroke burn on my stomach, causing shivers to go up my spine; when he ran his tongue from my navel to the oddly shaped burn on my abdomen, causing me to tremor uncontrollably before nearly bringing me to a sweet release... How painful would, say, a mosquito bite be to Abria? Or scraping her knees, as children were apt to do?
"The child is theirs. We have no say in the matter. It does not jeopardize the Federation or any of its ships as the kidnapping did," he told me, resting his palms gently on my bare shoulders. It heightened our mental connection even more, allowing our thoughts and emotions to flow effortlessly into each other, as if a dam had been broken. He had seen our memory as clearly as I had, and I couldn't help but smile at my effect on him. I looked up at the mirror in front of me, looking into his eyes over my head. "Although unorthodox and seemingly cruel, it does not prove he is responsible for the kidnapping - the chemical used on both you and the child is well known and has been used for centuries by monarchs to make themselves seem fit for their rule," he continued. I sighed, pulling my dress uniform on over my head and watched as his hands ran along some of my belongings, as if committing the feel of them to memory. "And whilst it seems immoral to some," he pointed out, "The Joremur could argue that he did it for his daughter out of love, to ensure she would have a good life in the future as Zesthu. Times are changing, and the Joremur is obviously not popular amongst his people because of his choice to join the Federation of Planets. Tradition is starting to be discarded in favor of new ways - Abria is now not only white-eyed, but white skinned as well - she will be looked upon as a miracle now on planet Niburan. It is fascinating."
I effortlessly pulled my hair up into a ponytail, being careful not to catch the necklace I have yet to take off. "But she was already a miracle, Spock - she was truly blind. Her eyes were silver, they were white."
"The new generation is growing away from traditional beliefs. Because of the child, they are brought back. It is cruel, but logical."
I didn't respond to that comment, not wanting to argue again with him. Partially because I knew he was right.
"And there's nothing we can do?" I asked him, moving to sit next to him on the edge of my bed.
"It is unlikely, unless we can find reason to question the girl. If the questioning reveals anything of interest, we may be able to intervene. If not, she would be returned to her parents."
I nodded, taking this into consideration as I gently stroked my fingers along his hand. He captured them in his, as he often did once I initiated the action, and I tickled his palm. The connection was back full force, it hit me like a splash of water, but it was comfortable. I felt myself slipping into his mind with a sigh.
"Why don't we always feel like this?" I asked him softly, our thoughts seemingly one. I wasn't sure if my question was spoken or thought, it just... Flowed out of me.
"We will, eventually," he told me, his fingers gently squeezing each of mine in turn. I felt the pleasure of his attentions give us both a small jolt of sparking energy. "There is now much we can accomplish together. More than I previously thought possible."
He had slipped from English into his native tongue with ease, I wasn't sure if he even realized it. This made me smile, knowing he was now absolutely relaxed. I briefly wondered if this was how it felt when he was meditating.
No. This is much, much more enjoyable.
"Computer, what time is it?" I asked, knowing that the trial will soon reconvene.
Both the automated voice and the voice of the man beside her replied, "Twelve-hundred hours and eight minutes."
I raised my eyebrow, an action I have picked up from him over the time we've spent together and he came close to shrugging. I felt our minds return to their previous state and I sighed yet again, bringing my head to rest on his shoulder. He wasn't the only one who was relaxed.
"We should nourish ourselves in the Officer's Mess, seeing as we did not have dinner last night and have approximately fifty-two minutes to spare, not including travel time."
I stood up after him, watching the automated doors open before us. "I don't know about you, but I was quite satiated by the time we fell asleep," I remarked casually, my words still Vulcan, as if trying to keep the connection between us alive. His ears blushed green and he flashed me his own version of a smile.
Our connection to each other will never die, I heard his voice in my mind and I smiled.
- - -
We walked into the conference room, our shoulders almost touching. I could feel the heat radiating off of his body and briefly wondered if he was nervous, although I doubted it. We were usually so subtle in public - our words always strictly professional, saving them until they absolutely needed to be spoken, only touching when we handed each other supplies or whenever one of us left the bridge. Of course I would sometimes tease him, as I used to back at the academy. In the midst of a boring day I might stretch or very, very sneakily stroke my earpiece as I would some others things... and not for the benefit of the Captain. Spock left me to sit in his assigned seat and I left to mine. Our eyes connected from across the room and our minds met for the briefest moment - a caress of support.
The trial started much the way it did the day prior. The information was reviewed, as were the accounts, before Spock was called upon to answer questions.
One of them being "Why?". Why had he decided to save us in the first place, why did he risk his job.
I felt a surge through our bond. A memory. It was Spock's.
He sat in the captain's chair, a calm facade on his face, but fingers clenched around the armrest. He thought of abandoning his idea of a rescue and following orders, but the face of a human woman came to his mind - his mother's.
'I already lost her.
Could I lose Nyota, too?'
I took a deep breath, tears appearing in my eyes. That was the moment he truly decided he was going to follow through with his idea. My fingers gripped at the table, my breath knocked out of me for a moment - a reaction to the chaotic emotions in that memory. Chekov looked down at my hands and back at my face in concern.
"Are you alright, Nyota?" he whispered and I nodded, a fake smile plastered on my face.
"Sir," he started, but was interrupted by yelling outside of the room, as well as footsteps - obviously running.
The doors opened and in calmly strode Captain James T. Kirk. I noted the scratch above his eye and the cast around his wrist, ironically in a bright pink. I didn't dwell on that, my mind occupied by the thought that his ribs were broken and he could hurt himself.
"Dammit, Jim, get your ass back here now!" We heard from the hall, and in came Doctor McCoy, running in with a wheelchair in front of him. He froze, slowly approaching the Captain.
"Why wasn't I told of Mr. Spock's trial?" he demanded. I was struck by his authority, the way he was seemingly able to hold the gaze of everyone in the room. I was unsure who his question was directed at, but it was the Chief who answered. "We thought it better you healed."
"Mr Spock is my first officer, and his actions are my responsibility. I have a right to be here."
"You were abducted, and therefore had no control over your first officer," said the red-headed first officer to the right of the Chief.
I watched him fall backward and, perfectly timed, the Doctor caught him in the wheel chair.
"Well, the duty of the first officer is to take over the ship and act as the captain would, correct?" he asked, and I saw the woman nod, "So, in that case, Mr. Spock did nothing wrong. He did exactly what I would have done, or what I would have commanded him to do. He's totally innocent."
"It isn't that easy, Jim," Leonard told him as the court watched. My hands didn't loosen on the edge of the table.
"Yeah it is, Bones. Spock didn't do anything wrong. I wouldn't have even called the Fed. Plus, if he waited for you guys to show up, I'd have been dead by then."
The chief looked up at the doctor for confirmation, and he nodded. I stood.
"Sir, I second that statement. Right before I was taken out of my cell to be blinded, he told me that he didn't have much longer," I said.
The chief fell silent.
"Shouldn't you return to the Medical bay?" the first officer asked.
"I'm a big boy, thanks."
The chief visibly sighed, and our attention was returned to him. "Mr Spock, your record is clean of any blemishes - you have never disobeyed an order before, and every choice you make is for the best of Star Fleet - "
"Chief - "
"James Kirk, interrupt me again, and I will have the Doctor wheel you back to Medical Bay where you're supposed to be." Jim fell silent and the chief continued, turning back to the Vulcan whose eyes were currently on his Captain, "I will be expecting a lengthy report of this mission, covering every detail of every decision you made. Other than that, I exonerate you of all accusations. That will be your charge. Court dismissed."
I felt surprise hit me, from both my mind and his. I looked over at Spock and he came very close to smiling at me. I stood up, walking to where Jim sat.
"Hey there, pretty lady," Leonard said and I laughed, turning to the Captain.
"Really, Jim, shouldn't you get back to bed?" I asked, approaching them.
"Only if you come with me, Uhura," he said with a smirk, confirming that he was back to his old self. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly, feeling Spock's presence at my back.
"I am grateful for your blatant disregard to your Doctor's orders, Captain," he said.
"Don't egg him on," Leonard said, turning around the wheel chair.
"Any time, Commander," Jim said with a small, genuine smile.
"Alright, Bones, next stop Medical Bay."
"I'm a doctor, not a damn taxi driver!" he grumbled.
"Oh, be nice, I'm scared of Doctors."
"I'll give you a reason to be..." Their voices drifted away as they exited the room, and I felt a familiar hand at the small of my back, causing my head to swim.
"Congratulations, Commander," I told him formally, turning to face him.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," he told me, his eyes smoldering in a way that made my stomach flip happily, "I suppose I have a five year mission to look forward to."
"Yes, I suppose you do. I guess in that time you'll grow tired of everyone and disobey again just to be reassigned, though," I teased as we walked out of the room.
Never.
R&R!