RECAP

Spock had decided to choose Starfleet. His mother was the reason for this path. He wanted to make his family proud, but his mother to be proud- he wanted that the most. He wouldn't be part of any program that belittled his mother and the love he had for her. A love that he didn't understand at times, but that consumed him with happiness. Whether it was a Vulcan or Human happiness, he could not be sure. He joined Starfleet knowing that he was probably going to be the most gifted person and probably only Vulcan. He knew that he would be a big fish in a small pond, but he was eager to show Starfleet the promise Vulcan minds, bodies, and research could hold for their advancement. He went willingly with the blessing of his mother and at the shame of his father, but he cared not. He was his own man...Vulcan...and he would carve his own path of purpose.

SPOCK:10 YEARS LATER/27 YEARS OLD

Spock awoke as he did every morning. It was 6:00 am, Earth's sun was not out, but the day was already started- if not almost over- in his mind. He awoke in his newly furnished commander quarters. The room was a great improvement from his previous ones with Starfleet. He quickly showered, dressed, and prepped his syllabus for the week. Everyday was the same for Spock. Everything had its place and everything was done on a timely schedule. His quarters were on campus and so he walked to campus exactly at 7:35 everyday. Coincidentally this was the exact same time (give a minute or two) that the sun rose through the great skyscrapers. He continued walking, and started thinking long and hard thoughts above suns, supernovas, black holes, and the like. He wondered only in moments like this if he had made a poor decision ten years ago in choosing Starfleet over the Science Academy. However, this doubt within himself was usually and immediately obliterated the moment he began to think logically about his decision and it was reinforced when thinking of his mother.

THE CREATION OF THE KOBAYASHI MARU SCENARIO

He walked into the research lab of Starfleet; he had been spending the better part of four years working on a program to test the minds of a cadets. He had argued with the Starfleet Coucil for many years that the cadets he was teaching were incapable and inefficient at taking leaderships roles if the situation called for it in real space. Therefore, he was authorized and funded to research and create a program that would better test the mental capability of potential leaders. Spock was the inventor, creator, and overseer of the device and the programmed he called Kobayashi Maru. He programmed the role-playing scenario to put cadets in the experience of fear and the possibility of death to see if they were capable of taking lead, assess their mental health, and determine whether they had the skills to be a leader. While he understood logically that this was a necessary trait for all Starfleet individuals; he had little faith in humanity that they would "pass" the test to his standards. However, the test's purpose was not to be victorious in the scenario, but it allowed commanding officers to discern the exhibited traits and determine the areas of a cadet's strengths and perhaps position within starship assignments.

The program was completed three years ago, but today volunteers had been asked to come in to test an updated version. While he had wished to monitor and interview each cadet volunteer, he did not have the time. He had a class to teach around 8:00. However, he decided on this day he would witness the first volunteer of the improved program. He was eager, not to see humanity fail, but to see if there were any merits to humans. A Vulcan faced with certain death in a commanding position would logically assess all best scenarios and continue to see them through even if that meant they died and others lived. But, he wondered How will humans- the other portion of me- fare in this challenge? This will indeed be an experiment to observe.

He sat behind a piece of glass and stared into the mock starship command room. There were many researchers who had volunteered to serve as other role-playing officers for the cadet being tested. He made himself comfortable with a tablet ready to take notes of the first volunteer. He waited to see who would it be. Finally, a woman entered. Spock recognized her immediately and he whispered under his breath,

Spock: [to himself] Uhura?

Spock did not expect his prime student to be his volunteer. Now, he knew the results of this experiment would be skewed. Uhura, although human, was exceptional. She was not lazy, emotional, boastful, and so on; she is an anomaly. Yet, there was a pang of doubt that his prime student would fail his expectations that he put upon her.

Researcher's Voice on Intercom: Please state your name, age, standing, and major.

Uhura: Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, 24, junior student in Starfleet, majoring in xenolinguistics.

Spock peered at her from behind the glass and wondered Why is she doing this? It serves no benefit since her aspirations are not to be a commanding officer. Logically there is no reason, but Uhura is not illogical. So, why?

Researcher: When you are ready, Lieutenant.

Uhura: I am.

Spock watched as his program began and he sat worried and intrigued to see what would happen.

Volunteer Researcher #1: We are on course captain.

Uhura: Very well, continue.

Volunteer Researcher #2: Captain, I am sorry, but we are receiving a distress signal from the U.S.S. Kobayashi Maru. The ship has lost power and is stranded. Starfleet Command has ordered us to rescue them.

Uhura: Then let us proceed with the protocol and attempt to make contact.

Volunteer Researcher #2: Captain, that is not possible. Their ship has lost all power.

Uhura: I see. Well, send out two explorer probes to make contact.

Volunteer Researcher #3: Yes, ma'am.

Volunteer Researcher #4: Captain, I am getting a presence on the radar. Two Klingon vessels have entered the Neutral Zone and are locking weapons on us. They have also destroyed the two explorers.

Uhura: Whoa, what! How, uh, can we hail them?

Volunteer Researcher #2: No Captain, they are ignore us.

Uhura: Put up shields and lock weapons upon their positions.

Volunteer Researcher #3: Yes, Captain.

Uhura: Also, begin preliminary evacuation protocol and prepare for warp speed.

Volunteer Researcher #1: Yes, Captain.

Volunteer Researcher #1: Captain, they have sent a message that they will destroy the U.S.S. Kobayashi Maru if we escape.

Uhura: How many people are aboard the Kobayashi Maru?

Volunteer Researcher #2: Our sensors are detecting 150 lives.

Uhura: How many aboard our ship?

Volunteer Researcher #4: We have over 2,000 aboard.

Uhura: [to herself] What am I going to do? I can not defy orders, but I can not allow our people to die. [aloud] Prepare evacuations via escape pods and beaming to near by planets and moons. Also, send Starfleet a message warning them of the Kobayashi and the Klingon forces.

Volunteer Researcher #2: Right away.

Uhura: Try to beckon them one more time asking if they will take the commanding officer as a hostage?

Volunteer Researcher #3: What? No!

Uhura: One life is nothing in the face of many.

Spock had been watching Lieutenant Uhura with such joy. She was making all the correct and logical assumptions and calls. He knew if anyone could "pass" this test it would be her. However, Spock noticed that the main test administrators behind the glass with him were becoming annoyed.

Test Administer #1: She is treating this simulation as if a by the book test. Initiate fear and death sequence!

Spock couldn't believe his ears. He had programmed the test to already invoke these emotions, but it would appear that his fellow human researchers had been creating another program within his program.

Suddenly on the scenario side of the screen, the lights went out and the safety lights went on along with the loud blaring sound and red flash of the alarms. Uhura appeared to have lost her cool and sat back in her captain's seat.

Volunteer Researcher #1: Our engines are failing. We do not have enough power to send off escape pods or beam-

Uhura: Damnit! Try beckoning the Klingon forces again.

With the quick typing of one the volunteer actor researchers, on the glass that Spock was looking through appeared a helmeted Klingon; he stood on the screen with another figure which was a young woman. He held a blade to her throat. He spoke in Kilingon, which Uhura understood:

Klingon Warrior: not pejatlh SoH 'ejyo' scum! Hegh Hoch 'ej pIHoH jIH vaj SoH. 'ach wa'DIch jItlhIjchoHtaH kobayashi maru. 'ej Hoch wa' HoH bIvum poHlIj. [I will not speak to you Starfleet scum! You will all die and I will kill you. But first I will start with the Kobayashi Maru. And you will get to watch me kill each one.]

He then proceeded to take off his helmet to reveal his face which was both frightening and fierce. Smiling, he slowly sliced the young woman's neck. In response, Lieutenant Uhura started to scream and run towards the glass as if trying to save her. Uhura ran directly to the spot where Spock was standing and watching. She continued to bang on the glass angrily sobbing. They were centimeters apart with only a glass between their bodies.

Spock was overcome with emotions. He started touching the glass to be comfort to Uhura; he then yelled at the test administrators to "Cease the stimulation!" He ran around to go inside and found Uhura on the ground banging her fist against the floor. He slowly bent over touching her shoulder "It's over." She stopped for a moment and turned to Spock. Her eyes filled with anger and tears. He didn't know what to do; as her instructor and teacher he should escort her out, but another part of him - apart usually locked away- yearned to hold her. This was not the Uhura he knew. She had been broken and he did this to her. Well, not him- his "peers"- who decided to put another program within his program. He slowly helped her up and asked one of the volunteer researchers take her out, while he dealt with the test administrators. "What was that!?" he demanded and starting to grow angry. "We were instructed to include a new program within your original, because it lacked a true state of fear and death. You...your program was too cold, it was too Vulcan. Most species don't work that way." one offered. He was angry and furious.

But this is not what happened. That is what his human side wanted to do, but that side rarely won. He stared long and hard from beyond the glass at Uhura. He was overcome with several options as what to do, but as it always happened logic won. He walked over to the test administrators and asked them to politely

Spock: Cease the program; she's had enough.

They turned it off.

Spock: Make sure that she is alright. I won't have her late to my class.

Spock started to walk away.

Test Administrator #2: [in a whisper] What a cold-hearted son of a bitch.

Spock: Excuse me? If I am not correct, you were the ones who created that program? Not me. I would see to it that you delete it and continue to use my updated version. The purpose of the program is to test the mental capabilities of our cadets not destroy them. If anyone here is a "cold-hearted son of a bitch" as you put it; it would be you not me. Anyways, the phrase within its self is quite illogical since neither of our species have cold hearts or are born from the Canis Lupus. But you human always have a colorful way of expressing yourselves.

Spock then slowly walked away leaving the test administrators to figure out the logistics of deleting their program from his scenario. Parts of him were concerned for Uhura, but other parts knew her well enough that his concern and even pity would be misplaced. He would have to wait for class to commence to see how she was. He was slightly confused by the emotions stirring inside him, but at the same time he had felt them before. But, he had never acted on them. Perhaps today would be different.

Next Chapter: Uhura's perspective on the day and her instructor Spock.