Of course, I own nothing, profit nothing tangible. Star Trek still belongs legally to those who produce films, but emotionally to people who write and possibly dream about such a life.

When You Wish Upon A Star

Chapter Nine

'My Cup of Tea'

Once he arrived at his office he dictated the following message to Cadet Uhura:

If it is convenient and agreeable to you, please take the Academy Transport Four and alight ast Lighthouse Drive. I will anticipate your arrival at 1300 hours, this date. No further communication is necessary if this is acceptable. I look forward to seeing you.

Lieutenant Spockh

It was a logical development, allowing himself the luxury of her company-off campus, at the tea shop. He arrived five minutes early. He questioned himself, was he anxious? He noticed he had started pacing outside 'A World of Teas', their destination. His eyes remained fixed at the location where she would make her appearance.

She was the only passenger to alight from the transport and she looked about attempting to find her invitee. Spock thought about the advisability of going to her. At that moment her eyes finally found him and she waved. His eyes took in her graceful strides and also the eyes that turned in praise of her.

"Good afternoon Lieutenant. I hope you have not been waiting long."

"No, and I see you are prompt as usual. Thank you for agreeming to meet with me."

He held the door open and she walked in ahead of him. Spock had been to this establishment many times and had always chosen a booth, on the rear wall, in the corner. The waiter recognized him immediately walked toward his customer's usual choice of seating.

Nyota attempted to walk and talk at the same time. An eye-contact communicator had a difficult time speaking into thin air so she kept turning her head to get a view of her companion. Spock anticipated a problem and reach out and touched the small of her back to guide her and he experienced a small jolt. She stopped and blinked her eyes.

"What was that?"

"Excuse me Cadet, I was attempting to keep you from a collision course. Your efforts to continue eye contact had created a problem, shall we say an accident in the making. Please forgive me."

The request for forgiveness was a hollow one, for in that second he felt her essence, her warmth, her joy, her anticipation and possibly something else he was unable to identify. It was the first time he had touched her and his contact had reached deep into her psyche. As he mentally reviewed this event he realized the only other Terran he had touched without his shields had been his mother. How interesting that she was his first 'real' contact.

They were seated and she picked up the menu.

"Oh, they have tea from my home, a Kenyan blend."

He looked up at the waiter and said, "A large pot of the tea just mentioned."

To Nyota he said,

"Please feel free to pick anything you desire from the menu, you are my guest."

"The cheese quiche would be simply wonderful."

"Two and water with lemon," was how he completed the order.

The purpose of this outing was to inform Nyota of her appointment. He had a lengthy introduction in place to lead up to that information. But the cadet 'jumped the gun.'

"Thank you for the invitation, to enjoy this time with you. It is truly a special occasion, but I can't help but think there is a reason behind all of this."

"You are quite astute. I felt in view of the news that I was commanded to convey to you, I would make this event memorable. Cadet, by order of Captain Pike, you have been appointed to the post of Teacher's Assistant, my teacher's assistant. Your scope will include all of my classes."

Her small hand went to her mouth and her eyes were wide with surprise.

"Your assistant? I am only a first year cadet."

The captain reviewed several cadets records and found that you are the most qualified to take on this assignment. Part of the reason for this need was my upcoming work of programming the Federation's new flagship, The Enterprise.

You will be under my immediate supervision, but in some areas you will be required to make decisions on your own. Will you accept this assignment?

Smiling at him she said,

"I know that this did not happen without input from you. Thank you for the vote of confidence. Sir, I will not disappoint you."

"I have no doubt of your commitment and dedication. I thank you in advance for your assistance."

The steaming pot of tea, the two slices of quiche and water could not have made their appearance at a better time. Silence blanketed the table as each one was consumed by thoughts. She with the honor involved. He with the pleasure.

After the silence of the meal, Spock was about to direct his steps to the Academy Transport stop when Nyota said,

"It is such a beautiful day, do you think we could walk back to the campus?"

"That is acceptable."

Their walk allowed him to point out sites along their path. He was indeed grateful for his exposure to this city. His thoughts took him away for a brief moment.

"Spock,"

His mother's voice from an incident on a similarly bright day many years ago. They were staying at the Embassy and his mother had taken him out for as she said, 'an explore'. He recalled that expression from one of the Terran books she had read to him in his youth, "Winnie the Pooh".

They had walked along the streets and visited several places. Amanda then directed their steps toward the beach. They sat on one of the look-out benches and his mother said to him,

"Most Terran females like the sun and the sea. Maybe one day, when you have found your soul mate, you will bring her to see the sunset and hear the gulls talk and you will capture her heart."

How could his mother have known that his heart would be lost to a Terran. After all, in a few more years from that event he would reach the age of Telan t'Kanlar (The bonding of children) He would be bonded to a Vulcan female. It was almost uncanny that his mother had made such a statement. For it was the mind was what was involved with that Vulcan initial bonding, certainly not the heart.

At five years of age, Spock could hardly see the relevant nature of that comment, but now, as a teenage Human/Vulcan he understood thoroughly. His consolation was the fact that she would often be near to him, within speaking, and hearing distance for the next four years. He would be satisfied. One day he hoped to bring her to watch the sun rays dance on the waves and hear the gulls converse, but that was in the distant future.

Returning to present company, he noticed that she too was deep in thought.

"I will excel in this position of honor, to do otherwise would betray his trust in me. I hope to make him proud of me. Wait a minute, Vulcans cannot express that type of emotion, it is illogical. He will be pleased and satisfied in the performance of my duties. I think I should contact Amanda and tell her of this turn of events."

Within those few minutes of reflection, Spock had missed the opportunity to point out to Nyota a monument of importance. He said,

"Cadet, we must retrace our steps, there is a monument that deserves our attention."

Turning back to a park that had a tall obelisk in the center, Spock brought her toward it and read aloud:

"'Dedicated to all those who take up the mantle to travel to distant stars, to explore new worlds, to bravely go where no one has gone before.'

"This was placed here before Star Fleet Academy was built. It is a monument to all who attend the Academy and live up to their dreams of space travel."

Running her tiny fingers across the letter's surface she said,

"Yes, it is for us. Thank you for brining me to this place. It has strengthened my resolve to become a Star Fleet captain. Now it is even more firmly fixed in my mind."

'Oops!' Spock thought to himself. This was not going according to plan.