A/N: After a long, long time lol, I have enough material to call this a chapter :P I hope you enjoy S'alea's continuing adventures on Earth.

"Spock?"

"Yes, captain."

"You look like a being with a quandary," Kirk said. "Everything ok?"

"S'alea has asked me if extracurricular clubs are part of the cultural experience."

"They totally are," said Kirk, like someone who had joined Chess Club, Flight Club, Book Club, and the Rube Goldberg Simple Machines Club within the first five minutes of stepping on campus, aka, like a nerd.

"It would be a structured environment where she could find people with similar interests," McCoy said. "Tell her yes."

"Didn't you join any clubs, Spock?" Kirk asked, eyes twinkling.

Spock cleared his throat. "I was the secretary for the Astronomy Club," he finally admitted.

"Well, there you go," McCoy said, patting Spock on the shoulder, which was Not Appreciated.

-/\-

S'alea, after much consideration and some consultation with Erin Her Hallway Neighbor, decided to enroll in the Multiplanetary Book Club and the Geocaching Club. As a civilian, she had more free time to roam the planet, and it would give her the necessary exposure to different places.

"Excuse me."

S'alea looked up. Two other Vulcans stood there, both younger than S'alea by a few years. "Hello," S'alea said politely. "I am S'alea."

The two Vulcans shared a glance and nodded. "We know," the girl said plainly. "We were apprised of your reappearance." She fidgeted with her hands, betraying her relative youth. "There are seven of us in the academy at this time. We thought it would be logical to introduce ourselves to you and offer our services in this century."

S'alea nodded. "That would be appreciated, yes." She gestured to the seats across from her in silent invitation.

They sat down. "I am T'Ria, and this is my cousin Solak."

"What career are you pursuing?" S'alea asked.

T'Ria replied, "I am on the Science track."

"I chose Engineering," Solak said.

In logical fashion, they made arrangements for S'alea to come to their next gathering.

-/\-

"As this is complete, may I submit it?" S'alea asked.

Sam, her current project partner, put his fist in the air, thumb sticking up towards the ceiling.

S'alea blinked. "What is the meaning of this gesture?"

"It's a thumbs-up. It means yes, affirmative, you're good." Sam demonstrated. "Two thumbs-up is that's great, or awesome, or I totally agree."

"Indicating the degree of excitement."

"Yes. Uh, just don't use it in the Middle East, West Africa, um, or Greece. Basically keep it American or UK."

"Is it like the middle finger in this culture?"

"Yes."

S'alea gave a tentative thumbs-up. "Understood. Did I do it right?"

Sam stared at her, covering the bottom half of his face with his hand. "Uh... yeah," he choked out, sounding both gleeful and horrified.

She nodded in satisfaction and submitted the project.

-/\-

"...And this gave rise to the Andorian movement, yes?"

Solkar inclined his head. "Your grasp of the material is satisfactory."

S'alea gave him a thumbs-up of acknowledgement and moved on to the next module. She looked up when there was silence. The entire room was staring at her. "What."

"You used a colloquial human gesture of acknowledgement," Solkar said slowly.

"Was it incorrect?"

"No. Simply unexpected." Solkar hesitated, then continued, "We typically do not use human gestures."

"Why not? Is it not logical to communicate in the common nonverbals?"

They exchanged a glance full of uncertainty.

"I will ask Spock," S'alea decided.

Sadrak visibly blanched.

"Yes," T'Ria said suddenly, a glint in her eye, "you should ask Commander Spock. He would know."

If one of the other young Vulcans gave her a death glare, S'alea pretended not to see it.

-/\-

Excerpt from the video communications from S'alea to Spock, USS Enterprise:

"-regarding human colloquialisms, I have begun a study of nonverbal gestures. Sam, in my Galactic Economics class, showed me the thumbs-up." She demonstrated. "I did not see it used on the Enterprise, though I presume it is too informal a gesture to be used on an active-duty starship."

Spock was struck anew by her youth. He was nearly a decade older than his 'aunt,' for all that she carried herself with the wisdom of Surak's teachings.

"Regardless, I mentioned it to my colleagues. They were shocked I would use it. Sam is appalled he may have corrupted me with too much humanity, but I am secure in my own truth." S'alea's eyes crinkled in the corners as she gave a tiny smirk to the camera. "It might be worth exploring this part of your heritage, nephew, especially in regards to Dr. McCoy. I believe he would... appreciate it."

Spock, in the privacy of his own quarters, smirked.

-/\-

Spock approached Dr. McCoy with the result of the biomedical department evaluations. "The results are satisfactory," he said.

McCoy took the datapad and scrolled through the lists. "Thanks, Spock."

Spock solemnly gave him a thumbs-up, turned on his heel, and left the room.

There was absolute silence for a solid three point one seconds before incomprehensible Southern screeching followed him to the turbolift.

Spock, internally, rejoiced.

-/\-

"Jim, Jim, I need to talk to you."

Kirk looked up from his chicken sandwich. "What's up, Bones?"

"Spock's been mind-controlled or body-swapped or something," McCoy said urgently.

Kirk nearly choked on his bite of chicken. "What are you talking about? We were just talking earlier, he seemed fine."

McCoy leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Jim, you don't understand. He gave me a thumbs-up when we were talking."

Kirk sniggered into his sandwich. "He did not, Bones, come on."

"He did! I'm telling you! He's been possessed!"

Kirk eyed his friend. "Uh-huh."

Spock walked past the two of them and paused at the table. "Captain. Doctor."

"Spock." Kirk eyed his first officer as he walked away. "He seems fine to me, Bones." He picked up his tray and patted Bones on the shoulder. "Maybe get some rest."

McCoy hurried over to Spock's table and sat down across from him. "Okay, Spock. If you're having some sort of mental crisis, I can help you. I'm a licensed xenotherapist."

Spock raised a perfect eyebrow. "Why would I be in mental crisis, doctor?"

"You gave me a thumbs-up!"

"Yes, I did."

McCoy glared. "Why. You've resisted any human cultural gestures for eighteen years, why-"

"S'alea is doing a study of human nonverbal communication," Spock said blandly.

McCoy's jaw dropped. "She put you up to this."

Spock's other eyebrow (the smug one) went up. "I do not understand your meaning, doctor."

"Why?" McCoy asked, almost wailing.

Spock took a measured bite of salad. "Because no one will ever believe you."

McCoy gasped. "You monster."

Spock looked up at him, held his gaze, and took another bite of salad.