Author's note: Please see notes I have left in my profile about my take on Spock.
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Getting to Know You
Chapter Seven : Dancing in the Streets
Spock
It was late October and the weather had turned cool and damp. No more running in shorts, it was time for sweat pants and jacket. He reached the track and accelerated. There ahead of him in the second lane was the cadet that he seemed to see everywhere he went. She was also dressed in long pants this morning, and a short-sleeved tee instead of her normal tank. He wondered whether she found the long pants as confining to run in as he did. As he passed her on the curve, he heard "Morning, Commander". When he passed her the second time, he replied "Good morning, cadet." No further words passed between them as they continued to loop the track. Eventually, when he came around the curve, the track was empty before him. Why did that always seem like a loss?
****
Later that morning, as he sat grading papers, there were footsteps in the hall. Not her footsteps, so he ignored them. But the footsteps paused at his door. He looked up and there stood Captain Pike. He hadn't seen his former advisor in some time. Quickly he stood and invited him into the office, crossing to the mini-replicator to prepare water for tea.
"Spock, I've missed your mother's teas. They taste better than anything I've ever had anywhere else." Captain Pike took a cautious sip of the hot tea. "I don't think this is the same blend you've served me before, has she changed her recipe?"
Spock blinked. Had he served the Captain from his small stash of the tea that Cadet Uhura's mother had made? He sipped, yes, that is what he had done. "One of my students brought me a sample of a tea blend her mother makes. I retrieved the wrong canister before making the tea."
Christopher Pike stared at Spock, speechless. A cadet had brought the stoic Vulcan a gift? That was certainly something new. Since the first year Spock had been at the academy, he had tried with absolutely no luck to involve the half-Vulcan more with other students, to get him involved in the campus social life. Knowing that probing would cause Spock to clam up entirely, he stored this information away for future use.
After some questions about the classes that Spock was teaching this semester, Pike got around to the subject of his visit. "The Enterprise will be completed by graduation next year. It's time to start thinking about staffing the crew. Are you still willing to give up teaching and come be my First Officer?"
"Indeed, Captain, I am looking forward to it. I must confess that the interminable paper grading is beginning to wear on me. I believe that next year I will accept the department's offer to provide me with an aide to assist in this area. While I feel that I have been beneficial in assisting several exceptional students to excel, I do anticipate actually being able to serve on a starship."
Pike was pleased. He had always enjoyed the young Vulcan's company, even though others found him cold. He was possessed of a very sharp intellect and could solve problems that left most shaking their heads in dismay. "Then you must come celebrate with me tonight. It's Halloween, you know."
Spock was confused. What could an ancient Terran holiday have to do with the Federation's new flagship? "Halloween, sir?"
"Yes, Halloween - street party, remember? I have tried to get you to go every year. Music, dancing, lovely young ladies. Lots of fun. And all the crew members that have already been confirmed will meet with me there tonight for the first time. It's an order, Spock." Inwardly, Pike smiled. He would get this young man loosened up one way or another.
Spock was definitely uncomfortable now. Street dancing was not something that he was remotely interested in and Terran music of the variety that would be played tonight defied logic. But an order from a superior officer was an order. "Where am I to be and when?"
"There will be tables in front of all the bars tonight, out in the street. We'll meet in front of the Galaxy Pit at 1900. And no uniform - tonight's all casual." Pike rose to take his leave. "See you then."
Spock sat at his desk, hands steepled in front of his face, trying to regain his calm. Such a waste of time to go sit and endure loud noise when he could be pursuing his research. With a barely suppressed sigh he returned to grading papers.
Uhura
Gaila was pawing through her closet, trying to entice her into wearing something very revealing to the street party tonight. "No, absolutely not. I am not wearing any of your clothes. I have very acceptable clothing of my own. Besides your tops are all too loose on me."
Gaila laughed at her. "We could fix that. I've got a great push-up bra here somewhere." She began pulling lingerie out of a drawer.
Nyota laughed at her friend. "No thanks. I'll stick with my own underwear, too. Really. But I will come and dance. I haven't been out dancing in a month."
"I know, you've been an old stick-in-the-mud. Study, study, study. But we'll go out tonight and dance and drink, and maybe even pick up some guys, huh? What do you say? Wouldn't that be fun?" She tried to entice her roommate into agreeing.
"Dance, yes. Drink a bit, yes. Pick up guys, no. I'll leave that to you." Laughing, she burrowed into her closet to find the outfit she wanted. She definitely intended to have fun tonight with her friends.
***
The group of young women went from bar to bar down the street, laughing, listening to the music, brandishing bottle of beer in their hands, having fun. Eventually they came to a bar playing the type of music they were looking for and began dancing together in the street, along with the hundreds of other cadets enjoying the raucous evening. The Galaxy Pit always was their favorite spot.
Spock
Christopher Pike watched the young Vulcan officer approaching the tables before the bar and heaved a small sigh. That man looked good in everything he wore. Tonight he had on dark slacks and a blue shirt, with a heavy navy blue sweater over it. It he had looked half that good when he was that age, he could have had half the female cadets in the Academy. Yet Spock had no idea of the effect he had on women. It was such a pity.
Spock joined Pike at the table, was introduced to the other men sitting there, and at Pike's insistence, ordered a beer. Not the draft beer most of the others were drinking, but a premium brew from a small local brewery. If he was going to drink alcoholic beverages, he was going to choose one for the flavor, since the alcohol would not affect his system. He sat quietly, nursing his one drink, while the others consumed several, laughing and ogling the young women dancing in the street. From time to time one would get up and join in the dancing.
He was trying to think of some excuse that would enable him to leave the group and return to his quarters when he saw her. She was with a group of other young female cadets, all dressed extremely casually, and not adequately for the cool, damp evening. They all appeared to be a bit intoxicated and were laughing and waving at other cadets sitting at the tables and dancing in the street. When they came even with the table where he was sitting, they decided to start dancing.
Beside him he heard Captain Pike let out an appreciative whistle. "That is certainly a nice group of young women. Don't think I have ever actually seen an Orion girl dancing before. That's mind-blowing. And that one next to her is about the hottest thing I've seen in a long time."
Spock glowered. The one next to her was Uhura. She was wearing red pants that appeared to have been sprayed on. Her top was white and sparkly and appeared to be held together in the front only by several silver chains. On her feet were red spike heel shoes that could not possibly be comfortable to wear, much less dance in. She was twisting about, her arms raised in the air, keeping time with the music with her body. There was a look of utter bliss on her face. She was obviously enjoying the dancing. Spock was not. It was not right for her to behave this way. It was improper. He clenched his fists in his lap under the table.
Unbelieving, he saw most of the men at the table rise up and go to join Uhura and her friends in the dancing. Swaying and twisting to the beat, one of the men was much too close to her. A low snarl formed in Spock's throat. As he started to rise from his chair, he felt a hand on his arm.
"Sit back down, Spock. Don't make a scene." Beside him, Captain Pike was watching the dancers, seemingly paying no attention to him.
Spock sank back onto his chair, horrified. What had he been about to do?
Pike kept talking quietly. "You want to get up there and dance? I didn't think so. But she does, so just be quiet and let her enjoy herself. She's not doing anything wrong and she's not showing any interest in those young studs."
How could Captain Pike know what he was thinking? How did he have any idea which young woman he had his eyes on? Was he that transparent?
"I'm glad to see that you're finally beginning to open up. I was worried about you, you know. But you need to be careful. She's just a cadet and I don't think she knows you're watching her. You haven't taken your eyes off of her since she showed up. Not much gets past me. After all, I am a starship captain." Pike's eyes danced with merriment. His friend was definitely hooked, and he didn't even realize it.
Spock could not speak. He had no idea what would come out of his mouth if he opened it. He sat rigid in his chair watching the dancing, trying to keep his face impassive. When the song ended, the men in the group came back to the table, trying unsuccessfully to get the young women to join them. Nyota and her friends wandered on down the street, out of sight in the crowd. Somehow Spock managed to take his leave of the others and left the table, intent on returning to his quarters. The night would be spent in meditation, trying to understand his improbable actions this evening.