Early days

Woops! Guess it's time for that disclaimer-thing: I own nothing. It's not my characters. It's only for the love of my favourite alien...

And: Thanks for the kind reviews so far. It's my first fanfic ever, so I really appreciate it.

Part 5

Nyotas point of view:

That was it! The final exams over and done with. Nyota took in a deep breath and threw herself on the bed in her dorm room. Her focus-subject xenolinguistics had been the most difficult, but she had aced everything and even managed to impress Spock with her abilities. His words still rang in her ears… "An unparalleled ability to identify sonic anomalies…" she smiled and enjoyed the heart-flutter that came with that memory.

Now that she had completed the whole thing from over Science to basic navigation she knew she would make a good lieutenant. She had for some time now been making herself known in the right places and to the right persons. Been letting people know that she would like to be on the Enterprise, come launch day.

Her dreams were interrupted when the intercom beeped. She went over and pressed the button. "Uhura here"

"Uhura, it's Tanli. The rest of us are going in to town to celebrate. We're coming to fetch you in twenty minutes. Get ready." The connection was broken before Nyota could respond. She sighed. It wasn't, if she had to be honest, what she had planned for the evening. She was really looking forward to just relax and enjoy that for the first time in four years she had nothing to do, but if the gang was coming over, she couldn't tell them no.

Twenty minutes later she heard the door buzzer and hurried to answer. In came the four others who had managed to get trough the gruelling pace this year. Tanli, Xasha, Eve and Simon all in high spirits. "Come on, Nyota" Simon walked behind Nyota clapping like he was herding chickens. "We'll get something to eat first in the campus café and Tanli says she knows a great bar down town" Nyota couldn't help laughing as she was lead out of the room.

When they got to the campus cafeteria they found that it was easy to find a place to sit. It was almost empty as most of the other graduates were already out celebrating. They sat at a table and loudly discussed what they were going to do during their off-time before they got their assignments. Eve said she was going to go home to her people. "Eve" Simon said narrowing his eyes. "Where exactly are you from? That thing you've got, with the glowing-thing… What is that?" They all looked at her. Eve had never shared that much about her origins, and they had all wondered…

Eve smiled. "Simon, I can't tell you. That is one of the secrets of my people. I can only tell you that there are many of us spread out through the galaxy, and when ever you meet a girl who knows how to do that "Glowing-Thing", you know you have meet one of us…" She looked very mysterious and gazed round at them all… "It is only the women who know of this trick and it is one of my people's best defences"

They all stared at Eve. "Eve, are you kidding?" Nyota asked, in her mind seeing this strange race of glowing women infiltrating humankind.

Eve smiled, eyes laughing "Maybe…" she shot a sideways glance at Simon, who also looked a little worried, then she cracked up. The rest of the group realized that Eve was kidding. At least they hoped…

They sat like that for quite some time, laughing and telling stories. Nyota was about to tell the others that she had decided to stay for a while on campus to attend some social functions to make her face known to the right people. She really wanted to go on the Enterprise and that was worth a few weeks of circulating.

"Hey Ny, look. There's our fine and revered instructor." Tanli looked to the doors with her purple glowing eyes. There stood Spock in his instructors' uniform with his hands on his back. He seemed not to notice the few people in the large cafeteria, and made his way to the food-replicators.

"We should go say goodbye to him. We're probably not going to see him again for some time…" Xasha said, but made no effort to stand.

"Nah, why bother. He won't miss us" Simon had already turned his back to him.

Nyota wasn't paying much attention to what they were saying. She had been busy watching her former instructor. It suddenly dawned on her that maybe Xasha could be right. It could be some time before they would meet again, and she had never even said to him how much she had appreciated his lecturing. She stood up, to the surprise of the others.

"Guys, I'm just gonna go over there to talk for a bit… Be right back…" Tanli shot her what looked like a warning glance, but said nothing. She quickly went across the room.

"Mr. Spock, You eat in the cafeteria? She said as she walked up next to him. He was carrying a small plate of fruits and a glass of water.

As he heard her voice it looked like he jumped a bit, but when he spoke his voice was as calm as ever. "Ms. Uhura" He made his way to a table in a corner of the room. She followed him over. Spock sat his plate at the table and turned to her. "I believe congratulations are in order. I have heard that you have come first in most of your exams." He straightened and put his hands at his back. His eyes scanned the room.

She smiled up at him. "Yeah, thanks. There was that botany-course I didn't do so well in, but all in all…" She tried to catch his eyes, but he was, once again, looking at that point over her head. "Mr Spock." She said and this time she touched his arm to get his attention. He almost flinched and looked at her hand, then at her face.

She removed her hand. "Mr. Spock. I want to say thank you for what you have taught me. I have learned so much and it has opened a whole new world to me. I couldn't imagine any other teaching me so much in such a short amount of time. It has been an honour." She had not blinked or looked down during her speech and he had held her gaze also without blinking. Now that she had said what she felt like she had to say, they both stood there, looking into each others eyes.

His face was so hard to read normally, but now it betrayed a softness and a surprise she hadn't seen before. "Ms. Uhura. It is not often I receive gratitude for my lessons. I do believe you are the first to do so."

He blinked and raised his eyebrows "I am at a lost why others do not follow your example…" He looked at her with that hidden humour she had come to find very funny.

She made sure her face was exactly as neutral as his when she answered him. "No doubt, they are in such awe of the splendour of the teaching-style, that they can not find the words to express their gratitude."

He cocked his head, regarding the group at the other end of the room. "That seems logical." He looked at her again and once again she saw that hidden glint of laughter in his eyes. There was even a small smile in the corners of his mouth and she finally had to give.

"Yes, logical" she smiled up at him. Their eyes met again and for a moment she had no idea of where she was.

"Oi! Uhura!" a loud voice made them both jump. Nyota turned and saw Simon making his way over to them. Spock straightened his back and all of a sudden seemed to tower over them. "Are you coming? We're done eating and we wanna go…" he looked at his former instructor. "Commander..."

Spock eyed Simon with a neutral glance. "Mr. Mitchell. I hear you have also completed your exams." Simon stood by Nyotas' side and waited for the congratulations that usually came. This time, however, they seemed not to come. Spock only looked at him, unblinking, like he was a specimen about to be dissected.

The silence got to Nyota. "Simon… I…"

Simon interrupted her. "Come on, Chickpea. We gotta go!" He put his hand around her waist and made to turn her towards the doors, where the rest of the group was waiting. She shot a look back at Spock. He gave her a small nod and remained standing where he was. She saw him look at Simon and thought to herself that he had looked almost angry for a minute. She didn't have time to dwell on it though. Simon was once again clapping his hands behind her, like she was livestock to be herded towards the others. She couldn't help laughing at him. He was so silly and she knew he was just goofing around to hide how much he wanted to get Eves attention.

When they got over to the group they gathered their belongings and made for the door. Laughing and with their arms around each other they all went to celebrate at the bar Tanli knew.

It turned out that it was a bar owned by Tanlis' uncle. The place was crowded and a band was playing live on a small stage. Tanli introduced them all to her uncle and soon they all had drinks in their hands and a private table near the stage. Tanli immediately got up to dance with a very tall man with equally purple glowing eyes. Simon grabbed Nyota and led her to the dance floor. Eve and Xasha stayed at the table.

Nyota was enjoying the music and she and Simon stayed on the dance floor. She noticed however that Simon kept shooting glances to their table. Finally Nyota took Simons arm and dragged him over to the bar.

"Si. Why don't you say something to her?" Nyota smiled at the surprised look he gave her. "You're never gonna know if you don't do something, right?"

Simon smiled at her. "Ever the perceptionist. Huh?... I don't know Ny. What if she tells me to get lost?" He ran a hand trough his hair.

"No. You're probably right Simon" She said while waving at the bartender to get his attention "It's better to dance with me. I'm much more likely to tolerate those… alternative… dance-moves…" The bartender came over and she ordered her drink. Simon was looking at her, laughter in his eyes.

"Nyota Uhura," he said pulling her in for an embrace "You are beautiful!" He kissed her on the cheek and made his way over to the table. She saw him sit down next to Eve. Nyota turned to get her drink and when she turned back she saw the two of them heading for the exit. He looked nervous, but Eve had an air of certainty over her. Nyota went over to the table and flopped down next to Xasha.

"Great place, huh" she said to Xasha who smiled distractedly in her direction.

"'Sure is… Ny, would you excuse me, I just saw someone at the bar…" He stood and Nyota hurriedly moved out of the way. He looked down on her and realized that she was a bit hurt by his leaving. "Sorry, Ny… It's just… I've been eyeing this… Person… all evening and…" He smiled at her and winked. "I gotta go see about a guy…" He took her hand and squeezed it. Then he headed for the bar and introduced himself to one of the very tall, orange-tinted skinned, purple-eyed men.

Nyota sat at the table and watched the others enjoy their evening. She caught a glimpse of Tanli from time to time, always laughing and dancing with some admiring guy. Xasha was deep in conversation with that guy and Simon and Eve had apparently gone to do some serious talking. She sighed.

How come she always ended up sitting by herself in these situations?

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she hadn't really wanted to go in the first place. She had been looking forward to a rare evening of relaxing, and now she had ended up here… Which was just silly.

She collected her belongings and headed for the exit. Once outside she drew in a big breath. She felt free somehow. With steady pace she made her way home.

She was nearing the campus grounds on one of the darker lanes when she heard a meowing sound. She stopped and searched the dark. From under a bench a little ginger cat came towards her. It purred and started circling her feet, rubbing it's head on her legs.

"Aww… Kitty, aren't you a beauty?" she reached down to the cat and it almost threw itself on her hand to catch the caress. She smiled and mumbled in Swahili "Habari yako nzuri."

The cat purred and circled her. She stroked it again "Je, wewe ni nzuri kidogo paka?" It looked up at her with dark eyes and blinked. Nyota returned the blink and scratched its ear to the cats' obvious contentment." Kwenda nje na kuwinda panya, paka ndogo?" By now Nyota was completely won over by the ginger cat and headed for the bench that stood at the side of the lane.