Recap:

Uhura has come to Spock's quarters to talk to him about her future. She is concerned that her performance with the Kobayashi Maru test has made Spock less willing to assist her in learning and exploring her potential as a xenolinguistic communication officer. Uhura is driven to be the best of the best and she knows Spock is the best. Spock on the hand only wishes for Uhura to succeed and prove for himself that humans can be exceptional even if it is a rare occurrence.

Spock's Living Quarters:

Spock sits in his bare room looking at the clock. It finally strikes 7:27 pm. That would be 8:00 pm on Vulcan. Everyday Friday night, Spock call his mother. His father won't speak to him since choosing Starfleet over the Science Academy, but his mother welcomes their weekly conversations. He moves to his computer desk and proceeds to have his video screen hail his mother. It takes only a moment and Spock sees his mother on the screen.

Spock's Mother: Spock. It is so good to see you.

Spock: Mother. [he nods slightly]Likewise. I hope you are well.

Spock's Mother: I am. I am. And your father is too.

Spock: That is good to hear.

Mother: How are you classes going this quarter?

Spock: Well, I am teaching two courses on physics, one of on High Vulcan.

Mother: Ah, I see. It must be nice to teach your students the language of your heritage.

Spock: It is.

There is a slight pause.

Mother: Do you have any star pupils?

Spock: Mother you know it is unfair to have such a student. I would not be able to teach my other student properly.

Mother: I understand. Perhaps, I should rephrase. Do you have any student who you see have the greatest potential of being exceptional?

Spock: Ah, yes. There is one.

Mother: That is good news. What-

There is a knock on the door.

Mother: I am sorry, Spock. Is our chat interrupting a meeting you had plan?

Spock: No, there was not one on my scheduler?

There is another knock.

Spock: Please excuse me Mother, I am sure this is a misunderstanding. I will send them off.

Mother: Of course, take your time.

His mother always smiled. While he rarely thought of smiling, he found such warmth in seeing her smile. He quickly got up from his seat and crossed to open the door. Before him was something he could not anticipate. His mouth open a bit in shock, but nothing came out. Before he could gain his composure, the person before him started to talk.

OPEN BOOK

She was in her cadet uniform. Her hair tied back into a slick ponytail. There was the tiniest hint of sweat upon her forehead. He saw that she also had her bags now. But he had barely made eye contact with her; when he noticed. She is on the verge of tears.

Uhura: Forgive me for coming Mr. Spock. I...I...don't have a good reason other than I wish you to know that I am a dedicated, hard working student. I..

Spock: Lieutenant Uhura, you did not need to come to my quarters to tell me this. I-

Uhura: I know, I know. I just- I believe you saw my performance in the Kobayashi Maru test and I wished to explain my unprofessionalism at the end of the test.

Spock: You do not owe me an explanation.

Uhura: But I do. I wish to work with you. I wish for you to be my mentor in xenolinguistics for the next year. I have been working on a proposal- No, I shouldn't start there. I simply wish to explain that my father and mother were killed...were murdered.. by Klingons. I...I..[she started to break down] became a xenolinguistics with the hope that perhaps with my communication skills such a thing would never happen to another girl. They were...they were killed over my father using the incorrect word for "peace." The power of one word.[she stared into the empty space between them] So, I apologize that I broke down. It will not happen again. Please do not lose your faith in my abilities. I am strong and logical. I was simply unprepared for that...

Spock: What you have stated to me, Lieuenant Uhura, makes sense. I understand the reason for your actions during the test and your need to speak to me directly. However, you should understand that...

He was unsure how to finish that statement. He was feeling a whirlwind of emotions. But he tried to put them aside.

Uhura: Sir?

Looked down to the ground and just realized that he left his mother's call on. She must have heard the entire thing. Spock is unsure how to react to Uhura's outburst. He is conflicted on many levels. What would my mother want? What would she do? What does Uhura need? What is logical? He understood her passion and drive. He empathizes with her struggle to prove to herself that she was making the right decision for family.

She stood there looking at him. Eyes teary. Face slightly flushed. He knew he could not deny how beautiful she looked... even at this moment. Her brilliance. Her drive. Her ambition. Her nerve to visit him, here. All exceptional. But, she was his subordinate, but for how much longer? A year? Eight months?

Before he could think of what the right course of action was, he hugged her. It was a gentle hug. He simply wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her in close. He could hear her breathing normalize and he felt her heart rate stabilize. They stood there for a long time. He wasn't worried that anyone may see. But he stopped, because he did not wish to be rude to his mother. He pulled away and looked down at her. She was obviously tired. He was about to ask her something, but she abruptly pulled away

Uhura: I should be going. I don't wish to get you into trouble.

Spock: Of course. [he composes himself to his normal self] It is Friday night after all. I am sure you have plans.

Uhura: Yes, studying and a library bed with my name on it. [she joked and forcing a smile]

Spock: I see. Well, please excuse me for one moment.

Spock closes the door slightly and walked back into this room. His mother was still smiling on the screen.

Mother: Is that your star student? [she asks slightly chuckling]

Spock: Yes, I-

Mother: Well, if I were you Spock. I would go to coffee and talk over her proposal for her research and for you being her mentor.

Spock: Mother, I-

Mother: Uh,uh. I'll hear no more. Get your things and go.

He nods reluctantly and starts to get ready to leave.

Mother: Spock, I am always proud of you. No matter what you chose to be, but tonight I am proud of you for not turning that girl away. [She smiled and kissed her hand and placed it upon the screen. Then she signed off.]

Spock was unsure what his mother had to be proud of tonight. Was it his gesture of emotion? The hug? He wondered. Was it because I allowed myself empathy? I expressed what I normally bottle up inside? He was unsure, but he didn't think too long on it. He went back to the door after grabbing his coat.

Spock: Did you want to get partake in a beverage while you tell me of your proposal for my mentorship?

Spock saw something he had never seen before. It was a moment of no words. He had seen Uhura's face go from sadness to shock to happiness within three seconds. While Spock had studied the basics of human emotions, he had never had the pleasure- well perhaps not pleasure- he had never had the opportunity to see his words or actions cause such a positive reaction. And for a moment, he allowed himself to bask in the happiness that came from his discovery.

They proceeded to walk down the hall in a comfortable silence.

.

Spock was in charge of starship assignments for the cadets. He initially assigned Lieutenant Nyota Uhura to the USS Farragut, in spite of Uhura's stated desire to serve aboard the USS Enterprise, the new flagship. Commander Spock had served as Cadet Uhura's instructor and judged her performance to be consistently exe

mplary but, to avoid giving the appearance of favoritism as a result of her being one of his star students as well as their romantic relationship, he assigned her to the Farragut instead. Uhura later confronted him about this choice, noting that she was more than qualified to serve aboard the Enterprise, as confirmed by Spock on many occasions. After this conversation, he assigned her to the Enterprise.

When James T. Kirk was ultimately able to pass the test and defeat the scenario, Spock accused the cadet of inserting a subroutine into the program, changing the simulation to his favor, so he could win. At a hearing of the Academy board, Kirk asked for the right to confront Spock directly, and the two clashed over Kirk's actions.

SCENARIO:

the alternate reality, the Kobayashi Maru test was programmed by Spock between 2254 and 2258. Its purpose was to cause the cadets to "experience fear in the face of certain death" and learn to remain in control of themselves and their ship, despite that fear. In the simulation, Starfleet Command specifically ordered the USS Trainer to rescue the USS Kobayashi Maru from a fleet of attacking Klingon warbirds.

UHURA:

During her time at Starfleet Academy, Uhura specialized in xenolinguistics with tracking toward a communications officer. Commander Spock served as one of Cadet Uhura's instructors and judged her performance to be consistently exemplary.