Author's Notes:

Here's another update. I believe that this chapter is not as exciting as I wanted it to be, however, it will be needed as I plan a lot of things for the story in the near future. I'll just try to make it up to all of you on the following chapters.

As usual my dear people; review, favorite, and follow.

Come on…give me some love. :)

Chapter 6: Semi-Finals

The gymnasium was full for the particular day, it was the Semi-Finals for the Hand-to-Hand Combat Competition. There were only four more competitors and those who will win would face each other next term. Those two contenders would face each other and whoever wins would be the representative for the international competition.

Spock was sitting on the row together with the other faculty was seated. The bleachers were full of students, most of them blabbing around the event and some chatting about their classes.

The first fight between Cadet Russell and Cadet Wood was quite interesting but not memorable. They had used basic and advance moves of boxing and wrestling. Spock figured that the match lasted for about 13 minutes and 47 seconds before Cadet Russell was announced as the winner. He felt a small jolt as he realized that the next contender would be Victoria.

Victoria on the other hand was readying herself on the locker room. She had already stretched and was now sitting on the bench thinking.

"Deveraux, you're up." Professor Ulred called.

Sighing she stood and walked out of the door. Booming noise assaulted her hearing and she almost grimaced. Looking to the side she saw Cadet Ben Russell who's shaking hands with Professor Ulred. Victoria figured out that he must be the one who won the first round and therefore her possible opponent on the finals.

Spock almost glared at the group of Cadets who was eyeing and drooling over Victoria, they were making remarks and cat-calls on her direction that she seems to ignore. She was a picture of perfection on his eyes, her toned abdomen and her curves were showing as she stepped out of the locker room.

"For the second round of the semi-finals and the fight that would determine on who faces Cadet Ben Russell on the finals next term. Let we welcome: Cadet Victoria Deveraux versus Cadet Beatrice Blundy!"

Victoria looked at her opponent, the blond haired engineering cadet was looking back at her too with determination on her face but Victoria could read between expressions and she could see a slight worry and fear beneath the façade.

"I'm sure the two of you had already read the rules, therefore I need not remind you all over again, on the sound of the buzzer you may start." Professor Ulred said as he stood between the two women.

5…4…3…2…1…

BUZZ!

Blundy attacked first, her fist and legs swinging at several directions trying to hit her opponent. Victoria blocked the attacks while watching the pattern of the cadet's moves. A punch hit her on the left cheek, though as she estimates the given force with the attack, it wouldn't even form any bruise.

"She's exerting too much energy on her hits, especially on the kicks that she's making. The force of her hits decreases as her body tires down."

She blocked the incoming punch and held the cadet's right arm then kneed her in the stomach for about three times before letting go. Blundy fell down on her knees gasping.

As Blundy slowly recovered and began to stand up, Victoria readied herself in an attack position. When Blundy was standing up, Victoria ran to her direction and performed a flying head scissors; though, she didn't put too much force and pressure on her legs so that there would be no major damage on her opponent's part. She knew that the opponent wouldn't be recovering anytime soon - as she originally intended; she didn't want to prolong the fight anymore. She felt that it would be unnecessary to create flamboyant moves just to show off to the spectators, what she did was executing the most efficient moves in the most efficient way possible.

The gymnasium became silent as they watch Cadet Blundy fell on the ground with a thud and Cadet Deveraux landing gracefully. A moment passed then a sudden burst of cat-calls, yells, and cheers filled the whole area.

Ten seconds passed. Cadet Blundy is still lying on the floor.

Professor Ulred decided to come to the cadet's side to check her status. After a few more seconds he raised his hand with the red flag and signalled the committee and declared the K.O. Loud clapping and shouting could be heard as the announcement was made. Victoria herself was pretty surprised that it had been an easy match.

"And the winner for the second round of the semi-finals and the contender that will be advancing to the finals to face Cadet Ben Russell!" Ulred once again announced looking around the room with a smile etched on his face.

Victoria looked around the room and made a customary bow then headed back to the locker room to get her things. Her eyes did momentarily looked at Spock's direction before deciding to move out, she was pretty pleased to see him there and be able to see her in action.

"Well…a different kind of action at least."

She grinned as the night that they had spent together entered her mind.

(*_*)

"Hey V! Congratulations!" Victoria stiffened as she felt Leila hugged her. McCoy and Kirk was behind her looking awkward in the presence of female emotion.

"Thank you." She replied to her friend as she try to detangle herself from the other female.

"Oh, don't be like that! I know! Let's go out on a dinner together, like a celebratory dinner!" She sighed and nodded.

"Congratulations Deveraux. Maybe I could treat you…one way or another…maybe tonight?" Kirk winked at her suggestively.

"Don't mind him. Congratulations Victoria." McCoy smiled at her.

"Come on! Stop blabbing!" Leila grabbed her arms and dragged her away, eager to treat her friend.

"I'm telling you I'll settle for nothing but fancy and elegant."

(*_*)

Spock watched as Victoria's friends clamoured around her, he knew that he cannot approach her for the moment. "Maybe later." He thought as he took one final look of her and turned around heading to his own quarters to grade papers.

(*_*)

Leila brought Victoria, Leonard, Jim and two other cadets on the 'Venetia's Harbor'; a seafood restaurant.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Victoria these are Cadet Rudy Sherlock of the Engineering, Cadet Nyota Uhura of Xenolinguistics, and…" A green hand grabbed both of her hands, looking at the owner of the appendages she saw an attractive Orion smiling at her, "I'm Gaila from Engineering. Just call me Gaila."

Smiling back she replied, "Nice to meet you Gaila. Just call me V."

"So any man to celebrate your victory with?" Nyota asked looking at her curiously.

Victoria noticed that Kirk kept looking at the other Cadet and almost sighed in relief. "Maybe then he will leave me alone."

"No, no one in particular." Yes, she lied. She doesn't want to divulge anything to other people before she and Spock become official, she also placed Spock's sense of privacy in line on answering the question.

"Do you date?" She looked at Cadet Sherlock curiously.

"No. Why?"

"Well, you're pretty and popular around the Academy so I'm just curious since I don't see you with anybody."

"I'm not really interested in any form of relationship right now. I'm focusing on my career."

"That sucks, men are pretty little things…" Gaila said looking at Kirk flirtingly.

They talked some more and she decided to order her favourite 'Seafood Casserole' and ate in peace while constantly interacting with her friends and her new acquaintances.

(*_*)

After she ate and conversed some more with her friends she excused herself and headed to her dormitory. However, while on her way there she saw a familiar figure walking along the way. Catching up with the figure she smiled and tugged his sleeve.

"Hey."

Spock looked at the person who tugged his sleeve and felt a familiar warmth as she was met with those familiar eyes.

"I trust you had a satisfying evening Cadet?" He inquired. He could smell her scent from where she walked along side of him, it has a calming effect like the essence that he uses on his meditations.

"I have. My friends are very chatty. However, there's still a part of my evening that still needs to be fulfilled." She looked ahead of her refusing to meet his eyes.

"And what would that be?" He wanted her to be satisfied, he wanted to know if he could do something to make her evening satisfactory.

"You." She replied as they reach the secluded area of the Academy.

He looked at her, his heart fluttering with a familiar emotion whenever he's with her. For any spectator watching from afar the Commander seems to be looking at the Cadet with apprehension however, upon close inspection one could see the relaxed posture of the Vulcan and the tender expression on his face as he looked at the woman beside him.

He was well aware of the possible exposure that they could receive if somebody was to see them, however, he concluded that since it was the end of the week and both students and faculty were preparing for the upcoming examination week, nobody would be wandering on the particular area. Computing the possibilities he deduced that there is a minimal 6.002% that somebody could walk in the particular spot that they were in.

Not saying a thing he touched his right index and middle finger with her initiating the ozh'esta. As soon as their fingers met on the particular Vulcan intimate gesture both of them felt tenderness, contentment and affection both of them held for each other.

Nothing else was said that night, both of them were contented with each other's company.

(*_*)

Unknown Location

0005 hours

"Make sure that you'll leave no trace… I do not want anyone knowing anything." A deep husky voice said through the com unit.

"You have my word. No one will know." A person clad in black replied as he looked at the building prints in front of him. The plan is ready to be executed.

"Do not fail me."

"I will not."

For the past few weeks he carefully planned everything, looking at every possible detail and holes to the plan. And now…everything is ready. Sooner or later the victory will be theirs.

R&R - F&F