Getting to Know You

Chapter Four : It Was Just My Imagination

Spock

0600

September in San Francisco was warm enough this year that he could run in a tee-shirt and shorts, unlike later in the year when sweat pants and a hooded jacket would be required. He jogged towards the track, idly contemplating his day. After his normal 10 km run, he would return, as usual, to his quarters for a shower and breakfast. Then office hours and a stint in the linguists lab assisting students. After lunch he would be participating in the annual combat training assessment for second year students. That would take all afternoon. And, unfortunately, most of that would be spent standing idle. He would use that time to prepare the enhancements to the Kobayashi Maru simulation.

Reaching the track, he increased his speed. He would run the first two km at average speed, increase to top speed for four km and then reduce his speed slowly over the final four km until he was running at average speed again. As he rounded the first curve at the end of the track, he noticed another runner ahead at the far end, in his lane. He was not used to finding another runner in the inside lane at this hour of the morning. As he was the fastest runner currently at the Academy, the other runner should, by all rights, move over. He sped on down the lane, overtaking the other runner swiftly. If that person did not move soon, he would have to swerve over himself. He suppressed the feeling of aggravation that he felt at this and prepared to change his direction. Just as he decided he would have to move to the next lane, the runner ahead of him moved over. As he sped past, he caught a panted apology.

"Sorry, sir, didn't realize that it was you or I would have moved over sooner."

He knew that voice. He had not expected to hear it here. Interesting. He continued with his run, passing the cadet eight times. For a human, she moved very swiftly. On his next pass, the track was empty before him. For some undefinable reason, he felt that something was missing.

1300

As the gymnasium filled with cadets, Spock and the other three instructors stood and waited for the head of the combat training department to give his normal spiel. Each cadet was to be assessed on his or her level of hand-to-hand combat ability. There was always a wide variety - some cadets arrived at the Academy already proficient in one or more methods of hand-to-hand combat, while some were barely able to keep from stumbling over their own feet. The first year cadets got a lot of physical conditioning - speed and endurance training, obstacle courses, various fitness disciplines. Then in the second year they started hand-to-hand combat training. The current head of the department had worked out an interesting method of determining where to place the cadets in the training program. Each cadet would be individually assessed by up to four different combat masters, in increasing difficulty. Those failing the first test would go into remedial training. Those failing the second test would go into the normal training program. Those failing the third test would go into the advanced program. Those failing the fourth test would go into a very small group of cadets given individual training in forms not normally taught at the Academy. No one ever passed the fourth test, which was the one he gave.

As the assessments began, Spock moved to his assigned position at the far end of the gym. Standing perfectly still, his hands clasped behind his back, he observed the cadet on the first mat. That one is going to remedial training. His attention shifted to the group waiting to be called to see whether there were any cadets that looked likely to make it as far as his position. There, towards the tail end of the group, stood the tall, slender cadet with whom he had shared the track this morning. Odd how she always seemed to turn up wherever he was. It would be interesting to observe her combat abilities. Unfortunately, with humans, those cadets most capable in the classroom often turned out to be the least capable physically. On Vulcan, an exceptional student was expected to be exceptional in all areas.

As the afternoon progressed, Spock stood in his position and mentally reviewed the programming changes he would make to the most feared simulation at the Academy. Although the staff in the Simulation Lab insisted that the scenario was perfectly acceptable as it was, he was not entirely satisfied. There were some adjustments he wanted to make. Only three cadets made it to his mat, and none of them lasted more than a few seconds. He had plenty of time for his planning.

Eventually it was Cadet Uhura's turn on the mats. The first instructor assessed students on the basis of normal fighting - mostly boxing. Since Cadet Uhura was a slender woman, Spock's assumption was that she would be knocked to the floor almost immediately. To his surprise, she danced out of the way of the punches thrown in her direction and managed to land a perfect right cross on the instructor's chin, sending him down to the mat. He immediately passed her on to the second instructor. This one used mostly judo techniques in his assessment, as this was the method most easily taught to the majority of cadets - and the most widely known by those arriving with some prior knowledge of hand-to-hand combat methods. In short order, this instructor went flying across the mat to land on his back with a loud thud. Interesting. The third instructor relied on a variety of hand-to-hand combat disciplines, intending to confuse the students by switching from one to another without warning. He was also more willing to actually hurt the students in an attempt to assess their abilities. It took her five minutes to pin him to the mat. Fascinating.

Spock realized with a start that the cadet was bowing before him, ready to being her final assessment. "Take a moment to catch your breath, Cadet. I do wish this assessment to be completely fair." Although, since he was the only master of suus mahna currently at the academy, there was really no fairness to it.

She stood quietly, chest heaving, and calmed herself. He watched as her breathing evened out and her tenseness changed to supple readiness. Excellent control. He was impressed with this cadet. He quickly reviewed the moves he had seen her use - deciding on tactics. Giving no notice that he was beginning the assessment, he dropped swiftly to the ground and swept one leg out to catch her at the ankles. She leapt into the air, changing direction as she did so, so that she came down on the far side of his leg, knees bent, arms crooked in front of her, eyes glued to him. She hissed at him "fair?"

Her speed was unexpected, even given the pace of her running this morning. Another change of tactic, then. He circled around, watching her turn in place to keep him centered in her gaze. Suddenly, he reversed his direction, lashing out at her, intending to pull his punch at the last minute to avoid injuring her. But she was not in the position he expected her to be in. She had backed up a full pace, swiftly, and ducked down below the level of his fist. Incredible. He began to consider the possibility of assuming responsibility for her training himself, even though he had never taken on a one-on-one training responsibility before. She was making no attempt to attack, which had been the fault of the other three cadets who had made it this far. She was only attempting to dodge him and avoid being tagged. Several more feints had the same equally surprising results. His eyes were focused solely on her as they slowly, cautiously circled each other. He was unaware that all other activity in the gym had ceased, as all eyes followed the unexpected sight of Commander Spock unable to dispatch a cadet in seconds. To his utter astonishment, he heard the shrill whistle of the head of the combat training department. "Test over. Cadet Uhura has passed."

Uhura

0600

Her arm groped out from under the covers, trying to find the shut-off button on the stupid alarm. Why couldn't she just use the computer to wake her up like everyone else? Gaila would be furious with her. Sitting up, she stretched and rubbed her eyes. It was going to be nice out on the track this morning, while it was still relatively warm here in northern California. She dreaded the winter cold. Quickly she dressed in running clothes, made a fast pit-stop, and was out the door, jogging off to the track. Five km should be enough this morning, she had physical conditioning this afternoon. She would swim tomorrow after running.

Reaching the track, she jogged over to her normal inside lane and stepped up the pace. She was half-way through her run when she heard someone coming up behind her - fast. It suddenly occurred to her that there was only one person at the Academy who would be coming up behind her that fast and swerved to the next lane just in the nick of time. "Sorry, sir, didn't realize that it was you or I would have moved over sooner."

She watched the rapidly receding form before her. He was as graceful as a panther, even running. He passed her several times as she continued with her run, looping around the track at a much faster pace than her own. She almost hated to complete her run and lose the sight of that muscular form. Wonder if he runs at this time every morning?

1300

She filed into the gym along with the other cadets assigned to this physical conditioning session. Dressed in the standard Academy physical training uniform of brief shorts and tanks, they milled about waiting to see what sort of combat training they would receive today. The head of the department blew his whistle to get their attention. Oh, great, assessments. Why was the first week of every semester spent in assessments? Most of her afternoon would be spent just standing around and waiting for her turn.

She watched the other students as they fell to the instructors' assaults, trying to assess the techniques the instructors were using. Almost one-fourth of the students didn't make it past the first mat. If they KNEW they were coming to StarFleet Academy, why on earth had they not started studying some form of martial arts before arriving here? Or at least before the second year started? Some people were just so stupid. Okay, the first instructor was mostly boxing. No problem there. She had started that in grade school. The second instructor was clearly using judo and she already had her black belt in that, so that was good. The third instructor was using a mish-mash of techniques - he would be much more difficult. The fourth instructor was at the far end of the gym and so far no one had gotten that far. She squinted to focus on him and realized with a start that it was Commander Spock. No one was going to get past HIM! That wasn't a fair match by any means. She began to consider ways and means. If he used suus mahna moves she would be lost, she had never even been able to find good vids to watch. She would have no idea how to counter, or even anticipate what he was going to do.

As the afternoon passed, only a few students made it to his mat. She watched each one make the incredible decision to attack. Are you people totally stupid? Of course an attack was not going to work. The only possibility was to try to avoid him - and he was SO fast. She turned back to watch the third instructor, trying to determine patterns in his attacks. There was no use contemplating how to survive Commander Spock if she didn't even make it that far.

Finally her turn came. Bobbing and weaving around the instructor, avoiding punches, she saw an opportunity and took it. With satisfaction, she saw the instructor hit the mat. On to the second instructor's mat. This one didn't take much longer. As anticipated, the third instructor was much harder. By the time she had him pinned, she was sweaty and panting.

With barely suppressed glee she made her way to the final mat and bowed before the tall Vulcan. "Take a moment to catch your breath, Cadet. I do wish this assessment to be completely fair."

Oh, that was nice. She centered herself, calming her breathing and relaxing her muscles, getting ready for the last go-round. Hopefully, she would not disgrace herself completely. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a brief twitch of the muscle at the corner of Commander Spock's left eye. Instantly she launched herself into the air, barely avoiding the long leg that swept out to catch her. "Fair?" she hissed at him, unbelieving. Her eyes narrowed, glaring at him as she crouched ready to spring in any direction that seemed likely to take her out of his reach. She kept her eyes glued on him, watching for any possible clue as to what he would do next. Without attempting to explain why, she took a step backwards and ducked, narrowly missing a long arm coming swiftly towards her. He was SO fast. She circled around, pacing herself, going slowly and wasting no motion or energy. How long did this thing last, anyway?

She was slowing up, running out of steam, when she heard the shrill whistle marking the end of the assessment. She had actually done it! Beaming with pride, she turned towards the other instructors and realized that the entire group of students was yelling and clapping. She found herself hoisted onto the shoulders of two fellow students and paraded around the gym to the whoops and gleeful shouts of her friends. They came to a halt and deposited her in front of the obviously astonished and broadly grinning head of the combat training department. "Well, Cadet Uhura, I guess I have a new student."

So excited was she that she did not even notice the tall Vulcan standing quietly at the far end of gym, watching.