This chapter has been edited since first being uploaded to get rid of typos.
Thanks to all those who have reviewed. Wanting to know others opinions on the story is keeping me writting at what for me is a fast pace.
Chapter four
Mid- September.
Thirsties week had ended without any serious injuries, two boys had been locked in the brig overnight for having Romulan ale on academy grounds. One female astrophysics cadet had fallen off a wall and broken her leg, there had been five concussions from cadets falling over or walking into things, two fistfights, and one near drowning where the cadet in question had got separated from his group and walked into the outdoor swimming pool. One of Spock's students had already been suspended due to have been involved in one of the fistfights, a result of a poorly timed joke about the Canopus planet.
Spock had finished preparing all his teaching materials for the semester and checked through all room bookings, timetables and registers to be sure that no mistakes had been made. Everything was ready for the first lessons of the academic year, starting with Monday morning advanced fitness at 6:30, then advanced Vulcan at 10:00 and beginners Klingon at 15:00.
There was a good attendance of third year cadets at his advanced fitness class, a scattering of second years and three first years. He informed them that one year of academy fitness lessons was advised before joining the advanced class but all of them seemed to think that because they were the best at their high schools they would manage. Spock knew that many of the cadets would have let there physical training drop over the summer holiday so his aim for the lesson was to remind them what he expected from them. Warm up exercises followed by twenty laps around the track falling straight into eighty press ups and eighty sit ups. Only one of the first year cadets made it to this point and some of the other cadets had (through not warming up properly) managed to strain one muscle or another. Next was weight training. At 8:30 Spock sent the Cadets to shower offering an extra hour of combat training or gymnastics to anybody who did not have classes at 9:00. Nobody excepted his offer so Spock returned to his apartment showered, had some chamomile tea and read until it was time to take his class.
A handful of students were already seated when he arrived, they were always eager at the start of the year. He noticed that Nyota was one of them, she sat next to Galia, third row left, seat next to the centre aisle. She smiled at him but he could not be seen to be over familiar with a cadet in class so he turned and began to set up his lecture slides and recordings that he used to demonstrate different accents. At precisely 10:00 he turned to the class and began.
"Good morning cadets, I am Commander Spock. I will be your teacher for Advanced Vulcan and federation languages for both semesters during this academic year. I also run one of the compulsory second year modules and two third year optional modules. So I will be getting to know all your capabilities and limitations over the next few weeks. Each lecture will have the same format though the content may be different. I will spend one hour and forty minutes teaching then the next fifteen minutes I will allow questions and the final five minutes of class I will use to explain written assignments. Assignments are given every week during class and are to be submitted to me electronically by 17:00 Friday. You will all have received the reading list for this module, these reading are to be completed each week before attending the class. Are there any questions so far?"
There weren't.
"Then I will continue, as it is our first lecture I wish to test your skills, you were all required to know basic Vulcan previous to attending this course. Last years class came to me largely unprepared, only able to form the simplest of sentences, I hope that you will prove to be a more adept class. I will ask you each a question and I expect a response, I want you all to get your PADDS or note pads out and make a note of the sentences that you do not understand as your assignment this week will be based upon these."
Spock asked each student in turn a question in Vulcan, such things as where do you come from, what are your food preferences, and are you suffering from any ailments. 83% of his pupils managed to give some form of an answer, 42% of these made some mistake in pronunciation, tense or word order, he corrected them when wrong. When he came to Nyota he hesitated, he was already well aware of her abilities but not to test her would seem to the other students like he was singling her out.
" Good morning Cadet, did you enjoy Thirsties week?"
"Yes, most of my fears turned out to be unfounded. Although I missed two of the pub nights I did go dancing and went to a barbecue and to see a holovid, all of which were enjoyable. Though now I am eager to settle into classes. Are you feeling well now Commander?"
" Yes cadet, thank you for inquiring I must apologizes for my strange behaviour, there are some commonly used Human substances that affect a Vulcan's physiology I believe I unknowingly came in contact with one last Monday."
" There is no need to apologize, I am just glad that you are now well."
"Thank you Cadet."
Spock noticed the rest of the cadets were hurrying trying to record everything that had been said as they did not understand most of it. He was glad for this, he would have not have responded to such a personal question if he thought the other cadets would understand. Nyota was different, he wished to befriend her.
" A perfect answer Cadet." He praised her, then continued on in his questioning.
He had set the weeks assignment and dismissed the class. Nyota paused before exiting, it looked like she wished to speak to him but she turned and walked out with Galia.
On Wednesday morning Spock opened his office door to allow students who needed help come talk to him. He could not follow his usual task of marking papers while he waited as no assignments had been turned in yet, and so he read a Klingon novel. The Klingons did not write many novels, this one was a story of two young lovers who slayed all their enemies and mated in their blood. It was not to Spock's literary tastes but it served to further educate him on Klingons. There was a tentative knock on his door and he looked up to see Cadet Uhura standing in the doorway.
" Welcome Cadet."
"Morning Commander, in your introductory lecture you said Wednesday mornings were a time when anybody having difficulty with the course could come talk to you."
"True Cadet, but I doubt you are having trouble with the course."
"I'm not, I was wondering if you could give me some help with Ontarian pronunciation."
"Of course Cadet, you may shut the door and sit down If you wish."
" Thank you." She took the seat across form him.
"Do you require a beverage?"
" No thank you."
"What exactly are you having difficulties with?"
'Pronouncing two of the basic phonemes."
She got a small hand-held recorder out of her bag, and played a recording of the two phonemes she was hiving difficulty with. Spock nodded, he could see how these would cause problems for a human, there were no similar sounds on earth, none that required the same point of air obstruction.
"Yes, I can see how these would be difficult for you. Can you try pronouncing them for me."
She did, Spock watched her lips and the movements of her tongue and jaw carefully so he could see where the problem occurred.
" And just one more time please."
She repeated the sounds without comment, Spock approved of how easily she took instructions.
" Okay, now try again but this time keep your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth."
The sound she made was closer to what it should have been but was still not right.
" Cadet, please watch my lips carefully as I pronounce the first sound."
She leaned two centimetres closer her eyes fixed to his mouth as he made the sound.
" Now if you will try again."
This time she was almost there.
"And again, pursing you lips a little."
This time she got it right.
"Well done Cadet, try to practice that tonight before it goes out of your memory."
"I will." She had a small self satisfied smile and Spock felt his lip quirk a little again.
"Now watch my lips again as I make the second sound."
This time when she tried to repeat him she hadn't made any improvement. Spock felt as if tactile correction was required. He avoided using this method for obvious reasons. It had not been required by any of his other students, yet none of them had ever tried to learn Ontarian. He stood up and walked around the desk bending down on one knee to be face to face with Nyota. She stared at him with slight confusion.
"May I touch you?"
"Uh , sure." She sounded slightly shocked and Spock could hear her heartbeat increase slightly.
" Do not be afraid cadet, I merely wish to show you how to shape your jaw, I will be gentle."
" I'm not afraid, I know you won't hurt me."
He slowly placed his fingers on her jaw, he noticed her skin was soft and warm as he gently moved her jaw. He tried to block the emotions he was getting from her. They were emotions that were strange to him, she was feeling slightly nervous yet slightly excited, strangely she also seemed to be suffering from that same nauseous feeling that Spock got when descending in a shuttle. He could also tell she was tired and hungry.
"Try now." She tried again and got it right.
"Yes. That is correct." He noticed her eyes seemed lighter when he was this close to her. "Try once more." He watched her lips carefully. Yes, she'd definitely got it right.
Spock removed his fingers from her skin. He felt a little reluctant to do so, it was not logical to feel this way he had no reason to continue touching her. He stood up and sat back down.
"Well done Cadet Uhura."
"Could we try a few words?" He voice sounded a little breathy, he wondered if she required a drink.
" No. Cadet I am aware that you are hungry and you have a lesson in forty-three minutes. I will not converse with you until you have gained sufficient nutrients."
"Okay." She gave a short laugh, Spock noticed the same reaction as always, this time paired with a warm sensation in the pit of his stomach, it seemed that whatever it was that was causing the weird sensation was getting worse.
"Will you have lunch with me?" Nyota asked, she was the first cadet to ever request his company outside of the lecture theatre or office.
"Yes, that would be acceptable." He answered before giving it much more thought.
Five minutes later they were sat having lunch. This time Spock had a dish Nyota had recommended to him. It was made out of spiced vegetables and spelt. It contained the required protein and was satisfying. He thanked her for her recommendation. He taught her a few words of Ontarion, he had known that learning the language would be of use. As she copied him she made a few mistakes, she seemed to be having some difficulties with this language she hadn't experienced with others.
" Cadet Uhura am I right in thinking that you are free every Wednesday from 11:00 to 13:00?"
"Yes."
" I believe you will experience regular difficulties whilst learning this language. I will offer you a regular time slot to meet, say half an hour every week?"
" Really, If that's not too much of an imposition."
"I would not offer if that were the case."
"Thank you commander Spock."
"Is 11:30 till 12:00 suitable?"
"Yes, thank you Spock." She hesitated, looking down at her food.
"Cadet Uhura, you are always free to speak your mind to me."
" I was going to say that if you were available we could have lunch afterwards?"
" Yes, that would give us an opportunity to converse in Ontarian, I am also relatively new to the language and would appreciate the practice."
"It's settled then."
"Yes, I must E-mail my students so they know I will now only be available till 11:30."
"Should I feel bad that I'm limiting the time others can get help form you?"
"No, most prefer to just e-mail me."
"I don't think that's the best way of doing things, not with linguistics anyway."
" That is also my opinion. May I ask you a personal question?"
"Of course Spock."
" How are you getting on with your room-mate?"
"Good, she reminds me of my sister, she chats none stop but she'll do anything for anybody. She's been so nice to me."
" That's good. I thought that she may have been unsuited to you."
'The fact that she's well..."
" I am familiar with the Orions sexual appetites." Nyota raised her eyebrows, Spock felt as if he should expand.
" In my second year was pursued relentlessly by a female Orion. It took her eighteen weeks to accept I had no interest in her and move on to another target. "
" Galia begged me to stay in the library till midnight last night. But I think we could come to a compromise, like perhaps she could keep her 'dates' to the weekends or go to their places instead."
" I believe that to be a good idea. You should leave now If you wish to be on time for your lesson."
"Oh, thanks Spock." She slung her bag round her shoulders picked up her tray and headed off.
October.
" I have sent you all an old Earth poem, I wish you all to translate it to Vulcan. Submit the piece to me both as a written document and a recording. I wish to test both you spelling and pronunciation. Be aware that you should not leave this assignment till Friday to start it, there are many words that do not directly translate so you will have to find a word that you believe still keeps the meaning of the poem clear." He could hear annoyed mutters running though the class.
"You are dismissed." He watched his students file out.
" Cadet Galia, a word please." Galia froze she looked slightly anxious, Nyota turned round and said something to her too quietly for him to hear. Galia slowly walked down the steps to stand in front of him.
" Yes Commander."
" I am impressed with the amount of improvement you have shown in the last few weeks. You are one of two students to have achieved an A grade in the last assignment." He didn't mention the other had been Nyota. " Keep up the good work cadet."
"Thank you Commander." Galia smiled widely.
" Praise where praise is due cadet. You are free to leave If you have no questions." She ran up the stairs to join Nyota who was stood at the door waiting for her. Spock and Nyota's eyes meet for a second and she grinned at him, as was becoming more and more common his lips twitched slightly, it was only a small change in expression he doubted anybody would have noticed it, but for some reason he felt that she had.
" Spock!" Chris was stood at the door next Nyota. He winked at her as she passed him to exit.
" Hello Captain."
"I thought we could grab lunch."
" Yes, that would be acceptable."
Spock gathered up his things and dropped them in his bag. He and Christopher talked about a newly discovered alien race as they walked and queued for their food. As they sat and ate Spock noticed Nyota and Galia enter the mess hall, he was near enough to hear their conversation. But for once Galia was not talking, he carefully watched them over Chris shoulder, Nyota's body language was wrong, she looked tense and aggravated. Realizing Spock's attention was no longer on him Chris turned around, seeing Nyota he turned back to grin at Spock. Cadet Williams entered after Nyota, he was speaking to her, his tone aggressive.
" I don't see why you won't go for one drink with me." His hand grabbed Nyota's arm as she tried to walk away from him she spun round to look at him.
"Let me go." She hissed. Spock found himself on his feet without having consciously thought about it. He felt a hand touch his just below the sleeve. Shocked he looked down at Christopher.
"Sit down Spock."
Spock looked back over at Nyota and Cadet Williams he had not let go of her, she looked furious, Galia was stood timidly at the edge.
" He is touching her without her permission."
" Really Nyota you're becoming known as a frigid, cold- hearted bitch." He heard the cadet say.
"Spock!" Chris warned. Spock felt his anger building, he was close to losing control. How dare somebody insult Nyota.
"Spock! Look at me!" Christopher said in the voice he usually saved for issuing commands. Unwittingly Spock looked down at him again.
"She's tough, she can handle it."
There was a loud crash and a few startled shouts from Nyota's direction. Spock turned but as every student in the room had stood up to see what was happening he could only make out that Nyota and Galia were still standing. Christopher raised too and they both pushed their way through the crowds to the front. Spock immediately stood next to Nyota his hand reaching out to touch her shoulder. She turned to him.
"I'm sorry." She muttered.
Spock looked around trying to figure out what had happened. Cadet Williams was exactly one point five meters away, laid spread out on a table splattered with food, most of which was now on the floor. The previous occupants of the table were stood up looking shocked. The cadet sat up, his face was red with anger, Spock pushed Nyota behind him not wanting her to be a further target of the cadets fury.
"Captain." Cadet Williams said seeing Christopher. "This Cadet just attacked me."
" I saw everything Williams." Christopher said back calmly. " You were acting aggressively. I believe Miss Uhura was merely protecting herself." He turned to Nyota.
"Cadet Uhura, were you afraid that Cadet Williams would have turned violent."
Nyota nodded slowly.
"So when you decided to throw Cadet William across the room you felt it was an act of self -defence?" Chris said slowly and carefully his eyes never leaving Nyota's as he feed her the words that would keep her from being reprimanded or suspended. Three security guards arrived in the room, they looked round taking in the situation.
" It's okay guys, I've got this one." Chris told them they nodded at him and left." Cadet?" Chris said to Nyota trying to get her attention again.
" Yes, I was acting in self- defence. I apologize for any disruption I have caused and any injury to Cadet Williams." She answered.
'Captain." Cadet William said angrily.
" Be glad that I didn't have the guards lock you up for the night cadet. We do not treat young ladies with such disrespect here at the academy. " Chris turned towards the serving area. " Kendra, deactivate the cleaning robot and find up a mop and broom, you have a new helper for the day."
"Ladies" He said now turning to look at both Nyota and Galia. "I think you should stick to food from your apartment's replicator today." Both women nodded. Now he turned to Spock. "I think our lunch is also over, don't you?"
Spock also nodded.
"Commander, I'm sorry." Nyota said to Spock.
" It is okay, I am glad you are uninjured."
He and Christopher headed out the door, they too would finish eating from the replicator in his office.
'I like her." Chris stated.
"Indeed."
Sorry this is a short one, it felt like the right place to end the chapter.