Chapter Three

"Beckett!"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Get your ass in here, now!"

Beckett winced and made his way into his Superior's office. His graying hair spoke of his advancing years, but said nothing of the things he'd seen and done along the way. Feeling a few decades beyond his years he sighed heavily. He had a feeling that he was about to get reamed over a certain young Vulcan at the Academy.

Stepping into the well decorated office Beckett put on his best smile. The silver haired man sitting behind the glass and mahogany desk glared at Beckett. He picked up a reader tablet and tossed it across the desk to Beckett.

"What the hell is this?"

"Brian..." Beckett started.

"Don't you 'Brian' me, Jack!" Brian barked. "Have you lost your Goddamn mind?"

"You asked me for my recommendations, and I gave you my recommendations."

"And this is what you came up with? The Admiral's son?"

Beckett nodded.

"No." Brian shook his head. "Absolutely not, no way, no."

"Bri..."

"We've had this conversation before, I thought I made it clear that we weren't going to have it again."

"This is dif..."

"No Vulcans." Brian said firmly.

"Brian, don't be a racist."

"I'm not a racist, and you know it." Brian said defensively. "Vulcans just don't have what it takes."

"I think Spock has proved you wrong on that one." Beckett teased. "We really missed out with him."

"I disagree."

"He is one of the most decorated First Officers in the fleet." Beckett pointed out. "He'd be a Captain by now if he wasn't so loyal to Kirk and the Enterprise."

"And I'm sure Slacen..."

"Salen." Beckett corrected.

"I'm sure Salen will make an excellent Starfleet Officer as well."

"Officer? You mean a Starfleet Robot." Beckett rolled his eyes. "Brian, trust me on this, we need this one. He's four times as strong as any human here, lightning fast, smar..."

"Eighty percent deaf."

"A minor flaw, nothing that can't be fixed. He has everything we search for."

"Except he has family in high places. Admiral Pike isn't going to believe the bullshit we feed the rest of them."

"I promise that I'll deal with the Admiral."

"I don't know, Jack..." Brian sighed. "It's such a risk. Vulcans they just...I don't trust them to do what needs to be done when it matters most. They think too much before acting."

"You mean kill, you don't think Vulcans can kill."

"I know they can kill in self defense or as a last means of action, but when it comes down to it they just don't have the instinct for it."

"This one does." Beckett said confidently.

"You really feel strongly about this one, don't you?"

"I do."

"I'm still not sold."

"Give me two months to prove his mettle to you."

Beckett held his breath waiting for Brian to answer. Brian picked up the digital file and flicked through it. After reading Salen's entire file front to back again he put it back down. Pinching the bridge of his nose Brian sighed heavily. He looked up at Beckett and stared him down for a few minutes before speaking again.

"You honestly believe this Vulcan can run with the big Dogs?"

"Given the chance Salen could run with the wolves."